Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 23

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 850

USA > Illinois > Henry County > Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 23

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

248

HENRY COUNTY.

after his recovery, Dec. 18, 1862, he enlisted in the organization known as the Iron Brigade Band, and remained a member of it as long as the war con- tinued. He was discharged June 12, 1865, and again returned to Evansville.

In August following, he came to Dayton, and commenced the study of medicine with his brother, Dr. R. R. Sale. After reading thoroughly under his preceptorship, he attended lectures at Rush Medical College in Chicago, and on leaving college he com- menced his practice with his brother at Dayton. Their joint operations continued until 187 1, at which date the Doctor came to Cleveland. He has estab- lished a popular and prosperous business in his pro- fession, and is also conducting a drug-store, which he established in 1880. In 1878 he was appointed Postmaster, and has discharged the duties of the position ever since.

Dr. Sale was married to Miss A. Eliza Fiedler, Dec. 22, 1871. She is a native of Baltimore, Fair- field Co., Ohio, and is the daughter of Casper and Sarah (Miles) Fiedler. Her father died in Rock Island, in February, 1854. Her mother is still liv- ing, at Peabody, Kan. They were among the pio- neers of the county of Rock Island. The children that have been added to the household of Dr. and Mrs. Sale are named Freddie Fletcher and Francis Joseph. The former was born May 12, 1873, and the latter June 11, 1875. The father of Mrs. Sale was a native of Germany. Her was born in Newark, Licking Co., Ohio. Dr. Sale's father died Feb. I, 1845, and his mother is still a resident of Evansville, Wis.

aniel Henney, farmer, section 16, Geneseo Township, has a farm of 150 acres in the township in which he is a resident, and is also the owner of 263 acres in the township of Phenix. He was born in Wayne Co., Ohio, May 17, 1832, and is the son of Peter and Chris- tina (Strayer) Henney, of whom a personal account is given on another page. The father removed his family to Henry County in the spring of 1853. Mr. Henney was then 21 and he located with his parents in the township of Phenix. He became himself the head of a family in the following year, and then be- gan actual contact with the question of making his

way in the world. When he was 22 his father gave him every fourth bushel of the crop which he had helped to raise, for his share, and with this, and a. colt of which he was the owner, he and his wife coni- menced their hand-to-hand contest with fate and fortune. He had besides, as capital, a sound con- stitution, and habits of frugality and industry. He purchased 80 acres of land at $15 per acre, upon which he could make only a small payment. The method of operation pursued by Mr. Henney is of great interest, and an account of it is not only perti- nent to the purpose of these records, but may serve to aid another to take heart when necessity seems overpowering, and discouragement is likely to ob- struct effort. In the first place he had no team, and was without the means to purchase that most needed auxiliary to a successful struggle with "Nature's forces ;" but Mrs. Henney was the owner of an old mare, with which her husband contrived to plow the corn which he had planted. He had done his break- ing with ox teams, which he had hired for the pur- pose at a dollar an acre. While doing this, he was in the habit of getting to the field to break prairie at the hour of three in the morning, and would plow until about six, when he " turned out " for breakfast. At seven, he and the oxen resumed their labors, and, with the exception of a short nooning, the work was kept up until five o'clock in the afternoon. After supper he resumed work and did not quit until about ten in the evening. This was the program through the season, and at the end of the season for plowing corn he had about 65 acres under tillage.

He continued to buy land, for which he went in debt, until he was the proprietor of 263 acres. His first crop of wheat comprised 1,400 bushels, and he realized 1,700 bushels from the second, which he harvested on his farm. When he made the last pay- ment on his land, he sold wheat at 35 cents an acre and corn at eight cents. He offered 1,000 bushels of corn for a wagon. These statements are given as affording a complete picture of the actual state of affairs at the period referred to, from which it will be an easy matter to gain an idea of the quantity and quality of the perseverance and industry required to make not only existence possible, but to accomplish what was actually done-the achievement of success in making progress in the acquirement of this world's goods. In the case of Mr. Henney, release from debt, the acquisition of farm-fixtures of a superior

249

HENRY COUNTY.

character, and a position among the leading farmers in the county are the results of his labors and the exercise of good judgment. Subsequently, Mr. Hen- ney purchased 150 acres of land in the township of Geneseo, and he removed from the place in Phenix Township to the beautiful residence now occupied by his family in the vicinity of the city of Geneseo, and in which they took possession in January, 1875.

The marriage of Daniel Henney and Catherine Butzer took place Dec. 28, 1854. She was born in Germany, and is the daughter of George F. and Louise (Baltz) Butzer. She was but two years old when her parents removed from the " continent " to the United States. She has borne five children : Melvina M. is the widow of J. H. Drekmer; Peter A. married Catherine West, and they live in Phenix Township, where he is a farmer; Elma M. is mar- ried to Edward Wilson, a farmer in the State of Iowa; Grant A. married Jane Rapp, and is a citizen of Geneseo; Alice M. lives with her parents. The first-born child-George Albert-was killed when 17 by the kick of a horse. He was a young man of ex- cellent character and was at the threshold of a prom- ising manhood.

Mr. Henney is an adherent of the Republican party in political faith and acts. He has been con- spicuous in his interest in educational matters, and has been the incumbent of the various school offices. He has also served in other local positions. He and Mrs. Henney are members of the Evangelical Asso- ciation.

F. Bell, a member of the firm of Bell, Derby & Lagergren, merchants of Wood- hull, was born in New Albany, Ind., Nov. 23, 1844. His parents were John and Sarah (Durnell) Bell, natives respectively of Eng- land and Tennessee. He remained at home until he attained the age of legal majority, receiving a common-school education. In 1864 he came to Illinois, and became a clerk and salesman in a gen- eral store for his brother, at Swedona, Mercer Co., Ill., remaining there two years. He then engaged in mercantile business for himself in Blairstown, Iowa. Seven years afterward he sold out his inter- ests there, and in March, 1874, he came to Wood-

hull and clerked for a brother, J. D. Bell, four years ; then, in company with J. F. Derby and A. Lager- gren, he bought out his brother, and the firm above mentioned conducted the business until the death of A. Lagergren, which occurred July 13, 1885. The business then passed into the hands of Bell & Derby. Besides his residence in Woodhull, Mr. Bell is the owner of 160 acres of land in Kansas. He is a Republican in his political views, and has held the office of Town Councilman. He is one of the leading business men of Woodhull and a repre- sentative man of this county.

He was married Nov. 9, 1871, to Miss Eunice E. Mayhew, a native of Iowa. Their two children are Fred H., born Aug. 4, 1876, and Isola, born Dec. 22, 188 1.

alvin S. Graves, druggist at Geneseo, was born June 28, 1824, in Herkimer Co., N. Y., and is the son of Ora and Polly (Fen- ner) Graves. All his immediate ancestors in both lines of descent were natives of the State of New York. His paternal grandfather was a soldier of the Revolution and served through the entire course of the struggle. He was married while it was in progress.

The parents of Mr. Graves removed to Penfield, Monroe Co., N. Y., when he was but two years of . age. They remained there until he was seven, when they made another transfer of their home to Chau- tauqua County, in the same State. He there passed the remaining years of his minority, and was married in May, 1845, to Miss Martha Kingsley. They have a daughter and a son. Grace is the wife of J. M. Sweeney, of whom an account is given elsewhere in this work; Emery C. is the present City Attorney of Geneseo. Mrs. Graves was born in Ellington, Chau- tauqua Co., N. Y., and is the daughter of Orrin Kingsley.

In April, 1853, Mr. Graves came to Illinois, and to Henry County in November of the same year. He took possession of a farm in Yorktown and was in- terested in agriculture until 1866, when he sold out his farming relations and removed to Geneseo. He passed his time in various business connections until

250

HENRY COUNTY.

1874, when he embarked in the business he has since prosecuted.

In the days when he commenced his interest in and connection with political issues, he was a Whig; but on the formation of the Republican party he fell into line with its adherents and has honored his col- ors with consistency.

Mr. and Mrs. Graves are members of the Congre- gational Church.

illiam C. Stickney, engaged as a farmer in Clover Township, where he resides on section 27, was born Sept. 6, 1846, in Cambridgeport, Mass. His parents were Henry and Mary A. (Wood) Stickney, na- tives respectively of Vermont and New Hamp- shire, and settled with their family-Henry, Jr., Alfred and William C .- in April, 1853, on the place now occupied by William C., whose father was acci- dentally killed Nov. 16, 1866. His mother still survives.

The subject of this sketch received a common- school education in his early boyhood, and on the 13th day of April, 1870, was married to Miss Ida A. Clark, a native of Connecticut. Of their union have been born two children, viz .: William W. and M. Grace. Mr. Stickney is one of the prosperous and energetic men of Henry County, owning a farm of 260 acres, which is all improved and under excel- lent cultivation. He is also a member of the firm of Howell, Woods & Co., bankers, at Woodhull.

ohn McDermott. One of the energetic, industrious and prosperous men of Oxford Township, is Mr. John McDermott. He is engaged in farming on section 26, and was born in Ireland in 1831. Having enjoyed the educational advantages of the schools of that early day, besides assisting his parents in the farm duties, in the year 1853 he emigrated to America, and in New York city located and worked for some months. From there he went into Monroe County, same State, and engaged working there for about

two years, when he rented a farm and began work for himself. He followed the latter for about a year ; and, thinking that he could ameliorate his condition by operating further West, he finally concluded to try, which he did by coming into Illinois, where he located in Oxford Township, and worked a year by the month. In the year 1864 he made a purchase of a team, then rented the land he is now residing upon, being 80 acres, and remained as a renter of the same for about six years. Buying the place at the expiration of that time, he has since added to it, until he now_ owns 320 acres in this township, and 146 acres in Knox County. On his farm in Henry County he carries on general farming and stock- raising, doing a successful and constantly increasing business. The land he has under excellent cultiva- tion and improvement, which is all attributable to his own hard labor and the assistance of his good helpmeet.

In 1853 Mr. McDermott was married to Miss Mary A. Paul, also a native of Ireland, and they have become the parents of four children,-Peter, Mary A., Ellen and John; the eldest married Miss Nora Moran; Mary A. has become the wife of John Murphy, and John is deceased.

In political opinions Mr. McDermott affiliates with the Democratic party, and, with his wife, be- longs to the Catholic Church of Woodhull. He is considered one of the solid and representative men of Henry County.

lias Curtiss Gilbert, a farmer on section 3 1, Geneseo Township, was born in the town of Richmond, Ontario Co., N. Y., Jan. 27, 1836. His father, Horace Gilbert, was the son of Deacon Elias Gilbert, who settled in Rich- mond, in Ontario County, in 1803. The latter was a farmer, a tanner and a shoemaker. He made each of his business interests successful, and was a resident on his farm for a period of 50 years. About 1853, he went to Iowa and located at Gilbertstown, situated three miles from Davenport. He died there at the age of 95 years, and was, at the time of his death, the senior member of the Order of Ma- sonry in the United States. Horace Gilbert was born in Richmond, in March, 1802, and was all his

HENRY COUNTY.

251

life a farmer. In his youth he connected himself in membership with the Congregational Church, and was for many years a Deacon. He married Ann E. Carpenter. He died on the homestead in Rich- mond, May 4, 1862. His widow still survives and resides with her daughter in the State of New York.

Mr. Gilbert was brought up on the homestead of the Gilbert family in Richmond, and was sent in his boyhood to the common schools. He afterwards went to the Genesee Wesleyan Collegiate Institute at Lima, Livingston Co., N. Y., one year. He en- gaged in teaching in the winter seasons and worked on the farm alternately until 1857, when he started for the West. He made his first settlement on the farm which he now owns, and on which he has been a continuous resident, in Henry County. At the time of his purchase of the place, a few acres had been broken and a small frame house built. The entire place, containing 240 acres, is in a high state of cultivation and is supplied with excellent frame buildings. Mr. Gilbert has planted a variety of all kinds of trees common to the locality. He is the owner of valuable live stock, including horses, cattle and swine: also makes a specialty of raising full- blood Merino sheep, from the celebrated flocks of Bissel; also the flock of Atwood, of Vermont.

He was married Feb. 23, 1857, to Florinda Beach, and they have had six children. Four are living, who are named Elon B., Horace S., Anna E. and Laura C. The oldest son married Cora M. Thomas and is a resident of Geneseo. Horace married Can- dace Powell, and is a citizen of the same place. A pair of twin daughters died at the age of six months. They were named Mory and Mary. Mrs. Gilbert was born in Bristol, Ontario Co., N. Y. and is the daughter of Stephen and Sally (Clark) Beach.

F. Derby, of the firm of Bell, Derby & Lagergren, merchants, of Woodhull, was born in Cambridge, Henry Co., Ill., Jan. 13, 1854. His parents were Benjamin and Lydia J. (Pinckney) Derby, who were natives of the State of New York, and came to the Prairie State in pioneer times, settling at Cambridge, this county. Mr. J. F. Derby, our subject, received a fair education, having attended Hedding College, at Abingdon, Ill., for three years. In 1867 he com-

menced to make his home with J. D. Bell, his brother-in-law, at Woodhull, and remained with him until he was of age; then entered his employ as a clerk, which position he filled until 1878, when he became a partner in the business and the firm named Bell, Derby & Lagergren. This relation he now sustains. He is one of the leading business men of Woodhull, a representative man of Henry County, and is prosperous in his business. He owns a half section of land in Kansas, besides his residence here. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, one of the Village Trustees, and in politics is a Republican.

Mr. Derby and Miss F. E. Black, a native of In- diana, were joined in matrimony Sept. 2, 1877, and they have two children,-Frances L., born Nov. 7, 1878, and Ernest F., born Nov. 25, 1880.

romwell K. Bartlett, deceased, was a member of the Geneseo colony who set- tled in Henry County in 1836. The col- ony was organized in Western New York and consisted of seven members. Mr. Bartlett, with John C. Ward and Roderick R. Stewart, came to Henry County on behalf of the association to select land. They accomplished the duty and secured that now included in the site of the city of Geneseo. They returned to New York, and on making their report the members of the organiza- tion formed a resolution to come to Illinois the same fall; and five families did so. The party set out in their own wagons, and, traveling across Canada, Southern Michigan and Northern Indiana, arrived, after a journey of seven weeks, at their destination. The incidents of the route were such as might be expected at that season of the year, over a country which was itself in the earliest days of settlement, and when the thoroughfares were in the same con- dition.

Mr. Bartlett was the builder of the first house that was erected on the site where Geneseo now stands. It was constructed of logs, and stood a little north and east of the brewery, and across the creek. He also built a saw-mill and a grist-mill. The date of the arrival of the party, of which he and his family were a part, was Nov. 4, 1836.

252

ЗАДЕДА

HENRY COUNTY.

Mr. Bartlett was born in Ames, Montgomery Co., N. Y., Nov. 29, 1793. He was a farmer, and was also a tanner and currier.

He was married Sept. 28, 1817, to Miss Catherine Hess. The name of her father was George Hess, and she was born in the township of Rush, in Mont- gomery Co., N. Y., July 14, 1799. She bore nine children,-four sons and five daughters : The first- born was a son and died in childhood, as did Nor- man, the "second; in order" of birth; William was drowned in the Fraser River, in British America; Hiram lives in Iowa; George died in 1854, in Gen- eseo; Mary E. is the wife of Hiram J. Cady, of Geneseo; Amanda married C. M. Taylor, of Nevada ; Lucinda was the wife of William Austin, of Edford Township : she died in 1868; Julia married Silas M. Cady, of Brooklyn, Iowa; Martha A. is Mrs. L. Hicks, of Janesville, Cal.

Mr. Bartlett passed his life in the occupations of of a miller and farmer. He operated in both these lines of business from the date of his removal to Henry County, and in 1837 and 1838 he was the owner of an extensive dairy for that period, as it comprised 30 cows. The herd was bought in Knox County, and the milk was utilized in the manufac- ture of butter and cheese. The former sold readily at 381/2 cents per pound, and the latter at 25 cents. Mr. Bartlett died at Palestine, Ill., March 4, 1844. His widow still survives him, and for ten years has been a member of the family of Mrs. Cady, at Gen- eseo. She is 86 years of age.

eorge Brown, merchant in the township of Colona, is the present Treasurer of the township, in which he has been a resident since 1856. He was born in Durham, Eng- land, and is the son of George and Ann (Teasdale) Brown, who were both natives of the shire of Durhanı, in the same country. He was sent in his earliest childhood to the public schools, and at the age of nine years was put to work in the mines. Those who have investigated the manner of conducting the English collieries can understand what is required of the children who perform a species of labor which cannot be done by those who have attained to the size of adults. But it is, per-

haps, a wise regulation, as it enables the heads of families to support their children in much greater comfort than would otherwise be possible. The place in which Mr. Brown worked necessitated his rising at four o'clock in the morning, and he passed 12 hours daily in a mine which was hundreds of feet below the surface of the earth. With the exception of about 18 months, which he passed at school, Mr. Brown worked in the colliery until he was 21 years of age. He had meanwhile obtained a fair education in the evening schools, which were established for the bene- fit of the children who were obliged to pass their days in labor. He had a natural liking for books, and he availed himself of the privilege the schools afforded to indulge his tastes.

On attaining his majority he commenced the full work of a miner, and continued the pursuit as a voca- tion until 1854. In that year he left his native land to test the promise of the New World. He came to America in a sail vessel and landed at the port of New York after a voyage of six weeks. He went to Johnstown, Penn., and there sought employment at the business to which he had been trained in his na- tive land. He operated as a miner there for the space of six weeks, and then went thence to West Columbia, on the Ohio River, in West Virginia. He passed six months in the mines at that place, and in August, 1855, he made his way to Coaltown, in Rock Island County. He was occupied in mining there a year and came to Henry County. He again engaged in mining at Minersville, in the township of Colona, and was engaged in that business about six months. At the end of that time he went to the city of Pitts- burg, Pa .; entered the mines at that place and soon afterward sustained severe injuries from being burned while at work in them. He was disabled until the month of November, in the same year, and as soon as he had sufficiently recovered he returned to Coal- town, whither he had come in 1854. He there re- sumed mining and operated until 1858, when he came again to Minersville, and was employed in the capacity of a miner three and a half years. At that time he obtained the position of check weighman and officiated therein three years. In 1865 he formed a partnership with a man named Jacob Smith, and opened a store for the sale of general merchandise in Colona. They conducted their business jointly II years, and since their dissolution in 1876 Mr. Brown built a store and commenced in business himself,

253

HENRY COUNTY.

with gratifying results. His stock of merchandise in- cludes all lines of goods necessary to supply the de- mands on a country store.

Mr. Brown has been elected to fill various official positions in the local affairs of the township, among which are those of Justice of the Peace and Clerk.

His marriage to Margaret Bell took place Sept. 20, 1871. She was born in Durham, England, and died at her home in Co'ona, July 3, 1881. She left no children. An adopted daughter married John Allen, and they live at Angus, Boone Co., Iowa.

ustaf Lindquist, who is engaged in farm- ing upon section II, Lynn Township, is an illustration of what many men of his nativ- ity have accomplished in a few short years in this country, and especially in Henry County, which contains a large and respectable Swede element. Mr. Lindquist was born in Kalmar Lan, Sweden, Oct. 11, 1832. His father, Jonas P. Jonson, was a farmer in the same section of Sweden, and there met and married Christina Johanson, who was also born in Kalmar Lan. The elder Jonson was an active, hard-working man, and died in his native land in '1876, at about the age of 76 years. His widow, now 81 years of age, lives in Sweden with one of her children. Accompanying Gustaf to this country was a sister, Louisa, and the two located in Jamestown, N. Y., where his sister remained for about 14 years, when she was married and with her husband moved to Minnesota. His brother, Charles J., came to the land of freedom in 1860 ; and, ere he had been under the flag of the stars and stripes a year, a herculean effort was made by rebel hands to trail it in the dust. The love for his adopted country so early enkindled in his breast prompted him to go to its defense. While at Vicksburg he died from exposure, as many of the brave boys in blue also did.

In 1854, our subject came to Andover, this county, where he engaged as a general laborer. On his ar- rival here he had but $1 in his pocket. In 1857, he embarked in a farming enterprise for himself. He rented a farm, but owing to the bad crop he was left in a worse condition financially than when he first began. He was not, however, to be baffled, or to abandon agricultural pursuits. He secured 20 acres

of wild land, and began its improvement, determin- ing to make a home for himself. When one looks upon the well improved and cultivated farm where he now lives, the story of his success is told.

About the time he began farming for himself, he and Miss Caroline Morse determined to unite their fortunes and fight the battle of life together. This union was consummated Dec. 28, 1857. The wife was born July 8, 1840, in Sweden, and was brought to America by her mother, who settled in the city of Chicago, where the mother shortly afterward died. Her father, who was a soldier, did not come across the Atlantic to America until the following year. He died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. L., in 1870, aged 57 years. After the death of her mother, Mrs. L. came further West and lived with a stranger until her father came, with whom she lived until her marriage. The record of the children, who number six, that have been born to Mr. and Mrs. L., is as follows: Thomas T., born Sept. 23, 1867 ; Edward, Feb. 23, 1870; Amanda, June 23, 1873, and three who are dead. The three former are living at home and attending the district school. The family are connected with the Lutheran Church. Politically, Mr. L. is a Republican, and has for many years served as School Director.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 23

Author: Publication date: 1885 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 850

Author:
Publication date: 1885
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 850