USA > Illinois > Henry County > History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 37
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
wright and miller by trade. He came west with his family at a very early date, before the railroads had been built, making the journey on a flat boat down the Ohio river. He first located at Peoria, which was at that time a mere village, and later removed to Rochester in Peoria county, where he erected a mill upon the banks of the Spoon river. His mill was the first to be built on that stream and was the only one within a radius of fifty miles. He remained here for several years and then, losing his health, he started for California. He only got half way, however, and then returned home, continuing his residence in Rochester until his demise, which occurred after he had attained a good old age. His wife was a Miss Barnes in her maidenhood and by her marriage to Mr. Stanton became the mother of the following: Irene S., the wife of John Aby; Melvina S., the mother of our subject; Cloy, who married Dr. Sylvester Cravens; Erastus S .; and Frank S. Alexander Aby, the father of Clark Benjamin Aby, was born in Richland county, Ohio, and was a son of Benjamin Aby. A farmer by occupa- tion, he came to Illinois at a very early date, settling first in Peoria county, while later he came to Galva township, where he purchased a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres. When he arrived in this district much of the land was still unclaimed and unimproved, but with characteristic energy he cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers and began immediately to clear his property and prepare the soil for cultivation. As the years went by he converted the raw land into productive fields and became one of the prosperous and substantial farmers of the township. He now lives retired in Galesburg, his wife having passed away in 1905, at the age of seventy-nine years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Galva, while a short time prior to her death his wife became a student of Christian Science. In their family were nine children, seven sons and two daughters, four of whom are still living, namely: Arthur, residing in Kelso, North Dakota; Frank S., practicing medicine in Chicago; Charles O .; and Clark Benjamin.
Clark Benjamin Aby, the youngest surviving member of the family, resided upon his father's farm in Galva township until thirteen years of age, when the family removed to Galva, where he has since made his home. He supplemented his district school training by a course at Galva high school, and then prepared for a professional life by taking up the study of law in the law department of the Northwestern University at Chicago, Illinois, from which he was graduated with the class of 1896. He was admitted to the bar in June of the same year and at once opened an office for the practice of law in Galva, where he has since con- tinued to follow his profession. From the outset he has been most successful and his practice has now grown to extensive proportions and is of an important character, while his high standing in the community is indicated by the fact that he is now serving as city attorney. Along with those qualities indispensable to the lawyer, a keen, rapid, logical mind plus the business sense and a ready capac- ity for hard work, he brought to the starting point of his legal career other gifts-a strong personality, an earnest manner, marked strength of character, a thorough grasp of the law and the ability to accurately apply its principles.
It was on the 22d of July, 1896, that Mr. Aby was united in marriage to Miss Lillian A. Nordstrom, a daughter of Andrew and Catharine (Eriscon) Nordstrom, who were both old settlers of Henry county. The birth of Mrs. Aby
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occurred in Bishop Hill, this county, and she was one of five children, three of whom are now living, the others being Mrs. Ida M. Paddock, of Mankato, Min- nesota, and Edward B. Nordstrom. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Aby were born two chil- dren, Rowland C. and Genevieve Evelyn Lillian.
In his religious faith Mr. Aby is a Methodist, while fraternally he belongs to Galva Lodge, No. 243, A. F. & A. M., of which he was secretary for four years and senior warden for one year, while he has also held various other offices in the lodge. He was recently elected master of this lodge. He likewise is a member of Galva Lodge, No. 417, K. P., and is also an active worker in that body. He is stalwart in his allegiance to the republican party, on which ticket he has filled several offices. He was the first alderman elected from the third ward after the village became a city, and he held that position one year, when he resigned to become a candidate for city attorney, in which office he is now serving his second term. He served as justice of the peace for seven years, and has always been very prominent and active in public affairs, lending his influence at all times to further the cause of progress, reform, improvement and advancement. He is the owner of four hundred acres of fine farm land in Traill county, North Dakota, which is a source of additional and gratifying revenue to him. Earnest effort, close application and the exercise of his native talents have won Mr. Aby pres- tige as an able lawyer and his high standing at the bar is a merited tribute to his success.
JOHN E. SANDQUIST.
John E. Sandquist, a successful and enterprising agriculturist and stock raiser of Cambridge township, is actively engaged in the operation of the D. C. Tom- linson farm, comprising two hundred and fifty-six acres of land on section 13. He was born in Sweden on the 15th of January, 1871, his parents being Swan Peter and Sophia Louise (Larson) Carlson, who were likewise natives of that country. The father spent his entire life in Sweden and followed various pur- suits throughout his active business career. He passed away in 1900 at the age of sixty-five years. His widow still survives and makes her home in Sweden. She is a faithful member of the Lutheran church, with which her husband was also identified. Their union was blessed with five children, as follows: Sophia Louise, the widow of Charles Samuelson; Charles A., who is a resident of Col- orado; John E., of this review; Ida Josephine, the wife of J. S. Andree, of Chi- cago; and Oscar E., living in Sweden.
John E. Sandquist was reared on the home farm and obtained his education in the schools of his native land. Determining to establish his home on this side the Atlantic, he set sail for the United States and on the 17th of March, 1884, landed on American shores. He made his way at once to Cambridge, Henry county, and for several years worked as a farm hand by the month. He now rents and operates what is known as the D. C. Tomlinson farm of two hundred and fifty-six acres, located on section 13 in Cambridge township. In addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he also raises considerable stock and in both undertakings is meeting with gratifying success.
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He owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Morris county, Kansas, five miles from Lost Springs, and there makes his home at the present time. It is a very valuable piece of land and he recently refused an offer to sell it for twenty- five hundred dollars more than he paid for it.
On the 17th of February, 1897, Mr. Sandquist was united in marriage to Miss Hulda J. Carlson, a native of Andover township, this county, and a daugh- ter of S. A. and Christana (Peterson) Carlson, who were born in Sweden and became early settlers of Andover township. The father is now living retired in Cambridge. He was twice married and by his first wife had five children, namely: Axel, a resident of Evanston, Illinois ; Albert C .; Mary, the wife of Au- gust Sandberg; Frank August; and Mrs. Sandquist. For his second wife S. A. Carlson chose Miss Sophia Larson, by whom he has two children: Emil J .; and Ellen, the wife of E. P. Peterson. Mr. and Mrs. Sandquist are now the parents of six children, namely: Nannie Genevieve; Charles Robert Rudolph; Vera Ma- bel; Grace Luella and Bessie Leona, twins; and Henrietta Louise. All were born in Andover township, this county.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Sandquist has given his political allegiance to the men and measures of the republican party. Fra- ternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America, and his wife is a Lutheran in religious faith. The hope that led him to leave his native land and seek a home in America has been more than realized. He found the op- portunities he sought-which, by the way, are always open to the ambitious, energetic man-and making the best of these he has steadily worked his way upward.
ROBINSON G. JONES.
The educational interests of Henry county find one of their most prominent representatives in Professor Robinson G. Jones, superintendent of the city schools. He was born in Kansas City, Kansas, December 14, 1871, a son of Rev. John G. and Rovilla (Robinson) Jones, the former a minister of the Methodist church. Professor Jones pursued his education in the schools of Columbus, Ohio, from which he was graduated, and in the Ohio Central Normal School and the Ohio Northern University, the last named conferring upon him the degree of Master of Arts in 1894. He also studied law in the Ohio University and pursued a special history course in the University of Chicago and a special course in Colum- bia University in New York city in 1907. His entire life has been devoted to educational work and to the further promotion of his own education as he has found opportunity to resume his studies. For one year he was principal and for four years superintendent of the public schools at Gibson City, Illinois, was superintendent of the schools at Lexington, Illinois for two years and spent five years as superintendent at Harvard, Illinois. He then came to Kewanee as su- perintendent of schools of this city, where he has done excellent and effective work, placing the public-school system of Kewanee on a par with that of other schools of the state. He holds to high standards and works toward high ideals in his chosen profession, eagerly embracing every opportunity that will enhance
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
the effectiveness of his labor in accomplishing results, in equipping the youth for the practical and responsible duties of life. He is a member of the National Educational Association and of the Department of Superintendents and belongs also to the State Teachers Association and to the Superintendents Round Table of Chicago. He is a member of the western division of the Northern Illinois Teachers Association and is vice president of the Superintendents and Princi- pals Association of Northern Illinois. He is now acting as secretary of the superintendents division of the State Teachers Association. He has a wide ac- quaintance among leading educators of Illinois and has made continuous prog- ress in his profession, being now accorded a position of distinction as a repre- sentative of public instruction in this state.
On the 27th of July, 1899, Mr. Jones married Miss Minnie L. Gish, of Ritt- man, Ohio, a daughter of John J. Gish, a tobacco broker, who is a native of Con- necticut and is now connected with the tobacco industry of northern Ohio. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jones has been born a son, Robert Stanley. In his fraternal re- lations the father is a Mason, devoted to the interests of the order, and in relig- ious belief is a Presbyterian.
LOUIS R. HARMS.
Few men have more intimate or accurate knowledge concerning the history of Geneseo's growth and development than Louis R. Harms, who for more than a half century has here resided. His birth occurred in Geneseo, February 12, 1857, and as the years have advanced he has worked his way upward until he is now numbered among the successful business men of the city, being at the present time in the city department of the firm of Harms & Glawe, buyers and shippers of poultry, butter and eggs. His youthful days were passed in the home of his parents, Henry and Sophia (Gueldenzoph) Harms, both of whom were natives of Holstein, Germany. The former was a son of Claus Harms, who was a laborer in Germany and died there at an old age. He was married twice and had seven children. The maternal grandfather, Christopher Gueldenzoph, passed away in Germany in the 'gos. He had reached a venerable age. He, too, was a laborer. Unto him and his wife were born a number of children, but only one is now living-Christopher Gueldenzoph.
Henry Harms devoted the greater part of his life to general farming. Emi- grating to America, he spent one year in Davenport, Iowa, and about 1856 came to Geneseo, where he lived for a number of years and worked in an elevator. In 1868 he turned his attention to farming and afterward purchased a tract of land of eighty acres a mile east of the town, making his home thereon from 1875 until his death. During that period he made many substantial improvements upon his place. He had served as a soldier in Germany in the war of 1848 with Denmark. Both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church and have now passed away. They had but two children, and the other, Emma, died in infancy.
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Louis R. Harms was reared in Geneseo and attended the public and parochial schools. He afterward worked on the farm with his father for many years, be- ing first employed for wages, while later he became a partner in the business. Eventually he inherited the old homestead, which he afterward sold, and for the past twenty years he has made his home in Geneseo. For three years he was employed in the poultry business by H. W. Moses, his duties taking him at times to Chicago, while the remainder of that period was spent in Geneseo. Finally he returned to the latter city to take charge of the bookkeeping for Mr. Moses. About 1892, however, he formed a partnership with his brothers-in-law, F. A. and L. F. Glawe and they established branches at many points in Illinois and Iowa. The firm name from the beginning has been Harms & Glawe, but about seven years ago F. A. Glawe withdrew and took the western end of the business, while the other two partners retained the eastern end. The present firm has branch houses at Wilton Junction, Atkinson and Woodhull, Illinois. Their business is now very extensive and their sales amount to thousands of dollars annually. The undertaking furnishes an excellent market to the pro- ducers of poultry, butter and eggs and in the purchase and sale of these com- modities the partners are meeting with gratifying success.
On the 12th of January, 1882, Mr. Harms was united in marriage to Miss Wilhelmina Glawe, who was born in Pomeren, Germany, and is a daughter of Johan and Fredericka (Reusch) Glawe, both of whom were natives of Germany and on coming to America settled in Henry county about 1866. They are now deceased, but five of their children are still living : Wilhelmina, Louis, Frederick, Friedericka and Emma. Mr. and Mrs. Harms have become the parents of three sons and a daughter : Herbert, who wedded Miss Mary Schuetzler; Raymond; Robert; and Meta. The parents hold membership in the Lutheran church, and Mr. Harms politically is a democrat. He is now serving for the second term as alderman of the third ward and exercises his official prerogatives in support of - measures for the public good. He is widely known in Geneseo and throughout this part of the state, where his extensive business interests have brought him a large acquaintance, while his substantial qualities have gained for him the merited regard of those with whom he has come in contact.
PERCY CLIFTON HAYES.
Percy C. Hayes is the treasurer of the Hayes Pump & Planter Company of Galva. He was born on the home farm near Kewanee, June 6, 1881, and spent his youthful days under the parental roof. The family removed to Galva dur- ing his early boyhood and at the usual age he entered the public schools, therein continuing his studies until he was graduated from the high school with the class of 1899. He afterward received training for the commercial world as a pupil in the Gem City Busines College of Quincy, Illinois, while later he attended the University of Illinois at Champaign for one year. He then entered the service of the Hayes Pump & Planter Company and after spending several years as an employe was elected treasurer of the company in January, 1908, and
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has since been in control of its financial interests. He belongs to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon, a college fraternity, and to Galva Lodge, No. 243, A. F. & A. M. Like the other members of the family he is a stanch advocate of republican prin- ciples, giving to the party unswerving support since attaining his majority.
THOMAS H. McCONNELL.
The agriculturists of Clover township are noted for their fine farms, high grade stock and comfortable homes and Thomas H. McConnell is no exception to this rule. He was born on his present farm February 4, 1876, being a son of Thomas S. and Margaret (Miller) McConnell. The McConnell family came from Pennsylvania, in pioneer days, the grandparents of our subject, William and Catherine McConnell, emigrating with four sons and five daughters. Of these Thomas S. was the oldest. They came as far as Altona by rail and then by wagon to Clover township, Henry county, where William McConnell later purchased land which still remains in the family. He was a farmer and placed the two hundred acres he acquired in splendid condition, it now being some of the most valuable property in Henry county. He and his family were devout Presbyterians. Thomas S. McConnell had seven children, as follows: Miller S., who is a resident of Harvey county, Kansas; Horace and William, who died in infancy; Herbert, who passed away after reaching manhood; Anna, who is now Mrs. John Pennell, of Hutchinson, Kansas; Porter F., who is a farmer of Clover township; and Thomas H., of this review. The father of this family became a prosperous farmer and extensive cattle dealer, both feed- ing and shipping stock and doing a very large business annually. While a democrat, he was not an active partisan but was always interested in local affairs. His wife, Mrs. Margaret McConnell, died February 28, 1879, after a life of generous devotion to her family. On May 29, 1888, Mr. McConnell married Miss Belle Mccullough, of Franklin county, Pennsylvania. He died May 19, 1897, and is survived by his second wife. He was an adherent of the Presbyterian church and was prominent in it as he was in all the walks of life.
Thomas H. McConnell was reared on his father's three hundred and twen- ty acre farm and attended the district schools of the township. He was a stu- dent in the Woodhull high school when his father died so that he left his studies to undertake the management of the homestead. On May 30, 1902, he married Miss Harriet A. Richards, daughter of Henry and Mary L. (Phelon) Richards. Her family came from Vermont, Mr. Richards becoming a farmer of Knox county, Illinois, where he died in the winter of 1905. His widow survives, making her home in Galesburg. Since his marriage, Mr. McConnell has con- tinued operations on the homestead, being engaged in general farming and in buying and selling stock. He is a democrat but like his father is not active in politics. Fraternally he is a member of Woodhull Lodge, No. 508, A. F. & A. M., and of Woodhull Lodge, No. 383, I. O. O. F., being noble grand of the latter organization at the present time, having filled all the subordinate
THOMAS S. McCONNELL
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chairs. Both Mr. and Mrs. McConnell are members of the Presbyterian church and very much interested in church and Sunday-school work.
The McConnell homestead is one of the finest farms in Henry county and is beautifully located on a ridge of ground that commands an excellent view of the surrounding country. The house is a commodious one and supplied with modern conveniences. When the barn was built in 1876 it was the largest in the county and even today there are few with a greater capacity, it holding two hundred and fifty tons of hay, while below are accommodations for stock and farm machinery. There are other numerous buildings on the farm which are well adapted for their several purposes. Mr. McConnell is a model farmer, conducting his operations along scientific lines, and his broad acres and fine stock reflect his prosperity.
BERNARD EDWARD SOMMERS.
Bernard Edward Sommers, whose business activity is a resultant factor in the attainment of success, is now conducting a profitable enterprise as an ice dealer of Geneseo. He was born in Loraine township, Henry county, July 13, 1878, and is descended from a family of German origin. His grandfather was John Sommers, a native of Pennsylvania, who followed farming as a life work. He was married twice and had the following children : Tillie, Edward, Peter and Reuben, by the first marriage and Mabel and John by the second.
Edward Sommers, the father of Bernard E. Sommers, was born in Pennsyl- vania and has devoted his entire life to general agricultural pursuits. He came to Henry county when a young man and was married at the age of twenty- one years to Miss Nancy Bollen, who was born in Loraine township, this county. Her father, Thomas Bollen, was a native of the state of New York, whence he removed to Henry county. He had previously learned the gunsmith's trade and followed it in early life. Attracted by the discovery of gold in California, he crossed the plains to the Pacific coast and upon his return to the middle west located in Henry county, where he purchased one hundred and ninety acres of land in Loraine township. That property he afterward sold to Edward Sommers. His death occurred at the home of one of his daughters at Spring Hill, White- side county, Illinois. His wife, Mrs. Lydia (Potts) Bollen, died when more than eighty years of age. They were the parents of five children: Lydia, Eli, Wash- ington, Mary and Nancy.
Following the marriage of Edward Sommers and Nancy Bollen they began their domestic life upon a farm in Henry county, living in Loraine township for more than thirty years, their place of abode being a rich tract of land of one hundred and ninety acres, which Mr. Sommers brought under a high state of cultivation. About 1904 he retired from active business cares and removed to Geneseo, now making his home in the north end of the town. He is serving as road commissioner and has been school director for some years. At the time of the Civil war he enlisted in the Union army and went as far south as Cairo, where he was held as a reserve but was not in active duty. His wife died in 1903 at
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the age of fifty-three years, in the faith of the Christian religion. She belonged to Grace Evangelical church, of which Mr. Sommers is also a member. Of their family the following children still survive: Cora; Fred; Frank; John; Bernard E., of this review; Lutetia, the wife of William Mozingo; Harriet, the wife of Frank Brokaw; and Edith and Elmer, at home.
Bernard E. Sommers was reared on the old home farm in Loraine township, and in retrospect one can see him as he trudged off to the district schools in his early youth, there to acquaint himself with the branches of learning that usually constitute the public-school curriculum. In the periods of vacation he was em- ployed in the work of the fields and remained at home until his marriage. On the 30th of November, 1897, he wedded Miss Elsie Clapper, a daughter of John and Lydia (Wilt) Clapper. They began their domestic life upon a farm, which Mr. Sommers rented for three years. Later he spent a year in the grocery busi- ness at Spring Hill, Illinois, and then came to Geneseo on the Ist of March, 1904. In 1905 he became a partner of John Bollen in the ice business and two years later purchased Mr. Bollen's interest and has continued in business alone to the present time. He has secured a liberal patronage, and the success which is his is well merited, for his business methods are at all times honorable and straightforward.
In 1900 Mr. Sommers was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife, who died at the birth of their daughter Gladys. That year the elder daughter of that marriage, Merna, died at the age of sixteen months. On the 24th of October, 1906, Mr. Sommers was again married, his second union being with Miss Maude Pomeroy, a daughter of Lemont and Fannie (Echart) Pomeroy.
In his political views Mr. Sommers is a republican and in 1906-07 served as a member of the city council, representing the first ward. His official service was characterized by the support of various measures of reform, improvement and progress. He joined Bollen Lodge, No. 82, A. F. & A. M., in 1903, and two years later transferred his membership to Stewart Lodge, No. 92. He also be- longs to Geneseo Chapter, No. 12, R. A. M .; to the Mystic Workers of the World; to the Fraternal Reserves; and to the tribe of Ben Hur. He is likewise a member of Grace Evangelical church. He has always lived in Henry county, and the fact that many of his stanch friends are those who have known him from his boyhood to the present time is an indication that his course in life has been that of honorable, upright manhood.
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