USA > Illinois > Henry County > The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois > Part 13
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T. I. BACHUS.
For the past nine years T. I. Bachus has Leen one of the most active and progressive business men of Orion, where at first he engaged ouly in the grain and lumber trade, but since 1895 has also carried on contract- ing and building with good success. Keen discrimination, unflagging industry and resolute purpose are numbered among his salient characteristics and to these may be attributed his success in life.
A native of Henry county, Mr. Bachus was born in Oxford township, February 3. 1860, and is a son of James Bachus, who was born in Gallipolis, Ohio, of which state the grandfather was a pioneer. The latter died there when James was a child of four
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years. On leaving the Buckeye state in 1843 lie came to Henry county, Illinois, and set- tled in Oxford township, where he pre- empted and later entered land, making for himself a well-improved farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres. He wedded Miss Mary James, a native of Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania, who, like her husband, was left an orphan in childhood. He became one of the prosperous farmers of his community, as well as one of its most influential and prom- inent citizens, and served as township trus- tee for twenty-one consecutive years, being then succeeded by our subject. The father died in 1890, at the age of sixty-seven years, and his wife passed away in 1874, at the age of fifty-two years. In their family were six children, namely : Mary, wife of Sidney Mead, of Wichita, Kansas: Jane, wife of Harry Light: James, a resident of Peoria, Illinois: Benjamin, of Buffalo, Missouri: Archibald, of Lakefield, Minnesota : and T. I., our subject.
T. I. Bachus grew to manhood upon his father's farm, and received his educa- von in the home school. On leaving the Tutrental roof he went to Jackson county, Minnesota, where he engaged in farming :url also dealing in grain and hay for about six years. He made a specialty of hay, which he bought and shipped in large quantities. Disposing of his business there he returned u this county in 1892 and located at Orion, Where he bought out an established grain and Number business with a good elevator and Jensber sheds and vard. By fair and hon opole dealing he has built up an excellent twole receiving a liberal share of the public patronage. In 1895 Mr. Bachis also be- win contracting and building, and has since greeted many buildings in Henry and Rock 19land counties, including churches, business
houses, elevators and numerous dwellings. Along this line he has done much to improve and benefit the country, and is to-day recog- nized as one of the leading business men and most public-spirited citizens of Orion.
At that place, Mr. Bachus was married, May 24, 1894, the lady of his choice being Miss Gertrude McClosky, who was born, reared and educated in Orion, and is a daughter of Edward McClosky, one of the early settlers of Henry county. In politics Mr. Bachus is a stanch Republican, having affiliated with that party since casting his first presidential vote for James A. Garfield, i11 1880. For two years he served as a inember of the town board, but has never cared for political honors, desiring rather to give his undivided attention to his busi- ness affairs. Fraternally he is a Master Mason, a member of the blue lodge of Orion, and both he and his wife hold mem- bership in the Eastern Star Chapter.
SAMUEL STEWART.
For over thirty-two years Samuel Stew- art has been a resident of Henry county, and his name is inseparably connected with its agricultural interests. He is now the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 28, Colona township, and in its operation he is meeting with excellent success. Ile was born in county Down, Ireland, March 1, 1865, and on the paternal side is of Scotch ancestry. His father, Robert Stewart, was born in county Down, Ireland, in 1821, and on reaching manhood was united in marriage with Miss Jane Craig. In the land of his birth he contin- ned to make his home, being engaged in farming, until after the birth of all his chil-
SAMUEL STEWART.
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dren, On his emigration to America in 1868, he took up his residence in Colona township. Henry county, Illinois, and with the assistance of his sons opened up the farm on which our subject now resides, convert- ing the wild tract into a highly improved farm. There he died in 1887, and his wife passed away in 1894. They were reared in the Presbyterian faith, and throughout life were active and consistent members of that church.
In the family of this worthy couple were seven children, five sons and two daughters, who reached years of maturity, namely : Jolin went to Nebraska after reaching man- hood and there died; William is married and lives in Red Willow county, Nebraska; James makes his home in Clay county, that state; Samuel, our subject ; Robert is a resi- dent of Red Willow county, Nebraska; Eli- za is the wife of William Brown, of Colona township, this county; and Flora is the wife of Hugh D. Carey, of Henry county, Illi- nois.
Reared to manhood on the old home- stead farm Samuel Stewart became familiar with the common English branches of learn- ing in the district schools of the neighbor- hood. He aided in the work of improving and cultivating the home farm, remaining with his father until the latter's death, and continued its operation for ten years there- after. He then purchased the interests of the other heirs and succeeded to the home- stead, which he has greatly improved. 1 well three hundred and thirty-three feet deep has been drilled upon the place, and a wind pump put in, furnishing an abundant sup- ply of good water for his stock. As a farm- er and stock raiser he has met with excellent success, and is to-day one of the well-to-do citizens of his community.
In his political affiliations Mr. Stewart is an uncompromising Democrat, and an ad- vocate of the principles of the party's laid down by William J. Bryan. He does all in his power to advance the interests and insure the success of his party, but has never cared for political preferment. He has served, however, as a member of the school board and clerk of the district. Religiously he is a member of the Warner Baptist church, and is highly respected and esteemed by all who know him.
LEONARD R. BOTHWELL.
Among the most prominent and influ- ential citizens of Western township is this well-known and prosperous farmer, who owns and operates a fine farm of three hun- dred acres, the home being on section 22, within one mile of Orion. He was born in Jefferson county, New York, April 28, 1838, of Scotch-Irish ancestry. His pa- ternal grandfather was one of the early set- tlers of the Empire state, and his father, David Bothwell, was a native of Washing- ton county, New York. The latter married Jemima Spencer, of Jefferson county, who died in 1842, and his death occurred in 1 846.
Thus left an orphan at an early age Leon- ard R. Bothwell was reared by his sister, Mrs. Mary Scott, and with her moved to Brown county, Wisconsin, in 1846, where he grew to manhood, his primary education being obtained in the common schools of that locality. The knowledge there acquired has been greatly supplemented by reading and observation in later years. He aided in the work of the farm and was also em- ployed in a sawmill for a time.
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In June, 1860, Mr. Bothwell came to Henry county, Illinois, and worked by the month for a number of years as a farm hand for N. B. Lloyd, who was one of the first settlers from Bucks county, Pennsylvania, to locate here, the date of his arrival being 1838. In August, 1861, Mr. Bothwell joined the boys in blue in the efforts to crush out the rebellion, becoming a member of the Eleventh Battery, Ohio Light Artillery, which was assigned to the Western army, and was organized at St. Louis. The win- ter was spent in Missouri, and their first engagement was at New Madrid, which was followed by the battle of Iuka, Mississippi, September 19, 1862, where Mr. Bothwell was wounded, being twice shot through the arm and also in the right side. Being per- manently disabled he was sent to the hos- pital at Jackson, Tennessee, where he re- mained until honorably discharged from the service in January, 1863. That spring he returned to Henry county, and when he had sufficiently recovered began work on the farm of his father-in-law. During 1865 and 1866, he was similarly employed in Iowa, but since that time has made his home uninterruptedly in this county.
On the 6th of June, 1867, Mr. Bothwell married Miss Florence D. Lloyd, a daugh- ter of N. B. Lloyd. She was born in Henry county, May 12, 1844, and was reared and educated within one mile of her present home. She attended the Geneseo high school for a time, and spent about four years with an uncle in Pennsylvania. After his mar- nage Mr. Bothwell helped carry on the Lloyd farm until 1871, and then purchased ciglity acres of his present farm, which at that time was all wild prairie, and which Tie at once began to break and improve. He bought more land from time to time,
including a part of the Lloyd estate, and is now the owner of an excellent farm of three hundred acres, improved with good buildings and supplied with all the accessories and conveniences found upon a model farm of the twentieth century. Besides this valuable property he also owns residence lots in Orion. In connection with general farming he is engaged in stock raising, and is meeting with excellent success in both undertakings. He became a stockholder on the reorganization of the Farmers Bank of Orion, in 1895, and has since served as vice-president of the same.
Mr. and Mrs. Bothwell are the parents of eight children, namely: Ada, the wife of Charles Anderson, a farmer of Western township: Amelia, Esther, Lizzie, Herbert. Elwood, Arthur, William and Clarence, all at home, while the three youngest are still in school.
In his political affiliations Mr. Bothwell is an ardent Republican, having supported that party since casting his first xote for A. Lincoln, in 1860. He has taken quite an active and prominent part in local politics : lias served'as assessor four years; as town- ship collector two years; and in 1887 was elected supervisor, which office he filled so acceptably that he has been constantly re- clected, serving in all thirteen consecutive years. He has served on a number of im- portant committees and is now chairman of the county building committee and the purchasing committee. He has also been a delegate to various county conventions of his party, and has made a faithful and effi- cient officer in whatever position he has been called upon to fill. Fraternally he is an honored member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Grand Army of the Re-
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public, and has served as quartermaster of the post at Orion since its organization. His life has been one of honest and earnest endeavor and due success has not been de- nied him.
JOHN LINN.
The expression "dignity of labor" is ex- emplified in the life record of this gentleman, who without reserve attributes his success to earnest work. He is a man of strong force of character, purposeful and energetic, and his keen discrimination and sound judg- ment are shown in his capable management of business affairs. He is to-day the lead- ing merchant tailor of Cambridge, in which city he has made his home since February, 1895.
Mr. Linn was born at Mo, near Soder- hamm, in the northern part of Sweden, March 12, 1841, his parents being Jolin P. and Sarah Foline, who never came to Amer- ica. The father, who was born in 1813. is still living. He has served in the standing army of Sweden, though never engaged in war, doing garrison duty most of the time. The mother of our subject died in 1847, and the father subsequently married again, but his second wife has also passed away. His children were Foline, who came to this country with our subject, and is now engaged in the shoe business in Moline, Illinois; John, of this review : Andrew, a shoemaker by trade, who died in St. Petersburg, Rus- sia, in 1871, at the age of twenty-seven years; and Charles, who died in infancy.
On coming to this country in the fall of 1868, Mr. Linn first located in Geneseo, Illinois, where he spent four years, and then went to Davenport, Iowa, where he was en-
gaged in the merchant tailoring business with P. A. Harling for the same length of time. At the end of that period he returned to Geneseo, where he followed the same business alone until 1881, and later con- ducted a tailoring establishment in Moline tatil 1892. On leaving that city he again returned to Geneseo, and continued to carry on business there with E. E. Aldeen until 1895, when he sold out to his partner and came to Cambridge, where he has already built up a large and lucrative trade.
Before leaving his native land, Mr. Linn was married on the Ist of January, 1865. to Miss Jennie Sparman, who was born in U'meo, Westerbotten, Sweden, May 10, 1842. Of the eleven children born to them only three have been spared, namely : Han- hah, wife of Albert Freeman, of Moline : Jennie, who married Oscar Boom, of Gen- eseo, and has three children, May and Maria, twins, and Jennie; and Clara, who is in a store in Rock Island. Mrs. Linn and her daughters are members of the Baptist Church and are highly esteemed by all who know them.
In his political views Mr. Linn is a Republican. He was penniless on coming to the new world and had to work a year and a half to get enough money to send for his wife and two children; who had remained in Sweden. He therefore deserves great credit for the success that he has achieved in life. Besides his pleasant and commodious residence in Cambridge he is now the owner of one of the most highly cultivated and best improved farms in Andover township. Upon the place is a good ten-room residence, a barn, cribs and other buildings. Dili- gence has been the keynote to his success, and his example is one that might be profit- ably followed by all who have to depend
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upon their own exertions. His worth is widely recognized and he enjoys the friend- ship of the best people of Cambridge.
PETER C. STEWART.
Although well past the Psalmist's span of three score years and ten, Peter C. Stew- art is still actively identified with the agri- cultural interests of Henry county and ably superintends the management of his fine iarm of four hundred and eighty acres on section 26, Colona township. He was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, March 22, 1818, and is a representative of one of the pioneer families of New York, where his father, David Stewart, was born in 1763. On reaching manhood the latter married Effa Culverson, who was born in New Jer- sey, but was reared in the Empire state. For a few years they made their home in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and then removed to Muskingum county, Ohio, be- ing numbered among its first settlers. In 1838 they came to Illinois and took up their residence in Mercer county, where the father died three years later.
inal purchase he later added another one- hundred-and-sixty-acre tract, making a farm of half a section which he still owns, and still later he purchased the farm of one hun- dred and sixty acres on section 26, Colona township, which he now occupies. The buildings upon the place are neat and sub- stantial and everything about the farm indi- cates the careful supervision of a painstak- ing owner. He has engaged in raising and feeding stock quite extensively, and annually ships to the city markets four carloads of cattle and two of hogs.
In Henry county Mr. Stewart was mar- ried, December 20, 1845, to Miss Eliza Jane Piatt, who was born in Butler county, Ohio, August 5, 1823, but was principally reared in Indiana. About 1838 or 1839 she came with her father, Jacob Piatt, to Henry coun- ty, Illinois. Her father was twice married, his second union being with Jane Thomp- son. On coming to Henry county he bought land in Weller township, where he died in 1848. His wife survived him until 1880. They were members of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have five children living, namely : Frank, who is mar- ried and engaged in fruit growing in Delta, Colorado; William J., who is married and is now serving as superintendent of schools in Nance county, Nebraska, being a teacher of long experience: Edward, who is married and engaged in the stock business in Trini- dad, Colorado; Miles K., who is married and lives on the home farm with his father, though he owns a farm in Colona township; Ellen, wife of Jolm Holden, who lives on the Stewart farm. One daughter. . \da, died at the age of five years.
Peter C. Stewart was twenty years of age when he came with his father to this state, and he spent two seasons working on the home farm in Mercer county. Coming to Henry county in 1841 he rented land in Western township, and commenced farming on his own account. After about eight or ten years spent in this way he purchased one Amindred and sixty acres on section 36, the mne township, and at once began its im- poovement and cultivation. Acre after acre Politically Mr. Stewart is a Jeffersonian Democrat, and cast his first presidential Was placed under the plow until the entire amount was highly cultivated. To the orig- vote for Martin Van Buren. He has taken
P. C. STEWART.
MRS. P. C. STEWART.
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an active interest in educational affairs. serving as school director some years, and as president and clerk of the district. Although eighty-three years of age De has the vigor of a much younger man and in spirit and inter- est seems yet in his prime. Old age is not necessarily a synonymini weakness and in- activity. It needs not suggest as a matter of course the want of occupation or helpless- ness. Mr. Stewart stands to day in his ma- ture years a strong man, strong in the con sciousness of a well spent life, strong to plan and perform, strong in his eredit ind good name, and a worthy example for young men to pattern after. For almost sixty year- he and his wife have been residenits ci Hehry county, and are to-day mimbered among its most honored pioneers and highly respected citizens.
JOHN A. BRODD.
This gentleman, who has been actively identified with the farming interests of An- dover township for several years, was born at Broddark Parish, sixty-five miles from Gottenberg, Sweden, on the end of Febru- (Larson ) Brodd, natives of the same con- try. The father was born October 27, 1821, and is a son of Swan and Christine Brodd, who spent their entire lives in Sweden, both living to an advanced age.
In his native land John Brodd. father of our subject, followed the occupation of farming until 1863, when he sailed from Gottenberg, Sweden, to Hamburg. Ger- many, and at the latter place took pass ige on a sailing vessel for New York. He was five weeks in crossing the ocean, that being considered a quick voyage at that time
Coming at once to . Andover, Illinois, he took up his residence in the well known log house in the center of the village, where he made bis home until the following fall, when he lought two and a half acres in the same place, and lived there six years and a half. For thirteen years he rented the David Pol 1 ck farm, and then purchased the farm where our subject now resides, buying later thirty acres, which he improved and placed under cultivation, and where he now resides. In his political views he is a Republican, and in religious belief is a Lutheran, to which church his wife alsobelongs. They are still I ving in@Andover township and are num- Lered among its honored residents. Of their seven children six were born in Sweden, and Clara and Frank G. both died in that coun- try prior to the emigration of the family. Anna Sophia died in Andover township at the age of twenty-five years. John .A. is The subject of this sketch. Frank L. is a resident of Cambridge. Theodore died in Andover in 1863. and Alma, born in that township, in 1864, died in 1865.
Our subject passed the first thirteen year- of his life in Sweden, and then came with the family to the new world, since which time ary, 1850, a son of John and Catharine - he has made his home in Andover town-
ship. After completing his education in its public schools, his advantages being limited. he took up the occupation to which he had been reared -- that of farming-and in ISSo purchased his present farm of eighty acres of his father, to the improvement and chili- vation of which he has since devoted hi- er - ergies. He has erected thereon good :001 substantial buildings, and has gone come Slerable tiling.
December 16, 1886, in Andoser Berg Ship, Mr. Brodd married Miss Caballe Sophia Fair, who was born in the room
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ship, April 8, 1856, a daughter of Gustoph and Fredericka Fair, natives of Smolend, Sweden. Her parents came to the United States in 1854, and from that time until 1897 made their home in Andover township. but are now residents of Orion, this county. Mr. and Mrs. Brodd have six children, namely : Esther, Francis, Philip, Delmore, Chester and Hannah. The parents are both active members of the Lutheran Church. with which Mr. Brodd is officially connected. In politics he is a Republican, and he takes an active and commendable interest in all that will advance the interests of his town- ship and county.
WILLIAM H. KNOWLES.
Among the representative farmers and k.dling citizens of Osco township is the sub- fedt of this biography, who has resided here since 1874, his home being on section 22. He is a native of Henry county, his birth having occurred in Linn township, May 3, 1866. His father, Matthew Knowles, was born in Matlock, England, on the 19th of May, 1821, and in 1848 came to the United States. Choosing Illinois as a future home, he settled in Henry county, in 1856, and three years later was united in marriage with Miss Annie Radburn, the youngest of a fam- why of seven children, and who was born in Bedfordshire, England. June 15, 1831, but was only two years old when brought to this country by her parents, who died of typhus fever in Byverly, Pennsylvania, two Gelir's later. She was reared by a sister in Pimadelphia, where she was educated. In 1850 she came to Illinois, and December 29, wd that year, she was married. After com-
ing to this state Mr. Knowles followed farm- ing continuously until his death, which oc- curred July 10, 1882, on the farm where his widow and son now reside. For a time lie owned and operated a farm in Lynn township, and on disposing of some of his property there he moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he resided for about a year. On his return to this county he lo- cated in Osco township and purchased a farm of eighty acres on section 22, to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted his energies until called to his final rest. He was an ardent supporter of the Republican party, and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability, called upon him to fill numerous township offices. Religiously he was an earnest and faithful member of the Episcopal Church of Osco. In his family were five children, two sons and three daughters, of whom one son died in infancy. The daughters are Sophia R., wife of Walter Christiance, now a resident of Nebraska, but formerly of Henry county, Illinois; Emma W., a resident of Osco and widow of F. J. Stoughton, who died of ty- phoid fever in October, 1900; and Annie L., a graduate of the Geneseo Collegiate In- stitute and an instructor of music and draw- ing in the public schools of Portage, Wis- consin.
William H. Knowles, the only son of the family now living, was educated in the dis- trict schools of Lynn and Osco townships. He grew to manhood on his father's farm, and on the latter's death he took charge of affairs for his mother. He is a thorough and skillful farmer and in the management of the place he has been quite successful.
In 1889 he led to the marriage altar Miss Hattie E. Frederick, who was born in Osco township, August 3, 1865, a daughter
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of A. A. and Nancy ( Weaver ) Frederick, residents of Geneseo, where they have made their home since 1872, the father working at lis trade of harness making. Mrs. Knowles is the oldest of their four children, the others being Kate, wife of N. E. Sage, of Daven- port, Iowa: Victor, a resident of Lexing- ton, Illinois; and Edna, wife of Arthur Peterson, of Geneseo. Mr. and Mrs. Knowles are the parents of two interesting children : Kenneth F. and Ethel May. Mrs. Knowles was a graduate of the Geneseo high school in the class of 1884, and was a successful teacher for some years.
In his political affiliations Mr. Knowles is a Republican, and has served as tax col- lector in his township. For the past five or six years he has been a member of the Re- publican central committee for Osco town- ship, and has been influential in Republican circles. He is one of the leading members of the Episcopal Church of Osco, and was appointed vestryman in the spring of 1900. which office he is now filling. His wife is also a member of the same church. Frater- nally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen Camp, No. 2248, of Osco, and both he and his wife are members of the Royal Neighbors, No. 2022, of the same place. They are widely and favorably known, and are held in warm regard by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
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