History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II, Part 76

Author: Kiner, Henry L., 1851-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1138

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Mr. Beuster is a republican. For a number of years he has been a member of the German Lutheran church and for two years he has been one of its trustees. Mr. Beuster is a representative of the best class of men from the fatherland and he has proven himself faithful in every relation of life, thereby earning the con- fidence and high esteem of all who know him.

WILLIAM CLARK ATTWATER.

William Clark Attwater is now numbered among Henry county's energetic, diligent and successful farmers, owning and cultivating a tract of land of eighty acres on section 31, Munson township. He was born in Cambridge, this county, on the 5th of June, 1850, and is one of eleven children whose parents were Elisha and Margaret (Wright) Attwater, natives of New Haven, Connecticut, and of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, respectively. In his youthful days the father learned the cabinetmaker's trade which he followed for some time in the east. In 1840, however, he arrived in Henry county, Illinois, first settling in Andover and while living there he worked at his trade at Rock Island. At length he took up his abode on the present site of the village of Cambridge and purchased a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, upon which he lived for five or six years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Munson township and made invest- ment in a farm of two hundred and ten acres which he improved, bringing it under a high state of cultivation. It was upon that place that he reared his family and as the owner of property was long well known as a representative agriculturist of the community. At the time of the Civil war he put aside all business and personal considerations and with his sons, Eli and Thomas, responded to the country's call, he and Thomas enlisting for service as members of Company H, One Hun- dred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in which he held the rank of sec- ond lieutenant, and Eli serving in the Ninth Illinois Cavalry. He participated in the battle of Nashville, Tennessee, where his son Thomas was wounded, and he took part in a number of other important engagements of the war. He died in 1884 at the age of seventy-four years, while his wife survived until 1886 and passed away at the age of sixty-eight. Both held membership in the Congrega- tional church and were consistent Christian people. Their family numbered eight sons and three daughters, of whom seven are now living: Eli B .; Thomas J .;

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George W .; John ; Elnora, the wife of N. R. Penny ; William C .; Mary Elizabeth, the wife of H. N. Boyde; Robert W .; Emma, who died in infancy ; Douglas ; and Frank.

William C. Attwater was reared on his father's farm in Henry county and attended the district schools, remaining at home until he had attained his majority. He then started out in life for himself, renting land for nine years, after which he purchased eighty acres in Munson township where he still lives. Since that time he has bought one hundred and sixty-seven acres so that he now has an ex- tensive farm which, owing to the improvements he has placed upon it and the care which he takes of his fields, has become one of the valuable properties of the district.

On the 19th of December, 1872, Mr. Attwater was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Mock, a daughter of John and Rebecca (Watson) Mock. Mrs. Attwater was born in Randolph county, Indiana, November 16, 1852, and her parents were natives of Greene county, Ohio. They came to Cambridge in 1855 and the father devoted his life to general agricultural pursuits. His death occurred in Cambridge township, April 2, 1897, when he was eighty-six years of age, while his wife passed away January 2, 1907, at the age of seventy-eight years. They were the parents of seven children, of whom four are now living: Frank Mock, a resident of Cam- bridge ; Mrs. Attwater; Mrs. Samuel Wilson, also of Cambridge; and Miss Nettie Mock, of Abilene, Kansas. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Attwater was Daniel Mock, a native of North Carolina, who married Ruth Lindsey, a native of Botetourt, Virginia. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Attwater was blessed with two children : Fannie and Roy M. The former is now the wife of Robert Scott, a resident of Cambridge, while Roy assists his father in the general work of the farm.

In his political views Mr. Attwater is a republican and has served as school director for eight or ten years. He is now the incumbent in the office of super- visor, which position he has filled for nine years, his long continuance therein plainly indicating his fidelity and the trust reposed in him by his fellowmen. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen Camp and has the warm regard of his brethren of the fraternity and of all those whom he has met in social relations. In business, too, he is thoroughly reliable and in his farming operations is meeting with well merited success.

FRANK J. STABLER.

Frank J. Stabler, who devotes his atention to the pursuits of farming and stock raising, is actively engaged in the cultivation of a tract of land comprising two hundred and forty acres on section 35, Kewanee township. He was born at Neponset, Bureau county, Illinois, on the 30th of May, 1870, his parents being John and Emma (Burch) Stabler, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this volume. In the acquirement of an education Frank J. Stabler attended the district schools of Kewanee township, Henry county, and after putting aside his text-books he continued to give his father the benefit of his assistance in the

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY

work of the home farm until the spring of 1891. Subsequently he rented a quar- ter section of land in the same locality and for two years devoted his time and energies to its operation. In the spring of 1893, when his father retired from active life and removed to Kewanee, Mr. Stabler of this review took charge of the home farm and has since been actively engaged in its cultivation and further improvement. The property comprises two hundred and forty acres of productive and arable land in Kewanee township, and in addition to cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate Mr. Stabler also makes a specialty of market hogs, usually raising about three hundred head annually. He likewise sells on an average of one hundred and fifty head of cattle each year and in both his farming and live-stock interests has won a gratifying and well merited measure of success.

On the 14th of October, 1890, Mr. Stabler was joined in wedlock to Miss Mary E. Pyle, of Kewanee, by whom he has a daughter, Florence E., who is now seventeen years of age and follows the profession of school teaching.

When national questions and issues are involved Mr. Stabler gives his politi- cal allegiance to the democracy, but at local elections does not consider himself bound by party ties and supports the candidate whom he believes best qualified. For the past twelve years he has served as a school director and in this connec- tion has done effective service for the cause of education. He has a wide and favorable acquaintance in the community where practically his entire life has been spent, having won the kindly regard and esteem of all with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact.

HENRY O. KUHL.

Henry O. Kuhl is numbered among the native sons of Munson township; where he still resides, his home being on section 4, where a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of tillable land responds in generous harvests to the care and labor which he gives to it. His place presents a neat and attractive appearance and his well directed business interests are bringing to him a handsome competence. His birth occurred in Munson township, September 20, 1859, his parents being Henry F. and Mary (Westfall) Kuhl, both of whom were natives of Germany, whence they came to America, the father first crossing the Atlantic while the mother after- ward made the voyage to the new world. On reaching American shores Henry F. Kuhl continued his journey into the interior of the country and took up his abode in Henry county, Illinois, where he worked by the month as a farm hand for a time for his limited financial resources made it imperative that he find immediate em- ployment. Later he began to rent land and thus his efforts more directly bene- fited himself.

On the 22d of October, 1857, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary West- fall, the wedding being celebrated in Geneseo. There they lived for a time, but afterward Mr. Kuhl began the cultivation of a rented farm. As time passed he prospered in his undertakings and made investment in property until he became the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land, which he brought under a high

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HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY

state of cultivation. He was thus numbered among the self-made men in the county and from a humble financial position worked his way upward until he was numbered among the more prosperous farmers of the district. Unto him and his wife were born eight children, of whom Henry O. is the second in order of birth. The first child was Lena, now the wife of Chris Schroder, a resident of Montana. The children younger than Henry O. Kuhl are as follows: Matilda, the wife of Ernest Weinrich, who is living in Geneseo township; August, who makes his home in Davenport; Herman, a resident of Montana; George, who is living in Montana; William, whose home is in Osco township; and Lewis, a resident of Davenport, Iowa.

No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Henry O. Kuhl in his youthful days. He acquired a fair common-school education and on attaining his majority he began to provide for his own support by working as a farm hand by the month. He was thus busily engaged until thirty years of age, during which time he had saved a sum sufficient to enable him to begin farm- ing for himself. As a further preparation for having a home of his own he was married in Cambridge, Illinois, on the Ist of March, 1889, to Miss Minnie Kane, whose home was in Edford township. She was born, however, in Germany, and when about five or six years of age was brought to the United States by her par- ents, Julius and Eva (Fritz) Kane. Her father died when she was about eight years of age. Mrs. Kuhl was provided with the educational advantages offered by the common schools and had been trained to the work of the household so that she was well qualified to take charge of a home of her own at the time of her mar- riage.

Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Kuhl took up their abode upon a farm and bent their united energies to the task of winning success, Mrs. Kuhl ably, managing the household affairs while Mr. Kuhl in a persistent, enterprising and progressive manner attended to the work of the fields. In 1906 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 4, Munson township, and is now the owner of an excellent farm, well equipped with modern improvements.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kuhl have been born four children : Mabel, who was born December 16, 1890, on the farm where the family now reside; Otto, born August 19, 1891; Herbert, born May 19, 1896; and Nora, born August 10, 1898. The family are well known in this locality and Mr. Kuhl is numbered among the early settlers for during a half century he has lived in this part of the state and has been an interested witness of the growth and progress which have marked the transformation of the county from a wild and sparsely settled region into one of the leading counties of the commonweath.

HENRY E. DIRCK.

Henry E. Dirck, who lives on section 35, Phenix township, was born on his present property, March 3, 1865, a son of Michael and Polly (Temple) Dirck. He is devoting himself to breeding high grade polled Angus cattle and his results have been extremely gratifying. His father was a native of Wayne

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county, Ohio, but early came to Henry county, Illinois. A full history of him is given elsewhere in this work.

The Dirck farm was entered by the grandfather of its present owner and originally consisted of eighty acres, but it has been much enlarged, so that it is now one of the best stock farms in Phenix township, and Mr. Dirck takes great pride in keeping it up to standard in every respect. His house is a modern one and he has made some excellent improvements. His machinery is good, and the place shows that a good manager is in charge of affairs. Recently he added to the farm one hundred acres in section 36, the same township, for which he paid eighty dollars per acre.

After securing a fair common school education, Mr. Dirck continued to farm for his father even though he has passed his majority. On March 14, 1894, however, he was married in Munson township to Angelica Lindquist, who was born at Vexio, Kronoburg, Smoland, Sweden, daughter of Karl W. and Sarah (Anderson) Lindquist. She was a baby when her parents left Sweden for America, her grandmother taking charge of her. It was expected that she would be brought over the following year by an aunt and uncle, but they dying, she did not make the trip until fifteen years old. However, she secured a good common school education in Sweden. Mr. and Mrs. Dirck are the parents of seven children, namely: Ethel P., born December 26, 1894; Vernon, born Jan- uary 14, 1897; Arvid, born October 8, 1899; Lulu, born February 3, 1902; Dorothy, born May 29, 1905; and Lester and Esther, twins, born July 8, 1908.

Mr. Dirck is independent in politics, not caring for office but trying to do his duty as a citizen according to his best lights. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, camp No. 40. A good farmer, excellent busi- ness man, fond of his home and family, he is a representative Henry county man, who stands well with his neighbors and is proud of what his father accom- plished and that he owns land that has been in the family for so long.

LE ROY SNYDER.

Le Roy Snyder, a successful farmer, who is interested in his work and con- sequently able to make his land yield him a good profit, was born in Burns town- ship, March 27, 1852, and is a son of Daniel Snyder, a sketch of whom is given elsewhere in this work. Mr. Snyder's boyhood days were spent upon the home- stead farm and when he was only nine years old he was harrowing the fields and doing other heavy farm labor. In those days children earned their school advantages, and this lad was no exception for he walked two and one-half miles to the country school held in a log house, but even then he had the opportunity of going but two terms. Then a new building was erected, but the greater part of his time was spent in hard work.

For about fiften years Mr. Snyder conducted his father's farm and then in 1878 bought his first farm of one hundred and twenty acres on time, for he had no money to pay down. Each year he paid on his land from what he made on his crops and later was able to add forty acres to his original purchase. As

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conditions changed he found it more profitable buying and selling stock and to- day handles large quantities of mules and hogs which he ships to city markets.

On Christmas Day, 1874, Mr. Snyder married Miss Elizabeth Hawthorn, of Burns township, a daughter of Robert and Esther Hawthorn. Her father was a machinist in Philadelphia where she was born. Mr. and Mrs. Snyder have five living children, namely: Orville, a farmer of Burns township, who married Ruea Schoonover; Harvey, also a farmer, who married Minnie Griffin; Maud, the wife of Louis Brasel, a farmer of Kewanee township; Eva, the wife of Carl Burg, a farmer of Burns township; and Ernest, at home. There was another son, Lyman, who died October 27, 1901, leaving a widow, who was formerly Miss Grace Schoonover. He and Orville married sisters on the same day. The loss of this young man in the very prime of young manhood was a terrible blow to the family, and his memory is tenderly cherished.

Mr. Snyder was a road commissioner and school director for eighteen years and served the public faithfully and well. Owing to his strict probity he is often called upon to act as administrator of estates, and his days are filled with many duties for he is never content unless busy and he has made his work pay well and now is in very comfortable circumstances, although all he possesses he has earned himself. He is still living in the old home and has his dinner in the room where he was born fifty-eight years ago.

CHARLES A. GOLMAN.

America has been likened to a great melting-pot into which the metal of all nations has been poured to form the splendid compound which makes our nation unapproachable in strength. One of its most virile elements is acknowledged to be the Swedish, and of this is Chas. A. Golman, of Andover township. He was born April 28, 1858, on the place where he is now residing, but his parents, Jonas and Christine (Petersen) Golman, were natives of Sweden and came to America as young married people, settling in Andover township. They reared a family of four children. Louise is the wife of Charles P. Molberg and living in Rio, Knox county, Illinois; Emma is at home; Huldah is now Mrs. Charles Ecberg, of Andover township; and Charles A. is the subject of this review. The father was successful in the land of his adoption, becoming a prosperous farmer and an active and excellent citizen. He gave fealty to the republican party, and both he and his wife were members of the Lutheran church of Andover. He died on the Ist of January, 1905, and his wife followed him in February, 1907. These estimable people were buried in Andover cemetery.

Charles A. Golman passed his boyhood upon his father's farm and secured his schooling in the educational institution provided by the township. From early manhood the intelligent methods employed by him in agriculture have been productive of excellent results. Thus recommended he was asked in 1894 to take charge of the farm of the Swedish Orphans Home near Andover and in 1907 he was made superintendent of this eleemosynary institution, known as the Swedish Lutheran Orphans Home. The farm appertaining comprises three hun-

CHARLES A. GOLMAN

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dred and ninety-seven acres of land of exceptional fertility. In addition to agriculture proper, Mr. Golman is engaged in the raising of cattle, hogs and sheep.

On May 14, 1902, Mr. Golman was united in marriage to Miss Clara Petersen, a daughter of C. J. and Wilette Petersen, who also came from Sweden, the for- mer finding employment as a laborer on the railroad before he located in An- dover township, where he still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Golman have two young daughters, Esther Henrietta and Nellie Radena.

Mr. Golman has long given allegiance to the men and principles of the repub- lican party. He takes an active interest in public matters as every ideal citizen must, but he has never been tempted to office seeking. On several occasions he has been a delegate to conventions. He is identified with the order of the North- ern Star, and he and his wife give valuable support to the Andover Lutheran church. In short Mr. Golman is an enterprising and public-spirited man with altruistic ideas for the improvement of society.

OLOF PETERSON.

Olof Peterson, who is one of the successful and enterprising farmers of Bishop Hill, was born in Ofvanäker Socken, Helsingland, Sweden, May 14, 1847. His father, Per Erickson, who was a native of the same place, died in Bollnäs, Sweden, at the age of forty-five, and his mother, who was Miss Brita Jonson in her maidenhood, was born in Alfta Socken, and died in Bollnäs, in the winter of 1867. His wife's mother, however, Christine (Jonson) Helstrom, is still living with the family upon the farm, and is yet active, although she has attained to the advanced age of eighty-six years. She is one of the original colonists, who came here in the summer of 1847, has witnessed the growth of the colony into a thriving village, while she has participated in her way in the work in which all shared during the lapse of years. Endowed with great energy and a cheerful disposition she is widely known and highly regarded, being especially held in esteem among the surviving old settlers of Bishop Hill.

Olof Peterson attended the public schools of his native land and was reared upon the home farm, which he conducted in part until he attained his majority. At the age of twenty-one he came to the United States, locating at Bishop Hill, this county. He found employment as a farm hand in Weller township for the first two years of his residence here, and then, having married, in 1870 he leased the place he now owns. It consists of one hundred and twenty acres, is well improved as the result of his own efforts, for he has reconstructed the original buildings and has added others to those which were standing when he assumed possession of the tract, and has cultivated the soil in a thorough and progressive manner. In consequence his fields exhibit the well cared for ap- pearance that bespeaks the good farmer, while the condition of the farm's appurtenances indicates that he is a good and thrifty manager as well as a clever tiller of the soil. He has won more than a competence as the result of

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his labors so that he may feel well repaid for the expenditure of time and energy he devoted to his fields.

On October 3, 1870, Mr. Peterson was united in marriage to Miss Christine Helstrom, who died January 24, 1903. Her mother, Mrs. Christine (Jonson) Helstrom, was one of the original colonists who settled at Bishop Hill early in the summer of 1847, She now makes her home with our subject upon the farm and although she has reached the age of eighty-six years she is still quite active. Having been a resident of the county for over sixty-two years, she is widely known and universally respected and esteemed. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Peterson were born nine children but four died in infancy and August W. lost his life in an accident on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, November 26, 1903, at the age of twenty-nine years. Those of the family still living are: Olive C., who lives at home; Bessie C., also at home; Eric T., who is a fireman on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, making his home at Galesburg, Illinois; and Oscar H., who assists in the operation of the home farm.

Since he was admitted to citizenship in this republic Mr. Peterson has looked to the republican as his guide in political matters, and while he has not been conspicuous as a seeker for office he has been a participant in all local elections and has taken some part in public affairs of his township, having served as school trustee and as highway commissioner. The latter position he held for six years. His public spirit, which has characterized his actions since he be- came identified with the community here, and the success of his private life, have secured for him a full measure of the good will and respect of his fellows.

MATT REIFF.

Matt Reiff, the proprietor of a saloon at No. 221 West Third street in Ke- wanee, was born in the southern part of Germany on the 12th of January, 1866, his parents being M. and Mary (Schumacher) Reiff. The maternal grand- father, Matt Schumacher, spent his entire life in Germany. The father of our subject, whose birth occurred in that country on the 15th of July, 1832, worked as a stonemason in his native land until 1883, when he crossed the Atlantic to the United States, leaving his family in Germany. After residing in America for three years he returned to the fatherland, where he remained for six years and then brought his family to the new world, locating in Kewanee, Illinois. In 1899, in company with his two sons, Matt and William, he made a farewell trip to Germany, returning to this country after a short time. His demise, which occurred in Kewanee on the 5th of February, 1902, when he had attained the age of seventy years, was the occasion of deep and widespread re- gret. His widow, who still survives him and makes her home in Kewanee, is seventy-three years of age.

Matt Reiff obtained his education in the public schools of his native land and in 1882, when a youth of sixteen years, came alone to the United States. He made his way at once to Kewanee and on arriving in this city his cash cap- ital amounted to a dollar and a quarter. Finding immediate employment a nec-

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essity, he secured a position as a farm hand and worked in that capacity for a period of seven years or until the time of his marriage. In [889 he began the operation of a rented farm and was actively engaged in its cultivation for five years. On the expiration of that period, in 1894, he opened a saloon in associa- tion with Charles Baute, who remained his partner until 1900. Since that time he has been the sole proprietor of the saloon at No. 221 West Third street and he is widely recognized as one of the prosperous and enterprising citizens of Kewanee.

On the 2d of March, 1889, in Kewanee, Mr. Reiff was united in marriage to Miss Emma Onart, a daughter of Peter Onart, who is a well known farmer of Kewanee. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Reiff were born six children, four of whom are still living, as follows: Elsie, eighteen years of age, who is at home; Theodore, who is a youth of sixteen and attends school; and Anna and Eric, who are thir- teen and eleven years of age respectively and are likewise attending school.

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History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II, Part 76

Author: Kiner, Henry L., 1851- Publication date: 1910 Publisher: Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1138

Author: Kiner, Henry L., 1851-
Publication date: 1910
Publisher: Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1138