USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 10
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The other son was Dr. Nathan Thompson, the father of our subjeet. He was born in Saratoga county, in March, 1778, and became a leading physician of his native eounty, where he married Miss Luey Plumb, who was born in Connecticut and at an early day became a resident of Oneida county, New York. They had six children: Emma, Mary, Charles, Mar- tha, Nathan and Ralph, but only Martha and Nathan are now living and for many years she has-made her home with Mr. Thompson, of this review.
"Fortunate is the man who has back of him an ancestry honorable and distinguished," and in this respect Nathan Thompson is blessed. He was reared amid refining influences upon a farm in his native county, where good educational privileges were afforded him by the public schools. He lost his father when young, but continued to reside in Saratoga county until he attained his majority. After mastering the common branches of learning
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he later spent the winter seasons as a student in an academy. The west attracted him and in 1843 he made his way to Illinois in company with his two cousins, Robert and Isaac Seers, traveling by way of the Great Lakes to Milwaukee and thenee overland to Elgin, Kane county. When two years had passed Mr. Thompson took up his abode in Whiteside county, settling at Prophetstown, where he put in a erop for his cousins, who purchased a farm here. Sixty-three years have sinee come and gone and Nathan Thomp- son yet remains a valued resident of this county, where for many years he labored aetively and untiringly, promoting public progress while advaneing individual success. The only break in his residence here came in 1851, where he went to Peru and there engaged in working in a plow factory, but the following year he returned to this county. In the meantime, however, he had spent about a year as a elerk in a store and through one winter had operated a horse-power sawmill in Portland Grove. Going to Peru, he was employed in the plow works of Tuller, Dodge & Pitts, and upon his return to Prophetstown in 1852, embarked in business on his own account as pro- prietor of a general store under the firm style of Nathan Thompson & Com- pany, his partner being N. Tuller. He ereeted an extensive store building and for fifteen years was actively associated with the business. He did not confine his attention entirely to this line, however, but as opportunity offered made judicious and extensive investments in property, controlled his farm- ing interests and also did contraet work on the county ditehes. In this connection he constructed nine miles of county ditches and with another party graded the railroad from Roek river to Green river. His business interets have invariably been of a character that have contributed to the general improvement as well as to individual success. Later he gave most of his attention to overseeing his farms, having four or five hundred aeres of valuable land, but in more recent years he has disposed of this property. He never resided upon a farm, but always made his home in Prophetstown and from that point gave his supervision to liis agricultural interests. ALIS name figures conspicuously in connection with financial eireles, for from 1872 until 1878 he was identified with the banking interests of Prophets- town and in 1902 became one of the organizers of the Farmers' National Bank, of which he has since been president. This institution is capitalized for sixty thousand dollars and is recognized as one of the strong moneyed concerns of the county.
Mr. Thompson was married in December, 1867, to Mrs. Sarah J. Parrott, whose first husband was killed in the army. She was born and educated in Vermont, and for fifteen years Mr. and Mrs. Thompson traveled life's journey happily together, after which they were separated by the death of the wife, who in 1882. was laid to rest in Prophetstown cemetery. His sister Martha has sinee aeted as his housekeeper. Mr. Thompson has never affiliated with fraternal organizations nor has he held membership in any church. His politieal support was given to James K. Polk in 1844, for, although he was not residing here at the time, he east his vote in Prophetstown by reason of the fact that he was a resident of the congressional distriet. He has sinee been a stalwart demoerat and has held some local offices, although his aspira-
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tion and ambitions have not been in the line of office-holding. He has pre- ferred to concentrate his time and energies upon his business interests and the story of his success is well known in this county. We read of the lives of the heroes of the past and they not only prove of historical interest but serve also to inspire and encourage; yet we need not go to former ages for examples that are worthy of emulation. The men of today who have won success and honor equal in exemplary traits of character those who have passed away, and the life of Nathan Thompson may well prove of great benefit if we will but heed the obvious lessons which it contains. He has now reached the eighty-sixth milestone on life's journey. He has ever been a man of strength of character, of strong will and of determined purpose, holding closely to the ideals that he has believed to be right and winning his success by judicious investments. His path has never been strewn with the wreck of other men's fortunes, and on the contrary the publie has been an indirect beneficiary in much that he has accomplished.
CLARENCE F. SENIOR.
Clarence F. Senior, successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising in Garden Plain township, is a native son of this township, his parents being H. R. and Emma (Stone) Senior. The father's birth also occurred in Garden Plain township, December 4, 1850, the grandfather, John Senior, having come to Whiteside county some years prior to his marriage. Harvey R. Senior was reared upon the home farm and educated in the country schools. He was left an orphan at an early age and his opportunities in youth were about like those of the average boy in a frontier community. When he had attained his major- ity he commenced farming on his own account on land purchased by the family and for a long period continued actively in general agricultural pur- suits. By reason of his early training he was well qualified for the occupation which he made his life work, his untiring industry and capable business man- agement winning for him a gratifying measure of prosperity. He is now, how- ever, living retired, giving his attention merely to his invested interests. In 1902, in connection with Dr. S. B. Dimond and C. E. Peck, he organized the First National Bank of Albany, of which he is a director and the vice presi- dent. 'For a number of years he was also president of the Garden Plain Mutual Fire Insurance Company. Unto him and his wife were born four children : Clarence F., of this review; Newell K., a resident of Garden Plain township; and Olive L. and Emily B., at home. H. R. Senior was elected county super- visor in 1889 and was continued in the office by reelection to the year 1907, when he resigned. He is widely recognized as one of the county's representa- tive and enterprising citizens, whose success has been gained through methods which neither seek nor require disguise.
Clarence F. Senior first attended school in his native township and subse- quently continued his studies in the schools of Albany and Port Byron, while at Fulton, Illinois, he also took a commercial course. After leaving school he
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engaged in farming on his father's land and when he had attained his ma- jority began the operation of rented land, being successfully engaged in its cultivation for two years. On the expiration of that period he purchased ninety-one acres of slightly improved land at sixty dollars per acre, which he has highly developed and on which he has placed many modern improve- ments, including barns, a scale house and other accessories and conveniences which constitute a model farming property. In 1907 he erected a handsome frame residence, two stories in height, one of the finest farm homes in the county. In addition to the work of the fields Mr. Senior makes a specialty of raising and feeding cattle and hogs and in both branches of his business is meeting with a gratifying and well merited measure of success, being well known as one of the progressive and wide-awake agriculturists and stock- raisers of the community.
In 1901 Mr. Senior was united in marriage to Miss Sadie E. Stroud, of Garden Plain township, a daughter of John and Hattie (Emmons) Stroud, who, after residing in Kansas for some years, returned to Whiteside county. The Stroud family came from Pennsylvania, while members of the Emmons family werc early settlers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Stroud still survive, the former being engaged in farming in Garden Plain township, where he is well and favorably known. They have four children: Frank, who is a tele- graph operator; Mrs. Senior; John, a telegraph operator of Leland, Illinois; and Leonard, at home. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Senior have been born two chil- dren: Evelyn, and Everett, deceased.
Mr. Senior is a stalwart champion of the republican party, and his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church. Their lives have ever been actuated by high principles and worthy motives and thus they have gained the respect and esteem of all with whom they have come in contact.
JAMES W. ENTWHISTLE.
James W. Entwhistle 'is the owner of a valuable farm of two hundred and forty acres on section 34, Ustick township, and the place returns to him a good annual income because of the care and labor he bestows upon it. He has made his home in Whiteside county since 1871 and his residence in Illi- nois dates from 1836. He was born in Philadelphia, August 30, 1831, and was therefore a little less than five years of age when with his parents he came to this state, the family home being established in Galena, Jo Daviess county. His father, James Entwhistle, a weaver and farmer, spent his early life in Philadelphia. In the year 1835 he made his way from Philadelphia to Illi- nois, and settling on the frontier, he aided in reclaiming it for the purposes of civilization. He belonged to the Protestant Episcopal church and was a man of high character. His political allegiance was given to the republican party. In Philadelphia he married Miss Margaret Wilson and their children were: Ellen, who died in Philadelphia in early childhood; John; Thomas; James W .; Mary Ann, who died in Whiteside county; and Robert, who is a retired farmer of Tamaroa, Illinois.
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In Galena, Jo Daviess county, amid the wild seenes and environments of pioneer life, James W. Entwhistle was reared. There were still many evi- dences of Indian occupancy in the state. U. S. Grant, who was afterward to attain national prominence as a military hero and to be honored with the highest official position in the gift of the nation, was in those early times a worker in the lead mines at Galena and no one dreamed of the destiny that awaited him. The greater part of the land now embraced within the borders. of the state was still owned by the government and the city of Chicago had not been incorporated at the time of Mr. Entwhistle's arrival in Illinois. He was identified with the early development of Jo Daviess county, where he con- tinued to live for thirty-five years or until 1871, when he came to Whiteside county and bought a farm of Hiram Stratton, an early settler. He also bought from John Kent a tract of land,- upon which his son, J. J. Entwhistle, now resides.
Mr. Entwhistle had been married in Elizabeth, Jo Daviess county, to Miss Ellen Lawton on the 4th of January, 1855. She was born June 13, 1835, near Hudson, New York. Her parents were natives of England and came to the United States in 1828. The father died in New York and the mother after- ward became a resident of Jo Daviess county, Illinois. In the Lawton family were several children, namely: Joseph, a retired farmer now living in Han- over, Illinois; Mrs. Caroline Moser, a resident of Dubuque, Iowa; and Oliver C. Lawton, a farmer residing in Union Grove township, this county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Entwhistle have been born the following named: Mrs. Margaret Odlin, who resides in Union Grove township; John James, who operates a part of his father's farm in Ustiek township and who for several years has been supervisor there; Caroline, the wife of W. L. Abbott, of Chicago, a brother of A. N. Abbott, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume; Elmer Ellsworth, who died at the age of two years; Hannah, at home; George W., who is operat- ing a farm of his own and also a part of his father's land in Ustick township; and Nellie, who died in infaney.
Mr. Entwhistle is today the owner of a valuable farm property of two hundred and forty acres situated on section 34, Ustick township. It is the vis- ible evidence of his life of thrift and industry, as his possessions have been ac- quired entirely through his own labor. He has lived to witness remarkable changes in the state and in the methods of farm life as well. His memory goes back to a day when the homes werc largely log cabins or unpretentious frame dwellings. Today the great majority of farm houses are commodious and substantial residences built in modern and attractive style of architecture. The farm machinery, too, is totally unlike that in use many years ago and in his work Mr. Entwhistle has always kept in touch with modern, progressive ideas. He says he remembers one year in which there was no summer here, the season being so cold throughout the entire year that very poor crops were harvested. Hc can remember, too, when great stretches of the country were covered with the native prairie grasses, starred with a million flowers in June and in December covered with one unbroken sheet of snow. Deer and other wild game could be had and wolves and other wild animals were heard in the forests and on the prairies. He has not only lived to witness a remarkable
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ehange but has borne his part in the work which has brought this' about and is regarded as one of the valued and representative eitizens of his eommunity. The eause of education has always found in him a warm friend and he has served as sehool trustee, while his religious faith is indieated by his member- ship in the Episcopal ehureh.
JONAS H. BAER.
Like the other thriving towns and eities of the middle west, Sterling has its full quota of enterprising, energetie business men,-men who recognize and utilize opportunities and so plaee their investments and direct their ener- gies as to win suceess. To this elass belongs Jonas H. Baer, engaged in the real-estate, loan and insurance business. He is one of the large landowners, having excellent ineome property. .
A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Baer was born in Laneaster eounty, in January, 1853. His parents were Martin and Mary (Herr) Baer, also natives of that eounty. The paternal grandfather likewise bore the name of Martin Baer and was born in the Keystone state. For many years he followed farm- ing in Laneaster eounty and died there when well advaneed in years, while his wife, Mrs. Martha Baer, was eighty-two years of age at the time of her demise. The founder of the family in America was the father of Martin Baer, Sr., who came from Germany to the new world and settled in Laneaster county.
Martin Baer, the father of Jonas H. Baer, devoted his entire life to gen- eral agricultural pursuits and in 1857 came to Whiteside county, Illinois, taking up his abode upon a farm in Jordan township, where he continued to engage in the tilling of the soil until his death, which oeeurred May 3, 1887, when he was sixty-two years of age. His wife still survives him and in relig- ious faith is a Mennonite, of which sect Mr. Baer was likewise a representative. He held various township offiees and in eoinmunity affairs took a deep and helpful interest. He was a very frugal and industrious man, was well read and, by reason of his many excellent traits of eliaraeter, commanded the eon- fidenee and respect of his neighbors and friends and beeame one of the influ- ential farmers of Jordan township. Prospering in his business undertakings he added to his possessions from time to time until he became the owner of five farms embracing eight hundred aeres. In early manhood he wedded Mary Herr, a daughter of Henry and Catharine Herr, who were natives of Pennsyl- vania and lived in Laneaster county. Her father was a farmer and always made his home in the east but paid a number of visits to Whiteside county, Illinois. He died at an advanced age and his wife when about sixty, her death resulting from an aeeident. They were the parents of ten ehildren, in- cluding Mrs. Martin Baer, who by her marriage beeame the mother of five sons and two daughters, four of whom are now living, namely: Henry, of Jordan township; Jonas H., of Sterling; Elizabeth, the wife of John Hey, of Sterling; and Catharine, the wife of Samuel Myers, who resides a mile north of the eity. Those deeeased are Ezra, Abraham and Frank.
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
J. H. Baer of this review was but four years of age when he came with his parents to Whiteside county and was here reared to manhood upon his father's farm in Jordan township. In his youth his time was alternated be- tween the acquirement of a district-school education and the work of the home farm. He continued to live upon the old homestead until 1874, when he removed to a farm which he purchased in 1886, living there until his removal to Sterling in 1903. Here he is engaged in the real-estate business. He now buys and sells farms and farming land on his own account as well as on com- mission. He owns several farms in South Dakota, near Plankington, and the remainder in Nebraska. His residence is at No. 504. Seventh avenue and he is likewise the owner of this property.
On the 12th of September, 1876, Mr. Baer was married to Miss Annie H. Rutt, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Rutt, who came from Franklin county, Pennsylvania, to Illinois in 1864 and settled near Prairieville, Lee county. Mr. Rutt followed farming there for many years and his wife passed away there. He afterwards removed to Adams county, Nebraska, locating near the town of Ayr. By his first marriage he had the following children : Jacob; Henry; Susan, the wife of Christian Ebersole; Hetty, the wife of Joseph B. Detweiler; Mary, the deceased wife of Martin Andreas; Fannie, tlie wife of J. S. Detweiler; and Annie, now Mrs. Baer. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Baer have been born two sons-Roy R. and Bert, and they have also an adopted daugliter, Hazel May.
The parents are members of the English Lutheran church, in the work of which they are mnuch interested. Mr. Baer has been supervisor of Jordan township seven terms and school treasurer for about five years, and his fidel- ity in office is indicated by the length of his service. Politically he is a pro- hibitionist and his influence is ever found on the side of those agencies which work for the moral betterment of the race. He stands for justice, truth and right, and as an influential factor in publie life in his community he is well known.
WINGFIELD J. HARDY.
Wingfield J. Hardy owns and cultivates an excellent farm of one hun- dred and ten acres in Mount Pleasant township and is numbered among the leading representative agriculturists of his community. He was born upon this farm on section 34, February 12, 1858, and is a son of William and Keziah (Richardson) Hardy, of whom extended mention is made in connec- tion with the sketch of A. W. Hardy on another page of this work. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Wingfield J. Hardy in his boyhood and youth. His time was divided between the work of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the tasks connected with the improvement of the fields. His early experience as a farmer well qualified him to carry on the work which now claims his time and energies. He has always followed general farming and is today the owner of one hun-
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dred and ten acres of rich and productive land on sections 27 and 34, Mount Pleasant township. He has brought the fields into a state of rieh fertility and annually harvests good erops as a reward for the care and labor which he be- stows upon the land.
Mr. Hardy was married in 1882 to Miss Elva E. Seaman, who was born in Lyndon township and is a daughter of David and Amy (Sweet) Seaman. One son of that family died in infancy. The father, who was born June 13, 1825, departed this life in the year of 1859, while the mother, who was born February 11, 1834, is now living in Morrison. Sinee the death of her first husband she has become the wife of William Hicks.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hardy have been born two sons-Raymond and Carl A. The elder, born Deceniber 29, 1883, married Lillian E. Allen, of Lyndon, where he now resides. Carl A., born October 9, 1888, is at home with his parents. The family are widely and favorably known in this community, their many good traits of eharaeter winning them the kindly regard and good will of those with whom they have been brought in contact. Mr. Hardy is a stalwart advocate of the republican party, believing thoroughly in its prin- ciples, and giving to it earnest support. He and his wife are members of the Mystie Workers and of the Fraternal Tribune.
WILLIAM WHITE DAVIS.
William White Davis was born in New Holland, Laneaster county, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1836. His father, Gabriel Davis, had Seoteh, Irish and Welsh blood in his veins. John Anderson, one of his aneestors, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in 1728. Jenkins Davis emigrated from County Cardigan, Wales, early in 1700. They settled in eastern. Penn- sylvania. The great-grandfather of William W. was an active patriot in the Revolutionary war, being member of the committee of safety, and captain of a military company. The mother of William W. was Susanna Roland Diller, daughter of Jonathan Diller and Ann Weaver. German on both sides. Gabriel Davis and Susanna Diller were married in Philadelphia, 1835, at the Episcopal residence by William White, first bishop of Penn- sylvania. From this venerable and saintly prelate, the first son of this marriage, William White received his name.
William grew up in New Holland and received his carly education in the village school. Two pleasing and profitable episodes in his youthful years. In 1849 he accompanied his father to Washington and saw Presi- dent Taylor, Henry Clay, Thomas H. Benton, and the giants of that time. In 1851 he and his father made a delightful tour of two months in the west, going to Pittsburg by rail and canal, by boat on Ohio and Mississippi, traveled by stage over Illinois, had an interview with Lincoln at Springfield, returning by Chicago, Niagara Falls, Hudson and New York. From 1852 to 1853 he was at the Lancaster high school, from 1853 to 1856 at Franklin and Marshall College. He took the honors of his elass at commencement
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MRS. W. W. DAVIS
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LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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and had the distinction of delivering his address, "Decline of Political Integrity," before the coming president, James Buchanan.
Removing to Sterling, Illinois, with his father's family, Mr. Davis entered upon the profession of teaching, which he continued for twenty years. During his stay at Dixon, he prepared a small manual on Composi- tion Writing, which was published by George Sherwood, Chicago, and received the commendation of Newton Bateman, Richard Edwards and John S. Hart, educators all now gone to their reward.
In 1875 Mr. Davis was offered the position of associate editor on The Express, a daily of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, which he held until he accepted a similar position on The Press, Philadelphia, then conducted by John W. Farncy. Here he remained during the winter of 1876-1877, and in the spring returned to Illinois. In August, 1879, he was married to Miss Maggie A. Wolfersperger, daughter of John and Lydia Wolfersperger, prosperous farmers of Jordan township, north of Sterling. After two years of domestic happiness at Birdwood, west of Emerson, a pleasant rural retreat, Mr. and Mrs. Davis removed to Sterling in 1881, where they have sinee resided in a charming cottage on the banks of Roek river.
During his college course Mr. Davis was a regular attendant at St. James' church, and enjoyed the earnest discourses of Samuel Bowman, after- ward bishop of Pennsylvania. On his removal to Sterling, the family found the Presbyterian church most convenient, the pastor, Rev. E. Erskine, grad- uate of Princeton, attracting all elasses by his earnest manner and kindly sympathy. Sinee his marriage, he has accompanied his wife to the Lutheran ehureli, was fourteen years superintendent of the Sunday school, and is now teaching a Bible elass of fifty men and women.
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