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 70
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Shobal V., whose name heads this notice, was reared on a farm, alternating his labors thereon by attendance at the district schools of his native State and also of this county in the acquisition of an edu- cation. From 1878 to 1883 he was engaged in the cattle trade in Nebraska, on the South and North Loop river. Since then he has been dealing in horses.
September 23, 1873, Mr. Deem was united in mar- riage near LaFayette, Ill., the lady whom he chose
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to share his successes and reverses, joys and sor- rows, being Miss Happie Emery, daughter of Jacob and Lydia (Parish) Emery, both old pioneers of Stark County. Mrs. Deem was born Feb. 25, 1853, near LaFayette, same place where married, and of her marriage to Mr. D. has been born one boy, Frank E., born Aug. 25, 1879. Mrs. D. is a mem- ber of the Congregational Church, and her husband is a Republican in political matters.
Mrs. Happie Deem's parents were born, the for- mer in Mifflinsburg, formerly called Yunksmanstown, Pa., Jan. 16, 1803, and the latter Jan. 4, 1813, in Leeds Co., Canada.
In the 17th century, William and John Emery, two brothers, emigrated to the United States from Europe. William was a ship-carpenter and settled in Maine. John was the progenitor of the Emery family in this country. His son, John Emery, Jr., was a noted and wealthy man. He had one daugh- ter and eight sons. Of these Conrad was a black- smith, and married Sarah Fisher, who was born in Pennsylvania. Her mother, Mrs. Mary (Brock) Fisher, was a native of Philadelphia and a relative of Sir Robert Peel. Conrad Emery was born in New Jersey, and became the father of 13 children, II of whom reached maturity. His son, Jacob Emery, was also a blacksmith in early life, but afterward a successful farmer in Stark County, to which he came as early as 1835.
evi Fronk, a thriving farmer of Cornwall Township, residing on section 16, of which he owns a quarter, was born Dec. 4, 1815, in Pennsylvania. He is a son of Henry and Sarah (Buchannan) Fronk, natives of Pennsyl- vania. He remained with his parents until he was 22 years of age, spending most of his time work- ing on the home farm and very little of it in attend- ing the common schools. While living in Pennsyl- vania, Jan. 1, 1838, he was married to Miss Nancy Shields, who was born in the Keystone State in 1822. They had born to them a family of ten children, as follows: Mary Henrietta, Sarah E., Rebecca J., Henry Benson, Margaret, Tansey, John, Cyrus (de- ceased), Chauncy, Matilda, Joseph and Clementine. Mr. and Mrs. Fronk have 28 grandchildren and two
great-grandchildren. Mr. Fronk has a good sub- stantial house on his farm, and by his industry and energy has placed it under excellent cultivation and improvement. Religiously, they are Baptists. Mr. Fronk is a Republican in political sentiment.
illiam T. Hill is a pioneer of Henry County of 1855, and has been for 30 years a resi- dent within her borders. He was born April 10, 1821, in Culpeper Co., Va., and is the oldest son of John K. and Grace (Jenk- ins) Hill. His father and mother were both born in the Old Dominion, and the former was a sol- dier of the War of 1812.
The son was still in infancy when the parents re- moved to that part of Culpeper County which has since been set off to Rappahannock County, in the same State, and there he attained to the period of his legal freedom. He was brought up on the farm. March 30, 1841, he was united in marriage to Eliza- beth Buckhart. She was born in Rappahannock County Jan. 13, 1821. They resided in the same county until 1845, when they removed to Rockingham County, also in Virginia, and there Mr. Hill was a farmer six years. He then went to Augusta County, where he rented a farm, and was its manager four years. In 1855 he started with his wife and nine children for the far West, as Illinois was then styled. The party traveled in the manner then popular and also convenient, with teams, transporting the family and household belongings to the new home. Mr. Hill and his family journeyed with two-horse teams and two wagons, and passed 30 days on the route between the Virginia home and Henry County. He had previously come alone to the county and had rented a farm in the township of Cornwall. On that place they lived two years, and Mr. Hill then bought 160 acres of land in its natural prairie condition in Munson Township, on section 24. There had been no house built, and the new proprietor erected a frame building, of which the household took posses- sion as soon as it was completed, in November, 1856. In the same year Mr. Hill broke a few acres of the land, and in 1857 he harvested the first crop that was grown on the property. That farm is all enclosed and improved and Mr. Hill has made additional
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purchases until he is the owner of 280 acres. The entire acreage is in valuable condition for farming purposes. He is the proprietor of 240 acres in Ne- braska.
Mr. and Mrs. Hill have been the parents of 14 children; 12 are still living. John is a resident of the same township, where his father first settled on his own estate. George R. lives on the homestead. Elizabeth S. is the wife of George Dugdale, of the township of Cornwall. Julia F. is deceased. Ed- ward L. lives in Geneseo. Victoria R. married Porter Liken, of Munson Township. Mary E. and her husband, Adam Young, are residents of Black Hawk Co., Iowa. Philip D. lives in Geneseo. Jen- nie A. married Herman Wiedenhoeft, of the township of Munson. James N. is a citizen of Colfax Co., Neb. Emma P. married James Callender, and they are residents in the county in Nebraska last named. Stephen R. is a citizen of Geneseo. Estelle L. is the youngest daughter, and lives at home. The oldest son, William J., was born in Rappahannock Co., Va, Jan. 15, 1842. At the age of 20 he became a soldier. He enlisted in August, 1862, in Co. C., 112th Regiment Ill. Vol. Inf. He was killed in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain June 17, 1864. Julia, the deceased daughter, was born Feb. 20, 1848, and was the wife of Samuel G. Murphy. She died Dec. 24, 1884, leaving four children. Mrs. Hill died Oct. 2, 1884. She and her husband belonged to the Chris- tian Church.
George R. Hill, third son of the subject of this sketch, was born in Virginia, Aug. 13, 1844. He was past ten years of age when he accompanied the family of his father to Henry County. He was brought up on the homestead in Munson, and ob- tained a good degree of education in the public schools of that township. He passed one year at the University of Kentucky, at Lexington, which ad- vanced him in learning to a satisfactory degree. At 22 he commenced teaching and passed the alternate winter sessions of eight years in that vocation. He operated as a farmer during the remaining portions of the year.
His marriage to Mary M. Taylor took place Dec. 31, 1873. She was born in Cornwall Township, and is the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Ogden) Tay- lor. After their marriage they commenced the world in their own behalf on a farm in Cornwall. They
were its occupants eight years and at the end of that time they went to Sully Co., D. T. Mr. Hill pre- empted 160 acres and also secured a tree claim of the same acreage. He remained in the territory two years and returned to the State of Illinois, to the township he had lived in in his boyhood, and where he has since resided, on the same estate where he was reared. He still retains the ownership of his land in Dakota. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., Dakota Lodge, No. 11. While a resident of the township of Cornwall he acted in the capacity of Justice of the Peace and also as Assessor.
His family now includes four children,-George B., Arthur E., Roy and Eva.
A rvid H. Wimermark, M. D., was born in Sweden, March 28, 1857, and is the son of Claes B. and Louise E. (Lundberg) Wimer- mark. He received his literary education in the Stockholm Lyceum and took a regular course at the Pharmaceutical Institute of Stockholm and was graduated in 1876. From 1876 to '79 inclusive, he held the position of prescription clerk in Stockholm and Karlstad.
The subject of this biographical notice emigrated from Sweden to America in April, 1879, coming di- rect to Galesburg, Ill. Shortly afterward he went to Cambridge, of the same State, but remained but a short time and returned again to Galesburg, where he purchased a drug store. He continued in busi- ness at the latter place but a year, when he sold out, and returned to Cambridge, at which place he re- sumed the drug business in May, 1831, and pursued the study of medicine with Dr. J. L. Bryan, of that place. In September, 1882, he sold out his drug store in Cambridge and removed to Chicago, where he attended three courses of lectures at the Rush Medical College of that city, and graduated Feb. 21, 1884. Mr. Wimermark then came to Moline, and the following April began practice. In June, 1885, Dr. W. removed to Cambridge, his former home, and is there engaged in his profession.
Dr. Wimermark was united in marriage at Cam- bridge, Ill., Jan. 25, 1880, to Mrs. Pauline Nelson, widow of Albert John Nelson, and daughter of John Hjelm. Mrs. Wimermark was born in Arvika, Swe-
e
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den, and had two children (daughters) by her former marriage. Dr. Wimermark is a member of the Mo- line Medical Society and of the Town and Illinois Central District Medical Association ; is an Odd Fellow and a member of the Order of Modern Wood- men. He and his wife are members of the First Baptist Church of Cambridge.
He was naturalized in Rock Island County, Ill., in April, 1884, and votes the 'Republican ticket. Dr. Wimermark is a young physician of fine attainments and begins practice with flattering prospects of suc- cess.
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Kenry Kuhl is a farmer in the township of Munson and he has been a citizen of Hen- ry County since 1856. He was born May 14, 1816, in Holstein, Germany. After reaching the age required by law he attended school un- til he was 16, and after that, as long as he re- mained in his native country, he worked on a farm.
He came thence to America in 1853. He made the voyage on a sailing vessel and after a voyage of 40 days landed at New York. He proceeded to Chicago and from there to Davenport. He remained in the city last named four weeks and then came to this county. He went to work on the railroad a short time and then found a situation on a farm as an assistant. He then rented land and made a little start on his own account.
In 1857 he bought 80 acres of land in this county and settled on it during the progress of the Civil War. He placed the land under improve- ments and built a house. His family were its oc- cupants ten years. Mr. Kuhl then exchanged the property for 160 acres on section 10 in the township of Munson. The place is now well improved. He has since bought. 80 acres on section 4 of the same township and is at present the owner of 240 acres in all. The whole acreage is in a condition for profit- able farming.
The marriage of Mr. Kuhl and Mary Westphal occurred in 1858. Their eight children are named Lena D., Henry O., Matilda, August, Herman, George, Willie and Lewis. Lena is married to Christ Schroeder, of Munson Township; Henry is a
citizen of the same; Matilda is the wife of Ernest Weinrich, of Geneseo; the others are unmarried.
The members of the family are connected with the Lutheran Church.
athaniel Bartlett Gould, President of the First National Bank, of Cambridge, and one of the enterprising and public-spir- ited citizens of that place, has been identi- fied with its interests since 1856. He was born March 31, 1828, in Piermont, N. H. His earliest traceable ancestor, Zaccheus Gould, was born in England about the year 1589, and came, as nearly as has been ascertained, to the American Continent about 20 years after the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. He finally fixed his permanent residence at Topsfield, Mass., where he died about 1670. Phebe Gould, his wife, died in 1663, leaving six daughters and a son, all of whom reached mature life and be- came heads of families. (An incomplete genealogy of the descendants of Zaccheus Gould was published at Salem, Mass., in 1872. The preliminary investi- gations showed them to be numerous and of honor- able record, representing the professions and various branches of industry.) Amos Gould, Sr., the pater- nal grandfather of N. B. Gould, was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, and subsequent to that struggle he removed from Massachusetts to Canaan, N. H. He married Rebecca Perley, and they reared 13 children.
N. B. Gould is the son of Amos, Jr., and Nancy (Harris) Bartlett Gould. His mother was a de- scendant of one of the prominent Colonial families and was the daughter of Nathaniel and Susannah (Clark) Bartlett. Her father was a farmer and was one of the original Trustees of Canaan, where he became wealthy and influential. His demise oc- curred about 1841. The death of his wife transpired some years earlier. A considerable account of the parents of Mr. Gould is given on another page of this volume in connection with the personal narration of Amos Gould. Their family included nine chil- dren, who were born in the following order : Hon. John M. Gould, resident at Moline; Amos ; a daughter who died; Lyfe Y., Nathaniel B., Nancy J. (Mrs. John Dean) Dan W., George D., Susannah
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C. (Mrs. B. H. Burroughs) and Lora H. The latter is deceased; she was the first wife of John Dean, who married her eldest sister after her death. The members of the family are so located that they can assemble together at very short notice, which is somewhat remarkable, as is the order in which the sons and daughters were born. The father died at Moline in February, 1864. The demise of the mother took place at Cambridge in December, 1884.
Mr. Gould was brought up in the method common to the training of the sons of New England farmers. He obtained a thorough knowledge of agriculture and received a common-school education. He re- mained in his native State until 1857. He grew up with the ambition and high spirit which in the cases of so many sons of New England have made them such valuable factors in the development of the West. The home farm contained 100 acres, which was valuable property, as are the farms of New England, but it was inadequate to the ambitious ideas of Mr. Gould. He was a hardy, rugged son of the Old Granite State, and his native hills seemed close, its valleys narrow and the outlook altogether promised little of advancement, either in fame or fortune. His oldest brother had come, in 1844, to Illinois, and had already accomplished the initiatory to a success- ful career as a business man, and had been prominent in citizenship. His rapid progress heralded much to the younger brother, to whom the New England hills seemed only a restraint to a natural ambition to make his way in the world.
In 1851 Mr. Gould came to Moline, Rock Island County, and entered the employ of John Deere, an extensive manufacturer of that place, in whose inter- ests he was, for a period of five years, a traveling salesman.
Again his field of operation seemed to yield little opportunity of advancement, and he settled, in 1856, at Cambridge which, for several reasons, appeared a desirable point of location. He and his brother Amos engaged in the joint management of the Cam- bridge House, and they operated together in that line of business until the fall of 1860, when Mr. Gould, of this sketch, sold out to his brother. In the spring of 1861 he took possession of 400 acres of unimproved land, lying on section I, in the township of Cambridge. He built a frame house, which his family occupied three years, and during that time he bought 400 acres additional and placed 640 acres
under the best type of agricultural improvements. The original property is still in his possession, and the whole estate forms one of the best improved farms in the county, with suitable buildings, and it is also well-stocked with graded and thoroughbred cattle. Mr. Gould personally superintends its man- agement.
In 1864 he removed to Cambridge, where he bought 145 acres of land, now included within the village corporation, and which was then an unbroken prairie. In 1868, associated with his brother Amos, he bought 80 acres additional, and in the same year 160 acres was platted under the nanie of Gould's addition. Since that time he has devoted the greater part of his time to the improvement of his town property, erecting buildings and trafficking in town real estate.
Mr. Gould has exercised unremitting activity in the interests of the village and township of Cam- bridge since his connection with them began. He officiated with them 16 years as Supervisor of the township, and was made Chairman of the Building Committee that had charge of the erection of the fine court-house at Cambridge.
Mr. Gould is one of the foremost citizens in his in . terest in and devotion to educational matters, and he has acted nine years as School Director. He has also been actively interested in the affairs of the Agricultural Society of Henry County.
In July, 1881, the First National Bank at Cam- bridge was organized, with Mr. Gould as its Presi- dent, Henry White, Vice-President, and F. G. Welton, Cashier. The latter gentlemen have ex- changed their official positions and Mr. Gould still retains the incumbency of chief.
Although not a declared adherent of any denomin- ational body, Mr. Gould recognizes the influence and moral bearing of religious institutions on society and is a liberal contributor to their support.
His ancestors were Democrats of the Jacksonian type, but he was trained under the influence of New England institutions, which bred in him independ- ence of thought and sentiment, and he imbibed therewith the principles of liberty which have formed the basis of his political faith. He cast his first Presi- dential vote for John P. Hale in 1852. Though warned that his vote would be wasted, he sturdily adhered to the principles he had formed. He held to Free-Soil opinions until the organization of the Re-
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publican party, when he fell into its ranks and has since acted uncompromisingly under its banners.
Mr. Gould was united in marriage to Mary Jane, daughter of Levi and Susan (Huls) Jennings, Nov. 24, 1859. She was born Nov. 14, 1838, in Peoria Co., Ill., and came with her parents to Henry County in 1849. A biographical sketch of her family is given on other pages.
Two daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gould. Nellie L., born Oct. 20, 1863, died Feb. 23, 1879, aged 15 years and four months. She was the child of many hopes and extraordinary promise, and her death in the dawn of womanhood was a sharp afflic- tion to her family, and to a large circle of friends. She went from life before the corroding hand of the world had touched the bloom of her girlhood. Her lovely character had so endeared her to the circle in which she moved that her early death came to all like a personal loss. Her illness was brief in its fatal work, and before it was realized that the hand of disease was laid on one of the village favorites, the " bell's deep knelling " told of her passage to the land of perennial youth. Condolences came in pro- fusion ; a wealth of floral offerings paid generous tribute to her worth; all that the occasion could prompt transpired, but they were but trifles in the light of the remembrance in which she is still held, though she has been hidden several years by the " green curtain that never outward swings." Katie M. was born Nov. 29, 1865, and around her cluster the hopes and desires of the parents who delight in her as the treasure of their home.
harles F. Weinrich is a practical farmer, dairyman and stockman of the township of Munson. His farm is located on sec- tion 9. He was born in Saxony, Germany, March 19, 1841, and is the son of John and Rosa Weinrich. They were born in the same province as their son. From the age of six to 14 the latter went to school. He then operated as a farm assistant until 1825, when he came to the United States. He made the passage across the ocean in a sailing vessel and the voyage consumed five weeks and two days .. He landed at New York and at once came to Henry County. He obtained a situation as a farm hand and worked by the month until he be-
came a land-holder himself. In 1878 he bought the farm which is still his property. He is the owner of 120 acres under good improvement. It is also supplied with all necessary and suitable farm build- ings.
His union in marriage to Metta Schrader took place in 1872. They have now (1885) the following children : Edward J., Frank O., Anna E. and Min- nie L. Their mother was born in Oldenburg, Ger- many. Mr. and Mrs. Weinrich are members of the Lutheran Church.
ared H. Smith, farmer, section 22, Osco Township, was born in Litchfield Co., Conn., Nov. 18, 1827, his parents being Anson and Abigail (Holt) Smith, residents in that county. His education was such as the common-school system then gave, and, aided by the practical knowledge gained by spending his early years on the home farm, did much towards forming those traits of character that later years have made manifest.
When 27 years old he settled in Henry Co., Ill., . and in the fall of 1853 purchased the quarter-section upon which he now resides. Improvements were made as rapidly and thoroughly as circumstances would permit. Property was added to property until at present writing his landed interests are of great extent and value. His present position is a legitimate result brought out of normal conditions by the indomitable energy and will that characterize the man.
Mr. Smith was married in Connecticut, Oct. I, 1854, to Miss J. A. Welton, of Litchfield County, a woman of rare worth, whose devotion deadened the most trying features of pioneer life. To her interest and care must be attributed much of the success that marked the few years of married life, and one could not in justice speak of Mr. S. without noting the life of one who demonstrated her love by the sincerity of her deeds. She is indeed to be consid- ered a faithful wife in the highest sense, a mother whose husband and children will ever hold in mem- ory and call her "blessed." Three children were born to them: Amelia M., Anson W. and Myra J.
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Mrs. Smith entered into rest Feb. 17, 1863. Anson W. died Feb. 24, 1865. Amelia M., now Mrs. M. Nash, resides in Adair Co., Iowa. Myra J., now Mrs. W. F. West, resides in Osco Township.
Aug. 18, 1864, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Mary E. Knowles, daughter of Henry and Eliza (Radbourne) Knowles, an estimable woman, emin- ently fitted for the requirements and cares of the position. Keenly alive to responsibilities, apprecia- tive, full of sympathy, one gladly traces her influence in every subsequent advancement. They are blessed with six children Henry A., Anna E., Jared H., George R., Charles E. and Mary E.
Mr. Smith has held from time to time positions of honor and trust in his county and township, and is deeply interested in educational and eleemosynary work. As one of the founders of Grace Church Parish, and Warden, he has proven his love for the Church of which he and his family are honored members. In all respects he is a representative of the old-time energy and enterprise. As a Christian gentleman, an earnest and solid citizen, Mr. Smith is prominent in spite of his reticence, and is as widely known for the integrity and nobility of his character as for his industry and usefulness; and therefore no man in the county is more worthy to be represented in the collection of portraits in this ALBUM than he. Our artist has accordingly given the delineations of his features upon a page in close proximity.
dward Perkinson, a farmer on section 17, Cornwall Township, is a son of William Perkinson, a native of Queen's Co., Ire- land, where they lived and died. Edward was born at the same place in 1818, and when a young man, 18 years of age, started for the New World, landing at Quebec, Canada, where he remained for five years. He then went to Rutland, Vt., stopped for another year ; then to Dutchess Co., N. Y., where he spent 18 months, when he inade another move, this time going to Luzerne Co., Pa. Here he remained and made his home until after his marriage.
After this event in his life, he and his wife started West, and in June, 1853, reached Henry Co., Ill., and on section 17 of Cornwall Township, their pres-
ent location, they settled. Here they have 80 acres of good land. While living in Pennsylvania, Mr. Perkinson met and wedded, as above stated, Miss Catherine J. Evans, a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs. P. is a member of the Methodist Church, while her husband is a Catholic in belief and a Democrat in politics.
lexander F. Murphy, a well-known and prominent farmer of Henry County, and at present in Geneseo, where he has moved for the purpose of educating his children, is a son of John Murphy, a native of Trumbull Co., Ohio, and was born Oct. 22, 1804. The elder Murphy moved with his parents in 1816 to Allegheny Co., Pa., where he married Miss Elizabeth Bigger- staff. Their wedding occurred Jan. 20, 1831. After remaining there for some time, he came West, and in November, 1844, located in Fulton Co., Ill.
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