USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 52
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Dr. Pennington also figured prominently in community affairs as a public-spirited citizen who withheld his support from no measure or move- inent calculated to prove of public benefit. In 1861 he was appointed a member of the county board of supervisors and' acceptably filled that posi- tion for a number of years.
In 1837 Dr. Pennington was married to Miss Ann P. Barnett, a daughter of John Barnett, of Brighton, Illinois. She died in 1866. On the 1st of September, 1868, Dr. Pennington was married to Mrs. Ruth A. Morrison, widow of Dr. William Morrison, of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of William and Mary Ann (Thomas) Galt. Her first husband had died in 1867. Mrs. Pennington was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, was reared to womanhood in that state and was married there the first time. In March, 1866, she came to Sterling and has made her home in Whiteside county to the present time. Her education was largely acquired in the academy at Strasburg, Pennsylvania. Her father, William Galt, died when she was but three years of age, while her mother afterward came with her daughter, Mrs. Pennington, to Whiteside county in 1866 and died in Sterling at the age of seventy years.
The parental grandparents of Mrs. Pennington were James and Mary (Martin) Galt. The family is an old one in this country, dating its con- nection with America from 1710. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Pen- nington was Zaddock Thomas, who married Ruth Thomas. They were natives of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and lived in Norristown. The Thomas family traces the ancestry back through several generations in Penn- sylvania.
In the family of Mr. and Mrs. William Galt were ten children, six sons and four daughters, of whom four arc now living: Thomas A .; Mrs. Amanda Crawford, of Sterling; Azeriah, of Chicago, and Mrs. Ruth Pennington.
The death of Dr. Pennington occurred July 21, 1906, when he had attained the remarkable old age of ninety-three years and eight months. He
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was one of the most honored of the pioneer settlers, prominent in the early devlopment of the community. The first house which he ereeted was a little log cabin on the Elkhorn creek and there he lived in true pioneer style, courageously facing all the hardships and privations ineident to the settle- ment of the frontier. He purchased his farm from the government and the land eame into his possession a wild and unbroken tract, upon which not a furrow had been turned or a rod of fence built. The place is pleasantly situated about four miles from Sterling in Jordan township. With chiar- aeteristie energy he began to clear the land, break the sod and cultivate the fields. This involved mueh arduous labor, but his work was soon manifest in the changed appearance of the place, which was converted into an excellent farm. As the years passed he not only cultivated his land with good suecess but also opened a stone quarry upon his place, using the stone for the build- ing of foundations, many of which are the support for substantial homes in Sterling. As the years passed his labors overeame all the privations and hardships of pioneer life and, as stated, he became one of the extensive land- owners of the county and one of its most prominent and resourceful farmers, whose agricultural interests were carried on in accordance with the inost scientific methods as well as in aceord with the knowledge that he had gained through practical experience. For several years prior to his death he was blind. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, to which Mrs. Pen- nington also belongs. While a man of strong character and marked indi- viduality, he possessed also a most kindly disposition and long ranked with the most prominent residents of Sterling and of Whiteside county. As the day, with its morning of hope and promise, its noontide of activity, its even- ing of completed and successful effort, ending in the grateful rest and quiet of the night-so was the life of this good man. Full of years and honors have passed away, but many more years will be added to the eyele of the centuries erc he will cease to be remembered by those among whom he lived and labored.
ROBERT E. JOHNSTON.
Robert E. Johnston, secretary and treasurer of the Johnston Lumber Company, doing business at Rock Falls, was born near Galva, Henry county, Illinois, April 21, 1877. His father, John S. Johnston, was born in October, 1827 in Draperstown, Londonderry, Ireland, of Scotch-Irish parentage, being a son of Robert and Jane Johnston, who spent their entire lives on the Emer- ald isle. They were farming people and were among the peasant landholders of northern Ireland, poor with little hope of betterment.
When about fifteen or sixteen years of age John S. Johnston came to America to seck his fortune, the voyage being made on a sailing vessel which was five weeks in reaching New York, where he landed a stranger in a strange land with only fourteen dollars in his possession. On two different occasions in later years he returned to his native land to visit his mother. After living
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for some time in Connecticut, he came to Illinois in 1854 and located near Galva in Henry county. He subsequently bought eighty acres of land two and a half miles north of that city, it being the nucleus of the present home- stead, on which he continued to reside until called to his final rest May 6, 1889. After coming to this state he married Miss Lucy Maria Sellon, who was born at Frakers Grove, Stark county, Illinois, November 1, 1843, and is a daughter of Henry and Phebe (Stoddard) Sellon. Her father was born in London, England, and was about three or four years of age when brought to the United States by his parents, the family locating at Skaneateles, New York. His father had left the pulpit of St. Paul's cathedral, London, to come to America, several generations back having held that position. Henry Sellon married Phebe Stoddard, who was born in Goshen, Litchfield county, Connecticut, June 11, 1820, and died in Round Grove, Henry county, Illinois, August 7, 1846. His death also occurred at that place. Her parents were Israel and Irene (Frisbie) Stoddard, and the latter was a daughter of Phile- mon and Rhoda (Butler) Frisbie. The father of Rhoda Butler was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. The Frisbie family were Quakers. Mrs. Lucy (Sellon) Johnston still survives her husband. Unto them were born six chil- dren, five sons and one daughter: Thomas H., who is living in Kewanee, Illinois, and is president of the Johnston Lumber Company of Rock Falls; Edward I., of Kewanee; Phebe J., who is living in the same city; William J., a resident of Toulon, Illinois; Robert E., of this review; and George E., also of Kewanec.
Robert E. Johnston was rcared upon the farm in Henry county, Illinois. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him during the period of his boyhood and youth. He attended the district schools and afterward became a pupil in the Galva high school, while subse- quently he continued his studies in the Brown Business College at Galesburg, Illinois. In 1892 he accompanied his parents on their removal to Galva, where he continued his education.
After pursuing his commercial course Mr. Johnston accepted the posi- tion of bookkeeper for the Houghton Lumber Company, with whom he con- tinued for a year in that capacity, while later he became yard manager at Victoria, Illinois, where he spent one year, and for three years he represented the firm at Altona, Illinois. In November, 1902, he came to Rock Falls and was elected secretary and treasurer of the Johnston Lumber Company, con- ducting a general retail lumber and coal business. He is a young man, alert and enterprising, watching every detail pointing to success and as the years have gone by his capable control of this enterprise is 'making it one of the profitable business concerns of the city.
On the 4th of October, 1905, occurred the marriage of Robert E. John- ston and Miss Alda H. Born, who was born at Lancaster, Ohio, November 1, 1883, was graduated from the Decatur high school in 1901 and the Uni- versity of Illinois in 1904. She is a daughter of George W. and Fides (Hal- dermann) Born, also natives of Lancaster, Ohio. Her paternal grandparents, John and Elizabeth (Lemp) Born, were born in Niederpipp, Switzerland, while her maternal grandparents, Levi and Marthiette (Littlefield) Halder-
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mann, were both natives of Ohio. Levi Haldermann was a son of George and Jennie (Williamson) Haldermann, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and Marthictte Littlefield was a daughter of William and Amelia (Dixon) Littlefield, natives of New York and Vermont, respectively. Mrs. Johnston's parents are still living. Her father was for many years a railroad bridge builder and coal mine contractor, taking contracts for sinking shafts and building superstructures in connection with coal mines in West Virginia and Ohio. Coming to Illinois he settled first at Decatur, but for the past seven or eight years has made his home in Champaign. His family numbers five children: Alda H., Ora, Russell, Ray and Katherine.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Johnston has been blessed with one daugh- ter, Virginia K. The family residence is at No. 302 East Second street in Rock Falls and the young couple have many warm friends there, while the hospitality of their own home is greatly enjoyed by those who know them. In his political views Mr. Johnston is a republican and in religious faith Mrs. Johnston is a Methodist. His business career has been characterized by a measure of success that can only come through close application and un- faltering diligence, and working along modern lines he has developed an excellent trade for the Johnston Lumber Company.
JUDGE HENRY C. WARD.
The judiciary of Illinois has numbered in its ranks many distin- guished and able men but none of those who have sat upon the state or federal bench have been more faithful in service, constant in honor or stain- less in reputation than Judge Henry C. Ward, who is now serving the fourth term as judge of the county court. He mantains his residence in Sterling, where he has lived from early manhood. His birth occurred in Hendrysburg, Belmont county, Ohio, November 16, 1850.
His paternal grandfather, Philip Ward, was a native of Cecil county, Maryland, and was of English lincage. In his youth he was trained in the work of shoemaking but later became a farmer and for many years car- ried on general agricultural pursuits. He married Margaret Brown, who died in Ohio, at the age of eighty-nine years. His death occurred ten years later when he was also about eighty-nine years of age.
Their family included John B, Ward, a native of Pennsylvania, who throughout his entire businesss life followed merchandising. He came from Ohio to Illinois about 1874 and settled in Sterling, where three of his chil- dren were then residing, living retired, until his death. In early manhood he wedded Mary A. Mumma, whose surname was originally spelled Muma. Her father was John Mumma, a native of Germany, who was accidentally killed in Ohio when forty-two years of age so that little is known concerning his early history. Ilis wife, however, survived him to the very advanced age of ninety-one years. Their children included Mary A. Mumma, who became the wife of John B. Ward. By this marriage there were born three sons and
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two daughters: Eber B., deceased; Chattie L., the widow of John G. Mana- han, of Sterling; Rowena V., the deceased wife of John F. Barrett, who has also passed away; W. Scott, of Sterling; and Henry C. The father died August 5, 1899, at the very venerable age of eighty-nine years and seven months, and his wife passed away about three years later when about nincty years of age. Both were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Ward was interested in community affairs to the extent of giving hearty cooperation to many movements for the public good. He held a number of township offices but preferred rather to remain in private life and leave the office holding to others.
Judge Ward was reared in his native village of Hendrysburg and mas- tered the clementary branches of learning there. He afterward enjoyed the advantage of instruction in MeNeely College of Harrison county, Ohio, and was graduated in 1871. Prior to that time he had assisted his father in the store and following his graduation he engaged in teaching school for one winter. He has made his home in Sterling sinee October, 1872, at which time he entered the law office of Kilgour & Manahan as a student. His thor- ough preliminary training was followed by his admission to the bar in 1877 and here he practiced until his elevation to the beneh. For four different terms he served as city attorney and his efficient professional service and his private practice both indicate the scope of his judicial knowledge and his correctness in the analysis of a causc. In 1894 he was elected county judge and at cach regular election since that time has again been called to the office by popular suffrage, so that he is now serving for the fourth term. No higher testimonial of his fidelity and ability could be given than this cn- dorsement at the polls, which bespeaks his marked ability and his per- sonal popularity. His opinions are characterized by the utmost fairness, no personal prejudice entering in as a disturbing force. Aside from his ju- dieiary duties, Judge Ward has business interest in that he is a stockholder and director in the Sterling Manufacturing Company and in the Charter Gas Engine Company.
On the 16th of May, 1877, was celebrated the marriage of Judge Ward and Miss Mary C. Anthony, a daughter of Dr. Julius P. and Martha J. (Park) Anthony. Seven children were born of this union: Martha W., the wife of H. A. Sowles, a resident of Des Moines, by whom she has one daugh- ter, Dorothy; Aliee M., the wife of Dr. Arthur H. Harms, a practicing phy- sician of Sterling, by whom she has one son, Henry Ward Harmes; John A., a lawyer of Sterling, who married Florence A. Munson, and has two ehil- dren, Elizabeth M. and Henry Munson; Julius, who died in infaney ; Frank A., a student in the University of Illinois ;. Philip H., who is attending the Sterling high school; and Mary Helen, yct a student in the grammar schools.
Judge Ward has always been deeply and helpfully interested in the eause of education and for many years .he was a member of the board of the Wallace schools while for about fifteen years he was scerctary of the Sterling library board. His aid and influence are given to further any mcas- ure or movement promising to prove of public value. Politieally he has
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always been a republcan but his political allegiance is in no way allowed to interfere with the performance of his official duties. Both he and his wife are consistent and exemplary members of the First Presbyterian church of Sterling as are the members of their family with the exception of their youngest daugliter. The Judge has been a member of the Masonic fra- ternity since 1871 and is a past eminent commander of the Knight Temp- lars. He affiliates with Rock River Lodge, No. 612, A. F. & A. M .; Sterling Chapter, No. 57, R. A. M .; and Sterling Commandery No. 57, K. T. The family residence is at No. 807 Avenue B. For thirty-five years he has made his home in Sterling and during the greater part of the time has been an active member of the bar, while throughout this part of the state he is ac- counted one of the strongest county judges. His decisions indicate strong mentality, careful analysis and thorough knowledge of the law and an un- biased judgment.
HAMLIN A. STURTEVANT.
Hamlin A. Sturtevant, whose recent death on the 7th of February, 1908, removed from Whiteside county one whom the community could ill affo.d to lose, was one of the popular and best known citizens of Prophetstown, respected and honored by all who knew him and most by those who knew him best. He was born in Peacham, Vermont, October 1, 1839, and came of German and Scotch extraction. His paternal grandfather became a resi- dent of this county and died at the home of his son, Josiah Sturtevant, in Coloma township, at the age of ninety-three years. Both he and his son Josiah were farmers. The latter was born in New Hampshire, June 16, 1804, and was reared and educated in the east. He wedded Mary Ann Robbins, who was born in Vermont and in 1843 they removed westward to Illinois, settling first in Sterling. They afterward took up their abode at Como, where they remained for two years, at the end of which time the father purchased a farm in Coloma township, where for many years he successfully carried on general agricultural pursuits, there making his home until 1893, when he removed to Rock Falls. Two years later, on the 4th of October, 1895, his death there occurred as the result of a fall whichi occasioned a broken hip. His wife had died on the home farm in Coloma township when about sixty- five years of age. Their family numbered seventeen children, including three pairs of twins. Eleven of the children grew to years of maturity and five are yet living, namely: Jonas, who resides in Coloma township; Charles. a resident of Lyndon; Emma and Eva, twins, the former now the wife of V. S. Gibson; and Mrs. Adeline Andrews, residing in Sterling.
Hamlin A. Sturtevant was only four years of age when the family removed from Vermont to Illinois. He accompanied them on their different removals, being practically reared upon the home farm in Coloma township, where he was carly trained to habits of industry and economy, thus laying the foundation for his success in later life. On attaining his majority he
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took up his abode in Sterling, where lie engaged in buying and shipping cattle and hogs, remaining in that city for about seven years. He continued in the same line of business to the time of his demise and during the war he also bought and shipped horses for the government, being associated with James A. Pattison, of Sterling, a, pioncer in the business and the only stock man in Sterling at that day. In his business interests Mr. Sturtevant dis- played marked enterprise and keen sagacity. In connection with his brother Newton he purchased five hundred acres of land in Coloma township, the brother conducting the farm while Hamlin A. Sturtevant traveled over the country buying stock. About forty years ago he took up his abode in Prophetstown, where he made his home until called to his final rest, being connected with agricultural and stock-raising interests throughout the entire period. As he saw opportunity for judicious investment he added to his possessions until he owned over two thousand acres and also gave four hun- dred acres to his son Burt. They were associated in the stock business, con- stituting one of the strong firms of the county. They shipped over fifty carloads of cattle in 1907, which they fed, and between July, 1907, and January, 1908, placed upon the market more than five hundred head of cattle which they fed. The extent of the business is more than double that of any other shippers of the county and the business was developed through the enterprise and unwearied industry of Mr. Sturtevant, who for many years figured as a most prominent and prosperous stock man of this part of the state. He carried forward to successful completion whatever he undertook, allowing no obstacles to bar his path if they could be overcome by determined and honorable effort. He was also one of the organizers of and for two years a director in the Farmers National Bank of Prophetstown. Hc had a fine home and four acres of land in the western part of the village, purchasing this place ten years ago and residing upon it until the time of his death.
In 1869 Mr. Sturtevant was married to Miss Julia Annis, who was born in Prophetstown, November 2, 1849, and died January 19, 1899, leaving a son, Burt A. Hc also reared the daughter of his wife's sister, Annie Keene, who is now the wife of Paul June, of Kansas City, Missouri. In 1901 Mr. Sturtevant was again married, his second union being with Miss Jennic Cleveland, a native of Tampico township and a daughter of Cyrus and Mary Cleveland, of Prophetstown. They were married at Raton, New Mexico, where Mrs. Sturtevant was sojourning for her health. There is one child of the second marriage, Aubrey C., born March 17, 1903.
In politics Mr. Sturtevant was a life-long democrat and a personal friend of Hon. William J. Bryan. He held a number of the local offices, but while undoubtedly he was not without that ambition which is so powerful and useful as an incentive to activity in public affairs, he regarded the pursuits of private life as being in themselves abundantly worthy of his best efforts. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity and was master of the lodge of Prophetstown for twenty-two consecutive years, a fact which stands as incon- trovertible proof of his popularity with his brethren of the craft. Hc also belonged to the Royal Arch Chapter of Prophetstown and was a member of the Knight Templar Commandery at Sterling. Without invidious distinc-
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tion he may be termed one of Prophetstown's most prominent and valued citizens. In manner he was social and genial and his eirele of friends was very extensive. In his business career there was much that is worthy of admiration and emulation. He always followed strietly honorable business principles and it was throughi close application, well directed energy and unfaltering perseverance that he gained success. His labors, too, contributed in no small degree to the expansion and material growth of the county, while he himself derived substantial benefits therefrom.
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EDWARD S. HOOVER.
Edward S. Hoover, editor of the Gazette of Sterling, his native eity, was born October 1, 1863. His paternal grandfather, Samuel Hoover, was a native of Pennsylvania and a deseendant of one of that party of German Mennon- ites who were pieked up by William Penn in London and brought to this country in 1717, colonizing Laneaster county, Pennsylvania. The original head of the family was Hans Hoover, a devout Mennonite, and the family continued in that religious faith until the time of Samuel Hoover, who drifted into Methodism and became an exhorter of that church. Samuel Hoover was also a soldier of the war of 1812, but his ancestors, in accordance with their religious faith and teachings, were non-combatants. His wife was Elizabeth Sprecher, and both died when well advanced in years, their graves being made - in Sterling cemetery. They had bceome early settlers of Whiteside county and had aided in its pioneer development and improvement. Samuel Hoover was quite well-to-do and brought with him to Whiteside county considerable money, which earned for him the sobriquet of "Cash Hoover." Upon him the Methodist church of Sterling depended largely for its financial support, and he gave and loaned considerable money to the Methodist society.
His son, George S. Hoover, born in Pennsylvania, came to Sterling in 1855, and for a few years carried on merchandising, but during the greater part of his life followed the occupation of farming, carefully conducting his agricultural interests so that he derived a good income therefrom. He held various township offices, including that of supervisor, and was active and influential in his community. He married Christiana Grafius, who still sur- vives him, the death of Mr. Hoover having occurred September 15, 1903, when he was eighty years of age. Both were consistent members of the Pres- byterian church. Their family numbered four children: Edward S .; Henry G., a veterinary surgeon of Sterling; Martin G., a resident of Chicago; and Frank W., a farmer of Minburn, Iowa.
The maternal grandfather of Edward S. Hoover was Jacob Grafius, a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, and of French descent. His ances- tors were religious refugees, who settled at York, Pennsylvania, and later lived at Huntingdon. All escaped to York at the time of the Utah massacre save one, Rosanna, who was captured and held in captivity until the exchange of the prisoners at Pittsburg during the French and Indian war. Jacob Grafius
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was a merchant at Martinsburg, Blair county, Pennsylvania, for a number of years. In antebellum days he was a radieal abolitionist and became a stal- wart republican when that party was formed to prevent the further extension of slavery. In 1860 he served as a delegate to the republican national conven- tion at Chicago, whichi nominated Abraham Lincoln for the presideney. Hc was a ilian of considerable culture and was an elder in the Presbyterian church at Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, where father and son served as elders through succeeding generations for a hundred years. Jacob Grafius married Margaret Glazier, and died in Martinsburg, at an advanced age, while his wife passed away in middle life. They were the parents of one son and three daughters.
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