USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of Whiteside county, Illinois, from its first settlement to the present time, with numerous Biographical and Family Sketches > Part 55
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Prophetstown Postoffice, and got four residents and three travelers to sign it. I then went back for my family with as much speed as possible, fearing some one would come and "jump" my claim, as it was called. I have also said that provisions were high, but as soon as I began to have a surplus everything was on the decline. Still I kept on breaking and improving for five years, until I had one hundred and thirty acres under cultivation, and considerable stock. Since I have been in Illinois I have been engaged in agriculture and in the im- provement of horses, cattle, and hogs, which will long be remembered by the inhabitants of Whiteside county, some of whom know that I came here poor. I have had rather an up hill road to travel, yet I have plenty of this world's goods to make me and mine comfortable to the end of life." Mr. Reynolds moved to Sterling about the year 1860, and died there January 21, 1865. He was mar- ried July 13, 1819, to Miss Phebe B. Brace. The children all live in Prophets- town, and are : P. Bates, who married Miss Polly Smith, and after her death married Miss Elizabeth May; Orpha, wife of Edward S. Gage; Amanda, wife of Edson Smith; Linus, who married Miss Sarah Conner; Clark, who married Miss Amanda Conner. The three brothers are engaged in the occupation of farming, are enterprising, thorough men, and stand high in the community. P. Bates has filled various town offices-has been township Treasurer for a number of years, for the last two years Supervisor of Prophetstown, and is Chairman of the pres- ent Board of Supervisors of Whiteside county, a position which he ably fills.
ANTHONY J. MATTSON was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, Decem- ber 23, 1818, about one mile from the Erie county line. His father was a na- tive of Scotland, and his mother of Ireland. When about three years of age, his parents moved to Erie county, Pennsylvania. Before he had attained the age of six years his mother died, and before he was twelve years of age he left home, going out into the wide world for himself, for thenceforth he was to be his own master, and dependent upon his own labor for the supply of his wants. He came to Prophetstown in 1838, and although but nineteen had traveled quite extensively-to the east as far as New York and Philadelphia; south as far as Vicksburg, and west to St. Louis. He came to Prophetstown by way of St.Louis, Peoria, and Knoxville, arriving on the 23d of June, and soon after engaged in mechanical pursuits to which his tastes led, and for which nature had happily endowed him, having given a mind to plan, and a hand to execute its behests. On the 9th of April, 1840, he was married to Miss Luey B. Minchin, a native of Vermont, and a lady possessing all the gifts and graces for which the fair daughters of that renowned State are celebrated. But one child was born to this union-Alice, born August 17, 1843. She died July 20, 1844, and gloom for a time darkened the otherwise happy home of the parents. Time brought changes. The country improved; business revived after the depression conse- quent upon the visionary schemes and lunatic financeering of 1839-'40, and a brighter future opened. In 1848, Mr. Mattson was appointed Postmaster at Prophetstown, and in 1852 opened a small store and continued in this business until the beginning of 1855. In April of that year he entered into the banking business, in which he was actively engaged until he was burned out. Be- tween 1853 and 1860 he devoted much time and effort toward securing the con- struction of a railway to Prophetstown, so as to give it an outlet to Chicago and St. Louis. From almost the time when Mr. Mattson first became a resident of Prophetstown, he conceived the idea of having it connected with the great markets by railway, but did not actively engage in the work to secure this end until 1853, when he concluded that in order to accomplish the object, a strong effort must be made, and hard work done. For nearly twenty years, commenc- ing with the Sheffield & Savanna Railway enterprise, and shortly after that
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taking up the Camanche, Albany & Mendota, he labored persistently and un- swervingly for the construction of a railroad which would reach Prophetstown. Finally he had his reward when, in March, 1871, the Grand Trunk Railway, owned and operated by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy R. R. Company, was completed to Prophetstown. To no man are the citizens of Prophetstown, or those of other towns along the line of this road from Mendota to the Mississippi river, more indebted for the building of the road, than to A. J. Mattson. His constant aim was to benefit the south side of Rock river, then without railroad facilities. To the interests of the people benefitted by this road he always acted with consistency and strict fidelity, and it is but due to him in this bi- ographical sketch to award him that meed of praise, for securing the accomplish- ment of this object so munificent in its results to the people, which so eminently belongs to him. On the breaking out of the war Mr. Mattson was appointed enrolling officer for Whiteside county, by Governor Yates, and was afterwards appointed Deputy Provost Marshal under Capt. John V. Eustace, which posi- tions he filled to the satisfaction of all. He then received the appointment of Chief Clerk in the U. S. Revenue Assessor's office, for the Third District of Illinois, A. J. Warner, Assessor. In 1856, he was appointed Notary Public, and in the spring of 1859 elected Justice of the Peace, to which latter place he has been re-elected ever since, the best possible evidence that his course has been acceptable to his fellow citizens. The First National Bank of Prophets- town was organized in 1872, with a capital of $50,000-Nathan Thompson, President, and A. J. Mattson, Cashier. This position Mr. Mattson has since filled, and its duties, in connection with his official business, occupies his time, and leaves little opportunity for other pursuits. For four successive years he was an active official member of the State Board of Agriculture, serving with credit to himself, and benefit to the State. Mr. Mattson has built up an enviable reputation as a citizen and a man of business, and occupies a promin- ent position in the community in which he resides.
ISAAC COLIN SOUTHARD was born in Rutland county, Vermont, in 1809, and came to Prophetstown in 1836, locating on Washington street, where he opened one of the best farms in the town. In 1870 he sold the farm to Chauncy Paddock and moved to Minnesota, where his wife died. He is now living in Kansas. Mr. Southard married Miss Almira Hill, their children being: Emery D., who married Miss Lucy Roberts, and lives in Minnesota; Isaac Colin, Jr., who married Miss Christine Farnum, and lives in Iowa; William E., who mar- ried Miss Annie Bremer, and lives in Prophetstown; and Susan L., wife of George Strong, living in Minnesota.
THOMPSON F. CLARK was born in Lower Canada. in 1798, and came to Prophetstown in 1836, settling on the bottom west of the present village. He died in 1846. Mr. Clark married Miss Philena Miller in 1821. Their children have been: Charlotte, now dead; Statira, wife of E. Burchard Warner, living in Prophetstown; Oscar, living in Iowa; Edgar, who married Miss Electa Spencer, and lives in Chicago; Adeline, now dead; Rothchild, who enlisted in the 40th Illinois Volunteers, and died in the service; and Theodore F., living in Proph- etstown.
EDWARD S. GAGE was a native of Addison county, Vermont, and born in 1815. His mother was the first white child born in the town of Ferrisburg, Vermont. In the fall of 1834 he came as far west as Ohio, and remained in that State until the fall of 1836, when he came to Prophetstown. In 1844 he purchased the farm upon which he now lives. He is one of the thorough farm- ers of the township. Mr. Gage married Miss Orpha Reynolds in 1840. The children of this marriage have been: Savilla, wife of George P. Richmond, living
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in Prophetstown-Mr. Richmond is one of the most successful farmers in the county, and is largely engaged in stock raising and feeding; Sophia, living in Prophetstown; Frances, wife of Emmet Underhill, living in Prophetstown; Phœbe, now dead; and two sons who died in childhood.
JOSHUA F. WALKER was born in Stanton, Vermont, and came to Prophets- town in 1836. He remained a few years, and then returned to his native State where he died in 1870. He was unmarried.
FREEMAN J. WALKER was born in Stanton, Vermont, in 1812, and came to Prophetstown in 1837, settling on Jackson street where he followed farming until 1870, when his health failed, and with the hope of restoring it, sought his native hills, but without avail. He died in 1876. Mr. Walker married Miss Emily Gage in 1838. Their children are: George, and Freeman, living in Proph- etstown; Almara, wife of David Cleveland, Jr., living in Hume; Loraine, wife of William H. Adams, living in Hume; and Catherine, living in Prophetstown.
WILLIAM RICHMOND MCKENZIE is a native of Essex county, New York, and was born in 1815. He came to Prophetstown in 1837, and settled first on the bottom, but afterwards opened a fine farm on Jackson street, where he still resides. Mr. Mckenzie married Miss Harriet Martin in 1842, their children being: Luther B., who married Miss Annie Manning, and lives in Prophets- town; William, living in Colorado; Lovisa, wife of Frank D. Ramsay, living in Morrison; Ella, wife of Augustus Reynolds, living in Prophetstown; Mabel, wife of George H. Hyde, living in Little Rock, Arkansas; and Arthur, living in Prophetstown.
HARRY SMITH was born in Rutland county, Vermont, in 1801, and came to Prophetstown with William Hill in the fall of 1835, making a claim on Benton street, near the present village. He married Miss Ursula Spratt, in 1825. Their children are: Ann, wife of William Hill, Jr., living in Prophetstown; Helen, wife of E. A. Fassett, living in Prophetstown; Duane, living in Prophets- town; and Jane, wife of George Kellogg, also living in Prophetstown.
ERASTUS G. NICHOLS was born in Essex county, Vermont, in 1801, in which place he passed his early life. In 1832 he moved to Niles, Michigan, where he remained three years, and then in company with Mr. L. P. Sanger took a contraet on the Illinois and Michigan canal, and made the cutting through Camp Rock. He came to Prophetstown in October, 1837, and settled on the bank of Coon creek, near its confluence with Roek river. In 1840, Messrs. Nichols, Sanger, and Galbraith, contracted to dig the canal around the Rock river rapids, commeneing the work at the present village of Roek Falls. These gentlemen put a large force on the work, and also opened an extensive store for that time, on the Rock Falls side. Mr. Nichols had been educated as a lawyer, and practiced some during his earlier life. In 1839, he was appointed Cireuit Clerk for Whiteside county, but resigned before he had performed any duties, and in 1840 Col. R. S. Wilson was appointed to fill the vacancy. He was the first Postmaster when a separate Postoffice was established at Prophetstown, in 1844, but was attacked with small pox the next winter, and died in February. In 1838-'39, he built a saw mill on Coon creek, which nearly ruined him fin- ancially. Mr. Nichols was a man of good ability, and very highly respected. He married Miss Elizabeth Graves. Their children were: Annette, wife of Alanson Stowell, living in Prophetstown; Edliza, wife of Phillip B. Brown, living in Prophetstown; Alpheus B., who married Miss Maria Paddock, and is now dead; Jones B., who married Miss Tamson Seely, and lives in Prophetstown; Sarah J., wife of Augustus Treadwell, living in Prophetstown; Ethan, now dead, and Wilbur, who married Miss Lucy Thorp, and lives in Prophetstown.
ETHAN NICHOLS was a native of Essex county, Vermont, and came to
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Prophetstown in 1838. He died of fever in August, 1839. Mr. Nichols mar- ried Miss Portia Hopkinson, in 1825. The children of this marriage were: David H., living in Colorado; Alpheus, in Montana; Guy, in Wyoming; Ezra, who was killed in the Mexican war; and Rufus M., now dead.
JABEZ WARNER was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1787. In 1806 he moved to Missouri, it being then French territory, and settled near St. Louis. During his residence there he served as Sheriff, and also as Probate Judge, of St. Louis county. He was a cooper by trade, and carried on a large cooper shop in St. Louis, in which he made flour barrels for the mills of that city. When the news of the victory of the Americans over the British, at New Or- leans, on the 8th of January, 1815, reached St. Louis, Mr. Warner lost his right arm while assisting in firing a salute over the triumph. He was a Lieutenant in the war of 1812, and with his company made a trip up the Mississippi river to keep the Indian's in check. During this expedition the captain of the com- pany was wounded, and died soon after, leaving the command to Lieut. Warner. He was universally esteemed as a man of clear judgment, unswerving integrity, and great kindness of heart. He died in 1847. Mr. Warner was married to Miss Elizabeth Conner in 1811. Mrs. Warner was born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1794, and is still living with her sons in this county. Their chil- dren have been: John H .; Mary E., who married Job Dodge, and lives in Phil- adelphia; Elias Burchard; Andrew J .; Sarah C., who married Silas Sears, and lives in Prophetstown; Edward B .; Eliza A., who married Andrew J. Tuller, and lives in Sterling; Martin P .; and Ellen M., who married B. H. Bacon, and lives in Philadelphia. John H. married Miss Clarissa E. Bryant, and resides in the village of Prophetstown. He owns a large and well cultivated farm in the township, and has been a very successful agriculturist. Elias Burchard mar- ried Miss Statira Clark, and upon coming to Prophetstown commenced farming, which occupation he continued until 1851, when he engaged in mercantile busi- ness in the village with his brothers Edward B. and Martin P., and maintained his connection with them until 1856, when he retired. Andrew J. first married Miss Elvira Rowe, and after her death Mrs. Eliza M. Woodard. He was en- gaged in mercantile business with Andrew J. Tuller from 1849 to 1851, and for several years was part owner of the plow factory and saw mill in the village. In 1862 he was appointed an Assistant United States Revenue Assessor, and in 1865 was promoted to the office of Revenue Assessor for the Third Congres- sional District, holding the latter position until 1873. He has also held various offices in the township, and has been a member, and for several terms President, of the Board of Trustees of the village of Prophetstown, and in all of these offices he gave unqualified satisfaction. Edward B. married Miss Elizabeth C. Bryant, and for several years was engaged in business in the village of Proph- etstown. In 1858 he was elected County Treasurer of Whiteside county, when he retired from business, and devoted all his energies to the duties of his office, the county finances being then in not a very prosperous condition, and county orders below par. The county seat had been but recently moved to Morrison, and county buildings had to be erected. Added to this was the breaking out of the war, and as it continued, drafts were ordered which could only be averted by paying large bounties, and to do this bonds had to be issued and put upon the market. Resting under a cloud as to her financial matters, the way looked rather difficult for Whiteside to realize upon her bonds, but under the able man- agement of its financial officer they suffered but very little depreciation, and that only for a short time. Through Mr. Warner's influence taxes were levied to pay them, and long before the times had reached hard pan, the war debt was extinguished. In the meantime the county buildings had been erected, and paid
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for, and the credit of Whiteside county in all respects fully re-established. The twelve years during which Mr. Warner held the position of Treasurer were try- ing ones for the county, and had there been a less able, faithful and judicious officer at the head of the financial department, it is difficult at this day to de- termine what its condition would have been. In 1872 Mr. Warner was elected a member of the State Board of Equalization, and re-elected in 1876, his recog- nized financial abilities placing him at once among the leading members of that body. In 1859 he moved to Morrison, where he has since resided. He has been Mayor of the city of Morrison, and one of the school directors nearly all the time during his residence in that city, and had also very acceptably filled a similar position in Prophetstown while a resident of that place. Martin P. was engaged in business for some time in Prophetstown, but for the past fifteen years has been connected with the County Treasurer's office, residing in Morri- son. Jabez F. married Miss Statira R. Cutler. He owns a fine farm in the township, which he has brought under a high state of cultivation. His residence is in the village.
JOHN S. WARNER was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1784, and came to Prophetstown in 1837. He was a surveyor by profession, and was one of the leading minds of the place from the time he became a resident until his death, which occurred in 1864. He married Miss Sybil Perry in 1806. Mrs. Warner died in 1865. Their children were: Irene, who married Rev. William Palmer, and is now dead; Ruby, wife of David Underhill, living in Prophets- town; and Mary, wife of Alonzo Davis, also living in Prophetstown.
ASHLEY BOOTH is a native of Freetown, Massachusetts, and was born in 1806. In 1809 his parents moved to Chenango county, New York, and in 1830 to Cattaraugus county, in the same State. In 1835 Mr. Booth came to White- side county, and first made a claim near the present village of Portland, and in 1837 brought his family to his new home, living for a time in a rail cabin cov- ered with boughs of trees. He lived at various places until 1844, when he opened a farm at Woodward's bluff, and has resided there since, except a couple of years spent at the Pike's Peak gold diggings. Mr. Booth married Miss Mary Foy in 1830, and after her death, which occurred in 1872, married Mrs. Fanny Winters. He has only one child, William, who married Miss Adliza Hard, and is a farmer near Woodward's bluff.
CALVIN WILLIAMS is a native of Monson, Massachusetts, and was born in 1799. When five years of age, his parents moved to Cortland county, New York, and in 1823 to Erie county, in the same State. Mr. Williams moved to Michigan in 1833, and in 1837 came to Prophetstown, where he still lives, working at his trade of carpenter, although seventy-eight years of age. He married Miss Sally Hill in 1823, their children being : Enos, living in Port- land; Emily, who married Johnson W. Gage, and lives in Prophetstown; Har- riet, who first married Ryland Smith, and, after his death, Henry Myers, and lives in Prophetstown; Eliza, wife of David Barber, living in Prophetstown; Armina, wife of Andrew J. Seely, living in Portland; Lovina, wife of Richard Thompson, living in Portland; and Nathan, who married Miss Lillian Parish, and lives inSterling.
JOIN FARNUM was born in Orange county, Vermont, in 1814, and came to Prophetstown in 1837, settling on Washington street, where he still resides. His farm is one of the best conducted in the county, the neat appearance of his buildings and yards not being counterbalanced by weedy fields and broken-down fenees. Mr. Farnum was married to Mrs. Irene Underhill, in 1846. There have been no children by this marriage, but that has not prevented Mr. and Mrs. Farnum from taking care of those whom death had deprived of their nat-
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ural protectors, as the following list will show : Henry Leonard, living in Prophetstown; Maria Pease, living in New York; Julius Kane, living in Proph- etstown; and Christine Farnum, who married Isaac Colin Southard, Jr., and lives in Iowa.
ALANSON STOWELL was born in Broome county, New York, in 1812, and lived there until he was fifteen years of age, when he went to Greene county, and afterwards to Steuben county, in the same State. In 1836 he came to Illinois and worked for a year at his trade of millwright, in Quincy, and in Au- gust, 1837, settled in Prophetstown and commenced building the saw-mill on Coon ereek, in which enterprise he lost heavily. He is now residing on his large farm adjoining the village. Mr. Stowell married Miss Annette T. Nich- ols, in 1842. Their children have been : Elizabeth, wife of Henry Davidson; Erastus, who married Miss Luey Blackman; Mary A., wife of Jacob Pence; Marian, who married Frank McGrady; Bradford, Adliza, and Mark A .- all of whom live in Prophetstown.
ELIAS C. HUTCHINSON was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in 1816, and came first to Illinois in 1837, settling at Alton, where he remained until 1839, when he came to Prophetstown. During the earlier years of his resi- denee in Prophetstown he worked at his trade of carpenter and cabinetmaker, to which he had been brought up in his native State, and afterwards became a farmer. He is now engaged in the furniture trade in the village. Mr. Hutch- . inson married Miss Mary Crary, in 1839. Their children have been : Augusta and Frederick, living in Prophetstown, and three who died in infancy.
DAVID UNDERIIILL is a native of Jefferson county, New York, and was born in 1814. He came to Illinois in 1837, remaining for a while at a place above Rockford, on Rock river, and in September of that year rowed down Roek river in a canoe to Prophetstown. He made his first claim on Benton street, adjoining the village, and in 1839 opened a farm at Jefferson Corners, where he resided several years. He now resides on his farm near the school section. Mr. Underhill married Miss Ruby Warner, in 1841, the children of the marriage being : John, who married Mrs. Ruth Mitchell, and lives in Prophetstown; Mary. wife of Alonzo Wilkinson, living in Hume; D. Storrs, who married Miss Hannah Tubbs, and lives in Hume; Alonzo, who married Miss Dolly Renslow, and lives in Iowa; Sylvester, also living in Iowa; and Perry, who lives in Prophetstown.
WILLIAM T. MINCHIN was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1794, and came to Prophetstown in October, 1837, having stopped a year at Inlet Grove, Lee county. He made a elaim on Washington street, near Jefferson Corners. In 1844 his improvements were destroyed by a tornado. He married Miss Abi- gail Sibley, in 1819, who, after his death, married Henry Smith. She is now living in Prophetstown, with mental faculties unimpaired. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Minchin are : Lucy B., wife of Anthony J. Mattson, living in Proph- etstown; Mary Louise, who first married Luke Spencer, and, after his death, H. F. Kellum, and lives in Prophetstown; Julia Ann, who first married John Lunner, and, after his death, Harry Brown, and lives in Prophetstown; William T., who married Miss Milly Bear, and lives in Carroll county, Iowa; and Clin- ton B., who married Miss Aggie Buel, and lives in Iowa.
HENRY OLMSTEAD, SR., was a native of Canada, and came to Prophets- town in 1838, opening a farm on Washington street, upon which he lived until his death, in 1860. He married Miss Sarah Merritt, who is now living in Ne- braska. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Olmstead are : Oliver, who married Miss Eleeta Hunt, and lives in Prophetstown; Daniel, who married Miss Oe- tavia Kendall, and lives in Nebraska; Jane, who first married Harmon Smith,
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and, after his death, Franklin Britton, and lives in Rock Island county; and Henry, who married Miss Sarah Oatman, and lives in Nebraska.
OLIVER OLMSTEAD is a native of Canada, and was born in 1816. He came to the State of Illinois in 1836, and first located in Plainfield, Dupage county, but remained only a year, and in 1837 came to Prophetstown. During that year he married Miss Electa Hunt, and the young couple passed their honeymoon in a small eabin in Eight Mile Grove, rudely constructed of logs, with puncheon floor, mud fire-place and chimney, and minus a window. Their provisions were corn bread and frozen pork and potatoes, and at night the cabin was filled with a pretty rough-looking set of wood-choppers. The place was then in reality a howling wilderness, the fierce, cold winds finding their way into the cabin through the numerous cracks, and the wolves keeping a continual chorus during the night in the surrounding timber. In March, 1838, Mr. Underhill moved to his claim on Washington street, where he had erected a cabin twelve feet square. On this elaim he commenced work in good earnest, and at odd times worked at any job he could find, so as to get something to live on. At one time some necessary article was wanted by his wife for the household, and Mr. Olmstead started for Albany, a distance of twenty miles, to get it, walking the whole way. Not finding the article there, he went up to Fulton, eight miles further, where he obtained it, and then returned home by the way of Union Grove, making the whole distance traveled fifty miles-a feat of devotion and endurance worthy of record. He has carried on farming at his old place from 1838 until the present time, and is still able to do a good day's work. He mar- ried Miss Electa Hunt in 1837. Their children have been : George, who married Miss Fanny Green, and lives in Prophetstown; Oscar, who married Miss Elizabeth Clifton, and lives in Prophetstown; Alonzo, who enlisted in the 9th Illinois cavalry, and died in the service; John W., Rosantha, David, and Willie, living with their parents; and Edna C., who is dead.
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