Portrait and biographical album of Henry County, Illinois : containing full-page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 92

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 92

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Mr. Potter was instrumental in raising a company for the army. It was Co. F, 124th Ill. Vol. Inf., and he was commissioned Captain of the company, and served with it until August, 1862, being mustered into the service the following September, and re- signed on account of ill-health, after the surrender of Vicksburg, in August, 1863. He had returned to his home but two weeks when his wife died, her death occurring Aug. 28, 1863. His second mar- riage took place in Galva, this State, on the 8th of June, 1864, the lady being Mrs. Elizabeth, daughter of Solomon and Margaret (Hume) Shoup, natives of Pennsylvania. Of this second union, five children were born, viz., Ann, John, Helen, Harry and Eliza- beth. Mrs. Potter was born in Cuba, Fulton Co., Ill., Sept. 14, 1839.

illiam M. Repine, publisher of the Wood- hull Gazette, was born in Indiana Co., Pa., in the year 1865. He removed with his parents to Rock Island, Ill., in 1877, where he officiated as news-boy for about 18 months; then he went to Reynolds, Ill., where he worked on a farm and went to school for about a year and a half. He removed to Millersburg, Ill., where he worked again on the farm and for some time in a job printing office.

Wm. M. Repine reached Woodhull, Ill., in 1883, where he acted in the role of "devil," foreman, and sometimes editor-in-chief of the Dispatch, until he started a paper of his own. He was selected, dur- ing the Presidential campaign of 1884, by the Pro- hibitionists of the Twenty-first Senatorial District, as their candidate for the Legislature, and received about 700 votes.

Mr. Repine is a young man of considerable ability, praise-deserving firmness, and a general favorite of the young people in the town where he resides. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and occasionally delivers temperance lectures within

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a radius of 30 miles. He has staying qualities about him which plainly indicate that he has come to Woodhull to stay. He is quite an expert printer, and the Gazette is one of the tastiest, neatest and newsiest papers in the county.

ames M. Wiley, the subject of this sketch, one of the founders of Galva and a resi- dent of that village, was born Jan. 23, 1816, near Saxton's River, Vt. Having been left an orphan at the age of eight years, with little means for his support, he was compelled to earn his living by manual labor. He worked in- dustriously upon a farm, attending school during the winter months, until he arrived at the age of 16. During these years, he developed a faculty for trad- ing, and the pay for farm labor being small, he com- menced traveling through that and adjoining States, selling various lines of goods, both at retail and at auction, and met with more than ordinary success.

April 25, 1838, he left his native State and started for the then far West, full of high hopes and ambi- tions, chief of which was to assume the dignity of land-holder. He, with other young companions, crossed the Green Mountains to Schenectady, thence up the New York & Erie Canal to Buffalo, from there by lake to Cleveland, Ohio; and then, attempting to go down the Ohio Canal to Portsmouth, after 50 miles' travel, encountered a break, and were con)- pelled to go by wagon to Steubenville, and from there down the Ohio River, thence up the Missis- sippi and Illinois Rivers to what was then the village of Peoria, reaching that point on May 15, one month from starting. The following morning Mr. Wiley started for Brimfield by the first stage coach that had ever left Peoria for the Mississippi River, arriv- ing at his destination, where he joined three brothers and two sisters who had preceded him one year. Brimfield at that time was a village of six log houses and one log store, where everything could be pro- cured to satisfy the simple wants of the hardy pio- neer. The town was situated in the midst of a most beautiful and fertile prairie, ready cleared by nature's hand to receive the plow. Mr. Wiley was charmed with the location and the country surround- ing, and here saw a large field open for his enter-

prise and energy. He purchased an interest in land bought of the Government the year previous by his brother, John F. Wiley, and at once commenced to make permanent improvements upon this farm; and this first purchase of land was his home for more than 30 years, and which, on moving to Galva, he sold at $100 per acre. He not only followed the occupation of farming but was also engaged in buy- ing and selling lands, and has at times owned thou- sands of acres, upon which he put improvements, and disposed of it to settlers on liberal terms, thus en- couraging those looking for homes to remain. He also dealt largely in wool, which he shipped to Ver- mont, receiving in return woolen goods, which he disposed of to the merchants of Peoria and surround- ing towns.

When the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad was projected through Henry County, a new field of enterprise opened to him, which, with his character- istic energy, he entered. He at once secured 1,500 acres of land along the line of the proposed route, subject to entry by land warrants; also, in connec- tion with his cousin, the Hon. Wm. L. Wiley, he se- cured a large tract of land and projected and laid out on a liberal scale, the village of Galva, dedicat- ing to the town two large public parks, which are to-day among the finest in the State. They also donated spacious grounds for churches and schools, paying liberally toward their erection and support. They built the first school-house in the village and hired and paid the first teacher. They built the first hotel, at an expense of $16,000, now known as the Baker House, and are certainly entitled to be known as the originators of Galva.

Mr. Wiley did by far the largest real-estate busi- ness in Galva and vicinity, buying and selling large tracts weekly, encouraging emigration to this point by liberal means, and to-day has the proud satisfac- tion of seeing the fruits of his labor in the beautiful farms and substantial houses of the surrounding country.

The subject of this sketch now owns 1,000 acres of land, much of which is underlaid with a seemingly exhaustless amount of coal, which is being success- fully mined. He also owns a great number of houses in the village and is considered one of the wealthiest, most influential and liberal citizens of the town, both in Church and society. He has been a prom- inent member of the Congregational Church since

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1 ts organization, and its great success as a society is due largely to his liberality and active labor in its behalf. In politics he is a staunch Republican, with strong prohibition tendencies.

James M. Wiley is a son of Jonathan and Han- nah (Martin) Wiley. His father was born in 1774, in Petersburg, N. H., and died in January, 1825, in Rockingham, Vt. He was a farmer by occupation and passed a quiet and peaceful life on his farm un- til the time of his death. His mother was born in Wilton, N. H., in 1772, and died in March, 1825, in Rockingham, Vt.

James M. Wiley was first married to Margaret Miles, in Brimfield, Peoria Co., Ill., Aug. 10, 1843. She was born in Sharon, Conn., Aug. 10, 1825, and emigrated with her parents, Eri and Maria Miles, to Peoria County in 1841. She died at Brimfield, April 9, 1860, aged 34 years and seven months. She was highly esteemed for her devout Christian character, and the memory of her many virtues lives in the hearts of those who knew her. She bore her hus- band, Mr. Wiley of this sketch, five children,-Ellen A., William L., Mary C., Everett C. and Carrie I. Of these, Ellen A. became the wife of Hon W. E. Phelps ; she is at present residing in Elmwood, Peoria County, and has borne her husband four children,- William J., Margaret W. , Violet and James W. William Lorenzo was formerly a lumber merchant in Galva and now has a stock farm in Monona Co., Iowa; he was united in marriage with Flora D. Wiley, daughter of D. L. Wiley, and she has borne him four children .- Mary B., Everett D., Estella and Fred L. Mary C. Wiley married George W. Moubray, a resident of Galva, and two children have been born to them,-Flora L. and Margaret W. Everett C. Wiley is a resident of Kearney, Neb. ; he married Lucella Vandervort, and of their union two children have been born,-James A. and Kath- rena B. Carrie I. Wiley resides at home with her parents.

Mr. Wiley's second wife was Mary M. Brooks' daughter of Cyrus and Emily Brooks, of Brimfield. She was born in Chester, Vt., April 4, 1834, and died in Brimfield, Peoria County, this State, Jan. 9, 1867. She was educated at Knox College, after which she followed teaching, and soon became known as one of the first educators of the State. When a model school was determined upon as an annex to the Normal University, she was invited

through the advice of the President, Gen. Hovey, to take charge of it, and after three years of successful labor, she resigned her position to become the wife of the subject of this sketch, Mr. Wiley. Mr. and Mrs. Wiley were the parents of two children,-Kath- rina M. and George P., both of whom reside at home.

Mr. Wiley's present wife was Miss Lizzie Yocum. She was born in Jeromeville, Ohio, in 1837, and came with her parents, Charles and Mary Yocum, to Peoria County, in 1838. She was, for a number of years before her marriage, a successful teacher in the schools of Peoria County. She was a class- mate and intimate friend of Mary Brooks, mentioned above in this sketch. She is a woman of excellent qualities of head and heart, and is ever ready to work and give to all appeals of deserving charity. She is also a member of the Congregational Church, and the influence of her presence and work has aided largely in making a success of the various branches of this society.

asper Ackerman, farmer, section 9, Alba Township, is a native of Prussia, having been born in that country April 25, 1833. He came to the United States in 1859, land- ing at New Orleans, after being on the water 12 weeks. Soon after landing at the Gulf city, he came to St. Louis, which required 12 days of his time. He remained at the latter city only a few hours, when he took the train for LaSalle Co., Ill., arriving there in safety, and at once engaged to work for his brother on the farm, and followed that occu- pation for 18 months. He then left the farm and went to Ottawa, and was there engaged at various occupations for four years, the principal part of his work being that of making tallow candles. At the expiration of four years, he bought the business and continued the same with signal success for seven years.

In 1871, Mr. Ackerman sold his business at Otta- wa, and came to Henry County, where he purchased 160 acres of land, located on section 9, Alba Town- ship, and at once entered vigorously and energetic- ally upon the task of its cultivation and improve- ment, and has followed that occupation until the present time. By economy and energetic labor,

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coupled with the active co-operation of his wife and children, he has added to his original purchase of land until he is at present the proprietor of 730 acres.

Mr. Ackerman was united in marriage to Miss Johanna Bodecker, on Dec. 8, 1862. She is a native of Hanover, Prussia, and has borne her husband seven children. The living are : Annie C., George C., Ernest B. and Casper A., and the deceased are Anna, who died in infancy; Henry C. and Henry (second).

Mr. Ackerman, in addition to the cultivation of his land, devotes a considerable part of his time to the raising of Holstein and Short-horn cattle and Chester White hogs. As an agriculturist he is re- garded as one of the foremost in the township, and likewise one of the respected and honored citizens of Henry County.

ohn Mock is a prominent farmer of Henry County, on section 31, Munson Township. The great-grandfather of the Mock family, FOR which is also connected with Col. A. R. Mock, of Cambridge, came from Germany. The son of the grandfather, Devault Mock, lived in Roan, now Davis Co., N. C. He died in Mocksville, that county. He was married to Phebe Clinard, who died in Ohio, leaving five children,-Catherine, John, Mary, Daniel and Phebe.

The children above referred to moved to Greene Co., Ohio, with their families about 1807. Daniel was in the War of 1812, and was married to Ruth Lindsey, a native of Botetourt, Roanoke Co., Va. They removed to Randolph Co., Ind., in 1824, and there died, leaving nine children, namely : John, Emsley, Jeremiah L., Polly, Martha A., Daniel, William, Phebe and Maria B. Daniel, the father of the children just named, was married the second time, to Nancy Lindsey, and of their union three children were born, namely: Elizabeth, Henry and Eli. Of the 12 children born of the two marriages of Daniel Mock, John Mock, who is the subject of this biographical notice, came to this county in 1855 and located at Cambridge.

John Mock was married in Randolph Co., Ind., to

Elizabeth McCann, who died in 1846, aged 33 years, leaving her husband six children, of whom Mrs. Ruth Wilt and Col. A. R. Mock survive. The pres- ent wife of the subject of this notice, whose maiden name was Rebecca Watson, is the mother of four living children, namely: Francis M., Mrs. Eliza A. Atwater, Arabella, Annette and Enos W., who died when 20 years of age.

Mr. Mock was a member of the defunct Whig party during its day, but at the birth of the grand old Republican party joined its ranks and has ever since continued to cast his vote with it. He is the proprietor of 117 acres of good farm land in Munson and Cambridge Townships, and has passed the ma- jor portion of his life in the occupation of an agricul- turist.

B arnhart Kramer, a farmer on section 19, Alba Township, was born in Saxe Coburg, Germany, June 19, 1826. He is the son of Christian Kramer, and remained in his native country until the year 1852. He sailed in that year for the American con- tinent, and landed at New York the 4th of Novem- ber. He did not stay there very long, but made his way with haste to Chicago, remained two weeks, and thence to La Salle Co., Ill. He then obtained em- ployment on the Illinois Central Railroad, in the vi- cinity of Bloomington, and passed six months in the same capacity. He then went to the city of St. Louis, and there he worked in a brick-yard for a period of 15 months. He came thence to Marshall County, and moved to Bureau County in 1857. In 1870 he bought 80 acres of land in Henry County, on which he has since operated in his own behalf.

His marriage to Eve Lippert occurred Aug. 9, 1855. Their children were born as follows : Barney, July 28, 1856; Maria, Oct. 25, 1858; Frank, Dec. 18, 1860; Stephen, June 7, 1863 ; Mary, March 29, 1867; Stephen died Nov. 15, 1865. Mrs. Kramer was born Dec. 22, 1822, in Bavaria, Germany.

Mr. Kramer was a War Democrat, and belonged to the Jacksonian School. In religious belief, he is Lutheran. Mrs. Kramer is a Catholic.

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eorge C. Howlette, practicing physician at Atkinson Village, was born July 28, 1858, in Hartford, Conn., and is the son of Ed- ward D. Howlette, also a native of that State. The father married a Miss Charlotte Brewer, who was a native of Connecticut, and the pa- rents are both living. George C. attended the dis- trict schools of his native county, and assisted his father in the maintenance of the family until he at- tained the age of 15 years. When about 18 or 19 years old he read medicine with Dr. Case, of Hart- ford, Conn., some six months, when he came to Plymouth, Ind., and was at that place about one year. During his stay at the latter place, he read medicine under Dr. E. W. Veits, after which he went to Chicago and attended lectures at the Homeopathic College, and after following the curriculum of that in- stitution for three years, graduated therefrom at the head of his class. After receiving his diploma he as- sociated himself with Dr. Hoppin, of Geneseo, this county. In 1880, December of that year, he re- moved to Annawan and there followed the practice of his profession for three years, working up a lu- crative and successful practice. At the expiration of the time stated, he removed to Kewanee and there followed his profession for about one year, when, in 1884, he moved to the village of Atkinson and has since continued in practice at that place.

Dr. Howlette was united in marriage with Miss Sadie A. Smith, who was born in 1860, in this State, and who bore her husband one daughter, the date of her birth being July 27, 1884. The Doctor is a Re- publican in politics, a successful physician and re- spected and honored citizen of the county.

100 enry Bass, a successful farmer and respect- ed citizen of Atkinson Township, owning 160 acres of good farm land, located on section 14, where he resides, was born in Con- necticut, Nov. 24, 1817, in Windham County. He has made agriculture the vocation of his life. Remaining with his parents upon the farm and assisting in the labors thereon, until 2 1 years of age,

he then set forth to fight life's battles alone. When 35 years old, he came to this State, in 1853, and set- tled in Bureau County, where he purchased 200 acres of land, and afterwards added to it three acres of timber. On this land he located, and for 18 months was engaged in its cultivation, at which time he removed to Henry County, and has since resided here.

Mr. Bass formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Mary Crandall, March 9, 1854. She was a native of Connecticut, being born in that State Feb. 15, 1825. After living together for 21 years as man and wife, Mrs. Bass was called to the land beyond, being at her demise 48 years, 11 months and eight days old, and leaving to the care of her husband four children, namely : Arvina, born Nov. 20, 1858 ; Le- ander, July 20, 1861 ; Amanda, March 22, 1863, and Orin, Oct. 15, 1864.

Mr. Bass was a second time married March 2, 1876, to Mary Innis, who was born in June, 1836, in County Down, Ireland. She emigrated to the United States in 1865. Of the latter union there is no issue.

Mr. Bass has a fine farm of 160 acres, located on sections 14 and 15, Atkinson Township, on which he has a fair residence and a good barn, and is meeting with success in his chosen profession.

He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In politics, he is a believer in and a supporter of the principles of the Republican party.

ellington P. Baker, a prosperous and successful farmer, owning 240 acres of good land, located on section 34, Alba Township, where he resides, is a native of Maine, having been born in that State March II, 1841. Mr. Baker remained with his par- ents in his native State, assisting in the labors of the farm, and receiving a primary education at the com- mon schools, until the breaking out of the late Civil War, when, sympathizing with the cause of the Union, he enlisted in Co. H, Ist Maine Vol. Inf., Sept. 27, 1861, and was mustered in at Augusta. He was first ordered to Washington City, and from there went to Shenandoah Valley, and took part in Ba- ker's Retreat across the Potomac. He was sent

Jonas Dh Olson

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around to Manassas Junction and Warrenton, and there he spent the summer. He remained in the service four years, and was mustered out Aug. 15, '65.

Mr. Baker formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss H. S. Graves, Oct. 26, 1868. She was a native of Maine, having been born in that State March 18, 1848, and bore her husband eight children, namely : Emma H., Eugene G., Melvin W., Gracie D., Mat- tie H., Willie, and Frank and Fred, twins. The lat- ter two were born July 21, 1883. Mr. Baker has a fine farm of 240 acres, located on section 34, Alba Township, on which he resides, and is actively and energetically engaged in the vocation of an agricult- urist. He has a good dwelling on his farm, 28 x 40 feet in dimensions, and two-story in height. In ad- dition to the cultivation of his land, he is engaged to some extent in the raising of Short-horn cattle, and also Norman horses, and is meeting with success in this department of his vocation.

Socially, he is a member of the G. A. R., and he and his wife belong to the Congregational Church. In politics he votes with the Republican party, and as an agriculturist ranks among the foremost of Alba Township.

Kon. Jonas W. Olson, lawyer, Galva, was born July 7, 1843, in Soderala Socken, Helsingland, Sweden, and is the son of Rev. Olof Olson, who settled in Weller Town- ship as early as 1845, and was the gentleman that came one year prior to the time that the Swedish Colony came.

Our subject was sick at the time his father sailed from Sweden, and was left in the care of his grand- mother and an aunt. One year later, however, when only three years of age, he was brought to America by his relatives and with the colony. His life so unfortunate at this tender age, was only beginning to enter the terrible darkness of the sorrows soon to befall him. On the day before he arrived at the colony, his mother died. She was accompanied to her eter- nal home by his brother Olof and sister Beatrice, and shortly after his arrival his father died. He was thus left an orphan, and was taken away from the colony by an aunt, Christine W. P. Skoglund, who married Peter Dahlgren, who went to Galesburg af- ter a short time and subsequently moved upon a farm about five miles southeast of Victoria, Knox County. Mr. Dahlgren was killed in a sand-bank south of Galva, and our subject continued to reside with his aunt until he was 15 years of age, at which time he was apprenticed to Ira C. Reed, of La Fay- ette, Stark County, to learn the shoemakers' trade, to whom he was bound by written articles of appren- ticeship to work for two years for only $25 per year

and his board, but Mr. Reed very kindly and gener- ously paid him twice the amount agreed upon. He served his two years, and continued one year longer, making a little money, when he came to Galva, where for a time he attended the public schools. Here misfortune overtook him again, for he soon took sick, his money ran out, and he was obliged to leave school; he then went to work for Milton Ne- gus, at his trade, which he followed for a short time only. During this period of his life he was ambi- tious to enter the legal profession, and his mornings and evenings while he was working at his trade were spent in reading law books. He subsequently read law with Hon. John I. Bennett, one of the Masters in Chancery of Chicago. Mr. Olson was admitted to the Bar in 1859, and has since followed his pro- fession, with good success.

Mr. Olson was elected by the Republican party to the House of Representatives, in the fall of 1870, and served one term, that Legislature also hav- ing an extra session on account of the Chicago fire. He took an active part in that body, and was a member of several committees. He was the author of the law giving to laborers, who work for railroad contractors and sub-contractors, a lien on all the property of such railroad to secure their wages. Mr. Olson was the first Scandinavian ever admitted to the Bar of the State of Illinois, and the first Swede elected to the Legislature. He has been Town Col- lector for seven years, and Police Magistrate for eight years, declining re-election. He is also a member of the Board of Education. Since 1872, Mr. Olson has been identified with the Democratic party, and while a majority of his fellow-countrymen were Republi- cans, no man is more admired by the Scandinavian element than he. His large influence is due to his strict integrity, good moral life, his pleasing and cor- dial address and obliging manners.

Among other misfortunes that have befallen Mr. Olson is that of having been burned out four times, twice totally losing house and home and twice par- tially. When living near Victoria he walked over two miles on crutches through the mud, without sidewalks, to attend the Center Prairie School. He saved some of his tools from the fire the first time he was burned out, when he again worked at his trade four weeks. Mr. Olson has worked his way with an iron will. and by his own unaided efforts from the dependency of a crippled orphan, without means, to a place of honorable influence and esteem among his fellow men. As we have stated, he was left a hopeless cripple at the age of three years, and a poor orphan ; but notwithstanding these afflictions, and seemingly unsurmountable obstacles, he has, by reason of his native talent, energy and industry, be- come a representative man, even among the best native American citizens in the community in which he lives. He is a man whose favorable reputation extends to almost every Swedish community in the

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State, and to whom his people of the entire State point with pride, as a man who, notwithstanding the misfortunes of his early youth, was one of the first Swedes admitted to the Bar as an attorney-at-law, and the first Scandinavian Representative elected to the Legislature. He is also one of the best Scandi- navian speakers in the State of Illinois.

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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 92

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