USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 75
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There is an old saying that, "Nothing succeeds like success," and when Mr. James had thus succeeded in making a start, he found that forward steps were then less diffieult. For ten years he resided upon his original purchase, continuing its improvement and adding to his capital year by year as the sale of his crops brought to him a good return. When a decade had passed he
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sold the property and bought five hundred and four acres on sections 4 and 5, Erie township. He removed to this farm in 1904 and is now actively engaged. in its development and improvement, having here a valuable property. In addition to cultivating various crops he also is engaged in breeding and rais- ing Norman horses and Poland China hogs. He likewise runs a dairy in connection with his farm, keeping from twenty-five to forty head of cows for this purpose.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Mr. James was married in 1883 to. Miss Luella Hubbart, a daughter of James and Maria Hubbart, of whom men- tion is made elsewhere in this volume .. Unto Mr. and Mrs. James have been born four children: Edith May, the wife of Willis Thompson, of Fenton township; Ralph H., who is married and carries on a part of his father's farm; Arthur E. and Ava Irene,- both at home. The parents have many friends in the community, their good qualities of heart and inind winning for them favorable and lasting regard. Mr. James belongs to the Modern Wood- inen Camp, No. 14, at Erie, and he votes with the republican party, which he- has supported since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. He does not seek office, yet is not remiss in the duties of citizenship, and his coopera- tion and aid can be counted upon to further many movements for the public good.
FRANKLIN F. HAMILTON.
Franklin F. Hamilton is one of the thrifty and enterprising farmers of Fenton township, who owns and oeeupies a valuable property of one hundred and seventeen acres lying on sections 27, 33 and 34, his home standing on section 33. He dates his residence in the county from 1844 and has been a life-long resident of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Grand Detour, Lee county, October 30, 1843. The following year he was brought to Whiteside county by his parents, James and Lucinda (Crandall) Hamilton. The father was born in New York in 1812, and in 1836 arrived in Whiteside county, settling in Erie township. He spent his remaining days in this county and was closely identified with its pioneer development and progress. He married Lucinda, daughter of Lewis D. and Phoebe (Hunt) Crandall. Her father was the second settler of Erie township, where he arrived in 1835, taking up his abode on section 18. His death occurred in 1860. Following his marriage James Hamilton returned to Lee county, Illinois, where he resided until 1844, when he returned with his family to Whiteside county. Here he spent his remaining days, passing away in 1874. His entire life was devoted to general . agricultural pursuits and he owned one hundred and twenty acres of land in Fenton township, which he converted into a fine farm. His wife survived him until 1881 and died at the age of sixty-six years. Their family numbered six children, namely: James Albert, now living in .Newton township; Frank- lin F., of this review; Emma, the widow of John Quade, of Erie township; Mary A., the wife of George A. Peters, of Fenton township; Clark, also of Fenton township; and George, a resident of Iowa.
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FRANK F. HAMILTON
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LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URSANA
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Upon coming to Whiteside eounty in 1844, the family home was estab- lished in Erie township, about two miles south of the village of Erie, on Rock river. There Franklin F. Hamilton remained until sixteen years of age, when he went with his parents to Coleta, where he continued until he attained his majority. He then started out in life on his own aeeount and taking up his abode in Fenton township, has resided here for forty-four years. He began farming for himself when about twenty-five years of age. He was married December 24, 1866, and worked for his father-in-law for two years. He then engaged in eultivating a rented farm until 1864, in which year he invested in two hundred and thirty-one aeres of land, upon which he took up his abode and it has sinee been his place of residence. He has sinee sold one hundred and fourteen aeres of this property but still retains possession of one hundred and seventeen aeres, his home standing on seetion 33, Fenton township. All of the buildings have been ereeted by him and stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. The improvements indieate his progressive spirit, and there are many evidenees of his practical methods in the desirable results which follow his labors. He uses the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields and carefully regards time, season and conditions of soil in planting his erops. He earries on stoek-raising in eonneetion with the. eultivation of cereals and has raised Clydesdale horses for a long period. He also made a specialty of Hereford eattle for a time. At present, however, he is practically leaving the labors of the farm to his sons, while he is living re- tired, enjoying a rest which he has truly earned and riehly deserves.
On the 24th of December, 1856, when about twenty-three years of age, Mr. Hamilton was married to Miss Esther Peters, who was born in Fenton township, November 10, 1846, a daughter of George A. and Charity (Smith) Peters. Mrs. Hamilton passed away July 19, 1879. There were four children of that marriage but two died in infaney, while Frank, who was born Febru- ary 9, 1879, died December 17, 1882, and Allie, born November 4, 1870 passed away June 28, 1893.
On the 4th of April, 1884, Mr. Hamilton was again married, his second union being witlı Carrie Naftzger, who was born in Wayne county, Ohio, Oe- tober 16, 1851, and was a daughter of Peter and Katherine Naftzger. In 1902 Mr. Hamilton was again ealled upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away on the 7th of November of that year. There were three children of that marriage: George L., who was born June 23, 1885, and married Mil- dred Słoeum; Robert P., born November 28, 1889; and Frank M., born No- vember 10, 1894. The sons arc now operating the father's farm. Mr. Hamil- ton also has two grandeliildren, Glen and Ralph, the children of his daughter Allie, who was the wife of George W. Olinger.
Mr Hamilton gives his political allegiance to the democracy but the hon- ors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. However, he is faithful in eitizenship to the extent of giving his influenec in support of many measures and movements for the public good. It seems hardly possible that it is within the memory of living man when Whiteside eounty, now thiekly populated and containing in its midst thriving cities, basing their
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prosperity upon extensive commercial and industrial interests, as well as many highly improved farms, was largely a wild and unsettled district. The great transformation that has been wrought has mostly come about during the sixty-four years in which Mr. Hamilton has lived in this district. In his boy- hood days it was not an unusual thing to see Indians in this county nor was it difficult to secure various kinds of wild game for the table. Where the timber grew upon the banks of the streams it still stood in its primeval strength and the open prairie districts were yet covered with their native grasses. There were no large farm houses but here and there a little dwelling or cabin indicated that civilization was penetrating into the wilderness. There were many fire-places in the homes used both for cooking and heating and the tallow candle was still often used to give light. The farm machinery, too, was very erude as compared with the modern agricultural implements but gradu- ally the evidences of pioneer life gave way before an advancing civilization and the history of Whiteside county's development and progress which is familiar to his fellow townsmen through reading or hearsay is familiar to Mr. Hamilton through experience and observation. He well deserves mention among the early settlers and it is with pleasure that we present his life record to our readers.
LUTHER A. WHEELOCK.
Hume township has a goodly quota of enterprising, successful farmers · who are promoting the agricultural development of the state, and by well di- rected business interests are adding to the general prosperity of the county as well as to individual success. This class includes Luther A. Wheelock, who now follows farming on section 33, Hume township. Moreover, he is entitled to representation in this volume as one of the old settlers of the county, for his birth occurred in Prophetstown, October 14, 1857, and there- fore for a half century he has been a witness of the growth and improvement of this part of the state.
The parents were Samuel and Almena R. (Langdon) Wheelock. The father was born in Tyringham, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, January 26, 1825, and on the 27th of November, 1844-Thanksgiving day-le led to the marriage altar Miss Almena R. Langdon, whose birth occurred in Westhampton, Hampshire county, Massachusetts, June 7, 1822. For ten years after their marriage they resided in New England, and in 1854 arrived at Prophetstown, Whiteside county. Later they took up their abode in Hume township, where the father purchased one hundred and sixty aeres of raw prairie land. He courageously met all the hardships and privations of pioneer life in transforming his property into a fine farm, and as the years passed he extended its boundaries as opportunity offered until he owned four hundred acres in one body. The land, naturally rich and fertile, responded readily to the care and labor he bestowed upon it, and he brought his fields under a high state of cultivation. He also made handsome improvements upon his farm, erecting an attractive residence and commodious barns and
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outbuildings. He was also an extensive stoek-raiser, and this proved an im- portant branch of his business. In community affairs he took a deep and helpful interest, and for several terms filled the office of supervisor and also served on the drainage commission and was assessor of Hume township. The Congregational church numbered him as a faithful and devoted member and he was serving as deacon and trustee of the church in Rock Falls at the time of his death. He passed away in Rock Falls, March 9, 1901, having for more than ten years survived his wife, who died on the 3d of January, 1891. She was a lady of many good traits of chaareter and their marriage was blessed with four children: Amanda, now the widow of William Denni- son, of Roek Falls; Elbert E., who died February 24, 1908; Luther A .; and Ozro, who died in infancy.
The experiences which came to Luther A. Wheelock in his boyhood and youth were such as usually fall to the lot of the child reared upon the frontier. He was educated in the common sehools, and when not busy with his text-books his time was largely given to the work of the farm. He con- tinued his business association with his father until the latter's death, when lie inherited a part of the estate and afterward bought out the interest of the other heirs, so that he now owns the old homestead of four hundred acres, which is a finely improved property. He has a beautiful home and all mod- ern equipments and accessories have been added to his placc. He has, like his father, carried on stock-raising, making a specialty of shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. His business interests are carefully managed, and his practical experience in early youth has proved an element in his later success.
On the 12th of August, 1874, Mr. Wheelock was married to Miss Sarah C. Freeby, who was born August 29, 1856, in Carbon county, Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of John and Maria Freeby. Her father, whose birth oe- eurred in Pennsylvania, December 27, 1830, is still living in Walnut, Illi- nois. Her mother, born March 15, 1838, died April 2, 1884. There were twelve children in their family, namely: Sarah C., now Mrs. Wheelock; Frank F., a resident of Slayton, Minnesota; Mary A., the wife of Morgan Simonds, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Lucy, the wife of James Wolf, of Chi- cago, Illinois; William E., of Sterling; one, who died in infancy; Elizabetlı, who has also passed away; Charlie H., a resident of. Sterling, Illinois; Fred, who is still under the parental roof; Emma, the wife of Adam Stier, of Chi- cago; Susan, the wife of Lewellyn Lewis, a resident of Walnut, Illinois; and one who died in infaney. It was in 1850 that Mr. and Mrs. Freeby removed westward, settling in Whiteside county. They established their home in Como, where Mr. Freeby purchased a small farm that he afterward sold. He then removed to Tampieo township, where he purchased a traet of land and made his home until the death of his wife. He then retired from active business eåres and has since made his home in Walnut, Illinois.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wheelock have been born two children, Charles W. . and Cecil L. The latter is at home. The former resides on his father's farm, although living in a separate house and assists in carrying on the farm work. Ile married Nellie M. Pope, and they have one child, Blanche.
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Mr. Wheelock is a stalwart republican, who has served as collector for two years and commissioner of highways for six years, while for a consid- erable period he has been school director. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is connected fraternally with Tam- pico Camp, No. 9, M. W. A., with the Knights of the Globe, and with the Fraternal Reserve. He has lived to witness many changes in the county as pioneer conditions have been replaced by those of modern civilization. The land has been taken up tract after tract and converted into good farms, until there are now few acres of uncultivated farm land in the county. The methods of farming, too, are very different from those in vogue in his early boyhood, and much of the work now done by machinery was accomplished by hand, rendering the labors of the agriculturist much more difficult. Mr. Wheelock is meeting with well merited success, and is respected throughout the community in which he has so long resided.
GEORGE WASHINGTON WELLS.
In the history of the pioneer settlers of Whiteside county it is imperative that mention be made of George Washington Wells, who in 1845, when the work of development and improvement had been scarcely begun in this sec- tion of the state, took up his abode in Lyndon township. He was born in Licking county, Ohio, October 25, 1825, and was but forty-one years of age when, in 1866, he was called to his final rest. His father, Chester Wells, was also a native of Ohio, born January 6, 1800. He followed the occupation of farming and both he and his father were successful in agricultural pursuits. He died when a comparatively young man, passing away in 1831. His wife, who long survived, bore the maiden name of Lucinda Belt and was born De- cember 3, 1800, in Ohio. Her life record covered the span of years to 1888. In 1867 she became a resident of Illinois and remained in Morrison up to the time of her demise. By her marriage she became the mother of three children: Mary M., who was born January 1, 1824, and died at the age of seven years; George W .; and Benjamin L., who was born September 27, 1827, and died in 1877. He was a farmer of Union Grove township and was well known here.
George Washington Wells, whose name introduces this record, was reared to farm life, attended the district schools and always carried on agricultural pursuits as a source of livelihood. He spent his youth in Ohio when it was largely a frontier district and in 1845 came to this state, when Whiteside county was still regarded as upon the frontier. He made the journey with his unele, Benjamin Belt, and located in Lyndon township, where he worked on a farin by the inonth for about five years. Desirous of having a farmi of his own that his labors might more directly benefit himself, about 1850 he entered a tract of land in Fenton township in connection with his brother and made his home thereon until his death in 1855. His time and attention were then given to the further development and improvement of his place and
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he also operated a threshing machine, becoming one of the successful men of that time. He was a good farmer and business man, sound in judgment and enterprising in spirit.
In 1853 Mr. Wells was united in marriage to Miss Abbie F. Farrington, who was born in Chester, Windsor county, Vermont, in 1829, a daughter of Abraham and Sophia (Blanchard) Farrington and a sister of Jonathan Blanchard, a former president of Wheaton College at Wheaton, Illinois. Abraham Blanchard was a tanner by trade, but devoted his later years to farming. The mother of Mrs. Wells died when she was a babe and her father died in Vermont, when she was a young lady. She came west to Illinois with her sister and family, settling at Unionville, where she married. Mr. and Mrs. Wells became the parents of five sons and a daughter. George W., born in 1854, was a farmer throughout much of his life until he retired from active business pursuits. He married and had a family of twelve children, eight of whom are still living. His death occurred November, 1904. Lester, born in 1855, followed farming in Iowa and there reared his family of four children. Ile died in 1899. Albert, born in 1859, is a retired farmer at Somers, Iowa. He married and has four children. Chester, born in. 1862, is a business man of Morrison. Grant, born in 1863, died in infancy. Mary Lueinda, born in 1865, is the wife of William Lawry, by whom she has one son, James Linnell, who was born in 1891 and is a graduate of the Morrison high school. Mrs. Lawry is living with her mother and she and her son are members of the Presbyterian church, while Mrs. Wells is a devoted member of the Christian church.
Mr. Wells was also a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and took a deep interest and active part in the church work. He was a man of strong character and marked individuality and in manner was kindly and charitable, his many excellent traits of character winning for him the highest esteem of all who knew him. His early political allegiance was given to the Whig party and after its dissolution he joined the ranks of the new repub- lican party and cast his vote for Abraham Lincoln. He was a man of very retiring disposition, modest in deportment and never seeking notoriety. His genuine worth, however, was recognized by his friends, who entertained for him the warmest regard. Many years have come and gone since he lias passed from this life, but lie is yet remembered by the older settlers of the county as a citizen of true and lasting worth.
JOHN N. HARPHAM.
Jolin N. Harpham, whose activity and business enterprise are constantly manifest in one phase or another of an active business career, is now en- gaged in the conduet of a real-estate and insurance agency and is also carrying on farming and live-stock interests. He is one of Whiteside eounty's native sons, born May 12, 1859, his parents being Henry C. and Alsia A. (Cooper) Harp- ham, who were natives of the Empire state. It was there that Henry Harpham,
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the paternal grandfather, was also born, but in later years he came to the middle west, where he died when well advaneed in years. He was of English lineage. His family of five children ineluded Henry C. Harpham, who cn- gaged in agricultural pursuits as a life work. He came to Illinois at an early day, taking up his abode in Genesee township, Whiteside county, where he developed and cultivated a farm, making it his place of residence until he was called to his final home in 1883 when about thirty years of age. His widow, who still survives him at the age of seventy-five years, is living with her son, Henry. In religious faith she is a Methodist. Her father was Bazel C. Cooper, who was of English descent. In early life he engaged in business as a cooper and wagon manufacturer, possessing much mechanical ingenuity displayed in his use of all kinds of tools. Later he became a farmer. Removing from the east, he settled in Indiana, where he died when about sixty-two years of age. His wife was Mrs. Mary Cooper and they had a large family. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Henry C. Harpham were born four sons and a daughter: Julius C., and Charles F., who are residents of Lineoln, Nebraska; John N., of this review; Henry, living in Lincoln, Nebraska; and a daughter, who died in infancy.
John N. Harpham is the only member of the family still remaining in Whiteside county. He was about four years of age when he went with his mother to Indiana, living at Hartford, where he attended the distriet schools. He returned to Sterling, however, when sixteen years of age and for a short time was a pupil in a business college here. He worked at farm labor when a boy and lessons of industry and enterprise were early impressed upon his mind. Following his return to Sterling he began work at the harness- maker's trade with his unele, John Harpham, and subsequently was employed in a tannery at Sterling, after which he again entered his uncle's harness store as a elerk. Subsequently he went to Nebraska, where he took charge of the hide department for the Lincoln Tanning Company at Lincoln. He also bought hides and afterward entered the employ of James MeMillen & Com- pany, of Minneapolis, traveling for that house and also condueting a branch house at Lincoln for two years. On the expiration of that period he formed a partnership with Stoddard J. Dobson and bought the branch house at Lincoln. Two years later he sold out to his partner and after a residence of eleven years in Nebraska's capital city returned to Sterling. Here he assisted in settling up his father-in-law's estate and sinee 1894 he has followed his present business, handling live-stock, operating farms and condueting a real- cstate and loan agency. In all of his business affairs he brings to bear sound judgment, keen diserimination and marked enterprise and earries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. In connection with A. L. Kreider he built the fine business bloek now known as the Ilarpham and Williams block, in which he has his offiee.
On the 19th of June, 1890, Mr. Harpham was married to Miss Jennie A. Smith, a daughter of Adam and Caroline (Fisher) Smith. Her father was born in Bavaria, Germany, and her mother in Ohio. He came to America when but nine years of age, living in New York city until early manhood, when he came to Illinois, following the printer's trade in this state. He
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afterward engaged in the real-estate and live-stoek business and met with a most gratifying measure of success. He died November 7, 1903, at the age of fifty-seven years, while his wife passed away March 9, 1990, at the age of fifty-six years. Both were members of the Lutheran church. In their family were four daughters and one son, of whom four are now living: Jennie A., the wife of Jolin N. Harpham; Emma, who died at the age of twenty-six . years; Minnie Smith; Emma, the wife of Harry Over, of Sterling; and Carl A., also of Sterling.
Mr. and Mrs. Harpham are members of the Congregational church and are interested in its work and liberal in its support. Politically Mr. Harpham is a republican, but while keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day, does not care for public office. He is secretary of the Mineral Springs Park Association, called the Great Northwestern Fair Association, and at one time was a director and its treasurer. He was also secretary and treasurer of the Van Patten Elevator & Grain Company and is pre-eminently known as a man of affairs, energetic and determined, who in the manage- ment of important business interests is meeting with gratifying success. He has a wide acquaintance and the salient qualities of his character are such as have gained him admiration in business circles and warm friendships in private life.
JOHN WINKLER.
John Winkler, who owns and operates one hundred and fifteen acres on section 35, Prophetstown township, making a specialty of raising and feeding hogs, was born in Bureau county, Illinois, November 12, 1832, a son of Robert and Harrict (Spake) Winkler, who were born near Dayton, Ohio. In the carly '50s they took up their abode in Bureau county, Illinois, where the father was engaged in the operation of rented land for twelve years. At the end of that time he bought one hundred and twenty acres of land, thus being an active factor in the early development and improvement of this state. Robert Winkler departed this life on the 5th of February, 1905, but his wife is still living in Prophetstown. Their children, seven in number, were as follows: Elsie J., the wife of William Devenney, of Prophetstown ; Thomas Z., deceased; John, of this review; Minnie, the wife of H. Bollen; Dennis, who resides in Mendota, Illinois; Hattie, who became the wife of Osear Swan. and makes her home in Bureau county, Illinois; and one who has passed away.
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