Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 90

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 90

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Mr. Robinson was married in Newport, Me., to Esther E. Benner, who has most graciously shared with him the trials and triumphs of his long life in this Western country. The issue of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson has been four children, all of whom were laid to rest in their youth. Mr. Robin- son is a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity, and has held his connection with that institution for many years.

R ev. Charles A. Backman, pastor in charge of the First Swedish Lutheran Church, Galesburg, is the son of John and Char- lotte (Hammarback) Backman. May 28, 1853, and Dalarne, Sweden, are the date and place of his birth. He came with his parents to America in 1868. He is a graduate of Augustana (Rock Island) College, in the Class of 188r, and from the Theological Seminary of the same place in the Class of 1883.

He has been preaching since his first school year, and was ordained regularly at Red Wing, Minn., June 17, 1883. His first charge was at Ishpeming, Mich., where he remained two years, coming thence to Galesburg in 1885. The church over which he here presides has a congregation of nearly 1,000 communicant members, and he preaches in both the

English and Swedish languages. Mr. Backman was married at Swedona, Mercer Co., Ill., Oct. 25, 1883, to Miss Helena Hoogner, born in this country, and their little daughter bears the name of Lillie An- gelica.

ev. Lucius E. Barnard, A. M., Local El- der in the Methodist Episcopal Church, re- siding at No. 28 Cherry street, Galesburg, is the son of Rufus and Jemima (Kellogg) Barnard, natives respectively of Massachu- setts and Vermont and of English descent. He was born at Waitsfield, Washington Co., Vt., June 14, 1828. The senior Mr. Barnard was a farmer; he died in 1874, upon the place where he had spent 80 years of his life. His wife preceded him to the grave nearly two years. He was aged 83 years and his wife 821/2. The parental family con- tained five sons and five daughters, the subject of this sketch being next to the youngest of the family.

Our subject graduated from the University of Ver- mont, at Burlington, in 1853. Having studied with a view to the ministry, he received further instruc- tions in that direction after graduating from college. His parents were members of the Congregational Church, and brought their children up in that faith. It was from that church that our subject took letters when he entered Auburn (N. Y.) Theological Semi- nary. He was licensed to preach by the Montpelier Association in 1857, and the following year grad- uated from the Auburn Theological Seminary, hav- ing in the meantime changed his denominational re- lation to that of the Presbyterian Church. In 1859, at Amboy, N. Y., the church of his adoption ordained him, and he preached at that place for one year. In 1860 he came to Galesburg and again changed his relationship, returning to the faith of his parents after taking charge of the Old First Church (Con- gregational), and preached there about six months. The last change was brought about by what many considered was the Blanchard fanaticism prevailing here at that period, and for a time, they believed, threatened to disrupt the social and religious fabric of the city. The Old First Church was at that date so completely under the ban of rank and unreasona- ble intolerance that a Presbyterian was not allowed to speak under its roof, and they felt that, had not a

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wiser and better element come rapidly to the rescue, the man who for a time carried things high-handedly as the President of Knox College would have made of Galesburg a fit habitation only for the witch- burners of 200 years ago.

From the " Old First " the Rev. Mr. Barnard was called, and preached a year and a half in Waukegan, and the following year at Georgia, Vt., going thence out in the world on his own responsibility to God, as it were, preaching the Gospel of Christ whitherso- ever he went, in manner and form as beseemed him best, and asking naught of any denomination or as- sociation as to his authority, but taught Christ and Him crucified, as he learned the simple story from the written Gospel, having been, through the aid of false testimony, by the Congregational Association retired from their ministry. In Geddes, N. Y., in 1870, at the urgent request of many members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he united with that denomination, and subsequently preached for some years in New York State.

In 1874 Mr. Barnard returned to Galesburg, where he has since been a recognized Local Elder of his church. May 14, 1861, he was married, at Detroit, Mich., to Miss Emma L. Barnard, and by her had born to him two children-Charles Kellogg, born at Waukegan, 111., March 14, 1862, died at Galesburg, Feb. 11, 1880, and a daughter, Fannie H. Rev. Mr. Barnard is prominent in the Order of Good Tem- plars, Chaplain of the Red Ribbon Reform Club, and honorary member of his old college society, the Delta Psi, a literary and social fraternity of the University of Vermont.

H. McOmber, representative contractor and builder, residing in the city of Galesburg, came here first in 1857 from Palmyra, N. Y. His birthplace was New York State, where he was born Aug. 5, 1833, and there learned his trade under his father, Isaac McOmber. His mother was Anna Howland before marriage, and both families trace their ancestry to Scotland.

After coming to Galesburg Mr. McOmber engaged in contracting and building, and followed it steadily for 11 years. He then, in company with Mr. Brad- bury, leased the Colton Manufacturing Co., and op- erated it about 13 years. The last three years that

Mr. McOniber was connected with the Manufacturing Company, he also carried on contracting and build- ing, which, in fact, has been his principal business since having abandoned the planing-mill, etc. in 1884. Our subject received his education in the common and high schools and taught a term or two in Coldbrook Township, Warren County.

Mr. McOmDer was married in Wayne County, N. Y., Jan. 1, 1856, to Miss Marietta Whipple. They have had one child of their own and have reared an adopted daughter. The family is identified with the First Baptist Church. Mr. McOmber is no politi- cian and affiliates with no secret order. What he has of this world's goods he has worked for, and we find him possessed of a fair competency.

ghaniel Henshaw, a retired citizen of Gales- burg and one of the pioneer hotel-keepers of this place, was born Feb. 9, 1812, at Auburn, Worcester Co., Mass. His father, Joseph Henshaw, was also a native of Massa- chusetts and was a son of William Henshaw, who served, gaining merited distinction, through the Rev- olutionary War, and his commission as Adjutant- General, issued "by the Congress of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay," signed " James Warren, Presi- dent," and " Samuel Freeman, Secretary," is yet in the family, being in the hands of Miss H. E. Henshaw, of Leicester, Mass.

The mother of the subject of this sketch was, be- fore her marriage, Elizabeth Goulding, and her father was a Colonel during the great War for Independence. Joseph and Elizabeth Henshaw reared eight sons, Daniel being fifth in order of birth. The family lived upon a farm in Worcester County, where the two old people ended their days, Joseph dying in 1854 at the age of 85, his wife having preceded him to the prom- ised land by some six or seven years. At the age of 14 years Daniel Henshaw left his father's farm and learned the trade of a scythe-maker, which he fol- lowed eight or ten years. When 24 years of age he moved into New York State and engaged in black- smithing, which he abandoned in 1849, and started a line of stages between Eaton and Utica (N. Y.) In 1856 he came to Galesburg and opened a hotel on West street, now No. 132 South West street.

During the war Mr. H. turned his hand to farming

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and his wife conducted the hostelry. The hotel was finally converted into dwellings, in 1871, and Mr. H. has been virtually retired from active business since that time. At Leicester, Mass., July 23, 1834, Mr. Henshaw and Miss Diantha Livermore were mar- ried, and of the six children born to them we make the following brief mention : Janette, Elbridge G, Adelaide, Mary Josephine, Eugene F. and Elizabeth. Elbridge served through the late war in an Iowa reg- iment and was killed in August, 1867, in a railroad accident at Plum Creek in Nebraska ; Adelaide is the wife of J. L. Short, of Chicago; Mary Josephine, wife of J. B. Ingersol, died in 1877; after the late war she taught a freedmen's school in the South; Eugene F. is a journalist, publisher of the Railway and Steamship Guide; Elizabeth is the wife of A. E. Mattison, of Chicago.

acob S Chambers, of Galesburg, is the son of Matthew and Hannah (Smith) Cham- bers, natives of New Hampshire and Ver- mont respectively, and of Scotch and Irish de- scent. He was born at Bridport, Vt., March 14, 1816. The grandfather of our subject, Capt. John Chambers, earned his title in the Colonial Army during the Revolution. Matthew Chambers, father of our subject, served in the War of 1812 as a militia volunteer. The family came to Knoxville in 1836, and the senior Mr. C. was here engaged in mercantile business until about 1840, when he re- moved to Galesburg. He retired from active life in 1845, and died in January, 1869, at the age of 83. His widow survived him until December, 1873, and died at the age of So years. He left a comforta- ble fortune, which had been acquired by his own en- ergy.

Jacob S. Chambers, the subject of this sketch, was educated in the common schools of Vermont. He clerked many years for his father, and when 22 years of age engaged in business for himself, at the town of Cleveland, Henry Co., Ill. From there, at the end of two years, he removed to Lyndon, White- side County; thence to Altona, Knox County, in 1853, and finally to Galesburg in 1874, since which time he has been fully retired from business. Politic- ally he is a firm adherent of the Republican party,

though not of an office-seeking kind ; is a Master Ma- son and a consistent member of the Congregational Church. While a resident of Altona he served the people for some years as Supervisor, an office he has filled two or three times since coming to Galesburg.

Mr. C. was married at Erie, Pa., in September, 1857, to Miss Amanda M. Parsons, a native of Ver- mont. To Mr. and Mrs. Chambers have been born four children, three of whom are living and graduates of Knox College, and named respectively William H., a merchant; Eliza (Mrs. A. J. Capron) and Ber- tha M.

els S. Youngdahl. In Walnut Grove Township, on section 17, Mr. Youngdahl has a most desirable farm of 160 acres, all in a splendid state of cultivation. In 1856, alone and without friends, he came to the Unit- ed States and settled in Nicollet Co., Minn. During his stay there he married, on the 28th of Oc- tober, 1858, Miss Betsey Johnson, a native of Swe- den, where she was born Feb. 15, 1838. Her parents lived in Sweden, where they died some time after the arrival of their daughter in the United States, which was in 1857. She settled in Nicollet County and was married the following year. She was the young- est of a family of three daughters. She and one other sister, Anna, are the only members of the family in the United States. Her eldest sister, Ellen, is married and resides in her native country.

By the union of Mr. and Mrs. Youngdahl six chil- dren have been born-Christine, George E., Nels T., Anna S., Carl L. and Anthony C. In 1863 the subject of this history with his family came to Prince- ton, Bureau Co., Ill., and while there purchased a farm in Fairfield Township, consisting of 360 acres. All this land is well improved. In 1881 lie made his purchase as referred to and settled here in Walnut Grove Township. Of this home he is very proud, as in all justice he may be. He has raised some high grades of stock and is altogether a well-to-do and prominent farmer. He was born in Sweden, Sept. 17, 1832. His father, Saure Nelson, was a farmer and lived and died in the old country. His mother, Kate Nelson, also died in Sweden. Her family con- sisted of eight children, the subject of this sketch

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being the oldest living and the oldest but two of the family.

Up to the date of his enlistment in the regular army he had attained his 21st year and sub- sequently served three years, the required time. During his stay in Minnesota Mr. Y. was created Sergeant of the Home Guards, a body raised to sup- press the Indian troubles. These caused consider- able bloodshed in 1862. The trouble arose through the Government officers interfering with the privi- leges of the natives.

Mr. and Mrs. Youngdahl are members of the Swed- ish Lutheran Church, in which Mr. Y. has been Deacon for sixteen years and a consistent exponent of the views of that body. His son, George E., is also a minister in the church, and was educated at Rock Island. Mr. Nels S. Youngdahl is a good Republican and interested in all measures calculated to promote his country's good.

wan H. Olson, grocer, of the firm of L. H. Olson & Bro., 447 East Berrien St., Gales- burg, was born in Sweden, Aug. 4, 1844, and with his parents came to America in 1854. Swan H. is the eldest of four sons and two daughters, and grew to manhood upon a farm in Knox County, alternating the seasons with labor and attendance at the common schools.

Aug. 4, 1862, our subject enlisted, in Mercer Co., Ill., as private in Co. A, 102d Ill. Vol. Inf., and served three years, participating in all the service his regiment saw. The 102d was in the famous Atlanta campaign ; with Sherman to the sea, on to Richmond and in the grand review at Washington. Leaving the army, he returned to Galesburg and for the suc- ceeding five years clerked for F. O. Crocker in the grocery business. In partnership with a brother-in- law, he succeeded Mr. Crocker in the business, and later was in partnership with a Mr. Huffland, con- ducting the business for four years. Selling out to Mr. Huffland in 1876, he proceeded to erect the building at the corner of Chambers and Berrien streets, in which he now does business. His brother, William A., took an interest in the business in 1882.

Mr. Olson is a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W. He was married in Galesburg, Oct. 20,

1872, to Miss Clara Burke, a native of Sweden, and his three children bear the names of Clarence, Gracie (who is deceased) and Irene. Our subject is an active and working member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and politically is a supporter of the principles advocated by the Republican party, and is justly considered one of the substantial men in Knox County.

lbert J. Ostrander, of the firm of Brooks & Ostrander, dealers in hides, pelts, woo!, etc., 42 and 44 Public Square, Galesburg, was born in Van Buren Co., Mich., March 6, 1846, and is the son of Harvey B. and Mary (Woodworth) Ostrander, natives of York State and of German and English descent respectively. Soon after his marriage, the elder Mr. Ostrander re- moved from York State to Michigan, from there to Missouri in 1855, and on to Iowa in 1862. From lowa, the family removed to Illinois, where the father died in 1881.

Albert J., of whom we write, was educated in Mem- phis, Mo., and West Point, Iowa, public schools. He began life for himself as clerk, alternating between hotel office and mercantile establishments. After an experience as merchant at Memphis, Mo., he came to Galesburg, in 1877, and engaged in his present business, an idea of the extent of which may be gathered from the following, clipped from a recent publication (January, 1886) :

"Brooks & Ostrander have done an immense bus- iness in the wool, hide and tallow line the past year, and their enterprise has brought a stream of trade to the city. They have handled 400,000 pounds of hides ; 420,000 pounds of tallow and grease ; 50,000 pounds of skins and pelts ; 75,000 pounds of wool, etc .; making a grand total of about 1,050,000 pounds. The territory within which these purchases have been made includes all towns within seventy-five miles and the farming country for many miles hereabouts. All the wool was shipped to Kentucky, to be made into Kentucky jeans."

Mr. Ostrander is a distinguished Odd Fellow, and Secretary of Alpha Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Gales-

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burg. He was married at Monmouth, Ill., April 12, 1877, to Miss Susie V. Ulmer, and their children are named Eugene, Frederick and Ethel.

en. Myron S. Barnes, retired journalist, residing at Galesburg, is a native of Ma- lone, Franklin Co., N. Y., and was born March 4, 1824. His grandfather, Rev. Joshua Barnes, was a distinguished Quaker minister of early times, and came from London to this country before the Revolutionary War, and located with a colony which settled in Vermont near the Con- necticut line, from where he removed to Western New York in 1828. He reared four sons-Simeon, Joshua, Stephen and William, and lived to the ex- traordinary age of 100 years. His youngest son, William, married Margaret Doty, of Vermont, and by her had four sons and five daughters, the subject of this sketch being the first-born.

William Barnes was educated for the law, but early in life abandoned the profession and followed farm- ing in Western New York. He brought his family to Cook County, Ill., in 1848, and died there at the age of 45 years. His widow yet survives him and makes her home in Minnesota, having attained the venera- ble age of 86 years.

Myron S. Barnes was educated at the common schools and Attica Academy, and Alexander Semi- nary, N. Y. Almost with the beginning of his school days he formed the idea of becoming a newspaper man. In 1838 he went to Chicago and was a con- tributor to the Journal and Democrat ; the latter was then published by " Long John" Wentworth; the Journal was published by "Dick " Wilson. In 1840 we find him at Lapeer, Mich., editing the Plain- dealer, a Democratic weekly, which he continued to run through the Van Buren and Harrison campaign, when, the Democratic party having been retired from power, young Barnes closed out his paper and re- turned to Chicago. There he lived the life of a Bohemian, contributing to several papers, among which were the Northwestern Educator, American Odd Fellow, Ladies' Repository, Alexander's Weekly, Toledo Blade and also frequently worked for the

Journal and Democrat until the outbreak of the struggle with Mexico. June 17, 1846, he enrolled as a private soldier in Co. E, 2d Ill. Vol. Inf., with which he served for 14 months, or during the war. His reg- iment was in Gen. Wool's command from the begin- ning, and at the close of the war that distinguished officer desired to use his influence for Mr. Barnes to secure a Second Lieutenancy in the regular army.

Soon after returning to Chicago, Mr. Barnes formed a partnership in publishing the Southport American, a daily and weekly paper, which they published for about one year at what is now the town of Kenosha. His next venture in the newspa- per field was the establishment of the Rochester (N. Y.) Daily Times, and from which afterward sprang the present Daily Union. We next hear of our subject at Ithaca, N. Y., engaged in temperance work. He was one of the organizers of the Good Templars and became the second Grand Secretary of that Order for the State of New York. At Ithaca he established the Templar and Watchman, and ed- ited it for two years in the interest of temperance. In 1856 he was sent as a delegate from the Ithaca dis- trict to the first National Republican Convention, which met at Philadelphia and nominated John C. Fremont for the Presidency. Before the end of 1856 he was again in Chicago, and the firm of Barnes, Stewart & Payne launched the Chicago Daily Ledger, with which Mr. B. severed his con- nection at the end of the current year. From there he went to Rock Island as editor of the Register, where we find him at the outbreak of the Rebellion.

In June, 1861, acting under orders from the Sec- retary of War, Mr. Barnes, in company with Julius White, of Chicago, raised a regiment of Sharpshoot- ers, known first as the Fremont Rifles, and later as the 37th Ill. Vol. Inf. White went out as Colonel and Barnes as Lieutenant-Colonel. The record shows, however, that in about six months Barnes had been elevated to the colonelcy and continued in command of the regiment until leaving the service, June 20, 1863. At the battle of Chandler's Mills the Colonel received a severe shell wound in the side, which had only partially healed up at the battle of Pea Ridge, when his horse was shot from under him, throwing him heavily to the ground, re-opening the old wound and leaving him in a most critical con- dition and finally compelling him to leave the army, not, however, until, by an order of Gen. Schofield, he

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had been placed in command of Southwestern Mis- souri.

Returning to Rock Island, he started the Daily Union, and ran it three years, when he went to Dubuque, Iowa, and bought the Daily Times, which he published and edited about five years. His next move was to Aurora, Ill., where he established the Daily Herald and ran it until the fall of 1871. He then came to Chicago and organized a company and started the Daily News, which he left at the end of Greeley's disastrous campaign. In 1872, Mr. Barnes went to Galesburg and purchased the Free Press and changed the name to the Galesburg Press, and was occupied in conducting that paper until he retired from work Feb. 17, 1883, on account of his wounds, since which time he has constantly been under medi- cal treatment.

Gen. Barnes is at the present time independent in politics. He has always been found in the ranks, up- holding the party of his choice and dealing blows with voice or pen that admitted of no doubt as to whom or for what they were intended. He has stead- ily remained a temperance man and worker, and in the campaign of 1884 gave his entire time and sup- port to St. John. He is a 32d degree Mason, Prel- ate in the Commandery, and also a member of the 1. O. O. F., G. A. R. and Good Templars.

Gen. Barnes was married in Wayne County, N. Y., July 5, 1851, to Miss Charlotte A. Brush, and of their three children, Mary E. and Charlotte Alice are deceased, and William Bennet is editor of the Sand- wich (Ill.) Free Press.

ouis P. Lauren, of Galesburg, was born in the parish of Hastveda, Southern Sweden, May 11, 1842. He came to America in the summer of 1865, and settled in Galesburg, worked at his trade as painter, the first year, and as janitor of Knox College the last ten years. On the 3d day of August, 1866, he was mar- ried to Hanna Anderson, born in the parish of Hjer- sas, Southern Sweden, on the 16th day of February, 1847. They have been blest with seven children, of whom six are yet living, three sons and three daughters, namely : Joseph William, born April 12, 1868; Esther Albertina, Aug. 17, 1870; Carl Emil,

Sept. 29, 1874; George Albert, Jan. 27, 1877, died in infancy; Newton Bateman, May 8, 1878; Nellie Paulina, Aug. 31, 1881; Annie Emelia, Oct. 7, 1884. Mr. Lauren and family attend worship at the First Baptist Church.

ames B. Speaks. Among the progressive and practical farmers and stock-growers and prosperous citizens of Knox County we find the subject of this biography, whose home is located on section 1, in Orange Town- ship, and who stands among the most ad- vanced workers in his especial line of labor. He was born in Warren County, Ind., Oct. 15, 1839, and is the son of Robert and Louisa (Bennett) Speaks.

The gentleman of whom we write came to Illinois in 1860, and, settling in Warren County, Ill., there ? passed 12 years. He then removed to Knox County, where he has lived up to the present time. At that time, when the heart of the country was torn with varied emotions of hope and trouble, and when the Union of States trembled in the balance, with the spirit that warmed the heart of every true man, he came boldly out to her rescue, and enlisted in the 83d Ill. Vol. Inf., commanded by Capt. Lyman B. Cutter. This was in August, 1862, and he served nine months. At the end of that time he was dis- charged, on account of a gunshot wound received at Fort Donelson on the 3d of February, 1863. After his discharge he came home and engaged in farming pursuits, which he has followed continuously ever since.

On the 21st of August, 1862, he united hand, heart and fortune with those of Melinda M. Webb, who was the daughter of Jehu and Elizabeth (Daw- son) Webb. There were eight children born of this union, as follows: James K., April 30, 1864; Min- nie F., Nov. 25, 1867 ; Orpha M., April 24, 1870; Cora O., March 1, 1872; John W., Feb. 19, 1874; Olive B., Sept. 23, 1877; Arthur B., Jan. 5, 1882 ; and D). W., March 27, 1884.

The mother of the children before mentioned was born in Ohio June 14, 1844. Her father was a na- tive of Maryland and was a farmer and died in the 1 State of Indiana; her mother, whose birthplace was

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Portrait and biographical album of Knox county, Illinois, Part 90

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