USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 45
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of the State Undertakers' Association. Aside from his business, which is con- stantly growing in volume and importance, he owns a good residence prop- erty here. His life has been one of continuous activity, in which has been accorded due recognition of labor and today he is numbered among the sub- stantial citizens of his county. His interests are thoroughly identified with those of Morrison and at all times he is ready to lend his aid and eoopera- tion to any movement intended to benefit this section of the country or pro- mote the welfare and upbuilding of his adopted city.
C. D. JOHNSON.
C. D. Johnson, who is engaged in general farming on a tract of land of eighty-seven acres which constitutes a part of the old. Johnson homestead, is a native of Will county, Illinois, born May 27, 1852. His parents, J. S. and B. C. (Gault) Johnson, were both natives of Vermont and, coming to White- side county at an early day, the father built a log cabin, in which the family lived in true pioneer style for a number of years, sharing in the hardships and privations incident to the settlement of the frontier. While living on this farm he one day ate a pear and taking one of the seeds of the fruit he planted it and in course of time the seed sprouted. Ycar by year the tree grew and is still bearing fruit, it being now on the farm of Mallory S. Hill. After living for some time in Whiteside county, J. S. Johnson sold his prop- crty here and removed to Will county, where he lived for several years. He then returned to this county and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres 'on section 31, Prophetstown township. His time and energies were then devoted to its cultivation and improvement up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1876. In the meantime he prospered in his undertakings and added to his original holdings until at his demise he left an estate of four hundred and eleven acres. His wife, long surviving him, died in 1900, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. Their children, six in number, were: H. L., who makes his home in Prophetstown; Carlos E., deceased; Thomas F., who makes his home in Kansas; Frank V., who resides in Rock Falls, this state; Ellen M., the wife of Wallace Burroughs, a resident of Nebraska; and Clemont D.
The experiences which came to C. D. Johnson, the other member of the family, during his minority were those which usually fall to the lot of the farmer boy. When about six years of age he entered school and mastered the various branches of English learning. His training in the work of the farm was not meager and he soon became familiar with the best methods of producing and caring for the crops. He rendered his father such assist- ance as his age and strength permitted until he attained his majority, when he rented the old homestead farm for three years. He then bought eighty- seven acres of the place and has lived on it continuously since, working the farm in accordance with advanced methods of agriculture and producing good results in large marketable crops.
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MR. AND MRS C. D. JOHNSON.
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
In 1874 Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Fanny A. Booth, who was born in Whiteside county in 1856, a daughter of W. M. and Adaliza (Herd) Booth, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Vermont. They came to Whiteside county in the early '30s and lived in a log liouse in Portland township for several years. The father aided in laying broad and deep the foundation for the later development of the country and deserves all the credit which is due the early pioneers who extended the frontier by making the first settlements and reclaiming the wild region for the uses of civilization. Mrs. Johnson was one of a family of six children. Her mother died in 1894 and the father passed away in 1900, the county thus losing two of its best known and most worthy pioneer settlers. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have been born three children: Bessie M., now the wife of C. C. Wildman, a resident farmer of Prophetstown township; Fred W., who is living in the same township; and Ray C., at home.
The parents are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Johnson politically is a republican. He has served as school director for fifteen years, but has never sought political preferment. Almost his entire life has been passed in this county and his memory bears the impress of many early events which have shaped its history and molded its destiny in large measure.
CAPTAIN ANDREW H. HERSHEY.
Captain Andrew H. Hershey, while now giving his time and attention to agricultural interests, has been a prominent figure in the political history of Sterling and Whiteside county, filling at different times the offices of mayor, alderinan, county treasurer and deputy revenue collector. His public service at. all times has been characterized by the utmost fidelity to duty and by pro- gressive ideas in relation to public affairs, and the consensus of opinion ac- cords him prominence in Whiteside county.
The life record of Captain Hershey began in Marictta, Pennsylvania, January 3, 1840. He was the only child of Dr. Andrew and Fanny (Nase) Hershey, also natives of tlic Keystone state. The family was established there at an carly day, for the grandfather, Andrew Hershey, was also born in Pennsylvania, where he followed the occupation of farming. He mar- ricd a Miss Kauffman, and both lived to an advanced age. The Hershey family comes originally from Swiss ancestry. There were three brothers, natives of Switzerland, who crossed the Atlantic and settled in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and from one of these Andrew H. Hershey of this review is descended. His maternal grandfather was Samucl Nasc, who was likewise born in Pennsylvania and made farming his life work. In 1851 he came to Illinois and spent his last days in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Macher, his death occurring in 1863, when he was seventy years of age. His wife, Mrs. Catharine (Wisc) Nase, died in middle life.
Dr. Hershey devoted his life to the practice of medicine and surgery. He was a graduate of the Franklin Medical College of Philadelphia and
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located for practice in Marietta, Pennsylvania, where he died in 1839, at the age of thirty-eight years. His widow afterward married William Machen, and in 1851 they removed to Savanna, Illinois, where he followed merchandis- ing. There his death occurred in 1898, when he was more than seventy years of age, while his wife died in 1883, at the age of sixty-six years.
Captain Hershey was only cleven years of age when he came with his mother and step-father to Illinois. He was reared in Savanna and attended the public schools, also spending three winter seasons in Mount Carroll Semi- nary. He was a young man of twenty-one years, when in September, 1861, he offered his services to the government and joined the boys in blue of Company K, Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in defense of the Union. He enlisted as a private and was gradually promoted until at the close of the war he was holding the rank of captain. He was wounded in the head at the battle of Shiloh and he also participated in the battle of Hatehie River, the siege of Vicksburg, the Meridian raid, the Atlanta campaign and the mareh through the Carolinas and on to Washington, where he participated in the grand review. He was afterward sent with his eommand to Kansas to quell the troublesome Indians on the frontier and was mustered out in September, 1865.
After the war Captain Hershey returned to Savanna, Illinois, where he engaged in business as a dealer in stock, grain and lumber, while later he turned his attention to gencral merchandising. In 1873 he entered the inter- nal revenue service as deputy collector and came to Sterling when the office was transferred to this city in the fall of 1877, continuing in the position until 1885, when he resigned. He spent the following winter in California " and after his return was elected in the fall of 1886 to the office of county treas- urer, in which he served until 1890. The following year he was elected mayor of Sterling and remained as chief executive of the city for two years. He was also alderman for eleven years, representing the fourth ward. Thus again and again he has been ealled to office and in the discharge of his duties has ever been loyal, efficient and prompt. He has made judicious investment in property and is now the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and fifty- three acres lying mostly in Sterling township, the development and improve- ment of which largely elaims his attention at the present time.
On the 25th of March, 1868, Captain Hershey was married to Miss Hattie E. Bowen, a daughter of Luther H. and Elizabeth (Chamberlain) Bowen. The parents were natives of the state of New York. The former was a soul of Simon Bowen, a native of Massachusetts and a manufacturer. He was a eaptain in the State Militia of New York and his wife was Nancy (Waterman) Bowen. The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Hershey were Aaron and Eliza- beth (Dale) Chamberlain, and the great-grandfather was Colonel William Chamberlain, a colonel of the Revolutionary war. Aaron Chamberlain was a native of Pennsylvania, served in the war of 1812 and was known by the title of colonel. L. H. Bowen, the father of Mrs. Hershey, eame to Illinois in 1832 and settled in Galena. He was prominently identified with the early history of the state in its material progress and upbuilding and laid out the town of Savanna in thic year 1835. He died there in 1876, in his seventieth
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year, while his wife passed away seven years before, at the age of forty-nine years. He was a civil engineer by profession but when he came to the west turned his attention to merchandising and built the first lumber and flour mill in the region in which he took up his abode. Unto him and his wife were born five children, of whom four are yet living: Hattie, now the wife of Captain Hershey ; Jennie F., of San Jose, California; Luther Sherman Bowen, who is living in Savanna, Illinois; and Aaron L. Bowen, of Seattle, Washing- ton.
Captain and Mrs. Hershey became the parents of four children: An- dreas, who died at the age of seven years; Frances G., the wife of Jesse Camer- on Moore, of Indianapolis, Indiana, by whom she has one daughter, Eliza- beth ; Marie, who is a teacher in the township high school and lives at home; and Ben, who is attending the Boston School of Technology and is a gradu- ate of Williams College of the class of 1906.
Both Captain and Mrs. Hershey are members of the Episcopal church and he belongs to Rock River Lodge, No. 612, A. F. & A. M .; Sterling Chap- ter, No. 57, R. A. M .; and Sterling Commandery, No. 57, K. T. He main- tains pleasant relations with his old army comrades through his affiliation with Will Robinson Post, No. 264, G. A. R. He also belongs to the Illinois Com- mandery of the Loyal Legion. He is now a member of the board of directors of the Sterling township high school and is interested in everything that per- tains to public progress in political, material, intellectual, social and moral lines. His record as a soldier, as an official and as a business inan has been so honorable that he has gained the confidence and good will of all with whom he has had association. He is one whose courtesy is unfailing, whose integ- rity is above question and whose public service has redounded to the credit and benefit of the city and county.
THEODORE TROUTH.
Theodore Trouth, who is living retired in Sterling, was for some years a representative of commercial interests of the city and prior to that time was connected with agricultural interests in this part of the state. Earnest, per- sistent toil, however, won for him a handsome competence that now supplies him with many of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life without recourse to further labor. He was born in Jordan township, Whiteside county, Illinois, Mareh 1, 1861, and is a son of Engelhardt and Anna Mary (Zolp- finger) Trouth, who were natives of Reinpfalz, Bavaria, Germany. The former was a son of Sundy Trouth, who devoted much of his life to the eonduet of a hotel and died in Germany when more than seventy years of age. His wife died at the venerable age of ninety-two years and was remark- ably well preserved. Their family numbered three sons and seven daughters. The maternal grandfather of our subjeet was a farmer and died in Germany in early manhood. His wife passed away soon afterward and their daughter, Anna Mary, was thus left an orphan when four years of age. .
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
Englchardt Trouth learned and followed the tailor's trade in Germany and in the spring of 1858 made the voyage to the United States, landing at New York city. There he engaged in tailoring for a little more than a year, when he made his way westward to Illinois, settling at Prairieville. A year later he took up his abode in Jordan township, Whiteside county, where he cultivated a rented farm until 1876, when the capital he had acquired through his labors justified lıis purchase of a farm of one hundred acres in Montmo- rency township. Upon that place he carried on general agricultural pursuits and continued to reside until his death, which occurred when he was sixty-five years of age. His wife survived him for some time and passed away at the home of her daughter in Sterling in 1901, at the age of seventy-seven years. Both were consistent and devoted members of the Lutheran church. He was a soldier in Germany in the rebellion of 1848, and on account of being an advo- cale of liberty . was compelled to serve six years longer. He wished to enlist for the second call of volunteers for service in the Civil war in this country but on account of the persuasion of his wife gave up the idea. In their family were three sons and a daughter: Theodore, of this review; August, a resident of Minnesota; Edward, of Perry, Iowa; and Barbara, the widow of John Geoken, and now a resident of Sterling.
Theodore 'Trouth, reared on his father' farm, attended the district schools and worked in the fields until he became familiar with every phase of agri- cultural life. He lived at home with his father until twenty-two years of age and then started out in life for himself by renting land in Montmorency township. He thus carried on farming for ten years but in the meantime he purchased forty acres from his father and also one hundred and sixty acres in Wright county, Iowa, since which time he has sold both properties. He has bought a farm in Jordan township, comprising two hundred and eight acres of rich and productive land, which he still owns and he likewise has an cighty acre farm in Lec county. From his agricultural holdings, therefore, he derives a good income. For seven years he engaged in business in Ster- ling as a dealer in agricultural implements, having a store in First avenue at the corner of Second street. At length, however, he traded the business for eighty acres in Lee county in 1904. He owned a good residence at No. 801 Third avenue and occupied it for a number of years but in 1906 he pur- chased an adjoining residence which is his present dwelling.
On the 30th of December, 1884, Mr. Trouth was married to Miss Eliza- beth Miller, a daughter of William and Frederika (Wahl) Miller, who were natives of Wurtemberg, Germany, her father coming to America in 1852 and her mother in 1854. The latter was a daughter of Mathias and Rosina (Schwartz) Wahl, who came to America with their family of six children in 1854, settling first in Trumbull county, Ohio, where they lived for two years, after which they came to Whiteside county, Illinois, and took up their abode in Genesee township, where the death of Mrs. Wahl occurred. The grand- father afterward removed to Sterling, where he died when more than eighty years of age. The marriage of William Miller and Frederika Wahl was celebrated at Prairieville, Illinois, in 1858 and they became the parents of two sons and threc daughters: William D., who is living on the old homestead
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
in Montmorency township; Caroline, the wife of Henry Hein, of Rock Falls; Anna, the wife of William Hein, of Dunlap, Iowa; Elizabeth, the wife of Theodore Trout; and Henry Miller, who is living in Perry, Iowa. The father died Oct. 3, 1903, at the age of nearly cighty years, but the mother still survives.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Trouth have been born two daughters and a son, Annie Frederika, Florence Elizabeth and Theodore John, but the first named died at the age of three years and twenty-four days. The parents are devoted and faithful members of St. John's Lutheran church and Mr. Trouth is serving as one of Its clders. Politically he is an earnest republican and has been called to several local offices. He served as tax collector of Montmorency town- ship for three years, was road commissioner five years and has also been school director for several terms. Any movement or measure relating to pub- lie welfare receives his endorsement and many times his active cooperation. He is now living retired in Sterling, this course being possible by reason of his carefully directed business interests in former years. He derives a substan- tial income from valuable property and his life record shows what may be accomplished by determined purpose and close adherence to high ideals in bus- iness life.
CHRISTIAN RICK.
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When a careful review is made of the nationalities who have contributed · to American citizenship and have promoted the civilization of the new world it will be found that great credit is due the. German race for its contribution to the upbuilding and progress of this country. Among the sons of the fatherland now living in Whiteside county is numbered Christian Rick, who was born in Germany, May 29, 1847. Long after he had come to America his father, Philip Rick, also crossed the Atlantic, arriving in 1877. He was born in Germany, November 24, 1816, and when he came to Whiteside county he purchased ten acres of land near Coleta, upon which he spent his remaining days, passing away in January, 1902, at the age of eighty-six years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Dora Beeler, was born in Germany in 1824. Their children were as follows: John, who was formerly a farmer of Ustick township and is now living retired in Morrison; Jacob, who is living retired in Indianapolis, Indiana; Philip, who makes his home in Williams county, this state; and Mathis, who came to this county with his brother Christian and died here.
Christian Rick spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the country of his nativity and there acquired his education. He was twenty-three years of age when he determined to test the truth of the favorable reports which he heard concerning America. On the 16th of July therefore, having made the long voyage across the Atlantic, he arrived in Sterling, where he continued until Christmas in the employ of George Bristle. He then purchased eighty acres of land in Ustick township and for thirteen years he lived upon a farm en sections 25 and 26, Ustick township, where he made all of the improve-
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ments, transforming the place into an excellent property, while the fields were made to bring forth rich returns as a reward for his care and energy. Threc years ago he sold that property and bought one hundred and twenty acres on section 35. Here he now makes his home and the place is equipped with modern conveniences and accessories, proclaiming the owner to be a man of progressive spirit and of excellent business capacity. He follows general farm- ing and stock-raising, keeping on hand standard bred cattle and horses.
On the 28th of October, 1875, Mr. Rick was united in marriage to Miss Anna Mary Storz, who was born April 1, 1853, near Schiltach, Germany, her parents being Jacob and Mary (Esleign) Storz, both of whom died in Ger- many. Unto our subject and his wife have been born eleven children: Lue, born May 19, 1876, died on the 4th of June following; Anna, born August 18, 1877, is the wife of Fred Farwell, a resident of Albany, Illinois, and they have two children, Iva and Howard; Phillip, born January 6, 1880, died on the 16th of July of the same year; William, born September 10, 1881, married Bessie Farwell, and has two children, Edward and Louise, their home being on his father's farm, which he is now operating; Charles, born September 11, 1883, and living on his father's farm in Clyde township, married Nellie Null; Frank, born January 4, 1885, is working by the month as a farm hand; Lewis, born March 4, 1887, and Christie, born August 17, 1890, are at home; Roy, born May 30, 1893, dicd September 9, 1893; Dora, twin sister of Roy, is at home; and Henry, born August 12, 1895, completes the family.
The parents are consistent and active members of the Mennonite church, and in all the relations of life Mr. Rick is actuated by high and honorable principles. His business methods are ever straightforward, and he has gained success by reason of his untiring diligence and his business integrity. When he came to America he borrowed ninety dollars to assist him in making the voyage, and thus he started out in life in the new world empty-handed. He realized that success is only to be attained by persistent, earnest and unfalter- ing effort, and in this manner he has gradually worked his way upward until he is now one of the well-to-do citizens of the county, having substantial farm interests, embracing two hundred and fifty-eight acres of land in Clyde and Ustick townships.
JOHN WOLBER.
John Wolber, who follows farming on sections 23 and 24, Clyde town- ship, where he owns two hundred fifty and a half acres of land, has here lived for eleven years, having purchased the property from the Grater estate. He belongs to the citizens of foreign birth who have found opportunity in the new world to advance from a humble financial position to one of afflu- ence. He was born in the southern part of Germany in October, 1849, a son of Jacob and Barbara (Schwink) Wolber, both of whom lived and died in Germany. The father was a dealer in timber and was very successful in his business affairs.
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HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY
John Wolber, an only child, was reared and educated in the land of his nativity and was associated with his father in the timber business for some time. He served for more than two years in the German army and in the fall of 1875 eame to America, making liis way direet to Morrison, Illinois, whero he had friends. He possessed only about one hundred dollars at the time of his arrival but he had what is more valuable than eapital-a resolute spirit, self-reliance and unfaltering purpose. He worked for several years by the month and thus early provided for his own support and laid the foun- dation for his sueeess, carefully saving his earnings. He bought eighty aeres of land near Como, in Hopkins township, and afterward added forty aeres, carrying on that farm for a considerable period. Eleven years ago he traded it for his present property on sections 23 and 24, Clyde township, and now has one of the well equipped and well improved farms of the local- ity. He has added many substantial equipments and accessories to the place, uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work and divides the farın into fields of convenient size by well kept fences. He operates, the entire farm and is engaged largely in raising hogs of high grade. This proves a profitable source of income to him and as the years go by he is meeting with the measure of sueeess which eventually erowns persistent, well direeted labor.
Mr. Wolber was married in this county to Miss Sarah Obendorf, who was born in Bueks eounty, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Phillip and Margaret (Riese) Obendorf, who eame to this country and settled in Philadelphia prior to their marriage, which was celebrated in that city. Later they re- moved to Bucks county, Pennsylvania, where they resided for twelve years, the father condueting business as a shoemaker. Thinking to find · better business opportunities in the middle west, he removed from the Keystone state to Illinois and took up his abode in Jordan township, Whiteside county. There he earried on general agricultural pursuits until his death, and also followed shoemaking throughout his aetive life. His widow afterward mar- ried again and with her second husband removed to Genesee township, where her last days were passed. Mrs. Wolber is the youngest of five children, in- eluding John, who is making his home with our subject and his wife; Mary the wife of Charles Smith, who formerly lived in Illinois but is now a resi- dent of Missouri; William, who is engaged in the grocery business in Ster- ling; and Charles, a farmer living near Milledgeville.
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