History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 76

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 76

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).

Mr. Wylie was married in Waltham township on the 27th of May, 1859, to Miss Jane Parker, who was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, a daughter of John and Joanna (Calderwood) Parker, who in 1848 became residents of St. Clair county, Illi- nois. After eight years they removed to La Salle county and here the father died in 1878, while the mother passed away in 1881. In their family were four children, namely: Mrs. Susan- na Wylie, of Ophir township; Hugh, who is re- siding in Morocco, Indiana; John, who died in December, 1892; and Mrs. Jane Wylie, who was about ten years of age at the time of the arrival of the family in America. In this county she gave her hand in marriage to James Wylie and for many years they traveled life's journey happily together.

In his political views Mr. Wylie was an inde- pendent and his first presidential ballot was cast for Abraham Lincoln. He served for eighteen years as justice of the peace in Waltham town- ship and his long incumbency in that office stands as incontrovertible proof of his fidelity to duty. his just decisions and the impartiality with which he expounded the law bearing upon the cases which came before him for trial. He held mem-

bership in the Presbyterian church, in which he served as treasurer and his life was at all times actuated by high and honorable principles. He visited Scotland in 1884, finding much pleasure in renewing the acquaintances of his youth in his native land and visiting again the scenes amid which his boyhood days and the years of his early manhood were passed. He did not seek to figure prominently in public life but at all times manifested those traits of character which awak- ened esteem and confidence. He held member- ship in the Masonic lodge and his wife is a mem- ber of the Order of the Eastern Star. She can well remember the journey across the country to St. Clair county, Illinois, when her family emi- grated to America, and in the years 1848 and 1849 with the other members of the family she drove six miles to church in a wagon drawn by oxen. She now owns two farms, one in Ophir and one in Waltham township, which she leases. After residing for a number of years at Troy Grove she removed, in October, 1897. to Ottawa, where she now makes her home. For the past forty years she has been a consistent and faithful mem- ber of the Presbyterian church.

THOMAS BRAGG, SR.

Thomas Bragg, Sr., who without special ad- vantages at the outset of his career has worked his way steadily upward, finding in determina- tion, enterprise and keen business judgment the essential elements of success, is now living on section 35, Wallace township, where he owns a valuable farm property. He is, however, largely living retired, leaving the care of the fields to his son, although to some extent he is engaged in the raising of hogs and chickens and the cultiva- tion of a garden, for he finds that to be happy he must be busy, his life having always been one of activity.

He has now reached the psalmist's allotted age of three score years and ten, having been born in Devonshire, England, November 13, 1836. His father was William Bragg, a blacksmith by trade. He married a Miss Boatfield and both died in England, the father when his son Thomas was not quite seven years of age. The mother was left with the care of six children and when Thomas was a youth of six years he went to work upon a farm to assist his mother in the support of the younger children. He worked for six pence a day, or about twelve cents in American money, but his wages were increased as his age and strength permitted him to do more work. When he was seventeen years of age he left

577

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

England and came to America with a younger brother. His eldest brother, John, had crossed the Atlantic a few years before and the favorable reports which he sent home concerning the busi- ness possibilities in the new world led Thomas Bragg to come to the United States. The voyage was made in 1855 and covered six weeks, on the expiration of which period he made his way to Batavia, New York, where his elder brother had been living. There he began work on a farm in order to get money to repay his brother, who had sent him the sum neccessary to pay his passage to America.

The year 1857 witnessed the arrival of Thomas Bragg in La Salle county and for four years he was employed as a farm hand by P. C. Watts in South Ottawa, receiving sixteen dollars per month, which was about four dollars more than the average wage paid for farm labor at that time. A great many young men after working for a few months would go to town and board their wages out or spend it foolishly, but Mr. Bragg was not that kind. After the summer's work was done he would do chores in the winter and thus he saved what he had earned and when four years had passed he was able to buy a team and tools and engage in farming for himself. He then rented land in South Ottawa town- ship for a few years and about the close of the war removed to Wallace township, where he purchased eighty acres of land. This was par- tially improved, some fences having been built, together with a little frame house. Mr. Bragg paid forty dollars per acre for this land and made his home thereon for several years, at the end of which time he removed to an adjoining farm, which he later bought. He has been very success- ful, making judicious investments in property, which has risen in value until he now owns seven hundred and sixty acres of valuable land which is well improved and constitutes a property that is very productive, yielding him an excellent financial return annually. He has made all that he has through hard work and economy with the assistance of his family. He never had a dollar given him but placed his dependence upon the safe and substantial qualities of industry, enter- prise, careful management and safe investment.

Four years ago Mr. Bragg made a trip to Eng- land, being away from home from the 30th of May until the last of September. At that time he and his wife gave up their house and barns to their youngest son, who had just married, and they now live upon another part of the farm, Mr. Bragg engaging to some extent in raising hogs and chickens and also cultivating his gar- den, for he has led a life of activity and finds that to be contented he must have some occupation,

although his possessions would enable him to live retired without recourse to further labor.

It was in the year 1860 that Mr. Bragg was united in marriage to Miss Betsey Delbridge, who is five years his junior, having been born on the 7th of January, 1841. She was born in England and came to America several years be- fore the arrival of Mr. Bragg. Her father, John Delbridge, was a well-to-do farmer of this county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bragg have been born five children, of whom four are now living: Julia Ann, the deceased wife of S. Morrel, a resident of Kansas; Silas, who is living upon a part of his father's farm and married Miss Kummer, of Fall River township; Mary Ella, at home; Thomas, who lives upon a part of the old homestead and who wedded Miss Mary Townsend, of Ottawa, by whom he has one child; and Bessie, the wife of Otto B. Schmidt, an automobile dealer of Chicago.

Mr. Bragg has always been a republican, cast- ing his first vote for Abraham Lincoln and voting for every presidential nominee of the party since that time, but the honors of office have had no attraction for him. He was reared in the faith of the Episcopal church, but since coming to America has attended the Methodist Episcopal church. He has always engaged in general farming, and a courageous spirit that has enabled him to undertake what others would fear to do has been one of the secrets of his success. He has met with some reverses but has never allowed these to discourage him and has always lived a straightforward, honorable life, never taking advantage of the necessities of his fellowmen in any trade transaction. He received but limited educational advantages but has made fair use of his opportunities and in the school of experience has gained considerable knowledge, learning much of business methods, as has been demonstrated in his successful transactions.

HARMON E. RUGER.

Harmon E. Ruger, who is one of the leading farmers and business men of La Salle county, has extensive holdings, his eight hundred acres of land classing him with the large landowners of this part of the state. He resides on section 31, Serena township, where he has a well im- proved farm property, which was also his birth place, his natal day being July 15, 1851. His father, Gabriel Ruger, was a native of New York, born in Clinton county. There he was reared and married. He wedded Miss Fannie White, a native of England, who, however, was reared

578

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

in the Empire state. About 1842 they removed to the west, coming at once to La Salle county and the family home was located in Serena town- ship, where Mr. Ruger purchased the tract of land upon which his son Harmon E. now resides. It was then raw land, not a furrow having been turned nor an improvement made but soon the track of the shining plow was seen across the fields and in course of time good harvests were gathered. In addition to the one hundred and sixty acres which he entered from the govern- ment he purchased property from time to time until he owned more than one thousand acres. He was a man of unfaltering determination and business energy and he also possessed sound judgment, as was manifest in his wise choice of the land which he purchased. Upon his farm he reared his family and continued to reside for many years. He was a warm personal friend of Abraham Lincoln, of John A. Logan and of other distinguished citizens of Illinois. Active and influential in community affairs he was elected and served as supervisor and filled other posi- tions of public honor and trust, the duties of which were promptly and faithfully executed. He died upon the old homestead September 27, 1895, while his wife survived him until 1900. In the family were nine children, all of whom reached mature years, while eight are still living.

Harmon E. Ruger spent his boyhood days on his father's farm and was educated in the dis- trict schools. Through the periods of vacation he worked in the fields and remained with his father until the latter's death, when he bought out the interest of the other heirs in the old home property and became its owner. He has bought more land from time to time, securing over four hundred acres, all adjoining the old home place. The work of cultivation and improvement has been carried steadily forward by him and he has added to and remodeled the house, converting it into an attractive, pleasant and commodious dwelling. He has also built a barn, corn cribs and a granary, together with stock sheds. There is a deep well and windpump upon the place and he has fenced and tiled the farm. Fruit trees have likewise been planted and add to the value and attractive appearance of the property and many modern improvements have been added that indicate Mr. Ruger to be a man of progressive spirit, who keeps in touch with the trend of mod- ern development along agricultural lines.

Mr. Ruger was married in Plattsburg, New York, on the 29th of September, 1875, to Miss Emma Wells, who was born and reared in Clin- ton county of the Empire state. She was pro- vided with good educational privileges and be- came a teacher prior to her marriage. In the

family were two children : Bertha, now the wife of George Shuler, of Chicago, by whom she has a daughter, Dorothy; and Maynard G. Ruger, who is a student in the Michigan University, at Ann Arbor, now in his junior year.

Mr. Ruger is a republican, well informed on the questions and issues of the day but without aspiration for public office. He has for several years rented the most of his land, giving his at- tention merely to improving his farm and looking after his business interests without doing much of the active work of the fields himself. As the years have gone by he has prospered and is now one of the extensive agriculturists of the com- munity in whose business integrity, activity and enterprise there is sufficient reason for the pros- perity that he is now enjoying.

I. N. JENNINGS.

I. N. Jennings, a farmer and stockman residing on section 17, Eagle township, dates his residence in La Sallle county from October, 1860, at which time he located in Farm Ridge township, while since 1867 he has resided continuously at his present home. Here he owns and cultivates three hundred and thirty acres of Illinois' rich prairie land and its excellent improvements are a monu- ment to his life of thrift and industry.

Mr. Jennings was but twelve years of age when he came to this country with his parents. His birth occurred in the village of Carmichaels, in Greene county, Pennsylvania, May 17, 1848, a son of Lewis W. and Mary ( Biddle) Jennings, who, on removing from the Keystone state to Illinois, resided for a long period on section 16, Eagle township, which farm is now in possession of John H. Jennings. After devoting a long period to the cultivation of cereals best adapted to soil and climate, during which time his rich harvests brought him a good financial return, Mr. Jen- nings retired from active business life and with his wife removed to Streator, where both event- ually passed away. The father's death occurred in 1895, when he was almost seventy years of age, and his wife died in 1891, when about sixty- four years of age. Both were natives of Penn- sylvania, Mrs. Jennings being born in Washing- ton, that state. Active and influential in com- munity affairs he filled various local and town- ship offices and was found as the champion of growth and progress and of truth and justice, his strong and sterling characteristics being such as everywhere command respect and good will. In the family were seven children, of whom I. N. Jennings is the eldest. Jeremiah F., the second

1.3

I. N. JENNINGS AND FAMILY.

581

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

son, is a resident farmer of Eagle township. Jennie died in girlhood in 1869. Mary Frances became the wife of Hamilton Newport and after his death married Robert McDonnell. She then resided in Streator up to the time of her death in 1890 and Mr. McDonnell still makes his home in that city. John H. Jennings is a farmer and stockman of Eagle township.

Being but twelve years of age at the time of the removal of the family from Pennsylvania to La Salle county. I. N. Jennings continued his education, which he had begun in the east, in the country schools of this locality and also spent three months as a student in Lincoln University. Since putting aside his text-books he has taught school for nine winters but has mainly followed farming. After coming to the county the family lived upon a rented farm in Farm Ridge town- ship for a year and then removed to Eagle township, where they also spent a year. They were afterward residents of Fall River township until 1867, since which time Mr. Jennings has resided upon his present farm on section 17, Eagle township. Here he has a valuable tract of land of three hundred and thirty acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, making all of the improvements upon it. This farm was originally owned and settled by Sam- uel Gibson, who had largely improved it when it came into possession of our subject, but he has added all modern equipments, has kept the build- ings and fences in a state of good repair, has practiced the rotation of crops and follows prac- tical, scientific methods in his care of the fields.

Mr. Jennings was married in this county to Miss Eva H. Lahman, who was born in Eagle township. September 20, 1856, and was here reared. Their union has been blessed with eight children but the eldest died in infancy. Mary P. is the wife of George P. Elias, who is residing on section 17, Eagle township, and is with the Star Coal Company. They had two children : Walter, deceased : and Eva. Florella is at home. Lewis Roy married Minnie McLaren and resides in Eagle township. Ralph died at the age of four months. Albert Newton, Lloyd K. and Arthur B. are all at home.

The parents are members of the Congregational church at Kangley, and in politics Mr. Jennings is a republican, who has served as township clerk and school director but is not ambitious in the line of office holding, preferring that his attention shall be given to business affairs which render him one of the representative farmers of Eagle township. His work has been crowned with a measure of success which at once indicates that he has never faltered in his determination

to work his way upward and that his industry has been guided by clear and correct judgment upon agricultural matters.

FREDERICK RICHARDS.

A tribute of praise and admiration is due the men who have advanced from humble positions is life to places of prominence and affluence and whose records prove that success and an honored name may be won simultaneously. Such has been the career of Frederick Richards, who came to America in early manhood with limited financial resources and stands today among the most pros- perous residents of La Salle county, his land holdings being scarcely equalled by the posses- sions of any who have placed their capital in the safest of all investments-real-estate.

Mr. Richards was born in Prussia, Germany, in September, 1828, and is indebted to the schools of his native country for the educational privi- leges which he enjoyed between the ages of six and fourteen years. At a later date he entered upon his business career as an apprentice to the cooper's trade and when his four-years' term of indenture had ended he had become an excellent workman, having thoroughly mastered the business in principle and detail. A mental com- parison of the business conditions of the old world and the new convinced him that he might enjoy better advantages on this side of the water, where competition was greater but where ad- vancement was more quickly secured. Accord- ingly crossing the Atlantic in a sailing vessel, which after a voyage of forty-seven days dropped anchor in the harbor of New York, he continued his journey, traveling by way of the canal to Buffalo and thence by the Great Lakes to Chicago, whence he pro- ceeded to Ottawa over the Illinois & Michi- gan canal. His own limited resources combined with natural ability and energy rendered im- mediate employment a necessity and he entered the services of a Mr. Hoffmann, a cooper, for whom he was engaged in making pork and flour barrels and butter firkins. Two years were thus passed in Eagle township, La Salle county, after which he ventured upon an independent business career, giving his attention to farm labor through the day, while in the evenings he worked at his trade, thus securing some ready capital. When his labors had brought him a sufficient sum to justify his investment in land, he made purchase of one hundred acres in Bruce township in 1851. The following year he began its improvement and at the same time he continued to work at the

582

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

cooper's trade. A life of unremitting diligence and industry combined with the careful husband- ing of his resources won him success and eventu- ally he was enabled to add to his farm until it comprised one hundred and forty acres. In 1861 he made an additional purchase of two hundred and forty acres and upon this farm, embracing more than a half section of land he began feeding cattle and hogs. The same keen business discern- ment and sound judgment which made him suc- cessful in tilling the soil also brought him pros- perity in the new venture, and as the Civil war produced good prices he made considerable money, which he invested judiciously. In 1863 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Bruce township, and from time to time has in- creased his holdings until his landed possessions now aggregate twenty-two hundred acres. He has thus become one of the largest property own- ers in La Salle county and his home place is a model farm supplied with all modern equipments and conveniences that facilitate farm work and add to the comforts and conveniences of a life in a rural community. Excellent crops are an- nually harvested in return for the cultivation be- stowed upon the fields and good barns, sheds and other outbuildings furnish ample shelter for his crops and stock.

Mr. Richards is a man of resourceful business ability and his efforts have extended to various lines of activity that have had direct bearing upon general commercial progress as well as individual success. He has extensively engaged in feeding stock in Bruce township, feeding as high as five hundred head of cattle in a year and about one thousand head of hogs. A tract of eighty acres which he purchased, lying within the corporation limits of Streator, has been sub- divided into town lots and is known as the Richards addition to the city. He is the owner of a good grain elevator at the town of Richards and is thus extensively connected with the grain trade, furnishing a market for local producers. Upon the organization of the Union National Bank, at Streator, he became one of its stock- holders and directors and his opinion in regard to questions of finance has often been a decisive factor in affairs relating to the bank.

In 1851 Mr. Richards was married to Miss Leah Croty, also a native of Germany, but at that time a resident of La Salle county. They had one son, William, now a prosperous farmer of Otter Creek township. The mother died in 1856, and Mr. Richards afterward wedded Mary Gra- ham. Eight children graced this marriage, of whom two, James and Fred, died in infancy. The others are Thomas, Mary, Alexander, Louis, Walter and Charles.

In community affairs Mr. Richards is inter- ested to the extent of giving hearty aid and co- operation to many movements that have direct bearing upon the general welfare. For many years he served as commissioner of highways and in 1897 was appointed postmaster of the town of Richards. He casts an independent ballot, how- ever, regarding the capability of the condidate rather than party affiliation. He has been neg- lectful of no duty of citizenship and in his business life has made a splendid record for irreproachable integrity. Although his opera- tions have been very extensive he has never been known to take advantage of the necessities of his fellowmen in any trade transaction but has wrought along modern lines, placing his depend- ence upon the safe, substantial qualities of unre- mitting labor and perseverance. Never dilatory, never negligent in the prosecution of a business duty he has watched for opportunities leading to success along lines of honorable activity and has so directed his business interests that his close application, sound judgment and persistency of purpose have formed the foundation upon which he has builded a superstructure of great financial stability. The name of Frederick Richards is well known throughout the county and stands as a synonym for business reliability as well as business success. He is now living retired at his home in Streator.

AUGUSTUS CHARLES TOWER.

This is a utilitarian age in which invention has made marked progress and in no country is the progress so rapid as in America. This is espe- cially true in the line of invention of machinery and implements that have revolutionized methods of farming, in which connection Augustus C. Tower has become known to the country as the inventor of the original surface cultivator and as such has done a work which entitles him to distinction. This product of his ingenuity has not only been a source of revenue to himself but also of the utmost benefit to the farming class, a fact which is widely acknowledged through the large sale that is now had for the manufactured product.

Mr. Tower is a native of Freetown, New York, born July 4, 1833, and in 1838 he removed with his parents to Columbus, Illinois, being at that time but five years of age. Both his father and mother, George and Mary Ann (Castle) Tower, were born near Bennington, Vermont, and dis- played in their lives many of the sterling traits of a "Yankee ancestry" with all of the ingenuity.

et & Tower 1

585

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

business capacity and indisputable honesty which are synonymous with the term. Their children were Justus, Augustus C., Jerusha, Caroline and Daniel.

Mr. Tower of this review in his boyhood days was a pupil in a little log schoolhouse near his father's farm, where he mastered the elementary branches of learning. He was fifteen years of age when the family removed to a farm near Mendota and he broke prairie land upon the new home- stead, which comprised one thousand acres. They used ox teams and could break only about four rounds per day. There were many rattle snakes in the grass and sloughs abounded in number. Deer were plentiful and at times herds of as many as twenty-five deer were to be seen grazing on the prairie. During the first summer Mr. Tower was ill of bilious fever. There was much sickness such as is common in a newly settled country and at one time all of the ten members of the family were ill and were cared for by neighbors. Mr. Tower of this review recovered slowly and for the benefit of his health was sent to the seashore when nineteen years of age. He first saw steam cars at La Salle when he jour- neyed eastward. He made his way to Benning- ton, Vermont, his old home, and it was at that time that the Hoosick tunnel was being built. He spent the summer near Coney Island, New York, and in the fall returned to Mendota much improved in health.

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 76

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