USA > Illinois > Henry County > History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 71
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In early manhood John R. Harbaugh learned and followed the carpenter's trade, but afterward turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits. The year 1850 witnessed his arrival in Bureau county, Illinois, and in 1852 he came
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to Henry county, settling in Phenix township, where he became the owner of two hundred and twenty-five acres of land, which he improved and upon which he reared his family. At the time of the Civil war he removed to Geneseo, where his death occurred in 1892, when he was seventy-seven years of age, his birth having occurred in 1815. His wife, who was born in 1818, also died at the age of seventy-seven years, passing away in 1895. They were consistent and devoted members of the Methodist church and Mr. Harbaugh was active and influential in community affairs, giving hs aid and influence at all times for gen- eral progress and improvement. He served as postmaster and was also justice of the peace for several years, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity. Unto him and his wife were born four sons and four daughters: Mary, the wife of J. J. Raser of Canon City, Colorado, had three children, one who died in infancy ; Clark, residing in Denver, Colorado; and Mrs. Mary Taylor, of Seattle, Washington. George, who was a soldier of the Civil war and died at the age of twenty-nine years, married Miss Lizzie Patton and had one child, who is deceased. William is next in order of birth. Melissa married George Raser and is now deceased. Frank, whose home is in Waterloo, Iowa, married Miss Rebecca Luther and has three children, Grace, Ina and John Chase. Eliza- beth, who is the widow of William Herman and lives in Los Angeles, Califor- nia, had two children, Eliza, deceased; and Frank, who resides in Los Angeles. Harriet died at the age of eight years. One child died in infancy.
In taking up the personal history of William Harbaugh we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in this part of the state. He was but six years of age when his parents removed to Bureau county, Illinois, and he has lived continuously in Henry county since the spring of 1852, or for a period of fifty-seven years. He was reared upon the home farm and the winter months were devoted to the acquirement of an education in the district schools and the farm work in the summer seasons. In August, 1862, when not yet eighteen years of age, he responded to the country's call for aid and joined the Union army as a member of Company K, One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served as a private for almost three years. He proved his loyalty on many a hotly contested battle field, participating in the engagements of Richmond, Kentucky, Knoxville, Tennessee, Bean Station, Calhoun, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, New Hope Church, Utoy Creek, and all of the movements of the army at the Atlanta cam- paign. He was also at Jonesboro, Columbia, Franklin and Nashville, and with his command proceeded to North Carolina, where he took part in the battles of Wilmington and Fort Anderson. He made a most creditable military record while at the front, never faltering in the performance of any duty whether on the lonely picket line or on the firing line.
When the war was over Mr. Harbaugh returned home and conducted a grocery and dry-goods store in company with I. S. Felger from the fall of 1865 until December, 1879. In 1880 he engaged in the sporting goods and poultry business, in which he continued for eight years, and later he was appointed postmaster of Geneseo under Benjamin Harrison's administration and served from 1890 until 1894. Since that time he has followed various pursuits. For the past twelve years he has been deputy collector of the township and the city
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of Geneseo and for four years has been notary public. No trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree and his official record is one over which there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil.
On the 17th of November, 1867, Mr. Harbaugh was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Luther, a daughter of George and Salome (Schock) Luther, and a native of Des Plaines, Illinois. Her parents were natives of Alsace-Lorraine, Germany, and coming to America settled at Des Plaines, but afterward took up their abode in Yorktown township, Henry county, and about 1860 became resi- dents of Geneseo, where their last days were passed. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Harbaugh was Jacob J. Luther, who married Louisa Saunders. They are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. The maternal grandfather was Adam Schock, who served in the German war of 1848. He died in Chicago at a very advanced age. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. George Luther were the follow- ing children: Louisa, who married I. S. Felger, of Geneseo; Caroline, who is the wife of Samuel Morrow; Rebecca, the wife of Frank Harbaugh, who re- sides in Waterloo, Iowa; David, deceased; Susan, who married J. W. Holden, and lives in Shenandoah, Iowa; and Mrs. Harbaugh.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Harbaugh has been blessed with one daughter, Bernice, who is now the wife of William C. Voss mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Harbaugh attend the Methodist church and he belongs to several fraternal organizations, including Winnebago Tribe, No. 334, I. O. R. M., and E. J. Jenkins Post, No. 452, G. A. R., in both of which he was a charter member. His political endorsement is given to the republican party and his record as a public official and private citizen is most creditable, while his labors have been of essential value to the community.
HON. WILLIAM J. McGUIRE.
Conspicuous among Kewanee's progressive citizens is the Hon. William J. McGuire, a representative from Henry county to the state legislature and a man whom many believe is only upon the threshold of his political career. He was born in Lee county, Illinois, November 14, 1868, in the same house in which his mother first saw the light of day. His parents were Charles and Mary (Dolan) McGuire, the father having been born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1845. He came west to Illinois sometime in the '50s and took up railroad engineering, which he followed until a few years before his death, which oc- curred in Kewanee, July 23, 1907, his age being sixty-two years. 'The mother of our subject was the daughter of William Dolan, one of Lee county's first settlers. In 1872 this estimable woman passed on to her reward.
William J. McGuire received his education in Lamoville, Bureau county, Illinois, and there learned the barber's trade, which he followed for several years. He ultimately abandoned this and from 1893 to 1897 held the position of supervisor in the Home for the Feeble Minded at Lincoln, Illinois. In 1902 he came to Kewanee, where for four years he engaged in the wholesale liquor business. He became very well known in the city and in the fall of 1906 was
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elected on the democratic ticket as state representative to the legislature from the thirty-seventh district. He was the first nominated by the direct vote of the people at the primaries. He was elected by a large majority, much support be- ing given by the republicans. In 1908 he was reelected, a signal victory, since for many years no man in this district has held the office of representative for two successive terms.
On June 2, 1896, Mr. McGuire was married to Miss Catherine Hutter, of Lincoln, Illinois, their union being celebrated in Chicago. Her father was one of the first business men of Lincoln. To Mr. and Mrs. McGuire have been born three children : Florence, aged twelve years, William C., aged ten, and Isa- belle, aged eight, all of whom are at school.
Mr. McGuire is Catholic in faith and holds membership in the Church of the Visitation. His fraternal relations extend to the Elks, the Eagles, the Foresters and the Red Men. He is at present serving on the finance committee of the state organization of the first named society and is past worthy president of the second. He has the gift of easily making friends, of whom he possesses a host in this locality. He is everywhere known as a liberal minded man and well deserves the public trust which the voters of Henry county have given into his keeping.
EDWARD E. DARIN.
Edward E. Darin, an enterprising and prosperous agriculturist and stock- man of Phenix township, makes his home on a well improved farm of one hun- dred and sixty-six acres on section 26 and is likewise the owner of another tract of one hundred and twenty-one acres on the same section. It was on the latter farm that his birth occurred, his natal day being September 4, 1861. His parents were John Jackson and Eleanor (Clarke) Darin.
Edward E. Darin was reared to manhood on the old homestead farm and attended the common schools in pursuit of an education that would equip him for the practical and responsible duties of life. His father allowed him to keep the money which he earned in his youthful days and when twenty years of age gave him the use of a field and told him he might have the proceeds of the crop. In this way he accumulated capital sufficient to enable him to purchase a farm of his own and in 1882 he came into possession of his present place of one hun- dred and sixty-six acres on section 26, Phenix township, paying about fifty-four dollars per acre for the land. He has erected thereon a modern and substantial residence, as well as good barns and outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock, and altogether has a highly improved and well developed farm, the fields annually yielding bounteous harvests of golden grain. In addition to the culti- vation of cereals he is also engaged in the raising, feeding and shipping of stock and in both branches of his business has won a gratifying and well merited degree of success. He also owns the old homestead place of one hundred and twenty-one acres on which he was reared, having purchased the property in 1905 for one hundred and fifty-two dollars an acre. This was the first farm in
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Henry county that sold for as high a price as one hundred and fifty dollars an acre.
On the 8th of March, 1893, in Geneseo township, Mr. Darin was united in marriage to Miss Nettie M. Ward, who was born near Geneseo. Her parents, Thomas and Mary (Nuttycombe) Ward, are still residents of Phenix township. Mr. and Mrs. Darin now have three children, namely: Harold Avery, born July 27, 1894; Mary Eleanor, whose birth occurred May 17, 1897; and John Ward, who first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 16th of June, 1903.
Politically Mr. Darin is a stanch advocate of the principles of the republi- can party. He has served as collector for two terms but has not been an office seeker, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. Fra- ternally he is identified with Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 40, also Mys- tic Workers of the World. Both he and his wife are well known and highly esteemed throughout the county in which they have spent their entire lives and the number of their friends has steadily increased as the circle of their acquaint- ances has widened.
ERIC WINROOT.
Despite the fact of advancing years, Eric Winroot is still actively engaged in agricultural pursuits in which he has won so pronounced a success in the years, now numbering almost three decades, he has followed that vocation in the vicin- ity of Bishop Hill. He was born in Helsingland, Sweden, June 11, 1843. His father, Peter Peterson, died in his native land when his son was only four years old, and six years later, when he was ten years of age, Eric Winroot was de- prived of a mother's care and love. She bore the maiden name of Britta Eric- son. Nevertheless he received a fair education in the public schools of his native land and at the age of twenty-one deemed that he was able and prepared to come to America and make the fortune which compatriots, who had emi- grated here, said lay in this land.
In July, 1866, he located at Bishop Hill, where he found employment at farm work until 1879. In that year he took an eight year lease upon eighty-two acres of land lying in the vicinity of the village and two years later bought a tract of one hundred and sixty acres situated about three miles west of the town. It was improved at the time of purchase, but the buildings were of the poorest character. In 1886 Mr. Peterson erected a fine barn with forty-two by' thirty-eight feet floor space, and about ten years ago greatly enlarged and im- proved the house, thus affording tangible evidence of the good fortune which accompanied his labors. When he first engaged in farming he raised broom corn quite extensively, but of recent years has given his attention principally to corn and oats. He has also found the stock business a profitable adjunct to his agricultural interests, each year raising about thirty head of cattle for the mar- ket and half a hundred hogs. For a few years he also bred some colts, but he was not satisfied with his returns in that undertaking and has forsaken it. During the season of 1909 he rented some of his land to others, and is con-
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templating leasing the whole of his place, while he retires from the strenuous life that has been his for years and takes up his residence in some town. None more than he is deserving of a respite from toil.
At Cambridge, Illinois, February 23, 1871, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Winroot and Miss Caroline Lindstrom, a daughter of Eric Lindstrom, who is a promient farmer of Weller township. Nine children have been born to the couple : Effie, who is the eldest of the family; Alice, who became the wife of Victor Bergland; Mabel, who married Frank Hagg; Henry, who is at home; Frances, who is the wife of Oscar Abrahamson; and Eunice, Claude and Ruby, who are unmarried. Hattie, the only member of the family who has passed , away, died in 1881, at the age of four years.
Mr. Winroot has always exhibited an independence in his political views, voting for men irrespective of party affiliation. On three occasions he cast his ballot for Bryan, although previously he had supported the presidential candi- date recommended by the republican party. While not an office seeker, he has taken some part in local affairs, serving for nine years as school director and ever evincing a public spirit in his attitude toward measures calculated to pro- mote public welfare. Formerly he was connected fraternally with the A. O. U. W., but of late years he relinquished his lodge affiliations. He is well known. however, and is recognized as a man who deserves to be included among the strong characters of his locality.
GEORGE S. GERMAN.
George S. German, who has lived retired in Kewanee since 1894, has thus for the past fifteen years enjoyed the fruits of his former toil as an agriculturist. His birth occurred in Brown county, Ohio, on the 29th of April, 1837. His father, David German, who was likewise a native of that county, took up his abode in Peoria county, Illinois, in 1852, while two years later he came to Henry county, locating in Wethersfield township. He purchased a farm two and three-quarters miles southeast of Kewanee and there carried on his agri- cultural interests until about 1884, when he put aside the active work of the fields and removed to Kewanee, where his remaining days were spent. His demise occurred in October, 1896, when he had attained the ripe old age of eighty-seven years. It was in Brown county, Ohio, that he wedded Miss Mar- tha Jane Newlan, a native of Shaker, Lebanon county, Ohio. She passed away in Kewanee in September, 1893, when seventy-six years of age. Unto Mr. and Mrs. David German were born seven children, as follows: Mary Jane, who died about 1859; George S., of this review; Silas, who makes his home in Iowa; Harriet, the wife of Albert Johnson, of Kewanee; William and John, both of whom are residents of Sidney, Iowa; and Josephine, who passed away in Kewa- nee in 1901.
George S. German, who acquired his education in the district schools of his native county, was a youth of seventeen when he came to Henry county with his parents. He continued to assist his father in the work of the home farm
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until he had attained his majority and afterward devoted his attention to the cultivation of rented land in Wethersfield township for three years. On the expiration of that period, in 1862, he enlisted as a soldier of the Union army, be- coming a member of Company F, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served for about fourteen months. After returning from the war he took up his abode in Burns township, Henry county, Illinois, and purchased land at intervals until his holdings aggregated three hun- dred and twenty acres-one hundred and sixty acres on section 4, Burns town- ship, eighty acres on section 8 of the same township and eighty acres in Cornwall township. On the 10th of March, 1867, he established his home on the farm in Burns township, where he erected new buildings, put up fences, planted an orchard and also made various other improvements. There he carried on his agricultural interests energetically and successfully until the 16th of December, 1894, since which date he has lived retired in an attractive residence which he purchased at No. 402 North East street in Kewanee.
On the 20th of January, 1860, in Peoria, Mr. German was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Ella Carl, a daughter of Carey and Jane (West) Carl, who were natives of Pennsylvania and came to Illinois at an early day. Mr. and Mrs. German have one son, George D., who is mentioned on another page of this work.
Politically Mr. German is a stanch republican, but he has not desired office as a reward for his party fealty. He belongs to Julius Pratt Post, G. A. R., at Kewanee and is also a devoted member of the First Methodist Episcopal church in that city. He has made his home in this county for fifty-five years and is widely and favorably known within its borders, his many sterling traits of char- acter having won him the warm regard and stanch friendship of those with whom he has come in contact.
WILLIAM P. WOLF.
In William P. Wolf Henry county has a representative of its best agricul- tural interests, for as farmer, stockman and poultry raiser he has achieved a success which places him among the more prominent in a prosperous community. He owns the northwest quarter of section 32, Annawan township, and the neat, attractive appearance of his fields together with the condition of his buildings, is a visible evidence of his skill, his thrift and his good management. The farm on which he lives was also his birthplace and was bought by his grandfather, George Wolf, Sr., about 1853. He was born in Pennsylvania, April 1, 1782, and there in 1804, married Miss Sarah Enslow, also a native of the Keystone state, where her birth occurred in the year 1787. In the early '50s the couple came to Henry county, Illinois, where Mr. Wolf purchased 160 acres in Annawan township, the farm now occupied by his grandson, and thereon spent the re- mainder of his years. His son George, the father of W. P. Wolf was born in Knox county, Ohio, January 31, 1828, and was a man grown, although he had not married, when his parents came to this township. He lived with them until
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their death and then, buying the other heirs, became the sole owner of the homestead. He engaged in farming with fair success and was well and favor- ably known in his locality, a man who was sincerely mourned by a large circle of friends, when on the 14th of September, 1889, he was called to his final rest. In politics he was a democrat, but never sought office in recognition of party fealty.
After locating in Henry county, George Wolf, Jr., wedded Miss Barbara Heaps, who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and was a year old when her parents came to Illinois. They located in Adams county, later re- moved to Rock county, Wisconsin, and then, returning to Illinois, established their home in Henry county, near Annawan, where Mr. Heaps secured a tract of land. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf were the parents of three children, of whom Wil- liam P., of this review, is the oldest. Of the other two, Sarah died March I, 1887; and Hiram M., who married Marcia Camery, is now living near Winfield, Kansas. Mrs. Wolf is still living at the advanced age of seventy-two years, and makes her home in Kewanee.
William P. Wolf was born on the farm where he now lives, September 13, 1857. When of suitable age he became a pupil in the district school, receiving a fair education which was well supplemented by the practical training he ob- tained while he assisted his father in his work. At the age of twenty-one he assumed all the responsibility of operating the home place, and it has remained his care to the present. He inherited eighty acres on the death of his father, and then by purchase from the other heirs added eighty acres more, so that his farm is identical with that owned by his grandfather. Its soil is very fertile and being maintained under a high state of cultivation, makes generous returns for the labor expended upon it. In addition to growing cereals Mr. Wolf has en- gaged in breeding and raising cattle, hogs and poultry, making a specialty of pure blooded Poland China hogs and Plymouth Rock chickens, which command a good price upon the market. In none of his undertakings has he spared thought or labor, but profiting by the discoveries of science and utilizing industriously every means at hand for advancing in his business he has gained a conspicuous success in his operations and is numbered among the substantial citizens of Anna- wan township.
In Kewanee, February 8, 1899, Mr. Wolf was united in marriage to Miss Anna C. Eack, of that city. She was born, however, in Sweden and was a mere child when her parents, Peter and Anna G. (Tehunberg) Eack came to America. They located in Kewanee, where the father died shortly after his arrival, leav- ing his widow to rear their four small children. Not only did Mrs. Eack keep the family together but she gave them all a good education, and now has the satisfaction of knowing that they are all well established in life. She is still living in Kewanee, at the age of seventy years.
Mrs. Wolf, who was the second of the children born to her parents, received a good education, having been graduated from the Kewanee high school with the class of 1884. Thereupon she engaged in teaching and later attended the State Normal School at Normal, Illinois. Upon leaving that institution she was made principal of the Wallace high school, at Sterling, Illinois, a position she held for two years, and then returned to the high school in Kewanee, where she taught
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mathematics until a short time before her marriage when she resigned her posi- tion. Mr. and Mrs. Wolf have two children; Dorothy Esther, who was born July 23, 1900; and Anice Emma, who was born June 10, 1903.
In politics Mr. Wolf gives allegiance to no party, preferring to cast his bal- lot for the candidate he believes most worthy of the people's confidence. He is never remiss in his duties of citizenship, but he has never aspired to public office, as his is a nature which enjoys a quiet life rather than the notoriety that comes to one who is constantly before the public gaze as an official. In religious matters he gives his support to the United Brethren church at Fair View, in which he has served as steward, while his wife is equally consistent in her allegiance to the Episcopal church at Kewanee, and both are well known and highly esteemed as persons of genuine worth, whose lives exemplify the true spirit of Christianity.
GEORGE H. VOGLER.
George H. Vogler, an enterprising and progressive farmer and stock raiser of Munson township, was born in Hampden township, Rock Island county, Illi- nois, on the 12th of November, 1867, a son of George and Agnes (Lewis) Vog- ler. The parents were both natives of Germany and came to America as young people, becoming acquainted with each other in Davenport, Iowa, where they were united in marriage. They then took up their abode in Rock Island county, where the father was identified with the cooperage business for several years, splitting his own timber for staves. Subsequently he purchased property in that township and although a poor man when he came to this country, as the years passed he prospered and became one of the well-to-do residents of the commun- ity in which he resided. He was a democrat in his political views, although not an office-seeker, was reared in the faith of the Catholic church and was a gentle- man of many excellent traits of character. He passed away at Rapids City, Rock Island county, Illinois, while his wife survived him a few years. In their family were eight children, of which our subject was the fifth in order of birth, the others being: Peter, who now resides in Geneseo; Elizabeth, the wife of George Pages, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Gertrude, who married Jacob Schieb and makes her home at Rapids City, Illinois; Mary, the wife of John Yost, of Rapids City ; Charles and William, twins, the former living in Davenport and the latter in East Moline; and Catharine, the wife of Al Adams, of Rapids City.
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