History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 123

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 123

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Michael Fennessy remained upon the old homestead farm until twenty-six years of age, and like most farm boys, attended the district schools and worked in the fields through the summer months, no event of special importance occurring to vary the routine of farm life for him in that period. He then married and established a home of his own when he wedded Miss Bridget Gahan, a native of La Salle county. His father gave him eighty acres of land, which was practically unimproved. He has built thereon a good house, substantial barn and granaries, has enclosed the farm with well kept fences and in this manner has divided it into fields of convenient size. He has also put in about one thousand rods of tiling and his farm is thus well drained. He has also recently purchased forty acres of the old homestead, so

that he has a good property of one hundred and twenty acres. He carries on general agricul- tural pursuits, devoting his attention largely to the raising of corn and oats. He has one son, John, who is a young man at home and assists him in the farm work.

Mr. Fennessy is a democrat in his political views and is serving for his third term as town- ship collector, while for six years he has been school trustee. He belongs to the Roman Catho- lic church and is a man of many sterling traits of character, being warm-hearted and genial, while in his business affairs he is thoroughly reliable.

P. J. YENERICH.

P. J. Yenerich, who has filled several local of- fices in a creditable manner indicative of his pro- gressive citizenship, and who is known as a sub- stantial, enterprising farmer of La Salle county with large landholdings in this section of the state and in other states as well, now resides on section 8, Meriden township, where he has two hundred and forty acres of rich and pro- ductive land, his attention being given to raising grain and feeding stock. He was born near Buf- falo, New York, November 19, 1854, and is a son of George H. Yenerich, a native of Ger- many, who came to America when about thirty- five years of age and first located in Buffalo, New York, where he worked in a stone quarry. Sub- sequently he became a resident of Bureau county, Illinois, living near Lamoille for about ten years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Lee county, this state, and subsequently retired to Mendota. After coming to Illinois he always engaged in farming. He was married in Ģer- many to Miss Eva Maria Beiser, also a native of Germany, who died in Lee county, Illinois, about twenty years prior to her husband's de- mise. He afterward married a Mrs. Kahler.

P. J. Yenerich was the third of four children born of his father's first marriage, the eldest being J. G. Yenerich, of Ottawa. The second died in infancy. The youngest is W. C. Yen- erich, who is living at Ashkum, Illinois.

The subject of this review was three years of age when his parents removed from New York. His early education was acquired in the com- mon schools and he afterward attended the Na- perville College, Illinois, subsequent to which time he engaged in teaching school through thir- teen winter seasons, while in the summer months he followed farming. He left home at the age of twenty-one, and his first purchase of land made him owner of a farm in Mendota township,

MR. AND MRS. P. J. YENERICH.

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whereon he resided for two years. He then lived for three years on his father-in-law's farm and nineteen years ago he purchased his present place of residence known as the John Lindsey farm. It comprises two hundred and forty acres of well improved land, responding readily in rich harvests to the care and cultivation bestowed upon it. He has first class buildings upon the place, many of which he has erected and here he engages successfully in general farming and also feeds from one to three carloads of cattle per year. He has become a very extensive land owner, holding deeds to thirty-five hundred acres, including two hundred and seventy-six acres in Wyoming township, four hundred acres about twelve miles north of Sioux City, Iowa, two hun- dred and eighty acres in Wood county, Wiscon- sin, three hundred and twenty acres thirty miles from Winnipeg, Canada, and nineteen hundred and twenty acres of timber land in Arkansas. When he purchased his first farm his capital con- sisted of but seven hundred dollars, so that he had to incur a partial indebtedness in order to secure the property. He has always kept his credit good, meeting his financial obligations fully and promptly and has thus ever found it easy to obtain money when he needed it. He sustains an unassailable reputation in business circles for honesty as well as activity and enterprise and he regards self-reliance as the most essential quality in business and in the attainment of success.

Mr. Yenerich was married about twenty-five years ago to Miss Emma Deaner, a daughter of Jacob Deaner, one of the early settlers of the county now residing in Mendota. Nine children have graced this marriage: Ida May, who was educated in the university, is now at Bloomington and has been teaching for the past four years; Bertha; who has also taught school, is attending the normal at De Kalb, Illinois; Arthur D. was graduated in 1906 from Earlville high school; Roy O. and Etta F. are students in Earlville high school; George H., Ralph, Howard and Gladys are all at home.

In politics Mr. Yenerich is an independent voter at local elections, while in matters relat- ing to the national welfare he gives his support to the republican party. He has served as town- ship assessor, as justice of the peace and school trustee, but is not a politician in the generally ac- cepted sense of office seeking. He was reared in the Evangelical faith, attends the church services and contributes to the support of the church. His has been a notable career in its success, which has largely come to him through his judicious in- vestment in property and his farming interests. He is seldom at error in matters of business judg- ment and is a man of strong purposes, of marked

determination and enterprise and as the years have gone by has made for himself a foremost place in business circles in La Salle county.

WILLIAM H. CONARD.

William H. Conard, of Ransom, Illinois, is a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Allen township, and this history of the representative men of La Salle county would fall far short of its object did it not contain a synopsis of his life.

He is a native of Licking county, Ohio, born November 9, 1843. The ancestors of William H. Conard were undoubtedly Germans, the cor- rect name being Conrad; but neither the date of their settlement in America nor the manner in which the name became changed can be defin- itely ascertained. Certain it is, however, that for a number of generations prior to the Revolu- tionary war his ancestors resided in the colony of Virginia and were respected people in that aris- tocratic old state. The grandfather of our sub- ject, Anthony Conard, was a soldier of the Revo- lutionary war. Anthony was born at the foot of the Blue Ridge mountains in Loudoun county, Virginia, in the year 1760, and was but a mere boy when he enlisted in the patriot army. After the war he resided in Virginia near the planta- tion of General Washington, with whom he was personally acquainted. The father of Anthony Conard was John Conard, a native of Virginia. His children were Anthony, John, Jonathan, Na- than, Joseph and Susan. In 1827 Anthony Co- nard emigrated to Ohio, lived one year in Bel- mont county, and then located in Licking county, the same state, near the village of Utica, where he died in 1843.

Anthony Conard, Jr., the father of our subject, was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, October 16, 1799, and emigrated to Licking county, Ohio, in 1828, remaining there until 1847, when he emigrated to La Salle county, Illinois, and died in Crawford county, this state, December 26, 1851. He married Nancy Gregg, a native of Virginia, on the 18th day of January, 1821. She was born October 15, 1802, and died in La Salle county, Illinois, on the 16th day of December, 1847. Their children were Mary E., Elinor. David W., Charles W., Amelia, George W., Nel- son, John, Nancy, James W., Melvina M., Joseph W., William H. and Rebecca L.

William H. Conard removed with his par- ents from Licking county, Ohio, to La Salle county, Illinois, when but three years old. Soon afterward he was left an orphan and he was cared for by his friends until he was nine years

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old, when his sister Nancy was married to P. W. Jacobs, of Serena township, and was adopted by them until fourteen years of age. He helped them on the farm in summer and attended district school in winter. Mr. Conard's school days were very limited, being all told but twenty-two months in a common school, but he has taken every opportunity to study and learn, until now he has a fair education and a good knowledge of men and things. At the age of fourteen years Mr. Conard started out in life for himself, in- heriting nothing but health, an honest heart and willing hands to work. He began working as a farm hand at ten dollars per month and by most frugal habits and economy he saved sufficient from his small earnings in four years of his pa- tient labor to begin farming for himself on shares ; but just at that time his country was in danger, rebels in the south had seceded and were trampling the "old flag" in the dust. President Lincoln had called for three hundred thousand more men and Mr. Conard could no longer quench the flame of patriotism within his breast. He sold the little property he had, left the grain in the fields to be gathered by others and went to battle for his country. His record in the army is one of honor, and it is with pleasure that we here insert his army record, taken from the "His- tory of the One Hundred and Fourth Regiment of Illinois Volunters," of which he was a mem- ber :

"Sergeant William H. Conard, aged eighteen, a farmer, enlisted from Serena, August 14, 1862, was in the Kentucky campaign and the battle of Hartsville in the Tullahoma and Chickamauga campaigns ; was present at Elk river and Davis Cross Roads and the battle of Chickamauga, in the battles of Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge and the skirmishes following; was pro- moted corporal for meritorious services May I, 1864; was in the Atlanta campaign at Buzzard's Roost, the battles around Resaca, New Hope Church, Kenesaw Mountain and Peach Tree Creek. In the last named battle he was severely wounded in the right shoulder and was sent to the hospital, thence home. On recovering he re- joined the regiment at Goldsboro, North Caro- lina, and participated in the last campaign. Pro- moted to sergeant April 7, 1865. for meritorious services. Mustered out June 6, 1865."

'A soldier who could be counted upon in a tight place, on his return home he was tendered a commission in the regular army by Hon. B. F. Cook, then a member of congress from the Otta- wa district, but declined. Feeling that he had done his duty in serving his country to the close of the war, besides there was another to consult, one who had given him her love and promise of

marriage at the close of the war, if his life was spared.

Mr. Conard was married on the 20th of Feb- ruary, 1866, to Sarah Belinda Dominy, a daugh- ter of Lorenzo and Sarah A. (Gurnea) Dominy, both of whom were natives of New York. Her parents were among the early settlers of La Salle county, and here Mrs. Conard was born and reared. She was born March 13, 1845. To Mr. and Mrs. Conard have been born five children, all of whom are living: John M., born January 24, 1867; William L., September 25. 1868; Be- linda R., December 15, 1870; David E., Novem- ber 2, 1873 : and Reno J., August 12, 1876. John M. Conard was married to Esther A. Shinn, of Ottawa, Kansas, January 21, 1891, and they have one child, Alberta B., born March 2, 1899. Mr. Conard is a farmer and stock-raiser on his ranch in Franklin county, Kansas. William L. Conard was married to Elizabeth A. Martin, of Detroit, Michigan, January 31, 1894, and they have two children : Wilma A., born November 27, 1894; and Harvey M., December 23, 1896. Their home is in Toledo, Ohio. William L. is a professor in the Toledo College. Belinda R. Conard was married to Frank X. Strobel, of Allen township, on January 28, 1891. They live near the old home and are farmers. David E. Conard was married to Nettie Clark, of Dwight, Illinois, February 15, 1899, and is a farmer near the old home. They have two children, Mildred B., born March 7, 1900; and Evelin I., born May 22, 1906. Reno J. Conard was married to Clara Griffith, of Allen township. December 18, 1901, to whom one child is born, Lyle R., February I, 1904.

Lorenzo Dominy was born in Clinton county, New York, June 22, 1822, a son of Ezra and Rhoda (Smith) Dominy. He removed with his parents to La Salle county, in. 1835, and shared the hardships incident to a new country. He was much respected. He served his town in the capacities of supervisor and justice of the peace, and finally died at his home in Serena township, April 18, 1887. Ezra Dominy was born on Long Island, New York, May 13, 1786, and died Janu- ary 13. 1879, in La Salle county, Illinois. Ezra was a son of Henry Dominy, also a native of Long Island, born December 26, 1746, and a grandson of Nathaniel Dominy, one of the three brothers who came to America from England and settled on Long Island. Henry Dominy was in the employ of the government and was on Long Island when it was captured by the Brit- ish. The grandfather of Rhoda (Smith) Dom- iny was a native of England and also settled on Long Island. Sarah A. (Gurnea) Dominy was born April 21. 1826, in Montgomery county,

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New York, and now resides in Los Angeles, Cali- fornia. Her father, William F. Gurnea, was born September 15, 1796, in Montgomery county, New York, and died in La Salle county, Illinois. Isa- bella (Peck) Gurnea, wife of William F. Gur- nea, was born April 6, 1807, in Montgomery county, New York, and died in La Salle county, Illinois.

In the year 1866 William H. Conard bought eighty acres of land on section 35, Allen town- ship, and moved to it in 1867. He has occupied his time in farming and stock-raising and he has added to the original eighty acres until now, after giving to each of his children a good farm or its equivalent, he has still nine hundred and sixty acres of good land in his possession. He retired from the farm in 1903 and now lives in Ransom, near the scenes of his past active life. Mr. Conard has served his town continuously for thirty-eight years in the various offices of the town. At the present time and for fifteen years he has served his town as supervisor, also at the present time he is mayor of Ransom, school treas- urer, president of the Farmers' Elevator Com- pany, of Ransom, and president of the First Na- tional Bank of Ransom.

He is an honored member of the Grand Army of the Republic and belongs to the Methodist church. In politics Mr. Conard is thoroughly in- dependent and votes for men and measures and not for party. The party lash in the hands of party "bosses" finds no victim of obedience in his political action. He votes his conviction without obligations to partisans and believes the purity of the ballot-box can be secured from fraud and corruption only by every one so doing.

JAMES COSS.

James Coss, deceased, was a representative agriculturist of Troy Grove township and one who is yet remembered by friends who knew him during an active and well spent life. His parents were John and Mary Coss, who removed with their family to La Salle county from Ains- ley, New Haven county, Connecticut, where the birth of James Coss occurred. The father had some money when he arrived in the middle west. His capital consisted of about four thousand dol- lars, with which he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land near Troy Grove. Upon that property stood an old hotel the most of the lumber which was used in its construction hav- ing been hauled by wagon from Chicago. After the family settled here they became ill with the ague and most of their money had been used

in meeting doctor's bills and the living expenses before they were able to raise crops. Times were hard, money scarce and James Coss worked out as a farm hand for eight dollars per month when he could secure employment. When at home the father kept his sons busy in cutting off the timber with which his land was covered. They settled here in 1854 and James Coss en- tered upon a period of hard and persistent labor, which continued for many years. There were seven children in the family and little to provide for their support. He continued to engage in farm labor for his father and others until after the inauguration of the Civil war, when his pa- triotic spirit was aroused by the continued at- tempt to overthrow the Union and in 1862 he joined the army of the north. While in active service he contracted rheumatism from which he ever afterward suffered.

Following the close of the war Mr. Coss was united in marriage to Miss Lucy Burns, a daughter of Thomas and Bridget (Cahill) Burns, who came from Ireland to La Salle county about sixty years ago. Her father went to California in 1848 but was not fortunate in his search for gold there and returned home ill, soon afterward departing this life. He owned a resi- dence in La Salle and a farm in Ophir township. In his family were two children, the son Thomas being an electrician of Chicago who has charge of the Englewood station. The younger child is now Mrs. Coss.

Although James Coss was in limited financial circumstances at the time of his marriage he became a very successful farmer as the years passed and left to his family a valuable estate, comprising two hundred and fifty acres of fine land in one body in Troy Grove township. He made all of the improvements upon this place, laid the tile, set out the trees and transformed the farm from a wild and unproductive tract into one of rich fertility, equipped with all moderni accessories and conveniences that denote agricultural progress.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Coss were born eight children: John, Joseph, Lucy, Catherine. Wil- liam, Leo. Frank and Bernard. In his religious views Mr. Coss was a Catholic and was a play- mate and friend of Father Shaw in childhood. He helped to build St. Mary's church and always contributed generously of his means to its sup- port. His life was actuated by honorable prin- ciples and characterized by upright conduct, and while he prospered in his business affairs the most envious could not grudge him his success, so worthily was it won and so well was it used. He was reliable in all of his business transac- tions and his integrity, combined with his unfal-

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tering diligence, constituted the basis of his pros- perity. He died January 4, 1900, respected by all who knew him. Mrs. Coss is a lady of more than ordinary executive ability and energy, who is carefully rearing her family and carrying on the work of the farm. The estate comprises a large tract of land south of Mendota and in its control Mrs. Coss displays excellent business capacity and keen foresight.

P. R. JAMES, D. D. S.

Dr. P. R. James, who since 1891 has been en- gaged in the practice of dentistry in Ottawa with offices at No. 717 La Salle street, was born at Chariton, Iowa, in 1866, his parents being Caleb and Dorcas (Reed) James, who removed from Zanesville, Ohio, to Iowa in 1851. The former comes of Quaker origin and representatives of the family were residents of Westchester, Pennsyl- vania. at an early day. Subsequent to his re- moval to Iowa the father purchased government land at a dollar and a quarter per acre and en- gaged in farming as a life work. He sold his farm about eight years ago and is now residing in Des Moines at the age of eighty years, en- joying the fruits of his former toil in a well earned rest. His wife passed away in that city about three years ago. Dr. James is one of a fam- ily of seven children, five of whom are now liv- ing and is the only one residing in Illinois. The others are: Edward, who makes his home in Des Moines, Iowa ; Mrs. E. J. Turner, of Denver, Colorado; Howard, who is living in Ogden, Utah : and Belle, of Des Moines, Iowa. One brother, Albert, died in Denver, Colorado, about six years ago, and a sister, Mrs. I. A. Fain, died in Sheridan, Iowa.

Dr. James acquired his early education in the common schools and remained upon the home farm during his youth. He afterward attended the Shenandoah Normal School for two years and subsequently spent two years in Simpsonian College, at Indianola, Iowa. He then went to Iowa City, where he matriculated in the State University and won the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1891. He remained upon the home farm and gave his attention largely to its cultivation and improvement until about twenty-two years of age. Following his gradua- tion he located for practice in Wright county, Iowa, and in May, 1891, came to Ottawa, where he has since enjoyed a fine business. During the greater part of this time his office has been at his present location at No. 717 La Salle street. He draws his practice not only from the city but

from all parts of the county and is one of the most skilled physicians, having thorough knowl- edge of the science of dentistry in every depart- ment, his theoretical training being supplemented by broad, practical experience and mechanical skill. He has a well equipped office, supplied with the latest improved appliances and his busi- ness is now large and profitable, it being nothing uncommon for his business to amount to nine hundred or one thousand dollars per month. His individual practice, so far as we can learn, has reached the highest mark in his profession in the county.

Dr. James was married in Clarion, Iowa, to Miss Elizabeth Caley, of Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania and they have a daughter, Helen, who at the age of eleven years is attending school. The family home is on East Pearl street, where Dr. James erected his present residence. He and his wife hold membership in the Baptist church and he was formerly a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity. His political support is given to the republican party and as every true American citizen should do, he keeps well in- formed on the questions and issues of the day. That he has prospered is indicated by his realty possessions, for in addition to his home he owns three hundred acres of fine farming land in In- diana, thus having made judicious investments in real estate.

ANTON J. MEYER.

Anton J. Meyer, who figured prominently in commercial circles in Peru for many years and who became a prosperous resident by reason of close application, well sustained business enter- prise and activity, was a native of Bavaria, Ger- many, born on the 20th of June, 1840. He came to America with his parents, Anton and Barbara Meyer, who on crossing the Atlantic made their way to Peru, Illinois. Their son Anton was then a youth of fourteen years. He attended the schools of his native country and soon after arriving in America he began earning his own livelihood, working on the farm which he owned at the time of his death. As the years passed by he made judicious investments in real estate and became the owner of extensive holdings, comprising eight hundred and twenty-four acres of very valuable land in La Salle county. Farm- ing, however, was not his principal occupation. About 1869 he embarked in business on his own account as proprietor of a saloon and grocery store and through unfaltering energy and close application he amassed a fortune and at the same time gained a reputation as one of the most care-

ANTON J. MEYER.

MRS. ELIZABETH MEYER.

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ful and most successful business men of the city. He displayed keen discernment in all of his un- dertakings and carried forward to successful completion whatever claimed his time and labors.

In 1869, Mr. Meyer was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Aaron, also of Peru, and eleven children blessed this union, of whom seven are yet living, as follows: Mrs. William Neureu- ther; Katie; Anton; Sybella; Fred; Herman ; and Edward. All are residents of Peru save Anton, who is now living in California.

In his political views Mr. Meyer was a repub- lican, firm in his faith in the principles of the party. He never sought or desired office but was interested in political questions and issues and in a quiet way did all in his power to promote his party's success. He held membership in the German Evangelical church, of which his wife and family are also communicants, and in his life he manifested many sterling traits of charac- ter. He was highly esteemed as a member of the Masonic fraternity and he belonged to the Mo- kena lodge of Odd Fellows, to the German Be- nevolent Society and the German Reading As- sociation, while of Liberty Fire Company, No. I, he was an honorary member. He possessed a kindly spirit, a generous disposition and a sense of justice which made him always considerate of the interests and the rights of others. In an active business career he made steady advance- ment and thus was enabled to leave his family a very comfortable competence when, on the 16th of June, 1906, he was called to his final rest, being at the time in the sixty-sixth year of his age. Almost his entire life had been passed in Peru and throughout the city he was accorded warm regard by reason of his personal worth and many excellent traits of character.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 123

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