USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside County, Illinois, from its earliest settlement to 1908, Vol. II > Part 8
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of stone taken from the bottom of Rock river and is three stories in height, and their output has become extensive, this proving one of the profitable pro- ductive industries of the county. Mr. Dillon was also one of the organizers and president of the Dillon-Griswold Wire Company, which was formed in 1892. He is still largely interested in this concern, which is on the Sterling side of the Rock river and which has employed as many as three hundred · men at a time.
On the 8th of May, 1873, occurred the marriage of Washington M. Dillon and Miss Sarah J. Martin, a daughter of John and Catherine (Hoover) Martin. There are four children of that union, Mary Catharine, Margaret Annauche, John Martin and Paul Washington. The elder daugh- ter is the wife of Daniel Pierce Wild, a resident of Sycamore, Illinois, and they have three daughters, Margaret Dillon, Sarah Pauline and Catharine Virginia. The elder son is a practicing physician of Chicago, while the younger son is superintendent of the Northwestern Wire Works. He mar- ried Miss Crete Blackman and they have two daughters, Crete Blackman and Margaret Jane. The son-in-law, Daniel Pierce Wild, is connected with the financial interest of Sycamore, being vice president of the Pierce Trust & Savings Bank.
Mr. and Mrs. Dillon are devoted members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Dillon belongs to Will Robinson Post, G. A. R. His political alle- ": giance is given to the republican party, but he has neither time nor inclina- tion for office, preferring to concentrate his cnergies upon his extensive busi- ness affairs. His beautiful home, known as Oaklawn, embraces six acres of ground, in the midst of which stands a finc residence. In his business life he has been watchful of opportunity and through the improvement of the advan- tages that have come to him he has gradually advanced to a prominent place in industrial circles, belonging also to that class of representative business men who, while promoting individual prosperity, also contribute to the gen- eral welfare.
FREDERICK WOESSNER, JR.
Frederick Woessner, Jr., is engaged in the cultivation of a farm of two hundred and thirty acres in Gencsee township belonging to his father. He is a widc-awake, alert and energetic young business man, whom Whiteside county is glad to number among her native sons. He was born on the old family homestead here May 27, 1878, and, as the name indicates, is of German lincage. His parents, Frederick and Christina (Mutchler) Woessner, were both natives of Germany, and in carly life came to the United States. Al- though the father began his business career as a farm hand, he is now the owner of two fine farm properties in Jordan and Genesee townships. His life has been one of unremitting activity and well directed cffort, and upon these qualities he has builded the success which now makes him one of the sub- stantial citizens of his community. Both he and his wife are yet residents of Jordan township. In the family of this worthy couple were ten children,
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namely: William, of Whiteside county ; Frederick, of this review; Frank and John, both deceased; George, likewise of this county; Kate, the wife of John Holacher, of Whiteside county; Minnie, who became the wife of Charles Faulker, and resides in this county; Lizzie, at home; Emma, who has passed away ; and Anna, also at home.
Frederick Woessner attended the public schools in early youth and re- mained with his parents until he attained his majority. During the summer months he worked in the fields until the task of plowing, planting and har- vesting became familiar to him, and thus, with practical experience, he en- tered upon agricultural pursuits as a life work when, on attaining his ma- jority, he started in business on his own account by renting one of his father's farms. The place comprises two hundred and thirty acres of rich and productive land in Genesee township, the soil responding readily to the care and cultivation which he bestows upon it, the early spring planting being followed by the golden harvests of autumn.
In 1900 Mr. Woessner was married to Miss Mary Johnson, a native of Whiteside county, whose parents are residents of Sterling. This union has been blessed with four children: Olive C., Eveline A., Ada M. and Ruth M. The parents are members of the German Lutheran church, and arc inter- ested in the church work and other movements which are for the benefit of mankind or the promotion of the interests of the county. Mr. Woessner exercises his right of franchise in support of the republican party, and keeps well informed on the questions of the day, but has never sought or desired office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business, knowing that close and unrelaxing industry, guided by sound judgment, will eventually win the success which is the goal of his hopes.
ALLEN N. BRADFORD.
Rock Falls is pre-eminently an industrial center, and is brought into close contact with the outside world through its trade relations, as it sends its manufactured products into various parts of the country. . Mr. Bradford is a well known representative of industrial life here, as manager of the Russell, Burdsall & Ward Bolt & Nut Company, in which connection his expert mechanical ability and knowledge are brought into constant play.
He was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts, April 3, 1873, being the elder of two children of Allen and Lydia (Nyc) Bradford, his sister being Lydia Drew Bradford. He is a direct descendant in the seventh generation . from Governor William Bradford, who came over in the Mayflower in 1620 and was chosen executive head of the Plymouth colony. His grand- father, David Bradford, who was born in Plymouth, Massachusetts, April 29, 1796, died July 22, 1860. A rolling mill and nail factory at Chilton- ville, now a part of Plymouth, began operation there in 1827, and soon afterward David Bradford became superintendent and was thus closely as- sociated with the industrial interests of the town. He was the inventor of
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a nail machine of considerable merit, and was widely known for his skill and ability in his chosen field of labor. Allen Bradford, father of our sub- ject, was born in Plymouth, August 17, 1837, and departed this life April 26, 1876. At the time of his death he was superintendent of the tack de- partment of the Cobb & Drews factory. His widow still survives him and is yet a resident of Plymouth. Her father, Captain Gorham H. Nye, was born at Nantucket, Massachusetts, April 25, 1803, and died on the 31st of October, 1878. He was a sea captain and made many voyages to the Sandwich Islands and was a trader on the coast of Oregon. At the time that gold was discov- ered in California in 1848, he was in that state. His daughter, Lydia G. Nye, was born in Honolulu, on the Sandwich Islands, January 30, 1844.
Allen N. Bradford, reared in the place of his nativity, entered the public schools at the usual age, and as he mastered the various branches of learning passed from grade to grade until he completed the high school course by graduation. His literary training conipleted, he entered upon his business career in the employ of Cobb & Drew, manufacturers of rivets, tacks and nails, at their main factory in Plymouth. In 1896 he came to Rock Falls and took charge of their plant there, which at that time occupied a part of the Lawrence Brothers' building. In the year 1901 the company erected a wire mill on l'and leased from the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, for drawing their own wire, and in 1903 erected a large plant for the manu- facture of rivets, bolts and nuts, which contains sixty thousand square feet of floor space, being in part two stories high, and the remainder three stories higlı. Employment is given to one hundred skilled workmen. The firm of Cobb & Drew carried on business until 1907, when they sold their Rock Falls plant to the Russell, Burdsall & Ward Bolt & Nut Company, which is the style of the present firm. The product of this plant is sold throughout the west and they have sales offices in the Commercial National Bank build- ing of Chicago. Mr. Bradford, because of his practical knowledge of the busi- ness, is well qualified for the onerous and responsible duties which devolve upon him as manager of the factory, and the success of the enterprise is due in no small degree to his well directed efforts.
In his social relations Mr. Bradford is a Mason, and has attained high rank in the order, belonging to Rock River Lodge, No. 612, A. F. & A. M .; Sterling Chapter, No. 57, R. A. M .; and Sterling Commandery, No. 57, K. T. He is also a valued member of the Sterling Club and has gained much social popularity during his residence in this city.
HARRY ECKLES BURKHOLDER.
The history of a community has long since ceased to be a record of war and conquest. It is the account of its business development, the utilization of its natural resources and the establishment of those institutions which in- dicate the onward march of civilization. Now associated with commercial activity in Sterling is Harry Eckles Burkholder, one of the native sons of the city, who is successfully dealing in farm implements, buggies and wagons.
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He was born on the 5th of December, 1877, being one of the seven chil- dren of Christian and Mary (Irvine) Burkholder, natives of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and of Illinois, respectively. The paternal grandfather, Elias Burkholder, was also born in the Keystone state, and was of German descent. In carly life he followed general farming in Pennsylvania, but afterward engaged in buying cattle in Whiteside county for many years, becoming one of the enterprising and leading business men of this part of the state. He died in the spring of 1907 at the advanced age of eighty-four years, and thus passed away one of the respected and worthy residents of the community. His wife, Mrs. Maria (Blair) Burkholder, still survives.
Their family of four children included Christian Burkholder, who was brought by his parents to Illinois during his boyhood days, in 1859, and settled at Sterling, where he acquired his carly education, continuing his studies at Mount Morris, Illinois. He has now lived in Whiteside county for almost a half century. In his youth he worked on the farm with his father, and early became inured to hard labor, such as falls to the lot of the pioneer in the development of farms on the frontier. He afterward accepted the position of bookkeeper with H. S. Street in the implement business, and eventually became Mr. Strcet's successor. He prospercd as a merchant and crected a large brick building, where he has now conducted business for thirty years, being one of the most reliable and best known business men of the city. He and his wife are members of the Congregational church. He stands for progressive citizenship and his efforts in behalf of municipal in- terests have been far-reaching and beneficial. He was mayor of Sterling for two terms, and discharged the duties of the office in a prompt and busi- ness-like way that produced results favorable to the best interests of the city. Prior to his service as mayor he was alderman for several terms, and for a number of years has been president of the consolidated school board, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion. He was also a member of the republican central committee for several years, and his opin- ions have carried weight in the councils of the party.
Christian Burkholder wedded Mary Irvine, a daughter of Joseph Ir- vine, one of the early settlers of Illinois and a farmer who for many years tilled the soil, but finally retired from active life and removed to Rockford, where he died at an advanced age, having long survived his wife. There were three children of the first marriage, and later he married again, having also three children by that union. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Burkholder have been born four sons and three daughters, of whom five are yet living: Charley, who makes his home in Charlotte, North Carolina; Charlotte, the wife of Harvey Keefcr, of Sterling; Homer S., residing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Harry E., a twin brother of Homer, who lives in Sterling; and Alice, the wife of E. B. Scott, of West Haven, Connecticut.
Harry E. Burkholder was reared in Sterling, and when he had mastered the branches of learning taught in the public schools he prepared specially for the practical and responsible duties of business life by a course in a com- mercial college in Quincy. He then joined his father in business, becoming familiar with the implement trade, and is now his father's successor. For
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five years he traveled upon the road as a salesman, and is now controlling an extensive patronage in Sterling in farm implements, buggies and wagons. He carries the output of standard manufactorics, and his carncst desire to please his patrons, combined with reliable business methods, have won for him desirable success.
On the 12th of September, 1900, Mr. Burkholder married Miss Frances Louise Bowman, a daughter of Edward and Maria (Adams) Bowman, who came to this county at an early day and here reared their family of five children. Mr. and Mrs. Burkholder are members of the Congregational church and are prominent socially, the hospitality of the best homes of the city being cordially extended them. Mr. Burkholder votes with the repub- lican party, but the demands of growing business leave him little time for activity in public affairs.
C. F. RIBORDY.
C. F. Ribordy, who has devoted his entire life to general agricultural pursuits, has gained a prosperity which comes as the direct reward of carn- est, persistent labor, intelligently applied. A valuable property of four hun- dred and thirty-two acres now pays tribute to him, and he also derives a good income from his stock-raising interests. His life record began in LaSalle county, Illinois, on the 14th of July, 1866, his parents being Ferdinand and Louisa (Pellouchoud) Ribordy, who were natives of Switzerland and came to America in the early '40s. They settled in LaSalle county, Illinois, where the father secured land from the government, converting this raw tract into well cultivated fields. There he carried on farming until the time of the Civil war, when, feeling that his first duty was to his adopted country, and being imbued with the liberty-loving spirit so characteristic of the Swiss race, he joined the army as a member of the Fifty-sixth Illinois Infantry and served for three years. After the close of the war, in which he did his full duty as a soldier, he returned to LaSalle county, and soon after removed to Livingston county, where he purchased two hundred acres of good farm land. From that time until 1892 he was busily and successfully engaged in the work of cultivating the fields and caring for the crops. He then retired from active business and removed to Dwight, where his remaining days were passed in the enjoynient of well earned rest, his death occurring in 1903. His wife died in 1892. Their family numbered four children, namely: C. F. Ribordy ; Pauline, a resident of Kempton, Illinois; and Joseph and Will- iam, who are living in Ford county, this statc.
At the usual age C. F. Ribordy became a pupil in the public school near his father's home, and completed his education in the Sugar Grove school. When not occupied with his text-books his time was largely given to the work of the fields and year after year he assisted in plowing, planting and harvest- ing, until he gained comprehensive knowledge of the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He continued on the old homestead farm
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until twenty-seven years of age, when he was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Lyons, who was born in Livingston county, Illinois, in 1867. Her father is still residing there, but the mother is now deceased. Their family numbered eleven children, and unto Mr. and Mrs. Ribordy were born the following children : Louisa, Isabelle, Florence, Beatrice, Raymond and Genevieve Catherine. Mrs. Ribordy died on the 27th of January, 1908.
Following his marriage Mr. Ribordy rented his father's farm, which he cultivated for six years. His careful control of expenses and his unfaltering industry brought him a goodly measure of success, and he bought land in Lee county, upon which he lived for five years, when he sold that property. He next invested in two hundred and sixty acres of land on section 12, Mont- morency township, where he now makes his home. He has since added to his holdings, however, until his possessions aggregate four hundred and thirty- two acres in Whiteside and Lee counties. His farm property is valuable, owing to the care and labor he has bestowed upon it, and to the substantial improvements that have been made. He is engaged in the raising of short- horn cattle and Shropshire sheep, and this branch of his business claims much of his attention and brings him a good profit. In politics Mr. Ribordy is a republican, but while neither seeking nor desiring office, he has served as school treasurer. He and his wife arc members of St. Mary's Catholic church of Sterling. Mr. Ribordy displays many of the strong and salient characteristics of his Swiss ancestry, and in his business life has mani- fested a strength of purpose that has never permitted him to turn back from any work that he has undertaken, but has always permitted his faithful exe- cution of the same. Year after year he has worked on, and his labors have brought him a gratifying measure of success.
EUGENE P. SULLIVAN, M. D.
Dr. Eugene P. Sullivan is engaged in the practice of medicine and sur- gery in Morrison. His life record began in Madison, Wisconsin, on the 31st of October, 1873. His father, Cornelius Sullivan, a native of Ireland, is now living in Chicago, Illinois, at the age of fifty-nine years. He came to the United States about 1858, and for a time resided in New York, after which he removed westward to Wisconsin, where he engaged in business as a rail- road contractor. This work took him from one state to another, but for the past ten years he has made his home in Chicago. He has been quite success- ful in his business undertakings, and though he started out in life empty- handed, he is now in possession of a comfortable competency. In politics he is a republican, and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Catholic church. In carly manhood he wedded Katherine Galligher, who was born on the Emerald isle, and is now living at the age of fifty-six years. She came to the United States, with her parents, about 1858, and the family home was established in Madison, Wisconsin. She holds membership with the Episcopal church. By her marriage she became the mother of two sons, the younger being Samuel, a practicing physician of Chicago.
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Dr. Eugene P. Sullivan, the elder son, was educated in the public schools of his native city, passing through successive grades until he was graduated from the high school there. He afterward pursued a pre-medical course in the University of Wisconsin, and in 1895 entered Rush Medical College of Chicago, from which he was graduated with the class of 1899. The follow- ing year he began practice in Malvern, Illinois, where he remained until 1902, when he came to Morrison, where for six years he has practiced, meeting with a fair measure of success.
In 1897 Dr. Sullivan was married to Miss Laura Gertrude Ennis, who was born in Chicago in 1875. They have four children: Samuel, Eugenie, Lawrence and Lorna. The parents are communicants of the Catholic church and Dr. Sullivan is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Mystic Workers of the World. He belongs to the Whiteside County, the State, the American and the Northern Central Medical Associations. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, but he has never been an aspirant for office, preferring to give his un- divided attention to his professional duties, which are performed with a sense of conscientious obligation.
GEORGE P. RICHMOND.
Almost six decades have passed since George P. Richmond located in Whiteside county and cast in his lot with its early pioneer settlers, so that no history of the county would be complete without mention of him. He is also one of the largest landowners and stock-raisers of this section of the state, being in possession of nineteen hundred acres, all in Whiteside county and of this amount he operates nine hundred acres.
Mr. Richmond was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, October 24, 1827, a son of John and Clara (Parker) Richmond, who were likewise natives of the old Bay state, where they spent their entire lives. Their family numbered three sons and one daughter, namely: John, who resided in Massachusetts, but is now deceased; Mary, who resides in Connecticut; George P., of this review ; and Rufus P., deceased.
George P. Richmond was a little lad of eleven years when he lost his parents, so that he was early thrown upon his own resources. He acquired his education in the common schools of the east, wherein he obtained a fair knowledge of the English branches. After the death of his parents he went to live with an uncle, with whom he remained until he had attained his majority. At that time, in the year 1849, he started for Illinois, hoping that in the west he might find better advantages than could be enjoyed in the older east. Accordingly he made his way by water to Chicago and in that city purchased a horse, which he rode to Whiteside county. Here he entered one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government, this tract being located on section 26, Prophetstown township. He still owns his first pur- chase. He at once began to develop and improve the land and in due course
Ger P Richmond
LIBRAHY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
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of time had it in a good state of fertility. The following year hc purchased ninety-onc acres more, and also improved this. Since that time as his finan- cial condition has permitted he has added to his landed possessions until he now owns nearly nineteen hundred acres, all in Prophetstown township. He has under his personal supervision nine hundred acres of this, while the balance he rents, so that he is numbered among the largest landowners of this section of Illinois. In addition to raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, he devotes much of his land to pasturage, for since 1857 he has made a specialty of raising and feeding cattle and hogs, being extensively engaged in this business, shipping from two to three hundred cattle each year. For the past twenty-five years he has also engaged in raising horscs, handling Hambletonian stock, and this also adds materially to his annual income. He is a man of excellent business ability and sound judgment and this has proved the foundation of his splendid success.
On the 22d of February, 1860, Mr. Richmond was united in marriage to Miss Sevilla Gage, who was born in Whiteside county, while her parents were natives of Vermont. She became the mother of two sons and a daugh- ter: John, who lives on the homestead farm; Mrs. Mary Passmore, a resi- dent of Iowa; and Harry, at home. The wife and mother, however, is de- ceascd, lier death occurring April 18, 1879.
Mr. Richmond lias always given stanch support to the republican party and has filled the offices of school director and assessor. When Mr. Richmond located in Whiteside county it was still inhabited by the red men, few white settlers having as yet ventured into the wild region to establish homes. Deer and wolves were still found roaming over the prairies and through the forests and wild game was to be had in abundance. There was little to encourage him when he first came, but he possessed a courageous spirit and resolved to endure the hardships and privations which are always to be met in a frontier district. In the six decades which have since come and gone he has not only seen Whiteside county grow from a wild country, with only a few white inhabitants, to a rich agricultural district, containing thousands of good homes and growing towns inhabited by an industrious, prosperous and progressive people, but he has participated in the slow, persistent work of development which was necessary to produce this great change, and now at the age of four score years he is supplied with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life and is numbercd among the venerable and highly respected pioneer settlers of his section of the state.
ALFRED P. PORTER.
Alfred P. Porter is one of the extensive land owners of Whiteside county and is well known as a real-estate dealer, having in charge the rental of vari- ous properties and also condueting a loan business. The enterprising spirit of the sueccssful business man is his. Born in Dixon, Illinois, on the 16th of April, 1858, he is a son of James and Paulina (Bowman) Porter, who were
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