USA > Illinois > Henry County > History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 15
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ROBERT HALL CRAIG.
Robert Hall Craig, who passed away on the 18th of May, 1909, was for a number of years prominently identified with the agricultural and stock raising interests of Henry county and at one time was the largest landowner in his vicinity, having altogether ten hundred and eighty-four acres in Wethersfield township. His birth occurred in Topsham, Orange county, Vermont, on the Ist of January, 1826, his parents being James and Margaret (Dickey) Craig, who were natives of Scotland and Vermont respectively. Robert Dickey, the ma-
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ternal grandfather of our subject, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary war. James Craig, the father of Robert H. Craig, was about ten years of age when he was brought to the United States by his widowed mother, and throughout his active business career he followed general agricultural pursuits in Vermont. In 1853 he made his way to Elmira, Stark county, Illinois, and there passed away twenty-four months later at the age of seventy-five years. A few years afterward, at Neponset, Bureau county, Illinois, his widow was called to her final rest.
Robert Hall Craig was one of a large family of children and early in life was thrown upon his own resources, going to work when but ten years of age. Securing employment as a farm hand, he was thus busily engaged until twenty-two years of age, when he was married and purchased a tract of land in Orange county, Vermont. After he had devoted his energies to its cultivation for a couple of years he had the misfortune to break his leg and was unable to do any work for two years. At the end of that time he was obliged to sell his farm and in the fall of 1850 removed westward, taking up his abode on a tract of eighty acres which he purchased in Elmira, Stark county, Illinois. When a year had passed he disposed of the property and was then engaged in the operation of rented land for three years. On the expiration of that period he bought a farm of one hundred and ten acres four miles east of Wethersfield, in Stark county, residing thereon until he sold the place in 1871. In that year he purchased a quarter of section of land in the southwestern part of Wethersfield township and was there actively and successfully engaged in the conduct of his agricultural interests until September, 1896, gradually extending the boundaries of his farm by addi- tional purchase from time to time until it embraced ten hundred and eighty- four acres of rich and arable land. After putting aside the active work of the fields he spent seven years in Galva but on the expiration of that period sold his home there and took up his abode in Wethersfield, buying a comfortable resi- dence at No. III Tenney street, where his remaining days were spent. His demise occurred on the 18th of May, 1909, when he was in the eighty-third year of his age. On his arrival in this state his cash capital amounted to only two hundred dollars, but he prospered in his undertakings and at the time of his retirement was the largest landowner in his vicinity. He was thoroughly familiar with the work of farming from a scientific as well as practical standpoint and was so thorough and painstaking in his methods that his land not only yielded the best grade of produce but also the largest possible quantity. In addition to his agri- cultural interests he also gave considerable attention to stock raising, annually shipping a carload of shorthorn cattle and two carloads of Poland China hogs. He was likewise engaged in the raising of horses on an extensive scale. In all of his business dealings he was characterized by an integrity and uprightness that won him the unqualified confidence and trust of those with whom he was asso- ciated and his word was considered as good as any bond ever solemnized by signature or seal.
On the 23d of March, 1848, in Topsham township, Orange county, Vermont, Mr. Craig was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Fellows, a native of that county and a daughter of John and Lucy Fellows. When nineteen years of age she began work in the cotton and woolen mills of Lowell, Massachusetts, and was
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thus employed until she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Craig when a young lady of twenty-one. This union was blessed with a family of ten children, nine sons and one daughter, the record of whom is as follows: Henry H., a carpenter residing in Wethersfield; Frank H., who is the principal of the Wethersfield school and makes his home with his mother; Melvin, a farmer of Saxon; Dudley, who formerly served as an alderman of Kewanee; Burton and Elmer, who are numbered among the progressive and enterprising agriculturists of Wethersfield township; Ellen Jane, James and John, all of whom died in childhood; and Fred, who passed away in 1883 at the age of eighteen years. All of the sons assisted in the operation of the home farm until they had attained their majority. after which the father paid them good wages and when they were ready to start out for themselves he gave them a tract of eighty acres and sold them as much more land as they wished to buy.
Handicapped in youth by obstacles and difficulties which would have utterly discouraged many a man of less determined spirit, Mr. Craig resolutely set to work and eventually won the prosperity which ever rewards earnest, persistent and well directed labor. His record may well serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others who are dependent upon their own resources for whatever success they may hope to achieve. He was a man of excellent character, beloved by his family and honored and respected in the community, so that all sympathize with the household from which such a light has gone out. Mrs. Craig makes her home in Wethersfield and has a host of warm friends throughout the county where she has now long resided.
JOHN F. SMITH.
One of the most influential men of Edford township and also one of its wealthiest farmers is John F. Smith, who for many years has been the town- ship supervisor. He has likewise a reputation as a feeder and producer of beef cattle and his home, on section 31, is one of the notable farms of the locality. He was born on the land on which he now lives and in the house in which his son Arthur A. resides, November 10, 1854, and is the son of William F. and Caroline (Emmert) Smith. The father, who was a native of Prussia, came to America at the age of nineteen and, landing at Baltimore, Maryland, went to work in that state as a farm hand. After a few years, by dint of much saving, he was able to buy six horses and engaged in hauling goods from Baltimore, Maryland, to Wheeling, West Virginia, and to other places in those states and in Ohio. He followed that line of work until the railroads invading the terri- tory destroyed his business and compelled him to seek a land of greater oppor- tunities. Accordingly he and a brother John started westward. They went down the Ohio river, then up the Mississippi to Alton, and across the prairies to Henry county, Illinois, working for varying periods of time at different places along their line of progress. The brothers remained for some weeks in Jack- sonville, and perhaps would have made it their home save for the prevalence of ague there at the time, which compelled them to continue their wanderings
her and Burn John To Smith
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till they came to a more suitable place. In 1850 they located on the farm on which John F. Smith was born. They bought one hundred and sixty acres apiece from the Davenports, who had put up a house, the frame of which is still standing. It had been hewn out of native oaks and the sawed lumber had been hauled by ox-teams from Chicago. After making their purchase they returned to Cumberland, Maryland, and sold their teams preparatory to a per- manent removal, and in the spring of 1851 they came to Henry county, bringing with them their families. They went down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi as they had done on their first trip and landed at Rock Island, whence they drove across the country to Edford township and their new home. This did in- deed prove to be a land of opportunities, for good fortune attended his earnest efforts, and William Smith was able to add steadily to the original tract until he had over a thousand acres of good, arable land.
While he was engaged in teaming in Cumberland, Maryland, William Smith became acquainted with and married Miss Caroline Emmert, a native of Ba- varia, who had come to this country with her parents. There were six children of this union, one of whom was born in Maryland. They were Maggie A., who married Dr. A. I. Lawbaugh, of Calumet, Michigan; William F., who died at the age of three; John F., of this sketch; Carrie, who is the wife of George J. Smith and lives in Geneseo; Ella, who married James Stevenson, of Geneseo; and Emma, who, unmarried, resides in Geneseo. A stanch democrat in his poli- tical views, the father was yet never an office-seeker, though concerned for the welfare of the township. He was reared in the Lutheran faith, and after com- ing to this locality assisted in establishing the English church of that denomina- tion. He was a friend of education and made his prime duty to upbuild the interests of the community. He passed away February 26, 1902, and his wife survived him only until November 18 of that year.
John F. Smith spent his boyhood on the home farm and in the common schools received a good English education. At the age of nineteen he took a course of six months in Bryant & Stratton Business College at Davenport, Iowa, and immediately after assumed charge of four hundred and eighty acres which his father had purchased in Western township. Until he was twenty-two years of age he remained in the employ of his father and then for six years longer engaged in farming in Western township on his own account. By diligent efforts and excellent management he has been able to win a success that is almost phenomenal, for besides the three hundred and twenty acres he inherited he has been able to buy land until he now owns thirteen hundred and fifty acres in Henry county and four hundred and eighty acres in South Dakota. General farming demands much of his attention, but he gives every year more and more time to the breeding of cattle and the high grade of his stock has made for him a wide reputation.
On the 6th of March, 1882, Mr. Smith wedded Miss Mary E. Smith, of Liv- ingston county, Illinois. She is a native of Maryland, and is a daughter of Charles A. and Elizabeth (Hazel) Smith, who had been friends of the parents of John F. Smith in Maryland and after the former came to Illinois they re- vived the old acquaintanceship. Mr. and Mrs. John F. Smith have had six children. Walter W. married Miss Velmya Howlett and lives in Osco township.
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Arthur A. married Miss Abbie Richmond and lives on the home place. Everett E. married Miss Rebecca Brown, of Hooppole, Yorktown township, and lives in Edford township. William F. is at home. John Wesley and George Leslie, the youngest, are twins. All the older children have graduated from the high school and the others are either attending school in Geneseo or at Knox College, for Mr. Smith fully appreciates the value of a good education. In fact for twenty-five years he has been a school director and has used his influence toward educational advancement in Edford township.
A democrat in his political views, he has filled the office of supervisor of his township since 1902. He was first elected to serve as chairman of the board to fill out the unexpired term of the late Thomas Nowers in 1907 and has since continuously held that position. During the period of his incumbency substan- tial improvements have gone steadily ahead. Reared in the Lutheran faith, since he was sixteen he has been a member of the English church of that denomina- tion in Morristown, the church his father did so much toward establishing. His wife and children also belong to the congregation and are actively interested in its work. Endowed by nature with those traits which make for success in life, he has employed the opportunities at his command with results that would be enviable were they not so evidently attained through honest work, guided by high principles.
CARL J. JOHNSON.
Carl J. Johnson, successfully carrying on farming and stock-raising on an excellent farm in Weller township, is one of those representative American citi- zens who claim Sweden as the place of their nativity, and who have found, on this side of the Atlantic, opportunity for advancement and progress in busi- ness lines. His birth occurred in Smoland, Sweden, on the 26th of November, 1856, his parents being J. P. and Anna L. (Samuelson) Johnson, both natives of the same place, where they were reared and married. The father was a farmer in the old country and came to America in 1880, locating in Altona, Knox county, Illinois, where he continued to reside up to the time of his death, passing away in the winter of 1902. His wife still survives at the age of seventy-eight years and makes her home in Altona.
Reared to manhood in his native land, Carl J. Johnson attended the public schools of Sweden in the acquirement of his education, and later followed agri- cultural pursuits until twenty-two years of age, when he decided to come to the new world, rumors having reached him concerning the greater opportuni- ties for business advancement here offered. Consequently in 1878 he bade adieu to home and friends and sailed for America, coming direct to Illinois. He located in Altona, Knox county, where he was engaged as a farm hand for about five years, when he went to Kansas and there took up a homestead claim. This made it necessary for him to spend a portion of each year upon the claim, which he continued to do for five years, the greater part of the time, however, being spent in working in Denver. At the end of eight years he returned to
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MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM F. SMITH
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Altona and later leased a farm of eighty acres, which he operated for one year. He then came to his present farm in the spring of 1892, leasing one hundred and sixty acres. Later he leased eighty acres adjoining his original tract, so that he now leases an excellent farm of two hundred and forty acres located on section 34, Weller township, Henry county. Almost all of the land is im- proved and under a high state of cultivation, and in connection with his general farming he engages in stock-raising, having on hand on an average of fifty head of cattle and from sixty to seventy-five head of hogs. He possesses good business ability and conducts his affairs in a strictly up-to-date and progressive . manner, so that with the passing of the years he has been very successful and now occupies a place among the prosperous and substantial agriculturists of the township.
It was on the 19th of March, 1901, in Galesburg, Illinois, that Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Ida Bolano, a daughter of John Bolano, a well known farmer residing near Altona. He is a member of the Congregational church of Altona and also takes an active part in the social affairs of the Luth- eran church. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson hold membership in the Swedish Lutheran church of Altona, while politically he gives stalwart support to the republican party. He is public spirited in his citizenship, closely identified with the interests of Henry county, and although born across the waters, is thoroughly Amer- ican in thought and feeling. He has never had occasion to regret his deter- mination to come to this country, for here, where individual effort is unhampered by caste or class, he has found the opportunities which he sought and has made steady advancement in the business world.
THOMAS PORTER LIKEN.
One of Geneseo's most genial and companionable gentlemen is Thomas Por- ter Liken, whose habit of seeing the humor in a situation and whose apprecia- tion of those qualities which go to make up the sum of human happiness render, him popular with his many friends. He is now living retired, enjoying a rest which he has surely earned and richly deserves. He was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, November 20, 1846, and is a son of Thomas and Sarah Ann (Sands) Liken. The father was born in Ireland and was only four years of age when brought to America, the family home being established in Alle- gheny county, Pennsylvania. There resided Sarah Ann Sands and after the two had attained adult age they were united in marriage. In the year 1865 the father brought his family to Henry county, Illinois, and engaged in farming near Geneseo. He became a prominent and influential resident of the district, exercising a controlling influence in political and church circles and in regard to public affairs. He voted with the republican party, of which he was a stal- wart champion. He served as school director and the cause of education found in him a stanch advocate. Both he and his wife were devoted members of the Presbyterian church, in which he filled the position of elder. They died within a year of each other, passing away about thirteen years ago, their remains be-
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ing interred in Geneseo cemetery. The father came here before the railroads had been built through the town, the line extending only to LaSalle. His brother, John Liken, was a soldier in the Civil war and died in Andersonville prison. He also bought land in Geneseo before any road went through, and from LaSalle he hauled the timber used in the building of his house. His land consisted of eighty acres and is now in possession of Thomas P. Liken. The cheapest land which Thomas Liken, the father, purchased was bought at ten dollars per acre and now is worth two hundred and fifty dollars per acre. All that he had at the time of his death was probably worth one hundred and fifty dollars per acre. The house which Mr. Liken secured was purchased from Mr. Van Valkenburg, a former merchant of Geneseo, and although it was erected more than fifty years ago, with few alterations it is just as it stood originally, being surrounded by majestic trees in the midst of a spacious and handsome lawn. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Liken were the following chil- dren : William A., the eldest, enlisted for service in the Civil war as a member of Company E, One Hundred and Fifty-fifth Regiment of Pennsylvania Vol- unteers, and was killed at Petersburg June 18, 1864, his remains being taken back to Pennsylvania for burial. Florence is the wife of Pomeroy Hoffman, who lives in Los Angeles, California. Thomas P. is the next in the family. John F. is living at Gray, Iowa, and Samuel makes his home in Geneseo.
Thomas Porter Liken acquired his education in the public schools of Penn- sylvania and of Geneseo, being about eighteen years old when his parents re- moved to the latter place. After putting aside his text-books he assisted his father on the home farm until he attained his majority and then began farm- ing for himself, taking up the task of tilling the fields upon one of the places belonging to his father. As his financial resources increased he bought prop- erty and from time to time would add an eighty-acre tract to his holdings until he became the possessor of four hundred and six acres of valuable land in Mun- son township, together with half a section in Minnesota. For a long period he busily engaged in cultivating his farm but at length resolved to enjoy in well earned retirement the fruits of his former toil and in 1896 removed to Geneseo, where he purchased a commodious and beautiful modern residence on Mechanic street. The home is in fine condition and stands in the midst of a beautiful and well kept lawn. For nine years after his removal to the city he employed a hired man and went back and forth to the farm, to which he gave personal supervision and on which he successfully engaged in raising stock. He now has a son on the place and has rented all of his land save one hundred acres which his son cultivates.
On the 28th of December, 1871, Mr. Liken was married to Miss Rachel Victoria Hill, who was born in West Virginia in 1850, a daughter of William T: and Elizabeth Hill, both of whom were natives of the Old Dominion, whence they came to Illinois, when their daughter was four years of age. They were farming people of Henry county, and Mr. Hill was closely identified with its agricultural development for a long period. Both he and his wife are now deceased. In their family were fourteen children, of whom two have passed away. The others are: John, who enlisted from Illinois as a soldier of the Civil war and was killed in battle; J. D., a resident of Geneseo; Elizabeth, who
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is now Mrs. Dugdale and lives in Geneseo; Mrs. Liken; George, whose home is in Chicago; Mary, the wife of Adam Young, of Kansas; James, who is in Nebraska; Jennie, who is located at Cambridge, Illinois; Stephen, whose home is in Nebraska; Stella, the widow of William Lane, of Des Moines, Iowa; Ed, who is also located in Des Moines; and Dock, of Iowa.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Liken have been born five children and the family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death. William Edward, the eldest, is a graduate of Geneseo Collegiate Institute and lives upon his father's farm. Maud, who is the widow of Joseph Combs, lives with her brother William and has one son, Herbert, now nine years of age. Clyde, who married Miss Bessie Childs, of Knoxville, Illinois, is now practicing dentistry, for having graduated from the Geneseo Collegiate Institute, he attended Knox College at Galesburg, a school in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and the Chicago Dental College. Myrtle, who is a graduate of the Collegiate Institute of Geneseo, is the wife of Dixon Shaw, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, an employe in a bank. She lives near the birth- place of her father and has one son, Dixon, now in his first year. Grace May, the youngest of the family, is a graduate of the Geneseo high school.
Mr. Liken gives his political allegiance to the republican party at times but is quite independent in his views in politics. He is a prominent and valued member of the Presbyterian church, in which he has served as elder, and he has also been a trustee of the Collegiate Institute, acting in that capacity for several years. He was also its treasurer for two years and has been a school director for several years. His wife is likewise a member of the Presbyterian church. Mr. Liken belongs to the Odd Fellows Society and he and his wife are both connected with the Daughters of Rebekah. Mr. Liken is always genial and jovial in manner, is droll in his speech and courteous in his disposition, and these qualities have made him very popular throughout the county where he is widely known.
CLINTON F. LUTHER.
Clinton F. Luther, who since 1904 has served continuously as justice of the peace and notary public in Geneseo, was born in Yorktown township, this county, on the 25th of October, 1869. He is descended from German ancestry. His paternal grandfather, Jacob Luther, was born August 1, 1788, in the kingdom of Byre, Germany, and thence emigrated to America, sailing on the 20th of June, 1822, and reaching the shores of the new world on the 22d of September, after a voyage of three months. He took up his abode in Warren county, Pennsylvania. In his native land he had learned the shoemaker's trade and while still a resident of Germany had served as one of the great Napoleon's bodyguards for seven years. After coming to America he lived for a time in the east and then removed to Illinois, where both he and his wife spent their remaining days. He died at the age of seventy-one years, his remains being laid to rest in the Geneseo cemetery, while the grave of his wife, who passed away at the age of fifty-eight years, was made in Lake county, Illinois. They had a family of six sons and four daugh-
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ters : Jacob; George; Peter; John; William; David; Mrs. Emeline Ott; Mrs. Mary Wolf; Mrs. Betsey Wilmott; and Louisa, who became the wife of Jacob Goemble.
Of this family John J. Luther, the father of our subject, was born in the Em- pire state and in his youthful days learned and followed the cabinetmaker's trade. When a young man he became a resident of Long Grove, Lake county, Illinois, where he followed his trade for seventeen years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Henry county, where he devoted the remainder of his life to general agricultural pursuits, making his home in Yorktown township, where he owned one hundred acres of rich and productive land, pleasantly lo- cated near the village of Hooppole. There his death occurred November 9, 1900, when he had reached the age of seventy-eight years and ten months. His wife survived him for a few years and died in Hooppole, February 16, 1905, at the age of seventy-six years and two months. Mrs. Luther bore the maiden name of Mary U. Fehlman and was born in Alsace-Lorraine when that district was under French dominion. She was a daughter of Martin Fehlman, also a native of Alsace-Lorraine and of German parentage. He married Barbara Erb, who was born in Alsace and died at an advanced age, while the death of Mr. Fehlman occurred when he was seventy-one years of age. Their family numbered five children, Martin, Christian, Saloma, Helen and Mary. The last named became the wife of John J. Luther and for many years they traveled life's journey happily together. Mrs. Luther had come with her parents from France in her girlhood days and the family home was established at Long Grove, Lake county, Illinois, where on the 18th of April, 1846, she gave her hand in marriage to John J. Luther. They were both members of the German Evangelical church and Mr. Luther, active in community affairs, was called to serve in various local offices. In their family were the following children : John J .; Sarah, the wife of George Engle; Martin ; William D .; Mary A., the wife of Edward E. Smith; Louisa B., the wife of A. . Miller ; Hannah M., deceased, who remained unmarried; Daniel E .; Rosetta A., the wife of George Hoffman; Irvin E .; Clinton F .; and Laura Josephine, who became the wife of John Rensch.
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