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 58
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H. H. PRIESTLEY.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
and buggies, mechanics' tools, tinware and all kinds of kitchen utensils, and are the Bureau coun- ty agents for the Round Oak and Munson furnaces. From the beginning the house has sustained an unassailable reputation for honorable dealing and has found that honesty is the best policy, in proof of which theirs is now an extensive enterprise. The firm does more business and carries a larger stock than any house in the state outside of Chicago with one or two exceptions.
In 1890 Mr. Priestley was married to Miss Ma- bel Sisson, of Galesburg, Illinois. They are both widely and favorably known in this city and Mrs. Priestley is acting as a member of the Princeton high school board. Mr. Priestley holds member- ship in the Presbyterian church and politically is a republican. He stands for progress and improve- Inent in municipal affairs and has been a co- operant factor in many movements that have had dircet bearing upon the welfare and advancement of the city and county. Hle is a typical represent- ative of the spirit of the age, being an alert wide- awake business man, who holds clear conceptions of trade interests, conditions and possibilities and who has wrought along modern business lines with the result that his success is demonstrated in one of the leading commercial enterprises of the county. .
GEORGE R. WEISE, M. D. C.
Dr. George R. Weise, a leading veterinary sur- geon of Bureau county, with office at 438 South Main street, in Princeton, has a large practice and is considered one of the best representatives of his profession in this part of the state. A native of Burean county, he was born in 1861. His father, Andrew T. Weise, was born in Morris county, New Jersey, February 28, 1832, and was a son of Jacob and Mary Weise, both of whom were natives of the same state and were of German de- scent. Andrew T. Weise was the eighth in order of birth in their family of nine children and was reared in his native state to the age of sixteen years, during which time he attended the common schools and then came with his parents to Bureau county. The grandfather died in Princeton at the age of eighty-two years. Andrew T. Weise remained at home until 1852, when he made a trip across the plains with an ox team to California, being six months on the road. He remained in California for five years, being engaged in mining principally. but for a time was on a ranch. In 1855 he returned home by way of the Panama route to New York city, making the trip in twen- ty-two days. After a short visit in Chicago he came to the old homestead and for two years was engaged in farming. In 1860 he married Miss P. J. Cartwright, a native of Pennsylvania, in which state she was reared to the age of eighteen years, when she came with her father to Bureau
county, Ilinois. Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Weise located on a farm on North Prairie, where they remained for two years and in the spring of 1863 they located upon his present farm, where they have since remained with the exception of a period of seven years spent in Texas. Mr. Weise is a democrat in his political views and affiliations and is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, in which he has attained the Knight Templar degree. He enjoys the confidence and respect of the entire community and the circle of his friends has constantly grown as the circle of his acquaintance has widened. Unto him and his wife have been born four children: George R., Frank H., Will M. T. and Mary T.
In the publie schools of this county Dr. Weise pursued his early education and determining upon the practice of veterinary surgery as a life work, he began preparations to that end in Chicago Vet- erinary College, of which he is a graduate. He has since practiced in Princeton and his ability places him with the foremost members of the pro- fession and has scoured for him a large patronage. His carly youth was spent upon the farm and on leaving home he went to Texas, where he spent two years on the ranch. He afterward conducted a butcher shop in Malden, Ilinois, and then en- tered the veterinary college, since which time he has devoted his energies to the practice of veteri- nary surgery in Princeton.
In 1895 Dr. Weise was married to Miss Addic B. Russell, of Leepertown, a daughter of Samuel Russell, who is now living. Mrs. Weise passed away in February, 1905, leaving a little daughter six months old, who is now with her mother's people at Burean. Dr. Weise also lost one child. In his political affiliations he is a demoerat. The greater part of his life has been passed in this county, where he is widely known and there through his interest and efficiency in his profes- -jon he has gained a liberal patronage.
II. T. JACKSON.
II. T. Jackson, associated with the manufactur- ing and building interests of Princeton as a mem- ber of the firm of Berry & Jackson. proprietors of a large planing mill, was born in Bureau county in 1811, his parents being Robert J. and Emily (Thomas) Jackson. The father was of Scotch descent and came from the land of hills and heather to America. The mother was born near Princeton in 1832, and her sister, Mrs. Mary Hobert, now of Oregon, was the first white child born in Bureau county. The grandfather, Henry Thomas, eame to this county in 1828 and as a pio- neer settler aided in reclaiming the region from the domain of the red man and converting it into the uses of civilization. The father was a me- chanie and later a farmer, devoting many years to general agricultural pursuits. He is now de-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
ceased but his widow yet resides upon the old homestead.
At the usual age II. T. Jackson entered the pub- lic schools, wherein he continued his studies until he had mastered the common branches of learning that qualify one for the duties of an active busi- ness career. When not busy with his text-books his time was largely devoted to the work of the fields and other farm labor and he was identified with general agricultural pursuits until 1901, when at the age of thirty years he began working at the carpenter's trade and on the 1st of Janu- ary, 1905, purchased an interest in the planing mill in which he is now associated with J. W. Berry under the firm style of Berry & Jackson, Mr. Jackson having charge of the men who work out- side. The present mill was built by Mr. Berry in 1898 and is located at No. 607 North Main street in Princeton. It is a well equipped plant, supplied with much modern and improved ma- chinery and the company manufactures all kinds of porch work, fancy stair work, carved moldings, window and door screens. window and door frames and sash and doors. They also handle window and plate glass and art windows and paints and oils, and they do turning and seroll sawing. The busj- ness is constantly growing and has long since be- come one of the profitable enterprises of the city.
Mr. Jackson votes with the republican party and served as constable of Bureau township for six or seven years. Socially he is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. HIe pos- ses:es the determination that enables him to carry through to snecessful completion whatever he un- dertakes and in his business life he is just and upright, never failing to do his part.
CHARLES JONES RICHARDSON.
Charles Jones Richardson was born on a farm in Brattleboro, Vermont, November 15, 1825, and in the paternal liue is descended from English ancestry, representatives of the name locating in New England in 1634. The paternal grand- father, Isaiah Richardson, was a resident of New England. His son, Isaiah Richardson, Jr .. was born in Achol. Massachusetts, in 1:92, and in 1299 removed to Vermont. He married Miss Betsey Stearns, November 25, 1815, who was born in Brattleboro, Vermont, in 1192, and was a daughter of Ruben Stearns, who was of Scotch lineage. and lived to be eighty-eight yearsold. Isaiah Richardson, Jr., was a farmer by occupation, and on the same day he was married began farming on forty acres of land. He never left that farm until he had been married for fifty years, when he retired from active business. He had worked earnestly and persistently in the interval and had become the owner of three hundred and twenty-seven acres of land. Mr. Richardson's parents celebrated their gollen wedding November 25, 1865 The next
day they left the old homestead, where theer ten children were born and reared, and moved into a beautiful new home, purchased for them by their sons Charles and Frederick, in the village of West Brattleboro, where they enjoyed a quiet life until the death of Mrs. Isaiah Richardson, July 3, 1874, at the age of eighty-three years. Her hus- band passed away at the advanced age of ninety- five years. Mr. Richardson's grandmother lived to be more than ninety-four years of age; both the Richardson and Stearns families being noted for longevity. Mr. and Mirs. Isaiah Richardson had ten children, seven sons and three daughters, and they all lived to be married and had families except one. Two sons still survive; Frederick G. residing in Chicago.
Charles was the third son of Isaiah and Botry Stearn -- Richardson. When fourteen years of age he was placed in a country store, at a salary of twenty-five dollars a year and his board. He elerked for about eight years. Late in the year 1848 the news of the discovery of gold in Cali- fornia reached New England, and Mr. Richardson decided to become a member of the Narragansett Mining and Trading Company, and sailed from Boston on the bark "Velasco" on the 11th day of February, 1849. He reached his destination. San Francisco, on the 6th day of October, after two hundred and thirty-four days on the water. They had forty-two days of wind and storm off Cape Horn. While in California Mr. Richardson was interested in mining, employing men to do the actual work in the mines, and he was also con- neeted with other lines of business. He bought a ranch of twenty-eight hundred acres, and sub- sequently conducted a store and blacksmith shop; also a hotel and a stage coach station, owning the first stage line in that part of the country. Ile utilized the advantages which came to him, and so directed his business affairs as to win success. Mr. Richardson remained in California eight years, returning to the states in 1856, but returned to California to dispose of his interests there.
On the 18th day of November, 185;, Mr. Rick :- ardson was married to Victoria MeArdle, at Re- publie, Seneca coutey. Ohio. Mrs. Richardson was the daughter of John P. and Betsey Haines McArdle. Her father was the son of one of the Irish patriots who fled, after the rebellion in Tre- land, to this country in 1797. Her father was born in 1:85, and her mother was the first white child born in Mount Vernon, Knox county, Ohio, in 1800. Mr. Me.Ardie brought over the mountains in a wagon the first printing press that was ever brought to the west side of the Alleghenies. He printed the "Mount Vernon Banner" in 1812. The old printing press is now in a museum in Cincin- nati, Ohio. He was a prominent representative of journalism in that early day.
From this union five children were born: Eliz- abeth M., born November 21, 1858, married John True Garland. and they now reside in Minneap-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
olis, Minnesota. Harry Chase, born May 19, 1860, died October 23, 1883. Victor Oscar, born March 10, 1864, died on the 10th of July of the same year. Charles Prentice, born September 20, 1869, married Frances Green, a native of Battle Creek, Michigan, and they are now living in Spokane, Washington. Anne Stewart, born March 10, 1823, is the wife of Ilerbert Fielding Imers, of Owaton- na, Minnesota, who is editor of the Journal Chron- icle of that place.
In the spring of 1858 Mr. and Mrs. Richardson came to Bureau county, settling on a farm in Man- lius township, and to which development and cul- tivation he gave his energies until May, 1862, when he entered the employ of the government at St. Louis. His duties called him to various parts of this state, and also west of the Mississippi river. Hle resigned in November, 1864, and entered into active business life. In May, 1869, he returned to Illinois, settling in Princeton, and has been a factor in its business interests ever since. For a quarter of a century he has been a director of the First National Bank of Princeton, Illinois. Mr. Richardson is .a republican; he has continuously supported the party since its inauguration. He was chairman of the executive committee of the first Matson Library Board, and also its treasurer. He gave especial attention, with the valuable as- sistance of the other members of the board, to the interests of the library. They opened the doors to tlie public library, which had then some one thousand volunes, and which has since grown to more than seven thousand. Mr. Richardson's co- operation and assistance has been given to many movements for the public good, and he has mani- fested a helpful spirit in working for the interests which were of benefit to the community. His record has been such as to command respect, and may well serve as a source of inspiration to others.
DOUGLAS MOSELEY.
Douglas Moseley, president of the Citizens Bank of Princeton, was born April 18, 1860, and is a son of Frederick Moseley, who came to Bureau county with his parents in 1831. He was a son of Roland Moseley, who came from Massachusetts direct to Bureau county and settled on a farm in Princeton township, so that the family has long been con- nected with the history of this portion of the state.
Douglas Moseley acquired his more specifically literary education in the schools of Princeton, being graduated from the high school with the class of 1879. He afterward attended the Harvard Law School for one year, and in 1884 he entered the Citizens National Bank as bookkeeper. He has since progressed in his business life, becoming assistant cashier and still later cashier, while in 1902 he was elected to the presidency of the in- stitution, which is one of the strong financial con- cerns of the county.
Mr. Moseley was married August 12, 1881, to S. Louise Jones, a daughter of Dr. Jones, for- merly of La Moille, but now deceased. They have one child, Frances Louise Moseley.
WILLIAM E. WHAPLES.
William E. Whaples, of the Exchange Bank of Neponset, a prominent business man and repre- sentative of one of the leading pioneer families of the county, was born March 31, 1861, in the city where he still resides, and is descended from New England ancestry. His great-grandfather, Elisha Whaples, Sr., was a native of Connecticut and of French extraction. He participated in the war of 181? and subsequently engaged in farming. Ilis son, Elisha Whaples, Jr., was born in Newington, Connecticut, in 1800, and died in the year 1851. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Amanda A. Ilart, was born in Avon, Connecticut, in 1806, and passed away in Newington, that state, in 1850. Their children were Mrs. Nancy A. Deming. War- ren Day, and Shmubal Il.
Warren D. Whaples, father of William E. Whaples, was born in Newington, Connecticut, July 3, 1832, and there pursued his education, after which he followed farming and also engaged in teaching school for two terms. In 1856, at the age of twenty-four years, he came to the Missis- sippi valley, settling in Neponset, Bureau county. Soon after his arrival here he bought a fourth in- terest in the town lots and otherwise dealt in lands, which he subsequently sold. He had been a resi- dent of Nepouset for only a brief period when he established a store, and from that time until his death was engaged in merchandising and in bank- ing. For a year he was employed as a clerk, and on the expiration of that period he formed a partnership with Joseph Lyford, conducting a gen- eral store until 1860, when the relation between them was discontinued and Mr. Whaples formed a partnership with his brother, Shubal H., which continued until the close of the Civil war. War- ren D. Whaples was afterward alone in business. and was very successful, commanding an excellent trade as a merchant and thus prospering in his undertakings. In 1873 be established the Ex- change bank, and although he met with a heavy loss shortly afterward, through the failure of a Chicago bank, his own banking venture neverthe- less proved a decided success, and has since been one of the reliable financial concerns of the county. In 1883 he erected a fine business block, occupying the two lower rooms for store and banking pur- poses. He built a fire-proof vault and also placed in it a burglar-proof safe, adding also the equip- ments and devices of a modern banking estab- lishment.
On the 29th of November, 1858. Warren D. Whaples was united in marriage to Miss Mary E.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
Lawrence, who was born September 23, 1831, in East Canaan, Connecticut, and they had two sons : William E. and Walter L., the latter born JJuly 5, 1863. The father was an active member of the Congregational church and took an active in- terest in all things pertaining to the welfare of the community, while his private business inter- ests were of a nature which also contributed to the general business activity and prosperity. In his fraternal relations he was a Good Templar, which indicated his attitude on the temperance question, and his political allegiance was given the repub- lican party.
Born, reared and educated in Neponset, William E. Whaples, when twenty-one years of age, be- came associated with his father in business and in 1890-joined him in his banking enterprise. Since his father's death, which occurred September 24, 1891, he has been connected with his mother and brother in the ownership and control of the Ex- change Bank, and is well known in financial cir- cles in this part of the state, conducting the bank along conservative lines, and yet not without a spirit of progress in keeping with modern bank- ing ideas.
William E. Whaples was married October 24, 1885, to Ida M. Baker, who was born in Nepon- set, February 14, 1863, a daughter of George W. and Marian (McCreath) Baker. Her father was born in New York city, January 9, 1828, and the mother in Glasgow, Scotland, October 31, 1833. They were married in the Empire state and became residents of Kewanee, Illinois, in 1855, removing the following year to Neponset, where Mr. Baker followed his trade of carpentering and also en- gaged in farming until 1883, when he retired from agricultural pursuits and is now enjoying a well earned rest at his home in Neponset. He exer- cises his right of franchise in support of the re- publican party. In his family are a son and daughter, the former being James Baker, now de- ceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Whaples have three living chil- dren: George Warren, born August 9, 1886; Jes- sie M., born January 24, 1888; and Lesley II., born May 10, 1891; while Prudence, who was born December 10, 1892, died March 10, 1894.
Interested in the upbuilding and progress of the village, William E. Whaples has co-operated in many movements for the general good. He has been school treasurer for twenty-five years and treasurer of the village for many years. He has likewise been treasurer of the Congregational church for the past twenty years, and the financial interests thus entrusted to his care show the confi- dence reposed in him by his associates. He is a member of Neponset lodge, No. 803, A. F. & A. M., and he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star lodge, of which she is worthy matron, while Mr. Whaples is worthy patron. Both are members of the Congregational church, and their influence is ever on the side of asthetie and moral culture
and of all that tends to promote publie progres and improvement. Although Mr. Whaples city into possession of a business already established. in enlarging and controlling this he has displayed excellent business ability, proving that success is a matter of judgment, experience and diligence, and not the result of genius or of fortunate cir- cuinstances, as held by many.
CHIARLES N. KEITH.
Charles N. Keith, a representative of commer- cial interests in Princeton, where he is engaged in real estate, farm loans and insurance, was born November 29, 1851, upon a farm in Ohio town- ship, Bureau county, his parents being Melvin J. and Betsy (Perkins) Keith, both of whom were natives of the Empire state. The father was about twenty years of age at the time of his arri- val here in 1842. Being greatly impressed with the possiblities of this new but rapidly developing country, he soon afterward purchasel a tract of land and became an active and enterprising agri- culturist of this portion of the state. He has also been quite prominently identified with public af- fairs and ha- wielled a wide influence in matters relating to the general progress. He has capably served as county clerk and outside of office has put forth effective effort in behalf of the general good. lle and his wife now reside in the village of Dover, Bureau county, Illinois.
Upon that farm Charles N. Keith was born and reared to the age of twenty-five years, remain- ing there continuously save for the period of four years spent in school. In the fall of 18 2, having six months before located a homestead claim in Spink county, in the territory of Dakota, and having faith in the future of that northwest country, in company with llon. L. G. Johnson of Morrison, Illinois, he organized an excursion party, whose destination was the northwest. Their efforts were wonderfully successful and on the 6th of September, 1882. in charge of a special train, Mr. Keith accompanied a party of over three hundred home seekers to Dakota. In all the years that immigration has been pouring into that coun- try this excursion exceeds all others in point of numbers. Mr. Keith established a newspaper, the Mellette Tribune, and also opened a land of- fice at Mellette, Dakota. He became a prominent and influential factor in public life there and aided in shaping the policy of the territory dur- ing its formative period. In the fall of 1863 he was elected a delegate to the constitutional con- vention called by citizens of the territory for the purpose of drafting a constitution and presenting a memorial and petition to congress for admission as a state. At that convention Mr. Koith was appointed chief census enumerator and at once appointed county enumerators to proceed to take the census of the inhabitants of that portion of
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PAST AND PRESENT OF BUREAU COUNTY.
the territory afterward admitted as the state of South Dakota.
On the 26th of November, 1884, Mr. Keith was married to Miss Elizabeth Edwards, of Men- dota, Illinois, a danghter of Samuel Edwards, and they now have one child, Lillian. Closing out his business at Mellette, Mr. and Mrs. Keith removed to Watertown, South Dakota, where for a num- ber of years he was special land examiner for the Dakota Loan & Trust Company. In 1890 the company made him manager of its business in the state of Nebraska, his headquarters being at Broken Bow, where he spent the succeeding three years. In the fall of 1893 he returned to Bureau county, where he engaged in farming and in the manufacture of brick. About the same time he located his family in Princeton, where he is now engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business, conducting a profitable business here. He owns over four hundred acres of land in South Dakota and Nebraska and also valuable property at Watertown, South Dakota. In the years of an active business carcer he has been watchful of opportunities pointing to success and his keen sagaeity and enterprise have made him a valued exponent of substantial development in the north- west as well as in his home county. In politics he is an active democrat and has been chairman of the Bureau County Democratic Central Com- mittee.
GEORGE P. PETTER, JR.
George P. Pettee, Jr., a resident of Princeton and cashier of the Seatonville State Bank at Sea- tonville, in which capacity he has served since its organization in 1901, is one of the native sons of Bureau county, having been born upon his father's farm in Concord township in May, 1859. He is a son of George P. Petter, of French de- scent. The father was born February 25, 1834, in Rutland county, Vermont, and is therefore seventy-two years of age at this writing. His par- ents were George W. and Eleanor ( Wrisley) Pet- tee, both of whom were natives of the Green Mountain state. George P. Pettee attended the schools of Vermont, obtaining a good practical education, and in 1855, at the age of twenty-one years, he left the parental roof and the hills of his native state to make his home upon the broad prairies of Illinois. On coming to Bureau county he operated rented land near Princeton until 1858, when he made his first purchase of eighty acres on section 10, Concord township. constitut- ing a part of his present fine farm. He has ex- tended its boundaries by additional purchase from time to time until the place comprises three hundred and sixty acres of valuable land and the improvements thereon have been made by him. He planted the seed from which have sprung the fine maple trees that adorn the place and he has
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