History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II, Part 95

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

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Mr. Frank was married twice and by his first wife, Mrs. Delia Bowman Frank had five children. Leonard, the eldest, now deceased, married Etta Daily and they had two sons, Sherman J. and William; Alice, the second child of the first marriage, became Mrs. McLaughlin and after the death of her first hus- band married Dr. Province, of Ottawa, Illinois, while her third husband was Charles Hamilton, of Geneseo. She has one son, Earl. William, the third mem- ber of the family, lives in Silvis, Illinois. He married Catharine Selmer, and they had one son, Leonard, and for his second wife he chose Hulda Holke. Min- nie is the wife of William Brown, a barber of Chicago, and they have four children. Charles, the youngest child of that marriage, was killed in a run- away accident when thirteen years of age. The wife and mother, Mrs. Delia

JACOB FRANK

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HISTORY -OF HENRY COUNTY

Bowman Frank, died in 1880, and on the 4th of December, 1882, Mr. Frank wedded Mrs. Mary Hall, the widow of James Hall and a daughter of James and Mary (Shale) Orr. Her paternal grandfather lived and died in Ireland. He married a Miss McCreery, who also passed away in that country. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Frank also spent his entire life in Ireland where he fol- lowed the occupation of farming. Both Mr. and Mrs. James Orr, the parents of Mrs. Frank, were natives of Belfast, Ireland, and on coming to America settled in Philadelphia where Mr. Orr followed the weaver's trade, weaving Irish linen, which he made from flax. He afterward removed to Safe Harbor, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where he lived for several years and subse- quently he became one of the early settlers of Henry county, Illinois, where he purchased a farm of forty acres lying in Cornwall township. He afterward bought eighty acres and from time to time added to his property until he owned a large tract of land. He died on the old home farm in 1884 at the age of seventy-four years, while his wife passed away two years later at the age of eighty-three. They were the parents of five children: Margaret, who died at the age of four years; Mary, William, James and Eliza, all of whom are living.

Mrs. Frank was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, August 26, 1849, and in early womanhood gave her hand in marriage to James Hall, a native of Belfast, Ireland, who died in 1883. There were two children of that marriage, Margaret, who died when six years of age, and Frank Hall, who is a civil engineer in the employ of the government. After losing her first husband Mrs. Hall became the wife of Jacob Frank and unto this marriage was born one son, Ira Robert, at home. Mr. Frank passed away June 4, 1903, at the age of sev- enty-four years. For some years prior to his death he was the president of the cemetery association. His business record was always such as won for him respect and regard as well as success, and all who knew him entertained for him warm esteem for his salient qualities were those of honorable, upright man- hood. Mrs. Frank still survives her husband and is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of finely improved land in Cornwall township which she in- herited from her father and also a beautiful home on College avenue and West Exchange street.

WILLIAM HENRY.

William Henry, to whom fate has vouchsafed honorable retirement as the re- ward of his persistent and intelligently directed labor in former years, is now living in Wethersfield. He is one of the native sons of Henry county, his birth having occurred in Kewanee, November 24, 1870. His father, George Washing- ton Henry, was born in the town of Moy in the north part of Ireland, June 7, 1835, and was of Scotch parentage. Coming to this country when a young man, he made his way to the south, where he remained until the outbreak of the Civil war. He then enlisted in a southern regiment and served for two years in de- fense of the Confederacy. In 1863 he was married in Mexico to Miss Elizabeth Duncan, a native of Scotland, and they became parents of five children, namely :

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Mrs. F. G. Goodrich, of Kewanee; Thomas, who is now living on a farm in Wethersfield township; William, of this review; John B., who makes his home at La Fayette, Knox county, Illinois, where he is engaged in farming; and Anna, the wife of George Humfreville of Kewanee.

In the district schools of Kewanee township William Henry pursued his education. He worked on his father's farm until twenty-two years of age and was afterward employed as a farm hand by the month for a year. He then mar- ried and rented a farm of two hundred acres in Burns township, whereon he re- sided for four years, carefully cultivating the fields. He removed from that place to the Louis Hoppoch farm in Wethersfield township, where he resided for four years, after which he took up his abode upon his mother-in-law's farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres, residing there for two years. When he had saved sufficient capital as the result of his industry and economy he purchased the Isaac Pyle farm of two hundred and sixty acres in Kewanee township, but did not take pos- session of it at that time. He rented it for a year but was not satisfied with the way in which his tenant managed it and at the end of that time he began its cultivation himself. For a year he lived there and then sold out, making invest- ment in his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on Wethersfield town- ship, where he lived for three years. On the 20th of January, 1909, he held a sale, disposing of all of his live stock and implements, this being one of the best sales that has ever been held in the locality. He then rented the farm, which he had greatly improved in the meantime. When he purchased the place he erected all the buildings upon it except the house which had recently been con- structed. He built new fences, put in tile and otherwise improved the entire farm, making it a valuable property. In February, 1909, he purchased a new residence of ten rooms in Wethersfield, and removing his family to the town immediately took possession and now lives at No. 127 East Church street. Be- side his home he owns a lot in the town of Wethersfield and from his farm he derives a substantial annual income.

On the Ist of January, 1893, in Kewanee, Mr. Henry was united in mar- riage to Miss Ida E. Lehman, a daughter of John and Ernestine Lehman, both of whom were natives of Germany and came to this county in 1856. Her mother was born in Brandenburg, Germany, May 26, 1848, and came to this county with her sister when twenty-two years of age. On the 6th of March, 1870, in the Lutheran church of Kewanee she gave her hand in marriage to John Lehman, Jr., who was born in Germany, December 29, 1820, and was the son of John Leh- man, Sr. He came to America in 1856, settling in Burns township, where he lived for forty-one years, becoming well known by all in this vicinity. His death occurred upon his farm in Burns township March 19, 1897, and on the 20th of March his wife, Mrs. Anna (Onart) Lehman, passed away. John Lehman, Jr., was born in Germany, April 14, 1846, and when a lad of ten years came to this country with his parents, living with them on the home farm in Burns township until the war, when he enlisted and served for four years in the federal army. When leaving home he received from his father eighty acres of land, upon which he and his wife lived for five years. He then sold that tract and bought one hundred and twenty acres, which is still owned by Mrs. Lehman and is cared for by her son, William Henry. Mr. Lehman also cultivated his father's farm of

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two hundred and forty acres for many years and upon the death of his father he bought out the other heirs, thus becoming owner of the entire homestead, which is now the property of his widow, whose holdings aggregate four hundred and sixty acres. John Lehman, Jr., was a resident of Burns township for forty-five years and was widely known not only in Henry but in adjoining counties. He was prominently identified with the German Evangelical church of Kewanee for many years and took an active part therein, contributing liberally to the support of his church. Mrs. Lehman has always attended the same church. In politics Mr. Lehman was a stanch republican and died on the home farm December 28, 1901, at the age of fifty-five years and is survived by his widow and two daugh- ters: Ida E., the wife of William Henry; and Emma T., the wife of William Charlet, of Burns township, by whom she has one child, Verene, six years of age.

Mr. Henry is a stanch republican where national issues and questions are in- volved but at local elections votes independently nor does he believe that politics should enter into the consideration of those who exercise the right of franchise but rather that they should give every thought to choosing the best men for the performance of public duties. While living in Wethersfield township he served as school director. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen Camp at Kewanee and attends the German Evangelical church of that city. Working diligently and persistently in former years, he has been quite successful in his business af- fairs, his prosperity now enabling him to live retired.

NATHAN E. JOHNSSON.

Of that element which contributes materially to the strength and prosperity of Lynn township is Nathan E. Johnsson, who was born in that township, his parents being Alexander and Louise (Ericson) Johnsson, of Sweden. In 1857, soon after their marriage, they came to the United States and after looking over the country, choose Andover township, this county, as their home. There they rented a farm, where they lived only a short time, for the father, desiring to be- come a landholder, had upon their removal to Lynn township, purchased a tract of land, which he cultivated with the utmost success. Nine children were born to them, four of whom are now deceased : Andrew W., a resident of Texas ; John P., deceased ; Huldah E., at home ; Frank A., a resident of Galesburg, Illinois ; Carl O., deceased; Nathan E., the subject of this sketch; Anna O., at home; and Luther and Martin, both deceased. The parents are still living at an advanced age and they hold a warm place in the affections of the community. Both of them are members of the Lutheran church of Andover, in whose affairs they have always taken an active part. Soon after his naturalization the father became a stanch supporter of the republican party, but while a man of broad interests, he has never enrolled himself among those who are willing to assume the re- sponsibilities of office.

Nathan E. Johnsson spent his boyhood and youth amid the wholesome sur- roundings of his father's homestead, and gained his early education in the town- ship schools. He now has charge of the old home place, a fine tract of land, some

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two hundred acres in extent, all under a high state of cultivation. He is a gen- eral farmer and stockman and makes a specialty of raising fine draught horses, both Shires and Percheron, having, in fact, the reputation of being the best breeder of horses in Lynn township and commanding the highest prices. En- gaged in this business for several years, he has achieved wonderful success and reputation.

Mr. Johnsson gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is an intelligent student of public affairs, with a helping hand extended to any measure he believes will prove conducive to the general good. His membership in the Lutheran church of Andover serves as another vehicle for the exercise of those admirable qualities which have won for him the respect and confidence of all.

FRANK V. SAMUELSON.

Frank V. Samuelson, who is engaged in the hardware and farm implement business in Orion, Illinois, was born in Western township, July 14, 1861, and is a son of A. P. and Joanna (Gustafson) Samuelson. The parents were both born in Sweden, the father in 1824, the mother in 1828, and came to the United States in 1854. They settled in Henry county, Illinois, where the father followed farm- ing until 1890, when he retired from active life. For about thirteen years he lived on the old homestead and then in 1903 removed to Orion, where he passed away December 29, 1907. He supported the republican party for he firmly believed in the principles enunciated in its platform. Mrs. Samuelson still survives, mak- ing her home in Orion. Ten children were born to the couple, only four of whom are now living. They are Henry, who lives in Kansas; Frank V., of this review ; Otto, a retired farmer who lives in Orion; and Hulda, who is the widow of August Johnson and resides in Woodhull, Illinois.

Frank V. Samuelson was reared at home and attended the common schools of the township, and then for seven or eight years worked at home and at odd jobs, earning his tuition and board for a course in college. He spent thirteen weeks at a business college in Davenport, Iowa, but short though the time was he made the best possible use of it and found himself not ill prepared for the af- fairs of life. He rented a farm from his father until 1895, when he embarked in the farm implement business. After seven years' experience he sold his stock and returned to farming, abandoning that pursuit at the end of two years to travel for a Chicago machinery house. In 1908 he reopened his store in Orion with a complete line of farm implements and hardware, and in January, 1910, removed to the fine double store building he owns on Jackson street. Being of a me- chanical turn of mind he has been very successful in the line of work to which he has chosen to devote himself.

On the 20th of March, 1886, Mr. Samuelson was united in marriage to Miss Hilma J. Bergstrom, a daughter of C. J. and Christine Bergstrom, both natives of Sweden. Mrs. Samuelson was also born in that country in 1868 and was thirteen years old when her father came to America to make a home for his family. Two years later they came to Henry county, where Mr. Bergstrom had

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procured a farm, on which he lived until his death, which occurred October 26, 1909. His wife is still living and makes her home with her son-in-law, Mr. Samuelson. Mrs. Samuelson was one of a family of five children, the three others now living being Axel, whose home is in Colorado; Fredolf, a Lutheran minister, of Chicago; and Albin, who lives in South Dakota.

To Mr. and Mrs. Samuelson have been born two children. Bert M., born October 29, 1886, for the past three years has attended Augustana College, Rock Island, from which he hopes to graduate in 1910. He may then take a six months' course in any business college he may elect. In the summer, for the past few years, he has taught in the Swedish church school in Ottumwa, Iowa. Cora, born April 6, 1888, is a graduate of the Orion high school and for the past year and a half has been chief clerk in the postoffice in Orion. To add to her other accomplishments she possesses not a little skill as a musician. Of both of his children Mr. Samuelson is pardonably proud, for they are grow- ing to a fine manhood and womanhood and have done credit to the many ad- vantages which he has been able to give them.

In politics Mr. Samuelson is a republican and he served as school clerk in his district from the time he was twenty-two years of age until he left the farm. Fraternally he is connected with the Masons, the Odd Fellows and the Wood- men, in all of which he is active and has held numerous offices. His religious allegiance is given to the Lutheran church, in which he has been prominent. He really started the battle of life at the age of thirteen, with nothing to his credit but a capacity and willingness to work, but he now is in the enjoyment of many comforts. He owns a farm of one hundred and forty acres to the east of Orion and a fine home on Bank street, which he built in 1903. It is modern and handsome, both within and without, bespeaking the broad-mindedness and liberal culture of its inmates. His success, honestly won, has brought with it the respect and good will of his friends and neighbors.

NELS F. ANDERSON.

Nels F. Anderson, a leading and successful attorney of Henry county, has practiced his profession in Kewanee since 1904 and prior to that time was located at Galva for a period of fourteen years. His birth occurred in the southern part of Sweden on the IIth of February, 1858, his parents being Nels and Maria (Kolokowski) Anderson, likewise natives of that country. The father was a well educated man and while a resident of Sweden was actively engaged in busi- ness as a lumber merchant. In 1871 he brought his family to the new world, taking up his abode in Greene, Iowa, where he purchased a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres and devoted the remainder of his life to agricultural pur- suits. He did not come to this country empty-handed but was well situated finan- cially and won a gratifying measure of prosperity in his undertakings. His religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Swedish Lutheran church, to the support of which he contributed liberally of his time and means. His de- mise occurred in 1881 and that of his wife in 1894. They reared a family of

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eight children, namely: Nels F., of this review; Christine, who passed away in 1904; Andrew W., a traveling salesman, who now maintains his residence at Portland, Oregon; F. E., a graduate of Ann Arbor University and now city attorney of Everett, Washington; Otto, also a graduate of Ann Arbor Univer- sity and a dentist of Stillwater, Minnesota; Theodore, a graduate of the Iowa University and now a resident of Everett, Washington; Hannah, an artist of Chicago, who pursued a literary course at the Chicago University and was grad- uated from that institution; and Cornelius, a medical practitioner of Willow Springs, North Dakota.

Nels F. Anderson obtained his early education in a Latin school of Sweden. He was a lad of thirteen when the family emigrated to the United States and re- mained under the parental roof until he had completed his education. When sixteen years of age he began teaching school and successfully followed that pro- fession until he entered Knox College in 1877, pursuing a classical course. He was graduated from that institution in 1882 and had the honor of being saluta- torian of his class. Having determined upon the legal profession as a life work, he took a preparatory course at the law school of the Union College of Law in Chicago, where he was a student for one year, and during the following eighteen months he read law with Thomas E. Milchrist, at one time state senator and now United States attorney for northern Illinois. After his admission to the bar in 1886 he remained in Chicago until the following year, and then went to Salina, Kansas, where he opened an office and engaged in the practice of his profession for three years. In 1890 he came to Galva, Henry county, Illinois, where he remained as an able and prominent representative of his profession for a period of fourteen years or until 1904, since which time he has maintained his office in Kewanee. He has accumulated a very complete and valuable law library and has built up a large and lucrative practice which is constantly growing. His success in a professional way affords the best evidence of his capabilities in this line. He is a strong advocate with the jury, and concise in his appeals before the court. Much of the success which has attended him in his professional career is undoubtedly due to the fact that in no instance will he permit himself to go into court with a case unless he has absolute confidence in the justice of his client's cause. Basing his efforts on this principle, from which there are far too many lapses in professional ranks, it naturally follows that he seldom loses a case in whose support he is enlisted.

On the 25th of December, 1888, Mr. Anderson was united in marriage to Miss May Winn Williams, who was born in Henry, Illinois, in 1863, her parents being William Potter and Petronella (Hoagland) Williams. The father, a farmer by occupation, passed away in February, 1907, while the mother's demise occurred in 1894. Their children were six in number, as follows: Kate, who is the wife of D. W. Esmond, an attorney of Newburgh, New York; James A., a retired agriculturist living in Henry, Illinois; Bessie, who is the wife of S. E. Blood and lives in Joliet, Illinois ; Annette, the wife of John Wiley, of Utica, New York; Mrs. Anderson; and Carrie, who gave her hand in marriage to W. D. Patty, a banker of Oneida, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of four children, namely : Leland Hurd, born in 1891; Sumner Bigelow, 1895; Richard Stanley, 1897; and Nelson Paul, 1899.

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Since 1890 Mr. Anderson has been identified with the democratic party and has most creditably and acceptably served as village attorney for eight years. He was a member of the school board during the erection of the new school building in Galva and served on the building committee. He has always been a strong advocate of those enterprises which he believed would benefit his adopted town and county and is recognized as a valued citizen of the community. In 1897 he was the democratic candidate for circuit judge and his name has also ap- peared on the party ticket for other county offices. When Judge Bigelow was elevated to the appellate bench he had Mr. Anderson appointed as his clerk or assistant, believing him to be best qualified for the duties of that position. Fra- ternally he is identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Masons, both of Galva. He contributes to the support of the Congregational church, of which his wife is a consistent and faithful member. In his profes- sional career he has been actuated by a laudable ambition and in all of his work has displayed the closest conformity to a high standard of professional ethics.

RICHARD C. HANLON.

Richard C. Hanlon, proprietor of Clover Dell Stock and Grain Farm in Clover township, was born January 13, 1858, in Peoria, Illinois, a son of Thomas and Ellen (Murphy) Hanlon. The father was born in County Limerick, Ireland, while the mother was born in County Clare, and they were married in their native land, three children being born to them before they came to America in 1847. After their settlement here eleven more children were added to the family. They landed in New York, whence they came direct to Chicago by way of the Erie canal to Buffalo and the rest of the way on the lakes. At Chicago they took a wagon to Peoria and there the father found employment as a mason. He died in August, 1879, and his widow in May, 1905, both being interred in Kickapoo cemetery near Peoria. Of their family of fourteen children, only three now survive, two sons and a daughter, namely: Margaret, who is now Mrs. John Prentiss, of Howard, Kansas; Jeremiah B., a resident of Galva, Illinois; and Richard C., the subject of this review.

Until he was twelve years old Richard C. Hanlon was allowed to attend school but then was forced to leave in order to earn his living. However, being of a studious disposition, he has obtained a liberal education through observa- tion and personal application. In 1870, when but twelve years old, he went to Coffeyville, Kansas, where he became a cowboy, working with the cattlemen upon the ranges for four years. A longing for home then seizing him, he returned to Peoria, making the trip on his pony and sleeping out of doors wrapped in his blanket. Arriving home, he was variously employed until he was twenty-one years of age, when he embarked in the restaurant business in Knoxville, Illinois, and continued it for about a year. He was then married and began to farm and raise stock in Clover township, Henry county, this having been his home ever since with the exception of one year (1893) which was spent in California. He then returned to Clover township and resumed his farming operations. His

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place is known as the Clover Dell Stock and Grain Farm, containing one hundred and seventy-five acres of magnificent farming land, well suited for raising both stock and grain. Mr. Hanlon is a practical farmer, employing the best and most modern methods in his work and making a specialty of Reed's Yellow Dent corn and of pure seed corn, for which he has gained a wide reputation, selling his product to corn growers all over the country. In addition to his farming inter- ests Mr. Hanlon is connected with the Mutual Telephone Company of which he was one of the organizers and for some time has been president of the Telephone Switchboard Association. He is also a director and solicitor of the Cambridge Mutual County Fire Insurance Company of Henry county, which has been in existence since 1888; is also a director and treasurer of the Galva Grain & Eleva- tor Company, with elevators at Galva and Nekoma, and he takes an active part in the management of all these concerns.

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History of Henry County, Illinois, Volume II, Part 95

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

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