USA > Illinois > Marshall County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 55
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 55
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discharged with filial devotion. All that he has today has been made through his own efforts and the assistance of his estimable wife, who has in- deed been a faithful companion and helpmate to him on life's journey. He has been a good man- ager, conservative in his dealings and careful in his investments. Today he is in possession of extensive property interests as the result of his thrift and diligence, and he certainly deserves the prosperity that has come to him. He now rents his land, owing to his health, which is somewhat impaired, and the property brings to him an in- come more than sufficient for his needs and wants.
JOHN B. WILSON.
John B. Wilson, owner of a well appointed farm, whereon he is engaged in the breeding and raising of fine Norman horses as well as in culti- vating the cereals best adapted to the soil and the climatic conditions, was born in Rising Sun, In- diana, March 19, 1847. His father, James Wil- son, was likewise a native of that state and was a carpenter and builder by trade. Removing to Illi- nois in 1851, he settled at Henry, where his father, John Wilson, had located one year before, or in 1850. John Wilson followed farming on Crow Meadow, in Henry township, but has now departed this life. James Wilson, however, still survives and is now living with his son John on a farm in Saratoga township. Although he has reached the advanced age of eighty years, he is still quite an active and well preserved man. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Stewart, was a native of Indiana, and died about 1851 in Henry.
John B. Wilson, their only child, was educated in the Crow Meadow district school of Henry township, that was located on the old farm that belonged to his grandfather, and in Henry Sem- inary. He was thus provided with good advan- tages, and when not busy with his text-books he was trained to the work of field and meadow. Farming has been his sole occupation, and public opinion grants him prominence as the leading farmer of Saratoga township. His father was the owner of a tract of land in Whitefield township, and there John B. Wilson engaged in general agri- cultural pursuits for a number of years. His farm in Saratoga township comprises three hundred and twenty acres of land and is a model property, equipped with all of the improved machinery and accessories which facilitate the work of the fields
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
and promote the success of the agriculturist. He annually harvests good crops and also takes great interest in fine horses, owning and breeding some very fine Norman stock. The farm is pleasantly located on section 8, and the owner is an expert in the development of property, to which he devotes his labors. His home is a very commodious and attractive residence, built in modern style of ar- chitecture, and barns and other buildings are in keeping with the spirit of progress which dom- inates him in all of his work.
In 1869 Mr. Wilson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Elizabeth Merrill, a daughter of Gil- man Merrill, of Boston, Massachusetts. They now have five children : Herbert B., who is farming in Saratoga township, on one of his farms, and who married Miss Myrtle Mallory, by whom he has four children ; Oscar, who is a bookkeeper in Min- neapolis, Minnesota; Jennie, the wife of Alfred Holmes, a resident farmer of Saratoga township; Arthur, who married Miss Combs and is farming in Iowa; and Clarence, a youth of sixteen, now in school.
John B. Wilson is a stanch republican, unfalter- ing in his allegiance to the party, for he believes its principles are most conducive to good govern- ment. He has been a school director for twenty- seven years, and the cause of education has found in him a stalwart champion. He has also been road commissioner at various times and has done much to improve the public highways. Thorough- ly posted on matters of general interest, political and otherwise, upon the improved methods of farming and the topics of the day, he stands as a high type of progressive American manhood and is a co-operant factor in many measures which have been of signal service to the county. Almost his entire life has been passed within the borders of this county, so that his life history is well known, and the position to which he is accorded by the consensus of public opinion is proof of his many sterling traits of character.
GEORGE A. FORD.
George A. Ford, manager of the elevator of the United Grain Company, at Granville, was born in Hennepin township, January 11, 1863. His father, John Ford, was a native of Ohio, born December 5, 1835. He lost his father when quite young and afterward came to Putnam county with his mother, who later married Mahlon Newburn. Thus John
Ford was reared in this county, and, having ar- rived at years of maturity, he was married, on the 8th of December, 1859, to Miss Catherine New- burn, who was born in Washington county, Penn- sylvania, July 12, 1835, a daughter of George and Lydia (Van Scoyoe) Newburn, who arrived in Putnam county in 1852, settling near McNabb. Mr. and Mrs. Ford began their domestic life upon a farm, and he purchased the property upon which his widow now resides when there was no improve- ment save a log house on the place. He made it his home until his death, and in the intervening years erected a comfortable residence and made many good and substantial improvements. He died January 17, 1897, and the old home is now the property of their youngest daughter, Mary, who has never married and is living with her mother. There were two other children born" unto Mr. and Mrs. John Ford, namely: Milton E. and George A. The former resides on a part of the home farm that lies in Granville township.
George A. Ford of this review spent his boyhood days under the parental roof and mastered the common branches of English learning in the dis- triet schools near his father's home. After put- ting aside his text-books he continued to aid in the labors of field and meadow until twenty-seven years of age, when he was married and established a home of his own. He wedded Miss Martha J. Peterson, who was born in Putnam county, a daughter of Daniel Peterson, now living in Gran- ville. Mr. Ford then engaged in general agri- cultural pursuits and purchased and operated a farm in Magnolia township, but after a few years he disposed of that property and bought land in Granville township, which he cultivated for some time. Five years ago, however, he sold that farm and took up his abode in the village of Granville, where he engaged in buying and shipping stock. For the past two years he has been in the employ of the Churchill & White Grain Company, now the United Grain Company. He is a very com- petent business man, carefully conducting the grain trade at this town, and in addition to his duties therewith he manages his own property in- terests, and is also engaged in the tile business. He has recently purchased one hundred and twen- ty acres of land in Hennepin township, known as the E. B. Culter farm, and he also owns thirty acres of timber land beside his residence in the old town of Granville.
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PAST AND. PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
Mr. and Mrs. Ford have one son, W. J. Ford. The parents became members of the old Presby- terian church at Florid, but the organization has ceased to exist. In politics Mr. Ford is a demo- crat, and while living in Magnolia served as road commissioner. He is now filling the position of school director of Granville township, and he keeps in touch with the trend of modern thought and progress in the county, becoming a repre- sentative citizen by reason of the aid and co-opera- tion which he has given to many movements for the general good as well as by reason of his activ- ity and enterprise.
SAXTON T. KELLOGG.
Saxton T. Kellogg, who is practically living re- tired, but still owns and occupies his farm of one hundred and eighty acres on sections 18 and 7, La Prairie township, was born near Trivoli, Peoria county, Illinois, March 19, 1838, and is the sixth in order of birth in a family of eight children, whose parents were Ammi and Susan (Bosworth) Kellogg, the former born in Vermont, December 19, 1799, and the latter in the state of New York, November 4, 1804. They were married in the Empire state and in 1836 came to Illinois, where they spent their remaining days. The father, how- ever, passed away July 24, 1854, but the mother long survived and died January 24, 1896, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. The members of their family were: Liddie K., who was born January 9, 1826, and died in infancy ; Henry M., who was born February 19, 1827, and is deceased ; Sarah F., who was born February 24, 1829, and has departed this life; Sidney B., who was born January 7, 1832, and died March 11, 1885; Fuller A., who was born September 16, 1834, and died September 2, 1884; Saxton T., of this review ; Emily O., who was born September 2, 1840, and is now living in Princeton; and Percy, who was born December 3, 1842, and died October 27, 1844.
Saxton T. Kellogg has spent his entire life in Illinois, and early became imbued with the spirit of enterprise and progress which have been man- ifest in the upbuilding of the middle west. His childhood days were largely passed in La Prairie township, Marshall county, where he attended the Kellogg school and when not busy with his text- books worked in the fields. At the age of sixteen he started out in life on his own account, working as a farm hand by the month. When he was
eighteen years of age he and his mother established a home (the father having died many years be- fore), keeping house together. In 1857 he bought ten acres and later he purchased eighty acres of land, which came into his possession in 1872, and that he has prospered in the meantime is indicated by the fact that he has extended the boundaries of his farm until it now comprises one hundred and eighty acres of good land on sections 18 and 7, La Prairie township. He has engaged quite ex- tensively in the raising of hogs, but is now prac- tically living retired, leaving the active work of the farm to others, although he still gives his super- vision to the work. The only interruption to his life as an agriculturist came through his service as a soldier of the Civil war. In 1864 he respond- ed to the country's call and joined the One Hun- dred and Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry, serving under Captain Virden and Colonel Peter Davis.
On the 2d of September, 1866, Mr. Kellogg was united in marriage to Miss Ann Honor Peistor, who was born in Albany county, New York, Janu- ary 15, 1848, and came with her parents to La Prairie township, Marshall county, Illinois, in her early girlhood days. She was a student in the Kel- logg school, and they were married in the Bond schoolhouse by the Rev. Shafer, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, holding there a big reception. Mrs. Kellogg is a daughter of Tabol- ster and Betsy Peistor, who were farming people. Her father died in 1854 at the comparatively early age of thirty years, but her mother is still living, making her home in Iowa with a daughter. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In the family were five children besides Mrs. Kel- logg, namely: Peter and Homer, twins; David; Martha ; and Jennie. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg have been born five children: Sidney, who died in infancy; Lucy B., who is the wife of Alexander Russel, a farmer residing in Stark county, Illinois ; Shirley, who married Hattie Wilson and is en- gaged in farming in La Prairie township; Sarah Ann, who died in infancy ; and Charlie, at home.
Politically Mr. Kellogg is a republican, and he and his family are members of the Methodist Epis- copal church, in the work of which they are inter- ested, while to its support they contribute liberally. Almost his entire life has been passed in this county, so that he is numbered among its pioneer settlers and has been a witness of its growth and development from the period of its early advance-
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ment to the present time. Great have been the changes which have occurred, and he has shared in the work of improvement, especially along ag- ricultural lines.
CHRISTIAN GEORGE OPPER.
It is not the province of biography to give a man's modest estimate of himself, but to establish his standing by the opinion of the community in which he dwells, and in Putnam county, where he is best known, Christian George Opper is ever spoken of as "a good man, worthy of all respect." He was born in the village of Wohra, Hesse-Cassel, Germany, November 23, 1838, and is a son of George and Mary Opper, who were likewise natives of Germany. The father was a shoemaker by trade, and during the later years of his life was a government revenue inspector. He died in his native country, and the mother passed away while on the ocean on her way to America.
Christian G. Opper was a student in the pub- lic schools of his native country until he reached the age of thirteen and a half years, and later he profited by the advantages afforded in a night school, thus acquiring a fair education. Attracted by the opportunities of the new world, of which he had heard very favorable reports, Mr. Opper, at the age of sixteen years, came to the United States, making his way at once to Granville, Illi- nois, where lived his aunt, Mrs. Christian Bruder. He reached his destination on the 16th of May, 1855, and was then employed upon a farm until September. He began working for his uncle, Mr. Bruder, in the fall, learning the blacksmith's trade, and when he had mastered the business he established a smithy of his own, and for over forty years was thus identified with the industrial in- terests of Granville, carefully and successfully con- ducting his shop.
On the 11th of July, 1858, Mr. Opper was married to Miss Anna Schneider, who was born in a neighboring village of Germany, April 8, 1833, and who came to the United States a year after the arrival of her future husband. She lived in Baltimore until coming to the west, but the greater part of her life was passed in Putnam county. For almost forty-seven years this worthy couple traveled life's journey together, and were then separated through the death of the wife on the 19th of May, 1905. They were the parents of six children, of whom five are yet living: Helen, the
wife of W. A. Stansbury, who resides at Normal, Illinois; Elizabeth, who died at the age of three months; Mrs. W. E. Hawthorne, of Granville; Henry W., who is manager of the Toluca Lumber & Hardware Company of Granville; Mary A., who is at home, and has been clerking for eight years; and Bertha, who for nine years has been postmis- tress of Granville.
Mr. Opper has always been a most industrious, energetic man. Without desire to be wealthy he has nevertheless acquired enough to allow him to spend his declining years without recourse to fur- ther labor, having made judicious investment in real estate, from which he derives a comfortable income. He has a nice home in the old town of Granville and yet lives in the house a part of which he built in the summer of 1858. His has been a most honorable and upright life. He was converted when eighteen years of age and joined the Evangelical church. He assisted in organizing the German church and building its house of wor- ship five miles east of Granville and for several years was a regular attendant on its services, but with advancing years he felt the necessity of at- tending a church nearer his home, and withdrew from the organization which he had aided in founding and placed his membership with the Congregational church in Granville, with which he is now identified.
Mr. Opper started out in life a poor boy, and for many years he found it a difficult task to pro- vide the necessities of life, but he never became discouraged. His nature is rather that of the optimist, and he has never permitted difficulties to deter him in his onward march. He always worked with the stimulus of the fact that a loving wife and children awaited his return home, and it was for them that he labored so industriously and energetically. His companions from his youth were always among the best, and his own genuine worth has caused his friendship to be sought by those who have true regard for the value of char- acter. His home has ever been noted for its hos- pitality and good cheer, and was ever open for the entertainment of strangers before there was any hotel in Granville. All who sought it could find food and shelter with him, and these were freely offered whether the recipient had the money to pay for it or not. His influence has ever been exerted in behalf of goodness, truth and justice, and many times a word spoken in season has been of the ut-
C. G. OPPER.
MRS. C. G. OPPER.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
most help in turning one toward the path of righteousness. By precept and example he has taught the better way of life and is honored and respected by all who know him. The world is cer- tainly better for his having lived, and Granville has profited by his labors and his influence.
JAMES NATHAN OWEN.
James Nathan Owen, a leading representative of one of the most prominent pioneer families of Marshall county, was born in Richland township, north of Wilburn, on the 13th of February, 1852. His father, Walter Owen, was a native of Ken- tucky and came to Illinois with his father, Nathan Owen, the family home being established west of Wilburn in Richland township in the early '50s. The grandfather had served as a soldier of the war of 1812. Walter Owen is still living, his home being in Chenoa, McLean county, Illinois, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Mary Glass, died at the age of twenty-eight years. She was a native of Virginia and they were married in this state. In their family were three children who are yet living, the daughters being Elizabeth Mildred, now Mrs. Harrison Ireland; and Cora, who is living with her father.
In his early boyhood days James Nathan Owen accompanied his father on his removal to Kan- kakce, Illinois, where he acquired his education in the public schools. After he had attained his majority he returned to Richland township and worked upon the home farm. In the spring of 1882 he came to his present place of residence and has since resided here, covering a period of almost a quarter of a century. He has a well de- veloped farm property, equipped with all modern conveniences and accessories and supplied with substantial and commodious buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. He has one hundred and sixty acres of land, of which one hundred acres is under a high state of cultivation, while in addition to tilling the fields he is engaged quite extensively and successfully in the raising of sheep, hogs and cattle.
Mr. Owen is connected with the Modern Wood- men of America, his membership being in Wash- burn camp, No. 1821. He votes with the repub- lican party and for many years has served as school director, the cause of education finding in him a warm and stalwart friend. He belongs to the Christian church and has lived a life in har- mony with the family record, which has ever been most creditable. No name is more closely asso- ciated with the history of Marshall county and its development from pioneer conditions than the name of Owen, and later generations have been' equally loyal to public interests and have con- tinued the work of improvement and progress that was begun by ancestors in an early epoch in the history of this county.
GEORGE E. PACE.
George E. Pace, a resident of Henry, Illinois, was for many years identified with general agri- cultural pursuits and live-stock interests in Mar- shall county, whereby he accumulated a comfort- able competence. He was born in Morris county, New Jersey, on the 15th of November, 1864, and is a son of John and Sarah (Perry) Pace, both of whom were natives of New Jersey. The father died about seven years ago, having long survived his wife, who passed away on the 15th of No- vember, 1873.
George E. Pace was reared under the parental roof and acquired his education in the public schools of his native county. He early became fa- miliar with farm work and about 1885 made his way westward to Illinois, settling in Marshall county, where he turned his attention to general farming. He became well known as a cattle dealer and is now doing a good business as a cattle buyer and seller, being an excellent judge of live stock, so that he has been enabled to make ju- dicious purchases and profitable sales.
Mr. Pace married Miss Emily Olmsted, of Mar- shall county, and unto them have been born two children, Kittie Amanda and Herbert Austin, both attending school. Mr. Pace is a member of Henry lodge, No. 119, A. F. & A. M., and also of the
In 1875 Mr. Owen was united in marriage to Miss Alice Louisa York, a daughter of John York, who follows farming near Wenona, Illinois. . Modern Woodmen camp, of Henry, in which he Unto them were born two children: Harry, who has served as consul for two years and adviser for five years. He has made many friends in' these organizations by reason of qualities which in every land and clime command confidence and regard. was born in 1881 and died at the age of nine years; and Frank Eugene, who was born Febru- ary 12, 1886, and is now upon the home place.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
He does not feel that he made a mistake in seeking a home in the middle west, for here he has en- joyed and benefited by good business opportunities and has made substantial financial progress.
EDO DUDEN.
Edo Duden is the owner of a valuable farming property of two hundred acres in Bennington township, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. He has other valuable farm prop- erty in Iowa, and his holdings are so extensive as to render further active labor on his part no longer a necessity, for his income from the land is sufficient to supply him with all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. A native of Ger- many, he was born in Oldenburg on the 29th of January, 1832. His father, John G. Duden, also a native of Germany, was born in 1808, and in that country he engaged in farming a small tract of land of twenty-four acres. There he continued to reside until called to his final rest in 1884, when he was about seventy-six years of age. His wife, Mrs. Anna Elizabeth Duden, was born in 1808 and passed away in 1882. They were the parents of six children: Mary, who is living in Minonk, Illi- nois; Kate, a resident of Iowa; Anna, who is lo- cated in Nebraska ; Olmet, living in Germany; and Margaret, deceased.
In the schools of his native land Mr. Duden of this review acquired his education. He spent his minority in the fatherland and in 1853 crossed the Atlantic to America on a sailing vessel named the Columbus. After a voyage of nine weeks he landed at New Orleans, whence he proceeded northward to Missouri, where he secured employ- ment at a wage of ten dollars per month. Among his duties was the milking of forty-five cows. He remained with his first employer for about six months, after which he went to Peoria, Illinois, and worked on the canal. He also did other labor, scorning no work that would yield him an honest living. About five years were passed in Peoria, on the expiration of which period he removed to Nebraska township, Livingston county, Illinois, and invested the money which he had saved from his earnings in forty acres of land. He was mar- ried at that time and later he purchased the place upon which he now resides, first becoming owner of eighty acres, but from time to time he has ex- tended the boundaries of his farm until it now
comprises two hundred acres of richly productive land in Bennington township. The soil is very al- luvial and the farm responds readily to the care and cultivation which he bestows upon the fields. In addition to this he lias made extensive invest- ment in real estate in Iowa, where he now owns ten hundred and forty acres. He has given to each of his children a farm and yet retains valuable holdings which supply him with an income suffi- cient to obviate any necessity for further active work.
In 1862 Mr. Duden was united in marriage to Miss Johanna Siefkes, who was born in Germany in 1845 and was three years of age when brought to the United States by her parents. Their chil- dren are: Fannie, who is now living in Benson, Illinois ; Bertha, living in Iowa; Anna, deceased ; Johanna, at home; Betty, who is living in Nebras- ka ; Henrietta, who resides in Lee county, Illinois; Mary, who is living in Benson, Illinois ; Kate, at home; and John, who is operating the home farm.
Mr. Duden gives his political allegiance to the democracy. His wife is a member of the German Lutheran church. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to seek a home in the new world, for in this country he found the opportuni- ties he sought, which, by the way, are always open to ambitious, energetic young men. As the years passed he made good use of his advantages, early realizing that in America "labor is king," and in the face of difficulties and obstacles he has worked his way steadily upward, his position today, how- ever, being an enviable one, proving, as it does, the possibilities for successful accomplishment to those who are forced to start out in life empty- handed.
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