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 14
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
interests which are of general moment elicit his attention and receive his indorsement. Socially he is connected with the Modern Woodinen camp at Yorktown, and the family are all members of the Christian church there. They are prominent, too, socially, and have many warm friends in this part of the state.
LORENZO J. KENDALL.
Lorenzo J. Kendall, to whose intense and well circles in Bureau county, was born in St. Johns- directed energy is attributable the present en- viable position which he occupies in financial bury, Vermont, May 15, 1856, and in 1861, when "a little lad of four summers, was brought to Bu- rean county, Illinois, by his mother, his father having died when the son was but six months old. His parents were Lorenzo and Rosamond (Lang- maid) Kendall, likewise natives of the Green Mountain state. The mother still survives and is living with a daughter in Kansas City, Missouri. She has a third interest in the estate left by her husband, who went to California in 1819 and spent some time in the gold fields of that state, buying land in this county with his earnings on the Pacific coast. There were three children of that marriage, one of whom is deceased, while Emma A. is the wife of L. 1. Laughlin, a lawyer of Kansas City.
Lorenzo J. Kendall, residing in Bureau county from the age of four years, acquired his early education in the district schools and it was sup- plemented by study in Princeton high school, from which he was graduated in the class of 1878. After completing his own education he engaged in teaching school for ten years, acting for six years as principal of the La Moille schools and for one year as principal in the Ohio schools. At length, putting aside the duties of the profession, he turned his attention to merchandising and be- came a dealer in lumber and coal at Tampico, Illi- nois, where he remained actively in business for nine years. On the expiration of that period he came to La Moille and accepted the position of cashier in the Norris & Woods bank, where he re- mained until 1904. In July of that year he formed a partnership with W. C. Norris, becom- ing one of the successors of the firm of Norris & Woods. and is now cashier of the bank. This is one of the strong and reliable financial institution- ef this part of the county and its business policy is such as neither seeks nor requires disguise but will hear the closest investigation and scrutiny. Mr. Kendall took a most active interest in the erection of the new bank building. He is a mau of good business enterprise and capacity, who has been watchful of opportunities pointing to suc- cess and has steadily worked his way upward. In addition to his banking interests he has one hun- dred and sixty acres of choice land, the original
cost of which was five dollars per acre, bal which is today worth one hundred and fifty dollas per aure.
Mr. Kendall was married in 1888 to Miss Har- riet J. Burnett, who was born in Bureau county, Illinois, June 6. 1862. She was educated in the publie schools of this county, supplemented by a course in Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois. Her parents were Jeremiah Y. and Olive (Smith.) Burnett, who were natives of Schoharie county, New York, and in 1860 became residents of Ina Moille, Bureau county, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Kendall have one of the handsome homes of In Moille. Both hold membership in the Congie-a- tional church, in the work of which Mrs. Kendall takes a most active and helpful part. She is serv- ing as one of the trustees and as treasurer of the church and her father was at one time deacon therein.
Mr. Kendall belongs to La Moille lodge, No. 383. A. F. & A. M., to the Royal Arch chapter. and to Tampico Garrison, No. 102, Knights of the Globe. Ilis views upon the temperance ques- tion are indicated by his active and earnest sup- port of the prohibition party. He is now chair- man of the county central committee of that party and is the nominee on that ticket for state senator. He has given the support of the ballot to that party for twenty-four years and does all in his power to promote temperance principles and secure the abolition of the liquor traffic, believing this to be one of the most dominant issues before the people of the country today. He is a man of strong purpose. firm in support of his honest con- victions and unfaltering in his allegiance to what- ever he believes to be right. He has served as mayor of La Moille and is now the only original member of the Allen school fund left. He today occupies an enviable position in financial eirele -. to which he has attained by his energy and enter- prise. After years of honest and successful effort he occupies the present position of trust in which he is now found. being accorded a place among the leading and prominent business men of La Moille. Both he and his wife occupy an enviable social position and their many good traits of character have mode them loved and esteemed by all with whom they have come in contact.
JOHN H. LUTHER.
John Il. Luther. purchasing agent for the Spring Valley Coal Company, and also agent for the Town Site Company. virtually controlling the real estate market at Spring Valley, is a min n' keen business discrimination and enterprise, who has won a creditable place as a representative of the business interests of his adopted cits. II. was born in Somerset, Massachusetts. Oetal- !?. 1863, his parents being John II. and Jos s'il A. (Brown) Luther, the former a native of M :
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LAKendall
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NORRIS AND KENDALL BANK.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
sachusetts and the latter of Rhode Island. Re- moving to the middle west in 1870, the father established his home in Sycamore, Illinois, where he engaged in the manufacture of flax. He died in 1905, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years.
John H. Luther, a youth of seven summers at the time of the arrival of the family in Illi- nois, pursued his education in the successive grades of the Sycamore public schools, and after completing the high school course became a tele- graph operator and employe of the Northwestern Railroad Company, with which he was connected for thirteen successive years. In 1893 he became connected with the Spring Valley Coal Company, and, removing to this town, he entered upon a clerkship and has been advanced from time to time, until he is now purchasing agent for the company. He is also agent for the Town Site Company, the original owners of the town lots, controlling virtually all of the property on the market.
In 1884 Mr. Luther was married to Miss Mary E. Waterman, a daughter of William Waterman, a pioneer of De Kalb county. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary A. Scott, and both were natives of Herkimer county, New York. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Luther were born three children : William A., born September 17, 1886, in Syca- more; Evelyn, born in Carrollton, Illinois, in No- vember, 1888; and Lorenzo, born in Troy Grove, Illinois, December 14, 1891.
Mr. Luther is a member of the Congregational church, in which he is serving as trustee, and in the work of which he is actively and helpfully in- terested. He is a man of good business capacity, who has steadily progressed through the exercise of his native talents. Each promotion has come to him in recognition of his able service and large responsibilities now devolve upon him in connec- tion with the positions he is filling.
JOHN H. WEISSENBURGER.
John H. Weissenburger, an enterprising farmer and stock-raiser, owning a well improved tract of eighty acres, situated on section 4, Hall town- ship, is a native son of Illinois, having been born in Putnam county, June 16, 1850, a son of George and Eva (Hahn) Weissenburger, both natives of Bavaria, Germany, where they were reared and married. In 1847 the father emigrated with his family from Germany to the United States, hoping he might enjoy better business opportunities here than were afforded in his native land. He first settled in Bureau county, where he remained for a short time, but later removed to Putnam county. In 1857, however, he again returned to Bureau county, locating in Westfield township, where he engaged in general agricultural pursuits for a time, and then removed to Hall township, where
he purchased the farm on which our subject now resides. Here the mother passed away in 1862, when about fifty-two years of age. The father afterward removed to La Salle county, ab vat 1891, and died there two years later, at the venerable age of eighty-eight years. Both he and his wife held membership in the Evangelical Lutheran church of Selby township. In their family were five sons and two daughters, namely: Conrad, born April 5, 1836, is now a retired farmer, living in Marshall county, Iowa. Catherine, born September 19, 1837, became the wife of Oliver Reginald, and resided in Putnam county, Illinois, but is now deceased, having passed away in 1889. Eva, born April 19, 1838, is the wife of William Keutzer, and resides in Dimmick township, La Salle county. George, born July 30, 1810, resides in Hall town- ship, Bureau county. Valentine, born October 30, 1841, is a resident of Ladd. Louis, born May 12, 1846, is a resident of Peru, Illinois. John H. completes the family.
John H. Weissenburger, the youngest member of his father's family, was practically reared in Hall township, being but seven years of age when brought by his parents from Putnam county. He was reared in the usual manner of farm lads, as- sisting in the work of the home farm and during the winter months pursuing a common school ed- ucation. He has always followed the occupation to which he was reared, working on the home farm until his marriage, when he removed to a farm in Westfield township, where he remained for three years, subsequent to which time he purchased the home farm on section 15, Hall township, to which he removed and which has since continued to be his home. Here he has added many modern im- provements, and is engaged in general agricultural pursuits, in which he is meeting with desirable suc- cess. In addition to the cultivation of the fields he is also engaged in raising stock of the best grades, and this branch of his business is also proving remunerative.
Mr. Weissenburger has been twice married, his first union being with Miss Catherine Dorn, whom he wedded on the 14th of March. 1871. She be- came the mother of two children : Jennie E., born May 29, 1813, and John H., Jr., born March 14, 1877. The latter married Miss Justina Hassler, and resides in Westfield township, while the sister is engaged in teaching. The wife and mother passed away September 30, 1883, at the age of thirty-one years and three months.
For his second marriage Mr. Weissenburger chose Miss Elizabeth Werner, whom he wedded on the 4th of February, 1886. She was born in Bavaria, Germany. October 22, 1803, a daughter of Charles and Catherina ( Keihler) Werzer, who emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1865, locating in Perry county, Indiana, where the father purchased a farm and engaged in general agricultural pursuits. This continued to be his home until 1826, when he removed with his family
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
to Selby township, Bureau county, Ilinois, where he remained for four years, and then removed to Westfield township, and later to Ilall township, where his death occurred in 1899, when he had reached the advanced age of seventy-seven years. His wife survived until December 24, 1904, when she was called to her final rest, having also reached the age of almost seventy-seven years. In their family were thirteen children, of whom two died in infancy, the others being: Charles, a resident of White county, Illinois; Philip, a resident of Bureau county ; Christian, a resident of the Indian Territory; Jacob, of Canada; Louis, residing in Westfield township, Bureau county; Catherine, who became the wife of William Geringer, but is now deceased, having passed away in August, 1894, at the age of thirty-six years; Adam, of the Indian Territory; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Weissenburger; Lonisa, who became the wife of William Gerin- ger, but is now deceased, having met her death in a railroad accident at Chicago; Johanna, the wife of Henry Weissenburger, residing in Marshall county, Iowa; and Henry, also of Iowa. The mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. Weissenburger has been blessed with a daughter and son: Lillian, born Jannary 11, 1887, and Alfred, born May 25, 1892, both at home.
In politics Mr. Weissenburger is a democrat where national questions are involved, but at local elections votes an independent ballot, supporting the men whom he regards as best qualified for office, without considering party affiliation. He has been called to a number of township offices, having served as assistant supervisor of Hall town- ship for six years. He has also served as school director, and for the past thirteen years has been highway commissioner, doing effective work in the improvement of the highways. Fraternally he is an Odd Fellow, being identified with lodge No. 803, at Ladd, and he and his wife are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church.
Having spent almost his entire life in this coun- ty, covering a period of nearly a half century, Mr. Weissenburger is familiar with the progress that has here been made, having given substantial aid to many movements for the betterment of this sec- tion of the state. Ile has been successful in his business affairs, as is evidenced by his well im- proved farm, and he is today numbered among the enterprising and progressive farmers of Hall town- ship, where he has a wide and favorable acquaint- ance.
GEORGE P. PETTEE, SR.
George P. Pettee, Sr., a retired farmer, resid- ing on East Pern street in Princeton, was born in Rutland county, Vermont, February 25, 1832, and is a son of George W. and Eleanor (Wrisley) Pettee, both of whom were natives of the Green Mountain state. The parents never came to Illi- nois, always remaining in the cast. George P.
Pettee was reared in the Green Mountain state. and being a farmer's son became familiar with the work of field and meadow. He acquired hn- education in the common schools, and in less, at the age of twenty-three years, came to Bureau county, Illinois. The Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad had just been completed through the county.
On his arrival here he rented a tract of land near Princeton, upon which he lived for a year and a half, and then bought eighty acres on see- tion 10, Concord township. With resolute pur- pose and unfaltering diligence he carried on the work of the farm and as the years passed he added to his property until he now owns three hundred and sixty acres of fine land in Concord township and also three hundred and twenty acres in Ne- braska. He put all of the improvements upon his farm and there are some fine maple trees which have grown from the seed that he planted. His place is supplied with excellent farm buildings and the land is highly cultivated. He erected th . residence on his farm and altogether has one of the best farming properties of the county. While actively engaged in the care of the farm he also carried on live stock business, raising cattle, hogs and horses for the market. Thus year by year he prospered and at length with a handsome competence he retired in 1900, removing to Princeton, where he purchased a fine home on East Pern street. He now rents his land, which brings him a good income.
On the Sth of July, 1856, Mr. Pettee was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Sinnott, also a native of Vermont, in which state they be- came acquainted. She came to Illinois about 1851 with her parents, Michael and Johanna (Bryant) Sinnott. By the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Pettre were born five children: Mamie, living at home ; George P., who is cashier of the bank at Seaton- ville and resides in Princeton; John C., who is living on a farm near Wyanet; Allie A., who died in 1890; William J., who is residing in Chi- cago, where he conducts a shoe store and is also engaged in the insurance business.
The parents are members of the Congregational church, and on the Sth of July. 1906, they cele- brated their golden wedding, about one hundred of their friends being present, on which occasion they received many substantial tokens of the es- teem in which they are uniformly held and alto- gether the occasion was a most enjoyable one to all who participated therein. In his political affl- iation Mr. Pettee was a stalwart democrat, cast- ing his first presidential ballot for James Bu- chanan in 1856, but he is now independent in politics. He served as school director for many years and the cause of education finds in him 1 warm and stalwart friend but he has never soutlet or desired other offices. When he came to Illinois he had no capital but resolutely set to work to achieve a competence and has been very succes-
G. P. PETTEE, SR.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
ful. In business he possesses excellent judgment and his enterprising spirit has made him a pros- perous citizen, while his genuine personal worth and devotion to the public good have caused him to be numbered among the useful and desirable residents of his adopted county.
HARVEY M. TRIMBLE.
Harvey Marion Trimble, who resides at Prince- ton, Illinois, was born near Wilmington, in Clin- ton county, Ohio, January 27, 1842. His father's name was Mathew Trimble, and his mother's maiden name was Lydia Thatcher. The family home was removed from Ohio to Illinois, and lo- cated on a farm near Princeton, in Bureau county, Illinois October 25. 1843. and remained there un- til 1867, when it was changed to Princeton.
The subject of this sketch was the sixth son. He has two sisters and one brother younger than himself. His education was obtained in the com- mon schools, supplemented by a partial course at Eureka College, Illinois. He quit college to enter the army. Ile enlisted as a private of Company K, Ninety-third Illinois Infantry, August 21, 1862, was promoted to sergeant major of the regi- ment on the Sth of September of the same year and became adjutant of the regiment April 13, 1864. He served as acting assistant adjutant gen- eral of the First Brigade, Third Division, Fif- teenth Army Corps. from March 28, 1865, until the 26th of April following and of the Second Brigade, Fourth Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, from April 26, 1865, to May 31, 1865. He was mustered out near Louisville, Kentucky, June 23, 1865, and was finally discharged at Chicago on the 6th of July of the same year.
While executing orders received from his con- manding officer on January 13, 1863, while on a scout. he was captured by the enemy, near Ridge- way, Tennessee, and remained a prisoner fourteen days, being released on January 27, 1863, which was the twenty-first anniversary of his birth. He rejoined the regiment January 30, 1863, near Memphis, Tennessee. During the entire period of his service, he was on every march (except about ten miles, when he was a prisoner), and in every battle and skirmish in which the command partici- pated. In August, 1863, Colonel Putnam recom- mended him to the governor of Illinois, for pro- motion to a captaincy. He had no intimation of the recommendation until several days had elapsed after it was made. When he learned of it, he promptly declined the promotion, and so wrote to Governor Yates, and the commission was not issued.
On January 27, 1864, Lieutenant Colonel Bus- well gave him a military album, inscribed as fol- lows:
"Headquarters 93rd Ill. Inf'ty. Vols., "Huntsville, Ala., January 27th, 1864. "HARVEY M. TRIMBLE, Sergeant Major 93rd Ill. Inf'tv.
"Allow me to present to you, on this, your 22nd birthday, this album, as a slight token of respect for your manly courage at the battles of Jackson, May 14th; Champion Hill, May 16th; Siege of Vicksburg, from May 19th to July 4th, and Tun- .nel Hill, November 25th, 1863. Also for your gentlemanly and soldierly bearing and strict at- tention to duty, whether in Camp, on the March or Field of Battle.
"N. C. BUSWELL, "Lt. Col., Comd'g Regt."
On being relieved from duty as acting assistant adjutant general of the brigade, the brigade com- mander issued and presented to him the following complimentary order:
"Head Quarters 2nd Brig., 4th Div., 15th A. C., "Near Washington, D. C., May 31st, 1865. "General Orders No. 11.
"Lieut. II. M. Trimble, having, at his own re- quest, been relieved from duty as A. A. A. General of this brigade, the general commanding desires to express his pleasure at the manner in which he has performed his duties and his high apprecia- tion of him as an efficient officer, in office, camp and field.
"By order of "BRIG. GEN. WM. T. CLARK, "I. B. STANFORD, Capt. and A. A. A. Gen. "To Lieut. H. M. Trimble, Adjt. 93d Ill. Vol. Infty."
On his return home, in the employ of the elerk of the circuit court, he arranged and indexed all the cases previously disposed of in that court. On December 4, 1865, he was appointed deputy elerk of the eireuit court of Bureau county, Illi- nois, and served in that capacity until November 20, 1867, when he resigned.
On October 9, 1866, he was married to Miss Margaret S. Dakin. They have five sons, namely : Winfred K., Cairo A., Robert C., Harvey D. and Perry D., and six grandchildren, as follows: Win- fred E .. Clara E., Margaret V., Cairo D., Cairo W. and Robert C., Jr., children of the three oldest sons, respectively.
Immediately after the close of the war, he re- sumed the study of law, and was admitted to the bar, licensed as an attorney and counselor at law, on November 20, 185%, and has been in regular practice continuously ever since, at Princeton, Illi- nois.
He was master in chancery of the circuit court of Bureau county, by successive appointments, made by Judge Edwin S. Leland, from April 1, 1868, until December 26, 1877, at which latter date his resignation of the office, dated December 3, 1977 was accepted.
He was elected as a member of the board of edu- cation of school district No. 1, in Princeton town-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
ship, April 6, 1878. for one year, to fill a vacancy, and was re-elected, for terms of three years each, successively, April 5, 1879, April 1, 1882, April 4, 1885, April 2, 1888, April 18, 1891, and April 21, 1894. and served continuously until April 17, 1897. And he served as secretary of that board of education from April 12, 1880, until April 17, 1897, being elected each year by the board.
He was elected as a member of the board of education of the Princeton high school district, June 7, 1881, for two years, to fill a vacancy, and was re-elected, for three years, June 5, 1883, and served until June 1, 1886.
On February 27, 1886 he was appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the city council, as one of the first board of directors of the public library and reading room of Princeton, Illinois ( the Mat- son library), and served until July 1, 1888, assist- ing in the organization of the library.
He was four times elected county judge of Bu- reau county, Illinois, to wit, November 6, 1877, November 7, 1882, November 2, 1886, and No- vember 6, 1894. IIe was commissioned as county judge, December 1, 1877, to date from December 3, 1877, and December 1, 1882, to date from De- cember 4, 1882, and December 6, 1886, to date from then, and November 21, 1894, to date from December 3, 1894. He served continuously as county judge from December 3, 18:7, until De- cember 4, 1890, and again from December 3, 1894, until June 18, 1897. He resigned the office June 8, 1897, and the resignation became effective June 18, 1897, when he was commissioned as circuit judge.
He was elected president of the Bureau County Soldiers' Association at the date of its organiza- tion on July 8, 1896, and re-elected, at the first annual reunion, October 15, 1896, for the terin of one year. He was elected cominander of Ferris post, No. 309, Grand Army of the Republic, De- partment of Illinois, located at Princeton, Illi- nois, December 9, 1896, and was installed Janu- ary 13, 1897 (just thirty-four years after he was captured by the Confederates), for the term of one year.
On June 7, 1897, he was elected circuit judge, in the Thirteenth judicial circuit of Illinois, com- posed of the counties of Bureau, La Salle and Grundy. He was commissioned as eireuit judge June 18, 1897, for the term of six years, and took the oath of office on that day. Since the expira- tion of his term June 18, 1903, he has practiced law in Princeton.
SAMUEL MILES KNOX.
Samuel Miles Knox, ex-judge of the county court of Bureau county, is as widely known as any man in the county, his business interests for a period of twenty-five years bringing him in con- tact with thousands of people. He is a native of
Juniata county, Pennsylvania, born November 11, 1826, and is the son of John and Eunice Knox, the former of whom was born in Lancaster, Penn- sylvania, and a son of llugh Knox, a native of Scotland. The latter was also a native of Penn- sylvania, daughter of Samuel Pauling, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, serving in the regiment known as "Congress Own" and com- manded by Colonel Moses Hazen. He enlisted December 11, 1276, and served until 1781. Sam- uel Pauling's ancestors came from England to Philadelphia with the Penn colony. Both are now deceased.
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