History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 118

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 118

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

On the 8th of February, 1851, Mr. Conkey was united in marriage with Miss Lucy Rex, and to them were born four children, Mary, Augusta, Francis and Lettie, all now deceased, the mother and oldest and youngest child being drowned in June, 1861, while attempting to cross a swollen stream near Troy Grove. Mr. Conkey was again married February 8, 1865, his second union being with Miss Elizabeth S. Eaken, a daughter of John Eaken. They became the parents of three sons, namely : George, who died in infancy; Arthur, who was sixteen years of age at the time of his death; and Harry D., who is now connected with the La Salle Carbon Coal Com- pany. The son was married April 19, 1899, to Miss Elizabeth Wilson, of Mendota, daughter of M. Wilson, county recorder of La Salle county.

Mr. Conkey was originally a democrat in poli- tics but voted for Abraham Lincoln and has since supported the republican party. He was acquainted with both Lincoln and Douglas. Although he has no children to send to school, he continues to take an active interest in educa- tional affairs and for forty years has been a member of the school board, serving as its presi- dent for a time. He is also filling the position of alderman and he never withholds his support from any enterprise which he believes will prove of public benefit. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian and has been a life-long member of the church, assisting in building the house of worship in Mendota and serving as one of its trustee for many years past. He was one of the earliest members of the Masonic lodge of this place and is today its oldest member. His life

record is one well worthy of emulation and contains many lessons of incentive, showing the possibilities that are open to young men who wish to improve every opportunity for advancement.

PETER SCHMIDT.

Peter Schmidt, an enterprising agriculturist of Troy Grove township, is a son of William and Helen (Otto) Schmidt, who were of the middle class of Prussian farming people and spent their entire lives in their native country. Their son Peter was born in Prussia near Co- logne and came to the United States with his brother Henry. He was attracted by the fa- vorable reports which he heard concerning busi- ness opportunities in the United States and, bid- ding adieu to friends and native country, he left home in December, 1867, and arrived at New York on the 20th of January, 1868, after a voy- age of twenty-three days. They were kept in the English channel for three days on account of fog and later encountered a three days' storm, which began on New Year's night and in which the life boats were all wrecked. Mr. Schmidt and his brother went from New York to Iowa, where they had an aunt living and in that state Peter Schmidt worked at farm labor during the sum- mer months, while in the winter seasons he was employed in a brewery at Dubuque. He had learned the brewing trade in his native country and was therefore well equipped to carry on work along that line. After living in Iowa for a time he retraced his steps as far as Troy Grove town- ship, La Salle county, and through the succeed- ing summer was employed at farm labor, while in the winter he worked in a brewery in La Salle. Thus he made strenuous and effective efforts to gain a start in life and in the course of years he was enabled through industry, diligence and frugality to purchase a farm.

In 1871 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Schmidt and Miss Christina Reck, of Troy Grove township, a daughter of Peter Reck. The young couple began their domestic life upon a farm where lived Mr. Reck and there resided for nine years, when Mr. Schmidt purchased the farm upon which he now resides, taking up his abode there in 1880. He owns altogether one hundred and sixty acres of fine farm land in Troy Grove township located on section 16. He also has four hundred and sixty-six acres of rich farm land in Benton county, Indiana, where a part of his children are now living. He has acquired his property entirely through his own efforts and the assistance of his estimable wife, who is a

920

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

good manager and has been a most helpful com- panion and helpmate to him on life's journey. She inherited a small portion of their property but otherwise it has all been gained through their persistent efforts and judicious investment. Mr. Schmidt is engaged in threshing and drilling wells and moreover is accounted one of the most enterprising farmers of the community. He has tiled his land and placed all of the improve- ments upon his farm and today has a model property equipped with splendid conveniences and accessories that facilitate the work of the fields and provide ample shelter for grain and stock.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Schmidt has been blessed with ten children: P. Reiner, who is married and lives in Kansas : Henry, who is mar- ried and also resides on a farm in Kansas; Jo- seph and Charles, who are married and live in Indiana; William, likewise a resident of In- diana, where he conducts an elevator and grain business ; Theodore, in a store in Mendota ; Otto H .. Rosamary, Helen Barbara and Leo P., all at home. The family are communicants of the Catholic church, being identified with St. Peter's church, which Mr. Schmidt assisted in building. His political allegiance is given to the democracy. He is a good business man and farmer, accom- plishing whatever he undertakes and allowing no difficulty or obstacle in his path to thwart his purpose or change him in his course if such an obstacle can be overcome by determined and honest effort.

LEVI BROWN.

Levi Brown, who for many years was actively engaged in farming and stock-raising in La Salle county but is now practically retired from ac- tive business, resides upon a farm of one hun- dred and eighty-five acres on sections 34 and 35, Vermillion township. He was also at one time, in connection with the tilling of the soil, extensively interested in the breeding and rais- ing of good stock. His residence in this county dates from 1860 and in the state from 1854, hav- ing been brought to Illinois when only four years of age. He was born in Preble county, Ohio, January 18, 1850, a son of Adam and Cynthia (Hapner) Brown, who were also natives of Preble county, the former born June 18, 1824, and the latter on the 5th of January of the same year. They went to Bureau county, Illinois, in 1854 and after residing there for six years removed to Vermillion township, La Salle county, where the father purchased the farm now owned by

our subject. Adam Brown followed farming for many years and served in various school of- fices, being an influential and representative citi- zen of this community. He died in May, 1887, when about sixty-two or three years of age, while his wife passed away in January, 1886, at the age of sixty years. They had four chil- dren. Freelove, born in Preble county, Ohio, May 5. 1848, died January 28, 1849. John L., born April 16, 1852, died September 4, 1853. Ida, born in La Salle county, June 26, 1863, died November 24. 1877.

Levi Brown, the only living child of that mar- riage, was reared and educated in La Salle county and has always made farming his life work. The greater part of the improvements upon his home property have been placed there by him.

In 1873 Mr. Brown was married to Miss Amanda E. Lock, a daughter of Peter and Mary M. (House) Lock, who came to this county in 1856 from Preble county, Ohio, where Mrs. Brown was born September 5. 1849. Her par- ents were likewise natives of that county. On coming to Illinois Peter Lock and his family lo- cated in Eagle township, La Salle county, on the farm now owned by Charles W. Albert. He was a blacksmith in Ohio but gave his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits in Illinois and died upon the old homestead farm in Eagle town- ship. August 2, 1888, when about seventy-six years of age. He was for some time post- master, the postoffice being in his house in Eagle township. His wife died September 11, 1898, at the very advanced age of eighty-five years. In the family were seven children, of whom two died in infancy in Ohio, while five reached adult age. John A. died in La Salle county March 19, 1899. He was a resident of Eagle township and left a wife and seven children, some of whom are still living in Eagle township. Noah, who was a resident of Vermillion township, died Feb- ruary 4, 1899, leaving a widow and eight children, all of whom are still residents of La Salle county with the exception of one who lives in Iowa. Nancy J. is the wife of Charles W. Albert, of Eagle township. Sarah C. is the wife of Henry M. Studebaker of this county and Mrs. Brown completes the family.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brown have been born five children: Rilla May, who died in 1877, at the age of four years; Emma Elnora, the wife of Noah Patterson, a resident of Ottawa; Esta Louella, the wife of Charles Shiffbauer, a resi- dent of Vermillion township, by whom she has one son, Wilbur Levi Shiffbauer; and Levi, Jr., who is now operating his father's farm. One child, born in March, 1896, died the same year.

921

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

Politically Mr. Brown is a republican and has served as school director of his district for twenty-seven years. He has spent almost his entire life in this county and has a valuable farm property which indicates his careful supervision and practical methods. He is now largely living retired, leaving the care of the farm to his son, while he is enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. His residence in La Salle county covers forty-six years, during which time he has witnessed much of its prog .. ress and development and his residence in the state covers a period of more than a half century.

J. J. CARTER.

The broad prairies of Illinois have furnished splendid opportunities to the farmer and stock- raiser who finds in the cultivation of the soil that rich crops are easily raised, while equally desirable success attends the efforts of him who pastures his flocks and herds upon the pasture lands of this great state. Illinois is famed throughout the world for its fine stock, and among the prominent representatives of the stock-raising and breeding interests of La Salle county is J. J. Carter, who is making a specialty of Norman Percheron horses. He has devoted his time and attention to this business for the past forty years and owns and operates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which is splendidly im- proved. In former years he owned and culti- vated four hundred acres of land but has concen- trated his energies more largely upon his stock to the exclusion somewhat of the cultivation of crops. He has resided at his present place of residence on section 28, Farm Ridge township, since 1863, and has made his home in La Salle county since 1848, being a lad of seven summers at the time of his arrival here.

His birth had occurred in Wayne county, New York, on the ioth of February, 1841, his par- ents being Asa and Hannah (Bramer) Carter, both of whom were natives of New York. The father was of Scotch lineage and was descended from one of four brothers, who came from Scotland to the new world in 1665 on one of the trips of the Mayflower. Mrs. Hannah Car- ter was of German ancestry and the first one of the family to come to the United States about 1780. On the Carter side there were two who served as soldiers of the Revolutionary war. It was in the Empire state where was celebrated the marriage of Asa Carter and Hannah Bramer, who went to Will county, Illinois, in 1844, and four years later removed to La Salle county,

settling on section 34, Farm Ridge township. Less than a year ago that farm was sold for one hundred and sixty-five dollars per acre but when it came into possession of Asa Carter was worth only four dollars per acre. His labors contributed in substantial measure to the de- velopment of the land, resulting in great ap- preciation of its value. He followed general farming successfully, thus accumulating a com- petence and he was a typical pioneed settler, who braved the dangers and hardships of life on a frontier in order to establish a home for his family. He had practically no funds when he arrived in Chicago in 1844 but he possessed the true spirit of the pioneer who bravely faced dif- ficulties, hardships and dangers and who resolved to achieve success if it could be won through persistency and indefatigable energy. He there- fore began farming in Will county and made a start, so that he brought with him a little capial upon his removal to this county. Mr. Carter died June 24, 1876, at the age of sixty-five years. He was a stanch democrat in politics but refused official honors, although frequently solicited to accept positions of political preferment. In his community he was known as a thorough repre- sentative business man and accumulated a very desirable fortune, becoming the owner of a large farm of eight hundred acres, including a half section of land in Iowa, three hundred and twenty acres in La Salle county and three tracts of eighty acres each in Livingston county, Illi- nois. He held membership in the Methodist church and his life was guided by his religious faith and principles. His wife departed this life in the fall of 1882, at the age of sixty-eight years. She was a worthy helpmate and assistant to her husband and for a long period they trav- eled life's journey happily together. In the fam- ily were four sons and three daughters, namely : Edwin, who is residing in South Dakota, where he has large land interests in Sanborn county, successfully managing a farm of eight hundred acres; Charles, who was a successful and pros- perous resident of Farm Ridge township but died four years ago, leaving a family, now in South Dakota and Iowa; Julius J., of this re- view; Fannie, who died forty-eight years ago when a maiden of sixteen summers; Elmira, the wife of Matt Gillespie, a resident of Wyoming ; Mrs. Janet Singer, of Marseilles, Illinois, and Asa, a prominent farmer of Fairbury, Nebraska.

J. J. Carter was reared on the old farm home- stead and attended the public schools. He has engaged in farming and for the past forty years has also been engaged in the rasing and breeding of Norman horses. He is prominent as a stock- raiser and dealer of this part of the state and has

922

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

owned some very fine animals. He is an excellent judge of horse flesh, and in the conduct of his business interests has made judicious invest- ments and profitable sales, so that stock-raising to him has proved a very profitable source of income. Besides his property in this state he owns a large farm in Minnesota which is in- creasing in value yearly.

Mr. Carter was married to Miss Mary Ann Reese, who was born in Mason county, Ken- tucky, and came to this state with her people in 1852. She is a daughter of Albert G. and Caroline H. Reese, who were early residents of Grand Rapids township, where they died about twenty-four years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Carter had the following children : Laura A., who died at the age of sixteen years; Mary Ellen, who died when eighteen months old; Ora, the wife of George Sherer, residing at Monmouth, Illi- nois; Melvin E., who is married and follows farming at Fort Dodge, Iowa; Carrie W., who is studying instrumental music in Germany, hav- ing been abroad for the past two years; Edna, at home ; and Nellie, a stenographer, of Chicago.

Mr. Carter is independent in his political views. He has served as road commissioner for several years but has since refrained from hold- ing office. He is a supporter of the Methodist church and is interested in all matters relating to the welfare of the community, being a public- spirited man. His acquaintance is wide and favorable and he deserves mention in this volume not only as a successful business man but also as a pioneer resident, having for long years made his home in this part of the state, so that he has been a witness of the changes that have been wrought by time and man, as the county has thrown aside the indications of the past and taken on the evidences of advancement and progress.

JAMES McQUADE.

James McQuade, superintendent for the Gor- don City Sand Company at Chicago, spent the period of his early manhood in Ottawa, where for many years he figured prominently in con- nection with mercantile circles. A native of Ire- land, he was born in the northern part of the Emerald isle in 1850 and came to America about 1870 with his uncle, Andrew Lynch, locating in Ottawa. There he engaged in general merchan- dising for nineteen years, on the expiration of which period he accepted the superintendency of the Pioneer Fireproof Construction Company at Twin Bluffs, where he continued for eight years. On the expiration of that period he removed to

Chicago, retaining his connection with the same company, however, and acted as superintendent on the construction of a section of the drainage canal. For nine months he was thus engaged. after which he became connected with the Gor- don City Sand Company, which he has now rep- resented for eleven years, acting as salesman for five years and as superintendent during the re- mainder of the time. He is a wide-awake, enter- prising business man, alert and energetic, and is one of the best known sons of La Salle county now living in Chicago.

Mr. McQuade married Dora Young, of Dan- ville, Illinois, and they have a daughter, Ruth Louise. Their home is at No. 5630 Calumet ave- nue, where Mr. McQuade owns a good resi- dence. He is a democrat politically and is a member of the Sheridan Club and the La Salle County Association of Chicago, in both of which organizations he is highly esteemed, his many excellent qualities making him popular with a large circle of friends.

HENRY BARR.

Henry Barr, engaged in general farming and in dairying, has throughout his entire life devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits, his industry and enterprise resulting in the acquirement of a good property. He was born in Waltham township, La Salle county, May 8, 1865, his par- ents being Jacob and Fannie (Brubaker) Barr. The father, born in Pennsylvania, January 8, 1833, is now living retired in Ottawa. The mother, born in Pennsylvania, January 20, 1832. died upon the home farm in Waltham town- ship, December, 21, 1877. They were married in Ohio, where Mr. Barr owned and operated a farm for a number of years. In February, 1865, he removed with his family to La Salle county and purchased a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres in Waltham township, where they resided until 1891, when they re- moved to Ottawa. Thus for many long years Mr. Barr was closely associated with agricul- tural interests in La Salle county and brought his farm under a high state of cultivation. He votes with the democracy and has held various local offices, serving as road commissioner, as school director and as justice of the peace. He has acted in the last mentioned position for many years and his decisions were strictly fair and unbiased by either fear or favor. He holds membership in the Presbyterian church and his life has been actuated by high and honorable principles, displaying every evidence of Chris-

923

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

tian conduct. In the family were nine children, all of whom are living. The five eldest were born in Ohio, while the other four are natives of La Salle county. The record is as follows : Christopher, a mechanic residing in Ottawa; Amanda, the wife of James Beck, also of Otta- wa; Lydia, the wife of William Hagenbaugh, of Los Angeles, California; Mary, the wife of Ed Douvia, a resident of Ottawa; Eliza, the wife of Charles Douvia, living on a farm in Waltham township; Henry, of this review ; John, who makes his home upon a farm near Ottawa ; Jacob, a hardware merchant of the county seat ; and Benjamin, also of Ottawa.

Henry Barr was reared upon the home farm to the age of twenty-three years and was edu- cated in the country schools. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his boyhood days and when he made choice of an occupation as life work he determined to follow the pursuit to which he had been reared. He has therefore always engaged in farming and for many years operated rented land. His first purchase was eighty acres in Freedom township, which he subsequently sold, but has since purchased one hundred and twenty acres on section 31 of the same township. He has made most of the im- provements upon this property and has lived a life of industry and diligence. He has always been a hard worker, never having a dollar given him, but he has always taken care of his money and through the earnest, persistent effort of him- self and his estimable wife he has become well- to-do. He has made a study of farming, quickly adopting new ideas which he believes will prove of practical value in the work of the fields. He carries on quite a large dairy business, milking many cows and, using a separator, separates the cream from the milk and makes and sells butter. He has owned his present farm since 1904. The land has a natural slope to the east and south and he has never had to do any tiling and has never had any crop failures, but annually has gathered good harvests as the reward of the care and labor which he has bestowed upon the fields. He raises the various cereals best adapted to the soil and climate and his place is now a good farming property.

On the Ist of January, 1889, Mr. Barr was united in marriage to Miss Emma Carpenter, who was born in this countv. August 29, 1866, and is a daughter of Peter Carpenter, who was for many years a farmer in Freedom township and is now living retired in Ottawa. Unto them have been born four children: Mary, Fannie Elizabeth, Emily and Benjamin Peter, all of whom are still at home, and the mother and

daughters have been of great assistance to Mr. Barr in his work, for in the past eight years he has been in poor health, troubled largely with rheumatism.

In his political views Mr. Barr is a stalwart republican but has never consented to hold office save that of school director. He cast his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland, but since that time has always advocated republican prin- ciples and voted for the candidates of the party. He attends the Methodist Episcopal church and is a man of many genuinely sterling traits of character. He has been out of the county only a few times, being always found at home with his family and his farming interests, and his life of activity has been the source of his success.

DAVID LAFAYETTE GROVE.

David Lafayette Grove, deceased, was for many years actively identified with business in- terests in this section of Illinois and through the utilization of his opportunities, his recognized business advantages and his unfailing enterprise he achieved creditable success and made an hon- ored name. He was born in April, 1845, in New- ark, Ohio, and was a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of La Salle county, Illi- nois. In November, 1829, his uncle, David Grove, in company with John Green, Henry Brumbach and Ransom De Bolt, left Newark, Ohio, for what is now La Salle county, Illinois. Samuel Grove, the father of our subject, with other young men, accompanied this party with four yoke of oxen, two two-horse teams hitched to wagons and one carriage. Reaching Illinois, Samuel Grove settled in La Salle county, taking up his abode in Dayton township, and from that time to the present the family has been repre- sented in this part of the state, its members be- ing numbered among those who have reclaimed the district for the uses of civilization and have carried forward the work of improvement and development to its present advanced stage.

David Lafayette Grove was reared upon the old homestead farm in Dayton township and in early youth assisted in the labors of field and meadow. At an early age he entered the service of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, work- ing his way upward until he became an engineer. He followed this pursuit for only three years on account of his health and then turned his atten- tion to other business interests. Mr. Grove was married first at Sandusky, Ohio, to Miss Sadie Talbot, who died and is buried there. They had but one child, James, who died in infancy.

924

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

After losing his first wife Mr. Grove was asso- ciated in business with Albert Dunnavan at Day- ton, Illinois, in the collar manufacturing busi- ness and traveled for several years as a sales- man to the trade. Following his second mar- riage in 1880, he turned his attention to the creamery business, becoming proprietor of the Star Creamery, which was afterward destroyed by fire. Subsequently he went to Chicago and sold butter for a season. On the expiration of that period he removed to Whiteside county, Illi- nois, where he established a creamery, being a practical butter-maker. He instructed the men there in the methods of conducting the business and the output was one thousand pounds per day. He resided there for one season-1885- and later opened a grocery store at Ottawa, where he conducted business for several years with growing success, but owing to failing health he retired from commercial pursuits about 1894 and spent his remaining days without en- gaging in further labor.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 118

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