History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 43

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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WILLIAM L. PARKS.

William L. Parks, cashier of the La Salle Na- tional Bank, was born in Vermont, April 14, 1865, a son of Levi P. and Hattie (Miller) Parks. The father died in 1891, at the age of

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sixty-two years and the mother is still living at Downers Grove, Du Page county, Illinois. In their family were five children, all sons, of whom William L. Parks is the eldest. The others are: Charles, a resident of Freeport, Illinois ; Frank, Joe and Lou, all of whom are living at Downers Grove with their mother.

William L. Parks was brought to the west by his parents when a. little. youth of seven years, the family home being established in La Moille, Illinois, where he was reared to manhood. He attended the district schools and afterward sup- plemented his early education by study in a busi- ness college at Quincy, Illinois. In the fall of 1884 he came to La Salle and entered the emplov of the La Salle National Bank as messenger. Gradually he has worked his way upward, be- coming successively bookkeeper, assistant cash- ier and cashier, filling the last named position since 1902. His ability and enterprise and his personal popularity contribute in substantial measure to the success of this institution.

In April, 1893, Mr. Parks was married in La Salle to Miss Jennie Deisterweg, a daughter of Charles Deisterweg, of La Salle. They now have three children, all born in La Salle : Helen, Marie and Marjory. The parents attend the Congregational church and Mr. Parks is a re- publican in his political views, while socially he is connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Elks, and the Masons. He is a young man of excellent business discernment and ability who has won recognition of his fidelity and enterprise in the business world until through successive promotions he has gained a prominent place in financial circles in La Salle.

WILLIAM WILLAVIZE.

William Willavize, a retired farmer living at No. 637 West Madison street, Ottawa, has been a resident of La Salle county since 1856 and in the years that have come and gone has so lived that he has won a business success and an hon- orable name, being numbered among the respect- ed and worthy citizens of his adopted county. Although he is now living retired he is yet the owner of a valuable farm property in Osage township. He is a native of England, his birth having occurred at Wiltshire in 1837. His par- ents were William and Mary ( Price) Willavize, who came to La Salle county in 1861, and spent their remaining days here, the father passing away on the 27th of June, 1872, and the mother on the 30th of September, 1888. They were farm- ing people, Mr. Willavize devoting his entire

life to agricultural pursuits in order to provide for his family. In their family were the following children : Thomas, Jane and Mary Ann, all de- ceased ; Elizabeth, a resident of Kansas ; Henry, deceased; William; John, who lives upon the home farm in this county; Margaret, deceased; Robert, a resident of Michigan; and Mary Ellen, of Bloomington, Illinois.

William Willavize of this review was reared and educated in his native country, attending the public schools. He remained under the pa- rental roof until nineteen years of age, when he came to America with his brother Henry, who later enlisted for service in the Union army at Ottawa and was lost trace of during the engage- ment that occurred near Hartford, Tennessee, where a number of Union troops were captured. Nothing has since been heard from him and he probably met the fate of many a northern soldier.

After coming to the United States William Willavize worked for two years at farm labor and with the capital that he had acquired through his industry and diligence he purchased his first eighty acres of land in 1863. Later he added to this, paying from fourteen to fifty-five dollars per acre for property that is now worth one hundred and fifty dollars per acre. For many years he successfully carried on agricultural pur- suits, extending the boundaries of his farm from time to time until he became the owner of two hundred and eighty acres of rich land in Osage township. This he cultivated until fourteen years ago, when, in 1891, he removed to Ottawa and purchased his present home. He still retains possession of that farm, however, and it returns to him a good annual income.

Mr. Willavize was married in Ottawa to Miss Mary Messersmith, a daughter of Hiram and Annis (Martin) Messersmith, who came to La Salle county in 1861, locating in Osage town- ship, where they remained until called to their final rest, the father passing away in 1880 and the mother in 1870. She was twice married, her first husband being John Halstead. Mr. Messer- smith was a blacksmith by trade but largely followed farming throughout his active business career. In his family were ten children: Hiram, a resident of Streator; Rebecca, Cynthia Ann, Ephraim and William, all four deceased ; Richard, also a resident of Streator; Mary, now Mrs. Willavize ; Maria, Amanda and Alfred, deceased. Only three are now living. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Willavize have been born six children, all of whom are yet living: Theodore, who is resid- ing near Sandwich, Illinois; Henry G., living in Osage township; Ida, the wife of F. B. Reed, a farmer living in Reading township; Durkee, of Michigan ; Mrs. Mary Ellen Hunt, who is resid-

MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM WILLAVIZE.

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ing at Pipestone, Minnesota; and William, who is living on the home farm in Osage township.

In his political views Mr. Willavize is a repub- lican but has never sought or desired office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs. He has, however, kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day. Both he and his wife are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church and their lives have been in harmony with their professions, being char- acterized by consideration for others, for justice and truth.

MRS. BARBARA JACKSON.

Mrs. Barbara Jackson, living in Ottawa, bore the maiden name of Barbara Trumbo, and is the widow of Joseph Jackson, who died in La Salle county, Illinois, in 1897, having made his home at Millington for a half century. Mr. Jackson was born in Brownville, Pennsylvania, in 1825, and in 1836, when a youth of about eleven years, accompanied his father's family on their removal to the west, the family home being es- tablished in Millington, Illinois, then known as Milford. The father was a miller by occupa- tion and Joseph Jackson early became familiar with the trade and followed that pursuit and other business interests until he turned his atten- tion to the dry-goods trade. He also bought grain and stock, and, being a man of resource- ful business ability and unfaltering determina- tion, he carried forward to successful comple- tion whatever he undertook. He was watch- ful of opportunities, made excellent use of his advantages and during the last twenty years of his life was successfully engaged in the tile and brick business. Moreover he was a man thor- oughly reliable and was never known to take ad- vantage of the necessities of others in any busi- ness transactions. He placed his dependence upon the safe and sure qualities of untiring la- bor and perseverance and thereon builded his success.

In his political views Mr. Jackson was a stal- wart republican from the time of the organiza- tion of the party until his death. He belonged to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his religious faith was indicated by his mem- bership in the Congregational church. He lived an upright, honorable life, displaying many ster- ling traits of heart and mind. He was moreover one of the pioneer settlers of Illinois and be- longed to that class of citizens whose efforts con- tribute to the public welfare as well as to in- dividual success. He became a resident of Illi- nois two years before the Black Hawk war and

the family, like many others in this part of the state, suffered much because of that war, being driven from their homes at night and being in constant danger lest the Indians should fall upon the settlement and plunder the homes if not kill the inhabitants. As the years went by and the conditions of pioneer life were done away with Mr. Jackson was among those who aided in de- veloping the county and promoting its business activity and at all times was respected for his genuine worth and the high and manly princi- ples which actuated his life. Several years ago Mrs. Jackson removed to Ottawa and has a fine home at No. 4 Gridley Place. She is a member of the Baptist church, and, like her husband, has been a resident of Illinois from pioneer times, many indelible pictures of the early days being impressed upon her mind, while her remi- niscences of frontier experiences are most inter- esting.

Mr. Jackson was married in La Salle county to Miss Barbara, daughter of Mathias Trumbo, who was an uncle of the present sheriff of La Salle county. Mr. Trumbo came to this coun- ty in 1830, locating in Mission township, now known as Rutland township. Much of the land was still in its primitive condition and he took up a claim from the government, being one of the first settlers in his part of the county. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon his farm and he at once began its cultivation, his labors resulting in transforming the tract into richly productive fields. His an- cestors were of German birth, although the fam- ily was founded in America in early colonial days. Mathias Trumbo served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812, enlisting in Rock- ingham county, Virginia, which was his native county. After coming to La Salle county he gave his attention to general agricultural pur- suits in Rutland township for many years and there resided until his death, which occurred November 20, 1875, when he was eighty-eight years of age, his birth having occurred on the 23d of July, 1787. His wife bore the maiden name of Rebecca Grove and was also a native of Virginia. She removed to Ohio, where she was reared from the age of ten years and there she remained until her marriage. She, too, spent her last davs in Rutland township, La Salle county, passing away in 1865, at the age of seventy-one years. In the family of this worthy couple were eight children, of whom five are now living: John, who was born in

1819. died in 1841. Lavina, born in 1820. mar- ried West Matlock, and lived near Yorkville, Kendall county, Illinois. Isabella, born in 1822,

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became the wife of Jesse Green, who resides in Ottawa, but her death occurred in 1854. Eliza, born in 1826, died in 1904. Elias, her twin brother, is still living in La Salle county. Bar- bara, born in 1829, is Mrs. Jackson. Elizabeth, born in 1833, is now Mrs. Strawn, a widow liv- ing in Ottawa. Elma Anna, born in 1838, is the widow of L. C. Robinson and resides with her sister, Mrs. Jackson, in Ottawa.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jackson were born three children, two of whom died in infancy, while the surviving son is Edwin W., a railroad contract- or now engaged in railroad construction in Con- necticut. By a former marriage Mr. Jackson had a son, L. B. Jackson, who is a mine operator in Colorado.

MARTIN KELLY.

Martin Kelly, a representative of agricultural interests in La Salle county for many years and now living a retired life in Ottawa, represents one of the old and prominent families of this part of the state. His birth occurred in this city November 24, 1841, when it was little more than a village. The parents were James and Margaret (Redmond) Kelly, who came to the new world from Ireland in 1830, having heard favorable reports concerning the opportunities of the new world from those who had already braved the dangers incident to an ocean voyage at that time. Arriving in New York city, they traveled westward to Buffalo, where they resided for a few years and thence came to La Salle county, Illinois, settling in Ottawa in 1837. James Kelly was a stone mason by trade and soon secured work in Ottawa and vincinity in put- ting up buildings, laying cellar walls and foun- dations for dwellings, stores, churches and other structures. He was a very industrious, honest man, who did his work conscientiously and well and therefore merited the success which came to him. Later he removed to a farm, upon which his death occurred in 1855, his wife long surviv- ing him, passing away in 1893. In their family were six children who reached mature years, namely : John W .; Martin; Maria, now the wife of John Bailey, of Chicago; James, of Ottawa ; Catherine, now the wife of Michael J. Fin, of Chicago; and Margaret, who is Mrs. DeForest Smith, also of Chicago.

Martin Kelly attended the public schools of his native city to the age of sixteen years, when his parents removed upon a farm and he accompanied them. He greatly enjoyed his life amid the fields upon the broad prairies of Illinois and to his father gave the benefit of his service, remaining

at home until twenty-one years of age, when he began farming on his own account, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres in Jasper county. There he carried on general agricultural pursuits for many years, adding many modern improve- ments to his property and through his capable management and enterprise winning success in his undertakings. He resided upon that farm continuously until his retirement from active life, when he took up his abode in Ottawa.

Mr. Kelly was married in 1861 to Miss Ellen Meagher, a daughter of Michael and Catherine (Peters) Meagher. This union has been blessed with six children: Margaret, now the wife of Richard Halligan ; George J. who is general man- ager of the large department store of Martin Brothers at Sioux City, Iowa; Henry M., who is represented elsewhere in this work; Mrs. Cath- erine Hackett, now of Chicago; Mary, the wife of John Golden, a prominent attorney of Tolono, Illinois ; and Flora, now the wife of David Fin- nigan, who resides in Streator. Mary, Henry and George were graduated from the Ottawa high school. Both Mr. and Mrs. Kelly now reside in Ottawa in a pleasant home, enjoying the fruits of former toil. They are esteemed peo- ple of the community, having a large circle of warm friends.

LESTER H. STRAWN.

Lester H. Strawn, is a very capable, earnest and skilled lawyer, who in his practice in La Salle county has few equals and no superiors. He is unusually well equipped for his profession and his analytical powers, logical reasoning and correct deductions have gained for him many notable successes at the bar. He is one of Illi- nois' native sons, having been born in Putnam county on the 18th of March, 1855. The fol- lowing year his parents removed to Ottawa, since which time he has continued to make this city his home. He passed through successive grades in the public schools until he had completed the high-school course, after which he matriculated in the University of Chicago in 1871. In 1872 he became a student in the University of Mich- igan at Ann Arbor, from which he was grad- uated with the class of 1876. He thus gained a broad literary knowledge to serve as an excellent basis upon which to build professional learn- ing and, returning to Ottawa, he took up the study of law in the office and under the direc- tion of the Hon. E. Follett Bull in 1877. After three years of preliminary reading he was ad- mitted to the bar in March, 1880. In January, 1884, he became the law partner of his former

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preceptor, Mr. Bull, with whom he continued un- til the latter's death in December, 1888. On the Ist of January, 1889, Mr. Strawn formed a part- nership for practice with Lafayette W. Brewer. with whom he remained until January 1, 1903, since which time he has been alone. He is re- garded as an able jury lawyer and successful ad- vocate. He has concentrated his energies upon his chosen profession and his devotion to his clients' interests is proverbial, yet he never for- gets that he owes a still higher allegiance to the majesty of the law and it has always been his aim to assist the court in securing a fair and im - partial hearing rather than to enshroud his cause in mystery or ambiguity. He now has a client- age of distinctly representative character and his ability is widely acknowledged. In community affairs he is deeply interested, giving hearty co- operation to many movements for the general good and for several years he has been president of the board of education, the public-school sys- tem of Ottawa finding in him a warm and stal- wart friend.

HENRY STEAD.

Henry Stead, of Marseilles, one of the old set- tiers of La Salle county, dates his residence here from 1858. A native of New York, he was born in Fishkill, Dutchess county, May 1, 1827, and has therefore passed the seventy-ninth milestone on the journey of life. He is a son of Rev. Henry Stead, a native of England, who was first married in that country. He became a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church and on emigrating to the United States first settled in New York city, where he engaged in preach- ing the gospel. Later he became connected with the Troy conference and was presiding el- der for twenty-six years. He filled some im- portant pulpits throughout the entire state and was recognized as one of the leading and able divines of the Methodist ministry. He lost his first wife in Albany, and later married Mrs. Het- ty Everett, nee Luyster, a widow, who was born near Fishkill, New York. Rev. Stead devoted his entire life to the work of the ministry and his influence was a potent element for good, re- sulting in the substantial growth of the various churches with which he was connected. He died in Washington county, New York, and was survived for a number of years by his widow, who passed away in Chicago. Her remain's,

however, were taken back to Washington county, New York, and laid by the side of her husband.

quired his early education in the common schools, and afterward attended Troy Conference Acad- emy in Poultney, Vermont, being thus well quali- fied by a liberal education for life's practical and responsible duties.

Mr. Stead was married in Washington county, New York, in 1853, to Miss Sarah E. Read, a native of New York, who was reared and edu- cated, however, in Jersey City, New Jersey. After their marriage they remained for a few years in the east, and about 1858 came westward to Illinois, settling first in Grand Rapids town- ship, La Salle county, where Mr. Stead opened up a farm of two hundred and forty acres, bring- ing the land under a high state of cultivation. He purchased an ox team, broke the prairie, fenced the fields, built a house and barns and as he prospered in his undertaking he extended the boundaries of his farm, purchasing more land from time to time until he had become the owner of a very valuable tract. Later, however, he sold out and bought a farm of eighty acres in Rutland township. He also owns other proper - ty in La Salle county. Many years were de- voted to the tilling of the soil and each spring found him planting his crops and each autumn gathering his crops until as the years went by his labors brought him a good financial reward. In the year 1904 he removed to Marseilles, where he now resides, enjoying a well merited rest.

In October, 1904. Mr. Stead was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who was laid to rest in Prospect (Illinois) cemetery. Four chil- dren have been born of their marriage, three sons and a daughter, namely : Hon. W. H. Stead, who is attorney general of Illinois; Prof. Franklin L. Stead, who is a member of the faculty at Jacksonville Female College. at Jacksonville, Illinois; Rev. James Rob- ert Stead, a minister of the Congregational church now located in Morgan Park. Illinois ; and Sylva Ada, the wife of S. S. Thompson. postmaster of Marseilles. Mr. and Mrs. Stead also lost two sons, Charles Edward, who died at the age of two years, and one who died in infancy.

In his political views Mr. Stead was originally a whig, and in 1860 he transformed his allegi- ance to the republican party, of which he has since been a stalwart advocate. He has never sought or desired office, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business interests. in which he has met with signal success. He has given to his children excellent educational priv- ileges and all are college graduates. Mr. Stead belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church at Marseilles, as did his wife, and he is a member

Henry Stead, a son of the second marriage, was reared in Washington county, New York, ac- of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the blue

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lodge and to the chapter at Ottawa. The teachings which he received in his early boy- hood days have borne rich fruit in the life of uprightness and honor in which he has won suc- cess, gained the respect of his fellowmen and reared a family, who are indeed a credit to his name.

L. I. TAYLOR.

L. I. Taylor, one of the leading residents of Earlville, active and prominent in business life and in community interests, is today the senior partner of the firm of L. I. Taylor & Sons, grain merchants, and is also president of the Earlville First National Bank. He was born in Mendota, March 9, 1857, and has in his pos- session one of the first garments he ever wore, it being made by hand by his mother. His father, Lewis Taylor, was born in Bristol, Som- ersetshire, England, in October, 1834, and died at La Grange, Illinois, in 1893, his remains, however, being interred in Earlville cemetery. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Irvine, was born in Leeds, England, in 1823 and passed away in Earlville, March 12, 1888. They were married in New York in 1853 and the same year came to La Salle county, where Mr. Taylor engaged in general farming upon rented land near Mendota for a year. He then found employment in an elevator at Mendota, thus spending three years, and in 1857, having proved his business worth, he became a member of the firm. He continued in grain-buying trade until 1873 and in 1877 removed to Earlville, beginning operations here as a grain merchant and continuing as a partner in the business which he established up to the time of his death. He was also vice president of the First National Bank of Earlville from the time of its organiza- tion until his demise. In politics he was a repub- lican but without aspiration for office. In the family were four children, of whom two died in infancy, while one daughter, Mary A., is now the wife of Earl B. Smith, who is living in Hemet, California.

L. I. Taylor attended the public schools in Mendota and was graduated from the west side high school of that place. He afterward spent nearly two years in the telegraph office there and in 1875 went to Bradford, where he was employed in an elevator for two years. In 1877 he returned to Earlville and engaged in business with his father, since which time he has been continuously connected with the grain trade, be- ing now the senior partner of the well known firm of L. I. Taylor & Sons. He is likewise the

president of the First National Bank of Earl- ville. He owns an elevator at Radley, Illinois, and also several valuable farms in the county.

Mr. Taylor was married October 31, 1878, to Nellie M. Simons, who was born in Paw Paw, Illinois, November 18, 1861, a daughter of James and Aramintha Simons, both of whom are now deceased. She was only one year of age when brought to Earlville and has since made her home here, being one of the pioneer ladies of the town. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were born two sons and three daughters: L. J., who is connected with his father in business and who married Leila Cunningham; Irvin S., who is attending the Boston School of Tech- nology; Olive A., who is a graduate of the Na- tional Park Seminary in Maryland and is now at home; and Mary and Nellie C., also at home.

Mr. Taylor has always been in sympathy with republican principles, though often he votes the independent ticket, especially in local elections. He is not a politician nor aspirant for office but has served for one term as alderman and as a member of the board of education for nine years. His intense and well directed energy has given him his present enviable position in financial and business circles in Earlvile.

MAJOR THEODORE C. GIBSON.

Major Theodore C. Gibson has had an inter- esting and somewhat eventful career, being a vet- eran of two wars and one of the California argonauts who went to the Pacific coast in search of gold in the early mining days. For a long period he has been a prominent business man of Ottawa and has filled a number of public posi- tions of honor and trust. He was born in Lick- ing county, Ohio, on the 5th of September, 1831, a son of John and Elizabeth (Yates) Gibson. The father came to La Salle county in 1840 and purchased a farm, upon which he resided until his life's labors were ended in death. Theodore C. Gibson was a youth of about nine years at the time of the arrival in Illinois and he remained upon his father's farm, attending the district schools as opportunity offered and working in the fields from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn. When sixteen years of age, imbued with the spirit of patriotism, he enlisted for service in the Mex- ican war, joining the army at Ottawa in 1848 as a member of Company G. Fifth Illinois Infan- try. He enlisted under Captain Reed and served for one year, being most of the time at Santa

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 43

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