USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 28
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
914
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Richard W. Covel, reared under the parental roof, acquired his educa- tion in the public schools, was trained to habits of industry and integrity, and thus laid a good foundation for his life work. He was about twenty-four years of age when he started out on his own account, and in the spring of 1874 he arrived in Sterling, Illinois, since which time he has made his home in Whiteside county. Here he sought and soon found employment as a farm laborer, and was thus engaged for about ten years, during which time he carefully saved his earnings, and at length gained a sum sufficient to justify his purchase of a farm. He then bought the E. Bowen, or Woodlawn farm, upon which he lived for nine years, and next purchased the farm where he made his home for sixteen years. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode on the place which he now occupies, and where he has lived since 1903. Here he owns two hundred and sixty-one acres of arable land under a good state of cultivation, and in its midst stands a comfortable dwell- ing, with large barns and many substantial outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. Everything is now in a state of good repair, and he uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields. In addition to tilling the soil he has recently equipped his place for the conduct of a dairy business, and is increasing his interests along this linc.
On the 4th of January, 1880, Mr. Covel was married to Miss Amanda Delp, a daughter of Jacob and Cornelia (Thompson) Delp, natives of Illi- nois. Mrs. Covel was born on the 8th of October, 1861, in Jordan township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Covel have been born two daughters and two sons, Flor- ence D., Mary Pearle, Richard and John Russell, all of whom are under the parental roof.
In religious faith Mr. Covel is a Methodist, and his belief guides his acts in all his relations with his fellowinen. His political preference is for the republican party, but official honors and emoluments have little attrac- tion for him, as he prefers to concentrate his energies upon his business af- fairs, and. by his close application and executive ability he has become a prosperous farmer.
CHARLES A. HAMILTON.
On the roster of county officials of Whiteside county appcars the name of Charles A. Hamilton, who in the fall of 1906 was elected sheriff. He is now discharging the duties of the office without fear or favor and his course has won uniform commendation. He is recognized as one of the stalwart supporters of the republican party and one of its leaders in local ranks.
His birth occurred at Lyndon in this county, September 13. 1858, his parents being John M. and Anna B. (Thompson) Hamilton. The father was born in Northampton, Massachusetts, May 12, 1814, and died in Feb- ruary, 1906. He was of Scotch-Irish descent and was a son of Adam R. Hamilton, who served his country as a soldier in the war of 1812, being a member of a Massachusetts regiment. John M. Hamilton devoted his life
C. A. HAMILTON
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
917
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
to general agricultural pursuits and in 1835 removed from the state of New York to Illinois with his parents, who settled in Lyndon township. Three families-the Woodruffs, the Dudleys and the Hamiltons-eame at that time and were the first settlers of the distriet. John M. Hamilton and his fatlier . entered government land, upon which they took up their abode and spent their remaining days, and when their life's labors were ended their remains were interred in the Lyndon cemetery. As the years passed John M. Ham- ilton accumulated considerable property, meeting with gratifying prosperity in his business undertakings. He was also an advocate of everything that promoted the intellectual and moral progress of the community and was a eharter member of the Congregational church of Lyndon, in which both he and his father served as deaeons. In fact, throughout the community he was everywhere known as Deacon Hamilton. In politics he was an old-line whig until after the organization of the republican party, when he east his ballot for Abraham Lincoln. His fellow townsmen, recognizing his worth . and ability, ealled him to various township offiees. His hearing becoming affeeted so that it interfered with his, participation in publie interests, he devoted the greater part of his time to reading and became a well-informed man. He felt it his duty as a citizen to go to the polls and east his ballot in support of the principles which he deemed would best conserve the publie welfare and thus never failed to exercise his right of franchise.
John M. Hamilton married Mrs. Anna B. (Thompson) Wilder, a widow, who was born in Pennsylvania and died November 27, 1890. She was of Scoteh lineage and she held membership in the Congregational church. By this marriage there were born three children, of whom George W. died in infancy. The others are Charles A. and Frederick E. The latter was born October 29, 1860, and after some years' connection with the Adams Express Company died in 1894, leaving a son, Charles L. Hamilton, who is now a farmer of Lyndon. Previous to his marriage to Mrs. Wilder, Mr. Hamilton had wedded Emily Wright, of New York, and to them were born three children : John L., who enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and is now in the Soldiers' Home at Quiney, Illinois; Caroline A., the deceased wife of J. H. Smith, of Morrison; and Elvira P., the deceased wife of Philip M. Stone.
Charles A. Hamilton attended the district schools and the Lyndon high school. He was rcared on a farm and lived upon the old homestead, care- fully conducting agricultural interests until he was elected sheriff in the fall of 1906. He still owns the old home property, comprising two hundred and fifty-four acres of rich and productive land. This place, upon which the family residence now stands, has never been out of possession of the Ham- iltons sinec it was entered from the government. In his farm work Mr. Hamilton was energetic and capable and the fields annually brought to him a good return for his labor.
In June, 1881, was celebrated the marriage of Charles A. Hamilton and Miss Theora E. Helms, who was born in Ustick township in 1861, a daugli- ter of Henry E. and Lucy G. Helms. Her father was a farmer and a native of Hamburg, Germany, whence he came to the United States when sixteen
918
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
years of age. On coming to Whiteside county he took up his abode in Ustick township. He wedded Lucy G. Gould, a daughter of Thomas Gould, one of the pioneer settlers of Lyndon township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ham- ilton were born seven children: Grace E., born August 4, 1885, who is now engaged in teaching school; Arthur E., who was born October 30, 1887, and is attending the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Ar- bor; Herbert E., who passed away when but three years of age; Lucy E., whose birth occurred in 1895; John Henry, born in 1899; Cora L., in 1903; and Donald W., in 1906.
The parents were members of the Congregational church. Mr. Ham- ilton is connected with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen and the Mystic Workers. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he has served as school director and town clerk, while for thirteen terms he was assessor of his township. He has always taken an active inter- est in party affairs and in the fall of 1906 was elected on the republican ticket to the office of sheriff, in which position he is now serving, being most prompt and reliable in the performance of the duties that devolve upon him in this connection. As a representative of one of the oldest families of the county he is well known and, as did his father and grandfather, he stands for all that is progressive and helpful in citizenship.
GEORGE POWELL PERRY.
George Powell Perry, senior partner of the firni of Perry & Perry, drug- gists, was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, October 24, 1849, his par- ents being Henry C. and Malinda B. (Jefferis) Perry, who resided at Wil- mington, Delaware. They had two sons, Enos J. and George P. The mother died when they were only eight months old, and the father afterward married Miss Clarissa Thomas, of Maryland. There were three children born of that union : Harry L., who lives in Dallastown, Pennsylvania; Clara Viola, the wife of David Hyson, of Hampstead, Maryland; and Effie Jane. The father was a carpenter by trade and afterward followed the occupation of farming. He came to Illinois about 1855 and settled in Carroll county, where he turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits. He afterward removed from there to Red Oak, Iowa, where he died in 1871, at the age of forty-seven years. His first wife died in 1850, while his second wife survived him for .only three months.
George P. Perry and his twin brother, following their mother's death, were reared by some aunts and their maternal grandmother, and Enos J. Perry is now a distinguished dentist of Chicago. George P. Perry was reared to manhood in Carroll county, Illinois, upon a farm. He attended the public schools of Mount Carroll and afterward took up the study of medicine under Dr. Shimer, while for one term he was a student in the Chicago Medical College in 1871. He afterward entered a drug store at Fulton, Illinois, where he remained for a year or more, and then spent sixteen months in a drug
919
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
store in Moline. In 1874 he came to Sterling, where he was employed in different drug stores, and on the 4th of July, 1888, he became proprietor of a store, which he has since conducted. He carries a large and well selected line of drugs and kindred goods, tastefully arranged, and the business is ac- corded a liberal patronage in recognition of the honorable methods pursued by the house.
In September, 1875, Mr. Perry was married, in Mount Carroll, to Miss Sophia E. Shirk, a daughter of Jacob and Susan (Stauffer) Shirk. They have become the parents of three children: Raymond, a resident of New York city, who married Emily Russell, a niece of Sol Smith Russell, the re- nowned actor; Willianı H., who is a senior in the medical department of the Northwestern University, and who married Miss Mary A. Davis, by whom he has one child, Sophie Marie; and Linda, the wife of E. W. Aument, of Sterling, by whom she has one son, Richard Perry Aument.
The parents are members of the Baptist church, in the work of which they are deeply and helpfully interested, and Mr. Perry is serving as one of the deacons. Politically he was a republican until recent years, but has now very strong tendencies toward the prohibition party. He resides at No. 408 West Third street. His worth and reliability as a business man and citizen are widely known and have gained him classification with the representative and honored residents of this city.
-
ADAM C. LEINBACH.
Adam C. Leinbach, who has long been actively and successfully asso- ciated with agricultural interests in Whiteside county, and is now a well known real estate dealer of Sterling, was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, near Reading, July 3, 1855. His paternal grandfather, Jacob Leinbach, was also a native of Pennsylvania, but of German descent. He was a farmer by occupation, and both he and his wife, Mrs. Catharine Leinbach, lived to an advanced age and reared a large family. Their son, James Leinbach, was born in the Keystone state, made farming his life work and is now living retired in Reading, Pennsylvania, at the age of eighty-one years. He mar- ried Catharine Ahrens, who was likewise born in Pennsylvania, although her father was a native of France. On coming to the new world he settled in Berks county, where he followed carpentering and farming. Both Mr. and Mrs. James Lcinbach are still living, and are members of the Reformed church. Their family numbered ten children, six sons and four daughters: Adam C., of Sterling; Reuben, of Reading, Pennsylvania; James, who is living in Richmond, Pennsylvania; John, deceased; Calvin and Washington, who are residents of Reading; Mary; Katic; Angeline; and Hattie.
In the county of his nativity Adam C. Leinbach was reared upon a farm and attended the common schools, remaining under the parental roof until he had attained his majority. He spent one year, however, in working at the carpenter's trade. He was afterward employed at farm labor by the month
920
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
and, thinking to have better business opportunities in the middle west, he came to Sterling in 1877 and soon secured a position as a farm hand. De- siring that his labors, however, should more directly benefit himself, he rented a farm for two years, after which he married. He then continued to cultivate rented land until about 1888, when, with the capital he had saved from his earnings, he purchased a farm of cighty acres in Genesee township, Whiteside county, and devoted four years to its further development and im- provement. He then sold that property and bought one hundred and sixty acres known as the David Wetzel farm, which he still owns. He cultivated it successfully, annually gathering good crops until 1900, when he took up his abode in the county seat and established a real-estate business. He has since negotiated many important property transfers, and his well directed energy and keen business discernment arc constituting strong elements in a gratifying success.
On the 10th of February, 1881, Mr. Leinbach was married to Miss Re- becca Nance, a daughter of Harvey and Eleanor (Smith) Nancc. They have become the parents of five children: Clarence, who is a farmer of Lee county, Illinois, married Clara Kaffman, and they have two children, Mildred and Clarence M. Katie, Henry, John and Calvin are all yet at home.
The parents are consistent and faithful members of the Christian church, and in the work of the church they take an active and helpful interest. Mr. Leinbach's political allegiance is given to the republican party, and he is a public-spirited man, who withholds his aid and cooperation from no move- ment for the public good. In his business career there has been not a single csoteric phase, on the contrary all has been open and above board, and he merits the success that he has achieved, and enjoys in full measure the con- fidence of those with whom he has been brought in contact.
THOMAS E. ROBINSON.
Thomas E. Robinson is now living retired in Rock Falls, but for many years was identified with the farming interests of this county, and his labor was intelligently directed, his sound judgment and unfaltering industry bringing to him the success which enables him to enjoy many of the com- forts and some of the luxurics of life without further recourse to the active duties of business life.
He was born in Coloma township, this county, June 11, 1864, his parents being Thomas and Sarah (Hale) Robinson, the former a native of England and the latter of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. The father was born in Lan- cashire on the 6th of January, 1801, and in the place of his nativity was reared to manhood. Hc lost his father when very young, and the support of his widowed mother and a brother devolved upon him. In early life he followed the sca, spending three and a half years on one vessel, engaged in commerce, and visited all the principal seaports of the world. He was after- ward upon a British man-of-war. The experiences of his life were varicd.
921
. HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Born and reared in England, lic had some unusual adventures during his sea- faring experience, and after he left the sea he was employed in various ways in his native land until he resolved to seek a home in America. It was about 1844, in company with a cousin, that he crossed the Atlantic to the new world. He first loeated in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, where he worked in the mines, receiving much better wages than are paid for sueh service in the old country. Carefully saving his earnings, he was soon able to pur- chase a lot in Pittston, upon which he crected a good residence. He followed mining for seven or eight years, and during that time was married.
It was on New Year's day of 1848 that Thomas Robinson was joined in wedlock to Miss Sarah Hale, a native of Pittsburg, and a sister of Mrs. L. L. Emmons. They remained in Pennsylvania until after the birth of their two eldest sons, when, attracted by the opportunities of the middle west, Mr. Robinson brought his family to Illinois, settling in Coloma township, White- side county, where he joined his brother-in-law, Mr. Emmons. He found here a district largely undeveloped and unimproved. The railroads had not yet been built and Whiteside county seemed far from any commercial center of importance, so that the early settlers had to depend largely upon what they eould raise and produce. Mr. Robinson first purchased forty aeres of land, upon which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made. He also bought a little school house, which he moved onto his farm and coll- verted into a dwelling. Thus, having established a home for his family, he at once began the cultivation of his place, and with characteristic energy carried forward the work of tilling the soil until he had brought his farm under a high state of cultivation. In the early days he had to haul his grain to Chicago with ox teams. It was a slow and tedious process, but there was no nearer market. After a time, however, railroads were built, so that it was less difficult to place the crops on sale at the centers of trade. As he pros- pered in his undertakings, Mr. Robinson purchased an adjoining tract of land of forty acres, and also about forty acres in Montmorency township. As the years passed he converted the onee wild land into one of the most desirable and attractive farms of its size in the locality. In addition to the tilling of the soil lie also gave considerable attention to the raising of horses, cattle and hogs, and at one time made a sale of hogs to the amount of twelve hundred and thirty-cight dollars. He also invested in Kansas land, and until within a short time of his death owned thrce quarter sections in Grove and Dodge counties in addition to his farm in this county.
In 1886 he left his farm and removed to Roek Falls, where his remain- ing days were passed in honorable retirement, save for the supervision which he gave to his invested interests. He reached the remarkable old age of one hundred years, one month and seventeen days, and that he retained his mental and physical faeulties largely unimpaired during the evening of life is indicated by the faet that he transacted business up to within twenty days of his demise. He was the owner of a number of residences in Rock Falls and derived from this property, as well as his farms, a substantial and grati- fying income. Mrs. Robinson passed away ten years prior to the death of her husband, her death occurring February 13, 1895, when she was seventy
922
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
years of age. Her remains were interred in Rock Falls cemetery, where a neat monument now marks her last resting place. They were among the most honored and worthy pioncer people of the county, being uniformly es- teemed by reason of their many sterling traits of character, Both Mr. and Mrs. Robinson were Methodists in religious faith, although the former was rearcd in the faith of the Episcopal church. He became a stalwart advocate of democratic principles, for he believed their adoption would best concern the public welfare, yet he never sought nor desired office, nor took an active part in politics aside from voting. He was recognized as a man of marked business ability and achieved most creditable success by reason of his sound judgment in business affairs, his perseverance and his unwearied industry. He was, moreover, a man of sterling character and worth, of undoubted com- mercial integrity and of high ideals, who enjoyed in unqualified degree the respect and esteem of all with whom he was associated.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson was blessed with eight children, five sons and threc daughters: Charles, who is now living at Belgrade, Nebraska; John L., of Rock Falls; William P., also a resident of Belgrade; Rose, the deceased wife of Marshall Oakley; Carrie, the wife of Paul Jones, of Fresno, California; Anna; Thomas E .; and James, deceased.
In taking up the personal history of Thomas E. Robinson, we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in this part of the state, being a representative of an old pioneer family. He was reared as a farm boy in Coloma township, early taking his place in the fields to assist in the plowing, planting and harvesting. The district schools af- forded him his educational privileges, and when not busy with his text-books he gave his assistance to his father in the development and improvement of the home farm until he had attained his majority. Mr. Robinson was mar- ried at Nelson, Illinois, and then carried on farming on his own account until 1890, when, on account of his wife's ill health, he removed to Rock Falls, where he has since made his home.
It was on the 5th of November, 1884, that Mr. Robinson was united in marriage to Miss Lamina J. Stone, of Nelson, this state, a daughter of Burrell and Isabel (McNeil) Stone. There were two children of this marriage -- Isabel, who died at the age of thirteen months and twenty-two days; and George Lester, who is now living with his mother in Florida. On the 23d of May, 1899, Mr. Robinson was again married, his second union being with Miss Rose Carr, of Nevada, Iowa, and they have two children: Revoe and Opal.
Mrs. Robinson's parents, Benjamin and Abigail (Poole) Carr, are natives of Iowa, and still live in Nevada, that state, where her father is engaged in business as a mason and contractor. He is a son of Ananias and Jane (Franklin) Carr, also residents of Nevada, lowa, their other children being William Henry, now deceased; Jesse Edward; Daniel Brimerman, deceased ; Benoni Fortner; Phebe Ellen, deceased; Sarah Jane; and Mary Elizabeth. The father of this family has one son by a former marriage, James Nathan Carr, and the mother has also been married twice, her first husband being John Manifee, by whom she has one son, George Manifcc. Her parents were
923
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Thomas and Polly Franklin. Ananias Carr is a son of Nathan and Sallie (Willic) Carr. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Rose Robinson was John Presley Poole, who followed the occupation of farming. He married Ann Jordan and died at the age of eighty-one years, while his wife passed away at the age of eighty-six years. They were the parents of eleven children, six of whom are now living: Elza, a resident of Nevada, Iowa; John, whose home is in California; Mary, the wife of William Kerr, of Nevada, Iowa; George, a resident of Superior, Nebraska; Mrs. Abigail Carr, the mother of Mrs. Robinson; and Henry, of Nelson, Nebraska. Another member of the family reached mature years-Louisa, who became the wife of George Hyden and died, leaving a family. The other children died in carly life. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Carr were born four children, three daughters and a son: . Rose, now Mrs. Robinson; Myrtle, the wife of John Ost, of Rock Falls; . Laura, the wife of J. H. Anderson, a practicing lawyer of Des Moines, Iowa; and Frankie, who died at the age of eight years.
Mr. and Mrs. Robinson are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and are interested in its work and the extension of its influence. Politically Mr. Robinson is a republican. For the past eighteen years he has lived in Rock Falls, where he has valuable property holdings, including ten good residences and lots, and also two vacant lots. From his property he derives a good income that enables him to live retired. In former years he was very active in agricultural lines, and his carefully directed labors brought to him the success which is now his, making him one of the men of affluence of the community. The Robinson family has been a prominent one in the county from pioneer times, and, like his father, Mr. Robinson com- mands the respect and good will of all who know him.
CHARLES C. McMAHON.
Charles C. McMahon, a member of the Whiteside county bar and now city attorney of Fulton, was born in Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island in the gulf of St. Lawrence, June 20, 1860. He is a son of Francis and Rosa McA'Voy McMahon, both of whom were natives of the north of Ireland but prior to their marriage came with their respective families to the new world, settling on Prince Edward Island. The ycar 1869 witnessed their arrival in Fulton. Francis McMahon was a malster but following his rc- moval to Whiteside county turned his attention to farming. He rented land in Fulton township, where he engaged in farming from 1875 until 1900, when he retired from active business lifc. IIe is now deceased and his wife passed away in February, 1905. For many years he was numbered among the respected and worthy residents of his community and though he never sought to figure prominently in public life his activity and reliability in business made him numbered among the substantial citizens. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McMahon were born the following children: Ellen, the wife of N. J. Oaks, of Clinton, Iowa; Annic, the wife of Austin Bell, of Fulton;
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.