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 46
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Our subject is the only remaining child of his mother, and is her stay and comfort in her old age, and has supported her ever since he was old enough. When he grew to manhood he adopted the calling of a farmer, and the good fortune that has followed his well-directed efforts, has amply justified his choice. He has a well-appointed farm on section 8, Chillicothe Township, that is under fine cultiva- tion, and is supplied with substantial and well-or- dered buildings for every needed purpose. This farm is especially well adapted to the dairy busi- ness, and he and Mr. Shepard established a dairy here in January, 1888. They have since been oper-
ating it very profitably, and are constantly extend- ing its facilities and capacity to meet the demands of their extensive and growing patronage in Chilli- cothe. They have a herd of fifty cows, and aver- age that number the year round, and are careful to have only the stock best suited to their purposes, and supply their customers with the purest of milk and the richest of cream. Mr. Whittaker has lived on this farm nine years, and has made it what it is by hard labor.
Our subject was married in Peoria, May 26, 1881 to Miss Ada F. Shepard, a native of this township She was born September 15, 1861, and is the youngest daughter and child of F. E. Shepard, of whom see biography on another page of this vol- ume. Mrs. Whittaker was carefully reared in the home of her parents in this township, and under- stands well how to make home pleasant and attract- ive, not only to its inmates, but to all who cross its threshold, whether friend or stranger. She is the mother of four children, one of whom, Anna C., is dead. The living are Clara A., Alice A., and James E.
That Mr. Whittaker has thus far been successful in life, is attributable to his industrious habits and good business principles. Ile stands well in this community as a business man and as a citizen, and is irreproachable in his domestic and social rela- tions. In his political beliefs he is a decided Re- publican, and never hesitates to support bis party on all occasions.
AMES TURNER is an old and respected far- mer of Jubilee Township, who by dint of persistent toil and excellent management of his affairs, has placed himself in good cir- eumstanees, and is proprietor of one of the choice farms for which this section of the country is noted.
Our subject is of English birth and antecedents. His father, John Turner, who was a laborer, was born in Devonshire, England, and died in May, 1812, before our subjeet was born. Our subject's mother, whose maiden was Ann Dovey, was also a
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native of Devonshire. She reared two children, John and James, the former of whom died in Eng- land in 1888.
The latter of whom we write. was born amid the pleasant scenes of Devonshire. in October, 1812, and passed the early years of his life on English soil. His mother kept him with her until he was eight years old, and then the fatherless little lad was apprenticed to a farmer, and was early instruc- ted in all the labors of farming operations. His educational advantages were limited to attendance at Sunday-school and church, and he is purely a self-made man. He remained with the man to whom he had been apprenticed until he was twenty- one, and then hired out to another person. He did not like that man. however, and did job work rather than work for him, and did not engage in serving out again for some time, but was employed in making and working on roads. IIe subsequently was employed by Esquire Turk at his house and lime kiln, and was with him eleven years. He was married there and wished to take his bride to All- stralia, but did not do so. He then returned to work for the man to whom he had formerly been apprenticed, and was employed by him the ensuing two years. Ile had not, however, given up the idea of trying life in a foreign country, and in 1853, he came to America, sailing from Bedford, and after a lengthy voyage of twelve weeks, landed in Que- bec. From there he made his way to this county, and settled at Robins' Nest. where he hired to Henry Chase for three years. At the expiration of that time he entered into partnership with Mr. Chase in operating the farm. After that he sent for two of his brothers to come to this country, and he took charge of Col. Capron's stock farm through the war. Ile next bought land on his own account. and became an independent farmer, pur- chasing forty acres of wild prairie land at $10 an acre. At that time he was living at Jubilee Col- lege, renting land there. He then took possession of his own place, and after improving that, bought forty acres more for $750, and has also placed that under substantial improvement. He has a new barn that is commodious and well arranged, and has a comfortable and well appointed dwelling house. The land is well watered with springs, and is
adapted both to grain and stock-raising, and he has devoted it to both purposes. He formerly raised fine horses, both draft and roadsters, and engaged in the dairy business, making excellent butter which found a ready market in Peoria. He has a fine orchard and a good garden, and all things about the place are in an excellent condition. In 1889 Mr. Turner sold his stock, and has since rented his farm.
Mr. Turner has been twice married. The first time in England in 1850. His wife accompanied him across the water to his new home in this coun- try, and in 1878 she died of cancer of the breast. She left one child, Eliza, to comfort our subjeet in his affliction. This daughter has been given ex. cellent educational advantages, is a graduate of Ju- bilee College, and was engaged in teaching until her marriage to Dr. Young, of Kickapoo.
Mr. 'Furner was married a second time in Peoria, July 27, 1880, taking as his wife Mrs. Christine Roebell, a daughter of Frederick Roby, a native of Berne, Oldenburg, Germany. Her father was a cooper by trade, and finally became a sailor and the captain of a ship of which he was the owner. Ile died in his native town. His father, likewise named Frederick, was a baker by occupation, and his death occurred in Berne. Mrs. Turner's moth- er's maiden name was Lutzia Margaret Andres, and she too was a native of Berne, and a daughter of Cornelius Andres, who was born in Denmark. He went to Berne when quite young, and in his boy- hood went to sea, and subsequently became a cap- tain. He died in Fagersact. Mrs. Turner's par- ents had twelve children, of whom the following is recorded: Berne D. died when small; Gretta died in Peoria; Berne Deitrick was a sailor, and died on the sea; Cornelius was a captain on a steamship, and died in Germany; Christine, wife of our sub- ject; Henry was captain, was shipwrecked, and died at sea; Frederick was a sailor, and died in New York City; Lutzia M. lives in Germany; Re- becca, now Mrs. Shoddy, lives in Illinois; Mary died in Harper County, Kan .; J. Deitrick resides in Indiana; and Caroline in Germany.
Mrs. Turner was born in Berne, Oldenburg, Ger- many, October 28, 1821, and was reared there, re- ceiving excellent educational advantages. She re-
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mained at home until she went to live with another family, and subsequently came to America when she was twenty-one. She left Bremenhaven in 1845, and after several weeks on the ocean, landed at New Orleans, where she was married in 1846, to August Roebell, a native of Germany. Ile was a carpenter in New Orleans, and they lived there eleven years, and then came North and located at Hilton, opposite Peoria. Mr. Roebell carried on carpentering there until his death. His widow then moved to Peoria, and acted as nurse, and was oth- erwise engaged until her marriage to our subject. . She had one son, Henry-by her first marriage. He was apprenticed to learn the trade of a cooper in Bloomington, and in 1863, when but eighteen years old, enlisted in the Twenty-sixth Illinois In- fantry, and served under Sherman through Georgia, and accompanied him to the sea, and was with him until the close of the war. Ile was killed in 1867, in Peoria, by a runaway team.
During Mr. Turner's long residenee in this town- ship, he has gained and retained the honor and es- teem of his fellow-citizens by his straightforward and upright course in all the affairs of life, and in the various departments that he has been called upon to fill as husband, father, neighbor, and citi- zen. His record shows him to possess those char- aeteristics by which a man is enabled to achieve sneeess in whatever calling he is engaged. Ile has faithfully served his adopted township as School Director, etc., and in him the Baptist Church at Kickapoo finds one of its solid members. He has been a stalwart Republican in politics ever since he came here.
ANIEL HITCHCOCK. Among the men to whom Peoria County owes much in the way of agricultural and commercial development, is Daniel Hitchcock, now Justice of the Peace of Akron Township. He owns and occupies a pleas- ant home in Princeville, which town has been his place of abode since 1877. The exterior of his dwelling indicates the comfort and convenience of its arrangement, while the adornments of the
grounds which surround it are especially indicative of the tastes of the thorough housekeeper and re- fined woman who presides therein. Squire Ilitch- cock is well known throughout the county. and particularly in this section, the public ottices which lie has beld giving him an extended acquaintance, and his business enterprises also bringing hin prominently before the people.
Jedediah Hitchcock, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was a native of the Bay State, whence he re- moved to Greene County, N. Y. Ile afterward came farther west and selecting a location in Peoria County, Ill., he here continued the agricultural la- bors to which his life was devoted. Ile was a man of action and energy, whose characteristics have de- scended to the grandson. The immediate progenitor of our subject was Ira Hitchcock, born in Greene County, N. Y., who followed his father's occupation, but was also interested in milling. He operated a sawmill in his native county for some years, then removing to the vicinity of Detroit, Mich., devoted himself entirely to rural pursuits for a time. Se- curing a tract of timber land, he cleared it contin- ning similar labor on other land which he entered from the Government, but finally becoming in- volved, sold his property and came to Illinois in 1836. Ile located in Radnor Township, this county, but after a few years removed to Akron Township, buying Government land at the head of Kickapoo Creek. llis farm was placed under excellent im- provement and upon it he continued to reside until called hence. He passed away cheered by the faith of the Baptist Church, in which he had long been a member.
The wife of Ira Hitchcock bore the maiden name of Olive Goodsell, and was. like her husband, a na- tive of Greene County, N. Y., and was of Scotch ancestry. She lived to the age of eighty years, dy- ing at the home of our subject in 1887. She was the mother of five children, namely: Ira B., de- ceased; Daniel; Milo, deceased; Mrs. Lura Yates, deceased; and Henry, who lives in Kansas.
The subject of this sketch was born in the town of Hunter, Greene County, N. Y., August 24. 1825. He was a mere boy when the family jour- neyed by canal and lake to Detroit, within seven miles of which city he was reared on a farm until
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past the age of eleven years. His educational advan- tages during that time was those of the common schools, but his naturally practical mind applied the information he received as occasion demanded. The removal to the Prairie State was accomplished by a wagon train, corduroy roads being followed and swamps crossed. The Illinois River was crossed at Ottawa and Lacon.
Young Hitchcock remained under the parental roof until of age, helping his father to improve the farm, bearing his share in all the pioneer labors as his strength inereased, and enjoying some of the sports of frontier life where deer and wolf were among the wild game and where a few straggling Indians yet lingered. The breaking plow with which he turned the virgin soil of the prairie had a wooden mold-board, and his youthful recollee- tions include many a trip to Chicago when team- sters had to help pull each other out of the mud. and a twelve days' absence from home was neces- sitated.
When he became of age Mr. Hitchcock bought one hundred and sixty acres on section 28, Akron Township, paying 85 per acre for the raw land. IIe built a frame house, improved and successfully cultivated his estate, adding to his store of worldly goods from year to year. In 1877, he moved into Princeville and built a steam mill having a capac- ity of one hundred barrels per day, which was first operated by the firm of himself and Joseph Voor- hees. The business flourished, and after four years of partnership the entire control was assumed by our subject who carried on the business alone two years. At the expiration of that time the mill and elevator was burned to the ground, entailing a loss of $20,000, somewhat crippling Mr. Hitch- cock financially, but by no means discouraging him. Since this catastrophe he has retired from business, devoting himself to the enjoyment of the goods which he possesses.
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Mr. Hitchcock owns twelve acres of land in Princeville, upon which is located his dwelling and a fish pond over an acre in extent. Ile is raising carp and catfish and takes quite an interest in this occupation, viewing it in the line of a recreation from the business of former years. The lady to whom he owes the comfort and order of his home
life, was born at Akron Centre, Ohio, and came to this county with her parents at an early day. She was known in her girlhood as Miss Abigail M. Bronson, and is a daughter of the late Hiel and Mary Bronson, long and favorably known in this section. Her union with our subject was celebrated at her home in Akron Township, in 1865.
Nearly all the township offices have been held by 'Squire Hiteleock, and as Justice of the Peace he has served off and on for twenty years. He was made Constable when but twenty-one years old, holding that office until he became Justice. For four years he was Deputy Sheriff under Sheriff Cornwell, his duties taking him all over the county. His political affiliation is with the Demo- cratie party. He belongs to the lodge of the Free and Accepted Masons in Princeville, and the Royal Arch Masons at Lacon, and has a demit from the Odd Fellows fraternity. lle has served his politi- cal party as a delegate to county conventions and as a member of the Central Committee,
AJ. CHARLES QUALMAN. To no other class of men is Illinois more indebted for its marvelous growth and the high stand- ing it has attained among its sister States since the war, than to the brave citizen-soldiers of our great Republic, who fought so nobly for its preservation, and at the close of the strife quietly departed from the scenes of their victory and took up again their old callings, or entered new fields, and in every walk of life vigorously aided in push- ing forward the commercial, manufacturing, agri- cultural and general financial interests of the State, and are to-day in many cases among its most en- terprising and important citizens. As a fine repre- sentative of these it gives us pleasure to place on the pages of this volume a life record of Maj. Charles Qualman, who did noble service in the cause of his adopted country during the late civil strife, and won a distinguished military record, of which the community where he made his home so many years and with whose every interest he is so closely identified is justly proud. He is one of the
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leading boot and shoe dealers of Peoria, is promi- nent in the business and social circles of the city and county, and is a conspicuous figure in its public life.
Our subject was born in Hamburg, Germany, July 20, 1837, a son of Charles and Dora (Wag- ner) Qualman. His father was a Captain in the German army, in which he served all his life. There were three children in the family: Louis, a Lieutenant in the Regular United States Army ; Dora, widow of Frederick Nagle, of Hamburg, Germany, and our subject.
Charles Qualman was brought up to mercantile pursuits in his native Germany, and at an early age had to learn the duties of a clerk. In his sev- enteenth year he went to Paris, France, where he was engaged in the dry-goods business two and one- half years as a clerk in Dipo dry-goods store. From there he went to London, where he was in the same business a little over two years. Desirous to see more of the country and ambitious to make a name and a place for himself in the world, and rightly considering that the United States of Amer- ica was the country where best his ambition would be gratified, he sailed to this country March 2, 1861. After his arrival here he traveled for awhile and with great interest watched the progress of the war, which had sprung up soon after he came here. The soldierly instincts that he had inherited from his father soon impelled him to take a part in the strife and July 6, 1861, he enrolled his name as a member of Company K, Third Indiana Cavalry, and from that time took an active and quite a prominent part in all the battles in which his regi- ment fought. The principal engagements in which he participated were the following : Shiloh, Perrys- ville (Ky.), Stone River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, was with Burnside at Knoxville (Tenn.), returned to Chattanooga, and with Sherman went on the famous march to Atlanta and the sea.
Maj. Qualman was mustered out of service Sep- tember 19, 1864. His valor and ability had won him promotion from the ranks through the various grades from private to major. He was commis- sioned Second Lieutenant February 25, 1862; First lieutenant on the 6th of the following April, and was made Captain the following September, and
gained the rank of Major, September 2, 1864. lle commanded his regiment for some months, and his fine soldierly qualities and capacity as a leader gained him commendation on every side. The fol- lowing deserved tribute from a letter of Gen. S. D. Atkins, recommending him for promotion shows in what estimation he was held. "I have seen him under fire and know him to be brave, competent, intelligent and dashing. ITe is highly worthy of a colonel's commission and has earned it by three years' hard service in the field." At Jonesboro, Gen. Kilpatrick told Sherman "That is a man who will do as directed, and successfully." Sherman then ordered him to go to the rebel line and destroy the railroads. Maj. Qualman took a picked company of one hundred men and accomplished his orders. He drove back the pieket lines and destroyed the track, so that upon the approach of the train in the morning it had to be abandoned. This was pro- nounced one of tho most daring, as it was one of the most successful feats of that memorable cam- paign ; was so spoken of at the time by the press, and is so considered now. For his bravery at Shelbyville, Tenn., the Major's command gave him a sword, belt and sash. At the reunion of the Third Indiana he was honored by his comrades by the presentation of a medal.
After being mustered out of the service, Maj. Qualman was married, January 16, 1865, to Eliza- beth Greene, of Indianopolis, Ind. He brought his bride directly to Peoria, having selected this city as a desirable place in which to establish a home on account of the fine facilities offered to men of business enterprise. He opened a boot and shoe store, which he has continued to manage with financial success ever since, his annual sales amounting to $40,000. He has a neat, well-ap- pointed store, well furnished, and carries a large stock of the best assortment of boots and shoes.
To Mr. and Mrs. Qualman have been born two sons: Charles C., in business with his father, and Phillip, Assistant Cashier in the Northern Pacific Railroad in Tacoma, Wash.
Maj. Qualman is one of the leading members of the G. A. R , belonging to Bryner Post No. 67, of which he is Post Commander. also Trustee of the Post. He was a delegate to the National Conven-
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tion at San Francisco, and is now Aid-de Camp to the State Commander. He is a member of the Masonic order, which he joined in 1865. He has borne an honorable part in the public life of the city, serving two years on the Board of Supervisors and four years as a member of the School Board. ITe is a true blue Republican, and his popularity is shown when we mention that he is the only one of his party elected on the Board of Supervisors of « ighteen members.
ILLIAM CATTON, deceased. was of Eng- lish birth and breeding, but became a citi - zen of this country when in the vigor and prime of a stalwart, manly manhood, casting in his lot with the pioneers of this county, and in the years of hard work that followed, built up a home here and made a name and a place for himself in Brimfield Township, and when death called him hence left behind him an unblemished record.
Mr. Catton was born in Lincolnshire, England, in October, 1829. He was a son of Thomas and Mary (Clarke) Catton, who were also natives of England, and he was reared to man's estate on a farm in the land of his birth, and engaged in agri- cultural pursuits all his life. His educational ad- vantages were limited, but he had a bright observ. ing mind and made up for early deficiencies in book learning later in life. In 1853, he took a most im- portant step in his marriage with Ann Pacey, who had much to do with his after success. She was also born in Lincolnshire, Jannary 16, 1829. being the date of his birth. Her parents, Thomas and Sarah (Kettleborough) Pacey, were likewise natives of England. They had a family of eight children, of whom Mrs. Catton and her brother John and sister Elizabeth are the ouly known survivors.
In the spring of 1854, our subject and his wife, «migrated to this country. taking passage at Liver- pool, April 5, in a sail vessel, and landing in New York City, after a voyage of three weeks and four days. They made their way to Sturgis, Mich., and a month later came from there to this connty, where he found work on a farm and was thus en-
gaged a short time. He subsequently rented a farm for a number of years, and finally be- came a land holder in his owr. right, purchas- ing a farm in Brimfield Township, which is still in possession of his widow. In the small shanty that was on the place at the time he bought it, he and his family lived for a short time, and he after- ward built a more commodious honse. Year after year he was constantly engaged in the improvement of his farm and made it what it is to-day. one of the best cultivated and most desirable places in the neighborhood. At the time of his death it comprised three hundred and twenty acres of land, this prop- erty being the product of a life work of industry.
In the fullness of time and in the ripeness of years, our subject was called from the scenes of his usefulness and "Cheerful he gave his being up and went to share the holy rest that waits a life well spent." The brief lines of this biography searce indicate the worthiness of our subject whose repn- tation for unswerving rectitnde in all his dealings, and for neighborly kindness, sympathy and help- fulness in his relations with those about him, was high and gave him the regard of the entire com- munity. He was a representative pioneer of the township, a self-made man, and did his share in promoting the growth of this region. He had served with ability as a School Director for a num- ber of years, and was a firm supporter of the Re- publican party.
Mr. Catton, who was a kind and loving father and husband, was happy in his domestic relations, finding in his wife a true companion. and in his off- spring, filial, devoted children. His widow, who is now past three-score years, is still living on the old homestead which has been reduced to eighty acres, surrounded by her children and friends, and enjoying the fruits of a life spent in usefulness and well doing. She is classed among the pioneer women of this township, who have had a great share in its upbuilding in the assistance they have afforded their fathers, husbands and brothers, in the hard and constant toil necessitated in the work of de- veloping a new country. Five of the ten children born of her wedded life with our subject are still living: Matilda, wife of Simpson Hall of Kansas; Ira, in Brimfield Township .; Charles, in Millbrook
Cobond
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Township; Albert, in Brimfield Township; Flora, wife of Uly Grant of Millbrook Township. Those deceased are Mary E., Sarah J., Elsie B., John and James.
ATTHEW LIND. Among the residents of l'eoria, who after years of meritorious con- duct, have entered into rest, the late Matthew Lind is deserving of mention in a volume which presents in biographical form the history of this section of the country as told in the lives of its citizens. He was born in Milltown, Cumberland County, Pa., June 11, 1829, being descended from sturdy Scotch ancestry. A public school education was supplemented by a course of study in a business college in Baltimore, Md., whence he emerged well equipped in mind for the duties which lay before him.
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