History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 83

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 989

USA > Illinois > Logan County > History of Logan County, Illinois > Part 83

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Henry Niewold was born in Holland, September 26, 1834. In July, 1842, he came with his parents to America, settling in New York, on Staten Island, the same year. They lived there two years and then started for the West, via the Erie Canal and the Lakes, stopping near La Fayette, Indiana, over the winter, and in the spring of 1845 came with an ox team to this county and set- tled in what is now Sheridan Township. Henry Niewold lived on the old homestead, settled on by his father in 1845, till October, 1869, when he moved to the place where he now lives. He was married December 19, 1867, to Harriet E. Derr, who was born at Irish Grove, Logan County, August 2, 1845, her parents, Ezra and Margaret Derr, having come to this county from Logan County, Ohio, in 1843. Both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Niewold have had seven children, of whom six are living-Charles E., Annie M., James H., Onno T., Hattie, Isa, and Robert E. N. Hughey L. died March 30, 1879, aged three years. Mr. Niewold is a thorough practical farmer. His 310 acres of well-cultivated lands, with good buildings and improvements, show him to be a model farmer, everything about his home betokening care. He and his brother Onno in date of settlement are the oldest residents of the township. In his political views Mr. Niewold is a Repub- lican. Mr. and Mrs. Niewold and the three eldest children are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.

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878 HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

Onno Niewold, one of the oldest citizens of Sheridan Township, was born in Holland, May 13, 1837. His parents embarked with their family for America in 1842, landing at New York in July of that year. They lived on Staten Island till the fall of 1844, when they came West, spending the following winter near Lafayette, Indiana. Leaving his family there, the father, accompanied by his brother-in-law, John Siersema, and a Mr. Beukama started for Illinois. All made purchases in this township, but only Mr. Nie- wold settled on his land. In the spring of 1845, with two ox teams, he brought his family to the new home. The first few years the family was prostrated by sickness, and poverty stared them in the face, their last team going to pay expenses, but as the country be- came improved and the family acclimated health was restored. The father lived to see the country well developed, and his family settled in life. He died April 22, 1865, aged sixty years. The mother died many years previous, her death occurring March 1, 1848, at the age of forty-two years. They had a family of five children-Margaret, deceased; Henry, living in this township; Clarissa, deceased; Onno, whose name heads this sketch; and Theodore. The latter enlisted in Company F, Seventy-third Illi- nois Infantry, and died in the hospital at Nashville, Tennessee, December 22, 1862. Onno Niewold, our subject, has lived on section 19 since 1845, when his father settled here. The farm contains 160 acres, and shows excellent care and thrift, and in view of its good building improvements and fine condition of the surroundings it may well be called the model farm of Sheridan. Mr. Niewold was married Jannary 21, 1869. His wife was a native of Logan County, Ohio, born March 20, 1843. Her par- ents, Ezra and Margaret Derr, settled at Irish Grove, Logan County, in 1843. Both are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Niewold have three children-Nellie Alice, George W. and Onno H., all at home. In politics Mr. Niewold is a Republican.

Thomas H. Price was born in Talbott County, Maryland, Sep- tember 14, 1829. His parents, James and Ann (Hardin) Price, were natives of the same county, and there the father died in 1838, and the mother still lives, at the age of eighty years. . Our subject was reared to farm life and has always followed that vocation. In May, 1854, he left his native State and the 20th of that month reached Mason County, Illinois. He immediately began to work as a farm hand at $20 a month, and in 1855 began to work rented land, which he continued till 1860, when he came to Logan

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County and bought 160 acres of land on section 8, Sheridan Township, where he lived till 1881, when he bought his present home on section 17, of Joseph Warner. His home farm contains 160 acres of valuable land all under cultivation. Mr. Price has by constant and determined effort secured a good property, now owning 480 acres of choice land including his homestead and his first purchase on section 8. For twelve years he has served his township as road commissioner, and has fulfilled the duties of his office faithfully and efficiently. He has always cast his suffrage with the Democratic party on all national issues. Mr. Price was married April 29, 1856, to Jane S. Caldwell, a native of the State of Pennsylvania, born October 20, 1835, daughter of Brice Cald- well. In 1837 her parents located in Greene County, Illinois, and in 1855 moved to Sheridan Township, Logan County, where her father died June 20, 1882. Her mother still lives on the old homestead on section 8. Mr. and Mrs. Price have had nine children; but four are living-Mary, Martha, Nena and William, all at home. James died aged eight months; Letitia, aged four years; Frances, aged two years; Alice, aged five years, and Effie aged one month.

Adolph Rimerman was born in Hanover, Germany, March 3, 1838. When he was seven years of age his parents, Frederick and Frederika Rimerman, came to the United States, landing at New Orleans and thence coming to. Illinois, located in Mason County. When he was twenty-two years of age our subject com- menced working for himself on eighty acres of land given him by his father. In the spring of 1862 he came to Logan County and bought 160 acres of land on section 29, West Lincoln Town- ship, where he lived till 1879, when he sold and bought the farm where he now lives, on section 23, Sheridan Township. It is one of the best farms in the township, contains 520 acres of choice land all under cultivation, with one of the finest and most costly farm residence in the county, and the other building improve- ments are large and comfortable and in good repair. Everything about the place is indicative of the thrift and energy of its owner. Besides attending diligently to his own affairs Mr. Rimerman is an active worker in all that tends toward the development and improvement of the county. In school matters he takes an es- pecial interest, and the most of the time since living in Logan County has been a school director. February 6, 1862, he was married to Henrietta Gehlbach, who was born in Germany, March

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3, 1839, and in 1854 accompanied her mother, Mrs. Mary Gehl- bach, to the United States, and settled in Mason County, Illinois. Ten children were born to them, of whom six are living-Mary, wife of W. D. Gayle; Emma, Frederick, Victor, Clara and Min- nie. Willie died in infancy; Rosa, aged ten years; Annie, aged one year, and George, aged nine months. Mrs. Rimerman died September 24, 1883, aged forty-five years. Mr. Rimerman subse- quently married Mrs. Lucy (Haugenbaugh) Sheer, widow of John Sheer, who died August 14, 1882. By her first marriage Mrs. Rimerman has four children-Eugene, of Lincoln; Annie, Lillie and Frederick. She owns valuable city property in Lincoln. Mr. and Mrs. Rimerman are members of the St. John's Evangeli- cal Church, Lincoln. In politics he is a Democrat, but in local elections gives his suffrage independent of party. He is a mem- ber of Lincoln Lodge, No. 529, K. of H.

Adolph Schroeder was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, Decem- ber 27, 1830, the twelfth of thirteen children of Uhlrich and Min- nie Schroeder. His parents died in the old country, as have also all their children save a daughter, Mrs. Sophie Schnell, of New York State, and our subject. He was reared in his native country to the life of a farmer, and was there married, October 27, 1856, to Sophie Holms, who was born in the same province April 4, 1832. Not having the opportunities they desired in their native country for making a home for their children they determined to embark for America, the land of promise, and accordingly in De- cember, 1865, left their native home and landed in New York City, a few days before Christmas. From there they came im- mediately to Logan County, Illinois, and for eleven years rented land in West Lincoln Township. In 1876 they moved to Sheri- dan Township, still living on rented land till the fall of 1884. During all this time the end in view was a home of their own and to this end they labored and practiced frugality till they were able to see the consummation of their hopes. The fine farm of 173 acres on section 24 was bought of C. T. Stephenson. It is one of the best farms in the neighborhood, and the residence and farm build- ings are large and well built. Thus after years of self-denying toil Mrs. and Mrs. Schroeder have a pleasant home as their reward for labor, and are surrounded by all the comforts of life, with which to spend their last days. They have four children- Adolph, of West Lincoln Township, married Annie, daughter of William Rimerman; Reaky is the wife of Frank Rimerman, of

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West Lincoln Township; Charles and William are with the parents. The former married Sophie Shepler. In politics Mr. Schroeder is a Democrat. He and his family are members of the Lutheran church.

J. Frank Sisson is one of the leading agriculturists of Sheridan Township, public spirited and enterprising, and one of Logan County's most prominent citizens. He resides on section 13, where he has a fine farin of 400 acres all under cultivation, and his resi- dence and farm buildings are large and comfortable. He also owns a farm of 160 acres on sections 23 and 24. Mr. Sisson came to Logan County in 1867 and has since lived in Sheridan Town- ship. His father gave him 240 acres of land, which is a part of his present home, and he immediately began its improvement. He has been successful in his pursuits and by good management and frugality has accumulated his valuable property. He is well edu- cated, and on all matters of public and national interest is well in- formed. He is in politics an ardent supporter of the principles of the Republican party. In the spring of 1885 he was elected su- pervisor of Sheridan Township, and takes great interest in the fulfillment of the duties of his office. Mr. Sisson was born in Ma- coupin County, Illinois, October 30, 1847, a son of John W. and Martha Jane (Eaton) Sisson, the former a native of Virginia, born March 7, 1813, and the latter of Kentucky, born April 16, 1827. He was married March 9, 1870, to Eliza J. Myers, a native of Brown County, Indiana, born April 7, 1849, daughter of John H. Myers, who located in Menard County, Illinois, and there he and his wife died. Mr. and Mrs. Sisson have four children-John M., born September 20, 1871; Edgar E., February 6, 1874; Bessie J., August 7, 1880, and Emma C., April 1, 1884. Mr. Sisson's father, John W. Sisson, accompanied his father, Abner Sisson, to Jefferson County, Kentucky, in 1820, and from there came with his widowed mother to Macoupin County, Illinois, in 1837. Being the eldest son, he was her main stay and ministered to her comfort as long as she lived. He was married in Macoupin County, and to him and his wife were born ten children, eight of whom are living- Mrs. Susan S. Stephenson, of Seward County, Nebraska; Henry H., of Thayer County, Nebraska; J. Frank; Mrs. Louisa M. Bell, of Lancaster County, Nebraska .; Mrs. Emma C. Noble, of Jersey County, Illinois; Jessie M., Cyrus A., and Olive A., reside with their parents. Newton W. and Martha V. died in childhood. In

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882 HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

1850 the family moved to Jersey County, Illinois, and there the parents and younger children still live.

Van R. St. John is a native of Cayuga County, New York, born September 1, 1842, a son of Harvey and Eliza (Mills) St. John, of Niagara County, New York. When twenty years of age he left home and was employed as clerk in the mercantile establish- ment of Underhill & Lyon, in Red Creek, Wayne County, New York, from September 1, 1862, till September 1, 1864, when he enlisted and was assigned to Battery C, Third New York Artillery, stationed at Newbern, North Carolina. He was detailed as pre- scription clerk in the dispensary of Foster's General Hospital in Newbern, and was taken sick with the yellow fever, which in the winter of 1864 and 1865 raged fearfully in and about that city; was sent from there in June, 1865, to McDougal's Hospital, New York Harbor, and from there reached home on July 1, 1865. He commenced clerking again for Underhill & Lyon, August 1, 1865, and at the expiration of the year took a third interest in the busi- ness under the firm name of Underhill, Lyon & St. John. This firm continued two years, when Mr. Underhill sold his interest to the other partners, thus changing the name to Lyons & St. John. Two years later Mr. St. John bought Mr. Lyon's interest and con- tinued the business alone two years. Hethen admitted his brother as a partner in the business, but subsequently they sold out and Mr. St. John came West, and for a year lived at Atlanta, this county. He then lived a year at Jonesville, Michigan, and in July, 1875, returned to Illinois, and lived two years at Midland City, De Witt County. In the fall of 1877 he removed to the village of New Holland, where for two years he was in the employ of Coddington & Barrett, grain dealers, and in 1879, in company with Edwin Bur ton, bought his employers' business and conducted it under the firm name of Burton & St. John till January 1, 1884, when Mr. St. John became sole proprietor. He owns and operates an elevator and feed-mill. The former has a capacity of 14,000 bushels. He handles about 200,000 bushels of grain yearly. Mr. St. John was married in Red Creek, Wayne County, New York, September 20, 1866, to Jennie Turner, who was born in that county in 1842, a daughter of John Turner. They have four children-Winifred E., Myra May, and Alfred H. and Albert J. (twins). In politics Mr. St. John has always been identified with the Republican party. He was postmaster in Red Creek, New York, six years. He is a mem- ber and secretary of New Holland Lodge, No. 741, F. & A. M., and

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member of New Holland Lodge, No. 666, I. O. O. F., and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Robert Andrews Talbott, one of Logan County's citizens, was born at Sherburne Mills, Fleming County, Kentucky, November 5, 1825. His parents, Benjamin and Elizabeth (Johnson) Talbott, were pioneers of Sangamon County, Illinois, their pioneer home being made in 1826, within the present city limits of Springfield, and there the subject of this sketch was reared. Benjamin Talbott was a leading citizen of Sangamon. He was a man of sterling character and was esteemed by all who knew him for his many manly qualities. Soon after coming to Sangamon County he was appointed deputy sheriff under General Henry, sheriff of the county. In 1836 he was elected county recorder, which office be held till 1848, when that office was merged into that of circuit clerk. He was elected circuit clerk, holding that office four years, after which he served as recorder till his death. In early years, when Sangamon County comprised nearly one-third of Illinois, he was assessor for six years, executing unaided the duties of that office. Benjamin Talbott was born June 19, 1798, in Fairfax County, Virginia, and died at his home in Springfield, April 29, 1858. His widow survived till March 29, 1870. Of the six chil- dren born to them only two survive-Robert A., whose name heads this sketch, and Mrs. Martha Witmer. Robert A. Talbott was ed- ucated in the schools of Springfield, and in his youth learned the carpenter and joiner's trade which he followed till about twenty- six years of age. December 23, 1851, he was married to Miss Evelyn Robinson, a farmer's daughter, a native of Ithaca, New York. Her parents, James M. and Mary Robinson, who were early settlers of Menard County, Illinois, are both deceased. After his marriage Mr. Talbott engaged in farming, and was a resident of Menard County for ten years. In March, 1861, he came to Lo- gan County, and has since resided on section 26, Sheridan Town- ship. His farm, which contains 240 acres, is one of the best in the township, and his residence and farm buildings are noticeably good. All the building improvements have been made by himself. Mr. and Mrs. Talbott have four children living-Benjamin S., liv- ing near New Holland, in this township; Clara, wife of E. B. Maltby, of Lincoln; Bettie and William R., at home. Their eldest child, James H., died after reaching manhood, and Helen J., Mary and Lucy died in childhood. Mr. Talbott has, wherever he has resided,

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been a leading citizen, a man who exercises much influence with those with whom he comes in contact. Like his father, he was formerly a Whig, but since the organization of the Republican party has been an active worker of that political body. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1875. He takes an active inter- est in all that tends to build up and elevate his county, and is highly respected by all who know him.

Jonas White, proprietor of the New Holland House, is a popu- lar and obliging landlord, and his house is a favorite resort of the traveling public. He was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, De- cember 22, 1829, a son of Lloyd and Mary (Beaty) White. His father was born in Virginia, but reared in Ohio, and his mother was a native of Ohio, of Virginian parentage. He was the eldest of eight children. One brother, William L., lives in Mason County, Illinois; another, Albert, lives in Tazewell County, and two sisters and one brother, Lydia Ann, Mary Ann and Edward, live in Ohio. A brother and sister are deceased. His parents died in Scioto County, Ohio. When fourteen years of age our subject left the parental roof and from that time worked for his own sup- port. He lived in Ross County, Ohio, in the family of James Davis till his marriage, and then worked land for Mr. Davis till 1868, when he came to Illinois and has since lived in Sheridan Township, Logan County. He lived on a farm which he still owns, on section 16, till the spring of 1884, when he bought the hotel property in New Holland. Mr. White was married October 5, 1851, to Almira Steward, a native of Ross County, Ohio, born October 12, 1834, a daughter of Thomas and Cinderella (Phillips) Steward. To Mr. and Mrs. White have been born nine children- Alonzo, one of the proprietors of the Mount Pulaski Times-Citizen; Lutitia, wife of A. M. Caldwell, of Sheridan Township; John W., in the employ of the Chicago & Alton Railroad Company; George D., of Coddington County, Dakota; Emma, Willie, Ollie, Oscar and Hettie are at home; Orlando died aged two years. Mr. and Mrs. White are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of New Holland Lodge, No. 741, F. & A. M.

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CHAPTER XXXIII.

WEST LINCOLN TOWNSHIP.

LOCATION AND BOUNDARIES .- TOWNSHIP OFFICERS. - STATISTICS. - POLITICAL .- BIOGRAPHICAL.

The township of West Lincoln is situated in the west central part of Logan County, and contains two sections more than a con- gressional township. It is bounded on the north by Orvil Town- ship, east by East Lincoln Township, south by Broadwell Township and west by Sheridan Township. It is drained by Sugar Creek on the north, and the Kickapoo and the Salt on the south. The Champaign & Havana line crosses the township in an east and west direction. Half of the city of Lincoln is in the southeast corner of the township.

TOWNSHIP OFFICERS.

The following are the names of those elected to the various township offices each year from 1867 till 1885:

1867-Supervisor, John M. Garner; Clerk, William A. K. Cowdrey; Assessor, M. L. Higgins; Collector, Timothy H. Beason; Highway Commissioners, Henry Roach, Hiram Pierce and James M. Larison; Justice, Henry Sturgis; Constables, George Stevens and Thomas Bateman.

1868-Supervisor, John M. Garner; Clerk, William A. K. Cow drey; Assessor, J. O. Gilham; Collector, Timothy H. Beason; High- way Commissioners, Hiram Pierce and Morgan Barngrover; Justice, Jeremiah J. Green; Constable, George Campbell.

1869-Supervisor, O. C. Burton; Clerk, William A. K. Cowdrey; Assessor, William S. Sanders; Collector, Theodore Mittendorf; Highway Commissioner, Jacob Wilmert; Justice, George W. Wade.

1870-Supervisor, C. C. Burton; Clerk, William A. Coons; As- sessor, William S. Sanders; Collector, Levi Rosenthal; Highway Commissioner, Frank Rimerman; Justices, J. L. Ashley and B. R. Hathaway; Constables, Richard Bowman and Winfield Larison. (885)

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886 HISTORY OF LOGAN COUNTY.

1871-Supervisor, O. C. Burton; Clerk, W. A. Coons; Assessor, W. S. Sanders; Collector, Isaac Acken; Highway Commissioner, Joseph Jackson; Justice, Jeremiah J. Green; Constables, J. J. Russell and G. W. Poe.

1872-Supervisor, C. C. Burton; Clerk, W. A. Coons; Assessor, William S. Sanders; Collector, Isaac Acken; Highway Commis- sioner, John Wigginton.

1873-Supervisor, Robert Scarth; Clerk, W. A. Coons; As- sessor, William A. Sanders; Collector, Isaac Acken; Highway Commissioner, Bernard Ligg.

1874-Supervisor, Robert Scarth; Clerk, J. J. Green; Assessor, William Danker; Collector, Isaac Acken; Highway Commissioner, Joseph Jackson; Justices, J.J. Green and H. Rathbun; Constables, James Tullis and William Dady.

1875-Supervisor, William Rimerman; Clerk, Jeremiah J. Green; Assessor, William Danker; Collector, Isaac Acken; High- way Commissioner, Jacob Gehlbach.

1876-Supervisor, William H. Crain; Clerk, Henry Boy; As- sessor, James H. Russell; Collector, John McBride; Highway Commissioner, August Berger; Justice, Edmund R. Bowman; Constable, John H. Nichols.

1877-Supervisor, William H. Crain; Clerk, Henry Boy; As- sessor, J. H. Russell; Collector, Israel McCord; Highway Com- missioner, Joseph Jackson; Justices, George W. Downing, Joseph P. Evans and J. J. Green; Constables, Thomas Young, J. H. Nichols and Louis Ogle.

1878-Supervisor, Hiram L. Pierce; Clerk, John Miller; As- sessor, Isaac Acken; Collector, Israel McCord; Highway Commis- sioner, John Wigginton.

1879-Supervisor, Hiram L. Pierce; Clerk, John Miller; As- sessor, G. L. Ogilvie; Collector, Israel McCord; Highway Com- missioner, Chris. Lorenze; Justice, George H. Hawley.

1880-Supervisor, Hiram L. Pierce; Clerk, John Miller; Assessor, George L. Ogilvie; Collector, Israel McCord; Highway Commis- sioner, John Wolfell; Constable, Charles T. McAfee.

1881-Supervisor, Hiram L. Pierce; Clerk, Henry Rodgers; Assessor, Lewis Shaw; Collector, Israel McCord; Highway Com- missioner, William H. Crain; Justices, Jacob Bollin, John Miller and Denison Smith; Constables, James Emmons, George H. Hawley and J. J. Russell.

1882-Supervisor, Hiram L. Pierce; Clerk, Henry Rodgers; As-

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sessor, Lewis Shaw; Collector, Israel McCord; Highway Commis- sioner, William Rimerman; Justice, George Stevens.

1883-Supervisor, Hiram L. Pierce; Clerk, Henry Rodgers; As- sessor, Lewis Shaw; Collector, Israel McCord; Highway Commis- sioner, Herman Myers.

1884-Supervisor, Hiram L. Pierce; Clerk, Henry Rodgers; As- sessor, Lewis Shaw; Collector, Israel McCord; Highway Commis- sioner, William H. Crain.

1885-Supervisor, John Damarin; Clerk, Henry Rodgers; As- sessor, Lewis Shaw; Collector, Israel McCord; Highway Commis- sioner, William Rimerman; Justices, Jacob Bollin, I. Acken and John J. Russell; Constables, James Emmons, S. L. Irwin and Peter Springer.

STATISTIOS.

West Lincoln increased in population from 3,053 in 1870 to 3,488 in 1880. There are now perhaps 3,700 inhabitants.

Valuation and taxation of property are here shown for 1875 and 1885:

1875 .- Equalized valuation, $925,412; State tax, $2,776.24; county tax, $1,850.84; no town tax; school tax, $3,129.57; road tax, $1,594.30; road and bridge tax, $2,961.31; sinking fund, $974.81; county bond tax, $1,203.04; city and corporation taxes $9,168.92; back tax, $1,507.21; total taxes, $25,115.24.

1885 .- Equalized valuation, $528,592; State tax, $2,050.45; county tax, $3,807.98; township tax, $878.77; road and bridge tax, $4,393.84; county bond interest tax, $761.60; township bond interest tax, $4,862.51; township bond sinking fund tax, $5,858.45; cor- poration tax, $7,541.64; district school tax, $2,330.96; dog tax, $132; back taxes, $1,097.14; total taxes, $33,715.34.

POLITICAL.

West Lincoln has given steadily increasing majorities for the Democratic party ever since its organization, and now there are about two Democrats to one Republican. Following is the vote for President:

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History of Logan County, Illinois, Part 83

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co. Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Number of Pages: 989

Author: Inter-State Publishing Co.
Publication date: 1886
Publisher:
Number of Pages: 989