USA > Illinois > Henry County > History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 87
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115
As the years passed Mr. and Mrs. Lough became the parents of three chil- dren. The eldest, James Roy, was born on the 28th of July, 1882, and re- ceived a good common school education. He is now married, the lady of his choice being Miss Nellie Johnson, of Woodhull, and he makes his home in Osco township, Illinois. Linnie and Louise, twins, were born on the 5th of August, 1885, but the latter passed away May 12, 1902. Linnie graduated from the Geneseo Collegiate Institute, with the class of 1908, and is now engaged in teach- ing. On the 29th of October, 1887, the wife and mother was called to her final rest, and on the 24th of January, 1891, in Morgantown, West Virginia, Mr. Lough was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Anna Arnett, nee Holland, a first cousin of his former wife and a daughter of Solomon and Julia Holland. By a former marriage she had two children : Charles Irvin Arnett, who married Mabel Tomlinson and lives at Panora, Iowa; and Nellie, who died at the age of one year. By his second marriage Mr. Lough became the father of three children. George Walter, who was born December 4, 1892, completed the eighth grade in the district school and attended the high school at Orion for a short time and entered Geneseo Collegiate Institute. Glenn Harvey, whose birth occurred on the 11th of December, 1895, has also completed eighth grade, and entered Orion high school. John Holland, born on the 26th of November, 1898, is still a pupil in the grammar school.
Mr. Lough and his entire family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has served as trustee for some years, while in his fraternal
825
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
relation he is identified with Camp No. 261, M. W. A., of Orion, Illinois. A stal- wart supporter of the republican party, he cast his first presidential ballot for Hayes in 1876, and since that time has voted for every candidate on that ticket. Although he is not an aspirant for office, he is, nevertheless, public-spirited in his citizenship and no matter which has for its object the substantial upbuilding and progress of the community is refused his endorsement and cooperation. He is one of the active and progressive farmers of Osco township, a man of good business capacity and enterprise and of unquestioned business integrity, en- joying in an unusual degree the confidence and good will of the community.
OSCAR A. SHERMAN.
Oscar A. Sherman, now living retired at Woodhull after a life of exceptional activity, was born June 4, 1841, in Essex county, New York, a son of Samuel and Azubah (Greene) Sherman. The parents removed from that state to Galesburg, Illinois, in 1850, before any railroads had reached that town, the trip being made entirely by water to Buffalo and thence by the Erie canal and the lakes to Chi- cago. From Chicago to Peoria they traveled by the Illinois and Michigan canal and at the latter place took wagons. The trip consumed a month and when they arrived at Galesburg they found only a straggling village with the surrounding country in a wild condition, totally unimproved. Samuel Sherman engaged in farming in Knox county and prospered in his ventures. He spent the remainder of his life there, retiring in 1875 from his farm to Galesburg and dying in that city in the fall of that year. His widow survived him ten years, passing away in 1885.
Oscar A. Sherman alternated working on the farm with attending the district school and the public schools of Galesburg until he enlisted in the Union army, August 6, 1862. He enrolled with Company D, One Hundred and Second Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry and served until May 30, 1865, when he was honorably discharged. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, was with Sherman in the Atlanta compaign and the march to the sea, as well as other engagements in which that army took part. In the battle of Goldsboro he was taken prisoner in March, 1865, and confined at Saulsbury, North Carolina, for eleven days. During this time he was kept marching nearly all the time in com- pany with his fellow prisoners to keep them all from falling into the hands of the Union army. After the surrender at Appomattox he was released at Augusta, Georgia, and without rations of any kind was forced to walk sixty miles before reaching government aid at Savannah, where they met with a hearty reception. At the battle of New Hope Church, Georgia, in May, 1864, he sustained a se- rious scalp wound, but as soon as released from the hospital he rejoined his regi- ment. Mr. Sherman served as a non-commissioned officer, carrying the regi- mental banner from Resaca to Atlanta, being a splendid soldier, always faithful to duty and held in high regard by his superior officers.
At the close of the war Mr. Sherman returned to his father's home, where he remained until 1874, when he removed to Clover township, and until 1883 was
826
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
engaged in farming, but in that year he moved to Woodhull, establishing a livery business, in which he was engaged until 1891, when he sold his interests and retired from active life.
On December 25, 1859, Mr. Sherman married Jennette Marble, a daughter of William Marble, of Knox county. He left his wife and a ten months old daughter when he enlisted in the army, thus doubly proving his patriotism. To him and his wife were born four daughters, namely: Minnie E., now the widow of George Graves; Lettie M., the widow of Thomas Farrell; Myrtie A., who is deceased; and Rhena B., who married Seth Daily. The mother of these died November 7, 1887. On February 24, 1888, Mr. Sherman married Fanny S. Da- vis, a daughter of George and Ada (Keyes) Davis, natives of Buckinghamshire, England, who came to this country in 1837, settling in Connecticut, later mov- ing to New York state and in 1852 coming to Galesburg, Illinois, where they lived until 1871, in which year they located at Woodhull. Mr. Davis was a shoe- maker and a highly respected citizen of Woodhull, who died in November, 1893, being survived by his widow until April 6, 1909, both being buried in the Woodhull cemetery. One daughter, Elizabeth A., was born to Mr. and Mrs. Sherman and she is married to A. O. Nelson, of Galesburg.
Mr. Sherman is a republican and has held the office of township constable for thirty years and police constable for eighteen years. He has also been a mem- ber of the village council and of the school board and has been faithful to every public trust reposed in him. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Wood- men and during the existence of Shields Post, G. A. R., he was an active mem- ber of it. The whole family are affiliated with the Methodist church and are active in church and Sunday-school work. As both soldier and citizen Mr. Sher- man has done his full duty and no higher praise can be accorded him.
THOMAS F. OLIVER.
Thomas F. Oliver, who devotes his time and energies to general farming in Wethersfield township, was born May 1, 1857, on the tract of land which he now owns and cultivates. His father, William Oliver, became a resident of Henry county in 1854 and in 1838 of Stark county, Illinois. Only six years before had the Black Hawk war occurred and evidences of Indian occupancy and of pioneer life were seen on every hand. He was born in Ross-shire, Scotland, February 7, 1827, his parents being Thomas and Margaret (Fife) Oliver, who were natives of Roxburghshire, where their marriage was celebrated. In 1837 the family came to the United States and the following year established their home in Stark county, Illinois, being among the first settlers of what is now Elmira township. There Thomas Oliver turned the first furrows upon the tract of land which in course of time he made a well improved farm. It continued to be his place of residence until he was called to his final rest. His wife had died some years before.
In the pioneer schools of Illinois William Oliver pursued his early education and later attended Knox College at Galesburg. When not busy with his text-
827
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
books his time and energies were given to the work of the home farm, for he assisted his father in the cultivation of the fields until his marriage. It was on the 7th of April, 1854, in Stark county, that he wedded Miss Elizabeth Trum- bull, who was born and reared in Scotland and was a daughter of William Trum- bull, also a pioneer of Stark county. After their marriage William Oliver and his wife settled on a farm in Wethersfield township, Henry county, where he purchased two hundred acres of wild land which he broke and placed under cul- tivation. He added to his landed possession from time to time until he had six hundred and forty acres, on which he built a good residence and substantial barns and outbuildings. There he successfully carried on farming until 1898, when he rented his place and built a home in Wethersfield, retiring from active life. His first wages earned in his early boyhood were ten cents per day. Grad- ually, however, he received an increased remuneration for his services until in the course of years he was able to make investment in farm property and by his careful cultivation and management of his business interests gained substantial success. In community affairs he was prominent, serving as a member of the school board and also as a school director in his district, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion. He and his family are earnest and con- sistent members of the United Presbyterian church and his political allegiance is given to the republican party.
Thomas F. Oliver supplemented his district school education by study in the Kewanee high school and later took up work on the home farm, where he re- mained until twenty-three years of age. At that time he was married and be- gan farming for himself, cultivating a tract of one hundred and sixty acres about a mile west of his present home. He lived upon that place for four years and then removed to the Henry Scott farm of one hundred and sixty acres just across the road from the old homestead. He cultivated the two properties until 1899, when he settled upon the home farm, comprising two hundred and forty acres. He has since cultivated this tract as well as the Henry Scott farm, thus having charge of a total of four hundred acres. The greater part of the land is under cultivation, while the balance is devoted to hay and pasture. Mr. Oliver feeds a large amount of stock and in 1908 he started a herd of red polled cattle, which he intends shall be made second to none in the country. He now has a fine bull and a good herd of thoroughbred cows. He also raises about one hundred and fifty good market hogs each year. Since taking charge of the farm he has built barns and made other improvements which are of a most modern character. A deep well which he had drilled is the source of the pneumatic water supply which furnishes his house. For ten years he has been the owner of a farm and his labors have made it a very valuable property, equipped with all the accessories and conveniences of a model farm of the twentieth century. In June, 1909, he purchased a five-passenger, four-cylinder Maxwell car, which is one of the finest automobiles in this section. He is a director of the Union National Bank of Ke- wanee and his name is an honored one on commercial paper.
On the 24th of December, 1881, Mr. Oliver was married in Wethersfield township to Miss Jennie R. Scott, a daughter of Henry Scott, a prominent farmer of this locality. She died leaving four children : Mary Adela, the wife of Robert Ogle, of Toulon, Illinois ; Elizabeth, at home; Henry S., at home ; and Kitty Belle,
828
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
who completes the family. On the 15th of March, 1899, Mr. Oliver was again married, his second union being with Sibella Armstrong, of Toulon, Stark county. There are also four children of this marriage: Agnes Helen and Anna Hazel, twins, nine years of age; Lois Sibella, six years old; and William Armstrong, now in his second year.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Oliver are members of the Elmira Presbyterian church and he has served as chairman of its board of trustees for about ten years. In politics he is a republican, active in the local ranks of the party. He has served as a school trustee for many years but has never aspired to political office, prefer- ring to lend his aid to others who have greater desire for political honors and emoluments. He has always preferred to give his attention to his business affairs and his capable management is seen in the success which is now his. He is one of the representative farmers of the county, thoroughly progressive in all that he does.
GUST PETER ANDERSON.
Gust Peter Anderson, one of the thrifty Swedish farmers of Geneseo town- ship, was born in Porter county, Indiana, September 30, 1867, and is a son of Peter and Charlotte (Swanson) Anderson, both natives of Sweden. The father was born March 17, 1831, and came to America in July, 1854, locating in In- diana, near Lake Station, which was then about forty miles from Chicago. There he mowed grass and hay for his oxen in fields which have now been included within the limits of that great city or are on the outskirts of its suburbs. After about fifteen years' residence in Indiana he came to Illinois, settling upon the farm in Geneseo township, where his son now lives. While he was in the for- mer state he was drafted into the army during the Civil war, but before he was ready to enlist hostilities had ceased and no service was exacted of him. In 1898 he passed away. He had been a republican in political matters and had served as school director, while he was a devout member of the Swedish Mission church. Within four or five weeks of his death his wife also passed away. She was born February 3, 1835, shared with her husband the many privations of their early life here, and like him was buried in the cemetery of the Swedish Mission. Eleven children were born to the couple, four of whom are now liv- ing. Among them were: Hattie, who is the wife of J. L. Johnson, of Gowrie, Webster county, Iowa; Gust Peter, of this review; Charles O., of Stavely, Al- berta, Canada; Annie, who was the wife of Charles Lyden, of Denver, Colo- rado, and died July 31, 1903; Minnie, who died November 1, 1895, unmarried; and Theodore W., of Cambridge, Illinois.
Gust Peter Anderson received his education in the Jackson school of Geneseo township and worked with his father on the home place during vacations and through his school period until he became of age, when he embarked in farm- ing for himself. For about seven or eight years he rented land and then, in 1900, he and his brother Charles O. bought the place on which he now lives and which they both own. Here Mr. Anderson follows general farming and has also engaged extensively in the raising of stock for the market. Thrifty and in-
829
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
telligent, unsparing of hard work when necessary, he has found that good har- vests have made a rich return for his toil and that his cattle are readily disposed of, thus netting him a substantial return.
On the 26th of March, 1895, Mr. Anderson wedded Miss Amanda Blomquist, who was born in Loraine township, July 18, 1872. Her parents, August and Christine (Erickson) Blomquist, were natives of Sweden, the father having been born March 22, 1835, the mother June 18, 1828. In 1869 they came to America, and after living for one year with Mr. Erickson in Geneseo township, they bought land in Loraine township, which they still own, although Mrs. Blomquist makes her home with Mr. Anderson. Three children were born to them, the two living being Mrs. Anderson and Helma, who, unmarried, lives in Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have had five children, all born upon the home farm where Mr. Anderson's parents lived for so long. They are Helen Charlotte, born June 25, 1896, who attends school; Inez Florine and Irene Frances, twins, born Sep- tember 28, 1900; Willard Peter, born July 26, 1902; and Dwight Wesley, born January 12, 1909.
In his political views Mr. Anderson is a republican and has served as school director for a number of years, while his religious allegiance is given to the Swedish Mission church, of which he is treasurer. Frugal and hard working, a man whose honorable relations with his fellowmen have been put to the test, he enjoys the sincere respect of all who know him, and like his wife has made many stanch friends.
S. P. NEYSTROM.
Remarkably popular in his community, a leader in the younger generation, of which he is still a member, is S. P. Neystrom, of Lynn township. He was born March 2, 1877, in Clover township, Henry county, and of Swedish origin, his parents being Charles and Anna (Samuelson) Neystrom, both natives of Swe- den. They came when young people to America, making the voyage on the same vessel, and were married after reaching the "land of promise." In Henry county, Illinois, they established their home and here, after working for some time as a farm hand, the father by industry and rigid economy succeeded in acquiring a farm of his own. Here they lived out their useful lives, the mother going to her heavenly rest in October, 1886, and the father surviving until 1895. Their mortal remains were interred in the cemetery at Woodhull.
S. P. Neystrom enjoyed the wholesome and interesting experiences of one who spends his boyhood and youth upon the farm and acquired his education in the Woodhull public schools. After his marriage in 1899 he removed to the Lindquist homestead in Lynn township, once the property of his wife's father, and on this tract of one hundred and twenty acres of fine land, well improved and fertile, Mr. Neystrom is proving himself one of the progressive agricul- turists of the county. He engages in general farming and stock feeding and makes a specialty of thoroughbred Poland China hogs, finding sale for his stock in the home market.
830
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
On November 22, 1899, Mr. Neystrom was married to Miss Amanda Lind- quist, a daughter of Gustaf and Caroline (Mars) Lindquist. Her parents, like those of her husband, were of Swedish birth and also like them came to this country when young people and were married here. By hard work and honest methods the father acquired a competency and was a man highly respected by all who knew him. He died in March, 1900, his widow, who still survives him, making her home with her daughter and son-in-law on the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Neystrom are the parents of two daughters, Pearl Irene and Gladys Leona.
Mr. Neystrom is a warm advocate of the measures inaugurated by the re- publican party and the men advanced to carry them out. He is a man naturally fitted to take an active part in public affairs and that this fact is recognized by his associates is evidenced by the manifold trusts that have been reposed in him. He has been sent as a delegate to many conventions ; has filled the office of township clerk for several years; was justice of the peace for one term; is president of the school board, in the spring of 1906 was elected a member of the county board of supervisors from Lynn township and was reelected in 1908; and is chairman of the committee on the county farm and paupers. In addition to this Mr. Ney- strom is a popular member of the Fraternal Tribune, and both he and his wife are active workers in the Andover Evangelical Lutheran church. In short he is not only a man who makes a success of the occupation he has chosen, but he is a valuable citizen, in that he is broad-minded and willing to support by deeds as well as words any measure calculated to benefit and elevate his community. In his high ideals he is seconded by his wife, a most estimable woman, de- voted to her home and family.
JOHN H. SCHROEDER.
John H. Schroeder, one of the native farmers and stockmen of Edford town- ship, was born on section 15, February II, 1868. His parents, G. Henry and Wil- helmina (Wiegand) Schroeder, were of German birth and upon coming to this country engaged in farming in Edford township, this county, on section 15, and later on section 23, where Charles Schroeder now makes his home. They are now living in Geneseo, having put aside the heavier of life's cares.
John H. Schroeder is the third in order of birth in a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters. He was reared at home and acquired a good edu- cation, for after he had completed the course offered by the district school he went to the Northwestern Normal in Geneseo for two years. He had from childhood worked upon the home farm, and when his school life was over he re- turned to it to assume its cares and responsibilities in real earnest. After his marriage he brought his bride to the farm where he now lives. In 1903 he pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres in another part of the township. He pur- sues general farming and has quite extensively engaged in the stock business, making a specialty of polled Angus cattle.
831
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
In Osco township, January 30, 1895, Mr. Schroeder was united in marriage to Miss Nora E. Weidlein. She was born in that section of Henry county and is a daughter of Andrew and Sarah E. (Conrad) Weidlein. Two children have been born to the couple: Lucile K. and Arley J. Mr. and Mrs. Schroeder are members of the Congregational church and endeavor to lead good Christian lives. In his political views Mr. Schroeder leans toward the democratic party, but he is independent in his attitude toward local matters, casting his vote for the man or measure that appeals to him as the right one. He has not been desirous of holding office, but for a period of eleven years he served very efficiently as town clerk. Fully alive to the necessity for hard work and determined to be numbered among the more prosperous of the township's farmers, he has gained the good will of all who have come in contact with him.
ANDREW GUSTAV SODERBERG.
Andrew Gustav Soderberg, an importer and breeder of Clydesdale and Eng- lish Shire horses, has perhaps won more prizes for his animals than any other man in Henry county, and no one can know the story of his life without marvel- ing at the success to which he has attained, handicapped as he was from his birth by poverty and destitute of those advantages which an education gives a man. He lives in Osco township, and having, in a spirit of loyalty bestowed its name upon some of his finest animals, has been the means of spreading the fame of the township beyond the bounds of this state.
He was born in Oestergötland, Sweden, May 30, 1853, and is the son of Jonas and Gustava (Anderson) Soderberg. He was reared on a farm and in the lum- ber business and never attended school, not even for one day. At the age of eleven he left home, finding work for which he was paid wages. He saved his money carefully and at the age of fifteen bought two lambs, which he handed over to some poor people who received half of what they produced for keeping them. He followed the same practice with cows and steer calves, so that he grad- ually added to his accumulations.
In December, 1874, Mr. Soderberg married and the next summer he started on the journey to America. He had not contemplated the trip at the time, in fact not until within a few weeks before setting out. On July 15 a friend sug- gested his trying his fortunes in the new world and August II he and his wife were ready to embark. They boarded the steamer "City of Richmond," and after sixteen days upon the water landed in New York. A Mrs. Swanson, whose acquaintance they made on shipboard, and who had been to America before and was returning after having buried her husband in Sweden, had lived for a time in Henry county, Illinois, and persuaded the Soderbergs to come here. Arriving at Cambridge, they started to look for work in the country, walking barefoot through the mud as they were desirous of saving their shoes, until they came to a place where men were cutting broom corn. Mr. Soderberg hired out to one man, and his wife to another, for the journey to America had consumed all of their little store. In the fall of 1876 they went to housekeeping in Osco town-
832
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
ship and both worked for Charles Hoefland. In 1877 he worked by the month for Charles Holmes on the William Davis place and made his home on land he had purchased in Osco township. The next year, 1878, he began to dig tile ditches, and as he was the first man engaged in this work in Osco township his services were in great demand. Accordingly he employed three crews of men, took them to Orion and showed them how to make tiles in two sections, this being the first tile made of clay in the neighborhood. When a protracted dry season necessi- tated the digging of deep wells, he turned his energies to boring, using a pod auger with a long handle to which he fastened a piece of piping to increase its length. This he drove down to a depth of seventy feet when he found water. He secured the aid of a blacksmith to snake the auger, but he had to show him how to do it.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.