USA > Illinois > Marshall County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 54
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 54
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
Grebner, a farmer of Woodford county; and one who died in infancy.
The wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Daub was cele- brated September 9, 1873, and unto them have been born ten children : John, born December 15, 1875, aids in the operation of the home farm. He has held a number of offices, has been town clerk and school director and is now filling the position of constable. Aloysius, born August 7, 1877, died in infancy. Joseph A., born July 12. 1878, died September 14, 1880. Seraphina Eliza- beth, born September 9, 1880, is the wife of John A. Yunker, of Fargo, North Dakota. Catherine. born July 8, 1882, is living with her sister in North Dakota. Mary Rosa, born June 3, 1884, George Christopher, born July 24, 1886, Anna Angelina, born November 17, 1889, Isidor Francis, born September 18, 1892, and Lawrence Eugene, born July 28, 1896, are all at home.
The parents and children are communicants of the Catholic church, and Mr. Daub exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democracy, having adhered to the party since attaining his majority. In his life he has displayed many of the sterling character- istics of his German ancestry and his good quali- ties constitute the secret of the high regard in which he is uniformly held, while the reason for his success is found in his earnest, persistent labor.
WILLIAM SCOON.
William Scoon, a representative of the farming interests of La Prairie township, his home being on section 12, was born in Roxburghshire, Scot- land, May 6, 1846. His father, Robert Scoon, also a native of that district, was born in 1812 and came to the United States in 1853. He lived for one year in New York and then removed to Michigan, where he resided for five years. In 1859 he brought his family to Marshall county, Illinois, and for many years after was identified with its agricultural interests, continuing to make his home here until his death, which occurred in December, 1886, when he was seventy-four years of age. He was married in 1837 to Miss Mary Nichol, who was also a native of Roxburghshire, Scotland, and who died March 20, 1880. They were both devoted members of the United Pres- byterian church. The family numbered ten chil- dren : Margaret, Jane, John, Jessie, James, Wil-
liam, Charlie, Minnie, Elizabeth and Robert. The last named, born in Scotland in 1848, was married in January, 1875, to Jennie Mennock, who was born in Peoria county, Illinois, in 1856, a daughter of Jesse and Nancy (Snyder) Mennock, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Robert Scoon resides upon a farm adjoining his brother William's place, and, like him, is one of the enterprising and well known agriculturists of the community. Both he and his wife are members of the United Pres- byterian church and are highly esteemed people. His political support is given the republican party, and for five years he has served as township as- sessor.
William Scoon, whose name introduces this re- view, was a lad of seven years when he left his native country and accompanied his parents on their emigration to America. He was with them on their various removals and became a student in the Smith school in La Prairie township. Like his brothers, he assisted in the work of the home farm until about 1870, when he started out in life on his own account, then having one hundred acres of good land in La Prairie township, to which he has since added until he now owns two hundred and eighty acres of valuable farming land in that township, together with one hundred and sixty acres near Winnipeg. His life has always been devoted to farm work, and his present ex- tensive possessions are an indication of the thrift and enterprise which he has always displayed in his business interests.
In 1881 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Scoon and Miss Jennie W. Hall, a daughter of William Hall, who is now living in Scotland at the venerable age of eighty-four years. He has crossed the Atlantic ten different times, being a great traveler. His daughter, Mrs. Scoon, was born in 1853 in Scotland and was there reared, coming to the United States when twenty-five years of age., In 19,05 our subject and his wife returned on a visit to the land of hills and heather, spending many pleasant hours in look- ing again upon the scenes amid which their early childhood was passed and in renewing the ac- quaintances of former years. They have four children: Charles R., who was a student in Sparland high school and is now attending Brown's Business College at Peoria; Mary and Willie, twins, now nineteen years of age, who are students in the Sparland high school; and Alice,
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
who is attending the high school at Lacon. Mr. Scoon is a stalwart republican and has frequently been solicited to accept office but has always re- fused. He and his wife hold membership in the United Presbyterian church and are interested in its work and upbuilding. In his life he has displayed many of the sterling characteristics which mark the Scottish race, including the in- dustry and perseverance which have made the Scotchman successful wherever he has gone, to- gether with the unfaltering honesty which is one of the dominant traits of the sons of "bonnie Scotland."
HENRY ALBERT HARRISON.
Henry Albert Harrison was born August 3, 1865, in Saratoga township, within the borders of which he still makes his home, being num- bered among the practical, progressive and re- spected agriculturists of Marshall county. His father, Robert Harrison, was born near Winches- ter, Virginia, September 20, 1820, and came to Illinois from the Old Dominion in 1849. For several years he was employed at farm labor in Bureau county, after which he removed to Sara- toga township, Marshall county, and took up a farm of eighty acres, which is now a part of the old home place that today covers a quarter sec- tion. He acted in various official capacities, to which he was called by his fellow townsmen, who recognized his worth and ability, and his po- litical support was given to the republican party, having firm faith in its principles. He came of an old Virginian family and was a representative of the best type of southern citizenship. His death occurred June 7, 1906, and the community mourned the loss of one of its leading men. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Kline, was a native of Pennsylvania, and they were married in Saratoga township. She passed away October 28, 1905, and they were laid to rest in Saratoga cemetery. In the family were five children: John Robert, who is now engaged in the real-estate business in Spencer, Iowa; Ellen, who is keeping house for her brother Henry Albert; George, who is living at Castleton, Stark county, Illinois; Elizabeth, also on the home place; and Henry A., of this review.
In taking up the personal history of Mr. Harri- son, whose name introduces this record, we pre- sent to our readers an account of one who is widely
known in Saratoga township, where he has spent his entire life, never leaving the old homestead farm. He was educated in the district schools, and when not occupied with his text-books his time and energies were largely devoted to the tilling of the soil. After completing his educa- tion he concentrated his efforts upon the work of developing the home place, and is regarded as one of the practical and progressive agriculturists of this community. His fields return to him golden harvests as a reward for the care and labor he bestows upon them, and he has made many modern improvements on the place.
Politically a republican, he is without aspira- tion for office. Socially he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America, belonging to Brad- ford camp. His neighbors and friends speak of him in terms of praise and friendship and he is justly regarded as a man of strong character and high principles. The family was established in this part of Illinois at an early epoch in its his- tory, and the name of Harrison has since been synonymous here with agricultural progress and with honesty in business life.
CARMI SWARTZ.
Carmi Swartz, the concentration of whose en- ergies and powers upon the work of the home farm has resulted in the development and im- provement of an excellent property, was born in Marshall county and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Paget) Swartz. The father was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, in 1814, and be- came a resident of Illinois in 1835, settling on what was called Sandy creek, in Evans township: Marshall county, where he developed a good farm, experiencing in the early days the hardships and privations of pioneer life. He afterward became the owner of three hundred and forty-five acres of land and also owned a tract of twenty-seven acres belonging to home farm, a quarter section in Osage township, La Salle county, Illinois, and a section of land in Morris county, Kansas, his entire life being devoted to farming. His political allegiance was given to the democracy, and his religious faith was indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. He passed away in 1897, having for three years survived his wife, who died in 1894. She was born in Bour- bon county, Kentucky, in 1821, and their mar-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
riage was celebrated in Evans township, Marshall county, Illinois. Their children are: Zephaniah, a farmer living near Wymore, Nebraska; Daniel. W., a resident of Wenona; Albert, who resides in Wellingford, Emmet county, Iowa; Charles and Sarah, both residents of Wenona; Artemesia, de- ceased; Artemis, of Wenona; James, deceased; Carmi; and Arthur; and also Mary Jane by a former marriage.
Upon the old homestead farm which came into possession of the father in pioneer days Carmi Swartz was reared and attended what is now called the Hamilton school. He early assisted in the arduous labor of developing the home place, and when twenty-one years of age began farming for himself on the old homestead. He today owns one hundred and eighty-six acres of valuable land, which is a part of the old home property, and here he has spent his entire life, so that the farm is endeared to him through the recollections of his boyhood as well as through the associations of later years. In connection with the raising of cereals best adapted to climatic conditions here found, he also raises some stock.
Mr. Swartz was married in 1887 to Miss Anna Anthony, who was born in Evans township, Mar- shall county, in 1869, and is a daughter of Charles and Lena Anthony. Her father is now deceased, but her mother is living in Wenona. This union has been blessed with three children: Clifton, Charles and Louise, all at home. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Swartz is a republican. He and his wife are prominent socially, the hospitality of many of the best homes in this locality being cordially extended to thein in recognition of their genuine personal worth.
JAMES JENKINS.
James Jenkins is a retired farmer, living in Varna, and has passed the eighty-third milestone on life's journey. He was born in Hamilton, Ohio, April 3, 1823. His father, John Jenkins, a native of Virginia, was a blacksmith by trade and was about fifty years of age when his life's labors were ended in death in Ohio. He had married Elizabeth Vinage, a native of that state. who also passed away in Ohio when about fifty years of age. She was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in her family were six children: John and William, both de-
ceased ; Margaret and Rosana, who have passed away; Elizabeth, who died in infancy; and George, the youngest, who lives in Lacon.
James Jenkins of this family acquired his early education in the schools of Ohio, and was about twenty years of age when he removed to Cam- bridge, Indiana. He was there married to Miss Elizabeth Reeves, who was born in Cleveland, Ohio, July 14, 1828, a daughter of William and Mary Reeves, in whose family were three daugh- ters, the sisters of Mrs. Jenkins, being Mary and Caroline, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Jen- kins were married April 15, 1847, and afterward returned to Ohio, where they remained for two years. In 1855 they became residents of Lacon, Illinois, and Mr. Jenkins was employed by Jabez Fisher in the packing business, working for him for about fifteen years. He then farmed in the vicinity of Lacon for about five years, operating the Fisher place in the summer and working in a packing house during the winter. At that early day he found it very difficult to rent a house in Lacon, but finally secured a small frame dwell- ing. He afterward bought a farm in Evans township, about three and a half miles west of Varna, in 1865, going in debt for the property. He had to pay a big interest on the money, and as the farm was not at first self-sustaining he had to hunt work outside in order to provide a livelihood for his family. He would leave his wife and children to carry on the farm work while he would go to Lacon and work for Mr. Fisher. He always covered the distance between his home and Lacon-fourteen miles-on foot, visiting his home about every two or three weeks. He would make the trip on Saturday and return Sunday evening in order to be ready for work Monday morning. He started out in life empty- handed and is now in possession of a very com- fortable competence. For many years he carried on general agricultural pursuits, owning a farm of two hundred and six acres, and he brought his fields under a high state of cultivation, but is now retired, living with his wife in the village of Varna. They are a most highly esteemed and venerable couple, who for almost sixty years have traveled life's journey together as man and wife, sharing with each other in the joys and sorrows, the adversity and prosperity which has come to then1.
MR. AND MRS. JAMES JENKINS.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins have been born the following children: Alice C., who died at the age of sixteen months; Albert W., who is farm- ing in Evans township; Mrs. Clara Belle Yocum, who is living in Lenexa, Kansas; Mrs. Lillie May Rush, a resident of Kansas City, Missouri; Rosa- lind Leslie, who is living near Varna; Frank E., a resident of Columbus, Ohio; Eugene O., who is upon the old home farm in Evans township; Emma Grace, who died at the age of eighteen months ; and Eugene Edgar, who died in infancy.
Mr. Jenkins made no mistake when he deter- mined to try his fortune in Marshall county, for though the early years were fraught with hard and unremitting toil and he had to face many difficulties and trials he has nevertheless worked his way upward here and his life record proves that labor can overcome all difficulties and obstacles. He is now comfortably situated in life and is enabled in the evening of his days to live in honorable retirement from business cares. Moreover, he has never been known to take ad- vantage of the necessities of his fellowmen in any business transaction, and is therefore honored and esteemed by all with whom he has been brought in contact.
FREDERICK KOCH.
Frederick Koch, whose well appointed farm in the southwest corner of Richland township is not excelled by any and equaled by few in this part of Marshall county, has through an active life demonstrated the fact that labor is an excellent foundation upon which to build the superstruc- ture of success. He was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, July 18, 1852, and was a youth of sixteen years when he came to America. His father, Louis Koch, was also a native of Bavaria and crossed the Atlantic with his family in 1868, landing at New York. He made his way to Peoria, Illinois, and during the first year thereafter Frederick Koch of this review was employed at Washington, in Will county, Illinois. In 1869 he turned his attention to farming in Lacon township, Marshall county, about a mile west of his present place, beginning the development and improvement of a tract of land of one hundred and twenty acres. Both of his parents died at Washington and were laid to rest in the cemetery there.
Frederick Koch, concentrating his attention
upon his farming interests, has developed a prop- erty which in its equipments and accessories is second to none in Richland township. He is prac- tical in all that he does, and yet works toward the ideal in his farming pursuits. The fields are rich- ly tilled and the buildings are substantial and commodious. He also keeps good grades of stock upon his place and annually harvests rich crops which find a ready sale on the market.
In 1880 Mr. Koch was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Wagner, a native of Illinois and a daughter of John Wagner. Unto them have been born eight children: Mary, Lena, Katherine, Elizabeth, Annie, Louis, Louisa and Emma. The second daughter, Lena, is now the wife of Phillip Beckhardt, a farmer residing near Washington, Illinois, and they have one son, Roy Francis. Katherine, the third daughter, is the wife of Louis Kamp, a farmer residing near Lacon.
Mr. Koch is identified fraternally with the Loyal Americans of the Republic and his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the German Reformed church. In politics he is an indepen- dent democrat, desiring the triumph of the lead- ing principles of the party, yet at local elections casting his ballot without regard to party affilia- tions, for at such elections no issues are involved and only the capability of the candidate should be considered. He has served as school director for fifteen years and as constable for nine years. Coming to America when a youth of sixteen, he readily mastered the language of the people and familiarized himself with customs and methods which hitherto were unknown to him. Through the passing years he has made good use of his opportunities, and reasoning back from effect to cause, we see in his success the elements of in- dustry and perseverance which brought about the excellent result that he is now enjoying.
R. L. WATSON, M. D.
Dr. R. L. Watson, the only physician in the village of Florid, was born in Joliet, Illinois, April 9, 1880, and is a son of Joseph L. and Caroline M. Watson. The father, a native of Pennsylvania, died in Joliet on the 9th of April, 1905. He followed the occupation of farming until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when he located in Joliet, where for years he was captain of the night watch, while subsequently he became
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
a guard at the penitentiary. A few years ago he retired from business cares and duties, and he passed away at the age of seventy, being still survived by his widow, who yet resides in Joliet. In their family were eight children. The second brother of our subject, Robert Louis Watson, was a master mechanic employed in the steel mills at Clairton, Pennsylvania, where he was killed in an explosion in March, 1906. Five of the children are still living, namely: Belle W., William and Elizabeth, all of whom are at home in Joliet; and Ralph, who is employed in the steel mills in Clairton, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Watson, who is the youngest of the family, entered the public schools of Joliet at the usual age and passed through successive grades until he was graduated from the high school with the class of 1899. He afterward did three years' preparatory work in the University of Michigan, and then, having determined upon the practice of medicine and surgery as a life work, he matric- ulated in Rush Medical College of Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1904. In December of the same year he located in Florid, and has secured an excellent practice, which is constantly growing. Although a young man, he is consid- ered an able physician, and his practice extends over a large territory. He is continually reading and studying along the line of his profession, thus broadening his knowledge and promoting his effi- ciency, and he has today a business which many an older practitioner might well envy.
Dr. Watson was married October 18, 1905, to Miss Clara M. Case, who was born in Manistee, 'Michigan, and they now have a beautiful home in Florid.
WILLIAM WHEELER.
William Wheeler is one of the largest land- owners and wealthiest citizens of Putnam county, and yet the time was when his financial resources were extremely limited. His advancement from a very humble financial position to one of afflu- ence is due not to any fortunate combination of circumstances or to any inheritance, but to his own earnest, persistent labor, and his life exem- plifies the truth of the old maxim that honesty is the best policy. He now resides on section 18, Senachwine township, and within the borders of this township he holds seven hundred and fifty
acres of land which is very productive and val- uable.
Born in Licking county, Ohio, February 24, 1842, he is a son of Ira and Susan (Lee) Wheeler. The father was born in Vermont in 1805, while the mother's birth occurred in New York in 1802. They were married in Ohio, where they began their domestic life upon a farm, making their home in that state until 1848, when they came to Illinois. They settled first in Fulton county, at which time the father's cash capital consisted of only ten cents. He had a family of nine children depen- dent upon him for support, and although he took up a claim in Fulton county he was unable to make the payments upon it and thereby hold it. The family, however, continued to reside in that county until 1863, when they removed to Senach- wine township, Putnam county, where the death of the father occurred when he was sixty-five years of age. The mother afterward went to live with a son in Madison, Wisconsin, where she passed away in 1890. She was a witness of the naval battle on Lake Erie, in the war of 1812, her uncle, William Lee, being captain of a vessel under Commodore Perry. She had one son who served for five years in the Civil war, enlisting with a Wisconsin regi- ment.
William Wheeler remained with his parents in Fulton county until twenty-two years of age. He was a lad of only six summers at the time of the removal from Ohio, and his educational priv- ileges upon the frontier were very limited. He was, however, a student for a brief period in an old log schoolhouse where the methods of instruc- tion, were very primitive. When quite young he had to provide for his own support, and his youth was largely a period of earnest and unremitting toil. In 1863, when twenty-one years of age, he came to Putnam county and purchased fifty-three acres of land on High prairie, in Senachwine township. He was able to pay but eighty dollars on the farm, going in debt for the remainder, but ·he worked hard and persistently, lived economical- ly and frugally and by these methods was soon enabled to discharge his indebtedness and also pur- chase fifty-three acres more. He resided upon his original farm until 1874, when he sold that prop- erty and purchased three hundred and twenty acres, whereon he now resides. The purchase price was thirteen thousand two hundred dollars, on which he was able to make a payment of six thou-
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
sand dollars. He resolutely set to work to meet the financial obligation he incurred, and long since he has done this and more, for as the years have passed he has added to his property until he now owns seven hundred and fifty acres in Senach- wine township and three hundred and twenty acres in Minnesota. His investments have been very carefully made, and in his business judgment con- cerning the value of land and the possibility of its appreciation he has been most wise. Upon his home farm he has excellent buildings, all of which he has erected or remodeled, and the farm is now lacking in none of the accessories and equipments of a model property of the twentieth century.
On the 14th of February, 1864, was celebrated the marriage of William Wheeler and Miss Mel- vina Tryphena Read, a native of Senachwine town- ship and a daughter of Phillip and Tryphena (Davis) Read, who came to this county at an early day. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have been born five children, and the family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death. Charles R., the eldest, married Fannie Terry, of Wenona, and they reside upon the father's farm. Chettie is the wife of George Crawford, a resident of Liv- ingston county, Illinois. Ulissa is the wife of W. S. Murphy, a merchant in the village of Putnam. Ollo is the wife of Adam Smith, of Livingston county ; and Atha is the wife of John Wherry, of Senachwine township.
For many years Mr. Wheeler has been a mem- ber of the Christian church, and in politics he has always been a republican. His career seems al- most phenomenal when we think of the condi- tions with which he was surrounded in his boy- hood days. His parents were very poor when the family came to Illinois, and they not only had few of the comforts of life, but oftentinies lacked its necessities. It is a noticeable fact, however, in the history of the world that it is under the pressure of adversity that the best and strongest in men are brought out and developed, and the needs of Mr. Wheeler called forth his latent pow- ers and energies. He demonstrated in his work his willingness to perform arduous labor, com- bined with ability and energy, and he never found it difficult therefore to obtain employment. He was ambitious, too, to secure a farm of his own, and always worked with that end in view. After coming to Putnam county he took care of his parents, willingly assuming the burden, which he
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