USA > Illinois > Ford County > History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 13
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drained farms in the county, the soil being especially adapted for the raising of various cereals, especially corn and oats. He has built nice barns and cribs upon his place, has his buildings all painted and has a comfortable residence. In fact everything about the place is indicative of his progressive spirit and his unremitting care.
Just prior to his emigration to the new world, Mr. Johannsen was married on the 12th of May, 1882, to Miss Dora Semmelhack, who was born in Germany and lived in the same neighborhood as the Johannsen family. She is a daughter of Nieklaus and Magretha (MeGrote) Semmelhack. Her mother died in 1901, at the age of seventy-four years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johannsen have been born three children: John, who married Maud Thompson and is a station agent in South Dakota; and Willie and Henry, at home.
Mr. Johannsen is a republican who, keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day, is able to support his position by intelligent argument: IIe belongs to the German Lutheran church and his life is an honorable and upright one in harmony with his professions. He has always realized that "there is no excellence without labor" and his entire career has been character- ized by an unfaltering diligence and unflagging perseverance which have made him one of the prosperous citizens of this part of the county.
AUGUST BECK.
The farming interests of Wall township find a worthy representative in August Beck, who owns and cultivates one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 7 and has made it a well improved property. He was born in Posen, Germany, on the 27th of November, 1852, but since the spring of 1853 has been a resident of Illinois, having been brought to America by his parents, Gottlieb and Christina (Dreages) Beck. The father died in 1885, at the age of sixty-five years, and the mother passed away in Minnesota in 1907 at the age of eighty-one years. He was twice married and Fred Beck, of Melvin, is a son of the first marriage. The children of the second union are: Gottlieb, now deceased; Angust, of this review; William and Henry, who are residing in Minnesota; Albert, deceased; and Julia, the wife of Isaac Thompson, of South Dakota.
When the family came to the new world they settled in Chicago, where August Beck had the opportunity of pursuing his studies in the public schools
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until about fourteen years of age. The family then removed to Marshall county, Hlinois, where they lived for two years, and in 1868 came to Ford county, where they have since made their home. August Beek remained under the parental roof until his marriage and was early trained to habits of thrift, industry and economy, developing thereby characteristics which have proven of value to him in his later business career. On starting out in life on his own account he rented land, which he cultivated for about five years, his industry and careful expenditure during that period bringing to him the capital which enabled him to purchase his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 7, Wall township. Ile has placed upon it all of the buildings and modern improvements and it is now a desirable property, from which he annually derives a good income. He is practical in his methods and as the result of his work in the fields he yearly harvests good crops, for which he finds a ready sale on the market.
In February, 1880. Mr. Beck was married to Miss Mary Rose, who was born in Williamsburg, New York, now a part of Brooklyn, February 6. 1856. and in 1865 was brought to La Salle county, Illinois, by her parents, Henry and Anna (Schmidt) Rose, who in 1876 removed to Ford county. They were natives of Hesse, Germany, and arrived in the Empire state about 1842. After coming to Illinois. Mr. Rose spent most of his life in Ford county, but at length retired and removed to Streator, Illinois, where both he and his wife passed away, their graves being made in the cemetery there. Mr. Rose was more than eighty years of age at the time of his demise and his wife had almost reached the age of eighty years at her death. While in New York he was employed as foreman in a chemical factory in Williamsburg. The family of this worthy couple numbered three sons and a daughter: Heury, a resident of Chicago; Mrs. Beck ; and George and Fred, who are also in Chicago. Henry was extensively engaged in merchandising in Streator at one time and his brother George was associated with him, but they both became followers of Alexander Dowie and removed to Zion City, Henry Rose putting much of his money in that place.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beck have been born eight children : Anna, the wife of Dan Myers, of Melvin; George, at home; Elizabeth, the wife of Calvin Mat- thews, of Melvin; William, Laura, Walter, Edwin and Florence, all yet under the parental roof. The family are members of the German Lutheran church at Melvin and Mr. Beck gives his political allegiance to the republican party but has never been an office seeker, preferring to give undivided attention to his business interests. Almost his entire life has been spent in Illinois and he
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is imbued with a spirit of enterprise and progress, which have been the dom- inant factor in the upbuilding of this section of the country. As he has lived for many years in Ford county he has a wide acquaintance here and his friends know him as an enterprising agriculturist and a man of genuine worth.
J. A. THOMPSON.
J. A. Thompson is cultivating a farm of five hundred and sixty acres on section 17, Pella township, and is a farmer whose well directed energy and keen foresight are bringing to him a creditable measure of prosperity. He was born in Schuyler county, Illinois, August 1, 1861, his parents being Amos R. and Martha W. (Smith) Thompson, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume.
As a farm boy J. A. Thompson spent the days of boyhood and youth and in the public schools he acquired a fair education that qualified him to take up the more responsible duties of life when he put aside the tasks of the school- room. He remained with his father until twenty-two years of age, when he started out on his own account and for three years rented a farm in Iroquois county, Illinois. He then went to South Dakota, where he worked for his unele, Ben Smith, for two years, after which he took up a homestead claim · and at once began its improvement and development. There he remained for sixteen years and wrought a marked transformation in the appearance of the place as the result of the care and labor which he bestowed upon the fields. On the expiration of that period he removed to Minnesota, where he bought a farm and lived for two years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and bought another farm in Minnesota, which continued his place of abode for five years.
Mr. Thompson then came to Ford county, in 1905, and here rented five hundred and sixty acres on section 17, Pella township. where he has since made his home. He still owns a quarter section of land in Minnesota. He makes a specialty of raising stock and is an energetic, practical farmer whose labors have brought to him the success that he has enjoyed since he started out on his own account in early manhood.
In 1889 Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Sadie Kinsman, who was born in Minnesota. Her father is now deceased, while her mother is living in South Dakota. They were the parents of six children, and unto Mr.
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
and Mrs. Thompson five children have been born but they lost their fourth child, Byron. The others are still under the parental roof, namely: Clyde, Ray, Ethel and Martha.
Mr. Thompson has taken three degrees in Masonry in Piper City. Ile also belongs to the Woodmen Camp and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Waterloo, South Dakota. Much of his life has been spent in Illinois and he is a splendid type of the Illinois farmer, alert, enterprising and progressive. After a sojourn in the northwest he believes that there is no district so favor- able to the agriculturist as his native state and is now closely associated with its agricultural development and improvement.
MRS. ELIZABETH COOPER.
Mrs. Elizabeth Cooper is a lady most highly respected in Melvin, where she has lived since 1892, deriving her income from a good farming property, situated in Peach Orchard township, Ford county. Mrs. Cooper was born in Devonshire, England, in the year 1830. There she was reared and educated and in the early '50s emigrated to the new world, her destination being Perry, Wyoming county. New York, where she gave her hand in marriage to William Cooper, who was likewise a native of England, and emigrated to this country in the '50s.
Following their marriage the young couple removed to Geneseo, Henry connty, Illinois, where Mr. Cooper secured employment as a clerk in a store. He also purchased a house and lot in Geneseo, and there made his home for several years, subsequent to which time he took up his abode in Livingston county, this state, where he remained for a short time and then removed to Ford county, where he purchased eighty aeres of land, to which he later added an additional tract of eighty aeres, which he improved and cultivated for many years. In 1892, however, he abandoned all active work and retired to Melvin, where he purchased a nice home and lived in well earned ease until the time of his death, which occurred in 1900. Ile gave his political support to the republican party and was called by his fellow townsmen to fill several public offices in the township. Ile was a man of honorable methods, straightforward in all his business dealings and his many excellent traits of character won him many friends, so that his death was the occasion of deep regret not only to the members of his household but to the people of the community in which he had lived.
WILLIAM COOPER
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MRS. ELIZABETH COOPER
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By her marriage Mrs. Cooper has become the mother of seven children but one of the number is now deceased. The family record is as foll~ .. William A .. who resides in Iowa ; Jennie, at home; Watson J. ; Mary, the widow of George Merrit ; James, who makes his home in Ford county; Eva, who has passed away ; and Cora, the wife of Neal Dixon, of Ford county.
Mrs. Cooper is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Melvin, to which her husband also belonged. She is in possession of a good farming property comprising one hundred and sixty acres left her by her husband, and from this farm she derives an income sufficient to enable her to live in well earned ease. She is a gentle, kindly woman, charitable in her estimate of every one and her many excellent traits of heart and mind have won for her the esteem and admiration of a host of warm friends.
A. B. BROWNING.
A. B. Browning is a farmer of Drummer township who cultivates two hundred and eighty aeres of land, of which he owns one hundred and twenty acres. He lives on section 8 and his home place is indicative of his enterpris- ing methods, showing the care and labor which he bestows upon it.
Mr. Browning was born at Fairmount. Vermilion county, Illinois, October 3. 1869, his parents being George and Mary (Riley) Browning. The father, a native of Shropshire, England, crossed the Atlantic with his parents when ten years of age and became a resident of Springfield, Ohio. At the time of hostilities between the north and the south concerning the question of secession he enlisted for service with the Union army in 1861, as a member of the Twenty-sixth Illinois Infantry, and continued at the front until the close of the war. He died in the year 1897 and is still survived by his wife.
A. B. Browning pursued his education in the public schools between the ages of six and sixteen years, and afterward worked with his father upon the home farm until his marriage in 1892 to Miss Lucy F. Wilson, daughter of W. J. and Lydia Wilson, of Ford county. They have become the parents of three children : Iloward, fourteen years of age; Carl, a little lad of five years ; and Ethel Marie.
Mr. Browning owns now one hundred and twenty acres of land and in addition to the further development and improvement of this place at the present time he also cultivates another tract of one hundred and sixty acres,
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
which he rents. With the care of two hundred and eighty acres of land his life is a busy and active one, characterized by energy and unfaltering diligence. The success that he has achieved is attributable entirely to his own labors. He is. moreover, a publie-spirited citizen, and cooperates in measures for the general good. Ile is now a member of the Modern Woodmen camp at Gibson City. also belongs to the Presbyterian church and champions the cause of education as a school director. His political support is given to the republican party, and he is a popular man who has many friends in this community and well deserves the regard in which he is held.
DAVID SPEEDIE.
David Speedie has since 1885 been the owner of a farm upon which he now resides on section 17, Dix township. He is of Scotch descent and was born at Fall River, Massachusetts, an the 7th of March, 1850, his parents being Matthew and Isabella (Colston) Speedie. The father was a millwright by trade and in Scotland built water wheels, threshing machines. etc. He came to America in 1849 as passenger on a sailing vessel, which, after a voyage of forty-two days, reached Nova Scotia. In Scotland, six months before his emigration, he was married to Miss Isabella Colston, and after reaching Newfoundland they proceeded on their way to Fall River, Massachusetts. All their children were born in that state, where they lived for about fifteen years, Matthew Speedie working at the machinist's trade. Removing to the middle west, he located in Logan county, Illinois, where he rented a farm in March. 1865. The following year he came to Ford county and purchased land on section 8. Dix township, becoming the owner of a tract of eighty acres, for which he paid six dollars per acre. It was raw prairie land, upon which no improvements had been made but with characteristic energy he began its development and cultivation and soon converted it into a productive farm. Ile later purchased eighty acres from an unele, David Speedie, for which he paid twenty-one hundred dollars. He was progressive in all his work and was the first to nse tile in the locality, paying thirty-five dollars per thousand for three-inch tile. lle demonstrated to his neighbor the utility of this course and many others followed his example. His political views were in accord with the principles and purposes of the republican party.
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Matthew Speedie was married twice, the mother of our subject being his second wife. Ilis first wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Jack, died in Scotland. A son of that marriage, Andrew M. Speedie, is deceased. The children of the second marriage, are: David, of this review ; Isabella Jane, the wife of J. S. Martin, a resident of Texarkana, Arkansas; W. T., who is engaged in the operation of the home farm ; and Mary E., who became the wife of J. W. Preston but both are now deceased. The death of the father occurred when he had reached the venerable age of eighty-one years.
At the usual age David Speedie began his education as a district-school student in Massachusetts and throughout his entire life he has been interested . in the cause of education, the public-school system of his locality finding in him a warm and stalwart friend, who has done effective service in its behalf while filling the office of school director for two terms. At the age of twelve years he began working in the Globe Print Works at Fall River, Massachusetts, and was there employed until the removal of the family to Illinois. His education therefore was largely acquired before he reached his twelfth year, save that in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons and by reading and observation has added largely to his knowledge.
After the removal of the family to Illinois, he worked upon the home farm and started out upon an independent business career at the age of thirty-five. Having saved some money from the wages which he had earned by working on the home farm after he had attained his majority, he invested in the property which he now owns on section 17. Dix township. Ile bought this about 1885, securing one hundred and five acres, for which he paid forty dollars per acre. Later he bought an eighty aere tract in Iroquois county, which he afterward sold and subsequently invested in ninety acres about a half mile to the east of his present farm. Purchasing the J. Thornton place in 1899, he paid for this eighty dollars per acre. He also bought fifty-five acres adjoining the old homestead, for which he paid one hundred dollars per acre in 1901. Hle now has valuable realty and has placed most of the improvements upon his farm and has tiled and drained the land. His work is carefully executed, his methods being practical and progressive and his labors are bring- ing him merited success.
On the 5th of November, 1891, Mr. Speedie was married to Miss Sarah I. Metcalf, who was born in Dix township and is a daughter of David and Sarah (Bell) Metcalf, who were farming people. Her father died in Gibson City but her mother still survives. Mr. and Mrs. Speedie have but two children, Floyd D. and Ruby, both at home.
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Politically Mr. Speedie is a republican and has served as pathmaster and as commissioner one term. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen Camp at Gibson City, and he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, in the work of which they are much interested, while to its support they con- tribute generously. Their influence is always found on the side of right and progress and in business affairs Mr. Speedie has prospered, owing to his business integrity as well as his industry.
JAMES WATSON.
James Watson, living in Piper City, is connected with the agricultural interests of the county, and. moreover, in his life record proves the fact that success is not a matter of genius, as held by some, but is the outcome of clear judgment, experience and indefatigable energy. He was born in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, September 12, 1856, his parents being William R. and Sarah Jane (Pullock) Watson, who were natives of Clarion county, Pennsyl- vania. The mother died when her son James was about ten years of age and the father afterward married again and removed with his family to this county. He is now living in Benton Harbor, Michigan. By his first marriage he had three sons and one daughter, while the children of the second marriage were two sons and three daughters.
James Watson, who is one of the two surviving sons of the father's first marriage, was a resident of the east until 1869, when, at the age of thirteen years, he accompanied his father on the removal to the middle west, the family home being established about five miles northeast of Piper City in Pella town- ship, Ford county. Mr. Watson has since been identified with the interests of this part of the state except for one year, 1876, spent in Chicago. Exelnd- ing that period, he has always followed farming in Ford county and still superintends his agricultural interests, although he is now living partially retired at Piper City. He started out on his own account when about eighteen years of age and then worked by the month for seven or eight years. Ambi- tions to engage in farming on his own account he rented land from J. A. Montelius for ten or twelve years, carefully condneting the work of the fields so that in the course of time he had an income sufficient to permit his purchase of one hundred and sixty acres of land on seetion 27, Pella township. He bought this of Mr. Montelius on the 28th of April, 1890. It was his first
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MR. AND MRS. JAMES WATSON
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY
property and with characteristic energy he began its development, bringing the fields under a high state of enltivation so that he annually gathered good crops of the cereals best adapted to soil and climate. Today he is the owner of a half section of land in Garfield county, Oklahoma, which he purchased in September, 1906. Four years ago he built his present residence in Piper City and has since lived partially retired, although he gives supervision to his farming interests. His home, containing eight rooms, is built in modern style of architecture and is one of the attractive residences of the town.
On the 12th of Angust, 1880, Mr. Watson was united in marriage to Miss Clara Jane Francis, who was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, December 8, 1862, and went to Valparaiso, Indiana, with her parents. The father died there and Mrs. Watson afterward came to Ford county, at the age of nine years, to live with her grandmother, Sarah Ruff, who was a native of Pennsylvania. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Watson have been born two daughters: Aha May, now the wife of Wilfred MeKee, who is living on her father's farm in Pella township and by whom she has one child, Watson J .; and Esther Belle, the wife of Edward Lyons, also a resident farmer of Pella township. Mr. and Mrs. Lyons also have one child, Myron James.
In his political views Mr. Watson has always been a stalwart republican and gives active support to every progressive publie movement that tends to prove of general benefit. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp of Piper City and holds membership in the Presbyterian church. His life has been ever honorable and in all relations he has been found trustworthy. Ile cer- tainly deserves much credit for what he has accomplished. His life has been one of unfaltering activity and diligence and as the years have gone by he has gained a comfortable competence and now derives his income from valiable farm holdings. Moreover, the methods that he has employed in his business career have been such as will bear the closest investigation and serutiny.
CHARLES A. COOK.
Charles A. Cook owns and conducts the Pine Grove farm, one of the valable properties of Pella township. It is situated on section 30 and is im- proved with all the conveniences and accessories that go to make up a model farm property of the twentieth century. In his business affairs Mr. Cook is thoroughly practical as well as progressive and his strong purposes and well
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directed diligence constitute the basis of the gratifying success that he now enjoys. Ilis birth occurred on the 3d of November. 1845. in London, Ontario, Canada, and he comes of English ancestry, his parents. Charles and Rosetta (Root) Cook, being natives of England and of Canada respectively. The former came to America when twenty-one years of age and for some time was employed in a wholesale store at London, Canada. Ile was married there and his wife died in Canada abont 1851. Six years later he removed to Chicago, where he conducted a real-estate business for a time and then became a resi- dent of St. Louis, Missouri. Afterward he took up his abode in New York city. where he held the position of superintendent of the Howard Mission. Ile died in July. 1892. The two sons of the family are Charles and George. the latter a resident of Los Angeles, California.
Charles A. Cook was a youth of twelve years at the time of his father's removal from Canada to Chicago and in that city he started out in life on his own account, when a youth of thirteen years. Hle afterward went to Sand- wich, Illinois, and lived with Robert Dixon until he was eighteen years of age. when he took charge of Mr. Dixon's farm, which he cultivated for seven years, carefully directing his labors as an agriculturist.
On the 11th of December, 1870, Mr. Cook was united in marriage to Miss Angeline Dean, a native of Sandwich, Illinois, and a daughter of Nelson and Sarah Dean. In the spring of 1871 the young couple removed to Ford county and Mr. Cook purchased the tract of land which he has since owned and culti- vated and which is now known as the Pine Grove farm. After residing in this county for six years he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away in July, 1877. He afterward married Carrie Montelius, a daughter of Ed Montelins, and unto them were born two children : Charles E .. who is now in Jackson county, Kansas; and Mary A., the wife of Fred Keyes whose home is in Cass county, North Dakota. The mother died in 1883 and in the spring of 1884, in Piper City. Mr. Cook was joined in wedlock to Miss Minnie Montelius, who is a sister of his second wife and a native of Freeport. Illinois, although she was reared in Piper City. By this marriage there have been born five children : Anna B., now the wife of Roy Bennett, who is resid- ing in Livingston county, Illinois; Myrtle Blanche, a stenographer in the National Bank of Piper City; JJosy Dean; Edith R .; and George Dixon.
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