USA > Illinois > Menard County > Past and present of Menard County, Illinois > Part 24
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In 1826 Mr. Juli was married to Miss Louisa Baker, who is of German birth and who prior to her marriage resided in Sand Ridge. Menard county. Six children have been born unto them: Hall, who resides at home: Wal- ter. now deceased, who married Alice Smith and since his death his widow has made her home with her father. S. M. Smith : Ollie, who married Walter Watkins and is living in town- ship 18. Menard county: Hattie, who is the wife of William J. Honghton : Emma. who re- side upon the home farm at the age of fif- teen years; and Elsie, who is twelve years of age and completes the family.
Mr. Juhl is a Republican in his political belief and has been called to serve in several local offices, acting as school trustee, as school director and as road commissioner. He he- longs to the Lutheran church, while his wife is a member of the Methodist church. Both are worthy of the esteem in which they are so uniformly held and they certainly deserve re-
presentation in this volume. Mr. Juhl has not been disappointed in America, its advantages and its prospects and has never had occasion to regret his determination to establish his home in the new world. for here he has pros- pered as the years have gone by and is now one of the substantial farmers of his locality.
HORACE A. WOOD.
Horace A. Wood, now living retired in Petersburg, was until recently engaged in the nursery business. He was born on the 30th of shame, iste. in Cattaraugus county. New York. a son of Solomon and Ann ( Shewman) Wood. The father was born in the Empire state in 1812 and was of English lineage, while his wife was of German descent. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a militia man in New York at an carly day and when the country became involved in the second war with England he enlisted in its defense and served throughout the period of hostilities. Solomon Wood was reared to man- hood in the state of his nativity and throughout his business career followed the occupation of farming. His birth had occurred in Putnam county. New York, but be removed from that section of the state to the western part. settling near Ithaca and later he took up his abode in Caftaraugus county, where he became a land- owner and carried on agricultural pursuits. Ile married Miss And Showman, who was of German lineage, born in New Jersey in the year 1814. It was soon after their marriage that they removed to western New York. tak- ing up their abode near Olean, which was the starting place for the western emigrants. the travelers securing their outfits there and pro- reeding from that point down the Megheny river. Solomon Wood died in 1890 at about the age of eighty-five years, and his wife passed away three years previously when about the same age. In their family were tive children. of whom Horace A. was the fourth in order of birth. Abraham. the oldest. spent his entire life in New York. Harriet, deceased. was the wife of Sylvester Gray, who lived in the state of New York, where Mrs. Gray spent her entire
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life. She had three sons and three daughters. Haley, who owns the old family homestead in western New York. married Sarah Maybe and they have one daughter and an adopted son. Jennie, the youngest of the family, bo- came the wife of Montiville White, and both are now decreased. They resided in the Empire state and had one son and three daughters.
Horace A. Wood began his education in the district schools of his native state and after- ward continued his studies in an academy in Rushford. New York. Later he attended a private school and subsequently went to Pough- keepsie, where he entered Eastman's Business College, completing his education by gradua- tion from that institution. On putting aside his text-books he began traveling for a nursery company. his territory being principally Illi- nois. Later he embarked in the nursery busi- ness in Menard county on his own account and grew nursery stock for seven years. He then dealt in nursery stock for a number of years and was at one time connected with a business of manufacturing bed springs and mattreses. following that pursuit for abont thirteen months. He owns seventy acres of land ad- joining the corporation limits of Petersburg. In Menard county and this part of the state was known as an enterprising and reliable Imsine-> man, and whatever success he achieved is due entirely to his own labors, for he started out in life on his own account with limited capital.
In 1869 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Wood and Miss Lizzie Miles, a daughter of James Miles, whose biography appears okse- where in this volume, and unto them were born three children. two sons and a daughter : Flor- ence, born in 1824. is now the wife of Dr. George Spears, who is engaged in the practice of dentistry in Petersburg: Beulah. born in 18SI, is a graduate of the Petersburg high school and has spent two years as a sindent in the State University of Illinois and is now teaching in Menard county. Harlington, born in 1881. is also a graduate of the Petersburg schools and was a student in the Stato I'ni- versity. where he pursued the study of law. lle is now teaching school. but will continue hi- law studies in 1905.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Wood hold membership in the Christian church and their children are also identified therewith. He gave his political support to the Republican party until 1896, in which year he voted for William Jennings Bryan, but he has again became connected with the Republican party and he is enabled to support his position by intelligent argument because he keeps well informed upon the ques- tions and issues of the day. He began life as a poor boy, but his financial valuation is now creditable. His life has been one of activity and usefulness and has been characterized by the most unswerving integrity and honor in all his business transactions and in his varied relations with his fellow men.
THOMPSON WARE MCNEELY.
Thompson Ware MeNeely was born in JJack- sonville, Ilinois, October 5. 1835. His father, Robert T. MeNeely. and his mother, Ann Maria ( Ware) MeNeely, were natives of Ken- tucky but were married in Jacksonville. Illi- nois. September 11. 1831. The mother died in Jacksonville. July 25. 1839. and our sub- jest then came to live with relatives in Menard county, where he has resided ever since. llis father came to Petersburg in 1812 and en- gaged in mercantile business, residing there until his death December E. 1886.
After coming to Menard county. Mr. Me- Neely spent a number of years on a farm and then entered his father's store as a clerk. After one war at Jubilee College near Peoria. Illi- nois, he entered Lombard University at Gales- burg in 1852. from which he was graduated in June. 1856, with the degree of A. B .. and the same college conferred upon him the degree of A. M. in 1859. Mr. MeNeely began the study of law in July, 1856, and in the follow- ing October he went south and taught school in a private family on a plantation near Wood- ville. Mississippi. for some mouths, studying law at the same time. Returning to Peters- burg he was admitted to the bar in August. 185 ;. where he has since then been in the active practice of law. In November. 1858. he entered the law department of the Univer-
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>ity of Louisville, Kentucky, from which he strong purpose. He was born January il. was graduated in the following March with the . 1816, his parents being Herman and Mary degree of LL. B.
In November. 1861. Mr. MeNeely was elected as a delegate to the constitutional convention of Ilinois from Menard and Cass counties, in which body he served as a member. In 1868 he was elected on the Democratic ticket as a member of congress from the ninth congres- sional district of Illinois, composed of the counties of Menard, Cass, Mason, Fulton, Me- Donough. Schuyler. Brown and Pike, and was re-elected from the same district in 1870, serv- ing from March 4. 1869, to March 1, 1873. He was appointed by the Democratic state conven- tion of Illinois and served as a delegate to the Democratic national convention which was held in Baltimore in 1822. In 1828-9 he served as chairman of the state Democratic central committee of Illinois. In 1892 he was elected and served as one of the presidential electors for Illinois, voting for Mr. Cleveland. In 1896 he was again nominated as a presidential elector by the Democratic state convention but was defeated as were all other, on the ticket. He has always supported and voted the Democratic ticket, taking an active interest in every campaign.
On November 22. 1822. Mr. MeNeely was married to Miss M. 11. Dirickson, daughter of Colonel L. 1 .. Dirickson, of Berlin, Maryland. They have one child. Bettie. the wife of Nelson H. Greene, of Tallula, Illinois. In religion Mr. MeNeely is an Episcopalian and is an of- ficer in the local church. He is a Mason and has served as master of his lodge: high priest of his chapter : and eminent commander of his commandery. He is a Scottish Rite Mason. and has received the thirty-second degree of that Masonic order. He is also a Knight of Pythias. a Modern Woodman and an Elk.
REINHARD ONKEN.
Among the citizens that Germany has fur- nished to the new world is numbered Reinhard Onken, who has many of the sterling character- i-ties that have always been notable among the German people-the energy, capability and
(Gerdes) Onken, who were also natives of the fatherland. The former died December 21. 1865, and the latter in February, 1860.
Reinhard Onken spent the days of his boy- hood and youth in his native land. attended school in accordance with its laws and after- ward, still in conformity with the ruies that govern German citizenship, he entered the army, serving from November 1, 186;, until the 5th of September. 181. A war broke out in 1820 and on the 4th day of August of that year he went with his command to the French line. On the 16th of the same month he par- ticipated in the battle of Marslatour, the en- gagement lasting from morning until eight o'clock at night. while the loss on each side was over twenty-five thousand. The next en- gagement in which Mr. Onken participated was that of Gravelotte, the fighting beginning at noon and continuing until night. Ile was in seven pitched battles altogether, serving with the cavalry forces.
Not long after his release from military ser- vice Mr. Onken determined to establish his home in America and arrived in Menard county on the Ist of April. 1822. Here he was em- ployed by the month as a farm hand until 1880. when he rented the Alkire farm near Sweet- water for a year. He afterward rented the H. H. Marbold farm until 1888, when with the money that he had saved from his carnings and through his economy he became the owner of a farm of his own. In fact he had pur- chased this in 1886, but did not take up his abode thereon until 1888. Since that time he has continually and successfully engaged in general farming and in the raising and feed- ing of stock and has line farm animals upon his place, dealing only in high grades of cattle and horses. He came to this country empty- handed. but has steadily worked his way up- ward and is to-day the owner of two hundred and seventy acres of fine land, splendidly im- proved with good buildings and equipped with all the accessories of a model farm of the twen- tieth century.
Mr. Onken was married to Miss Amelia Meyer, a daughter of Herman Il. and Dorothy
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(Hackman) Meyer. both of whom were born in Germany. Mr. Meyer also came to this country in very limited financial circumstances. but through his energy and activity and by reason of his honorable conduct he became a representative citizen of Menard county. He was born February 16. 1826. and died AApril 21. 1902. His wife was born on the ith of March. 1831. The year 185! witnessed their arrival in America and for about a year they remained in St. Louis, where Mr. Meyer was employed in a brickyard and in driving teams. He came to Menard county in 1855 and for some time worked by the month in the employ of Mr. Marbold, and by his economy and indus- try he saved sufficient means to enable him to purchase two hundred acres of wild land near Salt creek. He then put forth every effort toward the improvement of this place that it might become a productive tract. Later he was enabled to purchase two hundred acres near by and also improved this.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Onken has been blessed with four children :. two having died in infancy. Those living are: Herman E., born May 26. 1SS1 : and Margaret Maria, born August 2. 1SS2. The parents are members of the Lutheran church and Mr. Onken has for twelve years been a member of the school board in his district in which capacity he does every- thing in his power to promote the cause of edu- ration. lu politics he has always been a stanch Democrat and in his citizenship has been noted for his loyalty to America and her best institutions.
I. E. WILKINS. M. D.
Among the members of the medical frater- nity practicing in Petersburg who deserve special mention because of their capability and consequent success is Dr. I. E. Wilkins. to whom is accorded a gratifying patronage in recognition of his careful preparation and his skill which arises therefrom. He has spent his entire life in this state. his birth having oc- curred in Greenville. Bond county. on the 21-1 of July 1865. His parents. Dr. D. and Maria M 'Gwyn) Wilkins, are natives of Laporte.
Indiana. In 185: the father removed to Illi- nois, settling in Greenville, Bond county, where he has since engaged in practice, although he is now largely living retired. being seventy- nine years of age. He and his wife celebrated their golden wedding. May 11. 1901, and the festivities were participated in by many friends. for they are among the best known and most highly esteemed citizens of Bond county. At the time of the Civil war Dr. D. Wilkins offered his services to the government. enlisting in the One Hundred and Thirtieth Illi- nois Infantry, under Colonel John B. Reed. He served ahost from the bo- winning of hostilities until the latter part of 1865. and after his return home he acquired a very extensive practice, which brought to him a good financial return. From the time of the establishment of the board of pension examiners he served as one of its members. act- ing in that capacity until he resigned on ar- count of advanced age, at which time he was succeeded by his son, Dr. David R. Wilkins. The father is a prominent and valued mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic and is also identified with the Masonic fraternity.
Dr. H. E. Wilkins ingan his education in the primary school of Greenville and there continued his studies until he had completed the high school course. being graduated with the class of 1886. Whether inherited tendencies or environment shaped his conrse it is impo -- sible to determine, but at all events ho resolved to make the practice of medicine his life work and to this end entered the Missouri Medical College of St. Louis, Missouri, where he spent three and a half years in study and was then obliged to put aside his text-books because of failing health. His case was diagnosed as tuberenlosis and it was arranged that he should >pond six months in Kansas, six months in Colorado and six months in the mountains. but at the end of the first six months he was so improved that he returned to Greenville.
There Dr. Wilkins was married, on the ?11h of December, 1890, to Miss Mary E. Habich. a daughter of Joseph H. Habich, a representative farmer of Bond county. They Jost two chil- dren that were born unto them: Daisy Ruth. who died at the age of two years: and Madie
B. F. Marbold.
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Jewell. who died at the age of six and a half Years. On the 25th of September, 1901, a son was horn, to whom they have given the name of James Habich Wilkins.
After his marriage Dr. Wilkins returned to Geneva. Kansas, where he had previously practiced, and again taking up his professional duties, he continued a member of the medical fraternity of that place for two and a half years. On the expiration of that period he pursued a course of study in the College of Physician- and Surgeons of Keokuk, lowa. and was graduated on the ;th of March. 1893. In addition to the regular work he pursued a special course on discases of women and chil- dren, for which he received a special diploma. and in his practice he has been very successful along those lines.
Following his graduation he returned to Bond county and took up the practice of medi- eine five miles east of the old homestead. where he remained until 1895. when he removed !! Sorento, Bond county, settling fifteen miles north of the old home. When he had practiced in that locality for nine years he came to Peters- burg and succeeded Dr. J. C. Fisher in the conduct of a practice which under his guidance has grown in both volume and importance. He belongs to the Bond County Medical So- Fiets and also to the Menard County Medical Society.
Dr. Wilkins is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is serving as senior deacon of his lodge. He also belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. the Modern Woodmen of America, the Mutual Protective League and was one of the leaders and promoters in estab- fishing a camp of the Sons of Veterans in Peter burg. His political support is given the Republican party and he was its choice for the position of coroner in 1901. Both he and his wife are consistent members and very ac- tive and efficient workers in the Cumberland Presbyterian church of Petersburg. in which he is now serving as a ruling older and also as clerk of the sessions. His life has been actu- ated by high and worthy principles and mno- tives. as is indicated by his strict conformity to the ethic- of the profession. his honorable relations with his fellowmen and his advocacy
of any cause which has for its object the real betterment and improvement of the community.
JOSEPH COLSON.
Joseph Colson was born June 29, 1860, on the farm in Menard county now occupied by August Winkleman. He is a son of Samuel and Maria ( Watkins) Colson, early residents of Illinois, the father living in this state at the time of the memorable deep snow-an event which has become historical in the annals of the state. In the family were six children, of whom five are living: Charles, who resides near Oakford, married Julia Brown and they have seven living children : Calvin W .. who re- sides upon his father's farm, welded Ollie Eden and they have three children. two daughters and a son: Joseph is the third in order of birth: Annie is the wife of David Stitch. a farmer residing at North Atterberry, and they have two sons and two daughters: Jennie. a twin sister of Annie, is the wife of Theodore Dohrer, who is in the goverment service at Arkansas City. Kansas, and they have three sans, including twins : one child. Mac. died on the home farm at the age of eighteen years and was buried in Oakland cemetery.
Joseph Colson pursued his education in what was called the Sampson school. It was seated with long benches and there was a large slove which would take in a stick three of four feet in length. It was difficult to maintain dis- cipline in those days, schools being noted for their unruly character. nor did the pupils al- ways tread "a flowery path of knowledge." On the home farm Mr. Colson received instructions as to the best methods of planting and harvest- ing crops and raising stock. He has always engaged in farming and he first began husi- ness on his own account on the A. Winkleman farm, which was then owned by his father. There he lived for a year.
As a companion and helpmate on life's jour- ney Mr. Colson chose Miss Martha Bell. the wedding being celebrated December 21. 1879. Her parents were Austin and Elizabeth (Arnold) Bell, and the Bells were among the carly settlers of Little Grove. Both her father
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and mother were born at Walmit Ridge, Me- nard county. After his marriage Mr. Colson engaged in farming south of Oakford for a year and later lived for one year about a quarter of a mile from that place. He afterward re- moved to the William Lewis farm, upon which he lived for five years and then settled on the Walter Lynn place, now known as the Walker farm. There he lived for three years, at the end of which time he removed to his present farm. taking up his abode in a little house which stood in the old orchard. There he lived for three or four years, after which he returned to the Walker place and again made it his home for four years. He afterward returned to his present farm, occupying the same old house, and later he took up his abode on his father's old homestead. He has been fairly successful. always carrying on general farm- ing. and he is now operating two hundred and forty acres of land on the old home place and rents one hundred and twenty-five acres. He has lived a life of industry and energy and whatever success he has achieved has resulted therefrom.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Colson have been born seven children and the family circle remains unbroken by the hand of death. These are Nora Ellen, who was born November 28. 1880; Matt H .. horn October 12. 1882: Annie. horn May 4, 1881; Elizabeth. born March 24. 1888; Myrtle, born March 4, 1889: Edith. born No- vember 28, 1890. and now attending school in Atterberry: and Samuel. horn September 9. 1896. The children have been provided with good common-school advantages and all belong to the Methodist church in Atterberry. In his political views Mr. Colson is a Democrat and is now serving as central committeeman. taking an active interest in the party. its progress and success.
AUGUSTUS F. BEARD.
Augustus F. Board, who has long been identi- find with the farming interests of Menard county, has been a witness of America's prog- res- and improvement for more than three- quarters of a century. He was born at Now
Boston. Merrimack county. New Hampshire. on the 25th of August. 1521. his parents being Andrew and Rachel ( Marshall) Beard. who were also natives of the old Granite state. Mr. Board is descended from Scotch-Irish an- cestry. the family being founded in America by three brothers. Andrew, Joseph and Archi- bald Beard, who came from Coleraine. County Londonderry. Ireland. Archibald landed in Virginia in 1261 and two years later Andrew and Joseph crossed the Atlantic to Boston. Massachusetts, but never saw the other brother after coming to this country. Andrew Brard. who was our subject's great-grandfather, was born in County Antrim, Ireland. in 1210, and in his native land married Lydia Goardly, who was related to the family of Commodore Porter and was visited by him while his feet was at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Her father was an English officer in the American Revolution. while her son William fought against him as a member of the Colonial army. On coming to the new world Andrew Beard brought with him his family, the son William being then fifteen years of age. From Boston the family pro- ceeded north into New Hampshire and stopped over night at Bedford, that state. During the night their landlady gave birth to twin girls and the following morning William was invited in to see them. As he was leaving the mother said she would give him one of them and strange to relate he married one of them in later years. She bore the name of Jane Burns and was closely related to the noted Scotch port Robert Burns. They were married on the 20th of March. 1290. William Beard was born in Coleraine, Ireland. October 20. 1:51. and was the eldest son of Andrew Beard, who was a blacksmith by occupation. in June. 1115. while working on a building on his father's farm. in New Boston. William received the news that the British had landed in Boston and with the consent of his parents he immedi- ately repaired to Charlestown to take up arms in defense of his adopted country. His mother's last words to him as he was leaving home were: "Co, son, and fight for your country, and if the menny ever see your back never let me see your face again." He participated in the battle of Bunker Hill and was one of the forty to
anna M. Wirsung
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PAST AND PRESENT OF MENARD COUNTY
volunteer to bring some cattle across a neck of land under a raking fire from the enemy in order to prevent their capture. The Revo- lutionary war records of New Hampshire men- tion that after the battle the government al- lowed him four shillings for repairs on his musket. Investigation has shown that at the storming of the heights he shattered his gun stock over the head of a British soldier who had stabbed him in the face with his bayonet. In 1:11 Mr. Beard received an ensign's com- mission and was one of the scouts that com- menced the attack on the enemy at Bennington. It was here that General Stark on entering the fight uttered the historie words. "We con- quer to-day or Molly Stark will be a widow." Although in several engagements Mr. Beard was never wounded except as before mentioned and at the close of his service returned home with an honorable military record. Although entitled to a pension he nobly refused it. He followed farming and blacksmithing and con- tinue to make his home in New Hampshire throughout the remainder of his life. His death occurred January 2. 1832. and his wife died February 9, 1830.
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