History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 71

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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For many years Mr. Spaulding continued act- ively in farm work in order to provide for his family, to whom he gave good advantages, but he is now retired from active farm life and with his wife is enjoying the comforts of a pleasant home in well earned retirement from further labor. He belongs to Waltham lodge, No. 384, A. F. & A. M., of which he became a charter member, and he is now one of the oldest Masons of the county while at the present time he is serv- ing as its chaplain. He has also held most of the other offices in the order and his life has exemplified his beneficent spirit and the princi- ples of mutual kindliness and charity upon which it is based. Mr. Spaulding has served as road commissioner and was school director for twenty- five years or more. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Waltham Presbyterian church, in which he has served as elder for fifteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Spaulding celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on June 6, 1900. His life record serves as a source of inspiration and en- couragement to others, showing that success and an honorable name may be won simultaneously and proving the fallacy which many contend at the present time that no successful business man can be an honest man.

EDWARD SEIPP.

Edward Seipp, who follows farming and stock-raising and is also engaged in the breeding of Norman horses on section 27, Richland town- ship, is a native son of this county, born on the 3d of April, 1870. His parents are Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Seipp, who are mentioned on an-

other page of this work. He was reared un- der the parental roof and acquired his education in the common schools. He early became fa- miliar with the duties and labors of the farm as various tasks were assigned him relative to the care of the fields and the cultivation of crops and throughout his entire life he has carried on farm- ing, being classed now with the successful rep- resentatives of agricultural interests in Richland township.

As a companion and helpmate on life's journey Mr. Seipp chose Miss Celia Neel, whom he wedded in Pennsylvania, her native state. She was born in Allegheny county in 1868, her par- ents being Robert and Mary (McGown) Neel, both of whom are still residents of Allegheny county. Her paternal grandfather was the owner of four hundred acres of land there and devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits, but Robert Neel learned the wagonmaker's trade and in that line of business has been very successful. He still owns the old homestead near Pittsburg, which is now very valuable. He has reached the ven- erable age of seventy-eight years and for a con- siderable period has lived retired. In his fam- ily were eight children : Robert and Carrie, both now deceased; Lawrence, who resides near his father's home; James, living in the same neighborhood ; Mrs. Anna Flading, also a resi- dent of Allegheny county ; John, who is married, and resides near home; and Sarah, yet under the parental roof.

The other member of the family is Mrs. Seipp, who in her girlhood days acquired her education in the schools of Allegheny county. By her mar- riage she has become the mother of four children : Edward Benedict, who was born September 30, 1897; Francis Maria, born in October, 1899; Cecelia Estella, born September 25, 1901 ; and Robert Raphael, born October 27, 1905. There was recently held a reunion at the old Neel home- stead in Pennsylvania, at which some two hun- dred people were present. The old homestead which had stood for one hundred and seven years was torn down in August, 1905, for the building of the Union Railroad. It was located on Thompson's Run in Allegheny county, Penn- sylvania, and was the first postoffice and the first voting place in the township. Original writings from William Penn to Mrs. Seipp's ancestors when settling there are still in possession of the family.

Politically Mr. Seipp is a democrat but without aspiration for office. Religiously he is connected with the German Catholic church and Mrs. Seipp and her children attend Rev. Father Eagan's church in Eagle township. The family are well known here and Mr. Seipp represents one of the

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prominent old German families of La Salle coun- ty, his record being in harmony with that of others of the name who have always been ac- counted valued citizens.

JEFFERSON NISBET.

Jefferson Nisbet, a substantial and prosperous farmer of Earl township, is the subject of this review. Though not a pioneer, he has yet been here long enough to see many changes in the neighborhood and has done his full share in bring- ing about these changes. He came to Earl town- ship from Oneida county, New York, in 1872, at which time he purchased sixty-five acres of land known as the Russell Glover farm. This was improved to some extent, there being. a small frame house and an old barn upon the place. Mr. Nisbet has since made his home here and has extended the boundaries of his farm by addi- tional purchase until it now comprises three hun- dred and twenty-five acres. He erected a large house, good barns and other outbuildings. He has done much tiling and where a few years ago ducks were hunted on the great pond west of his house corn is now being raised, for by judicious draining he has transformed the tract into a field of rich fertility. The same spirit of enterprise has been manifest in all of his business affairs and has made him a prosperous farmer of the community.

Mr. Nisbet is a native of Oneida county, New York, where his birth occurred March 26, 1837. His grandfather, Robert Nisbet, was a minister of the Society of Friends, or Quakers, and, coming from Scotland to the new world, settled in Massachusetts prior to 1776. The ancestry of the family in the maternal line is German. His father, Samuel Nisbet, was born in Washington county, New York, in 1806, and while on his way to make a visit to his son, Jefferson, he was killed by the cars some place in Indiana. The train stopped at the station and started up before Mr. Nisbet had boarded it. Misjudging the speed, he attempted to get on and was swung under the wheels. He was at that time seventy- nine years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Minerva Harger, was also a na- tive of the Empire state and died on the old home farm in Oneida county at the age of seventy- five years. It was in 1830 that Samuel Nisbet removed from Washington to Oneida county, New York, where he purchased a farm and made his home until he passed away and there his wife resided until she, too, was called to her final rest. In their family were seven children.

Jefferson Nisbet spent his early years on a farm in New York and at the age of twenty came west. From 1860 until 1867 he was a messenger on the Southerland Overland from Kansas City to Santa Fe, New Mexico, a distance of nine hundred miles. It required two weeks to make that trip when he first went upon the run, but later the time was reduced to nine days. After seven years devoted to that work Mr. Nisbet returned to New York, where he engaged in farming for five years, but believing that the middle west held better business opportunities he came to La Salle county in 1872 and has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in Illinois. He has been very successful in his business under- takings and has made all that he has through hard work and good management. For several years he was engaged in dairy farming and for about five years bought milk and conducted a creamery on his place. He is now engaged in general farming and although his sons relieve him of much of the active work of the fields he is yet in good health and gives personal super- vision to his farming interests.

Ili 1868 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Nisbet and Miss Cornelia Hawkins, also a na- tive of Oneida county, New York, who is still living. Unto them have been born eight children, of whom seven now survive, while Charles, the eldest, died at the age of thirty years. The others are: Mary, the wife of Ross Boozle, living on a farm in Earl township; Carrie, the wife of Ed Morsch, a resident of Denver, Colo- rado; Gertrude, the wife of Frank Whittaker, living in Earl township: Ella, who is in Denver with her sister ; Benjamin, Samuel and Harry, all at home.

Mr. Nisbet votes with the democracy. He has served as school director for a number of years but otherwise has neither held nor desired office. He attends the Methodist Episcopal church and is a member of the blue lodge of Masons. Dur- ing a residence of thirty-four years in the county he has so lived as to win success and an honored name in his business affairs.

JOHN F. HILL.

John F. Hill, who devotes his time and energies to farming on section 5, Waltham township, was here born December 8, 1844, his parents being Eldridge G. and Mary N. Hill, both of whom were natives of Connecticut, and coming to the middle west at an early day settled in La Salle county about 1841, casting in their lot with the early pioneer residents.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

Under the parental roof John F. Hill spent the days of his boyhood and youth and in the public schools of the neighborhood acquired his education. Through the periods of vacation he worked in the fields upon the old homestead and early became familiar with the duties and labors that falls to the lot of the agriclturist. He owns one hundred acres of land devoted to general farming for which his father paid two dollars per acre.

In early manhood, when only nineteen years of age, Mr. Hill enlisted for active service in the Civil war, joining Company C of the Seventh Illinois Cavalry, at Dixon, Illinois, on the 8th of April, 1864. He participated in engagements in Tennessee and Mississippi, including the battle at Memphis, and proved his loyalty by his valor on a number of battle-fields. He was mustered out at Evansville, Indiana, at the close of the war.

On the 28th of December, 1865, Mr. Hill was married to Miss Catharine E. Macomber, a daughter of Seabury and Lydia (Collins) Macomber, also natives of Connecticut. They have four children, John E., Mary L., Maude E. and Catharine M. Mr. Hill is a member of Waltham lodge, No. 384, A. F. & A. M., and that he is one of its prominent representatives is indicated by the fact that he has held all of the offices in the lodge. Politically he is a republican and has served as assessor and highway com- missioner. His entire life has been passed in Waltham township upon the farm where he yet lives and during the years of his residence here he has become widely known, while his strong qualities are such as in every land and clime awaken confidence and respect. He has been found a loyal citizen in office and upon the field of battle as well as in private life, and in his business affairs is known as a reliable and energetic agriculturist.

BERNARD T. KEATING.

No matter in how much fantastic theorizing one may indulge as to the causation or secret of success it will be found in the lives of the great majority of successful men that the positions to which they have attained are attributable not to any fortunate combination of circumstances or particularly favorable environment but on the contrary come as a direct result of conditions which are entirely opposed in character. It is the stimulus of adversity and of opposition through which the strongest and best in men are brought out and developed and the successful man is usually he whose advantages in youth are

limited and who through determination and energy calls forth his latent talent and powers to meet difficult conditions and wrest fortune from the hand of fate. Such a train of reasoning finds proof in the life record of Bernard T. Keat- ing, district manager for the Mutual Life Insur- ance Company of New York and real-estate agent at Streator. His life record began near Bothwell, Lanarkshire, Scotland, on the 14th of April, 1857, his parents being James and Alice (Cunningham) Keating, who were born in County Down, near Armagh, Ireland. Soon after their marriage they became residents of Scotland, where ten sons and a daughter were . born unto them. £ Leaving the land of hills and heather in 1882, they became residents of Streator, Illinois, where they continued to reside throughout their remaining days, James Keating passing away in 1897 in his seventy-fifth year, while his wife died about three years previous in the sixty-fifth year of her age.

Bernard T. Keating was reared in Scotland and benefited by the public-school advantages to the age of nine years, when he went to work in the mines. He afterward attended night school for five consecutive years and then mastered en- gineering under the direction of his brother, a practical engineer. Attracted by the broader business opportunities of the new world and the hope that he might more rapidly obtain promo- tion in this country, Bernard T. Keating came to the United States in 1879, when a young man of twenty-two years. He landed at New York but did not tarry in the east, making his way at once toward the interior of the country. He has since been a resident of Streator, where he arrived with limited capital but strong determinaton and energy. When he found that it was impossible for him to obtain a position as engineer and when his lack of financial resources and his energy combined to make immediate employment a ne- cessity he accepted a job on the section. A few months later he was employed as a mule driver in the Peanut shaft owned by Mr. Plumb. Up to this time he had never seen a mule and he found some little difficulty in establishing his right to the term of master, but when this was once done he made steady progress and soon be- came an expert mule driver. His fidelity and adaptability won him rapid promotion from one position to another of greater importance and eventually he was given entire charge of the work around the mine and while acting as superintend- ent opened the first mine in the lower vein of coal in Streator.

Resigning his position in connection with the development of the coal fields of this part of the state, Mr. Keating turned his attention to the in-

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surance business without specific knowledge of this undertaking; but the same resolute spirit that had enabled him to succeed in his work in connection with the mines also won him triumphs in his new field of labor and after a number of years of hard work he was finally appointed dis- trict manager for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York and is known today as one of the best men the company has on its list of managers. He also represents a number of first class fire-insurance companies in his office and has made a success of the business. In 1883 he began dealing in real estate, handling both city and farm property and his clientage in this con- nection is now extensive. He has throughly in- formed himself concerning realty values and has thus been enabled to place investments for his patrons and also make judicious sales.

In 1881 was celebrated the marriage of Ber- nard T. Keating and Miss Helen Lafferty, the eldest daughter of Frederick and Margaret Laf- ferty, of Streator, and unto them have been born six children : Margaret, Bernard, Fred, Rich- ard, Bessie and Robert, but the last named died when quite young. Mrs. Keating, who was born in the village of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania, April 24, 1856, died at her home in Streator, May 20, 1905, when forty-nine years of age. She was a most estimable lady, charitable and kindly in her opinions of others and genial and cordial in dis- position, her many good qualities winning for her the favorable regard of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

In a review of Mr. Keating's connection with the city's interests it will be seen that his labors have been of direct benefit along many lines of improvement. He has been secretary of the Home Buildng and Loan Association and has thus done much for the material improvement of Streator. For three years he was a member of the board of education and his position upon the temperance question has never been an equivocal one. He was president of Father Matthews' Total Abstinence Society and at one time was treasurer of the Catholic Total Abstinence Union of Illinois. His labor and influence have always been on the side of temperance and his efforts in this direction have been far-reaching and beneficial. In the spring of 1899 he was elected secretary of the executive committee of the Citi- zens' League, an organization combining the membership of the various churches in the city for the purpose of seeing that the laws were duly enforced. Largely through his efforts the sa- loon keepers were forced to respect the law and all gambling devices were removed from the sa- loons. When the time came for nomination for city offices the Citizens' League endorsed Mr.

Keating for mayor, but he declined to become a candidate, having no ambitions in that direc- tion. He is content to perform his public serv- ice as a private citizen without seeking office as a reward for party fealty. He is opposed, how- ever, to anything like misrule in public affairs and when an effort is made for good government and clean citizenship he is to be found working with the leaders in the movement.

MICHAEL CORRIGAN.

Michael Corrigan, deceased, was born at La Salle, this county, on the 12th of July, 1842, his parents being Matthew and Bridget (Conway) Corrigan. The father came to America in 1818, when eighteen years of age, his birth having oc- curred in County West Meath, Ireland, in 1800. He went first to Boston, where he engaged in bookkeeping in a large store. About 1840 he came to Illinois and it was about this time that the canal was being built. He purchased some land at the usual government price and soon afterward began farming, his place being located in Troy Grove township, La Salle county. There he resided for four years, after which he removed to Ophir .township, where he secured a farm which he cultivated and improved for a long period, making his home thereon until his death in 1875. Interested in community affairs he served in various township offices and was a citizen of influence and prominence in his day, being well educated, which, combined with his practical judgment well qualified him to aid in establish- ing the public policy and molding the history of his country. His wife long survived him and passed away in 1893, at the very advanced age of ninety years. She was born in County Galway, Ireland, and like her husband was a member of the Catholic church. They reared a large family including Catherine, who died of cholera in 1859; Andrew, who also died of cholera; Margaret, Andrew and two others, who died in childhood. Mary Ann is married and resides in Vernon county, Missouri. Mrs. Julia Mulligan is living in Livingston county, Illinois. Mrs. Margaret Lamb is a widow residing in Chicago. James M. died in Chicago about four years ago when forty-two years of age.

Michael Corrigan spent his early life upon the home farm and started out to make his own way in the world about 1864. He was married in 1862 to Miss Mary Wallace, who was born in Belfast, Ireland, and is yet living. For a num- ber of years after his marriage Mr. Corrigan was

MICHAEL CORRIGAN.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

engaged in general farming in La Salle county, Illinois, and in 1878 purchased a farm in Clay county, Kansas, to which he removed in the spring of 1887 but returned to Illinois after a year or two spent in the Sunflower state. In 1888 he rented a farm for a year and then traded his Kansas land for a farm on section 6, Wallace township, La Salle county. Settling thereon he began the cultivation and improvement of the fields and made his home there until seven or eight years ago, after which he resided for a year at Troy Grove. He then came to Ottawa, where he purchased a comfortable home at No. 809 Clinton street but he still retained the ownership of a valuable farm of two hundred and forty acres. Besides this he was interested with his son in one hundred and twenty acres of good land and the son cultivates and improves the old home place.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Corrigan were born eight children, five sons and three daughters: Julia; Jane, now the wife of Andrew Hughes, a resi- dent of Ottawa, by whom she has two children: Matthew; James; John; Emma; Henry, who conducts the farm; and Samuel W.

In his political views Mr. Corrigan was a re- publican but without desire for office. As every true American citizen should do, he kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day but ever preferred to give his attention to his business affairs rather than to public life. He attended the Catholic church, of which his family are also communicants. In an active business career in which his labors were carefully directed for a long period he won the success which per- mitted him to spend his last days in ease and retirement. He died in June, 1906, honored and respected by all who knew him.

ALFRED NETTLEINGHAM.

Alfred Nettleingham, living on section 2, Se- rena township, follows farming and stock-raising upon a tract of ninety-six acres, of which he is the owner. He is numbered among the early settlers of the county, dating his residence here from 1857, so that almost a half century has come and gone since he took up his abode in Illinois. He is a native of old England, his birth having occurred in Kent county, near the city of Lon- don, on the 22d of March, 1837. There he was reared to the age of eighteen or nineteen years, and during the latter part of that period worked at gardening and at handling horses and, stock. His father, Thomas Nettleingham, was also a na-

tive of county Kent, and was a woodreeve by occupation.

The subject of this review continued a resident of his native land until 1857, when he crossed the briny deep and made his way to La Salle county, Illinois, where he joined some friends who had previously located here. Immediate employ- ment was a necessity, for his financial resources were limited, and for two or three years he worked by the month as a farm hand. Saving his earnings he at length secured capital suf- ficient to enable him to purchase eighty acres where he now resides. He cleared out the grubs and brush, placed the land under the plow and began to carry on farming along modern methods. transforming his land into a richly cultivated tract. Having gotten well started in life he sent to England for his parents to join him in the new world and they and their children and their grandchildren to the number of fourteen, came to the United States and were here welcomed by their son Alfred. The father and mother spent the remaining days in La Salle county and lie buried in Northville cemetery.

As a companion and helpmate for life's jour- ney Alfred Nettleingham chose Miss Elizabeth Middletown, to whom he was married on the 20th of February, 1866. She was born here and is a daughter of George Middletown, a native of England. They traveled life's journey happily together for more than a third of a century and were then separated by the death of the wife in June, 1901. In their family were seven chil -- dren: Lydia, the wife of George Wright, of Iroquois county, Illinois; Hattie, the wife of George Brown, of Serena township, this county ; Edward. who is living in Yorkville, Kendall county, Illinois ; Fanny, the wife of Harry Brown, who resides upon the old home farm ; Carrie, at home ; David, who works the home farm with his brother-in-law; and Nellie, also under the parental roof. The two daughters at home are keeping house for their father.

As the years have passed by Mr. Nettleingham has carried on his farm work and has developed a fine property, to which he added by additional purchase. He built a good residence, large barns and other outbuildings here and has added to the productiveness of his land by draining it and placing many rods of tile in the fields. He has also fenced his farm, has put out many beau- tiful evergreen trees and also planted an orchard. He likewise has a deep well and wind pump, furnishing an abundant supply of water. A knowledge of modern methods of farming and of the accessories and conveniences which consti- tute a model farm property of the twentieth cen- tury shown that Mr. Nettleingham is thoroughly

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in sympathy with the work of improvement and that he has been ready to adopt all new measures introduced for the benefit of agriculture.

Mr. Nettleingham became a member of Odd Fellows society while in England. He is also one of the charter members of the Seventh Day Adventist church and he and his sister-in-law bought and own the church building in Sheridan. He has been a most active church worker for many years and his efforts in the cause have been largely instrumental in advancing its interests. In politics he is independent at local elections but where national issues are involved votes the re- publican ticket. He was elected and served as highway commissioner and has been director of schools for many years. All interests relating to the public welfare received his attention and co- operation and there is no more loyal son of this republic than Mr. Nettleingham, who though born across the water, is a stanch supporter of American institutions and governmental pol- icy. In the early years of his residence here he experienced many hardships and underwent many privations. He helped to clear and make the county what it is today and he is well known in Sheridan and the northern part of the county as a man of exemplary habits and a man of broad integrity and worth. The hope that led him to seek a home in America has been more than real- ized, for as the years have gone by he has pros- pered in his undertakings and is now in posses- sion of a valuable farm property which yields to him a good financial return.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 71

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