USA > Illinois > Marshall County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 28
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 28
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valuable landed interests. He was married to Miss Betsy Brumsey, a sister of Nathan Brumsey and a native of North Carolina, born near Eliza- beth City, August 8, 1825. They were married April 23, 1843. Their old homestead is now owned by Jacob Stoner. John Foster, an uncle of our subject, lived at the end of the dyke that runs through the bottom land from the Henry bridge to the foothills in Hopewell township and this place is now owned by Samuel Holmes. The name of Foster became closely associated with the pio- neer development and progress of the county and Joshua Foster was one of the most respected and honored as well as most prosperous citizens of his community. His family numbered eight children, of whom Benjamin is the eldest. Edward, born August 13, 1846, was married July 10, 1873, to Mary Rutan and died March 12, 1881; Lewis J., born March 18, 1851, was married August 29, 1875, to Laura Malone and is now engaged in farming in Iowa. Albert, born July 31, 1852, is a retired farmer living at Saunemin, Livingston county, Illinois. George, born June 9, 1855, and . now a retired farmer living in Evans township, was married in 1882 to Martha Aljoe, who died in 1888, and in March, 1906, he wedded Carrie Mclaughlin. James, born December 15, 1858, is engaged in general agricultural pursuits in Rob- erts township, Marshall county. Walter, born Oc- tober 31, 1860, is also living in Roberts township. Wilbur S., born July 23, 1862, and now living at Saunemin, Livingston county, was married Oc- tober 1, 1889, to Eva Malone.
Reared in his parents' home, Benjamin Foster early became familiar with farm work. He be- gan his education in the winter of 1854-5 in a school which was supported by contribution from residents of the neighborhood. He afterward at- tended the Fairview school in Roberts township and later was a student in the Wenona school in 1867. The occupation to which he was reared he chose as a life work and began farming on his own account in Evans township, Marshall county, on section 29. There he lived for four years, after which he removed to the place which is now his home, taking up his abode here March 1, 1872. This has been his place of residence con- tinuously since with the exception of two years, from December 20, 1898, until February 26, 1901, spent in Toluca, Illinois. He still owns proper- ty in Toluca, while his farm comprises eighty
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acres of rich and arable land. He is now care- fully conducting the work of the fields and has a good property, well developed.
On the 17th of October, 1867, Mr. Foster was united in marriage to Miss Adelaide Green, who was born in England, May 3, 1849, and was brought to America when only six months old by her parents, Mathias and Mary Ann Green, who settled upon a farm in Evans township, Marshall county. Both passed away, however, in 1852, dy- ing during the cholera epidemic of that year. Mrs. Foster was thus early left an orphan. She was reared in this county and attended the Center school. In the family were thirteen children, but only four are now living, the others being George Roberts, who resides in Mitchell county, Kansas, where he follows farming; Mathias O. Green, who is engaged in farming in Pettis coun- ty, Missouri; and Mrs. Mahala Dovenspike, who resides in Libertyville, Iowa.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Foster have been born a son and daughter. Thomas, born January 15, 1870, is living with his father and operates the home farm. He has also had charge of a thresh- ing outfit each year since 1895. The daughter, Minnie, born June 30, 1873, is the wife of Alex- ander Kennedy, of Evans township, and they have one child, Irene Bell, born March 26, 1895. Mr. Foster has been a life-long resident of this county, his connection therewith covering a period of more than six decades, and his memory goes back to the time when there were various evidences of pioneer life still to be seen here, for the prairie was largely uncultivated and covered with its na- tive grasses. Rapid settlement, however, soon wrought a transformation and the Foster family have borne their full share in the work of agri- cultural development, of which Benjamin Foster is now a representative.
JOSEPH BOGNER.
Joseph Bogner resides on section 15, Whitefield township, and is engaged in general farming, owning one hundred acres of the tract of one hundred and sixty acres which he now cultivates. He was born in Peoria county, Illinois, on the 7th of February, 1861, and is of German line- age. His father, Louis Bogner, was born in Baden and when a young man came to the United States. He settled first in the state of New
York, where he engaged in farming for some time, and then came to Illinois, establishing his home upon a farm in Peoria county. There he lived for a time, after which he came to Mar- sliall county, where he still resides. Here he was also engaged in farming for a considerable period, but is now living retired in Henry, having in for- mer years gained a competence that is sufficient to supply him with the necessities and comforts of life. In early manhood he wedded Miss Gertrude Weber, also a native of Germany, and they have become the parents of eight children.
Joseph Bogner began his education in the dis- triet schools of Peoria county and while not busy with his text-books his time was largely devoted to farm labor, for he early took his place behind the plow and became familiar with the work of the fields from the time of early planting until crops were harvested in the late autumn. He has lived in Marshall county since he was thirteen years of age and is now carrying on general agricultural pursuits, cultivating a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres, of which he owns one hundred acres. This is rich and arable land and he an- nually harvests good crops, while upon his farm are all of the modern equipments and accessories that go to facilitate the farm work and render the labors of the agriculturist of more avail in the acquirement of success.
On the 30th of January, 1885, occurred the marriage of Joseph Bogner and Miss Kittie Slichter, a native of Saratoga township, Marshall county, and a daughter of August Slichter. Unto them have been born eight children : Edward, who is living in Henry; Gertrude, who died at the age of eighteen years; Frank and Theodore, who assist their father in the operation of the home farm; Joseph, at home; Bertha and Elmer, who are attending school; and Leo, a little lad of six years, who completes the family.
Mr. Bogner has served continuously as school director during his residence in Whitefield town- ship and is deeply interested in the cause and ad- vancement of education, believing the public- school system to be one of the bulwarks of the na- tion. His political allegiance is given to the de- mocracy and he is a member of St. Mary's Cath- olic church. In his life he exemplifies many of the sterling traits of his German ancestry, pos- sessing the spirit of industry and determination which have always characterized that race and
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which have enabled him in his business career to make steady advancement on the high road to success.
JOSEPH CREABIL.
Joseph Creabil is engaged in farming on sec- tion 17, Richland township. His farm comprises two hundred and ten acres, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation, and its equipments are of the best character, in keeping with the spirit of modern progress that has been su strongly manifest along agricultural lines in re- cent years. He was born in Lorraine, Germany, on the 14th of March, 1851. His father, John Creabil, was a native of the same locality and died while serving in the French army during the early boyhood days of his son Joseph. He was a miller by trade, following that pursuit when not on military duty. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Katrina Saltzma, died in Marshall county, Illinois, at the home of her son, about seven years ago.
Joseph Creabil, the only son, spent the first twenty years of his life in the land of his nativity and acquired his education in the schools of Al- sace. In May, 1870, he joined the French army, with which he served until March, 1871. He came to the United States in September, 1871, landing at New York. A change is always in- duced by the hope of bettering one's condition and it was this which brought Mr. Creabil to the new world. He made his way to Chicago and was there during the great fire-one of the most memorable events in the history of the country. After a week he came to Marshall county, Illi- nois, and provided for his own support for two years by working as a farm hand in this county. He was then married and established a home of his own, going in debt for eighty acres of timber land in Richland township. He cleared away the trees and prepared the fields for cultivation and now has a model farm of two hundred and ten acres, which is indicative of his life of enter- prise and labor. Two years ago he erected a fine residence and he has many other modern equip- ments and accessories upon his farm, which is one of the best properties in this portion of the county. The entire place presents a well kept appearance and indicates his careful supervision and progres- sive methods.
In March, 1874, Mr. Creabil was married to Miss Matilda High, a native of Sweden, and they have four children. Leon, who is engaged in gen- eral merchandising at La Rose, married Susie Elright and has two sons, Joseph and Harry. Stella is the wife of William Buck, a resident farmer of Richland township, Marshall county, and they have one child, Samuel. Emma and Ar- thur are still at home. The wife and mother died on the 5th of March, 1895, and was laid to rest in New Salem cemetery. She was a lady of many excellent traits of character, of kindly purpose, and of marked devotion to her family. Her loss was deeply regretted by many friends as well as the members of her own household.
Mr. Creabil belongs to Lacon lodge, No. 78, of the Independent Order of Mutual Aid, and is also connected with the Mystic Workers of the World. In politics he is what may be termed an independent republican, usually voting for the state and national candidates of the party, yet not considering himself bound by party ties and often casting an independent local ballot. He is now serving as school director for his district. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in the new world, for here his la- bors have been attended with a measure of success that is very gratifying. Starting out as a farm hand, his diligence and perseverance constituted the basis upon which he builded his prosperity. He has every reason to be proud of his success and his life of industry and enterprise find visible evidence in his fine farm and attractive home.
LEWIS E. SKEEL.
The history of Putnam county would hardly be complete without mention of Lewis Erastus Skeel, who has celebrated the eighty-second anniversary of his birth and yet he is a man of much vigor and enterprise, who would hardly be accredited with such a length of years by those who are not familiar with his history. He is pleasantly located upon a farm about a half mile east of Hennepin, where he has long resided, and he belongs to one of the honored pioneer families of this part of the state.
His birth occurred at Xenia, Greene county, Ohio, June 22, 1824, his parents being Nathan and Olive (Bacon) Skeel, in whose family were nine children, of whom he is the only one now
MR. AND MRS. L. E. SKEEL.
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living. The father was a native of New York and the mother of Vermont. The Skeel family is of Welsh extraction, being descended from three brothers who came from the little rock-ribbed country of Wales to America at an early day. The parents of our subject were married in the Empire state, where the mother had gone when a child of six years, and later they became residents of Greene county, Ohio, removing thence to Cincin- nati when their son Lewis was only three years old. Three years later they started by team for Illinois in the fall of 1830, and were accompanied also by their eldest daughter, then Mrs. Peter Ellis, and her child. A brother-in-law of Mr. Skeel, Ezekiel Stacy, had come to Illinois four years previously, locating near Springfield in San- gamon county, where part of the family spent the winter, while the remainder came to Ox Bow prai- rie in the fall of that year. In the spring of 1831 they were accompanied by Mr. Stacy to Putnam county. He located first on Ox Bow prairie and later removed to the west side of the river, where he laid out the little town of Webster, which at one time became quite a village, but has now dis- appeared. There Mr. Stacy died.
The summer of 1831 was spent by Mr. Skeel and his family at Payne's Point and he made a claim where his son Lewis now resides, erecting a cabin near the site of the present residence. There the family removed in the following fall, their nearest neighbor being Samuel Patterson, who was a half mile distant. In the fall the In- dians began to gather and three or four hundred camped on the river near the trading post, but in the spring scattered again. They belonged to the Pottawattamie tribe. In the following spring the people became frightened because of the Indian troubles and the Skeel family lived a part of the time in Harzell's building, which had been re- moved to the village of Hennepin, the women largely spending their nights there. Some of the time was passed at Fort Cribs, which stood at Florid and was so named on account of being constructed from two old corn cribs and sur- rounded by a stockade. They also spent a portion of the time at old Fort Caledonia. The Indians, however, never molested them and that year more settlers were added to the community.
The Skeel family were in limited circumstances and during those pioneer days lived quite frugally. In the first cabin erected upon his place the father
died June 1, 1841. He was an industrious, en- ergetic man and had succeeded in placing eighty acres of land under cultivation. Wild game was found in abundance and furnished most of the meat used by the frontier families. In the winter of 1831 a man by the name of Gallagher started an ox mill near Florid, which ground some corn meal and even flour. At the time of the father's death four of the children, three daughters and one son, were married, while Lewis E., aged sev- enteen, and Louise Jane, aged ten, were still at home. The other son, Linus B. Skeel, married Minerva Payne, who died at the age of twenty- seven years, and he afterward wedded Miss Flora Morrison, a native of Scotland. He entered one hundred and sixty acres adjoining his father's farm, where he lived until 1846 and then removed to Payne's Point. He later returned to a farm near Florid, where the following twenty years were passed and then went to Gibson City, Ford county, Illinois. He had served in the Black Hawk war. The sister of our subject, who was married on coming to this state, located at Payne's Point. An- other sister, Lucy Ann, was married in 1832 to Daniel Warren, of New York, who made a claim on Big Indian creek in La Salle county and there died. She later became the wife of Peter H. Dick, who also lived in that county, and is again a widow, making her home in Ottawa. In May, 1832, with her first husband, she located twelve miles north of Ottawa and was living there when Black Hawk started on his campaign. The old chief, Shabbona, who was friendly with the family, notified them that some Sac and Fox In- dians were on their way to that timber. When Shabbona arrived at the house Mrs. Warren was alone, but she called her husband and his brother, who were at work at the mill and they at once started for Ottawa, while Shabbona went on to warn others. Two weeks later Mr. Warren and his brother went back to see what damage had been done and a captain and young soldier volunteered to go with them. On reaching the cabin they found that the Indians had disturbed nothing and after resting they started back to Ottawa. When half way, on reaching Buck creek, they stopped to gather wild strawberries, which were plentiful at that point, and let their horses graze. Mr. Warren suggested that they start on, as they might be at- tacked by Indians, but the captain scouted the
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idea and Mr. Warren and his brother started on ahead. Hearing the report of guns they looked back and saw that the young man had been shot and his horse had escaped. The captain was also shot, the ball passing through his leg into the horse, which stood quite still for some time and then started on a run until it reached the War- rens, when it fell dead. After his father's death in 1841 Lewis E. Skeel assumed the management of the home farm. He has hauled wheat to market in Chicago, where he would receive from thirty- eight to seventy-five cents per bushel and the trip would require nine days. On his return he would bring freight, often hauling lumber. He has ex- tended the boundaries of his farm and throughout his entire life has carried on agricultural pursuits.
On the 28th of October, 1847, Mr. Skeel was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Jones, who is also a native of Greene county, Ohio, and came to Illinois in 1831, with her parents, Abram and Mary (Hays) Jones, who were married in Greene county, where they lived in the neighborhood of the Skeel family. Her parents located at Evans Point, Marshall county, but in 1833 removed to Princeton, Bureau county, where the father died in 1858. Their farm included that part of Prince- ton where the depot now stands, and the brick house, in which Mr. and Mrs. Skeel were married, stands one-half mile west of the depot. The mother died in 1885, at the age of eighty-three years. Mrs. Skeel is the only one of the family now living. Barton Jones died in Columbia City, Iowa. One sister, Mrs. William S. Wilson, died in Ohio, Bureau county, and James, Daniel and John, all farmers, also spent their last days in Bureau county. No children have been born to our subject and his worthy wife, but from the age of eleven years they reared Huron Warren, a nephew, and have given homes to other children. The mother of Mr. Skeel died at the old home, September 30, 1879, being ninety years, three months and eleven days old.
Formerly Mr. Skeel supported the. republican party, but his interest in the cause of temperance has led him to ally his forces with the prohibition party and he has frequently attended its state conventions. Both he and his wife are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal church, be- longing to a congregation which was organized in 1833, and of which his mother was one of the original members. He and his wife attended the
general conference of the church held at Los An- geles, California, in 1904, leaving Chicago on the 4th of May and spending two months in the west, during which time they visited several cities on the Pacific coast, going as far north as Seattle and Spokane. For many years Mr. Skeel has been an officer in the church. He continued the opera- tion of his land until eight years ago, since which time he has rented it and now practically lives retired. He still lives, however, upon his place of eighty acres where the log cabin was built in 1831. He owns altogether, however, one hundred and eighty acres, all of which he rents and which brings to him a good return. He has long been a most honored pioneer resident of Putnam county and few men enjoy in as large measure the re- spect and confidence of those who have known them as this venerable pioneer, whose interest in the county dates from pioneer times down to the present period of progress and development.
HON. ARCHIBALD WILSON HOPKINS.
Hon. A. W. Hopkins, agriculturist and banker, is a representative of extensive and important business interests. He belonged to a family that from pioneer times has figured prominently in connection with the history of this portion of the state. A son of Joel Willis and Eleanor Jane (Harrison) Hopkins, he was born upon the farm where he now resides, on January 4, 1845, and this place has continuously been his home. He was only four years of age when his mother died, leaving him and his four sisters to the care of his aunt, Martha Hopkins. When he was a youth of seventeen his father married again.
In the days of his early boyhood Wilson, as he was called, was a student in the district school and afterward studied for a short time at Oberlin Col- lege, in Oberlin, Ohio, subsequently entering the college at Hillsdale, Michigan, from which he was graduated with the class of 1870. He then re- turned home to become actively associated in busi- ness with his father, and this association was main- tained until his father's death, in 1902. He owns extensive tracts of land in Putnam county, in Iowa, Wisconsin and Dakota. He is, moreover, a director in the National Bank of Peru, Illinois, of which his father was president, and since the latter's death the son has been president of the Putnam County Bank at Hennepin and of the
Archibald W. Hopkins
1
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Granville Bank. A man of resourceful business ability, he displays keen discrimination and marked sagacity in the management of all his undertakings and he belongs to that class of repre- sentative American citizens who, while promoting individual interests, also advance the general pros- perity. Beside his extensive farming and stock- raising interests he has been closely associated with the development of the village of Granville, plat- ting and opening up new additions, erecting dwell- ing houses and business blocks and carrying for- ward the work of growth and progress until no man has done more toward the advancement of the town. From young manhood he has been active in promoting the literary opportunities of Gran- ville, and has also been a faithful member of the Congregational church, serving in various official capacities.
In politics Mr. Hopkins has always been a stal- wart and unswerving republican, and is widely recognized as one of the leaders of his party in Putnam county. He was honored with election to the state legislature, serving in the thirty- seventh, thirty-eighth and forty-first general as- semblies with credit to himself. In 1878 he made a trip to Europe and in 1897 visited old Mexico, while with various sections of his own country he is familiar, having visited nearly every state in the Union and attended all of the important ex- positions.
Happy in his home life Mr. Hopkins was mar- ried April 14, 1898, to Miss Cara L. McVay, of Forrest, Illinois, and they have two children- Eleanor Jane and Joel Willis, who have done much in changing a stately mansion into a chil- dren's paradise. Mr. Hopkins is the owner of the finest country home in Putnam county. It stands on the ground which his grandfather, in 1835, purchased from the government. Near the resi- dence twenty-five acres has been fenced off into parks, where he has buffalo, deer and other ani- mals. Mr. Hopkins is one in whom nature and culture have vied in making an interesting and honorable gentleman.
Alert and enterprising, with ready recognition of opportunities, he has so directed his labors and utilized the forces at hand that success has crowned his business ventures. His life proves that suc- cess is not a matter of genius, as urged by many, but rather the outcome of clear judgment and experience.
JOHN GRIEVES.
The history of industrial and commercial prog- ress in Lacon would be incomplete without men- tion of John Grieves, who for many years fig- ยท ured as one of the most prominent representatives of the business life of that city. His intense and well directed activity constituted the basis of a success which he justly merited and he belonged to that class of representative American men who, while promoting individual prosperity, also con- tribute to the general welfare. His keen discern- ment enabled him to readily recognize an oppor- tunity and his energy prompted him to take ad- vantage of it and thus as the years passed his business outlook constantly broadened and his la- bors increased, bringing with them the reward of unfaltering and honorable activity.
Mr. Grieves was a native of Scotland, born in Selkirk on the 9th of November, 1826. He passed away in Lacon, July 3, 1904, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years and thus was ended a long life of usefulness and activity, which proved a source of benefit to many with whom he came in contact. At the age of ten years he entered a woollen mill in his native city and learned the trade in all its departments, remaining in that employ for more than a decade. He had attained his majority when in 1848 he crossed the Atlantic to the new world, hoping to enjoy better business opportunities in this country, for he had heard favorable reports concerning commercial and in- dustrial conditions here and the opportunities that were offered. Accordingly he made his way to Lawrence, Massachusetts, where he secured a posi- tion as a weaver of shawls, having become thor- oughly conversant with that line of business in his native country. After two years he was given charge of a weaver's room in a mill near Boston, where he remained for two and a half years, and then went to New Edinburgh, where he became superintendent of a cassimere mill. Returning to Massachusetts, he was then in charge of a weav- er's room at Andover for three years and later spent another year in Canada. He was subse- quently in North Andover, Massachusetts, and in Utica, New York, as boss weaver. Leaving that city, he resumed the management of the shawl mill of the firm of James Roy & Company at Troy, New York. He continued in that position until 1866, when he came to Lacon and from that time until his death was closely associated with
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