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 26
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WILLIAM LOUIS GOLDING.
William Louis Golding, a well known farmer and stock-raiser of Wyanet township, who has also been active and influential in community affairs, having been honored through election to various local offices, was born September 13, 1860, about two miles south of Wyanet. The parents were Edward and Sarah Golding. who were born in England, living near Cambridge. Emigrating to America, Edward Golding landed in New York city July 6. 1854, and took up his abode in Bureau county upon the farm which he now owns on section 28, Wyanet township. the same month. The first few years after his arrival were spent in working by the month as a farm hand and in the winter of 1851-5 he was employed at farm labor at thirteen dollars per month. He is stilt living, being now in his eighty-second year. In the family were seven children, six of whom yet survive.
W. L. Golding of this review attended the Sunny Knoll school located a mile and a half south of the village of Wyanet. There his educa- tion was acquired entirely save for one term spent as a student in the high school in Wyanet. He lived the active, free life of a farmer boy and laid the foundation for his future career upon his father's homestead through the actual experience which he had in the work of the fields. His educa- tion completed, he turned his attention to farming
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and stock-raising. He now resides in the south- east part of the village of Wyanet on the T. Clark Hays farm on section 21, Wyanet township, and in the year 1901 he purchased the farm known as the Manrose place on sections 21 and 22 of the same township. IIe follows diversified farming, raising corn, oats, timothy, clover and alfalfa, and he also engages to some extent in the live stock business, raising horses, cattle and hogs. He, however, makes a specialty of hogs, annually raising from three to five hundred for the market.
On the 2d of March, 1893, Mr. Golding was married to Miss Mable Hays, a daughter of T. Clark Hays, and in 1902 he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who passed away on the 29th of August of that year, after a happy married life of-about nine years. She left two daughters, Hazel and Mable Alice, aged respectively twelve and three years.
Mr. Golding has been called to fill various posi- tions of public trust. He has served as town clerk and assessor and has also been a school director, and at intervals for nine years has been clerk and president of the school board. In politics he has always been a republican, never faltering in his allegiance to the party because he believes its principles are most conducive to good government. In his business interests he is now prospering and is the owner of one hundred and fifty-six acres of good land near Wyanet in addition to which he is farming the quarter section belonging to his fa- ther-in-law, which adjoins the village.
GEORGE G. McMANIS.
George G. MeManis, who became a resident of Bureau county in the fall of 1813 and is therefore numbered among its pioneer residents, since which time he has been an interested witness of the changes which have occurred as the work of de- velopment has been carried forward, is now en- gaged in bridge contracting and building, to which enterprise he has direeted his labors since 1870. His birth occurred in Clinton county, Ohio, in 1831. He is a son of George and Louisa (Me- Ilwane) McManis, the former a native of Ken- tucky, being born in that state in 1804, and the latter of Ohio. Coming to Bureau county at an early epoch in its development, the father estab- lished his home some distance southeast of Prince- ton in the fall of 1843. He had previously, how- ever, visited the county and had entered a claim in Arispie township in 1836, to which he brought the family seven years later. There he carried on general farming, placing a wild and unim- proved traet of land under a high state of cultiva- tion and thus transforming it into a valuable farn. In connection with the work of tilling the soil he was also active in the ministry of the Christian church and preached for many years in this eounty. He also figured in political service, filling the
office of county judge for one trwww. In later yours he removed to Kansas and finally to Texas, where he died in 1888 at the age of eighty-four years. His wife, who was born in 1804, passed away in Kansas in 1873. They were people of the highest respectability, enjoying in large measure the friendship and goodwill of those with whom they were associated. The father gave his early politi- cal allegiance to the whig party and upon its dissolution joined the ranks of the new republican party. In the family were five sons and one daughter who came to Bureau county, while two had died in Ohio. All are now deceased with the exception of George G. MeManis and his brother William, who resides in Texas. The latter, after active military service, returned from the army as major in the Ninth Ilinois Cavalry.
George G. McManis received rather meager educational privileges but had the benefit of one term's instruction in Smith's private school at Princeton. He resided upon the home farm until about twenty-five years of age and was an able assistant in the work of field and meadow, early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors consequent upon the development and cultivation of a farm. He spent three years in Livingston county and since that time has resided in Princeton and in Bureau county. Prior to 1870 he followed both farming and blacksmithing, but since that year he has been engaged in contracting for the building of bridges. He has built many bridges, mostly on public highways, and at the present time is associated with his son. C. J. MeManis, the firm being known as MeManis & Son. He has handled a great many bridge contracts in the past thirty-five or thirty-six years and altogether his business has been an extensive, important and prof- itable one. He does excellent work in this con- nection and in this line of building activity is well known.
Mr. MeManis was married in Livingston county, Illinois, in 1858, and by this union had three children : Clark, who is now postmaster of Prince- ton; William, who is filling the office of deputy circuit clerk ; and Harry, who is assistant postmas- ter. The three sons are representative young business men and have been successful in their chosen fields of labor.
In his political views Mr. MeManis is a stalwart republican. He cast his first presidential ballot for Fillmore in 1852 and in 1856 supported John C. Fremont, since which time he has never failed to give his political allegiance to the candidates at the head of the republican ticket. Reading and investigation have kept him thoroughly informed concerning the political questions of the day and his citizenship is characterized by the utmost de- votion to the general good. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonie order and has attained the Knight Templar degree in Temple commandery of Princeton, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Christian church. His
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residence in the county covers a period of almost two-thirds of a century, as in boyhood days he arrived here and since that time has been a factor in its progress, and has wrought for the present prosperity and advanced conditions which today exist in this part of the state.
JAMES E. PORTERFIELD.
James E. Porterfield, president of the Miller- Devlin Lumber Company, of Spring Valley, and of the Toluca Lumber & Hardware Company, of Toluca, was born near Dover, in Bureau county, October 9, 1849. His parents were James and and Eliza (Brigham) Porterfield, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of New Hampshire. The father eame to this county in 1836, casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers and was engaged in farming in the vicinity of Dover until 1883, when he removed to Greenwood county, Kansas. where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1895, when he was eighty-one years of age. He had long survived his wife, who died in this county at the age of forty-three years. Mr. Por- terfield figured prominently in connection with the early history of the county, leaving the impress of his individuality upon many events of historie importance. He was a friend of Owen Lovejoy, and was aetive in taking care of the slaves who, prior to the war, fled from their hard taskmasters of the south and sought freelom in Canada. He was a zealous and enthusiastie anti-slavery man, doing everything in his power to further opposition to the cause of slavery, his home being a station on the famous underground railroad.
James E. Porterfield, whose name introduces this record, enjoyed the benefits of the educational privileges afforded in Dover Academy, and after completing his own studies taught for four years in the schools of Bureau county. He afterward engaged in farming near Spring Valley, but in 1889 withdrew from agricultural pursuits and turned his attention to merchandising in the town. Hle carried on that business for two years, after which he became a lumber dealer in 1891 and has continued in this line of trade to the present time. He is now president of the Toluca Lumber & Hardware Company, of Tolvea, and also of the Miller-Devlin Lumber Company, of Spring Valley, and is secretary of the Devlin Coal Company at Toluca. His business interests are thus extensive and important and in their control he displays keen discernment, marked sagacity and unfaltering diligence and perseverance-qualities which are es- sential factors in the honorable acquirement of success.
In 1872 Mr. Porterfield was united in marriage to Miss Icedora Miller, a daughter of Henry J. Miller, one of the most prominent and respected citizens of Bureau county. They have two daugh- ters: Edna M., who was born November 14, 1873,
and is the wife of C. A. Brown, of Tolna; and Ada Lois, who was born September 13, 1881, and is the wife of Harry E. Trovillo, of Topeka, Kansas.
Mr. and Mrs. Porterfield hold membership in the Congregational church, taking an active part in its work and doing all in their power to promote its growth and extend its influence. Mr. Porterfieldl is acting as one of the trustees and dencons of the church and gives his political support to the re- publican party. He has made steady advancement in his business eareer and each step which he has taken has been a forward one, bringing him a broader outlook and wider opportunities. He has utilized his advantages and as the years have gone by has gained for himself a place among the sub- stantial, enterprising and successful business men of his native county.
WILLIAM BOHM.
William Bohm, a lifelong farmer, who now owns and cultivates three hundred and fifteen acres on sections 13 and 23, Walnut township, Bureau county, has made nearly all of the improvements upon this place. He built his own home, has add- ed other commodious and substantial buildings and set out nearly all of the trees, which add so much to the value and attractive appearance of the place. That he started out in life empty- handed and is now a prosperous citizen makes him worthy of the proud American title ef a "self- made man."
Born in Germany, December 1, 1856, Mr. Bohin is a son of John and Wiry ( Wolf) Bohm, who were likewise natives of that country. They came to America with their three children, Joe, Minnie and William, and after living in Chicago for two years the wife and mother died. The father after- ward removed to Depue, Illinois, and his last years were spent in Manlius township, Bureau county, where his death ocenred in 1886.
William Bohm was educated in the schools of his native country and has always followed farm- ing as a source of livelihood. He was married at the age of twenty-six years, to Christina Ellef- son, who was born in Germany, April 11, 1861. and at the age of seven years was brought to America by her parents, who settled in Princeton, where they still reside. The father was a baker by trade but is now living retired. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bohm were born eleven children, three of whom died in infancy, of thew. Minnie, being but four months old at the time of her demise. Those living are Edward, John, William, Emma, Ar- thur, Carl. Jennie and Lester.
When Mr. Bohin was married and began firm- ing on his own account he borrowed fifty dollars. The end of the second year found him in de to the extent of seven hundred dollars, owing to his purchase of horses, tools and other nextel supplies
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
for the farm work. That he lived frugally and was industrious in the earlier years is indicated by the fact that he is now the owner of three hundred and fifteen acres of valuable land on sections 13 and 23, Walnut township, and though the neces- sity for continued arduous labor is no more, he is still a diligent man, personally superintendino his farming interests. He raises corn and hay and feeds some hogs, and the products of the farm bring him a good financial return annually. He now has fine buildings upon his place, which is one of the best farms of the township. He paid thirty dollars per aere for one quarter section of his land and eight years ago he gave fifty-five dol- lars per aere for a quarter section on section 23- today worth more than double that price. Mr. Bohum affiliates with the Princeton lodge of Odd Fellows, but has given his attention mostly to his farming interests and his perseverance and per- sisteney is indieative of his life of thrift, enter- prise and carefully directed labor.
WILLIAM MARTIN JOHNSON.
William Martin Johnson, a veteran of the Civil war, now engaged in general farming and stock- raising, was born in Licking county, Ohio, October 22, 1843. His parents were Lemuel and Sarah (Robinson) Johnson. The father was a farmer and carpenter. Born in Virginia, he afterward became a resident of Lieking county, Ohio, where he resided until his son William was about two and a half years of age, when he brought the fam- ily to Illinois, establishing his home in Bureau county in 1816.
Mr. Johnson of this review has therefore spent almost his entire life in Bureau county. He was here reared, while his education was acquired in the country schools, and during the periods of va- cation his time and energies were devoted to farm labor. After putting aside his text-books he con- tinued to assist in the operation of the home farm until 1864, when he enlisted as a member of Com- pany K, Fifty-seventh Illinois Regiment, in de- fense of the Union cause. He was then only twenty years of age. At Chicago he was mustered in and was sent first to Louisville, Kentucky. He took part in a number of important military move- ments and engagements, participating in the bat- tles of Athens, Alabama, Resaea and Rome, Geor- gia, Chattahoochee, the siege of Atlanta, and the engagements at Altoona Pass and Peach Tree Creek. With his regiment he then went to Rome, where he remained until the evacuation of At- lanta and later he proceeded to Jonesboro and on to Savannah, Georgia. He went with his regi- ment through South Carolina, northward to Golds- boro and to Raleigh, North Carolina, thence to Petersburg, Virginia, and on to Washington, where the close of the war was fittingly celebrated in a splendid military pageant known as the grand
review, in which he participood on the 23d of May, 1865. The regiment af erward proconled to Louisville, Kentucky, where he was mustered out on the 21th of June and on the 21th of July he was honorably discharged at Chicago. Thus ended his military service in dez-use of the Union, during which he made a creditable record by his valor and loyalty.
When the war was over Mr. Johnson returned to Bureau county, where he has since been en- gaged in farming and stock-ra'sing and he is today a leading representative of the agricultural inter- ests of this locality. He has a good tract of land which he has brought under a high state of cul- tivation and has placed thereon many modern and substantial improvements.
On the 15th of November, 1566, Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Kentz, a daughter of Henry Kentz, whose father was a farmer and lived in Concord township, Bureau county. They had three sons and a daughter: Henry Oscar, who was born September 9, 1871, and is now engaged in farming in this county; Lemuch Andrews, who was born August 2, 1826, and is a railroad contractor in Wyoming; Frank Bennett, who was born February 21, 1880, and was killed at a railroad crossing March 28, 1905; and Lula Belle, who was educat. i in the country schools and in Buda and is still at home with her parents.
In his political views Mr. Johnson is a stal- wart republican and has many times been a dele- gate to the county and senatorich conventions of his party, in the work and success of which he is deeply interested because he believes its principles are most conducive to good government. Ife has been honored with various local offices by his fellow townemen, who recognize his worth and ability and who thus manifest their ex &dence in him. He has been school director for twenty years and at the present writing, in 1906. is holding the office of road commissioner, in which capacity he has served for three terms or a to. . I of nine years. He was also overseer of the roads for about twenty years and officially and as a private citizen has done much to improve the publ . highways. He holds membership in the First Baptist church of Buda and is a member of Emery post, No. 198, G. A. R. of Buda, of which he h .- been officer of the day for many years. In matters of citizen- ship he is always as loyal in days of peace as he was in times of war and has a drop rooted at- tachment for the stars and stripes.
NICHOLAS HEINZE.
Nicholas Heinze, who in matter- of citizenship as well as in his business career h .- demonstrated his right to the confidence and es em which are uniformly accord-t him by his fellow townsmen, is now living in Ohio township, having for twenty-
W. M. JOHNSON.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
two years made his home upon his present farm, which comprises eighty acres. Ile was born in Lee county, Illinois, December 17, 1870, and his par- ents, Andrew and Margaret ( Eichorn) Heinze, were natives of Germany. In a family of four children he is the youngest. The mother was twice married, her first husband being John Sheller, who died leaving a daughter, Anna Sheller.
In the Bureau county public schools Nicholas Heinze obtained his education and after putting aside his text-books he began farming on his own account, and has since followed that pursuit. He not only raises grain and hay, but also cattle and hogs for the market. His father died nine years ago, on the 30th of June, 1897, since which time Mr. Heinze of this review has had charge of the home farm, caring for his mother and sister. The place comprises eighty acres of land and it has been his home for twenty-two years. The fields are now under a high state of cultiva- tion and return good erops. The equipments are all modern and everything about the place is in- dicative of the care and supervision of a practical, progressive owner. His political views find evi- dence in the support which he gives to the re- publican party. The family belong to the German Lutheran church and are highly esteemed socially. Friends and neighbors speak of Mr. Heinze in terms of high praise and warm regard by reason of his genuine personal worth and the excellent traits of character which he has displayed in as- suming the care of the home property, thus pro- viding for his mother and sister. He deserves all the success that has come to him and will undoubtedly win a still larger measure of properity in the future, for he possesses those traits which ever lead to advancement and enable the individual to pass upon life's highway others who perhaps started out more advantageously than himself.
HENRY FANS.
Henry Fahs, numbered among the wide-awake and enterprising young farmers of Ohio township, is now engaged in operating and managing a place of one hundred and twenty acres. He is num- bered among Bureau county's native sons, his birth having occurred within its borders on the 2d of August, 1880. His parents were Fred and Mary Fahs, natives of Germany, who came to America at an early day and established their home in this county. As the years passed their marriage was blessed with a family of eight children.
Henry Fahs, the sixth in order of birth, was reared in the usual manner of farmer lads and his education was largely acquired in the public schools of Lee county, althoughi in the school of experience he has learned many practical and valuable lessons. He was early trained to farm work and came to a realization of the value of
thrift and industry as factors in the achovotoent of success. He is now manager of an excellent farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Ohio township and his early training in the fields has stood him in good stead as the years have gone by.
Mr. Fahs was united in marriage to Miss Lena Spohn, who was born in Lee county, Illinois, No- vember 14, 1880. The wedding was celebrated December 12, 1899, and has been blessed with two children: Fred W., born November 18, 1902; and Louis F., born May 27, 1905. Mrs. Fahs' parents were John and Mary ( Houck) Spohn, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Buffalo, New York. In the family were twelve children, the father having been married twice, and five were born of the first marriage and seven by the second marriage.
Mr. Fahs in his religious faith is connected with the German Lutheran church, while his wife is a communicant of the Roman Catholic church. His political support is given the republican party, but he has neither time nor inclination for public office, finding that his business affairs make con- tinuous deniands upon his energies. Ile is steadily progressing and it will probably not be long before he is in possession of a farin of his own. He is a good citizen, worthy of the confidence of friends and neighbors, and has made a creditable record for one of his years.
WILBUR H. FATE.
Wilbur H. Fate, who follows farming on see- tion 30, Milo township, was born in this township September 21, 1859. His father, Johnson M. Fate, now deceased, was born near Denvertown, Ohio, in 1835 and came to Illinois in 1846, settling in Milo township about a mile and a half east of the farm on which our subject now resides. He wedded Mary Jane Reed from Ohio, a sister of L. H. Reed, of Milo township, and the three chil- dren born of this union are: Wilbur H. ; John R., who is living in Bradford; and francis A., who is a Congregational minister and resides in Middle- field, Massachusetts. The death of the father oc- curred March 16, 1900, while his wife passed away in 1901.
Wilbur H. Fate is indebted to the common- school system of Milo township for the early edu- cational privileges which he enjoyed and which were supplemented by study in Wesleyan Univer- sity at Abingdon, Illinois. Later he was gradu- ated from Evergreen City Business College at Bloomington, this state, in 1880. His training for the work of the fields was received under his father's direction, for at an early age he took his place behind the plow and did other work con- neeted with the development of the fields. He has always carried on farming and stock-raising and now feeds many cattle and blogs annually. IFis landed pos essions comprise on . hun tred and fifty
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
acres of fine land where he now lives, and he also owns another tract of one hundred and twenty aeres. He has one of the best and finest homes to be found in Milo township and it is surrounded by beautiful shade trees, every one of which has been planted by him, together with the shrubs and flowers about the farm, rendering this one of the most attractive and pleasing features in the landscape. There are also good barns upon the place and everything is in excellent shape, the farm being well improved and the fields care- fully cultivated.
Mr. Fate was married to Miss Anna J. Foster, of Bradford, a daughter of Charles Foster, and they now have four children, Mamie, who is a graduate of the Bradford high school and is continuing her education in Evanston; Lena, Ivan and Grace, all' yet at home. The parents and children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Bradford and ocenpy an enviable position in social circles where true worth and intelligence are received as the passports into good society. Po- litically Mr. Fate is a republican and has served as school director for fourteen years, while for many years he was road commissioner. Hle be- longs to the Modern Woodmen eamp and in all life's relations is found true to every trust and upholds a high standard of conduct by a life which is indicative of manly principles which permeate it.
CLAYTON C. PERVIER.
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