USA > Illinois > Henry County > History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 107
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Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ward, namely: Harold, who was born on their present home, September 8, 1896; one who died in infancy ; Florence L., who was born September 6, 1900; Frank G., March 1, 1903; and Wil- bur J., February 25, 1905.
Mr. Ward is a stalwart champion of the principles of the republican party and a sincere friend of the cause of education, as was manifest during the nine years of his acceptable service as school director. Both he and his wife are members of the Congregational church and their lives have exemplified the principles of Christianity, so that they are highly regarded in the community as persons of genuine worth.
ROBERT ALLEN.
The agricultural and stock-raising interests of Henry county find a worthy representative in Robert Allen, who owns and operates the farm on which he lives on section 30, Cornwall township. He was born near his present home, Novem- ber 8, 1867, and is a son of William and Margaret (Martin) Allen. The father was born in Belfast, Ireland, where he grew to manhood and was married, and three of his children were born there before he determined to emigrate to America to give them the advantages of life in this new world. Six weeks were consumed in crossing the Atlantic, and several more before he and his family reached Corn- wall township, for they came to Henry county, Illinois, immediately after land- ing. The Civil war had just been inaugurated at that time, and shortly after his arrival Mr. Allen was called into the army, but as he was not a citizen he was not subject to draft and when he went to Peoria was excused from serving. On taking up his residence in Cornwall township he rented a farm but with the in- tention of obtaining the best results from his labor, he saved carefully and later bought eighty acres of land on section 29, where the schoolhouse now stands. Subsequently he was able to buy the eighty acres on which his son Robert now lives and finally eighty acres to the north of this last tract on which his son Henry resides. For all of the land he paid fifty dollars an acre, and his property is a visible evidence of the success which attended his farming opera- tions. He had been reared in the Presbyterian faith and became a member of that church at Cornwall, while in politics he was a republican. The hope which led him to establish his home here was realized, for not only was he able to enjoy many comforts but he had the satisfaction of knowing that his children were well established. They were eight in number, of whom seven reached maturity and five are still living. The first three were born in Ireland, but the others in Henry county. Sarah died at the age of six. She was taken ill about the time her parents intended starting for America, and her mother remained behind with her, while her father and the two other children continued their journey. John is un- married. Ellen is also unmarried and lives in Kewanee. William died un- married. James is a resident of Kewanee and has not married. Anna became the wife of Frank Leonard and died in Osco township, leaving three children. A
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sketch of Henry, the twin brother of Robert, follows. Mr. Allen died in March, 1901, and his wife had passed away a few years previously.
Robert Allen was reared upon the paternal farm and is indebted to the district schools for the educational opportunities he enjoyed. Even as a boy he ob- tained thorough preparation for his life work through the assistance he rendered his father on the farm, giving him the benefit of his labor until he attained his majority, when he and his brother Henry were given a share in the crops. Later their father gave to each eighty acres, while the third tract was given to their sister, Mrs. Leonard. After her death Robert Allen and his brother bought her share between them, so that now each owns one hundred and twenty acres. On this Mr. Allen raises a variety of crops, and as in every department of farm work he has shown industry, perseverance and good management, he finds that the rich soil makes generous returns in bountiful harvests. Of recent years he had engaged to considerable extent in raising, feeding and shipping stock, in this business also finding his work well repaid by a large and gratifying income.
In the village of Galva, this county, Mr. Allen wedded Miss May Becker, October 25, 1896. She was at that time residing in Cambridge township, where her birth occurred September 11, 1875, her parents being George and Susan (Stewart) Becker. They were natives of New York state and Pennsylvania re- spectively, but were married in this county, where Mr. Becker followed farming. He is still living in Cambridge township, but his wife was called to her final rest in 1891. They were the parents of five children, namely: Harmon, who died in infancy; May, now Mrs. Allen; Jerry, who is in the employ of the govern- ment and resides in Springfield, Missouri; Frank, who is unmarried and lives in Idaho; and Lina, who is the wife of Joseph Talbert and lives in Cambridge, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have one son, Frank, who was born upon the home place, June 13, 1897.
Mr. Allen is a stanch advocate of the principles of republicanism, but has never sought nor desired office as a reward for party fealty. He belongs to Cambridge Lodge, No. 199, I. O. O. F., and with his wife to the Rebekah lodge at Cambridge. Both are well known and highly esteemed as persons of genuine worth and upright honorable lives not only among their lodge friends but throughout the community, with which they have been identified for so many years.
HENRY RAY ALLEN.
Reared to agricultural pursuits Henry Ray Allen has continued to follow that occupation as his life work and the years have chronicled the substantial success he has won from cultivating the one hundred and twenty acres of land he owns on section 30, Cornwall township. He was born on this section Novem- ber 8, 1867, a son of William and Margaret (Martin) Allen. The days of his youth passed as do those of the majority of farm lads, the winter months being largely devoted to acquiring an education in the district school, and the summer season to the arduous work in the fields. He early became acquainted with the best methods of plowing, planting and harvesting, so that by the time he had
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attained his majority he was fully competent to carry on farm work profitably. At that age his father gave him and his brother Robert a share in the crops, and when he divided his property deeded him eighty acres. To that tract Mr. Allen added forty acres, by purchase from his sister's heirs, and now has under an excellent state of cultivation one hundred and eighty acres. He has spared no effort to increase the productivity of his soil, and the size and quality of the crops he garners annually are a tribute to his skill, his energy, and his patience.
On the 7th of September, 1901, in Cambridge, Illinois, Mr. Allen wedded Miss Elizabeth Stewart, of that town. She was born at Villisca, Iowa, December 17, 1874, and was about two years of age when her parents, Alexander and Ellen (Lemley) Stewart, removed to Chetopa, Labette county, Kansas. There her father died, and six years later she and her mother took up their residence in Cambridge, Illinois, where she grew to womanhood. After graduating from the Cambridge high school with the class of 1893, she engaged in teaching both in the country schools and in those of the town, following that profession until her marriage. She is the youngest in a family of four, the others being: Wil- liam, who married Lula Miles, now deceased, and is at present a telegraph oper- ator at Esterbrook, Wyoming; Harry, who wedded Hallie Vincent and is resid- ing in Cambridge township, where he is rearing his five children; and Kinsey, who is also married and is a blacksmith at Lehigh, Iowa. Mrs. Stewart died October 1, 1907, and was buried in Cambridge.
Mr. Allen gives his support to the republican party, and that he is deeply in- terested in public welfare is manifest in the acceptable service he rendered the community as school director and as road commissioner. Fraternally he is con- nected with Cambridge Lodge, No. 199, I. O. O. F., and with Annawan Lodge, No. 433, A. F. & A. M., at Atkinson, and with his wife he belongs to Rebekah lodge, No. 157, and to the Cambridge and Atkinson lodges of the Eastern Star. In the Cambridge Eastern Star Mrs. Allen has served as Adah and associate conductress and being a woman of attractive personality the circle of her friends is continually growing. Mr. Allen also has the regard of many, for his life, established upon sound principles of upright manhood, is one which may bear close inspection and command respect.
CYRUS H. BROOKS.
Cyrus H. Brooks, who for the past seven years has lived retired in Galva, was for many years extensively and successfully engaged in general agricultural pursuits and is still the owner of five hundred and sixty acres of valuable and highly improved land in Henry county. His birth occurred in Grafton, Vermont, on the 17th of September, 1828, his parents being George and Salina (Hough- ton) Brooks, who were likewise natives of the Green Mountain state. Solomon Brooks, the paternal grandfather, was also born in Vermont and followed farm- ing as a life work. He was numbered among the early settlers of Peoria county, Illinois, and passed away at Brimfield in 1854, when almost ninety years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Amelia Fisher, survived him for a num-
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ber of years and was also about ninety years old at the time of her demise. Unto them were born two sons and three daughters, as follows: Cyrus, George, Mary, Martha and Elvira. The founder of the Brooks family in this country was also named Solomon Brooks. He came to America from England with two brothers, David and Daniel, and took up his abode in Vermont. He had a son Solomon, who served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Darius Houghton, who was a native of Vermont, settled in the vicinity of Chicago, Illinois, in an early day and there passed away when be- tween eighty and ninety years of age. His wife, Mrs. Amelia Houghton, also lived to a ripe old age. Their children were five in number, namely: Leland, Giles, Rudolphus, Salina and Elvira.
George Brooks, the father of Cyrus H. Brooks, came to Illinois in 1841 and for three years made his home at Olney, Richland county. Subsequently he re- moved to Brimfield, Peoria county, where he resided for twenty years and dur- ing that entire period hauled his products to Peoria-a distance of twenty miles. He was a farmer by occupation and underwent many of the hardships and dangers of life in a pioneer district where deer and wolves still roamed at will. On leaving Peoria county he took up his abode in Galva township, Henry county, where he owned and operated a farm of forty acres. His death, which occurred in Galva when he was eighty-four years of age, was the occasion of deep and widespread regret. He was well known and highly esteemed as one of the worthy pioneer settlers of this part of the state, whose labors had contributed in substantial measure to its early development and upbuilding. His wife had preceded him to the home beyond by ten or twelve years. They reared a family of five sons and three daughters, as follows: Cyrus H., of this review ; Elzina, the widow of Luther Gould, of California; Orrin, who is deceased; Darius, a resident of Creston, Iowa; Mary, the wife of John Evans, of Union county, Iowa; Henry, who has also passed away; Luther, living in Douglas, Wyoming ; and Amelia, the deceased wife of David Emery, of Galva.
Cyrus H. Brooks, who was thirteen years of age when he came to this state with his parents, grew to manhood in Peoria county and was there married when a young man of twenty-six years. In 1862 he took up his abode in Henry county and bought eighty acres of land in Walnut Grove township, Knox county, while later he purchased a quarter section in Weller township, this county, making his home thereon until 1882. He then removed to a farm in the western edge of the corporation of Galva, where he resided for a period of twenty years. At the end of that time he put aside the active work of the fields and has since lived retired in Galva, making his home on North Hurd street, better known as "Heaven" street. He bought a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Union county, Iowa, and gave it to his son LeRoy. He likewise purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the state of Kansas which is still in his possession. His landed holdings in this county embrace five hundred and sixty acres and some idea of their value may be gained from the fact that he has refused two hundred dollars an acre for his land around Galva. The success which attended his labors as an agriculturist came as the merited reward of his intelligently directed and untiring industry and he is now enabled to spend his remaining days in well earned ease amid all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
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On the 19th of February, 1854, Mr. Brooks was united in marriage to Miss Amelia Jane Miles, of Elmwood, Illinois. She was a native of New York city and her parents, Freeman and Ruth Emma (Woodward) Miles, were born in Massachusetts. They became early settlers of this state, locating in Elmwood, Peoria county, where they spent the remainder of their lives. Their union was blessed with three children: Amelia Jane, Rosa and Alfred. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brooks have been born five children. LeRoy, a resident of Corvallis, Ben- ton county, Oregon, married Miss Alice Chase, of Peoria, Illinois, and they have seven children-Ethel, who married John Taylor, Earle, Clarence, Cyrus, Ruth, Raymond and Herman, all residing in Corvallis. Elsie died at the age of six- teen years. Emma, living in Walnut Grove township, Knox county, Illinois, is the wife of William Harris, by whom she has four children-Floyd, Raleigh, William and Elsie. Elura makes her home in Galva and is the wife of Bert W. Cole, by whom she has three daughters-Verna, Ruby and Neva. Rosa is still at home.
Mr. Brooks gives his political allegiance to the republican party and for a number of years held the office of supervisor in Walnut Grove township. Both he and his wife are valued and consistent members of the Congregational church, in which he is serving as deacon. His life has been actuated by high and honor- able principles and he fully merits the respect and esteem which is uniformly accorded him. Having made his home in this county for almost a half century, he has a wide and favorable acquaintance here and has long been numbered among the most prosperous, substantial and leading citizens of the community.
ELWOOD MAHLON BOTHWELL.
Elwood Mahlon Bothwell is a progressive and enterprising young farmer of Western township, Henry county, whose diligence, energy and perseverance are meeting with most gratifying success in agricultural lines. Born upon the farm which is now his home, his birth occurred on the 25th of March, 1881, his parents being Leonard R. and Florence (Lloyd) Bothwell, well known farming people of this township, extended mention of whom is made on another page of this volume. He was reared to manhood on the home farm and in the public schools of Orion acquired a good education which well fitted him for the respon- sible and practical duties of life. When not engaged with his text-books he was busily at work in the fields and early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil. As his years and strength increased he assisted more and more largely in the work of plowing, planting and harvesting, and continued to give his father the benefit of his assistance until he arrived at years of maturity, when he entered business life on his own account. In partnership with his father and younger brother he has since been engaged in the operation of the home farm and his labors have been no small factor in bringing the place under its present high state of cultivation. He has made a close study of agriculture and is up-to-date and progressive in his methods, so that his efforts have been crowned with a most gratifying success.
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It was on the 22d of November, 1905, in Cambridge, that Mr. Bothwell was united in marriage to Miss Estella Nelson, who was born in Andover township and is a daughter of Victor and Anna (Streed) Nelson, both of whom are of Swedish descent. Her father, who was a farmer by occupation, died when she was about eighteen years of age, while her mother is still living and makes her home in Cambridge. Mr. and Mrs. Bothwell are both members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, in the work of which they are actively and helpfully in- terested, while they stand high in the community in which they reside.
Politically Mr. Bothwell is a republican but he has never sought nor desired public preferment as the reward for party fealty. Having passed his entire life in Western township, he has gained an extensive circle of friends which is almost coextensive with the circle of his acquaintances, his many excellent traits of character having won for him the unqualified regard, respect and good will of his fellowmen.
JOSEPH ANSLEY GUSTAFSON, M. D.
Dr. Joseph Ansley Gustafson, one of the promising young physicians of Orion, was born in this county, in February, 1873, and is a son of John G. and Elizabeth (Weech) Gustafson, a sketch of whose lives appears elsewhere in this volume. He was reared upon the paternal farm, either in Western or Lynn township, and after completing the course of instruction prescribed by the local schools entered Knox College, Galesburg, from which he was graduated. Later he took up the study of medicine in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in Chicago, Illinois, receiving from it his medical degree in the spring of 1901. For one year he was house physician in the sanatarium at Galesburg, coming to Orion in 1902. Here he established himself in most modern and convenient offices, which were carefully equipped with the finest kinds of instruments, and the other appointments which are a necessary adjunct of the up-to-date physi- cian and surgeon's appurtenances. With the same determination that marked his course at the different schools in which he prepared for his vocation, when he hesitated not because of a lack of funds but set out to win them by work or teaching, he has met the problems that confronted him as a young practitioner and has gained the success which inevitably comes to those who exert themselves valiantly in seeking for it. He has now a large and lucrative practice and his reputation as a surgeon is growing with the passing years.
On the 31st of October, 1901, Dr. Gustafson wedded Miss Jessica B. God- dard, of Galesburg, who was born in Streator, Illinois, in 1879, and is a daughter of James and Susan R. Goddard, both now deceased. The father was for a number of years a farmer but later in his life he removed to Galesburg, where he became identified with the best interests of the city. He was a democrat in his political sympathies, was city treasurer of Galesburg and inspector of live stock. Two other children were born to him and his wife. Mabel became the wife of Fred R. Hinman, the chief of police in Galesburg. James Robinson also lives in that city. Dr. and Mrs. Gustafson have had two children : one who died in infancy ; and Joseph Goddard, who was born May 6, 1907.
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In his political views the Doctor finds himself in sympathy with the republican party, and as a member of the town board has taken part in the local government of Orion. Fraternally he enjoys pleasant relations with the Mystic Workers, while he is a devout member of the Baptist church, in harmony with whose teachings he has endeavored to order his life. In 1906 he bought the pretty home he occupies on Bank and Washington streets, where a gracious hospitality is extended to the numerous friends who visit there and to those who in dis- tress have come to receive aid from the Doctor's ministrations.
HIRAM H. WIGANT.
Hiram H. Wigant, who is now living retired on his farm of one hundred and fifteen acres on section 19, Cornwall township, was formerly actively and suc- cessfully identified with the agricultural interests of this county, owning two hundred and seventy-five acres of rich and productive land. His birth occurred in Kalamazoo county, Michigan, on the 9th of February, 1832, his parents being Abraham and Anna (Hoyt) Wigant, who were natives of Essex county, New Jersey, and Ohio, respectively. It was in the latter state that they were married. Subsequently they removed to Kalamazoo county, Michigan, and about 1836 took up their abode in Louisa county, Iowa, where Abraham Wigant purchased land. In 1850 he and his son Hiram started on the overland journey to the gold fields, the trip between Council Bluffs and Hangtown, California, consuming one hundred and five days. They were successfully engaged in prospecting, mining and merchandising on the Pacific coast for two and a half years, on the expira- tion of which period they returned to Louisa county, Iowa, via the Isthmus of Panama. Having determined to bring his family to Henry county, Illinois, Abraham Wigant started on the removal to this state in 1855, but his demise occurred ere he had reached his destination and his remains were interred in Mercer county. His wife passed away in Michigan. Their children were eight in number, three of whom grew to years of maturity. Mary Ann, who gave her hand in marriage to James Warnstaff, had a daughter, Elizabeth, who is now the wife of John Graham and makes her home in Louisa county, Iowa. Lucinda, who became the wife of William O. Clark, is a resident of Cambridge, Illinois. She has one son, James, who has been twice married, his first union being with Miss Sarah Caldwell, by whom he had two children. The lady who now bears his name was in maidenhood Miss Mahala Slick. James Clark lives in Geneseo,
Hiram H. Wigant, who was the youngest member of his father's family, was about twenty-three years of age when he took up his abode in this county. At that time he bought land where he now resides in Cornwall township but it was still in a wild state and he resolutely set himself to the task of developing and improving the property. The purchase price was about four dollars an acre. As the years passed he brought the land under a high state of cultivation and his labors were annually rewarded by golden harvests of grain. At one time he was the owner of two hundred and seventy-five acres on sections 18 and 19, Cornwall township, but has sold a large portion of the farm and now lives re-
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tired on a tract of one hundred and fifteen acres. In the conduct of his agricul- tural interests he won a gratifying and well deserved measure of prosperity and has long been numbered among the substantial and respected citizens of the community.
In 1858, in Henry county, Mr. Wigant was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Long, who was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, on the Ist of May, 1840. her parents being Jacob and Nancy (Ryan) Long. They came to this county when their daughter Mary was a young lady of seventeen and she continued as a resident of Cornwall township until her death, which occurred January 23, 1910. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wigant were born seven children, the record of whom is as follows: James, who makes his home in Burns township, wedded Miss Ida Bailey, by whom he has ten children. Nancy, living at Keithsburg, Illinois, gave her hand in marriage to Edward Willard and has become the mother of four children. Mary Belle, a resident of Munson township, is the wife of Charles Druva, by whom she has two children. William Wigant passed away when but three years of age. Samuel, living in Cornwall township, wedded Miss Sarah Clerk and has five children. Frederick, who likewise makes his home in Corn- wall township, married Miss Martha Clark, by whom he has five children. Miss Bertha Wigant is still under the parental roof.
Politically Mr. Wigant was reared a democrat and supported the candidates of that party until 1860, when he voted for Abraham Lincoln. He was on the Pacific ocean at the time Franklin Pierce was a presidential candidate and a mock election held on board ship showed the majority in favor of Pierce. Fol- lowing Lincoln's administration Mr. Wigant voted the republican ticket for many years but in 1896 supported the Nebraska stateman, William Jennings Bryan. The cause of education has ever found in him a stanch friend and he has served both as a school director and school trustee. The period of his residence in this county now covers more than a half century and he has been an interested witness of its growth and development as pioneer conditions have given way before the onward march of civilization. He has almost reached the seventy- eighth milestone on life's journey and his career has ever been such that he can look back over the past without regret and forward to the future without fear.
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