History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 66

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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The Hayward family in Dayton township is still in possession of the farm, being left in the George Hayward estate. The death of Charles Hayward occurred when he was a comparatively young man. He continued his residence in this county for thirteen or fourteen years and passed away on the. 22d of July, 1849. He is yet remembered by some of the early pioneer settlers and those who knew him remember that he was worthy of the regard that was given him, for he made a creditable record in all life's relations. In business affairs he met with well deserved suc- cess. His widow, Mrs. Julia A. Hayward, was married in 1852 to Henry J. Reed and they had one son, Charles, who died at the age of twenty- two years. Mr. Reed came to Illinois in 1834 and also worked on the old Fox River house. He was for more than six decades a resident of La Salle county, making his home at Ottawa until his death, which occurred in 1894. Mrs. Reed died April 3, 1890.

WILLIAM SEIPP.

William Seipp, a farmer and stock-raiser, re- siding on section 27, Richland township, owns and operates one hundred and sixty acres of land which was improved by himself. He was born in Peru, this county, May 25, 1857, his parents being Conrad and Mary (Wagner) Seipp, early residents of this county, in whose family were eight children: William; Mary, the wife of Christopher Wenders, residing at Streator; Mrs. Kate Bush, who is living in Mckeesport, Penn- sylvania; Edward, a farmer of Richland town- ship; Clara, the wife of Charles Schroeder, of Streator; Charles, a farmer residing in Richland township; Mrs. Louisa Ryon, of Streator; and Mrs. Ellen Blank, of Dravosburg, Pennsylvania.

In his boyhood days William Seipp removed with his parents from Peru to that part of Eagle township which is now 'Richland town- ship and remained at home until he had reached adult years, in the meantime acquiring a good common-school education which fitted him to cope with life's practical, onerous and responsi- ble duties. He has always followed farming and stock-raising and started in business for himself when about twenty-four years of age. He has resided at his present home for the past twenty years and after renting for a brief period pur- chased the place in 1888. He has made all the fine modern improvements on the farm and its splendid appearance indicates his careful super- vision, progressive methods and practical ideas. His attention is given to the cultivation of

Julia of Reed

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Charles Hay ward

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various cereals and he also raises some stock, and in the care of his business interests he manifests keen discernment and sound business, judgment.

Mr. Seipp was married in this county to Miss Louisa Arenz, a daughter of John Arenz, resid- ing a half mile south of Leonore. She was born in Germany, March 23, 1860, and came with her parents to America. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Seipp have been born four daughters and two sons, as follows: John William, who was born March 2, 1883, and died at the age of three years ; Minnnie, born May 3, 1884; William, March 27, 1886; Louisa, December 23, 1889; Katie, May 30, 1891, and Amelia Gusta, December 9, 1896.

Politically Mr. Seipp is a democrat and has served as school director since his marriage. He was also tax collector, road commissioner and constable and in all these offices discharged his duties with promptness and fidelity. The family attend and are members of the Catholic church near Leonore, and in the community where they reside the members of the household occupy an enviable position in the social circles in which they move. Mr. Seipp, in business, has been determined, energetic and reliable and his posi- tion in business circles is therefore enviable.

LAFAYETTE W. BREWER.

Lafayette W. Brewer, one of the prominent attorneys of Ottawa, Illinois, was born in the town of Clarkson, Monroe county, New York, October 14, 1842, his parents being Peter and Elizabeth (Lambert) Brewer, natives of the same county. Soon after the Indian Creek massacre Peter Brewer came to this county, then sparsely settled, and worked for a time in the old sawmill at the dam site where the massacre occurred. He later returned to his home in New York, mar- ried, and when Lafayette W. was a small child packed his worldly effects into a prairie schooner and slowly wended his way westward, stopping for a time in the state of Ohio and again in the state of Indiana, and after much suffering and fatigue finally arrived, in 1844, by way of Bloom- ington, this state, in South Ottawa, moving in a house then owned by Dr. Holland, a prominent physician of the then village (now city) of Otta- wa, a portion of which house was then occupied by Gideon Mace and stood on the site of Milton Pope's beautiful residence, Peter Brewer stabling his horses in the old fort which was then on the bluff in front of the residences of Dr. Weis and Lester H. Strawn, watering his horses at the spring where the occupants of the fort thereto-

fore had obtained their water, being a small spring at or near where the sidewalk now is- the same spring that has caused the city of Otta- wa so much trouble in keeping Prospect avenue in condition for travel. In 1845 Peter Brewer occupied a farm owned by Dr. Holland, east of Ottawa, it being the farm now owned by Kenney Smith, and subsequently he moved on a farm be- longing to Mr. Harwood in Dayton township, where Lafayette W. attended his first school in the village of Dayton. Afterward his family re- sided in Serena and Earl townships, then re- moved to Paw Paw in DeKalb county, where Peter Brewer died July 6, 1858. In politics he was a democrat but was not, however, what might be called a politician but was always ready to help the cause when occasion demanded. Mr. and Mrs. Brewer were the parents of six chil- dren, four sons and two daughters: Lafayette W., Eugene, Sylvanus O., E. Lovinnes, Josephine and Isabel.

The subject of this sketch was but two years old when he came to this county. He grew to manhood here on a farm. His early education was received in the common schools of the coun- ty and at the graded schools of South and East Paw Paw. Subsequently he attended Lombard University, at Galesburg, and the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor.

In 1863 he, together with his brother Sylvanus O., enlisted in Company I, Fourth Illinois Cav- airy, and remained in that organization until the summer of 1865, when, on the mustering out of the three years' men whose time had expired, the regiment was merged in a battalion of five companies under command of Major Anthony T. Search, and Mr. Brewer and his brother were then assigned to Company .B, commanded by Captain Harvey H. Merriman, in which com- pany they served until mustered out in 1866. The five companies, however, of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry in the summer of 1865 were consolidated with seven companies of the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry and after that took the number of the Twelfth Regiment and Company B was again changed to Company I. The Twelfth Cavalry was sent with General Custer from Alexandria, Louisiana, to Texas for the purpose of helping to regulate affairs in Mex- ico if occasion warranted and the regiment was not mustered out of service until 1866.

Although democrats, the Brewer boys, like the little giant of Illinois, Colonel Douglas, were ready and willing to serve President Lincoln in suppressing the rebellion and in restoring the old flag without one stripe erased or one star obliter- ated. All four enlisted in August, 1861. Eu- gene enlisted in the Thirty-fourth Illinois In-

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fantry commanded by Colonel Edward N. Kirk and served until the battle of Stone River, where he was severely wounded and was discharged on account thereof, not being able to serve longer. Sylvanus O. enlisted in the Fourth Cavalry in the same company with Lafayette W., serving until the Twelfth was mustered out of service as above stated. Lovinnes enlisted but was rejected be- cause of being too young and small, he being then only about thirteen years of age.

After being mustered out of service L. W. Brewer returned to La Salle county, put in about three years farming and then continued the study of law. He was admitted to the bar at Ottawa in 1871, where he has ever since followed the practice of his profession. He was city attor- ney from 1874 until 1877. In 1880 he was elected state's attorney on the democratic ticket and proved himself to be a terror to evil-doers, having sent more criminals to the penitentiary during his term of four years than any state's at- torney that had preceded him or any who has succeeded him in that office, as will appear from the records of said county. It will also be seen by the records of the county that during his term of service he never had an indictment quashed, a record that cannot be beaten and most likely not equalled in this state. In his election as state's attorney he overcame a republican majority of about seven hundred, being elected over a very popular gentleman and candidate by a majority of over two hundred, and that, too, at a presi- dential election. He was one of only two can- didates that were elected on the democratic ticket that year. For four years, from September, 1880, he was the attorney for the board of super- visors of La Salle county, and in that capacity tried a good many cases and gained the confi- dence of the whole board, as was evidenced from the fact that after the expiration of his term he was retained by the county board to defend the county in the Reddick will case, one of the most noted cases ever commenced in this county, the county being interested in said case to the extent of one hundred acres of land, which is now a por- tion of the county farm.

In 1888 Mr. Brewer was nominated by his party for congress in this congressional district but was defeated by Captain Hill, of Joliet, the republican nominee. The republican majority in the district was then more than thirty-five hun- dred. Mr. Brewer, however, succeeded in run- ning more than five hundred votes ahead of his ticket, reducing Captain Hill's majority in Will county by about one hundred votes.

In 1889 Mr. Brewer formed a co-partnership with Lester H. Strawn for the practice of law, under the firm name of Brewer & Strawn, which

co-partnership existed until 1904, during which time it was engaged in a large number of very important cases, handling them with great skill and ability and to the satisfaction of their nu- merous clients as a rule. In connection with his law business Mr. Brewer has been carrying on general farming, together with stock-raising and feeding on his farm located on the south side of the river in South Ottawa township, about six miles west of Ottawa, known as the Glen Oak Stock farm. Mr. Brewer has lately purchased a Mammoth jack known as Long Tom, Jr., which stands sixteen and a quarter hands high and measures thirty-five inches from tip to tip of ears, and he purposes hereafter in connection with his general farming to raise jacks and mules of the Mammoth kind, an enterprise that will undoubt- edly be appreciated by the people of this country and one that will do much toward improving the stock of this county.

When the subject of this sketch was sixteen years of age his father died and he being the oldest son, the whole responsibility of caring for his widowed mother and younger brothers and sisters was thrown upon his shoulders. His father had left them very poor, having been sick for a long time before his death, which sickness had largely eaten up his small estate. L. W. re- members of raising corn when yet a mere boy and hauling it more than twenty-five miles to Otta- wa and selling it for fifteen cents for sixty pounds shelled corn, and taking his pay in Stumptail money, which had depreciated ten per cent when he reached Earlville on his way home. These were hard times indeed. No silver mounted harness and fine carriages, and scarcely ever did you see silver on the table of the pioneer settlers of those times-times indeed that tried men's souls.

As a lawyer Mr. Brewer is enterprising, able and upright, a careful and conscientious coun- selor and advisor, a strong advocate and an honor to the profession. As a business man he enjoys the confidence of all with whom he has to deal, and for upright manly dealings bears a character above reproach. He possesses a vigorous and robust body, and with his fine mental attainments and untarnished record may confidentially look forward to future achievements.

Mr. Brewer was first married to a most esti- mable lady, Emma J. Wedge, daughter of Joseph Wedge, an old settler of Kendall county. She was born in Cattaraugus county, New York, May 21, 1848. By this union there was one son, L. W., Jr., born January 29, 1875. Mrs. Brewer departed this life in Ottawa, December 18, 1894. L. W. Brewer, Jr., was married to a most excellent lady, Miss Edith M. Mundie, Sep-

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tember 14, 1898, by which union there is one daughter, Marie Elizabeth Brewer, born July 9, 1901. L. W. Brewer, Jr., is engaged in the real- estate business in La Salle county and in the states of Nebraska and Minnesota.

The subject of this sketch was married the sec- ond time to Mrs. Ida M. Woolbert, an excellent lady, who was born at Sand Lake, Rensselaer county, New York, a daughter of Thomas J. and Clarissa Gabler. She is the mother of Cora B. Woolbert Refior, wife of David Refior, of the Refior-Barr Hardware Company of this city, and was born December 9, 1875, and married Septem - ber 29, 1898. Charles H. Woolbert, born June 26, 1877, is a graduate of the Northwestern Uni- versity of the class of 1900. He served as profes- sor of the Aurora high school, of this state, was later professor in Olivet College, in the state of Michigan, and for the past three years has filled the chair of professor of English in Albion Col- lege, in Michigan. George H. Woolbert was born January 12, 1883, and married Miss Vera H. Seiberling, daughter of Peter M. and Clara M. Seiberling on June 30, 1906. Mr. Woolbert is now and for three years past has been local editor of the Ottawa Free Trader. He and his wife are the owners, proprietors and publishers of the Daily Mercantile Reporter and Law Bulle- tin of La Salle county published at Ottawa, Illi- nois, and Mrs. George Woolbert is secretary of the Ottawa Retail Merchants Association.

Mr. L. W. Brewer is a charter member of Seth C. Earl post, No. 156, G. A. R., of Ottawa, Illi- nois, and has been commander thereof.

SIMON SHAPLAND.

Simon Shapland, who for half a century has been a resident of La Salle county and makes his home in Grand Rapids township, where he owns a good farm, was born in Devonshire, Eng- land, on the 9th of April, 1850. His father, John Shapland, also a native of Devonshire, was born in December, 1803, and for many years followed farming in his native country. He crossed the Atlantic to the new world in the fall of 1851 and landed in New York, making his home near Batavia, where he remained for three years. He then came to La Salle county with his family, where he spent the remainder of his davs, be- coming the owner of some land and a nice home property in Marseilles. Here he was for many years engaged in farming pursuits and died about four years ago in November, 1901. He held membership in the Episcopal church and his political allegiance was given to the republican

party. In England he was married to Miss Mary Howard, who was born in Devonshire on the 13th of January, 1807. She reached a very ad- vanced age, passing away in 1893. A worthy Christian woman, she held membership in the Baptist church. In the family were ten children, George S. being the eldest. Katie S. died in England. John S., living in York, Nebraska, belonged to Company D of the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Infantry and participated in the march to the sea under Sherman, while at the battle of Peach Tree Creek he was wounded. Richard, who served for three years as a mem- ber of the Fifty-third Illinois Infantry, is now living in Bartlett, Nebraska. Christopher, who became a member of the same regiment and was discharged for disability before the close of the war, is now living near Lawton, Oklahoma. Mary Ann is a resident of Marseilles. Eleanor died over thirty years ago. Henry was killed by lightning. William is living in Barton county, Kansas.

Simon Shapland, the youngest of the family, was only about a year old when brought by his parents to the new world and was a lad of five summers when the family removed from New York to La Salle county, settling in Deer Park township in 1854. The following year they removed to Otter Creek township, locating on land owned at that time by David Strawn. Mr. Shapland has spent most of his life, however, in Grand Rapids township and has always followed farming and stock-raising. He has been the owner of a number of full blooded Percheron horses and now has fine stock upon his place. His farm is a well improved property, including the old homestead of eighty acres, and he owns altogether one hundred and forty acres of very choice land, the fields being rich and productive.

Mr. Shapland was married to Miss Chestina T. Snook, who was born in Fall River town- ship, La Salle county, in 1858 and has spent her entire life in this locality. Her father, Harvey Snook, was born in the state of New York in 1836 and in early life engaged in teaching school, but afterward followed farming. At the present writing, however, he is living retired in South Ottawa. His political support is given to the republican party and he is a believer in the Methodist church, with which he has long held membership. He married Miss Adeline Lovejoy, who was born in Lisbon, New Hampshire, in 1839 and is also yet living. She, too, belongs to the Methodist church. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Snook were ten children. Chestina T .. now Mrs. Shapland, is the eldest of the family.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Shapland have been born five children : Elmer J., who died at the age

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of five years; Clarence H., who is twenty-three years of age; Mabel, who is teaching school at the age of twenty years; Flora M., who is at- tending school ; and Cora A., who is twelve years of age.

Mr. Shapland of this review is well known in La Salle county, where he has spent the greater part of his life, and during the half century of his residence here he has witnessed many changes. He has labored persistently and ener- getically in his farming and stock-raising inter- ests and now occupies a good position in financial circles as the result of his diligence in former years.

ALMAN A. CLAPSADDLE.

Alman A. Clapsaddle, engaged in the practice of law at Leland, entered upon his professional career well equipped for its duties and responsi- bilities and is now enjoying a practice which is an indication of the consensus of public opinion regarding his legal powers. A native son of Illinois, his birth occurred in the city of De Kalb, November 25, 1868, his parents being Andrew and Mary (Ames) Clapsaddle, well known and representative residents of De Kalb county. The family is of German lineage and was established in America many years ago, the birth of Andrew Clapsaddle having occurred in Herkimer county, New York. In his youth he acquired a good education and the years of his early manhood were devoted to teaching, in which profession he was very successful, his services giving satisfac- tion in the various localities in which he was em- ployed. The year 1848 witnessed his arrival in De Kalb county, Illinois, where, retired from pro- fessional life, he turned his attention to farming for a long period and was one of the enterprising agriculturists of his adopted county. He was first married in Illinois to Mrs. Mary Heustis, nee Ames. Her parents were of Scotch-English descent and were early settlers of Stonington, Connecticut, whence they removed to Otsego county, New York, where their daughter Mary was born. Following the marriage of Mr. Clap- saddle and Mrs. Mary Heustis five children came to bless their home, but in 1873 they were de- prived of a mother's care by death. The father afterward married again and thus was enabled to keep his children at home until they had reached years of maturity. His death occurred in 1894 in Paw Paw township, De Kalb county, Illinois.

When only five years of age Alman A. Clap- saddle lost his mother but was reared upon the

old homestead farm, where he assisted in the work as his age and strength permitted, while in the district schools he acquired his elementary education. For a time he was a student in Le- land and afterward attended Jennings Seminary, at Aurora, Illinois. For four or five years thereafter he engaged in teaching school but re- garded this merely as an initial step to further professional labor and in the meantime became a student of law with M. T. Maloney, of Ottawa, as his preceptor. Following two years' prelim- inary reading under the direction of Mr. Maloney he was admitted to the bar in 1892. After prac- ticing for a year in Ottawa Mr. Clapsaddle re- moved to Leland in 1893 and here he has been successful in practice, having a large number of important cases which have called forth his legal talents and demonstrated his comprehensive knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence. His devotion to his clients' interests stand as an un- questioned fact in his career and has made him a trustworthy lawyer.

In 1890 was celebrated the marriage of Alman A. Clapsaddle and Miss Minnie Potter, a daugh- ter of C. M. Potter, of Leland. They have two children, Reita M. and Janet A. Mr. Clapsad- dle casts his ballot for the men and measures of the republican party and is well informed on the issues which divide the two organizations. He belongs to Leland lodge, No. 558, A. F. & A. M., and has taken the degrees of capitular Masonry in Sandwich chapter, No. 107, R. A. M. Almost his entire life having been passed in this section of the state, he has a wide acquaintance and the salient elements in his character are such as have won for him professional prominence and social distinction-for he is a man of many warm friends.

MATTHEW COULSON.

Matthew Coulson, a wholesale tobacconist of Streator, engaged in business at No. 222 East Main street, was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne. Eng- land, March 19, 1862, his parents being Thomas and Emily ( Marley) Coulson, who were natives of England and Scotland respectively, and in 1880 came to America, establishing their home in Streator, where the mother died in 1882, at the comparatively early age of forty-six years, while the father passed away in 1885, at the age of forty-eight years. In their family were four children, two sons and two daughters, namely: William, Matthew, Jane and Emily.

When but eight years of age Matthew Coul- son began working in a colliery in England. He was a youth of sixteen years when he crossed

A. A. CLAPSADDLE.

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the Atlantic to the United States and became a resident of Streator. Here he commenced work as a coal miner at shaft No. I and his trustworth- iness and capability led to his promotion to the position of check weighman. He afterward served as a patrolman and assistant chief of po- lice at Streator, being associated with the police force of the city from 1886 until 1894, when he was appointed deputy sheriff. In the early part of January, 1897, he was placed in charge at Rut- land, Illinois, during a strike in the coal mines, where the situation was peculiarly complicated in

many ways. In 1898 he was elected sheriff of La Salle county and proved a capable officer dur- ing the four years of his term. He had been as- sistant chief of police in Streator from 1887 un- til 1892 and as a custodian of the public peace gave service that was most commendable, being characterized by unfaltering fidelity to duty. In 1903 he embarked in the wholesale tobacco busi- ness, in which he has since engaged.

On the 7th of May, 1883, Mr. Coulson was married to Miss Elizabeth Cadman, who was born in England and came to this country with her parents when three years of age. She is a daughter of Charles and Annie Cadman and by her marriage has become the mother of five children, of whom four are now living. Edith, the wife of George Doarman; Maud, Roy and Hazel, all at home. Mr. Coulson is a member of Streator lodge, No. 607, A. F. & A. M., and in politics has always been a republican, doing everything in his power to promote the growth and insure the success of his party. Starting in life in humble capacity in La Salle county, he has gradually worked his way upward and is now at the head of a prosperous business enter- prise, while the political honors that have been conferred upon him indicate his standing in pub- lic regard. He was ever a brave and fearless officer, placing the public good before personal interests.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 66

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