Portrait and bigraphical album of Livingston County, Ill. : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and biographies , Part 49

Author: Chapman Brothers (Chicago) publisher
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 1208

USA > Illinois > Livingston County > Portrait and bigraphical album of Livingston County, Ill. : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and biographies > Part 49

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and with the exception of his half-brother, Jost Kern, now deceased, was the only member of the family who came to the United States, and he is now the only one living, an own brother and sister hav- ing died in the Fatherland. The parents passed away in their native Province in middle life, when their son Frederick was but four years of age. IIe was then taken into the home of an uncle, with whom he remained eight years, and afterward " paddled his own canoe." Ile served an appren- ticeship of two years at the milling business, and being more than usually ambitious and enterprising, and not being satisfied with his condition or his prospects in his native kingdom, in the spring of 1852 set sail from Havre, and after a voyage of thirty-five days, landed upon American soil. From New York City he proceeded to Pittsburgh, Pa., and engaged as a farm hand in Butler County at $5 per month and his board. As time passed on and his services became more valuable, he was paid $10 per month. He remained in the Keystone State about four years, then migrated westward, and lo- cating in Grundy County, this State, rented a tract of land, and by the aid of an ox-team in harness, proceeded to cultivate the soil. Two years later he made his advent into Livingston County, having with him a small sum of money which he had saved from his earnings, and which he applied toward the purchase of 160 acres of uncultivated prairie.

Mr. Hack was one of the earliest pioneers of the southeastern portion of Livingston County, and continued farming with marked success until the town of Cullom sprang into existence. With his usual foresight he was one of the first to engage in the lumber and hardware trade at this point, and subsequently added grain to his transactions. He wisely invested his surplus capital in additional land, and is now the owner of 600 acres adjoining the town, all of which is under a good state of cul- tivation. Mr. Hack has erected a good set of farm buildings and has added all other necessary im- provements, He has for many years been the leader in social and business circles, and has been the most substantial encourager of those enterprises tending to the general welfare of the people and calculated to settle up the country with an enterprising and intelligent population. He represented Sullivan

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Township three years on the County Board of Su- pervisors, has been Road Commissioner eighteen years, and School Director sixteen years. He was reared in the doctrines of the Lutheran Church, of which he remains a faithful adherent, and now at- tends regularly at church in Cullom, where he is a Trustee of the society.

The marriage of Frederick Hack and Miss Martha Knorr was celebrated at the bride's home in Pennsyl- vania, June 1, 1852. Mrs. Hack is a native of the same Province as her husband, and came with rela- tives to the United States in her youth. Of this union there have been born six children, of whom the record is as follows: Lizzie is the wife of Ezra Grush, who lives near Dwight: Lena married A. Opperman, of Sullivan Township; Caroline, Mrs. A. II. Haag, lives near Cullom; Katie was married to Leonard Haag and died eight months after her wedding; Ezra and Frederick K. are both married and live near Cullom. Mr. Hack, politically, was at first identified with the Republican party, but now votes independently. In addition to his other public duties he has been President of the Village Board several years.

R EV. JOHN HOSSFELD is a minister of the Gospel in the German Evangelical Church, and preaches in Long Point Township. He. is thirty years of age when this sketeh is written, and has already established himself in the affections and esteem of the members of his church. The calling of a minister is one full of self-denials, and to serve the Master rightly and lead others in the narrow paths of righteousness, is a work that calls for a stout heart and strong faith, and both these are possessed by the subject of this sketch. Ile performs whatever he finds to do with a light heart and a willing hand, and the courage and en- thusiasm he displays are not excelled by older ministers.

Mr. Hossfeld is a native of Germany, and was born in Wiesenthal, Province of Saxony, on the 6th of November, 1858. He is the son of Nichols and Kunigunde (Lorey ) Hossfeld, natives of the

same Province. Besides the subject of this sketch they have four children, whose names are : L. Iloss- feld, who is a farmer and lives near Cleveland, Ohio; Dora II., wife of J. Goebleh, has two chil- dren, and resides in the old country ; Barbara, the wife of H. Filler, a weaver by trade, has a family of three children, and resides in Philadelphia; An- nie is unmarried, and lives in New Jersey.

The subject of this sketch received his education principally in this country. Ile attended school at Galena and Mendota, Ill., and was ordained a min- ister of the Gospel in 1881, at Cairo, Ill. At pres- ent he is engaged in teaching in both the German and English languages at Streator, Ill. In addition to this occupation, he has been assigned to preach the Gospel in Long Point Township, under the aus- pices of the German Evangelical Church. Early in life Mr. Hossfeld manifested a fondness for books, and after entering school, pursued his studies faithfully, improving all his opportunities, and suc- ceeded in acquiring a liberal education. While he is yet engaged in teaching, he has selected for his profession in life that of the ministry. Thus early in life there are indications of talent which will dis- tinguish him in his profession in after life. He is a more than ordinary speaker, and a cogent reas- oner, while his sermons at once appeal to the bet- ter sense and judgment of his hearers. Ile has made a very auspicious beginning in his career, and the future undoubtedly has great things in store for him.

R. CHARLES WORTHI TALBOTT is a prominent and successful physician and stir- geon of Saunemin. where he settled in 1883, and although his residence has been comparatively brief. he has fully established himself in the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens. He is a close and intelligent student. and by dili- gent attention to his calling has already seemed a good practice, with a bright outlook for the future. Dr. Talbott is a native of Illinois, having been born at Decatur, on the 19th of November. 1851. Ile is a son of Luther and Mary ( Rickord) Talbott, the father having been a native of Kentucky, and the

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mother a native of Virginia. but who were both reared in the vicinity of Springfield. III. The Doc- tor's paternal ancestors were of English origin, and settled in Maryland about 150 years ago. His par- ents moved from Sangamon to Macon County, where our subject was born. The father died in 1879, and the mother in 1884.

Our subject remained at home with his parents until he reached man's estate, devoting his time to assisting in the work of the farm and attending school. He received a good, thorough English edu- ration, and after leaving the district schools attended for a time the Champaign University. The follow- ing six years were spent in Missouri in teaching school. He then went to Keokuk, Iowa, attended commercial college. and after completing his eourse he was placed in charge of the English department of the same college for the following two years. At the age of thirty year- he began the study of medicine under Dr. J. L. Connelly, of Harristown, Ill .. with whom he remained for a period of six months. He afterward went to Owaneco, Christian Co .. Ill., where for one year he studied medicine with Dr. J. S. C. C'us-ins, and also during this time attended store in the capacity of drug clerk. In the fall of 1881 he became a student in Rush Medical College, in Chicago, which he attended for three suc- cessive terms, and from which he was graduated with honor and credit in the spring of 1883. Immedi- ately after leaving Rush Medical College he con- eluded to locate at Sammemin. which he then consid- ered, and now knows. to be a good location, and began the practice of medicine. By strict attention to business, courteous manners, and intelligent dis- pensation of remedies, he has built up a practice second to no other physician in this section of the county,

On the 8th of March. 1883, Dr. Talbott was mar- ried to Ella F. Ilorrie, of Keokuk, Iowa, who was horn on the 17th of September, 1857, and is the daughter of David and Christie ( Bartleman) Hor- rie. They have one child, named Orville W., born on the 12th of November, 1885. Dr. Talbott and his wife are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. and take an active part in society matter -. He is a member of the Saunemin Lodge. 1. O. O. F., and i- tilling the position of Junior

Past Grand. He is at present serving as President of the Village Board of Trustees, to which position he was elected in May, 1887. Dr. Talbott is a pro- gressive man in his views, and joins heartily in such enterprises as will advance the material welfare of Sannemin Village and township.

HOMAS J. METZ stands prominently among the young men of Union Township, with evidently a bright and prosperous future before him. Ilis beginning in life is most auspic- ious, and his surroundings at home could hardly be more pleasant than they now are. With an enter- prising and energetic nature, he is cordially ser- onded in all his plans and undertakings by his in- telligent and estimable young wife, a charming lady in every respect. Mr. Metz, who has chosen for his vocation farming and the growing of stock.

is eligibly located on section 7, Union Township. He was born in this township, and is the youngest in a family of seven children born to Peter and An- geline (Johnson) Metz, who were natives of Penn- sylvania, and a sketch of whose lives appears in this ALBUM. The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm upon which he now resides, and his education was obtained in the common schools, which he attended regularly.

On the 17th of October, 1883, when he was twenty-two years of age, Mr. Metz was married to Annie B. Almy, who was born in the State of Rhode Island on the 9th of June, 1863, the second of three children born to John and Ruth A. (Boyd) Almy, natives of Rhode Island, who also came to Illinois in 1867. Her father was a farmer by occupation and a carpenter by trade, and was born at Ports- mouth, R. I., on the 28th of May, 1810, and was killed accidentally at New Bremen, Cook Co., Ill., on the 21st of April, 1887. The widow now re- sides with her daughter, Mrs. Metz. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Metz were Peter and Hannah (Coley ) Almy, natives of Rhode Island, and the maternal grandparents were James and Mary D. (Lake) Boyd, also natives of Rhode Island. Im- mediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Metz settled on a part of the home farm, Mr. M. erect-

Jas He Odell

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ing a comfortable residence and barn. They have been blessed with one child, Aura V., born on the 14th of July, 1885. Mr. Metz is engaged in stock- raising extensively, his specialties being Norman horses and Durham cattle, and of these he has raised some of the finest specimens produced in Livingston County. He does not take an active part in politics, but he votes with the Democratic party. Mr. and Mrs. Metz take an active part in all society interests of their neighborhood, and among their acquaintances are both deservedly popular.

AMES H. ODELL is one of Livingston County's best, most enterprising and thor- ough-going farmers. He is the owner of one of the finest farms in the county, con- taining 342} acres, all of which is under-drained and considered to be worth $75 per acre. He was born in the city of New York, Nov. 23, 1825, and re- mained there until ten or twelve years of age. At that time his father moved to Chautauqua County, N. Y., where he lived for about twenty-five years. Young Odell worked upon the farm during his boy- hood days, attending school during the winter months, and during his younger manhood devoted his leisure hours to study. In that way he secured a thorough and competent education in the leading branches. Ile may justly be styled a self-made man, and deserves, as all such men do, the highest commendation for what they have accomplished.

Mr. Odell removed to Livingston County and located in Indian Grove Township in October, 1 862. At the time he had but little means, and went to work on a rented farm which he held for three years. During that time he had been successful in raising good crops, and the excellent prices of that day enabled him to accumulate sufficient means to purchase 120 acres and make a small payment on it. By his prudence, economy and industry, as well as a close application to business, he has been prospered to that extent that at the present writing he is the owner of over a half section of land, comprising one of the most beautiful farms in the county. In 1876 he erected a splendid farm resi-

dence, at a cost of over $3,000, and which has been regarded by others as a good model farm dwelling. From three to five months during the winter sea- sons, for a number of years after coming to Illinois, Mr. Odell was engaged in teaching school, and in this occupation as one might expect, he was unusu- ally successful.

We will now revert briefly to the parents of our subject, who were Peter and Elizabeth (Kil- kore) Odell, natives of New York and Virginia re- spectively. The former was born Dec. 20, 1800, in Westchester County, and died May 10, 1866, in his native State. The mother was born in Peters- burg, Va., Sept. 10, 1805, and died Ang. 10, 1861, in the Empire State. They were the parents of ten children. The names of those living are James H., John, Washington E., Harriet, Sarah, Maria and Mary Jane. The names of the deceased are Eliza- beth, Peter, Jr., and George.

James H. Odell was married, May 25, 1848, in the State of New York. to Miss Mary Straight. This lady was born in that State June 21, 1827, and is the daughter of A. P. and Philena Straight, both of whom were also natives of New York, but are now residing at Fairbury, Ill., at the advanced ages of eighty-four years. .

To Mr. and Mrs. Odell seven children have been born, namely : Edmund L., the eldest, died of brain fever at the age of nineteen years and six months; Philena E., now Mrs. Miller A. Bailey, resides at Fairbury ; Lucena M. is the wife of T. D. Johnson, a farmer; Levi J. was married to Naomi Mckay, at Decatur, Ill., and is now living at Lake Geneva, Wis .; he is of an ingenious turn of mind, and has invented several check-rowers for dropping and checking corn, one of which proved very success- ful, and is now on the market and in general use. He also has invented a corn-planter, which is now on the market, and is giving entire satis- faction wherever used. His latest invention is a type-writer, for which he has secured a patent, and is now engaged in its manufacture at Lake Geneva. Jerome A., the next in order of birth, married Miss Ophelia Earnhart, daughter of F. J. Earnhart, of Fairbury; he is engaged as a traveling salesman. Charles H., who is engaged in the manu- facture of type-writers at Lake Geneva, married

LIVINGSTON COUNTY.

Miss Effie Wright, daughter of James L. Wright, of Fairbury; Frank E., who is also engaged in mak- ing type-writers at Lake Geneva, selected for his wife Miss Lizzie Templeton. daughter of John Tem- pleton, of Windsor, Il.

Mr. Odell was a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church at Fairbury while it continued its organiza- tion. and was a zealous worker and served as Super- intendent of the Sunday-school for several years. He has been for a number of years and is still a Director of the Fairbury Union Agricultural Board. He has also been selected to fill various official po- sitions of his township. Ile is somewhat independ- ent in his political views, and aims to vote for the best man in the place irrespective of parties, but at the present time his principles are Democratic.

In presenting. the portraits of leading men in the various parts of the county none are more worthy to be included in this class than Mr. James H. Odell, of Indian Grove Township. By his own in- herent force of character and business tact, he has not only accumulated a handsome property, reared a large family, giving them unusual advantages, but has made for himself a name that in itself is of more value than his broad and fertile acres. It is to the class of men to which he belongs that not only his community but the entire State of Illinois owes so much for the advanced position it occupies to-day among the great States of the nation. We are not only pleased to present the portrait of Mr. Odell in connection with this sketch, but give also a view of his homestead in another part of the ALBI'M.

ILLIAM T. WATTS. The State of Indi- ana has furnished many excellent citizens . to Livingston County, among whom is the subject of thi- biography, who came from his native town of Evansville about 1851, and determined to try the experiment of cultivating prairie soil. The result has been quite satisfactory, as from a hum- ble beginning, without means. he has accumulated a comfortable property, consisting of a good farm of eighty acre-, with substantial buildings. a fair as- sortment of live stock, and the machinery required

he has a farm of 143 acres near Sibley, in Osceola County, Iowa.

Mr. Watts was born on the 4th of July, 1851, and is the son of Thomas and Harriet (Seybrook) Watts, who were natives of England. They crossed the Atlantic in early youth. and were reared and married in Indiana, where they remained until their son, William T., was five or six years of age. Upon coming to Illinois they took up their residence first in Marshall County, of which they were among the earliest pioneers. Upon coming to this county, they had a family of eleven children, all of whom are now living, with the exception of George, who died in infancy. There was afterward born one more, Charles II., who is occupied as a laborer at Forest. William T., our subject, was the second child; Albert D. is farming in Union Township, this county ; Sarah R. is the wife of William Dally, of Union Township; Susan E. married John Shep- herd, of Owego Township; Charlotte A. is the wife of Michael Chesebro, of Saunemin Township; Hat- tie, Mrs. John Moulds, lives in Nebraska Township; Evaline M., Mrs. William Moulds, and John S., are both residents of Saunemin Township; Herbert L. and Mary remain at home with their parents. The latter are worthy and consistent members of the Christian Church, in which the father has served as Elder for a number of years.

The subject of this sketch was reared to manhood in his native county, and received a common-school education. Early in life he became familiar with farm pursuits, which he chose for his vocation, and on the 17th of December, 1875, was united in mar- riage with Miss Frances B. Kelly, a native of Ohio, born in Trumbull County July 10, 1857. HIer father is deceased. Her mother is living in Saune- min Township. Mr. and Mrs. Watts have four sons -- Norman A., William R., Harry F. and Ernest D.

The property of Mr. Watts includes eighty acres of valuable land on section 35, in Saunemin Town- ship, and 143 acres in Osceola County, Iowa. He has been quite prominent in public affairs, and since becoming a voter has given his support to Repub- lican principles. He has never been inclined to accept office, although frequently solicited by his townsmen to do so. He, however, consented to carry on agriculture successfully. Besides this, . to serve as a delegate from Saunemin Township to

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the Republican County Convention, in 1886; in 1883 he was elected to the office of Town Collector; upon these occasions he performed his duties con- scientiously, and received the approval of his party. Both he and his excellent lady are members in good standing of the Christian Church, of which he is Deacon and Secretary, and they are held in the high- est respect and esteem by their neighbors and ac- quaintances.

F6 REDERICK EISELE. The prairies of Illi- nois afford a great inducement to the emi- grauts to this country, and it is no wonder that upon their arrival at New York they went directly to that region of which they had heard so much through friends or relatives who preceded them to the New World. To the sturdy German element of which the subject of this sketch is a good representative, Illinois is much indebted for the substantial improvements which have been made within her borders. They came to our shores through no idle love of adventure and curiosity, but for the purpose of securing homes where they might live and rear families free from the rigorous and exacting laws of the old countries. With this end in view, they began earnestly in the work im- mediately upon their arrival, and generally suc- ceeded, soon learning that American citizenship is as dear to the foreign born as to the native Ameri- can.

Mr. Eisele is a farmer in Pontiac Township, his farm being located on section 30. He is a native of Germany, and was born on the 15th of March, 1831, his parents being Casper and Catherine Eisele, who had eight children, three of whom are living-Wen- dell, Rudolph and Frederick. Before coming to this country, Mr. Eisele received a good education in his native language, which enabled him the more readily to master the English language upon his ar- rival in this country. In 1854 he immigrated to America, taking passage at Havre, and after a voy- age which lasted forty days, landed safely in New York.

On the 7th of March, 1871, Mr. E. was married to Louisa Hock, who was born on the 13th of Feb- ruary, 1842, in Germany, and is the daughter of

John and Louisa Hock. She came to the United States in 1866. To Mr. and Mrs. Eisele have been born four children: Frederick, upon the 20th of April, 1873; Rosa, upon the 30th of Septem- ber, 1874; Catherine, Oct. 21, 1876; and Louisa, on the 15th of March, 1879. The farm of Mr. Eisele, on which he located in 1881, consists of 160 acres. It is composed of good land, and he is rapidly developing it by drainage, and method- ical cultivation. Considering all the circumstances which have surrounded him since arriving in this country, he has been very successful. Com- mencing without anything, he has accumulated, be- sides his farm, considerable stock which is valuable, and his prospects for the future are very bright.

LPHONSO C. NORTON, attorney and loan broker at Pontiac, passed his childhood and youth in the northwestern part of Living- ston County, where his birth took place April 18, 1859. He is the son of Dr. Eben and Phebe (Cain) Norton, natives of Maine. His pa- ternal grandfather, Samuel B. Norton, was a native of Massachusetts, and came to Illinois during the carly settlement of this county, where he spent the remainder of his days.

The father of our subject was a graduate of Cin- cinnati (Ohio) Eclectic College, where he com- pleted his studies in 1850, and commenced practice at Mainville, that State. He was subsequently married, in 1854, at the same place, and a few months later came with his bride to this county, where he entered upon a long and successful career, which he followed as a practitioner until 1885. The parental household included but three children -Joel H., Alphonso C. and Eben D.

Our subject attended school until twelve years of age in the country districts. The year follow- ing he was sent to Onarga for the purpose of enter- ing Grand Prairie Seminary, where he pursued his studies two years. Afterward he engaged as clerk in a drug-store at Cornell, this county, where he was occupied several years. In the meantime he had determined upon his future career, and in 1877

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entered the Ann Arbor Law School, from which he was gradnated two years later. He then came to Pontiac and read law under the instruction of Judge Payson one year. and in September. 1880, was admitted to the bar, and commenced practice in Pontine. Ile has been a close student, an ex- tensive reader, and is ambitions to excel.

Mr. Norton was married. March 17, 1887, to Miss Anna Sims, the daughter of Capt. W. S. and Salina A. (Strong) Sims, natives of Indiana, and residents of this county many years. Mr. Norton is a pronounced Democrat, and his friend- predict for him a successful career.

EREMIAII AMMONS. a well-known resi- dent of Reading Township, owns seventy- three aeres of good land on section 31, to which he came in the spring of 1884. lle is spoken of as a peaceable and law-abiding citi- zen. honest and upright in his dealings, prudent and industrious, and one who has built up one of the most comfortable homes in the township. He has good buildings and other improvements, and his accumulations are the result of his own industry, as he commenced life without means and wholly dependent on his own resources.

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Portrait and bigraphical album of Livingston County, Ill. : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, together with portraits and biographies , Part 49

Author: Chapman Brothers (Chicago) publisher Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago : Chapman brothers Number of Pages: 1208

Author: Chapman Brothers (Chicago) publisher
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago : Chapman brothers
Number of Pages: 1208