USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 73
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 73
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 73
USA > Illinois > Stark County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall, Putnam and Stark Counties, Illinois > Part 73
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During his absence his wife and child had remained with her parents in Altona, Illinois, where he located on returning to the north, and in the fall of 1864 began contracting, erecting a public-school building and the Con- gregational and Presbyterian churches at that place. Subsequently he removed to Galva, Illinois, where he put up the Baptist church, costing twenty-two thousand dollars, and the
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Congregational church, costing ten thousand dollars, besides several of the best residences. Returning to Wyoming in the fall of 1869, the captain embarked in the hardware and agri- cultural implement business, as a member of the firm of Hawks & Soper, but a year later purchased his partner's interest, and was alone in business for a few years, when the firm be- came Hawks & Barrett. On account of poor health he retired in 1884, and is now enjoying a well-earned rest.
His father was a whig, but in early life the Captain did not see things as he has since. He supported Stephen A. Douglas in 1860, but voted for Lincoln in 1864, and has since been an ardent republican. While living in Knox county, he served as township collector two terms, as president of the board of trustees of Wyoming, two terms as assessor in Toulon, and in 1886 was elected county treasurer of Stark county, which position he acceptably filled for one term. He has always been prompt and faithful in the discharge of every duty, whether public or private, and has there- fore gained the esteem and confidence of all with whom he has come in contact. He takes an active interest in political affairs, and has served as a delegate to various conventions of his party.
Captain Hawks was one of the founders of the Congregational church of Wyoming, of which he served as deacon and trustee, and was the first superintendent of the Sunday- school, which position he held for ten years, when failing health caused his retirement. An active and faithful worker in the church, he has done much to advance the moral welfare of the community. As an architect he has made the designs for both the school-houses of Wyoming, the Congregational church, and a number of residences in Wyoming and the sur- rounding country. The Captain is a charter
member of Wyoming Lodge, No. 244, I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all the chairs; is a charter member of the Encampment, which was originally at Wyoming, but is now at Galva; and is also a charter member of the Grand Army post, of Wyoming, in which he has filled all the chairs, including commander. He has visited various national reunions, and is as true to his country in days of peace as when following the old flag on southern battle- fields.
W ILLIAM L. HULSIZER, a thorough and skillful farmer and business man of more than ordinary capacity, is a representa- tive of the agricultural interests of Toulon township, Stark county. He is recognized as an important factor in the upbuilding and prog- ress of this section and has a finely improved farm, supplied with everything required for the success of the progressive modern agricult- urist.
A native of New Jersey, Mr. Hulsizer was born in Warren county, December 3, 1846, and when only five years of age was brought by his parents, Abner and Mary E. ( Correll ) Hulsizer, to Stark county, Illinois, where the father engaged in blacksmithing. ( For record of the family see sketch of Augustus Hulsizer. ) In the common schools of the country our subject acquired his education, and on reach- ing man's estate turned his attention to the occupation of farming, in which he was suc- cessfully engaged until 1896, when he removed to Toulon and practically laid aside business cares.
On December 23, 1868, was consummated the marriage of Mr. Hulsizer and Miss Luzetta C. Swank, who was born in Stark county, August 22, 1849, and also attended its public schools. Her father, Henry Swank, a native of Penn- sylvania, located in West Jersey township,
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Stark county, on coming to Illinois, and for many years gave his undivided attention to the cultivation and improvement of his farm. Later in life he bought the coal banks west of West Jersey, which he operated for some time prior to his death. He departed this life in October, 1860, at the age of forty years. In this state he had wedded Mary Barton, who died at the age of thirty years, when their only child, Mrs. Hulsizer, was quite young. Both parents were faithful members of the Method- ist Episcopal church. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Swank married Mahala Bodine, by whom he had three children - Mary, de- ceased ; Lizzie, wife of Gustave Johnson, now residing in Elmwood, Illinois ; and John, yet living in West Jersey township.
Mr. and Mrs. Hulsizer are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, the latter since her fourteenth year. In the work of the church both take an active part, giving of their time, energy and means to advance the Mas- ter's cause. Almost from the time his name was first entered upon the rolls of the church, Mr. Hulsizer has held some official posi- tion, including the offices of steward, trustee, treasurer and superintendent of the Sunday- school. In the Methodist Episcopal church of West Jersey, with which he was so long con- nected, he labored earnestly and zealously, and for about ten years was superintendent of its Sunday-school. When first elected the school had a membership of but about forty, and un- der his control it increased until it was the largest Sunday-school in the county. On moving to Toulon his membership was trans- ferred to the church in that place, and at pres- ent he holds the position of steward and church treasurer.
Politically Mr. Hulsizer is a republican, and takes a deep and commendable interest in public affairs, while not aspiring to official po-
sition. An almost lifelong resident of Stark county, he has witnessed its growth and de- velopment, and in its improvement has borne no inconsiderable part. No man in the coun- ty has a cleaner or better record, and none stand higher in the estimation of his fellow citizens.
M RS. CHARLOTTE ECKLEY, who re- sides on the old Eckley homestead on section 25, West Jersey township, is a repre- sentative of one of the honored and highly re- spected families of Stark county. She was born in Preble county, Ohio, August 2, 1837, a daughter of Calvin White, whose birth oc- curred on the 28th of February, 1804, in the Empire state, where he was reared and mar- ried. At an early day he removed to Preble county, Ohio, and later to Greene county, where he cleared and opened up a farm, but in 1845 sold out and started for Illinois with his wife and eight children, traveling the en- tire distance with teams. On reaching Stark county he rented land for a few years, and then purchased a farm on which he spent his remaining days, dying in July, 1870, at the age of sixty-six. His wife, who survived him for some time, died at the advanced age of eighty, and both were laid to rest in the String- town cemetery.
In the family of this worthy couple were four sons and four daughters, of whom one daugh- ter died in early childhood, but the others all reached mature years. They were as follows: Samantha, who married Jacob Springer and located in Stark county, but is now deceased; Stephen L., who after his marriage settled in Stark county, but later moved to Nebraska, where his death occurred; Charles Franklin, who died in early manhood; Leonard L., who married and located in Stark county, but now resides in Ness county, Kansas; Mary, who
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became the wife of John Brewer, of Stark county, but is now deceased; Charlotte, who is next in order of birth; Calvin Russell, who died in the service of his country in 1862; and Sarah Melinda, who died in early childhood.
Since a child of seven years Mrs. Eckley has made her home in Stark county, and on the 14th of January, 1862, she gave her hand in marriage to Levi Eckley, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, February 5, 1819. His father, George Eckley, was born in 1784, became a pioneer of Ashland county, and served in the early Indian wars. In 1836, with his family, he came west to Illinois, lo- cating in Stark county, where he entered the land on which our subject now resides, secur- ing eighty acres of prairie and forty acres of timber land. Here he developed a good farm, on which he spent his last days, dying on the 20th of May, 1856.
Levi Eckley was one of a family of ten chil- dren, six sons and four daughters, the others being as follows: Peter, who married and set- tled in Ohio; Sarah, who became the wife of Abraham Johnston, of that state; Joseph, a resident of Stark county, Illinois; Esther, wife of Jonathan Twiss; Betsy, wife of John Boyd, of Ohio; George, who married and settled in Mercer county, Illinois; Margery, who wedded James B. Winter and located in Stark county; Daniel, who after his marriage located in Stark county, but later went to Iowa, and afterward to Washington; and John, who removed from Stark county to Nebraska.
After his marriage Levi Eckley took up his residence upon the old homestead of his father, buying the interests of the other heirs, and he also added to the place until he owned four hundred and eighty acres of valuable land, on which he erected a commodious residence and good barns and outbuildings. He was exten- sively interested in fruit culture, having upon
his place a twenty-six-acre orchard containing fourteen hundred trees, and he also carried on general farming and stock-raising with remark- able success, becoming one of the well-to-do and prosperous citizens of Stark county. In early life he was a stanch supporter of the re- publican party, but later, on account of his views on the temperance question, cast his ballot with the prohibitionists. For a number of years he served as county supervisor, and took an active and influential part in public affairs. In 1850, in company with two broth- ers, he went overland to California, spending some time in the old mines, and then returned by way of the Panama route and New Orleans. He was widely and favorably known through- out Stark and adjoining counties, and was held in the highest regard by all with whom he came in contact, either in business or social life. On the 9th of February, 1894, he was called to his final rest, leaving many friends, as well as his immediate family, to mourn his loss.
Eight children graced the union of Mr. and Mrs. Eckley, namely: Edwin, who is married and resides in Peoria; Peter Russell, a farmer of Stark county; Mary Margery, wife of Will- ian Howell, who is engaged in the manufacture of brick and tile in Stark county; George C., a veterinary surgeon living in Monmouth, Illi- nois; Milo C., a veterinary surgeon of Wood- hull, Illinois; Levi, a business man of Co- lumbia, Tennessee; Bertha, who died in child- hood; Carrie Belle, who is a graduate of the Toulon Academy, and now a successful teacher of Stark county; and John W., who assists in the operation of the home farm.
An earnest, consistent Christian woman, Mrs. Eckley is a member of the United Breth- ren church of Stringtown, and merits and re- ceives the respect and esteem of the whole community. She and her family hold a high position in social circles.
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J JAMES H. QUINN, a prosperous and well- to-do farmer residing on section 34, Goshen township, Stark county, four miles and a half west of Toulon, owns one of the best improved places in the locality, and the success that he has achieved in life is due entirely to his own unaided and well directed efforts. He is enterprising, energetic and in- dustrious and well deserves the high regard in which he is universally held.
A native of Ohio, Mr. Quinn was born in Preble county, near Eaton, February 4, 1826, and is a worthy representative of a dis- tinguished and patriotic family. His father, James Quinn, was born in Georgia, January 31, 1792, but in 1805 was taken by his father, Robert Quinn, to the Buckeye state, first lo- cating in Butler county, but two years later removing to Preble county. The grandfather aided the colonies in their struggle for inde- pendence during the Revolutionary war, and was one of the original settlers of Preble county, Ohio, where he cleared, fenced and im- proved a farm in the midst of the wilderness.
There James Quinn, the father, grew to manhood and married Sarah Glines, a native of New Hampshire, who, when a child, was brought by her father, John Glines, to Ohio. After his marriage, James Quinn bought a saw and grist mill on Bantas Fork and operated the same for a few years, after which he sold out and purchased a farm near the old home- stead, where he spent his last years, dying September 15, 1838. He manifested his loyalty by serving in the war of 1812, in which he held the rank of major. His wife, who survived him a number of years, departed this life April 13, 1874, and was laid by his side in the Eaton cemetery, where a substantial mon- ument marks their last resting place. In the family of this worthy couple were the follow- ing children: John L., a business man of
Eaton, Ohio; Eliza Ann, widow of George W. Irvin, of Winchester, Indiana; Robert M., who married and reared a family in Eaton, but is now deceased; James H., of this sketch; Will- iam D., a business man of Winchester, Indiana; Joseph, who died at the age of twenty- one; and Sarah Jane, wife of Sylvester A. Irvin, who is engaged in business in Winchester, Indiana.
In the county of his nativity, our subject grew to manhood, but had little school advan- tages in early life, so that he is almost wholly self-educated, becoming a well-informed man by reading and observation in later years. In Eaton he early learned the shoemaker's trade, which he successfully followed for twelve years, being overseer in a large shop. On the 16th of July, 1851, was celebrated his marriage with Miss Mary Fall, a native of Preble county, Ohio, who was reared and educated in Eaton, and was the only child of Jacob and Ann (Kessling) Fall.
During his residence in Eaton, Mr. Quinn, in partnership with another gentleman, en- gaged in the boot and shoe business on his own account for a few years, but in 1853 disposed of his interests there and came to Stark county, Illinois, where he purchased two hundred and forty acres of land on section 34, Goshen town- ship -a part of his present valuable farm. Two years later he broke forty acres of the land and erected thereon a small frame house, to which he removed his family in 1856, arriving in March of that year. He at once began the further improvement and cultivation of his place, and in connection with general farming had successfully engaged in the breeding of thoroughbred shorthorn cattle and other good grades of stock, for which he finds a ready sale at the highest market prices. To his original purchase he added one hundred and sixty acres, and as his wife inherited some
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more land he now has over four hundred acres of as good farming land as is to be found any- where in the county. His place is improved with a large and comfortable residence as well as the necessary outbuildings to be found upon a model farm of the nineteenth century. Although he began life in limited circumstances he has steadily worked his way upward to a position of wealth and affluence.
On the 19th of December, 1892, Mrs. Quinn was called to her final rest. By her marriage she became the mother of four sons and two daughters, namely : Ann Eliza, now the wife of W. F. Price, a substantial farmer of Stark county ; Ida Belle, wife of John H. Baker, a farmer of Saline county, Nebraska; William D., who was married and engaged in farming until failing health caused his retirement, when he removed to Toulon, where his death oc- curred in April, 1895, leaving a wife and child who still reside in that city ; Frank F., a sub- stantial farmer of Goshen township, who mar- ried Nellie May, daughter of J. M. Jones, of La Fayette, Illinois ; Horace G., who operates the home farm and also one adjoining ; James Albert, a farmer of Stark county, who married Ella M. Emery, a daughter of Eli Emery. Mr. Quinn was again married at Sorrento, Lake county, Florida, January 18, 1894, his second union being with Maria J. Revell, a native of Hamilton county, Ohio, who was reared in Eaton and was a schoolmate of our subject. She owned an orange grove at Sorrento, Florida.
Since voting for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, Mr. Quinn has been a stalwart republican, and has been elected to a number of important of- ficial positions. For two years he faithfully served as assessor of his township, and was chairman of the county board of supervisors, of which he was a member for a number of years. An active member of the agricultural society, he has served as one of its directors
for many years, and he was one of the trustees and president of the board of trustees of Abing- don College, Knox county, Illinois, for six years. He has always faithfully discharged every duty devolving upon him, whether pub- lic or private, and has therefore gained the confidence and high regard of all with whom he has come in contact. With the Christian church of La Fayette he and his children hold membership, as did also his first wife, and he is now serving as elder of that body. In relig- ious belief his present wife is a Presbyterian. Socially, Mr. Quinn was an honored member of the Odd Fellows society, having taken the degrees in both the subordinate lodge and en- campment, and is past grand of his lodge. He is one of the prominent and representative cit- izens of his community, esteemed alike by young and old, rich and poor.
T. F. FATE, supervisor of Osceola township, . Stark county, and one of the prominent farmers and business men of the county, is a native of Perry county, Ohio. His father, Rev. George Fate, was a prominent itinerant and pioneer minister in the Ohio conference of the Methodist Episcopal church, and filled sta- tions at Norwalk, Mt. Vernon and Marion. His death occurred August 29, 1839, at the the age of thirty years, while pastor of the church at Marion. He married Mary McGinnis, of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, of which state she was a native. She was a lifelong member and an earnest worker in the Method- ist Episcopal church. By her marriage she became the mother of four children-J. M., who resides in Milo township, Bureau county, Illinois, wedded Mary J. Reed, and they have three children, W. H., J. R., and Rev. F. A., a Congressional minister of much promise now residing at Manchester, a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts. Our subject is second in order
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of birth. George W. resides in Clay township,
Nebraska. He married Malissa Bevinger, by whom he has ten children, as follows: George, Clara, Nellie, Earl, Mary, Charles, Ross and and Rose, twins, Lizzie and an infant. Mary J. is the wife of Charles M. Townley, and re- sides in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Of their four children, only Arthur is living.
After the death of her husband the mother of our subject took upon herself the rearing and educating of her family. She was a good man- ager, not only in household and domestic affairs, but in financial matters as well. Her father removed with his family from Pennsylvania to Ohio, soon after the admission of the latter to the Union. On their arrival they lived in a tent until a log cabin could be erected. Mrs. Fate was therefore inured to hardships and knew how to care for her household. In 1854 she left Ohio and removed to Grant county, Wisconsin, where she remained until February, 1855, when, not liking that country, she came to Bureau county, Illinois, and purchased eighty acres of land in Milo township, while her son, J. M., purchased one hundred and sixty acres. On the place was a small house in which they moved and commenced again the battle of life. The farm is yet in possession of the family. It has been improved by our subject, who erected a nice and commodious house, and it is still called the home farm. The Fate household have probably entertained more ministers and church people than falls to the lot of many persons. Their home was the stopping place for minis- ters for more than half a century. Mrs. Fate died October 3, 1887, at the age of seventy- five years, eleven months and twenty days. Few women have done more for family and friends and none are held in more grateful re- membrance.
The subject of this sketch was but a small child when the family removed to Illinois, and
he received his primary education in the semi- nary at Mt. Morris, Illinois. In September, 1859, he entered the Ohio Wesleyan University with the determination of making the best pos- sible scholar of himself that means, energy and health would admit. In his studies he took great delight, was an excellent reciter, and was always well prepared in his classes. He studied many hours when recreation and play were in order, and by the time one year had closed declining health began to make demands which he could not grant while in college. Much to his regret he was compelled to aban- don his college course and engage in something else. This was a sorry day for him when such prospects had to be abandoned, but health has claims that must first be looked after. He then engaged in farming, and has made that his principal business through life. He under- took this with that same strong will and in- domitable energy which he manifested in his studies at school, and by push, economy and hard work he has been very successful. He owns land in Bureau county and property in Bradford, and is one of Bradford's prominent business men.
Mr. Fate never sought public office, and rather avoided holding it, but was elected supervisor of his township in April, 1896, and is now serving his first term. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic lodge of Bradford and is treasurer of the same, and has held all the minor offices of that organization. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has been superintendent of the Sunday- school for twelve successive years. In the church he is greatly interested, and was one of its trustees at the time of the erection of its house of worship. In politics he is a thorough republican, and in 1856 cast his first presi- dential vote, for John C. Fremont, the great pathfinder.
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H ENRY MAHLER, one of the pioneer farmers of Penn township, Stark county, Illinois, but now residing in the village of Bradford, was born in Hanover, Germany, September 20, 1820, and is a son of John D. and Elizabeth (Saunders) Mahler, both of whom died in Germany many years ago, the father before and the mother about two years after our subject came to America, in 1849. John D. Mahler was born in 1773, and for seven years was in the German revolution, being an officer in a cavalry regiment. He and his wife were both members of the Lu- theran church, and he was quite prominent in his day. Of their seven children, August was a ship carpenter, and was killed in the ship yards at Bremerhaven by the blocking under the ship giving way while under construction. He was instantly killed, crushed out of recog- nition. He was about thirty years of age and left a wife, but no children. John, the second of the family, is presumed to be living in Ger- many. Elizabeth is the wife of Henry Olt- man, a farmer residing on section 25, Penn township, Stark county.
Mr. Mahler was a soldier in the German army, and on coming to America worked three years on a farm for Deacon Merritt. He then rented a farm for three years in Crow Meadow, thence came to Stark county and purchased a farm of five hundred and sixty acres in Penn township, some six miles from Bradford. On the 2d of January, 1859, he married Mrs. Elizabeth (Hamilton) Arbaugh, widow of A. J. Arbaugh, a farmer of Lawrence, Ohio. Her parents were Aaron and Elizabeth Hamilton. The former died in Peoria county, Illinois, April 22, 1886, at the age of eighty-four years; and the latter in September, 1894, at the age of one hundred and two years, six months and nine days. They rest side by side in the cem- etery at Dunlap, Illinois. They were mem-
bers of the Methodist Episcopal church, active in its work, and were the parents of eleven children, four of whom are still living-Paul, who resides in Dunlap; Mary, wife of Eri Mallory, of Lawn Ridge, Illinois; Mrs. Mahler, the wife of our subject; and Walter, who re- sides in Missouri. Mrs. Mahler was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, August 20, 1840. She was first married in Hennepin, Putnam county, Illinois, to Andrew J. Arbaugh, and with her husband went to Lawrence county, Ohio, where he died at the age of twenty-two years, of consumption, after a lingering illness of nine months.
To Mr. and Mrs. Mahler four children have been born-(1) John W., born December 20, 1860, married Maria Fouts, and they have one child, Rosa M. (2) Annie E., born July 1, 1862, is the wife of Marion Bocock, and they have one child, Maud; they reside upon the old home place. (3) Henry A., born May 8, 1864, re- sides one mile south of the old farm in Penn township. He married Anna Coats, and they have two children, Oliver and Elsie. (4) Irene, doing good service in the home circle, is a fine musician, who spent about one year at the Northern Illinois Normal School, at Dixon, Illinois, and is a teacher of music. By her first marriage, Mrs. Mahler had one child-Mary Ettie, born October 22, 1856-who is now the wife of Alfred Hall, and resides near Stark station, Illinois. They have seven children- Minnie, Viola, Ada, Harry, Fred and Calvin Merril. The first is now the wife of Mead Nurss.
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