USA > Illinois > Ford County > History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 16
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Unto Mr. Mondy and his present wife have been born three children : Albert, of Paxton, who married Miss Jennie Ford and has two children, Opal and Metta ; Lena; and Lee. Mrs. Moudy is a member of the Court of Honor. Both Mr. and Mrs. Moudy are widely and favorably known in the county, where they have many warm friends. It was in 1856 that Mr. Moudy arrived in Ford county and his father-in-law gave to him and his wife one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he had entered from the government at the usual price of a dollar and a quarter per acre. This land has since remained in possession of Mr. Mondy, who is its third owner and today it is worth from one hundred and thirty to one hundred and forty dollars per acre. When he took up his abode thereon deer, turkey and wild animals were numerous in the county, so that the huntsman had ample opportunity to indulge his love of the chase. As the years have passed Mr. Moudy has prospered in his undertakings and from time to time has added to his holdings until he has become one of the extensive landowners of the county. He now owns over eight hundred acres and has also given to each of his children by his first wife a good farm. IIis business affairs have been carefully conducted and he has been watchful of all indications pointing to success, while in making his purchases of land he has shown notably sound judgment in foreseeing the possible rise of property values.
JOHN ZIMMERMAN.
John Zimmerman, now deceased, was formerly connected with the farming interests of Drummer township, where his family yet reside. He was a son of Ilerman and Foskie (Halgan) Zimmerman and was born in Germany on the 23d of November, 1847. His life record covered ahnost fifty-one years, his death occurring on the 1st of October, 1898.
He was a young man when he came to America in 1865, attracted by the broader business opportunities which were afforded in the new world. He settled at Garber, Illinois, with his mother and sisters, who had preceded him to this country. In the public schools of his native land he had acquired his edneation and after reaching America he started out in business life by work- ing upon different farms in this part of the state, being thus employed for eight years. At length, when his labors had brought him sufficient capital to justify his purchase of property, he became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres, which he bought in 1881 at thirty-one dollars per acre. He afterward
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added to the property and his family now own three hundred and eighty acres of rich. productive and valuable land on section 19. Drummer township, devoted largely to the raising of corn and oats. Mr. Zimmerman improved his own land. transforming the wild tract into richly cultivated fields, while rpon the farm he placed many substantial improvements.
In 1876 Mr. Zimmerman was united in marriage to Miss Fannie Escher. a daughter of John E. Escher, a resident farmer of Ford county. The wedding was celebrated at Paxton and unto them were born two sons and two dangh- ters : Cynthia Ann, now the wife of A. W. Robinson, by whom she has two children : Frederick W. of Ford county, who is married and has one son ; Mand, the wife of Roy Johnson and the mother of one daughter; and Herman J., who lives at home and carries on the work of the farm.
Mr. Zimmerman left his family in comfortable financial circumstances: having acquired good property. His son is now engaged in the further development of the farm, which comprises three hundred and eighty acres of arable land, devoted largely to the production of corn and oats. The father deserves much credit for the success which he accomplished, as he started out in business life empty-handed. He belonged to the Lutheran church and was a member of the Masonie fraternity. In his political views he was a republi- can and he served as school director but never sought nor desired political office. He felt that his time and attention were fully taken up by his business affairs and he desired above all things to provide a comfortable living for his family. When he was called to his final rest his death was deeply deplored. not only by the members of his own household but by his friends, neighbors and associates, who had learned to esteem him for his genuine worth.
WILLARD E. PROCTOR.
Willard E. Proctor, one of the most straightforward, energetic and success- ful business men of Gibson City, is a grain merchant who has long been asso- ciated with the business interests of Ford county. Along legitimate lines of trade he has worked his way upward and belongs to that class of representative men who in every community constitute the commercial strength of the locality. He is a son of Willard and Sarah A. (Hewitt) Proctor, of Rutland county, Vermont. The mother was a daughter of Jonathan and Esther (Doolittle) llewitt, who were natives of Connectient and of English descent. Her grand-
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MR. AND MRS. W. E. PROCTOR
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father, Amos Hewitt, was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary war who valiantly fought for the independence of the colonies. The ancestry of the family can be traced back in England to the year 1461. Captain Willard Proctor, father of our subject, was a veteran of the late war and was born in Rutland county, Vermont, March 5, 1827, one of the eight children of Philip and Dorcas (Dimmick) Proctor.
The birth of Willard E. Proctor occurred October 13, 1854, at Walling- ford, Connecticut, and when he was but six months old his parents removed to New Rutland, Illinois. He is indebted to the public-school system of the state for the greater part of his education, while his business training was received in a commercial college at Peoria. On putting aside his text-books he began working for his father in the grain business and later in connection with the dry-goods trade for three years. Removing to Proctor, Illinois, he settled on a farm and also carried on a grain business with gratifying success. He still continues in the grain trade, shipping to all parts of the country, and his annual purchases and sales are extensive. He has become known as a well known grain merchant of this portion of the state and in his business life shows keen discernment, sagacity and unwearied industry, qualities which con- stitute an excellent foundation upon which to build the superstructure of suc- cess. He and his wife own five hundred and twenty-five acres of rich and valuable land, which is devoted to general farming. The town of Proctor was named in his honor and there he maintained his residence until about 1905, when he removed to Gibson City. where he now makes his home superintending his business interests from this point.
On the 30th of November, 1876, Mr. Proctor was united in marriage to Miss Carrie N. Allen, a daughter of . Dr. H. D. Allen, of Rutland, Illinois. They had one child, Florence Mae, who is now the wife of William Hellmick. The wife and mother died July 30, 1890, and in 1892 Mr. Proctor wedded Mrs. Ellen Farlin, the widow of Joseph Farlin, by whom she had two children : George Bruce, who married Miss Elva Fox and is now living in Proctor; and Clementina, the wife of E. R. Fraser, of Latty, Ohio.
Mr. and Mrs. Proctor hold membership in the First Methodist Episcopal church, are deeply interested in its work and cooperate heartily in an effort to promote its growth and extend its influence. Mr. Proctor is now serving as a member of its official board. . He belongs to the Lotus Club and is a republican in politics, interested in the questions and issues of the day. He is now serving his second term as supervisor and was postmaster of Proctor for sixteen years. He is regarded as a public-spirited citizen, belonging to that
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class of representative American men who by promoting individual success also contribute to the public welfare. He adheres to high ideals in business, in citizenship and in social life and without invidious distinction may be termed one of the foremost residents of Gibson City.
W. J. HUNT.
W. J. Hunt, who is now living retired in a fine residence in Melvin, was born in Marshall county, Illinois, January 31, 1842, a son of Cornelius and Ann (Sidell) Hunt, who are mentioned at length on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of John S. Hunt. A brother of our subject, Jake, was shot while serving as a soldier in the Union army and died from the wound within seven days, thus sacrificing his life on the altar of his country.
W. J. Hunt acquired a common-school education and remained under the parental roof until 1862, when he enlisted for service in the Civil war as a member of the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Infantry under Captain Ludington, being at that time twenty years of age. He was captured at Hartsville, Kentucky, but was held a prisoner for only ten days and during the course of his service in the Union army participated in the battles of Look- out Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Stone River and in a number of skirmishes. Whether on the firing line or on the lonely pieket line he was always found loyal to his duty and returned home with a most creditable military record, being very fortunate in that he had never been wounded. After receiving an honorable discharge from the army he returned to La Salle county, Illinois, where he was engaged in operating rented land for a period of seven years. He then purchased one hundred and twenty acres on section 36, Peach Orchard township, Ford county, and later added forty aeres more, so that he now owns one hundred and sixty acres of rich and valuable farming land, part of which is located within the corporation limits of Melvin. As the years passed by he added many improvements to his property and met with a gratifying measure of success in his agricultural interests, the fields yielding their annual tribute of golden grain as a reward for the care and labor which he bestowed upon them. When his well directed energy and enterprise had brought him a competence he retired from active farm work and has since lived in a com- modious and substantial residence on Hunt street in Melvin, in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil. While on the farm he made a specialty of
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raising draft horses, this branch of his business also bringing to him a good financial return.
In 1866 Mr. Hunt was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E. Vanhorn, a daughter of Joseph and Ann Vanhorn, who were natives of Ohio and are now deceased. Mrs. Hunt was one of a family of three children and by her marriage has become the mother of two children: Anna Bell, who has passed away; and Jacob Clyde, who is married and makes his home in Melvin. The latter has a son, of whom the grandparents are very proud.
Mr. Hunt is a republican in his political views, while fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Pythias Lodge, No. 179, at Melvin, and main- tains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in G. A. R. Post, No. 500. His wife is a valued member of Relief Corps, No. 159, and both she and her husband support the Methodist Episcopal church. Our subject is widely recognized as one of the pioneer agriculturists of the county, who aided in laying broad and deep the foundation for its present high state of development and progress, and whose aid and influence can ever be counted upon to further any movement or measure for the public good.
REV. FATHER M. M. GLEASON.
Rev. Father M. M. Gleason, priest in charge of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic church at Gibson City, was born in Boston in 1872, and was educated in the public and private schools, completing a classical course in Boston College of the Jesuit Fathers in 1894. Having prepared for the priesthood and taken holy orders, Father Gleason came to Gibson City in 1900 as pastor of the church of Our Lady of Lourdes and has built up a fair congregation. The house of worship is one of the attractive little churches of the county, and the church work has been well organized in all departments.
Father Gleason has charge of the Catholic parishioners at Melvin and Roberts, making regular trips to those towns and looking after the spiritual welfare of his people. IIe is a man of literary tastes and scholarly habits and his studies and labors are continually promoting his efficiency. He has now served for seven years in this pastorate. The church was erected twenty- seven years ago, and the first resident pastor was Father Barry, who remained here for three years and was succeeded by Father Kelly, while later Father Cannon, now of Urbana, then had charge. The church was built by
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the congregation and is self-sustaining. Father Gleason is much beloved by his flock, who come to him with matters of temporal as well as spiritual guidance, and find in him a friend and helper.
SWEN ANDERSON.
In a history of those who have attained success and as a result of their activity and energy in former years are now enabled to live retired, mention should be made of Swen Anderson, who was formerly identified with the farming interests of Sullivant township and with mercantile interests in Sibley. His life record began in the southern portion of Sweden, near the town of Lund, January 6, 1844, his parents being Anders and Carrie (Swenson) Olson. The boy pursued his education in the common schools of his native country and in 1864 crossed the Atlantic to America as a young man of twenty years He had heard favorable reports concerning the new world and its opportunities and re- solved that he would try to better his financial condition on this side the Atlantic. He spent most of his time between 1864 and 1868 in Champaign county, Illinois, working as a farm hand, and in the latter year removed to Ford county. En- tering the employ of Mr. Sullivant, he continued in his service until 1876, when he rented land of his employer and for six years continued the cultivation of the tract. In the meantime he was making gradual progress in a financial way and at length his industry and perseverance enabled him to engage in business on his own account. Removing to Sibley in 1882, he established a humber and coal yard, which he conducted until 1905. Since that time he has lived retired, having acquired a capital sufficient to relieve him of the necessity of further la- bor and yet supply him with all of the comforts that go to make life worth living. As a lumber merchant he built up an excellent trade owing to his fair and honorable dealings, his reasonable prices and his earnest desire to please his patrons. Thus year after year he increased his capital until he is now numbered among the substantial residents of the community.
Mr Anderson has filled nearly all of the offices in his township to which the people could elect him. He served as justice of the peace for eighteen years and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial, few of his decisions ever being reversed. He is now president of the village and is also serving as notary pub- lic and he has had an appointment from every governor from the election of Beveridge to the present time. No public trust reposed in him has ever been be-
SWEN ANDERSON
MRS. SWEN ANDERSON
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traved in the slightest degree. On the contrary he is most loyal to the public interests and his labors have been attended with results highly satisfactory to the community.
In 1874 Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Lotta Swanson, of Fairbury, Illinois, a danghter of August Swanson. They became the parents of seven children but five of the number have passed away. Those still living are Carrie and James L., the latter a resident of this county.
Mr. Anderson was the pioneer among the Swedish people of Sullivant town- ship and is today the oldest citizen of the township. When he came here much of the district was swampy and unfit for cultivation but drainage and persistent labor have transformed it into valuable and productive farms. In the work of general improvement he has borne his part and has been a factor in the agricult- ural and mercantile progress of the community. In his business affairs he has always been found thoroughly reliable and in all things has been actuated by a spirit of enterprise and progress that have constituted the basis of his success. He has been the champion of many progressive public measures, the cause of education especially finding in him a warm friend. The first schoolhouse in the township was located on the east side of the township. the district being formed from a portion of this and Peach Orchard township. The school, established in 1870, was known as the Bell school. The second school was established at Sibley, in what was known as school district No. 3, and was a very pretentious temple of learning for that time, containing four rooms. The first store in Sibley was erected by Eli Harvey and in it was carried a general line of merchandise owned by Mr. Church. The first postoffice of the locality was at Oak Grove, which was beyond the present corporation limits of the town of Sibley and M. L. Sullivant was appointed the first postmaster in 1872. The first elevator was built by Mr. Sullivant in 1873 at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars and is still in operation, although some improvements and additions have been made.
Mr. Anderson has always been deeply interested in the work of the develop- ment here and has given his aid and cooperation to many movements for the public good. He served as school director and as treasurer of the school board for a number of years and has always given his political allegiance to the republican party. His religious faith is that of the Lutheran denomination and he was one of the founders of the church in the town, being actively associated with its membership since its organization. Coming to America as a young man of twenty years empty-handed and unknown, he faced conditions which would dishearten many a man of less resolute and determined spirit. Mr. Anderson, however, possessed heroic qualities in his determination to win success
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and as the years have gone by he has not only carved out a comfortable fortune for himself but has also made an honored name, his record winning for him the confidenee, good will and admiration of those who know him.
WILLIAM JACK.
William Jack owns and cultivates an excellent farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 22, Rogers township. He has resided upon this place since he made purchase of the property in the spring of 1903 and has made many substantial improvements upon it during the intervening years. He is a native of county Antrim, Ireland, born July 11, 1862, his parents being James and Nancy (MeClintock) Jack, who spent their entire lives in Ireland. The father is still living there but the mother is now deceased.
William was the fourth in order of birth in their family of ten children, five sons and five daughters. He was reared to the occupation of farming and continued his identification with agricultural pursuits until he became con- nected with mining interests and when he determined to come to America he was serving as an assistant pit boss in the coal mines of his native land. The favorable reports which he heard concerning America and its opportunities, however, induced him to seek a home in the new world and in 1883 he crossed the Atlantic, being then a young man of twenty-one years. He made his way at once into the interior of the country, his destination being Kempton, Ford county, Illinois, where he arrived on the 3d of November. He has since resided in the county and for four years after his arrival he worked as a section hand. He then began working by the month as a farm hand, being thus em- ploved for two years, after which he resolved to engage in farming on his own account and rented an eighty-acre tract of land which he cultivated for four- teen years. His diligence, perseverance and careful expenditure during that time brought him the capital that enabled him to purchase one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 22, Rogers township, in the spring of 1903. This is a well improved place with good buildings and all the modern machinery necessary to facilitate the work of the fields. Annually he garners rich harvests and everything about the place is indicative of the care and labor which he bestows upon the farm. Moreover, he is a stockholder in the Farmers' State Bank at Cabery and is now accounted one of the substantial residents of the community.
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In October, 1884, Mr. Jack was married to Miss Jane Kenney, a native of eounty Antrim, Ireland, born July 11, 1863. She came alone to America in 1881 to join her brother, James Kenney, then of Gilman, Illinois. Her parents, Archie and Rachel (Corry) Kenney, spent their entire lives in Ireland but both are now deceased.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jack have been born five children : Wilbur, who died in infancy; Alice, at home; Ray, who died at the age of five months; Harvey, who is attending school at Onarga, Illinois, as a student in the Grand Prairie Seminary; and Ruth, at home.
Mr. Jack is a member of the Modern Woodmen Camp and gives his politi- cal allegiance to the republican party, keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day. Ho attends the Presbyterian church and his life commends him to the confidence and good will of his fellow townsmen. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in a business way, for he started out here empty-handed and the suecess he has achieved is attributable entirely to his perseverance and labor, which have been intelligently directed and prompted by laudable ambition. 1
MRS. CAROLINE ANTOINETTE JOHNSON.
Mrs. Caroline Antoinette Johnson is numbered among the highly respected residents of Roberts, Illinois, where since 1906 she has made her home. She was born in Denmark, February 15, 1840, a daughter of Christian and Catherine Johnson, whose family numbered ten children. The daughter was reared in her native country and being left an orphan at the early age of thir- teen she was then compelled to make her own way in the world.
At the age of twenty-five Miss Caroline Antoinette Trandberg gave her hand in marriage to James Johnson, who was likewise born in Denmark, the date of his birth being January 29. 1830. Immediately following their marriage they emigrated to America, the year 1865 witnessing their arrival in Illinois. They first located in Washington county, where Mr. Johnson worked at his trades of carpenter and stone-mason, making his home there for six years, when in 1871 he came with his family to Ford county. He rented a farm in Peach Orchard township, which he operated for two years, at the same time carrying on his work as a carpenter and stone-mason. In 1874 he pur- chased eighty aeres of land, situated on section 24, Peach Orchard township.
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IIe improved the place with good buildings and carried on general agricultural pursuits there until his demise, which occurred October 18. 1906, and thus passed away one of the highly respected citizens of this section of the state, for during his residence here, covering a period of more than three decades he had gained a host of warm friends who esteemed him for his genuine personal worth. One brother, L. P. Johnson, still survives.
Following the death of her husband, Mrs. Johnson disposed of her farming property and removed to Roberts, where she purchased a nice residence which, with her daughter, she now occupies. In addition to this property she also owns another residence and three acres of land in the village beside eighty acres of farm land in Iowa, from which she derives a good rental.
Mrs. Johnson became the mother of five children but three of the number are now deceased. The two surviving daughters are: Arnoldina, the wife of Andrew M. Nelson, a resident of Dupage county, Illinois; and May C., who resides with her mother. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have two sons, Le Roy, aged twelve years ; and Melvin, aged six. Being herself left an orphan at an early age, Mrs. Johnson has always felt a deep interest in those deprived of parental love and care and through the kindness of her heart has taken into her home two orphans, one Alma E. Anderson, now seventeen years of age, having been reared by her from an infant of eighteen months, while Earl Rowcliffe, who became a member of her household at the age of fifteen months, is now a little lad of five years. Mrs. Johnson was reared in the faith of the Lutheran church but is now independent in her religious views. She is a gentle, kindly woman, charitable in her estimate of every one, and in Roberts and Ford county, where she has so long made her home, she has a host of warm friends.
JOHN W. GILKESON.
John W. Gilkeson is serving for the fourth term as a member of the county board of supervisors and his official record is one which has ever reflected credit upon himself and at the same time has proven highly satisfactory to his constituents He is, moreover, known as one of the enterprising farmers and extensive stock-dealers of the county, making his home upon an excellent farm of two hundred and forty acres in Wall township.
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