USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 43
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In young manhood, Robert C. Uecke worked for his brother, a nurseryman, and learned the growing of evergreens. He established a business of growing evergreens at Seymour, Wis., and then, in 1892, came to Harvard and bought twelve acres of land. Beginning his business in a small way, he has built it up to large proportions, and markets his product all over the United States, selling at wholesale to other nurseries and at retail through the mail. He is a specialist at starting plants and developing them into hardy specimens almost certain to flourish. His reputation is well established with landscape architects, with whom he does a large wholesale business. Growing about twenty- five distinet varieties of evergreens, almost all of his stock comes from imported seeds, gathered principally in Switzerland. Mr. Uecke devotes his attention solely to the growing of evergreens, and is perhaps the best known man in his line in the country. For some years he has been a trustee of the Delos F. Diggins Library Board of Harvard, and is now its president. For five years he was superintendent of the Sunday School
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of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Harvard, the largest Sunday school in MeHenry County. While always exercising his right as a citizen, and giving his vote and support to the candidates of the Republi- ean party, Mr. Uecke is in no sense a politician.
In 1897 Mr. Ueeke was married to Mrs. Kate Thompson of Durham Township. She died May 10, 1908.
FREEMAN VAN WINKLE. Page 137.
LEON W. VIALL.
Leon W. Viall, D. D. S., one of the best-known and most skilled dental surgeons of MeHenry County, is carrying on a general practice in his profession at Crystal Lake, with offices over the United States Bank of that city. He was born in Wisconsin, December 10, 1878, a son of William H. and Marie (Silvernail) Viall. William H. Viall, was born in New York state, where he learned the trade of a painter. He is still living, but his wife died in 1900. They had two children.
Doctor Viall attended the common and high schools of Chicago, and then was graduated from the Chicago Dental College in 1905, immediately afterwards locating at Stevens, Ill., where he remained until 1912, when he came to Crystal Lake. Here he has built up a very desirable practice, and his offices are fitted with every modern appliance for his work.
In 1907 Doctor Viall was married to Miss Mabel L. Wedge, a daughter of Charles Wedge, and a member of a prominent Wisconsin family. Doctor Viall belongs to the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Woodmen of the World. Although loyally giving his support to the candidates and policies of the Republican party, he has never cared to go upon the ticket, preferring to confine his activities to his pro- fession. The family belong to the Methodist church. A skilled man in his profession, Doctor Viall naturally has firmly established himself in the confidence of the people of this section, but he has done more, for whenever occasion demands, he has proven himself a very desirable citizen in every respect.
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ESBON VANDERKARR.
Esbon Vanderkarr, one of the best farmers in MeHenry County, owns and operates a fine farm nine miles north of Woodstock, and four miles south of IIebron, in Hebron Township. He was born near Newark, in Wayne County, N. Y., July 22, 1850, a son of C. S. and Harriet Melissa Vanderkarr. C. S. Vanderkarr was born in the Mohawk Valley, N. Y., and traced his family back to Holland ancestry. In the spring of 1865, he came to MeHenry County, and located on the farm now owned by his son, securing 560 acres of land originally covered with timber, and some low land, since drained and made very productive. It was formerly owned by the Stewart family, and had on it the present barn and another one used for sheep. At that time the Stewarts owned 2,000 acres of land, so this was but a portion of their holdings. C. S. Vanderkarr began dairying. His wife was a famous buttermaker and they shipped to Chicago and points in Wisconsin. At the time of the Chicago fire in 1871, they lost a large quantity of their butter which was held by Chicago commission men. Until 1875, when he died, C. S. Vanderkarr continued actively on the farm. He took a carload of hogs to Chicago in March of that year. There he took cold, complications set in, and he passed away on April 4, when about fifty-five years of age. His widow survived him for ten years, being over sixty when she died. They had only two children, namely: Esbon, whose name heads this review; and Nettie, who married James E. Stewart, son of John Stewart, formerly a farmer of MeHenry County. James E. Stewart died at Hebron, having lost his wife in ISSO, while she was still a young woman.
Esbon Vanderkarr has continued to reside on the farm since he was brought to it in boyhood. His house was built twenty years ago in a grove of beautiful maple trees, and his premises show that the owner takes great pride in them. The improvements are many, including a silo, and he keeps fifty eows, and has had more in his herd in former years. For some time he has been breeding imported Clydesdales and Percheron horses and also a few fine driving horses. In polities he is a Republican, and has served on the school board.
When he was forty years old, Mr. Vanderkarr was married to Anna C. Slavin, a daughter of Mathew Slavin, and a sister of Frank Slavin of Hebron, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Vanderkarr became the parents of the following children: Nettie, who is Mrs. Irvin Burger of Woodstock; Lyle, who is manager of the Syndicate Farm at Rockton, Ill .; William, who is at home; Nell, who is at home;
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and Alice, who is attending high school. The children are well educated, the older ones, after having graduated from high school, became students at college. Mr. Vanderkarr has been active in securing the organization · of the drainage district which has an open ditch with large tile extensions, his own assessment being over $4,000, in addition to the large expense incurred by him in putting in many carloads of tile.
CHRIS F. VICK.
Chris F. Vick, junior member of the well-known hardware and plumbing firm of Fardy & Vick, is one of the progressive young men of Hebron, and its vicinity. He was born in Wisconsin, December 7, 1875, one of the eight children of John and Stamma (Price) Vick. John Vick was born in Germany, but came to the United States when a lad of twelve years, and located in Wisconsin where he still resides.
Chris F. Vick attended the common and high schools of his neigh- borhood, and then learned the trade of a carpenter, which he followed until 1916, when he land E. J. Fardy formed their present partnership. The firm carries on a general hardware and plumbing business, and their stock averages $6,000. Mr. Fardy is a practical hardware and tin man, and the work of the repair department of this concern is excellent.
On October 6, 1903, Mr. Vick was united in marriage with Miss Jessie Schultz, a daughter of William Schultz. Mrs. Viek belongs to the Congregational church. He is a Republican, but has never had the leisure to take much part in politics. Fraternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of America. A live business man, Mr. Viek has made a success of his undertakings, and is justly held in high esteem by his associates.
HIENRY VOGEL.
Henry Vogel, one of the prosperous farmers of Richmond Township, lives five miles southwest of Richmond, and was born on a part of his present farm, then in Hebron Township, August 24, 1872, a son of Henry and Marie (Hohenstein) Vogel. She was born in Hesse Darm-
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stadt, Germany, and he at Frankfort, Germany, but they were married in this country, she being his second wife. His first wife was Mary Vanderhelt, whom he married in 1851. After his first marriage Henry Vogel, the elder, worked at Forksville, Lake County, Ill., near the present site of Volo, and then came to Richmond Township, and worked by the month until he bought the Barnard farm at Barnards Mills. There his wife died, and he was married in 1866 or 1867 to the mother of Henry Vogel, then the widow of George Hohenstein, who had six children, five of whom grew to maturity, namely: William, who lives in Hebron Township; Fred, who lives at Elgin, Ill .; George, who is at Woodstock; and Mrs. William Small and Betty, who are of New York city. Mr. and Mrs. Vogel had one son, Henry.
Henry Vogel remained on the farm until his father's death, although for sonie years prior to that, he had conducted it. In 1894 he was married to Sylvia Rehorst, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Kasken) Rehorst, born and reared two miles east of Richmond. Her father is deceased, but her mother survives and lives at Richmond. A sketch of Henry Rehorst appears elsewhere in this work. Since acquiring his farm Mr. Vogel has added 170 aeres to it, forty acres of it lying in Hebron Township. He has erected his present buildings, and is con- stantly making improvements, his house being a cement veneer, which is coneeded to be the most modern type of rural residence, and it is supplied with electric lights and all improvements of a city home. Several wells provided with motor pumps furnish the house and barns with an ample water supply. While he is quite extensively engaged in dairying, Mr. Vogel also keeps a flock of sheep and a drove of swine, and breeds from thoroughbred sires. His farm is well equipped with silos, and other modern appliances, and is a model one of the county.
A stanch Republican, Mr. Vogel has always given his party an earnest support, and has contributed toward the betterment of the roads of his township by serving as commissioner of them. Mr. and Mrs. Vogel became the parents of the following children: Evelyn M., who was graduated from the Richmond High School, is a student of the DeKalb Normal School; Howard, who was also graduated from the Richmond High School in 1919, was in the same class as his sister; Nellie V., who is attending the Richmond High School; Henry R .; Harold A .; Edith I. and William L., all of whom are at home." Mr. Vogel is a Mason, and his wife and daughter belong to the Eastern Star, Mrs. Vogel having belonged to it prior to her marriage, being eligible to membership because of her father's Masonie connections.
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The Vogel farm, one of the really valuable properties in MeHenry County, is well improved and conducted with skill and ability.
JOHN A. WAITE.
John A. Waite, now deceased, was one of the pioneer figures in the early days of Chemung Township, and a man of unusual high character and public spirit. He was born at Ellisburg, Jefferson County, N. Y., September 10, 1819, and died May 26, 1914. He was married to Mary Fitzjerald, born at Jay, N. Y., September 6, 1833, but reared in Pennsyl- vania. She was brought to Illinois in 1844, by her parents who located in Chemung Township, living there until claimed by death. Her father, William Fitzjerald, lived to be eighty years of age, but the mother, Harriet (Leach) Fitzjerald died of cholera about 1847. Mary Fitzjerald, who was next to the youngest in her father's family, and the last to die, passed away April 6, 1916. She and John A. Waite were married November 11, 1854, and they lived together sixty years. Both the Waites and Fitzjeralds came from Massachusetts, and representatives of these families were active in the American Revolution. The Waites are of English stock. John A. Waite and his brother came to Illinois in 1845, and carried between them as they walked twenty miles to the nearest station, a trunk containing their earthly possessions, which is still cherished in the Waite family, as is a cedar chest made by William Fitzjerald, who was a skilled cabinetmaker.
Some members of the Waite family have attained to distinction, there having been one of the name on the Supreme Court Bench of the United States. John A. Waite's brother William H., spent his life with him, and died at the age of eighty-eight years. He was the elder, having been born in 1812.
Soon after coming to MeHenry County, the brothers formed a partnership with Warren Kizer and kept a general store, two miles from Sharon, before that place was founded. With the building of the rail- road, business was drawn from the store and in 1860 John A. Waite came to the farm, comprising 205 acres of land, now occupied by Charles E. Waite. From then on John A. Waite devoted himself to developing his farm, clearing off the land, doing some ditching and building, and he carried on general farming and dairying, keeping from twenty to twenty- five cows, and making his own butter which he sold to customers in
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Chicago, whom he retained for years. During the latter part of his life he was retired, as an accident disabled him. A strong Republican he was a leader in his party and held the office of a justice of the peace. While he did not belong to any religious organization, he used to attend service with his wife, who was a member of thr Free Will Baptist church of Roscoe, Ill. These most excellent people lie side by side in the cemetery at Sharon. It would be difficult to find better people than they, earnest, upright and honorable, bringing up their children to be a credit to them and their community, and rendering aid to their neighbors when sickness or other misfortune came among them. So kindly and self-sacrificing a life did they lead that their names are held in loving remembrance by those who had the real honor of their friend- ship, and their descendants are proud of the fact that they can claim the distinction of springing from such worthy stock.
John A. Waite and his wife became the parents of the following children: Lora O., who lives on the homestead; Wilmoth, who is a grain dealer of Springfield, Ill .; Lucian J., who went to Colorado Springs, Colo., in search of health, returned home and died here when forty-two years old; Judge Edwin H., who lives at Woodstock; Elmer N., who is a buttermaker of Bangor, Wis .; Arthur G., who is an attorney at Big Sandy, Mont., was engaged in a legal practice at Elgin, Ill., for several years; Charles E., who is mentioned below; and Franklin S., who is a dental surgeon of Cumberland, Wis.
Charles E. Waite was born in the house he now occupies, November 23, 1868. For some years, like the other members of his family he attended the schools of Marengo and Elkhorn. In 1899 he took charge of the homestead, and since then has remodeled the buildings, put in other improvements, and carries on a general cattle and stock business, breeding and raising horses, hogs and Holstein cattle. Mr. Waite has never married, his sister keeping house for him. Like his father he is a Republican, and served as road commissioner for twelve years.
MILO M. WAKELEY.
Milo M. Wakeley, one of the retired residents of Harvard, was born in Chemung Township, two miles north of Harvard, January 1, 1858, a son of William and Johanna (Hunt) Wakeley, he born in Albany, N. Y. and she born in Erie County, N. Y., January 6, 1824, a daughter of
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George A. and Elizabeth (Deming) Hunt, born September 8, 1791, and October 15, 1809, respectively.
Milo M. Wakeley's boyhood was spent at home, but when he was twenty-two years old he went to South Dakota and bought a tree claim in Brookings County, where he spent a year. IIe then returned to the old homestead, but three years later returned to his 320 acres in South Dakota, and remained seven years, building on his property a fine house, and one of the first of his three good barns, making it one of the best farms in the county. Once more he returned to MeHenry County, and bought 145 acres of land in Hartland Township, two miles southeast of Harvard, and soon improved it into one of the best in the region, and here he carried on dairying, having a herd of twelve pure-bred Holstein cattle, all of which were registered. He used to hold annual sales and received for some of his cows over $500. In 1919 he sold fifty head of calves which averaged over $200 per head. Mr. Wakeley has exhibited at all of the county fairs, and his son, Leslie M., formerly his partner, is now continuing the business, Mr. Wakeley having retired to Harvard in October, 1918, where he owns a very pleasant home. He is a staunch Republican, and has been committeeman of his party.
On March 9, 1881, Mr. Wakeley was married to Lottie Smith, a daughter of Amos and Emily (Hames) Smith, born in Kenosha County, Wis., November 2, 1859. Her father, Amos Smith, was born in Madison County, N. Y., but moved in young manhood to Wheatland, Wis., and later to Kenosha County. His wife was the first white child born in Warren, Lake County, Ill., she coming into the world March 30, 1839. She was a daughter of Gleason and Laura Hames, natives of Haverhill, N. Y., who came to Lake County, Ill., when young, and were there married. Mrs. Wakeley's parents lived for years in Wisconsin, but died in Lake County, Ill. In 1861 the Smith family went overland with four horses as a part of a train to protect them from the Indians, and reached Sacramento, Cal., but returned to Illinois in 1865, and located on a farm one-half mile east of Harvard. Still later they went to Har- vard, where she died in 1900, he surviving her until October 7, 1911. Mr. and Mrs. Smith had the following children: Lottie E .; Fred C., who is a well known retired business man of Harvard, and a member of the city council; Nettie L., who married Alexander E. Harper of Chi- cago; and Laura M., who is Mrs. E. G. Diggins, lives near Harvard. Mr. and Mrs. Wakeley have a son and daughter. The son, Leslie M., was born August 22, 1891, and was graduated from the Harvard High School, after which he attended the Illinois State University, and for
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three years worked in the dairy and farm economics departments. Returning to the homestead, he went into partnership with his father and put to practical use the knowledge he had gained. He is a con- sistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and his parents also belong to this body. Fraternally the father belongs to the Modern Woodmen and his wife is a member of the Royal Neighbors.
T. B. WAKEMAN.
Page 139.
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LOWELL A. WALKUP.
Lowell A. Walkup, one of the substantial agriculturalists of McHenry County, resides on his farm one mile west of Ridgefield, and he was born December 4, 1849, a son of William P. Walkup, and grandson of Christopher Walkup, the latter of whom was born in Greenbrier County, W. Va., in 1794, coming of an old Virginia family of Irish descent. William P. Wałkup was born in the same county as his father, May 25, 1817, and accompanied his parents to MeHenry County in 1835. On November 23, 1848, he was married to Miss Esther Louisa White, a daughter of Robert G. and Esther (Ormond) White, and they had the following children: Lowell A., Adda and Dora, deceased. William P. Wałkup died January 2S, 1906 and his wife died October 5, 1907, both being buried in the Ridgefield Cemetery.
Lowell A. Walkup attended the common schools, Dodd's Academy at Woodstock, and then for a year was a student at Beloit College, Wis. After his marriage, Mr. Walkup located on the Walkup home- stead of 200 acres, which is devoted to grain and stock growing, special attention being paid to the production of milk. Mr. Walkup has one of the most valuable farms in this section. His residence was built in 1869 by his father, but has been all remodeled. The barn has a full basement arranged for dairying, and a silo is attached to it. In 1906 Lowell A. Walkup succeeded his father as township trustee and has held that office ever since, and he also succeeded his father as an elder of the Presbyterian church at Ridgefield, but formerly located on the Walkup farın.
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On December 25, 1889, Mr. Walkup was married to Annie L. Morse, born at Painted Post, Steuben County, N. Y., May 23, 1856, a daughter of Dr. Floyd and Mary A. (Pierce) Morse. Doctor Morse was born in Yates County, N. Y., coming of an old Connecticut family, and after being very thoroughly trained in medicine, practiced at Bradford, and later Painted Post, N. Y., dying at the latter place when only thirty- three years old. His children were as follows: Emma, Benjamin R., Floyd H. and Annie L. Mr. and Mrs. Walkup became the parents of the following children: William Ralph, who was born January 28, 1891, married Ella Malahan, has a son, Lowell E .; Harold Morse, who was born July 28, 1893, married Helen Cretchen, and they have a daughter, Margaret J .; and Lowell Alfred, who was born August 31, 1895, died July 10, 1901.
Politically Mr. Walkup is a stanch Republican, inheriting his faith from his father who espoused the principles of that party when it was founded, having formerly been a Whig. Mrs. Walkup belongs to the Corning, N. Y. Chapter of the D. A. R., being eligible through her mother's two grandfathers, Stephen Corbin and Benjamin Pierce, the former of whom was present at the execution of Major Andre, the English spy, who was hung during the American Revolution. It would be difficult to find any family more representative of the best class of McHenry County people than the Walkup one, and its members in- dividually stand very high in public estcem.
L. W. WALKUP.
L. W. Wałkup, one of the widely-known and prominent farmers of MeHenry County, belongs to a pioneer family of this region, and has lived on his present farm, section 32, Nunda Township, all of his life. He was born on this farm, which is just north of Crystal Lake, May 16, 1842, a son of John B. Walkup, who was born in Virginia in 1811, and a grandson of Christopher Walkup, also born in Virginia, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Owing to the fact that he was not in sympathy with slavery, John B. Walkup left Virginia, and came to Illinois in 1835, settling in Dorr Township. He took up other lands and later gave them to his father. John B. Walkup was married to Mary White, who was born in North Carolina, a daughter of Robert White, and they had three children, namely: L. W., whose name heads this review; Emeline, who resides
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with her brother; and Alfred, who was a missionary of the Congregational church, lost his life from exposure occasioned by shipwreck. He and several companions managed to escape in one of the ship's boats, but were adrift for twenty-one days without food and without water other than what they could catch when rain fell. He died soon after the party reached land. The grandfathers on both sides of the house served as justices of the peace.
L. W. Walkup has always been engaged in farming and has been very successful, his 240 acres of land showing the result of his care. He has always voted the Prohibition ticket, and several times has acted as chairman of his local committee. A man of high principles, he has always given his aid and support to uplift measures, and is much inter- ested in the prospect of the ideals of his party being attained. Miss Walkup is a member of the Congregational church.
JAMES WALSH.
James Walsh, now living retired from active participation in farm work, is one of the substantial men and property owners of Hartland Township. He was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, in March, 1832, and was there married to Ellen Weston, of the same county. As young people, in the fall of 1865, they came to the United States to join a brother at Chicago, three of the Walsh family having already come to this country, one of whom had served in the Confederate Army. For the first two years James Walsh worked as a laborer at Chicago, and then came to MeHenry County and after working for farmers, rented land for some years. He then bought his present farm of 200 acres, three and one-half miles west of Woodstock, going heavily into debt to do so, but, with the help of his sons, he has cleared off all obligations. There was a house and barn upon it, but he has added to its improve- ments, making it a first-class property. He has built a silo, done some open ditching so that it is well drained. Indeed, the entire premises show that one who takes an interest in the place has charge of it. Dairy- ing and hog raising are carried on, the herd averaging from twenty-four to thirty cows, and the milk is sold to the Hartland branch of the Bowman Creamery Company.
Mr. and Mrs. Walsh have the following children: John, Thomas, James, William, Edward; Ellen, who is Mrs. William Fleming, of Dorr
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Township; and Mary, who is Mrs. Fred Ware, of Greenwood Township. Three of the sons, Thomas, William and Edward, operate the farm, and James owns a farm in the same vicinity. This is a great family to work as one. The family are all Democrats, and Thomas has been a member of the school board for six or seven years, and they are all members of St. Patrick's Catholic church at Hartland, which is three miles from their farm. Neither Mr. or Mrs. Walsh had any special opportunities for obtaining an education, but, being very intelligent, they have kept them- selves well informed and are delightful people to meet. Mrs. Walsh is a remarkable woman. She has made so comfortable and happy a home for her family that her sons are loath to leave it, and she has ever proven herself a kind and helpful neighbor. In their upright lives her children refleet her teaching and example, and surely she is one whose offspring "rise up and call her blessed." There are not many families as united as this one, the sons working hard to clear off the indebtedness their father had to ineur when he secured the farm of which they are all now so proud. Hard work, honest living up to all obligations, a conscientious carrying out of an exacting religious faith, these are some of the char- acteristies which mark the Walsh family, father and mother, sons and daughters, and their influence in their neighborhood can scarcely be overestimated.
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