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 67
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himself on Washington Street, where he continued to do business until 1882. That year he sold out and, after an interval of rest, became interested in live stock in the West, which engaged his atten- tion for a time, and he then established his present business which he has conducted about five years. lle still retains possession of his farm property in Manhattan Township. Give & Co. sell the product of their manufactory principally to the jobbing and retail trade, having men on the road at all times.
Mr. Gise was married. February 10, 1870. in Mitllir. County. Pa., to Miss Addie A. Kearns who was born in that county August 27, 1847. The parents of Mrs. Gise were Thomas and Mary (Set- tle) Kearns, natives of Pennsylvania and now de- ceased. Four children have been born to our subject and his good wife, these bearing the names re- spectively, of Ward K .. Lloyd P .. Buelab A. and Edith S. . Mrs. Gise is a member in good standing of the Central Presbyterian Church. Mr. Gise gives his political support to the Democratic party but meddles very little with public affairs, prefer- ring to devote his time and attention to his business interests and his family.
ORNELIU'S J. MCCLURE. In traveling about Will County one is struck by the ap- pearance of neatness and order which many of its homes bear and the evidences of thrift and enterprise which are to be seen on every hand. These features are noticeable in contemplating the estate occupied by the above-named gentleman, which comprises one hundred and sixty acres, on section 19, Manhattan Township. It is evident that the manager of this place is successfully pur- sning his avocation, which is plainly seen to be that of grain and stock-raising. Holstein cattle and Poland-China swine of good grades graze over the broad acres. and some twenty head of high- grade draft horses are also visible. Investigation reveals the fact that Mr. MeClure has recently suf- fered the loss by fire of a large barn, 10x70 feet, and other buildings. but that substantial structures will soon replace the temporary shelter which he
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has been compelled to use for a time. The in- quirer would also learn that he operates two hun- Ared and forty acres of land, and rents an equal amount, and that his entire landed estate is tillable, well tiled, fenced and otherwise improved. It is divided into three improved places, one comprising a quarter of section 25, Jackson Township, and an- other, eighty acres on section 30, Manhattan Township. watered by Mud Creek.
The McClure family is of Scotch lineage, and the branch to which our subject belongs was repre- sented in the third generation previous to his time by a MeClure who was born near New York City, and was an early settler in St. Albans, Vi. A brother of this gentleman belonged to the Revolu- tionary army, was taken prisoner and confined in a prison ship, his place of confinement being so loath- some that he became crazy. The grandfather of our subject was James McCluie, born in Franklin County, Vt., in 1777, and the owner of a farm which he operated until his death. The next in the paternal line of descent was David, who was born near St. Albans, Franklin County, Vt., and followed in his father's footsteps, becoming a former.
David MeClure cleared a farm one-half mile from Lake Champlain, and there raised large flocks of sheep and herds of other stock. In the fall of 1854 he sold his Eastern property, and coming to Will County, Ill., purchased one hundred and sixty acres of raw land in Wilmington Township, and immediately set about its improvement. After having seen his labors crowned with success. in 1864 he removed to Green Garden Township. pur- chasing an equal amount there, upon which he re- mained but eighteen months. He then sold, and in the fall of 1865 became a resident of Manhattan Township. Ile purchased eighty acres of land on section 30, together with one hundred and sixty aeres on section 25, Jackson Township, and build- ing upon the former, operated the entire acreage until 1880, when he retired to Manhattan. He spent the remainder of his life in the repose which his former industry merited, breathing his last in 1885, at the age of seventy-six years. He was a stanch member of the Republican party. In earlier years he belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, but later transferred his membership to
the United Brethren Church, in both societies as- sisting to upbuikl the cause of Christianity by joining the efforts to erect a house of worship, and in all else which the organizations undertook.
The wife of David McClure was Charlotte Ayers, likewise a native of Franklin County. Vt., and a daughter of Benjamin Ayers, who was born and spent his earlier years in Massachusetts. On re- moving from his native State. Mr. Ayers continued his agricultural work in Enosburg Township, in the county wherein his daughter opened her eyes to the light of day. That worthy lady died in 1886, at the age of fifty-eight years. She had borne her husband three children, of whom our subject is the first-born. The others are Judson L .. now living in Manhattan Village, and Orrin, who died when but three years old.
The natal day of Cornelius J. McClure was May 13, 1850, and his birthplace the old MeClure home, on the banks of Lake Champlain. not far from St. Albans. Vt. ile has but slight recollections of his native place, as he accompanied his parents to this county early in his fifth year. They traveled by rail to Joliet, and the childhood of our subject was spent amid the primitive surroundings incident to the cultivation and development of new land. Ilis remembrance of the wildness of the prairie in- cludes the charming sight of a flock of eighteen deer. Hle early learned to bear a share in the work of the farm, and during the war, when older and stronger hands were scarce, was counted as one on the harvest field and elsewhere.
Young MeClure was but fourteen years old when the family removed from Wilmington to Green Garden Township, and fifteen when they came to Manhattan Township. lle had enjoyed the advantages of the district schools whenever it was possible for him to attend them, and when nineteen, was given the privilege of attending Jen- nings Seminary, at Aurora, one term. He remained with his father until he became of age, and in 1872 rented a tract of his father, and began his personal efforts as a farmer. In the spring of 1873 he went West by rail to learn something of the country beyond the Mississippi. He became a brakeman on the Kansas Pacific Railroad, between Brookville, Ft. Wallace and Denver, and later went
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to Nevada, where he filled a similar position on the Central Pacific Railroad, between Toana and Winnemneka. He returned to his home in the spring of 1874. by way of San Francisco and Panama, sailing from the Isthmus to New York on the " Acapulco," and consuming seven weeks in the homeward journey.
Resuming work on his father's farm, Mr. MeClure in a few months became the purchaser of eighty acres on section 30. the operation of which he added to that of some of the homestead, continu- ing it until 1879. In the meantime. on December 23, 1875. he had been joined in wedlock to Miss Emily Morgan, and at the date before named they located on property belonging to her, which has since been their home. This is the valuable estate on section 19, in addition to which Mr. MeClure operates a part of section 30. After the death of his father he bought his brother's interest in the parental homestead, bringing up his landed estate to four hundred and eighty acres.
Mrs. MeClure was born in Neansay Township, Kendall County. Il., where her father, Moses Mor- gan, had settled in 1850. Two years later he removed to the vicinity of Joliet, and having prosecuted successfully his occupation of tilling the soil. eventually became the owner of eleven hun- dred acres of land. After his death, m 1877, his his daughter's share of the estate was overseen by her husband. Mrs. McClure was educated at JJoliet, and it would be hard to find a lady of more pleas- ing characteristics and genuine worth. Her gra- cious hospitality and mental eutture make her home a favorite gathering plice for friends, white to her husband and children it is the dearest spot on earth. The interesting group about the fireside in- eludes six sons and daughters, namely : Alice. Mark, Ara. Irvin. Addie and Wayne; while two children have gone before.
Not only has the enterprise of Mr. MeCture (- cured him a good estate and all the comfort- of life, but he has gained a still better reward for his meritorions life in the good-will of numerous friends and an honorable reputation. Be is now serving his third term as Township School Trustco. and he was Village Trustee for one year. his home having been included in the corporation when the
charter was first given, but later set off. He he- longs to the Grange at Manhattan, having the sta- tion of Overseer. He gives his ballot to the candidates of the Republican party, and is an earnest advocate of temperance.
E DWARD D. CONLEY, editor and proprie- tor of the Joliet Signal. is conducting a journal which under his management has at- tained no small degree of influence in this part of the State. He is a native of the city of Toronto, Canada. and was born August 11, 18JJJ. He was but an infant when his parents removed to Buffalo, N. Y., and in 1849, to Wilmington, this State, where Edward was reared to mature years, and which remained his home until 1889.
In the meantime. during the progress of the Civil War and when a youth of nineteen years, Mr. Conley entered the Union service. enlisting in Com- pany A. Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the James. He partici- pated in many of the important battles which fot- lowed, including several engagements in front of Richmond and Petersburg, remaining in the service until December, 1865. when he received an honor- . able discharge on the mustering out of his regiment. In the meantime he had the satisfaction of witness- ing the surrender of Lee at Appomattox and he saw many of the prominent men who were con- spienous at that time, viz .: Jefferson Davis, Presi- dent Lincoln. Gen. Grant, Secretary Stanton. Gen. Sheridan and others. He discharged his duties faithfully as a soldier and at the close of the war returned home.
After a brief term spent in school, Mr. Conley engaged in the furniture business one year at Wil- mington, and subsequently filled various munici- pal and township oflives. In 1871. he became in- terested in journalism and purchased the Wilming- ton Advocate which he still owns and controls. In December, 1886, he purchased a half interest in the Joliet Signal, and three years later became sole proprietor. In 1889, he removed to the city and put up a residence at the intersection of Western
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and Buell Avenues, where he now resules. For many years he has been the correspondent of the Chicago Times and Herald, sending in the local news from Wilmington, Braidwood and vicinity. About April. 1879, he established the Braidwood Reporter, which he published six years. He be- longs to Bowen Post, No. 17, G. A. R., at Wil- mington.
While a resident of Wilmington, Mr. Conley was married December 28, 1874, to Miss Mary A. O'Connell. This lady was born in 1846, in Ireland, and is the daughter of Mrs. Hannah Burke, now residing near Braidwood. There have been born of this union a son and daughter: Edward J., and May. Mr. Conley was reared in the Catholic faith and is a member in good standing of St. Patrick's Church.
NTHONY G. TAYLOR is profitably con- ducting farming and stock-raising opera- tions in Custer Township, where he has a well appointed farm on section 23, and here he and his family have an attractive home. Mr. Taylor's claims to representation in this bio- graphical work are not wholly as a farmer, how- ever, but in part as a noble type of the veterans of the late Civil War, whom we delight to honor, and who, since the Rebellion closed have done so much to develop the fine resources of this county. Our subject has an enviable military record, as an able and trustworthy soldier, who did his share of hard fighting that kept the Stars and Stripes float- ing over a free and undivided country, and by his valor he received deserved promotion to the official rank of Second Lieutenant.
Hiram Taylor, the father of our subject was a native of Rutland County, Vt., born 1806, and was there reared to the life of a farmer. His mother, whose maiden name was Eliza M. Weller, was born in the State of New York in the month of June, 1810. In 1826 she was married in the place of her nativity to Hiram Taylor, and they spent the early years of their wedded life in that State. In 1849, they came to Will County and settled on the
farm in this township now owned by Martin Tan- ner. There they resided for four years, and then removed to the farm now occupied by our subject. Here they made their permanent home and here the father of our subject died in 1877. His mother is still living at the venerable age of eighty years and is a beloved member of his household. Eleven children were born of her married life, two of whom died in the first four years of their existence and five of the family are now living and reside in this township.
The gentleman of whom we write was born September 16, 1840, in St. Lawrence County, N. Y. His education was obtained partly in his na- tive State and partly in Illinois in the common schools. Ile has always been at home. never hay- ing worked away, excepting for half a month. At the breaking out of the war he was engaged on his father's farm, and watched with ardent interest the progress of the Rebellion. August 5, 1861, he en- tered the army as a member of Company A. Thirty- ninth Illinois Infantry. He took part in the follow- ing campaigns: Shenandoah Valley under Gen. Shields; was with Burnside in his Fredericksburg campaign; was then under Gen. Banks at Suffolk, Va .; after that was with MeClellan on the James River and subsequently was at Newburn, N. C .; and later at South Carolina he fought under Gen. Gilmore. There he and bis comrades took part in the siege of Fts. Wagner and Gregg and were of great assistance in the capture of those strong- holds. His term of enlistment having expired he re-enlisted after a furlough of thirty days, returned to Washington. went with Gen. Butler to Bermuda Hundred, Va., and was active in the James River campaign. He remained with Butler during the siege of Richmond and in the spring of 1865, was transferred to Gen. Terry's command near Peters- burg, and the brigade of which he was a member was the first to intercept Lee. He fought in the following battles; Alpine Station, Md .; first bat- tle of Winchester, Va., and was in a number of se- vere skirmishes taking an active part in the one at Black Water, Va. The summer of 1863 was spent in the siege of Fts. Wagner and Gregg on Morris Island. S. C. . Then occurred Butler's march upon Richmond and the retreat, and Mr. Taylor was in
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all the battles in which his corps was engaged until the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. Ile served as a private until 1864, but his valor, trustworthi- ness and efficiency had commended him to the no- tiee of his commanders and in that year he was promoted to the position of Corporal and then to be Orderly Sergeant and in the same year received his commission of Second Lieutenant. Ile was honorably discharged December 16, 1865, at Spring- field, Ill.
After his long and exciting experience of life on the southern battlefields, our subject resumed the quiet occupation which he had dropped to take up arms in defense of his country's honor. Coming back to the old homestead, where so many years of his life had been passed, he actively entered upon the duties of cultivating the soil, and rearing stock. lle has one hundred and sixty acres of land, that under his able management is in a superior con- dition. Its neat buildings, well tilled fields and general air of thrift marking it as one of the most desirable estates in this vicinity. Here he and his wife have established a home that is the center of comfort and true hospitality, as they take pride and pleasure in making it a happy abode for their chil- dren.
December 6. 1868. Mr. Taylor was united in marriage to Mrs. Eliza Stewart nee Hicks, a soldier's widow and a daughter of Joseph and Hannab Hicks. Her father is a retired farmer living in Plainfield. By this marriage our subject and wife have five children: Venie is the wife of Edward Yates of this township, and they have one child; Belle is the wife of Heury Linton of Custer Park: Charles. Eugene and Hiram.
Our subject has been closely identified with the growth and material welfare of Custer Township. and so of Will County. since his boyhood, and is well-known as a man of correct habits and high principles, who possesses the business tact and prac- lical ability requisite to give him an assured place among those members of the farming community who have pursued their calling to a successful issue. 'lis position as a citizen of Custer Township, is of the best, and he has given it good service as a pub- lic official, always discharging his duty with con- scientious fidelity. Hle has been Director of this
district ( No. 1). He occupies an important posi- tion as Treasurer of the Board of Road Commis- sioners, and has just been appointed Enumerator of Census by the United States Government, for Custer Township. His public and private duties are so numerous that he has just been obliged to resign the office of Justice of the Peace. In commem )- ration of the part which he took in the war he is now a member of Bowen Post, G. A. R. of Wilmington. Ile always votes the Republican ticket in National polities.
C ARL ARBEITER, a highly respected resi- dent of Plainfield Township, where he is profitably engaged in farming and stock- raising, may be denominated one of the pioneers of this portion of Will County. although not one of its earliest settlers, as in improving his present valuable farm, he has greatly aided in its develop- ment and has materially added to its wealth.
Mr. Arbeiter was born in Germany, July 25, 1827, in the town of Kappits Ki. Grottkau, Ober-Schlesien. Henry Arbeiter, his father, was born in the same village, where his father, of the same name as him- self, carried on farming and spent the whole of his life. The father of our subject was bred to agri- cultural pursuits and according to the laws of his native land, as soon as old enough, served in the army in the years 1813-11-15, and fought against Napoleon. After returning to private life he re- sumed farming and was thus engaged until his death in his native village in 1857. He was twice mar- ried and reared nine children, only two of whom ever came to America. our subject and his brother William, the latter now a resident of California.
Ile of whom we write received excellent educa- tional advantages in the land of his birth, attending school until he was fourteen years of age. He then commenced to work on a farm and afterwards learned the trade of a brick and plaster mason. serv- ing an apprenticeship, and then doing journey work in different parts of Germany. He was not satis- fied with his prospects in Germany and thinking that he could do better in America. he sailed for this country in 1851, embarking at Bremen on the
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ship "Adler" and landing at Quebec on the 17th of June, after a voyage of seventy-two days. lle spent four weeks in that city and then came to the States and making his way to Chicago resided there one year. In 1855 he came to Will County, and engaged himself to work on a farm at $15 a month, and was thus employed three years. He subse- quently rented the farm that he now owns and soon bought the place which comprised eighty acres of land. He has done so well at his calling, that he has bought other land and now has two hundred and forty acres, divided into two farms that are classed among the best in the place, both being under good improvement and excellent tillage and provided with suitable buildings.
In 1860, Mr. Arbeiter, by his marriage with Miss Catherina Siller, a native of Germany, secured a wife who has been to him a faithful helpmate, act- ively co-operating with him in his work, and by her skillful management with her household affairs contributing to their prosperity. Mr. and Mrs. Arbeiter have five children, four of whom are liv- ing, as follows: Joseph. Charles, George and Mary. The latter is now the wife of Christian Larsen and 1
resides in Chicago.
For thirty-five years Mr. Arbeiter has been a resident of this county, and in that time has built up for himself a solid and enduring reputation as a man of good character, whose dealings with others are always in strict accord with the laws of justice and honor. He is an active, wide awake man. possessing keen foresight, and is quick to take advantage of any opportunity to improve his finances.
G EORGE WENDLING is a good representa- tive of German-American citizenship and the thrifty ways which make the Germans so successful in the pursuit of agrienlture. Ile owns and occupies an excellent farm in Washington Township, the property comprising one hundred and twenty acres ou section 19. and being well- improved and intelligently managed.
Mr. Wendling was born in Reteim, Alsace, which at the date of his birth. May 14, 1831, belonged
to France, but is now included in the territory of the Germanic Confederation. His parents. George and Catherine ( Wagner) Wendling, were born and reared in the same Province. were of German de- scent and usually spoke that language. The father was a linen-weaver. He died in his native country March 14, 1851, at the age of sixty-three years. His companion survived and in February, 1852, leaving two children in Germany, came with the other six to America. The party set sail from Havre, France, and landed in New York City after a voyage of three months. They went at once to Buffalo, where the mother died about a year later. She was then about sixty years old. She and her husband were lifelong members of the Evangelical Church.
The subject of this sketch was educated in his native Province in both German and French, and grew to maturity in the land of his birth. He ac- companied his mother to the United States and spent a few months in Buffalo, N. Y., whence he came to Illinois in 1853. At Montgomery he learned the trade of a cooper and followed the same in Chicago for five years. In 1866, he re- moved from the Garden City to Will County, and selecting the location upon which he yet resides, turned his attention to the pursuit of agriculture and to improving the farm which he had purchased. Hle has succeeded in his endeavors to make a com- fortable home, and the present condition of the land which he occupies and its various improve- ments are due to his personal efforts.
The marriage of Mr. Wendling and Miss Cath- erine Wagner took place in Aurora and has been blest by the birth of nine children. They are all living, and Charles. Laura. Louisa, Ella, Mary and Lena yet reside under the parental roof. John, the first born, married Lena Black, and they reside upon a farm in Kearney County, Neb. The second child, Erust. who is also farming in Nebraska, mar- ried Louisa Reberg. Sophia is the wife of Henry Razer, who operates a farm in Monee Township, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Wendling belong to the Evangelical Church and endeavor to walk con- sistently with their profession. Mr. Wendling is a sound Republican.
Mrs. Wendling was born in Baden, Germany,
yours truly Daright Haven
Lizzie b. Haven
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August 18, 1836, and with her sister Laura accom- panied her parents to America some years later. Jacob and Eva (Brown) Wagner had been born in Baden and resided there until 1852. They left Antwerp in September on the sailing vessel - Pal- riek" with the intention of making a home in America. They did not reach New York City until May, 1853, having been delayed in crossing the ocean by storms and three times grounded on sand bars. On each occasion several weeks passed before the vessel could be moved and they had to lay on the English coast five weeks undergoing repairs. They were not far from the castle of Queen Vic- toria, who furnished the emigrants with food white on shore and also gave them supplies for the con- tinuation of their voyage. When they finally reached America Mr. Wagner and his family at once came West to Illinois, settling in Lombard, Du Page County. After their children were mar- ried the parents came to Will County and lived with their daughter. Mrs. Wendling, until their death. The mother died in 1871 at the age of seventy-two years, and the father in 1881. hged eighty-one. Both were members of the Evangelical Church.
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