USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 63
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In taking up the personal history of Frank A. Grimes we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Sterling and Whiteside county, having been only a year old when his parents came to this county. Here he was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads, attend- ing the public schools through the winter months and later becoming a pupil in the old second ward publie school in Sterling, from which he was gradu-
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ated in due course of time. He then prepared for the practical and responsible duties of business life by a course in the Gem City Business College at Quincy, of which he is an alumnus. He afterward worked on the North western Rail- road with the fence crew for a year and subsequently entered the employ of Moses Dillon, a lumber, grain and coal merchant. The business was established in 1865 and incorporated in 1902. Mr. Grimes began in a humble capacity but has steadily worked his way upward and year by year new responsibilities have been given him in this connection with the business of which he was made manager in 1905. Having spent the greater part of his life in Mr. Dil- lon's employ, he is justly accounted one of the foremost business men of Ster- ling, having long since proven his worth and business enterprise.
On the 15th of February, 1893, was celebrated the marriage of Frank A. Grimes and Miss Margaret A. Dillon, a daughter of Moses and Emma (Golder) Dillon, and they now have two children-Helen Mary and Alice Emma. Mr. and Mrs. Grimes are active and faithful members of the Congregational church and he is serving as one of the church trustees. Fraternally he is con- nected with Rock River Lodge, No. 612, A. F. & A. M., and in his political views is a stalwart republican but has never sought nor desired office, prefer- ring to concentrate his energies upon his business interests.
ANDREW J. KNOX.
Among those who have been factors in the business activity of White- side county was numbercd Andrew J. Knox, who for a long period was connected with agricultural interests in Mount Pleasant township. He was born in that township, September 27, 1858, and there lived until his demise, which occurred on the 1st of January, 1902. He was a son of William and Mary J. (Emery) Knox, who were among the very first settlers of White- side county, taking up their abode here in 1835, only three years after the Black Hawk war, wherein the Indians and the white race contested their right to this great state. After residing for some time in Prophetstown, William Knox removed with his family to the township of Mount Pleasant, and there the father died December 20, 1884, after a residence of almost .a half century in this part of the state. He bore his share in the work of general improvement and progress and aided in laying the foundation for the present prosperity and upbuilding of the county. His wife died in March, 1906. They were the parents of the following named: Mrs. Tru- man Scribner, a resident of Geddes, South Dakota; Walter E .; William H .; Martin W., who resides in Lafayette, Missouri; C. D., who is engaged in the real-estate business in Sterling; Mrs. Simon Whistler, a resident of Mount Pleasant township; and Andrew J.
The last named was reared on tlic old homestead farm and the work of the fields early became familiar to him as he assisted his father in carry- ing on the home placc. At the usual age he was sent to the public schools and mastered the branches of learning usually taught. He never cared to
ANDREW J. KNOX
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LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA
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change his line of work, but always continued in the occupation to which he was reared and was classed with the representative and energetic agricul- .turists of his community.
Mr. Knox was married twice. In 1882 he wedded Loretta J. Baker and unto them were born one child, Iva Etta, a trained nurse now living in Chi- cago. On the 31st of March, 1886, Mr. Knox wedded Miss Sadie T. Baker, a cousin of his first wife, and they became the parents of six children : Ray V., who was born February 1, 1887, and died August 17, 1895; Verna L., born April 15, 1889, and now a student in Morrison; Leta A., born September 26, 1890; Leo. M., born July 24, 1892; Lloyd J., born Feb- ruary 3, 1894; and Walter, born July 1, 1898. With the exception of the youngest, all are attending school in Morrison and the three eldest are mem- bers of the Methodist church.
The father was a member of the Odd Fellows society and the Modern Woodmen of America, and was a man who in all life's relations followed rules of conduct which won him unqualified respect and good will. He left his family in comfortable financial circumstances as the result of his energy and determination in business affairs and, more than that, he left to them an untarnished family name. Mrs. Knox still owns the home place of two hundred and thirty acres in Mount Pleasant township, all of which she has leased, with the exception of ten acres, on which is situated her house and where she is now living with her children. She is providing them with excellent educational privileges and is doing everything in her power to fit them for the practical and responsible duties of life, that they may fill useful and honorble positions in society.
JAMES H. CRUMP.
James H. Crump is cultivating the Joseph Crump farm of two hundred and ten acres, conveniently situated on section 11, Mount Pleasant township. This farm was his birth place. Hc first opened his eyes to the light of day October 18, 1874, his parents being Joseph and Lydia (Bull) Crump, both of whom are now residents of Morrison. They were among the pioneer settlers of the county and aided in laying broad and deep the foundation for its pres- ent development and progress. The father is now about eighty years of age and is one of the venerable citizens as well as one of the honored early set- tlers of this part of the state. The family numbered six children, of whom four are yet living, namely: William J., a resident farmer of Mount Pleas- ant township, who is cultivating land belonging to George Y. Upton; Mrs. L. K. Finnicum, of Morrison; and Mrs. F. E. Wilson, of Newton township. Two of the children died in early life.
The other member of the family is James H. Crump, whose educational opportunities were those afforded by the district schools and also by the public school system of Morrison. He was carly trained to habits of industry and the spirit of self-reliance and enterprise which he thus developed lias been a souree
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of his later success. Throughout his entire life he has carried on general agricultural pursuits and during the past ten years has cultivated the old home farm, beginning this work in the spring of 1898. Here he has engaged in. buying, feeding and shipping cattle and hogs, handling and feeding from six to ten carloads annually. He also raises the cercals best adapted to soil and climate and the farm is neat and thrifty in appearance, indicating his careful supervision and practical methods. He now milks from fifteen to twenty cows, selling the product to the condensed milk factory. This branch of his business adds materially to his income and he is justly classed with the substantial agri- culturists of his community. ,
Mr. Crump was married in Newton township to Miss Emma Curry, who was born in that township and is a daughter of Hiram and Minerva (Martin) Curry, who are still living in Newton township and have made their home in the county front pioneer times. Her father came to Illinois in 1856 from Pennsylvania and resided in Garden Plain township until his removal to Newton township. Mrs. Crump is one of a family of six children: Albert, who is married and resides upon a farm in Newton township; Margaret, at home; Mrs. Louis Echelbarger, whose home is near Erie, Illinois; Elizabeth and Belle, who died in childhood; and Mrs. Crump. The last named was reared in this county and was educated in the common schools. By her mar- riage she has become the mother of four children: Clyde L., born April 23, 1898; Alice M., born July 19, 1900; Albert J., March 18, 1905; and Lena M., August 19, 1907.
Mr. Crump votes with the republican party but has no aspiration for of- fice, as he feels that his time and attention are fully occupied by his business pursuits. He is a young man of energy and determination, who. carries for- ward to successful completion whatever he undertakes and as a representative of farming interests stands prominent among the agriculturists of Mount Pleas- ant township.
RICHARD THOMPSON.
Richard Thompson, now living retired in the village of Portland, is one of the honored pioneer residents of this part of the state. His memory. goes back to the period when deer and wild turkey were abundant in this part of the state and when many evidences of frontier life and its conditions existed. Chicago was at that time the nearest market for grain and Mr. Thompson made frequent trips with oxen to the city by the lake. He has now reached the eightieth milestone of life's journey, his birth having occurred in Ireland on the 19th of March, 1828. His parents were Robert and Lydia (Graham) Thompson, both of whom were natives of the Emerald Isle. In the year 1835 they came to the United States, spending some time in Vermont and afterward in Cleveland, Ohio, whence they proceeded to Chicago by way of the lakes. Reaching that city, they arranged to make the trip across the country to Whiteside county and took up their abode
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on section 10, Portland township, where they remained until called to their final rest. They were worthy pioncer settlers of this district and aided in extending the frontier and in reclaiming the wild region for the purposes of civilization. Their family numbered eight children, of whom six are living: Mary, the widow of William Besse and now a resident of Sharpsburg, Taylor county, Iowa; Richard, of this review; William, who married Laura Fay and resides in Walnut, Illinois; Elizabeth, the wife of M. E. Seeley, of Prophetstown, Illinois; Robert J., who makes his home in Erie, this state; and Hiram C., also living in Prophetstown.
Richard Thompson spent the first nine years of his life in the land of his birth and then came with his parents to the new world. He was reared upon the old homestead farm in Portland township, amid the wild scenes and environments of pioneer life. There were few opportunities for an education, school being held for about two months in the winter season. The first school convened in a log building rented of Simeon Fuller, while the teacher was a daughter of Smith Rowe. When ten years of age Mr. Thompson could fasten up a yoke of oxen, would go to the timber and chop down trees, put a log chain around the butts and thus drag them home. His youth was largely a period of earnest, unremitting toil and he learned early the value of activity and industry in the affairs of life. He also learned many other lessons which go with life on the frontier-the caution, the utilization of opportunity, the watchfulness and the enterprise-all of which must be factors in the life of the frontiersman if he would win success. Year by ycar hc assisted his father until he attained the age of thirty-two, when he started out in life. for himself, purchasing two hundred acres of land on sections 1, 2 and 11, Portland township. There were no improve- ments of any kind upon the place, but with characteristic energy he began the development of the farm and as the years passcd he wrought a marked transformation in the appearance of the placc. He transformed the wild land into productive fields, carrying on the work of plowing and planting until with the coming of the autumn he gathered rich harvests. Upon his farm he placed substantial buildings and made a valuable property, which he continued to further develop and improve until about twelve years ago, when he removed to the village of Portland, where hc and his wife now reside.
In the early times he worked many a day in the harvest field for seventy-five eents and considered it good wages. He can relate many inter- esting incidents of the early pioneer days and well remembers the trip to America, traveling by lake to Chicago. The father there made arrangements with Daniel Brown, who lived at Unionville, to take the family to Whiteside county. Brown had gone to Chicago with a load of grain and had place in his empty wagon to take the family back. Robert Thompson purchased three barrels of flour and one of salt and with what household goods they had they started, being four and a half days getting to Widows Point, twelve miles out of Chicago, such was the condition of the roads. They were almost impassable. At that place they had to leave two barrels of the flour and half of the salt in order to lighten the luggage. It required three weeks to com-
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plete the trip, and then began life in the little pioneer home. As the years passed Richard Thompson aided largely in the development of the farm and gained in that way the knowledge and experience that well qualified him for farming on his own account in his later years. He was always an exten- sive raiser of hogs, cattle, shecp and horses and his live stock interests proved a very valuable element in his business.
On the 19th of June, 1852, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Lovina Williams, who was born January 12, 1835, in Lodi, New York, a daughter of Calvin and Sally (Hill) Williams. Her father was born in Massachusetts January 28, 1799, and died in 1883. The mother, who was born April 26, 1791, passed away August 11, 1884, In their family were six children, of whom two are living: Mrs. Almina Seeley, a resident of Prophetstown; and Mrs. Thompson. The parents removed from New York to Detroit, Michi- gan, and in 1837, came to Prophetstown, where botlı Mr. and Mrs. Williams passed away. He was a carpenter and followed that trade throughout his entire life. His widow's grave was the first one made in the Prophetstown cemetery. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have been born seven children: Robert E., who married Laura Wilson, his widow now living in Calhoun county, Iowa; Nathan C., a resident of Idaho; Fred, deceased; Frank D., who is living in Montana; Grace, the wife of Robert McBride, of Lyndon, Illinois; Edwin R., who married Etta Lancaster, of Sterling, Illinois; and Rosa, the wife of Edward Myers, of Spring Hill, Illinois.
Mr. and Mrs. Thompson arc ineinbers of the Methodist Episcopal church and are earnest consistent Christian people, whose influence has ever been found on the side of right, justice, truth and progress. He served his locality for fourteen years as school director and the cause of education found in him a warm friend. He has now reached the venerable age of eighty years and a life of integrity, activity and honor has gained for him the unquali- fied regard and esteem of all who know him.
JOSEPH MARK BICKFORD.
Joseph Mark Bickford, druggist and pharmacist, proprietor of the Ster- ling Pharmacy and the Bickford Drug Company of Sterling, was born in Neenah, Wisconsin, July 2, 1856, and is a representative of English ances- try. The name was originally spelled Beckford and the family was founded in America in early colonial days. The great-grandfather of our subject lived to the remarkable old age of one hundred and two years .. The grand- father, a native of New York, devoted his life to farming and fruit-raising and he, too, lived to a good old age.
Joseph A. Bickford, father of our subject, was a native of Massachusetts and throughout his entire life was engaged in manufacturing interests. Re- moving to the state of New York, he located at Lockport, where he lived for several years and subsequently became a resident of Houghton, Michigan, where he conducted a barrel and stave factory, making barrels for ingots
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secured in the copper mines. In 1868 he came to Illinois, settling at Rock Falls, where he established the Eureka Manufacturing Company for the- manufacture of furniture, saslı, doors and blinds, while later the business was developed into a carriage manufactory. Mr. Bickford employed a large force of men and conducted the business successfully for a number of years. In early manhood he wedded Saralı A. Stiles and both became prominent. and respected residents of Rock Falls. They were devoted and consistent members of the Methodist elmurch and Mr. Bickford was active in the public life, serving as village trustec for several terms, also township collector and assessor at different times. He died at the age of sixty-seven years and his 'wife, who survived him for ten years, was also about the same age at the time of her demise. She, too, was born in Massachusetts but her father was a native of Vermont and a farmer by occupation. He died near Rutland in Danville Green, Vermont, at a comparatively early age, while his wife, Mrs. Sarah Stiles, lived to thic age of sixty-cight years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bickford were born two children but thic younger, Minnie, died in infancy.
Joseph M. Bickford of this review came to Rock Falls with his parents. in 1868 when a little lad of ten years and was here rearcd, pursuing his edu- cation in the public schools of Sterling. When his more specifically literary education was completed he took up the study of pharinacy and served for four years in a drug store in Rock Falls, after which he went to Chicago, where he pursued a full course in the Chicago College of Pharmacy, com- pleting the same in 1879. He then returned to Rock Falls, where he entered into partnership with F. W. Wheeler in the drug business, a relation that was maintained for two and a half years, when he purchased Mr. Wheeler's interest and continued in the business alone until 1902. He then sold out and was not again engaged in trade until 1903, when he purchased his present business, known as the Sterling Pharmacy. In 1907 he also bought the drug store of Mrs. K. B. Brown at the corner of Third and Locust streets. His son, M. Dean Bickford, had just completed a pharmaceutical course in the Chicago College of Pharmacy and at once took charge of the Brown drug store, which he still eonducts. The name of Biekford has become synonymous with the drug trade in Sterling and both father and son are recognized as thoroughly familiar with the principles and science of phar- macy, while in trade circles they are known as reliable business men, honored for their success and the straightforward methods by which it has been achieved.
On the 28th of September, 1883, Mr. Bickford was married to Miss Hattie A. Packer, a daughter of Harvey and Charlotte (Bass) Packer, of Rock Falls. Their three children arc: Viola M., the wife of Clyde P. Hen- dricks, a resident of Kalkaska, Michigan, where he practices dentistry; M. Dean; and Charlotte.
The parents and family are members of the Congregational church. Mr. Bickford's father was one of the organizers and leading members of the Rock Falls Methodist church and assisted in erecting the first house of worship there, while both he and his wife were active workers in the church. Mr. Bickford belongs to Rock River Lodge, No. 612, A. F. & A. M .; Sterling
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Chapter, No. 57, R. A. M .; Sterling Commandery, No. 57, K. T .; while both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star. Politically he is a repub- lican, but while keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day, as every true American citizen should do, he has never sought nor de- sired office, preferring to give undivided attention to his business interests, in which he has made steady progress, manifesting that persistency of purpose which ultimately reaches the objective point. His life record is that of a business man of alert and enterprising spirit who finds in his opportunities the incentive for consecutive effort and by the improvement of the chances which have come to him has gained a creditable and gratifying position in the business world.
JOHN FRANKLIN KEEFER, M. D.
Dr. John Franklin Keefer, successfully engaged in the practice of med- icine and surgery at Sterling, with office at No. 412 First avenue, is one of the native sons of Whiteside county who have attaincd to a position of distinction in the locality where they have always resided and where they have so directed their labors that their service has been a signal benefit to their fellowmen. Dr. Keefer is a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Strickler) Keefer, both of whom were natives of Franklin county, Pennsylvania. Their family numbered only two children and the daughter, Mary Levina, died at the age of fourteen years. The paternal grandfather of the Doctor was John Keefer, a native of Pennsylvania and of Swiss and German extraction. He was a country merchant and in connection with the management of his general store he bought cattle and was a general trader. He died very sud- denly in the Keystone state at the age of about fifty-eight years. His first wife, who bore the maiden name of Hannah Price, was of English and Welsh extraction. She died after the birth of her fourth child and Mr. Keefer later married again, his second union being with Ann Maria Grove, who is still living in Sterling.
The maternal grandfather of Dr. Keefer was Benjamin Strickler, also a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent. He was a cabinet-maker and finc wood worker and later in life became a horticulturist. Removing westward he settled at Mount Carroll, Illinois, in 1855 and there conducted a hotel and also operated a farm. He passed away there when about eighty- five years of age, while his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth (Stroek) Strickler, was about seventy-five years of age at the time of her demise. Their family numbered six children, including Elizabeth Strickler, who in carly womanhood gave her hand in marriage to Henry Kecfer. Mr. Keefcr was a farmer in early life and the ycar 1854 witnessed his removal from Pennsylvania to Illinois. . The following ycar he became a resident of Whiteside county, settling about a half mile from Enipirc, now Emerson, where lie lived for about thirty years. Hc then removed to Sterling, where for fifteen years he conducted a retail drug store and was classed with the enterprising and respected mer- chants of the city. He died March 23, 1898, at the age of sixty-six years,
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and is still survived by his widow, who makes her home with her son, Dr. Keefer. They were Lutheran in religious faith and Mr. Keefer was very active in the church work, serving for many years as superintendent of the Sunday school at Einerson and doing all things in his power to promote the work of the church in its various branches. He also held some loeal offices, including that of supervisor and sehool director.
Dr. Keefer has always been a resident of Whiteside county and its at- tractiveness as a place of abode is indicated by the fact that many of her ambitious native sons have remained here to enjoy the advantages offered in many walks of life. He was reared on a farm and aequired his prelim- inary education in the district sehools, while. later he was graduated from Carthage (Illinois) College on the completion of a elassical course in 1878. Having determined to make the practice of medicine his life work he then began study toward that end and was graduated from the Rush Medieal Col- lege of Chicago in 1881. He also took a post-graduate course in the fall of 1892 and 1893. Locating for practice in Sterling, after his graduation, he has since remained here, covering a period of more than a quarter of a eentury and has become known as one of the ablest physicians of this part of the state.
On the 10th of May, 1887, Dr. Keefer was married to Miss Ermina Har- per McBride. They became the parents of two children: Marie Viola, who is now attending Knox College at Galesburg, Illinois; and Ralph, who died in infancy. The wife and mother passed away in 1890, and on the 15th of May, 1893, Dr. Keefer was joined in wedlock to Dr. Jane Reid, a daughter of John and Ann (Faron) Reid. Her paternal grandfather was John Reid, a native of Belfast, Ireland, and of Seotch parentage. He was a contractor and died in Belfast when past middle life, while his wife, Mrs. Mary (Boyd) Reid, was sixty-nine years of age at the time of her death. The maternal grandfather, Andrew Faron, was a native of England and lived in Liverpool, where he died in middle life. He was a stonemason by trade. Unto him and his wife, Ann Faron, were born four daughters, three of whom reached mature years.
John Boyd Reid, the father of Mrs. Keefer, was born in Belfast, Ireland, while his wife's birth occurred in Liverpool, England. He was engaged in business as a shipsmith in Liverpool, Belfast, Edinburgh, and Kurrachee, East India. In 1843 he came to the United States and for four years was a resident of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, after which he returned to Liverpool, where he spent a number of years. Later he was a resident of India for four years and then again went to Liverpool. It was at that time that he mar- ried and soon afterward came to the United States with his wife, settling in Effingham county, Illinois, where he engaged in farming. His last days were spent in Seattle, Washington, where he died October 12, 1894, at the age of seventy-nine years. His wife survives lini and lives with her daugh- ter, Mrs. Keefer, in Sterling. Mr. Reid was a Presbyterian in religious faith, while his wife is an Episcopalian. In their family were three daughters: Dr. Jane Keefer; Miss Annie Reid, now of Seattle, Washington; and Ellen, the wife of O. A. Byers, also of Seattle.
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