USA > Illinois > Iroquois County > Past and present of Iroquois County, Illinois > Part 45
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William Knibloe is the only surviving repre- sentative of the family of the father's first mar- riage, numbering four children, and is the eldest. His youth was divided between attendance at the early schools and work upon the home farm until sixteen years of age, when he entered upon a five years' apprenticeship to the cabinet-maker's trade. He worked through the summer months from sunrise to sunset and from September until March his labors continued until nine o'clock at night. His youth and early manhood were therefore a period of most earnest and unremit- ting toil and it was in the hope of bettering his financial condition that he sought a home in the middle west in 1843. spending a year in Chicago.
In the meantime Mr. Knible had been married on the 7th of April. 1842, to Miss Mary 1. Dakin, who was born in Dutchess county. New York. December 22. 1821, a daughter of Tamme and Clarissa ( Verrington) Dakin, who were na- tives of the Empire state. Her paternal grand- father was a Baptist minister of English descent.
Her parents spent their entire lives in New York and there reared their family of seven children. I year after her husband had come to the west Mrs. Amblue formed lum in Chicago, which was at that time a comparatively small town of about seven thousand mhabitants. Much of the dis- trict upon which the now populous city stands was a veritable swamp and the city gave little promise of the rapid and marvelous changes which were to take place, transforming it into one of the world's metropolitan centers. With a partner Mr. Kimble established and conducted a cabinet-making shop in Chicago, where he re- mained until 1858, when he came to Iroquois county and in company with Edward Silver pur- chased a half section of land in Douglas town- ship. With characteristic energy he began the work of development and improvement and in course of time had reclaimed the wild land and converted it into a productive farm. On selling that property he operated the Sturgis farm for a quarter of a century or more and he is today the owner of valuable farming property, but since 18It has lived retired, having in that year re- moved to Gilman, where he has since resided in the enjoyment of a rest which he has truly carned and richly merits.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Knibloe was blessed with two daughters and a son, of whom Anna died after reaching adult age. Harriet is the wife of N. J. Henry, a resident of Chicago ; and Walter, who married Addie Clark and is a graduate of the state university at Champaign. has devoted his life to educational work, being now located in Jacksonville, Florida.
Mr. Knibloc gave his early political allegiance to the democracy but since the organization of the republican party has been one of its stalwart champions and has served as highway and ditch commissioner. In the latter position and as a private citizen as well he has done much for the reclamation of the county, draining and improv- ing it so that the once swampy land has been converted into rich and productive fields. Ile readily recognized the value of improvements of this character and put forth strenuous and effective effort in behalf of drainage. He was a member of the first Odd Fellows society of Chi- cago called the Union lodge, and his life has ever been an exemplification of the beneficient spirit
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that underlies that organization. His residence in the state covers a period of almost two-thirds of a century and marvelous have been the changes which have occurred within his memory. In manner he is kindly and genial and while he has ever been a man firm in support of his hon- est convictions he has never manifested bittter partisanship nor been abusive of others who hold opposite opinions. On the contrary he is broad minded. according to others the right of their views and commanding uniform confidence and respect by reason of his upright life and sterling worth. Both he and his wife have during their residence in Iroquois county had a circle of friends almost co-extensive with the circle of their acquaintance and today William Knibloe is one of the most honored as well as one of the most venerable citizens of Gilman.
ISAAC HILLS.
The home farm of Isaac Hills is situated on section 13. Onarga township, and embraces one hundred and ten acres of good land. Upon this place he carries on general farming and stock- raising. He is numbered among the early set- tlers of the state, having located in La Salle county in 1850. . \ native of Maine, he was born near Belfast, December 6, 1849. His fa- ther, Isaac Hills, was also born in the Pine Tree state, his natal year being 1811. There he was reared and following his marriage he removed westward in 1850, settling in La Salle county. He was a man of good education and engaged to a considerable extent in teaching. By trade, however, he was a ship carpenter and he fol- lowed that pursuit in early manhood. lle re- moved to the west in order to keep his son from going to sea and settled upon a farm in La Salle county, where he lived until his removal to Otta- wa, where he followed carpentering. In 1867 he came to Iroquois county, where he purchased land and here he was identified with educational interests. His farm was situated near La Hogue and he bought the land for seven dollars per acre. Today it is worth one hundred and fifty dollars per acre, owing to the improvements which have been placed upon it and the rise in
land values consequent upon the settlement of the state. In 1871 he removed to Frankfort, Mich- igan, where his remaining days were passed, his death occurring in 1886. His wife survived him for about five years and passed away in 1891. In their family were seven children who reached adult age: Nathan F., who died in Gilman in 1896, leaving a family : Isaac H., of this review ; John W., who for twenty years has engaged in the practice of law in Chicago; C. W., also a lawyer of Chicago; Henry A., superintendent of the Soldiers' Home at Grand Rapids, Michigan ; Berton N .. who is a member of the Chicago bar ; and Mrs. Mary .A. Welsh, a widow who resides in Frankfort, Michigan, where her husband was engaged in the manufacture of lumber.
Isaac Hills came to Iroquois county when a young man of eighteen years. Although born in the east the greater part of his youth was passed in La Salle county and his education was mostly acquired in Ottawa. After arriving at years of maturity he learned the carpenter's trade and for fifteen years carried on business as a con- tractor and builder, being in partnership with his brother, Nathan. Subsequently he devoted a similar period to the dredging business in In- diana and southern Illinois until 1900, when he took up his abode at his present residence.
Mr. Hills was married in 1878 to Miss Geneva Harper, who was a native of Indiana, in which state her girlhood days were passed. There are two children by this union: Laura G., who was a teacher in Iroquois county for six years and is now the wife of Benjamin F. Brown, a pro- fessor in the Petoskey, Michigan, schools ; and Lester Harper, who is a student in the North- western Medical School, of Chicago.
Mr. Hills, the father, is now giving his time and attention to agricultural interests and stock- raising. While he and his brother Nathan were engaged in contracting and building they erected many residences and other structures in Iroquois and Ford counties and were well known as repre- sentatives of the builder's art in this part of the state. They enlarged their acquaintance and their sphere of usefulness when they engaged in the dredging business through Indiana and southern Illinois. Now Isaac Hills is concen- trating his energies upon general agricultural pursuits and has a well improved farm property
MRS. SAMUEL HARPER.
SAMUEL HARPER.
MINIVERSITY OF LUMOIS
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IROQUOIS COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
of one hundred and ten acres on section 13. Onarga township. This land is valuable and productive and the fields have been brought under a high state of cultivation.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Hills are members of the Methodist church and were reared in that faith. Politically he is a stalwart republican but has never asked for office as a reward for party fealty. He affiliates with the Masonic fraternity. having joined the organization in the blue lodge at Gilman, and he is also connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with the Modern Woodmen of America and with the Fraternal Insurance Order. He has seen this county change from a wilderness and swamp into a splendidly improved district and through his business interests has been an important factor in growth and progress here. He is widely recognized as a man of sterling worth. justhy meriting the trust and confidence which are uni- formly extended him, and his life is also an ex- cellent illustration of the fact that success and an honorable name may be won simultaneously and that earnest, persistent labor constitutes an excellent foundation upon which to build the superstructure of prosperity.
THOMAS L .. PARRISHI.
Thomas 1 .. Parrish, living on section 1. Love- jon township, raises and feeds stock in connec- tion with the work of tilling the soil. His landed interests in this county embrace two hundred acres in the home farm and an eighty-acre tract in Stockland township. A native son of Illinois. Mr. Parrish was born in Logan county. Decem- ber 19. 1800. His father, Captain Lemuel Par- rish, was a native of Arkansas, born near Little Rock, in 1827. In his childhood days he was brought to Illinois and was reared in Jersey county. He served as a soldier throughout the Mexican war, being a member of a cavalry com- pany. He married Miss Ann Hampton and for many years followed farming in Logan county but in later years removed to Iroquois county, his last days, however, being passed in Hopeston. Illinois, where he departed this life in 1903. He had long survived his wife, who died about 1871.
This worthy couple were the parents of a family of four sons and two daughters, of whom three sons and a daughter are vet living.
Thomas 1 .. Parrish was reared in Logan coun- ty, early becoming familiar with the work of the farm, while in the public schools be acquired hils elementary education and continued his studies in the high school at Latham. About 1887 he came to Iroquois county, then a young man of twenty-seven years, and purchased forty acres of land where he now resides. He began the in- provement of the farm and upon the place where he now resides he was married on the 21st of December. 1887. to Miss Matilda R. Adsit, who was born and reared here and acquired her edu- cation in Bloomington, where she pursued a lit- erary and musical course. She also attended the normal there and was a teacher for four years. Her father was D. C. Adsit. a prominent farmer of this county, who died in Hoopeston, Illinois.
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Par- rish located where they now reside and he at once began the further development and improve- ment of the property. They experienced the privations and hardships of life on the frontier but resolutely met these and in the course of Years prosperity came as the reward of earnest. unfaltering effort. When his financial resources permitted of the purchase of more land he added to his original tract until he now has two hundred acres in the home farm, and the buildings upon the place have been erected by him and stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise. He has ditched and tiled the place and has enclosed it with a woven wire fence. He has also set out a great variety of fruit trees and his farm is equipped with all of the conveniences and acces- sories which go to make up a model farm prop- erty of the twentieth century. He also bought an eighty-acre tract in Stockland township but has rented the place. He is farming a half section at the present time and he also breeds and deals in polled Durham cattle, having a pure-blooded male at the head of his herd. 11e also has other pure-blooded and high grade stock and he also breeds and raises Berkshire hogs.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Parrish have been born two children: Perry G., who is now a student in the Wellington high school; and Ruth .1 .. at home. The parents belong to the Welling-
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ton Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Parrish is serving as a trustee and steward, while his wife is one of the active workers in the church and Sunday-school, serving as a teacher. Both are deeply concerned in various movements for the benefit of the church and the advancement of the cause and their lives are in harmony with their profession. Politically Mr. Parrish is a republican but has never had time nor desire for office, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs. He put up the Parrish tele- phone line to Wellington, it being now owned by a stock company. He commenced life in this county a poor man without capital. His wife in- herited eighty acres of land and with this as a start their possessions have been continually in- creased until they now embrace two hundred and eighty acres of rich and valuable land, and the comforts of life which were once denied them be- cause of their limited financial resources are now by them easily secured.
WILLIAM HI. CRAWFORD.
William H. Crawford is actively connected with farming interests about two miles from Mil- ford, where he owns and cultivates a good tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres. His birthplace was a farm in Milford township and his natal day September 7. 1867. He is descended from one of the old families of Virginia that was established there at an early day. David Crawford, the father, was born at Harpers Ferry. Virginia, September 10, 1825, and was a son of Thomas Crawford, who became the founder of the family in Illinois, settling in Iroquois county in 1835 when there were few white residents within its borders. Only three years before had the white people of the state disputed the domain of the red man at the point of the bayonet. The seeds of civilization, however, were being planted and the wild land was being converted into rich fields for the use of the white people. Thomas Crawford purchased a farm on which slight in- provements had been made and began its further development and cultivation. It was amid pio- neer surroundings and environments that David Crawford was reared upon this farm, sharing
with the family in the hardships and privations of pioneer life at a time when most of the set- tlers lived in log cabins and waged a relentless warfare against the unfavorable conditions caused by the swamps and the sloughs and the uneut forests. When a young man he went to Ohio and there learned the cooper's trade, which he followed for a few years. While in the Buck- eye state he married Lydia Judy, who was born November 20. 1829. in Clark county, Ohio, and subsequently returned to Iroquois county, locat- ing first in Milford. After spending the winter in the town he removed to a farm, purchasing land thereafter from time to time until he was one of the most extensive landholders of the county. his possessions aggregating nearly fourteen hun- dred acres in Stockland. Milford and Lovejoy townships. He also had land elsewhere in the state and he bought and sold lands, his operations being extensive and profitable. He was widely known as a prominent farmer and business man. watchful of his opportunities and so conducting his efforts that success resulted. Seldom was he at error in matters of business judgment. He re- moved from his farm to Milford, where he spent his last days, passing away October 17, 1904, at the ripe old age of seventy-nine. His wife is still living and makes her home in Milford. The family of this worthy couple numbered eight children, six sons and two daughters, the eldest of whom is John Crawford, a resident of Mil- ford. The others are James, who is living in Ambia. Indiana : Anna, the wife of T. A. Lyons. a farmer of Milford ; Charles, a business man of Ambia : Edward, a resident farmer of Stockland township : William H., of this review : Emma, the wife of William Caldwell, of Chicago: and Frank, a resident farmer of Milford township.
William H. Crawford, one of the county's na- tive sons, was educated in the schools of Mil- ford and remained with his father through the period of his boyhood and youth, being reared in a cultured home, while lessons of industry. perseverance and economy were early instilled into his mind. The lady who now bears his name was in her maidenhood Miss Clara Kelly and their marriage was celebrated on Christmas day of 1892. She was also reared in Iroquois county and following their marriage they es- tablished their home upon a farm, Mr. Craw-
IROQUOIS COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
ford concentrating ins energies upon the develop ment and improvement of a tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres. As time passed he brought his fields under a high state of cultiva- tion and annually gathered therefrom rich crops. With the farming he also raised good stock. In 1000, however, he removed to Milford and pur chased one of the most attractive residences of the town. He has not abandoned farm work. however, but goes back and forth to attend to the duties of the farm, which is carefully man- aged under his immediate supervision.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Crawford has been blessed with three children, Daphne. Aubrey and Madge. A stalwart democrat, Mr. Crawford has never sought or desired office but is inter- ested in the success and growth of his party. Hle and his wife take a deep and helpful inter- est in the work of the Christian church, of which they are members and in which he is serving as an officer. They contribute gen- vrously to the support of the church and do everything in their power to advance its inter- ests. Mr. Crawford is also connected with the Knights of Pythias lodge at Milford. Strong in his honor and his good name, his whole life has been passed in or near Milford and he has borne an unassailable reputation for integrity in business as well as for activity and progressive- ness in his farming operations. Many are his good qualities and both he and his wife are greatly esteemed by those who know them, their circle of friends being almost co-extensive with the circle of their acquaintance.
E. A. WESTOVER.
The life record of E. A. Westover, of Che- banse, should put to shame many a man of young- er years who, grown weary of the struggles and labors of an active business life, would relegate to others the burdens that he should bear. Mr. Westover, although now seventy-five years of age. is still actively concerned in business in Chebanse as a stone-mason and in former years was accounted one of the able educators of this part of the state, devoting a quarter of a century to the profession of teaching. He came to Che-
banse in 1857 and has here since made lus home. He is a son of Lings \ and Sally ( Thomas ) Westover, who were natives of Connecticut and of Welsh extraction on the father's sale. The original ancestors in America, however, came from the Isle of Wight.
The birth of E. A. Westover occurred in Litchfield county, Connecticut, April 13. 1831. The greater period of his manhood has been passed in Chebanse, where he has made his home for almost a half century. Securing a school in this locality, he engaged in teaching for twenty- four terms and during the periods of vacation he worked at the stone-mason's trade. He took up his abode in thebanse township before Milks Grove township had been set off. the two being under one organization and known as Chebanse township. He became a good workman at the stone-mason's trade and has assisted in the con- struction of many of the important buildings of the county, including the courthouse at Watse- ka. His life has been one of tireless activity and enterprise and as the years have passed he has met with a creditable measure of success.
On the 18th of June, 1862. Mr. Westover was united in marriage to Mrs. Jane Brady. and unto them was born a son, Linus E., who is lo- cated in Chebanse.
Mr. Westover has long been recognized as one of the prominent democrats of this locality. He cast his first presidential vote for James Buchanan and has supported each candidate at the head of the ticket since that time with the exception of the year 1864. when he voted for Abraham Lincoln, for he believed in the war policy and thus upheld the administration. Mr. Westover has been called to various offices. He has been road commissioner for three years, was constable for four years, marshal of Chebanse for two years and school director for ten years. He has also acted as judge of election since the Australian ballot system was inaugurated. Hle is the only survivor of the three democrats in Chebanse township when he arrived here and he has been a most faithful adherent to the principles of the party. Ile holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church in Chebanse and his life has been in harmony with his pro- fessions. He has always endeavored to live at peace with his fellowmen, acknowledging the
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rights of others, and has manifested a spirit of consideration and kindliness that has gained him a warm place in public regard.
ADAM WAMIB.A.
Adam Wamba is now living a retired life at Martinton and perhaps no citizen of the village has done more for its substantial upbuilding and commercial development, by reason of which he certainly deserves honorable mention in this vol- ume as one of the prominent and representative men of Iroquois county. He was the real founder and promoter of the town of Martinton and although now living retired from business has never ceased his efforts in its behalf.
Mr. Wamba was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, September 30, 1828. In 1849 he en- tered the German army, and on the 19th of No- vember. 1852, his military service being ended. he set sail for New York, where he arrived after a long, tedious and stormy passage in February, 1853. He then made his way to Trenton, New Jersey, and worked in the rolling mills until the following year.
In 1854 Mr. Wamba made his way westward to Chicago and to Green Bay, Michigan, where he worked in a sawmill for a time. He then returned to Chicago and assisted in building the first water works of that city. He was offered a building lot for a day's work, but did not con- sider the lots worth anything and so took one dollar per day for his service instead. In 1857 he came to Chebanse township. where he lived for fourteen years, following the occupation of farming. At the time of the June flood in the year 1868 he went out and flagged a train on the Illinois Central Railroad, carrying with him the lamp from the table. He thus stopped the train from plunging into the creek where the bridge had been washed away and thus saved many lives. In 1870 he came to Martinton township and bought one hundred and sixty acres from John Cobb for eighteen dollars per acre, and six acres on section 16. It was raw land, being entirely unimproved. Upon this place Mr. Wamba built a small frame dwelling. in which he lived for a number of years. Later he pur-
chased two hundred and twenty more acres in the same section. IIe has tiled the entire farm himself, has fenced and improved it, and in 1898 he erected a large twelve-room residence, which he now occupies. it being one of the attractive homes of this part of the county. In 1871 he gave forty acres to the Chicago & Eastern Illi- nois Railroad Company for a depot and track site to start a town. The town was established and called Martinton. Mr. Wamba bought hay and grain there for a number of years and built the first elevator in the town. He also built a switch two hundred and ten feet in length, pay- ing for the same himself, in order that he might load cars at his elevator. He has raised corn on the land on which the business center of the town now stands. He has also laid out six addi- tions to the town and sold lots and was one of the organizers of the town in 1871. It would be difficult to find any one who has done more for Martinton or contributed in larger measure to its substantial progress and development than has Mr. Wamba, who from the beginning has been an interested witness of its growth and in every possible way has aided in its advancement.
In Chicago, in 1857. Mr. Wamba was united in marriage to Miss Mary Coolon, who was born in Canada, and they have become the parents of nine children: A. G., Philip. Peter. Joseph, Henry, Frank, Mrs. Libby Alexander, Mrs. Mary White and Mrs. Philipina Mary. Of this number Peter and Henry are now deceased. The wife and mother died in 1896 and Mr. Wamba was again married in Martinton in 1898, his sec- ond union being with Mrs. Fredericka Mack, who was born in Germany and was the widow of G. Mack, who died in 1890. By her first mar- riage she had four children: Andrew C. ; Anna, who is married and lives in Chicago: Sophia Au- gusta, a resident of Seattle, Washington ; and Otto G., of Chicago. Mr. Wamba has bought over four- teen hundred acres of land in the state of Wash- ington, which he has divided among his sons, who are now operating it. He has also bought and shipped to them a considerable amount of household goods, a well drill, engines and all outfits and farm implements. He has been one of the most successful as well as one of the most public-spirited citizens of Martinton township and, having acquired a handsome competence, he
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