USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 54
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LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
entered and improved, continuing the cultivation and development of that property until 1853. There was a great deal of stone in the bluffs and with some of this he built a fine . house. He had one of the most beautiful farms for stoek to be found anywhere.
ยท In 1853, however, he left the farm and moved to Fulton, purehasing the ferry franchise aeross the Mississippi river, and, in company with his son-in-law, William Knight, putting on the first steam ferry that was ever operated on the Mississippi north of St. Louis. The boat was a nice side- wheeler ealled the "Sarah," named after his daughter, Sarah, the wife of Wil- liam Knight, and was built for Mr. Johnson at the large steamboat yards at New Albany, Indiana. He brought her down the Ohio to Cairo and thenee up the Mississippi to Fulton. After operating the ferry for two or three years, he invested his means in town lots, which rose continuously in value until Clinton was made the division town on the railroad.
Mr. Johnson resided in Fulton until his death, which occurred Oetober 12, 1876. His widow died April 18, 1879. He was the father of twelve cliil- dren, all of whom reached maturity with the exeeption of Cornelia P., who died in infaney. Five of the children are now living. Cornelia P. (second) is the widow of Richard Green, of Fulton, and is now living there; Hen- rietta, the widow of Charles A. Davidson, is now living in Kansas City, Missouri; Eliza N., the widow of Samuel Dennison, is also living in Kansas City, Missouri ; Anna M., the widow of William Reed of Fulton, is now living with her son, George, in Louisiana; and Caleb C.
One son, Charles J. Johnson, went to Morrison, Illinois, about 1856, and praetieed law there for a number of years, after which he went to Roek Island and later to Chicago, but eventually returned to Whiteside eounty and located in Sterling, where he formed a partnership with his brother, Caleb . C., and continued in the praetiee of law until he had attained an advaneed age. He died at the home of his sister, Mary Ware, near Fulton, in July, 1899. At one time he was judge of the county court of Whiteside county and was long regarded as a most powerful and eminent attorney.
Another son, Edward L. Johnson, served throughout the Civil war, enlisting in the First Nebraska Infantry as a private, but died before he reached home, while his regiment was at Cape Girardeau, Missouri.
Cornelia P. (seeond) and Harriet married brothers, Riehard and Wil- liam C. Green, respectively, both prominent residents of Fulton.
Caleb C. Johnson was reared in this eounty, spending the first eight years of his life on the home farm and then aecompanying his parents on their removal to Fulton. He was edueated in the common schools and at the Military Academy at Fulton, and entered from there into the life of the volunteer soldier, enlisting as a member of Company C, Sixty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He re-enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Fortieth Illinois Infantry, and served until the end of the war. The regi- ment was principally engaged in guarding railroads and was badly eut to pieees by guerrillas.
His military service ended, Mr. Johnson returned to Fulton, and in 1866 went to Morrison, Illinois, where he began reading law in his brother's
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office. In 1867 he was admitted to the bar. In 1868 he aceepted a position as clerk on one of the large boats belonging to the Diamond Joe line and found this a very delightful occupation. But, in Mareh, 1869, he eame to Sterling, where he entered into partnership with Major Miles S. Henry. They opened a law office in the building where Mr. Johnson is now loeated and remained together until Mr. Henry's death in 1878. He was then joined by his brother in a partnership under the firm style of C. J. & C. C. Johnson, continuing together until 1893, at which time he went to North Dakota, having been appointed receiver of a national bank at Jamestown, North Dakota, by James H. Eekels, comptroller of the currency. In 1896, after settling up the affairs of the bank, he returned to Sterling and again became actively engaged in the praetiee of law.
His name is familiar to all those who are at all acquainted with the legal history of Whiteside county: He has been retained by either the de- fense or the prosecution in a great many of the important cases tried in the eourts of the distriet. He never fails to prepare his cases thoroughly for trial, and the presentation of them indicates a mind trained in the severest sehool of investigation, and to which close reasoning has beeomc habitual and easy. His deductions follow in logieal sequenee, and his marked ability is demonstrated by the many notable forensie vietories he has won.
On the 15th of August, 1871, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Jo- sephine E. Worthington, a daughter of Eliphalet Bulkeley Worthington, long deputy elerk of Whiteside county circuit court, and Sarah (McShane) Worthington. They have one son, Jesse W., a graduate of the University of Wisconsin. He is now reading law in his father's office, having spent two years in the graduate Law School of the University of Chicago. He married Miss Jessie L. Sharpe, of Jacksonville, Illinois, and they have one son, Wil- liam S.
Caleb C. Johnson is an exemplary member of Rock River Lodge, No. 612, A. F. & A. M .; Sterling Chapter, No. 57, R. A. M., and Sterling Com- mandery, No. 57, K. T., of which he was the first eminent commander, serv- ing for two and one-half years. And he was also an officer in the grand eom- mandery of Illinois.
Politically, he is a democrat and has been honored by a number of official positions. At one time he served on the board of supervisors and was a member of the building committee that had in charge the erection of the elerk's office at Morrison. He served as city attorney for a number of terms, first in 1869. In 1885 he was elected to the Illinois legislature and re-elected for the sessions of 1887, 1893, 1897 and of 1903, he being at that time the nestor of house democrats. He also served in one or two special sessions. He was at every session a leader, taking an active part in the pro- ceedings at all times. His complete knowledge of parliamentary law and usages, together with his natural ability as a political tactieian and party leader, won for him in the session of 1893 the position of temporary speaker and organizer of the house, and afterward the chairmanship of some of the most important committees in the house. Under Cleveland's first adminis-
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tration Mr. Johnson was deputy collector of internal revenue, and in 1888 he was a delegate to the democratic national convention at St. Louis.
At present Mr. Johnson is out of politics, devoting himself entirely to his law practice, but performing faithfully the duties and demands made upon him incident to good citizenship. He is a member of the Wallace school board, president of the library board and a trustee of the Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Quincy. A few years ago he was associated with C. L. Sheldon in an attempt to induce the government to change the proposed line of the feeder for the Hennepin canal so that it would join Rock river at Sterling instead of at Dixon. These two gentlemen were sent to Washington for this purpose and succeeded in their mission, and Sterling is today consequently entering upon an industrial era of great promise.
Mr. Johnson has always been a close student of those questions which are to the statesman and to the man of practical affairs of deep interest. His labors and efforts have been an essential factor in promoting the best inter- ests of Sterling and Whiteside county and have borne fruit, not only in legislative halls but through the wider contact and friendship with men of the state.
JOHN M. GOLTMAN.
John M. Goltman, who has earned the right to live retired, having for many years been a factor in Whiteside county's business activities now makes his home in Sterling. - He was born in Franklin county, Pennsyl- vania, September 6, 1833. His paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary war-a scout-during the operations near Wyoming, Penn- sylvania, and a sharpshooter. He lost his wife when comparatively young, while he lived to an old age.
Their children included Thomas Goltman, a native of the Keystone state, who became a mechanic, 'building wagons, plows, and doing other me- chanical work. The broad west with its limitless advantages and opportunities attracted him and about 1844 he arrived in Illinois, while in 1848 he took up his abode near Mount Carroll, in Carroll county, where he engaged in farming. He had wedded Mary Beck, also a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of George and Mary (Brenner) Beck, who were natives of Penn- slyvania. The father was of Holland descent and was a carpenter by trade. The mother reached the advanced age of seventy-seven years. Her father was a wagonmaster in Washington's army in the Revolutionary war. The ancestral history of John M. Goltman thus entitles him to membership with the Sons of the American Revolution. Following the removal of his parents to Illinois the father continued farming in Carroll county until the health of his wife necessitated their return to Franklin county, Pennsyl- vania, where the death of Mrs. Goltman occurred in 1856 when she was fifty-five years of age. The husband and father survived for only two years, passing away in 1858. Both were members of the Reformed church. They
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had a large family of thirteen children, nine of whom reached adult age, while three are yet living: John M .; Sarah, the widow of Thomas Buck; and Benjamin, who is living near Center Point in the vicinity of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
John M. Goltman remained a resident of his native county until fifteen years of age and was reared to farm life. He attended the district schools and later continued his studies in the Covenanter Academy in Franklin county. When fifteen years of age he came to the west but because of liis mother's ill health returned to Pennsylvania. When in his twenty-second year he began reading law in the office of Judge Nill at Chambersburg, Penn- sylvania, and was admitted to the bar in 1858. Soon after he was married and in 1860 he came again to Illinois, settling in Carroll county, where he lived until 1861, when he came to Whiteside county. For four years he followed farming in Genesce township and then took up his abode in Ster- ling, since which time he has been a resident of Sterling and Rock Falls, while through his active business career he continued a member of the bar and was accorded a good clientage.
On the 8th of March, 1860, Mr. Goltman was married to Miss Susan Keefer, a daughter of John and Maria (Grove) Kecfer, who were natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a son of Jacob and Barbara (Burkholder) Keefer, the former a farmer by occupation. The wife died when about forty years of age and Jacob Keefer afterward married Mrs. Anna Funk, while his death occurred when he was seventy-six years of age. The ma- ternal grandfather of Mrs. Goltman was George Grove, who was likewise born in the Keystone state and engaged in the tilling of the soil as a life work. He wedded Catharine Knoftzker and died at the age of sixty-eight years, while his wife died at the age of sixty-seven years. They had a fam- ily of eight children.
John Keefer, father of Mrs. Goltman, was born in Pennsylvania and was twice married. He first wedded Hannah Price and they had four chil- dren, all of whom reached adult age but only one is now living-John P. Keefer, who resides at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. After the death of his first wife he wedded Maria Grove. He followed farming throughout his en- tire life and died near Marion, Pennsylvania, in 1863. His widow still sur- vives and is living in Sterling in her eighty-ninth year. They had a fam- ily of eleven children, of whom the following are living: Mrs. Goltman; George G. Keefer, of Sterling; Jacob F., who resides ncar Marshalltown, Iowa; Samuel S., of Muskegon, Michigan; Emma C., the wife of Benjamin Goltman, who makes her home near Center Point, Iowa; Anna M., who is the widow of William Manahan and resides in Sterling; David M., living in Marshalltown, Iowa; and Christian A., of Chicago.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Goltman have been born four sons and a daughter : Thomas Winchester, who married Jessie Rutland and is living in Los Angeles, California; John Keefer, who wedded Agnes Jackson and is a trav- eling salesman residing in Clinton, Iowa; Clarence Edward, who is general buyer and foreman of the John Harpham harness factory of Sterling and who married Elizabeth Williams, by whom he has three children, Susan E.,
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Ruth J. and John T .; Anna Grace; and Harry Herbert, who is a civil engineer and is now superintending bridge building and dredging in north- ern Iowa. He was a member of Company I, Seventh Cavalry Regiment in the Spanish-American war.
The parents arc members of the Baptist church and are prominent socially, their hospitable home at No. 412 Third avenue being a favorite resort with their many friends. Politically Mr. Goltman is a democrat and for twenty years served as police magistrate of Sterling and for four years as justice of the peace, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial, while his capablity is indicated by his long retention in office. He is now living retired at the age of seventy-five years, and a well spent life has gained him the uniform regard of those who know himn.
STACY B. DIMOND, M. D.
Dr. Stacy B. Dimond, the leading physician and druggist of Albany, with a large and profitable business in both lines of undertaking, was born near Belvidere, Boone county, Illinois, January 5, 1864. His parents were Josiah and Fanny (Lytle) Dimond, the former a native of Canada and the latter of New Jersey, but lived in Canada a few years. They were married in Illinois, becoming pioneer settlers of Boone county. The Dimond family had removed from Canada across the country with teams, Richard Dimond, the grandfather, bringing his family in this way, while his son, Josiah Dimond, rode a horse all the way. While en route they passed through Chicago, which was then a very small place, giving little promise of the almost phenomenal growth which was to make the city one of the wonders of the world of the nineteenth century. Indians were still quite numerous in this state and many cvidences of pioneer life were seen, indicating that the seeds of civilization had scarcely been planted. Josiah Dimond became a farmer and was reared to agricultural pursuits upon the old homestead in Boone county. He was one of a family of two sons and three daughters and like the others of the household pursued his education in the district schools. His brother, Stephen Dimond, at the time of the Civil war enlisted as a defender of the Union cause and served for three years and six months with official rank. About the time of the close of hostilities between the north and southi Josiah Dimond removed to Iowa, settling there in the spring of 1865. He purchased an im- proved farm in Delaware county, where he made his home for thirty years and was one of the prominent and valued agriculturists of the community. For a long period he filled the office of school commissioner and advocated all progressive measures for the welfare and upbuilding of the community. In 1903 he retired from active farm life and located at Earlville, Iowa, where he still resides, but in 1901 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. Their family numbered six children, who reached years of maturity : Richard, who is now living in Lincoln, Nebraska; Gertrude, the wife of W. S. Mid- land, of Hartley, Iowa; Stacy B .; Emma J .; Fannie; and Josiah, a drug- gist of Altoona, Iowa.
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Dr. Dimond acquired his literary education in the schools of Earlville, completing the high-school course by graduation. Consideration of the vari- ous avenues of life open to young men led him to the determination to enter the field of medical practice and to this end, at the age of twenty-two years, he became a student in the medical department of the State University at Iowa City, where he was graduated in 1889. Immediately following his gradu- ation he located at Albany, where he has since been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession, having now a liberal patronage. He is today one of the best known physicians in the county and his success is due in large measure to the fact that he has kept in close touch with the progress made by the medical fraternity and is thoroughly up to date in all of his methods of practice. He owns and conducts the only drug store in Albany, having been its proprietor since 1894: He is likewise engaged in the banking business. Associated with Cyrus Brinker, Charles E. Peck and Harvey Senior, he organ- ized the First National Bank of Albany, of which he was elected president. He has thus been closely associated with the financial interests of the county and his efforts have been a factor in the business development of Albany, contributing to general prosperity as well as to individual success.
In 1891 Dr. Dimond was married to Miss Edith H. Olds, a daughter of Ezckiel and Sarah (Pease) Olds. Her parents were representatives of two of the oldest families of Whiteside county and were among its most promi- nent citizens. Dr. and Mrs. Dimond have but one living child, Dorothy S. In his fraternal relations, Dr. Dimond is a Mason, belonging to Albany Lodge, No. 566, A. F. & A. M. He likewise affiliates with the Knights of Pythias at Albany and in politics is a republican. He has filled several minor offices, but is not a politician in the sense of office sceking. In the line of his profession he is connected with the State Medical and the County Medical Societies, the American Medical Association and the Clinton County Medical Society. He is regarded as one of the most successful and enterpris- ing business men of Whiteside county and as a public-spirited citizen his labors have been a strong element in public progress. He is honored and respected by all who know him for his business success, his professional skill and his personal traits of character, which have won for him warm and last- ing friendships.
CHARLES FRANKLIN SEIDEL.
Charles Franklin Seidel, who follows farming on section 11, Hopkins township, was born July 27, 1866, in the same township in which he makes his home. He is descended from German ancestry and in his life exemplifies inany of the sterling traits of the Teutonic race. His parents were Charles G. and Mary Ann (Feighner) Seidel, natives of Germany and Pennsylvania, respectively. The father came to America in 1844 and established his home in Columbus, Ohio. He was then a youth of fourteen years. He crossed the Atlantic with his parents, Charles and Barbara (Zeiser) Seidel. John Seidel
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had formerly been a hostler in the king's stables in Germany and later did teaming and staging. After crossing the Atlantic he lived for seven years in Columbus, Ohio, and then removed to Whiteside county with his wife and several of his children, taking up his abode upon a farm in Hopkins town- ship. It was thus that Charles G. Seidel became identified with the agricul- tural interests of Whiteside county.
Charles F. Seidel, whose name introduces this review, was educated in the common schools of Hopkins township and remained at home until about twenty-five years of age, assisting in the labors of the farm as the work of plowing, planting and harvesting was carried on year by year. He thus received ample and practical training in all departments of farm work and was well qualified to take charge of a farm of his own when he started out in life for himself.
On the 4th of November, 1891, was celebrated the marriage of Charles F. Seidel and Miss Elizabeth Loretta Regan, a daughter of Cornelius and Bridget (Mannion) Regan. Her father came from Ireland to America in 1854 and settled in Whiteside county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Seidel have been born six children, Marie, Loretta, Josephine, Francis, Charles and George.
Mr. Seidel gives his political allegiance to the republican party and was elected to the office of supervisor about nine years ago. He was also tax col- lector for two years previous to his election to the office of supervisor, in which office he has continued to the present time. No higher testimonial of faithful service could be given than his long retention in this position. He has also been school director for several terms and is the present incumbent in the office. His duties are discharged with promptness, accuracy and fidel- ity, and no trust reposed in him was ever betrayed in the slightest degree. He belongs to Emerson Camp, No. 9934, M. W. A., and has many friends both in and out of the order. As a representative agriculturist he is widely known, being now the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres, which is under a high state of cultivation. It is improved with a comfortable modern residence and all the accessories and conveniences of a model farm. His busi- ness interests are capably directed and have brought him gratifying success. He is also popular with his many friends and he holds friendship inviolable.
THOMAS PFUNDSTEIN.
Thomas Pfundstein is now living in honorable retirement from labor in a pleasant home at No. 722 Wallace street. He was for many years identified with industrial and manufacturing interests of Sterling, but in the evening of his days is now enjoying well-earned rest. He has passed the seventy-fourth milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred in Wurtemberg, Ger- many, on the 9th of December, 1833. His parents were Andreas and Mar- garet (Daller) Pfundstein, both of whom were natives of the fatherland, where also lived Thomas Pfundstein, the grandfather, who was a farmer by occupation and died well advanced in years. The maternal grandfather,
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Alois Daller, was a school teacher, and both he and his wife, Gressens Daller, lived to advanced years. They had a family of four sons and seven daugh- ters. Andreas Pfundstein was a miller of Germany, where he died about 1861 at the age of sixty-nine years. His wife survived him for twenty years and was eighty-seven at the time of her death. Both were communicants of the Catholic faith. Their family numbered five children, but only two are now living, the sister of our subject being Miss Anna Pfundstein, of Dun- ingen, Germany.
Thomas Pfundstein pursued his education in the schools of his native country and afterward worked upon a farm for three years. He then learned the miller's trade and for twelve years was a soldier in the German army. The favorable reports which he heard concerning the opportunities offered by America led him to seek a home on this side the Atlantic, the year 1866 witnessing his arrival. He settled in Sterling, where for nincteen years he worked in the distillery, after which he entered the employ of the Keystone Manufacturing Company, with which he held a good position until his retire- ment from active business life. Careful expenditure in his earlier years now enables him to enjoy a well-earned rest amid the comforts of life.
On the 15th of August, 1875, Mr. Pfundstein was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Braun, a daughter of Frederick Braun, and they now have five children: Anna, Thomas, Jacob, Emma and Henry, all of whom are yet at home. Thomas and Jacob are machinists employed in Sterling.
Mr. Pfundstein is a member of the Catholic church, while his wife be- longs to the Lutheran church. They have a wide acquaintance in Sterling, which has now been their home for forty-two years, and Mr. Pfundstein has always been known as a man of industry and reliability, meriting the trust and respect of his fellow townsmen.
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. ARTHUR McLANE.
No history of Erie would be complete without mention of Arthur Mc- Lane, whose name is now on the list of honored dead. He passed away on the 18th of June, 1906, and thus was ended a life of well-directed and hon- orable activity. He was for many years closely associated with the business interests of the town and his labors were of a character that promoted public prosperity while advancing individual success. Wherever known he was esteemed and honored and most of all where he was best known.
Mr. McLane was born ncar Richmond in Wayne county, Indiana, May 30, 1827, his parents being Jesse and Emily (Neuman) MeLane. The father, a native of Pennsylvania, largely spent the days of his boyhood and youth in Virginia and in early life engaged in dealing in horses. In later years, however, he turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits. In the Old Dominion he met and married Miss Neuman, who was a native of that state. They became the parents of ten children, of whom only one is now living, Dr. Jesse N. McLane, of De Funiak Springs, Florida, who is yet
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