USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 34
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orable reports which reached him concerning America and its business ad- vantages and opportunities led him to seck a home in the new world and, bidding adicu to his native land in 1869, he crossed the Atlantic, locating after a few months in Morrison, where he worked at his trade in the employ of Ely & Whitcomb until 1882, when he opened a shop of his own for the manufac- ture of buggies. For the past three years he has been making a specialty of the Nelson breaking cart, which is now largely sold in every state in the Union, while shipments have also been made to England. His business has gradually developed into an important industrial concern, furnishing employment to a large number of workmen and the enterprise is proving very profitable.
In 1875 Mr. Nelson was married to Miss Mary Ohlinger, who was born in ,Pennsylvania in 1856, a daughter of George W. and Sarah (Wilt) Ohlinger. Her father was a veteran of the Civil war and in 1867 came to Whiteside county, settling in Newton township. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have become the parents of five children : Lorena, the wife of Dr. Herbert Kennedy, a dentist of Morrison; Malvern R., who follows the profession of dentistry in Chicago; Nellie, who is employed as a stenographer in Chicago; and Edith and Ruth, both at home.
The parents are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Nelson is connected fraternally with the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen. His political allegiance is given to the republican party but he has no aspiration for office, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business interests. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in the new world, for in this land, where opportunity and ambition are unhampered by caste or class, he has gradually worked his way upward, meet- ing with the success which ever crowns indefatigable effort guided by sound judgment.
EARL S. ELLITHORPE.
Earl S. Ellithorpe makes his home in Prophetstown, but within sight of his farm, which is a valuable property near the village, indicating in its well- kept appearance his careful supervision and practical methods. With the exception of a year spent in Iowa, he has resided continuously in this county since July, 1840, being at that time a young lad in his seventh year. He was born November 21, 1833, in Edinburg, Saratoga county, New York, a son of Sampson and Eliza (Wight) Ellithorpe. The father was also a native of Saratoga county, New York, while the mother, who was born in Vermont, went to the Empire state in her girlhood days. The paternal grandfather, Wyley Ellithorpe, was likewise born in Saratoga county, where he spent his entire life on a farm. His father, however, was a native of the Green Moun- tain state, whence he removed to New York at an early period in the develop- ment of Saratoga county. The first American ancestors of the family came from England and were connected with the carly development of the Green Mountain state. In the fall of 1839 Sampson Ellithorpe and his uncle Solo-
MR. AND MRS. E. S. ELLITHORPE
LIBRAHY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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mon came to the middle west, visited Whiteside county and secured a claim of about one thousand acres upon which they each built a hewed log house in Hume township, after which they returned to New York. Owing to the early death of Sampson Ellithorpe, however, the claims reverted to the gov- ernment and the family never occupied the house. Solomon Ellithorpe became a prominent man in his native county in New York. As stated, it was in 1840 when the parents of our subject left the east to establish a home in Illinois. They traveled by canal boat to Buffalo, thence around the lakes to Chicago and by team and wagon to Whiteside county, reaching their destination in July. The father died, however, on the 5th of September and a month later a sister of our subject passed away. All of the others of the family were ill with fever and ague and Earl S. Ellithorpe and his aunt were the only ones well enough to go to the father's grave, while Dr. Plympton, the attending physician, preached the funeral sermon. With the Crocker family Mrs. Ellithorpe resided in the home on Coon creek until the fall of 1841, when she removed to the neighborhood in which is found the farm of Earl S. Ellithorpe. In the spring of 1842 she became the wife of Marvin Frary and soon afterward they removed to the farm in Portland township, where they resided until the spring of 1845, when they returned to Prophets- town township. After residing upon a farm there for ten years they removed to another farm in the same neighborhood and the death of Mrs. Frary occurred in Lyndon township, August 4, 1866. By her first marriage she had five children: Wyley, who died in infancy; Bethiah, who became the wife of Dr. H. C. Donaldson and died in Denver, Colorado, while her hus- band has also passed away; Earl S., of this review; Alpheus, who died July 11, 1854, when seventeen years of age; and Lucelia, who died in childhood. By her second marriage Mrs. Frary had a daughter, Cordelia, the wife of F. N. Brewer, at whose home in Lyndon township the mother died.
Arriving in Whiteside county in his seventh year, Earl S. Ellithorpe was here reared amid the scenes and environments of pioneer life and shared with the family in all the hardships and privations incident to the settle- ment of the frontier. His educational privileges were rather limited owing to the primitive condition of the schools at that day, but his training at farm labor was not meager, as he began to assist in the work of the fields as soon as old enough to handle the plow. He continued to reside in Prophetstown township for eighteen years and in the meantime was married. On the 27th of March, 1856, was celebrated the marriage of Earl S. Ellithorpe and Miss Mary Jane Averill, who was born in Highgate, Vermont, February 1, 1835, a daughter of Mark R. and Ada (Durin) Averill, who were also natives of that state, whence they removed westward to Illinois in 1852, settling on a farm in Prophetstown township in the spring of 1854. The farm upon which Mr. Averill settled was purchased by Mr. Ellithorpe in the fall of 1887, but he previously cultivated and rented it for many years and in the. meantime had made substantial improvements thereon. Mr. Averill in his business affairs met with a gratifying measure of prosperity and at his death left an estate valued at about eighty thousand dollars. He was widely recog- nized as one of the prominent and influential men in the community, pos-
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
sessing marked business ability and executive force and displaying sound judgment in placing his investments. His family numbered eight children: Mrs. Ellithorpe; Wales, deceased; Anna, the wife of D. K. Smith, of Prophetstown; Harriet A., the widow of C. A. Sanford and a resident of Chicago; A. T., a banker, living at Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Volney, a fruit farmer of Wrights, California; Lewis, deceased; and Ella, who died at the age of eight years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ellithorpe was born but one child, a daughter, Luanna, who was born October 22, 1862, and died August 10, 1895.
Mr. and Mrs. Ellithorpe began their domestic life upon a farm belong- ing to her father and after renting that land for seven years they took up their abode in Hume township in 1863. Mr. Ellithorpe there purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land, which he cultivated for two years, when, having opportunity to sell to good advantage, he sold it and returned to the Averill homestead. In 1887 he removed to Wheatland, Iowa, where he built an elevator and engaged in the grain and lumber business for about a year in partnership with his brother-in-law, C. H. Sanford under the firm style of Sanford & Ellithorpe. Returning to this county, he became owner of his present farm, comprising four hundred and fifty acres of rich and valuable land, constituting one of the best farms of the community. It is lacking in no modern accessory or convenience found upon the model farm of the twentieth century and from it he derives a gratifying annual income. The land lies on sections 6, 31 and 32, Prophetstown township. He gave personal supervision to the work of the fields until 1885, when he rented the land, but continued to reside thereon until 1906, when he took up his abode in the village. For many years he was successfully engaged in stock raising, making a specialty of sheep, and was one of the most prominent sheep raisers of this part of the state.
In his political views Mr. Ellithorpe has been a stalwart republican since 1856, when he proudly cast his first ballot for John C. Fremont, the first standard-bearer of the party. He and his wife attend the Congregational church, of which Mrs. Ellithorpe is a member. Since his retirement from active business life they have traveled quite extensively, spending six months on the Pacific coast in 1885, and again visiting the far west in 1897. He has made altogether five trips to California. In 1903 they traveled abroad, visiting many points of modern, historic and scenic interest in the old world, and spent one winter in Mexico. Mr. Ellithorpe has also made extensive. hunting trips in the northwest and travel and the chase have always been his chief sources of pleasure and recreation. As the years passed Mr. Ellithorpe. prospered in his undertakings and the success he has achieved is well merited. He placed his dependence upon safe, substantial qualities, realizing that energy and determination are the basis of advancement. In business affairs he has at all times been found reliable, nor has he ever been known to take advantage of the necessities of another in trade transactions. Coming to this county, in an early epoch in its history, he has watched , its growth and progress through two-thirds of a century and has been an element in its: development and substantial improvement. The qualities he has displayed,
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whether in citizenship, in business or in private life, have been such as to win for him the kindly esteem and respect of his fellowmen and his example may well serve to inspire and encourage others, showing that persistency of purpose can win success and that an honored name may be gained simultane- ously therewith.
MICHAEL C. GROVE.
A life of activity and enterprise has gained for Mr. Grove the financial independenee that now enables him to live retired. He was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, August 14, 1857, his parents being John and Margaret (Leininger) Grove, natives of Pennsylvania. His paternal grandfather, George Grove, was also a native of that state and a farmer by oceupation. He died there when about eighty years of age and his wife also passed away at about the same age. John Grove earried on farming throughout his entire life and about 1893 came to Illinois, settling in Sterling, where he made his- home until a reeent date. He is now living at Rock Falls. He was drafted for service in the Civil war but hired a substitute to go in his place. Both he and his wife are Lutherans in religious faith and are widely and favorably. known in this loeality. Of their eleven children eight are yet living, namely : George, Louis, John, Michael C., Solomon, Charles, Murray and Wallace.
Michael C. Grove was rearcd upon the home farm in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He attended the country schools and when not busy with his text-books could often be seen following the plow. He was a young man of about twenty-four years when in 1881 he eame to Illinois, settling in Sterling. Here he began work as a farm hand by the. month but thinking to find eommereial pursuits more congenial and profitable, after a short time he entered the employ of the Keystone Manufacturing Com- pany. In the following year he began clerking in a grocery store, where he was employed for two years, and later he secured a clerkship with J. R. Bell & Son, dealers in shoes and elothing. He continued with them for four years, after which he embarked in business on his own aeeount in partner- ship with H. J. Mueller, the firm name of Mueller & Grove being assumed. This relation was maintained for nine years, after which Mr. Grove sold out. his interest and since that time he has bought and sold real estate. However, he is praetieally living retired, although to some extent he yet deals in property.
On the 14th of November, 1882, occurred the marriage of Mr. Grove and Miss Sadie Gingrich, a daughter of Cyrus and Emma (Eberley) Gingrich. They have one child, Bessie May. Mrs. Grove's parents were natives of Penn- sylvania and they had three children, J. Elmer, Cyrus and Sadie. The father was a farmer of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and died there, while the mother, who still survives, is living in Chambersburg. The paternal grand- father of Mrs. Grove was Joseph Gingrich, a farmer and a native of Pennsyl-'
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
vania, who died at an advanced age. His wife, Mrs. Sarah (Gantz) Gingrichı, also lived to an old age and they had two children. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Grove was Jacob Eberley, who was born in the Keystone state, followed farming and afterward conducted a sawmill. His wife was Mrs. Hannah (Reed) Eberley, who was about fifty years of age at the time of her death.
Mr. and Mrs. Grove are members of St. John's Lutheran church and lie is also identified with Sterling Lodge, No. 174, I. O. O. F., having become a member of this order when twenty-one years of age. His political preference is for the republican party. He resides at No. 701 Second avenue, which resi- dence he erected in 1898 and he also owns several other residence properties and business houses in Sterling, having built eighteen dwellings in this city. He has thus contributed in substantial measure to its upbuilding and improve- ment and may well be classed among its representative and worthy men. He began work in this city with only five dollars in his pocket and today hc owns a number of residences and good business property, which stands as the visible evidence of his life of industry and careful management. He possesses the strong determination which enables him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. His life has been one of continuous activ- ity, in which has been accorded due recognition of labor, and today he is numbered among the substantial citizens of his county.
W. W. BLEAN.
W. W. Blean, a retired farmer living in Albany township and now filling the office of chairman of the county board of supervisors, was born in Newton township, Whiteside county, February 5, 1856. His parents were James and Hetty J. (Weakley) Blean, who were natives of Pennsylvania. In the paternal line the family is of Scotch-Irish lineage, while the maternal ancestry was German. The grandfather, John Blean, coming to Illinois in 1845, settled in Newton township. The members of his family were: Robert, who settled in Garden Plain township; Jane M., who became the wife of Robert Allen, of Ohio, and returned to that state, her home being now in Wayne county, Ohio; Jesse K., who was a farmer of Newton township and supervisor for many years but is now deceased; James A., the father of our subject; and Elizabeth, the wife of William Mitchell, an old settler of New- ton township. The father of this family, John Blean, was accidentally killed in 1862 by falling from a hay mow. The maternal grandfather of W. W. Blean was William Weakley. He never came to this county but his family made their way here prior to the Civil war. His children were: Peter Joseph; Hetty, who became Mrs. Blean; Mary, the wife of Robert W. Sleighmaker, of Peabody, Kansas; and William, who enlisted as a member of Company B, Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served for four years, or during the Civil war, participating in many hard fought battles. He yet resides in this state. James Blean came to Whiteside county in 1845 with his father and together they purchased two hundred and fifteen acres
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
of unimproved land in Newton township, where he began the development of a farm and made his home until 1861. In that year he assisted in raising Company B, of the Seventy-fifth Illinois Regiment of Volunteers, and was elected second lieutenant, under Captain Whalen. With courageous spirit and undoubted loyalty he went to the front and laid down his life upon the altar of his country, being killed at Perryville in his first engagement, his company suffering heavy losses there. He left a widow and four chil- dren, the eldest being W. W. Blean, of this review. The others are: Lizzie K., the wife of John Hawk; John C., who is living in Newton township; and James A., of Erie. Mrs. Blean still survives and now makes her home with her daughter.
W. W. Blean was educated in the country schools of his native town- ship and for a short time continued his studies in Sterling. He being the eldest of the family, the burden of the family support largely fell upon him and from an early age he assisted in providing for his mother, sister and younger brothers. He was but seven years of age at the time of his father's death. As his years and strength increased, he more and more largely assumed the labors and responsibilities of the home farm, which he continued to operate up to the time of his marriage. In 1882, at the age of twenty- five years, he married and then purchased a farm adjoining the old home- stead. As he did not have the ready money, he had to go in debt for this, buying one hundred acres, for which the purchase price was forty dollars per acre. As the years passed he prospered in his undertakings, discharged . his financial obligations and has since added one hundred acres to the original farm, having a place which is today worth one hundred dollars per acre. He has improved this place with a house, barns and other modern equip- ments and accessories until it is today one of the best improved farms of Newton township. Mr. Blean also owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Rock Island county and thus from his property he derives a good income. While upon the farm he always engaged in buying and shipping stock and this materially added to his financial resources.
About 1879 Mr. Blcan was elected collector of Newton township, which office he accepted and filled for six years. Some time afterward he was elected assessor of the same township and served in this position for three years. In 1902 lie removed to Albany and in the year 1905 was elected county super- visor from Albany township, discharging his duties in that position so capably that he was re-eleetcd in 1907.
In April, 1882, Mr. Blean was married to Miss Mary E. Efner, the daugh- ter of Edward and Amanda (Stagg) Efner. Her father was killed in the tornado which swept over the town June 3, 1860. His house was taken from the foundation and he was killed while looking for something that he might put over his daughter, Mrs. Blean, in order to protect her. The other members of the family were left in the basement of the house unhurt. Mr. Efner and his wife had but two children, the elder being Delia, the wife of Wilson Brake, of Sioux City, Iowa.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Blean have been born seven children, of whom six survive while Harold has passed away. Those yet living are: Hettie E., the
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
wife of Newell K. Senior, of Garden Plain; Mary E., who is a teacher; Leon- ard, who is farming in Rock Island county, Illinois; Albert, Cora and Eva, at home.
Mr. Blean is a member of the Woodmen Camp of Albany and also a member of Keystone Lodge, No. 114, K. P. The family all belong to the Presbyterian church and the members of the household are greatly esteemcd, while to them is extended the hospitality of the best homes in this section of the county. Mr. Blean is one of the progressive business men of his part of Whiteside county. In addition to being a most successful and enterprising farmer, he is interested in a number of other projects. Of the Albany State Bank he is a director and in business circles his judgment is regarded as con- servative and sound. He is a liberal man toward all public enterprises of interest to the county and his labors in its behalf have been far-reaching and beneficial.
JAMES B. McDOWELL.
James B. MeDowell, who is living retired in Sterling after many years' connection with agricultural pursuits in Whiteside county, belongs to that class of men who owe their advancement and success to their own efforts. He has labored persistently for the achievement of prosperity and the years have brought the merited reward of his diligence.
He was born in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, October 19, 1839, and was of Scotch descent. His paternal grandfather, John McDowell, lived for a time in England and thence crossed the Atlantic to Pennsylvania. His last days were spent in Franklin county, that state, where he died in middle life, while his wife was well advanced in years when called to her final rest. Their family numbered five sons, including John McDowell, who was born in Penn- sylvania and was a school teacher in early manhood, at one time being em- ployed as teacher of the high school of Greeneastle, Pennsylvania. Later he becaine a farmer and always lived in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, his deatlı occurring in Antrim township in 1854, when he was in his fifty-sixtlı year. He was always deeply interested in the cause of public education and was a member of the examining board for teachers. He also took an active part in politics and was a supporter of the whig party. In early manhood he wedded Sarah Ann Mowen, also a native of the Keystone state. Her father was likewise born in that state and was of high German descent. Unto Mr. and Mrs. McDowell were born three sons and two daughters but only two are now living, the younger being John W., who resides upon the old homestead in Pennsylvania.
In taking up the personal history of James B. McDowell, we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in this locality. He was reared upon a farm in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and acquired his education in the public schools there, after which he continued to assist liis father until John McDowell was called to the home beyond. Fol-
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
lowing his mother's death he worked out by the month as a farm hand for two years and subsequently learned and followed the wagonmaker's trade but eventually abandoned that pursuit and resumed farming. In 1864 he came · to Sterling and for one year worked at farm labor in the employ of the Keefer brothers. He next rented land and began farming on his own account, living upon a farnı in Hopkins township that belonged to his wife's parents. For over forty years he continued in the tilling of the soil and the cultivation of the crops best adapted to the climate. For the past three years he has lived retired in Sterling, for his activity and enterprise in former years brought to him a competence that supplies him with all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life.
On the 2d of February, 1870, Mr. McDowell was united in marriage to Miss. Eleanor Reed, daughter of Benjamin and Harriet (Clark) Reed, who were natives of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and became early settlers of Whiteside county, Illinois, Mr. Reed purchasing land in Hopkins township, where lie located in 1854. He was a son of Michael and Catharine (Kaiser) Reed, natives of Franklin county, Pennsylvania. They lived to an old age and reared a large family. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. McDowell were Samuel and Margaret (Grubb) Clark, who were also well advanced in years when called to the home beyond. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Reed were born ten children, five sons and five daughters, of whom eight are now living: Eleanor, the wife of James B. McDowell; Emily, the wife of Joseph Bednar, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Kate, the wife of Joseph Lockhart, of Eskridge, Kansas; John, who is living in Jordan township, this county; Clara, the wife of Frank Taylor, of Sterling; Frank, a twin brother of Clara, now at home with his father; Reuben, who is living in Las Vegas, New Mexico; and Edna, at home.
Mr. and . Mrs. McDowell have become the parents of five daughters : Mabel C., who is bookkeeper for the M. & K. Clothing Company and was formerly a school teacher; Edna H., the wife of William J. Baird, a farmer of Hopkins township, living near Galt, by whom she has two children, Ella Mabel and Evelyn Ora; Nellie B., who is a stenograplier for the Grand DeTour Plow Company at Dixon, Illinois, and was formerly a school teacher for five years ; Mary G., the wife of William H. Rees, by whom she has one son, Clark MeDowell Recs, and they make their liome with her parents; Josephine B., the wife of Burton Harrison, by whom she has four children, Eleanor, Mil- dred, Joseph and Nellie.
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