History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 137

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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interest in the county where much of his boy- hood and youth were passed is indicated by his relationship with the La Salle County Associa- tion.

C. W. DUDGEON.

C. W. Dudgeon, who since 1902 has been con- ducting a successful business as a lumber mer- chant of Mendota and who was formerly identi- fied with commercial interests as proprietor of a jewelry store of the city, was born July 30, 1868, his parents being S. G. and Mary (Black) Dudgeon. The father, a native of Harrison county, Ohio, was a shoemaker by trade and fol- lowed that pursuit in early life, while subse- quently he engaged in carpentering. Removing to the middle west, he took up his abode in Mendota and was a prominent and influential resident here of marked public spirit. He served as alderman and was also mayor of the city, to which he gave a business-like and progressive administration. He was identified with the re- publican party and was recognized as a leader in its local ranks. He died April 26, 1902, after a residence of almost a half century in Men- dota. He had long survived his wife, who passed away in 1872. In their family were six children : John A., Frank G., Alice J., C. W., Carrie B. and S. O., all of whom are now living.

C. W. Dudgeon, reared in the usual manner of lads of the period and of similar environment, acquired his education in the excellent public schools of Mendota and through his business career has been identified with the commercial interests of the city. For a number of years he was engaged in the jewelry business and in 1902 he sold out and turned his attention to the lumber trade, having now a large and well equipped yard. In this undertaking he is also meeting with success, his patronage steadily growing in recognition of his business reliability, enterprise and earnest desire to please his customers.

In 1891 Mr. Dudgeon was united in marriage to Miss Vie L. Freeland, a daughter of J. W. and Sarah E. (Presher) Freeland, of Syracuse, New York. Her father was a farmer by occu- pation. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Dudgeon have been born a daughter and a son, Gladys C. and Grant W. The family home is justly celebrated for its gracious and warm-hearted hospitality and the members of the household occupy an enviable position in social circles. Mr. Dudgeon is a re- publican, who though well informed on ques- tions and issues of the day and neglectful of no duty of citizenship has never sought office as a reward for party fealty. Fraternally he is a

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Mason, connected with the lodge, chapter and council, and he is justly regarded as one of Men- dota's active and progressive business men, for whom the future holds in store still greater suc- cesses because of his possession of those quali- ties of enterprise, strong determination and close application which always win prosperity.

THOMAS H. THORNSON.

Thomas H. Thornson, living on section 16, Adams township, is now giving his time and energies to the further improvement of the old Thornson homestead, which constitutes one of the valuable farms of La Salle county. His life record began in Mission township, this county, on the 23d of September, 1848. His father, T. Thornson, was born May 25, 1817, on the old homestead Hovda, in Hovda, Norway, in which country he was reared and married, in 1844. The following year he emigrated with his wife to the new world, being ten weeks in making the voyage across the Atlantic, during which time they encountered some severe storms. At length they arrived in Chicago, whence they drove across the country to La Salle county, settling in Mission township, where the father purchased land. Later he sold that property and bought the place where his son now resides, becoming owner of eighty acres and also an eighty-acre tract adjoining, which he afterward sold. He broke the land, turning the first fur- rows in the fields, enclosed the place and built a good house. He became a prosperous farmer of his locality and continued to reside upon the old homestead until his life's labors were ended in death, on the 28th of October, 1883. His widow still survives him and resides upon the farm with her son Thomas, being now a well preserved old lady of eighty-two years. She was born at Reeveland in Aardal, Norway, May 18, 1824. She is a member of the Lutheran church, to which her husband also belonged; and he helped to build the first church on the prairie within two miles of Leland. For many years he served as school director.

In the family are three sons, who are yet liv- ing, Richard being now a resident of Minnesota, while John makes his home in the village of Leland. The daughters are Isabelle, the wife of J. A. Olson, of Leland; Ellen S., wife of A. A. Bjelland, of De Kalk county; Julia, wife of Frank Gunderson, of La Salle county; Anna, the wife of Osman Tyler, of Hamilton county, Iowa; and Mary, the deceased wife of G. Jame- son, of La Salle county.

Thomas H. Thornson is the eldest son and was reared in the usual manner of farm lads, attending the home schools and working in the fields when not busy with his text-books. He remained with his father until he had attained his majority and then went to South Dakota, securing a claim in Brule county. He located thereon and made some improvements and after a time sold the property and returned to La Salle county. Here he has since carried on general agricultural pursuits and he also owned an interest in a horsepower thresher, which he operated for ten seasons, often threshing in various parts of La Salle and also in adjoining counties. After the death of his father he pur- chased the interest of the heirs in the home property and took charge of the farm, which he has since cultivated. He has drained the place by tiling and has divided it into fields of conve- nient size by well kept fences. He has built a barn and now has a well improved and produc- tive farm within two miles of Leland. The advantages of town life are thus very accessible, while the advantages of rural existence are con- tinually enjoyed.

Mr. Thornson belongs to the Lutheran church in Leland and in politics he has always been a republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He has been a member of the Good Templars thirteen years and the Knights of the Globe six years, being a delegate to the grand lodge state convention held at Jackson- ville. He has spent his entire life in this county with the exception of the brief period passed in South Dakota and is justly regarded here as a successful farmer and upright. citizen, whose life has been uneventful so far as exciting inci- dents and episodes are concerned but he has in the faithful performance of each day's duty made himself a valued citizen.

FOLLETT W. BULL.

Follett W. Bull, president of the Photograph Company of America, with main office in the Opera House Block, in Chicago, is one of the native sons of La Salle county. Mr. Bull was born in the city of La Salle, a son of E. Follett Bull, one of the early settlers of the county, who took up his abode in La Salle in 1852. The father was an attorney and for many years prac- ticed in La Salle, where he was regarded as a very prominent and influential citizen.

Follett W. Bull is indebted to the public-school system of La Salle and of Ottawa for the educa- tional privileges he enjoyed in his youth, and

MR. AND MRS. T. THORNSON.

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when his more specifically literary education was completed he took up the study of law in Ottawa with the firm of Brower & Strawn as his preceptors. When he had gained a thorough knowledge of many of the principles of jurispru- dence he was admitted to the bar in 1892, and for eight years continued in the practice of law, spending three and a half years of that time in La Salle and the remainder in Chicago. For some time he was connected with the Chicago Envelope Company as one of its officers, and in 1904 he turned his attention to manufacturing interests and has since been president of the Photograph Company of America, which was organized in that year. The company are manufactureres of advertising devices, fancy pictures, souvenir postal cards and all kinds of photographic goods. In the year of the organization of the company they purchased an invention for producing pho- tographs by machinery and their line of goods includes photographs for calendars, catalogues, hangers, display cards, mailing cards, advance cards and signs. They also maintain a branch office in New York. The business has had large and substantial growth since its inauguration about two years ago, and almost from the be- ginning the investment has proved profitable. They employ sixty people in their factory at Oak Park and their output is sent all over the world, most of the foreign trade, however, being in Canada.

Mr. Bull was married in 1893 to Miss Jennie C. Perkins, of Ottawa, Illinois, a daughter of Lothrop Perkins. Mr. Bull belongs to Union League Club, and Oak Park Club.

PLATT FORD.

Platt Ford, a retired farmer living in Tonica, is one of the pioneer settlers of La Salle county, whose residence here dates back to the days when wild deer were shot in this locality, while lesser game could be had in abundance. The now richly cultivated fields were then largely unbroken prai- rie tracts and little evidence of progress and im- provement was to be seen. Mr. Ford was born in Lexington, Greene county, New York, on the 4th of March, 1832, his parents being Philo and Nancy (Kipp) Ford. The father, a native of Connecticut, removed to New York in an early day. He was a carpenter by trade and had a small farm in the Catskill mountains. His polit- ical allegiance was given to the democracy and he held a number of minor offices. He came of Revolutionary stock and manifested the spirit of patriotism and of loyalty characteristic of his

military ancestors. His wife was born in the state of New York, and she, too, came of a fam- ily that was represented in the war for independ- ence. Her religious faith was indicated by her membership in the Baptist church and her daily exemplification of its teachings. In the family were eight children, of whom Platt was the fifth in order of birth.

Upon the home farm Platt Ford was reared. He had meager educational privileges, attending subscription schools to some extent but the lim- ited financial resources of the family rendered more advanced education impossible to him. He remained a resident of the Empire state until after he had attained his majority and then started for Illinois, arriving in Chicago on the Ist of September, 1855, when it was but a small place. He afterward spent a month in Morris, Illinois, and subsequently took up his abode in Eden township, La Salle county, where he worked by the month at farm labor and at shopping wood. He shot many a deer in those early days and became quite expert with the rifle. For more than a half century he has lived in or near Tonica and as the years passed by became a pros- perous farmer, adding to his possessions until he became the owner of five hundred and twenty- four acres of valuable land in Eden township and one hundred and sixty acres in Hope township. He made judicious investment in property and moreover displayed excellent business ability and keen foresight in the management of his farm- ing interests. He raised considerable stock and this, too, proved a gratifying source of income. In 1878 he retired from the farm and has since made his home in Tonica.

On Christmas day of 1860 Mr. Ford was mar- ried to Miss Sarah L. Newton, who was born in Lexington, New York, March 1, 1833, and died October 6, 1904. When three years of age she came to Tonica with her parents, George M. and Fannie Newton. Her father entered eighty acres of land from the government, on which a part of Tonica has since been built. Her grandfather, Amos Newton, at the same time entered an ad- joining tract of eighty acres. Her father after- ward sold his original claim and bought a tract of land from Louis Bailey, the oldest settler on Bailey creek. Thus from early pioneer times the Newton family has been identified with the im- provement and progress of this portion of the state and representatives of the name have con- tributed in substantial measure to the work of reclaiming this region for the uses of civilization. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ford were born a son and daughter: Fannie, who is now the wife of Wil- liam Thompson, a resident farmer of Eden town- ship ; and George R., who is engaged in farming

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in the same township. Mrs. Ford taught school in Tonica for a number of years in early life.

In his social relations Mr. Ford is connected with Tonica lodge, No. 364, A. F. & A. M. He has always largely advocated the principles of democracy but is nevertheless very independent in his political affiliation and has never sought or desired office. He has traveled quite exten- sively, making six trips back to New York, and has also visited many points of interest in the west. In addition to his valuable farming prop- erty he owns stock in the bank at Cherryvale, Kansas. The years have brought him splendid success as the reward of persistent effort, close application and unfaltering industry. He has been straightforward in his dealings and reliable in all his transactions and he has gained not only valuable property interests but also an honored name during the period of his residence in La Salle county.

JOHN W. CONNESS.

John W. Conness, a farmer and stock breeder and raiser, living on section 24, Eagle township, operates three quarter sections of land and is well known as an enterprising and prosperous business man. He was born in this township June 7, 1859. His father, Luke Conness, was born in County Galway, Ireland, and when a boy came to America, residing for some time in New York, where he served an apprenticeship at the business of piano tuning. Making his way westward to Fort Dearborn, now Chicago, he en- gaged in driving stage for Mr. Hardy between Chicago and La Salle and located in La Salle county in 1843. Here he first rented land and in 1846 located on a farm in what is now Eagle township. This property still constitutes a por- tion of the Conness estate and is operated by his son, John Conness. At different times the father added to his property as his financial resources increased until at his death he was an extensive landholder, owning a section in Eagle township and a half section in Grundy county, Illinois, besides twenty acres on section 8 and ten acres on section 27, Eagle township, near Streator. He rented the Grundy county property, but cultivated his land in Eagle township and was well known as a large breeder and feeder of stock. His busi- ness interests made him a representative citizen of the community and moreover he was active in community affairs, serving as commissioner in Eagle township for several years and also as county commissioner. He was a man of sound judgment and keen discrimination in matters re- lating to the general good as well as to individual

business interests. He died upon the home farm in January, 1886, when about sixty-five years of age, passing away in the faith of the Catho- lic church, in which he had been reared.

In early manhood Luke Conness wedded Miss Mary Lynes, who was born in county Kerry, Ireland, and came to this country in her girlhood days, her parents locating near the city of La Salle and there residing until they were called to their final rest. Mrs. Conness still survives her husband and is living in Streator at about the age of eighty-six years. In their family were fourteen children: Mary, now in Streator ; Mar- garet, who died about 1900; Robert L., who is engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 23, Eagle township, where he owns four hundred and forty acres of finely improved land; Eliza, who died in childhood; Sarah, the wife of J. Condren, of Streator; Bridget, the wife of John Mohan, residing in Lamars, Iowa; Jennie, who died in childhood; Teresa, the twin sister of Jennie and the wife of James Larkin, a resident of Yukon, Oklahoma; Walter, who is engaged in the real-estate business at Bloomington, Illi- nois ; Luke, a resident farmer of Eagle town- ship; John W .; of this review; Eliza, the wife of Joe Quinn, who is residing in Oklahoma ; Ben, a ranchman of South Dakota; and one who died in infancy.

John W. Conness was reared upon the old homestead farm and educated in the common schools, also pursuing his studies in La Salle and Kankakee. He resided at home until about the time when he attained his majority and has since engaged in business for himself, carrying on farming and stock-raising interests since the spring of 1885. He has successfully conducted the farm and buys, feeds and sells large num- bers of cattle. He is in partnership with his brother, E. J. Conness, in the ownership of a large ranch in Lyman county, South Dakota, where they have thirteen thousand acres of land and handle between twelve and thirteen hundred head of cattle. They also own a half section of land in Yankton county, South Dakota, which they operate as a farm, the ranch and farm being under the direct management of E. J. Conness. The brothers began their business interests in South Dakota in the spring of 1900 and Mr. Conness of this review makes trips to the west and southwest, where he purchases cattle. He has fed quite extensively on his own farm in Eagle township, where he owns one hundred and fifty-five acres of land, and is numbered among the representative stock-raisers of this portion of the state.

Mr. Conness married Miss Etta Hoarty, a daughter of John Hoarty, now of Streator and

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a native of this county. They have one child, Katherine, now about two years of age. Po- litically Mr. Conness is a democrat and belongs to Rev. Father Eagan's parish in Eagle town- ship. He has long been a prominent representa- tive of agricultural interests here and the name of Conness stands for business activity and in- tegrity in agricultural circles.

JOHN J. BRADLEY.

Among the native sons of La Salle county who have attained political prominence is numbered John J. Bradley, alderman for the thirtieth ward in Chicago. He is serving for the third term- the first time any candidate has been three times elected from that ward-a fact which is indica- tive of his personal popularity as well as his cred- itable record in support of the city's best interests. His business interests center in an insurance, real-estate and loan agency at No. 4709 Halstead street.

. Born in Ottawa, La Salle county, April 30, 1866, he is a son of Patrick Bradley, who about 1850 went to La Salle county from the western part of Ireland, having been born in county Ros- common. He spent many years in Ottawa, and in 1887, retiring from business life, removed to Chicago, where he and his wife now reside. Their son John was educated in the public schools of his native city and, putting aside his text- books, entered the Jones carriage shop as an ap- prentice, learning the trade. He was a journey- man blacksmith at the age of nineteen years and soon afterward he went to Chicago, where he entered the employ of Swift & Company in their car shops. After two years thus passed he en- tered the railroad service of the Stock Yards Company, being thus engaged for fourteen years, beginning in 1888. After five years' service he was appointed chief clerk, which office he filled during the remainder of the time.

Meanwhile Mr. Bradley became deeply inter- ested in municipal politics and, as a stalwart champion of the democracy, came to be recog- nized as a leader in its local ranks and his faith- ful service in behalf of the party was rewarded by office when in 1902 he was elected to repre- sent the thirtieth ward in the city council. He 'was again chosen in 1904 and for a third term in 1906. He was a candidate for drainage trus- tee on the Democratic ticket in November, 1905, and although defeated ran sixty-five hundred votes ahead of his ticket. He was chairman of the small park commission under Mayor Harri- son, but because of the stress of other duties re-

signed the position. He is chairman of the police committee and a member of the local transporta- tion committee of the council and was one of the minority of five who stood out for Mayor Dunne on the question of municipal ownership. At Mr. Bradley's second election as alderman he carried every precinct in the ward and at the last elec- tion lost but two precincts in the ward. In his business life he is now successfully conducting a real-estate, loan and insurance agency, with a large clientele in each department.

In 1901 was celebrated the marriage of John J. Bradley and Miss Julia Agnes Dunne, of Chi- cago, and they have one child, Agnes. Mr .. Brad- ley belongs to the Catholic Order of Foresters and is popular with a large circle of friends in poli- tics, in business and in social life. The family home is at No. 726 Garfield Boulevard, Chicago.

JOSEPH E. THOMPSON.

Joseph E. Thompson, supervisor of Freedom township and an enterprising agriculturist, was born September 22, 1865, upon the old homestead in this county. He is a son of Barto Thompson, whose life record is given on another page of this work. He acquired a common-school education and when only ten years of age began work in the fields, since which time he has led the life of a busy, practical and progressive agriculturist. He worked for his father for many years and now owns one hundred and sixty acres, constituting one of the best improved farms in Freedom township. Upon the place he has a beautiful and commodious resi- dence attractively furnished. There are also large barns upon the place and other buildings and all the accessories and improvements upon a model farm are there seen.

On the Ist of March, 1905, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Minnie Gabrielson, a native of Norway and a daughter of O. G. and Julia (Olson) Gabrielson, who still reside in Norway. Mrs. Thompson presides with gracious hospi- tality over her own home and possesses the quali- fications of being an excellent housekeeper, as the neat and attractive appearance of her home indi- cates. She has a sister Julia and a brother Chris, who are in San Francisco, being there at the time of the disastrous earthquake and fire. Another sister, Olive, is now living with Mr. and Mrs. Thompson. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thompson has been born a son, Barto Talbert, who is now in his first year and is the joy and pride of the household.

Mr. Thompson is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, feeding cattle on quite an ex-

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tensive scale. In addition to his own place of one hundred and sixty acres he operates one of his father's farms of two hundred and sixty acres and is a most energetic, wide-awake young busi- ness man who takes his place in the fields with the hired men and superintends all of the work, which he manages in a most practical way, so that excellent results are obtained. He allows no difficulty or obstacle to deter him and as the years pass by has met with excellent success.

In his political views Mr. Thompson is a re- publican and he is serving his first term as super- visor. He was road commissioner for two terms, has been township tax collector for one term and school director for three terms. In community affairs he is deeply interested and the public trust reposed in him in his selection for office has never been betrayed in the slightest degree. He is a member of the Evangelical Lutheran church and displays many traits of character which are most commendable, ranking him with the respected and leading young farmers of this part of the county.

J. M. VAN HORN.

Earville has a considerable proportion of re- tired farmers in its population, men who in former years were active in tilling the soil and who so directed their labors as to gain a compe- tence now enabling them to live retired. Such has been the history of Mr. Van Horn, who, be- ing widely and favorably known in this part of the state as a representative citizen, well deserves mention in this volume. He was born in Penn- sylvania, January 1, 1848, and his parents, Wil- liam D. and Mary (Wilson) Van Horn, were also natives of that state and spent their entire lives there. The father died in 1904, at the ripe old age of eighty-eight years, while his wife passed away in 1861. He was a farmer by occu- pation and owned a good tract of land in Penn- sylvania, making his home there on his farm un- til he was called to his final rest. In his family were seven children, five of whom are still liv- ing. One sister, Mrs. Rosenberger, is now living in Paw Paw, Illinois, while a brother, R. W. Van Horn, is an insurance man in Chicago. These two and our subject are the only ones of the family that ever left Pennsylvania.

J. M. Van Horn remained upon the home farm, worked for his parents and attended the com- mon schools until he attained his majority. He then came to Illinois and continued his educa- tion in a graded school at Shannon near Freeport for two years. On the expiration of that period he went to work on a farm in Meriden town-

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 137

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