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 111
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rented a farm in Princeville, then in Akron Town- ship, for three years, and subsequently farmed near Duncan for two years. In 1872 he located on his present place, and in 1885 purchased eighty acres on section 10, placing that tract under sub- stantial improvement. He raises and sells cattle of fine grades, and has full-blooded Poland-China hogs, and good horses, using three teams to operate his farm.
Mr. Keller was first married in Princeville, March 21, 1866, to Miss Eunice A. Perkins, who was born in Connecticut and came here with her parents. Their wedded life was a happy one, and was brought to a close by her death in 1875. She was the mother of three children: Forest E., a tonso- rial artist in Princeville; Morris W., at home with his father; and a child who died in infancy. Mr. Keller was married to his present estimable wife, formerly Miss Marian Fallow, in January, 1878, the wedding ceremony taking place in Manchester. Conn. Mrs. Keller was born in Scotland, and came to America when a child with her father, John Fallow. She was reared in Connecticut, and when a young lady learned the manufacture of silk in the factories. She was married in Manchester to Addison Dart, and had one child by that mar- riage, Addison A. Dart, who lives with her and our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Keller have four chil- dren living : Wilder II., Geneva, Riley and an in- fant named Jennie. Their son John died at the age of three years.
Mr. Keller is in every way worthy of the high estimation set upon his valne by the community, as a noble, true-hearted, loyal Christian gentleman, in whom his fellow-citizens may place implicit trust. Forethought, sagacity and clear discern- ment, combined with a due sense of honor and honesty, are prominent traits of his character, and by these he has placed himself on a sound financial basis among the substantial citizens of the town- ship and county. He is a member of the Prince- ville Methodist Episcopal Church. of which he is at present Trustee, and the sincerity of his faith is betokened by his work. He is prominent in local polities, a stalwart among the Republicans, and has been Delegate to county conventions. Ile was School Director for three terms, and is at pres-
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ent Commissioner of Highways, serving his fourth term in this office. He is identified with the Princeville I. O. O. F. as Past Noble. He is an important member of the Frenche Post, G. A. R., of which lie is Past Commander, and he was present at the St. Louis and Columbus encampments.
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R OBERT H. AVERY. The Avery Planter Company succeeded the firm of R. H. & C. M. Avery, who began the present busi- ness at Galesburg, Ill., about 1872. They then engaged in the manufacture of the stalk eut- ter, which was invented by R. II. Avery, but after two years turned over the manufacture of this to other parties on a royalty. The stalk cutter was thus manufactured for a period of five years when, in 1878, the two brothers resumed its manufacture themselves, and added thereto the corn planter which was also invented by Mr. Avery, of whom we write. In 1879 they added the cheek rower, which was the invention of Mr. Berrien at the suggestion of Mr. Avery, and a part of which was patented by the latter.
About this time Mr. Berrien was taken into the employ of the Avery Bros., remaining with them until the summer of 1889. The factory also turned out the pivotal wheel cultivator. This was the first firm to put the tongueless plow on the market, but not finding it entirely practical, they then withdrew it until about 1885, then improved the same, making an implement that has been a great success, both for the labor required of it and as a salable artiele. The manufactory was contin . ued at Galesburg until 1882, when the firm of R. F. & C. M. Avery put up the buildings and estab- lished the plant at Peoria, it being located at No. 2300-2310 North Adams Street.
The main office, warerooms and factory have a frontage of over one hundred and fifty feet, with a depth of one hundred and sixty feet, built around a court forty feet square. The center of the front on Cedar Street is devoted to the offices, and di- reetly over these is a sample room. The building is a three story and basement under the whole,
with the exception of the north side, which is three stories and no basement. The building is equipped with automatie sprinklers for the purpose of extin- guishing fires. In faet every precaution has been taken against fire, each room being separated from the next by double doors, and each door covered with metal on both sides. The whole is illumi- minated by electric light. There are three elevators in the building.
The east side of the main building is on the switch of the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Rail- road, and the arrangements are such that none of the material employed in manufacture, such as iron, lumber, fuel and sand, requires to be loaded on to a wagon, but instead is taken directly from the ears into the building, and such are the facili- ties for loading that six ears may be sent out at a time. The building is of brick, with walls more than ordinarily heavy and substantial, fifteen thousand briek being employed to complete one course. There is also a tunnel running under the railroad tracks from the basement of the building to the level of those adjacent and in the rear. The establishment occupies five acres of land on either side of the track, upon a part of which is built a foundry, 70x288 feet in dimensions, with two eupolas and a fire proof pattern vault separate from it, these beiug of frame, briek lined and with metal roof.
The blacksmith-shop is 44x108 feet in dimen- sions, and there is a grinding and engine room of the same size, but separated by a fire wall. The wheel room and dipping room is 44x50, and there is a cleaning and tumbling room, 28x40. The buildings of the factory were all erected by R. H. & C. M. Avery, who carried on the factory one year. and then the business was incorporated under the name of the Avery Planter Company, with a capital stoek of $200,000. R. H. A very was made President, W. S. Coe, Secretary, and C. M. Avery, Treasurer. They give employment to three hun- dred men at the factory, besides numbers on the road. They have branch houses at Kansas City, Omaha and Des Moines, and their goods are also represented by B. F. Avery & Sons, at Louisville, Ky., who operate the Southern trade.
Twenty-five different styles of cultivators are
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manufactured by this company, and the present season (1890) a new check rower has been intro- duced, likewise a new variety of corn planter, to- gether with the manufacture of traction engines and separators. For this purpose it has been nec- essary to put in a line of new and heavy machin- ery and additional buildings, and the firm has just completed a large boiler room, 44x120 feet in di- mensions. The tongueless cultivator is constantly undergoing improvement, so that it now works almost automatically. Besides this the company manufactures the riding and walking plow, the wheels of which may be thrown forward when re- quired . in walking, and backward when riding, enabling the plow to be in balance at all times.
The subject of this notice was born at Galesburg. Ill., January 17, 1840, and was a son of George Avery, a native of New York, and now deceased. The mother bore the maiden name of S. P. M. Phelps, and is living in Galesburg, Ill. Robert H. spent his boyhood and youth in his native city, acquiring his education under a well-conducted school system, and at an early period in life began farming and handling live-stock. He was thus occupied until after the outbreak of the Civil War. then, in 1862, enlisted in Company A, Seventy- seventh Illinois Infantry, soon after which he was promoted to be a Sergeant. His regiment was as- signed to the Army of the Mississippi, and assisted in the siege and capture of Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, Jacksonville, and Schreveport. Mr. Avery was himself captured in August, 1864, and thrown into Andersonville Prison. Later he was sent to Savannah, and subsequently was at different places in Southern Georgia, under the guard of troops, but was finally returned to Andersonville, where he was confined until the close of the war, thus . being a prisoner for a term of eight and a half months, five and a half months being spent in Andersonville.
After being relegated to the ranks of civil life. Mr. Avery resumed farming in the vicinity of Galesburg, and was thus occupied until becoming interested in his present enterprise. Although a sound Republican, politically, he has held aloof from the responsibilities of office with the excep- tion of being connected with the School Board, of
which he is now President. He is at present serv- ing as Mayor of the village of Avery. He was married January 17, 1867. at Galesburg, III., to Miss Sarah P., daughter of F. M. and Sarah (Pay- son) Ayres. This union has resulted in the birth of six children, all of whom are living, namely : Minnie E., Frederick R., Sadie P., Cornelia, Ellen and Elizabeth P.
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AMUEL WOOLNER. In the life of this gentleman, who is now one of the leading citizens of Peoria, is provided an ex- cellent example of what may be accom- plished by a determined will from an humble beginning. Once a penniless foreigner, now an honored and influential citizen; once a peddler, now a capitalist; thus in a few words may be summed up a history in which it is our purpose to mention the chief events.
Samuel Woolner was born in Hungary on the 11th of March, 1846, to Solomon and Sallie Woolner. The Woolner brothers came to America in 1863, locating first in New York and then in Louisville, Ky. For some time Mr. Woolner followed the roads. peddling merchandise, and after having ac- cumulated some means, he, in connection with his brothers. built a distillery in Louisville. In 1871 they came to Peoria, following the same business, and a little later building the sugar works. The firm is now comprised of Adolph and Samuel Woolner. Jacob Woolner and Morris II. Woolner. They have erected a number of buildings in Peoria, some of them very fine ones, and are now con- structing a block, which is the largest and best adapted for its purposes in the city. owned by Adolph and Samuel Woolner.
In New York, March 20, 1869, Mr. Woolner led to the hymeneal altar Miss Johann Levy, who died in the winter of 1872, leaving an infant daughter. Miss Hannah S. Woolner is now a beautiful and accomplished young lady, well fitted to grace the society in which she moves and at- tract to her home a cultured cirele.
Samuel Woolner belongs to the Masonic frater-
John Larkin
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nity, having taken the thirty-second degree, and also a number of Jewish orders. He is a Di. rector in the German-American Bank and a member of the Whisky and Cattle Dealers' Trust. In poli- ties lie is a stanch Republican. He is now doing good service for the citizens of the Fifth Ward as a member of the Common Council, having served two terms. He has also represented the Fourth Ward for one term, being the first Republican who has ever represented that ward. He is the Presi- dent for the Home for the Aged and Infirm Is- raclites, at Cleveland, also a Director of the Cleve- land Orphan Asylum, at Cleveland, Ohio, which cares for five hundred orphan children. He has held several high positions in the Jewish orders, having been Grand Master of the order called the Independent Order of the Sons of Covenant; and also has been, and is now, a Director of the Peoria Board of Trade. He has been President of the Woolner Bros. Distillery since the organization of that firm up to the time he entered the Distillers' Cattle Feeding Company. He has been Treasurer of the Peoria Grape Sugar Company since its or- ganization. While shrewd in business transactions, he is honorable in his dealings, interested in the upbuilding of the city and its advancement as an educational center, and he, therefore, enjoys an ex- cellent reputation and has many warm personal friends.
OHN LARKIN. As the largest landowner in Trivoli Township and one of its leading farmers and stock-raisers, Mr. Larkin occu- pies an important place in the citizenship of Peoria County, and this BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM would be incomplete without a sketch of his life and work.
Hazard Larkin, the father of our subject, was born in Schoharie County, N. Y., April 8, 1800. His father, whose given name was John. was born in Rhode Island, near the Sound, and there followed farming. Some time after marriage he went with his wife and three children to settle among the pio- neers of Scolarie County, where he cleared a good
farm from the wilderness and became well-to-do. Ifis home was near Carlisle. Ile was a gallant soldier in the War of 1812, and the gon that he carried in that war is in the possession of our subject.
The father of our subject after his marriage in 1825, bought a farm of one hundred acres near Scoharie, which was his home until May 7, 1839, when he came to this county with his wife and four children in a covered wagon. The roads were very muddy and when he arrived here June 5, 1839, he had driven so hard that his horses were nearly killed. IIe had bought land in 1838 on section 22. Trivoli Township, comprising one hundred and sixty acres with some improvements on it. He gave 81,000 and a pair of horses for the place, and his family moved into the rude log house that stood there. This house was of the most primitive construction, put together without nails, with a puncheon floor, a rude fireplace, and a door with a wooden latch and hinges.
In early days Hazard Larkin used to have the land plowed around the house so that the prairie fires might not destroy it. He lived in that pio- neer home seven years and then replaced it with a frame house of hard wood. Ile added to his origi- nal purchase until he had two hundred and forty acres of land there. In 1855 he bought of Philip Johnson the farm now owned and occupied by our subject, comprising two hundred acres of land on section 10, and here he engaged in farming and stock-raising until his death in 1881 on the anni- versary of his birth. Ile was one of the wealthy men of the county, having at one time eight bun- dred acres of improved land. To each of his chil- dren he gave a good start in life, and was one of the most generous and open-handed of men, giving liberally to the poor. Ile was a Universalist in his religious faith, and a Democrat in politics.
The mother of our subject resides with him. The following are the names of her seven children: Almira, (Mrs. Cramer) of Livingston County; Joseph, who died in Newton, Iowa; Mary, (Mrs. Johnson) who died here; Asenath, (Mrs. Mar- quette) of Lincoln, Neb .; John; Daniel, who died here at the age of twenty-six years; Adelia, who died at the age of fourteen months.
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Nancy Larkin, the mother of our subject, was born in Seoharie County, N. Y., October 4, 1809, and was the second child in a family of eight chil- dren belonging to Joseph Borst, a native of Scolarie Connty. He was a farmer and stockman, clearing a farm from the primeval forests; he also built and managed a hotel on the main turnpike to Buffalo. He died at the age of thirty-nine years, of typhoid fever. Ilis father, Martin Borst, was born in Ger- many and came to America when a boy with his parents, settling in Seoharie County. Ile was a Revolutionary soldier. The maiden name of his wife was Betsey Lamb; she was born in Delaware County, and reared in Scoharie County among the Indians; while the men were out in the Indian war the women and children were obliged to take refuge in the old stone fort at Scobarie, where some three hundred of them were attacked by the British and Indians and would have been killed had it not been for brave old Tim Murphy, who stood and shot the Indians as they came. Grandfather Lamb was a Revolutionary soldier and a farmer in Seoharie County. One spring while he was making sugar in his orchard he and his son, William, were taken prisoners by the Indians and taken to Canada, the savages compelling them to walk and carry sugar on their backs. After they arrived at their desti- nation the old man was permitted to go home but the son was retained and became the property of an old squaw. She treated him very kindly and at the end of three years managed his eseape.
John Larkin, of whom we write, received his education in the pioneer district schools of this township, where he was born July 10, 1839. He was very young when he commenced work on the farm, driving an ox-team in breaking prairie; when he was only eleven years old,he and his brother Dan- iel, broke some one hundred aeres in one season. When he was but thirteen years old he drove horses, hogs and cattle to Pekin to be sold. He remained at home with his father and when twenty-one years old engaged in running the home farm himself, and after his father's death he came into possession of some of the homestead by inheritance and by buy- ing out the interest of the other heirs. His home farm comprises three hundred and sixty acres on section 10, where he has a fine large house, two
commodious barns and other buildings, windmill and tank, good wells and springs; the land is all tillable, well tiled and fenced with hedge and wire, and upon it are fine groves of walnut and other trees, and an orchard.
Mr. Larkin is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of the old homestead on section 22, two hundred and twenty acres of which are under the plow; it is supplied with a good set of buildings, and has fine springs of water, being considered the best stock farm in the county. He owns in all six hundred and twenty aeres in this township, and his wife has a well-improved farm of two hundred acres in Logan Township on the Peoria road, one-half mile from Eaton. Mr. Larkin has all of his land rented but two hundred acres which he devotes to pasture, and to raising grain and corn. He makes a specialty of raising Poland-China hogs, having from one to two hundred all the time, and shipping five or six carloads twice a year. During the war he raised sheep. Ile is engaged in breeding fine horses, of which he has thirty head, keeping good roadsters and using two or three teams on the farm.
Mr. Larkin's well-known public spirit has been of great benefit to his native township. He was very influential in securing the passage of the lowa Central Railroad through the township, as we have seen, giving it the right of way for half a mile and he was one of the three men who subscribed $1000 towards it. In 1886 he was elected Supervisor of the township, holding the office two terms and has been School Director and otherwise prominently connected with the management of public affairs. He is a member of the Farmington Lodge A. F. & A. M. Ule attends and is a liberal supporter of the Methodist Episcopal Church, although he is a be- liever in the Universalist faith. He has served on the Grand and Petit Juries, and is one of the prom- inent Democrats of the county, frequently serving as a delegate to county conventions.
Our subject was wedded to Miss Lottie C. Wiley, June 30, 1864. She is a native of Elmwood Town- ship, and a daughter of Andrew M., and Mary (Ewalt) Wiley, natives respectively of Greene County, Pa .. and Ohio, and early settlers of Elm- wood Township. Mr. Wiley by energetic and well directed labor became wealthy and owned
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some twelve hundred acres of land in Elmwood Township, where he was engaged as a stockman until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Larkin have had four children, namely: Nellie A., who died at the age of nine years; May Susan, a graduate of the Farmington High School when she was seventeen years old; Daniel Hazard and Nannie Josephine.
ILLIAM STRAESSER is a representative of one of the okdl pioneer families of this part of Illinois, and is in every way a worthy citizen of this his native county. He now owns and is successfully managing the homestead on section 5, Limestone Township, which was his birthplace and which his father developed from its original wildness. He is keeping it up to the same high state of cultivation that it had attained prior to the time it came into his possession, and with its substantial improvements, it makes one of the most desirable estates to be found in this part of the country.
Our subject is the son of the late. Christian and Catherine (Ilaller) Straesser, formerly well- known residents of this township. His father was born in Wittenburg, Germany, and when a young man, came to this country and settled in Martins- burg, Pa. He there met Catherine IIaller, also a native of Germany, and they being mutually pleased with each other, wore united in marriage in the Keystone State and lived there several years. They subsequently came to this county to build up a new home on its wild prairies. They selected a tract of land on section 35, that com- prises the farm on which our subject is located. Mr. Straesser first purchased one hundred and eighty acres of land and afterwards added cighty acres. Busy years of hard labor, sacrifice and some privation, such as is common in pioneer life followed, and through them all he worked ener- getically to place his land under tillage, and make of it a highly improved farm, and his success was complete. In the home which had thus been inade by the work of his own hands, with the active co- operation of his capable wife, he rounded out a
long and useful life of eighty-six years, May 13, 1888. His widow now makes her home in the city, where she enjoys fair health for one of her age, her years numbering seventy-one. Mr. Straes- ser was a member of the Lutheran Church for many years, but after coming to Peoria, joined the Evanglieal Church of that city and was identified with it until the time of his death. Politically he was a stanch Democrat.
Our subject was born on the parental homestead, in May, 1856,and here the years of his boyhood and youth were passed, and he is spending his man- hood amid the scenes of his early associations. Ile received a sound education in the district school, and from his father a good practical training in agriculture in all its branches, and having a natu- ral taste for such pursuits, has made farming and stock-raising his life work, and is doing well in his vocation.
Mr. Straesser brought to this home of his birth his bride, Miss Elizabeth F. Powell, December 24, 1878. Mrs. Straesser is a daughter of M. M. Pow- ell of the city of Peoria, who was formerly a resi- dent of Limestone Township. of which he was one of the original settlers. The pleasant home circle of our subject and his wife is completed by the three children born to them-Milton E., Elmer M. and Harold C.
Mr. Straesser displays in his work, a keen, thoughtful, practical mind and excellent business habits, combined with wise thrift and a good ca- pacity for prudent management, that insures suc- cess in any calling. He and his wife are well regarded by all in their neighborhood as they are pleasant and considerate in their dealings with others. Politically our subject follows in the foot- steps of his father, and upholds the Democratic party.
HOMAS GILES. Among the residents in Richwood Township, who have spent years in assisting in its development, have met with a deserved success in their efforts to accomn- late a competence, and have retired from active labor, is Thomas Giles. He was but little past his
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majority when he came hither with his father, and from that time until he had passed his three-score years and ten, he was actively identified with the work of the township, farming being the business to which he chiefly devoted himself. He is the fortunate possessor of an estate of three hundred and thirty-three acres which has been thoroughly cultivated, marked with excellent improvements, and is in all respects a well-regulated estate.
The parents of our subject were Thomas and Ann (Picken) Giles, natives of Gloucestershire and Huntingdonshire, England, respectively. They were married in the island of St. Helena, where they lived several years. Thence they went to Glouces- tershire, from there to South Wales, finally emi- grating to America during the year John Quincy Adams was President. They settled in Utica, N. Y .. but after a time removed to Richland, Oswego County, remaining there until 1836, when they came to Peoria County, Ill. They settled on section 33, Richwood Township, where the husband died in 1838, the widow surviving several years. Mr. Giles was a stonemason by trade, and also preached, being of the Baptist faitlı. He and his good wife had a family of seven children, of whom our sub- ject is the eldest.
The gentleman of whom we write, was born on the island of St. Helena, February 28, 1814, and accompanied his parents in their various removals during his youth, until they finally located in this county. He was first married to Margaret Poplett, a sister of Wylie Poplett, in whose sketch the his- tory of her parents will be found. The marriage resulted in the birth of seven children-Nathan T., .James, Joseph, William. Henry, George, and Mary II. The first two named are deceased, and Mary is the wife of George Yates. The devoted mother and faithful companion died in Richwood Town- ship, which had been the scene of her marriage and wedded life.
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