USA > Illinois > Henry County > History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 94
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
In the house in which he now lives William L. Painter was born October 25, 1883. He began his studies in the little district school and later completed his education in the grade schools of Geneseo. Until seventeen years of age he stayed at home and worked with his father and then sought employment else- where, at the same time continuing his lessons. When he attained his majority he took possession of his mother's place, which he either tilled himself or rented
887
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
to others. This, upon the death of his father, came into his exclusive posses- sion, with the understanding that he should yearly pay to his mother a certain fixed sum. The farm consists of two hundred and forty acres altogether, one hundred and eighty acres lying on section 27, Phenix township, and sixty acres being situated on section 22. On it he has pursued general farming and has en- gaged somewhat in the raising of stock for market. An earnest worker and faithful, there would seem to be a bright future opening before him, and there is before him the example of his father who had the courage to brave the hard- ships of the frontiers.
On the 5th of December, 1907, Mr. Painter married Miss Beulah Fones, who was born in Moline, Illinois, February 25, 1884, and is a daughter of Millard and Ellen (Neisweinder) Fones. The father was born in Buffalo, New York, in 1852, and came to Illinois when a very young boy. He was engaged in team- ing and now lives in Geneseo. His wife, who was born in Henry county in 1861, passed away in 1886, survived by two children: Edward, who lives in Geneseo; and Beulah, now Mrs. Painter. Mr. and Mrs. Painter have two children: Ger- trude Ellen, who was born December 2, 1907; and an infant.
Politically Mr. Painter is a republican, the party which fought for the pres- ervation of the Union almost half a century ago. In this struggle one of his uncles, John Painter, and two of his wife's uncles, Wesley and Samuel Neiswein- der, participated so that he feels singularly bound to support its candidate.
LOUIS OBERG.
Louis Oberg, a farmer of Henry county, living on section 20, Galva town- ship, was born in Gestrickland, Sweden, September 29, 1849, a son of Jones and Kate (Johnson) Oberg, both natives of Sweden. The paternal and maternal grandparents were also of Swedish birth, and never left their native land, the former living to an advanced age and when they died leaving three children: Louis, Jones and a daughter. Jones Oberg followed farming in the land of his nativity and there died in 1884, at the age of seventy-four years. His wife sur- vived him but a few years and like her husband died in the Lutheran faith, the creed they had professed during their lifetime.
Louis Oberg was reared at home on the farm and received a limited educa- tion from the country schools of his native land. In 1875 he came to America and made his way west until he arrived in Galva. He went to work first on a farm by the month and then removed to Moline, where he remained two years. Again he took up farm work at the end of that period, but only for a short time, for he went to Chicago, which was his home for six years. While he remained in that city he was employed for the most part in a furniture factory. In 1884 he removed to Bishop Hill, where he engaged in farming for himself on rented land. Five years later he came to Galva township and, after farming for a year on' rented land, bought his present tract of one hundred and sixty acres. There were no buildings on that farm when Mr. Oberg obtained possession of it. Now a good and substantial house has been erected, barns and other necessary build-
.
888
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
ings. The land, too, has been cultivated according to the best methods and yields a generous harvest.
On the 13th of November, 1879, at Chicago, Mr. Oberg was united in mar- riage to Miss Kate Peterson, a daughter of Peter and Christine (Anderson) Peterson. The parents died in Sweden, the land of their birth, at an advanced age. Of their family of eight children, three sons and five daughters, five are still living : Eric; Kate, now Mrs. Oberg; Andrew; Anna, the wife of Emil Wahl- gren ; and Betsey. Mrs. Oberg was born in Westmanland, Sweden, and came alone to America in 1869. She took up her residence at Bishop Hill, Illinois, with an old neighbor from her Swedish home. From there she went to Galesburg and later to Chicago, where she lived for thirteen years. To Mr. and Mrs. Oberg have been born four children: Jennie Elizabeth, who died at the age of fifteen months; Esther Christina and Edward Theodore, who live at home; and August Albin, who died at the age of three years and six months. Our subject has one brother and two sisters living: John Oberg, of Galva; and the two sisters in Sweden.
In political matters Mr. Oberg gives his support to the republican party, as it represents what he believes to be the best policy of general government, and al- though he has not been active in its councils or conventions he has served several terms as road commissioner and is filling out his fourth term as school trustee. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Grain Elevators of Galva and Nekoma, of which he is one of the directors.
CHARLES E. CHASE.
Charles E. Chase belongs to that class of representative American citizens who are seeking their fortunes in agricultural lines and through their well directed efforts are meeting with most gratifying success. He was born in Jacksonville, Vermont, on the 17th of January, 1844, a son of Merrick and Sarah Maria (Brig- ham) Chase. The father, a native of Douglas, Massachusetts, was the son of Benjamin and Sarah (Sprague) Chase, who went to Vermont when he was a small child. There Benjamin Chase owned and operated a farm, at the same time following the shoemaker's business. Merrick Chase was reared upon the home farm and early in life learned the trade of clothier, in which he had to card his own wool, and he followed that occupation for some time in Jacksonville, Vermont, where he resided in a home built at the end of a mill. Later, however, he was forced by the mills to abandon that line of activity and he became the proprietor of a hotel and also served as deputy sheriff for a number of years. In the latter part of the '50s he took his family to Washington county, New York, where the home was maintained for many years, and subsequently he came to Henry county, Illinois, where his remaining days were spent. He was an old time abolitionist and later became a stalwart supporter of the republican party.
Charles E. Chase was a youth of fourteen years when his parents removed to Washington county, New York, and his education, which had been begun in the Vermont schools, was completed in the Empire state. He continued to make his
889
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
home under the parental roof until nineteen years of age, when his father gave him his time and he was engaged by the month as a farm hand until twenty-five years of age, when he came to Henry county, arriving in Orion on the 12th of March, 1869. He had an uncle, Francis Brigham, who had located in West- ern township several years before. He was employed at farming by the month for about four years, and in the meantime, in 1873, his parents had come to Henry county, where the father purchased the farm upon which our subject now re- sides. The father continued to make his home on that farm until the time of his death, the son operating land in the capacity of renter for a number of years.
On the 26th of February, 1874, Mr. Chase returned to Vermont and was there united in marriage to Miss Sophia H. Farnsworth, who was born and reared near the birthplace of our subject. She is a daughter of Luke W. and Harriett (Brigham) Farnsworth, both natives of Vermont. She had enjoyed the ad- vantages of a good education, and for twelve years resided in Boston, teaching school for a number of years. After his marriage Mr. Chase brought his bride back to Henry county and they began their domestic life upon the farm which is now their place of residence. It consists of one hundred acres on section 29, Western township, for which he paid sixty dollars per acre, and he also has be- come the owner of forty acres located on section 33. The place has become a very highly cultivated property, its excellent condition being due to the efforts and labor of his father, himself and also his son. They have instituted many im- provements and in 1909 erected a new barn which is large and substantial in pro- portions and modern in construction, while the other buildings upon the place are all good and have been built by members of the family. Mr. Chase has divided his time between his general farming and stock-raising interests, feeding and shipping stock annually. He enjoys a substantial income from the fact that both branches of his business-the raising of grain and the raising of stock-are proving most profitable. He has made a close study of agriculture, is methodical, systematic, progressive and up-to-date in his methods, so that he is numbered among the substantial and successful farmers of his section of the county.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Chase has been blessed with one child, Arthur F., who was born on the Ist of March, 1879. After completing the course of study at the Orion public school he attended Knox College at Galesburg, from which he was graduated with the class of 1901. He then taught in a country school for one year and was principal of the high school at Castleton, Stark county, for two years. His identification with the educational interests was a source of benefit to the communities in which he labored, for he proved himself a most com- petent and able instructor, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had acquired. On the 20th of August, 1902, he was united in marriage to Miss Etta Love, a daughter of James and Anna (Beatty) Love. Since his mar- riage he has made his home with his parents and has assumed the active manage- ment of the home farm. He is making a specialty of raising pure bred shorthorn Durham cattle and Poland China hogs, and in this connection is meeting with most gratifying success. He is a young man who is well known throughout the community in which he has spent his entire life, and he has gained many friends who entertain for him high regard and esteem. He is republican in politics, with strong prohibition tendencies, being stanch in his advocacy of the cause of tem-
890
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
perance. He is a director in the Western township library, located in Orion, and is interested in all matters which have for their object the material, political, intellectual and moral progress of the community.
Mrs. Charles E. Chase has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church since girlhood, and the son also belongs to that organization, being superintendent of the Sunday school. Charles E. Chase, whose name initiates this review, has long been a member of the Masonic order, having held some of the minor offices, while his wife is a member of the Ladies Aid Society. In politics he gives stal- wart support to the republican party, but the honors of office have had no at- traction for him as he prefers to devote his entire energies to the conduct of his business affairs. His has been a life of continuous activity which has been crowned with most gratifying success. Although he is now in the evening of life and has given the active management of his business affairs over to his son, he nevertheless remains an active and interested figure in the world's work, the consensus of public opinion according him a foremost place among the valued and representative citizens of Western township.
EDWARD ARTHUR COMBS.
Edward Arthur Combs, one of the successful agriculurists of this county, who also devotes considerable attention to the raising, feeding and shipping of cattle, was born in the house in which he now lives, in Osco township, October 2, 1871. His father, Andrew Combs, was a native of Ohio and when he came to Illinois purchased the farm on section 23, Osco township, on which his son lives today. His wife was Miss Louise Ringle before her marriage and nobly fulfilled the duties that fell to her share.
On the farm which was his birthplace Edward Arthur Combs has passed the greater part of his life and has tilled its soil from the time that he was able to handle the implements of agriculture. He attended the public schools of the district, and from them obtained substantial education. After leaving school he devoted himself to the work on his father's farm until he was about twenty- three years old, when he married and operated another farm in Osco township, though he continued to live at home. Upon his father's death he inherited one hundred and twenty acres of land and in 1903 purchased eighty additional acres, which brings his holdings up to two hundred acres, the extent of his present farm. At the time he bought the land the price was one hundred and twelve and a half dollars, but now it is worth fully one hundred and seventy-five or two hundred dollars an acre. It is all well improved and is rich, arable land, and also valuable as pasture.
In Gardner, Grundy county, Illinois, on the 6th of February, 1895, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Combs and Miss May Butterfield, whose home was in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She was born in Gardner, September 6, 1871, and was a daughter of Oliver and Lydia (Leach) Butterfield, but as her mother died when she was very young she was sent to an aunt in Scranton and there grew to maturity. In her young womanhood she came to Henry county to visit relatives,
891
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
and here met Mr. Combs, who wooed and married her. They have become the parents of four children : Charles Andrew, born May 30, 1896; Josephine Susan, born May 13, 1898; Jessie May, born March 26, 1901; and Edward Pierce, born June 26, 1903.
Mr. Combs is a firm believer in the principles enunciated in the platform of the republican party and ever since he cast his first presidential ballot for Harri- son has given his support to its candidates. He has never sought any office, how- ever, though there can be no doubt of the ready and substantial approval with which his aspiration to public distinction would be met by the citizens of his com- munity, for by his success he has proved himself to be steadfast in purpose and honorable in the conduct of his business.
FRED SCHMOLL, SR.
Fred Schmoll, Sr., who for many years was a leading farmer of Osco town- ship, but has now retired from active labor, was born in Helsen, Arolsen, Ger- many, November 3, 1829, a son of Christian and Catherine (Schaeffer) Schmoll. Until he was fourteen years of age he attended the public schools of his native land and then learned the trade of shoemaker, at which he worked for about five years. He next took up farming in Germany, and in 1858 came to America, bring- ing his wife and child with him. The family were about seven days in crossing the ocean and landed at New York, coming very soon after to Geneseo, Illi- nois, where Mr. Schmoll had an acquaintance living. After his arrival in this part of the state he worked for others for a time and then rented land, on which he farmed for about a year. By hard work and economy he was then able to buy thirty acres in Edford township, which was his home for about six years, during which time he put in many substantial improvements. Upon disposing of that place he bought, in 1865, the one hundred and sixty-one acres where he now lives. He paid only twenty-five dollars an acre for it at the time, for it was not im- proved, and now it is well worth one hundred and fifty dollars an acre, for Mr. Schmoll has built a number of substantial buildings and has cultivated the soil with a care that has enabled it to retain its fertility.
Mr. Schmoll has been married twice. In Germany, November 17, 1853, he wedded Miss Kate Schmoll and to them were born ten children. Fred, the eldest, married Miss Henrietta Frehl and lives in Osco township, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land. Henry married Miss Anna Fircht and also lives in Osco township. William married Miss Amelia Hauberg and resides in Boul- der, Colorado. Catherine became the wife of John Temple and lives in Moline, Illinois. Mary is the wife of Ernest Walter and lives in Edford township. Louis married Miss Anna Wildermuth and lives in Cambridge township. George mar- ried Mrs. Minnie Harris, nee Schonau, and resides in Rock Island. Theodore married Miss Margaret Vogle and lives in Osco township. Two children died in infancy. Mrs. Schmoll passed away in January, 1897, and on the 23d of June, 1900, Mr. Schmoll married Miss Fredericka Schwerdtle, of Chicago. She was born in Germany, and after coming to this country made her home in Geneseo,
892
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
where she became acquainted with Mr. Schmoll. She later went to Chicago, where she remained until within a few weeks of her marriage, when she came to Geneseo to be bridesmaid at the wedding of a friend. On that occasion Mr. Schmoll renewed his acquaintance with her, with the result that he persuaded her to become his wife, and eleven days after she had supported her friend she her- self became a bride.
Mr. Schmoll has always given his political support to the democratic party but he has never sought any office within the gift of the people, feeling that his own interests required all of his attention. He attends the services of the German Evangelical Lutheran church in Edford township, which he helped to build, and he has also served as president of the church board.
ROBERT S. WHITE.
Robert S. White, a retired farmer of Woodhull and one of its representative citizens, who has been prominent politically in Henry county for a number of years, was born February II, 1832, in Lincolnshire, England, a son of James and Rose (Smith) White. The family came to America in 1851, settling in Lake county, Ohio, with the exception of Robert S. White, who remained in Buffalo, where he had secured employment. At that time the family consisted of Mary, Sarah, Maria, Charlotte, Robert S. and Thomas, but the two sons are the only members now living and both reside in Woodhull. In 1856 all of them came to Woodhull and the father engaged in farming in this locality, achieving consid- erable success. He was a man of strong character and sterling integrity and com- manded respect everywhere. His death occurred in 1880, his widow surviving until 1894, and both are buried in Andover.
Robert S. White obtained but a limited education in England and since com- ing here he has devoted himself to business affairs, securing a well earned com- petency. All of his money has been made by farming, he now owning three hun- dred and sixty-six acres of excellent land, as well as a handsome town residence, where he has lived since 1899, when he retired from agricultural pursuits.
On February 22, 1852, Mr. White married Elizabeth Neal, who came to America on the same vessel as the White family, to join her mother who had preceded her, her father having died some years previously. Twelve children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. White, namely: Mary E., who married John Atkinson, of Sumner county, Kansas; William G., who lives in Clover town- ship; John R., who resides in Knox county, Illinois; Maria, who married Irich Nelson, of Moline, Illinois; Angeline, who married Isaac C. Snow, of Geneseo; Alice R., who is at home; Ethel I., who married John Logan Stires of Oxford township; Leslie A., who lives in Galesburg; Nellie F., who married John Rogers of Utah, Cambridge township; and Sarah, James and Frank E., all three deceased.
Mr. White is a republican and has been active in the affairs of his party, during the Mckinley campaign of 1896 engaging in considerable work for the national committee that was productive of excellent results. He has been road commissioner for years, school trustee for several terms, and school director for
893
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
twenty years. All of his children have been well educated and he has been in- terested in securing good schools for them and for other children of the district. Having been so efficient a public official, the people of his neighborhood have often endeavored to induce Mr. White to run for higher office but in vain as he always declines the honor. Mr. and Mrs. White are consistent members of the Methodist church, of which he is trustee. Some of his children are Methodists and others Presbyterians, and they are all active in church work wherever they are. Mr. White has been closely identified with the agricultural and stock-raising interests of Henry county and no man stands higher in public esteem than he.
FREDERICK STAHL.
The life record of Frederick Stahl is another illustration of the fact that in America where effort is not hampered by caste or class the individual has op- portunity to work his way steadily upward and gain the just reward of his labor. Frederick Stahl for many years a respected and honored resident of Henry county was born in Holstein, Germany, January 17, 1841, his parents being Mathew and Anna Stahl, whose family numbered eight children. The father was a laborer in Germany and both he and his wife died in that country, the former when sixty-eight years of age.
Frederick Stahl was reared and educated in the fatherland and followed va- rious pursuits there after he had attained an age sufficient to enable him to start in business life. In 1866, attracted by the favorable reports which he heard con- cerning America, and her opportunities he came to the new world, settling in Munson township, Henry county, where he worked by the month as a farm hand for a time. He desired, however, that his labors might more definitely bene- fit himself and therefore began farming on his own account by renting land. After two years spent in that way he was enabled, as the result of his in- dustry and careful expenditure, to purchase eighty acres which he at once began to improve. As he further prospered he added to it a tract of sixty-four acres and upon that farm made his home until 1892, carefully tilling the soil that he might harvest rich crops, for which he found a ready and profitable sale on the market.
On the 3d of September, 1870, Mr. Stahl was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Peterson, a daughter of Gustav and Christine (Anderson) Peterson. Mrs. Stahl was born in Smolan, Sweden, February 1, 1841, and her parents were also natives of that country. Her mother died in Sweden in 1862 and her father married again and with his second wife came to the United States in May, 1869, settling in Geneseo. He continued a resident of this county until his death, which occurred in the winter of 1892 when he had reached the age of seventy-nine years and nine months. His second wife survived him ten years and passed away in April, 1902, at the age of seventy-five years and four months. By the father's first marriage there were two sons and a daughter: Oscar, Otto and Minnie, but the younger son died when sixteen years of age. By the second marriage there were three children who lived to maturity: Sophia, the wife of Olof Johnson;
894
HISTORY OF HENRY COUNTY
Hilda ; and Mrs. Jennie Peterson. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Stahl was Peter Peterson, a farmer of Sweden, who spent his entire life there. He mar- ried Anna Sophia Swanson, who was eighty-two years of age at the time of her demise. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Stahl was Andrew Peterson, a farmer of Sweden, who married Eva Samuelson.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Stahl was blessed with four children: Frank Emil, Jennie E., Nellie A. and Mabel A. The eldest married Jennie Durston, by whom he has three children : Marie, Madras and Arlo, and the family home is in Geneseo. The death of Mr. Stahl occurred September 13, 1902, when he was sixty-two years of age and he is still survived by his wife, who is a consistent member of the Lutheran church, to which Mr. Stahl also belonged, guiding his life by its principles.
His political allegiance was given to the republican party and there was no more loyal son of America than Frederick Stahl, notwithstanding the fact that he was born across the water. He was always interested in the welfare and progress of the community and his efforts to promote the public good made him a cooperant factor in many measures that were beneficial to the district.
JACOB FRANK.
Jacob Frank, now deceased, was for many years engaged in the harness business in Geneseo, where he arrived in early manhood. After living for some years in Annawan he removed to Geneseo, where his last days were past. He was born in Germany, May 8, 1829, and in that country was reared and edu- cated but the reports which he had heard concerning America and its advan- tages proved to him an irresistible attraction and when a young man he crossed the broad Atlantic to the new world. After living for a time in Bucyrus, Ohio, he came to Henry county, Illinois, and settled at Annawan, where he followed his trade of harness making. He was a fine workman and the excellent line of goods which he manufactured secured him a large trade throughout the county. Coming to Geneseo he conducted a large business here, having one of the suc- cessful harness-making establishments of the city. He also built a fine home here and was a valued factor in the commercial and social circles of the city until his death.
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.