History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 60

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 60

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in 1886, her last days having been spent in Joliet. Illinois. Their family numbered three children, two daughters and a son.

Donald A. Nicholson began his education in the schools of Canada and continued his studies in Will county, completing his course in a high school in Henry, Illinois. Having put aside his text-books he learned the stone mason's trade, which he followed until the 20th of July, 1861, when he put aside all business and personal con- siderations and offered his service to the govern- ment, enlisting in Company K. Thirty-ninth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, of which command he became second lieutenant. He served until the 14th of June, 1862, when he resigned, but in De- cember, 1864, he again joined the army, this time as first lieutenant of Company. E, One Hundred and Fifty-third Regiment of Illinois Infantry. During the two years and nine months of his army life he participated in numerous battles and lesser engagements, and in September, 1865, he was mustered out at Springfield, Illinois, with the rank of captain. He was a brave soldier, in- spiring his men with deeds of valor and acting as their leader as well as their commander.

When the country no longer needed his serv- ice. Captain Nicholson returned to La Salle county and again engaged in work at the stone mason's trade, building private dwellings and public works of various kinds including the foundations and approaches to bridges. Since 1854 he has made his home in Marseilles, cov- ering a period of more than a half century. Dur- ing an active business career Mr. Nicholson con- stantly worked his way upward, enlarging the scope of his activities, until in later years he has retired from further operations and gives his at- tention to official duties. In 1868 he was chosen for the office of police magistrate and acted in that capacity for four years. Later he was chosen by popular suffrage for the position of justice of the peace in the town of Marseilles, and in 1897 was elected city attorney of Marseilles. He is again in office as police magistrate and his capability is demonstrated by the many times that he has been chosen by the vote of his fellow townsmen for positions of political preferment. He is in hearty sympathy with the principles and policy of the republican party and his efforts have been an effective force in securing republican successes in the community in which he resides.

On the 22d of January. 1857. occurred the marriage of Donald A. Nicholson and Miss Sally A. Clark, and they have become the parents of six children : Hiland F. ; Will C .; Mary E., the wife of Frank E. Smith, a business man of Mar- seilles : Milcs S .: John M .. and Elizabeth, the wife of T. D. Brewster, who is in business in

D. A. NICHOLSON.

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Marseilles. Mrs. Nicholson, who was born June 9, 1834, in Ohio, is a daughter of Dalphus and Sally (Loring) Clark, who became worthy and esteemed citizens of La Salle county, where Mrs. Nicholson was reared. In his fraternal re- lations Mr. Nicholson is connected with Joseph Woodruff post, No. 281, G. A. R. Over the rec- ord of his official career and private life there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil, and he is particularly notable because of his fidel- ity to his country, whether in military service or in political life. He is the champion of reform and improvement and has ever stood for law and order. More than that he has given his co-oper- ation to many feasible plans for the general good and his worth is widely recognized by all with whom he has come in contact.

ROBERT WHITTAKER.

Robert Whittaker, a leading citizen in Earl- ville, is the owner of valuable farming property. He also buys and sells wool and is vice presi- dent of the Earlville National Bank. His in- vested interests are thus many and he is regarded as a most enterprising business man and one of the representative citizens of this portion of the county. He has always been a man of action rather than theory, and determined purpose has characterized his entire career. In all local affairs he has taken an active part and genuine interest, patriotically upholding every effort to make this one of the most desirable places for a home or business location and invariably using his influence on the side of right and progress.

Mr. Whittaker was born in the village of Saugus in Essex county, Massachusetts, October 20, 1842, his parents being James and Mary (Pilling) Whittaker, who were natives of Eng- land. The father was a cloth finisher by trade and worked at that pursuit throughout his entire life. Both parents lived to be eighty years of age and died in Saugus, Massachusetts, the father in 1880 and the mother in 1883.

Their son Robert spent his boyhood days in his native village and around the woolen mills and thus gained considerable knowledge of the business, especially concerning the value of wool. He attended the common schools and at the age of twenty years was married and removed to La Salle county, thinking that he would have better business opportunities in the new but rap- idly growing west. For three years he worked in the woolen mill at Dayton for John Green and afterward went to Minnesota, where he engaged in farming for three years. It was his intention

to take up a homestead there, but he found that the land had all been claimed and he afterward returned to La Salle county, where he engaged in renting land for eight years. As time passed by his financial resources increased, for his crops found a ready sale on the market, and he care- fully saved his earnings. He then purchased a farm of one hundred and fifteen acres in Free- dom township, whereon he made his home for twenty-one years, after which he spent a short time as a resident of Earlville and then took up his abode upon another farm in Earl township. Four years ago he once more removed to Earl- ville, where he has since resided. He has been very successful and is now the owner of four hundred acres of valuable land in Freedom and Earl townships. He has never been actively engaged in farming himself, but has had the management of his different tracts of land, whereon general farming has been conducted. He has always bought and sold cattle and hogs ever since coming to this county and at the pres- ent time is financially interested in a meat market conducted by his son in Earlville. Mr. Whit- taker also buys and sells wool, having gained knowledge of the business when a young man in Massachusetts. He figures in financial circles as vice president of the Earlville National Bank and is a man of good business discernment, far- sighted and enterprising, who has extended his efforts into many fields of activity and while promoting individual progress has also advanced the general success.

Mr. Whittaker was married in 1862, in Massa- chusettts, to Miss Eliza Hart, who is a daughter of George and Elizabeth Hart. Her father died in Scotland when she was four years of age, after which the mother came with her family to America, settling in Essex county, Massachusetts. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker have been born ten children, of whom two died in infancy, while one son, George, died in Earlville about three years ago, at which time he was serving as alderman of the town. Those still living are : James A., who resides upon a farm in Mc- Donough county, Illinois ; Mary, the wife of John Harris, of Earl township; Forrest, who is con- ducting a meat market in Earlville: Robert, who is living upon the old homestead in Freedom township; Frank and Roy, who reside upon farms in Earl township; and Sadie, the wife of Clyde Moore, of Earlville.

Mr. Whittaker is an advocate of the democ- racy and is serving his third term as supervisor of Earl township. He has been township asses- sor and is interested in all movements that are a stimulus to public progress and advancement. In manner he is modest and unassuming but is

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widely recognized as a public-spirited citizen and good business man. A community depends upon business activity, its welfare is due to this, and the promoters of legitimate and leading business enterprises may well be termed its benefactors, in which relation Mr. Whittaker stands to the business interests of Earlville.

SAMUEL GROVE.

Samuel Grove, a retired farmer living in the village of Utica, has, through well directed efforts in former years, accumulated a compe- tence sufficient to supply him with the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He has re- sided continuously in La Salle county through- out his entire life, having been born in Rutland township, on the 23d of March, 1836. He is a son of David Grove, who was born in 1804 and came to this county in 1829, locating in what is now Rutland township, making his way west- ward from Licking county, Ohio. He purchased seminary land and opened a farm, there residing until his death, which occurred in 1879. He married Miss Annie Houser, whom he wedded in Licking county, Ohio, and one child was born unto them ere they removed to Illinois, namely : Mrs. Conard, of Marseilles. The mother died of cholera in 1849. Other children, however, were added to the family in this county, namely : Catherine, still living in Freedom township, La Salle county ; Mrs. Isabelle Wickwire, of Rut- land township; Mrs. Eliza Chapman, of Free- dom township; and George, who died in Otta- wa in 1902.

Samuel Grove, whose name introduces this record, was reared in Rutland township to the occupation of farming, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. There he resided until his marriage, December 18, 1861, after which he pur- chased a farm a mile north of Utica and with characteristic energy began its cultivation and improvement, carrying on general agricultural pursuits there until about four years ago, when he leased his land and removed to Utica, since which time he has lived in the village in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. He still owns two hundred and ten acres in the home farm.

Mr. Grove married Miss Mary P. Parr, whose people became residents of Rutland township in 1830. She is a sister of Samuel Parr, of Otta- wa, and of Henry Parr, of Serena township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Grove have been born two sons and a daughter : E. L., who died April 22, 1903, in Chicago, where he was studying dentis-

try ; Henry P., who is married and lives in Utica, where he owns and operates the electric light plant; and Nellie L., the wife of Dr. J. S. Geen, of Utica. The other son was also married and left a widow.

Politically Mr. Grove is a democrat in hearty sympathy with the principles of the party and he is now serving as township treasurer. He was one of the charter members and organizers of the Waltham, Utica & Ophir Insurance Com- pany in 1878, at which time he was chosen secre- tary of the company and has served continuously since that time. With the exception of a part of one year he has served continuously as school treasurer for thirty consecutive years and at one time was supervisor.

Mrs. Grove belongs to the Baptist church. Both Mr. and Mrs. Grove have a wide acquaint- ance in this county and the circle of their friends is almost co-extensive with the circle of their acquaintance. Mr. Grove has always resided here, his residence in the county covering the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten. Great changes have occurred during this period, his memory going back to the time when the broad prairie was largely uncultivated and was covered with its native grasses. The trees stood in their primeval strength in the forests and the work of progress seemed scarcely begun but as the years have passed great changes have been wrought as the farmer has tilled the soil, the mechanic built and operated his shop, the merchant conducted his store, while other lines of business have been equally well represented and thus the work of improvement has been carried on according to ideas of modern civili- zation and development. As a pioneer settler and successful business man Mr. Grove well deserves mention in this volume.

C. CHAUNCEY DE PEW, M. D.

Dr. C. Chauncey De Pew, physician and sur- geon of Ottawa, where he has resided for three years, was born in Monticello, Iowa, in 1876, a son of Dr. Henry H. and Elizabeth (Sovereign) De Pew, both of whom are residents of Chicago, where the father is yet actively engaged in prac- tice. A son, Dr. Harry G. De Pew, is also con- nected with the father in his professional service there and makes a specialty of rupture, skin and chronic diseases.

Dr. De Pew of this review acquired his educa- tion in Chicago, being graduated from the Na- tion Medical College, now the National Med- ical University, with the class of 1899.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

This is a homeopathic school, but in his practice he has employed every method which he believes will promote his efficiency in his chosen calling. He entered upon the active work of the profes- sion in Chicago, where for seven years he was as- sociated with his father. During the past three years he has resided in Ottawa and has offices at Nos. 6 and 8 Leland Building. He uses the therapeutic, light, vibratory, massage, osteopathic, electrical, as well as medicinal cures, employing every means that will produce direct and immedi- ate benefit to his patients. His office is equipped with various appliances for the administration of therapeutic, light and electrical treatments. . He also puts up preparations for the skin, and Mrs. De Pew is a complexion and scalp specialist. They manufacture their own preparations and Mrs. De Pew has offices at No. 268 Amory building.

Dr. De Pew was married to Miss Ella Pauline Sinkey, of Maquoketa, Iowa. His political sup- port is given to the republican party and he is connected with the Fraternal Reserve Life Asso- ciation of Peoria. Although not a member, he attends the services of the Congregational church. He is one of the younger representatives of the medical profession but has already attained high rank in his calling and has a very liberal patron- age which is indicative of the confidence uniform- ly reposed in him by the public.

A. H. ANDERSON.

A. H. Anderson, living on section 14, Miller township, where he owns and cultivates a farm of eighty acres, also having a farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres on section 13, is a native son of La Salle county, his birth having occurred July 12, 1848, in the township where he yet makes his home. His father, Ener Anderson, was a native of Norway, born in 1820, and came to the new world in 1836, when a young man of but six- teen years. He spent two years in Orleans coun- ty, New York, and in 1838 arrived in La Salle county, Illinois, finding here a sparsely dis- trict with small towns, while many of the now thriving villages and cities had not yet sprung into existence. Much of the land was yet in its primitive condition, awaiting the quickening touch of the agriculturist to make it productive. He worked on the Michigan and Illinois canal and at other labor that he could secure, willing to do any work that would yield him an honest living and gain him a start in life. He was also employed at farm labor and became one of the first settlers of Miller township, living on section 16, where he purchased a tract of land of eighty

acres and opened up a farm. Turning the first furrows in the fields, in due course of time he transformed the wild prairie into very arable and fruitful land and as his financial resources per- mitted he extended the boundaries of his farm until it comprised three hundred and fifty-two acres. He thus became well known as a pros- perous and enterprising farmer and his life rec- ord may well serve as a source of inspiration to others, showing what may be accomplished through determination and enterprise in a land where opportunity is open to all. He married Miss Margaret Gunnerson, a native of Norway, and spent the remainder of his life in this coun . ty, passing away in 1900. His widow still sur -- vives him and resides with a daughter in Hamil- ton county, Iowa. In their family were five sons and two daughters, who are yet living, and one son and three daughters deceased.

A. H. Anderson, whose name introduces this record, was reared upon the old home farm and attended the district schools, but is largely self- educated, having added much to his knowledge through experience and reading in later years. He possesses an observing eye and retentive memory and these qualities have enabled him to make progress in the field of intellectual accom- plishment. He remained with his father until twenty-one years of age and was then married in Miller township on the 23d of December, 1869, to Miss Martha E. Sampson, a native of Norway, who came to La Salle county when a child of seven years and was here reared.

After his marriage Mr. Anderson operated his father's farm for five years and then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 13, Miller township, whereon he located and be- gan the further development and improvement of that place. He built to and remodeled the house, also built two barns, corn crib and granary. He fenced and tiled the place, and in fact, devel- oped a model farm, continuing to reside there until 1902, when he rented this place to his son, Elmer Anderson, and bought and located where he now resides on section 14, Miller township. turning his attention to the cultivation and further improvement of this property. In con- nection with general farming he is raising and feeding stock and has led the life of an active and industrious agriculturist and stock-raiser, whose labors have been crowned with success and who is now one of the prominent and prosperous farm- ers of Miller township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have been born three children : Maggie, now the wife of Benjamin Rasmuson, a farmer of Kendall county, Illinois ; Elmer E., who is oper- ating the old homestead and is married and has one child; and Mary E., who is a music teacher,

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having graduated from Chicago Musical College. The son was also liberally educated and is a graduate of a commercial college at Valparaiso, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson last two

children : Eva, who died in infancy when twenty months old; and Mamie E., who died at the age of six years. Politically Mr. Anderson was formerly a democrat, but now votes an in- dependent ticket. He served for thirteen con- secutive years as township school trustee, was a school director for five years and has also been path master. He and his wife are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and he is a teacher in and superintendent of the Sunday-school and a most active worker in the church. His entire life has been passed in this county, covering a period of fifty-eight years, during which time he has witnessed the greater part of the growth and development of this sec- tion of the state. He has helped to improve and make Miller township what it is and is one of the honest yeoman, thoroughly reliable under all cir- cumstances and conditions and basing his busi- ness success upon untiring labor and diligence guided by practical and sound judgment.

ROBERT CARR.

Robert Carr, although one of the younger members, has established himself as one of the successful members of the Ottawa bar and is now connected with a leading law firm of La Salle county-Huttmann, Butters & Carr, with offices in both Chicago and Ottawa.

Mr. Carr was born August 11, 1867. in Ophir township, La Salle county, a son of Daniel and Bridget Ann (Gardiner) Carr, the former a farmer by occupation. His early education was acquired in the district schools and he afterward attended the Brothers School at La Salle, subse- quent to which time he entered St. Viateur's Col- lege at Bourbonnais' Grove, Kankakee county. Illinois, from which institution he was graduated on the 23d of June, 1885. He afterward en- gaged in teaching school for two years and de- ciding upon the practice of law as a life work, he began preparation for the profession as a student in the law office of Hon. F. P. Snyder, then coun- ty judge of La Salle county, in April, 1887. In April, 1888, he was appointed deputy probate clerk of the county and there remained until 1892. In the meantime he continued the study of law, was admitted to the bar on the 4th of December, 1889, and began practice upon his retirement from the probate clerk's office on the Ist of June, 1892. He formed a partnership with A. E. But-

ters for the general practice of law in 1893 and has since been associated with him. In June, 1903, in connection with H. W. Huttmann, they opened a branch office in Chicago under the name of Huttmann, Butters & Carr and later Thomas W. Headen, with offices in both Chicago and Ottawa. In April, 1895, Mr. Carr was elected city attorney and served for two years. The firm of which he is a member enjoys a large and grow- ing practice and Mr. Carr is recognized as a capable member of the La Salle county bar. He does not fear that laborious attention to detail which is so necessary an element in the prepara- tion of a case before entering the courtroom. In the trial of a case he throws himself easily and naturally into the argument with a self-possession and deliberation that indicates no straining after effect but a precision and clearness in his state- ment, an acuteness and strength in his argument which speaks a mind trained in the severest school of investigation and to which the closest reasoning is habitual and easy.

In former years Mr. Carr was a stalwart ad- vocate of democracy and took an active part in its work but he did not approve of the attitude of the party on the question of the free coinage of silver and since that time has been identified with the republican party. He represented the second ward of Ottawa in the city council for two years. For one term he was a member of the Illinois National Guard and he has been identified with several fraternal organizations. He became a member of St. Elmo lodge, No. 70. K. P., in 1892, and is a past chancellor, and is now a member of the grand lodge of Illinois and a past grand representative. He is also a lieuten- ant colonel of the uniformed rank of the Knights of Pythias and has been re-elected as representa- tive to the grand lodge. He is likewise .con- nected with several fraternal insurance organiza- tions, including the Modern Woodmen of Ameri- ca, the Fraternal Reserve Life Association and the American Guild. He is now serving for the second term as president of division No. 7 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, which organization he has represented in the state and county con- ventions on various occasions. He also belongs to the Ottawa Boat Club.

On the 30th of December, 1891, Mr. Carr was united in marriage to Miss Annie Crane Hathe- way, the only daughter of Dr. Joseph Cushman Hatheway, of Ottawa, Illinois. By this mar- riage there have been born four children: Rob- ert Cushman, Annie Dauphine, Joseph Daniel and Mary Paula, and the family circle yet re- mains unbroken by the hand of death. Mr. Carr has spent his entire life in this county and his record stands in contradistinction to the old

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adage that "a prophet is never without honor save in his own country," for here in the district of his activity he has won success and prominence through the possession of those qualities which indicate capability in the practice of law.

WILLIAM E. FITZGIBBONS, M. D.

Dr. William E. Fitzgibbons, a successful med- ical practitioner at Peru, was born in Buffalo, New York, in 1859, a son of Thomas and Mary Emily (Perry) Fitzgibbons, who were also natives of the Empire state. The father was one of the early settlers of Buffalo, and had there one hundred and sixty acres of land, whereon he followed farming. This tract is now included within the corporation limits of the city. He also had forty acres of swamp land, which was taken into the city of Buffalo, filled in and has been transformed into a good district. Mr. Fitzgib- bons became a political leader of some note in Buffalo and Erie county, serving as sheriff of that county. While acting as sheriff he met Governor Fenton, who at that time was very poor and out of employment and Mr. Fitzgib- bons made him a turnkey of the jail, which was his initial step toward fame. He was after- ward elected to the position of sheriff of the county and subsequently was chosen governor of the state. The friendship which sprang up be- tween the two men was ever continued.

Dr. Fitzgibbons spent his early years in his native city and was provided with excellent educational privileges, completing his literary course in Union College, at Schenectady, New York, from which he was graduated in the class of 1879. He acquired his professional training in the Buffalo Medical University, from which he was graduated in the class of 1884. He began practice in Michigan, where he remained for a year and afterward removed to the southern part of Illinois, settling in Dongola, Union county, where he resided for eight years. On the expira- tion of that period he located in Utica, La Salle county, Illinois, in 1897, and there remained until 1902, when he removed to Peru, succeeding to the practice of Dr. I. S. Cole. Here he has re- mained continuously since with constantly grow- ing success, a liberal patronage being now ac- corded him. For three years he served as health officer of Peru.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 60

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