History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 98

Author: Hoffman, U. J. (Urias John), b. 1855
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1286

USA > Illinois > LaSalle County > History of La Salle County, Illinois > Part 98

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In his political views Mr. Pflibsen is a demo- crat and has served as school director and in other local offices. The family are members of St. Peter's and Paul's Catholic church of Rich- land township and since coming to America Mr. Pflibsen has taken an active part in farming in- terests here and is respected for his genuine worth and what he has accomplished.

SILAS W. WILLIAMS.

Silas W. Williams, a capitalist, whose intense and well directed business activity has gained him prestige among the leading men of La Salle county, so that he is now enabled to live re- tired. giving his supervision merely to his in- vested interests, is a native of Albany, New York. He was born on the 22d of March, 1841, and traces his ancestry back to Roger Wil- liams, the founder of the colony of Rhode Island, the line coming down through Joseph, John, Nathaniel, James, James R. and Cyril, to Mr. Williams of this review. The grandfather. James R. Williams, was one of the valiant de- fenders of the American cause in the Revolu-

tionary war, while one of his sons, Darius Wil- liams, was a soldier of the war of 1812.

For many years the ancestral home of the family was maintained in Rhode Island and it was in Providence that Cyril Williams was born in 1801. Six years later, however, the family removed to Vermont, the great-grandfather. James Williams, also going with them to the Green Mountain state. Having arrived at years of maturity Cyril Williams married Catherine Wetherbee, of Fitchburg, Massachusetts, a daughter of Caleb Wetherbee and a granddaugh- ter of Nathan and Elizabeth (Duncan) Wether- bee, also of the Bay state. Nathan Wetherbee served as a soldier of the Revolution. Mrs. Cyril Williams attained the remarkable age of ninety-three years and the old family homestead, comprising two hundred acres of land in Ver- mont. is still in possession of Silas W. Williams, who keeps it in an excellent state of improvement.

To the public-school system of Caledonia coun- ty, Vermont, Silas W. Williams is indebted for the early educational privileges he enjoyed and later he attended the Orleans Liberal Institute of that state. His identification with La Salle county's interests dates from 1869, when he lo- cated in Ottawa, where he was engaged in the manufacture of straw board and straw wrapping paper. His operations in this line grew in ex- tent and importance until he became one of the prominent representatives of productive indus- tries in this section of the state. Enlarging the scope of his activities, he became owner of paper mills in Dayton, Marseilles and Streator and for many years carried on a successful business, furnishing employment to a large force of work- men and contributing in substantial measure to the commercial prosperity, whereon the growth and development of every city depend. Pos- sessing untiring energy and ready perceptive fac- ulties, he formed his plans readily and was de- termined in their execution, while. his close ap- plication to business and excellent management brought him the high degree of prosperity which is today his. In 1893 he disposed of his paper mill interests to the Columbia Straw Paper Com- pany, and, retiring from the field of manufac- ture, concentrated his energies upon banking and real estate. He was a director of the City Na- tional Bank and has various financial interest. His supervision is now given to his property and to loaning money, and he holds much valua- ble business realty in Streator and also in Corona and Elsinore, California, and Houston, Texas.

In 1873, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Miss Catherine E. Worthingham, a daugh- ter of Morrison and Sarah Angeline (Barker) Worthington. Her father was a lieutenant in

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the One Hundredth Illinois Regiment in the Civil war and was killed at the battle of Stone River near Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He was' but nine years old when brought to Canada by his father on his emigration from England, his native land. Shortly after their arrival in America the father returned to England on busi- ness and died there, but later the son came to the United States. Mrs. Williams' grandfather, Benjamin Barker, was in the war of 1812 and her great-grandfather, Zenas Barker, served in the Revolutionary war. Her brother Charles was one of the soldiers of the American army in the war with Spain. Her grandmother was Cath- erine Goodrich, of Roxbury, Connecticut, a de- scendant of the Goodrich family that settled in Wethersfield, Connecticut, in 1643. The ances- try can be traced back in England to one who fought and fell in Harold's army at Hastings in 1066. Mr. and Mrs. Williams have two daugh- ters, Alice Amelia and Blanche Catherine. The former was a student at Bryn Mawr and spent two years abroad, studying in Paris and Geneva. She visited Naples, Ottajano and Somma, cities ruined by the recent eruption of Vesuvius, and visited many points of historic, modern and scenic interest on the continent. Blanche C. published a book for children entitled "Variety Tales," which has been a ready seller.

Mr. Williams usually gives his political sup- port to the democratic party, yet does not con- sider himself strictly bound by party ties, nor has he that partisan narrowness which forbids the support of a candidate of the opposition mani- festly better qualified for office. He belongs to the Park Presbyterian church and for a long period has served as president of its board of trustees. Unlike many men who have exten- sive business interests, he has never neglected the higher and holier duties of life and with due re- gard for the obligations of man to his fellowmen has done efficient service for the upbuilding of those organizations which conserve the moral development of the community. He has for a number of years acted as president of the Young Men's Christian Association and he takes a deep and abiding interest in young men, doing much through wise counsel, kindly advice and material assistance to aid them in starting in life. The cause of education has found in him a stalwart champion and as president of the board of edu- cation for twelve years Streator has benefited by his efforts. He is an active member of the Streator Social Service Club and also of the Streator Social Club. He finds great delight in traveling and has visited many points in the west and south. Few men are more prominent or more widely known in the enterprising city of

Streator than Mr. Williams. £ He has been an

important factor in business circles and his pop- ularity is well deserved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an unbending integrity and unabating energy. Moreover, he is public spirited and thoroughly interested in whatever tends to promote the material, intellectual and moral welfare of his city.

LARS C. TUNTLAND.

Lars C. Tuntland, residing on section 2, Mil- ler township, where a farm of two hundred acres yields tribute to the care and labor which he bestows upon it, has been a resident of La Salle county since 1859. Norway has furnished a large number of the enterprising and leading citizens of La Salle county and to this class belongs Mr. Tuntland. Born near Stavanger in the land of the midnight sun on the 14th of September, 1845, Mr. Tuntland came to the new world with his parents when a youth of fourteen years. He had acquired a fair common-school education in his native country and in this coun- try he attended the English schools. It was the year 1859 that witnessed the arrival of Chris- tian Tuntland, the father, with his family and a settlement was made in Mission, where they resided for nearly three years, whence they re- moved to Grundy county, Illinois, where the father purchased a farm, making his home there- on for about eight years.

Lars C. Tuntland was reared to manhood under the parental roof and in the days of his boyhood became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He remained with his father until twenty-seven years of age and assisted in carrying on the old home place until after the father's death. In the fall of 1871, in Miller township, he was married to Miss Christina Christianson, a native of Norway, who came to the United States when a maiden of ten years and was reared in La Salle county. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Tuntland located upon the farm where they now reside. It was formerly the property of his father, for whom he cared until the latter's death on the 26th of July, 1901. Mr. Tuntland of this review inherited the old home place and he has bought more land and has built a barn and made an addition to the house. There is a deep well upon the place and a wind pump and the farm is neat and thrifty in appearance, in- dicating the energetic management which is so characteristic of the people of his nationality. In connection with general farming he raises

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stock and everything about his place is kept in excellent condition. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Tunt- land have been born eleven children: Chris, a resident farmer of La Salle county ; Mrs. Martha Maria Johnson, a widow, who is residing with her father and who has a son, Lester M. John- son; Henry J., who is married and makes his home in Kendall county, Illinois, and who has two children, Edna Caroline and Leonard; George, who aids in carrying on the home farm; Mary J., the wife of Hance Henson, a farmer of Nettle Creek township; Joseph, who aids in the operation of the home farm; Linnie Cornelia the wife of Burdia Norem, of Mission township; Clarence, at home; Marshall and Elmer, also under the parental roof. They also lost an in- fant daughter. The parents were reared in the faith of the Lutheran church and are now mem- bers of the Fox River church, in which Mr. Tuntland is serving as deacon. He is a public- spirited citizen, giving his political allegiance to the republican party, and has served as road com- missioner and school director, the cause of educa- tion finding in him a stalwart friend. No native born son of America has greater loyalty for this country and her institutions than this adopted son, who, coming to the new world at the age of fourteen years, has become thoroughly identi- fied with the interests of the United States and local improvement and national progress are causes both dear to his heart. His life work is in many ways commendable and he enjoys the good will and confidence of those with whom he has been associated.

E. N. FLEMING.

E. N. Fleming, living on section 3, Manlius township, is one of the active and thrifty farmers and stock-raiser of La Salle county, owning and operating one hundred and twenty acres of land, which is the old farm homestead. It was upon this farm that he was born, his natal day being September 5, 1863. His father, Isaac N. Flem- ing, was born in Pennsylvania, February 3, 1829, and after a short residence in Mt. Vernon, Ohio, whither he removed with his parents, he came to Illinois when sixteen years of age, arriving in the year 1845. He worked by the month as a farm hand for several years and was married in La Salle county to Miss Harriet Morris, a native of Virginia, who was reared, however, in Indiana. They then established a home of their own, MIr. Fleming purchasing a tract of land of one hun- dred acres, which he broke and farmed. He built good buildings there and made many modern

improvements, carrying on the work of agricul- tural development with good success for a long ·period. He spent his last years upon the old homestead here, passing away on the 14th of December, 1900, at the age of nearly ninety-two years. His wife died in 1896. Mr. Fleming was a public-spirited man and one whose trustworthi- ness was uniformly recognized. He served as ad- ministrator of one estate through three genera- tions, this being the Stebbins estate. He was a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a consistent Christian man, who un- der all circumstances was loyal to truth, justice and right. He and his wife were highly re- spected and esteemed by all who knew them be- cause of their many good traits of character. In their family were five children: Ella, who reached womanhood but is now deceased ; Dora, the wife of Eugene Mick, of Marseilles; Burr, who is living in Edwards county, Kansas ; E. N., of this review; and Louie, the wife of William Somouse, of Marseilles.

E. N. Fleming was reared here and educated in the common schools, followed by a course in Evanston Academic Institute. He remained with his father until the latter's death, when he took charge of the farm and business and eventually succeeded to the ownership of the old home place. As a companion and helpmate for life's journey he chose Miss Bessie Moore, to whom he was married in Marseilles, on the 2d of March, 1897. She was born in England, a daughter of Abel Moore, who removed from that country with his family to the new world and took up his abode in Marseilles, where he now resides, fol- lowing mechanical pursuits. Mr. and Mrs. Flem- ing have two children, Miriam Lois and Kenneth Gordon. They also lost a daughter, Harriet June, who died at the age of eighteen months.

Mr. Fleming has given his entire life to agricul- tural pursuits and the lessons of industry and perseverance which were early instilled into his mind have in later years borne rich fruit. In his political affiliation he has always been a re- publican, casting his first presidential ballot for James G. Blaine, the Maine statesman. He is a believer in good schools and realizes the impor- tance of competent teachers. He is now serving as a member of the school board and does all in his power to advance the cause of public instruc- tion. Both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and he has served as a member of the official board. They take an active and helpful interest in church work and stand for progress, reform and improvement upon all lines bearing upon the welfare of the commu- nity and the progress of the race. Mr. Fleming

I. N. FLEMING.

MRS. E. N. FLEMING.

E. N. FLEMING.

MRS. I. N. FLEMING.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

is a prosperous farmer and a man of exemplary habits, whose life of industry and diligence has made him a citizen worthy of the unqualified es- teem of his fellowmen. He has always resided in this county and upon the farm which he yet occupies and the years have marked a steady growth in his business, intellectual and character development.

JOHN ROSE.

John Rose, to whom has been vouchsafed a rest after many years of active connection with agri- cultural interests, makes his home at Leonore, enjoying the income from four hundred acres of land in Vermillion and Richland townships. now operated by his sons, and one hundred and sixty acres in Greene county, Iowa. He has been a resident of La Salle county since 1864, in which year he took up his abode in Richland township and in the early years of his residence he was employed by the month as a farm hand until he was able to make his first purchase of land about 1870.

He was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, Jan- uary 19, 1845, his parents being Gilbert and Catherine (Oxse) Rose, both of whom died in Germany some time after their son John came to America. They were farming people and were respected in the community where they lived. Their family number five sons and a daughter, namely : Peter, a resident farmer of Cass county, Iowa ; Daniel, who is residing on the home farm in Germany; John; Henry, who carries on farming in Allen township, this county ; John P., a farmer of Cass county, Iowa ; and Helen, the wife of John Geitz, still a resi- dent of Germany.

John Rose was educated in the schools of his native country and when nineteen years of age he came to America, attracted by the broader business opportunities and advantages of the new world. He made his way at once to Illi- nois and took up his abode in La Salle county, where he has since lived. His financial condi- tion rendering immediate eemployment a neces- ty, he sought work as a farm hand and was thus engaged in the tilling of the soil for several years, or until 1870, when he had saved from his earnings a sum sufficient to enable him to make purchase of land in Richland township. He has added to his holdings at different times until he is now the owner of five hundred and sixty acres. He has always followed general farming very successfully, continuing active in business

until the spring of 1900, when he removed to Leonore and purchased his present home, turn- ing over his farm in Vermillion and Richland townships to the care of his sons.

Mr. Rose was married in this county to Miss Eliza Buck, who was born in Germany and came to America in her girlhood days, settling in Peru, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Rose have five children living, namely: Frank, who is married and has three sons, is in the employ of Mr. Plumb at Streator. Annie is the wife of Reuben Shaw- back, of Richland township, and they have three sons and a daughter. Emma is the wife of John H. Shawback, a resident farmer of Richland township, and they have four daughters and a son. William R., living on the homestead farm in Vermillion township, married Miss Lydia Shawback and they have two children, a son and daughter. Henry C. resides on one of his fa- ther's farms and married Chillea Chesling, by whom he has two daughters. Three children of the family have passed away, one dying in infancy, while Elizabeth died at the age of nine years, and Lillie when three years of age.

Politically Mr. Rose is a republican. He has served as road commissioner and filled other local offices in Vermillion township, and he and his wife are connected with the German Evangelical Association of Richland township. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in the new world, for through the utili- zation of the opportunities that America offers he has risen from a humble financial position to one of affluence and is very loyal in his attach- ment to the stars and stripes, having the deep- est love for his adopted country.

HENRY A. COLE.

Henry A. Cole, of Chicago, a commission merchant handling window glass, was born in Cheshire, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, Feb- ruary 19, 1850, and is a son of Dr. Lansing J. and Caroline ( Mason) Cole. One sister of the family is yet living in Ottawa, Mrs. Emma L. Petitclerc, who is assistant librarian in Ottawa.

Mr. Cole attended public and private schools in Cheshire and Lanesboro, Massachusetts, after which he spent one year as a student in Whites- boro (New York) Academy and one year at Monroe Collegiate Institute in Eldridge. New York. He became a resident of Ottawa in 1872 and was connected with the Ottawa Glass Com- pany, manufacturers of window glass as ship-

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PAST AND PRESENT OF LA SALLE COUNTY.

ping clerk, bookkeeper, traveling salesman, di- rector and general manager from 1871 until 1887, winning successive promotions in recogni- tion of his ability and fidelity until he was a most active factor in the management and control of the house. In the latter year the business was absorbed by the United Glass Company, after which Mr. Cole acted as office manager for that corporation in the Ottawa plant until 1892, in which year he was transferred to Chicago, con- tinuing with the company until 1896. He then resigned his position with the United Glass Com- pany and established his present business as a wholesale commission merchant, handling win- dow glass. In this capacity he represents many large firms all over the country and has met with excellent success since establishing his pres- ent enterprise, the number of his patrons an- nually increasing, while the volume of his orders makes his business a constantly growing one.

Mr. Cole was married in Ottawa, on the Ist of June, 1881, to Miss Kate S. Eldridge, a daughter of Judge Eldridge, a prominent resi- dent of Ottawa, who for many years practiced law as a distinguished member of the La Salle county bar. His son, Edgar Eldridge, served as assistant attorney general of Illinois under direction of General William H. Stead. Mr. and Mrs. Cole have become the parents of five children, Marie, Emma C., Henry, Gordon and Robert M.

Politically Mr. Cole is a republican and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Congregational church. He belongs to the Oak Park Club and to the Hamilton Club, and resides at No. 234 North Kenilworth ave- nue in the beautiful suburb of Oak Park. Mr. Cole is well known in Ottawa, where for many years he figured in business circles as a repre- sentative of manufacturing interests and he still has many friends in La Salle county as well as in Chicago.

JAMES T. BIRTWELL.

James T. Birtwell, residing in Streator, was for may years identified with farming and stock- raising interests in La Salle county but is now enjoying a well earned rest in honorable re- tirement from further business cares. He was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, August 18, 1842, and is of English lineage. His parents, John T. and Mary (Taylor) Birtwell, were both natives of England. The father's birth occurred in Lancasterhire in 1815, and in 1836. when twenty-one years of age, he was married

to Miss Mary Taylor. They came to the United States in 1839, crossing the Atlantic on a sail- ing vessel, which dropped anchor in the harbor of New York city. For a short time they re- mained in the eastern metropolis and then re- moved to Fall River, Massachusetts, where Mr. Birtwell was employed in a print factory, at which time the work of printing calico was all done by hand. His work was stamping the goods with wooden blocks. He built him a house close to the sea and there resided until 1849, when he came to Bruce township, La Salle county, Illinois, and located on eighty acres of land, which he had purchased while in Massachusetts. He did not see the land, however, until he came to the west. Here he built him a house out of six-inch boards, laying one on top of the other and nailing them there, making the wall of his house six inches thick. He added to his land from time to time as his financial resources increased until at his death he was the owner of eight hundred acres of very valuable and well improved land. He had a good business education although he never attended school a day, possessing natural dis- crimination and keen judgment. He believed however, in the cause of education and in pro- viding good opportunities and acted as school trustee for many years. His wife died April 14, 1865. when fifty-eight years of age, while Mr. Birtwell survived until March 17, 1900. He had formerly been a resident of Bruce town- ship but was living in Otter Creek township at the time of his death. In politics he was a whig and he belonged to the Liberal church. In the family were five children, two sons and three daughters, namely: Ellen, who died in Bruce township June 28, 1900, at the age of sixty-three years; Robert T., who is living in Streator ; Sarah, who died December 22, 1877, at the age of thirty-eight years; James, of this review : and Permelia, the wife of Porter Don- nell, residing in Nebraska.

James Birtwell acquired a public-school educa- tion in the schools of this county and was reared upon his father's farm, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. On the 17th of December, 1871, he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Musberger, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, March 14, 1850, a daughter of George and Mary Musberger, both of whom were natives of Germany, in which country they were reared and married. They had five chil- dren but only two are now living, the brother of Mrs. Birtwell being George Musberger, who married Sarah Wakey and resides in North Dakota. The parents both died of cholera in

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Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1850, and thus Mrs. Birt- well was early left an orphan.

Following his marriage Mr. Birtwell lived for six years upon the old homestead farm with his parents and then removed to Allen township, settling on the David Strawn farm, having pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of the estate. He began farming, and as his crops brought him good returns and his bank account increased he made judicious investment in land until he now owns four hundred and eighty acres which is very valuable. His time and energies were given to general farming and to the raising and feeding of stock until October, 1905, when he purchased his home in Streator and is now liv- ing retired, leaving the active management of his farm property to others.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Birtwell have been born two children: Elgy T., born April 26, 1873; and Permelia E., born January 2, 1878. Mr. Birtwell has been a school director for many years and he contributes to the support of the Good Will church. In politics he is a republican. Almost his entire life has been passed in La Salle county and throughout the entire period of his business career he was identified with its agricul- tural interests, finding that in the tilling of the soil according to modern and improved methods he could secure a measure of success which as the years have gone by has been increased until he is now enabled to enjoy a well earned rest.

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History of La Salle County, Illinois, Part 98

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