USA > Illinois > Stark County > History of Stark County, Illinois, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 25
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FRANK W. AND FRED W. HODGES.
Frank W. and Fred W. Hodges, who are successfully engaged in farming and stock raising in Valley township, Stark county, are operating under the firm name of Hodges Brothers. They are twins and were born on the 11th of June. 1878, sons of David and Nancy (Hutchinson) Hodges. The father was born in Kent county. England, on the 25th of February, 1822, of the marriage of Thomas and Mary ( Hanford) Hodges. When thirteen years of age he accom- panied his parents to the United States and for some time lived in Sarotaga Springs, New York. In 1851, however, he came to Stark county, Illinois, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Valley township. He soon afterward returned to New York but the following year again visited Stark county. In 1853 he took up his residence here. He was a practical farmer, and his well directed labors yielded him a good income. He was highly esteemed in his com- munity, and his death, which occurred in 1910, was the occasion of mueh sincere grief. He was married in 1853, in New York, to Miss Jane Standish, a native of Saratoga county, and they became the parents of two children, Harvey and Joseph. The wife and mother died in 1859 and in 1860 Mr. Hodges was married to Mrs. Nancy Hutchinson, of Chillicothe, Illinois, by whom he had the following children: Otis, Clarke, Sherman, Frank W. and Fred W.
The two last named received a good education in the district schools and early became familiar with agricultural work. Since the
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death of their father they have engaged in farming independently under the name of Ilodges Brothers and they rank among the most substantial residents of Valley township. They own six hundred and sixty acres of arable land and also a thirty-seven aere tract of timber land. They raise grain to some extent but give special attention to the feeding of stock for market. They are up-to-date and enterprising and receive a handsome income from their well directed labors.
Both brothers are unmarried and their mother has charge of the household affairs. They support the republican party at the polls, and Fred W. has served as road commissioner and as school director. They are identified with the Masonie lodge at Speer, Illinois. with the Royal Arch chapter at Wyoming, and their lives are in harmony with the beneficient teachings of the craft. They attend the Congrega- tional church and take a notable interest in its work. They are highly esteemed wherever known and most of all where best known.
DAVID WEBSTER.
David Webster is one of the few remaining sokliers of the Civil war. He has the right to wear the little bronze button that proclaims him one of the defenders of the Union during the darkest hour of our country's history. He enjoys meeting his old army comrades and recalling the incidents and events which occurred in southern camps and on southern battlefields. He is now numbered among the substan- tial farmers of West Jersey township, his home being on section 22. where he owns three hundred and eighty acres of valuable land in two adjoining and well improved farms.
Few residents of Stark county have so long remained within its borders. for Mr. Webster is one of its native sons. his birth having oceurred in West Jersey township. June 25, 1842. His father. W. W. Webster. was born in Wales and was of English descent. When a youth of sixteen years he came to the United States, joining a sister in Wellington. Ohio, where he resided for a time. Subse- quently he was married in Ashland, Ohio, to Miss Fanny Cupp, who was a native of Pennsylvania but was reared at Hackettstown. New Jersey. by Dr. Platt. having been left an orphan at an early age. Following his marriage Mr. Webster engaged in farming in Ohio for a few years and for a time also devoted his attention to the man- facture of potash. In 1832 he arrived in Illinois at a period when the work of progress and improvement seemed scarcely begun. Indeed.
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this was one of the pioneer districts of the country and civilization had penetrated but little farther west. Ile settled in Stark county, pre- empting three hundred and twenty acres of land on sections 32 and 33, West Jersey township. Of this one hundred and sixty acres was prairie and brush land. while the remaining quarter section was covered with timber. Ile cleared away the brush and turned the first furrows upon the place. He harrowed his land, sowed the seed and with the coming of autumn harvested his first crops. He also fenced the farm and erected the necessary buildings upon the place, including a good residence and substantial barns. He likewise set out an orchard and did everything in his power to develop this into a good farm prop- erty. Success rewarded his efforts and his industry made him in time a prosperous citizen. For twenty-four years he continued to develop his land and then passed away on the old homestead July 8, 1856. His wife survived him for a number of years, her death occurring in 1871.
David Webster was reared upon the old home farm in West Jersey township and had reached the age of twenty years when, on the 13th of August, 1862, he placed his name on the roll of Stark county vol- unteers, joining Company F. One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Infantry, under Colonel Henderson. The regiment went south into Kentucky and participated in a number of hotly contested engage- ments. Mr. Webster was in the battle of Resaca, in the campaign against and the capture of Atlanta and with his command was after- ward sent back to Nashville, following which he participated in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee, and Greensboro, North Carolina. At the last named place he was mustered out and upon returning to the north was honorably discharged in Chicago, July 6. 1865, after serving for almost three years as a private. He sustained three slight wounds but was not disabled for duty. He then returned to the old home farm, which he operated for his mother, caring for her until her demise.
It was on the 16th of March, 1876, that David Webster married Miss Margaret Craig, who was born in Maryland but was reared in Knox county, Illinois. Her parents emigrated to America from Scotland and became early settlers of Knox county. Mr. and Mrs. Webster have continuously resided upon the home farm on section 22, West Jersey township, and the visible evidence of his life of thrift and industry is seen in the substantial dwelling and the good barns and outbuildings which he has erected. He has also put up fences which divide the farm into fields of convenient size. has set out an orchard and planted ornamental trees and as the years have gone on
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he has increased his farm from time to time until the eighty acre tract has been expanded into a farm of three hundred and eighty acres. Annually he gathers golden harvests as a reward for the eare and labor which he bestows upon the fields and he raises a good grade of shorthorn cattle and also good horses and he likewise feeds and fattens cattle and hogs for the market, the various branches of his business returning him a substantial financial income.
Mr. and Mrs. Webster have become the parents of four sons and a daughter. Robert, who is married and has two children, now fol- lows farming near Toulon. Francis M., who is engaged in farming near Shelbina, Missouri, is married and has two sons. D. R. is mar- ried and has one son. James is at home. The daughter, Maud, is the wife of Ward Hotchkiss, of West Jersey township.
The father and sons are all members of the Odd Fellows lodge of West Jersey, in which Mr. Webster has filled all of the offices and is now past grand. Mr. and Mrs. Webster and their daughter are connected with the Rebekah degree. Politically Mr. Webster has been a lifelong republican, indorsing the principles of the party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. Locally, however, where no issue is involved, he casts an independent ballot but he has never been ambitious to hold office. He is interested in the educa- tional progress of the community, however, and for some time served on the school board. The Websters are numbered among the earliest families of this part of the state and from pioneer times the name has been synonymous with progress and improvement in West Jersey township. They have ever stood for advancement, not only in a material way, but in connection with the intellectual and moral prog- ress of the community, and their efforts have been of distinct worth and value in promoting the welfare of Stark county.
R. J. REWERTS.
R. J. Rewerts owns and operates two hundred acres of good land on section 27. Penn township, and gives special attention to the raising of high grade stock. ITis birth occurred in Peoria, Illinois. on the 26th of August, 1860, and he is a son of John R. and Fanny (Westerman) Rewerts, both natives of Germany. They came to the United States in early manhood and womanhood and were married in Peoria in the '50s. After living in that city for a time they took up their residence upon a farm near Dunlap and later came to Stark
R. J. REWERTS AND FAMILY
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county, loeating west of Castleton. After farming there for a time they removed to what is now known as the Fred Tess place. Subse- quently they removed to a farm north of Castleton, which belonged to Elijah Holmes, but at length the father purehased a traet of good land a half a mile from the Lincoln schoolhouse. The farm was totally unimproved when it came into his possession, but at the time of his death it was one of the well developed places of the locality. He was survived by his wife for several years.
R. J. Rewerts received his education in the schools of Penn Center and remained at home until twenty-eight years of age. He then took up his residenee upon his present farm, which comprises two hundred acres, and the fine improvements upon the place testify to his energy and efficiency. He grows the usual erops and also raises high grade stoek and derives a gratifying finaneial return from both branches of his business.
In 1888 oceurred the marriage of Mr. Rewerts and Miss Bertha Stange, by whom he has had six children, namely: John, a resident of Marshall eounty; Fanny, who is keeping house for her brother John; Fred, at home; Elmer, also at home; Etta, in school; and one who died in infancy.
Mr. Rewerts belongs to the German Lutheran church at Castleton and for many years has held the office of trustee, doing mueh in that time to promote the interests of the church. Politieally he is a repub- liean, and for twenty-three years he has been a school director. Ile has also served for six years as trustee of the Valley cemetery. He has not only won financial success but has also gained the unquali- fied respect of all who come in contact with him, and his personal friends are many.
MARTIN B. DOWNEND.
Since his youthful days Martin B. Downend has been a resident of Stark county, where he ranks with the most enterprising and pro- gressive farmers and stock breeders, making a specialty of handling pure blooded registered Hereford eattle, Poland China hogs and Percheron horses. He is a native of the neighboring state of Indiana, born November 22, 1860. Ilis father, Thomas Downend, was born in England and eame to the new world with his father, Thomas Down- end. Sr., who settled in Ohio, in which state the son was reared. There he wedded Miss Mary Bachtel, who was born in the Buckeye state.
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They afterward removed to Indiana, where Mr. Downend engaged in farming for a mimber of years, during which period five children were born to them. About 1862 they removed with their family to Illinois, settling in Toulon township. Stark county, where Mr. Downend again gave his attention to general agricultural pursuits, thus providing a comfortable living for his family, whom he reared upon the home farm. He died about 1890, while his widow, surviving him for a mim- ber of years, passed away in 1913.
Martin B. Downend was but a young lad at the time of the arrival of the family in Stark county, so that the period of his boyhood and youth was spent on the homestead farm. Following the death of his father he cared for his mother throughout her deelining years. For some time he worked by the month upon a farm but was ambitious to own land and carefully saved his earnings until he was able to pur- chase an improved farm of forty acres. He further perfeeted arrange- ments for having a home of his own in his marriage on the 21st of December. 1887, in Toulon township, to Miss Anna C. Brown, who was born and reared in this county and was educated in Toulon. She is a daughter of J. H. Brown. one of the pioneer settlers of this eounty, now living retired in Toulon. They began their domestic life on the little forty-aere farm. which Mr. Downend cultivated for six years. He then sold that property and within the city limits purchased a twenty- three aere traet. upon which he has sinee resided. Upon the place he has erected a good residence and he now has his land well improved. In addition Mr. Downend owns one hundred and sixty aeres on section 29. Toulon township. adjoining at one corner the corporate limits of the eity. This is a well improved farm supplied with commodious and substantial buildings and a silo of reeent construction. His farm work is conducted along progressive lines. He believes in the rotation of erops, in the use of fertilizers and all other methods that enhanee the productiveness of his place. He now has forty-eight acres of alfalfa. from which he cuts three crops per year, averaging four tons per aere. Mr. Downend also owns another small farm of fifty-seven aeres which is a well improved plaee. and he has twenty-three aeres in another traet. His holdings now consist of four different traets. constituting two hundred and sixty-three aeres of well improved and valuable farm land. Turning his attention to the breeding and raising of fine stock. he began handling Poland China hogs in 1895. Later he took up the business of raising Hereford cattle. eommeneing with three head. and he now has a herd of sixty head of registered Herefords in addition to thirty-five head of high grade Herefords. He holds publie sales of his registered Hereford cattle and Poland China hogs and he is now well
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known as a breeder, dealer and shipper of thoroughbred stock, inchuid- ing Percheron horses. It is evident that snecess has attended him along the path of life, for in addition to his holdings in Stark county he also owns a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Delaware county, Iowa, and a forty-aere tract in Minnesota, all improved land. What he undertakes he accomplishes, and diligence and determination have enabled him to overcome all obstacles and difficulties in his path.
To Mr. and Mrs. Downend have been born three children: Leslie L., who is married and is engaged in business in Toulon: Florence, who is a graduate of Denison University of Granville, Ohio, and has been a suceesssful teacher in Stark county; and Lueile, now attending school in Toulon.
In polities Mr. Downend has always been a republican since age conferred upon him the right of franchise and has served as highway commissioner for a few years and also as a member of the city council for two terms but could never be counted a politician in the usually accepted sense. However, he is not negleetful of the duties of eitizen- ship and when in office made a most ereditable record by his fidelity and eapability. He and his family are all members of the Baptist church and he and his daughter Florence are active workers and teach- ers in the Sunday school. His life has ever been upright and honor- able, measuring up to the highest standards of manhood and citizenship. He has been found trustworthy in every relation of life and his good qualities have gained for him the respect and confidence of all with whom he has been associated.
WILLIAM T. DITMON.
William T. Ditmon owns one hundred acres of good land, which is being operated by his son, and is one of the substantial and well known residents of Valley township. His birth occurred in Chilli- eothe, Peoria county, Illinois, on the Ist of July, 1849, his parents being William and Margaret ( Kaiser) Ditmon, both natives of Chilli- cothe, Ross county, Ohio. They remained there until 1848, when they removed by wagon to Illinois, reaching Peoria on the day that Zachary Taylor was elected president. They located in Chillicothe, this state, but in 1856 took up their residenee upon a farm on seetion 17, Valley township. Stark county, where they remained until 1878. Then they removed to Wyoming, this eounty, and the father lived retired until his demise six years later. He held the offices of justice of peace and
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school director and was highly esteemed in his community. His wife lied April 25, 1877.
William T. Ditmon attended the common schools in the acquire- ment of his education and remained at home until he was twenty-six years old. He then began farming on his own account and as the years have passed his resources have increased so that he now enjoys a comfortable competence and is living practically retired. Since coming to Stark county he has always resided on section 17. Valley township, and his present farm comprises one hundred acres of valu- able land. Hle has brought the place to a high state of development. and the buildings, which are substantial and commodious, he erected himself. IIe engaged in raising Poland China hogs and Jersey cattle as well as the usual farm crops for many years but his farm is now being operated by his son.
Mr. Ditmon was married in 1875 to Miss Julia E. Jordan, a daughter of John Jordan, who was an early settler of Stark county. To this union have been born two children: John, who is farming the homestead; and Orpha, the wife of G. W. Jackson, of Stark county.
Mr. Ditmon was reared in the political faith of the democratic party as his father supported that organization, and he has loyally supported its candidates since attaining his majority. For fifteen consecutive years he has held the office of treasurer of the school board, and he also is now serving as justice of the peace. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Congregational church at Stark and he is a member of its board of trustees. In 1876 he was made a Master Mason at Wyo- ming, Illinois, and has ever since taken a keep interest in the work of the craft. He is also connected fraternally with the Modern Woodmen of America at Wyoming 'and with the Maccabecs at Stark, in which he has served as commander for nineteen consecutive years. In all the relations of life he has measured up to high stand- ards of manhood and is most highly esteemed where best known.
ALBERT II. JACKSON.
Agricultural interests find a worthy representative in Albert HI. Jaekson, who is living on section 18. Goshen township, where he owns and operates a farm of two hundred acres of valuable land adjacent to La Fayette. It was in La Fayette that his birth occurred Decem- ber 25, 1840, and through the intervening period of seventy-six years
BARNABAS N. JACKSON
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MRS. BARNABAS N. JACKSON
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he has lived in this part of the state, being known among its pioneer settlers and representative men.
His father, Barnabas N. Jackson, was born in Goshen, Orange county, New York, in the year 1807, and was a son of Jonathan II. Jackson, also a native of the Empire state. He removed from there to Ohio and became one of the pioneer settlers of the town of Goshen, Clermont county. Barnabas Jackson was reared in that county and was there married to Miss Jane Meeks, a native of Ohio and a repre- sentative of one of the early pioneer families of Clermont county. In 1838 Mr. Jackson removed from Ohio to Ilinois, making the trip by way of the Ohio river to Cairo, thence up the Mississippi to St. Louis and then up the Illinois river to Peoria, whence he came direct to Stark county and made a permanent location upon the site of the present town of La Fayette. There were few settlers in the county at that time and with the work of pioneer development and improvement he became closely associated. He was elected the first recorder of deeds in Stark county and was otherwise identified with public interests. In 1844 he was elected to the state legislature and served for one terni. At La Fayette he engaged in merchandising for ten years and later made purchase of two hundred acres of land, whereon he built a resi- dence, which at the time was the largest and best in the entire county. He also owned another farm in the same district although across the boundary line in Knox county. It was in 1854 that he took up his abode upon a farm in Goshen township, Stark county, and there he successfully carried on general agricultural pursuits, his business abil- ity and enterprise winning for him a gratifying measure of prosperity. Upon that place he reared his family and spent his last years, his death occurring in 1877, while his wife survived only until 1879. In their family were seven sons and two daughters, of whom four sons and one daughter are yet living, these being Albert H., Barnabas M., Charles W .. Phineas T. and Lena J., who is the wife of George W. Potter, a retired farmer of Galva. Of this family Phineas has for fifteen years been a business man of Chicago.
Albert H. Jackson was reared upon the old homestead farm and early became familiar with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He attended the public schools and after his education was completed he gave his entire attention to farm work, assisting his father until the latter's death. He then assumed the management of the old home property and has made it one of the valuable farms of the county. All of the buildings upon the place are kept in excellent condition, the fences are in good repair and cach branch of the farm work is carefully, systematically and wisely man-
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aged. In addition to cultivating the crops best adapted to soil and climate he also makes a business of raising and feeding stock, largely handling hogs, of which he ships from two to four carloads annually. Hle has also set out two orchards and the farm is attractive in its various features and is bringing good returns to the three brothers, Albert II., Barnabas M. and Thomas W., who are connected in the conduct of the business.
Albert II. Jackson was one of the promoters of the La Fayette Fair Association and is one of its directors. He is also a stockholder in the La Fayette Hotel Company, and in business affairs he displays sound judgment and unremitting energy. His political allegiance is given to the democratic party but the desire of office as a reward for party fealty has never been his. He has served, however, as a delegate to county and congressional conventions, and his opinions have carried weight in local councils. He has spent almost his entire life upon the home farm whereon he now resides, the only exception being one and a half years passed upon a farm in Knox county. His long residence here has made him widely known; his sterling worth has gained hin high regard: and he enjoys the confidence and good-will of the entire community.
WALTER B. FINLY.
Walter B. Finly, who is successfully operating the Hazel Hill Stock Farm on section 35, West Jersey township, has concentrated his energies upon the raising of pure-blood shorthorn cattle and is recog- nized as one of the most progressive stock breeders of Stark county. His birth occurred upon that farm July 26, 1866, and he is a son of A. J. Finly, who was born in Ashland county, Ohio. The latter was taken from Ohio to Illinois when a child as his father, John Finly, was one of the very first settlers of Stark county. A. J. Finly was reared in this county and was here married in 1850 to Miss Margaret Carter, a native of the county. He became the owner of the old home farm which for many years has been known as the Hazel Hill Stock Farm and made many improvements upon the place. He was one of the first of the county to engage in breeding high grade shorthorn cattle and was influential in the advancement of the stoek raising industry here. After residing in this county for many years he removed to Shenandoah, lowa, but two years later went to San Diego, California, where he now lives. He and his wife celebrated their
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sixty-fifth wedding anniversary on October 6, 1915, on which occasion they received the congratulations and best wishes of their many friends. While living in Stark county Mr. Finly was elected to a number of offices and proved capable and conscientious in the dis- charge of his duties.
Walter B. Finly, who is one of a family of four sons and five daughters, all of whom are living, was reared upon the homestead and divided his time as a boy and youth between attending the district schools and assisting his father. About four years before the latter left the county our subject took charge of the operation of the Hazel Hill Stock Farm and has since managed the place. It comprises about four hundred acres of excellent land and the improvements thereon compare favorably with those on other farms in the county. He has not only kept everything in excellent condition but has also erected a silo and in other ways added to the value of the property. He raises pure-blooded shorthorn cattle and finds no difficulty in disposing of his stock at high prices, and he also feeds cattle and hogs for market.
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