USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 77
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Rutherford W. E. Mitchell was about ten years of age when his parents removed to Sterling, and in the public schools of this city he pursued his edu- cation, which was continued in the Chicago Business College, while he also
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took a course in liberal arts in Drake University at Des Moines, Iowa. He also prepared for the legal profession in that institution, and was admitted to the Iowa bar in 1903. Hc afterward pursued a post-graduate course in the John Marshall Law School of Chicago, and was admitted to practice in the courts of Illinois in June, 1904. On the 27th of September of that year he opened his office in Sterling, where he has remained to the present time. Realizing fully that the success of the lawyer depends in large measure upon the work which he does in the office prior to entering the courtroom, he pre- pares his cases with great thoroughness and care, and if there is a close legal point involved he examines every authority within his reach bearing upon the question. In the spring of 1905 he was elected justice of the peace and presides with fairness and impartiality over his court.
On the 20th of July, 1903, Mr. Mitchell was united in marriage to Miss Callie E. Leitz, a daughter of Otto and Catharine (Wahl) Leitz, who were born in Whiteside county and are now residents of Sterling. Their family numbered nine children. Mr. Leitz was a school director for a number of years, and has always manifested a citizen's interest in the welfare and pro- gress of his community. His father, John Leitz, was a native of Germany, and at an early period in the development of Whiteside county settled in Hahnaman township, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until well advanced in years, when his life's labors were ended in death. His wife, Mrs. Regina (Strohm) Leitz, still survives him. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Mitchell was Frederick Wahl, also a native of Germany, and one of the pioneer residents of Whiteside county. He married Annie Kirgis, and they removed to Ottumwa, Iowa, but a number of years ago returned to Sterling, where they still reside. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell hold membership in St. John's Lutheran church, and Mr. Mitchell belongs to Rock River Lodge, No. 612, A. F. & A. M., and Sterling Lodge, No. 174, I. O. O. F. He is also connected
with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of For- esters, while his political allegiance is unswervingly given to the republican party. He resides at No. 409 West Tenth street, where, in the winter of 1905-6 he ereeted an attractive home, which was the first concrete house built in Whiteside county. Although one of the younger members of the bar, he has given proof of the possession of qualities which insure success in practice. His mind is analytical and logical and by his elcarness and force in pre- senting his cause he has frequently led the jury to see the correctness of his position and to acknowledge in the verdict the justice of his plea.
MASON PORTER BREWER.
Mason Porter Brewer, a prominent and prosperous representative of com- mereial interests in Prophetstown, where he is conducting a successful busi- ness as a hardware and implement dealer, was born on the 7th of February, 1866, in Lyndon township, Whiteside county, Illinois, his parents being Fernando N. and Cordelia Brewer. He acquired his preliminary cdueation
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MR. AND MRS. M. P. BREWER
LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA
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in a country school, later attended the Lyndon high school and also pursued a course in the Sterling Business College, being graduated from the later in- stitution in April, 1886.
After completing his education he assisted his father in the work of the home farm for two years, and after operating the place for five years removed to Prophetstown in November, 1892. Establishing a ereamery business at that place, he successfully carried on the enterprise until the 1st of January, 1895, when he became connected with the hardware and implement business and was engaged in this department of commercial activity until he returned to the old homestead farm on the 1st of March, 1897, and from that date until December, 1902, was actively employed in the operation of his father's farm.
The property was then sold and Mr. Brewer returned to Prophetstown, purchased the Sehryver building and once more began business as a hardware and implement dealer, having continuously carried on the enterprise to the present time. He has gained a wide and favorable reputation as a reliable and straightforward business man and his trade has therefore constantly in- creased until it has reached extensive proportions and brings to him a gratify- ing financial return. For the past three years Mr. Brewer has also condueted a music store, carrying a well selected line of pianos, organs and other intru- ments. In the fall of 1905 he enlarged his establishment about one-half in order to meet the growing demands of his patronage and is widely known as a representative and progressive merchant of the city. In March, 1902, he bought three hundred and twenty acres of low swamp land in Fenton town- ship, two years ago put a dredge diteh through the property and has otherwise improved it, erecting a set of modern and substantial buildings thereon in the fall of 1907. A quarter of a century ago this land was entirely covered with water but through the efforts of Mr. Brewer it has become a valuable and productive property and in 1907 yielded a good erop of corn.
On the 22d of April, 1891, Mr. Brewer was united in marriage to Miss Hattie Austin, and their children are as follows: Buel Austin, born March 22, 1892; Karl Mason, whose birth occurred July 16, 1893; Harriet Cordelia, born September 17, 1896; Nellie Marie, January 21, 1899; and Ruth Elinor, born February 4, 1904.
In his political views Mr. Brewer is a stalwart republican and has been quite active in the local ranks of his party. While living on the farm he served as school director for eight years, and for the past four years has also served on the school board in Prophetstown, the cause of education ever find- ing in him a helpful friend. He is also acting as diteh commissioner, having been elected to this position in 1904. In his fraternal relations he is con- nected with the Modern Woodmen, which organization he joined August 18, 1896, has been identified with the Mystic Workers since April 14, 1898, and in December, 1895, he became an Odd Fellow. Since 1886 he has been a member of the Methodist church, exemplifying in his life the teachings of both his fraternal and religious connections. A native son of Whiteside, county, few men are more prominent or more widely known in Prophetstown than Mr. Brewer. He has been an important factor in business circles and
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his prosperity is well deserved, as in him are embraced the characteristics of an unbending integrity, unabating energy and industry that never flags. He is publie spirited, giving his eooperation to every movement which tends to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of the community.
JOHN C. TURNEY.
The agricultural interests of Whiteside county find a worthy representa- tive in John C. Turney, who is engaged in farming, being the owner of cighty aeres of land situated on seetion 18, Fenton township, and forty aeres on seetion 22 of the same township, and, with the exception of six aeres of timber land, all has been placed under a high state of eultivation. Mr. Turney is a native of Ohio, his birth having oceurred in Scio, Harrison county, February 2, 1844.
His parents, John Jacob and Rachel (Tyle) Turney, were likewise na- tives of Harrison county, Ohio, the former born February 25, 1816, and the latter April 14, 1817. The paternal grandparents were Jaeob and Mary Tur- ney, and the latter aeeompanied her son, John Jacob, from the Buckeye state to Illinois, and died here at the advanced age of eighty years. The parents of our subjeet were reared and married in their native state and removed,to Illinois in 1856, where the father was engaged in farming through- out his remaining days. He was also a great lover of horses, and owned many fine speeimens. Their family numbered nine children: Robert, who served . in the Civil war as a member of the Seventy-fifth Illinois Regiment, enlist- ing at Morrison, and whose death oeeurred at Mound City, Illinois, while he was still in the serviee; Thomas, who makes his home in Morrison; Mrs. Sarah Atwood, a widow, who makes her home in Iowa; John C., whose name introduces this reeord; James, who makes his home in Carroll county, Illi- nois ; Jacob, who died in childhood; Harriet, who died in Iowa, January 12, 1907; William J., of Morrison; and Mrs. Janc Mary Roy, who makes her home in Clinton, Iowa. Both the parents are now deceased, their deaths oeeurring in Carroll county, the mother passing away on the 1st of Febru- ary, 1884, while the father survived for a number of years and passed away May 17, 1897.
John C. Turney was reared in the Buckeye state to the age of twelve years, when, in 1856, he accompanied his parents on their removal to White- side county. His edueation, which was begun in the schools of Ohio, was continued in the schools of Whiteside county. He was reared to agricultural pursuits and remained with his father until he had reached the age of twenty- three years, when he started out in life on his own account by operating rented land in Garden Plain township, making his home there for three years, at the end of which time he eame to Fenton township and purchased a wild and unimproved traet of land, comprising eighty aeres, situated on section 18. He did not, however, remove to this place at that time, but rented a traet of land, which he operated for two years, in the meantime improving his pres-
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ent place with good buildings, and he then removed to this farm, on which he lias made his home for forty years. He has placed all of the improve- ments here, las grubbed up stumps and has made it a valuable property. Four years ago he added forty aeres, situated on section 22, Fenton town- ship, and now has one hundred and twenty aeres, six acres of which is cov- ered with timber. He has prospered as the years have gone by, and his success is well deserved, for it has been won only through the most honorable and straightforward methods.
Mr. Turney was married on the 4th of July, 1867, to Mary Katharine Jordan, who was born in Braxton county, West Virginia, February 8, 1850, and at the age of twelve years was brought to Whiteside county by her par- ents, Amasa M. and Julia Ann (Friend) Jordan, both of whom were na- tives of West Virginia. Their family numbered seven sons and two daugh- ters. They now make their home in Clinton, this state.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Turney has been blessed with four chil- dren: Cora Bell, the wife of Joseph Hawk, a resident of Fenton township; Susanna, the wife of Frank Eekelborgen, a resident of Lyndon township, this county; John Jacob, who makes his home in Mount Pleasant township and who wedded Sarah Allen; and Clarence Emery, who is still under the parental roof.
Mr. Turney has been a life-long republican, easting his first presidental ballot for Abraham Lincoln, and he has supported each candidate of the party since that time. He has served as highway commissioner for the past six years, and is discharging his duties in a very capable manner. He and his wife are members of the United Brethren church in Fenton, and take a deep and active interest in all religious work. His life has been one of eon- tinuous activity, in which has been accorded due recognition of labor, for today he is numbered among the substantial citizens of his county.
JACOB A. SWARTLEY.
Jacob A. Swartley, a florist of Sterling, dates his residence in this city from 1874, covering a period of more than a third of a century. His life record began at Rohrerstown, three miles from the eity of Lancaster, in Laneaster county, Pennsylvania, October 16, 1847. The founder of the Swartley family in America was Philip Swartley, who, erossing the Atlantic from Germany, settled in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, sinee which time his deseend- ants have been numbered among the residents of that state. It was in Mont- gomery county that Jacob Swartley, the paternal grandfather, was born and rearcd. He followed farming and was an old man at the time of his death, having almost reached the age of eighty years. His wife was Mrs. Martha (Mancha) Swartley, and to them were born seven children, including Joseph M. Swartley, also a native of the Keystone state. He became a briek-layer in carly life and afterward followed farming in both Pennsylvania and Ohio. At the time of the Civil war he was drafted for service, but hired a substitute.
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In early manhood he wedded Magdalena L. Denlinger, a daughter of Jacob Denlinger, who was a native of Pennsylvania and of German descent. He followed the cabinet-maker's trade and was nearly ninety years of age when he passed away in 1863. His wife, Mrs. Martha (Landis) Denlinger, sur- vived him until 1875 and was also ninety years of age at the time of her de- mise. Their family of seven children included Mrs. Joseph M. Swartley, who by her marriage became the mother of six children, as follows: Jacob A., of this review ; John D., of Peoria, Illinois; Mary, the wife of John R. Hendricks, of Powhatan, Arkansas; Amos B., a resident of Osborn, Ohio; and David D., of Greene Cove Springs, Florida; and Joseph Pharcs, of Osborn, Ohio. The father died in Osborn, Ohio, in 1897, at the age of seventy-four years, and his wife died in 1903, at the age of cighty-four years. In religious faith they were Mennonites.
Jacob A. Swartley lived in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, until fifteen years of age and began his education in its public schools. He then aceom- panied his parents on their removal westward to Ohio, where he lived for ten years, and in 1874 came to Sterling, Illinois, where he has since made his home. He was first identified with its business interests as a carpenter, and in '1900 he opened a greenhouse and floral garden, which he still conducts. He has now four large greenhouses, with forty thousand square feet under glass, and carries on an extensive business, raising finc flowers of all kinds and having a ready sale for cut flowers and plants. He finds his business eon- genial and his close and assiduous attention thereto, combined with his en- terprising spirit, has brought him a gratifying measure of prosperity.
On the 21st of April, 1875, Mr. Swartley was married to Miss Emma B. Delp, a daughter of Jacob H. and Henrietta (Blice) Delp, who were natives of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, but removed from Lancaster county that state to Sterling in 1864. Here the father lived retired in his later years, but for some time engaged in clerking in a store. In Pennsylvania he de- voted his energies to farming. At one time he was the owner of the block upon which Mr. and Mrs. Swartley now reside. Their family consisted of the following children, of whom five are now living: Mary, who - first wedded Joseph Orr and is now the wife of William Potter; Luetta, the deceased wife of George Shiffner; Rachel, the wife of Robert J. Drynan; Menno, deccased; Susan, the wife of Martin Finley; Mrs. Swartley; and Jacob B .. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Swartley was a native of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and died well advanced in years. His family numbered eight children. The maternal grandfather was John Blice, a native of Germany, who came to America when quite young and settled in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania. He was eighty-four years of age at the time of his death, but his wife died in early womanhood, their only child being the mother of Mrs. Swartley.
Unto our subject and his wife have been born six sons and one daughter. Frank J., the eldest, is a lawyer of Spokane, Washington. He married Gertrude Francis and has one child, Gretchen. Ernest Paul is associated with his father in business. Walter E. is an electrician at Spokane, Washington. Emma Lillian is the wife of J. Frederick Ziegler, of Eliazbeth, New Jersey.
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Oliver H. is also his father's partner in business. Carl A. and Harold D. arc yet under the parental roof.
Mr. and Mrs. Swartley are Lutherans in religious faith and his political allegianee is given to the repubhean party. They are highly esteemed socially and the hospitality of the best honies of Sterling is cordially extended them. Mr. Swartley has made a ereditable record in business eireles as one who, utilizing his opportunities, has steadily worked his way upward, following methods which neither scek nor require disguise.
JOHN C. MEYER.
John C. Meyer, a carpenter and contractor of Spring Hill, was born in Germany, June 24, 1846. His father, John F. Meyer, was also a native of the fatherland and in 1844 eame to America, being first employed at Charles- ton, South Carolina, until July, 1847, when he removed to Lamoille, Bureau county, Illinois. There he worked by the month at farm labor for three years and on the expiration of that period located on the farm which he had pur-, chased in September, 1849. On the 18th of August, 1850, he wedded Miss Eva Barbara Genther, who died on the 24th of January, 1866, at the age of forty-two years. She was a faithful adherent of the Lutheran faith and Mr. Meyer was one of the organizers of the Evangelieal Lutheran Zion church in Lamoille, Illinois, in 1856. When his demise occurred in 1903, Bureau county mourned the loss of one of its early settlers and progressive citizens. Unto him and his wife were born seven children: John C., of this review; Henry A., who follows farming and stoek-raising in Portland township; Frederick and William, twins, both of Bureau county, Illinois; Herman, who also resides in Bureau county; Bertha, deceased; and Justina, the wife of Henry Grothen.
John C. Meyer was four years of age when his parents emigrated to the new world and he remained under the parental roof until he had attained his majority, when he went to Chicago and seeured employment at the earpenter's trade. In 1875 he removed to St. Louis, Missouri, where he sueeessfully fol- lowed his chosen voeation for two and a half years, returning to Lamoille, ; Illinois, at the end of that time. In 1885 he purchased three hundred and forty aeres of land in Portland township, Whiteside county, which he eulti- vated and improved, meeting with a gratifying measure of prosperity in his agricultural interests. On the 18th of March, 1901, he sold the farm and re- moved to Spring Hill, where he has sinee been engaged in earpentering. He owns a half seetion of land in Texas, also two residenees in Spring Hill and a first elass hotel in Sherrard, Mereer county, Illinois, now eondueted by Mrs. Mary Olden, and is widely known as one of the county's prosperous and pro- gressive business men.
In May, 1871, Mr. Meyer was united in marriage to Miss Frances Mary Leby, who was born in Germany in December, 1846, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Leby, who emigrated to America in 1866. They took up their abode
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in Chicago and the father was there employed as a laborer until his death in 1878 when sixty years of age, the mother passing away in 1906 when she was sixty-nine years of age. Their family numbered four children, namely : Mrs. Meyer; Mrs. Mary Meyer, of Bureau county ; Mrs. Barbara Russell, who resides in Chicago; and Joseph, also living in Chicago. Unto Mr. and Mrs. John C. Meyer have been born seven children: Edward R., who married Rose Thompson and makes his home in Spring Hill, Illinois; Elmer, who wedded Bessie Keiner and lives at Atkinson, Illinois; Annie, who became the wife of Edward Arnett, of Henry county, Illinois; William J., at home; Ernest, who married Bessie Laurence and resides in Portland township; Christiana, who wedded Edward Franks, of Spring Hill, Illinois; and Frank, of Portland township, who married Miss Ida Miller.
In his political views Mr. Meyer was originally a republican, but for the past twenty years has been a stanch advocate of democracy. He has served as school director for twelve years, as road commissioner for a similar period and is at present filling the office of justice of the peace, his decisions being strictly fair and impartial. Fraternally he is connected with the Masonic fraternity and also with the Modern Woodmen of America, both of Spring Hill, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the German Lutheran church, with which his wife is also identified. He is recognized as one of the influential and honored residents of his community, whose aid can ever be counted upon to further any movement or measure calculated to prove of general good.
JOHN J. BRISTLE.
John J. Bristle is one of the most progressive agriculturists of Whiteside . county. He owns about four hundred and sixty-seven acres of rich farming land in Union Grove and Ustick townships, has remodeled the buildings upon his place and has a well furnished modern residence. Everything about his farm bespeaks the supervision of, a practical, progressive owner and the suc- cess which he has achieved attests the value of the methods he has followed in carrying on his work. He is one of the county's native sons, his birth hav- ing occurred near Sterling, September 29, 1858.
His father, George J. Bristle, was born in Germany in 1828 and came to America at the age of twenty-six years, first settling in Ohio, whence he after- ward came to Illinois and entered the employ of Dr. Pendleton, of Sterling. In 1843 he made his first purchase of land, becoming owner of ten acres, and when he had saved a sufficient sum from his earnings he bought forty acres in Ustick township, upon which he resided until 1867. He then removed to Clyde township, where he lived for a number of years, after which he in- vested in property in Morrison and retired to private life, enjoying throughout his remaining days the fruits of his earnest and unremitting toil. There he died April 27, 1904, and his genuine worth as a man and citizen made his death the occasion of deep regret to many friends. He has one brother resid-
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ing in the middle west, Simon Bristle, who is now living retired in Boone, Iowa, while another brother, Fred Bristle, died in Sterling. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Dorothy Eslinger. She was born in Germany in 1831 and was married in Ohio, where her parents continued to reside until they were called to their final rest. Unto Mr. and Mrs. George J. Bristle were born four children: John J .; Lewis, who is now living re- tired in Morrison ; Lizzie Landis Bristle, who died in Coleta in 1903; and Mrs. Susan Deeters, of Morrison.
As a farm boy John J. Bristle spent the period of his minority and in assisting his father in earrying on the home farm he laid the foundation for his present success. He has always followed general agricultural pursuits and is today the owner of valuable property of neat and attractive appearance. In his business career he accomplishes what he undertakes and brooks no ob- stacles that can be overcome by determined, persistent effort.
On the 25th of December, 1882, Mr. Bristle was married to Miss Adda Body. Her father, Isaac Body, was born July 12, 1837, in Iroquois county, Illinois, where his parents, Isaac and Mary (Mycrs) Body, had located on coming from Pennsylvania. Isaac Body was reared to the occupation of farming, which he ehose as a life work, and when twenty-six years of age he started out on his own aeeount. In 1863 he came to Whiteside county and for a year eultivated a rented farm in Ustick township. In the succceding year he purchased cighty aercs of land, which he cultivated with satisfactory and substantial results. He has erccted here an excellent class of buildings and the farm is most pleasantly loeated, while its improvements make it a valuable property. His interests now include two hundred and twenty acres in Ustick township and one hundred and twenty aeres in Clyde township, all of which is eultivable.
On the 13th of November, 1860, Isaac. Body was married in Carroll county, Illinois, to Miss Cyrena Dyson and they became parents of seven children : Adda, the wife of Jolin Bristle; Charles C., a farmer and stock- raiser living in Trumbull county, South Dakota; Della E., the wife of George Tyson, of Portland, Oregon; Mary L., the wife of Herman Dykema, living on a farm in Ustick township; Samuel M., a resident of Portland, Oregon; Elmer J., who died September 26, 1894; and Etta C., the wife of Albert Mathews, also a resident farmer of Ustick township. The father of this family died August 12, 1887, being killed in a wreck. He was a republican in his political views and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist ehureh. Mrs. Body was born November 15, 1839, in Carroll county, Illinois, and is still living. Her parents were Hezekiah and Ruth (McIndoo) Dyson, natives of Indiana; whence they removed to Carroll county, Illinois, when it was still a frontier district. Their children were James, Charles, William, Cyrena, Hezekiah, Ruth, Cornelius, Margaret A., Dimmis D. and Mary E. Dyson.
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