USA > Illinois > Ford County > History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 25
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interred in Melvin cemetery. He was then a comparatively young man of thirty-six years and his death was the occasion of deep and wide-spread regret to many friends as well as his immediate family. He was reliable as well as enterprising in business and progressive in citizenship, and his many good qualities won for him the confidence and respect of all who knew him.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Koestner were born three children but they lost their first, Henry E., in infancy. Frank is now operating the home farm for his mother, while Wiliam, the youngest son, is a student in the State University at Champaign, pursuing a course in civil engineering. Mrs. Koestner resided upon the old homestead farm formerly belonging to her father until twenty-eight years of age, and after her husband's death she removed to Melvin, where she resided for sixteen years. Four years ago she returned to the farm, owning here eighty acres of rich and productive land, together with town property, from which she receives a good income. She is a lady of excellent business ability, who has capably managed her private interests and reared her children, her sons being now a credit to her name. Mrs. Koestner has most intimate knowledge of the history of Ford county and especially of Peach Orchard township, and it is with pleasure that we present her record to our readers. She has seen the wild prairie land converted into rich farms, roads laid out, the streams bridged, and churches and schools built until the county today bears little resemblance to the distriet in which her girlhood was passed, for then the settlers had to en- dure many of the hardships incident to pioneer life. Today money can secure all the advantages and comforts of the older east and Ford county has been transformed into one of the richest agricultural districts of this great state.
L. II. JOHNSON.
L. H. Johnson owns and cultivates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 20, Drummer township. The land is rich and arable and the care and labor which he bestows upon the fields results in seenring large crops, for which he finds a ready sale on the market. He has always been a resident of Illinois and possesses the alert, enterprising spirit dominant in the middle west.
IIe was born in Fulton county, this state, May 4, 1859, his parents being E. B. and Phoebe (Lacy) Johnson, the latter a daughter of John Laey, of Fulton county. While spending his boyhood days under the parental roof, L. H. Johnson attended the public schools and mastered the elementary branches
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of learning. He was a student in both Fulton and McLean counties. accom- panying his parents on their removal to the latter when ten years of age. The work of the farm early became familiar to him and he continued a resident of MeLean county until the year 1895, when he came to Ford county and pur- chased his present farm, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable land in Drummer township. His farm has been developed in keeping with the most progressive ideas of modern agriculture and he annually gathers rich erops.
Mr. Johnson was married in MeLean county on the 26th of January, 1888, to Miss Jennie Davis, of Le Roy, Illinois, a daughter of George and Mariah Elizabeth (Benedict) Davis. Her father died in February, 1891, and her moth- er passed away in 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have two sons, Ray and Earl, who are now attending school. In his political views Mr. Johnson is an earnest democrat and his religions faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church. Since starting out in life on his own account he has worked on persistently, year after year, and his diligence and perseverance constitute the basis of his present prosperity.
WILLIAM W. BURNS.
William W. Burns, deceased, who for some years was numbered among the energetic and successful farmers of Ford county, was born in Adams county, Ohio, on the 16th of May, 1818, his parents being James and Mary Burns. His father owned a farm in the Buckeye state and while spending his boyhood days under the parental roof there the son attended the public schools, acquiring a fair English education. When not busy with his text-books he assisted his father in the farm work and received practical training in all the duties of the fields.
William W. Burns was married in 1838 to Miss Margaret Mcclellan, also a native of Adams county, Ohio, and unto them were born three children. The wife and mother died in 1856, and in 1859 Mr. Burns wedded Miss L. A. Wal- lace, a daughter of John and Mary Wallace, of Adams county, Ohio. There is one child living by the first marriage, Mrs S. J. Fitz Henry. There is also a daughter by the second union, Margaret, now the wife of John Swearingen, by whom she has six children.
In 1874 Mr. Burns came to Ford county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, while subsequently he bought an additional tract of one
WILLIAM W. BURNS
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hundred and twenty acres adjoining his first farm. He paid forty dollars for this property, which is today worth two hundred dollars per acre, owing to the cultivation and improvements he placed upon it and also to the natural rise in value and owing to the rapid settlement of this part of the state. Mr. Burns built the house which is now the old homestead and with no tools save a saw and hammer but he possessed considerable mechanical ingenuity and the work was very satisfactory when completed.
Mr. Burns gave his political allegiance to the democratic party and served as school director. He contributed to the building of the United Brethren and. other churches in Gibson City, and was a public-spirited man, well liked and highly esteemed. In his business affairs he was energetic and progressive and was one of the first to improve his land by tiling. Mrs. Burns still survives her husband and a sister lives with her. Both are members of the First Presbyterian church of Gibson City. She is well known in the county and the family history justly deserves a place in this volume.
VIRGIL GILMAN WAY.
Virgil Gilman Way was born at Sutton, Caledonia county, Vermont, March 17, 1847, his parents being Wells Horace and Susan Beckwith (Newell) Way. His parental ancestors were of Saxon and Irish birth, and his mother was of English parentage. Daniel Way, the great-grandfather of Virgil Gilman Way, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war from Connectieut. Wells Way, the grandfather of our subject, was twelve years of age when the English under Arnold burned New London, Connecticut. His father's house was destroyed and, together with his mother and the other children of the family, he was turned into the street, saving nothing except what they could carry in their arms. On seeing them an English soldier remarked in a jeering manner: "There goes John Rogers' wife and her nine children." The war of 1812 found the representatives of the Way family again in arms . against England, and the descendants have been equally loyal to the country for whose freedom their ancestors fought so nobly during the time of British oppression. The death of Wells Way occurred at Way's Mills, Canada, in 1857.
Wells Horace Way, father of Virgil Gilman Way, was a house painter and farmer by occupation. He supported Lincoln during the Civil war,
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though a democrat in political belief, and in religions faith was a Universalist. He passed away at Rutland, Illinois, July 16, 1868, while his wife survived him until September 24, 1894, her demise occurring at the home of our subject near Proctor, Illinois. She was a member of the Congregational church, and lies buried beside her husband at Rutland, Illinois. Her ancestors were soldiers in the Revolutionary army.
Virgil Gilman Way spent the first five years of his life in Sutton, Vermont, and then resided for four years in Nashua, New Hampshire, subsequently «spending two years in Vernon county, Wisconsin. On the expiration of that period he accompanied his parents on their removal to Rutland, La Salle county, Illinois, and attended the common school at that place but laid aside his text-books, at the age of seventeen years, to enlist for service in the Union army. He joined Company B, Thirty-third Illinois Infantry, at Rutland, Illinois, for three years or during the war, and was discharged with the regi- ment on the 6th of December, 1865. Though still a lad in his teens he saw much arduous service and never faltered in the performance of any task assigned him, being commended by the officers for his brave and soldierly conduct. During his service he was wounded in the hands and leg and now draws a pension. Being of a very studious disposition, he carried on his studies while in camp and after being honorably discharged from the army, continued his education in his leisure time. He attended high school for three months and after obtaining a teacher's certificate became actively connected with that profession. He has taught altogether thirty-one terms of school in La Salle, Marshall and Ford counties, having a first-grade certi- ficate from each county. He also learned the trade of house and carriage painting and was financially successful in that undertaking.
On arriving in Ford county in 1881 Mr. Way purchased the one hundred and sixty acre farm which he still owns and on which he yet makes his home. Through progressive methods of agriculture and the erection of suitable and commodious buildings he has made it the model farm property of Drummer township, and has always been among the foremost in the adoption of plans and improvements calculated to promote the agricultural interests of the county and state. He assisted in organizing the Ford County Farmers' Institute and after serving as its secretary for several years was elected president, which position he now holds. He was likewise expert corn judge at the Illinois State Fair, an interstate exhibit. He urged the construction and superintended the building of many miles of the gravel roads of Drummer township, and has served continuously for twelve years as commissioner of
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highways, being treasurer of the board at the present writing. He also drew the plans and superintended the erection of the steel bridges in Drummer township. The gravel roads and steel bridges are the pride of the people of the township and have added greatly to the valuation of the land. In 1890 and in 1900 he acted as census enumerator for Drummer township, and in 1890 and 1891 was deputy United States marshal, while for four months, at Spring- field, Illinois, he had charge of the courtroom during sessions of the court.
In August, 1900, Mr. Way was elected secretary and treasurer of the Thirty-third Illinois Infantry Regimental Association and assigned to the task of compiling and publishing the history of the regiment. This required three years of hard work but was at length successfully accomplished, seven hundred and forty-five copies being published. It is a beautiful volume of two hundred and eighty-five pages. More than two thousand men were on the muster rolls of the regiment during its term of service and the work gives a complete record of each one, including the time and place of enlistment and discharge. It is a very interesting and readable volume and the amount of labor necessary for the compilation of such a work can scarcely be realized by the uninitiated. The publishing and distribution of the history has been accomplished by Mr. Way without the loss of a dollar to the association. IIe financed the project and, in honor to his comrades, sold the histories at cost of publication. To show their appreciation of his faithful and excellent work in this connection, the association presented him with a specially designed diamond studded watch, handsomely engraved. Owing to the careful and thorough manner in which Mr. Way compiled the history, the association has the best record, as to living members, of any regimental association in the state, and the volume has been given a place of honor in the largest libraries of the country.
On the 31st of March, 1868, at Rutland, Illinois, Mr. Way was united in marriage to Miss Sarah D. Proctor, a daughter of Captain Willard Proctor, who commanded Company I, One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Infantry, during the Civil war. The paternal ancestors of Mrs. Way were Revolutionary soldiers. The Proctor family are direct descendants of John Lock, who, prior to the Revolution, was a noted English writer on economie subjects. Mr. and Mrs. Way became the parents of the following children : Otis Willard and Virgilia G. were the first and second members of the family. Elliott Wells, the next in order of birth, is a prominent rice and cotton planter in Wharton county, Texas. He served for ten months as a Columbian guard at the World's Fair in Chicago. Henry Newell graduated at West Point, United States Military Academy, in the class of 1899, was assigned to the Fourth In-
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fantry and joined his regiment in Luzon, Philippine Islands. He commanded the Fourth Infantry Scouts, a picked body of men, and while with them was promoted on the field for gallantry and awarded a medal of honor for bravery. Later he was selected by General Lawton to command a battalion of Macabebe Scouts and while serving in that capacity was killed in battle near Pilar on the 27th of August, 1900. The United States has erected a coast defense battery near Manila, Philippine Islands, and named it Battery Way in remem- brance of his distinguished service. Chauncey Centius is a successful physician in Oklahoma. Susan S. and John W. Way are the next members of the family. George Fritz was graduated from the Gibson high school with the class of 1903, served eleven months as a Jefferson guard at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis, and entered Knox College at Galesburg in 1905. The following year he entered the University of Illinois, from which he was gradu- ated in 1908, with the rank of captain in the university regiment. An infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Way died soon after birth. Mrs. Sarah D. Way died March 20, 1904, after several years of suffering. She is buried at Gibson City, Illinois, by the side of her distinguished son, Henry N. Way.
On the 1st of May, 1905, Mr. Way was again married, his second union being with May, the youngest danghter of his wartime friend and regimental comrade, George J. Jorden, of Company C, Thirty-third Illinois Infantry, and Martha (McMillen) Jorden, a Civil war nurse. The latter also aided the Union cause by acting as a spy for General Benton in his campaign against the southern Missouri bushwhackers, who caused a reign of terror in the early '60s. The paternal ancestors of Mrs. May (Jorden) Way came from Saxony and Wales and served in the Indian and Revolutionary wars. Her grand- father Jorden enlisted from the colony of New York and her grand- father Cramer from the colony of New Jersey, the latter serving for seven years. Members of her family have fought for the Union in every war since the Revolution. Iler maternal ancestors were of Seotch-Irish birth and settled in Maryland. At the time of her marriage Mrs. May (Jorden) Way resided in Carter county, Missouri.
In his political views Mr. Way is a republican, has served for sixteen years as a member of the Ford county republican central committee and for twelve years of that time as its secretary. His earnest work in behalf of the party is fully appreciated by the people of the county and state. At Rutland, Illinois, in 1868, he was made a Master Mason, and a Royal Arch Mason in 1870, and while living at that place served his lodge as junior deacon and secretary. After removing to Ford county he became a member of Gibson
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Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Gibson Chapter, R. A. M., and Gibson Council, R. & S. M. He is a member of Lott Post, No. 70, G A. R., of Gibson City, Illinois, has served as commander of the post, inspector of posts in Ford county and mem- ber of the official staff of the Department of Illinois, Commanders Wilson, Trimble and Mathews, with the rank of colonel. Liberal in his religious views, he is not a member of any denomination but is a believer in the Chris- tian religion. IIe has a well selected library, containing principally military and political works and finds recreation and pleasure in reading. In agricul- tural, educational, fraternal and political circles he has made his influence widely felt and stands as a man among men, honored wherever known and most of all where best known.
WINFIELD SCOTT.
Winfield Seott, who is now living retired in a comfortable and attractive residence in Kempton, was for many years identified with the agricultural interests of Ford county. He was born in Somerset township. Washington county, Pennsylvania, March 24, 1849, of the marriage of John and Lydia Scott, both of whom were also natives of Washington county, Pennsylvania, in which state they also passed away. Eight children were born of this union, four of whom still survive: Franklin P., who makes his home in Pennsylvania; William J., of Marietta, Ohio; John A., who resides in Piper City; and Win- field, of this review.
Winfield Scott was educated in the common schools and remained in the state of his nativity until 1874, when he located in Mona township, Ford county, being employed at farm labor by the month for two years. On the expiration of that period he rented a farm, which he successfully operated for five years, and in 1881 returned to Pennsylvania, remaining in that state until . 1887. In that year he returned to Illinois, purchasing a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 10, Mona township, where he carried on his agri- cultural interests diligently and energetically until 1903, when the competence he had acquired through his well directed labor and capable business manage- ment enabled him to put aside the active work of the farm and he is now living retired in a comfortable residence which he owns in Kempton. He is renting his land in Mona township.
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On the 6th of February, 1889, Mr. Scott was united in marriage to Miss Harriet A. Wilson, a native of Washington county, Pennsylvania, whose parents are both now deceased. She was one of a family of four children, and by her marriage to Mr. Scott she became the mother of one child who died in infancy.
In his political views Mr. Seott is a democrat and has served for twelve years as supervisor. There were only two democrats on the board during this period but he was elected chairman, a fact which indicates his personal popularity and the trust reposed in him by his fellow members of the board. He has also served as school director for nine years, the cause of education ever finding in him a stalwart and helpful champion. Both he and his wife are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are esteemed in their home community as people of genuine personal worth, the hospitality of the best homes being freely accorded them.
A. C. THOMPSON.
A. C. Thompson is the owner of seven hundred and twenty acres of fine land in Ford county and in addition to general farming he makes a specialty of stock-raising. He was born in Sehuyler county, Illinois, Angust 12. 1858, his parents being Amos R. and Martha W. (Smith) Thompson, who are repre- sented elsewhere in this volume.
A. C. Thompson remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority, when he started out in life on his own account by renting a farm in Missouri. He remained in that state for a year and then returned to Illinois, purchasing eighty acres of land in Iroquois county, which he successfully operated until 1887. In that year he came to Ford county and again rented land for five years, on the expiration of which period he returned to Iroquois county, where he farmed a tract of rented land for thirteen years. He then purchased a farm in that county but sold it in 1900 and purchased four hundred and eighty acres on section 21. Pella township, Ford county. He increased his holdings from time to time until he now has seven hundred and twenty acres of rich and productive land in this county in the beautiful valley of the Pan Handle. He is one of the prosperous and enterprising agriculturists of this part of the state and in addition to his extensive farming interests he also
MR. AND MRS. A. C. THOMPSON
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makes a specialty of raisng stock, in which branch of his business he has met with a gratifying measure of success.
In 1888 Mr. Thompson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Patterson, a native of Wyoming county, New York. Her father has passed away, but her mother still survives, making her home in Steele county, North Dakota. Mrs. Thompson is one of a family of eleven children and by her marriage she has become the mother of eight children, six of whom are living: Walter, who is a student in the high school at Piper City; Lottie; Jennie; Leslie; Benjamin; Margaret ; and two who are deceased.
In 1903 Mr. Thompson removed to Freeland Park, Indiana, where he conducted an elevator until the spring of 1907, when he sold out and returned to this county in order to supervise his agricultural interests here. He has erected a handsome fifteen room residence on his farm, three miles north of Piper City, in which he expects to spend the remainder of his life. Except for the assistance he has received from his estimable wife, Mr. Thompson owes his success entirely to his own well directed labor and unfaltering diligence, combined with capable business management. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian church. In his political views he is a republican and a believer in high tariff. He has served as school director altogether for nineteen years in the different counties in which he has lived, the cause of education ever finding in him a warm friend. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America at Piper City and is also a member of Piper City Lodge, No. 608, A. F. & A. M. and is a Knight Templar in the commandery at Fairbury. Both he and his wife are widely and favorably known throughout the com- munity, having won the unqualified confidence and regard of all with whom they have come in contact.
JOIIN A. SHAW.
John A. Shaw, a resident of Kempton, identified with both farming and carpentering, is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, born July 27, 1849. His parents were Jonathan and Martha Shaw, who were natives of England, and in 1842 came to America, crossing the Atlantic in a sailing vessel, after the slow and tedious method of marine travel of those days.
They located in Rockdale, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where Mr. Shaw worked in the cotton mills for eighteen years. Thinking however, to find
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better business opportunities in the middle west, he removed to Winnebago county, Illinois, in 1858, and there resided until 1865, when he took up his abode in Grundy county, this state. Three years were passed there, during which time he followed general agricultural pursuits.
He next removed to Livingston county, where he carried on farming for ten years, and on the expiration of that period he became a resident of Ford county, establishing his home in Kempton. ITis wife died here on the 10th of September, 1886, and surviving her for only a brief period, Jonathan Shaw passed away November 6, 1886. In their family were nine children, as follows: Wright, who died during the voyage to this country and was buried at sea ; Hannah, the wife of Thomas Greenwood, a resident of Ford county; Anne, the widow of Davis Travis, and a resident of Kempton; James, deceased ; Joe, who lives in Brookton, New York; Mary, the wife of Joseph Schofield, a resident of Morris, Illinois; John A., of this review; Thomas, who resides in Kempton; and Maggie, the wife of John W. Bute, of Ford county.
John A. Shaw spent the first nine years of his life in the city of his nativity and was then brought to Illinois by his parents on their westward removal. HIe lived with them in Winnebago, Grundy and Livingston counties, remaining at home until twenty-three years of age, when he started out in life on his own account. He had previously been a pupil in the public schools, where he acquired a fair English education and through the summer months he had worked on the farm, early becoming thoroughly acquainted with the best methods of cultivating and caring for the crops. On leaving home he settled on a rented farm, which he improved for five years, at the end of which time, with the capital he had acquired from his labors, he purchased a farm on seetion 6, Mona township, where he now lives. IIe earries on general agricultural pursuits and at the same time works at the carpenter's trade, being thus elose- ly associated with the industrial interests of his part of the county. In both lines of his business he is practical as well as progressive and his labors are bringing him a desirable measure of success.
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