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 77
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G EORGE II. BRANNON, M. D., now located at Manhattan, enjoys a large practice in the town and surrounding country. Both he and his brother Londus are quite young, possessed of abundant energy and thoroughly skilled in their profession. having been graduated from well-known and reputable institutions. They are pleasantly located on Main Street.
Dr. G. Il. Brannon is the youngest in a family of live children born to John and Sarah ( Marker) Brannon, of Deeatur County, Ind. The father was born in New Jersey but later lived in Ohio, where he followed farming for some time. When about thirty years old he removed to the Hoosier State, choosing a location near Greensburg. where he is now living retired on a fine farm. ile served throughout the Mexican War as a private. Mrs. Brannon was born in Butler County, Ohio. The worthy couple are now seventy-seven and seventy four years of age, respectively. Mrs. Brannon belongs to the Presbyterian Church. The children are Laura, Isophiene (now Mrs. Feseus) and Weller. all on the home farm, and the two brothers who live in Manhattan.
The subject of this sketch was born near Greens- burg, Ind .. November 25, 1863, and was reared on a farm, enjoying such educational advantages dur- ing his boyhood as could be obtained in the district schools. When sixteen years old he entered the college at Richmond, pursuing his studies in that
excellent institution about four years and leaving one term prior to the completion of the course of study. When seventeen years old he had begun teaching, spending his vacations in pedagogical la- bors until he left the college, when he devoted him- self entirely to the work for two years. During one year of this time he held the Principalship of the Harris City Schools, which occupied a commo- dious building 86x87 feet.
Mr. Brannon had been studying medicine to some extent for several years, and in 1885 he took up the work more thoroughly under Dr. Clark, of Waynes- burg. After reading under that excellent pre- ceptor two years, he entered the llospital College of Medicine at Louisville, Ky., from which he was graduated in June, 1889. Ile came at once to Manhattan, where his brother was already located, and entered into partnership with him. In the few months which have elapsed since he began his la- bors, he has acquired an excellent reputation for general intelligence, professional skill and well- bred manners. He is not content to rest upon his oars, but is constantly adding to his store of pro- fessional knowledge by using the medium of medi- cal journals and all the professional literature of the day. He belongs to the Alumni Association of his Alma Mater, and to Alert Lodge, No. 395. F. & A. M .. in Indiana. Ilis political adherence is given to the Democratic party.
Londus Brannon, brother of our subject, was horn in Decatur County, Ind., November 25, 1857. His early life was spent similarly to that of his brother, and in youth he also began the study of medicine. He was graduated from the Ohio Med- ical College at Cincinnati in 1882. and devoted the first year of his practice to the citizens of Greens- tmirg. Ind., and vicinity. In 1883 he located in Manhattan, where, before his brother's arrival, he had secured a large practice. ile had not only ac- complished this, but he had earned the reputation of being a skillful practitioner, and had become very well liked by the community. He is consid- ered one of the most enterprising citizens of the village, and one to whom added years will bring more extended knowledge and even greater success.
Dr. Londus Brannon was married in October, 1887, to Miss Eliza Jones, the marriage ceremony
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taking place at the home of her parents in Peotone. The bride was born in Wilton Township, this county, and is the daughter of Robert and Elinor (Atkinson) Jones, natives of Yorkshire, England. Mr. Jones was for some years a prominent farmer in Wilton Township, but is now living retired at Peotone. Mrs. Brannon possesses the intelligence and culture which makes her a worthy companion of one of her husband's ability, and adds to the popularity of their home.
ESTER G. COLEGROVE has been identi- fied with the agricultural development of Will County since the early days of its set- tlement, and is a fine representative of the sturdy, intelligent, enterprising pioneers who came to this State half a century or more ago, and have since improved valuable and highly productive farms from the wild prairies. For many years he has made his home in Plainfield Township, and is closely associated with its material prosperity and its social and religious welfare.
Ile was born in the town of Fairfax. Franklin County, Vt., April 23, 1818. His father, Clark T. Colegrove, was, it is thoughit, born in Connecticut, and his grandfather was Nathan Colegrove, who was one of the early pioneers of Franklin County. mak- ing the removal to that part of Vermont with a team. Ile bought a traet of timber land, and from the primeval forest hewed out a farm on which be lived till death closed his mortal career. The father i of our subject was bred to agricultural pursuits, but he never owned a farm of his own, being em- ployed by others. He resided in Vermont until 1846, when he came to Illinois, and for some years lived in the town of Wheatland. He subsequently removed to Blue Island in Cook County. where both he and his wife died of cholera in the same week. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Nellie Ingersoll, and she was of New England birth.
Lester Colegrove was reared on a farm in his na- tive town, receiving the advantages of an educa- tion in the local schools. and at the age of sixteen
commenced to work out by the month. Ile was thus employed until 1838. He was ambitious to improve his condition and make something more of himself than he could in the sleepy little New England town where he resided, so he determined to start westward, and in the year mentioned we find him on his way to Illinois with but $5 in his pocket, but in his strong muscles, his determined will and high courage, he had better capital. He procured a ride to Berlinton and there took passage on a steamer for Whitehall, whence he went on the Champlain and Erie Canals to Buffalo, working to pay the expenses of the trip. At Buffalo he embarked on a steamer, having agreed to work for his passage to Chicago. From the latter city he started for Lockport on foot, and as the canal was then in process of construction, he labored on that for one month and was then taken sick. Ile was ill for two weeks and then came to Plainfield, and in 1839 worked a farm on shares. The country round about was still in a wild and unsettled con- dition, there being no railroads or canals here, and Chicago, thirty-six miles away, was the nearest market. At that time deer. wolves and other kinds of game abounded. In 1811, Mr. Colegrove bought a traet of wild prairie land in Pekin Town- ship, and at once with characteristic energy, entered upon its improvement. Hle built a small frame house, riving the shingles by hand, and in the years that followed erected more substantial buildings and placed the land under good tillage. Ile resided on that farm until 1875 and then rented it, having purchased the farm on which he now resides. He has added to the dwelling-house and made it into a commodious and tastefully fitted-up abode, and he has otherwise beautified the place, planted shade and ornamental trees, besides making other valua- ble improvements. Ile still owns the farm which he bought in 1841, and has added to his first pur- chase, until it now comprises two hundred and twenty-one aeres of highly cultivated land.
In the month of January, 1842, Mr. Colegrove was united in marriage with Miss Lucretia Inger- soll, a native of Vermont. Iler father, Chester Ingersoll, was a native of Massachusetts and was one of the first settlers of Will County. He bought the land from the Government in the village of
P
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Plainfield which is platted on his farm. He built for Esquire Walker, the first sawmill that was over erected here. hewing all the timber himself. Mr. Ingersoll resided here until 1817 and then went to California where his death occurred in 1819. The maiden name of his wife was Polly Burdick, mal she spent her last years in Plainfield. Mr. and Mrs. Colegrove have four children living, namely : Ma- rada, wife of G. W. Flagg. of whom see sketch; Flavilla, wife of Joseph Buffum, of Calhoun County, Iowa; Ida. wife of Wheeler Green, of Plainfield; Dell, wife of Calvin Hice, of Chicago.
Coming to this county more than half a century ago to identity himself with its pioneers, our sub- ject has been of invaluable aid in developing its resources, and, as we have seen. has placed himself among its well-to-do citizens, as his natural en- dowments have enabled him to manage his affairs at a good advantage. He and his wife are well known for their kindness of heart and thoughtful- ness towards others and they occupy a warm place in the hearts of the people about them. Both are sincerely religious and are constant attendants of the Baptist Church of which they are consistent members.
2.000.
A.J. ROBERT MANN WOODS, editor and publisher of the Republic and Sun, has for many years been a prominent figure among the various interests of Will County, and especially of the city of Joliet. Ile is a gentleman of fine abilities, possessing great energy and enter- prise, and is in the habit of making a success of whatever he undertakes. He was born April 17. 1810, in Greenville, Mercer County . Pa., and is the son of William J. and Sarah ( Mann ) Woods. The parents were natives respectively of Western New York and Maryland.
This branch of the Woods family is of Irish ex- traction, and as far back as the records go, were in religion Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. 'The father of our subject was a cabinet-maker by trade. and po- litically a hfe-long AAbolitionist, being the only man in Pike County, this State, who voted for
James G. Birney for President. For a number of Svars he published a Free Soil paper in Galesburg, H1., having come to the State in 1842. In 1855, in company with others, he formed the Western Industrial and Scientific Institution, which estab- lished a still flourishing college at College Springs, lowa. He is still living, a hale and hearty old man, making his home in Sheridan County, Kan., where three of his sons also reside. Ile was married the third time at the age of eighty-two years and is now eiglity-five years old. Ile preserves much of his old time energy and activity, and at the present writing, April, 1890, is engaged in setting out an orchard and maintains that he expects to gather fruit from it for several seasons to come.
To William J. Woods by his first wife, the mother of our subject, was born a family of ten children, of whom Robert M. was the fifth in or- der of birth. Marilla S .. the first child, Mrs. Young, is living in Cameron, Mo .; the second child, Newton, is farming in Sheridan County, Kan .; Ad- dison is a resident of Sheridan County, Kan. ; Nar- vissa, Mrs. Cox, resides in Quincy, Ill .; John is engaged in the real-estate business at Joliet; Sarah 1 .. Mrs. Maj. A. R. Anderson, died in Sidney, Iowa. ller husband was for several teris a member of Congress; Isaac, a gallant soldier of the Fourth Missouri Cavalry, died in Washington, Ind., in 1889; William P. is a grocer at Villisca, Iowa; and Williston B. is a farmer in Sheridan County, Kan.
The subject of this notice was taken to Pike County, this State, in 1812, when a child, and lived there until 1818. Then going to Galesburg, he attended Knox College, and lived there for a period of ten years. In 1858 he crossed the Mis- sissippi, and un il 1861 taught school in lowa and Missouri. At the outbreak of the Civil War he was appointed by Gov. Yates to a position in the Quartermaster's and Governor's offices, which occapied his time until June, 1864. He was then appointed Adjutant of Yates' Sharp-shooters, which formed the Sixty-fourth Illinois Regiment. Ile served in this through the Atlanta campaign and was then detailed as a mustering officer. Subse- quently he served on the staff of Maj. Gen. Giles A. Smith, participating in the march to the sea and
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the campaign through the Carolinas, when he was commissioned Captain of Company A, Sixty-fourth Illinois Infantry, and was twice brevetted for gal- lant and meritorious service as Captain and Major. At the close of the war he went with his regiment to Washington, and was present at the Grand Re- view. He then proceeded with his regiment to Louisville, Ky., where he was mustered out, and as a mustering officer signed the discharge papers of over ten thousand soldiers.
After leaving the army Maj. Woods was sum- moned to Springfield by Adj. Gen. I. N. Haynie, and there he wrote the histories of all the Illinois reg- iments for the Adjutant-General's report, these making nine volumes. In the spring of 1866, he wrote the constitution and by-laws, charter, etc .. for the Grand Army of the Republic, which was originated by Dr. B. F. Stephenson, and of which Maj. Woods was the first Adjutant-General. Soon afterward he organized the various departments throughout the Northwest. The original charter of Decatur Post, No. 1, has his name upon it.
In 1868 Maj. Woods repaired to Chicago, Ill., where he was variously engaged, and for four and one-half years officiated as chief clerk during the construction of the United States Custom House and post-office, in that city. In 1877 he was ap- pointed Insurance Examiner of Illinois, and dur- ing his incumbency of this office it became his duty to proceed against and close up, in the courts of the State, the Republic Life, the Protection Life, and Chicago Life Insurance Companies. This em- ployed his time until 1879, and then turning his attention to the newspaper world, he purchased the Joliet Republican of James Goodspeed. Hle conducted this successfully until 1883, then pull- chased the JJoliet Sun, which he merged with the Republican. In 1888, reaching out still farther, he purchased the Daily and Weekly Press, and consolidated the three papers under the name of Republic and Sun. He is an able journalist, mak- ing an interesting loeal paper, which has become one of the indispensable institutions of Will County. Its political complexion reflects his own convictions and sympathies, which have been in harmony with the principles of the Repulican party since he became a voter. He has an ad-
mirably equipped office, including a job depart- ment and book bindery, fitted out with all the machinery and other appliances necessary to do first- class work. The paper has a healthy subserip- tion list, and the job department is generously patronized by the people of Joliet and Will County.
Maj. Woods was married, October 5, 1867, in Chicago, Ill., to Miss May Florence Miner. Mrs. Woods was born April 8, 1851, at Harding, III., and is the daughter of Samuel E. and Asenath (Darrow) Miner, who were natives of Massachu- setts, and are now residents of Phoenix, Arizona. Two children, a daughter and a son, have been born of this union, Alice M. and Miner R., who still remain with their parents. The family resi- . dence and its surroundings, forms one of the at- tractive homes of Joliet, and is located in the southeastern part of the city.
Elsewhere in this volume the reader will notice a lithographie portrait of Maj. Woods.
OHN N. GEUTHER. The old saying that truth is stranger than fiction, is one with which we are all familiar,and yet which often is unheeded while we go on blindly supposing that strange incidents only belong to the works of fiction. The life of the enterprising eitizen whose history it is our purpose to sketch, has been marked with experiences somewhat ont of the usual order. Ile is the oldest of three children, whose ancestry is noted in the sketch of John George Geuther, found elsewhere in this ALBUM. He was born in Saxe Coburg Gotha, Germany, January 4, 1825. and reared in the village of Weid- hausen.
The educational privileges of young Geuther were somewhat limited, as the schools were princi- pally held during the winter months, but he im- proved such opportunities as were afforded him. He early took up farm labors on bis father's land and he also partially learned the trade of a baker from his Grandfather Geuther. When he was eighteen years old his father wished him to come
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to America to see what opportunities this country afforded, and he therefore left Bremerhaven in 1844, landing in New York City, after an ocean voyage of thirty-five days. In addition to his other attainments he had learned basket-making from his father. and at that trade he worked five months in the metropolis.
The summer having passed, young Geuther turned his footsteps southward, and reaching Charleston, S. C .. completed the trade of a baker and worked some five years as a journeyman. lle then opened a bakery in the same city, having his residence on Sullivan's Island, near Ft. Moultrie. Ilis sentiments were all in favor of the I'nion, and after the breaking out of the Civil War he was . ordered by Southern officers to quit the island. In 1862 he went into the city, and a few months later to Mt. Pleasant, where he remained virtually in hid- ing, as he could not get North. As he was not able to continue his occupation he was obliged to live on what he had saved, and his capital gradually diminished.
After the war Mr. Geuther opened a bakery in Mt. Pleasant, and through a providential circumstance became acquainted with the whereabouts of his parents, between whom and himself there had been no communication for years. During this time the parental family had emigrated to America and were living in Will County, IN. A man who had lived at Frankfort, went onto a plantation near Mt. Pleas- ant and bought bread from our subject. A receipt being given him, he noted the name upon it and said that he knew the father and brothers of the signer, and that they would be glad to hear from or see him. A correspondence was at once opened. and, as soon as possible. our subject closed up his business and came North to visit his family, whom he had not seen for twenty-six years.
After spending a few months with his friends Mr. Genther returned to South Carolina, sold his possessions there and moved to Mokena, Il .. April 4, 1870. lle located on one hundred and sixty aeres on section 31, Green Garden Township, which had been purchased by his father before the war. The improvements upon it were poor but they have been replaced or added to until the estate is now in an excellent condition. Agriculture. of
which he obtained a slight knowledge in his boy- hood, has been well Jearned by him since he took up his residence in the North, and he is succeeding well in his enterprise.
Mr. Geuther has built a commodious and sub- stantial residence. barn, corn erib and other farm buildings, has further improved his place with drain tile and good fences, many rods of well-kept hedge serving to outline his lields. The land is watered by Forked Creek and every acre is tillable. Oats and corn are the principal grain crops, in the cultivation of which three teams are employed. Hle keeps thirteen cows and raises draft horses of the Clydesdale breed. Mr. Geuther has also invested in South Dakota land, having three hundred and twenty acres in Douglas County, which comprises two improved farms which are operated by his children. Credit is due him for his success, partic- ularly as he was obliged to begin at the bottom of the ladder after the war, as the money which he had was Confederate script and consequently valueless.
The first marriage of Mr. Geuther took place in Charleston, S. C., in 1857. Ilis bride was Miss Bertha Kaffe, who was born near Bremen, Germany, and who died in Charleston in 1866. She left three children-Bertha. who is married to Christ Beeler, and lives in Douglas County. S. Dak .; William. who is in the employ of a railroad in Sioux City, lowa; and Christ, who operates a farm in South Dakota.
The second marriage of Mr. Geuther took place at Mt. Pleasant. S. C., in 1869, and has been blest by the birth of eight children-George. Lizzie. Lawrence, Caroline, Amelia, Augusta, Helena and Edith, all of whom are at home. The mother of this interesting family bore the maiden name of Augusta Bose, and was born in Stibnitch, Prussia, October 31. 1839. Her father, Johan Bose, was born in Voline, and was an overseer of fishermen; her mother. formerly Miss Anna Bairns, was also a native of Prussia. Mrs. Geuther was reared to the age of thirteen years in her native place and con- tinued to live in the German Empire five years longer. She then sailed for America in the "Ghost," which made the voyage from Bremen to Charleston. S. ( .. in six weeks. This was in 1858,
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and the young lady worked in Charleston until the war, when she went to Wallhallow, three hundred miles north. There she remained until the close of the war, when she returned to Charleston. She is an excellent housekeeper, a devoted mother and a good neighbor.
Mr. Geuther is a very intelligent man and his long residence in this country has given him an excellent knowledge of the English language. Ilis personal characteristics are such that he is well liked by members of the community, and his busi- ness energy has given him prominence. He be- longs to the Lutheran Church in which he holds the office of Trustee, and he is serving efficiently as School Director of his district. In politics, he is a Democrat. He has served on both grand and petit juries.
OHIN SCHROEDER & SON. Among the flourishing business houses of Manhattan that which is conducted under the above style is by no means least. On the contrary. the Messrs. Schroeder are among the largest dealers in the town, carrying a large stock of groceries and general merchandise, which includes dry-goods. clothing, boots and shoes. The firm also deals in four and salt, and handles a large amount of pro- duce. Their stock is well selected, thoroughly adapted to the needs and wishes of those who pat- ronize the establishment, and the sales being con- ducted according to the strictest honor and by men whose courtesy is unfailing and whose willingness to oblige is apparent to all, the reputation of the firm is constantly growing.
The senior member of this firm is a son of Prof. John Schroeder, who was born in Kerr-Hessian and was graduated from a German seminary after a six-years' course of study. Hle taught in different towns in Ilesse and died at the age of forty-six years. His wife was Philipine Sehncht, a Hessian lady of worth, daughter of Martin Schucht, a wealthy farmer and miller, and an influential citi- zen who held various public offices in Kerr-Hesse. Prof. Schroeder and his wife reared three children to manhood and womanhood. They are Charles, a
farmer of Wilten Township, this county; John and Maria C.,now Mrs. C. Justes, of Rosewood, Chicago. Going back another generation in the ancestral line we find Prof. Anton Schroeder, also an able teacher, who was born in Hauda Kerr-Hesse.
John Schroeder was born in Germany and reared under favorable home influences. His father died when he was nine years old. but he remained with his mother until he had entered his teens, when he began the labors of life as a clerk in a general store in Hlesse-Cassel. After sojourning there . three years he went to Gottingen, where he clerked until he was twenty years old. During this period he took private lessons in French, book-keeping and musie. When twenty years old he entered the German army, serving two years and two months in the First German Ritle Battalion, Third Com- pany. The life of a soldier was most distasteful to bim and as soon as his term was completed he made preparations to join his brother and sister in Amer- ica, they being at that time at Blue Island, Cook County, IN.
October 15, 1856, the good ship, "Union," Capt. Claussen, spread her sails and left the harbor of Bremen for a voyage across the Atlantic. Among the passengers was Mr. Sehroeder, who landed in New York, January 3, 1857, whence he came at once to Chicago by rail. Ilis brother was engaged in wagon-making at Blue Island and he took up the same trade, working with him, and also in Chi- cago and Michigan City, Ind. In the fall of 1860 be came to Will County and located at Wilton Center, where he engaged in the manufacture of carriages and wagons. He built a residence and shop, and worked up an excellent business, at which he continued to labor until 1882. He then aban- doned wagon-making to operate a farm of eighty acres adjoining the village, of which he had been the purchaser.
In the spring of 1887, Mr. Schroeder removed to Manhattan, forming the present partnership with his son and buying the general merchandise stock of Knapp & McGovney. He continued to handle agricultural implements, in which he had begun to deal at Wilton Center, until January, 1890, when that branch of the trade was abandoned. The means which Mr. Schroeder has invested in his
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