USA > Illinois > Henry County > The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois > Part 17
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Mr. Johnson was born on the 30th of August, 1843, in Sweden, where he grew to manhood and learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade, which he followed in that country for some years. In 1869 he emigrated to America, his destination being Henry county, Illinois, some friends of his
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from Sweden having previously located in Western township. For about nine years he engaged in farming upon rented land, and then turned his attention to his trade, being engaged in contracting and building for the past twenty years. He has erected many of the business houses, residences, barns and other buildings in this section of the state. In 1895 he also opened a lumber yard, which he has since successfully con- ducted, carrying a good supply of lumber and all kinds of building material, as well as coal, tile, etc., and he has already built up an excellent trade.
On the 7th of June, 1873, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Johnson and Miss Au- gusta Magdalina Lunguin, who was also born and reared in Sweden. They have a family of three children: Louise, now the wife of B. S. Millett, of Jewell Junction, lowa: Marie, at home; and Arthur C., who assists his father in business.
In his political affiliations Mr. Johnson is a stanch Republican, and cast his first presidential ballot for Rutherford B. Hayes, but has never taken a very active part in political affairs, though he is now most capably serving as a member of the town board. He and his wife are members of the Swedish Lutheran Church, and are held in high regard by all who know them. He was elected a member of the village board April, 1900, since which time the electric light has been installed.
REGINALD HEBER HINMAN.
For many years this gentleman was prominently identified with the agricult- ural interests of this county, but is now liv-
ing a retired life in Cambridge, where he is surrounded by all the comforts of life, which were secured by former years of toil. He was born in the town of Bristol, Hart- ford county, Connecticut, February 4, 1828, and comes of good old colonial stock. His parents, Willis and Olive (Atwater) Hin- man, were also natives of the Nutmeg state, as were also his grandparents. His ma- ternal grandfather, Isaac Atwater, fought for American independence as a private in the Continental army during the Revolution- ary war. The paternal grandfather, Phile- mon Hinman, spent his entire life as a house carpenter in Connecticut.
Willis Hinman, our subject's father, also learned the carpenter's trade and clock mak- ing in Connecticut, from which state hie re- moved to Miami county, Ohio. With the view of locating farther west, he came to Henry county, Illinois, in December, 1850, and being pleased with this region, he re- turned for his family, who took up their residence in Osco township the following May. Most of the county at that time was government land, and deer, prairie chickens and other wild game was plentiful. Willis Hinman engaged in farming in Osco town- ship until 1858, when he removed to Gen- eseo, and later to Cambridge. He was born July 8, 1798, and died September 18, 1888, while his wife was born February 8, 1799, and died April 21, 1889. Both were mem- bers of the Episcopal Church, and were high- ly respected and esteemed by all who knew them. Of their seven children three reached years of maturity, namely: Clarissa, who married Nelson Gaines, of Geneseo, and died in 1877, at the age of fifty-six years; Reg- inald H., our subject; and William, who was born in 1833, and died in 1892. He served as sergeant in the One Hundred and
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Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war, and married Elizabeth Townsend, now a resident of Cambridge.
In the town of his nativity Reginald H. Hinman spent the first years of his life and then accompanied his parents on their re- moval to Miami county, Ohio. He attend- ed school in Troy, that state, and when his education was completed learned the carpenter's trade with his father. . At the age of nineteen he turned his attention to farming, and to that pursuit he devoted the greater part of his active business life. Coming to Henry county, Illinois, in Jan- tary, 1851, he has since resided here, and was actively engaged in farming in Osco township for many years, raising princi- pally corn, oats and stock, but is now rest- ing from his labors at his comfortable home in Cambridge, though he still owns a quarter-section of land in Osco township, which was entered from the government by his father in 1851, and also has one hundred acres in Cambridge township.
Mr. Hinman was married, October 8, 1852, to Miss Elizabeth Miller, of Miami county, Ohio, a daughter of Christley and Hannah (Wright) Miller, of Troy, that state. By this union were born three chil- dren, namely: (1) William Elliott, who car- ries on a fruit ranch and is also engaged in the feed and grain business at Pamona, California, married Nora Nolind, and has three children, Frances E., Susan and Harry H. (2) Frank M., a resident of Allentown, Pennsylvania, married Lilly Miller and has three children, May, Ralph and Ethel. (3) Jennie M. died in March, 1877, at the age of twenty-three years, and the mother of these children passed away September 20, 1867, at the age of thirty-three. Both mother and daughter were active and con-
sistent members of the Episcopal Church. On the 8th of October, 1868, Mr. Hin- man was united in marriage with Mrs. Susan Corl, who was born in Germantown, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, May 2, 1832, a daugh- ter of Thomas and Anna ( Fraley ) Combs, natives of the same place. Her father, who was a farmer by occupation, came to Illi- nois in 1852, and died here in 1859, at the age of fifty years, while his wife died in the spring of 1852, at the age of forty-eight. Both were earnest members of the Society of Friends and most estimable people. Be- sides Mrs. Hinman they had another daugh- ter, Leah, now the widow of Reese Nolind and a resident of Iowa. For her first hus- band Mrs. Hinman married Henry Corl, with whom she came to the Prairie state in 1850, locating first in Bureau country, but in 1857 removing to Cambridge. this county. In September, 1862, Mr. Corl en- listed in Company D, One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, of which company our subject's brother was also a member. Mr. Corl served as a non- commissioned officer, and was instantly killed during the siege of Knoxville, No- vember 18, at the age of thirty-eight years. In religious belief he was a Methodist.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Hinman hold mem- bership in the Protestant Episcopal Church, and before coming to Cambridge he served as warden in the church at Osco. He is a prominent member of Cambridge Lodge, No. 49, F. & A. M., which is one of the oldest lodges in the state, and in which he has filled all the offices. He is also secretary of the Old Settlers Association. The Demo- ocratic party has always found in Mr. Hin- man a stanch supporter of its principles, and he has been honored with several important official positions, having served as supervisor
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many years and as chairman of the county coming west. The journey was made by board. He also filled the positions of town- ship collector and justice of the peace for some time. For the long period of twen- ty-two consecutive years he has been secre- tary of the Henry County Agricultural So- ciety, and has always taken a deep interest in its affairs and has done much to insure its success. Public-spirited and progressive to an eminent degree, he has ever been num- bered among the most valued and useful citizens of his community-one willing to give his support to any enterprise for the public good.
CHAUNCEY E. WASHBURN.
In the pioneer epoch in the history of this section of Illinois Chauncey E. Wash- Lurn came to Henry county, and has been an important factor in its substantial de- velopment and permanent improvement. He has seen its wild lands transformed into fine farms, while industrial and commercial in- terests have been introduced. In the work of progress he has borne his part and has been particularly active as a representative of the agricultural interests of the commu- mity. He is to-day the owner of three hun- dred and twenty acres of land on section 2, Western township, where he makes his home.
Mr. Washburn was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, May 17, 1834, and on the 16th of May, 1837, was brought to this county by his parents, Abisha and Isabella ( Clapp) Washburn. The former was a na- tive of Vermont, the latter of Connecticut, and their marriage was celebrated in Spring- field, Massachusetts, where the father worked as a mechanic in the armory until
way of the Connecticut river, Long Island sound, the Erie canal, and the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to Hampton, Illinois. His destination was Henry county, which his brother, Nathan Washburn, had helped to survey the year previous. He purchased eighty acres of land in what is now Colona township, but the first season spent here he engaged in farming upon rented land, while the family lived in a little old outbuilding about ten feet square through the summer. In the meantime a good log house was built upon the land, and he began to break and improve his place, adding to it another eighty-acre tract. Later he purchased more land and erected a good set of frame build- ings, making it his home until his death, August 31, 1873. He was the first super- visor of Colona township, and was active in establishing its schools. In politics he was always a Democrat.
Amid pioneer scenes in this county Chauncey E. Washburn grew to manhood His first lessons were taught by his mother, and for a time he attended the district schools; but he is mostly self-educated, as the country afforded but limited educational privileges during his boyhood. He assisted his father in the arduous task of breaking the land and converting the wild tract into a highly cultivated farm. After reaching manhood his father gave him one hundred and sixty acres of land in Western town- ship, only about twenty-five acres of which had been broken. A year or two later he sold that place and bought one hundred and sixty acres where he now resides, of which one hundred acres had previously been broken and a small house erected thereon. To its further improvement and cultivation he has since devoted his energies, and has
C. E. WASHBURN.
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added to it an adjoining quarter-section, making a good farm of three hundred and twenty acres and also two hundred and ten acres in Colona township. When a young man he engaged in breaking prairie two seasons with a team of five yoke of cattle, breaking as high as five acres in one day. and has ever taken a very active part in the development of the county.
March 28, 1858, in Colona township, Henry county, Mr. Washburn was united in marriage with Miss Emily Piatt, who was born April 5, 1833, near Covington, Indiana, and came to Illinois in childhood with her father, Joshua Piatt, locating south of Cambridge, where he opened up and in- proved a farm. By this union were born the following children: Ida, wife of Rob- ert McLeese, a farmer of Western town- ship; Lettie, wife of William Durmann, a farmer of Colona township; George, a sub- stantial farmer of Western township; Otis, a teacher of typewriting and shorthand in Chicago; Edward, a farmer of Colona town- ship; Jane and Emma, both at home. The wife and mother, who was an earnest and consistent member of the United Brethren Church, passed away April 20, 1895, leaving many friends as well as her immediate family to mourn her loss.
In his political views Mr. Washburn is a Jacksonian Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for James Buchanan in 1856, though he supported General Grant in 1872. He has for the long period of twenty years efficiently served as school di- rector, having done much to build new school houses. For over sixty-three years he has now been identified with the interests of Henry county, and has witnessed almost its entire growth and development. He has seen great prairie fires sweep over the coun-
try, where now are waving fields of grain. When he first located here, deer, turkey and other wild game was found in abundance, and furnished many a meal for the early set- tlers. Swamps have been drained and con- verted into highly cultivated fields; rail- roads, telegraphs and telephones have been introduced; and now all of the conveniences . and comforts of an advanced civilization can here be found. Mr. Washburn can re- late many interesting incidents of pioneer days, and wrote a very able article on front- ier life which was published in the papers of the county and was read with interest by all the old settlers. With his two sons, he introduced between their homes the first telephones in his section, getting at first much ridicule from his neighbors. As others saw the convenience, more 'phones were add- ed, the lines extending to Orion, and now hardly a land owner in the western part of the county is without one.
JOHN O. ANDERSON.
Among Orion's most honored and highly esteemed citizens is this retired farmer, who for almost half a century has been identified with the interests of Henry county. His early home was on the other side of the At- lantic, for he was born in Jonkopingland, Vestra Hared, Sweden, March 25, 1830, and was there reared upon a farmi. It was in 1854 that he emigrated to the new world, taking passage on a sailing vessel at Gutten- berg, and arriving in New York after a rather pleasant voyage of six weeks. He landed and at once proceeded west by train to Buffalo, the lakes to Chicago, and train to Geneseo, where he joined his brother
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Malcolm Anderson, who had located here in May, 1854.
Renting land in Andover township, Mr. Anderson engaged in farming there for five years. and being unfamiliar with the methods and customs of America, had many new experiences during those years. Being economical, industrious and ambitious, he saved some money and in 1861 purchased eighty acres of raw prairie land in Lynn township, which he commenced at once to fence, break and improve. His first home was a good frame residence, though rather small, but it has since been replaced by a more commodious and pretentious dwelling. Good barns and outbuildings have also been erected, and the place converted into a highly improved farm. Mr. Anderson added to the original tract from time to time, and now has a valuable farm of four hundred acres. He continued its operation until 1895, when he retired from active labor and has since lived in Orion, where he has built a fine residence.
In Andover township, Mr. Anderson was married August 4, 1854. to Miss Sophia Youngquist, who was also born and reared in Sweden, and came to the United States on the same vessel as her future husband. Six children bless this union, namely : John, who is married and follows farming in Webster county, Iowa; Charlotte, wife of Peter Samuelson, a farmer of Western town- ship, this county; Carl A., who is married and lives in Orion; Albert, who married and died August 1, 1896; Amanda, who is now her father's housekeeper ; and Cordelia, wife of Edwin Linquist, who operates Mr. Anderson's farm in Lynn township. The wife and mother died May 20, 1898, and was laid to rest in Orion cemetery. Mr. Ander- son has several times visited his son in
Webster county, Iowa, spending two weeks with him in September, 1900. He and his daughter, Miss Amanda, are members of the Swedish Lutheran Church of Orion. He was first a member of the Swedish Lu- theran Church in Andover, and there served as deacon for six years. He was one of the church officials when the large church build- ing was erected. He is identified with the Republican party, which he has always sup- ported since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Empty- handed he came to America in search of home and fortune, and his ambitious dreams have been realized, for he has acquired a comfortable competence and handsome prop- erty, which now enables him, in his declin- ing years to lay aside all business cares and enjoy a well earned rest, surrounded by a host of warm friends and acquaintances.
THOMAS H. JOHNSTON.
Among the prominent and influential citizens of Cambridge, Illinois, is Thomas H. Johnston, who is now efficiently serving as county treasurer. He is a native of Henry county, born December 25, 1865, and is a son of John and Lucy M. ( Selon) Johns- ton, the former a native of County London- derry, Ireland, the latter of Stark county, Illinois. In 1854 the father came from Connecticut to this state and took up his residence in Henry county, where he fol- lowed the occupation of farming through- out the remainder of his life. He was ac- tively interested in educational affairs and served as school director for many years, but aside from this he never took any part in public affairs. Religiously he was in
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early life a Scotch Presbyterian. He died May 5, 1889, at the age of sixty-three years, but his wife is still living at the age of fifty- six, and now makes her home in Galva. Thomas H. is the oldest of their six chil- dren, the others being Edward I., assistant cashier in the First National Bank of Ke- wanee, Illinois ; Phobe J., who was formerly a teacher of this county, but is now at home with her mother; William J., who is en- gaged in the restaurant business in Ke- wanee; Robert E., manager of the E. W. Houghton Lumber Company branch at Al- tona, Illinois; and George E., bookkeeper for the same firm at Galva.
Thomas H. Johnston remained upon the home farm until twenty-six years of age, and his primary education was obtained in the public schools of the locality. Later he attended the Galva high school and the Davenport Business College, graduating from the latter institution with the class of 1887. On leaving the farm in 1892 he ac- cepted the position of traveling salesman, and was with two different firms before he became connected with the banking establish- ment of L. M. Yocum & Company, at Galva. ' He remained with the bank until his elec- tion to his present office.
On the 31st of October, 1895, Mr. Johns- ton was united in marriage with Miss Susie E. Calhoun, a daughter of Andrew Calhoun, of Henry county, and to them have been born two children: Mary Janet and Will- iam C. Religiously Mr. and Mrs. Johnston are both members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church. Politically he is a stanch Re- publican, and on his party ticket was elected treasurer of Henry county in 1898 by a ma- jority of twelve hundred and eighty. His fellow citizens speak in unqualified terms of his ability for that office, the duties of which
he is now so capably and satisfactorily per- forming. His genial, pleasant manner makes him quite popular, and he has a host of warm friends throughout his native county.
JOHN SAMUELSON.
Since 1852 John Samuelson has been a resident of Henry county, and was for many years successfully engaged in farming and stock raising in Western township, two and a half miles from Orion, where he still owns a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres, but is now living a retired life in Orion. Although of foreign birth his duties of citizenship have ever been performed with a loyalty equal to that of any native son of America, and when the country be- came involved in Civil war he went to the «lefense of the Union and protected its in- terests on many a southern battle field.
Mr. Samuelson was born in Askerland, Sweden, November 25, 1835, and with his parents, Samuel and Anna (Nelson ) John- son, crossed the briny deep to the new world in 1851. After spending one season in Buffalo, New York, the family came to this county, in the spring of 1852, and the fa- ther, Samuel Johnson, took up land in what is Western township, where he improved a good farm of eighty acres, making his home thereon until his death in 1865.
Being a young man of seventeen years upon his arrival in Henry county John Sam- uelson was of much assistance to his fa- ther in developing the farm, and remained with him until the latter's death. In 1861 he enlisted in Company C, Forty-third Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, which became a part of the Western army. The first im-
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portant battle in which he participated was that of Shiloh, which was followed by nu- merous battles and skirmishes. He took part in the siege of Vicksburg and the cap- ture of that strongly fortified place, and later went to Little Rock, Arkansas. He was also in the engagement at Jenkins Ferry. He entered the service as a private, but was promoted to corporal and later to sergeant. Losing no time from illness or other causes when his term of enlistment had expired he was honorably discharged in the fall of 1864 and returned home.
For one season Mr. Samuelson worked on the old home farm, and then commenced farming on his own account, having previ- ously purchased forty acres of land. He and three brothers bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, which they improved and operated together for a few years, but finally divided the land, each taking forty acres. Subsequently our subject purchased two hundred and forty acres more and now has an excellent farm of three hundred and twenty acres, upon which he has made many substantial improvements, in- cluding the erection of good buildings, and the planting of fruit and ornamental trees. He continued to actively engage in the cultivation of his land and in stock rais- ing until 1898, when he removed to Orion and laid aside all business cares to spend his remaining years in ease and quiet, owning a good home in the village. Ile was early identified with the Swedish Insurance Com- pany and served as a trustee in the same.
In May, 1866, in Henry county, Mr. Samuelson was united in marriage with Miss Mary Lawrence, who was born and reared in Sweden, and they became the par- ents of six children, four sons and two daughters, namely: John W. and Arthur
H., who are engaged in farming on the old homestead; William, who is married and follows farming in Andover township; Guy, who is at home; and Mabel and Esther, who are now attending school in Orion. The wife and mother passed away March 17, 1893, and was laid to rest in Andover cemetery.
Mr. Samuelson's political support has al- ways been given the Republican party since he cast his first presidential ballot for Abra- ham Lincoln in 1860, and has done all in his power to insure its success. For nine years he served his fellow citizens as school trustee, discharging his duties with prompt- ness and fidelity, and in days of peace as well as in time of war has been found a true and loyal citizen of his adopted country. Fra- ternally he is an honored member of the Grand Army Post at Orion. Mr. and Mrs. Samuelson were members of the Swedish Methodist Church of Andover.
NELS M. NELSON.
Nels M. Nelson, who for over half a century has been an honored resident of Henry county, and who is now practically living a retired life, was born in Sweden on the Ist of January, 1829, and in that country grew to manhood. In 1849 he em- igrated to America, and on landing on our shores proceeded at once to Henry county, Illinois. About 1860 he sent for his father, Nels Samuelson, his mother having died when he was quite young. One sister, Chris- tina, the widow of Charles A. Rosell, lives in Woodhull, this county. His brother, Peter, died at the home of our subject in Henry county.
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NELS M. NELSON.
MRS. NELS M. NELSON.
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During the first year of his residence here ents; Louisa, wife of A. A. Nelson, a farm- our subject worked as a farm hand for John Jennings for six dollars per month, and then
er of Lynn township, by whom she has three children living. Edwin, Della and El- went to the northern part of the county . mer, and one deceased; Edward, who as- where he was in the employ of several farm- sists in the operation of the home farm; Ida, wife of Z. C. Johnson, who is engaged in farming on a part of her father's place, and by whom she has two children, Roy and Mabel; Otto, also at home, who was mar- ried in Minneapolis and has one son, An- gust L .; and Gust Emil, who heips his brothers carry on the home farm. ers at different times. In 1854 he was mar- ried to Miss Anna Johnson, who was born in Sweden July 22, 1837, and at the time of their marriage was living in Andover town- ship with her parents, both of whom are now deceased. The others of her family were Mailta, wife of August Swanson, of Woodhull, Illinois; John V., a resident of Linn township, this county; and Jacob, who makes his home in Nebraska.
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