USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. I > Part 66
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On the 30th of January, 1908, Mr. Arnett was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. She was a devoted member of the Evangelical ehureh and was highly esteemed throughout the community by reason of her good traits of heart and mind. Politically Mr. Arnett is a republican and is well known in the local ranks of his party as an active and efficient worker in the cause of reform, progress and improvement. He has held the offices of constable and school director, has served as school trustee for three terms and as a member of the republican central committee for twelve years. Sinee
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1872 he has been a member of Masonic Lodge, No. 412, A. F. & A. M., at Spring Hill, has filled all the chairs in that order and has been treasurer for eight consecutive years. For almost three-fourths of a century the name of Arnett has figured prominently in the annals of Whiteside county, for from early pioneer times down to the present, representatives of the name have taken an active part in the work of progress and development here.
THOMAS NEARY.
Thomas Neary, living retired in Fenton, was born in County Galway, Ireland, on the 14th of December, 1837, his parents being Peter and Esther (Burns) Neary, who were also natives of the Emerald isle. The father died when his son was but two and a half years of age and the boy was brought to the new world by his mother and a brother, Patrick, about 1850. They settled at Marlboro, Monmouth county, New Jersey, where they lived for four or five years, and afterward removed to Connersville, Fayette county, Indiana, where the mother and brother established their home. Later, how- ever, Thomas Neary came to Illinois, arriving in 1862. He located in Mont- morency township, Whiteside county, near Rock Falls, and further com- pleted his arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage in 1864. It was in the same year that he offered his services to the government as a soldier of the Union army, enlisting on the 4th of January, 1864, as a member of Company H, Twelfth Illinois Cavalry, under Colonel Davis. He joined the regiment at Chicago, was sent to St. Louis and afterward to New Orleans. He participated' in the Red River expedition under General Banks and was engaged in warfare with the guerrillas in Louisiana. His service was largely of this nature, the suppression of marauding bands of soldiers who seemed to care more for plunder than for their country. When the war was over Mr. Neary was mustered out at Houston, Texas, in May, 1866.
Returning to Whiteside county on the 26th of June, following, Mr. Neary began farming upon rented land, which he cultivated for three years. In the meantime he carefully saved his earnings until he was able to pur- chase eighty acres, when he invested in a tract of land of that size on section 17, Fenton township. Here he has since made his home, but has extended the boundaries of his property by additional purchases until he now owns one hundred and eighty acres. He has two farms in the township, one of one hundred acres being situated about a mile from the other. He carried one general agricultural pursuits with gratifying success until March, 1903, when he retired to the village of Fenton and built his present home. Here he is comfortably located, his farm labor having brought to him capital sufficient to enable him to enjoy the necessities and some of the luxuries of life.
Mr. Neary was married in 1864 to Miss Ellen Scott, who was born in Hopkins township, Whiteside county, July 3, 1845, and has spent her entire
MR. AND MRS. THOMAS NEARY
LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA
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life in this county. Her parents were Asa and Elizabeth (Taylor) Scott, natives of Ohio, the former born in Morgan county and the latter in Wash- ington county. They were married in the Buckcye state and came west to Illinois in 1835, casting in their lot with the pioneer settlers of Whiteside county. The father entered a claim from the government, the place being situated about a mile and a third south of Rock Falls in Montmorency township. Not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made upon the claim, but with characteristic energy he began its development and soon broke the sod and converted the wild prairie into rich and productive fields, large crops of grain replacing the prairie grasses and the wild flowers which formerly covered the countryside. For years Mr. Scott carried on general agricultural pursuits and was known as one of the representative farmers of the community, but his life's labors were ended in death in May, 1883, when he was sixty-six years of age. His wife passed away in March, 1884, at the age of sixty-three years. They were the parents of eight sons and eight daugh- ters and with one exception all of the daughters are yet living, but three of the sons have passed away, one having died at the age of nineteen years as the result of his army experience, sustaining injuries at the battle of Perrys- ville from which he never recovered, although he returned home after that engagement. He had enlisted from Sterling in Company D, of the Seventy- fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and his life was practically given for his country. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Neary were born five children: Mary, the wife of Fred M. Prestley, of Fenton; Anna, the wife of Elisha Ball, of Mor- rison; Emma, the wife of Frank Elmendorf, of Morrison; . William A., a farmer, of Fenton township; and Fred C., who is living on his father's farm a mile and a half south of Fenton. Mrs. Neary is a distant relative of three distinguished military heroes of the country, Generals Taylor, Scott and Sherman.
Mr. Neary maintains pleasant relations with his old army. comrades through his membership with Morrison Post, No. 118, G. A. R. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen Camp and in politics is a republican, casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and supporting each nominee at the head of the ticket since that time. He never sought political honors nor emoluments, his life being devoted to his business interests, whereby he attained the success that now makes possible his present retirement from business cares. It is fitting that he should enjoy rest in the evening of his days, for he has reached the age of seventy years.
JOSEPH F. SMITH.
Joseph F. Smith, whose well directed activity in former years while carrying on general agricultural pursuits now cnables him to live retired from further business cares, is pleasantly located at No. 506 East Third strect. He was born in Moline, Illinois, August 22, 1844, and is a repre- sentative of one of the old pioneer families of this state. His paternal grand-
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parents were natives of Pennsylvania and his father, Joseph B. Smith, was born in Westmoreland county, that statc. He was rcared to the oeeupation of farming and about 1843 came to the middle west, attraeted by the broader opportunities for agricultural progress in this new but rapidly developing section of the country. He settled first at Moline and soon after bought land and carried on farming until his death, which resulted from smallpox in May, 1863, when he was about fifty-four years of age. In early manhood he had wedded Catharine Fuller, also a native of Westmoreland county,' Pennsylvania, and she survived him for a number of years, passing away at the age of seventy. Both were consistent members of the United Brethren church.
Their family numbered thirteen children, seven sons and six daughters, of whom nine are now living: Charlotte, the wife of William Simmons, of South Moline; Louisa, the wife of James A. Griffith, also of South Moline; Joseph F., of this review; Abraham, who makes his home in York county, Nebraska; Mary, the wife of Samuel C. Turner, a resident of Anita, Cass county, Iowa; Sarah, the wife of Asbury Griffin, of South Moline, Illinois; Noah, who resides in Joplin, Missouri; Luella, the wife of George Johnson, also of Missouri; and Nora, the wife of George Bustard, of Moline.
Joseph F. Smith spent his boyhood days in Moline, Illinois, attending the public schools while upon his father's farm, and during his youth he was instrueted not only in the branches of learning taught through the system of publie education but also in the various departments of farm work as he assisted his father in tilling the soil and caring for the erops.
' He was not yet eighteen years of age at the time of the outbreak of the Civil' war but notwithstanding his youth he enlisted for service, as did his brothers, James W. and Jacob Smith. The latter did not enter the army at the beginning of the war but subsequently joined Company F of the Eighty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, while Joseph F. and James W. joined Company H, of the Thirty-seventh Illinois Infantry. The two broth- ers of our subject arc both now deeeascd. Jaeob was under fire almost eon- stantly night and day for six months and participated in twenty-two hotly contested 'battles but never sustained a wound. The other brother, James, was' color bearer of his regiment. Joseph F. Smith loyally marehed to the defense of the Union and meeting the enemy at Pea Ridge, Arkansas, was there wounded in battle on the 7th of March, 1862, and lost his right arm. This naturally ended his military service, although he was present at the siege of Vicksburg.
When he could no longer do active duty at the front Mr. Smith re- turned home and for a time engaged in the eultivation of his mother's farm. He had previously gone to the west, however, to Howard county, Kansas, where he and his brother Jacob entered one hundred and sixty acres of land, which they afterward sold. Joseph F. Smith then returned to Moline and cultivated his mother's farm, as above mentioned, for several years. As an agriculturist his methods were practical and progressive and his labors brought him a goodly sueèess, which now makes possible his present retirement. In the fall of 1895 lie became a resident of Roek Falls.
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In 1876 oeeurred the marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Elizabeth Irene Gamble, a daughter of Josiah and Elizabeth (Heek) Gamble, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and lived in Westmoreland county. The latter was a daughter of John Heek, a native of the Keystone state and of Penn- sylvania German deseent. His wife was Mrs. Sarah Heek, while the paternal" grandmother of Mrs. Smith was Polly Gamble. Leaving the east, Josiah Gamble beeame one of the early residents of Illinois and devoted his time and energies to the oeeupation of farming until his life's labors were ended in death in 1868. His widow long survived and passed away in April, 1895. They were the parents of nine children, of whom five are now living: Aaron Gamble, who resides in Altoona, Wilson county, Kansas; John, who is living in Clinton, Iowa; Irene, the wife of Joseph F. Smith; Otterbein Gamble, whose home is in Moline, Illinois; and Silas, also a resident of Moline.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Smith has been blessed with two children, Noble Edmund and Clyde F. The former, a railroad man, married Miss Einına Bassett, and they have four children, Clyde Lester, Irene May, Gladys and Harry Milton Smith. The younger son, Clyde F. Smith, is a fireman on the Northwestern Railroad and lives at Blue Island, Illinois. He wedded Pearl Orr and they have one daughter, Dorothy Darline.
Politieally Mr. Smith is a republican and while never an active poli- tieian in the sense of office seeking he acceptably served as tax eolleetor of. South Moline for several terms. He is identified with the Grand Army of. the Republic and formerly was a member of Moline Post. In this way he has kept in toueli with his old army comrades and greatly enjoys the eamp fires and the reminiseenees of events which oeeurred on the tented fields. He owns a good home at No. 506 East Third street and is enjoying well earned rest there amid many friends, who entertain for him kindly regard.
JOHN A. WARD.
' Among the younger attorneys at tlie Whiteside county bar is numbered John A. Ward, whose years, however, seem no bar to his professional sueeess, as he has already gained an enviable reputation as a lawyer. He was born in 'Sterling, October 16, 1881, and is a son of Judge . Henry C. and Mary C. (Anthony) Ward, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume.
While spending his boyhood days under the parental roof, he pursued his edueation in the public schools, passing through eonseeutive grades until he was graduated from the high school with the elass of 1899. He then entered the law department of the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, and was graduated in June, 1902. In December of the same year he was admitted. to the bar and began praetiee in Sterling, where he has remained to the present time. Already he has gained a large elientage and is indus- trious and careful in his work, fearing not. that laborious attention to detail and to careful preparation, which constitutes the basis of all legal sueeess. He does a large loaning business and. also represents the Aachen & Munich Fire
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Insurance Company, and is agent for the United States Fidelity and Guar- anty Company of Baltimore.
On the 27th of July, 1904, Mr. Ward was married to Miss Florence A. Munson, a daughter of Charles N. and Elizabeth G. (Gordon) Munson, for- merly of Sterling but now of Pasadena, California. Mr. and Mrs. Ward have one daughter, Elizabeth Mary, and one son, Henry Munson. The parents are members of the Presbyterian church and arc prominent socially. They reside at No. 809 B. avenue.
Mr. Ward's political allegiance is given to the republican party and fraternally he is connected with Rock River Lodge, No. 612, A. F. & A. M. He is identified with those interests which represent the welfare and progress of the city and lie stands for high ideals in professional and social relations and of good citizenship.
REV. CHARLES GORMAN RICHARDS.
Rev. Charles Gorman Richards, pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Sterling, was born in Pittston, Pennsylvania, June 28, 1872. His grand- father, Peter Richards, was a native of New Jersey, a farmer by occupation, and an elder in the Presbyterian church. Removing to Pennsylvania, he settled in Luzerne county, where he died in middle age, while his wife, Mrs. Susan Richards, passed away at the age of thirty-five. The grandfather of Peter Richards, Abram Richards, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war.
Peter K. Richards, the father of our subject, was born in Pennsyl- vania and in early life engaged in business as a carpenter and contractor. Later he turned his attention to farming and subsequently became a real- estate dealer of Pittston, Pennsylvania, where he still carries on the business. He married Rosina Corselius, who was likewise born in the Keystone state, a daughter of Peter and Maria (Young) Corselius. The father was a native of New Jersey and of Holland Dutch descent. He filled the office of justice of the peace and was prominent in the work for moral development in the and two daughters: Floyd P .; Jeptha C .; Jessie M., the widow of Isaac N. community, serving as an elder in the Presbyterian church for over forty years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. P. K. Richards were born six children, four sons Sutton; Dorcas H., the wife of Earl N. Decker; Rev. Charles Gorman, of this review; and Rev. Parke Richards, pastor of the Presbyterian church at Plymouth, a suburb of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania.
The Rev. Charles Gorman Richards, rearcd under the parental roof in his native city, attended the public schools there and afterward continued his studies in the Susquehanna Collegiate Institute at Towanda, Pennsyl- vania. He next entered Princeton University, from which he was gradu- ated with the class of 1897. For a year he engaged in teaching in the Sus- quehanna Collegiate Institute and then came west to Chicago, entering the McCormick Theological Seminary, where he prepared for the ministry, being graduated in 1901. Becoming an ordained preacher of the Presbyterian
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church, he accepted a call from the First Presbyterian chureli at Columbus, Indiana, where he remained for five years and on the expiration of that period he came to Sterling, July 1, 1906, as pastor of the First Presbyterian church of this eity.
On the 26th of June, 1902, the Rev. Mr. Richards was united in the holy bonds of matrimony to Miss Mary Louise MeKnight and they have one son, Alexander MeKnight Richards. Mrs. Richards is a daughter of James and Louisa (Lindsay) MeKnight, who were natives of Pennsylvania and the father was a lawyer of Chambersburg, that state. He was a graduate of Lafayette College at Easton, Pennsylvania, and for some years was a trustee of that college. He is now deceased but the mother survives and lives in Chicago. They had three children: Miss Elizabeth B. MeKnight, who is librarian of the high school at Joliet, Illinois; Mrs. Richards; and a son who died in infancy. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Richards was William C. MeKnight, a farmer by occupation, who also owned and edited one of the newspapers of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. He was prominent and influential in the community where he resided and for a number of years represented his distriet in the Pennsylvania legislature. Mrs. Richards is a graduate of Wilson College of Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, of the class of 1897, and is a lady of culture, refinement and broad sympathy, who is proving of much assistance to her husband in his work.
JOHN MEE.
John Mee, engaged in the fire insurance and loan business with office in the Academy of Musie in Sterling, belongs to that elass of representative American men, whose alert, enterprising spirit and recognition of opportun- ity constitutes the basis of success. He was born at Colts Neek, Monmouth county, New Jersey, April 23, 1852, and is one of the eight children of Mar- tin and Honora (Hurley) Mee, natives of County Galway, Ireland. The paternal grandfather, William Mee, was born on the Emerald isle, where he devoted his life to farming until called to his final rest. He died when past middle life, while his wife, Mrs. Mary (Kelley) Mee, lived to a ripe old age. They were the parents of five daughters.
Their only son, Martin Mee, when a young man worked in England, devoting his attention largely to farming. In 1850 he came to America and settled in New Jersey, whenee in March, 1861, he removed to Whiteside county, Illinois, and began farming in the town of Hume, where he carried on gen- eral agricultural pursuits for about sixteen years. In 1877 he removed to Tama county, Iowa, settling near Grundy Center, and died at Denver, Colo- rado, in January, 1891, at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife was a daughter of John Hurley, a native of Ireland, who was also a farmer by oceu- pation and passed away at the age of eighty-five years. He was married five times, the grandmother of Mrs. Mee being a Miss Simon in her maiden- hood. They had five children, two daughters and three sons, including
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Honora Hurley, who in early womanhood gave her hand in marriage to Martin Mee. She passed away December 27, 1869, at the age of forty-three years, and like her husband, she was a communicant of the Catholic church. They had five sons and three daughters, of whom six are living: John; Margaret, the wife of J. C. Canty, of Toledo, Iowa; Catherine, the wife of David Buchan, of Waterloo, Iowa; William, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; James, of Centerville, South Dakota; and Martin, of Gladbrook, Iowa. Mary, born September 2, 1854, married John Cunniff, of Hume township, this county, and died June 11, 1891, leaving her husband and four children: John, Jr., Catherine E., Elizabeth and William M.
In taking up the personal history of John Mee we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Whiteside county, having come to this county with his parents when but nine years of age. Here he was reared upon a farm and in the winter months attended the district schools, while in the summer seasons he aided in the work of the fields. After completing his education he engaged in farming on his own account for three years and later engaged in the sale of sewing machines and patent medicines. He was also for a time in the shoe business, and on the 7th of June, 1875, came to Sterling. For the past ten years he has conducted a fire insurance and loan office and has secured a good clientage. He also has an income property in an excellent farm of two hundred and eighty acres in Hume township.
On the 13th of May, 1890, Mr. Mec was married to Miss Ella Rourk, a daughter of John W. and Mary (Williams) Rourk. They have two chil- dren, Thomas S. R. and Mary H. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mee are communi- cants of the Catholic church and his fraternal relations connect him with Sterling Camp, No. 12, M. W. A. Politically he is a democrat and has figured somewhat prominently in local political circles, having been town- ship collector of Hume township for one term, while for two terms he repre- sented the fifth ward in the city council. His labors in behalf of municipal progress are marked and have resulted beneficially to the city. In all of his official service he is actuated by a public-spirited devotion to the general .good and his official record is altogether creditable.
WILLIAM PIMM HIDDLESON.
Few citizens of Whiteside county can claim so long a residence here as .docs William Pimm Hiddleson, who for the past fifty-seven years has resided within its borders. He is numbered among the substantial agriculturists of this section of the state, owning and operating a farm of one hundred and thirty acres situated on section 10, Mount Pleasant township.
He was born in Sullivan county, Pennsylvania, October 2, 1843, a son of Rufus K. and Caroline (Converse) Hiddleson, who in 1850 made the · overland trip to Illinois, the father making his way to Whiteside county, ·where he bought a claim from a Mr. Boyer, this property being now the
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home of our subject. The father was of Irish descent and the mother was a native of Vermont. After settling in Mount Pleasant township the father was engaged in general agricultural pursuits throughout the remainder of his life, his death there occurring in 1893, when he had reached an advanced age. He was well known in public life, having for several terms served as sheriff of the county, this being in the latter '50s, while he also acted as county commissioner and throughout the greater part of his residence in the county served on the school board. His wife preceded him to the home beyond, her death occurring in 1885. Their family numbered three chil- dren, the sisters of our subject being Elizabeth, a resident of the state of Washington and the widow of William Heaton, who died in Portland, Oregon, several years ago; and Lydia Jane, the widow of Henry Tucker and a resi- dent of Morrison, Illinois.
William Pimnı Hiddleson was a little lad of seven years when he accom- panied his parents from the Keystone state to Illinois. He was reared in Whiteside county and acquired his education in the schools of Morrison. From an early age he was trained to the duties of the home farm and thus received practical training which served him well when he undertook the management of the farm property. He is now the owner of the place on which he was reared, the place comprising one hundred and thirty acres of valuable land, situated on section 10, Mount Pleasant township. He has made inany modern improvements here and is now comfortably situated in life.
Mr. Hiddleson was-united in marriage to Miss Ellen R. Heaton, a native of this county, born in 1854. Her parents, Alfred and Ann Eliza (Robertson) Hiddleson, came to this state from New York about the year 1844. The mother died in 1888, but the father survived her and made his home in Morrison until March 20, 1908, when he passed away at the very advanced age of eighty-cight years. Mrs. Hiddleson is one of a family of six daugh- ters and one son,' the other members of the family being: Warren, who in 1861 enlisted for service in the Civil war as a member of the Eighth Illinois .Cavalry and died in Washington in 1862; Mrs. Olive King, who resides near Merrill, Iowa; Mrs. Alfretta Babcock, a resident of Shell Lake, Wisconsin; Mrs. Ada Galentine, of Kearney, Nebraska; Mrs. Emily Thomas, of. Morrison; and Katie, who died in infancy.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hiddleson has been blessed with a son and daughter. Charles Pimm, who is engaged in the gas business in Mor- rison, married Miss Margaret Spears, by whom he has two sons, Spears and Alfred, aged respectively eleven and nine years. Pearle Mae is the wife of Charles West, who is engaged in the livery business in Morrison. They have one son, Joshua Pimm West.
Mr. Hiddleson gives his political support to the men and measures of the republican party and for many years served as a member of the school board. Few men are more familiar with the history of Whiteside county during the last half century than Mr. Hiddleson. As a boy he made his way across the country to Illinois, and with the family bore all the hardships and privations incident to a settlement on the frontier. Many of the now thriving . cities and villages of the county were as yet not laid out and much of the
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