History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II, Part 11

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

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On the 21st of February, 1901, at Kewanee, Mr. Fuerst was joined in wed- lock to Miss Alma N. Kuester, a daughter of William F. Kuester, who is a far- mer by occupation and was numbered among the early settlers of Kewanee town- ship. Mr. and Mrs. Fuerst are now the parents of four children, as follows : Else N. and Delia E., seven and six years of age respectively, who are now at- tending school ; Martina A., who is three years old ; and Margarete A., whose birth occurred on the 10th of January, 1909.

When exercising his right of franchise Mr. Fuerst is not bound by party ties but supports men and measures that he believes will best conserve the general

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welfare. The cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion and he has held the office of school director for one term. Both he and his wife are faithful and devoted members of the German Lutheran church and take an active and helpful interest in its work. Having resided in this county throughout his entire life, he is well and favorably known here and his straightforward and honorable dealings have won for him the warm regard and esteem of all with whom he has been associated.

THOMAS SCOTT BROWN.

Reared amid pioneer environments in Illinois, serving as a soldier in the Union army in the Civil war, and since that time devoting his attention to farming in- terests in Henry county-such in brief is the life history of Thomas Scott Brown, who is now living retired in Osco township, where for the past thirty-five years he has maintained his home. He was born in Fulton county, Illinois, June 7, 1835, when the work of progress and development had scarcely been begun in this sec- tion of the state. Much of the land was still unclaimed and uncultivated, com- paratively few roads had been laid out and the railroads had not yet been built. In fact only three years before had the Black Hawk war occurred and there were still many evidences of Indian occupancy in this part of Illinois. The native tim- ber was uncut and but few furrows had been turned on the prairies. Many of the homes were log cabins and others were primitive frame structures with com- paratively few conveniences or modern improvements.

The parents of Mr. Brown were John and Sarah (Kirkpatrick) Brown, natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio respectively. The former was a weaver by trade and in 1835 came to Illinois, settling in Fulton county, where he and his brother, Cunningham Brown, had each purchased a quarter section of land. He transformed the raw prairie into productive fields and lived there for many years, but in the early 'zos removed to Henry county and settled in Osco township, where he died in 1880 at the age of eighty-three years and nine months. His wife survived him for six or eight years and was eighty-three years and four months of age at the time of her demise. Their lives were actuated by Christian faith and they were long consistent members of the Presbyterian church. They had a family of five sons and one daughter : Thomas Scott, of this review ; John G., of Marshalltown, Iowa; and Mary, the wife of Walker L. Hitchcock, of Orion, Illinois. George C., James M. and an infant son are deceased.

Thomas Scott Brown spent his youthful days amid the conditions which ex- isted during the pioneer epoch in the history of Illinois, pursuing his education in one of the old time log schoolhouses where, seated on a slab bench, he conned his lessons. The curriculum, however, consisted of little more than the "three R's-readin', 'ritin', and 'rithmetic." As the years have passed, however, varied experiences have broadened his knowledge and made up for the deficiency of the primitive schools. He remained at home until he had attained his majority, when he started out in life for himself by renting land. In that way he carried on farming until he was able to purchase property. At the time of the Civil war,

J. Scott Brown

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however, he put aside all business and personal considerations and offered his services to the government, enlisting on the 9th of August, 1862, as a member of Company G, One Hundred and Third Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He remained with the regiment until honorably discharged on the 24th of June, 1865. He was wounded near Columbia, South Carolina, and lost his right arm February 15, 1865. He participated in all of the important battles from Chattanooga to the sea, seeing active duty under General Logan in the Fifteenth Army Corps. When he lost his arm he was hauled from Columbia, South Carolina, to Fayetteville, North Carolina, where on the 12th of March, 1865, he took a boat that went by way of the Cape Fear river to Wilmington, Delaware. He was then taken to Grant's Hospital on Long Island, and was honorably discharged on the 24th of June, following, holding at the time the rank of first sergeant.

When the war was over Mr. Brown returned to his home in Fulton county, Illinois, and although handicapped by the loss of his arm, he resumed farming and has attained success which many a man sound in every limb might well envy. In 1868 he removed to Henry county and broke the prairie upon his farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Osco township. He divided his time between his farming interests in Henry and Fulton counties for several years and has made his home in Henry county for the past thirty-five years, living in Osco township. He now owns one of the best improved farms in the county, comprising two hun- dred and eighty acres, and in addition to that he at one time owned six hundred and forty acres in Nebraska. This he afterward sold but he still owns his two hundred and eighty acre farm, for which he paid thirty thousand dollars and which has constantly increased in value. For many years he also engaged in loaning money. While in Nebraska he sustained a severe injury by being thrown from a broncho and since that time has lived practically retired, but he still super- vises his business interests.

In his political views Mr. Brown is a stalwart republican and his fellow towns- men have called him to fill local offices. He has served as supervisor and assessor for a number of years and was also collector for two terms. He is numbered among the valued citizens of Henry county and highly respected by all and well known for his benevolences and deeds of charity, giving freely and generously of his means to those in need. He has a host of warm friends and well deserves mention in this volume.

EMERIT E. BAKER.

Emerit E. Baker, conspicuous in club and business circles in Kewanee, is a member of that class of representative men whose actions constitute a vital force in the upbuilding and development of the communities in which they reside. His keen insight, executive ability and carefully formulated plans have been an important element in Kewanee's progress in manufacturing lines and his suc- cessful career represents the fit utilization of his innate powers and talents, and also of the opportunities which have come to him. Born on a farm near Aurora, Illinois, his natal day was April 10, 1855. His parents were Samuel B. and

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Mary Ann (Ward) Baker, the former a native of the Empire state, whence he removed to Illinois, devoting his life to general agricultural pursuits in this state.

In the country schools Emerit E. Baker pursued his education to the age of fifteen years after which he had the benefit of two years' instruction in the high school of Aurora. He then went to Chicago as office boy with the Anderson Steamer & Heater Company, originally of Kewanee, and in 1876 he removed to Kewanee where he entered the employ of the Haxtun Steam Heater Com- pany. In the intervening years he has been closely associated with the city's progress in manufacturing lines. At the time of his arrival the Haxtun Steam Heater Company was employing about twenty people. Since that time, through the united efforts of Mr. Baker and his associates in business, the enterprise has become the foremost industry of central Illinois, operating today under the name of Kewanee Boiler Company and the Kewanee branch of the National Tube Company. His original position was that of bookkeeper and through intermediate positions he was continuously promoted until he became president of the Kewanee Boiler Company. Mr. Baker is also a director of the Kel- logg-Mackay Company of Chicago and vice president of the Federal Boiler & Supply Company and chairman of its executive board.

On the 20th of June, 1900, occurred the marriage of Mr. Baker and Miss Jennie Hallin, a daughter of Bernard Hallin, who was born in Sweden and came to America in 1852, in which year he established his home in Henry county, settling in Andover, while later he removed to Wethersfield. In a short time he came to Kewanee, arriving in 1860, and for a brief period thereafter engaged in farming. He soon entered the tailoring business, however, having learned the trade in Sweden, and enjoyed a good patronage as a custom tailor. He put aside all business and personal considerations, however, at the time of the Civil war, and responded to the call of his adopted country for troops, enlisting as a member of Company H, Ninth Illinois Cavalry. While on active duty he was wounded and was later honorably discharged because of physical dis- ability. He was a man of upright life and honorable purposes and held mem- bership in the Swedish Lutheran church, living at all times in consistent har- mony with his professions. He died in October, 1878, while his wife passed away in January, 1900.

The importance and extent of Mr. Baker's business interests have made him not only well known in Kewanee but also in Chicago, and his social re- lations in the latter city extend to the Chicago Athletic Club in which he holds membership. He is also a member of the Kewanee Club and on the 3d of June, 1900, was unanimously elected to the presidency of the Commercial Club of this city. Fraternally he is a Mason of high rank, having attained the degree of Knight Templar, and the Mystic Shrine, while of Kewanee Lodge, No. 159, A. F. & A. M., he is a past master. As village clerk, trustee and president, his public service covered sixteen years and has been characterized by the ut- most faithfulness in the performance of his duties. In a review of his career it will be seen that he has been intensely active in business affairs, deeply en- gaged in the finest forms of public service, and is moreover a man whose social nature enables him to shed around him much of the sunshine of life. While

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he has met with substantial success, he has also applied his energy and work- ing powers to wider and more impersonal interests, oftentimes without any other reward than an occasional expression of appreciation and the sense of putting in work where it is most needed.

JOHN HERVEY SEATON.

In the business circles of Cambridge John Hervey Seaton is prominent, being well known as the editor and publisher of the Cambridge Chief. It is true that he entered upon an enterprise already founded by his father, but never- theless, in his capable control of its business and in his well directed efforts toward increasing its efficiency and circulation, he has manifested excellent qualities which rank him among the progressive and successful business men of Cambridge. His birth occurred on section 16, Wethersfield township, Henry county, on the 13th of September, 1865, and he is the son of Benjamin W. and Julia Elizabeth (Bond) Seaton. On the paternal side Mr. Seaton comes from old English stock, his great-grandfather, John Seaton, having been born in England in 1744, while his great-grandfather's sister, Mary Seaton, was one of the maids of honor to Mary, Queen of Scots. His grandfather, Joseph Seaton, was also a native of the Merrie isle and came to the United States in 1830, settling in Utica, New York, where his death occurred November 19, 1848. He was a wheelwright by trade and married Elizabeth Walker, who by her marriage became the mother of Benjamin W. Seaton, the father of our subject. The maternal grandfather was Mulford Bond, a shoemaker by trade, who was born in New York in 1798 and passed away in 1879. His wife was Julia A. (Johnson) Bond, who was born in 1800 and passed away in March, 1874. In their family were two children: Julia E., the wife of Benjamin W. Seaton; and Lucy Lavina, who married Charles A. Norton, the wedding being cele- brated in 1858. Elisha Johnson, the father of Julia A. Johnson. was born on Long Island and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, his term of service covering five years and eight months. He was one of the three, who, being ignorant of what they were doing, and being under orders, on the 25th of September, 1875, rowed Benedict Arnold to the ship Vulture, the latter thus making his escape after his act of treason toward his country. His wife, Mary (Reeves) Johnson, was a native of Rhode Island and was married at the age of fifteen, becoming the mother of thirteen children nine of whom lived to mature years.

Benjamin W. Seaton, the father of our subject, was born in Yorkshire, England, about 1825, and throughout his entire business career devoted his time to the printing business, being connected therewith sixty-four years. He first took up this line of activity in connection with the old Baptist Register at Utica, New York, in 1840, and was thus engaged for several years. Coming west in 1851 he located at Chicago, where for some time he conducted a job printing business, and then removed to Prairie City, where he published the Prairie City Chronicle. Subsequently he came to Henry county, locating in Kewanee

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in 1857, and for several years edited the Kewanee Dial, at that place. Then, leaving his family upon a farm in Henry county, he returned to Chicago, where he remained about ten years, and in 1867 he established the Prairie Chief in Galva, while the following year he removed it to Toulon. In 1871 he pur- chased the Henry County Democrat and moved the Prairie Chief to Cam- bridge, where he continued to publish it until February, 1902, when he turned it over to his son, John Hervey Seaton, under whose charge it has since re- mained, its name having been changed to the Cambridge Chief. Benjamin W. Seaton passed away June 22, 1908, at the age of eighty-three years, and by his death Henry county lost one of its valued citizens who throughout a long period had been closely and prominently identified with the growth of journalism in this county. His wife's death occurred March 9, 1904, when she had attained the age of eighty-two years. They were both members of the Episcopal church, although Mr. Seaton had formerly held membership in the Baptist church. Their family numbered ten children, six of whom still sur- vive, namely : Mary, the wife of J. C. Clapham , of Ridgeway, Missouri; Helen, residing in Cambridge; Hiram J., of San Francisco, California; Clara Eliza- beth, the wife of George M. Leathers, residing in Austin, Illinois; John H., of this review; and Charles A., who makes his home in Clarence, Iowa.

John Hervey Seaton, whose name introduces this sketch, came to Cam- bridge when a little lad of seven years and here he has continued to make his home up to the present time. Reared in his parents' home, he acquired his educa- tion in the public schools, while his time was divided between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the tasks assigned him by pa- rental authority. Early coming to the conclusion that his father's choice of a life work was a wise and profitable one, he entered his father's office for the purpose of learning the printer's trade and by close application mastered all of the various phases of the work, acquiring a thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the trade, so that when his father turned over to him the man- agement and publication of the Prairie Chief, he was well equipped for the responsible duties that thus devolved upon him. He has been the editor and pub- lisher of the paper since 1902, which under his management changed its name to the Cambridge Chief. The paper, which is republican in its tendency, is edited weekly and through the enterprise and industry of Mr. Seaton has gained an extensive and gratifying circulation which is constantly increasing in volume. Its columns are devoted to the discussion of current events and topics of es- pecial interest to the subscribers, while it also furnishes a splendid adver- tising medium to merchants and various industries throughout the community.

On the 23d of November, 1892, Mr. Seaton was united in marriage to Miss Clara A. Miller, a daughter of Edmund R. and Maria (Barnes) Miller, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland respectively, while Mrs. Seaton's birth occurred in Geneseo, Illinois. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Seaton were born six children, as fol- lows: Benjamin Sanford, Clare Elizabeth, Frank Marion, Donn, Catherine and John Hervey. The parents are both church members, Mr. Seaton holding membership in the Episcopal church, while his wife is connected with the Con- gregational denomination. They are also prominent in fraternal circles, Mr. Seaton being identified with Cambridge Lodge, No. 49, A. F. & A. M., while

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both belong to Mystic Chapter, No. 60, of the Eastern Star. In politics Mr. Seaton is a republican, warmly supporting the principles of that party in the columns of his paper, and doing all in his power to further its influence in the community, while on that ticket he served as village clerk for eleven years and also as superintendent of the waterworks for ten years. Having resided in Cambridge almost his entire life, his interests are thoroughly identified with those of the village and he has not only attained a prominent place in journal- istic circles, but his salient characteristics have been such as to win him a foremost rank among the valued and representative citizens of the community.

FRANK MORRILL LAY.

Prominent among the business men of Kewanee is Frank Morrill Lay, who for a number of years has been closely identified with the history of the city as representative of a number of its most important business interests. He is a man of keen discrimination and sound judgment, and his executive ability and excellent management have brought to the concerns with which he is con- nected a large degree of success. He is one of Kewanee's native sons, his birth having here occurred September 14, 1869, his parents being Hiram T. and Martha (Morrill) Lay. In the public schools of Kewanee he pursued his early education and subsequently attended Knox Academy and Amherst College, of Massachusetts. He completed his collegiate course by graduation in 1893, at which time the Bachelor of Arts degree was conferred upon him, and returning to Kewanee he then made his initial step in the business world by entering the employ of the mercantile firm of Lay & Lyman as a clerk. He remained with that house for six months and in 1894 accepted a clerkship with the Boss Manufacturing company. The following year he was chosen its secretary and treasurer and its general manager and has since given his attention to administra- tive direction and executive control. This is one of the most important produc- tive enterprises of the city, its success being largely attributable in the past fourteen years to the enterprise and diligence of Mr. Lay. Its trade interests now reach out to various sections of the country and branch houses have been established at Galesburg, Monmouth, and Peoria, Illinois, at Fort Wayne and Bluffton, Indiana, at Findlay, Ohio, and in New York city. Mr. Lay is a man of resourceful ability, whose energy and keen sagacity have enabled him to be- come connected with other profitable business interests. He is now the secre- tary and treasurer of the Galesburg & Kewanee Electric Railway Company and is also a member of the Lyman-Lay Company.

On the 24th of June, 1896, Mr. Lay was married to Miss Fannie Poole, of Dover, Illinois, a daughter of Warren Poole of Bureau county, this state, who is now a retired farmer residing in Kewanee. Mr. and Mrs. Lay have one son, Edward Poole Lay, born May 10, 1900. The parents hold membership in the First Congregational church and are active in its work and generous in its support. Their's is one of the most attractive and hospitable homes in Kewanee, its doors being ever open for the reception of their many friends.

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Mr. Lay is a director of the Kewanee club and is prominently known in frater- nal circles, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in Oriental Consistory, while he has also crossed the sands of the desert with the Nobles of Medinah Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is a charter member of Kewanee Lodge, No. 466, K. P., and is in hearty sympathy with the beneficent purposes of these organizations. The cause of education finds in him a stal- wart champion, and for six years he has been a member of the school board. He is also recognized as a prominent leader in republican circles, has several times been chairman of the republican central committee and takes a deep in- terest in politics, but has never been an office seeker. As a public-spirited citizen, however, he cooperates in various movements for the general good and at the same time his business interests have ever been of a character that have contrib- uted to general progress as well as to individual success. His work has always been of a constructive nature and he stands today as one of the most prominent and honored as well as successful business men of Kewanee.

FRANK A. HOLKE.

Frank A. Holke, an enterprising and progressive agriculturist of Geneseo town- ship, was born in Edford township, Henry county, Illinois, his parents being Charles and Julianna (Miller) Holke, natives of West Prussia, Germany. In the year 1864 Mr. and Mrs. Holke crossed the Atlantic to the United States and took up their abode on a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Edford township, this county, on which they lived for a number of years, winning a grati- fying and commendable degree of prosperity in their agricultural interests. Sub- sequently Mr. Holke bought a farm of eighty acres adjoining the corporation of Geneseo on the west, which he greatly improved, and there continued to reside for ten years. At the end of that time he put aside the active work of the fields and has since lived retired in a commodious and attractive residence on West Main street in Geneseo. Though his cash capital amounted to but three hundred dollars when he arrived in this country, he has made good use of his opportunities and has worked his way steadily upward until he is now numbered among the most prosperous and substantial citizens of Henry county. He still owns the farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Edford township, now a well improved and arable tract of land, and also a valuable farm of eighty acres in Geneseo township. The buildings on the latter farm are all of the most modern and substantial character and the place is lacking in none of the equipments and accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century. In addition to these two . properties he also owns his fine residence in Geneseo. His wife died when seventy years of age, passing away on the 18th of December, 1904, in the faith of the Lutheran church. He is likewise a devoted and consistent mem- ber of that church, his life having ever been in harmony with its teachings. Unto him and his wife were born eight children, five sons and three daughters, namely : Julius L .; Augusta, the wife of August Borst, of Rock Island; Gus- tav A .; Ernest R .; Louis; Hulda, the wife of W. S. Frank, of Moline, Illinois ;

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Frank A., of this review; and Amanda, the wife of Fred Rahn, who lives on the old home farm of Charles Holke in Edford township. Julius L., Gustav A. and Ernest R. passed away in early manhood.

Frank A. Holke was reared on his father's farm in this county and at- tended the district schools in the acquirement of an education that would equip him for the practical and responsible duties of life. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority and then began operating his father's farm of eighty acres in Geneseo township in the cultivation of which he has been busily engaged to the present time. He rents the property from his father, and owns a tract of land of forty acres just across the road from this farm. Enterprising, alert and energetic, he makes a close study of agri- culture and through the careful cultivation of the soil and the rotation of crops annually gathers abundant harvests, which find a ready sale on the market. His brother Louis, resides with him.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Holke has given his political allegiance to the men and measures of the democracy. He is a valued member of the Lutheran church and exemplifies its teachings in his daily life. Having always made his home within the borders of this county, he is widely and favorably known here and the circle of his friends is almost coex- tensive with the circle of his acquaintances.

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History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II, Part 11

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