USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 60
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 60
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 60
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M RS. MARY SCHROEDER, whose home is on section 20, Dover township, Bureau county, is a lady of excellent business ability, successfully managing her fine farm of two hun- dred and forty-seven acres in that township, pleasantly located five miles north of Princeton. She was born in Germany May 10, 1844, a daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Heck. In that country the father's death occurred when Mrs. Schroeder was a mere child, and soon afterward the mother brought her children to the new world, locating
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Stewart, a native of Albany county, New York. This was a happy union, and for forty-six years they endured the joys and sorrows of this life to- gether. reared their family of children, who proved a blessing to them, and lived in the con- sciousness of each other's love. She passed away July 22, 1891, leaving a blessed memory that will be cherished by husband, children and friends while life shall last. Of their family of six chil- dren, Armina A. is housekeeper for her father, Frances died in infancy; Laura A. married Wes- ley Powell, of La Prairie township; Andrew died at the age of seventeen years; Adelbert married Caroline Briggs, and lives on a part of the home farm; and Rosetta is the wife of Fillmore Calder. and is also residing upon a part of the home farm.
About one year after his marriage Mr. Cald- well came to Marshall county, Illinois, and pur- chased land in La Prairie township, which is part of his present farm. He came by way of the lakes, and while upon Lake Michigan encoun- tered a severe gale, which had a very depressing effect upon the eight hundred passengers aboard the vessel, the entire number, with the exception of perhaps twenty-five, becoming violently sea- sick.
On landing at Chillicothe, Mr. Caldwell found his entire cash capital was but fifty-six dollars, but he purchased his land, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres of the military tract. for which he paid $120 for the tax title. At this time much of the land in the military tract was defective in title, and much trouble, inconveni- ence and loss were occasioned by the early set- tlers before the cloud was removed from the title of their lands. For some years after his settlement here Mr. Caldwell acted as agent for other parties in perfecting land titles, making somewhat of a study of the subject. Probably the title of half of the land in La Prairie town- ship was passed on by him as agent for would-be purchasers.
To his original purchase of one hundred and sixty acres Mr. Caldwell added from time to time until his main farm consisted of three hundred and sixty acres. He also owned for some years
a half section in Stark county, for which he paid twice on account of defective title, but which he sold some years ago. While Mr. Caldwell came to the county in 1846, it was not until 1848 that he removed to his farm, where he has since con- tinued to reside, and where he has devoted him- self to his farming interests with good success, having a fine farm, well improved in every re- spect. For some years, however, he has prac- tically lived a retired life, turning the farm over to his sons. The first house built by him is a part of the present dwelling, the lumber for which was hauled from Chicago, which then required from a week to ten days in making the round trip.
Politically, Mr. Caldwell is classed as a demo- crat, though he is not a bitter partisan. In the discharge of his duties as a citizen he has filled almost all the township offices, with credit to himself and his constituents. For some years he was a member of the Christian church, but now attends the Methodist Episcopal church of La Prairie township. As a citizen he is respected and honored by all who know him.
W ILLIAM SCHMIDT. Among some of the most enterprising citizens of Bureau county are those who were born in Germany, and who have brought to this fertile and pro- ductive country the thrift and economy of the old world. Among these there is no figure that stands out more prominently in the history of Wyanet township than Mr. Schmidt, who owns a valuable farm of two hundred and sixty-three acres on sections 4 and 5, where he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising.
Mr. Schmidt was born in the Province of Po- merania, Germany, July 28, 1849, and there his early life was passed. His father was John, and his mother was Fredericka Schmidt. Five chil- dren were born to them-Mary, widow of Fred- erick Zabel, of Chicago; Fredericka, wife of Henry Parchen, Ohio township; Charles, de- ceased; our subject, and Minnie, the wife of John Schurff, of Concord township. He attend- ed the schools of the fatherland, and as soon as old enough began work upon a farm. At the
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age of seventeen years he accompanied his pa- rents to the United States, going first to Chicago, where for nine years he was engaged in teaming, after which he came to Bureau county. At the end of seven years, however, he went to Adair county, Iowa, where he purchased a farm of two hundred acres, which he cultivated for six years, and then returned to Bureau county, purchasing his present farm.
At Chicago, in 1873, was celebrated the mar- riage of Mr. Schmidt and Miss Minnie Hopp, a native of Germany, who came to America in 1870. They have become the parents of five children, two sons and three daughters, namely: Annie, wife of Bryant Olds, of Princeton; Ida, Willie, Emma and Johnnie. Mr. Schmidt is en- tirely a self-made man, his possessions being the result of his own persistent labor and good man -. agement, and he justly deserves the success which has come to him. For six years he effi- ciently served as school director, and takes an active interest in everything that is intended to promote the welfare or advance the interests of his adopted county. In politics he is a demo- crat, and in religious belief he is a Lutheran, and is a most highly respected and honored citizen.
R OBERT JOHLES is a talented artist of Princeton, Illinois, doing excellent work in either crayon, oil, pastelle or water colors. He was born on the 27th of February, 1864, in cen- tral Russia, where his parents, Leon and Natasha Johles, spent their entire lives. The father, who was also an artist, passed away in 1889, at the age of seventy-six years. With the exception of our subject, all the children of the family, numbering two sons and three daughters, are still residing in Russia. His only relatives in America are Mr. and Mrs. E. Menkos, of Denver, Colorado, the latter being his mother's sister.
In his native land, Mr. Johles began his edu- cation, which he completed in the schools of Chicago, Illinois. In 1877 he bade good-by to friends and native land, soon after the close of the Russia-Turkish war, in which his father had taken part. His destination was Denver, Colo-
rado, but on reaching New York, where his aunt met him, he was taken ill, and was compelled to remain in that city until his recovery. He is a good Latin scholar, and was greatly aided on coming to the United States by his knowledge of German, but soon, however, learned the Eng- lish language.
Mr. Johles does all kinds of painting and dec- orating. He has put the artistic finishing to the circuit court room and English Lutheran church of Princeton, the design for these decorations being original. He has also painted the por- traits' of the ministers and many of the leading citizens of Princeton and vicinity to the number of over a hundred, and his work is first-class in every particular, giving an excellent degree of satisfaction. He gives special attention to ex- pression, making his pictures vivid and life-like, and his pictures from nature are also of a high order. He has now made his home in Princeton since 1893, and is numbered among its highly respected and honored citizens.
On Sunday, June 12, 1892, in Chicago, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Johles and Miss Nettie Whiting, daughter of Frank and Cor- nelia (Packingham) Whiting, of Granville, Illi- nois, where her father is one of the leading at- torneys. To them has been born a daughter- Lucile. The parents are both Christian, but have not identified themselves with any particu- lar church in Princeton. Mr. Johles is thor- oughly posted on the political issues of the day, and is an earnest advocate of the sound money policy.
M RS. MARY SCHROEDER, whose home is on section 20, Dover township, Bureau county, is a lady of excellent business ability, successfully managing her fine farm of two hun- dred and forty-seven acres in that township, pleasantly located five miles north of Princeton. She was born in Germany May 10, 1844, a daugh- ter of Mr. and Mrs. Heck. In that country the father's death occurred when Mrs. Schroeder was a mere child, and soon afterward the mother brought her children to the new world, locating
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in the town of Forest, Ohio. There she died in a short time, and our subject and her sister Mar- garet then went to live with strangers.
Until fifteen years of age Mrs. Schroeder made her home in the family of Dr. Samuel Watt, but was provided with very limited advantages for securing an education. She has become well in- formed, however, by reading and study in later years. On leaving the home of Dr. Watt she went to live with an aunt in Evansville, Indiana, where she remained until her marriage, at Can- nelton, Indiana, which was celebrated Decem- ber 14, 1862. Her husband, Christian Schroeder, was born in Herford, Westphalia, Germany. Feb- ruary 10, 1830, and was there reared and edu- cated. They began their domestic life in Cal- houn, Kentucky, where he was engaged in the grocery business until the spring of 1865, when they came to Bureau county, Illinois. For two years he was successfully engaged in the same line of trade in Princeton in a building which he owned, and then purchased a farm of eighty acres in Dover township. On selling out there he bought the present farm now owned and operated by Mrs. Schroeder, and continued its cultivation and improvement until called from this life, June 28, 1887. Besides the farm, he left a good brick store building on North Minn street, now occupied by Mr. Swartout. In polit- ical matters, he supported the democratic party. He was a wide-awake, energetic business man, upright and honorable in all his dealings, and had the confidence and respect of all who knew him.
By her marriage, Mrs. Schroeder became the mother of five children, namely: Lizzie, now the wife of Henry Tonkinson, a business man of Kearney, Nebraska; Lena, who married Leroy Matson, and died in January, 1895, at Kechi, Kansas, leaving one child, Harry Lee, the pride of Mrs. Schroeder; Henrietta, the present wife of Leroy Matson; Minnie, wife of Grant Burnham, of Bigelow, Minnesota, and Henry, an enterpris- ing young man, who now assists his mother in the management of the farm.
Since the death of her husband, Mrs. Schroe-
der has displayed much ability in the manage- ment of his business affairs, successfully operat- ing the farm, and has the love and respect of the entire neighborhood. She and her family are members of the Lutheran church of Princeton, of which church her husband was also a member. Her children have been provided with such ad- vantages as would fit them for the practical and responsible duties of life, and they have become useful and honored members of society, which fact reflects great credit upon their estimable mother.
M RS. ELLEN E. BURNETTE, a well known and highly esteemed lady of La- moille, was born in Jonesboro, Michigan, Sep- tember 7. 1844, and is a daughter of George and Mary ( Brown) Kane, who were born, reared and married in Genesee county, New York. When their daughter was quite young they became residents of Bureau county, where the father left his family while he went south, and there died. The mother's death occurred in Lamoille, in 1880, at the age of fifty-three years. She was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Burnette is the oldest in the family of four children, the others being Charles, now a resident of Missouri; Ida, wife of George Graves, of Lamoille; and Mary, wife of J. W. Hills, of the same place.
On the 16th of October, 1863, our subject be- came the wife of Lauren Holbrook, who was born October 1, 1841, and was a son of Jona- than T. and Mary R. (Angier) Holbrook, natives of New Hampshire, where their marriage was celebrated. His father was born in 1810, a son of Enos and Elizabeth (Thompson) Holbrook. In the east Jonathan T. Holbrook was a dealer in woodenware, and in 1834 emigrated to Illi- nois, stopping first at Chicago, but not being pleased with its muddy prospects, came to Bu- reau county, where he arrived in July of the same year. In Lamoille he successfully engaged in merchandising until 1869, and died at that place on the Ioth of May, 1877, at the age of sixty- seven years. Being a strong Abolitionist, his
MR. AND MRS. J. Y. BURNETTE AND DAUGHTER ..
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home was a station on the underground railroad, and for many years he was an active member and deacon of the Baptist church. He was enter- prising and public-spirited, active in all good work, and gave his support to all measures that promised for the best welfare of the community. He held a number of local offices, among which was that of justice of the peace, which office he held for many years. His wife died at Daven- port, Iowa, in 1894, at the age of seventy-two years.
Lauren A. Holbrook was the second in order of birth in their family of six children. The oth- ers are as follows: Josephine, who died at the age of thirteen years; Clara, the wife of O. C. Woods, of Davenport, Iowa; Myron A., who married Carrie Chaddock, and died in 1894; Erwin, a resident of Davenport, Iowa, who mar- ried Ann Staunton; and Eugene P., who died at the age of four years.
By occupation Lauren A. Holbrook was a farmer, and with his family removed to Mis- souri, purchasing property adjoining the rail- road land near Hannibal, Missouri. He was taken ill with typhoid fever, and died six weeks later, October 10, 1869. He was a brave, pa- triotic man, and in 1861 enlisted in the Union service. becoming a member of the Fifty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry under Colonel Bowen, with which he served for about a year. His brother Myron was in the one hundred days' service. In religious belief the former was a Baptist, and was a highly respected and valued citizen of the community. Two children were born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Holbrook. Mamie, born May 9, 1865, died of diphtheria April 29, 1876. She held membership in the Bap- tist church. Louis Cleveland, born in Bureau county March 1, 1867, is now an enterprising farmer of Lamoille township. He was educated in the common schools, and remained with his mother until 1889, when was celebrated his mar- riage with Miss Emma F. Thornbury, a daughter of James and Louisa Thornbury, who came to Bureau county from Ohio. One child graces their union, Louis Cedric. Mr. Holbrook is a
member of the Baptist church, while his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. They are well known and highly respected, and he has acceptably served as constable of Lamoille township since 1894. She is the sixth in order of birth in a family of eight children, namely: Newton, of Lamoille, who married Ida Phillips; Carrie, who is the widow of John Geiger, and is also a resident of Lamoille; William, who died at the age of thirty years; John, who lives in Iowa; Richard; Emma F., wife of Louis C. Hol- brook; and Ella and Frona, still at home, re- siding with their mother in Lamoille. The fath- er's death occurred in 1875.
On the 16th of August, 1878, our subject was again married, becoming the wife of Jeremiah Y. Burnette, who was born May 25, 1834, in Schoharie county, New York. His grandfather, Joseph Burnette, was a native of New Jersey, and became one of the pioneers of Schoharie county, New York, where he followed his trade of car- pentering and there died. Joseph Burnette, Jr., the father of Jeremiah, was born in New York city, and was twelve years of age when he ac- companied his father to Schoharie county, where he died in 1862. He served his country in the war of 1812. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Jane Havens, was a daughter of Jere- miah and Elizabeth (Young) Havens, and died in 1878. In their family were the following chil- dren: Mrs. Mary A. Champlin, Mrs. Jane Brand, Joseph O., David H.,George H., Mrs. Huldah E. Bare and Jeremiah Y.
The last named was a carpenter by trade, and on coming to Illinois, in 1855, located at Men- dota, where he remained for three years. He then came to Lamoille, where he followed his trade until 1872, when he embarked in the lum- ber business, which proved a successful venture, and he continued the same for more than twenty years, selling out to F. M. Fassett, who later disposed of the business to F. E. Dayton. Mr. Burnette owned several lumber yards on this branch of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy railroad, including one at Ohio, Van Oren and Tampico. He was a man of excellent business
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ability, sagacious and far-sighted, and was ap- pointed one of the trustees of the Allen school and executor of the Allen estate. He contributed liberally to all worthy enterprises, especially to church work, and was a faithful member and deacon of the Congregational church. On the 2Ist of November, 1893, he was called to his final rest, after a long and well spent life of al- most sixty years. By his marriage with our sub- ject he had one daughter-Blanche, who is still with her mother. By a former marriage with Olive Smith he had two children-Alice, wife of G. M. Murphy, a grain merchant of Crete, Ne- braska, by whom she has three children; Nellie Allen and Ralph; and Hattie, wife of L. J. Ken- dall, a lumber dealer and farmer of Tampico, Illi- nois, who was a former partner of Mr. Burnette.
A conscientious, earnest Christian, Mrs. Bur- nette is a valued member of the Baptist church, in whose work she takes an active part. She merits and receives the warmest respect and es- teem of the entire community, and is beloved by all who know her for her many excellent traits of character.
J
AMES M. MYER, a worthy representative
of the agricultural interests of Selby town- ship, has here made his home since 1838. He has watched the development of the resources of the county with the interest which every intelli- gent man feels in regard to the section of the country where he has spent the best years of his life, and should feel satisfaction in the thought that he has been no unimportant factor in bring- ing it to its present condition. He experienced all the trials and difficulties of frontier life, but is now enjoying the reward of his labors, being the owner of a good farm of two hundred acres pleasantly located four miles east of Princeton.
A native of the keystone state, Mr. Myer was born near Towanda, May 7, 1837, a son of Ste- phen and Marilla (Morehouse) Myer, whose births occurred in the same state. In 1838 the father brought his family to Illinois, taking up his residence near De Pue, on Pigeon creek, Bu- reau county. In connection with a Mr. Mills,
who had come with him from Pennsylvania, he erected a saw and grist mill on that creek, and there for five years they engaged in the manu- facture of flour and lumber. Mr. Myer pur- chased a tract of eighty acres of raw land, which he at once began to clear and cultivate, and so successful was he in his operations that he soon became the owner of three hundred acres of valu- able land. Later he purchased the place on which our subject now resides, and there spent his remaining days, dying in 1852. His wife survived him many years, passing away in 1886, and her body was buried in Princeton cemetery. The father's remains were interred in the Ottville cemetery. Prominent and influential in public affairs, he was called upon to fill several positions of honor and trust in the locality, but as a general thing declined to hold office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business interests. In the family were three sons and two daughters -Elizabeth, who died during childhood in Penn- sylvania; Charlotte Elizabeth, now the widow of Cyrus Todd, and a resident of Denver, Colorado; George F., who went to California in 1862, and there spent his last days; James M., of this re- view, and Edward, who died at De Pue. Illinois, when thirteen years of age.
James MI. Myer grew to manhood in Bureau county and acquired his early education in its common schools, pursuing his studies for a time at Seatonville. He then attended the Princeton high school, and was afterward a student in the Henry academy. On laying aside his text books he took up the occupation to which he was reared, that of farming, and since the death of his father has had charge of the old homestead, which he has most successfully managed.
In Friendsville, Pennsylvania, in January, 1859, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Myer and Miss Martha Ann Cozier, who was born in Litchfield county, Connecticut, but was reared and educated in Pennsylvania. Her father, Em- bree Cozier, was a native of France. Ten chil- dren blessed this union, of whom eight are now living, namely: Harriet, now the wife of Wil- liam Gudgel, of Streator, Illinois; Ada, now the
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wife of Martin A. Barrett, of Kansas City; George F., who is married and resides on a farm near Ottawa, Illinois; Linnie, now the wife of Harry Gudgel, an agriculturalist of Grandridge, Illinois; Cora, now the wife of Henry Hostetter, who is operating a farm on an island near Otta- wa; Edward, who married Emma F. Clark, now assists in the cultivation of the home farm; Emma, who married Charles M. Buck, of Prince- ton; Eveline, at home; Charles, the oldest, and Mary, the youngest of the family, died each at the age of a year and a half. The wife and mother departed this life July 14, 1895, and was laid by the side of her children in Princeton cemetery.
Since fifteen years of age Mr. Myer has re- sided upon his present farm, which is now under a high state of cultivation and improved with good farm buildings. He is numbered among the thrifty and successful farmers of Selby town- ship and holds a high place in the estimation of his fellow citizens. Since casting his first presi- dential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, he has always supported the republican party, but has never aspired to office, though often urged to accept public position. For almost sixty years he has now made his home within the borders of Bureau county, and those who have known him longest are numbered among his staunchest and most faithful friends.
P UTNAM BECKWITH. Many of the prominent and representative citizens of Marshall county served their country during the dark days of the rebellion, making a record hon- orable and glorious. One of these brave boys is now a leading farmer of Evans township, re- siding on section 8, and is a highly respected citizen. He was born in Magnolia township, Putnam county, Illinois, November 27, 1842, and is a son of Zera P. and Mary Ann (Gaylord) Beck- with, the former a native of New York.
Samuel Beckwith, the paternal grandfather of our subject, came to Illinois in 1835, settling on a farm in Roberts township, Marshall county, but at that time was a part of Putnam county,
and there made his home until his death, about 1847. The maternal grandfather, Aaron Gay- lord, located in Putnam county in 1834, upon Sandy creek. He was the son of Lemuel Gay- lord, a revolutionary soldier and a pioneer of Illinois.
Zera P. Beckwith was eighteen years of age when he came with his father to Marshall county. was married in Roberts township, but for years made his home at Magnolia, Putnam county, where he worked at his trade of a tailor and kept a clothing store. Coming to Evans township in 1854, he rented land for two years, and then lo- cated upon his farm on section 29, which he im- proved and cultivated for a number of years. His last days were spent in retirement at Wenona, where he passed away in December, 1886, and his wife, who was born in 1819, died on the 25th of January, 1896. They were both consistent members of the Christian church, and during the civil war he served as a drummer in the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but was discharged on account of disability. Two of his sons, our subject and Leonidas, were also members of the union army, belonging to the same regiment, and the latter died while in the service. In the family were five children who are yet living-Putnam; Albert, of Normal, Illinois: Orrin, residing on section 29, Evans township; Mrs. Emma Ball, of Bennington township, Mar- shall county, and Clara.
The primary education of our subject was ob- tained in the public schools of Magnolia, and as he was only eleven years old on coming to Evans township, he here continued his studies in the district school. After his return from the war he was for a time a student in the schools of We- nona. On the breaking out of the terrible strug- gle, he at once took steps to place himself among the brave boys who were going forth to fight the battles of our country, and enlisted July 3, 1861. in Company A, First Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, for three years.
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