Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 83

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228

USA > Illinois > Adams County > Quincy > Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois > Part 83

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triet, where the home were widely scattered and where the work of improvement and progress seemed scarcely begun. Mr. Diekerman after- wards purchased a farm in that township, two miles northwest of the village of Mendon. There he lived for some time but eventually sold that property and bought another farm a mile and a half north of Mendon, where he lived until 1891, when he retired from active labor and took up his abode in the village, there spending his re- maining days. Ile died April 4, 1902, and his wife's death oeeurred on the 29th of February, 1904. They left three sons, the brothers of our subject, being D. L. and D. W. Dickerman. both of whom reside in Mendon.

F. O. Diekerman was educated in the public schools of Mendon and afterward engaged in farming on his father's land for a number of years. In 1876, he purchased a farm on section 36. Mendon township and has since owned that property. With characteristic energy he began its further development and as the years passed placed his fields under a high state of cultivation and added to his farm all modern equipments. using the latest improved machinery in planting and harvesting his erops. In 1901, however, he assigned the active duties of the farm to others and took up his abode in Mendon, where he owns a beautiful residence. He yet maintains the own- ership of his farm property and of one hundred and twenty acres in Mendon township. He has been engaged in auctioneering for seventeen years and the demands made upon his time in this way are constant because of his ability. He has gained a wide acquaintance in this way and his genial manner in addition to his sterling worth has made him popular.

On the 30th of October, 1872. Mr. Dickerman was married to Miss Julia A. Smith, who was born May 4, 1854. She was a daguhter of Hamil- ton and Elizabeth Conklin) Smith, who were natives of New York state, the former born Feb- rnary 29, 1824. and the latter Inly 5, 1823. They became residents of Adams county in 1851. locating two miles south of Mendon in Mendon township upon a farm which is yet the home of Mr. Smith. His wife, however, died in March. 1884. They were the parents of three sons and five daughters, who are yet living: Henry A .. who resides in Ferndale. Washington: H. Z. Smith, who is living in Oniney: Mrs. Mary E. Gilliland. a resident of Mendon : Caroline L. of Mendon : Emma L., who is living with her father on the home farm: Elmer E .. a resident of Men- don : and Mrs. Sarah E. Nntt. also of Mendon.

Mr. and Mrs. Diekerman are the parents of three children : Laura E., who was born March 17. 1875, and is the wife of E. O. Jarman, of Nebraska: Fannie A., who was born March 19. 1876, and married W. Il. Flemming. their home

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being in West Chicago; and Jesse M., born May 17. 1886.

Mr. Dickerman votes with the republican party, having always supported its men and measures since attaining his majority. He has been road commissioner for six years and is now justice of the peace and his decisions in that office are strictly fair and impartial. He belongs to Mendon lodge No. 877, I. O. O. F. : Mendon camp. No. 751, M. W. A. : and the Royal Neigh- bors, No. 423, his wife also being a member of the last named. Mr. and Mrs. Diekerman hold membership in the Lutheran church and both are widely and favorably known in the com- munity where they reside. Starting out on his Imsiness career with no capital Mr. Diekerman has persevered in his attempt to gain a comfort- able competence, brooking no obstacles that could be overcome by earnest and honorable pur- pose. Thus he has made for himself a creditable name and at the same time has gained a good financial reward for his labors.

GEORGE W. H. BUTLER.

George W. II. Butler, whose life record con- tained many elements that were worthy of emul- ation and commendation, was born in Clay county, Tennessee, his parents being Mr. and Mrs. James Butler, both of whom died in that connty during the early childhood of their son. In his youth George W. H. Butler was a student in the public schools of his native county and acquired a fair education. He afterward started out in life on his own account and, thinking that he might have better business opportunities in the city, he went to Nashville, where he secured a position as clerk in a wholesale grocery store. Hle saved all his earnings, living as economically as possible, and through his industry won ad- vancement from time to time, thus seenring more remunerative salary. He clerked for several years and finally purchased an interest in the business of his employer, Mr. MeLaughlin, who fully appreciating his services and recognizing his business capacity and ability, felt that it would be an advantageous business combination. From that time forward he bent all of his ener- gies toward the building up of their store and the new firm enjoyed success from the beginning. In course of time they had the largest trade of any commercial house in Nashville and con- tinned in business there for more than twenty years, Mr. Butler being a representative of the mercantile interests of the eity from the time of his arrival there until his death. His course was marked by consecutive advancement won through honorable effort and elose application.

Ile was a man of marked industry, indolence and idleness being utterly foreign to his nature, and whatever he undertook he carried forward to successful completion, brooking no obstacles or difficulties that conld be overcome by a deter- mined, persistent and honorable effort.

While residing in Nashville Mr. Butler was united in marriage to Miss Nannie L. Armstrong, a native of Olden county, Tennessee, and a daughter of P. N. Armstrong, who followed farming in that county for many years and sub- sequently removed to the town of Livingston. Tennessee, where he embarked in merchandising, continuing in that field of activity until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Butler were the parents of six children, of whom three are yet living: L. Alvia, who resides in St. Louis, Missouri, where he is employed by the JJ. S. Merrill Drug Com- pany; Elizabeth, who resides with her mother ; and William M., also at home. Those deceased are Georgia. Pleasant and one who died in in- fancy nnnamed.

Mr. Butler's death occurred February 8, 1875, and Nashville thereby lost one of its prominent, respected and honored business men. His po- sition in commercial circles there is indicated by the fact that at the time of his demise a public meeting of the merchants and business men of Nashville was called, at which were present the leaders in trade circles there, men who controlled extensive and important business interests. They " met in the counting-room of the business house of MeLaughlin & Butler on Market street at three o'clock in the afternoon on the 8th of December," according to a report of one of the local papers. "to give expression to the feelings of deep sympathy, heartfelt sorrow * at the death of G. W. Il. Butler * * Colonel Warson M. Cooke was called to the chair, and J. J. Womack requested to act as secretary. Colonel Cooke made some very appropriate and pathetie remarks, mentioning some of the many virtues prominent in the character of the de- ceased. Ile was followed by Colonels R. F. Nevins, A. Tyler. W. H. Webb and B. Il. Cooke, all of whom bore testimony to the striet integrity, fair dealings and general uprightness of the de- parted. A committee on resolutions was ap- pointed, composed of A. G. Ewing, K. J. Morris, A. Tyler and J. J. Womaek, who reported the following :

"Whereas, we have heard with unfeigned re- gret and sorrow of the death of our worthy fellow-citizen, friend and brother merchant, G. W. H. Butler ; therefore,

"Resolved. The merchants of Nashville in the death of G. W. Il. Butler have met with a loss hard to repair and a void has been created that cannot easily be filled; and that while we mourn

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his loss, we are satisfied that by a love of striet inegrity, fair dealing and a manly regard for all of the good in this life, he has merited a better reward in the great future.

"Resolved, That we attend his funeral in a body.

"Resolved, That a copy of the proceedings of this meeting be furnished his family and also published in the American.'

Mr. Butler's partner. Mr. MeLaughlin, sur- vived him until 1904.

After her husband's death Mrs. Butler eon- tinned in the business for a short time and then sold out to Mr. MeLanghlin. Later she removed to Lexington, Kentucky, where she resided until 1902, when through the persuasion of her son in St. Louis she decided to remove to the middle west. Not liking St. Lonis as a city of residence. however. she came to Quiney, where she now makes her home. In his political views Mr. Butler was a democrat and he was always the earnest champion of any measure, political or otherwise, which he believed to be right. He was very devoted to his family, doing every- thing in his power to promote the happiness and welfare of his wife and children and he left to them an untarnished name. He held mem- bership in the Methodist Episcopal church in Nashville and his widow and children were also members there. They have never united with the church here. but are frequent attendants at its services and take great interest in the church work. Mrs. Butler has valuable realty and per- sonal property and owns a beautiful home at No. 834 Oak street in Quiney and she and her dangh- ter are prominent in social circles of the city.

JOHN ADAMS.

John Adams, a retired farmer of Camp Point, who for a half century was identified with agri- cultural interests in Adams county. has lived here since 1833. Few residents have so long remained within its borders and Mr. Adams is one whose mind bears the impress of the early historieal annals of the city, at the same time having an intimate knowledge of its later de- velopment and progress for he has always been deeply interested in what has pertained to the publie welfare. Ile was born in Jefferson county, Kentucky, near Louisville, October 10. 1826, and is a son of Elijah Adams, who was a native of Virginia and was of English descent. his ancestors having been among the early resi- dents of the Old Dominion. Elijah Adams was reared in that state and married Rebecca Wilks. a native of Virginia. He removed to Kentucky. settling in Jefferson county, where he engaged

in the operation of a farm and a distillery. He spent his remaining days there and died of cholera in 1832.

His wife survived him and reared her three children. of whom John was the eldest and is the only survivor. In 1833 she removed to Ilinois, John Adams at that time being a lad of seven years. They settled near Camp Point, where he grew to manhood, enjoying only common school advantages. However, by close application he prepared himself for teaching and followed that profession through several winter terms, while in the summer months he engaged in farming. After renting land for a few years he bought a traet of seventy-five acres in Camp Point town- ship. This he began to cultivate and improve and when his erops brought him a good financial return he would invest his surplus earnings in more land until he became the owner of two hundred and thirty acres. He continued farm- ing there until 1888, when he sold his property and removed to Camp Point. Here he purchased a residence to which he made additions and im- provements, transforming it into a good home. lle has since bought several tracts of land in Nebraska and now owns a farm in Harlan county, comprising one hundred and sixty aeres of improved land, and likewise a farm in Miller county, Arkansas, comprising three hundred and sixty acres, which is very valuable and is devoted to the raising of cotton. Ilis attention is now chiefly given to the care of his home place in Camp Point. His has been an active and use- ful career-a life of service crowned with sne- cess.

In 1854 Mr. Adams was married to Miss Nancy J. Robertson, a native of Indiana but reared in Hlinois. She died in 1871. There were six children by that marriage, the oldest now living being Margaret Jane, the wife of J. H. MeGill, a resident farmer of York county, Ne- braska. The others are Professor William T. Adams, of Mena, Arkansas. now superintendent of the city schools and a well known edneator, who was formerly principal of the schools at Bowen, Illinois: Charles S., who is a farmer of Kansas; Mary E., the wife of HI. M. Bates, a commercial traveler of Galesburg, Illinois: and Martha E .. the wife of Warren C. Meserole, superintendent of a lithographing establishment in New York city. Mr. Adams was married again in 1874. his second nnion being with Miss Mary Lindenbanr. a native of New York. There is one daughter by this union, Jessie Ethel, now the wife of Harry M. Clark, a commercial traveler living in North Dakota.

Mr. Adams' political support was originally given to the whig party and he well remembers the campaign of 1840. when William Henry IFar-

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rison was the presidential candidate. lle sup- ported Zachary Taylor with his first presidential ballot and afterward voted for Abraham Lincoln and other candidates of the republican party, but for some years has been a democrat and his last ballot was cast for William Jennings Bryan. He has frequently declined to serve in political of- fices, preferring to do his best duties as a private citizen. but he has been director of schools and is a warm friend of the cause of education, favor- ing the employment of competent teachers and doing everything in his power to raise the stand- ard of education. During almost three-quarters of a century he has lived in Adams county, settling here when much of the land was still in its primitive condition. The prairies were covered with their native wild grasses and the for- ests stood in their primeval strength but it was not long before man made his invasion into the distriet and wrought a transformation which has been carried forward with the years until in every line of development and progress Adams county equals the older districts of the Union. Mr. Adams has always commanded the trust and good will of his fellowmen and well deserves representation in this vohune.

HENRY FRANKLIN CHITTENDEN.

Henry Franklin Chittenden, better known as Harry Chittenden, has for many years been a representative of the farming interests of Adams county and is now living on section 36, Mendon township. His birth occurred in Men- don. November 4. 1853. He is of English line- age, the ancestry being traced back to the year 1638. when William Chittenden, of England, emigrated to America, landing near the pres- ent site of Guilford, Connecticut. In succes- sive generations we have mention of the fol- lowing: John Chittenden, a son of William Chittenden, was married in December, 1665, to Hannah Fletcher. Joseph Chittenden, born in 1672, was married in 1692 to Mary Kimberley. Gideon, born in July, 1698, was married in 1722 to Abigail Bishop. Abraham, born in 1723. was married in 1748 to Merey Bergis. Abra- ham, second, born August 10, 1751, was mar- ried in November, 1774, to Diana Ward, who died April 24, 1784, and in May. 1785, he mar- ried Lida Rose, who died in October, 1819. while his death ocenrred in March, 1848. John B., born JJanuary 16, 1790, was married Jan- uary 12. 1814, to Elizabeth Robinson, who died October 30. 1862, while his death ocenrred JJan- mary 23. 1863. Abraham. born December 15. 1824, was married December 19, 1852, to Let-

titia S. Barclay and died May 27, 1904, his widow still surviving him at the age of sixty- eight years. He was the father of Henry F. Chittenden.

The grandfather, John B. Chittenden, in the year 1831, became so much interested in Ili- nois through letters received from Rev. Asa Turner and other friends, that he decided to emigrate from his native town, Guilford. Con- neetient, to Quiney, Illinois, and on the 19th of September that year he started for the west in a two-horse wagon, accompanied by his wife and four sons: Samuel R., Henry R., Abraham and John A., aged respectively fourteen, nine, six and three years. They were joined at New Ilaven by five other wagons carrying twenty- six people, and on the 11th of October they ar- rived at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. There the mother and two youngest sons took passage on a steamboat, the New Jersey. for Alton, Illi- nois, while the father with the two oldest boys continued the journey overland. They had a great deal of trouble in crossing small rivers which were unbridged, so that they were fre- quently compelled to swim their horses across the streams and take their wagons apart. con- veying them over in canoes. Springfield was the first town they saw in Illinois and at the postoffice Mr. Chittenden found a letter stating that his family was at Alton. He then started for that place, where he arrived on the 18th of November. The weather was so cold that they decided to make the remainder of the journey by steamboat and left Alton November 26, 1831, on the steamer William Wallace. The boat was very heavily loaded and because of the strong current and the head-winds made very slow progress. By the 30th of November the ive had become so thick that they could not continue their course and they settled at a small town named Scipio on the Missouri side of the river about twenty miles below Quincy. After waiting a few days Mr. Chittenden de- cided to put his wagon and family on a sled and start for Quiney on the ice. His oldest boy. Samuel R., drove the team, while he went ahead with a heavy staff sounding the ice and watching for air-holes.

The family reached Quincy December 15. 1831, and spent the first night at the home of Governor Wood. This journey of eighty- eight days was attended with many unfortun- ate incidents and hardships but was completed in safety. During the winter the family lived in a little log cabin at the corner of what is now Fourth and Jersey streets in Quiney, and John Chittenden taught vocal music during the winter, being probably the first musie teacher in the military traet. He also traveled over

Abraham Chittenden

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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

Adams county during the winter, looking for a favorable location. Ile did not think it wise to locate near the river on account of malaria, and finally purchased the southwest quarter of section 11, township 1 north. and range & west. He moved with his family to this farm March 14, 1832, and in a few weeks a number of New England people, who had arrived about the same time, assembled at his cabin and organ- ized the first Sunday-school and Congregation- al church located in the state of Illinois. The families thus interested in the religious meet- ings were the Bradley, Shuey, Harrington. Crow. Pierson. Bean, Cook. Fowler, Benton and Chittenden families. In the year 1833 the present site of Mendon was purchased and the town laid out by Benjamin Baldwin and John B. Chittenden, and in that year the citizens united in building a log church to be used by all denominations. The structure was built of round logs and the floor was made of split logs resting on the ground. The door was made of the same material, opened out, was hung with wooden hinges and had a wooden latch on the inside, while a buckskin string through a gim- let-hole in the door served to open it from the outside. There was one window on the east side of the building. The fireplace and chim- ney were made of prairie sod and the seats were built of logs resting on four legs, while the roof was made of claphoards. In the spring of 1837 the Congregational members decided to build a church of their own and did so, the building being used until 1852, when the present chuch edifice was built, but in 1905 it was proposed to erect a more modern struc- ture at a cost of thirteen thousand dollars.

John B. Chittenden left his buisiness entirely to the management of his sons, while he devot- ed his time to religions work, organizing a Sun- day-school and doing other home missionary work. In 1836 he rode to Chicago on a three- year-old colt, while engaged in religious ser- vices. Wild animals, including bears. panthers and wildcats, were common. There were also many deer. and turkeys and prairie chickens likewise furnished many a meal for the set- thers. Mr. Chittenden of this review remen- bers of hearing his father speak of only two bears being killed on Mendon prairie. Pan- thers, however, were more dangerons than the bears, and wolves were frequently a menace to the farmyards.

Abraham Chittenden, father of Henry F. Chittenden. carried forward the pioneer work. assisting more partienlarly in the agricultural development of this part of the state. He was married December 19, 1852, to Miss Lettitia S. Barclay, who was born in Lyons, New York.

November 9, 1836, and was a daughter of Dan- iel W. and Phoebe (Prime) Barelay, who with their ten children, removed to Mendon, Illinois. in 1850. Abraham Chittenden was a Method- ist in his religious belief and a democrat in his political affiliation. Throughout his entire life he followed the occupation of farming un- til well advanced in years and then lived re- tired until called to his final rest in his ninety- sixth year. Ilis wife passed away on her eighty-fifth birthday. They were people of the highest respectability, enjoying the un- qualified confidence and good will of those with whom they were associated. Abraham Chit- tenden had three children. of whom Henry F. is the eldest. Sarah Elizabeth, horn Novem- ber 29. 1856, married George W. Shupe, a son of Christopher and Mary (Shultz) Shupe, and they have two children: Pearl. born April 2. 1881, and George C., born November 16, 1885. They are now living in San Antonio, Texas. Abraham 1., born November 9, 1864, lives in Peabody, Kansas. lle married Laura Eaton and has four children : Cora C., born April 15. 1891: Hazel F., born July 26, 1894; Fred, born March 1, 1896: and Olive, born about 1900.

Henry F. Chittenden, after attending the public schools completed the scientific course of study at Demark Academy, in Denmark. Iowa, June 20, 1876. In his boyhood he great- ly enjoyed hunting prairie chickens, dueks. «mails and rabbits, using a muzzle-loading rifle and nearly always shooting his game in the head. Ile is yet fond of hunting and, as op- portunity offers, indulges in the sport. He was born and reared on the farm and when but eight years of age he dropped nine acres of corn by hand in one day. Ho helped to culti- vate this corn with a one horse plow and was always regarded as one of the hands upon his father's farm from this time. When nineteen years of age he began teaching in the Prairie school, having sixty-seven scholars on the roll. Ile followed that profession for two years and then continued his own education in the Den- mark Academy. After leaving there he again taught for six months in the year for five sne- feeding years. From this time on his farm re- quired his entire attention and he has engaged in the raising of corn, wheat, oats. hay. hogs. cattle and horses. In each of these branches he has met with reasonable profit. He began handling cattle on his own account when twenty years of age. using the money earned in teaching as capital. Having no way of wintering his stock, when the cold season ap- proached he was compelled to dispose of his cattle. Ile could. however, get no bid for his two-year-old steers and coming to Mendon he

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PAST AND PRESENT OF ADAMS COUNTY.

rented a butcher-shop and employed Captain John Rosenbrook to assist him in condueting it. After killing one beef lames Corbin of West Point bought the cattle for two and a half vents per pound, but having rented the shop and hired his assistant, Mr. Chittenden con- tinned in the business for three weeks, during which time he made a net profit of one hundred and twelve dollars. He has always considered Illinois soil the best and safest investment and has used his surplus earnings in buying more land. In October, 1900, he organized the first farmers' telephone company running into Men- don. This company had fifteen charter mem- bers, which mumber has been increased to thirty-seven and the lines have been extended to Loraine, Illinois, and there is now free ex- change with five hundred 'phones.

Mr. Chittenden has always been an admirer and supporter of the republican party but has never songht or held office. Ile became a char- ter member of Mendon camp, No. 751, M. W. ., October 20, 1888, and has been deeply in- terested in its work. In 1903 he attended the state camp at Bloomington and also the head camp at Indianapolis. He became a member of the Congregational church about 1870 and from his infancy has attended the Sunday- school and always expects to, being an active worker in its behalf and one who has done mich good for the organization.

Mr. Chittenden was married March 9, 1877, in Denmark, lowa, to Ella S. Mills, a daugh- ter of Harlow and Elizabeth ( Arnold ) Mills. The Mills family were New England people who came originally from Connectient and mi- grated to Gustavus, Ohio, where Harlow Mills was born about 1828. His wife was born in New York state, in 1830. In 1850 they re- moved to Denmark, lowa, where they assisted in estabilshing one of the first Congregational churches in the state and in founding the best academy in the west. In their family were the following children: Charles F., born Jammary 23, 1851, is now living in Ashland, Oregon. Hle was married March 26, 1873, to Ella Atkin- son, who died in 1890, leaving two children, Eda and Harlow, and he subsequently married again, having two children by the second union, Ross and Reginald. Ada T., born .Ily 31, 1853, was married March 17, 1875, to Edwin James. of Denmark. Iowa, and to them were born five children, Charles, Fred, Otis, Nellie and one who died in infancy. The mother died April 19, 1889, and later Mr. James married Ella Platt, by whom he has one child, Lantie. Ella S., born February 27, 1854, is the wife of our subject. Mary E., born July 21. 1856, died October II, 1873. Nettie S., born December

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Past and present of the city of Quincy and Adams County, Illinois, Part 83

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1905 Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1228

Author: Collins, William H. (William Hertzog), 1831-1910; Perry, Cicero F., 1855- [from old catalog] joint author; Tillson, John, 1825-1892. History of the city of Quincy, Illinois. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1905
Publisher: Chicago, S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1228