USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 55
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LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
practicing medicine at the age of eighty-four years. Five of the family lived to be over eighty years of age, while one died some younger and four died in childhood.
Arthur McLane was reared in the usual manner of farm lads upon the frontier of Indiana, his environments in youth being those which one natur- ally mects in pioneer life. He attended the primitive schools of his neigh- borhood until twenty years of age and in the summer months was busily engaged with the work of plowing, planting and harvesting. He afterward engaged in teaching school for several winters and was also employed as a clerk. Later he took up carpentering, following the builder's trade during the summer seasons, while in the winter months he continued teaching until his removal westward.
While still a resident of Indiana, Mr. McLane was married in La Porte, on the 19th of April, 1851, to Miss Emeline Barney, who was born in New York, October 28, 1830, and was a daughter of Ephraim and Ruth Barncy. In the year 1854 Mr. McLane removed from Indiana to Whiteside county, Illinois, and made investment in a farm of two hundred acres in Fenton township. After cultivating that property for a year he sold out and pur- chased one hundred acres in Newton township, whereon he made his home until 1859. He then again disposed of his land and next bought a farm of two hundred acres in Fenton township, whercon he engaged in general farming and stock-raising. As the years passed and his financial resources increased he added to his property from time to time until he became the owner of three hundred and three acres, all in one body, and in partnership with James Hubbard owned about two hundred acres. He continued the active management of his farming interests until 1870, when he established his home in Erie and began buying and shipping grain and live stock and ` also handling coal and building materials. In 1877 he built an elevator with a capacity of twelve thousand bushels. He continued to deal in grain, live stock, lumber, coal and seeds until about three years prior to his death, when he retired from that field of business. Upon the organization of the First National Bank of Erie he became one of its stockholders, a director and its vice president and continued in the office up to the time of his death, when he was succeeded in the directorate by his son Charles.
In 1883 Mr. McLane was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife, who died on the 22d of June, leaving one son, Charles, of Erie, who is a retired capitalist and one of the directors of the First National Bank, deriving his income also from many other invested interests. He married Mrs. Elli I. Rouse, a daughter of James Pratt, who died a year and five months after their marriage. On the 19th of February, 1890, Mr. McLane was again married, his second union being with Miss Mary O. Middlebrook, who was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, January 1, 1833. She resided there until after the death of her parents, David and Hettie (Bcardsley) Middlebrook, who were natives of Fairfield county, Connecticut. About thirty years ago Mrs. McLane came to Whiteside county, where she has since made her home.
Mr. McLane was very prominent in community affairs and Erie owed her advancement and improvement in substantial measure to his cooperation
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with movements for the public good. He belonged to the Masonic fraternity, becoming a charter member of the lodge at Erie, in which he held all of the offices and served as master. He also served as treasurer for many years, became likewise a Knight Templar Mason of Sterling and joined the con- sistory at Clinton. Both he and his wife were members of the Eastern Star. In politics he was a stalwart republican and capably filled a number of offices. For three years he was supervisor of Fenton township, was also assessor and was largely instrumental in extending the drainage system of Fenton and Newton townships, acting as drainage commissioner for some time. He was likewise president of the village of Erie and gave a public-spirited adminis- tration, characterized by needed reform, progress and improvement. The death of Mr. McLane occurred, as stated, on the 18th of June, 1906, and was the occasion of decp and wide-spread regret to many friends who had learned to esteem and honor him for his loyalty and progressiveness in citizenship, for his honor in business and his faithfulness in friendship. Hc had lived in this county from pioneer times and wherever known was respected and estecined.
ASHER LINCOLN RICHMOND.
Asher Lincoln Richmond, editor of the Sterling Daily Standard and president of the Sterling Standard Publishing Company, was born in Brighton, Ontario, Canada, May 18, 1876. His paternal grandfather, Syl- vester Richmond, was a native of New York and a farmer by occupation. Following his removal to Canada he carried on general agricultural pursuits and also operated a sawmill. There his death occurred when he had reached the venerable age of eighty-four years. His wife was Dorothy (Strevol) Richmond, who lived to the extreme old age of ninety-six years. The ma- ternal grandfather of Mr. Richmond was William McGuire, a native of Ireland, who became a farmer of Trenton, Ontario, and both he and his wife were well advanced in years when called to their final rest. The parents of A. L. Richmond were Ichabod and Mary (McGuire) Richmond, both natives of Ontario, and throughout his business career the father followed farming and milling at Brighton. His life span covered more than seventy- three years. Following his demise his widow went to Rochester, New York, where her last days were passed. Both were devoted members of the Method- ist church. Their family numbered two sons and a daughter: Alfred G., of Rochester, New York; Asher L .; and Edna, also of Rochester.
Upon the home farm in Ontario, Canada, A. L. Richmond remained to the age of seventeen years and in the summer months aided in the work of the fields. He at first attended the country schools and later the high school of Brighton, while subsequently he continued his education in the summer sessions of Rochester University and also by attending night schools. He entered business life as a clerk in a dry-goods store, where he remained for a year and a half and then took up newspaper work on the Rochester (New York) Herald, being connected with the business department for seven or
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eight years. During this time he also completed a two years' eollege course with the correspondence department, University of Chicago. On the expira- tion of that period he made his way westward to Chicago and, realizing the advantage and value of educational training and desiring to finish his college work, he spent two years as a student in the Chicago University.
In 1905 he came to Sterling and was business manager of the Sterling Daily Standard in connection with Thomas Diller, the founder of the paper. In 1906 he purchased Mr. Diller's interest in the business and is now presi- dent of the Sterling Standard' Publishing Company. He likewise edits the paper, which was established in 1868. It is an excellent journal, well merit- ing its liberal circulation and advertising patronage. It is conducted along lines of modern journalism and for years has been a good income-paying property. In connection with the publication of the Standard the company also conducts the largest job office in this section of the state and turns out work of the finest class. The paper is published in the interests of the repub- lican party and its editorials are not without weight in influencing public opinion.
On the 17th of June, 1902, Mr. Richmond was married to Miss Margaret Powers, a daughter of John J. and Katherine (Mellville) Powers, of Roches- ter, New York. Mr. Richmond belongs to the Baptist church, while his wife is an Episcopalian. Fraternally he is connected with Rochester Lodge, No. 660, A. F. & A. M .; the Sterling Club; and with the Royal Arcanum. He is yet a young man, alert, energetic and progressive, and his business enter- prise and capacity are indicated in the success which is attending the paper.
BENJAMIN F. EBERSOLE.
Benjamin F. Ebersole has passed beyond the point which renders further labor a necessity and through the fruits of his former toil is now enjoying the comforts of life in well earned retirement in a pleasant home in Sterling. He was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, August 30, 1845, and is a representative of old families of that state. His paternal grandparents were Jacob and Magdalena (Rutt) Ebersole. The former, a native of Penn- sylvania, was of German descent and dicd at the age of seventy-two years, while his wife passed away at the age of eighty-four.
Their son, Michael Ebersole, born in Pennsylvania, devoted his life to farming, and in February, 1876, came to Illinois, settling in Jordan town- ship, Whiteside county, where he purchased a tract of land of one hundred and eighty acres, giving his time and energies to its further development and improvement until his death in 1892, when he was seventy-four years of age. His wife passed away in 1884, Both were members of the Men- nonite church. Mrs. Ebersole bore the maiden name of Anna Frey and was also born in Pennsylvania, a daughter of Christian and Maria (Overholser) Frey, who were farming people of the Keystone state and had a family of four sons and two daughters. Her father died at the age of eighty years
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ebersole were born four sons and two daughters, but the only ones now living are Benjamin F. and William Henry, the latter a resident of Sonoma, California.
Benjamin F. Ebersole was reared to farm life in Franklin county, Penn- sylvania, and at the usual age entered the district sehools. Through the summer months he worked in the fields, assisting in the task of plowing, planting and harvesting until he had attained his majority, when he started out in life on his own account, working by the month as a farm hand. Hop- ing to benefit his financial condition in the middle west he eame to Sterling in 1876, and for three years thereafter was employed in the shops of the Eureka Manufacturing Company. On the expiration of that period he resumed farming and for several years cultivated his father's farm on shares. He afterward purchased the property and made his home thereon for twenty-one years, his carefully directed labors bringing him good success year by year until from his earnings he saved a very desirable competence. After twenty-one years spent upon the original farm he sold that property and removed a mile and a half farther south, where he purchased one hun- dred and thirty-two acres of land, upon which he made his home for two years. In 1902 he disposed of that property and took up his abode in Ster- ling, purchasing a good home at No. 503 Fifth avenue. Here he has since lived retired, his financial resources permitting him to enjoy all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life.
On the 27th of January, 1874, Mr. Ebersole was married to Miss Anna Goshiert, who is one of a family of seven children, the others being; Christian E., who was a soldier of the Civil war; Benjamin F .; Jacob D .; Amanda E .; Samuel F., and Sarah Elizabeth. The parents of these children were Jacob and Frances (Ebersole) Goshert, both of whom were natives of Franklin county, Pennsylvania. The death of the father occurred in 1861, when he was forty-two years of age, and in 1876 the mother came to Whiteside county, where she died in 1896, aged seventy-one years.
Mrs. Ebersole's paternal great-grandfather was Dietrich Goshert, a sol- dier in the patriot army in the Revolutionary war. Her grandfather, Jacob Goshert, was a native of Pennsylvania and a miller by occupation. He married Eve Burkholder, who lived to an advanced age, while his death occurred when he was about seventy years old. Their children were Manuel, Mary, Jacob, Elizabeth, Henry,- Sarah, Joseph, Carrie, Samuel, Anna, George and Susan. The only one now living is Mrs. Sarah Moravey, a resident of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. . The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Ebersole was Christian Ebersole, a native of Pennsylvania, who in early life followed the weaver's trade, and afterward became a farmer. He wedded Anna Frey, who died in middle life. By that union he had three sons and two daugh- ters, of whom Mrs. Goshert was one. For his sceond wife Christian Ebersole wedded Mary Brubaker, by whom he had one son, Daniel.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Ebersole has been blessed with three children: Elsie Amanda, now the wife of George Babcock, a resident farmer of Jordan township, by whom she has five children, Glen E., Gladys Loraine, Merle G .. Mertie Frances and Robert Sterling Bab- rock; Katie Frances, the wife of Arehie J. Maxwell, Jr., a resident of Jordan
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township; and Mertie Elizabeth, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Ebersole also reared Anna Blanche and Daniel Benjamin Ebersole, the children of Daniel Eber- sole.
Our subject and his wife are consistent Christian people, holding mem- bership in St. John's Lutheran church, and his political allegianee is given to the republican party. Viewed from any standpoint, his life may be said to be & successful one, for he has achieved success in business and has gained the unqualified respect of his fellowmen by reason of honorable methods which neither seek nor require disguise. He has lived in this county for almost a third of a century and is greatly esteemed by those with whom business or social relations have brought him in contact.
MRS. THERESE LITZRODT.
Mrs. Therese Litzrodt, residing in Genesee township, was born in Ger- many, August 8, 1854, and is the widow of Henry Litzrodt, who was a native of Saxony, Germany, his natal day being September 4, 1825. His parents were also of German birth and spent their entire lives in the father- land. Their family numbered seven children, of whom Mr. Litzrodt was the second son. At the age of fifteen years he entered upon an apprentiee- ship and learned the locksmith's trade under the supervision of W. Demmer, in Eisenach, Germany. With the aid of fifty dollars received from his father he completed his two and a half years' apprenticeship, and during the suc- ceeding eight years followed his trade on his own account.
When twenty-six years of age Mr. Litzrodt èame to America, hoping to enjoy better business opportunities in the new world. He made his way to Sterling, and in the vicinity of that city began work as a farm hand in the employ of a Mr. Sox. He continued in this work for several years and in the meantime, with the capital acquired through his industry and economy, he was enabled to purchase eighty acres of land, upon which a few improve- ments had been made. It was located in Genesee township and was orig- inally covered with timber. At length Mr. Litzrodt took up his abode upon this farm and began its improvement and development.
For a year he lived alone and was then married in Chicago on the 12th of May, 1868, to Miss Sophia E. Wileken, a daughter of Jacob and Sophia (Swart) . Wileken. Mrs. Litzrodt was born in Mecklenburg, Ger- many, February 17, 1834, and her parents were both natives of that country. ' They reared a family of four children, but the father and mother are both now deceascd, Mrs. Litzrodt being thirteen years of age at the time of her father's death. Mr. and Mrs. Litzrodt traveled life's journey together for about twenty-eight years and were then separated by the land of death in 1890, the wife passing away in that year. Later Mr. Litzrodt made a trip to the fatherland, where he formed the acquaintance of Mrs. Therese Appold, who came to America in January, 1891, at which time Mr. Litzrodt returned to this country. They were married on the 12th of June of that year. By
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her first husband Mrs. Litzrodt had one daughter, who came to the United States with her mother and is now the wife of J. M. Winkey.
The death of Mr. Litzrodt oceurred on the 30th of January, 1905. For many years he had successfully followed farming and had added to his original holdings until he was the owner of one hundred and eighty-five acres of rich and productive land. His life was one of industry and enter- prise and the success which he enjoyed was attributable entirely to his own labors. He enjoyed the respeet and confidence of those who knew him, and at liis death left many friends in this county. Mrs. Litzrodt still surviving her husband, occupies the residence upon the home farm but rents her land. She owns one hundred and eighty-five acres and from this property derives a gratifying income. She is well known in Genesce, township, where she has now lived for seventeen years, and her good qualities have gained for her the esteem and good will of all who know her.
D. S. DIGBY.
D. S. Digby owns and operates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on sections 33 and 34, Mount Pleasant township. The place is splendidly. improved as the result of the labors and intelligently applied energy of Mr. Digby, who is justly classed with the progressive agriculturists of this eom- inunity. In the midst of the farm stands a commodious and pleasing resi- dence which he completed in August, 1905. It is built in modern style of architecture, heated by furnace and supplied with many twentieth century conveniences.
This farin was the birthplace of Mr. Digby, his natal day being in De- cember, 1863. His parents were George and Hannah (Symonds) Digby, who came to Whiteside eounty in early life. The father was born in Lin- colnshire, England, April 6, 1828, and crossed the Atlantie to Ameriea with his parents, John and Lucy Digby, about 1850. Establishing his home in Illinois, he purchased a land warrant from Margaret A. Merklein and there- with secured one hundred and sixty acres of land, comprising the west half of the southeast quarter and the east half of the southwest quarter of section 34, Mount Pleasant township. He likewise became owner of a forty-acre traet, comprising the southwest quarter of the southwest quarter of section 34, and with characteristie energy began the development of his farm. How- ever, he sold eighty aeres of his land to his father, who resided thereon for a time, carrying on general farming. At length John Digby disposed of the place and spent his last days in Lyndon, where he died in 1887, at the age of eighty-eight years. His wife, Mrs. Lucy Digby, passed away many years before, about the time of the close of the Civil war. In their family were six children, of whom four are yet living: Mary Jane, who was born in 1836, married a Mr. Lewis, and now resides at Omaha, Nebraska; John, who was born in 1839, and was formerly a resident of Whiteside county, Illinois, is now living at Grand Island, Nebraska; Betsy, who was born in 1842, is the wife of
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William Richardson, a resident of Morrison, Illinois; Thomas, born in 1845, died in Como township, this eounty, about 1877, and his widow still resides here. Sarah, who was born in 1849, married Thomas Swan and resides in or near Morrison.
George Digby, the other member of the family, made his home in Mount Pleasant and Lyndon townships throughout his aetive business life. He engaged in general farming and stoek-raising, and in his business af- fairs was quite successful. In addition to the first property which he owned he bought another farm in Lyndon township and made his home in the village of Lyndon. However, he continued to carry on general agricultural pursuits and his livestock interests up to the time of his death, which oe- curred in October, 1894. His political views were in accord with the prin- ciples of the republican party, and in matters of citizenship he stood for advancement and improvement. In early manhood he wedded Hannah Symonds, who was born in Cambridgeshire, England, in 1828, a daughter of William Symonds. With her two brothers, Robert and David Symonds, she erossed the Atlantic and came to Whiteside county about 1858 or 1859. Both of her brothers enlisted for service in the Union army during the Civil war, and David died at the front, while Robert passed away in Kansas in 1907. Mrs. Digby also had several sisters, and her half-sister, Mrs. Mary Ann Martin, came to Whiteside county, where she lived for a number of years. It was about 1861 that the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. George Digby was celebrated, and unto them were born three children, but the eldest daughter died in infaney. The youngest,' Jessie May, is now the wife of William Barber and resides just south of her brother in Lyndon township.
David S. Digby, whose name introduees this review, was reared upon the old homestead farm and was early trained to the work of field and meadow. He attended the district schools and also the schools of Lyndon and as the years have gone, by reading, experience and observation have greatly broad- ened his knowledge. He has always followed farming and stoek-raising and has been very sueeessful. When twenty-two years of age he removed to his present home, having here one hundred and sixty aeres of land on seetions 33 and 34, Mount Pleasant township. His labors have wrought a marked change in the appearance of the place, for he has added to his farm many substantial improvements and modern equipments which indieate a : progres- sive spirit and practical methods.
On the 22d of Deeember, 1886, Mr. Digby was married to Miss Dora Kaier, who was born in Fenton township, November 1, 1870, a daughter of A. B. and Louisa Kaier, who were early residents of this eounty and now make their home in Morrison. Mr. and Mrs. Digby have three children: Roy J., who is attending the business college at Sterling, at the age of nine- teen years; Lavina, who at the age of sixteen is a student in the sehools at Morrison; and Nina, thirteen years of age, attending the distriet schools.
Sinee reaching manhood Mr. Digby has given unfaltering support to the republican party, but has never consented to become a candidate for office, preferring to eoneentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs, in which he has met with well merited suecess. Soeially he is eon-
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nected with the Modern Woodmen Camp and with the Mystic. Workers at Morrison. Having spent his entire life in this locality he is well known and the strongly marked traits of his character are such as commend him to the confidence and good will of all with whom he has been brought in contact.
CHARLES N. RUSSELL.
There is nothing more inspiring than to see a man come to old age crowned with the respect and honor which are the world's tribute to his worth and to the integrity and uprightness of his life. Such a position does Charles N. Russell hold in the opinion of his fellow citizens of Sterling and of Whiteside county. For many years he was identified with mercantile interests in the city, but is now living retired.
He claims Massachusetts as the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred in Greenfield, on the 3d of February, 1826. His parents were Charles and Adeline (Nash) Russell, natives of Massachusetts and Vermont, respectively. The family was founded in New England in colonial days. The grandfather, Hezekiah Russell, of Northampton, Massachusetts, served as a second lieutenant in the Third Northampton Company in the Revolu- tionary war and is mentioned as captain of the Second Company on the pay roll of 1784. The Nash family, too, is also a well-known one of New En- gland, and the maternal grandfather. of Charles N. Russell was Eben Nash, a native of Vermont and a farmer by occupation, who made his home at Duxbury in the Green Mountain state. The great-grandfather, Daniel Nash, was born January 18, 1780, and was married September 9, 1802, to Mary Marshall, who was born May 9, 1782. They settled permanently at Dux- bury, Vermont.
Charles Russell, father of our subject, engaged in business as a tailor in Greenfield and afterward at Colerain, Massachusetts, dying at the latter place May 6, 1871, when about seventy-four years of age, his birth having oc- curred May 26, 1797. His wife, who was born February 12, 1805, died Sep- tember 23, 1882, at the age of seventy-seven years and seven months. Both were Methodists in religious faith and were earnest, consistent Christian people. Their family numbered eleven children, ten of whom reached years of maturity, while four are now living, namely: Charles N., of this review; William, a resident of Westfield, Massachusetts; Le Roy, also of Westfield; and Henry, who makes his home in Carroll, Iowa. One daughter, Mary J. Russell, died November 25, 1907, at the age of seventy-six years and cight months.
Following the removal of the family from Greenfield, Massachusetts, Charles N. Russell remained a resident of Colerain, Massachusetts, to the age of sixteen years and then went to New Salem, where he resided until 1846. In that year, at the age of twenty years, he came to Whiteside county, Illi- nois. When a boy he worked in a cotton factory for one dollar per week
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