History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 105

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 Scott is indebted to the public-school sys- tem of Ohio for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. Losing his father when very young, he had to begin work early in order to provide for his own support and to aid in the support of his widowed mother. He engaged in split- ting rails and chopping wood at twenty-five cents per cord and in farming. In carly manhood he chose a companion and helpmate for life's jour- ney, being married on the 19th of September, 1848, to Miss Hannah Diehn, who was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1832, and was a daughter of John and Katherine (Right- ineyer) Diehn. Her father was born near Reading, Pennsylvania, and departed this life in Edgar county, Illinois, at the venerable age of eighty-six years, while his wife passed away when sixty-six years of age. He was a hatter by trade but after his removal to Ohio in 1840 he turned his attention to farming. In 1849 he came with his family to Illinois, settling in Put- nam county, where he engaged in farming until 1854, when he removed to Edgar county, Illi- nois, where his remaining days were devoted to agricultural pursuits. In his family were twelve children, six sons and six daughters, of whom four are now living, namely : William, Brooks,

Mrs. Scott and Frances.

In the spring of 1849 Mr. Scott, accompanied by his wife, left Ohio with a two-horse team and wagon. They were over a month upon the road in making the journey to Illinois, finding it nec- essary to remain in Indiana for two weeks on account of the impassable conditions of the road. They located in Putnam county. where they re- mained for a year and then took up their abode in Osage township, La Salle county. Mr. Scott made a claim of one hundred and sixty acres of government land and he and his brother built a split board shanty from black walnut timber. It was twelve by fourteen feet and they con- structed it in two and a half days. Mr. and Mrs. Scott oceupied this little cabin home for about two years, at the end of which time he sold his claim for six hundred dollars and bought from John Coleman one hundred and twenty acres of land in Eagle township, upon which he resided until 1885. In the meantime he sank a coal shaft and in the year mentioned lie sold his land for eighteen thousand six hundred dol- lars to the Star Coal Company. In 1883 he had purchased in Streator the home which he now occupies and on selling his land to the coal com- pany he took up his abode in Streator. In 1887 he went to Minnesota and bought six hundred and forty acres of land in Martin county. He fenced this land and rented it until 1897. when he traded it for three hundred and twenty acres of land in

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Greene county, which he rents. There are large coal fields on this tract which render it very valuable and Mr. Scott derives from his property a very gratifying income, which supplies him with all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.

As the years have gone by eight children have been added to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Scott: Sarah and Delbert, both of whom died in in- fancy ; Charles, who is living in Greene county ; William, a resident of Streator; Mary, the wife of Josiah Filzer, a resident of Fairbury, Illi- nois ; Nellie, the wife of Louis Doolittle, also living in Streator; Frederick, of the same city ; and Wallace, who died when twenty-two years of age.

The cause of education has always found a stalwart champion in Mr. Scott and for many years he did effective service in behalf of the schools while serving as a school director. He was also road commissioner for many years. His early political support was given the whig party and he voted for Zachary Taylor for president. He afterwards supported the candidates of the republican party until Bryan was nominated, since which time he has been identified with the democracy, but votes rather for men than for party. He has now passed the eighty-fourth milestone on life's journey and a review of his record shows that his career has been one of use- fulness and activity crowned with a measure of success which is very desirable, enabling him to spend the evening of his days in quiet retire- ment without recourse to further labor for the necessities and comforts of life.

FRANK Z. AMES.

Frank Z. Ames, a grain dealer of Rutland and also promoter of telephone enterprises in La Salle county, is a native of Groveland township, born September 28, 1868. His parents were Zimri F. and Julia A. (Fogg) Ames, who were natives of Maine and New Hampshire respect- ively. The father was born in York county, Maine, July 10, 1824, and was one of the nine children of Marston and Mary ( Manning) Ames. Having arrived at years of maturity he was married March 1, 1858, to Julia Fogg, who was born in Ossipee, New Hampshire, July 8, 1833. The same year they came to Illinois, settling at Bennington, Marshall county. Mr. Ames had visited the state the previous year and had pur- chased railroad land at twenty dollars per acre. The following year he built a small house, in which he and his young wife began their domestic

life. He engaged in farming in Bennington until 1867, when he built his large and commodious residence in Rutland, where he has since spent his days, living in comparative retirement, al- though for a number of years he continued the management of a farm of two hundred and forty acres and the raising of thorough-bred English- shire horses. He was particularly prosperous as a grain-raiser during the period of the Civil war. His political allegiance has long been given to the republican party and he has also been an earnest and active worker in behalf of temper- ance. He and his wife were among the original members of the Advent church in Rutland. Mrs. Ames passed away December 1I, 1894, but Mr. Ames is still living, having now passed the eighty-second milestone on life's journey. In the family were seven children.

Frank Z. Ames acquired his education in the public schools of Rutland and in Bryant & Strat- ton Business College in Chicago, where he was a student in 1885-6. He helped to conduct the home farm until May, 1895, when he turned his attention to the grain business, purchasing an elevator from the Seth Ingram estate at Rut- land. This he has since operated, continuing actively in the grain trade as one of its leading representatives in this part of the state. He re- built the elevator in 1898 and the plant today has a capacity of ninety thousand bushels. His busi- ness is not only a source of profit to himself but is of direct benefit to the farming community, offering an excellent market for their products.

Mr. Ames is a man of resourceful business ability and has not confined his attention solely to one line of activity, but has extended his efforts and has been an important factor in the business development of this part of the county. He built the first line of telephone from Minonk through Rutland to Wenona, Lostant and To- luca in the fall of 1889. He also built a line from Dana to Leeds, Long Point and Ancona to Streator in 1901, conducting the business under the name of the Central Illinois Indepen- dent Telephone Line, having nine hundred sub- scribers. There are two hundred and twenty-five miles of pole line and five exchanges, located at Wenona, Rutland, Dana, Long Point and Mag- nolia, Illinois. Mr. Ames has been the promoter and builder of these lines and the business has been of the greatest benefit to the community reached thereby. The company was organized in 1901 and capitalized at five thousand dollars which sum was increased to ten thousand dol- lars and afterward to thirty thousand dollars. The present officers are: C. G. Sauer, presi- dent ; F. Z. Ames, secretary and manager ; and M. C. Roe, treasurer. The value of this enter-

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

prise to the community cannot be overestimated and Mr. Ames well deserves to be ranked among the leading business men of his native county.

On the 7th of December, 1893, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Ames and Miss Hettie Duchesne, a daughter of Henry and Ellen (Remley) Duchesne, of Marshall county. Their children are Alta M., Julia Edna and John Marston. In the control of his business affairs Mr. Ames shows close application and unfaltering perseverance and his life has been a genuinely successful one. He is in sympathy with the spirit of onward progress and improvement and his efforts have been of direct benefit in pro- moting the interests of the community. Socially he is a most genial, courteous gentleman, always approachable, and his many excellent traits of character, combined with his business activity, enterprise and integrity, is rendering him a most prominent and influential resident of Rutland and this portion of the state.

WILLIAM KEMMERICH.

William Kemmerich, a farmer and stock- raiser residing on section 4, Richland township, where he owns a finely improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres, came to La Salle county in September, 1869, and took up his abode in Richland township. For the past fourteen years he has lived at his present place of residence and its attractive appearance is due to his careful supervision and untiring efforts to develop and improve the place. As the name indicates he comes of German ancestry. His birth occurred in Prussia, in September, 1853. his parents being Anton and Annie M. (Klang) Kemmerich. The father is now living with his son William and although he attained the age of eighty years in April, 1906, he is still active and well preserved. He came with his family to America in 1869. and ten years later his wife passed away, in 1879, when about sixty-two years of age, her birth having occurred in 1817. Both were natives of Prussia. In their family were cight children.

William Kemmerich, the youngest of the fam- ily, and the only one now living and also the only one who came to America, attended school in Prussia for seven years, beginning his educa- tion there at the usual age. He acquired his knowledge of the English language, however, through his association with American people, being entirely unacquainted with the tongue when he crossed the Atlantic. He was a youth of sixteen years when he arrived in La Salle county. He has followed farming successfully

as a business and has become one of the energetic and enterprising agriculturists of this part of the state, having now one hundred and sixty acres of land, which constitutes a valuable property. The fields are carefully tilled and everything about the farm is kept in excellent condition.

As a companion and helpmate for life's jour- ney Mr. Kemmerich chose Miss Annie Schuck, whom he wedded in 1878. She was born in Put- nam county, Illinois, June 16, 1860, and is a daughter of Anton and Theresa (Lenk) Schuck, both of whom were natives of Ersbrecht, Prus- sia. Coming to the United States, they settled first in Putnam county, Illinois, and later re- moved to Richland township, this county. They were respected farming people and spent their remaining days in this locality, the father de- parting this life in 1891, while the mother died in 1896. Both attained an advanced age. In their family were six children. One daughter is now a resident of Kewanee, Illinois, while another is living in Galesburg, and a son. Frank Schuck, resides in Richland township. One daughter died in Kansas and a son, Joseph Schuck, is living in Florid, Illinois. The mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Kemmerich has been blessed with eleven children : Mary Theresa. Annie, Frank, Frances, William P., Lena. Con- rad, John William, Henry, Josephine and Loretta.

Mr. Kemmerich votes with the democracy and is inflexible in support of the principles of the party. He keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day and has served for eleven years as pathmaster. He is connected with the German Catholic church of Richland township. He had very limited capital when he came to America and is truly a self-made man, having worked his way upward from a humble finan- cial position until he has gained a place with the substantial agriculturists of his community, while investigation into his life record shows that honorable principles have been followed by him and that in all his business dealings lie has been straightforward.

ROBERT A. ENSIGA.

Robert A. Ensign, engaged in the grain trade at Dana, handling the elevator property of O. M. Kelly and also dealing in implements and live stock, possesses the energy and determination so necessary to success in this age bristling with business activity and enterprise. A native of Long Point, Illinois, he was born February 6, 1874, and is a son of Robert S. and Sarah ( Wirt)

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

Ensign, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of Ohio. When a youth of four years he accompanied his parents on their re- moval to Lake county, Ohio, and subsequently to Defiance county, Ohio. At a later date his parents became residents of Dana and subse- quently settled in Long Point, where they now reside. They were married in Ohio and became the parents of six children: John, residing in Lawrence, Michigan; Mary, the wife of J. S. Weber, of Rutland, Illinois; Alta, the wife of J. E. Ellis, of Flanagan, Illinois ; Robert A .; Mar- shall LeRoy, living at Long Point; and Rose, who died in 1894.

Robert A. Ensign acquired his education in the district schools in Long Point and in Rut- land high school on the home farm. He after- ward became a bookkeeper in the grain office of O. B. Wheeler at Long Point, where he re- mained for three years, at the end of which time he engaged in the grain trade on his own account at Hudson, Illinois, embarking in business there on the Ist of April, 1902. He continued at that place for three years, and on April 1, 1905. took possession of the O. M. Kelly elevator prop- erty at Dana, which he still manages. This ele- vator has a capacity of sixty-five thousand bush- els and he is conducting an extensive and paying business. He also handles farm implements and buys and sells live stock, including cattle and hogs. He is careful and discriminating in all trade transactions, also trustworthy and ac- curate, and while still a young man has made a creditable place as a representative business man.

Mr. Ensign is a republican in politics and is a valued representative of various fraternal organi- zations. He is affiliated with the Masonic lodge at Normal, Illinois, with the Royal Arch chapter at Rutland, with the Knights of Pythias and with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His influence may always be counted upon in behalf of good government and the advancement of the interests of the whole people.

GEORGE S. WILEY.

George S. Wiley, born in Earlville, March 15, 1879, is one of the enterprising representatives of professional life in his native town. H is a son of Samuel C. Wiley, who is represented elsewhere in this volume. His boyhood days were spent in Earlville and he is a graduate of the Earlville high school of the class of 1897. Determining upon the practice of law as a life work, he pursued a course of study in the law department of the University of Michigan, from

which he was graduated in 1900, and, returning to his native town, he was admitted to the La Salle county bar in 1901 and immediately en- tered upon the practice of law. The same year he was elected city attorney and other official po- sitions have been conferred upon him, for the spring of 1906 he was chosen president of the board of education and since 1903 has been township clerk. He has his law office in the city building and has enjoyed a good clientage from the beginning of his connection with the La Salle county bar, having well qualified him- self for the practice of the profession.

On the 14th of February, 1901, Mr. Wiley was married to Miss Ella Gettemy, who was born in Chicago. They have one child, George Harold, and theirs is a beautiful home in the southeast part of the city on Grant street, which Mr. Wiley erected in 1905. He is a democrat in politics and attends the Universalist church. One of the younger representatives of profes- sional interests in Earlville, he has already made a creditable place for himself at the bar and here, where his entire life has been passed, he has a circle of friends almost co-extensive with the circle of his acquaintance.

RICHARD McSHANE.

The industrial interests of La Salle county find a worthy representative in Richard Mc- Shane, who now owns and conducts a tile factory in the county. He has continued in this line of business since 1883 and his life is a living il- lustration of what ability, energy and force of character can accomplish. It is to such men that the west owes its prosperity, its rapid prog- ress and its advancement. Born in Blooming- ton, Indiana, in the year 1855, Richard McShane is a son of John and Elizabeth (Baker) Mc- Shane. The father was born in Ireland and when a young man came to the United States, settling in Bloomington, Indiana, where he fol- lowed the butcher's trade, which he had learned in his native country. He served through the Civil war as a defender of the Union cause, and, having been captured, was incarcerated for two months in Libby prison. His political support was given to the democracy and he was a mem- ber of the Catholic church. He died in Novem- ber. 1876. at the age of forty-four years, while his wife passed away in 1862, at the age of thir- ty-two years. She bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Baker, was a native of Ohio and was a member of the Baptist church. In the family of this worthy couple were four children: Rich-

GEORGE S. WILEY.

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ard; James, a resident of Madison, Wisconsin, who is employed as engineer on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad ; Charles, de- ceased ; and William, who is engaged in the real- estate business in Chicago.

Richard McShane was a student in the public schools of Bloomington, Indiana, and in the country schools of his native state. He worked at farm labor in early youth and in 1876 came to Illinois, after which he was employed as a farm hand for four years near Ellsworth, McLean county. In the spring of 1880 he came to La Salle county and spent three years as a farm hand in Hope township, but in 1883 turned his attention to industrial pursuits and established a tileyard in partnership with his brothers. James and Charles. The new enterprise prospered from the beginning and the patronage of the firm steadily grew, for they placed upon the market tile of excellent quality and were found prompt in executing their orders and reliable in all their business transactions. The death of Charles McShane occurred in 1896 and previous to that time James McShane retired from the business, so that since 1896 Richard McShane has been alone. He is now sole owner of the yard and business and has one of the largest enterprises of this character in the county with an extensive annual output, whereby he is meeting with grati- fying success. In 1901 the plant was almost destroyed by fire, but possessing a courageous, determined spirit Mr. McShane immediately re- built and now has a thoroughly modern and up- to-date plant, probably worth five thousand dol- lars. He also owns five acres of land here, upon which the buildings are located, and the busi- ness is continually increasing until it is classed leading productive enterprises of La Salle county. Mr. McShane, in the 'gos, engaged in teaching singing classes with marked success. He possesses much natural musical talent and is a great lover of the art.

In October, 1898, was celebrated the marriage of Richard McShane and Miss Lucy Dovenspike. who was born in Lostant in 1878. She was a daughter of Henry and Matilda (Goheen) Dov- enspike, her father being one of Lostant's old and prominent merchants. Two children have graced this marriage: Zona Elizabeth, born in 1899 ; and Edgar Lee, born in 1900. The par- ents are members of the Baptist church and Mr. McShane is identified with the Mystic Workers of America, the Bankers Life Association at Monmouth, Illinois; and the Central Life Asso- ciation at Ottawa. In politics he is a republic- an, with strong leaning toward the prohibition party, for he is in thorough sympathy with tem- perance principles and rejoices in any move-

ment that promotes the cause of temperance. At one time he served as police of the village of Lostant and in 1903 was tax collector. His suc- cess has been by no means the result of fortun- ate cirumstances. It has come to him through energy, labor and perseverance, directed by an evenly balanced mind and by honorable business principles. He has made the most of his oppor- tunities and has never been extravagant, though never parsimonious, and thus through the careful husbanding of his resources and capable manage- ment of his business interests he has won a cred - itable place in trade circles in this county.

CHARLES WENNINGER.

Charles Wenninger, president of the Alliance Manufacturing Company of Streator. builders of wagons, carriages, farm implements, engines. threshers and shellers, has long been identified with industrial interests in La Salle county and has made steady advancement in a business career which is as honorable as it is active. He was born in Wurtemberg. Germany, May 14. 1850, a son of Frederick and Barbara ( Frieden- berg) Wenninger, who were likewise natives of the fatherland. Frederick Wenninger was born in 1802 and was a wagonmaker by trade, carry- ing on business for himself for many years. He passed away at the age of seventy-six years. while his wife died in 1859. at the age of fifty - two years. They spent their entire life in Wur- temberg and became the parents of five children : John, who is following farming in Germany ; Christopher, who carries on agricultural pursuits at Rapbach. Germany. in connection with his elder brother: Christina. the wife of Christian Bertch, a resident of Germany: Catherine, who died in Germany at the age of forty-two years ; and Charles.

In the public schools of his native country Charles Wenninger acquired his education and there learned the wagonmaker's trade, gaining comprehensive knowledge of the business in its various departments. A comparison of the ad- vantages of the old world and of the new led him to determine to seek a home in America and in September, 1869. he landed at New York city, whence he made his way westward to Pat- ricksburg. Owen county, Indiana. There he re- sided until 1874. working at his trade. after which he removed to Streator on the 9th of February. 1874. Here he worked at his trade until the fall of 1893. when in connection with Frank Woolever and John Bursk he organized a stock company known as the Alliance Manu-

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

facturing Company for the manufacture of wagons. He became one of the stockholders and later purchased the interest of the others. He is now the president of the company, while his son, Charles F., is vice president, and George A. Doermann is treasurer. This is now an im- portant industrial concern of Streator and, the firm is doing an extensive business as manufac- turers of and dealers in wagons, carriages, farm implements, engines, threshers and shellers. They also make a specialty of blacksmithing and general repairing and now have a liberal patron- age, their output and their sales being extensive. The manufactured product of this firm is noted for good workmanship and durability and the trade of the house is therefore annually increasing.

Mr. Wenninger was married on the 9th of June, 1876, to Miss Elizabeth Hartweg, who was born in Alsace-Lorraine, Germany, Febru- ary 2, 1858, a daughter of John and Mary (Frauenfelter) Hartweg. Her father was a farmer of Germany and spent his entire life there. In his family were six children, but only three are now living: Lena, Selma and Mrs. Wenninger. Unto our subject and his wife have been born eight children: Charles F., who is associated with his father in the Alliance Man- ufacturing Company; William, a resident of Warren, Indiana; Albert, a preacher living in North Dakota; Mary, the wife of Peter Seeger; Lena; Selma ; Catherine; and Irma, who died at the age of one year.

Mr. Wenninger belongs to the German Evan- gelical Lutheran church and he votes with the democracy. During the years of his residence in Streator he has made a good record as a man of diligence and enterprise, never dilatory nor negligent in conducting business affairs and thus he has worked his way upward until, no longer an employe, he is today at the head of an im- portant industrial enterprise of the city, the trade of which is constantly growing and has already made its president one of the substantial residents of Streator.

MRS. ANN CAIN.

Mrs. Ann Cain is the owner of valuable farm- ing interests in La Salle county and makes her home in Streator at No. 206 West Washington street, where she is pleasantly located. She is the widow of Anthony Cain, who was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1836 and died on the 12th of February, 1904, at the age of sixty- eight years. His parents were Thomas and Sa-

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 105

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