USA > Illinois > Stark County > History of Stark County, Illinois, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 2
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Prominent among the enterprising, progressive and farsighted business men of Toulon is Charles P. Dewey, financier and banker, who for more than forty years has been identified with the moneyed interests of the county. He is honored and respeeted by all, not alone by reason of the success he has achieved but also owing to the straightforward business policy which he has ever followed. Stark county numbers him among her native sons. He was born July 28, 1857, a son of Samuel M. Dewey, a native of Hanover, New Hamp- shire, and a grandson of Andrew Dewey. The former was reared in the old Granite state to the age of eighteen years and pursued his education in the schools there. He afterward went to Boston, where he remained for four years and subsequently he became a resident of Stark county.
Charles P. Dewey spent his youthful days under the parental roof and supplemented his early education, obtained in the common schools, by study in Wheaton College, where he remained for two years. He then returned to Toulon and for a year or more was con- nected with mercantile interests but later entered a bank as book- keeper. He worked his way upward to the position of cashier and in 1879 purchased an interest in the business. Upon the death of his partner, Samuel Burge, he became head of the banking house and for years carried on the business in the same locality. The firm of Dewey, Burge & Gould conduets a general banking business and en- joys the unqualified confidence of the entire community. Their busi- ness methods are thoroughly reliable as well as progressive and their interests have been conducted with a recognition of the fact that the bank is most worthy of support which most carefully safeguards the interests of its depositors. In addition to his banking interests Mr. Dewey is the owner of several farms in Stark county and has handled considerable improved farm property, winning substantial success in that way.
At Wayne, Illinois, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Dewey
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and Miss Flora I. Dunham, who was there born and reared, a daugh- ter of Esquire Daniel Dunham, a very prominent citizen of Wayne. Five children have been born of this marriage: Olive C., the wife of Thomas G. Plant, of Moultonboro, New Hampshire: Mills, who is cashier in the bank; Charles P., who is engaged in the real estate and loan business in Salt Lake City: Maurice A., who was educated at the Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, and is now at home: and Marilla I., who is a student in the Toulon schools.
Mr. Dewey and his wife have been members of the Congregational church of Toulon for twenty-five years and he has taken an active part in both church and Sunday school work. He contributes gen- erously to its support and stands at all times for the benefit and up- building of the community along material, intellectual, social and moral lines. His politieal allegianee is given to the republican party, but while he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, he has never sought nor desired office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, and by his elose application, indefatigable energy and persisteney of purpose he has reached the plane of affluenee and is numbered among the most substantial resi- dents of his eounty.
ROBERT L. BREEN.
Robert L. Breen, who is editor and half owner of the Bradford Republican, has made that paper one of the best of the country jour- mals of Illinois and is recognized as one of the foremost citizens of Bradford. He was born in Lewistown, Fulton county, this state, on the 24th of May, 1878, a son of William and Rosa ( Mulerone) Breen, natives respectively of Tipperary and of County Mayo, Ire- land. The father was born in 1823 and remained in his native land until he attained mature years, after which he came to the United States and was employed for some time on government works in the south. After working in various states he removed to Iowa and pur- chased land at a dollar and a quarter per aere, which he subsequently sold at five dollars per acre. He was the first of his family to come to the United States, and after he had been here for some time he sent for his two sisters, who joined him. Following his marriage he en- gaged in the eoal business at Lewistown, Illinois, and also had the con- traet for carrying mail from Lewistown to Havana for many years. On retiring from active life he removed to Laeon, Illinois, where he
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died in 1899, when seventy-six years of age. His religious belief was that of the Catholic church, and in politics he was a democrat. His wife, who was born on the 7th of July, 1839, was brought to the United States by her mother in 1849 and lived for three years in Cairo, Illi- nois, after which removal was made to Lewistown, where she was mar- ried on Thanksgiving day of 1857. She, too, passed away in Lacon, her demise occurring on the 20th of November, 1907. She was a faithful communicant of the Catholic church. By her marriage she became the mother of twelve children, two of whom died in infancy, the others being: Mary, who gave her hand in marriage to Thomas F. McEntee, of Lacon; Lawrence, who was drowned in the Chicago river on the 5th of September, 1913; Bridget, wife of the late Frank Porch, of Lacon; Katherine, who married Thomas F. O'Brien, of Oak Park, Illinois; William F., a resident of Toluca, this state; John, who is living in Lacon; Edward, who died July 13, 1914; Robert L .; and David V. and Thomas G., both of Lacon.
Robert L. Breen was seven years of age when the family removed to Lacon, and he attended a parochial school there until he was thir- teen years old, when he entered the office of the old Lacon Democrat and began learning the printer's trade. He was promoted from time to time and when he left that office in 1902 held the position of fore- man. In that year he went to Kewanee, Illinois, and became con- nected with the Star-Courier, with which he was identified for six years, working in various departments. In March, 1907, he cante to Bradford and together with others purchased the Bradford Repub- lican, of which he is now half owner. He is also editor and manager of the paper and its growth in circulation and advertising patronage is largely due to his able direction of its affairs. He understands every- thing in connection with the publication of the paper, the typograph- ical work, the editorial work, the management of the business affairs of the publication and the work of the editor. The paper has gained an enviable reputation for giving full and reliable accounts of all happenings of local interest, and of the more important events in the world without, and it has always promoted improvements in the com- munity. The paper has a large and representative circulation and this makes it valuable as an advertising medium for the local mer- chants.
On the 11th of October, 1904, occurred the marriage of Mr. Breen and Miss Nora I. Hickey. She was born in Camp Grove, Marshall county, Illinois, and is a daughter of David and Mary (Day) Hickey, natives of Ireland. The father became the owner of valuable land in Marshall county and gained a gratifying measure of success as a
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
farmer. Mrs. Breen attended the country schools and after com- pleting the course offered there became a student in the Academy of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at Peoria, Illinois, from which she was graduated. Mr. and Mrs. Breen have four children; Evelyn, Cathe- rine, Robert V., Jr., and Margaret.
Mr. Breen supports the republican party at the polls and gives careful study to the questions and issues before the people. Both he and his wife belong to St. John's Catholic church, and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters. He is well known not only in Bradford but throughout the county and holds the respect and the esteem of his fellow citizens.
HON. CYRUS BOCOCK.
One can hardly mention a phase of development of Stark county with which Hon. Cyrus Bocock of Bradford has not been promi- nectly connected, and he is well known outside the limits of the county, for he served for two terms in the state legislature and was for . eight years a member of the board of equalization. Not only does he command the respect of all with whom he is associated because of his marked ability, but he also has the faculty of making and retaining friends and is probably the most popular man in the county.
A native of Ohio, he was born in Highland county on the 5th of October, 1832, of the marriage of Elijah and Barbara (Mckinney) Bocock, natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania, respectively. They were married in Ohio on the 18th of July. 1822. and remained in the Buckeye state until 1832, when they removed westward to Fulton county. Illinois. There the father purchased timber land, which he cleared and placed under cultivation, devoting the remainder of his active life to agricultural pursuits. He reached an advanced age, dying in March, 1885, on his eighty-seventh birthday. He was a quiet and unassuming man but possessed genuine worth. His wife died in 1879 when eighty-one years old. in the faith of the Methodist Epis- copal church. of which she was a devoted and active member. Mr. and Mrs. Bocock were the parents of seven children. all of whom are now deceased. save our subject.
Cyrus Bocock passed his boyhood and youth under the parental roof and received a good education for those days. He attended the public schools until about twenty years of age and he then became a student in a select school but was compelled to give up further study
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA
MRS. CYRUS BOCOCK
CYRUS BOCOCK
LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
in less than a year on account of his health. Later he taught that school for six months and then, having received a teacher's license, went home and began teaching in the district schools. For fourteen years he followed that profession and also engaged in farming, as the school term lasted but six months during the winter. During this entire time he taught in three adjoining districts, one of which was his home district. This record indicates the excellence of his work and his popularity with his patrons.
In 1857 Mr. Bocock came to Stark county, Illinois, and engaged in farming here for eighteen months, but as the crops were a failure he returned home and again turned his attention to teaching. In the spring of 1866 he became a resident of Camp Grove, Stark county, and purchased a small country store at that place. At that time the nearest railroad was thirteen miles away and the settlers did much of their buying at small crossroads stores such as Mr. Bobock conducted for about four years. In 1869 he sold out his business and when the railroad was built through Castleton he was quick to recognize the value of that town as a trade center and built the first store there. He engaged in general merchandising at Castleton for fourteen years and also established the postoffice there. On selling out his mercantile interests he took up his residence upon his farm of two hundred and forty acres in Penn township, which he had bought in the meantime and which he operated successfully for three years. He then removed to Bradford and engaged in the loan and collection business, in which field he was active for many years. In the management of his affairs he displayed unusual knowledge of local business conditions, a keen insight into human nature and a soundness of judgment that enabled him to succeed where others would have failed. He was also uncom- promisingły honest in all of his transactions and no one has ever charged him with sharp practice or deception. For many years he was the only auctioneer in this locality and cried the greater number of the sales in his part of the county. Since 1910 he has confined his attention chiefly to such business as comes within the scope of a notary public, publie administrator and conveyancer. He has served as public administrator of Stark county for about thirty years and has settled more estates than any other man within its borders. He has also drawn up many wills. leases, mortgages and other legal papers and is recognized as an expert in work of that character.
Mr. Bocock was one of the organizers and is still one of the large stockholders of the local electric light plant and also of the Empire Telephone Company, of which he is president and which operates through Stark, Bureau and Henry counties. In addition to his ex- Vol II :
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
tensive interests in those concerns he owns eight hundred acres of fine land in South Dakota and two hundred and forty acres in Penn town- ship, this county. His advice is often sought on business matters, as his judgment is unusually reliable and as the greatest confidenee is felt in his integrity.
Mr. Bocock was married on the 2d of April, 1857, to Miss Eleanor M. Fouts, who was born in Fulton county, Illinois. She grew to womanhood there and acquired her education in the public schools, and for some time was one of Mr. Boeoek's pupils. They have become the parents of seven children. as follows: Charles W., ex-treasurer of Stark county, is residing in Toulon and a sketch of him appears else- where in this work. Francis M., a retired farmer living in Wyoming, this county, married Miss Annie Mahler. Robert Leonard, who was formerly a traveling man but is now a merehant of Los Angeles, Cali- fornia, married Miss Ella Christie. Emma Luella is at home. Sarah Ada gave her hand in marriage to William Malone, a resident of this eounty. Cyrus Osear passed away on the 12th of March, 1904. Clarenee E. is now dean and professor of seienee at the Idaho Normal University at Albion, Idaho, and has been connected with that insti- tution for eleven years.
Mr. Boeoek is a staneh republican and has for years been a leader in his party. He has served on the county and congressional central committees and has at all times done all in his power to seeure the success of his party at the polls. He has held a number of offices, both loeal and state, and in all of his offieial eapaeities has discharged his duties with an eye single to the publie welfare. While living in Ful- ton county he was county supervisor for five years and held a similar offiee in this county for many years. As before stated he has been publie administrator for about thirty years and for some time he has been a member of the town board of Bradford. In 1872 he was elected to the state legislature and served one regular term and one adjourned term. In 1888 he was again ehosen as a state official, being eleeted a member of the board of equalization, and in 1892 he was reeleeted. serving for eight years in that eapaeity. For the last six years of that time he was a member of the committee on corporations and among the powerful companies with which his committee was con- cerned was the Pullman Company. He is an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity, being identified with Bradford Lodge. No. 595, A. F. & A. M., of which he had served as secretary for twenty- one years, when he resigned that offiee in 1914. He is also affiliated with the Knights Templar commandery at Princeton, Illinois, and the Eastern Star, and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel-
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
lows, in which lodge he has filled all of the chairs. His life has been a long and honorable one filled with accomplishment along many lines of endeavor and, although he has reached an age when most men are no longer able to take a part in the world's work, he is still active in business and is vigorous in both mind and body. He has gained financial independence solely through his own efforts, as he began his career without capital and without the aid of influential friends, and has at all times depended entirely upon his own resources. Although he values highly material prosperity, he has never made the attain- ment of wealth his chief aim in life. On the other hand he has at all times adhered to the highest standards of probity and has given of his time, thought and means to the advancement of his town and county and has been willing to aid those less fortunate than himself. He is respected for his ability and loved for his generosity and kindness.
JAMES HARTLEY.
James Hartley was an efficient and prosperous farmer of Essex township and at the time of his death owned three hundred and twelve acres there. His birth occurred in Laneashire, England, in 1837, and his parents were Edmund and Mary ( Morris) Hartley, who in 1851 emigrated to America. Not long after arriving here they took up their residence at Trivoli, Illinois, where the father worked by the month until 1854. In that year he came with his family to Stark county and in partnership with a Mr. Ingram purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Essex township. He at once began the improvement of the place and as he managed his affairs well and practiced economy his resources steadily increased. He invested in more land and accumulated three hundred and twelve acres. all of which are under cultivation. He continued to follow agricultural pursuits until his demise, which occurred in 1871.
Mr. Hartley was married in Toulon to Miss Ann Miller, who was born in England in 1837, a daughter of Joseph and Mary ( Holland) Miller. Her father came to America in 1846 and settled in Pennsyl- vania, where he remained until 1852, when he removed to Peoria, Illinois, whence he subsequently came to Wyoming. Her mother passed away in England. Mr. and Mrs. Hartley became the par- ents of seven children, two of whom died in childhood, the others be- ing: Edwin, a retired farmer of Wyoming, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Mary, the widow of John Dnekworth, of Wy-
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
oming; William, who resides upon the home farm in Essex township: Clara. now Mrs. Tom Taylor, of Lincoln: and Joseph, who is operat- ing the homestead in partnership with his brother William.
Mr. Ilartley supported the republican party and took the interest of a good citizen in public affairs although he never sought office. He discharged to the full all the obligations resting upon him, and his integrity, his industry and his ability gained him a high place in the respect of his fellow citizens.
Following her husband's death Mrs. Hartley remained upon the homestead supervising its operation. She not only proved capable in the management of the farm but she also added to the place until it embraced over five hundred acres. She was one of the best business women in the county and also possessed in a high measure lovable womanly qualities which endeared her to those who were closely asso- ciated with her. She passed away upon the home farm on the 21st of June, 1915.
ORAN L. HATCH.
An excellent farm of two hundred and sixty-two acres is regarded as one of the best improved farm properties of Elmira township, and to Oran L. Hatch, the owner, pays a substantial tribute in reeog- nition of the care and labor which he continually bestows upon the fields. He was born December 27. 1869, upon this farm, a son of John M. Hatch, and a grandson of Moses and Jane ( Gates) Hateh, who were natives of Maine and Vermont. respectively. The former was a man of prominence in his home loeality. where he was fre- quently called to positions of honor and trust. He devoted his life to farming. owning two hundred and fifty acres of rich and pro- ductive land. He passed away April 18. 1858, at the age of sixty- four years, and his wife died at the age of thirty-four years. Their family numbered six children: Jane, who became the wife of A. L. Clark and died in January, 1848: Martha, the wife of Samuel Page, who died in 1851; Eliza. who died at the age of eighteen months; John M .: Horace, who died in Mareh. 1883; Eliza, who became the wife of S. D. Lisle, of Neponset. Illinois, and died about four years ago.
John M. Hateh was born at Groton, Vermont, March 10. 1827. and after acquiring a common school education worked in a sawmill and in a brickyard for a time. He afterward learned the carpenter's
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
trade and for one year he eultivated his father's farm, but in 1851 removed from New England to the middle west, settling on section 6. Elmira township, Stark county, Illinois. He acquired five hun- dred and fifty acres of land lying in Stark and Henry counties. While he earried on farming, he also engaged extensively in raising hogs. In February, 1895, he removed to Kewanee, Illinois, where he erected a fine residenee, there spending his remaining days in the enjoyment of well earned rest, his death occurring January 20. 1906. Ile became one of the organizers and stockholders of the Bank of Kewanee but was not active in the management of the business. On the 24th of February. 1853, he married Miss Roxanna Lisle, who was born in Vermont, a daughter of William and Atlanta ( Darling) Lisle, who traveled by wagon from the Green Mountain state to Illinois in 1835, and settled in Elmira township, Stark county. Her father secured a traet of raw land on which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made and at once began the development of a farm, being elosely associated with the progress of the county in pioneer times. He died October 3, 1858, while his wife passed away April 12, 1885, at the age of seventy-seven years. She was long a consistent and devoted member of the Congregational church. By her marriage she beeame the mother of fifteen children: Eliza- beth, who married William G. Perkins and is now deceased; Thomas, who died in infancy; Thomas, the second of the name, who died at Pike's Peak, Colorado, in 1859; Stephen D., a resident of Neponset, Illinois; Mrs. Hateh; Walter, a farmer of Dakota, Nebraska; Janette, twin sister of Walter and the wife of John L. Priee, of Republic county, Kansas: Julia, the deceased wife of Silas Patten; Lydia, who has passed away; George W., who enlisted in 1864 in response to a call for one hundred day men to defend the Union and died in the serviee when but twenty years of age; Franklin, deeeased; Norris, a farmer; Emeline, the wife of William Berry; Lueinda, the wife of David Moffitt, of Reno, Nevada; and Rufus D., living in Neponset, Illinois. Of this family, as previously stated, Roxanna beeame the wife of John M. Hatch. She still survives her husband and now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Charles N. Good. By her marriage she had a family of six children: Horaee, who died at the age of thirteen months; Burton, who died at the age of fifteen months; Clara E., the wife of Charles N. Good of Elmira township; Cora. the wife of Albert Earley, of Kewanee township: Martha J., who died at the age of eleven years; and Oran L.
The last named pursued his education in the common sehools near the home place and upon the retirement of his father took
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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY
charge of the farm, on which he has remained continuously since with the exception of two years which he spent in Deadwood, South Dakota, there looking after his interests in a copper mine. He returned to the farm, however, in 1908, and is now busily engaged in the cultivation of two hundred and sixty-two acres of rich and productive land. He has put all of the improvements upon the place save the house and has one of the three best improved farms of the township. He has ever been progressive in his methods and has done whatever he has undertaken in a most efficient manner, follow- ing thoroughly modern processes of farming. For a number of years he has been at the head of the Kewanee Farmers Institute and he is now vice president and one of the directors of the C. B. Hurst Silo Company, which he aided in organizing. This company is engaged in the manufacture of a special wet mix silo. In years gone by Mr. Hatch has also devoted some attention to bee culture and is considered an authority on that subject. He has installed on his farm a repair shop. which is probably one of the best equipped of any farm shop in the state, and in fact would be a credit to a town or city. In recognition of this the Prairie State Farmer sent a repre- sentative from Chicago to obtain Mr. Hatch's views upon the subject of following such a plan. The shop was equipped at a cost of nearly one thousand dollars, and Mr. Hatch has become quite expert along mechanical lines. Here he has done much work of value in connection with the farm. including the building of a tractor, which he uses in the heavy work, not only in the fields and on the road but in building work as well. His ability is not confined to iron work and machinery alone, as he is an artistic woodworker and when he built the barns upon his place he drew the plans himself and the bill for lumber was made to tally with his own figures. In a word he is a very resourceful man, ready to do anything necessary in connection with developing and improving his farm. Mr. Hatch also has other business connec- tions. for he was one of six men who organized the Farmers Elevator Company of Kewanee, and they have the material on the ground for the erection of a large elevator there.
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