USA > Illinois > Ford County > History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 3
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In politics Mr. Stedman is a republican and fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 481, at Piper City, and also the Woodmen Camp at Piper City.
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In 1903 occurred the marriage of Henry Stedman and Miss Theresa Drinan, who was born in Ohio. Her father, John Drinan, now lives in Gilman, Illinois, but the mother is deceased. Mrs. Stedman was one of two children, and by her marriage has a daughter, Lorna Helen. Mr. and Mrs. Stedman attend and support the Methodist Episcopal church. They are well known in Ford county, and are much esteemed by a large circle of warm friends.
ARBY D. READ.
Arby D. Read, who has extensive farming interests in this county, is a native of Chautauqua county, New York, where he was born on the 14th of April, 1854, a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Ferguson) Read, further mention of whom is made in the sketch of Thomas Read on another page of this work. Our subject was one of a family of eleven children, six of whom still survive: Edwin T., of LaSalle county, Illinois; Franklin and Henry, who have passed away; Helen, the widow of Henry Morse, living in Indiana; Harriet, deceased ; Thomas, who makes his home in Piper City; John, who also resides in Indiana; Theodore, deceased; Charles, of Pella township; Arby D., of this review; and James, who has also departed this life.
When he was nine years of age Arby D. Read accompanied the family on their removal to Illinois, working in company with his brothers until he had attained his majority. He then followed farming in connection with his brother Charles for fifteen years, on the expiration of which period he bought the old homestead, where he still resides. He has, however, greatly improved the place, having added all the accessories and conveniences of modern farming, and in addition to the erection of a fine fifteen-room residence he has also built a large barn. His landed holdings comprise eight hundred and thirty acres in Polla township, Ford county, and seven hundred acres in Mississippi. Ile is a self-made man, who has worked persistently and earnestly for the success which has come to him, for although he started out in life empty-handed he has gained the prosperity which is the reward of untiring perseverance and executive ability.
In 1876 Mr. Read was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Long, a native of Pennsylvania, who was one of a family of eight children. She also became the mother of eight children, six of whom are still living: Dora and Edwin, both
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ARBY D. REED AND FAMILY
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deceased; Melvin, who follows farming in Iroquois county; Edna, a school teacher of Mississippi; Ethel, Wilbur, Mary E. and Ruth, all at home.
In his political views Mr. Read is a republican and has served as school director for several years. He was also drainage commissioner and is interested in all those movements and measures which tend to promote the general welfare. Fraternally he is connected with lodge No. 608, A. F. & A. M., at Piper City, and with the chapter at Fairbury, Illinois. Both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are highly esteemed throughout the community by reason of their genuine personal worth and sterling traits of character. His life has been one of continuous activity, in which has been accorded due recogni- tion of labor, and today he is numbered among the substantial and prosperous citizens of his county.
JOHN S. HUNT.
John S. Hunt is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of the state, where he has spent his entire life, so that he has witnessed much of the growth and development of this section of the country. His memory goes back to the time when all of the evidences of frontier life were here found; when the prai- ries were wild and uncultivated; when the forests were uneut; the streams unbridged; when deer and other wild animals roamed over the countryside; and when the Indians still disputed the right of the white man to intrude upon what he regarded as his domain. The memory of John S. Hunt forms a connecting link between the primitive past and the progressive present.
He was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, in 1829, his parents being Cor- nelius and Ann (Sidell) Hunt, who were natives of New Jersey. The father removed with his parents to Pennsylvania, and subsequently the family home was established in Muskingum county, Ohio, among the first settlers there. The father built a log cabin with a elapboard roof and puncheon floor and door, and in the true style of the frontier the family began their life in the Buckeye state. There they cleared a farm and with the development of that place Cor- nelius Hunt was actively connected, so that pioneer experiences were not unfamiliar to him when he came to Illinois in 1828. He made a location in Vermilion county, where he lived for eighteen months, and then removed to Putnam county, purchasing a claim on which there was a log cabin. It remained his home for six years, after which he sold that property and removed
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to Marshall county, Illinois. He there purchased two hundred and twenty aeres, entering eighty acres of timberland and paying for it the usual government prices. With characteristic energy he began the development of the farm, turn- ing the first furrows in the fields and carrying on the labor of general agriculture for fourteen years. He then rented his Marshall county land and purchased a farm in La Salle county, near Lostant. To this place he removed and made it his home until his death, which occurred May 12, 1874. His wife survived for about sixteen years, passing away in 1890.
In their family were ten children, seven of whom survive, as follows: Ruth HI., now the widow of Andrew Mailer and a resident of Melvin, Illinois; John S., of this review; Jane, the widow of James Dixon, also of Melvin; E. S., of Melvin; Elizabeth, the widow of George Dixon, who resides in Melvin; William J., who makes his home in the same town ; and Philip, who is located in Paxton, Illinois.
John S. Hunt remained with his father until he had attained his majority and his labors were those which usually fall to the lot of the agriculturist as he took part in the work of field and meadow. He afterward took a trip to California overland with an ox-team in the year 1850, making the long journey across the stretches of hot sand and through the mountain passes until he reached the district where he hoped to find gold in abundance. He remained for fifteen months, and, while he did not meet with the success he anticipated, he had many experiences of interest and value. The return trip was made by way of the water route and upon again reaching Illinois he located in La Salle county, where he purchased eighty acres of land. He then began farming and his father gave him an additional tract of eighty aeres, while subsequently he bought twenty acres of timber and forty acres of prairie land, thus coming into possession of a good farm of two hundred and twenty acres. With characteristic energy he began the development and improve- ment of the place and as time passed the tangible result of his labor was man- ifest in rich erops and well developed fields, the work being systematized in every partienlar. It meant much hard labor, but he performed the work in such a manner that the best results possible were accomplished and the years brought him the reward of his diligence.
In 1852 Mr. Hunt was united in marriage to Miss Jane Burley, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Anderson) Burley, who were natives of Pennsylvania but are now deceased. In their family were nine children, but Mrs. Ilunt is the only one now living. By her marriage she has become the mother of twelve children : Elizabeth A., now the wife
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of Joseph McMann, a resident of Chatsworth; Ruth IT., the wife of William Thompson, who is living in Melvin; Nina B., the wife of Paul Hubler, who is living near Buckley; Julia, the wife of Clarence Sauter, of Gilman, Illinois ; J. W., at home; Della, the wife of Frank MeClure, a resident of Ford county ; John M., also living in Ford county; and five who have passed away.
While operating the farm, Mr. Hunt made a specialty of raising and feed- ing stock, keeping good grades of cattle and finding a ready market for them. He now owns four hundred and eighty acres of land on sections 25 and 36, in Peach Orchard township, which cost him eight and nine dollars per acre, but which is today worth between one hundred and two hundred dollars per acre. His success is well merited, because it has come through diligence and perseverance. He has now reached the age of almost four score years and looking back over his life, there is no occasion for regret. Mistakes, of course, have been made-for who does not make them-but in his entire life his inten- tions have been honest and his work has been honorable. In his political views he has always been a stalwart republican, unfaltering in his support of the principles of the party which has ever been the political organization of reform and improvement. IIe has served as supervisor and collector and for ten years was school director, the cause of education finding in him a warm friend. He has also done good work for the public highways as road com- missioner and his influence has ever been on the side of improvement and
progress. He built three houses in his township and in the work of improve- ment and development he has borne his part. In 1881 he removed to Melvin, where he has since lived retired, owning in the village a fine residence and six- teen lots, while from his farming property he derives a gratifying income. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and people of the highest respectability, enjoying the full measure of confidence and trust from their fellowmen.
DANIEL KEWLEY.
Daniel Kewley is a retired farmer who yet has good income property in the farm upon which he resided for so many years, giving his time and energies to its cultivation and development. Ile was born on the Isle of Man, December 7, 1865, his parents being Daniel and Ellen (Clay) Kewley, who were also natives of that isle. The father was a miner in the old country and ere his emigration
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to the new world as a permanent resident, he made two or three trips to the United States and also one to Australia. After taking up his abode in this country his life was given to farming and though he started out empty-handed. he accumulated a fine estate and was for a long period numbered among the substantial residents of Ford county. He had two hundred and twenty acres of rich and valuable land in the home place and a tract of four hundred and sixty aeres elsewhere in the county. While on a trip to California for his health in 1903. he passed away at the age of sixty-eight years. In his political views he was over a stalwart republican and in religions faith was a Methodist. Since his death his widow has continued to make her home in California. In their family were four children: Daniel, of this review; James, who is cashier in the bank at Onarga, Illinois; Anna, the wife of F. W. Willet, a jeweler of Watsonville. California ; and Lena May, who is living with her mother on the Pacific coast.
Daniel Kewley was only about a year and a half old when brought by his parents to Illinois, the family home being established in Mona township. Ford county. In 1874 they removed to Brenton township. Daniel Kewley residing there and in Pella township from that time to the present. He was reared to the occupation of farming, early receiving practical training in the best methods of tilling the soil and converting the fields into a productive tract of land, bringing forth rich harvests. As he started ont in life for himself his previous experience well qualified him for the work which he undertook, and as the years passed he prospered, transforming his farm into one of the valuable properties of the county. He continued to engage in general agricultural pursuits until December, 1906, when he removed to Piper City, where he erected and now occupies a beautiful and commodions residence, modern in every respect, it being one of the best homes of Piper City. Mr. Kewley is now giving his super- vision to his real-estate interests, and to the enjoyment of such pleasures of life as were denied him when his farming interests made heavy claims upon his time and energies. His excellent farm property comprises three hundred and twenty acres of land situated on sections 15 and 16. Brenton township. It is well improved with substantial buildings, and everything about the place indicates his careful supervision and the practical methods which he brought to bear in carrying on his farm work. He also operated his father's farm-a tract of five hundred and forty acres-and was very successful in his labors as an agrienlturist. What he undertook he carried forward to successful completion, and in all things was eminently practical. Besides his property in this state, he owns a half section of land in South Dakota.
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In 1888 Mr. Kewley was united in marriage to Miss Cora A. Munson, a native of this county, and a daughter of Charles and Iowa (Jennings) Munson. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kewley have been born two children, Bertha and Helen. The family is prominent socially, the members of the household occupying an enviable position in the social circles in which they move, while the hospitality of the best homes of this part of Ford county is freely accorded them. Mr. Kewley is a republican with independent tendencies, usually, however, voting for the men and measures of the party. He has served as school director and has recently been elected assessor. His religious faith conneets him with the Presbyterian church. Never heedlessly passing by the opportunities of the business world, he has through the utilization of the advantages that have come to him, steadily advanced from a humble position to one of affluence.
JOHN C. MEYER.
John C. Meyer, postmaster and merchant of Garber, is a successful business man who owes his prosperity to enterprise, unfaltering determination and inflexible business integrity. These qualities never fail to win success and the life history of Mr. Meyer is another proof of the fact that they constitute a sure foundation upon which to build the superstructure of business advancement.
A native of Indiana, he was born near Osgood, Ripley county, July 27. 1864. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his boyhood and youth. Ilis time was divided between the duties of the schoolroom and the work of the home farm, for during the periods of vacation he assisted in the labors of field and meadow. When about seventeen years of age he left home and went to Dearborn county, Indiana, where he was employed for one year as a farm hand. On the expiration of that period he removed to Greensburg. Decatur county, Indiana, where for eight years he worked as a farm hand. He afterward spent two years in Pekin, Tazewell county, Illinois, as farm hand, coming thence to Garber, and after serving as farm hand for one year he rented a one hundred and twenty acre farm and engaged in general agricultural pursuits on his own account in the operation of rented land for five years, when with the capital he had acquired through his energy and diligence he purchased the store building and property of S. D. Litwiler and leased it to T. J. Williams for one year, but at the end of the year he purchased the stock and fixtures of Mr. Williams. At that time the stock was very small.
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being worth only about three hundred dollars, but he soon increased it, so that today it is valued at over five thousand dollars and he is conducting a success- ful business as a general merchant. Besides this he owns other property. He is also acting as agent for the leading implement manufacturers of the country and in 1907 his sales in all departments amounted to thirty thousand dollars. His success is due to his earnest desire to please his patrons and the carefully selected line of goods which he carries and to his straightforward dealings.
In 1894 Mr. Meyer was united in marriage to Miss Katie Gerber, of Pekin, Illinois, a danghter of Peter Gerber, a Frenchman. They have a daughter, Hazel, now eleven years of age, but they lost their only son. Edward, at the age of six years.
Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are members of the United Brethren church at Gibson City and he is interested in the education as well as the moral development of the community, having served as school trustee for the past ten years. He does all in his power to further the interests of public education. In politics he has always been a republican, with strong prohibition tendencies, and he has long been recognized as a stalwart advocate of the cause of temperance. In fact, his aid and influence are always given to the side of reform, progress and improve- ment, and he stands inflexibly for truth and justice on all occasions.
HARRY BONNEN.
Harry Bonnen owns and occupies a farm on section 29, Dix township. It is a place of one hundred and fifty-six acres and the corner adjoins the corpora- tion limits of the village of Guthrie. £ He is not actively engaged in the development of the fields now but rents the land to others, although he still lives there.
He was born in Germany on the 11th of January, 1850, his parents being Bonnie P. and Tillie (DeGrote) Bonnen, who came to America in the fall of 1867 with their family of four sons and three daughters, namely : Richard, who now follows farming in Dix township; Harry, of this review; Anna, who is living in Kansas City; Peter, who was killed by a horse; Bertha, the wife of Henry Farris, who is farming in Drummer township; George, who carries on farming in Dix township and is mentioned elsewhere in this work; and Caroline, the wife of Harry Sehntte, who is also represented on another page of this volume.
MR. AND MRS. HARRY BONNEN
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HISTORY OF FORD COUNTY.
The father was a farmer by occupation, devoting his entire life to that pursuit. Sailing for the new world on the vessel America, accompanied by his family, he landed at New York city after a voyage of fourteen days and then went to Springfield, Illinois, where he remained for three days. He next proceeded to Petersburg, Menard county, and soon afterward rented an eighty aere farm about ten miles from Petersburg. In 1873 he purchased the tract of one hundred and sixty acres on section 28, Dix township, upon which Harry Schutte now resides. He lived in Menard county for three years and in Cass county for one year and then came to Ford county, settling on a farm two miles south of Gibson, which was his home until his labors brought him suffi- cient capital to enable him to purchase what is now the Schutte farm. His life was one of industry and enterprise and in this regard proved an excellent example for his family.
Harry Bonnen was reared to habits of thrift, industry and perseverance. IIe acquired his education in the schools of Germany and the home atmosphere was always one of culture and intelligence. His father was a highly educated man, who acquired his education in Germany and for two years studied for the ministry of the German Intheran church. He was especially proficient in mathematical lines and could readily figure out most difficult problems. Harry Bonnen was about seventeen years of age when he accompanied his parents to the new world, assisting them in the work of the home farm until 1878, when he started out in life on his own account. He has since been dependent entirely upon his own resources, and his perseverance and diligence constitute the basis upon which he has builded his success. After his parents died he remained with his brother George for several years or until his marriage. Eighteen years ago he purchased his farm of one hundred and sixty acres and for a considerable period was active in its management and development.
On the 15th of March, 1899, Mr. Bonnen was united in marriage to Miss Mollie Gerdes, who was born in Menard county, a daughter of Ubbe and Meta (Oncon) Gerdes, who were farming people and came to Ford county in 1873. After residing here for three years they removed to Champaign county, where they are now living, their home being on a farm near Mayview. Their family numbered seven children, namely: Mrs. Bonnen; William, who carries on general agricultural pursuits near Urbana, Illinois; Elizabeth, at home; George, who follows farming in Dix township; Tena, the wife of Kirk Snedeker, who is farming about three-fourths of a mile south of Champaign; Frank, who carries on the same pursuit near Urbana, Illinois; and Ernest, at home. Mrs. Bonnen acquired her education in the schools of Champaign and Ford counties and by
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her marriage she has become the mother of three children : Bonn II., Charles Edward and Leslie V.
Mr. Bonnen now rents his land and the property provides him with a good income, obviating the necessity for further labor on his part. His political allegiance is given the democracy but he has never sought the honors nor emoluments of public office. His fellow townsmen have long known him as a representative agriculturist and regard him as a citizen of worth.
C. A. LARSON.
IIonored and respected by all there is no man who occupies a more enviable position in commercial circles in Paxton than C. A. Larson of the P. Larson Company, owning and controlling the largest mercantile house in Ford county. His position in public regard is due not alone to the success which he has achieved but also to the honorable, straightforward policy that he has followed. It is true that he entered upon a business already established but he has enlarged and extended this and in so doing has displayed the strong traits of character of the successful merchant, who recognizes and utilizes his opportunity and upon the substantial basis of diligence and commercial integrity builds his success.
Mr. Larson was born in Attica, Indiana, February 1, 1859. His father, Peter Larson, was the founder of the present business, to which his three sons succeeded upon his retirement. The father was a pioneer merchant tailor of Paxton. A native of Sweden, he was born in Olmsted, Jonkopings lan, December 12, 1833. IIe was reared and educated in his native land and learned the tailor's trade prior to his emigration to America in 1854. He first became identified with the business interests of Attiea, Indiana, and while living there was married in 1857 to Miss Lovisa Gustafson, a daughter of Jacob Gustafson, a native of Linderas, Sweden, whence she came to the new world in 1853.
In 1864 Peter Larson removed with his family to Paxton, where he began business as a merchant tailor and dealer in ready-made clothing in company with William Lindberg and John Nelson. under the firm name of Lind- berg, Larson & Nelson. From 1870 until 1883 he was alone in business and succeeded in building up a profitable trade. In October of the latter year he sold out to his sons. Charles Albert and J. T. Larson, and C.
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A. Englund, who continued under the firm style of P. Larson & Company. Mr. Larson made an excellent reputation for business probity as well as enter- prise, and was the founder of what has become the leading mercantile house of Ford county. He possessed the strong characteristics of the Swedish nation-the perseverance and unfaltering industry and the thorough reliabil- ity which have ever marked the people of that peninsular country.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Peter Larson were born six children, of whom four survive: Charles Albert, Jacob Theodore and Peter Edward being associated in mercantile interests; and Ida Otillia, of Paxton. Two children, Emil and Ida Otillia, died in infancy.
Charles Albert Larson, the eldest son, was but five years of age when brought to Paxton by his parents. He acquired his education in the publie schools and was early trained in the work of the store. He gave close atten- tion to the business and remained as assistant to his father until the latter's i retirement in 1883. when, with his brother, J. T. Larson, and C. A. Englund he succeeded to the business. They retained the firm name of P. Larson & Company for business advantages accrued therefrom, the partnership remain- ing the same until 1887, when a younger brother, Peter E. Larson, was admitted to the firm. On the 27th of February of that year a branch store was opened at Gibson City, with Peter E. Larson in charge, and in August, 1891, another store was opened at Watseka, the youngest brother at that time assuming the management in the latter city. In October, 1901, they disposed of the Watseka store and on the 6th of February, 1903, the company was reorganized as a stock company, under the name of the P. Larson Company, with Peter E. Larson as president ; C. A. Larson as secretary and treasurer ; and T. J. Larson as vice president. This company owns and controls the Paxton store, while the Gibson City branch is under a separate management, with the name of the P. Larson Clothing Company. Of this latter business organization C. A. Larson is the president. In September, 1905, a branch store was opened by the incorporated company in Hoopestown, which proved to be very successful from the beginning and is now profitably conducted. During the early years of their business career the brothers also operated a branch store in the town of Roberts but later disposed of that.
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