USA > Illinois > Marshall County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 65
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > Past and present of Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 65
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SIMON BECK.
Simon Beck, an influential citizen and well-to- do farmer, owning and operating one hundred and thirty-eight acres of land, which lies on section 31, Hennepin township, is a native of Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, his natal year being 1854. His father, Andrew Beck, was likewise born in Lebanon county, October 8, 1819, and he was there married in April, 1848, to Miss Elizabeth Clemens, also a native of that county, born Oc- tober 30, 1825. They remained in their native place, where the father engaged in farming, until 1865, when they made their way westward, com- ing to Putnam county, making the journey from the east by rail to Bureau Junction, from which place they continued their journey to Hennepin, this county. The family home was established on Hennepin prairie, where the father rented a tract of land and continued his operations as an agri- culturist. Mrs. Beck was very lonely after com- ing to this county and often longed and cried for her old home in Pennsylvania. Her husband would try to console her by telling her of the suc- cess which they would enjoy later on in their new home, although he, too, was equally as lonely, and he would then go to the barn and resort to tears. They, however, worked on earnestly and per- sistently until they acquired a competence that after a few years enabled them to purchase land, this being a part of the property which is now operated by the son, Simon. There the father continued his operations and made his home until his death, which occurred August 27, 1892, being
found dead in his bed. He had been in poor health for several years, but upon retiring the night previous to his death was feeling as well as usual, but was found dead in the morning, his death supposed to have resulted from heart fail- ure. Both he and his wife were reared in the faith of the Lutheran church, but after their re- inoval to Illinois they became identified with the Methodist denomination. The father was a dem- ocrat in his political affiliation, but was never ac- tive as an office seeker, preferring rather to con- centrate his time and energies upon his private business interests. After his death the property was divided among his heirs, and his widow still survives, now making her home in the village of Florid with. a sister of her husband. Although Mrs. Beck is in her eighty-first year she retains her mental faculties to a remarkable degree and is still an intelligent and interesting old lady. In the family of this worthy couple were four children, of whom our subject was the third in order of birth and he is the only one surviving at the present time, a son and daughter having died in Pennsylvania previous to the removal of the family to this state, while a brother, Jerry, died in Granville in August, 1906.
Simon Beck was reared and educated in the Keystone state to the age of twelve years, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Putnam county, where he continued his educa- tion in the country schools of this county and as- sisted his father in the operation of the old home- stead farm until he attained his majority. He then made arrangements for having a home of his own, by his marriage to Miss Sarah Clemens, who was born in Virginia. Her father, Jerry Clemens, removed to Putnam county about 1865, but later took up his abode in Carroll county, Mis- souri, where he died in the spring of 1906, having reached the venerable age of eighty-four years, while his wife was called to her final rest several years previous.
Following his marriage Mr. Beck located on the old homestead, operating his father's land until the latter's death, when, upon the division of the estate, our subject came into possession of a tract of eighty acres of land which was unimproved, save that a small frame house had been erected thereon. He took up his abode on his newly in- herited property and at once began to develop and improve the land, and in due course of time he
508
PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
placed his fields under a high state of cultivation, from which he annually harvests abundant crops. He has since enlarged and remodeled his house and now has a modern and commodious country residence, supplied with all conveniences and equipments. In 1895 he erected a barn, using oak timber in its construction, and which cost eigh- teen hundred dollars, this being one of the finest barns in this part of the county. He has also erected a windmill and has a reservoir tank from which the water is piped to the house and barn, thus furnishing an ample supply of water for domestic use as well as for watering the stock. He has added a tract of fifty-eight and a half acres to his original holdings, thus making a valu- able and well improved farm of one hundred and thirty-eight acres, in addition to which he owns twenty-two acres of timber land. He is a man of sound judgment and displays excellent business ability in the management of his farming and stock-raising interests.
Unto our subject and his wife have been born four children, but only one is now. living: The eldest died unnamed in infancy. Mary E. died when one month old. William F. died at the age of two years, six months and nine days. John Henry, who was twenty-eight years of age on the 20th of July, 1906, is residing with his parents. Mr. Beck has always given his political support to the democracy, but has never been active in public affairs. He and his family belong to the Presbyterian church at Florid and are highly es- teemed in the community in which they reside.
JAMES ELLSWORTH TAYLOR.
James E. Taylor, state's attorney of Putnam county since 1888 and a resident of Hennepin, was born in Ross township, Jefferson county, Ohio, April 28, 1862. The family is of Irish lineage, his great-grandfather having come from Ireland to the new world. The grandfather, John Taylor, was born in Pennsylvania, August 8, 1804, and died in Jefferson county, Ohio, Feb- ruary 28, 1891. He married Jane Henderson, whose birth occurred in Ohio, May 8, 1818, and her death in 1899. Their son, Richard W. Tay- lor, was born in Jefferson county, Ohio, January 30, 1838, and is now living near Martin's Ferry, in Belmont county, Ohio. He married Harriet J. Mccutcheon, who was born in Steubenville,
Ohio, May 17, 1839, and died in Jefferson county, February 4, 1906. Richard W. Taylor is one of eleven children of the grandfather's family who are still living in Jefferson county, Ohio, and those of the household who have passed away were also residents of that county. For many years the grandfather lived upon the farm where his death occurred and Richard W. Taylor has always followed the occupation of farming. In his fam- ily were eight children but only three are now liv- ing: William W., who resides at Martin's Ferry, was engaged in teaching school for twenty-two years but on account of his health has accepted a position as mail-carrier. Robert M. Taylor is in the employ of the superintendent of the lighting system of the Panhandle Railroad from Colum- bus, Ohio, to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
James E. Taylor remained upon a farm in Jef- ferson county, Ohio, to the age of fifteen years, when he accompanied his parents on their re- moval to Belmont county, that state. He attend- ed the public schools until he had attained the age of nineteen, after which he pursued a prepara- tory teacher's course at Mount Pleasant, Ohio, and was graduated January 14, 1884. He after- ward engaged in teaching for a year in Belmont county and in the spring of 1885 he came to Illi- nois, where for four months he worked on a farm near Mount Palatine, Putnam county. In the fall of that year he accepted the position of teacher at Mount Palatine, where he remained for three years, and when his time was not taken up with the duties of the schoolroom, he studied law under W. H. Casson, then state's attorney, being ad- mitted to the bar September 18, 1888. In No- vember of the same year he was elected state's at- torney for the county and has continuously filled the position to the present time-proof incontro- vertible of his ability and fidelity. He has also been a member of the village board and of the school board and has acted as secretary of the lat- ter since December 29, 1894. In April, 1906, he was appointed master in chancery, so that he is now filling the three different positions.
On the 4th of April, 1889, Mr. Taylor was mar- ried to Miss Josephine Henning, a native of Put- nam county and a daughter of John Henning, who is living in the village of Hennepin. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor have two children: George Harold, fifteen years of age; and James Ells- worth, a youth of four years.
509
PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.
Mr. Taylor has always been a stalwart support- er of republican principles. Although not a mem- ber he regularly attends the services and is a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been a member of the Odd Fellows since 1888 and has taken the encampment and military degrees, while in 1899 he was elected grand con- ductor of the grand lodge of Illinois.
L. F. BOYLE.
L. F. Boyle, who carries on general agricultural pursuits on section 2, Hennepin township, was born in Putnam county, Illinois, and a life of in- tense and well directed activity has resulted in making him one of the wealthy agriculturists of this part of the state. His father, Albert B. Boyle, was born on Hennepin prairie and died in 1888 at the age of forty- one years, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Frances C. Harten- bower, was born in Putnam county and is now liv- ing in Galesburg, Illinois, with two unmarried daughters. The paternal grandfather Buenos Ayres Boyle, was a native of Pennsylvania and came to Putnam county, Illinois, at a very early epoch in its settlement and development. Hc aided in planting the seeds of civilization here, but died when his son Albert was a small boy. The latter became a well-to-do farmer and left quite a valuable estate. In his family were six children, of whom L. F. Boyle of this review is the eldest. The others are: Erma, now the wife of G. W. Griener, who resides near Tonica, La Salle county, Illinois; Nora, the wife of W. E. Ililtabrand, who is also living near Tonica; W. A., who makes his home with his brother; and Maye and Minnie, who are with their mother in Galesburg.
L. F. Boyle, reared under the paternal roof, be- gan his education in the district schools and af- terward continued his studies in the Hennepin schools. He lived upon the farm with his father until twenty-one years of age and through the periods of vacation aided in the work of the fields. After attaining his majority he was mar- ried to Miss Lelia Rousseau, who was born in
Hennepin, a daughter of L. C. Rousseau, now liv- ing in Texas. Following their marriage the young couple located upon a farm of one hundred and ninety acres of land which Mr. Boyle owned about a half mile north of Hennepin. Five years ago he and his brother, W. A., purchased what is known as the Reavy estate five and a half miles south of Hennepin, and he is now one of the most extensive land owners of the county, his possessions aggregating one thousand acres. He carries on general farming and his fields present a splendid appearance, giving promise of golden harvests. He also makes a specialty of the breed- ing and raising of Percheron and Shire horses and has six imported studs in his barn at the present time, together with about twenty head of full blooded registered horses. He also owns a herd of registered shorthorn cattle and at the present writing is feeding about two hundred head. He likewise has a fine drove of registered Berkshire hogs and his stock-raising interests class him with the leading representatives of this line of business in the county. He is a man of unflagging indus- try in whom diligence and perseverance are rec- ognized as strong and salient characteristics. He is never idle-in fact, indolence is entirely for- eign to his nature. His attention is unremit- tingly given to his business interests and he is a man of sound judgment and keen sagacity, the capable control of his affairs being manifest in the very gratifying success which has rewarded him.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Boyle has been blessed with five children: Violet, Esther, Louis A., Marshall and Frances E., all of whom are yet under the parental roof. Mr. Boyle votes rather independently, yet his views are largely in har- mony with democratic principles. He has no de- sire for office, however, preferring to give his time and attention to his business affairs. He repre- sents one of the old families of the county and the work begun by his grandfather and carried on by his father is continued by him, with the result that he is one of the leading and prosper- ous farmers of Putnam county, having extensive land holdings, while his farms are improved with all modern equipments and accessories.
INDEX
HISTORICAL
HISTORY OF ' MARSHALL COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
Introductory
5
CHAPTER II:
Discovery of North America.
7
CHAPTER III. Occupation hy the French.
8
CHAPTER IV. Early Settlements
11
CHAPTER V. Black Hawk War
13
CHAPTER. VI. Division of Putnam County.
16
CHAPTER VII.
Organization of Marshall County.
18
CHAPTER VIII.
Township Organization
19
CHAPTER' IX.
Lacon Township
Hopewell Township
29
CHAPTER XI.
Henry Township
31
CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER' XIII. .
CHAPTER. XIV ..
La Prairie Township
43
CHAPTER XV.
Steuben Township
46
CHAPTER XVI.'
Richland Township .. .
49
CHAPTER XIII .. Game
105
Railroads
.106
CHAPTER XV.
Coal Industry.
109
Incidents 110
BIOGRAPHICAL
Allen, Owen W. 332
Anderson, A. L. 506
Anderson, James N. 336
Aukland, J. H. 176
Averill, O. A. 356
Bacon, J .. C. 168
Ball, John .D. 355
Ball, Jonas . T.
416
Ball, W. L.
392
Barnard, C. E. 412
496
Barnes, C. C. 233
Barr, Frank A
137
Barry, John .E ..
306
Bassler, .H. J. 410
Beck, .Simon. .
507
Bell, William. H.
130
Belsly, John R.
175
Bennington, .J. N
397.
Betts, A. W.
171
Bickel, William 381
Blackwell, D. R.
400
Boal, Dr. Robert. 121
Bogner, Joseph 211
Bogner, Louis
200
Bourdette, Rudolph
331
Boyle, L. F.
509
Brennenann, Oscar 408
Brown, C. A. . 350
Bruder, C. G. 496
Buchanan, John 248
Burgess, Charles, Sr 291
Burgess, Rohert. 297
Burt, J. S. 153
Caley, Joseph. 263
Camp, C. A. 129
Carlson, A. J. 348
Casson, W. H. 318
Cecil, Jasper 394
Chase, C. M. 489
Clark, Joseph 203
Clifford, Nancy 383
Coffman, E. Olive. 199
Colhy,. N. H. 342
Cook, I. H .. 453
Coulter, W. J .. 499
Creahil, Joseph 212
Croft, T. M .. 383
Crooks, H. C. 363
Dahl, Peterson P. 467
Dauh, John 425
Davis, Dr. Charles. 266
Dawson, Frank L. 204
Dawson, F. E. 221
Dewey, W. W 255
Doran, C. C. 190
Doran, Robert
175
Dore, Patrick
310
Harrison, H. A. 427
Hartley, John J. 276
Hartman, C. J. 470
Hartman, William 459
Haws, Clifford 376
Haws, T. G. 278
Haws, William 194
Hawthorne, W. E. 135
Henkell, Louis 460
Henkins, Adam B. 469
Henning, James 498
Hickey. James P 382
Hills, R. E. 286
Hirschy, John 489
Hodge Brothers 243
Hodge, L. J. 277
Holton, J. W 158
Hopkins, Archihald W. 216
Hopkins, Joel W. 150
Horrocks, William 265
Howe, Jerome 264
Hufnagel, William 313
Humphrey, A. G. 351
Hunt, George W
154
Frommel, C. A. 468
Gapen, T. E .. 159
Garrett, Augustus 364
German, W. H.
309
Gilmer, Francis L 458
Glenn, I. A. 424
Green, E. G .. 288
Gregg, D. H .. 198
Gregory, Luke 269
Gregory, R. E. 389
Gresser, Anton 315
Grieves, John 219
Grove, Melchi
256
Gunn, L. D.
226
Halhleih, Otto 402
Hall, Dr. E. A.
296
Downey, Robert F.
378
Doyle, Mrs. Miranda
352
Duden, Edo
442
Dysart, C. W 449
Edwards, H. H. 377
Elk, L. M ..
285
Endsley, Tom W.
499
Erikson, Gustaf 260
Etscheid, Joseph 477
Farling, Frank 367
Feazel, Jeremiah 423
Fisher, A. D. 373
Forcht, John 473
Ford, George A 434
Fort, G. L. 122
Fort, Robert B. 126
Foster, Benjamin
210
Foster, James
503
Foster, Walter 462
Fountain, R. B
306
Franceway, G. W 497
Frisbey, Orrin 358
CHAPTER XX.' Bennington Township 59 CHAPTER XXI. Marshall County as It Is: 61-
HISTORY OF PUTNAM COUNTY.
CHAPTER I.
69
70
72
Villages
77
CHAPTER. V.
Early Records.
89
Just Befo' the Wa'
83
Politics
88
Putnam. County Newspapers
89
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER X ..
CHAPTER XI. 103
Buel : Institute.
Grange - Fair.
CHAPTER XII. 104
CHAPTER' XVII. . Belle Plain Township 52
CHAPTER XVIII .. Roberts ' Township 53
CHAPTER XIX.
Evans Township'.1
CHAPTER XVI.'
Introductory Topography
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
Settlement
CHAPTER IV.
21. CHAPTER VI. !
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII."
38
Whitefield Township Saratoga Township
42.
CHAPTER X.
Educational Interests. 90 Churches 97
CHAPTER XIV.
Hunter, Hiram 323
511 .
Barnard, .J. E.
INDEX -- BIOGRAPHICAL Continued.
Ireland, H. T.
307
Owen, J. N.
441
Taggart, James H. 314
Jenkins, James
428
Owens, A. P. 367
Tanquary, Edward 287
Jensen, W. P.
347
Taylor, J. E. 508
Judd, Benjamin 188
Taylor, O. F. & F. C. 326
Kays, John A.
172
Packingham, J. C. 451
Kays, W. A ..
132
Parrett, James 305
Keedy, A. D.
333
Paskell, J. R. 198
Paxson, Thomas 442
Perry, Z. E. 446
Trerwiler, Charles
454
Klein, C. L ... 131
Powers, Patrick
299
Turnbull, John
398
Kline, Frank L. 391
Klinger, Ferdinand
339
Koch, Frederick 431
Koehler, Israel 490
Kunkle, G. M
243
Ransom, C. W. 393
Van Petten, Matthew 401
Lauf, Frank
323
Laughlin, W. M
443
Riddell, Robert
247
Lenz, Edward A.
350
Litchfield, R. I.
409
Rithmiller, George
365
Long, Jonathan
270
Robinson, A. J.
461
Lundquist, O. A. 495
Rouse, Allen A. 325
Lutes, Edson
308
Rowe, Sampson T. 292
Waugbop, Richard 343
McAdam, Arthur 282
McCormick, Dr. G. A. 445
Salisbury, William
157
Weber, Otto
359
Mccullough, R. R ..
344
Schumacher, Mrs. Alvina 359
Webster, W. D. 209
McCulloch, Samuel W.
Schwartz, William 415
Weis, Edmund 321
Mccutcheon, James
505
Scoon, William 426
193
Wheeler, William 432
McSmith, Robert 475
Shaw, George H.
417
Whitaker, Sidney
461
Malone, John
Shaw, T. M.
138
White, H. L. 234
Marshall, Henry
181
Shriver, A. W.
410
Whitman, H. E. 321
Matbis, N. J .. 392
Sill, W. B.
420
Whitmer, Tobias
231
Matson, Lars 500
Simonton, W. H.
474
Williams, J. H 188
Merdian, Henry 275
Skeel, L. E.
212
Williams, L. D.
253
Mills, W. B. 450
Smith, C. E. 177
Williams, W. H. 182
Monahan, J. E. 399
Smith, Edward B.
298
Wilson, J. B. 433
Monier, William 259
Smith, James
238
Winship, James M. 300
Winship, J. O.
487
Moore, D. B. 146
Snell, Harry
242
Wonser, E. E.
340
Sparling, George E.
Wood, Timothy
478
Nash, Charles N. 488
Sparling, John S.
505
Naumann, John
504
St. Mary's Church
Yaeger,, Bernard
286
Newburn, M. E.
466
Stotler, H. A.
Young, J. N.
255
Newman, A. S. 177
Stouffer, H. M.
360
Sucher, F. W. 282
Zenor, H. B. 866
Olson, Mons 500
Sucber, Jacob
486
Ziegler, Josepb
232
Opper, C. G. 436
322
Swaney, John 160
Zilm, William 222
Otto, Gustav 384
Swartz, Carmi 427
Zimmerman, Peter 325
Owen, D. D. 412
Swift, Clark 296
Zumbuehl, Leonz
150
Pace, G. E. 441
Thierry, F. F. 269
Thompson, John I. 165
Thompson, Norton 476
Kellogg, Saxton T. 435
Tidmarsh, H. W. 465
King, Martin 493
335
Phillips, L. R. 200
Pringle, Robert
178
Turnbull, Rohert 386
Turner, A. L. 316
Purviance, Price
204
Twist, W. W.
385
Raymond, F. A.
190
Vaughn, F. A.
225
Vincent, Fred 241
Wabel, G. L. 171
Ware, Thomas 368
Watkins, J. W. 418
Watson, Dr. R. L. 431
Webber, A. P. 348
West, Peter 399
McDonough, Rohert
485
Seelye, T. A.
407
Riddell, William 281
Townley, E. J. 446
King, Samuel
Owen, Lewis R. 416
Tanquary, Addison 241
Motter, Charles 237
Sparling, George
244
Wood, Ellison G. 314
Montgomery, Otis
131
Smith, L. V.
411
149
385
'Sutcliffe, Benjamin
457
Zilm, Henry E. 334
Osborne, W. N.
375
341
Rickey, Charles E. 452
512
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA Q.977.3515895P C001 PAST AND PRESENT OF MARSHALL AND PUTNAM
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