History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 122

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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HENRY BAKER, ·SR.

Henry Baker, Sr., president of the firm of Baker Brothers & Company, at Streator, and the owner of eleven hundred acres of valuable farming land, is a man whose businesss oppor- tunities and success have resulted from his in- defatigable enterprise. In an analyzation of his career it will be seen that he has tried to do what others would not undertake, that he has displayed unfaltering energy and industry and has allowed nothing to thwart him in his efforts to achieve success along honorable lines.

Mr. Baker was born in Peine, in the province of Hanover, September 19, 1834, his parents being Christian and Marie (Hockey) Baker, who were likewise natives of the fatherland. They came to America in 1853, locating three miles east of Streator in La Salle county. The father followed the occupation of farming, thus providing for his wife and children. He also engaged in stock-raising and in the course of years secured a large and valuable farm. Unto him and his wife were born six children, who

are yet living. Mr. Baker passed away at the advanced age of seventy-nine years, while the mother departed this life 1870. The father afterward married Miss Gurney, who passed away some years ago.

Henry Baker acquired his early education in the schools of his native country and remained a resident of Germany until sixteen years of age, when, thinking to enjoy better business opportunities in the new world, he came to the United States and made his way to Ottawa, where he arrived in May, 1851. He was prac- tically without funds, and as his limited finan- cial condition rendered immediate employment a necessity, he worked as a farm hand by the month for about a year and a half. Later his parents came to this county. Soon after his marriage Mr. Baker began farming on his own account.

It was on the 4th of July, 1858, that the mar- riage of Henry Baker and Miss Louisa Eber- hard was celebrated. Six children were born of that union, who are yet living: Henry and John are associated with their father in the firm of Baker Brothers & Company, proprietors of a large dry-goods house in Streator. They were the first and fourth in order of birth in this family. Edward Baker, the third member of the family is engaged in the wholesale fruit busi- ness at Streator. William is a resident farmer of Indiana. Benjamin is in California. Caro- line is engaged in the millinery business in Texas. The wife and mother departed this life December 22, 1901, and for his present wife Mr. Baker chose Miss Clara Rockenfeller, to whom he was married on the 9th of December, 1903. She was born in Benson, Woodford county, Illinois, in 1876, and was brought to La Salle county when only six months old by her parents, Theodore and Mary C. (Corder) Rockenfeller, the former a native of Germany, and the latter of Woodford county, Illinois. The mother died about twenty-five years ago, or on the 24th of February, 1881, while Mr. Rockenfeller survived and married Mrs. Louise Rockenfeller, nee Holbein. He now resides in Chicago at the age of fifty-three years. He came to America in childhood.

Following his first marriage Mr. Baker en- gaged in farming on his own account and was thus engaged until eighteen years ago, when he retired from active agricultural pursuits and in 1888 removed to Streator. He owns eleven hundred acres of land located in Ford county, Illinois, having from time to time made judi- cious and extensive investments in propertty.

In 1888 Mr. Baker built a fine home in Streator, having in 1886 embarked in business

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with his sons, first under the firm style of Henry Baker & Company, while later another son was admitted to partnership and the firm name be- came Baker Brothers & Company. The father is president of this company, which is incor- porated. They deal in dry goods, carpets, mil- linery, cloaks, shoes, groceries and bakery goods, and the business is located at from Nos. 320 to 324 Main street. The trade of the house is now extensive, and although Mr. Baker is not actively concerned in its management he still gives general supervision to the business. Mr. Baker has given a farm to each of his chil- dren and he still owns six hundred and forty acres of land in Ford county, Illinois, where he resided from 1871 until 1888, during which time he was engaged in farming on his own account. He has other property interests, including a fine residence at Long Beach, California. He spends the winter in that state, in Florida, in Cuba and in other southern resorts, and is now enabled to enjoy life's comforts and luxuries as the re- sult of his close application and keen business discernment and diligence in former years.

In politics he is a republican and he belongs to the Evangelical church, while his wife is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church. Coming to America in his youth he has never had occa- sion to regret his determination to seek a home in the new world, for in its business conditions, where labor is not hampered by caste or class, he has made consecutive and honorable progress, the secret of his success being found in such old and time-tried maxims as "There is no excel- ence without labor" and "Honesty is the best policy." realizing that in the pioneer settlement of the state property would continually rise in value, he invested largely and is now the owner of extensive farm lands, from which he derives a splendid income.

HAROLD L. RICHOLSON.

Harold L. Richolson, practicing law at the bar of Ottawa, was born October 25. 1877. in this county, a son of Samuel and Marietta ( Mee- han) Richolson, of La Salle county, Illinois, and Herkimer county, New York, respectively. He supplemented his preliminary education by study in St. Bede College in Peru, Illinois, and by a literary and scientific course in Mor- gan Park Academy, at Morgan Park. Illi- nois. He then entered upon the study of law in the office of his father, who was one of the oldest and most prominent attorneys of Ot- tawa and entered upon active practice with an

equipment which is unusually good. He was elected city attorney of Ottawa in April, 1905, and is now filling that position. Although a young man he throws himself easily and natur- ally into the argument with a self-possession and deliberation that indicates no straining after effect but with a precision and clearness in his statement and an acuteness and strength in his argument which speaks a mind trained in the severe school of investigation and to which the closest reasoning has become habitual. His polit- ical allegiance is given to the republican party. while fraternally he is connected with the Elks and the Knights of Columbus. He has held several positions in the former lodge and has been recording secretary of the latter.

D. D. TWAIT.

D. D. Twait, living on section 2, Miller town- ship, where he is engaged in the cultivation of his good farm of one hundred and sixty acres, has made his home in La Salle county since 1860. He was born in Norway on the 24th of December. 1841, and there remained until nineteen years of age, being reared to manhood on a farm, while in the public schools he ac- quired his education. He is self-educated in English. however, having no knowledge of the language here spoken when he came to the new world. Crossing the Atlantic to America, hav- ing determined to try his fortune in the new world, he worked at farm labor at fifty cents per day and was employed by the month for six years by George Southworth. Saving his earn- ings during this period, as the result of his fru- gality and industry, he was at length enabled to purchase one hundred and sixty acres of land where he now resides. Locating thereon, he be- gan to farm the property and later put on better improvements. He now has a two-story resi- dence, a big barn, granary and corn crib. He has fenced and tiled the place and made the farm what its is today, a well improved property which responds readily to the care and labor bestowed upon it, yielding in return for culti- vation rich, golden harvests.

Mr. Twait was married in Miller township in 1866 to Miss Hannah Norby, a native of Nor- way, and they have become the parents of five sons and six daughters, namely: Cornelius D., who has married. has seven children and resides upon a farm belonging to his father ; D. B., who is married, has six children and lives on a farm in Mission township: George; David at home: Berdie, a student in the Lutheran col-

H. L. RICHOLSON.

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lege at Ottawa; Josephine, the wife of Benja- min Twait, who resides near Buffalo Center, Iowa; Matilda, the wife of Stuart Marcus, of Mission township; Rachel, the wife of John Dahl, of Miller township; Clara, the wife of A. Twait, a farmer of Mission township; Han- nah and Mary, both at home.

Politically Mr. Twait is a republican and cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lin- coln. He has never sought or desired office but has served as a member of the school board. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church. In his business career he has pros- pered and as his financial resources have in- creased he has become the owner of three good farms in Miller and Mission townships, the home place containing one hundred and sixty acres, another of two hundred acres and the third of one hundred and forty acres. His son D. B. also has a farm of one hundred and eighty acres. All of his land is valuable and well im- proved and is the visible evidence of a

life of thrift and enterprise. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, for he came to America empty-handed and started out in life at the meagre salary of fifty cents per day, but as the years have gone by he has worked persistently and energetically and in his labor is found the secret of his prosperity. Such an example should serve as a source of encour- agement and inspiration to others, showing what may be accomplished in a land where labor is unhampered by caste or class.

SAMUEL U. LAWRY.

Samuel U. Lawry is a retired merchant and farmer residing in Harding and a life of activity in former years well entitles him to the rest which he is now enjoying. He was born in Steu- ben county, New York, June 23, 1842. His fa- ther, James Lawry, was a native of London, Eng- land, and coming to America, was married in Livingston, Pennsylvania, on the 14th of July, 1832, to Miss Ann Harrison, whose birth occurred in Manchester, England, in Sep- tember, 1803. They made their home for some years in Steuben county, New York, where Mr. Lawry engaged in farming, owning a large and well improved tract of land there. In 1855 he came to La Salle county, Illinois, purchasing a half section of land in Freedom township, on which he carried on general agricultural pur- suits. At a later date he removed to Ophir town- ship and for a considerable period was one of the enterprising, energetic agriculturists of this

locality but eventually he removed to Newton, Kansas, where he lived retired, passing away in that city on the IIth of June, 1899, when ninety- three years of age. He had long survived his wife, who died in Ophir township, La Salle county, September 19, 1864. In their family were six children: W. C., who was born May 30, 1833, and is living in Toronto, Canada ; James, who was born February 22, 1835, and makes his home in Kansas: Walter, who was born February 12, 1837, and is living in Chi- cago: Elizabeth, who was born April 10, 1839, and is now the wife of Elijah Bachelor, her home being in Portland, Oregon; Samuel U., of this review ; and Joseph, who was born August 22, 1844, and is now a practicing physician of Read- ing, California.

S. U. Lawry spent the first sixteen years of his life under the parental roof and then started out in life for himself, since which time he has been dependent entirely upon his own resources, performing various labor in order to provide for his own support. He attended the district schools and afterward a select school, while in Bryant & Stratton Business College at Aurora he pursued a course of bookkeeping. Later he engaged in farming upon rented land for a few years and then with the capital which he had acquired through his business ability and careful man- agement he purchased a stock of general mer- chandise and opened a store in the village of Harding, where he continued in business for twenty-eight years, carrying a well selected line of goods and enjoying a liberal trade. In the meantime he bought one hundred and sixty acres of good land near the village, and in 1893 he left his store and located upon his farm, where for seven years he was engaged in raising thoroughbred Jersey cattle with good success. All that he undertook prospered under his guidance and six years ago with a handsome competence he retired from business life and re- turned to the village, where he purchased a neat stone cottage, which he yet occupies. He also owns the farm and this brings to him a good income.

On the 7th of October, 1874. Mr. Lawry was married to Miss Myra E. Lewis, who was born in Dearborn, Indiana, a daughter of F. G. Lewis, a native of New York and one of the early resi- dents of La Salle county, Illinois, now deceased. Her mother bore the maiden name of Electa An- gebine and was married in New York. She is now living in Sheridan, this county, at the age of eighty-six years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lawry have been born two children. Carl C., a graduate of the Ottawa high school and later of the North- western Medical College, is now practicing med-

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icine in Harding, at the age of twenty-nine years and makes his home with his parents. James L. is freight solicitor for a railroad company at St. Louis, Missouri.

Mr. Lawry is a republican and served as post- master of Harding from 1868 until 1893. He has been supervisor of his township for eight years and township treasurer for twenty-one years, and thus his official integrity is proven, for he has ever been prompt and faithful in the dis- charge of his duties. He is now vice president of the La Salle County Memorial Association and during the period of the Civil war he en- listed for one hundred days' service and acted as post clerk at Columbus, Kentucky. Since 1865 he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the Knight Templar degree. His business record, his official service and his private life are alike above reproach and the years of his manhood have won him the honor and respect of his fellow townsmen, who in all life's relations have found him worthy of their trust.

NOAH ALBERT.

A life of business activity and enterprise has made Noah Albert a leading and successful farmer and stock-raiser of Vermillion township. He is engaged successfully in the breeding of horses, cattle and hogs and he also owns and operates one hundred and twenty acres of land in addition to which he cultivates a farm of two hundred and eighty acres belonging to his father. He likewise owns a quarter section in Lamoure county, North Dakota.

Mr. Albert is well known in this part of the state, for he is one of La Salle county's native sons, having been born in Eagle township, No- vember 14, 1872. He is a son of Charles W. Albert, mentioned elsewhere in this volume and was reared and educated here, attending the common schools. He early became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist, for he began work in the fields at the time of early spring planting and con- tinued to assist in their cultivaton until after the crops were gathered. His training was of a most practical nature and has been an impor- tant element in his success in later years. He is now a representative agriculturist with a valu- able farm of his own in addition to which he cultivates his father's land and annually har- vests good crops. He is likewise breeding and raising horses, cattle and hogs and this branch of his business is a gratifying source of income,

for he has high grades of stock upon his place and thus commands good prices upon the mar- ket. He has added to and improved his home farm, keeping in touch with modern progress and development, and everything about his place shows the careful supervision and careful meth- ods of the owner.

In Joliet, Illinois, Noah Albert was married to Miss Lydia Ellen Huss, who was born in Ver- million township, and is a daughter of Benja- min Huss, of that township. Her father is now living retired from active business but makes his home upon his finely improved farm on sec- tions 21 and 22. He is an early settler of La Salle county, dating his residence here from 1853, when he removed to Illinois from Penn- sylvania, his native state. He was born in Greene county in 1837, a son of Benjamin and Sarah (Church) Huss. The mother died when her son Benjamin was only eight years of age, and the father afterward came with his family of four sons to La Salle county in 1853. He bought a large farm, owning at one time four hundred and forty-five acres in Vermillion town- ship. He actively and successfully cultivated the land and also engaged in the raising of cat- tle, hogs and sheep. Upon the old homestead property he resided until his death in 1876, when he was almost seventy-one years of age. In the family were five sons and five daughters, of whom three sons and three daughters are yet living. Mrs. Maria Taylor died in Pennsylvania. Elijah, who was the first of the family to come to Illinois, about 1851, died in Livingston county about fifty years ago. Minerva is the wife of William Patterson, of Vermillion town- ship. Samuel makes his home in Vermillion township. Meeker is also a resident of the same township. Martha, who died some years ago, was the wife of John Nicholson, who passed away July 8, 1906. He was a miller by trade and owned considerable land in this county. Benjamin and Sarah are twins, and the latter is now Mrs. Logan, of Deer Park township, Harvey, who resided in Vermillion township, died in 1899. Mary is the widow of Noah Lock and lives near Lowell, Illinois.

Benjamin Huss attended school in Pennsyl- vania and in Illinois and has been successful in farming as a life work. He was married in In- diana to Elizabeth Crumley, who died May I, 1903. She was born in Harrison county, Ohio, and in her girlhood days went with her parents to Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Huss have six chil- dren: E. H., a farmer near Larned, Kansas ; Iva, the wife of John A. Albert, of Vermillion township; Lydia E., the wife of Noah Albert, of this review ; Cora, the wife of W. C. Horung,

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of Gage county, Nebraska; H. J., who operates the home farm; and Myra E., the wife of Roy Patterson, of Larned, Kansas. All of the chil- dren are married and are well situated in life. Mr. Huss has always been a democrat and served as pathmaster but has usually declined political preferment.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Albert has been blessed with five children: Elva Leonora, born June 20, 1895; Etta Lucile, May 20, 1897; Ora Elizabeth, October 2, 1899; Benjamin Wes- ley, June 20, 1902 ; and Lyle Reginald, Septem- ber 12, 1905.

Mr. Albert votes with the republican party and has served as school director for the past four years, He is connected with Richey camp, No. 2871, M. W. A., at Leonore, of which he is the secretary, and he is also a member of the Yeoman camp, at Leonore. He likewise carries insurance with the Illinois Central Life, of Otta- wa, and is thus making ample provision for his family. As the years have passed his business interests have been capably conducted and the consensus of public opinion accords him a place among the representative agriculturists of his community.

E. W. WATTS.

E. W. Watts, a retired farmer living on sec- tion 31, Dimmick township, is one of the leading and influential residents of his section of La Salle county with a wide acquaintance and many warm friends. He was born in London, Eng- land, in 1833, and at the age of eighteen years came to America with his parents, Edward L. and Martha (Clark) Watts, both of whom were natives of England. Crossing the Atlantic in 1851, they landed at New York and went by boat to Buffalo, being three weeks on the road from Buffalo to Chicago and ten days in mak- ing the trip from Chicago to La Salle on a canal boat. Thus traveling after the primitive man- ner of the times they at length reached their des- tination and as help was needed on board the boat they worked their way into port. The fa- ther had carried on merchandising in England and brought some money with him to the new world. This he invested in twenty acres of land on section 31, Dimmick township, which Mr. Watts of this review now owns. The father did not engage very extensively in farming here, however, but lived mostly in Peru.

In the schools of his native country E. W. Watts acquired his education, but reading, ob- servation and experience have since added largely to his knowledge. He came to the United States

as stated with his parents and throughout his entire business career has been identified with agricultural pursuits. For many years he worked persistently and earnestly to develop a farm and acquire a property and he now owns two hun- dred acres of rich and productive land in Dim- mick township, on which his fine residence is sit- uated. He owes most of this to his own labor. He spent much of his early years in the county in hauling and selling wild hay and as his finan- cial resources increased he added to his farm, on which he has placed many modern improve- ments. He has also tilled the fields and thus rendered them very productive. He is now leav- ing the work of the farm largely to others, but gives his personal supervision to the property.

Mr. Watts was united in marriage to Miss Anne Raycroft, a native of Ireland, who came to the United States about 1855 and settled in La Salle. The following children were born of this union : Mrs. Martha Thompson, residing in La Salle; Thomas Watts, who is residing in Peru; Mrs. Annie Bangert, residing in Chicago; Mrs. Eliza Jackley, residing in Panora, Iowa; Mrs. Frances Spanswick, residing near Peru ; Ed- ward, John and Samuel, who died in infancy ; George and Alfred, at home; and Mrs. Mabel Foskett, residing in Chicago.

In his political views Mr. Watts is a repub- lican but has no aspiration for office. He has been a hard worker and his energy and persist- ency of purpose constitute the secret of his very desirable success. He is a man of upright con- duct, of strong native intellectual force and pos- sessed of qualities which in every land and clime command respect and confidence. He has now passed the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten and well deserves the rest which he is now enjoying.

MICHAEL FENNESSY.

Michael Fennessy is the owner of a valuable farm on section 17, Wallace township, which, when it came into his possession was practically unimproved. Now it is equipped with all modern improvements and accessories and con- stitutes a valuable property. He was born in this township on the 8th of June, 1862. His father, John Fennessy, was a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, and when thirty-five or forty years of age he came to America. He was mar- ried in La Salle county to Miss Katherine Keat- ing, also a native of County Tipperary. The wedding was celebrated in La Salle and Mr. Fennessy purchased eighty acres of land on sec- tion 16 at one dollar and a quarter per acre

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and began the development of a farm in Wallace township. As the years passed his labors wrought a splendid transformation in the farm, converting a wild and uncultivated tract into rich and productive fields, from which he annually harvested good crops as the result of the care and labor which he bestowed upon his place. He was a poor man when he arrived in America and he worked for a year and a half in New York by the day before coming to La Salle county. He was a most industrious man of strong determination and will power, and his unfaltering diligence enabled him to gain a very gratifying measure of prosperity. At one time he was the owner of three hundred and twenty acres and his possessions were the visible evi- dence of a life of thrift and diligence. In com- munity affairs he was also actively interested and his support of many measures was an ele- ment in a very successful competency. He was the first highway commissioner in his township and served in that capacity for twenty-three years, the good roads being due largely to his efforts. He was regarded as one of the influen- tial supporters of the democracy in his com- munity and was also numbered among the zeal- ous adherents of the Roman Catholic church. He continued to engage actively in farming for many years and spent his last days upon the old homestead where he passed away May 15, 1905. at the age of eighty-five years. His wife had departed this life a few years previous, her death occurring on the 27th of December, 1902. In their family were ten children, five of whom are , now living, namely: Ellen, the wife of John Slingsby, of Hammond, Indiana; Bridget, re- siding upon the home farm; Michael, of this review ; Patrick, an undertaker of Chicago; and Katie, the wife of William Murray, residing upon the home farm.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 122

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