History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 119

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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In October, 1880, Mr. Grove was united in marriage to Miss Emily J. Hayward, who was born near Ottawa, Illinois, and is a daughter of Charles Hayward, who removed from Lebanon. Connecticut, to Ohio in 1818 and came to La Salle county about 1835 or 1836. He helped to build the old Fox River House at Ottawa and was prominent in business and public life here for many years. Further mention of him is made on another page of this work. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Grove were born three children: Louise, who was born in 1881 and is now a teacher in the high school in Chicago, Ohio; Otis, who died at eight months of age ; and Chester H., who was born in 1888 and is now a student in the high school in Ottawa.

In his fraternal relations Mr. Grove was a prominent Mason, who was always true to the tenets and teachings of the craft, manifesting mu- tual helpfulness and brotherly kindness in his relations with his fellowmen. The Grove family for a long period were loyal advocates of democ- racy but in 1880 David Lafayette Grove gave his political allegiance to Garfield and therefore voted the republican ticket. He was loyal and progressive in citizenship, active in business, en- ergetic in all that he undertook and founded his business actions upon the rules which govern strict and unswerving industry and integrity. At all times he was worthy the respect and con- fidence of his fellowmen and he passed away December 14, 1896, at his home in Ottawa amid the deep regret of many friends as well as his family and relatives. Mrs. Grove has resided at her present home in Ottawa since the 9th of October, 1881, and is a member of the Congre-

gational church. She has a wide acquaintance here and enjoys the warm friendship of many who know her.

S. M. SWISHER.

S. M. Swisher, now one of the venerable citi- zens of La Salle county, has been a pioneer of two states and as such has worked effectively for the early development and later-day progress of these commonwealths. He was also accorded political honors in Ohio and in Illinois. He has ever been loyal in his citizenship, so that he is regarded as one of the representative people of this portion of the state. His birth occurred in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, near Carlisle, in 1821, and he is of Dutch ancestry. In 1825 the parents removed with their family to Ohio, locating in Crawford county near Bucyrus, where the father entered two hundred and eighty acres of woodland. - There in the midst of the green forest he built a log cabin and with the as- sistance of his sons began clearing the land, which in due course of time he placed under cul- tivation, transforming the once wild tract into highly improved fields.

S. M. Swisher pursued his education in one of the old-time schoolhouses common at that day, the benches being made of saw-mill slabs, while the writing desk was formed of a board laid on pegs driven into the wall. The school- house was two miles from his home and in that primitive temple of learning Mr. Swisher mas- tered the common branches of English knowl- edge. There were large herds of deer in the county, together with turkeys and other lesser wild game. There were also wolves and many snakes, and the Wyandotte Indians were yet numerous in that part of Ohio. After putting aside his books and leaving the schoolroom Mr. Swisher learned the blacksmith's trade in Os- ceola and followed it for a number of years. He owned property in Osceola, Ohio, and also eighty acres of farm land and was interested in the growth and progress of that region. He served as county commissioner and was a mem- ber of the board when the present county court- house was built. He also acted as a school director and was Sunday-school superintendent for many years in Ohio. He also filled the office of justice of the peace for eight years and his decisions were strictly fair and impartial.

Mr. Swisher was married in Ohio to Miss Elizabeth K. Minnerly, who was born in New York and went to Ohio about 1837. Six chil- dren were born unto our subject and his wife:

MR. AND MRS. S. M. SWISHER.

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Eliza J., now deceased; James W., who is a graduate of the law school of the Michigan University of Ann Arbor and is now a lawyer and county judge living in Colorado; Mary La- vina, the deceased wife of H. H. Eby ; John A., who is residing upon the home farm; Emma, deceased, and Irene, at home. All of the children were born in Ohio except Irene.

It was in the year 1856 that Mr. Swisher removed from the Buckeye state to Illinois. He engaged in farming on the shares in Bureau county, near La Moille, for six years and during that period he saved money with which he after- ward purchased two hundred acres of land on section 26, Mendota township, La Salle county, where his son, John A., now resides. A very small house and a little stable were the only improvements upon the place at that time. The land was very wet and to a large extent uncul- tivable. Mr. Swisher energetically undertook the task to drain the land and to erect modern buildings and in course of time his property bore little resemblance to the farm which came into his possession at the time of the purchase. When he arrived the wolves were very numerous and deer were plentiful, so that the huntsman had ample opportunity to indulge his love of the chase. Mr. Swisher continued in active business life and is a self-made man. He was very suc- cessful as a farmer, carefully cultivating the fields, and as the years have run their course he has won a comfortable competence. He has been a pioneer in two states, both Ohio and Illinois, and thus he knew how to meet the conditions of frontier life in the latter, having been surrounded in his youth with the environments of pioneer existence in the Buckeye state. His business affairs were carefully managed and he justly re- garded untiring labor as the basis of all success. Thus he gained a comfortable competence which enabled him ten years ago to remove to Mendota, where he yet resides.

S. M. Swisher, in religious faith, is connected with the United Brethren denomination and has served as class leader. In former years he be- longed to the Sons of Temperance and has al- ways been loyal to the teachings of that organiza- tion upon the temperance question. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party. He and his wife have traveled life's journey happily together as man and wife for sixty-six years and sixteen years ago they celebrated their golden wedding. They are both well preserved for peo- ple of their years and they deserve much credit for the fact that they have reared a family who have been a credit to their name, that they have been pioneers in two states and that they have always been found as influential factors on the

side of that which is right, just and true in man's relations with his fellowmen.

John A. Swisher, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. M. Swisher, since his parents' removal to Men- dota has lived upon the old home farm, which he is now successfully operating. He was educated in the country schools and at Henderson Sem- inary in Mendota and for sixteen years he en- gaged in teaching school near his home, begin- ning in 1870. His first term of school, however, was in Ford county, Illinois, but the greater part of his life has been devoted to agricultural pur- suits and he is justly accounted one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of the community, whose business methods are practical and whose labors, guided by sound judgment, have been crowned with a gratifying measure of success.

Mr. Swisher was married to Miss Sarah Por- ter, of York, Nebraska, a daughter of William and Sarah Porter and a native of Bristol, Eng- land. They have four children: Samuel P., William J., Ray and Lavina M. The eldest two are graduates of the East Mendota high school. Mr. Swisher has always favored education and stands for progress in many lines relating to the welfare and development of the county. He is a worthy representative of an honored pioneer family and is today classed with the representa- tive agriculturists-a man of energy and industry, whose labors are guided by sound business judgment.

GEORGE BINDER.

George Binder, with one exception the oldest merchant of Earlville in years of continuous con- nection with its busines interests, has conducted a hardware and plumbing establishment here since 1880, or for a period of more than a quarter of a century. He is a native of Alsace, France, born April 18, 1851, and when he was five months of age his mother died. He was after- ward reared by his father and stepmother, and in 1871, when a young man of twenty-one years he came to America, making his way to Earl- ville. His limited financial resources combined with his natural industry made immediate en- ployment a necessity and he worked for a time as a farm hand. Later he learned the tinner's trade and in 1880 he established a tin shop and hardware store, since which time he has carried on business on his own account. He began with a capital of only three hundred dollars and through good business ability, hard work and close application he has developed a trade of

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large proportions and is now conducting a profit- able enterprise. For nine years he was in part- nership with George Boltz and is 1893 purchased Mr. Boltz's interest, since which time he has been alone in business. He carries a complete stock of hardware, tinware, stoves, ranges, cut- lery and tools of all kinds, and his patronage is extensve-a fact which indicates that his busi- ness methods have ever been honorable, his fellow townsmen finding him ever straightfor- ward in his dealings.

On the 24th of April, 1877, Mr. Binder was united in marriage in Earlville to Miss Emma Haas, a daughter of Herman Haas, who is now a jeweler in Earlville. Mrs. Binder was born in New York city, August 13, 1856, and by her marriage has become the mother of three chil- dren: Herman A., who was born November 19, 1878, and is now in his father's employ; Matilda, who was born April 16, 1881, and is a graduate of the Earlville high school; and Gur- don A., who was born January 12, 1885, and is a graduate of the Earlville high school. He is now pursuing a course in electrical engineering at Armour Institute in Chicago.

In his political views Mr. Binder is a repub- lican and though often solicited to accept office has always refused to do so. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp and to the Odd Fellows and Masonic lodges and is thoroughly in sym- pathy with the tenets and teachings of these organizations. He is a self-made man in the truest and best sense of the word. A skilled workman, he has a good trade in the plumbing line and his record is indeed creditable, show- ing what may be accomplished by persistency of purpose. Success in any line of business comes only as the direct result of thorough un- derstanding of the trade, experience and energy well applied, and thus it is seen in the case of George Binder, whose present prosperity is di- rectly traceable to years of indefatigable effort he has expended in the past in building up and conducting a good business.

FREDERICK E. MILLS.

Frederick E. Mills, president of the Southern Sonora Development Company, with offices in Chicago and properties in Sonora, Mexico, makes his home in Streator and is one of Illinois' na- tive sons, his birth having occurred in Livingston county on the Ioth of July, 1868. His parents, John W. and Lucy (Coe) Mills, were natives of Ohio, the former born June 4, 1835, and the lat- ter February 5, 1841. The father became a resi-

dent of Livingston county, Illinois, when nine- teen years of age, making the journey overland by team before the era of railroad building and with the pioneer development and progress of the state he was closely identified, bravely meet- ing the hardships and privations of frontier life in order to secure a home and provide a com- fortable living for his family. He returned to Ohio, bringing his parents with him to Illi- nois and located on a half section of wild prai- rie land, which he broke and cultivated. He built a house and continued the task of clearing the land and improving the farm, in addition to which . he became widely known as an extensive and successful breeder of fine cattle and horses and also as a buyer and feeder of stock. The hope that led him to the west was more than realized and he belonged to that class of representative American citizens who, while advancing indi- vidual interests also promote the public welfare, having due regard for the duties of citizenship and man's obligation to his fellowmen. He served as supervisor of the township, was the first president of the Home Insurance Company, which position he occupied for ten years or more, and for many years was a school director and trustee. He is now living retired in the enjoy- ment of well earned rest at his home in Reading township. His political allegiance has long been given to the republican party and he and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mills were born four children, of whom two sons and a daughter are yet living, namely: Frederick E .; Eva, the wife of E. Armstrong, who' resides on the home- stead farm in Livingston county; and A. R. Mills, an optician of Streator.

Frederick E. Mills was educated in the public schools and a business college at Peoria, Illinois, and also attended the Dana Music School at Warren, Ohio, completing his course there in 1888. He was afterward upon the road with a musical organization until 1891 and was in the Grand Opera House at Columbus, Ohio, in 1892, while in 1893 he was with the Andrews Opera Company in Peoria. He was also with Spencer's band in the summer of 1893 until he went to Chicago to attend the World's Columbian Exposition, where he joined the Iowa State band, when it was reorganized in the winter of 1894. With that organization he spent the winter at the San Francisco Industrial Exposition.

Since the spring of 1894 Mr. Mills has made his home in Streator, at which time he organized the Illinois State band and likewise became a fac- tor in business circles of this city through the establishment of the Mills Jewelry and Piano Company. He sold out the above company in

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the spring of 1905, having been manager of the business, however, from 1896. Since that date he has been president of the Southern Sonora Development Company with headquarters in the Merchants Loan and Trust Building, at No. 135 Adams street, Chicago. He spends about three months of each year in Mexico, looking after the company's interests, while the remainder of the year is devoted to supervision and promo- tion of the business from the Chicago office. The company owns valuable mining and agricultural land in the Alamos district in southern Sonora, which has long been noted for its great mineral wealth. The history of its mines dates back to the early part of the seventeenth century and mines that in production are still showing rich values and producing at the present day to their deepest workings. The Minas Nuevas mine, which opened only to one-half the depth of other producing mines, is considered to be more valuable, having approximately one million dollars in ore values blocked out between the first and seventh levels. Immediately adjoining this mine on the same great lode is the Sato Do- mingo mine, recently purchased by the Southern Sonora Development Company. The ore is sil- ver, lead and copper and runs in silver and cop- per from twenty-one dollars up to almost bo- nanza in quality. The mines have been equipped with steam hoisting machinery with a capacity of fifty tons per day. The company also owns the Santa Ana mine and the Quebradilla mine and also large landed interests devoted to agri- cultural development. Mr. Mills is devoting his attention to the promotion of the company's in- terests in the south and the sale of stock to northern holders. He has the ability to plan and co-ordinate the forces at hand and his labors are meeting with merited and gratifying success.

On the 30th of September, 1896, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Mills and Miss Ida M. Hepler, who was born November 12, 1868, and is a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Mer- ritt) Hepler, both of whom are natives of Penn- sylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Mills now have one son, Frederick E., Jr., born March 4, 1900.

Mr. Mills belongs to Streator lodge, No. 607, A. F. & A. M., in which he was raised in 1896. He is likewise a member of Streator chapter, No. 168, R. A. M., and joined Ottawa commandery, No. 10, K. T., from which he has recently de- mitted to become a charter member of Streator commandery, No. 70. He belongs to Streator council, No. 74, R. & S. M., was treasurer of the blue lodge and has acted as treasurer of the chapter and the council. He is likewise a mem- ber of Mohamet temple of the Mystic Shrine at Peoria, Illinois, and his wife is a member of the

Eastern Star chapter, No. 301. Mr. Mills' name is on the membership rolls of Elks lodge, No. 591, the Mystic Workers, the Modern Woodmen of America and he is also a member of the Streator Club and the New Illinois Athletic Club, of Chicago. Business interests are reaching out to every portion of the globe. Experience and scientific investigation have brought to men a knowledge of possibilities and though there are undoubtedly districts the richest of which are not yet dreamed of, men of enterprise and de- termination are extending their forces into new fields and are coining the wealth of minerals of the land, of cattle and of grain in hitherto unsettled districts. As a promoter in this line Mr. Mills has made a creditable place in busi- ness circles, while socially he is prominent in the city of Streator where he has so long resided.

PETER RECK.

In mention of the German-American citizens of La Salle county credit should be given to Peter Reck as one of the prominent representa- tives of this class. He made a splendid record as a business man and became one of the most widely and favorably known citizens of his part of the county. He was closely associated with early development here and at all times enjoyed the trust and good will of those with whom he was connected either in business or social rela- tions.

Mr. Reck was born near Cologne in Cullom, Prussia, February 2, 1802, and was a represen- tative of the middle class. He came to the United States in 1846, crossing the Atlantic in a sailing vessel, which was sixty-five days in completing that voyage. The long trip being ended he landed at New York and thence made his way westward to Chicago by way of the Erie canal, and from there by stage to Peru, Illinos, where his first wife died soon after arriv- ing there. He had been educated in the schools of his native country, attending night schools to some extent, and was a man of much nat- ural ability and good common sense-a quality which is too often lacking and which causes the great majority of failures in the business world. In his native country Mr. Reck had become an expert carpenter and architect, but not finding immediate employment in the line of his chosen occupation he found it necessary to work at farm labor in Illinois.

When he landed in the new world Peter Reck had a capital of fourteen hundred dollars and on reaching La Salle county he entered from the

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government eighty acres of land on section 21, Troy Grove township, all of which was wild and unimproved. At that time there were few trees in the neighborhood and almost no homes. It was a tract of prairie, largely unbroken and uncultivated and much arduous labor was re- quired to convert it into productive fields from which rich crops were harvested. The task was accomplished, however, by Mr. Reck, who in the course of years added to his property until he had three hundred and sixty acres, constitut- ing a very valuable farm.

In the third year after the death of his first wife Mr. Reck was married to Miss Barbara Kratz, who was born in Prussia near Cologne and came to the United States in 1848. The ship on which she sailed was ninety-three days in crossing the Atlantic and was wrecked on the voyage. The passengers were landed on a small island in the gulf near New Orleans, where they were forced to remain for seventeen days, hav- ing no warm food for eight days of that time and suffering many discomforts and hardships. They then proceeded up the Mississippi river and Mrs. Reck and others of the party con- tinued on their way up the Illinois river to La Salle or Peru. She was accompanied by her mother and a crippled sister-the father having died in Prussia.

By his first marriage Mr. Reck had seven children, namely: Theodore, deceased; Eliza- beth, the deceased wife of Edward Zapp ; Helena, the deceased wife of Frank Meisenbach; Cath- erine, wife of Michael Bettendorf ; William and Margaret, both deceased; and Gertrude, the de- ceased wife of Henry Happ. There were two children by the second marriage; Christine, now the wife of Peter Schmidt; and Mary, the deceased wife of Henry Zolper.

Mr. Reck's first home here was a little cabin, but after living there for a short time he erected a good log house.

Later because of his knowledge of the car- penter's trade and also owing to the fact that he had saved some money he built what was at that time a fine home, hauling two loads of lumber from Chicago by ox team. The family all became ill with the ague here and there were many difficulties incident to pioneer life that had to be encountered and overcome. Mr. Reck, not liking oxen, was the first one in the neigh- borhood to use horses in his farm work. He made the second reaper used in this part of the country-Cyrus McCormick having made the first. In the winter months he would work at making machines and in the spring sold them for the harvesting. He did good work and was quite successful in this undertaking. He did not

like stock and devoted his attention to the raising of grain and as the years passed by he developed an excellent farm, the well tilled fields annually yielding to him golden harvests.

In his political views Mr. Reck was a demo- crat. Religiously he was a Catholic and he aided in building the first church here. He was also the architect who planned the present house of worship-St. Peter's church, where his family now attend services. It was erected in 1872. Mr. Reck took a very active and helpful part in matters of general progress and improvement along material, intellectual and moral lines. He believed in advancement in farming and was always quick to adopt any new method which he thought would prove of direct and practical benefit in his agricultural interests. He was never known to take advantage of the necessi- ties of his fellowmen in any business transaction, but was thoroughly reliable and straightforward as well as industrious and diligent and he left behind him the priceless record of an untarnished name. All who knew him entertained for him warm regard and the circle of his friends was almost co-extensive with the circle of his acquaintance.

WALTER M. PRATT.

The spirit of self-help is the source of all genuine worth in the individual and is the means of bringing to man success when he has no advantage of wealth or influence to aid him. It illustrates in no uncertain manner what it is pos- sible to accomplish when perseverance and deter- mination form the keynote to a man's life. De- pending on his own resources, looking for no outside aid or support, Walter M. Pratt has risen from comparative obscurity to a place of prominence in industrial circles of La Salle county. As the owner of the Pioneer Brick & Tile Works, he is the largest employer of labor in Earlville and his business life is thus of direct benefit to his fellowmen as well as a source of individual profit.

Mr. Pratt is a native of Earl township, La Salle county, having been born on a farm north of the town of Earlville, September 24, 1871. He is a son of Charles and Abigail (Hall) Pratt. The father was born in Vermont and came to Illinois with his father, Calvin Pratt, when ten years of age. He was reared upon a farm and having attained his majority he bought a tract of land in Earl township, where- on he always carried on farming. He died in the year 1889 and is still survived by his wife,

WALTER M. PRATT.

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who is living with her daughter, Mrs. Edward Carter, of Earl township.

Walter M. Pratt spent his early years on the farm and in the district schools. Upon the death of his father he left home and has since made his own way in the world. He supple- mented his public-school education by study in Paw Paw Academy and at Champaign, Illinois. In the latter place he took a course in mechani- cal engineering in the University of Illinois, but illness interfered with his school work and he often had to abandon his studies and take up some occupation in order to provide for his own support. When nineteen years of age he held a chief engineer's license in the city of Chi- cago-a fact which indicated his proficiency in that direction. His first practical business ex- perience along that line was an assistant engi- neer for the Cicero & Proviso Street Railway Company and after working for four days he was made chief engineer for the same company at double the salary for which he first engaged.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 119

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