USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 71
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After acquiring his literary education Frank R. Timmerman entered the American Dental College of Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1895.
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Determining to put his theoretical knowledge to the praetieal test, he then located at Moline, Illinois, where he sueeessfully followed his profession for three years. On the expiration of that period he took up his abode in Chi- cago, where he remained for eight years, his skill and ability in the line of his chosen calling making his patronage a large and profitable one. On leaving the metropolis he eame to Erie, Illinois, where he has since been en- gaged in praetiee, being widely recognized as one of the leading dentists of Whiteside eounty, for he has met with a gratifying and well merited measure of prosperity in the prosecution of his profession.
In 1901 Dr. Timmerman was united in marriage to Miss Clara Keaser, who was born in New York in 1872, her parents being now deceased. She was one of a family of five children. In his political views the doetor is a republiean, while fraternally he is eonneeted with Erie Lodge, No. 667, A. F. & A. M., the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Chieago, Whiteeloud Lodge, No. 584, K. P. He and his wife worship with the Christian church and are highly esteemed throughout the community as people of genuine personal worth, while the hospitality of the best homes is cordially extended them.
JOHN EVANS SCOTT.
No history of Whiteside eounty would be complete without mention of John Evans Seott, a retired farmer now living in Como. He has for almost seventy years made his home in this eounty, arriving here when a wild distriet offered its hospitality to the ineoming settlers. The inhabitants, however, were very few at that time, and only a small portion of the land had been brought under eultivation.
Mr. Seott was born in Morgan eounty, Ohio, May 26, 1829, his parents being Jesse and Anna G. (Sherman) Seott. He is now the only survivor of a family of thirteen ehildren. His father was born in Laneaster eounty, Penn- sylvania, and served his eountry as a soldier in the war of 1812, being eap- tain of a company under command of General Johnson. Later he did mili- tary serviee in fighting the Indians in the middle west in the early '40s. His marriage to Anna D. Sherman occurred January 13, 1815. She was born in Ohio and was a relative of General and Senator Sherman. Thus, on both sides, John E. Seott is deseended from a patriotie ancestry. Not only his father, but his grandfather served in the war of 1812, and the latter lived to the very remarkable old age of one hundred and seven years.
The father, Jesse Seott, was a millright by trade and built many large mills in Ohio. He also engaged in the milling business, at one time operating three different mills. In the early spring of 1839 he constructed a large keel- boat of over one hundred tons burden, which gave shelter not only to his fam- ily, but was capable of earrying their household goods, eattle and other stoek and their provisions. In the latter part of March, having the boat fully loaded, Mr. Seott and his family, together with several other persons, embarked on the "Zanesville river, following that stream to the Ohio and proceeded down the latter river to the Mississippi. They then made their way up the Missis-
JOHN E. SCOTT
LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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sippi to the mouth of the Roek river, continuing up the latter strcam to Como. In that locality Mr. Scott established his home and spent his remaining days. The boat on which the family had made the long journey was said to be of very unique style of water craft, and the only boat on record which was pro- pelled against the strong current of the Mississippi by horse-power. It was used for several years, plying on the Mississippi and was ealled the Rippler.
Jesse Scott seemed fitted by nature for pioncer life. He met bravely and uncomplainingly all the hardships incident to settlement upon the frontier, was energetie, persistent and successful. For a long period he was associated with the agricultural interests of Whiteside county, where he continued to make his home until ealled to his final rest, March 13, 1879, at the age of nearly ninety years. The family numbered thirteen children: Asa, born February 26, 1817, married Elizabeth Taylor and had sixteen children. Jane, born Mareh 5, 1818, married Isaae Bretelle and had four children. Josiah S., born May 18, 1819, married Harriet Corell, and had twelve children. David, born Deeember 5, 1820, married Lena Sophina Stone, and had nine children. Hiram B., born June 6, 1822 died unmarried. Adrial, born No- vember 30, 1823, wedded Mary Salome and had five children. Joel S., born September 30, 1824, married Polly Stellions and had one ehild. John E., is the next younger. Mary E was born June 4, 1830. Maria, born February 14, 1831, became the wife of Lewis Davis. Caroline D., born August 8, 1832, became the wife of. Alphonso Brooks and had three children. Alice E. was born February 27, 1834. Emeline, who was born February 4, 1842, was drowned in Rock river, near Como, May 8, 1845.
John E. Scott was only ten years of age when the family made the trip westward by way of the rivers. The journey from Morgan county to Como, Illinois, covered several months, including stops of several days at some of the principal places of landing. While waiting at St. Louis this lad of ten years showed that he possessed the same courageous spirit as his father in an adventure which befell him therc, for in the rescue of a young girl from tho most horrible fate he proved himself a gallant little hero and for his bravery on this oceasion he rceeived a reward of two hundred dollars in gold. Fol- lowing the arrival of the family in Whiteside county he assisted in the arduous task of developing new land, turning the first furrows of the fields and break- ing the sod until the farm was all under cultivation. He thus early learned the lessons of industry and enterprise-lessons which have proven of much value to him in his later years. On the 4th of November, 1852, Mr. Scott was married to Miss Jane Shereer, a daughter of John E. and Mary Jane (Coch- rane) Shereer. Her parents were natives of Scotland and in carly life emi- grated to Canada, where they were married. They afterward came to the United States, settling in Will county, Illinois, where their remaining days were passed. The mother came from Scotland to the new world with her uncle, John Coffen, and the vessel on which they sailed was shipwrecked thirty miles from land and the uncle, carrying his little niece on his back, finally succeeded in reaching shore. They had considerable moncy and valu- ables on board the vessel, but all was lost in the wreck.
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Scott have been born five children: Anna Cecelia, the wife of David Donakee, a resident of Sterling; Anna Eliza, the wife of Charles C. Vandrew, also of Sterling; Ann Adelia, the wife of Oscar Partridge; Oscar H., deceased; and Amy Augusta, who died in infancy.
For many years Mr. Scott carefully conducted his farming interests, but for some time past has left the active duties of the farm to others, the old homestead being now occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Partridge, while Mr. Scott lives upon a small place of about four acres in Como. The care of this prop- erty is sufficient to keep him busily occupied and in good health. He has passed the seventy-ninth milestone on the journey of life, but seems a man of much younger years. His wife died October 4, 1907, at the age of seventy- six years. Mr. Scott has witnessed many changing events since his arrival in Como. He knew all about the Indian and the Mormon affairs, constitut- ing important chapters in the history of this state at an early day, and was at Nauvoo at the time that Joseph Smith, the Mormon prophet was killed. He has lived to see pioneer log cabins replaced by commodious and substan- tial homes, while the wild prairies were converted into rich fields, bringing forth abundant crops. Towns and villages have sprung up, churches and schools have been built and the work of progress has been carried forward until Whiteside county may well vie in its interests and opportunities with the older east. Mr. Scott has always voted the republican ticket and is a loyal advocate of the principles of the party. He is now one of the oldest citizens of the county, not only in years but also in the length of his residence here, and he receives the veneration and respect which should ever be accorded one who advances far on life's journey and whose record has at all times been that of an honorable, upright man.
CHARLES BENT.
Charles Bent, who for a long period has been connected with the jour- nalistic interests of Whiteside county as editor and publisher of the Whiteside Sentinel at Morrison, and who since August 1, 1896, has acted as United States pension agent at Chicago, is a prominent and well known citizen of this section of the state. He was born at Chicago, Illinois, December 8, 1844, at the family residence, located at No. 185 Michigan avenue, upon which lot, with others, the Leland, now the Stratford Hotel, was erected. At the time of his birth Chicago contained a population of less than nine thousand inhabitants, and in the year 1844 the first public school building in the city was erected. In the '50s a celebrated tavern known as Bull's Head stood at the intersection of Madison and Halsted streets, and adjoining this locality was the country where picnics and celebrations were held. Great have been the changes which have since occurred, and this city has now become the metropolis of the west.
Mr. Bent was reared in Chicago to his eleventh year, during which time he attended the public schools. Upon the removal of the family to Morri-
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son, he continued his studies in the school known as Jacobstown, attending for one winter, subsequent to which time he pursued his studies in the school- house one mile east of the present eity of Morrison. He put aside his text- books in 1857, when a youth in his twelfth year, and in June of the follow- ing year entered the office of the Whiteside Sentinel, serving a three years' apprenticeship, his salary for the first year being thirty dollars, for the sec- ond fifty dollars and for the third one hundred dollars. The paper had been in existenee less than a year when Mr. Bent entered the office and he has been almost continuously connceted with it until the present time. After completing his apprenticeship he worked in the office as a journeyman until April, 1864, when he went into the army. His father was a soldier in the Civil war and died in the service in 1862; his only brother was also in service as a member of the Ninety-third Illinois Regiment, and upon the first eall for new regiments after he became eighteen years of age, he enlisted April 30, 1864, as a private in Company B, One Hundred and Fortieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was appointed third sergeant of his company. The regiment went into eamp at Dixon, Illinois, whence it was sent to Camp But- ler, near Springfield, where it was mustered into service. The company en- listed for one hundred days' service and was sent to Lafayette, Tennessee, to hold the outposts while the veterans pushed ahead, and remained in that vieinity until about the time of the expiration of the term of service, when it was ordered to Chicago to be mustered out. While enroute news was received from St. Louis that the citizens of that city feared an attack from General Price and the regiment was ordered from Chicago to St. Louis, near which it remained for several weeks doing guard duty until all danger of an attack from Priec was over and the regiment was then again sent to Chicago and mustered out.
Returning to his home in Morrison, Mr. Bent onee more entered the office of the Sentinel, filling the position of foreman until February 2, 1865, when he again re-enlisted for service in the Civil war, becoming a private 'of Company B, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under the call for one year The regiment was mustered in at Camp Fry, Chicago, and was sent south, being attached to the First Brigade, Second Division, Army of the Cumberland. It was first stationed at Dalton, Georgia, and as Sherman had then commenced his famous march to the sea it had considerable guerrilla fighting to do. Upon the organization of the company Mr. Bent was appointed its first sergeant and was later promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. His brigade received the surrender of the rebel army of northern Georgia and later his regiment was sent to Albany, Georgia, and a part of the brigade were among the first troops at Andersonville after the surrender. Immediately after the surrender of the southern army the cities of the south were so overrun with negroes that the troops had to be detached to keep them on plantations. Lieutenant Bent was detailed with a number of men to go to Newton, Georgia, as assistant provost marshal and agent of the Freedmen's Bureau, his duties being to protect the citizens of Baker county in their homes and as agent of the Freedmen's Bureau to go through the county and make contraets between former slaves and their old masters and to
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require them to work. After being there a short time he was appointed assist- ant provost marshal of his brigade and stationed at Americus. Going to Hawkinsville, Georgia, he was later detailed to go to the region where Jeffer- son Davis was captured and his headquarters were in the sawmill where Davis spent his last night before capture. Mr. Bent subsequently went to Savannah, Georgia, and there received orders for the faithful execution of which mention is made in the History of the One Hundred and Forty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, published in the adjutant general's reports, as follows: "December 6, 1865, Lieutenant Charles Bent and twenty men of Company B were sent to Fort Pulaski as a garrison, Licutenant Bent being responsible for the government property, amounting to several million dol- lars, which he satisfactorily turned over to his successor when relieved." With his regiment Lieutenant Bent was mustered out of service January 20, 1866, and was paid off at Camp Butler, Springfield, Illinois.
Returning home, Mr. Bent resumed his position in the office of the White- side Sentinel, serving as foreman until July, 1867, when, in company with his brother-in-law, Mauriec Savage, he purchased the Sentinel office from its original proprietor, Alfred McFadden, the partnership between Bent & Sav- age continuing until May, 1870, when Mr. Bent purchased his partner's in- terest and published the paper alone until February, 1877, when he sold his office. He then began work on a history of Whiteside county, which he com- pleted in 1878. In March of the following year he once more became pro- prietor of the Sentinel office and has continuously sinee been connected with the paper, which he has always editorially conducted in the interest of the republican party. In 1887 Mr. Bent erected a modern building, which has sinee been the home of the Sentinel, and in which is also conducted an up- to-date job printing department. Fifty years ago, in June of 1858, Mr. Bent commeneed his service with The Sentinel, with which he is yet connected. A half century of life is a long time to dedicate to one newspaper, and very few, if any, publishers in Illinois, can equal this record of continuous service.
In the spring of 1907 Mr. Bent was appointed pension agent at Chicago. IIe is proving himself a most capable official, discharging his duties with the same interest and fidelity that was ever manifest in his private affairs. As a stalwart advocate of the republican party, Mr. Bent has filled several public positions, having been elected on that ticket in November, 1878, to the state. senate from the cleventh district, comprising Whiteside and Carroll counties, serving as a member of the senate for a term of four years. From Deeember, 1870, until the office was abolished three years later, he served as assistant assessor of internal revenue in the third collection district, while from 1870 until 1872 he served as alderman of his home city and was re-elected to the position in 1875, again serving for two years. He was also a member of the board of education from 1877 until 1884 and again from 1887 until 1896. In April, 1883, he was appointed by Governor Hamilton a member of the state board of canal commissioners for a term of two years, during whielt time lie served as president of that body. In February, 1889, he was appointed by Governor Fifer as a commissioner of the Illinois state penitentiary at Joliet, holding the position until January, 1893, when he resigned upon the
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election of a democratic governor. He also served for several years as a mem- ber of the state republican committee, and in all these positions discharged his duties to the entire satisfaction of the public.
On the 15th of August, 1870, Mr. Bent was united in marriage to Miss Deeima Manington, who was born in West Vienna township, Oneida county, New York, July 9, 1844, a daughter of Alfred and Sophia Manington, natives of England. 'The children of this marriage are as follows: Paul Alphonso, who was born May 28, 1871, is now engaged as foreman of the Whiteside Sentinel. He was married June 25, 1895, at Morrison, to Miss Luna Quack- enbush. Elizabeth, who was born July 26, 1873, was married on the 15th of October, 1896, to Robert C. Sattiey, and died at their home in Wheaton, Illi- nois. April 22, 1902. Charles, who was born August 2, 1875, wedded Miss Mabel Bauzeville, their marriage being celebrated November 3, 1898. Dur- ing his father's temporary absence he has the management of the business of the Whiteside Sentinel. Ruth, born October 26, 1877, the next member of the family, was married February 14, 1901, to Fred A. Bapp, of Ottawa, Illinois, where they reside. Harry, who was born March 13, 1880, served during the Spanish-American war as a member of Company I, Sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with serviee in Porto Rico, and is now also engaged on The Sentinel foree. He was married at Morrison to Miss Hazel Ward, October 25, 1904. George Manington, born June 6, 1890, completes the family.
Mr. Bent is affiliated with the Masonic order, belonging to Dunlap Lodge, No. 321, F. & A. M .; Fulton Chapter, No. 108, R. A. M .; and Sterling Com- mandery, K. T. He is also a member of Grove Lodge, No. 257, I. O. O. F., of whichi he is a past grand and past representative to the State Grand Lodge; of the Bethel Encampment, No. 150, of which he was past chief patriarch and also past representative to the State Eneampment; of Alpheus Clark Post, No. 118, G. A. R., of which he is a past commander, and on a number of oc- casions has represented it in the State Encampment and his state in the National Encampment. He is also a member of the Illinois Commandery of the Loyal Legion at Chicago and of the society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Mr. Bent's residenee in Morrison eovers a period of more than a half century and he therefore has a very wide and favorable acquaintance, so that his record cannot help but prove of deep interest to the readers of this volume.
CHARLES H. WOODBURN.
Charles H. Woodburn, an able member of the Sterling bar, was born in Sterling township, Whiteside eounty, November 5, 1861. 'His paternal grand- father, George W. Woodburn, was a native of Pennsylvania, where he en- gaged in merchandising in early life but became one of the pioneer settlers of Whiteside county in 1837, pre-empting a claim here before the land was placed on the market. The entire district was one great streteh of unbroken prairie, over which wild animals roamed at will. Only five years before had
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the Black Hawk war been fought and there were many traces of Indian oeeu- pancy in the state. Mr. Woodburn, however, believed that this great prairie country offered good opportunities to the agrieulturist and in 1837 he returned to Pennsylvania for his wife and child, bringing them to the elaim which he had secured. Here they lived amid pioneer seenes and environments until 1849, when, attracted by the discovery of gold on the Pacific coast, Mr. Wood- burn made an overland trip to California, where he engaged in mining for about ten years. Again he became familiar with a different phase of fron- tier life, being a factor in that picturesque period of the early mining days of California. Returning to Whiteside county, he here spent the remainder of his life, dying on the 19th of June, 1872, when about seventy-five years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Williams, died in early womanhood, leaving James H. Woodburn, an only child. Following his return from California, George W. Woodburn married again and was survived by his second wife, Mrs. Phoebe A. Woodburn.
James H. Woodburn was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and was brought to Illinois by his parents in early childhood. Here he was reared to adult age and when a lad of ten years entered Linn Academy at Indianap- olis, whenee he afterward went to Big Springs Academy when sixteen years of age. In that institution he completed his education, being thus provided. with liberal advantages. After putting aside his text-books, he engaged in farm labor until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when in response to his country's need he enlisted on the 2d of August, 1862, as a member of Com- pany I, Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until peace was restored, being mustered out on the 12th of June, 1865. He en- listed as a private and was promoted to the rank of corporal, while subse- quently he became sergeant and lieutenant. He participated in the battles of Stone River, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Ringgold Gap, Frank- ' lin and Nashville and the Atlanta campaign. He was ever a faithful and loyal soldier, courageous on the field of battle and meeting unflinchingly the hard- ships of war. When hostilities had ceased he returned to the north and gave his attention to horticultural pursuits, conducting a nursery and greenhouse for a number of years. He then discontinued the greenhouse but still handles seeds and nursery stock just outside of the city limits of Sterling on the west. He began farming there before the war, but his health was not able to meet the demands of active farm life and thus he turned his attention to the nurs- ery business.
On the 15th of November, 1858, James H. Woodburn was united in mar- riage to Miss Susan Farrar, who was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, and was a daughter of Isaac and Hannah Farrar. Her father spent his entire life in the old Granite state. Her mother died about the time of the outbreak of the Civil war when sixty years of age. Their family numbered one son and four daughters, including Mrs. Woodburn, who in Whiteside county gained many warm friends, so that her death was deeply regretted when in 1904, at the age of seventy-four years, she passed away. Mr. Woodburn was a Presbyterian in early life but when his old army chaplain, Rev. W. H. Smith. accepted a pastorate in Sterling after the war, Mr. Woodburn and his
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wife united with the Fourth Street Methodist church and he has continued a member of that organization to the present time. In the work of the church he has been actively and helpfully interested and for twenty-four years was president of its board of trustees. His political allegiance has always been given to the republican party since its organization and he maintains pleas- ant relations with his old army comrades through his membership in Will Robinson Post, G. A. R. Unto him and his wife were born but two children and the elder, George W., died on Easter Sunday of 1890.
Charles H. Woodburn, the younger son, has spent his entire life in Sterling and pursued his education in the public schools. During the periods of vacation he worked for his father in the greenhouse and nursery, and after leaving school, when about eighteen years of age, he took up the study of shorthand in the Sterling Business College, from which he was graduated on the completion of the course. In 1881 he began reporting in the courts of Whiteside county and was thus engaged in Whiteside and adjoining counties as an independent reporter for seven years. In 1888 he was ap- pointed the official reporter for Judge John D. Crabtree, of Dixon, under whom he served for five or six years, and afterward under Judge Garver. He also did considerable work with other judges, and when the eircuits were changed he worked under Judge Frank D. Ramsey, of Morrison. In the meantime Mr. Woodburn took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar in November, 1897, but continued reporting until about 1899. He then opened his law office and entered upon the praetiee of the profession in Ster- ling, where he has since remained, gradually seeuring a good clientage which connects him with much important litigation tried in the courts. IIe is now master in chancery of Whiteside county, a position which he has filled for over four years.
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