USA > Illinois > Marshall County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 51
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 51
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
in him by his fellow townsmen. A gentleman of strong mentality and broad general information, he stands as a representative of a high type of American manhood, continually broadening his knowledge through reading and investigation and looking at life from a humanitarian standpoint, which tolerates not the sordidness of wealth and yet delights in the culture and refining influences which a competence may secure. Nature and learning have vied in making him a genial, cul- tured gentleman, who has a host of warm friends.
OTTO HALBLEIB.
Otto Halbleib, owning a farm of two hundred and forty-two acres, situated on section 11, Henne- pin township, was born in Bavaria, Germany, October 11, 1828. His parents, Casper and Ann Elizabeth (Kemp) Halbleib, emigrated from Ger- many to the United States in 1837. Landing in New York they made their way at once to Illinois, going to Dorchester on the first steamer-Pioneer -that plied on the Illinois river. From there they drove across the country to Peru, this being previ- ous to the era of railroad transportation. The father entered a tract of land near Peru, and in order to secure ready money with which to provide for his family, he split rails during the winter, and the year following their arrival in this state he went to La Salle, where he secured work on the construction of the Illinois and Michigan canal. Returning to his home he passed away in August, 1838, so that he was not long permitted to enjoy his new home in the United States. After the father's death the mother was again married, her second union being with Joseph Reginold, who owned the farm which is the present home of our subject. Here the mother passed away March 12, 1849.
After the death of his father Otto Halbleib re- mained with his mother until after her marriage to Mr. Reginold, when he went to work on a farm, being employed by the month, and during the win- ter seasons he attended the district schools, being thus engaged until after he had attained his ma- jority. Starting out in life on his own account he first purchased a tract of forty acres of land, which belonged to his step-father, and which is a part of his present possessions. He engaged in general agricultural pursuits, and, meeting with success in his undertakings, was from time to time enabled
to add to his original purchase until he now owns two hundred and forty-two acres. He has also aided his sons in purchasing farms or establishing themselves in business. In addition to his farm- ing interests, Mr. Halbleib was also at one time the owner of quite an extensive apiary but at the present time has only fifty hives and soon expects to abandon that pursuit. He has found this a profitable source of income, for the products of his apiary always find a ready sale on the market, owing to the excellent quality. He has frequently made exhibits of his honey at the various fairs, where he has been awarded many premiums. He has also grown apples to quite an extent and has been instrumental in grafting and propagating several fine varieties, and he has exhibited the products of his orchard at different fairs where he has received many premiums. His various pur- suits have been carefully managed, so that his labors have brought the best possible results, and he is today numbered among the well-to-do citizens of. Putnam county.
On the 1st of January, 1852, Mr. Halbleib was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Har- tenbower, also a native of Germany, where her birth occurred October 2, 1834. Her parents, Christian and Catherine (Snyder) Hartenbower, emigrated to the new world in 1838. The father was a shoemaker by trade following that business in his native land, and he continued his operations along that line after his removal to this country. The family remained in New York for a time and later made their way to Putnam county, Illinois, where both the father and mother passed away. Unto our subject and his wife have been born nine children, of whom one is now deceased : Victoria, the eldest, has acted as housekeeper for R. E. Hills, at Henry, for many years ; Adam, who is a farmer of Magnolia township; John, a farmer of Hennepin township; George, a resident of Henry; Frank, who was drowned in the Illinois river when he was twenty-three years of age; Clara, the wife of Eli Wright, a barber of Henry; Cas- per, also of Henry; Annie, the wife of George Theil, of Hennepin township; and William, who is at home.
Mr. Halbleib was raised in the Catholic faith but is not now identified with any denomination, but is independent in his belief. He is independ- ent in politics with democratic tendencies, but usu- ally casts his vote for the men whom he thinks
OTTO HALBLEIB.
MRS. OTTO HALBLEIB.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
best qualified for office without regard to party affiliation. He has served as school director for many years but aside from this has never been active in public office. He is one of the oldest settlers in Putnam county and is thoroughly famil- iar with the pioneer conditions which existed when he first came to the state. He has aided in many movements for the progress and upbuilding of his county and has been especially interested in the agricultural development of this section of the state. He and his wife are' hale and hearty old people and are duly classed with the highly re- spected German citizens of this community.
JOHN MALONE.
The history of John Malone should find a place upon the pages of the annals of Marshall county, for his life record was at all times creditable and honorable and proved that energy and diligence may win success in this land where labor is not . hampered by caste or class. He was born in County Down, Ireland, about fifty-four years ago and lived on the Emerald isle until his eighth year, when he went to Scotland. He acquired his education in that country and continued a resident of the land of hills and heather until twenty-one years of age, when thinking that he might have more advantageous opportunities in the new world he sailed for the United States, go- ing first to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, where for some time he worked in the mines. After a few years, however, he came to Illinois and was em- ployed in the mines on Spoon river. Later, in con- nection with his brother Samuel, he purchased a farm on section 30, Saratoga township, just north- west of the present town of Camp Grove. His pa- rents were Owen and Jane Malone. The father continued a resident of Scotland until called to his final home, and the mother afterward came to the Unted States and had made her home with our subject, but died at her daughter's, Mrs. John King, in La Prairie. John Malone, with a clear conception of the opportunities offered by the new world, came to the United States and here made steady progress in business life.
On the 3d of July, 1858, in Peoria, Mr. Malone was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Mar- shall, a native of Northumberland, England, and a sister of Henry and Frank Marshall. In 1839 she came to America with her parents, Francis and Jane (Wilson) Marshall, also natives of Eng-
land. The young couple began their domestic life upon a farm which had been purchased by Mr. Malone and his brother, but afterward sold that property and purchased the present home place on section 31, Saratoga township, comprising one hundred and sixty acres, constituting a fine farm about a mile from Camp Grove. The farm is now being operated by two unmarried sons and the mother makes her home with them, the property being owned by her. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Malone were born eleven children: Jane Elizabeth, the eldest, is now the wife of G. A. Wolfe, a farmer and stock-raiser of Page county, Iowa, who owns several fine farms in that state. They have four children : John, Leona, Eldon and Harry. Henry Malone, who died about three years ago, left a widow, who bore the maiden name of Willetta King, and four children, Glenn, John, Harry and Vera. William Francis, who married Ada Bocock, is living upon his own farm in Saratoga township. John is now operating the home farm and is joint owner with Samuel Malone, Mrs. Riel and Mrs. Seley, his brother and sisters, of a sixty-six acre farm near the old homestead. James, who is en- gaged in farming west of Wyoming, Illinois, and also practices veterinary surgery, married Sally Hochstrasser and has one child, Vivian. Mary Ann is the wife of John Doran of Peoria, and has two children, Mary Celestine and Ellen Edna. Samuel is also living on the old homestead. Joseph, who follows farming four miles north of the home place in Saratoga township, wedded Mary Faulkner and has two children, John Farrel and Addaline Elizabeth. Thomas, who is a me- chanic and lives at Wyoming, Illinois, married Carrie Faulkner and has two children, Irma and Pauline. Marguerite is the wife of a Mr. Seley, a resident farmer of Saratoga township, and they have one son, Kenneth. Lavina Isabelle is the wife of Theodore Riel of Wyoming, Illinois, and they have two children, Frank and Vorris.
Mr. Malone was a man of prominence in Sara- toga township. He possessed a kindly nature and a friendly and genial disposition, which made him popular and gained him many warm friends. He was an enterprising farmer, a good husband and father and his devotion to his family was so marked that he considered no personal sacrifice on his part too great if it would enhance the wel- fare or happiness of his wife and children. He held friendship inviolable and was ever faithful
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to the trust that was reposed in him. His political support was given to the democracy and he was a devoted and consistent member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church, in the faith of which he passed away, his remains being interred in the cemetery at Wyoming, Illinois. Mrs. Malone still survives her husband and is a most intelligent lady, who has done a mother's full part by her family. She, too, has a large circle of warm friends in this county and is much esteemed wherever known.
OSCAR BRENNEMANN.
The world is largely indebted to the Teutonic race, which has sent its sons into all parts of the world, carrying with them the civilizing influences which have been important elements for good citi- zenship wherever found. Oscar Brennemann is a representative of the fatherland, having been born in Hesse-Darmstadt on the 6th of December, 1848. He is now numbered among the energetic and successful farmers of Hennepin township, his home being on section 25. His parents were Joseph and Elizabeth (Unsiker) Brennemann, also natives of Germany. The father was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, December 4, 1807, and died in Putnam county, Illinois, in April, 1890, while his wife was born August 4, 1816, and passed away in the same county October 29, 1853. The ancestry of the family, however, can be traced back to a still more remote period, for Jacob Brennemann, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Germany in 1788. His father was one of four brothers who were born in Switzerland. One of them died when young, another settled in Germany and the other was never heard from afterward.
Joseph Brennemann, father of our subject, fol- lowed the occupation of farming in his native country, renting land which belonged to the gov- ernment. About 1852 he came to America with his family. Oscar Brennemann, who was then but four years of age, remembers only one incident about the voyage and that was seeing some large fish, presumably porpoises, that followed the ship. The voyage was made on a sailing vessel and con- sumed thirty-two days. After landing at New York the family went by rail to Chicago, thence by canal and the Illinois river to Peoria and up the river to Hennepin. Joseph Brennemann lo- cated on a farm in Granville township, Putnam
county, north of the village of Granville, and al- though he was in limited financial circumstances at the time of his arrival, within three years he had purchased three hundred acres of land. This was nearly all covered with timber, although some small buildings had been erected thereon. In later years he replaced these by more modern, com- modious and substantial buildings and he made his home there until his death. As the years passed he met with gratifying success through his per- sistency of purpose and well directed labor and at his death left an estate of more than six hun- dred acres. He was frugal and honest, extremely industrious, and was esteemed by all for his many good qualities. Both he and his wife were Men- nonites in religious faith. In his political views he was a stalwart republican and voted for Abra- ham Lincoln, and upon the assassination of Lin- coln declared that he would never vote again and never did. Unto him and his wife were born six children, of whom one died in infancy in Ger- many. The others were: Eliza, the deceased wife of Charles Butterwick, a farmer residing in Hen- nepin township, Putnam county; Bertha, the wife of Theodore Holly, living near St. Paul, Minne- sota ; Oscar, of this review; Julius, who married Emma Reinhart and is a stock dealer in Peru, Illinois, while in Granville township he owns the old home farm; and an infant who was born and died in this county.
Oscar Brennemann, brought to Illinois when only about four years of age, spent his life on the old home farm until he reached the age of twenty- seven years, after which he was connected with business interests in Peru for six years. He then resumed agricultural pursuits and purchased one hundred and eighty acres of land, upon which he now resides. He has since added to his property until his holdings comprise three hundred and twenty acres. He has upon the place first-class buildings and his is one of the best farms in the county.
In 1875 Mr. Brennemann was married to Miss Elizabeth Holly, who was born in Putnam county, March 27, 1850, and is a daughter of Daniel Holly, who was born in Germany in 1816 and came to America in 1832, settling in Putnam county in 1848. He married Miss Helen Bender, also a native of Germany, whence she came to the United States on the same vessel with her husband. Daniel Holly located on a farm in Granville town-
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ship, Putnam county, Illinois, and after some years retired from business life, making his home in Peru for two years. He passed away, however, at the home of his daughter in La Salle county, Illinois, when seventy years of age, and his wife died in the same county at the age of eighty-six years. Daniel Holly was a self-made man, his prosperity being attributable entirely to his earn- est labor and capable management. He left an estate embracing five hundred acres of valuable farming land. His son, William Holly, is presi- dent of the Peru Plow & Wheel Company at Peru, Illinois, while the other members of the Holly family are John, also a resident of Peru; Theodore, a farmer of Minnesota; Gustaf, a farmer of Nebraska; Mary, the wife of Chris Brennemann, of La Salle county; and Elizabeth, the wife of our subject.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Brennemann have been born six children: Paul; George, at home; Lillian, who is a graduate of the Knox Conserva- tory of Music at Galesburg, Illinois; Erna, who is a graduate of the De Kalb (Illinois) normal school and is now teaching in Chicago Heights ; Daniel, at home; and Elsie, who is a student in De Kalb normal. George and Daniel attended school in Princeton for one year. There was one child that died in infancy while living in Peru.
Oscar Brennemann has throughout the period of his manhood carried on general farming and is engaged quite extensively in feeding cattle. He is now one of the more prosperous representa- tives of agricultural life in Hennepin township and his business interests have been most capably conducted, showing his keen discernment and judgment, which is rarely, if ever, at fault in matters relating to agriculture. He has always been a republican, but without aspiration for office. He comes of a family which has a cred- itable record and his lines of life have been cast in harmony therewith. All who know him esteem him and he has a wide acquaintance.
R. I. LITCHFIELD.
R. I. Litchfield, who follows farming in Ben- nington township, is a native son of Marshall county, his birth having occurred in that town- ship May 24, 1864. His father, John Litchfield, was born in Cambridgeshire, England, in 1821 and was a son of Richard L. and Sarah Litchfield, also natives of that country. In 1847 the grand-
father came to America at the age of eighty-seven ycars, there being ten in the party, and located on a farm in Indiana, where he spent his remain- ing days. His wife, who was an earnest and con- sistent member of the Baptist church, died at the age of sixty-seven years. In his family were nine children, all of whom came to America, with the exeeption of the eldest daughter who spent her entire life in England.
In the schools of his native country John Litch- field acquired a limited education and at the age of fifteen years came to the new world, being thirteen weeks upon the water and landing on New Year's day of 1837. The voyage was made in a sailing vessel, the St. Lawrence, of an Ameri- can line belonging to a company at Richmond, Virginia. Mr. Litchfield first set foot on Ameri- can soil at New Orleans and, proceeding up the Mississippi river, settled in Indiana, where he made his home until 1849, when he removed to Macomb, MeDonough county, Illinois, where for two years he was engaged in teaming. It was in 1851 that he took up his residence in Bennington township, Marshall county, where the year pre- vious he had entered one hundred and sixty acres of land. As time passed he prospered in his farm- ing operations and became the owner of over three hundred acres of land, two hundred acres of which constitutes the old homestead. For the past six years, however, he has made his home in Toluca, where he is now practically living retired, enjoy- ing a well earned rest. His political support is given the men and measures of the democracy. Near Evansville, Indiana, he was married in 1853 to Miss Emily Palmer, who was born in England in 1832 and is still living. This worthy couple are now the parents of ten children,
In early life R. I. Litchfield pursued his studies in the Palmer school, which was named for his maternal grandfather, and he early became fa- miliar with all the duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. In 1882 he commenced farming on his own account on the old home place and has since met with excellent success in his chosen field of operation. For the past six years he has operated the home farm, but in the meantime he lived just across the road for some time, having lived for five years upon a farm belonging to his mother, which is now a part of the village of Toluca. He next removed to Belle Plain town- ship, where he lived on a place belonging to his
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father for six years and then returned to the old homestead in Bennington township. In connec- tion with farming he devoted considerable atten- tion to stock-raising, making a specialty of polled Durham cattle for the past ten years and has a fine registered bull at the head of his herd.
In 1888 Mr. Litchfield married Miss Naomi Stratton, who was born in Bennington township, Marshall county, in 1868 and is a daughter of James and Marcia Stratton, farming people of that township. The parents were both born in England and are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Litchfield have become the parents of six children, namely: Emily M., who was born in 1889 and is now attending normal school; Ray B., born in 1892; Ruth I., in 1894; Orville L., in 1896; Esther, in 1900; and Mildred, in 1904. Mr. Litchfield takes quite an active and influential part in local politics and has been called upon to serve as road commissioner for two years in Ben- nington township and also two years in Belle Plain township. He is an enterprising, wide-awake business man of known reliability, and as a citizen stands high in public regard.
ADAM W. SHRIVER.
Each community has its citizens who stand as leaders in business life and in the upbuilding of the community, and in Bradford Adam W. Shriver is so classed. He was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, October 12, 1866, and is one of the four children of Adam B. and Malinda (Dawson) Shriver, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state, the mother's birth having oc- curred in Greene county. The father, a farmer by occupation, died when his son Adam was only three months of age and was laid to rest in Greene county, Pennsylvania. The mother, however, still survives and is now living in Milo, Illinois. Of the children three are living, Francis Marion, the second member of the family, having died when twelve years of age. The sisters of Mr. Shriver are Mrs. Emma Johnson; and Mrs. Catherine Hay, of Milo, with whom the mother is now re- siding.
Adam W. Shriver was only one year old when brought by his mother to Illinois and he com- pleted his education by study in the schools of Milo. When a youth of eighteen years he went to Iowa and pursued a commercial course in the
C. H. Pierce business college of Keokuk. Fol- lowing his graduation from that institution, whereby he was well fitted for life's practical and responsible duties, he returned to Milo, where he conducted a general mercantile store for thir- teen years, meeting with good success in the un- dertaking. In 1902 he removed to Broadmoor, a little place on the Chicago & Northwestern Rail- road and the center of a fine farming district and also a shipping point for grain and cattle. He bought a tract of land here and erected a splendid store building, two stories in height and twenty-four by sixty feet. In it he carries a very complete line of groceries and general merchan- dise such as is in demand by the rural trade. He also built a large store room in the rear of the original block and he has a very large stock and is enjoying a constantly increasing patronage. His business methods are such as neither seek nor require disguise and his straightforward dealing and reasonable prices, combined with his efforts to please his customers, constitute the strong elements in his growing prosperity. Mr. Shriver is also a lover of the horse and is one of the stockholders and directors of the Bradford Trotting Park Association, which owns a fine track and grounds at Bradford and holds various suc- cessful meets there.
Mr. Shriver was married October 19, 1891, to Miss Sylvia Ada Sutherland, a daughter of Joseph and Matilda Sutherland, now of Milo, Illinois, her father being a prominent farmer of that locality. Mr. Shriver votes with the democracy and has been honored with a number of local offices. He acted as town clerk in Milo for eleven years, was school treasurer there for three years and has been assessor of Saratoga township for two terms. He also belongs to the Christian church. He is a man of influence and standing in the community and his wife is an accomplished and popular lady, while in social circles they occupy a very enviable position.
HERMAN J. BASSLER.
Herman J. Bassler, superintendent of the public schools of Wenona, is a native of Forsyth, Illinois, born July 2, 1876, and is a son of John G. and Emma J. (Cox) Bassler. The father was a native of Stuttgart, of the province of Wurtemberg, Ger- many, and came to the United States when fifteen years of age. He was a farmer by occupation
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and became a resident of Forsyth, Illinois, where his last years were passed. His widow still sur- vives him. In their family were seven children: Louis D., Albert, Bessie, Ada, Herman J., and Edgar and Edna, twins.
Herman J. Bassler was afforded liberal educa- tional advantages, which he improved, manifesting special aptitude in his studies. Subsequent to at- tending the public schools he attended the Normal University, from which he was graduated in the class of 1902. Prior to this time he had engaged in teaching for several terms in the country schools and had demonstrated his ability to impart readily, clearly and concisely to others the knowl- edge that he had acquired. In September, 1902, he came to Wenona to accept the principalship of the high school, in which capacity he served for two years, when he was elected superintendent of the city schools, including the primary, grammar and high schools. There are twelve grades in all, including a four years' high school course, where- by pupils are prepared for the university. There are seven teachers and about two hundred and twenty-five pupils. Professor Bassler is well fitted for the responsible position which he fills and is generally liked by the public, while his ability is widely acknowledged in educational circles. He is yet a young man and has attained a position which is indeed creditable for one of his years.
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