History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II, Part 68

Author: Davis, William W
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 882

USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 68

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Mr. Thummel was married December 24, 1868, in Palmyra township, Lee county, Illinois, to Miss Helen Powers, who was born in that county in 1845, her parents being Hon. Abijah and Amanda (Sprout) Powers. Her education was acquired in the public schools of the neighborhood and at Mount Vernon, Iowa. She died September 13, 1889, at the age of forty-four years, leaving five children. Laura M., the eldest, is the widow of Fred Royer and has two children, Paul and Leo. Bertha A., married Amos Ebersole, of Sterling township, who is now at Oberlin, Ohio, where he is studying for the ministry, and they have three sons, Harold Leon, Raymond Arthur, and Lloyd Kenneth. Blanche E. is the wife of Matthew Foley, a resident of Taco- ma, Washington, and they have one daughter-Bertilla. Lloyd A., living on his farm ncar Prairieville, married Jennie Seidel, and they have two chil- dren-LeRoy Franklin and Earle Allen. Mabel K. is the wife of Charles R. Weaver, of Whiteside county, and they have one son, Charles Russell Weaver.

Mr. Thummel was again married December 28, 1893, Miss Emma Seidel becoming his wife. Her parents were John G. and Barbara (Wagner) Seidel. Both Mr. and Mrs. Thummel hold membership in St. John's Lutheran church, in which he is serving as an elder, and their many good traits of character are in harmony with their professions. In his political preference Mr. Thum- mel is a republican and has served as supervisor of Palmyra township, Lee county. Viewed from any standpoint, Mr. Thummel is a strong man-strong in his honor and liis good name, strong in his patriotic citizenship and strong in his business activity and integrity. It was through his well directed labors that he attained the success that now enables him to live retired with a com- petenee sufficient to supply him with all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life.

J. A. PACE.

J. A. Pace, who carries on general farming and stock-raising, was born in Indiana, November 25, 1855. His parents were Michael and Penelope (Mc- Culloch) Pace, who were natives of Ohio and went to Indiana at an early day. They first found shelter in an Indian wigwam until a cabin could be built and the work of improving a farm begun. The father carried on general agri- cultural pursuits in that state for a number of years, and there his death oe- curred. His widow still survives and is now living in Iowa. Their family numbered three sons and a daughter: Jacob, a resident of Iowa; Lafayette, deceased; Malinda, the wife of A. P. Wood, of Altoona, Illinois; and J. A., of this review.

In taking up the history of J. A. Pace, we present to our readers one who has made a favorable impression upon his fellowmen by reason of his diligence and integrity in business affairs. He remained at home until his majority and then starting out in life on his own account was employed as a farm hand for four years. On the expiration of that period he married Miss Lucy J. Lumbard, who was born in the state of New York, June 25, 1840, a

MR. AND MRS. J. A. PACE

LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA

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daughter of Abraham and Charlotte (Welch) Lumbard, the former a native of Canada and the latter of the state of New York. Their family numbered four children, of whom Mrs. Pace is the eldest, the others being: Mary E., now the wife of John D. Smith, of Clinton, Iowa; and Sarah M. and Byron, both deceased. It was in the year 1846 that Mr. Lumbard came with his fam- ily to Illinois, first settling in Kane county, where he lived for twenty years. He then removed to Whiteside county in 1866 and purchased one hundred and eighty aeres of land, which he improved and developed. He died in the year 1873, and was survived by his wife until 1885, when she, too, was ealled to her final rest.

Following his marriage, Mr. Pacc took charge of the farm upon which he now resides. He and his wife are today the owners of one hundred and sixty- seven acres on section 24, Newton township, and the fields are well tilled and the crops carefully cultivated, while in connection with general farming, Mr. Pacc also raises stoek. He is reliable and trustworthy in business and holds to high ideals in eitizenship. His political inclinations at present are with the prohibition party. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 14, at Erie, and both he and his wife are members of the Erie Bap- tist church. They have a host of friends that is constantly increasing as the cirele of their acquaintance broadens and all who know them speak of them in terms of warm regard.

CHARLES O. DEEMING, D. O.

Dr. Charles O. Deeming, osteopathic physician, of Sterling, was born in Lockport, Illinois, September 25, 1872, his parents being William J. and Sarah (Noel) Deeming, the former a native of England, and the latter of Illinois. Their family numbered two children, and the younger son, Wil- liam, died at the age of three years. The paternal grandfather, James Decm- ing, was born in England, making his home in Lineolnshire until he eame to Ameriea, in 1856, settling' at Lockport, Illinois. He then lived retired until his death, which occurred in Lockport in 1894, when he was more than seventy years of age. His wife, Mrs. Mary (Ortan) Deeming, was seventy-seven years of age at the time of her demise. Their family num- bered four children.

William J. Deeming, the doctor's father, was a shoemaker by trade, and was brought to America by his parents in 1856, settling at Lockport, where he was rcared to manhood, being but a youth of eight years at the time of the emigration to the new world. He afterward followed the shoemaker's trade in Lockport, and at one time owned a factory and engaged in the manu- facture of shoes. He continued at Lockport until 1881, when he removed to Chicago, where he became manager of a department in the wholesale shoe house of C. M. Henderson & Company. He next went to Jefferson City, Mis- souri, in charge of a factory for the same firm at that place, but becoming interested in the science of osteopathy, he began studying at Kirksville, Mis-

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souri, with the intention of making its praetice liis life work, and is now located at Brookfield, Missouri, as an osteopathic physician.

Dr. William J. Deeming was married to Miss Sarah Noel, a daugh- ter of Philip Noel, who left home when a young man and went to California in 1849, during the gold fever, after which he was never heard from again. His wife, Mrs. Minnie Noel, died at the very carly age of twenty-one years, · leaving Mrs. Deeming an only child. The death of Mrs. Dceming occurred in 1893, when she was forty-four years of age, and for his second wife Dr. William J. Deeming chose Miss Ona Bookout, by whom he has one son, Paul. He has always taken an active interest in politics, and has assisted quite largely in campaign work by addressing the publie upon the issues of the day, supporting the candidates and principles of the republican party.

Dr. Charles O. Deeming spent the first nine years of his life in Lock- port, Illinois, and then went to Chicago, where he attended the publie schools until the removal of his parents to Jefferson City, Missouri, where he eon- tinued his education as a publie school student, being graduated from the higli school. He afterward learned the trade of shoe-cutting in a shoc factory there, and when lic had mastered the business went upon the road as a commercial traveler, spending three years in that way. While thus en- gaged he became interested in the science of osteopathy and became a stu- dent .in the American School of Osteopathy at Kirksville. Following his graduation in 1898 he began practice at Rock Falls, Illinois, and has prac- ticed in that place and in Sterling eontinuously since, having his office in the latter city, however, for the past four years. He is the pioneer osteopath in the county, and one of the oldest in the state. The practical value of this method of treatment is becoming more and more widely recognized, and in consequence Dr. Deeming's patronage is continually increasing. Both pro- fessionally and socially he has won popular favor, and is now meeting with suceess as an osteopathie practitioner.

On the 8th of June, 1899, Dr. Deeming was married to Miss Clara Seaber, a daughter of Senator A. N. and Hannah Seaber, who are represented elsewhere in this volume. They have one son, William Seaber Dceming. Mrs. Deeming was born October 5, 1874, in Leslie county, Kentucky, and at- tended the publie schools in Washington, D. C. Later she was graduated from the public schools at Jefferson City, Missouri, in 1893, after which she finished her education in the State Normal at Kirksville, Missouri. She then took up the study of musie and became noted as a pianist. After she was married to Dr. Deeming she came to Illinois to make her home. She has always been very fond of music, and is today a member of the music com- mittee of the Woman's Club of Sterling, to which organization she belongs. She is also connected with the Woman's Relief Corps and the Presbyterian church, and is a member of the Home and Foreign Missionary Societies of the same.

The Doctor is also a member of the Presbyterian church, and he affili- ates with Rock River Lodge, No. 612, A. F. & A. M .; Rock Falls Lodge, No. 590, I. O. O. F .; and Kirksville Lodge, No. 72, K. P. He is likewise iden- tified with the Sterling Industrial Association, also the Sterling and Rock

HISTORY OF WHITESIDE COUNTY 1345

Falls Physicians' Club, and the Illinois Osteopathic Association. In politics he is a republican and he lives at No. 610 First avenue, where he owns a good residence. He is eminently practical and thorough in all that he docs, and this is manifest in his professional service, whereby he has rendered signal aid to many of his fellow townsnienl.

NATHAN L. MCKENZIE.

No history of Whiteside county and the old pioneer days would be com- plete without the name of Mckenzie. Dating back to 1845, when De La- Fayette Mckenzie first located at Prophetstown, this family has been closely connected with the growth and prosperity of the middle west. Nathan L. Mckenzie, a farmer residing on section 30, Coloma township, is a native of Whiteside county, born in Portland township, on the 28th of October, 1853. He has been a resident of the county throughout his entire life, with exeep- tion of a period of about four years spent in Colorado, from 1870 to 1875, and in Iowa from the spring of 1882 until the fall of 1883.

De LaFayette Mckenzie, the father of our subjeet, was born in Essex county, New York, April 30, 1827, and in early life removed to the western part of that state, whenee he came with the family to Whiteside county, Illi- nois, in 1845, casting in his lot with its early settlers. After residing for about eight years in Prophetstown, they removed to Portland township, where Mr. Mckenzie continued to make his home upon the farm which he there improved and developed until the spring of 1868, when he became a resi- dent of Coloma township. In 1869 he went to Pike's Peak with Antone Arnett, but returned the same season, feeling that there was little oppor- tunity for him to gain wealth in the mines. While in Colorado at that time he' established the first trading post at Golden City, that state, and was closely associated with the early pioneer development. In 1870 he returned to Colo- rado, accompanied by his family, and was there engaged in the live-stoek business until 1875, when he again became a resident of Whiteside eounty, Illinois, living in Coloma township until his death, which occurred on the 21st of November, 1879. He was a successful farmer and stoek-raiser who prospered in his undertakings, and at the time of his death was the owner of four hundred and cighty acres of valuable and productive land. Fra- ternally he was connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

On the 2d of February, 1853, in Sterling, De LaFayette Mckenzie married Miss Lucia Brewer, who was born December 23, 1835, and was the eldest in a family of ten children. Her parents, Nathan and Louisa (Chapin) Brewer, were natives of Massachusetts, whence they removed westward to Whiteside county, Illinois, in 1850, settling in Portland township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mckenzie were born four children: Nathan L., Fred E., Julius C., and Wallace L. From 1900 the mother divided her time between her sons, and died at the home of her son, Fred, in Colorado, Texas, November 13, 1905.

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Nathan L. Mckenzie, whose name introduces this record, acquired his education in the common schools and assumed the responsibilities of life for himself at the age of twenty-one years. He has since been dependent en- tirely upon his own resources, and whatever success he has achieved is at- tributable exclusively to his earnest and well directed labor. In 1875 he purchased what was known as the Guy Ray farm, in Portland township, and in 1881 bought a farm in Iowa, but sold out there in 1883 and has sinee been identified with the agricultural interests of Whiteside county, residing on the old home farm in Coloma township until the spring of 1900, when it was sold and he removed to his present place of residence. As the years have passed, he has carried on general farming, and his labors have brought him well merited success. He has now a small place adjoining in Coloma, Rock Falls township, equipped with many modern accessories and conven- iences, that facilitate farm work. He has interests outside of agricultural lines, being connected with banking in Colorado, Texas, while he is likewise the owner of two. hundred acres of land in Missouri.

Mr. Mckenzie was married at Prophetstown, March 22, 1876, to Miss Minnie Dudley, a daughter of William and Sarah (Young) Dudley, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of England. Mrs. MeKenzie was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, August 27, 1858, and by her marriage has become the mother of three children: Myrtle W., now the wife of Charles D. Cleveland, a resident of Rock Falls; Grace E., the wife of Ed Wakeman, a farmer of Montmorency township; and LaFayette, at home, who was mar- ricd April 8, 1908, to Bessie M. Kereven.

Fraternally Mr. MeKenzie is connected with the Modern Woodmen Camp of Rock Falls, with the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 508, of Prophets- town, and with the Masonic Lodge 'at Sterling. He also belongs to the Mystie Workers, No. 52, of Rock Falls, and he gives his political allegianee to the republican party, but has never sought nor desired office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, in which he is meeting with well merited suecess.

HIRAM L. EWING.

Hiram L. Ewing, a retired farmer of Lyndon, was born at Ewington, Gallia county, Ohio, December 22, 1846. That town was named in honor of his grandfather, William Ewing, who was a native of Greenbriar county, Vir- ginia, and a representative of an old Virginian family of Irish descent. He served as soldier of the war of 1812. Since 1892 an annual reunion of the Ewing family has been held at the old town of Ewington, Ohio.

James R. Ewing, father of Hiram L. Ewing, and one of a family of three sons and three daughters, was born in Ohio and died in Alabama at the advanced age of eighty years. He was engaged in the iron business until the war, when he enlisted as a member of the Eleventh Ohio Battery and served for three years and three months, returning home with health impaired by reason

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of the exposure and hardships of eamp life. He had two brothers who were soldiers of the Union army. Hc married Eliza J. MeMillan, who was a native of Virginia and of Seotch lincage. She had six brothers who were in the Civil war at one time and her father did guard duty at home. The death of Mrs. Ewing also occurred in Alabama at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Louisa I. Brown, now deceased, who was the elder of two children.

Hiram L. Ewing resided in Ohio with his parents through the period of liis boyhood and youth and in 1866, when in his twentieth year, eame to Whiteside county, where he has sinee made his home. Starting out in life on his own aecount, he had no capital and worked by the month as a farm hand for about five years, but he possessed laudable ambition to engage in business which would more directly benefit himself and therefore cultivated a rented farm for five years. On the expiration of that period he began oper- ating the farm of one hundred and sixty aeres which his wife had received from her father. For many years he devoted his time and energies to its im- provenient and cultivation and year by year gathered good crops, for which he found a ready sale on the market. Thus as time passed by, he prospered. At length they sold the farm and purchased property in Lyndon, where they have made their home since 1899. To some extent Mr. Ewing has worked at the carpenter's trade but is now practically retired.

It was in 1868 that Hiram L. Ewing was united in marriage to Miss Esther P. Thompson, who was born in Fenton township, this county, January 16, 1851, and has always lived in this loeality. Her parents were R. M. and Matilda S. (Dodge) Thompson, natives of Ohio. The father was born in Meigs county and was brought to this county by his parents when sixteen years of age, while Mrs. Thompson came with her father, John Dodge, who opened the first eourt in Whiteside county. Hc was one of the original set- tlers in Mount Pleasant township and a soldier of the Black Hawk war, aid- ing in the reelamation of this district from the dominion of the red race. He was prominently and closely associated with the early history of this part of the state and was shot at Galena while sitting on his horse there, having gone to that place to enter a claim at the land office. R. M. Thompson, the father of Mrs. Ewing, was a successful and prominent farmer of Fenton town- ship, who at one tinie owned twenty-three hundred aeres of land. His politi- cal allegianee was given to the republican party for many years and later he beeame a greenbaek. He served for a considerable period as supervisor of liis township and was always loyal to the best interests of the community. His family numbered six sous and four daughters, of whom two died in childhood, while eight reached adult age, were married and had families. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ewing has been blessed with nine ehildren: Anna, the wife of William A. Penn, of Morrison; Arthur, who is living in Hillsdale, Illinois; Ralph, a resident of Lyndon; Howard, of Colorado; Riley, who died at the age of thirteen months; Earl, a farmer, whose home is in the outskirts of the village of Lyndon; Edith, Ruth and Leighla, all under the parental roof.

Mr. Ewing exercises his right of franchise in support of the republican party and is one of its recognized leaders in this part of the state. He has

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done valued and effective service on the county central committee for twelve years, has been commissioner of highways, township clerk for two terms, school officer for twenty years and drainage commissioner of the Erie and Fenton district No. 1 for ten years, acting in that office during the legal fights. In all of his official service he has been actuated by a devotion to public good that is above question and his worth as a man and as a citizen is widely acknowl- edged. He belongs to Ewing Fenton Camp of Modern Woodmen, and both he and his wife are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Their circle of friends is extensive and their pleasant home is justly celebrated for its cordial hospitality.

MATT RAY THOMPSON.

Matt Ray Thompson was born September 19, 1871, on the old home- stead farm of the family which is yet his place of residence. For sixty- seven years the family has resided within the borders of Whiteside county. Its members have been known as prominent pioneer settlers who aided largely in transforming this region from a wild, unsettled district into one giving every evidence of modern civilization. With the agricultural de- velopment they have been closely associated and at all times have stood for progressive citizenship. Recognizing individual responsibility and obligation they have borne their part in supporting those interests which have brought about not only the material, but also the intellectual and moral progress of Whiteside county. Extended mention of the parents is made on another page of this work in connection with the history of John L. Thompson. Their children were ten in number, of whom Matt Ray Thompson is the ninth in order of birth. The record is as follows: Esther Philinda is now the wife of H. L. Ewing, of Lyndon. John L. is a prominent farmer of Fenton township, mentioned elsewhere in this volume. James .A., born March 13, 1858, died August 17, 1859. Albert L., whose history is given in this volume, is also a representative farmer of Fenton township. Clara L. is the wife of M. I. Fadden, of Lyndon. Frank E., born June 8, 1863, died December 28, 1866. Rhoda M. is the wife of Frank Hodges, of Lyndon. Eva Leona is the wife of John Potter, of Morrison, and Henry Clay resides at Rice Lake, Wisconsin.

Matt R. Thompson spent his boyhood days under the parental roof and resided upon tho old homestead farm until 1888, when the family removed to Lyndon township, where they lived for ten years. On the ex- piration of that decade they returned to the old homestead, whereon our subject now resides. He supplemented his early education by two years' study in the high school at Lyndon and was also a pupil in the State Normal School at Normal, Illinois, for two years, and for two years in Dixon College, where he pursued a business course, which he completed by gradua- tion and was also graduated in the art of penmanship. Although his father was in very comfortable circumstances he believed that his children should

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labor and learn the value of industry and perseverance. Accordingly start- ing out in life on his own account, Matt R. Thompson worked by the month as a farm hand in Fenton township for two years. He then married and took up his abode upon a rented farm in Mount Pleasant township, where he resided for five years. On the expiration of that period he returned to the old home place and about 1903 purchased two hundred and seven acres of this property, which lies on sections 25, 26, 35 and 36, Fenton township, the residence standing on section 35. This farm is beautifully located on the borders of the Rock river and was the original homestead of his father, Reuben M. Thompson. The place is now largely conducted as a stock farm, Mr. Thompson making a specialty of the raising of shorthorn Durham cattle, having about eighty head of full-blooded registered and high grade stock with Dandy Boy, No. 265698 at the head of the herd. He has been engaged in raising Durhams for ten years and he also raises Norman horses of high grade, having fourteen head upon his place at the present time, together with about fifty head of Poland China hogs. His stock is all valu- able and has been successfully exhibited at the county fairs, where he has carried off various premiums. He likewise is celebrated for the White Wyan- dotte chickens which he raises.

On the 5th of January, 1898, Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Martha Elizabeth Duncan, who was born in Erie, February 2, 1875, a daughter of Robert and Elizabeth (Wiggins) Dunean, the former born in Erie, Penn- sylvania, and the latter in Marictta, Ohio. They are now residents of Erie. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have been born three children: Ma- tilda Elizabeth, June 2, 1899; Robert Ray, August 27, 1902; and Harold Leon, January 5, 1908.

Mr. Thompson is independent in politics, supporting men and measures rather than party. He has served as school director since living upon his present farm and the cause of education finds in him a faithful friend. He belongs to Modern Woodmen Camp at Erie, and like the other members of the family, is highly respected because his life interests are in conformity with those principles which work for honorable manhood and upright char- acter. He is a man of strong individuality, of laudable ambition and firm purpose and through his own efforts is gradually working his way upward in the business world, having already gained ereditable success.

WILLIAM H. ALLEN.

William H. Allen, a well known attorney practicing at Erie, was born in New Hampshire, November 12, 1839, a son of Solomon V. R. and Sarah (Richardson) Allen, the former a native of New York and the latter of Massachusetts. They removed westward to Illinois in 1856, locating at Erie, Whiteside county, where the father passed away on the 21st of September, 1886, having long survived his wife, whose demise occurred June 9, 1862. Their family numbered three children: William H., of this review; Samuel R., of Little Rock, Arkansas; and Sarah, who resides in Erie.

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History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II, Part 68

Author: Davis, William W Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 882

Author: Davis, William W
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 882