Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 73

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 73

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Mr. Hadley was educated in the county where he was born. He was employed on the home farm in early life. He entered the mercantile house of Messrs. Hagin, Gould & Tee, of Cambridge, Ill., in 1877, and operated in their interests about four years. In September, 1881, he accepted the position in which he is now acting. In his political connection he is identified with the Republican party.

hilip B. Keeler, Chairman of the Board of Henry County Supervisors, residing at Ke- wanee, was born at Clarendon, N. Y., Aug. 27, 1843. He was the youngest son born of Ira B. and Clarissa H. (Foley) Keeler, natives of the State of New York, and of English and Irish descent, respectively. The elder Mr. Keeler was, by occupation, a contractor and builder of ability, and his mechanical genius was transmitted largely to his son whose name stands at the head of this sketch. Philip was only seven years old when his father died, and from that early age was thrown largely upon his own resources. At the common schools of his native State he acquired something of a juvenile education, which was subsequently aug- mented, materially, at the High School of Kewanee. His mother removed from York State to Kewanee in 1859, and 'here Mr. Keeler learned the trade of watch-maker, and worked at the same for about three years. When about 19 years of age, he abandoned watch-making and took up the machinist's trade, and in less than a year had the great misforune to lose his right hand and a portion of the fore-arm. The accident, serious as it was, did not keep him back in the least, nor, in fact, did it drive him from his trade, for with his one hand he successfully manipulated the machine for about three years.

In 1866, Mr. Keeler engaged in the sewing-machine and musical instrument business, and has since fol- lowed it with success. He has served the public two terms as Tax Collector, and is at this writing, October, 1885, serving his third term as Supervisor. Mr. Keeler is an active worker in the ranks of the Republican party, and a prominent member of the I. O. O. F., belonging to the Encampment, also to the Grand Lodge, to which organization he has been a representative, continuously, since 1872.

What of this world's goods Mr. Keeler has en-

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joyed, have been acquired by his individual efforts and industry, and his credit and good name in the community indicate conclusively that, unless more serious ill-luck happens than has hitherto befallen him, old age will find him possessed of a sufficient competency to retire in independence and peace.

Mr. Keeler was united in marriage, Dec. 22, 1866, at Peoria, Ill., to Miss Mary F. Whittemore, who has borne him one son,-Rufus W., a recent gradu- ate of the Kewanee School, and who is possessed of much of his father's faith and ingenuity.

en. John H. Howe, deceased, formerly a resident of Kewanee, was born in Riga, N. Y., Sept. 12, 1822, and died at Laredo, Texas, April 3, 1873. The parents of Gen. eral Howe were Joseph and Eunice (Smith) Howe, natives of Vermont, of English extrac- tion, who followed the vocation of agriculture, and who brought their six sons and one daughter up to rural pursuits. The family removed to Pennsylva- nia in 1834, and there the father and mother spent their lives.

John H., whose name stands at the head of this biography, after attending several winters in the pub- lic schools of this neighborhood, was, at the age of 15 years, sent to Grand River Institute, at Austin- burg, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, where he spent four years, going thence to Kingsville Academy in the same county. From the age of about ten years, he enter- tained the idea of studying law, and as soon as op- portunity afforded he took up the study. When 22 years of age he was examined by the two distin- guished lawyers and statesmen known to American history as Joshua R. Giddings and Benjamin F. Wade; was admitted to the Bar, and soon afterward hung out his shingle at Monroe, Ashtabula Co., Ohio, where he followed his profession for about two years. From Monroe he removed to Unionville, Lake County, same State, and there practiced his profession a short time. While at Kingsville Acad- emy he formed the acquaintance of Miss Julia A., the accomplished daughter of Amasa and Rosalinda (Watrous) Castle, of Ashtabula, at which place, on the 27th of March, 1845, he married. Her father was one of the old defenders of Ashtabula against

the British, and spent the years of his life in that town, dying in 1870, at the age of 84 years, his wife having preceded him to the land of the hereafter the year before, in the 83d year of her age.

In 1855 Mr. Howe came to Kewanee, this State, and continued the practice of his profession at that place until 1860, when he was elected to the Circuit Judgeship to fill out the unexpired term of Judge Drury, resigned. In 1862 Judge Howe enlisted in the service of the United States in the war for the Union, and on the organization of the 124th Ill. Vol. Inf. became Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment. He was with the regiment all the time ; was brevetted Colonel, and in March, 1865, brevetted Brigadier General. His commission, however, did not reach him until after his discharge, in August, 1865, it having been returned to Gov. Oglesby from the Dead Letter Office, and forwarded to Gen. Howe's home. Following is a copy :

" STATE OF ILLINOIS, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, SPRINGFIELD, May 23, 1865. ) JOHN H. HOWE, Kewanee, Ill. :

" BREVET BRIGADIER-GENERAL

" General :- I have the honor to enclose to you Commission conferring on you the rank of Brigadier- General of United States Volunteers, by brevet. I congratulate you upon this mark of confidence from the Government. It is a suitable recognition of your valuable services against treason and rebellion, and in favor of liberty and union. The Commission was received from the Secretary of War to-day.

" Very res'p., " Your obedient servant, " R. J. OGLESBY, Governor."

He served his country faithfully, and with his reg- iment participated in the battles of Thompson's Hill, near Port Gibson, Raymond, Jackson, Champion Hill, Big Black River, Vicksburg, Jackson Cross Roads, Benton, Yazoo City, and finally Spanish Fort, near Mobile, April 8, 1865. He was discharged along with his regiment at Chicago, August, 1865, when he returned home and resumed his law prac- tice, in which he excelled as advocate, and was em- ployed in most of the principal cases in Henry and Stark counties.

During the campaign of 1868 he was an active worker and efficient speaker for the election of his old commander, Gen. Grant, to the Presidency. In March, 1869, he was appointed by President Grant the first Chief Justice of Wyoming Territory, in

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which position he served about two years. Previous to holding his first term of Court, through his advice Gov. Campbell signed the bill of the Territorial Legislature allowing women to vote, hold office and serve on juries; and the first women who ever sat as jurors and grand jurors in America performed this service in his Court.

He resigned his office in 187 1 and returned home, where he again took up the practice of law. But shortly afterwards his healthı failed him, and he gradually declined until pulmonary consumption set in. In January, 1873, his friends, alarmed at his de- clining health, urged him to go South, that he might have the benefit of a milder climate, and besought the President for an appointment for him as Secretary of a Commission authorized by a resolution of Con- gress in 1872 to investigate certain causes of com- plaint against Mexicans along the border of Texas. Accordingly, on the 9th of January, he was duly ap- pointed, and soon after, in company with his wife, started for the Texas frontier. But it was too late! His health failed rapidly, and he expired at Laredo, Texas, April 3, 1873. His remains were brought home for burial.

Such, briefly, are the outlines of the life of one of Kewanee's most worthy and honored citizens, a man who filled a large place in the hearts of the people of Henry County, and whose influence will be long felt in the community of which he was a member. Coming to Kewanee while the town was in its in- fancy, he at once entered zealously into all its public improvements. He aided and encouraged the es- tablishment of schools, churches, lyceums and libra- ries, and all that might contribute to the moral or intellectual welfare of the community. As a lawyer and Judge, he stood deservedly high, always advising peaceable adjustment of difficulties rather than by litigation, where it could be done without a sacrifice of rights. As an advocate, he was a leader of the Henry County Bar. A friend always to the poor, generous to a fault, he did not accumulate as much property as a man of more sordid disposition would have done with his opportunities, though he left his family in quite comfortable circumstances. A true friend, a kind husband and father, and upright Judge and citizen, an able lawyer, a faithful and heroic soldier, such was Judge Howe, whose memory will ever be green in the hearts of all who knew him.

The General was a Mason and an Odd Fellow, and was buried in the honors of the society first named, in which the military also participated.

Mrs. Howe was in early life a school-teacher and enjoyed the distinction of being one of the most thor- ough mathematicians in the country where she taught. After marriage she mastered civil engineering, and aided her husband in his various business un- dertakings. In 1850 her husband was appointed Census Enumerator for Unionville, Ohio, a work thoroughly completed by him without assistance other than hers. The money earned by their united efforts at that time paid for the first home they ever owned. Mr. and Mrs. H. buried four children in in- fancy and raised four to adult age. Their eldest, Edward E., is a telegraph operator at Kewanee; Emma is the wife A. J. Higby, of Hutchinson, Kan. ; and Jessie F. and Julia, two handsome and accom- plished young ladies, are at home with their mother.

ewis Hoppock. One of the prominent settlers who came into Henry County be- fore the advent of railroad was Mr. John Hoppock. He came in 1851 and located in Wethersfield Township, where he reared a large and respected family, and was himself highly esteemed. His wife, who was Miss Margaret Hack- ett, was a native of New Jersey, and he was also born in the same State. Both died in this township. Father died Aug. 16, 1864; mother died July I, 1884.

Lewis was the fifth in order of birth of a family of 13 children, and educationally enjoyed only such means as the common schools of an early day afforded. He continued to assist his father on the farm and labor in his behalf until 2 1 years of age. For eight years subsequently he rented a farm in Wethersfield and tried his hand in managing it for himself. In this enterprise he was reasonably successful, and at the end of this engagement he purchased 66 acres on section 15, of the same township. Here he set- tled and has since made his home, with the exception of two years spent in Kewanee. He also passed about a year in Kansas and seven months in Dakota, seeking to improve his impaired health. He has erected a fine residence, which is heated throughout

Thos Lyle

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with steam, and is one of the model dwellings of the county. His outbuildings and farm equipments are of superior quality. He has succeeded so well that he now owns his home farm, comprising 306 acres of land, besides a small timber lot in Stark County. He is looked upon as one of the enterprising and progressive farmers of Henry County.

Mr. Hoppock was married at Kewanee, April 19, 1865, to Huldah R., daughter of Israel and Sophia (Peticard) Cross. Her parents were among the very earliest settlers of Henry County, coming from Wash- ington Co., Ohio, in 1848, and locating in Wethers- field Township, where they became prominent and well-known pioneers. Mr. Cross died November, 1855, and Mrs. Cross died Oct. 20, 1878. Huldah R. was the youngest of the nine children born to them. Her birth-place is Washington Co., Ohio, and her birth-day July 31, 1841. Her only child, Alfred G., resides at their home. Both she and her husband are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in political sentiments Mr. H. is de- cidedly Republican.

homas Lyle, retired farmer, resident of Ke- wanee, Ill., is a native of Paisley, Scotland, and a son of William and Jannett Lyle. He was born March 18, 1809, and brought by his mother to America when about seven years of age. (See biography of John Lyle for early history of the family.)

The circumstances of the family were such as to limit the opportunities of the children as to educa- tion, though Thomas, by a few months' attendance at school, before leaving Scotland, and later in Ver- mont, succeeded in acquiring a fair English educa- tion. Like his brother John, he purchased his time from his father, when about 17 years of age, and from that time forward worked for himself. Before leaving Vermont, which he did in 1837, he worked four years as stone-cutter upon the construction of the Vermont State-house at Montpelier. From Ver- mont the family came to Illinois, stopping in Stark County, where the subject of this sketch carried on farming and stock-raising upon an extensive plan until 1876. He also bought and sold lands, and altogether steadily increased his worldly possessions

until he was not only able to establish his children well on the road to fortune, but also to retire with a handsome competency, which he did in 1877. His mother died in Stark County, as did also his brother, William. His oldest brother, Robert, remained in the old country until sent for by the family. He came to Illinois and settled in Bureau County, where his wife soon afterwards died and was buried. Robert survived his wife by about one year, and died Oct. 10, 1871, at the home of his brother, Thomas.

Since 1877 Mr. Lyle has lived in Kewanee. In 1884 he was stricken with paralysis, and has since been more or less an invalid. His youngest daugh- ter, Emily, watches over and attends him with the tender care and solicitude characteristic of an affec- tionate and dutiful daughter.

Mr. Lyle was married at Groton, Vt., Feb. 19, 1837, to Miss Mary Jane Craig, who died July 23, 1855, at the age of 36 years, 9 months and 22 days, leaving six children out of a family of ten she had borne to Mr. Lyle. The record of the dead is as fol- lows: Infant son, not named, died April 1, 1845, aged two months and four days; James B., born Feb. 14, 1845, died Oct. 14, 1854, aged nine years and eight months; Jane died Aug. 19, 1855, aged 27 days; Thomas, Jr., died Aug. 22, 1855, aged one month. The last two were twins, and were born July 22, 1855. Of the living children, we make the following memoranda: Hellen F., born Nov. 13, 1837 ; Mary, born Sept. 12, 1839, widow of Asa A. Bunton, deceased, resides in Stark County ; Lucy C., born June 30, 1841, wife of Thomas Robinson, of Kewanee ; Carlos B., born Nov. 1, 1842, a farmer in Stark County ; Emily, born July 6, 1849, at home with her father; and Horace E., born May 3, 1852, is a farmer upon the old homestead in Stark County.

In the early history of Stark County, Mr. Lyle was one of its most prominent citizens. He was County Commissioner, an office he held when the law changed the system to the Supervisory, the one now in vogue, and he became the first Supervisor of his township. He was Postmaster of Elmira for 14 years, and Constable for four. Mr. Lyle is truly a self-made man. The biography of John Lyle, found in another part of this volume, tells the story of their early struggles, but success has crowned the efforts of each, and alike they have worked that others might not want. The portrait of Mr. Lyle is given in this ALBUM as that of a venerable and highly

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esteemed pioneer of this portion of the Prairie State. This sketch and this portrait will be an enduring monument to his sacrifices and labors. Soon the last of the noble race of pioneers will sleep peace- fully in their graves. Soon, too, their foot-prints and finger-marks will disappear. People who are now new settlers will become old settlers then, and those who took the country in its native wildness will be long forgotten if some means are not taken to per- petuate their memories.

ohn Sieben, of the township of Loraine, is the oldest son of Joseph and Apollonia (Gabel) Sieben, and was born in the vil- lage of Abenheim, in Hesse Darmstadt, Ger- many, near the city of Worms, in the province of Osthofen. The date of his birth is June 16, 1836. At the age of six he was sent to school and continued there according to law until he was 14. He then went to the city of Mainz to learn the trade of a shoemaker. He found everything distasteful, and after a few days returned to his home. His fa- ther had been in comfortable circumstances, but about this time had lost his property by becoming security for others, and the family began to make preparations to come to America. August 8, 1852, they started from Mainz on a steamboat on the river Rhine, and went thence to Rotterdam, whence they proceeded to London. There they took pas- sage on a sailing vessel for the United States, arriv- ing in New York after a voyage of 48 days. They were 48 days in making the trip from Mainz to the port where they landed on the shores of the Ameri- can Continent. The family came direct to Chicago, where the mother was taken ill and they were obliged to remain in the Garden City. She died in the Jan- uary following. In February, 1853, the father, with six of his seven motherless children, came to White- side County and located on the Rock river bottom, near Crandall's Ferry. They were in debt $175. They rented a farm and took possession of a vacant cabin, and as it was in a rather dilapidated condi- tion, they made it comfortable by chinking it with mud. The father obtained work, for which he re- ceived 50 cents a day, and two of the sons went to work for the sums of 30 and 25 cents respectively.

They had to board themselves. In 1856 the log house was burned. The mishap occurred in the day-time when all the family were absent but the step-mother. The entire contents were destroyed. They then moved into another house, which they rented. The second marriage of the father took place in 1856. He was a resident of Whiteside County until his death, which transpired in 1858.

Mr. Sieben was 16 when he came to this country with his parents. He commenced work in White- side County, at the rate of 30 cents a day and boarded himself, but as he learned the ways and language of this country he was able to command larger pay. In.the summer of 1853 he was employ- ed by Lyman Warren at $8 per month, and in the winter succeeding he went to school, working for his board in the family of Mr. Warren. He was in the same employ during the next season and he received $10 a month. The next year Mr. Warren paid him $12 per month. The next year he worked for his father, who had rented a farm in Portland Town- ship. The next year he was employed by Jacob Arnett and received $16 per month. He continued in the same employ two seasons. Believing that he could operate to his own advantage on a farm, he rented a tract of land of Lewis Arnett, Sr., which he managed two years, working it on shares. Through the season of 1862 he broke prairie. The next year he worked for William Arnett, and at the termina- tion of his term of service rented a farm of his em- ployer. He continued its management one year and then went to Whiteside County, where he rented a farm for three years of Jacob Arnett. During that time he bought 65 acres of land on section 3, in the township of Loraine, and he took possession of his property in 1868. He was the occupant of the place two years. In January, 1869, he bought the farm on which he has pursued the business which he selected as the vocation of his life. It is located on the same section of the same township. At the time he made his purchase there was a house on the place, to which he has made an addition and has built a good frame barn. His industry and good management have met the usual reward, and he is at present the owner of 315 acres of land, which is in first- clase condition for farming purposes. In addi- tion to the usual avenues of mixed husbandry, Mr. Sieben is engaged in the business of a dairyman and sells the creani product to the creameries.

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Nov. 8, 1864, his marriage to Louisa, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Rapp, was consummated. Al- bert Wesley, Hattie Martha, Sarah Louvina, Clara Priscilla, George Henry and Floyd Jerome are the names of the children now belonging to the house- hold. The parents are members of the German Evangelical Church.

hanne on. Levi North, attorney and counselor at law, Kewanee, Ill., was born at Turin, Lewis Co., N. Y., March 12, 1821. His parents, Darius and Joanna (Hurlbert) North, natives of Connecticut and Massachusetts re- spectively, and of English extraction, removed in 1829 to Highmarket, an adjoining town, and five years later, on to Mt. Vernon, Ohio.

The senior Mr. North was a farmer by occupation and brought his sons up to that honorable vocation, though it appears that Levi was more of a mechan- ical than agricultural turn. His education was limited to the log-cabin schools of early days, with possibly a few months at a little academy at Louis- ville, N. Y., before he was 16 years of age. Just what accident led to the discovery that he really possessed a talent for drawing, does not appear; but certain it is that with opportunity he would have made his mark in the field of fine arts. As it was, he practiced more or less at the easel, doing some portraits with creditable success, and finally; when about 18 years of age, determined to abandon every- thing else and devote his time to art. He was finan- cially poor, untaught and untraveled, and the undertaking was a great one. He took his studies from life, not having the benefit of a reputably good painting before he was 20 years of age. However, like many another man who has achieved greatness by not knowing how much greatness had preceded him, therefore knowing of nothing to discourage him, he itinerated from place to place, borrowed what books he could and read them ; painted the images of the handsomest styles, made himself popular with respectable and intelligent people and absorbed alto- gether a pretty wide range of ideas.

In the winter of 1841-2, he took in the Ohio Legis- lature from the galleries, and also listened to learned dissertations upon legal questions by eminent law-

yers before the United States Courts, and he became seized of new ambitions. To his knowledge of paint- ing, anatomy, physiology and medicine he would add something of law; and to that end, in the winter fol- lowing he began the study of Blackstone at Mt. Ver- non, Ohio, with the Hon. E. W. Cotton as preceptor. For two years he alternated between teaching and painting, Blackstone and Chitty, and in October, 1845, he stood a good examination and was admitted to the Bar. It appears he studied law as an accom- plishment merely and with no immediate purpose to enter the practice. As an artist he became ac- quainted with a number of professional men, and profited largely by their association. He possessed an inquisitive disposition, a retentive memory and a practicable adaptability in the methods of appropri- ating and utilizing everything in the way of learning that came in his way. Thus, what he lacked by early education he more than made up by absorp- tion.

In 1847 he left Ohio, and drifted to Peoria, Ill., where he applied himself to painting for nearly a year; and, removing thence to Princeton, he was variously employed for several years. In 1853 he became clerk to Judge Kelsey, real-estate agent, and soon afterward was elected Justice of the Peace. The duties of this office brought him again to con- sider the law, into which he almost involuntarily drifted, and to which he has since devoted most of his time. Coming to Kewanee in 1860, he formed a partnership with Judge John H. Howe, now deceased, in the practice of law, and continued it up to 1869. In politics he was originally a Democrat, but left that party as early as 1843-4, to join his fortunes with that of the Liberty party. Into this he plunged with all his spirit and strength, and in 1844 "stumped " his district in behalf of James G. Birney for Presi- dent. For one year he constituted one of the few men in Peoria County that publicly advocated the peremptory abolition of slavery, and the times afforded him oportunities for airing his unpopular ideas to his heart's content. He was always ready to debate the negro question, publicly or privately, and in so doing " crossed swords " with men who afterward, and when the struggle for the life or death of slavery drenched a nation in blood, became eminent in the affairs of the nation.

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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 73

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