USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 72
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 72
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 72
USA > Illinois > Stark County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 72
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Mr. and Mrs. Hammond are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, with which body they have been connected for many years and of which our subject is trustee and steward. Both are active workers in the Master's vineyard and take delight in witness- ing the advancement of the cause of their Re-
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deemer. Politically Mr. Hammond is a re- 1895. Margaret M., born December 24, 1835, publican, and fraternally a member of the Masonic order.
John M. Reed, the father of Mrs. Ham- mond, was an itinerant minister in the Method- ist Episcopal church. For many years he was a member of the Ohio conference and filled stations at Newark, Lancaster, Cam- bridge and other places. His health failing him, he located in Perry county, Ohio, and there did more general preaching, married more couples, preached more funeral sermons and he thinks received less pay for his mar- riage ceremonies than almost any other minis- ter of the gospel. On one occasion he married a couple and received as a fee a large red apple. On another occasion he accepted one hundred rails for his services. He lived in Bearfield township, Perry county, Ohio, for many years and then moved to Grant county, Wisconsin, driving all the way through with teams. From that state the family came to Milo township, Bureau county, Illinois, in 1864. While residing there he preached as supply as the opportunity was afforded him. A most worthy and excellent man of God, his death occurred April 16, 1877, on his seventy- fifth birthday. His wife died July 2, 1879. They were the parents of twelve children- Hester A., born February 22, 1823, was an active worker in the church, and a teacher of much experience and great aptness, and died April 15, 1853. John W., born August 13, 1824, married Emeline Holcomb, and they now reside in Varna, Marshall county; Sarah died in infancy. Mary J., born May 17, 1827, is the wife of Johnston Fate, and they reside in Milo township. George died in infancy. Homer C., who died in his eighteenth year, was born August 24, 1830. Leah, born Jan- uary 18, 1833, died March 21, 1868. Caroline T., born April 14, 1834, died November 30,
is the wife of our subject. Eliza E., born Christmas Day, 1839, married James E. Mc- Kinney, and they reside in Lancaster, Wiscon- sin. Leroy H., born July 13, 1842, married Sarah Britton, and they reside in Milo town- ship. Joseph B., born August 21, 1846, mar- ried Ellen Mccullough and they reside in Lake City, Iowa.
FRANK THOMAS is a leading attorney of Wyoming, Illinois. Whatever else may be said of the legal fraternity, it cannot be de- nied that members of the bar have been more prominent actors in public affairs than any other class of the community. This is but the natural result of causes which are manifest and require no explanation. The ability and train- ing which qualify one to practice law also qualify him in many respects for duties which lie outside the strict path of his profession and which touch the general interests of society. Holding marked precedence among the mem- bers of the bar of Stark county, and retaining a clientele of so representative a character as to alone stand as evidence of his professional ability and personal popularity, Mr. Thomas must assuredly be accorded a place in this volume.
He was born in the town which is still his home, September 17, 1848, and is a son of James M. and Ellen R. (White) Thomas, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. After leaving the common schools of Wyoming he entered Clark's Seminary at Aurora, Illinois, which he attended for two years, and was for one year a student at the Northwestern Uni- versity in Evanston, Illinois. He then entered the law department of the University of Mich- igan, where he graduated with the class of 1871, and was admitted to the bar in Stark
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county in October, 1872, since which time he ยท has successfully engaged in the practice of his chosen profession in Wyoming. His father gave him what assistance he could in obtain- ing his education, and the rest was secured through his own exertions.
On the 14th of September, 1871, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Mr. Thomas was united in marriage with Miss Annie Walsh, and to them were born two children-Harry, who died at the age of seven years; and Katie M., now the wife of Frank S. Price, of Springfield, Illinois, by whom she has one child-Fara. Mrs. Thomas departed this life in Wyoming, June 2, 1876. Our subject was again married, April 12, 1882, his second union being with Miss Julia M. Hoover, daughter of Dr. W. H. Hoo- ver, of Wyoming, Illinois, and they now have one child, Annie L., born in Wyoming, Sep- tember 27, 1884.
Mr. Thomas was reared a democrat, and was nominated by that party for the legislature in 1890, but withdrew. He was also its can- didate for state's attorney in 1892, but was defeated, and in 1896 was again nominated for the same position, but declined, as he could not support the ticket that year. For twenty consecutive years he has acceptably served as attorney for the village of Wyoming, and has represented his party as a delegate to various local and state conventions. He is a promi- nent Royal Arch Mason, has served as secre- tary of the blue lodge five years, also secretary of the chapter, and high priest for several years. He also belongs to the order of Eastern Star, the Court of Honor, Knights of the Mac- cabees and the Modern Woodmen of America. He has a pleasant home in Wyoming, and a fine library, which is extensively used. A leading and influential lawyer, he has built up a large and lucrative practice, which extends through all the courts of the state.
AMUEL MALONE .- Prominentamong the S representative citizens and respected and influential men of Penn township, Stark county, is found the subject of this biographical notice, who resides on section 6, where he owns a fine farm. This is well improved and highly culti- vated, and shows conclusively that the owner has not mistaken his calling in adopting agri- culture.
A native of the Emerald Isle, Mr. Malone was born in county Down, March 28, 1820, and is a son of Owen and Jennie (McLughen) Malone. At the early age of nine years he started out to make his own way in the world, and when twenty went to Scotland, where he was employed in the iron mines for eight years. His father had died four years previous to his leaving Ireland, and on his removal he was accompanied by his mother. While in Scot- land the mine in which he was working caved in, a large rock falling upon him, breaking one leg and an arm in two places. Unable to work, he soon exhausted his little capital, and when he concluded to come to America he was compelled to borrow the money to pay his passage.
On a sailing vessel Mr. Malone crossed the Atlantic in three months and three days, land- ing in New York on the 8th of July, 1848. Going at once to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, he obtained employment in the water works at eighty-seven and a half cents per day, and at the end of three months had saved enough to pay back what he had borrowed. He held that position for two years and then came to Peoria county, Illinois, where he had a brother living, and where he worked for twelve dol- lars per month on a farm during the summer.
In that county Mr. Malone was married May 3, 1859, to Miss Margaret, daughter of William and Susannah (Jolley) McConnell. He was acquainted with her father in Ireland. She
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was also born in county Down, June 26, 1840, and when twelve years old was brought to this country by her parents, being four weeks upon the water. For some time her father lived at Jubilee, Peoria county, and then removed to Valley township, Stark county, where he pur- chased eighty acres of land and spent his re- maining days.
Previous to his marriage, Mr. Malone had bought sixty-five acres of land in Saratoga township, Marshall county, Illinois, where he at once took up his residence and lived for a few years. On selling out, he rented a farm in Penn township, Stark county, for one year, and then purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Marshall county, on which he made his home for nine years. Disposing of that property he bought the two-hundred-and- seventy-acre tract in Penn township, Stark county, where he still resides, removing to the place in March, 1875. He also has one hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable land in Toulon township, the same county; and that he is a skillful and thorough farmer is plainly indicated by the neat and thrifty appearance of his land.
Mr. and Mrs. Malone have had eight chil- dren, of whom seven are still living, namely: William Henry, who lives near our subject, is married and has two children; James John re- sides in Penn township; Margaret Jane is the wife of Charles McCurdy, of Goshen township, Stark county, and has three children; Susan- nah is the wife of James McCurdy, of Mar- shall county, and has two children; Elizabeth married Robert Murray, of Penn township, by whom she has one child; and Samuel and May Martha are at home.
Until after the presidential election of 1876, when Tilden was the democratic candidate, Mr. Malone voted with that party, but is now a stanch supporter of the people's party. He
cares nothing for public office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business in- terests. He was reared in the Episcopal church and his wife in the Presbyterian. Pleasant and genial in manner, they have made for themselves many warm friends and enjoy the esteem and confidence of the entire com- munity.
A NTON SUNDQUIST, senior member of the well-known firm of Sundquist & Sons, undertakers and furniture dealers of Toulon, Illinois, has for many years been one of Stark county's most valued and worthy citizens. Although of foreign birth, he possesses the true American spirit of progress, and by industry, energy, enterprise and economy he has accu- mulated a handsome competence. He is truly a self-made man, for on landing in this state his cash capital consisted of but fifty dollars, but he has taken advantage of the opportuni- ties offered a poor but ambitious man in this free country of ours, and has steadily worked his way upward to a position of affluence.
Mr. Sundquist was born in Luleo, Sweden, July 23, 1843, and is the son of Hans Peter and Mary B. Sundquist, also of Luleo, Sweden. In 1867 he came alone to the New World, landing in this country on the 16th of August. His parents, who never left their native land, are now deceased, the mother dying at the age of fifty-five years, and the father at eighty- seven. They were members of the Lutheran church. In Sweden he has three brothers and one sister still living, while one brother, James, makes his home in Rockford, Illinois. Before coming to America our subject had learned the cabinet-maker's trade and was an expert workman. On arriving here he stopped first at Victoria, Illinois, where he remained until April, 1868, when he came to West Jersey, Stark county, and worked at the carpenter's
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trade for Mr. Pomeroy until July 15. Return- ing to Victoria, he built a house for Peter Newberg, and in the fall of the same year first came to Toulon, but soon afterward went to Galesburg, where for one year he was em- ployed in the car shops.
Again coming to Toulon in 1869, Mr. Sund- quist opened a furniture store under the firm name of Sundquist & Bowman, but two years later bought out his partner, and con- tinued alone until 1882, when he admitted into partnership Thomas Gemmell. This relation continued about one year, when Mr. Gemmell retired and A. E. Pomeroy succeeded, the business being continued under the firm name of Sundquist & Pomeroy for a little over one year. The stock was then divided, Mr. Pom- eroy opening up in another location, Mr. Sundquist continuing alone. Afterward he ad- mittted to partnership his two sons, James W. and Anton, and the business is now conducted under the firm name of Sundquist & Sons. In earlier days Mr. Sundquist manufactured much of his stock, but of later years has carried principally ready-made furniture, of which the firm has a large assortment. They also deal in pianos, organs and sewing-machines, and carry all kinds of undertaking supplies, cask- ets, suits, etc. Mr. Sundquist is an expert embalmner, and gives his attention to that art when his services are desired.
On New Year's eve, 1870, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Sundquist and Miss Kate Lundberg, who was born in central Sweden, November 20, 1850, and came to the United States with her sister Breta, arriving in Galva, Illinois, June 25, 1867. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lundberg, are still living in Sweden. To our subject and his wife have been born five children, namely: James Williams, who is. course, and therefore never received the de- connected with his father in business; Helen B., wife of William Carter, a farmer of Stark
county; Anton E., also with his father; Katie E., and Mamie L., at home. With the ex- ception of Helen all the children are graduates of the Toulon high school. The parents and all the children hold membership in the Meth- odist Episcopal church, and are highly respected members of society. Fraternally, Mr. Sund- quist is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his wife is a member of the Daughters of Rebekah. They have made many warm friends since coming to Toulon, and enjoy the confidence and high regard of all who know them.
O HARLES M. BEECHER, a member of the firm of Beecher & Reeve, dealers in dry goods and general merchandise, also of the firm of Bailey & Beecher, bankers, was born in St. Lawrence county, New York, February 21, 1855, and is the son of Orman and Ruth (Moses) Beecher, the former a native of Ver- mont and the latter of New York. The fa- ther was a carpenter by trade, and followed that business in connection with farming until recently, but is now living a retired life. He was one of the pioneers of St. Lawrence coun- ty, New York, where he still resides at the age of about seventy-six years. His wife died there, however, when our subject was quite young. In politics Orman Beecher has been a consistent republican since the organization of the party, and has always taken an active interest in political affairs.
The subject of this sketch was the only child born to Orman and Ruth Beecher. His primary education was received in the common schools, and he continued his literary training at the state normal, in Pottsdam, New York. He lacked one year, however, of finishing the gree. On leaving school he engaged in teach- ing for one year in the country, and was then
SPANYS
C. M. BEECHER.
MRS. C. M. BEECHIER.
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principal of a graded school for two years. As a teacher he was quite successful, but did not care to engage in the profession as a life work. After leaving school he traveled for about one year in the west and then settled at Galva, Illi- nois, where he engaged as a clerk for the firm of E. A. Lynd & Company, but was later ad- mitted to a partnership in the firm of R. F. Bailey & Company.
In March, 1879, the firm removed their stock to La Fayette, and the business was continued by Bailey & Beecher until 1893, when they dissolved. Our subject then took into the business as a partner his brother-in- law, Mr. Reeve, which connection still contin- ues. In 1895, Mr. Beecher again formed a partnership with Mr. Bailey, this time in the banking business, which they have since con- tinued, and have met with a fair degree of success. In fact the business is inuch greater than is usually done by banks in towns the size of La Fayette. The dry-goods trade of Beecher & Reeve is quite large, their patrons coming for many miles around.
Mr. Beecher was married March 6, 1880, to Miss Mae Reeve, a daughter of Milton Reeve, who was also a native of the same county and state as our subject. Four children have been born of this union-Carl M., Verne A., Nina L. and Helen R. Both parents and the three eldest children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which our subject is a trustee and steward. Politically, he is a re- publican, and is decidedly in favor of protec- tion and sound money.
W TILLIAM WHITTEN. - Like many other residents within the bounds of Stark county who started out in life with naught but an abundance of determination and indefati- gable industry and a strong and healthy consti- 29
tution, and who have succeeded through their own diligence, energy and economy, we clas- sify the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch. He is actively engaged in agricultural pursuits upon his farm on sec- tion 26, West Jersey township.
Mr. Whitten is a native of Ohio, born in Licking county, October 24, 1845, and is a son of Theodore Whitten, whose birth occurred in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, in 181I. The grandfather, William Whitten, served the government in the whisky rebellion in Penn- sylvania, and for his services received a land warrant. In the midst of the forests of Lick- ing county, Ohio, he obtained a tract of partly improved land, which he developed into a good farm, becoming one of the honored pioneers of that region. There Theodore Whitten grew to manhood and married Elizabeth Boring, a native of Ohio, where, for a number of years, he continued to follow farming. In 1855, with his family, he came by team to Stark county, Illinois, and on section 24, West Jersey town- ship, bought one hundred and twenty acres of land, then but slightly improved. Subse- quently he purchased more land until he had three hundred acres, which he placed under a high state of cultivation, making it his home until called from this life in 1886. His wife, who, at the age of seventy-one years, is still hale and hearty, now lives in Toulon.
Williamn Whitten is the second in order of birth in the family of four sons and seven daughters, all of whom reached maturity, but three are now deceased. They are as follows: Wesley, who was a member of Company F, One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was killed in the siege of Atlanta; Jane, wife of Joseph Graves, a farmer of Essex township, Stark county; Martha, deceased wife of Andrew Scott, of Duncan, Stark county; Ellen, wife of Lyman Gingrich, of Essex town-
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ship; Malinda, wife of Edward Trickle, of the same township; Clara, wife of Samuel Ging- rich, of Essex township; Hattie, wife of .Will- liam Atkinson, of Greene county, Iowa; Louisa, deceased wife of Frank Hazen; Elmer, who operates part of the old homestead in West Jersey township; and Theodore A., a farmer of Essex township.
Since a lad of nine years, Mr. Whitten, of this sketch, has made his home in Stark county and was educated in its public schools. He continued to assist in the cultivation and im- provement of the home farm until his marriage, which occurred in Stark county January 14, 1875, Miss Alma Graves becoming his wife. She was born, reared and educated in Vinton county, Ohio, coming to Illinois with her father, John H. Graves, who now lives with his daughter, Mrs. S. Bamber, of Stark coun- ty. Four children were born of this union, namely: Charles L., who died at the age of three years; John E., who was educated in the local schools and now aids in the operation of the home farm; Gracie, who is also a stu- dent in the school of the neighborhood; and William Edgar.
Mr. Whitten began his domestic life upon his present farm, at first purchasing eighty acres, but as he prospered in his undertakings he has added more land until at present he has a valuable farm of two hundred acres, and also a timber tract of twenty-five acres on section 35, West Jersey township. His farm is well improved with good and substantial buildings, and, in fact, all the accessories of a model farm. His political support has ever been given to the republican party since casting his first vote for General Grant in 1868, and he has served his fellow citizens as township col- lector and a member of the school board six years, but has little desire for official honors. In building up his own homestead he has ma- subject. When the Captain was about five
terially promoted the interests of his adopted county, and well deserves to be ranked among the valued citizens of the community.
C APTAIN JOHN HAWKS .- To a student of human nature there is nothing of greater interest than to examine into the life of a self- made man and analyze the principles that he has followed, the methods he has pursued; to know what means he has employed for ad- vancement, and to study the plans which have given him prominence, enabling him to pass on the highway of life many who have a more advantageous start. In the history of Captain Hawks there is deep food for thought, and if one so desires he might profit by the obvious lessons therein contained. He is one of the leading citizens of Wyoming, Illinois, with whose business interests he has been identified for many years.
The Captain was born near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, February 27, 1834, a son of John and Margaret (Robinson) Hawks. In the same house the father's birth occurred, and there the great-grandfather, John Hawks, took up his residence on removing from New York to the Keystone state. The grandfather, John Hawks, also made his home there. The first of the family to come from England to the new world was Moses Hawks, who crossed the Atlan- tic in 1630, and settled near Plymouth, in Massa- chusetts, where his descendants. still own the land which he then purchased. From the branch of the family which later removed to New York our subject is descended, and most of its members have followed agricultural pur- suits. The great-grandfather purchased a large tract of land in Montgomery and Chester coun- ties, Pennsylvania, where the grandfather lived during the Revolutionary war, and a part of the tract was inherited by the father of our
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years of age the father gave up farming and removed to Philadelphia, where he conducted a hotel until his death, which occurred three years later, in 1842.
Captain Hawks is fourth in order of birth in a family of seven children, and was about eight years of age at the time of his father's death, since which time he has been dependent upon his own resources for a livelihood. For the following four years he worked as a farm hand in Montgomery county, and for his services was given the privilege of attending school on an average of forty-four and a half days per year. Previous to his father's death he had obtained a good education for one of his years, but had little opportunity of adding to this. From Philadelphia his mother returned to Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, near which place he secured work at farming at from four to five and a half dollars per month.
At the age of fifteen, Captain Hawks went to Philadelphia, where he served a three years' apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, at which he worked as a journeyman in that city for two years, most of the time being foreman. He next went to Savannah, Georgia, where he served as foreman for a carpenter until the yellow fever broke out, when he went to Au- gusta, that state, remaining there from March until May. He then returned to Philadelphia, but in the fall of 1854 came west to Illinois, and made his home in Peru until the following January, when he came on a visit to Stark county, where he soon afterward located, as he found plenty of work. Until 1861 he fol- lowed contracting and building, with good success.
On the 24th of December, 1857, was cele- brated the marriage of Captain Hawks and Miss Augusta E. Colburn, of Altona, Knox county, Illinois, who was born in New York, and came west with her parents, Edward and
Huldah B. (Hammond) Colburn. The young couple first met in Wyoming. They have be- come the parents of three children-Lillian E. is the wife of Alfred N. Walters, of Salt Lake City, Utah, by whom she has four children; Katie E. is the wife of Harry A. Galbraith, now established in business at Fort Collins, Colorado, and they have two children; Hugh H. and Harry A .; and Dr. John DeWitt, a graduate of Rush Medical College, of Chicago, married Libbie Hull, daughter of Dr. Hull, of Good Hope, Illinois, and is engaged in prac- tice there.
Prompted by a spirit of patriotism, our sub- ject enlisted December 4, 1861, in Company K, Forth-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, as a private. He had helped to raise the com- pany in August, but on account of a previously made contract could not go to the front until December. From time to time he was pro- moted until commissioned second lieutenant, but filled every position up to commander of his company. In June, 1864, he tendered his resignation, as his physician had told him that he must either do that or die. He was wounded at Jackson, Mississippi, which eventually cost him an eye, and he spent some time in the hospital. He participated in many important engagements including the following: New Madrid, Island No. 10, Point Pleasant, Mis- souri; Farmington, Iuka, Corinth, Jackson, Vicksburg and Mechanicsburg, all in Missis- sippi; and Richmond, Louisiana.
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