History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., Part 61

Author: Hill, H.H. (Chicago) pbl
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, H.H. Hill
Number of Pages: 910

USA > Illinois > Lee County > History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc. > Part 61

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of regard from his pupils was a large bible, presented to him at an exhibition at the close of examinations for the first year. Mrs. Scott died May 11, 1862, leaving three children : Frank G., born September 1, 1858; Lois M., March 2, 1860, and Lizzie D., April 18, 1862 (deceased July 28, 1862). She was born in Huntingdon county, December 14, 1837. She was a member of the Presbyterian church, to which Mr. Scott also belongs. In 1868 Mr. Scott bought a lot and built his house in the village of Franklin Grove. He sold his farm in 1874, upon which he had lived four years previous to the death of his wife.

W. C. ROBINSON, merchant, Franklin Grove, was born in central New York December 26, 1817. His parents were Nathan and Mary (Minor) Robinson. He was reared about a mile and a half from the Pennsylvania state line in Chautauqua county, New York, into which his father moved at an early day and cleared np a farm. It is here that our subject has his first recollections. His father's ancestors were Scotch ; his mother's English. His father raised eleven children, seven of whom are living. In the fall of 1841 W. C. Robinson left home with a brother and went to Louisiana. Here they chopped wood during the follow- ing winter. In the spring he came to Ogle county, his brother return- ing home via New Orleans. In the winter of 1842-3 Mr. Rob- inson again went down the Mississippi. Returning in the spring of 1843, he bought a claim to his farm in Sec. 10, T. 21, China town- ship, and built on it. The following year he married Harriet Hansen, eldest daughter of Charles Hausen, sr. Their issue are: Sophia (wife of Robert McCoy, Iowa), Henry, George, and Anna (Mrs. Frank Mentzler). Mrs. Robinson died April 10, 1872. In 1856 Mr. Robin- son engaged in the drug business, having rented his farm. In 1874 he went into partnership with his son George W., who was married in 1874, to Mary E. Spiller, by whom he has one daughter. Mr. Robinson is a republican, but voted the democratic ticket till Fre- mont's candidacy.

DAVID R. MINOR, farmer, Franklin Grove, was born in the State of New York, in 1827. His father, Cyrus R. Minor, was born in Massa- chusetts, in 1782, of English ancestry. In 1836 David Minor came with his parents and their family to Lee county, where they settled. The family consisted of Lockwood, Albert, Sarah, Daniel, and David. Lockwood died in Missouri, September 1870. Daniel died in Califor- nia in 1852, aged twenty-five years. Cyrus Minor died in 1846. In 1854 David Minor married Cina Whitmore. Their children are Daniel, Iva, Rose, David H. and Cyrus E. Mr. Minor is living on his farm in Sec. 12, T. 21, China. This is land he claimed in an early day, and worked several years before he was married. He belongs to the Evan-

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gelical church. Is a republican in polities. His father was a whig. The latter was thrice married. The mother of David Minor died in 1839.

DAVID F. LAHMAN, farmer and stock dealer, Franklin Grove, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1837. He is the son of Christian and Elizabeth (Emmert) Lahman. He came west with his parents in 1843. He was reared a farmer. In 1863 he married Anna Brugh. Lulu is their only child. Mr. Lahman has lived on the home- stead since 1858, at which time he came in possession of 205 acres. He built his barn in 1867, his house in 1869, which with his other build- ings, cost about $7,000. Mr. Lahman now owns 532 acres in Lee county, 165 in Ogle, and an interest in a large tract in Story county, Iowa. Mr. Lalıman is a man of great business activity. For about ten years he made stock shipping his business. He does but little of this now. From his farm he turns each year from 500 to 800 head of stock. For several years lie has been extensively engaged in poultry dealing, handling from $18,000 to $20,000 in one season in this traffic. There are but few men who do as much business as Mr. Lahman. He has five brothers and two sisters living, having lost his parents, one brother, and one sister. Mrs. Lahman is a member of the German Baptist church.

ISRAEL ZUG, butcher, Franklin Grove, was born in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, in 1827. His parents were John and Margaret (Lane) Zug. His fathers ancestors were from Switzerland, and his mother's from Holland. His father was born in 1797, and died in 1873; his mother was two years older, and died in 1871. Israel Zug followed farming, his father's occupation, till he was about seventeen years old ; then he learned the tanner's trade. In 1850 he came to Peru, Illinois; lived there one year, and then bought 80 acres of land about eight miles north of that city, and farmed it till 1855. In 1856 he came to Franklin Grove, and the following year opened a meat market. He has followed this line of business ever since, and has established a good trade. In 1848 Mr. Zug married Rachel Johnson. Their issue are seven : John, Nathan, Alfred, Mary, Frank, Hattie, and Llewellyn. John, when about fifteen or sixteen years old, left home, went east, and enlisted in a New York artillery company. He was in the service about one and a half years; subsequently learned the mason's trade, and was married in Memphis, Tennessee, to an Iowa lady. About six years ago, while working in St. Joseph, Missouri, he wrote to his wife, at Virgil City, that he would be home in a few days. He started from St. Joseph at the appointed time, but was never afterward seen by his family and friends. His fate is a mystery. He is thought, however, to be dead.

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JOHN D. SITTs, merchant, Franklin Grove, was born in Oneida county, New York, in 1831. His parents were George and Harriet (Bartlett) Sitts, who were born and reared in the Mohawk valley. His mother's ancestors came from Holland, and his father's from Germany, at an early date in the history of New York. His father was a contractor on the Erie canal. In 1849 he came to Chicago and engaged in a commission business, which he followed till his death in 1863. Jolin Sitts, his son, received a common schooling and learned the molder's trade. In 1854 he came to Chicago and in 1857 to Franklin Grove. Here he engaged in the lumber business, in the firm of Sitts, Thomas & Co. This he followed chiefly for about ten years. In 1872 he began in the grocery business, having previously farmed in Lec and Ogle counties. In 1863 he married Eva E. Lincoln. Their children are Henry B., Gertie G., Bertha C. and Helen E. Mr. Sitts has been four years a notary. He is a republican. His mother died in 1844. Of his father's family of nine only four are living, one sister and two brothers in Chicago.

D. B. SENGER, editor, Franklin Grove, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, July 8, 1849; son of Daniel and Elizabeth (Bayer) Senger. His father was a shoemaker. He had a family of four, of whom our subject is the eldest. The family settled at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1865. Here the junior Senger worked on the shoemaker's bench and attended the common schools till he was twenty-one years old. Then he went to Western College, attending there nearly two years, the last in 1873, in the meantime teaching to support himself. In 1876 he bought from T. W. Scott the Franklin Grove " Reporter," having first come to Lee county in 1873. He was married in 1875, to Susan A. Buck. He has two children, a son and daughter.

JOSIAH HUGHES, hotel keeper, Franklin Grove, was born February 15, 1808, in Otsego county, New York ; son of Willian and Sally (Dilly) Hughes. His father was a farmer, and of his family of eight sons and three daughters Josiah was the eldest. On New Year's day of 1831 he was married to Lydia Barry. Ten years later his mother died at Waterville, and in 1844 he came with his wife, two children and his father to St. Charles, Kane county, Illinois. In this vicinity he bought a farm, which he worked a short time. He then moved into the village of St. Charles and dealt in stoves, etc. On September 1, 1854, he arrived in Franklin Grove. The following year he built the Hughes Hotel, a three-story stone building, at a total cost of nearly $9,000, having bought the premises from C. Lahman for $1,800. Mr. Hughes has had five children, only one of whom, the eldest, lives : Oscar (married and living in Henderson county, Kentucky), Julia (Mrs. Trumbull, died

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aged twenty-eight years), and three who died young, the eldest being only five years.

GEORGE FISHBACK, carpenter, Franklin Grove, was born in Alsace, then part of France, in 1828. His parents, George and Mar- garet Fishback, had four children, of whom he was the eldest. His father died when he was eight years old. He came to New York city in February of 1853, and worked three years at his trade; thence he came to Lee county, Illinois, and in 1857 he bought property in the southwest part of the village of Franklin Grove. Here he has since lived and followed his trade. In 1854 he married Rose Schweisberger. Their children number five: George, Lena, Margaret, John, and Rose. Frank died aged one year. George, Lena and Margaret are married and living in Dixon.

JOHN L. STROCK, mechanic, Franklin Grove, was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1841. His parents were Samuel and Esther (Lahman) Strock. Their family consisted of three sons and two danghters. John Strock lived on his father's farm till he was sixteen years of age, when he learned the carpenter's trade. In 1861 he came to Mount Carroll, Illinois, and on June 6 of the same year enlisted in Co. C, of the 92d Ill. Inf. They were mustered at Rockford, Illinois, September 4, 1861, and were sent to Perryville, Kentucky. The sub- ject of this sketch was in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Nashville, Stone River, Chattanooga, with Sherman to the sea, and around to Baltimore. He was shot through the right arm Nicky-Jack Gap, losing thereby a part of the radius near the wrist. He was mustered out July 15, 1865. In 1867 Mr. Strock came to Franklin Grove and worked at his trade till 1876, having in the mean- time built many of the fine barns that adorn this region of the country. He is now in company with the Lahman Brothers in the manufacture of the Great Western Seeder, having recently rented the large wind- mill which he built in 1876, and in which he has a half interest. In 1869 he married Abbie Withey, of Lee county, by whom he has two children : Warren, born January 1870, and Irmie, August 1876. Mr. Strock belongs to the order of Masons and in politics is a republican.

JOHN BLOCHER, Franklin Grove, was born in Gettysburg, Pennsyl- vania, February 23, 1833; son of John and Catherine (Bishop) Bloch- er. These parents had a family of five sons and six daughters, six of whom are living. John Blocher, the father, was an 1812 militiaman. Subsequently he moved from his farm near Buffalo, New York, to Gettysburg. The youth of our subject was spent on a farm until he was sixteen years of age, subsequently in a woolen factory. In 1852 he came to Lee Center, and after remaining a year returned east. In 1856 he married Ann Gear and came back to Franklin Grove. He

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began in the daguerreotype business, which he followed till 1869, when he began the "Reporter." In 1872 Mrs. Blocher died, leaving four children to monrn her loss. Their names are William, Flora, John H. and Charles. In 1875 Mr. Blocher was married to Elizabeth Wattles. Their issue are two: Claude and Ella. Mr. Blocher is a member of the Presbyterian church, as was his first wife, his present wife being a Methodist. He is a republican, and belongs to the order of Odd-Fellows.

LOUIS M. BLAISDELL (deceased) was born in Kennebec county, Maine. His father was a farmer and ship-builder. Three of his father's family grew to maturity, the youngest of whom was Louis. None of the family are now living. Our subject left his home when quite young, for his health. He was in the south, Chicago, and in 1843 came to St. Charles, Illinois, and began in the sale of dry-goods. In Decem- ber, 1847, he married Rosalind Durant, who came with her mother and two brothers from Vermont to St. Charles in 1845. Mr. Blaisdell removed with his family to Franklin Grove in 1854. Here he began in the lumber business, and subsequently dealt in grain. His house, on Spring street, was one of the finest in the "new town " of Franklin. Here his family are now living. Mr. Blaisdell was successful in busi- ness. At the time of his death (March 1863) he owned a 160 acre farm in Bradford township, besides considerable property in the village of Franklin Grove. His family are Lonis, born June 1850; Alice, March 1857; and Rosalind, November 1861. Mr. Blaisdell was of Scotch descent; belonged to the order of Masons, and was a republi- can. Mrs. Blaisdell's mother's father was from Rhode Island ; Eng- lish descent. Her mother was born in 1798; her father in 1800.

OSCAR G. SMITH, grain dealer, Franklin Grove, was born in Frost- burg, Alleghany county, Maryland, September 17, 1850. His parents are Joseph E. and Henrietta (Merrill) Smith. The former came from Hesse-Cassel, Germany, when he was sixteen years of age. Of a fam- ily of nine only four live, two sons and two daughters. The family came west in 1852 and settled in South Dixon, Lee county, where they have since lived. In 1874 Oscar Smith married Margaret C. Burket, of Lee county. Their issue are Mabel, born July 6, 1875 (deceased July 3, 1876), and Walter Lee, January 1878. In 1877 Mr. Smith sold his farm of 130 acres, in Nachusa township, for $7,000, and en- gaged in the grain-buying business, at first at Dixon with Captain Dy- sart, and since 1878 in Franklin Grove. The same year he bought the Williams warehouse property for $1,600, and in 1879 built his new warehouse at a further cost of abont $1,400. In the spring of 1881 Mr. Smith entered into partnership with Robert C. Filson, who was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, in 1847. He is the son of

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Samuel and Mary E. (Miller) Filson, who had a family of four. The father died in August 1863. Robert Filson came to Lee county in 1870; was married in 1872, to Nancy J. Shorrar, by whom he has four children : William S., Mary E., Minnie V. and Edwin C.

JOSHUA LAHMAN, farmer, was born June 1839, in Washington county, Maryland, into which his parents moved from Adams county, Pennsylvania, a few years before. He is the son of Christian and Elizabeth (Emmert) Lahman. He was reared a farmer. In 1843 he eame with his parents to Franklin Grove. In September, 1861, he en- listed in the 34th Ill. Inf., Co. C. He was in service two years; was wounded in the arm and thigh at Murfreesboro, Tennessee ; was sent to the hospital at Cincinnati, where he remained nearly six months ; he was mustered out June 13, 1863. For two years after the war Mr. Lahman walked on crutches, and thinking that he would never recover the use of his limbs he learned harness-making. Three years he ran a harness shop in Iowa; he was there married to Hannah M. Batschel- ett. She was born in Illinois, but went to Iowa when but ten years of age. In 1868 our subject came back to Lee county and began farming. He now owns 240 acres in Secs. 11 and 12, T. 21, China. In 1879 he built a fine brick house. He has a family of four children : Edgar R., born October 11, 1867; Clifford E., February 8, 1869; Elizabeth, July 22, 1875, and Clara F., October 19, 1877.

JOSEPH LAHMAN, farmer, Franklin Grove, the oldest member of one of the most prominent families in this part of Lee county, was born January 24, 1833, in Adams county, Pennsylvania. His parents, Christian Lahman and Elizabeth Emmert, were both of German an- eestry. Two Lahman brothers settled in Lancaster county, Pennsyl- vania, about 1700. In 1843 Christian Lahman and his family settled on the north side of Franklin Grove, nearly opposite the Dunkard church, on the place now owned by David Lahman, his son. In 1856 Joseph Lahman married Lorenda Diehl, who died April 28, 1879, leaving five sons and three daughters, the fruits of their married life : Fremont D., born November 1856 ; Oliver D., April 1858; Florence J., May 1860; Roscoe D., July 1862; Frank E., December 1864 ; Ella J., January 1868 ; Charles E., January 1872; Grace, May 1874 ; In February of 1881 Mr. Lahman was married, in Pennsylvania, to Mrs. Susan B. Gitt, of Adams county. Both belonged to the German Baptist church, in which Mr. Lahman is an ordained elder. He owns about 800 acres of land in Lee and Ogle counties, besides about 400 acres in Iowa. He is living a little west of the village of Franklin Grove, on the S.E. ¿ Sec. 2, T. 21, where Lockwood Minor first settled. Here Mr. Lahman has lived for about fifteen years. Previous to this Mr. Lahman ran a mill on the creek for about sixteen years.

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CHINA TOWNSHIP.

GEORGE W. HEWITT, M.D. (deceased), was born in Middleburg, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, December 23, 1830. He was the son of G. W. and Margaret (Conkleton) Hewitt, to whom were born four sons and three daughters. His medical studies were pursued under Dr. Samuel Chew, of Baltimore. At the same time he attended lectures at the University of Maryland, where he graduated in 1854. On the first of May of the same year he settled to practice medicine at Frank- lin Grove. Early in his practice he took a high rank in his profession. In 1871 he was appointed a delegate from the Illinois State Medical Society to the American Medical Association. During the late war Dr. Hewitt served as surgeon in 34th reg. Ill. Vols. He was on the staff of Col. Kirk when he was promoted to brigadier general, with whom he served for some time as brigadier surgeon. He was uncom- promisingly devoted to his profession ; he was a member of the Amer- ican Medical Association, and an honorary member of the California Medical Society. In the best sense of the word the doctor was a philanthropist, ever anxious to avail himself of every opportunity to acknowledge the common brotherhood of humanity and fatherhood of God. In accordance with his convictions, and as a means to the end he had in view, he united with the Masonic fraternity. He was made a Master Mason at Lee Center, August 30, 1857; took his chapter de- grees at DeKalb, August 11, 1859, and received his commandery degrees at Sycamore, May 9,1866. He was a charter member of Franklin Lodge, No. 264, also of Nathan Whitney Chapter, and at his death was an active member of the commandery at Dixon. On September 25, 1856, he was married to Miss Caroline Davis Miller, with whom he lived until November 19, 1863, when she died, leaving him two sons, aged five and three years respectively. During the last illness of his la- mented wife she and the doctor were together received into the Pres- byterian church on their profession of faith. On September 1, 1879, a team which Dr. Hewitt was driving ran away with him, throwing him out against a creek bridge and precipitating him into a creek twenty feet below. He received injuries in this fall from which he only partially recovered. October, 1880, he received his first stroke of paralysis; the second, January 5, 1881, caused his death on the 12th of the same month. Henry M. Hewitt, eldest son of the above, was born August 24, 1857, in Franklin Grove, Lee county. He received his preparatory education at Normal and Evanston, Illinois; graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois; and after this attended medical schools in the city of New York and on the continent of Europe. In September, 1879, he returned to his home at Franklin Grove, where he is now practicing medicine. His brother, George W.

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Hewitt, born July 31, 1859, is in the Union Law School, of Chicago, from which he expects to graduate in 1882.

JOIN LEAKE, farmer, retired, was born in Leicestershire, England, April 17, 1808. His father, William Leake, and mother, Clarissa (Chapman), daughter of Daniel Chapman, were also natives of Eng- land, and there died. His grandparents on his father's side were Wil- liam and Mary Leake, also of English birth and burial. Mr. Leake was raised a son of toil in the true sense of that word. Farming has- occupied his time in chief, yet after arriving at manhood he also en- gaged in milling. He was married December 2, 1836, to Miss Hannah Skermer, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Cooper) Skermer, both of English birth. Mrs. Leake is one of those women of industry for which old England is so noted. This union has been blessed with six children : Clarissa, Mary A., William, Susanah, John H. and Joseph T. Influenced by the flattering reports from America sent them by relatives, Mr. and Mrs. Leake also set sail about September 1, 1843, on the sailing-vessel Garriek, commanded by Capt. Kiddy. After about a month's voyage they reached Chicago, where Mr. Leake con- tracted with John B. Tinker to convey self, family and baggage at a low rate to Dixon's Ferry. Arrived here Mr. and Mrs. Leake imnme- diately began the work of the pioneer in the southwest corner of what is now China township, where they still live. They have become in good circumstances and good standing in the community.

WILLIAM GRAVES, farmer and stock raiser, Franklin Grove, is a son of William and Sarah M. (Bostwick) Graves, and was born in the State of New York, February 19, 1839. He was reared on a farm, with only such school advantages as were afforded in his boyhood days. In 1853, in company with his mother, one brother and one sister, he came to Illinois, and settled for a short time in Newark, Kendall county, Illi- nois, but in November, 1854, they came to Lee county, and settled per- manently in China township, on Sec. 15, T. 21, R. 10, where our subject now owns a fine farm of 200 acres of well improved land. Feb- rnary 15, 1870, he married Miss Martha A., daughter of Evans C. and Harriett A. (Whitmore) Thomas, of Franklin Grove, Lee county, Illi- nois. She was born March 17, 1848. They are the parents of two children living, Grace and Louis C. Mr. Graves is now actively en- gaged in stock raising as well as farming. He is one of the live men of Lee county, and takes an active part in any enterprise that tends to the mutual improvement of his own interest or that of the community in which he lives.

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VIOLA TOWNSHIP.

The voters of T. 38 N., R. 1 E., met at the house of Moses Van Campen on the 2d of April, 1861, and nominated Abram Van Campen clerk pro tem, and Simeon Cole moderator. They being duly elected, proceeded to the business of organizing the town of Viola. Polls opened and the following first town officers were duly elected. Fifty- two ballots were cast, a majority being: for supervisor, Samuel L. Butler ; assessor, Simeon Cole; town clerk, Samuel Vasburgh ; con- stable and collector, John Melugin; justice of the peace, Henry Marsh ; commissioners of highways, William Holdren, Ralph E. Ford, and Moses B. Van Campen ; for poor-master, Evins Adrian, and for pound-master, John Melugin. The names proposed for the town, But- ler, Elba, and Eldorado. Previous to this the town was called Stock- ton, the name being given on account of the large numbers of stock being herded by Robert M. Piele, and others who were also on the creeks with large herds of cattle. The first town officers were sworn in and their bonds given to the name of Stockton.

At a meeting of highway commissioners of the towns of Brooklyn, and Stockton, held May 11, 1861, for the purpose of dividing road on the line between towns thirty-seven and thirty-eight, or very soon after, the name of this township was changed to Viola, the names pro- posed at the previous meeting having been found to conflict with other township names in the state.

The soil of this township is a rich loam, having a sand and gravel subsoil at a depth of from seven to fifteen feet; the drainage is by wide and deep ditches leading toward and through the inlet swamp. The surface is, for two miles on the east and the same on the south, rolling ; the balance that is tillable is flat and even in surface. About three- quarters of this township is under cultivation ; the remaining quarter is known as the inlet swamp.

The beautiful natural grove situated in the southeast corner of Viola township, half a mile west and same distance north of the southeast corner, is divided into lots of from 1 to 60 acres. It contains about 320 acres. In an early day, or when first settled, it was called Guthrie's Grove, after William Guthrie, its first settler, but is now called and is marked on most maps as Little Melugin Grove. In early times it was sometimes called Lawton's Grove, after William Lawton, who was an early settler. The Big Melngin is also a beautiful natural grove, partly in Brooklyn township, and one half or more in Viola, there being about one section or 640 acres in Viola. This is also divided up into grove lots of 3 to inore acres.

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Willow creek is the only natural water stream in Viola township. There are two other " runs" called dry runs, water being in them only at wet seasons of the year. These all empty into the inlet swamp. The wells of this township are of an exceptionally pure and cool nature and reached at a depth of from ten to thirty feet, giving always a plen- tiful supply of this needed article. This township was first settled in 1834 at Guthrie, or as it is now called Little Melugin Grove, by William Guthrie. The first buildings were put there on the extreme south end of the grove and built by William Guthrie; the first wagon roads were anywhere to the nearest point over the then vast and open prairie, but soon after settlement and organization they were laid out on section lines, or mostly so by the elected highway commissioners. The north and south roads ran through the township, the east and west only a part of the way through, partly on account of the inlet swamp.

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History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., Part 61

Author: Hill, H.H. (Chicago) pbl Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, H.H. Hill Number of Pages: 910

Author: Hill, H.H. (Chicago) pbl
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, H.H. Hill
Number of Pages: 910