Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 67

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 67

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).

His marriage to Mary A., daughter of Jonathan and Charlotte Allen, took place Oct. 3, 1857. She was born in the State of Pennsylvania. Their chil- dren are three in number-two sons and a daughter. Arthur married Luella Cherry and lives in Phenix Township. Mary A. died when she was three years old. Edward E. is a resident of Phenix. The mother died April 23, 1875.

The family removed to Geneseo in 1865, and, with the exception of one year, have been here ever since. In 1875 they were on the farm. The estate of Mr.

Withrow contains 240 acres in Phenix Township, and 40 acres situated in the vicinity of Geneseo. He is also the owner of 240 acres in Nebraska. It is located in Merrick County, and joins the village called Central City.

In political connection Mr. Withrow is a Repub- lican of decided stripe, and he has been prominent in the local offices of the county. He has served 14 years as Deputy Sheriff, and has been Constable 12 years. He has officiated in the capacity of City Marshal two years. The Fair Grounds of Geneseo are on his property, and he takes great interest in good trotting stock.

amuel Peterson, living on section 15, Osco Township, and one of the largest land- owners in that township, as well as one of the successful farmers and respected citizens of Henry County, is a native of Sweden. He was born in that country Jan. 23, 1836, and on attaining the age of majority, in 1857, he emigrated to the United States.

On coming to this country, Mr. Peterson located in Iowa, where he resided until 1860. In the fall of that year he came to this county and for three years rented land which he cultivated. At the expiration of that time he purchased a tract of land in Osco Township, on which he moved with his family. At the present time he is the owner of 784 acres in Osco Township, a large proportion of which is under an advanced state of cultivation. He is also the owner of mill property in Orion and has several hundred acres of land in Minnesota and Iowa. He keeps about 60 head of cattle, 24 head of horses and fat- tens about 100 head of hogs on his place annually. From the foregoing, we see that Mr. Peterson has accumulated largely of real-estate and personal property. Possessing but little with which to com- mence a life of business activity on arriving in this country, he has by good judgment and energetic ef- fort procured a competency, and to his own indomit- able perseverance, coupled with the active co-opera- tion of his good wife, may be ascribed all the honor. He is a gentleman whose word is accepted as equal to his bond ; a respected citizen and a progressive and successful follower of his vocation in life.

544

HENRY COUNTY.

Mr. Peterson was married in this country March 22, 1865, to Miss Anna M. Mangulson, a native of Sweden, where she was born Oct. 1, 1847. The is- sue of their union is ten children, seven living and three deceased. The living are John L., Della, Ly- dia W., Otis F., Phebe E., Clifford R. and Florence, and the deceased were named Gilmore, Theresa and Oscar. In politics Mr. Peterson is identified with the Republican party.

eely Withrow, deceased, was a pioneer of Henry County, of 1835. He arrived here ـص المكـ in August of that year, and was a resident of the township of Phenix ever after until his death, which took place Jan. 25, 1839, and which was the result of an accident. He was born near the city of Louisville, Ky., Feb. 16, 1810, and was brought up a farmer. William Withrow, his father, removed with his family to Shawneetown, Ill., in 1828. Mr. Withrow of this sketch was mar- ried in that place to Polly Eveleth. She was a native of Pennsylvania, and was born Feb. 12, 1806. Their marriage occurred May 20, 1830.

Mr. Withrow was the owner of a tract of land in White County, and they were its occupants until 1833, ". hen they came to Henry County. They came hither in company with several other families, and all traveled in the primitive manner in vogue in those days, there being no method of public conveyance, and the days of railroads in unsettled regions being things of a later period of civilization. But the long tedious progress was not without its benefit, and fam- ilies became closer knit together in the days that were of necessity wearisome; and their new homes did not seen so desolate and remote from the limits of civilization left behind, when contrasted with the monotonous journey that extended through several weeks. Their means of locomotion included both horse and ox teams, and all the ins and outs of the domestic machinery were kept in operation. The cooking was done by the wayside, and at night they slept in their wagons. Mr. Withrow stopped a few months at Knoxville, and in the month of August pushed on to Henry County. He made a stop at Red Oak Grove, where he took a claim and prepared

to establish a permanent residence. He built a pioneer's cabin of logs in the primitive method of those that wrought with such facilities as the times and place afforded, and covered the structure with clapboards and laid a floor with puncheon, there be- ing no lumber in the State. In the fall of the next year he came to what is now Phenix Township. He sold his claim in Red Oak, and secured another on section 20 of the township named. He made the same preparations for living, and followed the same plans in his building. The roof, as in the other in- stance, was of clapboards, and the floor and doors were of puncheon. He was the owner of several head of cattle, and he did his first breaking with oxen. He was killed by being thrown from a sleigh. His widow was married Feb. 24, 1841, to Harvey Hickox. He died Nov. 4, 1853, and she is a mem- ber of the family of her son Amariah. The children of the first marriage are Amariah, James N., John Wesley, Lucy and Neely. Two of three children born of the second marriage are not living. Eunice, the only survivor, is the wife of Asaph King, of Cen- tral City, Mo.

Neely Withrow was the first Justice of the Peace in the township of Phenix. There was no county jail, and he had a big block in his house in which he drove staples, to which he was in the habit of chain- ing prisoners. They could then reach the fire and go to bed when occasion demanded. Mr. Withrow is recorded as one of the first voters at the first elec- tion held in the county, June 19, 1837. The oldest son married Mary Houston, and lives in Phenix Township. James married Mary Allen, and they reside at Geneseo. John W. married Arvilla Allea, and is a citizen of Hanna Township. Lucy is the wife of Robert Barge, of Central City, Neb. Neely married Ellen Paddock, and they live at the place last named.

ohn Robb, an agriculturist in the township of Munson, became a land-holder in Henry County in 1858. He is a native of Penn- sylvania, and his ancestors for many years were born in the same State. His great-grand- father was the owner of immense tracts of land, and the inheritance belonging to the grandfather of

545

HENRY COUNTY.

Mr. Robb included 700 acres. He died in Pennsyl- vania, in the same house in which he was born, at the age of 85.

Mr. Robb was born Aug. 16, 1812, and is the third son of James and Sarah (Russell) Robb. Par- ents and son were born in Chester County in the Keystone State.

The family removed to Ohio when the son was 15. The settlement was made in Wayne County, where the subject of this sketch grew to manhood. Before he was 20, he was occupied as an assistant on the homestead farm of his father, and at that age he de- termined to learn a trade, and served an apprentice- ship at that of carpenter and builder. He operated in Wayne County until 1855, when he went to Iowa. He located in Johnson County and secured the title to 80 acres of land. The tract was in a wild condi- tion and he passed three succeeding years in the capacity of a renter.

In that year he came to Illinois and located in Henry County. He passed the first year in the the township of Osco, and in 1859 bought the farm on which he has since operated and made a success of agriculture. It is located on section 8. Since 1862 Mr. Robb has given his undivided attention to his farming, and has continued to increase his estate until he is at present the proprietor of nearly 80 acres. The immense property is all under good im- provements, and all the appurtenances of the place are of a character suited to its extent and the meth- ods of management practiced by the owner.

The marriage of Mr. Robb and Ann Elliott oc- curred in 1855. The children which were born of their union are three in number: Nathan lives in Adair Co., Iowa; Walter C. lives at home, also the youngest child, Simon E. Mrs. Robb was born April 13, 1825, in Wayne Co., Ohio. She and her husband are Presbyterians in religious belief and connection.

ohn Wachs, a farmer residing on section 13, Cornwall Township, is a native of Switzerland, in which country he was born Jan. 7, 1851. At the age of four years he ac- companied his step-mother and uncle to the United States, his father having preceded them to this country two years before. Mr. Wachs, his

uncle and step-mother, after a pleasant voyage across the briny waters, landed at New York, where, after remaining a few days, they went to Ohio, remained about three months, and then came to Kewanee, this county. The father of Mr. Wachs, of this sketch, was also a native of Switzerland, having been born in that country in May, 1828. He married Miss Cathrina Schwab in 1849, in Switzerland. She died in 1852, leaving one child, John, the sub- ject of this sketch.

Mr. Wachs was married to Miss Catherine E. Knapper, Feb. 26, 1878. She was born in this county, and her father, Gottlieb Knapper, was a native of Wurtemberg, Germany, and on the 18th of February, 1821, he first saw the light of day in that country. He was united in marriage with Christina Kingsinger in 1839.

Mr. Wachs, of whom we write, is at present the proprietor of 280 acres of good farm land, 120 of it being in Annawan Township, and the remainder in Cornwall Township. Of their union four children were born,-Jacob B., Catherine E., Bertha M. and John William. They are all members of the Presby- terian Church. Politically, Mr. Wachs is liberal in his views.

illiam L. Robinson, a farmer of Munson Township, has been a resident of the County since 1855. He was born in .0 Clermont Co., Ohio (Stone Lick Township), March 17, 1825. He is the only son of John and Phebe (Hall) Robinson. His grand- father, whose name was John Robinson, was born in the capital city of Ireland, and emigrated to this country about 1800. He came with a nephew who had the same name-John Robinson. The former settled at first in Virginia and went thence to Penn- sylvania. At a date somewhat later he removed to Ohio and settled in the county in which the subject of this sketch was born. He died there about 1811. Richard Hall, the grandfather on the maternal side, was a resident in the State of Ohio, and gained con- siderable notoriety as an Indian fighter, as in those days the depredations of the red men demanded all possible vigilance and courage on the part of the whites. John Robinson died in Clermont County,

546

HENRY COUNTY.

in 1828. His wife died there in 1857. She was born Jan. 1, 1795.

Mr. Robinson was but three years of age when his father died. He lived with his mother until he was II, when he went to reside with an older sister in Hamilton Co., Ohio, and he made his home with her for three years. He then returned to his mother and was with her two years. He had acquired a good education, which enabled him to teach, and he followed that occupation six years. He had also fitted himself for the career of a builder, if necessity or opportunity should demand. In 1850 he came to Illinois. He operated as a book agent in Peoria for six months and then returned to his native State. After teaching a term of school in Goshen, Ohio, he returned to Peoria County and engaged in the busi- ness of a carpenter. He was married there March 30, 1851, to Mrs. Catherine (Jameson) Hedstrom. She was born in Litchfield, Conn., and is the daugh- ter of Thomas and Laura (Ford) Jameson. Her birth took place Dec. 20, 1823. She was the widow of John Hedstrom.

After the marriage of Mr. Robinson, he and his wife went to Knoxville, and he there managed the same business as he had followed at Brimfield, where he was married. Six months later, they re- turned to Peoria County. He passed six months in the same employ in the same township, and then be- came a land-holder there by the purchase of a farm. He passed the years that intervened between that time and 1855 in that business in Brimfield Town- ship. He then sold the farm and came to-Henry County, reaching his destination in October. He bought land in what was then township 16, now Munson. It was located on section 23, and a house had been nearly completed by its former owner, and it constituted the entire improvements on the farm. The new proprietor went on with the improvements and erected all the buildings and put the place un- der excellent culture. In December, 1860, the family residence was destroyed by fire, and that now occupied by them was built soon after.

The children belonging to the household, now liv- ing, are four in number : Melvina is the wife of the Rev. J. D. Calhoun, a preacher in the Methodist Church, now stationed at Port Byron ; Ellen L. is the wife of Rev. H. K. Metcalf, who is the Pastor of a Church in New Boston, Mercer Co., Ill .; John F. is a preacher in the interests of the same denomina-

tion, and is connected with the Conference of Cen- tral Illinois : he is officiating on the Rock River Circuit. Albert J. was born Jan. 1, 1859, and died Aug. 12, 1884, in Omaha, Neb. He was one of the head clerks in the office of the Paciffc Express Com- pany in that city. Florence M. is the name of the youngest. She and her mother are members of the Methodist Church.

enry E. Stoughton, the owner of 200 acres of good farming land in Osco Township, and re- siding on section 22, is a son of Henry and Al- mira (Clapp) Stoughton, natives of Connecticut. The parents of Mr. Stoughton, of this sketch, were united in marriage and sett'ed in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, where they resided until their deaths. Eight children were born of their union : Jonathan C., Aura A., Mary, Emily, Hardin, Sarah, Henry E. and Sophronia A.

Henry E. Stoughton, the gentleman whose name heads this notice, is a native of Ohio, having been been born in Ashtabula County, that State, April 15, 1837. The years of his minority were passed on the farm, and in attending the common schools of his native county. He remained under the parental roof-tree until he was 23 years of age, passing the major portion of his life on the farm and in learning the blacksmith's trade. Reaching that age in life, he left the old homestead, and for nearly three years worked at his trade.

Aug. 25, 1864, Mr. Stoughton enlisted in the 177th Ohio Vol. Inf., and fought in defense of his country's flag until the close of war, July 7, 1865. After this Mr. Stoughton returned to Ohio, where he remained until the following February, 1866, variously occupied, when he came to this county and purchased 40 acres of land located in Osco Township. He afterward sold his 40 acres and purchased 80 acres where he is at present residing, on section 22, same township. Mr. Stoughton, by energetic effort and economy, has succeeded in increasing his landed interests until at present he is the proprietor of a farm containing 200 acres of well improved land. He has erected on his farm good buildings, thoroughly and completely fenced it; and its appearance is indicative of that energy possessed by its proprietor.

Mr. Stoughton, March 26, 1861, chose Miss Phi-

547

HENRY COUNTY.

lenda Richmond as the lady to share his joys and sor- rows, successes and reverses, through the future, and they were united in marriage in Ashtabula County, Ohio. She was the daughter of Alanson and Ase- nath Richmond, natives of New York, and was born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, Feb. 1, 1841. Of their union five children were born,-Fitz J., Henry L., Eddie, Frank L. and Bertha M. The demise of Eddie occurred when he was three years of age.

Mr. Stoughton has held the office of Collector, School Trustee, School Treasurer and Township As- sessor, and in politics is a stanch Republican. So- cially, Mr. Stoughton is a member of the Order of Masonry. He is a gentleman respected for his straightforward and manly dealings with his fellow- man, and his accumulations are the outgrowth of an energetic disposition.

lbridge D. Richardson, cashier of the Far- mers' National Bank at Cambridge, as a native of the Green Mountain State. He was born July 21, 1839, in Pomfret, Windsor Co., Vt. The family to which he belonged is of English extraction and settled in the State of Massachusetts. Mr. Richardson is the fourth in descent from Elijah Richardson, and the son of the latter, Baruch Richardson, was a farmer in the State mentioned as being the first in which the family lo- cated. James H. Richardson, the son of Baruch, was born in Barnard, Vermont. He was educated in that State as a physician and a graduate from the Medical College at Woodstock, Vt., which in its pri- mal days had the reputation of supplying some of the best qualified medical practitioners known in the profession. He established his business at Westford, in the same State, and went thence later in life to Winooski, in the immediate vicinity of the city of Bur- lington, where he is at present located. He married Barbara B. Gibson, who is a native of Pomfret, Vt. She is the daughter of William and Susan (Burns) Gibson and her parents were also born in Vermont. On her mother's side the family is of Scotch extrac- tion. They had four children. Elbridge. D. is the oldest. Mrs. Ellen M. (Richardson) Allen is a resi- dent of Vermont, as is Mrs. Susan G. (Richardson) Allen. Clara is deceased. She died at the age of 15.

In October, 1865, Mr. Richardson came to Cam- bridge. He passed about three years in the sale of groceries, and, selling out at the end of that time, he embarked in trade in hardware. He was interested in that line of traffic five years. During the time, he was appointed Postmaster at Cambridge, receiving his appointment from President Grant in 1870. He discharged the duties of the position until 1881. In Sept., 1873, Mr. Richardson entered the employ of C. R. Wheeler & Co., private bankers at Cambridge, in the capacity of book-keeper. He continued in their service until July, 188r, when he was appointed assistant cashier of the First National Bank at Cam- bridge. In October, of the same year, he received his appointment to the position in which he has since officiated. He has the reputation of being a most reliable and efficient accountant.

His marriage to Sarah M. Alfred took place May 31, 1865, at Fairfax, Vt. She was born in Berk- shire, Vermont, June 30, 1839, and is the daughter of Samuel D. and Polly (Smith) Alfred. Her parents were natives respectively of Massachusetts and Ver- mont. Her father is of English descent. The two children of Mr. and Mrs. Richardson were born as follows: Mary H., Oct. 2, 1867, and Clara G., Aug. 2, 1870.

In his political connection and faith Mr. Richard- son is a strong Republican. He is a member of the Order of Masonry.

aniel Hagin, member of the firm of Gaines & Hagin, at Cambridge, has been a busi- ness man of Henry County since 1874. He was born in Lansing, Tompkins Co., N. Y., Feb. 12, 1842. His paternal grandfather, Charles Hagin, was a native of Ireland. The latter was a soldier in the British army, and was brought to America to fight the Colonists, who were in armed rebellion against unjust taxation. He was in sympathy with the cause of the rebels, and had too strong a proclivity to taste the sweets of liberty himself to feel much like aiding in the troubles of others coming from the same source, and he ex- changed his red-coat for the nondescript uniforni of the Continental Army. He fought valiantly, and was made a Lieutenant. He lost an arm in the

548

HENRY COUNTY.

cause he served. After the termination of the war he settled at Syracuse in the State of New York. His wife was Miss Mary Smith, who was a relative of Governor Yost, of Pennsylvania. Their children were named Francis S., John B., Sally (Mrs. Howe), Charles C., Matilda (Mrs. Teeter), and Barnard M. The oldest son was born Feb. 12, 1816, in Lansing, N. Y., and died in the same place July 2, 1883. He was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion, and en- listed in the 109th Regt. N. Y. Vol. Inf., and was enrolled in Co. G. He was in the battles of the Wilderness, at Spottsylvania and North Anna.

Catherine Teeter, who became his wife, was born in Lansing, N. Y., May 1, 1832. She died there July 8, 1856. She was one of a family including one on and nine daughters. She became the mother of eight children,-Daniel, Mrs. Flaville Etter, Charles M. and Franklin M. (twins), Amsey, George, Seth (deceased) and Mary. Franklin M. and George were enrolled soldiers in the 15th N. Y. Vol. Cav. ; Amsey and George are deceased.

Mr. Hagin was educated in the place where he was born, and after finishing his studies he engaged in the business of a farmer until he entered the mil- itary service of the United States. Aug. 2, 1862, he enlisted in the 109th Regt. N. Y. Vol. Inf., and was under rebel fire in the actions in the Wilderness, North and South Anna, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and the campaign in the vicinity of Richmond. After the war was closed he returned to his nat ve State and was a grain operator at Ithaca, and he also interested himself in building canal boats and in that variety of navigation for about four years. In 1866 he came to Cambridge, and through the first year he was interested in farming. He went to the pineries of the North, and from there returned to his native State. He resumed his old interests in the construction of canal-boats, and on the canal, and passed several years in that avenue of business. In March, 1874, he returned to Cambridge, and formed the partnership in which he is at present interested.

Mr. Hagin was married Aug. 20, 1868, in Erie, Pa., to Dovia G. Owen. She was born Aug. 3, 1849, in Warren Co., Pa. John Owen, her great-grand- father, was 108 years of age when he died. He was a soldier in the French and Indian wars and in the Revolutionary struggle. Reuben Fenton, late ex-Governor of the State of New York, was one of his grandsons. His son, Eben Owen, was the father of

Eben G. Owen, who died Aug. 2, 1864, in Warren Co., Pa. The latter married Sarah S. Loucks, and they had the following children: Mrs. Terrissa H. Middaugh, Mrs. Dovia G. Hagin, Mrs. Odessa Ment- zer and Mrs. Alissa M. Mentzer. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Hagen were born as follows : Fred E., June 3, 1869; Frank G., June 26, 1873; Eddie S., March 7, 1878; Alissa L., Jan. 10, 1881.

ohn D. Hill, a farmer of the township of Munson, is the son of William T. Hill, of whom a sketch is to be found on another page. He was born in Rappahannock Co., Va., March 19, 1843. An account of the re- moval of the family to Illinois is given in con- nection with the sketch referred to, and Mr. Hill celebrated his arrival at the age of 12 years while on the journey hither. He passed the remainder of his minority on the farm in Munson Township where he attended the public schools. In 1862 he entered. the military service of the United States. He en- listed in Co. C, 112th Regt. Ill. Vol. Inf., and re- mained in active military duty three years. He received his discharge after the close of the war. The list of battles in which he was a participant are as follows : Knoxville, Sanders' Raid, Bean Station, Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Pine Mountain, Eutaw Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, Franklin, Nashville, Wil- mington (N. C.), Fort Anderson, Kelly's Ford, Dand- ridge, and many others of greater or less importance. During the last year of the war he was the color- bearer. June 20, 1865, he found himself at liberty to return to home and friends.

His marriage to Esther, daughter of Buenos and Sarah (Osborn) Ayers, took place Sept. 30, 1867. Mrs. Hill was born May 14, 1845, in Hicksville, Ohio. Her parents are at present residing in Gen- eseo, but they were then farmers in Munson Town- ship.

In February, 1868, Mr. Hill bought land in Iowa, · but he did not remove to it, and later he exchanged it for land in the township of Cambridge, Henry County. Of that he took possession in 1872. Mean- while he was the manager of the farm of Mr. Ayers. After a residence of two years in Cambridge, Mr. Hill sold the property there and bought a considera-

Luman Woodward

55 I

HENRY COUNTY.

ble tract of real estate on sections 7 and 8 in Mun- son Township. The family have since been its occupants, and their residence is located on the west half of section 8. In 1880 Mr. Hill bought the west half of the northwest quarter of section 17 in the same township, and he is now the owner of 243 acres of good land under the best type of improve- ments. He is interested in rearing Hereford cattle. His horses are of good grades and he turns off a large number of hogs from his estate yearly.

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 67

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