History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II, Part 5

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

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Following his retirement from the field of merchandising Mr. Lyman gave much of his time until recent years to the purchase and care of real estate, horses and stock, and to the breeding and raising of high grade horses. He was the owner of very fine stock farms, well equipped and particularly adapted to the business. At various times he owned a number of finely bred trotting and pacing horses, with which he made the circuits, but in later years he lived in quiet re- tirement, relinquishing business cares of all kinds. His unfaltering energy and powers of organization, however, were utilized in the establishment of many institutions of Kewanee that were all of importance in the upbuilding and busi- ness development of the city. He was one of the inaugurators of the First National Bank and acted as its president from its inception in November, 1870, until 1874. The record book of the bank, purchased by him, as indicated on the first page, was still in use at the time of his demise. He had great faith in Ke- wanee real estate and owned many pieces of valuable property in and near the city. Although he frequently purchased he rarely sold the property which he acquired and at the time of his death owned a number of valuable farms, his possessions aggregating. sixteen hundred acres. These and other investments made him one of the wealthiest men of his section of the state.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lyman were born two daughters, one of whom, Lillie Louise, became the wife of Charles I. Pierce, of Kewanee and Chicago, and died June 17, 1901, leaving two children, Katharine Louise and Adelaide Lyman Pierce. The other daughter, Nellie, became the wife of Frederick A. Smith, of

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY

Rockford, and they have two daughters, Helen Lyman and Louise Lyman Smith Mr. Lyman was most devoted to his family and it was his earnest purpose to pro- vide for them in such manner that his wife and children should lack nothing needed for their happiness. As they went to him with their plans and projects he was ever an interested listener, ready to cooperate in every way.

Mr. Lyman had no political aspirations but was a strong republican and could have filled various political positions had he not resolutely refused to do so. He was at one time a member of the Odd Fellows Society but was not affiliated with the organization at the time of his demise. His generous spirit and humanita- rianism found expression in substantial gifts to charity and to benevolent enter- prises and one of his most recent benefactions was the gift of the site of the fine hospital building to the Sisters of St. Francis. Death came to Mr. Lyman sud- denly, although his health had not been good for more than a year. He passed away at the age of seventy-three years on the 15th of December, 1894, and he was sorely missed in the community where he had long lived and was uniformly honored. Kewanee owes much to his efforts in her behalf. In all movements to help the city, in all attempts to improve Kewanee during the years of his busi- ness activity Mr. Lyman could be depended upon to be among the foremost. For years it was the custom of those undertaking to promote any public project to secure his name as the first signature to the subscription paper. He gave a fair hearing to every call upon him, and if his judgment sanctioned it his financial response was a most liberal one. He gave generously to the support of various religious denominations although not a member of any church. He regularly at- tended the services of the First Congregational church during many years and for a long time served on its board of trustees. He felt in his last years his en- forced absence from the services of the church and expressed his regret at this on various occasions. His life in all of its business and social relations was the expression of high and noble purposes and of kindly spirit, and his recognition and observance of the rights of others was one of his strongly marked character- istics.

GEORGE D. PALMER.

George D. Palmer is well known in the financial circles of Galva not only as the organizer of the Galva State bank but also as the cashier of that insti- tution, which responsible position he has held since its inception. He was born in Otsego county, New York, on the 6th of July, 1853, a son of Dudley W. and Laura L. (Bard) Palmer, both natives of the Empire state. The pater- nal grandfather, Nathan S. Palmer, a farmer by occupation, was born in New York and came to Illinois in 1858, locating in Galva township, where his death occurred when he had reached the seventy-seventh year of his life. His wife was Eliza (Smith) Palmer, whose parents moved from Connecticut to New York at an early day. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Nathan S. Palmer consisted of three children, Louise, Dudley W. and Christopher C. Dudley W. Palmer, the father of our subject, followed the wagonmaker's and machinist's trade in New York but after coming to Illinois in 1858, purchased a farm of sixty

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY

acres in Galva township, to which he later added fifteen acres, and he devoted his remaining days to the occupation of farming. He married Laura L. Bard, a daughter of Wilson and Lucina Bard, both natives of New York, the former coming from English ancestry. Her mother passed away at Paris Hill near Litchfield, New York, and after her death the father, who followed agricultural pursuits, came west, taking up his abode in Hastings, Nebraska, where he passed away after reaching the eightieth milestone on life's journey. He and his wife were the parents of three children, Lucinda, Laura L. and John A. The family of Dudley W. Palmer and his wife consisted of four children, two sons and two daughters, as follows: Louise E., the widow of Alvin G. Bruce, who served in the Civil war as a soldier in Company G, One Hundredth and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry; George D., of this review; William H., of Gales- burg, Illinois; and Delia M., the wife of C. D. Palmer, of Sterling, Colorado. The father passed away in 1867 when forty-three years of age, while his wife still survives and makes her home with her daughter in Sterling, Colorado. The entire family were members of the Baptist church.

George D. Palmer, whose name introduces this review, was not yet five years old when he came with his parents to Galva township, where upon his father's farm he was reared to manhood. In the district schools he acquired his early education and he supplemented this training by a course of study in the Galva high school. He remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, and in the meantime he assisted his mother in the operation of the home farm, thus becoming familiar with all the duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He started out in business on his own account as a farmer and continued in this line of activity until 1881, when, selling his property, he removed to Galva where he became identified with the grocery business in partnership with John A. Regnall. This relationship continued for two years and then his father-in-law, Joseph .A. Walker, purchased the interest of Mr. Regnall and the firm became known as Palmer & Walker. In 1887 another partner was admitted and the firm was changed to Palmer, Walker & Johnson, while the business was extended to include a hardware department. In 1891 the original partners bought out Mr. Johnson and the firm again became Palmer & Walker, being thus continued until 1893, when both members sold out and the partnership was consequently dissolved.

In 1895 Mr. Palmer organized the Galva State bank, which was opened for business in November of that year, with the following officers: president, O. P. Stoddard; vice president, Dyer Ford; cashier, George D. Palmer ; assistant cashier, B. S. Peck. In 1909 Dyer Ford was elected to the presidency of the bank and R. F. Beals became vice president in his stead. The directors are now Dyer Ford, George D. Palmer, L. F. Matteson, F. A. Hurlbutt, R. F. Beals, James Riner and B. S. Peck. For fifteen years Mr. Palmer has held the posi- tion of cashier and during that time his labors have been potent elements in the success of the institution, which is one of the strong financial concerns of Galva township. The patrons of the bank find him courteous and approachable at all times and these characteristics make him popular with all who have any business with the bank, while his business ability and keen discernment make him a most valuable officer.

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY

It was on the 6th of November, 1875, that Mr. Palmer was united in mar- riage to Miss May L. Walker, a daughter of Joseph A. and Angeline (Tilton) Walker, and a native of Wethersfield township, Henry county, Illinois. Her parents, who were born in West Virginia, were among the early settlers of this county, where the father passed away in 1903, while the mother's death occurred in 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Palmer became the parents of five children, namely : Rena May, a milliner of Aledo, Illinois; Ray Dean, the assistant postmaster of Galva, who married Miss Pearl Hartsell of Monmouth, by whom he has one daughter, Irma May; Angie L .; Dorothy D. and Howard W., still at home. Mr. Palmer and his wife are members of the First Baptist church of Galva, of which he is chairman of the board of trustees.

Mr. Palmer is a prominent figure in fraternal circles, holding membership' in Galva Lodge, No. 243, A. F. & A. M., while he also belongs to Galva Lodge, No. 408, I. O. O. F., and to Galva Encampment, No. 174. He likewise is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and he and his wife are connected with the Eastern Star. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Palmer has cast his ballot for the republican party and has ever been an active figure in local party ranks. He served for three terms as supervisor and ten years later was reelected to that office, which position he is now filling. He is president of the Galva Fire Department, No. I, and is preeminently public- spirited in his citizenship, his influence at all times being upon the side of im- provement, progress and advancement. In business life he has made an ex- cellent official, while in the various relations of life in which he has been found he has shown himself fully worthy the confidence and trust which are uni- formly given him.

GEORGE W. HUTCHINSON.

George W. Hutchinson came to Henry county in 1869 and started in busi- ness for himself as a renter. Today he is the owner of twenty-five hundred acres of land and is numbered among the most progressive, prominent and prosper- ous farmers and stockmen of Cambridge and this section of the state. There has been no esoteric phase in his career, his success being won through earnest, honest effort and close application. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born at Phoenixville, June 22, 1856, and is a son of Robert and Jane (Livingston) Hutchinson. His paternal grandparents were natives of Ireland and were of Scotch lineage and of the Presbyterian faith. The grandfather was a farmer by occupation and became well-to-do. Both he and his wife died in Scotland, the latter reaching a very advanced age. They reared a large family, five of whom-fours sons and a daughter-came to America, while two of the number are now living, Mrs. Elizabeth Finley and Robert, both of whom are residents of Geneseo. Two of their brothers were soldiers of the Civil war: Samuel, who was killed in battle, and William, who was starved to death in Libby prison. The maternal grandfather of George W. Hutchinson was George Livingston, who came from Ireland, his native country, and settled in Pennsylvania, where

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY

he lived with one of his daughters. They afterward became pioneer residents of Henry county, Illinois. His wife had died in the Emerald isle, and Mr. Liv- ingston lived for only a short time after coming to Henry county, dying as the result of paralysis, while sitting in a chair.

Robert Hutchinson, the father of our subject, was born near Colerain, in the north of Ireland, and when sixteen years of age came to America. He was employed for a time as boss of the iron blast furnaces at Phoenixville, Penn- sylvania, and in 1869 he came to Illinois, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres, lying in Munson township, Henry county. This he improved, and his farming interests were so wisely and carefully conducted that he won substan- tial success, enabling him to add to his original holdings until his landed posses- sions at one time aggregated four hundred and forty acres. For the past eight years he has lived retired in Geneseo. His wife died in Munson township in 1884 at the age of forty-seven years, while Mr. Hutchinson is still living at the age of seventy-seven years. Their family numbered six sons and two daughters, namely : William H., deceased; George W .; Samuel C .; Robert E .; Ida M., resid- ing with her father in Geneseo; Hugh, of Munson township; Jennie, the wife of John Douglas, of Munson township, and Howard.

George W. Hutchinson spent the first thirteen years of his life in the Key- stone state and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Henry county, Illinois, where he was reared to manhood upon his father's farm. He had at- tended the public schools of Pennsylvania, and his education was continued in the district schools of this county. The periods of vacation were devoted to the work of the fields and he continued to assist in the operation of the old home place until he had attained his majority, when he started out in life on his own account. For several years he rented land but during that period carefully saved his earnings until his capital justified his investment in eighty acres of land in Munson township. He at once located upon that farm and after a few years purchased one hundred and sixty-six acres more. Later he added two hundred and eighty-three acres, subsequently bought eighty acres in Cambridge township, then one hundred and fifteen acres, ninety-five acres adjoining the corporation limits of Cambridge, also eighty acres adjoining the village and one hundred and four acres in Cambridge township. Thus as a result of his different investments he became the owner of over one thousand acres in this county. There is no finer farming land to be found in all of the country, and Mr. Hutchinson's different farms are valuable property from which he derives a very substantial and gratify- ing annual income. He also turned his attention to Texas as a place of investment and is now the owner of thirteen hundred acres in Lipscomb county and six hun- dred and fifty acres in Randall county, Texas. His landed possessions there- fore aggregate over twenty-five hundred acres, making him one of the most ex- tensive property holders in central Illinois. He likewise is building a new home in Cambridge, and his success indicates clearly the business ability whch he has displayed. He is financially interested in the Farmers National Bank of Cambridge, in which he holds the office of vice president.

On the 15th of March, 1882, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hutchin- son and Miss Justina C. Nelson, a native of Munson township, this county, and a daughter of Charles and Hannah (Armstrong) Nelson. Her father was a na-

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY

tive of Sweden and her mother, of the state of New York, and they became early settlers in this county, being closely identified with its agricultural develop- ment for many years. The father died in 1900 at the age of seventy-two, while the mother passed away in January, 1903, at the age of seventy years. They were the parents of five children, three daughters and two sons, as follows: Justina C .; Etta I .; the wife of Sherman L. Rishel; Marian M., who married J. M. Anderson; William C .; and Frederick J.

Politically Mr. Hutchinson is a republican, giving unfaltering support to the party. For eight years he was a member of the town board and has held various other positions, the duties of which he has discharged with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He was secretary of the fair association for two years and has labored to stimulate the interest of his fellowmen in all that tends to promote progress in agricultural and other lines. Fraternally he is connected with Cambridge Lodge, No. 199, I. O. O. F., while his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His record has been characterized by steady progress resulting from the wise and intelligent utilization of every opportunity that has come to him. In all of his work he has been prompted by a laudable ambition yet has never sacrificed the interests of others to his own ends, his record at all times being creditable and satisfactory.

MRS. ELIZA ANN CONE.

Mrs. Eliza Ann Cone, who passed away in June, 1908, was one of the little colony of people who founded the town of Geneseo in 1836 and was a promi- nent factor in its development and upbuilding along moral and educational lines. She was born in Bloomfield, New York, on the 18th of April, 1810, a daughter of Joseph and Cynthia Hill, who had come to the Empire state from New England. When sixteen years of age Eliza Ann Hill gave her hand in marriage to Elisha Cone and their union proved a most congenial and happy one. The young couple began their domestic life in Victor, New York, where their first child, Harriet, was born, and soon afterward removed to Le Roy, at which place the birth of their second daughter, Clara, occurred. Mrs. Cone was converted when eighteen years of age, embracing the Congregational faith, while later,in the year 1836, her husband also identified himself with that church. They then began to take a very active interest in religion and aided in the forma- tion of a colony to be located in the "far west" for the purpose of establishing religious and educational institutions.

The charter members of this colony convened at the home of Mrs. Cone, where they planned to organize and go west as a church of the Congregational denomination. They were thirteen in number and the little band gathered at the stone church in Bergen, where they were organized into a church by the eccle- siastical council, Mr. Cone being ordained as the first deacon. A few days afterward, on the 19th of September, 1836, the little company of men with their wives and children, numbering altogether about forty persons, started overland for their new home. They located on the site of the present city

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY

of Geneseo, which was named in honor of Genesee county, New York, the place from which they had emigrated. The first house-a log structure- was built by Mr. Cone on the south side of the present park and was occupied by three families. During the winter of 1837 religious services were also con- ducted there. The following summer a tent was erected in the park for church and school purposes, and in July, 1855, the corner stone of the present edifice was laid. Mrs. Cone was a prominent, consistent and devoted member of the church and her eldest daughter, Mrs. Harriet T. Miller, is now the only living charter member thereof.

Mr. Cone died at the comparatively early age of forty-three years, leaving a widow and five children to mourn his loss. At the time of the Civil war his two sons went bravely to the defense of the Union and one of them laid down his life on the altar of his country, dying in a hospital at Nashville, Tennessee. Mrs. Cone was called to her final rest June 4th, 1908, when she had attained the ripe old age of ninety-eight years. Her long and useful life, consecrated to the service of her Master, was filled with many deeds of loving devotion and self-sacrifice, and her memory is enshrined in the hearts of all who knew her.

DANIEL LAVERY.

Daniel Lavery was for many years closely associated with the farming interests of this county but is now living retired in Geneseo. He was born in Ireland, in 1832, a native of County Down, and his parents, Daniel and Esther (Bonn) Lavery, were also natives of the same land. They have both been dead for many years, the father having passed away in 1845, while the mother's death occurred in 1846.

Daniel Lavery is the only survivor in a family of six children. He pursued his education in the schools of his native country and in his boyhood and youth remained on his father's farm, assisting in the cultivation of the fields and also engaging in weaving. He was a young man of twenty-three years when in 1855 he bade good-by to friends and native land, sailing for New York in May. After reaching the shores of America he remained in New York for a time and was employed in a tannery. He afterward came to the middle west and in the vicinity of Decatur, Illinois, worked as a farm hand for another year. He then made a trip to California in 1857, when the Panama railroad was opened up, by way of New Orleans and remained for two years in the Golden state, devoting his time and energies to mining. In 1861 he returned to Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming.

It was in the same year that Mr. Lavery was united in marriage to Miss Mary O'Neil, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1842, a daughter of James and Margaret O'Neil, both of whom were natives of Ireland. They became farming people of Wayne county, Pennsylvania, where they spent their re- maining days and at last were called to their final rest. They were the parents of eight children, of whom three are yet living: Thomas, Edward and John, all residents of Pennsylvania.

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY

Mr. and Mrs. Lavery began their domestic life in the Keystone state and in 1863 removed westward to Henry county, Illinois, settling in Hanna town- ship, where Mr. Lavery at first secured eighty acres of land. He was ambitious to own a larger farm, however, and whenever it was possible he added to the original tract until within the boundaries of his farm were comprised two hundred and eighty acres. Upon this place he remained until 1909 when he removed to Geneseo, retiring from active business life. He purchased a com- fortable home in the town and is now pleasantly situated there. His rest is truly earned and richly deserved, for through a long period he diligently tilled the soil and cultivated his crops according to modern progressive methods, having achieved success which was honorably won.

In October, 1906, Mr. Lavery was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife who died in Geneseo and was laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery for she had long been a faithful communicant of the Catholic church. By her mar- riage she had become the mother of eleven children of whom eight are now living: James, a resident of Geneseo; Daniel, who lives on the old homestead farm; Cecilia, who is now in a convent of Pennsylvania as a Sister of Charity ; Margaret, the wife of James Welch, living near Woodhull; Frank, who resides with his father in Geneseo; Minnie, at home; Charles, who follows farming; and Sadie, who is in a Wisconsin convent.

In his political views Mr. Lavery has always been a stalwart democrat since becoming a naturalized American citizen. He has never been an office seeker but has served as school director. He belongs to the Catholic church. He is entirely a self-made man, for he started out in life empty-handed, and it has been only through constant energy, perseverance and self-denial that he has worked his way upward, accumulating much of this world's goods, so that now in his declining days he can enjoy all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life. In manner he is jovial and genial, pleasant to all, and it is, therefore, a pleasure to meet and converse with Daniel Lavery.

CHARLES E. MCCULLOUGH.

Kewanee lost one of its most honorable and useful citizens in the death of Charles E. Mccullough. He was a representative of that group of men whose lives are conspicuous for ability, force of character, integrity and generous aims. Progress and determination might well be termed the keynote of his character, for he always sought advancement for the individual and the community and manifested his public spirit in active and effective cooperation in measures for the general good.

A native of Pennsylvania, Charles E. Mccullough was born at Mount Joy on the 20th of May, 1849, his parents being Charles and Martha F. (Eyerhart) Mc- Cullough, who were originally from Virginia but resided in Pennsylvania for several years prior to their removal to Illinois. Their son, Charles, acquired his early education in the publc schools and afterward attended Mount Morris Acad- emy at Mount Morris, this state. While there he had three classmates whose

b. EM Comecough

HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY

warm friendship he retained until his death, Justice Carter and Justice John P. Hand, both of the Illinois supreme court, and H. D. Judson, general superin- tendent of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company. Following the completion of his literary course Mr. Mccullough took up the study of law and was admitted to practice before the Illinois bar, but subsequently turned his at- tention to the banking business, accepting the cashiership in Barber's Bank at Polo, Illinois. His identification with Kewanee dated from November, 1882, when he came to this city as assistant cashier of the First National Bank. On the resignation of C. S. Wentworth he became cashier of that institution, ably filling the responsible position until he went to McKeesport, Pennsylvania, to accept the proffered position with the National Tube Works Company. There he continued until his return to Kewanee in the early 'gos for the purpose of entering the office of the Western Tube Company in this city. His manifest ex- ecutive ability and keen discrimination led to his selection for the position of treasurer of this company, in which capacity he continued until the Ist of Feb- ruary, 1908, when he retired from active business life. He displayed great apti- tude for the financial work in which he was engaged and acquired a reputation as one of the best known credit men in the country. His previous training was such as specially qualified him for the onerous and responsible duties which he discharged so well during his long term of office wth this great manufacturing institution. He won early recognition by his business capacity and his eminent trustworthiness and in the promotion of the interests of the Western Tube Com- pany he contributed indirectly in large measure to the upbuilding of Kewanee.

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History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II, Part 5

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