USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 57
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relation of life. He is now deriving his income from his invested interests while he is practically living retired, save for the supervision which he gives to his property.
J. H. SIMONSON. +
A record of the pioneer development of Whiteside county would be incom- plete and unsatisfactory were there failure to make mention of the Simonson family, who in 1839 became residents of this part of the state. He whose name introduces this record was a lad of nine years and throughout his remaining days was a factor in the agricultural development of this locality and aided in making the once wild district one of the richly productive counties of north- ern Illinois. He was a native of the state of New York, his birth having oc- curred in Berkshire county, November 6, 1829. His parents were Frederick and Sabrina (Harvey) Simonson, who were also born in the Empire state, where Frederick Simonson followed farming until 1839. The opportunities of the west, however, seemed to offer better advantages and with his family he journeyed to Illinois in a prairie schooner. This was at a time before railroad travel and the roads across the country were often in poor condition so that they made but slow progress. At length, however, they reached their destination and Mr. Simonson invested in one hundred and sixty acres of land in what is now Hopkins township, Whiteside county. Upon the place a little log cabin had been built and soon the family was installed there with their few household goods and life in the pioneer west was begun. There were many hardships and trials to be endured, owing to the remoteness from centers of trade and to the fact that settlements were widely scattered. The father resolutely took up the task of transforming wild prairie into cultivable fields and in course of time gathered large crops as a reward for his labors.
J. H. Simonson was a lad of but nine years at the time of the removal to Whiteside county and thus amid pioneer scenes and environments he was reared, enjoying such pleasures as youths of the period indulged in but having comparatively few opportunities for educational advancement. He attended the subscription schools, which were conducted for a time at his father's house. His education, however, was more largely acquired under the direction of his father, who was a well informed man and greatly desired the intellectual ad- vancement of his children. He also attended a school at Unionville, where he met his future wife. At length J. H. Simonson qualified for teaching and followed that profession for a number of terms in the district schools but later took up the occupation to which he was reared and carried on farming in Lyndon township on the Rock river. When he disposed of his farm there he invested in forty acres of land in Mount Pleasant township at Round Grove station, which was already under cultivation. He began its further develop- ment and improvement and also extended its boundaries until it comprised four hundred acres all in one body. In addition he owned a tract of timber
LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA
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MRS. J. H. SIMONSON
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J. H. SIMONSON
LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA
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land in Hopkins township, besides his own fine home, a warehouse, store building and four tenant houses. He was truly a self-made man and his strong purpose, laudable ambition and unwearied ability to manage were the leading features in the success which came to him. He was a prominent Granger, being the first secretary of the First State Grange of Illinois. He was also purchasing agent and master of the local Grange.
Mr. Simonson was married January 3, 1853, to Miss Lavinia M. Sher- win, who was born in Bennington county, Vermont, July 15, 1830, while her parents, Jacob and Polly (Lyon) Sherwin, were natives of Massachusetts. Her grandfather, Jacob Sherwin, Sr., was the first Presbyterian minister of that state. He was graduated from Yale College and the diploma which he re- ceived from that institution is still in possession of the family. Both he and his wife died in the east and the death of Jacob Sherwin, who had devoted his life to farming, occurred in Vermont. His widow afterward eame to Illi- nois and spent her last days in Whiteside county. She was a daughter of Jonathan and Olive (Poole) Lyon, natives of Massachusetts, who removed to Bennington, Vermont, after the Revolutionary war and there spent their remaining days. Her father loyally fought for the independence of the colo- nists and lost an arm in the service. Among the aneestors of Mrs. Simonson was also Elijah Lyon, whose old sword and searf were much prized possessions of Mrs. Simonson, who had beside, other relics of the olden days. She traced her ancestry back to Captain Barbour, who served in King Philip's war and was justly proud of an honorable ancestry. Mrs. Simonson was the younger of two children, her brother being Elijah O. Sherwin, a resident of Centralia, Illinois. Five children were born unto Mr. and Mrs. Simonson: Marcia, of whom mention is made later; Kate W .; Walter, who died in infancy; Cora B .; and Effie May, who died in infancy. Of this family Kate W. Simonson married Joseph H. Chamberlin, both of whom taught school in early life, and after living in Sterling for a few years removed to Chicago. Mr. Chamberlin studied law but most of his life has been devoted to the insurance business and he is now in partnership with his brother George. Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlin have four children : Mabel May, who is now the wife of Ralph Wilkinson and has a little daughter, Aliee; James Perey, a telephone manager living at home; Jessie Lavinia, who is the wife of Charles Chapman and has two chil- dren, Mildred and Robert; and Joseph Frederick, still in school. Cora B. Simonson married Wellington J. Austin, who was also a school teacher but is now an employe of the Chicago postoffice. They lived at Clark, South Da- kota, for a time but Mr. Austin now resides in Chicago, his wife having died in the Englewood district of that eity. Their children were Fred S., of Chi- cago, who married Susie Maxwell and has one son, Fred; Alice May, a stenog- rapher of Chicago; and John and Harold, who occupy good positions near their home.
Mr. Simonson served for many years a school director and the eause of education found in him a stalwart friend. He voted with the republican party, held membership relations with Dunlap Lodge, F. & A. M., at Morrison and was a leading and helpful member of the Round Grove Methodist Episco-
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pal church. Going to South Dakota on a prospecting tour, he died in Huron, that state. He had the previous year secured a claim there and it was his intention to improve it. He passed away March 21, 1882, and was long sur- vived by his wife, who died September 26, 1906, at the age of seventy-six years. They were long numbered among the prominent and highly respected pioncer people of this locality and their worth was widely acknowledged. They had gained many friends, so that when death claimed them a feeling of sorrow pervaded the entire community.
Mrs. Simonson, following her husband's death, was for twenty-three and a half years in control of his estate. She came west with her mother at the age of sixteen years and in early womanhood taught school for a number of terms, her last school prior to her marriage being the Morrison school, which then stood on the knoll east of the town. She was to her husband of great as- sistance and he gladly attributed much of his success to her. She knew of all his business transactions and there were none of his business letters of any importance which were not subjected to her critical eye, so that when her husband passed away she was well qualified to take up the management of the estate, knowing much of his business. . She managed the entire estate as if it were her own, giving the three daughters a share in the profits. She kept the place up, carrying on the work of building and repairing as the years went by and displayed excellent business ability and executive force. She gave the land for the elevator at the Round Grove railroad station and leased the land for the sand pit, where hundreds of carloads of moulding sand liave been taken out. In her younger days she was a most happy, genial and jovial lady. Those who wished to see her could usually locate her, if they were near by, by her happy laugh, but this was seldom heard after the death of her husband. She continued a most kindly spirit to the end of her days, always trying to think of something she could do to please her friends, especially her nearest relatives. She lived to make "her dear ones" happy. As long as she lived her grandchildren had but to express a wish and if it were possible it was granted. The grandchildren, eleven in number, with the daughters, have spent many happy summer vacations at the beautiful Round Grove home, where every possible luxury. was provided from her ever willing purse. Until her last illness she always enjoyed excellent health. She seemed to live for her "own dear ones" and among her host of friends the common expression is, "she is sadly missed." She left an example of kindliness and helpfulness which may well be followed. She was for years a member of the Methodist church and her pastor added much to her enjoyment as she neared the dark valley. Her life indeed was the exemplification of noble Christian woman- hood.
The oldest daughter, Marcia A. Simonson, who is now in charge of the old home farm of four hundred and three acres in Round Grove, was born in Lyndon township, October 11, 1853, and attended the Morrison high school, also Cornell College of Iowa. In addition to the usual work of the high school and was identified with some fraternal insurance orders. In politics he was to teach piano or organ. In due time she completed the course and has taught
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many terms of music lessons. In early womanhood she gave her hand in marriage to Walter E. Knox, who was born in Mount Pleasant township, May 25, 1851. He was reared here and became a merchant of Morrison. Subse- quently he removed to a farm in South Dakota and afterward engaged in merchandising at Clark, that state. He belonged to the Odd Fellows society and college course she made a specialty of the study of music, fitting herself a stalwart republican.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Knox were born three children: James S. Knox, the eldest, born at Morrison, February 25, 1882, learned and followed the printer's trade and has spent four years in the Sentinel office at Morrison. Gracia L., born in South Dakota, August 7, 1885, is now pursuing a course of study in Chicago with the intention of becoming a trained nurse. She and her brother are both graduates of the high school at Clark, South Da- kota, both have taught school and have also attended college. James spent two year at Wheaton College, Illinois. Claire S. Knox, the youngest, born in Clark county, South Dakota, December 11, 1887, is now a student in the high school at Morrison.
Mrs. Knox, with her two sons, occupies the fine home which was built by her father and is in charge of the farm, which is a valuable property. She spent twenty-three years in South Dakota and for a considerable portion of that time successfully conducted the home farm there. She has recently returned to Whiteside county, however, to assume the management of the estate left by her father until things can be adjusted to the satisfaction of all the heirs. She is a lady of unusual business and executive ability, with keen discernment and unfaltering enterprise and her management of the property interests has been attended with unusual success. She is well known in this county, where her birth occurred and she has many friends here.
WILLIAM H. MATTHEWS.
William H. Matthews, who operates two hundred acres of rich farming land in Prophetstown township, was born in Bureau county, Illinois, on the 1st of February, 1857, a son of Henry and Grace (Spargo) Matthews, natives of England. The parents emigrated to the United States in 1850 and Henry Matthews was employed as a common laborer in New Jersey for five years. On the expiration of that period he removed to Bureau county, Illinois, where he operated rented land until 1875, when he came to Whiteside county. Here he purchased forty acres of land and later added eighty acres more to his holdings, being successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits until the time of his demise in 1900. He was one of the early pioneers of the state and helped to convert the wild land into productive and fertile fields. His wife is still living in Prophetstown township, having now reached the age of eighty-six years. In her family were ten children, namely: Elizabeth, the wife of Madison Martin, of Iowa; Anna, who is the widow of George B. Terry and makes her home with her mother; John, who resides in Prophets- town township; and six who have passed away.
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William H. Matthews, the other member of the family, acquired a com- mon-school education and when he had attained his majority began work by the month at farm labor, being thus engaged for six years. Subsequently he operated rented land for a period of fifteen years, at the end of which time, hav- ing acquired sufficient capital, he purchased a tract of eighty acres on section 27, Prophetstown township. He now operates two hundred acres of land in this township and has met with a gratifying measure of prosperity in the conduct of his agricultural interests, his fields annually returning golden harvests as a reward for the care and labor he bestows upon them.
In 1885 Mr. Matthews was united in marriage to Mrs. Edith Jenkins, the widow of Arthur D. Jenkins. She has one daughter by her first marriage, Edith, a graduate of the Prophetstown high school, also of Valparaiso College in Indiana, and is now employed as a stenographer in Chicago. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Matthews have been born three children: Grace E., also a graduate of the Prophetstown high school, and after the completion of her studies at this school entered the Sterling Business College, from which she graduated and is employed in De Kalb, Illinois; Howard H., who is attending high school in Prophetstown; and Ralph W., at home.
Mr. Matthews is a stalwart supporter of republican principles and takes an active interest in local politics. He has served as school director for fif- teen years, and fraternally is connected with the Mystic Workers of the World. Hc and his family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church and in the community where they reside are well and favorably known. The prosperity which has come to Mr. Matthews is entirely the result of his own well directed labor and enterprise, for he started out in business life emp- ty-handed and dependent upon his own resources for the success which has crowned his efforts.
F. A. BREWER.
F. A. Brewer, carrying on general agricultural pursuits in Tampico town- ship and also serving as township supervisor, being an active factor in matters of public progress and improvement, was born in Washington, D. C., Septem- ber 26, 1875. He is a son of A. S. Brewer, a well known resident of Tampico, and remained with his father until twenty-one years of age, being reared upon the home farm, with the duties and labors of which he early became familiar. His early education was acquired in the public schools and later he attended the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, of which he is a graduate. He was thus well qualified for work in the educational field and became princi- pal of the high school at Tampico, where he remained for five years, giving ex- cellent satisfaction by his practical and progressive methods of teaching. On the expiration of that period, however, he resumed general agricultural pur- suits and rented his father's farm, upon which he now lives. He has been lo- cated here for five years and makes a specialty of the raising of full blooded Durham cattle. He operates two hundred and forty acres of rich and productive
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land on section 23, Tampieo township, which belongs to his father, who is now living retired in the village of Tampieo. Mr. Brewer of this review is an energetie agrieulturist, whose praetieal, progressive methods are manifest in the exeellent appearance of his farm. He brings sound judgment to bear on all matters of decision relating to the improvement of his place and in his business dealings is as reliable as he is industrious.
On the 23d of August, 1900, Mr. Brewer was married to Miss Cora Blaneh- ard, who was born in Portland, Michigan, October 6, 1876, a daughter of Emery M. and Ada (Simmons) Blanchard. The father was born in Canada . and the mother in the state of Michigan and they are now residents of Miehi- gan. Mr. and Mrs. Brewer had but one child, a son, who died in infancy. Mrs. Brewer is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Brewer is a Presbyterian. In politics Mr. Brewer is a republican and is now filling the position of supervisor of Tampieo township and also that of school trustee. He belongs to the Masonie lodge and is in full sympathy with the principles of the craft which is based upon mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness. He is a young man of broad general intelligence and laudable ambition, who is making for himself a ereditable place in the business circles and publie life of his community.
GEORGE A. ALLEN.
George A. Allen, real-estate and loan agent at Sterling, was born in Kan- kakee county, Illinois, near the eity of Kankakee, March 12, 1865, his par- ents being Albert B. and Anna M. (Mann) Allen, the former born near Buffalo, New York, and the latter in Ohio. The Allen family is of English lineage, the aneestry being traeed baek to a brother of Colonel Ethan Allen of Revolutionary war fame.
George W. Allen, the grandfather, was born in the Empire state and in early life followed the blacksmith's trade, later, however, becoming a farmer. He arrived in Whiteside county in 1869 and here spent his remaining days to thio age of eighty-two years. His wife, Bessie Allen, died in middle life. They had three sons and two daughters, including Albert B. Allen, who throughout his entire business career carried on general agricultural pursuits. When seventeen years of age he arrived in Illinois, settling first in Dupage county, whenee he afterward removed to Kankakee county, living also in Iro- quois county for a time prior to the year 1868, when he took up his abode in Whiteside eounty. At that time he settled on a farm in Lyndon township, where he owned three hundred and eighty aeres of land, his remaining days being devoted to the further cultivation and development of the farm, which he brought into a rieh state of fertility. He was born November 18, 1826, and died August 20, 1887. His widow still survives him and resides on the farm with her son Eliner. She was a daughter of Alexander Mann, a native of Ohio, who also followed farming as a life work and on coming to Illinois es- tablished his home in Kankakee eounty, where his remaining days were passed.
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Albert B. Allen were born seven children, two sons and six daughters: Sophronia, the wife of Rasmus Rasmussen, of Bureau county. Illinois; Ida J., the wife of Frank J. Besse, of Houghton, South Dakota: Sarah May, deccased, who was the wife of B. J. Hedger; Elmer L., who re- sides in Lyndon township, Whiteside county, Illinois; Maude K., of Sterling: George A., of this review; Satie A., who died October 15, 1870, at the age of two years; and Laura B., who became the wife of James McCue, of Hopkins township, Whiteside county, Illinois.
From the age of three years George A. Allen has been a resident of White- side county. The removal of his parents to Lyndon township made him a farm boy of that locality and a pupil in the district school near his father's home. He was early trained to the work of the fields and was thus well qualified to carry on agricultural pursuits on his own aecount when he started out in business life for himself. He was identified with the farming interests of the county until 1902, when he removed to Sterling to engage in the real estate and loan business, in which he still continues. As a valuator of real property he is seldom, if ever, at fault in matters of judgment and keeps well informed concerning the property which is upon the market, thus making judicious purchases and profitable sales.
On the 1st of January, 1891, Mr. Allen was married to Miss Lydia A. Run- yan, a daughter of Henry Runyan. She was born in Carroll county, Illinois. June 1, 1867. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania and in their family were the following children: William Runyan, of Garrison, Iowa; Mary, the wife of Jacob Carney, of Iowa; Kate, who became the wife of David Cohnar. of Sterling; John, who makes his home in Iowa; Mattie, the wife of Joseph Myers, residing near Coleta, Illinois; Mrs. Allen; and George, who also lives in Iowa. After the death of the mother the father married again and there were six children by that union. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have but one ehild, a daughter, Clara M., who is with her parents in their pleasant home at No. 606 Sixth avenuc.
In his political views Mr. Allen is a republican but the honors and emol- uments of office.have had little attraetion for him, as he has preferred to con- eentrate his time and energies upon his business affairs and the enterprise and diligenee which he has manifested have proven strong resultant faetors in winning him enviable suecess.
GEORGE H. WHEELOCK.
George H. Wheelock, identified with general agricultural pursuits in Eric township, was born in Roek Island county, Illinois, on the 28th of October, 1860, his parents being A. J. and Bridget (Evans) Wheelock. The father. a native of the state of New York, was born in Genesce county on the 1st of June, 1827, and was a son of the Rev. Wheclock, a native of Massachusetts, who was born in 1794. A. J. Wheelock was the seventh in order of birth in the father's family and was reared upon the home farm. When he was but
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five years of age his parents removed to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where the Rev. Wheclock purchased a tract of land, cultivating it for a number of years. He then removed to Bridgewater township, Washtenaw county, Mich- igan, where he also carried on general agricultural pursuits.
His son, A. J. Wheelock, left home when a boy of twelve years and went to Ypsilanti, Miehigan, where he secured employment in a livery stable. He followed that occupation for about two years and when twenty years of age, with the money saved from his earnings, he opened a livery stable of his own in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and conducted the business successfully for six years. In 1853 he removed to Rockford, Winnebago county, Illinois, where he engaged with a stage company and was thus employed for some time. Later he removed to Kane county, Illinois, and afterward worked on a rail- road at Rochelle and LaSalle. About 1855 he arrived in Sterling, Whiteside county, where he turned his attention to commercial pursuits, establishing a grocery store. He was married in Sterling, on the 14th of August of that year. to Miss Bridget Evans, a native of Ireland, born December 27, 1826. They were the parents of five children but only two are now living. Mary E. is the wife of Eugene Chamberlin, now a resident of Newton township, this county .. She was a graduate of the Davenport academy and taught school in early womanhood. The deceased members of the family are William A., Rosanna and Charles J. After the marriage of the parents the father en- gaged in railroading for a year and subsequently conducted a boarding house for five years. In 1865 he removed to Erie township, Whiteside county, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land, to which he after- ward added from time to time until he now owns three hundred and twenty- three and a half acres on section 14, Erie township. In 1858 he again estab- lished a boarding house for workmen employed on the Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad but afterward returned to the farm, where he now resides, having long been elosely, actively and successfully associated with agricultural in- terests in this county. He is now practically living retired, making his home with his son George, his wife having died April 4, 1904.
George H. Wheeloek spent the days of his boyhood and youth in his parents' home and was provided with liberal educational privileges, supple- menting his early public-school course by study in Fulton College, from which he was graduated in 1883. He then engaged in teaching school for six years and afterward spent two years upon the road, selling school supplies. He next engaged with a monument company, which he represented as travel- ing salesman for a year, after which he began business on his own account in the same line, dealing in monuments for eight years. On the expiration of that period he again took up the work of teaching at Spring Hill, where he remained for a year, after which he located on the old homestead farm, which he has since cultivated and improved. He makes a specialty of the raising and feeding of Durham cattle and Jersey Red hogs and his live-stock interests are a profitable source of income to him annually. Ile also owns six residenees in the village of Erie, from which he derives a good rental.
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