USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 47
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S. D. Wesson
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Y:AKI
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METOR, LENOX TI .. JEN FOUNDATIONS.
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number remained, including the one on which Mr. Wesson rode during his four years' service. When the war was over he paid the government ninety dollars for the horse and brought him home, keeping him until he died and burying him on the farm. Mr. Wesson remained at the front until hostilities ceased and was mustered ont July 17, 1865, after which he was honorably discharged and paid off on the 22d of the same month. Dur- ing his service he was twice wounded. He kept a journal during the war and takes great pleasure in looking over it now, recalling the events in that momentons period of the country's history and the people who figured in the experiences of the war. Following his return home Mr. Wesson re- sumed farming, which he carried on here until 1872.
In 1866, Mr. Wesson was married in Suydam ehureh to Miss Maggie Suydam, a native of Illi- nois, born in a log cabin in Fairview, Fulton county. They lived in this state until 1872, when they removed to Kansas, settling at Council Grove, Morris county, where Mr. Wesson secured a home- stead claim of one hundred and sixty acres. There he opened up a farm, which he cultivated for eight years, after which he sold out and returned to the old homestead, of which he took charge, his father having recently died. He then eared for his mother and has sinee lived upon the home place. He has built good buildings, ineluding a comfortable residence, and he bought one hun- dred and sixty acres adjoining. He has two sets of farm buildings and all of the equipments and accessories of a model farm property. He also raises pure blooded shorthorn and Durham cattle and feeds and fattens about two carloads of hogs and also a large number of cattle each year. He is a prosperous farmer, capable in the manage- ment of his business affairs, and he is also a mem- ber of the Farmers' Elevator of Leland and a director of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Com- pany of Victor township, of which he was at one time secretary.
Mr. and Mrs. Wesson have become the parents of eleven children, of whom ten are living. Mason, the eldest son, was a railroad man and in an acci- dent lost a leg at Sandwich. He died two years later, leaving a wife and five children. The others of the family are: J. W., who is married and resides in Oswego, being manager of a stock farm;
Wilbur, Lloyd, Elon F., and Ben Harrison, all of whom are engaged in the work of the home farm ; Sybil, at home; Elvie, the wife of Burt Sweet, now of Wisconsin; Grace, the wife of Bert A. Bark, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work ; Minerva, the wife of William Todd, a Minnesota farmer ; and Sarah, the wife of Henry Von Ohlen, a farmer of Vietor township.
Politically Mr. Wesson is a stanch republican. Ile is one of the public-spirited citizens of the community and has served as township clerk, has been supervisor at different periods for nine years and was assessor for three years. He is now fill- ing the office of justice of the peace and has been the incumbent in that position altogether for twenty-four years. His official service has been characterized by the utmost fidelity to duty and he has served as a delegate to various state and county conventions. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at Leland and both he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star chapter. He has filled all of the offices of his lodge and is a past grand master. He likewise belongs to Shabbona post. No. 463, G. A. R., has been the chief officer in that organization and is deeply interested in the order, thus maintaining pleasant relations with his old army comrades. He is today as true and loyal to his country as when he followed the old flag on southern battle-fields and he has a military record of which he has every reason to be proud.
Mr. Wesson helped to break the prairie sod with ox teams in the pioneer days and he has seen and talked with Shabbona, the old Indiar chief who was friendly to the whites and warned them of the impending danger at the time of the Black Hawk war. He lived here at the time of the building of the railroads and has in faet wit- nessed almost the entire growth and development of the county, being one of the few remaining old settlers. Events which are to many matters of history are to him matters of experience and his mind is filled with many interesting reminis- cences of the early days when the settlers were dependent upon what they could raise and make in their own homes for nearly everything that was used. It was a time, however, when true hos- pitality reigned in almost every household and no settler would refuse to do any favor for one whom he could accommodate. Mr. Wesson is in-
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deed one of the interesting figures in the history of the county and it is with pleasure that we present the record of his life to our readers.
GUS NELSON.
No resident of Sycamore is more deserving of credit for what he has accomplished than Gus Nelson, now a retired farmer of De Kalb county, who for more than a quarter of a century was closely and actively associated with agricultural interests here, and thereby won the competence that enabled him to put aside business cares and enjoy rest from further labor. He is still the owner of two good farm properties which yield him a substantial income.
Mr. Nelson was born in Sweden, June 6, 1845. His parents were poor, and when nine years of age he left home to earn his own living, since which time he has always provided for his own support. He early learned that energy and industry consti- tute the basis for success and he started out deter- mined to acquire a competence for old age. In 1870 he emigrated to the United States with a party of his countrymen and the fact that he had an unele living in De Kalb county led him to this locality. He had but five cents in his pocket when he arrived in Sycamore and he could not speak a word of English. He spent his small coin for two apples and then started out to find his unele. That summer he worked for his uncle for his board and clothes. "The first money he earned was six dollars which was paid him by a neighbor for a week's work, and he felt himself rich. The next summer he was employed grubbing and clearing land for seven months and he continued working as a farm hand for several years. His first pui- chase of land was three acres in Cortland township. Two little shanties had been built upon the land, for the use of wood choppers in clearing the land. and putting the two shanties together he made a home. About one aere of the land was broken, while the remainder was covered with stumps. IIe at once began clearing out the stumps, and as he was able he bought more land in two, three, five and ten acre lots, until he had over seventy acres. Soon he wanted more land and as his ser- enty acres was in small tracts and lay in bad
shape, he sold out and bought one hundred and eleven acres, upon which he lived for twenty-one years, developing a fine farm, with all modern equipments and accessories. He brought the fields under a high state of cultivation and annually harvested good crops as the reward of the labors he bestowed upon his land. Five years ago he re- moved to Sycamore and purchased a beautiful home at No. 519 South Main street. It was the realization of the dream of his youth-the possi- bility of rest in his old age. without necessity for further labor. He is not by any means an old man, in fact seems yet in his prime. but he has achieved his ambition and is now enjoying a well earned and richly deserved rest. Six years ago he purchased another farm, of one hundred and sixty acres. and the two properties bring to him an excellent income.
In 1876 Mr. Nelson was united in marriage to Miss Johannah Christine who was born in Sweden, August 8. 1844, and came to the United States in the same year as her future husband. She had a brother living at St. Charles, Illinois, and later she came to De Kalb, where for four years she was employed in the home of the late Judge Robinson, in whose home her marriage was celebrated. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have been born four children : Edith. aged four years, and Nellie, aged thirteen months, died of diphtheria one day apart. Anna S. is the wife of Carl Anderson. living on one of her father's farms, and they have one daughter, Ella Lillian : Hulda is the wife of Albert Carlson, a farmer, and they have one child, nine months old, Myrtle V.
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson are members of the Swed- ish Lutheran church of Sycamore, of which he was one of the organizers. Ile was also a member of the building committee for the erection of the new church, which is one of the finest of the city, and he hauled the first load of gravel for the build- ing, also contributing liberally in money for its erection. He has always been active and helpful in the work of the church and for several years served as trustee and deacon. He has indeed done much for the upbuilding and progress of the church and his labors have had far-reaching influ- ence. He is always ready to contribute of his time and means for the development and progress of the city. Soon after coming to America he took out naturalization papers and has always been a
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republican but not an office seeker. He is thor- oughly American in thought and interests. His life record proves the sure rewards of character, for he is most higlily esteemed wherever known, and also indicates that snecess is not a matter of genius, but the outcome of clear judgment and unfaltering industry.
LOUIS ROHRER.
Louis Rohrer, now living retired in Sandwich,has a record as a successful business man and one who, moreover, has been a potent factor in influencing public thought and action. He has stood for prog- ress, reform and improvement. along many lines and as a member of the general assembly left his impress upon the legislation of the state. His business career is marked by steady advancement and shows a keen recognition of opportunities. He realized fully the value of the present moment nor placed his dependence in the future and thus his life became a strong moving force m agricultural and banking cireles and in political service, while his three score years and ten are now crowned with the honor and respect of his fellowmen.
Louis Rohrer was born in Lorraine, France, now a part of Germany, in 1837. his parents being Joseph and Mary Ann ( Holter) Rohrer. The father was a farmer by occupation and in 1845 brought his family to the new world, establishing his home near Northville, La Salle county, Illi- nois, where he purchased and cultivated a tract of farm land.
Louis Rohrer was therefore reared to the work of the fields, early becoming familiar with the task of plowing, planting and harvesting. He pursued his education in the common schools and when he put aside his text-books his entire atten- tion was concentrated upon agricultural interests, which increased in value as the years passed by. lle had an excellent farming property, brought his fields under a high state of cultivation and in ad- dition became widely known as a large importer of Percheron horses and brood mares. He did much to improve the grade of stock raised in this part of the state and this department of his business proved to him an important source of income. His home farm comprises four hundred and fifty acres
of valuable land and he also owns three hundred acres in another tract in La Salle county, together with one hundred and ninety acres in De Kalb county. At length he put aside the active manage- ment of his general farming and importing and breeding interests and removed to Sandwich, where he has practically lived retired since 1894. Hle is, however, financially interested in a number of im- portant business concerns, being president of the Somonauk & Sandwich Farmers Insurance Com- pany, a stockholder in the Northern Illinois Tele- phone Company and a director of the Farmers State Bank of Somonank, which he aided in or- ganizing. The deposits now amount to three hun- dred and thirty thousand dollars and the surplus at this writing exceeds the capital and pays an in- terest of eight per cent.
While Mr. Rohrer has won notable success in his business life and become widely known in connec- tion with his varied interests, he has perhaps at- tained even greater prominence in connection with his legislative service. He was elected to repre- sent La Salle county in the state legislature in 1890 and again in 1892, and was one of the famous "101" who elected John M. Palmer to the United Stales senate. He also assisted in securing the passage of the Australian ballot law. He was chair- man of the drainage committee, one of the most important committees of the house, and also served on the committees on railroads and warehouses and others. lle was especially interested in a law to reduce the interest rate and later had charge of the bill, putting up a stalwart fight for a legal rate of five per cent and six per cent on contract, but the bill passed for five per cent as the legal rate and seven per cent on contract. Mr. Rohrer also drew up a bill for the adoption of a uniform set of school books but did not succeed in getting it before the house. lle was an active, influential and prominent member of the legislature while representing La Salle county. but upon his second term he retired from politics although offered the nomination for state senator. He did not desire further political honors. emoluments or service and since his removal to De Kalb county has with- drawn entirely from active political work. He did not come to De Kalb county a stranger. for his reputation had gone far beyond the bounds of La Salle county and in fact he had many personal ac- quaintances in this county prior to his removal
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here. In La Salle county he had filled some local offices, having been school director continu- ously for twenty-eight years, commissioner of high- ways for twelve years and supervisor for four years.
On the 4th of July, 1857, Mr. Rohrer was mar- ried to Miss Mary Elizabeth Smith, of Somonauk, Illinois, a daughter of Frederick Smith, who was a farmer by occupation and settled in La Salle county in 1834. He came from Germany in 1832 and for a short period was a resident of Pennsyl- vania, whence he removed to Illinois and took up a claim from the government. Mr. and Mrs. Rohrer became the parents of six children : Ann, now the wife of Charles Brignon, a retired farmer of Leland, Illinois; Charles E., a farmer of La Salle county, who married Adaline Bernard of that county ; Clara, the wife of Charles Goodman, a farmer of Rhodes, Iowa; Matilda Jane, the wife of Joseph Miller, a resident farmer of North- ville, Illinois ; Herbert C., a druggist at Sandwich ; and William J., who married Miss Anna Rohrer of Sandwich and has two children. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Rohrer also lost two children in infancy, while a daughter, Elizabeth, died at the age of fifteen years and Emma at the age of three years. The wife and mother died in Sandwich. November 15, 1893.
Mr. Rohrer has since wedded Mrs. Mary Eliza- beth Wing, of Newark, Illinois, a daughter of John Canhan, a manufacturer of shoes. She was born in England and came to America at the age of ten years. She holds membership in the Congrega- tional church and Mr. Rohrer attends services with her. He has attained the Knight Templar degree in Masonry, being a member of the commandery at Ottawa, Illinois. He is a broad minded, public- spirited citizen, who takes a deep interest in gen- eral affairs and has done much for public progress in Sandwich since locating here. His life has been one of great activity and usefulness and since put- ing aside the more arduous cares of the farm he has concerned himself with interests of public moment, yet never seeks office. His life record proves that faithfulness to duty and strict adhe- rence to a fixed purpose will do more to advance a man's interest than wealth or advantageous cireum- stances. The successful men of the day are they who have planned their own advancement and have accomplished it in spite of many obstacles
and with a certainty that could have been attained only through their own efforts. This class of men lias a worthy representative in Louis Rohrer.
CHARLES WICKS GARNER.
Charles Wieks Garner, proprietor of one of the leading drug stores of De Kalb, his native city, was born October 16, 1858, his parents being John C. and Eliza (Rolf) Garner, whose family num- bered four children. Two of the number are yet living, the brother of our subject being John P. Garner, who was born April 2, 1867, and at one time was county commissioner of Cook county. He resides at Austin, a suburb of Chicago.
The father, John C. Garner, was a native of Chilton, Buckinghamshire, England, born Jannary 31, 1832, and a son of Richard and Mary (Wicks) Garner. Richard Garner was a shoemaker by trade and spent his entire life in England. John C. Garner learned the trade of shoemaking in the large shop conducted by his father and uncles in Ickford, England. On the 3d of March, 1855, he married Miss Eliza Rolf in the city of Oxford, and on the 5th of April the newly wedded couple started for the United States, arriving in De Kalb, Illinois, on the 28th of May following. The jour- ney across the Atlantic was made in a sailing vessel called the City of New York and consumed five weeks. A sister of Mrs. Garner had come to De Kalb about a year previous and her letters telling of the new country and its possibilities influenced John C. and Eliza Garner to seek a home in the new world. After coming to De Kalb Mr. Garner worked for some time at his trade but as there was not enough patronage to keep him busy all the time he devoted some days to farm labor in De Kalb township. Later he accepted a position in the mercantile establishment of R. K. Chandler, with whom he remained for several years, while later he was employed by the firm of Tyndal & Brown. Later he and his son Charles purchased the mercantile business of John H. Lewis, conduet- ing the store under the firm style of John C. Garner & Son until the death of the father on the 10th of January, 1898. He was thus long associ- ated with commercial interests in De Kalb and was always known as a man of resolute spirit and
1. HW C. SARNE
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unfaltering integrity. In politics he was a stanch republican and while never an office seeker he served as alderman of De Kalb. He was always active in support of any movement for the better- ment of the community in which he lived and was a very successful business man and worthy citizen, who was held in the highest esteem by all with whom he came in contact. A thirty-second degree Mason, he was one of the active workers of the lodge and in his life exemplified its beneficent principles. He possessed superior musical talent and for many years in his earlier life was a member of the De Kalb band.
His wife, who was born in Iekford, Bucking- hamshire, England, November 18, 1829, was a daughter of George and Frances (Gunthrip) Rolf. Her father was a stone-mason by trade and came to De Kalb county with Mr. and Mrs. Garner in 1855, making the city of De Kalb his home up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1890, when he was eighty-nine years of age. He fol- lowed his trade up to within two years of his death. An active and devoted member of the Baptist church, he served for many years as one of its deacons and he was also one of the well known pioneer residents of De Kalb. His daughter, Mrs. Garner, is still living and makes her home with her son Charles at the age of seventy-seven years, being a remarkably well pre- served lady. She, too, is a member of the Baptist church. She has one brother, Raymond Rolf, who is a mason by trade and resides in De Kalb.
Charles Wicks Garner, whose name introduces this review, was reared at home, acquiring his education in the De Kalb public schools. At the age of eighteen years he entered the drug and grocery store of John H. Lewis, under whose direc- tion he became thoroughly acquainted with the drug trade. That he was faithful and competent is indicated by the fact that he was retained in Mr. Lewis' employ for nine years, and on the 17th of May, 1886, he and his father purchased the business from Mr. Lewis, conducting it together up to the time of the father's death in 1898, since which time Mr. Garner of this review has carried on the business. After his father's death he pur- chased his interest in the business and has since conducted the store under his own name. He is one of the able and successful merchants of De Kalb, carrying a large and well selected stock of
groceries and kindred goods, and his enterprise and careful management are bringing to him a gratifying measure of success.
On the 31st of July, 1895, Mr. Garner was mar- ried to Miss Elva Beaupre, a daughter of Charles E. Beaupre, who is mentioned elsewhere in this volume. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Garner have been born three children: Charles W., who was born January 29. 1897; John W., October 20, 1898; and Sara C., February 4, 1903.
Mr. Garner belongs to De Kalb lodge, No. 144, A. F. & A. M .; De Kalb chapter, No. 52, R. A. M .; Sycamore commandery, No. 15, K. T .: and to Medinah Temple of the Mystic Shrine in Chicago, being a member since 1892. He is also identified with De Kalb lodge, No. 215, K. P., and with the uniformed rank of that order, and he is a charter member of De Kalb lodge, B. P. O. E. His polit- ical allegiance is given to the republican party and he served for two years as city treasurer of De Kalb. In his business career he has placed his dependence upon energy and determination and as the year's have passed he has demonstrated the force of these qualities as a factor in winning pros- perity. Few men are better known in De Kalb than Mr. Garner, for he is one of its native citi- zens, having spent his entire life here, covering a period of forty-eight years. Wide-awake, alert and enterprising, he manifests the spirit that has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding of the mid- dle west and a successful business is now the tangible evidence of his well directed life work.
HENRY HURLBUT WAGNER.
Henry Hurlbut Wagner, a dry-goods merchant of De Kalb and one of its best known business men, was born in La Salle county, Illinois, July 6, 1847. his parents being Joseph H. and Lois (Hongh) Wagner, in whose family were two chil- dren : Theodosia, the wife of D. E. Butts, of Paola, Kansas ; and Henry H.
The parents died during the early boyhood of their son Henry, who came to De Kalb county to make his home with his maternal grandmother on the old family homestead in Somonauk town- ship. There he was reared to his sixteenth year, when he located in De Kalb and found employ-
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ment with the mercantile firm of W. & F. Win- ship. In the spring of 1864 he terminated his mercantile relation in order to join the army. enlisting as a member of Company K. One Hun- dred and Thirty-second Regiment of Illinois Vol- unteers, for one hundred days' service. Soon after his return he entered the employ of R. K. Chandler, one of the early merchants of De Kalb, with whom he remained until the death of Mr. Chandler in 18:5. He then embarked in the dry- goods business on his own account and from that period has been continuously and successfully con- nected with mercantile interests in De Kalb. being one of the best known merchants of the county. HIis previous experience well qualified him to con- duct a store of his own and he has always carried a good and well assorted line of dry goods, putting forth earnest effort to please his customers and conducting his business in harmony with the old and time-tried maxim that honesty is the best policy.
Mr. Wagner is now a member of Merritt Simonds post, No. 283. G. A. R .. and maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades in this manner. Ile is also connected with the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, and his political al- legiance is given to the republican party. of which he has been a stanch advocate since age conferred upon him the right of franchise.
On the 24th of March. 18:1. occurred the mar- riage of Mr. Wagner and Miss Nancy E. Waite, a daughter of William W. Waite, of North Adams, Massachusetts. Six children have been born unto them. Eva Lenore. the eldest. is the wife of E. E. Embree. a coal merchant of De Kalb. Cora F. is the wife of V. C. Goodyear. of De Kalb. Elvin Henry, born November 12. 1819. enlisted in 1898 in the regular army for service in the Span- ish-American war. took part in the Santiago cam- paign and was discharged after peace was declared. He immediately re-enlisted in his regiment and the following spring was sent to the Philippines, where he was on duty for five years. On the 1st of Feb- ruary. 1901. while at Manilla, he was commis- sioned second lieutenant and was commissioned first lieutenant August 21, 1905, while at Fort Mc- Pherson. Georgia. He is now stationed with his regiment at Fort Douglas, Salt Lake City. but the command at the present time is under orders to return to the Philippines. Lieutenant Wagner
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