Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county, Part 84

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 84

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After landing in New York yonng Graze went to Newark, N. J., where he remained until the summer of 1854 when he came westward to Peoria, Ill. After spending about three months in the city he found employment on a farm and worked by the month about two and one-half years. He then rented land in Kiekapoo Township, operating as a renter eleven years and hoarding his resources in order that he might purchase himself a home. He finally bought land in the same township and now has a good estate of one hundred and forty acres, bearing the usual improvements, and under careful management.

In his efforts to secure a home Mr. Graze has been ably seconded by his faithful helpmate, for- merly Miss Sarah E. Orr, who became his wife September 3, 1859, the marriage taking place in Peoria. She is the second of three children com- prising the family of the late James and Jane (Howard) Orr, the former of whom died in 1853 and the latter January 17, 1890. They were old settlers in Kickapoo Township, where Mrs. Graze was born January 14, 1840. A goodly number of children have come to Mr. and Mrs. Graze, and ten yet remain inmates of the parental home. They are Letitia, Paul, John, Henry, Rose, Martha, Mary, Charles, Clara and Joseph. Caroline has left the home nest as the wife of Edward Loudenberger. Iona and Elizabeth have been removed by death.

Mr. Graze has been Highway Commissioner and School Director, in both capacities serving with credit to himself and his constituents. In politics he is independent, depositing his ballot in favor of

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the best man or the principles which he believes the important issues at the time. He is interested in all which will tend to the material prosperity and personal advancement of the community, in which his reputation is most excellent.

RS. CHRISTENA M. HALLER. Among the comfortable homes to be found in Kickapoo Township, that of the subject of this notice is deserving of mention. The dwelling is a substantial edifice, while the one hun- dred and sixty acres of fine farm land which sur- round it bear various improvements, such as are usually to be found on the estates of enterprising and prosperous farmers. For more than thirty years this farm has been under the charge of Mrs. Haller, who has continually manifested her ability to guide the labors which are conducted thereon, and to make of agriculture a remunerative em- ployment. She is now somewhat advanced in years, having been born May 2, 1823, but is still one of the smartest and shrewdest women to be met with in Peoria County.

The lady of whom we write is a native of Wur- temburg, Germany, in which kingdom her parents, Jacob and Christina (Grill) Koerner, were also born. They emigrated to America in 1831, mak- ing their first home in Cincinnati, Ohio, and com- ing to the Prairie State in 1848. They spent the remainder of their lives in this county, dying in Kickapoo Township, in which they had taken up their abode. Their family included twelve chil- dren, Mrs. Haller being the sixth in order of birth. . She was married in Cincinnati. May 15, 1842, to Conrad Ilaller, who, like herself. was of German birth and parentage, his natal day having been July 4, 1804. His parents died in the old country, but he left his native Wurtemburg fully persuaded that the New World would afford him better op- portunities for financial advancement.

In 1850 Mr. and Mrs. Haller came to Peoria, the husband continuing his occupation of a butcher until the spring of 1851, when he turned his atten- tion to agriculture, settling on section 11, Kicka-

poo Township. He prosecuted the peaceful labors of farm life until his death, which occurred No- vember 9, 1855, since which time the estate has been ably managed by his widow. He was well re- spected as a man who steadily pursued his course in life, leaving to his children the example of sturdy manhood, industry, and considerateness in domestic relations.

The subject of our sketch is the mother of eight children, whose record is as follows: Jacob died in infancy; Conrad J. married Miss Lucina Dowl- ing; Frederick is still single; Jacob, 2d, died when about one year old; George II. married Miss Au- gusta Patton; Catherine F. is a teacher; Rosina C .. familiarly known as Rose, is the wife of William Armstrong; Mary Christina is a teacher. The daughters are graduates of the Peoria County Nor- mal School, more than ordinarily intelligent and well read, and the Misses Kittie and Christic, as they are familiarly known among their friends. are numbered among the most successful teachers of the county. The son, Conrad, enlisted in the Union army when but seventeen years old, being assigned to Company A, Seventy-seventh Illinois Infantry. He served until the close of the war, but during his enlistment, having been captured by the enemy, was held eighteen months in a Texas prison.

OHN M. GIPPS. The late John M. Gipps is well remembered in Peoria as one who took a prominent part in adding to the wel- fare of the citizens by means of public im- provements, and bore a large share in alleviating the distress of the needy, rejoicing in the oppor- tunity to bestow of his abundance upon those less fortunate, and to aid liberally in promoting culture. He was an excellent type of the steady-going Eng- lishman, persistent in whatever he undertook, pru- dent and thoughtful in decisions, and hard to turn when once he had made up his mind; yet withal, of a kindly and generous spirit, a genial compan- ion and firm friend.

The birthplace of Mr. Gipps was Canterbury,

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Kent, England, and the year of his birth 1820. He lived within sound of the bells of the noted cathe- dral until after he was of age, although he was ab- sent from home while prosecuting his studies in the famous university of Cambridge. He was grad- uated from that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Arts and the proud position of Senior Wrangler, which his father had held before him. After finishing his education, he came to America on a pleasure trip, and so much was he pleased with the country in Central Illinois, that he bought a pretty place near Washington, Tazewell County, known as Gipps' Grove.

Mr. Gipps established himself on a large farm to the oversight of which he devoted himself for some years. During some time he also carried on a large store in the town of Morton; it was the first store there. In 1865 he abandoned other employment to establish the Gipps' Brewery, of which he was sole owner and manager for many years, and which at the time of his death was the largest in this part of the country. Two years after the enterprise was inaugurated, Mr. Gipps removed to Peoria, which was his place of abode from that time until he was called hence. His demise took place November 27, 1882, deeply regretted by many friends, whose sympathy for his sorrowing household was beyond expression.

When the Public Library was established, Mr. Gipps was deeply interested in its success. ever proving one of its most hearty supporters. Ile was one of the early members of the Board of Trade, and made himself a man of note in various move- ments for the welfare of the community. He would never accept office, preferring to serve his fellows in a private capacity. He was a member of the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. The cherished companion of Mr. Gipps was known in her maiden- hood as Miss Ellen Dawson, and is a native of Brooklyn, N. Y. Their marriage rites were cele- brated December 12, 1852, and to their happy union came two children, George H., and Emma W. Mrs. Gipps is an estimable woman, having many friends, and being looked up to for her virtues and pleasing traits.

The father of our subject was Henry Gipps, LL. D., Rector of St. Peter's in Hereford, England, and

having two livings there. Ile possessed much lit- erary ability, was the author of numerous published works, and a student of note in his part of the king- dom. His brother George Gipps, was at one time Governor of Canada, and later held a similar office over Her Majesty's possessions in Australia.

R UFUS McINTIRE, Esquire, Justice of the Peace of Trivoli, where he is engaged in market gardening, is an old settler of the county, and is a veteran of the Civil War, and is well known and greatly respected by the en- tire community.

Our subject is a New Englander by birth and antecedents. He was born in Parsonsfield, York County, Me., April 6, 1828. ITis father, bearing the same name as himself, was also a native of that county, and was a son of Micum McIntire, who was born in the same place, and there carried on farm- ing. He was a Revolutionary patriot, and was in- terested in running Tories out of York. His father, also named Micum, was a farmer, and was a son of another Micum MeIntire. The latter was banished from Scotland, having been captured and sent to . this country by Cromwell, because he was a fol- lower of Prince Charles Edward Stewart. He be- longed to a Highland clan in Scotland, and was among the early settlers of Maine.

The father of our subjeet was a man of culture, and was one of the foremost citizens of his native State in his day. He was graduated from the clas- sical course at Dartmouth College, and then studied law in Alfred, York County, with John Holmes, and was admitted to the bar when thirty years of age, and established himself in practice in Parsons- field, and also superintended the cultivation of his farm. lle met with brilliant success as a lawyer, and also became a great statesman. Hle was the first representative of his town, and was elected a member of Congress to fill a vacancy, and was re- elected three times to that position. He was cap- tain of a company of United States Artillery in the War of 1812, and served throughout that conflict on the lake frontier. He became land agent for

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Maine in the time of the Aroostook troubles, and was then appointed Surveyor of the Custom House at Portland during Buchanan's administration. After that he resumed farming and practice of law, and died in 1866. at the age of eighty-one. full of years and honors. He was one of the lead- ing Democrats of his time.

The father of our subject was twice married: first to Naney Hannaford, and after her death he was wedded to her sister Mary. The first wife, the mother of our subject, was born in Parsonsfield, Me., and there spent her entire life. Her father, Josiah Hannaford, was a native of Massachusetts, and af- ter his removal to Maine, carried on farming until his death. Seven children were born to the first marriage, namely: Mary and Annette, residents of Portland, Me., James O., who died in that city ; Eveline, who lives in Portland; Alonzo, who died in York County, Me .: Malcolm, who died young; and Rufus. There were three children born of the second marriage-Malcolm, who died young; Mal- colm (2d), a resident of Kentucky; and Nancy a resident of Portland, Me.

The subject of this biography was bred on a farm and was early set to do work of all kinds. He learned to mow with a scythe, and to reap with a sickle. His education was conducted in free and private schools. At the age of twenty he left home to learn the tanner and currier's trade in the vil- lage, and worked at it there for six or seven years. We next hear of him in Massachusetts, where he had gone to seek employment at his calling. As he could not get a job at it immediately, he learned the trade of a shoemaker at Danvers. He worked in that town for a year or two, and then returned to Maine, and remained in his native State a year.

In 1855 he determined to come West, and in the spring of that year came by rail to Peoria, and thence to Trivoli, and took up his residence here. He engaged on a farm for a while with Dr. Levi Hannaford, working for him for six months, and then put up a shop and commenced the manufac- ture of shoes, employing two hands. He continued in that business two years, then sold and went to Adair County, Iowa, where he had an interest in a sawmill. He did not make that pay, however, and came back to this county the same year. The next

spring he went to New Rutland, on the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad, and conducted the shoe business there for awhile. lle had a hard time of it, tried farm- ing and failed, and had to make shoes in the win- ter to get enough to live on. The next year he again attempted farming, only to fail again and to fall back on his trade of a shoemaker during the winter months.

At the breaking out of the Rebellion, the war- like spirit of his early ancestors stirred in the breast of our subject, and his patriotism was aroused, and he was among the first to respond to the call for troops to defend the stars and stripes. He went to Springfield and enlisted in a company of artillery to be attached to the Thirty-second Illinois Regi- ment, but as that failed, it then became a part of the Second Illinois Artillery Regiment, Battery K. He and his comrades were sent to Cairo, and thence to Kentucky, from there to Memphis, whence they were sent down the Mississippi. They engaged in various skirmishes, and were present at the siege of Vicksburg in which they bore a gallant part. Six months later he was promoted to the important position of Quarter Master Sergeant to the battery, and served as such until the close of the war. He was mustered out at Memphis, December 31, 1864, and honorably discharged.

Mr. MeIntire came back to Trivoli after leaving the army, to the family. and found his wife sewing to support the household. Ile actively resumed the calling of a farmer, and rented a farm in this township for seven years, operating eighty acres of land. Misfortune still followed his efforts, as he lost two crops, and in 1872 he had a sale and aban- doned agricultural pursuits for awhile. The ensu- ing two years he acted as agent for three insurance companies until the Mutual Insurance Company spoiled his business for him, and he then engaged in jobbing, doing ditching, draining, and digging wells, working very hard and employing three or four men. He laid a good deal of tile, and finally located on his present place on section 11, where he has two acres of land of exceeding fertility, and is prosperously engaged in raising garden stuff.

Mr. MeIntire and Miss Eunice D. Jordon, a na- tive of Gorham, Me., were united in marriage in Trivoli, May 12, 1856. Mrs. McIntire was a school

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teacher before her marriage, and came to Trivoli in that capacity in 1854. Four children have been born of this marriage, of whom the following is re- corded : Emeline, formerly a school teacher, mar- ried Osear B. Wykoff, a farmer of this township; Emma is a tailoress in Elmwood; Alice, a music teacher, is attending the Mt. Carroll Seminary ; James Otis is at home.

Our subject has been a School Director, and he has also been engaged in the vocation of school teacher, for which he is well fitted by education and temperament. In 1866, the school in his dis- triet in Trivoli, had acquired a bad reputation on account of the unruly boys who had run the teacher out, and our subject was asked to teach the school, and bring them to terms, and it is needless to say, that he succeeded in the undertaking. lle is a member of McCook Post, G. A. R., at Elmwood, and is a stanch Demoerat in politics. In 1884 he was elected Justice of the Peace here, and has an office in town. Ile had been Collector of the town- ship for four years, and is considered one of our most intelligent and useful civic officials.

W ILLIAM WHITTEN settled in Brimfield Township at an early day and is one of the oldest pioneers in his neighborhood. He has here a farm that in point of cultivation and improvement ranks very high. It is finely lo- cated on section 10, and here he has erected a handsome residence which is considered to be one of the best in the township.

Our subject is a native of Pennsylvania and was born in Fayette County. September 28, 1829. He is the son of the late John and Jane (Frecman) Whitten. His mother was a native of Pennsylvania, and his father was born in New Jersey. The latter came of sturdy ancestry and his father, William Whitten, bore an honorable part in the Revolution as a soldier in the Continental Army.

Our subject was the eldest son in a family of four children of whom the following three still sur- vive: William; Eliza J., the widow of Mr. Barnes. of Bates County, Mo .; and Alpheus, a resident of

Linn County, Kan. In the fall of 1836, when William was a lad of seven years, he left his early home in Licking County, Ohio, with his parents who came to Illinois. They first located in Fulton County, and five years later removed to Knox County, the family residing there ten years and in the mean- time the father died, his death occuring March 29, 1852. The mother of our subject who is now quite aged lives in Linn County, Kan., making her home with her son there.

Our subjeet has passed the most of his life in Illinois and can know but very little of any other home. He received limited educational advan- tages, as the pioneer schools were but indifferent institutions of learning. However, he has read and observed much and has kept himself very well posted on all things of general concern. In 1862 Mr. Whitten journeyed across the plains and mountains, and passed some three years in Mon- tana, Idaho, Washington and the northeast part of Oregon in search of gold. He found that pre- cious metal in various places but he frankly says that the expedition could not be considered a financial snecess. After his return to Peoria County, he resumed his farming operations and has ever sinee resided here in contentment, peace and comparative happiness. Ile located on his present farm in 1857, and has had to work hard to bring it to its present fine condition. He bought the land in 1855 in company with his brother, A. F., paying $12.50 an acre for it. The land which comprises one hundred and sixty acres was in a primitive condition, never a furrow having been turned or a harvest reaped from its virgin soil. In 1868 our subject bought out his brother's interest on the place and has since had sole possession of it. In 1888 he built his present line residence, in which he and his wife have one of the coziest and most comfortably furnished of homes.

Mr. Whitten was married November 25, 1869, to Miss Zillah P. Lucas, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Erastus and Isabella(Lucas) Lueas,both of whom are now deceased. She was born February 13, 1849. By their union they have become the parents of six children, of whom the following are recorded : John L. was born October 20, 1870; Lida M., May 31, 187[; Carrie L., April 1, 1877;

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Azel O .. September 2, 1879: May Isabella, Decem- ber 23, 1881: William W. December 26, 1883.

Mr. Whitten is a man of sound, sensible views, is scrupulously honest and just in all his dealings, and these excellent characteristics, together with his genial and obliging nature, have won him many steadfast friends. He is a Republican in politics and is ever willing to lend a hand in push- ing forward all enterprises that will contribute to the public good. Ile and his wife are among the most consistent members of the Presbyterian Church and their conduct of the affairs of every day life shows that their religion is not a mere empty form.

C HARLES BREIER & SONS. One of the most flourishing business establishments of Peoria is that of the gentlemen above named, who keeps a large livery stable with forty horses and a full supply of excellent vehicles and other equipments. The business was established by Mr. Breier in 1868, and he is now assisted in its management by two sons-William and Albert. Mr. Breier was born in Hanover, Germany, April 27, 1828, and spent the first twenty years of his life in the land of his forefathers. He then came to America and, locating in Peoria, engaged in butchering, in which he had been occupied to some extent in the old country. He also dealt in cattle, working up an excellent trade in which he contin- ued until he entered upon his present occupation.

This gentleman is a son of Henry and Fredericka Breier, his father having been a butcher and saloon keeper. Of the six children belonging to the pa- rental family, four are now living, all remaining in Hanover except him of whom we write. The eld- est, Henry, follows his father's business of butcher- ing; William is City Clerk of Hanover; Ernst is in the furniture trade.

On the 8th of August, 1850, nuptial rites were celebrated between Charles Breier and Miss Au- gusta Lelme, wlio belonged to a family that emi- grated from Germany in 1848. Mrs. Breier is a notable housewife, a devoted wife and mother, and a neighbor to whose kindliness many bear witness.

She has borne nine children, five of whom have been removed by death. Besides the two sons en- gaged with the father in business, there are now living Mrs. Emma Schober, engaged in the grocery trade, and Minnie, wife of Charles Zimmerman, a druggist in Peoria. William, the elder son, was married May 11, 1887, to Fannie, daughter of Phil- opena Peters, of Peoria; they have one daughter. He belongs to various civic societies, namely: The Masonic fraternity, Ancient Order of Druids; Red Men, Turners, Concordia, Humboldt, Knights and Ladies of Honor.

The subject of this sketch served as Alderman in 1866; he has also held the office of Highway Commissioner. He is a sturdy Democrat, never failing to cast his vote on election day. Ile belongs to the Concordia Society and the Peoria Rifle Club, taking the interest usually manifested by those of his nationality in the matters which form the prom- inent interests in these organizations.

QUILLA HUBER. Among the men who have for some years been identified with the business interests of the town of Dun- lap, is the gentleman above named, a first- class shoemaker, and the possessor of taet and shrewdness in the prosecution of business. His parents, John G. and Anna M. (Gremminger) Hu- ber, were natives of Wurtemburg, Germany, whence they emigrated about 1851, settling near Morton, Tazewell County. this State. Thence they removed to Cruger, Woodford County, afterward living in Kentucky, in Cairo, Ill., and St. Louis, Mo. In 1863, they settled in Peoria, this county, where the father died ten years later. The mother is still living, now quite advanced in years. Their family consisted of four children, two of whom grew up.

Our subject is the first-born in the parental fam- ily and opened his eyes to the light near Morton, April 30, 1854. He resided under the parental roof until the death of his father from whom he learned the trade which he successfully followed for a number of years. After the death of his par- ent he worked for different parties about a twelve-

James Jordan

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month, then located in Princeville, following his trade there two years. In 1876, he took up his abode in Dunlap, still pursuing his trade, but also operating a boot and shoe store about six years, at the expiration of which time he engaged in the sa- loon business. IIe has erected a comfortable and substantial residence and has surrounded his family with many comforts.

The first marriage of Mr. Huber was celebrated in Peoria in 1880. his bride being Miss Louisa Langheinrich, a native of that city. She survived until January 14, 1884, when her career was cut short by an untimely death. She left one child- Tillie M. Mr. Huber contracted a second matri- monial alliance March 18, 1886, the solemn rites being celebrated in Princeville. The present Mrs. Iluber was formerly known as Miss Lena Feinholz, is a native of Pittsburg, Pa., and a woman of do- mestic skill and estimable character. She has borne her husband two daughters and one son-Flora, Carrie and Aquilla.

AMES JORDAN is the youngest son of Patrick and Catherine Jordan, who came to Peoria County, Ill., when our subject was a child of one year. Their advent was made in 1853, and after living a short time in the city they removed to a farm in Limestone Township, where they resided until the death of the father. The mother then went back to Peoria to live with a married daughter, and now makes her home there. The father was killed on a bridge near his home, by a runaway team, August 23, 1878, leav- ing a family of eight children, four boys and four girls, all of whom are now living. The mother is in good health at this writing, although she has reached the age of seventy-six years.

The subject of this sketch was reared on the farm and received his elementary training in the district schools, finishing his education at the Nor- mal School in Peoria, from which he was gradu- ated in the class of '73. For a short while he followed teaching, then took a trip to see the coun- try, and in the course of his travels visited Wis-

consin, Minnesota, Nebraska, Kansas. Dakota, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and all the States bordering on the Mississippi River. He reached Texas without mishap, and remained there two years engaged in the exciting sport of hunting buffaloes, which were at that time very plentiful. A few years later the business had ceased to be profitable, the herds hay- ing become small and widely scattered. In 1876 the country, as far as could be seen, was a vast treeless plain. and the ground covered in every direction by one large, moving mass of the shaggy creatures; two years later they had disappeared, and were, for that section of the country, things of the past.

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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 84

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