USA > Illinois > Henry County > History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 36
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Mr. Walker was united in marriage to Miss Susan Seeds, who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1838, her parents being Simon and Eliza (Orr) Seeds, both of whom were natives of County Down, Ireland. The latter was a daughter of Matthew Orr, but died in County Down, when well advanced in years. He married a Miss Ellison and followed farming as a life work. Mr. and Mrs. Seeds were reared and educated on the Emerald isle, and for a time the former served as a member of the English army. On coming to America they spent a few years in Philadelphia and afterward removed to Maryland, where they remained until their children were grown. They then returned to Philadelphia where they continued to reside until called to their final rest, the father dying at the age of eighty years and mother when seventy-six years of age. They were both members of the Episcopalian church and they had a family of six children, but only two are now living: John A. Seeds, of Philadelphia; and Mrs. Walker. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Walker have been born two daughters, Helen and Mary, but the latter died in infancy. The former is the wife of James E. Ogden. They reside with Mr. and Mrs. Walker and have four children : Stewart, James C., Florence and John. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church, in which Mr. Walker served as elder for many years. His political al- legiance is given to the republican party. He has now reached the seventy-eighth milestone on life's journey, and the record which he has made is one which has classed him with the leading citizens and representative men of Henry county. He has lived here for almost a half century, and the respect and veneration which are given him are the result of a well spent life.
WILLIAM EDWARD GOULD.
William Edward Gould, whose life work has been an influencing factor in financial circles in Kewanee and in this part of the state, while his sound judg- ment proves an excellent guide for the conduct of important business interests, was born in Cairo, Illinois, December 6, 1867, his parents being George and Anna (Clitherow) Gould. The father was a fruit grower, conducting a good business along horticultural lines.
William E. Gould enjoyed the advantages of instruction in Oberlin College, after mastering the elementary branches of learning in the public schools, and in his youthful days became his father's assistant, which brought him practical business experience and gave him an insight into commercial and financial prob- lems that has enabled him successfully to manage complex interests at a later
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day. He first became identified with banking at Toulon as a member of the firm of Dewey, Burge & Gould, on the Ist of May, 1896, and there remained until April, 1902. For the past seven years he has been connected with the Savings Bank of Kewanee, of which he became one of the organizers, and at the same time he retains his interest in the bank at Toulon. Seeing opportunity for further investment in business interests that promised profitably he became a partner in the Kewanee Ice & Fuel Company, and also aided in the organization of the Fischer Lumber Company of Kewanee, Missouri, of which he is the secretary and treasurer.
On the Ist of January, 1902, Mr. Gould was united in marriage to Miss Har- riet Bates, of Kewanee, Illinois, a daughter of M. C. and Emma (Latimer) Bates, who are farming people of Knox county. Mr. and Mrs. Gould have one child, Harriet Barodel. The parents are well known socially in the city, the hos- pitality of the best homes of Kewanee being freely accorded them. Mr. Gould belongs to the Masonic fraternity and the Odd Fellows lodge, and his religious belief is evidenced in his membership in the First Congregational church. While he is preeminently a business man he does not allow commercial and financial interests to monopolize his time to the exclusion of other affairs of vital moment, but on the contrary gives his cooperation to various measures and projects for the public good.
CURTIS C. MARTIN.
On the roster of town and county officials appears the name of Curtis C. Martin, who is now filling the position of county surveyor and superintendent of streets and town assessor. He makes his home in Geneseo, his native city, his birth having there occurred December 28, 1860. His paternal grandfather, Samuel W. Martin, was a native of the state of New York and in 1872 became a resident of Geneseo, where he lived retired, his time and energies having previ- ously been devoted to general farming. He was more than eighty years of age at the time of his demise and his wife had also reached a ripe old age when called to her final rest. Their son Charles H. Martin was a native of New York and in early life removed to Geneseo, where for some years he was engaged in the implement business. He also acted as constable for many years, and was assessor of Geneseo township for nine years. He married Miss Margaret A. Dillehay, a native of Ohio, who still survives him. He died January 15, 1902, at the age of seventy years and is still survived by his widow. They were both liberal in religious belief.
Curtis C. Martin was reared in Geneseo and attended the public and high schools of the city. He learned the trade of lettering in marble and granite and devoted considerable time to that work for a number of years. He then turned his attention to civil engineering and surveying and studied higher mathematics to perfect himself in the work. He still continues in that line, his services being in demand not only in a private capacity but also as county surveyor, superin- tendent of streets and town assessor. For several years he was in the tombstone
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business on his own account and later he engaged in cement contract work. He has always led a busy life and whatever success he has attained is attributable entirely to his own labors. In connection with civil engineering and surveying he also has agricultural interests, for he is the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Rock county, Minnesota.
In 1884 Mr. Martin was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Myhill, a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Whitcomb) Myhill. They had one child, Allan Doane. The wife and mother died in 1894 and her death was deeply deplored by many friends. Her parents came from Vermont to Henry county at an early day, settling in Munson township, where her father followed the occupation of farm- ing. He died in Geneseo in middle life but his widow is still living. In 1896 Mr. Martin was again married, his second union being with Miss Harriet Whit- comb, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Whitcomb. Both Mr. and Mrs. Martin are liberal in religious matters.
He is a prominent Mason, belonging to Stewart Lodge, No. 92, A. F. & A. M .; Geneseo Chapter, No. 12, R. A. M .; Rock Island Commandery, No. 18, K. T .; and Kaaba Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Davenport. He is likewise affiliated with Geneseo Camp, No. 40, M. W. A., which he joined on its or- ganization. He and his wife belong to the Eastern Star and he holds membership with the Yeomen of America. His political endorsement is given to the repub- lican party and he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. He has worked diligently to attain the success which is now his, has carefully qualified for the work in which he is engaged and is making an excellent record in the official positions that he is filling.
WILLIAM ANDERSON.
William Anderson is the owner of a highly improved and productive farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 30, Cambridge township. He was born in Knox county, Illinois, on the 27th of January, 1854, his parents being Eric and Anna (Peterson) Anderson, who were natives of Sweden. The paternal grandfather, Andrew Anderson, who was a farmer by occupation, died in Sweden when well advanced in years. Unto him and his wife were born seven children. The maternal grandfather of our subject, John Peterson, who was likewise an agriculturist by occupation, died in Sweden at a ripe old age.
Eric Anderson, the father of William Anderson, crossed the Atlantic to the United States in 1852, in company with his wife, and took up his abode in Knox county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming. His wife passed away there in 1854 and eleven years later, in 1865, he came to Henry county. In 1872 he pur- chased the farm of one hundred and sixty acres on which his son William now resides and was successfully engaged in its cultivation until he was called to his final rest. The period of his residence in this county covered a third of a cen- tury and he became widely recognized as a most substantial, enterprising and progressive citizen. His demise occurred in 1899, when he had attained the age of sixty-nine years.
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William Anderson, whose name initiates this review, was reared on his father's farm in Knox county and attended the district schools in the acquire- ment of an education. He lived with his father until the latter's death, when he came into possession of the old homestead farm in Cambridge township, which originally comprised eighty acres but now embraces a quarter section. In the conduct of his agricultural interests he has won a most gratifying and well merited measure of success, for he cultivates the soil in accordance with modern methods of farming and uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields.
On the 28th of November, 1888, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Wexell, who was born at Bishop Hill, this county, her parents being Peter and Martha (Peterson) Wexell, natives of Sweden. They came to the United States in 1846 and cast in their lot with the Bishop Hill colony, living there during the entire period of its existence. Peter Wexell had the honor of making the first dugout at Bishop Hill. About the year 1860 the colonists divided their property, and subsequently, about 1869, Mr. Wexell purchased a farm of two hundred acres northwest of Bishop Hill. He passed away there in 1885 at the age of sixty-eight years. The death of his wife occurred in Cambridge in 1897, when she had attained the age of seventy-eight years. They had three children who lived to maturity, namely: Martha, who is now deceased; Mrs. Anderson; and Caroline, the widow of John P. Gunnerson. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Anderson has been born a daughter, Selma Evalina Minerva Anderson.
Where national questions and issues are involved Mr. Anderson gives his political allegiance to the republican party but at local elections casts an inde- pendent ballot, supporting the candidate whom he believes best qualified for office. His wife and daughter are devoted and consistent members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. Having resided in this part of the state throughout his entire life, covering a period of fifty-five years, he is well and favorably known here, and is widely recognized as a prosperous and progressive business man as well as an upright and honorable citizen.
FRED FAUSSET.
Fred Fausset, who for the past three years has been operating the Hugh Hutchinson farm of two hundred and ninety-three acres on section 12, Cam- bridge township, also devotes his attention to the' buying and shipping of horses and cattle on a large scale. He was born in Hendricks county, Indiana, on the 19th of February, 1879, his parents being Wilson and Lucy (Rutledge) Faus- set, likewise natives of the Hoosier state. The paternal grandfather, Isaac Fausset, who was also born in Indiana, followed farming in Hendricks county, that state, and there passed away when about sixty years of age. His wife, Mrs. Unity Fausset, was about seventy-eight or seventy-nine years old when called to her final rest. Their children were three in number: Wilson, Ada and Anna. John Rutledge, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Kentucky. and a farmer by occupation. He loyally defended the interests of the Union as a
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soldier in the Civil war. In early manhood he wedded Miss Millie Bradley and they subsequently took up their abode in Hendricks county, Indiana, where they lived throughout the remainder of their lives. John Rutledge passed away when about fifty-seven years of age, and his wife had attained the age of almost eighty when her demise occurred. They reared a family of seven children, namely : John, Henry, Lucy, Nan, Susan, Mary and Sarah.
Wilson Fausset, the father of Fred Fausset, was reared in Hendricks county, Indiana, and followed general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career. He is now living retired in Garden City, Kansas. Unto him and his wife were born two children, as follows: Fred, of this review; and Ivy, the wife of John H. Miller, of Wellsford, Kansas.
Fred Fausset, who was reared on the home farm in Hendricks county, In- diana, arrived in Henry county, Illinois, on the 2d of April, 1899. He first worked on the canal for a time and then secured employment by the month as a farm hand, being thus engaged for two years. On the expiration of that period he rented a tract of land near Atkinson and subsequently farmed a place in Corn- wall township for a year, while later he operated the farm of George Lower for two years. For the past three years, however, he has given his attention to the cultivation of a farm of two hundred and ninety-three acres on section 12, Cam- bridge township, belonging to Hugh Hutchinson. In addition to his work as an agriculturist he also buys and ships horses and cattle on a large scale and has met with well merited success in his undertakings. In 1909 he shipped over three thousand dollars' worth of hogs of his own raising, and each season he handles cattle and horses to the value of about twenty thousand dollars. When he came to this county his cash capital amounted to but thirteen dollars, but by persistent, untiring and indefatigable effort he has gradually worked his way upward until he is now numbered among the substantial and representative citizens of the com- munity.
On the 26th of September, 1906, Mr. Fausset was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Dyer, whose birth occurred in Putnam county, Indiana, on the 20th of November, 1879, her parents being James and Mary (Sallust) Dyer, natives of Tennessee and Indiana respectively. Mrs. Dyer passed away when her daughter Mabel was but a year old, and the latter was reared by her maternal grandparents. James Dyer is still living and now makes his home near Amo, in Hendricks county, Indiana. Subsequent to the death of his first wife he wedded Miss Elma Byrd. The first representative of the Dyer family in this county was William Dyer, the great-great-grandfather of Mrs. Fausset, who crossed the Atlantic from England to the United States and located near Knoxville, Tennessee. His son, Owen Dyer, was the father of Andrew Dyer, the grandfather of Mrs. Fausset. Andrew Dyer passed away near Knoxville, Tennessee, in middle age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Martha Gibbs, still survives and now resides in Benton county, Arkansas. They had two children: James; and Sallie, the wife of Al Hazel. William Sallust, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Fausset, was a native of Virginia and an agriculturist by occupation. He wedded Miss Sarah Thomas and they became early settlers of Putnam county, Indiana, where he made his home until the time of his death, which occurred when he was well ad- vanced in years. Unto him and his wife were born seven children, namely:
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James, Mary, John, Arthur, Daniel, Cora and Clara. Mr. and Mrs. Fausset are now the parents of one son, Morris Dyer Fausset.
Mr. Fausset gives his political allegiance to the men and measures of the de- mocracy, while fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America. He certainly deserves great credit for what he has accomplished, as he owes his success entirely to his own labors. Not afraid of hard work, his industry has proven the key which has unlocked for him the portals of prosperity.
CARROLL STEWART RAGAN.
Carroll Stewart Ragan, who since May, 1908, has been the editor of the Galva News, was born in Neoga, Cumberland county, Illinois, on the 5th of October, 1879, his parents being Dr. Gillum T. and Sara (Osbourne) Ragan, natives of Kentucky. The paternal grandfather, Robert Ragan, whose birth occurred in Virginia, was of Irish descent. He was a bridge and iron-work contractor. Unto him and his wife, who bore the maiden name of Nancy Smith, were born Give children, as follows: Gillum T .; Robert Samuel; Zachary, who served as a major general in the Civil war; William; and Isabelle, who died in early woman- hood. The maternal grandfather of our subject was Samuel Osbourne, a native of Virginia and of Scotch descent. He was a teacher by profession and passed away in middle life. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Cynthia Stewart, died at the age of seventy-seven years. Their family numbered three children : Cynthia, Samuel and Sara.
Dr. Gillum T. Ragan, the father of Carroll S. Ragan, was graduated from Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Indiana, in 1860, winning the degree of Bachelor of Arts. For some years and during the entire period of the Civil war he was in the employ of the government in the quartermaster general's office. After the close of hostilities between the north and the south he took up the study of medicine in Georgetown University at Georgetown, D. C., and when he had completed the prescribed course located for practice at Winchester, In- diana. He remained there, however, for only a short time and then established his home in Neoga, Illinois, where he has been successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery to the present time. Both he and his wife are devoted and consistent members of the Presbyterian church. They reared a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters, seven of whom still survive, namely : Julia, the wife of E. R. Black, of Lincoln, Nebraska; Samuel O., a resident of Everett, Washington; Robert R., living in Indianapolis; Belle, the wife of Charles B. Wood, of Mattoon, Illinois; Carroll Stewart, of this review ; Sara, the wife of William G. Hammond, of Brooklyn, New York; and Lucia.
Carroll S. Ragan was reared in the place of his nativity and completed the high school course at Neoga in 1897. He afterward attended Wabash College for two years and then entered the University of Illinois, taking special courses in music and languages. Subsequently he accepted a position as reporter on the Champaign Gazette and later acted in a similar capacity for the Nonpareil of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and the Omaha Daily News. Afterwards he was employed
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in the advertising department of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company for two years and thence once more took up newspaper reporting, se- curing a position on the staff of the Herald-Transcript at Peoria. He also did regular editorial work for that paper, having gained some experience in that line while employed on the staff of the Omaha Naily News. He is a cousin of Lloyd Osbourne, the novelist. In May, 1908, he came to Galva and took charge of the Galva News, the former editor, E. E. Fitch, having been elected county clerk. He also does general job printing and is a young man of keen discrimination and excellent executive ability, who has already attained an enviable position as a representative of journalistic interests in this part of the state.
In his political views Mr. Ragan is a stanch republican, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Presbyterian church. He is an ex- emplary Mason and also belongs to Beta Theta Pi, a college fraternity. He is well educated in music and is a member of the Galva Band and also chorister at the Baptist church in Kewanee. His influence is ever found on the side of prog- ress and improvement and in support of those movements which promote the ma- terial, intellectual, social and moral welfare of the community.
ADOLPH MAUL.
Adolph Maul needs no introduction to the readers of this volume, for the active part which he has taken in public affairs has made him a well known and honored citizen of Kewanee. He has figured for many years as a representative business man here, and throughout the period of his connection with Kewanee he has been numbered with that group of able men who are helping to carry on the philanthropic and educational interests and work of general public bene- fit without any other reward than an occasional expression of appreciation and a sense of putting in work where it is most needed. He was born in Weida, Ger- many, July 12, 1830, a son of Gauliep and Johanna Maul. The father was an attorney by profession and was appointed by the government to a position on the bench. In his later years he was pensioned by the government and died in 1878, having for two years survived his wife, who passed away in Germany in 1876.
Adolph Maul acquired his education under private tutors in Germany and there learned the miller's trade, which he followed in his native country until June, 1854, when he came to America. He took up his abode in Newark, New Jersey, and continued to engage in milling there and in various places until his removal to Burlington, Iowa, in 1856. He remained for some time in that city, after which he returned to Germany on account of the health of himself and brother. The year 1863 witnessed his arrival in Kewanee, where he established a bakery and restaurant on the present site of the First National Bank. He conducted that in connection with the grocery store, of which he was proprietor for thirty years. Since 1893 he has been engaged in the general insurance and real-estate business and is one of the oldest and best known business men of the city, his reliability and enterprise at all times winning him the respect, con- fidence and good will of all with whom he has been associated. He was one of
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the organizers of the Kewanee Building & Loan Association and from its incep- tion has served as one of its directors.
Mr. Maul has taken an active and helpful part in public affairs relative to the advancement and progress of the city. He was one of the members of the first board of education and has served in all for seventeen years on the board, doing effective work for the public schools. He has also been a trustee of the village and he served for five years as assistant supervisior of his township. He has likewise been an enthusiastic champion of the public library, has done active duty' on the library board and was serving thereon at the time of the erection of the present attractive library building. His connection with the board covers in all twenty-five years, and he is now its president. He has been a member and chairman of the grand jury, and at all times his influence is on the side of right, progress and improvement.
In 1863 Mr. Maul was united in marriage to Miss Mary James of North Carolina, and unto them have been born five living children: Hedwig, who is a teacher of German in a St. Louis school; Emma, the wife of David Horner, a merchant of Kewanee; Edward G., who is engaged in teaching in Seattle, Wash- ington; William, who is in the employ of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company at Chicago; and Lina, a teacher of Latin in the Kewanee high school.
Mr. Maul has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for the past thirty-six years and is loyal to the teachings of the fraternity. In 1870. with his two brothers, he again returned to Germany on a visit. The voyage was in marked contrast to his first trip across the Atlantic, on which occasion he was forty-three days under sail. On his last trip he spent only a few days on ship- board ere he reached his destination, such being the improvement that had been made in steam navigation. Kewanee acknowledges her indebtedness to Mr. Maul for many acts that have been of great benefit to the city. He has set out a large number of trees in the parks, the schoolyards, the cemetery and all public places, adding much thereby to the beauty of the city. He believes in working not only for the present but for future generations and is a man of patriotic spirit and generous aims, whose memory will be held in grateful remembrance long after he shall have ceased to be an active factor in life's work. He has now passed the seventy-ninth milestone on life's journey but yet maintains deep and active interest in public affairs and is one of Kewanee's most honored citizens.
CLARK BENJAMIN ABY.
The life record of Clark Benjamin Aby is in contradistinction to the old adage that "a prophet is not without honor save in his own country," for in Galva township, where his entire life has been spent, he is ranked among the leading lawyers and is now serving his second term as city attorney of Galva. Born on a farm a mile and a half east of Galva, Illinois, on the 15th of April, 1871, he is a son of Alexander and Melvina (Stanton) Aby. The maternal grand- father of our subject was Clark Stanton, a native of New York, who was a mill-
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