USA > Illinois > Henry County > History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 85
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Edward B. Johnson, of the firm of Johnson Brothers, is also well known in the social and commercial life of Kewanee. Having been reared in this city he attended its high school and then clerked for T. H. Phillips for a period of six
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years. Subsequently he entered the employ of the National Tube Company, with which he remained until 1900, when he joined his brother, establishing the Johnson Brothers Hardware Company. Like the latter he belongs to the Con- gregational church and to the Kewanee Club, while his fraternal relations em- brace membership in the local lodge of the Odd Fellows, of the Red Men and of the Elks. He is also chief of the tribunes. As superintendent of privileges he has promoted the success of the annual Kewanee fairs for he is a man of pronounced business ability, who is not slow to see opportunities and derive from them the largest profits. The success of the firm depends almost equally upon both of its members and in the nine years since it was organized they have proved themselves to be men of high principles and integrity in all their busi- ness dealings.
EMANUEL LAUDERBAUGH.
Emanuel Lauderbaugh, a well-to-do farmer of Phenix township, was born in Pennsylvania, December 23, 1851, and is a son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Hart- man) Lauderbaugh, both natives of the Keystone state. The father was born December 22, 1817, followed the life of an agriculturist, and in 1866 came to Illi- nois, settling in Phenix township, Henry county, where he lived until his death in 1878. His wife has also passed away and is survived by eight of their thirteen children. The three oldest, Isaac, Jesse and William, live in Missouri. Fayon is a resident of Kansas City. Catherine is the wife of William Brown, of Missouri. Emanuel is the subject of this sketch. Amanda is the wife of Peter Roland, of Abingdon, Illinois, where he teaches and preaches. Susan is the wife of William Rapp and lives in Nebraska. Jesse was the only son who took part in the Civil War.
Emanuel received the greater part of his education in the schools of his native state, but after his parents came to Illinois he went for a short time to the schools here. Until he became twenty-two years of age he remained at home, working for his father, and then in 1876 he started to farm for himself and ran a thresh- ing machine for a number of years. He continued to rent land for a long period and then, in 1891, bought from his parents one hundred and sixty acres of the farm he now occupies. From time to time, as he saw opportunity, he purchased more land until now he has about two hundred and sixty acres, all fertile and well improved, on which he pursues general farming and raises a quantity of stock for the market. The success to which he has attained is indicated in slight meas- ure by the excellence of the buildings he has put up. There are a handsome house, substantial barns, numerous outhouses and a windmill, in short, whatever was necessary to make the place strictly modern in every way.
Mr. Lauderbaugh has been twice married. In 1877 he wedded Miss Lucinda McHenry, who was born in Illinois and was a daughter of D. B. and Rachel McHenry, old settlers in this state. Her father has passed away, but her mother is still living in Geneseo. Only two of their six children are living: Myron is a horse dealer and Fred lives in Ottumwa, Iowa. Mrs. Lauderbaugh died in 1889,
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leaving four children : Nellie, who teaches in the high school of Geneseo; Tella, deceased; Chester, who married Miss Maude Hammer and lives in Phenix town- ship; and John, deceased. Nellie, the eldest daughter, was graduated from the Geneseo Collegiate Institute and then attended the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois. On the 22d of September, 1891, Mr. Lauderbaugh married Miss Mildred Darin, who was born in Phenix township, May 19, 1857, and is a daughter of John Jackson and Eleanor (Clarke) Darin, both natives of Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania. The father's sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. He was one of the successful farmers of this section of the county, and when, on the 8th of October, 1904, his life was ended he was buried in Oakwood cemetery, Geneseo. His wife, who had been born March 19, 1827, was buried there two years before, her death having occurred March II, 1902. They were the parents of seven children, only one of whom is deceased: Annie, the wife of R. A. Pinnell, of Alexandria, South Dakota; Mildred, the wife of Mr. Lauder- baugh; Clarke J. woh died October 22, 1904; Edward E., of Phenix township; Nora, the wife of Virgil McHenry, of Phenix township; Charles H., of Los An- geles, California; and George L., of San Francisco, California.
Mr. and Mrs. Lauderbaugh have one daughter, Lida Eleanor, born May 31, 1893, in Phenix township. She attends Villa de Chantal, in Rock Island, where she is taking a college preparatory course. In his political affiliations Mr. Lau- derbaugh is a prohibitionist and has held all the township offices. He has also been trustee of his church and has the confidence of the people who know him.
RICHARD D. JONES.
A little boy convalescing from a hard attack of smallpox which he caught in the coal mines, plead daily with his parents that they would forsake that con- fining and unhealthy life, buy a piece of land and engage in the agricultural pur- suits, which, while being more remunerative, would also enable them to enjoy more rugged and permanent good health. From those days in the sickroom Richard D. Jones dates his career as a farmer, and in the lapse of the years has never had occasion to regret that his pleading was given thoughtful considera- tion, for he is now one of the successful and influential agriculturists of Colona township.
He was born in Wales, April 1, 1850, a son of Daniel and Mary (Jenkins) Jones. In 1856, the family, consisting of the parents and six children, started for America. The father was a miner and when they embarked upon their long journey it was with the intention of settling in Salt Lake City, Utah, for they were among the believers of Joseph Smith and members of the Latter Day Saints. When they reached Iowa City, however, then the terminus of the Rock Island Railroad, they found that they should have to continue the rest of the trip by wagon train and that a considerable amount of money was a pre- requisite. As they were wholly without funds, the balance of the party con- tinued on their way without them, and they were compelled to look for some place where they might obtain a living. Having been coal miners across the
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ocean, the father and elder sons decided to seek employment in the mines in this state, and accordingly the family removed to Minersville, Colona township, Henry county, now known as Briar Bluff, where they found employment. In 1857 they removed to Coal Valley, where they lived and worked until the spring of 1863, when they located on a farm of eighty acres which the father purchased in Western township. He had worked in the mines since he was seven years of age, and like many men, who have become habituated to one means of win- ning a livelihood, found little complaint with his work, despite the fact that it had been his occupation for half a century. But not so the young boy who be- lieved that the mines were exhausting the strength and destroying the powers of the different members of the family. He had experienced the foulness of the life, which had made him subject to the dread disease of smallpox, so he urged the father to buy a piece of land and start in life anew. Such was the reason for the family's removal to the farm in Western township, upon which they lived until 1884, when the father and mother removed to Correctionville, Iowa, where their youngest son, Daniel, was located. There the former died in October, 1889, and his widow in June, 1893. The hardships the couple had known were numerous and sometimes almost overwhelming, but they ever or- dered their lives in accordance with high principles of honor and integrity, be- ing able to transmit to their children the strong Welsh trait of honesty, industry and frugality.
There were seventeen children born to them, but only six of these were liv- ing when the family came to the United States. They were Louis, Walter, Wil- liam, Martha, Richard D. and Daniel. The eldest went to California in 1862, married there and then removed to Nevada, where he lived for about twelve years. At the end of that period he sold his claims and returned to Illinois. In 1872 he bought a farm near Red Oak, Iowa, on which he lived until his death, which occurred in October, 1898, leaving a son, a daughter and a widow, who still make their home there. Walter was married in 1861 and with his young bride joined an emigrant train bound for Salt Lake City, where he has since resided. In 1862 William enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty- sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served three years or until the close of the war. Although he was ever at his post of duty and participated in a number of severely contested engagements, he closed his career as a soldier without having been wounded or captured. Martha, the only daughter, is the wife of D. H. Harris, of Platt, South Dakota. Daniel, the youngest, is in Iowa.
Richard D. Jones has been very busy ever since he was old enough to work, and although he was but thirteen years of age when he persuaded his parents to engage in farming, he had to assume no small share of the work. He received a meager education in the district schools of Western township. At the age of twenty-one he married, but when he established a home of his own he removed to Red Oak, Montgomery county, Iowa, where he engaged in agricultural pur- suits until 1877. In that year he returned to Colona township, this county, where he purchased the place known as the R. L. Shepherd farm, which has been his home ever since. The original farm comprised one hundred and eighty acres, but he has added to it in the course of years until now he owns four hun- dred and forty-four acres, an excellent tract of land, on which Mr. Jones pur-
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sues diversified farming and engages in stock feeding and dairying. His place is well improved with buildings suitable to his needs, and the fields are tllled with care, skill and knowledge. In consequence, as progressive ideas and in- dustry have been guiding features in his life, he is one of the most successful men in his locality, for not only has he secured a large income, but he enjoys a high reputation for honesty and is respected by every one who has come in con- tact with him either in business relations or socially.
On the 25th of December, 1871, Mr. Jones wedded Miss Jeanette Craig Mc- Whinney, a daughter of James and Margaret (Craig) McWhinney. The former was a native of the north of Ireland, while the latter was born in Scotland. Both came to America as young people, were married in Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, where their daughter, Mrs. Jones, was born, and then came to Henry county, Illinois, settling in Colona township, where they passed the remainder of their lives. They died some years ago. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones, namely: Margaret, who is the wife of Amos Baum, of Colona ; Daniel F., who is married and is a farmer of Edford township; Thomas, A., who is also married and is a farmer and stockman of Colona township; Clara, who is the wife of Albert Kershaw, an agriculturist of Briar Bluff ; Nel- lie, who is the wife of Clark J. Glenn, a coal operator of Edford township; and Ruby E. and Raymond W., who are at home. Mrs. Jones was reared in the faith of the Presbyterian church, and while all the family are interested in re- ligious work they are not members of any denomination.
A republican in his political views, Mr. Jones has played an important part in local affairs and in the councils of his party. He has been a delegate to county and district conventions, is now, having been for some years past, the Colona township member of the county republican central committee. For a number of years he served his township as assessor, was road commissioner, and for eight- een years was a member of the district board of education, for he has always been deeply interested in the subject of public instruction, as he never enjoyed the advantages in that line by which his children have profited. A progressive citizen, he is an ardent advocate of all substantial public improvements and has been influential in obtaining many of the advantages of which the citizens of Colona are now proud. His religion and charity are distinctly of the practical kind, so that he may well be called one of the splendid residents of his locality, whose life has contributed much toward the betterment of those who have asso- ciated with him.
ARTHUR G. McMASTER.
Arthur G. McMaster, who is just entering upon an independent business career as an agriculturist, making his home on section 34, Weller township, was born in Harvard, Clay county, Nebraska, on the 30th of November, 1885. He is a son of George R. and Julia (Shear) McMaster, the former who was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, still survives at the age of sixty-nine years, making his home near Nekoma. His wife, who is a daughter of Henry Shear, a
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well known farmer residing near Altona, is a native of Illinois, where she was reared and educated, being a graduate of Galesburg high school.
Reared in his native state, Arthur G. McMaster at the usual age became a pupil in the public schools of Harvard and later attended the schools of Henry county, Illinois, for about two years, After laying aside his text-books he gave his father the benefit of his assistance in the work of the home farm until March 1, 1909, when he leased a farm of eighty acres three miles southeast of Nekoma and started out in the business world on his own account as an agricul- turist. He is concentrating his energies upon the further development and im- provement of his farm, which is already under a good state of cultivation, prac- tices rotation of crops and studies the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate. He is industrious, diligent and persevering in the conduct of his business and systematic and progressive in the methods which he employs.
On the 20th of January, 1909, Mr. McMaster was united in marriage in Rockford, Illinois, to Miss Minnie Peterson, a daughter of Claus Peterson, now residing in Galva. Prior to her marriage she was a member of the Swedish Lutheran church of Altona, being a member of the choir and taking an active part in all social affairs of the church, while her husband holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church of Altona. In politics he gives stalwart support to the principles of the republican party but has never been an aspirant for pub- lic office, preferring to devote his time and attention to his private affairs. Although he has but recently joined the ranks of Henry county's agriculturists, he has already manifested careful and wise management, close application and good business ability, all of which augur much for a successful future.
WILLIAM A. NEVILLE.
Few among the citizens of Kewanee have done more toward its improvement than the well known real-estate dealer, contractor, and builder, William A. Ne- ville. He has erected many of the residences of the town, was the first to offer homes for sale upon the installment basis here, and has in other ways been con- nected with its best interests. To be sure the blood of pioneers flows in his veins, for his father, Patrick Neville, was one of the early settlers of this county. He was born in Ireland, in 1808, but about 1830 decided that he would come to America to try the unusual opportunities afforded here. He landed at Balti- more, where with the determination to get ahead as fast as he could, he found employment, receiving only six dollars a month as wages. The next year he commanded eight dollars, and the third, which was his last in the city, ten dol- lars a month. In 1833 he came to Illinois, locating in Fulton county, where he found work on a farm, and was in the employ of Jacob Emery, of Stark county, during 1836 and 1837. In the fall of the latter year he entered the southwest quarter of section 24, township 15 west, range 4, east, of Burns township, Henry county, and in the summer of 1838 employed Mr. Ogle of Toulon to break twenty acres of his land. In the summer of the next year he came here, with a yoke of cattle, to make it his home, erecting for his shelter a log cabin.
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This was a house of some importance during the next few years, for during the winter of 1849-50 it was used as the school house, in which William L. Dalrym- ple, late of Cambridge and now deceased, held classes. The school teacher in those days received the meager salary of twelve dollars a month, although he had in addition the privilege of boarding around at the homes of his pupils. In 1848 Mr. Neville built his frame house, which is still standing and was occupied until 1883. It was one of the best on the countryside in those days, as some of the more important of the early artisans in Henry county at that time con- tributed their labor to its erection. Mr. Neville hauled the lumber for it with an ox-team from Chicago, and from that city brought many of the appoint- ments of building which were not in general use here. The house was provided with pine siding, with shingles, doors and sashes, and with flooring throughout. The lumber, however, was rough and was dressed by hand before it was put into the building. The contract for the erection of the house was given to Sullivan Howard, who was assisted by his son, James, and Nat Mayhew, it being the first piece of carpenter work intrusted to the last mentioned. The brick work was done by Michael Grant, of Sugar Tree Grove; the plastering by Tom Brown, also of Sugar Tree Grove, and the painting by Mr. Pratt, of Wethers- field. The frame was made of heavy timber hewed by William D. Cross. This house was finished in good style, was painted white on the outside with green blinds and might well bear comparison with that Samuel Carson put up the same year, or with that erected by Merrill Otis, in 1843, into whose making native lumber of Burns township had gone. Mr. Neville did not live long to enjoy his new home, however, for he died April 16, 1850. He pursued farming after coming to Henry county, and was as successful as could be expected considering the character of the times.
About 1841 Mr. Neville married Miss Jane Pounds, who was born in Mer- cer county, Pennsylvania, March 17, 1813, and when a child went to Fredericks- burg, Ohio, with her parents. In 1840 she came to Illinois to live with a mar- ried sister in Stark county, where she met the man who later became her hus- band. Through her marriage she became the mother of five children. Thomas P. is now a resident of Stuart, Iowa. Mary A. died in infancy. James L., liv- ing in Belleville, Kansas, was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil war and was taken prisoner at Harper's Ferry, enduring all the hardships of confine- ment in the southern prisons. P. H. lives upon a farm adjoining the old home- stead. William A. is the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Neville long survived her husband, for her death did not occur until the 14th of February, 1896, when she was nearly eighty-four years old.
William A. Neville was born in the house which has just been described, February 3, 1855. He grew up on the old homestead, and he received his educa- tion from the public school of the district although the farm work was never in- terrupted on account of studies. At the age of twenty-one he left home, studied medicine for a time, and then in 1878, went to Stuart, Iowa, where he engaged in agriculture. Later he took up the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1884, when he returned to Kewanee and established himself here as a carpenter and builder. After two years' experience he began taking contracts, continuing in that business to the present. He laid out the First and Second Neville addi-
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tions here, besides plotting the Thelan and Neville addition to Wethersfield, and has put up many of the fine residences that adorn its streets. Since 1890 he has been dealing in real estate in connection with his other business, putting up numbers of comfortable homes which he sells to those of moderate means who desire to buy a house upon the installment plan. He is also the agent of several reputable insurance companies, having the assistance of his son Russell T. in this work. Mr. Neville stands forth as one of the best type of western pro- gress and enterprise, to whom Kewanee owes not a little of its prosperity.
On the 14th of February, 1878, Mr. Neville was married to Miss Cynthia West, of Kewanee township. Four children have been born to them, namely : Russell T., of whom mention is made below; Frank R., a carpenter of Kewanee ; and Ralph L. and Edna H. who are attending school. Mrs. Neville is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, while Mr. Neville has allied himself politi- cally with the prohibitionists.
Russell T. Neville, the eldest son, was born in Stuart, Iowa, December 27, 1879. Being but four years of age when his parents came to Kewanee, he has virtually been reared in this town. He attended its public schools and when his education was completed engaged in business with his father. Now he has as- sumed charge of the insurance department while the latter conducts operations in real estate and building. In 1905 he was elected justice of the peace, being at that time the youngest man to hold that office in this section of the state, and in 1909 was reelected, his second term expiring in 1913. He has proved himself worthy of the confidence placed in his judgment. On the 26th of May, 1903, he wedded Miss Mayme I. Ronstrum, of Kewanee, a daughter of Nels and Julia Ronstrum, the former a painter and decorator here. One daughter, Dorothy, has been born of this union. Mr. Neville is a Knight Templar, belongs to the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias and to the Modern Woodmen of America and being a man of engaging personality he has made numerous friends among his lodge brethren and among the citizens of Kewanee.
JEHIEL FULLER.
Jehiel Fuller, one of the leading farmers of Wethersfield township, is enjoy- ing a substantial measure of success resulting from close application and care- ful management of his business affairs. He was born March 29, 1853, on the farm which is still his home. His father, Jehiel Fuller, was a native of North- moreland, Pennsylvania, but resided principally at Wilkes Barre until his re- moval to the west. He was a direct descendant in the seventh generation of Edward Fuller, who came to America on the Mayflower from Redenhall, of the county of Norfolk, England. He and his wife died soon after reaching the new world and their son Samuel who came with his parents on the Mayflower be- came the progenitor of the family in America. From the same ancestor came Chief Justice Melville W. Fuller, of the supreme court. Jehiel Fuller contin- ued his residence in the Keystone state until 1839, when he came to Illinois and located on the farm which is now the home of his son and namesake, having
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taken up the claim the previous year. He was one of the earliest settlers in the county and aided in the reclamation of the wild land for the purposes of civili- zation. With characteristic energy he broke the sod and tilled the fields, devot- ing his remaining days to general agricultural pursuits and adding to his posses- sions until he acquired three hundred and thirty-four acres in Wethersfield town- ship and just across the line in Stark county. He was a very public-spirited man and took a keen interest in all local affairs. He died July 4, 1871, at the age of sixty-five years, while his wife survived until September 10, 1892. She bore the maiden name of Emiline Felton and was a native of New York state, born May 15, 1813. They were married January 31, 1839, at Peru, Huron county, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Fuller were active members of the Wethersfield Congrega- tional church and both were highly esteemed for their many excellent traits of heart and mind. Their son Jehiel was the seventh in order of birth in a family of eight children, three of whom are living, the oldest being Mrs. Helen Max- field, of Cincinnati, Ohio, while the brother, Baxter L., is a well known resident of Henry county.
Educated in the district schools, Jehiel Fuller afterward remained upon the home farm and has since made it his place of residence with the exception of the season of 1887 which he spent at St. Edward, Boone county, Nebraska, where he then owned a tract of land. He was eighteen years of age at his father's death, at which time he assumed charge of the farm and has since conducted it. Eighty acres were inherited by his older brother, Baxter, but he assumed the manage- ment of the remaining two hundred and fifty-four acres, and upon reaching his majority he and his brother bought out the interest of the other heirs, Jehiel Fuller securing two hundred acres. Subsequently he sold his brother twenty acres and bought eighty acres adjoining, so that he now has a farm of two hun- dred and sixty acres. The land is rich and arable and returns to him substan- tial harvests as a reward for the care and labor he has bestowed upon it. He has also remodeled and enlarged the home, has built all of the barns and other out- buildings now upon the place, and has made various improvements, equipping the farm with the most modern machinery to facilitate the work carried on. He has given his attention largely to stock-raising, principally handling good market cattle, hogs and sheep. He is also interested to some extent in farming lands in Colorado and Texas and he has various business interests in Toulon, Illinois, and elsewhere.
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