USA > Illinois > Stark County > History of Stark County, Illinois, and its people : a record of settlement, organization, progress and achievement, Volume II > Part 7
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James L. Gerard was educated in the common schools and also spent one term in study at Dixon, Illinois, but is largely self-educated and in the school of experience has learned many valuable lessons. He remained at home until twenty-one years of age, after which he en- gaged in clerking in a store at Castleton for a year. Ile next went to Bradford, where he conducted a grocery store for a year and subse- quently removed to Lombardville, where he also spent one year. He then resumed farm work and has since given his attention to general agricultural pursuits. He now operates eighty acres of land that is naturally rich and productive, and the care and labor which he be- stows upon the fields results in the harvesting of good crops. He also devotes considerable time to the raising of full blooded Duroe Jersey hogs and is meeting with good success in that undertaking.
On the 28th of May, 1902, Mr. Gerard was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Traey, a highly educated woman, who was graduated from the State University of Kansas and taught in the high school at Larned, Kansas, for some time. To Mr. and Mrs. Gerard have been born four children, namely: James Frank, Charles Nathan, Paul Tracy and Verna Florence. The parents have been members of the United Presbyterian church since 1892. Mr. Gerard has given his political allegiance to the prohibition party and is a stanch advocate of the cause of temperance but now votes with the republican party. He belongs to the Fraternal Reserve Life Association but does not seek to figure prominently in lodge, chib or political circles. He con- centrates his time upon his business affairs and occupies the old home- stead upon which his father settled sixty years ago. It was a tract of timber land from which he had to clear away the trees in order to plant the fields.
FRED E. FERRIS.
About 1900 Fred E. Ferris purchased the farm on section 29, Osceola township, on which he now resides, having here a tract of land of one hundred and sixty-five and a half acres devoted to general farm- ing. This is the visible evidence of his life of well directed energy and thrift for he is a self-made man, who started in business life with nothing. Diligence and determination, however, have overcome the obstacles and difficulties in his path, and he has worked his way steadily upward. He was born about three-quarters of a mile south of his present home, on the same section, his natal day being February 2.
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1879. His father. George M. Ferris, was born at Wethersfield, Henry county, Illinois, and after attaining his majority he married Orethusa Stephens, whose birth occurred near Peoria, Illinois. They were residing in Stark county at the time of their marriage and settled three-quarters of a mile south of the present home of Fred E. Ferris, continuing residents of this county until called to their final rest.
The father died when his son. Fred, was a lad of but fourteen years. The latter was educated in the common schools and was reared upon the old home farm. Early undertaking the task of plowing and cultivating the land and producing the crops. there soon came to him a knowledge of the value of industry and perseverance, and he used these qualities to enable him to gain a financial start. Fifteen years ago he purchased his land on section 29, Osceola township, and is today owner of an excellent farm property of one hundred and sixty- five and a half aeres, which he has brought to a high state of cultiva- tion. He carries on general agricultural pursuits, and from the time of early spring planting until crops are harvested in the late autumn he is busy in the fields, doing everything possible to advance his work and secure good harvests.
In 1906 Mr. Ferris was married to Miss Agnes E. Scott. a daugh- ter of Robert Scott of Osceola township. and their children are now five in number: Glenn S., Mary A., Floyd J., Leslie A., and Ross E., all at home. Mrs. Ferris is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Ferris gives his political indorsement to the democratic party and its principles, and, while he does not seek nor desire political office. he has served for seven years as sehool director, doing all in his power to further the interests of public education in his neighborhood. lIe has always lived in the locality where he now resides, and his life record is familiar to his fellow townsmen. That his has been an up- right and honorable course is indicated in the fact that among his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood days to the present.
HARRY F. ADAMS
Harry F. Adams, living on section 16. Penn township. was born on an adjoining farm February 15, 1873. a son of Robert A. and Mary E. ( Earhart ) Adams, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. They were married. however, in Stark county, Illinois, the father having accompanied his parents on their removal
HARRY F. ADAMS
UNIVERSITY CH 1: 1MOIS URBANA
1.65
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to this state, where the family developed a farm, the grandparents there spending their remaining days. The father, reared to the oceu- pation of farming, continued to follow that pursuit and was for a long period numbered among the representative agriculturists of his dis- trict. He passed away four years ago and his widow died early in the year 1916. They were both consistent members of the Methodist Protestant church and assisted in building the first house of worship for that denomination in their locality.
Harry F. Adams was educated in the common schools of Penn township and afterward went to Davenport, Iowa, where he pursued a business course. Ile then returned home and took up the occupation of farming and also began the breeding of a large type of Poland China hogs about eleven years ago. He is today one of the two most extensive breeders in the county and places upon the market about one hundred and fifty breeders a year. He holds two semi-annual sales besides selling through mail orders and to private parties. The culls go to the Chicago market. Mr. Adams has long maintained a prominent position among the stockmen of Stark county, and in addi- tion to handling Poland China hogs is well known as a breeder of the Holstein Friesian cattle and Percheron horses and he also feeds eattle, hogs and sheep. Ilis is an excellent farm property splendidly equipped. Ile has four hundred acres of land and cultivates the entire traet. He has put up all the improvements upon the place and these are modern in construction, design and equipment. He has recently erected a wet mix conerete garage which is his own idea and is the only one in the county. It is a solid concrete with no breaks outside of the windows and doors, and the latter are of steel. This is an especially fine building and is a credit to the enterprise and ingenuity of the owner. There are three sets of improvements on the farm, which he calls the Penn Center Farm and which has become widely known through reputation owing to the fine stock which are shipped therefrom.
In 1896 Mr. Adams was united in marriage to Miss Clora Gleason, by whom he had five children, namely: Miriam, at home; Chester, who passed away at the age of seven years: Ardis, Audrey and Merlin, all at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Adams are members of the Methodist Protestant church at Castleton and Mr. Adams is one of the trustees having in charge the church property. Politically he exercises his right of fran- chise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and is interested in its growth and success. He has served for four years as assessor and for a number of years has been a member of the town- Vol. II-5
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ship central committee, while at the present time he is serving on the county central committee. In fraternal cireles he is very prominent, being recognized as one of the leading members of the Odd Fellows lodge at Castleton, in which he has passed through all of the chairs, while for twenty-one years he has been secretary. He is also identi- fied with the encampment at Wyoming, and he and his wife have taken the Rebekah degree at Wyoming. He is likewise a member of the Modern Woodmen camp at Castleton, the Masonie lodge at Wyo- ming, the Royal Arch chapter at Wyoming. the Knights Templar commandery at Kewanee and the Mystic Shrine at Peoria, while both he and his wife are identified with the Eastern Star chapter at Wyoming. His life exemplifies the beneficent spirit of the eraft and the high purposes of all the fraternal orders with which he is connected. His entire career has been actuated by honorable principles, and those who know him recognize in him the sterling traits of character which in every land and elime awaken confidence and regard. In business circles he occupies a most prominent and commendable position, for he has at all times been aetuated by the spirit of progress and improve- ment. He has equipped his buildings with electrie light, bringing his eircuit from Wyoming, seven miles distant. This is indieative of the spirit which actuates him in all his undertakings, and in his vocabulary there is no such word as fail, for he never stops short of successful fulfillment of a purpose.
WILLIAM LEET.
William Leet, who formerly owned what is now the Exchange Bank of Bradford and also had other important business interests, was recognized as a leading factor in the development of Stark county and one of its most prominent citizens. A native of Connectient. his birth occurred in Chester on the 20th of October. 1827, and his parents were Samuel W. and Anna Leet, both natives of that state. The aneestry has been traeed back to one William Leete, who removed from England to America in 1639, settling in the New Haven eolony. of which he subsequently beeame governor. Following the union of that colony with the colony of Connecticut he was again chosen gov- ernor and was filling that high office at the time of his death in 1683. Charles Leet. a brother of our subject was the first inventor of the first successful cartridge, his factory being in Connecticut.
As the family was in very limited cireumstanees, William Leet
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of this review went to live with a Mr. Jones, of Chester, Connecticut, working for his board and lodging. In 1841 he accompanied his en- ployer to Illinois and remained with him upon a farm near Elmwood, Trivoli township, Peoria county, for four or five years, but at the end of that time, not being treated kindly, he left and began working for others. As soon as he had saved enough money he returned to the east, but found himself dissatisfied with New England and in a comparatively short time again came to Illinois. For some time he worked for a farmer in Bureau county for a wage of ten dollars per month. Ile lived very economically and at length was able to pur- chase his first land, an eighty acre tract in Milo township, that county. Subsequently he sold that property and bought three hundred and twenty acres on section 33, on which he took up his residence. He was very successful in his farming operations and soon extended his activi- ties to other lines and at the time of his marriage in 1854 was worth about twenty thousand dollars and was considered wealthy. He saw still greater opportunities before him, however, and continued in the development of his various interests. Ile possessed a great deal of mental and physical energy and was a very hard worker. He recog- nized, however, that inefficient effort was effort wasted and therefore planned all of his work carefully so as to secure the greatest possible results. He was quick to recognize a business opportunity and prompt in carrying out his plans. A number of years before the Civil war he erected an elevator in Henry, Marshall county, and for a considerable period bought and shipped grain. His farm was twenty miles distant, but in order to give personal attention to the elevator business he drove back and forth each day. Following the close of the war he trans- ferred his grain interests to Bradford and in 1873 he took up his residence in the town, where he continued to live until his demise. For a considerable period he not only controlled the grain market at Brad- ford but also at Castleton, Duncan and Lombardville, all on the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. He was endowed with unusual keenness of insight and sagacity; possessed an unusually retentive memory and was able to hold in mind the details of every one of his almost countless business transactions.
In 1872 Mr. Leet became a factor in local banking circles, pur- chasing what is now the Bradford Exchange Bank, which was then conducted by A. B. Miner. Mr. Leet proved as successful in the management of that institution as he had in the conduct of his other business affairs and its patronage grew steadily. He gave his first care to safeguarding the interests of depositors but was willing to extend credit when satisfied that the security offered was good. In
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time his interests were extended to other states, especially to Iowa, and he established a bank at Audubon, which also proved a profitable venture. He secured his start in business from his farming operations and never eeased to believe in the value of real estate as an investment and at one time owned nearly five thousand acres of land in Stark county besides valuable holdings elsewhere. He bought and sold land throughout his business career and was recognized as an authority on real estate values. In his dealings with others he was not only up- right and above board, but he was even liberal, never being known to foreclose a mortgage if he could avoid doing so and being at all times willing to give time to his debtors as long as he believed that they were trying to pay. There are many in the county who owe mich to hint and a wealthy man in Oseeola township recently remarked that all that he had was due to William Leet, as he came to this eounty a poor man and could not have purchased his first farm if Mr. Leet had not loaned him money.
At quite an early stage in his career Mr. Leet began to operate on the Chicago Board of Trade and in 1888 removed to Chicago, where he lived for two years. He then took up his residence in Aurora but continued a member of the Board of Trade, going to Chicago each day. He passed away in Aurora on the 5th of September, 1896.
On the 29th of August, 1854, Mr. Leet was united in marriage to Miss ITelen Spear, who was a native of England but was brought to the United States in infancy by her parents. Her mother dying a few months after the arrival of the family in the United States. she was adopted by a Mr. and Mrs. Wileox, who reared her to woman- hood and who removed to Stark County in the spring of 1854, taking up their residence upon rented land belonging to Mr. Leet. To this union were born eight children, of whom three died in infaney. Mary J. gave her hand in marriage to Rev. J. C. Stoughton and is now living in Bradford. Her husband, who is deceased, was a prominent minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church and was instrumental in the establishment of the State University at Champaign and also of the Jennings Seminary of Aurora. Frank M. is deceased. Rosa, the wife of Robert Thompson, of Bradford, is the president of the Bradford Exchange Bank. Further mention of her husband is made elsewhere in this work. Anna L. became the wife of Asmus Boyson but is now deceased. George Keller is residing in Aurora, Illinois.
Mr. Leet was a republican but was never active in polities, his business interests requiring his undivided attention. He was in sym- pathy with the Methodist Episcopal elmurch, although not a member, and his influence was given on the side of right and justice. Although
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it may not have been generally recognized, he did much to maintain a high standard of business honor in the communities in which he was active and in all of his dealings he was serupulously honest. Frater- nally he belonged to the Masonic order for a mimber of years but at length demitted. He had praetieally no educational opportunities, but his native intelligenee was so keen, his judgment of human nature so sound, and his force of character so great that in spite of obstacles he became one of the dominant factors in business circles in this part of the state. He left a considerable fortune, which, in accordance with his wish, remained intact until after his widow's death, when it was divided among the several heirs. His position in a matter was never an equivocal one, as he was positive in his opinions and also in his personal likes and dislikes. IIe held friendship inviolable and was willing to do much in behalf of a friend, but to an enemy he gave only the severest justice. Those to whom he gave his friendship knew him as a man of warm heart and deep loyalty, and all who came in contaet with him held him in the highest respect.
CHESTER B. CLAYBAUGIL.
There are few residents of Toulon better known than Chester B. Claybaugh, and wherever he is known he is spoken of in terms of high regard, for he has those sterling traits of character which in every land and clime awaken confidence and respect. He has made his home in Toulon continuously sinee 1870 and for four consecutive terms or for sixteen years has filled the position of postmaster. Ile was born in MeDonough county, Illinois, January 31, 1859, a son of Nicholas Claybaugh, a native of Ohio, who on removing westward to Illinois settled in MeDonough county, where he followed farming. He was there married to Miss Rhoda Belle Marr, a native of Ten- nessee, from which state she eame to Illinois. Mr. Claybaugh fol- lowed farming in Henry county for twenty years and afterward in Stark county but spent his last days in honorable retirement from business as a resident of Toulon, where his death occurred in 1900. His widow still survives and yet makes her home in Toulon.
Chester B. Claybaugh was reared in Stark county and was edu- cated in Wethersfield and Kewanee, Illinois. Taking up the occupa- tion of farming. he devoted fifteen years to tilling the soil in Goshen township, Stark county, and afterward turned his attention to the painting business in Toulon, following that pursuit for several years.
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Subsequently he bought a restaurant and confectionery store, which he conducted successfully for a number of years, after which he was appointed postmaster by President Mckinley and by reappointment continued in that office for sixteen years. He discharged the duties of the position in a most capable, prompt and systematic manner, his work receiving the unqualified indorsement of his fellow townsmen. He was also a member of the village council for one term. Ilis political allegiance has always been given to the republican party and he is one of its recognized leaders in this county, his opinions carrying weight in its local councils. He has frequently been a delegate to the county, congressional and state conventions.
In 1891, in Toulon, Mr. Claybaugh was married to Miss May C. Smith, who was here born and reared and who by her marriage has become the mother of four children: Irene, the wife of Clarence L. Mahaney, a farmer of West Jersey township; Leslie D. and Philip C., who for more than a year have been conducting the moving picture house of Toulon, which is owned by their father; and Polly, who is a student in the high school.
After his retirement from the office of postmaster Mr. Claybaugh established a grocery and meat market in Toulon and is still carrying on the business with gratifying success. In his store is always to be found an excellent line of staple and fancy groceries and fresh and salt meats. He has built up a very gratifying trade and is regarded as one of the successful business men of the county. It is character- istic of him that he carries forward to profitable completion whatever he undertakes. ITis business methods are straightforward and his enterprise has enabled hin to overcome all difficulties and obstacles and work his way steadily upward. He is pleasant and genial in man- ner and the good things said of him by his fellow townsmen indicate that he has a very extensive circle of warm friends.
FRANK C. McCLENAHAN. D. D. S.
In professional circles in Toulon, Dr. Frank C. McClenahan occupies an enviable position, having been here engaged in the prac- tice of dentistry for eleven years. He utilizes the most improved scientifie methods in his work and the results which he has accomplished have been most satisfactory. He is a native son of the county, his birth having occurred in Goshen township, near La Fayette, in De- cember, 1879. His paternal grandfather, Henry MeClenahan, a
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native of Pendleton county, Kentucky, was born in 1798 and re- moved thence to Indiana, while in the early '30s he became a resident of Stark county, Illinois, where he joined his father, Elijah Me- Clenahan. Sr., who was among the first settlers to penetrate into the wild western wilderness that is now the thickly populated and pros- perous district of Stark county. The first election held in the county was held at his residence in Goshen township.
His grandson and namesake, Elijah McClenahan, Jr., the father of Dr. McClenahan, was born in Rush county, Indiana, July 10. 1827, and eame to Stark county in 1834. when a lad of seven years, with his father, Henry McClenahan. Here he was reared amid the usual pioneer conditions, meeting all of the hardships and experiences of frontier life. In 1873 he married Miss Margaret Thomas, a dangh- ter of William M. Thomas, of Knox county, Illinois. He began farm- ing in Goshen township, about two miles south of La Fayette, and there he reared his family and spent his remaining days. He was a very active and became a very prosperous agriculturist and at the time of his death owned five hundred acres of very valuable land in two farms. Perseverance and indefatigable effort were the basic elements of his growing success, while in all of his business dealings he was strictly reliable. IIe belonged to La Fayette Lodge, No. 501, F. & A. M .. and consistently exemplified in his life the beneficent spirit of the craft. He died February 2, 1909, at the age of eighty-two years, and is still survived by his widow. In their family were five children: Edna D., who is living with her mother in Toulon: Daniel H., who for some years has been an active member of the bar at Lincoln, Ne- braska: Carl D., who is a druggist of Toulon; Frank C .: and Bert C., who is living on the old homestead farm near La Fayette.
Dr. Frank C. McClenahan was reared in this eounty and eom- pleted his publie school education in the high school of La Fayette, while his professional training was received in the Northwestern Dental College at Chicago, in which he completed a three years' course. He was there graduated with the class of 1904. On the 5th of May of that year he opened an office in Toulon, where he has since engaged in practice. He has the marked mechanical skill and ingenuity so necessary to the dentist, combined with the business ability which must always prove a factor in the successful management of one's own affairs. His office is thoroughly equipped with the modern appliances of dentistry and his work is an embodiment of scientific knowledge and investigation.
On the 22d of December, 1903, Dr. MeClenahan was married in Toulon to Miss Lucile Blanche Cary, a native of Ionia, Michigan.
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and a daughter of the Rev. E. A. Cary, a minister of the Christian church. They occupy a pleasant and attractive residence in Toulon and both are active members in the Christian church. which was found- ed by Elijah McClenahan and his wife, the former a brother of Ilenry McClenahan and an unele of Alec McClenahan, Jr. The family have always been prominent in the church work here and their labors have been an important element in bringing about moral progress in the community.
DANIEL B. PHENIX.
Daniel B. Phenix was a pioneer of Stark county and his demise on the 28th of January, 1913. was deeply regretted throughout the county. He passed his last years at the home of his son. Bardwell D. Phenix, in Bradford, and enjoyed a period of leisure made possible by his former well directed industry. He was vice president of the Phenix Banking Company and was also connected with other phases of the development of his locality. His birth occurred on the 28th of Jume, 1820, and his parents were John T. and Lydia (Daniels) Phe- nix, who are mentioned more fully in the sketch of his brother, Har- mon Phenix. In the spring of 1834 he came to Stark county with his mother and brothers and sisters, the father having previously removed to this county. For some time Daniel B. Phenix concen- trated his energies upon the work of the home farm. Following his marriage he purchased eighty acres of raw land and at once began its cultivation and improvement. For four or five years he engaged in farming and stockraising there but at the end of that time purchased a farm in Penn township, on which he resided for about sixty years, remaining there until two years before his death. when he took up his residence with his son Bardwell in Bradford. He met with grati- fying success in all that he undertook. and he and his wife at one time owned about fourteen hundred acres of fine land. He and his brother Abram were extensively engaged in the threshing business for about nineteen years, owning in that time twenty-one different machines. They operated not only in this county but in adjoining counties and found this venture very profitable. In addition to these extensive interests Daniel B. Phenix was vice president and a large stockholder in the Phenix Banking Company, one of the well known financial institutions of the county.
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