USA > Illinois > Bureau County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 71
USA > Illinois > Marshall County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 71
USA > Illinois > Putnam County > The Biographical record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois > Part 71
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Dr. Wilkins was married in Peoria county, Illi- nois, in 1856, to Miss Mary J. Church, a daughter of William Church, a substantial farmer and prominent citizen. The lady was born in Penn- sylvania, and during her early girlhood came with her parents to Illinois, the family first lo- cating in St. Johns, whence they removed to Pennsylvania, and later came to Illinois. The doctor and his wife have two living children, one, however, being an adopted daughter. Their son, Charles Leslie, is a druggist and pharmacist of
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Tiskilwa. The daughter, Blanche S., who has lived with them since the age of three years, is a cultured young lady, still at home. They lost two children: Charlotte Elizabeth, who died of diphtheria at the age of four years, and Mamie, who died at the age of ten years. The doctor and his family are members of the Episcopal church, and their hospitable home is the center of a cul- tured society circle. In politics he has been a stalwart republican since he fought for the old flag on southern battle fields. He has served as alderman, and was president of the board of com- missioners, but has never been an office seeker. He is a Master Mason, and is a charter member of the Odd Fellows society of Tiskilwa. He also belongs to the County Medical society and for several years has been surgeon of the Rock Island Railroad company.
R OBERT C. McWILLIAMS, the popular and efficient postmaster of Henry, Illinois, was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, August 19, 1851, and is a son of John and Margaret J. (Al- bin) McWilliams, natives of Beaver and Mercer counties, Pennsylvania, respectively. The father was born April 24, 1824, and died September 23. 1888. He was an extensive farmer of his native state, was widely and favorably known through- out the community in which he lived, as an up- right, honorable man, and justly deserved the high regard in which he was universally held. His wife, who was born November 18, 1825, was called to her final rest November 22, 1883. She was an earnest Christian and ardent church work- er. belonging to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which her husband was also a consistent mem- ber. Her father, William Albin, was local minis- ter of that denomination and a very devout man, who rendered most acceptable service to his church in pioneer days. He and his wife, Sarah Albin, have long since passed to their reward.
Our subject is the second in order of birth in a family of ten children, of whom the others are as follows: Martha, wife of Robert McCune, a resi- dent of Pennsylvania; William, who died at the age of twenty years; Sarah, wife of John McCon-
nel, of Chicago; Horatio Seymour, who married Jennie Bell, of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and is now serving as postmaster of Abingdon, Knox county, Illinois; John, of Chicago, who married Nellie Scott, of Chicago; Alice, wife of William J. Hayes, of Crawford county, Pennsylvania; Ed- ward, of Chicago; James, who died at the age of six years, and Anna, wife of Henry Hayes, of Crawford county, Pennsylvania.
Robert C. McWillianis is indebted to the pub- lic schools of his native state for his educational privileges, and after completing his own educa- tion he engaged in teaching for one term. He be- came familiar with the duties of an agriculturist upon the home farm, and after coming west in April, 1875, worked upon a farm in Knox county, Illinois, for one summer. Going to Galesburg, he secured employment in the corn planter fac- tory of George B. Brown, where he worked at the painter's trade for a year and a half, and was later a clerk in a store. For about twelve years he made Galesburg his home, but in the mean- time he had clerked in the Fair of Chicago one year, and had engaged in business for himself in Monmouth, Aledo, Geneseo and Moline. Finally he bought out his old employer, Mr. Pratt, in Galesburg, and there dealt in fancy goods for two years. Subsequently he followed the same business both in Ottumwa and Fairfield, Iowa.
On the 14th of June, 1887, Mr. McWilliams settled in Henry, Illinois, when he embarked in the notion business, which he successfully carried 011 until appointed postmaster May 2, 1894. The first of June, following, he assumed the duties of the office, and disposed of his stock of notions to J. M. Powers, who still conducts the store. Mr. Mc Williams devotes his time exclusively to the duties of his office, which he discharges in a most satisfactory manner, and it is seldom that one meets with a more pleasant or accommodat- ing official. Although his residence in Henry is of comparatively short duration, he has gained many warm friends and acquaintances, and all who know him have for him the highest regard.
In Galesburg, January 4, 1877, Mr. McWill- iams led to the marriage altar Miss Mary J. Law-
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rence, a daughter of William and Eliza (Parker) Lawrence, natives of Lincolnshire, England, who emigrated to the United States together in 1821. locating in Ohio first, where they were married in 1832. From Ohio they went to Indiana, then in 1852, to Illinois, settling near Knoxville, Knox county, where the father died in 1866, at the age of fifty-six years, and the mother died January 8, 1888, at the age of seventy-three years. Both were earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which Mrs. McWilliams also belongs. Our subject and his estimable wife have one son, Fred R., born May 2, 1887. In politics Mr. Mc Williams is a democrat.
J OHN P. LITCHFIELD, one of the repre- sentative business men of Toluca, was born on the home farm in Bennington township, Mar- shall county, August 24, 1862, a son of John and Emily (Palmer) Litchfield, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. There he passed his boy- hood and youth, assisting in the labors of the fields and attending the district schools. At the age of nineteen, he entered Eureka college, where he pursued his studies for one year, and then en- gaged in teaching in Marshall county, his first school being in Evans township. For some time he followed that profession during the winter season, while the summer months were spent in farming.
On the 27th of December, 1886, was solem- nized the marriage of Mr. Litchfield and Miss Sarah E. Stratton, a native of Bennington town- ship, Marshall county, and a daughter of James and Marcia (Chalcraft) Stratton, a sketch of whom may also be found on another page of this volume. They have become the parents of two interesting children: Rollie J., born on the farm in Belle Plain township, Marshall county, Octo- ber 2, 1889, and Leta L., born in Toluca, May 5, 1895.
Upon a farm in Belle Plain township, Mr. Litchfield continued to reside until March, 1893. when he removed to Toluca, to accept his present position as clerk in the hardware department of the Toluca Lumber & Hardware Company. He
is a stockholder and charter member of the same, also a stockholder in the First National bank of Toluca, and interested in the grain business un- der the firm name of Litchfield & Company. He is a straightforward, reliable business man, and wins the confidence of all with whom he comes in contact.
Mr. Litchfield cast his first presidential vote for Grover Cleveland in 1884, and has since sup- ported the men and measures of the democratic party. He received the nomination for assessor, but was defeated in the great landslide of 1894. In 1893 he was elected village trustee, becoming a member of its first board. He takes a promi- nent and active part in civic societies, having served as secretary and vice-grand in Toluca lodge, I. O. O. F., which he joined in 1894 and is a charter member; as prelate and vice-chancellor of the Knights of Pythias lodge, No. 461, of which he is also a charter member; and as secre- tary of the Modern Woodmen of America.
R EV. JACOB RINGENBERGER. No man in Bureau county is probably more worthy of representation in a volume of this character than the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He is the owner of a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 8, Wheatland township, and is successfully engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. A native of the German father- land, he was born in Bavaria, October 21, 1848, and is a son of Christian Ringenberger, who crossed the Atlantic to America in 1867, and set- tled upon a farm in Bureau county, where his last days were spent, dying in 1890.
Our subject received a good German education in his native land, but is wholly self-educated in English, being unfamiliar with the language at the time of his arrival here in 1869. In company with his brother John and a friend, he sailed from Bremen and in October of that year reached the shores of the new world. Coming at once to Bureau county, Illinois, he joined his father and family in Wheatland township, and for about a year worked as a farm hand by the month. He then operated rented land for a number of years,
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leasing the place where he now resides for over a decade, after which he purchased it. He has erected a good and substantial house and barn, tiled and improved the land, until to-day it is a highly productive and valuable farm.
Rev. Ringenberger has been twice married. In Bureau county, in 1877, he wedded Miss Cath- erine Albright, a daughter of Peter Albright, one of the early pioneers of the county. She died in 1880, leaving one daughter, Katie, who resides with her grandmother. In Tazewell county, Illi- nois, in 1881, he was united in marriage with Miss Phoebe Sutter, who was born and reared in Germany, and they now have nine children, five sons and four daughters.
Formerly, Rev. Ringenberger was a democrat in politics and served in several local positions of honor and trust, but at present takes no active part or interest in political affairs. At the age of fifteen years he became a member of the Mennonite church, and was ordained a minister in 1892, since which time he has usually preached every Sunday. He is a devoted, earnest Chris- tian, and in the work of the ministry has done effective service for the cause of Christ. As a citizen he is well worthy the high regard in which he is universally held, and his friends are many throughout Bureau and surrounding counties.
J OHN JACOB SEIBEL, deceased. A brill- iant example of a self-made American citizen and a grand exemplification of the progress that an ambitious foreigner can make in this country of unbounded opportunities is shown in the case of Mr. Seibel, who was one of the leading Ger- man-American citizens of Bureau county. His singular success was due to his own energy and the high ideal which his lofty and laudable am- bition placed before him. Success in any walk of life is an indication of earnest endeavor and persevering effort-characteristics that he pos- sessed in an eminent degree. He was cut off in the midst of his usefulness, meeting with an un- timely death. On the 11th of March, 1880, while he and his son Frank were on a cattle train at Englewood, Illinois, it was run into by a passen-
ger train, and both were so injured that they died within a couple of hours of the accident. Their remains were brought back and interred near the homestead, at the United Brethren church in Greenville township. Their deaths were widely and deeply mourned, for they were held in the highest regard.
Mr. Seibel was born November 23, 1816, at Breidenstein, in the Archduchy of Hesse, Ger- many, there grew to manhood upon a farm, and obtained his primary education in the common schools. He greatly supplemented the knowl- edge there acquired by attending night schools and study in the evenings. Thus he became very proficient in mathematics, surveying and drawing, and the family still have in their pos- session some of his early drawings, which show marked ability. He also picked up a knowledge of building, drawing his plans for the house in which his widow now resides, and also helping in the erection of the barn. His work along this line was exact, and all his business affairs were conducted in a most methodical and painstaking manner.
While still a resident of his native land Mr. Seibel was engaged in arranging levels or mak- ing surveys for drainage of land, for which he re- ceived very meager wages, but so economically did he live that, after paying his board and cloth- ing himself, he managed to save' enough to pay his passage to America, coming to this country when about thirty years of age. For a short time he stopped in Ohio, and then went to St. Louis. Subsequently he started overland to California, where for about a year he was engaged in gold mining. While on the Pacific coast he became acquainted with Lewis McKune, who had as- sisted him in keeping his claim, and between them a friendship at once sprang up. They re- turned home together, making the trip by way of the Isthmus of Panama to New York, and thence to Pennsylvania, where Mr. McKune's wife was living.
There Mr. Seibel met Miss Priscilla P. Follet, an aunt of Mrs. McKune, who became his wife on the 9th of February, 1852. She is a native of
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Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, born in the town of Hartford, and is a daughter of Warren and Patty (Tingley) Follet. Accompanied by Mr. McKune and his family, they came at once to Illinois, stopping first in Lee county, while the gentlemen looked up a desirable location. Mr. Seibel purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 9, Manlius township, on which his family still reside, and erected a small house of two rooms, buying the lumber at Hennepin and Peru, whence he hauled it by team to its destina- tion. Owing to the poor roads and wet condi- tion of the country, he often had to unload his lumber and carry it on his back across the mud holes. After a three years' residence here a more substantial and commodious dwelling was crected. He prospered in his farming operations and succeeded in accumulating a tract of nine hundred acres in the home farm and consider- able swamp land in Gold township, which he greatly improved. He was a man of great in- ventive genius, and during the war, when labor- ers were scarce, he invented a reaper which would carry the men who did the binding. For the manufacture of this reaper he erected a shop, put in the engine and necessary machinery, but the enterprise proved a failure and all was lost. In developing his inventions he was greatly as- sisted by his daughters, Celia and Chloe, who aided him in putting the models together, as their fingers were more nimble than his, owing to his mining experience. His daughter Celia, who was possessed of considerable mechanical ingenuity, used to help him in the shop, and so skillful was she that he preferred her assistance to that of any man whom he could employ.
To Mr. Seibel was given the credit of first in- venting the tongueless cultivator. A company was organized for manufacturing these machines at Buda, but on account of mismanagement was not successful. He was the first to start and carry out the project of straightening the bed of Green river in Gold township. He and his faith- ful wife had much to contend with in the early days. When they moved into their new house in the winter time it was only partially constructed,
being single boarded and there was no underpin- ning or cellar. The wild wintry blasts swept through the house at will. It was one of the coldest winters they ever experienced. Mr. Seibel came near losing his life that winter. He went to the woods to chop and had his ears and face frozen, and it was some time before he recovered.
During the course of his life Mr. Seibel met with a number of adventures which did not prove the most attractive. While on their overland trip one of the party was severely injured by the blowing up of some powder, and Mr. Seibel gave his blanket to protect him from the cold, which left him exposed to the weather. He be- came very sick and too weak to travel. The party were inclined to leave him behind, believ- ing he would die and did not care to be bothered with him. He arose early and managed to strug- gle ahead of the teams, and finally kept along with them. At a station where they stopped he procured some wine and cheese, which so strengthened him that he was able to keep up.
Mr. Seibel was reared in the Lutheran faith, but united with the Free Methodists, but later left that body. He never acted except from hon- est motives, and in all his varied relations in business and social life he maintained a charac- ter and standing that impressed all with his sin- cere and manly purpose to do by others as he would have others do by him. He made a close study of political issues and questions of the day, and generally supported the republican ticket. In school work he took great interest, and, in fact, all worthy enterprises that had for their ob- ject the upbuilding and benefit of the con- munity.
Of the twelve children born to Mr. and Mrs. Seibel nine grew to years of maturity: Celia K., who received a good education, is now the wife of George W. Briggs, a farmer of Glidden, Car- roll county, Iowa, by whom she has four chil- dren; George E. of Manlius township, Bureau county, was well educated and also studied book- keeping, is now married and has three children; Chloe F., who graduated from the Sheffield high school, is the wife of Samuel P. Burns and has
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four children; Charles, residing in Gold town- ship, Bureau county, is married and has five children; Frank, who was killed at the time of his father; Mark B. of Manlius township, is mar- ried and has three children; Clark J., who is married and living in Santa Rosa, California, and is there engaged in the mercantile business; Max P., living upon the home farm with his mother, and Karl, who graduated from the Shef- field high school, and later pursued his studies in Chicago and Bushnell, Illinois, and is now read- ing law at Albany, New York.
Max P. Seibel married Miss Emma E. Nelson of Manlius township, and they now have one child, Glee Page, born September 11, 1893. Those who died young were Fred, at the age of seven- months; Herman, at the age of twelve months, and Lillie, at the age of three years. The chil- dren have grown up to be an honor to their parents, and hold an enviable position in busi- ness and social circles, and their widowed mother may well be proud of them. All of the sons and sons-in-law have held responsible positions in their respective localities.
C HARLES NORTON, one of the prosper- ous business men of Neponset and num- bered among its liberal-minded and public- spirited citizens, has for some time engaged in dealing in stock, in which he has achieved an en- viabie reputation. He is a native son of Bureau county, born near Neponset, February 22, 1857, and here has spent his entire life.
The birth of his father, William Norton, oc- curred in 1810, in Yorkshire, England, where he grew to manhood, but in 1832 he left the old world, and on reaching the shores of this country canie at once to Illinois, locating first in Scott county. In 1834, however, he came to Bureau county, when the whole country was a vast wil- dernoss, scarcely an improvement having been made. He settled near the present village of Ne- ponset and helped to build the first habitation- a log house-in this part of the county. He took up a claim, entering the land from the govern- ment, broke and fenced the tract, which he de-
veloped into a good farm. He bought more land, becoming the owner of several hundred acres, and was numbered among the most active. enterprising and successful farmers and stock raisers of the county. He was quite liberal, giv- ing with a ready and willing hand to all worthy enterprises, and the poor and needy always found in him a friend, none ever seeking his aid in vain or being turned away empty-handed. He was universally loved and respected, and in his death the community felt that they had indeed lost a valued and worthy citizen, as well as an honored pioneer.
In Bureau county was celebrated the marriage of William Norton and Eleanor Mocroft, also a native of England, where she was reared and edu- cated. Froni their farm they removed to the vil- lage of Neponset, where their last days were spent in retirement. The mother's death occurred in the winter of 1882, and the father passed away July 25, 1886, when in his seventy-seventh year. They now rest side by side in the West cemetery, where a monument has been erected to their memory.
Charles Norton, the only son and heir of his parents, was educated in the public schools of Neponset, and after arriving to mature years took charge of the farm and business. At the present time he owns two valuable and well-improved farms, which he rents, and for the past fifteen years has given his time and attention to buying. selling and shipping stock with remarkable suc- cess.
In Bureau county, October 10, 1882, Mr. Nor- ton was united in marriage with Miss Lottie M. Robinson, also a native of Bureau county, and a daughter of John S. Robinson, one of its early settlers. Here she was reared and educated. Two sons bless this union: Willie and George.
Mr. Norton uses his right of franchise in sup- port of the men and measures of the democratic party, and has served as a delegate to county and state conventions. For several years he has been a member of the town board, of which hon- orable body he has been president for some time. In whatever position he has been called upon to
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fill he has proved a most competent and faithful officer. Fraternally he is a Master Mason, be- longing to the lodge at Neponset. A straight- forward, honorable business man, loyal and patri- otic citizen, his name deserves mention among the most prominent and influential citizens of his native county. His circle of friends is extensive, and he is well worthy the high regard in which he is held by all who know him.
F RANK SHIPLEY, who is interested in the Toluca Bottling works, of Toluca, Illinois, is a native of Marshall county, born on section I, Evans township, November 4, 1855, and is a son of Benjamin and Rebecca (Hunt) Shipley. The father's birth occurred in Kentucky, but when only two years old he was taken by his parents to Indiana, locating near Bloomington on a farm, where he remained until seventeen years of age. He then accompanied a brother-in-law to Put- nam county, Illinois, and later returned and brought his parents to the same place. It is be- lieved that the mother of our subject was the first white child born in what is now Marshall county, but was then a part of Putnam county, and that her birth occurred in the old fort there. Her father was one of its earliest pioneers, and took a prominent part in the Indian wars, during which time his family lived in the fort. For many years Benjamin Shipley engaged in farming, but he and his estimable wife are now living retired in Wenona. Our subject is the oldest of their seven children, all of whom are still living and are married. Politically, the father is a republi- can, and has filled various township offices to the general satisfaction of all concerned, while re- ligiously he was formerly a Presbyterian, but now holds membership in the Methodist Episco- pal church.
Upon the old home farm in Evans township, Frank Shipley grew to manhood, and in the pub- lic schools of the neighborhood obtained his education. His father giving him his time, he started out in life for himself at the age of nine- teen years, working by the month at farm labor. He also purchased a threshing machine, which
he operated very successfully for four years, thus securing a small capital.
On the 24th of February, 1876, he was mar- ried, the lady of his choice being Miss Mattie Curtis, of Hope township, La Salle county, Illi- nois, who was born in Indiana, and is a daughter of Edward and Mary (Mathews) Curtis. They had two children: Alice May, born in Evans township, in September, 1880, and Emma Flor- ence, who was born in Bennington township, Marshall county, January 22, 1885, and died June 25, 1895.
Mr. and Mrs. Shipley began their domestic life upon the old home farm in Evans township, where they remained until 1883, when he pur- chased one hundred and twenty acres on section To, Bennington township, to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted his time and at- tention until his removal to Toluca in March, 1896. Soon afterward he purchased an interest in the bottling works, with which he has since been connected. He is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias lodge of Toluca, and in poli- tics has been an ardent republican since voting for R. B. Hayes in 1876. For six years he most acceptably served as commissioner of highways, and was the first republican elected in the town- ship for a period of fifteen years, which fact plain- ly indicates his popularity and the high regard in which he is universally held.
R EV. PATRICK HUGH O'CONNELL.
There is no position held by man more im- portant than that of a pastor of a church, nor is there a position that has attached to it greater im- portance or responsibility when properly con- ceived and conscientiously discharged. This is more essentially the case with the clergyman of the Catholic faith, for he is held more as an in- structor and guide, not only in religious matters, but in moral and social conduct, by his congre- gation. There are few men by character and edu- cation better fitted to preside over a people in all these relations than the reverend gentleman whose name stands at the head of this biography.
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