History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 72

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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GEORGE C. CADWELL.

George C. Cadwell has been a resident of La Salle county since 1836 and has resided on his present farm on section 29, Deer Park town- ship, since 1839, covering a period of more than two-thirds of a century. He was born in Greene county, New York, July 19, 1829, and following the removal of his family to Illinois remained for three years in Vermillionville, after which he took up his abode upon the farm where he is yet living. His parents were Sheldon and Aphia (Van Vaulkenburgh) Cadwell. The father was a native of Middletown, Connecticut, born in 1793, and the mother's birth occurred in Rensselaer county, New York, in 1795. Eight children born unto them in the east came with them to Illinois, these being: Cushman, now deceased, who was a brick manufacturer, of Girard, Crawford county, Kansas ; Charlotte, the deceased wife of Dr. Hennessey, of Dimmick township; Alexander, a fruit farmer of Cali-

fornia, also now deceased; Sheldon, a Baptist preacher residing in Nebraska ; Lyman, who lives in Denver, Colorado; Jacob, who is in California ; George C., of this review; and John V. and Newell, both deceased. The father was a tinner by trade and after coming to Illinois resided in Vermillionville until 1839, when he settled with his family on section 29, Deer Park township, La Salle county. There he carried on general agricultural pursuits until his death, which oc- curred in 1853, while his wife survived until 1876.

George C. Cadwell, whose name introduces this record, spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon the old homestead farm and enjoyed such educational privileges as the early schools of that period afforded. As a companion and helpmate on life's journey he sought and won Miss Mary E. King, whom he married on the 18th of Jan- uary, 1857. She was born January 18, 1834. and was therefore about four years her hus- band's junior. Her parents were Josiah and Phœbe King, natives of New England, the for- mer born May 5, 1797, and the latter on the 2d of January, 1811. Their children were: Mark, deceased ; Isabella ; Mary E .; Edmund; Flora E. and Cyrus F., both deceased. The King family came to La Salle county in 1863, settling on section 33, Deer Park township. Mark and Cyrus King were both soldiers of the Civil war, enlisting in the Union army in 1862. The latter died after three months' service and was buried at Washington, D. C. Mark joined the army from La Salle county and served until the cessa- tion of hostilities but while in service contracted disease which resulted in his death. Both he and his wife died at Broken Bow, Custer county, Nebraska, and were laid to rest in Broken Bow cemetery.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Cadwell was blessed with seven children. Ann E., born Feb- ruary 7. 1858, was married December 26, 1881, to Frank M. Blay, a farmer of Kansas. Julia E. was born May 10, 1859. George E. was born July 23, 1861. Willis C. was born December 5, 1862. Alice M. was born January 17, 1865. John M. was born December 15, 1867. Herbert was born October 14, 1870. Flora B. was born May 24, 1875. and died September 8, 1875. The family are all members of the Baptist church and are people of the highest respectability. In his political faith Mr. Cadwell is a republican.

Throughout his entire life George C. Cad- well has followed the occupation of farming and now owns the east half of section 29, Deer Park township, and the south half of the northwest quarter of section 28. His landed possessions, aggregating four hundred and eighty acres, are

B.C. Andwill

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

extensive and very valuable owing to the natural productiveness of the soil and the care and labor he has bestowed upon his land in addition to the improvements which have been made thereon. Since 1902 he has been a breeder of Hereford cattle and now has a fine herd of registered stock.

Mr. Cadwell cast his first presidential vote for Fremont and has since supported the republican party. He served as supervisor for several years and for five years was highway commissioner. He also held the office of school director until 1890, filling the position continuously from the age of twenty-one years. He has been the cham- pion of progress along lines of material, intel- lectual and moral development and is moreover entitled to representation in this volume as a valued and worthy pioneer settler, having for seventy years been a resident of this part of Illinois. He has watched its marvelous growth and development as time and man have wrought many changes and in the work of agricultural improvement has borne his full share.

ALEXANDER W. GRIFFITH.

Alexander W. Griffith, who always stood for progress and did much for substantial, general advancement in La Salle county, died at his home, No. 631 Pearl street, in Ottawa, February 6, 1903. He was a prominent and influential man. who had been identified with the county and its development for forty-six years. He was born in Hartford county, Maryland, October 6, 1826, and was only eleven years of age when, in 1837, his father died. He was educated in Kenyon College, in Gambier, Ohio, and was graduated in 1847. Returning to Baltimore, Maryland, he there took up the study of law with an uncle of Admiral Schley and was admitted to the bar. Subsequently he removed to Connersville, Indi- ana, where he established and successfully con- ducted a preparatory school. In 1858 he came to La Salle county, Illinois, settling in Farm Ridge township on a tract of land on section 17. This is still operated by Mrs. Griffith, a half section of the land being finely improved. He resided thereon until 1900, when he removed to Ottawa, where his remaining days were passed in well earned retirement from further labor.

In 1873 Mr. Griffith was united in marriage to Mrs. H. H. (Hazen) Mulchahey, who was born in Norwich, Connecticut, and was a repre- sentative of an old family of that state. Her great-grandfather was commissioned as an officer in the Revolutionary army, his commission bear-

ing date 1773. Mrs. Griffith also has deeds of land dated in 1713, in Connecticut, and signed by Richard Bushnell. By reason of the military record of her ancestors she is eligible to member- ship with the Daughters of the American Revolu- tion and the Colonial Dames. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Griffith were born-two children E. L., now liv- ing in Ottawa; and Mrs. Fred Peck, who resides on the old homestead. Mrs. Griffith has one son, Henry H., by her first marriage, and he resides on the old homestead. There are six grandchil- dren, all of whom were born on the old farm homestead in Farm Ridge township, three in the family of the son and three in the family of the daughter. Mr. Griffith served as township clerk and in other local offices and was always found thoroughly reliable and trustworthy in positions of political preferment.

Mr. Griffith was a fine specimen of the old type of the cultured, intelligent Christian gentle- man and was a consistent member of the Farm Ridge Episcopal church. He took a keen inter- est in all measures and movements that tended to the betterment of humanity and co-operated in many plans for the welfare of his community. He was a writer of marked ability and was a frequent and valued contributor to the columns of the Ottawa papers. Through his writings and in other ways he did much to influence the public in securing the gravel road along the river. He also wrote and urged the establishment of the central high schools. He was a man of literary tastes, talents and attainments and was greatly interested in the development of educational facil- ities. He ever stood for progress and improve- ment and his labors were of a very practical nature, winning results that proved of direct and immediate serviceableness and are yet beneficial factors in the life of La Salle county.

J. E. CONDREN.

J. E. Condren, one of the young members of the Streator bar, was born in the city of Streator, April 21, 1884, his parents being James and Sarah J. (Conness) Condren. The father, a native of Queens county, Ireland, was born February 2, 1847, and the mother's birth occurred in Eagle township, La Salle county. They were married January 27, 1877, and in their family were three children : Laura M., Ida H. and J. E. Mr. Condren came to America in 1853, settling in Pennsylvania, and for some time was em- ployed in connection with mining interests in Washington and Allegheny counties, being thus engaged until January, 1870, when he removed to

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La Salle county, Illinois. He took up his abode in Streator and in connection with his uncle, M. Purcell, engaged in general merchandising under the firm style of Condren & Purcell. They con- tinued in business until 1889, since which time Mr. Condren has been engaged in the coal busi- ness and has various other invested interests. Although he started out in life empty-handed he is now a rich man and his business enterprise and activity have been essential factors in the up- building and substantial promotion of Streator. He has also been honored with a number of pub- lic offices. For the past ten years, however, he has practically lived retired. He holds mem- bership with the Knights of Columbus and he and his family are communicants of the Immacu- late Conception Roman Catholic church. His political allegiance has always been given to to the republican party.

J. E. Condren, whose name introduces this record, was educated in the public schools of Streator, passing through successive grades until he had completed the high-school course. He also attended the law department of the Michi- gan State University at Ann Arbor, from which he was graduated in the class of 1905. He entered upon the active practice of his profession in Streator in the same year. He is a member of the Streator Club and of the Knights of Columbus, and his political views accord with republican principles.

CHARLES E. COLE.

Charles E. Cole is conducting a prosperous business as a gardener and has two large green- houses just outside the city limits of Ottawa in Ottawa township. He has been engaged in his present business for the past twenty-five years and has followed it successfully. He was born in La Salle county in the vicinity of Ottawa in 1858, his father being Samuel D. Cole, who resides in East Ottawa and is one of the early settlers of this part of the state. The father's birth occurred on a farm in Tompkins county, New York, March 31, 1821, his parents being Joseph and Depsey (Robinson) Cole. A native of France, Joseph Cole came to America when a young man and after learning and following the shoemaker's trade for a time he turned his at- tention to agricultural pursuits in the Empire state. Subsequently he removed to Indiana, where his last days were passed. His wife was a daughter of Andrew Robinson, a well-to-do farmer of Tompkins county, New York, where she was born.

Samuel D. Cole was reared to farm life, assist- ing his father as his age and strength permitted until after he attained his majority. Removing to Cleveland, Ohio, he was employed by contract at teaming, carpentering and other lines of work, utilizing every opportunity to gain an honest living, and being very industrious and energetic he made a good start. He was married in Cleve- land, Ohio, May 15, 1845. to Elizabeth Bell, who was born August 20, 1828, a daughter of Jacob and Sarah Bell, of that city. In the same year Mr. Cole came to Illinois and rented a farm in Vermillion township, La Salle county. His capi- tal at that time consisted of only twenty-five dollars, but he possessed strong purpose and unfaltering diligence and these qualities stood him instead of capital. He operated his farm for three years and it proved a profitable invest- ment. He then purchased eighty acres of land in Utica township, where he turned his attention to the development of the fields and to stock- raising, making a specialty of hogs, for he found that he could get them to market in a short time and turn his small capital over frequently. As his financial resources increased he improved his property and extended the boundaries of the farm from time to time until he had four hun- dred acres of valuable land, constituting one of the best equipped and most highly improved modern farm properties in the county. He raised stock of various kinds but all of high grades. At length, realizing that his capital was sufficient to enable him to put aside the cares of an arduous business life, he made arrangements whereby he might live retired, but indolence and idleness were utterly foreign to his nature and he could not content himself without some oc- cupation, so that he secured control of a boat on the canal which he operated for five years. He then added one hundred and sixty acres to his farm, whereon he remained for ten years, but in 1875 retired permanently from farm life and took up his abode in Ottawa. There he pur- chased a tract of eighty acres, on which his son Charles carried on gardening until 1892, when the father sold this tract to the Terra Cotta Manufacturing Company and removed to his present home in East Ottawa. He owns valuable property interests, including a number of good residences and store buildings, and he also loans money and supervises his farming, his realty, loan and farming interests returning to him a good income.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Samuel D. Cole were born six children : Louisa, who died in infancy ; Lydia, the widow of Alonzo Tate; Julia B., the wife of Bona Cole, of Chicago; Albert, who is living on the Cole farm in Utica township;

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Charles, of this review; and Sherman, a carpen- ter of Ottawa. The father gave his early political support to the whig party and was a stanch re- publican from the establishment of the latter organization. He belongs to Occidental lodge, No. 40, A. F. & A. M., and Ottawa chapter, No. 37, R. A. M. He is numbered among the early, settlers of the county and one whose life is indica- tive of the success that can be achieved through determined and persistent labor. Success in any line of business comes only as the direct result of sound judgment, experience and energy well applied, and thus it is in the case of Samuel Cole, whose present prosperity is directly trace- able to the years of indefatigable effort he has expended in the past in his farming and stock- raising interests.

Charles E. Cole, reared under the parental roof, early became familiar with the best methods of carrying on farm work and through much of his life has devoted his energies to gardening. He purchased his present home place about thirty years ago and in connection with his gardens he has two large greenhouses just outside the city limits of Ottawa in Ottawa township. He has been in his present business for about a quarter of a century and he owns a farm of one hundred and twelve acres, including large pastures, while ten acres is devoted to berries and twenty acres to the production of garden products. He sells to the local trade and also ships to Chicago, his largest shipments being made between the 30th of April and the 15th of July. He likewise runs a wagon in Ottawa for the sale of garden produce and berries. He has from twelve to fifteen acres planted in aspara- gus and employs from ten to fifty people, having a pay roll of one thousand dollars per month during the busy season. He is now conducting a very extensive business and is one of the lead- ing representatives in this line of trade in La Salle county.

Charles E. Cole was married near Ottawa to Miss Ruth Crick, of Tama county, Iowa, who was born in England and came to America when a little girl about thirty-five years ago. For a time she resided in La Salle county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cole have been born four children, all born on the present home farm. These are Mrs. Jennie Cornelius, who resides near Ottawa and has three children ; Samuel, Frank and Henry, who are now in Washington.

Mr. Cole has made fine improvements upon his place and now has a large and attractive home, commodious greenhouses and the most improved equipments for carrying on the busi- ness to which he is devoting his time and ener- gies. His political allegiance is given to the

republican party, but he has no desire for office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs. He was at one time a member of the Odd Fellows lodge but is not now affiliated therewith. He is leading a very busy life and the extent and volume of his trade is indicated by the large number of employes who are in his service in the busy season.

WILLIAM B. CUTHBERTSON.

William B. Cuthbertson, who is engaged in general farming on section 13, Dimmick town- ship, was born in Kilmarnock, Scotland, and for two years resided in Liverpool, England. He came to America in 1852 with his parents, David and Janet (Wylie) Cuthbertson, the latter a rela- tive of John Wylie, of Waltham township. On coming to the new world his parents took up their abode in Waltham township and became identified with its farming interests. In their family were five children: Janette, who became the wife of Oscar Nellis, a farmer of Dimmick township and a son of one of the first settlers here; Jane, who married Robert Wylie; and David and Joseph, who live in Iowa.

The other member of the family is William B. Cuthbertson of this review. He was reared to the occupation of farming and early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. When not busy with the work of the fields he mastered the branches of learning taught in the public schools. He purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in 1876 but has resided continuously in Dimmick township since 1853. He and his brother, David, own eight hundred acres of land in Carroll county, Iowa. His property has been acquired entirely as the result of his own labor and diligence. He carries on general farming and stock-raising and has also been a successful feeder. His ability as a business man, his close application and unfaltering determination have been the concomitants in his success.

Mr. Crthbertson has been married twice. He first wedded Jane Nellis, a sister of Oscar Nel- lis. She died in 1886, leaving a family of five children : Clarence ; William I .; Hattie, who is now the wife of James Cairns and resides in Iowa ; Stella R., who married William Gatiss, a resident of Somonauk, Illinois ; and Eur? B., the wife of Warren Foster, who is living at Rolla, Illinois. For his second wife Mr. Cuthbertson chose Margaret Gaston. a daughter of Robert and Jane Gaston, and unto them have been born

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five children: Grace and Bessie, twins; Edith and Eura, twins ; and Joseph.

In his political views Mr. Cuthbertson has been a stalwart republican since casting his first presidential vote for Fremont. He has been su- pervisor, also highway commissioner and for twelve years was justice of the peace. His deci- sions were strictly fair and impartial, being based upon the law and the equity in the case. For thirty years he was school director and the cause of education found in him a stalwart friend. He belongs to the Presbyterian church at Wal- thani, and since 1870 has been a member of Wal- tham lodge, No. 384, A. F. & A. M., in which he has served as secretary and junior warden. He was one of six chosen on the special federal grand jury called in 1905 to investigate the beef trust, serving one hundred and four days. He now has in his possession an album containing the pictures of those who served on the jury, which he prizes very highly. More than half a century has passed since he came to this county and he has therefore been a witness of its many changes as the years have gone by and the district has been reclaimed for the purposes of civilization. He can remember when much of the land was un- tilled, when comparatively few roads had been laid out and when the now thriving cities were small towns or had not yet sprung into existence. With the growth of the county he, too, has progressed and he is now a substantial farmer of Dimmick township.

C. J. PEDDICORD.

C. J. Peddicord, who was at one time a re- spected and representative farmer of Miller township, residing, up to the time of his death, on section 32, where his widow and the family now make their home, owned five hundred and twenty acres of rich and valuable land. This was a well improved farm equipped with modern conveniences and in its neat and attractive ap- pearance indicated the careful supervision and practical methods of Mr. Peddicord. He was born August 23, 1853. His father, Edward Peddicord, was a native of Virginia and a rep- resentative of one of the old families of that state. His boyhood and youth were passed there, but he was married in Ohio, the lady of his choice being Miss Elizabeth Johnson. About 1849 he removed to Illinois. He had started for Cali- fornia but stopped in this state and being pleased with the country and its prospects he purchased land and opened up a farm, becoming in course of years one of the prominent, influential and prosperous farmers of the county with large hold-

ings, his possessions aggregating nine hundred acres. He built a commodious and neat resi- dence, made good improvements on his property and there reared his family and spent his remain- ing days, passing away in 1897, at the age of sev- enty-four years. Men who had business rela- tions with him respected him. Those who met him socially entertained for him warm regard and those who came within the close and intimate circle of his friendship gave him their love and appreciation. His wife survived him for about five years.

C. J. Peddicord was educated in the common schools and in the Marseilles seminary. He re- mained with his father on the old home farm through the period of his boyhood and youth and on the Ioth of September, 1879, made arrange- ments for having a home of his own by his mar- riage to Miss Ella Rhines, a native of Marseilles and a daughter of Nelson and Millie (Dow) Rhines, natives of New York and Maine respect- ively. Her father came to the west when a young man, locating at Marseilles, and for some years was engaged in farming. He has lost his wife and now resides with Mrs. Peddicord.

Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Peddi- cord lived for four years in Iowa near the town of Perry, where he engaged in general farming. They then removed to a farm near Ransom, Illinois, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits for fifteen years, owning and operating two hundred and forty acres of rich land. Later he sold that property and bought the old home- stead on section 32, Miller township, in the spring of 1899. This farm is known as the Hygia Well farm, there being a well upon the place two thousand one hundred and eighty feet in depth sunk by Mr. Peddicord's father in 1875-6. The force of men working night and day for over a year. Our subject farmed the place and further improved it, building two good barns, draining the land by tiling, dividing the place into fields of convenient size by well kept fences and carrying on the work along modern lines of progress and improvement. Very grat- ifying success attended his efforts and he was regarded as one of the prosperous and influential farmers of the community. He raised and fed stock and everything about his place indicated his careful supervision and practical ideas. He was thus actively engaged in business up to the time of his death, which occurred November II, 1904. He was one of the township trustees and a believer in good schools, taking a deep and helpful interest in the cause of education. Politically he was identified with the democratic party and he was one of the members and pro-

MRS. C. J. PEDDICORD.

C. J. PEDDICORD.

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moters of the Universalist church, in which he served as an officer. He took a most active and helpful part in its work and contributed generously to its support.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Peddicord were born two children. Raymond N., who pursued a two years' course of study in the university at Champaign, Illinois, and taught one term of school, is now farming a part of the old homestead. He was married to Miss Mabel Grove, a daughter of Lucian Grove, one of the early settlers of Miller township. They have one daughter, Gladys May. Rexford E. Peddicord is now at home with his mother and carries on the work on the farm. He was for one year a student in Brown's Business College. Mrs. Peddicord is a lady of good business ability and after her husband's death took charge of the farm and business, which she has carried on with the aid of her sons, meeting with excellent success in her under- takings. Mr. Peddicord continued actively in business up to the time of his demise and his well directed labors were indicated by the fact that he became the owner of five hundred and twenty acres of the rich and valuable farming land of La Salle county. He was thoroughly reliable in all of his business undertakings and his enterprise stood as an unquestioned fact in his career. He took an active interest in affairs of local importance as well as of national prog- ress and gave his co-operation to many move- ments for the general good. His wife was reared and educated in Marseilles and, like her hus- band, has been an earnest worker in the church and Sunday school for a number of years.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 72

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