USA > Illinois > Henry County > History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 16
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Clinton F. Luther, whose name introduces this review, was reared on the old homestead farm in Henry county and after acquiring his early education in the district schools entered the Northwestern Normal, where he completed his more specifically literary studies. He afterward engaged in teaching school for several years and then read law in the office of Judge George E. White for two years. On account of failing eyesight, however, he was obliged to abandon his prepara- tion for the bar and turn his attention to commercial pursuits, becoming connected with the furniture and undertaking business. He also spent five years in the newspaper business at Walnut and at Sheffield. In 1904, he was elected justice of the peace in Geneseo and has served in that capacity continuously since and also as notary public. His decisions are strictly fair and impartial, being based upon the law and the equity in the case, and have won for him "golden opinions from all sorts of people."
On the 23d of June, 1896, Mr. Luther was married to Miss Nina D. Withrow, who was born in Phenix township, Henry county, Illinois, and is a daughter of John W. and Arvilla (Allen) Withrow. Mr. and Mrs. Luther have two children,
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Francis Allen and John W. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Luther affiliates with Stewart Lodge, No. 92, A. F. & A. M., and Geneseo Chapter, No. 12, R. A. M. His political allegiance is given to the re- publican party, and he is loyal to any cause which it espouses. His long residence in this county has made him widely known, while his sterling traits of character have gained for him the high regard which is uniformly given him.
NICHOLAS JAY DEMERATH.
Nicholas Jay Demerath is prominently connected with that profession which has important bearing upon the progress and stable prosperity of any section or community and one which has long been considered as conserving the public wel- fare by furthering the ends of justice and maintaining individual rights. In 1903 he entered upon the practice of law at Kewanee, where his ability has brought to him a large clientage of an important character. One of Illinois' native sons, he was born in Mendota, September 17, 1869, his parents being Peter and Cath- erine (Lenz) Demerath. His father has long engaged in business as a manu- facturer of wagons and carriages, and both he and his wife still survive in Ohio, Bureau county, Illinois. They were natives of Germany and came to the middle west in the early '50s, at which time they took up their abode in this state.
Nicholas J. Demerath pursued his early education in the public schools of Ohio, Bureau county, and then entered the employ of the government, spending ten years in the railway mail service department. Afterward he prepared for a professional career as a student in the law department of the Northwestern Uni- versity at Chicago. He completed his course there in 1900 and in the same year was admitted to the bar, after which he began practice in Chicago in the office of Fassett & Andrews. He continued with that firm for two years and in 1903 came to Kewanee, which he believed might prove a profitable field of labor. Here he formed a partnership with H. S. Pomeroy under the firm name of Pomeroy & Demerath, which relations existed until July 1, 1908, when Mr. Pomeroy withdrew, and Mr. Demerath continued practice alone until February 1, 1909. On that day he formed a partnership with Robert C. Morse under the present style of Morse & Demerath. This firm does a large corporation as well as general practice and the partners are well versed in the principles of jurisprudence. Mr. Demerath's success in a professional way affords the best evidence of his capa- bility in this line. He is a strong advocate with the jury and concise in his appeal before the court. Much of the success which has attended him in his professional career is undoubtedly due to the fact that in no instance will he permit himself to go into court without careful and thorough preparation, and therefore his pres- entation is forceful, being characterized by a terse but decisive logic and correct application of the law to the point at issue.
Mr. Demerath was married in April, 1905, to Miss Grace M. Broad, of Mendota, Illinois, who died December 8, 1908. He has one son, LeRoy. Fra- ternally he is connected with the Masons and Elks, who find in him an exemplary representative. He is interested in community affairs, giving active and helpful
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cooperation along many lines of general progress, and in 1909 he was elected a member of the library board. He is, however, preeminently a lawyer, with deep interest in judicial affairs, while his devotion to his clients is proverbial.
DAVID L. COWDEN.
Among the retired farmers of Cambridge is numbered David L. Cowden, who derives his income from five hundred acres of valuable land in Henry county. His life record presents many substantial phases of good citizenship and of business ability and enterprise and he therefore deserves mention among the representative residents of this part of the state. He claims Ohio as the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred in Guernsey county, December 13, 1845. His parents were William and Marian (Rogers) Cowden, the for- mer a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, and the latter of Ohio. The father, a farmer by occupation, came to this county in 1851, settling in Burns township, where he purchased about six hundred acres of land, there improving a large and valuable farm upon which he reared his family, being well known for a number of years as a representative agriculturist of the community. He died on the old home place in 1891, at the very venerable age of ninety-three years, having long survived his wife, who died in 1852 at the age of thirty-six years. They were Christian people, holding membership in the Baptist church. Of their family of twelve children only three are now living: David L .; Thomas C., a resident of Burns township; and Jacob G., who is living in Enid, Okla- homa. In order the twelve children of the family were: William W., Mary E., Joseph R., Margaret L., Deborah E., David L., John H., Thomas C., Jacob G., Phebe C., Harriet M., and Lucinda J.
David L. Cowden was six years of age when he came to Henry county with his parents. He was reared upon his father's farm and pursued his education in the district schools, devoting the periods of vacation to work in the fields and to the enjoyment of such sports as usually claimed the attention of lads of this period. He was nineteen years of age when in 1865 he enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a member of Company D, One Hundred and Twelfth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, with which he was connected until the close of hostili- ties, doing active duty at the front during that period. When the war was over Mr. Cowden returned home and cultivated a part of his father's farm until he found it possible to purchase forty acres, which constituted the nucleus of his present possessions. As he prospered in his undertakings he wisely invested in other land until he had accumulated five hundred acres, of which three hundred acres is in Burns township, one hundred and sixty acres in Cambridge township, and forty acres in Kewanee township. He lived principally in Burns township but in the spring of 1895 removed to the village of Cambridge and that year pur- chased a fine home which he still occupies, it being one of the beautiful residences of the town.
Mr. Cowden has enjoyed a happy home life for more than four decades. On the 31st of October, 1867, he wedded Miss Harriet Cosner, a native of Burns
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township and daughter of David and Emmeline (Dufur) Cosner, both of whom were natives of Ohio. Her father was a son of William Cosner who was born in Virginia and became one of the early settlers of Ohio, while later he cast in his lot with the pioneers of Illinois, arriving in this state about 1836. He mar- ried Harriet Neal and lived to the age of seventy-five years, passing away in 1871. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Cowden were David and Susan Dufur, also early residents of Henry county, Illinois. They removed to Murray, Iowa, when well advanced in years. Their family numbered ten children.
Mr. and Mrs. David Cosner, the parents of Mrs. Cowden, were very early settlers of Henry county, establishing their home in Burns township, where they reared their family. They died in Cambridge, the former in the fall of 1895 at the age of sixty-nine years, the latter in 1903 at the age of sixty-nine. They had two daughters and a son: Mrs. Harriet Cowden, Lovinna and Charles.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cowden have been born two children: Eva, who is the wife of B. F. Nance, of Galesburg, Illinois, and has one daughter, Daisy; and George W., who wedded Mary Johnson and is farming in Cambridge township. Politically, Mr. Cowden is a democrat, and his official service covers several terms as school director, school trustee and road commissioner. His record as a busi- ness man and citizen is altogether commendable, characterized by devotion to the public good and to those principles which are elements in honorable, upright manhood.
FRANK C. SWIGER.
Henry county is preeminently an agricultural center for its rich lands offer splendid inducements to him who would win a living in tilling the soil or by stock raising upon its fine pasture lands. Frank C. Swiger is well known as both a farmer and a breeder of pure bred polled Durham cattle and Chester White hogs. He has an excellent farm on section 9, Munson township, the place of one hun- dred and sixty acres belonging to his father. The latter owns one hundred and eighty-five acres altogether in Munson township, a part of this being on section 16 and part on section 15. In carrying on his work Frank C. Swiger follows the most progressive and modern methods, and as the years have gone by success has attended his labors. He was born June 12, 1871, in the house which now gives him shelter, his parents being Carl and Theresa (Mueller) Swiger, who are now residents of Geneseo. Frank C. Swiger is the younger of two children, his sister being Mrs. Hattie Hutchinson, a resident of Munson township.
Frank C. Swiger spent his boyhood days on the home place and began his edu- cation in the district schools of the neighborhood, wherein he mastered the com- mon branches of learning. He afterward spent a part of two years in attend- ance at the Geneseo Collegiate Institute and then returned home to give his un- divided attention to the work of the farm. He thus rendered his father valuable assistance until he attained his majority, and after reaching the age of twenty- one years he began farming his father's place. This work he carried on for about five years prior to his marriage. That important event in his life was celebrated on the 13th of February, 1896, the lady of his choice being Miss Clara B. Souers,
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of Grundy Center, Iowa, with whom he had become acquainted at school. She was born in Cornwall township, this county, and was a daughter of John and Margaret Souers. She, too, was given good educational privileges and was a student in the Collegiate Institute at the time her future husband was attending there. There are four children of this marriage: Eldon Frank, who was born November 13th, 1897 ; Gladys Irene, born September 27, 1900; Carl Russell, born October 26, 1901 ; and Clarence Wilbur, born January 28, 1905.
Soon after attaining his majority Frank C. Swiger purchased his first tract of land, his father assisting him somewhat. He became the owner of thirty acres, for which he paid sixty-seven dollars per acre. Since that time he has bought one hundred and fifty-five acres, for which he paid about eighty dollars per acre and which is now worth one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre. Statistics show that there is no richer farm land in all the country than is included within the broad prairies of Illinois and Iowa, and Mr. Swiger is wise in retaining his residence here and giving his attention to general agricultural pur- suits. Plowing, planting and harvesting largely occupy his time, and excellent results are obtained thereby.
In his political views Mr. Swiger is a republican. He does not seek nor de- sire political office but has served as township clerk for several years and for a long period has been school director. He believes in maintaining good schools and employing competent teachers and his influence is therefore on the side of progress in relation to the educational affairs of the community. That his life has been well spent is indicated by the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present time.
WILBUR F. SPENCER, M. D.
Holding to high standards in his professional service, Dr. Wilbur F. Spencer is well known as a leading and successful homeopathic physician and surgeon of Geneseo. He was born in Henry, Illinois, March 8, 1864, of the marriage of John A. and Mary E. (Vail) Spencer, natives of Vermont and Ohio, respectively. The Spencer family is of English lineage and was established in New England in early colonial days. The grandfather, Horace Spencer, was a native of Con- necticut and devoted his life to the occupation of farming. He wedded Mary Adams and their son, John A. Spencer, was born in the Green Mountain state. When twelve years of age he accompanied his parents on their removal to Illi- nois, the family home being established at Henry, where he was reared to man- hood, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He made farming his life work and throughout the entire time in which he tilled the fields lived upon the farm where the father had settled. For the past seven or eight years, however, he has made his home in Aurora, where he is now engaged in the milk business. He wedded Mary E. Vail, a native of Ohio and a daughter of John V. Vail, who was also born in the Buck- eye state and was of Holland-Dutch descent. Mr. Vail married a Miss Banker, who died in early womanhood, leaving three children. Following her death he
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married again and lived to the very venerable age of ninety-two years. His daughter, Mrs. Spencer, is a member of the Swedenborgian church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. John A. Spencer were born four children: Wilbur F .; Della, the wife of Miletus Gaskel, of Huron, Indiana ; Lucy, at home; and Harriet, the wife of Ralph T. Fulton, of Oakes, North Dakota.
Dr. Spencer remained upon the home farm near Henry, Illinois, until twenty- two years of age and supplemented his district-school training by a year's study in the high school of the town. Later he benefited by instruction in the North- western Normal at Geneseo, and, determining upon the practice of medicine as his life work, he began studying with that end in view and was graduated from the Chicago Homeopathic College in 1888. Immediately afterward he began practice at Cambridge, Illinois, where he remained for nearly three years, after which he returned to Geneseo and bought out the practice of his former pre- ceptor, Dr. H. H. Chase. Here he has remained continuously since, and his un- derstanding of the fundamental principles of the science of medicine and his ready adoption of modern scientific methods have made him well qualified for the onerous duties of the profession.
On the 18th of June, 1890, Mr. Spencer was united in marriage to Miss Miriam C. Hinman, who was born in Cambridge, Illinois. Her parents, Judge Julius and Mary E. Hinman, were natives of Ohio and became early settlers of Henry county, Illinois, arriving in 1851. Judge Hinman was a son of Zerah Hinman, who was of English descent. Born in Connecticut he located near Akron, Ohio, on leaving New England, and as a life work he followed the blacksmith's trade. He wedded Miriam Moses, and unto them were born three sons and a daughter, the daughter being burned to death when a young lady. The sons were: Lloyd, Julius and Rufus. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Spencer was Richard Westlake, who was a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent. He was a farmer by occupation and an early settler of Henry county, Illinois, taking up his abode near Cambridge. Both he and his wife lived to be eighty years of age. They were the parents of nine children : Richard, Andrew, George, Samuel, Mar- tha, Eliza, Mary E., Maggie and Hattie.
Judge Hinman, the father of Mrs. Spencer, was for many years a well known lawyer of Henry county and also served upon the bench. His connection with the bar of this district covered twenty years, and his ability places him promi- nently in the ranks of the leading attorneys of this part of the state. He was also prominent and influential in public affairs, and his efforts were effective forces in locating the county seat at Cambridge. He died in 1885 and is still survived by his widow. Their family numbered five children: Hubert, Eva, Albert, Ella and Miriam. Unto Dr. and Mrs. Spencer have been born two sons : Vernon W. and John Ralph ..
The parents are both members of the Unitarian church and Dr. Spencer fra- ternally is connected with Stewart Lodge, No. 92, F. & A. M. His political al- legiance is given to the republican party and in community affairs he takes a deep interest, his labors being especially effective in behalf of intellectual progress. The cause of public education finds in him a stalwart champion as manifest by his active work on the school board, and he has also been a member of the li- brary board for fifteen years. He owns and occupies a beautiful residence which
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he erected in 1901 and which is a favorite resort with the many friends of Dr. and Mrs. Spencer. In his professional relations Dr. Spencer is connected with the state and national homeopathic medical societies. He has made continuous progress in the field of his chosen labor, holds to a high standard of professional ethics and is deeply interested in everything which brings to man the key to the complex mystery which we call life.
WILLIAM CLAYTON EWAN.
William Clayton Ewan is one of the younger members of the Kewanee bar, who has attained success that many an elder practitioner might envy. In Janu- ary, 1909, he became connected with Charles E. Sturtz as a member of the firm of Sturtz & Ewan, and in the brief period which has since elapsed they have en- joyed a large and growing clientage. Mr. Ewan was born in Lewistown, Illinois, on the 12th of March, 1881, his parents being William I. and Catherine R. (Mur- chinson) Ewan, natives of Virginia and of South Carolina respectively. After coming to Illinois the father engaged in farming near Cuba.
William Clayton Ewan, spending his boyhood days under the parental roof, acquired his early education in the public schools of this state and afterward con- tinued his studies in the University of Illinois at Champaign, from which he was graduated with the class of 1907. He pursued a course in literature and arts and then entered the law department, qualifying for the practice of a profession which he is now making his life work. Following his graduation he located in Kewanee in October, 1907, at which time he became assistant states attorney in the office of Charles E. Sturtz and in January, 1909, was admitted to a partnership under the firm style of Sturtz & Ewan. He still acts as assistant states attorney and at the same time is building up a good private practice. He belongs to the Ben- evolent and Protective Order of Elks and is a popular young man, who has won many friends during his residence in Kewanee, where the hospitality of the best homes is freely accorded him.
CARL J. FORNANDER.
Carl J. Fornander, an enterprising and progressive farmer of Weller township, who has been engaged in various capacities in this community for a number of years, was born in Holdredge, Nebraska, on the Ist of December, 1884, a son of John P. and Matilda (Stevenson) Fornander. The father, who was born in Smoland, Sweden, came to this country in 1877 and is now living in Galva at the age of fifty-three years. His wife, who is the daughter of Gustave Stevenson, came here with her parents at an early date.
In the district schools of Polk county, Nebraska, Carl J. Fornander acquired his early education, and he also attended school in Galva for one year. After laying aside his text-books he worked for a year as farm hand and then was em-
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ployed for a similar period in a factory at Galva. Later he became identified with railroad interests, being thus connected for two years, during the first as section man on the Rock Island Railroad and during the second in the same ca- pacity on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy road. For nearly two years he was employed by William Whitmore in the house-moving business, and then, in 1906, leased a farm of forty acres one mile north of Galva, upon which he resided for one year. During this period the greater portion of his time was spent in the occupation of teaming and threshing. He then leased another farm of fifty acres a half mile east of Galva, which he operated for one year, and in the spring of 1909 took up his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres, three and a half miles south of Bishop Hill, where he intends to make his home for some years to come. It is located on section 34, Weller township, and is all under a high state of cultivation. It is all well improved and under his careful and wise manage- ment is proving an excellent investment.
Mr. Fornander's religious belief is indicated by his membership in the Swedish Lutheran church of Galva, while fraternally he is connected with the Mystic Workers of America at Galva. Politically he gives his support to the republican party, usually voting the straight ticket, but he is not an aspirant for public office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon the conduct of his private affairs. He is a young man of high principles whose good traits of mind and heart have won for him the respect of his fellowmen.
ALMON HENDERSON LINN.
Almon Henderson Linn, who has been engaged in the practice of law at Cam- bridge since 1901, was born in Mercer county, Illinois, on the 9th of August, 1872, his parents being Taylor and Elizabeth (Henderson) Linn, natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania respectively. The paternal grandfather, John Linn, who was born in Pennsylvania and followed farming as a life work, died at the age of seventy-two years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Ann Campbell, was sev- enty-eight years old when called to her final rest. They reared a family of six children, namely : Priscilla, the deceased wife of John T. Lynn; Erilla, the wife of George Wright; Taylor Linn; Lucinda, the deceased wife of Isaac Heare; Sarah, the wife of Alfred Ripley; and Anner, the wife of N. M. Lynn. There are three families of Linns or Lynns represented in the marriages but they are not related to each other. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Thomas Henderson, a native of the Keystone state and a farmer by occupation. He and his wife became early settlers of Knox county, Illinois, where they died when past middle life. They had six children, as follows: Anne, the deceased wife of Samuel Junk; Hannah L., the widow of Hiram G. Shinn, of Alpha; Mary, the deceased wife of Samuel Rankin; Martha, the widow of Alexander Riten- house ; Stewart ; and Elizabeth, the first wife of Taylor Linn.
Taylor Linn, the father of Almon H. Linn, was a little lad of seven years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to this state. The family home was established in Mercer county, and there he grew to manhood. General
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agricultural pursuits have claimed his time and energies throughout his active business career. He has been twice married and his first wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Henderson, passed away in 1880, in the faith of the Congregational church. A few years later he wedded Miss Lizzie H. Junk, by whom he has a son, Harrison J. About 1888 Mr. Linn and his second wife took up their abode at Alpha, Henry county, where he was successfully engaged in the lumber business for about fifteen years. On the expiration of that period he put aside active business cares and has since been living retired save for the supervision which he gives to his several farms.
Almon Henderson Linn spent his youthful days on a farm in Knox county, Illinois, attending the district schools in the acquirement of an education. He was about fifteen years of age when he came with his parents to this county and subsequently pursued a course in the Alpha high school. He afterward attended Brown's Business College and then took up the study of law, being graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1899. The same year he was admitted to the bar and in 1901 located for practice at Cambridge, where he has remained to the present time, his ability in the line of his chosen profession having won him an extensive and enviable clientage.
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