USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 13
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Mr. and Mrs. Fritz became the parents of the following children: Arthur, who married Edith Stopen, attended high school and business college, is at home, assisting his father in operating the farm; Minnie, who married Frank Anderson, a fireman on the Illinois Central Railroad, lives at Freeport, Ill., and has a daughter, June D .; Rudolph, who is
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in Wyoming; Florence, who is at home; and Raymond, who is also at home. Mr. Fritz and his family are members of the Lutheran church at Union.
JAMES GANNON.
James Gannon, one of the native sons of MeHenry County, and now a prosperous farmer of Grafton Township, was born on his present farm, on section 14, July 4, 1849, in a log cabin which is still standing, and which was built by his father in 1847. James Gannon is a son of Luke Gannon, born in Ireland, who came to the United States when fifteen years old, making the trip in a sailing vessel, which took six weeks to cross the ocean. After reaching this country Luke Gannon worked on the Erie Canal in New York state for a short time, and then eame on to Illinois, and was employed on the construction of the Illinois and Michigan canal. As soon as he had sufficient money, he came to McHenry County and spent a year in Dorr Township, and then in 1847, bought the farm now occupied by his son. His death occurred in 1866. He was married to Margaret Fallen, who was born in Ireland. Their children were as follows: John, who is deceased; Peter, who lives in lowa; Thomas, who lives in North Dakota; and Katherine Minning, Mary, Margaret and Michael, all of whom are deceased, having died within two years of each other.
James Gannon attended the local schools, and grew up on his farm. On June 3, 1884, he was married to Elizabeth Malone, also a native of McHenry County, born February 14, 1863, a daughter of Cornelius Maloné, who settled in this county prior to the Civil War. Mr. and Mrs. Gannon have had the following children born to them: John, James, who married Julie Williams, has two children, Mary J. and Katherine E .; Ed .; Margaret; Mary; Katherine; Stasia; Eleanor; and Stella, who died at the age of one year.
Mr. Gannon's farm comprises 160 acres of land, which he devotes to general farming and dairying, he milking about twenty-four cows, his herd containing thirty-five. It is interesting to note, in view of his success, that Mr. Gannon never took a drop of intoxicating liquor in his life. He is an independent Democrat and was two terms com- missioner, and many years a school director and trustee. As a farmer and citizen, he is held in the highest respeet, and his prosperity is de- served, for he has earned it by legitimate means.
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ORLANDO GARRISON.
Orlando Garrison was a retired farmer of Greenwood Township, but at one time was one of the leading agriculturalists of MeHenry County. He was born in New York state, July 16, 1841, a son of Noah and Sarah (Bates) Garrison, natives of New York state. Noah Garrison was a farmer, who came to Illinois in 1848, and settling in Greenwood Township developed a valuable farm, prior to his death, when he was forty-seven years old.
Orlando Garrison attended the local schools and learned practical farming from his father, following in his footsteps in the selection of a calling. For many years he was engaged in operating his 212 acres of land on section 13, Greenwood Township.
Mr. Garrison was married three times, his first wife having been Malinda Boon, who bore him two sons, William and Noah J. After her death, Mr. Garrison was married (second) to Anna A. Young, who died, leaving no children. The present Mrs. Garrison bore the maiden name of Frances Jackson Wickham. She was born in MeHenry County. By a former marriage she had a son Clifford who married Anna Weber, and they have three children: Walter D., Wilbert J., and Marion K. Mr. and Mrs. Garrison had no children. Mr. Garrison was a Republican, but never sought publie office. Ilis experiences went baek many years in the history of Illinois for his parents brought him to this state in 1848, before the present great railroad systems were built which now provide safe and rapid means of travel. Then the sturdy pioneers had to risk much, and brave dangers as well as discomforts in order to make the change from the east to the west. His parents traveled from Albany to Buffalo, N. Y., on the Erie Canal, and there re-loaded their household possessions on a lake boat which landed them at Waukegan, Ill., in 1848, and from there the trip to Greenwood Township, MeHenry County, was accomplished by wagon.
PROF. EDWARD A. GARDNER.
Prof. Edward A. Gardner, superintendent of the schools of Marengo, and one of the best-known educators in this part of the state, is recog- nized as the right man in the right place. Ile was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., December 29, 1861, one of the five children of Samuel
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and Jane (Hill) Gardner. Samuel Gardner was born in Pennsylvania, and was engaged in farming until his death in 1905.
Edward A. Gardner attended the common and high schools of his native state, and was graduated from the Merchant's Academy in 1880. He followed these courses with one at the Pennsylvania State Normal School, and immediately after his graduation, entered the educational field as an instructor. Later he came to Illinois, and for sixteen con- secutive years was superintendent of schools of Ford County. In 1914, he received his present appointment at Marengo, and since that time has concentrated his efforts upon the improvement and development of his school. He has 440 pupils and fifteen teachers under his super- vision, and all concerned have every reason to be proud of the progress made.
Professor Gardner was married to Miss Alice E. Ross, a daughter of George W. Ross of Westmoreland County, Pa., and they have two children, namely: Edward Ross, and Kenneth M. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. Professor Gardner belongs to the MeHenry County Teachers' Association and the Illinois Teachers' State Association. In politics he is a Republican. His fraternal con- nections are with the Masons and Modern Woodmen and Knights of Pythias. A scholarly man, he has devoted his life to h's profession, and his success proves that he decided wisely when he adopted it as his life work.
ROBERT B. GARDNER.
Robert B. Gardner, now deceased, was formerly actively engaged in farming, and owned and operated a fine farm at Solon Mills. He was born March 23, 1847, in a house that occupied about the same site as the present one, on the farm now owned by his son, W. H. Gardner. His father, William Gardner, was born in Scotland, and died November 1, 1893, his wife having passed away in March, 1889. They were married in Canada, and in 1837 came to MeHenry County, entering from the government the present farm of W. H. Gardner. A carpenter by trade, William Gardner erected the present house in 1850, and it is still a substantial structure. The children of William Gardner were as follows: James, who when twenty-one went to Baker City, Ore., and died there; Mary, who married John Merrill, a carpenter of Solon Mills, died there as did her husband; Robert, whose name heads this
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review; Willis, who remained on the homestead, died at the age of thirty; and Flora, who married Charles L. Turner, lived on a portion of the old farm until her death, after which Mr. Turner moved to Solon Mills, where he is still residing.
Robert Gardner remained on his father's homestead until he was twenty-five years old at which time he was married to Adela Turner, a sister of Charles Turner, who died one year later, leaving one daughter, Carrie A., who is Mrs. John Oxtoby of Hinton, Okla. . In 1878 Mr. Gardner was married (second) to Amelia H. Turner, an elder sister of his first wife, and a daughter of Robert L. and Mary (Lee) Turner, both natives of Yorkshire, England, who were married at Detroit, Mich., and in 1843 came to Chicago to join his brothers already located there. Mr. Turner operated a blacksmith shop and wagon shop at Chicago, until 1871, on the corner of Michigan and State streets, on the North Side, but being burned out during the Great Fire of 1871, he brought his family to MeHenry County. At that time Mr. Turner was building a mill at Solon Mills, but his losses prevented his finishing it and it still stands as he left it. He owned a farm near Solon Mills, and on it Mr. Turner died in 1887, aged seventy-eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Turner had twelve children, five of whom still survive, four of them residing in MeHenry County, and one son at Canyon City, Colo.
At his father's death, Robert Gardner bought the interests of the other heirs, becoming the owner of 175 acres of land of which he later sold forty acres, leaving 135 acres in the farm now known as the Gardner Farm. For five years he conducted it, and then went to Colorado for five years, having previously been there for ten years. Upon his return to McHenry County, Robert Gardner located at Solon Mills, where he died April 30, 1902. After his death, the farm was rented until 1910, when his son, Willis H., took charge of it. Mr. Gardner had spent a good deal of his life away from MeHenry County, but his main interests were centered here. He and his second wife early united with the Presbyterian church.
By his second marriage Mr. Gardner had the following children: William R., died at the age of twenty-one years at Rocky Ford, Colo .; and Willis Henry, who was born at Solon Mills, February 16, 1880. Flora J. died aged five years; and one died in infancy.
In 1907 Willis H. Gardner was graduated from the agricultural department of the University of Wisconsin, and for the subsequent three years was in the employ of the government as superintendent of dairy tests for an experimental station, and was engaged in making
.
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special butter records. In 1910 he came home and took charge of the farm for his mother, and is now operating it as a dairy property, keeping about twenty-five head of pure-bred Holstein cattle, and grows breeding animals for sale. Ile is a member of the County Farm Bureau, and is on the school board.
On March 24, 1910, Mr. Gardner was married to Addie Overton, a daughter of William J. Overton of Solon Mills, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Gardner have four children, as follows: William Bruce, Robert Willis, Eunice Ann and Ruth Amelia. Recently Mr. Gardner purchased a residence at Crystal Lake.
RICHARD GAULT.
Richard Gault was formerly a merchant at Marengo, and later engaged in conducting a general insurance and real-estate business, in partnership with his son, Paul, under the firm name of Richard Gault & Son. The firm represent one of the strongest and most reliable companies in the world, the Royal Insurance Company. Richard Gault was born in Posen, Germany, February 15, 1854, and came to the United States in 1870, locating at Chicago, where he remained until after the Great Fire. In October, 1871, he came to Woodstock, where he found employment with Fred Renich, with whom he remained until he formed a partnership with Charles Kremer, under the name of Gault & Kremer, and located near the depot at Woodstock. In 1874 Mr. Gault sold his interest to his partner, and returned to Chicago. Sub- sequently he came back to MeHenry County, and began working at his trade of cigarmaking at Marengo for Randolph Renwick, assisting Mr. Renwick to organize the factory, which he bought on July 4, 1875.
In 1885 Mr. Gault founded the Fair store, in 1904 replacing the old building with a new one, but in September, 1911, he sold the mercantile business. As early as 1885 Mr. Gault began selling insurance, and at the same time began acting as correspondent for the Woodstock Sentinel. Branching out from being the local agent for the Royal Fire Insurance Company, Mr. Gault built up a fine connection and his renewals alone yielded him a handsome income. Ten years ago he bought his residenec and office which occupy the site of the first building erected at Marengo, which was built in 1836 by Calvin Spencer and for some years was used as a tavern. It is in the center of the village at the intersection of
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State and Highway streets. After he gained possession of the property Mr. Gault rebuilt and remodelled the house and it is a beautiful home.
In 1875' Mr. Gault was married to Emmna Basuier, who died in 1883, having borne him two children, namely: Oswald E., who is a resident of Woodstock; and Alice, who married Andrew Swanson, died at Aurora, Ill., on Thanksgiving Day, 1918, of ptomaine poisoning, and is buried in the Marengo Cemetery. In November, 1885, Mr. Gault was married second to Maggie Farmer, who died May 3, 1917. The children of his second marriage were as follows: Paul, who is in business with his father; Ellen, who married Eugene MeNeaney, a retail merchant operating the Gault Bazaar; Anna, who is her father's housekeeper; Caroline, who married Cleatus Gundy of Gary, Ind .; Alphonse E., who died in childhood; and Julia, who is a saleslady in Gault's Bazaar, lives at home.
Mr. Gault belonged to the Mystic Workers and the Modern Woodmen of America, and held office in both orders. He also belonged to the Com- munity Club. The Sacred Heart Catholic church held his member- ship. Mr. Gault was a substantial citizen with many friends. He was fully Americanized, and during the late war invested liberally in the various bonds, and contributed generously to the different war activities. Mr. Gault had been with the Royal Insurance Company so long that they placed confidence in him and his son and gave them the power to adjust their own losses and that is what the assured likes. The speedy adjustments made by this firm have resulted in the present. extra good business. He also held a $2,000 life insurance policy with the Bankers Life Insurance Company, of Des Moines, Iowa, for years. Mr. Gault died December 24, 1921, and his son, Paul II. will continue the business.
IDA LOU GEHRIG.
Ida Lou Gehrig, librarian at Harvard, is one of the accomplished and scholarly ladies of MeHenry County, and one who is very efficient in her present position. She was born at Pekin, Ill., a daughter of Charles F. and Anna (Turner) Gehrig. From childhood Miss Gehrig has been of a studious turn of mind, and after she was graduated from the Pekin High School, she took up special studies for perfecting herself for the
Ernest b. Reimer.
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work of a librarian, doing Story Hour work in the Peoria, Ill., public library, and attending the summer school and the University of Illinois Library School. When the trustees of Harvard, Ill., were looking for a competent person to put in charge of the library, Miss Gehrig was suggested as a candidate. Her selection has met with universal approval from the patrons of the library, who not only receive from her a gracious courtesy, but timely and patient assistance in their courses of reading and study, so that those desiring to make use of the library for the pur- pose of adding to their store of knowledge or to pursue some special study, will find here the expert help they require to accomplish their purpose.
BENJAMIN C. GETZELMAN.
Benjamin C. Getzelman, president of the Algonquin State Bank, and a man of importance in the community, has been connected with the financial affairs of this part of the state for a number of years. He was born at Hampshire, Kane County, Ill., January 1, 1870, a son of Malachi C. and Eve (Rudolph) Getzelman.
Malachi C. Getzelman was born in Germany, January 1, 1837, and came to the United States in 1845, landing at New York City, from whenee he came west to Hampshire, Kane County, Ill., where he became interested in farming. During the Civil War, he enlisted in the Fifty- second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served for four years, receiving his honorable discharge in 1865. He is now living retired at Elgin, Ill., and belongs to the G. A. R. of that city. He and his wife had four children.
Benjamin C. Getzelman attended the grammar and high schools of his native county, and also took a pharmaceutical course, in which he was graduated, and he was made a registered pharmacist in 1890. From 1890 until 1894, he was engaged in the drug business at Elgin, but in the latter year entered the clerical department of the Elgin National Bank, and remained with that institution until February, 1902, when he left it to organize the Algonquin Bank, which was incor- porated as the Algonquin State Bank, June 27, 1913, with a capital stock of $25,000.00, which he has since served as president. Mr. Getzelman is also a director of the Chapell Ice Cream Company of Chicago.
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In 1898, Mr. Getzelman was married to Miss Jennie Chapell, a daughter of Clarence E. Chapell, and they have two children, Eunice J. and Benjamin Chapell Getzelman. Mr. Getzelman is a charter member of Algonquin Lodge No. 960 A. F. & A. M., and belongs to Freeport Consistory and the Mystic Shrine, of Rockford. In politics he is a Republican, and served as alderman from his ward from 1915 to 1917. During the late war he was on the Local Exemption Board of MeHenry County. Mr. Getzelman was alternate delegate to the Republican National Convention at Chicago in 1912. The family all are Universalists. A man of more than ordinary prominence, Mr. Getzelman has worked for his community as well as himself, and his prominence is well deserved.
ERNEST A. GIESEL.
Ernest A. Giesel, pastor of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran church of Harvard, is one of the eloquent and forceful members of his profession in MeHenry County. He was born at Baraboo, Wis., June 18, 1877, a son of Rev. E. O. Giesel, now deceased, formerly an occupant of the pulpit of his son. E. O. Giesel was born in Silesia, Germany, in 1849, a son of Adolph and Nora (Koener) Giesel, who spent their lives in Silesia, Germany, where the father died in 1880, his wife having passed away several years previously.
Ilaving decided on entering the ministry, E. O. Giesel, after com- pleting his schooling in the public institutions of his native place, studied in a theological college in IIesse-Darmstadt, Germany, and then in 1873, desiring to benefit from the broader opportunities offered in the United States, came to this country, and became a student of the Theo- logical Lutheran Seminary at Mendota, Ill., from which he was graduated in 1874, and ordained to the ministry of the Lutheran Evan- golical church in 1875. . He preached at various points in Illi- nois and Wisconsin, including Meredosia, Harvard, and Glencoe, Ill., Baraboo and Platteville, Wis., coming from the last named place to Harvard, MeHenry County, and was the highly esteemed and beloved pastor of the church of his faith there until his death on December 5, 1912. Ile had founded many Lutheran churches in Illinois and Wiscon- sin; was a man possessed of a wonderful intellect, and big heart. He had a truly kind and Christian disposition that made him legions of
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friends wherever he went, and his death was mourned especially at Harvard, and also throughout the Synod. Large delegations of his friends came from Chicago and Platteville to attend his funeral at Harvard, and his mortal remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at this village. The good work he had commeneed at Harvard has been continued by his son, Rev. E. A. Giesel.
In 1876 Rev. E. O. Giesel was married first to Miss Anna Hebert, who died the following year leaving a son, Ernest A., who was then only nine days old. In 1878, he was married second to his wife's sister, Miss Elizabeth Hebert, and they became the parents of the following children: George, Anna, Clara, Nora, Amanda, Adolph, Mary and Frieda. Some idea of the respect in which the late Mr. Giesel was held in his community is evidenced by the fact that during the day of his funeral the business houses all closed their doors as a token of respect to him. He was equally respected at Platteville, Wis., where his pastorate had extended over nearly a quarter of a century.
The dying request of the mother of Rev. E. A. Giesel determined the future of the nine-day son, as she asked her heart-broken husband that he train the little one to enter the profession she felt the father so honored. Consequently, after he had received the customary common- school education, Ernest A. Giesel became a student of the Platteville High School, and later of the State Normal School of the same city. Still later he took his college training at Waverly, and Clinton, Iowa, and his theological courses at St. Paul, Minn., and Saginaw, Mich., being graduated in 1898. His first ministerial charge was in Butler County, Iowa, in the vicinity of Allison, and from there he was sent to Fall Creek, Wis. During the early years of his ministry he was working under the direction of the Missionary Board, as a missionary whose work it was to establish churches in small, neglected and out-of-the-way places so that all might have an opportunity to learn the truth of the Master's teachings. His success in founding and building up churches, increasing the membership and spiritual strength of the congregations, has been remarkable, and sets an example for other young mission- aries to strive to emulate. Among the communities in which his good work was carried on may be mentioned the following: Columbus, Arlington, Waupaca and Baldwin Mills, Wis., and South Haven, Mich., having received and accepted a call from that place, although his de- parture was deeply regretted by his former congregations. It was while he was accomplishing splendid work for his people at South Haven, that he received the news of his father's sudden demise after an illness
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of only a few days' duration. Believing that he ought to accept the call made him by his father's church, he did so, and took charge of the Harvard Church at once, having at that time been a minister of the gospel for thirteen years. Those years had been full of busy, effective hours, and consequently great development in the career of the young clergyman, and these experiences, some of them strenuous and difficult, ripened his character, and fitted him for the greater work he was to perform.
On December 13, 1899, Mr. Giesel was married to Miss Marie Michelis of Marion, Wis., a daughter of P. A. and Marie (Severt) Michelis, and they have the following children: Marie, who was born at Fall Creek, Wis., July 17, 1901; Gertrude, who was born at Colum- bus, Wis., February 9, 1903; and Ernest Oscar, who was born at Colum- bus, Wis., July 26, 1906. A more detailed account of the work of Mr. Giesel at Harvard is given under the chapter of churches elsewhere in this history, which will demonstrate that in him his church and com- munity have one of the most valuable men in MeHenry County.
JAMES W. GILBERT.
James W. Gilbert, one of the substantial business men of Crystal Lake, carries a large and carefully selected stock of furniture and operates a first-class undertaking establishment. He was born in Lake County, Ill., November 18, 1871, one of two children born to Eugene E. and Catherine (Griffin) Gilbert. Eugene E. Gilbert was born in New York state, but came to Lake County, III., when a small boy, and has since resided there.
James W. Gilbert attended the schools of Lake County, and the university at Valparaiso, Ind., following which he embarked in a hard- ware business, but disposed of it at the expiration of one year, and then bought an undertaking business at Crystal Lake. To this he added the handling of furniture and carried a full and complete line of furniture, rugs, carpets and linoleums. Five years later he sold this business and went into the furniture business at Union, Ill., and added the handling of hardware. On March 9, 1911, he also disposed of this business, and then September 1, 1911, he bought his present establishment, which he conduets upon an extensive scale. He is a graduate of the Barnes Embalming School, class of 1897. His furniture stock averages
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$4,000 and he has $4,500 invested in his undertaking business, exclu- sive of his $6,000 auto hearse. The building in which his business is located was bought by Mr. Gilbert at a cost of $5,000.
In 1895 Mr. Gilbert was married to Miss Lillian E. Shaw, and they have the following children: Vivian E., Una I. and Leroy E. The family belong to the Congregational church. Mr. Gilbert's fraternal connections are with the Masons, Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a Republican, and he served for ten years as township treasurer of Coral Township. Mr. Gilbert is well fitted for his profession, possessing those characteristics which make it possible for him to bring comfort into the homes of the afflicted, while his skill and knowledge insure that proper care will be given the dead and a dignified respeet shown their memory.
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