History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 102

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

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John Arthur was reared in this county, acquir- ing his preliminary education in the public schools of Ohio and Illinois, while later he spent one year as a student in Lombard University, at

Galesburg, this state. He learned the trade of painting in Peru but attracted by the discovery of gold in the northwest he made his way to the mining regions of Idaho in 1864 and was one of the first explorers to proceed down the Yellowstone river, making a trip of about seven hundred and fifty miles down that stream to Fort Union and thence down the Missouri river to Yankton in boats made of timber sawed out by whipsaws by him- self and comrades. The party experienced many difficulties and dangers and between Forts Berthold and Sully were attacked by the Sioux Indians, a fight occurring. Mr. Arthur spent one year in Idaho and in 1865 returned to Peru, where he resumed work at his trade. He ob- tained a liberal patronage and continued in busi- ness in that line in Peru until 1872, when he came to Streator, where in 1874 he entered into partnership with his brother, James L. Arthur, in the establishment of a general mercantile store. They were among the pioneer merchants of Streator and Mr. Arthur continued in active business here up to the time of his death. The firm enjoyed a large trade and the house sus- tained an unassailable reputation for business enterprise, integrity and activity.

On the 6th of June, 1879, Mr. Arthur was married to Louise Blanchard, who was born in Woodford county, Illinois, February 2, 1854, and was the widow of Alfred C. Everett. By her former marriage she had one son, Jesse C. Everett. She is a daughter of Fred and Mar- garet (Sylvester) Blanchard, the former a native of New Hampshire and the latter of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Her parents came to Illinois in 1851, residing in Woodford county until 1866, when they removed to Livingston county, Illi- nois, where they remained until 1879. In that year they took up their abode in Stuart, Iowa. where they still reside. Mr. Blanchard is liv- ing a retired life but for many years was a farmer who carried on business successfully. He still owns four hundred acres of fine land in Nebraska. He is now in his eighty-second year. while his wife is in her eighty-third year. In

their family were five children : Milcena, the deceased wife of Jewett D. Gilman ; Mrs. Arthur ; Edward, who is living in Nebraska; Mary Jane, the wife of Rickford P. Gregg, of Oklahoma; and S. A., who is living in Streator. The mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur was blessed with five children, Fred C., Ethel B., Robert P., Ros- coe A. and Mildred S.

In his political views Mr. Arthur was a re- publican and while living in Peru was elected and served as a member of the city council, filling that position there for six years altogether. In

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the fall of 1883 he was elected alderman of the fifth ward in Streator and was re-elected in this city. His official service was always character- ized by unfaltering fidelity to duty and a thor- ough understanding of the needs and possi - bilities of the city. He acted as alderman for a number of years and exercised his official prerogatives for the best interests of the com- munity at large. He was, however, strictly a business man, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his commercial interests and although he started out in life empty-handed he steadily worked his way upward and as the years went by met with gratifying success. He passed away December 27, 1892, and his death was a source of deep regret to his fellow towns- men, his many friends, and most of all to his im- mediate family. Mrs. Arthur then took charge of the business and with her sons is still carry- ing it on. She is a lady of excellent business and executive force as well as of attractive so- cial qualities and she has commanded the ad- miration of all by the capable way in which she has managed the estate left by her husband.

SAMUEL M. SAWYER.

Samuel M. Sawyer, living on section 16, Adams township, is engaged in general farming and is a representative agriculturist of this, his native county. He was born in Earl township, March 16, 1857. His father, Mathias Sawyer, was born in Norway in 1822, and was there reared and married. He wedded Bertha Bu- land, a native of Norway, and emigrated to the new world in 1845, locating first in Wisconsin not far from Milwaukee. About two years later he came to La Salle county, Illinois, where he purchased land and opened up a farm. He at first had one hundred and twenty acres of land which additional purchase increased to two hun- dred acres and he carried on general farming there for some time. Eventually he sold that property and bought a residence in Leland, where he resided for a number of years. He is now living with a daughter in De Kalb county and has retired from active business life to enjoy a well earned rest. In early days he broke many acres of land and opened up a good farm. Few settlements had been made in the county at the time of his arrival here and work was done after the primitive manner of that period. He hauled lumber for his house with ox teams from Chicago, and would sleep under the wagon while making the trip, which required a week. He endured many hardships and privations incident

to frontier life, but owing to his frugality, un- remitting industry and undefatigable persever- ance he became the owner of a large and valua- ble farm and made a fortune and an honorable name for himself in the land of his adoption. His wife died in Leland, May 6, 1902.

In the family are two sons and two daugh- ters who are yet living, the brother of our sub- ject being Jacob Sawyer, a resident farmer of Earl township. The sisters are Tabertha, the wife of O. G. Knudson, a resident of Jewell, Hamilton county, Iowa; and Martha, the wife of Ole A. Olson, of De Kalb county, Illinois. They also lost four children, of whom one died in infancy. Thomas reached adult age, served as a soldier in the Civil war and afterward went to Arizona, where he passed away, Isabelle became the wife of Osman Watland and died at their home in New Sharon, Iowa. Sarah Ann passed away at the age of sixteen years.

Samuel M. Sawyer was reared in La Salle county and is indebted to the public-school sys- tem for the educational privileges he enjoyed. He remained with his father during the period of his minority and afterward rented land from his father in Earl township, where he engaged in farming for several years. He was married in New Sharon, Iowa, February 18, 1886, to Miss Emelia Watland, a native of Iowa, who was born and reared at New Sharon, Mahaska coun- tv, that state. Following their marriage Mr. Sawyer carried on general farming on the old home place until 1893, when he located where he now resides. He then began to farm and im- prove this property and has rebuilt and remod- eled the house, doing painting and repairing. He has also cleared away an old hedge, has built good fences and has tiled the land. Altogether he has a well cultivated farm of one hundred and twenty acres, on which he is engaged in tilling the soil and also raises good stock. Everything about his place is neat and thrifty in appearance and in his work he is known as a practical agri- culturist, whose methods bear the sanction of sound judgment. For many years he has la- bored most earnestly and indefatigably, and now is enabled to enjoy many comforts and pleasures.

On the 6th of January, 1904, Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer, in company with the latter's sister and mother, went to California by the Santa Fe route and stopped at Los Angeles and vicinity until the 20th of March, in the meantime visiting Long Beach, Pasadena, Redondo Beach, Santa Monica, San Pedro, Ocean Park, San Gabriel. Laurel Canyon, Mount Lowe, Rubio Canyon, Santa Catalina Island, the oil wells and the sol- diers' home. They next went up the coast to Santa Crub, where they saw the giant redwood

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY. .

trees, some of which are seventy-three feet in circumference and three hundred feet high. Four days were spent in San Francisco and on one of these they took the observation car over the city. They stopped two days in Salt Lake City and also visited Colorado City. Colorado Springs, Manitou, the Garden of the Gods and Denver, where they remained two days. They next went to Omaha, Nebraska and Marshall- town, Iowa, and after a most enjoyable trip reached home on the Ist of April. Mr. and Mrs. Sawyer are both members of the Lutheran church and he is a republican who has supported that party since attaining his majority and is in hearty sympathy with its principles. His life is another illustration of the fact that the rewards of labor are many and that indefatigable energy is the basis of all true success.

ANDREW J. BAKER.

Andrew J. Baker, pension agent at Streator, was born in Brown county, Ohio, September 13, 1824, and has therefore passed the eighty-first milestone on life's journey. He was a son of Gibson and Anna Rachel Armstrong (Hook) Baker. The father, a native of Virginia, died at Metamora. Woodford county, Illinois, at the venerable age of eighty-three years. His wife, who was born in Ireland, died in the seventy- fifth year of her age in Metamora. They were married in Virginia and came to Illinois in the spring of 1852. In their family were seven daughters and two sons, of which number five are now living : Margaret, Ellen. Lucinda. Clarissa and Andrew J. The father was a mill- wright and carpenter by trade and followed those pursuits in order to provide for his family.

Andrew J. Baker, whose name introduces this review, was reared in the state of his nativity. After attending the public schools he continued his education in the Clermont Academy of Ohio. In 1851 he came to Illinois and afterwards re- turned to the east, bringing his parents to this state in 1852. Here he engaged in the building of steam sawmills for about seven years and was afterward identified with building operations, being thus connected with mechanical pursuits in this county for a long period. His business interests were interrupted by service in the Mexi- can war, in which he enlisted on the 25th of June, 1847, as a member of Company C, Fourth Regiment of Ohio Volunteers. He joined the army at Cincinnati, leaving his business inter- ests at a moment's notice and going at once to the front under command of Colonel John

Brough. He continued in the army for about fourteen months and was mustered out at Cin- cinnati, July 15, 1848. At the time of the Civil war he also offered his services to the govern- ment and became a member of Company G, Seventeenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, on the 25th of June, 1861. The regiment was com- manded. by Colonel Leonard F. Ross, and Mr. Baker continued with his company until mustered out on the 7th of May, 1862, as first sergeant of Company G. While on detached duty he was injured at Fort Holt. Returning to his home, he resumed the carpenter's trade, with which he was actively connected until 1885. He has since been interested in securing pensions for his old army comrades and he holds a commission in the commission both in the commission and the war departments of the United States.

Mr. Baker was married on the 30th of Novem- ber, 1856, to Miss Lizzie D. Williams, who was born in Pennsylvania, March 17, 1833, a daughter of Louis and Rebecca (Hanna) Williams, both of whom were born in Fayette county of the Key- stone state. They were married in Pennsylvania, where the mother died at the age of forty years. The father, who was a gunsmith by trade, de- parted this life in Woodford county, Illinois, at the age of eighty-two years. In their family were five daughters and a son, all of whom are now deceased with the exception of Mrs. Baker. Unto our subject and his wife have been born six children, of whom three are now living, Dora, Anna D. and Claude G.

Mr. Baker was alderman of Streator in the days of its villagehood, acting in that capacity for three different terms. In politics he is some- what liberal, considering measures rather than party and at all times working for the benefit of the country at large. He belongs to Streator post. No. 68, G. A. R., and is liberal in his religious views but has always endeavored to do right and has thus lived an upright, honor- able life, gaining for him the respect and confi- dence of his fellowmen. He has now reached his eighty-second year and a review of his life record shows many sterling traits of character and good qualities that are worthy of emulation.

EDWARD HAYNE.

The consensus of public opinion is altogether favorable concerning the business ability, enter- prise and honorable name of Edward Hayne, who is well known as a plumber and steam and gas-fitter. He alone installs acetylene gas plants and deals in phonographs, his business being lo-

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EDWARD HAYNE.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

cated at No. 600 Court street. He is yet a young man, for his birth occurred in this city in 1874, his parents being William and Rosa Hayne. The father is engaged in the harness business in Ot- tawa and the name has long been closely associ- ated with business progress here.

Edward Hayne is indebted to the public-school system for the educational privileges he enjoyed and throughout his entire business career he has been connected with the trade which now claims his attention. He began the business with a cash capital of only six hundred dollars but is now one of the leading dealers in his line in the city. He has over twenty men upon the road and expects to add forty more soon. He not only carries all sorts of plumbing, steam and gas fitting and acetylene gas plants supplies, but also takes contracts for installing these various plants and has the finest outfit in the city. He is a state dealer for the Davis Company and he has two buildings which are filled from cellar to ceiling with a large stock of goods in his line. He also does electrical work and has several patents on plumbing apparatus. He covers the state for the Acetylene Gas Com- pany outside of Cook county and has exclusive sale of Columbia phonographs in this district. He has been in business here since 1900 and is patronage has steadily and rapidly increased until he is one of the foremost dealers in his line.

Mr. Hayne was married in 1905 to Miss Phosie Millikin, of La Salle county, and they have one child, Lillian. Mr. Hayne is a democrat in his political affiliation where national issues are in- volved but casts an independent local ballot. He belongs to the Royal Arcanum, to the Knights of the Maccabees, the Red Cross and other fraternal organizations and is a communicant of the Cath- olic church. He possesses marked energy and en- terprise and recognizes no such word as fail in his vocabulary, but carries forward to successful com- pletion whatever he undertakes. He is a typical representative of the alert and enterprising spirit of the age and has displayed superior business qualifications in the development of the enterprise of which he is now at the head and which is returning to him a very gratifying income.

DAVID GEMMILL CAIRNS.

David Gemmill Cairns, attorney at law of Otta- wa, was born in Waitham township, La Salle county, July 25, 1880, a son of Robert and Annie Cairns, the former a farmer by occupation. In the parental line he is descended from ancestry from the highlands of Scotland. He attended the country schools until fifteen years of age,

when he entered the Ottawa township high school, from which he was graduated in June, 1899. He prepared for his profession as a student in the state university law school, from which he graduated in the class of 1902 and immediately afterward located for practice in Ottawa, where he has since remained and is making substantial progress, having already a place among the representative young lawyers of the city with a good clientage that is constantly increasing in volume and importance. He pos- sesses energy and ambition, two qualities which are essential to success at the bar, and in the trial of various cases he has demonstrated his familiarity with the principles of jurisprudence and his correct adaptation thereof.

Mr. Cairns is popular socially in Ottawa and is a valued member of Ottawa court, No. 279, Tribe of Ben Hur, in which he is now serving as secretary. He is also a member and secretary of Ottawa lodge, No. 588, B. P. O. E., and the Ottawa Boat Club.

MICHAEL MOORE.

Michael Moore, who carries on general farming on section 31, Richland township, where he owns the northeast quarter, was born in that town- ship, his parents being Owen and Barbara ( Rich- ards) Moore, both of whom are now de- ceased. At the usual age he entered the public schools, wherein he prepared for life's practical and responsible duties, and upon the home farm he was trained to habits of industry and enterprise, gaining practical knowledge of the work of the fields by the actual assistance which he rendered in their cultivation and improvement. As the years have gone by he has carried on farming on his own account and has a splendidly improved property, on which he has erected a beautiful home. There are also substantial barns and outbuildings, the latest improved machinery, well kept fences and other accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century. Everything about the place is neat and thrifty in appearance and indi- cates the careful supervision of the owner.

In 1893 Mr. Moore was united in marriage to Miss Mary Eagan, a sister of Rev. Father M. J. Eagan, pastor of Eagle township Catholic church. She was born and reared in Boston. Massachusetts. Of this marriage there have been born seven children, Marie, Celia, Collatta, Regina, John and William, who were born upon the home farm and are still under the parental roof, while one child, Owen, is deceased.

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Mr. Moore and his wife are members of the Catholic church, belonging to Eagle township parish in charge of Rev. Father Eagan. In his political views Mr. Moore is a stanch demo- crat, unfaltering in his advocacy of the party. He served for a number of years as school di- rector and the cause of education finds in him a warm and stalwart friend. In fact he is in- terested in all matters of local progress and im- provement as well as national advancement, and while living the quiet life of a farmer, intent upon his daily duties, he nevertheless manifests the strong and sterling qualities of a good citi- zen, who favors general improvement and co- operates in many movements for advancement in his community.

T. A. POTTINGER.

T. A. Pottinger, farmer, business man and author, living on section 7, Dimmick township, possesses moreover the traits of character which not only win success in the business world but have also endeared him to his fellowmen as one worthy their respect, regard and friendship. He was born near Liverpool, England, February 14. 1842, his parents being Joseph and Elizabeth (Dunn) Pottinger. His parents were also na-

tives of England. The father belonged to a distinguished family of that country, but, being a younger son, his possessions were limited and hoping to improve his financial condition he came to the new world, landing in New York on the 4th of February, 1849. He started westward but had funds sufficient to take him only to Rochester. There he was compelled to seek financial aid from the city until he could get employment. He worked as a day laborer in New York state for a time and then carried out his intention of establishing a home in the west arriving in La Salle on the day that President Pierce was elected chief executive of the nation. Although in limited financial circumstances the family worked hard and persistently and lived frugally and economically. Thus in course of time they raised money enough to begin farming on rented land and secured a tract near Peru not far from the place on which Mr. Pottinger of this review now resides. The father aided in the construction of the Rock Island Railroad. He began farming on rented land in 1853 and suc- cess attended his efforts in that direction, so that in 1856 he was enabled to purchase ninety acres on section 7. Dimmick township, a tract which is still in possession of his family. From that time on prosperity attended the efforts of the

family and to his original purchase the father kept adding from time to time as his financial re- sources increased until he became the owner of three hundred and thirty acres of rich, arable and productive land situated in La Salle and Bureau counties, but all lying in one tract. He devel- oped much of this land from a wild condition to one of rich fertility, performing the arduous task of breaking the sod and placing it under the plow. The early home of the family was small and poorly furnished but one indication of a fam- ily characteristic was seen in the little library which it contained. It was in poring over the books that Mr. Pottinger of this review acquired much of his education although for a time he attended the country schools. As time passed by a better home was secured and the comforts of life were added.

Mr. Pottinger of this review was reared to the arduous task of developing a new farm. Nat- urally possessing a strong intellect and ambitious for the acquirement of knowledge, he read everything that he could secure and has through- out his entire life continued his studies and read- ing until he is today a man of general broad in- formation. He married Miss Alice M. Thorp, a daughter of Moses Thorp, a native of England, born in Lancastershire, February 24, 1824. The grandfather, William Thorp, was a veterinary surgeon, and the son was educated for the same profession, being a graduate of the Rohl School in London. On the 20th of April, 1850, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Jenkins, who was born in Lancastershire, England, January 29, 1824. Almost immediately after their mar- riage they started for the new world, landing at New York city in the month of June. They did not tarry in the east but made their way at once to Illinois, and after a year's residence in the city of La Salle, Moses Thorp purchased eighty acres of land in Dimmick township, on section 21. Here he carried on general farming and also en- gaged in the practice of veterinary surgery, and as his financial resources increased he added to his property, leaving at the time of his death a valuable farm of two hundred acres, together with much stock and a goodly bank account. He erected a commodious and comfortable residence upon his place and added all modern equipments and conveniences. He continued in the prac- tice of his profession for fifty-two years with suc- cess and was well known in this regard. He gave much of his time to veterinary practice, while leaving the care of his farm to his sons.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thorp were born nine chil- dren : Elizabeth ; George ; Mrs. Pottinger ; Ed- win, of Dimmick township; Louisa, the wife of Henry Peters, who is mentioned on another

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page of this volume; Franklin, who is residing in Penra, Iowa; James F., who died in youth ; Isabelle, also deceased; and Fred.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Pottinger have been born eight children : Louisa and Viola, who are students in the Michigan University at Ann Ar- bor; Alfred M., who is a student in the Grand Rapids Veterinary College; Joseph, who is at- tending school at Redwood Falls, Minnesota ; Vern, a student in the township high school at La Salle; Alice and Thomas, twins, the latter losing his life in a fire September 23, 1897, while still an infant; and Alvaretta.

The family all possess strong literary tenden- cies and tastes, and the children take great inter- est in their school work, in which they always excel. Mr. Pottinger has a fine library in his beautiful home, together with valuable art treas- ures secured from all parts of the country. He has ever been a student and is a writer on the topics which are of interest to the agriculturist, his judgment carrying much weight with Illi- nois farmers. He owns five hundred acres of land located in La Salle and Bureau counties. on which is a large, beautiful and commodious residence on section 7, Dimmick township. His farm is in an excellent state of cultivation and well improved, and much of the work has been done by Mr. Pottinger. He has drained the whole tract and made it very rich and productive. He follows general farming and stock-raising and since 1880 has been regarded as a very suc- cessful stock-feeder. He keeps fine driving horses upon his place and his son Alfred, the vet- erinary, is also a dog fancier and has some very fine Scotch collies. Whatever Mr. Pottinger undertakes he carries forward to successful completion and unlike many men of strong lit- erary tendencies he has also the practical ideas which are so necessary to success and a keen and correct insight which leads to prosperity. He has been the secretary of the Peru Farmers In- surance Company since 1878, and at this writing is a director of the Cherry Bank and secretary of the Siding Elevator Company, at Siding, Illinois.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 102

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