History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 88

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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At the age of fourteen years, on account of the illness of his father which necessitated his provid- ing for his own support, he secured a position as errand boy with the De Steiger Glass Company at La Salle. Later he entered the factory with the idea of learning the trade of glass-blowing, but soon afterward the company failed. In 1883 he went to Streator, where he carried out his in- tention of learning the glass-blowing trade and from that time until 1905 was employed by the Streator Bottle & Glass Company, holding vari-

ous positions and at times acting as assistant su- perintendent of the factory. He mastered each task assigned him and his capability won him promotion with its incident increase in wages as his capability was demonstrated.

Interested through all the years of his man- hood in questions of labor and political import- ance and in the success of the republican party, the cause of which he espoused on attaining his majority, he was elected a member of the city council of Streator, Illinois, from the first ward in 1899, and for three consecutive terms was con- tinued in that position, an honor of which he has every reason to be proud, from the fact that he was the first republican to be elected from that ward since the division of the city into its pres- ent form. In 1904 additional political honors came to him through his election to his present position, that of county recorder of deeds.

While living in Streator, Mr. Buchner was married on the 16th of October, 1888, to Miss Louise Bertiaux, a daughter of one of the pioneer window-glass workers, who came to this country from France. Three children grace this marriage, Albert, Ernest and Louise, aged re- spectively fourteen, twelve and five years.

Mr. Buchner is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Royal Arcanum, the Modern Woodmen and the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He joined the first mentioned in 1903, the second in 1899 and became a Modern Wood- man and an Eagle in 1904. He has also been a member for twenty years of the Glass Bottle Blowers' Association of the United States and Canada. The same thoroughness which has char- acterized his business life has been manifest in his official service and he brings to bear in the dis- charge of his duties an industry and close appli- cation which expedite matters and make him a ca- pable official.

HUGH A. JENNETT.

Hugh A. Jennett is a retired farmer living at No. 208 Sixth street in Streator. He was born in County Louth, Ireland, his parents being Mathew and Marcella (Hallagan) Jennett, who were likewise natives of the Emerald Ise, but spent their last days in La Salle county, the fa- ther passing away at the venerable age of ninety- three years, while his wife had reached the age of eighty-two years at the time of her death. In their family were twelve children, of whom eight are now living, as follows: Ann, the wife of Anthony Kane; Hugh A .; Patrick H .; James; Mathew ; Thomas ; Elizabeth ; and William. The parents were married in Ireland and came to the

JOHN F. BUCHNER.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

United States in 1849, crossing the ocean in a sailing vessel which was seven weeks in making the trip to New Orleans, whence they proceeded up the Mississippi river to St. Louis and then up the Illinois river to Peoria, whence they made their way by wagon to Putnam county, there re- siding from the spring of 1850 until 1859. In the latter year they removed to La Salle county and the father purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land nine miles west of Streator. Eighty acres of this land had been improved and Mr. Jennett was identified with the early settle- ment and development of Putnam and La Salle counties. He resided near Henry while in Putnam county. The family attended Father Terry's Catholic church after coming to La Salle county, both being communicants of the Roman Catholic faith. In his political affiliation Mathew Jennett was a Jacksonian democrat.

Hugh A. Jennett has spent almost his entire life in Illinois. He was educated in the public schools and was reared under the parental roof, early becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and developing a farm. When twenty-three years of age he started in business for himself as a farmer and later bought land in Osage township. From time to time he added to this property, making judicious investments in farm lands until he owned eight hundred and twenty acres in Illinois, three hundred and twen- ty acres in Nebraska and one hundred acres in Dakota. In 1893 he left the farm and purchased a home in the city of Streator, where he now re- sides. He has valuable property interests, as mentioned, and his farm lands return to him a handsome income. In 1895 he was collector of Osage township and his political allegiance has always been given to the democracy. In his re- ligious faith he is a Catholic. During an active business career he has always lived in this part of the state and his extensive property interests indicate judicious investments, wise business judgment and keen discernment.

ARTHUR M. BARACKMAN.

Arthur M. Barackman, a dealer in coal for a number of years and now a flour and feed mer- chant at Streator, was born in Reading town- ship, Livingston county, Illinois, March 30, 1868, his parents being Milam J. and Frances (Good- year) Barackman. The father represents one of the old families of this section of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Livingston county, Sep- tember 26, 1842. His parents, James and Ellen

(Moon) Barackman, were both natives of Ken- tucky and, being left an orphan when only four years of age, their son Milam J. was reared by his uncle, Albert Moon. Daniel Barackman, the paternal great-grandfather of Arthur M. Bar- ackman, was one of the earliest settlers of Read- ing township, Livingston county, and was a na- tive of the Blue Grass state. He died in the year 1864. Jacob Moon, the maternal great- grandfather, was born in Virginia and after some years' residence in Ohio took up his abode in Reading township, Livingston county, Illinois. Daniel, the only brother of Milam J. Barackman, died at the age of nine years and his two sisters are Mrs. Cary, of Normal, Illinois ; and Mrs. El- len Latham, of Saginaw, Michigan.

At the age of eighteen years Milam J. Bar- ackman left his uncle's home and continued his education, which up to this time had been pur- sued in the public schools and in Lombard Uni- versity at Galesburg, Illinois, but with the out- break of the Civil war he put aside his text-books to join the country's service and enlisted as a member of Company D, Twentieth Illinois In- fantry. His guardian, however, withheld his per- mission for him to be mustered into the service on account of his youth, but the young man was not to be deterred in this way and after two weeks he re-enlisted, joining Company C, Forty- fourth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, Colonel Noblesdorff commanding, for three years' service. No further obstacle intervened to prevent his active co-operation with his regiment, which started in pursuit of General Price, and later he participated in the battles of Pea Ridge and Per- ryville, Arkansas. He also participated in the bat- tle of Stone River with the Army of the Cum- berland under General Rosecrans and because of his meritorious service in that engagement his name was placed upon a special roll of honor of non-commissioned officers, to whose daring and fidelity General Rosecrans felt much indebted and thus acknowledged publicly. Subsequently Mr. Barackman was on active duty at Chickamauga and Mission Ridge with the Twentieth Army Corps under General McCook and he was injured in the hotly contested battle of Stone River, los- ing his right eye. It was not until 1864, how- ever, when his regiment veteranized, that the matter came before the notice of the proper au- thorities, who refused to allow him to re-enlist as he desired to do. He was accordingly mus- tered out and honorably discharged at the Marine Hospital in Chicago.

Following his return to his old home in Read- ing township, Livingston county, Mr. Barackman became a coal operator and for thirty years was identified with the business, when he was suc-

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ceeded by his son, Arthur M. Barackman. He was also interested in farming and owns a finely improved homestead of four hundred acres in his native township. Through his operations in the coal fields he did much for the development of his part of the state. For some years he was the president of the Barackman Coal Company and was the senior partner of the firm of Barackman & Son, who for a period conducted a grocery business in Streator. From time to time he has made investment in property and his holdings are now extensive and profitable. His political al- legiance is given the republican party and he is a member of Streator Post, No. 68, G. A. R.

In 1866, Milam J. Barackman wedded Miss Frances W. Goodyear, of Parkville, Missouri, who died in 1871, leaving a son and daughter : Arthur M. and Eulola F., the latter now the wife of Albert Finchman, of Streator. In 1876, Mr. Barackman wedded Alice C. Tetlow, of Ottawa, Illinois, and the children of this marriage are Harry E., Guy B., Jessie F., William G. and May Barackman.

Arthur M. Barackman spent his boyhood days in his father's home and attended the public schools until he had completed the high-school course in Streator. When twenty-one years of age he joined his father in his mining operations three miles from this city and the M. J. Barack- man & Son Mining Company was formed. He continued in business with his father from 1889 until, 1903 and has since been alone. He still deals in coal and in the fall of 1904 he extended the field of his business operations by establish- ing a flour and feed store in Streator, where he has secured a liberal patronage.

On the Ioth of May, 1902, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Barackman to Miss Ella P. Hoessel, who was born in Wenona, Illinois, Au- gust 2, 1870. They have four children: Milam Goodyear, Hazel B., Mildred Park and Marjory. Mrs. Barackman is a daughter of John A. and Mary A. Hoessel, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father died in February, 1905, at the age of seventy-nine years, and his widow is now living in her seventy-fourth year, spend- ing her days with her, children. They were mar- ried in Virginia in 1850 and celebrated their golden wedding in Aurora in 1900. Mr. Hoessel came to this country in 1843, when a young man and, locating in Virginia, there followed the cabinet-maker's trade, which he had learned in his native country. In the '5os he removed from the Old Dominion to Illinois, made his own fur- niture and was engaged in the furniture busi- ness in Wenona and Streator.

Mr. Barackman is a member of Streator lodge, No. 607, A. F. & A. M. He has always lived

in this portion of the state, the family removing from Livingston county to Streator in his boy- hood days, since which time he has been asso- ciated with business interests here as coal op- erator and dealer and now as a flour and feed merchant. Early coming to a realization of the value of industry and perseverance in the active affairs of life he has worked along lines that have produced most advantageous results and is now a substantial citizen and one who is re- garded as a valued factor in business circles.

HON. FRANCIS BOWEN.

Hon. Francis Bowen, now living a retired life in Sheridan, was for many years actively con- nected with farming interests in La Salle county. and has been a prominent representative of the republican party in his portion of the state. He has resided in the county since 1863. His birth occurred in the city of Troy, New York, July 27, 1841. His father, John Bowen, was born near Troy in Washington county in 1810 and having arrived at years of maturity was married there to Miss Eliza Pine, a native of Troy. John Bowen was well known as a farmer and business man of that locality, where he re- sided until his removal to Illinois. He purchased land in Mission township, La Salle county, and was also the owner of farm lands in Wisconsin, his possessions in that direction being very extensive.

Francis Bowen was reared in New York and educated in the common schools. When a young man he came west to Illinois and located on a part of his father's land. He then broke and opened up a farm, entering this in connection with his brother, Harvey Bowen. They carried on agricultural pursuits together for about ten years, owning some eight hundred acres of land. At length Francis Bowen purchased the interest of his brother and continued farming on his own account. He erected a commodious and tasteful residence, tiled and fenced his land and made the farm one of the best properties of this sec- tion of the county. In connection with the tilling of the soil he engaged extensively in raising and feeding stock and became widely known in this direction. He continued in active agricultural pursuits until about 1900, when he turned the place over to his son and removed to Ottawa, purchasing a residence there in which he lived retired.

Mr. Bowen was married in Mission township in 1867 to Miss E. C. Verbeck, who was born in Mission township, La Salle county, a daughter

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

of Henry Verbeck, a native of Pennsylvania and one of its early settlers. There are two sons : Lyell F., who married Iva Smith and is farming the old home place; and A. P., who is with his brother on the old homestead.

Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Mr. Bowen has been a stalwart advo- cate of the republican party and has been a prominent factor in local political circles, his opin- ions often being a decisive element in matters of party policy. In 1878 he was elected to the legislature and served on several important com- mittees during his connection with the house. He has filled the office of supervisor for ten or twelve years, has also been township trustee and has served on the township committee, while fre- quently he has been a delegate to the state con- ventions. In the fall of 1905 he removed from Ottawa to Sheridan and has recently completed a commodious and beautiful home. Mr. Bowen has controlled extensive and important business interests in a manner that has resulted in suc- cess and is therefore well enabled to spend his declining years in retirement from active business.

EDWIN C. ALLEN, JR.

Edwin C. Allen, Jr., engaged in real-estate op- erations and in the control of farming interests, owning and managing several farms, makes his home in Ottawa and devotes his attention mainly to his properties. A native of the county seat, he is a son of Edwin C. Allen, Sr., who is repre- sented elsewhere in this work. Educated in the public schools, throughout his business career he has been identified with interests in Ottawa and La Salle county. He is a stockholder and di- rector of the National City Bank of Ottawa, which was organized and for many years con- ducted by his father, and at the same time he handles real estate but gives the greater part of his attention to the supervision and management of his own private property interests. He owns much valuable real estate in this county and also has some holdings in other states. He spent four years in Nebraska, where he was engaged in farming and in the stock business with head- quarters at Hastings.

Mr. Allen was married to Miss Mary Cox, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Cox, of Hast- ings, Nebraska, who are now residents of Chi- cago. Two children, Margaret and Helen, have been born of this union, both natives of Ottawa. The family attend the Congregational church and Mr. Allen gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He is a typical business man

of the times, alert and enterprising, and aside from his business interests also finds time to cul- tivate some of the subtler graces of character out- side of commercialism.

THEOPHILUS TOTEL.

Theophilus Totel, a farmer living on section 21, Wallace township, was born in a small vil- lage in Belgium, on the 29th of February, 1856. His father, John Totel, was a native of France but was engaged d in teaching in Belgium at the time of the birth of his son The- ophilus. In his youth John Totel was poor boy but received free education and prepared for the ministry. He was mar- ried in France and after teaching for four or five years he came to America and took up his abode in Ottawa in 1860. He then purchased eighty acres of land in Wallace township, where he made his home until his death. He had been here only a short time when the Civil war broke out. His children were small, his wife was in a strange country and could not speak English and he thought it was a duty to his family that he should remain at home. He was drafted, how- ever, but hired a substitute at a cost of eighteen hundred dollars, friends loaning him the neces- sary amount. He engaged in preaching to some extent in La Salle county, although he never re- ceived any remuneration for his services in this way, giving his work for the good of the cause. He was a Protestant Evangelical minister and his influence was a valued factor in the moral progress of the community. His death occurred at Baker, Illinois, where he went on Saturday to preach the succeeding day. He was taken ill there and died on the 7th of February, 1904. He was a well educated man and a good Christian and his labors in behalf of the work of the church were far-reaching and effective, so that his mem- ory remains as a blessed benediction to many who knew him. Though not much of his time was given to farming yet from a small start on eighty acres, where he built his first home, he de- veloped good business success and at the time of his death owned three hundred and twenty acres, constituting a well improved and valuable farm property. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Deugnat, and was also a native of France. She made her home upon the farm until her death, which occurred May 28, 1905, when she was seventy-one years of age, and John Totel was seventy-five years of age at the time of his demise.

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. PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

In the family were six children, of whom five the spirit not only of justice but often times the are yet living, namely : - Theophilus, of this re- . nobler attribute of mercy, and in all of his busi- view; Mrs. Delphine Fraikin, who is living in Wallace township; Samuel, who resides upon a farm in Wallace township; Mary and Alfred, who are upon the old homestead. The third member of the family also bore the name of Mary and died at the age of one year.

Theophilus Totel was only a small boy when his parents came to America. He made his home upon a farm and attended the common schools, learning to read, write and speak French from his father. As his age and strength permitted he aided more and more largely in the work of the fields, early becoming familiar with all the duties connected with the development of the fields from the time of early spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn. In Oc- tober, 1879, he married Miss Louise Dolder, who was born in Serena township, this county, and is a daughter of Daniel Dolder, deceased, an early resident of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Totel have one son, Samuel, who is twenty-four years of age and assists his father in the development of the home farm.

Mr. Totel owns one hundred acres of land, which he purchased in 1880 and which was for- merly known as the Ruger farm. There was a small frame house upon the place but few other buildings and altogether the property was in rather a dilapidated and run-down condition. He has rebuilt and enlarged the house and has also built large barns and corn cribs and other build- ings, and has one of the finest homes in the township. He is a general farmer, engaging in the raising of grain and also making a specialty of registered Percheron horses. In his farm work he is progressive and enterprising, carrying forward to successful completion whatever he un- dertakes and his property has been developed along modern lines of progress until it is now a valuable tract of land. Like his father, Mr. Totel is a republican but he has never held nor aspired to office. He is a member of the Protestant Evan- gelical church and is a gentleman of genuine personal worth, well informed on the questions of the day and keeping in touch with the trend of current thought and modern progress.

SMITH H. OLMSTEAD.

There was much in the life of Smith H. Olm- stead which remains to his family and his friends as a cherished memory. He possessed in large measure many of those sterling traits which find place in the ideal manhood. His life embodied

ness dealings he was found thoroughly reliable, his industry being coupled with integrity and his perseverance with a consideration for the rights of others. Such a life history is well worthy perpetuation in the annals of this county that it may serve as a source of encouragement and in- spiration to others. Moreover Smith Howland Olmstead was a native son of Freedom town- ship, La Salle county, born of the marriage of Hiram D. and Eleanor (Harding) Olmstead, in whose family were three sons: Charles H., Judson H. and Smith H. The father, who in the days of his boyhood and youth was a resi- dent of New York, removed from that state to La Salle county when it was a pioneer district, taking up his abode in Freedom township. He followed agricultural pursuits for many years, converting a wild tract of land into richly culti- vated fields, and in later years he retired from active farm life, established his home in Ottawa.

It was upon the old family homestead that Smith Howland Olmstead was born July 8, 1850, and at the usual age he entered the public schools, where he mastered various branches of learning, while in the summer months his atten- tion was devoted to farm labor, so that he early became familiar with the duties and tasks which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He con- tinued to assist his father up to the time when he was twenty-five years of age and in the mean- time he gained an excellent knowledge of busi- ness methods and had already made a good start in business life. He was married at that time and he found in his wife an able and faithful assistant. His business affairs were carefully managed, his investments were judiciously placed and as the years passed by he became possessed of a large estate as the result of his enterprise and determination and the assistance of his esti- mable wife. He was always interested in his work, never regarding it as drudgery or per- forming it with a half-hearted zeal. He carried forward to successful completion whatever he undertook and neglected no task however impor- tant. He mastered his business in principle and detail and his sound judgment and unfaltering perseverance enabled him to accomplish what many a man of less resolute spirit would have undertaken with half-hearted purpose, resulting in failure.

On the 30th of December, 1875, Mr. Olmstead was united in marriage to Miss Hattie F. Ford, a native of Freedom township and a daughter of Seth F. and Elizabeth (Frye) Ford, the for- mer born in 1809 and the latter in 1815. Both were natives of Massachusetts and, arriving in

MRS. H F OLMSTEAD.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

this county in 1850, took up their abode on the farm which is now owned by Charles T. Mosey. They had six children, of whom five yet survive, namely: Fidelia, the widow of J. J. Hutchin- son, of Washington county, Kansas; Caroline, the widow of Hartson E. Billings, of Washing- ton county, Kansas ; Myra S., the wife of F. A. Barker, of Parsons, Kansas; Mrs. Olmstead ; and Florence E., the wife of Isaac G. Parish, of Freedom township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Olm- stead were born five children, of whom two died in infancy, while three are yet living. Myra, born in 1878, became the wife of William Gregg, November 20, 1897. Burton C. Olmstead, born in 1880, wedded Olive, daughter of Lewis War- ren, of Serena township, November 30, 1898; and Frank D. was born in 1885. The sons assist their mother in the management of the home farm.

Mr. and Mrs. Olmstead were alike interested in public affairs relating to the general develop- ment and upbuilding of the county and although he managed important business interests he never neglected his duties of citizenship nor failed in the performance of any public service entrusted to him. He voted with the republican party and held the offices of road commissioner, asses- sor and school director. His friends recognized his genuine personal worth and fidelity to the best interests of his community and were always anx- ious to secure his service for a public cause. All who knew him respected him, for his life was permeated by those principles of conduct and ideals of citizenship which in every land and clime command confidence and respect.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 88

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