USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 33
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 33
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 33
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D AVID WATKINS, a well known citizen of Steuben township, has been a resident of Marshall county a period of sixty-three years. He is a native of Athens county, Ohio, born February 14, 1817, and is the son of Isaiah and Mary (Douglas) Watkins, both of whom were natives of Virginia, the former being of Welsh descent and the latter of Scotch. They were mar- ried, however, in Ohio, where they resided until the death of the husband and father, when, in 1834, the widow with three children, emigrated to Illinois, locating in Marshall county. One son, Jehiel, preceded the family, and had made a home here, and through his advice the remainder of the family came out. Jehiel, after remaining here twenty-five years, removed to Taylor coun- ty, Iowa. The family located within one mile of where David now lives, taking up a claim and improving a farm. Here the widow lived until called to her reward at the age of about eighty years. The three children coming with their mother were David, our subject; Mary J., who wedded Isaac Tanquary, and removed with him to Livingston county, where he died in 1895; and where she still resides; and Lucinda, who married James Tanquary, of Steuben township, who also died in 1895. She still resides in Steuben township.
On coming to this country the Watkins were in very limited circumstances, and on the death of the mother David kept the family together
until the marriage of his sisters. He commenced life for himself, working for ten dollars per month, using the wages obtained in payment of the home farm. He was twenty-eight years old before he felt that he could safely wed. He was then united in marriage with Eliza Jane Hoskins, a daughter of Josiah Hoskins, a pioneer of Steu- ben township. Immediately after the wedding ceremony he removed with his young bride to his present farm, the first one opened on the prairie. An industrious, hard working man, he settled right down to business, and from time to time added to his original purchase until he is now the possessor of about eight hundred acres of as fine land as lies within the borders of Mar- shall county. While carrying on general farm- ing, if it can be said that he has made a specialty of any one line, it is that of a cattle grower, hav- ing at all times upon his place from one hundred to one hundred and fifty head of fine cattle. He is not what is usually termed a feeder of cattle, but raises a high grade of animals. Attending strictly to his business he has made a success in life.
In 1856, Mr. Watkins was bereft of his wife, she dying leaving two children-Lucinda, who died at the age of sixteen; and Wesley, the pres- ent supervisor of Steuben township. Mr. Wat- kins subsequently married Eliza Jane Brewster, of McDonough county, Illinois, who also died some twenty-seven years ago, leaving two chil- dren-Albert W., who married Mary Eva Van Antwerp, and lives on an adjoining farm to his father's; and Eliza Jane, who is her father's housekeeper. She was educated in music at Eureka college, and is a lady of rare attainments, a member of the order of the Eastern Star, well known and universally esteemed.
David Watkins is in all respects a self-made man. His education, obtained in the old pioneer log school houses, was necessarily limited, but he has been a silent though a close observer of men and events, and is therefore a well-posted man. He is an attendant but not a member of any church. In his younger days he was quite a sportsman with gun and rod. He has always
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been an admirer and lover of a good horse, and yet loves to be astride of that noble animal. While nearing his four score years, he is yet in the enjoyment of fair health and is living in peace with all mankind. In politics he is a demo- crat, but never an office seeker.
Wesley Watkins, the only son of David and Eliza Jane (Hoskins) Watkins, is a native of the manor born. His entire life has been spent in Marshall county, where he is well known and universally esteemed. He is the owner of a fine farm adjoining that of his father, known as the old John Hoskins farm, Mr. Hoskins having been his uncle. Growing to manhood in his native county, he was educated in its public schools. In politics he is a democrat, having early imbibed the principles of that party. He was first appointed supervisor to fill the unex- pired term of John Hayden, deceased, and has twice been re-elected, now serving his third term as a member of the county board. For some time he has been a member of the democratic central committee of the county, representing his township, and usually is a delegate to the county conventions, where he exercises considerable in- fluence. Fraternally he is a Mason, a member of Sparland Lodge, No. 441, and Sparland Chap- ter, also the order of the Eastern Star.
P ETER HELD, residing on section 25, Hope- well township, has been a life long resident of the township, being born on section II, on the old homestead of his parents, Conrad and Apalona (Freeze) Held, July 28, 1849. He was reared on the farm, and received his primary edu- cation in the district schools, after which he attended Henry college, and completed his course at Northwestern college at Plainfield, Illinois.
On returning home from school, he resumed his place upon the farm and worked for his father until his marriage in 1872, with Miss Tillie C. Hoffert, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, and who is a daughter of Isaac and Mary Ursula (Esher) Hoffert, the former a native of Reading, Pennsylvania, born in 18II. Her
father was educated at Columbus, Ohio, and was ordained to the ministry in the Evangelical As- sociation and was an itinerant preacher through Ohio, Illinois and Wisconsin. He subsequently located in the suburbs of Chicago on a farm, which he operated, in the meantime preaching on Sundays in the surrounding neighborhood. He was a man of considerable pulpit ability, and his services as a minister were generally in demand. The mother of Mrs. Held was born in France, from which country she emigrated to Warren, Pennsylvania, and after her marriage with Mr. Hoffert they moved to Wheeling, Illinois, and later to Chicago, where the father died in 1876. The mother still survives and yet makes her home in Chicago. They were the parents of nine children, as follows: Mrs. Mary U. Neiber- gall, living in Chicago; Isaac, residing in Chica- go; Mrs. Caroline Knoff, of the same city; Tillie C., wife of our subject; Mrs. Sarah E. Snyder, of Chicago; George, also of that city; Alfred E., residing in Roberts township, Marshall county; Jesse R., deceased, and John Jacob, also deceased. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Held, on her father's side, was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mrs. Held was the fourth child in the family, and after attending the district schools entered North- western college at Plainfield, Illinois, and when it was removed to Naperville continued with it and completed the course at that place.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Held lo- cated upon a farm one mile north of their present home, where they remained until 1886, and then moved to their present place of residence on sec- tion 25, where they have a fine farm of four hun- dred and eighty acres, all of which is under ex- cellent improvement. Mr. Held has followed farming during his entire life, and has been quite successful, having at the present time a farm well stocked with the best breeds of horses, cattle and swine to be found in this section of the country.
To Mr. and Mrs. Held three children have been born-S. Loretta, now the wife of John J. Myers, living in Roberts township; C. Olive and Mamie A. living at home. All have received good educations, the eldest having been a stu-
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dent in one of the educational institutions of Chi- cago. The family are all members of the Metho- dist Episcopal church at Varna, of which Mr. Held is a trustee. His wife and her two eldest daughters are teachers in the Sunday school. In the work of the church and the Sunday school they have ever taken the greatest interest, and have always done their part in promoting the Lord's cause. Politically, Mr. Held is a stanch republican. For nine years he has been road commissioner and has served as school director for district No. 2 for a number of years. The family live in an elegant home on section 36, which is well furnished with every convenience found in a modern home. The daughters are well educated in music and have had the best musical training possible. The mother herself is a musician of no ordinary ability, and in her younger days was a teacher of music. Their fine library is in constant use by every member of the family and all keep well posted on the cur- rent literature of the day.
A1 .LBERT NEWTON STEVENSON, the ยท efficient treasurer of Bureau county, is recognized as one of the solid men of the county, of which he is a native. He was born in La- moille township, twelve miles northeast of Prince- ton, August 4, 1851, and is the son of George and Elizabeth (Hayes) Stevenson, who were num- bered among the settlers of 1848, in Bureau county.
George Stevenson was a native of Burke coun- ty, Virginia, who in an early day removed to Canal Dover, Ohio, where he met and wedded Miss Elizabeth Hayes, who is a native of Ohio. He was a tanner by trade and carried on that business in Ohio, and at one time was in fairly comfortable circumstances in that state, but lost almost everything in the panic of 1837. Finding it difficult to again secure a foothold there he determined to emigrate to the newer state of Illinois, and accordingly came to Bureau coun- ty in the fall of 1848, locating in Dover village, where he remained for two years.
In 1850 he purchased a quarter section of un- improved land, in Lamoille township and there moved with his family, making that his home during the remainder of his life. As a farmer he was quite successful, and added to his or- iginal tract until he possessed two hundred and fifty acres, of highly improved land. On the place when he first purchased it was a small house, which in time gave place to a larger, more substantial and elegant structure, and all im- provements made were of the best order. He was a hard working man and cared little for the applause of the world. It was his aim to do what was right, live peacefully with all men and leave the rest with God.
Religiously, George Stevenson was a Metho- dist, holding for years membership with the North Prairie Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a pillar and a large financial sup- porter. He loved the cause of Christ and did much for the advancement of the Master's king- dom in the immediate vicinity. He was well read in both sacred and profane history, and kept up his interest in literature and current news until the last. Politically he was originally a whig, and from its organization gave adherence to the republican party, and was a strong advo- cate of its principles. He never sought nor would he accept official position, but was content to be a humble follower of his party's camp.
George Stevenson was a well preserved man physically up to within three years of his death, even when eighty years old being able to read without glasses. His death occurred June 19, 1891, at the age of eighty-three years, and his remains were interred in Prairie Hill cemetery. His wife still survives and makes her home with our subject, and at the age of eighty-three years is still well preserved, giving promise of a much longer lease of life. In 1895 she visited alone relatives and friends in the state of Kansas, Nebraska and Iowa. Of their family of four chil- dren, Martha M., died at the age of twelve years, before her parents emigrated to Illinois; Sarah J., is the wife of William Garten, of Den- tonville, Kansas; Mary A., is the widow of
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Arthur Mucthmore, and resides in Dixon, Illi- nois, while Albert N. is the subject of this sketch.
Albert N. Stevenson, of whom we now write, remained upon the old farm subject to the con- trol of his parents until twenty-one years of age. His primary education was obtained in the coun- try schools, and his literary course was finished in the high school of Princeton, from which, however, he did not graduate, his services being needed on the farm. He subsequently took a course in the Aurora Business college, thorough- ly qualifying himself for a business career.
After his return from Aurora, Mr. Stevenson purchased the personal property of his father, rented the farm and commenced life for him- self. Meeting with good success in his venture he later purchased a part of the home farm, and on the death of his father purchased the interest of the other heirs, and thus secured the entire farm of two hundred and fifty acres which he still retains. After he rented the farm his father continued to make his home with him until his death. His mother yet resides with him in Princeton, to which place he removed when he was elected county treasurer.
Mr. Stevenson, almost from the time he at- tained his majority became identified with public interests. For fifteen years he served as school trustee of his township, highway commissioner for six years, and a member of the county board of supervisors six years, being chairman of the board the last year. While a member of the board he served as chairman of various com- mittees, the most important of which was that of finance, although he was the youngest member. In the spring of 1894 he declined a re-election, and that same year was nominated and elected to the office of county treasurer. On December I, 1894, he was inducted into the office, which he has since faithfully filled.
In politics, Mr. Stevenson is a thorough and uncompromising republican, and cast his first presidential vote in 1872, for General U. S. Grant. He has never since wavered in his sup- port of the party, being a firm believer in its
principles, and having an abiding confidence in the wisdom of its leaders and advocates.
On the 20th of March, 1879, Mr. Stevenson was united in marriage with Miss Susan Mal- lonee, of Berlin, Illinois, but a native of Belmont county, Ohio. She came to this state when but ten years of age. By this union four children have been born-Edna Darlene; Alma Man- dana, Grace Elizabeth and George Howard, all of whom are yet living at home, and each re- ceiving a good education. Religiously, Mr. and Mrs. Stevenson are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in his home church he served some years in an official capacity. They are both firm believers in the Christian religion and try to live in accordance with the teachings of the Divine Master. Since coming to Prince- ton, Mr. Stevenson has identified himself with the Y. M. C. A. society and is now its president. They have now an elegant suite of rooms, an assembly room, parlor, reading and game rooms, bath room and gymnasium. The association has a membership of two hundred.
Mr. Stevenson still retains his farm, on which he has placed a tenant. He owns all the stock upon the place, and gives to the farm such of his time as does not conflict with his public duties. He has been a large stock grower and keeps on hand the best known grades of stock and ships annually quite a large number of head. A lifelong resident of the county, with a credit- able official record, he has a large circle of friends and acquaintances who have in him the utmost confidence, knowing that he will not betray a trust.
J JACOB L. SWEET, one of the best known citizens of the western part of Bureau county and now residing at Buda, dates his residence in this county back to 1842. He was born in Jefferson township, Richland county, Ohio, Oc- tober 10, 1818, and is a son of Barton and Sarah (Van Wormer) Sweet. He spent his childhood in the village of Belleville, and in youth on a farm to which his father had moved. The latter was a country physician and not being a good
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collector the family had to struggle for a living. Our subject was next to the youngest in a family of ten children and was compelled to do his share of farm work as soon as he was able to drop corn or hold the handles of a plow. At the age of eighteen he commenced learning the trade of a carpenter and joiner and served an apprentice- ship of three years, receiving four dollars per month and board. Out of his wages he was compelled to clothe himself. His educational ad- vantages were quite limited, his school life being confined to the country schools of the neighbor- hood.
Soon after completing his trade, Mr. Sweet concluded to move west and on the 23d of April, 1842, landed in Bureau county, and soon after- ward located on the northwest corner of sec- tion 5. Macon township, having concluded to make farming his life work. At the time of his settlement here there was but one other family in what is now Macon township. His first entry was of but forty acres to which he subsequently added one hundred and sixty acres, giving him a fine farm of two hundred acres. The greater part of that farm he still owns and has by subse- quent purchase in the townships of Macon and Concord added to his tract until he now owns about six hundred acres in one body, and all in sight of his present dwelling house.
Mr. Sweet has been twice married, his first union being with Florenda T. Stevens on the 25th of June, 1844. By this union there are two children still living. Sarah Minerva, married Wesley D. Barnes, and died in Iowa, leaving no children. Arvilla, married Charles K. Ellis and lives at Minburn, Iowa, and is the mother of five children; Henry Lewis, married and moved to Custer county, Nebraska, and there died leav- ing four children. John Barton is a lawyer by profession, was educated at Abingdon, Illinois, and now resides at Council Bluffs, Iowa. He is married and has four children. Mrs. Sweet died August 29, 1853.
The second marriage of Mr. Sweet occurred April 10, 1854, his union being with Emeline Nersbaker, by whom he has three children-Ora
E., married Frank D. White, by whom she has two children, and they reside in Sioux Rapids, Buena Vista county, Iowa; Alfred G. is married and living in Buda; Effie A. still resides at home.
In early life, Mr. Sweet was an old line whig and cast his first presidential vote in 1840, for Tippecanoe and Tyler too. During the campaign of that year he traveled for three weeks in a log cabin from which speeches were made. He continued to act with the whig party until its dis- solution and being a strong anti-slavery man, he assisted in the organization of the republican party in 1856, and with that party has since con- tinned to act. While being a stanch republican, an earnest advocate of the measures of that party, he is not an offensive partisan and has been hon- ored by his friends and neighbors with various local offices.
For some years he served as school trustee and for many years as school director, always taking great interest in public schools. He served as constable six years and for six terms as jus- tice of the peace and of all the cases appealed from his ruling there was but one reversed by the higher courts. In 1860, he was first elected supervisor of Concord township, and was re- elected, serving four years. Subsequently he was again elected, and re-elected, serving five terms in succession with satisfaction to the people of all parties. For two years he was collector of the township, 1854 and 1855, and also assessor for the years 1865 and 1866. He has frequently served in party conventions as a delegate, be- lieving it the duty of every man to assist in keep- ing alive party organization and working for the best interest of the people. As justice of the peace it was his aim to prevent litigation as far as possible and therefore advised the settlement of claims out of court when it was possible that it could be done. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which body he has been a member for thirty years, and for many years has served as trustee of the local church. Fraternally he is a Mason, a member of Buda Lodge, No. 399, F. & A. M., and with the
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exception of two years has served as treasurer since its organization. He is a man universally respected and no one stands higher in the esti- mation of his fellow-men.
G EORGE CASTENDYCK, a farmer and stock raiser of Hall township, is one of the worthy citizens that Germany has furnished to Bureau county. He was born September 2, 1824, in Werdorf, Coblentz on the Rhine, Prussia, a son of Frederick and Louise (Hoffmann) Castendyck, who spent their entire lives in that country. For over ten years the father held a high official position under the government. His death oc- curred in 1854, at the age of sixty-five years, and his wife died at the age of eighty-four. In their family were eight children, four sons and four daughters, namely: Fanny, Charles, Caroline, Joanna, Wilhelm, Louis, Wilhelmina and George. The two youngest are the only ones now living, Wilhelmina being a resident of Ger- many.
Before leaving his native land, George Cas- tendyck served in the Prussian army, and was preparing to enter the government employ when he and his brother Louis determined to come to America, where they arrived in June, 1849. They are the only ones of the family who ever came to this country. In July, 1851, they lived in Erie, Pennsylvania, and then came to Bureau county, where they purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land at seven dollars and a half per acre-the tract on which our subject now resides. The following year they secured a like amount at the same price and to-day Mr. Cas- tendyck is the owner of four hundred and twenty acres of highly cultivated and well improved land. To general farming and stock raising they devoted their time and attention, having a fine grade of Norman horses upon their place and in their undertaking were remarkably successful. For many years Louis resided with our subject, but is now deceased.
In the spring of 1852, in Bureau county, was celebrated the marriage of George Castendyck
and Mary Betz, who was born May 12, 1827, in Engelstadt, Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, and died in July, 1863. She was the daughter of Adam and Elizabeth Betz. Her father was a soldier under Napoleon Bonaparte, the great emperor and conqueror, and participated in the world famed battles of Austerlitz and Jena, be- sides a number of other important engagements. By occupation he was a farmer. He came to the United States in 1844, and died at Peru, Illinois, in March, 1864, at the age of eighty-two years. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Casten- dyck, namely: Charles, now of Peru, married Minnie Wagenkencht, by whom he has three children, Lillie, Essie and Otto; Louisa married Andrew Hummel, and lives on a farm near Spencer, Iowa; William, also residing near that place, married Carrie Knapp; Otto married Clara Hamel, by whom he has one son, Charles, and is engaged in the agricultural implement business in La Salle, Illinois; and Gustav is now managing the home farm for his father.
Mr. Castendyck was again married October 15, 1865, his second union being with Charlotte Stuhl, who was born December 7, 1839, in Ham- fenfeld, Bavaria, Germany, and is a daughter of Frederick and Marguerite (Fetzer) Stuhl, of Ger- many, where they were born, reared their family and continued to make their home. The father visited America, but returned to the Fatherland, where his death occurred in December, 1889, at the age of eighty-one years. The mother is still living in that country at the advanced age of eighty-three. Mrs. Castendyck is the oldest in their family of nine children, the others being Mrs. Louisa Mize; Augusta, wife of Henry Piscgardor; Lena; Helen, wife of Robert Hat- tenhauer, of La Salle, Illinois, who is the only one of the family besides Mrs. Castendyck to come to America; Mrs. Wilhelmina George; Robert, the only son; Paulina, who died at the age of twenty ; and Marie, who is still with her mother. By his second marriage, Mr. Castendyck has three chil- dren-Joanna, at home; Ferdinand who assists in the operation of the home farm; and Fannie, wife of William Seaton, of Butler county, Kan-
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sas, by whom she has two children, Arthur and Willie.
Entirely independent in politics, Mr. Casten- dyck is bound by no particular platform or creed and votes for men, not measures. He has filled a number of school offices and for twelve years faithfully served as justice of the peace. He is universally respected and deservedly ranks among the best men of Bureau county, with whose interests he has been prominently identi- fied for almost half a century.
H ON. LOUIS ZEARING. The history of a county as well as that of a nation is chief- ly the chronicle of the lives and deeds of those who have conferred honor and dignity upon so- ciety. The world judges the character of a com- munity by that of its representative citizen, and vields its tribute of admiration and respect for the genius, learning or virtues of those whose works and actions constitute the record of a state's prosperity and pride. To this worthy class belongs the subject of this review, a lead- ing farmer and stock-raiser, owning a fine farm of two hundred and fifty-three acres on sections 31 and 32, Westfield township, and who is also one of the honored pioneers of Bureau county, dating his arrival here back to 1836.
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