USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 22
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Mr. and Mrs. Harper became the parents of four children. Lillian is the wife of Rufus Johnston, a farmer in Missouri. Annie married Clark Butler, a farmer of Lee county. Jennie
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married Amzi Van Canpen, who died in 1907 and is buried in Spokane, Washington. They had three children, Edith, Arthur and Bessie. Ella, the youngest child of Mr. and Mrs. Harper, died in infancy. Mrs. Harper still retains the homestead and in its cultivation has demonstrated her excellent business ability and enterprise. She has many friends in Lee county to whom her excellent traits of mind and character have greatly endeared her.
W. J. EDWARDS.
For over thirty years W. J. Edwards has been engaged in the livery business in Amboy, his native city, and during the inter- vening period has gained success and prominence in business circles and a place among the men of marked ability and substan- tial worth in the community. Since 1908 he has been supervisor of Amboy township and the duties of this office he discharges in a capable and progressive way. He was born September 15, 1855, and is a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Saul) Edwards. The father was the first livery man in Amboy, establishing an enterprise of this character here in 1855. He was also a railroad contractor and aided in the construction of the Illinois Central, the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul and the Toledo & St. Louis Railroads. He was a stanch republican in his political beliefs and held various public offices, including those of sheriff and county supervisor. During the Civil war he was horse buyer for the government and he proved always competent and trustworthy in positions of responsibility. He died in April, 1900, at the age of seventy-two, and is buried in the Prairie Repose cemetery near Amboy. His wife survives him and makes her home in that city.
W. J. Edwards acquired his early education in the public schools of Amboy and afterward attended Chicago University, which he left at the age of nineteen. He then engaged in the liv- ery business and in railroad contracting under his father and he has been connected with the former occupation for a period of more than thirty years. He has now an excellent establishment and controls a large patronage, for his prices are at all times rea- sonable and his business methods above reproach.
In Amboy, in May, 1880, Mr. Edwards married Miss Rose Nannery, a native of New York city. Mrs. Edwards passed away
W. J. EDWARDS
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June 4, 1910, and is buried in St. Patrick's cemetery in Amboy. She left five children: Elizabeth, a graduate of Sinsinawa Col- lege and also of the State Normal School; Annie, residing at home; Evelyn, a graduate of the Amboy high school; and John and Wil- liam, who are assisting their father.
Mr. Edwards is a republican in his political views and is a member of the board of aldermen of Amboy. He is treasurer of the Lee County Fair Association and has important fraternal affiliations, being high priest of the Masonic chapter and a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks of Dixon. During a period of connec- tion with business interests of Amboy covering thirty years and more he has been found honorable, faithful and reliable in his business relations and has an enviable reputation, based upon a long period of upright and straightforward dealing.
E. C. WHITE, M. D.
E. C. White, M. D., actively engaged in the practice of medi- cine and surgery at West Brooklyn since 1894, entered upon the work of the profession when a young man, and his ability and power have developed with the passing years. He has lived in Lee county since 1873, being less than two years of age when the family removed to Illinois. His birth occurred in Chateaugay, New York, near Lake Champlain, November 4, 1871, his parents being Carey and Eunice (Cobb) White, who on coming to the middle west settled on a farm near Paw Paw, where the father car- ried on general agricultural pursuits. He became an active repub- lican and a recognized leader in his party in this locality. The family numbered eight children: Clarence, who died in 1887 at the age of twenty-two years and was laid to rest in the Paw Paw cemetery; Carey J., who died in 1892 at the age of thirteen years; Edwin J., who follows farming near Paw Paw; Alma, the wife of Jacob Fischer, residing at Scarboro, Illinois; Marion, a practic- ing physician of Dixon; David Chandler, whose home is in Men- dota; E. C .. of this review, and Merton A., a hardware merchant at Leland, La Salle county, Illinois.
E. C. White acquired his primary education in the schools of Paw Paw, being graduated from the high school with the class of 1890. His professional course was pursued in the University of
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Iowa, from which he was graduated in 1894, the M. D. degree being conferred upon him. Immediately afterward he came to West Brooklyn and opened an office. From the beginning his success has been gratifying and has grown with the passing years, as his experience and reading have added to his knowledge and promoted his efficiency. He also conducts a drug store and is postmaster of West Brooklyn.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Dr. White has been an earnest republican, never faltering in his allegiance to the party. He is clerk of the town board and for ten years has been one of the directors on the board of education. He is interested in all that pertains to the general welfare and is the champion of every measure that he deems beneficial to the com- munity. Fraternally he is well known as a Mason and as a charter member of the West Brooklyn camp, M. W. A.
In Fulton, Illinois, on the 1st of January, 1896, Dr. White was united in marriage to Miss Carrie Johnson, a daughter of Oliver P. and Mary S. Johnson. Her father was one of the prominent old settlers and his father was the founder of the town of West Brooklyn. Oliver P. Johnson died June 8, 1905, and in his pass- ing the county lost one of its honored early settlers. Dr. and Mrs. White have become the parents of three children: Clar- ence, a graduate of the high school of West Brooklyn; and Geneva and Earl C., who are attending school. Dr. White erected his office and business building in which the postoffice is located. He and his family attend the Methodist Episcopal church, and its teach- ings are the guiding element in their lives. He belongs to the Lee County, Illinois State and American Medical Association and is interested in all that pertains to the advancement of the profes- sion, that promotes its activity and adds to its efficiency in check- ing the ravages of disease. He is an energetic, enterprising man in all that he undertakes and does not stop short of successful completion.
WILLIAM VOGELER.
Among the residents that Germany has furnished to Lee county is William Vogeler, who makes his home on section 21, Reynolds township. He owns valuable property in this township, improved with all the accessories and conveniences of the model
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farm of the twentieth century. His birth occurred in Germany, May 15, 1857, his parents.being Sebastian and Elizabeth Vogeler, both of whom were natives of the fatherland, but in 1868 they came with their family to the new world and settled in Lee county, Illinois, where their remaining days were spent. They became the parents of seven children, of whom four are yet living.
William Vogeler was a little lad of eleven years when he accompanied his parents on the voyage across the Atlantic. He was reared in the usual manner of farm boys and continued to assist his father in the cultivation of the old homestead until twenty-five years of age. He was then married to Miss Anna M. Pippert, who was born in Germany, October 13, 1857, and is a daughter of John and Eva Dorothy Pippert, who were likewise natives of Germany and came to America in 1881. They estab- lished their home in Lee county, where they continued to reside until called from this life. Of their family of twelve children five are living.
Following his marriage William Vogeler purchased the farm upon which he now resides, on section 21, Reynolds township, and in addition he also owns one hundred and sixty acres on section 20 and one hundred acres on sections 22 and 27, Reynolds township. He has improved all of his land, and his home place gives evi- dence of the careful and practical supervision of the owner. There are substantial buildings, well kept fences and the latest improved machinery, and the farm presents a pleasing appearance with its well tilled fields, giving promise of golden harvests. He also owns a home in Ashton.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Vogeler have been born ten children: Charles C., born May 22, 1883; Catherine E., who was born August 2, 1884, and is the wife of Charles Mall, now of Ogle county, Illinois; William, born July 14, 1885; George E., born June 13, 1887; Bert O., born August 23, 1889; Henry W., born May 21, 1891; Emma, who was born March 26, 1893, and is the wife of Boyd T. Butler, of this county; Vera K., who was born January 6, 1895; Malinda A., who was born November 17, 1896, and died on the 13th of June, 1897, and Gertrude M., born March 19, 1899. Mr. Vogeler and his family are members of the Evangelical church, in which he is serving as a trustee. His political support is given to the republican party, and he has acted both as school director and road commissioner. For about forty-six years he has lived in Lee county, witnessing its growth and development, and he can relate many interesting points relative to its history. He
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has lived to see remarkable changes since he arrived and has ever manifested a helpful attitude toward projects for the public bene- fit. In his business he has displayed many of the sterling traits of his German ancestry and has become a substantial farmer of the community.
FRANCIS LEFFELMAN.
Since 1867 Francis Leffelman has lived in Lee county and dur- ing the intervening period has risen by the force of his ability and enterprise from comparative poverty to a position among the ex- tensive landowners and prosperous farmers of May township. He has witnessed a great deal of the growth and development of the community and has contributed in substantial measure to gen- eral progress. He was born in Herofeld, Bavaria, Germany, July 4, 1842, and is a son of John and Margaret Leffelman, also natives of the fatherland. John Leffelman emigrated to America in 1852 and settled in Adams county, Pennsylvania, where he remained until his death, which occurred in Pleasant Valley in April, 1863. His wife afterward moved to Iowa and her death occurred in Westphalia, that state, in 1901.
Francis Leffelman acquired his education in the district schools of Adams county, Pennsylvania, laying aside his books at the age of fourteen. He afterward worked as a farm laborer until 1862, when he enlisted in a Maryland regiment for service in the Civil war. After being at the front for a short time he, in 1863, moved to Ogle county, Illinois, where he worked by the month for Frank Simons, a well known farmer in that locality. At the end of nine months Mr. Leffelman rented a farm in Ogle county and after three years moved to Lee county, where he rented a tract of land from William Long for six years. He then purchased one hundred and twenty acres, borrowing the money with which to pay for his land. With characteristic determination and enterprise he ap- plied himself to the development of this place with such success that he had soon paid all of his obligations, and at intervals there- after he bought more land until he finally acquired the eight hun- dred and eighty acres which is his today. Upon this he made excellent improvements in buildings and equipment and engaged extensively in general farming and stock-raising. He has now,
FRANCIS LEFFELMAN
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however, rented practically all of his land to his sons, although he still makes his home upon the farm.
At Freeport, Illinois, Mr. Leffelman married Miss Catherine Miltenberger, who died in 1865, leaving four children: John, who is assisting his father; George, a hardware merchant of Sublette; Ann, the wife of Cornelius Vossen, a farmer in Sublette township; and Sister Mary, who was a teacher in the Franciscan Order and who died in Milwaukee. On the 1st of February, 1867, Mr. Leffel- man was again married, his second union being with Miss Cath- erine Lempey, a daughter of Philip and Christina Lempey, natives of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, who came to Illinois in 1860 and settled in Ohio Station. Both have passed away and are buried in St. Mary's cemetery, May township. To Mr. Leffelman's second union were born four children: Michael, a farmer and stock- raiser in May township; Margaret, the wife of Jacob Kohler, a farmer in Sublette township; Joseph, engaged in agricultural pur- suits in May township; and Louise, the wife of Andrew Steffens, of Sublette township.
Mr. Leffelman is a member of the Catholic church, and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He was road com- missioner and school director for a number of years and proved as capable and trustworthy in public office as in all other relations of life. A residence of forty-six years in Lee county has made him widely and favorably known and has brought him into promi- nence as a farsighted business man, an able agriculturist and a representative citizen.
CHARLES H. GONNERMANN.
Charles H. Gonnermann, a progressive and successful young farmer of Bradford township, was born here October 1, 1883, a son of Henry and Katherine Gonnermann, of whom further men- tion is made elsewhere in this work. He was reared upon his father's farm and acquired his education in the public schools of the township, spending his time when not engaged with his books aiding his father in the operation of the homestead. When he became of age he took charge of the home farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 3, Bradford township, and this he has since successfully operated. He has a valuable property pro- vided with excellent buildings and equipment, and he carries
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forward the work of its development in a practical and pro- gressive way.
On the 20th of January, 1910, Mr. Gonnermann was united in marriage to Miss Nellie A. Keacker, who was born June 20, 1885, in Bradford township, this county, a daughter of William and Minnie Keacker, the father a native of Germany, the mother of Lee county. The parents came to America at an early date and still reside in Bradford township. Mr. and Mrs. Gonnermann are members of the German Lutheran church, and Mr. Gonnermann gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He is still a young man but he has already become well known in agricul- tural circles and will undoubtedly be carried forward into still more important relations with farming interests of his native township.
CHARLIE GLEIM.
During the entire period of his active life Charlie Gleim has been engaged in agricultural pursuits and since 1892 has been the owner of one of the finest farms in Lee county, his holdings com- prising two hundred and eighty acres on section 28, Ashton town- ship. He was born in Germany on the 28th of October, 1858, and is a son of Adam and Louise Gleim, also natives of that country. They came to America in 1867 and located in Lee county, Illi- nois, where both passed away. To their union were born nine children, of whom eight are yet living.
Charlie Gleim was reared upon his father's farm and acquired his education in the district schools of this locality. When he was twenty-one years of age he began working as a farm hand and so continued for six years. In 1892 he became an independ- ent farmer, buying the property which he now owns. This com- prises two hundred and eighty acres on section 28, Ashton town- ship, and Mr. Gleim has made excellent improvements upon it. providing it with good buildings and modern machinery. He makes a specialty of raising and feeding stock and has built up an extensive business along this line.
On the 11th of April, 1887, Mr. Gleim was united in marriage to Miss Mary Reitz, a native of Lee county and a daughter of Adam and Barbara Reitz. Mr. and Mrs. Gleim have five chil- dren: Lena B. D., who was born January 28, 1888, and who is
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now the wife of Fred Bork, of Ogle county, Illinois; William H. born January 18, 1890, at home; Frank T., whose birth occurred November 17, 1891; Alta M., born August 8, 1898; and Amanda D., born December 12, 1903. The parents are members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Gleim gives his political allegiance to the republican party, taking an intelligent interest in the advance- ment and growth of Lee county, where he has resided for many years. He is a man of enterprise and ability and has, therefore, been carried forward into important relations with agricultural interests of this locality.
F. D. GEHANT.
No history of West Brooklyn would be complete without men- tion of the Gehant family, for representatives of the name have been most active and prominent in the development, agricultural and commercial, of this part of the county. Through all his busi- ness career F. D. Gehant has borne an untarnished name, and it has been through close application and unfaltering perseverance that he has won the success that now enables him to live retired. His birth occurred near Ashton, January 30, 1870, his parents being Claude and Mary (Antoine) Gehant. The father's resi- dence in Lee county dated from 1835, only three years after the Black Hawk war, when settlers in this part of the county were very few. Everything was yet in a primitive condition, and the work of progress and improvement seemed scarcely begun. In fact wild game of all kinds was to be had and there were still many traces of the Indian to be found in this part of the state. In June the prairies were starred with a million wild flowers and in December were covered with a dazzling unbroken sheet of snow. The father became the owner of forty acres of wild land and began the development of a farm. The machinery and implements were comparatively crude at that day and much of the work had to be done by hand, but as the years passed on the labors of Mr. Gehant wrought a marvelous change in the appearance of his place, and as his financial resources increased he kept adding to his property until he was the owner of three hundred and twenty acres, although he later sold forty acres of this. He brought his fields to a high state of cultivation and added many modern improvements to his farm. His life's labors were ended in death
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in 1901, when he had reached the age of seventy-two years. He had long survived his wife, who died in 1883, at the age of thirty- three years. They were worthy people highly esteemed by all who knew them, and they left behind many friends. They had four children, of whom one died in infancy, while Euphemia, who became the wife of A. F. Jeauguenat, died January 25, 1900, at the age of thirty-three years. Arthur, the only surviving member of the family beside F. D. Gehant, is a farmer residing on the old homestead.
At the usual age F. D. Gehant entered the district schools and therein mastered the common branches of learning before putting aside his text-books at the age of seventeen years. The succeed- ing five years were devoted to work upon the home farm, and when twenty-two years of age he purchased a tract of land of one hun- dred and sixty acres near Thornton, Iowa. He spent three years upon that farm, after which he sold the property and returned to his native county. At West Brooklyn he purchased a general store, which he conducted for several years, meeting with good success in the undertaking. He next entered the banking business of the Henry F. Gehant Banking Company, being associated therewith for more than a decade, at the end of which time he purchased a hardware store at Viola, Mercer county. This he conducted successfully for eighteen months and then sold at a good profit, although he is still the owner of the building. Return- ing to his native county he bought seven acres of land near West Brooklyn, which he is now laying out as an addition to the town. He is a very progressive man readily recognizing and utilizing opportunities, and whatever he undertakes he carries forward to successful completion. In addition to his other business activi- ties he was one of the promoters of the West Brooklyn Farmers Elevator Company, of which he was treasurer for four years and is still one of the stockholders.
It was at West Brooklyn on the 7th of June, 1893, that Mr. Gehant was united in marriage to Miss Mary Henry, a daughter of Leopold and Delphine Henry, the former one of the pioneer agriculturists of the county, now residing in West Brooklyn. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gehant have been born six children: Leafy, who is a student in the Notre Dame University of Indiana; Claude, a high school pupil; Veronica, Cyril and Fintan, all of whom are attending school ; and Melvin, two years of age.
Mr. Gehant is an earnest republican in his political views, and his position upon any vital question is never an equivocal one.
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He has held the office of mayor of West Brooklyn for eleven years and was secretary of the board of education for an equal period. In both positions he made a splendid record of fidelity, loyalty and capability, and his worth is uniformly acknowledged through- out the community in which almost his entire life has been passed.
ISAAC EDWARDS.
Isaac Edwards was numbered among Lee county's most promi- nent citizens, becoming recognized as a successful business man, while in public life he contributed much to the general welfare through the faithful, conscientious and able manner in which he discharged his official duties. He was born July 31, 1828, in Somersetshire, England, a son of Marmaduke and Charlotte (Tavener) Edwards. The father was a shoemaker by trade and thus provided for his family, which numbered six children. The mother died in 1840, and the father afterward married again and had six children by the second union.
Isaac Edwards was the only one of the children of the first marriage who came to America, but two of his half brothers emi- grated to the United States Job, who located in Warren, Illi- nois, and William, of Amboy. The educational advantages of Isaac Edwards were limited. He was but twelve years of age at the time of his mother's death, and soon afterward he began to provide for his own support. He remained in England until 1850 and then came to America. Proceeding westward, he stopped at Elgin, Illinois, where he was employed on the construction of the Chicago & Galena Railroad. The following winter he did similar work in Indiana but in the spring of 1851 returned to this state, working first at Rockford and later at Pecatonica. He had three contracts on the construction of the Illinois Central Railroad and graded seven miles of that line. He afterward spent a short time at Forreston, Illinois, and subsequently came to Amboy, where he was employed on the construction of the Illi- nois Central Railroad until it was completed. He then engaged in the livery business and in general teaming. Subsequently he had contracts on the construction of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific: the Kansas City branch of the Alton; the Chicago & Pacific. and the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroads. He
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also devoted ten years to railroad work in Iowa but during this time still continued his business in Amboy.
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In 1879 Mr. Edwards was elected county treasurer but the board of supervisors questioned the sufficiency of his bond, al- though his bondsmen were several of the most wealthy farmers of Lee county. On referring the case to the states attorney he held that they could not accept a new bond after the 1st of December, and as they had assembled at the last moment no time was left to make a new bond and thus the office was lost. In 1882 Mr. Edwards was elected sheriff of Lee county and during the four years which he spent as the incumbent in that position he resided in Dixon. In the meantime his son conducted his livery business in Amboy until the expiration of the father's term of office. Dur- ing the Civil war Mr. Edwards furnished the government with many horses. He was an extensive dealer in horses and in addi- tion to that business he successfully carried on farming, owning over five hundred acres of good land. While carrying on his individual business affairs he likewise filled many offices, serv- ing for an extended period as county supervisor, as collector of city taxes and for several terms as mayor of Amboy. In his political views he was an earnest republican and at all times was public-spirited and active in support of interests pertaining to the welfare and progress of town and county.
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