Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 38

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 38

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Mr. Gaines has been thrice married. Harriet (Andrews) Gaines, to whom he was joined in matri- mony in Otsego Co., N. Y., in 1837, was born in Delaware Co., N. Y., and was the daughter of Hiram Andrews. She bore three children: George died at the age of four years ; Clarissa is the wife of E. G. Comstock, of Rapid City, Dak .; Julia married James W. Stewart, of Cambridge, Ill., who is a grain merchant at that place. The mother died in 1852. Mr. Gaines was again married, in Cambridge, in December, 1854, to Clarissa Hinman. She was the daughter of Willis Hinman, and was born in Bristow, Conn. The issue of the second marriage comprises five children, namely : Hattie is the wife of Charles E. Genung, of Menlo, Iowa; Emma married George L. Gilman, and they reside in Dakota ; Lucy mar-

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ried Dr. R. W. Miller, who is engaged in the prac- tice of his profession at Menlo, Iowa; Frank N. is in the provision business at Grinnell, Iowa; Harvey S. is a student at the Collegiate Institute at Geneseo. The second wife of Mr. Gaines died at Geneseo, in October, 1877. Amy H. Wilson became his wife in February, 1879. She was born in Belchertown, Mass., and died at Geneseo, July 13, 1884.

eorge Ferguson, a retired farmer, living at Cambridge, came to Henry County in ....... 1855 and settled on a farm in Cornwall Township. He first purchased 80 acres of land and increased his real estate until he be- came the owner of 400 acres. He was born May 10, 1819, in County Monaghan, Ireland. His grandfather, Samuel Ferguson, was born in Ireland and married Margaret Hall. They had six children, one of whom, John, came to America and settled in Pennsylvania, where he died. The children were named James, Samuel, John, Mary and Margaret. Another daughter died young. James Ferguson, the oldest son, was born and died in Ireland. He mar- ried Margaret Huss, and they had ten children. The following named reached maturity : Margaret, Mar- tha, Jane, Isabella, Samuel, Thomas, George and James. The two last are twins. James came to the United States in the early part of May, 1847, and George followed toward the close of the same month. James settled in Hamilton, Canada, where he still lives. George was a laborer in the same place two years, and in 1849 he removed to Pennsylvania, where he was a resident six years. He came to Henry County in December, 1855. He was occupied in the Keystone State as a teamster and on removal to Illinois became a farmer. In the summer of 1856 he bought 80 acres of land in Cornwall Township and removed his family from Peoria, where they had been awaiting the preparation of their home. He bought at intervals two additional tracts of land, each containing 160 acres, and by further purchase added to his estate until he now owns 480 acres, under advanced cultivation. When he bought the first 80 acres, for which he paid at the rate of $4.25 per acre, he had sufficient means to obtain a clear title and a small amount of money for the pur-

chase of stock. Mr. Ferguson removed to Cam- bridge in May, 1884, where he expects to pass the remaining years of his life in the comfort earned by his frugal industry.

He is a Republican, and has been since he became a citizen of his adopted country. In his own coun- try he was an inflexible adherent of the Order of Orangemen. He and his wife are prominent mem- bers of the Free-Will Baptist Church. Mr. Ferguson was a member of the building committee for the con- struction of the church edifice of the society to which he belongs in Cornwall, and has since been one of the Trustees. He was prominent in the organiza- tion of the local body, and has been a liberal contrib- utor to its support. The family has been unremitting in their efforts in social and religious matters in the community to which they so long belonged.

Mr. Ferguson married Ann, daughter of John Hall. Her father removed to Henry County in 1857, with his family, and died in the township of Cornwall. Mr. 'and Mrs. Ferguson had nine children, seven of whom reached adult age : John, James, Esther, Mar- garet J., Martha A., George and Mary E. John is a farmer in Minnesota; James is engaged in the same business in Dakota.

V. Clough, dairyman and general farmer on section 19, Geneseo Township, is one of the representative farmers of Henry County in point of industry, thrift and persistency in the way of adding to the development of the agricultural resources of the county. He was born in Bangor, Franklin Co., N. Y., March 20, 1830. His parents, Peter and Hannah (Perham) Clough, were both born in the State of New York, and were of German and English birth respectively. They went, in the childhood of their son, to Jamaica, Vt. There Mr. Clough grew to the age of manhood, and was instructed in the business of a farmer. He was also employed at various times in a saw-mill. He continued to live in the county of Windham un- til 1856, when he came to the county where he is now a resident. He at once bought a tract of land at Hickory Grove, in the township of Edford, and proceeded to the business of farmer in a prairie State. He erected a frame house, 14 × 18 feet in dimen-

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sions and one and a half stories in height. He cleared about 60 acres of his farm, which was situ- ated in the grove, and after a residence thereon of about nine years, he then sold out and bought the place where he has since carried on his business operations. The place contains 240 acres and is all improved. In 1879 he established his business as a dairyman and has a milk route in the city of Gen- eseo. His cows number 60 on an average.

Mr. Clough was married in Windham Co., Vt., to Sophia Hines. Their marriage was celebrated Jan. 26, 1855. They have had eight sons, five of whom are living, namely : Victor W., born Jan. 20, 1856 ; Henry C., May 23, 1858; Frank, Aug. 19, 1861; Llewellyn A., Feb. 22, 1874; Clyde M., June 29, 188. The deceased are : Charlie L., born Aug. 31, 1863, died Oct. 9, 1864 ; Harry L., born July 19, 1866, died April 12, 1870; and Ernest, born Feb. 2, 187 1, died Aug. 27, 1871. Mrs. Clough was born in Windham Co., Vt., July 20, 1839. Her parents were William and Ann (Maynard) Hins. Mr. Hins was born April 1, 1812; and Mrs. H., May 23, 1816, and died May 5, 1864.

artin Ross is one of the substantial citi- zens of the township of Loraine in all the senses that estate and public interest can make him such. He is a pioneer of 1845 in the county, since which time he has resided on section 17 of Loraine Township. He was born Sept. 22, 1816, in Hesse-Darmstadt, and is the son of Henry and Margaret (Hinkel) Ross, and grew to the estate of manhood in his native town, where he passed the years of his youth in school and on the farm, and was 24 when in 1840 he came to the United States. He landed at the port of New York on the 3d of June of the year named, after a sea voy- age of 32 days.

His cash capital on which to begin the upbuilding of his fortunes in the New World was less than $5. But he had what is better than money in this country, -the spirit to take hold of the first thing that needs to be done ; and he at once proceeded to Pennsyl- vania, where he obtained work as a farm assistant. He worked one year at $6 a month, and in the year next succeeding he went to Delaware. He was

similarly occupied there at double his former pay, and he passed a year there. He then returned to Pennsylvania, where he remained until the spring of 1845, when he came to Henry County. He made a claim on sections 8 and 17, in what was then town- ship 18, now Loraine. He built a log house on the southeast quarter of the section first named, but later removed the structure to the other section. In 1852 he bought a soldier's land-warrant, and has since been an occupant of the claim, which he se- cured under its provisions. He has become by sub- sequent purchase the owner of an additional acreage, which forms an aggregate of 452 acres, of which 370 acres are in farming condition. The proprietor has erected excellent farm buildings, and set out fruit and shade trees. On taking possession of his farm, Mr. Ross bought a cow and a pair of steers, for which he paid at a later date, when he was in more prosperous circumstances. His herd of cattle con- tain now about 50 head, and he has 13 horses and colts. He raises both grain and stock, and keeps a dairy, selling the cream, as is the custom in the vicinity.

Mr. Ross was married in 1845, to Magdalena Lehman, who was born in Alsace. Their children number five, and their names are Martin, Philip, Sarah A., Rebecca and Sally. The oldest son lives in Bon Homme Co., Dak. Philip is a farmer on section 8, in Loraine Township. Sarah is the wife of Lewis Arnett, and resides in Whiteside Co., Ill. Rebecca married Lavinus Heller, of Atkinson Town- ship. Sally is the wife of Julius Lemuel, and they live in the township of Alba.

The first wife died Dec. 7, 1855. March 6, 1856, Mr. Ross was married to Eva Barbara Knapper, and they are the parents of ten children, as follows : William is a resident of Buffalo Co., Neb .; Louisa is the wife of Solomon J. Heller, of the township of Atkinson; Christine married John Butzer, of White- side Co., Ill .; the remaining children were born in the following order: David, George F., Samuel W., Henrietta M., Lydia M., Benjamin H. and Marcella Eva Barbara.

The members of the family are connected in mem- bership with the Evangelical Association of North America. The father has been a Trustee in the Church of which he is a member for 27 years, or since 1858. He has officiated 12 years as Commissioner, and has been prominent in his interest and exer-

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tions for the benefit of education in his township. He has officiated as Director the greater part of the time since the organization of the township. In active religious effort he has been one of the fore- most, and has officiated as Steward and Exhorter for many years. In 1885 Mr. Ross bought a residence in the city of Geneseo.

ohn H. Dubbs, photographic artist at Gen- eseo, established his business in that city in December, 1884. He was born Feb. 18, 1859, in Wood Co., Ohio, and is the son of John and Celia (Smith) Dubbs. He obtained a practical knowledge of his trade in Findlay, in his native State, and is a thoroughly skilled artist. Mr. Dubbs has the endorsement of a large class of patrons as being superior in his line of business. He was engaged as a photographer in Findlay and in Fremont, in Ohio, and in July, 1883, came to Port Byron, in Rock Island Co., Ill. He conducted his business there until his removal to Geneseo.

Mr. Dubbs is a member of the Congregational Church, and in political relations is a Democrat. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 624, Port Byron ; also is a member of the society known as " Modern Woodmen," No. 34, Port Byron.

rederick Fritzsche, a farmer of the town- ship of Atkinson, located on section 26, was born in Saxony, Germany, Jan. 23, 1826. In the year 1850 he left his native land to cast his fortune with that of the New World. He was dissatisfied with the distinctions in the different classes in his own country, not being able to see how one man is any better in the claims of his birth than another. He believed in his own man- hood sufficiently to trust the chances under a form of government which permitted to every one the privi- lege of making his own way without the distinctions which in the land of his birth gave the monopoly of all things to the favored few.

Directly after landing at the port of New York, he proceeded to Wisconsin. There he passed two years, and at the expiration of that time he came to the

county where he has since been a resident. He reached this section of the State of Illinois in Sep- tember, 1852, and has been a citizen of the county where he is now located more than 30 years. He has returned to the land which gave him birth twice since he set out in life as an independent American citizen. He went first in 1852, and repeated his visit in 1884. He is the owner of 400 acres of land, which he has placed in the most profitable condition for farming purposes. He is extensively engaged in the rearing of swine and cattle.

The marriage of Mr. Fritzsche to Christiana Leeps took place Jan. 8, 1854. She was born in Germany, Sept. 3, 1831. They have had ten children, of whom seven are living. They were born in the order in which their names are here recorded : Ernestine W., Alice M. (deceased), Frederick A. (deceased), Annie C. (deceased), Edward H., Fred- erick E., Moritz F., Sarah F., Wm. F. and Anna R.

Mr. Fritzsche is a Republican in his political ideas, and always has supported the issues and principles of that party. The members of the family are Lutherans.

hilip S. Schnabele is a leading business, man at Geneseo, where he is also acting in the several capacities of Notary Public, in- surance and emigration agent. He is a mer- chant tailor, and established his business at Geneseo, Nov. 8, 1860, as a general merchant, in company with Lawrence Offerle. In 1865 he made the exchange to his present line of trade, and since 1868 he has managed his affairs alone. In connection with merchant tailoring, he carries a full line of ready-made clothing and furnishing goods, and also deals in sewing-machines, organs and pi- anos.

Mr. Schnabele was born at Obenheim, in Alsace, France (now under the Prussian government), Dec. 24, 1835. He is the son of Jacob P. and Mary M. (Stahl) Schnabele. The family came to the United States in 1841, crossing the ocean in a sailing vessel, the voyage consuming 44 days. They settled at Northfield, Cook Co., Ill., where Mr. Schnabele re- mained until his removal to Geneseo, where he ar-

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rived Nov. 7, 1860. This has since been the place of his residence.

Mr. Schnabele was a citizen of this country when the Republican party was organized, and he has since supported its principles. He is thoroughly in sym- pathy with the general and local institutions of the country of his adoption, and his value as a citizen and the quality of his abilities has been fully recog- nized by his several elections to office. He has officiated as Alderman two terms and as Mayor one term. He is engaged in the discharge of the duties of his fourth consecutive term as Supervisor, and also as Alderman. He has served three terms as a inember of the Board of Education, and four years as its President.

In 1862 he formed a matrimonial union with Amelia Willman at Geneseo. She was born Oct. 22, 1843, in Prussia, and is the daughter of Charles Willman. Following is the record of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Schnabele: Jennie A., born Jan. 27, 1864; Ada M., Sept. 28, 1866; Carrie M., Dec. 3, 1868; Jerome P., July 24, 1871; Leonora F., Dec. 26, 1873; Priscilla, March 13, 1876; Maude M., July 10, 1878 ; Hazel M., Nov. 12, 1883.

on. William H. Shepard, practicing attor- ney, resident at Cambridge, has been a citizen of Henry County since 1861. He was born Sept. 18, 1836, in Norfolk, St. Law- rence Co., N Y., and is the only child of Chauncey L. Shepard by a second marriage. His mother, Clio G. (Grout) Shepard, is the daugh- ter of Josiah Grout, a prominent citizen of Fairfax, Franklin Co., Vt., and who was an officer in the United States Army in the second war with Great Britain. Captain Grout was engaged in the cele- brated battle of Plattsburg, which was one of the most important actions of that conflict. Chauncey Shepard died Nov. 10, 1879, aged 79. Mrs. Shep- ard, the mother, lives with her son at Cambridge, and is 81 years of age.

Mr. Shepard passed his childhood on a farm in Fairfax, Franklin Co., Vt. He was a student at the celebrated New Hampton Institute, one of the lead- ing educational institutions of the Green Mountain State, where he distinguished himself in scholarship.

He bore the honors of his class, and was graduated as valedictorian, on the 11th of August, 1859.

During his course of study he fixed on the law for a profession, and on leaving school he bent every energy to the accomplishment of that purpose. He had no resources but those of energy, determined ambition and unbroken health. Soon after he was graduated, he entered the law office of Messrs. Hubbell & Dewey, a leading law firm of Fairfax, and commenced his preparatory reading. He gave diligent attention to his legal course, devoting his entire leisure to an acquisition of the knowledge necessary to his purpose, spending the winter seasons of two years in teaching district school. Sept. II, 1861, he was admitted to the Bar of Vermont, with all the privileges of the State Courts. Soon after he was graduated, his name was placed before the peo- ple of Fairfax as a candidate for the responsible position of Superintendent of Schools, to which he was elected. and discharged the duties of the office two years, while he pursued his law studies. At the time he was elected he was but little more than 21 years old.

Almost immediately upon his admission to the Bar, he came West to secure a broader field for ac- tion. Oct. 14, 1861, he located at Cambridge, and established his business as an attorney. He was al- most wholly without resources, save his profession, and at first had not even sufficient means to secure the most modest legal library. He brought the most steadfast perseverance to bear on his business, pur- suing its relation's with indomitable energy and assiduity. His entire course was characterized by in- flexible honesty and manly conduct, which bore the fruit of unlimited public confidence. A few years found him in easy circumstances and in a leader's position in his profession.

In his early political life, he was a Whig, with de- cided anti-slavery opinions, and on the organization of the Republican party he adopted its principles and identified himself with its issues. His first Presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln. In 1872 he was nominated for Senator from the 21st Senatorial District of Illinois, including the counties of Henry and Rock Island, and he was triumphantly elected by nearly 2,900 majority. Upon the assem- bling and organization of the body of which he was a member, he was made Chairman of Committee on

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Appropriations, and was placed on Committees on Judiciary, Revision, Corporations, Penal Institutions, and Judicial Department and Apportionment. He was prominent in the entire course of the busy ses- sion of the 28th General Assembly, his systematic habits and familiarity with business routine enabling him to accomplish a large amount of labor of very effective character. In his most prominent appoint- ment, his judicious management secured for him the implicit confidence of the Senate, and he fairly won the appellation of ". Watch-dog of the Treasury," which designation was conferred upon him. Nor did the caution and foresight he exercised give him the reputation of illiberality. He operated on the fundamental principle that the "right place for the people's money was in the pockets of the people." He suffered no loss of Legislative details, as he was always in his seat during the sessions of the Senate. He was not given to debate, and compelled no waste of time in the Legislative body on ulterior matters ; and when an exigency demanded the influence of his voice, he commanded universal respect and at- tention by forcible and concise argument. His affa- bility and consideration was rewarded by general esteem of the warmest character.

In 1872 he entered into a partnership with Ira D. Marston, and on the expiration of his Senatorial term he resumed the relations of his law business at Cambridge, to which he has since devofed his atten- tion without intermission.

Mr. Shepard was a Delegate to the State Repub- lican Conventions of 1876, 1880 and 1884. In that of 1880 he was appointed a Delegate from his Con- gressional District to the Republican National Con- vention which convened at Chicago in June of that year. The National Convention and that of the State of Illinois of that year were rendered memora- ble by the lamentable strife over the " Third Term " question, which shook the Republican party from center to circumference. The controversy over the question as to whether Grant or Blaine should con- trol the organization and dictate the ultimatum of the National Convention was begun in the State Convention. The friends of Grant contended that the Convention should, as the supreme head of the party in the State, select its delegates to the Na- tional Convention in accord with the views of the majority. Blaine's friends urged that the jurisdiction of the point at issue belonged exclusively to the sev-

eral Congressional Districts. The majority of the delegates to the State Convention were adherents of Grant, and they selected representatives to the National Convention accordingly. _ The controversy was thus transferred to a higher and more august tribunal and precipitated the historic action known in political parlance as the " Overthrow of the Unit Rule," which deprived 18 of the Grant delegates of their seat in the National Convention. The move- ment resulted in similar losses in other State delega- tions and the finale was the defeat of Grant and the nomination of James A. Garfield. Mr. Shepard had been selected for his staunch adherence to General Grant, and he lost his vote. However, when the commemorative medal was disseminated among the immortal 306, he, with the others who had been un- seated, was the recipient of an honorary medal pre- cisely similar. The medal is of bronze and bears the following words: "Commemorative of the 36 ballots of the Old Guard for Ulysses S. Grant for President. Republican National Convention, Chi- cago, June, 1880. Wm. H. Shepard.", ¿On the ob- verse is a head of Grant in relief, surrounded with a wreath of oak and laurel in a circle, recording the results of the 36 ballotts. (While this record is be- ing made, July 23, 1885, the United States flag is flying at half-mast on the staff at Cambridge for the old commander's death at Mt. McGregor.)

Mr. Shepard is Chairman of the County Republi- can Committee. He occupied the same position in 1869 and in 1870. He has officiated 13 years as Treasurer of the Henry County Agricultural Society. In the memorable year, 1884, he was a Presidential Elector on the Republican ticket, and was a hearty supporter of James G, Blaine. He is, at present writing, Master in Chancery.

Mr. Shepard as a lawyer has a prominent stand- ing, and he has from the outset won popularity. All his dealings with the public have been character- ized by his traits as a man, which are of high order. In point 'of probity and integrity, Mr. Shepard irreproachable. As a business man he has been successful. On the organization of the First Na- tional Bank of Cambridge, he became one of its directors, and still bears the same relation to its affairs.

Mr. Shepard was united in marriage Nov. 29, 1862, in Burlington, Vt., to Mary, daughter of Dea- con Daniel and Ruth (Carpenter) Jackson. Her

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parents were natives of Central Vermont and were farmers. Mrs. Shepard has five brothers and sisters, as follows : Daniel Leland is a resident of Colorado Springs in the State of the same name; Mrs. Han- nah Halbert lives at Essex Junction, Vt .; Gideon C. lives at Englewood, Ill. ; Philo is a druggist in Brook- lyn, N. Y .; Peleg W. went some years ago to Al- burg, New South Wales, Australia, where he is the manager of a mail stage route and is a stockman. Mrs. Shepard is the youngest child of her parents. Her children were born as follows: William H., May 13, 1865; and Frederick Jackson, Aug. 18, 1869. The latter died at the age of 14 months.

The mother is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Shepard belongs to the Masonic Order and also to the A. O. U. W.

ev. Jason Chapin, deceased, was one of the pioneer clergymen of Geneseo. He was born at Newport, N. H., in 1801. He received his literary education at Amherst College, and accomplished his theologica course at Andover Theological Seminary, and was graduated from the latter. In early life he was engaged in teaching, and, later, went to Ohio as a home missionary. He passed a few years there in that occupation, and went thence to New York.

His next removal was to Geneseo, whither he came in 1840, to accept the position of Principal of of the Geneseo Seminary. He was the incumbent of the situation nearly six years, or until failing health compelled him to relinquish the post. His death occurred Sept. 11, 1846. He was a man of fine culture, and possessed abilities of more than or- dinary type. He was a consistent Christian and an earnest advocate and supporter of all that was cal- culated to elevate and improve humanity. His political sympathies were with the Republican party, and he cast his vote in its behalf.

Mr. Chapin was married at Ware, Mass., Oct. 4, 1831, to Miss Caroline Snow. She is the daughter of Eli and Alice (Alden) Snow, and was born in . Hampshire Co., Mass. Her mother was a lineal de- scendant of the historic pair at Plymouth, John Alden and Priscilla Molines (or Mullens), who discussed the claims of the "laggard in love," Captain Miles

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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 38

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