USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 19
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80
After coming to Illinois Jacob Garwick, of this review, worked as a general laborer, but while in Pennsylvania he followed the miller's trade, which he had learned under the direction of his father in his native country. His life to the age of twenty-seven years was one of continual hardship and toil, but he possessed strong determination and unfaltering courage and grad- ually worked his way upward. After his arrival in Whiteside county he be- came a farm hand and was thus employed until he could make arrangement to purchase land and engaged in farming on his own account.
As a companion and helpmate for life's journey Mr. Garwick chose Miss Sarah Zook, whom he wedded in Clyde township on the 27th of February, 1861. Her parents, Abraham and Anna (Gsell) Zook, were natives of Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, and of Swiss and German descent. Their an- cestors settled in America about the time of the colonial struggle for inde- pendenec. Mr. and Mrs. Zook were farming people and were married in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, their daughter Sarah being there born 'on the 19th of January, 1843. She was one of a family of eight children and accompanied her parents to Illinois when she was thirteen years of age.
Mr. and Mrs. Garwiek first settled in Newton township, Whiteside county, and two years later removed to Clyde township, establishing their home on the farm where Mrs. Garwick has sinee remained, now owning three hundred and fifty-five aeres of land. Of the children born unto them the six who still sur- vive are as follows: George E., the eldest, who now follows farming near Garden Plain, this county, acquired a college cdueation and married a daugh- ter of Henry Brubaker. They have three children-Floyd, Florence and Eber. Anna Garwiek is the wife of William Geesey, and resides at home. They, too, have three living children-Hattie, Jacob and Ethel-and they lost one child, Lueille, at the age of four years. Sarah Garwiek became the wife of Martin Hanna, of Carroll county, and has two children-Paul and
824
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Lenora. Lizzie is the wife of Charles Dial, of Carroll county, and they have one adopted child, Charles. Dora is the wife of J. O. Elwing, a resident of West Union, Iowa, and has one son, Lillo. Katie is the wife of Dr. Cecil R. Rogers, an osteopathic practitioner of New York city. Of the children who have passed away Edith Esther, born November 25, 1885, dicd at the age of eight years and eight days. William H. died at the age of fifteen years, and Abraham and Lena died at the age of five and three years, respectively.
When Mr. and Mrs. Garwick came to what is now the old home farm he invested twenty-five dollars, his entire capital, in the property, and made arrangements for future payments. Soon, as the result of his earnest and unremitting labor, he was enabled to discharge his financial obligations and had his seventy-acre tract of land free from debt. He then added to the place from time to time until at his demise he had a splendid tract of land of three hundred acres, richly improved, in the midst of which he had erected a beautiful residence. He also provided ample shelter for grain and stock and his farm was one of the best improved of the locality. He was also largely interested in the raising of high-grade cattle, making a specialty of short- horns. His entire acreage was wholly unbroken at the date of purchase and the splendid appearance of his place represented years of earnest labor and unfaltering diligence. He won his success by the most honorable methods and his entire life was in harmony with the principles of Christian religion. He was for some time a local minister of the Evangelical church, but later united with the Brethren in Christ church. He lived peaceably with his fellowmen and his life was in many respects an example well worthy of emu- lation. He was faithful in friendship and devoted to the welfare of his fam- ily, and thus his death brought great sadness to the community in which he so long resided. Mrs. Garwick still survives her husband and resides upon the old home farm, giving to it her personal supervision. She, too, has many friends in the community and is well known here.
MARTHA A. JOHN.
"Not the good that comes to us but the good that comes to the world through us is the measure of our success" and judged by this standard the life of Martha A. John has been a most successful one. She is now living on a farm on section 23, Jordan township, which is the old family homestead, but for many years she was closely associated with the educational history of the county and did much to develop the school interests and to promote the intellectual advancement of the communities in which she was employed. She always held to high ideals in her school work, was constantly endeavoring to raise the standard of education and there are today many in the county who acknowledge their indebtedness to her for her intellectual training and her uplifting influence.
She was born in Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, September 11, 1830, a daughter of Elida and Sarah (Hughes) John, who were also natives of
825
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
tlie Keystone state. Her father came to Illinois at an advanced age and after- ward lived practically retired yet never ceased to feel a deep interest in the world's progress, in the affairs of government and in all those questions affeet- ing the interests of the individual and the country at large. He was a man firm and fearless in support of his honest convictions. Born in 1805, his school priv- ileges were meager but he was ambitious for intellectual advancement and used every opportunity for mental training and discipline. He became in the course of years a well informed man, recognized in every community in which he lived as a citizen of intelligence and solid worth. When still quite young he became a teacher and following his marriage followed that profession, at one time conducting a school in a part of his residence. He was careful that from their infaney his own children should be taught and his wife shared with him in his ambitious for their educational progress. When the free school system was established in Pennsylvania he was elected a member of the first board of school directors in Shamokin township, Northumberland county, and with the other members of the board labored faithfully and untiringly to divide the large wooded, hilly township into suitable districts and to supply each with a competent teacher. He also inspected the building of many schoolhouses erected at that time and for years he frequently visited the schools, speaking words of encouragement to teachers and pupils, arousing their ambition toward greater accomplishments in the line of mental acquire- ment and reminding the children especially that they were then enjoying privileges richer than their parents ever enjoyed. Scores of young people listened as they had never done to his kind and earnest persuasions to receive wisely the blessings waiting to crown their lives.
For about twenty years Elida John followed the occupation of a surveyor and conveyancer in Northumberland, Columbia, Montour and Schuylkill counties, Pennsylvania, carrying compass, chain and leveling staff through unbroken forests and over rocky mountains and penetrating into some of the most valuable anthracite coal fields in the state. His reputation for ae- curacy in surveys became such that he was often summoned to go long dis- tances to survey disputed lines, and his evidence in the courts of justice set- tled many disputes. He was often called upon to administer estates, such was his well known justice and honor. In this work it was frequently in- cumbent upon him to be the arbiter between man and man, and this occa- sionally brought him into competition with able lawyers, but assisted by a keen insight and an unswerving sense of justice, he was on many occasions enabled to save property to the widow and orphan.
He carly recognized the fruits of intemperanee and became a stalwart advocate of the temperance cause. It was a day when the whiskey jug was found almost uniformly in the harvest fields, but he refused to furnish alco- holic beverages to his workmen, paying them a higher price than was usu- ally demanded. He found that this was good business policy as well, al- though it was the moral element that prompted him in this course, but sober harvest hands could do more than those who were partially intoxicated, and in the long run his harvesting cost no more than if he had furnished whiskey and paid a lower rate of wages. When he was a member of the
826
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
board of school directors he was the only one who strongly favored the tem- perance movement, and in fact one of his co-members was a distiller. When the schoolhouse was being erected this man offered a resolution that no tem- perance nor abolition meetings should be held in the schoolhouses, which in that day were about the only place in which public meetings could be held. The question therefore was one of vital concern to any mind interested in the . public welfare. Mr. John recognized the fact that he was in the minority upon the temperance question, but his keen sagacity enabled him to solve the problem by amending the resolution, so as to exclude singing schools, a pastime which nearly all of the school board greatly enjoyed. Not wishing to bar out the singing schools the resolution was defeated when put to vote, and thus the schoolhouses were left open to temperance, abolition and other movements for the moral benefit of the community. At one of the district meetings a man said to Elida John: "Mr. John, you temperance men make a great fuss about a drink of whiskey, and yet if a distiller should offer 'you a cent higher than the market for your grain you would sell it to him to convert into whiskey." Before Mr. John could answer the distiller, who bc- longed to the board spoke up: "No, sir, Mr. John will not. He sold his corn to Mr. for more than any one else was getting, and then asked where he should deliver it. He was requested to deliver it at my distillery. Immediately he recalled the bargain at his own loss, and refused to deliver the corn at all." All through his life of seventy-eight years, during which time he handled much corn, he never sold one bushel to a distillery.
Mr. John was a most earnest, conscientious anti-slavery man and labored untiringly to promote the interests of abolition prior to the war. Throughout his long life he was actuated by the spirit of Christianity and each Sunday was found at his place in the house of prayer. He enjoyed the fullest re- spect and confidence of his fellowmen, who entertained for him the warmest friendship and the highest regard. Although he was fearless in his con- victions, he was a man of ready sympathy and kindly spirit, and was always ready to speak an encouraging word or do a good decd for another. He contributed liberally of his means to the support of religion as a member of the Society of Friends. Although he was an old man when he came to this county, his business ability was recognized and his fine penmanship is seen on public documents in the records of Jordan, as well as upon the registers of his church.
His wife, who was ever his faithful companion and helpmate, and who was closely associated with him in all the various interests which made up his life's contacts and experiences, was born in 1802 of English and Welsh parentage, and was the youngest child of Hugh and Mary Hughes. A farm which is now the site of the enterprising borough of Kennet Square, Chester county, Pennsylvania, was the first landed possession of her ancestors in the new world. Her parents settled on the banks of Shamokin creek in North- umberland county, Pennsylvania, about 1790, and her father was appointed to the position of justice of the peace by the governor of the state, and ably and impartially served in that capacity for many years. Mr. and Mrs. John were reared in the same neighborhood, and were friends from early child-
827
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
hood. Theirs was the closest companionship-a most ideal family relation. Matters for position were always discussed by both, each listening to the other with consideration, or speaking words of encouragement and sympathy. Like her husband, Mrs. John was a most earnest Christian, loyal to the teach- ings of her church and exemplifying her religious faith in her daily conduct and her relations with all with whom she was brouglit in contact. She passed away July 15, 1892, and her husband, May 1, 1883, at the age of seventy-eight years.
In the family of this worthy and honored Christian couple there were ten children: Palemon, Edwin, Martha A., Abia C., Hugh L., Ruth Anna, Chalkley, Sarah E., George D., and Lydia E. Of this family Dr. Abia C. John was the first physician to locate in the northeast part of the county, and here he secured a large practice.
Miss Martha A. John, whose name introduces this record, spent her girl- hood days at the family home in Pennsylvania. In 1855 she came to White- side county as a private teacher in the family of Joseph M. Wilson. After a year she returned east to Delaware, where she engaged in teaching school for about a year, when she again came to Whiteside county and resumed her old position with the Wilson family. About 1859 her parents came to this county and Miss Jolin gave up her place as instructor in the Wilson family and lived with them, but continued her educational work, remaining a teacher in the neighborhood for about twenty years, a part of this time making her home with her parents. She has devoted the greater part of her life to the training and instruction of the young, and has exerted a widely felt and beneficial in- fluence in educational circles as well as in her social relations. Beloved by all who know her, her name is mentioned in deepest respect and kindly re- gard. She has certainly done her life work well, and contributed her full share toward the uplifting of mankind and making better the lives of others. She and her brother Chalkley reside upon the old family homestead, which is a farm of one hundred and eleven acres in Jordan township, from which they derive a good income.
Chalkley John, living with his sister in Jordan township, has been prominent, active and enterprising in his relations with public interests. Hc is well known as a former representative of editorial interests, has made a creditable record in official life and has been successful in carrying on gen- cral agricultural pursuits. He was born October 10, 1839, in Shamokin town- ship, Northumberland county, Pennsylvania, and spent the days of his boy- hood and youth under the parental roof, his parents giving him excellent opportunities for the acquirement of a good education. Strong in body and ambitious in mind, he has made good use of his opportunities as the years have gone by. Thinking to have better chances in the west, he left Penns- sylvania and made his way to Illinois. On reaching Whiteside county he found it largely an unbroken prairie district, in which the seeds of civiliza- tion and progress had scarcely been planted. He cast in his lot with the early settlers and sought employment on the farm of one hundred and sixty acres which his father had previously secured in Jordan township. He took possession of his father's claim and began the work of improvement, which
828
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
he carried on diligently and persistently. Subsequently he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild prairie land on section 24, Jordan township, in partnership with his brother, Hugh L. The latter erected necessary build- ings, and the brothers proceeded with the work of development and cultiva- tion. The partnership was maintained for some time, but eventually Chalkley John purchased his brother's interest.
On the 24th of August, 1875, occurred the marriage of Chalkley John and Miss Anna Nixon. Unto them was born one son, Marius, whose birth oc- curred February 15, 1877. Save for a brief period of a few years, Mr. John has always resided upon the old family homestead, which he operated for his aged mother. The place gives evidence of his careful supervision, practical methods and unbending energy. He and his sister now live upon the farm and his attention is concentrated upon its further improvement.
At different times, however, Mr. John has been connected with other interests. In the '80s he was editor and manager of the Farm Gazette, pub- lished at Sterling, and became the president of the Sterling Gazette Com- pany. He held the office of road commissioner for four years, being elected to the position in the spring of 1877, and on the expiration of his term of service in that office, he was chosen supervisor, in which position he con- tinued for a number of years. He was a director in the Northwestern Agri- cultural Society, which holds its institutes in Sterling, and he is a member of the Society of Friends. His activities have touched many lines, and all have profited by his labors and wise counsel. The family name has been an honored one in this county for more than a half century, and its present representatives, Martha and Chalkley John, are numbered among the hon- ored and respected people of this section of the state.
PORTER HARKNESS.
There have been some interesting and eventful chapters in the life of Porter Harkness, who became one of the early settlers of this section of Illi- nois, and also made the trip across the plains to Pike's Peak at a time when there were no railroads and when civilization had penetrated little westward beyond the immediate borders of the Mississippi river. He was born in Springfield township, Bradford county, Pennsylvania, October 5, 1830, and was there reared upon a farm. under the parental roof. His parents were Chester and Louisa (Smith) Harkness, natives of Massachusetts and Con- necticut, respectively. They were reared in New England and with their parents went to Pennsylvania, their marriage being celebrated in Bradford county, where their remaining days were passed. Their son, Porter, was the eldest in a family of three sons and three daughters. His brothers, Royal and Oscar, were both soldiers of the Union army in the Civil war, Royal en- listing from Dixon, Illinois, in the Thirty-fourth Illinois regiment of Volun- teers, while Oscar was a member of the Pennsylvania Cavalry.
829
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
In early life Porter Harkness became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist as he worked in the fields . and cultivated the crops. He continued a resident of the east until twenty-five years of age, when, leaving home, he made his way westward to Illinois in 1856. He located first in Ogle county, and for one summer cultivated a rented farm there. He afterward went on a visit to Hancock county, and subsequently crossed the plains to Pike's Peak with ox teams and six com- panions. This was in 1859, and he made a second trip in 1860. On one oc- casion he saw an immense herd of buffaloes, the animals being so numerous that they could be seen to the horizon line in every direction, and they caught two of the buffalo calves after the herd had passed.
On the 9th of August, 1862, in response to the country's call for aid, he joined the boys in blue, enlisting from LaSalle county, although he was liv- ing in Marshall county at the time. He became a member of Company I, One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Captain Wadley. All three of the brothers were soldiers of the Union army, and the military record of the family is therefore most creditable. Porter Harkness partici- pated in the battle of Chattanooga and in all of the engagements of the Sherman campaign to Atlanta. He was wounded at Chickamauga in Sep- tember, 1863, while serving under General Thomas, the third finger of his left hand being shot off, and for about six months he was confined in the hospital with his injury. He afterward rejoined the army, and at the close of the war participated in the grand review, the most celebrated military pagcant ever seen on the western hemisphere, when thousands of Union sol- diers who had participated in the victories of the north passed in review be- fore the stand on which stood the president and others high in authority in national affairs.
The war over, Mr. Harkness returned to Marshall county, Illinois, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres, upon which he lived for ten years. He then sold that property and bought a farm of one hundred and forty acres in Woodford county. There he lived for twenty years, when he disposed of that property, and in the fall of 1894 invested in a farm of two hundred and twenty-one acres on section 7, Lyndon township. To this he added until he now has three hundred and thirty-one acres of valuable farming land. In the spring of 1895 he removed to Chicago, where he remained for five years, . leaving his farm in the care of his sons, William J. and Asa J., both of whom reside upon the property and are operating the fields. There are two houses upon the home place, one of which was built by Mr. Harkness of this review. He also erceted other buildings which afford ample shelter for grain and stock, and while residing upon the farin he was largely engaged in stock rais- ing. He also conducted a dairy business, milking thirty cows at one time. The farm is devoted to general agricultural pursuits and everything about the place is in keeping with the spirit of modern progressive agriculture.
In May, 1868, Mr. Harkness was married to Miss Johanna Richardson, who was born in England and died May 20, 1884, at the age of forty-six years. She had come to Illinois with her parents, Thomas and Rachel (Richardson) Richardson, who had located in Marshall county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hark-
830
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
ness were born four children: Chester Thomas, a resident of Trego county, Kansas; William James and Asa Jay, who are operating their father's farm; and Grace Estella, at home. The second son, William James, was married December 24, 1902, to Grace L. Slade, a native of Pennsylvania, and unto them has been born a daughter, Martha Ernestine. Mrs. William J. Hark- ness was a daughter of Ephriam and May (Grace) Lewis, but was reared by an aunt and went by her name. For his second wife Porter Harkness chose Mrs. Martha E. Slade, whom he wedded in Chicago, September 21, 1893. She had been an old schoolmate of his in Pennsylvania, and she died in Chi- cago, January 9, 1900.
In politics Mr. Harkness was a stalwart republican from the time of the organization of the party, and previously was a whig. Hc belongs to the Baptist church at Sterling, and is also a valued member of the Grand Army of the Republic, thus maintaining pleasant relations with his old army com- rades, with whom he did valued service in defense of the stars and stripes. Hc has now passed the seventy-seventh milestone on life's journey and is practically living retired, while his sons operate the farm. He, however, re- sides on the old homestead on section 7, Lyndon township, and was formerly numbered among the active and leading agriculturists of the community. Since starting out in life on his own account in early manhood he had de- pended entirely upon his own resources for his success, and whatever pros- perity he has enjoyed is attributable to his earnest and persistent labors.
GEORGE E. PADDOCK.
The name and labors of George E. Paddock are inseparably interwoven with the history of Prophetstown, especially in connection with its financial history. He is today well known in banking circles in Whiteside county and this part of the state as proprietor of the Bank of Prophetstown and cashier of the Farmers' National Bank. Both institutions are under his active management and their success is attributable to his thorough under- standing of the business and capable management in its control.
Mr. Paddock, numbered among the native sons of New York, was born in the town of Turin, Lewis county, March 28, 1849. He traces his ancestry back to Robert Paddock, who was of English birth and the founder of the family in America, settling in the Plymouth colony in 1634. Daniel Pad- dock, the great-great-grandfather of our subject, was a member of the patriotic army in the war for independence and was a native of New York. His son, John Paddock, also born in the Empire state, became the father of Chauncey Paddock, who was born and reared in Westernville, Oneida county, New York. After arriving at years of maturity Chauncey Paddock was there married to Miss Lucy M. Hotchkiss, a native of Mexico, New York, in which state they began their domestic life, there residing until 1851, when they became residents of Whiteside county, Illinois. The family home was estab- lished on the Rock river near Prophetstown and the father secured a tract of
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.