History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 84

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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Mr. and Mrs. Phillips became the parents of eight children, six sons and two daughters. Five of the sons enlisted in the country's service dur- ing the Civil war and one of the sisters was the wife of a Union soldier. The mother of these boys was heard to remark that she was sorry she did not have twelve sons to fight for the flag. George A. Phillips, the eldest of the family, was born in Pennsylvania and enlisted as a member of Company I. Fourth Illinois Volunteer Cav- alry, with which command he served from 1863 until 1865. He returned to Earlville, where he lived until his death, which occurred when he was sixty-six years of age.

John W. Phillips, now living in Earlville, is almost totally deaf and blind. He enlisted and served in Company I, Fourth Illinois Cavalry, from 1863 until 1866, and contracted fever in the army, which occasioned his condition today. He was the first white male child born in Earl township.

Walter M. Phillips, familiarly known as Mil- ton, was born in Earl township, March 5, 1838. He was reared on a farm and took care of his parents as long as they lived. He now resides in Earlville with his brother. R. E. Phillips, and he owns one hundred and sixty acres of rich and valuable land in Earl township, whereon he lived until a few years ago, when he removed to Earl- ville, where he owns a nice home. He, too. fought for the defense of the Union, enlisting on the 14th of January. 1865, as a member of Company B, Twenty-third Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, with which he served until July 24, 1865. He is now senior vice commander of the Grand Army Post at Earlville and has filled the office of commander.

Albert Van Buren Phillips, born in this county, has been engaged in agricultural pursuits but is now living retired, making his home in Earl- ville. He is married and he served for three

JAMES PHILLIPS

MRS. JAMES PHILLIPS

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

years in the Civil war, taking part in Mulligan's Shenandoah campaign.

Candis C. Phillips became the wife of Boyd D. Simison, who was a soldier of the Civil war and is now living in Earlville.

Melville D. Phillips, who died in June, 1894, was for some years a resident of Earlville and served for three years in the Twenty-third Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, proving loyal and val- iant soldier of the Civil war.

Elizabeth Phillips, the seventh member of the family, died in infancy.

Rolson E. Phillips, born April 8, 1851, was a student in the country schools and for a short time pursued his education in Wheaton College, while later he took a course in Bryant & Strattan Business College. He then engaged in teach- ing school for seven years in La Salle county and was an able educator, imparting clearly and readily to others the knowledge that he had ac- quired. In 1894 he married Miss Alice Carpen- ter, who was born in Morristown, New York, and died in Earlville in 1901. They had two children who died in infancy. In February, 1905, Rolson E. Phillips was again married, his sec- ond union being with Miss Katie J. Bardoner, of Earlville. He is an elder in the Presbyterian church and is deeply interested in its work and contributes generously to its support. He served as township collector for one term. In politics he is a republican, believing firmly in the prin- ciples of the party, and for ten years he has been school trustee.

The father of this family, James M. Phillips, was a devoted member of the Presbyterian church and his religious faith permeated his entire life. In politics he was a republican but did not care for office. All men who knew him respected him and he enjoyed the confidence of young and old, rich and poor. He died upon his farm in Earl township, October 1, 1882, and was sur- vived by his wife for about fifteen years, her death occurring in Earl township on the 7th of April, 1897. Thus passed away two of the most worthy and respected pioneer residents of this section of the state, having resided in the county from 1834.

JABEZ MACKEY.

Jabez Mackey, who is living retired in Streator, but for many years was actively con- nected with farming interests, has made a cred- itable record as a business man, a soldier and pub- lic official. He is one of the native sons of the county, his birth having occurred in Bruce town-

ship on the 18th of June, 1846. His paternal grandfather was Stephen Mackey, a native of Pennsylvania, who lived about four miles from Uniontown during the period of early develop- ment and progress there. He was of Scotch and Irish parentage. His son, Samuel Mackey, was born in Fayette. county, Pennsylvania, February 15, 1814, and in 1833 came to Illinois, settling in La Salle county. He was married here to Miss Sarah Morgan, whose birth occurred March 17, 1814, her father being William M. Morgan, who was born near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He had five farms and there was a coal bank on each farm. He was related to Colonel Morgan, who won fame as a Revolutionary officer and he re- tained his residence in the Keystone state until 1833, when he came westward to Illinois and pur- chased nine tracts of eighty acres each in La Salle county. He was frozen to death when within a half mile of his own home in the winter of 1835. His wife bore the maiden name of Nancy Reese and was of Welsh parentage.

After removing to this county Samuel Mackey entered two hundred acres of land from the gov- ernment, for which he paid the usual purchase price of a dollar and a quarter per acre. He and his brother-in-law, Reese Morgan, who was a sur- veyor, had first visited this district in 1830 and served in the Black Hawk war. They built the first sawmill here in the early '40s, operating it with water power, there being an overshot wheel. People came from a distance of forty miles to se- cure lumber at this mill. Mr. Mackey was a very prominent and influential citizen in early days and was the first supervisor of Bruce town- ship, serving in that office in 1850. In 1835 he had been one of the first three commissioners of La Salle county .. He devoted his time and ener- gies to agricultural pursuits and as the years passed by transformed his land into a good farm, upon which he continued to make his home until his death, which occurred April 12, 1852. At that time he was engaged in building a fine house, which was completed after his death. There were only three houses between his home and Ottawa during the period of his residence in this county. His widow long survived him and passed away on the 15th of February, 1904, when about ninety years of age. In their family were eight children, of whom five are now living. Mal- vina, born in 1834, married Mathew Morrison and after his death became the wife of Adam Morrison. Their home is now in Streator. Minerva, born in February, 1841, is the wife of William Cadwell, of Streator. Stephen M., born November 8, 1836, and now living in New Mex- ico, married Emily Holly, who died in 1877. George W. is living in Bruce township.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

Jabez Mackey, the other surviving member of the family, was not yet six years of age at the time of his father's death. He continued upon the old home farm in Bruce township and ac- quired his education in the district schools, while through the summer months he aided in the work on the farm. He was not yet eighteen years of age when on the 3d of April, 1864, he responded to the country's call for troops and was assigned to duty with Company I, One Hundred and Thir- ty-eight Illinois Infantry, under Colonel Good- win, to serve one hundred days. He enlisted at Ottawa, was mustered in at Quincy, Illinois, and thence sent to Fort Leavenworth, where he was on guard duty for three months. He after- ward went to Topeka, Kansas, and later to Law- rence, that state, taking part in the raid against Quantrell. He was also sent with his command to Pilot Knob after Price and subsequently pro- ceeded to Springfield, Illinois, being mustered out at Camp Butler on the 14th of November, 1864.

When his term of enlistment had expired Mr. Mackey resumed farming in Bruce township and engaged in teaching school in the winter of 1866. The following year he made his first purchase of land, becoming owner of a tract in Ford county, a part of which he broke in 1868, residing there- on until 1871, when he sold his property there and returned to Bruce township, where he fol- lowed farming until 1875.

In that year he re- moved to Streator and has since been a resident of this city. In 1879 he was elected constable and held the office for eight years, proving a most capable and faithful official. In 1883 he was elected assessor and continued in the office until 1904, being re-elected at each successive election with the exception of the year 1885. No public trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed in the slightest degree and his loyalty and capability in office have been in harmony with the spirit which prompted his enlistment for active service in the Civil war.

Mr. Mackey was married on the 2d of March, 1887, to Miss Alice J. Myer, who was born on a farm near Ottawa, May 1, 1856, and is a daugh- ter of Robert C. and Rhoda (McInturf) Myer. Her father, a native of Virginia, died in May, 1898, at the age of sixty-eight years and Mrs. Myer is now living with her children in New York. She was born in Ohio in 1834 and at the present time is with her daughter. In the fam- ily were the following children: Mrs. Mackey ; Belle, the wife of Amos Conner, a resident of Streator ; William A .; Margaret, the wife of Saul Egbert; Samuel and Fannie, twins, the latter the wife of R. W. Donald ; Edward; Nellie, the wife of Thomas Campbell ; and Jessie, the wife of E.

Rothchild. Mr. and Mrs. Mackey have one daughter, Eleanor.

Mr. Mackey represents one of the old and prominent pioneer families of the county that has been represented here for seventy-three years and has himself spent his entire life in this county, being actively identified with its farming inter- ests for many years and for a long period with its public offices, in which he has made a most creditable record, for over his official career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil.

OLIVER HODNEY.

Oliver Hodney, whose farm of three hundred acres lies in Miller and Mission townships, his home place being in the former township, is one of La Salle county's native sons and in fact opened his eyes to the light of day on the farm where he yet lives. His life record began on the 28th of October, 1862, his parents being Andrew and Ingar (Olson) Hodney, both of whom were natives of Norway. The father was reared in that country and in 1848 came to the United States. The following spring, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, he went to the Pacific coast, where he spent two and a half years largely engaged in mining. On the expiration of that period he returned to La Salle county and purchased the land upon which his son Oliver now resides, becoming owner of this property in 1851. He opened up the farm, . for it was wild and unimproved when it came into his possession and when he laid aside active business cares it was a splendidly developed property, equipped with all modern conveniences and accessories. Upon this place he reared his family and spent his last years, his death oc- curring on the 16th of April, 1896, while his wife passed away in 1895. In their family were two sons and two daughters and Oliver Hod- ney and his two sisters are yet living.

In the district schools Oliver Hodney began his education which he continued in the normal school in Morris. He remained with his father until his death, but prior to that time took charge of the home farm and following the father's demise he purchased the interest of his sisters in the property and succeeded to the owner- ship of the old homestead. He has erected a neat and comfortable residence here and has drained the land by tiling. He has also fenced the place and made substantial improvements of a varied character, continuing the work of de- velopment until he now has a valuable farm.

PHILLIPS FAMILY.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

Mr. Hodney was married in Miller township on the 21st of January, 1887, to Miss Mary Rosadale, a native of La Salle county, who was reared here. She is a daughter of John Rosadale, one of the first settlers who came to this county from Norway. He crossed the Atlantic on a sloop and on reaching the eastern shore con- tinued his journey across the country until he arrived in Illinois. He was a man of influence among the Norwegian settlers and was active in the early development of this part of the state. In 1905 Mr. Hodney was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 27th of January of that year and her death was deeply deplored, not only by her immediate family but also by many friends. She left a daughter, Eva, who is a young lady at home with her father. Politically Mr. Hodney has always voted with the republican party. He is a believer in the cause of temperance and advocates the abolition of the manufacture of liquors. He was elected and served as highway commissioner for two years and on the school board has done effect- ive service for the cause of public education. He was reared in the Methodist faith and took membership with the church in early life. He is now one of the official members of the con- gregation to which he belongs and is an active worker and a teacher in the Sunday-school. His entire life has been passed in this county, where he is still well known as an active and pro- gressive farmer. He displays many of the com- mendable characteristics of his Norwegian an- cestry, a race noted for unremitting industry and reliability.

BENJAMIN SHAFER.

Benjamin Shafer, now living retired in Streator, gained through earnest labor upon the farm the capital that now enables him to rest from further business cares. He was born near Mount Vernon, in Knox county, Ohio, on the 3d of June, 1828, and is descended from Ger- man ancestry. His grandfather, Michael Shafer, accompanied by his brother, Levi, crossed the Atlantic to the new world prior to the Revolu- tionary war, arriving in the year 1775 at Valley Forge. He left the old country to evade military service, but his interest was aroused in the cause of the colonies and he enlisted in the Revolu- tionary war and aided in establishing American independence. Subsequently he removed to Ohio, settling near Mount Vernon, where he kept open house, serving many dinners of wild game, while over the barrel of rum hung the tin dipper

that his friends might partake. He was a typi- cal pioneer settler and lived to be ninety-six years of age.

His son, Henry Shafer, father of our sub- ject, was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, July 5, 1800, and was only two years of age when his parents removed to Ohio. At the age of twenty-six years he was married in Knox county to Miss Mary Richardson, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1805. She died in 1831, at the early age of twenty-six years. Her mother lived to be one hundred and one years of age. There were three daughters and a son born to Henry and Mary (Richardson) Shafer, namely : Margaret, now deceased; Elizabeth, who is liv- ing in Marshall county; Benjamin, of this re- view; and Martha, who has also passed away. After the death of his first wife Henry Shafer married Nancy Feazel, and they had three chil- dren: Mary, who is living in the old home in Lacon, Illinois; Caroline, residing in Springfield, . Missouri; and Frank, who is also living in Lacon. It was in the year 1846 that Henry Shafer removed from Ohio to Illinois, locating in Lacon, Marshall county. He was a farmer and bought a tract of land upon which was a brick house, the first in that county. His re- maining days were devoted to the care and development of his farm in that locality and he took an active and helpful interest in community affairs. His death occurred in Lacon, October 22, 1873. His political allegiance was given to the democracy and all who knew him respected him.

Benjamin Shafer, whose name introduces this review, is indebted to the public-school system of Ohio for the educational privileges which he enjoyed. He was about eighteen years of age when in 1846 the family removed to Lacon, Illinois. He volunteered for service in the Mexican war, but the quota was filled. He went south, however, as far as New Orleans. In 1849, attracted by the discovery of gold in Cali- fornia, he made the overland journey to the Pa- cific coast with ox teams. Reaching Shasta City, he there assisted in building the first cabin at that place and spent three years in California and Oregon, returning home by steamer by way of New York. He remained in Lacon for ten years, coming thence to La Salle county in Sep- tember, 1856. He has since resided in this county and for many years was identified with its agricultural interests. At the time of his mar- riage he had a farm of one hundred and twenty acres on which was a house, and taking up his abode there at the time of his marriage, he devoted his energies to the improvement of the place for a long period. He carried on farming

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there for forty-two years and his labors were so carefully directed and his business so wisely managed that he acquired thereby a handsome competence. He also added to his original possessions until he had two hundred and forty acres of fine farming land and some timber land. He also raised high grade cattle and hogs and both branches of his business proved profitable.

On the 25th of February, 1858, Mr. Shafer was united in marriage to Miss Juliet Reeder, who was born in Eagle township, this county, January 3, 1840, her parents being Jacob F. and Elizabeth '(Lord) Reeder. Her father was born at Zanesville, Ohio, March II, 1815, and died in Streator, Illinois, August 14, 1896. His wife, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Novem- ber IO, 1822, died March 14, 1902. They were married in Ottawa and had a family of four daughters and five sons: Joseph O., who is living near Munster, this county; Mrs. Shafer; Cynthia, who resides near Spokane, Washington; Oscar, who is living in Kangley, this county; William, who died at the age of thirty years : Mary, whose home is north of Streator ; Mitchell, who is living in Chicago; Adella, also of Streator; and Charles, who resides in Kang- ley. The father came to Illinois in 1829, locat- ing in Pekin. In 1835 he removed to Eagle township and in 1840 went to Wisconsin, locat- ing near Monroe, where he resided until 1848, the year in which the state was admitted to the Union. He then returned to this county and bought a farm in Eagle township, comprising two hundred acres of valuable land, on which he spent his remaining days. He made his own wagons and farming tools and possessed con- siderable mechanical ingenuity. His business interests were ably managed and he was a typi- cal pioneer citizen, who contributed in substan- tial measure to the progress of this part of the state. His political views were in accord with Jacksonian democracy.

Upon their home farm Mr. and Mrs. Shafer reared their family of four children. Jason D., born July 26, 1860, was graduated in the high school of Streator with the class of 1879 and in 1880 went to Ann Arbor, Michi- gan, where he studied medicine for three years. On the day on which the class passed its final examination-May 4, 1883 -he died. Frank B., born May 30, 1864, married Lillie McCall and is now engaged in the banking business in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Lloyd, born September 14, 1868, married Lillian Scott and resides in Streator. Zelma, born Feb- ruary 9, 1872, is the wife of Dr. G. A. Dicus, who is practicing in Streator.

Mr. Shafer continued to reside upon the home farm until February 26, 1900, when he removed to Streator, where he now lives, making his home at No. 403 South Bloomington street. He served as supervisor for twelve years while liv- ing in Eagle township, was school director for many years and was a trustee of the Streator high school. The children have all been given excellent educational advantages and are gradu- ates of the high school of Streator. Mr. Shafer is one of the worthy pioneer settlers of this part of Illinois, having located here when game was plentiful and when Indians were yet occassion- ally seen. The country was largely unimproved and it remained to such enterprising and pro- gressive men as the subject of this review to develop the farming resources of the state and find in its agricultural possibilities the success which was to reward his labors.

C. A. COLLINS.

C. A. Collins, now living retired, was in former years an active representative of business life in Utica, being connected with various mercantile interests here. In more recent years he has in- vested in land in North Dakota and elsewhere and his investments and a goodly bank account enable him to enjoy life without recourse to further labor. He has been a resident of La Salle county for almost a half century, having ar- rived here on the 7th of April, 1858, at which time he took up his abode in Waltham township. A native of Vermont, he was born on the IIth of October, 1839, and resided there until nineteen years of age, during which period he acquired a good public-school education. He then came to La Salle county, where he has since made his home, and on the trip accompanied his father, Harmon Collins, who at one time was the owner of four hundred acres of valuable land in Wal- tham township, where he successfully engaged in general farming up to the time of his death, which occurred in that township about thirty- one years ago. He had served in the state legis- lature of Vermont and was also interested in the political issues and questions of the day, giving his early allegiance to the whig party, while later he joined the ranks of the republican party.

C. A. Collins of this review is now the only representative of the father's family in La Salle county, and as stated, was a young man of nine- teen years at the time of the arrival in Illinois. He afterward purchased a farm in Waltham township and for a long period was identified with agricultural interests, owning and operating a

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

good tract of land from 1858 until 1885, during which period he placed his fields under a high state of cultivation, his practical and progressive manner of tilling the soil resulting in good crops, for which he found a ready sale on the market. As his financial resources increased he extended his business efforts to other lines. For twenty- seven years he has been a resident of Utica, hav- ing taken up his abode here in December, 1885, at which time he purchased a home in the village. Since that time he has built a fine new residence on the bluff in Clark's fifth addition to Utica and is now most comfortably situated in life. He his

now leases farm, which comprises the northwest quarter of section 35, Wal- tham township. After taking up his abode in Utica he conducted a dry-goods and grocery store for a time and for a year and a half was engaged in the lumber business. He has in recent years invested in land in North Dakota and elsewhere and his property holdings are now valuable. Al of the moves that he has made in the business world have been prompted by sound judgment and keen business sagacity and nearly all have resulted advantageously.

Mr. Collins was married August 7, 1862, to Miss Mary J. Sanger, who came to La Salle county with her parents about 1859 when thir- teen years of age. She was a daughter of C. O. Sanger, who removed from Plattsburg, New York, to this state and took up his abode in Wal- tham township, La Salle county, where he en- gaged in farming for a number of years. His death, however, occurred in Nebraska, in 1890. Unto our subject and his wife have been born two daughters. The elder, Mrs. Frank Brite- man, is residing in Utica, where her husband was engaged in the cooperage business for a num- ber of years but is now located on a farm in Montana. They have one son, Leonard Henry Briteman. The other daughter is Mrs. N. J. Cary, of Utica, and they have two sons, Clarence and Clark B., aged respectively nineteen and six- teen years.

In his political views Mr. Collins is a repub- lican and while keeping well informed on the questions of the day, as every true American citi- zen should do, he is nevertheless without ambition for public office. Socially he is connected with the blue lodge of Masons at Utica. The family are all members of the Methodist church. The years of his residence in this county are many and throughout the entire period his work has been honorable and his motives upright. While not without that ambition which is so desirable as a spur to active and consecutive effort, he has not sought great wealth and with sufficient to supply him with life's comforts he is now contended to

leave the more arduous duties of a business career to others and enjoy in his pleasant home the fruits of his former toil.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 84

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