History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 107

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 107

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approached the evening of life he began to con- sider the question of putting aside business cares and living retired, and in 1903 he removed to Troy Grove, where he now occupies a fine home. He has sold his farm and has entirely put aside the more active and arduous duties of a busi- ness career.

At the time of the Civil war Mr. Mclaughlin, responding to the country's call for troops, en- listed on the Ist of March, 1865, at Joliet, Illi- nois, as a member of Company F, Fifteenth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, under command of Cap- tain Blair and Colonel Rogers. The first en- gagement in which he participated was in Mis- souri. He was afterward with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea and in all of the engagements of that campaign. Subsequently he was present at the time of the capture of Jef- ferson Davis, and in fact took an active part in that military movement. The last engagement in which he participated was at Raleigh, North Carolina. He was mustered out at Fort Leaven- worth, Kansas, on the 27th of September, 1865, and honorably discharged at Springfield, Illinois, for the war had ended and the country no longer needed his military aid. For a time he served as sergeant of his company.

Mr. Mclaughlin was married May 28, 1848, to Miss Melissa C. Wixom, and they became the parents of five children: Wesley, who wedded Mary Wylie and lives in Indiana ; Ellsworth, who is married and resides in Los Angeles, Califor- nia; Chancey, who makes his home near Storm Lake, Iowa; Ida, the wife of John Wenner, a resident of Dimmick township; and May, the wife of Walter Chessebro, of Ottawa.

Mr. Mclaughlin is a member of the Grand Army post at Ottawa and has been a Mason since 1857, becoming one of the charter members of Shiloh lodge, in which he has filled all the of- fices except that of master and has several times refused that position. He is entirely loyal to the tenets of the craft and in hearty sympathy with its basic elements. He belongs to the Free- will Baptist church at Troy Grove and assisted in erecting its house of worship there. His po- litical allegiance is given to the republican party and he was commissioner of highways in Dim- mick township and also pathmaster for four- teen years. No duty of citizenship is ever neg- lected by him and he manifests the same loyal spirit that he displayed when on southern battle- fields he followed the old flag. A long and use- ful life in this part of the county has made him widely known and respected and his honesty and upright dealing have occasioned his name to be regarded as a synonym of business integrity. He well merits the rest which has been vouchsafed

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to him and now in a pleasant home in Troy Grove he is spending the evening of life in comfort amid the warm friendship of many who have long known him.

RICHARD D. MILLS.

Richard D. Mills, who though a young man, is recognized as a prominent factor in political circles and since 1904 has been assistant state's attorney at Ottawa, was born in Farm Ridge township, La Salle county, April 24, 1877. His parents were Daniel C. and Eliza ( Hogaboom) Mills. The father was born in England, July 3, 1832, died May 3, 1905, and is represented elsewhere in this work. His wife, who was born in La Salle county in 1835. is now living in Otta- wa. Her father, Richard Hogaboom, was one of the pioneers of La Salle county and served in the Black Hawk war under Major Hitt. The paternal grandfather, Daniel Mills, was also a pioneer settler of this part of the state, locating in La Salle county in 1843.

Richard D. Mills was reared on his father's farm and attended the district schools until 1887, afterwards entering the high school in Otta- wa, where he pursued the course until he was graduated. Subsequently he worked upon the farm for two years, after which he took up the study of law with David B. Snow and W. H. Hinebaugh, who directed his reading for a year. After the outbreak of the Spanish-American war he became a non-commissioned officer of Com- pany C, Third Illinois Regiment, under command of Captain Blanchard and Colonel Bennett. The troops left Ottawa for Springfield, April 26, 1898, but Mr. Mills was rejected from the United States service on account of defective eye-sight on the Ioth of May, 1898.

Returning to Ottawa, he studied law with Major John Widmer and, completing his prelimi- nary reading, he successfully passed the examni- nation before the bar at Chicago in May, 1900. He then returned to Ottawa and was with Major Widmer until the summer of 1901, when he formed a partnership with Herman Blanchard, being thus associated until 1904, when he was appointed assistant state's attorney under Charles S. Cullen. During the years 1902 and 1903 he assisted in trying three murder cases and he has been connected with considerable important litigation during his connection with the Ottawa bar. For the past three years he has prosecuted all public improvement cases of the city of Ottawa.

He has, moreover, been very active and in- fluential in political circles and was secretary of the republican township committee for six years. He has also been a member of the republican county central committee for four years and has done effective and earnest service for his party. Fraternally Mr. Mills is connected with Occi- dental lodge, No. 40, A. F. & A. M., of which he is senior warden, and he belongs to Shabbona chapter, No. 37, R. A. M., and Ottawa com- mandery, No. 10, K. T. He is a representative of two of the prominent old families of the county and the work of development, which was began by his grandfather and carried forward by his father, has been continued by him inasmuch as he is a co-operant factor in many plans and measures for the general good. He has made a creditable record in politics and in professional circles and is regarded as one of the able young lawyers of the county.

SAMUEL GEFT.

Samuel Geft is a retired farmer residing in Troy Grove and in an analyzation of his life rec- ord it will be found that he has never been dilatory or negligent in business affairs, but through close application and unremitting per- severance has worked his way upward and as a carpenter and farmer won the competence that now enables him to enjoy a well earned rest. He was born in Stark county, Ohio, near Canton, if: 1833, and has therefore passed the seventy - third milestone on life's journey. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Brown) Geft. The father was killed while felling timber in Han- cock county, Ohio. In the family were six children, but only two came to La Salle county, Samuel and his brother, Jeremiah, who is now a farmer in Troy Grove township.

Samuel Geft received but limited educational privileges, although he pursued his studies to some extent in the country schools of Ohio. He came to La Salle county in 1850, when a young man of seventeen years. He was almost penni- less at the time, but he possessed strong deter- mination and unfaltering courage and through a residence of fifty-six years in this part of the state he has commanded the respect of his fellow- men by reason of his industry and integrity. For a number of years he followed the carpenter's trade and as his financial resources permitted he invested in land, becoming the owner of eighty acres of farm land near Mendota. He also owns a very valuable farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Fowler, Indiana, and a fine home in

R. D. MILLS.

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Troy Grove. Thus in brief is told the story of his life and those who read between the lines may learn of his unfaltering diligence, his per- sistency of purpose and his strong determination -qualities which were manifested day after day, month after month and year after year until he had wrested fortune from the hands of an ad- verse fate. He now possesses a very desirable competence, enabling him to enjoy all of the necessities and comforts and many of the luxuries of life.

Mr. Geft was married to Miss Lydia Hess, a daughter of John Hess, of Troy Grove town- ship, who followed mechanical pursuits through- out his business career. Two children have been born of this union: Violet N., the wife of Fred Shuttle, a resident of Benton county, Indiana, by whom she has one child, Floyd; and Ira S, a machinist, who married Sophia Kriser, and lives in Troy Grove.

·In his political views Mr. Geft is a republican, having supported the party since Fremont be- came its first presidential candidate. He is now serving as alderman in Troy Grove and in com- munity affairs is deeply interested to the extent of giving tangible support to many measures for the general good. His religious faith is in- dicated by his membership in the Freewill Baptist church and also by the honorable, upright principles which have permeated his life.

LEROY L. SUTTON.

Leroy. L. Sutton, a contractor and builder, whose identification with building operations in Rutland has contributed much to the improve- ment and attractive appearance of the town, is a native of Franklin county, Indiana, where his birth occurred April 18, 1854. His parents were Harvey and Lucy A. (Miller) Sutton, natives of Ohio and Georgia respectively. The father was born in Preble county, Ohio, July 6, 1826, and was a son of George and Hannah (Gard) Sutton, the former born near Uniontown, in Fay- ette county, Pennsylvania, and the latter in Cam- den, New Jersey. The paternal great-grandpar- ents were Samuel and Sarah (McCoy) Sutton, of Pennsylvania. The maternal great-grandpar- ents were Jacob and Sarah (Morris) Gard, of New Jersey, who removed from that state to Pennsylvania, where their remaining days were passed. Rachel Sutton, the great-great-grand- mother of Leroy Sutton, figured prominently in connection with the history at the time when the Indians were numerous in Fayette county, Penn-

sylvania, and were a constant menace to the white settlers. She drilled a party of women to ward off the attacks of the Indians and because of this was called Captain Rachel Sutton. George Sutton and Hannah Gard were married January 29, 1805, and afterward removed to Preble county, Ohio, where they spent their re- maining days. George Sutton was a prominent farmer and in his political views was a whig until the dissolution of that party, when he joined the ranks of the new republican party. He died in 1860, in the eighty-second year of his age, while his wife passed away January 23, 1862, in her eighty-third year. Both were born in 1784. In their family were eight children, of whom Samuel died in Bethany, Missouri, in 1905, when more than ninety years of age. The fol- lowing are still living: Simon, who resides in Bethany, Harrison county, Missouri; Julia Ann, the wife of Orson Gard, also of Bethany; and Harvey Sutton, of Rutland.

The last named, the father of our subject, left his native town in Ohio at the age of twenty- two years and removed to Rush county, Ohio, where he worked at the carpenter's trade for ten years. In 1857 he removed to Knox county, Illinois, where he was connected with building operations until October, 1858. He then became a resident of Marshall county, Illinois, and en- gaged in farming on eighty acres of land where the town of Toluca now stands. He also fol- lowed his trade to some extent, and in the spring of 1866 he removed to Rutland, where he has since resided. He has been actively connected with building operations for about fifty-five years but is now living retired, having passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey. He cast his first presidential ballot for Zachary Taylor, and in 1856 announced his allegiance to the re- publican party by voting for John C. Fremont, its first presidential candidate.

On the 8th of May, 1853, Harvey Sutton was married to Miss Lucy Ann Miller, who was born in Georgia, a daughter of Robert H. and Fran- ces R. Miller, of Franklin county, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Sutton were married in the latter state and in 1857 became residents of Yates City, Knox county, Illinois. Mrs. Harvey Sutton passed away October 25, 1903, at the age of seventy-one years. In their family were eight children, of whom Leroy L. is the eldest. The others still surviving are: Addie, now the wife of William McFarland, of Fairmont, Minnesota; Fannie, the wife of John Richards, of Kansas ; Robert E., who is living in Rutland, Illinois ; William G., of Rutland; and Gertie, twin sister of William and wife of William Cox, of Minonk, Illinois. Two of the children died in infancy.

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Leroy L. Sutton was educated in the public schools of Rutland, which he attended during the winter months, for in the summer seasons he was leading a busy life, having begun work on the farm at the age of twelve years. When sev- enteen years of age he began following the car- penter's trade and contracting, and since that time he has been connected with all kinds of building, erecting many substantial structures, including the new school building at Rutland, the bank building, the double store building for G. A. Sauer, and many others. He is himself an ex- pert workman and therefore capable of directing the labors of those whom he employs.

In March, 1878, Leroy Sutton was married to Miss Ella Baer, and they have one child, Roy R. Her father, Joseph Baer, was killed at Brick- town, Marshall county, soon after his return from the army. His widow still lives in Wash- burn, Illinois. She bore the maiden name of Sarah Hadlock, and by her marriage she became the mother of the following named: Charles and Joseph, who are residents of Chillicothe, Illi- nois; Henry, of Rutland; Mary, the wife of George White, of Washburn. There is also a half-brother, William, living at La Rose, Illi- nois. Two children, Jennie and Benjamin, are deceased.

-Politically Mr. Sutton is a prohibitionist in principle but votes the national republican ticket. At local elections he supports the candidates whom he thinks best qualified for office. He is a member of the Christian church and has served as chorister, possessing a fine voice. He has sung at many funerals, being a leader of the quartet on many such occasions. He has also furnished and had charge of the music for many com- mencement exercises in Rutland and other public affairs. He is one of the most prominent and influential residents of the village and because of his substantial business and personal worth he is valued and is widely recognized here.

CAREY C. BARR.

Carey C. Barr, president and treasurer of the Barr Clay Company, manufacturers of paving and building brick, was born in Indiana, in 1851, and became a resident of Streator in 1892, remov- ing to this city for the purpose of organizing the Barr Clay Company. The company is now en- gaged quite extensively in the manufacture of building and paving brick and the output is sold in Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis, Milwaukee and other points in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin. Employment is furnished

to between one hundred and one hundred and thirty-five workmen and the business is an im- portant industrial enterprise, being conducted along modern business lines in harmony with the spirit of progress which is characteristic of the age.

Mr. Barr was married to Miss Mary House, who was born in Houston, Texas. She is vice president of the company, with William H. Boys as secretary. In politics Mr. Barr is a republican.

SAMUEL HOOD.

Samuel Hood, a farmer living on section 25, Waltham township, came to La Salle county from Beaver county, Pennsylvania, in 1854. He is one of the native sons of the Keystone state, his birth having occurred there on the 13th of September, 1832. His parents were James and Margaret (Boyd) Hood. The father was of Scotch-Irish ancestry and the grandfather came from Ireland to the new world, thus founding the family on American soil.

Samuel Hood spent the first twenty-two years of his life in the state of his nativity and ac- quired his education in the common schools. He then removed to the middle west and at first rented land for two years. On the expiration of that period, with the capital he had saved from his earnings, he bought eighty acres on section 25, Waltham township, which he still owns. At that time the country was a treeless prairie with no fences and only a few scattered homes, but the land was soon taken up by the farm- ers, who have converted it into productive fields, enclosed by well kept fences and giving every evidence of careful supervision of energetic own- ers. He has always been a hard-working man, honest in all his undertakings and through his industry and integrity has acquired a comforta- ble property that now enables him to live retired, making his home on the first land which he pur- chased after coming to Illinois.

Mr. Hood was married to Miss Martha A. Marshall, a daughter of Robert and Maria Mar- shall, of Beaver county, Pennsylvania. This union has been blessed with two children. The eldest daughter, Eliza, is the widow of Prosper Hess, who died in 1906, leaving two children, Marshall and Fred S. Etta is the wife of Wil- liam Scott, and unto them has been born a son, Leslie.

Mr. Hood exercises his right of franchise in the support of the men and measures of the republican party. He has served as as- sessor and road commissioner and has also been

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school director for twenty-five years. He has likewise filled the office of justice of the peace. The duties of these various offices have been per- formed in prompt and capable manner. He re- gards a public office as a public trust-and no trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree. Coming to the middle west in early manhood he has been identified with La Salle county throughout the period of his busi- ness career and his labors have brought him a gratifying measure of success.

JOHN A. LITTAU.

John A. Littau, agent for the Pabst Brewing Company at La Salle, was born in Mineral Point, Wisconsin, in 1868, a son of Joseph and Mary (Haubris) Littau. The father came to La Salle from Wisconsin in 1869 and was employed in the zinc works as a potter. He is still living in this city. In his family were ten children, of whom five yet survive, namely: John A., Joseph, Nicholas, Peter and George.

John A. Littau acquired his education in the public schools of La Salle and on putting aside his text-books secured employment in the zinc works, where he remained until 1890, when he became agent for a brewery, selling beer for the Star Union and the La Salle breweries. In 1894 he became agent for the Pabst Milwaukee beer and has so continued, controlling a large trade.

In 1894 Mr. Littau was married in La Salle to Miss Catherine Cusick, a daughter of Timothy Cusick, of La Salle, and they have seven chil- dren, Margaret, William, John, Katherine, Clara, Marie and Joseph, all born in La Salle. Mr. Littau votes with the democracy and is a mem- ber of the Elks, the Eagles, the Independent Order of Foresters and the Knights of Pythias fraternity. Almost his entire life has been spent in this city, where he is widely known as an enterprising and reliable young business man.

WILLIAM C. GEIGER.

William C. Geiger, general manager of the Streator branch of the Pabst Brewing Company, was born in Marshall county, Illinois, May 12, 1868, a son of Conrad and Flora (Froelich) Geiger. The father, a native of Baden, Germany, was born March 2, 1841, and died May 22, 1905. He came to America in 1858 and just one week

after Fort Sumter was fired upon and while the conflict was raging in the streets of Baltimore, Conrad Geiger enlisted on the 19th of April, 1861, in the Sixth New York Infantry, which moved forthwith to Annapolis, Maryland, and fortified that place. On the expiration of his three-months' term he re-enlisted September 19, 1861, in Company K, Forty-fifth New York In- fantry, the regiment going into winter quarters at Fairfax Courthouse. In the spring they joined Blenker's division in the Shenandoah valley and fought in the battle of Cross Keys, Generals Fremont and Ewell commanding respectively the Federal and Confederate troops. The regiment marched afterward to Culpeper Courthouse and participated in the battle of Cedar Run, August 8, 1862. Eleven days' fighting followed while the Federal troops were falling back to Bull Run and Mr. Geiger was in the second battle at that place August 29 and 30, 1862. He participated in the engagement at Antietam, was at Fredericksburg in December and at Chancellorsville May 14, 1863. He was in the battle of Gettysburg on the first three days of July and after Lee was driven south of the Potomac went with General Hook- er's corps to relieve the Union army at Chatta- nooga, participating while en route in the battle of Wauhatchie in Lookout valley, October 27th. It was a spirited contest by moonlight and lasted from early evening until four o'clock in the morn- ing. With Hooker at Lookout Mountain, Mr. Geiger fought in that battle above the clouds November 24th and at Missionary Ridge, No- vember 25th, and then went to the relief of Burn- side, at Knoxville, Tennessee. He was in the campaign against Atlanta, participating in its most important battles up to the surrender of the city, then was honorably discharged at Louis- ville, Kentucky, October 9, 1864. In 1867 he married Miss Flora Froelich, a native of Bristol, Illinois, and a daughter of Henry Froelich, who was born in Germany and came to the United States when young. He first located in Bristol and afterward removed to Peru, where he en- gaged in the hotel business until his death at the age of fifty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Geiger became the parents of three children, William, Flora and Nellie, the elder daughter dying when twenty-seven years of age. In 1871 Mr. Geiger removed to Streator, where he was engaged in business until his death. He assisted in organiz- ing the first lodge of Odd Fellows in Streator. He was a man of firm purpose, modest in man- ner and earned the reputation which he bore of attending exclusively to his own affairs. The funeral services were conducted under the charge of the Grand Army of the Republic, of which he had been a most devoted and loyal member.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

William C. Geiger, a youth of three summers at the time of the removal of his parents to Streator, acquired his education in the schools of this city and when twelve years of age went to work with his father in the bottling business. In 1883 he became connected with the Pabst Brewing Company of Streator and in June, 1905, took over the management of the business, since which time he has been in control of the trade at this point.

On the 27th of January, 1904, William C. Geiger was married to Miss Louise Gehres, a native of Ottawa and a daughter of Adam and Catherine (Deuhringer) Gehres, both natives of Germany. Her father came to America in early life and first located in New Jersey, but later came to Ottawa, Illinois, where he followed the trade of blacksmithing. He afterward removed to Streator, where he spent thirty years, dying in 1902, at the age of seventy-three. In his family were eight children, of whom six are living : Wil- liam. Catherine, Louise, Gertrude, Mary and Lydia.

Mr. Geiger is a member of the North Amer- ican Union of Chicago, of the Illinois Commercial Travelers Association and of the Toilers frater- nity, and his political allegiance is given to the democracy. In business circles he has made an excellent reputation as a man of enterprise, ex- tending the scope of his lobors by reason of his close application and keen business discern- ment and in the city where almost his entire life has been passed he is popular, numbering his friends by the score.

AUGUST BEGUIN.

August Beguin, whose life's labors were ended in death on the 18th of August, 1902, was born in France in 1833 and for many years was a worthy and respected resident of La Salle county, where his energies were devoted for a long period to farm labor. He was a young man of twenty years when, thinking that he might enjoy better business opportunities in America, he crossed the Atlantic to New York. For a time he remained in the Empire state, but after a brief period came on to Ottawa in the early '50s and worked for Mr. Netchum, who then conducted a brewery at the county seat. After spending some time in Ottawa, Mr. Beguin secured employment at farm labor and was thus engaged up to the time of his marriage, when he began farming on his own account. He continued to follow general agricultural pursuits for a long period, or until his retirement from active business life about

1893. Mrs. Beguin still owns the farm which at one time belonged to her father.

It was in the year 1858 that August Beguin was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Duf- field, who was born in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, in 1835, and was brought to La Salle county in 1841 by her parents, Robert and Mary (Wright) Duffield, who located first on the farm which is now the home of Wallace Libbey. Rob- ert Duffield purchased six acres in Deer Park township and later bought the farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres in South Ottawa township, which is now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Be- guin. Later he invested in another farm on Covel Creek in South Ottawa township, where he continued to reside until his death, which oc- curred in 1885, when he was almost seventy-five years of age. He had for a decade survived his wife, who passed away on the Ist of October, 1875. In their family were six children: Sarah, deceased; William, who is living in South Otta- wa township; Mary. Ann, who married William Kelly and is now deceased; Robert, who was killed in the Civil war at Savannah, Georgia, while serving as a member of the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Infantry; and Jane, the wife of Alfred Cross, a resident of Du Page county, Illinois.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 107

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