History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I, Part 50

Author: Davis, William W
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 706


USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 50


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69


April 27, 1908.


By Order Board of Trustees.


Just as a college or university student feels an ambition for a prize at commencement, so the pupils in the various schools of the townships look for- ward to the results of the yearly examinations. Out of the one hundred and forty-seven pupils from the rural schools who took the final examinations which were held on April 25 in the Sterling, Prophetstown and Morrison high school buildings, seventy-nine passed the required average. The class which consists of fifty-eight girls and twenty-one boys graduated at Morrison on Saturday, June 6. The highest rank was made by Miss Madge Jones of Sunnyside school, Tampico, Miss Hettie McCracken, teacher, and was 94 4-7


433


HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY


per cent. The second rank was made by Miss Clara Hickey, Mt. Hope school, Garden Plain, and the third by Miss Bertha Grater, Malvern school.


As Rock river and several creeks, Elkhorn, Sugar, Buffalo, Spring, Rock, traverse the county, the erection and maintenance of bridges is an important item. In 1908 a contract was let for the repair of the river bridge at Prophets- town, and bids received for two new bridges in Hopkins to cost $7,000. Con- crete is now used largely in these structures, as although more costly at first, it will be more enduring. Schools and bridges are the two heaviest factors in shaping the amount of the rural tax-payer.


Although wolves are almost extinct in the thickly settled districts, they still linger on the outskirts of prairies and woods. The Tampico Tornado says the champion wolf hunter in Bureau or Whiteside counties lives six miles south of Tampico and his name is I. S. Hayes. Mr. Hayes recently shot an old wolf and killed seven young ones, which makes a total of 164 wolves that he has killed during the past twenty years. Bureau county has paid Mr. Hayes a large sum in bounties and ought to put him on the pension list for ridding the country of so many troublesome animals.


An indirect benefit of the Hennepin canal and feeder is mentioned by Major C. S. Richie, chief of engineers in charge of the canal: "As a high- way for the conveyance of material for the improvement of the middle state roads, which are for the most part in a wretched condition, the canal is un- surpassed. If this improvement of the roads by the utilization of the canal were taken up by the farmers the roads up and down the canal on either side for a radius of many miles could be brought to a desired modern and improved standard." This would apply, of course, to the east and west roads in White- side and beyond that cross the feeder. Firm, substantial highways that can be traversed at all seasons, with heavy loads, are among the pressing needs of rural happiness.


Fish in Rock river have become so scarce owing to the activity of two generations of Izaak Waltons that steps have been taken to restore the lazy diversion to its early attraction and profit. Congressman Lowden, in response to an application by Fish Warden W. F. Mangan, has promised a consign- ment of game fish which have by this time been placed in the lake east of the government dam. The fish club will do all in the power of its members to protect the young fish until they are large enough to be eaten. In less than ten years it will not be necessary for our anglers to explore the Columbia river for salmon, the streams of the Adirondacks for trout, or of Wisconsin for bass.


OFFICERS OF WHITESIDE.


Here and there some stern high patriot stood, Who could not get the place for which he sued .- Byron.


COUNTY JUDGE.


N. G. Reynolds, 1849-1857; James McCoy, 1857-1859; Charles J. John- son, 1859-1860; W. Anderson, 1860-1861; C. C. Teats, 1861-1865; E. G. Allen, 1865-1869; W. Lane, 1869-1882; W. J. McCoy, 1882-1890; A. A. Wolfersperger, 1890-1894; H. C. Ward, 1894-1906.


434


HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY


CIRCUIT CLERK.


R. L. Wilson, 1848-1860; A. Farrington, 1860-1868; J. N. Baird, 1868- 1872; W. P. Squire, 1872-1876; A. Farrington, 1876-1884; L. E. Tuttle, 1884-1908.


COUNTY CLERK.


N. J. Nichols, 1849-1853; R. De Garmo, 1853-1857; W. S. Wilkinson, 1857-1869; E. W. Payne, 1869-1894; G. W. Howe, 1894-1906; W. C. Stilson, 1906.


TREASURER.


D. Mitchell, 1839-1841; D. Brooks, 1841-1843; D. Hazard, 1843-1847; H. Ustick, 1847-1850; J. B. Myers, 1850-1851; D. Hazard, 1851-1855; Jesse Penrose, 1855-1857; E. B. Warner, 1857-1869; W. H. Thatcher, 1869-1886; . A. H. Hershey, 1886-1890; M. H. Seger, 1890-1894; W. Warner, 1894-1898; Mathews, 1898-1902; G. Rogers, 1892-1906; C. W. McCall, 1906.


SHERIFF.


J. C. Woodburn, 1839-1840; J. W. Mclemore, 1840-1844; J. A. Sweet, 1844-1846; Mclemore, 1846-1848; L. D. Crandall, 1848-1850; P. L. Jeffers, 1850-1852; C. Wright, 1852-1854; W. Manahan, 1854-1856; R. G. Clendenin, 1856-1858; J. Dippell, 1858-1860 ; Clendenin, 1860-1862; R. E. Logan, 1862- 1864; Dippell, 1864-1866; L. A. Lincoln, 1866-1868; E. A. Worrell, 1868- 1880; T. S. Beach, 1880-1886; G. G. Keefer, 1886-1890; J. W. Farley, 1890- 1894; C. C. Fuller, 1894-1898; A. K. Haberer, 1898-1902; Fuller, 1902-1904; C. A. Hamilton, 1904.


SURVEYOR.


C. R. Rood, 1839-1842; W. S. Wilkinson, 1842-1847; W. Pollock, 1847- 1853; W. S. Wilkinson, 1853-1857; L. H. Woodworth, 1857-1863; M. T. Woolley, 1863-1865; J. D. Arey, 1865-1871; Silas Sears, 1871-1879; W. C. Holbrook, 1879-1900; E. O. Hills, 1900.


CORONER.


I. Colcord, 1839-1844; G. Buckingham, 1844-1846; C. G. Taylor, 1846- 1848; I. Colcord, 1848-1854; D. F. Millikan, 1854-1856; D. Reed, 1856-1858; W. L. Coe, 1858-1860; J. Eddy, 1860-1862; S. Taylor, 1862-1868; W. L. Coe, 1868-1870; D. B. Seger, 1870-1872; J. Riley, 1872-1873; M. Mead, 1873-1874; D. E. Dodge, 1874-1876; M. Lathe, 1876-1878; J. A. Nowlen, 1878-1880; H. C. Donaldson, 1880-1892; J. N. Baird, 1892-1900; Congar, 1900-1904; John G. Limerick, 1904.


COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY.


David McCartney, 1872-1880; W. Stager, 1880-1904; H. H. Waite, 1904.


SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS.


C. S. Deming, 1855-1857; M. R. Kelly, 1857-1869; M. W. Smith, 1869- 1873; O. M. Crary, 1873-1877; B. F. Hendricks, 1877-1886; W. J. Johnson, 1886-1902; B. F. Hendricks, 1902.


435


1


HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY


COUNTY OFFICERS IN 1908.


County Judge-Henry C. Ward.


State's Attorney-H. H. Waite.


Master in Chancery-Charles H. Woodburn.


County Clerk-Will C. Stillson.


Circuit Clerk-L. E. Tuttle.


Sheriff-Charles Hamilton. Treasurer-Charles W. McCall. Superintendent of Schools-B. F. Hendricks. Surveyor-Edward O. Hills. Coroner-John G. Limerick.


NATIONAL AND STATE OFFICERS IN 1908.


U. S. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.


President-Theodore Roosevelt.


Vice President-Charles N. Fairbanks.


Secretary of State-Elihu Root.


Secretary of the Treasury-George B. Cortelyou.


Secretary of War-W. H. Taft.


Secretary of the Navy-Victor H. Metcalf. Attorney General-Charles J. Bonaparte.


Postmaster General-George Von L. Meyer.


Secretary of the Interior-James R. Garfield.


Secretary of Agriculture-James Wilson.


Secretary of Commerce-Oscar S. Strauss.


STATE OFFICERS.


Governor-Charles S. Deneen, R.


Lieutenant Governor-L. Y. Sherman, R.


Secretary of State-James A. Rose. Auditor-James S. Mccullough, R. Attorney General-William H. Stead, R.


Treasurer-John F. Smulski, R.


Trustees University of Illinois-Carie T. Alexander, Frederick L. Hatch, Alexander McLean.


Superintendent of Public Instruction-F. G. Blair, R.


UNITED STATES SENATORS.


Shelby M. Cullom, R., Springfield. A. J. Hopkins, R., Aurora.


STATE SUPREME COURT.


J. H. Cartwright, Ogle county. Alfred M. Craig, Knox county. Frank K. Dunn, Coles county.


436


HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY


David J. Baker, Alexander county.


Joseph N. Carter, Quincy. Orrin Carter, Cook county. James B. Ricks.


THIRTEENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.


Congressman-Frank O. Lowden.


CIRCUIT COURT JUDGES.


Hon. William H. Gest.


Hon. Frank D. Ramsey.


Hon. Emery Graves.


THIRTY-FIFTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT.


State Senator-


Representatives-Hon. Harvey L. Sheldon, R., Whiteside county; Hon. G. M. Tindall, R., DeKalb county; Hon. Henry F. Gehant, D., Lee county.


BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IN 1908.


The election Tuesday, April 7, 1908, made no change in the members of the board of supervisors in Whiteside county, for each of the present incum- bents whose term of office had expired was up for re-election. The board is now composed of the following representatives of the respective towns as named :


Albany-W. W. Blean. Clyde-Joseph Wood.


Coloma-R. L. Halsted.


Erie-E. M. Peckham. Fenton-S. C. Givens.


Fulton-J. C. Snyder. Genesee-Mathias Wolber.


Garden Plain-H. J. Simpson.


Hahnaman-John R. Renner.


Hopkins-C. Frank Seidcl. Hume-Henry Brown. Jordan-Elmer E. Mensch. Lyndon-A. E. Parmenter.


Montmorency-Theodore Frank. Mt. Pleasant-Oscar Woods. Newton-James Y. McCall. Portland-Bert Besse. Prophetstown-Elwood Becman.


Sterling-Adam Beien, John S. Landis and John G. Wetzel.


Tampico-F. A. Brewer.


Union Grove-J. C. Weaver. Ustick-John J. Entwhistle.


HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY


437


SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF WHITESIDE COUNTY.


JORDAN.


OLD NUMBER. Dist. No. Twp. R


Name of School.


No.


County.


5


22 7


Talbott


1 Whiteside


2 22 7


Compton


2 Whiteside


8


22 7 Gould


211


W. and C.


3


22 7 Knapp


3 Whiteside


6


22


7 Jordan Center


4 Whiteside


7


22


7 Fairview


5 Whiteside


1


22 7 Stone


6 ยท Whiteside


STERLING AND COLOMA.


10


21


7


East Science Ridge


7 Whiteside


1


21


7


West Science Ridge


8 Whiteside


9


21


7 Union


9 Whiteside


-


8


21


7 Wallace


10


Whiteside


3


21 7


Central and Lincoln Township High School


11


Whiteside


2


21


7


Woodlawn


201


W. and L.


5


21


7 Coloma


12 Whiteside


4


21


7 Rock Falls


13 Whiteside


6


21 7 Riverdale


14


Whiteside


MONTMORENCY.


1


20


7


Sturtz


202


W. and L.


2


20


7 Excelsior


15 Whiteside


6


20 7 Allpress


16 Whiteside


7 20 7 Elmendorf


17 Whiteside


3


20 7 Banes


18 Whiteside


5


20 7 McWhorter


203


W. and L.


HAHNAMAN.


1


19 7 Advance


19


Whiteside


2


19


7 Champion


20


Whiteside


3


19


7 Reeves


21 Whiteside


6


19 7 Deer Grove


22 Whiteside


4


19 7 Island


23 Whiteside


5


19 7 Maple Grove


204


W.,L.& B.


TAMPICO.


1


19 6


Ross


24


Whiteside


7


19 6 Pleasant Hill


25


Whiteside


2


19 6 Sunnyside


26 Whiteside


4 19 6 Highland


27 Whiteside


8


19 6 Olsson


28 Whiteside


3 19 6 Tampico


1 .


29 Whiteside


6 19 6 Maple Hill


1


30 Whiteside


- 1


-


NEW NUMBER.


Dist.


.


438


HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY


1


LYNDON.


OLD NUMBER. Dist.


No. Twp. R.


Name of School.


No.


County.


5


20 5


Greene


66 Whiteside


8 20 5 Fergesen


67 Whiteside


4 20 5 Richmond


68 Whiteside


6 20 5 Langdon


69


Whiteside


2 20 5 Hamilton Grove


70 Whiteside


3


20 5 Lyndon


71 Whiteside


9


20 5 Riverside


72 Whiteside


7


20 5 Jackson Street


73 Whiteside


PROPHETSTOWN.


7


19 5


Prairieview


74


Whiteside


1-3


19


5


Prophetstown


75 Whiteside


1


19


5 Benton Street


76 Whiteside


8


19 5 Centerville


77 Whiteside


10


19


5 Cloverdale


78 Whiteside


5


19 5 Leon


79 Whiteside


6


19 5 Woodward's Bluff


80


Whiteside


1


22


5 Franklin


49


Whiteside


8


22


5 North Clyde


50 Whiteside


2


22


5 Center Clyde


51 Whiteside


6


22


5 Greenwood


52 Whiteside


4


22


5 Malvern


53 Whiteside


5


22


5 James


54 Whiteside


3


22


5 Alldritt


55 Whiteside


7


22 5 West Clyde


56


Whiteside


MT. PLEASANT.


2


21 5


Hiddleson


57


Whiteside


8


21


5 MeElrath


58


Whiteside


5 21 5 Round Grove


59


Whiteside


9


21 5 Knox


60 Whiteside


7


21 5 Mt. Pleasant Center


61


Whiteside


1


21 5 Morrison


62


Whiteside


4


21


5 Upton


63 Whiteside


6


21 5 MeAllister


64 Whiteside


10


21 5 Humphrey


65


Whiteside


UNION GROVE.


2


21 4 Delhi


94 Whiteside


7


21 4 Green Valley


95 Whiteside


5 21


4 Bunker Hill


96 Whiteside


1


8 21.4 Independent


97


Whiteside


CLYDE.


NEW NUMBER.


Dist.


Morrison


439


HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY


OLD NUMBER. Dist.


No. Twp. R.


Name of School.


No.


County.


4


21 4 Prairie Center


98


Whiteside


1 21 4 Unionville


99


Whiteside


3


21 4 Union Grove


100


Whiteside


6


21


4 Lincoln


101


Whiteside


USTICK.


2


22


4 Cottonwood


102


Whiteside


8


22


4 Goff


103


Whiteside


6


22


4 Gridley


104


Whiteside


5


22 4 Robertson


105


Whiteside


4


22 4


Croueh


106


Whiteside


1


22


4 Otto Bluff


107


Whiteside


3


22


4 Spring Valley


108


Whiteside


7


22


4 Cobb


109


Whiteside


FULTON.


2


22


3 Smith


110


Whiteside


1


22


3 Fulton


Fulton Southside


111


Whiteside


3


22 3 Cottage Grove


112 | Whiteside


GARDEN PLAIN.


1


21


3 Lockhart


113


Whiteside


3


21


3 Garden Plain


114


Whiteside


2


21


3 East Clinton Cedar Creek


115


Whiteside


6


21


3


Stone Street


116


Whiteside


5


21


3 Spring Creek


117 Whiteside


4


21 3 Mount Hope


118


Whiteside


NEWTON.


5


20


3 Cottle


119


Whiteside


6


20


3 Byers


120


Whiteside


2 20 3 Sloeumb Street


121


Whiteside


3 20 3 West Newton


122


Whiteside


1


20 3 Kingsbury


123


Whiteside


4 20 3 Mineral Springs


124 Whiteside


7


20 3 Dewey


125 Whiteside


8


20 3 Anglese


126


Whiteside


HUME.


5


20 6 South Hume


31


Whiteside


2


20


6 West Hume


32


Whiteside


6 20 6 Hume Center


33


Whiteside


4


20 6 East Hume


34 Whiteside


3


20 6 North Hume


35 Whiteside


1


20 6 Bend


36 Whiteside


NEW NUMBER.


Dist.


440


HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY


HOPKINS.


OLD NUMBER. DIst.


NEW NUMBER.


Dist.


No. Twp. R.


Name of School.


No.


County.


2


21 6 Woodside


37


Whiteside


1


21 6 Como


38 Whiteside


4


21 6 Galt


39 Whiteside


6


21 6 Hopewell


40 Whiteside


5


21 6 North Star


41 Whiteside


3


21


6 Emerson


42


Whiteside


-


GENESEE.


9


22 6 Lafayette


43


Whiteside


6


22


6 Washington


44


Whiteside


5


22 6 Hickory Grove


45


Whiteside


3 22 6 Liberty


46 Whiteside


.2


22


6 Coleta


47


Whiteside


7


22


6 Salem


48


Whiteside


4


22 6 Elm


208


W. and C.


1


22 6 Hazel Green


209


W. and C.


8


22 6 Steuben


210


W. and C.


4


19 4


Jefferson Corners


81


Whiteside


5


19


4 Arnett


205


W. and B.


2


19 4 Spring Hill


82


Whiteside


6


19 4 Sharon


83 Whiteside


8


19 4 Burke


84


Whiteside


1


19 4 Pleasant Ridge


85 Whiteside


7


19 4 Portland


86 Whiteside


3


19 4 Erie


87


Whiteside


FENTON.


3


20


4 East Sand Ridge


88


Whiteside


1


20


4 Rock River


89


Whiteside


5 20 4 Coborn


90


Whiteside


6


20 4 Enterprise


91 Whiteside


2


20 4 Fenton


92 Whiteside


7


20 4 Valley


93


Whiteside


ERIE.


2


19 3 West Sand Ridge


127


Whiteside


5


19 3 Wheeloek


128


Whiteside


1


19 3 Kempterville


207


W. & H.


ALBANY.


4


20 2 Dublin


129 Whiteside


1 21 2 Albany


130


Whiteside


-


PORTLAND.


441


HISTORY OF .WHITESIDE COUNTY


APPENDIX.


HEROES IN GROVE HILL CEMETERY, MORRISON.


The roll of the deceased soldiers who are buried in Grove Hill cemetery is as follows:


Henry Levitt, C, 8th Ill. Cav .; Douglas D. Blodgett, E, 46th Ill. Inf .; Michael Harrison, War of 1812; Aaron B. Jackson, G, 13th Ill. Inf .; Edward P. Boyer, G, 156th Ill. Inf .; Orlin P. P. Wheeler, W. Va. Inf .; Milton B. Strunk, B, 75th Ill. Inf .; Willis M. Alexander, G, 8th Kan. Inf .; John Hall, Q. M. Col. Barnett's Regt. 1812; Edward S. Harris, C, 75th Ill. Inf .; Nicholas S. Mason, A, 34th Ill. Inf .; John W. Isenhart, D, 21st Ill. Inf .; John W. Bowser, C, 2d Mo. Cav .; Walter A. Stowell, Black Hawk War; James Clifford, F, 12th Ill. Inf .; Jacob Elsrod, Mex. War and B, 140th Ill. Inf .; Charles Voigt, G, 156th Ill. Inf .; Francis Dubridge, Marine Corps Flo. War .; Alex- ander Benson, U. S. S. Essex, U. S. Navy; William H. Oberholtzer, 3d Pa. Lt. Art .; Peter Martin, B, 34th Ill. Inf .; Almanza D. Johnson, H, 1st N. Y. Vet. Cav .; Upton Ruthrauff, A, 146th Ill. Inf .; Thomas Powers, G, 74th Ill. Inf .; James A. Hulett, H, 12th Ill. Cav .; Sebary Morse, B, 140th Ill. Inf .; Milton Morse, B, 140th Ill. Inf .; Jo- seph G. Wheeler, G, 21st Mich. Inf .; Orrie Colebaugh, I, 6th Ill. Inf. S. A. W .; George Ashworth, 1st Colo. Cav .; Robert C. Thomson, I, 6th Ill. Inf. S. A. W .; Edward C. Vennum, E, 46th Ill. Inf .; Peter R. Boyd, G, 156th Ill: Inf .; Charles Churchill, C, 75th Ill. Inf .; William H. Whited, A, 33d Ill. Inf .; John J. Kelley, F, 5th N. Y. H. Art .; James S. Bean, Maj. 86th Ill. Inf .; Harley Pearson, 20th Kan. Inf. S. A. W .; Jason C. Booth, A, 1st W. Va. Inf .; Jasper N. Booth, I, 2d W. Va. Inf .; J. Van Ston, record un- known; Robert J. Fellows, D, 140th Ill. Inf .; John S. Gillett, C, 75th Ill. Inf .; Cleveland Gillett, 28th N. Y. Inf .; William Pleasant, 11th Mo. Cav .; Daniel D. Lincoln, C, 8th Ill Cav .; John J. Brown, E, 1st Ill. Lt. Art .; Henry Brown, C, 8th Ill. Cav .; George W. Thompson, F, 59th Ill. Inf .; John Lucas, U. S. Navy; George S. Milnes, C, 75th Ill. Inf .; William D. Richard, E, 46th Ill Inf .; Henry E. Allen, F, 93d Ill. Inf .; Robert White, War of 1812; Robert S. Anthony, G, 13th Ill. Inf .; William Austin, War of 1812; Columbus Dodge, E, 46th Ill. Inf .; David J. Quackenbush, B, 34th Ill. Inf .; George A. Quackenbush, Prin. Mus. 34th Ill. Inf .; Lyman A. Hulett, B, 147th Ill. Inf .; William Lane, E, 46th Ill. Inf .; Alman M. Mosher, B, 1st Iowa Cav .; Samuel B. Lenhart, G, 156th Ill. Inf .; Jesse McKee, K, 142d N. Y. Inf .; Gardner H. Rugg, B, 38th Ill. Inf .; Rollin C. Sholes, C, 8th Ill. Cav .; Harvey P. Baker, C, 8th Ill. Cav .; Gurdon Barrows, War of 1812; Joseph Myers, B, 34th Ill. Inf .; Edward Lawton, I, 6th Ill. Inf. S. A. W .; Ralph D. Humphrey, I, 6th Ill. Inf. S. A. W .; John C. Calderwood, B, 147th Ill. Inf .; John S. Harrison, C. 8th Ill. Cav .; William Taylor, H, 42d Ill. Inf .; James Lister, B, 1st Iowa Cav .; W. H. H. Hutton, 20th Ill. Inf. and Surg. U. S. A .; William Henry Paschal, Black Hawk War; Abijah H. Foreman, C, 8th Ill. Cav .; Egbert T. Ingerson, B, 186th N. Y. Inf .; Aaron H. Martin, K, 74th Ill. Inf .; Alpheus Clark, Major 8th Ill. Cav .; William A. Payne, F, 93d Ill. Inf. ; James H. Bradley, K, 84th Ohio Inf .; George W. MeKenzic, C, 8th Ill. Cav .; Irving


442


HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY


Williams, I, 75th Ill. Inf .; John Kirman, 4th Ohio Cav .; John N. Baird, A, 34th Ill. Inf .; Truman Culver, C, 8th Ill. Cav .; Frank Clendenin, Maj. 147th Ill. Inf.


SOLDIERS BURIED NEAR MORRISON.


Heaton Cemetery-Aaron Bailey, War of 1812; Joseph Bump, C, 75th . Ill. Inf .; Warren Heaton, C, 8th Ill. Cav .; James T. Jackson, E, 46th Ill. Inf .; John D. Paschal, Black Hawk War; Charles M. Shaw, H, 5th Vermont Inf .; James Thomas, Black Hawk War; Alfred Heaton, C, 8th Ill. Cav.


Round Grove Cemetery-Peter Barberry, C, 8th Ill. Cav .; Harvey Bun- zey, D, 115th N. Y. Inf .; William P. Crump, B, 34th Ill. Inf .; Albert Fel- lows, E, 4th Ill. Cav .; John S. Green, B, 75th Ill. Inf .; Thomas Mason, C, 75th Ill. Inf .; Oscar Seeley, C, 75th Ill. Inf .; David B. Symonds, G, 13th Ill. Inf .; Lewis Knox, C, 8th Ill. Cav.


Union Grove Cemetery-Marvin Goodwin, G, 13th Ill. Inf .; Joseph John- son, War of 1812; Peter Root, C, 75th Ill. Inf .; Henry Ustick, War of 1812; Wm. Lane, C, 75th Ill. Inf.


Alldritt Cemetery, Clyde-George Beswick, C, 25th Ill. Inf .; Richard Foster, C, 75th Ill. Inf .; William Winebrenner, G, 65th Ill. Inf.


Fenton Cemetery-Joseph Kaier; Jacob Miller; William P. Moore, F, 52nd Ill. Inf.


Malvern Cemetery, Clyde-Harvey Conaway, A, 34th Ill. Inf.


North Clyde Cemetery-John Riggs; William White, War of 1812; Charles 1. Ward, 100th Ohio Inf.


Spring Valley-John Kier, C, 75th Ill. Inf .; Robert Imlay.


LIBRARY OF THE ITY OF ILLMINIA


-


John S. meller


BIOGRAPHICAL


JOHN S. MILLER.


Prominent among the energetic, far-seeing and successful business men of Sterling is John S. Miller, president of the First National Bank. There has not been a single esoteric phase in his career. On the contrary his busi- ness methods have ever been such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny and his advancement has come through the recognition and utiliza- tion of opportunity and the exercise of energy and enterprise-his dominant qualities.


A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Miller was born in Pottsville, April 13, .. 1849, his parents being John S. and Barbara (Bach) Miller, both of whom were natives of Germany, the former born at Simothaven and the latter at Elwagen. The father was reared in Germany to the age of sixteen years and acquired his early education in that land. He then crossed the Atlantic to the new world and without means landed at Pottsville, Pennsylvania, where in order to provide for a livelihood he followed the baker's trade, and to secure progress along intellectual lines he attended the night schools. In 1857 he came west to Freeport, Illinois, where he entered into partnership with C. J. Fry in the manufacture of alcohol. They sold out in 1862 and on the 1st of May, 1864, Mr. Miller became a resident of Sterling, where he continued the manufacture of alcohol until his death, which occurred Feb- ruary 27, 1874, when he was fifty-three years of age. His wife survived him and lived to be sixty-five years of age. He figured in business circles in Sterling not only as a manufacturer but also as a prominent representative of its financial interests, being one of the original promoters of the First National Bank, which was organized in 1870. He was chosen its first president and continued as its chief executive officer up to the time of his death, placing the institution upon a safe, reliable basis and instituting a conservative policy


445


446


HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY


that has awakened uniform trust. The bank is capitalized for one hundred thousand dollars and has been a successful institution from the beginning.


Both Mr. Miller and his wife were members of the Lutheran church and were people of the highest respectability, winning for themselves a creditable position in the regard of their fellow townsmen. Of their family of seven children two were sons and five were daughters. The record is as follows: Margaret, deceased, was the wife of Frank Bartholomae; John S. is the second in order of birth; William H., who was associated with our subject in the banking business, died of heart disease while on a hunting trip in Dakota in 1903; Mary, deceased, was the wife of Bernard Roesing; Julia, deceased, was the wife of E. Stein; Louise M. is the wife of T. T. Ramsdell and is now living in Buffalo, New York; and Alice, deccased, was the wife of W. P. Kennard.


John S. Miller, the immediate subject of this review, spent the first eight years of his life in the place of his nativity and then accompanied his parents to the west, living for six years in Freeport, Illinois, and one year in Chicago before the family home was established in Sterling, where he has since con- tinued. Hc attended the public schools in these different towns and for two years was a student in Clark's Seminary at Aurora and for two years in the high school at Chicago.


Mr. Miller then entered the office of his father as a grain buyer and was engaged in the manufacture of alcohol until 1884, forming a partnership with his brother, William H., on the death of their father in 1874. He also became his father's successor as president of the First National Bank of Sterling and is still at the head of that institution, which is widely recog- nized as one of the strongest moneyed concerns of this section of the state. The bank now occupies one of the most handsome bank buildings in Illinois outside of the large cities. It was remodeled in 1906 and is fully equipped with every modern convenience for the transaction of business and for the protection of depositors.


On the 22d of January, 1879, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Carrie Ware, a daughter of Richard C. and Carrie (Cameron) Ware. The latter was a daughter of Mrs. Sarah Cameron, whose children were as follows: Mrs. Ware; Marcella, who became the wife of General E. C. Kirk and after his death of Dr. Charles H. Thomas; Sarah, the wife of Dr. J. B. Patterson; Josephinc, who married Dr. P. G. Clark, and Elianna, the wife of Albert Vincent.


Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miller were born four children: Carl W., who is now a medical student in Chicago; Howard, who died at the age of two and a half years; Alice Louise, who passed away when but a few days old, and Fred W., who died at the age of four months. Mrs. Miller passed away December 19, 1889, at the age of twenty-nine years and her death was deeply regretted in the Episcopalian church, of which she was a member, and by the community at large. Mr. Miller is also a member of that church and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. He has traveled exten- sively, crossing the ocean ten times and visiting thirteen foreign countries. He has thus gained the experience, knowledge and culture which only travel


447


HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY


can bring and is an entertaining gentleman, to whom the world instinctively pays deference by reason of his social qualities as well as the success he has achieved.


WILLIAM L. MCWHORTER.


A life of industry, diligence and well directed effort has been crowned with success that enables William L. Mcwhorter to put aside business cares and enjoy an honorable retirement from labor. He now resides at No. 801 East Second street in Sterling and is numbered among the native sons of the county, his birth having occurred in Montmorency township, August 23, 1860. He is one of the seven children of Hon. Tyler and Rhoda A. (Ward) McWhorter, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this volume.


William L. McWhorter was reared upon his father's farm in Montmor- ency township and attended the district schools, while later he was a pupil in the Sterling Business College. He then returned to the farm and after his father's death he carried on the farm for a few years. He then bought what was known as the Frank Utley farm of two hundred and sixty-one acres, liv- ing upon it until the spring of 1902, when he rented the farm and removed to Sterling, where he has since lived retired. His rest is well merited because his life has been active and his energy and diligence constitute the basis of his success.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.