History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 86

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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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brumbach have been born two children: Cora Belle, the wife of L. W. Long, one of the prominent and prosperous farmers of Miller township; and Burton, who

married Miss Bessie Gallup, a daughter of Rinaldo Martin Gallup and a sister of John S. Gallup, a leading farmer of Miller township, whose life history is given elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Burton Brumbach have one child, Belle E. The son is carrying on the old home place for his father.

Mr. Brumbach is independent in his political views, supporting the candidates whom he re- gards as best qualified for office regardless of party affiliation. He has served as road commis- sioner and township trustee, believing in good schools and the employment of competent teach- ers and as a member of the school board has labored earnestly and effectively for the cause of public instruction. He has frequently been a delegate to county conventions. He and his wife attend the Universalist church. All through his entire life he has been a resident of La Salle county and has seen it change from a wilderness and swamp to one of the rich agricul- tural districts of the state with here and there thriving towns and enterprising cities, in which the hum of industry is continually heard. He has rejoiced in what has been accomplished and has co-operated in many movements for local progress. He is well known in Marseilles and in Ottawa and is a worthy representative of a prominent and honored pioneer family, the name of Brumbach having been closely and honorably associated with the annals of this section of the state through more than seven decades.

WILLIAM HOWE.

William Howe, of Streator, who has been iden- tified with the development of the coal resources of La Salle county, is a native of England, his birth having occurred in Bath, Somersetshire, on the 3Ist of January, 1839. His parents were Thomas and Sarah (Moore) Howe, also natives of Eng- land. The father was engaged in the nursery business. Both he and his wife were members of the Church of England and his death occurred in Bath in 1857, when he was fifty-eight years of age. His widow afterward came to America and died in 1884, at the age of eighty-two years, at which time she was residing in Streator. In the family were five children, three sons and two daughters, and with the exception of William Howe of this review all have now. passed away.

In taking up the personal history of William Howe we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Streator and La Salle county because of his ac- tivity and the scope of his business interests. He

PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY. 663

was only fourteen years of age when he started out in life for himself. Leaving home he went to South Wales, where he worked in the coal and iron mines until he was twenty-one years of age. Thus he gained practical knowledge of a business which has ever been utilized by him as a source of revenue.

Thinking that he might enjoy better opportuni- ties in the new world, he came to the United States in the fall of 1859 and was first employed as a fireman in a flourmill at Mendota, Illinois. After a brief period, however, he secured employ- ment in the coal mines at Kewanee, Illinois, and was engaged in similar work at various points in this state, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Mary- land. In the spring of 1871 he came to Streator and helped to open No. I coal shaft. The fol- lowing fall he entered the service of the Ver- million Coal Company to prospect for coal and subsequently represented different companies in the same capacity. He eagerly embraced every opportunity for business advancement and in 1876 joined John Hillier and James Jones for operation in the coal fields near Cornell, Livingston county, Illinois, business being carried on under the name of the Cornell Coal Company. His two partners withdrew during the first year and Mr. Howe carried on the business alone until 1878, when he returned to Streator. He was for thir- teen years, from 1869 until 1882, with the Ver- million Coal Company, since which time he has sunk and operated three coal shafts-the Prairie Creek, the Howe and the Howe Coal Company shaft. He is superintendent of the work at the present time and is known as one of the leading representatives of coal interests in this part of the state.

On the Ist of February, 1868, Mr. Howe was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Richards, who was born in England, August 9, 1849, the wed- ding being celebrated in Morris, Illinois. They have become the parents of six children: Mary, born January 15, 1869; Willie, who was born July 7, 1871, and died September 30, 1872; Lil- lie, born November 12, 1872; Charles H., Au- gust 21, 1874; Margaret, October 19, 1876; and Clara Pearl, who was born December 27, 1882, and died October 20, 1890. Mrs. Howe was a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Giddins) Rich- ards, both of whom were natives of England. The father died in Braidwood, Illinois, at the age of fifty-eight years, and the mother still makes her home there. They came to this coun- try in the '50s, locating in Pennsylvania, whence they afterward removed to Morris, Illinois, and subsequently to Braidwood.

In his political affiliation Mr. Howe is an earn- est republican. 1

He belongs to Edina lodge, No.

391, I. O. O. F., of Streator and also to the Con- gregational church. Without any extraordi- nary family or pecuniary advantages to aid him at the outset of his career, starting out in life at the early age of fourteen he has depended en- tirely upon his own resources and has made steady progress toward the goal of prosperity. He has met difficulties and obstacles but has worked his way steadily upward, overcoming all impediments in his path by determination and un- faltering purpose.

GEORGE SARGENT.

George Sargent, a general farmer and stock- man residing on section 33. Deer Park township, is numbered among the native sons of La Salle county, his birth having occurred in Waltham township, in 1858. His parents, Henry and Ann (Climpson) Sargent, natives of England, were married in that country and became resi- dents of La Salle county about 1843 or 1844. The father was employed by Mr. Clark at Utica in the grain and cement business and afterward with the money that he had acquired with his own labors, diligence and economy he purchased a farm on section 22, Waltham township, in the center of the township and there he continued to make his home, successfully carrying on general agricultural pursuits until his death, which oc- curred November 19, 1897, when he was eighty years of age. Both he and his wife were natives of Sussex, England, born near Brighton, and Mrs. Sargent passed away March 6, 1897, at the age of seventy-nine years. Mr. Sargent has served as school director of his district and was inter- ested in public progress. He did not seek office, however, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs and although he had only fifty cents when he landed at Utica, he died a prosperous farmer, having become the owner of a good tract of land, which he placed under a high state of cultivation. In his family were seven children, of whom two are now deceased, Henry C., having died in Waltham township, in August, 1898, while Mrs. Mary Baker passed away in Ottawa in the spring of 1899. Previ- ous to that time there had not been a death in the family for forty-two years, although one son had died before the birth of George Sargent of this review. The other surviving members of the family are: James W., who is living in Tonica, Illinois; Charles, a resident of Des Moines, Iowa; Mrs. Carrie Madison, of Grand Ridge; and Mrs. Elizabeth Hess, of Waltham township.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

George Sargent was reared in Waltham town- ship, where he made his home for forty years, mainly devoting his time and energies to general farming. At length, however, he sold his prop- erty there and in 1898 purchased his present farm on section 33, Deer Park township. This is a well improved tract of land. Mr. Sargent erected the house and buildings on eighty acres lying north of the home. He operates the farm, rais- ing good chops and having a well improved prop- erty, which in its excellent appearance indicates his careful supervision and progressive methods.

On the 5th of August, 1885, Mr. Sargent was married to Miss Emma L. Bennett, who was born in Deer Park township, a daughter of George Bennett, of Utica township. Mr. and Mrs. Sar- gent have become the parents of three children : Wilber H., twenty years of age; Jetta N., aged eighteen years ; and King George, fourteen years of age.

In his political views Mr. Sargent is a repub- lican and is now serving as commissioner of Deer Park township, to which office he was elected in the spring of 1906. He also served as road commissioner for six years in Waltham town- ship, was school director for eighteen years and for one term township trustee. The official duties thus devolving upon him have ever been faithfully discharged and at all times he has been progressive in citizenship, while in his business life he is honorable and straightforward, care- fully conducting his interests so that his efforts have made him one of the prosperous agricul- turists of his community.

DAVID DAVIS.

David Davis, who became a resident of La Salle county in 1858 and continued to live within its borders until he passed away in Earlville, April 8, 1900, was a man of such genuine per- sonal worth that his good qualities impressed all with whom he came in contact and at his demise he left behind many friends who deeply regretted his death. There was allotted to him almost the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten, for his birth occurred September 24, 1831. A native of Wales, his parents were John and Maria (Davis) Davis. The father was a saddler by trade and died in early life, leaving two children, David and Rachel, the latter now the wife of L. B. Stark, of Licking county, Ohio. Following the death of her first husband Mrs. John Davis came to the United States in 1840 with her parents, six brothers and three sisters. Her brothers were John J., Thomas J.,

David J., Henry J., Evan J. and Frederick J. Davis and her sisters were Rachel, Mary and Jane Davis. She became a resident of Licking county, Ohio, and there was married again, be- coming the wife of Elias Jones, by whom she had four children, Mary Samuel, Elizabeth and Jane, all now deceased. The son died while serving as a soldier of the Civil war.

David Davis of this review spent the first nine years of his life in the little rock-ribbed country of Wales and was then brought by his mother to the United States, the family home being established upon a farm in Licking county, Ohio, where he remained continuously until 1858. He then removed to La Salle county, Illinois, be- ing induced to take this step by the fact that his uncles had already located here. He settled in Freedom township and worked on his uncle Henry's farm for about ten years. Carefully saving his wages, he was at length enabled to invest in land and became the owner of eighty acres, constituting an unimproved tract in Free- dom township. This he soon placed under a high state of cultivation and as the result of his economy, thrift and indefatigable energy he was enabled to add to his property from time to time until his place consisted of two hundred acres. He ever followed improved methods, utilized his opportunities to the best advantage and was regarded by his friends and neighbors as one of the most substantial agriculturists of the community. Whatever he undertook he carried forward to successful completion and as the years passed he developed a spledid farm, on which he .continued to engage in the tilling of the soil until the spring of 1897, when he retired and removed to Earlville, where he made his home until his death. He there enjoyed a well earned rest from further labor, the fruits of his former toil supplying him with the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.

On the 24th of February, 1876, Mr. Davis was married in Freedom township to Miss Martha Wiley, who was born in that township, January 2, 1845, her parents being Charles and Sera- phina (Greenleaf) Wiley, who were early set- tlers of the county, arriving here in 1844. They came from Maine and were representatives of old New England families. They had five chil- dren, of whom Mrs. Davis is the only one now living. The others were: Samuel C .; Henry ; Mary Ann, who died at the age of thirteen years ; and Laura, who died at the age of eleven years. Mrs. Davis was reared and educated in La Salle county, spending her girlhood days upon her father's farm and remaining at home until she gave her hand in marriage to David Davis. Theirs was a happy married life, which con-

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David Davis

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

tinued over twenty-four years. They labored together earnestly and persistently, Mrs. Davis carefully superintending the household affairs, while her husband carried on the work of the fields, and at length when their united efforts had brought them a handsome competence they retired to enjoy life in ease and comfort in Earlville.

In his political views Mr. Davis was a stal- wart republican, thoroughly in sympathy with the principles of the party, yet he did not seek nor desire public office. Fraternally he was con- nected with the Masonic lodge and exemplified in his life the beneficent spirit of the craft. He was called to his final rest on April 8, 1900, and his death was the occasion of deep and wide- spread regret, for the community thereby lost a worthy citizen, his neighbors and acquaintances a faithful friend and his wife a devoted husband. He occupied an enviable position in public re- gard and many years will have elapsed ere he will be forgotten by those with whom he was associated. Mrs. Davis still makes her home in Earlville, where she is widely known. In reli- gious faith she is a Universalist and is interested in all measures and movements for the moral development of the community.

JACOB S. VOORHEES.

Jacob S. Voorhees, making his home in Streator, is the owner of a valuable farm of one hundred and ninety acres which he rents and in former years was extensively engaged in dealing in grain and stock. His birth occurred in Som- erset county, New Jersey, September 30, 1831, and he was educated in the public schools while spending his boyhood days under the parental roof, his parents being Christopher B. and Mary Beakman (Skillman) Voorhees. The father, also a native of Somerset county, died September 17, 1858, when fifty-eight years of age, and the mother has likewise passed away. In their family were five childen, all of whom are yet liv- ing : John S., who was born November 25, 1829, is now residing in Tazewell county, Illinois. Jacob S. is the next of the family. Martha B., born September 20, 1834, is the widow of L. Hodson and resides near Forrest, Illinois. Mary H. was born September 29, 1839. Isaac, born December 25, 1846, is a farmer living near For- rest. It was in the year 1854 that the father came to Illinois, locating east of Streator, where he purchased wild prairie land. He was one of the pioneer settlers of the county and devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits until his life's

labors were ended in death. He held member- ship in the Congregational church and in early life was a Jacksonian democrat but afterward gave his political allegiance to the republican party.

Jacob S. Voorhees was reared and educated in the place of his nativity and came west to Illi- nois with his parents when a young man of about twenty-three years. He afterward returned to New Jersey, however, and was married there on the 3Ist of January, 1856, to Miss Anna Maria Allen, a daughter of Joseph K. and Euphemia (Bennett) Allen, both of whom were natives of New Jersey. The father was a farmer by oc- cupation and spent his entire life in New Jersey. Mr. Voorhees returned with his bride to Illinois and for many years was closely associated with agricultural interests here. In fact he is num- bered among the pioneer farmers of this part of the state and he placed his land under a high state of cultivation, the richly improved fields bring- ing to him golden harvests. He owned at one time a very valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres, but sold a portion of this. Later he bought other land and he now owns one hun- dred and ninety acres, which is a valuable prop- erty. This he rents, the income therefrom bringing to him a goodly annual sum. He was well known as an extensive grain and stock raiser, having fed and shipped thirteen carloads of stock in a single year. He had two hundred and fifty acres planted to corn one year which yielded sixty bushels to the acre.

Mr. and Mrs. Voorhees are the parents of seven children : Mary, the widow of Edward Modes and a resident of Streator; Laura, at home ; Lametha, the wife of Moses Baird, who is living in California; Vena; Amelia, the wife of O. B. Ryan ; Joseph Allen and Walter.

In his political views Mr. Voorhees is a repub- lican, but has never sought or desired public of- fice. He has lived a life of integrity and useful- ness, successfully managing his business interests, basing his principles and action upon strict ad- herence to the rules which govern industry, econ- omy and fair dealing.

JOHN W. CLEGG.

John W. Clegg, numbered among the enter- prising business men of Ottawa, conducting a plumbing and heating establishment at No. 229 West Main street, is a native of Oldham, Lan- caster, England, where he was born in 1853. The history of his business career is a record of un- faltering activity, ready adaptability and careful

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

management. His education was acquired in Oldham, England, and he became a resident of the new world in 1864. For forty years he has been connected with the plumbing and heating business and for thirty-two years has been a rep- resentative of this line of activity in Ottawa. He embarked in business in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, afterward came west to Illinois, settling in Chi- cago, where he remained for five years. On the expiration of that period he went to La Crosse, Wisconsin, where he continued in business for two or three years and subsequently came to Ottawa in 1874. Here he entered the employ of the Ottawa Gas Company, S. B. Gridley being at the head of the plant at that time. He continued with that firm for eleven years and then started in business for himself, occupying the basement of the Opera House Block, where he continued for two years. He afterward removed to the Sherwood Block, having as a partner at this time J. M. Dougherty, their connection con- tinuing for twelve years lacking one month. While that partnership was maintained they took some very large contracts for installing plumb- ing and heating apparatus, doing the work in this line for the woman's building at La Salle county asylum, the Cutting building at Joliet, Illinois, in the Sherwood home on the bluff at Ottawa, in the high school at Marseilles, the high school at Otta- wa and the east side schoolhouse of Ottawa, also in the residence of Frank Neff in Marseilles and the residence of Walter D. Strawn in Ottawa. In fact they received and executed the contracts for some of the most important work in their line in this part of the county and from a very small be- ginning built up an extensive and profitable busi- ness. On severing his connection with Mr. Dougherty, Mr. Clegg began alone and is now at No. 229 West Main street. He does plumbing of all kinds, house heating and steam and gas fitting, not only in this city but throughout the county and this part of the state. He installed

the plumbing and heating plants for the St. Co- lumbus school, the Stanton Hotel in Wenona, Illi- neis, and the Milton Polk House in South Otta- wa. He also put in the highest priced bath room in the county in the Matt House in La Salle.

Mr. Clegg was married to Isabella E. Bowles, of Ireland, and they have four children : Mar- garet, who is a graduate of the high school ; Sam- uel, a steam fitter ; Isabella; and William. Mr. Clegg belongs to Occidental lodge, No. 40, A. F. & A. M .; Shabbona chapter, No. 37, R. A. M .; Ottawa commandery, No. 10, K. T .; Ottawa lodge, No. 41, I. O. O. F .; and of the last named is a past noble grand. He is, at the present time, the oldest member of Undine Hose Com- pany of the Ottawa fire department and is ex-

president of the Illinois State Firemen's Associa- tion. He and his family are members of the Episcopal church and the family residence is at the corner of Congress and Grafton streets. For almost a third of a century Mr. Clegg has been well known in industrial circles in Ottawa and his standing in business is an unassailable one because of his activity, his skill and integrity.

WILLIAM HOCHSTATTER.

William Hochstatter, one of the prominent and prosperous farmers of Troy Grove township, whose name is honored because his life has been well and worthily spent, has been a resident of this locality from his boyhood days to the present time. His father, Theodore Hochstatter, was born in Prussia near Cologne, coming of a family of farming people of the middle class, who owned a tract of land of seventeen acres there. Being too short of stature to be sent to the army and tiring of his native country, he started for America, where he believed that better privileges and opportunities might be enjoyed. He arrived in Chicago in June, 1846, after fifty-three days devoted to the voyage and to travel across the country. He made his way at once to Lockport, Illinois, and for a brief period was employed on the canal, taking in exchange for his work a bale of cotton cloth. He became ill with ague, however, and had to leave that position. He then gave the cloth to a stage driver to pay passage for himself and friend to Peru, La Salle county, where his friend made a location. Mr. Hochstatter being ill with the ague, was com- pelled to pawn his clothing for his board and on his recovery hired out as a farm hand for seven dollars per month to a Mr. Hess, who was a resident of Bureau county, Illinois. He after- ward worked for a Mr. Ferguson in Troy Grove township, La Salle county, for ten dollars per month and left that position in order to act as a farm hand for Esquire Thornton of the same township, who paid him twelve dollars per month for his services. Later he secured a position with a Mr. Shedd for fourteen dollars per month. All this time he saved his money, living frugally and economically, and at length he purchased from the government a tract of land of one hun- dred and twenty acres on section 8, Troy Grove township.

It was at that time, after securing his farm, that Mr. Hochstatter made further preparations for having a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Christina Kratz, a Prussian girl, who came over on the same ship with Mr. Hoch-

MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM HOCHSTATTER.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

statter and indeed it was on shipboard that the courtship began. Following his marriage he built a rude house of slabs, in which he lived for four years, and then erected a more modern and substantial though small residence, fourteen by sixteen feet. It was in this home that most of his family were reared. There were three sons and a daughter: John, now living in Nevada, Missouri ; William; Helen, now Mrs. Sond- geroth, living in Troy Grove township; and Pe- ter, who owns a large ranch in Roswell, New Mexico.

The first farm of one hundred and twenty acres which the father purchased proved not to have a good title and the claim was bought up by a speculator. Mr. Hochstatter was then forced to move off, after which he purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in section 27, Troy Grove township, investing in this property in 1856. After building a house thereon he re- moved to the farm in 1861. The land was wild and uncultivated and he had to break the prairie and start in business life anew. Many a man of less resolute spirit would have been utterly dis- heartened and discouraged, but with character- istic energy and determination he set to work to retrieve his lost possessions. He lived in the first house which he built upon the place until 1874, when he erected a fine modern residence at a cost of three thousand dollars. It was while living there that the children left the parental roof and started out in life on their own accounts. As the years passed by Mr. Hochstatter added to his property, making judicious investment in real estate until he became the owner of seven hundred and forty acres of land which was de- voted to general farming and stock-raising. He annually produced large crops and much stock and became one of the wealthiest men in the township. He was also one of the most charita- ble residents of the locality. He had himself risen from poverty to riches and he was very generous in his assistance to others who had to start out in life as he did, giving always freely of his means to those in need. He was a devout and zealous Catholic, helped to build the early church here and was for twenty years a school director, the cause of education finding in him a warm friend.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 86

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