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 46
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
labor in the neighborhood up to the time of his marriage, when he began farming on his own ac- count, securing one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he cultivated for some time. Later, however, he bought the farm on which he now resides and on which substantial improvements have been made. Ile raises graded cattle, horses and hogs and ships his own stock to market, send- ing about two earloads of hogs each year.
On the 21st of January, 1880, Mr. Bennett was married to Miss Sarah A. Stabler, who was born in Neponset township, September 14, 1861, a daughter of Robert Joseph and Martha ( Bram- bles) Stabler. This marriage has been blessed with six children, of whom four are now living: Claud G., who was born March 9, 1881; Laura M., Sep- tember 21, 1883: Guy R., October 29, 1885; and Nellie V., May 11, 1890. One son, Harry MI., born March 28, 1887, died August 16, 1900.
Mr. Bennett is a republican and keeps well in- formed on the questions and issues of the day but has never sought or desired office, holding no public position save that of school director. Ilis time is fully occupied by his business cares and in his farm work he has displayed close application, unremitting diligence and laudable ambition.
JACOB FREDERICK SCHOETTLER.
Jacob Frederick Schoettler, who was born No- vember 5, 1845, in Concord township, Bureau county, Illinois, is a son of Frederick and Marie (Schwarzentraub) Schoettler, both of whom were natives of Germany, and came to America at an early day. The father first located in Ohio and was married in Butler county, in May, 1843, and in the same year eame to Illinois, settling in Concord township, Bureau county, where he en- gaged in farming.
Jaeob F. Schoettler was reared to farin life in Bureau county and received his education in the country schools of Concord township. He re- mained upon the home farm during his boyhood and youth and gave his father the benefit of his services, receiving practical training in this line which later enabled him to start out in life on his own account. In 1871 he came to Buda, where he engaged in the draying and transfer business for many years, also dealing in coal and iec. In 1904 he engaged in the harness and saddlery busi- ness, in which he has been very sueeessful, having built up a good patronage not only in his imme- diate vicinity but throughout the surrounding country.
Two years after coming to Buda, in 18:3, he was united in marriage to Miss Abbie Jane Robey, the wedding ceremony being performed on the 8th of October of that year. Mrs. Schoettler, with her parents, James D. and Patience L. Robey, eame to Illinois from New Hampshire in 1861. They have become the parents of one daughter, Grace
Robey, born in December, 1879, who is a graduate of the Buda schools.
Mr. Schoettler affiliates with the republican party. He is a popular and influential eitizen of Buda, having served for three terins of two years each on the village board. He is also a member of the Unitarian church and is now acting as treasurer of that organization. He is a progressive eitizen, being interested in every movement which tends to advance the welfare of his town and county, and by his reliable and honorable dealings with his fellow citizens has built up a nice busi- ness, which adds much to the substantial develop- ment of his home town, and he and his family are highly esteemed throughout the community.
WALTER L. GIBBS.
Walter L. Gibbs, residing at No. 1225 South Main street, in Princeton, where he owns a fine new residence, has for the past twelve years been a traveling representative for the wholesale house of Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Company, of Chi- cago. He was born in 1859 in the city which is yet his place of residence, and is a son of II. D. Gibbs. w hose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. He was reared here to the age of seventeen years, after which he spent two years in Tiskilwa and then went to Chicago, as house employe and traveling salesman for fourteen years, for the hardware firm of Wells & Nellegar Company. He has thus de- voted most of his life to the hardware trade, in- cluding three years spent at Tipton, Iowa, as a re- tail hardware merchant. He is thoroughly conver- sant with the trade in every detail and is an ex- pert salesman, having built up a good patronage over the territory where he travels, so that he is one of the trusted and valued employes of the house.
Mr. Gibbs was married in Princeton to Rosella J. Priestley, a daughter of C. M. Priestley, and they now have five children. Charles II., who is assistant engineer of the Illinois Valley Railroad Company, and now has charge of the construction work of the line to Princeton, is a graduate of the University of Illinois of the class of 1905, at which time he won the degree of B. S .; Forest L., who is pursuing a course of study fitting him for the profession of architect in the University of Illinois and will graduate with the class of 1907 : Leigh If. is a student in the Princeton high school: Margaret R. and Rachel W. are both at home.
In his political views Mr. Gibbs is a republican. having stanehly supported the party since age con- ferred upon him the right of franchise. Socially he is connected with the Masonic fraternity. in which he has taken the degrees of the lodge, chap- ter and commandery, and the family are members of the Presbyterian church. He is a popular man, of genial nature, whose courtesy and deference for
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
the opinions of others have gained him warm friends, and wherever he is known he is held in high estcem.
CHARLES T. BAIRD.
Charles T. Baird, whose farm in La Moille township comprises one hundred and sixty-six acres of excellent land and who in addition owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Nebras- ka, came to Bureau county on the 22d of February, 1865. Hle was then in his seventh year, having been born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, on the 22d of November, 1858, of the marriage of Charles and Martha (Snyder) Baird. His parents were likewise natives of Westmoreland county, born June 30, 1818, and June 12, 1817, respective- ly. For many years they remained residents of this county, coming to Illinois in February, 1865. They traveled life's journey together as man and wife for sixty-five years, sharing with each other its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity, and on the 16th of July, 1901, they were separated by the death of Mr. Baird. His widow still sur- vives and yet makes her home in this county.
Of their eight children Charles T. Baird is the youngest and one of the number is now deceased. He attended the public schools and continued his education in Naperville, Illinois, His father gave him forty aeres of land, which constituted the nu- eleus of his present extensive and valuable pos- sessions. The remainder he has acquired by his own hard work, his business integrity and capable management and his farm in La Moille township now covers one hundred and sixty-six acres of ex- cellent land, from which he annually harvests good erops. He also has one hundred and sixty aeres in Nebraska. Upon the farm are fine buildings. commodions and substantial, and everything about the place is in keeping with the ideas of modern agricultural progress. There is a gas well upon the farm where nineteen pounds of direet pressure is shown and this furnishes heat and light for his home throughout the year.
Pleasantly situated in his domestic relations, Mr. Baird was married to Miss Margaret Splain. who was born in Massachusetts, October 31, 185%, her parents being John and Elizabeth ( Murphy) Splain, both of whom were natives of Ireland. In the year 1865 they came to Illinois, settling in Dover township, Bureau county, and of their five children, two of whom are now deceased, Mrs. Baird is the eldest. She was well educated in the country schools and in Dover academy and was a teacher under Professor Harrington for several years. She proved an excellent educator, impart- ing clearly and readily to others the knowledge that she had acquired and she is equally proficient in her housekeeping duties, managing the affairs of her home with capability and dispensing there gracions hospitality. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Baird
have been born four children: John A. L., born January 10, 1887; Oscar C., February 8, ISSS; Clifford, January 10, 1890; and Orpha M., April 22, 1895.
The family attend the United Brethren church, although Mr. Baird was reared in the faith of the Methodist church. Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise he has supported the men and measures of the republican party and has served as supervisor of his township and for many years as school trustee. He and his family are most pleasantly situated in an attractive home supplied with all modein equipments and eenve- niences and in his farm work he has made steady and consecutive progress, his labors placing him in the foremost ranks among the substantial agri- culturists of La Moille township.
LISLE PRENTICE SMITHL.
Lisle Prentice Smith, one of Bureau county's native sons, now farming in Manlius township. was born in Princeton, September 3, 1855, and is a son of Osmyn and Laura ( Robinson) Smith, of Princeton. The father was a native of Pennsyl- vania and came with his parents from the east to Bureau county in 1836, the family casting in their lot with the pioneer residents of this part of the state who aided in reclaiming the district for the uses of the white race, for until a short time before it had still been under the domain of the red man. The grandfather of our subject served as sheriff of Bureau county in an early day and Osmyn Smith afterward filled the same position while still in early manhood. He was at one time supervisor of Manlius township. His life was largely devoted to general agricultural pursuits and thus he provided for his family. He died in 1896, at the age of sixty-nine years, while his wife passed away in 1892, at the age of sixty-five years.
Lisle P. Smith, whose name introduces this re- view, was reared in his native county and the common schools of Manlius township provided him his edneational privileges, which he improved and thus was well prepared for life's practical and re- sponsible duties. He early became familiar with farm work in its various departments and re- mained with his father until twenty-two years of age, when he started out in life for himself. When he was twenty-four years of age he bought one hundred acres of his present place, to which he has added until he now has two hundred and twenty-three aeres, constituting a valuable and well improved farm. He raises Aberdeen Angus cat- tle and Shetland ponies.
On the 29th of January, 1829, Mr. Smith was united in marriage to Miss Delphi J. Miller. a daughter of David A. Miller, of Manlius town- ship. They have six children : Laura M .. a grad-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
uate of the Princeton high school and now at home; Lisle Prentice, who is an auctioneer and makes his home with his parents; Earl B., an en- gineer ; Vivian Rivers, Orpha Delphine and David Osmyn, all at home.
Mr. Smith has served his district as school di- rector for the past twenty-three years and be- lieves in employing competent teachers and in upholding a high standard of public instruction. He has also been road commissioner for the past three years. While he has lived the quiet life of a farmer he has found in it ample opportunity for the acquirement of success and, carefully directing his business interests, he has worked his way steadily upward and is now one of the men of af- fluence in Manlius township, owning an excellent farm property.
JAMES M. GARDNER.
James M. Gardner, deceased, was well known in Tiskilwa and in Arispie townships, having for some years carried on general merchandising in the village, while in the township he became a repre- sentative and prosperous farmer. He was born in Osceola, Illinois, May 1, 1849, and there resided to the age of sixteen years, when in 1865 he came to Tiskilwa. Hle had gained his education in Os- ceola and after coming to Tiskilwa he made his home for ten or twelve years with J. H. Welsh and during that period attended Lombard univer- sity at Galesburg, Illinois, thus acquiring a liberal education. He was for some time in the employ of Mr. Welsh, one of the early and prominent mer- chants of the town, and later engaged in general merchandising on his own account, conducting a store until three years after his marriage, when he removed to the farm whereon his widow now resides, there spending his remaining days.
Mr. Gardner was married to Miss Clara P. Ben- son, of Arispie township, a daughter of Alanson and Sarah (Loop) Benson. She was born only about a quarter of a mile from her present home. Her father, a native of Massachusetts, was born February 27, 1823, and was a son of Alanson Ben- son, while his grandfather was Aaron Benson, a soldier of the Revolutionary war. The Benson family is of Scotch and English lineage. Alanson Benson started from Massachusetts in 1838 and traveled by team across the country to Ohio, where he remained for a year. There he purchased and operated a saw mill, but not liking the country be continued on his way westward to Illinois. His family at that time consisted of nine children, four sons and five daughters, of whom Alanson Ben- son. the father of Mrs. Gardner, was sixteen years of age. He was sent with his mother and the smaller children by boat on the Ohio river and thence by the Mississippi and Illinois rivers to Hennepin, Illinois. while the father and older children of the family made the journey with
teams and wagons across the country. On arri :- ing in Bureau county the grandfather of Mis. Gardner settled in Arispie township, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, which had previously been entered from the gov- ernment by a Mr. Dunn. This land Mr. Ben-on improved and thereon spent his remaining days. His son and namesake, Alanson Benson, Jr., was educated in Massachusetts and in Princeton acade- my, of Princeton. Illinois, and became one of the first teachers in Tiskilwa, where he taught for two years. While attending school in Princeton he worked for his board in the employ of Dr. Cham- berlin, but he spent the greater part of his life upon a farm and with the money made in teaching purchased his first land, a tract of forty acres in Arispie township, to which he added as his finan- cial resources increased and favorable opportuni- ty offered until he had extensive land holdings in Arispie township. At one time he resided in Prince- ton for a period of three years but subsequent- ly returned to the old homestead, whereon he spent his remaining days. For more than a half cen- tury he resided on section 21, Arispie township, his farm becoming one of the old landmarks of the county. On the 22d of February, 1851, he mar- ried Miss Sarah L. Loop, a native of Oncida, New York, who came to Bureau county in 1819: traveling by boat to Chicago and by wagon the re- maining distance. After living in Kane county for a year she became a resident of Providence, Bureau county. By this marriage there were born four children but only two are now living: Mrs. Clara P. Gardner; and Lorella, the wife of Edwin Cushing, of Arispie township. Those deceased are: Mrs. Lucina Battey, who died December 3, 1892 ; and Alanson, who died at the age of eighteen years.
Mr. Benson engaged quite extensively in farin- ing and stock-raising and in connection with a Mr. Norris at one time owned a large stock ranch in Montana. When he first began farming for himself he was a breeder of shorthorn cattle, but in later years he devoted his attention to polled Angus cattle. He fed stock largely and was recog- nized as one of the prominent stockmen of Bu- rau county and also as an honored and much re- spected pioneer citizen, whose many good qualities gained for him the esteem and trust of his fel- lowmen. Politically he was a republican and for many years served as county surveyor. He also filled the office of township assessor for some time and was supervisor of Arispie township for two years. He discharged every duty with a sense of conscientious obligation and was most faithful to every public trust. Both he and his wife were worthy members of the Baptist church and were widely known as earnest Christian people, well liked by all who knew them. Mr. Benson passed away Tune 6, 1898, having for about two years survived his wife. who died July 15, 1896.
Mrs. Gardner was edneated in the Princeton
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
high school and in Mount Carroll seminary in Carroll county, Illinois, which she attended for two years. By her marriage she became the mother of three children, all now living : Alanson, who wedded Mary Ilunter, and lives near his mother; Marian and James Harlan, both at home. The death of the husband and father occurred in 1890. He was rather independent in his politi- cal views. Ile held membership in the Baptist church, of which his wife and children are also members, and this association indieated much of the character of the man, for he was loyal to his professions and faithful to every trust which de- volved upon him either of a publie or private na- ture.
Mrs. Gardner owns several farms in Arispie township, which are well improved and have good buildings upon them. She has one of the finest and best hontes in Bureau county with all modern im- provements, and its attractive furnishings indicate her refined and cultured taste. There are also splen- did barns and other outbuildings upon the place and her farm is devoted to the raising of the crops best adapted to soil and climate and also to stock raising, a specialty being made of the Hereford cattle. Mrs. Gardner displays excellent business capacity and management in the control of her property interests and, moreover, is a lady whose position in social circles is an enviable one. She represents one of the old and prominent families of this part of the state, without mention of whom the history of Bureau county would be incomplete.
GEORGE PICKERING.
George Piekering, who many years ago engaged in breaking the wild prairie with ox teams in Bu- reau county, has lived to see this district trans- formed into one of the best developed agricultural distriets of this great commonwealth and as the work of general progress and improvement has been carried forward he, too, has made advance- ment and is today in possession of a comfortable competence acquired through years of former toil. His possessions are now sufficient to enable him to live retired and he is spending the evening of life in a well earned rest, at his home in the village of Neponset.
He was born in Yorkshire, England, December 17, 1829, and was a son of David and Elizabeth (Waite) Piekering, who were likewise natives of England, where they spent their entire lives. Of their children all are now deceased with the ex- ception of George Pickering, who was the youngest. His parents were both members of the Church of England and the father died at the age of seventy- eight years, while the mother's death occurred when she was more than eighty years of age.
Their son George was educated in the public schools and in 1856 crossed the Atlantic on a sail- ing vessel which weighed anchor at Hull, England,
and eventually reached the harbor of Quebec. He thence proceeded by steamer to Hamilton, Canada, and by rail to Neponset. He spent the first year of his residence in this county in Mineral town- ship, where he engaged in farming and then re- moved to Neponset township. Throughout his active business life he carried on farming and stock-raising, being thus engaged until 1900, when he purchased a home in the village of Neponset, where he is now living retired. In early days he broke the wild prairie with ox teams and converted the land into richly cultivated fields. He had only fifteen dollars when he arrived in this county and with that meager capital he began life in Illinois, his diligence and perseverance being the salient features in a success which is as honorable as it is gratifying. He eventually became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land and greatly increased its value by the cultivation and improve- ments which he placed upon it. IIe continued to own this property for many years but eventually sold it to his son.
Mr. Pickering married Miss Ann Stabler, who was born in Yorkshire, England, March 22, 1831. They traveled life's journey together for many years and were then separated by the death of the wife on the 28th of August, 1895. In their family were sixteen children, of whom twelve are now liv- ing : Betsy .Ann, born March 21, 1857; Sarah Jane, July 16, 1858; Susanna D., November 29, 1859; Harriet O., July 18, 1861; David, March 18, 1864; Emma Eliza, May 19, 1866; George W., July 22, 1867 ; John E., October 4, 1868; Isabel, March 25, 1820; Lottie May, July 22, 1871; Charles, May 24, 1873; and Fred, March 9, 1877.
Mr. Pickering was a school director for eight or ten years and has always been interested in the material, intellectual and political progress of the community. On taking out his naturalization pa- pers he became the champion of the democracy and has always voted with that party. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in America, for here he found the opportuni- ties which he sought and which, by the way, are always open to ambitious, resolute young men. By improving these advantages he made stealy prog- ress toward the goal of prosperity and is now enabled to live retired.
CHRISTIAN SIMON PETERSON.
Christian Simon Peterson, who has made farm- ing his life work, was born in Denmark and is a son of Simon and Mary (Jergerson) Peterson, who came to America in 1854. They first located in Potter county, Pennsylvania, where the father purchased a farm and thereon they remained until 1865, when they came to Bureau county. Illinois. Three years later the father purchased eighty acres of land for which he paid twenty dollars per acre, and to the further development and improvement
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
of that place he devoted his energies throughout his remaining days, passing away at the age of fifty-four years. His wife long survived him and died at the age of seventy-four years.
Throughout his entire life Christian S. Peterson has lived on a farm with the exception of a brief period of five years when he worked at the carpen- ter's trade in Chicago. He was but a young lad when brought to the United States by his parents and he attended the common schools of Manlius township. In his youth he early became familiar with the best methods of carrying on farm work and cultivating the fields and he is now engaged in general agricultural pursuits and in the raising of good farm horses and shorthorn cattle. His life has in a way been quietly passed and yet it shows forth many commendable qualities by reason of his faithfulness to every duty that has devolved upon him and his reliability in his business life.
On the 14th of February, 1878, Mr. Peterson was married to Miss Belle Christina Nelson, a daughter of Christian Nelson, a farmer of Gold township. They have three children. Anna Sa- rena, who was born September 9, 1829, is the wife of Albert Peterson, proprietor of a hotel at Man- lins, and they have one child, Herman. Wilbur Herbert, born July 11, 1881, is a bookkeeper in the Western Trust & Savings Bank of Chicago. Asa Simon, born in February, 1886, is at home.
Mr. Peterson is a stalwart republican and has filled various positions of honor and trust. He was for about twelve years school director, has also been highway commissioner, was justice of the peace for four years and drainage commissioner for nine years. He belongs to the Danish Lu- theran church at Sheffield and was acting as one of the trustees during the erection of the par- sonage. ITis farm is in a perfect state of culti- vation and he has placed modern buildings upon it. Interested in the material, intellectual, polit- ieal and moral progress of the community, he is justly accounted one of the leading citizens of Manlius township.
ED MALONEY.
Ed Maloney, engaged in general farming and stock-raising in Gold township, is a native of County Cork, Ireland, born in 1849, and is a son of William Maloney, now deceased. He spent the first sixteen years of his life in the land of his nativity and acquired his education there. In June, 1865, he erossed the briny deep to America, and, making his way to Illinois, settled in Shef- field, since which time he has been largely en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. His business life has been marked by the steady progress which fol- lows consecutive and well defined labor. and as he advanced from a humble financial position to a place where he could command some capital, he
made investment in land, and is now the owner of one hundred and sixty arres, whereon he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. His fields have been brought under a high state of cultivation, and he also keeps on his place good grades of stock, which he raises, feeds and sells.
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