History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 140

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 140

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WILLIAM R. SMITH.

William R. Smith, who is farming two hun- dred and forty acres of finely improved land, in addition to which he has a wood lot of seven and a half acres, is located on section 12, Otter Creek township, where he has an attractive

home surrounded. with fine shade and fruit trees. Everything about his place is neat and thrifty in appearance and the farm presents every evi- dence of careful cultivation and supervision.

A native of Otter Creek township, Mr. Smith was born June 10, 1854, his parents being Rich- ard and Sarah (Booth) Smith, both of whom were natives of Lancastershire, England. The father, born November 25, 1821, was a son of Robert and Mary (Clark) Smith, natives of Yorkshire, England, where they resided at the time of their death. They were the parents of four sons and two daughters. Richard Smith learned the weaver's trade and on coming to America in 1844 settled in Fall River, Massachu- setts, where he spent six years at his trade. He was married in Lancastershire, England, to Sarah Booth, who was born November 22, 1821, and after living for a time in the east they came to La Salle county in 1851, when their surround- ings consisted of wild, uncultivated prairies, Mr. Smith building the second frame house on Otter creek. He was quite prosperous in his work as an agriculturist and owned a fine farm of three hundred and twenty-seven acres. A democrat in politics, he served his township as school di- rector, but otherwise preferred to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. He died January 9, 1903, at the age of eighty-one years, and his wife passed away December 10. 1886, when sixty-eight years of age. In their family were eight children but only two are now living, William R. and Jane.

In taking up the personal history of William R. Smith we present to our readers the life rec- cord of one who is widely and favorably known in Otter Creek township. He worked with his father on the home farm up to the time of the latter's death and at the present writing, in 1906, he is farming two hundred and forty acres of finely improved land, having brought the fields under a high state of cultivation, so that he an- nually gathers golden harvests therefrom. He also has a wood lot of seven and a half acres. His home, a pleasant modern residence, is surrounded with fine shade and fruit trees, which add to the value and attractive appearance of the place. Mr. Smith is a man practical and progressive in business and genial and kindly in his social re -- lations, the home being characterized by a hos- pitality which places the guest at once at his ease.

On the 27th of June, 1877, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Elizabeth A. Johnson, who was born in Marion county, Indiana, June 20, 1857, a daughter of Jesse M. and Sarah (Fenner) Johnson. The father was born in Clinton coun- ty, Ohio, December 14, 1831, and died in

MR. AND MRS. W. R. SMITH.

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Streator at the age of seventy-two years. The mother, however, is now living, making her home with her children. Mr. Johnson was born in Clinton county, Ohio, December 14, 1831, and was a son of David and Anna (Hes- ter ) Johnson, natives of North Carolina and Ohio respectively. Jesse Johnson was reared to farm labor and obtained a common-school education. He was married in Marion county, Indiana, in 1854, to Sarah Fenner, of Ohio, and they had seven children: Lovina, the wife of John T. Mason ; Elizabeth A., the wife of William R. Smith, Arta J .; Laura; LeRoy; Ella M .; and Robert. Mr. Johnson became a resident of La Salle county in 1861 and for many years was an active and prosperous farmer. He was inter- ested in matters relating to the general welfare, was justice of the peace eight years, and assessor for the same length of time, beside holding other local offices of trust. In politics he was a republican.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born three children: Bertha, the wife of John Benckendorf; Melvin and Howard, both at home. Mr. Smith has served as school director from the age of twenty-two years and the cause of education finds in him a warm friend, who does everything in his power to advance the in- terests of public instruction. Having always lived in Otter Creek township, he has a wide and favorable acquaintance, owing to a life of indus .. try, thrift and integrity and he is known as one in whom a public trust may be well reposed.

CHARLES SEEPE.

No history of Peru or La Salle county would be complete without mention of Charles Seepe, for fifty years connected with the dry-goods trade in the city where he yet makes his home. For a third of a century he has been engaged in merchandising on his own account and prior to that time was an employe, and throughout the years he has maintained an unassailable reputa- tion for business integrity and enterprise that have made his name an honored one and has won for him a most gratifying measure of success.

He was born at Kamen, Germany, June 9, 1842, a son of Gerhard and Maria (Kemper) Seepe, who were poor but respectable people, the father being a laborer. Thinking to enjoy better opportunities in the new world and pro- vide a more comfortable living for his family, in the year 1849 the father with his wife, their

three sons and two daughters, sailed for the United States, establishing their home in Peru.

In the spring of 1850, therefore, Charles Seepe became a student in the public schools and was successively instructed by Mr. and Mrs. Har- wood, George Maze and William Hill. He con- tinued his studies until the spring of 1856, when, at the age of fourteen years, he entered upon his business career as an errand boy in the dry-goods store of R. & A. D. Murray, by whom he was employed until the fall of 1859. He afterward clerked at different intervals for McMillan & Edson, again for R. & A. D. Murray, afterward for J. H. McMillan and subsequently for Hanck, Ream & Company, remaining with the latter house until the fall of 1872, when he in- vested the capital that he had acquired through his industry, diligence and economy in a stock of goods and became a merchant of Peru as a mem- ber of the firm of Seepe & Hoscheit. The part- nership continued for eight years and was dis- solved in January, 1880, upon the retirement of Mr. Hoscheit from the firm. In his business career Mr. Seepe has builded wisely and well, using honesty, enterprise and close application as the foundation upon which to rear the super- structure of his success. That he has succeeded is attested by all those who are in any measure familiar with the business history of Peru. He has a large double store and his business has met with rapid growth because it is founded on correct, reliable business methods. From his youth his ambition as a merchant was to win, hold and deserve the confidence of the people and this he has always done, enjoying in the fullest measure the trust of his patrons, many of whom have given him their support during the long years of his connection with commercial interests in Peru. As his three sons have attained years of business discretion he has admitted them to an interest in the business and they will continue after the retirement of their father, who how- ever, says he intends to "stay in the harness as long as his health will permit." In 1906 he cel- ebrated the fiftieth anniversity of his connection with the dry-goods trade of Peru in the conduct of a large sale, placing every article in his store on sale at reduced prices and giving to each vis- itor a souvenir.

On the 23d of October, 1864, Mr. Seepe was married to Sopia Beckley, who was born in Peru, May 19, 1843. They have now traveled life's journey happily together for forty-two years and their marriage has been blessed with eight children: Jennie E., the wife of Henry Nadler : Clara M .. the wife of Henry Freeman ; Alvina E., the wife of Otto Proelss: Albert W .; Charles E., who wedded Lena Munger; Harry

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A., who married Elsie Daniels; Etta E., the wife of Dr. B. J. Nauman ; and Edith, at home.

Throughout his active business career Mr. Seepe has made a record which any man might be proud to possess, for he enjoys the unquali- fied confidence and respect of his business as- sociates. His record exemplifies the truth of the old adage that "Honesty is the best policy" and that "There is no excellence without labor." He has worked persistently year after year, engaging in no speculation but placing his dependence upon the safe, substantial qualities of enterprise and energy and finding in the legitimate channels of trade opportunities for successful accomplish- ment.

GEORGE GROVE.

George Grove, who for many years followed farming in La Salle county, passed away in Ottawa, in June, 1902, having removed to the city to spend his last days in the enjoyment of well earned rest. He was one of the native sons of this county and also one of its pioneer settlers, for his birth occurred in Rutland town- ship in 1839, his parents being David and Anna Grove, who took up their abode in La Salle county when it was a frontier district. In their family were several children and one brother, Samuel, resides in Utica, this county, while four sisters are living in different places of the county.

Mr. Grove supplemented his early educational training by study in the old Jennings Seminary at Aurora and on putting aside his text-books engaged in farming. Following his marriage he removed to Iroquois county, Illinois, where he remained for several years, devoting his at- tention to general agricultural pursuits. He then returned to La Salle county, where he carried on general farming until 1889, when he put aside the work of the fields and removed to Ottawa, building a comfortable residence at No. 543 Con- gress street, in which he spent his remaining days.

Mr. Grove was married to Miss Margaret C. Chapman, who with her parents, Samuel J. and Charlotte (Hickson) Chapman, came to La Salle county about a half century ago, locating near Harding, where her father carried on general farming. Both he and his wife are now de- ceased, the latter having passed away when Mrs. Grove was but a small child, while Mr. Chapman departed this life in January, 1888, when about seventy-two or seventy-three years of age. Mrs. Grove has a brother who is extensively engaged in farming near Harding, this county, while her sister, Mrs. M. J. Sampson, resides in Mis-

souri. After losing his first wife Samuel J. Chapman married again and had two children by that union, who reside in Oregon. Mrs. Grove was reared in La Salle county and has continuously made her home here with the ex- ception of the few years which she spent in Iro- quois county after her marriage. She still owns their farm there, which is now leased and brings her a good return.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Grove were born two children, both natives of Iroquois county, namely : Rolla B. and Isabella. The daughter is at home and the son, who is a graduate of the Cham- paign University and has been admitted to the bar, is now practicing law in Spokane, Wash- ington.

Politically Mr. Grove was always an earnest and stalwart democrat, never faltering in his al- legiance to the party. He made his home in Ottawa from 1889 until the time of his demise and enjoyed a well earned rest, having in former years so directed his labors that he acquired a handsome competence that supplied him with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He had not only been a successful but also an honorable business man and the respect and good will of those with whom he was associated were ever accorded to him. His family are members of the Congregational church. Mrs. Grove and her daughter have a pleasant home in Ottawa, and she is well known in the county where for a half century she has resided.

J. G. REUL.

J. G. Reul, postmaster of Mendota, to which office he was appointed on the 6th of April, 1906, was born in Germany, September 29, 1854, his parents being Jacob and Elizabeth (Becker) Reul, who came to the United States in Decem- ber, 1870, and located in Mendota. The father was a cigarmaker, having learned the trade in Germany, and he followed the same pursuit in his adopted land. In his family were six chil- dren : Peter, J. G., Elizabeth, Catherine, Annie and Joseph. Both parents passed away in 1892.

Coming to America in his youth, J. G. Reul learned the barber's trade in Dixon, Illinois, where he followed the pursuit for one year. For about thirty years he has been a barber of Men- dota with a liberal patronage that has made his business a good source of income. Moreover he has figured prominently in political circles and for two terms he served as sergeant-at-arms for the Illinois general assembly, for one year filled the office of deputy United States marshal, and

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for nine years was chief of the fire department. On the 6th of April, 1906, he was appointed post- master of Mendota and is now the incumbent in the position, the duties of which he discharges with the same fidelity and loyalty that have ever characterized his performance of other public service. He votes with the republican party and has been very active in politics for years, being recognized as one of the party leaders, and serv- ing as chairman of the township committee for eight years.

Mr. Reul was married in 1878 to Miss Leonora Wilmeroth, and they have two daughters: Hil- degard, a teacher in the Blackstone high school at Mendota ; and Clara Louisa, a music teacher, who is a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

Fraternally Mr. Reul is connected with the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows and has held all of the offices of the lodge. He is esteemed in the community where he resides as a man of genuine personal worth, justly meriting the warm regard which has come to him as well as the political honors which have been conferred upon him.

ALLEN BROWN.

Allen Brown was one of the first settlers of Earl township, his identification with the county going back to the time when much of the land was wild and was still in possession of the gov- ernment. Its surface was broken up with swamps and sloughs and little had been done to turn the virgin sod and convert the wild prairie into fields of rich fertility. As the years passed by he took an active part in the agricul- tural development of his portion of the county and became the owner of a valuable farming property.

A native of Massachusetts, Allen Brown was born in Berkshire county on the 22d of Sep- tember, 1807, and the year 1838 witnessed his arrival in La Salle county. Few settlements had been made within its borders and there was but little indication that the seeds of civilization and progress had been planted here. Mr. Brown resided in Earl township and at Earlville for a considerable period, or until his death, which oc- curred on the 24th of August, 1883, the county thereby losing one of its oldest residents.

It was on the 7th of February, 1829, that Mr. Brown was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Burt, who was born in Berkshire county, Massa- chusetts, in August, 1812. They became the parents of five children: Sarah J., Lucy A .. Frances E., Maria M. and Dwight A.

Allen Brown pre-empted and secured a patent from the United States government to a large tract of land in the vicinity of East Earlville. In fact a part of the same is that upon which the present city of Earlville has been built. Mr. Brown turned his attention first to the sheep- raising industry and later he followed farming and general stock-raising, but some years prior to his death retired from active business and spent his remaining days in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. The old home place is now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Frances E. Ballard.

The sons and daughters of the Brown family were as follows: Mrs. Sarah J. Van Namee. who is living in Earlville; Lucy A., the wife of Captain Hapeman, of Minden, Nebraska, who won his title by service as commander of a com- pany of the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry during the Civl war; Mrs. Frances E. Ballard, of Earlville ; Dwight A., of Missouri, who for three years was a soldier of the Union army and was wounded in the Fourth Illinois Cavalry ; and Mrs. Maria Snyder, whose husband is a physician and surgeon now practic- ing at Rawling, Iowa.

Allen Brown built the first frame house in this part of La Salle county and was closely associated with the early pioneer development and progress. His wife brought with her from Massachusetts a quantity of seeds which she planted, raising a fine orchard. Many of the trees have been cut down but some are still stand- ing in the home orchard. Mr. and Mrs. Brown shared in the usual experiences of frontier life when farming was done with rude machinery, when fire-places took the place of stoves in the houses, when candles were used for illuminating purposes and when there was every evidence of pioneer life, although the seeds of civilization were being rapidly planted. As pioneer residents of the county this worthy couple deserve mention in this history.

MRS. JANE A. WATERMAN.

Mrs. Jane A. Waterman, living at No. 1087 Winnemac avenue in Chicago, is the widow of Eri L. Waterman, who at one time was a resi- dent of La Salle county. He became one of the pioneer manufacturers of Ottawa, where he lo- cated in 1836, there engaging in the manufac- ture of furniture. He was also prominent in public life there, holding several positions of po- litical preferment, and his history is interwoven with the early annals of the county. His birth occurred in Oneida county, New York, in 1822,

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and he was married on the 8th of June, 1841, in Ottawa, to Miss Jane A. Burgett, who came from Tioga county, New York, born in 1824. The year 1836 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Wa- terman in La Salle county, at which time he took up his abode in Ottawa, where he was en- gaged in the manufacture of furniture for a number of years, thus being an important factor in the early industrial development of the county seat. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth and ability, called him from private busi- ness life to public office and from 1858 until 1860 he served as sheriff of La Salle county. He was then re-elected and continued in the office through the ensuing two years, while in 1862 he was chosen United States assessor. In 1877 he went to Chicago, where he was deputy United States marshal for four years and during the last ten or twelve years prior to his death he lived retired. His wife came to Illinois in 1836 with her aunt and uncle, Isaac and Lydia (Fel- lows) Burgett, who removed from New York and settled near Buffalo Rock in 1835, residing there for a few years. They had three sons: Mandeville, who went from Illinois to Missouri ; Rodolphus and Orville, who removed from Illi- nois to Wisconsin. Three sisters of the name of Burgett, nieces of Isaac Burgett, came to Illi- nois about the same time of his arrival. Of these Rebecca married Lorenzo Leland; Betsy be- came the wife of Alson Woodruff ; while the third sister, Jane A., married Eri L. Waterman.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Waterman were born ten children : Emily L., now the widow of Lathrop Perkins, mentioned elsewhere in this work; George, who was born in 1848 and died in 1893 ; Fred, who is now living near Albany, Texas ; Rebecca, who is living in Chicago; James, who died October 17, 1883, at the age of thirty-nine years ; Mary, of Chicago; Adda, the widow of George W. Kemp, who served as clerk of the United States circuit court in Chicago for twen- ty-seven years and died April 16, 1906; Ida, a twin sister of Adda; Effie, who became the wife of William Lindsay and died at the age of thirty years ; and Fanny.

Mr. Waterman was closely associated with many of the early events which have left their impress upon the annals of La Salle county. He was one of the organizers of the Odd Fellows lodge at Ottawa and was connected with mat- ters of public progress and improvement. His political allegiance was early given to the whig party and upon its dissolution he became a stanch republican. Men who knew him-and his ac- quaintance was a wide one-trusted him because he was always found faithful to his duty and with a high sense of political and business as well

as personal honor .. Although his last years were spent in Chicago he retained his friendship for many of his La Salle county acquaintances up to his last years and is yet well remembered by many of the early settlers. He died in Chicago, July 4, 1894, when about seventy-nine years of age, leaving behind him the memory of an up- right and well spent life. Mrs. Waterman still survives her husband and now makes her home at No. 1087 Winnemac, Sheridan Park, Chicago.

MILTON C. ROE.

Milton C. Roe, banker of Rutland, whose steady advancement to his present position of prominence in financial circles has come as the result of a thorough mastery of the business combined with keen discrimination and unques- tioned reliabilty, was born near Wheelng, West Virginia, in March, 1853, his parents being John J. and Sarah (Cox) Roe, who were also natives of West Virginia. Coming to La Salle county, they made their way to Rutland and soon after- ward settled on section 17, Groveland township, when their son Milton was a youth of twelve years. In 1870 the father took up his abode in Rutland, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring in 1874, when he was fifty- two years of age. His wife died in 1879.

Milton C. Roe, the eldest in a family of seven children, four of whom are in California and three in La Salle county, is indebted to the dis- trict-school system for the early educational priv- ileges which he enjoyed. He afterward attend- ed the public schools of Rutland and was upon the home farm in early life, aiding in the labors of field and meadow. He continued the busi- ness after his father's death and carried on gen- eral farming and stock-raising until 1887, when he became proprietor of a general store in Rut- land. He conducted the business successfully for fourteen years and opened accounts in the store for the accommodation of his patrons. Out of this grew the demand for a bank and, seeing the need and desire of the public in this direction, Mr. Roe established a bank in 1888. He con- ducted both the bank and merchandising inter- ests until 1900, when he sold his store and con- centrated his energies upon the development of the bank. The following year he erected the present bank building with all of its modern equipments and he has since successfully con- ducted a private institution known as the Rut- land Bank, which is recognized as one of the safe and reliable moneyed concerns of the county. The bank occupies the lower floor, with the Ma-

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sonic lodge room above, and the building was erected at a cost of nearly twenty thousand dollars.

In October, 1881, was celebrated the marriage of Milton C. Roe and Miss Fanny Toothaker, a native of Ohio. They have one son, Ernest C. Mr. Roe is a republican with liberal tendencies, frequently casting an independent local ballot. He is identified with the republican party and is recognized as one of the leading citizens of his community, being straightforward, conserv- ative and successful. No feeling of doubt is ever entertained as to his thorough trustworthiness, while his ability is manifest in the success which has attended his efforts. The growth and pros- perity of every community depends upon its fore- most citizens and as such Mr. Roe is justly classed in Rutland.

F. J. BLISS, D. V. S.

F. J. Bliss, president of the Illinois Veterinary Medical and Surgical Association and proprietor of a finely equipped veterinary infirmary at Earl- ville, where he has engaged continuously in prac- tice since 1872, was born in Savannah, Georgia, in 1850, his parents being Professor Carlton P. and Maria (Nichols) Bliss, both of whom died a number of years ago. The paternal grandmother of Dr. Bliss was a Hutchinson, who with other members of the family figured in the Indian massacre and the burning of Royalton, Vermont. His great-grandfather, John Hutchinson, was at one time taken prisoner by the Indians. Pro- fessor Bliss was born in Royalton, Vermont, and for many years owned and conducted the Orange County Stud Farm, now known as the Green Mountain Stud Farm. The old homestead, com- prising some three hundred acres, is still in pos- session of Dr. Bliss and others of the family, the estate being located on the White river between Bethel and Royalton, Vermont. The stud farm is still in possession of the family. Upon the old homsetead are preserved many interesting relics of the early days, bringing to memory the stirring times in which the pioneers lived and the important historical events which occurred during and preceding the Revolutionary war.

Professor Bliss was a graduate of Middlebury College in Vermont and during the years which he spent in the south he was superintendent of public construction and had charge of the ex- tensive improvements made at forts Moultrie, Pickens and Sumter, as well as the remodeling of defenses at Sullivan's Island, a work which he completed just prior to the outbreak of the

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 140

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