USA > Illinois > Stephenson County > The History of Stephenson County, Illinois : containing biographical sketches war record statistics portraits of early settlers history of the Northwest, history of Illinois, &c. > Part 75
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N. B. LOOS, manufacturer and dealer in harness, saddlery, hardware, trunks, etc., No. 145 Stephenson street ; is a native of Germany, and was born Dec. 21, 1847 ; his parents came to the United States in 1856, and came to Illinois and settled in Ogle Co .; he learned his trade in this city ; when he completed his trade he only had $1.50 ; he engaged in business for himself in 1868; by industry and close attention to business he has built up a good trade. In 1869 he was united in marriage to Miss Catharine Ryan, in Rockford, Ill .; they have three children-Nellie, Frances and Gertrude.
JAMES C. MCGRATH, of the firm of Seitz & McGrath, publishers of the Freeport Daily Herald ; is a native of Stephenson Co. and was born in Freeport Aug. 8, 1856 ; he grew up and attended school here; in 1873 he entered the office of the Bulletin, where he learned the printing business ; he has been connected with the Herald since it was established, in April, 1877.
WILLIAM McHENRY, photograph artist, 105 Stephenson street ; is a native of Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and was born March 28, 1836; he came West to Racine, Wis., in 1856 ; he came to Freeport in 1863, and established his present busi- ness and has carried it on for the past seventeen years. In 1865 he married Miss Amanda Black, a native of Canton, Ohio ; they have had three children-Alice, Georgie and Gracia.
D. A. McMILLAN, of the firm of McMillan & Smith, dealers in lumber, lath, shingles and timber, 32 Stephenson street ; is a native of Canada ; he received his education in the State of New York ; he came West to Wisconsin, in 1855, and came to Stephenson Co. and located in Freeport, in 1863, and engaged in the lumber busi- ness ; he is largely interested in pine lands, and has manufactured extensively for the Chicago market, his sales there amounting to as high as six million feet annually. Mr. McMillan is the oldest dealer in lumber in Freeport, and has always transacted a large business here.
JAMES MCNAMARA, wholesale and retail dealer in boots and shoes, 87 Stephenson street; is a native of the State of Ohio, and was born in Fremont, Sandusky Co., Aug. 27, 1846 , he grew up and attended school there ; after reaching manhood, he came to Stephenson Co., and located in Freeport in 1867, and established his present business ; he has built up a large and leading trade. In 1870, Mr. McNamara was
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united in marriage to Miss Mary Lane, a native of Delaware, Ohio ; they have one daugh- ter-Lulu.
W. P. MALBURN, dealer in wines and liquors, Stephenson street, corner Liberty ; is a native of Albany, N. Y., and was born March 11, 1815 ; he grew up to manhood there; he came West and located in Stephenson Co., in April, 1857 and engaged in the grain business, and since then has been engaged in business here. Mr. Malburn married Miss Laura A. Kinney. a native of Onondaga Co., N. Y .; they have had three children, only one of whom survives.
REV. THOMAS F. MANGAN, Pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church ; is a native of Ireland and was born in County Clare Dec. 18, 1826 ; he grew up and attended school and received part of his education there, and came to Canada in 1847 and pursued a course of study at the College of Ottawa ; he came to St. Louis in 1857, and was ordained in that city by Bishop Duggan Jan. 23, 1858, and since then, for the past twenty-two years, he has officiated in this State; he came to this county in 1874, and officiated as Pastor of St. Mary's Church since 1877.
PELLS MANNY, pioneer, farmer and manufacturer, of Illinois ; was born at Amsterdam, Montgomery Co., N. Y., Aug. 17, 1802; his parents were Gabriel Manny and Elizabeth (Pells) Manny ; his first occupation after leaving school con-isted in managing a boat on the waters of the Erie Canal, New York, and at this he continued for about seven years ; in 1836, he removed from Amsterdam to the State of Illinois, and commenced farming on the prairie, in the vicinity of a place then called Yankee Settlement, the county at that early date being totally unorganized and very sparsely settled. In 1838, he received the appointment of Postmaster at Waddams Grove, in what is now Stephenson Co. ; this position he retained for a period of sixteen years, and fifteen years after its relinquishment the Post Office discovered that it was in- indebted to him to the amount of $17, and that sum was subsequently remitted to him in a post office draft at Amsterdam. The attention of farmers was then being directed to farm machinery, for labor was difficult to procure, and expensive to retain through the season of compulsory idleness, and a vast amount of produce was annually lost or destroyed simply through the lack of help in harvesting and gathering ; his attention was called to an account of a machine invented in Europe by the Gauls some 300 years ago, and adapted to harvesting purposes, and, from the description thus procured, he originally conceived the idea ultimately the motor power of such important results. In 1849, his first patent for the " Manny Reaper " was obtained ; he had previously been experimenting for some time, and had invented a machine for cutting off the heads of the grain, which, however, was quickly superseded by the reaper ; the latter invention was not introduced without considerable difficulty, as the farmers did not primarily appear to comprehend thoroughly and with sufficient quickness the method of manag- ing it, and about $20,000 were expended in perfecting the machines before they could be got to work successfully, but, in 1852, the reaper was at length brought to a state of comparative perfection, and began to be sought for by agriculturalists, and in the follow- ing year his son, J. N. Manny, began its manufacture also, at Rockford, Winnebago Co. In 1856, he established a factory at Freeport, and thenceforth the business grew with a marvelous rapidity, until within a brief period the annual product rose to several thousands. At the present time the manufactories of " Manny's Reapers " are estab- lished in various parts of the country and in successful operation, while the machines- are extensively used in every State in the Union ; since 1849, he has been connected with various parties in the reaper manufacturing business, but lately has, in a great measure, relinquished those associations on account of the enfeeblement of his health, and withdrawn from the turmoil of active business life. Among others who were con- nected with him in a business capacity for a shorter or longer period, was his son-in-law, Jeremiah Patrison Mr. Manny is not, as many suppose, the first inventor of reapers and mowers, but the immediate agent in their perfection. The " Walter A. Wood Machine," at Hoosic Falls, N. Y., is an offshoot of the Manny machines ; the right of manufacture was sold by him to W. A. Wood, who has since added various improvements, and pros- pered so greatly in his business that he has now the largest manufactory in the world.
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M. MARVIN, attorney at law, Opera House block ; is a native of Livingston Co., N. Y., and was born June 17, 1828; he came to Fulton Co., Ill., in 1838; he grew up and received his education in this State ; he first came to Freeport in July, 1847 ; in 1850, he went to Jo Daviess Co. and studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1855, and engaged in the practice of law. In 1861, he was elected County Judge, and held that office eight years ; he also held the office of Postmaster at Warren. In 1872, he came to Freeport, and since then has practiced his profession here. In 1849, Judge Marvin married Miss Louise Marshall, a native of Vermont; she died in 1857, leaving one son-Walter ; in 1861, he married Martha J. Jones, from Wisconsin ; they have seven children-Edith, Matthew, Evelyn, Percival, Fred, Herbert, and infant daughter.
GEORGE MAYNARD, merchant, dealer in dry goods, notions and car- pets, No. 133 Stephenson street ; is a native of Oxford, Worcester Co., Mass .; he grew up and attended school in that State, and prepared for college ; he came West to Illinois and located in Freeport, in August, 1850; he established his present business in the spring of 1852, and has successfully carried on business here for twenty-eight years, a greater length of time than any merchant in Freeport; during that time, in the several financial revolutions through which he has passed, he has always paid 100 cents on the dollar ; he began life with very little, but, applying himself closely to the details of his business, and by his integrity in commercial life, he has become one of the most suc- cessful merchants in this State; the mercantile house of George Maynard is the oldest in Stephenson Co .; in 1873, he went abroad, making an extensive tour through Europe, Asia, Africa, Egypt and the Holy Land ; he has been actively identified with the inter- ests of Stephenson Co. over a quarter of a century.
ESROM MAYER, cashier of bank of M. Hettinger, Collman Bros. & Co .; is a native of Lancaster Co., Penn., and was born April 21, 1837; when 10 years of age, his parents came West to Stephenson Co., and located in Freeport, in 1847; he grew up and attended school, and in 1855, entered the bank of Oscar Taylor; in 1857, he entered the bank of De Forest & Co., and in 1860, he became a partner; upon the organization of the First National Bank, he was elected Cashier, and held that position until 1870 ; in May, 1876, he entered the bank of M. Hettinger, Collman Bros. & Co., and since then has held his present position. In 1860, Mr. Mayer was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Hane, from Canton, Ohio ; they have four children-Addie E., Anna B., Mary L. and Grace E.
U. D. MEACHAM, attorney and counselor at law, corner Stephenson and Chicago streets ; is a native of the State of New York, and was born in Genesee Co., now Wyoming Co., March 12, 1816; he went to Michigan in 1828, and grew up and attended school there; then came to Walworth Co., Wis., where he studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1846; after being admitted, he practiced law there until coming to Stephenson Co., in 1852; he located in Freeport and engaged in the practice of law. He has held the office of State's Attorney for this district, and was elected Mayor of the city of Freeport; while living in Wisconsin, when quite a young man, he was elected State's Attorney, and he.d that office four years, and also held the office of Postmaster of Elkhorn four years. Mr. Meacham has practiced his profession in this county twenty-eight years. He married Eliza A. Thompson, a native of New York, in 1864; they have two children-Jessie and James ; Mr. Meacham has one son, William P., by a former wife, now living in Walworth Co., Wis.
L. A. MEASE, physician and surgeon, Munn's Building, corner Stephenson and Van Buren streets ; is a native of Union Co., Penn., and was born Sept. 26, 1820; when only nine years of age, his parents removed to Ohio ; he grew up and attended school there; he afterward studied medicine ; he came to Stephenson Co. in 1845, and engaged in the practice of medicine ; he attended lectures and graduated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1851; he also took an additional course and graduated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 1856; Dr. Mease has practiced his profession here for a a period of thirty-five years, and is the oldest practicing physician in Stephen- son Co .; Dr. Mease is a great student, and has written much for the advancement of
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the profession ; his library contains some of the rarest and most valuable works to be found in this country. Dr. Mease has been twice married ; in January, 1845, he married Sarah Jane Patton, from Clarion Co., Penn .; she died in 1850, leaving two children- Pancoast and Flora M. C. He married Angeline A. Fisher. from Union Co., Penn., Aug. 2, 1851 ; they have one son-D. C. L. Mease, now attending university at Madison ; lost one son-Velpeau, at the age of 19; he was reading medicine. Dr. Mease holds the position of President of the Stephenson Co. Society of Physicians and Surgeons ; he was prominent in organizing the society, and was chosen its first President.
EDMUND M. MERCK, dealer in fresh and salted meats, Exchange street, north of Galena street; is a native of Alsace, France, and was born Sept. 27, 1853 ; he came to the United States in 1871, and came to Stephenson Co. the same year ; in 1872, he established his present business, and has carried it on for eight years, and has built up a good trade. In 1876, he married Miss Josephine Schmich, from this county ; they have two children-Mary L. J. and Rosa D. Mr. Merck is a member of the Fire Department, and of the German Benevolent Society.
CHARLES E. MEYER, manufacturer of vinegar, Spring street, near depot I. C. and C. & N. W. R. R. ; is a native of Germany, and was born in Hanover, July 21, 1832; he emigrated to America in 1853, and came to Freeport in 1855 ; in 1860, he opened an eating house, and continued in that business fourteen years; in 1874, he engaged in manufacturing vinegar, and since then has continued in that busi- ness, and is building up a large trade. In 1856, he was united in marriage to Miss Fredrika Kraft, a native of Baden, Germany; they have three children-Emma, Alma and Charles ; they have lost one daughter, Jennie.
L. METZGER, meat market, corner Delaware and Kickapoo streets; was born in Baden, Germany, Oct. 26, 1826; he came to America in 1852, and came to Freeport in May, 1854, and worked at his trade of stone-mason and brick-layer until 1876, when he opened a meat market. He married Miss Eva Heitzman, from Baden, Germany, Aug. 28, 1852; they have three children-Peter, Amelia and Joseph.
F. I. MIDDLEDITCH, of the firm of Middleditch & Potter, jobbers of foreign and domestic wines and liquors, No. 47 Stephenson street, corner Exchange ; is a native of Erie Co., N. Y., and was born in the city of Buffalo ; he grew up to manhood in that State; he came to Stephenson Co., and located in Freeport in 1865, and estab- lished his present business, and the firm of Middleditch & Potter have successfully carried on the business for the past fifteen years, and have built up a large trade. Mr. Middleditch was elected a member of the Board of Supervisors, and held that office two years, and has held the office of Chief Engineer of the Fire Department. He was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ryan, in Buffalo, N. Y., Dec. 25, 1854; they have two children-Marie and Frances.
J. H. MILLER, livery, sale and boarding stable, corner Bridge and Chicago streets ; is a native of Berks Co., Penn., and was born Oct. 14, 1825 ; he grew up and lived there until 1847, when he came West, and located in Stephenson Co., at Buena Vista, and engaged in milling; in 1856, he engaged in livery and stock business; he has carried on the livery business for twenty-four years; he has held the office of City Alderman four years. In 1845, he married Elizabeth Shilling, from Berks Co., Penn .; she died in November, 1863, leaving two sons-Milton E. and De Witt C. Iu October, 1865, he married Helen Webster, a native of Hull, England, daughter of Thomas Webster, of this city.
GEORGE MILNER, of the firm of Milner Bros .; proprietor of the Al- bion Brewery, Chicago street; is a native of England, and was born June 12, 1828; after reaching manhood he came to the United States in 1848; he came West to Illi- nois the same year, and came to Freeport and established his present business with his brother in 1865, and they have carried on the business since. Mr. Milner married Miss Mary E. Lander, a native of England ; they have three children-John T., Eve- lina and Fred A.
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JOSEPH MILNER, of the firm of Milner Bros. ; proprietor of the Al- bion Brewery, Chicago street; is a native of England, and was born July 24, 1831 ; he came to the United States in 1849, and came to Freeport in 1855 and engaged in the grocery trade ; in 1865 they established their present business, and have carried it on since then. In 1854 Mr. Milner married Miss Ellen Carter, a native of England ; they have four children-Anna, John G., William and Joseph. Mr. Milner has held the office of Commissioner of High ways.
JAMES MITCHELL, deceased, banker and real estate operator ; was born in Cumberland Co., Penn., in 1810; his parents were James A. Mitchell, a Major in the war of 1812, and Mary (Scroggs) Mitchell ; his earlier education was acquired in the neighboring common schools of his native place ; thence he removed, in 1827, to the vicinity of the Galena Lead Mines, Ill He was an active and a prominent partici- pant in the Black Hawk Indian war of 1832 and 1833, and throughout the conflict performed valiant and efficient service; in 1838, he returned to Rockford, and was appointed Clerk of the Circuit Court of Winnebago Co .; in 1842, he was appointed Canal Commissioner by Gov. Ford, and served in this capacity during the ensuing two years ; in 1846, he was given the appointment of Agent for mineral lands, lead mines, for collecting dues, selling lands, etc. This position he held until its abolishment, in 1848, conducting himself in the interim with rectitude and ability ; he subsequently removed to Freeport, and there became engaged in the real estate business, in which he continued until 1852 ; in the course of the same year he establishad the Stephenson County Bank, and was actively and constantly engaged in connection with that institution, until his demise in August, 1874. In all that concerned the status and welfare, social and political, of his adopted State and county, he ever evinced a warm and generous interest, and was a valued and energetic co-worker in all movements and enterprises hav- ing for their end the increased well-being of the general community, amid which he was an honored and beloved citizen. He was married, in 1838, to Mary Thornton, of Ken- tucky ; again, in 1843, to Mrs. James W. Stephenson, of Galena, Ill., and again, subse- quently, in 1848, to Miss Catharine Clark, of Michigan, who survives him. The last- named lady is the daughter of Robert Clark, formerly for several years member of Congress for the Territory of Michigan, and sister of Gen. John A. Clark, Surveyor General of Utah and New Mexico, under the administration of Abraham Lincoln. Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell had seven children, four of whom survive-Mary, now Mrs. J. W. Neff; Miss Kittie, Ellen K., now Mrs. C. E. Scott ; and John C.
JACOB MOLTER, of the firm of Friedag & Molter, manufacturers and dealers in harness, saddles and trunks, 59 Stephenson street ; is a native of Germany and was born Aug. 3, 1835; came to the United States in 1850 and came to Freeport the same year ; he learned his trade here ; in 1866 he engaged in business for himself, and in 1869 he associated with his present partner, and they have built up a good trade. He married Miss Catharine Knicht. a native of Germany, March 26, 1860 they have seven children-Willie, August, Julia, Philip, Emile, Carl and Fritz. Mr. Molter is a member of the fraternity of I. O. O. F. and the Encampment ; also belongs to the Germania Society and the Sons of Hermann, and to the Fire Department.
MORGAN BROTHERS, novelty iron works, iron and brass founders and manufacturers of swords, patent wind-mills and iron pumps, corner Chicago and Jackson streets ; was established here in 1867; the firm consists of E. H. and Charles Morgan ; they are natives of Duchess Co., N. Y., and came with their parents to Stephenson Co. in 1853 ; they established their present business in 1867, and have car- ried it on since then ; they have a large practical experience in their line of business, and have built up a large trade.
LEVI L. MUNN, capitalist, was born in Madrid, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., Sept. 1, 1829; his parents were Abel Munn and Susannah (Barnum) Munn ; he was the recipient of a common-school education ; in 1846, he removed to Freeport, Ill., in order to join his elder brother, and there was occupied in working on his farm in summer and attending school during the winter months ; in 1848, he attended also, for one year, the
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sessions of a neighboring select school ; in 1849-50, he taught school in the northern part of Stephenson Co., and in the course of the latter year established himself in busi- ness in Freeport, as an insurance agent, representing several New York insurance com- panies, for the States of Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Indiana. In 1853, he organized the first insurance company formed in Freeport, the " Stephenson Insurance Company," of which he became Secretary, continuing to act in that capacity until 1865, when he resigned on account of continued ill health ; in 1866, he established a dry goods busi- ness in partnership with his brother, under the style of O. V. & L. L. Munn ; this business, subsequently entirely his own, through the purchase of his brother's interest, he ultimately disposed of in 1869; in 1871, he bought a half-interest in the Freeport gas works, "The Freeport Gas-light and Coke Company," which business he still carries on in partnership with L. Z. Farwell ; prior to this, in 1855, he had become interested in real-estate operations, and built the block known as Munn's Building ; in the same year, also, the American Insurance Company was formed in Freeport, and he was closely connected with its organization ; was appointed to its Presidency in 1867, and officiated in that capacity until 1870, when the company removed to Chicago, and he became one of its Directors. That company does the most extensive business in farm property insurance exclusively, of any similar establishment in the country. When Mr. Munn came to Freeport he only had $1.25 in money, and his success in life is owing to his own industry and energy ; he is a leading and influential member of the Masonic body, and was presiding officer of the Grand Chapter of the State of Illinois for 1866 ; in various other societies, also, he occupies high positions. In 1861, he was married to Mary L. Ladd, of Haverhill, N. H .; they have four children-Ella E., George L., Loyal L., Jr., and Florence Louise.
JAMES I. NEFF, attorney and counselor at law, Stephenson street ; is a native of Central Pennsylvania, and was born Oct. 5, 1840 ; he grew up to manhood in that State, and was educated at Dickinson College ; he came to Tiffin, Ohio, in 1861. After the breaking out of the rebellion, enlisted as private in Co. H, 101st Ohio V. I .; he was promoted to 2d Lieutenant and then to 1st Lieutenant, and served as Adjutant of the regiment one year ; he was promoted and commissioned Captain of Co. H, and served as Judge Advocate on the staff of Gen. Stanley ; he served in the Army of the Cumberland from 1862 until the close of the war ; was mustered out at Cleveland in July, 1865. He resumed his law studies, and was admitted to the bar at Columbus in January, 1867 ; soon after being admitted, in June of the same year, he came to Illi- nois and located at Freeport ; he formed a co-partnership with Hon. Thomas J. Turner, which continued until June, 1869; he then associated with Hon. J. M. Bailey, present Judge of the Appellate Court, and this partnership continued until the latter was elected to the bench, in 1878; since then the firm has been Neff & Stearns ; in 1878, Mr. Neff was elected to the State Legislature, and was an active, efficient member of the last Gen- eral Assembly.
FRANK NORTHROP, superintendent of painting and finishing in the carriage manufactory of J. W. Henney & Co., Bridge and Adams streets ; is a native of Genesee Co., N. Y., and was born Oct. 29, 1847 ; he grew up and learned his trade there : after reaching manhood, he came West to Coldwater, Mich., in 1871, where he remained until 1877; the following year he came to Stephenson Co., and became con- nected with the extensive carriage and buggy factory of J. W. Henney & Co., and since then has occupied his present position ; he has had a large practical experience in car- riage painting, and has few superiors in this department of the business. In June, 1868, Mr. Northrop was united in marriage to Miss Libbie Grattan, a na ive of Exeter, England.
EDWIN PERKINS, brick manufacturer, Adams street; is a native of England, and was born Oct. 2, 1837; he came to the United States in 1849, and came West to Stephenson Co. the same year ; he grew up to manhood here, and established his present business in 1866, and has carried it on for the past fourteen years. In 1860, Mr. Perkins was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Round, a native of England ; they have ten children, five sons and five daughters-William A., Jennie, Frank, Nellie, Harry, Edeline, May, Robert Burton, Celina and Bennie.
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ELIAS PERKINS, contractor and builder ; is a native of Derbyshire, En- gland, and was born in May, 1830; he grew up, and served apprenticeship to the brick- mason's trade ; he came to the United States in 1849, and came to Stephenson Co. and arrived in Freeport April 27 of the same year, and began working at his trade ; he has been engaged in building and contracting over thirty years, and is the oldest in the busi- ness, and has built many of the best buildings here; his brother William came here in 1844, and erected the first brick building in Freeport. Mr. Perkins has held the office of ('ity Alderman, and also Assistant Supervisor. In 1849, Mr. Perkins was united in marriage to Miss Mary Wood, a native of England ; they have had five children, only one of whom survives-Charles Edwin, born July 13, 1859, and now engaged in busi- ness here.
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