USA > Illinois > Ford County > History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 5
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P. E. IIUNT.
P. E. Hunt, a representative of the business interests of Paxton, is well known as a gardener and farmer. He was born in La Salle county, Illinois, February 12, 1848. his parents being Cornelius and Elizabeth A. (Sidel) Hunt, the former a native of New Jersey and the latter of Pennsylvania. They were married in Ohio. to which state they had gone in early life with their respective parents. In 1828 they removed to Putnam county, Illinois, at which time there were only two or three families living in the county. The journey was made in a wagon drawn by ox-team over roads that were little more than a trail and they had to go to Chicago for supplies. Previous to taking up their abode in Illinois, they had resided for a time in Indiana on the Wabash river, east of Danville, Illinois, and had raised a crop there, bringing with them to this state supplies almost sufficient for one year's sustenance. There was no mill nor market near and the settlers had to depend upon their own labors and devices for everything. The method employed by Mr. Hunt to grind his corn into meal was primitive in the extreme. Having ent down a large oak, he smoothed the top, bored holes in the stump some eighteen inches and set fire to it so that each hole was burned in the shape of a bowl. He then arranged a heavy sweep or hammer made of iron to pound his corn into meal. Neighbors came from fifteen to twenty-five miles to use this improvised
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mill, each man doing his own pounding and frequently remaining all night awaiting his turn. All around was the unbroken prairie or the uncut timber and the Indians were far more numerous than the white settlers. During the Black Hawk war Mr. Hunt took his wife back to Ohio, after which he returned to Illinois and assisted the white settlers in prosecuting the war and subju- gating the savages. Purchasing land. he remained upon the farm for two years after his wife came to Illinois and later he purchased a farm on the prairie, where they lived until his death May 12. 1874. Thus passed away one of the honored pioneer settlers whose worth in the community was widely acknowledged, for he proved an able assistant in reclaiming this region for the purposes of civilization.
He and his wife were the parents of twelve children, all of whom reached adult age, namely : Mary, who first married John Moore and later became the wife of Harry Crawford but is now deceased; John, a retired farmer living in Melvin, Illinois; Caroline, the deceased wife of Ephraim Frazee; Sarah, who became the wife of Joshua Polin but is now deceased; Ann, who has also passed away; Enoch, a retired farmer making his home in Melvin ; Ruth, the widow of Andrew Miller; Jane, the widow of James Dickson; Elizabeth, the widow of George Dickson; William, who served in the United States army for two years during the Civil war and is now living retired in Melvin; Jacob, who served as a soldier of the Civil war and was wounded at Altoona Pass, Georgia, his injuries resulting in his death ; and P. E., whose name introduces this review.
The last named was edneated in the country schools of LaSalle county and in youth became familiar with the arduous task of developing new land and carrying on the work of the farm. At the age of twenty years he was married to Miss Aliee Campbell, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Blakely) Campbell. who came originally from Kentucky to Illinois. In their family were eight children, as follows: William, who makes his home in Mattoon, Illinois ; Louisa, the deceased wife of John Longnecker; Alice, now Mrs. Hunt ; Sarah, the widow of James W. White; Laura, the wife of Douglas Conrad; Wallace, who is editor of a newspaper at Anderson, Indiana; Hilary, who is now serving as postmaster at Roberts; and Lawrence, who resides in Paxton.
Through the period of his early manhood Mr. Hunt carried on agricultural pursuits but on the 17th of June, 1889, removed to Paxton and became one of the founders of what is now the Paxton Hardware Manufacturing Company. In 1891 he sold his interest to his partner, F. E. Bonney, and purchased his present place at the edge of Paxton, consisting of twenty-four aeres of land. Here he devotes his time and attention to the raising of garden produce, for
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which he finds a ready sale on the city market. His business is carefully eondneted and is bringing to him well merited and gratifying success. He raises about five hundred chickens each year, making a specialty of brown leghorns and Rhode Island reds.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have been born four children: Jacob W., now deceased; Murray E., who is engaged in the grocery business in Paxton; Frank, a veterinary surgeon of Gibson City; and Gertrude, the wife of John Waldron, a cabinet maker of this city.
Mr. Hunt has never aspired to office, although he has served as school commissioner and road commissioner. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and they are both highly esteemed in the community, their good qualities of heart and mind bringing to them the warm friendship of many with whom they have come in contact.
JOHN KARSTEN.
John Karsten, who is now living retired in a commodious and substantial home of his own at Melvin, was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, September 2, 1842, losing his father when but two years of age. He acquired his education in the schools of his native land and remained in Germany until 1866, when he crossed the Atlantic to America, wishing to take advantage of the broader business opportunities offered in this country. He located in Marshall county, Illinois, where he was employed as a laborer for three years and then rented a tract of land, which he successfully operated for nine years. On the expiration of that period he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 23. Peach Orehard township, Ford county, where he made his home for fifteen years. Having by this time accumulated a handsome compe- tence he put aside the active work of the fields and removed to Melvin in 1894, where he has since resided in the enjoyment of well earned ease. He is now the owner of four hundred acres of land, all on section 23 and 24, Peach Orchard township, and is therefore numbered among the large landholders and progressive citizens of the county.
While still a resident of Germany Mr. Karsten was united in marriage to Miss Dora Haas, who was one of a family of five children. She is now the mother of four children, namely: Mary, the wife of George W. Spelmier, of Ohio; Charles F., who lives in Ford county; Anna, who became the wife of
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Henry Knox and also resides in this county; and William G., likewise of Ford county.
In his political views Mr. Karsten is a republican and is quite prominent in the local ranks of his party, having served as school director for thirteen years and as commissioner of highways for seven years. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful interest, Mr. Karsten having acted as trustee for many years. Except for the aid of his estimable wife, he owes his present splendid prosperity entirely to his untiring perseverance and excellent business manage- ment. for when he came to the United States he was empty-handed and has since achieved the success which entitles him to a prominent place in the history of the representative and enterprising residents of Ford county. He and his wife have resided in this county for thirty years and are therefore largely familiar with its history from a very early period. being moreover highly esteemed throughout the entire community by reason of their upright and honorable lives and many good traits of heart and mind.
EDWARD MCDERMOTT.
Edward McDermott, one of the enterprising and prosperous agriculturists and stock-raisers of Ford county, is a native son of Will county. Illinois, where his birth occurred on the 10th of April, 1864, his parents being John and Katherine MeDermott. The parents were natives of Ireland but in an early day emigrated to the new world, taking up their abode in New York, where they remained for six years. On the expiration of that period they made their way westward to Illinois, locating in Will county. In the year 1868, however, they removed to Ford county, where the father purchased a farm and was successful in its operation. He passed away on the 14th of March, 1907, but is still sur- vived by his widow, who makes her home in Piper City, Illinois. They were the parents of ten children. seven of whom are still living: John, who resides in New York : Mary, the wife of John McCormick, of Kansas City, Missouri; Bridget, deceased ; Owen, living in Pella township, Ford county; Edward, of this review ; William, of Piper City, Illinois; Peter, who makes his home in Creston, Illinois; Martin, residing m Champaign county, Illinois; and two who have passed away.
Edward MeDermott acquired a common-school education and remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, when he rented a
MR. AND MRS. EDWARD MCDERMOTT
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farm, which he operated successfully for eight years. He then purchased a tract of land of two hundred acres in Pella township on section 14 and later, as his financial resources increased, added eighty acres more on section 36 of the same township. In addition to this property he also owns three hundred and twenty acres near Winnipeg, Canada. His holdings are therefore quite exten- sive and in the cultivation of his fields he is meeting with a gratifying measure of prosperity by reason of his well directed energy and capable business manage- ment. In addition to his agricultural interests he makes a specialty of raising cattle, horses and hogs and this branch of his business is also proving a good source of income to him.
On the 5th of February, 1896, Mr. MeDermott was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. McGreevy, who was born in Livingston county, Illinois, in 1866. She was one of a family of fourteen children, the mother of whom is still living, the father, however, being deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. MeDermott were born four children, as follows: John J., Edward L., William Vincent and Engene Francis.
In his political views Mr. MeDermott is a stalwart democrat and has served as school director for several years. the cause of education finding in him a stanch friend. Both he and his wife are communicants of the Catholic church at Piper City and are widely recognized as people of genuine personal worth and sterling integrity. Mr. MeDermott has resided in this county from early child- hood and is therefore largely familiar with its upbuilding and substantial development, especially along agricultural lines, with which he has been con- nected throughout the entire period of his manhood.
JOIIN ADAM STADLER.
John Adam Stadler was for many years one of the leading, enterprising and honored farmers of Ford county. He always exemplified in his work the spirit of progress, and his successful accomplishment resulted from close and unremitting application and well directed industry. Moreover, in his business affairs he was so reliable that he commanded the unqualified confidence of all with whom he was associated. His birth occurred in Baden, Germany, June 8, 1836, his parents being George and Sybilla (Bachfisch) Stadler, who emigrated to America when their son John was a little lad of eleven years. The family home was- established at Newark, New Jersey,
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where John Stadler spent his youth, later, however, becoming a resident of Cochecton, New York, where he engaged in farming for a time.
Mr. Stadler was there married to Matilda Detzel, who died in the Empire state, leaving two sons, George and John Stadler, who are now in business in Chicago. In Cochecton, Sullivan county, New York, Mr. Stadler was again married on the 14th of August, 1861, his second union being with Catherine Valendor, who is a native of Germany, having been born in Baden, her parents being John and Catherine Valendor. She was a maiden of six summers when brought to the Empire state, where the death of her father occurred. Her mother died in Baden and the father was again married there before he brought his family to the new world. Mr. Stadler continued to engage in farming in New York until 1867, when he emigrated westward, thinking to find better business opportunities in Illinois. Loeating in Ford county, he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 20, Brenton township. It was then a traet of wild prairie, but the possibilities for the development of a good farm were there, and with characteristic energy he began its development, and in course of time brought it under a high state of improvement. Hle erected a comfortable home and good outbuildings, planted many rods of hedge fence, and made other substantial improvements which transformed the property into one of the attractive farms of the locality. Although he started in life empty-handed, at his death he was the owner of a valuable property of three hundred and sixty aeres, which annually returned him a good income. He kept everything about the place in excellent condition, and the neat and thrifty appearance of the farm indicated his practical ideas.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Stadler as the years went by were born ten children : Jacob, who was born in New York, wedded Annie Ristow, and now resides in Piper City; Lewis, who died at the age of twenty-six years; Catherine, the wife of Fred Ristow, of Piper City; Frank, who is mentioned on another page of this work; William, who died at the age of nineteen; Helen, the wife of Joseph K. Montelins, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Sam, a resident farmer of Livingston county, Illinois, and also the owner of farm property in Brenton township, Ford county; Annie, the wife of George D. Montelius, who is also mentioned in this work; Elizabeth, the wife of Ferdinand Luther, who resides in Piper City; and Charles, who is with his mother in Piper City.
In his religious faith Mr. Stadler was a Lutheran and in all his relations with his fellowmen was upright, honorable and reliable. Ilis political
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allegianee was given to the democracy, but the honors and emoluments of office had no attraction for him, as he preferred to give his entire attention to his business affairs. He died September, 26, 1884, and was laid to rest in Brenton cemetery. Many friends as well as his immediate family mourned his death, for he was respected wherever known, and had a wide acquaintance in the county. For the past twelve years Mrs. Stadler has resided in Piper City in a fine home which she erected. She has a wide and favorable acquaintance in the city and in the surrounding district, having for more than forty years resided in Ford county. Of its growth and develop- ment she has been an interested witness, and her memory goes back to a period when much of the county was still unimproved.
PETER J. PETERS.
Peter J. Peters, who owns and operates three hundred and forty acres on section 19, Wall township, was born in Holstein, Germany, on the 11th of September, 1851, his parents being Hans and Margaret (IFeesch) Peters, both of whom passed away in the fatherland, the former in 1867 and the latter in 1878. The father was a farmer by occupation. His family numbered eight children, namely: Hans H., residing in Gibson City, Illinois; Katherine, the wife of Peter Linderman, who still resides in Germany; John, of New Orleans; Henry and William, who are also living in the fatherland; and two who are deceased.
Peter J. Peters acquired his education in the schools of his native land, and when he had attained the age of twenty years emigrated to America, having heard many favorable reports concerning the broader business oppor- tunities and other advantages which the new world offered. On his arrival in this country he located first at Bloomington, Illinois, where he worked as a farm hand for nine years, on the expiration of which period he operated a rented farm in MeLean county, Illinois, for fifteen years. He then came to Ford county. At that time he had gained capital sufficient to enable him to purchase three hundred and forty acres on section 19, Wall township, remov- ing to this place in 1896. Ile has partly improved his land and has also built a fine residence and other buildings on the west quarter of the farm, where his daughter now resides. He started out in life empty-handed and the splendid success which he has achieved is entirely the result of his own
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well directed labor and enterprise. In the spring of 1908 he expects to retire from the active work of the fields, having already made plans for the erection of a handsome residence in Gibson City, where he will spend the remainder of his life in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil.
Mr. Peters has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Ida Schoemaker, a native of Germany, by whom he had one daughter, Mary, the wife of Edward Tetzloff, who lives on a part of her father's farm. In 1876 our subject was joined in wedlock to Miss Maria Lambrech, also a native of Germany, by whom he had thirteen children, as follows: Emma, the wife of Jacob Rammers, of El Paso, Illinois; William, who makes his home in Peoria; Ella, who became the wife of Harry Sharp, and resides in Ford county, August, at home; Anna; Henry; Minnie; Elma; Albert; Carl, deceased; Louise ; Ada ; and one who died in infancy.
In his political views Mr. Peters is a democrat and has served as school director for fifteen years, the cause of education ever finding in him a stanch friend. Both he and his wife are devoted members of the Lutheran church and are well and favorably known throughout the community as people of genuine personal worth. Germany has furnished to the United States many bright, enterprising young men who have left the fatherland to enter the business cireles of this country with its more progressive methods, livelier competition and advancement more quickly secured. Among this number is Mr. Peters. He found the opportunity he sought in the freedom and appreciation of the growing country. Though born across the water, he is thoroughly American in thought and feeling, and is patriotic and sincere in his love for the stars and stripes. His career is identified with the history of Ford county, where he has acquired a competence and where he is an honored and respected citizen.
GOTTLIEB HAHN.
Gottlieb Hahn, a retired agriculturist now making his home in Roberts, this county, was born in Germany on the 27th of September, 1827. Ilis parents were also natives of the fatherland and there passed away when our subject was very young, the latter being now the only survivor of his father's family of five children.
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RESIDENCE OF GOTTLIEB HAHN
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Gottlieb Hahn acquired his education in the schools of his native land and lived with his sisters until he had attained the age of twenty years, when in 1847 he crossed the Atlantic to the United States that he might enjoy the broader business opportunities which he had heard were offered in the new world. Ile located first at Hennepin, Putnam county, Illinois, where he was employed as a laborer for a year, after which he removed to La Salle county and worked for one man for two years. He was then married and brought his bride to a log house which he erected near Hennepin, its dimensions being fourteen by sixteen feet. In this primitive structure, with its clapboard roof, he continued to live for several years, subsequently carrying on agricultural pursuits as a renter for nine years. On the expiration of that period he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Livingston county, for which he paid seven dollars per acre and on which he lived for thirteen years. As the years passed by he converted the wild land into rich and fertile fields that annually responded in golden harvests to the care and labor which he bestowed upon them. Moreover, his well directed energy and capable business management brought him a large degree of success and when he had accumulated a competence he retired form active work and has since lived in the enjoyment of well earned ease at his pleasant home in Roberts, Ford county. He is also recognized as one of the pioneer agriculturists of the state, for he did his full share in the work of early development and progress here and has watched with interest the transforma- tion of a wild and windswept prairie into a rich farming district, inhabited by a prosperous and contented people.
In 1850 Mr. Hahn was united in marriage to Mrs. Elizabeth Warner, the widow of George Warner and a native of Germany, where her birth occurred in 1820. She accompanied her parents on their removal to Putnam county in 1837 and is the only one now living in their family of four children. By her first marriage Mrs. Hahn had five children, two of whom still survive: Mary. the wife of David Wilsoncroft, residing in Roberts; and Elizabeth, who became the wife of James Moore and makes her home in South Dakota. Unto our subject and his wife have also been born five children, namely: Conrad, of Momence, Illinois; William, who resides in Roberts; Amelia, the wife of David Barnett, also living in Roberts; and two who have passed away. Mrs. Hahn is remarkably well preserved, still doing her own housework with the energy and capability of a much younger woman.
Mr. Hahn has voted with the republican party since becoming a naturalized American citizen and has been prominent in local work of the organization, having held several township offices both in Livingston and Ford counties.
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Both Mr. and Mrs. Hahn are members of the Congregational church and they receive the respect and veneration which should ever be accorded those who have traveled far on life's journey and whose course has ever been upright and honor- able. The hope that led him to leave his native land and seek a home in America has been more than realized. He found the opportunities he sought, which, by the way, are always open to the ambitious, energetic man,-and making the best of these he has steadily worked his way upward.
THOMAS W. CHAMBERLIN.
In determining the salient features of any life history it cannot be denied that long and valiant service in the Civil war constitutes a chapter in that his- tory of special prominence and one of which the possessor may well be proud. Mr. Chamberlin is numbered among the veterans of the war for the Union, and moreover is classed with the business men of enterprise in Paxton, where he is now associated with Colonel Charles Bogardus in the real-estate and loan busi- ness, while independently, he has a large clientage in fire insurance. He was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, August 20, 1840, his parents being Reuben and Susan (MeClave) Chamberlin, natives of Vermont and New Hampshire respec- tively. ITis maternal grandfather, John McClave, was an officer in the American army in the war of 1812, while in the paternal line his great-grand- father Chamberlin served as a soldier of the Revolutionary war.
On leaving New England, Renben Chamberlin became a resident of Ohio, settling near Cincinnati. For many years he was engaged in teaching and was afterward a prominent merchant of Hamilton county. Ile passed away a number of years ago and was for some time survived by his wife, who reached the advanced age of eighty-eight years.
Thomas W. Chamberlin, who is the only survivor in a family of five children, was educated in the district schools of Warren county, Ohio. In 1858 he left school and again engaged in farming and was thus occupied for about two years. During the opening year of hostilities between the north and the south he enlisted in the United States army at Indianapolis on the 8th of October, 1861, as a second-class musician in Lieutenant Oliver B. Lisher's band of the Twelfth Regiment of Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Colonel William H. Link commanding. The regiment, which was organized May 11. 1861, left Indianapolis on the 11th
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of June for Evansville and on the 23rd of that month started for Baltimore, ar- riving there on the 27th of July. On the succeeding day they removed to Sandy Hook, Maryland, near Harper's Ferry, Virginia, and were assigned to Banks' army of the Shenandoah. From that point they moved with the army to IIvattstown, Maryland, as it was reported that the Confederate general, Joe Johnston, was on the opposite side of the Potomac river, the march of the Unionists being made to prevent his crossing. After many marches the regi- ment on the 1st of December. 1862, engaged the Confederate troops in battle at Dam No. 4 in Virginia and subsequently performed outpost duty until March, 1863, when they crossed the Potomac river and after a skirmish near Winchester, Virginia, entered that town, being the first regiment to enter after the rebels had evacuated. Mr. Chamberlin was commissioned as captain of Company B of the Second Ohio State Militia on the 4th of July. 1863, after his second enlist- ment. During the period between his two enlistments he had returned to Ohio and was engaged in farming in Warren county and also attended a commercial college in Cincinnati. From the 1st until the 26th of July, 1863, he was in pursuit of Morgan, who was making his raid through Indiana and Ohio, and in that connection rendered very important service but finally resigned from the militia in May, 1864, at Lebanon, Ohio. He is now a member of Seaver Post, No. 253, G. A. R., and thus continues in close and pleasant relations with his old army comrades. In the local post he has served as junior vice commander and as quartermaster.
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