History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 142

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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family is of Welsh lineage. In the maternal line Ashmun S. Ward is a representative of the Per- kins and Brackett families of English descent and his mother was a direct descendant of John Quincy Adams, while the Ward family is de- the great-grandfather of Ashmun Ward, was a scended from Samuel Adams. Curley Ward, soldier in the Revolutionary war and was wounded in battle. His wife lived to be over one hundred years of age. The representatives of the family are eligible to membership with the Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution. Mr. Ward conducted a general store at Lowell for fifteen years, being one of the enterprising merchants of the town, and has been connected with the pottery since 1896. In 1903 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 2d of March of that year at the age of fifty-nine. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ashmun Ward were born three children: Fayette F., who married Lucy Huss, by whom he has four children and who follows farming in Vermillion township ; Clifton T., of this review ; and Mamie E., the wife of Dr. Albert C. Rhiel, of Lowell, The father has always been a democrat in his political views and has served as a member of the democratic township committee. He is a man of considerable local influence, taking an active interest in public affairs and doing all in his power to promote general progress and advancement.

Clifton T. Ward was reared under the parental roof and educated in the public schools and the Northwestern University. He is a graduate of the law department of the class of 1900 and was admitted to the bar but has never engaged actively in practice. For the past fourteen years he has been in the mail service and is now upon the run between Chicago and Omaha over the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. He is also interested as a stockholder in the Lowell Pottery Company. The enterprise was estab- lished by Hiram E. Leach and Albert R. Stoffer under the firm style of Leach & Stoffer about 1885 and the business was conducted by them for several years. Clifton Ward purchased the plant from them in 1896 and incorporated the business in 1903 under its present name. He has been connected with the Lowell Pottery Company, however, since 1896 and has made this one of the important productive industries of this part of the county. The capacity of the plant is about three hundred and seventy thou- sand gallons per annum. The plant produces crockery, general stone ware, all kinds of flower pots, etc., and employment is furnished to about seventeen workmen, most of whom are skilled laborers.

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Mr. Ward socially is a Mason, belonging to the blue lodge at Tonica and to the Modern Woodmen camp at that place. He attends the Methodist Episcopal church and is well known in Lowell and this part of the county as an en- terprising, progressive business man, who mani- fests in nis life the spirit of the times.

WILLIAM K. HOAGLAND.

Among the earnest men, whose depth of char- acter and strict adherence to principle excite the admiration of his contemporaries William K. Hoagland is prominent. Throughout a long business career he has followed a safe, conserva- tive policy and has been recognized as a man of distinctive ability, whose efforts have contrib- uted to commercial and industrial progress as well as to individual success. Since 1898 he has lived retired, making his home in Peru. In trac- ing his career we are enabled to gain recognition of one who stands as a high type of the self- made man of America, who recognizes and im- proves his opportunities, giving scope to his in- dividuality and a spirit of laudable ambition com- bined with a vigorous purpose and a keen busi- ness insight. His residence in La Salle county dates from 1882 and as president and general manager of the Peru Plow & Wheel Company he became widely known. In 1898 he sold his interests in that important enterprise and has since lived retired.

Mr. Hoagland was born in Somerset county, New Jersey, in 1836 and for twenty-six years made his home there, acquiring a public-school and academic education in that locality. He was a son of Edward B. and Amanda E. (Wright) Hoagland, who removed to Chicago, where the death of the father occurred about thirty-five years ago, while the mother died about 1892. One son of the family, John C. Hoagland, went to Chicago prior to the arrival of William K. Hoagland in that city and at one time was en- gaged in business as a dealer in fruit and mer- chandise, but in more recent years has been con- nected with the stove manufacturing business. Another brother of the family was Cornelius S. Hoagland, who died at Council Bluffs, Iowa. There are two sisters, Mrs. Eliza Hill and Miss Mary Hoagland, who are now residents of Joliet, Illinois.

As stated, William K. Hoagland spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the place of his nativity and after acquiring his education he was engaged in merchandising there and later he traded his commercial interests for a

farm, whereon he made his home until 1861, when he became a resident of Chicago, Illinois. In that city he was connected with various busi- ness lines and in 1868 he removed to El Paso, Illinois. He was with the American Express Company from 1864 until 1868 and as its agent was sent to El Paso in the latter year, remaining there until 1879. He then turned his attention to the agricultural implement business, which he carried on for a time at El Paso, after which he removed to Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1880, erect- ing there the first agricultural warehouse on the bottoms near the Missouri river. He continued in the jobbing business there until 1881, when he sold out to the firm of Deere & Company. In the meantime he had patented a cultivator and had five hundred machines manufactured at Burlington, Iowa. Looking about for a fa- vorable location for the continuance of this busi- ness, he decided on' Peru and came to this city, where he has since resided. In that year he pur- chased an interest in the Peru Plow & Wheel Company, which prior to that date had been known as the Peru Plow Company. It was established in 1851 by the firm of Brewster, Dodges & Huse, who conducted the business until Mr. Hoagland became a partner. In 1885 a wheel was patented by W. P. Betten- dorf, who held a half interest. This wheel was for agricultural implements, truck wagons, etc., and was the first successful iron wheel made. Following the admission of Mr. Hoag- land to the firm the present style of the Peru Plow & Wheel Company was assumed and as president and general manager of the business he continued in charge for a number of years, carefully guiding the interests and destinies of the concern with the result that it became one of the profitable productive enterprises of the county. Through his instrumentality the site was changed to a more convenient location and the plant was rebuilt in 1895, being equipped with the latest improved machinery necessary for the conduct of a business of that character. Mr. Hoagland continued at the head of the com- pany until 1898, when he sold his interest and retired to private life.

Mr. Hoagland was married in New Jersey at the age of twenty-one years to Miss Joanna M. Dumont, who died in Chicago in 1862, leaving two children: Edward B., who is now secre- tary of the Peru Plow & Wheel Company and vice president of the Peru Plow & Implement Company at Council Bluffs, Iowa ; and Mrs. F. S. McLafferty, of Omaha, Nebraska. Mr. Hoag- land was married in Chicago to Martha J. Bon- ney, who is a native of Illinois and was reared in the western metropolis. She is now living in

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Chicago, a legal separation having been obtained. There were four children of that marriage: Mrs. John Sheckler; Milton, who is manager of a department of the American Steel & Wire Com- pany and who has recently married ; Jessie, who is with her mother; and William K., who is with the Royal Trust Company of Chicago. All are residents of that city.

In 1891 Mr. Hoagland was married to Adria M. Whitehead, a native of La Salle county and a daughter of Dr. Herman Whitehead, one of the early residents and medical practitioners of this county, who came to Illinois from Vermont in 1836. He resided and practiced at Peru during his active life in this part of the state and died there in 1849. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Harriet Kinney, long survived her hus- band and died in Peru in 1891 at a very advanced age. Dr. Whitehead was a prominent Mason and was one of the early members of the fra- ternity in this county. Mrs. Hoagland was one of a family of six children and is now the only surviving member. The others were: James K., who died many years ago; Herman L .; Charles W .; Edith, the deceased wife of J. C. Sherwin, also deceased, who was a prominent attorney of Aurora, Illinois, and for two terms a member of congress from that district ; and John A., who served in the Eighty-ninth Illinois Volunteers, enlisting in Kendall county at the beginning of the Civil war. He was with the army through- out the period of hostilities, was several times wounded, was finally taken prisoner and incar- cerated in Libby prison. Much of his life was spent in Peru and he died in February, 1902.

In his political views Mr. Hoagland has al- ways been a stanch republican and fraternally he is connected with the Masonic lodge at El Paso, Illinois, where he becanie a member. As the result of his untiring labors, his ambition, his energy and well directed efforts, he is today the possessor of a handsome competence and a beautiful home, where he is now living retired, enjoying the society of his family and friends in the midst of all the comforts that go to make life worth the living.

HENRY SCHAFER.

Henry Schafer, carrying on general farming on section 18. Eden township, was born in Butler county, Ohio, September 15, 1844, a son of John and Mary (Gingerich) Schafer, who were na- tives of Germany. They crossed the Atlantic in 1841 and the father was employed for a consid-

erable period at day labor in Ohio, where he lived for nine years. He then removed to Illi- nois, settling first in Putnam county and sub- sequently in La Salle county, where he followed farming. A life of activity was crowned with success and he became the owner of four hun- dred acres of very fine land in this county, so that in his later years he was enabled to enjoy all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He died in the year 1881. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he was a member of the German Lutheran church. In the family were the following chil- dren: Jacob, who is represented elsewhere in this work; Henry, of this review: Fred : Mary ; Kate: and John, Charlie, Bernard and Phoebe all of whom died in childhood.

Henry Schafer spent the first seven years of his life in Ohio, after which he accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois, the family home being established in Putnam county north of Granville. Later they removed to a farm southeast of Granville and thence came to La Salle county, settling on section 19, Eden township. Henry Schafer obtained his educa- tion in the public schools and remained at home until thirty-two years of age, when he left the parental roof and began farming on his own ac- count. At that time he took up his abode on section 18, Eden township, where he now lives. He owns one hundred acres of land on section 18, and eighty acres on section 7. His farm is valuable, the fields are well tilled, the fences and buildings kept in good repair and everthing about the place indicates the spirit of neatness and thrift which characterizes the owner.

Mr. Schafer was married January 6, 1876, to Miss Elizabeth Hamel, who was born in Ger- many, January 7, 1844, and was twenty-two years of age when she came to America. She made her way at once to Eden township, La Salle county, and lived in the home of Jacob Brennamann for eight years. Her father, Fred- erick Hamel, was born in Germany in 1813 and came to Illinois in 1870, residing for two years in Putnam county, after which he removed to La Salle county, making his home on section 20, Eden township, for about eight years. He then abandoned agricultural pursuits and lived with his children until his death, which occurred in 1884, when he was seventy-one years of age. He was a member of the German Lutheran church and in his native country he engaged in teach- ing in the public schools and also in teaching music. He married Elizabeth Miller, who was born in Germany in 1814 and, surviving him for about twenty years, passed away March 14. 1904. Their children were: August, who is still

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living in Germany ; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Schafer ; Mary; Maggie; and Katherine.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Schafer has been blessed with a son and daughter, William S. and Lena S., both at home. The family have a wide and favorable acquaintance in Eden town- ship and other parts of the county and occupy an enviable position in social circles in which they move. Both Mr. and Mrs. Schafer hold mem- bership in the German Lutheran church and his political support is given to the republican party, for he believes that it contains the best elements of good government. He served as school direc- tor ten years but has never sought office.

PHILIP LINKER.

Philip Linker, who owns and controls valuable farming interests in La Salle and Putnam coun- ties, is now living retired in Tonica and his life history contains many lessons which may be profitably followed by those who desire to win success through individual effort as he has done. Mr. Linker is a native of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, born September 2, 1845. His father, Henry Linker, was also a native of that locality and in 1851 came to the United States, at which time he located on a farm near Baltimore, where he lived for about five years. In 1858 he came to Illinois, taking up his abode in Putnam county, where his remaining days were passed. He de- parted this life in 1875 in his sixty-seventh year. His political allegiance had been given to the re- publican party and he was esteemed as a public- spirited citizen and reliable business man, who merited the confidence that was uniformly ex- tended him. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Christina Kann, was also a native of Hesse- Cassel and the marriage was celebrated in the fatherland. She died in the year 1866, when forty-six years of age. In the family were six children, of whom three passed away in infancy. Henry is now a resident farmer of Tazewell county. Katie became the wife of Samuel Bren- neman, who died leaving a valuable estate which comprises twelve eighty-acre tracts of land in Tazewell county, Illinois.

The other member of the family is Philip Linker of this review, who spent the first twelve years of his life in the land of his nativity and came to the United States in 1857. He remained for a year with his father near Baltimore, Mary- land, and attended school during that period. In 1858 the family removed to Illinois and the occu- pation to which he was reared he made his life work. He also continued his studies to some

extent in Putnam county and while thus engaged he did chores for George Ish, one of the oldest settlers of the county. He early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist and on attaining his majority he began farming on his own account, carrying on general agricultural pursuits in Putnam county until 1889, when he came to La Salle county, since which time he has lived retired in Tonica. He bought in this county four hun- dred and sixty acres of land in Eden township and he also owns a farm of eighty acres in Putnam county. All of his Illinois land is worth two hundred dollars per care and he likewise owns a quarter section in Blue Earth county, Minnesota. He was formerly extensively en- gaged in breeding and raising cattle and horses and at one time was part owner of an imported Englishshire horse kept for breeding purposes.

The only interruption to Mr. Linker's active farm work until the time of his retirement was when in May, 1864, he enlisted at Peoria for service in the Civil war and was assigned to duty with Company E, One Hundred and Thirty- ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, being mustered out in November, 1864. During the term of his service he was engaged in guard duty and took part in the raid which resulted in driving Price out of Missouri. He is now a valued member of Randolph Post, G. A. R., in which he is serving as senior vice commander.

In 1871 Mr. Linker was united in marriage to Miss Katherine Hamel, who was born in Ger- many in 1850 and came to the United States when fifteen years of age, her parents having previously died. She made her way to the home of a sister then living in Marshall county, Illi- nois. Six children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Linker, of whom three are yet living : Helen, the wife of George Pletsch, a resident farmer of Eden township; Katie, the wife of John Schafer, who is living upon the home farm in Eden township; and Lizzie, the wife of Wil- liam Wendt, a resident farmer of Putnam county, Illinois. The first born was Eva, who died at the age of two years, while Jacob died in infancy and Henry passed away in 1904. at the age of nineteen years.

Mr. and Mrs. Linker are members of the Lutheran church, in which they have taken an active and helpful interest, while Mr. Linker is one of the most liberal contributors toward its support. In politics he is a republican and has been commissioner of highways for six years, while in Putnam county he served as justice of the peace. He was also school director in Putnam county for twelve years and has acted in a simi- lar capacity in Eden townshp for eight years.

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There is no more loyal citizen of America than this adopted son, who is interested in all that pertains to local advancement and national progress. Nor is his interest merely that of an onlooker, for he has been an active worker in those lines that contribute to general improve- ment. His life record stands in exemplification of the fact that opportunity is open to all and that labor is the real basis of honorable success. Working persistently and energetically year after year, his efforts being guided by sound business discrimination and supplemented by keen fore- sight, he stands today as one of the prosperous residents of this section of the state, where he has so long resided and is now a substantial citi- zen of Tonica.

HENRY LINNIG.

Henry Linnig, who for many years was well known in connection with the jewelry trade in Peru, his reputation as a business man being un- assailable because of his thorough reliability and enterprise, was born in Germany, in 1840, and departed this life in Peru on the 17th of Decem- ber, 1902, at the age of sixty-two years. About 1849 or 1850 he came with his parents and their six children to the United States. His father. John Linnig, was married to Miss Haffer, and they had six children ere the emigration to the new world. The father, mother and two chil- dren, however, died of cholera within four days after arriving in Peru.

Henry Linnig acquired but limited education on account of the early death of his parents, and while still a young lad learned the jeweler's trade under the direction of Joseph Knoos, a pioneer in Peru, with whom he remained for several years. He then went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he worked at this trade until after the breaking out of the Civil war, when he was drafted for service in the City Militia and thus did military duty for sometime. He had a brother Joseph who was in the Civil war and was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. Following the close of hostilities Mr. Linnig returned from St. Louis to Peru, where he followed his trade with Mr. Shuster for about three years and at the latter's death purchased the business, which he conducted very successfully until within two years of his death, when he sold out to his two sons, Henry F. and Charles E., who are conduct- ing the business under the firm name of Linnig Brothers. In his undertakings Mr. Linnig was very successful and was thus enabled to leave an excellent property to his family. He had con-

ducted a well appointed jewelry establishment and his straightforward business dealings, his earnest desire to please his patrons and his enter- prise secured for him a liberal patronage.

In 1868, in Peru, Mr. Linnig was married to Miss Sarah Ream, a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Hackman) Ream, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, where Mrs. Linnig was born. Her father was a farmer by occupation but following · his removal to Peru, in 1850, en- gaged in the grocery business. By this marriage there were born seven children, six sons and a daughter, all natives of Peru. Henry F. married Louise Merkle, of Peru, and has one child, Ben- jamin. Charles E. married Marie Ersinger, and has a daughter, Marie. After losing his first wife he wedded Amelia Goering, and has two children, Grace and Lilla. William Berg is the third of the family. Joseph J. married Esther Kirschke. Frank M. is at home. Edwin U. wedded Hattie Hielsdedt, and has three children, Ethel, Ruth and Lillian. Viola Etta completes the family.

In his political views Mr. Linnig was a repub- lican and while not an aspirant for office served as a member of the school board for twelve years, the cause of education finding in him a warm and stalwart friend. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Turners and was highly esteemed and respected citizen, whose many good qualities gained fo: him the friendsnip and regard of those with whom he came in contact. Starting out in life on his own account at an early age and de- pendent upon his own resources he worked his way steadily upward and whatever success came to him was attributable entirely to his own labors. In his social relations he was found to be a faithful friend and a devoted husband and father, and his loss was widely felt throughout the community.

JOHN SCHAFER.

John Schafer, engaged in farming and stock- raising and also in the breeding of shorthorn cattle, having a fine herd of registered stock, owns and operates two hundred acres of land on sections 16 and 17, Eden township. He cul- tivates nearly the entire amount and the farm is finely improved. Mr. Schafer is numbered among the native sons of Eden township, where his life record began on the 8th of November, 1869. He is a son of Jacob Schafer, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work, and was reared to farm life, spending his boyhood days on the

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old homestead in Eden township, where he began his education in the district schools, while later he continued his studies in the schools of Tonica. He was early trained to habits of industry, economy and perseverance, and the qualities thus developed have stood him in good stead in his active business career. He has carried on busi- ness for himself for the past twelve years and is recognized as a most successful farmer and enterprising citizen. He has made splendid use of the little assistance rendered him by his father and father-in-law and has added to and improved his possessions until he is now successfully op- erating a fine farm, which is improved in accordance with modern ideas of progressive agriculture.

Mr. Schafer was married February 19, 1895, to Miss Katie Linker, a daughter of Philip Linker, and they have two children: Emma, born November 12, 1895; and Bertha, born Sep- tember 16, 1901. The parents are members of the Lutheran church of Eden township, and Mr. Schafer is serving for the third term as school director. In politics he is independent but in citizenship stands for all that is calculated to ben- efit the community. His entire life has been passed in this country and his interest in its wel- fare is deep and sincere, being manifest in many tangible ways for the public good.

JOHN NICHOLSON.

John Nicholson, who died July 8, 1906, was for many years a respected and worthy citizen of La Salle county. For some time prior to his death he lived retired at Lowell, but was a miller by trade and for a long period owned and op- erated a gristmill at Lowell. That his life was characterized by activity and enterprise and by good business ability is indicated by the fact that in addition to his milling property he owned three hundred and sixty acres of land near the village of Lowell and a large amount of real estate in the village, including three houses.

Mr. Nicholson was born in Westmoreland county, England, April 10, 1831, a son of John and Elizabeth (Moffett) Nicholson, who came to America in 1860 and resided in Lowell, La Salle county, Illinois, until called to their final rest a number of years ago. In their family were seven children, of whom only two are now living-William Nicholson and Mrs. Elizabeth Warner of Lowell.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 142

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