History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II, Part 103

Author: Kiner, Henry L., 1851-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1138

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On the 14th of February, 1894, in Cornwall township, Mr. Nickerson led to the marriage altar Miss Laura Patience Farnam, of Cornwall township. She was born here, February 16, 1868, a daughter of John S. and Elizabeth (Tomp- kins) Farnam, and received a good common-school education. She has become the mother of seven children, namely: Nellie May, who was born November 8, 1894; Edna Verne, born February 20, 1897; Bessie Farnam, April 26, 1899; Irene Blanche, October 10, 1900; Laura Patience, October 31, 1902; Ada Ruth, June 12, 1904; and Dora Elizabeth, June 24, 1906.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, Mr. Nickerson has in- variably voted the republican ticket, on which he was elected assessor, serving in that capacity for several terms. His father had also ably filled that office, as well as that of school director, to which he was chosen after he removed to Atkinson. Fraternally Mr. Nickerson is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, holding membership in Atkinson Camp, No. 118. He is a man who conducting his business upon honorable methods, performing his duties of citi- zenship capably and at all times being true to the responsibilities that devolve upon him in every relation of life, well merits the esteem and good will which are uniformly accorded him.

JOHN STRALEY.

John Straley, who as postmaster has for many years handled all the mail of the town of Atkinson, was born in Austria, December 1, 1843. His mother died in 1851, and the following year, his father, George Straley, came to this country. He settled in Rock Island, Illinois, where he followed his trade of stone-mason until his death, which occurred in 1865. In his family were six children, five of whom are living. They are George, of Colorado; Joseph, of Rock Island, Illinois ;

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Maria, the wife of Frank Raible, of Davenport, Iowa; John, of this review; and Mary, the wife of Anton Dieseuroth, of Rock Island.

John Straley received his education in the public schools of Geneseo and there learned the trade of a tinner. When he had reason to be confident of his pro- ficiency he came to Atkinson and opened the tin shop and hardware store, which he conducted for fifteen years. He had a slight experience of war and battles in the great struggle in which the two parts of this country were engaged, for in 1864 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry. He was discharged after four months, however, and saw little hard service. In 1876 Mr. Straley was appointed postmaster of Atkinson and has held the office ever since, save during the two democratic administrations. Faithful in the performance of his duties, he holds the respect and good-will of all who have come in contact with him, some of them almost daily for the great part of fifteen years.

In 1865, Mr. Straley was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Garvin, who was born in Kentucky in 1843. For almost forty years the couple traveled life's jour- ney together, but on the 29th of May, 1904, she was called away, and a few days later was laid to rest in Grand View cemetery, in Atkinson. Four children were born to them: William, whose birth occurred in Atkinson in 1866, married Miss Nora Smith. He is a conductor on the railroad and lives in Blue Island, Illinois. John G., was born in Atkinson in 1868 and in early manhood married Miss Jen- nie McClure, of Rock Island. They live in Los Angeles, California, where he is a railroad conductor, and have a son, Raymond, aged fourteen years. Ina, was born in Atkinson, Illinois, January 7, 1870. She married P. E. Geminder, a stone-mason and contractor of Atkinson, and they have one child, Halo. Halo, the youngest, was born in Atkinson in 1876 and married Fred Johnson, a fireman on a railroad. They live in Blue Island, Illinois, and have three children: Wal- ter, aged seven years; Myron, aged five; and Eugene, who is three years old.

In 1876 Mr. Straley built his home on School street, but since the death of his wife he has lived with his daughter, Mrs. Geminder. A republican in his polit- ical views and a loyal citizen of Atkinson, he has found time to fill several other positions in addition to his duties as postmaster, for he has acted as town clerk. as supervisor and as tax collector. He is a member of the Methodist church and enjoys the most pleasant fraternal relations with the local lodge of Masons. A man easy of approach, genial in his attitude toward his fellowmen, and conscien- tious in the performance of his duties, Mr. Straley holds a position in the minds and hearts of the citizens of this town that few others can win.

JARED HEMINGWAY SMITH.

Jared Hemingway Smith, who was numbered among the large land owners, successful business men and most highly respected residents of Osco township, was born in Harwinton, Connecticut, November 18, 1827, and was a son of An- son and Abigail (Holt) Smith. He grew to manhood in his native state but the sterile fields of New England did not give him the opportunities he sought and

JARED H. SMITH

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believing that he might have better advantages on the broad prairies of the middle west he came to Illinois in 1853 at the age of twenty-six years. Making his way to Henry county he lived for a time with the Welton family, whom he had known in his old home. Soon, however, he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 22, Osco township, which remained his home until his death in 1903. The year following his arrival in Henry county Mr. Smith returned to Connecticut and there wedded Miss Jane A. Welton, with whom he had been previously acquainted. With his bride he returned to the middle west and they began their domestic life in one of the primitive pioneer homes of the town. The dimension timbers for their home were hewn by Mr. Smith from a tract of forest land which he owned east of Cambridge. This was one of the three houses then standing between Cambridge and Brown's Grove. A description of the furnishings of the house is taken from a letter written in 1856: "We have a set of flag seat chairs, one large rocking chair, a black walnut table and a stand, two bedsteads, an old clock that Lester gave us stands on a shelf in the south- east corner of the room and the looking glass hangs beside it. A cupboard stands on the west side of the kitchen. Jane uses it to wash dishes on. The broom hangs in the northwest corner of the room." This room is still in daily use but has been added to and remodeled.

Three children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith : Amelia, who became the wife of M. M. Nash, who is represented on another page of this volume; Anson W., who died in childhood; and Myra J., who married W. F. West and now lives in Berwyn, Nebraska. The mother died February 17, 1863, and on the 18th of August of the year following Mr. Smith married Miss Mary E. Knowles, of Lynn township. A native of Pennsylvania, she had come to Henry county with her parents in her early girlhood days and acquired her education in the public schools and afterward engaged successfully in teaching. By her marriage she became the mother of six children : Henry A., the oldest, wedded Miss Delia At- wood; Anna E. is the widow of William H. Patterson and now lives in Osco township with her brother, Charles E., on the home farm; Jared H. and George R. are twins and both are mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Charles E., as stated, lives on the old home farm and Mary Ethel resides with her brother and sister on the old home place.

Mrs. Smith died in 1894 while Jared H. Smith survived until the 23d of January, 1903, and was then called to his final rest. Throughout the period of his residence in Henry county he had devoted his life to general farming and had so capably and energetically managed his business affairs and so judiciously placed his investments that he had become the owner of eleven hundred acres of land all of which was under cultivation. Over nine hundred acres of this prop- erty is still in the possession of his children in Henry county. His success was never the cause of other men's failure but resulted from close application, care- ful business management and laudable ambition. He took keen interest in local affairs and rendered valuable service to the community in the offices of trustee, supervisor and treasurer of his township. He was one of the charter members of Grace Episcopal church and for eighteen years acted as senior warden. His entire life was in harmony with his profession, his sterling traits of character won him high regard and his activity contributed in no inconsiderable measure

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to the development and progress of the county within whose borders he established his home in pioneer times and lived to see it take its place with the leading coun- ties of this great commonwealth.

JOHN C. DEWEY.

One of the wealthy citizens of Annawan, Illinois, is John C. Dewey, the senior member of the firm of J. C. Dewey & Company, who are engaged in the grain business. Starting with but little of this world's goods, by untiring in- dustry, by the exercise of good judgment and through the constant utilization of his opportunities he has attained to a position of wealth and respect in the com- munity. But what is even more gratifying to him than this is that his children, to whom he gave the best advantages within his power, are all well established in life, a credit to him and factors in their respective localities.

Mr. Dewey was born in Berlin, Vermont, April 18, 1843. His parents, Harry Hovey and Mary Louisa (Commings) Dewey, were both natives of that state, and the year of the father's birth, that of 1809, is one that has become his- toric in the annals of famous men of England and America. Harry Dewey was a farmer in Berlin, Vermont, and in 1848 removed to Lunenburg, that state, where he lived until the fall of 1863, when he came to Illinois. Three years later he went to Iowa, locating in Keosauqua, where he remained about eight years, after which he returned to Illinois. He settled in Sheffield, and there passed the remainder of his life. A democrat in politics, he took an active interest in local affairs. While he lived in Vermont he served in several of the minor offices, and in Iowa he acted as justice of the peace. He died in 1899 and was laid to rest in Sheffield, Illinois, beside his wife, who had passed away some years before. There were six children born to the couple, two now deceased. They were Lucy, deceased; H. H., a resident of Wichita, Kansas; John C., of this sketch; B. F., of Sheffield, Illinois; Eva, who died at the age of eighteen years; and W. W., of Peoria, Illinois.

John C. Dewey attended the district schools of Vermont and assisted his father on the farm from the time he was able to handle a plow. After attaining his majority he took up farming, which he pursued until he was about thirty-five years of age. In March, 1863, he came to Illinois, locating in Sheffield, where he began farming but in May of the next year he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry for one hundred days' service. After about five months' service he returned to his home and went with his parents to Iowa, later returning to Sheffield. He next went to Atkinson, where for three years he was engaged in the grain business, and then went to Center- ville, Iowa, where he gave his attention to poultry. After two years' experience there he again engaged in the grain trade in Minden, Nebraska, and two years later removed to Loomis, that state, where he remained for seven years. For three years he lived in Buda, Illinois, and then, in 1897, came to Annawan, where he has since made his home, engaged in the grain trade. He conducts two ele-

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vators and has found that his efforts here, as elsewhere, have met with a sub- stantial reward.

In 1881 Mr. Dewey was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Mears, who was born in Aurora, Illinois, and is a daughter of William and Ann (Lathrop) Mears, both natives of Ireland. The father was a brick mason and served through the greater part of the Civil war, blindness coming upon him before his death as the result of the hardships he endured in that great struggle. He and his wife are buried in Aurora. They were the parents of five children : Mary, deceased; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Dewey; William, a railroad engineer in Aurora, who died in Leadville, Colorado; George, of Aurora; and Joseph, also of Aurora.

Mr. and Mrs. Dewey have had four children, all living. Fenno C., born in Atkinson, Illinois, November 8, 1882, was graduated from the Annawan schools and from the business college of Davenport, Iowa, and is now assisting his father in his office. Harry, born October 4, 1884, in Atkinson, is also a graduate of the Annawan schools and of the business college of Davenport. He is in the grain business in Camp Grove, Illinois. On the 28th of June, 1909, he married Miss Jessie Snozey. Annie L., born November 15, 1892, in Loomis, Nebraska, is a graduate of the Annawan schools and is attending Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois. William J., born in Loomis, Nebraska, in September, 1894, is a pupil of the Annawan grammar school.

When Mr. Dewey came to Annawan he purchased his handsome home on North avenue. It is modern in every respect and is furnished with all the com- forts and many of the luxuries of life, standing as a slight indication of the pros- perity to which he has attained through his own efforts. In political matters he allies himself with the republican party, but he has never sought any public office.

JAMES B. ENSEY.

James B. Ensey, who for many years was a successful farmer of Munson township but has now retired from active life and is living in the city of Gene- seo, was born in Howard county, Maryland, November 25, 1859, and is a son of Richard L. and Mary Jane (Gosnell) Ensey, both natives of that state. The father was born March 29, 1825, and followed farming in the state of his birth until his death in 1906. He was a strong democrat in his political views. His wife, who was born in 1837, died in June, 1901, and like her husband was buried in Maryland. They were the parents of nine children, seven now living: Lydia, who was the wife of Lee Gardner and died in 1887; Perry, who lives in Mary- land; John, who lives in Dakota; James B., of this review; Susan, the wife of Will Selby, who lives in Maryland; Nimrod, a resident of Denver, Colorado; Mollie, who is in the convent at Springfield, Missouri; and Jessie Smith, who is the wife of Samuel Edminston and lives in Cumberland, Maryland.

James B. Ensey was educated in the district schools of Maryland and re- mained with his parents on the home farm until he was eighteen years of age. In 1877 he came to Geneseo, Illinois, and located in Munson township, Henry

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county, where he secured work by the month, for he had only one hundred and fifty dollars with him, and he was anxious to save that and add to it so that he might start in farming for himself. For five years he was in the employ of others and then rented land in Munson township. In 1895 he was able to buy one hundred and ten acres there, to which he later added one hundred and ninety acres, which brought his holdings to three hundred acres, of which he still retains possession. He made a number of important improvements upon the land from time to time and it is now quite valuable. On the 24th of Decem- ber, 1908, Mr. Ensey decided to relinquish the heavier duties of life and bought the fine home he occupies on Mechanic and West North streets, Geneseo, where he enjoys the rest and comfort to which his years of toil have entitled him.

On the 24th of December, 1889, Mr. Ensey married Miss Anna E. Young, who was born in Munson township March 28, 1868, and is a daughter of James and Anna Young, both natives of Scotland. The father was born in Arbroath about 1819, and came to the United States in 1848, bringing his wife and eldest child with him. He located first in Ogle county, and later moved to Munson township, this county, where he passed the remainder of his days. He died May 17, 1894, but his wife, who was born in 1823, survived until June 24, 1905. They were the parents of eight children, three deceased: Jennie married Sid- ney Summers and lived in Kansas, until her death about seventeen years ago; James lives in Munson township; Mary Ann is the wife of Robert Ruxton, of Des Moines, Iowa; John lives in Morristown, Osco township; Charles is de- ceased; William has also passed away; Margaret is the wife of Theo Souers, of Grundy Center, Iowa; and the eighth is Mrs. Ensey.

Mr. and Mrs. Ensey have seven children, all born in Munson township: James Herbert, who died at the age of eleven months; John Linn, who was born September 2, 1891, and is now attending the Geneseo high school; Anna May, born July 7, 1893; Mary Elizabeth, born July 14, 1895; Charles Albert Young, born February 10, 1902; Francis Genese, born May 21, 1904; and Flor- ence M., born December 21, 1907.

Mr. and Mrs. Ensey are members of the Presbyterian church, and he allies himself with the democrats politically. He is, however, somewhat independent and frequently votes for whom he considers the best man irrespective of party affiliation. Public-spirited, he has served as school director and has always been in favor of progress. He enjoys fraternal relations with the Independent Or- der of Odd Fellows, among whom he has made many friends. Industrious and enterprising, he has accumulated a gratifying quantity of this world's posses- sions, and what is more, enjoys the respect of his fellow citizens.

J. D. FORD.

J. D. Ford, of Geneseo, is a retired farmer and stock dealer who has spent the greater part of his life in Henry county and is well known to its citizens as a representative and reliable business man. He was born near Rutland, Vermont, June 6, 1847, his parents being Henry S. and Ellen M. (Child) Ford, who were

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likewise natives of the Green Mountain state. The paternal grandfather, Olivet Ford, went from Canada to Vermont, establishing his home near Rutland, where he followed the occupation of farming. He wedded Mary Post and died in the east after which his widow came to Geneseo and spent her last days here. She reached an advanced age and her grave was made in the Geneseo cemetery Her three children were Henry S., David and Mary, the wife of Gardner Hunt. The matrnal grandfather of our subject was Horace Child, also a native of Vermont. He married a Miss Rice and they became early settlers of Rock Island county, Illinois. Mr. Child conducted an extensive dry-goods business there for some time before the railroad was built. He afterward removed to Geneseo, where both he and his wife died at an old age, their remains being interred in the Oak- wood cemetery.

Henry S. Ford spent the days of his boyhood and youth in New England and on his removal westward to Henry county, Illinois, purchased a farm of sixty acres, all now within the city limits of Geneseo. He laid out most of the streets in the north part of the town and was closely associated with the development and progress of that portion of the city. He was also actively connected with general agricultural pursuits and live-stock dealing and in connection with his son, J. D. Ford, purchased and controlled a stock farm of three hundred acres east of Geneseo. He remained an active, enterprising business man of the county until his death, which occurred in June, 1891, when he was seventy-five years of age. His wife passed away May 6, 1902, at the age of eighty-two years. Both were members of the Congregational church and were consistent Christian people who enjoyed in large measure the warm regard of all who knew them. Their children numbered five sons and three daughters: Watson, who died in Andersonville prison; Sarah, the wife of Milo Parker, of Omaha, Nebraska; J. D., the subject of this sketch; Ella B., the widow of George Beale, of Van Wert, Ohio; Horace, of Guthrie Center, Iowa; Fannie, the wife of Albert Mc- Murphy, of Omaha, Nebraska; Fred and Harry, both having died in childhood.

J. D. Ford, whose name introduces this review, has lived in Geneseo since February, 1855, being about seven years of age at the time of his arrival. The educational advantages offered him were those afforded by the common schools, yet his course was not continuous for his labors were often needed in the cultiva- tion and improvement of the home farm. He was reared as a farm boy, living at home until he had attained his majority and he then entered into partnership with his father. The business associations between them continued until the father's death and Mr. Ford was actively associated with general farming and live stock interests and the careful management which he displayed, combined with unfaltering energy and unabating industry, won for him the success which is now his. While he is practically living retired from the active management of business affairs he still gives some attention to farming and stock-raising in con- nection with his son Clyde and is yet financially interested in important en- terprises, being a stockholder and director in the Farmers Bank, while for many years he was connected with the Farmers & Merchants Insurance Company.

On the 29th of December, 1869, Mr. Ford was united in marriage to Miss Mary K. Weston, a daughter of Thomas Weston. They became the parents of four children : Nellie H .; Harry W., who was killed by lightning when twenty-

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five years of age; Ray B., who died when eight years of age; and Clyde D., who operates the home farm east of Geneseo. He married Maud Pritchard and they have a daughter, Phyllis Elizabeth. Mrs. Mary K. Ford was born near Bucy- rus, Ohio. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania and her mother of the Buck- eye state. They came to Henry county, Illinois, in April, 1857, and later Mr. Weston made a trip overland to Pike's Peak. Finally he settled in Geneseo, where he conducted a tannery. He was twice married, his first wife passing away in 1849, while his second wife died in 1899. His death occurred when he was eighty years of age.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Ford hold membership in the Congregational church, with which their children are also identified. In his political views Mr. Ford is a re- publican but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to concentrate his time and attention upon his indivdual interests. The cause of education, however, finds in him a warm friend and for many years he was school director. His business affairs have been most capably managed and the success which he has achieved is well merited as it is the direct reward of enterprise and effort.

JOHN J. BLOOM.

One of the citizens of Atkinson whose efforts during the years of his actiivty vastly aided the commercial prosperity of the city is John J. Bloom, a hardware merchant who now in his comfortable home on Williams street, enjoys the well deserved respite from toil to which the success of his previous years entitle him. He was born July 11, 1846, in Bradford, Bedford county, Pennsylvania. His father, Jacob Bloom, was a native of the same place, and was born in the year 1822. He had learned the trade of a blacksmith in his youth, and when he had attained to man's estate in 1853, he came west to Illinois, locating first in Mt. Car- roll, Carroll county. For two years he followed his calling there and then re- moved to Polo, Ogle county, and in 1858 to Geneseo, where he worked at his trade for almost eight years. In the spring of 1866 he came to Atkinson, and after a short residence here removed to Ralls county, Missouri, whence in 1868 he went to Hannibal, Marion county, Missouri. There he passed away November 27, 1870. Miss Elizabeth Miller, who in 1845 became the wife of Jacob Bloom, was born in 1825 in the same place as her husband and son. She survived her husband more than thirty years, and was seventy-six years of age when in 1901 she responded to the call of death. Eleven children were born to them. John J., of this review is the oldest. Ellen, born in Bedford, Pennsylvania, became the wife of William Johnston and lives in Oklahoma. Hezekiah, born in Penn- sylvania, died July 2, 1895. J. C. lives in Chicago. George W., born in Illinois, resides in Hannibal, Missouri. Judson D., born in Illinois, lives in Arkansas. Rosalinda passed away at the age of fifty years. Henrietta, born in Geneseo, Illinois, is the wife of Charles Adams, of Kansas City. One, who was born in Geneseo, Illinois, died in childhood. Ida, born in Geneseo, lives in Hannibal, Missouri. Jacob, Jr., born in Atkinson, Illinois, also lives in Hannibal, Missouri.

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John J. Bloom received the greater part of his education in the public schools of Geneseo, but his success in life has been due almost entirely to his own efforts, for his youth knew many privations and was seriously handicapped by lack of opportunities. During the progress of the Civil war his blood was stirred by the accounts of heroism on the field of battles and though but seventeen years of age he enlisted in 1863 in the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. After six months of service he was discharged and enlisted again in February, 1864, finding a place in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois, from which, after six months, he was transferred at Meridian, to the Thirty-third Illinois. In December, 1865, he was honorably discharged, and re- turned to take up the life of a civilian. In the two years he was in the army, how- ever, he saw a good deal of active warfare, for he participated in the siege of Fort Spanish, which lasted thirteen or fourteen days. Upon his return to the arts of peace, he farmed as a renter for one year and then removed to Hannibal, Mis- souri, where for four and a half years he worked for the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. In 1875 he came to Atkinson and, after following the blacksmith's trade for a time, found employment with John Straley in his tin and hardware shop. In 1878 Mr. Bloom purchased the stock and tools of the latter and em- barked in business on his own account. In 1905, after having conducted the store for twenty-seven and a half years, he sold his interests to Milton Booth. He really retired from active life then, though for the next three years he remained with Mr. Booth, assisting him in learning the intricacies of the business. In 1879, shortly after he took up his residence in Atkinson he bought his comfortable home on Williams street. This he has since remodeled and made entirely modern and in 1900 he erected the fine brick store on Main street where Mr. Booth now conducts his operations. For three decades he has taken part in the advancement of Atkinson, his efforts have contributed more than a little to the growth of the city, and his success has meant the prosperity of his fellow citizens.

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History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II, Part 103

Author: Kiner, Henry L., 1851- Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1138

Author: Kiner, Henry L., 1851-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1138