History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., Part 80

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 80

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CHRISTOPHER. VANDEVENTER, farmer, Lee, son of John and Mary (Boyer) Vandeventer, was born in Erie county, New York, in 1815. His grandfather Vandeventer was captain of a company of rangers in the revolution, which did duty as scouts for Gen. Washington. His grandfather Boyer was a soldier in the same war. Both these fought at the Cowpens and in several other battles. His father served on the frontier in the war of 1812, invaded Canada under Gen. Van Rensselaer,

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

and helped storm and capture the British fort at Queenstown, October 13, that year. The subject of this sketch was raised a farmer, but took up the carpenter and joiner trade, and followed it most of the time during his early life. On September 6, 1838, he was married, in Michigan, to Miss Miranda Salisbury, who was the mother of four children : Irwin (dead) and Edwin (twins), William and Christopher, and died in 1845. His second marriage was with Mrs. Rozillow Low, June 6, 1846. The children by this union were Mary E. (dead), Martha (dead), Ellen J., Eber R. (dead), Isabell, James and John (dead). This wife died September 27, 1858, and he married again, December 1, same year, Mrs. Ann Baker. By her first marriage she had ten children; by the last, one, Mary Alice. Her death oc- curred January 24, 1874. Mr. Vandeventer's fourth marriage was to Mrs. Elizabeth Braithwaite, on February 11, 1875. By the first lins- band she was the mother of the following children : Maria Elizabeth, Sarah Ella, Caroline (dead), Laura, Emily, Ida, Ada, and Louis P. Mr. Vandeventer has been commissioner of highways of Willow Creek township, and school director in his district eleven years. As an Odd-Fellow he belongs to Spartan Lodge, No. 272, at East Paw Paw, and to Paw Paw Encampment, No. 52. He has passed all the chairs in the lodge, and in polities is a democrat. His farm of 182 acres, valued at $11,000, contains never-failing wells and springs, and is the best watered farm in the country. He has an orchard of choice fruit unequaled in this region. His sons, William and Christopher, volun- teered and served for three months at the beginning of the war, and fought at the battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861. The latter reën- listed for three years, and served his full time. Irwin entered the service in the fall of 1861, for three years, and was color-bearer of his regiment ; he fought at Forts Henry and Donelson, and at Shiloh, where he was taken prisoner by the rebels and confined until the follow- ing June, when he was released and died the same month of typhoid fever, at Huntsville, Alabama. Eber enlisted in the regular army just after the war, and went to Fort Scott, and from thence to Fort Stan- ton, New Mexico, where he died.

JAMES C. HOWLETT, farmer and stock raiser, Paw Paw Grove, son of Horatio G. and Amanda M. (Canfield) Howlett, was born in Onon- daga county, New York, March 22, 1837. When six months old he came with his father to Chicago, then to Dixon, and finally, in 1839, to his present home at Allen's Grove. He was well prepared with a practical education for the business of life. His earlier instruction was obtained in the log cabin schools of the neighborhood. His first term was in one part of the Shoudy treble log house, and his teacher was a Miss Nettleton. His next preceptress was Laura Brace. At a

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later date he was a pupil of Bobby Walker, who had a school near the old Robinson place .. This knight of the ferule was excellent both as a scholar and teacher, and was fond of quoting Bobby Burns, which he had at his tongue's command. Mr. Howlett finished his studies at the Lee Center and South Side academies. In 1860 he went to the Rocky Mountains. He taught three terms of school in Missouri, and was in that state at the breaking out of the war. In June, 1861, he enlisted in a company which was recruiting there, and was appointed orderly sergeant ; but not being mustered into the service, and sus- pense and inactivity ensuing, he came home, driving through with a herd of cattle, and barely escaped being taken by guerrillas. This company was afterward accepted and cut to pieces at Wilson's creek, where two-thirds of the men were killed. Before his departure from Missonri he spent an evening with Gen. Price, and on his arrival at Quincy saw the first rebel flag captured in that state. On August 6, 1862, Mr. Howlett volunteered in Co. K, 75th Ill. Inf., and served till the close of the war. He fought at Perrysville, and his regiment was engaged at Stone River, Chickamauga, Rocky Face Ridge, Resaca, and elsewhere on the Atlanta campaign, and the subsequent service in Tennessee against Hood, ending in the battles of Franklin and Nashville. The last half of his term was served in the assistant adju- tant-general's office, where he had charge of the clerical force. He was one of thirty who competed for the position ; all having sent specimens of penmanship, he was selected for the detail. One of his duties was to go through the brigade every evening and obtain a list of the casualties, in which duty he was often very much exposed. On his return home he went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and was with his brother several months in the post-office. His marriage to Sarah Jane, daugh- ter of James Fowler, of Shabbona, occurred April 13, 1867. To these parents five children have been born, namely, Mary, George G., Amanda B., Wilbur and Florence C. Mr. Howlett is a republican, and takes a lively interest in the success of his party, and contributes his personal influence, which is by no means limited, to keep it in power. For many years he has been a member of the republican cen- tral committee for Willow Creek township. He has filled the office of supervisor five terms, town clerk four, collector one, and is present incumbent of the office first named. He is well known as an experi- enced and efficient school teacher.

HORATIO G. HOWLETT, retired, Paw Paw Grove, is the son of Par- ley and Phebe (Robbins) Howlett. He was born in Onondaga, Onon- daga county, New York, August 31, 1809. His father was a native of Vermont, and one of the earliest settlers in Onondaga county. His mother was born in Connecticut. Mr. Howlett enjoyed good oppor-

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

tunities for securing an education, and did not let them pass unim- proved. He took a course of studies at the Onondaga and Homer academies, and is now one of the five only living ones who were fellow students at the latter institution when he was there. In his twenty- first year he and a brother engaged in salt manufacture at Geddes ; at the end of a year they sold out and went to merchandising for another year. On his twenty-first birthday Mr. Howlett was united in mar- riage with Amanda Malvina Canfield, of Syracuse, with whom he lived in great happiness until August 3, 1850, when she was taken from him by death. Not long after his marriage he settled on a farm, which he sold when he came west in 1832. In January of that year he emigrated ; he started for Chicago, and had his goods shipped there by way of the lakes, but on reaching Niles, Michigan, was taken sick and compelled to remain at that place till his resources were exhausted by exorbitant charges. His parents were wealthy and he could have obtained assistance from them by making known his condition, but he disdained to do this, and had his effects sent back to Niles. Here he was appointed deputy sheriff on his recovery, and filled this office and remained in the town three years. In 1835 he came to Chicago and opened a meat market, near the spot where the Tremont House now stands. At that time there was but one white woman in the place. He got control of all the butchering business and secured a driving trade, Indian and emigrant patronage being very large. George Smith, since one of the heaviest bankers in the city, and Alexander Mitchell, the railroad magnate, of Wisconsin, had a little brokers' office, and Mr. Howlett deposited with Mitchell every night his wildcat funds, in which business was then mainly transacted. The first day his receipts were $60, the second day $400, and at the end of thirty days $3,000. All that he ever got back into his hands was the small sum of $60. In the autumn of 1837 he left Chicago and came to Dixon, where he re- sided two years. A few log cabins and two frame buildings stood at that date in the town. In 1839 he settled at Allen's Grove, where he has had his home until the present time. He purchased a claim of 160 acres on Sec. 36, for $1,000. The land was not surveyed into sec- tions till two or three years afterward. Mr. Howlett boarded the sur- veying party when the work was done in this neighborhood. Aside from his interests in farming since he came here, he has been an active and influential business man. At one time in the early history of the county he kept hotel in Dixon ; about 1854 he went to merchandising in Paw Paw, in company with A. B. Sears, who decamped, leaving him to pay the heavy debts of the firm; he was justice of the peace ten years and constable four. While trading in Paw Paw his children were living in the east, attending school; from the time his eldest

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WILLOW CREEK TOWNSHIP.

daughter returned to keep house for him he has since had at least one of them with him. He was the parent of nine children, four of whom died in infancy. George Marvin, agent for the Etna Life Insurance Company, lives at Fort Dodge, Iowa; James C. resides on the home- stead ; Harriet Amanda is the wife of O. J. Le Moin and lives in Mich- igan ; Cornelia Caroline married Cornelius Vosburg, of Pennsylvania, and Frances Maria, relict of Samuel Foresman, is now Mrs. George Platt, of Kansas. The first two years that Mr. Howlett lived here he cast the only whig vote in the precinct, and for his devotion to his principles, the democrats, when speaking of his politics, designated him by an inodorous adjective. The polls were held alternately at Malugin's Grove and Paw Paw Grove.

S. W. WEEKS, hardware merchant, Lee, was born in Kendall county, Illinois, in 1852. His parents, Wier and Susan (Sunde) Weeks, emi- grated from Norway in 1846, and settled at Big Grove, Kendall county, where both are still living. He was engaged in general farm work until seventeen years of age, and then was attending school the next three years at Luther College, in Decorah, Iowa. From twenty to twenty-eight he taught in the common schools. In the spring of 1880 he became a partner with Christopher & Jorgens, of Lee, in the grain trade, and in December disposed of his interest and formed a partner-

ship with O. J. Heng, under the firm name of Weeks & Heng. They purchased the hardware store of Stephens & Prestegard, and began trading just at the close of the year. Mr. Weeks was married October 29, 1878, to Miss Trudy J. Rogde, of Willow Creek township. She was the daughter of Jacob and Elsa Rogde. They have one child, Elsa Sophia, born in 1879. Mr. Weeks is a republican, and he and his wife are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church.

WILLIAM H. BRYANT, postmaster and implement dealer, Lee, was born in Wyoming township in 1847. His parents were Obed W. and Sarah (Lindsey) Bryant, with whom he lived at home on the farm until he was sixteen, when he went to Hillsdale College, Michigan, and devoted himself to study four years. The following year he spent in Sedalia, Missouri ; returning to Illinois, he was engaged in 1869 in farming, and in 1870 went to Idaho and Oregon. In these places he passed a year sight-seeing and prospecting in the mines. In 1871 he returned home and farmed until the autumn of 1872, when he went into a general store at Meriden, La Salle county, and on March 30, 1874, associated himself in partnership with R. A. White, of Lee, buying out the interest of Henry Moore. They did a general merchandising business, and extended it to include agricultural implements. After three months Mr. White retired, and was succeeded as postmaster by Mr. Bryant, who also continued the trade three years alone. At the

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

end of that time he sold his stock of goods, and has since confined his business to the post-office and the sale of farming implements and machinery. Mr. Bryant was united in marriage with Miss Ada M. Haish September 15, 1881. She is a communicant in the Methodist church. He was collector of Willow Creek township in 1877, and in 1879 he was the republican nominee for county treasurer against Isaac Edwards, of Amboy, but failed of election by sixty-four votes. He is an Odd-Fellow, and was a charter member of Fidelia Lodge, No. 635, I.O.O.F., which was organized in Lee, and in 1880 removed to Steward. Mr. Bryant is a whole-souled man, of pleasing manners, gentlemanly and accommodating.

OLE G. JELLE, farmer, Lee, fifth in a family of seven children by Gonder and Ayer (Jorgendatter) Jelle, was born in Norway, September 13, 1850. He attended the common schools of his country and worked as a laborer until his emigration in 1871. Two of his brothers arrived later, Atlaak and Ole, the youngest in the family. He settled in this township, and has made his home here until now. April 24, 1881, he was married to Mrs. Amelia Prestegard, widow of George Prestegard, and daughter of Lars Oleson. She was married the first time February 2, 1876, and her husband died May 30, leaving two children : Georgiana, born November 14, 1876, and Isabella Lida, November 21, 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Jelle both belong to the Norwegian Lutheran church.

EDWIN EDWARDS, farmer, Lee, son of Einner and Christina (Einner- son) Edwards, was born in Norway in 1828. He was in the military service of Norway seven years ; he was drafted when twenty-one, and drilled and did garrison duty. A part of the time he was permitted to be at home. When in camp he at first received six cents per day, but toward the close of his service got ten cents, and the last year his wages were increased to twelve cents. When Amund Hilleson emi- grated to this country, in 1851, Mr. Edwards took his place with the employer, Thurstan Hoagland, and worked for him two years as $10 per year. After that, until he came over himself, he worked indepen- dently as a laborer. In 1858 he embarked for America in a sailing vessel in command of captain Bunaway, and was two months in cross- ing the ocean. He settled in Bradford township, where he was married in the autumn, soon after his arrival, to Miss Johanna Ritter, who was born in 1832. She took passage with him from Norway. Mr. Edwards, like most of his countrymen, is a good example of what industry, steady habits and careful management will do in this free land of equal privi- leges. When he came here he had but $14 to begin with, but he had learned not to shirk hard work, and he laid hold at once of the tools of labor with a fixed resolution to make a respectable home, and whoever visits his place cannot fail to mark how completely he has succeeded.

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He has an intelligent family growing up around him to receive from his indulgent care the comforts and benefits which he has marshaled around him. In the spring of 1862 he came to this township and bought eighty acres of land, the N. ¿ of N.E. Į Sec. 11. He has since added 120 more, and values the whole at $10,000. Both himself and wife are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and he is one of the trustees. Their children are Gabried Hanson, Nellie Henrietta (now Mrs. Barney Jacobson), Julia, Edwin, John Michael, Lena, Anne, Edwardena, and Swan Arnoldos. Mr. Edwards is a republican in politics.

WILLIAM GROVE, farmer, Lee, son of William and Cornelia (Clay) Grove, was born in Frederick county, Maryland, in 1834. His father was a soldier in the last war with Great Britain. In 1837 his father settled in Knox county, Ohio, and there his mother died when he was twelve years old. Shortly afterward the family removed to Seneca county, and some years subsequently to Fulton county, where they lived ten years. In 1863 they left Ohio and came to Willow Creek township, and bought from 'Squire Ira Durin the farm on which Mr. Grove is now living. It is the N.W. ¿ Sec. 21, and is valued at $8,000. Here the senior Grove died May 3, 1872. The subject of this sketch was married February 17, 1861, to Miss Amanda Gee, daughter of Henry and Eliza (Williams) Gee. She was born May 20, 1844. Mr. Grove enlisted in December 1863, in company H, 100th Ohio Vols., and was attached to the first brigade, third division, 23d army corps. He served on the Atlanta campaign and was engaged in a good deal of small fighting; he returned to Tennessee under Thomas to resist Hood's invasion, and fought at the battles of Franklin and Nashville. Before this, late in the autumn of 1863, he marched to Knoxville, to the relief of Burnside. After the destruction of Hood's army in Tennessee he went with his corps to North Carolina and helped to finish up the rebellion. He was discharged at Toledo, Ohio, in July 1865. Mr. Grove is a republican. His nine children are all living, and are named as follows : Emma C., Mary C., Nora L., Ada I., Ella C., George P., John H., Nellie Frances, and Clyde Arthur.

LEWIS P. BOYD, farmer, Lee, third son of Peter and Sarah (Olson) Boyd, was born in Norway, December 7, 1838. He emigrated to America in 1857, and stayed the first summer in Kendall and Bureau counties. Next year he went to Iowa, where he remained till the au- tumn of 1859, and then went to Mississippi for some months. Coming back to Iowa the following spring, he left there in June for Kendall county, Illinois, and there enlisted in July in Co. D, 36 Ill. Inf. He campaigned in Missouri, fought at Pea Ridge, marched from there to Cape Girardeau and Pittsburgh Landing, and reached Corinth just as the rebels had evacuated the town. The following summer he was in

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

Mississippi, campaigning; he was taken from Ryan by boat and rail to Cincinnati when Bragg marched to the Ohio; from there he fell down to Louisville by boat, joined in Buell's pursuit, and fought at Perry- ville. Subsequently he was in the engagements at Stone River, Chicka- mauga and Missionary Ridge; marched to Knoxville; campaigned some the following winter in the Cumberland mountains; went on the Atlanta campaign ; fought at Buzzard's Roost, Resaca, and Lost Moun- tain, and was wounded June 18, being shot through both thighs. He lay in the general field hospital several days, then was sent back to Chattanooga, then to Nashville, next to Jeffersonville, and from thence to Camp Butler, Springfield. At Jeffersonville, through the careless- ness of surgeons and nurses, gangrene got into his wound and he was nearly sacrificed to bad and harsh treatment. His time expired four months before he was discharged from the hospital, in January 1865. He could not abandon his crutches for a long while ; still has to use a cane sometimes, and draws a pension from the government. In 1867 he began farming on his own land; in 1870 he went to his present home of eighty acres, which is worth $4,800. In 1871 he was married to Miss Sophia Johnson. Their children are Sarah Louisa, Isabel Me- linda, Anna Maria, Olena Martinda, Peter Oly and Engerborg. Both parents are members of the Norwegian Lutheran church, and Mr. Boyd is a republican. He has been constable four years, collector three years, and is now road commissioner and school trustee.

JOHN YETTER, steward, is one of the most prominent citizens of Willow Creek, and a leading farmer and stock raiser. He is the only living son of John G. and Katrina (Meyer) Yetter, and was born in Germany in 1835, where he was reared to farming, and received a good common school education. In the spring of 1854 Mr. Yetter emigrated to this country, and stopped nine months in New York, where he was joined by the rest of the family,-two parents, four brothers, and seven sisters. They all came to Putnam county, Illinois, and engaged in farming there on rented land. In the fall of 1859 Mr. Yetter came to this township and purchased 160 acres where his house stands, being the S. ¿ of N.E. { and the N. ¿ of S.E. ¿ Sec. 5. His re- lations soon followed him here, except a sister, who resided in the West but one summer and now lives in New York, and his mother, who died in 1857. His father has since lived with him. He was mar- ried in the autumn of 1857, to Miss Lena Schoenholz, by whom he has a large and interesting family of nine children : John P., Carl T., Lena E., Mary M., George, Jacob, Fred, Franklin B. and Julia May. Mr. Yetter and his wife and the two eldest daughters are members of the German Evangelical or Zion church, and he is a republican. Of public offices, he has held that of supervisor eight years, and of road commis-

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sioner three. He owns 312 acres of land, 192 where he lives, and 120 just over the line in Alto township, which is improved with valuable buildings ; large, perfect and imposing willow hedges, and is stocked completely with the best patterns of farm implements and machinery ; but it is as a stock farm that it is most important, for Mr. Yetter, dur- ing some years, has made the breeding of thoroughbred cattle a spe- cial feature of his business. His horses are of high grade, and all his animals give evidence of his care and skill in this favorite branch of industry which he has chosen. His farm is valued at $20,000. No man in this section of country is more widely and favorably known than Mr. Yetter, and the portrait which is given of him in this work, we feel sure, will give great satisfaction to his numerous friends.

GEORGE L. ERBES, farmer, Lee, oldest child of George and Elizabeth (Grossardt) Erbes, was born at Knox Grove, in this county, April 28, 1855. He has always worked at farming and attended the English schools. He was married May 23, 1876, to Miss Mary E. Hackmann, who was born May 2, 1855, in Peru, Illinois. Her father, William Hackmann, came to America in 1849 a single man ; in 1850 he returned to the old country and was married to Henrietta Klute. The couple then came and settled in Peru. Mr. and Mrs. Erbes have had two chil- dren, George William, born October 9, 1877, died November 7, 1879 ; and Elizabeth Sophia, born April 9, 1880. They both belong to the German Lutheran society, which worships at the Byrd school-house. Mr. Erbes is a republican.

GEORGE ERBES, farmer, Lee, eldest son of George and Philopena (Schwabenland) Erbes, was born in Germany in 1824. He was a farm laborer in the old country. In 1853 he emigated to America and settled at once in Peoria county, Illinois, where he lived four years, the first three working as a hand, and the next year renting land. His marriage with Miss Elizabeth Grossardt, who was born also in Germany in 1826, and came to this country in 1853, was in 1855. In 1857 Mr. Erbes moved to Lee county, and lived three years at Knox Grove. In 1860 he brought his family to Willow Creek, and bought the E. ¿ of S.E. ¿ Sec. 11. He began here with very small means, as he himself says, " a poor man, almost without property," but with true German pluck and industry he struggled along, aided by his equally persevering wife, until they now have a home of 240 acres, valued at $12,000. He subsequently bought the W. ¿ of N.E. { Sec. 14, and the N. ¿ of S. W. ¿ Sec. 12. They have raised four children and have one dead : George L., who married Miss Mary Hackmann, Fred W., William D., Kate E., wife of John Greene, and John P. (dead). The whole family belongs to the German Lutheran church. Mr. Erbes is a republican and an esteemed citizen.

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HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY.

OLE W. OLESON, farmer, Lee. In 1847 his father, Lars Oleson, emigrated from Norway to Bradford township in this county. He was a carpenter in his native country, and soon after his arrival obtained employment as a workman in the Grand Detour plow-works, and was there with Col. L. Andrews four years. While working in that place he saved enough money to buy forty acres of land in Bradford town- ship in partnership with Lars Hilleson. On quitting the plow factory he bought more land, and finally had 120 acres, which he improved. He was married in that township in 1848, to Isabel Hilleson, and the first child born to them was the subject of this notice, in the same year. Besides Ole they had three others, Holden, Amelia, now Mrs. Ole G. Jelle, and Betsy, wife of Ole Rogde. In the spring of 1863 the father moved with his family to Willow Creek and settled on Sec. 10, where he still lives. He owned here at one time 480 acres, but sold 160 and divided the remainder among his four children, all of whom reside in this township. Ole was married in February 1868, to Miss Augusta Oleson, who was born in Norway October 4, 1849. Her mother died when she was eleven years old, and two years later she emigrated with her father, who died five years afterward. The three children of these parents are a son and two daughters, Isabel Florence, Lewis, and Gure. Mr. Oleson and his wife belong to the Norwegian Lutheran church. He owns the S.E. ¿ Sec. 10, valued at $8,000.

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History of Lee County, together with biographical matter, statistics, etc., Part 80

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