USA > Illinois > Henry County > History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 43
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115
Carl Edward Peterson spent his youth upon the home farm, assisting his father in whatever work there was to be done, while he attended the district school, where he received a fair education as preparation for the responsibilities of life. Even after he attained his majority, he gave his father the benefit of
410
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
his labor, for it was not until 1905 that he married and established a home of his own. In that year he rented the eighty acres which constitute his place today and has since engaged in diversified farming, his success being the just reward for persevering industry. Progressive in his ideas, he has spared nothing in or- der to bring his place to the highest degree of cultivation, to improve the char- acter of the buildings with which it is adorned, or to increase the abundance of the harvests, gathered from the fields. While these things have ministered to his own success they have also redounded to the total prosperity of the com- munity in which he lives.
On the 22d of February, 1905, Mr. Peterson was joined in wedlock to Miss Lena Kuschmann, a daughter of William and Louise Kuschmann, of South Heights, Rock Island. Three children have been born to them: Marguerite, Paul and Marie.
Mr. Peterson is a consistent member of the Lutheran church and is closely identified with its work. A republican in his political views, while he has been interested in questions of public interest and has ever exhibited a deep concern in the welfare of his fellow citizens, he has never sought office and could never be persuaded to accept any evidence of the trust the people would place in him and his judgment were he to signify his willingness to be their servant. He has been very active, however, in the ranks of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, for he is a member of Riverside Lodge, No. 684, of Colona, in which he has held the greater number of the chairs. Keenly alert to the best interests of the people, industrious and progressive, Mr. Peterson is one of the splendid citizens of Colona township, enjoying the respect and good will of those who have come into contact with him. He and his wife are devoted to their home and their family, so that the harmony of their relations affords a striking example of do- mestic felicity.
PHILIP JOHN STONEBERG.
Philip John Stoneberg was born in Bishop Hill, Illinois, April 3, 1875. At the age of seven he entered the village school and finished the work presented in 1890. He entered Knox Academy at Galesburg in 1893 as a middle-preparatory stu- dent. He joined the E. O. D. literary society and was its essayist in the annual contest between it and the Zetetici, the other men's literary society in the acad- emy, in 1895. In the last-named year he won the Lawrence preparatory Latin prize. He entered the freshman class at Knox College in the same fall, pursued the classical course for four years and was graduated in 1899 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts.
While a student in college he received the Lawrence freshman first Latin prize in 1896, likewise the freshman essay prize for the best essay on the Lin- coln-Douglas debates. He was a member of the Gnothautii literary society throughout his college course and in his sophomore year won the society's Colton debate prize over three other debaters. In this debate he supported the negative of the following subject, "Resolved, That there should be a tribunal of three
411
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
judges instead of the present jury system, the unanimity verdict being under- stood in each case." The affirmative was supported by another sophomore, while two juniors debated a separate question.
Mr. Stoneberg was a member of the Knox Young Men's Christian Associa- tion since his academy days, was one of its delegates to the Young Men's Chris- tian Association summer conference at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, in 1897, and served as its president in 1897-98. In his junior year he took part with three senior students in the Vivion currency debate when the three circuit judges of the ninth circuit served as judges of the contest; also participated in the junior oratorical contest. He was college reporter for the Daily Republican Register, a Galesburg paper, during the year 1897-98; served on the editorial staff of the Coup d' Etat, a college monthly, in the same year and on that of the Knox Stu- dent, a college weekly during both his junior and senior years. He was also in his junior year an associate editor of the '99 Gale, a college annual.
In his last year at Knox he was president of the Gnothautii Society, in which he had already held various offices; a member of the Pundit Club, an organiza- tion of instructors and students and limited in membership; speaker of the Mock congress held jointly by the two men's college literary societies ; and a participant in the Knox-Beloit preliminary debate. In the latter part of his college course he studied vocal music in the Knox Conservatory in addition to his regular work, and in his last year was a charter member of the college glee club, which was then definitely organized.
He was interested in athletics and was a member of the track team during his last three years at Knox, receiving the third place in the mile walk at the inter- collegiate contest in 1897 and second in 1898. He belonged to the Knox Cadet Corps from the time he enrolled in the academy until the corps was disbanded at the outbreak of the Spanish-American war. In that period he took part in two contests for the Mills' medal, winning second place the second time. When the corps was disbanded he was sergeant major of the battalion, the highest ranking non-commissioned officer. In his senior year the Roll of Honor for scholastic achievement was instituted by the college authorities and he was awarded a place on the same. He was the valedictorian of his class, his com- mencement oration being on the subject, "The Scandinavians in America."
Mr. Stoneberg took up the work of teaching in the fall of 1899 and was principal of the Bishop Hill public school for the next five years. As he had more than a year's extra work to his credit when he was graduated from Knox College he had only to write a thesis to entitle him to the degree of Master of Arts from his alma mater. In 1901 he accordingly wrote a thesis on the subject, "Was the French State Under the Bourbon Kings a True Monarchy?" The thesis was accepted and he received in the same year the aforementioned degree.
In 1904-5 he was a student at Columbia University, pursuing courses in his- tory, economics and education. Fulfilling the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts at that institution, which included the writing of an approved essay, he obtained this degree in 1905. The title of his essay was, "The Begin- nings of the American Navy." In 1905-6 he studied at Harvard University, specializing in history and economics, after which he was at Bishop Hill until the fall of 1909, when he returned to Harvard for another year of study, elect-
412
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
ing courses in history, government and education. During the period intervening between his years at Harvard he was taken up with domestic duties, did some private tutoring, and in April and May, 1909, was again principal of the Bishop Hill school. He was also engaged in some historical research, chiefly in local history. He has contributed to this work the chapter on the Bishop Hill Colony, the sketch of the Swedish camp-meetings, the account of the Henry County Sun- day School Association, and has rendered also some other assistance. He has at various times corresponded for some of the county newspapers. Since 1903 he has been an active member of the National Educational Association. At the Knox College commencement in 1909 there was a reunion of his class, when he was chosen class secretary.
Mr. Stoneberg was clerk of the village of Bishop Hill from 1899 to 1905 and trustee from 1908 to 1910. He has also served on the Weller township republican central committee and has represented that township in the Henry County Anti- Saloon League. He is a member of the Henry County Historical Society, repre- senting Weller township in the collection of historical data. He has been secretary of the Bishop Hill Old Settlers Association since 1899 and treasurer of the Bishop Hill Memorial Association since 1907.
He joined the Swedish Methodist Episcopal church at Bishop Hill on proba- tion August 11, 1889, and was received into full membership February 9, 1890. He has held various offices in its quarterly conference and was licensed by this body a local preacher August 21, 1908. He was secretary of the Sunday school in this church from 1889 to 1893, and superintendent from 1899 to 1904. He was teacher of the men's class in this Sunday school in 1908 and 1909, like- wise served as superintendent and teacher on Sunday afternoons in the Maple Hill Sunday school one and one-half miles west of Bishop Hill. He has been secretary of the Henry County Sunday School Association since the fall of 1899. He is a charter member of the Bishop Hill Epworth League, which was organ- ized in August, 1890, and is the oldest Swedish Epworth League in the world. He has held various offices in this chapter. While a student at Knox he was one year president of the Galesburg Swedish Epworth League. He was at one time secretary of the Galesburg District Epworth League, Central Swedish Con- ference, and later its president. He was secretary of the Galesburg District Camp 'Meeting Association, Central Swedish Conference, from 1897 to 1905; treasurer, from 1906 to 1908; and was elected secretary again in 1908, which office he still holds.
DR. HENRY P. LOOMIS.
Dr. Henry P. Loomis, a dental practitioner of Galva, who is likewise exten- sively engaged in the real-estate and insurance business as a member of the firm of Loomis & Riner, was born near Morrison, Whiteside county, Illinois, on the 17th of December, 1866. He was adopted by Henry F. Baker and his wife, Martha R. (Loomis) Baker. He was taken to Chicago when eleven months old and obtained his education in the Brown public school, which was located on the
413
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
west side of that city. In 1880 he came to Galva, this county, and for the follow- ing eight years lived in the old Baker House. Subsequent to his marriage he returned to Chicago and took up the study of dentistry in the American College of Dental Surgery, now known as the Northwestern University Dental School. He completed the prescribed course in that institution in March, 1892, and in 1896 returned to Galva, where he successfully practiced his profession for about nine years. He erected the stone building next to the Baker House and soon gained recognition as one of the most substantial, progressive and enterprising citizens of the community. For the past five years he has devoted his attention to the real-estate business and for three years has been in partnership with Charles P. Riner under the firm style of Loomis & Riner. They do a general real-estate and insurance business and now have a large clientage in this connection. Dr. Loomis has thoroughly informed himself concerning realty values and their ap- preciation or diminution in prices and is thus enabled to assist his clients in making judicious investments and profitable sales.
On the 4th of February, 1890, Dr. Loomis was united in marriage to Miss S. Isabella Clark, a native of Galva and a daughter of Dr. Chester M. Clark. Dr. Clark, who was born in Vermont, became an early settler of Galva, this county, where he practiced his profession for many years. Subsequently he established a drug store and conducted the same until the time of his retirement from active business life. His demise occurred on the 25th of April, 1909, when he had at- tained the venerable age of eighty-four years. He was an exemplary Mason and held a number of city offices, the duties of which he discharged in a manner highly satisfactory to his constituents. Unto Dr. and Mrs. Loomis has been born a son, Donald B. C. Loomis.
Dr. Loomis gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served as alderman of the third ward for one term. His fraternal relations are with Galva Lodge, No. 243, A. F. & A. M., and Kewanee Chapter, R. A. M., while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Congregational church, with which his wife is also identified. He is a man of strong character and sterling worth and well merits the high regard in which he is uniformly held.
E. PERCY .DAVIES.
E. Percy Davies is one of the agriculturists and stock raisers of Henry county, who owns an up-to-date farm on section 30, Phenix township. He was born on the same section, though not on the same farm, February 6, 1865, and is the son of James L. and Phila N. (Aldridge) Davies. The father was born March II, 1825, in Wales, and there grew to manhood. Upon coming to America he went first to Ohio, where for some years he found employment in the coal mines, and then came to Henry county, Illinois, where he met and married Miss Aldridge. She was born on section 30, Phenix township, a daughter of Earl P. and Caroline Oliva (Imel) Aldridge, and is still living, though her husband has been dead a number of years, his death having occurred October 11, 1895. After coming to' Phenix township, Mr. Davies became an extensive landholder and was highly
414
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
respected when he passed away. Two children were born to him and his wife. Caroline Oliva, the older, married James Good and died January 9, 1891, leav- ing two children : Mary C., who is the wife of Arthur Johnson and lives in Gen- eseo; and Fanchon, who married a Mr. Race and lives in Battle Creek, Michigan. E. Percy, the younger of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. James L. Davies, is the subject of this sketch.
E. Percy Davies spent his boyhood's days upon the home farm and in the little district school received such an education as it was able to furnish boys who could attend only a few months in the year. Until he became of age he gave his father the benefit of his labor, but on attaining his majority he embarked on life for himself. He began as a renter on his father's land and then in 1890 he bought the farm on which he now resides. It is one hundred and sixteen acres in extent, and in the years that it has been in his possession Mr. Davies has made a number of important improvements, remodeling the house and the barn, and erecting a new barn, a corn crib and a hog house. He has also bought one-half interest in the home place of one hundred and twenty acres, and as his affairs prospered, he purchased half an interest in two hundred acres in Louisa county, Iowa, which is well improved land. He raises and feeds a great deal of cattle each year, and finds a ready market for his stock in the large cities of this state and elsewhere.
On the farm on which now lives, December 25, 1889, Mr. Davies was mar- ried to Miss Mina Kerr, who was born in Hanna township and is a daughter of Thomas Walker and Amanda (Henninger) Kerr. The former was a native of Ohio, the latter of Pennsylvania, but the couple were for a number of years resi- dents of this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Davies have been born two children: Harley Hobart, who was brought into the world August 5, 1897, and Gilbert Kerr, whose birthday was January 2, 1900.
In his political views Mr. Davies finds himself in sympathy with the prin- ciples of the republican party, but he is not a seeker for public recognition nor has he evinced a great interest in political concerns. He has, however, served as school director and in this capacity has given satisfaction, for he is greatly in favor of increasing the effectiveness of the schools.
AM. WITHROW.
Am. Withrow, conducting a profitable business as the owner of a hack line in Geneseo, was born in Henry county, Illinois, December 8, 1850, his parents being William and Sarah Caroline (May) Withrow, both of whom were natives of White county, Illinois. The father was born in 1812 and was a farmer by occupation. At the time of the Civil war, however, he put aside business and personal considerations that he might aid the government in the preservation of the Union, enlisting in 1862 as a member of the Ninth Illinois Cavalry. He af- terward enlisted for one hundred days' service in the One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Infantry and was later transferred to the Sixty-fifth Regiment, receiving three honorable discharges. At the close of the war his was one of the last regi-
415
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
ments that was mustered out. He had passed the designated military age when he entered the service but his patriotism prompted his ready response to the country's call. It was in the year 1830 that he and his wife became residents of Henry county, being among its earliest settlers, and for many years they were identified with agricultural interests in this district. Mr. Withrow died while on a visit to Oregon about twenty-five years ago and the mother of our subject passed away in this county twenty-four years ago. They were the parents of five children, of whom four are yet living, namely: Am., of this review; Solon; who is a traveling salesman; Sarah, the wife of Frank Earl, of Los Angeles, California ; and Mary, the wife of P. Verage, living at Sawtelle, California. The mother of these children was twice married, her first husband having been Joshua Colbert, by whom she had two children, one of whom is living, Albert A. Colbert, a resident of Galesburg, Illinois.
Am. Withrow was educated in various schools of Henry county and at the age of eighteen years bought his time of his father, after which he worked for a short period at farming. He also engaged in teaming and in handling horses and thirty-five years ago turned his attention to the hack business, running a hack between Geneseo and points on the Rock river, also to the fair grounds and to camp meetings. In this connection he has built up a good business, which makes constant demands upon his time, and his obliging service and reasonable prices have insured the liberal patronage which is accorded him.
On the 12th of September, 1885, Mr. Withrow was united in marriage to Mrs. Margaret Hunter, the widow of Daniel Hunter. She was born in New York, September 20, 1840, and is a daughter of Leander and Rebecca (Kinney) Pickard, both of whom were natives of New York, the former born in 1810 and the latter in 1813. The father chose farming as his life vocation. Coming to Illinois in 1854, he settled in Bureau county and afterward removed to Henry county. His political allegiance was given to the republican party. In his family were twelve children, of whom five are now living: Jane, now the widow of Addi- son Palmer and a resident of South Dakota; Maria, the wife of James Pierson, a resident of Tiskilwa, Bureau county, Illinois; Mrs. Withrow; Harriet, the wife of Charles D. Marenville, of Atkinson, Illinois; and Annie, the wife of Albert Clifton, of Atkinson. The mother of these children died in March, 1893, while Mr. Pickard survived until February, 1903, and both were laid to rest in Henry county, Illinois.
Mr. and Mrs. Withrow have had no children but Mrs. Withrow by a former marriage became the mother of six. On the 12th of September, 1857, she wedded Daniel O. Hunter, who was born in New York, June 28, 1823, and died Decem- ber 20, 1878. In early life he followed farming and subsequently he turned his attention to merchandising. He lived for a time in Bureau county and afterward came to Henry county, conducting a general grocery store in Atkinson for twenty years, or up to the time of his death. He, too, was a soldier of the Civil war enlisting in the Ninety-third Illinois Infantry. His political support was given to the republican party and he served as notary public and justice of the peace for years. He was long a member of the Methodist church and was also an exemplary representative of the Masonic fraternity. At his death in 1878, his remains were interred in the Atkinson (Ill.) cemetery. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter
416
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
were the parents of six children : Ida, the eldest, born October 7, 1858, in Bureau county, became the wife of William Hickox, of Colorado, and died June 21, 1907, leaving a daughter, Madge, who is the wife of Lavern McCalvey, of Colorado, by whom she has two children, Lavern Hickox and Franklin Rob- ert. Florence Hunter, born in Bureau county, July 31, 1864, is the wife of I. A. Henry a resident of Bloomington, Illinois, and they have three sons: Clell E., who is married and resides in Chicago; Lale, who wedded Lou Buck, now de- ceased; and Harold Henry. Wilson Henry Hunter, born in Bureau county, June 2, 1866, is a barber residing in South Dakota. He is married and has three children. Harvey, Ira and Gaynal. Louisa A., born in Henry county, May 14, 1868, is the wife of Joseph Hunter of Putnam, Illinois, and they have four children : Oral, Cleo, Ruth and Icle. Leander Hunter, born in Henry county, December 3, 1871, is married and lives in Geneseo. Fay E. Hunter, born in Henry county, May 7, 1876, and married Miss Mattie Harmes and with their two children, Opal and Myrl, resides in Annawan, Illinois.
In the year 1868, Mr. and Mrs Hunter came to live in Henry county and her parents arrived a year later. Her brother, Wilson Pickard, served as a soldier of the Civil war in the One Hundred and Forty-second Illinois Volun- teer Infantry. Her brother-in-law, Mr. Pierson, was also a soldier of the Union army, while two half-brothers of Mr. Withrow, William and Albert Col- bert, were defenders of the Union cause. The G. A. R. Post at Atkinson was named in honor of her first husband, being called the D. O. Hunter Circle. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Withrow is situated on Elk street and has been owned by the latter for twenty-three years. Mr. Withrow owns a part of his father's home place of seven acres and has two houses, each occupying an acre of ground across the road from his present place of residence. The dwelling which Mr. and Mrs. Withrow occupied was destroyed by fire December 3, 1903, but was at once rebuilt. They hold membership in the Methodist church and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. Both he and his wife are held in high esteem in the community and have many warm friends through- out the county. He is regarded as a reliable and enterprising man and the success which he has achieved is due entirely to his own labors.
JOHN P. CHAISER.
As one looks back over the history of Bishop Hill during the last half cen- tury of its existence, noting the long strides of progress which have marked the life of the village and regarding the high moral tone which distinguishes it from many places of its size, he sees in this record the guiding hands of men who have cheerfully devoted the best of their talents and abilities to its promo- tion. Conspicuous among these is John P. Chaiser, who has retired from busi- ness, but is still actively interested in the welfare of the place and its residents, which has been his home and among whom he has lived since he was seven years of age, for besides being associated with the memories of childhood Bishop Hill has the added significance to him of being the haven toward which
JOHN P. CHAISER AND FAMILY
419
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
he and his parents looked with eagerness before they embarked upon their jour- ney to America.
Mr. Chaiser was born in Belinge, Socken, Uppland, Sweden, January I, 1844. His father, John Chaiser, came to this country in 1850 as a member of the Bishop Hill colony, with which he was associated as mason and cooper. After the dissolution of the colonial government and the establishment of the village, he went to Moline and thence to Cordova, finding in both places employ- ment at his trade. In 1868 he returned to Bishop Hill, purchasing the Swedish printing outfit which had been established by the colony for printing the Sven- ska Republicanaren, probably the first paper in that language published in this country. Learning the printer's trade, Mr. Chaiser engaged in the translation and dissemination of English Adventist literature, giving to that his attention until his death. Having been a man of studious habits, well educated in his native tongue, in four or five years after his arrival here he became proficient not only in reading the English language, but in rendering it into Swedish, for the benefit of his compatriots. In 1860, with a number of others from the colony, he joined the Baptist church, and about 1868 he became a member of the Advent church, devoting himself zealously to promoting that faith, even to the extent of translating and printing its tracts at his own expense. When his death occurred in 1890, he being seventy-six years, three months and twen- ty-five days of age, he was deeply mourned as one of the most earnest and effi- cient men of the village, whose influence was far-reaching. His good offices, however, would seem to have been transmitted to his son, who has followed in his footsteps in the performance of good works. His wife, Mrs. Anna Katrina Chaiser, the mother of our subject, was not permitted to witness the develop- ment of the colony, for she died shortly after her arrival here, December 15, 1854, when she was only thirty-seven years and twenty days old.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.