USA > Illinois > Bureau County > Past and present of Bureau County, Illinois : together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead > Part 11
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HARRY U. BAILEY.
Harry U. Bailey, editor and owner f the Bu- reau County Republican, was born February 1, 1869, in Princeton, his parents being Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Bailey. Ile attended the public schools and the high school in Princeton and. also took a course in a commercial school in Quines. Mr. Bailey has always given his time to newspaper work and has never been otherwise engaged. Upon leaving school he commenced work in the office of
the Republican, then owned by his father non Charles P. Bascom, under the firm name of B. ... & Bascom. He commenced at the bottom of p .. mechanical department and in a few years wa- in charge of that department. With a desire to fi- ther prepare himself for the work of editing a newspaper he went to lowa and purcha. ed a count: seat newspaper and a few years later sold the papet and went to Chicago for experience in the editorial department of a daily newspaper and there to; nearly two years he was employed by the city editor of the Chicago Tribune. It was on the 7th of October, 1889, that Mr. Bailey went to Iowa, and at that ime he purchased a half inter- est in the Cerro Gordo County Republican, pub- lished at Mason City, and three months later his brother William JJ. Bailey, then publishing the Gazette at Spring Valley, Ilinois, sold his paper at the latter place and purchased the other ha! interest of the Cerro Gordo County Republican. In March, 1890, they commenced the business of publishing ready prints for country weekly papers under the name of the Mason City Newspaper Company and in this venture they were very ste- cessful. In January, 1893, they sold the busine .. of the newspaper company to the Western Union Newspaper Company, which company purchase ! the business in behalf of the other companies in- terested in the ready print business.
While residing at Mason City Mr. Bailey was married on the 19th of November, 1891, to Wh-s Jennie E. Colver, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Colver, of Ladd, Illinois. In November, 1892. Mr. Bailey and his brother sold the Cerro Gordo County Republican and the following year r'- moved to Chicago, where he commenced his work with the Chicago Tribune. In May, 1894, Mr. Bailey came to Princeton and established a bureau for reporting current news for several counties for the Chicago daily papers. On July 22, 1896, oc- currel the death of Charles P. Bascom, and on the 5th of September following Mr. Bailey pri- chased from his estate his interest in the Buffery County Republican, and engaged in the public :- tion of the paper in partnership with his father. under the name of Bailey & Son. This partiel- ship continued until the death of his father .u May 22, 1903, and shortly after he purchased f.om the estate his father's interest in the paper and since that time has been conducting the business himself. His father published the paper for period of forty years and previous to that tin was in the newspaper business in Ohio. Both 10 father and his grandfather made their life's war'. the publishing of newspapers and were never it gaged in any other business. Mr. Bailey is a tr. . tee of the Methodist Episcopal church, a dire of the Citizens' National bank and a member of the Princeton city council. The standing of 1. Republican is well known in Princeton and BY. reau county and the long experience of Mr. BU! . in the newspaper field qualities him for the inte
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ests which now claim his attention. The paper is well worthy the liberal patronage which it re- ceives in both the circulating and advertising de- partments.
WILSON W. DRAPER. >
Wilson W. Draper is engaged in the conduct of a livery business in Walnut, where he has made his home since 1903. Ile was born in Greenville township, this county, August 12, 1880, and, hav- ing spent his entire life in this part of the state, is therefore well known to a large number of its citizens. His parents were Dennis D. and Viola T. ( Wilson) Draper. The father was born July 24, 1850, in Greenville township, which fact indi- cates that the Drapers are among the pioneer fami- lies of the county. His wife's birth occurred Sep- tember 19, 1852.
Wilson W. Draper at the usual age began his education in the district schools near his father's home and therein mastered the branches of learn- ing which qualified him for life's practical and responsible duties. He was reared to farm life and no event of special importance occurred dur- ing the days of his boyhood and youth to vary for him the routine of a rural existence. Ilis time was divided between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. After attaining man's estate, however, he determined to follow some other pursuit than that of agriculture and, removing to Walnut in 1903 when twenty-three years of age. he established a livery barn, which he is now conducting. He has a first class stable, in which he keeps a number of good horses and some fine vehicles, and his earnest desire to please his patrons has been one of the salient features in the very gratifying success which has attended him in his business affairs.
On the 30th of March, 1904, occurred the mar- riage of Mr. Draper and Miss Verna B. Johnson, who was born May 2. 1883, in this county. They are both members of the Mystie Workers of the World and of the Royal Neighbors of America, the latter being the ladies' auxiliary of the Modern Woodmen, with which Mr. Draper is identified. his membership being in camp No. 17. His polit- ical allegiance is given to the republican party. 1 young man, energetic and enterprising, his close application to his business, combined with his in- dustry, has resulted in a gratifying success.
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A. L. STEELE.
A. I .. Steele, now living retired from active business, his home being at No. 226 West South street in Princeton, was born in Erie county, New York, near Buffalo. on the Sth of March, 182. Ilis parents, Danford and Lydia (Abel) Steck, were natives of Williamstown, Vermont. and went · to the state of New York in 1826, settling in Erie
county. The father was a carpenter by trade and died when only thirty-three years of age. The mother afterward came to Illinois, where she re- sided until her death, which occurred in 1861, when she was sixty years of age. Both the Steeles and Abels were old families of New England and were of Scotch-Irish descent. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Danford Steele were born three children: Henry D., who is now residing in Denver, Colorado; A. L., of this review ; and Leonore, who died in Do- ver, this county, in 1851.
A. L. Steele was reared in the state of his nativ- ity and was a young man of twenty-one years when he came to Illinois in 1818, settling at Dover, Bu- reau county, where he worked at farm labor until 1850. Then on account of poor health he entered a store in Dover, where he was employed until 1859. Ile afterward engaged in business on his own account in connection with C. D. Hubbard, proprietor of a general store at Dover, which they conducted under the firm name of Steele & Ilub- bard. Each partner invested five hundred dollars and they incurred an indebtednes, of six thou- sand dollars in order to stock their store, but this was entirely discharged within four years. Dur- ing his long business career Mr. Steele never sued a man nor sent a statement if within a day's ride of a debtor. He was always, however, a good col- lector and was equally prompt in discharging ev- ery financial obligation. Men who had business relations with him trusted him and on no occa- sion did he ever betray in the slightest degree the trust reposed in him. After a partnership of four years Mr. Steele purchased Mr. Hubbard's interest and continued the business until 1892, when he sold his property and disposed of his stock. IIc then purchased land in southwestern Minnesota and also creeted his present comfortable residence in Princeton. The years have brought him suc- cess as a reward of his earnest, persistent labor, careful management and keen business discrimi- nation and with a handsome competence he retired to private life to enjoy in well earned rest the fruits of his former toil.
On the 28th of November, 1852, was celebrated the marriage of A. L. Steele and Miss Susan Zear- ing, the wedding ceremony being performed in Dover. She was born in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, April 2, 1829, a daughter of Martin and Sarah (Shafer) Zearing, who were natives of Pennsylvania and were of German and Swiss de- scent. They became pioneer residents of Bureau county in 1836 and soon afterward located on a farm in Berlin, which is now the property of David S. Zearing. They continued to reside in Berlin until called from this life, the father dying in July, 1855, at the age of sixty-one years, while his wife sarvived until 1869 and passed away at the age of seventy-three years. Mrs. Steele was the sixth child in a family of twelve children, of whom two daughters and four sons are living. nameby : Martin R., a resident of Princeton : Lonis, who
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lives in Ladd, this county; David S., of Prince- ton ; John M., of De Kalb county, Missouri; and Mrs. Sarah Foster, of Chicago.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Steele has been blessed with six sons: Charles D., who is at the head of the collection department of Swift & Com- pany, in Chicago; George, a resident farmer of Dover township; John A., who is engaged in the hardware and grocery business in Gunnison, Colo- rado; Dick, who is in the office of the secretary of state in Springfield, Illinois; Louis L., who is en- gaged in the hardware business in Galesburg ; and Dr. HI. D. Steele, of Princeton, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. There were also three daughters in the family but two died in infaney, while Lottie I .. , who became the wife of William J. Bailey, of Chicago, died August 13, 1890, at the age of twenty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Steele celebrated their golden wedding anniversary four years ago-a most delightful occasion, which was participated in by many friends.
Politieally Mr. Steele is a republican and al- though never an office holder or an aspirant for politieal honors he has always taken an active in- terest in politics, realizing the obligations as well as the privileges of citizenship and doing all in his power to secure the adoption of the principles which he deems most conducive to good govern- ment. In 1855 he became a member of the Odd Fellows society and was secretary of the local lodge for many years, but withdrew from the or- der about six years ago. Mrs. Steele has been a member of the Baptist church for the past fifty- five years and they are a most highly esteemed couple of Princeton, their circle of friends being almost co-extensive with the circle of their ac- quaintance, while in many incidents they have gained the warmest personal regard of those with whom they have been associated by reason of their possession of sterling traits of character. Mr. Steele figured for many years as a prominent, leading and successful business man of Bureau county and although he started out in life in a very humble capacity he worked his way steadily upward and his history is another illustration of that fact that labor finds its sure reward and that the record which the American people hold in highest regard is that of the self-made man. 1
WILLIAM HASSLER.
William Hassler, who is engaged in general farming in Berlin township, was born in Bureau county, April 11, 1867, and is the eldest son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Lintz) Hassler. The father was also a native of this country, while the mother's birth occurred in Germany and from that country she came to America when a little maiden of seven summers. Establishing their home in Bureau county, their son, William Hassler, was reared upon the old homestead farm and early
became familiar with the duties and labens Man fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He workol in the fields through the summer months and mn the winter seasons attended the publie school .. Having arrived at years of maturity he chos. : a companion and helpmate for life's journey Mi, Maggie Piper, whom he wedded on the 4th of September, 1894. She was born January 15, 1861, a daughter of Iliram H. Piper. Unto this marriage two children were born but are now deceased.
Mr. lassler is a democrat in his political view - and stanchily advocates the principles of the party, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the German Lutheran church. He manages one hundred and sixty aeres of chohe land and promises to be one of the leading farmers of the county. He also owns eighty acres on sur - tion 6, Hall township, inherited from his father. If honesty, thrift and push will accomplish re- sults Mr. Hassler, with the start that he has al- ready made, will make a success. Ile has already made a creditable record, owing his success en tirely to his perserverance and energy and his life thus far illustrates what may be accomplished through the exercise of those qualities which have long been recognized as essential factors to pros- perity.
EDWIN CHAPMAN STUDLEY.
Edwin Chapman Studley, who is engaged in general farming in Mineral township, where he owns and operates three hundred and forty-four aeres of rich land, annually gathering therefrom good erops, is a native son of the township in which he still re-ides, having there first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 24th of March, 1861. He is a son of Christopher C. Studley, a retired farmer residing in Neponset, who owns in this county a valuable farming property. II- represents one of the pioneer families of Illinois. his grandparents, William and Ann (Chapman) Studley, having located in that part of Morgat county which is now included in Scott county. Illinois, at a very early day, while Christopher C. Studley became one of the first settlers of Neponset township. Extended mention is malo of the father on another page of this work.
To the common school system of the county Edl- win Chapman Studley is indebted for the edin 1- tional advantages he received. He was reare l upon the home farm and in his youth remain. ! with his father, afterward renting part of his father's land for a number of years. "He has al. ways followed the occupation of farming and his early practical experience in the fields well quali- fied him to take up agricultural work on his ow" account after he had attained his majority. II. continued to rent land from his father for some time and earefully saving his earnings was at length enabled to purchase property for him: "
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and to his original holdings he has added from time to time until he is now the owner of three hundred and forty-four acres of good land in Mineral township, constituting an excellent farm because of the many improvements which have been placed upon it and the highly cultivated con- dition of the fields. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in South Dakota.
Mr. Studley was united in marriage to Miss Etta Elizabeth Riley, the wedding being celebrated on the 1st of January, 1883. She is a danghter of Oliver Perry Riley, a farmer and a representa- tive of an old family of Mineral township. Mr. and Mrs. Studley have become the parents of four children : Abbie Blanche, Grace, Ethel Oliver and Christopher Edwin, the last named born November 21; 1898.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Studley have the warm re- gard of many friends in their locality, being held in high esteem by all who know them. He has served as school director for the past nineteen vears and his labors have been far-reaching and beneficial in behalf of public education. He has also been road commissioner for five years and believes in good highways and in progress along various lines resulting in benefit to the general community. In his business life he has displayed unfaltering perseverance and diligence and. more- over, is found thoroughly reliable in all trade transactions, so that his success is worthily won and justly merited.
GEORGE RACKLEY.
George Rackley, of Malden, was born in Orange county, Vermont, in 1821, and came to Bureau county, Illinois, with his parents in 1836, where he lived until his death on November 3, 1906. George Rackley was a man who would give char- acter and stability to any comnnmity. In his ac- tive years he took part in all the public enter- prises of the county, was for many years super- visor of Berlin township and for six years chair- man of the board. He made no display of his talents, but when the time came to act he was found ready to sustain his honest convictions. both by his voice and his vote. Deceit and in- trigue were foreign to his nature. He had an opinion upon the question of public policy and was ready to express it at the proper time and place. The writer has known him for more than thirty years and during that time has seen him called to decide upon many questions of contro- versy and never did he know him to hesitate or hold back his opinion for the sake of policy. but like a strong and just man he decided for the right as he saw it. It brings a pang of sorrow to us to know that his useful life is ended. One after another of the noble men and women who have helped to make this county and stato what it is are passing away and all that is mortal is
laid away under the cold clod- of the valley and hillside. Yes, they rest from their lab es, but their works follow them. For nearly seventy years Mr. Rackley was a citizen of this county and now in this year, 1906, just as the blighting frosts of autumn are covering the ground with nature's decay the summons come and that familiar form that has stood like the giant oak for so many years yields to the common lot of all the generations and how sleeps in the silent city of the dead.
LAWSON CURTIS HOUGHTON.
Lawson Curtis Houghton, giving his tine and attention to his farming interests and the raising of horses, makes his home in Shetfield and is classed with the men whose industry and keen discrimination form the basic element in their success. Born in Windhant county. Vermont, on the 22d of October, 1861, he is a son of Rufus Henry and Martha ( Wilcox) Houghton. the form- er a farmer by occupation. The Houghton family in Bureau county has also been represented by Horatio Nelson Houghton. who came to Illinois from Vermont in 1865 and here engaged in busi- ness extensively and successfully. He loaned money to the farmers of Bureau county and in his dealings was always just and reliable. HI often assisted them in such a way as to enable them to secure a clear title to their farin by the timely as- sistance which he gave them in makir _ loans which were repaid upon easy terins. His advice and counsel often proved a beneficial element. for he was sound in his judgments and was always will- ing to assist others in this way. While conduct- ing his business interests he also availed himself of the opportunities offered for judicious invest- ment and became the owner of more than one thousand acres of valuable land. He also had many other business interests and at one time --- prior to the Civil war -- wes extensively engaged in the ice business in Memphis, Tennessee. At his old home in Halifax, Vermont. Le served as a selectman during the period of the war. He died January 31, 1806.
Lawson C. Houghton acquired h's education in the public schools of his native county and engaged in farming with his father, gaining practi al ex- perience in agricultural pursuits through the act- ive assistance which he rendered on the hon .. farm. He came to Sheffield in 1890 and openel an imple- ment and lumber business which he conducted un- til 1893, since which time he has devoted his at- tention to his farm, whereon he raises horses, cat- tle, hogs and sheep, being one of the leading stock- raisers of his part of the county. He is al-o en- gaged in making investments in lands, which is proving an important and profitable branch of his business, and he has large landed interest in Illi- nois, also sixteen hundred acres in Kans:s. one hundred and sixty acres in Minnesota. and a simi- Jar amount in Nebraska.
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Mr. Houghton was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Vaughn, a daughter of John and Fran- ces Vaughn, of Windham county, Vermont, the wedding being celebrated in June, 1886. They now have three children: Nelson Vaughn, Low- ell Curtis and William Kenneth.
In his political views Mr. Houghton is a re- publican and has served as councilman of Shef- field, while in all community affairs he is deeply interested. The extent of his business interests makes him a leading resident of Sheffield and his keen discrimination and unfaltering enterprise constitute the foundation upon which he has builded his success.
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CLEMENT HARRINGTON.
The agricultural interests of Bureau county in former years found a worthy representative in Clement Harrington, who engaged in farming in Bureau township, where he now, in the enjoy- ment of the fruits of his former toil, is living retired in a pleasant home at No. 224 South Church street, Princeton. His birth occurred in Bureau township, September 8, 1858, and he rep- resents one of the old families of this county.
His paternal grandparents were Jonathan and Lydia (Anderson) Harrington, both natives of Kent county, Delaware, the former born in November, 1794, and the latter in November, 1801. In their family were four sons and four daughters, including Nathan A. Harrington. now of Wyanet, Illinois, who was born in Farmington. Kent county, Delaware, October 19. 1831. He was reared to farm life and for many years de- voted his time and energies to the tilling of the soil. The year 1855 witnessed his arrival in Bu- reau county and he worked out by the month on a farm in the summer seasons while in the winter he taught sehinol for several years, being one of the capable carly educators of the county. In 1860 he made investment in eighty acres of land and began life for himself on a farm, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits and stock- raising and also fed stock to a considerable extent. He has added to the eighty acres he first purchased until he now owns eight hundred and fifty-three acres of good land in Buren township, becoming one of the extensive landowners of this county. His life should serve as a source of emulation and inspiration to others, showing what may be accomplished through determined purpose and un- faltering energy when guided by sound judgment. He lived upon his farm until 1894, when he en- tered upon a well earned rest and removed to Wyanet, where he owns a beautiful home on Main street, his farm, which he rents, bringing to him an excellent income. His political allegiance i- given to the men and measures of the republican party and he has served in nearly all of the town- ship offices, having been supervisor for three
years, township clerk, assessor, road comisiones and justice of the peace. In all of these postfrom he has discharged his duties with prompthe's aml fidelity and no trust reposed in him, whether of a public or private nature, has ever been betrayed.
Nathan A. Harrington was married in this county, November 22, 1856, to Miss Margaret E. Sapp, a daughter of Hezekiah and Mary Jane (Bosket) Sapp, early settlers of Bureau county from Delaware. Mrs. Harrington was born in the latter state, June 8, 1837, and by her marriage became the mother of six children, five of whom are living, while Ora, the second child, born Oc- tober 21, 1860, died September 11, 1863. The others in order of birth are as follows: Clement, of this review; Adelbert, who was born July 30, 1864, and is living in Valparaiso, Indiana ; Luella, who was born April 3, 1867, and is the wife of Albert Wilson, of Bureau township; Lydia Mt .. who was born December 26, 1869, and is the wife of Willard Harrington, of Wyanet township; and Ada, who was born August 28, 1812, and is the wife of Mr. Tonkinson of Bureau township. The mother passed away July 23, 1892, and on the 6th of January, 1895, Nathan A. Harrington wa- again married, his second union being with Mrs. Susan Carter, of Delaware. He attends the Metho- dist Episcopal church and is a man of many go ul traits of character, being thoroughly reliable, kind-hearted and considerate to all who appeal to him in times of distress. His standing in the community is most excellent and he well deserves mention in this volume as a representative citizen of Bureau county.
Clement Ilarrington was educatel in the com- mon schools of Bureau county and was reared to the work of the farm, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He chose farming as a life work and continued actively in the tilling of the soil until 1906, when he removed to Princeton. He now owns two hundred and forty acres of fine land in Bureau township, which is devoted to general farming and stock-raising, pulled Durham and shorthorn cattle being chiefly raised.
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