USA > Illinois > Henry County > History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 56
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William Davis Colby remained with his father until he went away to school, pursuing his studies in Lee Center Academy in Lee county, Illinois, through two winters, while later he attended the North Sangamon Academy in Menard county for a short time. He began teaching in the country schools in Menard county, devoting two winter seasons to that profession. He was a young man of twenty-three years when, on the 11th of August, 1862, he enlisted as a mem- ber of Company F, One Hundred and Fourteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was sent to Camp Butler at Springfield and was first under fire at Jackson, Mississippi. He also participated in the siege of Vicksburg, was again at Jack- son and was in the engagement at Guntown or Brice's Cross Roads, where he was captured, being sent thence to Andersonville. Later he was transferred to Savannah, Georgia, then to Millen, afterward was returned to Savannah and subsequently was taken to Florence, South Carolina, and to Goldsboro, North Carolina. While at the latter place he was paroled and sent to Wilmington, North
WILLIAM D. COLBY
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Carolina, after which he returned to Menard county. The food supplies at Florence were so scarce that he was nearly starved and suffered from break- bone fever and when the company left there he was forced to remain because of his illness. He was held as a prisoner of war for eight and a half months and as the result of the incarceration continued in ill health until after the close of hostilities. As soon as possible he resumed farming, however, and on the 3Ist of August, 1866, came to Annawan township and purchased a farm of two hundred acres of wild land, which he began to prepare for a home.
On the 16th of January, 1868, Mr. Colby was married in Menard county to Miss Mary E. Dodds, a native of Sangamon county, Illinois, born November 2, 1840, and a daughter of the Rev. Gilbert and Mary (Clinton) Dodds, who re- moved to Menard county when their daughter, Mrs. Colby, was but six years of age. She acquired a good education and taught school at one time. Five children were born of this union. Alfred Ingalls, who was graduated from the Geneseo Collegiate Institute with the class of 1888, afterward entered the business college in Davenport. He was married in Geneseo, February 9, 1893, to Miss Eva Blanche Vail and later went to Andrew county, Missouri, where he engaged in farming. At his death, which was occasioned by the falling of a tree March 24, 1899, he left two children : Mary Ruth and William Davis. Lydia, who was graduated from the Geneseo Collegiate Institute in the class of 1890, afterward taught in the country schools and in 1895 entered the normal school at Normal, Illinois, where she completed the course in two years. She then engaged in teaching in Kewanee for two years. She received her diploma in 1899 and was then appointed critic teacher in the second and third grades in the normal school at DeKalb by President John W. Cook. She held that position for one year and then became ill as the result of an injury sustained while playing basketball at the normal. Alice Dodds, who was graduated from the Geneseo Collegiate Institute in the class of 1890, later attended the Columbia School of Oratory in Chicago, from which she was graduated in 1898. She was married on the 20th of October of the same year to Rev. William George Ramsey, who is now pastor of the Congregational church at Eldora, Iowa, where they make their home. Mary died in infancy. William Davis Colby, the fifth to bear that name in different generations, attended the Geneseo Collegiate Institute and also the Wesleyan University at Bloomington, but left school on account of ill health. He was married December 25, 1901, to Miss Fannie Jane Vail, of Gene- seo. He is a farmer in Cornwall and has two children, Alfred Vail and Wil- liam George.
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. William Davis Colby lived in Annawan until 1877, when he purchased a farm on section 27, Cornwall township, of one hundred and sixty acres. He made it his home for a few years and in 1885 pur- chased his present farm on section 35, Cornwall township. He is today one of the extensive landowners of the county and one of the leading citizens. His wife died May 19, 1907, and was laid to rest in the Liberty Congregational cemetery in Cornwall township.
Mr. Colby is a republican and attended the big rally at Springfield in 1860. He always supported the party since casting his first presidential ballot for Abra- ham Lincoln, whom he heard deliver a temperance speech when Mr. Colby was
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a small boy. In community affairs Mr. Colby has taken an active and helpful interest. He has served as school treasurer for many years and was supervisor for one term. He belongs to the Baptist church of Tallula, Illinois, and his daughter Lydia, who is now acting as his housekeeper, is a member of the Con- gregational church and is also connected with the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution at Geneseo.
WILLIAM HAMPTON STURM.
Despite many hardships and discouragements William Hampton Sturm has come out ahead in the battle of life. His industry, thrift and perseverance, as well as his determination to win have overcome great obstacles, and he is now one of the prosperous farmers of Henry county, Illinois. In all he owns two hundred and sixty-six acres in Munson township, a part of it on section 12 where he lives, the remainder on section 13. A native of this state, he was born in Peoria county, February 18, 1850, a son of William and Mary Ann (Swiger) Sturm. He was reared on a farm, which remained his home until he became twenty-one, and re- ceived a good common-school education. His father owned a farm in Peoria county, on which he worked even after his parents removed to Stark county, in 1871, where the father had purchased another farm. He went to that county, however, a few years later when the father desired to work at his trade of black- smithing. In 1875 he built a barn on the home place which continued to be his place of residence until he was twenty-nine years of age, when he bought eighty acres of land in Stark county. There he lived in bachelor's quarters for about two years, making a good home for himself, and to it brought his bride in 1881. A short time after his marriage he sold the Stark county farm and went to Marion county, Kansas, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of improved land. The move was not a fortunate one, however, for his crops failed him entirely and after a year and a half there he lost all he had started with and was compelled to look for work by the day as means of subsistence.
Mr. Sturm rented a house at Osceola, Stark county, Illinois, but after three months removed to Elmira township, that county, where he secured work by the day. The following summer he rented land, raised a good crop and made a fresh start. He continued to rent land, however, until 1899, when he bought one hun- dred and twenty acres in Annawan township, this county. This he sold after a few months with a little profit and in 1903 bought his present farm of one hundred and twenty acres. He paid sixty-six dollars an acre for the property, but it has so increased in value in the last six years that it is now worth more than twice that amount. Since coming to this farm fortune has smiled on Mr. Sturm, his crops have thrived and his harvests have been bountiful, and in 1909 he was able to purchase one hundred and forty-four more acres at one hundred and eighteen dollars per acre. He follows general farming but is also a breeder of Duroc Jer- sey hogs.
In Toulon, Stark county, May 9, 1881, was celebraed the marriage of Mr. Sturm to Miss Sarah Allett Woodward, a daughter of Daniel and Mary A. (Hol-
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MRS. WILLIAM D. COLBY
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labaugh) Woodward. She was born in Stark county and received a fair educa- tion from the country schools. Their union has been blessed with seven children : Loren Nelson, born in Stark county, living at home; Rose Raymond, also born in Stark county, living at home; Jessie, born in Stark county, the wife of Louie Schnowske, of Munson township; one who died in infancy; Lloyd, born one mile east of Neponset; Glen, born in Bureau county; and Iva, born in Annawan township, Henry county.
In political matters Mr. Sturm gives his support to the democratic party, and while he is not an office seeker he served for one term as road commissioner in Stark county. When he was a resident of Toulon he became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but has not kept up his membership. Cour- age, fortitude and indomitable industry are the qualities that distinguish Mr. Sturm's life record. By these he has been able to conquer misfortune and by these he has been able to attain to a substantial position among the citizens of Munson township, among whom he has many friends who wish him well and are rejoiced at his success.
JOHN FISCHER.
John Fischer, organizer and president of the Kewanee Savings Bank, is also connected with various other interests, which make his life record an integral chapter in the history of the city's business development and upbuilding. To those familiar with his life it seems trite to say that he is a self-made man who has worked his way upward from a humble beginning, but in a history that descends to future generations it is but just to say of him that his record is such as any man might be proud to possess in that he has never made engagements that he has not fulfilled nor incurred obligation that he has not met. He, therefore, en- joys in large measure the respect and confidence of his business colleagues and associates, and the wise use which he has made of his time, talents and oppor- tunities constitutes an example that may well be followed by others.
Mr. Fischer was born in Schaffhausen, Prussia, Germany, February 20, 1858. and in the year 1870 was brought to America by his parents, Peter and Marguerite Fischer, who arrived in Kewanee in June of that year. His father, who had been a carpenter and mine boss in Germany, worked in the mines of Henry county for a number of years or until his death which occurred in 1878. His widow long survived him and died in 1892 at the age of seventy-two years.
John Fischer attended the public schools of his native land until coming to America when a youth of twelve years. He afterward spent two years as a pupil in a country school of Kewanee township and then began his business career by working in the mines with his father. He was thus employed for three weeks, which he says was one of the happiest periods of his life. It gave him his first days of earning his own money and the feeling of independence which comes therefrom. He afterward worked on a farm for two years and on the expiration of that period began delivering groceries for the firm of Wood & Lewis. When that partnership was dissolved and he was in consequence thrown out of employ-
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ment, he secured a situation with the Haxtun Steam Heater Company at seventy- five cents per day, but three months later L. W. Lewis again embarked in the grocery business and Mr. Fischer once more entered his employ, a fact indicative of his faithfulness as well as his capability. He afterward spent one year as a salesman in the employ of M. C. Quinn, and at the end of that time he purchased the store owned by Mr. Lewis and continued in the grocery business alone for three years. He was then senior partner of the firm of Fischer & Mayhew from 1884 until 1889, when he sold out to his partner and entered the real-estate loan business, his previous success equipping him for the conduct of a business of this character. He did the largest business in his line in the city. In 1890 he pur- chased stock in the First National Bank, of which he afterward became a director, and for five years he was vice president of the institution. He is now secretary, treasurer and general manager of the Kewanee Coal & Mining Company, and various other enterprises owe their successful conduct in no small degree to his indefatigable industry and sound business judgment. In November, 1901, he or- ganized the Savings Bank of Kewanee and from the beginning has been its presi- dent, instituting the policy of its conduct upon which its success has been built. He also organized the Fischer Lumber Company of Kewanee, Missouri, which town was named in honor of his home city, Kewanee, Illinois. He is now the president of that comapny and is still a stockholder in the First National Bank. His business judgment is sound and his success is largely due in fact to his recognition and improvement of opportunities which others have passed by heedlessly.
On the 2d of October, 1883, was celebrated the marriage of John Fischer and Miss Etta R. Lyle, a daughter of George and Sarah (Snugs) Lyle. Mr. and Mrs. Fischer have three living children: Dr. Haydn L., a graduate of the Uni- versity of Chicago and the Northwestern Medical University of Chicago, has been admitted to practice and is now an interne in Chicago. J. Emmons is a teller in the Savings Bank of Kewanee. George Lyle is still in school.
Mr. Fischer has been a stalwart advocate of the republican party since casting his first presidential vote for James A. Garfield, but is not an aspirant for office. In his religious belief he is a Catholic and in his social relations is connected with the Kewanee and Commercial Clubs. When once he marks out a course for himself he follows it with tenacity and he has earned for himself an enviable reputation as a careful man of business, while in his dealings he is known for his prompt and honorable methods which have won him the deserved and unqualified confidence of his fellowmen.
ANDREW WEIDLEIN.
Andrew Weidlein, the owner of valuable farming property in Osco township, is now living retired in Geneseo, where he has made his home for fifteen years. Earnest, persistent labor and the intelligent direction of his business efforts in former days brought to him the success which he now enjoys. He was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, April 16, 1840, his parents being John and Elea- nora (Emert) Weidlein, both of whom were natives of Germany. The grand-
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father, John Weidlein, was likewise born in the same country and was a worthy representative of the Teutonic race. Attracted by the opportunities of the new world he came to America and devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, until his labors were ended in death. His wife also died there. The family numbered three sons and two daughters. The ma- ternal grandfather of our subject was Andrew Emert. He and his wife, Mar- garet Emert, also became residents of Pennsylvania when they crossed the briny deep to the new world. In that state Mrs. Emert died and Mr. Emert afterward removed to Henry county, Illinois. His death occurred in Morristown, this state, when he had traveled far on life's journey. Their family numbered eleven children.
John Weidlein, the father of Andrew Weidlein, was a blacksmith by trade. On coming to America he settled in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and in the fall of 1851 arrived in Rock Island. Soon afterward he took up his abode at Morristown, Henry county, where he engaged in farming and stock raising. He entered six hundred and forty acres of land in Osco township in his own name, and although the major part of it was wild and unimproved when it came into his possession he at once began its development and devoted three years to tilling the soil. He then sold out and removed to another farm comprising three hun- dred and twenty acres in Edford township, upon which place he lived until his removal to Geneseo, or about 1883. The remaining years of his life were spent in honorable retirement, for the fruits of his former toil were sufficient to enable him to rest without further recourse to labor in order to meet his expenses. He remained an honored and respected citizen of Geneseo for twenty years, or until his death in 1903, when he had reached the advanced age of eighty-nine years. His wife died in 1894 when about eighty years of age. Both were consistent mem- bers of the Lutheran church. When in Germany Mr. Weidlein served for three years in the regular army. Of the thirteen children born unto him and his wife seven are now living: Andrew, Philip, Louis, Jacob, George, Edward, and Val- entine.
Andrew Weidlein was only eleven years of age when the family left the Keystone state and came to Henry county. Here he was reared on the home farm and early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist as he cultivates his fields and cares for his live stock. He mas- tered the branches of learning taught in the district schools and when not busy with his text-books was usually employed in some work on the farm. He re- mained at home until he reached adult age and then, deciding to engage in business on his own account, he bought a farm of two hundred and forty acres in Edford township from his father. There he lived for four years, after which he bought two hundred and forty acres of land in Osco township. The years chronicled his prosperity, and as time passed and his financial resources increased he added to his Osco township farm until within its boundaries are included four hundred and sixy-five acres, which he still owns. At one time he had one thousand acres. He has sold his Edford township farm but his real-estate holdings are now val- uable, and he derives therefrom a good rental. For fifteen years he has lived in Geneseo, leasing his farm to others. It is a finely improved property and there- fore brings to him a good return.
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On the 3d of April, 1864, occurred the marriage of Mr. Weidlein and Miss Sarah Elizabeth Conrad, who was born in Butler county, Pennsylvania, January 19, 1844. Her parents, Allimon and Elizabeth (Pierce) Conrad were also natives of the Keystone state, and the latter was a daughter of John and Mary (Rice) Pierce. In the year 1856 Mr. and Mrs. Conrad arrived in Henry county, living most of the time near Morristown during the period of their residence here. The father passed away at the age of fifty-five years, and the mother was almost ninety years of age at the time of her death. She came of a famliy noted for longevity, for her father reached the age of ninety-six years and her mother was ninety-three years of age when called to the home beyond.
Mr. and Mrs. Weidlein have become the parents of three sons and five daugh- ters : William Elmer, who now cultivates the old home place, married Miss Kittie Marlatt, and they have two children, Grace and Cleone; Joseph Clyde, living in Des Moines, Iowa, wedded Anna Glen, and they have five children, Boyd, Mil- dred, June, Oral, and Wilma; Mary L. is the wife of Harry King, of Champaign, Illinois, and their five children are Jessie, Hazel, Laura, Florence and Henry ; Elnora E. is the wife of John Schroeder, a farmer of Edford township, and they have two children, Lucille K. and John Arley; Arthur, who died March 2, 1909, had married Gertie Rogers and at his death left a daughter, Marie; Margaret Jessie died at the age of eleven years ; Carrie A. is the wife of Louis A. Schroeder, of Edford township, and they have two children, Merl and Kenneth; and Laura Edith, the youngest of the family, is the wife of Louis B. Rastede, of Geneseo, and they have one daughter, Marjorie.
The parents are members of the Congregational church and are interested in all those things which pertain to the uplifting of mankind and the betterment of the community at large. Politically Mr. Weidlein is a democrat and has rendered capable service in public office as road commissioner, pathmaster, supervisor and school director. Being nearly killed by a drunken man when a little boy, he has become a stanch supporter of prohibition. So situated in life as to enjoy its com- forts he and his family delight in dispensing the hospitality of their home to their many friends and in cooperating in movements which are directly beneficial to town and county.
ROBERT E. TAYLOR.
Robert E. Taylor, whose life has been one of continuous activity in which has been accorded due recognition of labor, is today numbered among the substantial citizens of Kewanee, the extent and importance of his business operations being such as to warrant his classification with the leading and representative men of the city. He was one of the organizers and has continuously been cashier of the Kewanee National Bank, and his wise counsel and indefatigable enterprise have also been salient factors in the successful conduct of other interests. A native of Canal, Venango county, Pennsylvania, he was born on the 21st of May, 1862, of the marriage of John and Lavina (Deets) Taylor. The father, a farmer by occu- pation, came to Illinois in 1866 and settled in Burns township, Henry county,
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where he purchased land, still owning three hundred and twenty acres there. He was descended from one of three brothers who arrived in America in colonial days, coming from Scotland, their native country, and taking up their abode in New Jersey, where they followed the occupation of farming. Later one of the number removed to Pennsylvania and became the progenitor of the line from which R. F. Taylor descends. Another of the brothers went to Massachusetts and the third to Virginia. Robert Taylor, the great-grandfather, enlisted as a soldier in the Continental army during the Revolutionary war, was captured by the British and made to take the oath of allegiance to the king. He remained, however, most loyal in spirit to the American cause. He took his family within the lines of the colonial army, where they did cooking for the soldiers. During the progress of the war he was sent by General Wool with dispatches to General Washington, and in order to reach the commander-in-chief he had to swim the icy waters of the Susquehanna river, for it was winter time, to escape the English. He safely reached the opposite bank, delivered his messages and in return received from General Washington messages for General Wool. He then swam the river again and ultimately reached his destination. The family continued residents of Pennsylvania until John Taylor removed to Illinois. He became a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska, in 1887 and has since lived retired there. Ten years before he had purchased a section of land, which he has improved and to the general super- vision of which he yet gives attention. He also retains his farming interests in Henry county, and, as in all of his business affair, his interests have been so intel- ligently directed that prosperity has resulted. He entered banking circles in con- nection with the Columbia National Bank, of which he was a director until its consolidation with the First National Bank, when he retired. His business prob- ity was ever above question, and his enterprise and industry constitute the foun- dation upon which he built his success. While residing in Henry county he was also prominent and influential in the public life of the community, serving for three years as supervisor of Burns township, also as school director for twenty years or more-the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion.
Robert E. Taylor supplemented his preliminary education, acquired in the pub- lic schools, by study in Hillsdale College at Hillsdale, Michigan, where he was graduated with the class of 1885. After finishing his course there he went to Lincoln, Nebraska, and entered business circles as a clerk in a hardware store, where he remained for about a year. He then returned to Kewanee and purchased an interest in the hardware store of Dickey & Houle, with whom he continued for three years, when he sold out and again went to Lincoln, Nebraska, to which city his parents had removed in the meantime. There he entered the American Exchange Bank as collector and bookkeeper with the object of learning the bank- ing business in principle and detail for the purpose of gaining experience that he might establish a bank of his own at a later day. He remained with that institution for about two years. Returning to Kewanee, after consulting a number of his friends and former business associates and thoroughly investigating the outlook, he organized the present Kewanee National Bank and has been its cashier since its inception. His equipment was good, his enterprise undaunted, and in the con- duct of the institution he has carefully formulated his plans and carried them forward to successful completion. In 1903 he extended the field of his activities
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by becoming one of the organizers of the State Bank of Toulon and still continues as one of its directors. Since the organization of the Kewanee Star-Courier Com- pany he has been a director and treasurer and is now also vice president of the same corporation. Mr. Taylor has invested quite largely in real estate in Kewanee and has been interested in a number of additions to the city and in the erection of a number of residences, whereby the attractive appearance of the city has been materially enhanced. He owns a business block on East Second street, also a brick block on Third street between Tremont and Main and has a frame business house adjoining it. He also has two hundred and forty acres of land at Lincoln, Nebraska, opposite W. J. Bryan's home at that place, and is interested in the First National Bank of Lincoln and some residence property. He has a magnificent country home at Sylvan Beach, Michigan, where he and his family spend their summer vacations.
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