USA > Illinois > Henry County > History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 72
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George H. Vogler spent the years of his boyhood and youth under the parental roof in Rock Island county, and during this period enjoyed but lim- ited educational advantages, the greater part of his time being devoted to assist- ing his father. At the early age of sixteen he began working on his own account in the mines, at first in the capacity of mule driver and later as miner. He was connected with this line of activity for sixteen years, and during that time re- ceived very fair wages. It was while acting in the capacity of miner in Fulton county, Illinois, that he met and was married to Miss Anna Davison, of that county. She is a native of Durham county, England, and a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Wilson) Davison, with whom she came to the United States in
1
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1881 when ten years of age, the family'locating in Rapids City, Illinois, where she first met Mr. Vogler. Later the family removed to Fulton county, Illinois, where she was united in marriage on the 15th of May, 1889.
Mr. Vogler continued to engage as a miner until the year 1896, when he took up agricultural pursuits in the capacity of a renter, operating a farm in Osco township for about ten years. Desiring, however, that his efforts should more directly benefit himself, during that period he labored diligently and care- fully saved his money, being imbued with the desire to one day own a farm of his own. When he had accumulated sufficient capital with which to gratify this desire he purchased the farm upon which he now resides, consisting of one hun- dred and sixty-three acres on sections 4 and 9, Munson township, the property coming into his possession in 1907. Here he carries on general farming in connection with which he devotes considerable time to stock raising, and he is enjoying a substantial income from the fact that both branches of his business -the raising of grain and the raising of stock-are proving profitable.
As the years passed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Vogler was blessed with five children, namely: Agnes Muriel, Fern Elizabeth, John Alvan, Hershel Har- old and Florence Lucile. Mr. Vogler has been a stalwart supporter of republican principles since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but is not an office seeker, although he does all in his power to further the influence of the party throughout the community. In fraternal relations he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Canton, Illinois, and is in hearty sympa- thy with the principles that underlie that organization. His life has been one of continuous activity in which has been accorded due recognition of honest labor. Starting out in life for himself empty-handed, at an early age, he has made steady progress and as the years have gone by he has achieved a measure of suc- cess which is most creditable. Moreover his business methods have ever been honorable and reliable, winning for him the respect and good will of his fellow- men.
EDWARD S. WHITING.
Edward S. Whiting, a highly respected citizen of Kewanee, now living re- tired, was born in Chicopee, Massachusetts, June 17, 1844. His father, Seth Whiting, a native of Salem, Massachusetts, followed the westward tide of civil- ization and in 1858 located with his family in the town of Wethersfield, Illinois. He engaged in farming until his retirement in 1876, when he removed to Kewanee and took up his residence at the corner of Chestnut and First streets, the present site of the new postoffice . Here he lived up to the time of his death, which oc- curred in 1889, when he was eighty-six years of age. The mother of our subject, Abigail (Chapin) Whiting, was also born at Chicopee, Massachusetts, her father being Zenus Chapin, a contractor.
Edward S. Whiting received his earlier instruction in Chicopee and finished in the high school of Kewanee. He later attended the Bryant & Stratton Business College of Chicago, and upon his graduation therefrom received high honors in mathematics out of a class of thirty-two. As the only son in the family the charge
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of his father's farm near Wethersfield naturally devolved upon his shoulders and there he made his home until his marriage in 1870, his father retiring soon after his assumption of the responsibility. In 1877 he leased the land and, coming to Kewanee, engaged in the implement business at the corner of Chestnut and Third streets. That this venture was destined for successful fruition is fully demon- strated by the fact that he continued in it for a period of twenty-two years and saw it grow into one of the city's substantial concerns. In the spring of 1902 he retired from active life. Mr. Whiting is an extensive property owner, having several hundred acres of land in Kewanee and Wethersfield townships, farms in Kansas and Nebraska, and in Kewanee owns and is interested in several business blocks and a large number of dwellings. He is also a stockholder and director in the First National Bank of the city.
In January, 1870, Mr. Whiting married Miss Charlotte A. Mason, of Buda, Illinois. She is the daughter of Levi Mason, a farmer who for a number of years lived in Buda and died in 1898. She shares fully in her husband's interests and like him is active in the social and benevolent affairs of the First Congre- gational church with which they are associated.
Mr. Whiting is a supporter of the republican party and is also a strong advo- cate of prohibition, to the furtherance of which he has given efficient service. He is a deacon in the First Congregational church and a leading spirit in all its enterprises. In the Sunday school he is also a valued teacher and he contributed liberally to the erection of the new church some years ago as well as to that of the new building of the Young Men's Christian Association. He was the founder of the Whiting school, section 15, Wetherfield township, and one of its directors until he came to Kewanee. Any measure likely to upbuild and benefit the com- munity is sure of the support of this estimable and public-spirited citizen.
WALTER A. FELL.
Walter A. Fell, who devotes his time and energies to the operation of his fine farm of two hundred acres on sections 5 and 8, Burns township, is num- bered among the worthy native sons of this county, his birth having occurred in Cornwall township on the 20th of July, 1863. His father, James Fell, who was born in Scotland on the 22d of May, 1832, crossed the Atlantic to the United States when a young man of twenty years and made his way at once to Elmira, Stark county, Illinois, there residing for one year. At the end of that time he came to Cornwall township, Henry county, where he purchased land and later bought a farm of eighty acres, giving his attention to its cultivation until 1867. In that year he took up his abode in Burns township, where he continued to reside until about 1888, when he removed to Cambridge and there spent his remaining days. He passed away on the 19th of January, 1903, and the community thus lost one of its most substantial and respected citizens. In early manhood he had wedded Miss Harriett Campbell, whose birth occurred in Ohio on the 12th of January, 1840, and who came to this county with her parents in 1853, the family home being established in Cornwall township.
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Walter A. Fell obtained his early education in the district schools of Burns township and afterward continued his studies in Elliott's Business College at Burlington and also in Duncan's Business College at Davenport, Iowa. After putting aside his text-books he worked on his father's farm until the time of his marriage and following that important event in his life he gave his attention to the operation of a rented farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 5, Burns township, until February, 1902. In that month he took up his abode on a tract of two hundred acres in Monroe county, Missouri, which he had purchased in 1901, and there successfully carried on his farming interests until 1905, when he disposed of the property and returned to this county. He then bought the old home place of two hundred acres on sections 5 and 8, Burns township, in the further cultivation and improvement of which he has since been actively en- gaged, having remodeled the buildings and also put up new fences. In addition to the raising of cereals he makes a specialty of thoroughbred Duroc hogs for breeding purposes and in both branches of his business has won a gratifying meas- ure of success. He is likewise a stockholder in the Burns Mutual Telephone Company.
On the 15th of March, 1893, in Burns township, Mr. Fell was joined in wed- lock to Miss Sarah Fesler, a daughter of George Fesler of that place. They now have four children, as follows : Fannie, a maiden of fifteen, who is at home; Bertha and Mabel, who are thirteen and ten years of age respectively and are attending school; and Sadie, who is one year old.
Politically Mr. Fell is a stanch advocate of the republican party, believing that its principles are most conducive to good government. He has capably served as justice of the peace for two years and has been a school director for three terms. Fraternally he is identified with the Masons, belonging to the blue lodge at Paris, Missouri, and the chapter in Kewanee. Almost his entire life has been passed in this locality and his fellow townsmen know that his career has been characterized by fidelity to duty and by honor in all his relations with his fellow- men.
EDWARD HUNT.
Illinois owes much to the pioneers who made possible existing conditions through their bravery, endurance and thrifty labor. Through their efforts the wild lands were developed, roads built and towns settled, so that the present gen- eration is under heavy obligation to the early settlers. One of the families in- timately associated with the early history of Henry county is that bearing the name of Hunt, and one of its prosperous representatives today is Edward Hunt, of Kewanee township. He was born one mile east of this city, September 29, 1852, at a time when there were only three houses on the present site of Kewanee. His parents were Lawrence and Bridget (Shortell) Hunt.
Lawrence Hunt was born in County Carlow, Ireland, in 1824, and was there married before he came to the United States in 1848. Upon his arrival in this country he went to Philadelphia, where he remained several years. After com- ing to Illinois, he found employment as foreman on the construction work of the
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Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and worked from Mendota to Galesburg, remaining with this company until the completion of the road. Leaving railroad work, he bought the present farm of his son Edward, in 1850, and settled upon it. This property consisted of two hundred and thirty acres of government land, which he farmed and put in excellent condition. At the time he located in Henry county, the country was in an unsettled condition and he had to haul his grain to Chicago with oxen and weeks were consumed in making the round trip. Work- ing hard and saving, Lawrence Hunt became a man of means and was honored by his neighbors by election to the office of school director for twenty years. His father was a stone-mason and not only laid the foundation of the first church built in Wethersfield, but also of many of the older houses in his part of the county. There were four children in the family of Lawrence Hunt and wife, namely : Edward, of this review; Mary, who married P. M. Lynch, a farmer of Peoria county ; Henry, who died at the age of thirty; and Joseph, who died at the age of twenty-eight years. The last named was owner and editor of the Kewanee Star for years, and while he was thus engaged, the school at the cross- roads near the farm was named Huntsville. The mother died in April, 1897, and the father in July, 1898.
Edward Hunt received a good country-school education and during the sum- mer months he helped his father on the farm, thus receiving his early training in agricultural work. In the early '8os he left the farm and for eight years con- ducted a grocery store in Kewanee, but the soil calling to him, he sold his interests there and returned to the farm. At present he is profitably engaged in operating his one hundred and fifty acre farm, which is now one of the most productive in Kewanee township, owing to his care and good management. For six years Mr. Hunt has been school director and for fifteen years has been one of the election judges. For some years he has been a correspondent for various newspapers and is a man well informed upon current events. His fraternal affiliations are with the Knights of Columbus. The family are all members of the Catholic church.
In 1885, Mr. Hunt married Mary Jane Cullen, a daughter of Michael and Re- becca R. Cullen, farming people. Her father died in 1893 but her mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt have had three children, as follows : Vincent Elroy, who is a farmer, school teacher and correspondent for the Star-Courier; Frances Pearl and Lawrence Cullen, who are both at home.
JOHN F. HOHENBOKEN.
Prominent among the farmers and stockmen of Colona township, is John F. Hohenboken, one of the native sons of Henry county, who was born October 14, 1875. His parents are George and Caroline (Firch) Hohenboken, formerly a prominent family of Edford township, where the father was a successful and progressive agriculturist for some years. He has now, however, given up active farming and with his wife is living in retirement in Geneseo.
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John F. Hohenboken was reared at home, receiving practical preparation for his life's work through the assistance he rendered in the cultivation of the paternal farm, for he assumed some of the lighter responsibilities in his early youth. He received a fair education in the district schools of his locality, later attending the academy at Geneseo. When about eighteen years of age he started out in life for himself, taking up his residence upon the place which is still his home. It is a fine tract, three hundred and twenty acres in extent, on which Mr. Hohenboken engages in diversified farming, while part of it is excellently adapted to grazing purposes. He gives considerable attention to the raising of fine cattle and other stock, but it is to the cultivation of the soil that he directs his main attention. Progressive in his ideas, he has made a careful study of the subject of crop rota- tion and the means of increasing or of preserving the productiveness of the fields. His is a well improved farm and presents a most inviting aspect to the man who should chance to pass by, for the house and barns are set in a large grove of maple trees, whose generous shade enhance the architectural beauties of the buildings.
It was on the 12th of December, 1899, that Mr. Hohenboken was united in marriage to Miss Amanda Gernant, a daughter of Adam and Mary (Frail) Ger- nant. The father was a native of Germany, but the mother was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, where her parents were a prominent pioneer family. For years Mr. Gernant was a man prominent in the agricultural circles of Edford town- ship, but now he has given up the arduous duties of the life and is living in retire- ment in Geneseo. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hohenboken, Bernice M., the eldest, died in infancy. The others are Vernon A., Mahlon J., Ruby C. and Mildred A.
Mr. Hohenboken is a republican in politics, and, being interested in all ques- tions which are before the people today, keeps well informed upon national issues. As township road commissioner and as a member of the district board of educa- tion, to which he still belongs, he has rendered the people of Colona township very efficient service during a long period. A man of great public spirit, he is ever ac- tive in advocating the increase of substantial improvements, being especially con- cerned for good schools and good roads, but never failing to exert his influence in behalf of a steady and healthy progress, which will contribute to the public good. He and his wife are devout members of the Lutheran church and are lib- eral in its support.
JOHN WESLEY WITHROW.
In the history of the residents of Henry county to whom success in life has come as the reward of persistent and earnest labor and, who, because of their former activity in business affairs, are now enabled to live retired, mention should be made of John Wesley Withrow, who was formerly connected with farming interests, but now makes his home in Geneseo, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves.
MR. AND MRS. J. W. WITHROW
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When central and northern Illinois was still largely a pioneer district, his birth occurred in White county, this state, on the 19th of October, 1834. His parents were Neely and Polly (Eveleth) Withrow, the former born near Louis- ville, Kentucky, and the latter in New Harmony, Pennsylvania. The Withrow family is of Irish descent. The grandfather, William Withrow, was a native of Kentucky and followed the occupation of farming in order to provide for his family. He married Rebecca Dagley, and both lived to an old age, rearing a family of eight children, namely: Neely, Samuel, Polly, Rebecca, William, John, Rachel and Charles. The maternal grandfather of John W. Withrow was a native of Pennsylvania and died in early manhood. His widow afterward joined the colony at New Harmony, Pennsylvania, and subsequently became one of the pioneer women of White county, Illinois, living near Shawneetown. She, too, however, was comparatively young when called to her final rest and at her death left five children: Sylvester, Cyrenus, Mrs. Abigail Hull, Mrs. Amanda Walton and Polly. It was the last named who became the wife of Neely Withrow, who in his early boyhood had accompanied his parents on their removal from Ken- tucky to White county, Illinois. In 1835 he arrived in Henry county, stopping first in Red Oak Grove, near Bishop Hill, with his brother Samuel. They built a double log cabin and remained there until the fall of 1836, when they removed to Phenix township and first took up claims, while later they purchased land from the government. Neely Withrow began to improve his farm and built a house and placed some of the land under cultivation, but his death occurred there Jan- uary 25, 1839, when he was not quite twenty-nine years of age. He was recognized as a man of genuine personal worth and as a public spirited citizen, and was elected the first justice of the peace in his township. His widow long sur- vived him and reached the venerable age of eighty-six years, her birth having occurred February 12, 1806, while she died in 1892. Both Mr. and Mrs. With- row were devout members of the Methodist church. Their children numbered four sons and a daughter: Amariah, now living in Geneseo; James, deceased ; John Wesley ; Lucy, who became the wife of Robert Barge and has passed away ; and Neely, living in Central City, Nebraska.
John Wesley Withrow was only one year old when brought by his parents to Henry county, where he has lived continuously since 1835. He was reared in Phenix township and attended the old time subscription schools in the days when the teacher "boarded 'round." It was an old log schoolhouse, made without any nails, the logs being fastened together with pins, with a puncheon floor and seats made of split slabs. It was heated by a fireplace and the birch rod formed a ter- rifying feature in the matter of discipline. Later when the district schools were organized Mr. Withrow pursued his education therein. He was only five years of age at the time of his father's death, but he lived at home until he attained his majority. His mother married again, her second husband being Harvey Hickcox, by whom she had three children, two of whom died in early life, while Eunice became the wife of Asoph King and removed to Central City, Nebraska. Mr. Hickcox died November 4, 1853, when Mr. Withrow was sixteen years of age. At that time the latter was assisting in the work of the home farm and follow- ing the death of his stepfather the care of the place largely devolved upon him. Prior to his marriage he purchased forty acres of land and after his marriage
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he rented land for a time and later made other purchases, adding to his holdings as opportunity offered until he was once the owner of nine hundred and twenty acres. His first forty acres had a mortgage of four hundred dollars upon it, on which he paid twenty per cent interest in advance. Such an exorbitant rate was discouraging, but he never allowed obstacles or difficulties to bar his path and with characteristic energy set to work to make the best of his opportunities. He lived in Phenix township until 1870 and then removed to Hanna township, where he engaged in general agricultural pursuits until 1893. In that year he took up his abode in Geneseo, purchasing a fine home on Palace Row. He is now living retired save for the supervision which he gives to his invested interests, which yet include six hundred acres of the valuable farming land of this part of the state.
On the Ist of January, 1860, Mr. Withrow was married to Miss Arvilla M. Allen, a daughter of Jonathan and Charlotte (Hatch) Allen. Mrs. Withrow was born in Lee county, Iowa, February 12, 1843, and her parents were natives of Jefferson county, New York. Her paternal grandfather, Jonas Allen, was like- wise a native of the Empire state and always followed farming. He married Sarah Dyke and died at Iron Bluffs, Nebraska, when he had reached an advanced age. His wife passed away in Fremont, Nebraska, at the home of her son. They reared seven children, Luther, Abram, Jonathan, Gilbert, Lois, Emily and Ann Mahala.
The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Withrow was Jacob Hatch, a native of New York, who also followed farming. His wife bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Wilde and died in Iowa. Mr. Hatch lived to be nearly one hundred years of age and spent his last days in Utah. The children of his first marriage were Hosea, Almira, Charlotte, Polly, Anna, Leighton, Isaac, William and Lewis. Having lost his first wife, Jacob Hatch married again but had only one daughter by the second union.
Mr. and Mrs. Allen, the parents of Mrs. Withrow, were reared and married in New York and on removing westward settled first in Lee county, Iowa, but in October, 1847, came to Henry county, Illinois, taking up their abode in Phe- nix township. For a long period they were connected with farming interests, but at length removed to Geneseo, where Mr. Allen died in 1876 at the age of sixty-four years and his wife passed away in 1865. He held various township offices, the duties of which he discharged in a prompt and capable manner. For several years he was one of the county supervisors and served on the committee that built the jail. Unto him and his wife were born five children: Nancy Ada- line, who became the wife of Charles Linnell; Mary Angeline, the wife of James Withrow; Arvilla M., the wife of John W. Withrow; Lois A., the wife of Albert A. Colbert; and Dora A., the wife of Byron Coe.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Withrow has been blessed with nine chil- dren. Francis O., the eldest, married Ella E. Kerr, and they have one son, How- ard H., who married Mabel Wilkinson. Ira W., the second of the family, mar- ried Lucina Fuller, and they have three children, Roy W., Hazel G. and Claude F. Ida E. is the wife of Sherman W. Shafer and the mother of four children, Minnie B., John W .; Mary A. and Donald E. Nina D. is the wife of Clinton F. Luther and has two children, Francis Allen and John Withrow. Effie A. married
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James Dana Buck, who died in June, 1895, leaving a daughter, Hattie R. George O. married Florence May Fuller and their four children are Otis D., Ethel A., Charles and John Wesley. E. Lilburn died when a little more than a year old. Minnie Gertrude died when six months old. Raymond F., the youngest of the family, married Maude M. Schnabele.
Mr. Withrow is entitled to wear a Grand Army button from the fact that in 1865 he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting in Company K, One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He served as a private and was mustered out in August, 1865. His life work has been that of a successful farmer, whose energy and carefully directed labor brought him the success that makes him one of the entensive landowners and prosperous citizens of the com- munity. For seventy-four years he has lived in Henry county and few of its settlers have so long witnessed its growth and development. He has witnessed many changes here for the county in his boyhood days was largely an unde- veloped and sparsely settled district. Today almost every acre of land is under cultivation and the county contains some of the finest farms in this great state. Mr. Withrow has lived to see many changes in the methods of farming for the old time scythe, sickle and flail have given way to the thresher, self-binder and reaper. He has witnessed also many changes in other lines of life and rejoices in what the county has accomplished as the work of improvement has been carried steadily forward. He is one of the best known citizens of this part of the state and his record is a most creditable one, indicating what may be ac- complished along the lines of determined and honorable labor.
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