History of Iroquois County, together with Historic notes on the Northwest, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic, though, for the most part, out-of-the-way sources, Part 77

Author: Beckwith, H. W. (Hiram Williams), 1833-1903
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 1180

USA > Illinois > Iroquois County > History of Iroquois County, together with Historic notes on the Northwest, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic, though, for the most part, out-of-the-way sources > Part 77

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Isaac Beyea, justice of the peace, is one of the few original settlers of Gilman. He was born January 25, 1822, in Orange county, New York, and is the son of Peter Beyea, who was a soldier of the war of 1812. He learned the trade of stone mason in Orange County, New York. In 1857 he started for Illinois, and located in Kaneville, Kane county, where he remained until 1859. He came to Gilman in February of the same year. The first work he did at his trade.was in 1859, in building the foundation for a business block, which was the first stone or brick foundation built in Gilman. This house was used for a grocery store, and was the first regular grocery store in Gilman. It is now owned and occupied by Mr. Charles Layer. Since Mr. Beyea has been a resident of Gilman he has been engaged in building some of the leading business blocks in Gilman. He helped to build the Wenger Block, and erected the first school-house in Gilman, which at

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that time was located three blocks north of the Wenger Block. This school-house is now used as a drug store, know as the City Drug Store. Mr. Beyea states that the first plaster is still on the ceiling. He helped to build the present M. E. church, and erected the brick building now occupied by Joseph Armstrong, as a real estate office. Mr. Beyea retired from the stone-mason's trade in about 1873. He has held several offices of public trust. He was the first assessor of Douglas township. He filled the office of supervisor of Douglas township three terms, and township collector two terms. He is now holding his second term of office as justice of the peace. In all of these offices Mr. Beyea has acquitted himself in an honorable and creditable manner. His politics are republican, and he is one of the eighit republicans who have worked so hard for the success of the party in Gilman.

Wright Brothers, hardware merchants, are among the leading hardware men of Gilman, which firm is composed of George D. and Charles M., both natives of Kane county, Illinois, who moved to Gilman at an early day. The firm of Wright Brothers commenced business in Gilman in its present room, in 1876, located in the Wenger Block. They occupy three floors: basement, first and second floors, size 20 feet front by 70 deep. They keep a large stock of hardware and stoves on hand. The second floor is used for the tin-shop, where they employ steadily a regular tinner. The Wright Brothers are the sons of John F. Wright, who was born in Oneida county, New York, in 1812. John F. Wright remained in Oneida county until he was about five years of age, and then moved with his parents to Genesee county, New York. From this county, in 1839, he made a trip west to Illinois and visited the present county of Iroquois, then a wild country. He returned to Genesee county and married Abigail- McWayne, of New York. In 1844 Mr. Wright and wife came west to Illinois, and located in St. Charles, Kane county, where he engaged in the mercantile business, and remained until 1859, when he came.to Gilman with his family. Here he engaged in the mercantile business, being the second merchant to sell goods in Gilman. He continued in business about two years, when he went to Watseka, and sold goods some three years. From there he moved his family to a farm in Iro- quois township, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising some four years, when he returned to Gilman, and has been a honored resi- . dent ever since. He has been engaged in the real-estate business. Mr. Wright has held several offices of public trust. He was supervisor of Iroquois township two terms, and supervisor of Douglas township one term. He was mayor of Gilman two years. In this office Mr. Wright acquitted himself in a very creditable manner. He is a demo-

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crat in politics. He is the father of four children ; three born in Kane county and one in Iroquois.

Nelson Eldred, proprietor of the Gilman creamery, was born in Herkimer county, New York, September 13, 1816, and there he re- mained until he was about twenty-one years of age. He then came west to Illinois, and located in Morgan county, where he was engaged in raising the silk-worm. This not proving a success, he retired from this business after trying for some three years. He is satisfied that the silk-worm cannot be successfully cultivated in this part of the United States. From Morgan county he moved to Greene county, where he remained some four years. Here he was engaged in teaching school. He then moved to Rock county, Wisconsin, where he farmed some eleven years, when he went to Davenport, Iowa, and embarked in the lumber business, which was very profitable to him. From there he returned to Illinois and located in Kankakee city, where he commenced the lumber business. While a resident there he attempted lumber manu- facturing in the pineries of Michigan. He invested $16,000 in erecting a mill and buying land. He was not very successful, as he lost most of his capital invested. In 1860 he came to Iroquois county and farmed here some three years. He went to Iowa Falls, Iowa, where he was in the mercantile business four years; then in the dairy business five years. There he did a very good business in the manufacture of cheese, making as high as 600 pounds a day. In 1875 he came to Gil- man and commenced the erection of his present creamery, a brick building,'size 36×40 feet, two stories high. He has two vats, each holding 600 gallons ; four churns, with a capacity of 60 gallons each, run by steam. He makes, in the summer months, about 1,000 pounds per week, and in the winter months about 300 pounds per week. He finds sale for his butter in the New Orleans markets. This creamery was the first regular creamery built in Iroquois county.

.John Shule, agricultural dealer and harness-maker, Gilman, was born near Darmstadt, Prussia, in 1832. With his parents he emigrated to America, and landed in New York city in 1847. He came direct to Illinois, and commenced work on a farm in Cook county at $3 per month. He remained a resident of Cook county about five years, and then went to Kane county and engaged working on a farm three years. He then moved to DeKalb county, where he purchased a farm of 120 acres of land. Mr. Shule gave to his father all the money he made up to the time he was nineteen years of age. From that on he worked and accumulated money for hinself. He remained in DeKalb county about twelve years, when, in 1861, he came to Gil- man, then in its infancy. Here he commenced farming and dealing in

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stock, and was very successful for the first few years. Mr. Shule has followed farming ever since he has been a resident here. In 1867 he built his present business block. In 1874 he embarked in the agricul- tural business and engaged in the harness business. To-day he is the oldest agricultural dealer in Gilman. His son-in-law, Mr. Lewis Eppel- sheimer, is the book-keeper in the agricultural department. In both departments, in busy times, Mr. Shule employs six hands. The store used for his agricultural department is 20×60 feet. The harness shop is 20×50. When Mr. Shule first came to Gilman it was a town of . some eight or ten houses. He has held the offices of alderman and street commissioner. Mr. Shule was married to Miss Margaret Ham- mel, of Germany, who came to America when she was two years of age. By this marriage they have seven children.

Andrew J. Alexander, supervisor of Douglas township, Gilman, is one of the prominent men of Iroquois county. He was born in Fauquier county, Virginia, January 25, 1821, and is the son of Jerard and Eliz- abeth (Henry) Alexander. When he was about six years of age, with his parents, he moved to Kentucky and located in Meade county. From there they moved to Breckinridge county; where his father died July 2, 1834, at fifty years of age. Mr. Alexander remained in Breckinridge county, where he received a common-school education, and graduated from the Georgetown College about 1840. Soon afterward lie made a trip, on a keel-boat, down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and up the Red river to Shreveport. He returned to Breckinridge county, then to Davis county, near Owensboro, Kentucky, on a farm. In 1843 he was married to Miss Lucy A. Washington, a distant relative of Gen. George Washington. From Davis county Mr. Alexander returned to Meade county, and in 1864 came to Iroquois county and purchased his present farm. In 1865 he moved his family. Mr. Alexander is a dem- ocrat in politics. He has been supervisor of Douglas township for the last ten years.

Charles Layer, grocer, Gilman, is one of the leading business men of Gilman. He was born in Germany, in 1836, where he learned the trade of a baker. In 1854 lie emigrated to America, and landed in Quebec, financially a poor man. From Quebec he went to New York city, and worked at his trade about two years. He then came west to Illinois, and worked at his trade in Peoria, and about 1858, having saved a little money working at his trade, went to Washington, Tazewell county, Illinois, and set up a little bakery. Here he met with good success, and "mar- ried Miss Katherine Ringeisen, of Germany. They remained in Washington until 1864, when Mr. Layer came to Gilman and em-

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barked first in the restaurant business, his being the first restaurant in Gilman. This he followed until 1865, when he entered the gro- cery business, being among the first of this place. He commenced the business in his present stand, and is to-day the oldest grocery merchant in Gilman. Since Mr. Layer has been engaged in the mercantile business in Gilman he has associated himself as a business partner with G. Holliday, John Burkee and Charles Meyer. Mr. Layer has been engaged in business in Gilman ever since he came here, except in 1872, when he made a trip to his native country, Germany, to see his mother, brothers, sisters and friends. He made a pleasant visit and returned to Gilman, where he has been recog- nized as one of the honorable citizens of the place, holding the office of city trustee for two terms, and refusing the third term. By his marriage Mr. Layer has four children. William, his son, is clerk in the store. He was born in Washington. When Mr. Layer first came to Gilman he did not engage in the bakery business, because the vil- lage was too small. After several years he commenced the bakery business. Mr. Layer's parents are both dead.

John D. Leland, attorney-at-law, Gilman, is one of the leading attorneys of the Iroquois county bar. He was born in Rose township, Wayne county, New York, January 20, 1835, and is the son of Gail and Polly (Phelps) Leland, both natives of the state of New York. Mr. Leland's grandfather was a soldier of the war of 1812. In 1836, when Mr. Leland was a babe, with his parents he moved to Ohio, and located in Geauga county, then very wild, they being among the early settlers of that county. Here the subject of this sketch remained until he was about twenty-one years of age, engaged in farming and attending the district schools of the period "in a little red school- house." From that he attended schools and seminaries in different parts of Ohio. From Geauga county Mr. Leland, with his parents, moved to Ashtabula county. Here, when he was about twenty-three years of age, he was married to Miss Cornelia Alderman, of Ohio. In May, 1864, Mr. Leland moved to Illinois, and first located in Onarga. From there he came to Gilman, where he began teaching school, which profession he followed while in Ohio. He taught the school in Gil- man located about three blocks from the Wenger Block,-his first term here. He had about forty pupils, they coming from a distance of six miles. The school improved rapidly, so that at the end of two years he had some 120 scholars in attendance. During Mr. Leland's school teaching he would teach school in the daytime and study law at night. In 1867 he was elected justice of the peace, which office he filled for ten years, and was recognized as one of the leading justices of Iroquois

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county. In 1869 he was admitted to practice law at the Illinois bar, and to-day is the oldest practicing attorney located at Gilman. Per- haps Mr. Leland is one of the best known men in Gilman. He has taken a very active part in politics, representing Gilman at almost all the republican conventions for the last ten years. He has held several offices of public trust in Gilman : city clerk, township clerk and super- visor. In these offices he has acquitted himself in a very creditable .

manner. Mr. Leland's first wife died, and he married his present . wife, Mrs. Mary Shultz. She has one child, a daughter. Mr. Leland had one child by his first wife.

Columbus Cross, proprietor of marble and granite works, Gilman, was born in Utica, New York, in 1825, and is the son of Erastus Cross, who was a resident of Utica when it was known as Fort Schuyler. This was some time before the building of the Erie canal. Erastus Cross was a large marble dealer in Utica, and here the subject of this sketch commenced business. He remained a resident of Utica until he was twenty-three years of age. In 1848 he came west to Ohio and was made manager of some large marble works at Zanesville, owned by a firm of Vermont. Here Mr. Cross remained about four years, when he went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and formed the firm of Smith & Cross, who were proprietors of one of the largest marble works at that time in Cincinnati, Ohio, employing over sixty agents and col- lectors to do the business. They did a business in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and the Southern States. Mr. Cross continued in Cincinnati about five years, when he returned to Utica, New York. At the breaking out of the late civil war he enlisted in Co. E, 2d N. Y. Cavalry. He remained in service until 1865. He participated in some of the most severe battles during the war, fighting under that gallant leader, Phil. Sheridan. Mr. Cross was wounded at the battle of Burk's Station in the left knee by a musket ball. He served as captain in Co. E. He was a brave soldier, and was honorably mustered out in July, 1865, at the close of the war. He returned to Utica, and in the fall of 1865 came west to Illinois. He remained in Chicago a short time, and from there came to Iroquois county and commenced the marble business at Onarga in 1869. He came to Gilman on account of the railroad facilities being better. Here he is doing a very extensive business in the manufacture of monuments and tombstones. He sells his work in Momence, Onarga, Rensselaer, Odell, Pontiac and Watsekà. At the latter place he erected a fine monument for the late Dr. Fowler. In Onarga cemetery he erected a monument to the memory of George W. Marshal, which is the largest monument in Iroquois county. Mr. Cross employs some fifteen men. He has in connection a steam stone

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saw-mill. He buys most of his marble and granite from first hands, importing marble and granite. His business amounts to as high as $25,000 per year.

H. C. Mosher, merchant, Gilinan, was born in La Salle county, Illi- nois, February 15, 1836, and is the son of Ira and Louisa (Pease) Mosher. Ira Mosher was a native of Saratoga county, New York. . He married in New York, and about 1830, with his wife and one child, emigrated west to Illinois and located in La Salle, then a wild county, inhabited by the Indian and the wolf. Here they commenced farming, being among the first settlers of the county. Ira Mosher participated in the Black Hawk war of 1832. He died March 1, 1874, respected and honored. The subject of this sketch remained on his father's farm, engaged in farming, and in the winter months attending the district schools of the period. When very young he helped his father to haul grain, etc., to the Chicago market. In 1862 Mr. Mosher enlisted in the late civil war in Co. K, 107tlı Ill. Vol. Inf. After serving one year in the 107th he was transferred to Battery K, 1st Ill. Light Art., where he served until the expiration of three years, doing good duty. Here we may state that Mr. Mosher liad three brothers in the late war, and the four brothers together saw fifteen years of active service, participating in some of the most severe battles of the war. Charles Mosher enlisted in 1861 in Co. A, 8th Ill. Vol. Inf. He participated in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson (where , he received a scalp wound), Shiloh, siege of Vicksburg, Champion Hill, Jackson, and the last battle fought during the war-battle of the Blake- leys, or siege of Mobile. He was honorably mustered out, and is now engaged in the mercantile business in Gilman. E. W. Moshier enlisted in 1862 in the 104th Ill. Vol. Inf. He was captured by the guerilla, John Morgan, in Tennessee, but was soon after paroled, and was ·in Sherman's march to the sea through the Carolinas and to Washington, where he participated in the grand review at the close of the war. George I. Mosher enlisted in the 53d Ill. Vol. Inf. He did good serv- ice, and was honorably mustered out. When H. C. Mosher returned froin the army he embarked in the dry-goods business in Marshall county. In 1866 he came to Gilman, and was largely engaged in the real-estate business. The firm of Dent & Mosher purchased 360 acres of land which laid on the south side of the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw railroad track. Since Mr. Mosher's residence in Gilman he has been engaged in the lumber and grain business. At present lie is engaged in the dry-goods business, also farming. Mr. Mosher was married to Miss Elizabeth Baker, of New York state.

Charles Meyer, furniture dealer and justice of the peace, is prominent

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among the pioneer business men of Gilman: He was born in Pom- erania, Germany, in 1839. In 1859 he emigrated to America, and landed in Quebec. From there he went to Michigan, where he worked in the lumber business a short time, and then, in 1859, the same year of his emigration to America, he came to Illinois, and worked on a farm in Iroquois county. He afterward went to Livingston county, where he remained until the late civil war. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. K, 129th Ill. Vol. Inf., for three years as private. He did good service, participating in some of the most severe battles of the war: Resaca, Dallas, Lost Mountain, and Kenesaw Mountain. During the battle of Dallas he was captured. He and two of his comrades were carrying a log to build breastworks, when his two comrades were shot, and the whole of the log fell on him. He was then taken to the Nashville hospital, where he remained for a number of days. He was honorably inustered ont, and he returned to Livingston county, where he remained until 1866. He then came to Gilman, where he has been a worthy citizen ever since. He first embarked in the butcher business, and from this he entered the general grocery business with Mr. Charles Layer, who is one of the pioneer grocery men of Gilman. From the grocery business, Mr. Meyer, in 1875, entered the furniture business in company with Daniel Althan. This firm continued about one year. Mr. Meyer is now engaged in the business alone. He occupies a store on Central street, size 25 × 53 feet, two stories high. He is doing a good business in his line. In 1877 Mr. Meyer was made justice of the peace. He was alderman of Gilman two terms. He is at present school trustee. He has given entire satisfaction in all of his offices.

Elias Wenger, physician, Gilman, is perhaps one of the best known and most highly respected business men of Gilman. To write a history of Gilinan without mentioning Dr. Wenger would be very incomplete. He was born in Rockingham county, Virginia, April 16, 1821, and is the son of Abraham and Mary (Grove) Wenger, both natives of Vir- ginia. The subject of this sketch remained in his native county until he was about thirteen years of age, when he moved to Augusta, Vir- ginia. Here he received his principal education, and at eighteen he began the study of medicine. He was also engaged in teaching the district schools. At twenty-one years of age Dr. Wenger was married to Miss Eliza J. Smith. At twenty-seven years of age, in 1848, with his wife and three children, he came to Illinois, and located in Washington, Tazewell county, where he began in the drug business, starting and owning the first drug store at that place. In 1855 he graduated from the Rush Medical College of Chicago, and began the practice of medicine in Washington, where he associated himself as a

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business partner with Dr. E. F. Wood. While Dr. Wenger was a resident of Washington the people kept him continually in some public office. He served them well. He was justice of the peace twelve years ; supervisor three years; and in 1863 he was nominated and elected to the legislature, which office he filled for one term, proving himself a man of acknowledged ability. In 1865 Dr. Wenger moved to Gilman, then a small town of thirty-one buildings, and here he invested largely in real estate, first purchasing the estate of Chamberlain & Brown, afterward purchasing largely from O. Chanute. In 1870 and 1871 Dr. Wenger erected the Wenger Block, a fine brick business block, size 129 feet front by 70 feet deep, two stories high, and perhaps the best business block in Iroquois county. Since Dr. Wenger's residence in Gil- man he has been engaged in his profession. In 1875 he embarked in the mercantile business, but not meeting with good success, he retired after two years. Since his residence in Gilman he has held the offices of school treasurer, police justice, alderman and trustee, giving entire satisfaction. He drafted the first charter in the incorporation of Gilman in 1867. Dr. Wenger's political opinions are democratic, and in religion he is a Universalist. He is the parent of seven children.

Joseph Armstrong, real-estate and insurance agent, Gilman, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1838, and is the son of John and Nancy (Meanes) Armstrong. His mother was born in Pennsylvania, and his father was a native of Ireland, who came to America when he was about twenty-one years of age. Mr. Armstrong remained a resident of Washington county until he was about twenty- five years of age, receiving his principal education there. In 1867 he came west to Illinois, and located in Gilman, where he entered the drug business, and remained in this business until 1872, when he re- tired and embarked in the real-estate business, in whichi he has con- tinued ever since. Besides his real-estate business, Mr. Armstrong is engaged in the loan and insurance business, representing some of the leading insurance companies of America. Mr. Armstrong is city clerk of Gilman. He is a republican in politics, and a member of the Pres- byterian church. He married Miss Nancy J. Sturgeon, of Washington county, Pennsylvania.

D. Kerr, county school superintendent, is one of the prominent men of Gilman. He was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, January 27, 1821, and is the son of William and Elizabeth (Mercer) Kerr. His mother was a native of Virginia and his father of Pennsylvania. Will- iam Kerr was a carpenter by trade, and followed farming the latter part of his life. When Mr. Kerr, the subject of this sketch, was very young, with his parents he moved to Ohio, and finally located in Rich-

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land county, where he was one of the early settlers. Here Mr. Kerr received his principal education at the Ashland Academy. He taught school in the winter time and attended school in the summer. About 1851 he began to read law, and in 1853 was admitted to the bar, at Columbus, Ohio. He then began the practice of law in Crawford county, and practiced about one year. He was made superintendent of the Bucyrus schools, where he remained about two years. He went thence to Galion, where he accepted a similar position, and remained there some six years. Subsequently he embarked in the mercantile business in Galion. In 1868 he came west to Illinois and located at Gilman, where he began the practice of law. In 1873 he was nomi- nated on the farmers' independent ticket for the office of school super- intendent of Iroquois county, and was elected, and reelected to the same office by a large majority in 1877. This office he still holds, and is considered to be one of the best county school superintendents Iro- quois county has ever had. Mr. Kerr is also engaged in the practice of law. He is liberal in his politics, voting the republican ticket for president, and for the best man at county elections. He is a member of the Presbyterian church. He was married to Miss Jennie M. Munerly, of New York, and they have four children.

James H. Allen, banker, Gilman, is one of the most enterprising busi- ness men of the city. He was born in Preble county, Olio, in 1832, and is the son of Andrew and Sophia (Bennett) Allen, both natives of Ohio. When Mr. Allen was very young, with his parents he moved to Indi- ana, and located on a farm in Clinton county. About 1855 he made a trip to Middleport, Iroquois county, with the intention of entering the mercantile business, but he returned to Indiana and commenced the dry-goods business at Williamsport, where he remained until about 1862, when he came to Iroquois county and commenced the dry-goods business in Middleport, and remained there until 1868, when he came to Gilman and engaged in the mercantile business until 1873, when he entered the general banking business, and to-day is recognized as one of the successful men of Iroquois county. He is a republican in politics.

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History of Iroquois County, together with Historic notes on the Northwest, gleaned from early authors, old maps and manuscripts, private and official correspondence, and other authentic, though, for the most part, out-of-the-way sources, Part 77

Author: Beckwith, H. W. (Hiram Williams), 1833-1903 Publication date: 1880 Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co. Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Beckwith, H. W. (Hiram Williams), 1833-1903
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: Chicago : H.H. Hill and Co.
Number of Pages: 1180