USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 79
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JOSEPH HENRY CHAMBERLIN.
Joseph Henry Chamberlin is now engaged in the real-estate and fire in- surance business in Chicago but for a long period was identified with the in- terests of Sterling and Whiteside county. He was born November 24, 1850, upon a farm near Schenectady, New York. His parents were George Anson and Mary Caroline (Brown) Chamberlin. The father was born in Thetford, Vermont, and was a direct descendant of Captain Chamberlin, who fought. against the British in colonial wars. Captain Chamberlin came from England to the new world and settled in Massachusetts in 1638. The paternal grand- father was a soldier of the war of 1812 and his son, George A. Chamberlin, often told of his return from the war, when he came back home and hung up his gun over the door. Reared as a farm boy, George A. Chamberlin afterward became a school teacher and later devoted his energies to carpenter- ing and farming. He wedded Mary Caroline Brown, who traces her ancestry back through ten generation to the famous Anneke Jans, who owned the farm lands on which Trinity church and thousands of other valuable build- ings in New York city now stand. Suits by the heirs for possession of this property have occupied the courts for many years.
Joseph H. Chamberlain spent a portion of his youth in Sterling, and later upon a farm south of Sterling, near Green river bottoms, which district was the breeding place for ducks, geese, cranes, prairic chickens, quail and woodcock, and thus he early developed a taste for hunting and fishing, which have since been his favorite recreations on his annual vacations. As a boy he was a constant reader and the literary habit formed in youth has con- tinued through his later life. He pursued his education in the schools of Sterling and of Whiteside county, and when ten years of age was a pupil in the Empire school of W. W. Davis, the editor of the historical section of this volume. His preliminary education completed, he attended the Lutheran college at Mendota, Illinois, and soon after took up the profession of teach- ing. For several years he was principal of the Round Grove school and he followed that calling while preparing for the bar. Entering the Univerity of Michigan at Ann Arbor, he was graduated from the law department in 1882. Returning to Sterling, he engaged in the practice of law, and in the
J. H. CHAMBERLIN
LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS URBANA
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real-estate and insurance business in partnership with his brother George. He thus remained in aetive eonneetion with professional interests in White- side county until 1887, when he removed to Chicago. There he purchased considerable real estate and conducted a real-estate and fire insurance busi- ness, becoming agent for leading fire insurance companies and securing a good clientage in both lines.
Mr. Chamberlin was married in 1878, at Round Grove, Illinois, to Kate W. Simonson, whose father and grandfather were among the first settlers of Whiteside county. The children of this marriage are: Mabel M., now the wife of Ralph Wilkinson; James Perey; Jessie Lavinia, the wife of Charles Chapman; and Joseph Frederiek.
Mr. Chamberlin votes with the republican party, but has never devoted his time to politics. He joined the Odd Fellows society when twenty-one years of age, became a member of the Masonic fraternity in 1888, and also affiliates with the Royal Areanum. In his youth he became a member of the Methodist church. In more strictly social lines he is connected with the Fort Dearborn Club and was a member and director of the Ashland Club, its , predecessor.
WINFIELD SCOTT ARGRAVES.
Winfield Scott Argraves, a retired farmer and merchant, now living in Sterling, was born in Viola township, Lee county, Illinois, February 29, 1848, and was the eldest in a family of two sons and two daughters, born of the marriage of Samuel and Martha (Miller) Argraves. The paternal grand- father, a native of England and a weaver by trade, died in New York at an advanced age. The maternal grandfather, John Miller, was a native of Canada and a carpenter by trade. He became one of the carly settlers of Lee county, Illinois, and spent his last years at the home of a daughter near Lawrence, Kansas. He was twice married and by the first union had four daughters: Betty, Catherine, Sarah and Martha. The last named grew to womanhood in the home of her unele, Coon Miller, near Toronto, Canada, and gave her hand in marriage to Samuel Argraves. She was born in Canada, while Mr. Argraves was a native of England. He was brought to Ameriea by his father, however, when nine years of age and the family home was established in the state of New York. He started out in life on his own account when quite young and followed various occupations. About the time he at- tained his majority he became a resident of Lee county, Illinois, and it was there that he wedded Martha Miller. Two years later he went to California, where he engaged in teaming for two years, after which he returned to Illinois by way of the isthmus route and New Orleans, proceeding up the Mississippi and Illinois rivers to Peru. He had already secured a claim of one hundred and sixty acres of land and upon this he built a log cabin and paid for his farm from the proceeds of his earnings on the Pacific coast. His remaining days were passed in Lee county and in his agricultural pursuits he pros-
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pered, becoming an extensive landowner whose possessions aggregated cleven hundred acres, which he divided largely among his children. He was an energetic business man and in addition to his farming pursuits engaged inl loaning money. Toward the close of the war he enlisted in the Fifteenth Illinois Infantry and served until the cessation of hostilities. He then re- turned to the farm, where he conducted general agricultural pursuits until a few years prior to his death, when he took up his abode in Compton, where he enjoyed a well merited rest until his demise, at the age of seventy-four ycars. His widow still survives and is now seventy-six years of age. Both were consistent meinbers of the Methodist church and Mr. Argraves was super- visor of his township for one or two terms. The family numbered two sons and two daughters: Winfield Scott; Angelina, the wife of M. M. Avery, of Dixon, Illinois; Samuel O., of Compton, Illinois; and May, the wife of William Hutchinson, of Dixon.
As boy and youth W. S. Argraves remained upon his father's farm, work- ing in the fields as his years and strength increased and acquiring his cduca- tion in the district schools and in Lutheran College of Mendota, Illinois. After putting aside his text-books, he returned home, continuing with his parents up to the time of his marriage at the age of twenty-one years. He . afterward cultivated a part of his father's farm for a few years and subse- quently bought a farm of one hundred and six acres, which he improved, residing thercon for several years. He then traded with his father for an eight acre farm and after cultivating it for some time he removed to Compton, where he conducted a general store in partnership with his brother-in-law, M. M. Avery. This relation was maintained for a year, after which Mr. Argraves resumed farming on his eighty acrc tract of land. Subsequently he purchased the cast half of the old homestead and thus became the owner of two hundred and fifty acres. His landed possessions at the present time, however, comprise two hundred and cighty-five acres. He again became a resident of Compton in 1895, making his home there for six years, on the expiration of which period he came to Sterling and purchased and remodeled what is now a fine home at No. 601 Eighth avenue. It has since been his place of residence and, pleasantly situated, he is here enjoying many of the com- forts and some of the luxuries of life.
In February, 1869, Mr. Argraves was married to Miss Ellen Mittan, a daughter of Jeptha and Jane (Beemer) Mitten, who were natives of New York and of Pennsylvania respectively. They became early settlers of Lee county, Illinois, driving overland from the east in a wagon. The father died when about seventy-three years of age, while his wife survived to the advanced age of eighty-nine years. They were the parents of eight children, all born and rcared in Lce county, Six of the number are now living, as follows: Harrison ; Lydia, the wife of Andrew Rosecrans; Delia, the wife of Edmund Holton; Celestia, the deceased wife of Dennis Holton; Cassius; Ellen, now Mrs. Argraves; Ida, the wife of Henry Abel; and Alice, the wife of George Miller.
Mr. and Mrs. Argraves have become the parents of seven children: Law- rence, who is engaged in farming, wedded Delia Bccmer, by whom he has
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four daughters and three sons, Erdena, Elliott, Hobart, Ellen, Scott, Florenee and Clara. I.inn, who is also engaged in farming, wedded May McKergin, by whom he has a daughter, Vera. Eugene was a soldier of the Spanish- American war, after which he engaged in teaching school and was in the real-estate business in Sterling and later in the Indian territory. He is now a bookkeeper in the auditing department on the canal zone. He wedded Miss Elizabeth Majors. Eber is the secretary of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation at Grand Forks, North Dakota. Arrow is a civil engineer in Chieago. Winfield Scott, Jr., who pursued a course in Sterling Business College, is now a resident of this city. He wedded Elsie Forrester, who was likewise educated in the Sterling Business College. John Wesley is a plumber by trade and lives at home.
Mr. and Mrs. Argraves are members of the United Brethren church and he gives his political support to the republican party. For a number of years he served as sehool director but has never sought nor desired office. He owes his success to the enterprise and diligence which he displayed in busi- ness, to his careful management and unfaltering determination. As a mer- chant and as an agriculturist he was worthy at all times of the prosperity that came to hini, for his business methods were reliable and he was never known to take advantage of the neecssities of others in a trade transaction. He is now attractively situated in one of the good homes of Sterling, with leisure to enjoy the fruits of his former toil and the pleasant things which life has to offer.
JOHN G. PLUMLEY.
John G. Plumley, a farmer residing on section 29, Hume township, was born in Barre, Massachusetts, July 29, 1849. His father, John H. Plum- ley, was a native of Coneord, Vermont, born in 1821, and his death occurred on the 3d of July, 1882. The mother, who in her maidenhood was Caroline Parks, was born in Waterford, Vermont, in 1835, and died January 22, 1897. They were married in 1850 and six years later eame to Whiteside county, settling first in Prophetstown, where John H. Plumley purchased a farm on section 29, Hume township. At the time he made the investment there were no fences or house in sight of his land. He secured his first dwelling by trading a silver watch for it to Charles McCarter and by enlarging the little dwelling which he had thus received he provided a comfortable pioneer home and placing it upon the ridge, it served as a landmark for those going through the township, the Plumley being for many years considered a guide post to those who were traveling to or through this distriet. The father was active in community affairs during pioneer days and served as supervisor and in other offices in the township. He withheld his cooperation from no move- ment that tended to promote the upbuilding and development of the county and his worth and work made him one of its most respected eitizens. Both he and his wife continued to reside upon the old homestead until they were
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called to their final rest. Unto them were born two sons, the younger, Charles C. Plumley, being now a resident of Peoria, Illinois.
Jolmı G. Plumley was only seven years of age when brought by his par- ents to Whiteside county and liere he was reared amid the conditions and environments of pioncer life. He shared with the family in the hardships and privations which always have to be met in frontier districts and he also bore his full share in the work of general improvement, aiding his father in the arduous task of breaking the sod and cultivating new land. Having ar- rived at years of maturity, he was married February 20, 1879, to Miss Mary A. Lyon, who was born in Mount Pleasant township, December 24, 1855, a daughter of Barton and Sarah N. (Vaughan) Lyon. The father was born July 13, 1816, in Craftsbury, Orleans county, Vermont, and died July 13, 1889. His wife, whose birth occurred March 23, 1821, survived him for sev- eral years and passed away October 23, 1895. She was a native of Stock- bridge, Madison county, New York. It was in the year 1849 that they made their way westward to Whiteside county, settling two miles south of Morrison, where Mr. Lyon built the first house in that part of the county. It was a sub- stantial structure, considered a mansion in those days, and is still standing, a mute witness of the many changes and events that liave here occurred, whereby the county lias been transformed from a wild, unimproved district into one of rich fertility. Mr. Lyon was quite successful in his farming opera- tions, the fields being made to produce rich crops whereby he added material- ly to his income year by year. He continued to reside upon the old homestead until his demise. Unto him and his wife were born nine children, of whom four are living: Marcus, of Tampico, Illinois; Dwight, who is living at White Rock, Oklahoma; Mrs. Cora Lukins; and Mary A., now the wife of our subject.
The liome of Mr. and Mrs. Plumley has been blessed with four children: Sadie, the wife of Alexander Bain, a resident farmer of Hume township, by whom she has one .child, Darlene; John, Fannie and Charles, all yet at home.
Mr. Plumley when twenty-six years of age began farming on his own account and has always been especially interested in stock-raising, carrying on an extensive business in the purchase, sale and shipment of stock, a business that has reached into the hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. As his financial resources have increased he has added to his property from time to time until he now owns four hundred acres of valuable land in Whiteside county, together with one hundred and sixty aeres in Holt county, Nebraska, and three hundred and twenty acres in Como. With the assistance of his son Jolin he is carrying on the home farm of four hundred acres, constituting one of the valuable properties of this part of the state. The farm is equipped witli modern conveniences and accessories and everything about the place indieates tlie care and supervision of a practical and progressive owner who keeps up with the times in every particular concerning agricultural advance- ment. As stated he is a successful stock-raiser and shipper and possesses ex- cellent judgment in making his purchases of stock so that he never loses upon an investment but on the contrary receives a good profit therefrom. In his business dealings, too, he has been found thoroughly reliable as well as en- terprising and his success is therefore' well merited.
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Mr. Plumley has always taken a deep and commendable interest in poli- ties and lie is a stalwart worker in behalf of the republican party, believing strongly in its principles yet never seeking nor desiring office. In fact when his fellow townsmen have solicited him to become a candidate he has steadily refused, feeling that his business interests claim his undivided time and atten- tion. He is a charter member of Sterling Camp, M. W. A., and also of the Mystie Workers of the World. He likewise belongs to the Fraternal Reserve and is connected through membership relations with the Yeomen of Ameri- ca. His brethren of these fraternities entertain for him warm regard, respect- ing him as a matt of genuine worth as well as business capability and through- out the county he has gained many warn friends. Here he has lived for more than a half century and his life history is therefore as an open book to his fellow townsmen.
THOMAS JEFFERSON BURCH.
Thomas Jefferson Bureh, who is engaged in the grain trade at Morrison with his brother, L. W. Burch, under the firm style of Burch Brothers, has displayed throughout his business career a spirit of enterprise and determina tion that has brought him desirable success and argues well for future ad- vancement in the business world. He represents one of the oldest and most honored pioneer families of the county.
His father, Harrison D. Burch, was born in Chautauqua county, New York, July 22. 1833, a son of Ira and Joanna M. (Bacon) Burch, natives of New York and Vermont respectively. After their marriage they located in the Empire state and a few years later went to Indiana, whence in 1837 they removed to Illinois. They are mentioned in the early records of the county as being one of four families who settled that year in Garden Plain town- ship. Their family numbered four children: Harrison D., Thomas J., Eliza S. and Ira S.
Harrison D. Burch was but four years of age when brought by his par- ents to Illinois. He was reared upon the home farm amid the wild scenes. · and environments of frontier life at a time when the countryside was largely unsettled, when wild game was to be had in abundance and when there was little evidence that the seeds of civilization had been planted here. As oppor- tunity offered he attended the district schools and when not busy with his text-books worked at farm labor. He afterward engaged in farming on his own account and through the careful management of his business affairs and through judicious investment he became the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of valuable land in Union Grove. This, however, he has since sold. At one time he lived for several years across the line in Garden Plain township. He was an enterprising agriculturist and business man and the careful con- trol of his farming interests brought to him the capital that enabled him to retire from active life in 1899 and establish his home in Morrison, where he has since enjoyed a well earned rest, the fruits of his former toil supplying
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him with all of the comforts and some of the luxurie's of life. He has been a stalwart republican since the formation of the party, served as supervisor of Union Grove township for two terms and filled other local offices.
In early manhood Harrison D. Bureh was married to Miss Elizabeth Wookey, who was born in England in 1835 and is now living at the age of seventy-two years. Her parents were George and Maria (Bryant) Wookey, 'who came to the United States in 1849 and settled in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where the death of the father occurred. The mother afterward came to this state. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Bureh had a family of thirteen children, of whom nine are yet living. Thomas J. is a stoek-dealer of Morrison and a partner of his father and brother, L. W., who is the next in order of birth. Mary is the wife of Horace Hinds, of Kansas. Ella became the wife of Wal- ter King, a civil engineer of Brooklyn, New York. George W. is a grain buyer of Galt. Elizabeth is the wife of Harry W. Dysart, a grain buyer of Franklin Grove, Illinois. Herbert H. is living on a farm in Union Grove. Nettie became the wife of James Spears, a merchant of Goff, Kansas. Fred- erick is a barber in Morrison.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Thomas J. Bureh in his boyhood and youth. He was born in' Garden Plain township, Whiteside county, May 12, 1858, and in the spring of 1868 the family removed to Union Grove, where he lived upon the home farm with his father until his marriage. He attended the country schools, acquiring a good English education that well fitted him for life's practical and responsible duties. When not busy with his text-books he assisted in the work of the home farm and early became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. On the 18th of March, 1880, he made prepara- tion for having a home of his own, for that was the date on which he wedded Miss Rebecca 'Stinton, a daughter of Elijah Stinton, of Union. Grove. Unto them has been born one son, W. H. Burch, who is now attending school at Chainpaign, Illinois.
. 1. For five .or six years after his marriage Mr. Burch resided upon one of his father's farms and actively carried on its cultivation. He later rented another farm'and subsequently purchased a traet of land adjoining that prop- 'erty. . For twelve years he continued to improve and develop the place and beeanie known as one of the enterprising, energetic and successful agricul- 'turists of the community. He then sold out in 1899 and removed to Morri- son,"where he purchased a 'mill and elevator, which he operated for two years. "On the expiration of that period he disposed of the business and joined his father in the live-stoek business.' Later he entered the grain trade in con- nection with his brother, L. W. Burch; and they are still associated in this line of business activity. They handle a large amount of grain annually, their business furnishing an excellent market for the grain raisers of the county, while their sales bring to them a gratifying annual ineome.
While an active, energetie and enterprising business man, Mr. Burch has yet found time to promote publie interests by his eooperation in many move- ments for the general good. For 'eighteen years he has served as school trus- tee and the cause of education finds in him a stalwart champion. He was
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also commissioner of highways in Union Grove. His entire life has been passed in Whiteside county and he has fully sustained the high reputation which has always been borne by the family in matters of business and citizen- ship. He has worked earnestly and persistently to achieve success and what- ever prosperity has come to him is the direct reward of his own labors.
FRANK E. LANCASTER.
Frank E. Lancaster, the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of excellent farming land on sections 20 and 29, Prophetstown township, was born in this . township on the 4th of December, 1867, a son of Charles and Sarah (Hippy) Lancaster. The father was a native of England, born in 1827, and thinking to enjoy better business opportunities in the new world he resolved to take ad- vantage of the chances here offered and in 1851 crossed the Atlantic to New York. Later he located in Whiteside county, arriving in the year 1856. Not having the capital with which to purchase a farm, he rented land for about ten years and during that period his dilligence and careful expenditure brought him sufficient funds to justify his investment in a farm on section 24, Lyndon township. To this he added as opportunity offered until at the time of his death he owned a valuable property of two hundred and eighty-six acres. Long since the time had passed when he was able to secure only the necessities of life, for as year by year went by his careful conduct of his busi- ness interests brought him a good return, enabling him to secure the com- forts and some of the luxuries which go to make life worth living. He passed away December 18, 1906, and is still survived by his widow, who now resides in Prophetstown township. This worthy couple were the parents of four sons and two daughters, namely: Mary, the wife of M. S. Hill, of Prophetstown township; Charles, who makes his home in Prophetstown; Sarah, the wife of Millard Hill, also of Prophetstown; W. M., also of this city ; Henry C., who carries on farming in Prophetstown township, and Frank E., of this review.
Frank E. Lancaster acquired a common-school education and remained under the parental roof until he had attained the age of twenty-one years. He then purchased one hundred and sixty acres on sections 20 and 29, Proph- etstown township, where he has since resided. As the years have gone by he has brought his land under a high state of cultivation, the fields annually returning rich harvests as a reward for the carc and labor he bestows upon them.
On the 11th of March, 1891, Mr. Lancaster was united in marriage to Miss Laura Frances, who was born in 1870, a daughter of Isaac and Anna (Thompson) Frances, the former a native of England and the latter of New Jerscy. They came to Whiteside county in 1869, and the father passed away in 1899 but Mrs. Frances still survives, making her home in Prophetstown. She had a family of seven children, namely: Mrs. Lancaster; Jennie, the wife of Charles Fee, of Prophetstown township; George, of Davenport, Iowa; William and John, who reside in Erie, Illinois; Edward, who lives in Prophets-
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