History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II, Part 14

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

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JOHN ROOT.

John Root, practicing law at the Galva bar since 1893, and winning suc- cess by reason of close application and careful preparation without which ad- vancement in the law is never secured, was born in Bishop Hill, Henry county, Illinois, October 25, 1849. His parents were John and Charlotte (Anderson) Root, both of whom were natives of Sweden, and the subject of this review was their only child. The maternal grandfather died in Sweden, after which his widow came to America and spent her last days at Bishop Hill. In early manhood John Root, Sr., came to the United States and served as a soldier in the Mexican war. Almost immediately afterward, or about 1848, he established his home at Bishop Hill, where he lived for a short time and later removed to Chicago, where he died in the early '50s. His wife survived him and passed away at Galva, February 22, 1905, at the advanced age of eighty years and nine months.

John Root, whose name introduces this record, was reared at Bishop Hill with the colony that settled there, spending his youth as a farm boy, devoting much of his time to the mastery of those branches of learning which were taught in the public schools. In 1862, when the colony disbanded, with his mother and her two sisters, he began farming on about fifty acres of land two miles south- west of Bishop Hill, which land he still retained, with some additions, being compelled to establish his title thereto in the supreme court of Illinois. In 1872 he became a student at Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, and also spent a period at Bryant & Stratton Business College in Chicago. The profession of law seemed to him an attractive field and in preparation for practice he began reading in the office and under the direction of Judge Bigelow, of Galva, and was admitted to the bar in March, 1880. In the meantime he taught a country school during the winter months for five or six years. Sixteen years ago, or in 1893, he removed to Galva and has practiced here continuously since. In the scholastic year of 1888-9 he pursued a course in the Union College of Law, a branch of Northwestern University at Chicago and throughout his profes- sional career he has continued his reading and study, familiarizing himself with principle and precedent and gaining an intimate knowledge of the law whereby he is enabled to try in capable manner any case that is likely to be brought before the courts of the district.

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On the 22d of June, 1874, Mr. Root was united in marriage to Miss Betsy Ogren, a daughter of Eric and Brita Ogren. Mrs. Root was born in Sweden and was only three years old when brought to the United States, her girlhood days being spent at Bishop Hill, where her mother died over twenty years ago. Her father died in Andover township, this county, when well advanced in years, and his parents passed away in Galva township and were buried at Bishop Hill. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Root have been born five children : Vincent J., Clarence, Amy, Ralph W. and Earl. The first named is practicing law in partnership with his father, having graduated from the Northwestern University Law School. He married Christine Wing and they make their home in Galva. The second son died when little more than three years of age. Amy is the wife of Manfred Peterson and they have one son, Lyle M. Ralph is a graduate of the Northwestern University Law School, and Earl is attending high school.

The family home is a fine residence in Galva which Mr. Root erected in 1892. He also owns farm lands near his home in Galva and his property is the visible evidence of his industrious habits and of the success which he has attained in professional circles. He belongs to Galva Lodge, No. 408, I. O. O. F., and also to the Modern Woodmen camp. His political views accord with the principles of the republican party and for the past ten years he has been and still is the master in chancery of Henry county, having been appointed by Judge Bigelow in 1899 and reappointed by Judge Graves. His devotion to his clients' interests is proverbial and at the bar he has made a record which places him among the ablest lawyers of the district.

FREDERICK A. HURLBUTT.

Frederick A. Hurlbutt, one of the most extensive landowners and successful agriculturists of Henry county, makes his home on section 6, Galva township. His birth occurred in the town of Dalton, Coos county, New Hampshire, on the 9th of November, 1831, his parents being Alba and Laura (Osgood) Hurlbutt, likewise natives of the old Granite state. The paternal grandfather, Nathaniel Hurlbutt, was a farmer by occupation. He was born February 16, 1760, and died in New Hampshire on the 13th of April, 1839. He was married August 12, 1785, to Sabrina Green, who had also attained a ripe old age at the time of her demise. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Levi Osgood, was likewise born in New Hampshire and followed farming as a life work. Both he and his wife, Mrs. Susan Osgood, lived to a good old age. They reared a family of four children, namely : Hannah, Laura, Caroline and Willard.

Alba Hurlbutt, the father of Frederick A. Hurlbutt, was a physician by pro- fession and in 1840 took up his abode at Truro, Knox county, Illinois, where he successfully practiced medicine during the remainder of his life. He passed away in 1858, at the age of sixty-four years, and his wife, who was called to her final rest on the 14th of March, 1871, was also sixty-four years of age at the time of her death. They had a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters. as follows: Hubbard, Edmund and Nathaniel, all of whom have passed away;

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Laura, the deceased wife of Leander Taylor ; Frederick A., of this review ; Susan, the wife of Alexander Taylor, of Abilene, Kansas; Francis, a resident of Knox county, Illinois; Charles, who is deceased; and one who died in infancy.

Frederick A . Hurlbutt, who was a little lad of nine years when he came to this state with his parents, grew to manhood on his father's farm in Knox county. The father gave his attention to the practice of medicine and left the active work of the fields to his sons. Mr. Hurlbutt of this review attended the district schools in the acquirement of an education and remained under the parental roof until he attained the age of twenty-eight years. On starting out in business life on his own account he purchased some young cattle, broke prairie and engaged in gen- eral farming. He also bought a house and lot in Altona, which he subsequently traded for a quarter section of land in Iowa. In 1858 he broke eighty acres of land in Burns township, Henry county, for which he had traded his quarter sec- tion in Iowa. As the years passed by and his financial resources increased, owing to his untiring energy and good management, he added to his acreage from time to time by additional purchase until his landed holdings now embrace one thou- sand acres in Henry county and one hundred and sixty acres in Polk county, Nebraska. When it first came into his possession, nearly all of the land which he now owns in this county was only raw prairie, but he has transformed it into rich and productive farming property which readily responds to the cultivation that is bestowed upon it. The property is all well improved and in one tract, though there are six residences upon it and it is divided into different farms. Mr. Hurlbutt is likewise a director in the Galva State Bank and is widely rec- ognized as one of the most sucessful agriculturists and prosperous citizens of the county.

On the 31st of October, 1860, Mr. Hurlbutt was united in marriage to Miss Caroline Osgood, who was born in Coos county, New Hampshire, April 15, 1839, her parents being Willard and Mary (Perry) Osgood, likewise natives of the old Granite state. In 1841 they took up their abode in Knox county, Illinois, where Willard Osgood passed away in 1844. The demise of his wife occurred in Ne- braska. Unto them had been born three sons and a daughter, namely: Levi, Lewis, Caroline and Willard. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Hurlbutt was Levi Osgood, who was the maternal grandfather of Mr. Hurlbutt.

Unto our subject and his wife have been born nine children, the record of whom is as follows: Edgar, the eldest, resides on one of his father's farms. Elmer, who also makes his home on that farm, wedded Miss Effie Michaels, by whom he has four children: Earl, Marion, Edna and Van Nice. Levi, who re- sides on another of his father's farms, has been married three times. He first wedded Miss Marguerite Sewell, by whom he had two children, Leo and Mar- guerite, and subsequent to her death was joined in wedlock to Miss Pearl Crowell, who was called to her final rest shortly afterward. He then married Miss Belle Murchison and they now have a son. Frederick, who also lives on one of his father's farms, wedded Miss Winnie Hamilton, by whom he has two children, Hazel and Raymond. Charles, who likewise resides on a farm belonging to his father, was married to Miss Ethel Stanturf and has a daughter, Elsie. Frank is still at home. Minnie is the wife of John Peugh and resides in Loup City, Ne- braska. She has four daughters: Gladys, Nettie, Zelda and Laurice. Jennie

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gave her hand in marriage to Frank Penny and they make their home on one of her father's farms. Zelda is the wife of Hubbard Hurlbutt and resides in Pasa- dena, California. The mother of this family was called to her final rest on the 3Ist of March, 1905, when she had attained the age of sixty-five years. Her de- mise was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for she had an extensive circle of warm friends throughout the community.

Mr. Hurlbutt gives his political allegiance to the men and measures of the republican party and has done effective service for the cause of education as a school director, which office he held for many years. Few men have more in- timate knowledge of the history of this part of the state or have longer witnessed its growth and progress than he, and he relates many interesting incidents con- cerning the early days when this region was largely an unsettled district, the prairie land having been unclaimed and uncultivated, while only here and there was a settlement to give evidence that the tide of emigration was flowing west- ward. He has now passed the seventy-eighth milestone on life's journey and re- ceives the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded one who has traveled thus far on this earthly pilgrimage and whose career has been at all times upright and honorable.

EMERY JUDSON RECORD.

Emery Judson Record, an industrious and enterprising citizen of Cambridge, is ranked among Henry county's native sons, his birth having occurred on the 28th of August, 1869. On both the paternal and maternal side he comes from families long represented in Pennsylvania, members of the Record family hav- ing originally come to that state from Scotland. The parents of our subject were Benjamin J. and Sarah A. (Deets) Record, of whom extended mention is made in the sketch of Andrew Jackson Record on another page of this vol- ume. The father, who was also a native of the Keystone state, was a farmer, devoting his time and attention to that occupation up to about sixteen years prior to his demise, when he retired from active business life and removed to Cambridge, where he passed away on December 31, 1905, at the age of seventy- six years. His wife still survives, as does four of their children: Andrew J., who resides in Cambridge; Benjamin Sylvanus, a resident of Woodward, Iowa; Frank S., also making his home in Cambridge; and Emery J., of this review. They lost two children, Ella J., the deceased wife of Perry Dickerson, and Flor- ence, who passed away in infancy.

In Osco township on his father's farm Emery Judson Record was reared to manhood and in the meantime acquired his education in the district schools and in the public schools of Cambridge. When not engaged with his text- books he assisted his father in the work of the farm, and his time was thus employed until the year 1890, when he accompanied his parents on their re- moval to Cambridge. In 1896 he established himself in the bakery and con- fectionery business, being thus identified with the business interests of the city until 1908, and during the intervening years he became very successful in his

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undertaking. In the latter year he sold out and since that time has been in the employ of Johnson & Record, lumber dealers, of which firm his brother, A. J. Record, is junior partner.

On November 18, 1896, Mr. Record was united in marriage to Miss Mabel E. Vaughan, a daughter of Edmund A. and Althea (Bissel) Vaughan, and a native of Cambridge, Illinois. Her parents were both natives of Vermont who, coming to Cambridge, Illinois, at an early date, were numbered among the pio- neer settlers of this district. Here the father carried on a shop for some time and later he removed to Amboy, where he passed away in 1904, at the age of sixty years. His widow then removed to California, where she still makes her home near Sacramento. In their family were four children: Blanch, the wife of Ulysses S. Smith, a resident of Sacramento, California; Mabel E., the wife of Mr. Record; Grace, the deceased wife of Arthur Harrington; and Clayton Vaughan, residing in Fair Oaks, near Sacramento. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Record was blessed with two children, Neva Evelyn and June Adaline.

Mr. Record's religious faith is indicated in his membership in the Congre- gational church, while he is prominent in fraternal circles, belonging to Cam- bridge Lodge, No. 49, A. F. & A. M., and also to Geneseo Chapter, No. 12, R. A. M. At the polls he gives stalwart support to the republican party, and is at all times interested in party affairs, but the emoluments and honors of public office have no attraction for him, preferring as he does to direct his entire energies to the conduct of his personal affairs. His has been an active life in which he has been very successful, and his thrift and enterprise are manifest in the fact that he is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land in Lipscomb county, Texas, and also one hundred and sixty acres in Faulk county, South Dakota, all of which is in excellent condition and is a source of gratify- ing profit to him. He has at all times realized the value of perseverance and industry and throughout his entire business career these elements have been the salient characteristics. Having passed his entire life in this vicinity he has gained an extensive circle of friends who entertain for him high regard, while he enjoys the respect, confidence and good will of all with whom he has come in contact.

GEORGE A. TALCOTT.

Among Geneseo's native sons who in the years of manhood have become active factors in advancing the city's substantial development, is George A. Talcott, owner and publisher of the Enterprise. He was here born November 23, 1857, his parents being Dr. Edwin J. and Harriet (Johnson) Talcott, the former born in Rome, New York, and the latter, in the western part of the Empire state. Their family numbered seven children, but only three are now living, the brother of our subject being LeRoy Talcott, a resident of Chariton, Iowa, while the sister is Miss Agnes Talcott, of Oak Park, Illinois. Dr. Talcott had graduated from a medical school and entered upon the practice of his pro- fession at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. In his early manhood he had located in Rock Island county, Illinois, but afterward removed to Henry

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county, and it was from the latter that he enlisted as a private in 1861, joining an independent company. With his command he was sent into Missouri, when General Price made his raid in that state, and later he and almost the entire company enlisted in the Eighth Kansas Regiment. Subsequently he was pro- moted to assistant surgeon with the rank of captain and remained with the army for a little more than four years. His regiment was attached to the Army of the Cumberland in the division commanded by General Thomas. Captain Trego, who commanded the company, was killed at the battle of Chickamauga, and the Eighth Kansas lost many of its gallant soldiers, for it participated in many of the hardest engagements of the war.

When hostilities were over and the country no longer needed his aid Dr. Talcott located at Spring Hill, where he practiced medicine until his death, which occurred in August, 1892, when he was sixty-six years of age. His wife, who was a consistent member of the Congregational church, passed away in January, 1882, when about forty-six years of age. In his political views Dr. Talcott was a stalwart republican and for many years served in public office. He acted as postmaster at Spring Hill for a number of years, as school director for many years and was also a member of the board of supervisors for one term.

Not only were the parents of George A. Talcott well known as early resi- dents of this part of the state, but the grandparents also settled in Illinois in pioneer times. His paternal grandfather, Asel Talcott, a native of New York, became one of the early residents of Rock Island county, Illinois, and also cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of Henry county, when the work of im- provement and development had been carried forward there to only a slight degree. He was a farmer by occupation and also established and operated the Talcott ferry which was the only ferry on the Rock river between Rock Island and Dixon. The maternal grandfather of George A. Talcott was Jeremiah H. Johnson, who removed from the Empire state to Illinois about 1840 and settled at Sharon in the northern part of Henry county. He was a farmer by occupa- tion but after devoting some time to the tilling of the soil opened a store in Sharon. A few years later he removed to Moline, Illinois, where he conducted a hotel, and following his retirement he returned to Henry county, his death occurring in Geneseo when he was more than seventy years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Harriet Getty, survived him for a number of years.

George A. Talcott was reared at Spring Hill, just across the line in Whiteside county, and remained with his parents until he had attained his majority. He acquired his education by attending successively the Spring Hill public schools, the Geneseo high school and the Valparaiso (Indiana) Normal. He afterward en- gaged in teaching for two years and subsequently devoted several years to clerking in a store in Spring Hill, during which time he gained practical and comprehensive knowledge concerning commercial methods. Ambitious to engage in business on his own account he then opened a general store which he conducted for several years, and after selling out he devoted ten years to general farming. On leaving his farm he took up his abode at Prophetstown, Illinois, where he continued for three years, and in 1905 he came to Geneseo, where he engaged in merchandising

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for two years. He next purchased an interest in the Geneseo Enterprise, form- ing a partnership with Phineas Marrow. The paper is published semi-weekly and is independent in politics. It is the successor to the Geneseo News, which was established by Henry L. Kiner, who remained its publisher for twenty-eight years.

In April, 1882, Mr. Talcott was united in marriage to Miss Kate E. Fuller, a daughter of John P. and Almira (Lamphere) Fuller. Four children were born of this union; Bertha, Laura, Clara and Harriet A. The eldest daughter is the wife of the Rev. W. B. Millard, of Morgan Park, Illinois, and they have one son, Harper. Mrs. Talcott died September 26, 1908, at the age of fifty-three years, and her death was deeply regretted by many friends who had learned to esteem her for her many good qualities of heart and mind. In his political views Mr. Talcott is a republican and while living in Whiteside county served for six years as a member of the board of supervisors, acting as chairman of the board at one time. He was also a member of the board of review, was town clerk and for fifteen years was school treasurer. His attention is now given almost entirely to the Geneseo Telephone Company, in which he has a financial interest, and yet he is never remiss in the duties of citizenship, cooperating in a private way as well as in his professional capacity in all of the movements and measures which are directly beneficial to the community.

JOHN C. BANNISTER.

John C. Bannister is a prominent representative of business interests which have made Kewanee an important industrial center. He was born in Evanston, Illinois, November 15, 1860, his parents being Henry and Lucy (Kimball) Ban- nister, His father, the Rev. Henry Bannister, D. D., was one of the professors in the Garrett Biblical Institute, the theological department of the Northwestern University. John C. Bannister, after mastering the elementary branches of learning, continued his studies in the Northwestern University from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts as a member of the class of 1883. In 1886 he received the honorary degree of Master of Arts and during the initiative period of his career was engaged in teaching, being for a time vice principal in the Princeton township high school at Princeton, Illinois. Dur- ing the latter period his leisure hours were devoted to study and research along the lines of engineering to which his taste and talent naturally directed him, and to the field of mechanical pursuits he turned his energies when in January, 1891, he resigned his position at Princeton and came to Kewanee to accept a position as foreman of the fittings department of the Western Tube Company. A year later he was made superintendent of the pipe finishing department and occupied that position until March, 1898, when he left the mill and assumed a place in the office as mechanical engineer and assistant to A. M. Hewlett, who was then acting as general superintendent as well as vice president of the Western Tube Company. Mr. Bannister had charge of the mechanical engineering work and secondary responsibility in operations. He continued in that position until

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1902 when he resigned and entered the employ of the Kewanee Boiler Company as superintendent. In 1905, he resigned and returned to the Tube works as chief engineer, having charge of the entire engineering department for the com- pany. Upon the death of Mr. Hewlett, December 20, 1907, he was made man- ager of the Western Tube Company, and on the Ist of January, 1908, after the reorganization of the business and a change of the name to National Tube Com- pany, Kewanee Works, he was made manager. He is thus in control of the most important industrial enterprise in this city and his broad scientific knowledge and his practical experience combined with his executive ability to make him one of the most forceful and valued factors in the business life of the com- munity. His advancement has followed as the logical result of his mental equip- ment and diligence and his success is therefore well merited.

On the 25th of December, 1886, Mr. Bannister was married to Miss Frances Bryant, of Princeton, Illinois, a daughter of Elijah W. Bryant, a farmer of that locality. Seven children have been born to them, namely: Bryant, Kimball, Elizabeth, Laura, John Howard, Francis Sue and Mary Willard.

Mr. and. Mrs. Bannister are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and in its work take active and helpful interest. He is now serving as one of the trustees thereof and is active in Bible class work. He is a member of the Ymmietdrah Society and the advisor of the Methodist branch of one hundred and forty members. In his fraternal relations he is a Mason and Elk, having attained the Knight Templar degree in the former organization. He has also taken a deep interest in Masonry and has passed through all of the chairs of the lodge and has served as master. He belongs to the American Society of Mechan- ical Engineers. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is interested in its success but not an aspirant for office. In 1906, however, he was elected alderman from the fourth ward and received endorsement of his first term in his reelection, but soon afterward resigned, preferring to concentrate his ener- gies upon his business affairs which are now extensive and demand all of his time. In all outdoor sports he is an enthusiast, being especially interested in baseball and golf, and these furnish him recreation from the onerous duties which devolve upon him in his business connections. His record is characterized by a masterful grasp of every problem that has been presented for solution in the line of his duty and gradually he has worked his way upward until his success places him among the men of influence in Henry county.

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History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II, Part 14

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