USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 64
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
By the marriage of Dr. Keefer and Dr. Reid four children have been born: Annie Elizabeth, Laura Bell, Jane Frances and Frank Reid Keefcr. Like her husband, Mrs. Kcefer is an able physician. She was born in Edge- wood, Effingham county, Illinois, and during the first nine years of her life lived at various times in her native village, Centralia, and St. John, Illinois, and in St. Charles, Missouri. She then went with her parents to Amboy, Illi- nois, where she acquired her common-school education, being graduated with the class of 1878 from the high school. She next entered the Illinois State Normal at Normal, Illinois, and taught in the Amboy schools in 1880-1 and at Morris, Illinois, in 1882-3. The following year she was a teacher at Plainfield, Illinois, and then again at Amboy. Later she entered the Woman's Medical College at Philadelphia in 1886 and was graduated therefrom in 1889. The same year she began practice in Sterling. She and her husband belong to the same medical societies, holding membership in the Sterling and Rock Falls Physicians' Club, the North Central Illinois Medical Society, the Whiteside County and the State Medical Societics and the American Medical Association. They are decply interested in all that pertains to the advancement of the profession and are continually broadening their knowl- edge through scientific research and investigations as well as through ex- perience. Dr. and Mrs. Keefer arc. members of the Presbyterian church, in which he is serving as an clder. . He also belongs to Sterling Lodge, No. 174, 1. O. O. F., and the eneampment, while he and his wife are connected with the Rebekah degree. Both have gained distinction as physicians of ability and are equally well known socially and have many friends in Sterling and throughout the county.
FRANK D. RAMSAY.
Frank D. Ramsay, one of the judges of the appellate court for the third district, was born in Prophetstown, Illinois, September 27, 1846. His father, Luther B. Ramsay, was a native of Oneida county, New York, and of Scoteh-Irish descent. In 1839 he removed to Illinois, settling at Rapid City, now Rock Falls, Whiteside county, where he engaged in surveying land a part of that year. He then returned to New York and brought his family, including his father, to the middle west, after which he engaged in farming in Prophetstown township. The family met the usual experiences of pionecr life and aided in extending the frontier by the reclamation of the wild dis- trict for the uses of civilization. He continued the development and im- provement of his farm until 1849, when he took up his abode in the village of Prophetstown and spent his remaining days therc. For several years he was identified with its mercantile interests and was successful in his under- takings. He left the impress of his individuality upon the early develop- ment of the county, aiding in molding public thought and in shaping the publie policy, standing as he did at all times for progressive citizenship and for substantial development. In politics he was an old-line whig prior to
FRANK D. RAMSAY
.
LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA
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the organization of the republican party, when he joined its ranks. He had no aspiration for office, however, being content to do his public service as a private citizen. He married Caroline M. Smith, a native of Poultney, Vermont, and of New England ancestry, her parents being Steven and Tyley (Manly) Smith, who came to Prophetstown in 1840, her father here following the occupation of farming. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ramsay were born a son and daughter, the latter being Mrs. Luey E. Adams, the wife of George B. Adams, advertising manager for the Royal Tailors of Chicago. The father died in 1886, at the age of sixty-eight years, and the mother's death occurred in 1903, when she had reached the age of seventy-seven years.
Judge Ramsay received no special advantages in his youth. He attended the common schools of Prophetstown and the Seminary at Dixon, Illinois, and at the age of twenty years entered the office of Frederick Sackett, of Sterling, under whose direction he read law. In 1868 he was admitted to the bar and located for practice in Morrison, where he has since remained with the exception of two years, which he spent in Kansas City. While advancement at the bar is proverbially slow, no dreary novitiate awaited Judge Ramsay. Gradually he worked his way upward and his practice be- came extensive and of an important character. He became noted among his brethren of the legal fraternity for the wide research and provident care with which he prepared his cases and his merits received public recogni- tion, when in 1897 he was elected judge of the circuit court. In 1905 he was assigned to the appellate court for the third district by the supreme court of the state. He is now filling. that position and is a prominent rep- resentative of the judiciary of Illinois. His legal learning, his analytical mind, the readiness with which he grasps the points in an argument, all . combine to make him one of the capable jurists of the appellate bench, and the public and the profession acknowledge him to be an efficient member of the appellate court.
In 1872 Judge Ramsay was married to Miss Lovisa Mckenzie, who was born in Prophetstown, in 1848, a daughter of William R. and Harriet (Martin) Mckenzie. The father removed from New York to Prophetstown, while the mother came to this county from Canada in 1839. Mrs. Ramsay is of Scotch descent. By this marriage there are two sons: Luther R., who was born in 1876, and is an attorney at law of the firm of McCalmont & Ramsay, at Morrison; and Robert M., who was born in 1879 and is a court reporter of Chicago. Both sons are married.
Judge Ramsay is a Mason and also a member of the order of Knights of Pythias. In politics he is a republican and, while stalwart in the cham- pionship of the principles in which he believes, he never allows his political views to prejudice him in any way in his judicial duties. He belongs to the local bar association and aside from his service on the bench he was master in chancery for six years. He has carned for himself the favorable regard of the publie and the profession. His decisions indicate strong mentality, careful analysis, a thorough knowledge of the law and an un- biased judgment. He is recognized as a man of finely balanced mind and
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strong intellectual attainments, possessing, too, that well rounded character which contributes to his success in the diseharge of the multitudinous deli- cate duties which devolve upon him.
JAMES RYAN.
An excellent farm of two hundred and forty acres on sections 32 and 33 pays, tribute to the care, industry and supervision of James Ryan. It is the old family homestead upon which he spent much of his boyhood and which he has purchased in recent years. He is one of Illinois' native sons, his birth having occurred in Lee county, December 29, 1861. His parents, Michael and Johanna (Conners) Ryan, were both natives of Ireland and in 1854, crossing the Atlantic to the new world, they made their way to Dixon, Illinois, where the father worked as a common laborer for six years. Eagerly availing himself of every opportunity for advancement, he next rented a farm for five years and, carefully saving his earnings during that period, he pur- chased, in 1865, eighty acres of land on section 33, Montmorency township. Later he invested in eighty acres on section 32 adjoining the original place, ibus becoming the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of rich land capable of high cultivation and large production. As the years passed he devoted his time and energies to the further development and improvement of the prop- erty, which under his care became an excellent farm. Unto him and his wife were born a daughter and three sons: Nora, now in Sterling; James; Patrick, deceased; and John, of this county. The father died in the year 1892, while the mother survived for fifteen years, passing away in 1907 at the advanced age of eighty-five years.
The boyhood and youth of James Ryan were quietly passed, his time being divided between the duties of the schoolroom, the interests of the play- ground and the labors of the home farm. His training in the work of the fields was not meager but on the contrary he began work in the cultivation of the place almost as soon as he was old enough to handle the plow. After attaining his majority he rented a part of the old homestead for a number of years and then in 1892 purchased eighty acres 'on section 32, Mont- morency township. To this he afterward added by purchasing the old home- stead of one hundred and sixty acres, so that he now owns a valiable tract of land of two hundred and forty acres on sections 32 and 33. Montmorency township. His farm presents an attractive appearance, for everything about the place is kept in good condition and pasture land and fields are all rich and productive.
In 1889 Mr. Ryan was united in marriage to Miss Mary Reardon, who was born in Tennessee, a daughter of William and Katherine Reardon, who are now living in Sterling. Their family numbered six children. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ryan have been born two daughters, Katie and Maric. The parents are communicants of the Catholic church and in politics Mr. Ryan is a demo- crat. His fellow townsmen have several times called him to office and he is
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low assessor of Montmorency township, having been the incumbent in the position for five years. He has likewise been school director for five years and is also treasurer of the drainage district. Coming to this county when four years of age, he has now lived within its borders for about forty-three years and has been an interested witness of the many changes and the trans- formation which has been wrought by time and man. The onward march of civilization has made this one of the richest agricultural districts in this great state, affording to its citizens all the advantages that are known to the older cast. Mr. Ryan rejoices in what has been accomplished and has borne his full share in the work of general improvement and progress.
MICHAEL, KLEINSCHRODT.
Michacl Kleinschrodt, who follows farming and stock-raising in Union Grove township, came to Whiteside county in 1872 and has resided here continuously since, with the exception of a year and a half spent in Iowa. He has always made his home in the middle west and the spirit of enter- prise and development characteristic of the upper. Mississippi valley has been manfest in his business career.
He was born in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, February 2, 1858, his parents being John G. and Katherine (Amos) Kleinschrodt, both of whom were natives of Germany, whence they came to America at the ages of four- teen and twenty-one years respectively. The father accompanied his parents to the new world and the family home was established in Cook county, Illi- nois, where the paternal grandfather of our subjeet purchased and improved a farm. John G. Kleinsehrodt continued to make his home there until after his marriage, when he removed to Wisconsin and a little later returned to Illinois, settling at Elgin, where he remained until 1872. He then came to Whiteside county but three years later went to western Iowa, where he re- mained for several years. He then returned to Morrison and was actively engaged in farming in this locality until he put aside the arduous duties of the fields and established his home in Morrison, where he is now living re- tired, at the age of seventy-seven years. Unto him and his wife were born eight children: John, now a resident of Sterling; Maggie, who makes her home in Elgin, Illinois; Michacl, of this review; Henry, also living in Mor- rison; Philip, of Minnesota; Mrs. Mary Pierce, whose home is in Elgin, Illi- nois; Charles, who died two or three years ago; and William, of Morrison.
Michael Kleinschrodt has resided in Whiteside county almost continu- ously sinee about fourteen years of age and has always been identified with general farming interests. He early became familiar with the work of the fields, as he aided his father in the tasks of plowing, planting and harvesting. He thus received broad experience to assist him in carrying on farm work on his own account and is now numbered among the successful agrieulturists of Union Grove township. Since the 1st of March, 1902, he has resided on his present farm and is herc carefully and suceessfully carrying on general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising.
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
In April, 1889, occurred the marriage of Mr. Kleinschrodt and Miss Grace Van Dyke, who was born near Fulton, this county, a daughter of Peter and Rimke (Nouta) Van Dyke. Her father came to the United States in childhood and her mother when a young lady. The father re- sided during the greater part of his life in Whiteside county and followed the occupation of farming to provide for the support of his family. He died in April, 1905, at the age of seventy-eight years. Mrs. Kleinschrodt is the eldest in the family, the others being : H. B. and Peter, who are residents of Morrison; Claus, living in Union Grove township; Abel, who is living in Unionville, Illinois ; David, at home; Jacob, who died in infancy; and Jacob, the second of the name, who died in September, 1900.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Kleinschrodt has been blessed with one child, Bernie Lloyd, born November 6, 1891, and yet under the parental roof. Mr. Kleinschrodt exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party and is now serving for the fourth year as road commissioner, in which office he has done much to improve the public highways. He has also been school director and the cause of education finds in him a warm and stalwart friend. He believes thoroughly in ad- vancement, in eradicating all that is useless in methods of business or in the elements of citizenship and in promoting public progress along sub- stantial lines. Such a course has characterized his business career and he has steadily worked his way upward, becoming one of the enterprising farm- ers of Union Grove township.
A. W. GREENLEE.
A. W. Greenlee stands as a high type of the patriotic and public-spirited American citizen. He served his country as a soldier in the Civil war and has been equally loyal in days of peace, giving proof of his devotion to com- munity interests by fourteen years' capable service in the office of mayor of Lyndon. He has likewise filled the position of postmaster for eleven years and over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong nor suspicion of evil.
Mr. Greenlce is a native of Frederickstown, Knox county, Ohio, born February 10, 1842. His parents were Robert and Mary (Christie) Greenlee, natives of Coshocton county, Ohio. On leaving the Buckeye state in 1855 they came at once to Whiteside county, where they spent their remaining days. The mother was not long permitted to enjoy her new home, her death occurring in 1856, but the father reached the age of sixty-five years. Their children were: Benjamin F., who died while serving his country as a soldier of the Civil war; Robert A., deceased; Emily Adaline, the wife of Plypton Baker, of West Platt, Nebraska; A. W., of this review; William C., who was a member of the Ninth Iowa Cavalry in the Civil war, serving for two and a half years, but is now deceased; and Ellen, the deceased wife of Ezra French.
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
A. W. Greenlee spent the first thirteen years of his life in the state of his nativity and with his parents came to Whiteside eounty in 1855, the family home being established at Unionville, Grove township. He remained under the parental roof until his enlistment for service in the Civil war. He was but a lad of nineteen years when in September, 1861, the fires of . patriotism burning brightly in his breast, he joined Company I of the Eighth Kansas Infantry, with which he served for twenty-two months. Then eame an interval of four months, after which he again enlisted, this time joining the Ninth Iowa Cavalry, continuing in active service altogether for four years, terminated by an honorable discharge in March, 1866. He had been discharged from the Eighth Kansas Infantry because of physical disability but as soon as his health permitted he again joined the army, nor did he hesitate to follow the old flag until it became the symbol of Union vietory. He took part in the battle of Perryville and with a eavalry company did mueh seouting and skirmish duty in the southwest, holding the rank of sergeant.
When the war was over Mr. Greenlee returned to Whiteside county but soon afterward went to Holton, Kansas, where he worked in a general store for two years. He then returned to his Illinois home, where he has since remained and with the material interests and substantial development has been elosely associated. For twenty years he engaged in farming in Lyndon township, where he rented and eultivated a traet of rich land, while his wife owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Rock Island county. At length, putting aside agricultural pursuits, he took up his abode in Lyndon and for three years was in the employ of the firm of Parmenter Brothers. He was then appointed postmaster and for the past eleven years has filled this position. He has also been mayor for the past fourteen years and in both positions gives a publie-spirited administration, looking to the best interests of the community. He has ever placed the general good before partisanship and the interests of his office before personal aggrandizement. He is a stalwart republican, casting his presidential ballot for each candidate at the head of the national ticket since voting the first time for Abraham Lineoln in the campaign of 1864. He .is recognized as one of the local leaders of his party, his opinions carrying weight in its councils, while his serviee as a member of the county central committee for the past sixteen years has been far-reaching and beneficial. In addition to the other offices that he has filled he has served as village clerk and as township clerk and he has ever worked in public affairs toward practical idealism.
In 1876 Mr. Greenlec was married to Miss Olive E. Smith, who was born in Lyndon township in 1850 and here resided until her death in March, 1891. Her parents were Harry and Mary Smith, who arrived in this county from New York in the '30s and entered land in Lyndon township, where they aided in planting the early seeds of civilization and in extending the frontier. They continued residents of the township throughout their remain- ing days and were prominent and worthy pioneer people. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Greenlee were born three children: Maud, now the wife of Carl Palmer, a resident of Sterling; Frank, also living in Sterling; and Halford R., who is
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
a graduate of the Naval Academy at Annapolis of the class of 1895 and is now an ensign on the battleship Rhode Island. Having lost his first wife, Mr. Greenlee was again married on the 2d of June, 1893, when Miss Helen Daggett became his wife. She is a native of Lyndon and a daughter of Falarnian and Falina (Fitch) Daggett, who remained residents of this local- ity until called to their final home. Mr. and Mrs. Greenlee are well known in the community, having an extensive circle of friends. They attend the Congregational church, of which Mrs. Greenlee is a member, while Mr. Greenlee holds membership relations with the Modern Woodmen of America. The terms progress and patriotism might well be termed the keynote of his character. His business life has been characterized by advancement, while his publie service has been the exemplification of marked fidelity to the interests entrusted to his care.
THOMAS W. STEVENS.
In a history of Whiteside county's early development it is imperative that mention should be made of Thomas W. Stevens and his wife, the latter being a representative of one of the oldest families of Sterling. Mr. Stevens also eame here in pioneer times and for many years was closely associated with its agricultural development, transforming the wild land into a pro- ductive farm and gaining through his well directed labors a comfortable competence that enabled him to spend his last days in honorable retirement and to leave his family in comfortable financial circumstances. He was born in the northern part of Pennsylvania and came west to Illinois with his parents when a youth of thirteen years, arriving in 1838. They settled half a mile north of Sterling when the east part of the town was called Harris- burg and the west part Chatham. The father, Jonathan Stevens, died upon the liomestead farm, which he cultivated for many years, and it was there that his wife, Mrs. Ellen (Bowman) Stevens, also passed away.
Thomas W. Stevens was reared to manhood under the parental roof and pursued his education in the little school house east of Broadway, in Sterling. He was closely associated with the early events of the eity which framed its course and molded its policy. He was twice married, his first union being with Miss Adaline Coc, by whom he had two children-Maltva Coe and Helen Amanda Stevens. The wife.and mother passed away in 1850, and in the spring of 1852 Mr. Stevens went to California in company with some cousins. They inade their way to a ranch, where Thomas W. Stevens continued for about seven years, after which he returned to Sterling and resumed farming in Sterling township, being the owner of forty acres of land there, which he had purchased before he went to California. To this he added eighty acres as his financial resources increased and became an active factor in the agricultural life of the community.
Mr. Stevens married again on the 23d of February, 1859, his second wife being Mrs. Helen Ann Snavely, the widow of Moses Snavely and a
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
daugliter of Simeon Maltva and Mary (Miles) Coc. She was a sister of Mrs. Stevens' first wife. Unto this marriage there were born five sons: Frederick, of Sterling, who works for the Rock Falls Manufacturing Company, married Grace Scott, and they have four children living, Wadsworth, Beatrice, Gladys and Earl. Thaddeus, now deccased, married Lydia Klein and they have seven children, of whom four arc living, Kenneth, Carl, Mabel and Margaret. Frank makes his home in Chicago. Ernest died in infancy. Bowman married Belle Scott and both are now deceased.
For a considerable period Thomas W. Stevens cultivated his farm in Sterling township, but at length sold that property and purchased one of about three hundred and fifty acres in Hopkins township, where he lived for about six years. He then sold this property to his son Thaddeus and took up his abode in Como, where he resided for about six years. On the expira- tion of that period he became a resident of Sterling, where his last days werc passed, his death occurring January 26, 1904, when he had reached the age of seventy-nine years. His widow still survives and is eighty-two years of church but later became identified with the Congregational church and were . age. She was born July 29, 1826. Bothi were members of the Methodist earnest, consistent Christian people.
Mrs. Stevens belongs to one of the first pioneer families of Whiteside county and is now the only living member of a family of thirteen children, ten sons and three daughters, who were born unto her parents. She was the twelfth in order of birth. With one exception all the children reached mature ycars and reared families. Her father, Simeon Maltva Coe, died May 20, 1848, in his sixty-fourth year. His wife, Mrs. Mary (Miles) Coe, sur- vived him for about eight years and was in her seventy-second year at the time of her demisc. Mr. Coe held various township offices, to which he was called by the vote of his fellow townsmen, who recognized liis worth and ability. In the carly days herc he took up a large tract of government land and was one of the first to aid in reclaiming this region, then wild and unim- proved, for the purposes of civilization. He came here to locate in 1838 but had twice visited the district before on a prospecting tour. His son, Simeon Miles Coe, came to Whiteside county in 1835 and also took a large tract of government land. He was closely associated with the later development and progress of the county until his death in 1894 and was widely recognized as a man of prominence and influence herc. The Coe family came to Illinois from Monroe county, New York, having lived about twelve miles south of Rochester. The Indians were still secn to some extent in the state and this section of Illinois had become the home of but few white settlers at the time of the arrival of the Coe family, but with characteristic energy they began to clear the soil and cultivate the crops and from the earliest day the family name has figured as one of the most honorable and prominent in the records of Whiteside county. Mrs. Stevens, although now eighty-two years of age, is still well preserved and largely retains her mental and physical facultics unimpaired. She has in recent years, however, suffered from a cataract on the eyes which has left her blind. She does not, however, allow this affliction to overcast her chcerful disposition. She is a most intelligent and entertain-
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