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 48
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Mr. Shere was joined in marriage Dec. 18, 1831, to Maria E. Artlet, who was born in the County of Kent, England, in December, 1812. Six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Shere are living: Thomas is a resident of Humboldt Co., Iowa ; Carrie is the wife of Alexander Brown, of Ottawa Co., Kan. ; Ann Eliza married Charles Branch, of the county last named ; William E. is a resident of Yorktown; Emma mar- ried Fred Landwehr, and they live in Whiteside County ; Ambrose A. is the manager of the home farm. He was born in the township where he lives Sept. 7, 1859, and has always lived with his parents. He was married Sept. 6, 1877, to Linda Swanson. She was born in Henry County, in June, 1859. They have two children,-Jessie L. and Bessie L. The parents have 27 grandchildren and 13 great- grandchildren.
ichard Floyd Everett, residing on section 25, Galva Township, where he is the pro- prietor of 240 acres of well improved land, was born Sept. 15, 1831, in Copake, Colum- bia Co., N. Y. He was reared on the farm, receiving the education given by the common schools, and developed into manhood.
Ebenezer Everett, great-grandfather of the sub- ject of this notice, was born in Hebron, Windham Co., Conn., in 1745. He had three sons,-Isaiah, Ebenezer and Eliphalet. Ebenezer and Eliphalet were soldiers in the Revolutionary War, and the lat- ter was for several years Steward of General Wash- ington's military family. He lived many years in
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Ellsworth, where Everett Dunbar now lives, but spent the latter part of his life in Watertown, N. Y. Isaiah Everett, the grandfather of the subject of this notice, died Aug. 4, 1834, at the age of 82 years, leaving five sons,-Adolphus, Asa, Gamaliel, Rus- sell and William. Ebe Everett died Jan. 5, 1840, at the age of 86 years, leaving four sons,-Samuel, Augustus, Elmer and John. Russell Everett, father of the subject of this notice, was born Nov. 22, 1792, in Sharon, Conn. ; was a physician by profession, and died there in October, 1865, aged 73 years. He married Caroline R. Parsons, who was born April 15, 1801, and died April 13, 1854. She had two chil- dren,- Enoch P. and Richard Floyd.
The latter was educated in his native country, where he attended the district and normal schools. He was married to Catherine H. St. John, born Nov. 26, 1836, in Ellsworth, Conn. Her parents were Henry and Catherine (Wheeler) St. John, natives of Sharon and Dutchess Cos., N. Y., respectively. She has borne him four children,-Walton, born Feb. 11, 1859, died May 6, 1860; Leland R., born July 19, 1861 ; Bertrand, born Aug. 4, 1869, died in Galva, April 4, 1863; and Walter B., born May 16, 1865.
Mr. Everett came West in 1865 and purchased 240 acres of land on section 25, Galva Township, on which he located with his family and entered at once upon its active cultivation, and on which he has constantly resided until the present time, meeting with success in his chosen vocation, agriculture. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Congregational Church, and politically Mr. Everett is identified with the Republican party.
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homas M. Robertson, owner of 317 acres om of land, located on section 8, Weller Town- ship, where he resides, is one of the pro- gressive farmers and respected citizens of Henry County. He is a native of this State, having been born in Knox County, May 2, 1835.
Mr. Robertson received a good education in the common schools of his native country, and there re- sided until 1867. During that year he came to Henry County, and settled in Weller Township, where he has continued to reside until the present
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time, 1885. He is the proprietor of 317 acres of land, two-thirds of which is under an advanced state of cultivation. In 1862, Mr. Robertson went over- land to the Pacific Coast. Arriving in the land of gold, he was variously occupied for two years and eight months, when he returned via the Nicaragua route to New York, his return being occasioned by indisposition in California.
Mr. Robertson married Miss Mary J. Bick, in Knox County, this State, Oct. 28, 1858. She was born in Ohio, May 17, 1840, and the issue of their union has been eight children, four living and four deceased. The living are Arthur, Fannie, Harry and Carrie. The deceased died in infancy, with the ex- ception of Cora, who was three years old.
Mr. Robertson has held the office of School Trus- tee, and socially is a member of the Masonic frater- nity. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. Politically, Mr. Robertson is a believer in, and a supporter of, the principles advo- cated by the Democratic party.
eorge W. Buck, Supervisor of Western Township, and one of the energetic and progressive farmers of that township, as well as stock-raisers, residing on section 6, is a native of New York State, where, in Chau- tauqua County, he was born April 9, 1834. His father, Roswell Buck, followed lumbering for sustenance, and was a native of Vermont and of New England parentage. He was united in marriage, in New York, with Miss Harriet Meach, who was born in Massachusetts, and died when the subject of this notice was but three months old. The father afterwards died in 1862, in the State of New York.
Left an orphan at the age of three months, and being the youngest in birth of a family of seven children, George W. was taken by Isaac and Nancy Stanbro, with whom he resided until their death. George W. resided with his foster parents on the farm, and when four years of age accompanied them to this county. At that time the country was new, and the land of civilization was hardly visible in the locality in which they settled, and his foster father entered vigorously and energetically upon the im- provement of the land on which he located. When
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George was 16 years old his foster father died, and he set forth upon the road of adversity to fight life's battles single-handed and alone. He first engaged as a general laborer, which vocation he followed for some time, and until the date of his marriage. That event occurred in Henry County, July 8, 1863, and the lady chosen to share his sorrows and joys, his successes and reverses, through the storms and trials of the future, was Miss Mary A. Glenn. She was the accomplished daughter of James and Nancy (Kincaid) Glenn. Mrs. Buck was the eldest daughter and third child in the order of birth of a family of six children, and was born on her father's original home- stead in Colona Township, this county, July 18, 1842. She was well educated in the district schools, and resided under the parental roof, assisting the mother in her household duties, until her marriage. She is a lady of remarkable ability, and socially is one of the most hospitable in this county, making the stay of a stranger while at her domicile as pleas- ant as that of the most intimate friend. Mr. and Mrs. Buck are the parents of four children,-James D., born April 22, 1866; George B., born July 31, 1868; Mary E., Dec. 7, 1874, and Charlie G., June 7, 1880,-all of whom have received a good educa- tion.
After marriage, Mr. Buck located on a farm of 66 acres on section 6, Western Township, where he entered upon the arduous task of improving his land. He has since made it his home. In addition to the property which he individually owns, he has leased for a term of years 669 acres in Rural Township, Rock Island County. He is one of the progressive and energetic farmers of the township and is meet- ing with success in his chosen vocation.
Aug. 15, 1862, Mr. Buck enlisted in the war for the Union, joining Co. C, 112th Ill. Vol. Inf., Capt. Mitchell. He was made Fifth Sergeant, and after- ward he was promoted to Fourth Sergeant, which position he filled until the close of the war, and was mustered out June 21, 1865, receiving his discharge July 7 of that year at Chicago.' He participated in no particular battles, as he was engaged in the Quartermaster's Department ; but at one time during his enlistment he, in company with more than a hundred others, were in a very perilous situation, when Mr. Buck, through the aid of four good legs attached to the body of a mule, made good his es- cape. Mr. Buck is a member of the G. A. R. He
has held the office of Justice of the Peace, Road Commissioner, Town Collector, etc., and is at present serving his fifth term as Supervisor. He is a gentle- man who has always been largely interested in the public schools of his township and has done no little to advance that cause. In politics he is identified with the Republican party.
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rson H. Patterson, engaged as a farmer on section 21, Oxford Township, was born in Columbia Co., N. Y., in 1823, his parents having been Augustus A. and Philinda (Smithi) Patterson, natives of Connecticut and Massa- chusetts respectively. They were farmers and their deaths occurred in 1870 and 1877.
The subject of this biographical notice received a fair education, and remained under the parental roof- tree, assisting his father on the farm, until he at- tained the age of 22 years. After leaving home he engaged in a manufacturing establishment, where they manufactured carpenters' tools, and there re- mained for four years ; he next, in the fall of 1849, came West, to Galesburg, Ill., and there remained for eighteen months, in the manufacture and ped- dling of chain pumps. Afterward he moved into Oxford Township, and "took up" Government land, at first 40 acres, where he is at present residing, and since which time he has added 160 acres. By his industry and energy he has put the same under splendid cultivation ; he has set out ornamental trees, erected a residence, outbuildings, fences, etc., and has to-day as finely an equipped farm as in the township.
Mr. Patterson has been quite a successful phy- sician, making a specialty of cancers, which he has followed for 23 years, His first marriage was solemnized Nov. 16, 1848, the lady with whom he was united being Miss Cynthia Calkins, a native of New York, who died in 1857. Mr. Patterson formed a second matrimonial alliance with Miss Margaret Taze, a native of Pennsylvania. Of the latter union there has been one child, Philanda. She married W. O. Allison, and they have become the parents of three children, viz. : Ira D., Harry and Freddie.
Mr. P., in political matters, is a Prohibitionist, and
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religiously belongs to the Baptist Church. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Socially, Mr. P. is a member of the Order of Masons, and is one of the leading and representative men of Oxford Township.
ugh Eaton, residing at Cambridge, is a citi- zen of the United States by adoption, hav- ing been born in County Antrim, Ireland, May 4, 1826. He belongs in blood and birth to one of the best elements in the composite nationality of this country, his ancestors being among the refugees from the persecutions of James of Scotland in 1619. They settled in the North of Ireland, where they endured a persecution scarcely less irksome than that from which they had fled in their own country. They remained in the northern counties of the "Green Isle" to0 years, holding themselves aloof from the native people and in the main preserved their blood and their principles pure. In 1719 their exodus from Ireland to America be- gan, and the emigration of the Scotch-Irish to the New World has since been continuous. For the benefit of generations to come it is recorded that the term " Scotch " refers to their true national origin. The term " Irish " simply means, "born in Ireland."
Sandy Eaton, great-grandfather of Hugh Eaton, of this sketch, was born in Scotland. He was a farmer by inheritance and a weaver by trade. His son, Hugh Eaton, married Mary Ramsey, a lady of un- mixed Scotch descent, and they had three sons and three daughters. James Eaton, their son, married Mary Moore. Their children numbered seven, Mr. Eaton, the central personage of this narration, being the second in order of birth and the oldest son. Eliza, his eldest sister, is deceased. The younger born are named Matilda (Mrs. Jingle), Margaret (Mrs. Hall), Alexander, Jolın and Jemima (Mrs. Adrain).
Mr. Eaton finished his education in the schools of the city of Dublin, where he studied four years, and when he was 20, in July, 1846, he came to the United States. He passed the first year after his ar- rival in the city of New York, and he then located in Luzerne Co., Pa., where he continued to reside about 18 years. The first five years he was alternately oc-
cupied, winter and summer, in teaching and in farm- ing. Subsequently he gave up the former vocation.
April 15, 1865, he settled on a farm in Bureau Co., Ill., and after conducting his affairs there one year he bought a farm in Burns Township, Henry County. The transfer of his interests resulted suc- cessfully, and after a busy and prosperous career in agricultural avenues, in March, 1885, he removed to Cambridge to pass the evening of his life in the en- joyment of the fruits of a useful, well-spent man- hood.
Mr. Eaton was married in January, 1850, in Luzerne Co., Pa., to Phebe Munson, and they are the parents of the following children: Mrs. Mary Rogers, Mrs. Susan Brown, Stephen W., James W., Robert A. (deceased), George M., Matilda, Maggie, Anna, Carrie, Willie and Oscar.
Mrs. Eaton was born in Luzerne Co., Pa., and is the daughter of Walter and Susan (Bodle) Munson. Her parents were born respectively in the States of Pennsylvania and New York. The religious con nections of Mr. and Mrs. Eaton are with the Chris- tian Church.
eter Weaver, owning 320 acres of land on section 32, Weller Township, where he re- sides, is a native of Germany, having been born in that country Sept. 7, 1829. Mr. Weaver was but two years of age when he came to the United States in company with his parents. They settled in Brown Co., Ohio, where the subject of this sketch passed 24 years of his life. He came to this county at the expiration of that time, and settled in Weller Township, where he has continued to reside, following the occupation of a farmer, and meeting with success in that voca- tion until the present time. Mr. Weaver is the pro- prietor of 320 acres of land in this county, and 40 in Knox County. He has erected a fine residence on his farm, together with a good barn and substan- tial outbuildings, and his place presents the appear- ance of thrift, and is indicative of what laborious toil, coupled with good judgment and energetic effort, can produce.
Mr. Weaver was united in marriage in Brown Co., Ohio, Nov. 7, 1850, with Miss Mary A. Mefford, a
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native of Brown County, where she was born, April 24, 1831. The issue of their union has been five children, namely: Lucinda W., Charles E., Henry L., George D. and Frank R.
Mr. Weaver has held the office of Road Commis- sioner, School Director and School Trustee. So- cially, he is a member of the Masonic Order, and politically, he is identified with the Democratic party.
The parents of Mr. Weaver, Lewis and Mary Weaver, are both deceased, their demise having occurred when the subject of this sketch was quite young. On the death of his parents Peter was "bound out," from the age of 15 until he attained his majority, to a farmer, and was therefore brought up in the farmer's vocation. The parents of Mrs. Weaver, wife of the subject of this biographical no- tice, Henry and Elizabeth (Nickerson) Mifford, died in Brown Co., Ohio.
ohn Engdahl, senior member of the firm of Engdahl & Aldeen, merchant tailors and dealers in furnishing goods at Geneseo, is the founder of the business in which he has since been interested at that place, and which he established in 1865. He was at that time associated with Messrs. Ringquist & Smith, and in 1868 he became sole proprietor of the relations of the concern by purchase. He managed his affairs singly until 1878, when the present partnership was formed. The affairs of the house have prospered, and the relations of their trade require the assist- ance of five men.
Mr. Engdahl is a native of Sweden, and was born Nov. 27, 1834. He acquired a thorough knowledge of his business in his native country, as it is the custom there to make practical craftsmen of those who learn trades. He conducted his business there 12 years. In 1864 he emigrated to America, arriv- ing in the United States in the month of August. He reached this city on the 16th day of the month, and 15 days later he was married to Anna Larson, who was a fellow traveler on the same ship with himself to the New World. They were acquaintances in their native land. Mrs. Engdahl was born in Swe- den, Oct. 27, 1844. Their children number nine,-
five sons and four daughters. Following is their record : Alfred, born Jan. 31, 1865, died in infancy ; Emma Helen was born Oct. 20, 1866; Alexander, born Dec. 12, 1869, died in childhood ; Almina, born Jan. 27, 1872 ; Martin Nathaniel was born May 20, 1874; Victor Emanuel was born Dec. 31, 1876; Oscar Alexander was born Dec. 9, 1878; Esther Anna Elizabeth was born Nov. 5, 1882; Nellie Adelia was born June 14, 1844. The parents are members of the Swedish Lutheran Church. Mr. Engdahl is a Republican in political faith and action.
aniel L. Keleher, general farmer and wdwor stock-raiser, residing on section 14, West- ern Township, was born in County Kerry, Ireland, Aug. 20, 1836 His father, Daniel Keleher, was a native of the same country and by occupation a shoemaker. He was married in Ireland, to Ann Linihan, who was born and reared in the same county in which our subject was born.
Arriving at the age of 15 years, Daniel L. set out so early in life all alone for America. He had se- cured a good common-school education, and knew how to get along for himself nicely, for one so young. He found his way to Bucks Co., Pa., where he en- gaged to work for Samuel Holcomb, a farmer. Two years later, he left the Keystone State and came West to Illinois, and soon found himself in the ser- vices of the late M. B. Lloyd, of Western Township. Here for two years he worked faithfully.
The date of Mr. Keleher's arrival in Western Township was April 7, 1856. On the 19th of January, 1863, in the city of Rock Island, he was married to Miss Ellen Curren, who was born in County Donegal, Ireland, and, like her husband, came across the Atlantic to America alone. This journey was made in 1851, when she was quite young. She stopped at Philadelphia for a time, when she came West and resided at Cambridge, this county, with her brother Bernard, who lived at that place. There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Keleher four children, whom they have christened as follows : Mary A., Ellen B., Daniel C. and Lizzie. All have received an excellent education in the pub- lic schools of Henry County.
Mr. K. made his first purchase of land by buying
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20 acres of Mr. Lloyd, his old employer. This was located on section 27. He has subsequently sold this back to its former owner and purchased 40 acres on section 14. This piece of land was at the time an unbroken prairie, Mr. K. being the first to undertake the development of this township. He has been eminently successful, and now owns 499 acres on sections 14, 23 and 24. All of this extensive tract he now has under the plow and otherwise well im- proved. He is looked upon as one of the most suc- cessful and progressive farmers of the county, and has won by his own unaided efforts the honorable name he now bears, and not only has he been pros- perous himself, but has been of sterling worth to his community and the county. He has been actively engaged in the development of the public-school system in this county, and is especially devoted to the education of his children. Both he and his wife are members of the Catholic Church.
illiam L. Neuman. Prominent among the well-to-do farmers of Weller Town- ship is the subject of the following per- sonal narrative. He resides on section 6 where he owns an excellent farm of 200 acres.
He was born in Germany, Jan. 23, 1823. There he received his education, and passed the first 20 years of his life. He then went to England, where he remained for six years, when, feeling that superior advantages were offered to young men in America, he set sail, and was soon put ashore to breathe the fresh air offered by the government of this country. Without any delay he made his way westward, and found a desirable location in Henry County, where he has since lived, taking an active and prominent part in the affairs of his community. He has served in some of the minor offices, and in politics claims to be a liberal Democrat. Mr. N. is a member of the German Lutheran Church, while his wife is a member of the Christian Union.
While a resident of London, Mr. Neuman was married to Jane Ekot, who bore him four children,- Mary A., William, Charles and Hugo. Mrs. N. ac- companied him to America, and died at their home in Weller Township. He was subsequently married in Weller to Caroline Hoare, who was also a native
of England. Before her demise she became the mother of five children,-Len'a J., Sophia M., Fred S., Frank H. and Anna L. Mr. Neuman was mar- ried the third time Oct. 26, 1873, in Weller Township, to Kate Moody. She is a native of Mor- row Co., Ohio, and was born July 8, 1827. Of Mr. N.'s children the following record is given: Lena is the wife of Wm. Munhall, of Rock Island County ; Sophia M., the wife of Edward Mahaffey, of Clover Township; Fred and Frank live in Weller Town- ship.
S umner M. Harrington, a general farmer on section 1, Andover Township, was born in Joliet, Ill., March 25, 1841. His father, Mark T. Harrington, was a native of Ontario, Can., of German descent, a farmer, and mar- ried Miss Lucy Mott, a native of Vermont and of New England ancestry. After their marriage they resided in Vermont for a time and emigrated to Jol- iet, this State, in 1840, where they lived 18 years ; they then came to Geneseo, this county, where Mrs. H. died, March, 1872. Mr. H. is yet living and re- sides with his daughter, Mrs. Lydia Smith, at Geneseo. They had eight children, seven of whom are yet living. There were four sons and four daughters.
Sumner M., the youngest but one in the above fam- ily, was educated in the public schools of Joliet ; when 17 years old he came to Geneseo, and when 20 years old he enlisted in the war for the cause of the Union. June 10, 1861, he became a member of Co. H, 19th Regt Ill. Vol. Inf., commanded by Capt. Garrett, now deceased. His regiment was at- tached to the Army of the Cumberland, and partici- pated in the battles of Stone River, Mission Ridge, Peach-Tree Creek, and in the campaign to Atlanta, where Mr. Harrington was honorably discharged, July 18, 1864, at the expiration of his term of service. Dec. 31, 1863, he was slightly wounded at Stone River by a gunshot in his left side.
Returning to Geneseo, he was soon afterward mar- ried, in Sandwich, DeKalb Co., Ill., Sept. 30, 1866, to Miss Cornelia Patty, daughter of Aaron and Mary W. (Ward) Patty, natives of New Jersey, and of New England and Holland-Dutch descent. Her parents ·
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were married in Tompkins Co., N. Y., and in 1843 settled on a farm in Fox Township, Kendall Co., this State.
Mrs. Harrington was the eldest of a family of seven children, was born in Tompkins County, Dec. 24, 1841, and was but two years old when her par- ents emigrated with their family to this State. She was educated in Newark, Big Grove, Kendall County, and from the age of 18 years until she was 24, the time of her marriage, she taught school. She is now the mother of three children : Albert E., who was born Sept. 20, 1869; Fay M., Nov. 27, 1874, and Harry L., July 1, 1880.
After his marriage, Mr. Harrington settled upon the farm in LaSalle Co., Ill., and in 1869 moved to this county, renting a farm in the township of Mun- son one year, and afterward a year in Cambridge. In 187 1 he purchased 92 acres on section 1, Ando- ver Township, where he has since resided. He has made considerable improvements upon his place, and has shown himself to be an enterprising and pro- gressive farmer. All his land is cultivated, includ- ing 78 acres in Osco Township, adjoining his home- stead.
In his political views Mr. H. was formerly a Re- publican, but is now independent. He and his wife are members of the Baptist Church at Cambridge.
3 rs. Mary J. Van Landschoot is engaged in the business of a merchant in the village of Atkinson. She was born in Indiana, in I848. She became the wife of Ambrose Bernard Van Landschoot, April 7, 1869. He was a native of Belgium and was born March 6, 1821. He died Nov. 1, 1883, of inflammatory rheumatism. At the time of his death he was en- gaged in the management of the business which has been continued by his widow since his demise. He contracted the disease which was the final cause of his death while a soldier in the Union service. He was a soldier for four years, and during that period was several times confined in the hospital by the same disorder.
He was not only a graduate of the highest institu- tion of learning in Belgium, the College of Ste. Ne-
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