USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 33
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WILDER G. POTTER.
Wilder G. Potter, who throughout his entire life has followed the occupation of farming and is now owner of one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land on section 10, Clinton township, where he resides, as well as three hundred and twenty acres in Canada, was born in Afton township. June 2,
1861. His father, William H. Potter, was a native of the state of New York, born in 1827, and wedded Miss Harriett Baxter, whose birth oc- curred in March, 1835. Mr. Potter came to the west in 1855 and engaged in farming. In his family were six children: Riley, who was born in 1856 and died in 1861; Wilder G., of this review ; Edward, born in 1863 ; J. A., born in 1864; Emma E., born in 1869; and Frank, who was born in 1871 and died in 1876. The father of this family passed away on the 6th of April, 1895, while his wife survived until 1902.
Wilder G. Potter has spent his entire life in De Kalb county and was reared to the occupation of farming, early becoming familiar with the duties and labors necessary for the development of the fields and production of crops. For his companion and helpmate on life's journey, he chose Miss May Allen to whom he was married on the 3d of October, 1883. She was born in Clinton town- ship, October 15, 1864, her parents being Charles F. and Ellen Allen, the former born in Vermont in 1834 and the latter in the state of New York in 1838. They were farming people of De Kalb county for many years but are now living retired in Waterman. In their family were two sons and a daughter: Fred A., born in 1860; Mrs. May Potter, born November 15, 1864; and Floyd C .. born December 2, 18:0, and died December 30, 1895. The marriage of our subject and his wife has been blessed with four children: Elnora M., born December 2. 1888; Florence R., born No- vember 30, 1891; Francis E., born November 24, 1896: and Frank A., born June 6, 1901. The family home is pleasantly located in the midst of a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Waterman on section 10, Clinton township, and in addition to this property Mr. Potter owns a half section of land in Canada. Through their united efforts Mr. and Mrs. Potter have acquired a hand- some competence sufficient to enable them to spend their remaining days in ease and comfort. They have given to their children good educational ad- vantages. The parents are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church of that place and Mr. Pot- ter is a republican in politics. Ile has served as school director for six years and the cause of edu- cation finds in him a stalwart champion. He is now serving as supervisor of Clinton township to which office he was elected in the spring of 1902.
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He is indeed a public-spirited citizen interested in all that pertains to the public welfare and wherever he is known, is esteemed because he possesses those sterling qualities which in every land and clime awaken confidence and regard.
HENRY EDWARD RAMER.
Henry E. Ramer is an honored veteran of the Civil war, who valiantly fought for the Union and deserves all the honor and respect which are accorded the soldier of the Civil war. He is now living retired in De Kalb, where he is highly es- teemed by many warm friends. He was born in Richland county, Ohio, March 13, 1840, and is numbered among the pioneer settlers of this coun- ty, having been brought to Illinois in 1845 by his parents, Henry and Susan (Troup) Ramer, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer by occupation and in 1845, leaving Ohio, he brought his family to De Kalb county, where he took up his abode upon a tract of wild and uncultivated land. He then began the development and improvement of the property and it was upon the old homestead that Henry E. Ramer was reared. There were ten children, of whom he was the seventh in order of birth. Six of the number are now deceased. Two of his brothers, Philip and Anthony, served in the war of the Rebellion, Philip being a member of the Thir- ty-sixth Illinois Regiment, while Anthony faith- fully defended the old flag as a member of the Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry.
Henry E. Ramer acquired a common-school edu- cation and was reared amid the environments of frontier life. He early assisted in the work of the farm and after leaving school gave his undivided attention to general agricultural pursuits. For many years he ably and successfully carried on gen- eral farming and became the owner of one hundred and twelve acres of choice land on section 26. Cortland township, which is still in his possession and from which he derives a good income. He also owns a house and lot in the city of De Kalb. After carrying on the active work of the farm for many years he put aside business cares and he and his wife removed to the city of De Kalb, where
they are now living, being pleasantly located at No. 725 East Grove street.
The passing years brought many interesting events to Mr. Ramer. He took one of the most important steps in his life when a young man of twenty-one years. He had watched with interest the progress of events in the south, had noted the attitude of the secessionists and resolved that if a blow was struck to overthrow the Union he would stand loyally in its defense. Accordingly the smoke from Fort Sumter's guns had scarcely clear- ed away when on the 17th of April, 1861, he joined the army as a member of Company F, Thirteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He served altogether for three years, two months and eleven days and was then honorably discharged. He belonged to the first regiment that was sworn into the three years' service from the state of Illinois and he participated in many important engagements, including the battles of Wetglaze, Missouri, October 14, 1861 ; Lynn Creek, Missouri, October 16, 1861; Chickasaw Bayou, Mississippi, December 27 and 28, 1862; Arkansas Post, Jan- mary 11, 1863; Deer Creek, April 7, 1863 ; Black Bayou, April 10, 1863 ; Jackson, Mississippi, May 14, 1863 ; the siege of Vicksburg from the 18th of May until the 4th of July, 1863: the siege of Jackson, July 10 to 16, 1863; Brandon, Mis- sissippi, July 19, 1863; Cherokee, Alabama, Octo- ber 21, 1863; Kane Creek, Alabama, October 26, 1863; Tuscumbia Gap, October 26 and 27, 1863; Lookout Mountain, November 24, 1863; Mission- ary Ridge, November 25, 1863 ; and Ringgold Pass, Georgia, November 22, 1863. He relates many interesting incidents of the war concerning the scenes that occurred on the battle-field and in the midst of strife and is a veteran of long and varied military experience. To him and such as he the country owes a debt of gratitude which can never be repaid.
Following his return from the war Mr. Ramer was married in Sycamore, Illinois, November 1, 1865, to Miss Mary Jane Filmer, who was born in Ohio, September 18, 1840. Her father, Will- iam Filmer, was a native of England and late in life came to America. He wedded Margaret Gor- dan, who was born in Pennsylvania of Scotch parentage and they became the parents of seven children, of whom Mrs. Ramer is the youngest and the only one now living. By her marriage
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she has become the mother of seven children : Iliram S. R., born August 16, 1866; Mrs. Isabelle May Schule, born February 12, 1868; Arthur E. B., born October 16, 1870: Alfonso L., born Sep- tember 21, 1871 : Mrs. Nellie I. Zigler, born June 18, 1843 ; Mrs. Minnie J. Yocum, born March 27, 1825; and Frank E., born April 3, 1812.
Mr. and Mrs. Ramer are members of the Meth- odist. Episcopal church and he belongs to Merritt Simonds post, No. 283, G. A. R. in which he maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades. His political support has always been given to the republican party and though he has never sought or desired office he has always been as loyal in citizenship and to the interests of his community as he was to the Union when he fol- lowed the old flag upon southern battle-fields. He is an earnest, honorable Christian man, always found on the right side of every question, giving his influence for all that tends to advance material, intellectual, political and moral progress.
JAMES MARTIN POSTLE. M. D.
James Martin Postle, engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery in De Kalb, was born in Cortland township, this county, October 10. 1861. His father, William Postle, was born in Lafayette, Madison county, Ohio, October 24, 1819, a son of David Postle, and came to Illinois in 1842. He located on a farm on section 25. Cortland town- ship, De Kalb county, and it was to this place he brought his bride, being married on the 18th of July, 1858, to Miss Elizabeth R. Blackman, who was born in Macedon, New York, December 11, 1834, and was his second wife. Her father was David Jaynes Blackman, who was born in Cam- bridge, Washington county, New York, May 19. 1804. and died April 11, 1882. On the 22d of January, 1829, he was married in Macedon, Wayne county, New York, to Deborah Lapham Beal, who was born at that place, December 18, 1810. and died on the 11th of January, 1877. They were the parents of five children. David Jaynes Black- man was a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting in Virgil township, Kane county, Illinois, September 10, 1861, in Company A, Fifty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for three years' service. He
was mustered in on the 25th of October, following, and was the oldest man in his regiment. He was transferred to the Invalid Corps July 2, 1863, but on the 6th of February, 1864. re-enlisted as a re- ernit in his old company, and was finally mustered out of service on the 6th of July, 1865.
Dr. Postle is the second in order of birth in the family of three children born of his father's second marriage. The oldest died in childhood, and the youngest, Bernard Beal Postle, was born March 29, 18:5. The Doctor was reared upon the old home farm and was educated in the high school of De Kalb and at Wheaton ( Illinois) College. Deciding on medicine as a life work, he entered the medical department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and was graduated therefrom on the 25th of June. 1885. For one year he was an assistant to the surgeon of the college at University Hos- pital, thus putting his theoretical knowledge to a practical test and gaining broad and varied experi- ence. On the 16th of September, 1885, he entered upon the active practice of his profession at Hinck- ley, Illinois, where he remained for eighteen years. and then, seeking a broader field of labor in a larger city, he removed to De Kalb, October 5, 1903. lle was not unknown here at the time of his arrival, and his professional skill won him al- most immediate recognition in a good practice, which has been constantly growing in volume and importance. As the years have passed he has gained a good measure of financial success, such as is always the just reward of labor well performed. lle was appointed acting hospital steward in 1904 under Colonel Fisher of the Third Regiment of Illinois National Guards. On the 13th of Febru- ary, 1905, he was appointed assistant surgeon by Governor Deneen with the rank of first lieutenant of the Third Regiment. He belongs to the Ameri- can Medical Association : the Illinois State Medi- cal Society ; the De Kalb County Medical Society ; the Association of Military Surgeons; and was a member of the First Pan-American Medical Con- gress which convened at Washington in 1893.
On the 29th of October, 1885, in Urbana. Ohio, Dr. Postle was married to Miss Carrie Belle Glenn, who was born in that city on the 18th of May, 1866. Iler father, Isaac Drake Glenn, was the founder of Glendale. Ohio. He was born in Cin- cinnati, that state, and is a direct descendant of Sir Francis Drake, the great navigator. He was
J. M. Postle, A.
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also related to Dr. Daniel Drake, who founded the Cincinnati Medical College in 1819, and to Ed- ward L. MeGuffey, the author of MeGuffey's readers and spellers. The latter's son, Edward L. MeGuffey, Jr., recently first assistant rector of St. Ann's Episcopal Cathedral at Brooklyn, New York. married Dr. and Mrs. Postle. Her mother, Mrs. Martha ( MeClellan) Glenn, was a native of Middletown, Ohio, and she and her husband re- mained residents of that state until death claimed them. In their family were nine children, of whom Mrs. Postle is next to the youngest.
Unto the Doctor and his wife have been born three children : James Glenn, born July 22, 1886 ; Marjorie Linneen, born June 28, 1888 : and Stan- ley Drake, born December 5. 1900. The oldest son is a graduate of the Balatka Musical College of Chicago, and completed the course in 1902, winning the diamond medal. In 1905 he was graduated from the Chicago Musical College, where He studied under Emil Sauret, and in: 1907 he - completed the high-school course in De Kalb by graduation. The daughter is now attending the State Normal and the younger son is- hiso-in . ..
school.
Dr. Postle is independent 'in politics. He is a member of the Nn Sigma Nu, a fraternity of Ann Arbor, Michigan, belonging to Alpha Chapter. He also belongs to the Elks lodge, No. 765, and is a member of De Kalb lodge, No. 155, 1. O. O. F., the Kishwaukee encampment. No. 959, and the canton. The Doctor started out in life without financial assistance. Ile possessed, however, laud- able ambition and strong determination and, with a nature that could never content itself with mediocrity, he has worked his way upward and has gained a goodly measure of professional success. The family is prominent socially in De Kalb. The children are the pride of the home and very tat- ented in music.
VICTOR E. HJERTSTEDT.
Victor E. Hjertstedt occupies a responsible and important position in industrial cireles, being fore- man of the field, fence and netting department for the American Steel & Wire Company of De Kalb. He is a native of Sweden and was born
October 5, 1862, being the son of Carl L. Hjert- stedt, who was a farmer of Sweden and spent lis entire life there. The son was reared at home and acquired his education in the common schools of his native country ; also in the district schools of De Kalb county, Illinois, which he attended for a short time.
In the spring of 1880, when seventeen years of age, he bade adien to friends and native land and emigrated to the United States, sailing from Gottenberg, Sweden, to ITull, England, and thence on the "Egypt," a steamer of the Allan line, on the 23d of March. On the 24th of April he landed at New York, whence he went direct to Chicago where he remained until the 4th of July, 1880, working at any employment he could sceure. lle was very small for his age and not being able to speak the English language, it was difficult for him to se- eure a position that would yield him a living wage. In faet he did not make expenses during the two months he spent in Chicago. This occasioned him to seek a home elsewhere, and on the 7th of July, ASSO, he arrived in De Kalb. The following day Mr. Hjertstedt began work as a farm hand and was- thus employed until the Sth of February, 1881. when he went to Batavia, Illinois, where he secured employment in the stone quarries. After a short time, however, he went to Elgin, Illinois, and was employed for three months on the gravel train of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. On the expiration of that period he again went to Chicago and worked for three months on a street-paving force and for two months in a hard- ware store. On the day preceding Thanksgiving day. 1881, he returned to De Kalb county and was again employed at farm labor until the following spring, when he entered the Haish Wire factory, continuing in the employ of Jacob Haish for some time. in the following fall he accepted a position in the mills of the I. L. Ellwood Company, there continuing until June, 1882. when the wire busi- ness became slack and all the unmarried employes were laid off. Again Mr. Hjertstedt went to Chi- eago, where he entered the service of the Canadian Pacific Railroad, working on the construction of this line through the northwest. In the early winter, however, he returned to De Kalb and on the 4th of December of that year he went to work for the 1. L. Ellwood Company. The value of his services was soon recognized and he was grad-
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ually advanced from one position to another until in 1895 he was made foreman of the field and fence department, acting in that capacity until the 18th of September, 1891, when he resigned his po- sition having purchased a half interest in the Barb City Grocery Company. For some months he de- voted himself to the new enterprise and prospered in the undertaking but became convinced that he preferred his former business interests and re- turned to the mills on the 1st of March, 1902, again resuming his position as foreman of the field, fence and netting department. Here he has since remained and his services have been entirely satisfactory to the company which he represents, for he is an expert workman and has a thorough understanding of the business which well quali- fies him to superintend the labor of the men under his supervision.
On the 1st of May. 1884, Mr. Hjertstedt was married to Miss Mary Anderson, daughter of Anders Gustav Anderson, and they have become the parents of three daughters and a son: Edith Victoria, Carl Roy Columbus, Myrtle Marie .1., and Ebbo Lonise. The parents are members of the Swedish Lutheran church and for six years Mr. Hjertstedt was one of the trustees, while for two years he was treasurer of the church. He takes an active part in this work and is a generous con- tributor to its support. In polities he is a re- publican, but has never sought or desired political offices. Since coming to America as a young man without capital yet possessing energy and de- termination, he has steadily worked his way up- ward and has won a goodly measure of success and also the respect and confidence of his fellowmen.
GEORGE WHITE.
George White, who is successfully engaged in general farming and dairying on section 9. Genoa township, was born on the farm where he still resides, October 14, 1849, and throughout life has been actively identified with the development and improvement of that locality. His father was John White, whose birth occurred in Bavaria, Germany, on the 5th of March, 1815, and whose parents were John and Barbara (Mamer) Weid, also natives of Germany. The spelling of the
name was changed from Weid to White to cor- respond with the pronunciation in America.
The father of our subject grew to manhood in his native land and in May, 1846, came to Amer- ica, sailing from Hamburg and being seven weeks on the voyage. He first located in Pennsylvania, where he remained two and one-half years. and while there he was married in May, 1846, to Miss Anne Margaret Hoffman, who was also born in Bavaria and came to the United States on the. samo vessel as her husband. They became the parents of seven children: Charles, who was born in Pennsylvania and now live in Delaware county, Iowa, where he follows farming; George, who is the next in order of birth; Maggie and Caroline, who live with our subject and are owners of the old home farm ; John, also a resident of Delaware county, lowa : Henry, who lives in Butler county, Iowa; and Mary. wife of John Billhorn and a resident of Delaware county, Iowa. In the spring of 1849 the father, accompanied by his wife and only child. came to De Kalb county. Illinois, and purchased eighty acres of government land. which now forms a part of the White homestead. He at once commenced the improvement and culti- vation of his place and being an industrious and thrifty man success crowned his efforts and he was able to add to his possession from time to time un- til he became the owner of two hundred and sixty aeres, all but thirty acres of which is under culti- vation. He continued the management of his farm until the death of his wife, which occurred on the 6th of July, 1896, when she was seventy-six years of age, being born February 9, 1820. He then sold the place to his children, George, Maggie and Caroline, but continued to reside with them until called from this life January 8. 1898, at the age of almost eighty-three years. The parents were earnest. consistent Christian people and were highly respected by all who knew them.
George White was reared under the parental roof. early becoming familiar with the duties of the farm, and attending the district schools of the neighborhood until eighteen years of age, when he commenced work by the month for his father. He was thus employed until 1897, when he and his sisters bought the old home farm, which com- prises two hundred and thirty acres of prairie land and thirty acres of timber just south of Genoa, and ten acres lying in Sycamore township.
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JOHN WHITE.
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This is devoted to general farming and dairy pur- poses, usually raising from fifty to sixty acres of corn, the remainder being meadow or pasture land. Mr. White raises good graded stock of all kinds, having a fine herd of Jersey cows, which he keeps for dairy purposes, and his sisters supply from twenty to thirty Genoa families with butter, which commands two cents a pound above Elgin prices in the home market. He gives considerable atten- tion to the feeding of hogs and in 1906 sold one weighing six hundred and ninety pounds. The farm is supplied with a good set of buildings for the shelter of grain, stock and implements and Reared under the parental roof, B. F. Whipple early became familiar with farm labor. On the 16th of December, 1879, he wedded Miss Mary A. Dean, a daughter of Moses and Rachel Dean of Sycamore. She was one of a family of five chil- dren, the others being Delia, Ann B., Arthur and Tra. Ifer birth occurred in Hasbrouck, New York, September 19, 1854, and she was brought by her parents to De Kalb county in 1856. Her nothing is left exposed to the weather. Mr. White has just completed thoroughly tiling the entire farm and the farm shows excellent management and good business ability on the part of the owner, who is considered one of the most progressive agriculturists of his community. He is also half owner in a threshing outfit and from that derives a good income. On the organization of the Farm- ers State Bank of Genoa in 1901 he was made a . father was a very active man in the early history director and in 1904 was chosen vice president .-. of this part of the state and became one of the which position he still fills.
Being a strong temperance man, Mr. White supports the prohibition party and its principles but has never sought or cared for public office, preferring to devote his undivided attention to his business interests, though he served as school trustee two terms. He is an active member and trustee of the Ney Methodist Episcopal church and is also a trustee of the Ney Cemetery Association. He is a veteran Sunday-school teacher, having taught a class for more than twenty years, and his upright. honorable life has gained for him the confidence and high regard of all with whom he comes in contact.
WARNER D. WHIPPLE.
One of the enterprising, popular and well re- spected young farmers of De Kalb county is War- ner D. Whipple of Cortland township. He was born in Sycamore, December 23, 1880, but when he was only three months old his parents removed to the farm whereon he has since resided. His father, Benjamin F. Whipple. was born in Lycom- ing county, Pennsylvania, October 25, 1856, and is one of the five children who were born unto
James and Mary (Warner) Whipple, who removed to De Kalb county in 1870, locating on the Arnold Brown farm, which has since been known as the Whipple farm in Sycamore township. The death of James Whipple occurred in June, 1905, and the widow is still a resident of Sycamore township, living three miles north of the city of Sycamore, which has been the family homestead for twenty years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. James Whipple were born four sons : William W., Benjamin F., Charles and Edward, and also a daughter who died in in- fancy.
prominent and distinguished citizens here. He settled at Charter Grove and developed about four- teen hundred acres of land, building thereon ten barns and six houses on the different farms. Mr. and Mrs. Whipple spent one year upon a farm at Charter Grove and one winter in the town of Syca- more before locating upon the farm where he has since lived and where his wife died on the 12th of March, 1897. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Whipple were born four children but Warner D. is the only one now living. A son, LeRoy J., who was born De- cember 11, 1882, died February 8, 1893 ; a daugh- ter, born March 17, 1885, died on the 27th of March following; and Bessie R., born December 24, 1890, died January 26, 1893. The family burying ground is in Charter Grove cemetery, where the mother and her children have been laid to rest.
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