USA > Illinois > Iroquois County > Past and present of Iroquois County, Illinois > Part 34
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Mr. Weeks belonged to Davy Crockett camp. No. 552. M. W. A., which he joined on its or- ganization and served as its first escort, and when he was called to his final rest the interment was conducted under the auspices of that camp. Those who knew Mr. Weeks recognized in him strong and salient characteristics which were worthy of enulation and of high commendation. He was devoted to the best interests of his city and his aid and co-operation were always a factor in promoting the plans and movements for the general good. He held friendship inviolable. recognized the personal obligation in all of his relations with his fellowmen and in his honte life was known as a must devoted son, husband and father. Urto Mr. and Mrs Weeks had been barn a little som, George \ Since the death ti Mr. Weck's the mother and son have returned In Hunter, Arkansas, where her parents reside.
WILLIAM BARON.
( In a farm on sections 7. Iomois township, re Si Ma Willen Baron whose capable management in agricultura interests is widely recognized He has, mg rever, been a factor in blancal cir- des since the organization of the First National
Bank at Crescent Cit. im Ho03, when he became one di its directors. A native son of the county, his birth occurred in Papineau township, on the 12th of February, 1871, and he comes of French ancestry. His father. Moses Baron, was born in Canada and came to this country when a boy of five years with his mother. He was reared in Papmean township, the district being ther a frontier settlement He worked for James Martin for eight years and later began business on his own account. Prospering in his undertakings. he made judicious investments in real estate, buying land from time to time until he was one of the largest landowners of the county, his possessions aggregating sixteen hun- dred acres. He has smee disposed of a portion of this but he now owns about one thousand acres and is living retired in St. Anne, his ex- tensive possessions returning him a very grati- fying income that supplies him with all of the comforts and the luxuries of life that he may de- sire. His wife has passed away. In their iam- ily were thirteen children, and theirs is the re- markable record that all are yet living.
William Baron was reared in Papinean town- ship, and no event of special importance of- corred to vary for him the routine of farm life. He worked in the fields from the time of carly spring planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn. In the winter months he attended school and continued to assist his father until twenty-five years of age, when he started ont upon an independent business career The call- tinned actively in farm werk until 1900. when he purchased his present place of one hundred and twenty acres on section 7. Iroquois township. He also owned an interest in one hundred and seventy-six acres which he sold recently. He is an enterprising tamper and carries on general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, having a fine herd of thoroughbred polled Angu- catth. He also raise - good grades of draft horses The farne is well equipped with substantial buildings and the latest improved machinery, and im iet none of the accessories of a model farm property of the twentieth century are lacking
Mr. Baren was marriedto Miss Anna Rabbin, a daughter of Joseph Ral in, are of the French . ttlers of Ashkum township Mr and Mrs. Baron have four caldren. Blanch. Milton.
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Bernice and Luverne, all of whom are vet at home. The parents are devoted and devout communicants of the Catholic church at L'Erable. Ilis political views endorse republican principles and his fraternal relations are with the Modern Woodmen of America at Papineau. Without having assistance at the outset of his career Wil- liam Baron has labored energetically and per- sistently, realizing that in America "labor is king" and it is the rule of this sovereign that gains the tribute of success and prosperity.
DAVID BEESON.
David Beeson, police justice of Pigeon Grove township and a resident of Cissna Park, started in life in this county as a renter and is now living retired from business cards. having through years of former activity and toil won a com- fortable competence. Ile came to the county in 1868 and has since resided within its borders. Ilis birthplace was Randolph county, North Carolina, and his natal day December 27. 1840. His father. Isaac Beeson, was likewise born in the same county and was married there to Re- becca Lamb, a native of North Carolina. Mr. Beeson was a blacksmith by trade and also a miller and farmer. He possessed much natural mechanical ability and ingenuity and was able to turn his hand to almost any kind of mechanical work. In 1845 he removed with his family to Parke county, Indiana, where he engaged in the conduct of a gristmill. spending his remaining clays in that locality. He was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, however, for his death occurred in 1846. His wife survived him for a number of years and also died in Parke county.
David Beeson of this review was a lad of but six years at the time of his father's death. IIc was reared in Parke county, but as the family were left in somewhat limited financial circum- stances his educational privileges and other op- portunities were meager and it has been through reading, experience and observation that he has broadened his knowledge and become a well in- formed man.
The period that tested the loyalty and valor of American citizens found Mr. Beeson to be a
brave and stalwart champion of the Union cause. On the 28th of July, 1862, he enlisted as a mem- ber of Company A. Eighty-fifth Indiana Volun- teer Infantry, with which command he went to the south, the regiment being attached to the Army of the Cumberland. He participated in a number of engagements, the most important be- ing that of Franklin, Tennessee. He was fre- quently on the skirmish line and in scouting ex- peditions and for a time he was ill in the hospital at Danville, Kentucky, with typhoid fever. Sub- sequently he was transferred to the hospital at Nashville, Tennessee, and afterward to the con- valescent barracks in Louisville. Before his re- covery he was sent to the Soldier's Home in Indianapolis but as soon as he had sufficiently recuperated he rejoined his regiment and served until the close of the war, being mustered out at Nashville and honorably discharged at Indian- apolis, Indiana. July 5. 1865. He then returned home and for two years thereafter was engaged in farming.
Mr. Beeson had been married on the 20th of November 20, 1860, to Miss Nancy E. Morgan. who was born in Indiana. where ber girlhood and her school days were passed. She was a daugh- ter of Wyatt Morgan, a native of North Caro- lina and a pioneer settler of the Hoosier state.
For a few years after the war ended Mr. Bee- son remained in Indiana and in 1868 came to Iro- quois county, Illinois. The first year he rented land and afterward bought in Artesia township a place of forty acres, on which few improve- ments had been made. He began the further de- velopment and cultivation of the place and later added twenty acres adjoining the original tract. He built there good farm buildings, secured modern machinery to work the fields and care for the crops and continued in active farm work until 1800, when he sold his place and removed to Cissna Park. Here he purchased a residence and two acres of land.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beeson have been born two sons. John, who is married and lives at Cissna Park, has a son, Floyd Beeson. Sylvester is at home. and both he and his brother are em- ployed on the rural mail route. The father has been a life-long republican, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864 while a member of the army. Every four years at the polls he
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has given endorsement to the standard bearers rund he went to Nebraska, where he has since made his home.
of the party and he also takes an active interest n local elections, never missing but one. Since coming to Cisna Park he was elected and served on the town board and he is now serving for two terms as police magistrate, proving a capri- ble theer, who in the discharge of Ins duty is served by neither fear not favor. He and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist Epis- copal church, in which he is serving as trustee and president of the board, while his wife belongs to the missionary society. Fraternally he is coll nected with Buckley lodge, No. 034. 1. 1. 8 1. M. and he maintains pleasant relations with los ale army comrades through his membership in the Grand Arny post at Cissua Park. Thirty- eight years have come and gone since he arrived this county, finding here much wet and swanjpy land. the work of reclamation having scarcely been begun in some districts. He has seen the best farms made and towns built up and can re- late many interesting incidents of carlier days and of the changes that have occurred to bring about the present development.
MELAIN L .. MILLER.
Melvin L. Miller 's the junior member of the firm of Rosenberger & Miller, dealers in lumber. c al, building materials and farm machinery at Martinton. The attractiveness of Iroquois coun- to as a place of residence is indicated by the fact that many of her native sons have remained with- in her borders, enjoying the advantages here offered and by improvement of the opportunities which surround all, working their way upward to success. To this class belongs Mr. Miller. who was born April 19. 1870, in Martinton town- ship, and is a son of Alvin and Aldie M. clear- "'n) Miller. Alvin Miler was born in Ford counts. Illine is, his father having come to this state at an early day. Removing to Martinton township. Mr. Miler purchased two Hundred acres of land which he broke and improved. making his home there continuously until 1880. when he removed to Chebane, where he resides for five years. On the expiration of that pe-
Melvin I. Miller was educated in the country schools and in Chadron Academy. Through the period of his boyhood and youth he hved at home. assisting his father on the farm until twenty -one years of age, when he entered the railroad str- vice and for five years was thus engaged in the west. In that he took up his almade in Martin- ton township, where for ten years he followed farming, operating his father's tract of three hun- dred and twenty acres, which he brought under a high state of development, annually harvesting rich crops. In August, too, however, he be- comme a factor in commercial life m Martinton by forming a partnership with William Rosenberger as a dealer in lamber, coal, lime, comment, tile and brick. The firm enjoys a good patronage which is constantly increasing, and as the voir- have passed by Mr. Miller has in his business life won a creditable measure of success. For me year he traveled for the International Har vester company.
In his political views Mr. Miller is a repub- lican and he affiliates with several fraternal or- ganizations, including the Masons, the Modern Woodmen and the Knights of Pythias. He was married in Hemingford, Nebraska, in [&)1, tu Miss Grace Schaffer, a native of lowa, and they became the parents of two children. Russell and Irene. In Martinton they have gained many friends, who esteem them because of their gen- nine personal worth and many good traits of character, and Mr. Miller is making for himself an honorable place in trade circles and winning that measure of success which comes as the re- ward of close and persistent application.
ARTHUR NOURIE.
Arthur Notrie, carrying on general agricul- tural pursuits in Concord township, was born in Beaver township, Iroquois county, in 1883. His father, Gelos Nourie, was a native of Canada and was only six years of age when brought by his parents to Illinois, the family home being established in Beaver township. Iroquois county, in pioneer days. There he was reared to agri-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF
cultural pursuits and as a life work followed farming and stock-raising. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Amelia Labrie, was also a native of Canada.
No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Arthur Nourie in the days of his boyhood and youth. At the usual age he entered the public schools and there- in mastered the common branches of English learning. When not busy with his text-books he assisted in the work of the home farm and early gained practical experience in the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops. He came to his present place of residence in Con- cord township in 1902, settling upon his father's farm of two hundred and sixty-seven acres on sections 3 and 4. He has since tiled twenty acres of the land and has made other substan- tial improvements and as the years pass by he is carefully conducting his farming interests with good success. He is a man of industry and de- termination and is meeting with good success.
In 1902. in Beaverville, Illinois, Mr. Nourie was united in marriage to Miss Anna Lafond, who was born in Beaver township, and they have three children, Anita, Clifford and Isabella. Mr. Nourie was reared in the Catholic faith and is a communicant of that church, while in his political views and affiliation he is a republican but has never been an aspirant for office. pre- ferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business interests.
SAMUEL C. BURNISON.
Among the prominent and well-to-do agricul- turists of Iroquois county is numbered Samuel C. Burnison, who owns and operates an excel- lent property comprising four hundred and forty acres, situated on section 20. Lovejoy township. his postoffice being Hoopeston. The family was founded in America about 1831, at which time the paternal grandfather of our subject came from England and settled in Pennsylvania. The fa ther. William Burnison, was born in the father land in 1811 and when a young man of about twenty years accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world. After residing in
the Keystone state for a number of years. Wil- liam Burnison. in 1853. brought his family to the west, thereby hoping to enjoy better advan- tages in this new and rapidly growing country. They drove across the country with a four-horse team and were four weeks upon the road. Mak- ing his way to Illinois. Mr. Burnison settled first in Dewitt county, near Clinton, where he made his home until 1871, when he removed to Iro- quois county, owning and operating a farm here throughout his remaining days but his death oc- curred while he was on a business trip to Al- legheny City, Pennsylvania. His wife survived for a number of years. when, she, too was called to her final rest.
The son. Samuel C. Burnison, was born in Pittsburg. Pennsylvania, November 15. 1840, and was a youth of thirteen years when he ac- companied his parents on their removal to this state. the family home. as stated. being estab- lished in Dewitt county. His education, begun in the common schools in the east. was continued in the district schools of Dewitt county, and there he was reared to manhood, assisting his father in his farm work until he was twenty- four years of age. when he established a home of his own by his marriage. October 15. 1865. to Miss Catherine Ann Acken, who was born in Morris county. New Jersey, a daughter of Wil- liam Acken, one of the early settlers of Dewitt county, this state. Later he removed to Iro- quois county, and thence to Lincoln, Nebraska. where his death occurred in 1900. His widow. however, still survives and makes her home with her children, numbering three sons and four daughters. The sons. Joseph H .. William George and John Vaughn, are all brick and stone masons. The daughters are Mrs. Martha Large. Mrs. Hattie League, Mrs. Ella Ferguson and Mrs. Burnison.
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Burni- son took up their abode on a farm in Logan conn- ty, which he operated for eight years, subsequent to which period he removed to Iroquois county. where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, which has continued to be his home to the present time. For this tract he paid twenty- two and a half dollars per acre. This was all wild and unimproved when it came into his pos- session, but with a determined spirit Mr. Burni-
....
MR. AND MRS. S. C. BURNISON.
1 OF THE UNIVER! I. OF ILLINOIS
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IROQUOIS COUNTY, ILLINOIS
son undertook the arduous task of breaking the land, which he divided into fields of convenient size In building substantial fences. The like- wie erected a small house, in which the family made their home for many years, sharing m the hardships and trials incident to establishing a home on the frontier. He has at different times added to his original purchase until his home place now embraces a fine tract of three hundred and twenty acres, and in addition to this man- another tract situated on section 30. He has re- placed the little pioneer home by a fine country residence, in the rear of which stands a good barn and other outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. His home is surrounded by a tine grove containing one thousand catalpa trees. and altogether his property is one of the finest in this section of the state.
Mr. and Mrs. Burnison have eight living chil- dren-four sons and four daughters: George 1. who is married and resides on a farm in Lovejoy township: Thomas A., who assists his father in the operation of the home farm; Robert 1 .. and Benjamin 11 .. also under the parental roof: Anna Jane, now the wife of George llart- man, a resident farmer of Prairie Green town- ship: Nellie C., the wife of Cassins Hall, who re- sides in Danville, Hlinois; and Harriet Eliza- beth and Myrtle Edith, both young ladies at home. They have also lost three children: Mary, who died at the age of thirteen years ; William S., when two years of age ; and Matilda. who died at the age of three years.
Mr. Burnison gives his political support to the republican party, casting his first presidential ballot in 1804. in support of Abraham Lincoln, and has never missed an election since that time. always casting his ballot for the men and meas- ures of the party in which he so firmly believes. He is a believer in good schools, and has served for fifteen years as a member of the school board, Int aside from this has never held other public office. Both he and his wife are devoted mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Having lived in the county for more than a half century Mr. Bornison is familiar with the great changes which have bere been wrought. and he has been an active participant in much of the development and progress that has here been made in agricultural lines. He has led a vert
active and busy hie and in addition to his farm- ing interests, for many years owned and up- crated a threshing machine, and his eldest soll still carries on operations along that hinc ll has worked diligently in the acquirement of a good property and a competence and today h's fine farm is evidence of his success, and in ad- dition to this property he also owns a section " i land in North Dakota, and he is today ac- counted one of the prosperous and highly es teemu citizens of brognois county.
ASHKUM JOURNAL ..
Ashkum is fortunate in being represented by one of the best country weeklies in the state. The firm who put out this thriving paper is com- posed of Harry C. Gilpin, editor and business manager, and his sister, Mrs. Stella M. Little. Both are experienced newspaper people, as is evidenced by the vim and energy they put into every issue of their paper. That the people of the community appreciate their efforts is proven by one of the largest and best paying lists of sub- scribers and the best advertising and job patron- age ever given a paper in a town of like size.
JOHN A. MILLER.
John A. Miller, who conducts a general store in l'ittwood, is a son of Uriah and Catherine Miller, who were pioneer residents of Kankakee county. John Miller-he objects to the title Mr. was born near Momence, February 1. 1809. but when he was only two years old his parents removed to Middleport township, Iroquois con- ty. where his father died in September, 1872. leaving his mother with the responsibility of rearing the family. He had one sister, Lida. and two brothers, William and Charles. Wil- liam died when twenty-one years of age. The mother is now making her home in Watseka. Illinois.
When J. A. Miller was nine years of age h began working for other people and through his own evertions he has acquired a lucrative bus
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ness and accumulated considerable property. owning his own business house, the residence adjoining it and other property in the town. He opened his store in the winter of 1893 and has worked untiringly and continuously in build- ing up the splendid trade which he now enjoys. He has also been postmaster for several years. managing the office in connection with his general mercantile interests.
On the Ioth of September. 1890, was celebrated the marriage of J. A. Miller and Miss Maud Dixon, who belongs to a pioneer family of Plato, being a granddaughter of John Wilson, one of the early surveyors of Iroquois county. who settled on the Iroquois river while there were many Indians in this part of the state. Many of his original field notes are still in ex- istence and his labors were an element in the early reclamation of the county. Four sons have been born into the Miller household: Durward W., June 22, 1891 ; William, August 29, 1894: Or- lando, February 22, 1897 ; and Uriah James, who bears a family name and was born April 20, 1904.
John A. Miller votes the republican ticket and is interested in the growth and success of the party. He belongs to the Pittwood Christian church, to the Masonic fraternity, the Odd Fel- low's lodge at Martinton and to the Modern Woodmen camp at Pittwood, in which he has been a constant worker and officeholder since he united with the order. He is third vice presi- dent of the Illinois State Detective Association and is acquainted with all the social and political movements of Iroquois county, while his co-op- eration along various lines has been of decided advantage to the county in its development and progress.
WILLIAM HECKER, M. D.
William Hecker, a physician of Watseka, who in his practice is making a specialty of surgery, is possessed of most accurate scientific knowledge and in the practical work of the profession has demonstrated his ability to accurately apply the principles of the medical science to the needs of his patients. By broad reading and discriminating investigation he has kept fully abreast of the progress of the times as manifest by the medical
fraternity and has a patronage which many an older physician might well envy.
Dr. Hecker was born in Cambria, Wisconsin, March 17. 1873. His father. Christopher Heck- er. a native of Germany, came to the United States when a young man and settled in Wis- consin, where he followed farming until his re- tirement from active business life a few years ago. The mother, Mrs. Augusta (Krebs ) Hecker, was also a native of Germany and they became prominent residents of the section of Wisconsin in which they established their home. Mr. Hecker taking an active part in public affairs as well as in agricultural life. The family num- bered five children, two sons and three daughters.
Dr. Hecker, the oklest, began his education in a country school and afterward attended Law- rence University at Appleton, Wisconsin, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1898. Determining upon the practice of medicine and surgery as a life work. he began preparation for that calling and won his degree at the time of his graduation from the Northwestern Medical College in 1902. He located for practice in Watseka in June of that year and has remained here continuously since, but in the meantime has pursued many extra courses of study in Chicago, making a specialty of surgery. The periods of vacation have largely been devoted to study and investi- gation and to the acquirement of broad practical experience through hospital work. He has al- ways been extremely proficient as a surgeon and in his study and practice has kept fully abreast with the times, being ambitious to advance in his proficiency that his labors may be of still greater benefit to mankind. .Added to his laudable de- sire for success and his love of scientific research there is manifest in his work a humanitarian spirit that is most commendable.
On the 5th of November, 1902, Dr. Hecker was married to Miss Jessie E. Leatherman, a daughter of John E. Leatherman, a prominent resident of Watseka and a veteran of the Civil war. Dr. Hecker is identified with the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows and with the Iro- quois Chib of Watseka, and also holds member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal church. His interests are thus varied. He is not so abnor- mally developed in any one direction as to be-
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