USA > Illinois > Henry County > History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 88
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While still in the tiling business Mr. Soderberg began to invest in horses, buying his first, General Grant, in Mercer county. With him he won first prize in Chicago at the Illinois State Fair, at which he also exhibited Galloway Tom, who also bore off a first prize. In 1883 his membership in the American Breed- ers Association, in the Clydesdale Association and in the Shire Association made him a member of the fair, and he entered upon the breeding of fine horses, a busi- ness which has grown to large proportions and from which he has won great distinction. As time went on and he saw opportunity opening before him he began to cross the water to select fine stock, bringing back with him as many as twenty head at a time. Of course he exhibited at many places and the rib- bons he has in his possession, indicating the number of times he has won first premium, are bewildering in their profusion. In fact it was suggested to him, by a man who was to write up his success, that the only way in which to obtain an adequate idea of them was to have them photographed, for they would in all probability count into the thousands. A few of his horses, however, deserve es- pecial mention. Lady Byron may well come first. In 1891 she won the silver medal at the animal show in Chicago, fifty-seven first ribbons, and a silver coffee urn, after obtaining which she was forever barred from further showing. Mr. Soderberg has sold over thirteen thousand dollars' worth of her colts and still has her on his farm with a colt at her side. She is the mother of Baron Prince, which won the champion cup at Illinois State Fair in 1906. She is also the mother of Osco Kerner and the grand-dam of Osco Sweetness. With Baron Prince, Osco Queen, Osco Sweetness and Osco Kerner, Mr. Soderberg won the solid silver loving-cup at the Illinois State Fair in 1906. In the same year with Baron Prince he won the champion silver cup donated by Scotland and with Osco Queen the champion silver cup donated by the American Association. With Osco Rose in Kansas City in 1906 he won a gold medal and in the same year and place another gold medal with Noble King. In 1908 with Osco Sylvia he won gold medal, first prize, and champion and gold medal, three prizes in Chicago and in the Iowa and Illinois State Fairs, of the same year. Until 1902, along with his experiments in the breeding of horses, he carried on his work in well-boring.
Mr. Soderberg has been married twice. On the 31st of December, 1874, when he had only five hundred croner, he wedded in Sweden Miss Caroline Peterson. She shared with him the hardships of the ocean journey and of his first years
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in this new country, but did not live to witness his full success, for she died in 1896. Unto them were born the following children: Andrew Oliver, who died at the age of two and a half ; Clarence Bert, who is married and lives in Alberta. Canada, on a farm of nine hundred and four acres, owned by his father; Frank Oliver, a horseman of Greeley, Colorado; Mabel, unmarried, who lives in Alberta, Canada; Manghill, unmarried, of High River, Canada; and Esther at home. On the 25th of December, 1901, Mr. Soderberg married Hannah Ulrica Anderson. She was born in Oestergötland, Sweden, October 18, 1865, and is a daughter of Charles Ulrich and Louisa (Johnson) Anderson. Her father came to America when she was about three years old, and a year and a half later she came here with her mother. They located on a farm near New London, Henry county, Iowa, and when about fifteen she came to Illinois, securing work in Moline. There she married Mr. Ohrn and by this union there were three children born. Frances Hannah is a graduate of the Moline high school and is now a teacher in the schools of her home district. Carl Leonard lives with Mr. Soderberg. Arnold Frederick, the youngest, after completing the eighth grade, passed highest of all the competitors in the central examinations, receiving an average of ninety-eight and three-fifths per cent, which entitled him to a year's free tuition at the Geneseo Collegiate Institute. That year has now expired and he is the bookeeper in the Osco Farmers Bank.
The honors Mr. Soderberg has won with his horses are an indication of his skill and success as a breeder of fine animals, but his financial prosperity is more accurately estimated by the land he holds. In 1889 he bought seventy-four and a half acres, on which he now lives, and later added eighteen acres to this. In 1905 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of improved land in Sherman county, Kansas. He then invested in one hundred and sixty acres in Alberta, Canada, and shortly after bought nine hundred and four acres there. His last acquisition is eighty-two acres in Adair county, Iowa. Remarkable possessions for any man, they are particularly worthy of note in the case of Mr. Soderberg, when it is remembered that he began his business life at the age of eleven, for a very small wage and without having had any schooling.
ELMER SAMUEL GOOD.
Elmer Samuel Good, in business life one of the best known furniture dealers of Henry county, is a man who has made his presence felt in Kewanee and has influenced the community for the better in many ways. He was born three miles east of the city, May 14, 1863, and is a son of Samuel W. and Mary A. (North- rop) Good, who came from Zanesville, Ohio, to Henry county, Illinois, and were farming people. The Good family came from the country district of Pennsyl- vania, while the Northrop family came from Philadelphia.
The education of Elmer Samuel Good was secured in the district schools and the Kewanee high school, and he also attended business college at Burling- ton, Iowa. Until he had attained his majority he remained at home and then followed his father's example and began teaching school during the winter months,
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thus continuing for three years. However, Kewanee attracted him and he came to the city, where he worked in a hardware store for a year. He then entered the employ of the Western Tube Company and was in its office for four years. In 1895 he embarked in the furniture business, by buying the establishment of C. J. Roadstrad, which was conducted under the firm name of Roadstrad & Pal- mer, and now does business as E. S. Good. Five years later Mr. Palmer took the undertaking end of the business and now is one of the leading undertakers of the county, while Mr. Good assumed charge of the furniture department and carries a full line of fine furniture of all kinds. He also owns a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres south of Kewanee.
Mr. Good was married March 6, 1901, to Jean Oliver, a daughter of William Oliver, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this work. Two children have been born to them, namely: Everett Oliver, born May 18, 1904; and Wal- lace, (Teddy) born May 19, 1908.
Mr. Good is a Mason, a Knight Templar and was secretary of the blue lodge and of the chapter for five years. He has been very active in lodge work and is one of the most popular men in his order. Formerly he held the office of trustee of the Congregational church, of which he is a consistent member, and during the three years he held that office he gave cheerfully of his time to the work of the board.
The furniture house of Mr. Good is conveniently located on Main street, where two floors one hundred and twenty by twenty-one feet, are occupied and every facility is afforded for a proper display of the goods. Strict honesty in business dealings, loyalty to friends and deep love for his family are characteris- tics that make him not only successful but beloved, and his community could ill afford to lose him.
ELVIN F. DILENBECK.
Elvin F. Dilenbeck, who until within a few months ago was a farmer on sec- tion 23, Edford township, was born in that township, August 22, 1872, and is a son of Myron H. and Sarah C. (Spickler) Dilenbeck, who are residents of Gene- seo. He is the second in order of birth in a family of three children, all of whom received good educations. Albert Cortland, the eldest, after completing the course in the common schools, attended the Northwestern Normal, though he did not graduate. He is now a resident of Edford township. Minnie Viola, the youngest, was graduated from the Geneseo high school and then taught for a few years. She is now the wife of Charles Washburn and lives in Laramie, Wyoming.
Like his brother and sister, Elvin F. Dilenbeck received a good education, for after he had completed the course outlined in the schools of the township, he went to the Northwestern Normal, from which he was graduated in the class of 1891. He embarked immediately upon his business career, going first to Ida Grove, Ida county, Iowa, where he obtained a position in the First National Bank as bookkeeper. At the end of eighteen months he was made assistant cashier in
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the Castana Savings Bank at Castana, Monona county, Iowa, and while in that city he became acquainted with the woman he subsequently married. In 1894 he returned to Illinois and for two years worked as a renter upon his father's farm in Edford township. In 1896 he bought the place, paying sixty dollars an acre for it, and for thirteen years made it his home. In that period, through his ef- forts it had been so much improved and had so increased in value that in 1909 he sold it for one hundred and fifty-five dollars an acre. His earnest toil was richly rewarded, and he proved himself skilled in the cultivation of the soil. He still owns a half section in southern Minnesota.
Mr. Dilenbeck had scarcely entered upon man's estate when on the 3d of April, 1893, in Castana, Iowa, he was united in marriage to Miss Helen E. Howe, a daughter of John L. and Araminta B. Howe. When exercising his franchise Mr. Dilenbeck has invariably cast his ballot for the candidates of the republi- can party, with whose platform he is most in sympathy. He has never had any desire to accept office within the gift of the people, however, though there can be no doubt that he would find ready support were he disposed to seek it. His religious allegiance is given to the Methodist Episcopal church, in which both he and his wife are active.
ERNEST MANTHE.
Ernest Manthe, who resides on section 23, Wethersfield township, is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of well improved land, which is kept under the highest state of cultivation. His birth occurred near Berlin, Germany, on the 15th of May, 1865, his parents being Christ and Henrietta (Sepp) Manthe. In 1868 the father brought his family to the United States and a year later took up his abode in Burns township, Henry county, Illinois, where, in association with his brother, he purchased a farm of eighty acres on sections 2 and 3. This place has since remained in his possession and he has there carried on his agri- cultural interests to the present time, having met with a gratifying and well merited measure of success in his undertakings.
Ernest Manthe, who is the eldest in a family of seven sons and four daugh- ters, obtained his education in the public schools of Burns township and remained under the parental roof until twenty years of age. He then secured employment as a farm hand but at the end of a year purchased a tract of eighty acres in Cornwall township and devoted his energies to its cultivation until 1893. In that year he leased the property and removed to Kewanee, buying a home on Benni- son road, now Cambridge street. At that place he was actively engaged in team- ing for a year and then gave his attention to the operation of a rented farm in Wethersfield township for a similar period. Subsequently he cultivated a rented tract of land in Kewanee township for one year, on the expiration of which pe- riod, in 1896, he returned to his farm in Cornwall township, there carrying on his agricultural interests until he disposed of the place in 1905. He then purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 23, Wethersfield township, and has since brought the property under a high state of cultivation
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and improvement. The buildings include a fine modern ten-room residence as well as substantial and commodious barns, and in fact the place is lacking in none of the conveniences and accessories of a model farm of the twentieth cen- tury. Mr. Manthe devotes his attention principally to the raising of corn but also cultivates oats to some extent. He feeds some hogs for the market, though the stock which he raises is mostly for his own use.
On the 27th of August, 1890, in Kewanee township, Mr. Manthe was united in marriage to Miss Adelia Statz, a daughter of Ferderick William Statz, who is now deceased but was formerly actively identified with the agricultural interests of Kewanee township. Mr. and Mrs. Manthe are now the parents of four chil- dren, namely: Anna Gertrude, seventeen years of age; Frederick Herbert, a lad of thirteen; and Grace Henrietta and Robert Carl, who are eleven and three years of age respectively.
When exercising his right of franchise Mr. Manthe supports the men and measures of the republican party and is an active worker in its local ranks. For the past four years he has acted as a school director and in this connection has done effective service for the cause of education. His life is in harmony with his professions as a member of the German Lutheran church, the teachings of which he daily exemplifies. The period of his residence in this county now covers four decades and he is widely recognized as one of its prosperous and representative agriculturists as well as respected citizens.
WINFIELD S. CHRISTNER.
Winfield S. Christner, one of the larger agriculturists of Geneseo township, owning three hundred and twenty acres of land on sections I and 2, was born on a farm near Indian Head, Salt Lick township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, September 18, 1854, and is a son of Samuel and Rachel (Berg) Christner. The parents were both of Pennsylvanian nativity, the father having been born in Som- erset county, the mother in Fayette county, and were of German and Scotch an- cestry. Though reared upon the farm and to the life of a farmer, it is but re- cently that Mr. Christner has joined the agricultural community of Geneseo township, for he tried other vocations in different parts of the country before he finally settled here. He attended the common schools of his native home and then spent one term at the normal school of Donegal, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, looking forward to a career as a teacher. He changed his mind, however, and learned the carpenter's trade, at which he had worked with his father more or less ever since he was fifteen, and which he followed until twenty- five. At that age he and some business friends started a sawmill in Westmore- land county and conducted it together for about five years, when Mr. Christner decided to come west and try his fortunes in Illinois. He settled in Geneseo, where he opened a bakery and restaurant. It was a disastrous venture, how- ever, for in two years he lost a considerable amount of money, and in the fall of 1888 he returned to Pennsylvania. There for a number of years he followed the carpenter's trade and then in 1901 returned to Illinois, locating on the farm
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on which he now lives. For several years he rented land but in 1906 purchased the place being satisfied as to its fertility and the opportunities it afforded for acquiring a comfortable income. The years have proved that he was not mis- taken in his estimate. He has remodeled the house, thus making it thoroughly modern, and the land for which he paid seventy dollars an acre, is now worth fully one hundred and seventy-five dollars, and there is every reason to look forward to its increasing in value.
Mr. Christner has been married twice. In his native county, September 20, 1877, he wedded Miss Sarah White, and to them was born a son Reuel, who is now living in Fayette county, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Christner died and June 10, 1884, he married Miss Emma Weimer. She was born in Atkinson township, Henry county, and is a daughter of William and Susan (Heller) Weimer, a sketch of whom appears in another part of this volume. She attended the pub- lic schools of her native township and then spent some years in the high school in Geneseo. She met Mr. Christner while on a visit to friends in Pennsylvania. Five children have been born of this second union. Earl, born in Salt Lick township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, February 4, 1885, received a common- school education and is now at home with his parents. Edith was born in Bullskin township, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, March 10, 1890. Elwyn was also born in Bullskin township, on the 14th of February, 1892, and was gradu- ated from the Geneseo Collegiate Institute with the class of 1909. Esther was born in Pennsylvania, June 2, 1898. Ewing, the youngest, was born in Pennsylvania, October 15, 1900. Mr. and Mrs. Christner are members
of the Brethren church, but there is no organization of that denomination in their locality. Mr. Christner cast his first presidential ballot for Hayes at the election of 1876 and was always a stanch republican until of late years, when he has given his support to the prohibition party. He has served as school director for a number of years, and his influence has always been exerted toward pro- moting better educational advantages.
FRANCIS OWEN WITHROW.
Francis Owen Withrow, one of the substantial agriculturists of Phenix town- ship, who has been making a specialty of feeding and raising stock, is conven- iently located on section 30, where he owns two hundred and fifty-five acres of rich farm land. He and his son together successfully operate four hundred and fifty-five acres. He was born just across the line in Geneseo township, De- cember 15, 1860, being a son of J. M. and Asvilla M. (Allen) Withrow. When he was only six weeks old his father removed into Phenix township, locating on the farm now owned by him. This had been bought a short time before and paid for with corn valued at nine cents per bushel. At that time the farm only con- sisted of eighty acres, upon which the father built a brick house, the brick being made in Phenix township. When Francis was eleven years old his father bought another eighty acre farm, which was in Hanna township, and our sub- ject lived there with the family until his marriage.
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On October 5, 1882, Mr. Withrow married Ella Eusaba Kerr, who was born in Hanna township, a daughter of Thomas W. and Amanda (Henninger) Kerr, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Buying one hundred and twenty acres, the young couple settled upon their farm. This was a portion of the land Mrs. Withrow's maternal grandfather had secured upon coming to Illinois. Here they lived for twelve years, when Mr. Withrow sold and bought his present farm, which is now very valuable. They had two children: Howard Hudson, born April 2, 1885; and Hattie Mildred, born May 26, 1898, who died at the age of five weeks.
Howard H. Withrow is a graduate of high school of the class of 1905, and remained at home until his marriage, on November 27, 1906, to Mabel E. Will- kinson of Munson township, one of his classmates. For two years following his marriage the young man was assistant superintendent at the county infirmary and then returned to the farm, where he is working in conjunction with his father. He bought one hundred and fifteen acres in March, 1908, and has already materially increased its value.
Reared a republican Mr. Withrow voted for Blaine in 1884 and has taken an active part in politics ever since. While living in Hanna township he served . as township clerk for four years. In 1900 he was elected supervisor of Phenix township and has held the office continuously since, making a remarkable record, for he has not missed a single meeting. He first served on the committee on township accounts for two years, then on that on roads and bridges, and while a member of it several new bridges were built. Both Mr. and Mrs. Withrow are members of the Methodist church and are active in its work. Fraternally he is a member of Geneseo Lodge, No. 72, I. O. O. F., filling all of the chairs; and of Geneseo Camp, No. 40, M. W. A. His wife belongs to the Ladies Aid Society of the Methodist church.
Mr. Withrow only received a common country school education and until he was twenty-one years old he worked for his father without remuneration, but he has succeeded in accumulating a desirable property and is regarded as one of the reliable and representative men of his community.
M. HOWARD MACHESNEY.
M. Howard Machesney is one of the respected and representative citizens of Annawan township, his home being on the southwest quarter of section 17. His financial condition relieves him from the necessity of further active labor, so that he is practically living retired, although he still gives his supervision to the management of his property interests. His birth occurred at the family home on section 29, Annawan township, June 3, 1870, his parents being James and Selinda (Burgett) Machesney. The father was born in Greensburg, West- moreland county, Pennsylvania, March 17, 1817, and was a son of Andrew and Mary (Henderson) Machesney. The family is of Irish origin and was founded in America by Mr. and Mrs. William Machesney, the great-grandparents of our subject, who crossed the Atlantic in 1786 and spent their remaining days in
JAMES MACHESNEY
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Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, the death of William Machesney there occurring in 1825. Andrew Machesney was a child of only four years at the time of the emigration to the new world, and under the parental roof he spent his boyhood days and was reared to the occupation of farming, which he made his life work. He removed from Pennsylvania to Ohio, where he lived for two years, but at the expiration of that period returned to the former state, his death occurring in Greensburg in 1864 when he had reached the age of eighty-two years. His wife survived until January, 1868, and died at the age of seventy-two years. She was a native of Pennsylvania and of Scotch descent.
James Machesney was reared to manhood in Westmoreland county, where he acquired a good common-school education. He came to Illinois in 1854 with his brother, David Machesney, who was a physician, and in 1855 James Maches- ney opened at drug store in Annawan, where he continued business until 1860. Before coming to Illinois he had worked by the month for two years, and when he started out at the end of that time he had sixty dollars, which he put out at interest. From that time until his death there was never a year in which he did not have money out at interest. He was very careful in making loans, so that he never suffered losses, and in his business management was so successful that when he disposed of the drug store he had a capital of eight thousand dollars. He then began to buy land, his first purchase being one hundred and twenty acres east of Annawan. When favorable opportunity presented he continued to invest in real estate and eventually became the owner of eight hundred and eighty acres of valuable land, all in Annawan township. He was a man of
marked enterprise and unabating energy, and his business ability and keen dis- crimination were evidenced in the splendid success which he achieved. He was married January 30, 1861, to Mrs. Selinda Johnson, nee Burgett, a native of Tippecanoe county, Indiana, and a daughter of Silas and Sarah (Henderson) Burgett, who were natives of Ohio but died in Indiana. Mrs. Machesney came to Illinois with her first husband, and following his death she gave her hand in marriage to James Machesney. They began their domestic life on section 29 Annawan township, Henry county, where they continued to reside throughout their remaining days. They were the parents of five children: Mary Agnes, the wife of Joseph Anderson, a resident of Annawan township; Anna Ardelia, the wife of James Douglas, a resident of Annawan; James Henderson, who married Minnie Booth and lives in Annawan; M. Howard, of this review; and Morgan Burgett, who wedded Nora Batten and lives in Annawan.
The father, James Machesney, was a republican in politics after the organi- zation of that party. His first presidential vote was cast for Zachary Taylor. He and his wife were members of the United Brethren church at Fairview, in Annawan township. His death occurred on the old home farm March 13, 1903, while his widow passed away in the succeeding fall and was laid to rest by his side in the Fairview cemetery. He was truly a self-made man, who worked his way steadily upward by his energy and diligence, allowing no obstacle nor diffi- culty to bar his path if it could be overcome by honest and persistent effort.
M. Howard Machesney spent his boyhood days on the home farm, the duties and labors of the fields early becoming familiar to him as he assisted in their development through the periods of vacation, while through the school year he
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