History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 65

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 65

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

the state legislature. His influence in community affairs was far-reaching and beneficial, and he was regarded as one of the leading business men of the northern part of the county. His death occurred February 13, 1900.

JACOB B. STUDEBAKER.

Jacob B. Studebaker is the owner of an excel- lent farm of eighty acres on section 18, Farm Ridge township, where he carries on general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. He has been a resident of La Salle county since 1871, and has continuously resided in Farm Ridge township. He was born in Preble county, Ohio, in 1852, a son of Jacob and Catherine (Lock) Studebaker, both of whom died in Ohio. The father was born in Virginia, in the year 1808, was of German descent and passed away in 1872. His wife, who was born in Ohio, in 1816, died on the IIth of October, 1885. Mr. Studebaker was a farmer and as a young man removed to Ohio, where he carried on the work of tilling the soil for a long period. In the family were fifteen children, ten sons and five daughters, of whom twelve are now living. Those who reside in La Salle county are: Jeremiah, who makes his home in Farm Ridge township; Benjamin F., a farmer living east of Ottawa; and Henry Mar- tin, a farmer of Vermillion township. The other members of the family are: Daniel, of Lewis- burg, Ohio; Jesse and Monroe, also living in Ohio; William M., who resides near Logan, Iowa; Joseph, of Indiana ; Mrs. Belle Miller, of Lewisburg, Ohio; Mrs. Elizabeth Rumbaugh, of Lewisburg, Ohio; Mrs. Charlotta Vie, who is living near New Paris, Ohio; a sister, who died in infancy ; Mrs. McCumber, of Deer Park town- ship, La Salle county, who died in February, 1902 ; and David, who died more than twenty years ago when fifty years of age.

Jacob B. Studebaker was reared to farm life and attended the common schools of his native state. Following his removal to Ohio in 1871, he worked by the month as a farm hand for five years and saving his earnings was enabled to purchase his present farm in 1888. Here he has resided since July, 1890, but he began farming on his own account in 1882, and as the years have passed by has prospered, becoming one of the sub- stantial agriculturists of the community. He has a well improved tract of land of eighty acres, from which he harvests good crops owing to the care and labor he bestows upon the fields.

Mr. Studebaker was married in La Salle county to Miss Mary J. Stillwell, who was born

480

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

in Greene county, Pennsylvania, in 1853, a daugh- ter of Daniel and Sarah (Braton) Stillwell, both of whom died in Deer Park township, the former in August, 1892, and the latter December 31, 1893. Mrs. Studebaker has a brother, John, who is a farmer of Deer Park township, and a sister, Mrs. Ellen Angell, of McHenry county, Illinois. The marriage of our subject and his wife has been blessed with six children, all born in La Salle county. Sarah is the wife of August Kroa, who is residing in the village of Grand Ridge. Daniel Reuben, who owns and operates a thresher, hay baler and clover huller, resides at home. Clara E. is the wife of A. L. Byers, a resident farmer of Vermillion township. Elsie Belle is the wife of William H. Monroe, a resident farmer of Deer Park township. Florence is the wife of C. A. Stason, residing in Farm Ridge township. Grace Amanda is at home.

In his political views Mr. Studebaker has al- ways been an earnest democrat and has served as a member of the district board and as school director. He favors the Methodist church. He and his family occupy a comfortable home and he has made fine improvements upon his farm, making it one of the valuable properties of the township.

HERBERT BRAGG.

Herbert Bragg is the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred acres on section 21, South Ottawa township, which is divided into fields that are well cultivated and pastures that contain good grades of stock. His entire life has been passed in this part of the state, thereby proving the attractiveness of La Salle county as a place of residence. His birth occurred in South Ottawa township in 1866, his parents being John and Julia ( Brown) Bragg. The father, who died in 1891, was born in Highbickington, England, in 1826 and the year 1858 wit- nessed his arrival in Illinois after he had spent two years in the state of New York. He located in South Ottawa township, purchas- ing a farm on section 34, and being a carpenter by trade, he followed contracting and building while employing others to carry on his farm work. He served for a number of years as col- lector in his township and was active and influ- ential in community affairs, supporting all meas- ures which he deemed of benefit to the county. In 1864 he married Miss Julia Brown, a daugh- ter of W. H. and Betsy B. (Ellsworth) Brown, who came to La Salle county in 1830 during the Indian war. They were natives of New York and Pennsylvania respectively and on removing

to the middle west settled on a farm in South Ottawa township, La Salle county, where they remained until called to their final home, the father passing away in 1869, while the mother survived until 1904. Mrs. John Bragg was reared in South Ottawa and has spent the past four years in Idaho, having but recently re- turned to La Salle county. By that marriage she became the mother of a son and two daugh- ters : Herbert; Mrs. John Sutton, who is living in South Ottawa township; and Mrs. I. E. Bauermaster, of the city of Ottawa. Following the death of her first husband Mrs. Bragg be- came the wife of J. Richolson, who now resides in Idaho.

Herbert Bragg spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the county of his nativity and is in- debted to the public-school system for the edu- cational privileges he enjoyed. Having arrived at years of maturity he chose a companion and helpmate for life's journey and was married to Miss Mae Duffield of this county, a daughter of William Duffield, residing in South Ottawa town- ship. Her father came to La Salle county in 1839 and has since remained a resident of South Ottawa township, being one of its oldest and most honored pioneer settlers, having experi- enced all the hardships and trials incident to the establishment of a home upon the frontier. He was born in Devonshire, England, in 1833. His wife bore the maiden name of Louise Desusclad. Their daughter, Mrs. Bragg, is a native of La Salle county.

Mr. and Mrs. Bragg have a pleasant home on section 21, South Ottawa township, where his farm of one hundred acres is well improved and suppplied with many modern conveniences. Here he engages in raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and also raises stock, having good grades of horses, cattle and hogs upon his place. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, but he has never sought ot desired office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs, which are care- fully managed and which are bringing to him signal success. He is a representative of two of the old pioneer families of the county and the work which was begun by his father and his ma- ternal grandfather is being carried forward by him.

FRED E. ECKENFELDER.

Fred E. Eckenfelder, proprietor of a furniture and undertaking establishment, is one of Peru's native sons and has spent his entire life in the city, making an excellent record as a business

48I

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

man by reason of his public-spirited devotion to the general good. He was born in 1867, his parents being Conrad and Katherine (Knapp) Eckenfelder, both of whom were natives of Germany, whence they came to America in 1848. The father was a butcher by trade and for many years was connected with the business in Peru, where his death occurred in1882, His widow still survives and is yet living in Peru. In their fam- ily were nine children, of whom six are yet living, namely : Mrs. Jacob Klein, Mrs. Bertha Weisheit, Mrs. Henry Bellinghausen, Martha, Fred E. and Mrs. John Schubiger.

Fred E. Eckenfelder, spending his boyhood days in his father's home, attended the public schools and afterward learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed as a journeyman for seven years. In 1889 he bought his present business of his father-in-law and now deals in furniture of all kinds, at the same time conduct- ing an undertaking establishment. He has been successful from the beginning and now has a large patronage. He has for seventeen years been numbered among the leading merchants of the city and his efforts have resulted benefi- cially for trade interests as well as for individual success.

Mr. Eckenfelder was married in 1889, in Peru, to Miss Kate Haas, a daughter of Chris- tian Haas, of Peru, one of the early settlers here. They have two children, Florence and Harold, both born in Peru. Mr. Eckenfelder is inde- pendent in politics and socially is connected with the Modern Woodmen, the Yoemen and the Turners. He is regarded as an energetic, en- terprising and public-spirited citizen, whose efforts in behalf of general progress have been as effective and far-reaching as have his labors in his private business concern.

EZRA T. GOBLE, M. D.

Dr. Ezra T. Goble, of Earlville, enjoying a large practice accorded him in recognition of professional skill and ability, was born near Paw Paw, Illinois, October 6, 1850, and is one of the six children who were born unto Timothy and Elizabeth (Ayres) Goble, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. For many years resi- dents of Illinois, the father died upon his farm near Paw Paw at the age of seventy-eight years and the mother is still living at the very advanced age of ninety-two years. Only two of their children, however, are residents of this county, Mrs. Jacob Radley making her home in Earlville.

Dr. Goble acquired his early education in the public schools of Paw Paw and was after- ward a student in the State Normal at Normal, Illinois. In 1870, having determined upon his life work, he took up the study of medicine in Rush Medical College of Chicago, from which in- stitution he received his diploma in February, 1874. In March of the same year he located for practice in Earlville, where he has remained continuously since, and he has by reading and investigation constantly added to his knowledge and promoted his efficiency. Anything which tends to bring to man the key to the complex mystery which we call life is of deep interest to him, as he is ever zealous in his efforts to solve the intricate problems which continually con- front the physician. He is careful in the diag- nosis of his cases and seldom at error in a matter of professional judgment.

In 1877, Dr. Goble was united in marriage to Miss Anna Pulver, who was born in Schenectady, New York, and they have three children. Kate, who is engaged in teaching, is a graduate of the Earlville high school and was also a student in Rockford College. Arthur S., who is assistant chemist for the Northwestern Railroad at Austin, was educated in Earlville; at Champaign, Illi- nois; in the University of Minnesota, which he attended for two years; and in the college at Beloit, Wisconsin. Adele was graduated from the Earlville high school in the class of 1906.

Aside from the practice Dr. Goble is classed with the business men of his adopted city, being president of the Earlville National Bank. Promi- nent and influential in community affairs, he has served for two terms as mayor of the city and for one term as alderman, and his opinion is often a decisive factor in matters relating to municipal interests. He is opposed to anything like misrule in municipal affairs and stands as a stalwart champion of those things which are a matter of civic virtue and of civic pride. He is now and has been for fifteen years president of the board of education and has done effec- tive service in behalf of public instruction in this city. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and for thirty years he has been a member of the Odd Fellows society and has been its representative to the grand lodge. At the organization of the Modern Woodmen camp in Earlville he became one of its charter members and now belongs to lodge No. 18. Dr. Goble is local surgeon for the Northwestern Railroad and he is a member and at one time was presi- dent of the La Salle County Medical Association. He has a good practice, a well equipped office in the Waechter block and one of the finest homes in the city. He has made a clean record

482

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

in his profession and as a citizen and is promi- nent in affairs of Earlville and La Salle county. No citizen of Earlville is more thoroughly repre- sentative or more devoted to the promotion of her welfare than Dr. Goble, whose name is widely known for the prominent part he has taken in local affairs. His means and influence have been used unsparingly in advancing enter- prises and improvements in this place and he is indeed a public-spirited man.

JOEL CARTER.

Joel Carter, a retired farmer living in Earlville, his rest being vouchsafed to him in recognition of many years of active, honorable labor, is more- over entitled to representation in this volume from the fact that he is one of its honored pioneer residents and a native son of the county as well. His birth occurred in Earl township, June 24, 1837, when Ottawa was a small village and many of the now thriving towns of the county had not yet sprung into existence. The name of Joel has been handed down in the Carter fam- ily from father to son since 1666. In that year three brothers came from Scotland to America, spending seven months on the ocean. One settled in New Hampshire, another in North Carolina and a third in Virginia, and Joel Carter of this review traces his ancestry back to him who was progenitor of the New Hampshire branch. His Hampshire, November 21, 1803. On the father's side the Olds family trace their genealogy back to the Mayflower.

Having arrived at years of maturity Samuel Olds Carter was married to Miss Lurana Thorn- ton, who was born in Rutland county, Vermont, August 18, 1807. They came to La Salle county in 1835, locating on a farm in Earl township 1837. The father purchased the land from the government and continued to make his home thereon throughout his remaining days. He was accompanied to the west by a brother, who died at Burlingame, Kansas, about two years ago at the venerable age of ninety-nine years. Not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made upon the claim which Samuel Carter secured from the government, his patent being signed by Franklin Pierce, then president of the United States. This paper is now in possession of Joel Carter of this review. The father continued the development of his farm until 1849, when, at- tracted by the discovery of gold in California, he made a trip to that state, being gone for nine

years. At two different times he made large sums of money in his mining ventures, yet he lost it all in later speculations and returned home with nothing to show for his years of labor in the gold fields of the far west. He then resumed farming and was more successful in his agricul- tural pursuits, bringing his land under a high state of cultivation. His political allegiance was given to the democracy, but he took little part in active politics. He served, however, as school director and as justice of the peace and he be- longed to the Universalist church. His death occurred in Earl township, November 18, 1884, and his wife, surviving him for only a very brief period, passed away on the home farm January 28, 1885. They were the parents of seven chil- dren, only three of whom are now living. Eliza was drowned in the St. Lawrence river when fifteen months old. Adolphus J. is living at Ashkum, Iroquois county, Illinois. Heman H. is a retired farmer in Earlville. Joel is the next of the family. John died of typhoid fever in front of Corinth while serving as a Union sol- dier in 1862, being at that time orderly sergeant of Company D, Fifty-third Illinois Infantry. The next child died in infancy. Charlotte D. died of diphtheria when nine montlis old.

Joel Carter spent his boyhood days upon the home farm, remaining with his parents until twenty years of age, after which he traveled over different parts of the state and went as far east as New York city. He was once a United States marshal and aided in making some father, Samuel Olds Carter, was born in New . big collections in this and other states. In' 1873 he made a trip to France and brought back five imported horses, the first ever brought to La Salle county. For seventeen years he conducted the home farm for his parents and at their death came into possession of a part of this property.

On the 6th of October, 1878, Mr. Carter was married to a widow, whose maiden name was Anna B. Swoveland. She was born in Ohio, August 2, 1848, and died April 13, 1894, at the age of forty-seven years. Of the five children born of that marriage all are yet living, namely : Lewis and Clyde, who reside upon the home farm; Mark O., who is employed in the tile fac- tory; Alma, who was graduated from the Earl- ville high school in 1906; and Matilda Irene, at home.

In April, 1906, Mr. Carter purchased a house and lot in Earlville and, leaving the farm, took up his abode in the town. He has always been a great reader, is well informed on current events and the questions of the day and has moreover good knowledge of law and business methods. He has also wide knowledge of political issues

JOEL CARTER.

485

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

and has always been a democrat save that he cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lin- coln in 1864, as did many other believers in democracy who thought, however, that Lincoln was the safest guide for the nation during the period of the Civil war and would most quickly bring the war to a close. Mr. Carter was himself a soldier of the Union army, enlisting on the 3d of September, 1861, as a member of Company I, Fourth Illinois Cavalry. He joined the army as a private but later was promoted to first ser- geant. The regiment rendezvoused at Ottawa and thence proceeded to Cairo. Mr. Carter took part in the campaign against Fort Donelson and Fort Henry and the battle of Moscow, Tennessee, where he sustained a gunshot wound in the chin, losing four teeth and a part of his jaw. Later he was wounded in the leg and was afterward crippled in the ankle while mounting a horse. He still suffers from the effects of the last wound and because of disability occasioned thereby was honorably discharged in November, 1862. The government grants him a pension of sixteen dol- lars per month because of the injuries which he sustained in the federal service. Aside from the trouble occasioned by the wound he is a man of good health and well preserved for one of his years. He owns a farm of one hundred and sev- enty-nine acres, which returns to him a good income, supplying him with the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.

Mr. Carter is a member of Mccullough post, No. 475, G. A. R., of Earlville. He is always in- terested in those things which pertain to the good of the community and takes an active part in furthering public progress, but has never con- sented to hold office save that four years ago he was elected a member of the Earlville board of education. His co-operation has been a factor in the development and material improvement of this section of the county and for many years he was numbered among the wide-awake, enter- prising and practical agriculturists, who accom- plished excellent results in his farming operations.

EDWARD C. McCLARY.

Edward C. McClary is proprietor of a grocery store in the village of Dayton, which he has con- ducted for ten years, and is also grain buyer for the Neola Elevator Company of Chicago. which has an elevator in this village situated on the Aurora and Streator branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. He was born in the village of Norway, La Salle county, on the

18th of August, 1874, and is therefore yet a young man, but has achieved a success which many an elder business man might well envy. His father, Thomas McClary, a native of Ohio, was married to Miss Susan Ingals, who was born in Indiana. A.carpenter by trade, he also en- gaged in connection with building operations in the repair of wagons and farm tools. He came to this county about fifty years ago and was married after his arrival here. He first lived in the village of Norway until about thirty-one years ago, when he removed to Sheridan, his re- maining days being passed there. He never sought to figure prominently in politics and for a number of years gave his political allegiance to the prohibition party, but became an advocate of the republican party at the time that James G. Blaine was its presidential candidate. Al- though he belonged to no church he lived an upright, honorable life, doing by others as he would have them do to him, was a strictly tem- perate man and displayed in his daily conduct those sterling traits of character which every- where command respect and confidence. He passed away in June, 1904, at the age of seventy- three years and his widow is still living in Sher- idan at the age of sixty-five years. In their family were six children, five of whom yet sur- vive: Lizzie, the wife of H. M. Powers, a resident of Sheridan: Ella, who is a nurse in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania ; Frank W., who mar- ried Rose Marco and is a stock buyer living in Sheridan ; Rose. the wife of E. H. Peterson, of Sheridan, who has twice represented the dis- trict in the state legislature and is one of the prominent and influential residents of La Salle county ; Edward C., of this review ; and James, who died at the age of five years.

In his parents' home Edward C. McClary spent his boyhood days and acquired his educa- tion in the public schools. Ten years ago he purchased the grocery stock of C. W. Freden- burg and has since conducted the business, meet- ing with well merited success. He carries a carefully selected line of staple and fancy gro- ceries and his neat and attractive store secures a liberal patronage.

In July, 1899, Mr. McClary was married to Miss Emma F. Barnes, who was born in this 'county. December II, 1872, and is a daughter of Joseph Barnes, who is living in Dayton town- ship. Mr. McClary has been influential in com- munity affairs and has co-operated actively as well as effectively in many measures that have had direct bearing upon the welfare of the town. Since 1897 he has been postmaster of Dayton and is now serving his third term as township treas- urer. His political allegiance is given to the

486

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

republican party and he is a member of the Modern Woodmen camp at Wedron. Investiga- tion into his life record shows his fidelity to honorable, manly principles, and he is an intelli- gent, energetic young man, spoken of in favorable terms throughout the community.

CHARLES HAYWARD.

History instructs, biography pleases. The one addresses itself to the intellect, the other to the affections. The one expands the mind, the other intensifies its energies. Carlisle has said that biog- raphy yields in point of interest and profit more than any other reading and this is especially true in the record of the life of such a man as Charles Hayward, who under all circumstances was loyal to honorable principles and who in his active busi- ness career won well merited success. He was a representative of an old New England family and was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, in April, 1808. He moved from that place to Newark and Cleve- land, Ohio, in 1818 and arrived in La Salle county in 1835. From that time until his death he was identified with the business interests in this part of the state and helped to build the old Fox River house at Ottawa. During much of his residence in Ohio he was engaged in deal- ing in burr millstones for at that time all of the mills were operated with the old burrs.

In early manhood he wedded Miss Julia Mason, who came to the west with a party of twenty people in company with her parents in June, 1837, the location of the family being in Kane county, Illinois. Her people remained near Elgin, while Mrs. Hayward came to Ottawa. By her mar- riage, which was celebrated in 1838, there were born three children. Estella J. Hayward resides at No. 327 Washington street in Ottawa. George Hayward died March 1, 1906, at the age of sixty- four years. He devoted the greater part of his life to farming but resided in Ottawa for a num- ber of years prior to his death. He gave his political allegiance to the republican party, and was interested in all that pertained to the general welfare. He married Miss Nettie Strickland, whose father was an early merchant of Ottawa, and Mr. and Mrs. George Hayward became the parents of three children: Edith, who is now the wife of George Gleim, and attorney practic- ing at the Ottawa bar; Mabel, a graduate of the State Normal School and now a successful teacher ; and De Alton, who is attending the State University. The widow of George Hayward resides in Ottawa. Mrs. D. L. Grove is the other member of the family and is mentioned elsewhere in this work.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 65

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