USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 33
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two years. Hc afterward spent three years in his father's store as bookkeeper and was with the firm of Potter & Johnson, lumber and grain dealers, as bookkeeper for six years. In 1906 he entered into partnership with C. D. Gallentine, becoming a member of the C. D. Gallentine Company, having a hot house forcing plant, with a total of one hundred and twenty-five thousand square feet of glass. The business has gradually developed under the eare and control of the enterprising men who constitute the partnership and is proving a profitable investment. Thus gradually Mr. Spafford has worked his way upward until he is now a recognized faetor in the business life of his native city.
In 1898 Mr. Spafford was married to Miss Lela M. Beuzeville, a daughter of F. J. and Maria Beuzeville, and a native of Morrison, Illinois, born in 1877. Her father was a pioneer and one of the early and sueeessful mer- chants of Morrison. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Spafford were born two children, Eloise Lela and Frederick R., but the son is now deceased. Mr. Spafford exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the republican party. He has a wide acquaintance in this city and throughout Whiteside county, where his entire life has been passed, and a genial, cordial manner and genuine eharaeter worth are the sourees of his popularity.
JOHN BUYERS.
John Buyers, deeeased, who was a man of many friends, spent his last years in honorable retirement in Sterling, having previously, however, been closely associated with the business interests of the eounty as an agriculturist. Mr. Buyers was born in Buyerstown, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, March 2, 1834. His parents, James A. and Eliza J. (MeJimsey) Buyers, were also natives of the Keystone state, residing about fourteen miles from the city of Laneaster on a farm, which was deeded to the Buyers family by the nephews of William Penn, and which remained in possession of the descendants of the original holders of the family until 1905. The first representatives of the name in Pennsylvania eame from north of Ireland to the new world. The paternal grandfather, Captain Robert Buyers, won his title by service in the Colonial army during the war of the Revolution, being commissioned in April, 1776. He did valiant serviee in defense of the Colonial cause and lived for many years to enjoy the fruits of liberty. His commission, which was signed by John Morton, speaker of the house of Pennsylvania three months before the Declaration of Independence was written, is now in posses- sion of Mrs. Buyers and is a most eherished heirloom. She also possesses the sword worn by Captain Buyers. He married Jean Armour and their family included James A. Buyers who, as stated, followed farming on the old farm homestead. He wedded Eliza J. McJimsey, a daughter of Joseph MeJimsey, who was a merchant of the eity of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and at one time representative from his distriet to the state legislature. He married Eliza Galt, and both died at a comparatively early age, leaving three little daugh-
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JOHN BUYERS.
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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ters, Eliza J., Mary and Ann, all now deceased. Mary became the wife of S. S. Patterson, who was well known in Sterling as a banker. Ann never married and died in this city. The MeJimseys are also of Seotch descent. Eliza J. McJimsey gave her hand in marriage to James A. Buyers, and to them were born three sons and three daughters, who reached adult age, while two children died in infancy. The father passed away at the ancestral home of the family in Pennsylvania, at the age of eighty-two years, while the wife died at the age of eighty-three. They lived to celebrate their golden wedding.
John Buyers, whose name introduces this record, was reared in Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, on a farm and acquired his education in the east. The year 1859 witnessed his arrival in Sterling and soon afterward he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty aeres in Hopkins township, upon which he lived for eleven years, but it was on that place that he and his wife began their domestic life, while later they removed to what is known as the Galt farm at the town of Galt, where they also remained for eleven years. During this period of more than two decades Mr. Buyers was an enterprising, energetic and representative agrieulturist whose careful conduct of his busi- ness brought him a gratifying measure of success. Failing health, however, led him to abandon agricultural pursuits and in 1890 he took up his abode in Sterling, where he afterward lived retired until ealled to the home beyond.
On the 11th of May, 1865, Mr. Buyers was married to Miss Frances Anna Galt, a daughter of John and Sarah Maria (Buyers) Galt, who, were among the early settlers of Sterling, and of whom further mention is made in connection with the history of John B. Galt on another page of this work.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Buyers were born ten children, six sons and four daughters: Jessie M., who is a teacher in the Wallace school in Sterling; James A., occupying a position in the office of the Sterling Manufacturing Company; Eliza, who died in early womanhood; Charles A., who is manager in the office of the International Harvester Company at Sterling and mar- ried Alice Weaver; Bruce, who died in infancy; Thomas G., who died in April, 1903, at the age of twenty-six years; Lizzie M., who died when ninc years of age; Mary, living at home; Donald E., a machinist who is now studying mechanical engineering at the Illinois University, at Champaign; and Archie, who is also attending the university.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Buyers were consistent, faithful and helpful members and workers of the Presbyterian church, and for forty-five years Mr. Buyers was honored as an elder of the First Presbyterian church of Sterling. In politics he was a republican and was ever a loyal and patriotie citizen. In May, 1861, he offered his services to the government and became a member of Company B, Thirteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving first as cor- poral and afterward as sergeant. He continued with the army as a faithful soldier for eighteen months in Missouri and Arkansas and was then obliged to return home on account of impaired health.
For seventeen years he was a resident of Sterling, living retired in the enjoyment of well-earned rest up to the time of his death, which oeeurred July 23, 1907, when he was seventy-three years of age. He was a man of high purposes and honorable principles, who in all of his relations with his
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fellowmen was actuated by a spirit of consideration, justice and right. His death therefore was the occasion of deep regret to his many friends, while his memory is yet cherished by those who knew him and may well serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to others. Mrs. Buyers still sur- vives her husband and is most highly esteemed in Sterling, where she makes her home.
CHRISTIAN HARTMAN.
Among the residents of Sterling who in former years were identified with agricultural interests but are now living retired in the enjoyment of . well earned and well merited rest is Christian Hartman. A.native of Ger- many, he was born in Wittenberg on the 9th of August, 1832, his parents being Adam and Barbara Hartman, who were likewise natives of Germany. The father was a cabinet-maker in the village of Galdorf and died there when about sixty years of age. His wife survived him and afterward came to America in 1855, settling in Trenton, New Jersey. At a later date she came west to Sterling but remained for only a short time and then returned to Trenton, where she passed away in 1885 at the very advanced age of ninety-five years. She was a Lutheran in religious faith and Adam Hartman was also identified with that church. Their family numbered twelve children, but only two are now living, the elder being Barbara, a resident of Trenton, New Jersey.
Christian Hartman was reared in the land of his birth, acquired his education in the schools there and afterward worked at farm labor by the month. In 1853 he came to America, living in Trenton, New Jersey, for five years. In 1860 he arrived in Sterling, Illinois, and worked at farm labor by the month. He afterward bought a farm of eighty acres in Genesee township and made his home there for a little more than twenty-one years. He then removed to Sterling and rented his farm for several years, after which he sold it and for the past twenty-three years he has lived retired in Sterling. Here he built à good home, which he still owns and occupies at No. 611 Fifth avenue, and he likewise has another dwelling in the city, from which he obtains a good rental. In former years he was most active and energetic in his farming operations and his labors were carefully directed by sound judgment. In all of his farm work he met with success and gained the desirable competence that now enables him to live. retired.
On the 11th of August, 1866, Mr. Hartman was married to Mrs. Fred- ericka Kircher, the widow of Michael Kircher and a daughter of Frederick and Rosina (Oltman) Smith. By her former marriage Mrs. Hartman had one daughter, Louisa. Her first husband died in April, 1866. Her parents departed this life in Germany, her father's death occurring in 1833 when he was seventy-three years of age, while her mother died in 1861 at the age of sixty-seven years. In their family were three children but Mrs. Hart- man is the only one now living.
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Both Mr. and Mrs. Hartman are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church and in politics he is a stalwart republican, thoroughly in sympathy with the principles of the party. While residing upon his farm he served as road commissioner. He has been a resident of the county for forty-seven years and his wife for forty-six years, and they are well known in the community, being much esteemed by reason of their genuine worth.
DAVID H. LINGEL.
David H. Lingel, whose activity and energies are concentrated upon the conduct and development of a successful grocery business at the corner of Thirteenth avenue and Fourth street in Sterling, is a native of Franklin coun- ty, Pennsylvania, having been born near Chambersburg on the 14th of April, 1851, his parents being John and Frances (Finnefrock) Lingel, who were likewise natives of the same county. The family was an old one of Pennsyl- vania, for the paternal grandfather lived in Franklin county and died there when a young man. His wife, Mrs. Barbara (Moffat) Lingel, long survived him and passed away in Sterling at the ripe old age of eighty-three years. The maternal grandfather, John Finnefroek, also died in the Keystone state when a comparatively young man.
John Lingel, father of our subjeet, early learned and followed the shoe- maker's trade, while later he became a farmer and subsequently engaged in house painting and paper hanging. He came to Sterling in the fall of 1864 and therc resided until 1905, when he went to Chicago, where he now makes his home. His wife, however, died in 1866 in the faith of the Lutheran church, of which she was a member, while Mr. Lingel belonged to the United Brethren church in foriner years but is now a Methodist. For his second wife he married Maria Kissell. Six children were born of the first marriage: David H .; Catharinc, the wife of A. N. Mallory, of Chicago; Anna, the wife of William Starr, of Lamoille, Illinois; Emma, living in Sterling; John F., of this city; and Sadie, the wife of E. H. Mariott, of Lamoille, Illinois. By the second marriage the father had two children: Mabel, now the wife of William Smart, of Sterling; and Bert.
David H. Lingel was only thirteen years of age when he became a resident of Sterling and his education, begun in the common schools of Pennsylvania, was supplemented by the two years' study in the schools of Sterling. He then began clerking in a grocery store and spent four years in that way. He was afterward employed as a salesman in a clothing store until April, 1907, with the exception of two years devoted to painting. For fourteen years he was in the employ of Isaac Wolf, with whom he con- tinued until the death of Mr. Wolf, when he embarked in business on his own account in April, 1907, establishing a grocery store at the corner of Thirteenth avenue and Fourth street. Already he has secured a liberal patronage and he has a neat, attractive and well equipped store, in whieli he is meeting with well merited success.
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On the 15th of June, 1875, Mr. Lingel was married to Miss Jennie E. Little, a daughter of William and Agnes (Porter) Little. They have two children: William J., who is with his father in the store; and Agnes Lillian, the wife of Martin M. Wasley, a resident of Chicago.
Mr. and Mrs. Lingel are members of the First Methodist Episcopal church and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. The only office that he has ever held was that of tax collector in 1884, his as- pirations having been in other directions than in the line of officeholding. For forty-three years. he has lived in Sterling and is well known in its business cireles as a man ever reliable in trade interests and at the same time possessing a spirit of marked enterprise and diligence.
JOHN F. LeFEVRE.
John F. LeFevre has followed the plow over certain districts of Sterling which constitute a beautiful residence portion of the city. He has made his home in Whiteside county since 1847 or for a period of more than sixty years and is therefore largely familiar with the events which have shaped its history and molded its policy. He has passed the eightieth mile- stone on life's journey, his birth having occurred in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, on the 1st of January, 1828. The family comes of French ancestry. The grandfather, Peter LeFevre, was born in Pennsylvania and was a physician and surgeon. He married Miss Mary LeFevre and they be- came the parents of four children. After the death of the first wife Dr. LeFevre married Elizabeth Abersticher but there were no children by that marriage.
John W. LeFevre, one of the four children of Dr. Peter LeFevre, was reared in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and began the study of medicine but gave up the idea of becoming a representative of that profession and turned his attention to farming. He married Mary Esbenshed, also a native of Lancaster county and a daughter of Daniel Esbenslied, who was born in Germany, whence he came to America, settling in Lancaster county, Penn- sylvania. He was a tanner by trade and owned and conducted a large tannery. He married Elizabeth LeFevre and lived to the advanced age of ninety-three ycars, while his wife died at the age of eighty-eight years. They were the parents of twelve children, including Mary Esbenshed. Following the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. John W. LeFevre they continued residents of Pennsylvania until 1847, when they came westward to Illinois, settling in Sterling, where the father lived retired. He died in 1872 when about seventy-five years of age, being born in 1797, and his wife passed away in 1861 at the age of sixty-five years. They were consistent members of the Methodist church and Mr. LeFevre served as a school director and was a warm friend of the cause of education. Unto him and his wife were born four sons and two daughters but only two are now living, the sister being Mrs. Eliza M. Miller, the widow of Joseph Miller, of Sterling, and now eighty- eight years of age.
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Jolın F. LeFevre lived in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, upon the home farm until nineteen years of age and attended the district schools. He then accompanied his parents on their removal westward to Sterling, where he has resided continuously since, his residence now standing in one of the fine districts of the town. He formerly carried on the work of the farm, for this district was a part of his father's farm, which extended a half mile to the west. It is now covered with good dwellings, business houses, schools and churches and is the home of an enlightened and cultured people. Reared to the occupation of farming, Mr. LeFevre carried on that pursuit for many years or until 1891, but is now retired, enjoying a well earned rest.
In 1855 was celebrated the marriage of John F. LeFevre and Miss Annie Good, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Snyder) Good. They be- came the parents of one daughter, Katie, now deceased, who was the first wife of Frank Eisele and died leaving two children, of whom one, John Eisele, is still living. For his second wife Frank Eisele chose Miss Marie Franc Price. Mr. LeFevre now makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Eisele. After losing his first wife in 1880, he married Miss Margaret Lytle, a daugh- ter of Joseph and Lucy Lytle, of Philadelphia. His second wife died in 1893.
Mr. LeFevre is a Lutheran in religious faith and is well known in the Odd Fellows society, belonging to Sterling Lodge, No. 174, I. O. O. F., also to the Canton and the Rebekahs. His political allegiance has been given to the republican party since its organization. He has lived in Sterling for sixty years and has seen the city develop from a mere hamlet, while the county has been converted from an almost unbroken wilderness into one of the rich agricultural districts of the state. He has rejoiced in what has been accomplished and in former years bore an active part in the work of development. His memory goes back to the time when the countryside was starred with millions of wild flowers in June and in December was covered with one unbroken sheet of dazzling snow. Considerable wild game was to be had and it was only here and there that a settlement had beenl made showing that the seeds of civilization had been planted that have in the course of years transformed this into a splendid district.
ARCHIBALD KNOX.
Archibald Knox was born at Aurora, Erie county, New York, September 11, 1827, and his life record covered the span of years to May 4, 1898, when he passed away at his home in Mount Pleasant township. His parents were James and Amy (Martin) Knox, who came to Whiteside county in the fall of 1839, only three years after the Black Hawk war was fought, whereby the domination of the Indian race here was forever ended. However, there were still many evidences of Indian occupancy and this great state had but a very small population compared with the number of its residents at the pres- ent time. Large tracts of land were unclaimed and uncultivated and the
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forests were uncut. The parents, journeying over land from New York, set- tled at Prophetstown, and were residents of this county until called to their final rest. They had a family of twelve children. James K., the father, born January 8, 1791, in Dover township, Dutchess county, New York, died in Mount Pleasant township, this county, September 24, 1860, while his wife,. born in Grand Isle, Vermont, January 19, 1800, died February 9, 1866. Their children were as follows: William, born in Buford township, Dutchess. county, New York, June 2, 1817, died in Mount Pleasant township, White- side county, Illinois, December 20, 1884 .. Martin, born February 9, 1819, in New York, died at Brownville, California, July 25, 1884. Allison, born in Haldeman county, New York, March 3, 1821, died in Mount Pleasant town- ship, this county, October 23, 1882. Peter, born in the district of Gore, Canada, April 4, 1823, died May 2, 1875, in California. James, also a native- of Canada, born July 30, 1825, died in this county, September 11, 1873. Arch- ibald, born in Aurora, New York, September 11, 1827, died in Mount Pleas- ant township, this county, May 4, 1898. Henry L., born in Aurora, New York,. December 27, 1829, died in Mount Pleasant township, Whiteside county, Jan- uary 5, 1886. Lydia, born in Erie county, New York, September 25, 1831, is the wife of Benjamin Lathe, a resident of Morrison. John J., born in Auro- ra, New York, January 23, 1833, resides in Mount Pleasant township. . Mary,. born March 16, 1837, at Morrison, Illinois, became the wife of Byron McIn- tyre and died at Yankton, South Dakota, March 17, 1899. Allen, born in Morrison, Illinois, May 3, 1840, was a soldier of the Thirty-fourth Illinois In- fantry and lives at the Soldiers Home at Quincy, Illinois. Lewis, born No- vember 8, 1842, at Morrison, was a member of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry in the Civil war and died November 30, 1906.
Archibald Knox was but eight years of age when brought by his parents. to Illinois and was reared amid the wild scenes and environments of pioneer- life. He resided here continuously until his death, with the exception of a. brief period of two years spent in California. He accompanied four of his brothers as they journeyed over the plains and through the mountain passes- to the gold fields and for two years remained on the Pacific coast, but not find- ing the wealth that he anticipated he returned to Illinois to take from the soil in another way the prosperity that ultimately crowned his efforts. As a. claim from the government he took up the homestead on section 23, Mount. Pleasant township, that is still owned by his widow, filing his claim at the land. office in Dixon, whereby he secured one hundred and twenty acres at a dollar- and a quarter per acre. Today it is worth at least one hundred fold that. amount. Practically throughout his entire life Mr. Knox carried on general farming, turning the first furrows upon his place and bringing the fields. into a high state of fertility, so that year after year he gathered good crops: and in due course of time accumulated a handsome competence.
At Prophetstown, on the 1st of September, 1856, Mr. Knox was' united in marriage to Miss Minerva Garrison, a native of St. Lawrence county, New- York, born June 16, 1837, a daughter of Philip and Phoebe (Eastman) Gar -- rison, both of whom were natives of New York, where they were reared. They came to Whiteside county in 1854, settling at Prophetstown, where they be --
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came identified with farming interests. The father purchased land there and made the place his home until his demise in 1871, when he was sixty- nine years of age. His wife survived him for two years and died in 1873, at the age of seventy-four. They were the parents of seven children. Esther, who was the wife of W. R. Stone, died in June, 1898. Emanuel, who was a member of the Seventy-fifth Illinois Infantry in the Civil war, died at the Soldiers Home in Quiney, Illinois, March 8, 1901. Mary A., who became the wife of William Waite, of New York, and died in Erie, Illinois, January 25, 1902. Henry died in Mount Pleasant township, December 21, 1906. Mrs. Lueinda Pratt is living in Lyndon, at the age of seventy-three years. Mrs. Minerva Knox is the next of the family. William, who was a member of the Thirty-fourth Illinois Infantry, died soon after the war.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Knox was blessed with four children. Elizabeth, the eldest, is the wife of David Barnum, of Morrison, and has two children by a former marriage, Carl and Albert Myers. Albert, who operates the home farm for his mother, married Miss Lena Tjarks, a native of Round Grove, this county, and a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. U. H. Tjarks. They have one daughter, Mabel. Emeline Knox became the wife of R. A. Reynolds, of Morrison, and has three children, Ray, Lola and Freda. Arthur married Margaret Doyle and resides in Union Grove township. He has three children, James, Mildred and Irene.
Archibald Knox stanehly upheld republican principles but was not a politician. He belonged to the Methodist Protestant church and in all his life upheld principles of truth, justice and honor. Coming to Illinois in early pioneer times, he was for many years closely associated with the growth and improvement of this part of the state and could relate many. interesting inei- dents of the carly days. He lived here at a time when the homes were largely log cabins, when wild game was to be had in abundance and when Indians were still sometimes seen, but the white race reclaimed the region for the uses of civilization and Mr. Knox bore his full share in the work of general im- provement. All who knew him esteemed him for his many stalwart charac- teristics and his name is still honored among the many who were his friends.
CHRISTIAN NELSON.
Christian Nelson, who for a quarter of a century has been a prominent representative of the industrial interests of Morrison, his business activity and enterprise proving factors in the commercial development and consequent prosperity of the city, is a native of Denmark, his birth having occurred in Copenhagen in 1847. His parents were Peter and Anna Nelson, also natives of that country, where the father followed the harnessmaking trade.
Christian Nelson pursued his education in the public schools of his native country but his opportunities were somewhat limited and he is largely self-educated, gaining knowledge through experience, observation and reading. He early learned the trade of a carriage body maker in Denmark. The fay-
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