USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 19
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On June 8, 1897, Mr. Roe was united in marriage with Miss Mae L. Hyde, a daughter of Jonathan N. Hyde, one of the pioneers of this county. They have three children-Winifred M. Roe; John C. Roe and Franklin H. Roe. The family are members of and affiliated with the Presbyterian church and .Mr. Roe holds membership with the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He votes with the republican party, of which he has always been a stalwart advocate and his public serv -; ice has gained him the warm regard of all who know him and in business life his position is equally creditable and the substantial advancement which he makes year by year is the direct outcome of. thorough preparation, close application and alert business! methods.
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W. C. ZOELLER.
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W. C. Zoeller, proprietor of the Phoenix Hotel in Franklin Grove, is a native of Lee county, born June 20, 1893. He is a son' of Louis and Ernestina (Kohl) Zoeller, the former a native of Chicago and the latter of Germany. Their marriage occurred in Lee county, Illinois, and to their union were born ten children, Ella, W. C., Bertha, Wilbur, Helena, George, Edward, Otto, Ruth and Harold.
W. C. Zoeller has had long experience in his chosen line of work, for he has been connected with hotels in various parts of the country, serving for some time as chef in the Hotel Sherman in Chicago and in the same capacity on the dining cars of several railroads. He is now operating the Phoenix Hotel and Restaurant
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in Franklin Grove and has founded a gratifying degree of suc- cess upon practical experience and thorough knowledge. He has made the Phoenix a modern and comfortable hostelry, well man- aged in all of its details. He gives practically all of his time and attention to its affairs and is regarded as one of the most success- ful and progressive business men of the community.
CLYDE SMITH.
Clyde Smith, a member of the law firm of Trusdell, Smith & Leech of Dixon, is recognized as a man of broad legal learning and the analytical trend of his mind, together with the readiness with which he grasps the points in an argument are salient features in his success as a practitioner in the courts of the district. He was born in Paw Paw, this county, and is a representative of one of the old pioneer families of Illinois, a family who arrived here in 1837. The Smiths came to America from Scotland by sailing craft. They reached Chicago after a long and tedious journey and made their way at once to Lee county where they settled at what is known as Smith's Grove. One of the brothers, David S., is still living there at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. Another brother, Robert Smith, the father of Clyde Smith, followed the occupation of farming throughout the period of his residence in this county. He married Harriet Baisley and they here reared their family. For more than three quarters of a century the fam- ily has been represented here and have borne an active and helpful part in the work of general progress and improvement, contribut- ing in substantial measure to the county's development and pros- perity.
Clyde Smith acquired his education in the public schools and afterward attended the University of Michigan, in which he pur- sued a classical course, winning the Bachelor of Arts degree upon graduation in 1886. Having determined upon the practice of law as a life work, and preparing for the profession at Ottawa, he then located at. Paw Paw, where he continued in practice until 1890. He then came to Dixon and about 1900 entered into partnership with A. K. Trusdell, the relation being still maintained. Mr. Smith engages in the general practice of law and while advance- ment at the bar is proberbially slow, nevertheless it was not long before he became recognized as a capable lawyer. Well versed in
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CLYDE SMITH
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the learning of his profession with a deep knowledge of human nature and the springs of human conduct, with great shrewdness and sagacity and extraordinary tact, he is in the courts an advo- cate of great power and influence.
Mr. Smith, in his fraternal relations, is an Elk, while his political allegiance is given to the progressive party. He is at all times a deep thinker and clear reasoner, not only in connection with his profession, but upon all matters of vital interest effecting the welfare of city, state and nation.
MRS. ELLEN E. BURNS.
Mrs. Ellen E. Burns, now residing on Jones street in Amboy and owning a valuable farm of two hundred and forty acres on section 24, May township, is the widow of James Burns, who passed away on the 10th of December, 1911. Her birth occurred in Amboy, Lee county, on the 20th of January, 1856, her parents being John A. and Ellen (Monahan) Carroll, both of whom are deceased and lie buried in the Catholic cemetery at Amboy. The father's demise occurred on the 25th of July, 1912, while the mother was called to her final rest on the 24th of June, 1902. Their passing was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for they had gained many friends in the community during the long period of their residence here.
Ellen E. Carroll attended school in Amboy until fifteen years of age and remained under the parental roof during the follow- ing fifteen years, assisting in the work of the household and other duties. On the 20th of October, 1886, she gave her hand in mar- riage to James Burns, who was born in Sublette township, this county, on the 24th of October, 1847, a son of Edward and Bridget (Caffery) Burns. His parents took up their abode among the early pioneer settlers of Lee county in 1844 and here spent the remainder of their lives, Edward Burns passing away on the 14th of September, 1888, and his wife on the 26th of January, 1890. Their remains were interred in the Sandy Hill cemetery of May township. James Burns devoted his attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business career with excellent success and at the time of his demise owned a well improved farm of two hundred and forty acres on section 24, May township, which is now in possession of his widow. He died on
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the 10th of December, 1911, and was buried at Amboy. His entire life, covering a period of sixty-four years, had been spent within the borders of Lee county and he was widely recognized as one of its representative agriculturists and esteemed citizens.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Burns were born seven children, as fol- lows: Nellie, who was graduated from the Amboy high school with the class of 1908 and now follows the profession of teaching at Amboy; Edward, a traveling salesman residing at Oshkosh, Wisconsin; John T., who is a clerk in the employ of the Colson Clothing Company of Amboy; Alice G., a milliner of Chicago; Margaret F., who is employed as a bookkeeper in Amboy; Eliza- beth and Mary R., both of whom are high-school students in Amboy. Mrs. Burns, who makes her home on Jones street in Amboy, has always lived in Lee county and here has a circle of friends which is almost coextensive with the circle of her acquaintances. :
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CONRAD MEISTER.
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Conrad Meister is one of the early settlers in Lee county, his residence here dating from 1846. During his entire active life he was closely and influentially associated with agricultural inter- ests of this locality, winning a comfortable fortune which now enables him to spend his declining years in rest and retirement. He was born in Germany, December 7, 1835, and is a son of John and Anna K. Meister, also natives of the fatherland. They came to America in 1846, locating in Lee county, Illinois, where both passed away. To their union were born five children, of whom the subject of this review is the only one now living.
Conrad Meister was eleven years of age when he came with his parents to Lee county and he grew up amid pioneer conditions, learning farming through practical experience in the development of his father's homestead. When he grew to manhood he became a landholder and for a number of years owned a fine property of three hundred and twenty acres in Bradford township. He car- ried forward the work of improving and developing this place along progressive and modern lines and made it a valuable prop- erty provided with substantial barns and outbuildings and modern equipment. He owned in addition three hundred and twenty acres of land in South Dakota but he has now divided all of his
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holdings among his children and is living in retirement at the home of his youngest son.
In China township, this county, Mr. Meister married Miss Rosanna Hilly, who was born in Germany and who came to America in 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Meister became the parents of eight children: Katherine, the wife of J. Clutz; Mary, who mar- ried Andrew Reinhart; George, who married Rachel Capes and who lives in this township; John, deceased; Emma, the wife of William Thomas; Levi, of South Dakota; Anna, the wife of John Reitz, and Fred. Mrs. Meister passed away in 1907 and was laid to rest in Ashton cemetery. Mr. Meister has lived in Lee county for a period of sixty-seven years and he has therefore seen a great deal of the development and progress of this part of Illinois. He has borne an active and honorable part in the work of advance- ment and his retirement is well deserved, rewarding many years of earnest and faithful labor.
IRA W. LEWIS.
Ira W. Lewis, who is serving as deputy circuit clerk, his con- nection with that position covering many years, while almost his entire life has been devoted to public office, was born in Broome county, New York, April 3, 1842, a son of Hiel and Eveline Lewis, who came to Lee county in the year of their son's birth. The father, a farmer by occupation, turned his attention to agricul- tural pursuits and was continuously engaged in the tilling of the soil until he passed away in 1880. His political allegiance was given to the republican party and he was accounted one of the worthy and representative citizens of the community. The mother has also departed this life. In their family were six chil- dren, four of whom are now deceased. The ancestry of the family can be traced back to a remote period. The grandfather was a son of Nathaniel Lewis, junior, who was born in Vermont, but spent the greater part of his life in Pennsylvania. He was a descendant of George Lewis, who came from England in 1650 and settled in the Green Mountain state.
Ira W. Lewis had a public-school education and was reared to farm life, early becoming familiar with the best methods of planting, plowing and harvesting. He remained upon the farm until 1863, and since that time has given almost his undivided
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attention to the duties of public office. He spent four years in the position of deputy sheriff and in 1868 was made deputy cir- cuit clerk, which office he filled for twelve years. He was then elected circuit clerk and remained the incumbent for twenty years. He is now again deputy circuit clerk and thus his connection with the position has covered about forty-five years. There is no one in Lee county so familiar with the office and all that appertains thereto. He has ever been prompt and systematic in the discharge of his duties and a well trained mind keeps him in touch with the work of the office so that he can refer to any point or fact needed at a moment's notice.
On the 21st of March, 1867, Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Miss Marilla M. Williams, a daughter of Cyrus Williams, who came to this city in 1839. He was a millwright by trade and as one of the pioneers became closely connected with industrial inter- ests here at a very early day.
Mr. Lewis holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America and his political support has always been given to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. Over his public record there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. Abraham Lincoln once said: "You may fool some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time." This statement finds verification nowhere as much as it does in public office. An incompetent man may be called to public office, but his inefficiency is soon demonstrated and when a man has again and again been chosen for a position of public trust it is evident that he is worthy of the place to which he is called. While Mr. Lewis has now passed the psalmist's span of three score years and ten, he is still active in public office and his entire record is one which has gained for him well merited commendation and indorse- ment.
WILLIAM S. FROST, JR.
William S. Frost, Jr., is a native of. Bradford township, a rep- resentative of a prominent pioneer family of this locality and one of the most progressive and successful farmers and stock-raisers of Lee county. For a number of years he has been closely and influentially associated with agricultural interests here and his
WILLIAM S. FROST, JR.
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success places him in the front rank of men of marked ability and substantial worth in the community. He was born September 22, 1872, and is a son of Captain William S. and Sophia E. (Shaw) Frost, the former a native of Maine and the latter of Niles, Michi- gan. The father came to Illinois in 1837, one of the early settlers in the state. He purchased land in Lee county, where he was connected with agricultural interests for many years. In 1871 he moved to Bradford township and there he has since resided, now living retired. He and his wife became the parents of six children: Frank E .; Malinda S., the wife of A. Aschenbrenner; S. D., a resident of South Dakota; William S., of this review; Mary Adelia, the wife of M. R. Warnick, of South Dakota; and a child who died in infancy.
William S. Frost, Jr., spent his childhood and youth upon the family homestead in Lee county and acquired a public-school and a college education. When he was twenty-six he rented a farm and he operated this for two years, following which he bought the property which he now owns. This is known as the Rising Sun Farm and comprises two hundred and eighty acres of valuable land on section 32, Bradford township. The fields are under a high state of cultivation, the buildings are substantial and in good repair and the machinery is of the modern, labor- saving type. Nothing about the place is ever neglected and the property is in every respect a credit to the owner, who is an in- telligent and progressive agriculturist. He makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock and his interests along this line are extensive and important. In addition to his home farm he owns also a three hundred and twenty acre tract in South Dakota.
On the 12th of October, 1898, Mr. Frost was united in mar- riage to Miss Genevieve Bodine, who was born in Lee Center, November 9, 1874, a daughter of A. Z. and Katherine Bodine, in whose family were three children: Mary A., the wife of Fred Starks of Los Angeles, California ; Leslie A., a resident of Hut- tig, Arkansas, and Genevieve, the wife of the subject of this re- view. Mr. and Mrs. Frost have three children: Harold W., born May 27, 1902; Lyle B., born July 13, 1908, and Katherine Bere- nice, born August 27, 1911. Mrs. Frost is a lady of excellent education and was a teacher in a business college in Dixon pre- vious to her marriage. She was also a stenographer and cor- respondent for several years in Chicago prior to her marriage. She is noble grand Abigail of Rebekah Lodge, No. 759, of Lee Center, belongs to the Woman's Club of Amboy and to Arbutus
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Chapter, O. E. S., Amboy, Illinois. Her many excellent qualities of mind and character have made her widely and favorably known and she is very popular in social circles.
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Mr. Frost. is connected fraternally with Lee Center Lodge, No. 146, A. F. & A. M .; with Haskell Lodge, No. 1004, I. O. O. F .; with the Modern Woodmen of America of Lee Center and with the Order of the Eastern Star. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and has served for several years as school trustee. He is vice president of the Northern Illinois Electric Railroad Company, which was organized about 1911 and which has completed twelve miles of rail between Amboy, Lee Center and Rochelle. Mr. Frost's ability is known and recognized in busi- ness circles and he is regarded as one of the most deservedly suc- cessful farmers and business men of Lee county.
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J. C. MILLER.
. Ambition, energy and enterprise, guided and controlled by sound and practical business judgment, have marked the basis of the success of J. C. Miller, who is one of the largest landowners in Wyoming township and one of the most progressive and suc- cessful farmers and stock-raisers in Lee county. He was born in Brooklyn township, October 10, 1865, a son of Conrad and Catherine (Sinner) Miller, natives of Germany. The parents came from that country in 1858 and settled first at Perkins Grove, in Lee county. The father was at that time without capital and in a strange country, but with characteristic courage and determination he began farming on rented land and after eight years had accumulated enough money to purchase an eighty acre tract in Brooklyn township. This he bought for twenty-five dol- lars per acre and he labored at its cultivation until his death, which occurred June 9, 1867. He is buried in the Perkins Grove cemetery and his wife survives him. She makes her home in North Dixon and is now seventy-two years of age.
J. C. Miller acquired his education in the district schools of Brooklyn township and in Naperville College. He began his independent career by renting property and when he had saved enough money bought one hundred acres of land in Wyoming township. By judicious purchase he has since increased this to about six hundred acres and this he has divided into three farms,
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each equipped with excellent buildings and provided with modern machinery. Mr. Miller raises stock on an extensive scale, dealing largely in cattle and horses. He has a comfortable residence in Paw Paw but gives his personal supervision to the conduct of his farm. He is a director and stockholder in the Compton National Bank and well known in financial circles as a man of ability and enterprise.
In Brooklyn township, on the 27th of September, 1891, Mr. Miller married Miss Nettie Miller, a daughter of S. B. and Sarah Miller, pioneers in Lee county. The father makes his home in Paw Paw, having survived his wife since 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have become the parents of six children: Lelah and Samuel A., graduates of the Paw Paw high school; Lora, Grace and Hazel, also attending school; and Bina M., aged five.
Mr. Miller is a republican in his political beliefs and is now a member of the board of aldermen of Paw Paw. Through his energy and ability in promoting his personal interests he has con- tributed in substantial measure to the welfare and growth of the community which numbers him among its most respected and representative citizens.
WILLIAM G. KRUG.
During the entire period of his active life William G. Krug has been associated with agricultural interests of Bradford, his native township, and he now owns an excellent farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres, a visible evidence of his industry and enter- prise in the management of his affairs. He was born June 4, 1874, and is a son of John and Catherine (Hilliard) Krug, natives of Germany, who came to America at an early date, settling in Lee county, Illinois. The father died here April 10, 1883, and is sur- vived by his wife, who makes her home in Ashton. To their union were born four children: Mary, who married John J. Wagner; Catherine, the wife of W. A. Kersten; William G., of this review; and John M., of Ashton.
William G. Krug was reared at home and remained with his mother until he was twenty-one years of age. He then rented a farm and operated it for about two years, after which he pur- chased land on section 22, Bradford township. He owns one hun- dred and sixty acres and has improved this with substantial barns
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and outbuildings and has brought the fields to a high state of cultivation.
In 1897, Mr. Krug was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Kersten, a native of Bradford township and a daughter of John and Christina Kersten, both of whom were born in Germany and both of whom died in Ashton township in 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Krug have four children, Roy J., Oliver J., Pearl C. and Alvin W. The parents are members of the Evangelical church and Mr. Krug is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. He gives his political allegiance to the republican party and is now serving in a capable and efficient way as school director. As a citizen he is public-spirited and whatever tends to promote the best interests of the community receives his indorsement and hearty support.
R. W. CHURCH.
In a history of the wide-awake, progressive business men of Dixon mention should be made of R. W. Church, now superintend- ent for the Borden Condensed Milk Company. He is thoroughly acquainted with every phase of the business under his control, seems to have every detail in mind and at the same time gives due prominence to the more important features of the business having to do with its substantial and growing success. Born in New York in 1869, his educational opportunities were only those accorded by the public schools. He has been connected with the milk business for the past twenty-four years, having been associ- ated with the Borden Condensed Milk Company in New York, Wisconsin and in Illinois. Long experience has thoroughly acquainted him with every phase of the business, which he has carefully studied, and thus step by step he has worked his way upward, his efficiency and reliability being recognized by those under whom he has served. He came to Dixon July 13, 1911, to accept the superintendency of the Borden Condensed Milk Com- pany at this place. The business was here established on the 1st of July, 1902, the company buying out the Anglo-Swiss Condensed Milk Company, which had been established July 8, 1889, although the buildings were started in 1887. The Borden Company pur- chased the plant and equipment of the old company and today the plant has a capacity of two hundred and fifty thousand pounds
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of milk daily. This is purchased from local farmers, three hun- dred dairymen delivering milk to the plant, while fifty-eight hun- dred cows are kept to supply the product. The company has ninety acres of ground and the three buildings are each three hun- dred and sixty-five by eighty feet and two stories in height. An electric plant furnishes power for the works and two hundred and twenty-five people are employed at the plant in the manufacture of condensed and evaporated milk. They also make a large amount of candy, mostly caramels, as a by-product. They make their own gas for mechanical manufacturing and the water is supplied from artesian wells upon the place. Exerything is most sanitary and the plant and equipment are the largest in size in the world. It may well be understood therefore that the men at the head of the enterprise are most capable and energetic business men, thoroughly conversant with every phase of the work, and onerous are the duties and responsibilities that devolve upon Mr. Church as superintendent of the Dixon interests.
In 1893 Mr. Church was united in marriage to Miss Sue I. Lewis, a native of Dundee, Illinois, and they have become the parents of three children, Kenneth L., Donald and Harriet, all attending school. Mr. Church holds membership with the Masonic fraternity and he gives his political indorsement to the republican party, of which he has always been a stanch advocate. He is always ready to support any plan or project that is a mat- ter of civic virtue or civic pride but he has never sought nor desired office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, and gradually he has advanced to a position of promi- nence, making a record which is most creditable. There is no phase of the business with which he is connected that is not famil- iar to him and his long experience has enabled him to speak with authority upon any matter relative to the production, care and use of milk. He is indeed alert, wide-awake and progressive and ranks with the foremost business men of Dixon.
JOHN J. WAGNER.
John J. Wagner, a progressive farmer and stock-raiser and a native son of Bradford township, was born February 15, 1867. He remained at home until he was twenty-three years of age and then married, afterward engaging in farming upon rented land.
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At the end of two years he purchased the property which he now owns. He has one hundred and sixty-eight acres on section 3, Bradford township, and he has improved this with substantial buildings and modern machinery, making the place productive and valuable to a high degree. He makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock and he has important interests of this char- acter.
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