USA > Illinois > Henry County > History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 64
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In his political convictions Mr. Wirt is a loyal republican, not active in polit- ical affairs but always interested. He has served as road commissioner ; was a town clerk for several years and is now, as he has been for a long term of years,
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a member of the town board. He holds membership in Alpha Lodge, I. O. O. F., and in the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. Wirt and his family attend the Methodist church and are liberal contributors, although not members. Their home, which is among the most imposing in the town, is situated near the south- ern boundary of the village of Alpha and is equipped with all the modern con- veniences and comforts. In his business relations, his home life, and as a mem- ber of the community, Mr. Wirt is entitled to the respect which he receives.
WILLIAM R. GOODRICH.
One of the special features in the towns and small cities of Illinois is the location in them of men who, having spent the years of their business activity in hard work, have now retired and are prepared to take more interest in local affairs. Having the time and opportunity, they are able to give the best of them- selves to the betterment of their community and they are therefore numbered among the most desirable residents of the places in which they see fit to locate. Kewanee is fortunate in having a number of these retired business men in its midst, and one deserving of more than special mention is William R. Goodrich. He enjoys the distinction of being one of the few in this part of the country who were born in the Sandwich Islands, his birth having occurred in Hilo, Hawaii, February 20, 1832, at a time when his father, the Rev. Joseph Goodrich, was a missionary of the Congregational church to the island.
Joseph Goodrich and his wife, Martha (Barnes) Goodrich, were both born in Wethersfield, Connecticut, of English descent. By trade he was a ship car- penter, but felt called upon to devote himself to the ministry and having been ordained he was sent to Hawaii in 1822. During the many years he spent in that far-away land, Mr. Goodrich accomplished a wonderful amount of good and had the satisfaction of increasing the membership of his church until it num- bered five thousand souls. It finally became the largest mission in the world. Having ended his pastorate there, this excellent man returned to his old home in 1836, and that same fall journeyed to Henry county, Illinois, making the trip from Chicago by wagon. Arriving here he located in what is now Kewanee township and following the custom of pioneers, entered one hundred and sixty acres of prairie land and one hundred and twenty acres of timber land. The death of the Rev. Joseph Goodrich occurred February 19, 1852, upon the farm he had secured from the government. No words are adequate to express the good accomplished by this missionary, but the results of his work still live and keep his memory green.
William R. Goodrich only attended school held in a primitive log building, which served as both schoolhouse and church edifice, but has never failed to learn from experience and is a well informed man. During the time he was attending school, he helped his father upon the farm, and remained with him until the father's death. Shortly afterward, he began learning the trade of a carpen- ter and working at it. In 1855 he built the first schoolhouse in Kewanee, for H. G. Little and Nelson Lay. It was a one-story building fourteen by twenty-
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four feet, and the community was proud of it at that time. After four years' work at his trade, Mr. Goodrich erected a building and started the first bakery in Kewanee, but in three years' time turned it into a restaurant. This he con- ducted and also worked at gunsmithing until 1886, when he sold his interests and since then has been enjoying a well earned repose.
On November 22, 1857, occurred the marriage of Mr. Goodrich and Miss Harriet M. Slocum, who is a daughter of L. O. Slocum, a shoemaker, who came to Kewanee in 1856. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Goodrich are five in num- ber, as follows: William B., of Chicago; Roland S., of southern Oregon; Fred- erick Grant, of Kewanee; Charles E., also of Kewanee; and Lewis J., an osteo- pathic physician of Santa Barbara, California.
Ever since the organization of the republican party Mr. Goodrich has affiliated with it and stanchly supported its candidates. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Mutual Aid. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a trustee for six years, and for fourteen years he has acted as its janitor. During his active life Mr. Goodrich was a shrewd business man, who looked after his own interests while guarding those of his customers, and he established himself firmly in the confidence and respect of the community.
ROBERT J. HAWTHORNE.
Robert J. Hawthorne owns a farm of eighty acres on section 22, Burns town- ship, on which he makes his home, and he likewise operates one hundred and sixty acres in Burns township, belonging to his wife. Mr. Hawthorne was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, July 7, 1856. His father, Robert Hawthorne, was born in County Derry, Ireland, and when a young man came to the new world, . locating in Philadelphia, where he worked as a machinist, having learned his trade in the old country. When only about thirty years of age, his finger was accidentally caught in a machine and cut off, and later blood poison developed, which caused his death. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Esther McRell, was a daughter of Robert McRell, a native of County Derry, Ireland, who came to America at an early day. Following the death of Mr. Hawthorne, his wife came with her three small children to Henry county from Philadelphia and in this section reared her family and spent her remaining days, her death occurring ยท in Burns township in 1906, when she was seventy-six years of age.
Robert J. Hawthorne was a little lad of seven years at the time the home was established in Henry county. He was the second in order of birth, having a sister older and a brother younger. Prior to the removal from Philadelphia the son had attended the public schools of that city for two years. He resumed his studies in the district schools of Burns township, after which he went to Jack- sonville, Illinois, where he pursued a course in Brown's Business College, while later he spent one year in a literary college in that city and still later spent a similar period in the Illinois College at that place. Having thus prepared him- self for starting out in business on his own account, Mr. Hawthorne then re- turned to Burns township and engaged in teaching for two years. However,
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farm life seemed to appeal more favorably to him and at the end of that time he purchased his home farm of eighty acres, located on section 22, Burns township, and this he has since continued to cultivate. He has here erected a nice country home, has built all the barns and outbuildings that are seen on the place, having a grain elevator and a corn crib with a capacity of four thousand bushels. He has also put up a windmill and installed a four horse power gasoline engine. In addition to cultivating his own land, Mr. Hawthorne also operates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Burns township, belonging to his wife. In addition to his home farm he likewise owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Okla- homa. He raises Poland China hogs to a considerable extent and also raises cattle.
Mr. Hawthorne was married in Galva, Illinois, on the 18th of November, 1880, the lady of his choice being Miss Lucy Bason, a daughter of John and Eva (Gabler) Bason, the former a native of Peoria county, Illinois, while the latter was born in Germany. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne have been born seven children : Raymond J., who is engaged in farming in Burns township; Mabel, the wife of William J. Binge, who is also engaged in farming in this township; Rose, a young lady of twenty-three years, now engaged in teaching in her home district; Elmer G., who is twenty years of age and is assisting his father on the farm; Clarence, who died at the age of eighteen months; Edith, who at the age of thirteen years, is attending school; and Edna May, ten years of age, and also in school.
Politically Mr. Hawthorne is a democrat and always takes an active part in local affairs. The confidence which the public places in him is indicated in the fact that for eighteen years he served as township treasurer, while for a similar period he served as township clerk and for nine years filled the office of school director. His fraternal relations connect him with the Elks lodge at Kewanee. The spirit of self-help is the source of all genuine worth in the individual and this truth is abundantly verified in the life of Mr. Hawthorne. Steadily pursuing his way undeterred by the obstacles and difficulties in his path, he is achieving a prosperity of which he has every reason to be proud.
DR. ROBERT T. WHITE.
Dr. Robert T. White, veterinary surgeon of Annawan and assessor of the township of the same name, is one of the best known men of Henry county and certainly no one stands higher in the estimation of his neighbors. Not only is he an expert veterinarian, but he is an upright, public spirited man, and he and Mrs. White are noted for their generosity to others less fortunate than they. Dr. White was born in Kewanee, Illinois, June 14, 1860, a son of Hugh and Elizabeth (Grape) White.
Hugh White, born in Wellsburg, West Virginia, in 1834, was a landowner and importer of heavy draft horses, going abroad ten times for his fine animals. In 1854 he came to Illinois, settling in Peoria, and was an engineer for three or four years but in 1858 he moved to Henry county. For some time he conducted
ROBERT T. WHITE.
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a flour mill in Annawan and then turned his attention to dealing in horses and continued along this line until his demise, March 24, 1906. His remains were in- terred in Annawan cemetery. Fraternally he was a Mason. Politically he pre- ferred to support the man rather than be confined by party lines, and he served on the town board of Annawan. His wife was born in Germany in 1832 and survives, making her home with a daughter in Minneapolis. The five children born to them were as follows: Henry R., deceased; Robert T .; Mrs. L. H. Bowhan, who lives in Minneapolis; Mrs. Mary E. Tolman, who resides at Red Oak, Iowa; and Mrs. George Squires, who lives at Mineral, Illinois.
Dr. White was educated in the public schools of Annawan, later attending the Chicago Veterinary College, from which he was graduated in 1890. He took a post-graduate course at McKillip's School of Chicago. Having thus com- pleted his studies and fitted himself for his profession, Dr. White located at Annawan, where he has built up a large and flourishing practice that extends all over the county. In connection with his profession, he belongs to the state and national veterinary societies. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias order. In his political faith he is a democrat, but like his father believes more in worth than party principles. He has served as a member of the village coun- cil and president and member of the school board, and at present is assessor of Annawan township.
On September 29, 1881, Dr. White married Miss Ursula Slutz, who was born in Holmes county, Ohio, near Wooster, October 14, 1865, a daughter of Grafton and Sarah (Brown) Slutz.
Her father was born in Wooster, May 8, 1845, and her mother was born in the same place in April, 1846. They were married April 3, 1861, at Massillon, Ohio. Mr. Slutz was a professor in the Wooster schools and an excellent pen- man, and for thirty-two years after coming to Kewanee he continued teaching, being one of the best known educators in Henry county, and he received the highest salary paid to Annawan's teachers. He also conducted a store at Wethersfield, after which he began canvassing for an eastern firm and was killed by a train, October 19, 1906. His widow survives and has lived with Mrs. White since her husband's demise. They were the parents of five children, namely : Ursula, now Mrs. White; William, who died when eight months old; Harriet, the wife of Rollin Becker, of White Falls, Michigan; Myron Foster, deceased; and J. Walter, who lives in Carpenterville, Illinois. Mr. Slutz was a strong democrat, as well as a capable man in every particular, coming of a bril- liant family. A brother of his is a clergyman in Colorado.
Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. White, all in Annawan. They are as follows: Florence, born February 16, 1883, married H. H. Treffer of Daven- port, Iowa, a ladies' tailor, and she has made two trips to Europe. Mabel, born August 31, 1884, married H. P. Slater of Solon, a druggist, who owns his store. She attended the hospital training school at Geneseo and also at Galesburg, practicing at Belvidere, Illinois, with marked success. Elizabeth, born October 22, 1886, married William Atkinson and they live in Elgin, Illinois, where he is a train dispatcher, but his people reside at London, Canada. Mrs. Atkinson is a graduate of the Annawan schools. Hugh White, born October 24, 1894, is now attending St. Ambrose School at Davenport, Iowa. Harriet, born July 7,
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1896, is attending school in Annawan, as well as studying music with the Cath- olic Sisters. A born musician, her parents have given her every advantage and are very proud of her talent. The youngest of the family is William, born April 1, 1898.
Dr. and Mrs. White have spent the twenty-eight years of their married life in Annawan, twelve in a cottage across the street from their present beautiful home, which is simply elegant in every detail and a gift from his mother to Dr. White. It is the finest in the city and would bear comparison with any home of its size in the country. It is beautifully furnished and thoroughly modern in every respect. The house is set on an elevation from which the well kept lawn rolls down to the street. They keep several horses and have several handsome vehicles.
Mrs. White is a member of the Royal Neighbors but she devotes most of her time outside her home to Christian Science, being an ardent advocate of the teachings of Mrs. Eddy. In her placid face are reflected only good, true, high purposes and lofty thoughts, and through her influence, unconsciously though it may be exerted, many are helped to appreciate the beauty of her life.
In addition to other interests, Dr. White owns four hundred and eighty acres in North Dakota, and as a relaxation from his professional duties he goes there each summer to take part in the threshing. He has friends and patrons all over Henry county, and he is appreciated not only as a professional man but also because of his sterling traits of character. Neither he nor his wife ever turn any one away from their doors empty handed. Whenever help is needed, they can be counted upon to supply it. Dr. White's office is on his home place in a neatly constructed little building, so that he is not long away from his family to whom he is so devoted. As a veterinary, he has few equals in this part of the state, and the success which is his has been well earned.
FRANK G. JOHNSON.
Frank G. Johnson, a citizen of Andover township, by birth as well as by choice, must be numbered among that admirable coterie who command the respect which the world instinctively pays to genuine worth. The date of his birth was January 8, 1859, his parents being Peter J. and Sarah (Larson) Johnson. Both father and mother were natives of Sweden and came to this country about 1854 when still quite young and here united their hands and fortunes in marriage. The father spent his life in tilling the fertile soil of Andover township, and he lived until 1897, surviving his wife by twenty years.
Like so many of America's worthiest citizens Frank G. Johnson was reared upon a farm and obtained his education in the public schools. In 1879, when about twenty years of age, he severed home ties and went to Colorado, where he engaged in agriculture for four years. His next move took him still farther west to Seattle, Washington, where he remained two years in the pursuance of various occupations, and then removed to Stockton, California. His residence there con- tinued until 1893, being variously employed. On account of his father's failing
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health he then returned to Andover and resumed farming, which he has since fol- lowed. Broadened by wide experience with men and diverse sections of country he was especially well fitted to take his place as a public-spirited citizen.
Mr. Johnson chose for his wife one of Henry county's daughters, Miss Vic- toria Young, whose parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Young, of Lynn township, are prominent in their community. Their marriage was celebrated March II, 1903, and three children have been born to them. Urban, the second in order of birth, was accidentally killed by the kick of a horse when only two years of age. A son and a daughter, Marvin C. and Olga, are not yet of school age. The family make their home on a farm adjacent to the village of Andover.
Mr. Johnson is a loyal republican and by no means one of those who play a pas- sive role in matters political. He has frequently represented his township at party conventions, and he is a member of the school board of Andover, a service which he has been called upon to give for a number of years. In 1908 he was elected a member of the county board of supervisors from Andover township and he is a member of the important committee on finance. Both Mr. Johnson and his wife are identified with the Evangelical Lutheran church and are very active in the support of it and its excellent projects. He is preeminently a public- spirited man and believes that public improvements should keep pace with the spirit of the times. He is a friend of good schools and all other movements cal- culated to advance public morals and commercial prosperity. Having said this it seems almost unnecessary to add that he stands high in the estimation of the people.
WILLIAM THOMAS STEVENS.
The citizens of Annawan township who do not know William Thomas Stevens are few and scattered, for not only is he one of the prosperous farmers and stock- men of this township but he has played a conspicuous part in local public affairs and in various organizations of a fraternal and social nature. One of Henry county's native sons, he was born in Alba township, December 17, 1863, his parents being Joseph and Catherine (Lamb) Stevens. The family was estab- lished in Illinois by Thomas Jefferson Stevens, the grandfather of William Thomas Stevens, who came here in 1838. He bought land at Buda, Bureau county, and there passed the remainder of his days.
His son, Joseph Stevens, the father of our subject, was born in Canterbury, New Hampshire, June 29, 1832, and was about six years of age when his parents made the tedious journey across the mountains and prairies to Illinois. He lived in Bureau county until he became of age, when, with the intention of establishing a home of his own he came to Annawan, Henry county, where he engaged in farming in partnership with his brother-in-law. Later he clerked in a store in the village and then, in 1861, having married, he secured some land in Alba township, north of town, on which he made his home for the next two years. At the end of that period he bought eighty acres of the farm on which his son, William T., now lives, paying ten dollars an acre for it. Thereon he put up a frame house six- teen by twenty-eight feet, which stood and was habitable, although additions had
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been made to it from time to time, until April 14, 1880, when it was burned. The loss was partially covered with insurance, however, and Mr. Stevens built an- other house later, which his son now occupies. In his business he was successful beyond the average, as is indicated by the fact that he added forty-seven acres to his landholdings and was prominent in local affairs, for he was justice of the peace for twenty years and served as road supervisor, school trustee and school director. In every capacity he proved that he was a man to be depended upon, one who held a high standard of ethics, and one who would not sacrifice truth or the public for the sake of personal benefit.
On the 2d of May, 1861, Joseph Stevens wedded Miss Catherine Lamb, who. was born in Selkirk, Scotland, May 21, 1835. She came to America with her parents in 1849, and for a year or two they lived in Boston, Massachusetts, whence they removed to Morris, Illinois, and finally came to Annawan, Henry county, where her father, William Lamb, became the first station agent of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway. He held that position until his death, which oc- curred in 1855. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stevens and four are still living. Cora Margaret was born in Alba township. William T., the subject, is the second of the family. Gertrude was born in Annawan township and died at the age of two years. Charles J. was born in Annawan, August 8, 1869, is now a conductor on the Rock Island Railway and lives in Annawan. He wedded Miss Grace Harris and they have four children. Lottie B. was born in Annawan township, May 28, 1872, and is now living in the village. She has not married. Mr. Stevens' long and useful life was brought to a close September 18, 1908, and his wife died on the 5th of April following. Their graves were made in Anna- wan cemetery.
William Thomas Stevens spent his boyhood days on the farm where he now lives and as a pupil in the district school obtained a substantial training in the branches that generally constitute the public school curriculum. He assisted his father in the work in the fields and remained with him until he was about twenty- eight years of age, when he assumed the management of the home place, and has since continued to operate it. It embraces one hundred and twenty-seven acres, for the estate has never been divided, and its soil, rich and arable, naturally, is being cultivated by such careful, scientific and progressive methods that bounti- ful harvests are annually gathered from it. Besides growing the crops best adapted to the character of his land and the climate, Mr. Stevens has also en- gaged extensively in raising, feeding and shipping stock and has found that this business is a profitable investment also. Industry, perseverance and good man- agement have been the means through which he has attained his success, which is both substantial and gratifying.
On the 26th of January, 1893, in Annawan, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Stevens and Miss Muriel McDermand, who was born in that village, Octo- ber 6, 1872, and is a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Topping) McDermand. The former was a native of Nova Scotia, and when a mere child was taken by his parents to Canada, where he lived until he was almost grown, when he came to Illinois. In Geneseo, Henry county, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Top- ping, who was a native of Canada but had resided in Geneseo since she was twelve. She was Mr. McDermand's second wife and became the mother of the
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following children: one who died in infancy; Ernest, who wedded Miss Anna Swanger and lives in North Dakota, where he is rearing their three children; Muriel, who is Mrs. Stevens; Blanche, who is the wife of James Smith, of Cash- mere, Washington; Prudence, the wife of Leroy Proper, who lives at East Lake, Michigan, and is the mother of three children: James William, who married Ursula Eyre and lives at Tiskilwa, Illinois, where he is rearing his three children ; and Ella, who is the widow of William J. Johnston, of Toulon, Illinois, and the mother of one child. Mr. and Mrs. McDermand were residents of Annawan for a long period.
In Mr. and Mrs. Stevens' family there are seven children, namely: Lyman, who was born in Annawan, October 27, 1893; Morrill, who was born May 13, 1895, and passed away at the age of two and one-half years; Lottie, born Feb- ruary 19, 1897; Joseph, who was born September 16, 1898, and died in infancy ; John, November 6, 1901 ; Charles, April 14, 1904; and Catherine, November 29, 1907.
Politically Mr. Stevens has always endorsed the democratic party and cast his first presidential ballot for Grover Cleveland in 1888. A man of liberal views he has rendered the township valuable service as school director and school trus- tee, and as highway commissioner he exerted his influence toward improving the roads of this section of the county. In the several fraternal organizations in this locality he has also played a conspicuous part, for he belongs to Annawan Camp, No. 117, M. W. A., has been a Knight of Pythias and with his wife belongs to the Royal Neighbors of Annawan. In the first mentioned society he has filled several offices of the local camp, of which he has been venerable consul, and which he represented at the head camp in 1897. He enjoys the friendship of many whose names are not included on the roll call of these societies, for his life, based upon substantial principles of upright manhood, is one which commands general respect, and in the highest degree, from those who have known him from boy- hood.
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