History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II, Part 22

Author: Davis, William W
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 882

USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 22

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Albert T. Abbott was born in Chautauqua county, New York, July 20, 1842, a son of Clark and Betsy (Crouch) Abbott, natives of New Hampshire and New York, respectively. The family was founded in America by thir- teen brothers, who cmigrated to this country from Scotland prior to the time that this country was engaged in the struggle for independence. Landing in New York city, they there separated, establishing their homes in various sections of the New England states. Most of the brothers engaged in farm- ing and several of them served in the American army in the war for inde- pendence. However, Moses Abbott, the grandfather of our subject, was a cripple and was therefore incapacitated for service. His family numbered several children, but there is record of but five, these being: Moses, who served in the Mexican war; Clark; John; Relief, who married a Mr. Cook; and Nora. The father of this family died in Vermont.

Clark Abbott, the father of our subject, was born and reared in New Hampshire. In 1843, hoping to enjoy better advantages in the west, he made his way to Illinois, settling near Aurora, where he made his home

A. T. ABBOTT

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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY

until 1852, in which year he took up his abode in Whiteside county, taking up government land in Ustick township. At the time he settled in this locality there were but three other settlers in the township, these being Oliver Baker, Henry I. Burt and Aaron Ives. Here a long, strenuous task pre- sented itself to him, but he met it with a steady, unwavering resolution. Wild game was still plentiful in this district and wolves frequently came in the dooryard. The houses, too, were very crude, being built by driving posts into the ground and covering them with slabs or clapboards on the outside, while in the winter a similar wall was made on the inside, the space between the boards being filled with dirt in order that the inmates might be better protected from the cold. The roof of the house was also made of clapboards and many times members of the family who were sleeping in the attic have wakened in the morning to find several inches of snow on the bed. The father soon developed his farm of one hundred and fifty acres and each year gathered good crops, for the soil was made rich and productive through the care and labor he bestowed upon it. The family had to endure many hard- ships and inconveniences during the pioneer epoch of this section of the state, the nearest milling point being at Jacobstown, in the northern portion of the county. The trip was made with ox teams, the journey requiring a day, and often upon reaching the mill one would have to wait a week in order to get his feed ground into bread stuff, this being the only milling place for a great area of country. In 1861 the loyalty and patriotism of Mr. Abbott was displayed when he organized a company for service in the Civil war, this being known as Company F, of the Ninety-third Illinois Regiment. He did not go to the front, however, as his son enlisted and his services were necded on the home farm and in the care of the wife and children. He con- tinued to cultivate this property until 1868 and' during this time took an active interest in public office. At various times he served as city marshal, being in the office about ten years, while for several terms he served as deputy sheriff and as constable. His death occurred in 1882, and thus the county lost one of its most valued and honored pioneer citizens, for from the time of his settlement here he had been known as a most industrious and useful man, whose probity was an unquestioned element in his career, and many times his energy was at the service of his community.

Clark Abbott was three times married. He was first married in the east to Miss Betsy Crouch, a native of New York, who died in 1845, two years after coming to this state. The children of that marriage, five in number, all lived to maturity, thesc being: Mariam, the deceased wife of Abner Ustick; Olive, the widow of John Johnson; Llewellyn, deceased; Leland, who served in the Civil war as a member of Company F, Ninety-third Illinois Infantry, and is now deceased; and Albert T., whose name introduces this record. The second wife of Mr. Abbott bore the name of Sarah Moore and by this mar- riage there was one daughter, Helen, who died of diphtheria, this being the first case of that discase in the county where death resulted. Mr. Abbott was married a third time to Mrs. Mary Wilson, nee Cocks, by whom he had a son and daughter: Clark, and Mary, the wife of Ollie Penoyer, a resident of Quincy, Illinois.

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Albert T. Abbott was but a year old when he was brought from the east to Illinois and was a lad of cleven years at the time the removal was made to Whiteside county, so that he is thoroughly familiar with all the pioneer conditions that here existed at the time the family home was estab- lished in Ustick township. He shared with the other members of the house- hold in all the hardships and privations incident to the development of a farm in a wild and unsettled district and acquired his education in a log schoolhouse in the neighborhood, the methods of instruction being equally as primitive as the building in which his studies were pursucd. He assisted his father in the work of the home farm until 1861, when, the Civil war having been inaugurated, he displayed his loyalty by offering his services to the government and at the age of ninetcen years became a member of Com- pany F, Ninety-third Illinois Volunteer Regiment, serving in the Seventy- fifth Corps. He participated in the battles of Vicksburg, Raymond and Jackson, Mississippi, and engaged in. many other skirmishes and battles of lesser importance. After the surrender of Vicksburg, his regiment was at- tached to the Seventeenth Corps and he was engaged in the Atlanta campaign and was with Sherman on his celebrated march to the sea. From Raleigh, North Carolina, the regiment marched to Washington, D. C., and from the latter place went to Louisville, Kentucky, thence making their way to Chi- cago, where Mr. Abbott was mustered out on the 5th of July, 1865, his term of service covering two years, eleven months and some days.

It was on the following day that Mr. Abbott returned to his home in Whiteside county and resumed his labors on the home farm. After two years, however, he established a home of his own by his marriage, in 1867, to Miss Eliza Wilson, a daughter of Mrs. Mary Wilson, nee Cocks, who be- came the third wife of Clark Abbott, the father of our subject. The young couple took up their abode upon a farm and in 1873 Mr. Abbott purchased the old homestead farm, comprising onc hundred and fifty acres, for which he paid thirty-five dollars per acre. As the years passed and he prospered in his undertakings he added to his original holdings until his place now embraces two hundred and seventy acres, located in Garden Plain township. In his farm labor he has followed the most progressive and modern methods, so that his land is among the richest and most productive of Whiteside county, today being worth at least one hundred dollars per acre. For many years he was actively engaged in carrying on agricultural pursuits, but . through his energy and careful management he has acquired a competence that now enables him to spend the evening of his days in honorable retire- ment, although he still maintains his residence on the old home farm.

The home of Mr. and and Mrs. Abbott was blessed with two sons and a daughter: Louie, a resident of Garden Plains township; Lee, who is engaged in merchandising in Garden Plain; and Inez, the wife of Harry Bitler, who is engaged in farming at Albany. The wife and mother passed away in 1882. She was highly respected by all who knew her and her many friends and neighbors felt the deepest loss when she was called from this life.

Mr. Abbott's political views endorse the principles and policy of the democratie party and he has been called by the vote of his fellow townsmen

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to fill various public offices, having served as road commissioner for twenty- nine years, while for nine years he served as assessor of his township, his official duties having been discharged with the same promptness and fidelity that he displays in the management of liis private business affairs. Having lived in Whiteside county from his infancy, Mr. Abbott is familiar with all the pioneer conditions of this section of the. state. He has seen the country developed into one of the foremost districts of this great state and through struggle and adversity has made his way to the front until today, crowned with a comfortable competence he stands in the same relation to his fellow- inen as he did in his early years when struggling for a livelihood, recognizing and appreciating honest purpose and genuine wortlı and rating the indi- vidual by his merits and not by his possessions. Today at the age of sixty- six years he lives a contented and happy life and enjoys the rest which he so well deserves.

JOSEPH C. SNYDER.

Joseph C. Snyder, whose life record is a valuable asset in contemporaneous history in Albany and Whiteside county, was born July 18, 1844, in the town which is still his home. His parents, Joseph and Nancy (Clarke) Snyder, were both natives of Ohio, and in 1844 came from Cincinnati, making the journey westward in the month of April by way of Cairo and St. Louis. Joseph Snyder had previously visited Whiteside county in 1836, but had returned to Ohio, had married there and made his home in the Buckeye state for eiglit years. Following his arrival in Illinois in 1844, he first purchased forty acres of land in Garden Plain township. He afterward entered a claim from the government, and also purchased more land and became one of the extensive land owners of the county, having at the time of his death about nine hundred acres. His business interests were carefully and honorably con- ducted, and his success therefore gained for him the respect and admiration of his fellowmen. When he journeyed westward to Illinois he employed a young man to drive a team from Cincinnati, and thus bring a portion of the household goods. After reaching Whiteside county the young man traded one of his horses for his first land. In those early days Chicago was the market for the people of this district. It was necessary to haul all wheat to that point, and upon the return trip Mr. Snyder would bring home the necessarics of life and a few of its comforts. He continued to do his trading at Chicago until about 1855, when the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad was built through. The pork which he sold in the city was all dressed at home, and the first market for that product was at Galena, about sixty-five miles distant. A little before the Northwestern Railroad was built, the Rock Island was completed, and Genesco became the market for wheat, Joseph C. Snyder and his father hauling wheat to that point. It was there that Mr. Snyder of this review first saw a railroad train. In his farming operations the father was very successful and became recognized as one of the prominent

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and influential residents of this district. He died in the month of March, 1889, leaving a widow and nine children. Mrs. Snyder survived until May, 1891, when she, too, was called to her final rest.

The sons and daughters of the family are as follows: Joseph C., of this. review; John H., who is living in Garden Plain township; Mary, the wife of Lafayette Clarke, of Morrison, Illinois; Sanford, of Nebraska; William, whose honie is in the state of Washington; Annie, the wife of Henry Harner, of Beatrice, Nebraska; Alonzo S., who is living in Lewiston, Michigan; Edward, who is located in Garden Plain township; and Hattie, the wife of J. E. Wads- worth, of Morrison, Illinois.

Joseph C. Snyder, whose name introduces this record, was reared to man- hood on his father's farm, and in the winter seasons attended the district schools. As he was the oldest child of the family, his opportunities for ac- quiring an education were somewhat limited, for his services were needed on the farm and it was only when the farm work was practically over for the year that he had the opportunity of attending school. He was eighteen years of age when he joined the Union army, in June, 1862, becoming a member of Company F, of the Ninety-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under Captain A. F. Knight and Colonel Holden Putnam, of Freeport, Illinois. The regiment was attached to the Seventeenth Army Corps, with which Mr. Sny- der served for two years. During that time he participated in the battle of Jackson, Mississippi, in 1863, after having previously taken part in the battle of Raymond, Mississippi. He was also in the engagement at Cham- pion Hills, where twenty-two men of his company were killed or wounded. He was also in a severe skirmish on Big Black River, Mississippi, between Jackson and Vicksburg, and on the 19th of May the army under General Grant closed in on Vicksburg and Mr. Snyder participated in the siege of the city until the 22d of May, when Grant ordered the historical charge on the breastworks of Vicksburg, in which Mr. Snyder took part. From this time on until the fall of the city, on the 4th of July, 1863, he was under constant fire from the Confederate guns. Like most of the men engaged in the siege, he felt the greatest satisfaction and pride when the city finally surrendered, knowing that it meant a signal victory for the Union forces and showed a very weak point in the Confederate strength. Then, too, it had not been alto- gether pleasant to be under such constant fire from the enemy's guns.

Following the capitulation of Vicksburg, his corps was ordered north, and for a time was at Helena, Arkansas, and at Memphis, Tennessee. From the latter town they marched to Chattanooga, and on the 20th of November reached their destination. Shortly afterward Mr. Snyder participated in the battle of Mission Ridge, wherc, on the 25th of November, 1863, he was wounded in the left ankle. This necessitated his remaining in the hospital and on crutches for six months. After recovering the use of his limb he re- joined his company, near Atlanta, Georgia, under General Sherman, his regi- ment being at that time a portion of the Fifteenth Army Corps. He went with Shernian on the celebrated march to the sea, and afterward participated in a few skirmishes prior to the close of the war, when the surrender of Gen- crals Lce and Johnston virtually put an end to hostilities. He was with his

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command at Raleigh, North Carolina, and from that point marched on to Washington, D. C., where he participated in the grand review. There the · regiment was placed aboard the cars and sent to Louisville, Kentucky, where, on the 23d of June, 1865, they were mustered out of service. From that point they proceeded to Chicago, and on the 7th of July received their pay and were honorably discharged. Mr. Snyder, who had been at the front for three years, gladly returned to the old home in Whiteside county, where he arrived on the 8th of July, which was the second home-coming from the time of his enlistment. When he was wounded and unable for duty he had been granted a thirty days' furlough, which he spent at home.

On again reaching his native county, Mr. Snyder turned his attention to farming, which he followed continuously until 1886, when he removed to Albany. During the succeeding two years he engaged in fruit farming within the city limits, and in May, 1889, he turned his attention to the livery business, becoming the third liveryman in the city. For seventeen years he successfully conducted his barn and received a liberal patronage. He car- ricd on the business until September, 1906, and then retired, being actively engaged in no business enterprise at the present time. He was previously engaged in breeding and buying and selling Shetland ponies. He also bred one which, on reaching its full growth, only weighed two hundred and sev- enty-five pounds, and he has owned and sold some of the finest Shetlands ever seen in this part of the country.

On the 9th of October, 1866, Mr. Snyder was married to Miss Mary E. Ewing, who was born in Albany and was a daughter of William and Harriet (McMahon) Ewing, who were among the early settlers of the county, the birth of Mrs. Snyder occurring here October 8, 1849. In early days here Mr. Ewing was a teacher, being closely associated with the pioneer development of the schools in this locality. Prior to the war he was engaged in steam- boating on the Mississippi river, being owner and captain of a boat. Mrs. Snyder well remembers the great tornado which caused so much destruction in the town and to the river craft. Her father was also proprietor of one of the first sawmills of the county, and was closely associated with the industrial and business developnient as well as the intellectual progress of his com- munity. He died in 1891, at the age of seventy-three years, his birth having occurred in Ohio in 1818. He served his county frequently in positions of public trust and confidence, and stood at all times for progress and im- provement. His wife survived him for about seven years and passed away in 1898. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ewing were born eight children, all of whom are still living: Mrs. Snyder; Phoebe, the wife of Ison Shaw, of Albany ; William, also living in Albany; Fanny, the wife of James Beach, of Albany ; Christina, the wife of a Mr. Robinson, of Chicago; Alta, the wife of Charles Tranger; Charles, living in Albany ; and Lula, the wife of Charles Stephens, of Belle- ville, Wisconsin.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Snyder were born four children: Fanny, the wife of J. W. Langford, of Mendota, Illinois; Minnie, the wife of G. A. Lott, of Pueblo, Colorado; Mabel, the wife of A. A. Slocum, of Ladd, Illinois; and Myrtle, the wife of W. R. Beardsworth, of Albany.

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Mr. Snyder has filled several township offiees, serving as eonstable of Albany for twenty years, also as a member of the village board, and as a member of the board of health. Politieally he is a staneh republiean, having cast his first presidential vote for General Grant in 1868. He belongs to Albany Lodge, No. 456, I. O. O. F., and to Keystone Lodge, No. 144, K. P. His residence in this eounty eovers sixty-four years. As one travels over the county and sees the many evidences of progressive development in business, intellectual, social and moral lines, it seems hardly possible that it is within the memory of living man when this was largely a wild and undeveloped region, with but few homes over its surface, while Indians were frequently seen and wild game was to be had in abundanee. Such were the conditions, however, that existed during the early boyhood. of Mr. Snyder, who is living to witness the remarkable transforination of the county as its lands have been claimed and cultivated, its towns founded and its villages transformed into thriving cities. He has been known to many settlers of the county, and luis name here has ever been a synonym for honorable dealing in business. His friends are many and his personal worth well entitles him to representa- tion in this volume, as does the faet that he belongs to one of the old pioneer families.

MARCUS LAFAYETTE COE.

A deep feeling of sadness spread throughout Sterling when, on the 6th of March, 1902, it was announced that Mareus Lafayette Coe had passed from this life, but while those who knew him remain, his memory will be eher- ished, not so mueh on aeeount of the splendid sueeess which he achieved in business, but because of his life of helpfulness, of good cheer, of broad sym- pathy and his deep interest in and labors for the benefit of his fellowmen.

Mr. Coe was a native son of Whiteside eounty, his birth having oeeurred on a farm in Jordan township, September 21, 1848, a son of Deeius O. and Eveline N. (Stevens) Coe, natives of New York and Pennsylvania, respec- tively. Both the paternal great-grandfather and the grandfather bore the name of Simeon Coe. The latter was born in Litehfield, Conneetieut, and with his parents removed to New York, the journey being made with a "spike team"-a yoke of oxen and a horse at the wheel. He was reared to manhood in the Empire state, and in 1835 made his way to Whiteside eounty, Illinois, where he entered government land in Jordan township, paying for the same the usual priee of a dollar and a quarter per acre. He died here at the age of sixty-four years, being survived by his wife, Mrs. Mary (Miles) Coe, who died in 1857. Of their family of thirteen ehildren only one now survives, Helen Ann, who first wedded Moses Snavely, and after his death became the wife of Thomas Stevens, who is also deceased. Mrs. Stevens has reached the advanced age of eighty years, and has lost her eyesight. She makes her home on Eighth avenue, in Sterling.

Deeius O. Coe, the father of our subject, was born in the village of Rush, New York, and in 1835 accompanied his parents on their removal to White-

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side county, where he was rcared to manhood. He was married here to Miss Eveline N. Stevens, a daughter of Jonathan and Ellen (Bowman) Stevens, the former a native of Stonington, Connectieut, whence he brought his fam- ily to Whiteside county in the year 1838, and settled on a farm in Sterling township, where he was engaged in farming throughout the remainder of his life. Of their family of three sons and one daughter, all are now deceased. The father passed away at the age of seventy-seven years. The mother was called to her final rest in 1888. As above stated, Decius O. Coe was reared and married in Whiteside county, subsequent to which time he engaged in farming on his own account, and eventually became the owner of one hun- dred and sixty acres of exeellent farming property. After a few years, how- ever, he removed to Sterling, where he lived for a time, and then again resumed the occupation of farming, removing to a place one mile north of the city, this property now being in possession of Martin Brothers. Mr. Coe was a publie-spirited man, and for many years served as supervisor of Jor- dan township, while during his residence in Sterling he served as alderman. He was also a stockholder in the First National Bank of Sterling. Both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church, Mr. Coe serving as an elder. His wife passed away at the age of sixty-one years, being survived for nine years by Mr. Coe, who died November 17, 1897.

Marcus Lafayette Coe, the immediate subject of this record, was rcared on his father's farm in Jordan township, Whiteside county, aiding his father in the work of the farm during the summer seasons, while in the winter months he acquired his education in the Science Ridge District school, this learning being supplemented by study in Mount Morris Seminary and in Cornell (Iowa) College. Returning home after completing his cducation, he then re- sumed the pursuits of farm life, which continued to be his occupation through- out the remainder of his life with the exception of one year prior to his demise, when he was engaged in the grocery business in Sterling.

It was on the 26th of August, 1875, that Mr. Coe established a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Julia A. Galt, daughter of James A. and Mary (Galt) Galt, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in Montgomery county and the latter in Lancaster .county. Only two of their children reached mature years: Mrs. Coe; and Frank Galt, a real-estate dealer of Sterling. The Galt family is of Scotch origin and settled in the Key- stone state about the year 1710. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Coe were James and Julianna Maria (Thomas) Galt, the former born in Lancaster county, while he passed away in Montgomery county, that state, when in middle life. He was survived by his wife, who died in 1875, when she had reached the age of seventy-two years. Their son, James A. Galt, the father of Mrs. Coe, was one of the carly settlers of Sterling. He was here married to Miss Mary Galt, who accompanied her father's family to Whiteside county in 1844. Her death occurred April 29, 1859, and Mr. Galt was married a second time, this union being with Mrs. Mary (McCartney) Burton, the widow of Albert Burton and a daughter of Judge David and Mary (McNair) McCart- ney. By this union Mr. Galt had a son and daughter: Harry McCartney Galt; and Edith Thomas Galt, who became the wife of Scott Williams.

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Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Coe began their domestic life on his father's old homestead farm, where they made their home for six years, subsequent to which time they removed to a farm near Emerson, Illi- nois, where they lived until after the death of his mother, when he returned to his father's homestead, which came into his possession upon the latter's death. He later disposed of this property and purchased a farm in Jordan township, this tract comprising three hundred acres, known as the Wolfer- sperger farm, which he owned at the time of his death. A ycar prior to his demise he abandoned farm life and removed to the city of Sterling, where he engaged in the grocery business, in which he was quite successful.

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History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II, Part 22

Author: Davis, William W Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 882

Author: Davis, William W
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 882