History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 93

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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Edward Atkinson with his bride started for America in the early months of the year 1869, landing at New York on the Ioth of March. They did not tarry in the eastern metropolis, however, but made their way westward to La Salle, Illinois, thence to Wenona by rail and by lumber wagon to Streator. Here Mr. Atkinson began mining on the hillsides near the city and later he worked for the Vermillion Coal Com- pany, the Godfrey Company and the Chicago & Wilmington Company, his connection with these companies covering in all eighteen years. He was in charge of mine No. I for ten years and in 1892, associated with Robert Fairbain, he organized the Acme Coal Company and sunk the shaft where the Acme mine is now found. He has continuously served as superintendent of the mine, which is a good producer and the sale of its output has brought to the owners a gratifying financial return. Throughout his en- tire life Mr. Atkinson has been connected with mining interests and has both a practical and scientific knowledge of the business, with which he is familiar in all of its departments. He is a lover of fine horses and usually owns several excellent specimens of the noble steed.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson have been born seven children: Robert E. and William S., who died in childhood ; Dora Alberta ; E. Lee, who is now manager of the Acme Coal Company's shaft; Anna B .; Mattie, who died in infancy; and Mae. The eldest daughter, Dora A., at- tended the Cook County Normal School at Chi- cago for one year and was also a student in Chicago University for four years. In 1905 she accompanied her parents on a visit to their old home in England, where Mr. and Mrs. Atkinson spent two and a half months in visiting relatives and renewing the acquaintances of youth. While

abroad, their daughter, Dora, joined a party of young people under the direction of Dr. Felter, of Brooklyn, New York, and visited The Hague, Amsterdam, Brussels, Cologne, made a trip down the Rhine, across the border into Switzerland, visited Geneva and Berne, various points of inter- est in Italy, Paris, and afterward traveled through England and Scotland.

Mr. Atkinson and his family are all members of the Congregational church, contribute gener- ously to its support and take an active and helpful interest in its work. Mr. Atkinson is a very strong temperance man, having never tasted in- toxicants of any kind. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and although he has never sought or desired office he is a progressive and public-spirited citizen, whose assistance and co-operation have been given to many plans and movements for the general good. He has made a creditable success in the years of his business connection with La Salle county, finding that enterprise and labor will gain their just reward in this country, where effort and ambition are not hampered by caste or class. He has worked diligently as the years have gone by, has improved his opportunities and is today a leading representative of industrial interests in Streator.

LOUIS FREEMAN.

Louis Freeman, after many years' active con- nection with agricultural pursuits, is now living retired on section 10, Richland township. His native state was Ohio, and the date of his birth December 18, 1851. His parents were Conrad and Elizabeth (Krohl) Freeman, and the latter died in 1874, at the age of forty years. Conrad Freeman was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Ger- many, May 28, 1824, and was a son of John Freeman, with whom he came to America in the latter '40s. John Freeman resided in Ohio for a number of years but spent the last fifteen or twenty years of his life in La Salle county, where , he died January 10, 1885, at the age of ninety years, being born in 1795. In his family were three sons, of whom William and Henry came to America, and when last heard of Henry was in the state of Washington, but William is now deceased.

Conrad Freeman, the other brother of the fan- ily, was reared and educated in Germany and . served for a year or two in the German army. He was a mason by trade and also acquainted himself with the trades of a bricklayer and plas- terer. Coming to the United States with his

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father, he followed those pursuits in Ohio and for a year or two was thus connected with in- dustrial interests in La Salle county, Illinois, at Tonica. Even after locating on his farm he worked at his trade at odd times. His first pur- chase of land made him the owner of a farm in Vermillion township but later he returned to Ohio, where he remained for a year or more. He has, however, engaged largely in farming in La Salle county up to the past twenty-five years, during which period he has practically lived re- tired. In his farming operations he was very successful, making judicious investments in property until he became the owner of four hun- dred and sixty acres in La Salle county and four hundred and eighty acres in Jackson and Martin counties, Minnesota. He still owns the Minnesota property and three hundred and twenty-six acres in this county.

Conrad Freeman was married in Ohio to Miss Elizabeth Krohl, who was born October 16, 1827, in the same section of Germany where her hus- band's birth occurred, and died May 13, 1874, at the age of forty-seven years. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Krohl. Her mother died in Germany but her father and two of her brothers, Henry and John, came to America, lo- cating in Ohio, where Henry Krohl, Sr., and his son Henry lived until death. Her other brother, John, came to Illinois and lived in Pike county throughout his remaining days. His children, two sons and two daughters, reside at Mansfield, Illinois, with the exception of the eldest daugh- ter, who is now living in Kansas City. The two daughters, who are cousins of Louis Freeman, each married a Mr. Fairbanks, of the same family to which Vice President Fairbanks belongs.

Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Freeman became the parents of seven children, of whom three are living : Louis; William, who is residing in Vermillion township and married Katie Walter; and Flora, the wife of Fred Fechter, who is re- siding in Minnesota. They have one son, Fred, Jr. Two brothers and two sisters of the family died in early life, including Leah, who was born November 15, 1849. and died May 14, 1863; and Charles, born April 24, 1854, and also died May 14, 1863. Diedrick, born October 3, 1861, died May 21, 1863. Lydia J., born May 24, 1863, became the wife of George Frey and died De- cember 19, 1882, leaving a daughter, Lydia Julia, who removed to Iowa with her father when about two years of age, married there and after- · ward removed to Oklahoma.

Louis Freeman, whose name introduces this review, was reared here and attended the district schools. He followed farming until the spring of 1905, when his health failed, owing to an accident. In the meantime he married Miss Mary

Quandt, a native of Wisconsin and a daughter of John and Catherine (Wendt) Quandt, who came with their family to Putnam county, Illi- nois, where their daughter Catherine was reared. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Freeman have been born five sons. John C., born January 2, 1877, wedded Mary Katie Schrumpf, and resides in Richland township. He is a farmer and they have one daughter, Viola Susie Christina Freeman; Wil- liam E., born April 6, 1880, residing in Eagle township, is farming with Fred Willsman. Henry R., born November 23, 1883, is in the employ of William F. Richards, of Eagle township. Reuben C., born October 31, 1886, is working in Putnam county, Illinois. Frederick E., born October 17, 1889. is working with Henry Chesling, of Rich- land township. Mr. and Mrs. Freeman have also lost three daughters: Anna, who was born January 20, 1881, and died when only six days old: Lydia, who was born September 27, 1882, and died when twenty-one days old; and Katie, who was born and died November 20, 1894.

In his political views Mr. Freeman is a stal- wart republican, having supported the party since age gave him the right of franchise. For three years he served as postmaster of Willsman, Eagle township, under President Mckinley. He belongs to Richy camp, M. W. A., at Lenore, and is a member of the Evangelical Association of Richland township. Wherever known he is held in high esteem and enjoys the friendship and regard of all with whom business or social rela- tions have brought him in contact.

ARTHUR J. MITCHELL.

Arthur J. Mitchell, business manager of the American Miller, of Chicago, a leading publica- tion of the United States, devoted to milling in- terests, was born in Ottawa, and is a son of John S. Mitchell, who became a resident of Otta- wa in 1833, removing from New York to the middle west. The father was a contractor and was engaged in the livery business in Ottawa, conducting the Clifton House stable. In politics he was' a strong and influential republican and was at one time an alderman of Ottawa.

Arthur J. Mitchell pursued his education in the schools of his native city and entered upon his business career as a clerk for the paper now known as the American Miller. In 1874 he re- moved to Chicago, and since 1876 has been busi- ness manager of the paper. This journal is de- voted to the milling industry and Mr. Mitchell is also connected in the same capacity with the American Elevator and Grain Trade, a monthly journal devoted to the elevator and grain inter-

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ests of the country. Both are published in Chicago, and of both H. B. Mitchell is editor. These are journals well calculated to interest those connected with the milling and grain trades and containing much valuable information bear- ing upon these subjects, and in control of the business interests of the firm Arthur J. Mitchell shows excellent executive force, keen discrimina- tion and capability in management.

In 1881 was celebrated the marriage of Arthur J. Mitchell and Miss Ella S. Thompson, a daugh- ter of G. L. Thompson, an old druggist of Ottawa. They now have a son and daughter : Arthur H., who was educated in the schools of Chicago and is now connected with the Corn Exchange National Bank of that city ; and Grace, who was educated in Chicago and at Somers Academy, Washington, D. C. The family resi- dence is at No. 4820 Kimbark avenue, Chicago, while Mr. Mitchell has his office at No. 315 Dearborn street. He is a member of the Illinois Club and as a business man is a representative of this age of progress and advancement.

CHARLES M. RETZ.

Charles M. Retz, living on section 24, Dayton township, where he owns a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres, was born in Serena township, this county, August 29, 1875, his parents being Edward and Rosalie (Rohrer)' Retz, both of whom were natives of France. The father was born in Alsace and when seven- teen years of age came to America, arriving in La Salle county about 1843. He found here many evidences of pioneer life and as the years passed watched with interest the progress and develop- ment of the county. He was in very limited finan- cial circumstances, having but four dollars and a half when he arrived in Ottawa. His lack of funds combined with his diligence and determina- tion rendered immediate employment a necessity and he began driving a mule team on a packet boat on the Michigan and Illinois canal. Later he became a barber in Ottawa and worked at that trade for twenty years, when with the cap- ital he had acquired through his own labors he purchased forty acres of land in Serena township and there engaged in farming. He was very suc- cessful in his agricultural pursuits and in his speculations in land and at one time owned thirteen hundred acres. Such a life history well illustrates what may be accomplished by deter- mination and force of character in a country where labor is not hampered by caste or class. He was married in La Salle county to Miss

Rohrer and unto them were born fourteen chil- dren, eleven of whom are now living. The father died at Somonauk, this county, when sev- enty-three years of age, and the mother is still living there at.the age of seventy-three years.

Charles M. Retz was educated in the public schools of Serena township and was graduated from the high school at Somonauk. He also pursued a course in Brown's Business College at Ottawa, after which he served as bookkeeper for one year for the firm of Retz Brothers at Melbourne, Iowa. In 1895 he made a trip to France with his parents and devoted six months to a mastery of the language, learning to speak, read and write French. Returning to this coun- try, he purchased his present farm in 1899, be- coming owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 24, Dayton township, where he has since lived. A house was the only im- provement on the farm, but with characteristic energy he began its further cultivation and de- velopment and has built a good barn and other buildings, having today one of the best farms in the township. He is engaged in general agri- cultural pursuits and though only a young man s considered one of the substantial and progressive agriculturists of his community.

In the same year in which he took up his abode on his farm Mr. Retz was married to Miss Emma I. Miller, the wedding day being Septem- ber 16, 1897. She was born in Ottawa, this county, August 28, 1873, the only daughter of Joseph and Margaret (Glavin) Miller, who were residents of Ottawa, but both are now deceased. Three children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Retz: Charles E., Arthur Leo and Flor- ence Margaret. The parents are members of the Catholic church and Mr. Retz is a democrat in politics and has been school director in his district. His residence in the county covers the entire period of his life and he is well known, many of his stanchest friends being among those with whom he has been associated from his boy- hood, a fact which is indicative of an upright life characterized by high and honorable principles.

TIMOTHY J. O'CONNELL.

Timothy J. O'Connell, representing one of the old and respected families of La Salle county, is now engaged in farming on section 34, Dim- mick township, where he owns a fine tract of land of one hundred and seventy acres, which he has brought under a high state of cultivation. His parents were John and Sarah O'Connell, who are mentioned in connection with the sketch

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of John O'Connell, Jr., on another page of this work. The father was for many years an enter- prising agriculturist of the community and in the face of obstacles and difficulties incident to pioneer life and limited financial circumstances he nevertheless worked his way upward and be- came one of the large landholders of the county. Reared to agricultural pursuits Mr. O'Connell of this review began his education in the country schools and later had the advantage of courses of study in the Northern Indiana Normal School at Valparaiso, and in the college at Niagara Falls, New York. Thus five years of his life were devoted to study in these different institutions and his well developed intellectual powers have made him a successful business man, who in the control of his interests brings to bear sound judgment and keen discrimination. He now owns one hundred and seventy acres of rich and pro- ductive land in Dimmick township in addition to city property in La Salle. His land is devoted to general farming and stock-raising and the fields are well tilled, while everything about the place indicates his careful supervision. He brings to bear upon all his work intense and far-sighted sagacity. He has traveled quite extensively in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

In his political views Mr. O'Connell s a stal- wart democrat and is recognized as a leader in the local ranks of his party. He is now serving as assessor of his township, although Dimmick is a republican stronghold, his election therefore indicating his personal popularity and the confi- dence reposed in him by his fellow townsmen. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen camp and is connected with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Order of Hibernians and the Knights of Columbus. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in St. Patrick's Catholic church at La Salle.

JACOB SCHAFER.

Jacob Schafer, who since 1867 has resided upon his present farm on section 30, Eden town- ship, is the owner of two hundred and eighty- one acres of rich and productive land and the many improvements upon the place have been put there by the present owner, who is justly classed with the representative farmers of the community. Born in Germany December 24, 184I, he is a son of John Schafer, whose birth occurred in the same country and who came to the United States in 1841. He worked by the day, living in Ohio for nine years and then came to Illinois, settling first in Putnam county and

afterward in La Salle county, where he followed farming. As the years passed by he prospered as the result of his unfaltering diligence, close application and capable management of his busi- ness affairs and eventually he became owner of valuable landed holdings of four hundred acres. His political allegiance was given to the repub- lican party as a result of his study and investiga- tion of the questions and issues of the day and the policy of the parties. In his religious faith he was connected with the German Lutheran church and he died in the year 1881, aged sev- enty-two years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Gingerich, was born in Germany and crossed the Atlantic in a sailing vessel, being six weeks on the water. The children of this marriage are Jacob, Henry, Fred, Mary and Kate, all of whom are living; and John, Charlie, Bernard and Phoebe, deceased.

Jacob Schafer spent the first six months of his life in the land of his nativity and then went to Ohio, where he pursued his education in the public schools. He lived for some time in Ohio, coming thence to Illinois with his parents. He worked at farm labor in his youth, becoming familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops, and he began farming on his own account at the time of his marriage, November 27, 1867. He located on the farm where he now resides, his place being pleasantly and conveniently situated on section 30, Eden township. He began with one hundred and thirty acres of land given him by his father and has since extended the boundaries of his farm by purchase until he has two hundred and eighty-one acres constituting a well equipped farm improved with all modern accessories in- cluding the latest machinery and substantial buildings.

On November 27, 1867, Mr. Schafer was mar- ried to Miss Lizzie Giese, who was born in Germany and was twenty-two years of age when she came to the United States. Her par- ents were John and Elizabeth (Balzer) Giese, both of whom were natives of Germany. The father, born in 1809, came to America in 1865 and settled in Putnam county, Illinois, where he followed farming for a time but soon retired from active business life. His death occurred in 1892. In his family were eight children : Martha; Mary Elizabeth, deceased; Elizabeth ; Margaret; Lizzie, the wife of Jacob Schafer; Jacob; Mary ; and John. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Schafer has been blessed with the follow- ing children: Mary, married Fred Gebicke, a cigar manufacturer, who has for several years engaged in business at La Salle. Mr. Gebicke has been in ill health for some years and is at

JACOB SCHAFER AND FAMILY.

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present at the Eastern Illinois Hospital at Kan- kakee. They have one child, Rudolph. Mrs. Gebicke and son are now making their home with Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Schafer. The others of the family are John, who married Kate Linker and is farming in Eden township; Theo- dore, who wedded Maggie Bruch and is engaged in general agricultural pursuits in Arkansas; Lizzie, who married William Gingerich, a resi- dent farmer of Eden township; Anna, the wife of John Pletsch, a farmer of Whiteside county, Illinois ; Rudolph and Adolph, twins, who at the age of twenty-five years are living at home and assisting in the operation of the farm.

Mr. Schafer is a republican, firm in his ad- vocacy of the party and he and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church. Long a resident of this county, he has been closely associated with its agricultural interests and has made steady progress in a business which he thoroughly understands and to which he has brought to bear sound, practical judgment.

WILLIAM H. SMALLEY.

William H. Smalley is connected with com- mercial circles in Streator as a dealer in agri- cultural implements. A native son of Illinois, he was born in Ransom, November 6, 1875, a son of Reuben S. Smalley, who for many years was identified with agricultural interests. He was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania, April 8. 1837, a son of Nathaniel and Rachel ( Smith) Smalley. His mother died in 1848, when thirty years of age, and in 1850 the father married again. In 1855 he removed with the family to La Salle county, living south of Peru until 1858, when he settled on section II, Allen township. By his first marriage he had five children and three by the second.

Of this number R. S. Smalley acquired a fair education, which he completed in the schools of Peru and later engaged in teaching through twenty winter terms. Much of his life, however, has been devoted to agricultural pursuits and he became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land on section II. Allen township, and one hundred and twenty acres in Iroquois county. Selling his land in Iroquois county, this state, in 1891, he purchased the northeast quarter of section II, Allen township, La Salle county. His son Walter is now living upon the old homestead in this county, while the father, having retired from active farm work in the fall of 1905, is living in Streator in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. R. S. Smalley was married April

4, 1866, to Louisa Jennings, a daughter of Levi and Emily Alice Jennings and a native of La Salle county, born in Brookfield township, Feb- ruary 9, 1843. Four children were born of this marriage : Walter J., born February 10, 1868; Minnie L., who was born June 22, 1870, and died November 16, 1870; Frank G., who was born June 19, 1871, and died March 25, 1872; and William H., born November 6, 1875. Mr. Smalley has voted with the republican party since its organization and on the 27th of August, 1862, enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Infantry, with which he served until June 6, 1865. He was with Sherman on the memorable march to the sea and in the Caro- lina campaign and proceeded on to Richmond and to Washington, where the regiment participated in the grand review on the 24th of May and later was discharged. He did effective and valorous service in defense of the Union. At Elk River, Tennessee, the company was called upon to storm a blockade and Mr. Smalley was one of nine to volunteer to perform this arduous and dangerous task. Six of the number lived to receive a medal of honor granted by the United States congress, Nr. Smalley being among those who won this insignia of bravery. He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and he had three brothers who were soldiers in the war, John S. and James H. serving in the Fifty-third Illinois Infantry, and Elmer in Company C of the First Artillery.

The maternal grandparents of Willam H. Smalley came from Beaver county, Pennsylvania, to La Salle county, Illinois, in 1832, and settled on section 8, township 32, range 5, south of Marseilles. In 1850, Levi Jennings removed to another farm, where he died April 23, 1851, aged fifty-one years, while his wife, who was born September 23, 1808, died June 2, 1880. . In the family were ten children, two of whom were born in Pennsylvania and the others in La Salle county, Illinois. Following their removal to this county the mother was alone with her two chil- dren in the house in 1833 when fourteen Indians entered. She thought they wanted her children. as they kept pointing to them, but she treated them so well that they went away without molesting the little ones.

William H. Smalley supplemented his pre- liminary education by three years' study in Wes- leyan Academy at Bloomington, Illinois, and two years' study in Grand Prairie Seminary at Onarga, Illinois. His education completed, he went upon the road as a traveling salesman, selling agricultural implements and carriages. He was thus engaged from 1898 until August, 1904, during which time he became thoroughly conversant with the trade. He then left the

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road and embarked in business on his own ac- count and is now well known in commercial cir- cles in Streator as a dealer in agricultural implements, having a well equipped store and carrying a large line of goods. He receives a liberal patronage owing to his straightforward business methods and earnest desire to please his customers and from the beginning his trade has constantly grown.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 93

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