USA > Illinois > Marshall County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 42
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 42
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H. A. STOTLER.
H. A. Stotler, proprietor of the grain elevator at Evans station and a resident of Wenona, came to this city in August, 1905, but for some years has been closely associated with business inter- ests in this county. He was born in Hudson, Mc- Lean county, Illinois, October 13, 1876, and is a son of John and Mary (Burtis) Stotler, the for- mer a native of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and the latter of Illinois. The father is a farmer by occupation and H. A. Stotler was reared to agricultural pursuits. He acquired his early education in the schools of his native town and afterward attended the Gem City Business Col- lege at Quincy, Illinois, from which he was gradu- ated in the class of 1894. He is also a graduate of the normal university of the class of 1904, wherein he pursued a four years' course, teach- ing school in the meantime. He taught in the country schools for two years and then became principal of the Secor school, where he remained for two years. He was also principal of the schools of Metamora for one year and superin- tendent of the Chillicothe schools for one year. He gave excellent satisfaction there and was re- elected for a second year but resigned. Since that time he has been solicited several times to return there but, retiring from the field of educational labor, he has become a factor in commercial circles and is now engaged in the grain trade. On com- ing to Wenona he purchased the elevator which
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he now conducts from J. H. Taggart & Son and he annually handles a large amount of grain and deals in coal. He owns a nice residence property in Wenona and he and his brothers own a half section of land in the Red River valley in North Dakota and thus his interests are varied and im- portant.
On the 10th of August, 1904, Mr. Stotler was married to Miss Susie Wagner, of Metamora, Illi- nois. They are members of the Christian church and are well known socially, having gained many friends in Wenona during the brief period of their residence here. A man of native intelligence and enterprise, he has developed his latent powers and made good use of his opportunities and thus has made steady progress in his business life.
JAMES N. ANDERSON.
James N. Anderson is now living retired in Hennepin, but for many years has been closely associated with agricultural interests in Putnam county. He has long since passed the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten, having reached the age of seventy-eight years, his birth having oc- curred in Philadelphia on the 2d of May, 1828. His parents were Robert and Ann (Crosby) An- derson, the former a native of Scotland, whence he came to America in 1801, being at that time about twenty-one years of age. For twenty-one years he worked for a man by the name of Israel Lobb upon a farm in Pennsylvania, and while thus en- gaged he was married. Subsequently he removed to Montgomery county, Ohio, where he bought a farm of one hundred acres, nearly all of which was wild land. This he cleared and developed into productive fields, making his home thereon until his death, which occurred when he had reached the very venerable age of eighty-five years. His wife, who was born in Philadelphia, died in Montgom- ery county, Ohio, at the age of sixty-eight years. In their family were four children, of whom James N. was the second in order of birth and the only one now living. The others were Margaret, who became Mrs. Addison and died in Montgomery county, Ohio; Elizabeth, who died in her father's home; and Robert, who passed away in Emmet county, Iowa, about two years ago.
James N. Anderson, reared under the parental roof, attended the common schools, and at the age of twenty years began earning his own living. He worked at carpentering and at farm labor, and
soon afterward he engaged in farming on his own account and lived at home. However, he made further arrangements for having a home of his own by his marriage on the 2d of June, 1852, to Miss Mary B. McCabe, who was born in Hights- town, New Jersey, January 4, 1826, a daughter of Isaac and Rachel J. (Brown) McCabe, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of New Jersey. At an early day they removed to Ohio, and the father worked at the carpenter's trade, which he made his life occupation.
Following his marriage Mr. Anderson purchased a farm of one hundred and five acres in the coun- ty of his nativity and there lived until 1867, when he came to Putnam county, Illinois, and purchased a farm of one hundred and eighty acres in Gran- ville township, near Mount Palatine. This farm was considered an improved property in those days. Upon it was a small frame house, a log stable with thatched roof and a fence built of poles and posts. The farm, however, had been rented and had grown up in weeds. Mr. Anderson at once began its further development and culti- vation and made his home thereon until 1889, during which time he transformed the place into rich and productive fields and made many sub- stantial modern improvements thereon. In 1889 he retired from active business and removed to Hennepin. He had, however, in the meantime built a new house and barns upon his place and had added eighty acres to his land. He had also invested about fifteen hundred dollars in tile and had drained his place until it was one of the best farms of the county. He retained the ownership of this property until about two years ago, when he sold out. In the meantime he had purchased land in Missouri, and has given to each of his children one hundred and fifty-seven and a half acres.
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were born a daughter and three sons: Annie, now the wife of Fred Stansell, a resident of Knox county, Mis- souri, by whom she has three children; William J., who died at the age of twenty-three months; Isaac, who died at the age of four years; and Phillip B., who wedded Martha Stansell and is living upon a farm in Knox county, Missouri. They have two children. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have recently returned from a visit to their chil- dren in Missouri, whither they go every year. In 1902 they celebrated their golden wedding, their
MR. AND MRS. J. N. ANDERSON.
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children being at home, and over fifty invited guests were present, making the day a most mem- orable and enjoyable one.
For more than a half century Mr. Anderson has been an Odd Fellow. His political support is given to the democracy, and his first presidential vote was cast for Franklin Pierce. He delights to tell of the pioneer days, and recalls many in- teresting experiences of the times when ox teams were used in breaking the land and tilling the fields, and when nearly all of the work was done by hand. He has watched with interest the prog- ress of events that have occurred, bringing about a wonderful transformation in the county, and though he retains pleasant recollections of the early times when almost every home was noted for its hospitality, he yet rejoices in what has been accom- plished as the work of improvement has been carried forward. He and his wife now have a nice home in the city of Hennepin, and he takes great delight in the well kept appearance of the place. His rest is well merited, being the fitting reward of many years of earnest toil.
FERDINAND KLINGER.
The business and community interests of To- luca find a worthy and prominent representative in Ferdinand. Klinger, who is closely associated with the material and public affairs of the town. He was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1864 and is a son of Ferdinand and Catherine (Weileder) Klinger. The parents were likewise natives of Germany, born in Bavaria, the former in 1815 and the latter in 1826. The mother still lives at the old home place in Germany with her son, but the father, who followed farming as a life work, passed away in 1901. In the family were six children. John, born in 1862, is now living in Toluca. Ferdinand is the second of the family. Mary Schoenhull, now living in Germany, was born in 1866. She came to America in company with her sister Catherine in 1896, remaining until 1901, when they returned to Germany on receiving word that their father was ill. He lived but a short time after their arrival. Catherine is at home with her mother in Germany, having re- turned with her sister Mary to their native land. Father Max Klinger, the fifth member of the family, was born in 1872 and died in April, 1905. He studied in Passau, Germany, for twelve years in preparation for the priesthood and died at
Altoetting, where he was in charge of a fine par- ish. His early death was probably due to study and overwork, as he was very industrious. He was a young man of strong intellectual force and marked ability, who at an early age prepared for the priesthood and became one of the able repre- sentatives of the church. His mother made her home with him until his death. Sebastian, the next member of the family, is living on the old homestead in Germany. He was born in 1886, was married in 1904, and his mother now lives with him.
Ferdinand Klinger, whose name introduces this review, was reared and educated in his native country and according to its laws rendered two years of military service, after which an attempt was made to have him work for a year for noth- ing. Not desiring such a condition, he hastily left for the new world, and after coming to this country he was married in Peoria, Illinois, in July, 1887, to Miss Annie Myer, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, and had come to the United States about two years before Mr. Klinger. On the 1st of January, 1888, the young couple re- moved to Washburn, Illinois, in Woodford coun- ty, where Mr. Klinger established a harness shop, having learned the trade in his native country. He remained there for eleven years and in the meantime opened a branch shop in Toluca, Illi- nois, conducting both shops for two years. In 1897, however, he removed to Toluca, having the first harness shop in this town. He is now con- ducting an extensive and profitable business and in the rear of his harness shop he has a carriage and buggy department. Above the store rooms is a nice opera house. In front and back of the stage are large rooms where different lodges meet. Mr. Klinger lost quite heavily in the failure of the First National Bank of Toluca, about a year and a half ago, but is working hard to retrieve his lost possessions and has a good business, his trade constantly growing in volume and import- ance.
In community affairs Mr. Klinger takes an ac- tive and helpful interest and is a most public- spirited and progressive citizen. He has served on the school board for three years and has al- ways been a promoter of good schools, spending considerable money in educating his own chil- dren and in giving them musical advan- tages. Joseph, his eldest son, is a fine
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performer on the violin, taking lessons in Streator each week, while Max is being instructed on the piano and Oswald is playing the cornet. There are also twin sons, Alvin and Walter, and Mr. Klinger says he expects soon to give them music lessons, so that he can have a band in his own family. The other three boys are frequent- ly engaged to play music for dances and other public functions. The record of the family is as follows: Joseph was graduated at the sisters' school in Toluca and is now assisting his father in the shop, learning the harnessmaking trade and also acting as bookkeeper. Max is a student in Magnolia school. Oswald is attending the sisters' school in Toluca. Alvin and Walter, twins, born in 1897, are also students in the sis- ters' school and are most interesting boys, who have the greatest attachment for each other.
In his political views Mr. Klinger is a stalwart democrat and has filled a number of offices, serv- ing for six years as alderman of Toluca, while from 1903 until 1905 he filled the position of mayor, giving to the city a public-spirited and business-like administration, characterized by re- form, progress and improvement. He belongs to the Woodmen lodge and also holds membership relations with the Foresters and the Knights of Pythias. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Catholic church, while his wife is a member of the German Lutheran church. Mr. Klinger deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in the new world. Coming to America with little capital, he has worked his way upward through strong purpose, close appli- cation and unremitting energy and is not only controlling a successful business, but has also won a place among the representative citizens of his community, exercising an influence in local affairs that is far-reaching and beneficial.
EDMOND E. WONSER.
Edmond E. Wonser, a prosperous hardware merchant of Hennepin, conducting his interests along modern business lines, was born near Ober- lin, Ohio, August 21, 1860. His father, Elanson E. Wonser, was born in New York and when quite young removed to Ohio. He was a cooper by trade and followed that pursuit until his re- moval to Kansas, where he engaged in farming. In early life he wedded Agnes Louise Brannan, who was born in Ohio and died in Michigan at
the age of thirty years. He afterward married again and by his first union he had two sons and two daughters, of whom the daughters and one son died in early life, while by the second mar- riage there were three children, all now deceased. The father's death occurred in Kansas when he was sixty-four years of age.
Edmond E. Wonser was only a year old when his parents removed from Ohio to Michigan, where they lived for about eight years, and then went to Kansas. He acquired his education in the common schools and has made his own way in the world from the age of fifteen. When a youth of fourteen he left home, after which he engaged in farming and cattle-raising in Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. For three years he was with the firm of Wiggins Brothers, at Burlington, Kan- sas, working on the ranch for one year and after- ward buying and shipping cattle. Subsequently he was for seven years foreman of a large ranch in Holt county, Nebraska, and in 1889 he went to Valparaiso, Indiana, where he pursued a commer- cial course in a business college there, realizing the value of such a training as a preparation for life's responsible duties. He afterward spent three years in the United States car shops at Chicago and in 1896 he came to Putnam county, Illinois, where for eleven months he was, employed as driver of a team. For a year and a half he was employed in the elevator office of H. H. Leech and next entered the employ of W. H. Lucas in a hardware store. In April, 1901, he formed a partnership with Mr. Ham and bought the busi- ness, which was conducted under the firm style of Wonser & Ham for eighteen months. Mr. Ham then wishing to retire, Mr. Wonser purchased the entire stock. He now carries a large line of hard- ware, stoves, tinware, furnaces, roofing and farm tools, and does all kinds of tin and metal work. He has a liberal and constantly growing patron- age and he owns a two-story building at the cor- ner of Front and High streets, where he conducts the business. He has a much larger stock than is usually found in a town of this size and thus he gives his customer the benefit of an extensive assortment of goods.
On the 28th of June, 1899, Mr. Wonser was united in marriage to Miss Clara I. Ham, a na- tive of this county and a daughter of Philip Ham, now deceased, who was one of the early settlers of Putnam county. Her mother survives and is now
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
living with Mr. and Mrs. Wonser. Unto our sub- ject and his wife has been born a daughter, Doris Catherine, now four years of age. Mrs. Wonser is a member of the Congregational church and a most estimable lady. Mr. Wonser supports the republican party and has served as village treas- urer for three years. He is somewhat prominent in local political circles and is a genial gentle- man, of kindly manner and cordial disposition, who stands well in the community, where his busi- ness integrity is above reproach.
SAMUEL W. McCULLOCH.
Among the men whose depth of character and fidelity to duty, combined with business ability and enterprise, have commanded for them the respect of their fellowmen and won for them prominence and success in business circles, is numbered Samuel W. McCulloch, president of the Marshall County Bank at Varna. His life record began in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, on the 29th of August, 1846. His father, Robert C. McCulloch, was a native of the Keystone state and a farmer by occupation. He lived to the ven- erable age of eighty-four years, passing away in 1905, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Rebecca Woodburn and was also a native of Pennsylvania, died in 1900. In their family were two sons and two daughters: Samuel W .; John C., who is engaged in the furniture business in West Plains, Missouri; Mary E., the wife of J. E. Barnes, of Washburn, Woodford county; and Laura, who is living in Washburn.
Samuel W. McCulloch spent the first ten years of his life in the county of his nativity, during which time he began his education in the district schools there. He then accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois, the family home being established in Richland township, Marshall coun- ty, near Washburn, where the father purchased land and improved a farm. Samuel W. McCul- loch continued his education in the schools of Washburn, from which he was graduated, and then entered Monmouth College at the age of six- teen years. He left that institution to enlist in the Union army in 1864, when but seventeen years of age, joining the boys in blue of Company C, Seventy-seventh Illinois Infantry. His company went through Kentucky and did duty at Vicks- burg and in Louisiana and Alabama. He was in active service continuously from the time when he
joined the army until mustered out at the close of the war, and displayed valor equal to many a veteran of twice his years.
Following his return home Mr. McCulloch was engaged in teaching school in Washburn for sev- eral years, after which he became connected with the grain business at that place for six or seven years. In connection with his father he built a large elevator at Washburn, and subsequent to his connection with the grain trade spent a few years in a bank at Washburn. In 1885 he re- moved to Varna and established the Marshall County Bank, a private institution, of which he is the president, while his son Ralph is the cashier. This enterprise has proven of value to the com- munity, facilitating the transaction of business and at the same time has been a source of grati- fying revenue to the owners.
In 1867 Mr. McCulloch was married to Miss Alice Clark, a daughter of William Clark, a resi- dent farmer of Marshall county. She was born in Pennsylvania, and by her marriage has become the mother of four children. William C., who is engaged in the dry goods business in Eureka, Illi- nois, married Hattie Spangler and has two daugh- ters. Robert W., a railroad official, who died at Varna, Illinois, October 17, 1906, lived in south- ern California, wedded Ella Holstrom and had one daughter. Frank C., who was engaged in the lumber business in California, and married Gail Broaddus. Ralph married Mary L. Lord, at Var- na, October 14, 1906, and is the cashier of the bank in Varna. This is one of the old financial institutions of the county, having been founded by Louis Linebarger in 1883, becoming the prop- erty of Mr. McCulloch in 1885. He is also en- gaged in the insurance business and has valuable real estate and farming interests. A man of re- sourceful business ability, he is never taken by surprise, but is always alert and enterprising, care- fully controlling the interests which are under his supervision and enlarging the scope of his activities from time to time.
Mr. McCulloch holds membership in Highland lodge, No. 324, K. P., of Varna, of which he is now past chancellor, and he belongs to Varna camp, No. 155, M. W. A., in which he has filled all of the chairs. He is likewise a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and of the Methodist church, in the work of which he takes a very active and helpful part, serving at the present
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time as a trustee of the church and as superin- tendent of the Sunday-school. His political al- legiance is given to the republican party and the cause of education has found in him a warm friend, doing active service in its behalf as school trustee and director both in Washburn and Varna. He is a representative citizen of business enter- prise and discernment, who is watchful of oppor- tunities and utilizes the means at hand to the best advantage, so that he seems to have compassed at any one point in his career the possibility for success at that point. Business integrity and en- terprise are both synonymous with his name and he is justly accounted one of the leading men of his community, having wielded a wide influence in public affairs in the line of material, intel- lectual and moral progress.
NEWTON H. COLBY.
Newton H. Colby, a capitalist deriving consid- erable of his income from real estate as well as from agricultural interests, is a typical repre- sentative of the spirit that is dominant in the business world today-the spirit which recognizes and utilizes opportunities, bringing the utmost measure of accomplishment possible at any given point in a period of progress. Without special ad- vantages at the outset of his career save for the gift of sixty acres of land received from his father, he started out, and by judicious manage- ment, keen sagacity and unfaltering diligence has arisen to a prominent place in business circles in Putnam county.
He was born December 20, 1852, in New York, a son of Hiram and Sophia E. (Clark) Colby. The parents were both natives of the Empire state, the former born June 23, 1825, and the latter on the 15th of October, 1834. Mr. Colby was a carpenter and millwright, and followed those trades in New York until 1852, when he sought a home in the middle west, locating in Granville after making a prospecting tour in the west and southern states. He realized the nat- ural resources of this part of the country, and, bringing with him to his new home a considerable capital, he found it profitable to loan money, for which he received twenty-five per cent interest. He later bought land and became actively con- nected with farming operations in this part of the state, though he made his home in the village. In 1885 he removed to Chicago and a few years
later took up his abode at Covert, Michigan, where his death occurred. Following the demise of his first wife he had married again and is yet survived by his second wife. Mrs. Sophia Colby passed away in Granville, March 27, 1877, while the death of Hiram Colby occurred at Covert, Michigan, August 12, 1905. He was a member of the Presbyterian church, and in his political affiliations was a republican, on which ticket he was elected to various township offices, including that of supervisor, in which capacity he served for several years. The only surviving members of the family are: Newton H., of this review ; a brother, Archie L., living in Detroit, Mich- igan ; and a half-brother, Arthur.
Newton H. Colby attended the common schools in his youth, but his educational privileges were somewhat limited, but he is qualified for the re- sponsible duties of a business career through study in a correspondence school and by experi- ence. When twenty-six years of age his father gave him sixty acres of land and he began farm- ing on his own account. He had previously be- come familiar with the work of field and meadow through the assistance which he had rendered in the operation of his father's farms. In the same year he was married and began the improvement of his property. He built his present residence and other buildings on the place, all of which are large and substantial, while everything about the farm is in first-class condition. Utilizing the opportunity for judicious investment, he has added to his landed possessions until he now owns three hundred and fifty acres in Granville township. Though still living on his farm, his agricultural pursuits are now only a side issue with him, for in company with A. W. Hopkins he is extensively engaged in handling real estate. They located land near Granville, upon which coal mines have since been developed, and they have platted and sold lots in various parts of the village, contrib- uting more largely perhaps to the substantial de- velopment and progress of the growing town of Granville than any other two men in Putnam county. Mr. Colby is also engaged in prospecting and in locating coal lands for the Chicago, Mil- waukee & St. Paul Railroad. For seven or eight years he conducted a semi-portable sawmill, get- ting out hardwood timber for the coal mines. He bought up pieces of timber in Putnam and La Salle counties, continuing in the work until the
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