USA > Illinois > Henry County > History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 24
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Mr. and Mrs. Ott are people of religious faith. Mr. Ott holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church, while his wife is allied with the movement known as the Apostolic faith. To the church Mr. Ott is a liberal contributor and is an active worker, teaching the Bible class in the Sunday school. He is one of the most highly respected citizens of Geneseo, his record being at all times in harmony with the principles of honorable and upright manhood. His success in busi- ness is undoubtedly largely due to the fact that he has continued in the line of activity in which he embarked as a young tradesman, winning his success by reason of his good work, his perseverance and his honorable business methods.
ALBERT J. NORDGREN.
Albert J. Nordgren, who now conducts an extensive and profitable trade as a grocery merchant of Galva, was born in Sweden on the 9th of April, 1867, his parents being Nels and Brita (Magnuson) Nordgren, likewise natives of that country. The father, who crossed the Atlantic to the new world in 1868, has been a minister of the Swedish Lutheran church for about forty years. After arriv- ing in the United States, he took up his abode in Swedesburg, Iowa, but has preached in Illinois during the greater part of the time, his labors proving an important element in the moral development of the communities where he has followed his holy calling. For the past twenty years he has made his home in Galva. His wife passed away in 1903, at the age of sixty-three years. Unto this worthy couple were born eight children, four sons and four daughters, as fol-
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lows: Betty, the wife of Eskil Magnuson; Albert J., of this review; Ludwig ; Peter E .; Susanna ; Ida; Hannah; and Robert.
Albert J. Nordgren was only about a year old when he was brought to the United States by his parents. He lived with his father at the various places where the latter was called to preach and obtained his education in the schools of De Kalb and Woodhull, Illinois. After putting aside his text-books he worked on a farm for several years, or until he had attained his majority, and then began clerking in Kansas City, Kansas. In the spring of 1889, he came to Galva and secured a position as clerk for the firm of Palmer, Walker & Johnson, in whose employ he remained for nearly four years. On the expiration of that period he opened a grocery store in partnership with A. P. Jaderquist and on the Ist of January, 1902, purchased the latter's interest and has since conducted the busi- ness alone. He carries a full line of both staple and fancy groceries and his reasonable prices and honorable business dealings have insured him a lucrative and constantly growing patronage. He is likewise the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Cambridge township and is widely recognized as one of the most substantial and enterprising citizens of the county.
On the 28th of September, 1892, Mr. Nordgren was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary Dowell, a native of Knoxville, Illinois, and a daughter of J. F. and Anna L. (Appell) Dowell, both of whom were born in Sweden. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nordgren have been born six children, namely: Vincent, Morris, Eugene, Edith, Mildred and Elleda.
Mr. Nordgren gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has capably served his fellow townsmen as a member of the village council for two terms. Both he and his wife are faithful and consistent members of the Lutheran church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful interest. His busi- ness interests have been carefully conducted, his duties of citizenship capably per- formed and at all times he has been true to the obligations and responsibilies that have devolved upon him in every relation of life, making him one of the worthy and much respected residents of his community.
JUDGE EMERY C. GRAVES.
The history of Judge Emery C. Graves constitutes an integral chapter in the record of Geneseo in that he has twice served as mayor of the city, has four times been states attorney, has been very prominent in other lines of public activity and at the present time, is serving for the second term as judge of the circuit court. As a lawyer he stands preeminently among the able members of the bar of his district and his classification for the bench ·was based upon broad and comprehensive knowledge of the law, combined with a conscientious sense of obligation which he displays in all of his personal relations.
A native of New York, Judge Graves was born at Cherry Creek, Chautauqua county, on the 19th of January, 1853, and is a son of Colvin S. and Martha (Kings- ley) Graves, both of whom were natives of New York. The father, who was born in Herkimer, New York, June 28, 1824, a son of Ora and Polly (Fenner)
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Graves, was a farmer by occupation and came to Illinois in 1853, settling in Henry county in the fall of the same year. There he carried on general agricultural pur- suits in Yorktown until 1866, when he sold out and removed to Geneseo and de- voted his time to one business pursuit and another until 1874, when he became a prosperous druggist. He is yet a resident of Geneseo but is now living retired, enjoying in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. His wife was born in Ellington, Chautauqua county, New York, February 25, 1824, and was a daughter of Orin Kingsley. The parents of Judge Graves were married in May, 1845. The mother also survives, as do their two children, the elder being a daugh- ter, Mrs. Grace Sweeney.
Judge Graves, following the removal of the family from the Empire state to Illinois, continued his education in the Geneseo high school and then in preparation for a professional career he took up the study of law in the office of the well known law firm of Buckles & Swells, there remaining until the death of the former. Mr. Graves afterward continued his studies in the law office of Judge George E. Waite. He next entered the law department of the University of Wisconsin at Madi- son and was there graduated. He afterward located for practice in Janes- ville, Wisconsin, where he remained for six months, when in the fall of 1874, he came to Geneseo, where he has since resided. His ability soon gained him recog- nition at the bar. He displayed clear and careful analysis in the preparation of his cases, strength and force in argument. His points of attack were well made and his defense was almost invulnerable. Because of the ability which he displayed he was accorded a liberal patronage and as the years have passed he has been. called to various offices, several of which have been in the direct line of his profession. He has tried many notable cases in the courts, learning and patience both being elements in his progress. He was four times elected states attorney, being chosen in 1889 to fill a vacancy, after which he was elected for three regu- lar terms. He has also been mayor of the city for two terms and gave to Gene- seo a business-like, progressive and beneficial administration, in which he in- augurated various needed reforms and improvements, nor did he fail to check those movements which he deemed inimical to the best interests of the city. In June, 1903, he was called to the bench of the circuit court for a term of six years and in 1909 was reelected, so that his present term will continue through 1915. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party, for he deems its platform of most value to good government.
Judge Graves has been married twice. In October, 1878, he wedded Miss Flora Spurlock, of Kewanee, Illinois, a daughter of Manander Spurlock. She died in May, 1888. The surviving daughter of that marriage, May Graves, now Mrs. Allen N. Bradford, resides at Sterling, Illinois, and is an artist of considerable ability, who was graduated from the Art Institute of Chicago. She possesses great musical ability and artistic talent, being especially proficient in drawing. On the 3d of June, 1896, Mr. Graves was united in marriage to Miss Lulu Godfrey, a daughter of William and Myra (Goodman) Godfrey, both of whom are yet resi- dents of Geneseo, and whose sketch appears elsewhere in this history. In their family were five children: Charles, now a resident of Chicago; Mrs. Graves; Arthur, of Geneseo; Helen; and Bessie. Unto Judge and Mrs. Graves have been born three children but the first two are now deceased, Kathryn having died at the
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age of fourteen months, while Godfrey Kingsley died in infancy. The surviving daughter, Gretchen, was born on the 22d of February, 1906. In 1896, Judge Graves erected an elegant residence on First street, in which he and his family are pleasantly located. It is the scene of many delightful social functions and is the abode of a most cordial hospitality.
In his fraternal relations the judge is a prominent Mason. He belongs to Stew- art Lodge, No. 92, A. F. & A. M .; Bonett Chapter, R. A. M., of Rock Island; Evarts Commandery, K. T., of Rock Island; and Kaaba Temple of the Mystic Shrine of Davenport, Iowa. While in all nonprofessional relations he is signally modest and altogether a genial and approachable gentleman, on the bench Judge Graves never forgets his position nor that he has to sustain the dignity of the court. His summing up of a case is always full and comprehensive, clear and direct, and his decisions are the logical conclusions of fact and of the law appli- cable thereto. His reelection is incontrovertible evidence of the trust reposed in his professional ability and he has the highest regard of all members of the bar. He has commanded the respect and esteem of all who know him and is a gentle- man of fine powers and of kindly face as well as of great professional ability and good judgment. In his taste and manner he is simple and unassuming, entirely free from ostentation and display, but his worth is widely recognized by his fellow townsmen who honor him in large measure no less by reason of his professional skill than for his nobility of character.
JOHN M. TAZE.
Many years must needs elapse before Oxford township will cease to feel the loss of John M. Taze, one of the most worthy, substantial and interesting of the men who have dwelt within her borders. He was born September 13, 1832, in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, his parents being Isaac and Margaret J. (Irvin) Taze. The father was born in the north of Ireland and the mother in New York city, but both the Taze and the Irvin families are of Scotch descent. The father died when John M. Taze was only twelve years of age, but the mother lived out a long life of usefulness until her eighty-fifth year. About ten years after the father's demise, the family went to Washington county, Iowa, and lived there for one year previous to coming to Illinois. They engaged in farm- ing near Vermont, in McDonough county, this state. Mrs. Taze, after her husband's death, had upon her shoulders the sole responsibility of the raising of eight children. Jane became Mrs. John Jaynes, of Oxford township, Henry county, both she and her husband now being dead. . Margaret married Orson Patterson, of Oxford township, and is deceased. William, also deceased, mar- ried before leaving Pennsylvania, but was a resident of Oxford township at the time of his death. Martha, deceased, became Mrs. Alexander McCurdy, of Ox- ford township. Ann is deceased. John M., the subject of the sketch, is next in order of birth. Elizabeth became Mrs. Festus Cole, whose husband survives her, and is now a resident of Oxford township. The youngest, Irvin by name, died before the family left their home in Pennsylvania. The father had been
JOHN M. TAZE
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only a renting farmer, a man of scant means, and he left the family destitute at his death. It was indeed quite frequently a matter of diligence on the part of everybody to keep the wolf from the door. Some of the children came west prospecting before the removal of the main part of the family, and several of them were married before coming to Illinois.
John M. Taze preceded his mother to Illinois by a short time, coming in the spring of 1854. He traveled by boat from Pittsburg down the Ohio river and up the Mississippi river to Cairo. Illinois, and later overland to Washing- ton, Iowa, where several members of the family were already located. There he engaged in farming until 1861, when he went to the far west, traveling over Idaho, Montana and Utah, prospecting for gold. He worked both independent- ly and for a company and had many rare experiences and suffered many hard- ships, all of which he accepted philosophically and thus gave to the making of a fine character. Among his adventures was his discovery, while prospecting with two companions, of a cave evidently never before entered in the memory of man, which upon exploration showed evidence of occupation by human be- ings of strange modes of living. He was successful in his mining ventures and remained in the west for five years before rejoining his mother and several other members of the family in Oxford township, this county.
Before going away Mr. Taze had acquired a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of land which formed the nucleus of what grew to be a magnificent estate before he died. He invested some of his mining money in land and at once took up agriculture on his return to Illinois. In addition to crop raising he en- gaged in the stock business, his animals being the finest in Oxford township. When he left the farm to reside in Alpha he owned five hundred and seventy acres of land in Oxford and Clover townships, while in Texas he was the pro- prietor of seven thousand, six hundred and eighty acres of land. It is thus evident that he had in his control vast resources. In 1901 he built a fine resi- dence in Alpha, where he established his household, and gave up active farm- ing to devote his energies to the supervision of his large land interests. He also assumed banking interests, becoming the owner of the Alpha Exchange Bank. Possessing great talents as an organizer, he brought into existence the Bank of Rio in Knox county, in February, 1903; in 1908 he organized the Peoples Bank of Woodhull; and in March, 1909, he organized the Farmers Bank of Ophiem. Their management consumed a great part of his time and attention until July I, 1909, when they were all of them sold to a Chicago syndicate.
Mr. Taze was united in marriage September 24, 1874, to Miss Elizabeth S. Rutledge, a daughter of William and Ann (McCurdy) Rutledge, who came from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in March, 1873, and settled in Oxford township. They had lived in the same neighborhood as the Taze family and the two young people were well acquainted before they left the east. Mr. Rut- ledge was a farmer by occupation, although as a young man he had been a boatman on the canal from Pittsburg to Youngstown. He is still living at the age of eighty-seven years, but his wife died May 18, 1898. To Mr. Taze and his wife were born three children, William I., Anna Margaret and Jane Ella, the daughters being at home.
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Mr. Taze was a loyal adherent of the principles of democracy, but he could not be called active in politics in the sense that he had any desire to be an office holder. He was, nevertheless, a public-spirited man. In 1900 he organ- ized the Alpha Electric Light Company in conjunction with his son and Almon H. Linn, of Cambridge, thus giving Alpha her first lighting plant, and putting another item upon the town's debt of gratitude to him. He was a man of few words but had a keenly analytical mind that grasped the merits of a business proposition instantly. He was a kind and devoted husband and father, his home being his kingdom. Mr. Taze was by birth and belief a Presbyterian, and although not a member of the church, he lived and died a Christian. By cir- cumstances deprived of anything but the scantiest education, he acquired vast knowledge by reading, observation and wide range of travel, of which he was especially fond. His business life, his home life, and his daily intercourse with men, all eloquently speak his praises. His death, which occurred July 12, 1909, produced universal sorrow. He is interred in the Summit Ridge cemetery, near Alpha, where other members of the family lie.
William I. Taze, son of the foregoing, passed his early years upon his father's farm, attended the public school and was graduated from the Alpha high school with its first class, in 1895. This he supplemented with a course in Brown's Business College in Galesburg, in 1897. In the fall of that year he entered the Alpha Exchange Bank, and in a short time his efficiency recom- mended him to the responsible office of vice president and cashier of the chain of banks organized by his father. He continued in this capacity until the banks were transferred with the Chicago syndicate.
Mr. Taze was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Long of Orion, their union being celebrated January 25, 1899. Mrs. Taze is the daughter of Dr. H. H. and Mary (Jordan) Long, of Orion, who are also the parents of two sons, Donovan L. and Edwin H.
Mr. Taze is a democrat by inheritance and conviction but he is not active in politics. He is a prominent member of Oxford Lodge, No. 367, A. F. & A. M., at New Windsor, and has affiliation with Rio Chapter and Galesburg Commandery. He and his wife are members of the Baptist church as is also his mother and sisters. The son possesses many of the business characteristics of his father and is a young man of much promise.
In the household of Mrs. John M. Taze are her aged father, William Rut- ledge, and her two daughters, Anna Margaret and Jane Ella. Her home and that of her son are the most elegant and pretentious in Alpha, large and modern throughout, and having an atmosphere of refinement, culture and genuine hos- pitality.
ERIC LINDSTRUM.
Eric Lindstrum, a well known and successful farmer, thresher and stock- raiser of Weller township, Henry county, was born at Bishop Hill, Illinois, on the 14th of March, 1863, a son of Eric and Britta Lindstrum. The father, who orig- inally came from Westmanland, Sweden, was one of the Bishop Hill colonists and
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here passed away on the 9th of March, 1889, at the age of sixty-six years. His wife, who came to Weller township in 1846, is also deceased, her death occurring on the 28th of December, 1887.
Reared under the parental roof Eric Lindstrum acquired his preliminary edu- cation in the public schools and later attended the Western Business College at Galesburg, Illinois. He then took up the study of telegraphy at Ann Arbor, Michigan, after which he worked as assistant agent for what is now the Great Northern Railroad at Beltrami, Minnesota. He was thus engaged for nine months, at the expiration of which period he returned to Bishop Hill and was employed on his father's farm until 1886, when he began operating one of his father's farms in the capacity of renter. His father having died in 1889, the estate was settled in 1891 and the farm upon which he had been residing came to him as his share. This consists of forty-four acres located on section 13, Weller township, and fifty acres in section 18, Galva township, all highly improved and cultivated, and he also owns ten acres of timber land located on section 9, of Weller township. He carries on general farming and for the past ten years has also given considerable attention to stock-raising, making a specialty of shorthorn cattle, while for the past year he has had much success in raising Ohio Improved Chester White hogs. For twenty-one years he has engaged in threshing, clover hulling and corn shell- ing, carrying on an extensive business in this line, and has an excellent equipment of first class machinery, owning a full Huber outfit, a Victor clover huller and an Ottawa C corn sheller. He has greatly improved all of the buildings upon the farm and has remodeled his dwelling, which is today a comfortable and attractive home, strictly modern in all of its appointments. He has also erected a fine windmill, having to drill one hundred and twenty feet for the water supply. Everything about the place indicates that he has kept in close touch with the spirit of progress which is today manifest in agricultural lines. He conducts his various enterprises according to up-to-date business methods and through his well directed efforts, close application and careful management has won a most gratifying suc- cess which places him among the most progressive and substantial agriculturists and business men of Weller township. The farm, which has been under a good state of cultivation for about sixty years, has become somewhat worn out and he has been expending considerable money toward building up the soil which, how- ever, is naturally rich and fertile and has yielded rich, golden harvests.
It was on the 25th of February, 1886, that Mr. Lindstrum was united in mar- riage to Wilhelmina Thorell, a daughter of Carl Thorell, and unto this union have been born five children, namely : Vendla E., twenty-two years of age; Hilda, twen- ty-one years of age; Nettie, who is nineteen years old; Wallace, who passed away on the 30th of June, 1906, at the age of thirteen years, five months ; and Arthur, fourteen years old. All are still under the parental roof. Fraternally Mr. Lind- strum is identified with the Grangers and also with the Modern Woodmen of America, while politically he gives his support to the prohibition party, doing all in his power to further the cause of temperance in the community, as he realizes that the liquor traffic is one of the worst evils against which the country today has to contend. He has never been an aspirant for public office, however, prefer- ring to concentrate his energies upon the conduct of his private affairs. Preemi- nently a business man, his has been a life of continuous activity in which has been
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accorded due recognition of honest labor, and his record has been an excellent ex- ample of the power of earnest effort, indefatigable energy and untiring persever- ance, combined with honorable manhood and high principles.
THEODORE H. BECKSTEIN.
Theodore H. Beckstein is one of the younger merchants of Geneseo, who is seeking his success along modern business lines, placing his dependence upon persistent effort and careful utilization of his opportunities. He is a member of the grocery firm of J. H. O'Bryan & Company, in which connection he is en- joying a large and growing trade. Geneseo numbers him among her native sons, his birth having here occurred November 8, 1877. His parents were John and Mary (Miller) Beckstein, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father came to America with his parents who settled in Buffalo, New York, and there both the grandfather and grandmother of Mr. Beckstein remained until called to their final rest when well advanced in years. John Beckstein remained in Buffalo for a time and then sought the opportunities, freedom and appreciation of the growing middle west, making his way to Henry county, Illinois. He was a molder by trade and followed that pursuit in Geneseo for a considerable period, but his last days were spent in Aurora. His wife still survives him and now resides in Geneseo. They were at one time members of the Geneseo Lutheran church, but Mrs. Beckstein has since become a member of the Methodist church. She, too, is a native of Germany and came to the United States with her parents who settled in Princeton, Illinois, her father there following the occupation of farming.
Theodore H. Beckstein was reared in Geneseo and at the usual age entered the public schools, where he passed through consecutive grades until he became a high-school student. His education was there completed and he made his initial step in the business world as a clerk in the grocery store of N. O'Bryan. That he proved competent, faithful and reliable is indicated in the fact that in 1900 he was admitted to a partnership, which is now carried on under the firm name of J. H. O'Bryan & Company. They carry a large and complete stock of staple and fancy groceries, and by reason of the tasteful arrangement of the store and the excellent quality of the goods they have gained a liberal and growing patronage which brings them a good profit upon their investment.
On the 14th of October, 1901, Mr. Beckstein was united in marriage to Miss Eva N. Westring a daughter of O. P. and Emma Westring. There is one child of that marriage, Darrell. Mrs. Beckstein was born in Atkinson township, Henry county, Illinois, and her parents were natives of Sweden.
In his political views Mr. Beckstein is a democrat and keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, but he has no ambition in the line of office seeking. He has a creditable military record as a soldier of the Spanish- American war, having served as a private of Company B, Sixth Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, which did active duty under command of General Miles in Porto Rico. His time and attention are now concentrated upon his business affairs, and that he is prospering is indicated in the fact that aside from his grocery in-
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