Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 103

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1014

USA > Illinois > Peoria County > Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 103

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While living in Kickapoo Township, Mr. Hanny was united in marriage February 5, 1861, with Miss Franeisea Guger. This lady was born in Vienna, Austria, whence she came to America in 1851. She is a capable, energetie woman, devoted to the comfort of her family and finding her chief delight within the bounds of her home, although by no means averse to society or unused to neighborly deeds of kindness. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hanny, one of whom, a son, Richard

Hanny, Jr., is now working with his father. The daughter, Anna Marie, died at the age of twenty- two years and seven months, lier loss being a sore bereavement to her parents. Mr. Ilanny votes the straight Democratie tieket. Ile is a communicant of the Catholic Church.

ACOB HERR. The Prairie State has long been acknowledged as one of the most fruit- ful in the Mississippi Valley, and Peoria County is known to possess soil of extreme fertility. Her farins are not only capable of pro- dueing abundantly, but are almost universally marked with good buildings, and present a neat and attractive appearance to the passer-by. One of the largest and finest of those in Hollis Township, is owned by the subject of this sketeli, and com- prises six hundred and forty-eight acres on section 20, near the village of Mapleton. Lying on the Illinois River bottom, it has an inexhaustable soil which has been placed in a fine state of cultivation and improved with all which goes to make np a well-furnished estate. It is devoted to stock-rais- ing and general farming, for both of which pur- poses its situation adapts it.

Mr. Herr is numbered among the self-made men of the county, in which he has lived since he was eleven years old. Ile was born in Germany, but accompanied his parents to America when an in- fant, his father, John Herr, dying shortly after their arrival. Our subject was bound out in an American family, and brought up without any knowledge of his native tongue' until he came to this county. His mother owned a farm six miles south of Peoria, on which she now lives with her second husband, Philip Kirker. Joseph Fontene, the early benefactor of our subject, having died while on a visit to California, the lad came to his mother, and has since made Peoria County his home. He is the eldest of three children, having two sis- ters. Catherine is the wife of Louis Lighton, of Hollis; Mary married Ben Harbright, and removed to St. Louis, Mo., where she died.

Our subject has been twice married. His first

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wife bore him four children, of whom we note the following: Emma was finely educated, and hecame the wife of Fred Johannus, a merchant, of Pekin ; she died leaving two children, one of whom sur- vives; Ellen married Harry Percy, and removed to Nebraska; Lyda lives in Peoria, being the wife of Henry Sunken; William E., now living in Lan- caster.

The second wife of Mr. Herr was known in her maidenhood as Miss Abbie Percy. She is a daugh- ter of Charles and Catharine Percy, who are numbered among the old settlers of the county, their home being in Timber Township near Kings- ton. Mrs. Abbie Herr possesses more than an ordi- nary amount of domestic skill and noble qualities, together with the manners of a true gentlewoman. She is the mother of five children, viz: Florence, Zulema, Ollie, Elmer E., and an infant unnamed at this writing (July, 1890). Elmer died during the past winter at the age of six years, having been stricken with the dread disease, diphtheria.

Mr. Herr votes the Republican ticket, but takes no active part in political affairs. Hle belongs to Phoenix Lodge No. 663, A. F. & A. M., in Maple- ton. His religious faith coincides with that ex- pressed by the creed of the United Brethren Church with which he is identified. He is recognized as a man of good intentions, energetic in the pursuit of that to which he sets his hand, and pursuing his course in a peaceable manner. In all his business transactions he has avoided lawsuits, philosophi- cally reasoning that it is better to bear the ills we have, thian fly to those we know not of. He has therefore never sued a man, and has never been sued.

AMES G. KELLAR. No lad of active mind could grow to maturity upon a farm without becoming acquainted with more than the rudiments of agriculture, and if his tastes led him to the same line of work, he would push his investigations sufficiently to be able to begin his career with a considerable degrec of ac- curate and practical knowledge. Such is the case with the subject of this sketch, who owns and op-

erates land on sections 16 and 21, Richwood Township, which has been his home, except during a brief period, since his birth. It comprises one hundred and eighty-five acres, on which he has erected good buildings, and where he is pursuing a successful career as a farmer and dairyman.

John Kellar, the father of our subject, was born in Maryland, and married Esther Calvin Frye, a native of Washington County, Pa. Immediately after their marriage they settled in Peoria County, Ill., their location being now occupied by their only son. Here they spent the remaining years of their lives, the husband dying in 1849 and the widow surviving until 1881. They were the par- ents of four children, our subject being the third and born April 27, 1844.

Young Kellar received a good education in the public schools, and amid the peaceful surround- ings of rural life grew to manhood. IIe has always been engaged in the pursuit he now follows and lived upon the same farm, except when fighting for his country on Southern battlefields and par- taking of the other duties that devolved upon a sol- dier. He enlisted in February, 1865, was enrolled in Company A, Eleventh Illinois Cavalry, and served about eight months, when his strong right arm was no longer needed and he was honorably discharged.

Mr. Kellar chose for his companion in life Miss Harriet C. Humason, with whom he was united in marriage in Peoria City, April 5, 1870. She is a daughter of the late Henry S. and Abigail (Dewey) Humason, who were old settlers in this county and died here at a goodly age. She was born in this connty, September 11, 1846, received excellent home training from worthy parents, and a good education in the public schools. She has borne her husband four children-John G., Norman H., Abigail and Charles. The last named died in in- fancy. John G. is a graduate of the Pcoria High School, having been valedictorian of his class, and is now continuing his studies at Dartmouth Col- lege, which he entered in the fall of 1889.

Mr. Kellar has never sought office but takes a deep interest in the outcome of political affairs, stanchly supporting the Republican party, whose principles he thinks best suited to the needs of the

D. B. Stookey

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nation. He manifests an abundance of publie spirit, is well informed on all topies of interest, · and displays great energy in the prosecution of any matter to which he puts his hand. Ile and his estimable wife belong to the Baptist Church, in whose various good works they are ever ready to bear a hand, and both take a deep interest in educational matters.

ON. DAVID B. STOOKEY, a member of the Thirty-sixth General Assembly of Illi- nois, representing Peoria County, is a prom- inent and influential eitizen and is a eonspieuous figure in the political life of this sec- tion of the country. The son of a pioneer he has long been associated with the agricultural interests of the county, and has a fine and well-equipped farm in Trivoli Township, his place of residence.

The father of our subject, bearing the same name as himself, was a native of Elizabeth City, N. J. The grandfather was of German descent and spent his last years in that State. David Stookey, Sr., was orphaned when eight years old, and he was then bound out to a blacksmith. His master whipped and abused him so much that he finally ran away from him. Ile acquired a knowledge of the trade, but when a young man was shot in the hand while out hunting and had to abandon his ealling and go baek on to the farm, which he rented. In 1839 he made up his mind to try farm- ing on the soil of the Prairie State, and started from his old home in New Jersey in a one- horse wagon, accompanied by his family. Six weeks were consumed in the journey, a part of the way being over rough, muddy roads, and numerous streams had to be forded or erossed on rude cordu- roy bridges.

After his arrival here Mr. Stookey took up his abode in Timber Township and engaged in lum- bering. The next year he entered land in Trivoli Township, comprising a traet of wild prairie on seetion 27, and located on it, beginning its im- provement, while his winters were employed in chopping and managing a sawmill in Timber Town-

ship. lle started out here without any means, but by severe and continuons labor acquired a eom- fortable property, and at the time of his death, March 25, 1878, owned two hundred and forty acres of choice land in this eounty, and forty aeres in Farmington. He was a strong, active man in his day, and a famous hunter. His last years were spent in retirement, his son, Squire A., managing his farm.

The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Mary S. Rittenhouse. She was a native of New Jersey, and a danghter of Josiah Rittenhouse, a German by birth and a cooper by oceupation. She died in May, 1878, about a month after the death of her linsband, she having reached the age of sixty-one years. She was a Presbyterian and a truly religious woman. Of her happy wedded life nine children were born, of whom we record the following: Margaret lives in Arkansas; Sarah died here; David B. is our subject; Maria is now Mrs. Yerion, of Trivoli Township; Elias lives in Guthrie County, Iowa; Charlotte, Mrs. Graham, lives in Trivoli; Ida died here; Squire A. lives on the old homestead; Isaac died in infancy.

David B. Stookey, of this biography, was a mere infant when his parents brought him to this eounty, and he was sick the most of the time on the journey, of which he knows nothing but by hearsay. The country around here was in the most primitive eon- dition, with settlements seattered and sparsely pop- ulated, and all the business done in Peoria at that time was conducted in one store. Ile grew to man's estate under pioneer influences, and early learned to work on his father's farm. He drove five yoke of oxen and a mould board plow to turn the prairie sod, breaking up large traets of laud. He had many an encounter with the dreaded rattlesnake, often finding them on a load of hay or grain, and while kicking one off one time was bitten in the heel, and he has had them blow their breath in his face, which would make him deathly sick. His edu- eation was conducted in a rude log schoolhouse, where he had to sit on rough slab benelies and the scholars were taught on the subscription plan. The boys in pioneer families had to suffer many priva- tions and hardships as well as their fathers and mothers, and it was not until he was eight years

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old that our subject was granted the luxury of a pair of shoes even in winter. When he was ten years old he began to drive a breaking team, and for seven seasons was thus engaged from April to July.

Mr. Stookey remained an inmate of the parental household until he was twenty-seven years old, and after his marriage he bought an eighty-acre tract of raw land, and lived on it seven years. At the expiration of that time he came into possession of eighty acres of his present farm, which he im- proved, and in March, 1873 he located here. The farm comprises one hundred and twenty acres on section 27, all under high cultivation, with the ex- ception of the pasturage, divided into convenient fields by neat hedges, has a good bearing orchard, and Tiber Creek running along the eastern bound- ary line of the farm affords abundant facilities for watering stock. He used to buy and feed cattle, and has sold many a carload, and he also raised full-blooded Poland-China hogs, and had a good grade of horses, using two teams in the operation of the place. For the last two years he has rented his farm, and derives a comfortable income from that source.

Mr. and Mrs. Stookey are very pleasant, cour- teous, agreeable people, holding a warm place in the hearts of all about them, and their home is the center of a charming hospitality. Their wedded life began December 29, 1864, and to them have come five children, namely: Eva B., deceased; Olive and Amy E., both of whom are at home; and Thurman Hendricks and Wilbur E. Mrs. Stookey's maiden name was Mary E. Scybert, and she was born in Wytheville, Va., Angust 11, 1842, and came here in 1849. She was given an excellent educa- tion in Elmwood, and at eighteen began to teach and was thus engaged two years before her mar- riage. Her father was John Scybert, and he was born in Wythe County, Va. Her grandfather, also Jolm Seybert, was a German by birth, a very reli- gious man and was a planter in Virginia after he came to this country. Mrs. Stookey's father was a farmer and a carpenter and builder. He came to this State about 1849 and engaged in carpenter- ing in this vicinity. He was a good mechanic and could make anything. He finally moved to Orion

Township, Fulton County, and on the small farm that he bought there his death occurred September 15, 1888. He was a Democrat in politics, and a. Presbyterian in religion. The maiden name of his wife was Martha Warner, and she was born in Wytheville, Va., and still resides on the old place in Orion Township. She is the mother of the following children, all living: Mary E., Mrs. Naney Roy, of Canton; Henry, of Storm Lake, Iowa; Sarah, of Trivoli Township; Susan, Mrs. McKeever, of Elm- wood ; Carrie, Mrs. Diven, of Atlantic, Iowa; John, of Atlantic Iowa; Alice, Mrs. Pierce, of Canton; . Ella, Mrs. Soper, of Canton; Charles at home with his mother.

As we have seen, Mr. Stookey has spent nearly all of his life in this county and has borne an hon- orable part in its upbuilding. Ile has a wide and extensive acquaintance among the prominent men of this and adjoining counties, and is popular with all classes. This fact was well illustrated in the campaign of the fall of 1886 when he was running for the legislature and was elected to his present position as Representative of Peoria County. hav- ing the largest majority of any county candidate and running far ahead of his ticket. He is a poli- tician of the best type, and although always a prominent figure in the political life of the county and State, has never sought for office, the office always seeking him. Ile had frequently been soli- cited to allow the use of his name as candidate for the legislature, but steadily refused, until finally he was nominated without his consent, and accepted the honor. His course as a legislator has shown the wisdom of his selection by his fellow-citizens for the important office of Representative, as he has been active in promoting various enterprises for the benefit of county and State, and has always acted without regard to personal or party consid- erations in conformity with the principles of the strictest honor and integrity.

In the Thirty-sixth Assembly Mr. Stookey was a member of the Committee on Drainage, of the Com- mittee on Agriculture, and was one of the Execu- tive Committee. He was very influential in seenring the passage of the Drainage Bill, making a thorough canvass of the house from desk to desk. Ile is at present, July, 1890, taking part in the delib-

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erations of the Legislature in the extra session called to consider the Columbian Exhibition. He is one of the leaders of the Democracy, has been a delegate to county conventions since he be- came a voter, and has attended State conventions in like capacity. IIe has been a member of the County Central Committee five years. He has served on the Grand and Petit Juries, and when a juryman in the Mckinney murder case was locked up with his fellow-jurors twelve days. Mr. Stookey is active in the religious interests of the community as a member of the Presbyterian Church at Brunswick, of which he is Trustee. He was Supervisor of Trivoli Township one year, and has filled other offices of trust. His portrait is presented elsewhere in the ALBUM.

OHN VANARSDALE, one of the oldest settlers of Logan Township, was born in Washington County, Md., near the town of Hancock, June 27, 1814. His parents, Isaac and Nancy Ann ( Young) Vanarsdale, came with their family to l'eoria County in the fall of 1835, performing their journey by teams. They settled in Rosefield Township, entering about two hundred acres of land which the father cultivated until his death, which occurred some three years after his removal. The mother survived until 1848. Both were devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and were classed among the best citizens of the county.

The father of our subject was born in Holland, and with his parents, Garret and Sarah (Foutch) Vanarsdale, came to America many years ago set- tling in New Jersey. They afterward removed to Maryland and still later to Morgan County, Va., where the grandparents of our subject died. Grand- father Vanarsdale participated in the War of 1812 under the command of Gen. Jackson. Ilis occu- pation was farming. Hle and his wife belonged to the Baptist Church. Their family consisted of Isaac, Cornelia, Jeremiah, Jacob, Peter, Ella, Ma- linda and Garret, all of whom reared families ex- cept Jeremiah and Jacob. The children of Isaac

Vanarsdale and his good wife were Isaac, John, Dorcas, Sarah and James. All have children living except Isaac, who, with his entire family, five in number, died of cholera within a few hours.

The subject of these brief notes was reared on a farm, receiving a limited education in the common schools, which at the period of his childhood were not kept in session but a few months during the year. The first real estate which he owned was one hundred and sixty acres in Rosefield Township which was secured from the Government, and to which possession he added eighty acres in Kickapoo Town- ship by purchase. He finally sold that property and removed to Logan Township, in which he has now resided thirty-four years. IIe owned a fine farm of two hundred acres, which in March, 1888, he sold, removing to Hanna City and retiring from active labor. Ile has a neat and tasty abode, wbere checred by the society of his good wife and many friends and enjoying frequent visits from his chil- dren, he is peacefully passing down the stream of time.

For nearly fifty years Mr. Vanarsdale has been blest by the companionship of a noble Christian woman, who became his wife November 29, 1840. Prior to that time she was known as Miss Elizabeth Shepard. She was born in Greene County, Pa., November 24, 1822, being the eldest daughter of Ayliff and Margaret (Carmichael) Shepard, who were likewise natives of the Keystone State. Mr. and Mrs Shepard reared four sons and two daugh- ters-Nelson, Pearson, Elizabeth, Edgar, Alfred and Melissa. The last two named are now living in Wichita, Kan. The family removed from Penn- sylvania to Illinois in 1834, Mr. Shepard entering three hundred and twenty acres of land on section 3, Logan Township, this county, which he improved and operated for some years. He had left his former home March 20, and disembarked from a steamer at Peoria April 10. In politics he was a sturdy Whig. He passed away in May, 1852. his wife having gone before, the date of her demise being September 20, 1851.

Mr. and Mrs. Vanarsdale, of whom we write, have had five children, and reared three. James enlisted in Company C, Seventy-seventh Illinois Infantry, and gave his life for his country, dying

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at Memphis, Tenn. ; Maggie is the wife of Harrison Reed, of Peoria; Mattie married Ephraim Yinger, of Hanna City. Mr. and Mrs. Vanarsdale are mem- bers in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

OSEPH SHOFF, SR. One's real success in life is not measured by his land or bank stock, but by the nobility of his character, the in- fluence which he exerts, and the good deeds which he accomplishes. The man who pursues a course of persistent industry and uprightness, con - ducting himself as a law-abiding citizen, doing kindly deeds, and making his home a place of hap- piness and wise instruction for his offspring, is en- titled to the respect and remembrance of all to whom he is known.

The subject of this notice was born in the De- partment of La Salle, France, October 25, 1835, and was nineteen years of age when he bade adieu to his parents, Joseph and Mary Shoff, and made his way to America. He had learned the trade of a blacksmith, and after reaching the New World, followed the same at Philadelphia and Pittsburg, Pa. He then turned his attention to farming near Wheeling, W. Va., but in 1857 came to Peoria, III., his first employment here being in the shop of Dick Freeman, near the Washington House, and he la- bored for otliers some three years.

After that period had elapsed, Mr. Shoff began working for himself as a gardener, ere long turning his attention to systematic farm labor and opera- ting four hundred acres of land in the neighbor- hood for a few years during the 60's. He made considerable money, which he used freely during the war in aiding the Union cause, and raising troops for the service. He has never regretted this action, nor felt that his means were not well em- ployed. About 1877 he built a fine large frame house on this tract in Limestone Township, where he has made his home, building also barns and other necessary structures, and making of his estate an attractive as well as a very remunerative' piece of property.

Mr. and Mrs. Shoff have a beautiful home, a view of which appears in connection with this sketch. The farm is especially adapted to stock- raising, and the stock of our subject is famous throughout not only the county, but in many por- tions of this and other States. His horses rank among the finest in Illinois. He owns four stal- lions, one fine trotting stallion called Shoff's Italian Boy, one Norman stallion called Shoff's Norman. one English draft, Grant, and one young Norman, two years old, called Napoleon IV. Every year Mr. Shoff raises from six to ten colts, which are sold as soon as they are three or four years old. In the spring of 1889 he sold twenty-eight head. All the best horses of the county are sired by his horses. He devotes considerable attention to cat- tle, and hogs, having some fine Jersey and Holstein cattle, and fattening from fifty to seventy hogs each year. He is cultivating and selling every sea- son about three hundred thousand celery, with which he supplies Peoria, Pekin, and other cities during the winter months.

From five to ten men are kept at work by Mr. Shoff, who, with the aid of his sons, carries on over two hundred acres, about half of which is devoted to truck farming. His own place comprises forty acres, ten of which are given to fine fruits. His dwelling is one of the largest in the township, and under its roof a somewhat remarkable family re- side. Mr. Shoff has thirteen living children, some of whom are now grown, and he has taken part in their games, sharing their pleasures with as much interest as he has manifested in their intellectual advancement and moral training. He has never whipped one of them, believing that other means are better adapted to the government of reasonable beings.

In 1861, Mr. Shoff was united in marriage with Miss Caroline Vandefelder, who bore him eight children, five of whom are living: Joseph, the eld- est, now lives in Peoria, following his father's oc- cupation of gardener and farmer; he is married and has one son, Frank; John, who is married and has four children, lives on the place with his father; Albert, Louis, and Carrie, are at home.

Subsequent to the death of his first wife, Mr. Shoff married Miss Minnie Alberts, daughter of

@1331 . BOWMAN'S LIVERY@ 13314

1327

OFFICE ||1331

STORE=ROOM, RESIDENCE AND LIVERY OF B.F. BOWMAN, MAIN ST. PEORIA.

J SHOFF

GARDEN STOCK FARN

GARDEN & STOCK FARM OF JOSEPH SHOFF, SEC. 12. LIMESTONE TP. PEORIA CO. ILL.

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George and Maggie Alberts, who emigrated from the northern part of Germany when she was thir- teen years of age. This union has resulted in the birth of nine children, eight of whom are now liv- ing, their names being Minnie, George, Frank, Charles, Lillie, William, Gertie, and Bessie. Flor- ence died at the age of five months. In addition to this family, Mr. and Mrs. Shoff have reared an orphan girl, Miss Anna Everhard, who remained with them until she was eighteen years of age. All of the children have been well educated, and some are far advanced in music and the higher branches of study.

The parents of Mr. Shoff belong to the Catholic Church, to which he was dedicated in his infancy. He and his good wife receive from those about them the esteem which their characters and Ilves merit, while their children have also their own place in the regard of the community.

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Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 103

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 1014

Author: Biographical Publishing Company, Buffalo and Chicago
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 1014