History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 59

Author: Hoffman, U. J. (Urias John), b. 1855
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

USA > Illinois > LaSalle County > History of La Salle County, Illinois > Part 59

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RUDOLPH F. STRUEVER.

Rudolph F. Struever, engaged in the insurance business in Peru and treasurer for the American Nickeloid Company, has spent his entire life in this city, working his way upward to a position of prominence in business circles and enjoying the respect and confidence of his fellowmen by reason of his close conformity to a high standard of commercial ethics. His natal year is 1863, his parents being Charles and Mary A. (Min- thorn) Struever, who were natives of Germany and Connecticut respectively. The father was born in Hanover on the 15th of July, 1816, a son of George and Dorothea (Biel) Struever, both of whom were natives of the province of Han- over, Germany, where they spent their entire lives. George Struever was a forester and for a half century had under his supervision the for- ests of a wealthy landholder, von Bodenhausen. His long continued service indicates in incontro- vertible manner the admirable qualities which characterized his business career. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran church and reared their family in that faith. George Struever passed away about 1886, at an advanced age, having for fifteen years survived his wife, whose death occurred in 1871. Their family number four sons and four daughters.

Of this family George Struever, having at- tended the common schools of the fatherland, was later instructed privately in special lines of study and spent two years as a student in Gottinger University. He was absolved from military service through "drawing cuts," being fortunate enough to escape from duty with the army. He then entered upon his business career as over- seer of a farm in Mechlenberg and later filled a position for Minister von Trott. While thus engaged he formed the acquaintance of Mr. von Baumbach, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who in- duced Mr. Struever to accompany him to the United States in 1849. Mr. von Baumbach pur- chased a farm in the vicinity of Elyria, Ohio, in Lorain county, and his son, aided by Mr. Struever, attended the cultivation of this place. At the close of two years Mr. Struever, however,

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removed to Wisconsin and engaged in farming on his own account, purchasing one hundred and sixty acres of land in Winnebago county not far from Oshkosh. He prospered in his undertak- ings, made excellent improvements upon his place and extended its boundaries by the purchase of an additional quarter section. In 1854, selling the property to Mr. von Baumbach, he removed to Peru and became an active factor in the busi- ness life of this city. For two years he con- ducted a grocery store and then became local agent of the Matthiessen & Hegeler Zinc Com- pany in the purchase of coal lands. Be made investments for that firm in several farms and thus became connected with the line of business in which he continued until his death, being for many years one of the well known real-estate and insurance agents of Peru.

In early manhood Mr. Struever was married to Miss Mary A. Minthorn, of Elyria, Ohio, on the 17th of September. 1851. She was born in Tor- ringford, Litchfield county, Connecticut, Febru- ary 15. 1828, a daughter of Hiram and Hulda (Cowles ) Minthorn. Her father was born in Torringford, and was of Holland descent, while the mother, a native of Litchfield, was of English descent. When their daughter, Mrs. Struever, was fifteen years of age they removed to Elvria, Ohio, and in early life Mrs. Struever engaged in teaching, following that profession in the Buck- eve state and also in Peru for five years. Two children blessed this marriage, Doretta and Ru- dolph F. The daughter became the wife of Charles Bolster, a farmer, residing at Sugar Grove, near Aurora, Illinois. Mrs. Bolster passed away leaving a litle son, who died, how- ever, when two and a half years of age. Mr. Struever was a stalwart republican, prominent and influential in the local councils of his party. He served as one of the first city marshals of Peru and filled the office of county coroner for four years. He held membership in Mokena lodge, No. 34. I. O. O. F., and had a wide and favorable acquaintance not only in a fraternal but also in business and social circles. His advance- ment in life was due to his close application, strong purpose and laudable ambition. He came to America with no capital but found in the con- ditions of the new world the opportunities which he sought for advancement and which made him a successful business man of his adopted city. His death occurred in the year 1901 and he is still survived by his widow, who yet makes her home in Peru.

Rudolph F. Struever obtained his education in the schools of Peru and afterward attended Bryant & Stratton Business College, pursuing a commercial course which well qualified him for

the duties of an active business career. Return- ing to Peru he accepted a clerkship in the post- office, where he remained for two years, when he became his father's assistant in the insurance business and subsequently was admitted to a partnership, the relation being maintained until the father's death, since which time Mr. Struever of this review has been alone. He has a large clientage of an important character and his in- come is now gratifying, resulting from his well directed efforts. He is also treasurer of the American Nickeloid Company, of Peru, and is thus identified with the business interests of the city. In connection with Henry Ream he got the St. Paul Railroad Company interested in coal fields which they had opened.

In 1890, in Peru, Mr. Struever was married to Miss Mary O. Huntoon, a daughter of Christo- pher H. Huntoon, of Peru, and they have two children, Carl and Dorothy, both born in this city. In his political views Mr. Struever is an earnest republican and for a term of two years represented the third ward in the city council. He belongs to the Masonic and Knights of Pythias fraternities and was master of finance in the latter. A gentleman of good business quali- fications and enterprise he has made a creditable name not only by reason of the success which he has achieved but also on account of the straight- forward business policy he has ever followed.

GEORGE W. RISS.

George W. Riss, engaged in the real-estate and insurance business in Streator, was born Septem- ber 5, 1860, in Bruce township, La Salle county. He is a son of Christian and Lena (Winkleman ) Riss, the former born February 11, IS16, and the latter February 5, 1820. They were natives of Hamburg, Germany, where they were reared and married, and in the year 1853 they crossed the Atlantic to the new world, settling near Streator, where the father was employed at farm labor for three years. He then purchased a tract of land and being a mason also worked at that trade in con- nection with the development of his agricultural interests. As he prospered in his undertakings he added to his possessions until he at one time owned four hundred and eighty acres of farm lands in La Salle and Livingston counties. He never cared for political preferment or sought to figure prominently in public life, being content to quietly perform each, day's duties and to pro -. vide through an active business career for his family. He was a member of the German Evan-

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

gelical church and his political support was al- ways given to the republican party. He died November 20, 1899, while his wife passed away January 21, 1890. In their family were four children, of whom the two eldest were born in Germany, namely : Frederick, who is a farmer of Newtown township, Livingston county, Illi- nois ; Sophia, who became the wife of Ernest Pop- penburg, who died in the fall of 1883, leaving his widow and four children, three daughters and a son, who are now living on the old homestead farm in Livingston county, Illinois; George W., of this review ; and Mary, the wife of F. Welge. a farmer, of Newtown township, Livingston coun- ty, by whom she has two sons and three daughters.

No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for George W. Riss in his boyhood days. He was educated in the public schools and worked in the fields through the summer months. At the age of twenty-eight ycars he became owner of a part of the old home- stead, where he followed farming until 1893, when he rented his land and removed to Streator. There he turned his attention to the hardware and farm implement business, in which he con tinued successfully until 1903, when he sold his stock of goods but retained the ownership of the store building. He is now engaged in the real- estate and fire-insurance business and has se- cured a good clientage in this connection.

Mr. Riss was married at Streator, Illinois, August 29, 1889, to Miss Louisa Greener, who was born August 23, 1867, a daughter of Louis and Sophia ( Matthes) Greener, the former born February 21, 1829, and the latter June 17, 1834. Mr. Greener was killed in a railroad wreck Feb- ruary 21, 1883, and his wife died April 19, 1906. Both were natives of Germany, in which country they were married. They came to La Salle coun- ty in 1857 and first located in Streator, while later they removed to a farm about two miles east of the town, where Mr. Greener had three hundred and twenty acres of land, which he developed into a valuable farm. He here built a fine home and substantial outbuildings and was successfully engaged in general farming up to the time of his death. In the family were three sons and three daughters, namely : George J., who is living on the old homestead; Louis, of Streator; Mrs. Riss; William, who resides in Colchester, Illi- nois; Emma, the wife of Amiel Gonderman, a resident of Reddick, Illinois ; and Bertha. the wife of August Rollert, living in Steen, Minnesota. In politics the father was a republican and his re- ligious faith was that of the German Evangelical church. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Riss have been born three children : Pearl E. S., born March 25,

1892; Harold Lewis, July 25, 1895 ; and George Ralph, April 29, 1899.

Mr. and Mrs. Riss hold membership in the German Evangelical church and his political al- legiance is given to the republican party. He has always lived in La Salle county and as a rep- resentative of agricultural and commercial inter- ests has made an excellent record, winning the success that now classes him with the substantial citizens of the county.

WALLACE LIBBEY.

Wallace Libbey, a stock-raiser and breeder of Hereford cattle, was the first to introduce this brecd of cattle into La Salle county and this sec- tion of the state, beginning the work in 1881. In the same year he imported Clydesdale, Percheron and Englishshire horses and he also breeds some draft horses. He has thus done much to benefit the stock-raising interests of this section of the state. The men who directly or indirectly im- prove the grade of stock raised and thus advance prices may well be termed benefactors of the agri- cultural class and this work Mr. Libbey has done. Twenty-five years ago he introduced the first Hereford cattle into northern Illinois and today there are thirty-five herds of pure bred Herefords in this part of the state.

The life record of Mr. Libbey began in La Salle county in 1861 at his father's home in Farm Ridge township. Hle is a son of Francis Libbey, a native of Farmington, Maine, who came to Illi- nois in the fall of 1840. He married Miss Jane S. Brown, who was born in the state of New York and arrived in La Salle county in 1830, liv- ing with her parents in the fort at Ottawa during the Black Hawk war. She was at that time but

three years old. For many years she was an interested witness of the changes which occurred and the development that was carried on, trans- forming this county from a wild, unimproved dis- trict infested with Indians and wild animals into a center of civilization containing many homes of a prosperous and contented people. She resided here permanently until a year or two ago and her home is practically Ottawa, but she is now liv- ing in Indianapolis with a daughter. Her hus- band, Francis Libbey, was a farmer by occupa- tion and devoted his attention to general agricul- tural pursuits until his death in 1864. He

bought the state right for the original separator for separating chaff from the grain. This was in 1844. He always stood for progress in farm life and eagerly embraced every opportunity for securing practical and improved machinery that

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would facilitate the work of the fields. He pos- sessed sound judgment in business matters, made judicious investments and acquired a tract of some fourteen hundred acres of land in this sec- tion of the country. The farm of Wallace Libbey is a part of his father's original holdings and is located on the old stage route from Chicago to Peoria. In the family were eight children, five of whom reached adult age. Howard L., now living in Macon county, Missouri, near La Platte, is a farmer and stockman. Elenora L. became the wife of William C. Griffith, of Indianapolis, Indiana, who died about ten years ago, leaving four sons. Mrs. W. C. Riale is living in Ottawa. Mrs. Josephine Kendall makes her home in Ke- wanee, Illinois.

Wallace Libbey, whose name introduces this record, has spent his entire life in La Salle coun- ty, was educated in the public schools and was reared to the occupation of farming, early becom- ing familiar with the labors incident to the care of field and meadow. For many years he has given his attention largely to stock-raising and as before stated has been instrumental in greatly improving the grades of stock produced in this section of the state. His own herd of Here- fords averages about one hundred and fifty head and is president of the La Salle County Here- ford Cattle Breeders' Association, serving as such since its organization in 1900. In this connec- tion he has a very wide acquaintance and has made shipments of his cattle to various sections of the country. His farm comprises five hun- dred and seventy acres of land pleasantly located on section 32, South Ottawa township, and in Farm Ridge township, not far from the county seat. In connection with his cattle he also han - dles pure blooded Berkshire hogs and Shropshire sheep and the various branches of his stock-rais- ing interests are proving profitable.

In 1887 occurred the marriage of Wallace Lib- bey and Miss Ida Watts, a daughter of William Watts, who was a farmer and stockman located at Alton, Illinois, where he died in the fall of 1904. Mr. and Mrs. Libbey now have three daughters, Bessie Josephine, Esther and Ellen, aged respectively sixteen, fourteen and twelve years and all yet at home.

The farm is a finely improved property and Mr. Libbey has made all of the improvements upon it. He received as a gift from his father one hundred and sixty acres of land, but the re- mainder of his landed possessions have been ac- quired entirely through his own resources and well directed efforts. He possesses good busi- ness ability and strong determination, carrying forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes and while his stock-raising and

breeding interests have been a source of much individual profit they have also been of marked benefit to the county and state as well. Political- ly he is independent. His wife is a member of

the Episcopal church. Both Mr. and Mrs. Lib- bey have a wide acquaintance in La Salle county, with which their circle of friends is almost co-extensive.

JACOB ROSENCRANS.

Jacob Rosencrans, deceased, who was for many years closely identified with agricultural inter- ests in La Salle county and displayed in the management of his farm the capability and enter- prise which ultimately lead to prosperity, was born near Albany, New York, in 1820. He came to La Salle county in an early day and was identified with its pioneer development and progress. He began farming and as the years passed met with success in his undertakings. In the early days the farm implements were crude, much of the labor being done by hand. He worked earnestly and persistently day after day as the weeks lengthened into months and years and as his financial resources increased he in- vested more and more largely in land until he owned several hundred acres of fine land. He made his home about twelve miles northeast of Ottawa and was justly regarded as one of the most progressive and enterprising farmers of La Salle county. About 1890, with the capital that he had acquired through his own labors, he retired to private life and removed to Ottawa, where he built a beautiful home at No. 121 East Jackson street, there residing until called to his final rest.

Mr. Rosencrans was married in 1856 to Miss Eliza Sawyer, a daughter of Elum Sawyer, who came to La Salle county in an early day from Connecticut and aided in extending the frontier. Her father was a farmer in this county but while in the east had carried on business as a tan- ner and currier. Following his removal to Illi- nois he invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land, devoting his time and energies to its im- provement. In his family were four children, three of whom are now living, namely: Mrs. Rosencrans ; Ralph, who resides in Indiana; and Mrs. Helen Johnson, also making her home in that state. Mr. and Mrs. Rosencrans had no children.

In his political affiliation Mr. Rosencrans was a democrat but never sought or desired office. He was a man of very quiet tastes and habits, preferring the seclusion of his own home rather than taking an active part in public affairs. His

JACOB ROSENCRANS

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

sterling worth commended him to the confidence and respect of all who knew him. He came to Illinois a poor boy, possessing no capital save strong determination, willing hands and a stout heart. With these to aid him as he started out he made his way along lines of progress as the years passed by and came into possession of a handsome property, being thus enabled to leave his widow in very comfortable financial circum -. stances, when on the 21st of March, 1904, he was called to his final rest. Mrs. Rosencrans still occupies her beautiful home on East Jackson street and with her resides Miss Nellie Fitzger- ald, who has been a member of the household for a long time. Mrs. Rosencrans lives a quiet life but has many warm friends who esteem her highly for her genuine worth.

T. J. SINDEL.

In the history of the farming interests of La Salle county mention should be made of T. J. Sindel, for he is a representative of a family that has long been prominent in the development of the county along agricultural lines. As a pros- perous and energetic farmer he is well known in Manlius township, where he owns and cultivates a farm of one hundred and twenty acres on sec- tion 4. He is one of the early settlers of the county, having resided here since March, 1858. Almost a half century has since come and gone and as an eye witness of prominent events Mr. Sindel is well acquainted with the history of the county and the progress that has been made as the years have gone by. A native of Ohio, he was born in Lucas county, on the 4th of Septem- · ber, 1836. His father, John Sindel, was a na- tive of New Jersey, born in 1815. John Sindel was reared in the state of his nativity and was married there to Harriet Dickson, also a native of New Jersey. By trade a carpenter, he later - turned his attention to farming and on his re- moval to Ohio settled in Lucas county, which is now Fulton county, spending his remaining days there. He died in 1875, at the age of sixty years, while his wife passed away in 1894. In the fam- ily were seven sons and three daughters, all of whom reached adult age, and of this number five sons and one daughter are yet living, namely : Edward Sindel, of Fulton county, Ohio; T. J., of this review; John, also living in Fulton coun- ty ; William H., who make his home in Miller township; and James, a resident of California.

In the county of his nativity T. J. Sindel spent the days of his boyhood and youth as a farm lad,

whose attention is occupied with the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. He had fair common- school advantages and when a young man came westward to Illinois, after which he worked for four years as a farm hand in La Salle county, having arrived here in 1858. On the expiration of that period he returned to Ohio and was mar- ried in Fulton county, in 1863, to Miss Emma E. Knight, after which he brought his bride to Illi- nois. He and his brother, Dickson Sindel, pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of land and farmed in partnership for a time, after which they divided their business interests. Mr. Sindel of this review sold his land to his brother and purchased where he now resides in 1875. Lo- cating thereon he has since improved the farm, which comprises one hundred and twenty acres of rich land. The fall following his arrival he built the home where he has since resided and also outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. His farm is now a well improved prop- erty, the fields being richly tilled, while every- thing about the place is kept in a state of good repair and shows the careful supervision of a practical and progressive owner.

In 1881 Mr. Sindel was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife, and the following year married Miss Lucy Knight, a sister of his first wife. In 1885, in Marseilles, he wedded Mrs. Libbie M. Long, a widow, who was born in Onondago county, New York. Her first hus- band, Mr. Long, died in Bureau county, Illinois. Mrs. Sindel was a daughter of John Miller, also a native of the Empire state. He married Helena Manchester, who was likewise born in New York. Mr. Miller was a farmer of Onondaga county and subsequently removing westward to Will county, Illinois, where he became one of the early settlers. At a later date he took up his abode in Mokena. Illinois, where his death occurred. Mrs. Sindel was reared in Will county and there gave her hand in marriage to Christian Long, who was a soldier of the One Hundredth Illinois Infantry and served throughout the period of the Civil war, after which he was honorably discharged at Davenport. Subsequently he settled in Marseilles and later in Bureau county, where he spent his remaining days, his attention being given to rail- road service.

By his first marriage Mr. Sindel had five chil- dren : Hattie, now the wife of Jacob Sampson, a farmer of Miller township; Nellie. the wife of Arthur Drackley, of Greene county, Iowa ; Carrie, who became the wife of E. Zimmerman and died in January, 1901 ; and two who died in infancy. Mrs. Sindel had two sons by her former mar- riage, Charles Long, who wedded Mary Dean

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

and resides in Marseilles ; and Burton Long, who died at the age of eleven years in Bureau county.

When age conferred upon Mr. Sindel the right of franchise he cast his first presidential bal- lot for Abraham Lincoln and has since been a stal- wart advocate of the republican party and its principles. He has served as clerk of the school board and as commissioner of highways for about twenty-eight years, still filling the latter position, and the good roads of his locality are largely due to his capable service in this direction. He never misses an election and is frequently a delegate to the county and state conventions and in the com- munity is numbered among the stalwart advo- cates of the republican party. Mrs. Sindel is a member of the Marseilles Universalist church and Mr. Sindel is a Master Mason, who joined the Marseilles lodge about 1866. He came to the county in pioneer times and can remember seeing deer and other wild game in this section of the state. The land, too, was largely unimproved and the district was broken up by sloughs, which rendered the land wet in the spring time. The

roads, too, were in poor condition and the work of progress and improvement lay largely in the fu- ture. As the years passed by Mr. Sindel has carried on farm work and has prospered in his undertakings and at the same time has found op- portunity to aid in the work of public progress.

DONALD A. NICHOLSON.

Donald A. Nicholson, justice of the peace and for many years one of the factors in public life in Marseilles, has been so closely associated with the interests of the city as to render his life his- tory an important chapter in its annals. A native of Canada, he was born near the town of Kings- ton, on the 6th of July, 1834, and is of French lin- eage. Both his grandfather and his father bore the name of Donald Nicholson, and were born in the land of hills and heather. Donald Nicholson, Jr., was married to Elizabeth Boyce, a daughter of Benjamin Boyce, of Canada, and for several years thereafter they resided in the British prov- ince, whence, in 1843, they came to Illinois, the father devoting his attention to general agricul- tural pursuits in Will county, Illinois. He also divided his time with the work of the ministry of the Christian church, and his influence was a strong and effective factor in that denomination for its upbuilding and for the moral development of his fellowmen. In 1850 he took up his abode upon a farm in Miller township, near Marseilles. La Salle county, where he continued to reside until his death in 1862. His wife passed away

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 59

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