History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 101

Author: Hoffman, U. J. (Urias John), b. 1855
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

USA > Illinois > LaSalle County > History of La Salle County, Illinois > Part 101

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the ancestry being traced back to Robert Hill. who was the first of the name to come to this country from England, being probably a member of the colony of Friends. of Quakers, who came with William Penn. The grandfather. Reese Hill. was a member of the Pennsylvania legis- lature and served as speaker of the house of rec- resentatives from: 1816 tatil 1819. One of his brothers. Isaac Hill. was county Fudge of Greece county. Pennsvivania.

Isaac Hill. a son of Reese Hill. and the father of our subiect. was born in Greene county. Pennsylvania. January 20. 1801. and died May 8. 1882 which was the for-seventh anniversary of his marriage. His minor survived Him for some time. He lived for a number of Tears at Mistoro. Washington from Pennsylvania. where he followed teilige- building. erecting several bridges for the county. In isso be purchased what was known as the McCourtney property on Cheat river in Spring Hill township. Fayette county, and there can't a gristmill and sawmill. which were continuously in operation until the spring of his death -- 1882 -- when high water swept the sawmil entirely away and carried the gristmill from its foundation. wrecking the machinery and rendering the mill useless. Mr. Hill reared a large family oi cen children. one of whom was drowned while re- siding in Milisbord. Pennsylvania, and another diei soon after removing to Spring Hill while Jane died in early womanhood. Mrs. Hurd. an- other daughter. died in the west Three soms and two daughters survived the death of the father in 188 ... Isaac Hill was a very successful man and accumulated a fine estate. giving a farm to each of his surviving children. The last surviving brother of Bowen Hill, of this re- view. was Noah Hill, who died at Reno. Leavez- worth county. Kansas. March 2s. 1006. There are two sisters: Nancy V .. now the wife of Thomas jamison. a resident of Indiana: and Delinda. the wife of Washington Comm. why is living in Favette county. Pennsylvania, near the southern boundary Eine of the state.

Bowen Hill spent the days of his boyhood and vouth under the parental roof and remained a resident of Pennsylvania caril twenty-four years of age. While still living in that state Le con- dexxted a sawmill for about eight or ten years and also built boats which be operated on the Monca- gahela and Ohio rivers. Determining to try his fortune in the middle west he walked practically from Pennsylvania to Bicomington. Ilincis. boarding a car at the latter place for the First time. He has now made his home in this eventy for more than a half century and has thus wis- nessed much of its development and progress as

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the years have gone by. He has for a consider- able period been rated with the prominent and well known farmers of this part of the state, for he has made judicious investments in property and has carefully conducted his farming interests until he now owns a very valuable property. His home place is a finely improved farm of one hundred and eighty-eight acres, situated on section I, Farm Ridge township. It is supplied with all modern equipments and the entire place is neat and thrifty in appearance, indicating his careful supervision. When he first arrived in La Salle county he located on section 13, Farm Ridge township, which is the present site of the village of Grand Ridge. He sold that property however, in the fall of 1857, and on the 9th of April, 1858, bought another farm on section 13, which he sold in July, 1867. The following year he removed to Marshall county, Illinois, where he spent two years, and during that period he bought the farm on section 1, Farm Ridge township, which has been his home continuously since 1870.

On the 18th of February, 1863, Mr. Hill was united in marriage to Miss Mary S. Burson, who was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 10, 1830, and died on the 30th of July, 1901. She was the daughter of Thomas and Ann (Swan) Burson, the latter a daughter of Richard Swan, whose father, John Swan, came from Eng- land to America when twenty-one years of age and settled first in Washington county, Maryland. In 1768 he visited Greene county, Pennsylvania, and the following year he took his family to the Keystone state, settling in Washington county. He had married Elizabeth Lucas and they had ten children. Her death occurred in 1805, when she was eighty-three years of age. Richard Swan, the fourth child of John and Elizabeth Swan, married Martha Van Meter, a daughter of Henry Van Meter, of Berkeley county, Virginia, who died in that state. The death of Richard Swan occurred in Pennsylvania on the 21st of Feb- ruary, 1822. He owned large tracts of land in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Kentucky. His daughter Ann, who was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, January 16, 1788, was married December 13, 1810, to Thomas Burson and be- came the mother of nine children, namely : Ed- ward; Richard; James, who went to California on March 18, 1850, and was killed by Indians in 1865 in Nevada; Thomas, Jr., who died in Ohio; Samuel, who resides in Iowa; Martha, who married Hugh Swan and is now deceased ; Elizabeth, deceased; Sarah Ann, who married Ruben Beers, a practicing attorney of Iowa, and died in 1894; and Mary S., the wife of Mr. Hill. Thomas Burson was a son of Edward Burson,

and was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, November 16, 1781. As stated, he married Ann Swan. He was somewhat noted as a political leader in Greene county, Pennsylvania, and was three times elected to represent his district in to the state legislature, being first chosen for that office in the fall of 1834, again in the fall of 1835 and for a third term in the fall of 1836. He took an active part in establishing the legislative his- tory of the state during that period and his influence in local politics was often a decisive factor. He served for two terms as county judge and was solicited to become a candidate for governor of the state in 1844. In the winter of 1835 he obtained the charter for the Farmers and Drovers Bank of Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, which has since been one of the most reliable and best known financial institutions of Greene county. In addition to the state offices which he filled he also served in a number of local positions, including township offices and other positions of public preferment. He was thus called to office in 1802 and at least one-half of his life was spent in one public position or another, in which he rendered valued service to his fellow citizens. He was made a Mason in the fall of 1816 and was called to various official positions in his lodge. He was a charter mem- ber of the lodge in Greene county, Pennsylvania, to which he belonged and in his life exemplified the beneficient spirit of the craft. That he was one of the distinguished representatives in Penn- sylvania in his day is indicated by the fact that his picture now hangs upon the walls in the state house in Harrisburg.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bowen Hill was blessed with a family of five children. Anna Jane, the eldest, died July 29, 1864, at the age of six months and twenty-one days. Isaac New- ton died July 20, 1865, at the age of two months and seven days. Eldora Delinda, born in Evans . township, Marshall county, Illinois, December 5, 1868, died July 7, 1881, at the age of twelve years, seven months and two days. Mary Fran- ces, born on October 2, 1870, is the wife of Sam- uel J. Gruber, a resident of Salem, Iowa, and they have one son, Charles Gruber, born in 1898. She was the first wife of A. Thatcher and had two sons: Fred Thatcher, who was born in Wiscon- sin; and Royce Thatcher, who is at the home of his grandfather Hill. Joseph B. W., born Sep- tember 14, 1878, was formerly engaged in the real-estate and loan business at Ottawa but is now devoting his attention to farming.

The home farm has been the residence of Bowen Hill and his family since Mr. Hill came to La Salle county in the spring of 1870. As the years have gone by he has steadily worked

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

his way upward to the plane of affluence and is today one of the largest money loaners of La Salle county. His son, Joseph W. B. Hill, has assisted in organizing two banks in this county and is interested in several other financial in- stitutions. For more than a half century the family name has figured prominently in busi- ness circles here and has ever stood for pro- gressiveness and for commercial integrity. Mr. Hill, possessing excellent business qualifications and keen discernment, has formed his plans readily and carried them forward to successful completion. He has been prompted throughout by a laudable ambition and his strong purpose has enabled him to accomplish whatever he has undertaken.

MRS. MARY McKERNAN.

Mrs. Mary McKernan, well known in Streator, is the widow of Captain James J. Mc- Kernan, who was born in Livingston county, Kentucky, February 19, 1815, and died at Ker- nan Station, this county, named for him, January 7, 1878, when in the sixty-third year of his age. His education was acquired in the subscription schools and his boyhood and youth were passed without event of special importance. He came to La Salle county, Illinois, with his parents in 1828, when thirteen years of age, and in 1835 he secured a claim by entering land from the gov- ernment at the land office in Chicago, filing his claim in the month of June. He built thereon a log house and began the improvement of his farm.

Having made arrangements for a home of his own he secured as a helpmate and companion for life's journey Miss Mary Cramer, to whom he was married in Bruce township, La Salle coun- ty, October 20, 1836. She was born in Tus- carawas county, Ohio, February 28, 1820, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Cramer. Her father was born in Baltimore, Maryland, July 4, 1790, and died July 11, 1832, near Blooming- ton, Illinois, this being the summer of the In- dian war when Black Hawk and his followers attacked the white settlers in this section of the country. His remains were interred near Bloomington. His wife, who was born Decem- ber 20, 1790, passed away May 19, 1837, near Kernan, Illinois. Mrs. McKernan came to the present site of Streator with her mother in 1833 and here Mrs. Cramer purchased government land, becoming one of the pioneer settlers of this locality.

Following his marriage Mr. McKernan gave his time and energies to the development and

improvement of a farm until after the inaugur- ation of the Civil war, when he became captain of Company F, One Hundred and Fourth Illi- nois Infantry. He was mustered in on the 15th of August, 1862, and participated in several bat- tles. At Hartsville he was taken prisoner by John Morgan on the 7th of December, 1862, and was held as such until January 16, 1863. On ac- count of illness he was honorably discharged in June of the latter year and returned to his home with health so impaired that he was never able to do any work afterward. At one time he owned five hundred acres of land in Bruce town- ship, in that section which is now a part of Otter Creek township, and his property returned him a good income as the result of his careful man- agement and supervision. He was justice of the peace for a number of years, being commis- sioned by the governor, and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial, winning him "golden opinions from all sorts of people."

Unto Mr. and Mrs. McKernan were born nine children, of whom seven are now living : Rosanna, the wife of Aaron Kleiber; Candace, the wife of Henry Ackerman; Ann Eliza, the wife of M. Gochanour; George, deceased; Sam- tiel H .; Salanda M., wife of Mark Lockwood, of Streator ; Charles H .; Augusta, who is living with her mother in Streator; and Ralph, who has departed this life.

Mr. McKernan exercised his right of fran- chise in support of the men and measures of the democracy and was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist church. His life was practically given as a sacrifice to his country, for after the ardu- ous experiences, privations and hardships of a military life he was never able to resume active work. In his business dealings he was strictly reliable and trustworthy as well as enterprising and energetic and he left to his family a very valuable farm as well as the priceless heritage of an untarnished name.

NICHOLAS WISEMAN DUNCAN.

Nicholas Wiseman Duncan, president of the La Salle State Bank, was born in La Salle on the site now occupied by the public library, De- cember II, 1856, his parents being Nicholas and Isabella (McBoyle) Duncan, the former a stone- cutter and contractor. His education was ac- quired in St. Patrick's Academy at La Salle and the Niagara University in Niagara county, New York, being graduated from the latter institu- tion in the class of 1878. Returning to his na - tive city he has since been closely associated with

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its business and financial interests. He was in charge of the retail sales department of the Union Coal Company from 1879 until 1884, and was general manager for the same company from 1884 until 1894. In the latter year he entered ac- tively into financial circles as organizer in the La Salle State Bank, of which he was cashier from that time until 1905. In October. 1905, he was elected president to succeed John Stuart, de- ceased, and is at the head of one of the substan- tial financial concerns of the county, for the bank entered at once upon a prosperous existence and has continually grown in the extent and scope of its business.

On the 24th of October, 1882, in La Salle, Mr. Duncan was married to Miss Mary Ann Stuart, a daughter of John and Margaret Stuart, and they have three sons and a daughter : Stuart, Nicholas V., Mary I. and Walter Duncan. The parents are communicants of St. Patrick's Cath- olic church and Mr. Duncan has since 1893 served as treasurer of the schools of township 33, range I, La Salle county, the cause of public edu- cation finding in him a warm and stalwart friend, whose efforts have been of material as- sistance to the schools. His public-spirited citi- zenship has also reached out to other fields of ac- tivity that are beneficial in their influence and productive of good results in the work of public progress and development.

JOHN H. JENNINGS.

John H. Jennings, widely known as the pro- prietor of the Vermillion Stock Farm, and as a breeder of polled Durham cattle, has engaged in this business for ten years, during which time he has achieved splendid success and become known as one of the leading stock breeders and raisers of this part of the state. His home is on section 16, Eagle township, and the grain which he raises is fed to his stock.

A native of Greene county, Pennsylvania, John H. Jennings was born March 27, 1860, and is a son of L. W. Jennings, whose sketch appears else- where in this work. He came with his parents to this county in his childhood days and was here reared, his education being obtained in the com- mon schools. In his youth he aided his father in farm labor and in stock-raising and fifteen years ago he began business on his own account. His success since that time has been uniform and rapid. Ten years ago he began raising polled Durham cattle and has gained wide reputation as a successful breeder of fine stock. Large crops are annually produced on his place and the grain

is fed to his cattle and other stock. The farm is finely improved with suitable barns and out- buildings, specially fitted up and arranged to facilitate the handling and care of cattle. Mr. Jennings breeds the double standard polled Dur- ham and pure Scotch shorthorns. The former are of American origin, traced back to two heif- ers raised in Ohio of the Gwine family of short- horns. Those two were born hornless or polled and their descendants have so continued, even though bred to pure bred shorthorns. The polled Durham are now making the greatest progress of any breed in the country. Mr. Jennings han- dles from thirty to forty head of pure bred stock and is furnished a certificate copy of registration of the pedigree in both books, so that he can fur- nish accurate and perfect pedigree of each animal bred and raised by him. Among the animals in Mr. Jennings' herd are the following : Mary Milton, first prize calf at St. Louis, in 1904, un- der one year old: Golden Craggs, two-year-old heifer weighing fifteen hundred and eighty pounds, never defeated, taking first prize at the International Stock Show at Chicago in 1904; Golden Heather, a cow six years old, weighing twenty-two hundred and fifty-five pounds, the highest priced polled Durham to date ; sold for twenty-five hundred and twenty-five dollars to Mr. Jennings, who has refused forty-two hundred dollars for her. She is registered as double standard and is of the Broth Dud family. The polled Durham cattle are particularly noted for beef, milk and early maturing qualities.

Mr. Jennings was formerly a breeder of Poland China hogs, but is now giving his attention to Jersey hogs. He feeds cattle every year, buy- ing and shipping, his shipping point being Kang- ley, which is convenient to his farm, while his postoffice address is Streator. He is a member of the Polled Durham Breeders Association of America and the International Stock Show As- sociation and is regarded as one of the foremost representatives of stock-raising interests in north- ern Illinois, the extent and importance of his business making him as well one of the pros- perous citizens of the county.

On the 20th of October, 1887, Mr. Jennings was united in marriage to Miss Avire Bayley, a daughter of William Bayley, of Tonica, and a native of this county, representing one of its old families. Mr. and Mrs. Jennings have a daughter. Nellie Grace, who at the age of thir- teen years has recently graduated from the town- ship school. In his political views Mr. Jennings is a republican, voting for the candidates of his party, but without seeking office for himself. He and his wife are members of the Congregational church in Kangley, in the work of which she takes

J. H. JENNINGS AND FAMILY.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

a very active interest, and throughout their part of the county, and wherever known they are held in the highest regard, Mr. Jennings having spent almost his entire life her while his wife is a na- tive of the county.

WILLIAM KUHN.

William Kuhn, whose home farm on section 32, Brookfield township, is a well cultivated tract of land of eighty acres, is one of the native sons of La Salle county, born in 1860, and operates a farm that was established here in early days. His father, Thomas Kuhn, as the name indicates, was of German birth and lineage and died in La Salle county at the age of fifty-eight years. The first work which he did in this country was at a salary of fifteen dollars per month and he be- gan farming on his own account north of Otta- wa. Subsequently he removed to Allen town- ship, where he resided for a few years, after which he took up his abode in Grand Rapids township, where he spent his remaining days, becoming a successful agriculturist as the result of his close application and diligence. Without receiving aid from others he worked his way steadily up- ward to the plane of affluence. His political faith was that of the democracy and his religious belief was indicated by his membership in the Catholic church. He married Elizabeth Rich- ards, who was born in Illinois and is now living at the age of sixty-four years, making her home in Ottawa. She still enjoys good health. In the family were eight children : William, the subject of this review; Caroline, the wife of George Nagle, a resident of Grand Rapids town- ship; Englebert, a prominent farmer of Grand Rapids township; Edward, who married Eliza- beth Horn, and is engaged in farming in Grand Rapids township; Emma, the wife of Charles Roser, a cigar-maker living in Ottawa; Frank, who wedded Kate Horn and is living in Otter Creek township; Victoria, the wife of William Widman, a resident farmer of Utica township; and Albert, who married Sarah Horn and is farming near Lamar, Missouri.

William Kuhn was reared to the occupation of farming and was prepared for life's practical and responsible duties by a common-school educa- tion. He worked with his father until after he had attained his majority and then engaged in the cultivation and improvement of land which he rented from his father, from 1882 until 1892. Following his father's demise he inherited eighty acres of the old homestead, situated on section 36, Brookfield township, and here he has remained

continuously since. He is now farming one hundred and sixty acres of land and the entire tract is richly cultivated, the well tilled fields giv- ing promise of a bountiful harvest. His meth- ods are practical and in his work he is progres- sive, readily adopting new plans which bear evi- dence in the facilitating of farm work and pro- ducing better results.

In 1882 Mr. Kuhn was married to Miss Mar- garet Lane, who was born north of Ottawa, a daughter of Bartholomew and Catherine (Twohey) Lane, both of whom were natives of Ireland. Becoming residents of America, the father followed farming in La Salle county and spent his last days in Fall River township, where he died in 1895. He exercised his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democracy and both he and his wife were members of the Catholic church. Mrs. Lane passed away in Grand Rapids township in June, 1900. In their family were the following chil- dren : Ellen, who married Patrick Donoghue, a resident farmer of Nebraska; Catherine, the wife of Frank Henigan, who is engaged in rail- roading in Nebraska; and Mrs. Kuhn.

Mr. and Mrs. Kuhn have four children, Caro- line, Walter, Kate and Albert. The parents are members of the Catholic church. They have always resided in La Salle county, being repre- sentatives of old families here and throughout the period of his manhood Mr. Kuhn has been closely associated with agricultural interests.

JOHN BAUMAN.

John Bauman, whose devotion to the public welfare is a matter above question and whose tangible efforts in behalf of public good have been resultant factors in the municipal progress during his nine years of service as president of the village board of trustees of Utica, has re- sided here since the spring of 1887 and through- out this period has carried on a bakery business in one location. He was born in Chicago, in 1859, but soon afterward went with his parents to Morris, Grundy county, Illinois, where he continued to reside until eighteen years of age. He is a son of Andrew Bauman, who was en- gaged in business in Morris until his death in 1872. Both he and his wife were natives of Germany and Mr. Bauman of this review has two brothers and three sisters. Two of the number are residents of Iowa, and one of Rock- ford, Illinois, while C. C. Bauman is a resident of Cherry Valley, Winnebago county, this . state; J. D. resides in the west; Mrs. Eagle in

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Iowa; Mrs. Lawrence ; and Mrs. Beade Lyddon in Rockford, her husband being a prominent con- tractor of that city.

John Bauman of this review is a self-made man and has accumulated considerable property in Utica, including two or three residences in ad- dition to his store and comfortable home. On locating in this city in 1887 he established a res- taurant and confectionery store but is now mainly giving his attention to the bakery business. He is located on Mill street in a good business block which he owns and he has a liberal patronage, which he has won through his honorable business methods and unfaltering enterprise. Mr. Bau- man was married in Seneca, La Salle county, to Miss Mary Le Rette, who resided near Morris, her people being farmers of Grundy county, Illi- nois. Mr. and Mrs. Bauman have four chil- dren, all born in Utica: Roy ; Charles, who is at- tending Brown's Business College; Adrian ; and Ruth.

In his political views Mr. Bauman is independ- ent. He has served as justice of the peace at Utica and afterward was chosen trustee of the village board, of which he has now been presi- dent for nine years. In that capacity he exer- cises the functions of a mayor and that his serv- ice has been entirely satisfactory and commend- able is indicated by the fact that he has been again and again re-elected to office. He studies closely the possibilities of the town, favors prog- ress and improvement and at the same time gives an economical, business-like administration. He does not believe in the useless expenditure of money but at the same time favors public im- provement along lines of substantial upbuilding. He and his family are members of the Catholic church and enjoy the unqualified regard, friend- ship and respect of those who know them.

MRS. NANCY L. ARTHUR.

Mrs. Nancy L. Arthur, living at No. 406 North Everett street, is the widow of John Arthur, who for many years was a most prom- inent and influential citizen and business man of Streator. He was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, February 10, 1836, his parents being Robert and Martha .( Peoples) Arthur, who, in 1845, when their son was a lad of nine years, removed to Illinois, settling in Peru, La Salle county, where the father died of cholera in the year of 1849.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 101

Author: Hoffman, U. J. (Urias John), b. 1855 Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1286

Author: Hoffman, U. J. (Urias John), b. 1855
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1286