USA > Illinois > Ford County > History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 10
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Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Burger had two children: Ruth Augusta, now the wife of August Vogelbacher, of Brenton township, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; and Asa E. Burger. The latter was born in Preston, New London county, Connecticut, November 1, 1860, and was brought by his parents to Illinois in 1866, while for forty years he has been a resident of Ford county. He was reared to the occupation of farming and successfully and energetically carried on general agricultural pursuits until 1903, when he removed to Piper City, where he built his present fine home, an attractive and commodious modern residence, in which he is now living retired, having good property interests from which he derives a gratifying annual income.
Asa Burger was married in 1888 to Miss Mary L. Jeffery, who was born in this county, September 25, 1866, and is a daughter of Thomas and Isabella (Forbes) Jeffery, who were natives of England. Mr. and Mrs. Burger had four children but lost their first two: Hattie, at the age of three years; and Alice at about two years old. The others are Joseph E. and Etta L. The family is prominent in the community, Mr. and Mrs. Burger occupying an enviable position in the social circles in which they move.
REV. FREDOLINE M. ECKERT.
Rev. Fredoline M. Eckert, pastor of St. Joseph's Catholic church at Cabery, was born at Grand Deipe. Baden, Germany, January 3, 1839, and acquired his early education in the fatherland. In 1859 he crossed the Atlantic to New York, settling first at Lincoln, Illinois. IIe became a citizen of the United States in 1875. His early education was received in the schools of Freidburg, Briseow, and subsequently he studied in St. Francis Seminary at Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Owing to delicate health he desired a change of climate and resumed his studies in Peoria College at Macon, Georgia.
IIe was ordained to the priesthood in Macon, May 21, 1875. after which he returned to Germany for the benefit of his health. Being greatly improved thereby, he returned after three months to Savannah, Georgia, and took charge of a negro church, remaining at that point for six years, during which time he built a fine cathedral. Again failing health prompted him to return to the fatherland in 1880, where he was greatly benefitted by the climatic change and after four months he returned to Bellevue, Iowa, where he remained for six months, when he located at Lourdes, Woodford county, Illinois. Ile was in
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charge there for seven years, being appointed to the Uniontown, now the Loretta congregation. During that time he built a convent and school. After eleven years in charge of the Loretta congregation he came to Cabery in 1898. and in 1904 he began the erection of a new house of worship, which has recently been completed. For four and a half years he had Cabery as an out mission from Loretta. He has spent the last twenty years in this part of the state in three missions-Lourdes, Loretta and Cabery. The present church has a membership of fifty families.
As stated, St. Joseph's Catholic church at Cabery has recently been com- pleted, the cost being ten thousand dollars. It is built in Roman style, thirty- six by eighty-five feet and has a seating capacity of three hundred. The altar is of Roman style, twenty-three and a half feet high and hand carved. There are also two side altars and the church is adorned with seven pieces of statuary, including the Sacred Heart of Mary, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, St. Anthony, St. Boniface. St. Patrick, St. Joseph and St. Francis. The church is heated by steam and is thoroughly modern in its equipment. It is a credit to the village as well as to the congregation. Father Eckert is doing excellent work here among his parishioners and has the respect of people of other denomina- tions as well.
JAMES SHELDON.
It is imperative and eminently proper that mention should be made of James Sheldon in this volume, for during forty-three years he has been a resi- dent of Ford county and is, moreover, entitled to distinction by reason of his remarkable activity. At the age of eighty-three years he is still able to do a day's work in the fields and leads a life of intense activity. It has been a commonly accepted opinion that old age must necessarily suggest idleness or want of ocenpation but on the contrary there are many notable instances wherein physical powers remain largely unimpaired. while the mental and moral development is characterized by a continuous growth. Such has been the history of James Sheldon, who is engaged in general farming and stock-raising on section 30, Pella township.
He is a native of the state of New York, having been born on the 8th of November. 1824. in Copake. Columbia county. Four generations of the family had previously resided in the Empire state. The grandfather was a Revolu-
JAMES SHELDON
MRS. JAMES SHELDON
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tionary soldier and was present at Burgoyne's surrender. Gideon Sheldon, the father of James Sheldon, spent his entire life upon a farm in Columbia county, where he followed agricultural pursuits. He married Lydia Leak, a native of the same county, and his death occurred during the early boyhod of his son James, who was left an orphan a few years later by the death of the mother. Gideon Sheldon was quite prominent locally, serving for a number of years as justice of the peace and giving unfaltering support to the whig party throughout his entire life. All who knew him esteemed him for his many excellent traits of character. In his family were nine children, of whom James, who is the youngest, is the only one now living.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for James Sheldon in his boyhood days. He lost his father in 1836 and his mother in 1851. In the meantime he acquired his education in a select school
and an academy. HIe remained at home until he attained his majority and for two years operated the farm, after which he started out in life on his own account as an agriculturist. In 1851 he removed to Genesee county, New York, where he lived for fourteen years, carrying on the work of tilling the soil. The year 1865 witnessed his arrival in Illinois and in Ford county he purchased eighty aeres of land, which was still uncultivated. He has since lived upon the place which is yet his home and his was the sixth house erected in Pella township. He could ride across the prairie to Chatsworth without meeting any sign of settlement. In June the prairies were starred with thou- sands of flowers and covered with the native grasses, while in the winter they were enshrouded in one unbroken sheet of glittering snow. The cabins, too, were of a primitive character as compared with the commodious and substan- tial homes of the present day but the early settlers possessed a strong, cour- ageous spirit that enabled them to bravely meet the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life. Mr. Sheldon brought with him six hundred and thirty-one sheep, which he had purchased for twenty-two hundred dollars, the cost of transporting them to Ford county being one hundred and fifty dollars, but the low lands here were unadapted to sheep-raising and nearly all of the sheep died of disease, so that Mr. Sheldon lost heavily thereby. He borrowed four hundred dollars with which to make payment on his present place, com- prising eighty acres, which he purchased from the railroad company for seven hundred and twenty dollars. At a later date he purchased forty acres addi- tional, which he has since sold to his son, who now resides upon that tract. His land is very rich and productive and is devoted to general farming and stock-raising. The fields are now well tilled and the place presents a most
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neat and attractive appearance, bringing to the owner year after year rich har- vests and a gratifying financial income.
In September, 1845, in Columbia county, New York, Mr. Sheldon was united in marriage to Miss Annie Van Dusen, a native of that county and a descendant of one of the early families of the state. IIer parents, Richard and Clara Van Dusen, spent their entire lives in Columbia county as farming people, the father owning nine hundred acres of land. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon has been born but one child, Gideon, whose birth occurred in Colum- bia county, New York, January 22, 1849, he being therefore about sixteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Illinois. Here he completed his education in the public schools and in Onarga Seminary, which he attended for one year. He herded cattle for his father all over this country for seven years and has killed deer in Pella township, while lesser game was very plen- tiful. On the 24th of July. 1872, in Genesee county, New York, he married Miss Nellie Clark. In 1882 he removed to Griggs county, North Dakota, where he entered a claim from the government and carried on farming for seven years. He has since purchased forty acres of land from his father and lives upon this tract adjoining the old homestead, being one of the representa- tive and highly esteemed farmers of the community. Unto him and his wife have been born four children : Addie, the wife of Martin Crandall. of Indi- ana, by whom she has two children : Laura, the wife of John Holmes, of Pella township, by whom she has three children; Nellie, the wife of James IIaas, of Iroquois county, Illinois, and the mother of one child; and James, who married Mae Wilkinson and is at home.
In 1904 Mr. Sheldon was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 1st of November of that year at the age of seventy-nine, her birth having occurred October 10, 1825. She had indeed been to him a faithful companion and helpmate on life's journey, so that her loss came as a great blow to him. Mr. Sheldon still resides upon the old homestead, which has been his place of residence throughout the entire period in which he has lived in Ford county. He has been somewhat prominent in public affairs and is a lifelong republican, who was sent as a delegate to the first republican conven- tion in New York, thus participating in one of the most important historie events of the state. He was supervisor of Pella township for four years and declined other offices, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs. However, he has always been loyal to the best interests of the community and has done much to promote public progress and improvement. He is a man of exceptional vitality and energy and at the age of eighty-three
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years is able to work in the fields every day, doing as much work as a man of half his years. In his business affairs he has ever displayed sound judg- ment and keen discrimination and at the same time has ever been straightfor- ward and honorable, basing his business principles and actions upon the rules which govern strict and unswerving integrity. Ile is a man of many friends and has long been numbered among the valued citizens of the county.
JOHN P. SMITH.
John P. Smith, engaged in the banking business in Roberts and now president of the village, discharging his duties in a prompt, businesslike and progressive manner, was born near Kempville, Ontario, Canada, on the 17th of July, 1855. Ilis father, James F. Smith, died in Roberts August 26, 1896, and the mother still resides here. A danghter of the family, Mary, who became the wife of R. S. Montague, died in North Dakota in 1895.
John P. Smith was only about four or five years of age when brought by his parents to Lyman township, Ford county, Illinois, the family home being established upon a farm about three miles north of Roberts. He early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agrieulturist and assisted in the various departments of farm work until nineteen years of age. 'As opportunity offered, he attended the common schools and when a young man of nineteen years attended the Northern Indiana Normal school, at Val- paraiso, for one term. He then accepted a position with the Gilman, Clinton & Springfield Railroad Company, now a part of the Illinois Central system, as station agent and operator, being located for seven years at Cornland. On the expiration of that period he came to Roberts, where he began business as a general merchant in connection with his father and two brothers, under the firm style of James S. Smith & Sons. This relation was continued for about seven years, from 1882 until 1889. In the latter year, John P. Smith sold out and with his father built an elevator, at a cost of four thousand dollars, and embarked in the grain business, in which he continued with success for about five years. On the expiration of that period he disposed of his interests in the grain trade and erected a business block in Roberts which he rented until it was destroyed by fire in 1892. He then rebuilt it and in 1895 estab- lished a banking business, to which he now devotes the greater part of his time and attention. It is conducted as a private bank under his own name. II
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also carries on a general insurance business and in former years engaged in the coal trade, handling both bituminous and anthracite coal. Whatever he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion, possessing a spirit of strong enterprise that enables him to overcome all difficulties and obstacles in his path.
On the 6th of October, 1880, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Sarah N. Day, a native of Logan county, Illinois, and unto them were born three children, but the son, Clyde, died at the age of nine years. The dangh- ters, Della and Edna, are twins. The former is assisting her father in the bank and is a graduate of the commercial department of Onarga Seminary. Edna has taken a course in music in the Wesleyan College of Music, at Bloom- ington, Illinois, and is now a teacher of piano.
Mr. Smith gives stalwart allegiance to the republican party, is recognized as a leader in its local ranks and has been elected on its ticket to fill local offices. He served as supervisor for one year, was school director for abont twelve years and at the present writing, in 1908, is president of the village, in which position he is capably directing municipal affairs. He was also school treasurer of the township for eleven years and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. He and his wife are active and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as trustee, while in the various departments of church work he is deeply and helpfully interested. Almost his entire life has been spent in this county, so that his history is well known and his fellow townsmen give him their respect and confidence in recog- nition of the upright and honorable life that he has led.
JOHN THOMAS PEARSON. .
A farm of eighty acres on section 20, comprising the north half of the northwest quarter, pays tribute to the care and labor of John Thomas Pearson, who has continuously made his home upon this place for twenty years. He was born in Tallington, Lincolnshire, England, November 2, 1861, and is a son of John Thomas and Harriet (Taylor) Pearson. The father, whose birth occurred in Lincolnshire, on the 9th of March, 1833, died in August, 1905, and the mother, who was born in Northamptonshire in 1827, now makes her home with her son John T. and has passed the eighty-first milestone on life's journey. The father was also living with his son John at the time of his
MR. AND MRS. J. T. PEARSON
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death, which resulted from an accident. In their family were three children : John Thomas; Benjamin, who was born July 16, 1864, and is living in Douglas county, Missouri; and Mary, the wife of C. A. Petterson, of Grant county, Indiana.
John Thomas Pearson spent the first twenty-three years of his life in the land of his nativity and in June, 1885, arrived in Livingston county, Illinois, with his parents, his brother and sister. Ile has since made his home in this state and on the 1st of March, 1888, removed from Livingston to Ford county, taking up his abode upon the farm which has since been his home. It com- prises eighty acres of land on section 20, being the north half of the northwest quarter. All of the improvements here have been made by Mr. Pearson, for when he took possession of the place there was only a little shanty and a corn crib upon the farm. He has erected substantial buildings and had brought the fields into a state of rich fertility, so that he annually harvests good crops and derives therefrom a gratifying income. Hle is not only progressive but also thoroughly practical in his methods and what he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion.
In December, 1905, Mr. Pearson was married to Miss Sarah Law, who was born in Utica, New York, December 5, 1853, her parents being John and Han- nah (Hodges) Law, natives of England. They removed from the Empire state to Grundy county, Illinois, and in 1859 became residents of Livingston county.
In his political views Mr. Pearson is a stalwart republican but without desire for the honors or emoluments of public office. He has always preferred to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs and is justly accounted one of the representative and substantial farmers of the community.
THOMAS READ.
Thomas Read, now living retired in Piper City, was for a long period closely, actively and successfully connected with agricultural interests, and the rest which he is now enjoying is well merited. He dates his residence in the county from 1870, having in the previous year purchased property here. A native of the Empire state, he was born in Chautauqua county, September 26, 1842, of the marriage of Thomas and Elizabeth (Ferguson) Read. The father was a native of Saratoga county, New York, but was married in Chautauqua county, where he lived for many years. He was a farmer by occupation and
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always employed that means in order to provide for his wife and children. He died in July, 1861, and two years later, in 1863, the family came to the middle west, settling in La Salle county, Illinois, where they first rented land for a year. Thomas Read then purchased eighty acres, making payment for same with two erops. In 1868 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Iroquois county, which he sold the following year, at which time he bought a quarter section in Ford county on section 11, Pella township. In 1870 he came to the county and broke one hundred acres of wild prairie land. He then planted sixty acres of sod corn and thus was begun the development of his farm. In 1871 he and his brother took up their abode upon the farm in Ford county and kept "bachelor's hall" for two years.
In 1874 Thomas Read was united in marriage to Miss Emma Spaulding, of Cook county, Illinois, and unto them were born two children but both have passed away. The wife and mother died in 1881, and Mr. Read afterward married again, his second union being with Miss Katherine Hench, a native of Perry county, Pennsylvania. They became the parents of twins and also lost these children and Mrs. Katherine Read died in 1895. In 1898 Mr. Read was a third time married, his present wife, Mrs. Margaret Read, being a native of Scotland, who came to America with her parents at an early day.
While Mr. Read carried on farming he made a specialty of raising stock and always kept on hand good grades. From time to time he has added to his property and he now owns six hundred acres of valuable farm land in Ford county and seven hundred aeres in Mississippi, both being good income proper- ty. As a farmer he was diligent and persevering and transformed his home place into a very valuable and productive farm, from which he annually har- vested good crops, while his sale of stock also added materially to his aoou! He was always watchful of opportunities pointing to success and through legitimate business methods won his prosperity.
In his political views Mr. Read has always been a republican and is interested in the growth and success of his party. He has served as school director, as road commissioner and as drainage ditch commissioner, filling the last named position for several years. He holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he is serving as a trustee and his life is in harmony with his principles. In all of his business undertakings he has been thorough- ly reliable and straightforward and in every relation of life has been found worthy the regard and confidence of his fellowmen. Though he had no capital when he started out in life he realized the fact that labor is the basis of suecess and feared not that laborions attention to detail and that unremitting industry
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which always secure advancement in business circles. Mr. Read has many warm friends in the county and is well known in this part of the state, where he has resided for thirty-seven years.
GEORGE ONKEN.
George Onken belongs to that class of representative American citizens who are known as self-made men and his success has been built upon the substantial qualities of unfaltering energy, determination and honorable busi- ness methods. Hle is now numbered among the substantial farmers of Drummer township, living on section 10, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land, while farming interests elsewhere in the county and state also pay tribute to him. Ile is a son of Wilke Onken, who spent his entire life in Germany as did also the mother of our subjeet. He had three brothers who were soldiers in the German army.
At the age of twenty-five years George Onken eame to America, erossing the Atlantic in 1869. Making his way into the interior of the county, he settled first in Menard county, Illinois, where he worked by the day for three years. While he had no capital, he possessed laudable ambition, which prompted him to work steadily and save his money with the hope that he might later engage in business on his own aecount. When three years had passed he rented land at Petersburg, Illinois, and subsequently, abont 1872, rented a farm of two hundred acres in Ford county, upon which he lived for two years.
On the expiration of that period Mr. Onken was married in 1875 to Miss Wilhelmina von Brethorst, a daughter of L. L. von Brethorst, of Ford county. Five years later he purchased a quarter seetion of land for twenty-five dollars per acre. Year after year the work of plowing, planting and harvesting is carried on, with the result that the place is today valued at two hundred dollars per acre. Many substantial improvements have been made on the farm and in addition to this property Mr. Onken also owns one hundred and seventy-four acres north of Gibson City, which he rents, a quarter section in McLean county, which is also rented, and a half section in North Dakota. ITis home is one of the finest residences of Ford county and stands as a splendid monument to his life of thrift, enterprise and unwearied industry. He has been very successful and now makes a specialty of the raising of corn and oats.
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In all of his farm work he is practical and progressive and is numbered among the leading agriculturists of this part of the state.
As the years have passed Mr. and Mrs. Onken have reared a family of sons and daughters who do credit to their name. Minnie, their eldest child, now Mrs. Emminger, is a widow and has one son. Elizabeth is at home. Deana is a teacher in the ninth room of the Gibson public schools. Ida is the wife of Merton Gilmore and has two daughters. George is in the second year of the Illinois University. Alice G. is also under the parental roof.
In his political views Mr. Onken is a republican, with firm faith in the principles of the party yet without aspiration for office. He belongs to the Presbyterian church and his life has been guided by its principles and its teachings. While he has won notable success as an agriculturist, he has at the same time followed methods that have been most honorable, his life record proving that prosperity and an untarnished name may be gained simultaneous- ly. His example, too, should serve to encourage and inspire others who have to start out as he did-empty-handed-placing their dependance solely upon their own labors.
GEORGE H. HIDDLESON.
George II. Hiddleson, a practical, progressive and enterprising farmer engaged in the raising of grain and stock on section 18, Rogers township, was born in Little Rock township, Kendall county, Illinois, his parents being Wil. liam and Elizabeth (Ferguson) Hiddleson. Upon the home farm George HI. Iliddleson spent the days of his boyhood and youth and when not occupied with the duties of the schoolroom he worked in the fields or in his father's brickyard until twenty-two years of age. IIe has lived upon his present farm since February, 1867, and has converted the place into a splendid property, bringing forth rich harvests annually. He first purchased eighty acres of land and afterward added to it a tract similar in size. He also bought eighty acres in Norton township, Kankakee county, so that at the present time he has two hundred and forty acres of rich and productive land, his last purchase being just across the county line. He has added to his farm many modern equipments and accessories and everything about the place is indicative of his careful supervision. Ilis first purchase of eighty acres was a tract of raw prairie but with characteristic energy he began its development and in the
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