History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II, Part 34

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

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Joseph Rogers, the father of John Rogers, was brought to this county by his parents in his infancy, while the lady who afterward became his wife accom- panied her parents to Henry county when a maiden of fourteen years. They were reared and married in Burns township and began their domestic life in Cam- bridge township, where Joseph Rogers purchased the farm of eighty acres which remained his place of residence throughout the remainder of his life. As the years passed by and his financial resources increased, owing to his untiring industry and capable management, he extended the boundaries of his farm by addition purchases until it embraced about seven hundred acres of rich and pro- ductive land. He gave his attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career and in addition to cultivating the various cereals best adapted to soil and climate, also raised, bought and shipped stock on an extensive

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scale. For more than thirty years, he made his home within the borders of this county and was widely recognized as one of its most successful and respected citizens. His political allegiance was given to the republican party, while his religious belief was indicated by his membership in the Baptist church, in the faith of which he passed away on the 5th of November, 1905, when fifty-four years of age. His widow still survives and makes her home in Cambridge at the present time. She formerly belonged to the Christian church but now holds membership in the Baptist church. She is the mother of two sons and two daughters, as follows: John, of this review; Phebe C .; Clara E., the wife of Leonard Johnson, of Cambridge township ; and Frank M., living in Cambridge.

John Rogers was reared on the old homestead farm of his father and has continued to reside thereon to the present time. At the usual age he began his education in the district schools and subsequently pursued his studies in the Cambridge high school. The duties and labors incident to the operation of a farm had early become familiar to him through the assistance which he rendered his father in the cultivation of the fields, and after putting aside his text-books he took up farming as a life work. Energetic, progressive and enterprising, he is meeting with well merited success in his labors as an agriculturist and has gained favorable recognition among the substantial and representative citizens of the community.

On the 28th of December, 1898, Mr. Rogers was united in marriage to Miss Frances N. White, whose birth occurred in Ophiem, Lynn township, Henry county, Illinois, on the 30th of July, 1877. Her parents, Robert and Elizabeth (Neal) White, both of whom were natives of England, became early settlers of Henry county, this state. They first took up their abode in Cambridge town- ship, later located in Lynn township and in 1885 established their home in Woodhull, Clover township, where they still reside. Of their family of twelve children, ten reached years of maturity, namely: Mary, the wife of John At- kinson, of Caldwell, Kansas; Sarah, the deceased wife of William Corp; Wil- liam, who is living on the home place in Clover township; John, a resident of Knox county, Illinois; Maria, the wife of E. Nelson, of Moline; Lena Angeline, the wife of Isaac Snow, of Munson township; Ethel, who is the wife of Logan Stiers and resides near Alpha; Alice, of Woodhull; Leslie A., of Galesburg; and Mrs. Rogers. James White, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Rogers, was a native of England but became a pioneer settler of this county. His demise oc- curred in Lynn township when he had attained the venerable age of about eighty-one years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Rose Smith, was ninety- four years of age when called to her final rest. Their children were six in number : Mary, Sarah, Maria, Charlotte, Thomas and Robert. The maternal grand- father of Mrs. Rogers was Stephen Neal, a native of England, where he passed away in middle life. His wife, Mrs. Eliza Neal, was about forty-five years old at the time of her demise. Unto them were born eight children : Stephen, Ann, Eliza, John, Thomas, William, Sarah and Elizabeth. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have become the parents of eight children, namely: Clyde H., Alice Fern, Mabel May, Joseph White, Raymond D. and three who died in infancy.

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In his political views Mr. Rogers is a republican and at the present time is doing valuable service for the cause of education as a school director. He is a Methodist in religious faith, and both he and his wife are devoted members of that church. They have a wide and favorable acquaintance throughout the county in which they have always resided and are highly esteemed as worthy representatives of honored pioneer families, whose labors contributed in large measure to the early development and upbuilding of this part of the state.

WILLIAM H. ATWOOD.

William H. Atwood, who for many years was identified with farming in- terests in Henry county but is now living retired in Geneseo, was born in New London on the Erie canal, in Oneida county, New York, April 29, 1838. His par- ents were Bachus and Sarah (Tuttle) Atwood. They, too, were natives of the Empire state and resided in the east until 1855, when they removed to Henry county, Illinois, where they remained until called to their final rest. The father died when more than seventy years of age, and the mother, who was born in 1820, passed away in 1861. They were the parents of three sons and two daugh- ters: William H .; Almarette, who is the widow of Newell S. Smith and resides in Rockford, Illinois; Judson M .; Jerome N .; and Sarah Ann, the wife of James Wright.

William H. Atwood remained a resident of Oneida county, New York, until about seventeen years of age, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Henry county, Illinois. He has since lived here, covering a period of more than a half century, and during this time has witnessed a remarkable transformation, for at the time of his arrival the district was largely undeveloped and unimproved, while its homes were of a primitive character. There came to the county, however, a substantial class of enterprising citizens, who rec- ognized the opportunities offered in the natural resources of the county and earnestly set to work to establish homes here and conduct business interests, which should prove a source of profit. William H. Atwood became connected with the farming interests of the county, being at first employed at farm labor by the month. He carefully saved his earnings and after a few years was thus enabled to purchase a tract of eighty acres in Munson township. It was raw prairie, but he at once began its development and cultivation, and soon the fields were bringing forth rich harvests. It was upon that farm that he reared his family and there resided until 1901, when he removed to Geneseo, where he and his wife now make their home. He still owns his well improved farm, however, and derives therefrom a good annual income.

On the 23d of August, 1863, Mr. Atwood was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Olson, who was born February 4, 1842, and is a daughter of Nicholas and Caroline (Carlson) Olson. They were both natives of Sweden and on coming to America in 1847 they settled in Mercer county, Illinois. The father

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was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, for his death occurred in 1852, when he was fifty-six years of age. His widow survived for some time and passed away in her sixty-seventh year. They were the parents of two sons and two daughters : John P. Olson; Matilda, the wife of Charles Hero; Andrew Olson; and Mrs. Louisa Atwood. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Atwood have been born a son and daughter, Charles H. and Adelia. The latter was married on Wednes- day, January 6, 1892, to Henry Smith, of Osco township, and they now reside in Geneseo. Mrs. Smith is a member of the Christian church and is well known socially.

The son, Charles H. Atwood, was reared on the old home farm in this county, and after attending the district schools to acquaint himself with the elementary branches of learning, he continued his education in the Geneseo Normal. He then remained on the old homestead until he had attained his majority, after which he accepted a position as traveling salesman and thus served for four years. He then followed farming for five years, after which he took up his abode in Geneseo and purchased the laundry formerly owned by Jacob Winans. He has continued the business since 1901, or for a period of eight years, and has a well equipped plant, while efficient help enables him to turn out excellent work that insures him a liberal patronage.

In 1902 Charles H. Atwood was married to Miss Lieugora O'Meara, a daugh- ter of Michael and Mary O'Meara. Mrs. Atwood is a member of the Catholic church. By this marriage there are two children : Mary Louise and Royce Henry. Mr. Atwood belongs to Stewart Lodge, No. 92, A. F. & A. M., and Geneseo Chapter, No. 12, R. A. M. He is in hearty sympathy with the purposes of the craft which finds its basic element and belief in universal brotherhood. He belongs also to the Christian church and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. While not an active politician in the sense of office seeking he has served as alderman from the first ward and is interested in all that per- tains to the municipal welfare and substantial progress of Geneseo.

JOHN T. CUMMINGS.

John T. Cummings, attorney at law, practicing at the Kewanee bar as junior partner of the firm of Wilson & Cummings, was born in Mount Vernon, Ohio, on the 26th of October, 1866. His parents were William and Mary (Cassiday) Cummings. The father, a farmer by occupation, came to Illinois in 1867, estab- lishing his home at Oregon, Ogle county. There John T. Cummings was reared, and the public schools afforded him his early educational privileges, while later he attended the Teachers Training School in Oregon. He then taught school for two years, after which he attended the Northern Illinois Normal College at Dixon, Illinois, and was graduated therefrom with the class of 1889. When his literary course was completed he turned his attention to the study of law for he had regarded the teacher's preparation but as a stepping-stone to other labor. In June, 1895, he was admitted to the bar following the completion of a course in the Kent College of Law in Chicago. He not only had the theoretical train-

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ing but also the practical experience which came to him from his connection, in a clerical capacity, with the law firm of Bangs, Wood & Bangs, of Chicago, during his college days. Following his graduation he practiced law in the Illinois metrop- olis for four years in connection with A. J. Redmond and then returned to Oregon, following his profession in that city and in Rochelle, Illinois, until 1903, when he came to Kewanee. Here he entered into a partnership with F. J. Tilton under the firm style of Cummings & Tilton, which existed until 1907. In that year he became a partner of Judge C. C. Wilson, and the firm of Wilson & Cummings has since engaged in general practice with a large and distinctly repre- sentative clientage connecting them with much of the important litigation tried in the courts of the district. McCummings does not fear that laborious atten- tion to the case which must always precede its presentation in the courts, his preparation being most thorough and exhaustive. He is forceful in argument, logical in his deductions and his application of legal principles indicates the clearness of his judgment relative to the principles of jurisprudence.

Mr. Cummings is a member of the Kewanee Bar Association. He is also a trustee of the Knights of Columbus, and his religious faith is that of Cathol- icism, his membership being in the church of the Visitation.

EDWARD C. WEINRICH.

Edward C. Weinrich, of Geneseo, is a member of the firm of F., E. &. G. Weinrich, horse breeders and farmers. His birth occurred in Geneseo town- ship, Henry county, Illinois, May 20, 1869, and as the name indicates he is of German lineage. His parents, William and Christina (Kipping) Weinrich, were both natives of Germany, and, crossing the Atlantic to America, William Wienrich settled first in St. Louis, where he lived for several years. He after- ward came to Henry county, Illinois, about 1852 and for a time resided in Geneseo, but, turning his attention to general agricultural pursuits, he purchased and improved one hundred and sixty acres of land in Geneseo township. It was railroad land when he took possession of it, but he broke the sod, harrowed the fields, planted the seed and in due course of time brought forth rich crops. Year after year he carefully tilled the soil until he retired from active farming and removed to Geneseo in 1892. There his remaining days were passed, his death occurring in 1901, when he was seventy-five years of age. His wife survived him for about five years and passed away in February, 1906, at the age of seventy- five years. They were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and were loyal to the teachings of that denomination. Mr. Weinrich served as a school director while living on the farm but was never ambitious to seek or hold office. In the family were six sons and four daughters: Emma, now the wife of G. C. Zimmerman ; Clara, deceased; Christina; Fred W .; William; Matilda, the wife of Matthew O'Connell; Edward C .; George; Charles, who is deceased; and Herman.

Edward C. Weinrich was reared as a farm boy and in his youthful days attended the district school. He lived with his parents until he reached adult age, and then he started out in life for himself by working as a farm hand by

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the month. He and his brother George afterward cultivated the father's farm until his death, at which time Edward, George and Herman Weinrich purchased the old homestead, which they still own and cultivate together. They are well known as representative farmers and active business men in this locality. In addition to their farming interests Fred, Edward and George conduct a large breeding barn in Geneseo and own a number of registered Percheron and stand- ard bred trotters. They are doing business on an extensive scale, being known as among the leading breeders of this part of the state. They also own a Dan Patch colt on the farm. Their trotters all have good records and have been sired by some of the most celebrated horses in the country.

Fred Weinrich married Otilla Barts. He owns and cultivates a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Munson township and raises high-grade chickens in addition to his interests in the horse breeding business. Of the other brothers, William married Agnes Winters and George Married Anna Glowe, while Edward C. and Herman are still single. The brothers are representative business men, who carefully watch the indications pointing to success and so conduct their interests as to secure good financial results. The family has been represented in the county for a long period for the father was one of the early settlers.

WILLIAM WEIMER.

Pleasantly situated in Geneseo, living in one of the attractive homes of the city, is William Weimer, a retired farmer whose life history is a notable exam- ple of what may be accomplished through determination and energy. Though he started out in life empty-handed, when sixteen years of age and comparatively without educational advantages, he has become one of the extensive landowners of this part of the state, placing his money in that safest of all investments-real estate. He was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, May 29, 1837, his parents being Jonathan and Susan (Berger) Weimer, who were natives of Penn- sylvania. Their family numbered eleven children, three sons and eight daughters, but only two are now living, Israel Weimer, of Geneseo, being the younger brother of our subject. The father made farming his life work, and believing that the great prairie district of the Mississippi valley offered better opportuni- ties than could be secured in the east, he came to Illinois in the fall of 1853, set- tling in Henry county. Here he died a few years later at the age of seventy- eight. His wife survived him for twelve years and passed away when about seventy-seven years of age. In the east they were members of the Dunkard's society.

William Weimer spent the first sixteen years of his life in the Keystone state, where he was reared to the work of the farm. Owing to the limited financial resources of his parents he was deprived of educational privileges, as it was nec- essary that he assist in the work of the fields. As a youth he was industrious and thoughtful, and these qualities have characterized his entire life. With his par- ents he came to Illinois and lived at home until he had attained his majority, when he started out upon an independent business career working by the month

WILLIAM WEIMER

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as a farm hand for four years. He decided, however, that his labors should more directly benefit himself, and for a year thereafter he engaged in the cultivation of a rented farm. He bought seed wheat and a team of horses and sowed forty acres of wheat, also thirty acres to oats, but it was a wet season, and he lost his crop and became in debt. He then had to work two years by the month to dis- charge his financial obligations, but he did not allow this experience to discourage him, knowing that determination and energy will in time overcome all difficulties and obstacles.

Soon afterward Mr. Weimer was married and started out in business life anew. He was fortunate in his choice of a wife, for she proved a most faithful companion and helpmate to him on life's journey. After a time he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Geneseo township, which was wild and unim- proved. He built a house thereon and began the development of his fields, mak- ing his home on that farm from 1861 until 1890. He added to that until he owned seven hundred acres, a part of which he has since sold, but from time to time he has invested in land in Kansas in partnership with his son until they have between eleven thousand and twelve thousand acres in the Sunflower state, and also nine sections of land in Colorado. He has achieved this by carefully watching expenses and by utilizing every advantage. He has watched for op- portunities for good investments and has wisely placed his money so that he de- rives therefrom a substantial income at the present time.

On the 6th of October, 1862, Mr. Weimer was married to Miss Susan Keller, a daughter of David and Catharine (Arnett) Keller. They became parents of eight children: Emma C., the eldest, married Winfield Cressner and resides on the old Weimer homestead, and they have five children : Earl, Edith, Elvin, Esther, and Huen. W. Albert, of Geneseo, married Ella Tilford, and they have five chil- dren : Harry, Harley, Frank, Eva and Iva. Minnie is the wife of John De Linn, and they had four children, of whom three are now living: William, Glen and Don. Edith is the wife of William Hippler, of Geneseo, and they have three children : Mabel, Irene and Claude. Frank died when sixteen years old. Bertie is the wife of L. K. Thompson, a resident of Bismarck, North Dakota. Susan is the wife of Edward Coe, who is living in Los Angeles, California, and they have two sons: Reuben and Rowland. The youngest child of the family died in infancy. The mother, Mrs. Susan Weimer, died August 12, 1880, when about thirty-six years of age. Mr. Weimer afterward wedded Miss Paulina Stenzel, a daughter of John and Augusta (Hollaz) Stenzel, and they have two chil- dren : Jesse and Nellie.

In 1890 Mr. Weimer removed to Geneseo and built a beautiful home on North State street, where he still resides. He has also erected another fine resi- dence in the city. Politically he is a democrat and has served as school director and road commissioner. He has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, however, but has been preeminently a man of affairs and one who has wielded a wide influence. He is numbered among the old settlers of the county and has lived to witness notable changes since he arrived here about fifty-five years ago. Within this period practically all of the land has been brought under cultivation, the wild prairies being transformed into rich fields, while here and there flourishing towns have been built, and all the advantages

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known to the older east have been introduced. The present home of Mr. Weimer is in great contrast to that in which he began his domestic life. He was for a time in extreme poverty owing to the failure of crops, which threw him in debt and left him to start out anew. Brooking no obstacle that could be over- come by persistent and earnest effort, he has worked his way steadily upward, and the splendid record which he has made is one well worthy of emulation, for he is now numbered with the men of affluence in Henry county, and is one of the most extensive landowners of this part of the state.

HOWARD A. DEMING.

Nature seems to have intended that man shall enjoy a season of rest in the evening of life, for in youth one's energies and ambition are tuned to a high pitch. In mature years these qualities are guided by sound judgment, which makes enterprise effective and labor a forceful factor in the attainment of suc- cess. Thus when the years are wisely used it is possible to retire in later life and enjoy a rest which has been truly earned and is richly merited. Such has been the record of Mr. Deming, who diligently pursued farm work for many years but is now living retired in Geneseo. He was born in Brunswick, Medina county, Ohio, September 25, 1837, and is a son of Charles R. and Eliza P. (Alden) Deming, who were natives of Massachusetts and Connecticut respec- tively. The former was a son of Andrew Deming, who was also born in the old Bay state. His ancestors, however, came from England in 1635 and planted the family on American soil. Andrew Deming was a farmer by occupation and in 1816 removed from New England to Ohio, settling in Medina county, where he resided until 1840, when he took up his abode near Ashland, Ohio, where he died at the age of sixty-six years. He was always known as Major Deming. He married Elizabeth Mather, and they reared a large family. The maternal grandfather of Howard A. Deming was Howard Alden, a native of New England, who became a physician of Suffield. He died there October 17, 1841-on the eighty-first anniversary of his birth. His wife was Rhoda Williston, who was born January 10, 1768, and died November 7, 1863. The father of Howard Alden was Jonathan Alden, who served for a brief period in the Revolutionary war. The ancestry of the family is directly traceable to John and Priscilla Alden, whose romantic story constitutes the basis of Longfellow's poem, "The Courtship of Miles Standish."

Charles R. Deming accompanied his parents on their removal to Ohio when fifteen years of age and became a merchant of that state. He went from Bruns- wick to Ashland, Ohio, at the age of eighteen and in the latter city engaged in clerking for a time. He afterward went to Orange, Ohio, where he established a dry-goods business on his own account, remaining there for several years. Subsequently he returned to Ashland, where he carried on general merchandising for fifteen years and at the same time handled lumber and wool. About 1849 he made a trip to Illinois and purchased land in Henry county but continued to engage in the wool business in Ohio for some years thereafter. In 1865 he took

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up his abode in Henry county, Illinois, and from that time until his death was associated with the business and public interests in this part of the state. He had entered land from the government in Atkinson and Geneseo township and also secured other tracts through land warrants granted for service in the war of 1812. Altogether he entered about two thousand acres, some of it for other parties. He lived in Geneseo until 1881 and then went to make his home with his son Howard on the farm. He was not only extensively engaged in business as a landowner and dealer but was also very prominent in community affairs, aid- ing in establisihng the destiny and molding the policy of this part of the state. For two terms he represented his district in Ohio in the state legislature. His death occurred in 1903, when he was in his ninety-ninth year, while his wife passed away June 23, 1881, at the age of seventy-eight years. In early life she was a Presbyterian in religious faith but after removing to Henry county united with the Congregational church. They were the parents of three sons and two daughters: William A., deceased; Susan, the widow of Isaiah Good- fellow, of Geneseo; Howard A., of this review; and Hattie E., the wife of F. A. Trauger, a resident of Geneseo. The first born, Newton, died at the age of two years.

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History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II, Part 34

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