USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 26
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ried again, his second union being with Lydia Kirk. It was his daughter, Margaret Lavinia, who became the wife of Charles Adams Wetherbee. They are members of the Congregational church and are highly esteemed in the locality where they reside. Mr. Wetherbee is a veteran of the Civil war, having served for three years with the Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry. He joined the army as a private soldier and faithfully defended the old flag. After his return from the south he resumed farming, and is now one of the oldest living residents of the county. He has taken an active part in its public interests as well as its agricultural development, and was road commissioner and supervisor for many years. He also served for one term in the Illinois legislature. Unto him and his wife have been born four chil- dren : May Penrose, who is living in Sterling; Ella Dora, who died in 1904; Harriet Ada, the wife of Clarence Johnson, of New York city; and Charles Earl.
Mr. Wetherbee, of this review, was reared on his father's farm, and at- tended the district school in his boyhood days, while later he continued his education in the Sterling high school and subsequently in the Oberlin Acad- emy and in the Oberlin College. Three ycars were devoted to his college course, after which he matriculated in the Illinois State University at Cham- paign and mastered a four years' course. He studied architecture there and after leaving the university entered into partnership with P. T. Van Horn, of Sterling. The partnership continued for two years, after which Mr. Weth- erbee purchased Mr. Van Horn's interest, and has since conducted the busi- ness alone. As an architect he has planned a number of the principal build- ings of Sterling, and has thus contributed to the adornment of the city.
On the 28th of July, 1905, Mr. Wetherbee was married to Miss Faith Leland Bardwell, a daughter of John and Lovilla (Kellogg) Bardwell. Mr. and Mrs. Wetherbee are members of the Congregational church, and he be- longs to Rock River Lodge, No. 612, A. F. & A. M., while his political allc- giance is given to the republican party. He resides at No. 716 East Seventh strect, having purchased the residence there built by Colonel Wilson. It is a beautiful property, and the spirit of hospitality there reigns supreme. Mr. Wetherbee is well known as a representative of one of the old and prominent pioncer families, and his worth is widely recognized in business and social circles.
HON. ALFRED N. ABBOTT.
The life record of Hon. Alfred N. Abbott has left an indelible impress upon the history of Whiteside county and his many friends would not con- sider this record complete were there failure to make prominent reference to him. He has achieved gratifying success in the business world and at the same time has been actively concerned in affairs of public moment, his labors always being prompted by a spirit of unquestioned devotion to the public good. He resides upon a farm in Ustick township on section 32, which was
ASA M. ABBOTT
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LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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the place of his birth, his natal day being November 2, 1862. His father entered the land from the government during the pioneer epoch in the history of the county, and from the days when Whiteside was upon the frontier until the present the name of Abbott has figured conspicuously and honorably in connection with the development and progress of this portion of the state.
His parents were Asa M. and Sarah (Sperry) Abbott. The former was born in Hartland, Vermont, November 16, 1820, and was a son of Benjamin and Dorcas (Noyes) Abbott, both of whom were natives of New Hampshire and of English lineage. Benjamin Abbott was born in Con- cord, and was the fifth in direct line in the Abbott family to bear the name of Benjamin. The founder of the Abbott family in America arrived in 1643 and became one of the first settlers of Andover, Massachusetts. On the records of Revolutionary soldiers the name frequently appears. Ben- jamin Abbott, the great-grandfather of our subject, joined the patriot army at the outbreak of hostilities with the mother country and was wounded in the battle of Bunker Hill. Two of his brothers participated in the battle of Bennington, in which one of them was killed. Benjamin Abbott, the grandfather, making his home in the Green Mountain state, there reared a family of six children. Ephraim, who was a printer by trade, removed westward to St. Louis and was the editor of the first agricultural paper pub- lished in the Mississippi valley. Enoch, who engaged in merchandising at New Hampshire, traveled around the world for his health and spent his last days in Concord, New Hampshire, which town was founded by the Abbott family. Asa was the next in order of birth. Laura became the wife of Lansing Morton, of Mortons Corners, New York, and died at the age of twenty-six years. Susan became the wife of Jesse Fry and died leaving two children. Laura married Brigadier General William Clendennin, of Moline.
Reared in the state of his nativity, Asa M. Abbott early learned and followed the gunsmith's trade. At the age of twenty-one he became a resi- dent of St. Louis, Missouri, and in 1847 took up his abode at Fulton, Illi- nois, where for a brief period he worked as a gunsmith. The following year he secured a claim of eighty acres, which was then wild and unimproved, and with characteristic energy began its development. In his farming operations he prospered and, adding to his possessions, became the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of land in Kansas and three hundred and twenty acres in Illinois, including a valuable timber tract of one hundred and thirty acres. He was prominent in community affairs and aided largely in molding the policy and shaping the destiny of the county during its formative period. He was the first town clerk and filled a number of the township offices. Fraternally he was connected with the Masons and with the Odd Fellows and served as noble grand in the latter organization.
At Oquawka, Illinois, on the 6th of December, 1846, Asa M. Abbott married Miss Sarah Sperry, who was born in Mecca, Ohio, February 18, 1822, a daughter of Joy and Mary Sperry, who in 1830 traveled across the country with ox-teams from Ohio to Henderson county, Illinois. Their
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children were: John, now deceased; Charles, who is living at Nephi, Utah; William; Harrison, of Salt Lake City; Aaron and Betsy, deceased; and Mary Anne, who married Royes Oatman, and who with her husband and five children were killed by the Indians in Arizona in 1851 while on their way to California. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Asa M. Abbott were born seven children. Charles E., whose birth occurred December 22, 1847, married Sarah Sperry and is now connected with street railway interests in Salt Lake City, Utah. John Morton, born March '25, 1850, wedded Hannah E. Knight and is a resident farmer of Marshall county, Kansas. Ruth, born June 23, 1852, died May 12, 1855. Theodore Sperry, born September 23, 1855, and now a civil engineer of Saltillo, Mexico, married Lillian Nalle, a native of Vir- ginia, who died August 6, 1902, and in February, 1904, he wedded Grace Alling. Edward Lorenzo, born February 15, 1859, and now a civil engineer of New York city, was married in May, 1888, to Lillian Hartwell. William Lamont, born February 14, 1861, and now an operating engineer with the Edison Commonwealth Electric Company of Chicago, married Caroline Ent- whistle, September 14, 1887. Alfred N. completes the family. The father died April 8, 1889, and the mother passed away at the age of sixty-eight years.
Alfred N. Abbott, reared upon the old homestead farm, began his edu- cation as a district-school student when about six years of age and supple- mented his preliminary mental training by study in the State University at Champaign, where three of his brothers had also been students. The occupation to which he was reared he chose as a life work and has long been accounted one of the most enterprising, progressive and successful agricul- turists of the community. Since his father's death he had added to the place a tract of one hundred and twenty acres and is now the owner of a valuable farm of four hundred acres, which returns to him a gratifying annual income in . golden harvests that result from the care and labor he bestows upon the fields. He has also erected substantial modern buildings and everything about the place indicates his care and supervison and his excellent executive and business ability.
On the 12th of October, 1886, was celebrated the marriage of Alfred N. Abbott and Miss Sarah Green, who was born in Woodbine, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, April 3, 1865. Her father, John H. Green, now a retired farmer, was born June 29, 1831, in Yorkshire, England, and came to Amer- ica in 1842. He afterward worked in the lead mines near Galena until he attained his majority, when in 1852 he went to the gold fields of California, where he remained for six years. He then returned to Illinois and settled at Woodbine in Jo Daviess county, where he remained until March, 1869, when he took up his abode in Whiteside county. Here he conducted busi- ness as an active and prosperous farmer until 1894, when he retired to Mor- rison to enjoy in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil. On the 1st of December, 1860, he was married to Miss Margaret Lowry, who was born on the Isle of Man, September 17, 1844, and on coming to the United States located at Elizabeth, Illinois. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Green were born six children: John G., born in Woodbine, August 25, 1862, and now a resident
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farmer of Ustick township, married Lydia Steiner and has five children. Mrs. Abbott is the second of the family. May, born November 29, 1873, in this county, is the wife of B. F. Hoover, a resident farmer of Lyndon township, and has two children. Phoebe, born March 19, 1876, is with her parents in Morrison. Daniel died in infancy. Benjamin, born August 22, 1887, is also at home.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Abbott was blessed with four children: Bayard Taylor, born November 5, 1887, and Frances Dorcas, born January 5, 1889, are now members of the sophomore class of the Illinois University at Champaign. Louis Asa, born August 9, 1891, is a high school student in Morrison; and Howard Green, born January 8, 1896, is attending district school.
The family is prominent socially, the members of the household occupy- ing an enviable position in the regard of their associates. Mr. Abbott be- longs to the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities and he and his wife are connected with the Eastern Star. He likewise holds membership with Ustick Camp, No. 3995, M. W. A., and with the Mystic Workers. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he has long been recognized as one of its leaders in Whiteside county. He is in thorough sympathy with its principles and its policy and has been almost continuously in public office since attaining his majority. He was only twenty-one years of age when elected justice of the peace, in which position he was continued by re-election for six years. For one term he served as supervisor and in Novem- ber, 1898, resigned that position to enter upon the duties of representative of his district in the state legislature, to which he had been called by popular vote. While a member of the house he gave careful consideration to each question which came up for settlement and his official record has at all times been characterized by a fidelity to duty that is above question. He is respected and honored wherever. known and most of all where best known. His entire life has been passed in Whiteside county upon the farm where he yet resides and his sterling traits of character have made him a man of many friends.
FRANKLIN A. UPTON.
In tho death of Franklin A. Upton on the 30th of August, 1886, White- side county mourned the loss of one of its native sons, who by his sterling traits of character had gained the confidence and respect of many friends. He was an enterprising farmer living on section 23, Mount Pleasant township, and his birth occurred in Lyndon township on the 27th of April, 1854, his parents being Eli and Elizabeth Ann (Newcomb) Upton. His father, who was an honored pioncer of Whiteside county, and one of its most prosperous farmers, was born in Petersboro, Hillsboro county, New Hampshire, Septem- ber 28, 1811, a son of Eli and Abigail (Snow) Upton, who were likewise natives of that state, where the father owned and conducted a grist mill
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for many years. He spent the last eight years of his life in the home of his son Eli and died at the age of eighty-five years, having long survived his first wife, who died at the age of thirty. Following her demise he afterward married again.
Eli Upton was reared in New Hampshire and in early manhood learned the machinist's trade, which he followed for three years. He was after- ward employed as a machinist in a woolen and cotton mill for two years and then went to Yencgo, in the state of Sonora, Mexico, with Charles Peck, to set up and put in operation the machinery for a cotton mill to be built at that place. For nearly four years Mr. Upton remained in Mexico and in 1844 returned to the United States. After reaching his old home, he was there married, in June, 1844, to Elizabeth Ann, daughter of John New- comb, of New Hampshire. Soon afterward the young couple started by way of the lakes for Illinois, reaching Chicago when it was a small and unimportant town. There he purchased a team and wagon and some house- hold utensils and continued on his journey to Whiteside county. For ten years he resided on a farm of one hundred and eighty-five acres on section 6, Lyndon township, and then removed to Mount Pleasant township. At one time he owned about a thousand acres of land. He improved and operated a large farm and was one of the most extensive stock farmers of that day. In all of his business affairs he displayed an aptitude for successful manage- ment and in connection with his son George he dealt successfully in Perch- eron horses for twelve years but gave up business in order to live retired in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former labor. He reached the very venerable age of eighty-nine years, passing away in 1900, while his wife died June 9, 1890, at the age of sixty-eight years. They were the parents of four children who reached adult age, while a daughter, Susan, died at the age of fifteen months. George Y. is now a retired farmer of LaGrange, Illinois, and still owns land in Mount Pleasant township. At the time of the Civil war he served for eighteen months in the Union army. John Eli wedded Mary Galbraith and resided on a farm in Mount Pleasant town- ship but died in 1877, leaving three children. Joseph Snow, who married Augusta Rockwell, is now a farmer of Harwood, North Dakota.
Franklin A. Upton was reared under the parental roof and spent his. entire life in this county. His preliminary education was supplemented by study in the Morrison high school and after putting aside his text-books he learned the tinsmith's trade, which he followed for a few years. His time and energies, however, were largely given to general farming and stock- raising. He was successful in this work by reason of his unfaltering dili- gence and keen discrimination and in all of his business dealings was known to be fair, reliable and trustworthy.
Mr. Upton was married to Miss Ellen J. Puddifoot, who was born in Ustick township, this county, a daughter of Alfred and Luey (Tooley) Puddifoot, who came here in 1855 from London, England, where they were marricd. They established their home in Ustick township and after living there for some time the father purchased a farm in Clyde township, where he capably and successfully carried on general agricultural pursuits until
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he retired with a handsome competence and removed to Morrison, where he still resides. He is an energetic, alert and prosperous business man and a most highly respected citizen, and throughout the community has many warm friends. His wife died in 1892, at the age of sixty-four years. She was a lady of many excellent traits of heart and mind and many friends keenly felt her loss. In their family were cight children, of whom six are yet living: Mary Ann, who was born in England and died in Clyde town- ship in 1879; Lizzie, the wife of George S. Pcet, a resident of New Haven, Connecticut; Mrs. Ellen J. Upton, of this review; Albert, who is living in Morrison; Amelia, the wife of Fred J. Richardson, who resides in Mor- rison; Charles H., a commercial traveler, whose home is in St. Joseph, Missouri; Jessc, who is engaged in the hotel business in Ward, Colorado; and Ida May, who died in infancy.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Upton were born four children, all natives of White- side county. Clifford J., born November 6, 1878, is now a roll turner for the Lackawanna Steel Company, at Buffalo, New York. He married Fannie Holngren, of Chicago. William A., born May 4, 1880, and now connected with mining interests at Ward, Colorado, married Bessie Nichols, of Chicago. Eli L., born February 24, 1882, married Florence L. Wells, of Chicago, and resides in that city, being employed in the plate mill of the Illinois Steel Company. Mabel B., born January 6, 1886, is the wife of R. W. Suther- land, of Ward, Colorado.
Franklin A. Upton was a democrat in his political views and always kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day but was never an office seeker. He belonged to the Odd Fellows society and was greatly esteemed by his brethren of that organization. His upright, honorable life made him a worthy representative of a prominent pioncer family and his many commendable traits of character gained him a high position in the esteem .of those with whom he was associated. Following her husband's death Mrs. Upton carefully reared her family and resided in Whiteside county until 1894, when she removed to Chicago, where she now makes her home. However, she still owns property in Mount Pleasant township and numbers many friends among her acquaintances in this part of the state.
DAVID HYDE.
David Hydc, enjoying well earned rest in the evening of life, was in former ycars connected with agricultural pursuits in Hopkins township, but is now living retired in Como. He has passed the eighty-eighth milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, November 7, 1819. His parents were David and Barbara (Stoner) Hyde, who were likewise natives of Lancaster county, where they spent their entire lives. The maternal grandfather, David Stoner, a native of Germany, on emigrating from that country, crossed the Atlantic to the new world and be-
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came the founder of the family in Lancaster county. He married a Miss Herr, who was a native of Pennsylvania. The family is noted for longevity, many of the members reaching advanced age. The father, David Hyde, was a soldier of the war of 1812. In the east he followed farming, and there reared his family of twelve children, namely: Mary, Elizabeth, Lucy, John, Henry, Adam, David, William, Catherine, Susan, Christine and Katherine. But two of the number now survive, Susan and David.
The latter was about fifteen years of age when he started in life on his own account. He had up to that time remained with his parents, but now he began work as a farm hand and was employed by others until eightcen years of age. He then turned his attention to the milling business, which he learned in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania. He served a three years' ap- prenticeship and afterward worked at the same place as a journeyman for about five years more. Thus his time was busily occupied, and he learned the value of industry and unfaltering diligence.
On the 24th of August, 1843, Mr. Hyde was married to Miss Anna Difen- bauch, a daughter of Henry and Mary (Bressler) Difenbauch, who were na- tives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, where they lived and died. Mr. and Mrs. Hyde came to Sterling in 1855, after residing for twelve years in the east, and settled near the city. For many years Mr. Hyde followed farming for George Hoover, and in 1893 purchased a farm in Hopkins township-the old Loomis place, which he owned and cultivated for ten years, bringing the fields under a high state of improvement. He sold that property in 1903, and has since lived in Como, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and richly merits. He is a wonderfully well preserved man for one of his age, the years resting lightly upon him. He has here a few acres of land which he cultivates, working every day, and in the winter time hauls large loads of wood, which he cuts and splits for fucl. There are, indeed, few who reach his age who possess so much vigor and ambition.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hyde have been born three children who are now living: Samuel, a resident of Sterling; Louise, who is the widow of John Reese, and resides in Pontiac, Illinois; and Libby, the wife of the Rev. John Van Avery, who is living near Pontiac.
Mr. Hyde cast his first vote for General Harrison, and also voted for Henry Clay. He has since voted at every presidential election with one ex- ception, and has been unfaltering on his support of the political principles whichi he has deemed would prove of the greatest benefit to the country. He was born during the presidential administration of James Monroe, and has lived through a most momentous period in the history of the country. Even in the east hardly a railroad had been built, and the steamboat was yet an ex- periment. Mr. Hyde saw the first railroad in the United States, the road being built of wooden rails covered with strap iron. He remembers seeing the first two railroad engines called the Johnny Bull and Firefly. A notable event in his life was his meeting with General La Fayette, upon his return to this country. He has lived to see the country crossed and recrossed with the great network of railroads, has seen the introduction of the telegraph and the telephone, the automobile and the improved machinery which has entirely
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revolutionized the methods of farming sinee his boyhood days. In his early life farming was praetieally earried on as it had been through centuries, and there has been greater change in the work of developing the soil and caring for the erops than in perhaps any other line of life. Mr. Hyde has always kept apace with the general progress and has rejoieed in what has been ac- complished. He and his wife have traveled life's journey together for nearly sixty-three years, in sunshine and storm, amid all the ehanging events of their lives, sharing their joys and sorrows, and now, with the sun far down tlie western slope, their lives are tranquil and serene, and all who know them. hold them in highest esteem. During the years of their residence in Whiteside county they have won lasting friendships and their memory will be cherished long after they have passed away. They are both members of the Presbyterian church at Sterling, and have lived in harmony with their pro- fessions in the Christian . faith.
HENRY GEORGE KOHL.
The spirit of enterprise and elose application which are the salient features in the successful business eareer are manifest in Mr. Kohl, who is condueting a barber shop on East Third street in Sterling. This is his native eity, his birth having here oeeurred July 27, 1879. His parents were Herman and Sophia (Winekus) Kohl, natives of Düsseldorf, Germany. The father was a cooper by trade and in 1869 came to America, settling in Sterling, where he followed coopering for many years. He afterward worked in a distillery for several years and sinee that time he has lived retired. He has now reached the age of eighty years, while his wife is seventy years of age. Both are members of the Roman Catholic church. Their family numbered ten children, seven sons and three daughters: Joe; Frank; John; Adam; Gertrude, the wife of D. P. Crook; Matthew; Peter; Isabel, the wife of Frank Boehm; Rose, the wife of C. E. Derwent; and Henry George, of this review.
In taking up the personal history of Mr. Kohl, whose name introduces this record, we present to our readers the life of one who is widely and favorably known in Sterling, where he was reared. He attended the public schools and also the Sacred Heart parochial school and after putting aside his text-books he began learning the barber's trade. He thoroughly quali- fied for that work and in June, 1901, opened a shop of his own. He now has a shop with four chairs at No. 1 East Third street and has an exeellent patronage from among the best people of Sterling and vieinity. He em- ploys eapable, courteous workmen and is meeting with gratifying suecess in his undertakings.
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