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 99
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BALSTER JELDERKS, farmer, Sec. 17; P. O. Ridott ; born in Germany, 1816; came to America in 1850; bought 40 acres of land and made the improvements, and now owns 100 acres of land. His wife, Jane Meir, was born in Germany, in 1818; married in 1837; had two children, both died in infancy. In politics, Republican ; in religion, Dutch Reformed ; has been Pathmaster ; they have one son by adoption-Batsler Jelderks, Jr., born in Stephenson Co. in 1857 ; working his father's place. His wife, Bena Weeimann, born in Germany, in 1861 ; married, in 1878, and have one child-Jane, born January, 1879. In politics, Democrat ; in religion, Dutch Reformed.
NEIL JOHNSON, farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Ridott ; born in Hanover in 1837; came to America in 1853; bought 185 acres of land; made the improvements and now owns 300 acres of land ; he died June 13, 1878. His wife, Cathrine Green- field, was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1840 ; came to America in 1851 ; married, 1863, and have had six children-Hiram, born Nov. 26, 1863, died in 1868 ; Johanna, born Feb. 26, 1865; Berend, born Dec. 30, 1867; Tillie, born Feb. 14, 1869 ; Hiram, born March 17, 1876; Henry, born April 15, 1878. Pathmaster.
WESLEY JOHN, wagon-maker, Ridott ; born in Guernsey Co., Ohio, in 1821, and went to Pennsylvania, and in 1851 came to Illinois and bought 40 acres of land, and remained until 1857, and made most of the improvements, and then went to Winnebago Co., and remained until after the war. He enlisted in the 15th I. V. I., in 1861, and was discharged in 1863, and returned to Winnebago Co., and in 1867 came to Stephenson Co., and opened a shop ; he owns town property, and made the improve- ments ; his wife, Ellen Allen, was born in Center Co., Penn., in 1819, and was mar- ried in 1845, and have had six children-Thomas W., painter, in Ridott ; Mary
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Elizabeth, teaching in Ridott High School ; Julia Emeline, now Mrs. Kear, in Ridott , Adelbert A., minister of the Advent denomination ; Hiram, deceased ; infant daughter, deceased. In politics, Republican ; in religion, Friend. Has been Director of Schools.
JOHN W. KARCHER, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Freeport ; born in Ste- phenson Co., in 1842; engaged in farming until 1862, then learned the confectioner's business in Freeport, and worked there three years, then returned to the farm ; he owns 300 acres of land, and made the improvements on the place also; 160 acres in Hardin Co., Iowa, improved; 80 acres in Champaign Co., Ill., improved. His wife, Annie E. Shaw, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1843; married in 1866 ; have had five children- Edward Clarance, Ida Ellen, Johnnie Elmer, deceased, December, 1876; William Leonard and Albert John. In politics, Republican ; in religion, Liberal. Has been School Director.
J. A. KEER, of the firm of Kcer Bros., dealers in general merchandise, Ridott; born in Clinton Co., Penn., in 1840; came to Stephenson Co. in 1846, with his parents, who entered land ; his parents are both dead ; J. A. engaged in farming for five years, and in 1871, began the mercantile business in Ridott; he owns town prop- erty, also 47 acres of land, on which he has improved ; has 160 acres of land in Hardin Co., Iowa. His wife, Rebecca Sibert, was born in Ohio in 1843, and came to Stephen- son Co. in 1856; married in 1862, and have three children-Kittie, born Aug. 7, 1863 ; George, born June 8, 1872 ; Le Roy, born Nov. 6, 1874. Has been School Director, Trustee, Collector and Constable ; in politics, Democrat ; in religion, United Brethren.
HENRY LEASE, farmer, Sec. 3; P. O. Ridott ; born in Pennsylvania, in 1803; came to Illinois in 1854; bought and owns 40 acres of land, and made the improvements. His wife, Eliza Thompson, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1807, and married in 1835 ; have had four children-Sarah, now Mrs. John Foster, in Hardin Co., Iowa ; Charles L., at Denison, Texas ; Hannah E., deceased; J. T., born in Penn- sylvania, in 1845, came to Illinois with his parents, and owns 80 acres of land, also im- proved land in Iowa, 160 acres. His wife, Lizzie Mckibbin, was born in Stephenson Co., Ill., in 1846 ; married in 1878. In politics, Democrat ; in religion, Liberal. Has been Pathmaster and Collector three years.
G. W. LOVELAND, hotel and livery, Ridott; born in Madison Co., N. Y., in 1825, and came to Stephenson Co. in 1854; owns 163 acres of land in Rock Run Township, Secs. 11 and 12, also town property ; has made the improvements both on the farm and the town property. His wife, Lucy J. Watson, was born in Madison Co., N. Y., in 1827, and married in 1849, and they have had two children-Clarence L., conductor on the C. & N. W. R. R. between Rockford and Chicago, with his home at Rockford, and George R., a carpenter by trade, and living at home. Has been Justice of the Peace for seventeen years. In politics, Republican ; in religion, liberal. Was School Director for a number of years ; Collector for the years 1860 and 1861.
W. K. McGILLIGAN, Assistant Agent C. & N. W. R. R., Ridott; born in Pennsylvania, Lancaster Co., in 1845; came to Stephenson Co. in 1854. Enlisted in the 46th I. V. I., in December, 1863; was discharged in February, 1866. His wife, Jennie Lincoln, was born in Vermont in 1848; married in 1866; have had four children-Nettie, Emma, Charlie and Joseph. In politics, Republican ; in religion, liberal. Has been Trustee of the village of Ridott.
J. MILLER, farmer, Sec. 25 ; P. O. Pecatonica ; born in Germany in 1832; came to America in 1857, and went to Wisconsin, then to Illinois in 1874, and bought and owns 118 acres of land. His wife, Dothey Meirs, was born in Germany in 1838, and married in 1857, have had five children-Mary (now Mrs. Filcher), Minnie, Christ, Emma, Annie. In politics, Democrat ; in religion, Lutheran.
JOHN MITCHELL ; P. O. Pecatonica ; born in Ohio in 1853; came to Illinois with this parents, then went to Linn Co., Iowa, and engaged in farming; returned October, 1878, and has a farm of 240 acres of land ; made part of the improve- ments. His wife, May Henderson, was born in Illinois in 1852. Married in 1876;
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have had two children-born July 17, 1878, died Jan. 17, 1879 ; and one born May 8, 1880. In politics, Republican ; in religion, Liberal.
JACOB MOLTER, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Ridott ; born in Germany in 1815; came to America in 1850, and settled in Stephenson Co .; bought 80 acres of land ; now owns 160, and has made all of the improvements. His wife, Bena Molter, was born in Germany in 1822; married in 1840 ; died in 1872; left six children- Jacob, in Ridott; Daniel, in Ridott; Phillip, in Silver Creek; Bena, now Mrs. Ripp- berger, in Kane Co .; Katie, at home; Johnnie. Margaret Mapes, his second wife, was born in Alsace, France, in 1827 ; married in 1875. In politics, Democrat ; in religion, Lutheran.
JACOB MOLTER, farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. Ridott; born in Baden, Ger- many, in 1843 ; came to America in 1850 ; remained at home until he was 21 years of age, when he hired to his father for two years, then rented a farm, and now owns 160 acres of land. His wife, Polly Bardell, was born in Illinois in 1843 ; married in 1866, and have had five children-Margaret, born May 27, 1867; Henry, born Feb. 25, 1871; Reuben, born April 28, 1873 ; William, born July 1, 1877; Albert, born Jan. 21, 1869 ; died Aug. 19, 1871. Religion, Evangelical ; has been Pathmaster and Assessor.
SAMUEL MOYER, retired farmer ; P. O. Ridott; born in Lebanon Co., Penn., in 1810; came to Illinois in 1863, in the fall, and bought 170 acres of land, on which he made improvements ; his wife, Elizabeth Bealer, was born in Lebanon Co., Penn., in 1815 ; married in 1833; died May 21, 1867 ; had seventeen children- Phillip (at home), Nancy (now Mrs. - Hockman, in Kansas), Michael (in Hardin Co., Iowa), Elizabetha(now Mrs. Machaer, in Kansas), Henry (in Kansas), Priscilla (Mrs. Steven V. Meater, in Vermont), Catherine (Mrs. St. Clair, in Pennsylvania), Sarah (now Mrs. Unanest, in Silver Creek Township), Mary (now Mrs. Groos, in Orangville), Leah (now Mrs. Swartz, in Kansas), George W. (in Montgomery Co., Kan.), Samuel (fell into a spring and was drowned), Daniel (in Ridott), Rachel (de- ceased), Lena (at home), Henrietta E. (in Iowa), Lucetta (now Mrs. Askey, in Iowa). In politics, Republican ; in religion, Reformed ; has been School Director nine years, Pathmaster, Trustee, Treasurer; there are eighty grandchildren, and three great- grandchildren.
A. J. NILES, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Ridott ; born in Ashtabula Co., Ohio, in 1815; came to Illinois in 1835; entered land in the timber, near the river ; then sold out and moved out on the prairie, and bought 120 acres of land, and made the improvements ; he now owns 120 acres of land and 23 acres of timber ; has been living on this place since 1841 ; the winter of 1835-36 he was in the mines near Galena. His wife, Nancy A. Farwell, was born in Orleans Co., N. Y., in 1817; married in 1839, and had eight children-Marvin (deceased), Ellen (deceased, was Mrs. S. Mitton), Homer (living near home), Sidney (in Nebraska), twins, Viola and Orilla (Viola de- ceased at the age of 22 years), Jennie (now Mrs. Tarbert, in Ridott), Augustus (in Ridott). In politics, Republican ; in religion, Liberal; has been Justice of the Peace, Assessor, Collector, and Supervisor three times.
JOHN RADEMAKER, deceased ; born in Germany in 1801 ; came to America in 1855, and bought 153 acres of land, on which he made the improvements ; Mr. R. died April 22, 1870. His wife, Rosa Sonwds, was born in Germany, Aug. 2, 1811; married, April 16, 1832, and had three children-Apha (now Mrs. Coleman, in Freeport), Maggie (deceased), Hann (married and lives one mile south).
FOKKE REWERTS, farmer, Sec. 31; P. O. Ridott ; born in Germany in 1819; came to America in 1850 ; bought and now owns 95 acres of land, and made all the improvements. His wife, Harmenie Freelings, was born in Hanover in 1818; married in 1851 ; has been Pathmaster.
CHARLES ROHKAR, restaurant and billiards, Ridott ; born in Han- over, Germany, in 1826 ; came to America in 1852, was two years in New York, and then came to Freeport; stayed until 1872; was engaged as police and Marshal ;
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then came to Ridott and engaged in the present business ; owns his town property, made all the improvements, and has things in good order. His wife, Dora Barth, was born in Hanover in 1822 ; came to America in 1852; married in 1847 ; they have had four children-Henry, in Rockford, Ill., 28 years of age; Charlie, near Ridott, 22 years of age ; Caroline, 19 years of age ; Margaret, 17 years of age. In politics, Democrat ; in religion, Lutheran ; was Elder in the Dutch Reformed Church in Freeport, and is now Constable.
HENRY SCHEFFNER, farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Freeport ; born in Baden, 1845 ; came to America in 1852, farming 240 acres of land belonging to his father-in-law, Jacob Bardell. His wife, Cathrine Bardell, was born in Stephenson Co. in 1846 ; married in 1867, and have had nine children-Elizabeth S., Anna Jane, Will- iam Henry, Charlie G., deceased ; George G., Liddie, Jacob, John and Maggie. In politics, Republican ; in religion, Evangelical Methodist, and a local preacher ; has been Trustee of the circuit and of the church ; is now Commissioner of Highways, and class- leader in the church.
JOHN SCHEFFNER, farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Freeport ; born in Baden, Germany, in 1818 ; came to America in 1852, to Stephenson Co., and bought 80 acres of land, on which he made the improvements, and now owns 160 acres. His wife, Maglend Zahn, was born in Baden in 1814 ; married in 1843, and had five children- Henry, born Nov. 20, 1844 ; Susan, born July -, 1850, now Mrs. Klerer ; John, born June 14, 1832 ; Florence, born June 15, 1854; Cathrine, born June -, 1859, died Aug. 3, 1875. In politics, Republican ; in religion, Evangelical.
ABRAM SCHLEICH, farmer, Sec. 8; P. O. Ridott ; born in Baden, Ger- many, in 1826; came to America and to Stephenson Co., in 1852, and bought 40 acres of land ; now owns 225 acres of land, with fine improvements, and 110 acres in Silver Creek, improved. His wife, Anna Schmidt, was born in Germany in 1830; married in 1850, and have four children-Samuel, born June 8, 1852, lives near home ; John, born Sept. 28, 1853 ; Lizzie, born Sept. 18, 1857; Henry, born May 9, 1859. In politics, Democrat ; in religion, Lutheran ; has a large barn, 36x52, sixteen-foot corn- posts, good house and a very nice place.
JOHN STAHL, proprietor of Ridott Mills, Sec. 23; born in Union Co., Penn., in 1823 ; came to Illinois in 1871 to Cedarville, and then to Lena, then to Shannon, Carroll Co .; then returned to Lena, then to Ridott, and bought the mill property for- merly owned by Holmes & Williams, April, 1878; has improved the mill very much and now does work second to none in the county ; his wife, Hannah Irwin, was born in. Pennsylvania, Blair Co., in 1829 ; married in 1851; died Dec. 8, 1869, and left five children-Edmund P., in Lena, engaged in the butter and egg business ; Frank Floyd, in Lena, in the marble business ; Amelia Bell, now Mrs. Adams, at Cedarville ; Jose- phine Maggie, at home ; Robert Irvin, at home. In . politics, Democratic ; in religion, Presbyterian ; is now Ruling Elder in the Lena Church.
MATHIAS TUMMS, farmer, Sec. 30; P. O. Ridott; born in Germany, in 1831 ; came to America in 1854 ; bought and owns 40 acres of land ; made the improve- ments. His wife, Sarah Otto, was born in Center Co., Penn., in 1833; came to Illinois in 1845, and married in 1858, and have five children-John Harvey, born Nov. 8, 1862; Johanna, born Oct. 26, 1861, died,Feb. 8, 1864 ; Galen Otto, born July 24, 1866 ; Wenetta V., born Oct. 24, 1870, died Feb. 8, 1871 ; Eva Iona, born May 13, 1873.
MICHAEL VAN OOSTERLOO, deceased, was born in Hanover, Ger- many in, 1818; came to America in 1849 ; bought a claim of 160 acres of land, made the first improvements and now owns 160 acres, well improved ; he died Dec. 20, 1870, of blood cancer ; his wife, Margaret Van Loh, was born in Hanover in 1823. Married; in 1843, and have had ten children-Annie, born Jan. 26, 1847, now Mrs. Boches ; Grace, born April, 1849, died Dec. 29, 1849 ; Daniel, born April 18, 1851 ; Grace, May 28, 1853; John, July 30, 1855 ; Laurance, Dec. 10, 1857, died Sept. 15, 1864 ; Margaret, born Oct. 18, 1860 ; Michael, born Feb. 19, 1863, died Sept. 23, 1864, Johanna, born Dec. 23, 1864; Laurance, Oct. 4, 1867.
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JOSEPH WAGNER, farmer, Sec. 35; P. O. Ridott; born in Center Co., Penn., in 1831 ; came to Illinois in 1853; he owns 147 acres of land, on which he has made all of the improvements; his wife, Miss Mary Hershey, was born in Canada in 1837. Was married in 1855, and have had three children-Abraham, in Wright Co., Iowa, Nancy and William, at home. In politics, Republican ; in religion, United Brethren. He has been Pathmaster and School Director.
H. P. WATERS, farmer, Sec. 30; P. O. Ridott; born in New York in 1815 ; came to Chicago in 1833, and remained about three years in the old New York House, corner of State and Lake streets ; he then went on a farm sixteen miles from the city ; he came to the mouth of Yellow Creek in 1836, January 7, and engaged in splitting rails, and in the spring went to Kirk's Grove to put up a mill, known as Watterman's Still, and then returned to Silver Creek, where he took up a claim of 300 acres of land and improved some ; he sold out to Stebbins & Bilkly, and came to Ridott and took up a claim of 300 acres, and now owns 300, on which he has made some fine improvements ; a fine house, main part 32x32, wing 24x20; he had some trouble with the Indians the first winter, his wife, Mary Lloyd, was born in Canada, in 1825. They were married in Stephenson Co., and have had eight children-Clara, now Mrs. McCracken, at home, with three children ; Cornelia, deceased ; Gardner J., born April 1, 1849, was drowned July 4, 1858; Lida, Fred, Carrie, Oliver and Emma. In politics, he is a Republican ; in religion, Liberal. He has been Overseer of the Poor, and was one of the first clerks of election, with Rash Hunt; the judges were John Hoge, David Wootan and Sayer Forbs; he helped to build the first meeting-house in Ridott, which was for the United Brethren.
EDWARD WEIK, farmer, Sec. 5; P. O. Ridott; born in Baden in 1837 . came to America in 1852, and then to Freeport; was clerk in a store; then went into' the livery business. Enlisted Sept. 10, 1861, in the 46th I. V. I., and mustered out Feb. 20, 1864; enlisted as a private and came out Captain of Company C .; then bought 80 acres of land. His wife, Paulina Lippmann, was born in Germany April 19, 1846; came to America in 1850 ; married Nov. 30, 1865, and have had six children-Frank R., born March 2, 1868; William G., born July 29, 1871; Edward L., born Dec. 5, 1875; died Feb. 10, 1875 ; Albert, born Feb. 7, 1876 ; died Feb. 18, 1876; Henry, born Aug. 16, 1879. In politics, Democrat ; in religion, Liberal. Has been School Director six years, Collector 1871-72, Assessor 1879-80, Constable four years, and Pathmaster for 1880.
DAVID J. WITTER, farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. Ridott; born in Washing- ton Co., Md., in 1835; came to Illinois with his parents, and now owns 1662 acres of land and made the improvements. His wife, Elizabeth Siebert, was born in Stark Co., Ohio, June 1, 1840 ; came to Illinois in 1853; married Dec. 25, 1862, and had five children-Luella R., born Oct. 9, 1863 ; Sarah Allie, born July 10, 1866 ; William Siebert, born March 11, 1870 ; Edith Rebecca, born Sept. 25, 1871, and Floyd R., born June 3, 1880. In politics, Democrat ; in religion, United Brethren. Has been Pathmaster and Assessor, School Director, Trustee in the church, Class-Leader, and an honest, industrious man.
W. G. WOODRUFF, farmer, Sec. 11; P. O. Pecatonica ; born in New Marlboro, Berkshire Co., Mass., in 1819; went to Connecticut, then to New York, then to Carroll Co., Ill., in 1840, and bought 85 acres of land; sold and went to Rock- ford one year, then to Boone Co., and bought 120 acres of land, and improved it; remained six months, sold and came to Stephenson Co., and bought 170 acres in Sec. 11, 120 in Rock Run, 160 in Ridott, and has a beautiful home place. His wife, Mary C. Tucker, was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., April 30, 1821; came West in 1840; married March 8, 1842, and have had three children-Harriett E., born March 22, 1843, died March 11, 1856 ; Francis A., born Dec. 24, 1845, died Aug. 8, 1874, was Mrs. Colby, in Freeport; Emily C., born April 9, 1850, and at home. In politics, Republican ; in religion, Liberal. Has been Road Commissioner several times, and Assessor twice.
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