Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 76

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 76

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& Marston, at Cambridge. Minerva G. is the younger.

Mr. Jones is a Republican in political sentiment, and he and his wife are members of the Congrega- tional Church. He is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

ewis E. Hunt, engaged in farming on sec- tion 25, Cornwall Township, was born in

10 York State, Jan. 6, 1829. In September, 1842, Mr. Hunt came to Henry County with his father, Thomas Hunt. The father was born in 1793 in Roxbury, Litchfield Co., Conn.' and died in 1861.

Lewis Hunt, the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this notice, was inarried to Miss Sarah Romig, Jan. 26, 1860. Of their union five children have been born,-John W., Edward O. and Clarinda C. are living; the deceased are Leonidas F. and Edgar I.

Mr. Hunt is the proprietor of 160 acres of good farm land, located on section 25, all of his land be- ing under an advanced state of cultivation. In ad- dition to the cultivation of his land, Mr. Hunt has devoted a portion of his time to stock. He has some three-quarter-blooded Short-horn cattle and also a span of Morgan horses. In politics, he is a believer in and a supporter of the principles of the Republican party.

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onrad Seyller is a prosperous farmer of Yorktown Township, and is a resident on section 16. He was born in the province of Alsace in France, Nov. 19, 1840. His pa- rents, George and Catherine Seyller, were both natives of that province, which is now in the hands of the Germans. The son was sent to school, and after arriving at suitable age operated as an assistant on his father's farm. The whole family came to America in 1855. They were 28 days in crossing the ocean and landed at the port of New York. They came thence to Illinois and made a stay of some months at Naperville. In February they came to Henry County. They determined to

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locate in the township where the son is still a resi- dent and where the father proceeded to buy a farm on section 17. At the time of the purchase the place was in its natural condition and without a house to shelter the family. The small house, 16 x 16 feet in extent, was constructed with all possible dispatch, which formed the family abode for only a few years, as their circumstances improved with such rapidity that in a short time a good frame house replaced that of the first days. The father was the occupant of the farm on which he first tasted the sweets of be- ing a land-holder until the death of his wife. He the sold the farm and removed to Peru, in La Salle County, where he still resides.

Mr. Seyller was an inmate of the parental home until he reached his majority. He then bought 160 acres on sections 9 and 8 in the same township, and proceeded with the work of farming in his own be- half. He was successful in his plans and operations, and in 1875 sold the place and bought 320 acres on sections 10 and II. In 1885 he made a further pur- chase of 80 acres on section 3 in Yorktown Township, and is now the proprietor of 400 acres in the best possible farming condition.

In 1861 Mr. Seyller was married to Josephine Clementz. She was born in the province of Alsace. Their children are seven in number, and are named Augustus, Josephine, William, Matilda, Hattie, Ed- ward and Mary.

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ohn Churchill, a farmer on section 25, Geneseo Township, has lived in Henry County since 1852. He was born in Som- erset Co., Me., June 6, 1836, and is the son of Asa and Mary (Holden) Churchill. His father was born in the same county where the pro- genitors of the family were among the pioneer set- tlers, and he was deprived of him by death when I I years old. After that event he was the master of his own fortunes. He became a member of the family of Major Webb in his native county, with whom he re- sided three years. He continued to find employment in Somerset County until he came to Illinois. He was then 16. He was induced to come here by the fact that some acquaintances had come and found

remunerative employ. He operated as a farm assist- ant and rented land to work on his own account until 1862, when he enlisted. He enrolled himself a soldier of the United States on the Ioth of August, in Co. C, 93d Reg. Ill. Vols. He was in the service until the end of the contest. Among the battles in which he was under fire were those of the siege and capture of Vicksburg, Jackson, Champion Hill, Mis- sion Ridge, and many others of greater or less im- portance. In 1864 he sustained injuries in a railroad collision and was transferred to Co. H, 23d V. R. C. He received a final and honorable discharge Aug. 18, 1865. He came back to the State and passed ten years in Bureau County. In 1875 he bought the farm on which he is now a resident. It is well im- proved and is supplied with excellent buildings.

Sept. 27, 1870, he was joined in marriage with Harriet L. Parker, and they have one child-Asa Emery. Mrs. Churchill is the daughter of Emery and Delopha (Bailey) Parker. Her parents were early settlers in the State of Ohio, and were both na- tives of New Hampshire.

rederick Kaiser, one of the large land owners and respected citizens of Cornwall Township, as well as successful farmers of Henry County, residing on section II, was born Oct. 23, 1827, in Switzerland, and within 18 miles of the capital, Berne.

Mr. Kaiser resided in the land of his nativity un- til he attained his 16 year, in 1843, when, hoping to better his financial condition, he emigrated to the United States, and soon after landing at an Eastern seaport he made his way to Ohio, where for ten years he was engaged in the occupation of farming ; from the latter State Mr. Kaiser came to this county, where he has resided until the present time. He is now the proprietor of 400 acres of good farm land, 240 of the same being in Cornwall and the remain- der in Annawan Township. In addition to the cul- tivation of his land, he devotes a large portion of his time to buying, selling and feeding stock. He also raises a great many heavy horses and roadsters, and feeds sheep and swine for the Eastern market. In his vocation in life Mr. Kaiser is meeting with that success which energy and perseverance, coupled with

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push and good judgment are sure to bring. Socially, he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., and politically, he votes with the Republican party.

The father of Mr. Kaiser was born in Switzerland, Jan. 1, 1796, and his mother in June of the same year. She was but 19 years old at the date of her marriage and became the mother of five sons and three daughters, namely : Elizabeth, Mary Ann, John, Frederick, Margaret, Alex., Albert and Jacob. Frederick, John and Margaret are the only survivors.

harles Kent, a retired farmer, resident at Kewanee, and a native of Greenfield, N. Y., is the only son of Ebenezer and Laura (Belden) Kent, natives of Vermont and New York respectively. He was born Aug. II, 1821. After the death of his mother, Mr. Kent's father removed to Wyoming Co., N. Y., accompanied by his two children, in 1823. In Greenfield, N. Y., the senior Kent had followed blacksmithing, but on arriving in Wyoming County engaged in the occupation of a farmer. He lived to attain the venerable age of 91 years, and died in November, 1884, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Brown, of Wethersfield, this county.

In 1844, Charles Kent came West, entered a tract of land in Bureau County, which he improved and lived upon for ten years. In 1854-5 he removed to Galesburg, Knox County, and in the neighborhood of that city he was engaged in farming on a small place for a few years. In 1864 he came into Ke- wanee and purchased a tract of land in the vicinity of that place, and subsequently purchased other tracts, and there followed the occupation of a farmer until 1884, meeting with success in that vocation. During this year he rented his lands and retired from the active labors of life.

While a citizen of Bureau County, Mr. Kent was several years Township Clerk and Supervisor. Since coming to this county he has served as School Trus- tee at various times. In early life he was a Whig in politics, but afterwards he espoused the cause of the Liberty party, and later on, at the organization of the Republican party, he joined its ranks and has since voted that ticket without exception.

Mr. Kent was the builder of his own fortune. He inherited a sound constitution and a level head. He

cultivated upon the one a rugged physique and upon the other a well stored mind. His accumulation of this world's goods is attributable to his industry, per- severance and good judgment.

Mr. Kent was united in marriage with Miss Lucinda M. Hurd, of Wyoming Co., N. Y., who came West long before Horace Greeley's advice was ut- tered, and "grew up." Mr. Kent was one of the original stockholders of the Union National Bank of Kewanee, and has been one of its Directors since its organization. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church, to the support of which they give liberally from their ample means.

We present the portrait of Mr. Kent in this volume in connection with this sketch, as a man who is eminently worthy of having his portrait classed with those who are representative men of the county. He possesses many excellent qualities as a citizen, and in pioneer days in Illinois did much to forward its development.

ichard Payne, brick manufacturer, Galva, is a native of England, and was born in Oswestry, Shropshire, in that country, May 12, 1828. His father, Thomas Payne, was also a native of England, where he married Catherine Richards, also of English birth, but of Welsh extraction. His grandfather, also named Thomas Payne, was born in Fitz, Eng. He was a farmer and brick-maker, and died at the age of 79 years, in Oswestry, leaving a large estate. His wife, Anna Payne, was born in Meidstown, County Kent, England, and lived to be 101 years old. They reared a family of six children, namely : Thomas, the father of our subject ; Sarah Ann, James, William and Han- nah, all of whom are deceased. Thomas was born Dec. 21, 1785, in Oswestry, and died in March, 188 1, aged nearly 96 years. He was also a brick-maker in early life, but came to this country in 1850, and located in Whitefield Township, Marshall Co., Ill., where he died. His wife, Catherine Richard, was born at the same place, and was the daughter of Thomas Richard. She died about 1857, nine chil- dren having been born of this couple, as follows : Thomas, John, Anna (now Mrs. Jarvis), Edward,

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Richard, Ann (now Mrs. Roummel), William, George and Mary (the latter deceased).

Mr. Payne was reared and educated in his native country, and came to America with his parents. He resided with them in Marshall Co., Ill., until 1856, in the meantime joining with them in the brick-making business. In April, 1865, he came to Galva, and for many years made brick in the old-fashioned way, by hand. This required a great deal of hard work, but he met with fair success. In the spring of 1878 he formed a partnership with Obed Price, which has continued to the present time, and the firm is now known as Payne & Price. Prior to 1878 Mr. Payne employed about ten hands. At that time he intro- duced horse-power, and two years later his business had increased so that it demanded greater facilities. He then put in an 18-horse-power engine, which runs a Henry Martin Stock Brick Machine. This machine has a capacity of 25,000 bricks per day. The firm employ about 25 men in the factory and in shipping. Mr. Payne devotes his attention to the superintend- ing of the factory, while his partner attends to the contracting department.

Mr. Payne was married in Ottawa, Ill., to Miss Emelia Roe, who is now deceased. She became the mother of two children-Nellie and Thomas R. She died at Galva, Jan., 1882. She was the daughter of Thomas Roe, of English ancestry. Mr. Payne was married a second time, to Mrs. Jennie Prescott.

lliott Hinman, lumber merchant . at Cam- bridge, and the sole representative of that line of traffic at this place, is a native of Henry County. He was born Aug. 31, 1853, in Osco Township, and is the son of R. H. Hinman, who is still living there. He was educated in this county, and after he arrived at the age of manhood he gave his attention to the pursuit of a farmer. Soon after he went to Cambridge, and, associated with S. C. Welton, he embarked in the business which has since engaged his attention. In 1881 Mr. Welton went to Florida, and Mr. Hinman has since conducted his affairs alone. He holds the monopoly at Cambridge, having bought out the lum- ber establishment of J. W. Stewart, who was his only

competitor. Mr. Hinman is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity at Cambridge.

He was married here Oct. 30, 1879, to Nora No- lind, who was born in Muscatine Co., Iowa. They have two children: Fannie was born Sept. 2, 1880; Susan E. was born Dec. 22, 1884.

& A.hristian L. Heaps, a well-known agricul- turist, having a farm on section 19, Anna- 'wan Township, is a native of Lancaster Co., Pa., where he was born, June 1, 1835. Here he lived until 1842, when he came with his parents to Illinois. For four years they lived in Adams County, when they came further north, and located in Rock Co., Wis. Here they re- mained but 18 months, when the elder Heaps came into Annawan Township, and pre-empted a quarter of section 32, where he still lives. William G., the gentleman referred to, became one of the prominent and early settlers of the township. A sketch of him appears elsewhere in this volume.

Mr. Heaps, on his farm of 160 acres, has a good, comfortable dwelling and farm buildings. He is de- voting his attention to some extent to breeding Short- horn cattle and Norman horses. His hogs are of the Poland-China variety. He has been a member of the A. F. & A. M. Order, and has been a visitor to the Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter convened at Chicago. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and, politically, he is a man of independent views.

Mr. Heaps formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Margaret Clement, Oct. 28, 1858. She was a native of Hamilton, Canada, where she was born July 18, 1840. She came to Illinois with her parents in 1849, and was reared and educated in Cornwall Township, this county, where her father, Robert Clement, had located. He had married in 1827 Miss Margaret Jones, this event occurring in Antrim Co., Ireland. The following year they came to Can- ada, and became the parents of nine children, of whom Margaret was the seventh. The record of the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Heaps reads as fol- lows : Mary A., born Dec. 1, 1860; John B., March 14, 1863; William G., April 22, 1865 ; Harmon, Jan. 9, 1867; Chancy B., Feb. 15, 1868; Christian L.

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March 16, 1870; Edwin T., Aug. 4, 1871 ; Nellie G., Sept. 23, 1874. There have been five deaths in the family, as follows: William G. died Sept. 8, 1865 ; John B., Dec. 8, 1866; Harmon C., Feb. 5, 1867 ; Christian, Aug. 23, 1870; and Mary A., April 28, 1883.

thel V. Bronson, one of the pioneers of Kewanee, and from 1855 to 1875 propri- etor of the old "Kewanee House," first hotel erected in the village, youngest son of Virtue and Nancy (McNeil) Bronson, natives of Connecticut and New York State respectively, and of old English extraction, was born in Canan- daigua, Ontario Co., N. Y., Feb. 1, 1813.

The Bronsons were among the very earliest settlers of Waterbury, Conn., and many of the name are yet found in the various New England States. Virtue Bronson was a surveyor by profession, and having re- moved from Connecticut to Richmond, N. Y., in 1818, conducted the survey of what has since been known as the "Holland Purchase." From Richmond he removed to Sheldon, Geneseo County, the same State, in 1820, and there died, June 4, 1823, at the age of 45 years. Of his children, three sons and two daughters, that grew to be men and women, the subject of this sketch, Ethel V. Bronson, is the only one living at this writing, July, 1885. The elder Mr. B. left his family in limited circumstances, and the sons were early in life thrown upon their own re- sources. In common with his brothers, Ethel V. labored upon the farm during the farming season, and walked two miles to a country school during the winters. When about 15 years of age he secured employment in a mercantile establishment, receiving as payment for his services for a time, his board and clothing, and afterward the sum of $5 per month in money ; but, as he grew in years and usefulness, his wages were advanced from time to time, and he was enabled to lay by his small savings, and in a few years to engage in a business for himself.

His first store was started at Warsaw; from there he went to North Java, and in 1846 back to Warsaw, where he remained two years, and then began the manufacture of stoves and agricultural implements

at Cuylerville, N. Y. In 1854 he came West, stop- ping at Rockford, Ill., from the fall of that year until the spring of 1855, at which time he came to Kewa- nee and bought the "Kewanee House," a hostlery he presided over for 20 years. For years and years the "Kewanee" was the only hotel in the village, and the number of persons who partook of its "good cheer" during the administration of Mr. Bronson would probably exceed Grant's majority over Greeley. In . 1875 Mr. B. retired from hotel business, and in 1883 . sold the property to a Mr. Merritt, who replaced the "old frame" with a brick structure, which bears upon its side wall "The New Kewanee," and upon the stained glass over its threshold a quotation from Sir Walter Scott's Lady of the Lake.

Mr. Bronson has always been a public-spirited man, and from a handsome competency, the result wholly of his individual efforts and industry, has given liberally to such enterprises as have had a tendency to advance the interests of the community in which he has lived. He was prominently identi- fied with the organization of the Old Muscatine, Ke- wanee & Eastern Railway enterprises, and became the President of that company ; also of the Conti- mental Railway Company, a gigantic undertaking, having in view the construction of a trunk line from New York City to Council Bluffs, Ia. The interests alike of public charities and local Churches have been advanced by his labor and his lucre. The Episcopal Church at Kewanee credits him with its greatest individual financial assistance. He was not only active in its organization, but the subscription roll also shows that he set opposite his name $1,500. So with all the other Churches. They all credit him with donations at various times with various sums.

Though an active Republican worker, he has sought no political preferment, his only public office-hold- ing in the county being that of Commissioner of Highways, a "thank you" kind of a job; and in the State a member of the Board of Governors of the Woman's Hospital, also a position of trust without emolument.

In October, 1844, at the town of York, Livingston Co., N. Y., he was married to Sarah A. Weller, who died at the age of 66 years. Of the two sons born to them and an adopted daughter reared by them, neither one is living. Melfred G., born Aug. II, 1845, died May 15, 1861 ; William Henry, born Dec. 25, 1851, died Jan. 5, 1852 ; and Lida P., born Oct.

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6, 1858, died Dec. 4, 1880. Thus his children, like the wife of his early manhood, his companion through the struggles of so many years, have all preceded him to that other shore where his faith in a crucified Redeemer tells him he shall meet them when his pil- grimage upon this earth shall have reached an end. The present Mrs. Bronson, nee Mrs. Betsey Ann Hoxey, to whom he was married at Bay St. Louis, . Miss., March 28, 1885, is a native of Providence, R. I. They met and their union was planned while win- tering in the sunny South.

ohn A. Swanson, residing in Galva, was born Dec. 8, 1846, in Smoland, Hoallanda Soken, Jonkopings Lan, Sweden. He is a son of Charles J. and Christine (Swanson) Swanson, natives of Sweden. Charles J. Swan- son was born Jan. 7, 1822. He was a soldier for 19 years in the Swedish Army, and after that he followed the occupation of a farmer. He was married in Sweden and became the father of nine children, four of whom he brought to America, namely : Matilda, John A, Charles A., Louisa, Gust. A., and Frank W. and an infant who died were born at Galesburg. Charles J. Swanson came to this country in 1857, arriving here Aug. 8, of that year. He located at Galesburg, in this State, where he worked at the carpenter trade in Brown's Corn- Planter Works for eight years. He then engaged in farming in Lynn Township, which occupation he fol- lowed until the date of his death, which occurred May 14, 1883, when in his 62d year. His wife is still living in Galva. She was born Feb. 5, 1822, in Sweden.

John A. Swanson, subject of this notice, received his education principally in Knox County, this State, and followed the occupation of a farmer during his early life. He enlisted in Co. B, 72d Ill. Vol. Inf., Dec. 11, 1863, at Galesburg, and went to Springfield, this State. From there he went to Vicksburg, and his regiment participated in the following engage- ments : Siege and capture of Vicksburg, Columbus, Franklin and Nashville, Tenn. On their retreat from Nashville to Franklin Mr. Swanson and nearly 300 of his regiment were taken prisoners, the date there- of being Nov. 30, 1864, and were released in March,

1865, at which time Mr. Swanson only weighed 97 pounds. The regiment went out 800 strong in the battle of Franklin, and returned with less than 400 men. Mr. Swanson, with other prisoners, were ta- ken to Andersonville, Ga., where he remained four and a half months, was then paroled and sent home, and shortly afterward the war closed. Socially, Mr. S. is a member of the G. A. R.

After the war closed he returned to Galva, doffed his uniform, laid aside his accoutrements of war, and once more entered upon the peaceful pursuits of life. He engaged in clerking at Galva and Cambridge, and was occupied at the latter place three and a half years. In March, 1881, he formed a partnership with Nels Runquist and engaged in the grocery and provision business, which co-partnership lasted for six months, when another was formed with Lewis Larson as partner, which terminated after three months, when Mr. Swanson conducted the business alone for three years. He sold out in January, 1885, to Nelson & Larson, intending to go West. Since April he has been employed by Butters & Obers in the implement business until lately, when he again engaged in business for himself.

Mr. Swanson was married in Galva, Jan. 30, 1873, to Miss Ida M. Mollburg, a daughter of Swan and and Sarah Mollburg. She was born Aug. 22, 1852, in Kalmar Lan, Molella Soken, in Sweden, and has borne her husband two children,-John A. I., born in Galva, Nov. 7, 1873; and Lillie O., in Cambridge, Feb. 10, 1875. Socially, Mr. Swanson is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the A. O. U. W., and politically he is in sympathy with the tenets of the Republican party.

ndrew G. Larson, engaged as a farmer on section 28, Osco Township, was born in Sweden, July 25, 1837. He continued to reside in his native country until the summer of 1860, when he came to America and worked by the month in Andover Township, this County, about four years, when he bought 80 acres of land in Oscu Township, located on section 28, where he erected good, substantial buildings and has since continued to reside until the present time. He now is the owner of 280 acres in this county, all of which is in an advanced state of cultivation.

Mr. Andrew G. Larson formed a matrimonial alli-

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ance at Moline, Ill., Nov. 1, 1866, with Tilda L. Hokonson, who was born in Sweden, May 18, 1846. They are the parents of eight children,-Andrew J., Henry J., Carl R. and Gust. A., and four are deceas- ed, as follows: L. Edward met with his death from an accident received by a corn-stalk cutter; Nellie A. was injured while at school from a blow accident- ally given by a school-mate. Two died in infancy. Mr. Larson is independent in his political views.

ohn George Weidlein, a farmer of Edford Township, was born in Osco Township, in the county in which his entire life has been passed. He is the son of John and Eleanora Weidlein, of whom a full account is given else- where in this volume. His birth occurred Sept. 25, 1854, three years after the removal of his parents to Henry County. He is the fifth child in order of birth, and he received his education in the district schools of his native township and in Edford Township, whither the family removed when the son was one year old.

The latter was married in March, 1881, to Bertha Reader. She was born in Michigan. He is now the occupant of the homestead of his father and is en- gaged in general farming and in raising stock.

Mrs. Weidlein is the daughter of Henry and Cath- erine (Kime) Reader, and she was born in the town of Medina, Lenawee Co., Mich. She is the mother of one child, named Hallie Earl. Mr. and Mrs. Weid- lein are members of the Lutheran Church at Morris- town. The parents of Mrs. Weidlein were natives of the State of New York.

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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 76

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