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 73
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116
The political adherence of Mr. Hawley is given to the Democratic party, in the principles of which he firmly believes. Among the offices which he has held in the township are that of Highway Com- missioner and various positions relating to the con- duct of the schools. He and his wife are liberal in their religious views.
G USTAVE DAMMANN. We would fail of our object of representing a complete history of the county were we to omit from this ALBUM the sketch of the late Gustave Dam- mann, who for nearly a quarter of a century was engaged in business in Peoria. He was an excel- lent example of the zealous, industrious, law-abid- ing German-American citizen, who, steadfastly pursuing his business career, thriftily managing his income, secured a good standing in business circles and was enabled to supply his family with all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
The parents of our subject were John Frederick and Johanna (Gebser) Dammann, natives of Prus- sia, in which kingdom the son Gustave was also born, the date of his birth being October 22, 1832. Ile remained in his native land until after he had become of age, acquiring the education which thic Fatherland provides for all her sons and daugh- ters. Having been drawn to America by the re- ports which had reached him of the better oppor. tunities for financial advancement and personal advantage which would be found here, he emigrated in 1854, making his first settlement in Burlington, Iowa. There he was engaged in the grocery busi- ness about four years, after which he removed to Galesburg, Ill., resuming his former occupation in
- .
-
639
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
that place. In 1862 he took up his abode in Peoria, embarking in the toy business, which he successfully prosecuted as long as his health would permit. After a long sickness he breathed his last, November 11, 1886.
Mr. Dammann was a man of integrity in busi- ness relations, kind and considerate in social and domestic life, meriting the esteem of his associates and receiving from them a due measure of the same. Appreciating the opportunities which this country affords, he gave his children every advan- tage possible, assisting them to secure good edu- cations, and encouraging all their efforts toward personal advancement. lle was a member of the Order of Druids. Before coming to this country Mr. Dammann was a member of the Lutheran Church, but never identified himself with any church here.
The marriage of Mr. Dammann and Miss Jose- phine Steffens was celebrated April 20, 1856. Mrs. Dammann is a native of Germany. but at the time of her marriage was living in Burlington, Iowa. She is a notable housewife, a devoted mother and a devout member of the Sacred Heart Church. Mr. and Mrs. Dammann became the parents of seven children, but three of whom are now living. The son, Frederick Joseph, is now in business; Jenny, a graduate of the Normal School, is en- gaged in teaching; Ernestine is her mother's com- panion in the home, and is now engaged in the millinery business.
E DWARD F. WILDER has been engaged in farming and stock-raising in Radnor Town- ship since pioneer times, and by his skill and ability as an agriculturist he has contributed not a little to its growth and material prosperity. His farm on section 12, compares favorably in all re- spects with the many choice farms for which this county is so celebrated. He comes of a sterling 4 New England ancestry. His father, Lindal Wilder, was a native of Massachusetts, and his mother, Bet- sey Hadley, was also of New England birth. They
spent their married life in Oswego County, N. Y., where they were industriously engaged in farming, and there rounded out lives of worth and useful- ness. They had a family of three children, of whom our subject was the second in order of birth.
lle was born in the town of Sandy Creek, Os- wego County, N. Y., February 14, 1824, and on his father's farm was reared to the life of a farmer. He resided in his native place until 1845, and then in the opening years of an active, noble manhood, came to Peoria County, seeking on these western prairies to establish a home for himself. He had come here without capital, and in order to seeure means of independence, worked out by the month as a farm laborer until about 1856. lle then set- tled on his farm on section 12, Radnor Township, which is still his home, and which he had purchased as early as 1847. He has here one hundred and eighty acres of land, which by unceasing activity and hard pioneer labor, he has developed into a fine piece of property. It is under good tillage, and he has erected commodious buildings of a substan- tial order for every needed purpose, has provided good machinery for carrying on farming, and con- ducts his interests after the most approved meth- ods.
When our subject first located on his farm, he was unmarried, but he was not obliged to toil alone for a great length of time, as by his marriage, April 30, 1857, with Miss Eliza J., daughter of Thomas and Margaret Hanson, natives of Ireland, he se- cured the active co-operation of a wife, who has been all in all to him. Mrs. Wilder's parents came to America in 1839, and were pioneers of this county, where they passed the remainder of their days. She was the third of their four children, and was born in County Kerry. Ireland, December 16, 1826. She and her husband have one daughter, Rosella M., who was born in Radnor Township, March 13, 1858. She is now the wife of Charles R. Cline, and is the mother of two children, Oscar E. and Nellie R. She remained at home with her parents until her marriage, and was carefully reared and educated.
Mr. and Mrs. Wilder are very pleasantly situated and their attractive home is the center of a charm- ing hospitality. By his fellow-citizens Mr. Wilder
640
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
is regarded with feelings of friendship and confi- dence, as he is kind, considerate, and conscientious in all his dealings with them, and when any of his neighbors are in sorrow or in need, they look to him, and also to his good wife, who is held in like esteem, sure of their sympathy and help. Mr. Wilder has been School Director for three years, although he has not sought office, but has attended strictly to his business. Mrs. Wilder and dangh- ter are among the most valued members of the Presbyterian Church.
OHN PORTER, deceased, formerly held an important place among the leading farmers . and stock-growers of this county, of which he was an honored pioneer. He was an early settler of Millbrook Township, and his death was a serious loss to its citizenship, as he had al- ways taken a deep interest in its welfare, and his name was associated with all plans for the moral, social and educational advancement of the com- munity.
He was a native of Scotland, coming of a good family, and was born in Gallowayshire, March 6, 1812. He was a son of James and Grace (Tait) Porter, who were also natives of Scotland, and his father was a physician by profession. The early years of the life of our subject were passed upon his native heath, but when about eighteen years old he went from his old home to Blackburn, Eng- land, and there served an apprenticeship in the mercantile business as a grocer and dry-goods clerk for some seven years. He continued clerk- ing for some years and gained a thorough knowl- edge of the business, he having a quick mind, which had been developed by a good education. In 1848 he threw up his position as clerk in Eng- land and came to America. He landed in New Orleans and from there came to this county, and for a time was engaged as clerk in a mercantile business in Peoria.
Our subject finally turned his attention to farm- ing, and in 1852 located on section 12, Millbrook Township, whence he removed with his family in
1856 to the home now occupied by his widow. His success as an agriculturist was complete, and at the time of his death, August 21. 1878, he had here a large farm of two hundred and forty acres that was under fine improvement, with well-tilled fields and substantial buildings for every purpose. It was originally a tract of wild land, on which a furrow had never been turned, and it was only by the quiet force of persistent and unremitting toil that he made it what it is to-day.
Mr. Porter was first married in November, 1848, to Jane Anderson. His marriage with Jeanette Smith, who survives him, was solemnized Febru- ary 24, 1852. Mrs. Porter was born in Glasgow, Scotland, April 20, 1830, a daughter of John and Bethia Ury Smith, who were also of Scottish birth and antecedents. When she was about twelve years old they emigrated to America, crossing the Atlantic in a sail vessel and landing in New Orleans, and thence proceeding to St. Louis, Mo., where they remained about two years. In 1844 they came to Princeville Township, where they spent their remaining years, the father dying in 1852, and the mother October 24, 1876. They were among the early pioneers of Princeville Township, where Mr. Smith purchased forty acres of land from the Government, at $1.25 an acre,. and did much pioneer labor in developing it. While a resident of the old country, when he was a young man, he had been a soldier in the British army and had served in the Peninsular campaign under the famous Wellington; he also fought in many battles in Spain against the French. He was a regular and served nine years. He was a sincere Christian and a member of the Presbyterian Church." Mrs. Porter and her brother, Archibald, of Prince- ville Township, are the only survivors of a family of eight children. She is an active member of the Presbyterian Church, always taking part in any of its good works, and she is a very intelligent, capa- ble woman, of many pleasant social qualities, and is highly regarded by the entire community. She has witnessed the gradual growth of the county. -and can recall many a pioneer scene, and converses interestingly of the primitive life and the condition of the country in the early days of its settlement. To our subject and his wife were born ten chil-
-
1
641
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
dren, of whom six are living: Bethia, now Mrs. Debord, of Princeville Township; Grace, Clara, David, John P., and James.
Mr. Porter was a man of marked intelligence. and of a firm and dignified character, which, with his high moral integrity, won him the absolute trust and full esteem of his fellow-citizens when he came here to cast his lot with the resolute pioneers of Peoria County, with many of whom he lived in close friendship for many years. He conducted his affairs with excellent business tact and wise economy, and his honesty in all his transactions was proverbial. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, and had officiated in the Sunday-school as Superintendent. He served as School Director, and was frequently solicited to take other important offices of trust by his fellow-citizens, but would not accept, preferring the quietness and comfort of his happy fireside to the turmoil of public life. Since the death of Mr. Porter his widow has added eighty acres to the original homestead, and she now has three hundred and twenty acres.
ICHIAEL PFEIFER. This gentleman is one of the leading German-Americans of Peoria, in which city he has pursued a suc- cessful business career for more than a quarter of a century. He has been the organizer of many important beneficiary corporations and to his business ability much of their success has been due. A detailed account of his labors from the time when he was engaged in chopping wood on the Mississippi River to the present, would afford the strongest possible proof of his energy and capa- bility. and add another striking example to the list of prominent and influential men who have risen by their own exertions.
In Bavaria, Germany, January 17, 1829, the eyes of our subject first opened to the light of day. He was reared in his native land until near man's estate, when he determined to seek his fortune in America, arriving in this country in August, 1849. Coming west as far as the Mississippi River, he spent four or five months in wood chopping and
then found employment as a teamster in St. Louis, Mo. After a time he entered a furniture store where he remained until 1855, when he came to Peoria to engage as a clerk for Albert Potthoff & Co., hardware dealers. Ile remained with them and their successors until 1861, when he embarked in business for himself, opening a grocery store on the corner of Bridge and Washington Streets. Two years later he added hardware to his stock, after- ward abandoning the trade in groceries and devo- ting his attention entirely to dealing in hardware and agricultural implements. In this he still con- tinues, having added farm seeds to his stock, and is doing an excellent retail business under the style of M. Pfeifer & Co.
Mr. Pfeifer is one of the organizers of the Work- ingmen's Loan and Homestead Association, which was the first society of the kind started here and in which he has been a Director since its organiza- tion, with the exception of four years when he was representing. the First Ward in the City Council having resigned his directorship when elected Alderman. He also assisted in organizing the Ger- man Workingmen's Association, which is still in existence, and the Inheritance Association wnich has been disorganized. He was one of the origi- nal stockholders in the Central City Street Car lines, in which he is still interested and in which he has been a Director thirteen years. He was in- terested in the organization of the German Bank- ing Company, of which he was President about six years; it was then merged into the German-Ameri- can National Bank with a capital of $100,000, of which Mr. Pfeifer was President six years.
Another institution with the organization of which Mr. Pfeifer was connected, is the German Fire Insurance Company, which was incorporated in 1878, with a capital of $100,000 and now has a capital of $300,000 and a record of thirteen years of successful business. Mr. Pfeifer has been the Director and the Treasurer of this society since its organization.
Mr. Pfeifer has belonged to the Independent Or- der of Odd-Fellows since 1852, and is one of the leading members of the society in which he has filled all of the Chairs. In 1858 he joined the Ger. man Fire Company, of which he was an active mem-
612
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
ber for twelve years, during that time filling the positions of Secretary, Treasurer and foreman. He owns quite a large amount of real estate in the city. He married Miss Barbara Goehring of St. Louis who was born in Bavaria in 1827. She is still living, hale and hearty, and capable of enjoy- ing as in earlier years the society of her many friends and the comforts by which she is surrounded.
B LAIR K. MOUL is a practical wide-awake, energetic member of the farming commu- nity of Peoria County, and since he located on his present farm on section 7, Brimfield Township, he has greatly developed and improved it until it now stands among the most valuable in this locality. Our subject is a native of Perry County, Pa., and was there born February 15, 1854. to Joseph and Margaret (Lyons) Moul. llis par- ents were also natives of the Keystone State. and there our subject spent the early years of his life, receiving his education in the local schools. Ile did not have many advantages in the way of ac- quiring book learning, but being fond of reading and possessing good powers of observation, he has since become well informed, and keeps abreast of the times concerning all subjects of general inter- est. When he was a lad of ten years. he had the misfortune to lose his father, and his mother be- ing poor, he was early thrown on his own resources. He, however, possessed a sturdy, self-reliance, and was active and capable, and found no difficulty in finding work, being employed as a farm hand at fourteen years of age, and for some five years was thus engaged in his native State, receiving as pay- ment for his services about $12 per month. In 1874 he started out in the world, ambitious to do still better than he was doing, and made his way to the Prairie State, and for five years worked out by the month. He lived in Bureau County one year, and then came to this county. He prudently saved bis earnings, and finally was enabled to become in- dependent, and after farming as a renter for a short time, purchased his present farm in 1880. This comprises eighty acres of choice land of excep-
tional fertility, which is under the best cultivation, and for which he paid $50 an acre.
Mr. Moul has wrought a great change on this farm during the decade that it has been in his pos- session. He has put in seven hundred rods of tile, and has it under excellent drainage. He has erected a neat dwelling house, and other necessary build- ings, and the land he has placed under fine tillage, so that it yields to him the great amount of sev- enty-five bushels of corn to the acre.
February 4, 1878, was the date of an important event in the life of our subject, as he was then mar- ried to Mary L. Kohler, who has been to him a true wife and an invaluable assistant in his work. She is likewise of Pennsylvania birth, her native place in Juniata County, and was born on the 5th of May. 1855. She is the daughter of William and Susan (Motz) Kohler. By their union our subject and his wife have become the parents of seven children-Charles R., William T., Harry L., Edgar B., Susan B., Maggie, and an infant daughter.
Mr. Moul and his wife are among our most es- timable citizens. They are sociable people, harmo- nious in their relations with their fellow-citizens, showing neighborly kindness and helpfulness where- ever it is needed. Mrs. Moul is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, or chapel, at Bethel, Knox County. Mr. Moul is always found among those who favor public improvement. He is a stalwart among the Republicans, giving his party stanch support.
E DWARD D. EDWARDS. Among the young farmers of Rosefield Township, none bears a better irru'tion for activity and progres- sive ideas than t . gentleman above named, who owns and occupies one hundred and sixty acres on section 22. He located there in the spring of 1884, since which time he has cleared and improved this farm, bringing it to a condition that attracts the attention of passers-by, and indicates clearly the qualities of the ow. er. With the exception of one year, which was spent by him in McLean County, and one we spent in the West, on the Pacific
643
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
Slope, the entire life of Mr. Edwards has been been passed in the township wherein he is so well and favorably known.
The gentleman of whom we write, opened his eyes to the light. May 23, 1853, on section 24, Rose- field Township. He was reared on the parental farm, early learning the art of agrienlture from ob- servation, and such a participation as bis strength would permit in the cultivation of the estate. Ilis home duties were alternated by attendance at the district school wherein he acquired a practical knowl- edge of the more important branches of study. When twenty years old he began his personal career in life, busying himself at various employments until he was able to buy the land which he is now tilling. In polities he is a Republican, his first Presidential ballot having been cast for Rutherford B. Hayes.
Realizing that it was not good for man to live alone, Mr. Edwards won a companion in the per- son of Miss Luella O. McVicker, with whom he was united in marriage August 7, 1877. Mrs. Edwards is a daughter of John W. and Melissa (Shephard) McVicker, and with good educational privileges and home training became intelligent in mind and skilled in domestic accomplishments. She belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and endeavors to make her practice correspond with her profession. She and her husband have two children, Charles Ellis and Edna Mamie.
The paternal grandparents of our subject were Thomas and Eleanor Edwards, who removed with their family from Hampshire County, Va., to Peo- ria County, Ill., in an early day. Their son Ed- ward D., Sr., located on section 24, Rosefield Town- ship, where Frank Edwards is now living. There he died about 1856, leaving six children. Ile had entered several hundred acres of land, and in addi- tion to his successful agricultural work, had built eight or ten miles of the Peoria & Oquawka Rail- road, now the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, ex- tending east from Oak Hill. His wife was Susie E. Schnebley, a native of Maryland. The record of the brothers and sisters of our subject is as follows: Thomas H., who is now living in Livingston County, aided the Union cause as a soldier during the late war; Ellen J. is the wife of David Gigley,
of McLean County : John S. died in infancy; Mary A., died when quite young; Francis A. now lives on the old homestead; George W. died when twenty years old; Susan is the wife of Frank Van Arsdall, of Galesburg.
7.
OHN C. E. MEYER was bred to the life of a farmer in his native Germany. and bas al- ways devoted himself to that vocation. For the success that has followed his labors since coming to this county, which places him among its men of wealth, he is indebted solely to his own ability and skill. For many years he has been identified with the growth of the agrienltural in- terests of this part of the State, and more especially of Akron Township, where he has one of the largest and best equipped farms in this vieinity.
Mr. Meyer was born in Germany, August 5. 1839, and at the age of nineteen years left the Fa- therland to seek a new home in America in com- pany with his parents, John C. and Sophia (Pahl) Meyer. They landed in New York, and came di- rectly to Peoria, and soon after settled in Radnor Township.
Mr. Meyer after his marriage, first lived in Rad- nor Township, whence he removed to Medina, and finally took up his abode in Akron Township, where he still makes his home. Ile has toiled hard and with untiring perseverance and as a result has a farm of five hundred and twenty aeres, on which lie has erected a fine set of buildings and every- thing about the place is neat and well ordered. The marriage of Mr. Meyer with Miss Anna Schnoor was solemnized in Radnor Township. Mrs. Meyer is, like himself, a native of Germany. She is a most excellent housewife, is a good manager and to her co-operation Mr. Meyer attributes not a little of his prosperity. They have a family of nine chil- dren, named-William, Lena, Henry. Lonisa. Anna, John, Fred, George and Sophia.
In his practical work as a farmer and stock-raiser, Mr. Meyer has displayed prudence and frugality, so combined with far reaching enterprise and tenacity of purpose, as to place him on a solid
644
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL ALBUM.
financial basis and bring him a handsome com- petency ere yet old age had dimmed his energies, or his power of enjoying the fruits of his labors. Al- thoughi a busy man he has given some of his time to the demands of public life, and has held with honor some of the school offices and other minor positions in the township. In his political belief Ife is a Republican and gives strong support to his party. He and his wife are Lutherans in religious faith and are among the leading members of the church of that denomination.
OREN WILDER, now deceased. entered into rest at his home on section 19, Medina Township, September 11, 1889. He had resided in the county more than half a century, had prospered in his worldly affairs, possessed the confidence of all who knew him, and left a record for public spirit, honor and uprightness which is contemplated with pleasure by his bereaved fam- ily and friends. Ile took a prominent part in local political affairs, although in no sense an office- seeker. Office sought him, however, and for eighteen consecutive years, except one, he held the office of Supervisor. He also held all the other local offices at various periods, and was a member of the County Poor Committee. He was a sound Democrat. Although he had never united with with any religious body, his belief accorded with that of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Wilder upon first coming to this county purchased unbroken lands in Medina Township, improved them to some extent and then sold, buy- ing others. About 1846 he purchased one hun- ared and sixty acres, which became his permanent home, making upon it such improvements that at the time of his death it was considered one of the best farms in the township. Realizing the value of the land in this section, he had secured about. five hundred acres, which was improved by bim- self, and, with the exception of eighty acres, per- sonally managed by him. Ile also helped to lay out the village of Alta, which consists of eighty acres, owning a one third interest in the same at the
time of his decease. His energy and good judg- ment were recognized by his acquaintances, and no one reposed confidence in him in vain.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.