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 91
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iram Bigelow, the oldest practicing attor- ney in Henry County and one of the leading members of the Bar in this section of the State, resides at Galva. He was born at Le Roy, Genesee Co., N. Y., Feb. 23, 1829, and was the fourth in a family of eight children. His father, John A. Bigelow, was born in the State of Connecticut, in the year 1795, being a lineal descend- ant of John Bigelow, who emigrated from Wrentham, county of Suffolk, England, and settled at Water- town, Mass., where he died, July 14, 1703.
John A. Bigelow served as a volunteer in the War of 1812, and was at the battle of Buffalo. In 1820 he married Miss Mary McCollum, daughter of Jacob McCollum, whose father was an Elder in the Church of Scotland. Jacob McCollum was born in the State of New Jersey during the Revolution and on the day
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of the battle of Monmouth, which history tells us was one of the hottest ever known. He married Miss Susan Harris and both lived to a ripe old age.
Hiram Bigelow was reared and educated at LeRoy, his native place, and when only 18 years of age be- gan life as a school-teacher, which business he fol- lowed two years, and afterwards engaged as a clerk in a mercantile establishment in his native town.
The latter business he abandoned and took up the study of law, purchasing his own books for that pur- pose with money which he earned himself.
In 1854 he came West, and in the spring of 1855 he was admitted to the Bar at Elkhorn, Wisconsin. In 1856 he settled at Galva, then a village. scarcely more than a year old, and began the practice of law. His business rapidly increased and he soon became an active and successful lawyer, principally for the reason that he never neglected business entrusted to his care, but was always industrious and attentive to the interests of his clients. In 1860 he was elected to the office of State's Attorney for the Sixth Judicial Circuit, then composed of the counties of Henry and Rock Island, which office he held for four years.
At the time he settled at Galva, and for years af- terwards, titles to real estate in the "Central Military Tract " were very uncertain, and to what is known to the profession as " real-estate law " he applied him- self with great diligence; and, having been engaged in the trial of many cases in the State and United States Courts involving the title to lands, and being uniformly successful, he is acknowledged to stand in the fronk rank of the profession in that department of the law.
A
ndrew M. Peterson is one of the ex- tensive and successful farmers of Henry County. His home farm, on section 23, of Western Township, consists of 240 acres, all under splendid improvements. Mr. Peterson's remarkable success in life is a fine illustration of what may be accomplished in this country by one with energy, foresight and determination, pushing for- ward. He was born in Sweden, July 7, 1828, and lived with his parents upon the farm until about 23 years of age, when he determined to come to the New World. He soon found himself in Henry
County, where he began to work as a laborer on the railroad. He struggled along, working honestly and fairly, using economy in all things, and after his mar- riage settled down as a farmer. At that time he lo- cated on section 23, Western Township, where he owned 240 acres. Besides this, he has 160 acres under good improvements on section 24 of the same township, and also 160 acres under the plow on sec- tion 1, and 80 acres on section 2. This vast accu- mulation of property is the result of his own efforts, assisted by his wife. When he started in the town- ship he was very poor. When he landed at New York city he was without a penny in his pocket, but he found a friend of whom he borrowed $ro, with which he secured his passage to this county. He first entered 60 acres of land, and by degrees has secured one of the largest farming interests in the county. Besides all this property, he is a stockholder in the bank at Orion and also in the mercantile company.
Mr. Peterson was married March 29, 1855, in Western Township, to Catherine L. Swanson. Like himself, she was born in Sweden and came to Amer- ica with her parents, in 1853. They are yet living, on the first 80 acres of land they purchased in Osco Township. To Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have been born seven children, two of whom are deceased. The family record is written as follows : Loasie is married and lives in Nebraska; Sophia is also mar- ried and resides in Osco Township; Emma M., Let- ta, Ida (deceased), Victor S. and Matilda.
The family are all members of the Lutheran Evangelical Church, and politically Mr. P. is a Re- publican.
dward C. Clow, engaged in the general mercantile business at Morristown, is a native of Hudson, Summit Co., Ohio, where he was born April 18, 1843. His par- ents, E. S. and Margaret J. (Fleming) Clow, moved to New Castle, Pa., Sept. 8, 1843, where they resided for three years, and then moved to Rock Island and resided there for two years, after which they moved on a farm three miles south of Milan, at which place he assisted his father in agricultural pursuits .for a time.
Mr. E. C. Clow, of this notice, enlisted in the 37th
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Ill. Vol. Inf. in 1861, and served four years and nine months in the Union army.
After the term of his enlistment had expired, lie came home somewhat broken down in health, but otherwise uninjured.
Arriving home he again engaged in farming, which occupation he followed for about a year, when he abandoned the farm and opened a grocery and res- taurant at Milan. Continuing the latter business for about four years, he disposed of his stock and removed to Filmore Co., Neb., and there once more engaged in the occupation of farming, and occupied his time in that manner for 13 years.
In the fall of 1883 Mr. Clow came from Ne- braska to this county, and purchased the property where he is at present residing and carrying on his business, at Morristown.
He has a general stock of goods, and by his fair and honest dealing with his patrons has established a good and paying business.
The marriage of Mr. Clow took place at Milan, Rock Island Co., this State, April 28, 1870, and Miss Carrie Gale, the daughter of Monroe and Elizabeth (Cossum) Gale, became his wife. Her father died in Rock Island, where her mother still resides.
Mrs. Clow was born in Cleveland, Oswego Co., N. Y., May 20, 1850.
Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Clow. Three died in infancy, and three, Ethel F., Cora E. and Edward S., are now living.
In politics, Mr. Clow is a strong adherent of the principles of the Republican party.
kenry Rumler, of the township of Atkinson, is a citizen of the United States by adop- tion. He was born in Belgium, April 14, 1854. His parents, Francis and Amelia (Bonne) Rumler, came from their native land with their family when their son who is the subject of this account was a child of three. They came to Atkinson Township in 1858. Mr. Rumler has been brought up almost wholly in the township where he now resides. He was married Nov. 15, 1878, in Henry County, to Wilhelmina Bouwhuis. Mrs. Rumler is the daughter of Anthony and Terisa (Vanlandschoot) Bouwhuis, and is descended from
Holland-Dutch parents. Mr. and Mrs. Rumler have five children now living. Their names are Wil- lie H., Annie T., Edward, Lizzie and Albert. Fran- cis died at the age of two years. The family are Catholics. Mr. Rumler endorses the principles of the National Greenback party.
ohn Buell, photographer at Geneseo, was born in the place where he is at present a business man. He is the son of Christian and Christiana (Meyers) Buell, of Geneseo, of whom a sketch is presented on other pages of this volume. The date of the birth of Mr. Buell was July 27, 1856. He was a pupil in the public schools at Geneseo during his boyhood and early youth, and later was a student at the North- western College at Naperville.
Mr. Buell was from earliest youth possessed of artistic propensities, and as opportunity served de- voted considerable time to the gratification of his tastes, and when he was 18 he became interested in the acquisition of a knowledge of the profession which he is now pursuing. He entered the photo- graphic establishment of N. D. Davis at Geneseo, and passed two years under the instructions of that gentleman, and at the end of the time mentioned was fitted to enter upon the responsibilities of the business independently. He went in 1876 to the city of Jackson, Mich., where he passed four years in the first-class photographic establishment of that place, and while there was in the constant acqusition of all the progressive ideas pertaining to the busi- ness. In 1880 he returned to the State of his na- tivity, and passed three months at Ottawa, after which he returned to Geneseo. He bought the es- tablishment of Mr. Davis, of whom he at first learned his profession, and has since been engaged in the transaction of a profitable and popular business. Mr. Buell is a young man of unexceptionable char- acter, and is considered a valuable accession to the interests of the place he resides in.
He was united in marriage to Sarah E., daughter of Sanford Swank, of Hampton, Rock Island Co., Ill., Oct. 11, 1883. Mrs. Buell was born Sept. 24, 1859, in Rock Island Co., Ill.
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HENRY COUNTY.
7 II
ev. Erland Carlsson, Pastor of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church, at Ando- ver, is one of the most widely known gen- tlemen of his nationality in America. Few men have exerted greater influence for good over their fellow men than has Rev. Mr. Carlsson. He has a splendid record, and one which we shall not attempt to elaborate in this sketch, but merely give the more prominent features of his great works among his people in behalf of religion and education. He was born in Sweden, Aug. 24, 1822, and graduated at the University of Lund, in 1844, and was ordained to the holy ministry by the Bishop of Wexio, in June, 1849.
After five years of faithful service in the Estab- lished Church (the Lutheran) of Sweden, with royal permission he left his native country, in June, 1853, coming to America. He at once proceeded to Chi- cago, arriving there in August of the same year. He took charge of the Immanuel Swedish Lutheran Congregation, which had been organized in that city in the same year, and consisted of a few poor Swed- ish emigrants. His remarkable career in that city is best told by the simple record of his pastorate of 22 years for his congregation. Commencing, as above stated, with a handful of poor Swedish emigrants, and without influence, during Mr. Carlsson's services, his congregation became one of the largest Protest- ant Churches in Chicago. In the spring of 1875, he accepted a call to Andover, where he is at present located.
Rev. Erl. Carlsson has not only labored most effi- ciently as Pastor, but has taken a prominent part in the general affairs of the Swedish Lutheran Church of this country. For many years he has been the President of the Swedish Lutheran Illinois Confer- ence, and at present is the President of the Scandi- navian Evangelical Lutheran Augustana Synod of North America. When the Rev. Carlsson arrived in Chicago there were only two Swedish Lutheran pas- tors and six Swedish Lutheran congregations in this country, but now the Synod of which he is President numbers 214 ministers, and 460 congrega- tions, with a membership of 102,413, and now ex- tends in territory from the Atlantic to the Pacific
slope. Mr. Carlsson is also the Chairman of the Board of Missions of this Synod, and also Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Augustana College and Theological Seminary at Rock Island. He is also connected with many other boards and impor- tant committees. He is a thoroughly competent man, eminently capable of taking charge of the ex- tensive religious and educational affairs with which he has been connected. He has always taken the deepest interest and a most prominent part in the education of the Swedes, and in making them true Christians and good American citizens.
It is with pleasure that we present in this ALBUM the portrait of a man so widely as well as so inti- mately connected with that large and respectable element, the Swedes, which we find in this county. His influence, however, is by no means confined by the boundaries of Henry County, nor by the bor- ders of Illinois even, but is largely exerted, and al- ways for good, in every Swedish colony or settlement in the country.
enry Sand, of the township of Loraine, is a citizen of the United States by adoption, as he was born in Hesse Darmstadt, in Ger- many. His birth is dated Jan. 30, 1823, and from the age of six to that of 14 he was a pupil in the schools of his native land according to law. He then entered upon an apprenticeship to learn the trade of a shoemaker, and after acquiring a complete knowledge of the business he worked as a journeyman in different cities in Germany until 1848, when he took a final leave of the land of his birth. He crossed the ocean in a sailing vessel, and after a passage of five weeks landed at the port of New York. He remained in that city and was employed at his trade there one year. In 1849 he went to the city of Pittsburg and operated there as a shoemaker two months. He went thence to Cincinnati, where he remained a short time, and went next to St. Louis. He was a resident there until 1852, and in that year he came to Henry County. The town of Loraine was not then named, but was designated by the nu- meral " 18." Mr. Sand bought a claim on section 22 and built a log house on it. It should have been previously mentioned that he removed with his family from St. Louis on the river route to Rock
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Island, and he and his wife and child walked to Henry County. They were in possession of 25 cents in money. The wife spaded a place for a garden spot, and the husband found employ at his trade and as a farm assistant until they were able to make a little start, and they kept their claim until the spring of 1853, when it was sold for $50. Mr. Sand then entered another of 40 acres on section II in the same township. He built a log house 18 x 20 feet square and broke ten acres of land. He continued to operate as a farmer and shoemaker there seven years, and then sold out and returned to the city of St. Louis. He continued a resident of that place four years, and returned to Henry County. He set- tled on the west half of the southwest quarter of sec- tion Io in Loraine Township, and his family were the occupants of that place until 1872, when Mr. Sand again sold out and bought the farm on section 14, where they have since resided without intermis- sion. The farm of 120 acres is a fine one, and is all under excellent improvements, with fences and build- ings of good type. Mr. Sand also owns 160 acres on section 13 in Loraine Township.
He was united in marriage to Margaretta Todt, in St. Louis, in 1851. She is a native of Prussia, and came to America in 1848. The children now in- cluded in the family are: Eveline, Herman, Bar- ney, Minnie, Margaret, Henry, Albert, Fred and Willie.
oseph Watson, engaged as a general farm- er on section 13 of Western Township, was born in Bucks Co., Pa., Sept. 26, 1830, his parents being Miles and Nancy (Kelly) Wat- son, and natives of the same State' as their son. The parents died in their native State some years ago, and were prominent and respectable people in the community in which they resided.
Joseph Watson was about 23 years of age when his father died, and previous to this period he had learned the trade and occupation of his father,-that of a wheelwright. He was married in his native county to Miss Nancy McAwish, a native of Ireland, who came to America when a young girl and settled in Bucks Co., Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Watson have had their home brightened and blessed with the birth of three children, one of whom is deceased. Henry,
Robert (deceased), and Maria, being the names of the children.
Mr. Watson worked at his occupation and the car- penter's trade in his life-time, and after marriage fol- lowed the latter a short time. In 1882 they came to Illinois, and here Mr. W. purchased 80 acres of land, located in Western Township. Mr. Watson has en- tered vigorously and energetically in its cultivation and improvement, and, besides this land, rents a large farm, which he operates. Politically, he is a Republican.
illiam Haxby, a resident of Annawan Township, who is located on section 22, came to Henry County in 1855. He is considered one of the representative agri- culturists of the township in which he has been a useful and honored citizen since he connected his fortunes with those of its inhabit- ants.
He was born in Scott Co., Ill., April, 1835. He was the assistant of his father on the farm during his minority, and he obtained the advantages of the district school in the vicinity of the home of his boyhood. After reaching his majority he remained at home until he was 30 years of age, and acted in the same capacity on the family homestead as in his youth. He has made farming the pursuit of his life.
March 15, 1870, he was married to Eveline Mc- Gee. She was born Jan. 11, 1851, in Peoria Co., Ill., and is the mother of six children. Their births occurred in the order in which they are given be- low : Rachel A. was born Jan. 7, 1872; Ella H., March 8, 1874; Lida M., March 20, 1876; Ethel May, July 18, 1878; William L., April 17, 1881; Robert L., Sept. 17, 1883.
Mr. Haxby is the son of George Haxby, who was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1795. The latter came from his native land to America and settled in Henry County. His wife wa's, before her marriage, Miss Rachel Hodson. The names of their children were as follows : Mary, Ann, Elizabeth, Jane, Mar- garet, Rachel and John. The mother of Mrs. Haxby, Mrs. McGee, was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Jan. 14, 1826. John McGee, the husband and
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father was born July 25, 1824. Before her marriage the former was Miss Mary A. Hargadine. Their mar- riage took place June 4, 1845, in Ohio. Their children were named Maria L., Sarah C., Chloe E. and Charles C.
Mr. McGee died Sept. 28, 1860. The father of Mr. Haxby died Aug. 14, 1876.
The farm of Mr. Haxby contains 240 acres, all of it being under culture. The buildings on the place are of good type, and in every way well calculated for the purpose for which they are designed. The stock of which he is the owner is of good grades and the horses on the farm are half-blooded English Draft breed. Mr. Haxby is the owner of one thor- oughbred English horse whose weight is 1,800 pounds. He is a beautiful bay in color, and is nine years old. Mr. Haxby is a Republican in political opinion.
udson Richard Taylor, a citizen of Hanna Township, was born May 12, 1832, in White Co., Ill., the son of Ephraim M. and Sarah (nee Hatsell) Taylor. His father was a native of Virginia, and entered the military service of the United States dur- ing the Civil War, acting at first as an independent ranger, and afterwards enlisting as a soldier in the regular service. The mother was born in North Caro- lina. The parents lived a number of years in White County, and there their lives terminated.
Mr. Taylor was but a child when he became an orphan by the deaths of his father and mother, and in 1844 he came to Henry County. Soon after he embraced an opportunity to enter upon an appren- ticeship to acquire a knowledge of the trade of a carpenter and builder in Rock Island County, and he went there for that purpose. He pursued that busi- ness until 1855 in Rock Island County, and in that year he embarked in mercantile relations at Colona. He operated there one year in the first enterprise of the kind that was established in that place. With a single exception, he erected the first four frame houses at Colona, and while he was in business there, asso- ciated with his brother, J. W. Taylor, and J. J. Baum, he built a saw-mill at that place. In 1857 he sold his interests in Colona and removed to Hamp- ton. He there engaged in the business of supplying the river boats with coal for a few months, after which
he assumed the charge of the farm of his father-in- law in the same township. He was interested in farming until 1865. In January of that year he en- listed in the Ninth Ill. Vol. Cav. and accompanied the regiment to Eastport, Tenn., and thence to Cor- inth, Selma, Montgomery and Gainesville, and to different portions of the South. He remained with the command until November of the same year in which he enlisted, when the regiment was mustered out, and he returned to Hampton Township. He continued to reside there until 1867, when he bought the farm he now owns and on which he has since devoted himself to the vigorous prosecution of his agricultural interests. It was situated in township 17, now called Hanna Township. He has since pur- chased land adjoining which belongs to the township of Edford, lying on section 8, the whole tract includ- ing 280 acres, all of which is under advanced culti- vation. Mr. Taylor is interested in raising stock, and is the owner of a dairy.
Mr. Taylor was joined in marriage in August, 1855, to Mary A. Porter. She was born in Washing- ton Co., Ind., and is the daughter of William and Martha (Giles) Porter. The parents were born re- spectively in Virginia and North Carolina, and they settled in the county of Rock Island in 1833, a period which was included in the days of first things in that county. The six children of Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are named William H., George H., Frederick L., Mary Ida, John J. and Daniel A.
on. Matthew B. Potter, farmer of Henry County, and the son of David and Elizabeth (Cosner) Potter, was born in Coshocton Co., Ohio, Dec. 16, 1821. His parents were natives of the Keystone State and Virginia respectively, were married and settled in Coshocton Co., Ohio, and afterward removed to Knox Co., Ohio. In the fall of 1838 Mr. David Potter, the father of Mat- thew, again removed, this time coming to Henry County, this State, settling in what is now Wethers- field Township, where they remained until their death, the mother's occurring in February, 1850, and the father's, Oct. 8, 1860.
Matthew B. Potter, when quite young, accom- panied his parents to Knox Co., Ohio, and later to
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Henry County. He attended the common schools during the winter seasons until he attained the age of 16 years, and also attended about three months while in Henry County, and then engaged in agricul- tural pursuits, remaining under the influence of his parents most of the time until he was 25 years old. Soon afterward, in company with his brother, J. P., they bought a tract of land in Kewanee Township, which is a part of the site now occupied by the vil- lage of Kewanee. They afterward traded this valu- able tract of land for 200 acres of prairie and 20 acres of timber land. They next purchased 80 acres and divided, Mr. Potter having 125 acres, with the buildings which were on the place, for his share. He still retains the original 125 acres, all of which are tillable.
Mr. Potter was married in Union Grove, near Mor- rison, Whiteside County, this State, Oct. 20, 1847, to Abigail Young, daughter of Daniel B. and Betsey (Jackson) Young, natives of New Jersey. They emigrated to Whiteside County in 1837, and settled in Union Grove Township, where Mrs. Young died. He survives, and of their union 12 children were born : Emily, Abigail (our subject's wife), Charity A., Harriet, Jacob C., Lucy, Triphena, Nelson, Jackson, John, Sylvia, and one deceased. All but the young- est child lived to man's estate. Mrs. Potter was born in Knox County, Ohio, April 14, 1827, and she has become the mother of five children, namely : James W., Lucy C., Matthew H., Carrie E. and David L. James W. is engaged as bank clerk in Kansas City, Mo .; Lucy C. died when 21/2 years old; Matthew H. resides in Morrison, Ill .; Carrie E. is the wife of Charles Otis and resides in Kansas, and David L. resides with his father on the farm. During the life-time of Mrs. Abigail Potter, she and her husband brought up an orphan girl, Mary Sum- mers, who married William H. Stockton, and is now living in Colorado.
Mr. Potter was elected Sheriff for the first time in August, 1848, when he served two years, and was then re-elected in 1852, and served again for one term. He was elected Judge of Henry County in November, 1857, and served until the fall of 1860, when he resigned. He held the office of Justice of the Peace two years, and was one of the first Super- visors of Wethersfield Township. He has served his time in that capacity for many years, now occupying that position, having served continuously since 1880.
He was one of the Commissioners appointed to or- ganize the county into townships, and has been Chairman of the Board of Supervisors one year- 1883. In politics Mr. Potter is identified with the Democratic party. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
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