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 78
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August A. Hauback, farmer, La Hogue, is a native of Germany, where he was born August 3, 1833. . In 1853 he emigrated to the United States and settled in Norwich, Connecticut, where he followed the business of house-painting, and remained there eleven years. In November, 1858, he married Mary Berger, who is also a native of Germany, born November 26, 1838. In 1869 Mr. Hauback came to Iroquois county and settled on the land he still occupies, the W. ¿ of S.E. ¿ of Sec. 5, T. 26, R. 10 E. He had previously, however, lived
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
in New Albany, Indiana, and Fulton county, Illinois. The family consists of four sons and one daugliter, besides the parents. Mr. Hauback has witnessed many of the rapid changes that have taken place in this county. He has an excellent farm and is in prosperous circumstances. He has been clerk of this school district for several years. The names of their children are: George, August F., John B., Eliza Jane and William A.
Charles C. Stone, merchant, commenced business in Gilman in the year 1869, and since that time lias succeeded in establishing a first- class trade, and become recognized as one of the leading merchants of Gilman. He was born in Fayette county, Indiana, in 1848. His parents both died there, leaving a family of six children. Mr. Stone remained in Fayette county until 1856, when he moved to Wabash, Wabash county, Indiana, and at sixteen years of age be began to learn the trade of a harness-maker. Mr. Stone remained at Wabash until 1869, when he and his brother, William D., came to Gilman and embarked in the mercantile business by opening a general stock on Crescent street. The firm was known as Stone Brothers. It continued until 1877, when Mr. Charles C. Stone became entire owner. From Crescent street Mr. Stone moved to his present place of business, located near the post-office. He occupies a large double-room. The main room, 22 × 24 feet, is used for his general stock of dry-goods, boots and shoes, hats and caps, etc. The other portion, 22 × 20 feet, is used for his ready-made clothing, of which he carries a full and com- plete stock. In 1879 Mr. Stone establislied a branch store at Thaw- ville, where he keeps a general stock of goods. This store is conducted by Mr. G. C. Lindsey. Mr. Stone is probably the largest dealer in dry-goods and general goods in Gilman.
S. S. Cone, attorney-at-law, Gilman, was born in Fulton county, Illinois, June 25, 1843, and is the son of Spencer Cone, who came to Illinois and located in Fulton county at an early day, being among the first settlers of that county. Mr. Cone was brought up on the farm. He received his principal education at the district schools, where lie prepared himself for college, and was a student of Knox College, of Knox county, Illinois. He graduated from the Albany Law School, of Albany, New York, in 1868. He commenced the practice of law in Farmington, where he remained but a short time. In 1869 he came to Gilman and commenced the practice of law. Here he has remained ever since. He was for two years city attorney of Gilman, where he is the oldest practicing lawyer.
A. Crooks & Brother are among the largest dealers in general mer- chandise in Gilman. They first began business in Gilman in 1870, in
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the frame building opposite their present place of business, where they remained in business until 1878, at which time they built their present building, which is a substantial brick, size 25 × 85 feet, one story high, with basement. These gentlemen keep on hand a general stock of dry-goods and groceries, and everything that can be found in a first-class general store. Mr. A. Crook, the senior member of the firm, was born in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1840. He was a soldier of the late war, having enlisted in Co. D, 149tlı Pa. Vol. Inf., in 1862, for three years. He served with the army of the Potomac. He was a brave soldier and did good duty, participating in a number of severe battles: Belle Plaine, Gettysburg and others. At the latter place at noon, July 1, 1863, he was shot in the right leg, and was then sent to the hospital, and July 2 his leg was amputated. He lay in the hos- pital (a church) in Gettysburg, and from there was sent to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he remained for a number of months. Mr. Crook is a graduate of the Iron City Commercial College of Pittsburgh. Thomas A. is the junior member of the firm. These gentlemen. are doing a good business, and are recognized by the public as leading liberal business men of Gilman.
Robert B. Johnston, farmer, Gilman, was born in St. Louis, Mis- souri, May 7, 1840, and is a son of Thomas and Hannalı Johnston. When ten years of age, his parents removed to Rock Island, Illinois. At the age of sixteen Mr. Johnston crossed the plains with oxen to California. Here he remained eight years. Two years were spent in the inines, and for six years he was superintendent of a line of stages between San Diego and Yuma. Returning to Missouri he enlisted in the 4th Mo. Inf., B Gratz Brown, colonel ; also served in Gen. Fre- mont's body-guard. He then became forage-master under Seigel, and saw service at Pea Ridge. His next service was as master of trans- portation, and he was stationed at Alton, Illinois. At the close of the war Mr. Jolinston returned to California, where he remained until 1869. He then commenced farming near Rock Island, where he remained until the great Chicago fire, when he removed to Iroquois county, Douglas township, and opened a farm on section 2, where he at present resides. Mr. Johnston was married in 1860 to Miss Elizabeth Dutcher. They have four children.
West & Mckinney, liverymen, Gilman, have had a very extensive experience in the livery business. Mr. West was engaged in the livery business for eight years at Onarga, where he kept a good livery stable and received a first-class patronage. In 1879 he came to Gilman, and the firm of West & Mckinney was organized. These gentlemen occupy a good, first-class stable, and keep on hand seven horses and five good buggies.
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
Almet Powell, merchant, Gilman, is a member of the firm of Dent & Powell. He was born in Greene county, New York, where he re- mained until he was nine years of age, then came west to Illinois and located in Marshall county, where he was engaged in farming until 1862, when he embarked in the mercantile business in Lawn Ridge, Marshall county, by opening out a general stock of merchandise. Here he was engaged in business until 1871, when he came to Gilman, and has been in the mercantile business ever since. The firm of Dent & Powell is located at the corner of Main and Central streets. They occupy a large store, size 20 × 80 feet. The first floor is used for dry- goods, clothing, boots, shoes, hats, caps and groceries, and the second floor for carpets. This firm does one of the largest trades in Gilman. The firm of Dent & Powell was formed some three years ago. Mr. J. O. Dent is a very prominent business man. He was elected to the state legislature from La Salle county, and was also. a member of the constitutional convention.
John W. Zea, grain and hay dealer, La Hogue, was born in Cazen- ovia, New York, and is the son of William and Laura Zea. His family moved to La Salle county, Illinois, in 1846, where his father engaged in farming, entering the land he occupied. John W. was married, March 17, 1855, to Miss Mary E. Arris, who was born in Lincoln county, Maine. They have nine children, all living. In 1868 Mr. Zea opened a farm in Ford county, three miles west of La Hogue, and in 1872 removed to the village and commenced dealing in grain, hay and coal. Mr. Zea has also been engaged in a general merchandise business ; has been agent for the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw railroad at La Hogue, and has held the position of postmaster for four years. Through Mr. Zea's energy and business talent a large trade has been drawn to this point, until La Hogue has become one of the important shipping points on the line of this road. Large quantities of hay are pressed and shipped. Mr. Zea is a Mason and an Odd-Fellow.
John W. Snyder, physician, Gilman, is one of the leading physi- cians of Iroquois county. He was born in Macon county, Illinois, in 1834, and is the son of Albert G. Snyder, who was among the first set- tlers of Macon county, Illinois, having moved there in 1831 or 1832, when there were Indians yet in that locality. He is now living in Kansas. At the age of twenty-one Dr. Snyder began tlie study of medicine. In 1859 he graduated from the Kentucky School of Medi- cine, of Louisville, Kentucky. He first began the practice of medicine in Sullivan, Moultrie county, Illinois, where he remained some five years. He then went to De Witt county, where he practiced about eight years. In 1872 he came to Gilman, where he has continued in the
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practice of medicine. His office is located in the City Drug Store, which building was the first school-house built in Gilman. Dr. Snyder is a member of the Illinois Central Medical Society.
William M. Jones, hardware merchant, Gilman, was born on a farm in Wabash county, Indiana, where he remained, engaged in farming, until he was about seventeen years of age, when he came to Illinois and located in Edgar county. Here, at the breaking out of the late war, he enlisted, on the first call, in Co. E, 12th Ill. Vol. Inf., as pri- vate for three months. He served full time, and immediately reën- listed for three years. He participated in some of the most severe battles of the war: Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, siege of Corinthi and the battle of Corinth. At the latter place, on October 3, 1863, he was shot through the body with a musket-ball from the enemy, the ball piercing the right lung. He was then placed in the hospital, where he remained some thirty days, and from there home, where he lay on his bed, not able to get up for six months. He afterward joined his regiment again, but was not fit for active duty, and was honorably mustered out August, 1864. He returned to his home in Edgar county and worked at his trade, harness-maker, in Mat- toon, Coles county, where he remained about one year. From there he went to Neoga, Cumberland county, where he carried on the har- ness business, and from that he embarked in the grocery and hard- ware business. He remained there until 1873, and in November .of the same year came to Gilman and commenced the hardware business in his present stand. The building is a large two-story brick, size 22 × 90 feet, with a basement. The whole building is used by Mr. Jones, the first floor for hardware and stoves, and the second floor as a tin-shop. This store is the largest and oldest hardware establishment in Gilman. The firm was first composed of Jones Brothers, which continued some two years, when Mr. Jones' brother (Hamlin) retired. Hamlin Jones was also a soldier of the late war, serving three years in an Indiana battery. He is now engaged in the hardware business in Neoga, Cumberland county, Illinois.
Logan Edmunds, farmer, Gilman, son of Daniel and Eliza J. Edmunds, was born in Henderson county, Illinois, December 13, 1850. He was educated at Monmouth College, Warren county, Illinois. After graduating, Mr. Edmunds came to this township, in the summer of 1873, and settled on section 3, where he continues to reside. He has an excellent farm, and has been engaged in farming since leaving school. Mr. Edmunds is unmarried, is an Odd-Fellow, and in politics is a republican. His parents still reside in Henderson county. .
Ira C. Moore, druggist, Gilman, was born in York county, Maine,
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September 28, 1811, and is the son of Harvey Moore, a native of New Hampshire. He remained a resident of York county until about 1826, when he moved to Cumberland county, of the same state, and subse- quently to Massachusetts. Mr. Moore had learned the trade of a saddle-maker. This business he carried on for a number of years. He returned to Maine, and from there he went to Canada ; thence back to Maine, and in 1855 came west to Illinois. He located in La Salle county, and in 1869 came to Gilman. He remained but a short time, however, when he moved to Arkansas, and in 1874 returned to Gil- man. Here Mr. Moore has remained ever since. He first commenced the manufacture of brick. He made the brick that built the two store- rooms in the north end of Wenger's Block. Mr. Moore occupies one room for his drug store. In 1876 Mr. Moore was elected to the office of police magistrate, which office he now fills. He is a republican in politics. He had one son, Justin Moore, in the late war. He enlisted at the beginning of the war, and served in the 33d Ill. Vol. Inf. until the close of the war, participating in the last battle of the war,-the battle of Mobile,-and the capture of the Blakeley batteries. He was a brave soldier, and did good service. He was mustered out in De- cember, 1865, but on account of sickness he had contracted in the army, died eight days after his discharge. Mr. Moore married twice. His first wife, Selestia Lilles, is deceased. His present wife was Sarah S. Larnerd. They have one child.
Lamoreaux Bros., Gilman, are among the leading grain merchants of Iroquois county. They commenced business in Gilman in August, 1875, and to-day are one of the oldest grain firms of this place. The firm is composed of L. and A. Lamoreaux, both natives of Albany county, New York. They came west, and have since been engaged at their present business. Their warehouse is a large first-class elevator, with a capacity of 12,000 bushels. They have also crib capacity of 35,000 bushels. They have done a business amounting to 100,000 bushels in one year. They find sales for their grain in Chicago and the eastern markets.
Dr. S. F. Heath, physician, Gilman, was born in Merrimack county, New Hampshire, September 23, 1842, and is the son of D. G. and Sarah (Moore) Heath. The subject of this sketch is a graduate of Harvard University, in the medical department, having graduated in 1866. He practiced medicine in Boston, Massachusetts, a short time, and then came west to Illinois and commenced the practice of medicine at Dwight, Livingston county, where he remained some three years. From there he went to Nebraska, and thence to Streator, Illinois, where he was engaged in the drug business. In the spring
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of 1877 he came to Gilman, and here he has been engaged at his chosen profession, and is to-day enjoying a good fair practice.
Rev. Moses Noerr, pastor of the Presbyterian church, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1833, and is the son of John and Wilhelmina (Brant) Noerr, both natives of Germany, who moved to America when very young. The Rev. Noerr is a graduate of Amherst College, of Amherst, Massachusetts, from whichi he graduated in 1855. He graduated from the Princeton Theological Seminary, of Princeton, New Jersey, in 1859. His first charge was with the Presby- terian church of Magnoketa, Iowa, where he remained until 1865. While in Maquoketa, in 1860, he was regularly ordained as a minister. Since leaving that place he has been engaged in preaching at the following places: Belleview, Iowa; Arlington and Milan, Illinois. He came to Gilman, and December 1, 1877, took charge of the Presby- terian church here.
Koerner & Keller, blacksmiths and wagon-makers, Gilman, com- menced business in Gilman in 1877. Henry Koerner was born in Will county, Illinois, April 7, 1857, where he remained until he was eighteen years of age, engaged in working on the farm. He then went to Peotone, where he commenced to learn his trade, and remained there some three years. From there he went to Frankfort, and from there he came to Gilman, where he has remained in business. George Keller was born in Cook county, Illinois, July 1, 1853, and at abont seventeen years of age commenced to learn the trade of a blacksmith at Peotone, where he owned a shop. In 1877 he came to Gilman, and to-day is a member of the firm of Koerner & Keller. Since these gentlemen have been at work in Gilman, they have made and sold somne twenty-five or thirty wagons of their own make.
Father Patrick Aloysius McGair, Catholic priest, Gilman, was born in Providence, Rhode Island, February 8, 1854, and is the son of Patrick McGair, a native of Ireland, who was employed by the Rhode Island Beach and Dyke Works, at one time being manager of the works. He was killed by the machinery in 1878. The subject of this sketch received his principal education at the public schools of Providence, and is a graduate of the St. Charles College of Baltimore, from which he graduated in 1875. Father McGair commenced study for the priesthood in 1870. He was ordained a priest in Peoria, Illinois, on June 29, 1878. His first appointment was at Wataga, Knox county, Illinois, where he remained until 1879, when he came to Gilman and took charge of this church.
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
ARTESIA TOWNSHIP.
Artesia township is the second from the southern line of the county, in the western tier of townships, and embraces all of town 25 north, range 10 east of the 3d principal meridian; and the fractional tier of sections, known as range 11 east; and the western four tiers of sections in range 14 west of the 2d principal meridian. It is ten and a half miles long east and west, by six in breath. Spring creek runs nearly through the center of the township, having upon it originally a beautiful strip of timber, averaging about one mile in width, and the Illinois Central railroad runs across its center, having on it Buckley Station, a village of several hundred inhabitants. The farm lands lying off to the west of the railroad are beautifully rolling, and present a fine appearance, as most of the farm houses are of a good order and well built.
The only early settlements in this township were along the belt of timber which skirts the creek. Jacob Hull settled early on section 25, and for many years was largely interested in cattle, keep- ing a large herd, and a portion of the time a thoroughbred hierd. He died in 1876. His widow, two sons and two daughters reside here still. J. S. McClave came here in 1853. There were no families living west of the railroad to the county line. The section house was all that was to be seen from the creek west as far as the eye could reach. Grand Prairie was grand then. He entered the south half of section 15 at the government price, $2.50 per acre, and retains the land yet. He has been a successful farmer, and for several years has been largely engaged in the grain trade. J. A. Drake bought 520 acres in section 29, 1855. With the large range then, he engaged largely in the cattle business, bothi grazing and stall feeding, feeding some years as many as two hundred head. At first he bought in this vicinity, but latterly was obliged to bring them from the west. As late as 1872 and 1873, the prairies of Iroquois county were the feeding grounds of herds which came in here from La Salle county. For several years thousands of cattle were driven in from the more populous counties northwest of here in the spring and returned in the fall. In 1871 Mr. Drake built one of the finest farm houses in the county at a cost of $5,000, which was burned to the ground with much of its contents, Sunday, October 5, 1879. He kept sheep for eight years, having as many as 900 at a time. He is still feeding cattle, though not so largely as formerly. Like most of the cattle inen in this and the counties west of here, he only handles
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a car-load or two at a time, where hundreds were fed formerly. There are several reasons for this: First and foremost is the un- pleasant fact that nearly all of them lost heavily on cattle during the few years past, and are not in condition to risk as much now; and secondly, the multiplication of railroads and the reduced freight have made corn-selling more popular than formerly, and reducing the large prairies here to farms has driven the accumula- tion of large herds of cattle to the western frontier, and flax-raising has taken a portion of the land which was devoted to cattle, requir- ing less capital and making its return in from eight to twelve months earlier. Mr. Drake has this year raised 300 acres of flax.
P. M. Cannedy, who lived across the line on section 24, in Ford county, owned considerable land in sections 19 and 30 of this town- ship. He was largely engaged in cattle and sheep, but traded his large farm at $65 per acre for business property in Cincinnati. F. A. Harris, on section 18, formerly kept about 1,500 sheep. After the war the sheep speculation took a reversion, and diseases set in which carried off many of them.
George Webster was here farming the Campbell land in 1856. Jonas Pusey came here about the same time, and still lives on the northeast quarter of section 22. He has interested himself in what- ever will advance the general welfare. He was one of the first to suggest the benefits to be derived from a mill to work up the flax straw, thus adding about two dollars per acre annual profit to all land planted to flax (enough to pay the interest on the cash value of the land), and was one of the first to put his view to practical use.
Captain Woodleton and Elijah Woodleton came here about the same time, but did not remain long. They liked hunting as well as Judge Pierson, but somehow they did not like the other inducements. J. P. Bibler had a farm here about the same date, and Parker Dresser, who was making a small fortune in what was called the " land office business " at Danville, had an improvement on the southwest quarter of section 19, about 1854 or 1855. Dresser bought corn here in 1860, and soon after put up a large elevator at Fairbury, which was burned in the first great fire in that town, about 1867.
George Needham was early on section 17, and sold and went to Kansas. Thomas Williams, now a prosperous and respected citizen of Hoopeston, was an early resident on section 21, where Mr. Trusein now lives, and Mr. Day was early where his family now lives. Wesley Harvey had improved the farm where Isaac White- head lives, east of the creek, early, and sold it to Wilson Devore. Devore sold it to Thomas Pagget, who remained there about five
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HISTORY OF IROQUOIS COUNTY.
years, and sold and went to Indiana. Mr. Whitehead has about 400 acres of land, with fair improvements. He has one of the finest barns in the township.
John Montgomery also had a farm early in that part of the town- ship. Reuben Durbin lived south of Hults. He was noted for raising the first and the finest pair of twins in this part of the country. He died here, and his widow lives in Onarga. Mr. Griffin commenced an improvement near there, and George Underwood, from Georgetown, Vermilion county, moved in about the same time.
Lewis and Michael Burlein commenced a farm on the prairie, where Michael now resides, as early as 1856 or 1857. James Carter, from Belmont county, Ohio, who now resides in Buckley, came to the west- ern side of Ash Grove in 1856. His sons, William S. and Andrew L., went to the army. The former died soon after his return. Andrew resides on the farm. Eli Strawn, from La Salle county, who had been a pioneer in that part of the state, and who belonged to a family which had a national reputation for energy, enterprise and vast business undertakings, came here in 1869 and purchased a half section which lay east of the creek.
Very little of the farming land of this township is owned by non- residents. Messrs. Koplin, Strawn, Hartshorn, McClave, Lincoln, and other business men in Buckley, own considerable land. The former has sixteen farms in this and adjoining townships. They consider them good investments, and expect to see them still more valuable.
One of the most shocking crimes, and in its circumstances one of the saddest that was ever committed in the county, was the murder, by Fred Keoster, alias Fritz Rafter, of his wife, Mary, on the night of Angust 26, 1879. Only a year previously Keoster had married Mary Burmeister, a pleasant and agreeable girl, the daughter of parents liv- ing near by, and lived on a small place of 11 acres which he owned, near the railroad, three miles northeast of Buckley. So far as the pub- lic is informed, no unpleasantness existed between them until shortly before the crime was committed, when her condition of approaching maternity rendered her unable to work in the field, and she declined to help him. Naturally avaricious, he seems to have become incensed at this, and complained that her family were encouraging her in her course. On August 26 he drew some money on his flax-seed, saying that he wanted it to pay a note, and this was the last seen of him here until his arrest, a month later, in Iowa, where he had taken refuge. The next morning Mrs. Koester's sister went to the house and found it vacant, but with stains of blood and other indications of the terrible deed. Search was made by those who assembled, and the body was
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