USA > Illinois > Mason County > The History and Mason Counties, Illinois > Part 91
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FREDERICK SPECKMANN, farmer, See. 14; P. O. Havana; was born in Havana Township, this county, Nov. 13, 1845 ; his father. Frederick Speckmann, who was born in Hanover, Germany, came to this country in 1835, and settled in Mason Co. in the fall of 1836 ; his death occurred Nov. 27, 1854; his mother, Ann MI. (Netler ) Speckmann, who was born in Hanover, Germany, came to America in May, 1837 ; she died Aug. 22, 1875. On the 15th of July, 1877, Mr. Speckmann was married to Miss Anna M. M. Strodtmann, who was born in Hanover, Germany, Dec. 18, 1857 ; their only child died in infancy. Mr. Speckmann owns 300 acres of land in Havana Town- ship.
WILLIAM SPECKMANN, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Havana; was born in Havana Township, this county, March 14, 1838; his father. Frederick Speckmaun, who was a native of Hanover, Germany, came to America in 1835, and settled in Mason Co. in the fall of 1836; his death occurred Nov. 27, 1854; his mother, Ann M. (Net- ler ) Speckmann, was born in Hanover, Germany ; settled in Mason Co. in May, 1837; she died Aug. 22, 1875. In 1874, Mr. Speekmann visited the birthplace of his parents, and, in 1877, made his second journey to that country. He owns 380 acres of land in Havana Township, this connty.
HARMAN TEGEDES (deceased), Sec. 28; was born in Hanover, Germany, Aug. 8, 1821, and came to America, in 1844; he came by way of New Orleans, and located in Havana Township, this county, the same year. In 1852, he was
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
married to Miss Mary Kust, who was born in Hanover, Germany. July 14, 1830 ; she came to this country, with her father's family, in 1850, via New Orleans, and set- tled in Havana Township; by this union there are eight children-Mary A., wife of Henry Riep ; Maggie C., Henry J., Anna M., Harman G, August J., Louis H. and Hannah. The death of Mr. Tegedes occurred May 17, 1875, since which his widow has had the management of the farm consisting of 220 acres of land.
PETER A. THORNBURG, farmer, See. 34; P. O. Havana ; was born in Ilar- per's Ferry, Md., Sept. 19, 1818, but removed to Fairfield Co., Ohio, when about 10 years of age, with his father's family ; the subject of this sketch came West in the fall of 1837, and, after stopping at Havana, this county, about four months, returned to Ohio. In November, 1840, he came, with his brother Eli, and located in Fulton Co , and about two years later removed to Havana, where Mr. Thornburg engaged in blacksmithing, and established the first permanent blacksmith shop in Havana. In 1950, he removed to the farm where he now resides, and, until about fifteen years ago, worked at his trade, and has since followed farming. In 1868, Mr. Thornburg laid out the town of l'eter- ville. He was married, Sept. 26, 1842, to Miss Leah, daughter of James Milleson ; she was born in Belmont Co., Ohio, Oct. 7, 1828; by this union there were fourteen children, four of whom are living-John M., Mary J., wife of Edward Eldy, who resides in Kansas ; Geo. S. and Allen C. The deceased are-Bbanerges, died Dee. 12, 1845 : James L., Sept. 22, 1848; Mahlon A., Feb. 7, 1852; Jonathan K., July 22. 1854; Malvina, Sept. 1, 1864; Livingston P., Sept. 12, 1869; Virginia L., Dec. 16, 1870 ; Maribe E., March 7, 1872; and Emily A., July 2, 1877. His father, James S., and his mother, Eve ( Coon) Thornburg, were both natives of Virginia. Mrs. Thorn- burg's father, James Milleson, was born in Pennsylvania Sept. 17. 1788, and died in Fulton Co., Ill., Jan. 29, 1879. Her mother, Dorothy ( Knight ) Milleson, was born in Pennsylvania May 8, 1791, and died in Kilbourne Township, this county, May 17, 1857.
ORLANDO B. THORP, dealer in hardware, guns, pistols, etc., Havana; born at Canton, Fulton Co .. Ill., Feb. 27, 1850, where he resided until his removal to Havana, in the winter of 1872. Here he first opened a gun-shop, the same year, and in 1878 engaged in his present business. He married Miss Kate A. Wagoner in 1875, who was born in Mason Co., Ill. They have one child-Edith N. Mr. T. is a mem- ber of Havana Lodge, No. 88, A., F. & A. M. At Mr. Thorp's establishment will be foun 1 a good assortment of sporting goods-guns, pistols, fishing tackle and amunition of all kinds.
JOHN H. TAYLOR, SR., clothing and gents' furnishing goods, Havana ; was born in Washington Co., Penn., June 9, 1840, where he resided until 1855, when, with his father's family, he came West and located in Havana, his present home. For several years he followed farming, and, in 1862, went to Colorado and entered the employ of Benj. Holliday, whoafterward sold the express line to Wells, Fargo & Co., and Mr. Taylor also acted as agent for the latter. He subsequently engaged in the live-stock business. On his return to Havana, in 1866, he purchased the Taylor House and embarked in the hotel business, and, in 1870, engaged in the grocery business, which he followed until 1874. In 1877, he engaged in his present business. Mr. T. has served two years ns member of the Town Board. Marriel. in 1866, Miss Lou Riggins, who was born in Beardstown, Ill. Her death occurred in 1572. By this union there were three children -Maud, William S. and Henry J. In 1873, he was married to his present wife, Miss Ida B. Riggins, who was born in this city. They have two children living-Lula B. and John H., Jr. Ralph died May 16, 1875. Mr. Taylor is a member of Prosperity Lodge, No. 111, A. O. U. W.
HARMAN UTHMILLER, farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. Havana ; was born in Prussia, April 25, 1808. He came to this country in 1850 (via New Orleans), arriving at Beardstown. Ill., in November of that year. In the spring of 1852, he came to Havana Township, where he has since resided. He was married, in September, 1836, to Anna Jane Bulk, who was born in Prussia in August, 1810. Six children by this union-Frederick W .; Mary, wife of Simon Brinkman; Elizabeth, wife of Geo.
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HAVANA TOWNSHIP.
Dehm. They have lost three children-Henry and Frederick; also one that died in infancy.
HENRY VALENTINE, farmer and hedge-grower; P. O. Havana ; was born in Monmouth Co., N. J., Sept. 8, 1832, where he resided till his removal to Illinois, in 1854, locating in Havana Township, this county, in December of that year. Ile was first employed in the saw-mill of Webb Bros., where he had the misfortune to lose his left hand. Ile was married, Feb. 19, 1854, to Miss Hannah Chamberlain, who was born in Monmouth Co .. N. J. Mr. Valentine owns eighty acres of farm land in Havana Township, and 120 acres of timber in Fulton Co. Ill. Aside from farming, he is also engaged in hedge-growing. having on hand from four to five million hedge plants.
MILLROY VANLANINGHAM, livery and feed-stable. Havana. The above- named gentleman was born in Marion Co., Ind., Aug. 9, 1834, but removed to Illinois, with his father's family, when about 7 years of age, first locating in Havana Township, where his father engaged in farming. In 1866, the subject of this sketch removed to his present home in Havana, and engaged in the livery business, together with farming. He owns 212 acres of land in Mason Co. In 1860 he mar- ried Miss Maria Moslander, a native of New Jersey. They had two children-William E. and Alonzo, who died in 1867. His wife died April 19, 1871. He was married Aug. 9, 1871, to Jennie Miller, who was born in Missouri. This marriage resulted in four children-Rosa, Emma, Charles and George. He is a member of A. O. U. W. and I. O. M. A.
CHRISTIAN WEBER, farmer, See. 32; P. O. Havana ; was born in Hanover, Germany, Feb. 5, 1818. He came to Ameriea in 1848; he came by way of New Orleans, and settled in Mason Plains, now Forest City Township, this county. He came to Havana Township in 1858. Married March 16, 1850, to Miss Margaret Tegedes, who was born in the same country as her husband, and came to this country the same year. He owns 280 aeres of land in Havana and Forest City Townships, Mason Co.
RUDOLPH WISSMAN, farmer, Sec. 11 ; P. O. Havana ; was born in Hanover, Germany, Aug. 20, 1840. He came to America in 1866, landing at Baltimore, Md., and, in the fall of that year, came to Illinois. and located in Havana Township, this county. He was married, in 1871, to Miss Catharine Stegenig, who was born in Sher- man Township, this county. They have four children-Henry, Mary, Hannah and Louis. Mr. Wissman owns 160 acres of land in this township.
WILLIAM WALLACE, farmer, Sec. 13; P. O. Havana ; was born in Highland Co., Ohio, May 18, 1820. In 1843, he came West with his mother and other members of the family (his father died when Mr. Wallace was about 8 years old ). They located in Mason Co., and engaged in farming. In 1853 ( February 16), he was married to Miss Sarah Kelley, who was born in Knox Co., Ky., Sept. 6, 1832. Five children by this union, four of whom are living-Calvin W., born May 8, 1856; Martha E., Sept. 16. 1857 ; Allen, Dec. 29, 1859, and Rempy A., Sept. 1, 1862. Albert was born March 27, 1855, and died April 10, 1855. Mr. Wallace owns 320 acres of land in Havana Township. Mrs. Wallace had two brothers in the Black Hawk war-Jeremiah and William Kelley, who went from Sangamon Co., Ill., and served through the campaign.
ORLANDO H. WRIGHT, of the firm of O. H. & H A. Wright, attorneys, Havana; was born in Lockport, Niagara Co., N. Y., April 22, 1828, and is the eldest son of George and Theresa ( flibbard ) Wright, the former a native of Deerfield, Mas., and the latter of Montreal, Canada. His father's family removed to Illinois and settled in Fulton Co., in 1845. The subject of this sketch came West some four years later. and, after a short stay in Havana, returned to his native State, but returned to this city in the spring of 1850, where he has since resided. He commence l the study of law in the office of William Walker, the same year, and was admitted to the bar in 1852. He commenced the practice of law that year, continning until 1855, when he engaged in the banking business, under the firm name of Rupert, Haines & Co. In 1860, he was elected Cireuit Clerk of Mason Co., and served one term, at the expiration of which he resumed the practice of law. He represented the counties of Mason and Menard at the
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
Constitutional Convention, held during the winter of 1869 and 1870. He served as City Attorney for several years, County Superintendent of schools, one term, and has also held other minor offices. He was married, Nov. 6, 1849, to Miss Harriet M. Par- melee, who was born in Wyoming, Genesee Co., N. Y. Four children by this union, two of whom are living-Frances and Douglass.
EDGAR A. WALLACE, of the firm of Fullerton & Wallace, attorneys, Havana; was born at Antrim, Hillsboro Co .. N. H., June 7, 1843. Hle received his early edu- vation at the Henniker Academy. graduating at that institution in 1864. He also grad- uated at Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass. ( Law Department ), in July, 1867, and was admitted to the bar at Boston, Mass., in June, 1867. In November following, he came West, and located at Havana, where he became a law partner of Hon. Lyman Lacey. In January, 1868, he was admitted to the Illinois bar, and to practice in the United States Courts soon after. The present law firm of Fullerton & Wallace was established in November, 1875. Mr. Wallace has served two years as City Attorney. In 1869, he was married to Miss Gertie E. Lighteap, who was born in Republic, Ohio. Mr. Wallace is a member of the following Masonie bodies : Havana Lodge, No. SS, Ilavana Chapter, No. 86, and Damascus Commandery, No. 42. In the latter body, he holds the office of Captain General, and in the Chapter, that of Principal Sojourner. He also served two years as Eminent Commander of No. 42.
HORACE A. WRIGHIT, of the firm of (). II. & H. A. Wright, attorneys at law, Havana ; was born in Niagara Co., N. Y., April 14, 1839, but removed when about 7 years of age, with his father's family, to Illinois, locating at Bernadotte, Fulton Co., aud about one year later, the family removed to Point Isabel, on the opposite side of the river from the present city of Havana. During the spring of 1849, the high water compelled the family to seek higher ground, and they therefore came to the east side, and made Havana their permanent home. The subject of this sketch was employed in 1855 carrying mails to Delavan, Tazewell Co., making a trip once cach week, and the following year served as Deputy Postmaster at Havana. In 1857, he became cashier in the banking-house of Rupert, Haines & Co., and served in that capacity until 1860, when the business of the bank was closed. He then entered the Circuit Clerk's office as Deputy, where he remained until 1865, and again, in 1869, took that position, and served until January. 1879. He commenced the study of law in 1860, and was admitted to the bar in 1870. Since January, 1879, Mr. Wright has given his full attention to the practice of law. In July, 1860, he was married to Miss Sarah Josephine, daughter of Winslow Parkhurst. She was born in Tom's River, N. J. Three children by this uuion, two of whom are living-Edgar B. and Don W.
WILLIAM WOLL, groceries and provisions, Havana ; was born in Bavaria, Ger- many, Dec. 10, 1845; came to this country in 1853, and, after a stay of a few months in New Jersey, located in Madison Co, N. Y., and in 1855 came West and was first employed at Chicago, by the I. C. R. R. He soon after went to Peoria, and in the fall of 1856, located at Havana, where he was employed in manufacturing brick. In 1864, he embarked in the butcher's trade, and, in 1871, engaged in the dairy business ; four years later, he commenced in his present line of trade. He was married, in 1867, to to Miss Minnie Backenhorst, who was born in Holland. She died Dec. 1, 1874. One child by this union-John W. Mr. W. is a member of Havana Grove, No. 40, U. A. O. D. Also a member of the Mutual Aid Society. He enlisted in Co. C, 2d I. V. C., in July, 1861, and served until October, 1861.
SAMUEL WHITAKER, books, stationery, etc., Havana ; was born in Coshoeton C'o., Ohio, October 1, 1836, where he resided until 23 years of age. He then moved to Illinois, settled in Forest City, and engaged in farming. June 23, 1861, he enlisted in Co. C. 2d I. V. C .; in 1862, was commissioned Captain by Gov. Yates, on the petition of his company ; served until the close of the war, November, 1865. He came to Havana in the fall of 1866, and followed clerking, until 1871, when he en- gaged in his present business of books and stationery. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Kate, daughter of Stephen Hole. Esq., one of the early settlers of this county. She was born in Washington Co , Ind., and died in 1870. He was a second time married
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HAVANA TOWNSHIP.
in 1873, to Hattie R., a daughter of James H. Hole, and born in Havana, Ill. They have two children-Nellie May and John H. Mr. W. is a member of Mason Lodge, No. 143, I. O. O. F.
ALLEN E. WIENER, dealer in dry goods and clothing, Havana; was born in Philadelphia, Penn., March 6, 1844, where he resided until about 1858. When about 14 years of age, he came to Havana, his present home. He was first employed here by Steiner, Stearns & Co., and when the firm was changed to G. Wiener & Co., in1861, he from that date had an interest in the profits. On the 1st of January, 1872, he com- meneed business on his own account. He was married, March 29, 1876, to Miss Ger- trude Spatz, who was born in Philadelphia. They have two children-Minnie and Lulu.
JOHN T. WARK, farmer ; P. O. Havana ; was born in Logan Co., Ill., Jan. 13, 1862, and came to Mason Co., in September, 1877. His father, James Wark, resides in Logan Co., and his mother, Martha ( Snyder ) was born near Pekin, Tazewell Co., Ill. Her father, William Snyder, now a resident of Havana, located in Fulton Co., in the fall of 1839.
JOHN WALKER, farmer, Sec. 27 ; P. O. Havana ; was born in Dearborn Co., Ind., April 10, 1818, and is a son of James and Elizabeth ( Nichols ) Walker, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Kentucky. In 1837, the family removed from Dearborn Co., Ind., to Illinois, locating at Walker's Grove, this county, in the fall of that year. In 1843, he was married to Miss Mercy Coon, who was born in New Jersey. She is a daughter of Reuben and Anna ( Drake ) Coon, both natives of New Jersey ; they settled in Mason Co. in 1842. The following are the children of Mr. and Mrs. Walker-Anna M., wife of John Cunningham ; Julia, wife of William O. Shea ; George and Lizzie. Anna died in 1842, John, in 1865, and Marietta, in August, 1865.
HENRY WEDEKIND, farmer, Sec 15; P. O. Havana ; was born in Hanover, Germany, July 28, 1826. He came to America in 1851, and located in Cass Co., Ill. In the spring of 1852, he came to Mason Co., locating in IIavana Township, where he has since been engaged in farming. He has served as Commissioner of Highways, three years ; was married, in 1848, to Miss Dora T. Elend, who was born in Hanover, Germany, Feb. 11, 1819, and died March 4, 1879. They have four children by this union-Henry L .. Mary, wife of Louis Baumbach, Margaret and Lucy. Mr. Wedekind owns 160 acres of land in Havana Township.
HENRY WOLF, Constable, Havana; was born in Prussia March 9, 1828. and came to America in 1855; after a short stay at New Orleans, La , he located at Quincy. Ill., where he resided until 1857, when he came to Havana, his present home ; here he worked at blacksmithing (having learned his trade in his native country) until 1870. when he was elected Constable, and has since served in that capacity. In 1856, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Hackman, who was born in Hanover, Germany, July 1. 1830 ; they have had nine children, four of whom are living-Mary, Lizzie, Tilly and Frank ; Adolph died March 7, 1870 ; Louis, Ang. 28, 1870; the others died in infancy. CHARLES YETTER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 8; P. O. Havana ; was born in Northampton Co., Penn., Sept. 20, 1821, where he resided till his removal to the West in 1851, locating in Havana Township, this county, on Sept. 11 of that year, where he has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising. On Feb. 24, 1848, he was married to Miss Anna M. Keller, who was born in the same county and State as her husband ; her death occurred Jan. 10, 1852; they had two children, one living-Joseph HI., now resides in Pennsylvania ; Robert J. died in 1852. Mr. Yetter was married to Rachel Jane Davis Sept. 13, 1853; she was born in Greene, Ill., July 19, 1827 ; her parents. John and Sally Davis, were early settlers of Greene Co., Ill. ; eight children by this union, four of whom are living-Jacob, Sally A., Joshua and Charles; the four deceased are George, Joel, Rachel J. and John W. Mr. Yetter owns 400 acres of land in Havana Township.
JACOB YETTER, farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Havana ; was born in Havana Town- ship, this county, Dec. 5, 1854. He was married, Oet. 10, 1877, to Miss Sarah C.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
Crater, who was also born in this township Jan. 30, 1858; they have one child-Oscar 11. Mr. Yetter's father, Charles Yetter, settled in the county in 1851.
G. H. CARL ZELLE, farmer, See. 17; P. O. Havana ; was born in Hanover, Germany, Dec. 1, 1851 ; came to America with his father's family in 1857, and to Havana Township, this county, March 11. 1858. He was married, Oct. 24, 1876, to Miss Anna Wirth, who was born in New Orleans, La., June 29, 1856; they have one child-George Adolph. Mr. Zelle owns 100 acres of land in Havana Township. His father, Frederick Zelle, was born in Hanover, Germany, July 9, 1811, and was married, July 15, 1840, to Miss Henrietta Uterusehlen, who was born in the same country as her husband, Nov. 9, 1817.
MASON CITY TOWNSHIP.
WILLIAM ALLEN, retired merchant and farmer ; P. O. Mason City; one of the early settlers; born in Dearborn Co., Ind., March 31, 1807, where he attended school until 20 years of age; he was engaged in the merchandise trade several years in Indiana, and, in 1840, was elected Sheriff of La Porte Co., serving two years, and again elected to the same office in 1852; in 1843-44, he represented the La Porte District in the State Legislature ; in 1854, he came to Illinois and located in Havana, and, until 1570, was engaged in farming near the latter place ; in 1870, he disposed of a part of his property in Havana; re invested in Mason City and Township, where he has lived since 1877. He was married to Sarah E. Shotwell in 1837 ; she was a native of New Jersey ; they are the parents of five children-Jacob R., William S., Louisa, Kate and Henry S. Mr. Allen has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, and has been a member of the Methodist Church for a period of upward of forty years ; his whole family are also Church members, the oldest son now preaching in La Saddle, Ill.
JOHN J. AINSWORTH, farmer ; P. O. Mason City ; is a son of Richard Ains- worth, whose biography also appears in this work ; he was born in Mason Co., Ill., July 24, 1852 ; he was raised to farming, and obtained a common-school education, complet- ing the same by a course at the Commercial College at Jacksonville, Morgan Co. He was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth A. Ainsworth upon March 22, 1877 ; she was born in Mason Co., Ill., April 2, 183 1, and was a daughter of William Ainsworth, a settler of 1842. In March, 1878, he located upon his present place, which contains 2.10 acres just outside of the city limits of Mason City, which he intends making his permanent home.
RICHARD AINSWORTH, retired farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Mason City ; one of the early settlers of Mason Co. ; born in Lancashire, England, Dec. 5, 1817 ; after receiving a common-school education, he was engaged in the cotton factories of Blackburn until 25 years of age, when he, with two brothers, emigrated to America, landing in New Orleans ; they then came up the river to Cincinnati, thence to Cass Co., Ill., where, after a short residence, they came to Mason Co. and located near Bath in the fall of 1842; here he entered eighty acres of land, to which he afterward added until he had accumu - lated between 600 and 700 acres, upon which he resided until 1877, when he disposed of the same and, after a residence of one year at Natrona, removed to Mason City Township and erected his present residence, removing into the same in October, 1878. Mr. Ainsworth is one of the self-made men of Mason Co. ; arriving in the county with- out means ; he borrowed the money to enter his first eighty aeres of land ; he has always confined his business to farming, and has, by his hard labor, perseverance and correct. business habits, placed himself among the large landholders and successful farmers of Mason Co .. owning, as he now does, 1,450 acres in Mason Co. and 1,520 acres in Iro- quois Co., his real estate being valued at upward of $100,000, aside from personal property; he has not accumulated the above by a miserly manner of living; he is known as bring very liberal; contributes liberally to the cause of religion and educa- tion, and is very kind to the poor, and especially to his own tenants, with whom, upon
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MASON CITY TOWNSHIP.
a failure of crops, he assumes the largest share of the losses ; he has devoted much time to literature, being particularly interested in ancient and modern history, and has, by years of reading and study, become familiar with all the topics of the day. His mar- riage with Mary J. Talbott was celebrated in 1840, in Blackburn, Lancashire; she was born in the above place in November, 1817; she died in Mason Co. Feb. 24, 1874; they were the parents of eight children, of whom two sons and two daughters now sur- vive, viz .: Mary J., wife of John B. Abbott, of Natrona ; John J., farming near Mason City ; Sarah A. and William T., the last two living at home.
J. C. AMBROSE, hardware, firm of Ambrose & Sands, hardware stores, etc., etc., Mason City ; one of the early pioneers of Mason Co .; born in Morgan Co., Va., May 1, 1818; in 1831, he emigrated to Champaign Co., Ohio, and followed farming until 1837, when he went to Quincy, Logan Co., and followed the carpenter and wagon- maker trade until 1853, at which date he engaged in hotel-keeping and the merchan- di-e trade until 1861, when he sold out, and, emigrating to Illinois, located in Mason City Township in April, 1861 ; he then purchased forty acres of land, and, the follow- ing August, removed his family upon the farm ; he then put in a crop of corn and wheat, the latter proving a failure, and the corn was hauled to Pekin and sold for 10 cents per bushel. Mr. Ambrose mentions some facts representing the hardships and privations of the settlers of Mason Co. at that time ; in the fall of 1861, for three weeks, his provisions for his family of six persons consisted of grated corn, rye coffee, salt and potatoes ; in November, 1864, he came to Mason City and opened the first restaurant of the place, continuing the same some three years, when he was employed as clerk in the hardware trade in 1870, and, in July, 1874, commenced the hardware trade for himself, under the above firm name, which they have since successfully followed. His marriage with Rosanna Yost was celebrated Oct. 19, 1842; she was born in Morgan Co., Va., Feb. 14, 1826 ; they were the parents of eight children, of whom three arc now living-Mary E., Lycurgus E. and John F., the two sons being associated in busi- ness with their father.
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