Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 82

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago; Chapman Brothers, pub
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1130

USA > Illinois > Knox County > Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois > Part 82

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So, throughout, the entire address is replete with shining and striking parallels and irrefutable argu- ment, and we repeat our regret that our lack of space forbids us to reproduce it in full.

Glancing over a scrap-book filled with Mr. Carr's speeches and treating upon every subject with which the people are familiar, and all worthy of reproduc- tion, the writer is so struck with the concluding re- marks uttered in his memorial address upon Gen. Grant, delivered at Galesburg, Aug. 8, 1885, that he gives them place in this sketch :

" It is now too early to properly estimate Gen. Grant. We are too near him. We are still in the shadow. As, drawn by the inexorable drive-wheels of time, humanity moves away from the rocky moun- tain defiles of war, in which so many were over- whelmed, down the foot-hills and out upon the wide plains of ordinary, commonplace history and ex- perience, men and women will pause again and again at each passing station, and contemplate the

sublime heights from which they are regretfully re- ceding. Then the great character of Gen. Grant, in all its majesty and grandeur, will stand out before them, sublime, eternal, and they will appreciate, as we cannot to-day, the life which has just been rounded up. They will see the rugged inequalities, the clouds and darkness, and the sunlit glories, and they will in some degree comprehend its height and depth, its length and breadth. * * * * *

"How loth we are to leave this sacred dust to mix forever with the elements, to be brother to the insensible rock and to the sluggish clod! How with fond, earnest look a whole great Nation lingers around the bier of this man, who

"Taught us how to live and Oh! too high

The price of knowledge, taught us how to die. "

" This is no hero worship. His was not mere military glory. There is no path, however weary and sorrowful, which he has not trod. He drank to the dregs the bitter cups of poverty and want, of humili- ation, of sorrow. He stood before kings, and was himself a ruler mightier than they. Without brilliant personal endowments such as arrest the attention and dazzle the eye, by the quiet force of persistent efforts, directed by sound discretion and constant devotion to duty, he performed where so many failed.

"The record of his extraordinary life is all made up. His courage, his fortitude, his gentleness, his simple, unaffected devotion, his patience, his con- stancy will be themes of encomium and panegyric so long as men think and act and labor and love.

" Farewell, great leader, illustrious citizen, noble benefactor, generous, faithful friend. Rest forever in that peace which your own deeds achieved, and your own voice commended. Rest forever upon the bosom of humanity, close to that gentle Master in whose service you never faltered. 'The whole earth is your sepulcher.' 'All time is the millenium of your glory.' "

In publishing here part of the several addresd- es delivered upon widely different occasions by the subject of this sketch, we do so purely on the merits of the matter reproduced, and wholly disconnected with any purpose of either pro or con influencing any one of the thousands of readers whose eyes will scan these pages, both within and without the State of Illinois. In writing of a living man it is not the province of the biographer to state many conclusions,

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but it is his duty to publish such facts as will tend to present fairly, even to strangers, something approxi- mating, if possible, the worth and merit of the sub- ject treated.

After the breaking out of the war Gov. Yates ap- pointed Mr. Carr upon his staff, with the rank of Colonel, and from that time to the close of the war we find that much of his attention was given to the organization of regiments at Springfield ; visiting the army in the field upon special service; carrying or- ders ; bringing home the sick and wounded ; and, in short, as expressed by letter written by Gov. Yates at the close of the war, " No man not directly in the army did more for the service." He was a delegate to the National Convention at Baltimore, which met in 1864, and renominated our martyred President, Lincoln, and was also a delegate-at-large in 1884 and assisted in the nomination of J. G. Blaine. He was one of the Board of Commissioners of Illinois of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg. It may not be generally known that it was this Board that invited Mr. Lincoln to be present upon that memorable occasion.

Col. Carr was united in matrimonial bonds with Miss Grace Mills, a native of Oneida County, N. Y. Their nuptials were celebrated Dec. 31, 1873, at Mount Carroll, Ill. She was a daughter of the late Hon. Henry A Mills. The two children of Col. and Mrs. Carr are by name Julia C. and Clark M.

G. Anderson is senior partner of the firm of Anderson & Johnson, proprietors of the " City Mills," Galesburg, Ill. ( See biog- raphy of N. O. G. Johnson, this volume.) These mills are located at 123 South Kellogg street, and have a capacity of about 40 barrels per day ; they were built in 1870 or 1871, and came into the hands of their present owners in 1880; from 1882 to 1885 A. R. Stover was interested with them. The mill produces an extra fine quality of flour, the entire product for home consumption. Mill and property are all owned by Anderson & Johnson.

Mr. Anderson was born near Falkoping, Sweden, Oct. 26, 1844, and came to America with his parents, Andrew and Anne Mary Anderson, in 1864. They came directly to Galesburg, where the father died in

1869, and where Mrs. A. yet lives. They reared a family of two sons and four daughters, A. G. being the eldest. He was educated in Sweden and brought up to the milling business under his father. His first employment here was as brakeman for the C., B. & Q. R. R. Co. He followed railroading for 15 years, the last 13 being in the capacity of freight conductor. He was elected to the Galesburg City Council from the Second Ward in 1881, and re-elected twice there- after.

Nov. 13, 1870, at Galesburg, Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Kate Lundquist, a native of Sweden, and they have become the parents of two children, Estella Luvina and an infant deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are members of the Lutheran Church, and Mr. A. is a Master Mason.

illiam McCornack is a farmer living on section 8 of Copley Township, Knox County, and was born in Creetown village, on the Cree River, Scotland, March 22, 1832. His parents were Samuel and Jenette (Tait) McCornack They were natives of Scot- land; the father by trade was a carpenter, and, also owning a saw-mill, had a good source of income. They came to America in 1839, and settled four miles east of Knoxville. There they purchased 40 acres of land, on which they remained until 1852. They then removed into Copley Township and pur- chased 160 acres on section 8, on which they lived until 1872. He then moved into Oneida village and erected a house, living there until the death of the husband and father, in 1878. The mother followed him in 1880. Their family consisted of four children, as follows: William, Margaret, James and Andrew. James died in 1874.

The subject of our sketch remained at home until he reached the age of 29 years. He studied two years at Monmouth College, and was a well-informed and intelligent youth. His general knowledge of things and his worldly experience were fairly good, and he was liked and respected by those he met during these years.

He was married on the 4th of March, 1861, to Miss Angeline Bacon, daughter of Jirah and Maria (Reeves) Bacon. Five boys and one girl were the

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result of this union-Jirah S., Edwin B., Ivan W., Willard H. and James L. The little girl died in less than a year after birth. Mrs. McCornack died the 22d of July, 1880, and Mr. McCornack remarried Sept. 27, 1883, the second lady of his choice being Miss Ellen Doak, daughter of William and Helen (McKee) Doak, natives of Scotland. They died in the land of their birth Sept. 8, 1878, and Feb. 6, 1879, respectively.

Mr. McCornack moved onto the place he now occupies in 1861, and at that time laid the foundation of his present home. He is now the owner of 640 acres, 320 in Knox County and 320 in Iowa. He devotes his attention chiefly to the raising of grain, hogs and cattle, and is very successful. He values his land at $40 per acre. In politics Mr. McCornack is a Republican, and has held some of the minor offices of his county, being Collector and School Treasurer for several years. He takes a deep in- terest in education and the prosperity of the schools of his county. He and his wife, hand in hand a Christian bond of union, are enrolled as members of the Presbyterian Church.

........ eter Nelson, the subject of this brief per- sonal history, ranks among the successful K' business men of Galesburg. He was born in Christianstadt Gualof, Sweden, 1840, and is the son of Nels Anderson and Betsey (Truakson) Nelson. Our subject had learned the cabinet-making trade from his father, and, being anxious to apply his talents in the New World, in 1860 set sail for America. Upon his arrival on the Ameri- can shores he came almost immediately to Gales- burg. Here he applied himself to his trade, which he followed for 16 years and then embarked in the grocery business, which he has very successfully carried on since that time, doing an annual business of $50,000. In 1884 he joined Mr. McChesney, and added the ice business to his already extensive oper- ations.

Peter Nelson was married at Galesburg to Miss Anne Maria, daughter of August Nelson, a native ot Sweden, and who departed this life in 1864, after having become the mother of a daughter, Hilma R. Our subject was again married to Mrs. Ella Edvall,

nee Nelson. Mrs. Edvall was a daughter of Sebe Nelson, also a native of Sweden. This union was blest with a son and daughter, who bear the names of Harry and Jennie.

Mr. Nelson and family attend worship at the First Lutheran Church. He is a liberal contributor to all measures tending toward the advancement of his adopted city, and although averse to holding public office, he gives considerable attention to the placing of worthy men in public positions, regardless of party.

els Peterson, manufacturer of snuff, Gales- burg, was born in Southern Sweden, near Christianstadt, June 11, 1834. His parents were Peter and Olle (Olson) Nelson. In 1863 Mr. Peterson came to America, and on July 1 of that year landed at Galesburg. He learned the art of snuff-making thereafter, while on 1 a visit to his native country, but did not utilize his knowledge until 1869.

To the energetic foreigner landing on our shores, and without employment of the kind to which he has been accustomed, it proves a great trial, more especially as he must not only acquire the language spoken here, but must adopt the different customs and habits peculiar to our people. These difficulties Mr. Peterson resolved to overcome, and bent himself to the herculean task. After working for two years in the railway service he engaged with George W. Brown & Co., with which company he worked for eleven winters. In 1867 he brought his widowed mother to this country, where she died in 1881, and was buried here with a son's kind care. He also brought a sister, Celia, who was afterward married to Frank Lilliedahl, and they are now residing in Nebraska. In 1869 Mr. Peterson built a small factory for the purpose of snuff-making, and began business, working at it in the summer seasons and in the George W. Brown & Co. factory in the win- ter. He gradually kept increasing his business as his circumstances would permit, and to-day he has an extensive trade, his last year sales amounting to 64,000 pounds of snuff, or in value over $20,000. He has built himself a comfortable residence, and owns and controls a valuable property.

Mr. Peterson was married, at Galesburg, to Ellen

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Monson, also born in Sweden in 1830. Their union was blest with two daughters, now estimable and intelligent young ladies. Esther Othelia, the eldest, is a graduate of the High School, and has passed a full commercial course of study in the Business College at Galesburg. She is a young lady of many accomplishments. The younger daughter, Annie Nathalia, is very bright in her studies and will graduate from the High School this year (1886). The family are all members of the Lutheran Church. Our subject is a worthy example of what may be attained by diligence and persistent industry. He is a much respected citizen, and contributes liberally to all measures pertaining to the public good.

dward A. Cardiff is a general farmer on section 2, Lynn Township, and has been in this vicinity since December, 1865. He was born in Fulton County, Pa., July 7, 1 845, and his father, William F., was also a na- tive of that State and county. William F. Cardiff was a merchant by vocation, and was mar- ried in Fulton County, Pa., to Catherine Sipes (see sketch of J. M. Sipes). They came to Illinois, in April, 1864, locating near Galva, where the mother died in March, 1869. The father is still living, in Galva. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion a Meth- odist.

The subject of our sketch lived at home up to the time he enlisted as a soldier, going from Fulton County, Pa., Feb. 28, 1864, into the 22d Pa. Vol. Cav., Co. H, under the command of Capt. Jolly. He took an active part in the engagements under Gen. Sheridan, through the Shenandoah Valley and at the battles of Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, besides the Western Virginia campaign, and others ; his horse was shot from under him at Cedar Creek, Va. He was never excused from duty on account of sickness and participated in every engagement of his regiment-24 in all-and was honorably discharged at the end of the war at Harrisburg, Pa., Nov. 25, 1865.

Shortly after the close of the war Mr. Cardiff came to Illinois, where his parents had arrived the year before. His father was Captain of Co. B, 3d Md. Vol. Inf. He was out two and one-half years

and at no time wounded, but was taken prisoner at Harper's Ferry. He held his commission during the whole time, being paroled when captured, and was honorably discharged. This was before he came to Illinois.

Mr. Cardiff was married March 13, 1872, at Lynn Township, to Miss Latrode R. Sellon, born in Lynn Township, Aug. 6, 1849. Her parents are both dead. Her father was for many years a minister of the Protestant Methodist Church, and lived on his farm. They came from England to this country prior to their marriage, and made settlement at an early day in Knox County. The father, whose name was Ed- ward Sellon, departed this life Dec. 23, 1883, in Galva, and the mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Charles, died Oct. 3, 1873. Mrs. Cardiff lived at home until her marriage with our subject. She is the mother of five children-Ira D., Bessie C., Ada J., Nellie I. and William E.

Mr. Cardiff has lived at his present residence since 1874. He and his wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, at Galva, attending it when convenient. Mr. Cardiff is Republican in politics.

iram R. King. Prominent among the lead- ing citizens and general farmers residing in this section may be named the subject of this biography, who resides in the vicinity of Galva, on section 28, Lynn Township. He came to this county in 1854, from Crawford County, Ind., having been born in Summit, Ill., Jan. 21, 1839. His father, Ambrose King, was a farmer and a native of New York State, and went to Luzerne County, Pa., when young and was married in Summit County, Ohio, where he had gone. His bride was Sallie Root, who was born and reared in Ohio. A family of five children, four sons and one daughter (three of the former now living), were born to them. The moth- er's health failed and her death occurred in Summit County, in 1840. The father was again married, this time to Harriet Porter, and afterward, after the birth of three children in Crawford County, Ohio, the fam- ily came to Illinois in 1854, settling on a partly im- proved farm, which, however, became the father's home until his death, in January, 1878. He was 78 years old. Mr. King was a solid Republican all his life, and his convictions of liberty and stout efforts

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toward reform were manifest and creditable. His second wife died in Victoria Township, Knox County, in December, 1885, at the age of 66.

The parents of our subject were all Baptists, and he was the eldest but two in the family of five chil- dren. On the coming of his father to the State of Illinois, he set out to earn his own livelihood, farm- ing and operating a thrashing-machine. He has broken many aeres of the prairies of Victoria Town- ship. He purchased a quarter-section of new land in 1867, in Victoria Township, and Feb. 13, 1862, he was married in Walnut Grove, to Lydia Collinson, daughter of Simeon L. Collinson. (See sketch of the same.) She was born in Wilkesbarre, Luzerne Co., Pa., Aug. 12, 1837, and came with her parents when they emigrated to Knox County, Ill., with whom she lived until her marriage. She is the mother of six children, one deceased-Stephen A., Susan L., Hattie M., Simeon H., Royal M. and Nina J., all at home. One daughter is married.

Mr. King lived in Victoria Township. He then went to California and settled in Santa Clara County, where he conducted a dairy for one year. Before marriage he spent nearly three years in the same county ; was there in 1859, remaining until 1862, most of the time in the dairy business, in which he met with fair success, but finally returned to Illinois, in 1864. He there began to farm, and in 1866 he settled where he now resides, on his wife's farm of 160 acres. He owns 120 acres in Lynn Township, 40 acres of which is timber. In politics Mr. King is a Greenbacker. In religious belief he and his wife are Adventists.

T. Perrin, Superintendent of the George W. Brown & Co. Corn-Planter Works, of Galesburg, Ill., was born in Masachusetts, June 29, 1832, and came to Illinois in 1854. Here he began work for this company, and with the exception of the intervals between 1857 and 1863, and from 1864 to 1869, has remained with them ever since. He was, during those years, farm- ing in Iowa.

The parents of our subject, Horace and Clarissa (Richardson) Perrin, were natives of Connecticut, and of French and English descent, and the father

was a woolen-manufacturer. Mr. Perrin was the recipient of a good education in the Massachusetts public schools, attending at Lee, and as he early showed perseverance and an application to his books that accomplished good results, he soon ranked high among the most advanced pupils. He accepted the superintendency of Brown & Co.'s business house in 1880, and discharging in an able and worthy manner the duties in hand, he soon won the good will of his employers and the respect of his patrons. He takes a marked degree of interest in agricultural pursuits, and conducts farming to a considerable extent.

In 1858 Mr. Perrin was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Brown, the daughter of G. W. Brown, of the firm of G. W. Brown & Co., and they are the parents of four children-George, with the Brown Company ; Arthur, a student; Myra and Jennie. Mr. Perrin may be called a self-made man, as he started in life with only $15. He was among the first salesmen for G. W. Brown, traveling in a wagon from farm to farm, and by his courtesy and honor- able dealing soon won a large circle of patrons. He has in charge from 150 to 300 men.

ev. Nehemiah White, Ph. D., President of Lombard University, Galesburg, in which institution he is also Professor of Theology, was born at Wallingford, Rutland County, Vt., Jan. 25, 1835. His father, Justin M. White, was a farmer by occupation and was born in the same town and county in Vermont, Jan. 20, 1802, and died at Danby, in that State, March 17, 1875. The Whites came originally from England. William and Sarah White were among the Pilgrims who came over in the Mayflower. Peregrine, their son, was born on the Mayflower, November 20, while the vessel was in the bay of Cape Cod, and from Peregrine White the present family is de- scended. At Clarendon, Vt., March 5, 1829, Mr. Justin M. White was married to Lydia Eddy, also a native of the Green Mountain State, probably of Scotch extraction, and descended from one of the pioneer families of New England. They reared but two children-J. E. White, who is a resident of Danby, Vt., and the subject of this sketch.

President White is largely a self-educated man.

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He laid the foundation for his learning at the district and select schools of his native town, where he be- gan teaching when 16 years of age. Determined upon the acquirement of a thorough education, if possible, he taught at this time no longer than was necessary to enable him to prosecute his studies in higher schools. From Green Mountain Institute, a preparatory school at South Woodstock, Vt., he en- tered Middlebury (Vt.) College in 1853, and gradu- ated therefrom in the class of 1857. Immediately following graduation, he was made Associate Princi- pal of the Green Mountain Institute for one year. From here he went to Clinton, Oneida County, N. Y., where, during the years 1859-60, he was in charge of Clinton Liberal Institute, where his young wife was also employed as a teacher. Mrs. White's health failing her, they retired from professional labor to the farm of Mr. White's father, where they spent a few years in recuperation. In 1864 Prof. White was called to Pulaski (Oswego County, N. Y.) Academy, as Principal of that institution. He was here one year, when he accepted the Professorship of Mathe- matics and the Natural Sciences of St. Lawrence University, Canton, N. Y. He held this position for six years. In 1871 he went on the farm for recu- ration, and in September, 1872, became Professor of Ancient Languages of Buchtel College, Akron, Ohio, from which place he came to Galesburg in 1875 to accept the Presidency of Lombard University, and here he has remained to the present time. In 1876 he received the degree of Ph. D., from St. Lawrence University.

Dr. White is devoted to his work as a professional educator. He was ordained at Columbus, Ohio, in June, 1875, to preach the Gospel, but the duties im- posed upon him by the position he occupied with the Buchtel College required so much of his time that he was not able to fill the pulpit, except upon rare oc- casions. Our subject was married at South Wood- stock, Vt., the scene of his first efforts at teaching school, May 11, 1858, to Miss Frances M. White, an educated and accomplished young lady of extraor- dinary endowments and attainments. In the various institutions of learning where she taught mathematics and languages her name is written and remembered among the most honored of an honored profession. Mrs. White was born at Wallingford, Vt., July 27, 1838, and there died April 29, 1864, leaving an only daughter, Lois M., who was born July 17, 1861, and

died at Galesburg, Jan. 1, 1882. She was a member of the Sophomore Class of Lombard University when she died. Possessing the ennobling traits and many of the superior natural qualities of her mother, Miss White was beloved by all who knew her, and her death left a void in many a heart that was not again to be filled.

President White was the second time married, in Oswego County, N. Y., May 29, 1871, to Miss Inez Ling, of Pulaski, N. Y., a native of Portland, Me., where she was born Aug. 8, 1851. Prof. and Mrs. White have two children-Willard J. and Frances Cora. The family are all members of the Univer- salist Church.

lof P. Norine is a native of Sulvetsburg, Sweden. He was born Jan. 13. 1837, and came to America in 1856. His parents lived upon a farm in Sweden, where they both died since Olof came to this country. They reared five sons and a daughter. Three of the sons came to America, where one of them subse- quently died.

Olof Norine, our subject, was brought up to the farm life, which he followed in the old country, when not attending school. The first work that he per- formed after arriving here was for the C., B. & Q. Railroad, for which company he worked one year. Leaving the railroad, he tried his hand at teaming a few months, and then in the city of Galesburg set- tled himself down to the trade of a blacksmith. This he followed as a journeyman up to 1865, when he established a shop for himself. In 1879, he took into partnership Mr. Lindquist, and the firm is now widely known throughout Knox County, as one of the most reliable and deserving. Their merited reputation brings them much work ; their work brings them money, and upon their money they support themselves and families and have something left to lay by for a rainy day.

Mr. Norine was married at Galesburg, in 1864, to Catherine Stoneburg, a native of Sweden, and by whom he has had borne to him five children, viz .: Oscar, George, Eda, Nellie and Bertha. The eldest son is a clerk in a bank, and the second one a black- i smith.

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Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 82

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago; Chapman Brothers, pub Publication date: 1886 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical publishing company Number of Pages: 1130

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago; Chapman Brothers, pub
Publication date: 1886
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical publishing company
Number of Pages: 1130