USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 24
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 24
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 24
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Mr. Becker, of this review, was reared on a farm and was unable to attend school until he had reached the age of eight years, and then only during the winter season until he was twelve. By reading and observation, however, in later years, he has become a well informed man. Un- til twenty-three years of age he gave the benefit of his labors to his father, who three years previ- ously had sold out his interests in New York, and with a brother-in-law, J. W. Becker, removed to Waukau, Wisconsin, where they built a grist mill. After a short time the father disposed of his interest, and with four others drove to the Indian lands, lying between the Fox and Wolf rivers, which had just been purchased of the red men, and there they made claims and erected a sawmill. Later this partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Becker retired from the milling business and devoted his entire time to the development and improvement of his farm.
Our subject is one of a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters, but one of the former died at the age of four years. The other sons accompanied their father to his western home, and were of great assistance to him in clearing and cultivating his new farm. Of these William H. is the oldest; John is now in the fur- niture business at Winneconne, Wisconsin; Alva removed to Chicago, and was serving on the police force at the time of the great fire, since which time nothing has been heard of him. One daughter, Katie Ann, had married previous to the removal of the family to the west, but in 1854 she and her family also went to Wisconsin, and she now lives at Eureka, that state, on the Fox river. The other sisters are all married and living at Amboy, Minnesota.
William H. Becker had accompanied the fam- ily to Waushara county, Wisconsin, and was there married November 20, 1856, to Miss Roset- ta Hawley, of Fox Lake, that state, who died in May, 1861, leaving no children. They began their domestic life in that county where he had secured a squatter's claim in 1849, borrowing the money from his maternal grandfather with which to get the deed from the government. To the
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cultivation and improvement of his farm he then devoted his time and attention.
But he was rudely awakened from his quiet dreams of the future by the dark cloud of war which overshadowed our beloved country, and in the fall of 1861, his patriotism being aroused, Mr. Becker enlisted in Company D, Eighth Wiscon- sin Volunteer Infantry-the famous Eagle regi- ment. For three years he faithfully served, was in various engagements and participated in the siege of Vicksburg and Corinth. His arduous service broke down his health, and for four months he was confined in the hospital, and later for three years. In the fall of 1864 he was honorably discharged with the rank of corporal. and returned to his Wisconsin home.
While in the army Mr. Becker began corre- sponding with Miss Sophia M. Lewis of Shef- field, Illinois, who became known to him through a mutual acquaintance. After the war he made her a visit, and their friendship ripening into love, they were married on the 29th of November, 1864. She was born at Williamstown, Orange county, Vermont, but when an infant was brought to Illinois by her parents, David C. and Martha (Reed) Lewis, locating first in Lake coun- ty, where she obtained her education. Eight chil- dren have been born to them, as follows: Edna Sophia, Florence R., wife of William Bodfish, a farmer of Concord township, Bureau county; Philo Lewis, who graduated from a business col- lege at Des Moines, Iowa, in 1896, and is now engaged in farming; Alva Winslow, who man- ages the home farm; Albert Ernest, who is quali- fying himself for a teacher at the Buda school; Jessie Laura and Elsie May, who were educated at the Buda school, and Clarence Arthur, at home.
Upon his marriage Mr. Becker took his bride to his Wisconsin farm, where they remained until the fall of 1866, when they came to Manlius town- ship, Bureau county, Illinois. He purchased eighty acres of land on which they made their home for a number of years, during which time he added to the original tract until his farm comprised two hundred and forty acres, eighty of
which lies in Concord township. On this he erected an elegant brick residence in 1889, and there lives, surrounded by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. His place is sup- plied with all modern improvements, in fact is one of the most desirable farms in Bureau county.
On its organization Mr. Becker joined the re- publican party, casting his first vote for John C. Fremont in 1856, and continued to affiliate with that party until 1880, since which time he has been an ardent prohibitionist, as that organiza- tion embodies his principles on the temperance question. He takes an active interest in political affairs, and has served as delegate to two state conventions. He was baptized in the Presbyter- ian church, which he joined at Poy Sippi, Wis- consin, in 1857, but since his residence in Illinois he and his wife have become identified with the United Brethren church at Manlius, of which he is serving as trustee and steward. An earnest. conscientious Christian, he does all in his power to advance the moral welfare of the community, and has contributed freely to the building of sev- eral different churches. His upright, honorable life commends him to the confidence of all and his sterling worth and strict integrity have gained him hosts of warm friends.
H ENRY L. WHITE, a farmer in good stand- ing in Hennepin, Putnam county, success- ful as a tiller of the soil, and one who has been prominently identified with local affairs, is pro- prietor of a good farm on sections 10 and II. which comprises one hundred and sixty-five acres of well improved land. He was born at Norton, Bristol county, Massachusetts, March 17, 1826, a son of Hiram P. and Mary (Carpenter) White, and it is said that the ancestry is traced back to Peregrine White, the first white child born in America.
The father belonged to a family which was devoted to the foundry business, which he also followed in the east, and besides engaged in comb making. When a boy of seventeen years he had a friend, a Mr. Wiswall, who came to Illinois, and it was his desire to come with him, but his
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father would not allow it. He then had no chance to come to this state until after his marriage, when he brought his family in 1833. He shipped his goods from Providence, Rhode Island, via New Orleans to Jacksonville, Illinois, where his friend was then living, but they did not arrive for a year and a half, having been detained at St. Louis, Missouri, from which place they were for- warded to Hennepin.
Mr. Wiswall advised Mr. White to come to Putnamı county, where he had a friend, Mr. Leep- er, living, so after a short stay in Jacksonville he came to this county and visited Mr. Leeper, who was residing near Hennepin, two miles from where our subject now lives. The village at that time contained only two frame houses. A week previous to Mr. White's arrival William Fairfield had come to Putnam county from Massachusetts, and as his wife was sick he sent for Mr. White and his family. The two gentlemen took up claims together, buying land of old Mr. Patter- son, whose home stood on the present site of our subject's residence. There had been four or five acres broken on the place, which was said to be the first plowing done in the county. They erected a log cabin, which had no floor during the entire winter of 1833-4, and as his household goods had not yet arrived they were not very comfortably fixed. Prairie chickens were their principal meat, and they dried the breasts for summer use, while their bread was made of corn, for during the first year they only had one hun- dred pounds of flour. On reaching the county Mr. White had but twelve dollars remaining and dur- ing the first year the family endured many priva- tions, but the following year a crop was raised. He experienced all the trials and difficulties of frontier life in order to make a home for his fam- ily, and at length success rewarded his labors. His death occurred April 1, 1870, on the anni- versary of his birth, as he was born on the Ist of April, 1800, and his faithful wife survived him for about five years. For over fifty years they had traveled life's journey together, sharing all its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity. They left two sons, the brother of our subject be-
ing Hiram W. White, who is three years his senior, and now resides at Streator, Illinois.
The father was an active worker and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and fornied a class at his cabin in 1834, which con- sisted of but five members-himself and wife, Dr. Richey and wife, who lived at Florid, and Miss Betsy Carpenter, a half sister of Mrs. White, who lived with her, and later became the wife of John P. Hays. For about two years services were held at the White cabin, at the end of which tinte a church was erected at Hennepin, to which Mr. White was a liberal contributor, and during luis entire life continued to serve as class leader and steward. In early life he was a whig, and on its organization joined the republican party, and was called upon to serve as school commissioner and coroner. He was well versed in the use of roots and herbs as medicine, and in the fall would gather a great supply. He was quite successful in his treatment of special diseases and practiced medicine to some extent.
Henry L. White, whose name introduces this sketch, remained upon the home farm, while his brother owned land in Granville township, but for twenty years they carried on operations in partnership. In connection with general farming they also engaged in threshing and reaping, owning one of the first reapers brought to the county. Later the brother sold out and removed to Putnamı, but for the past fifteen years has made his home at Streator.
Mr. White has added eighty acres to the old home farm, so that he now has a valuable tract of one hundred and sixty-five acres, under a high state of cultivation, and well improved with good and substantial buildings. There he still makes his home, devoting his time and attention to gen- eral farming, but for the past fifteen years has been connected with George C. Reed, as a mem- ber of the firm of White & Reed, lumber dealers at Hennepin. The business, however, is per- sonally managed by Mr. Reed.
When about thirty years of age Mr. White was united in marriage with Miss Fanny A. White, a cousin, also a native of Norton, Massachusetts,
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who came to Putnam county in 1849. Two daughters were born to them, Cora and Carrie, but both died in childhood. Mrs. White died June 15, 1896. She was a member of the Congre- gational church and was quite active in church work. Her death was sincerely mourned not alone by her husband, with whom she so long traveled life's journey, but by her associates in the church and the community where she had made her home for many years. The political support of Mr. White is given the republican party; he takes an active interest in the suc- cess of his party and attends its conventions. For eight years he acceptably served as coroner, and for three years was supervisor. He belongs to the Congregational church at Hennepin, in which for twenty years he has served as treasurer and has gained the respect and confidence of the entire community where he has so long made his home.
H ENRY SAPP. The subject of this sketch stands second to none among the repre- sentative and prosperous farmers of Wyanet township, Bureau county, whose record it has been deemed wise to preserve in this manner for the perusal of the coming generation. As a judi- cious tiller of the soil he has met with success, and as a man and citizen he holds a good posi- tion among his neighbors. He has an excellent farm of four hundred acres located on sections 9 and 10, Wyanet township, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and supplied with all the conveniences found upon a model farm of the nineteenth century.
Mr. Sapp was born in Kent county, Delaware, December 13, 1834, and is a son of Solomon Sapp, whose birth occurred in the same state, on the 4th of January, 1808. Before the father had reached his twenty-fifth year he had been three times married, his third union being with Ann Carter, the mother of our subject, who was also a native of Kent county, Delaware. In July, 1835, they came to Bureau county, Illinois, lo- cating upon the farm on section 10, Wyanet township, where Henry Sapp now resides, and
there they continued to make their home until called from this life, with the exception of eight months spent in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, in 1836. The mother died in 1886, and the father in 1891, at the age of eighty-four years.
Henry Sapp was the oldest of the family and was less than one year of age when brought by his parents to Bureau county. In the district schools near his home he acquired his education, and remained under the parental roof until his marriage, which important event of his life was celebrated December 14, 1859. Miss Martha Mills, daughter of John R. and Ann Mills, be- coming his wife. She was born and reared in Elizabethtown, Hamilton county, Ohio, of which county her parents were also natives. Upon their marriage the young couple located upon a farm on section 3, Wyanet township, where they made their home for ten years, and then returned to their present farm-the old home- stead of the Sapp family. Two children have been born to them-Luella, now the wife of Marshall Cusic, a traveling salesman of Chicago, and Charles, who married Nell R. Virden, and makes his home near his parents, and is engaged in farming.
Mr. Sapp is a worthy representative of one of the pioneer families of the section, and in further- ing his own interest in establishing one of the most valuable farms of the community has con- tributed his quota to its progress and prosperity. In politics he is a democrat. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is at present serving as trustee, and is a most valued and influential citizen.
W ILBUR F. KEITH, an enterprising farm- er of Bureau county, pleasantly located in Ohio township, is identified with the representa- tive and progressive citizens of the community. He was born in 1859, on the farm which is now his home, a son of Melvin J. and Betsy (Perkins) Keith, both natives of the empire state, but who have been residents of Bureau county, Illinois, for many years. The father was about twenty- five years of age at the time of his arrival here,
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and to agricultural pursuits has principally de- voted his time and attention. He has also been quite prominently identified with public affairs, and most acceptably served his fellow-citizens in the capacity of county clerk. Both himself and wife are still living in Ohio township, surround- ed by many warm friends and acquaintances.
The elementary education of our subject was received in the district schools of Bureau county, and he subsequently attended the Princeton high school for three years, thus acquiring a good practical education, which would fit him for the responsible duties of life. His early life was spent upon the home farm with the exception of four years when a resident of Princeton, at which tinie his father was serving as county clerk. After reaching manhood he spent three years in Da- kota, but with that exception has always made his home in Bureau county. His fine farm in Ohio township comprises eighty acres of rich and pro- ductive land, and its neat and thrifty appearance indicates the owner to be a man of industry and energy.
In 1882 Mr. Keith was joined in wedlock with Miss Lizzie Casterline, a native of Lee county, Illinois, and they now have a bright and inter- esting family of five children-Winnie, Vera, Belva, Charles and Beatrice. At all times Mr. Keith gives his unfaltering support to the demo- cratic party, and is a strong advocate of the free coinage of silver at the ratio of sixteen to one. He has never aspired to office, but has efficiently filled the position of school director in his dis- trict. He is a wide-awake, public-spirited citizen, who endorses all measures tending to benefit the community in which he has always found a pleas- ant home.
L ESTER R. BRYANT, a representative citi- zen of Princeton township, whose home is upon section 29, is extensively engaged in fruit raising and the manufacturing of cider vinegar. He was born September 8, 1848, upon the farm where he now resides, which was settled by his father, Arthur Bryant, Sr., in the spring of 1834. Colonel Julian Bryant, a brother of our subject,
was born November 9, 1836, and died on the 14th of May, 1865. His literary education was ob- tained in the common schools, and having a talent for art, he took a course of painting in New York city. His oil painting of Starved Rock hangs in the parlor of the old homestead, and he also painted a picture of Pilot Knob, five by seven feet, a companion picture of Starved Rock. He became an instructor in painting and draw- ing at the Normal university of Illinois.
During his boyhood and youth Lester R. Bry- ant attended the common schools near his home, and was reared as a nurseryman upon his place, having immediate charge of the nursery busi- ness where his brother Arthur now resides, where he remained until 1875, and then took charge of the home place, and after the death of his father it passed into his hands, so that his entire life has been passed in Princeton township.
On the 7th of March, 1877, Mr. Bryant led to the marriage altar Miss Jennie Louise Hunt- ington, who was born in Princeton, August 15, 1853, and is a daughter of Joseph L. and Harriet (Johnson) Huntington, early settlers of that place, where the father's death occurred, and where the mother is still living. There Mrs. Bryant secured a good common school educa- tion. Four children have been born to our sub- ject and his wife-Hattie, Arthur W., Frank R. and Louise.
After returning to the home farm Mr. Bryant began the manufacture of cider and cider vinegar, and also engaged in fruit raising. The business has rapidly increased, and to-day he is at the head of a large and prosperous trade. At first he had a mill for custom work only, but has since put in a steam mill with all modern machin- ery and apparatus. He has a storage capacity of one thousand barrels, and his shipments are principally within a radius of one hundred miles from Princeton on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad. He guarantees his vinegar to be strictly pure, the unadulterated juice of the apple, and of excellent strength. His farm com- prises one hundred and fifteen acres of land, on which he has erected new buildings for the ac-
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commodation of his business, and has made other valuable and useful improvements. His office is conveniently situated just two miles south of the court house at Princeton.
In his political affiliations Mr. Bryant is a re- publican, but has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office. He takes a com- mendable interest in educational institutions and has served as director in the local schools. He is a member of the State Horticultural society, and also of the Cider and Vinegar association of the northwest, of which he has been secretary for some years, and is now serving his second term as president, while for three years he served as president of the Princeton Business Men's asso- ciation. He is a prominent and influential citi- zen and enjoys the confidence and regard of all who know him.
E DWIN BASS, one of the wealthy and influ- ential citizens of Bureau county, now living retired in the village of Malden, belongs to a family that was early established in the new world, and has taken a prominent part in public affairs, being well represented in the wars of the country. He was born on the 28th of January, 1816, on a farm in what is now the town of Scot- land, then the town of Windham, Windham county, Connecticut, which has been in the fam- ily for almost two hundred years. His earliest ancestors in America were from England and settled in Massachusetts. His grandfather, Eben- ezer Bass, was a Revolutionary hero, holding a captain's commission, in that terrible struggle, serving on Lake Champlain, while his father, Ebenezer Bass, Jr., also took up arms against Great Britain in the war of 1812. In civil life the family have also taken a prominent and lead- ing part.
Upon the old family homestead in Connecti- cut, Ebenezer Bass, Jr., was also born July I, 1784, was educated in the common schools in the neighborhood, and on attaining to man's es- tate married Sarah McCurty, a native of New Brunswick. They continued to live on the old farm until called from this life, the father dying
February 28, 1875, at the advanced age of ninety years, and the mother in 1850, at the age of sixty- one. Of their family of seven sons and four daughters, one daughter died at the age of three years and another when she became a young lady. The others are as follows: William, married and settled in Illinois, but later went to Madison county, Iowa, where his death occurred. George became a resident of Bureau county, where he passed away January 9, 1873. Ruth, who never married, died on the old homestead. Edwin is next in order of birth. Henry is a farmer of Henry county, Illinois. Nathan was in the Union service during the Civil war. Clin- ton is a farmer of Jasper county, Missouri. Lucian resides upon the old homestead in Con- necticut. Sarah is the widow of William S. Gager and lives in Windham county, Connecticut. Charlotte, who married Charles W. Beckworth of Windham county, is now deceased.
The boyhood and youth of our subject was passed upon the home farm, and after complet- ing his own education he engaged in teaching in his native state, and also worked by the month as a farm hand. In 1840 he determined to come west, and on his arrival in Illinois purchased ninety acres of land in Berlin township, Bureau county, to which he later added eighty acres. In 1850, however, he sold that place and bought one hundred and sixty acres of raw land, where he now resides. This he immediately commenced to improve and cultivate, erecting thereon a com- modious two-story residence and substantial barns and outbuildings. He converted the tract into a most valuable farm, all of which now lies within the corporation limits of Malden.
As his financial resources have increased, Mr. Bass has made additional purchases, so that he now has five hundred and sixteen acres of well improved land in Berlin township; another farm in Selby township of one hundred and sixty-six acres under cultivation and one hundred and five in timber, a part of which is converted into pas- ture, and six hundred and eighty acres of rich and arable land in Lee county, Illinois. He is a brilliant example of a self-made man as he has
EDWIN BASS.
MRS. EDWIN BASS.
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made his way in life unaided by capital or influ- ential friends, his success being due to his own energy, enterprise and industry, ably supplement- ed by sound common sense and good business judgment.
On the 27th of April, 1843, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Bass and Miss Emaline J. Stan- ard, who was born, reared and educated in Mad- ison county, New York. Mrs. Bass is a daugh- ter of Libbeus and Luceba (Fay) Stanard, the former a native of Vermont, born January 25, 1785, and the latter of Massachusetts, born March 9, 1792. They were the parents of the following named children: Cornelia, Stillman, David, Philo, Newton, Edward, Emaline, Maril- la, Hiram, Oscar, Caroline and Joseph. The parents came with their family to Bureau county in 1840, where the father entered land in Clarion township, east of Perkins' grove. His death occurred October 10, 1858, while his wife died January 4, 1842. They were both members of the Lamoille Baptist church at the time of their death. Nine sons and two daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bass, namely: Lucien, who is married and is a real estate dealer of Chi- cago; Luther G., a physician by profession, also of Chicago; Oscar S., a real estate dealer and lawyer of that city; Edwin, a farmer of Berlin township; Wallace, who is married and living at Walnut; Alonzo C., also a real estate dealer of Chicago; Caroline, deceased, wife of Thomas Phillips; Sidney, who died at the age of four years; Charlotte, who died at the age of a year and a half; Heber, deceased, and Howard, who died at the age of seven months. The latter two were twins.
Originally Mr. Bass was a democrat, his fath- er being a strong Jackson democrat, but on the organization of the republican party in 1856 our subject joined its ranks, and with it has since affiliated. He has ever taken an active, inter- est in political affairs, and being a friend of edu- cation efficiently served as a member of the school board for a few years. Both himself and wife are earnest members of the Baptist church of Dover, are conscientious Christians, and do
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