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 78
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ENRY WENDEL is well known throughout Pleasant Ridge Township as one of its youngest and most enterprising farmer -. Although but thirty-four years of age he has a fine start in life and a valuable property, in- cluding 480 acres, which is under a thorough state of cultivation, drained with 9,000 rods of tile, and exceedingly productive. The farm buildings are of the most substantial description, and everything about the well-kept premises indicates the industry and standing of the proprietor, as will be seen by an examination of the view which is presented on an adjoining page as a fitting adjunct to this sketch. Aside from general farming he is largely engaged in stock-raising, buying and shipping annually large numbers of cattle and hogs. Ile came to this county in [875, and at once established himself on his present homestead, where he has effected marked improvements since it came into his pos- session.
Mr. Wendel was born in Bureau County, this
LIVINGSTON COUNTY.
State. Sept. 12. 1853, and is the son of Frederick and Margaret (Druckenprot) Wendel, natives of Germany, born in the Province of Bavaria, and the representatives of old and excellent families. They crossed the Atlantic in 1847, and coming to the West located in Bureau County, where the mother died in 1864. The father is still living, and con- tinnes a small farm which he operates near Men- dota. LaSalle Co .. Ill .. although he is practically retired from active labor.
Mr. Wendel was reared on a farm in Bureau County, where he attended the district school and passed his boyhood and youth. In 1876, the year after coming to this county, and after having se- lected his future location he was married to Miss Margaret Fauber, who was also born in Bureau County. July 31. 1851. Her parents, John and Elizabeth (Rechdenbaugh) Fauber, were natives of Germany and of German ancestry. The young peo- ple commenced life together under the roof which still shelters them, and have become the happy par- ents of three children-Fred E., Lilly D. and Harry J. G. Mr. Wendel keeps himself well posted upon matters of general interest, and uniformly casts his vote with the Republican party. There seems to be no limit to his industry, and with his fine con- stitution and excellent health there is scarcely a question that he will become one of the most prom- inent citizens of Central Illinois. In his agricult- ural operations he avails himself of modern meth- od- and the latest improved machinery. The cattle upon the farm are supplied with water from two wind-pumps, the fluid coming from a fine under- ground -pring which never fails. The farm is finely located. and invariably attracts the attention of the passing traveler as forming one of the most desira- ble homesteads in the southern part of Livingston County.
OHN NASER. A good volunteer soldier generally make- a good citizen. A man who has served three or four years in defense of the I'nion in the late war, doing his duty convientionaly, has learned many things which aid in tempering him to the conditions of life afterward.
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Being disciplined as a soldier, he is capable of dis- ciplining himself in such manner as to make the ills of life les> rugged and more easily borne. The subject of this sketch has an enviable war record, which it is our pleasure to give somewhat in detail in this notice. Mr. Naser is a farmer, stock-raiser and mechanic. whose farm is located on section 16, in Rook's Creek Township. He is the son of John and Barbara (Clump) Naser, and was born in Ma- rion Township, Hocking Co., Ohio, on the 12th of October, 1841. llis father died of Asiatic cholera when our subject was about six years old, and his mother's death had taken place three years previ- ously. lle was reared on a farm by his uncle, Matthias Walters, where his opportunities for edu- cation in the common school were very limited, though he received some instruction in a private school, conducted under the auspices of the German Lutheran Church. Our subject formerly spelled his name "Nauser." but in 1870, by correspond- ence with relatives, found that the correct way was as it appears at the head of this sketch.
At the age of eighteen Mr. Naser entered into a contract with E. P. Jackson to learn the trade of a carpenter. At this occupation he was engaged when the first call for volunteers was issued by President Lincoln, and he responded at once by enlisting in the three months' service in Company A, 17th Ohio Infantry, on the 6th of April, 1861. After serving three months Mr. Naser re-enlisted for three years, this time in the Gtst Ohio Infantry. but was transferred to the 58th Ohio Infantry. Dur- ing his service in the army he participated in the following skirmishes and battles: Ft. Donelson, Shiloh, Milliken's Bend, Haynes' Bluff, Greenville, Bolivar Landing, Ft. Morgan and Arkansas Post. He was also detached for duty on the United States gun- boat "Pittsburg," on which he was in action at Rolling Forks, and while running the blockades at Vicksburg, Grand Gulf, Ft. Beauregard and Simsport. Hle rejoined his regiment on the 12th of October, 1863, at Vicksburg. On account of disability received during service at Arkansas Post he was sent to the Marine Hospital at St. Louis, and was then stationed at the Transportation Bar- racks, where he was Assistant Quartermaster, and had charge of the accounts of the officers with
S.W. 14: OF SEC .28.
PASTURE 40 ACRES
PASTURE 40 ACRES
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RESIDENCE & BIRDS-EYE VIEW OF FARM PROPERTY
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1884
HOMESTEAD LOOKING NORTH
CORN 50 ACRES
CORN GO ACRES
50 AGR.
MEADOW 65 ACRES
OF HENRY WENDEL . SECTION 32, PLEASANT RIDGE TOWNSHIP.
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the Government, remaining there until August, 1864, when he rejoined his regiment, which was doing provost duty at Vicksburg, and remained with it until it was mustered out of the service Jan. 8, 1865, receiving an honorable discharge, and complimentary mention from his Captain. Hle bore the rank of Corporal. After his return to Ohio he worked on a farm by the month.
On the 12th of October, 1865, Mr. Naser was married to Caroline Good, daughter of Daniel and Sarah (Gaster) Good. of Fairfield County, Ohio. lle then worked at a portable sawmill for about two years, during which time the eldest child, Mary M., was born, on the 8th of August, 1866. In 1867 he moved to Livingston County, Ill., where he bought 120 acres of land on section 16, in Rook's Creek Township, forty acres of which he afterward sold. While living here the second child, Laura Ida, was born, on the 14th of December, 1867. In the fall of 1868 Mr. Naser sold his farm, and in the spring of 1869 moved back to Ohio, where he remained four years, devoting a part of his time to work at his trade. While living in Ohio his third child, Annie Florida, was born, on the 25th of May, 1869. and the fourth child, John Henry, on the 5th of February, 1871. In November, 1872, Mr. Naser moved back to Illinois to the same farm be had previously owned, where his remaining children were born: Laman Monroe, on the 25th of March, 1873; Seth Beadress, on the 19th of December, 1875: Rosina Caroline, Feb. 5, 1877 : Lillie Doro- thea, Oct. 17, 1879; and Jessie May, on the 4th of July, 1886.
Mr. Naser has added to his farm from time to time until it now contains 160 acres, on which be erected a good house. A portion of it has been tile drained, which has added very materially to its produetiveness. In addition to enltivating his farm he devotes considerable time to carpentering. He is very progressive in his ideas and is very zealous in his efforts to promote the educational interests of his township, serving eight years as Director of the schools. He has also been very active in pro- moting the cause of Christianity, and has labored for the advancement of the Sunday-school. He has always been a Republican and cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln.
Mr. Naser's parents, born in Germany-the father in Wurtemberg, and the mother in Baden- came to this country when children, and were mar- ried in Ohio. Mr. Naser had one half-brother, Christopher Clump, who died leaving six children, in Shelby County, Ill. ; and one sister, Rosina, who has been married twice, first to Marcus Schwartz, by whom she had two children, who live at Co- lumbus, Ohio; and second to IJenry Schwartz, brother of Marcus, by whom she had six children. Mrs. Naser's mother was of German descent; her father's ancestors originally came from Virginia. She is the third child in a family of six, as follows: Anna Eliza, married, and has a large family, living in Ohio; Mary, married, has six children, and lives in Indiana; Caroline, wife of our subject : Jacob, married, has five children, and lives in Ohio; John, married, has two children, and lives in Indiana; Samuel Thomas, married, has one child, and lives in Ohio. The mother died in 1864, and the father married again. By this marriage there were four children-Amanda J., Henry D., Lavina K. and Charley.
ICHAEL MORRIS, located on section 28, in Forest Township, was born in Niagara County, N. Y., Dec. 22, 1843. Ile came to the West when a young man eighteen years of age, locating at once in Belle Prairie Town- ship on the extreme southern line of this county. He was here engaged as a farm laborer a year, and the late Civil War being then in progress he finally decided to enter the service, and enlisted Sept. 7, 1862, in Company E, 129th Illinois Infantry.
Mr. Morris was mustered into service as a Union soldier at Fairbury, and marched with his comrades to the scene of conflict, thereafter engaging in many of the important battles of the war, namely, Resaca, Dallas, Peachtree Creek, and other points in the South and Southeast. At Atlanta he joined the army of Gen. Sherman and was one of those who participated in the famous march to the sea. He afterward went up through the Carolinas, being at Raleigh when the surrender of Gen. Lee took place at Appomattox. From there the regiment marched to Richmond and thence to Washington,
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where Mr. Morris was given an honorable discharge. and soon afterward set his face westward, return- ing to his old haunts in Belle Prairie, and engaging in farming as before for a period of five years. Ile purchased land on section 32, and has now 160 acres under a high state of cultivation. This he utilizes mostly in the breeding of fine stock, includ- ing blooded Durham cattle, Norman horses and Poland-China swine. He has effected fine improve- ments, the beautiful homestead being the admira- tion of the country around.
Our subject has an interesting family, including a wife and four children. The former was, in her girlhood. Miss Nancy Jane Bradshaw, who was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, Oct. 22, 1848. Iler parents were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio re- -pectively. and are now living in Fairbury, ill. Of this union there were born four children, all living, namely : Thomas Sherman, Mary Alice, Flora May and Edward Carl: they are all at home with their parents. Mr. Morris bears the reputation of a lib- eral and public-spirited citizen, and uniformly east- his vote with the Republican party. He is one of the leading men of his community, and for the last three years has officiated as School Director. Mr. Morris is a member of the G. A. R., Post No. 75, Fairbury, Il.
TEPHEN TRONG, one of the most exten- sive land owners of Livingston County, possesses a model farm which he built up from the uncultivated soil, and where he has established one of the most valuable and at- tractive homestead, in Avoca Township. His ca- reer has been distinguished by industry. good judg- ment and intelligence, and he has always seemed to do the right thing at the right time and in the right place.
The early home of our subject was on the other side of the Atlantic. in the Province of Kur-Hessen, ! Germany, where his birth took place July 21, 1842, at the modest bouw of hi- parent-, Alexander and Catherine ( Ludwig) Trone. The father was of Ireuch birth and ancestry, and the mother of Ger-
man. Stephen Trone is a direct descendant of a French Hugenot family, and is the only son of his parents. He was reared in his native Province un- til a youth nineteen years old, and then crossed the Atlantic, making the voyage, which occupied six weeks, on a sailing-vessel from Bremen. He landed in the city of Baltimore, whence he started directly westward, and took up his abode for a short time in LaSalle County, this State, in September, 1860. The outbreak of the Rebellion had necessitated an urgent call for troops, and he was thus enabled to most clearly signalize his intention of becoming an American citizen by enlisting in the defense of the principles which the majority of Americans hold most dear. He enlisted in Company 1, 11th Illi- nois Infantry, and marching with his comrades to the scene of conflict, engaged in some of the most important battles of the war. After participating in the engagements at Fts. Henry and Donelson, they moved upon Shiloh, and in the encounter with the rebels there Mr. Trone was wounded in both legs, which necessitated his removal to the hospital. Ile was not content to remain long in confinement, however, and by the very force of his will in a short time recovered so that he rejoined his regiment, and had the satisfaction of being present at the siege and capture of Vicksburg. He subsequently escaped injury, although meeting the enemy in several minor engagements and skirmishes. After a service of a little over three years be re- ceived his final discharge and was mustered out in September. 1864. He then returned to Illinois, and in 1868 located near Forest, in this county, whence he removed to his present farm on section 2. The extensive tract of land which is the property of Mr. Trone lies in Owego and Avoca Townships, and embraces one of the most fertile tracts in Central Illinois. It is hardly necessary to state that its present condition has been effected by continnous and arduous labor, which has been richly rewarded. as the property is now very valuable.
Mr. Trone took for his wife one of his own coun- try-women, namely, Miss Helena Frederick, to whom he was married Oct. 16, 1864, at the home of the bride in Bureau County. John Frederick, the father of Mrs. Trone, was a native of the same Province as Mr. Trone, lle died in April, 1887.
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Of this union there were born ten children, of whom two, Otilla and Rosa S., died in early child- hood. Those surviving are Frederick A., Henry A., Eliza M., Emma E., Lena S., Birdie A., Katie L. and Stephen W. Most of these are at home with their parents. Mr. Trone having been reared in a country which compels its youth to be edu- cated, is naturally in favor of the establishment and maintenance of schools, and in giving the young those advantages to which they are entitled. He has served as Director in his district for many years, and is a citizen who is among the first to be con- sulted upon matters tending to the general welfare of the people around him. He has served as Road Commissioner of Avona four years, and religiously is identified with the Evangelical Association. Upon becoming a voting citizen he joined the ranks of the Republicans with whom he has since affiliated, and is a member of Pontiac Post, G. A. R.
M OSES W. MOULTON, engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 36, Pleasant Ridge Township, was born in Lyman Township, Grafton Co., N. Il., on the 6th of January, 1837. He is the son of Gabriel G. and Sophia P. (Walker) Moulton, both natives of that State. The mother died about thirty-seven years ago, and the father is now a retired farmer, and still lives in New Hampshire at the age of seventy-seven years. The paternal grandfather, Jonathan, was a Revolutionary soldier, and died in 1848 or 1849 at the age of eighty-nine years. He was one of seven brothers, all of whom except one lived to be from seventy to ninety-three years old. The Moulton family has always been noted for its longevity. For many generations back they have been farmers by occupation and their origin was Scotch-Irish.
Mr. Moulton was reared upon a farm and ob- tained his education in the common schools with a short term at an academy. Before he was eighteen years of age he began to teach school, and continued in that occupation for twelve years. In 1858 he came West and located at Bloomington, Ill., where he continued to teach school until 1867, except. three years spent in the army; in the meantime .
he came to this county, and purchased eighty acres of raw prairie land, which he has now in an advanced state of cultivation.
In August, 1862. Mr. Moulton enlisted in Com- pany 1, 94th Illinois Infantry, as a private. but when the organization of the company was effected he was appointed Corporal, and during his service was promoted to a Sergeantey. During the time of his enlistment the regiment to which Mr. Moulton belonged experienced some hard service, endured many hardships and participated in several very destructive engagements. Mr. Moulton was at the capture of Vicksburg on the 4th of July, 1863, and also at the capture of Spanish Fort, near Mobile, at Brownsville, Tex., and Pascagoula. Miss. During the time he was in the army he received no wound. but had a severe spell of typhoid fever, and contracted a disease which compelled him to remain for some time in a private house under the care of physicians. lle was mustered out of the service on the 1st of August, 1865, after campaigning for three years. Upon his return home from the army Mr. Moulton taught school the following two winters.
On the 2d of April, 1867, Mr. Moulton was mar- ried to Miss Jnlia W. Moulton, who was born in Vermont on the 20th of August, 1841. and died on the 16th of October, 1870, leaving two children- Maud A. and Minnie J. On the 20th of February, 1877, Mr. Moulton was married again, his choice being Kate E. Raber, who was born in Iowa on the 22d of May, 1848. By a former marriage she had one child. named Ettie E.
Mr. Moulton was elected to the office of Super- visor of Pleasant Ridge Township in 1870. and was re-elected in the year 1878, serving eight years in succession in that office, and for two years was Chairman of the Board. He has held the office of Township Treasurer and is still the inemmbent. He has also been School Director for several years, in which capacity he served with much efficiency. hay- ing a practical knowledge of school matters. Mr. Moulton is one of the leading farmers of Pleasant Ridge Township, and manifests considerable pleas- ure in assisting all public enterprises. For the last twenty-seven years he has been a permanent mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, and for two years has been Master of Forest Lodge No. 614, while he
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has filled the other offices of the lodge. Mrs. Moul- ton is a member of the Congregational Church, and her two daughter- are members of the Christian Church. Mr. Moulton i- a Universalist in his re- ligiou- belief. and politically is an adherent of the principles of the Republican party. In all respects he is a model farmer and an excellent citizen.
HARLES E. AXT was appointed Postmaster of Odell in 1886, the duties of which office he has discharged faithfully and conscien- tiously, and in which he has taken a genuine inter- est. He has introduced many improvements in the methods of conducting the business, and also in regard to the appearance of the place, which he has caused to be rejuvenated and supplied with new and neat furniture which is as much a benefit to the office by increasing its importance to the com- munity as it is a credit to the Postmaster. With- out in any manner neglecting his official duties, Mr. Axt is also carrying on a successful jewelry busine-> which he established at Odell several years ago.
The early home of Mr. Axt was on the western banks of the Mississippi. at Ft. Madison, lowa. where he was born Feb. 19, 1853. lle is the eldest child of Carl and Elizabeth ( Litchie) Axt, whose family included himself and Julius H., and three half-sisters-Mrs. Annie Anthes. JJohanna Litchie and Elizabeth Hammer, all residents of Ft. Madi- son. Iowa. Carl Axt was born in the city of Koe- nigsberg. on the North Sea, in Prussia, where he spent his childhood and youth, and learned the trade of a locksmith. He served his allotted time in the Pru -- ian army and subsequently, at the age of twentysix years, crossed the Atlantic, landing first at New Orleans, where he was employed for a time. and then went to St. Louis, and afterward to Ft. Madison. Iowa. In the latter place he took up hi- trade vigoron-ly. adding to it blacksmithing and wagon-making. and operated this several years. when. being quite comfortably supplied with means be resolved to indulge himself with a visit to his madive land. He ailed in the summer of Isas, and
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remained until the early part of 1859. Upon the homeward voyage he contracted a severe cold which resulted in typhoid pneumonia. from which he died on the 20 of February following. The mother is still living, making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Annie Anthes, of Ft. Madison, Jowa. Her other son. Julius 11., is a druggist at Keokuk, Iowa.
Mr. Axt was but six years of age at the time of his father's death, and afterward made his home with his married sister. When of suitable years he took up cigar-making, which employment, however, not being congenial to his tastes, he left at the age of thirteen, and engaged with the Northern Line Packet Company as cabin boy. His close attention to his duties led to his promotion, and he soon be- came Steward. One season he was employed in run- ning from St. Louis to New Orleans, and the other two which he spent upon the river he ran north from St. Louis to St. Paul. When sixteen years of age he abandoned river life and returning to Ft. Madison, served an apprenticeship at the jeweler's trade, and spent the time until he was twenty years of age principally at that place. On the 15th of October, 1873, occurred one of the most important events of his life, namely, his marriage with Miss Nellie E. Stewart. The young people commenced life together in the city of Ft. Madison, and thence removed to Lincoln, Ill., where Mr. Axt was em- ployed at his trade one year, and then coming to Odell on Thanksgiving Day in 1874, opened a store and established the business in which he has since been uniformly successful.
The excellent qualities of Mr. Axt as a citizen and member of society soon developed themselves. and he was called to various local offices, being first elected Village Clerk, which position he held ten years in succession. Being Democratic in politics, upon the change of administration it was not long before he was selected as the proper incumbent of the post-office, to which position he was appointed on the 7th of January, 1886. The office was then rated as fourth-class, and Mr. Axt put forth all his energies to place it in a better position. and finally received his appointment direct from the President, at which time the office was rated as third-class. He has given much of his time and attention beyond what was naturally required to make it of sufficient
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importance to the people of this section, and it now is the source of a neat revenue, which adds accord- ingly to the salary of the position.
Mrs. Axt was born in West Point, Iowa, June 22, 1853, and is the eldest child of Alexander and Mary (Marslı) Stewart, natives respectively of Maine and Ohio. Her maternal grandfather, William Marsh, was a native of Maine, and for many years a Pre- siding Elder of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The parental family included five children, who are now mostly residents of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Axt are the parents of three bright and winsome little girls : Linnie, born Feb. 18, 1875: Maymie E., Aug. 21, 1879, and Anna Grace, Ang. 25, 1881. Mr. Axt belongs to the Masonic fraternity, being Master of Odell Lodge No. 401, and is also one of the Grand Trustees of the Grand Lodge, I. O. M. A., of Illinois.
OSEPH M. BURNHAM is one of the leading agriculturists of Dwight Township, living on a 240-acre farm located on section 27. He is from an old New England family, of which there are three distinet branches, one in Massachu- setts, one in Connecticut and one in Maine. This family traces its ancestry back to a time when four brothers were living on a farm near London, En- gland. Three of these brothers came to this coun- try in 1683, and settled in the States respectively named above, each founding a distinct branch of the family. The fourth brother remained in En- gland, and died a bachelor on the farm which was so near London that it formed a suburb, finally becom- ing a part of the city itself, and consequently was very valuable property. The fourth brother died without a will or English heirs, and the American heirs taking no interest in recovering the estate, this property reverted to the Crown, and thus be- came lost to its rightful owners. Several attempts have since been made to recover it, but they have never been pushed vigorously enough to meet with success.
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