USA > Illinois > Ford County > History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 22
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of Sanford Boone, of Gilman ; Hiram, who died near Mason City. Iowa ; Hannah Ann, the widow of William Gillet, of Clear Lake, lowa ; and James E. and John M .. both of whom died in infaney.
The youngest member of the family is Benjamin Frank Iler, who was only about seven years of age when his parents removed to Delaware county, Ohio, where they lived for five years, and in 1860 started across the country to La Salle county. Illinois, with three horses, known as a spike team, hitched to the wagon. They came to Ford county in 1872 and after living in Wall township for three years Mr. Iler of this review rented a farm two miles south of Roberts where he made his home for seven years. About 1882 he purchased his present farm, which is the only property he ever owned. He has here eighty acres constituting the west half of the southeast quarter of section 10, Lyman town- ship, and most of the modern improvements upon the place have been made by Mr. Iler. He has been engaged in grain and stoek farming and during the past year has made dairying a special feature of his place, shipping cream to the creamery in Manteno. For the past two years he has owned a blaek full blooded, though American bred, Norman stallion, Thomas, No. 5027. He has also engaged quite extensively in raising Poland China hogs and he now has upon his place about fifteen head of horses and milks thirteen cows. IIe owns a thoroughbred red polled Durham bull, Royal Polled Duke, No. 255646. In addition to cultivating his own farm of eighty acres Mr. ller has for the past twenty-two years rented eighty acres near his home place and therefore operates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He has also operated a threshing machine for twenty-seven years, operating a horse power machine for seventeen years, after which he purchased a steam thresher. He also operated a corn sheller and shredder for a number of years and also engaged in moving buildings. His varied interests have shown his enterprising spirit and he has lived a most strenuous life, connected with many lines of business.
On the 29th of November, 1867, Mr. Iler was married to Miss Susanna Brown, of Montreal, Canada, born November 10, 1845. When she was seven years of age her parents removed to St. Anne, five miles east of Montreal, and when twenty-two years of age she went to La Salle county, Illinois, with the family for whom she was working. Her parents were John and Susanna (Lewis) Brown, natives of Ireland, in which country they were married February 6, 1836. They afterward went to Canada with two children and five others were added to their family in the Dominion. The father was frozen to death while working on the railroad seetion when Mrs. Her was but ten years of age. The mother died at Pembroke, Ontario, March 15, 1890. at
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the age of seventy-five years. Owing to the death of her father Mrs. Iler had to go to work and was employed by the others up to the time of her marriage. She was one of seven children, namely : Mary Jane, the wife of Lonis La Belle, of Ontario; John, who died in infancy; Robert, deceased; Mrs. Iler; John and Samuel, both deceased; and Stephen. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Iler have been born eight children : Ahmeda, the wife of Ed Dixon, of Wall township; Wilson, who married Anna Huston and is living in Onarga ; Sarena, the wife of A. D. Smith, of Mountain Lake, Minnesota; Anna Elizabeth, the wife of Leonard Mott, of Mason City, Iowa; Naney Katharine, the wife of Henry Woodard of Lyman township; Ida May, the wife of Clarence Wilson, of Brenton township; John L., at home; and Alice Elmira, the wife of Charles L. Woods, of Effingham, Illinois.
Mr. Iler and his family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church, a fact which indicates well spent lives, guided by honorable principles. In polities he is a republican and for seven years has served as a school director. IIe belongs to the Court of Honor and is a charter member of Meadow Mound Grange of Lyman township, which was organized about 1873, shortly after his arrival in the county. At the time of his marriage Mr. Iler was not worth a dollar and all that he now possesses has been acquired through his own labors. He carries on a more extensive business than any man in Ford county residing on eighty acres, having extended his efforts into various departments of activity and carefully conducting each, with the result that success has attended him in his various undertakings.
W. S. HUSTON.
W. S. Huston, an enterprising farmer living on section 17, Drummer township, dates his residence in Ford county since 1876 and in Illinois since 1868. He is a son of John and Martha Huston, residents of Chester county, Pennsylvania. The family was founded in America during the colonial epoch in the history of the country, being of Scotch origin. At the time of the Revolutionary war John Huston joined the colonial army and was with Wash- ington at Brandywine.
W. S. Huston was born in Chester county. Pennsylvania, February 1, 1849, and supplemented his common-school education by an academic course. Think- ing to find better business opportunities in the middle west, he left home at the
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age of nineteen years and went to Putnam county, Illinois, where he arrived in 1868. There he cultivated rented land until his labors brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase eighty acres in Grundy county. There he resided until 1876, when he came to Ford county and bought one hundred and sixty acres. To this he afterward added another quarter section. ITis land, which is now very valuable, was purchased at thirty-five, fifty-five and seventy-five dollars per acre. The farm is devoted to general agricultural pursuits and in addition to the cultivation of the fields, which have been brought to a high state of fertility, he also raises some thoroughbred stock.
Mr. Huston has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Mary Foley in 1874 and six years later she passed away, leaving two sons. In 1899 Mr. Huston was again married, his second union being with Miss E. D. Charlton, a daughter of Thomas Charlton, of Chester, Pennsylvania, and they have one daughter.
Mr. Huston is a republican, active in the local ranks of the party, for he believes firmly in its principles. He has served as school director but other- wise has filled no public offices, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business affairs, which have brought him well merited suecess. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Presbyterian church, associations which are a clear indication of the principles which govern his life and guide his conduct in his relations with his fellowmen.
W. T. GOURLEY.
When one meets a man who at a tender age was thrown upon his own responsibilities for a livelihood, has overcome obstacles and difficulties, and in the face of these has in later years attained a high degree of success, he cannot but feel that just eredit is due to such an individual. This is the case of W. T. Gourley, whose name introduces this record. He was born in Indiana, June 27, 1858, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth Gourley, the former a native of Indiana and the latter a native of Virginia. The father was previously married, and there are two daughters of that union, Margaret, of Iowa, and Mary, a resident of Oregon. Of the father's second marriage five children were born but three of the number are now deceased, the sister of our subject being Mattie, who resides in Princeton, Indiana. Both the father and mother are now deceased.
MR. AND MRS. W. T. GOURLEY
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W. T. Gourley was left an orphan at the early age of two years, and was then taken into the home of an aunt, by whom he was reared to the age of seven. ITe then came to Ford county, Illinois, to make his home with a cousin with whom he remained until he had reached the age of eighteen years. Dur- ing the period of his boyhood and youth he attended the common schools, wherein he acquired a fair English education, while from the ages of fifteen to eighteen he was employed at herding cattle in the Pan Handle district of Ford county. He then invested his earnings in a team and some farm implements and leased a tract of land, which he operated during the succeeding three years. So successful was he that he was at length enabled to purchase some land, becoming the possessor of forty acres situated on section 27, Brenton township. This has continued to be his home to the present time, although at different times he has added to his original purchase until his place now comprises two hundred and forty acres. He has improved his property with suitable outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock and also occupies a comfortable home. In addition to tilling the soil he also operates a threshing machine and corn sheller, having been thus engaged for the past quarter of a century, so that in this connection he is well known not only in his home locality but throughout various sections of the county. He also raises stock on quite an extensive scale, making a specialty of full blooded imported Norman horses, which he has handled for twenty-seven years.
In 1880 Mr. Gourley established a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Margaret Thomas, who has proved to him a faithful companion and helpmate on the journey of life. She was born in Onarga, Illinois, a daughter of Lewis and Elizabeth Thomas, and is one of a family of four children. The father served as a soldier in the Civil war, being a loyal defender of the Union cause. He was captured by the rebel soldiers and incarcerated in Libby prison, where his death occurred. The mother, however, is still living and makes her home in Onarga.
Five children grace the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Gourley, namely : Gertrude I., the wife of William Asherman, of Thawville, Illinois; Wilbur E., a resident farmer of Brenton township; and Rolland T., Walter W. and James Arthur, all still under the parental roof.
In his political views Mr. Gourley is a republican and for five years served as road commissioner, while for six years he filled the office of school director, taking a warm interest in the cause of education. He supports the First Presbyterian church at Piper City. He is a self-made man in the truest sense of the term and is therefore deserving of the highest praise, for unlike
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others who are compelled to start out in life at an early age, he has encountered many obstacles but possessing a courageous spirit he has surmounted every difficulty and has pushed his way upward to success. He is now the owner of a valuable farm property and in his various business connections is well known, meriting the highest respect and esteem from all with whom he is associated either in business or social capacity.
WILLIAM GOODMAN.
William Goodman, a merchant and banker of Kempton, whose enterprise has contributed in substantial measure to the business activity and develop- ment of the village, was born in Erie county, Ohio, April 28, 1856, and in September of the same year was brought by his parents to Ford county. He is a son of John and Sarah (Bellamy) Goodman, both of whom are now deceased. The father was born in Huntingdonshire, England, July 6, 1818. and was a son of William and Mary (Russell) Goodman, also natives of that country.
Upon a farm John Goodman spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and being left an orphan at an early age he started to provide for his own support when a youth of ten years, eagerly accepting any work that would yield him an honest living. At length he determined to make America his future home, and after one month spent on the Atlantic arrived at New York. HIe made his first settlement in Erie county, Ohio, where he worked at farm labor by the month until 1856 and then brought his family to Brenton township, Ford county, Illinois, where he purchased eighty acres of railroad land at eight dollars per acre. He had been married March 17, 1852, to Sarah Bellamy, daughter of John and Susan Bellamy, and they became the parents of four children : Susan, who is the widow of Joseph MeKinney, of Kempton; William, of this review; Samuel, who was a hardware and humber merchant at Deland, Piatt county, Illinois, where he died August 3, 1903; and Sophia, the wife of John W. Herron, a resident of Gifford, Illinois.
For a long period the father carried on general farming in Brenton town- ship, there residing until 1882, when he removed to Piper City. Eight years later, in 1890, he took up his abode in Kempton, where he lived retired until his death on the 6th of September, 1903. His wife survived for about three and a half years and passed away March 25, 1907. A contemporary biographer
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said of him: "His name was an index to his character and his honorable, upright life won him the high regard of all with whom he was brought in contact." His religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Methodist church, and his political belief by the stalwart support which he gave to the republican party.
William Goodman of this review was reared upon the old home farm on section 32, Brenton township, and lessons of industry and enterprise were early instilled into his mind. He continued upon the farm until the 14th of December, 1880, and then came to Kempton, where he entered the employ of his brother-in-law, Joseph MeKinney, a hardware and lumber merchant, with whom he continued for three years, or until the death of Mr. Mckinney in January, 1883. His sister, Mrs. McKinney, then became his equal partner in the ownership of the business, which was continued under the firm name of McKinney & Goodman. Mr. Goodman remained as manager of the enterprise until the 1st of May, 1903. IIe then organized the Bank of Kempton, in which he became an equal partner with his sister, Mrs. MeKinney, while their nephew took the management of the lumber and hardware business, Mr. Goodman, however, retaining a third interest in the business. He has been cashier and general manager of the bank since its organization. It is conducted as a private banking institution and has been of much value to the town, while proving at the same time a profitable business investment for the owners. His business methods are such as neither seek nor require disguise, but on the contrary will bear the closest investigation.
On the 14th of May, 1891, Mr. Goodman was married to Miss Alice Cloke, who was born in Danforth township, Iroquois county, Illinois, January 15, 1870, a daughter of Richard and Mary Cloke. Her father was born in Canter- bury, England, December 15, 1821, and was reared on a farm in that country. On the first of April, 1852, he was married there, and in the spring of that year crossed the Atlantic to New Jersey on a sailing vessel, seven weeks being required to make the trip from Liverpool to New York. He and his wife remained in New Jersey for four years, and for one year they "worked out" in order to get money with which to start in life in the new world, for they had a capital of only fifteen dollars when they landed. For three years Mr. Cloke cultivated a rented farm in the east and in the year 1856 made his way westward to Champaign, Illinois. For several years thereafter he cultivated rented land, and then purchased eighty aeres of land in Ashkum township, Iroquois county, to which he afterward added another tract of eighty acres. He carried on the work of improving and developing his farm and made it his
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home until 1886, when he returned to England, this being the fifth trip that he had made. There he died in the fall of 1898, after which his remains were brought back to this country for interment in Ashkum cemetery. He wedded Mary Ann Stupples, who was born in Dover, England, March 23, 1829, and died on the home farm in Iroquois county, November 23, 1879. After her death Mr. Cloke left the farm and spent the greater part of his time in England until his demise. He gave his political support to the democracy. While in his native land he was a member of the Church of England and after coming to the United States joined the Methodist church in 1869. In his family were nine daughters and two sons and with the exception of one daughter all are yet living. Six of the children became school teachers in Iroquois county and four of the number were educated in the Valparaiso Normal School (Ind.) and two in Onarga (Ill.) Seminary. Mrs. Goodman, who was the youngest of the family, completed her education in the Ashkum (Ill.) high school.
In his political views Mr. Goodman has always been a stalwart republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He served as township clerk in Mona township, being appointed thus to fill a vacancy in 1884, after which he was reelected in 1885, 1886, 1887 and 1889 and after that for every year until 1904. No more capable official has ever occupied the position and the endorsement of the publie was indicated in his long retention. Active and prominent in the Methodist Episcopal church, he is serving as one of its trustees and as treasurer, and in the work of the church has taken a most helpful part. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp and is a representative of our best type of American manhood and chivalry. By perseverance, determination and honorable effort he has overthrown the difficulties which have 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 public thought and action.
BALTZ WEBER.
Baltz Weber carries on general farming on section 14, Brenton township, whereon he has lived for sixteen years. The place is neat and well improved, indicating in its attractive appearance the careful supervision of the practical and progressive owner. Mr. Weber is a native of Germany, his birth having occurred in Bavaria on the 19th of July, 1854. He spent the first nineteen years of his life in the fatherland and acquired a publie-school education while
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spending his boyhood days in the home of his parents, Lucas and Ursula Weber, who remained residents of the old world, spending their entire lives in that country. They were the parents of five children, of whom Louis Weber is now living in Iowa, while Barnard resides in Ford county. One sister and a brother remain in the fatherland.
In taking up the personal history of Baltz Weber we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in this part of the state. The favorable reports which he heard concerning America and its opportunities attracted him and led him to seek a home in the United States. Crossing the Atlantic, he made his way to Albany, New York, and spent four years there working by the month as a farm hand. In September, 1877, he arrived at Piper City, Illinois, and rented a farm until his labors brought him capital sufficient to purchase property. IIe bought his present place sixteen years ago, becoming owner of eighty acres on section 14, Brenton township. To this he afterward added a tract of one hundred and sixty acres on section 13 and he also rents and cultivates a half of section 11. His farming interests are thus extensive and important and he is meeting with gratifying success in his undertaking. He has a well improved place on which all of the buildings have been erected by him save one. He carries on the work of tilling the soil and also feeds stock and his business interests are so carefully managed that annually his sales of grain and stock return to him a good financial reward for his labor.
In 1882 Mr. Weber was married to Miss Ellen Galvin, who was born in La Salle county, Illinois, February 11, 1858, and has spent her entire life in this state. Her parents were Patrick and Mary (Bresnehan) Galvin, natives of Ireland, in which country they were married. After coming to Illinois they settled at Ottawa, in June, 1850, and spent their remaining days upon a farm in La Salle county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Weber have been born four children : Mary Eunice, now the wife of Thomas Doran, of Brenton township; Joseph, George and Agnes, all at home.
In his political views Mr. Weber is independent but never fails to give hearty endorsement and aid to those interests which are instituted for the benefit and upbuilding of the county. Ile has served as drain commissioner since 1901 and has rebuilt the drainage ditch for twelve miles, deepening and widening it, thus adding to its value as a factor in the improvement of the county. He was also road commissioner for one term. Ilis religious faith is that of Catholicism and he is identified with the church at Piper City. He came alone to America when a young man of nineteen years, nor has he ever had occasion to regret his
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determination to seek a home in the new world, for the opportunities which he sought he found and improved and as a result is now one of the men of affluence in Brenton township.
A. M. KUNTZ.
A. M. Kuntz, one of the leading farmers of Sullivant township, was born in Tazewell county, Illinois, April 12, 1863, his parents being Joseph and Barbara (Meister) Kuntz. They were both natives of Germany and came to America in early life, being married in this country. The father was a farmer of Tazewell county before his removal to Livingston county, Illinois, in 1868. The district in which he established his home was practically unsettled and unimproved. He was one of the first residents of Fayette township and covering a territory of eleven miles from his home to Fairbury there were but one or two houses. All kinds of feathered game was then more plentiful than are domestic fowls of today and it was a very common thing for the settlers to have quails or prairie chickens upon the family board.
Mr. Kuntz purchased one hundred and sixty acres of unimproved land for which he paid fourteen dollars per acre, and with characteristic energy he began its development, continuing the work of cultivation until it became one of the best improved farms in Livingston county. This farm was sold in 1898 for one hundred and fifteen dollars per acre and it could not be purchased today for less than one hundred and fifty dollars per acre. As the years passed Mr. Kuntz not only promoted his individual success by his farming interests but also contributed to the wefare of the community and in many ways was closely associated with the progress and development which transformed the district from a wild and unsettled region into one of the prosperous and progressive townships of the county. He died December 30, 1899, while his wife passed away in 1896.
They were the parents of nine children : Peter and Joseph, who are living at Strawn, Illinois; Henry, whose home is in Sherburn, Martin county, Minne- sota ; A. M., of this review ; Mary, the wife of E. N. Gullberg, of Strawn; Susan the wife of Henry Wureburger, of Fairbury, Illinois; Kate, the wife of Andrew Roth, of Ford county ; John, who is living in Germanville, this state; and Rose, the wife of August Ringler, of Livingston county.
Before coming to America the father had served in the German army for six years and during three years of that time was on active duty. He was with
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the Bavarian forces in the trouble between Germany and France, being a Ba- varian by birth and his military record was a creditable one. Actuated by laudable ambition to attain success in his business career, he carefully directed his labors by sound judgment and unfaltering perseverance and gained for himself and family a comfortable living.
A. M. Kuntz is indebted to the public-school system of his native county for the educational privileges he enjoyed. He was trained to the work of the farm as he assisted his father in the cultivation of the fields and at the age of twenty-two years he began farming on the old home place on his own account. After a year thus passed he came to Ford county when a young man of twenty- three years, and rented land from his father, who owned a farm in this county. For ten years he engaged in cultivating rented land and during that period carefully saved his earnings until he was enabled to purchase eighty acres of land and made investment in a tract of that size in Sullivant township. For this he paid eighty dollars per acre. At once he began the further cultivation and improvement of the place and that he has since prospered in his undertak- ings is indicated by the fact that to his original holdings he has added until he now has a fine farm of two hundred acres, with some of the finest improvements to be found on any farm in the county and but few better in the state. His home is a model of comfort, convenience and beauty, scarcely surpassed by any city residence. His barns and outbuildings, too, are commodious and sub- stantial and furnish ample shelter for grain and stock. In all of his farm work he has been progressive and his life record is an indication of the fact that success is not a matter of genius, as some aver, but comes as the result of indefatigable labor, sound judgment and experience. In addition to his Ford county property Mr. Kuntz owns eighty acres in Livingston county near the town of Strawn, for which he paid one hundred and sixty dollars per aere. There were good improvements upon the place when he made the purchase and the work of improvement has been carried still further forward until the farm today is worth two hundred dollars per acre.
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