USA > Illinois > Ford County > History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 17
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He was born in Marshall county, Illinois, August 11, 1854, of the marriage of William B. and Cecelia (Lytle) Gilkeson. The father was born in Missouri
MR. AND MRS. J. W. GILKESON
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in 1830, representing an old family of that state. He was two years of age when his mother (his father having died) removed to Peoria county, Illinois, where he was reared. When a young man he went to Marshall county, this state, where he married Miss Cecelia Lytle. At the time of the Civil war he espoused the Union cause and served for one year with the boys in blue at the front. In 1867 he removed to Ford county, Illinois, where he carried on general farming for about twenty-two years and in 1889 he took up his abode in Chicago, where he has now made his home for nineteen years. Unto him and his wife were born five children, of whom four are living: Thomas, of Battle Creek, Michigan ; Mont, who makes his home in Yorkton, Canada; Morris, living in Iroquois county, Illinois; and John W., of this review.
The last named spent his boyhood and youth in the usual manner of farm lads, acquiring his education in the district schools. The father being in ill health much of the time after his return from the war, the work of the farm largely devolved upon the son, who from the age of eleven years has led a most active life. Prosperity awaited him but the future was not revealed to the boy, who had to work hard in order to improve the farm and thus aid in the mainte- nance of the family in those early years. It is only through the stimulus of adversity that the best and strongest in man is brought out and developed and this early training brought forth in Mr. Gilkeson a strong manhood and a self- reliant character. At the age of twenty-one years he started out in business life on his own account as a farmer. For two and a half years he rented land and did his own housekeeping.
In October, 1878, however, Mr. Gilkeson secured a companion and helpmate for life's journey through his marriage to Miss Mary McClelland, of Iroquois county, Illinois. IIe brought his wife to the farm which he was then renting but which he purchased the following year, becoming owner of eighty acres. They practiced economy as well as industry and in 1885 were enabled to purchase an adjoining tract of eighty acres, while in 1903 the boundaries of the place were further extended until the farm now includes two hundred and forty acres of productive and valuable land, situated on section 13, Wall township. This is one of the best improved farms in the county, lacking in none of the accessories and conveniences of a model property. For years past Mr. Gilkeson has been extensively engaged in buying and selling of stock and is now one of the largest stock-dealers of this section, not only utilizing all the grain which he raises in this way but also buying extensively every year for feeding purposes.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gilkeson have been born three children : Myrtle, now the wife of Harry Marshal of this county; Charles Howard and Eugene, who are
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with their parents on the farm. The family are prominent in the community and their own home is justly celebrated for its gracious and attractive hospitality.
Mr. Gilkeson is a member of Paxton Lodge, I. O. O. F., and of Lodi Camp, No. 1533, M. W. A. In politics he is a republican, recognized as one of the local leaders of his party. In 1887 he was elected town commissioner and filled the office so acceptably that he was continued therein for twelve consecutive years. Ile was then elected to the board of county supervisors and is now serving for the fifth consecutive term. In 1906, during the building of the courthouse, he was made chairman of the board of supervisors and the same year was made chairman of the building committee having in charge the erection of this new seat of justice. His business ability, his push and enterprise were manifest in the execution of the work and at all times in the discharge of his official duties he has displayed the same spirit of enterprise and determination which have characterized him in his business life. He is in the broadest sense a self-made man, being both the architect and builder of his own fortunes and has not only won a creditable and enviable position in business life, for in political circles as well honors have been conferred upon him. He enjoys in large measure the confidence and respect of his fellowmen and is distinctively one of the leading citizens of Ford county.
C. A. NORDGREN.
The commercial interests of Paxton find a worthy representative in C. A. Nordgren, a hardware merchant, who has worked his way upward from a humble position to one of affluence and is now controlling one of the leading mercantile concerns of his adopted city. He was born in Allingsas, Wester- gotland, Sweden, on the 23d of October, 1861, his parents being C. A. and Caroline (Kjellstrand) Nordgren, whose family numbered seven sons, of whom three are living, C. A. Nordgren being the eldest. The others are Axel L., a minister of the Swedish Lutheran church; and G. Walter, who is chief clerk of the criminal insane asylum at Chester, Illinois, through appointment of Governor Deneen. The father was born in the locality in which the birth of C. A. Nordgren occurred, while the mother was a native of Nerike, Sweden. Both lived and died in that country, the former passing away at the age of forty-four years and the latter at the age of seventy. The father was employed at railroad work and thus provided for his family.
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C. A. Nordgren spent his boyhood and youth in his parents' home and after mastering the branches of learning taught in the public schools he attended the college at Jonkoping. Sweden, to which place his parents removed in his childhood days. He pursued a four years' college course and was thus well equipped by mental discipline for the practical duties of life. At the age of seventeen he entered business eireles as an employe in a hard- ware store of Jonkoping, but the broader business opportunities of the new world attracted him and in 1881, when nineteen years of age, he came to the United States. Hle did not tarry on the Atlantic coast but made his way direct to Paxton, Illinois, where lived his uncle, A. W. Kjellstrand. Not long afterward, however, Mr. Nordgren went to Chicago, where he was employed in the car shops of the street railway company for four or five months. He then eame again to Paxton and accepted a position in the hardware store of Clark & Cruzen-the store which he now owns. He displayed diligence and adaptability, which won him promotion from time to time, and after eight years spent as a salesman he acquired a small interest in the business in 1890. Five years later, in 1895, the business was incorporated as the R. Cruzen Company with Mr. Nordgren as president. In 1902 he purchased the interest of his partners and became sole proprietor, since which time he has conducted alone the principal hardware store of Paxton. Hle carries a large and well selected line of shelf and heavy hardware and his trade is annually increasing his business proving a very profitable one. He is not unknown in financial eireles, being a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Paxton, vice president of the Paxton Building & Loan Association and in the absence of the president for the past two years has been its acting president. It was largely through his efforts that the E. H. Stafford Manufacturing Com- pany located its large furniture factory at Paxton.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. Nordgren was married in 1885 to Miss Emma Erickson, of Paxton, who was born in Sweden, her father, John Erickson, now deceased, having come to this city from Sweden during her childhood days. Mr. and Mrs. Nordgren hold membership in the Swedish Lutheran church. He is serving as one of the ushers in the church and as Sunday school teacher and was a member of the building committee for the erection of a new house of worship. Fraternally he is connected with Paxton Lodge, I. O. O. F .; Patton Lodge, K. P .; and Paxton Camp, No. 359, M. W. A.
He is always foremost in any progressive movement looking toward a greater city, having the interests of Paxton deeply at heart. He is justly accounted one of the leading and progressive business men and is president of
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the Paxton Retail Merchants' Association, an organization formed to further the business life of the city. £ Ile is a very active member of the Swedish Republican State League and in 1900 was honored with its presidency. He has the strongest attachment for the land of his adoption and while not seek- ing to figure prominently in any public light he is nevertheless an earnest and valued supporter of every movement that tends toward the promotion of the welfare of town and county. By perseverance, determination and honorable effort he has overthrown the obstacles which barred his path to success and reached the goal of prosperity, while his genuine worth, broad mind and public spirit have made him a director of publie thought and action.
LANDY S. IIOLDERMAN.
The student of history cannot carry his investigations far into the annals of this section of the state without learning of the important part which the Holderman family has played. Prior to the Black Hawk war they became resi- dents of Illinois and since that time the Holdermans, grandfather, father and son, have been important factors in promoting public progress. The grandfather, as a pioneer, aided in laying the foundation for the future development of the county and the father carried on the work which he instituted. The son, L. S. Holderman, stands also as a representative of a progressive publie spirit and as the years have passed the family have enjoyed the well merited fruits of labor, so that the subject of this review in possession of a handsome compe- tence is today living retired, deriving his income from his extensive landed interests and other investments.
L. S. Hlolderman was born in Grundy county, Illinois, November 8, 1859, a son of Abram and Mary E. (Hoge) Holderman. The former was a son of Abram Holderman, Sr., a Pennsylvania Dutchman, who married Miss Charlotte O'Neal, of Irish parentage. When eighteen years of age he removed to Ross county, Ohio, of which place his wife was a native. They reared a family of seven sons and seven daughters. Abram Holderman, Sr., engaged extensively in farming and stock-raising in the Buckeye state and drove large herds of cattle to the Philadelphia and Baltimore markets prior to the period of railroad transportation. In July, 1831, becoming imbued with a desire to establish his home on the western frontier, he made his way to Illinois on a prospecting tour. There were no white settlers in this portion of the state at that time
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and upon reaching Door Prairie he hired an Indian to pilot him through. Ile had no definite idea where he wished to go but traveled for seventy miles through the Indian country before stopping. They rode on across the track- less prairies, sleeping wrapped in their blankets where night overtook them, with their saddles for pillows. On the morning of the third day a lovely grove in the midst of broad prairies appeared before them and Mr. Holderman was so well pleased that he drove his stakes there and made his claim, selecting eighty acres of land which included the grove. He then returned to Ohio, gathered his earthly possessions consisting of one four horse Pennsylvania wagon, a common two horse wagon and a wagon drawn by oxen and with his household goods started for Illinois, accompanied by his wife and nine children. Hle also took with him eleven head of horses, nineteen head of blooded cattle and three yoke of oxen, forming quite a cavalcade. Such a journey was a great undertaking in those days, when there were no roads or bridges. They had to ford and sometimes swim the streams and flounder through sloughs, in which they were frequently mired. They traveled along the southern shore of Lake Michigan, having Chicago in view as a place where they might replenish their food supplies. The night before reaching the future metropolis of the west their provisions had become exhausted so that the family and the stock went to bed without an evening meal. They were in buoyant spirits, however, fully expecting to get plenty when they reached the fort by the lake. Morning dawned and they were twelve miles away with no breakfast. At length they reached the fort and imagine their surprise when four bushels of oats at four dollars per bushel and one loaf of bread was all that money could purchase. Twelve miles farther through mud and swamps brought them to Widow Berry's Point, where they secured supplies, obtained a meal and rested until the follow- ing day. Their bill for entertainment was forty-seven dollars-such was the exorbitant prices charged at that time. At this time they were only fifty miles from their destination and the next day they traveled to Plainfield, a distance of thirty miles. They reached the end of their journey in October, 1831, and another eighty acres of choice timber land was added to the original claim, which Mr. Holderman had staked out. Thus was established the Hold- erman family in Illinois and thus was laid the foundation for the family's fortune, while at the same time it was a momentous day for the section in which they located, as they planted the seeds of civilization there and were the van- guard in the work of development, improvement and progress.
During the spring of 1832 the family lived for six weeks on a poor quality of pounded corn, so poor that the horses refused to eat it. During that spring
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Mr. Holderman went to St. Louis and invested four hundred dollars in supplies. He also purchased a keelboat and in that way took his provisions to Ottawa. On the 17th of May, the day after he had reached home, he was informed by a friendly Indian named Peppers that a band of eighty Mohawks were on the warpath and had murdered a family close by. The report of the murder, however, proved to be false, as the man of the house was away from home and the family had in some way received word in time and hid in the brush. Not long before this five families had settled near Mr. Holderman and when the news came of the uprising of the red men they all collected at the Holderman home. It was dark, however, when they arrived there, so that they could make no move before morning. When the dawn came Mr. Holderman and two or three other men went out to reconnoiter. They found the Indians at the home of the family who were supposed to be murdered. One was acting as sentry on top of the house and at the approach of the whites he jumped off and the whole party took to the brush but fired on the whites, who necessarily had to make a hasty retreat with the entire number of Indians following. Seeing that the Indians would pursue them to where their families were gath- ered the men resorted to a ruse to check them, Mr. Holderman pulling off his hat and waving it as if there were others in reserve. The Indians fearing a trap or ambuscade beat a hasty retreat and the white settlers reached home in safety. Everything was now in readiness for the retreat to Ottawa. The children, some of whom were asleep, were put in wagons, as well as the women. The women drove, and the men, mounted and on foot, kept gnard until Ottawa
visited the homes of the settlers and destroyed everything they did not carry off and thus Mr. Holderman lost the supplies which he had brought from St. Louis at such great expense and hardship. However, the disturbance quieted down and the families returned to their homes. As the country developed and there sprang up a market for the produce, Mr. Holderman, who had a rich tract of land, made much money from his farming and stock-raising operations, becoming one of the prosperous residents of the community. He well deserved the success that came to him, for it was gained through hardships and difficul- ties in early days and through persistent, earnest and indefatigable labor. Moreover, his name is inseparably associated with the upbuilding of this part of the state. Being the first settler to locate here, from the beginning he was actively associated with the growth and development and aided in shaping the policy of the county during its formative period.
was reached and there they remained for some time.
£
The Indians, however,
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Abram Holderman, Sr., resided with his father until twenty-three years of age, at which time the father gave him a plow and harness and all the land he could use, rent free, saying "earn your own money and you will know how to prize it." With resolute spirit he set to work and was soon on the high road to prosperity. At the age of twenty-five years he married Miss Mary Hoge, a daughter of William Hoge, who, coming from Virginia, had reached this portion of the country two weeks before the Holdermans. Immediately after their marriage, which took place May 6, 1847, the young couple settled at Holderman's Grove, in one of the houses owned by his father, who at that time purchased most of his neighbors land. There they lived for two years and then removed to a quarter section of land which Mr. Holderman had pur- chased near Seneca for three dollars per acre. This was his first investment in property. Before his death his land extended along the canal and the Rock Island Railroad for seven miles east and west. From time to time he made judicious investments and during his later years he was the owner of seven thousand acres of choice land in the Illinois river valley. His family numbered eight children, seven sons and one daughter, of whom three sons died in childhood.
L. S. Holderman, whose name introduces this record, was reared on his father's farm and there remained to his twenty-sixth year. He received his education in the country schools and five years after attaining his majority he left home and in 1883 took up his abode upon a farm in Ford county, which he purchased. IIe only remained there for a year, however, when he removed to Paxton, where he engaged in trading and dealing in horses. He also gave considerable time to the raising of blooded stock, including both the raising of stock and heavy draft horses. This business he conducted in connection with the supervision of his farming interests until a few years ago, when he disposed of his stock. £ He was also connected with merchandising in Paxton for two years, dealing principally in farm implements. In all of his business affairs he has displayed an aptitude for successful management and in bringing to successful completion whatever he has undertaken.
In 1888 was celebrated the marriage of L. S. Holderman and Miss Laura J. Smith, a daughter of John and Adeline (Morehead) Smith, who were natives of England. Removing to the west, they settled in Vermilion county at the town of Potomac, being among the early residents of that locality. Mr. Smith was a farmer and stockman and was well known in business circles there. His family numbered four children: Martha J., the wife of William Kuykendall,
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of Armstrong, Illinois; Alvin G. and Robert II., also of Armstrong; and Mrs. Holderman.
Unto our subject and his wife have been born five children, John A., Jennie A., Lillian M., Edward S. and Mary L. Mr. Holderman and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. IIolderman belongs to Pax- ton Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and to the Knight Templar commandery. He is also connected with Paxton Lodge of Odd Fellows. He has filled several city offices, including that of alderman and has ever exercised his official preroga- tives in support of progressive publie movements. He is a thoroughgoing man, enterprising and energetic, reliable in business and a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family.
JAMES M. JOHNSON.
Illinois offers excellent opportunities to its agriculturists. In no other state in the Union is found richer soil or a climate more favorable to the pro- duction of crops. There is never an absolute erop failure in Illinois and generally the harvest is large and bounteous. Therefore the farmer who carefully conducts his interests may win success and gain a competence for the evening of life. This Mr. Johnson has done and although he is hardly yet past the prime of life, is now enabled to live retired, putting aside the farming and stock-raising interests which claimed his attention in former years.
Ile was born in MeLean county, Illinois, July 26, 1841, his parents being James R. and Mary (Satterfield) JJohnson, natives of Kentucky and White eoun- ty, Illinois, respectively. The father came to this state when eighteen years of age, arriving in MeLean county in 1832. The Indians at that time were the principal inhabitants of this part of the state, for the white settlers were very few and the red men resented their eneroachment upon the hunting grounds which they claimed as their inheritance. When the Black Hawk war was inaugurated Mr. Johnson defended the interests of the early settlers and also participated in other expeditions against the Indians. He likewise served during the year 1847 in the war with Mexico, going to the front under General Zachary Taylor. When peace was restored he returned to MeLean county and engaged in farming near the town of LeRoy, living a life of well directed industry and thrift until called to his final rest in 1866. His wife long survived him and passed away in 1902 on the day made memorable by the great Galveston
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MR. AND MRS. J. M. JOHNSON
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flood. They were the parents of seven children : Elizabeth, the wife of James R. MeCan, of Jackson county, Kansas; Ellen, the widow of Thomas Reed; James M., of this review ; George W., who resides in MeLean county ; Perrin, of LeRoy, Illinois ; Lawson, who makes his home in Jackson county, Kansas; and Mary, the wife of A. Barnett, of LeRoy, Illinois.
James M. Johnson acquired his education through the medium of the public schools of McLean county but his opportunities in that direction were somewhat limited and it has been through his own efforts that he has become a well informed man, reading, observation and experience largely broadening his knowledge. At the age of nineteen years he joined Company B of the Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry and served with the Army of the James and the Army of the Potomac in defense of the Union cause. He participated in many of the battles fought by the Army of the James and while with the Army of the Potomac he was wounded in front of Petersburg, Virginia, being struck by a ball in the left hip. Ilis injuries confined him to the hospital for three months, after which he rejoined his command and remained with the regiment until the close of the war, being mustered out of the service at Norfolk, Virginia, December 12, 1865. At one time he was captured and confined in Libby prison for three months. IIe had always been found loyal to duty, whether on the picket line or the firing line, and he took part in the long, hard marches and the sieges, together with the sanguinary conflicts which led up to the final victory that crowned the Federal arms.
When honorably discharged Mr. Johnson returned direct to Springfield, Illinois, and thence to his home. Immediately afterward he rented a farm and began its cultivation, carrying on general agricultural pursuits in MeLean county for twenty years. In 1887 he removed to Ford county and rented a part of the Sibley estate, while for eighteen years he was manager of one of its extensive plantations, cultivating two hundred and forty aeres which is still under his control. IIe retired from the active work of the farm, however, in 1905, in which year he purchased a home in the village of Sibley, where he is now living.
Mr. Johnson was married March 22, 1866, to Miss Jane E. Kimber, a daughter of Richard and Sarah E. Kimber. They became the parents of four children, of whom two died unmarried. The others are Cora, the wife of Walter Hammond, of MeLean county, Illinois; and Charles, of this county. The wife and mother died January 27, 1878, and on the 5th of January, 1881, Mr. Johnson was married to Mrs. Lizzie Williams, the widow of George Williams and a daughter of Robert and Mary (Garner) Robertson, who were natives of Indiana and early settlers of Illinois. They came to this state when there were com-
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paratively few settlers within its borders and took up their abode in Cass county, the journey being made in wagons drawn by oxen. Mr. Robertson's father died on the way and as there was no burying ground in the district his grave was made by the wayside. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Robert Robertson were born seven children. of whom one died in early life. The others were : Ellen, the deceased wife of M. Darling ; James, who has also passed away; Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson ; Jennie, the widow of E. Cole; Kate, the wife of W. Pettit ; and Charles, of Cali- fornia. Mr. Robertson was twice married, his second union being with Mrs. L. Bert, Perry, Ernest and Frank. The death of the father occurred in 1895. Morgan nee Miller. and they had the following children : Lincoln, Wiley. Alva.
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