USA > Illinois > Henry County > The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois > Part 10
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During his boyhood and youth William Ringle attended the district schools near his home and the Orion Academy, and he re- mained under the parental roof until his mar- riage. It was on the 27th of October, 1873, that he wedded Miss Ellen A. Welton, who was born in Peoria county, Illinois, Febru- ary 22, 1852, a daughter of Lester C. and Ora Welton, both natives of Connecticut. During her infancy the family moved from
Peoria to Henry county and located in Osco township, at which time the greater part of this locality was still in its primitive condi- tion. Mr. Welton purchased and improved a large farm and was quite extensively en- gaged in stock raising. He was also one of the promoters and a large stockholder of the Osco & Western Farmer's Mutual Insurance Company, which was founded and incorpor- ated in 1873, and embraced Osco and West- ern townships, Henry county, and Rural township, Rock Island county. It has proved a. great benefit to the resident farmers of this community. For a time Mr. Welton lived in Cambridge, and then moved to Hutchin- son, Reno county, Kansas, locating on a large stock farm, where his death occurred. He was one of the leading men of Osco township, and was looked up to by all as a guide, being a man of intelligence and in- tegrity. His children were James, a retired farmer of Geneseo; Merritt, a farmer of At- lantic, Iowa: Margaret, wife of Chester O'Neale, of Hudson, Kansas; and Ellen A., wife of our subject. Mrs. Ringle received a good education, pursuing a classical course.
After his marriage Mr. Ringle located upon his present farm, having purchased one hundred and sixty acres of partially im- proved land on section 28, Osco township, on which he at once erected necessary and substantial buildings, including commodious barns, sheds and cribs, with the intention of embarking in the stock business. This he has always carried on in connection with farm- ing, and also operates threshers and shellers, having two steam engines for that purpose. The Ringle family have always been en- gaged in the latter business, owning from one to five outfits among them and operat- ing the same very successfully in threshing grain, shelling corn and hulling clover, as
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well as grinding feed. For the last named purpose our subject keeps an engine on his farm all the time, preparing food for the large herd of cattle which he fattens each year. He has added one hundred and sixty acres of land to his first purchase and im- proved the same to conform to his growing stock business, being one of the largest stock men of Osco township. He started on a small scale, but has gradually increased the volume of his business until he now han- dles many hundred head of stock annually with profit. He first raised short horn cat- tle for market, and now gives his attention entirely to the feeding of stock for market purposes, his average shipments being from six to eiglit carloads of cattle and hogs an- nually. He is also interested in a fine grade of horses, and has sold some of the finest teams of Englishshires ever put on the mar- ket from Osco township, having the hon- or of receiving the highest price ever paid for a gelding in that place. He buys stock wherever he can to an advantage, princi- pally in the west, and brings them home to fatten for market. Mr. Ringle has met with most excellent success in this business, and takes a just pride in his stock and the facili- Les he has for handling it. Always honora- Me and upright in all his dealings, he has Me confidence and respect of those with whom he has come in contact, and his suc- boss is well merited. For the past eighteen years he has operated a steam threshing ma- June, and has ownedand operated a thresher Silice 1867. He is one of the stockholders andl directors of the First National Bank of Cambridge; is also a director and treasurer the God & Western Farmers' Mutual bankaniye Company, which does the leading Im-me -- ofgins section, and he has served Blue people sol n financial concerns.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Ringle is an active worker for his party and its inter- ests, and has been selected to fill various offices in his township. In 1899 he was elected supervisor, and is now serving in that capacity with credit to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. Since resid- ing upon his present farm he has served con- tinuously as township school trustee. In re- ligious belief he is a Presbyterian, while his wife holds membership in the Episcopal Church of Osco, and he is a liberal supporter of all church work. He is widely and fav- orably known throughout the county as a most progressive and enterprising man, and is held in high regard by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
SAMUEL H. CALLAWAY.
Samuel H. Callaway is one of the lead- ing farmers and stock raisers of Western township, his farm of one hundred and twen- ty-six acres being pleasantly located on sec- tion 32 and 5 in Lynn township, within two and a half miles of Orion. He was born in Warwickshire, England, July 27, 1839, and in his boyhood passed the birthplace of the immortal Shakespeare on his way to and from school. In 1849 he came to the new world with his parents, Samuel and Esther Callaway, who first located at Utica, New York, but later removed to Detroit, Michi- gan, where they spent the remainder of their lives. In England the father had followed the stock business.
In 1851 our subject and his older brother, Jonathan, came to Henry county, Illinois, where the former worked at anything by which he could earn an honest dollar. For
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some time he was employed by the day or MI., a successful school teacher of this coun- month at clearing land and at farming, and ty, four of the family having followed that profession. later, when he had saved enough money, he purchased teams and commenced breaking prairie, following that occupation for sev- eral years, during which time he broke hun- dreds of acres of land. However, after re- maining here about three years, on account of poor health, he returned to Detroit, and three years later came back to Western township. Later he rented land and en- gaged in farming on his own account. When the Civil war broke out he tried to enlist at Detroit, Michigan, but, being lame and in poor health, was rejected.
On the 21st of November, 1861, in Henry county, Mr. Callaway married Miss Julia Belle Harrison, also a native of Eng- land, and a daughter of William and Sarah ( Williams) Harrison. Her father spent his entire life in that country. The mother came to the United States with her daughter in May, 1850, and after the latter's marriage made her home with our subject and his wife until her death. For several years prior to her emigration from England, Mrs. Callaway made her home with her uncle. Frank Pears, the noted soap manufacturer of London. Before coming to this county she and her mother lived in Detroit. Michi- gan. Mr. and Mrs. Callaway are the par- ents of seven children, three sons and four daughters, namely: Herbert L., who is still under the parental roof; John H., who has engaged in teaching school, but is now a student at Knox College, Galesburg; Ezra S., also a school teacher of Henry county : Ssther K., wife of Albert Sayre, of Western township; Pauline J., wife of S. H. Callo- way, a farmer of Grundy county, lowa: Bertha A., wife of Addison Chase, a farmer of Western township, this county ; and Alice
Mr. and Mrs. Callaway began married lite on a farm of forty acres in Lynn town- ship, which he purchased in 1861, and to which he later added another forty-acre tract, making it his home for four years. On selling that place he bought eighty acres on section 32, Western township, where he has now made his home since 1865. When hc located thereon about fifty acres had been broken, a small house built and an orchard and shade trees set out. Subsequently Mr. Callaway purchased an adjoining tract of forty-six acres in Lynn township, and has since devoted his energies to the further im- provement and cultivation of his land, con- verting it into one of the most desirable farms of its size in that locality. He has made a specialty of the raising of Poland China hogs and Shropshire sheep, and this branch of his business has proved quite profitable. Ile commenced life in Illinois without a dollar, and by his own labor, en- terprise and perseverance has accumulated a comfortable competence, and is to-day the owner of a good home and farm.
Politically Mr. Callaway has been a life- long Republican, and cast his first presi- dential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. He has been a delegate to numerous con- ventions of his party ; has served as high- way commissioner three years ; and as school director twelve years and president of the board. Fraternally he is a member of Sher- man Lodge, No. 535, F. & A. M., of Orion. He is a loyal citizen of his adopted country, and in all the relations of life has been found true to every trust reposed in him. For almost half a century he has made his home in Henry county, and he is both widely and
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favorably known. He was one of the pro- ship. The parents were members of the moters of the Orion-Sherrard Mutual Tele- Episcopal Church. phone Company, in which he is a director. He is also president of the Richland Grove Vigilance Committee, that has been in ex- istence forty years.
ROBERT G. NEVILLE.
Robert G. Neville, who is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits on section 29, Osco township, first came to Henry county in December, 1879. A native of Illi- nois, he was born in Kickapoo township, Peoria county, June 22, 1862, and is a son of George and Catherine ( Moorehead) Neville, both natives of Ireland. They came to this country when young and were mar- ried in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where they continued to make their home for three years after their marriage, and then re- moved to this state, locating in Jubilee town- ship, Peoria county. The father was active- ly engaged in farming in that county until his death, which occurred March 4, 1872. The wife and mother came to Osco in 1893, and died at the home of her daughter in Cambridge township, December 23. 1899. In the family were eight children, one of whom died in infancy, while five sons and two daughters are still living, namely : Will- iam, fireman in the Monarch distillery of Peoria; Robert G., our subject; Kate, wife of Frank Sheen, of Wolcott, Indiana; Thomas M., a shipping clerk in a whole- sale rubber house in Chicago; John F., pro- prietor of a pool and billiard parlor in the same city ; Richard C., a resident of Cam- bridge township, this county; and Sarah, wie of Albert C. Tomlinson, who lives on D. C. Tomlinson's farm in Cambridge town-
As soon as hie attained a sufficient age Robert G. Neville entered the common schools of his native county, where he pur- sted his studies until ten years old, when his father died and he had to assist in the support of the family. Subsequently, how- ever, he attended business college at Daven- port, Iowa, for two terms. His education was obtained principally by general reading and observation, and he has thus made up for his lack of early educational advantages. He worked by the month as a farm hand un- til twenty-five years of age, and did his share in supporting the family until he attained his majority.
On the Ioth of February, 1886, Mr. Neville married Miss Margaret Mccurdy, who was born in Montgomery county, Penn- sylvania, September 19, 1860, but who at the time of her marriage was living in Osco township, this county, with her parents, both of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Neville died July 10, 1896, leaving four children : Alexander, Robert, Harold and M. Edith, who attend he Osco school. She was a daughter of Alexander and Kate McCurdy, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, who came from the north of Ireland to the United States, first locating in Pennsylvania, where they were married. Later they came to Henry coun- ty, Illinois, and located on the southwest quarter of section 20, Osco township, where he opened up a farm and made his home until his death. Religiously he was an Episcopalian, while his wife was reared in the Presbyterian faith. On that home farm Margaret grew to womanhood, and there remained until her marriage.
After his marriage Mr. Neville removed to Kearney, Nebraska, where he lived for
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two years and on his return to this county settled on his present farm, which was deed- ed to his wife by her father. He has since greatly improved the place by the erection of a good residence barns and fences; has planted trees, tiled the land, and placed it under a high state of cultivation. The farm consists of one hundred acres of rich and arable land. Mr. Neville follows both gen- eral farming and stock feeding. He usually buys a car load of cattle in Nebraska, both spring and fall, which he feeds and pre- pares for the market. For the size of his place, he is one of the most extensive feed- ers in Henry county.
Mr. Neville is one of the leaders of the Democratic party in his community, and has been elected to the office of town clerk and assessor. He has also served as school di- rector nine years, and has taken an active interest in maintaining good schools. Re- ligiously lie is an active member of the Epis- copal Church of Osco township, and for about ten years has served as vestryman, during which time a rectory has been built. He is a charter member of the Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 2248, of Osco, of which he was consul four years, and is also a charter member of the Royal Neighbors of America. He is a member of Sherman Lodge, No. 535, F. & A. M., of Orion, and of the Eastern Star. In social circles he stands high, and is an active worker in the socities to which he belongs.
OLOF WALLINE.
Tireless energy, well directed by sound business judgment, has brought to Mr. Walline gratifying success in the affairs
of life. For thirty years he has been a resi- dent of Henry county, and now owns and occupies a fine farm on section 14, Andover township. Like many of the best citizens of this locality he is a native of Sweden, born February 18, 1847, and is a son of Olof E. and Betsey (Olson) Walline, also natives of that country, where the father followed farm work until his emigration to America in 1869. His last days were spent at the home of our subject in Andover town- ship, this county, where both he and his wife died. Of the four children born to them one died in Sweden. The others are Margaret, wife of Peter Olenius, living on the old Buck farm in Andover township; Olof, our subject; and Peter E., now a resident of California, who was formerly a farmer of Andover township, and a mer- chant of Cambridge.
The subject of this review received his education in the common schools of his na- tive land, and remained at home with his parents until he attained his majority. He then came to the United States and first lo- cated at Bishop Hill, Illinois, where he worked at the mason's and carpenter's trades, having partially learned the latter oc- cupation in Sweden. After two years spent at Bishop Hill, he purchased eighty acres of land in Andover township in partnership with his brother, and together they success- fully engaged in farming for twelve years, thus securing a good start in life. As they succeeded in business they added to their farm until they owned about two hundred acres, which property was divided when they dissolved partnership. In 1883, having sold his portion of the farm, Olof Walline pur- chased his present place, which at that time consisted of one hundred and twenty acres of partially improved land. He has since
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laid many rods of tiling, built fences and erected buildings, and now has one of the best and most attractive farms of the lo- cality. He and his brother, P. E., are also proprietors of the Cambridge Creamery, and in its operation have also met with well- deserved success ; our subject is manager of the same.
In January, 1875, Mr. Walline was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Johnson, who was born in Andover town- ship, May 6, 1855, a daughter of Andrew M. and Christina Johnson. The former, now deceased, was among the early settlers of his township. There Mrs. Johnson still resides, and with her live her two sons, Al- bert and Otto, and one daughter Ida, while Oscar, Alfred and Emma, wife of Swan Anderson, make their home in Nebraska, and Mrs. Amelia Norling lives in Cameron, Illi- nois, where her husband is engaged in black- smithing. Mr. and Mrs. Walline have a family of nine children, namely: Charles W., Jennie, Henry W., Louvina, Eddie J., Esther, Minnie, Ernest and Mabel, all at home. They have been educated in the com- mon schools, while Charles W. and Henry have pursued an agricultural course at Madi- son, Wisconsin, and are prepared to accept and hold any position in the business world. They also attended the high school of Cam- bridge. Charles W. now has charge of the creamery business of his father.
In his political views Mr. Walline is a Prohibitionist, but at local elections supports the men whom he believes best qualified for office. For the long period of seventeen years he has efficiently served as school di- rector in his district, and for the past ten years has been appraiser for the Swedish Insurance Company in his township, adjust- ing lesses also. He is an active member of
the Methodist Episcopal Church of Andover, and one of its trustees. He is a public- spirited and progressive citizen, who takes a deep interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of his adopted county, and is held in high regard by all who know him.
JOHN L. HULL.
It is astonishing to witness the success of young men who have emigrated to Amer- ica without capital and from a position of comparative obscurity have worked their way upward to a position of prominence. The readiness with which they adapt themselves to circumstances and take advantage of op- portunities offered brings to them success and wins them a place among the leading men of the community in which they re- side.
Among the natives of Sweden who have become prominent in business and public affairs in Henry county, is John L. Hull, who has been a resident of Cambridge town- ship since 1869. He was born November 3, 1850, in Sweden, a son of Nels P. and Inga Carolina Larson. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, died in that country, but the mother is still living and continues to make her home there. In their family were seven children, of whom five are still living, namely: Christine, who lives on the old homestead in Sweden; John L., our sub- ject; A. S., manager of a lumber yard in Cambridge, Illinois; and Emma and Nels P., who are living on the home farm in Sweden.
In the public schools of his native land Jolın L. Hull acquired a good practical ed- ucation. He remained on the home farm
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until eighteen years of age, when he emi- grated to this country with the hope of bettering his financial condition. After working as a farm hand in this country for two years, he located upon his present farm on section 8, Cambridge township, where he was at first in the employ of others. The Brick and Tile works were started upon the land in 1870, and the following year he commenced learning the business as a work- man in the factory. Later he became man- ager of the plant, and in 1890 purchased a half interest in the business, which was car- ried on under the firm name of Cook & Inll until 1899, when Mr. Hull bought out his partner and has since been alone in the busi- ness. When the plant was first started it was run by hand and horse power, but while Mr. Hull was manager an engine of thirty- horse power was put in, and the factory otherwise improved. There are now five kilns, three with down drafts and two with up drafts and a drying shed, one hundred by twenty-six feet in dimension. During the busy season from fifteen to twenty men are employed in the yards. The product of the factory being of a superior grade, it finds a ready sale on the market, and is shipped in carload lots to Stark, Mercer and Rock Island counties. The success of this enter- prise has been mainly due to Mr. Hull, who is a man of good business and executive ability. He owns thirteen acres adjoining the city of Cambridge, and is also engaged in farming and stock raising. He possesses keen discrimination as well as sound judg- ment, and in business affairs is prompt, en- ergetic and notably reliable.
On the 12th of October, 1875. Mr. Hull married Miss Josephine C. Lyon, who was born in America in 1854. Both her parents died in 1897, leaving seven children, name-
ly : Tilda, wife of J. M. Anderson, a dry- goods merchant, of Cambridge; Ida: Jose- phine, wife of our subject; John, Alfred, Ludwig and Otto, all residens of Cambridge. Mr. and Mrs. Hull have four children : Lettie V., Edwin, Emma and Ernest. The two oldest are graduates of the Cambridge public schools and the others are still pursuing their studies there.
During his entire residence in Cam- bridge Mr. Hull has taken an active interest in politics and has been a stanch supporter of the Republican party, serving on the town and county central committees. For two years le filled the office of tax collector, and in 1898 was elected supervisor, which office he filled so acceptably that he was re-elected in 1900 and is the present incumbent. For three successive terms he has been a mem- ber of the school board of Cambridge. He is an active and prominent member of the Swedish Lutheran Church of Cambridge, in which he has served as deacon and is now one of the trustees, while socially he is connected with the Mystic & Fraternal Tribune, No .- , and the Odd Fellow's Lodge, No. 199, in which he has held office. He is a ma nof recognized ability and sterling worth, and stands high in the community where he has so long made his home. Those who know him best are numbered among his warmest friends, and no citizen in Henry county is more honored or highly respected.
JOHN H. McGOVERN.
This prominent citizen of Orion, who is now living a retired life, was born on the Monongahela river, in Brownsville, Fayette county, Pennsylvania, June 20, 1834, and is a son of Charles and Elizabeth ( Martzall )
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McGovern, the former a native of the north of Ireland, the latter of Pennsylvania, where their marriage was celebrated. The father was reared on the Emerald Isle and was a young man when he came to the new world. He died when John H. was but three years old, leaving a widow and seven children. He was engaged in business in Brownsville. The mother's ancestors were originally from Germany. In 1858 she came to Rock Island county, Illinois, and in 1865 moved to Iowa, where her death occurred about 1885. She was a member of the Presbyterian church.
In the county of his nativity John H. McGovern grew to manhood, and at Browns- ville, Pennsylvania, he learned the carpen- ter's and joiner's trade, and for a time he engaged in contracting and building in the east. Coming to Illinois in 1855, he first located in Rock Island, where he followed the same pursuit for five years, and then en- gaged in farming in Boling township for four years. In 1864 he went west and was interested in mining in Montana and Idaho for a short time. Later we find him in California, but in 1865 he returned to Illi- nois, and embarked in business at Milan. carrying on operations there for five years. In 1870 he removed to Orion, Henry county, where he opened a general store and did an extensive business for a number of years, being the leading merchant of the place. He finally sold out in 1885 on account of ill health and has since lived a retired life. He still owns considerable real estate in Orion, including two store buildings and two nice residences. Ilis success in life is dute entirely to his own well-directed efforts, diligence, perseverance and good manage- ment, and he is to-day one of the prosper- otis and substantial citizens of his com- munity.
In 1860 Mr. McGovern was married, in Meadville, Pennsylvania, to Miss Martha Kerr, who was born, reared and educated in Meadville, Pennsylvania, and died in Orion, Illinois, in the fall of 1890. He was again married, in Henry county, May 15, 1894, his second union being with Miss Lydia Jane Deem, who is a native of Ohio, but came to Illinois with her father, William Deem, in 1860, and here grew to woman- hood.
In politics Mr. McGovern is independent. He cast his first presidential vote for James Buchanan in 1856, but has since supported the men and measures of either the Re- publican or Prohibition parties, being a strong temperance man. He has never cared for official honors, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his business in- terests. During his residence at Milan he joined the Masonic fraternity, and now holds membership in the lodge at Orion. Mr. McGovern is an intelligent man, pre-em- inently public spirited and progressive, and has done much to advance the interests of Orion and promote the public welfare along various lines. He is widely and favorably known throughout this section of the county, and is numbered among its most valued and useful citizens.
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