USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 41
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he accepted the position of bookkeeper in the Sterling National Bank and there remained for eleven years. Since that time he has lived retired.
On the 5th- of September, 1889, Mr. Russell was married to Miss May C. Hubbard, a daughter of Charles C. and Lueia Aurora (Reed) Hubbard, who were natives of Vermont, living at Thetford. They were married in 1840 and in 1848 removed westward, settling in Dover township, Bureau county, where the father engaged in farming and also in merchandising. In 1880 he brought liis family to Sterling, where he and his wife spent their remain- ing days, his death occurring in 1883, when he was seventy-one years of age, while Mrs. Hubbard survived until July 20, 1903, and died at the age of eighty-four years. He filled the office of assessor and colleetor in Dover township, Bureau county, and was a prominent and influential man in his community. Unto him and his wife were born two sons and three daughters. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Russell were Josiah and Agatha Hubbard, the former a native of Vermont and a farmer by occupation. He died there March 7, 1871, when about eighty-seven years of age, and his wife, who was born June 22, 1784, died January 29, 1859, when almost seventy-five years of age. They were the parents of five sons and five daughters. The ma- ternal grandfather of Mrs. Russell was Rufus Reed, who was born in Ver- mont, April 9, 1777, and died January 10, 1852, when alniost seventy-five years of age. He cultivated a farm and also conducted a grist and lath mill and was a very active, energetie business man. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Lydia Wallace, was born September 18, 1783, and died in 1860. They had a large family.
Mr. and Mrs. Russell hold membership in the Congregational church and are prominent socially in Sterling, the hospitality of the best homes being cordially extended them,' while good cheer at their own fireside inakes their home a favorite resort with their .many friends. They reside at No. 602 Second street. Politieally Mr. Russell is a republican, but without desire or aspiration for office.
JOHN HEISS.
In a history of mnen whose enterprise and diligence have contributed to the substantial upbuilding and development of the county, mention should be made of John Heiss, who was in former years connected with industrial interests in Morrison and was also connected with agricultural life as the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty aeres in Clyde township.
He was born in Ingolstadt, Bavaria, Germany, in 1825, and lived to the age of sixty-seven years, passing away in 1892. He remained a resident of the fatherland until more than thirty years of age, when, in 1857, he came to the United States, making his way to Morrison. Here he worked on the stone masonry of the Annan mill. He had previously served for seven years in the German army and a part of that time was spent in the engineers corps, so that he gained a good knowledge of the work. He learned the trade of a
JOHN HEISS
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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stone-cutter in his native city and assisted in building a military fort there. After arriving in Morrison he still occupied his time as a stone-cutter, con- tractor and builder and prepared the stone for the courthouse, the banks and many other prominent buildings, also doing much of the stone work for bridges and culverts throughout the county. As his financial resources in- creased he made judicious investments in property, becoming the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Clyde township, which is still in pos- session of his widow. As a business man he was found to be thoroughly reliable, faithfully executing the contracts entrusted to him and at all times following straightforward, honorable methods. He lived upon his farm for a quarter of a century, but hired men to perform the work of the fields, while he continued in active connection with his trade as a contractor and builder.
In 1863 Mr. Heiss was married to Miss Elizabeth Wieneke, who was born in Prussia in 1844, a daughter of Henry and Katherine Wieneke, who came to the United States in 1860 and settled at Cedar Rapids, Iowa. The father was a farmer by occupation, and both he and his wife are now de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Heiss became the parents of ten children, namely: Nora, the wife of Calvin Winerenner, an agriculturist of Wisconsin, by whom she has six children: George, of Clyde township; Charles, a carpenter and contractor of Huron, South Dakota, who is married and has four children; Walter, a merchant of Morrison, who has two children; Henry, who is a stock-dealer of Pueblo, Colorado, is married and has one child; Katherine, at home; William, a merchant of Walker, Iowa, who also has two children; Joseph C., of Colorado; John, a newspaper man of La Crosse, Wisconsin; and Ludwig, at home.
Mr. Heiss belonged to the Catholic church, of which his widow is still a communicant. Fraternally he was an Odd Fellow and in politics was inde- pendent. He preferred not to seek office or participate actively in political work, but rather to concentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs, in which he met with a fair measure of success. He stood high in the esteem of his neighbors and friends and he deserved much credit for the success which he achieved, as he came to America in limited financial circumstances. All through his life he used energy, diligence and keen business perception to serve as the foundation for his success, and thus it was he became a pros- perous resident of his community.
ABRAM BURKHART.
Sterling township numbers among its citizens many energetic and en- terprising farmers, and well known as a representative of this class is Abram Burkhart, who is living on section 2. He was born July 30, 1857, ncar Newville, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and is a representative of one of the old families of that state. His father, Abram Burkhart, Sr., was also a native of Cumberland county, born August 30, 1820, and his life record covered the intervening ycars to December 25, 1889, when he was called to to his final rest. His wife bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Burkholder,
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was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, June 21, 1821, and was a daughter of Abram Burkholder. She gave her hand in marriage to Abram Burkhart in Cumberland county, December 10, 1847, and her death occurred May 21, 1881. In their family were seven children, including: Anna, who became the wife of Samuel Burkholder, of Cumberland county; Elizabeth, the wife of C. R. Zimmerman, of the same county; and Mary, who is unmarried and resides on the old homestead, which is located in the southwest corner of Frankford township, Cumberland county, two miles northeast of the borough of Newville. This place has been in possession of the Burkhart family since 1814, and was originally the property of Jacob Burkhart. The other mem- bers of the family of Mr. and Mrs. Abram Burkhart, Sr., arc: Isaac, who is now living near Newville; Christian, who resides in Mifflin township, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania; John D., who is also living on the old homestead; and Abram, of this review.
No cyent of special importance occurred to vary the routine of life for Abram Burkhart in his boyhood and youth. He was reared upon the old homestead farm and the public schools afforded him his educational privi- leges. He was in his twenty-fifth ycar when he determined to try his for- tune in the middle west, and on the 1st of March, 1882, arrived in Whiteside county, Illinois, where he has since made his home. In the intervening years his time and energies have been devoted to general agricultural pur- suits, and he and his wife are today the owners of valuable property on scc- tion 2, Sterling township. It is thoroughly modern in all its equipments, none of the accessories and conveniences of a model farm of the twentieth century being lacking.
It was on the 15th of October, 1891, that Mr. Burkhart was united in marriage to Mrs. Ann Hettie Byers, who resided on section 2, Sterling town- ship. They began their domestic life upon a farm there, but in 1892 disposed of their property on section 2 and bought a farm on section 3, which was their place of residence until they purchased their present home on the north- west quarter of section 2. This is one of the many fine farms of Whiteside county. In its midst stands a beautiful frame residence of commodious pro- portions and attractive style of architecture. Good barns and other out- buildings are seen upon the place and afford ample shelter for grain and stock, while the well tilled fields bring forth rich harvests and the pasture land affords feeding grounds for high grade cattle and horses.
Mrs. Burkhart is a daughter of Abraham D. Ebersole, who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1823. He married Miss Anna Rutt, also a native of that county, born in 1827, and a daughter of Christian Rutt. This branch of the Ebersole family is distinguished in the East India missionary work. Miss Esther Ebersole became the wife of George Lapp, and they are now missionaries in India, while Reuben Ebersole, a graduate of the University of Indiana, is now preparing for that field of labor. They are children of Elias Ebersole, the oldest in the family of nine children born unto Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Ebersole. Elias Ebersole is now a resident of Elkhart county, Indiana. The second member of the family is Mrs. Abram Burkhart. The third member was Mrs. John H. Kreider, who came
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to this county in 1867 and died in January, 1892. Sabina Ebersole mar- ried Amos Landis, and they are now residents of Elkhart county, Indiana. They were married in 1874 and removed to Indiana in 1905. Anna Eber- sole became the wife of John L. Reisner about 1878, and they are residents of this county. Michacl R. Ebersole, who married Annie Detweiler, of Pennsylvania, in 1881, is a resident of Soudertown, Pennsylvania. Abraham Ebersole is dean of the law department of Benton College, at St. Louis, Mis- souri. Solomon Ebersole, a graduate of Hahnemann Medical College, of Chicago, where he completed the course with high honors, is engaged in the practice of medicine in that city. He wedded Lizzie Hershberger, of Grant county, Maryland, about 1902. Amos Ebersole, a graduate of the Oberlin Theological College, of Oberlin, Ohio, and also of the Chicago Uni- versity, is now a resident of Oberlin. He married Bertha Thummel, of Ster- ling, Illinois, in 1897. The meinbers of the Ebcrsole family are all con- nected with the Mennonite church.
Again taking up the personal history of the second member of the fam- ily, we note that Mrs. Burkhart was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, January 18, 1849, and was brought to Whiteside county, Illinois, by her par- ents in 1867. Two years later, in December, 1869, she became the wife of John J. Byers, who died April 14, 1874. He was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 1844 and came to Illinois about 1865, being one of the early settlers of this part of the state. Mr. and Mrs. Byers had two children. John J., a resident of this county, married Lizzie Snyder, of Jackson county; Minnesota, and they have four children: Victor Stanley, John and 'Willis Abram, twins, and Gladys Irenc. Mr. Byers is farming in Whiteside county, his home being on section 2, Sterling township. The other son, Noah E. Byers, married Emma LaFevre, of Sterling, in June, 1898, and they have two children: Cecil Floyd and Robert LaFevre. Noah E. Byers is a gradu- ate of the Northwestern University, of Chicago, and won the Master of Arts degree from Harvard University. He is now president of the Mennonite College, at Goshen, Indiana.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Burkhart are well known in Sterling township, where they have an extensive circle of friends, those who know them entertaining for them high regard in recognition of their many good traits of character and their loyalty to principles that are most commendable.
HAMILTON WALLACE.
There is nothing that indicates morc clearly the attractiveness of Ster- ling as a placc of residence than the fact that many of her native sons have continued to reside here, enjoying the advantages which she offers. and the opportunities which she affords for business progress. To this class belongs Hamilton Wallace, who had in former years been closely associated with commercial interests but is now living retired. He was born here on the 26th of July, 1847, and represents one of the prominent old families of the city.
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His paternal grandfather, James Hamilton Wallace, was a native of Pennsylvania, who followed farming there as a life work. He died when about eighty years of age and his wife also reached a good old age. Of their family of six sons and one daughter, all are now deceased.
This number included Hugh Wallace, whose birth occurred in Cumber- land county, Pennsylvania, and who became a lawyer, practicing at the Pennsylvania bar when a young man. Removing westward, he became one of the first settlers of Sterling and took up government land, upon which not a furrow had been turned nor an improvement made. This included a part of the present site of the city and in fact embraces the entire western section of Sterling. He spent thirteen years as an employe in the land office at Dixon under the government but maintained his residence at Sterling, driv- ing each Monday morning to his office and returning on Saturday night. After platting that portion of his land whereon Sterling now stands, he did little save to attend to liis land sales and the rise in property values brought him an excellent return upon his investments. He was largely interested in building the hydraulic dam across the Rock river, and he gave to the Northwestern Railroad, then called the Galena Railroad, the right of way for a mile both east and west of the depot. In course of years he became the owner of considerable property and built the Wallace Hotel and the old Wallace Hall, which was afterward converted into an opera house by his son James, who also rebuilt the hotel and the Sterling Mercan- tile building and the brick block at the corner of B avenue and Third street. The Wallace Hotel was opened by William A. McCune, who conducted it for fifteen years. Through his building operations Mr. Wallace contributed in substantial measure to the improvement of the city. He also built a stone residence on West Third street and there the family lived for nearly a half century. His death occurred, however, in 1861, when he was sixty-six years of age but though many years have since come and gone he is yet remembered by the older settlers, who esteem him as a man of genuine worth and as a citizen of public spirit. His wife long survived him, passing away in 1903, at the age of eighty-six years. She bore the name of Mary Galt, was a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and was of Scotch- Irish descent, although her parents were likewise natives of the Keystone state. By her marriage she became the mother of three sons and five daugh- ters, but only three of the number are now living: Agnes, the widow of Roswell Champion, a resident of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Catherine; and Ham- ilton, of this review.
The last named is the only member of the father's family now living in Sterling and this city has always been his home. At the usual age he began his education in the public schools and later he enjoyed the advantage of scholastic training in Mount Carroll Seminary. When his school days were ended he learned the miller's trade, which he followed for three years and then entered the office of his brother James, who was an attorney here and also conducted a real-estate and insurance business for many years. For some time he was connected with a music house of Sterling and was likewise bookkeeper for the Keystone Manufacturing Company for four years.
HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
He next managed the Randolph Hotel for three or four years. Since that time he has lived retired, deriving a good income from his invested interests.
On the 17th of September, 1869, Hamilton Wallace wedded Miss Anna Rebecca Spence, a daughter of William A. and Elizabeth (Miller) Spence. They have two children, Hugh S. and Jessie Elizabeth. The son is married and is engaged in the real-estate business in Chicago. The daughter became the wife of Fred Heberling, and to them was born a daughter, Mildred, now living in Chicago. Her second husband is Samuel Neide, a traveling salesman residing in Chicago. Mrs. Anna R. Wallace died in 1898, leaving behind many friends who estecmed her for her genuine worth and the warm hearted liospitality which she dispensed in her home.
Mr. Wallace has a very wide acquaintance in Sterling, where he has so long resided and where the family have figured prominently in business life. Like his father, he has taken an active interest in the welfare of the city and prefers it as a place of residence because of his long association with its interests and its people.
JOHN LORKE.
For more than forty-three years John Lorke has been a resident of this part of Illinois, spending the entire time in Carroll and Whiteside counties, and as the years have gone by he has prospered in his undertakings, becom- ing an extensive landowner, while from his valuable property he derives a, gratifying annual income. He was born in Germany, May 4, 1847, and is a son of John and Louisa (Schultz) Lorke. The mother died in Germany . but the father came to America in 1865 and purchased land lying in Jordan township, Whiteside county. His remaining days were devoted to general agricultural pursuits and he died in September, 1894, at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. His family numbered seven children: Gustave, living in Genesee township; Edward, of Iowa; John, of this review; Mrs. Augusta Boight, living in Jordan township; Pauline, the wife of a Mr. Winkey, of Genesec township; Mrs. Austria Hartman, of Carroll county; and one de- ceased.
John Lorke spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the land of his nativity, acquired his education in its public schools and when a young man of twenty-three years accompanied his father to the new world, hoping to better his financial resources in this country. Making their way into the Mississippi valley, John Lorke, Jr., located in Carroll county, where he worked by the month for a year. Carefully saving his earnings, he was thus enabled to purchase forty acres of land where he now resides. It was all covered with timber but he cut down the trees, grubbed up the stumps, cleared away the brush, and added to the place, which he converted into one of the finest farms of the locality. As his financial resources have increased he has made further investment in property until he is now the 'owner of five hundred and ninety-five acres of valuable farming land, of which three hun-
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dred and twenty acres lies in Carroll county, while two hundred and seventy- five acres is situated within the borders of the farm upon which he now lives. He has his place in good condition, improved with many substantial buildings and all the modern accessories and conveniences.
In June, 1871, Mr. Lorke was married to Miss Pauline Kopsaka, who was born in Germany February 14, 1845, a daughter of Francis and Wil- helmina Kopsaka. They came to America in 1871, settling in Genesee town- ship, Whiteside county, where the death of the father occurred. The mother still survives and is now living with a son in Iowa. In their family were five children : William, August and Julius, all residents of Iowa; Mrs. Lorke; and Mrs. Augusta Neise, of Arkansas. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lorke have been born cleven children: John, a resident of Carroll county; George, Charles, William and Edward, all at home; Lena, the wife of Fred Shoe- maker, living in Carroll county; Maria, Bertha, Necia and Mary, who are yet under the parental roof; and one who has departed this life.
Mr. Lorke, since becoming a naturalized American citizen, has closely studied the questions and issues of the day, and gives stalwart support to the principles of the republican party, which he believes are most conducive to good government. He has held several of the township offices, the duties of which he has discharged with promptness and fidelity. Both he and his wife arc consistent members of the Lutheran church, contribute to its sup- port, and are actively interested in its work. Mr. Lorke deserves great credit for what he has accomplished, for he started out in business life in America without capital and worked as a farm hand until he had gained a sufficient sumn to enable him to purchase a small tract of land. As the years passed his economy and diligence enabled hin to increase his holdings, which are now extensive, making him one of the substantial residents of the community, while the progressive methods he follows in his farm work class him with the leading and enterprising agriculturists of Genesee township.
ELLIOTT LEROY GALT.
Elliott LeRoy Galt figures prominently in financial circles as a man of keen business discernment and enterprise, of stalwart purpose and straight- forward business methods. He is conducting a banking and mortgage busi- ness, with offices in the Galt House block. Sterling numbers him among her native sons, his birth having herc occurred on the 11th of October, 1857, his parents being Thomas A. and Catherine (Anthony) Galt, who are mentioned elsewhere in this volumc.
Reared in the city of his nativity, at the usual age E. LeRoy Galt became a pupil in the public schools and passed through successive grades until he was graduated from the Third ward school in 1873. He afterward con- tinued his studies in Williston Seminary, at Easthampton, Massachusetts, where he was graduated in 1876. Entering the business world, lie became an employe of the Keystone Manufacturing Company, with which he con-
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tinued for a quarter of a century. Gradually he worked his way upward, and for a number of years was treasurer of the company, after which he became its president, and in that connection successfully managed its inter- ests. The product of the factory was agricultural implements, which were sold in all parts of the world. In this undertaking he prospered and gained the capital that permitted his embarkation in his present line of business. In the summer of 1902 he established his present banking and mortgage loan business, and is now well known in financial circles. He is also quite largely interested in land, owning extensive tracts in Texas. He manifests in all things an aptitude for successful management, and his business meth- ods are such as neither seek nor require disguise. He has also been associated with his father as a promoter of inany of the manufacturing interests of Sterling, and belongs to that class of representative American men who, while promoting individual success, also contribute in large measure to the public welfare.
Mr. Galt was married, October 1, 1884, to Miss Annie E. Carter, of Worcester, Massachusetts, a daughter of George A. and Adelia (Hosmer) Carter. Unto them were born four children: Thomas A., who is with the Adams & Westlake Manufacturing Company of Chicago; Margaret A., Helen and Donald A., who are pursuing their education in the public schools or in college. The wife and mother died in 1894, and Mr. Galt was married in 1898, his second union being with Miss Mary A. Harvey, a daughter of Samuel and Margaret Harvey. There is one child by this marriage, Robert.
Mr. and Mrs. Galt are members of the First Presbyterian church, and in its work take an active and helpful interest. While business affairs make heavy claim upon his time and attention, Mr. Galt has yet found opportunity for active cooperation in movenients and measures for the moral progress of his community. He assisted in organizing the Young Men's Christian Association, was its first president, and filled that office for eight or nine years. Politically he is a republican, and is interested in whatever tends to municipal development. The cause of education finds in him a warm friend and he is now serving as president of the board of school trustees, and as a member of the public library board. He resides at No. 902 West Third street, where, in 1884, he built a fine home. A life-long resident of Sterling, 110 more indisputable proof of an honorable inanhood could be given than the fact that liis stanchest friends are those who have known him from boyhood and have been familiar with his life history throughout this period.
MICHAEL KANNALY.
Among those who in former years werc active factors in the interests of Whiteside county was numbered Michael Kannaly, now deceased. He was born and reared in County Kerry, Ireland, and after coming to the United States worked in the timber regions of Pennsylvania for about two years. He then came westward, settling in Sterling at an early day in the develop-
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