USA > Illinois > Will County > Portrait and biographical album of Will County, Illinois : containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens of the county > Part 64
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The herd at present consists of about sixty head, chief of the herd being Peerless Wilton No. 12.771. At the head of the herd are the fine bulls. AAnxiety Third. No. 4166. and Anxiety Wilton, No. 30,272, all registered numbers familiar to stockmen. At the State Fairs held in Peoria, Mr. Clark carried off most of the sweepstakes, and at Buffalo. N. Y., he received $750 in prizes; he justly claims to have carried off more premiums than any other breeder of Herefords in the country.
Thomas Clark. Sr., the father of our subject, was born in Herefordshire. England, and came of pure English blood. lle grew up in his native shire. and became a breeder of the famous cattle which bear the name of the shire. As a farmer and stock- breeder he was eminently successful, and followed the business during his life, becoming prominent in that line and well known as a good citizen. He
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passed away in 1862, at the age of seventy-eight years. He had married a lady of his own shire, whose maiden name was Mary A. Fluek. She lived to be more than three-score and ten years old, dying in 1887, in the shire wherein her whole life had been spent. She had borne two sons and four daughters, five of whom lived to mature years, and four are yet alive. The three danghters remain in their native land, and all are married. The parents were members of the Church of England, and the father was Church Warden for many years.
The gentleman whose name introduces this bio- graphieal notice was born near Hereford, England, August 28, 1842. He was reared amid the sur- roundings of farm life, and received a common- school education. He was about twenty-one years old when, in 1866, he set sail for America, the land of promise across the Atlantic. From Southamp- ton he crossed to New York, whence he went at once to Cleveland.Ohio. There he learned the trade of a butcher, carrying it on in that city until 1869, and then going to Elyria, Lorain County, where he continued the same occupation for a time. He soon, however, embarked in the enterprise toward which his taste and early training led him-that of breeding Hereford cattle. Having had better ad- vantages than most men who are engaged in the business, to learn the characteristics of the breed and the best means of caring for them, he began under favorable auspices a work that has been crowned with snecess. In 1877 he purchased and took possession of the now well-known " Evergreen Stock Farm," a part of which with the fine resi- dence is represented by a view ou another page.
The many good qualities of Miss Margaret Heal won the earnest regard of Mr. Clark, and winning her consent to become his wife, the marriage rites were performed in Elyria, Ohio. Mrs. Clark was born in Devonshire, England, June 22, 1811, and educated in the land of her birth. She was one of ten children born to a Devonshire farmer and his worthy wife, and one of four who came to Amer- ica. She was about twenty years old when they settled in the Buckeye State. Her parents remained in the mother country, dying there when upwards of four-score years of age. They belonged to the Episcopal Church, in the tenets of which they
reared their offspring. Mrs. Clark has borne her husband three children, and the loss of the only son-John H .- has brought sorrow to the parents' heart. The daughters who gladden the home are Anna A. and Flora II.
The parents give their adherence to the church in the doctrines of which their progenitors in- structed them in youth. Mr. Clark is an independ- ent Republican. Not only for the enterprise he has manifested in his worldly affairs, but for his kindly nature and upright character. he is respected by those who know him, and his estimable com- panion also holds a high place in the esteem of their associates.
EMAN R. RUSSELL. In driving about Man- hattan Township the eyes of the stranger would be drawn to the fine residence, of a style of architecture mostly confined to cities, which stands on beautiful grounds about seven miles from Joliet. The valuable farm which this dwelling adorns comprises one hundred and sixty acres on section 7, and is being furnished as fast as possible with the modern improvements in the way of farm buildings, windmill and tank, and every convenience which will assist in the labor of the proprietor or add to his enjoyment.
Mr. Russell makes a specialty of raising standard- bred horses and is the owner of "Venango, " a two- year old of fine proportions and movement, which already has a record of 2:41. Ile is the finest-bred horse in the county, being a cross between "Blue Bull, No. 75," and "Hambletonian, No. 10," and having been sired by "Bogardus," whose well- known record is 2:28; his dam was sired by "Sterl- ing," the son of "Volunteer." "Venango" is registered as No. 9521. Mr. Russell also owns three standard-bred Hambletonian fillies, two Greens Bashaw stallions, a yearling and colt. He also breeds draft horses, at the head of the herd of these animals being a full-blooded bay Norman, two years old, called "Premier III.," and weighs fifteen hundred pounds. Full-blooded Durham cattle and Poland-China hogs are also raised,
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Going back two generations in the paternal line we find Samuel Russell.a native of Wilmington, N.C .. and the son of a man who had emigrated from Bedfordshire, England. Samuel Russell was a man of leisure, owning property from which he derived a fine income. To him was born a son, Joseph. who became a cotton merchant in his native eity, and was very successful until the Civil War. Early in the beginning of the sanguinary struggle he en- listed as a Captain of the One Hundredth North Carolina Infantry, and after two years became Genera! Quartermaster of the Atlantic Division of the Confederate forces, holding that position until the elose of the war. He then went to Raleigh, took the oath of allegiance to the I'nited States Government, and returning to Wilmington, re- sumed business. Although trade was not so brisk as it had been before the war, Mr. Russell was suc- cessful and became possessed of abundant means. Ile laid down the burdens of life in 1880. at the age of fifty years. He was a Royal Arch Mason, a Democrat, and a Deacon in the Presbyterian Church. known and honored of men throughout his life.
The wife of Joseph Russell and mother of our subject was born near Albany, N. Y., and bore the maiden name of Mary Baker. She is a daughter of Clark and Lucina ( Welsh) Baker, who are still living, at a ripe old age, at Five Mile Grove, Will County. She was reared in her native county, educated in Albany, and graduated from the Al- bany Female Academy, leaving her Alma Mater with a rarely cultured mind. She followed the profession of teaching until her marriage. devot- ing herself principally to the French language and traveling considerably both in the North and South. Since her husband's death she has gener- ally spent her summers in Northern Illinois, but she is at present traveling in France, doing the European Continent for the first time. She is the mother of three children-M. Elizabeth, who lives with our subject; Heman R., of this notice; and Lucina, who died in childhood. Mrs. Russell is of the Presbyterian faith.
Grandfather Baker was born in Hoosic, Reus- selaer County. N. Y., March 3, 1796. and during his early years taught school in the winter and worked
on the farm in summer. After having spent sev- eral years in this way, he became a surveyor, fol- lowing that calling for a great many years. lle finally purchased a farm and gave his attention to agriculture. When eighteen years old he enlisted in the State Militia and in 1814 was called out and served three weeks in the second struggle for freedom from British tyranny. In 1843 he made his first trip to Cook County, Ill .. to look after some mortgages, and several subsequent trips were made necessary by his business. Some land at Five Mile Grove finally came into his possession through an unredeemed mortgage, and in 1850 he brought his family thither. He has been extremely suc- cessful as a farmer and stockman, and now owns some twelve hundred acres of land, well improved and managed. He is well known as the oklest man in the county and one of its largest farmers, as well as a very early settler in his township. He has served as Supervisor and Justice of the Peace, and gives his support to the Democratic party.
Grandmother Baker was born in Mayfield, N. Y., August 28, 1806, and is a daughter of George W. Welsh, who was born in Ireland and was a promi- nent and wealthy merchant in Albany, his residence being in Cambridge, Washington County.
Mr. Russell, of whom we write, has the blood of a Revolutionary soldier in his veins-one of his ancestors having fought against the British, al- though himself of English birth, and having also sent three of his sons into the army. One of these was J. Baker, the great-grandfather of our sub- ject, who was born in Rhode Island, became an early settler of Rensselaer County, N. Y., and at- tained to prominence there.
Heman Russell was born in Wilmington, N. C., July 17, 1862, and amid the most favorable aus- pices grew to manhood. He was educated in his native city. being graduated when eighteen years old from the Tileston Normal Institute. Among his mental accomplishments is a good knowledge of the French tongue. During one of his vacations in his early manhood he became a clerk in order to learn the mercantile business, but not finding it to his taste, gave it up, choosing to devote him- self to farming, for which he had always had a liking. Prior to his eighteenth year he had spent several
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summers with his grandfather Baker at Five Mile Grove, in this State, and after his father's death he made his home there, gaining from his grand- parent a thorough knowledge of agriculture.
In 1886 Mr. Russell rented a small piece of land from his grandfather and the next year became the owner of the estate on which he now lives and has made such line improvements. His residence was erected at a cost of $1.000,and already in less than three years, other buildings mark the estate. The owner operates two hundred and forty acres alto- gether, keeping four teams constantly employed. He is unmarried, but his home is presided over by by his sister, whose intelligence and culture help to draw around them a pleasant circle of acquaint- ances. Mr. Russell is serving his second year as Just- ice of the Peace and has the honor of being the youngest Squire in the county. As Township School Trustee, he is acting for the second time, and the interests of education are safe in his bands. Ile belongs to Lodge No. 64C. I. O. O. F., at Wilton Center. Following the example and teaching of his father and other ancestors, he is a stanch Democrat.
E LISILA BROWN, a retired farmer, is a good type of the noble volunteers of the late war, who fought in defense of our country's honor with intrepid valor, regardless of the hard. ships and privations that they had to endure, until the glorious Stars and Stripes once more wave.l over a free and undivided Union. For many years he has been closely associated with the great agri- cultural interests of Will County, and though he has retired from the active and incessant cares inseparably connected with the management of a large farm, he still retains possession of his home- stead which is one of the finest in llinois.
Mr. Brown was born in Morristown, St. Law- rence County, N. Y .. December 2, 1836, his father, Charles Brown, having been a pioneer of that place. The latter was a native of Thetford, Vt., where he was born in March, 1800, and he was there reared and married. He remained among the green hills |
of his birthplace until his removal to Morristown, N. Y., where he associated himself with its pioneers and became one of its most useful citizens. He bought a tract of heavily timbered land about two miles from the village and after building thereon the log house in which our subject was born, he actively commenced the hard labor of clearing his land and preparing it for cultivation, and in the years that followed improved the fine farm which re- mained his home till death called him bence in 1865. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was N. ney Ames, and she was born in Hartford, Conn., in September, 1800. Her parents moved from that State to New York, and spent their last years in St. Lawrence County. She died on the home farm in 1888, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. She was the mother of ten children, nine sons and one daughter, as follows: George, Charles, Sarah A., William, Willard, Willis, Joseph, David, Elisha and Daniel. Willard died when young, but four of the family are now living. Two of the sons, Willis and David, bore an honorable part in the late war, the former serving as First Lieutenant in the Seventeenth Iowa, and the latter as a scout in a New York Regiment of Sharpslooters.
The early days of our subject were passed in attendance at school and in doing chores at home, and as soon as old enough he aided in the harder labors of the farm and gained a practical know- ledge of agriculture. He remained an inmate of the parental home until he was eighteen years old and then, ambitions to take advantage of the many superior advantages for securing a competence and building up a comfortable home, offered to young men of enterprise and capability in the Mississippi Valley, he started westward. Hle first stopped for a while in this State, working two months on a farm, and then proceeded to Janesville, Iowa, where he remained one year. He then took up his abode in Algona, Kossuth County. At that time there were seven houses in that place and the sur- rounding country was in a wild condition with no railways, scarcely any good roads of communica- tion with the outside world, and deer and elk roamed where are now fine farms and busy towns. Mr. Brown took up a tract of Government land there, built a small house, broke and fenced a part
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of his homestead. Two years later he returned to Illinois and farmed in this State till 1859, he went to Pike's Peak. he being one of party of six. They bought teams which they shipped by rail to St. Louis and there embarked on steamers. teams and all. and were taken to Leavenworth, Kan,, whence they proceeded with their teams across the plains. They encountered buffaloes and antelope on the way, and saw many Indians. Our subject prospected and mined for a time, remaining there two months and then, disliking the wild life that he was obliged to lead in that part of the country. he returned eastward as far as lowa and stayed a few months on his farm. After that he came back to Illinois and the first call for troops found him prepared to spring to the defense of his country, and in April. 1861, he joined the Plainfield Light Artillery. went to Cairo, and was there mustered into service. His company was attached to the Tenth Illinois and served three months, and was then mustered out at the expiration of its term of enlistment. Mr. Brown re-enlisted August 1st, 1862. in Company D, One Hundredth Ilinois Infan- try, and served until after the close of the war. He was in the battles of Stone River and Chich - amauga. was with Sherman in the Atlanta Cam- paign and bore an honorable part in the battle of that route and in the siege and capture of that city. lle was with Thomas in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, and his regiment took an active part in all the battles and skirmishes under that general. and was discharged in July. 1865. Our subject went into the army as a private, and was promoted to the position of First Sergeant and on every occasion conducted himself as a true soldier should. lle was twice wounded, first at Chickamauga, where he received a fragment of a shell, and in the battle of Franklin he had a gunshot wound and in con- sequence carried his arm in a sling in the battle of Nashville.
After he left the army, Mr. Brown returned to Illinois and the following year bought the first land he ever owned in this State, that purchase of sixty acres now being included in his present farm. He has prospered greatly in his agricultural undertak- ings, and has procured other tracts of land from time to time. till he is now the owner of three hun-
dred and eighty-six aeres of land, constituting a farm that is in all respects one of the best in this part of the county. He created a fine set of frame buildings on his first purchase and resided there until 1888, when he bought his present commodious home in Plainfield, and has since lived here while his son carries on the farm.
Mr. Brown was married March 8, 1862. to Elva Keziah Smith, a native of Peoria, Ill. Their pleasant wedded life has been blessed by the birth of two sons- Ernest Elisha, and Clarence E .; the latter is deceased. Ernest was born February 12, 1863, and is now married, taking Miss Minnie MeKanna for a wife, and is well settled in life.
Mr. Brown is universally respected for those fine qualities of head and heart that make him a loyal citizen and a man of unswerving integrity, genial and helpful in his relations with others. He has had a varied experience as a pioneer, as a soldier, and as a practical farmer, and has profited by it, his native ability enabling him to gather together sufficient wealth to allow him to retire while scarcely past the meridian of life and in full possession of his powers. Mr. Brown is a useful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, contributing liberally to its support and to all schemes for the moral and material advancement of the township that meet with his approval. In his politics he is in favor of the Republican platform.
ETER E. HOLMSTROM is numbered among the business men of Joliet where he is engaged in the grocery trade. this busi- less is conducted according to honorable methods and with energy, and is affording the proprietor a comfortable income. The personal character of Mr. Holmstrom is such as to command the respect of all who know him. his intercourse with mankind being cordial and just, his duties as a citizen faithfully performed, and the utmost kindliness manifested by him in his domestic rela- tions.
In the Kingdom of Sweden, October 3. 1861. the eyes of our subject first opened to the light of
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day. llis parents, Peter Johnson and Johannah Holmstrom, lived upon a farm in that land, whence they followed their son to America in 1883. Hle had crossed the briny deep two years before, colt- ing directly to Joliet near which place he engaged in farming. Ile soon abandoned that occupation for his present business, with which he had become acquainted in his native land and which he has fol- lowed continuously sinee he resumed it here.
Mr. Holmstrom exercises the elective franchise in behalf of the candidates on the Republican tieket, his judgment concurring in the principles which they are pledged to support. He belongs to the Royal Adelphia Insurance Company. His religious instincts are satisfied with the doctrines and prae- tices of the Swedish Lutheran Church, with which he is identified. Hle chose as his companion in life Miss Alma Swanson, of a family which came from Sweden to America about eighteen years ago, and winning the consent of the estimable young lady, they were united in marriage July 5, 1885. Their happy union has been blessed by the birth of one child-a charming daughter, Ruby A.
....
FRANK PATRICK. A simple account of the life and works of a man of honor and integrity is the best monument that can be reared for him by the biographical writer, and therefore no attempt will be made in these pages to give undue praise to the subject of this sketch, whose life speaks for him better than mere words would do. He is the only survivor in a family of five children that comprised the house- hold of Squire Amos and Jane E. ( Wells) Patrick, who for many years made their home in Will County.
Squire Patrick was a native of the Empire State, as was also his good wife, and their first home after marriage was in Madison County. About the year 1835 they came west and located in Rushville, Ill., whence they removed to Joliet some two years later, living in the latter place until 1844. They then changed their abode to Washington, D. C., where Mr. Patrick was employed as a clerk in the
Navy Department for six years. At the expiration of that time Joliet again became the home of the family, the father resuming the practice of the law in which he had formerly been engaged. During his first period of residence in this city he had served as Police Magistrate. In 1856 he moved onto a farm in Joliet Township, which has since been his home, with the exception of seven years that were spent by him in Nevada, in the practice of his profession. He is still living and has reached an advanced age. His wife passed away February 6. 1887.
The national capital was the birthplace of our subject, and his natal day May 16, 1817. He grew to manhood in Will County, Ill., most of the time being spent on the farm in .Joliet Township. Ilis education was mainly seeured in the schools of this county and farming has been his chief occupation in life. He has been a continuous resident of Joliet Township since 1850, with the exception of two years during which he resided in the city. Hle owns the old homestead of one hundred and thirty- five acres, which he carefully and industriously cultivates, seeuring thereby the comforts of life and making preparations for the rainy day should it come upon him.
The wife of Mr. Patrick is a native of New York and in her girlhood was known as Miss Catherine Haber. The ceremony which united her to our subject took place in Joliet, June 24, 1869. They have had four children: Damon S., Mary E., Flor- ence J., and Helen J. Damon S. died when two years of age. Mr. Patrick takes quite a deep in- terest in politics and is a member of the Democratic party. He stands well in the community and their pleasant home on seetion 32, is hospitably opened to friends and neighbors. The wife passed from earth March 18, 1878.
G EORGE II. ZINSER. In the life of this young gentleman is exemplified the results of enterprise and determination, and his fellow-citizens of Manhattan may well be pleased
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with the example which he sets to the youth of that eity and the adjoining territory. He is well known as a dealer in shelf and heavy hardware, machinery. agricultural implements and oils, and as the only furniture dealer in the place; and he has otherwise become known to many as the present in- eumbent of the Postmastership.
The parents of our subject were Solomon and Catherine (Tobias) Zinser, both natives of the Keystone State, the one having been born in Ger- mantown and the other at Reading. The father accompanied his parents to Ohio when he was seven years old and when of age began farming in that State. In 1818 he removed to Tazewell County, Ill., buying a farm of eighty acres near Washing- ton and residing there until his death, in 1887, at the age of sixty-eight years. He was a Republican and a member of the Evangelical Church. His wife was the daughter of Peter Tobias, a Pennsylvania farmer who finally came to Illinois and died near Washington in 1876, at the advanced age of eighty years. Mrs. Zinser is still living there and is now sixty-seven years old.
The parental family included fourteen children, eleven of whom are now living: Frank resides in Storm Lake. lowa; Mary, Mrs. Koker, is on the old homestead in Tazewell County; Elizabeth, Mrs. Ott, in Hoop Pole, Ill .; Mrs. Rebecca Goembel in Hoop Pole; Mrs. Carrie Smith near Plainfield, this county ; the next is our subject ; Solomon is a farmer near Washington, Tazewell County; Mrs. Sarah Niemeyer died in that county ; Mrs. Amelia Fer- ner lives in the village of Washington; Daniel is clerking for our subject; Sophia is with her mother.
The subject of this notice was born February 2, 1856, near Washington. and reared amid the sur- roundings of rural life. His education was ob- tained in the district schools, which were fortu- nately conducted according to an excellent system and by persons interested in the youth under their charge. Ile continued an inmate of the parental household until he had attained his majority when he came to Plainfield, this county, and began work- ing out as a farm laborer. He was not satisfied with the knowledge he had obtained and hoarded his resources in order to attend a higher school. When twenty-two years old he entered the North
western College at Naperville, prosecuting his studies a year, after which he returned to the plow.
For two seasons more young Zinser continued to work on farms by the month, and then, having taken a helpmate and companion, he began farming on his father's place in Tazewell County. For two years he operated the farm, during this time saving all that he could that he might embark in some business enterprise amid the busy haunts of men. With his small earnings he started in the hard ware business in Manhattan, February 22. 1883, occupy- ing a rented building. The business rapidly in- creased and he is now one of the leading merchants in the place. In 188t he added farm implements to his stock in trade and he now does a large busi- ness in that line. In the spring of that year he took in as a partner his brother-in-law, Amos M. Smith, the business being conducted under the title of Zinser & Smith until December, 1885, when our subject bought his partner's interest and continued alone.
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