Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 31

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 31

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Mr. Nowers was married in December, 1860, to Miss Helen S. Scott. Their three children are liv- ing and are named Edward, John S. and Gertrude. The mother was born in the State of New York in 1838 and died in 1871. Mr. Nowers was again mar- ried in 1872 to Elizabeth Roberts. Their union oc- curred Nov. 7, of the year named. Their two children were born as follows: Lurena S., June 2, 1876; William .A., Oct. 8, 188 1.

ohn M. Swanson, general farmer, on sec- tion I, Lynn Township, is the son of Swan Mangeson, who was a native of Sweden and a farmer, and who was married in Jan- spring Lan, to Sarah A. Larson. They are both now deceased. Mr. Swanson was born Dec. 21, 1820, and when 35 years of age, in 1856, he came to America and settled in Opheim, Henry

County, where he first worked two years as a farm laborer, and then rented for seven years. At the ex- piration of this time he purchased 80 acres on sec- tion 1, Lynn Township, about 1864, which was unimproved prairie at the time. He has since pur- chased 80 acres more, and on the whole tract he has now a well improved farm and a thoroughly equipped home; he also is the proprietor of 90 acres of im- proved land in Western Township.

He was married in his native country Dec. 28, 1845, to Anna E. Anderson, who was born in Jan- spring Lan, Sept. 18, 1823; her parents both of Swedish nativity, were farmers, and both now de- ceased. Of the II children born in the family of Mr. Swanson, four are deceased. The living are : Christina, who married Valentine Miller, and lives in Phillipsburg, N. J .; her husband is a manufac- turer of gas-pipes, etc .; Andrew is married and is a skillful and reliable clerk in Cambridge; his wife's name was Lena Carlson ; Charles resides in Wayne Co., Neb., near Wayne City; Mary married Peter Sundburg and resides in Osco Township, this county ; Tilla, Matilda, Joseph and Peter A. are at home. The family are members of the Lutheran Church at Andover, and the political views of Mr. S. are in keeping with the principles of the Republi- can party.

ilber F. Broughton, of Geneseo, has been a resident in Henry County since 1858. He was born Aug. 17, 1838, in Paines- ville, Lake Co., Ohio, and is the son of John and Sarah (Gundry) Broughton. He was brought up on the homestead farm of his father, and was 20 when he came to Illinois and located in the county in which he has since lived, with the ex- ceptions herein mentioned. In the spring of 1860 he went to Pike's Peak, and returned in the fall of the same year, fully satisfied with his trip.

He enlisted in the 112th Regt. Ill. Vol. Inf. in August, 1862, was one of the non-commissioned offi- cers of Co. I, and was in the service about two years. Aug. 8, 1864, he was severely wounded at the battle of Eutaw Creek, near Atlanta. He came from the field with four gunshot wounds, and his clothes showed that seven balls had passed through them. A musket ball carried away a part of his right hand,

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Earl Aldrich

Proline Aldrich

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HENRY COUNTY.

and he has always since suffered from the conse- quences of the action of that day. He received an honorable discharge Nov. 25 following, on account of disability caused by his injuries. After his return to his home he became interested in the sale of ag- ricultural implements, and in 1871 established a branch house at Orion, in this county, meanwhile maintaining his residence at Geneseo. He was con- nected with the business there seven years. Since 1882 he has been operating in Nebraska.

Mr. Broughton is a Republican in political princi- ples and connections, and in character is one whose consistent and disinterested course has won for him a permanent place in the esteem of those among whom the later years of his career have been passed.

The marriage of Mr. Broughton to Mary P. Cole took place at Geneseo, July 3, 1859. Mrs. Brough- ton was born in Erie Co., N. Y., and she is the daughter of John Cole. She has borne three chil- dren, all daughters. They are named Gertrude M., Kittie A. and Ella D. Kittie was married Feb. 3, 1885, to J. F. Walsh, and they now reside at Lyons, Rice Co., Kan.

arl P. Aldrich, deceased, was the second settler in Henry County. He came here in July, 1835, and located in Phenix Township, or in that division of the county which is now known by that name. He was born Jan. 15, 1810, in Gloucester, Providence Co., R. I., and was the youngest son of Samuel I. and Eliza (Mann) Aldrich. His parents were both natives of Rhode Island, and were of English ancestry. They removed with their families to Tioga Co., Pa., in 1817, and after a short residence there they pushed on to Perry Co., Ohio. After a brief tarry there, during which the mother died, they went on to Pickaway County, in the same State, where they settled near Circleville. They were among the earliest comers at every point they reached, but they found so few attractions at the various stopping places that they invariably pushed on to find a loca- tion more satisfactory. After a brief stay in the vicinity of Circleville, they made another removal westward, and went to Tippecanoe Co., Ind.

There Mr. Aldrich was married, and he took his

wife to the home of his parents for a time. Soon after he commenced life independently, and man- aged as a renter until the year in which he settled in Illinois. The journey was made overland, the family traveling in a prairie schooner. The live stock they owned was driven through, and included five yoke of oxen, which were the draught power that brought the quaint wagon that was home and shelter during the trip across the country to Henry County. The party consisted of Mr. Aldrich, and his wife and his father. They carried with them their personal property and provisions for the needed supplies on the route. Their gipsy experience, while it had its trials and discomforts, was full of novelty and enjoyment of a wholesome character. Their frequent removals pre- viously had made them acquainted with inconveni- ence, and they had learned to make the best of the inevitable, which is the most useful lesson in life. They came directly to Henry County, and settled at first in Phenix Township. Mr. Aldrich entered a claim on section 30, and with the assistance of his wife and his father he built a log house. The roof was covered with clapboards, and the floor was of the kind called "puncheon." Until the structure was completed the family lived in a camp and in their wagon. Indians were plentiful, but they were not troublesome, as the events of the Black Hawk War were still fresh in their memory, and they pre- ferred to conciliate their vanquishers and to live on friendly terms. The wild game was abundant, and ` included turkeys, hogs, deer and prairie-chickens. The nearest postoffice was at Farmington, in Rock Island County, which was then called Fort Stephen- son. The only place of supplies was at the Govern- ment store at Rock Island.

The house was built with the chimney on the out- side. The latter was made of sods above the founda- tion, and held together by sticks. The family had at first no bedsteads, and slept on beds of hay on the ground. In this building the first white child born in Henry County first saw the light. This house was the family abode three years. In 1838 Mr. Aldrich built what was then called a double hewed-log house, and it was of rather more aristocratic type than the common structure of logs in which the pio- neers made their first homes. It was two stories in height, and was the residence of the household until 1856. In that year Mr. Aldrich bought a farm ad- joining, and took possession of a brick house stand-

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ing thereon ; here he lived six years, then came back to the old homestead and built a brick house, and this was his homestead until his death.

After arranging for the comfort of his family on his removal to the county, Mr. Aldrich entered with earnest vigor into the work of improving his farm. He broke the land with the aid of ox teams, and he sold his first crop of grain at Rock Island, and after- ward sought a market at Chicago. The latter place was 160 miles distant, and the wheat was sold there for 50 cents a bushel.

The marriage of Mr. Aldrich to Caroline Imel took place Sept. 27, 1882. Her father, George Imel, was born in Shenandoah Co., Va. He was an emigrant from that State with his parents to Indiana when the latter was a Territory. He married Elizabeth Dur- ham, who was born in South Carolina. Mr. Aldrich died Nov. 20, 1880, of typhoid pneumonia. To him and his wife nine children were born, and of the number five grew to mature life: Henry S. married Mary Richmond, of Whiteside County, and they have two children,-Ellis A. and Halcyon. Mar- shall M. married Samantha Richmond. Their chil- dren are Marshall M., Robert Edmund Lee, Earl P., Henry O., Mabel E. and an unnamed infant. Phila N. married James L. Davies, a citizen of Phenix Township. Commodore P. married Lucy G. Mc- Henry, and died in 1878, leaving three children. Silas W. married Emma McHenry, and died in May, 1882, leaving two children.

Mrs. Aldrich is still a resident on the homestead where she settled in July, 1835, and is the oldest liv- ing pioneer in this part of the county. She is a member of the Christian Church. Mr. Aldrich was a Democrat of conservative type.

The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Aldrich are to be found on other pages. None of more value to the records of Henry County will be placed in this work. Mrs: Aldrich is still the survivor of her husband. The story of their pioneer experiences, told from a woman's standpoint, is full of interest, and is given with much satisfaction. She relates that their des- tination was at first La Porte, Ind. They went there early enough to get in a crop the year of their removal; but the cold was unprecedented. June 20, everything froze. The prospects were most dis- couraging, especially as the land was all held by pre-emption rights and road-scrip, and none could be entered. The frost "coming at a time so unex-

pected settled the whole business and the family came to the Rock River country, as has been told. They camped at Prophetstown eight days, where they remained until they could prospect sufficiently to secure a suitable location.

July 28, the claim in the township of Phenix was made. It was a squatters' claim,'as the county sur- vey had not yet been made. When the land sales came on the title was secured, and the lady who supplies these particulars is still in possession of the original papers. About an acre of land was broken at first, although it was too late to put in any kind of a crop that year. But the proprietor busied himself in constructing buildings and in cutting prairie hay for the stock. The cooking was done out of doors. They were obliged to go to Knoxville for all sup- plies after the first, which were obtained from Fort Stephenson, where the Rock Island Arsenal is now located. The distance is 21 miles. The first mill- ing was obtained at Le Claire, in Iowa. The mill fixtures were of the primitive kind known as “ nig- ger-heads." This was in the fall of 1836, and three men went at the same time to get some crushed grain ; for it was little better. Mr. Aldrich took with him about 12 bushels of wheat. The others had their grists bolted, but he did not like to waste so much as that process occasioned, and he brought home the cracked wheat. The "bolt," so-called, was only of thin factory cloth, and the waste was enormous. The family had been four weeks with- out bread, as there was no flour to be obtained at Fort Stephenson.

The food of the pioneers was potatoes and "roast- ing-ears " (generally pronounced " roas'n-ears "). There was then a child in the Aldrich household,- the first white male child born in the county,-and he cried for bread. That made by Mrs. Aldrich from the grist brought by her husband tasted too strongly of bran. Her inventive resources were not exhausted, and she took the crown of her wedding cap, which was made of " bobinet lace," and, stretch- ing it in a hair sieve, she sifted the flour and made bread that was the pride and boast of the travelers who stopped at the pioneer home, for the hospitality that was never withheld nor grudgingly bestowed. From the first they kept open house. Two men came and stayed all night the third night after their arrival, and partook of the accommodations, sleep-

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ing in the camp and eating on a chest. They did not have a stove until 1840.

The first Fourth-of-July celebration in the county was held at the Aldrich house. There was a dance, which was attended by 30 couples. Everybody at- tended, to look on or to dance. Those who danced paid $2 a couple : the remainder were fed without charge, as there was plenty for all. Mrs. Aldrich brought with her all the fixtures and supplies for cloth-inaking against a time of need. In the winter of 1836-7 she spun the rolls of wool she had brought on the spinning-wheel that traversed the route in the prairie-wagon. Mr. Aldrich and his father cut and hewed the timber needed to make a loom, in which were placed the reeds and other mechan- ical appliances necessary to the structure, and the harness was made by Mrs. Aldrich. She wove about a hundred yards of cloth, from which the needed clothing was made, besides a pair of bed- blankets.

Mr. Aldrich kept public house about 14 years. It formed the first stage station between Rock Island and Dixon, and the changes of horses were kept there as long as the Frink & Walker stages run. The Indians were plentiful but very friendly, and they were especially interested in the baby, the first white child many of them had ever seen. The story of the pioneer settler in any part of the country has its own local interests, and it matters not how many times the tale .is repeated ; it never grows tiresome or stale. But a few more years will see the last of the first settlers in Henry County, and the stories then remaining untold will pass to the oblivion of everlasting silence.

ndrew E. Aldeen, of the firm of Engdahl & Aldeen, at Geneseo, was born in Sweden, April 10, 1845. He was instructed in the practical knowledge of the details of his busi- ness in his native country, whence he came in 1868. On his arrival in the United States he canie immediately to Henry County. He came to the city in which he is now in business in 1872, and obtained a situation to work at his trade. The years inclusive from 1875 to 1878 he passed at Ottawa. At the expiration of that time he returned to Gen-

eseo and formed the partnership in which he has since been interested.

His marriage to Anna Anderson took place at Geneseo in 1871. The young wife died 15 months after she was married. In 1879, Mr. Aldeen was again married, to Carrie Olson. They have two children: Stella L. was born Aug. 7, 1880; Della was born Oct. 5, 1883.

The parents are members of the Swedish Lutheran Church. In political connection and action Mr. Al- deen is a Republican.

eorge A. Carter, Supervisor of Edford Township, has been a land-holder in Henry County since 1865-6. He was born March 1, 1845, in Ashland Co., Ohio. His parents, Leander and Nancy (Richison) Carter, were natives of the State of Vermont, and they settled soon after their marriage in the Buckeye State. The date of their removal there was 1835. The father was a farmer, and he died on his farm in Ohio, in 1878. The family included nine children. Eight still survive.

Mr. Carter was reared to manhood in his native county. In the days of his youth he was an attend- ant at the public schools, and as soon as his size and strength permitted he made himself useful on the home farm. Just before he attained his majority he came to Henry County, as has been stated. As- sociated with P. H. Beveridge, he bought 400 acres of land on sections 34 and 35 in Edford Township, and has since been a resident of the same township. Mr. Beveridge was for a time a resident of the town- ship, but is now a business man in the city of Chicago. Mr. Carter is the resident manager of the estate. While living in Henry County, Mr. Bever- idge was one of the ablest and most useful citizens, and served as County Treasurer two terms. Mr. Carter has been engaged to a considerable extent in the business of a stock-grower and general farmer. The property of 400 acres is all in improved condi- tion and supplied with all suitable farm fixtures. The buildings are of excellent type and include all that are necessary on a first-class stock-farm.

Mr. Carter was married Feb, 23, 1881, to Miss Sarah Beveridge. Mrs. Carter was born in Ashland, Ohio, was a daughter of Peter and Ann (Watt) Bev-

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eridge, and her parents were natives of Aberdeen, Scotland.

In political faith, Mr. Carter is a Republican, and he has been in active public life in the affairs of his township for some years. He has served as Justice of the Peace four years.

F. Sargent has been connected with the business history of Geneseo since 1858, the year in which he fixed his residence there. He is the senior member of the manu- facturing firm of D. F. Sargent & Son, who engaged in the prosecution of one of the most prominent industries at that place.

On coming to Henry County he opened a black- smith shop, and, as he believed that the time and place warranted the trial of a new business venture, in 1861 he commenced the manufacture of wagons in connection with his other business relations. In 1872, his son, A. F. Sargent, became interested in the concern and they entered upon the exclusive manufacture of carriages. Ten years later they be- gan to make the Maple City Road Cart, of which the junior member of the firm was the patentee. This was succeeded in August, 1883, by the substi- tution of the Geneseo Road Cart, as the article of manufacture, and which is the joint product of the inventive genius of A. F. Sargent and R. D. Farrell, and they are the patentees. A. F. Sargent pur- chased the claim of Mr. Farrell and the elder Sar- gent became the owner of a proprietary interest in it by purchase. The business has assumed extensive proportions and the house is engaged in the prose- cution of a popular trade. They manufacture about 800 carts annually and employ 14 assistants. They find market chiefly in the West and South. Their vehicles have won speedy and permanent recogni- tion, and the reputation of being of the most desir- able character as a road or business cart, and one that is free from horse or shaft motion.

D. F. Sargent was born in New London, Merrimac Co., N. H., May 23, 1825. His father, Daniel Sar- gent, was a native of the same place. The son ac- quired a knowledge of the trade of a blacksmith in the city of Boston and he was engaged in it in that city several years. He transferred his interests from

there to Sutton, N. H., and thence at a later date to Mill Village. In 1858 he came to Geneseo, as has been stated in connection with the account of his business career.

In addition to a considerable amount of property in Geneseo he owns a fine farm in the township of Phenix, which contains 147 acres. He also owns a tract of land in Hamilton Co., Iowa.

Mr. Sargent is one of the most esteemed citizens of Geneseo. His course of life and his interest in the general welfare have amply testified to his pub- lic spirit and the type of manhood that he represents, and his value in the community of which he is a member is fully recognized.

He has been in former years an adherent of the Republican element in politics, but has adopted the issues of the Prohibitionists.

Mr. Sargent has been twice married. Jane Foss became his wife in the East. She was a native of Bangor, Me., and died in Geneseo, April 3, 1862. She was the mother of three children: Anzonettie J. is the wife of Horace Ford, of Guthrie Co., Iowa; Adaline is in the millinery business in Sheffield, Ill., and Adelbert F. married Vienna Huson and is in business with his father. The second wife of Mr. Sargent was, previous to her marriage, Miss Abra E. Dunning. She was born in Weybridge, Vt. They are the happy parents of four daughters -- Lillie, Jessie, Clara and Gertrude. Mr. and Mrs. Sargent are members of the Methodist Church.

ames Slater, a retired farmer occupying sections 15 and 22, Clover Township, was born Oct. 5, 1801, in Pennsylvania. His father, James Slater, was a native of England, a farmer, and died in Pennsylvania ; his mother, nee Mary Farmer, was born in Germany, and died in the State of Ohio.

Arriving at the age of 16 years, and receiving a common-school education, Mr. Slater left home and struck out into the world as a laborer, in Ohio. At the age of 20 years he purchased a tract of timber land, and commenced the work of clearing it and laying the foundations for a comfortable and perma- nent home; but after a residence there of ten years, he removed to a farm in Muskingum County, same

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State, and resided there for 30 years ; but finally, in 1865, he sold out and purchased a quarter-section in Clover Township, this county, where he now lives, carrying on general farming, and also enjoying the fruits of a well spent life and the result of the earn- ings of many years of industrious toil.

His marriage to Rose Simmons, a native of Massa- chusetts, occurred in 1821, and by that union there were four children, all of whom are now dead. For his second wife Mr. Slater married Elizabeth A. Young, who was born in Loudoun Co., Va., in Feb- ruary, 1832 ; and of the eight children by this mar- riage five are living: George J., Isaac J., Martha M., Susan and Christopher C.

Politically, Mr. Slater is Democratic, and religious- ly is a member of the Christian Church, while Mrs. S. belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

mery C. Graves, City Attorney of Gen- eseo, established his business as an attor- ney at that place in 1876. He was born in the town of Cherry Creek, in Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Jan. 19, 1853. The personal ac- count of his parents, Calvin and Martha (Kingsley) Graves, is presented on another page of this volume. The family came to the State of Illi- nois in the spring of the year in which the birth of the son occurred. They settled on a farm in York- town Township, where the young gentleman who had seen but three months of existence passed his boyhood. He was a youth of a good mental caliber and made the most of the advantages afforded by the primary schools, with a view to obtaining a more ex- tended education in some institution of acknowledged repute, and he accordingly matriculated at the Wis- consin State University at Madison, and was gradu- ated there with the class of 1874, when he had just passed his majority. The degree of LL. D. was conferred on him, and he entered upon his practice in the city of Janesville, Wis .; and in July, 1876, he commenced his business as an attorney at Geneseo. The qualifications of Mr. Graves and his method of practice have achieved for him a well-merited popu- larity in his profession, and he has acquired a repu- tation as an expounder of law and as an advocate

which have placed him in the front rank of his pro- fession.

He has been twice elected to the position of City Attorney, being re-elected in 1885 to a second term. Mr. Graves is a Republican by inheritance and prin- ciple, and he has cast his vote with that party since he attained the privileges of his citizenship. He is liberal in his religious views.

His marriage to Miss Flora Spurlock took place Oct. 3, 1878. She was born in Abingdon, Ill. Their daughter is named Flora. She is their only child.

ewis Slawson is one of the progressive and energetic farmers of Henry County. He resides on section 19, Clover Township, and the date of his birth was Aug. 1, 1838, the State of his nativity being New York. His parents by name were Tryansel and Mary (Tenyck) Slawson, natives of New York. His father is yet living in Albany County, that State, his mother having died in the same county in 1854.

Lewis Slawson, until he was 19 years of age, was under the care of his parents, having been sent by them to the common schools, in which he procured a good English education. His years prior to the age named, when not spent in school, were passed on the farm, assisting the father in the labors there- on. At an early age he left home and came to Galesburg, this State, where he was engaged in labor by the month for some 15 months. At the expira- tion of that time he came to this county, and soon thereafter purchased a team, rented a farm, which he cultivated for one year, and at the expiration of that time was compelled to sell his team in order to pay his rent. He again engaged in farm labor by the month, at which he labored for nine months. In 1860 he again purchased a team, and again rented a farm, which he cultivated for a time, and then worked out again for nine months. Once more he rented a farın, and this time was successful in its cultivation, making some money, and continued to work in that manner until 1863. During that year he purchased 80 acres of land, located on section 35, Clover Town- ship. In 1869 he sold this and purchased 160 acres on section 19 of the same township. He moved on the land and at once engaged in its cultivation and

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Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 31

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