USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 63
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 63
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 63
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Their family constituted the following named children: Mary E. pursued her studies in Cler- mont academy of Ohio, and for two years en- gaged in teaching in that state, and for twenty- five years after coming to Illinois. Andrew W. is a prominent business man of Selby township. where he engages in coal mining and the manu- facture of tile. (His sketch can be found on an- other page of this work.) Harriet, who was edu- cated in the Princeton academy, also engaged in teaching for a number of years, and married John Wolfersberger, by whom she had one son, New- ell S., now a student in the Princeton high school. She is now deceased. For three years her husband engaged in farming in Allen county, Kansas, where her death occurred in 1881. Emily completed her literary training in the Princeton academy, and for about thirty years was one of the efficient and successful teachers of Bureau county. She also taught for three years in Whiteside county, Illinois. John E. was also given good educational privileges, and after his marriage removed to Allen county, Kansas, where he died in 1889. Susie attended the Prince- ton academy, and after finishing her education married Marcus Austin, of Selby township, who died in 1879, leaving one daughter, Mary S. Misses Mary and Emily Walton, Mrs. Austin and her daughter and Newell S. Wolfersberger, all reside on the old homestead with the father. He
and his daughters are consistent members of the Baptist church.
After casting his first vote for General Jack- son, Mr. Walton continued to support the demo- cratic party until 1860, when he voted for Abra- ham Lincoln, and has since been a stalwart republican. He and his son, Andrew W., cast the first republican votes cast in Selby township. He has never failed to vote at each presidential election since attaining his majority, always tak- ing an active interest in political affairs, and for a number of years acceptably served as justice of the peace. He has witnessed much of the growth and development of Bureau county, which has now been his home for over forty-four years, and in the wonderful changes that have taken place he has always borne his part. True to the duties of both public and private life, he has so lived as to merit the high esteem in which he is universally held.
W INFIELD S. EVANS, who is properly ranked as one of the self-made men of Bureau county, began his career at the foot of the ladder in life, without other resources than his own indomitable will and steady plodding in- dustry. From a humble position he has risen to that of one of the representative men of a more than ordinarily intelligent community. The greater part of his life has been devoted to ag- ricultural pursuits, but he has now laid aside busi- ness cares and is living retired in Princeton.
Mr. Evans claims New Hampshire as the state of his nativity, his birth having occurred in Rockingham county, March 8, 1816, and he is a son of Samuel Evans, who was born in Straf- ford county, New Hampshire. The paternal grandfather, Edmund Evans, was a native of England, and with a brother emigrated to the new world, locating in Strafford county, where they cleared land and opened up a farm, which is still in the possession of the Evans family, Sol- omon Evans, an uncle of our subject, now owning the place. Both served as soldiers in the Revo- lutionary war. Samuel Evans was one of a fam- ily of nineteen children, all of whom grew to ma-
W. S. EVANS.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ture years. The oldest, Louisa, marricd a Mr. Layton, a farmer of the granite state, and died when in her one hundredth year.
On reaching manhood, Samuel Evans mar- ried Miss Hannah Woodman, a native of New Hampshire. He worked at his trade of black- smithing in Nottingham, where his death oc- curred when our subject was but seven years old, and the following year the mother also died. Winfield S. was the third in order of birth in their family of six children, the others being Elvin A., who was engaged in business at Sa- lem, Massachusetts, after reaching manhood; William Harrison, who died in early life: Sam- uel Plummer, who after the death of his parents was reared by old Governor Plummer, and on reaching manhood held some responsible posi- tions, but died in early life; Sophronia, who married George W. Knowlton, of Lowell, Massa- chusetts, where her death occurred, and Leazer W. R., who served as a union soldier in the civil war, was a licensed minister of the Universalist church, and died in Bureau county, Illinois, where he located after the war.
The advantages afforded our subject for se- curing an education were very meager, and he is almost entirely self-educated, but has become a well informed man through his own efforts. After the death of his parents he was reared by others, but was early thrown upon his own resources. For a time he worked for his brother in Salem, Massachusetts, and then returned to New Hampshire, where he was employed on a farm for a few months, but the following winter and spring, however, he was again with his brother. Going to Brookline, Massachusetts, he secured a position as gardener for a gentleman, with whom he remained for three years, after which he went to Boston, where he was employed as porter in a bank, and was then for two years with a baker, boarding with his family.
In Boston, July 13, 1842, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Evans and Miss Sarah J. Lang- ley, who was born, reared and educated in the same neighborhood in New Hampshire as our subject. After his marriage he was engaged in
the market business in that city for a time, and for two years looked after the property of a widow lady. Hc next purchased a team and cn- gaged in teaming and freighting for several years.
In 1855 Mr. Evans started westward, and from Chicago came to Bureau county to visit some friends, but with no intention of locating here. However, he was so pleased with the locality that he returned to Boston, and the following year brought his family to this county, where he has since made his home. In Berlin township he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of which about thirty had been broken, and a good house stood upon the place. He at once began the further development and improvement of his farm, to which he added as his financial resources increased, buying eighty acres adjoining, and still later a tract of one hundred and sixty acres near Arlington. He was very successful and for twenty years devoted his time exclusively to his farming interests, transforming his land into one of the best farms of the locality. In 1876 he came to Princeton, where he purchased the Dr. Converse property, and has there since made his home, enjoying a rest which he so justly deserves after many years of arduous and unremitting toil.
Mr. Evans has been called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died in April, 1880. One son was born to them, George P., who was pro- vided with good educational privileges. He carried on the home farm for a few years, but since the death of his mother has lived in Prince- ton with his father. £ He married Arabella Mohler, a daughter of Samuel and Caroline Mohler, natives of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and they have three children-Caroline J., who wedded Scott R. Coppins, yardmaster Chicago, Lake Shore & Eastern railway at South Chicago; Samuel Scott, who is holding a responsible busi- ness position in Princeton, and Harry A., at home.
Politically, Mr. Evans now supports the pro- hibition party. Originally he was a whig, tak- ing an active part in the campaign of 1840, vot-
25
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ing for "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too," and was later an ardent republican. He has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office, preferring to give his time and attention to his business interests. For forty-one long years he has now been a resident of Bureau, during which time he has seen the wonderful changes that have here taken place, and has been an important factor in bringing about this transformation. He is a man of the strictest integrity and honor, and his upright life has gained him the confidence and respect of all with whom he has come in contact.
JAMES HENNING. Among the finest speci- mens of the hardy yeomanry of our country, there are few that are the peers of the representa- tives of the Scotch-Irish race, who are so mate- rially helping in the development of our coun- try. These people are essentially Scotch, and Ireland to them has been but a temporary abid- ing place, as they seldom assimilate with the na- tives of that island. To their descendants this country is much indebted for one of its most in- flexible and unswerving elements of probity and uprightness. Their sturdy physical strength and inborn frugality, thrift and industry, are char- acteristically developed in their representatives in America. The subject of this sketch, who is one of the most extensive land owners and stock raisers of Granville township, Putnam county, is a magnificent specimen of this hardy race.
Mr. Henning was born in County Antrim, Ire- land, September 15. 1826, and is a son of William and Catherine (Nickolls) Henning, the former a native of Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and the lat- ter of County Antrim. For twelve years his father served in the British army, being with Wellington at the battle of Waterloo, where Na- poleon was so badly defeated, and after his dis- charge he rented a farm belonging to an Irish of- ficer. He had secured a life lease, but on com- ing to America this he sold.
The boyhood of our subject was passed upon a farm in his native land, but in 1845. at the age
of nineteen years, he accompanied his parents to the United States, and at once proceeded to Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, where his brother William was working in a rolling mill. There he was also employed for five years, during which time he became familiar with every detail of the business, and received from two and a half to three dollars per day for his services. On account of a lack of business, the mill closed down for a while in 1849, and with a little money which he had saved he came to Illinois. At Che- mung, McHenry county, for two years he was employed as teamster and in the grist mill and general store for a gentleman who was exten- sively engaged in business at that place. The following two years he again worked in the mill at Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, but since 1854 he has been a permanent resident of Illinois. His brother William also came to this state, and for twelve years carried on the grain business at Lostant, where his death occurred. Another brother, Robert, lives at Hennepin, while Sam- uel has always been with our subject, and John lives in Granville.
While a resident of McHenry county, his pa- rents had come to Putnam county, Illinois, set- tling in Granville township, where his father died, and on his return to this state, Mr. Henning joined his mother, who made her home with him up to the time of her death about eight years ago. For six years he rented land near his pres- ent farm, and then for three years he rented the latter place of Ralph Ware, who owned a half section here. On the death of Mr. Ware the farm was divided into three parts, two of which our subject secured, making two hundred and ten acres, for which he paid forty dollars per acre, but was only able to pay a third of the amount, going in debt for the remainder. At the present time, however (in 1896), he owns one hundred acres north of Granville, forty acres one mile south of Florid, which is a timbered tract, and one hundred and sixty acres in Hand coun- ty, South Dakota. In 1895 he met with a heavy loss, having his sheds destroyed by fire, and all their contents, including six head of horses, ag-
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ricultural implements, harness, etc., on which he had no insurance.
Mr. Henning has given considerable attention to the raising of cattle and horses, feeding about a car load of the latter per year. He has found the breeding of heavy draft horses a profitable source of income, making a specialty of the Clydesdale and Shire horses, and has exhibited some fine thoroughbreds at fairs. He sold one two-year-old animal for four hundred and fifty dollars. From eighty to one hundred acres of his land is devoted to corn. Upon his place he sunk a well thirteen hundred and fifty feet deep, when he reached artesian water, but it lacks one hundred feet of coming to the surface, so that he has had to put in a wind pump. He has a tank of three hundred barrels' capacity, which he keeps filled and in this manner his stock are al- ways well supplied. It is the same water as is found at Hennepin and Spring Valley. The cost of this well was three thousand two hundred dollars and four or five men were employed an entire year in its construction. Gas was struck when nine hundred and seventy-four feet down; two veins of coal, from four to five feet in thick- ness, at three hundred and seventy and four hun- dred and seventy feet, and a three-foot vein of plumbago at five hundred feet.
Mr. Henning is what may be termed a self- made man, as he had no capital when he crossed the breast of the stormy Atlantic and landed on the shores of America. His excellent business tact, coupled with his industry, frugality, and the other noble traits common to his people. are the only architects of his substantial fortune. He is one of the representative men of the county and a credit to the land that gave him birth. In political sentiment he is a republican.
S AMUEL KEEL, an intelligent, energetic farmer of Dover township, makes his home on section 34, about two and a half miles from Princeton, where he owns and operates two hun- dred and twenty acres of rich and productive land, which he has tiled and placed under a high
state of cultivation. He also owns forty acres of timber land two miles from his farm.
A native son of Bureau county, he was born in Ohio township, May 13, 1856, and here has spent his entire life. His father, John W. Keel, first opened his eyes to the light in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, January 12, 1809, but was reared in Stark county, Ohio, where he was tak- en by his father, Joseph Keel, about 1819. There the latter opened up a farm and reared his family.
On reaching manhood, John W. Keel was in Stark county, after which he removed to Put- nam county, Ohio, where his wife died, and he later wedded Barbara Bridenbaugh, a native of the buckeye state. In 1853 he brought his fam- ily to Bureau county, Illinois, first purchasing land in Ohio township, which he made his home for ten years. On the expiration of that period he sold out and purchased the farm on which our subject now resides. He at once began its improvement and development, and for many years was numbered among the progressive and prosperous agriculturists of Dover township. He spent his last years, however, in the village of Dover, where his death occurred July 13, 1891, at the age of eighty-three. His wife is still liv- ing in that place at the age of seventy-eight years. In their family were the following chil- dren: Nathan, who is married and is living in Bureau county; Lavina, wife of J. E. Scott, of Whiteside county, Illinois; John, who is married and engaged in farming in Dover township; Liz- zie, wife of J. H. Coddington, whose sketch ap- pears elsewhere in this volume: Samuel, of this review, and Mattie A., wife of Ed. Nichols, a business man of Princeton.
As soon as old enough, Samuel Keel began to assist in the arduous labors of the farm, and in the district schools acquired his education. He continued to reside upon the old homestead in Dover township, to which he succeeded after the death of his father, and has actively and success- fully engaged in its operation. He is a thorough and skillful agriculturist, as the neat and thrifty appearance of his place plainly shows.
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On the 8th of February, 1880, in Dover town- ship, Mr. Keel was joined in wedlock with Miss Lelia M. Conant, who was there born, reared and educated, and after leaving school success- fully engaged in teaching for several years. By their marriage have been born three children- Mary, Lizzie and Pearl, all at home.
Mr. Keel uses his right of franchise in sup- port of the men and measures of the republican party, and cast his first presidential ballot for Hon. James A. Garfield. He takes quite an ac- tive part in local politics, has served as delegate to a number of county conventions, and has been elected to several local offices, now serving his second year as road commissioner. He does all in his power to promote the cause of education, and has most efficiently served as a member of the school board. Religiously, both Mr. and Mrs. Keel hold membership in the United Brethren church of Dover, in the work of which they take a prominent and active part. Their exemplary Christian lives have gained them the respect of all with whom they have come in contact and are certainly worthy of emulation.
J JASPER WOOD, one of the extensive farm-
ers of Bureau county, Illinois, now residing on section 13, Mineral township, was born in Groton township, Erie county, Ohio, November 15, 1829, and is a son of Burdette and Rhoda (Harrington) Wood. The father became a large land owner, securing land in Iowa on Mexican soldier's warrants, and also had a tract near Ster- ling. Illinois. His death occurred on the 25th of February, 1889, at the age of eighty-six years.
Burdette Woods was the son of Jasper Woods, of English descent, who was in the war of 1812. His family were early settlers in Ohio, locating on the western reserve. Seth Harring- ton, the father of Rhoda Harrington, was also in the war of 1812; he was a captain and had com- mand of Fort Bloomingville, at the head of Lake Erie.
On the 18th of March, 1850, our subject start- ed for California, in company with a friend, and driving a four-mule team. At Fort Leavenworth
they were joined by twenty-one men, and their train consisted of six teams. The trip from Ohio to the golden state required one hundred and thirty-two days, arriving there on tlie 3d of Au- gust. For four years Mr. Wood engaged in mining, the most of which time he was quite successful, returning home with three thousand one hundred dollars in gold. This journey was made by the way of the Isthmus of Panama and New Orleans, reaching his destination in April. 1854
In the fall of that year Mr. Wood came to Sheffield, Bureau county, Illinois, and secured one hundred and sixty acres of land near Green river, for which he paid six dollars per acre. It is located in Gold township, and there he made his home for thirteen years, during which time he added to it until the boundaries of the farm in- cluded six hundred and eighty acres, and at the present time he has ten hundred and forty acres there all in one body, improved with three sets of farnı buildings, and for some of which land he paid as high as thirty dollars per acre. After making his first purchase, Mr. Wood invested the remainder of his capital in cattle, purchasing one hundred and thirty-six head in Bond coun- ty, Illinois, which he brought here the same fall. For thirty-five years he engaged in the cattle business, keeping in stock from fifty to one hun- dred head annually, which business proved a profitable source of income.
It was in 1867 that Mr. Wood removed to his present farm, a tract of one hundred and sixty acres a mile and a half northwest of Sheffield, in Mineral township, upon which he has made many valuable improvements, and has added to the same until the place now comprises twelve hundred and forty acres, on which are five sets of buildings. Most of this tract is under his own supervision, though he employs six hired men, and upon his farm in Gold township has two more. His land here cost him from eleven to sixty-five dollars per acre, and it is as valuable property as any to be found in this section of the state. He also owns two tracts in Nebraska, comprising nine hundred acres, one tract in Sa-
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
line county of four hundred and twenty acres, on which his son Richard lives, and another tract, four hundred and eighty acres, in Franklin coun- ty, and eighty acres in Jefferson county, Illinois, near Mt. Vernon.
In Alba township, Henry county, Illinois, Mr. Wood was married October 22, 1857. the lady of his choice being Miss Ruhecy Goble, who was born in Rock Island county, this state, and when twelve years of age went to Henry county with her parents, Benjamin and Barbara (Vandruff) Goble, the former a native of southern Illinois, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Six children were born of this union, as follows: Benjamin Bur- dette died in childhood; Flora Gertrude be- came the wife of Alfred McKee, and died May 22, 1884, leaving two children-Blanche Sophia and Jasper Burdette W., who make their home with our subject; Richard Boyleston lives in Saline county, Nebraska; Thaddeus Jasper re- sides upon the home farm; Ada Sophia is the wife of Charles W. Gunkel, a merchant of Shef- field; Henry Lester is in the lumber business in Sheffield.
In religious belief Mr. Wood is a Unitarian, and politically is identified with the republican party, but is no politician. For three years he served as supervisor of Gold township, was school trustee for twenty-one years, or as long as he would accept the position; road commis- sioner nine years, and justice of the peace for some eight or ten years. He is a prominent and representative citizen, whose friends in the com- munity are many, and by all who know him he is held in the highest regard.
H ENRY C. CODDINGTON. Among the agriculturists of Bureau county who have attained success from a financial point of view is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He is a large land owner and one of the most progressive and energetic farmers of Dover township, and is a complete master of the call- ing which he is following. His sterling integ- rity and honorable, upright manhood. fully en- title him to the position which he holds in the
estimation of the people of the community. He is the owner of three hundred and eighty-three acres of rich and arable land, and his home is pleasantly situated on section 27, in Dover township.
Mr. Coddington was born on the 14th of Au- gust, 1850, upon the old family homestead, where he now resides, a son of James and Catherine (Fear) Coddington, James having been born. reared and married in Allegany county, Mary- land, but at an early day emigrated to Burcau county, Illinois. (A more extended mention of the father is given in the sketch of J. H. Cod- dington elsewhere in this work.)
The subject of this sketch passed his child- hood upon the home farm, assisting in its culti- vation and attending the district schools in the neighborhood. He remained with his father un- til after the latter's death, when he succeeded to two hundred acres of the old homestead. With him his mother still finds a pleasant home, and is still well preserved at the age of eighty-two.
At East Pawpaw, Lee county, Illinois, De- ccmber 23, 1876, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Coddington and Miss Mary Ann Pierce, who has spent her entire life in Illinois, and is a daughter of Charles Pierce, a pioneer of Lee county. He was a native of Kingston, Penn- sylvania, where he grew to manhood and was married, and as early as 1835 he became a resi- dent of Lee county, Illinois, where he opened up a farm of three hundred and twenty-five acres, be- came one of its prominent and representative citizens and there spent the last years of his life. Six children bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Coddington, namely: Charles James, now being educated at the Western college of Toledo, Iowa; Emma, Mabel, Mary and Martha, twins, and Philip Raymond.
In his political views, Mr. Coddington coin- cides with the principles of the republican party, which he has supported since casting his first presidential ballot for Gen. U. S. Grant in 1872, but cares nothing for political preferment, desir- ing rather to give his time and attention exclu- sively to his business interests. Fraternally he
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is a Royal Arch Mason, belonging to Bureau lodge, No. 112, F. & A. M., of which he has served as master, and Princeton chapter, No. 28, R. A. M., of which he was the first high priest, and is now filling his second year in that office. In his private relations he is kindly and courteous, an agreeable companion and a firm friend, and in all the affairs of life his straightforward, honor- able course has won the commendation of all.
D ANIEL WEIRICK, who is now living re- tired in the village of Sheffield, Illinois, was born on the Ist of August, 1832, in Lebanon county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John and Katharine (Vechtel) Weirick. There the father. who was of German lineage, spent his entire life. Upon the home farm our subject remained until fifteen years of age, receiving his education in the schools of the locality, and then began learning the tailor's trade at Myerstown, Pennsylvania, serving a three-years' apprenticeship, during which time he received no wages. He then worked as a journeyman for three or four years, partly in his native state and the remainder of the time in Marion, Ohio. Thence he went to La Fayette, Indiana, and after a year passed in that place, to Attica, but soon returned to Penn- sylvania, where he was married on the 23rd of March, 1857, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah Donges, of Myerstown, that state, and with whom he had been acquainted for a num- ber of years. She is a daughter of George and Henrietta (Stoner) Donges, and was provided with good common school advantages.
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