USA > Illinois > Iroquois County > Past and present of Iroquois County, Illinois > Part 64
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Mark R. Disosway, whose name introduces this record. was but four years of age when brought from Virginia to Illinois and his educa- tional privileges were thus afforded by the com- mon schools of Marshall and Iroquois counties. ITis training at farm labor was not meager. for at an carly age he began work in the fields and assisted in the improvement of the home farm until he had reached the age of twenty-six years. Ile then bought seventy acres of land and re- ceived eighty acres as a gift from his father. Ile then began farming for himself and he still owns his original purchase. to which he has add- ed from time to time until he has three hundred and seventy-five acres south of the village of Shel- don in Stockland and Sheldon townships, to- gether with three acres in the town, where hic resides. The productiveness of his land has been greatly enhanced through judicious use of tile, and he cleaned out all of the sloughs, ditched his land and now has a very valuable farm. Upon the home place he erected new buildings, set out all of the trees upon his land and carried for- ward the work until the place is now one of the best farming properties of the county. In 1904 he purchased a home in Sheldon, where he now resides, and from his farms he receives a good
IRONOLOIS COUNTY, ILLINOIS
rental. He paid fifty do lars for Is first peo of land and in connection with the tilling of the soil he raised stock.
The lady who now bears the name of Mrs. M. R. Disosway was in her maidenhood Miss Eliza HI. Glenn, a native of Putnam county, Ilinois. and a daughter of Allen tilem, who was reared there, becoming a resident of that county in pio- neer times. Her parents are still living and her fa- ther yet follows agricultural pursuits in Putnam county. Mr. and Mrs. Disosway have four chil- dren : Allen, who was born June 20, 1890; Wil- lic. October 8, 1891 ; Eugene. May 2, 1803; and Fred, who was born June 17. 1800.
Their home is an attractive and valuable resi- dence and upon his place Mr. Disosway also has a fine garden and much fruit. He keeps two horses for driving purposes and is enjoying life in well merited rest that has come to him after long years of active, honorable and successful connection with the agricultural interests of the county. His vote is given the republican party. He was school director for nine years while on the farm and is now on the school board of Shel- don and also one of the school trustees. He and his wife hold membership in the Presbyterian church, to the support of which they contribute liberally, and in the work of which they are ac- tively interested. Both are highly esteemed and Mr. Disosway is recognized as one who in busi- ness life has made a creditable record. Genial in manner, social in disposition, kindly in feeling. his personal qualities are those which make him personally popular.
HENRY C. BERNS
Henry C. Berns, one of the most prominent farmers of thebaase township, is the owner of an excellent farm of three hundred and fourteen acres situated on section 18. It is all tillable land, well improved, and noone of the accessories and equipments of a model farm are lacking In addition to this property Mr. Berns owns one hundred and sixty acres in Kankakee county and in connection with his brother he owns and operates a threshing machine, corn sheller and
other machinery ci that character, domy much work in those lines for neighboring farmers. Moreover, he figures prominently m financial ureles as vice president of the new State Bank of thehause, in which he is a large stockholder. His intense and well directed activity constitutes hum a representative business man, and his sound judgment and wise counsel are recognized by those at all familiar with his business record
Mr. Berns is a son of Henry and Christina ( Byrisc ) Berns, who came to the United States in 1854 and located in Kendall county, Illinois. They were natives of Germany and Henry Berns followed farming in the fatherland. On reach- ing the new world he resumed that occupation and was thus engaged up to the time of his death, which occurred in 1897.
Henry C. Berns of this review was born in Kendall county, Illinois, January 29. 1857, and at the usual age began his education in the pub- lic schools. During the periods of vacation he worked in the fields and soon gained practical knowledge of the best methods of carrying on farming interests. Throughout his entire life he has been connected with agricultural pursuits and is justly accounted one of the foremost and en- terprising residents of Chebanse township. His possessions are now quite extensive, for in the home farm he has three hundred and fourteen acres of very rich and productive land. The place is situated on section 18. Chebanse town- ship, and forms one of the attractive features of the landscape, for it is supplied with good build- ings and modern improvements and the fields give promise of rich harvests. Mr. Berns also owns an excellent farm in Kankakee county and his threshing and corn shelling interests are no urin portant branch of his business. returning to him annually a good income. His well known business ability and integrity caused his comoper- ation to be sought in the organization of the new State Bank of Chebanse and he became a heavy stockholder in the institution and was chosen its vice president.
On the 20th of April. 1884. Mr. Berns was united in marriage in Chebause to Miss Mary Shafer, and unto this marriage seven children were horn : May, now the wife of E. Allen, who operates her father's farm in Kankakee county: Ama I ... a teacher in the local schools : William.
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deceased; Frank. Bernard. Lester and Cecelia, all of whom are at home.
At local elections Mr. Berns casts an independ- ent ballot but when casting a presidential vote supports the candidates of the democracy. IIc has been school director for fifteen years and is still in the office, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion. He and his wife are members of the Catholic church, being con- nected with St. Joseph's and St. Mary's parish at Chebanse. They have a wide acquaintance in this section of the state and nearly all who know them entertain for them warm friendship and kindly regard.
JAMES W. KENNEDY.
James W. Kennedy is the owner of a valuable farm property of three hundred and sixty acres, constituting one of the fine farms of Martinton township, and his success is an indication of what may be accomplished by determined and persistent effort guided by sound judgment and character- ized by unfaltering business integrity. Mr. Ken- nedy was born in White county, Indiana. June 5. 1845. and is a son of Graham Kennedy, a native of Ohio, who at an carly day settled in Indiana, where he purchased a farm and spent his subsequent years. In carly manhood he wed- ded Theresa Melcan, also a native of Ohio.
James W. Kennedy was reared in hus parents home and at the usual age entered the public schools where he acquired a fair English educa- tion. At the outbreak of the Civil war he tried in vain to enlist but was not accepted until 1863. when he joined Company D. One Hundred and Sixteenth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, being mus- tered in at Lafayette, Indiana, for six months' service. He participated in the engagements at Walkers Ford, Clinch River, Tazewell, Tennessee. and Blue Springs, and at the end of eight months re-enlisted, joining the Sixteenth Indiana Light Artillery, which was stationed in the defense of Washington, D. C. He served his country valiant- ly and well as a private service and was at the capital city when the war ended. He is now an honored member of the Grand Army Post at Watseka.
Mr. Kennedy was twenty-two years of age when he came to Iroquois county and settled on section 30. Martinton township, where he pur- chased one hundred acres of land of Mr. Green. This land had been partially placed under the plow and a log cabin had been begun but had not been completed. He finished the work on the primitive dwelling and occupied it for a number of years. He also broke the rest of the land. tiled and fenced it and continued the work of im- provement, so that as the years passed by the fields brought forth rich and abundant harvests and his labors were crowned with success. In 1800 he built a seven-room house, also a barn forty by thirty-two feet, and he has added corn cribs and other buildings necessary for the shelter of grain and stock. He also has another set of improvements upon the place and has added to his original purchase until he now owns three hun- dred and sixty acres, constituting one of the valuable farms of the county. He has secured many modern equipments and accessories and the farm altogether is one of the best improved and most attractive properties in this section of the county. fle has always voted with the re- publican party, yet the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him.
In the year in which he came to the county Mr. Kennedy was married in Martinton town- ship to Miss Edna Shaw, who was born in Tip- pecanoe county. Indiana. in 1845. They now have three children : Grace. Cora and Bertha.
FREDERICK KOESTER.
Frederick Koester is living on section 13. Ash Grove township, and is classed with the prosper- ous agriculturists of the locality, for his farming interests embrace four hundred and eighty acres of rich land contained in four well improved farms. Germany has furnished quite a large per- centage of the substantial citizens to Iroquois county, among which number is Mr. Koester. who was born in Hanover. May 2, 1836. 1le re- mained in that country until a young man of eight- cen years and enjoyed good common-school ad- vantages during that period. Leaving the father- land in 1854. he went to London, where he was
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MIR AND IRS JAMES W KENNEDY
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IROQUOIS COUNTY, ILLINOIS.
employed in a sugar factory for two years. . At London he embarked on a sailing ship bound for Australia and was upon the water for one Inin- dred and forty-five days, during which time they encountered some very severe storms. The ship leaked badly and the passage was altogether a very hard one, but at length they safely arrived at Melbourne in July, 1858.
Mr. Koester at once made his way to the gold mines and engaged in the search for the precious metal, spending five years in the mining district. In 1863 he returned to London and thence to Bre- men, where he visited for a time. He was mar- ried there in 1864 and subsequently purchased land in Hanover, where he engaged in farming until 1881. Believing that it would prove ad- vantageous to come to the new world he soll his property in the fatherland and crossed the .At- lantic, taking up his abode in Iroquois county, Illinois, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres. There was a little house upon the place and some of the land had been broken. He joined his brother. Henry Koester, who had settled here four years before. Frederick Koes- ter at once began to farm and improve his prop- erty and from time to time he added to it, pur- chasing mostly swampy land. but he ditched. drained and tiled the place and converted the low. wet land into fields of rich fertility. He also erected a good residence, barns, a milk house. sheds for his hogs and in fact added all modern equipments. He likewise put in stock scales, set ont an orchard and forest trees and has made the farm a very valuable and attractive property. it being one of the pleasing features in the land- scape. When he started to Australia he was a poor young man and landed there in debt, Since that time, through his labor and enterprise, he has worked his way steadily upward and is to- day the owner of four valuable farms, from which he derives a very gratifying income.
Mr. and Mrs. Koester have five sons and one daughter: Dietrich, who is married and is a farmer in Nebraska: Henry, who is married and follows farming on section 10. Ash Grove town ship : Fritz, who is married and is an agricultor- ist living on section 11. Ash Grove township: John, who is married and operates a farm on see- tion 13. Ash Grove township: Herman, who is a student of theology in St. Louis Lutheran Col-
lege : and Dora, at home. They also lost two children : Gretchen, who was married and at her death left six children; and William, who died at the age of twenty-one years.
Mr. and Mrs. Koester were reared in the Luth- eran church and are members of St. John's church in Ash Grove township. Since becoming an American citizen Mr. Koester has given his allegiance to the democracy. His residence in the county covers a quarter of a century and he is well known in Watseka, Onarga and through- out this portion of the state as a man of intrepid honesty, whose fidelity to his word has gained him the confidence of all. He has had a wide experience and has led a life of varied activity on three continents. His history if given in de- tail would prove a most entertaining and interest- ing volume because of its different phases in the fatherland. in England, in the mines of Australia and in the new world. He bears a most honored name in the land of his adoption and has here accumulated a goodly fortune.
MICHAEL KING.
Michael King, whose time and energies are given to farm work, is now one of the extensive landowners of the county, his possessions aggre- gating four hundred and eighty acres, of which two hundred and forty acres lies on section 16, Ashkum township, and two hundred and forty acres in Milks Grove township. His parents were Thomas and Anne ( Flanery) King, and in their family of six children he was the young- est. the others being John, Timothy. Martin, Bridget and Anne.
Michacl King was born in County Connaught. Ireland. in 1849. He had but limited privileges and opportunities in vonth for acquiring an edu- cation and for securing his financial advance- meit and thus it was that he was led to seek a home in the new world. to which he came in 18() when a young man of twenty years. Mak- ing his way to Chicago he there worked as a day laborer for several years, after which he went to La Salle county, Illinois. He was employed in various ways until he came to Iroquois county in 1804. In the meantime he had saved his carne
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ings and by economy and industry had acquired a goodly capital, which he here invested in land. He has since engaged in general agricultural pur- suits and to this vocation he owes his present suc- cess. He invested judiciously in property and is today the owner of two hundred and forty acres on section 16, Ashkum township. and a sim- ilar amount in Milks Grove township. His prop- erty is the visible evidence of his life of thrift and industry and shows what can be accomplished. by a young man who possesses determination and strong purpose.
It was while living in La Salle county that Mr. King was united in marriage to Miss Mary Wha- len, and unto them have been born six children : John, a resident farmer of Ashkum township: Tom, still at home: Martin, who died in 1881. at the age of three months : Anna, the wife of Timo- thy Cassidy. a farmer of Danforth township : Mayme, who died in 1886, at the age of one year and three months ; and James, at home.
In politics Mr. King is a democrat but is some- what independent in his views and affiliation. In religious faith he is a Catholic, connected with the Ashkum parish. In the years which have come and gone since he left his native land and sought a home in the new world he has led a life of strenuous effort and his diligence has re- sulted in winning for him a place among the pros- perous farmers of Iroquois county, where he is now numbered among the representative citizens.
JOHN DEANER.
John Deaner is a retired farmer and business man of Sheldon. His life record began in Leb- anon county, Pennsylvania, on the 5th of Ant- gust. 1842. Ile is a son of Jacob F. Deaner, who in 1850 removed westward to La Salle county. Illinois, settling south of Mendota, where he followed farming. There he made his home for twenty-seven years or until he was called to his final rest. He was of German lineage, and his family numbered five children, of whom three are now living: John, of this review : Jacob, of Mendota; and Levi, also a resident of La Salle county.
John Deaner was educated in the common schools of La Salle county, having been but seven years of age at the time of the removal of the family to the middle west. Through the periods of vacation he assisted in the work of the home farm and after putting aside his text-books he was employed at farm labor until he had ac- quired a capital sufficient to enable him to pur- chase one hundred and twenty acres of land. He was then identified with general farming in- terests until the HIth of October. 1864, when he went into the army as a substitute for his brother Jacob, becoming a member of Company E. Thirtieth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. He served until July 17. 1865. and was then mustered out. He had been stationed most of the time at Louisville, Kentucky, doing guard duty, and had also been on the march after Hood to Nashville, Tennessee. Becoming ill with the measles, he was in the hospital at Nashville for three months, after which he was sent to New York and placed as guard on a steamboat, serv- ing in that way until mustered out.
When the war was ended and the country no longer needed his aid Mr. Deaner returned to his home in La Salle county, where he followed farm- ing until the spring of 1876. He then sold his property in that county and removed to Iroquois county, Illinois, where he bought a farm of two hundred and thirteen acres in Stockland town- ship. To this he added until he owned four hun- dred and thirteen acres which he improved. bringing it under a high state of cultivation. He now owns two hundred and sixty-two acres of land in Stockland township. twenty-two acres in Sheldon township and fourteen lots in the city of Sheldon, where he resides and has a nice home. Ile left the farm in 1888 and removed to Sheldon, where he engaged in the implement and hard- ware business for four years. He then sold out and removed to Wayne county, where he re- mained for two years but on the expiration of that period he returned to Sheldon. For two years thereafter he was not connected with any business and then engaged in the implement busi- ness, but when another two years had passed he disposed of his store and has since lived a retired life.
Mr. Deaner married Catherine Worsley, of La Salle county, Illinois, a daughter of William
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Worsley, at carly other there when father t & of New York, where he was tard. He there up his akade in La Salle county 1 1833. when this section of the state had hardly been reclame from the domain of the red well.
Mr. and Mrs. Deaner because the parents of seven sons and one daughter! William, who is residing m Leadville, Cobrado, Clare pt. of Val dota, Ilinois; George, Who died in tony, living a family : Charles, who is dealing in cement and rock in Nebraska : May. the wife di lane . flour. a resident of Earl Park. Indiana: John, in Indian Territory : Archiv. in San Francisco, Cali fornia: and onto, who is attending the state col lege at Fort Collins, Colorado. In 199 Mr. Deaner was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife. She was a member of the Christian church and an estimable lady, much este med for her grund qualities of heart and mind. ( the 17th of January, 1003, Mr. Deaner was mar ried to Mrs. Margaret Keegan, nee Collins, the widow of Michael Reagan, an old settler of this county.
Politically Mr. Beaner is a prohibitionist in principle but frequently casts an independent bril lot. He is, however, a stanch advocate of the cause of temperance and desires to see the time when the liquor traffic will be done away with His wife is a member of the Christian church. He has been quite successful in his business life here, making money as the years have gone b. and is now in comfortable circumstances His worth is widely recognized and he is accounted one of the representative citizens of Sheldon.
JAMES 11. VUSTIN.
The home farm of fame 1. Austin is on sec- tion 27. Ridgeland township, not far from the city of Onarga, and a bust life is that which th owner hade. He has one hundred and sixty acres and as he carries on his farm work along modern lines of progress his place makes coll- stant demand upon his time and attention. 11 came to this county in 1865. bring them only about three years of age, for his birth occurred in Madison county. New York, July 15. 1802.
His father. James K. Austin, was a native of L'immertient and in early life became a resident
learned and is Howed the carpenter's trinke, and he was married in the Empire state to Miss Helen Main, also a native of New York and a daugh- ter vi Th anas Mam. Soon after their nar riage the young couple removal westward to Iroquois county. Ilmas, and Mr. Asth engaged in carpentering near Onarga. Ih als . pur chased forty acres of land where he nos resides and as he is und it possible to make other niest mont be kept adding to his property until he His own one hundred and sixty deres of able land. the well tilled fields returning to him golden harvests as a reward for his care and cul tivation. He likewise reared his family upon the old homestead here, having three daughters and
James H. Austin, whose name introduces this record, spent the days of his boy hood and youth in his father's home and bore his part in the ar- dann- task of developing and cultivating a new farm. His educational privileges were there if fondled In the common schools, and he continued to assist his father until he attained his majority. when he began farming on his own account of rented land. There be carried on general agri cultural pursuits for ten years, after which he bought forty acres of land and later another forty. His next purchase added eighty acres to the tract and he now owns altogether a quarter s. ction. which constitutes a well improved and vers de- sirable property. It is lacking in none of the medlern equipments. for Mr Austin has built a good house and two barns. He has also put up sheds for the shelter of grain and stock, It laid many roads of tiling and built many red- of fence. He raises thoroughbred Percheron horses, has ing on hand over sixty head of valuable animals. He sold a pair of mare to a Nebraska firm for one thousand dollars in July, food. He also maises Duroe Jersey boys and his business in both of its branches is proving profitable.
Mr. Vustin was married April 1. 1889, 90 Miss Emma Hess, a native of Virginia and a daughter of Scott Hess, who, coming from the Old Dominion, settled in Ridgeand township. Iroquois county. Their only child. James Vi- tin. Jr .. died in infancy, and they are now rearing two adepte sons, the children of Mrs. Austin's sister, who were left motherless in early life
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Politically Mr. Austin is a good republican, ever interested in the work of his party, and in community affairs he is interested to the extent of giving hearty and helpful co-operation. Al- most his entire life has been passed in this county, for which he has a deep and strong attachment, rejoicing in what has been accomplished here. In all of his work as a farmer he has displayed a practical nature and at the same time has kept in touch with the onward march of progress as manifested in agricultural life, carrying on his work in accordance with the ideas which science and experience have demonstrated to be the best.
CHAUNCEY A. THRASHER.
It is a noticeable fact in the history of busi - ness enterprise and progress that it is young men who are controlling the traffic and exchanges of our country and who are pushing forward the wheels of progress. Every town and city has many such-young men who are rapidly work- ing their way to the front and who have become important factors in the industrial and commer- cial enterprises. Of this class C. A. Thrasher. of Thawville, is a prominent representative, be- ing connected with the banking business, with real-estate operations and with the coal and lum- ber trade.
He was born in Thawville. May 16, 1875. a son of William J. Thrasher, a native of La Salle county. Illinois, and a grandson of Jesse S. Thrasher, a native of Vermont. The latter be- came the founder of the family in this state and his son William was reared and educated in La Salle county. He came with his parents to Iro- quois county, settling at Thawville when in his twenty-first year. and here Jesse S. Thrasher built and conducted the first grain elevator of the town. William J. Thrasher was also engaged in the grain business at that place and on selling the elevator there he conducted an elevator at Roberts, Illinois. He was an active and enter- prising man, who carefully controlled his busi- ness interests until his death in September. 1880, winning success by his sound judgment and ca- pable management. His wife survived him for about twelve years, passing away at Watseka in
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