USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 57
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 57
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 57
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In the land of his nativity, Theodore Poschar- sky grew to manhood, receiving a good education in the gymnasium, which he attended until his mother's death, in 1846. With his father he learned gardening, but for five years followed the miller's trade, after which he again served as a gardener with his father. In 1859 he married Miss Amelia Gerber, who was born in 1838 in Eilenburg, in the province of Saxony, Germany, and they now have six children: Mrs. Emma McMinnie; Charles is married and living in Bureau township; Mrs. Minnie Birky; Ernest is married and farming on land adjoining his fath- er's; Theodore and Mollie are at home.
For three years Mr. and Mrs. Poscharsky made
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their home in her native place, where he carried on gardening, but as he saw slight possibility of his rising in the land of his birth, he determined to seek his fortune in America, and in 1862 crossed the Atlantic. On his arrival in New York city, he came at once to Princeton, Illinois, where he remained for two months, working in a nur- sery, but on the 19th of August, of that year, purchased his present farm, to which he removed in the fall, and has since engaged in its operation. He has met with many difficulties and obstacles, but he has overcome these, and is to-day num- bered among the most prosperous farmers of the community. On his arrival he had but five hun- dred dollars, and had to go in debt for his farm of one hundred and thirty-four acres, paying eight per cent interest. His first crop was a fail- ure, but by perseverance and industry, he has worked his way upward, assisted by good man- agement, and has been able to present his sons with two good farms. His comfortable residence was erected in 1886, and he has also built good sheds, granaries and other outbuildings. His place is all well fenced and tiled, and thereon is a good orchard.
Mr. Poscharsky cast his first vote in support of the republican party, later voted independ- ently, but is now a firm advocate of the principles of that party. For fourteen years he has been school director, and provided his own children with good school privileges. The family are members of the Lutheran church, and, socially, Mr. Poscharsky belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has passed all the chairs in the local lodge at Princeton. As a public-spirited citizen, he interests himself in the welfare of his adopted country, and has the re- spect and confidence of all who know him.
N EWEL NURS, a prominent and influential farmer of La Prairie township, and justice of the peace, was born in Peoria county, Illinois, on the 17th of June, 1848, and was reared in the usual manner of farmer boys. After reaching his majority he engaged in teaching school in Iowa for a year and a half, and after his return
to Illinois married Miss Eliza Root, February 22, 1872. (See the sketch of Erastus C. Root else- where in this volume.) Two children bless this union-Edwin Mead, who married Minnie Hall; and Fred Dean, at home.
After his marriage, Mr. Nurs took his bride to his present farm, near Lawn Ridge, where he has since continuously resided. He has eighty acres of highly cultivated land and is there engaged in general farming. For seven years he has capably served as justice of the peace and is also notary public. He attends to about all the business along those lines in this section of the county. Polit- ically, he is a stanch adherent of the doctrines formulated by the republican party, finding in that organization what to him seem the principles most calculated to perpetuate our form of pop- ular government. He has always voted that ticket, and regularly attends the conventions of his party, in which he has taken an active interest. Both himself and estimable wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has served as trustee and steward, and has also been Sunday school superintendent.
The family name has been variously spelled as Nurs, Nurse, Nourse and Nurss. and our subject traces his ancestry back to Francis Nurse, of Salem, Massachu- setts, who was born in Norfolk county, England, in 1618, and died November 22, 1695. He was married August 24, 1644, to Rebecca Lowry, who was born in 1621, and was the daughter of William and Johanna Lowry, of Yar- mouth, England. They resided in Salem during the time of the witchcraft excitement, and Rebec- ca Lowry Nurse was hanged for a witch, July 19. 1692. Their eldest son, John, married Elizabeth Smith, while their son, John, married Elizabeth Gale. The next in direct descent was Samuel, who married Hannah , and their son, Caleb, wedded Sarah Field. The son of the last was Roswell Nurs, the grandfather of our sub- ject, who married Jerusha Barton.
Isaiah Nurs, now deceased, who was the father of Newel, came to Illinois July 4, 1836, and was one of the honored pioneers of this section of the
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country, for many years making his home in Hal- lock township, Peoria county, Illinois, but also owning the farm in Marshall county, where our subject now resides. He was born at Bainbridge, Chenango county, New York, March 19, 1815, and dying on the old homestead, in Peoria county. August 12, 1894, his remains were in- terred at Blue Ridge. On the Ist of July, 1836, he had arrived in that county in company with his father, Roswell Nurs, and Ebenezer Stowell, of whom mention is made in the sketch of Cyrus Root. On the 4th of the same month he located on the land where he made his home until called to the world beyond. . He walked the entire dis- tance to Quincy, in order to enter the tract, soon after built upon it, and did not return to his native state for twenty years. His father, however, went back to New York, and brought the family to this almost unbroken wilderness, dying, March 9, 1863, at the age of seventy-five years. His wife had long preceded him, dying in 1838, at the age of twenty-seven years. She was one of the first to be interred in an old burying ground near the edge of the brush, near Northampton, but as her husband was buried at Blue Ridge, fifty-two years later her body was taken up and laid by his side.
In connection with his father, Isaiah Nurs en- tered several tracts of land, amounting to eight hundred and eighty acres, lying along the boun- dary line between Peoria and Marshall counties, a portion in each, but he made his home in Peoria county, one-half mile south of the county line. On the Ist of January, 1838, at Northamp- ton, Peoria county, he led to the marriage altar Miss Mary Newell Hill, a native of New Hamp- shire, and to them were born four children- Jerusha Barton, married H. S. Daman, and both died in Knox county, Missouri; Martha E., is the wife of C. T. Newell, and they now make their home in Princeville, Illinois; Henry H. married Lucinda Stevens, and lives on the old homestead: and Newel E., whose name introduces this re- view, completes the family. The mother of these children died June 15, 1892, after a happy mar- ried life of fifty-four years.
In the home farm, Isaiah Nurs had one hun- dred and sixty acres, which he placed under a high state of cultivation, and also a like amount in Marshall county, one-half of which now be- longing to his son Newel. He was a careful, conscientious business man, who met with fair success, and was quite prominent in township and county affairs, serving as road commissioner when the roads were laid out through his portion of the county. Being a strong anti-slavery man, he was therefore a strong republican, and his eldest son, Henry, served for three years in the Union army during the civil war, losing his left leg below the knee at Silver Run, near Golds- boro, North Carolina, the last battle in which Sherman's army participated. While in the ser- vice he was a messmate most of the time of Cyrus Root. He belonged to Company C. Eighty- sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
In 1847 the father became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he served as class leader for many years, and assisted in the organization of the Sunday school at Blue Ridge, of which he was superintendent for some time. He was a prominent member of the Old Settlers' society, and was a strong anti-Mason until after his son Newel joined that organiza- tion, now belonging to Lawn Ridge lodge, No. 415, when he became more liberal in his views. Although he attained a ripe old age, he was still well preserved, and was an exceedingly intelligent and well informed man, never given to argument, and never had but one law-suit.
A DAM CARPER, residing on section 28, Macon township, Bureau county, Illinois, has been a resident of the county for a period of forty-two years. He is a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, born January 19, 1838, and is the fourth in the family of nine children born to John and Catherine (Smith) Carper. (For full genealogy see the sketch of Jacob S. Carper else- where in this work.) On the old home farm in the keystone state our subject spent the first six- teen years of his life, and in the common schools of the neighborhood received his primary edu-
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cation. He is properly classed as a self-made and self-educated man, and is a worthy example of what may be accomplished by honest industry and a determination to succeed. Coming with his parents to Bureau county, he remained upon the home farm until the age of thirty-two years, about twelve years of which time, in addition to regular farm labor, he engaged in threshing in Macon and surrounding townships. He has been inured to hard work and knows well the mean- ing of the term.
The first tract of land purchased by our subject was eighty acres on section 28, Macon township. now comprising a part of the home farm, on which he was enabled to make only a partial pay- ment. After clearing this land and making the necessary improvements he added another eighty acre tract, making him a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres of as fine land as can be found in Macon township. On the farm he has erected a beautiful and comfortable residence, and every improvement shows the hand of one who thor- oughly understands his business.
Mr. Carper was united in marriage November 18, 1869, with Miss Mary Kegarice, a native of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and by this union seven children were born, four of whom are now living-Myrtie, is now the wife of Richard W. Robinson, who is a prosperous farmer of Macon township. They have two children, one son and one daughter-Harry I. and Mary Rose. Mr. Robinson is a native of Illinois, was edu- cated in the common schools of Macon town- ship, and also took a business course at Daven- port, Iowa. Politically, he is a democrat. Re- ligiously, Mr. Robinson is a member of the Church of God; John Irving is a well educated man, a graduate of Barkeyville academy, Penn- sylvania, in the class of 1893, and also a graduate of Findlay college, Ohio, in the class of 1896. In one year he completed a course in the Barkey- ville academy which usually requires two years, and in two years, at Findlay college, completed a course that usually required three years; Josie, who received her education in the common schools at home, who also has received instruc-
tions in vocal and instrumental music, yet resides under the parental roof; Jacob Elmer, the young- est of the family, also resides at home. Those that died were Margaret, Ira and an infant.
Mrs. Carper was born March 18, 1846, and was the seventh in a family of eleven children born to John and Margaret (Inscho) Kegarice, of whom eight are now living-Jacob, a retired farmer of Scranton, Iowa; Philip, a mason by trade, who resides at Paton, Iowa; Barbara, widow of Robert Spencer, of Peoria; Mrs. Car- per, wife of our subject; Sallie, wife of Ezra Os- borne, a farmer of Creston, Iowa; Margaret, wife of William Suter, of West Virginia; Susan, wife of George Emic, a farmer of Belwood, Penn- sylvania; Nancy, wife of I. M. Roberts, a grain dealer of Douglas, Nebraska. John Kegarice was a native of Pennsylvania, born December 10, 18II, and died August 30, 1878. He was a blacksmith by trade, and although receiving but a common school education, engaged in teach- ing. He was a member of the Seventh Day Ad- ventists, and politically was a stanch republican, but originally was an old-line whig. Mrs. Ke- garice was a native of New Jersey, born June 20. 1813, and died October 16, 1882. She was reared in Pennsylvania, and was also a member of the Seventh Day Adventists. After the death of her husband she came west and made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Carper.
Politically, Mr. Carper has been a republican since the organization of the party, and cast his first presidential vote for Honest Old Abe. He has represented his party as a delegate in various county conventions and has endeavored to pro- mulgate republican principles to the best of his ability. Religiously, Mrs. Carper is a member of the Church of God, located in Macon town- ship, and known as the Bunker Hill church. She takes an active interest in all church work, and is a member of the Ladies' Foreign Missionary society. For some years she engaged actively in Sunday school work.
The home farm of Mr. Carper comprises one hundred and seventy acres of well cultivated land, with a good residence and outbuildings.
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On commencing life together, in 1869, he was the possessor of but eighty acres, on which was a mortgage of two thousand dollars. With the assistance of his excellent wife the mortgage was cleared, and they began to add to their posses- sions, until they are now numbered among the best and most substantial farmers of Macon township, and no family in Bureau county are held in more universal esteem.
C HRISTIAN STADLER. There is no ele- ment which has entered into our compo- site national fabric which has been of more practical strength, value and utility than that furnished by the sturdy, persevering and hon- orable sons of Germany, and in the progress of our union this element has played an important part. Intensely practical, and ever having a clear comprehension of the ethics of life, the German contingent has wielded a powerful influence, and this service can not be held in light estimation by those who appreciate true civilization and true advancement.
The subject of this review, who for almost a third of a century has successfully engaged in merchandising in Hollowayville, Bureau county, was born in Bavaria, Germany, May 20, 1821, a son of C. Stadler, also a native of that country. There he acquired a good practical education in his native tongue, and served a three years' ap- prenticeship to the wagonmaker's trade. Re- solved to try his fortunes in the new world, he sailed from Rotterdam in 1846, and reached New Orleans after a long and tedious voyage of forty- six days, during which time they encountered two severe storms. He was accompanied by two neighboring families from his old home, and from the crescent city they came up the river to St. Louis, thence to Peoria, Illinois, and then took up their residence in Selby township. Bureau county.
After working for others for several years, Mr. Stadler purchased eighty acres of raw land, which he at once began to improve and develop, and later added forty acres adjoining. This he sub- sequently sold, and purchased a partially im-
proved farm of eighty acres, which he cultivated for some years on a small scale. He then em- barked in the grocery business in Hollowayville, and as his financial resources increased he added to his stock. For over thirty years he has now carried on an extensive and profitable business. He has a large and well selected stock of general merchandise, including dry goods, clothing, gro- ceries, hardware and agricultural implements, queensware, etc., and his fair-dealing and cour- teous treatment of his customers has secured him a liberal share of the public patronage. Be- sides his business property he owns five or six good residences in the village, and the success that he has achieved is but the just reward of his persevering, well-directed efforts. In 1861, dur- ing President Lincoln's administration, he was appointed postmaster of Hollowayville, and during the long period that has since passed has most creditably filled that position.
In Bureau county, in 1848, Mr. Stadler was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Lehrer, who was born, reared and educated in the same locality in Bavaria as her husband. Four chil- dren graced their union, namely: Ludwig, who is in the store with his father, married Mary A. Markel, and has three children; Emma K., who also assists in the store; Christian L., and Bertha H. Hannah, the second child of our subject, is. now the wife of Rev. Ernst Nabholz, pastor of the Lutheran church at Lancaster, Wisconsin. Christian G. is married and resides upon a farm in Bureau county. Elizabeth, who is at home. completes the family.
Politically, Mr. Stadler is identified with the republican party, in whose success he takes a deep interest, and has been quite active in local po- litical affairs, often serving as a delegate to the county conventions. He has faithfully and effi- ciently discharged the duties of several public positions of honor and trust in his locality, in- cluding the offices of supervisor, treasurer and collector. Socially, he belongs to Venus lodge, No. 536. I. O. O. F .. in which he has passed all the chairs, and has represented his lodge in the Grand lodge, while religiously he and his esti-
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mable wife hold membership in the German Lutheran church. For half a century Mr. Stadler has now been identified with the interests of Bureau county, aiding in its development and progress, and he has witnessed the wonderful changes that have here taken place, the wild, almost unbroken wilderness being transformed into lovely homes and farms, and villages and cities springing up everywhere. In all of this work he has faithfully borne his share, and justly deserves the high regard and esteem in which he is held. His exemplary habits and sterling worth well entitle him to the confidence of all, and no man in Bureau county is more worthy of repre- sentation in a volume of this character than Christian Stadler.
H JON. MILO KENDALL. "Biography is the most universally profitable and pleas- ant of all studies," wrote Carlyle. It sets forth many valuable lessons, showing how others have achieved success, what methods they have pur- sued and what plans they have followed in at- taining prosperity. Mr. Kendall is a representa- tive of the legal profession and in no calling does advancement depend more upon individual ef- fort. Natural and acquired ability, earnest ap- plication and careful labor are the important fac- tors which insure success in his calling and by the exercise of these elements he has risen to a prominent position at the bar. For over half a century he has engaged in practice at Princeton, Illinois, where he located in April, 1846, and has been a resident of Illinois since September, 1845.
Mr. Kendall is a native of the Green Mountain state, his birth occurring in Waterford, Cale- donia county, April 1, 1819, and he belongs to a family of English descent which was early estab- lished in Massachusetts. His grandfather, Wil- liam Kendall, was a native of the latter state. He took up arms against the British government during the Revolutionary war, and was one of the brave soldiers who fought so valiantly at the battle of Bunker Hill. At an early day he removed to Caledonia county, Vermont, where he reared his family.
Captain Jerreb Kendall, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Massachusetts, and accompa- nied his parents on their removal to Caledonia county, Vermont. He won his title as captain of a cavalry troop of militia in early life. In Caledonia county he married Miss Lucy Woods, a native of Vermont, and a daughter of John Woods, who was also a Revolutionary hero, and took part in the battle of Bunker Hill. When a young man Captain Kendall learned the trade of miller, which he followed for a time, later en- gaged in agricultural pursuits for a number of years, then conducted a hotel, but spent his last years in retirement, dying at the age of seventy- two. His wife, who survived him a number of years, passed away at the ripe old age of eighty- four. He was one of the prominent men of the county, and held numerous official positions of honor and trust.
Milo Kendall is the ninth in order of birth in a family of twelve children, eleven sons and one daughter, of whom eleven grew to maturity and nine became heads of families. They are as fol- lows: Jerreb, came west to Illinois, locating on a farm near Lamoille, Bureau county, where he died in 1839: John, who was a physician, prac- ticed in Vermont and Ohio, was married in Ohio and subsequently removed to Bureau county, in 1835, and died at Lamoille in 1847: George, mar- ried and spent his entire life upon a farm in Ver- mont; James E., married and settled upon a farm in Bureau county, where he resided for a number of years, but spent his last days at the home of his brother, Judge Kendall, of this re- view: Larnard L., married and remained in Ver- mont, where his death occurred; Lyman, came to Bureau county in 1836, and located at La- moille, where he passed away; Alonzo R., was married in Vermont, later resided on a farm in Bureau county for a number of years, and then removed to Orange county, California; Lorenzo, married in Vermont, and removed to Bureau county, where he resided on a farm for a num- ber of years, after which he returned to the Green Mountain state, and there spent his remaining days. The judge is the next in order of birth;
MILO KENDALL, DAUGHTER AND GRANDSON.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Chester, died in infancy; William W., came to Illinois in 1845, but in 1849 went to California, where he remained some years, after which he returned to Princeton, and here died in 1876. The only daughter, Lucy, married Lucius Rob- inson; they settled at Newport, Vermont, where they died.
Judge Kendall grew to manhood in his na- tive state, and received a good academic educa- tion. After completing his studies he engaged in teaching for several years, and then read law with Bartlett & Fletcher of Linden, Vermont. In 1845 he came to Illinois with C. K. Harvey, an attorney, and first located at Knoxville, Knox county, where he was admitted to the bar. In the spring of 1846 he made a permanent loca- tion at Princeton, which was then an unpreten- tious village of about four hundred inhabitants, and he became one of the pioneer lawyers of
Bureau county. He at once opened an office. and has met with excellent success, being one of the leading lawyers of the community. In 1857 he formed a law partnership with Judge Ide, under the firm name of Kendall & Ide, which connection continued until 1871, and during that time they had an extensive practice all through northern Illinois. For forty years Mr. Kendall was attorney for the Chicago, Burling- ton & Quincy Railroad, and before its construc- tion secured its right of way through Bureau and Henry counties. As an advocate his arguments are clear, incisive and logical, and during the half a century with which he has been connected with the bar of Bureau county he has won many prominent and important cases.
In St. Lawrence county, New York, Septem- ber 13, 1848, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Kendall and Miss Orpha Ide, who was born, reared and educated in Vermont, and was the daughter of Rev. John Ide, who for fifty years was a minister of the Baptist church. Mr. Ken- dall has been called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died at Princeton, November 6, 1890. She was a woman of modest and retir- ing disposition, a true Christian in every sense of the term. She gave herself to the Savior early
in life and never for a moment forsook her love for the Blessed One. She came of an intellectual family and inherited a very retentive memory, and was an almost infallible authority on his- tory and current events of the day. Her presence impressed every one with whom she was brought in contact, and her death was sincerely lamented by a large circle of friends who mingled their tears with the loved ones of the family. Surely it is a blessing to weep.
"Weep, ye who sorrow for the dead, Thus breaking hearts their pain relieve, And reverenced are the tears they shed And honored ye who grieve.
The praise of those who sleep in earth,
The pleasant memory of their worth, The hope to meet when life is past, Shall heal the tortured mind at last."
Four children were born to them, of whoni two sons died in infancy. Those living are Wil- liam Ide, who is married and is a prominent business man of Princeton, and Helen, now the wife of Harry A. Winter, living at Grand Rapids, Michigan, and superintendent of a manufactur- ing establishment.
Mr. Kendall took part in recruiting soldiers for the war for the union, and was at Vicksburg during part of the siege.
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