History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 97

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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The home of Mr. and Mrs. Benckendorf has been blessed with nine children, of whom eight yet survive : Augusta, the wife of George Mor- rison, of Otter Creek township: Frederick, who married Bertha Newman; George A., who mar- ried Miss Birdie Morrison; Elmer H., who wedded Tina Stevenson; Edward, who married Clara Benckendorf; Ernest A., who married Liz- zie Engle; Ora S. and Grace M. There are also eleven grandchildren.

Mr. Benckendorf has done everything in his power to provide his children with good educa- tional privileges. He served as school director for one term and is interested in all that pertains to public progress, but has never been a poli- tician in the sense of office seeking. He votes with the republican party and, while not identi- fied with any church, he attempts to live the life of an honest man and he has succeeded in doing so, for all who know him entertain for him respect and confidence because of his genuine personal worth. In his business affairs he has prospered as the years have gone by, his record proving that success and an honest name may be won simultaneously, and his property interests

are now valuable, bringing to him a desirable income and supplying him with all the comforts and many of the good things of life.

W. G. ROSEBERY.

W. G. Rosebery, whose efforts have gained for Brown's Business College prestige as one of the leading educational institutions of this char- acter in northern Illinois, is a native of Madison county, this state, his birth having occurred upon the home farm near the towns of Edwardville and Alton. He is a son of Robert A. Rosebery and a representative of a family that was estab- lished in southern Illinois in pioneer times, its members having since been prominent in shaping the political, educational and social development of that part of the state. The paternal grand- father, Professor William J. Rosebery, was county superintendent of schools and a very prominent and influential citizen of Madison county. His mother was a member of the well known Gillham family. Both Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Rosebery are still residents of Peoria, Illinois, where he is engaged in business as a prominent insurance man. In their family were six children, of which Professor Rosebery of this review is the eldest. F. U. Rosebery, the sec- ond member of the family, has for a number of years been manager of the Underwood Type- writer Company at Indianapolis, Indiana. C. J., who has recently completed a law course in the University of Illinois, is now associated with (). J. Bailey, a prominent attorney of Peoria, Illi- nois. E. S., who has recently completed a business course, is now located in Los Angeles, California. The daughters are: Mrs. W. H. Davis, of San Francisco, California; and Mrs. F. E. Nor- man, of Los Angeles, California.

Professor Rosebery of this review was a pub- lic-school student in Madison and Montgomery counties until about fourteen years of age. He pursued a course in the high school of Peoria, Illinois, and further added to his knowledge un- der private instruction. He became a student in Brown's Peoria Business College, one of the leading schools of the kind in the country, and throughout his entire business career has de- voted his time and energies to the profession of teaching. He spent five years as a teacher in the Peoria Business College and in 1896 came to Ottawa to accept the principalship of the com- mercial department of Pleasant View College. He acted in that capacity for three years, giving his best efforts to the work and establishing this department on a very thorough and practical

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

basis. In July, 1899, however. he resigned his position in that school to become the principal of Brown's Ottawa Business College and has thus been connected to the present time with the edu- cational interests of the city. He is also super- intendent of Brown's Business College at Streator, Illinois. These schools are of a system of schools known as Brown's Business Colleges, several successful institutions being under one management, the president being Professor G. W. Brown, of Jacksonville, Illinois. The differ- ent centers of learning under his control are at Jacksonville, Peoria, Decatur, Galesburg, Bloom- ington, Centralia, Ottawa, Rockford, Cham- paign, Sterling, Streator, East St. Louis, Rock Island and Moline, Illinois; Davenport, Iowa ; Terre Haute, Indiana ; and St. Louis, Missouri. At the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893 Brown's Business Colleges made a splen- did exhibit, receiving both diplomas and medals, and Professor Brown was the manager of the business educational exhibit at that exposition, having been selected for the position by the busi- ness colleges of America.

Professor Rosebery has made a specialty of the combined course in the business college, which has met with splendid success. He has placed many graduates in excellent positions and the capacity of the college is not sufficient to sup- ply the demand for employes thus trained. În the work he has made a specialty of business practice, reproducing exact forms, methods, etc., of the business world. There is a college bank, freight office and wholesale and commercial of- fices, so that the student has thorough practical training. He is also trained in forming busi- ness habits and in as far as possible is allowed to develop his own ideas and thus call forth his latent energies. Many of the ideas introduced into the school have been original with Professor Rosebery and the institution is one of which Ottawa has every reason to be proud, for it has high rank with the leading schools of this char- acter in the middle west and has filled a want in supplying well trained and capable employes for active service in the business world.

Mr. Rosebery was married in Ottawa to Miss Addielou Grout, formerly of Vermont, whose father is a prominent United States treasury of- ficial at Boston, Massachusetts, while one of her uncles was for years a congressman from Ver- mont and another uncle was governor of that state during President McKinley's administra- tion. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rosebery are mem- bers of the Episcopal church, and he has been active and in close touch with the political and so- cial activities of Ottawa. He belongs to the Ottawa Boat Club and to the Deer Park Country

Club. In the line of his profession he is a mem- ber of the Business Teachers' Association, the Western Penmen's Association, the Federation of Commercial Teachers of America and the Na- tional Educational Association and he holds d World's Fair diploma issued by the board of lady managers in 1893 to the business educators who prepared students to assist in the business college exhibit at the exposition in Chicago. He recently received a solid silver medal from the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, in recognition of the thoroughness of the training of the students of Brown's Ottawa and Streator colleges under his supervision, who were sent as a result of competitive examination, to serve in the Model Business College, Palace of Educa- tion, conducted by President Brown, and which won for Brown's Business Colleges the grand prize, the first grand prize ever awarded to busi- ness college or business educational exhibits. Im- bued with laudable ambition for advancement, he has wrought along new lines, yet has not dis- carded the old and time-tried methods whose values have been proven in the business world and thus has made Brown's Ottawa Business College a leading institution of this character in northern Illinois.

HARLEY B. MITCHELL.

Harley B. Mitchell, editor of the American Miller, published at Chicago, is a native son of Ottawa, his birth having occurred in the county seat of La Salle county, on the 20th of February, 1855. His father, John S. Mitchell, had become a resident of Ottawa in 1833, at which time he removed from New York state to cast in his lot with the early residents of northern Illinois, which was largely an unimproved dis- trict, many of the conditions of pioneer life being strongly in evidence. His political alle- giance was given to the republican party, in the work and success of which he took an active and deep interest and at one time he served as a member of the Ottawa board of aldermen.

H. B. Mitchell acquired his early education in the public schools of his native city, and continued his studies in Dennison University, at Granville, Ohio, while latter he entered the old Chicago University, from which he was gradu- ated in the class of 1876. In July of the same year he began work on the American Miller. He soon demonstrated his capability and trust- worthiness and was promoted from time to time until at the end of three years he purchased an interest in the paper. He and his brother, Ar-

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

thur J. Mitchell, have conducted the paper since 1879, with Harley B. Mitchell as editor and Ar- thur J. Mitchell as business manager. In 1882 they began the publication of the American Elevator & Grain Trade. Both are general trade papers, the latter devoted to the elevator and grain interests of the country and the other to the art and science of milling. These papers have attained a large circulation and are ex- cellent advertising mediums. They are issued monthly and represent a high standard of the printer's art, at the same time giving to the reading public matters of vital interest to the trade.

In 1880 Mr. Mitchell was married to Miss Edith Ramskill, a native of England, and they have two children: Herbert H., now a student in Dartmouth College; and Harley W., who is attending the La Grange high school.

Mr. Mitchell maintains a deep affection for the county of his nativity, where he spent his boyhood and youth and delights in reminiscences of the early days. As a business man he has made a creditable record. Since 1893 he has re- sided at the beautiful suburb of La Grange, near Chicago, and in 1905 he was elected to the presidency of that village.

LEBBEUS T. MACKEY.

Lebbeus T. Mackey, living retired in Streator after many years' connection with general agri- cultural pursuits and stock-raising in La Salle county, was born in Bruce township, this coun- ty, February 7, 1837. His parents were Norton G. and Elizabeth (McCormick) Mackey. The father was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, September 15, 1809, and died in November, 1874, while his wife, a native of Pennsylvania, de- parted this life in October, 1874, the remains be- ing laid to rest in Bruce townhip. The year 1833 witnessed the arrival of Mr. Mackey in that township and as a pioneer settler he took up his abode on sections 12 and 14, entering a claim from the government. In 1836, in company with his brother, Samuel Mackey, and with John Morgan he laid out the town of Van Buren on his farm but like many others laid out about that time now exists on paper only, the blocks, lots and streets all having been obliterated by the farmer's plows. In company with his brother Samuel he built a saw-mill on Otter creek, whichi was the first in that locality. At one time he owned two hundred and forty acres of well im- proved farm land which he converted from wild prairie into richly cultivated fields. He first

built a log house but later erected a fine home, in which he spent his remaining days. He un- derwent all of the experiences and hardships of pioneer life and in early days his market was at Chicago, which had not been incorporated as a city at the time of his arrival in La Salle coun- ty. Later he carted his produce to Ottawa and there purchased his supplies. With the work of public improvement especially along agricultural lines he was closely associated and his name is interwoven with many of the early events which find record on the pages of the history of this county. He never cared for public office but was a Jacksonian democrat all of his days and he held membership in the Adventist church.

In the family were seven children, two daugh- ters and five sons, namely : Lebbeus T .; Mary, who became the wife of Thomas Simpkins, and died in 1904; Charles, who married Sarah Mor- gan and is a retired farmer living one mile east of Streator; Stephen, who died at the age of twenty-three years; Norton, who married Jane Barnhart and is living in Bruce township; Jane, who married Lemuel Barnhart, and died in 1884; and Winfield, who married Sarah Law and is liv- ing in North Dakota.

Lebbeus T. Mackey was educated in the pub- lic schools and reared to farm life. He began business on his own account as a farmer in Bruce township in 1856 and there in connection with the tilling of the soil he engaged in stock-rais- ing, carrying on work along both lines until 1894, when he purchased a home in Streator, where he now lives. For almost forty years he was continuously engaged in general agri- cultural pursuits and made his farm a very val- uable and productive property, which returned him an excellent income. He retained owner- ship of the old home place until 1905, when he sold the property. He has a good bank ac- count which supplies him with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life and his rest is well merited.

On the 7th of July, 1859, Mr. Mackey was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth R. Law, who was born in Pennsylvania, September II. 1841. They traveled life's journey together for about thirty years and were then separated by the death of the wife on the 12th of January, I889. Unto them were born six children: Hershel V., who died at the age of twenty-six years ; Nelson, a traveling saelsman for a school supply company ; Carrie, the wife of B. Bussard, residing at Albany, Oregon; Clarence, who mar- ried Hannah Holmes and is living in North Da- kota; Harvey, who married Nellie Holmes and resides in North Dakota; and Claude L., who wedded Nora Bussard and is a resident of Ore-

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gon. On the 12th of October, 1896, in Streator, Mr. Mackey was married to Mrs. Harriet Clark, the widow of C. Clark and a native of Ohio.

In politics Mr. Mackey is a democrat. H served as road commissioner for nine years, was school director for twelve or fifteen years and has been active in community affairs and interested in all that pertains to public progress and im- provement. His business interests were care- fully conducted and now he is resting in the fruits of his former toil.

A. D. SIMON.

A. D. Simon, the leading music dealer in Ottawa, was born and educated in the city of Cassel, Germany. He acquired the best educa- tion in the schools there and was also liberally educated in music. Like the people of his nationality he has great fondness for the art and possesses more than ordinary ability in that direction. He came to America in 1860, landing in New York city, where he remained for three years, during which time he was employed in a music store. Thinking to enjoy better business opportunities in the west he made his way to Mendota, Illinois, where he had charge of the musical department of "Colmerry" Seminary for two years. In 1865 he came to Ottawa and with his brother Carl opened a music store, which they conducted until 1884, when the partnership was dissolved and A. D. Simon began business on his own account. He handles pianos, organs and all musical instruments, including talking machines, also a full line of vocal and instru- mental music, the business being located at No. 803 La Salle street. He has a large trade in his line and he is held in very high esteem by all who know him.

Not only is Mr. Simon conversant with the best makes of musical instruments upon the market but also has a knowledge of the art of music and an ability in this direction which is widely recognized and has made him a leading factor in musical circles of the city. For a quar- ter of a century he was organist in the Methodist Episcopal church, filling the position until 1904, when, feeling that he ought to give to younger people the opportunity of securing the position, he retired.

Mr. Simon was married in 1871 to Miss Isabel S. Hatheway, a sister of the late Dr. J. C. Hathe- way, and she died in 1897. In 1899 Mr. Simon married Miss Carrie E. Morris, who was reared in La Salle county and who has indeed been a helpmate to him on life's journey. They are

earnest and valued members of the Methodist church, taking a helpful part in its various ac- tivities and lines of work. Their circle of friends is very extensive and the hospitality of many of the best homes is cordially extended them. Mr. Simon is identified with the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the Knight Templar degree. In his political views he has always been a stalwart republican but would never accept office, because he would not join any ring and will not tolerate any of the methods of trickery that are often in vogue in political life. In politics, as in all other things. he has been upright and honest, espousing republican principles because of a firm belief therein. His integrity and allegiance to right stand as un- questioned facts in his career. The hope that led him to seek a home in America has been more than realized, for in the new world he found the opportunities he 'sought and has wrought along lines of success. He has moreover done much to cultivate musical taste and appreciation in Ottawa and he is a most valued factor in musical circles, his own love for and understanding of the art being an inspiration to many.

DANIEL O'CONNELL.

At an early period in the development of La Salle county, the O'Connell family was here founded by John O'Connell, father of our sub- ject, who made a splendid record as a success- ful and honorable business man. Born in Ire- land, he came to America with his wife, Mrs. Sarah O'Connell, and their children. Their son Daniel was then only three weeks old. The father in those days was in very limited finan- cial circumstances and met many of the difficul- ties and hardships incident to frontier life in his efforts to secure, develop and improve a farm. As the years passed, however, he over- came all obstacles in his path and worked his way steadily upward until he was well known as one of the substantial agriculturists and large landowners of his community. It was owing to his father's lack of funds, however, that Dan- iel O'Connell had but limited educational ad- vantages, as his services were early needed upon the farm. He became familiar with all the du- ties and labors that fall to the lot of the agricul- turist and throughout his entire life has devoted his attention to general farming, being now the owner of an excellent tract of land of one hun- dred and sixty acres on section 27, Dimmick township. He likewise has city property in La Salle and derives therefrom a good income, to

A. D. SIMON.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

which the products of the fields annually con- tribute. He raises the cereals best adapted to soil and climate and also has considerable good stock upon his place.

Mr. O'Connell was married to Miss Mary Ann V. Quinn, a daughter of John and Ellen Quinn, of La Salle, a representative of one of the fam- ilies of Irish lineage who arrived here about 1863. Unto Mr. and Mrs. O'Connell have been born four children, Michael, Leo and Mary, all of whom are yet at home. The oldest son, John, died when six years of age. Mr. O'Connell votes the democratic ticket and keeps well in- formed on the questions and issues of the day. For eighteen years he has served as school di- rector and the cause of education finds in him a warm and helpful friend. He and his family are communicants of St. Patrick's Catholic church at La Salle. In the community where he has long resided Mr. O'Connell is known among his neighbors for his honestry and up- rightness of conduct, which have won for him the esteem of those with whom he has been associated.

NICHOLAS PFLIBSEN.

Nicholas Pflibsen is a worthy representative of one of the old German families of La Salle county but is himself a native son of Richland township, having been born on his father's farm on section 7, on the 4th of February, 1870. He is a son of William Pflibsen and was reared and educated in his native township, attending the common schools and afterward spending some time as a student in Valparaiso, Indiana. He early became familiar with farm labor and has always carried on general agricultural pur- suits. His methods are practical and all that he does is attended by good results because of his earnest, persistent efforts, which are guided by sound judgment. He is now located on section 7, Richland township, and is well known as a farmer and stock-raiser and as a breeder of high grades of cattle, horses and hogs.

Mr. Pflibsen was united in marriage to Miss Louisa Naas, a daughter of Peter Naas and a native of Richland township, born in May, 1874. They have five children: Frederick Wil- liam, ten years of age; Benjamin P., a lad of eight years; Minnie, Victor Carl and Raymond William, aged respectively six, four and two years.

The family home is situated upon a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 7, Rich- land township, where Mr. Pflibsen has made fine improvements. Politically he is a democrat

with somewhat independent tendencies. He served as supervisor of Richland township for two terms, in 1898 and 1899, and was again elected in 1901. He has also been school director of his district and is interested in all that per- tains to general progress and improvement. He is a communicant of the German Catholic church near his home and has a wide and favorable acquaintance in the community, where his good qualities are recognized and where his reliability in business and his loyalty in citizenship are unquestioned.

It will be interesting in this connection to note something of the ancestral history of Mr. Pflibsen. His father, William Pflibsen, is still actively engaged in farming and stock-raising, being located on section 7, Richland township. He owns six eighty-acre tracts of land in this township. His residence in La Salle county dates from 1859, at which time he began work- ing as a farm hand by the month. He was born at Griesblim, Germany, in 1829, his par- ents being John and Susanna (Gueris) Pflibsen. The latter died in Germany while their son Wil- liam was yet serving in the German army. The father came to America about 1868 and resided with his son William until his death, which oc- curred in 1872. In the family were four chil- dren, one of whom, Kate, came to this country and died about eight years ago at Leonore. She was the wife of Thomas Herman, who still resides at that place. The other members of the family, Magdalena and John, Jr., are still residents of Germany.

William Pflibsen was reared and educated in Germany and served for three years in the army of his native land, from 1850 until 1853. He then engaged in farming there until 1858, when he came to America, spending a year in the state of New York, after which he removed to. La Salle county. He first purchased land in 1862, securing it on ten years' time, but paid for it within three years. He also paid over nine hundred dollars to furnish a substitute in the Civil war. As the years have gone by, how- ever, he has prospered in his business affairs and has added to his possessions until he has become the owner of large acreage. His life has been one of untiring industry and perse- verance guided by sound judgment.

William Pflibsen was married in 1860 in La Salle county to Miss Anna Maria Trecker, who was born in Germany, October 20, 1844, and is a daughter of Henry and Anna Maria ( Bros- cheid) Trecker, who started for this country in 1854. The father, however, died during the voyage and was buried at sea when yet a young man. The mother and the family of four

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daughters continued on their way, locating in Peru, La Salle county, and Mrs. Trecker after- ward became the wife of William Saltz. She is still living at the age of eighty-six years and is now again a widow. Her home is in the village of Leonore. In the family were four daughters, all yet living, namely: Mrs. Pflib- sen ; Mrs. Catherina Linder, of Leonore; Mrs. Josephine Korrect, who is residing in Emmett county, Iowa; and Mrs. Helen Blume, living in Leonore.

Mr. and Mrs. Pflibsen have become the par- ents of fifteen children ; Annie, now the wife of Henry Waltgenbach, who resides in Hope town- ship; Catherina, the wife of John Schmitz, liv- ing in Vermillion township; Barbara, the wife of William Arenz, who is residing near Gar- field in Osage township; John, who died in childhood; John William, who married Miss Christina Horback, of Livingston county, and has three children, their home being near the old homestead farm; Nicholas, whose sketch is given above; Josephine, deceased; Susan, the wife of John Arenz, a resident farmer of Rich- land township; William, at home; Christina, the wife of Theodore Miller, who resides in Richland township: Elizabeth, the wife of Adolph Miller, a resident farmer of Richland township: Joseph, of La Salle; Charles and George, both at home; and Frank, who died in infancy.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 97

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