History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 45

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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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

and Flora K., who became the wife of Charles Brown and after his death married Charles Parmlee. She died in August, 1902. There was one child by this marriage, Marcia W., who is residing at Marseilles. Mr. Spencer lost two children : Della G., who died at the age of eleven months, and Edwin, who died when eighteen months old.

Politically Mr. Spencer was formerly a re- publican. He cast his first presidential ballot for Winfield Scott in 1852, then voted the re- publican ticket for many years but is now a dem- ocrat. While living on the farm he served as d member of the school board for twenty years and was a member and president of the Rutland and Manlius Fire Insurance Company for twelve years. He acted as highway commissioner for a number of years and has been a delegate to various county conventions of his party. His residence of fifty-three years in La Salle county has enabled him to witness much of its growth and progress and he has helped to make it what it is today, contributing in substantial measure to its growth and improvement, especially along agricultural lines. In December, 1902, he re- moved from his farm to Marseilles, where he is now residing. His memory goes back to the time when the farm work was done with primi- tive machinery and much of the labor was ac- complished by hand. He has lived to witness the introduction of modern agricultural imple- ments, relieving the farmer of the more ardu- ous duties and has noted with interest the prog- ress of the county along other lines. He has been straightforward in his business dealings and has acquired thereby a competence that now en- ables him to live retired.

CHARLES A. WILEY.

A notable fact in the history of La Salle county is found in that a large majority of her native- born sons have remained residents here, which shows the county to be rich in its possibilities and resources, offering excellent opportunities to those to make their homes within its borders. A representative of this class is Charles A. Wiley, who now resides on section 3. Freedom township, and who was born in Meriden township, this county, on the 12th of February, 1861. The family is of Scotch lineage, the great-great-great- grandfather of our subject having been a native of the land of hills and heather, whence he after- ward removed to Ireland, where the great-great- grandfather was born. When the latter was a youth of twelve years he accompanied the family

on their emigration to America, settling in Maine. Robert Wiley was the youngest of seven sons and was born in the state of Maine, where he attained his majority and married Hannah Charles, also a native of the Pine Tree state, while her parents came from Sweden.

Charles Wiley, the gradfather of Charles A. Wiley of this review, was born in Fryeburg, Maine, March 15, 1803, and having arrived at years of maturity he married Miss Seraphina Greenleaf. In 1844 he brought his family direct from Maine to Freedom township, La Salle county, Illinois, where he and his sons developed a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He died in 1875 and was survived until 1894 by his widow, who died at the age of eighty-four years. Her parents were English people who located in Maine in early days. Charles Wiley was one of five brothers who settled in this county, includ- ing Dr. Samuel Wiley, of Earlville. The family were adherents of the Universalist church and were upright, honorable people, highly esteemed by all who knew them. Unto Charles and Seraphina (Greenleaf) Wiley were born five children : Samuel C., a retired farmer and lum- ber dealer of Earlville; Henry, father of our sub- ject ; Mary Ann, who died in early life; Laura, who passed away in childhood ; and Martha, the wife of David Davis, of La Salle county.

Henry Wiley was born in Somerset county, Maine, and died in Earlville at the age of sixty- eight years. Throughout his entire business career he carried on general agricultural pur- suits. He came to this county with his parents in 1844 and for a long period was the owner of a farm in Freedom township. He wedded Miss Rosa P. Thompson, a native of Illinois, and she is now living in Earlville. In the family were five children : Charles A., of this review ; Fred, who is still living in the village of Harding; Grace, the wife of William Tucker, of Freedom township; S. R., who is living an a farm in Freedom township; and Mary, the wife of Ed Ellwell, of Freedom township.

Charles A. Wiley was reared upon the home farm and acquired a public-school education. When not busy with his text-books he worked in the fields and thus early gained practical expe- rience concerning farm work, so that he was well qualified to take charge of a farm of his own when at the age of twenty-one years he received as a gift from his grandfather one hundred and twenty-five acres of land. This was partially improved at the time and he continued its further development and cultivation. He has since added to the house and has built a large barn and corn crib. He has also bought ninety acres more land, so that he now has an excellent farm of

Henry Willy

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two hundred and fifteen acres, constituting a very valuable and desirable property. He carries on general farming, tilling the soil year after year and producing excellent crops, planting in the springtime the seed which in the autumn brings forth rich harvests.

In 1884 Mr. Wiley was married to Miss Stella Dickerson, a native of Freedom township and a daughter of Mahlon and Maria Dickerson. Her father is now deceased but her mother is still living. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wiley have been born six children, of whom five are now living : Henry M., who is clerking in the store of W. A. Martin, of Harding; Robert, Frank, Elbert A. and Douglas, all at home; and Henrietta, who died at the age of eight months. Mr. Wiley votes with the democracy but has held no office save that of school director, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, in which he is meeting with signal success. He has been a citizen loyal and true and is straightforward and upright in all transactions, thereby winning the commendation of those who have had dealings with him.

JOHN QUINCY ADAMS.

John Quincy Adams, who without invidious distinction may be termed the foremost citizen of Marseilles because of the extent and importance of his business interests and also his co-operation in those movements which work for intellectual and moral progress, is a native of the Empire state, but the greater part of his life has been passed in Illinois. Honored and respected by all, there is no man who occupies a more enviable position in industrial and financial circles, not alone by reason of the success he has achieved but also owing to the straightforward business methods he has ever followed. It is true that he entered upon a business already established but in extending its scope he has displayed ex- cellent discernment and keen enterprise and has proven that success is not a matter of genius but is the outcome of clear judgment, experience and diligence. The manufacturing concern of which he is now the head is one of the most prominent in La Salle county and is a factor in the prosperity of the village, giving employment to a large force of workmen.

Mr. Adams, born in Greenwood, Steuben county, New York, July 23, 1839, was only a year old when brought by his parents to this state. His father was the Hon. Augustus Adams and his grandfather was Samuel Adams, a native of Cayuga county, New York. Hon. Augustus Adams was likewise born in Cayuga county and

was there reared and married, the lady of his choice being Miss Lydia A. Phelps, who was born in Cortland county, New York, and was a daugh- ter of Joseph Phelps, also of the Empire state. The father's natal day was May 10, 1806, and the place of his nativity was Genoa. In 1840 he removed with his family to Elgin, Illinois, and became an influential factor in business, political and social circles. He established a foundry there before there was a single foundry in Chicago and continued actively in business at Elgin until 1857, when he removed to Sandwich, where he also founded an enterprise that de- veloped into the Sandwich Manufacturing Com- pany. He was president of this company for many years and his natural mechanical ingenuity and inventive genius found scope in the cele- brated Adams corn sheller and other agricul- tural implements which were given to the world as the result of his power in this direction. In 1870 he became the president of the Marseilles Manufacturing Company, which was established in Marseilles by his sons and for twenty-two years he was connected therewith. His last years were spent there and an active business life was terminated when in 1892 he was called to his final rest. He had moreover wielded a wide in- fluence in public affairs and his labors were a source of benefit to the state on many lines of material and political upbuilding. He was a member of the constitutional convention of 1848 and served in the state senate from 1854 until 1858, taking an active part in framing the legis- lation which was enacted in that period. It was an epochal era of development and his sound judgment, keen discrimination and clear insight into future possibilities as well as present condi- tions made him a valued and honored member of the general assembly. He had wide acquaintance with many of the most distinguished men of the state and was regarded as a peer of his con- temporaries in public life. He was a warm per- sonal friend of Abraham Lincoln, Judge David Davis and General John M. Palmer, together with other distinguished and representative men of Illinois. Mr. Adams had long survived his wife, who died in Sandwich in 1867, when in her fifty- third year. In the family were nine children, eight sons and a daughter. Five of the number now survive and two brothers, H. R. and C. H. Adams, are associated with John Quincy Adams in the conduct of the manufacturng interests in Marseilles.

John Q. Adams spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Elgin, where he attended the com- mon schools, his early advantages being sup- plemented by a year spent in Elgin Academy. In

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1857 he removed with his father to Sandwich and in his shop learned the machinist's trade. He was thus engaged until after the inauguration of hostilities between the north and the south. He had watched with interest the progress of events that preceded the great Civil war and had become a champion of the cause of the republican party, taking an active interest in the campaign of 1860 and supporting Lincoln as a member of the celebrated Wide-awake Club. When it was found that the war was to be no more holiday affair, that it would be a serious contest of arms, he offered his services to the government, en- listing in September, 1861, as a member of Com- pany G, Fifty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under the command of Colonel Wilson. The regiment went into camp at Geneva, Illinois, and thence proceeded to Benton Barracks, St. Louis, Missouri, after which the troops did guard duty on the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad. Later they were transferred to Smithland, Kentucky, where Colonel T. W. Sweeney took command of the regiment. Arriving at Fort Donelson just after the surrender, the Fifty-second Illinois was then sent north with prisoners to Camp Douglas, Chicago, and later formed a part of General Grant's army, participating in the two days' battle of Shiloh, where they met heavy loss, one hun- dred and seventy men being either killed or wounded of the four hundred and fifty partici- pating in the engagement as members of the Fifty-second Illinois. Mr. Adams was in the thickest of the fight and later he participated in the siege of Corinth under General Halleck and on the 3d and 4th of October, 1863, was in the second battle of Corinth under General Rose- cranz, where the loss of his division amounted to one thousand and four out of less than three thousand men. General Hackleman, command- ing the First Brigade, was killed and General Oglesby, commanding the Second Brigade, was badly wounded. In January, 1864, Mr. Adams re-enlisted as a veteran and in April of that year the regiment joined General Sherman's army and participated in the Atlanta campaign, being under fire nearly every day for about one hun- dred days. He assisted in the capture of Atlanta and in the engagement on the 22d of July, in which General McPherson was killed. He also took part in the fight on the 28th of July and after the capitulation of the city went with Sher- man on the celebrated march to the sea. He afterward participated in the Carolina campaign, going from Savannah to Goldsburg and after- ward to Raleigh. Later the regiment proceeded on to Washington, D. C., taking part there in the Grand Review and was then mustered out in Chicago, receiving an honorable discharge in

July, 1865. For two and a half years of his service Mr. Adams was sergeant major and dur- ing the last six months was first lieutenant and regimental quartermaster, with which rank he was discharged. He was hit by a piece of shell at Atlanta on the 22d of July, 1865, thus sus- taining a flesh wound, and he was ill after the battle of Shiloh for about two weeks.

Lieutenant Adams returned home with a most creditable military record, remaining a resident of Sandwich until 1867, when he came to Mar- seilles and in connection with a brother estab- lished a planing mill. In 1870 they organized the Marseilles Manufacturing Company, of which their father became the first president. Since February 24, 1892, John Q. Adams has been president of the company, which is engaged in the manufacture of various kinds of agricul- tural implements but makes a specialty of corn shellers. They are now manufacturing corn shellers, portable elevators and feed grinders of several kinds. Their plant is a splendidly equipped factory supplied with the most modern im- proved machinery, so that the product is of the best possible grade and the output is shipped to all parts of this country and to foreign lands as well. They have built up a very extensive busi- ness, now employing from one hundred to two hundred men, and their annual sales amount to many thousands of dollars. The vast number of improvements on the machinery made by this company are all the inventions of John Q. Adams and he has taken out a great number of patents. These improvements have been the direct means of the great success of the business and immense sales of their machinery. The extent of the busi- ness makes it a most valuable enterprise in La Salle county, giving employment and the means of living to many individuals and again demon- strating the truth of the assertion of Charles Sumner that "peace hath its victories more re- nowned than war." Mr. Adams and his asso- ciates have been watchful of every indication pointing to success, have used their opportunities to the best possible advantage and have en- larged their business along legitimate lines . of trade which neither seek nor require disguise.

Mr. Adams was married in Sandwich, Decem- ber 20, 1865, to Miss Helen A. Beardsley, who was born in Orleans county, New York, and was there reared and educated. Her father was Selah Beardsley, who spent his entire life in the Empire State. In early womanhood Miss Beards- ley went to Sandwich, Illinois, where she gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Adams. They have no children of their own, but reared a son of Mr. Adams' oldest brother-Augustus Adams, who is

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now married and resides at Longmont, Colorado. He has two sons, Russel T. and John Augustus.

Politically Mr. Adams has been a republican since casting his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln and for a number of years was a member of the board of trustees of Marseilles when it was a village but is not an aspirant for office, as his time and energies have been fully occupied with his business interests. He and his wife have been members of the Congregational church for a long period and Mr. Adams served for thirty-seven years as church treasurer. He has also been Sunday-school superintendent for nine years and is now the teacher of the bible class. His wife is also an active Sunday-school worker and their efforts for the upbuilding of the church have been beneficial and far-reach- ing. Mr. Adams is a member of the Joseph Woodruff post, No. 281, G. A. R., and thus maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades. He has been a resident of Illinois for sixty-six years and of Marseilles for thirty-eight years and his efforts here have been of the utmost benefit to the community. There is ever a degree of satisfaction and profit in scanning the life history of one who has attained to an eminent degree of success as the direct result of his own efforts, who has had the mentality to direct his endeavors toward the desired ends and the single- ness and steadfastness of purpose which have given due value to each consecutive detail of effort. This Mr. Adams has done. His life has been a success. His entire career is illustrative of the fact that certain actions are followed by certain results. As a soldier he displayed sagac- ity, bravery and true patriotism, as a manufac- turer he has wrought along modern lines result- ing beneficially to the community as well as to the individual stockholder and as a citizen he is an illustration of a high type of our American manhood.

JACOB BARR.

Jacob Barr, who was identified with farming in- terests for many years until 1891, sold his proper- ty at that time and removed to Ottawa, since which time he has been engaged in operating a feed mill at No. 1352 West Madison street and also operates a threshing machine in harvest sea- sons, having been engaged in threshing since twenty-one years of age. He came to La Salle county in 1865, being at that time a young man of thirty-two years. He was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1833, and in 1837 was taken to Richland county, Ohio, by his parents.

There he was reared and educated and was also married in that state. It was subsequent to his marriage that he moved to La Salle county, set- tling in Waltham township, where he purchased a tract of land and engaged in farming until 1891, when he sold one hundred and sixty acres. As stated, he came to Ottawa and has here operated a feed mill, using the same engine that is used with his threshing machine.

Mr. Barr was first married to Miss Fannie Brubaker, who died in 1877, leaving a family of nine children, all of whom are now living as follows: Chris, fifty years of age, who resides on Kansas street, Ottawa, and is a machinist ; Mrs. Amanda Beck, whose husband is a motor- man and resides in South Ottawa; Mrs. Lydia Hegebaugh, living in California; 'Mrs. Mary Duvia, whose home is near her father's; Mrs. Eliza Duvia, living in Waltham township ; Henry, who is married and resides at Prairie Center ; John, who is married and owns what is known as the Huffman place in Ottawa; Jacob, who is interested in the hardware store of Reifer & Barr, at Ottawa; and Benjamin, who is an electrician and resides near his father. After losing his first wife Mr. Barr wedded Mary J. Beck, who died in 1898. His present wife, whom he married on the 8th of May, 1902, was Mrs. Henrietta St. Clair, nee Rolfs, who came to La Salle county in 1858. Mr. St. Clair was a farmer of Kendall county. Her first husband was C. H. Miller, who lived in Kendall county, Illinois, where he con- ducted a general store. Mrs. Barr has four chil- dren, who are yet living : Fred Miller, a barber, residing at Canton, Illinois; Bertha Miller, who became the wife of George M. Kennedy and is residing in Maxville, Iowa; Anna A. Miller, now the wife of George L. Johnson, a farmer living in Kendall county, Illinois ; and E. G. Miller, an undertaker, carrying on business in Utica, Illi- nois, and Kenosha, Wisconsin.

In his political views Mr. Barr is a democrat, who adheres to the principles advocated by An- drew Jackson. He served as road commissioner and was justice of the peace for twenty years, rendering decisions which were strictly fair and impartial. He was also school director for a number of years and the cause of education has found in him a warm and helpful friend. Fra- ternally he is an Odd Fellow and a past noble grand of the lodge. He is also identified with the encampment and was formerly a member of the Grange and Patriotic Sons of America. His wife is a member of the Congregational church. Mr. Barr has led a busy and useful life and has the confidence and good will of his fel- lowmen because of his fidelity to principles

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which neither seek nor require disguise. His home is at No. 1352 West Madison street, where he has lived for a number of years, giving his attention to his threshing and milling interests.

P. J. LUCEY.

P. J. Lucey, mayor of Streator, is serving for the second term in the office. Few men of his years are thus honored, for he is yet a young man, having been born in Ottawa on the 2d of May, 1873. His parents were John and Johanna (Doud) Lucey, both natives of Ireland. Coming to America, they spent their last days in Ottawa, where they arrived in the year 1862. Mr. Lucey was employed by the railroad company and con- tinued a resident of the county seat until his demise, which occurred January 22, 1892, when he was seventy years of age. His wife departed this life April 10, 1891, when she was fifty-nine years of age. In their family were three sons and three daughters: Timothy, living in La Salle; John; Lawrence, who is associated with his two older brothers in the dry-goods business in La Salle and in Ottawa; Nora; Anna, and Katherine. The father was in the employ of the railroad company throughout the entire period of his residence in Ottawa and he was a com- municant of the Roman Catholic church, to which his family also belongs.

In the public schools of Ottawa, P. J. Lucey acquired his literary education and studied law in Chicago with the firm of Duncan & Gil- bert, being admitted to the bar in that city in 1894, when twenty-one years of age. He came to Streator in 1895 and has since practiced law in this city with a large and distinctively repre- sentative clientele. His fitness for leadership has led to his selection for public office and various honors have been conferred upon him. A supporter of the democracy, he was elected upon the party ticket to the office of city attor- ney for the years 1897 and 1898 and again after an interval was chosen for the years 1901 and 1902. Still higher political honors were con- ferred upon him by his election in May, 1903, to the mayoralty and in May, 1905, he was re- elected for a second term of two years and is now chief executive, giving a public-spirited and busi- ness-like administration that is characterized by the same fidelity and loyalty that are recognized as strong and salient elements in his professional career.

Mr. Lucey was married on the roth of Septem- ber, 1901, to Miss Frances Gertrude Casey, who was born near Streator, Illinois, August 23, 1878,

and is a daughter of Nicholas Casey. They have one child, Frances Gertrude. Mr. Lucey is a member of Streator lodge, No. 591, B. P. O. E., and also holds membership with the Knights of Columbus. He and his family are communicants of the Immaculate Conception Roman Catholic church. Throughout the period of his profes- sional career he has resided in Streator and is regarded' as one of its most enterprising citi- zens, with a capacity and ability in his profession that have gained him foremost rank with the leading lawyers of the city. He has made a close and discriminating study of political ques- tions and issues and is opposed to anything like misrule in public affairs. He stands for a con- servative yet progressive city government and while he does not believe in the useless expendi- ture of money neither does he believe in practic- ing economy to the extent of hindering improve- ment and advancement and the fact that he was re-elected to office is an indication. of the trust reposed in him by the public.

DANIEL C. MILLS.

Long before the era of railroad building in La Salle county Daniel C. Mills, now deceased, be- came a resident of this part of the state and for many years figured as one of its leading and progressive agriculturists, while in his later days he lived retired in Ottawa in well earned ease. His fellow townsmen knew him as one worthy of their full trust and regard, and where- ever he went he commanded the respect and good will of those with whom he was brought in contact either through business or social rela- tions. His birth occurred in Staffordshire, Eng- land, July 3, 1832, his parents being Daniel and Sarah (Smith) Mills, both of whom were natives of England, whence they emigrated to the United State in 1833, arriving in New York city. The father became interested in veneer mills in Co- hoes, New York, where he resided until 1839, when, disposing of his business at that place he returned to Tipton, Staffordshire, England, where he engaged in business until 1843. In that year he again started for America, traveling by boat from Tipton to Liverpool, whence he boarded a sailing vessel bound for New York. From the eastern metropolis he proceeded by river to Al- bany and thence by way of the Erie canal to Buffalo and by steamer to Chicago, thus covering the entire distance between his old home in England to Chicago by water. At that last named place he purchased a wagon and team

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 45

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