History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 127

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 127

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).

The parents of Samuel Plumb were Theron and Harriet (Merry) Plumb, the latter a daugh- ter of Samuel Merry, of Herkimer county, New York, while the former was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, August 17, 1783.

The parents were residing in New York at the time of the birth of Samuel. Plumb on the 15th of January, 1812. . At the usual age he entered the public schools, but his opportunity for pursuing his studies under public instruction was limited and he largely obtained his knowl- edge by study while at the work bench. He was a youth of eight years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Hartford, Ohio, where a portion of his youth was passed, while later he became a resident of Oberlin, that state. Watchful of every opportunity for business ad- vancement and placing his dependence in the safe and substantial qualities of close application, energy and a thorough mastery of every task which he undertook, he gradually advanced until as president of a bank in Oberlin he was recog- nized as one of the prominent business men of his part of the state. It was prior to the Civil war that he joined with others in establishing this bank and was officially connected with the enterprise until 1869, when he removed to Streator.

In the meantime, through the period of the Civil war, Mr. Plumb was recognized as an in- fluential resident of Ohio, leaving the impress of his individuality upon public thought and ac- tion during the momentous period in our na - tional history brought about by events which led up to and culminated in the Civil war. The great question of slavery was agitating the coun-

try and a study of the conditions in the south led him to the endorsement of the policy of aboli- tion. He voted with the whig party and later when the republican party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery he joined its ranks. He was the friend and associate of dis- tinguished leaders in the movement, including Hon. Benjamin Wade, Hon. Joshua R. Giddings, Governor S. P. Chase and others. He was elected to the state legislature from Ashtabula county and took an active interest in the discus- sion of the important questions which came up for settlement in the house. Following the inauguration of the Civil war his aid proved a potent factor in bettering the condition of sol- diers in the field and of their families at home. He served on a committee under appointment by the governor of Ohio that investigated the condi- tions of Ohio troops after the first battle of Bull Run and suggested means for the improvement of such conditions. He ever remained a stal- wart advocate of republican principles, and, though he had no aspiration for official prefer- ment, in the years following his removal to Streator few men outside of public life had broader or more accurate knowledge of the is- sues of the day and of the questions bearing di- rectly upon state and national welfare.

It was in the year 1869 that Samuel Plumb ar- rived in Streator, finding it a small village of embryonic conditions. The fact that it was known as Hardscrabble perhaps indicates some .. thing of the charater of the town, which was just emerging from villagehood and had little indus- trial or commercial importance. Believing in the future of the new town, however, and realiz- ing that the growth of Illinois was being rapidly carried forward along substantial lines, he opened a private bank in Streator and subse- quently organized the Union National Bank, of which he was president for a number of years prior to his death. As a banker he won a grati- fying measure of success and became one of the capitalists of the city. Any successful busi- ness enterprise is a factor in a city's growth and in this manner Mr. Plumb contributed to general improvement. Moreover his co-operation and aid could be counted upon at all times to further any plan or movement for the benefit of the city and its people and he did much to advance ma- terial, intellectual and moral progress.

In the year 1865 Samuel Plumb was united in marriage to Miss Levancia Holcomb, a native of New York and a daughter of Hiram and Jane (Richards) Holcomb, who removed from the Empire state to Ohio, and thence came to Illi- nois when Mrs. Plumb was but twelve years of age. Afterward returning to the Buckeye state,

988

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

she continued her education in Oberlin College, from which she was graduated in the class of 1861. While a student there she formed the ac- quaintance of Mr. Plumb, to whom she gave her hand in marriage in 1865. Their children are

as follows : May E., the wife of Dr. R. A. Harris, of Los Angeles, California; Jessie, the wife of H. A. Schryver, of Wheaton, Illinois ; Samuel Walter, vice president of the Union Na- tional Bank; and Bertha M., the wife of L. B. Frazier, of Aurora, Illinois.

Mr. Plumb held membership in the Congrega- tional church of Streator, but withheld his aid from no religious movement that tended to uplift his fellowmen. He took a sane, unbiased view of life, its possibilities and its responsibilities, and he neglected no duty that devolved upon him in his business career or in his relations with his fellowmen as a citizen or social associate. His nature was pre-eminently kindly and cordial. He looked for the best in others and thereby received from them the manifestations of the higher na-

ture. He was true to every trust of the busi- ness world and no confidence reposed in him in any relation of life was betrayed to the slightest degree. He passed away in Colorado Springs, Colorado, June 23, 1882, having rounded out the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten. Mrs. Plumb, still surviving her husband, yet makes her home in Streator and is president of the Union National Bank. Moreover she is a mem- of the Presbyterian church of Streator and her spirit of philanthropy is manifest in her hearty co-operation with many benevolent and charit- able enterprises of the city. Provided with ex- cellent educational privileges, added to innate re- finement and culture, she has always been recog- nized as a leader in social circles, exerting a wide influence in behalf of the ennobling virtues and graces of character.

SAMUEL W. PLUMB.

Samuel W. Plumb, one of the directors and the vice president of the Union National Bank of Streator, was born in this city, July 14, 1874. He completed his education in Wheaton College at Wheaton, Illinois, from which he was grad- uated in 1895. The following year he entered the Union National Bank of Streator as messen- ger and has been an important factor in the man- agement of this strong financial institution in later years.

In Wheaton, Illinois, on the IIth of Novem- ber, 1896, Mr. Plumb was united in marriage to Miss Anna A. Dresser, who was born in Pent-

water, Michigan, April 28, 1876, the wedding ceremony being performed by her grandfather, Rev. Amos Dresser, who in antebellum days was a strong anti-slavery man and was once whipped on the streets of Memphis, Tennessee, for ex- pressing his opinions in opposition to slavery. Mrs. Plumb still has in her possession the testa- ment which her grandfather carried in his pocket at that time. Her parents were Amos and Rhoda (Roberts) Dresser. Her father, born in Ohio and educated in Oberlin College, is now a manu- facturer of Wheaton, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Plumb have two children : Samuel W., born March 6, 1899; and Gordon Dresser, born Feb- ruary 28, 1901.

Mr. Plumb is a valued member of the Streator Club, while in his political views he is a republican.

THOMAS O'DONNELL.

Thomas O'Donnell was born on the farm where he now resides on section 17, Wallace township. His natal day was June 23, 1862, and his parents were Andrew and Margaret (O'Don- nell) O'Donnell, further mention of whom is made in connection with the sketch of James J. O'Don- nell on another page of this work. In the family were seven children, namely: Mary, who was born in Ireland, and died in 1860; Johanna, who is living on the old home farm in the house built by her father; John, who was born in Ire- land and married Mary Hogan, their home being in Stewart, Iowa; Kate, the wife of Ed Wolfe, also a resident of Stewart, Iowa; Mike, who is married and resides in Montana; James J., who is living in Wallace township; and Thomas, of this review.

Throughout his entire life Thomas O'Donnell has lived upon the old home place. When his father died he inherited eighty acres of land and he has built a new house and barns upon his farm and otherwise improved his property. He has drained his fields by laying many rods of tiling and has divided the farm by well kept fences. He is now getting everything about his place in good shape and is still investing money for the further development and improvement of the property. The buildings are new and in good condition and the farm is neat and thrifty in appearance. In addition to his home place he rents and cultivates forty acres owned by his sister, who lives in the old home.

On the 9th of February, 1891, Mr. O'Donnell was united in marriage to Miss Katie Keating, who was born in Ottawa and is a daughter of John Keating, a resident of the county seat. Two

989

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

children grace this marriage: Margaret, who was born March 2, 1892; and Mary, who was born May 22, 1894. The parents are communi- cants of the Roman Catholic church at Ottawa, and Mr. O'Donnell gives his political allegiance to the democratic party. He has served as school director for fifteen years and was formerly road commissioner for fifteen years and drain commis- sioner for nine years. He regards a public office as a public trust and is as loyal to his duty and as faithful in its performance as he is in the care of his private business interests.

HON. CORBUS P. GARDNER.

Corbus P. Gardner is one of the ablest lawyers practicing at the La Salle county bar and has become quite prominent in public affairs, now representing his district in the state senate. He was born on a farm north of Mendota, Sep- tember 2, 1868, and is a son of George W. and Margaret (Smith) Gardner, both of whom were of Irish descent but natives of Butler (then Law- rence) county, Pennsylvania. The father was born February 13, 1824, and in 1851 went to California, traveling by water from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, to St. Joseph, Missouri. He spent about two years in the gold fields on the Pa- cific slope and then returned to his home in the east. It was in 1862 that he brought his family to Illinois and took up his residence in La Salle county, where he eventually became the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of fine farm- ing land on sections 9 and 17, Mendota township, his time and attention being devoted to agricul- tural pursuits. In his family were ten children, nine sons and one daughter.

During his boyhood and youth Corbus P. Gardner aided his father in the cultivation and improvement of the home farm. His education, begun in the country schools, was supplemented by a course in the Blackstone high school of Mendota, where he was graduated in 1887, and for a time he was a student in the law office of Otto Keselbach, of that city, and also worked on the Mendota Reporter. Later he attended the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and on his graduation from that institution in 1890 was admitted to the bar in both Illinois and Michigan. Locating in Mendota, he opened an office over the First National Bank, and is today successfully engaged in practice at that place, being recog- nized as one of the most prominent attorneys of the county. He handles only large cases and has been connected with some of the leading lawsuits not only of La Salle county but ad-

joining counties as well. A man of sound judg- ment and broad legal knowledge, he manages his cases with masterful skill and tact.

On the IIth of December, 1901, Mr. Gard- ner married Miss Georgie Smith, who was a popular teacher in the Blackstone school, and to them has been born one child, Margaret W., born October 18, 1903. As a republican Mr. Gardner has always taken an active interest in political affairs but was never a candidate for of- fice until his first election to the state senate in 1898. So acceptably did he fill the position, how- ever, that he was re-elected in 1902 and is the present incumbent. He has served on all of the important committees and is now chairman of the appropriation committee. He has always cham- pioned public education but at the same time has worked earnestly to use the state's money for the purposes for which it was appropriated. As a politician Mr. Gardner has always been noted for his fair dealing and honesty and is credited, even by his political enemies, with being straight- forward and conducting the business of the state for the benefit of the people, thus gaining the confidence of both parties. He is today one of the most prominent political figures in the county and he well merits the high regard in which he is so uniformly held.

WILLIAM F. QUINN.

William F. Quinn, prominently known throughout Illinois as a horseman and now located in Chicago at the southwest corner of Clark and Madison streets, was born in the city of La Salle in May, 1872. His father, John H. Quinn, was a native of Ireland and in 1865 became a resident of La Salle, where he was engaged in the grocery and stock business. He met with splendid prosperity as the years passed by and is now a wealthy citizen, living retired upon a farm near the town of La Salle. In his family were five children, four sons and a daugh- ter, namely : Ed. J., who was prominent in polit- ical circles and died in April, 1902; James P., who is with the General Fire Extinguishing Company ; Daniel J., who is also associated with that company ; William F .; and Mrs. Matthew J. Reiley, living in Chicago. The father has always given his political allegiance to the democ- racy since he became a naturalized American citi- zen and is very active in local political circles, doing all in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party. He has fre- quently been a delegate to its conventions and has served as alderman of La Salle for some time,

990

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

exercising his official prerogatives in support of many progressive measures.

William F. Quinn was educated in the com- mon schools of his native city and when sixteen years of age came to Chicago, where he was connected with horse-trading for some time. Later he became a linesman and took the pre- mium as linesman at the World's Columbian Exposition in 1893. He is one of the best horse- men in the state and is a great lover of horses. He belongs to a number of prominent driving clubs, including the Garfield Park Winter Driv- ing Club and the Washington Park Racing Association.

On the 25th of April, 1906, in St. Louis, Mis- souri, Mr. Quinn was married to Miss Mary M. McMorran, of Chicago, and they reside at No. 708 East Fiftieth street. In his political affilia- tion Mr. Quinn is a democrat. In 1899 he served as commissary inspector for the Wagner Palace Car Company and during the greater part of his life has been prominent in connection with the handling of horses.

R. C. GAST.

R. C. Gast is the owner of an excellent farm of three hundred and fifty-five acres, his home being on section 28, Earl township. Man's rise is not measured by the heights to which he has attained but the depths from which he has climbed and viewed from this standpoint Mr. Gast has made a splendid record, for with limited educational and financial advantages he started out in life on his own account and worked his way steadily upward until he is now one of the substantial and representative agriculturists and large landowners of his adopted county.

He was born near Frankfort-on-Oder, Ger- many, November 18, 1859. His father, John Gotlieb Gast, was born at the same place on the 7th of December, 1825, and there spent his childhood and early manhood. In 1854 he was married to Marie Dorothea Gray and in 1861 he came to America, locating in Earl township, La Salle county, Illinois, where Mr. Gast engaged in farming. He purchased a tract of land of eighty acres with little improvements. He was a hard worker and a man of strong constitution and personal magnetism. Because of his industry and enterprise he became one of the prosperous farmers of Earl township, while his personal characteristics made him popular with many friends. At his death he owned two hundred acres of good land with excellent modern im- provements upon the place, all of which were

put there by himself. He died June II, 1893, and about three weeks before the end he realized that he could not live and made all arrangements for the funeral service and interment. Calling his family to him, he made disposition of his property and soon after passed away. He was one of the oldest settlers in his neighborhood, having located there in early pioneer times, and as the years passed he watched the development of the county as it emerged from frontier con- ditions and took on all of the evidences of a modern civilization. His wife was born in Cuse- henn, Germany, March 25, 1824. She was al- ways a strong woman, very diligent and energetic up to the last few years of her life, when a can- cerous growth, however, not recognized as such by her physicians and family until too late, destroyed her vitality and occasioned her death on the 24th of May, 1894, in Ottawa. Being in limited financial circumstances at the time of their arrival in the new world, Mr. and Mrs. Gotlieb Gast lived for a considerable period in an old log house on the farm, where the father afterward built a modern frame residence. Their frugality and industry were the essential elements in their success. They were good Christian people, holding membership in the German Lutheran church. In their family were seven children: Minnie, now the wife of F. A. Bruell, is living in Meriden township. Ann Eliza is the wife of Chris Schlivens, a resident of Ottawa. One died in Germany in infancy. Rinold C. is the next of the family. John G. is living on a farm in Meriden township. Bertha C. is the deceased wife of John Hess, a resident of Men- dota, Illinois, and Otto is living on the old homestead.

R. C. Gast spent his life on his father's farm up to the time of his marriage. He began work when very young, following the plow when only seven years of age. Because of the necessity for his early toil he received but limited educational privileges, but he developed a self-reliance and force of character that stood him in place of capital and have made him a man of much strength of purpose and marked individuality.

On the 8th of November, 1883, Mr. Gast was united in marriage to Miss Martha Andres, who was born in Germany, December 22, 1865. She is a daughter of Carl and Johanna Andres, both of whom were natives of Germany and in 1867 became residents of La Salle county, where the father engaged in farming. Later, however, he and his wife returned to Germany, where both passed away. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Gast has been blessed with four children: Ar- thur, born August 19, 1884; Carl, born May 8, 1890; Lawrence, January 5, 1895; and Bertha,

GOTLIEB GAST.

993

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

January 27, 1898. All of the children are yet at home.

At the time of his marriage Mr. Gast began farming on his own account. As the result of his industry in previous years he had become the owner of three good horses, five head of cattle, a few hogs and some tools. He bought one hundred and twenty acres of land from his father and farmed it for twelve years. Eleven years ago he sold his property and bought two hundred and eighty-five acres where he now lives, to which he has added until his landed possessions at the present writing aggregate three hundred and fifty-five acres. He com- pleted the house which had been partially built and he now has a large, square frame residence of pleasant arrangement and tastefully furnished. In 1902 he built a big barn and has put up other good buildings upon his place. All have been painted and everything is kept in a state of good repair. He carries on general farming, also feeding some cattle and hogs, and he has every reason to be proud of the excellent record which he has made in business. Handicapped by lim- ited advantages in his youth, he has learned many valuable lessons in the school of experience and is a practical, enterprising business man, who makes the most of his opportunities and has accomplished good results.

In his political views Mr. Gast is an earnest republican. He has served as school director for fifteen years and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend. He belongs to the Ger- man Lutheran church and is interested in all that pertains to general progress along material, educational or moral lines. Brought to America in early childhood, he has resided in La Salle county through almost his entire life, and, as every good citizen does who faithfully performs his daily duties, he has contributed to the sub- stantial progress of his community and upheld its legal and political status.

JOHN A. BARDONER.

John A. Bardoner, who owns and operates a farm on section 28, Earl township, is a native of Pennsylvania, where his birth occurred Novem- ber 26, 1836. His parents were John A. and Katherine (Bilston) Bardoner. Both were born in Pennsylvania, but the father was of French descent, while the mother was of German lineage. She died when her son John was only nine years of age and the father afterwards married again. He was an iron-moulder by trade and followed that occupation amid the iron fields of the Keystone state.

Following his father's second marriage life at home was rendered uncomfortable to John A. Bardoner and he therefore started out in the world alone to fight its battles unaided. He has . since depended entirely upon his own exertions and whatever success he has achieved is due entirely to his own labors. He learned the ma- chinist's trade in early manhood and, being fond of life, its pleasures and excitements, thought little of saving money. He therefore had only a dollar and a half in his pocket when in 1858 he arrived in La Salle county. Here he began work on a farm for Robert Strawn in Utica township and he gave his money to Mrs. Strawn to keep for him, for by this time he had be- gun to take a more serious view of life and de- termined to save money. For a few years he remained in the employ of Mr. Strawn and then purchased a team and rented a tract of land, thus starting out in life upon an independent business career. Within five years he had saved capital sufficient to enable him to make purchase of seventy acres of land situated on section 28, Earl township, and thereon he has since made his home.

In the fall of 1863, Mr. Bardoner was mar- ried to Miss Johanna Thompson, a native of Ohio, born July 1, 1844, and a daughter of Elisha and Marinda (Place) Thompson, who were early settlers of Serena township. The farm which Mr. Bardoner secured was an old one, upon which was a small frame house and log stable. There the young couple began their domestic life, working earnestly and persistently and rearing a large family. Though Mr. Bardoner has never added to his original purchase he has made a comfortable home and has been enabled to enjoy many of the good things of life as the years have gone by without attempt to amass wealth. Two years ago he built a neat cottage upon his place. The land is well tiled, there are good fences and an orchard and shade trees add to the value and attractive appearance of the farm, while a beautiful lawn surrounds the house.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bardoner have been born eight children, of whom seven are now living : Nellie M., the wife of Robert Place, a resident of Iowa ; Emma L., the wife of James Julian, who is living in Meriden township; Katie J., the wife of R. E. Phillips, of Earlville : Charles T., who is living on a farm in Iowa ; Cornelia, who died at the age of six years; Angeline, the wife of Walter Gatiss, a farmer of Earl township; William, who is living in Somonauk, Illinois ; and Martin V., at home.

In early life Mr. Bardoner became convineced of the injustice and wrong of slavery and when Abraham Lincoln made his canvass of the state

994

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

and Mr. Bardoner heard him speak at Ottawa he became a warm adherent and champion of the martyred president and has since been a stalwart .republican. He has served as school director but in no other office. Though his education was limited, his mental training being largely received in night schools, he is today a man of clear under- standing, keeping well posted on the questions and issues of the day through reading and ob- servation, while in the school of experience he has learned many valuable lessons. As the years have gone by he has made good use of his opportunities, providing his family with a com- fortable home and gaining a farm which yields to him a good financial return in reward for the care and labor which he bestows upon it. Altogether he has gotten much contentment from his life and has gained the respect of his fellowmen.

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 127

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