USA > Illinois > Marshall County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 58
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 58
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The family numbered altogether eight chil- dren, as follows: Sarah, who became the wife of James Bradbury and lived in this county ; James, who died in infancy ; John, a tailor, who remained in England; Mary Ann, who became the wife of William Patterson and settled in La Salle county, Illinois, where he became wealthy; Thomas Eben- ezer, who crossed the Atlantic to America but afterward returned to England, where he died; Jane, who departed this life in England; Samuel, who came to the United States with his mother in 1852 and died in Putnam county in May, 1901; and Benjamin, of this review.
Benjamin Sutcliffe, now living retired in Hen- nepin, spent his boyhood days at Staly bridge near Manchester in Lancastershire, England. In his youth he learned the plumber's trade and he made his home with his parents until in his eighteenth year. He then went to Liverpool and joined the army, with which he started for Malta in 1854. The troops proceeded to Turkey, sailed on the Black sea and took part in the Crimean war. Mr. Sutcliffe received a badge at Sebastopol for merit- orious service, the badge being handed to him by Queen Victoria. He served for four years and one hundred and ninety-four days in the English army and took part in all of the battles of the Crimean war, including the siege of Sebastopol. For a time he was head butler for the officers' mess.
Mr. Sutcliffe afterward returned to England and in 1857 volunteered to go to Delhi, India, with the army. He was on a furlough of thirty days, during which time he received a letter from his mother telling him that his services were needed in Putnam county, Illinois. Mr. Sutcliffe had a good friend in a major of his regiment and through his kindly offices was granted a discharge by Prince Albert. In 1858 he came to America, making his way at once to Putnam county, and assisted his brother Samuel in clearing up and working the home farm, where the mother and brother had previously located. In 1862, when this country called for volunteers, Mr. Sutcliffe
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enlisted at Ottawa as a member of Company K, One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry. He served until June, 1863, and was then taken ill, after which he was transferred and later discharged. Subsequently he returned to Putnam county, where he engaged in farming. On the death of his mother the farm was divided and he received eighty acres as his share of the home place. His time and energies were then devoted to farming for a long period and he continued to cultivate his land until 1890, when he removed to Hennepin and engaged in the butchering busi- ness with John Weeks. After two years he sold out and then for a short time was engaged in the implement business, but was not successful in that venture. Not being able to work his farm, he retired from business, sold his land and has since made his home in Hennepin, where he is now comfortably situated. He disposed of his farm about four years ago, but he still owns a good dwelling in Hennepin and a large garden. He suffers from rheumatism and other ailments incurred by his service in the Civil war and the hardships and exposures of army life, and the government grants him a pension of twelve dol- lars per month.
Mr. Sutcliffe was married on the 15th of March, 1864, to Miss Harriette L. Osborn, who was born in Hennepin, September 15, 1837, a daughter of John E. Osborn, now deceased, who came to Put- nam county in 1835. For many years he fol- lowed farming and later engaged in the drug business. Mrs. Sutcliffe is the only surviving member of her father's family. By her marriage she became the mother of eight children: Ar- thur E., who was born February 15, 1865, and died on the 3d of August of that year; Lewis C., who was born July 21, 1866, and died on the 17th of August following; Charles E. who was born November 6, 1867, and married Ella Smith, their home being now in Missouri; Margaret P., who was born April 5, 1870, and died on the 25th of July of the same year; Alice M., who was born January 30, 1872, and died September 16, 1872; Lucy Jane, who was born March 30, 1873, and died September 23, 1873; John F., who was born August 26, 1875, and is at home; and H. Edna, who was born February 14, 1882, and is also at home.
Mr. Sutcliffe and his family are members of the Congregational church and are interested and
active in its work. He is a public-spirited citi- zen, aiding in many matters of general interest as far as his means will allow. In politics he has always been a republican since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, yet he has never been an aspirant for office nor held any position of political preferment save that of school director. He has always been as loyal to his country in days of peace as in days of war and has lived an honest, upright life, winning him the respect and good will of all with whom he has been associated.
FRANCIS L. GILMER.
Francis L. Gilmer, assistant postmaster at Henry, was born near Wenona, Illinois, in 1870. His father, Albert Gilmer, was born in Ohio and on coming to Illinois settled near Florid, making the journey hither with his parents. He became a well-to-do citizen and here died in the forty- sixth year of his age. His political support was given the republican party. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah E. Kinder, was also born in Ohio and is now living in Henry at the age of fifty-six years. In their family were three children: Francis L .; Roy M., a bookkeeper in Chicago; and Orrel, who is connected with a book store in Henry.
Francis L. Gilmer acquired his education in the public schools of Wenona and of Henry. He was reared to farm life and to some extent worked at farm labor, but on abandoning agricultural pursuits came to Henry. For five years he was connected with his father in the conduct of a livery business in Streator, but following the father's death he sold out the business there and came to Henry. Subsequently he was employed at farm labor for three years and then returned to Henry, where he entered a grocery, remaining there for a year. On the expiration of that period he secured the position of janitor of a school and worked in that capacity for three years. He then again went back to the grocery, but after sixteen months he accepted a position with J. Watercott & Company, with whom he remained for several months. The position of assistant postmaster was then tendered him by John Kline .in 1900 and he has since acted in that capacity with credit to himself and satisfaction to all concerned, prov- ing a most capable, prompt and efficient officer.
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On the 15th of September, 1903, Mr. Gilmer was married to Miss Edna Goddard, who was born in 1876 and is a daughter of Joseph and Sarah Goddard. Her father was a harnessmaker and a veteran of the Civil war. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gilmer have been born one daughter, Mar- jory Pearl, born October 8, 1904. Mrs. Gilmer . is a member of the Episcopal church and Mr. Gilmer is an Odd Fellow, while his political sup- port is given to the republican party. He has a wide acquaintance in this locality, where his entire life has been passed, and he is one of the most popular and efficient officers ever connected with the Henry postoffice.
WILLIAM HARTMAN.
William Hartman, who owns and operates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 3, Granville township, and whose property inter- ests comprise five hundred acres of valuable land all in this township, together with a quarter sec- tion in Iowa, has manifested in his business career those sterling traits of perseverance and industry which enable the individual to overcome difficul- ties and obstacles and advance far on the high road to success. Born in Nassau, Germany, on the 23d of March, 1835, he was a son of William and Mary (Haylor) Hartman, both of whom were also natives of that country. The father, who was born in 1809, passed away in 1896, while the mother, whose birth occurred in 1810, died when about sixty-two years of age. William Hartman, Sr., was a farmer by occupation and, as was the custom in those days in his native country, he lived in a village and worked land just out- side the town. His family numbered eight chil- dren, four of whom came to this country, namely: Jacob, who died in Nebraska about a year ago; Mrs. John Miller, who is living in Iowa; Chris- tian, a resident of Granville township, Putnam county ; and William.
The last named in the days of his youth entered upon an apprenticeship of three and a half years to the cabinet-makers' trade and worked altogether at his trade for five years in the fatherland, when, thinking that he might have broader opportuni- ties in the new world, he crossed the Atlantic to America in 1857, arriving in Peru, Illinois, with a cash capital of only fifteen dollars. He im- mediately sought employment and engaged to go
to work at his trade. He spent fourteen dollars for a set of tools and after a brief period the shop in which he worked was burned and his tools were destroyed. On Sunday morning on a hot day in June, after walking thirteen miles, he might have been discovered sitting on a pile of new lumber by the roadside, out of money and without friends, in a strange country where the language and cus- toms of the people were largely unfamiliar to him. He was not disheartened, however, for he possessed good health and strength and an abund- ance of ambition. These qualities in after years brought him a gratifying measure of success. About this time he managed to secure work at the carpenter's trade and for two years was thus employed in Granville. He then rented land and with one horse and a few tools began farming. In order to do his breaking he would borrow a horse and thus with his own make a team. As soon as his own crops were in and needed his atten- tion no further he would work by the day for his neighbors, and thus he gained a little ready money. He often husked corn for seventy-five cents per day. His first purchase of land comprised twenty- four acres near the village of Granville, for which he paid two thousand dollars. In 1869 he sold that property and purchased eighty acres two miles south of Granville, on which he made a cash pay- ment of fifty dollars. Things now began to look brighter for him, yet during the first two or three years his crops were poor. He possessed, how- ever, a resolute, determined spirit, carefully tilled his fields and garnered his crops and raised corn where other people had met with total failure in that work. The eighty acres adjoining his place was soon put on sale and he was anxious to get it but he had no capital. His honesty and indus- try, however, had won him a friend in Peter Kuhne, from whom he borrowed money upon which he paid ten per cent interest. Thus he purchased the eighty acres adjoining and in so doing manifested that good judgment and fore- sight which have always characterized him in his business life. He has always improved every op- portunity where a good bargain could be made and has ever kept his credit good, meeting his ob- ligations promptly. Thus he made for himself an unassailable reputation for reliability and busi- ness integrity. He is now the owner of five hun- dred acres of very valuable land in Granville town- ship, together with a quarter section in Iowa. The
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one hundred and sixty acres whereon he now resides lies one mile east of Granville and was purchased by him seven years ago for ninety-one dollars per acre. He bought one hundred and eighty acres on section 28 for twenty-seven thousand dollars cash.
Mr. Hartman was married in November, 1859, to Miss Katie Miller, who died in 1867. They had four children, of whom Charles died at the age of twenty-five and the others in infancy. In 1868 Mr. Hartman wedded Katie Ochse, who was born in Germany, May 9, 1843, and is still living. They have three living children: Lizzie, now the wife of William F. Henshaw; Lena, the wife of Olaf Matson, residing upon the farm with her father; and Victor C., who lives on one of his father's farms.
Mr. Hartman was reared in the Reformed Lu- theran church and until a short time ago was a member of the Congregational church in Gran- ville. He has always been a stalwart republican since casting his first vote in this country for Abraham Lincoln. With only a common-school education, but with much natural ability, he started in life in America empty handed and in the control of his business interests has manifested sound judgment and keen discrimination, care- fully controlling his interests until he is now one of the prosperous farmers of the county. He has always been a broad reader, keeping well in- formed on all matters of current interest through the daily papers and magazines, and his life rec- ord displays traits of character that are most commendable.
LOUIS HENKELL.
Louis Henkell, who for thirty years has engaged in the practice of veterinary surgery at Granville, was born in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, January 13, 1843. His father, John C. Henkell, was a native of Germany, born November 28, 1807, and it was subsequent to his emigration to America, when he was twenty-eight years of age, that he was married to Miss Catherine Elizabeth Shaffer, who was born in Germany, May 8, 1814, and came to the new world with her parents, who settled in Pennsylvania not far from Balti- more. Mr. Henkell had taken up his abode in that city and was employed in a packing house, where he won promotion until he became foreman. He afterwards went to St. Louis, Missouri, and to
other places in charge of work for the firm. In his early life he worked at the millwright's trade. In 1862 he arrived in Putnam county, Illinois, and engaged in th butchering business in Gran- ville. The present home of his son Louis was purchased by him from G. R. Henderson. He continued actively in the butchering business until he had acquired a comfortable competence and . then retired permanently from commercial pur- suits. He was reared in the faith of the German Lutheran church. His political views were in har- mony with the principles of democracy, but he took no active part in politics. He died in Gran- ville in November, 1873, and was long survived by his wife, who passed away here June 3, 1892. In their family were seven children, all but two of whom were born in Baltimore, while four are now living: Henry, who is in the employ of the Big Four Railroad company and resides in Ohio; Louis, of this review ; Helen and Elizabeth, who are living with Dr. Henkell.
The Doctor was a youth of thirteen years when his parents removed from Baltimore to a farm in Pennsylvania and he was thus engaged in the work of field and meadow until the family came to Illinois. In this state he was employed at farm labor at a wage of thirteen dollars a month. Later he learned the shoemaker's trade and when the war was inaugurated he bought a shoe shop from an old man who went into the army. He, how- ever, sold this when the former owner returned and later Dr. Henkell gave his attention to farm labor and to the butchering business. Having obtained a good knowledge of anatomy through his experience in the butchering business, he be- came quite proficient in caring for sick animals and through the advice of Dr. Holsburg he pur- chased books and read extensively upon the subject of veterinary surgery. Subsequently he began de- voting his entire attention to this work, which he has since followed with good success. His ex- perience has given him superiority in the treat- ment of many cases and his practice extends over a wide area. He is often called as far as Depue and his business is of a most profitable nature.
Where state and national issues are involved Dr. Henkell gives his political allegiance to the democracy, but at local elections always votes for the man who in his judgment is the most com- petent candidate and will prove most acceptable in office. He has been prominently identified with
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public affairs in Granville and has been a mem- ber of the village board for a number of years, while in 1903 and 1904 he served as its president. He has also been justice of the peace for eight years and notary public for two years and is act- ing in the latter capacity at the present time. He takes a deep and abiding interest in the wel- fare of the town and his advice is often sought on matters relating to the general good. He is far-sighted and his judgment is sound and relia- ble, while his devotion to the welfare of the com- munity is above question.
A. J. ROBINSON.
A. J. Robinson, who follows farming on sec- tion 3, Granville township, was born in La Salle county near the Putnam county line, March 12, 1850. His boyhood days were spent on the home farm and in the district schools. His parents were James and Sophia (Richey) Robinson, both of whom were natives of Ohio. In 1833 they be- came residents of La Salle county, Illinois, being among the earliest families of that part of the state, They located upon a farm where they spent their subsequent years and through a long period were prominent in the community where they resided. Mr. Robinson was among those who aided in laying broad and deep the foundations for the present development and progress of the county and co-operated in many of the events which have left their impress upon the pioneer history of his portion of the state. His wife died at the comparatively early age of forty-four years and Mr. Robinson long survived, passing away at the age of eighty-three. In their family were nine children, eight of whom are yet living.
After attending the district schools A. J. Rob- inson profited by three years' instruction in the state normal, after which he engaged in teaching in Putnam county, following that profession for five years. He was then married on the 27th of December, 1882, to Miss Ellen Barnard, who was born in Vermont, a daughter of Charles E. Bar- nard, mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. Following his marriage Mr. Robinson rented a farm in La Salle county and a year later purchased a tract of land of sixty acres in that county, cultivating it for three years, when he invested in three hundred and twenty acres on section 3, Granville township, Putnam county.
This was an improved farm and he at once took up the task of further cultivating the fields. Sub- sequently he sold one hundred and sixty acres of the land. He has erected upon the place a sub- stantial residence and good farm buildings and in addition to this property he now owns one hundred and sixty-five acres in Hennepin town- ship. He is engaged in general farming and stock- raising, also feeding cattle and hogs, and for five years he has put up ice, which he supplies to the trade in Granville. This year, owing to the mild winter of 1905-6 and to the excessive heat of the past summer, which has made the demand so much greater, his supply of ice has been completely ex- hausted and he has therefore made shipments from Wisconsin. Recently he has erected a com- modious modern residence upon his farm, which is a splendidly equipped property and indicates his careful supervision and progressive methods.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have been born four children: Candace, who was graduated in 1906 from the state university and is now en- gaged in teaching; Anna, who is a graduate of the Granville high school of the class of 1906 and is now a student in the Northwestern University, and Earl and Charles, both at home.
Fraternally Mr. Robinson is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and his family be- long to the Congregational church. He has al- ways been a republican, but has aspired to no office, nor has he held positions of official prefer- ment save that of school director. His deep in- terest in the cause of education has prompted him to undertake the duties of that position, which are most important, for the establishment and maintenance of good schools and the employ- ment of competent teachers is something which cannot be over-estimated in its value as a prep- aration for good citizenship. In fact, Mr. Rob- inson stands for progress along all those lines which work for the development of the individual and the community in ways that are beneficial and far-reaching.
SIDNEY WHITAKER.
Sidney Whitaker is an enterprising farmer re- siding two miles east of Granville on section 11, Granville township. He was born in Eden township, La Salle county, December 20, 1859. His father, John Ireland Whitaker, was born in Bridgeton, New Jersey, June 2, 1822, and in
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1843, when a young man of twenty-one years, came west to Putnam county, which was then largely a frontier district, the evidences of im- provement and progress being comparatively few. Only here and there had a settlement been made and much of the land was still unclaimed and uncultivated. He lived upon a farm near Gran- ville until 1855, when he removed to Eden town- ship, La Salle county, where he resided until his death, which occurred December 12, 1904, when he was eighty-two years of age. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Wilhelmina Scheottler, was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, and was a maiden of fourteen years when she came to America. She, too, died upon the homestead farm in La Salle county, where she passed away in 1898 at the age of sixty-seven years. In the family were six children, all of whom are living: Effie, the wife of E. H. Whitaker, living in Eden township, La Salle county; Clara, who is living upon the old homestead in La Salle county; Sid- ney; Linna, the wife of E. T. James, a resident of Madison, North Dakota; Eugenie, at home; and Charles L., who is living at Zearing, Story county, Iowa.
Sidney Whitaker largely acquired his educa- tion in the district schools of Eden township and later completed the course in Peru high school, although he did not graduate. His life work has been that of the farm and while yet at home he purchased and operated land in La Salle county. In 1898 he came to Putnam county and was here married to Miss Martha B. Hopkins, a daughter of Joel W. Hopkins, deceased, of whom mention is made on another page of this work. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker have been born six children: Sidney, John H., Joel H., Sarah Hyde, Wilhelmina Scheottler and Richard H.
Mr. Whitaker has one hundred and sixty acres of land in the home farm, whereon he resides. It is improved with a beautiful residence and good buildings and he and his wife own other land in the county, together with some in La Salle county and also in Iowa. Mr. Whitaker is now renting most of his farm, retaining only a small piece of farm land and some pasture, whereon his stock can feed. Pleasantly situated in life, he and his family are enabled to enjoy all of the comforts and many of the luxuries which go to make life worth living, their property affording them a gratifying income. In politics Mr. Whitaker is a
republican where national issues are involved, but at local elections votes independently. He and his wife are members of the Congregational church at Granville, in which they take an active and helpful interest, Mr. Whitaker having served as superintendent of the Sunday-school, while at the present writing he is its secretary. Both he and his wife have spent their entire lives in this part of the state and have a wide acquaintance, the hospitality of the best homes being cordially ex- tended them.
WALTER FOSTER.
Walter Foster is an intelligent and respected agriculturist of Roberts township, Marshall coun- ty, living on section 25, and it was in this town- ship that his birth occurred, October 31, 1860. His father was Joshua Foster, who was born in Ohio near New London on the 21st of March, 1821. He came to Marshall county in 1841, then a young man of twenty years, and cast in his lot with the early settlers of this portion of the state. He drove cattle through with his father in 1835. In the early days of his residence here he shared in the hardships and privations of pioneer life and aided in reclaiming the district for the purposes of civilization. As the years went by success crowned his labors and he was at one time the owner of eight hundred acres of valua- ble land, which he shared with his children. His political views were in accord with the principles of Jacksonian democracy. He passed away May 3, 1895, and thus was ended a useful and hon- orable life, which covered a period of seventy- four years. The members of his family were: Benjamin, who was born in 1844 and is now a retired farmer living in Evans township, Mar- shall county; Thomas Edwin, who was born in 1846 and died in 1881; John Lewis, who follows. farming in Iowa; Albert, who is living retired in Illinois; George E., a retired farmer of Evans township; James, a retired farmer of Roberts township; Walter, of this review; and Wilbur, who is living retired in Tazewell county, Illinois.
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