Past and present of Iroquois County, Illinois, Part 12

Author: Kern, J. W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 792

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U'nto Mr. and Mrs. Gerber have been born nine children: Emily. Oscar, Minnie, Louis, Emil, Nettie, Ernest, Ethel and Theophile. Po- litically Mr. Gerber is a stanch republican. Hle was elected and served as a member of the school board and also as highway commissioner, and in the discharge of his public duties has mani- fested his loyalty and progressive spirit.

HENRY L. MEYER.

Henry L. Meyer, one of the prominent Ger- man farmers of Middleport township, is a native of Cook county, Illinois. His parents. Louis and Allwina Meyer, were German emigrants and were among the pioneers of Cook county. There were only a few houses in Chicago when they arrived and the city gave little evidence of fu- ture greatness. Although natives of Germany they were married in Cook county, in 1862, and the subject of this review, who was their first child, was born there. April 23. 1864. Later other children were added to the family, namely : Louis, Emma, Fred. William, Alma and Anna. The mother, now a widow, still occupies the old family homestead.

Mr. Meyer was married February 9, 1890, to Miss Meta Degner, a daughter of Charles and Mary Degner, both of German descent, while the later was a native of the fatherland. Their marriage was celebrated on the anniversary of the bride's birth, which occurred February 9, 1867, and before the end of the month in which they were married in 1890 they removed to the site of their present home in Iroquois county. While Mr. Meyer did not have money enough to pay for the land, both he and his wife were strong and energetic and resolutely set about making a home. Today they have a fine farm of two hundred and thirty-six acres of well im- proved land, all under splendid cultivation. Mr. Meyer also does all of his own mason and car- penter work and every year does a great deal of ditching. Ile has lived a life of unremitting toil and diligence but in the end success has crowned his labors. While he was keeping up the interest and making payments on his land he found it necessary to practice rigid economy

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but after he had cleared the first tract of indebted ness he purchased other land and now has beautiful country home. He realized the truth of the old adage that a penny sived is a penny earned and his diligence was therefore supple mented In frugality. He practices crop rola- tion in the cultivation of his fields and thijs en- hances their productiveness. He raises stock each year and also sells grain in the market, as do most of the Iroquois counts farmers. Econo my and thrift have been characteristics of the home life and Mr. Meyer's ability in mechanical lines as well as in the department of agriculture has been an element in his success. His wife to, has been a most able helpimate to hun, bung particularly skilled with the medle as well as in the management of the household affairs. They keep a herd of dairy cattle and ship cream to (Incago, finding it more profitable than man - facturing butter and selling it in the local market.

The children in the Meyer family are. All- wina, born November 7. 1800. Louis, barn June 7. 1802: Lydia, who was born December 7. 18 8. and died October 23. 1800: Lina, who was born December 31, 1001 : and Lilian, born August 25. HAM). The older children all completed the dis- triet-school work and they have attended a vier- man school in Cook county. The parents es- pect to give all of their children the same educa- tional advantages. Mr. Mever votes with the republican party and he and his family are mem- bers of the German Lutheran church at \ch Grove. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in a business way, owing his success entirely to his own labers and well di- rested efforts supplemented by the able asset ance of his wife.

I. S. ROSSART. M. D.

Dr H S. Hissart. ofe i the Matic nul pr the past sixteen years bas practical in Bester was born in Youngstown, Pennsylvania. Januar 20), 1805, and is a representative of ene er de cds families of the Revisione site Is grandfather. Heure Heart. Mis mas Ip Pennsylvania, draw a stige made inmy Bab

there to Pittsburg before the cra ci railroad build- mg and travel He served as a soldier in the war of 1812 and was a lot of figure in the early history of the Gratuits in which los inver and laboral. His death accused when he had reached the venerable age of ninety four years. ianis has been represented in Pennsylvania through many generations

Paul Bossart, the father tour subject was also a native of Parmaham, where the days of his balls and south were presse. He was there married m 1854 to Mis Mart Kuhn, of German ancestry, was was born in the Restof state and was a daughter . i l'hip Kuhns. Mr. Besvart was a farejar by occupation and has spent all at his entire life in Units township. Westmoreland coons. He has re- sole upon one farm see the marriage and in to04 hs and his wife celebrated their golden wedding. He served as a noscian in the war of the Rellen and he is now about rights years of age. His laval membered ton children. five sons and five daughter-

Dr. Howsart was reared in Westmoreland comets, Pensylvania, and ree vel liberal el ica- timal advantages in the connom and higher schools at that Areality. He entered upon his professional preparation in the Philadelphia School of Mariney, where he took his first course of leture - m 1883, ban deter flung to - Sage in the practice of medicine rather than Colkas at Philadelphia and was graduated w th He is also registered , harina er, leaving ban heused by both the Panel vanta and the Hung - brands After coupleting his course in the no deal & dige los del hospital work in Polen for podseus, putting his

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geons. He keeps thoroughly abreast with the profession in the progress that has characterized the medical fraternity, especially during the last quarter of a century, and his practice covers a wide territory in Iroquois and Ford counties. He owns an automobile, which he uses in making his professional visits through the country and thus he greatly economizes time.

Dr. Bossart was married in Indiana county. Pennsylvania, on the 7th of May. 1887, to Miss Ida MI. Alter, a native of that state and a daugh- ter of James .A. Alter, who belonged to one of the old families there. Four children have been born unto Dr. and Mrs. Bossart: La Rue R., a machinist at Greenville. Pennsylvania : Emil S .. who for three years has been a student in the Paxton high school : and Raymond and Leola, both at home.

Dr. Bossart has been a lifelong republican and he and his wife are members of the English Lutheran church, of which he was one of the promoters and founders. Fraternally he is con- nected with the Modern Woodmen camp and is examining surgeon. He is also examiner for some of the old-line insurance companies and is one of the physicians for the Illinois Central Rail- road Company, having acted in this capacity for ten or twelve years. He has built up a large and increasing practice and is a well known and successful physician. Great have been the changes which have occurred with the passing of time and nothing more plainly illustrates this than the fact that his grandfather drove a stage coach between Baltimore and Pittsburg before the advent of railroads, while the Doctor now travels over the country in his private motor car. covering a distance which would have seemed miraculous two generations ago. He is a man of good business ability as well as a learned and able physician and thus is meeting with success.

ROBERT CALDWELL.

Robert Caldwell, one of Sheldon's most high- ly respected citizens, is deserving of mention in the history of Iroquois county, where for forty- five years he has been in public service as jus- tice of the peace. In public office and in busi-

ness life he has made a reputation alike unas- sailable, for he has been true to every principle that worked for honorable, upright and strong manhood.

Born near Circleville. Pickaway county, Ohio, on the 22d of February, 1831, he is descended from Irish ancestry though of a somewhat re- mote period. The Sheldon Journal in a recent article concerning Mr. Caldwell said: "The name Caldwell comes down through traditional history as eminating from an officer among the Huguenots in France during the early crusade for the Protestant religion. This officer used neither trumpet nor horn in directing the maneuv- ers of his army, relying on nothing more than his own natural lond, high-keyed, powerful voice. They said of him: 'He called well.' The two words were subsequently combined and this offi- cer was known as 'Caldwell,' the legendary his- tory fixing him as the remotest antecedent of the now numerous Caldwell family. There were certain characteristics in this ancestor that corre- spond with those existing in the Caldwells of the present day. The term 'Huguenot' was ap- plied in derision by the Roman Catholics of France and elsewhere to those who espoused the cause of the Protestant religion, particularly to those who followed the teachings of Calvanism. The Caldwells were of the European class known as 'landed nobility,' were in good circumstances and had a coat of arms as a mark of distinction for financial responsibility and honor. Mr. Caldwell's great-grandfather, Joseph Caldwell, and his brother, Jonathan, were captains in Colonel Patterson's regiment in the Colonial Army, and were members of the 'Flying Camp, an organization of soldiers similar to that of the 'Rough Riders' in the Spanish-American war. In passing through Kent county. Delaware, they appropriated a coop of chickens, consisting of an old blue hen and a large brood of blue chicks. These they carried along on the march for the amusement they aoffrded when in camp. In time Captain Caldwell's company came to be known as the 'Blue Hen's Chickens.' No doubt exists as to the origin of the nickname given to the state of Delaware."

John Caldwell, the father of Robert Caldwell, was born in Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, February 5, 1800, and when only eight years of

MR. AND MRS. ROBERT CALDWELL.

LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF THINOIS

age accompanied his parents on their regional to fino, where land was entered from the - ernment and the farm which was there desel oped remained the home of the grandparents of our subject throughout their subsequent wears. After attaining his majority Jolm Caldwell was married in 1820, to Miss Elizabeth Monnett wh was born in the, of French parentage Her father was one of the pioneers of the Bucket state and served as a captain in the war of 1812 Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell became the parents of six children : Elizabeth Jane, the wife of Dwight Calhoun, now of Minneapolis, Minne Nota : Bane M., who died at Memphis, Tennessee. in 1803. while serving in the Civil war: William 1. . who ched on the old homestead farm in Ohr . July 8. 1876; AAmos, who resides at Verenhon. Illinois: John W., of Chicago; and Robert, of this reviews The mother departed this hie June 22. 1838, and the following year John Caldwell was married to Rebecca Mcclelland, a native of Pennsylvania, by whom he had one daughter. Anna Maria, now the wife of W. 11. Frankum. of Marysville, Missouri. The father died in August. 1884. He was a valued member and active worker in the Methodist Episcopal church and was a very highly respected citizen. Prior to the war he was a stanch abolitionist and was among the first to become interested in the in- derground railroad.

Robert Caldwell enjoyed the advantages of a common-school education, and at the age of ves- enteen years started out in life on his own ac- count by selling merchandise. He has since de- pended entirely upon his own resources, and the success which he has achieved is the merited re ward of his labor, diligence and capabk mar age- ment. He may justly be proud of what he has accomplished. for he has worked his was steadily upward from a humble financial position to alle of affluence, and throughout all the year- has maintained an unassailable reputation for bs ness integrity, enjoying the confidence and all- miration of his contemporaries Troques county in 1852 m company with his brother Isaac, and for one year was a result of the village of "Bunkun ." now Inson- H then made his way to Sheldon and took up Is abode on the farne now owned Is the Hardesty Brothers, southwest of the town As a farmer

hottestcal property. Is attention being devoted to the tiling of the soil and to the raising at crops Those who are tamhar with hi enter prising spirit will readily understand without be- ing told that through these years he Brought his tarn inder a high state ad cultivation and]

sentence. At length, retiring iron the alle work of the fields, he took up his bodde i Sel dans in the fall of 1828, and began dealing in grun. I wents sears were devoted to that bad

cass is he had in his farming operations He then retired from comptercal pursuits and has smce given his attention to office work being a notary public, conveyancer. dealer in real estate any collection agent.

Mr Caldwell regards as perhaps the most me- portant event in huis hie that which occurred on the 12th of August. 1850, when Miss Conthat 1. Pinnen because his wife She was born in Springfiel 1. Clark county. Ohno, February 4. 1837 a daughter of George and Katie ( Barnett ) I'mneo, who were natives of Vermont, and in 1855 removed from Other to Iroquois counts. Illinois, settling on a farm three miles northwest of Sheldon, which property is known as the Is bury Clark fara Vr and Mr- Caldwell he came the parents of four children Orlatalo Ben ton is now in colorado, where he owns a ranch and is there also engaged in dealing in horses in connection with Dr Harthan, of t Malthus. (no His family. however, are residing in the cago. John Leroy is engaged in the gram bist Hess me hedinspells, Indiana, for the Cleveland Gram Companys Oliver Is died in infancy

Chicago

Ar Caldwell attributes which of his Therss In the assistance and encouragement which he received from his clerk wife For a hali century they have traveled hie's journey happy Father, sharing with each other gts pas acl Tth of August. 100, they celebrated their gehl cf wedding which was a memorable event in their History and in Sheldon as well As the in niversary fell on Sunday they choose to celebrate

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it on Saturday. It was first planned to send out personal invitations but when it was considered that every person in this vicinity was a warm friend of this worthy couple, the affair was made public and young and old, rich and poor to the number of five hundred gathered to take their part in the festivities and to wish for Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell many happy returns of the day with all the blessings and pleasures that life can bring. The event was also notable in the fact that it was the tenth wedding anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Caldwell, their son, of Galesburg, Illinois, who were present, and that on this date at the home of his grandparents was celebrated the marriage of Frank Eugene Caldwell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Orlando Caldwell, of Denver, Colo- rado, and Miss Edith Foster, of Chicago, the ceremony being performed by his grandfather, Robert Caldwell. The home was most beauti- fully decorated in gold and white, with many wedding bells. The reception was held in the afternoon and again in the evening hours, when the lawn was decorated with Chinese lanterns. The occasion was one never to be forgotten by those who participated therein. Many reminis- cences of the olden times were called up and music was a delightful feature of the occasion, both through the afternoon and evening hours. Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell have so endcared them- selves to all who know them that most sincere were the wishes for their continued life and happiness. Many congratulatory letters were re- ceived from those who could not be present, in- cluding one from Hon. Joseph G. Cannon, speaker of house of congress.

In his fraternal relations Mlr. Caldwell is con- nected with the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America. When age conferred upon him the right of franchise he cast his first presidential vote for General Winfield S. Scott, the old whig candidate, and at the organization of the repub- lican party he supported John C. Fremont. and has voted for each republican nominee at the head of that ticket since that time. Ile is recog- mized as one of the prominent party leaders in Iroquois county and had the honor of entertain- ing at his home Hon. Joseph G. Cannon, who ad- dressed a great political meeting in Sheldon, September 21, 1906. Mr. Caldwell has never been a politician in the commonly accepted sense

of the term and yet he has frequently responded to the desire of his fellow citizens that he should hold office. He is undoubtedly one of the oldest justices in Illinois in years of continuous service, for he has acted in that capacity for forty-five years. No word of eulogy could more strongly indicate his capability in office and the fairness and impartiality of his decisions than the fact that by popular suffrage he has been called again. and again to this office. He has also served as school director for many years and the cause of education has greatly benefited by his co-opera- tion in its behalf. He has ever been a liberal contributor to the churches, aiding every church in Iroquois county. His membership is with the Methodist church, to which his wife also be- longs, and they have put forth every effort in their power to promote the growth of the church and extend its influence. Their home is a beau- tiful brick residence in Sheldon, in addition to which Mr. Caldwell owns some good farming property in this county. He is a man of fine personal appearance, a gentleman of the old school, courteous, genial and considerate, and is a most entertaining companion. He talks flu- ently and most interestingly of the olden times as well as of modern events, and he keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought. Hon- ored and respected by all, in the community where he lives he has that warm personal re- gard which one may term friendship or love, and which is expressed whenever an individual speaks of Robert Caldwell. One who has known him long and intimately wrote "Too much good cannot be said of him." and what higher praise- can man desire than to be so regarded by the people among whom his years of active life have been passed.

JOHN W. MEIER.

.All well merited and honorable prosperity comes as the direct result of individual effort. The pathway that John W. Meier has trod has not been strewn with the wrecks of other men's fortunes, for in all his business affairs he has been straightforward and reliable, gaining suc- cess by honorable methods, through close appli- cation and unremitting diligence, and it is there-

John W Mener

OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS

IROQUOIS COUNTY ILLINOIS

fore a matter of congratulation that he is todas the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of good farming land on section 3. Ach Grove township. His birth occurred in Will county, Illinois, June 22, 1849.

His father, John O. Meier, was a native of Germany and was there reared, coming to this country when a young man of twenty years. He made his way at once to Chicago, when that city was a small village, and subsequently he look up his abode in Will county, where he bought wild land and developed a farm. He was one of the first to buy and settle npon the prairie and he began with eighty acres of land. to which he added from time to time until his hollings embraced three hundred and fifty acres, constituting a well improved farm, owing to the modern resources and equipments which he placed upen it. He was married in Clucago to Miss Anna Rinne, a native of Germany, and both parents died in Will county. Their family numbered five sons and eight daughters, and five of the number are yet living: William and Henry, who remain upon the old home place : Sophia, the wife of Henry Wasman, of Will county ; and Mary, the wife of William Peipen- bring, of Will county.

The other member of the family is John W .. of this review, who was reared in the county of his nativity and is indebted to the public and parochial schools for the educational privileges that he enjoyed. He worked in the fields from the time of carly planting until crops were har- vested in the late autumn and continued to as- sist his father in carrying on the home farm until twenty-five years of age. About that time he was married and started out in life on his own account. On the oth of July, 1874, in Will county, he was joined in wedlock to Miss Sophia Sheiwe, with whom he traveled life's journey happily until her death in 1888.

They removed to Iroquois county in 1874. lo- cating on land which his father had previously purchased. He commenced with three hundred and twenty acres of raw prairie, not a furrow having been turned nor an improvement made upon the place. The breaking plow was soon at work and the seed was sown, which in due course of time brought forth rich harvests. Year after year the labor has been continued unremit-

mar and the work has been carried forward that makes a valuable farm with newlern comp- ments, Much of the land being low and wet. irm he created a goal two-story resilence and afterward built a large barn and granary. He las set out an orchard and nearh the entire place is ienced with a neat and well trimmed hedge of his own planting. In 19os he invested nearly fourteen hundred dollars in tile and he now has one of the best in proved and most ara- ble farms in the township

Mr. Meier had eight children by his first mar- riage: John, who is a business man Inving m Minneapolis, Minnesota ; Wilhan, a farmer of that state; Hernan, who is associated with his brother Wilham and is the owner of four hun dred and eighty acres of land in Minnesota : Martin, Henry and Otto, who assist in the oper- ation of the home farm; Lena, the wife of J. D Never, a farmer of Ash Grove township; and Enona, at home. Mi. Meier was again married in Will courts on the 9th of July, tips, his see and union being with Freda Dans, a native of Germany, who was brought to this country In her parents when two years of age, the family locating in Indiana. Five children have been born of this marriage. Loni-a HI., Edward C. Walter T. Albert .A. and Alice Ruth.

When age conferred upon Mr. Meier the right of franchise he allied his interests with the re- publican party and has supported cach of its presidential nonfinces since casting his first bal- lot for General Grant in 1872 In local politics he has been particularly interested and has been recognized as a leader in the ranks of his party. He has been elected and re-elected supervisor of his township until his service has covered eight consecutive years. He served on the finance committee, equalization committee, printing and other committees. He has been and is now the township school trustee and at a former day he was for two years assessor. He has likewise been justice of the peace for six years and his decisions were fair and impartial, being based upon the law and the equity in the case. He and his wife were reared in the Lutheran faith and are now members of the Woodworth Lutheran church. Mr. Meier has long been regarded as one of the popular men of Ash Grove township.

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his services having been of the utmost value in the promotion of community interests. Ile has made a faithful and efficient officer and has the confidence and esteem of the community. His business affairs have been carefully conducted and at all times he has shown himself worthy of the trust which is uniformly accorded him.

PETER O'BRIEN.

Peter O'Brien is one of the venerable citizens of Iroquois county, who for many years followed general agricultural pursuits but since 1900 has lived retired in the enjoyment of a rest which he has truly earned and richly deserves. He was born in Kings county, Ireland, in 1830. His fa- ther, Darby O'Brien, was a native of Ireland and a farmer by occupation. Thinking to enjoy better business opportunities in the new world he started for America but died while on the voyage. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Bridget White, was also born on the Emerald Isle, and they became the parents of seven chil- dren, all of whom came together to the United States but only one is now living.

To this family belonged Peter O'Brien, who has been a resident of the new world since 1849. He went first to Chicago and afterward to Will county, Illinois, where for thirteen years he rented land from the John Davison estate. In 1872 he removed to Sheldon township, Iroquois county, and purchased two hundred and forty acres of land on section 33, of which one hun- dred and twenty acres had been improved. He put all the buildings upon the place, however, including a comfortable dwelling, good barns and corn cribs. He has likewise laid many rods of tile and has divided his place into fields of con- venient size by well kept fences. Thus he carried on the work of improving the farm but he has never made his home on that place. In 1874 he purchased the farm npon which he now resides, securing eighty acres from David Caldwell on section 3. Sheldon township. This had been im- proved to some extent but the buiklings now seen upon it are monuments to the thrift and labor of the present owner. He also has forty-two acres on section 2 in his daughter's name but

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Past and present of Iroquois County, Illinois, Part 12

Author: Kern, J. W Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Number of Pages: 792

Author: Kern, J. W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 792