USA > Illinois > Henry County > History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 55
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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
mer, making his home in Nebraska ; Clara, the deceased wife of C. G. Johnson, of Linn township, her death occurring in 1895; and Claus H., of this review.
Claus H. Anderson is indebted to the public schools of Linn township for whatever educational advantages enjoyed during the period of his early youth, continuing his studies until thirteen years of age, when he put aside his text- books and thus early in life crossed the threshold of the business world, earning his own livelihood as a farm hand, being employed by the month, in which ca- pacity he continued for a number of years. He then rented a farm in Linn township, which he operated for fifteen years, at the end of which time he had accumulated sufficient means with which to purchase a farm of his own. He invested in one hundred and twenty acres of land in Osco township and at once directed his entire energies to its further cultivation and improvement. As the years passed he became very successful, his fields yielding rich harvests that proved a source of very gratifying remuneration to him. He still makes his home upon the farm although its active management is left to his son and daughter, his time and attention being fully occupied with his duties as president and cashier of the Farmers Bank of Osco, in which capacity he has served since the inception of that institution in 1908. He is proving himself an excellent official and one in whom his fellow citizens have implicit faith. He is thoroughly identified with the affairs of the institution of which he is chief executive and yet at the same time is true to the interests of each depositor. His opinions are frequently sought by the patrons of the bank and he has become very popular because of the careful consideration and courtesy which is universally extended to the largest and smallest depositor alike.
It was on the 14th of March, 1884, that Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss Maggie Johnson, a native of Sweden, born in 1862. The parents of Mrs. Anderson were Peter and Molina Johnson, both natives of Sweden, who came to America in 1868 or 1869, settling near Andover, Illinois. They were farming people who at the time of their death were living retired, the father passing away in 1903 and the mother surviving until 1907. In their family were six children, namely : Christine, the wife of Victor Hultgren, residing in Andover township; Emily, who married Charles Eckman of Nebraska; Frank, of Andover township; Tilda, the wife of Bengt Anderson, of Andover; Otto, residing in Andover ; and Maggie, who married the subject of this review.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were born four children, namely: Ada, born on the 12th of December, 1886, who attended school in Minnesota and is now at home with her father; Anna, born March 24, 1887, the wife of Elmer Gustafson, of Andover, by whom she has two children, Lester and Chester, twins; Jesse, born December 14, 1889, who is at home and operates his father's farm; and Benjamin, who passed away at the age of two years and was interred beside his mother. Mrs. Anderson was called to her final rest on the 30th of January, 1896, and was buried in Andover township cemetery. She was a most estimable woman, a loving wife and mother and a true friend, and her death was the occasion of deep regret on the part of her many friends.
The religious faith of Mr. Anderson is indicated in his membership in the Swedish Lutheran church of Andover, in which he is serving as deacon. His political affiliations are with the republican party to the principles of which he
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gives stalwart support. He has served as collector both of Linn and Osco town- ships and also as a member of the school board in Linn township, and he is recognized as a public-spirited citizen whose influence and activity are always upon the side of progress, reform, improvement and advancement. Starting out in life to earn his own living at an age when other lads are still busy with their text- books, Mr. Anderson has worked his way steadily upward through the intervening years until, entirely through his own energy and well directed efforts, he has reached a foremost place among the substantial and well-to-do residents of the township. He not only occupies one of the most responsible positions of trust in the town of Osco, but is also the owner of a very valuable farming property and a fine dwelling in town which he rents, his various interests returning to him a most gratifying annual income. And yet his efforts have not been devoted to his own advancement entirely but have been potent factors in the growth and development of the community at large, the consensus of public opinion according him a high place among the honored and valued citizens of Osco township
R. AUGUSTUS LITTLE.
A life beautiful in its purposes and honorable in its activities was closed in the death of R. Augustus Little. He belonged to a family who were the first white settlers to establish a home in the village of Wethersfield, and there, in a little log cabin, his youthful days were passed while the county was emerging from pioneer conditions and taking on the evidences of a progressive civilization. He was the representative of one of the old New England families. The first of the name in America came to Newbury, Massachusetts, from Unicorn street near London bridge in the city of London in 1640. This was George Little-a man of ability, notable for his fairness in all business transactions. He had four sons, the youngest of whom was Moses Little, who was born in March, 1657, and married Lydia Coffin. They lived in Newbury, Massachusetts, and had three sons and three daughters, of whom Tristram Little, the second child, was born December 9, 1681, and passed away November II, 1765. He had been married on the 30th of October, 1707, to Sarah Dole, who was born February 12, 1690, and died in 1780. He was a farmer and built in part the house now occupied by William Little of Newbury, Massachusetts-the building having now stood for more than a century and a quarter. The next in line of descent was Henry Little, the seond child and eldest son of Tristram and Sarah (Dole) Little. He was born December 31, 1710, and died in November, 1786. His marriage was celebrated December 7, 1738, on which date he wedded his cousin Lydia Little, who was born August 25, 1717, and died February 4, 1798. Henry Little was a man of great physical strength and was noted for his liberal and warm-hearted hospitality and open-handed style of living. He became the father of eleven children, five sons and six daughters, of whom his namesake, Henry Little, Jr., was the fifth child. His birth occurred November 26, 1747, and his death April 27, 1807. In June, 1770, he married Elizabeth Bailey, of Salem, New Hampshire, who was born June 6, 1752, and died September 21,
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1803. Henry Little II was a farmer and made his home in Salem, New Hamp- shire. Unto him and his wife were born six sons and two daughters, including Bailey Little, the grandfather of R. Augustus Little. He was born in Salem, New Hampshire, February 1, 1774, and died September 8, 1863.
Abner Bailey Little, the representative of the family in the sixth generation in the direct line of descent to R. Augustus Little, married Miss Nancy Tenney, a daughter of William and Phebe (Jewett) Tenney. Mrs. Nancy Little was born at Hollis, New Hampshire, January 29, 1782, and died July 9, 1847. While in New England Abner Bailey Little resided in Salem, Goffstown and Hollis, New Hampshire. A native of Hollis, New Hampshire, R. A. Little spent his early boyhood days there and at the age of eleven years started with his parents and three sisters for the west. They left their New England home October 4, 1836, and traveling after the slow and difficult manner which the pioneers knew so well, over roads which at times were almost impassable and at times led through dense forests, at length reached Peoria, Illinois, on the 3d of Novem- ber. From that point they proceeded a short distance to French Grove, where they spent the winter of 1836-7. On the Ist of March of the latter year the little party arrived in Wethersfield and made their home in a small log cabin at the edge of the woods. There was no settlement at Wethersfield as yet, the site of the town being marked only by a few poles tied together at the top that had been left by the Indians, and seventeen years were added to the cycle of the cen- turies before Kewanee was founded. The Black Hawk war had occurred only five years before, and there were many traces of Indian occupancy yet to be found in this part of the state. Nature was lavish in her resources, however, for the rich soil responded readily to the care and labor bestowed upon it after the first arduous work was done in breaking the prairie. The Little family lived in the primitive log cabin until the township was surveyed, a short time later, when Abner Bailey Little, the father, being the oldest man in the colony, through the courtesy of the other members was given the first choice of farms and chose that desirable location which was in the possession of his son, R. A. Little, for sixty-two years and is still owned and conducted by the family as a dairy and stock farm. In the fall of 1837 there was erected upon the place a substantial log cabin which is still in a state of good preservation. It contained but one room with a loft above, yet in the winter of 1837-8 it sheltered sixteen persons. Many were the happy family reunions held within its walls and on Sunday it was frequently the meeting-place of those who gathered for divine worship. This log cabin has now been enclosed that it may stand for many years to come, it being the oldest log house in this section of Illinois at the present time. Abner Bailey Little continued a resident of this county until his death, September 8, 1863, the years of his active life being devoted to farming. He was the father of twelve children, of whom Rodney Augustus Little was the eleventh in order of birth.
As his father was unable to do manual labor R. Augustus Little, though but a boy of twelve years, took upon himself the care of his parents as he was the only remaining son, the other brothers having their home and families to care for. The hardships and privations of pioneer life were a part of his daily lot, and his labors were too severe for one of his years, yet he never faltered nor
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complained. He spent many a day following behind a wooden plow and driving a team of oxen in order to break the sod which was hitherto uncultivated by the white man. He was ambitious to secure an education and utilized every oppor- tunity toward this end. He paid for his schooling-as there were no public schools at that time-by work which was done on farms, often by moonlight at night, or on an occasional day that he might spare from other duties. He told of walking eight miles on one occasion carrying a basket in which were two iron wedges, an ax and a maul. With his implements he felled the trees, cut them into ten-foot lengths and split them into rails to the number of one hundred as one day's work to pay for school privileges. In the early days markets were far distant, the farmers having to go to Peoria or Chicago with their produce. It was a thirteen days' trip with a lumber wagon, and they received only thirty- seven and a half cents per bushel for the best winter wheat. It cost at that time twenty-five cents to send a letter through the postoffice, and it is no wonder that correspondence was not very vigorously kept up between the pioneers of the western prairie and their old friends in the east. The early settlers, however, gave from their scanty earnings sufficient means to erect a schoolhouse and sup- port a school and also to build a little church.
Mr. Little's love for music and desire to benefit by its refining influence led him to take his earnings to Chicago where he received instruction under such talented teachers as Lowell Mason, William B. Bradbury, Frank Lombard and others. Later he purchased a violoncello, this being the first musical instrument of any kind in the township. With this to sustain the singing at the age of eighteens years he began his long career of service in the church as chorister, covering a period of over forty years with no remuneration but the satisfaction of having done his duty. He led the singing in the old log schoolhouse that was used as a church on Sundays, afterward in the first log church, and later in the First Baptist church. He subsequently acted as chorister in the Wethersfield Congragational church and in the Congregational church at Kewanee and was chosen as the leader of the choir at the dedication of the present Methodist church of Kewanee. When the Presbyterian church was organized he acted for many years in the same capacity, being also president of the board of trustees at the time his death. If he could assist the cause of Christ he made no distinc- tion in denominations. He taught music, not only to his family, among whose members an orchestra was maintained for many years, but also gave instruction in music in Saxon, Elmira and surrounding villages.
On the 8th of April, 1852, Mr. Little was united in marriage to Miss Lavan-, tia Irwin, who was born in Courtright, New York, May 6, 1832. They became parents of ten children : Ralph I., Walter A., Frank E., Clarence F., Clara, Louis H., Mary A., Nancy E., Roy A. and Charles T. The death of Mr. Little oc- curred August 29, 1899, and on the occasion of his burial, on the 31st of that month, a large concourse of neighbors and friends joined to pay their last tribute of honor and respect to one whose life was largely blameless, whose purposes were honorable and whose good deeds were manifold. Mr. Little was never too busy to aid a fellowman, to speak a word of kindly counsel or encouragement or to extend a helping hand if such were needed. It is fitting, therefore, that one of the finest monuments in the Wethersfield cemetery has been erected to
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his memory and will live to tell through future generations that the community lost one of its most valued and prominent citizens when he was called to the home beyond.
ALBERT WILLIAM WEIMER.
Albert William Weimer is one of the prosperous and progressive agricultur- ists of Henry county and in the management of his business affairs displays keen discernment, unfaltering enterprise and sound judgment. He now makes his home in Geneseo, from which point he superintends his extensive interests. He was born in this county, August II, 1865, and is a son of William and Susanna (Heller) Weimer, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. He is associated with his father in his business enterprise and further mention of the family is made in connection with the sketch of William Weimer on another page of this work.
The subject of this review has spent his entire life in the county of his na- tivity, his youthful days being passed on the home farm and when he had mastered the branches of learning taught in the district schools he continued his education in the Geneseo high school and in the Northwestern Normal, also attending the Davenport Business College. He thus received training which well qualified him for onerous duties which have devolved upon him in the management of his property interests. He resided upon his father's farm until recent years and became a partner with his father in the operation of the old home place in Geneseo township, where they were owners of seven hundred acres. They also owned large bodies of land in Thomas county, Kansas, having altogether eleven thousand acres. In 1898 Mr. Weimer removed from the farm to Geneseo, where for seven years he was engaged in the grain business but for the past three years has concentrated his energies upon his investments in agricultural and manufact- uring interests. He is now engaged in the manufacture of building stone, does contract work and has erected many substantial buildings in different cities, in- cluding the handsome armory in Geneseo. He is likewise a director and the vice president of the Geneseo Savings Bank and his name is an honored one on all commercial papers. In the fall of 1909 Mr. Weimer and his father erected an auditorium and garage, being seventy-five feet front on First street and one hun- dred and thirty feet in depth. The structure is two stories in height; of rubble vitrified brick; is modern in all its appointments and a handsome addition to the business section of Geneseo.
On the IIth of January, 1887, Mr. Weimer was united in marriage to Miss Ella Tilfer, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Miller) Tilfer. Mrs. Weimer was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, August 2, 1869. Her parents were also natives of the Keystone state and they had two children, Ella B. and Belle. After the death of his first wife the father married again and there were two sons and three daughters of that union. Mr. Tilfer passed away in Nebraska, in which state his sons also died. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Weimer have been born eight children, five sons and three daughters: Harry W., Lillie D., Harley A.,
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Archie H., Vernie Howard, Frank H., Eva E. and Iva B. Mrs. Weimer is a member of the Unitarian church.
Mr. Weimer belongs to the Odd Fellows society, holding membership in Geneseo Lodge and Indian Encampment, while both he and his wife are con- nected with the Rebekahs, Mrs. Weimer having filled all of the chairs in the order while at the present time she is a past grand. Mr. Weimer also holds membership relations with the Yeomen, the Mystic Workers and the Modern Woodmen and Mrs. Weimer with the Royal Neighbors and the Ladies Circle. They are people of many social qualities, whose friendship is cherished by all who know them. Politically Mr. Weimer is a stalwart republican and for one term served as alderman from the second ward. He is a zealous advocate of the cause of education and while living on the farm served as a school director. He is an alert and enterprising business man, rejoicing in the opportunities for activity and in the improvement of chances which have come to him he has found the success which places him in prominent positions among the leading business men of this part of the state.
DANIEL OLMSTEAD HINMAN.
Daniel Olmstead Hinman, one of the agricultural community of Osco town- ship, was born on the farm on which he now lives, September 17, 1868, and is a son of William White and Clara (Olmstead) Hinman. The father was a native of Connecticut and was a son of Willis Hinman. He brought his family across the prairies from Dayton, Ohio, in the winter of 1850-51, and entered land in Henry county, Illinois, for which he paid one dollar and a quarter an acre. Dur- ing the progress of the Civil war William W. Hinman became a soldier in the Union army, having enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He served for three years, during which period he took part in many hard fought battles and participated is Sherman's march to the sea and in the grand review at Washington, D. C. Although always at his post of duty, Mr. Hinman was never wounded, though he was ill for a time. When his country no longer needed his aid, he returned to the farm and took up the life he had left, and was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits until a paralytic stroke compelled his retirement and removal to Cambridge. There, in February; 1893, he passed away.
Daniel Olmstead Hinman spent his boyhood upon the home farm, assisting in its work as soon as he was able. He attended the district schools and went later to the Geneseo Collegiate Institute, at which his formal education was completed and from which he went forth to make his own way in the world. First he se- cured employment in the elevator and lumberyards of Elliott Hinman at Cam- bridge, where he continued to work until his father's incapacity compelled him to return home and assume the management of the farm. This embraces one hundred ninety-three and a half acres of the father's estate and is situated on section 26, Osco township. To its cultivation Mr. Hinman has devoted himself for the last twenty years.
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In Osco township, February 2, 1889, he married Miss Kate Purviance, a na- tive of Osco township and a daughter of David and Hannah (Morton) Purviance. They have two children: Earl Herbert, who was born in Cambridge and is a graduate of the high school there ; and Gladys Elizabeth, an interesting little daugh- ter. Mr. Hinman has always given his support to the republican party, with which he finds himself in closest accord, but he has never sought public preferment. He is a member of Grace Episcopal church, Osco. Fraternally he is connected with Cambridge Lodge, No. 49, A. F. & A. M., and among his fellow members has made many stanch friends.
AUGUST H. MAGERKURTH.
August H. Magerkurth is now a retired farmer living in Geneseo. Through the period of early manhood and through the prime of life he was diligently em- ployed in the work of the fields and since 1901 has been enabled by reason of his former success to enjoy a well earned rest. He was born in Hanover, Germany, September 3, 1839, and was one of the five children of Frederick and Wilhelmina (Gremmes) Magerkurth. The father engaged in farming on a small scale in Germany, where he remained until 1871 when he came to America and lived with his son August in Clinton county, Iowa, remaining with him until shortly prior to his death. He passed away at the home of his daughter near Port Byron in Rock Island county, Illinois, in 1892 when seventy-seven years of age. His wife had died in Germany about 1867. Both were consistent members of the Luth- eran church. Their family numbered four sons and one daughter.
August H. Magerkurth, who was the eldest and is the only one now living, was reared and educated in Germany, spending his youthful days on his father's farm. In 1864 when, twenty-five years of age he came to America, settling at Hampton, Rock Island county, Illinois, where he worked at farming by the month. He was desirous of engaging in business for himself that he might enjoy the prof- its of his own labors and in 1867 with the money which he had saved from his earnings he purchased sixty acres of land in Clinton county, Iowa, removing thereon in 1868. At length he sold that property and made investment in eighty acres in Edford township, Henry county, Illinois, where he lived until 1892. He then purchased fifty acres in Geneseo township near the city of Geneseo and lived upon that farm for about nine years or until 1901 when he removed to Gen- eseo and has since made his home on West North street. He has disposed of his farm property and now lives retired for his financial resources are sufficient to supply him with the comforts and some of the luxuries of life.
On the 8th of September, 1867, Mr. Magerkurth was married to Miss Maria Garnett, a native of Saxe, Germany, and a daughter of Henry Garnett, who was a blacksmith by trade. They have become the parents of twelve children, six sons and six daughters : Henry, the eldest, a farmer of Osco township, married Anna Ernst and they have four children, Ida, Walter, Albert and Edward; Frederick, Johan and Wilhelm, all died of diphtheria when young; Emma is the wife of John Fisher ; Louis is at home; Wilhelmina is the wife of Albert Stensel and they have
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two children, Helen and Elmer ; Margaretta, George, Anna and Clara are all yet under the parental roof; and Fred died in Clinton county, Iowa.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Magerkurth are members of the Lutheran church and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He has served as road overseer and was school director in both Edford and Geneseo townships. Never remiss in the duties of citizenship he cooperated in many movements for the gen- eral good but his attention was chiefly directed to his farming interests and his work as an agriculturist was crowned with a substantial measure of success.
WILLIAM DAVIS COLBY.
Among the leading, respected and representative citizens of Henry county is numbered William Davis Colby, who is now following farming on section 25, Cornwall township. He is the owner of five hundred and twenty acres of rich and valuable land near Atkinson and the neat and thrifty appearance of the place indicates him to be a man of excellent business judgment and progressive methods. He was born at Clary's Grove, Menard county, Illinois, November 25, 1838, and is a son of Jonathan and Lydia (Ingalls) Colby. The father was a native of Hop- kinton, New Hampshire, and the mother of Abington, Connecticut. Each had gone to Menard county when single and there became acquainted and were mar- ried. The paternal grandfather, Timothy Colby, was also a native of Hopkin- ton, where he spent his days on the old homestead which had been the property of his father, William Davis Colby. The family for generations has been iden- tified with agricultural interests. It was in the year 1834 that Jonathan Colby arrived in Menard county. He had previously acquired a good education and had spent two years in Boston. He was born in 1808 and was, therefore, about twenty-six years of age when he sought a home in the middle west. He brought with him some capital, which he invested in land, making the purchase from "Slicky Bill" Green-the man who sold Abraham Lincoln his store. In Menard county Jonathan Colby was married and spent his remaining days, giving his time and attention to general farming.
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