USA > Illinois > Henry County > History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 110
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JOHN BOLLEN.
John Bollen, who to within the last fifteen years was one of the active farm- ers of Loraine township, and is now living retired in a very pretty home in Gene- seo, was born in Ohio July 13, 1835, and is the son of John and Sarah (Hooks) Bollen, both natives of the 'Buckeye state. The father was born July 22, 1805, and came to Henry county, Illinois, in 1836, securing land in Loraine township. At the time of his advent here wild game of all kinds, but especially deer, abounded, and the Indians were frequent visitors at the white men's houses. He lived to see these conditions become no more than a memory, for when he died, January 2, 1888, Henry county was well advanced toward the condition it now enjoys. He participated in this progress, for he was a man of public spirit who filled in turn all the offices of his township. When the republican party was or- ganized he joined its ranks and was fired by the discussions that preceded the Civil war. He was twice married. His first wife, Miss Sarah Hooks in her maidenhood, was born November 16, 1813, and died November 3, 1843, having borne four children : Mary, who married James Armstrong; John, the subject of this sketch; William, who lives in Bayard, Iowa; and Fletcher, who died in Feb- ruary, 1908. Mr. Bollen's second wife was Mrs. Parmelia Loomis, by whom he also had four children, all living: George, of Orchard, Nebraska; Heman and Lucretia, twins, the former a resident of Prophetstown, Illinois, and the latter the wife of David Parker, of Seattle, Washington; and Thomas, who lives in Nebraska. Mrs. Parmelia Bollen died about ten years ago in Prophetstown, Illinois.
John Bollen received his education in the common schools of Henry county. He remained with his father on the farm until he was seventeen, when he started in life for himself. For several years he worked at anything that presented itself and then rented land in Loraine township, on which he lived until 1862, when he purchased two hundred and ninety acres in Phenix and Loraine townships. This he still owns, although it presents an appearance much different from the unim- proved tracts he purchased almost fifty years ago. He set to work immediately
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to make the farm a profitable investment, following a general agriculture and stock raising. In 1894 he decided to abandon the more arduous of his duties and retired to the comfortable house he had purchased. It is situated on North Aldrich street, Geneseo.
On the 4th of July, 1859, Mr. Bollen married Miss Caroline Heller, who was born in Loraine township and was a daughter of David and Catherine Heller. She died in August, 1872, survived by three of her four children. William, the eldest, born April 13, 1861, married Miss Minnie Phelps. After her death he married Miss Anne Sieben. He lives in Geneseo and has three children-Donald, Ralph and Irene. Sarah Catherine, born December 2, 1864, became the wife of Adam F. Hines, of Phoenix township. They have three children : Floyd B., Ethel Gertrude and Lois Irene. John W., born January 13, 1868, married Miss Alice Rapp and lives in Osco township. They have two children: Melba Irene and Christine Dorothy.
On the 10th of September, 1873, Mr. Bollen was united in marriage to Miss Mandana Adams. She was born in Schuyler county, Illinois, September 2, 1849, and is a daughter of Charles and Sarah (Derling) Adams, the former a na- tive of Massachusetts, the latter of Pennsylvania. Mr. Adams came to Illinois in the early '50s, settling in Henry county, where he lived a few years, until his death, which occurred when Mrs. Bollen was a very young girl, leaving his wid- ow to rear their family of nine children. They were Lucy, the wife of John Logan, both deceased; Emily, deceased, who was the wife of Benson McHenry, and lives in Henry county ; Norman, who married Miss Rachel Henniger and lives in Kansas ; Stewart, who married Miss Louise Bunn and lives in Leverne, Min- nesota; Achsah, the wife of Alvin Lyon, both deceased; Mandana, who is Mrs. Bollen; Ellen R., deceased, who was the wife of Charles Holmes and lived in Nebraska; Daniel, who married Miss Fannie Holmes and lives in Belle Plaine, Iowa; and Wilmina, the wife of E. D. Thomas, of Geneseo. Mrs. Adams reared this large family with care and ability and was a devout member of the Meth- odist church as was her husband.
Mr. Bollen is a republican in his political views and has held all the township offices. He belongs to the Methodist church as does his wife, who is a very active woman and has been of great assistance to her husband. Mr. Bollen has man- aged his own affairs since he was seventeen years of age, and the substantial posi- tion he has now attained attests to what excellent principles guided him. He is surrounded by the comforts that contribute to an enjoyable old age and has the respect of his fellow citizens and all who know him.
JOHN W. BOLLEN.
John W. Bollen, whose home is on section 13, Osco township, where he owns three hundred and forty acres of land, was born in Loraine township, January 13, 1868, and is a son of John and Caroline (Heller) Bollen. Reared upon the farm on which his birth occurred, he acquired a good education in the country schools of the district, supplemented by two terms at the Northwestern Normal.
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Upon attaining his majority he embarked in farming, purchasing first a tract of one hundred and forty acres in Phenix township. He paid about sixty-five dol- lars an acre, but after he had lived there some years, having made a number of important improvements, he was able to dispose of it for ninety dollars an acre. He engaged in the ice business, for a few years, and in 1904 bought the land on which he now lives. This, too, is under a high state of cultivation and is very valuable.
In Phenix township, February 10, 1891, was celebrated the marriage of John W. Bollen and Miss Alice Rapp. She was born in that township and is a daugh- ter of Aaron and Christina (Hines) Rapp, who were able to give her a good education. Of this union have been born two children: Melba, born in Phenix township; and Dorothy, who was born in Geneseo.
Mr. Bollen is a republican in his political views and when exercising his right to vote invariably casts his ballot for the candidates of that party. He has never sought office, feeling that the cares of his own vocation demanded all of his time. To this unswerving devotion to the work which he has chosen can be traced the bountiful harvest which are his at the end of each season. He has spared no exertion to increase the production of his fields and has found him- self well repaid. He is still in the prime of life and will doubtless see many more years of profit and usefulness.
THEODORE MILAR.
One of the esteemed men of Atkinson, Illinois, who has been intrusted by the citizens with many responsible offices is Theodore Milar. He was born in 1850 in New Philadelphia, Ohio, and is a son of Robert and Rebecca (Knisely) Milar. The mother was born in the same place on the 25th of September, 1831, but the father, was of Maryland nativity, the day of his birth having been July 24, 1824. He was a carpenter by trade and came to Henry county, Illinois, in 1856. He built and lived in the first house erected in the vicinity of Atkinson. In the half century during which that city was his home, he became very prominent in its affairs, was a republican in his political affiliations and served as justice of the peace for eighteen or twenty years. Fraternally he was connected with the Masons and for several years was master of the lodge at Atkinson. He was a consistent member of the Methodist church and died in that faith August 2, 1904. His wife had preceded him to his last resting place by about twelve years, for her death occurred November 7, 1892. They were the parents of four children, three of whom have died and are buried with them in Oakwood cemetery, Gene- seo. The family consisted of Theodore; LeRoy, born in Ohio, October 9, 1852, died November 28, 1898; Clara, who was the wife of Robert W. Bailey, was born January 5, 1854, and died August 10, 1908; and Jacob Knisely, born March 25, 1857, died September 11, 1883.
Theodore Milar, the oldest of this family and the only one now living, re- ceived his education in the schools of Atkinson, but the family being in limited circumstances, he was compelled to start life for himself at an age much younger
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than that of the average boy of today. He worked for several farmers for a short time and then engaged in railroading on the Rock Island system, his run including points all the way between Chicago and Omaha; Moberly, Missouri, and St. Louis. This remained his occupation for fifteen years, and then, in 1878, he removed to Atkinson, where since 1881 he has been carrying on an extensive , carpentering and contracting business. His son has greatly aided him in this work, and together they have built some of the more important of the city's resi- dences, among which may be mentioned those of John Nowers, J. S. Nowers, Mr. McCauley, F. R. Brooks, Paul D. Ransom, Robert Black, and John J. Bloom, besides a large number of homes in the country. Further building operations of the father and son have included the remodeling of the Congregational church, a brick store building and Mr. Bessant's agricultural store. In 1891 he put up his own pleasant residence on State street.
On the 15th of June, 1870, Mr. Milar was married to Miss Ruth Eliza Storm, who was born August 10, 1852, and is a daughter of John and Eliza (Kibby) Storm. The father, whose birth occurred in New York, March 18, 1820, was a blacksmith in his early life and came to Illinois in the '40s, settling in Princeton, Bureau county. In 1880 he removed to Nevada, Story county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. He was a republican in politics and a man who took an ac- tive interest in the public affairs of the community in which he lived, for he held several offices in Bureau county during the time of his residence there, and after he went to Iowa became one of the aldermen of the city of Nevada. He was a devoted adherent of Masonry, having passed through all but one of the degrees. His death occurred November 28, 1907, in Arkansas City, Kansas, where he was visiting. He was married June 10, 1851, to Eliza Kirby, who passed away in the twentieth year of her age, July 10, 1853, leaving one daughter. Mr. Storm, however, was three times married and had by his first wife four children, by his second one, and by his third seven.
Mr. and Mrs. Milar have one son, Wallace Lee, who was born in Stuart, Iowa, August 10, 1873. He attended the schools of Atkinson, and then supple- mented their training by a collegiate course in Geneseo. On returning to Atkin- son he engaged with his father in carpentering and to him in almost equal measure as to the older man belongs the credit for the buildings they have erected. In 1899 he married Miss Charlotte Griffin and took up his residence in the southeast part of town.
Politically Mr. Milar is a republican and has evinced an active interest in the welfare of the citizens of Atkinson, having held many offices at their disposal. He served for one term as justice of the peace, has been town clerk for the past twenty years, and has held the funds of the school board for ten years. He has passed through seven degrees of Masonry and is a charter member of the local camp of Woodmen, in which he has held the office of consul for three years. Mrs. Milar is a member of the Christian Science church and of the Eastern Star. They began life in moderate circumstances but by frugality and energy have be- come very well situated as regards comforts and own a half interest in an eighty acre farm. They are a couple of great intelligence, whose outlook on life is broad and liberal, and their lives have been marked by many deeds of kindness to their friends and neighbors. The several offices of trust which Mr. Milar has held in
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his township, and the length of the periods through which he has administered their duties fully attest the respect and esteem in which he is held in his com- munity. He is a man, too, whose amiable disposition and strong character have attracted to him hundreds of friends.
JOSEPH N. GAMBLE.
Nothing can be more gratifying to any man, however young or old, than the knowledge that his abilities and capacities are appreciated by his employers and that in recognition of them he is ever eligible to promotion when opportunity is afforded. A continuous advancement has been the career of Joseph N. Gamble since he became connected with the rolling mill of Kewanee. He was born in this city, March 2, 1863, a son of J. R. and Maria P. (Woolley) Gamble, and is a descendant of English ancestors on the paternal side. His mother is a great granddaughter of Peter Probasco, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, who be- longed to an old Holland Dutch family. His paternal grandfather, George N. Gamble, was reared in England, where he married Miss Susanna G. Guthridge. He first came to America in 1831, but after spending nine months in the east returned to his old home, only to come to America after less than a year. He located then permanently in Philadelphia, which remained his home until his death.
In that city J. R. Gamble, the father of our subject, was reared and educated, starting upon his career as a boy in the ship-chandler's or naval supply store. After two years he began learning the carpenter's trade and, having gained pro- ficiency in it, came to Henry county, Illinois, in 1855. He settled in Kewanee, but the village at that time contained only about one thousand inhabitants. In its growth and progress Mr. Gamble has taken an active part, for as contractor and carpenter he has erected many of the buildings here and in the surrounding territory, including the factory belonging to Pierce & Haxton. While still living in Philadelphia, October 30, 1855, Mr. Gamble married Miss Maria P. Woolley, and they have become the parents of the following children : Florence M., who is the wife of Charles Payne, of Kewanee; Kate B., who is the widow of A. O. Warner and has one child, Louise; George H., who is the pastor of the Tab- ernacle Baptist church of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and, having married Mar- guerite Hawthorne, is the father of four sons, George, William, Ross and Paul. Joseph N., the subject of this sketch; Susanna, who is the wife of Rev. Ellis M. Jones, a Baptist minister of Carbondale, Illinois, and the mother of three daughters and one son Miriam, Esther, Ellis, Jr., and Ruth; Fred B., of Ke- wanee, who married Eleanor Cramb and is the father of three children, Fred- erick, Florence and Gertrude and Ross W., who married Velma Cramb and has three children, John, Elizabeth and Margaret; and Louise M., who died in 1908. Mr. Gamble is a member of the Baptist church and a republican in his political affiliations.
Upon completing the course of study prescribed by the public schools of Kewanee Joseph N. Gamble entered upon his business career. He engaged first
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with Lyman, Lay & Lyman in the minor capacity of cash boy. Later as he evinced the strong qualities of devotion to duty and alertness he was advanced to a clerkship. While in that position, having given perfect satisfaction to the firm for six years, he joined H. R. Clears as a partner in a book store. Six years later he sold his interest to Mr. Clears and on the Ist of August, 1892, entered the employ of the rolling mill, and in about ten years he advanced from a subordinate position to that of a superintendent, which he holds at present. For the first five months he was a clerk and then he was promoted to the posi- tion of night foreman of the rolling and scrap mill. Two years later he was made cost clerk for all of the mill departments, from which office, after having proved his ability and efficiency during a period of four years, he was made chief cost clerk of the whole plant. In that capacity he served until 1902, when he was ap- pointed superintendent of all of the foundry departments. This is the position he holds at the present. Trying as it sometimes is, he has proved that he has the power to control men as well as to obtain from them the best work of which they are capable.
On the 10th of June, 1886, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Gamble and Miss Fannie Tunnicliffe, of Kewanee. Five children have been born to them, Ruth L., Marjorie A., Donald T., Katharine and Joseph George. The oldest mar- ried Lawrence McFall, of Kewanee, a clerk in the employ of the National Tube Company, and the youngest died at the age of six. Mr. Gamble is a member of the First Baptist church, in whose support he is most liberal. He is also a trustee and deacon of the church and prominent in all its work. He belongs to the Young Men's Christian Association an organization prominent in promoting the moral and social welfare of the city and its financial prosperity.
ABRAM ASA FUNK.
Abram Asa Funk, an enterprising, up-to-date and progressive agriculturist of Henry county, devotes his energies to the cultivation of his well improved farm of eighty acres on section 31, Cornwall township, and likewise follows sur- veying to some extent. He was born on section 31, Cornwall township, on the 23d of November, 1874, his parents being George and Rebecca (Funk) Funk, who are mentioned at greater length on another page of this volume.
Mr. Funk was reared on the home farm and attended the district school until about seventeen years of age, when he entered the Geneseo Collegiate Institute at Geneseo, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1894. Re- turning to the home farm, he was actively engaged in its operation in association with his father until 1900, when he purchased property of his own. About 1897 he took up a study of civil engineering through the medium of the International School of Correspondence of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and completed the pre- scribed course in 1905, having mastered the profession while carrying on his agri- cultural interests. As before stated, he came into possession of a farm of his own in 1900, having accumulated sufficient capital to enable him to purchase eighty acres of land in Cornwall township at fifty dollars an acre. There were
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no buildings on the property but he has since erected a nice residence as well as all necessary barns and outbuildings, and everything about the place indicates in its neat and thrifty appearance the supervision of a practical and progressive owner. In addition to the work of farming he is also engaged in surveying to some extent, having gained a good knowledge of that profession through his cor- respondence course. In 1907 he took up the work prescribed in a five years' course of study by the American School of Correspondence, which was estab- lished by the Armour Institute of Technology. He uses the latest improved ma- chinery to facilitate the work of the fields and has gained an enviable reputa- tion as a wide-awake, alert and enterprising agriculturist as well as substantial citizen of the community.
On the 7th of January, 1902, in Munson township, Mr. Funk was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Belle Hunter, a daughter of Henderson and Margaret (Ferguson) Hunter, who are natives of Ohio and Henry county, Illinois, re- spectively. Henderson Hunter came to this county with his parents, was here married and now resides with his wife at Cambridge. Mrs. Funk supplemented her preliminary education by two years' attendance at the Geneseo Collegiate Institute and also took a special course in music. Both she and her husband have an extensive circle of warm friends throughout the county in which their entire lives have been spent and the hospitality of the best homes is cordially extended them.
WILLIAM C. HAMILTON.
William C. Hamilton, of Western township, was born July 4, 1849, in Cable township, Mercer county, Illinois. Mr. Hamilton is of Irish extraction, his parents, William and Rosanna Hamilton having been born in County Antrim, Ireland. They came to this country 'when young people and were married in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The father was a boiler maker and for some years worked at his trade in Philadelphia and Paterson, New Jersey. In 1847 he de- cided to come west and settling in Mercer county, Illinois, he engaged in farming until 1850. Becoming dissatisfied with this occupation he took his family back to Philadelphia, the subject of this review being at that time an infant, and resum- ing his trade, remained in the Quaker City for about three years. In 1853 the Hamilton family again turned their faces westward and began the establishment of a permanent home in Western township, Henry county, Illinois. The father bought a farm of eighty acres a few miles west of Orion and from time to time added to it until it amounted to one hundred and thirty acres, and upon this home- stead he engaged actively in agriculture until the time of his death, July 9, 1891. Mrs. Hamilton passed away on the 20th of December of the same year and their graves are to be found in Western township cemetery. Mr. Hamilton, the father, throughout his life gave his support to the democratic party, and he and his wife were active members of the Presbyterian church. They were noted in the com- munity for their church loyalty, for their liberal charity, and for their willing- ness to take upon their own shoulders the alleviation of any suffering and the remedying of any injustice which might come under their notice. Their family
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consisted of William C. Hamilton, the subject of the sketch, and David A. Hamilton.
William C. Hamilton passed his boyhood days upon his father's farm and re- ceived his education in the district schools of Western township. For about eight years he and his brother were engaged in buying and shipping stock, carrying on this business upon an extensive scale. In 1867 and 1868 he was among those who assisted in the government work at Rock Island, Illinois, and later he went to Chicago, where he engaged in the feed business in which he continued for four years, building up a large and profitable trade, and also bought and sold horses to some extent. He returned to Orion for awhile and engaged in various pursuits and again went to Chicago remaining for two years. Mr. Hamilton is now en- gaged in the livery business in Orion and his knowledge of horses is unsurpassed. He is also a fine judge of stock, his opinion in this line being considered a val- uable acquisition and his long experience as a buyer and shipper has given him a wide acquaintance wherein he maintains a reputation for fair dealing and honesty.
Mr. Hamilton gives his vote to the men chosen by the democratic party to fulfill its principles, but although he takes a lively and intelligent interest in pub- lic affairs, he has never been an office seeker. Mr. Hamilton's uncle, Captain George C. Hill, husband of Jane (Hamilton) Hill was one of the most distin- guished citizens whose names are written in the annals of Orion. He fought under Wellington at Waterloo, and at the close of the war with France, left the British army and came to America. After engaging in business in Philadelphia for some time he came to Orion, where he spent the rest of his life, laying aside his role of army officer to become a common citizen of high standing. On July 4, 1859, Captain Hill assisted in raising the first American flag ever wafted on the breezes of Orion, and on this inspiring occasion made an address of such thrilling patriotism that it is still vividly remembered by the older generation. Both he and his wife were people of high religious character who rejoiced in the possession of general respect. They were originally Presbyterians, but upon coming to Orion joined the Methodist church in which they took an active part. Captain Hill died March 6, 1860, his widow surviving him for several years. His death deprived Orion of one of the most prominent Masons in the community.
FRANK HERBERT EDWARDS.
Among the many agriculturists of Western, township, who have now relin- quished the burdensome cares of farm life, is Frank Herbert Edwards, whose home is on South State street, Geneseo. Although he has resigned the heavier responsibilities of his vocation he still retains an interest in farming, for he still owns five hundred and sixty acres of land in Western township. He was born in Moline, Illinois, on the 2d of August, 1857, and has grown up upon the property secured by his paternal grandfather, William Edwards, almost three-quarters of a century ago. The latter was born and reared in the town of Brattleboro, Vermont, where he was united in marriage to Miss Hulda Bangor. In 1835 the
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couple made the journey across the mountains and prairies to Greene county, Illinois, where Mr. Edwards spent the winter teaching school. In the spring of the next year, he bought a tract of land where the city of Moline now stands and upon it passed the remaining years of his life. His son, Herbert R. Edwards, grew up in that locality and in the course of years married Miss Harriet Gordon. Of their union were born seven children : Carrie M., who married F. M. Stewart and died in Colorado, leaving five children; Frank Herbert, the subject of this sketch; Clarence, who has married and is a civil engineer in Kearney, Nebraska; Flora B., who is the wife of William Tully and lives in Grand Island, Nebraska ; Grace F., who became the wife of Clarence Ward, of Atkinson township, this county ; Nellie, who married Abel D. Ward; and Charles. About 1866, the father removed to Western township, where he acquired three hundred and twenty acres of land and where his death occurred November 21, 1874. His wife is still living in Geneseo at about the age of seventy-six and has witnessed the success which has come to her children.
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