History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 57

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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CHARLES H. WILLIAMS.

Charles H. Williams, prominent is commer- cial circles in Streator as proprietor of a large and paying hardware store, was born in Farm Ridge township, La Salle county, December 25, 1865. His education, after his preliminary training, was obtained in Ottawa high school and in the State University, which he attended in 1883. Returning to the farm, he taught school in the winter of 1884-5 at Vermilionville. Illinois, and then, determining to give his atten- tion to pursuits other than those of the farm, he took up his abode in Streator in September of the latter year, accepting a position as book- keeper and salesman for the firm of Powers Brothers. He continued with that house as an employe until July 1, 1892, when he purchased a half interest in the business and organized the company of Powers & Williams, hardware mer- chants. This relation was maintained for

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twelve years, or until 1904, when he purchased the interests of the other stockholders and is now conducting an extensive and important gen- eral hardware business, having a very large and carefully selected stock with which to meet the demands of a growing trade that has already assumed extensive proportions. He likewise has an independent oil station, where he handles oil by the tank carload and another department which he has added to his business is that of the sale of ground rock phosphate for soil improve- ment. His position in trade circles in the line of his present activity is indicated by the fact that he has been honored with the presidency of the Illinois Hardware Association and is also an officer of the National Hardware Associa- tion. He is likewise connected with other cor- porate and business interests of the city, being one of the directors of the Streator German Building & Loan Association and one of the directors of the Western Glass Company.

On the IIth of April, 1894, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Mary D. Jackson, who was born in Seneca, La Salle county, March 30, 1870, and is a daughter of William S. and Sarah E. (Dunaway) Jackson. Her father, who was born in Uniontown, Pennsyl- vania, May 28, 1841, died July 18, 1898, and her mother, whose birth occurred in Uniontown, June 8, 1844, passed away in 1882. In their family were three children, of whom Mrs. Wil- liams is the eldest. Her sister, Jeannette S., is the wife of J. A. MacDonald and is living in Ottumwa, Iowa. The brother, Thomas Jack- son, is a resident of Chicago. The father, Mr. Jackson, was an attorney at law, having been graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan in the class of 1864. He had become a resident of Farm Ridge in 1852, in which year his parents removed to this state. Following his admission to the bar he practiced law in Streator for about twenty years, when he removed to Chicago, where his death occurred.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Williams have been born four children : Helen J., born January 20, 1895; Norman B., September 11, 1898; Donald R., June 14, 1901 ; and Jessie B., January 31, 1904.

That Mr. Williams is deeply interested in the educational progress of the city is indicated by his effective co-operation in every movement for the benefit of the school board during the past ten years. He is a republican in his polit- ical views and is a member of various social and fraternal organizations, including the Streator Club; Streator lodge, No. 607, A. F. & A. M .; Streator chapter, No. 168, R. A. M .; Streator commandery, No. 70, K. T .; and Streator lodge

No. 591, B. P. O. E. As a gentleman of at- tractive social qualities as well as of excellent business ability and enterprise he stands high in the estimation of the entire community. Keen and clear-headed, always busy, always careful and conservative in financial matters, moving slowly but surely in every transaction, he has few superiors in the steady progress which invariably reaches its objective point. That his business ability and executive force are recognized in addition to his strong and commendable personal characteristics is evi- denced by the honors which have been conferred upon him in the state and national hardware associations.

WILLIAM F. WYLIE.

William F. Wylie was for many years a lead- ing farmer and extensive landowner of .La Salle county and his career was notable by reason of the fact that he owed his splendid success en- tirely to his own labors. A native of Ayrshire, Scotland, he was born on the 19th of January, 1813, and was the second in a family of five children, whose parents were John and Mar- garet (Fleming) Wylie, the former born Au- gust 6, 1769, and the latter in February, 1781. The mother died at a comparatively early age, being called to her final rest in 1819. The fa- ther, however, survived until 1857.

William F. Wylie was reared in his native country, where he acquired his education and when not busy with his text-books the lessons of industry, economy and perseverance were im- pressed upon his mind by his father, whom he assisted in various ways. He made his first trip to America in 1840, at which time he lo- cated in Pennsylvania, but after a brief period returned to Scotland, where he remained until November, 1853. when he came again to the United States and took up his abode in La Salle county.

Mr. Wylie was married on the 22d of April of that year to Miss Margaret Currie, a daugh- ter of Adam and Janet (Guthrie) Currie. Her father, who was born in 1793, died in March. 1873, while the mother, whose birth occurred in 1795, passed away December 29, 1872. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wylie have been born five chil- dren : Janet, the widow of Professor William E. Schreeb, who was principal of the high school in Ottawa; John; Adam; William and Anna.

Upon his farm in the county Mr. Wylie first erected a small frame house and therein estab- lished his home. He resolutley and purposefully undertook the task of developing and cultivat-

Wm y Wylie

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

ing the farm and that he prospered is shown by the fact that after a few years he erected a brick residence, which was the finest in the county at that time. It continued to be his home until his death, which occurred August 22, 1901. As the years passed by he added to his farm until he became the owner of thirteen hundred and twenty acres of land. He made very judicious invest- ments in real estate, his property largely lying in Waltham and Dimmick townships. For his first land he paid only five dollars per acre and ere his death it was worth probably one hun -- dred and fifty dollars per acre. He kept in touch with modern progress along agricultural lines and added to his farm all equipments known to the present time. He used the latest im- proved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and he found in his farming operations ample opportunity for the exercise of his indus- try, sagacity and perseverance-his dominant qualities. In addition to his property in Illinois he owned two sections of land in South Dakota and five sections in Nebraska and this is all still in possession of his family.

In his political views Mr. Wylie was a repub- lican and served in some local offices, including that of township treasurer, in which capacity he remained for two terms. He held membership in the Presbyterian church, to which his wife yet belongs, and in the work of the church he was interested, while to its support he gave lib- erally. He stood for progress along all lines leading to the benefit of his fellowmen and the improvement of the community and he mani- fested in his life many of the strong and sa- lient characteristics of the Scotch race, which have made the Scotch element in citizenship a valuable one in every locality where the rep- resentatives of the land of hills and heather are found.

THOMAS HOLT.

Thomas Holt, enjoying the rest which should ever crown years of active and honorable labor, is now living in Marseilles, in honorable retire- ment from further business activity, but for nearly a half century was one of La Salle's enterprising farmers. He is numbered among the early settlers who date their residence here from 1852. His birth occurred in Otsego county, New York, March 24, 1825, and his father, William Holt, was born in Kent county, England, not far from the city of London. There he was reared and in that locality he married Ann Millstead, also a native of Eng- land. Two children were born ere their emigra-

tion to the new world about 1823. They located in Otsego county, New York, where they reared their family. The father was a farmer by occupation and in 1840 removed to Wisconsin, settling in Walworth county, while subsequently he took up his abode in Reedsburg, Sauk county, where he passed away. In the family were twelve children, nine sons and three daughters, all of whom reached adult age, Thomas being the third in order of his birth. The surviving members of the family are Thomas, Washington, Henry, John and Mrs. Elizabeth Thorn. The two children born in England were Curtis and Fanny. The former enlisted for service as a soldier in the Civil war, becoming a member of a New York regiment and was killed in battle. Fanny married Wil- liam Sanders, who settled in Wisconsin.

Thomas Holt started out in life on his own account when a young man of seventeen years. He came with the family to the middle west but returned to Otsego county, New York, and was there married in November, 1851, to Rhoda Ann Balch. In 1853 they came to Illinois, set- tling upon a farm on section 15, Brookfield township, La Salle county. Mrs. Holt's par- ents, Henry T. and Catherine R. Balch, came to Illinois with them and resided with them until called to their final rest.

The farm which Mr. Holt purchased was arable land of eighty acres. It was raw prairie, which he at once broke with an ox team and a fourteen inch plow. He still has the old yoke which he used on his oxen and which is a souvenir of pioneer times, indicating the methods that were then in vogue in farming. He continued the work of development and im- provement and transformed his wild land into productive fields. Later he purchased an ad- joining tract of eighty acres, on which was a house and thus he improved and made a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, fencing and tiling the place, planting fruit trees and raising good crops of grain. His work was carefully conducted and resulted in winning for him the measure of success which now enables him to live retired. He farmed there for over forty years but eventually sold that property and bought a home in Marseilles, where he has since lived retired.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Holt have been born five children, but only one is now living, Mrs. Martha Baker, who resides with her father and has three living children: Mrs. Nellie Wern- strum, Rhoda Baker and Mrs. Mary Arundson. Mrs. Baker lost two children: Flora, who died at the age of fifteen years; and William Henry Baker, who died when thirty-six years of age.

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Mr. Holt lost four children, John, Sarah, Fidelia and Adeline. The last named became Mrs. Cole and died several years after her marriage.

Politically Mr. Holt has been a life-long re- publican where national issues are involved, but casts an independent local ballot. He served as highway commissioner and as school direct- or and for ten or twelve years has done effect- ive service in behalf of public education. His wife and daughter are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church. Mr. Holt has a wide acquaintance in the county where his residence covers a period of fifty-four years and many have known him as an enterprising and pros- perous farmer, whose life record is well worthy of emulation, proving what may be a accom- plished by earnest work. He has not sought wealth through speculation but has been content to labor energetically and untiringly for the success which now crowns his life, making him one of the substantial citizens of the community.

GILES H. ROBERTS.

On the roll of leading business men in Ottawa appears the name of Giles H. Roberts, proprie- tor of a bakery and restaurant. There have been no sensational chapters in his business career. but a steady progress that ultimately reaches the objective point. He was born in Delaware county, Ohio, in 1844, a son of Morris and Susan (Newman) Roberts. The father died in 1847 but the mother long survived, passing away in Ottawa in 1899, when ninety- three years of age. She was a native of Penn- sylvania, while Mr. Roberts was born in Con- necticut. In their family were eight sons, five of whom were soldiers of the Union army. There were also three sisters, but they died early in life. The brothers are as follows: L. B., who came to La Salle county and settled upon a farm in 1864 or 1865, is now deceased. George, who has also passed away, arrived in this county about 1855 and soon afterward engaged in the bakery business. Frank died in Kansas several years ago. Daniel, who was formerly a partner in the bakery business in Ottawa. is now living retired in this city. Ed. who is a rural mail carrier connected with the Ottawa office, resides in this city and his son is a physician here. Giles H. is the next of the family. Morris B. is in the employ of his brother Giles. The family certainly made a splendid record for loyalty in the Civil war, for John and Frank were members of the

Eighteenth Illinois Infantry, Daniel and Ed were soldiers of the Twentieth Ohio Regiment and Giles H. was for three years a member of Com- pany G, Ninety-sixth Ohio Infantry. Ed, Frank and John all served for four years each and Daniel and Giles for three years each making a total service from the family of eighteen years. They were all brave and loyal soldiers, un- faltering in their allegiance to the Union cause, and the same spirit of fidelity has ever been manifest in citizenship by the members of this family.

Giles H. Roberts, whose name introduces this review, was reared under the parental roof and educated in the public schools. He was still in his teens when he offered his services to . the government in defense of the Union cause and joined the boys in blue of Company G, Ninety-sixth Ohio Infantry, with which he served until the close of hostilities. He took part in many important engagements and was injured at Vicksburg by the explosion of a shell. He and all of his brothers participated in the siege of that city. Following the war Giles H. Roberts came immediately to Ottawa, where he remained through the succeeding win- ter. He then removed to Lee county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming through the sum- mer, after which he returned to La Salle county, where he worked by the month for one season. He then rented a farm, which he continued to cultivate and improve until 1874, when his wife's health failed. He sold his crops and equipments and then returned to Ottawa, where his wife improved and is today a well woman. After taking up his abode in this city Mr. Roberts was employed for two years by the firm of King & Hamilton and subsequently entered the employ of his brothers, G. W. and D. N. Roberts, who were engaged in the bakery and confectionery business. He was with this firm for eleven years as an employe, after which he purchased a small interest in the business and in the course of time he bought out his brothers, becoming sole proprietor about three years ago. His is a large and fine establishment and he now em- ploys five bakers, while other employes are his son Morris, his brother M. B. Roberts. and three girls who are waiters. He runs one regu- lar bread wagon beside a package delivery. The volume of trade is extensive and the business is profitable.

Mr. Roberts was married in 1868 in La Salle county to Mrs. Adeline Hawley, the widow of Chauncey Hawley, who was also a soldier of the Civil war, serving with Cogswell's battery from Ottawa. He died in the service soon after his enlistment. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts have two

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sons. Morris I. B., who is interested in the bakery business, married Miss Mabel Morehead, of Tonica, La Salle county, and they have one son, Louis Thomas Roberts, now four years of age. Elmer E., an attorney located at Ottawa, who is also serving as probate court reporter, married Miss Edith Frohs, of this city, and they have a daughter, Ideline. The family resi- dence is at No. 122 East Jefferson street.

Politically Mr. Roberts is a republican and fraternally is connected with the Grand Army of the Republic, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of the Globe and. the Modern Woodmen of America, while he and his wife are members of the Baptist church. His life has been one of untiring activity and in- dustry and upon this basis he has builded his success. He is justly classed with the self-made men of the city, owing his prosperity entirely to his own labors, for he started out in life with- out capital and has worked his way upward, brooking no obstacles that could be overcome by determined, persistent and honorable effort.

W. H. SINDEL.

W. H. Sindel, well known as a representative of agricultural interests in La Salle county, is living on section 31, Miller township, and his at- tention is devoted to the cultivation and improve- ment of sixty-seven acres of land, which is his property and constitutes a neat and well improved farm. Since 1866 he has made his home in this county and through the four decades that have come and gone he has been an enterprising farmer of untiring activity and reliability. Born in Fulton county, Ohio, on the 27th of January, 1845, he is a son of John Sindel, a native of New Jersey, and a brother of T. J. Sindel, who is men- tioned on another page of this volume.

W. H. Sindel was reared in the county of his nativity, acquiring his education in the public schools. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his boyhood days, but there was a great change in his manner of living in 1861, when, aroused by a spirit of patriotism he offered his services to the government, and on the 16th of November of that year enlisted at Toledo, Ohio, as a member of Company F, Sixty-seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He went to West Virginia and the first battle in which he participated was at Win -- chester, Virginia. Later he was many times un- der fire, participating in the engagements at Mount Jackson, Luray, Harrison's Landing and Black River. He was afterward transferred to

South Carolina and took part in the siege of Mor- ris Island, where he sustained a gunshot in the right foot, losing two of his toes, after which he was forced to remain in the hospital for about six weeks. He also participated in the siege of Fort Sumter and saw the fort reduced to a brick pile. In 1863 he came north and after veteraniz- ing was granted a thirty days' furlough, which he spent at home. Later he returned to Wash- ington, D. C., and took part in the fight at Chester Station, Virginia, where he was wounded by a gunshot above the knee of the left leg. This dis- abled him for eight months and he was in the hospital at David's Island in New York harbor. He rejoined the regiment in January, 1865, and subsequently participated in the battle of Peters- burg, where he was again wounded by a gunshot in the right breast. Once more he was disabled but this time remained in the field hospital and in December, 1865, was honorably discharged. He had been a brave and loyal soldier, manifest- ing his valor on many a battle-field and was pro- moted from the ranks to the position of sergeant.

When the war was over Mr. Sindel returned to his home in Ohio and later worked at the car- penter's trade in Toledo for one season. In the fall of that year he came to Illinois, joining his brothers in La Salle county in 1866. He rented a farm for four or five years and then married and began farming on his own account. It was on the 21st of March. 1872, that Mr. Sindel was joined in wedlock to Miss Alida C. Wilsey, a na- tive of Pennsylvania, who was reared, however, in La Salle county. Her father, A. T. Wilsey, owned the farm which is now the property of Mrs. Sindel. Following their marriage Mr. Sin- del engaged in farming in Grundy county, Illi- nois, for three years and in 1879 removed to Buf- falo county, Nebraska. He has leased and bought land and at one time owned four hundred and eighty acres in Buffalo county, which he im- proved and farmed for ten years. £ In 1889 he sold that property and returned to La Salle coun- ty, working at the carpenter's and joiner's trade for three or four years. About 1893 he resumed farming and has since given his attention to agri- cultural pursuits, having sixty-seven acres of land on section 31, Miller township, which is well improved and constitutes a productive farm. He has erected a good house and barn, has fenced and tiled the land, has set out fruit and in fact has made this a valuable property.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sindel have been born three children : Nettie, the wife of C. R. Condit, of Tiskilwa : Dorothy, at home; and Albert T., who is assistant station agent and operator for the Rock Island at Tiskilwa. Mr. Sindel is a stanch republican and while in Nebraska served

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as justice of the peace, but practically has never sought or desired office, preferring to give his undivided attention to business affairs. His wife belongs to the Baptist church. He is a member of the Grand Army post at Marseilles and the Masonic lodge there, and also holds mem - bership in Shabbona chapter, R. A. M., and Otta- wa commandery, K. T. He has filled all of the chairs in the blue lodge and is a past master. He is one of the few remaining veterans of the Civil war and carries many scars as a result of the numerous wounds which he sustained while fight- ing in defense of the old flag and the cause it rep- resented. He is well known in Marseilles, Otta- wa and La Salle county as an honored war vet- eran and an enterprising agriculturist and has the good will of the majority of those with whom he has come in contact.

HON. ELMER BALDWIN.

It is given to few men to attain such a vener- able age as did Elmer Baldwin and yet know so few of the ills of life, yet the secret of this is found in the fact that he led a life of sobriety and virtue, shaping his course in harmony with the laws of nature, which he constantly studied. He was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, March 8, 1806, and was one of the early settlers of La Salle county, Illinois, arriving here in May, 1835. He had therefore been a resident of the county for almost six decades at the time of his demise and for fifty-eight years had resided upon the farm where his death occurred. Throughout this period he had been closely associated with the work of development and progress along material lines and as a promoter of many measures for the public good as exemplified in political integrity and co-operation in admirable plans and move- ments for the welfare of the county.

Prior to his removal to the west Mr. Baldwin was married in 1831 to Miss Adaline Benson, of New Milford, Connecticut, who died in 1837, and in 1838 he married Miss Adaline O. Field, of West Brookfield, Massachusetts. At his death he was survived by two children : Mrs. Rinaldo Williams, of Streator, now deceased ; and N. O. Baldwin, of Farm Ridge.

Throughout the greater part of his active busi- ness career Mr. Baldwin was engaged in general farming and in the nursery business. Following his arrival here he purchased a claim and then returned to the east for his wife and infant child. Like many an old settler who thought that the boundless open prairie was fit only for grass and

pasture, he bought a tract of land near to the timber, upon which he lived, carrying on the work of the fields and also raising nursery stock. In later years he compiled and published a history of La Salle county, in which he gives a personal sketch of his journey to Illinois ; how he traveled for a distance of twelve miles on the first railroad that had been projected in America. He also gives a vivid description of his route and of vari- ous crafts and vehicles used from Albany to Buffalo, to Cleveland, to Detroit and Chicago, and how he and his companion for the want of any other conveyance "took it afoot" from Chi- cago to Ottawa. They walked in water from three to fifteen inches deep several miles over ground upon which Chicago now stands. In his history Mr. Baldwin says: "Chicago was then a respect- able village garrisoned by United States troops and the principal excitement at that time was the presence of a tribe of Indians." The trip westward consumed three weeks and notwith -. standing its hardships was greatly enjoyed by Mr. Baldwin, who had the greatest appreciation for nature in every phase and therefore found great joy in looking upon the many beautiful scenes and districts through which he passed.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 57

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