Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 89

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 89

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Mr. Blish owns three fine farms in Henry County, and, in company with his son, Mathew B. Blish, cul- tivates two of them, including the old homestead of his father, aggregating over 600 acres. As a stock- grower, Short-horn cattle, registered, is his specialty, though among his horses and hogs are many of the finest bloods to be found in the State; and his annual sales of thoroughbred stock are attended by dis- tinguished breeders from all parts of the United States. In 1865, in company with his brother, he laid out what has since been known as Blish's Addi- tion to Kewanee, and in the year 1884 removed from his farm into the city where he has since resided.

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Like his father, Mr. B. is a Democrat. in politics. He is no partisan or office-seeker, but a firm and un- qualified adherent to the principles of that party. Aside from the prestige of wealth, Mr. B. is a man of more than ordinary influence in the community, where the years of his manhood have been spent. As a farmer and fine stock-breeder in this county he ranks-A 1; as a banker, the confidence of the peo- ple is reposed in him; and as a neighbor and citizen he enjoys a full share of the love and esteem of the populace.

He was married Dec. 23, 1840, in the town of Goshen, Stark Co., Ill., to Miss Elizabeth P. Bonar, who was born in Bethlehem, Ohio, Dec. 14, 1820; and of their children we make the following brief memoranda : James J., a talented young attorney of Kewanee; and Mathew B., farmer and stock- grower of Wethersfield Township; William H., Syl- vester, Carie L. and Catherine E., all died in in- fancy.

ames Wiley, carriage and wagon manufac- turer, of Wethersfield, was born in Ireland, September, 1823. He came with his father, William Wiley, to America when but 17 years of age, and his mother, Mary (McMurdy) Wiley, followed the next year. In Philadelphia the death of the father occurred, and that of the mother in Wethersfield Township.

James was the fifth in order of birth of a family of six children, and while in Philadelphia learned the trade of wagon-maker from his brother. In 1849 he came from the latter place into Stark County and en- gaged to work at his trade in Toulon, which he con- tinued for about a year, and in 1850 came into Henry County. He located in Wethersfield, where he built a carriage shop, in which he has since car- ried on his business, and in 1883 built a fine resi- dence, in which he and his family reside.

Mr. Wiley was married in Philadelphia, Pa., July 31, 1844, to Nancy, daughter of George and Rose (Percy) Holmes; and she was born in Ireland, Oct. 20, 1821. Mrs. Holmes died in Philadelphia, Pa., and her husband in Stark Co., Ill. Mary, Rosanna, James, Tillie, William J., Tillie (second), George and

Laura are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Wiley. Rosanna and Tillie (first) are deceased.

Mr. Wiley has served his township as Highway Commissioner, School Trustee and School Director. Politically, he affiliates with the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Wiley are members of the Congrega- tional Church.

B enjamin H. Wright, dealer in stoves and hardware, at Kewanee, Ill., son of John and Phœbe (Halstead) Wright, natives of " York State" and of Scotch-Irish and Ger- man extraction respectively, was born in Orange Co., N. Y., Jan. 4, 1823. His pa- rents reared a family of six sons and four daughters, and he was sixth in the order of birth. The com- mon schools afforded him a fair English education, and at the age of 17 years, at Florida, in his native county, he began the wagon-maker's trade. At the end of one year he went to Dutchess County and joined his brother in wagon-making, and remained there perhaps a dozen years in that business, and afterwards three or four years as dealer in lumber and coal. In 1865 he came to Kewanee and em- barked in the business he has since followed, recreat- ing in the meantime probably two years.

In politics Mr. Wright is a Republican, coming from the Whigs, with whom he cast his first vote.

He was married at Dover, N. Y., in 1852, to Miss Charlotte McKoy, a native of Connecticut, though brought up in Dover. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. W. we have the following brief record: Silas, a farmer in Kansas; Ella, wife of W. A. Bowen, jeweler, Kewanee; and Anna, an accomplished young lady at home with her parents.

acob Roos, a farmer on section 17, town- ship of Loraine, is a native of Prussia. He accompanied his parents to America when he was still in his minority. Philip Roos, the father of Mr. Roos of this sketch, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, in November, 1806. He was educated according to the laws of his country by attending school until he was about 14,

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when he commenced operations as a coal miner. He was occupied in that avenue of employ until 1853. In that year he came to the United States and lo- cated in Henry County. He bought a farm on sec- tion 8, in the township in which he passed the remainder of his life. The man of whom the place was purchased had made some improvements, con- sisting of the building of a log cabin and a small amount of plowing-about seven acres. The new proprietor at once entered into the work of improve- ment and put the whole acreage under the plow, and erected a good frame house, which was the family residence as long as the parents survived. The death of the wife occurred in 1855. The father mar- ried again, and the second wife died in 1875. His demise transpired in 1878. The issue of the first marriage was two sons. George, the oldest, lives in Buffalo Co., Neb.

Jacob Roos was born in Prussia, Aug. 30, 1837. He was 16 when the family were brought to America by the father, as has been stated. The son was an attendant at the schools of his native country until a few months before the removal to the New World, and during that time he was occupied in mining. After coming to the township of Loraine with his parents, he remained a member of the household of his father until 1859. In that year he set out for the latest gold fields that had attracted the notice of the adventurers who would grow rich by some speedy and novel method,-Pike's Peak. A considerable party set forth for the land of promise with ox teams, and made the journey thither in the slow but sure and not altogether disagreeable manner, which has been so many times related as the inevitable experi- ence of the travelers overland to a distant point on the great unsettled interior of this continent. On arrival there Mr. Roos engaged in teaming, and until 186 t was occupied in hauling goods from Denver to the mountains. The breaking out of the Civil War brought his attention to another duty, and he en- listed in the First Colorado Cavalry. He remained in the military service and continued in the dis- charge of the duties of a soldier until the close of the war. He remained on the frontier during the entire period. After receiving his discharge he returned to Henry County. He rented a farm in Loraine Town- ship, and after operating as a farmer in that method five years he bought 80 acres of land in the township of Atkinson, and at a date a little later he bought 40

acres additional. He retained the ownership of that place but two years, and at the end of that time he sold out and purchased a farm in the township of Yorktown. After a year he again sold out and bought the farm he now owns. It is situated on sec- tions 17 and 18, and contains 260 acres. He has made later purchases and is at present the owner of 340 acres. He is engaged in mixed husbandry and raises grain and stock. He keeps a considerable dairy and sells the cream, as is the custom in this locality.

Mr. Roos was married in January, 1866, to Rosina Ott. She is the daughter of Casper and Elizabeth Ott, and was born in Cook Co., Ill. The family in- cludes six children,-Charles P., Joseph C., Louisa, Katie May, William H. and Carrie M. The mem- bers of the family belong to the Evangelical Church.

Tel ewis F. Matteson, proprietor of a meat market, Galva, was born June 13, 1844, in Sweden, and is a son of Hans and Brita Matteson, both natives of that country. The parents emigrated to the United States, land- ing in Altona, this State, Oct. 8, 1855. They remained there for a time, and then went to Victo- ria, Knox County, where they resided for a few years on a farm. From the latter place they moved to Galva Township, this county, where they settled on a farm, two and one-half miles east of the present village of Galva, and where the father died, at the age of 55 years. The mother yet survives. She bore her husband eight children, five of whom are yet living, namely : Mrs. Anna Bostrom, Mrs. Carrie Ol- son, Mrs. Lizzie Erickson, Lewis F., subject of this notice, and Hans A., a resident of Nebraska.

Lewis F., whose biography we write, received but little education prior to attaining his majority, and that in the district schools of this county, the principal part of his education being acquired by self-instruction and reading at home. In early life he assisted in the labors of the farm, and was en- gaged in farm work until May, 1877, when he moved to Galva, and there, for a time, clerked and worked at various occupations. In Oct., 1879, he worked for F. M. Rigen, and continued in that gentleman's em- ployment for a year and a half. He then worked

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for a Mr. Billington, and was with him one year, when he formed a partnership with P. T. Bergman in the business. He bought his partner out in March, 1885, and since that time has conducted the business himself, meeting with financial success.

The marriage of Mr. Matteson to Miss Lizzie M. Sanberoy occurred June 10, 1875. She was born in Sweden, Dec. 9, 1856, and has become the moth- er of four children: Louis Franklin, born July 1, 1876; Dulie Lila, born March 8, 1878; Jefferson, born June 28, 1880; and May, born May 26, 1884. Mrs. Matteson is a member of the Lutheran Church. Politically, Mr. Matteson is a believer in and a sup- porter of the principles advocated by the Republican party.

rove N. Palmer was born at Painesville, Ohio, May 16, 1828, and was the oldest son of Noyes and Lucy (Emmerson) Pal- mer, natives of Ohio and Connecticut respect- ively and of Saxon English descent. The Palmers now found in every State in the American Union, and numbering among them many distinguished men and women, came to the Colonies first in the person of Walter Palmer, a native of Not- tingham, England, in the year 1629, landing at Charleston, S. C. Walter was born in 1585, and his descendants in the male line, and through whom we trace the subject of this sketch, are: 1, Gershom Palmer, born 1645; 2, Walter Palmer, 1685; 3, Wal- ter Palmer, 1717; 4, Walter Palmer, 1739; 5, Isaac Palmer, M. D., 1779; 6, Noyes Palmer, father of the gentleman whose name heads this article, was born in 1804.

At a re-union of the family, held in 1881, an asso- ciation was formed called the " Palmer Re-union As- sociation, " issuing to its members each a certificate of the following purport, showing a ship at sea and in full sail: " Dec. 30, 1883. From Nottingham, Eng- land, No. 312. 1629, America, 1882. To Charles- ton, 1629; Seakonk, 1643; Stonington, 1653. Or- ganized 1881. PALMER RE-UNION ASSOCIATION. Coat-of-arms, bearing motto, Palma virtuti.

CERTIFICATE OF MEMBERSHIP.

This is to certify that Mr. Grove Noyes Palmer, of Kewanee, Henry Co., Ill., is a member of the Pal-

mer Re-union Association ; and as such is entitled to the rights, privileges and benefits vouchsafed by the Constitution and By-Laws.

E. H. PALMER, President. NOYES F. PALMER, Recording Secretary. Z. A. PALMER, Treasurer.

Noyes Palmer, of the sixth generation, died July 13, 1840, aged about 35 years, and his widow in 1856, at the age of about 46 years. By occupation Mr. Palmer was a farmer, and his three sons were thoroughly trained thereat. Grove N. was the eld- est, and as such, after the death of his father, had largely the care of the family. His education was limited to such as could be acquired at the common schools of his neighborhood, and when about 19 years of age, began the trade of carpenter and joiner, at which he worked several years. In 1850 Mr. Palmer removed to Wethersfield, Henry County, bought a farm and soon afterward became one of the largest growers and shippers of Osage orange plants for hedge fence in the country. He followed the business about ten years, handling as high as 50,000,000 plants annually and making thereat quite a sum of money. In 1851-3 he was also engaged in mercantile business at Wethersfield, but his hedge- fence enterprise soon required his entire attention, and he abandoned or sold out his store business. In 1879 he removed his family into the town of Ke- waree, where he has since resided ; his elegant farm, however, in Galva Township, receives constantly his personal supervision.

July 3, 1850, at Painesville, Ohio, Mr. Palmer was married to Miss Hannah Elizabeth Livingston, a native of Otsego Co , N. Y., and a daughter of an old soldier of the War of 1812, Alexander Livingston, deceased; and of the nine children born to them, seven are living: Hortense E. (Mrs. Dr. D. B. Colby, of Chicago); Esther M. (Mrs. Dr. Geo. B. Little, of Burlington, Iowa); Nellie A, an accom- plished stenographer, of Chicago; Ida Blanche, teacher in the public schools; Charrie R., short- hand reporter, with Haxtun Steam Heater Works, Kewanee; Hattie M. and Carrie L., students; Wil- bur C., born March 5, 1856, died April 25, 1857; Frank W., born May 14, 1858, died Sept. 20, 1862.

The only public offices Mr. Palmer has held were such as enabled him to be of service to his neigh- bors, and at the same time of not enough importance to require the neglect on his part of any of his var-

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ious business interests. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and, like the rest of his immediate family, belongs to the Congregational Church. Po- litically, he is a Republican.

iram Webb, residing on section 15, Anna- wan Township, where he follows the occu- pation of a farmer, is a native of Somerset Co., Maine, in which State he was born May 20, 1849. He was brought to this State when three years of age, in 1852, and located in Annawan township. He was united in marriage to Miss Me- lissa A. Sweet, Oct. 19, 1876, Rev. Chester Covell, of the' Union Church, performing the ceremony. She was born Aug. 19, 1849, at Buda, Bureau Co., Ill., and has borne her husband two children,- Clara B., born Oct., 29, 1877; and Esther L., Aug. 13, 1881.

Mr. Webb has 80 acres of good land, all in an ad- vanced state of cultivation, together with a good dwelling-house, two stories high and 22 x 26 feet in dimensions. His barn is small but comfortable, and his horses are Normans and Clydesdales. His cattle are high grade Durhams. He is meeting with suc- cess in his chosen vocation, agriculture, and is one of the progressive fariners and respected citizens of his township. Politically, he is a Republican.

ohn Weidlein, a retired farmer of Edford Township, resident at Geneseo, came to Henry County in 1851. He was born Jan. 17, 1812, in Bavaria, Germany. While a resident of his native land he was subject to the legal regulations of the country, through which the government takes the control of all the sons born to the subjects of the emperor except that of their support, which remains the burden of the parents. Mr. Weidlein attended school until he was 14 years of age, and then worked on the farm un- til he was 16. He was then apprenticed to learn the trade of a blacksmith and he served two years. After working three years as a journeyman blacksmith, he was old enough to enter the army, in which he served three years. He then obtained a substitute to fill his place, and with his father's family he sailed for the United States. The voyage consumed seven

weeks, and the vessel discharged her passengers at Baltimore. Immediately after landing the family all went to Bedford Co., Pa. There the father bought a farm, and there the son made his home between two and a half years.

He then, in 1839, established his own household. He was married March II of that year to Eleonora C. Emmert. She was also a native of Bavaria. The newly married pair took possession 'of a rented farm in Bedford County, which they occupied seven years. At the end of that time Mr. Weidlein bought a farm in the same county. He retained its owner- ship until 1850, when he sold it, and in the next year came to Illinois. The journey was made over land by team to Wheeling, Va., where they took passage on a steamer and traveled on the rivers, which con-

stitutes the river route between the East and the West. The water was low, and three weeks were passed on the trip. They landed at Rock Island, where the father bought a team, and came thence to Henry County. He entered land on section 9 of township 16, range 2 east, which is now the town- ship of Osco. The proprietor built on the place a small frame structure, which served as a shelter for the family until he could press the work of improve- ment along to a point of profit; and after he had placed 150 acres under the plow, he proceeded to erect a house, to which the first building formed the kitchen. He drew the lumber and other materials used in the new houses from Moline. He also set out a considerable number of shade-trees. He was in fair circumstances on his arrival in Henry Coun- ty, as he was the possessor of $1,ooo, all of which was the fruits of his industry and frugality on the farm he rented in Pennsylvania. 'When he was married he was not the owner of an unincumbered dollar. In 1856 he sold his farm in Osco Township and he then bought 320 acres in Edford Township, for which he paid $650. There had been 40 acres broken and fenced and a small frame house had been begun. He at once proceeded to put the prop- erty in first-class condition for the accommodation of his family, as he had abundant means and facilities for doing, erecting excellent frame buildings, plant- ing shade and fruit trees, and making all the im- provements common to the best type of farms in the county.

He occupied the place until 1880, when he re-

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moved to Geneseo and bought the place he has since occupied there.

Eight of the children born to him and wife are still living. Andrew is a resident of Geneseo, and is the owner of a farm in Osco Township. Philip lives in Topeka, Kan. Lewis is a resident in Ma- rion Co., Kan. Jacob lives in the county last named. Ths homestead in Edford Township is under the management of George J. Edward lives in Butler Co., Kan. Caroline is the wife of George Drehmer. Valentine is also a resident in Marion Co., Kan. The parents are members of the Lutheran Church.

ohn B. Moffitt, a full history of whose life would alone fill a volume half as large as this ALBUM, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, of Scotch patronage, Feb. 11, 1833, and was the son of John and Matilda (Blair) Moffitt, who were visiting friends in Ireland at the time of the birth of our subject. From Scotland the family came to America in 1842, bringing two children, and had seven born in Philadelphia. The senior Mr. Moffitt died in Philadelphia, and his widow still lives at Kensington.

John B. was intended by his father for a carpet manufacturer, and he taught him therein when not at school. At the age of 14 John ran away from school and made his way to New Bedford, whence he shipped in a spermi whaler and was gone four and a half years, cruising the Australian coasts, Japan, New Zealand, the Southern Ocean, Peru and Pacific Isl- ands. Returning home, he was induced to learn the carpenter's trade ; but before the end of three years he went again to sea on a whaler, as "boat-steerer " or harpooner, and was out about ten months, when he and three seamen, including the Captain, all that were saved, were cast away on Ascension Island (one of the Caroline group in the South Pacific), and lived with natives about six months, when they were rescued by a Cunard steamer that happened to touch the island. While there, he learned to speak the native language and became very much infatuated with their mode of life. The "Britannia " carried them to Hong Kong, where they shipped in an opium clipper for Shanghai. It was now the winter season and the sailors were compelled to work night and

day in the worst weather imaginable. At the mouth of the Yang Tse Kiang, the vessel grounded, the t'de drove them from the vessel and they lay a month at Shanghai, repairing. Finally, carrying a lot of Chinese refugees, they set sail, to be wrecked again upon a small island, from which they pulled 60 miles away to another, larger island. Here they found a Chinese junk, with whose Captain they were unable to make terms; so, dropping that unruly gen- tleman overboard, they took his junk and made back to Shanghai. From there Mr. Moffitt shipped on a man-of-war, or private armed vessel, and for two years was employed as convoy against pirates. After an interesting experience with pirates at the mouth of the river Min, and after being again cast away upon a Chinese island, he found himself at Hong Kong, from where he shipped in a Dutch bark, " Emily," for Java via Foo Chow, laden with tea. At Java the vessel took on a cargo of coffee, and the next we hear of Mr. Moffitt he is digging gold in Australia, where he alternated between poverty and opulence for about seven years.

Via Peru, the Chinchi Islands and Queenstown, he landed again in Philadelphia, April 1, 1862, after an absence of 11 years. In March, 1863, he came to Kewanee, where he worked a while at carpenter- ing, then farmed a few years, again in mercantile business of various kinds and in various capacities, and in 1875 pulled out for Texas, where, at the town of Terrell, he bought and shipped grain for about two years. Returning to Illinois, he lived a year or two in Ogle County, and came back to Kewanee, where he finally settled down to business, and, as he says, " for life." He carries on the extensive furni- ture establishment in the village. Belongs to no Church, but is a Knight Templar in Masonry, and always votes the Democratic ticket.

He was married at Princeton, Ill., in May, 1865, to Mrs. Elizabeth Lyle.

Wm. L. Dalrymple is Deputy County Clerk; was born in Knox County, Ohio, April 7, 1827, and came to this county Dec. 14, 1853.

James P. Dodge died at an early day. His widow married a Mr. Burton. She again became a widow and married Thomas Stagg. He died recently, and the widow removed to Whiteside County.

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Reuben Cone came with the Geneseo Colony in 1836, bringing his wife and three children. One child was born here. Mrs. Cone was Miss Harriet Thom- as, of Canada. Mr. Cone removed to Kansas in 1862, and in 1871 went to Colorado, where he died in 1883. Three of the sons live in Colorado.

J. W. Epperson was born in Indiana, in 1829. He came to Knox County in 1849, and to Henry County in 1853.

Geo. S. Emmert is a native of Germany, where he was born in 1839. He came to Henry County in 1851.

Thomas Fitch came to Henry County in June, 1837.

John M. Follett was born in Essex County, New York, March 18, 1832. Came to Henry County in May, 1852.

Sylvanus Ferris was a native of Pennsylvania. Came and settled in Wethersfield, 1838. Died Feb. 11, 1877.

Thomas Glenn, a brother of James Glenn, came in the spring of 1835. He never married ; died in 1850, of consumption.

Dr. George Gager was an herb doctor, and lived near Dayton. He was a droll character in many ways. He died at an early day.

George Garland was born in Pennsylvania in 1836. He came to this county in 1859.

L. B. Goodell was born in Pennsylvania in 1834. He came to this county in October, 1857.

Joseph Goodrich was born in Wethersfield, Ct., July 31, 1794. He came to Henry County in 1836. Died Feb. 19, 1852. He had been a missionary to the Sandwich Islands.

Patterson Holmes, native of Redfield, Vt. Born Sept. 1, 1830. Came here in 1853.

Dr. S. T. Hume, second physician to locate in Geneseo. Some of his early experiences, when every new man was suspected of being a horse-thief, are given elsewhere, and are not only illustrative of the times but also amusing.

Charles Atkinson, one of the organizers of Henry County and one of its first officials, came to this county in 1835 and located in Cleveland. He came from Massachusetts and took an important part in the early history of the county. He moved to Mo-

line and is now one of its wealthy and prominent citizens.

Henry S. Aldrich, the county's first "Baby Mine," was born in Phenix Township in December, 1835. See biography of Earl P. Aldrich, page 305.

Royce Allen came to Henry County in 1852; was born in Camden, N. Y., June, 1819; died in 1880, aged 62 years.

Harriet K. Adams, wife of Geo. Adams, was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., Dec. 27, 1825 ; came to the county in 1855.

William C. Bartlett, born in Montgomery, N. Y., Dec. 18, 1797 ; died Sept. 3, 1878. Catherine, his wife, was born in Champlain, N. Y., April 17, 1803. They came to this county May 4, 1836.

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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 89

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