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 15
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The boyhood and youth of our subject were spent upon his father's farm in his native county, and his literary education was completed in Tus- carora Academy, teaching during the winter months in order to be able to attend school in the summer. Having a desire to enter the medieal profession, he studied for two years, still teaching during the winter months, but on account of a lack of means to complete his course he tem- porarily abandoned it. Seeking employment, with a view of replenishing his purse, he was for three years engaged in different localities in selling the German history of the United States. As a book agent he was quite successful, and as fast as he accumulated a little money he would loan it to some responsible farmer in Bureau county. When he desired to resume his medical studies he was persuaded to take payment in corn at twenty-five cents per bushel. When ready to ship his corn a difficulty arose in the way of securing ears for that purpose. Cars were very scarce, and he con- eluded the quickest way out of the difficulty would be to go to Chicago, purchase a couple of car- loads of lumber for the Pond Creek station on the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway. and unloading fill with grain for shipment back. This he did, and, making a fair profit on both lumber and corn, concluded to embark in the lumber and grain business at Pond Creek.
Mr. Knox remained at that place but a short time and then removed to Wyanet, where he con- tinued in the same business and also in general merchandising. He also received the appoint- ment of postmaster of the place, being the first to fill that position. In 1857 he commenced reading law with Charles Barry, having given up the notion of becoming a physician. A year or two later he sold out his business in Wyanet, au l in 1861 removed to Princeton and read law with Milton T. Peters until he was admitted to the bar in the fall of the same year. In 1861 he was elected county judge of Bureau county, and served the term of four years in a very acceptable manner. The year previous he was the democratic candidate for the legislature but was defeated. Mr. Knox. in company with J. I. Taylor, made an extended tour in Europe, sailing in 186% and returning in 1868.
Judge Knox continued in the practice of law
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until 1826, but for about four years previous gave little attention to it, having in 1870 eom- menced dealing in real estate in connection with the land department of various railroads. For a time he was with the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad, and later with the Leavenworth, Law- rence & Galveston Railroad. In 1873 he became connected with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy and the Burlington & Missouri River land de- partment, operating principally in Illinois and Indiana, selling lands owned by these companies in Iowa and Nebraska. In the settlement of these respective states Judge Knox was instru- mental in locating many thousands of permanent settlers. The plan pursued was by getting up exeursions and showing the lands, selling them at a reasonable price on long time with low interest and crediting the amount of the railroad fare on the purchase made. It is said that he disposed of more land in Iowa and Nebraska for these roads than other of the twenty agencies. From 1875 until 1880 the sales of his office averaged about twenty thousand acres per month, some months running up to fifty thousand acres. Some land in Towa, which he sold from five to ten dollars per acre, is now worth from one hundred to one hundred and fifty dollars per acre.
In 1880 Mr. Knox took the agency for the Union Pacific lands, and did much effective work for that road, his operations extending up the Platte river. His sales for this road were also quite extensive, especially during the years 1882, 1883 and 1884. The excursions under his super- vision were always popular, the judge taking spe- eial pains to make everyone comfortable. Famil- iarizing himself with the lands by personal visits to each locality, spending days in driving over them, he was always prepared to give the intended settler such advice and suggestions as were desired. No one was deceived by him and made to pur- chase that which did not suit his taste or not suit- able for the purpose intended.
During all these years the judge had an eye to his own interests, and from time to time made investments in lands in Kansas and Nebraska, some of which have proven quite profitable. In Allen county, Kansas, he has about five thousand acres divided into farms, which he has rented. Ile also owned in Nebraska about fifteen thousand acres, most of which has been sold to actual set- tlers on long time. In 1895 he dissolved his connection with the Union Pacific, and again ac- cepted a position with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. The country is now pretty well settled along the lines of the road. for which he has been employed, therefore as great à volime of business may not be transacted in the future as in the past, yet the energy and familiarity of our subject with the business will develop all there is in it to the profit of the road and the perfect satisfaction of those with whom he deals. Judge Knox and Miss Hannah H. Weaver were
united in marriage December 31, 1851, at Wyanet. She is a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of Obadiah and Elizabeth ( Heimbach) Weaver, who came from Allentown in that state to Bureau county with her parents in 1844. By this union five children were born: Anson H., a farmer in Bureau county ; Mary, wife of Justus M. Stevens, of Princeton; Emma L., deceased; Ada L., de- ceased; and Samuel F., an attorney of Chicago, living at Highland Park. Both daughters were well educated, having finished their course in Europe, Ada L. spending five years in Dresden and Paris.
The life of Judge Knox affords an example of what can be accomplished by one having the de- termination to do. Coming to Bureau county a poor medical student. without means to finish his course, he commenced work in a calling de- spised by some, but as honorable as any, one which some of the greatest heroes and statesmen for a time followed, and with the means thus obtained laid the foundation for the success in life which he has attained. In social circles, as well as in business affairs, the judge stands well in the esti- mation of all. Fraternally he is a Mason and has taken all of the degrees including the thirty- second. In politics he is a democrat.
ALBERT R. UMHOLZ.
Albert R. Umholz, editor of the Bureau County Record, published at Princeton, was born in Mon- ticello, Illinois, February 14, 1880. His father, August Umholz, was a native of Zurich, Switzer- land, and a son of Archibald Umholz. August Uinholz erected the first building ever put on the grounds of the Illinois University. He married Miss Caroline Salheim, a native of Germany, and died in the year 1898.
Albert R. Umholz was educated in the public schools and entered the newspaper field at eight years of age by working after school hours and in the periods of vacation as errand boy in a newspaper office. In 1892 he left school. being then but twelve years of age, and secured a posi- tion in the printing office of the Piatt County Bulletin, where he remained for two years. When only fourteen years of age he began the publica- tion of the Ivesdale News at Ivesdale, Illinois, and after a year he sold the paper, accepting the position of foreman on the Piatt County Repub- lican, acting in that capacity for four years. . 1 year later he established a job printing business on his own account, which he conducted continu- ously and successfully until the 10th of February, 1901, when he formed a partnership with his brother. F. E. Umholz, and purchased the Bureau County Record from S. E. Brede. In 1903 the business was incorporated under the state laws. The brother afterward went to California, and Mr. Umholz. of this review, purchased the con- trolling interest and has since continued the pub-
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lication of the Record. The paper was not in a prosperous condition when he took charge, but under his management it has beeome a leading journal of the county, with a large circulation and good advertising patronage. It is devoted to the dissemination of general and local news, and is a stalwart champion of many progressive measures which have had a direet bearing upon municipal progress and improvement.
On the 20th of July, 1900, Mr. Umholz was married to Miss Hattie Eshelman, a daughter of Wendell Eshelman, of Monticello. They started in school together, went through the primaries together, and the acquaintance of early childhood continued until they had attained adult age and were married. They now have two children : one son, Daryl, and a daughter, Arva Ruth.
Mr. Umholz belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Ben Hur and several other so- cieties. He has never been an aspirant for publie office or public notoriety of any kind, and be- lieves that a man may be a good eitizen without being an active politician. He stands for all that is progressive in citizenship, and is a champion of those measures which are matters of eivic virtue and eivic pride. He is yet a young man and has attained ereditable success for one of his years. Dependent upon his own resources from practically the age of eight years, his life has been marked by consecutive advancement and his native ability and unfaltering perseverance have brought him to the creditable position which he now occupies as a representative of the business life of his adopted county.
J. F. McWILLIAMS.
J. F. MeWilliams, who for nineteen years has resided at his present home on seetion 5, Leeper- town township, where he owns and operates a fine farm of ninety-two acres, is serving for the ninth year and fourth term as supervisor of the town- ship and because of his activity. in public life and agricultural eireles is numbered among the lead- ing residents of this part of the county. He was born in Morgan county, Ohio, April 2, 1843, a son of William F. and Mary ( Van Wy) MeWill- iams, who came to Illinois in April, 1857. settling at Malden, Bureau county, where they resided un- til called to their final rest. The father engaged in farming and seeured a tract of land and good home there. Both he and his wife were natives of Ohio, having been born in Belmont county. The father died in 1883, at the age of seventy-two years, while his wife passed away in March, 1887. They were the parents of four children : Mary A .. the deceased wife of H. H. Piper, of Berlin town- ship, this county ; S. A. and W. H .. both residents of Shenandoah, Iowa; and J. F., of this review.
The last named is now the only one of the fam- ily living in Bureau county. He was in his fif-
teenth year when he came from Ohio to Hlinon, and for three years he was a student in Dover Academy, acquiring a good education whereby he was qualified for teaching, which profession he followed for twenty-eight years, while for the past nineteen years he has engaged in farming. IIe began teaching in 1865 in Bureau county and within the period of twenty-eight years devoted to that profession he taught for five winter terms in Montgomery county, Kansas, where he also owned and operated a farm. He was a capable educafor. imparting clearly and readily the knowledge that he had acquired and the public-school interests of the county were promoted through his effective labors. For nineteen years, however, his attention has been given to general agricultural pursuits and he is now the owner of ninety-two acres of rich and productive land on section 5, Leeper- town township, where he has carried on general farming, having placed his fields under a high state of cultivation, so that he annually harvests good crops.
Mr. MeWilliams was married in this county to Miss Mary E. Miller, who was born at Springfield, Ohio, in 1845, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Day- ton Miller, both of whom died in the Buckeye state. They had a family of twelve children, of whom four came to the west, three being residents of Bureau county and one of Kansas. The mar- riage of Mr. and Mrs. McWilliams has been blessed with three children: Charles D., who re- sides in Lecpertown; Bertha A., of Chicago, who is a stenographer by profession and has traveled extensively for the past few years; and William F., at home. They also lost two children: Lulu B., who died at the age of thirteen months; and Ada B., who died at the age of twelve years.
In politics Mr. MeWilliams has always been a democrat. Ile has served as assessor and collector and in fact has filled all of the offices of the town- ship save that of justice of the peace. ITis duties have been discharged with promptness and fidel- ity and with a sense of conscientious obligation. Hle belongs to Princeton lodge, No. 567, A. F. & A. M., and he is well known in the city and throughout the surrounding country, his business interests having brought him a wide acquaintance while favorable regard has ripened into warm friendship and he is one of the most highly es- teemed residents of this community.
JOHN G. PRENDERGAST.
John G. Prendergast resides in Berlin township. where he operates a farm of two hundred and forty-nine aeres, and in its control he displays thorough familiarity with the best methods of tilling the soil. A native of New York city. he was born July 5, 1877, and dates his residence in Illinois from the 28th of August. 1881. His parents were Thomas and Bridget (Shanley)
MER. AND MRS. J. F. MeWILLIAMS.
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Prendergast, natives of Ireland. The father came to the United States in 1869 and the mother a few years later. In their family were six children, of whom the subject of this review was the first born. At the usual age he entered the common schools, and therein mastered the branches of learning that fitted him for the duties which come with a busi- ness career. After leaving school he began farm- ing, and has continued in that occupation to the present time, bringing to bear in his work the practical experience and knowledge which he gained in his boyhood while assisting his father at farm labor. He now operates two hundred and forty-nine acres of excellent land and annually harvests good erops. Each year he adds to his capital, and he expects soon to invest his money so that he can engage in the cultivation of a farm of his own.
As a companion and helpmate for life's journey Mr. Prendergast chose Miss Helen Thielen, to whom he was married in Kewanee, Illinois, Febru- ary 11, 1903. She was born in Chicago, No- vember 26, 18:5, and their union has been blessed with one child, Helen M., born December 6, 1903. Mrs. Prendergast is a daughter of Paul and Mary (Gillett) Thielen, the former a native of Ger- many and the latter of Illinois. They had nine children, of whom Mrs. Prendergast was the third. She completed her education in the high school at Kansas City, from which she was graduated, and for five years she was a successful teacher of Bureau county.
Mr. Prendergast belongs to Arlington lodge, No. 3111, M. W. A., and in his political views is a democrat, while . his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Roman Catholic church. He is a self-made man, and his diligence and busi- ness integrity are qualities which have brought him a good start in life and which will win for him still greater successes in the future. Ile and his wife live in one of the best neighborhoods in Berlin township, and their excellent qualities have gained for them the friendly regard of neighbors and of all by whom they are known.
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ADAM CARPER.
Adam Carper is the owner of Pleasant View farm in Macon township, a valuable property which in its excellent appearance indicates the careful supervision and practical methods of an enterprising owner. Long years have passed since he came to the county, for during more than a half century he has resided within its borders. His birth occurred in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, on the 19th of January. 183S. his parents being John and Catherine (Smith) Carper. The father, also a native of the Keystone state, was born June 11, 1807. His entire life was spent upon a farm and his educational advantages were very limited. In 1851 he came to Bureau county and purchased
eighty acres of land in Macon township, whereon he made his home until his death. His wife, also a native of the Keystone state, died in Illinois at the age of about forty-five years. Both were faith- ful members of the Church of God, and Mr. Carper gave his political support to the whig party until the organization of the new republican party, when he joined its ranks and continued to follow its banners until his demise. In the family of this worthy couple were nine children, of whom six are yet living: Jacob S., a resident farmer of Burean county; Henry, who follows farming in Clay county, Nebraska; Adam and Frederick, who are prosperous agriculturists of Macon town- ship; Christina, the wife of John Hanley, of Buda; and John, a merchant of Bude. One daughter, Elizabeth, became the wife of David Yount, of Macon township, and died May 22, 1901, while Christopher, who was a farmer of Macon township, died April 16, 1902.
Adam Carper was reared in Pennsylvania to the age of sixteen years and acquired a common school education. Although his privileges in youth were somewhat meager, he has kept in touch with the progress of the times through reading and ob- servation, and is now a well informed man. He was early trained to the work of the fann, and lessons of industry and integrity were instilled into his mind, and in later years have borne rich fruit. He came with his parents to Bureau coun- ty when a young lad and assisted in the cultiva- tion and improvement of the home farm until thirty-two years of age, also spending abon; twelve years of that time as a thresher in Mason and surrounding townships. The first traet of land which he purchased comprised eighty neres on section 28, Macon township, which cons frutes a part of his present farm. He was able to make only a partial payment, but he worked persistently and energetically and soon was able to discharge his financial obligations. He also male good improvements and eventually extended the bound- aries of his place by an additional purchase of eighty acres. He now has an excellent tract of land, covering a quarter seetion in Macon town- ship, and the place is well named Pleasant View farm. It is equipped with good buildings, includ- ing a very pleasant residence, which he erected. together with all the other accessories of a model farm of the twentieth century.
On the 18th of November, 1869, was celebrated the marriage of Adam Carper and Miss Mary Kegarice, a native of Huntingdon county, Penn- sylvania, born March 18. 1846, and the seventh in a family of eleven children, whose parents were John and Margaret (Inscho) Kegarice. Of this family seven are now living. Jacob, who was a retired farmer of Scranton, Iowa, died A .. Just 15, 1906. The others are: Philip, a mason by trade, who resides at Payton, Iowa; Barbard, widow of Robert Spencer, of Peoria; Mrs. Cart-", wife of our subject : Sallie. wife of Ezra Of orne, a
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farmer of Creston, Iowa; Margaret, wife of Wil- liam Suter, of West Virginia; Susan, wife of George Emie, a farmer of Belwood, Pennsylvania ; Nancy, wife of I. M. Roberts, a grain dealer of Douglas, Nebraska. John Kegarice was a native of Pennsylvania, born December 10, 1811, and died August 30, 1878. He was a blacksmith by trade, and although receiving but a common school education, engaged in teaching. He was a member of the Seventh Day Adventists, and politically was a stanch republican, but originally was an old-line whig. Mrs. Kegarice was a native of New Jersey, born June 20, 1813, and died October 16, 1882. She was reared in Pennsylvania, and was also a member of the Seventh Day Adventists. After the death of her husband she came west and inade her home with her daughter, Mrs. Carper.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Carper were born seven children, of whom four survive. Myrtie is now the wife of Richard W. Robinson, a prosperous farmer of Macon township, and their children are Harry J., Mary Rose, Mildred and Myrtie Dell. Mr. Robinson is a native of Illinois, was educated in the common schools of Macon township and also pursued a business course in Davenport, Iowa. Politically he is a democrat, and is a member of the Church of God. John Irving is a graduate of Barkeyville Academy, of Pennsylvania, of the class of 1893, and of Findlay College, Ohio, of the class of 1896. In one year he completed a course in Barkeyville Academy, which usually re- quires two years, and in two years at Findlay Col- lege he completed the work that usually required three years. He is now engaged in the real estate business in Des Moines, lowa, and was married August 10, 1898, to Alma Markee, and they have two children, Gerald and Dorothy. Josie, born September 27, 1876, was married November 30, 1899, to Bert Bartlett, and they have two chil- dren: Clarence Adam and Mary Darline. The other members of the Carper family were Mar- garet, Ira, Jacob Elmer and one who died in infancy.
Age conferred upon Mr. Carper the right of franchise at the time when Abraham Lincoln was a candidate for the presidency, and to him Mr. Carper gave his support. He has always been a stalwart republican, and has been a delegate to various county conventions, where his opinions have frequently been a decisive factor in party councils. His wife adheres to the faith of the Church of God, her membership being in what is known as the Bunker Hill church. In various church activities she is deeply interested, is a member of the Ladies' Foreign Missionary So- ciety and for some years was an earnest worker in the Sunday school. The family home is an attractive and hospitable residence, situated in the midst of a fine farm, which is the visible evidence of Mr. Carper's life of intense and well directed activity. He started out for himself empty- handed, but has steadily and persistently worked
his way upward, overcoming all obstacles and dif- fieulties in his path. Determination and honor- able purpose will always win success, and Mr. Carper has made for himself an honorable name as well as a comfortable competence as the years have gone by.
THOMPSON A. ZINK.
Thompson A. Zink, who for more than two decades conducted a meat market in Buda, and is numbered among the reliable and enterprising business men of that town, was born September 12, 1850, his parents being George and Catherine (Thompson) Zink, natives of Pennsylvania. On leaving the Keystone state the father removed to Ohio and thence came to Ilinois in 1843, and the mother in 1815. They were farming people, and were among the early pioneer residents of this part of the state, which they aided in reclaiming for the purposes of civilization.
Thompson A. Zink was reared under the parent- al roof, amid frontier conditions, and at the usual age began his education, passing through suc- cessive grades until he was graduated from the high school of Buda. His training at farm work was not meager, for he carly took his place behind the plow and assisted in other labor in connection with the development and improvement of the fields. He continued farming with his father for five years after completing his education, and then started out in life for himself. Subsequently he established a meat market, opening a store at Buda in 1881 and conducting it with constantly growing success until December, 1905. He had a very liberal patronage, and derived therefrom a gratifying income. He is the owner of a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Macon township. which he rents, and in his home place in Buda has about twelve acres, whereon he is en- gaged in the raising of poultry.
Mr. Zink was married to Miss Maggie Russell, of Buda, a daughter of Arnold and Mary (Stone) Russell, farming people, who removed from Penn- sylvania to Illinois in 1861. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Ziak was celebrated March 15, 18 ?? , and has been blessed with three children: Mary If., who is a graduate of the Buda high school ; Estelle M., at home; and Gail R., who was born April 24, 1880, and died April 20, 1886.
Mr. Zink is a man who always has the courage of his convictions, and his position upon any matter of public moment is never an equivocal one. In polities he is a stalwart republican, and for three terms has served as alderman of Buda, exercising his official prerogatives in support of those meas- ures which work for general improvement and permanent good. Fraternally he is a Mason, and has served as past master and as junior warden in Buda lodge, No. 399. A., F. and A. M. His residence in this county covers a long period,
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during which time he has witnessed many of the changes that have occurred and the transforma- tion that has taken place as business interests have been introduced and as the work of improvement has been carried forward, winning for Bureau county a foremost position among the leading counties of this great commonwealth.
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