USA > Illinois > Henry County > The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois > Part 20
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72
For one year after his marriage Mr. Fors was engaged in farming upon land owned by his father in Knox county, this state, but since then has resided upon his present farm on section 4, Andover township, Henry county. His father was the first to improve the place, and these improvements have been added to and kept up by our subject, who is justly regarded as one of the most enter- prising and skillful farmers of his commun- ity. He is meeting with good success, and is held in high esteem by friends and neigh- bors. Religiously he is a member of the Swedish Lutheran Church and politically is identified with the Republican party.
MATS ERSON.
Prominent among the honored early set- tlers of Andover township is Mats Erson, whose home is on section 9, where he owns a well-improved and highly cultivated farm of eighty acres. He has laid many rods of tiling, has erected good and substantial buildings and made other necessary improve- ments to make it a pleasant and comfortable home.
Mr. Erson was born in Sweden on the 9th of August, 1821, and is the eldest child of Eric and Breeta ( Hillen) Matson, who were life-long residents of that country. They were educated in the early schools of their native land, and were honest, hard- working and highly respected people. In their family were five children, namely : Mats, of this review; Hillen, the eldest daughter, who is still a resident of Sweden; Catherine, deceased; Breeta, a resident of Sweden ; and Christine, deceased.
During his boyhood and youth Mats Erson attended the schools of Sweden, and worked with his father on the farm. Hear-
MATS ERSON.
211
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ing such good reports of the progress of the new world and the chances for a poor man on this side of the Atlantic, he resolved to try his fortune here. Prior to his emigra- tion, however, he was married, in 1846, to Miss Breeta Olson, who was born in 1811. On the 28th of June, 1849, they sailed for this country, and on landing proceeded at once to Andover, Illinois, where they ar- rived October 16, 1849.
Here Mr. Erson worked by the month for a short time. He then had but little capital, and with the hope of making money more quickly he went to he gold fields of California in the spring of 1850, being one of a party of five who made the trip over- land with horse teams. After reaching the Pacific coast, they engaged in prospecting in California for eleven months, and in course of their mining operations, each made a stake for himself and then returned to their chosen home-Illinois. They took a steamer August 2, 1851, for Panama, and oti the 22d of September, following, were in Andover, coming by way of New York. During the trip both ways Mr. Erson met with many adventures and endured many privations, but he felt repaid for them, however. On again reaching Henry coun- ty, he purchased forty acres of land on sec- tion 16, Andover township, and built there- on a house, in which the family lived while he began the improvement and cultivation of his land. As he prospered in his labors he was at length able to purchase another tract of eighty acres upon which he now lives.
Mr. Erson has been called upon to mourn the loss of his estimable wife, who passed away April 5, 1897. They had no children. In 1881 Olof Hellblom, a son of his sister Hellen, came to America, and has since rented his uncle's farm, making his home in
the house first erected by our subject. Since his wife's death Mr. Erson has resided with him, having given him the forty-acre tract on section 16. Mr. Hellblom is married and has seven children.
Mr. Erson has always lived a quiet, un- eventful life and has been a supporter of all movements that have tended to advance the interests or aid in the development of the county and community in which he makes his home. On his arrival here there were but few houses in Andover or between that place and Geneseo. He has watched with interest the many changes that have since taken place and in the work of advancement has ever borne his part. Since voting for John C. Fremont, in 1856, he has been an ardent supporter of the Republican party and its principles, and has efficiently filled sev- eral minor offices of his township, as well as that of school director. He is one of the leading and influential members of the Swedish Methodist Episcopal church of An- dover, and has been one of its trustees since 1854, and has also been a steward for thir- ty-nine years. He is one of the oldest mem- bers of the Old Settlers' Association and takes an active interest in its affairs. His has been an active and useful life, and al- though now well advanced in years he still enjoys excellent health, though he has re- tired from active labor, and in ease and re- tirement is enjoying the fruits of former toil. No man in the community is held in higher regard or has more warm friends than Mr. Erson, of this review.
ANDREW P. NORELL.
Among the leading farmers and highly respected citizens of Andover township is numbered A. P. Norell, who was born in
212
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Sweden, April 12, 1826. His parents, Peter A. and Christine Johnson, were also natives of Sweden and there spent their entir lives. Our subject was reared and educated in his native land, and prior to his emigration to America was married in 1850 to Miss Brita Peterson, who was also born in Sweden. He was thirty years of age when he sailed from Helsingland, and after a long and tedious voyage of eight weeks landed in New York, whence he proceeded at once to Ando- ver, Henry county, Illinois. In that village he first worked at day labor. Saving what he could from his wages, Mr. Norell was able to purchase a tract of ten acres in Linn township in 1861, and upon that place he lived for four years. He then sold and bought one hundred and seven acres of un- improved land in the same township, upon which he erected a house costing two thou- sand dollars and also built large barns and other outbuildings. On disposing of that property he came to Andover township and purchased his present highly cultivated and well improved farm of one hundred and six- ty acres on sections 11 and 14, and has since made his home on section 14.
Mr. and Mrs. Norell are the parents of three children, namely : Peter, who is mar- ried and lives in Nebraska; Eric, who is married and makes his home in Andover township, this county ; and John Alvin, who resides on the home farm. The last named was married in Andover township. Decem- ber 11, 1897. to Miss Olive Nordquist, a na- tive of Andover and a daughter of E. Nord- quist, who was one of the early settlers of the township. By this union there are two children, Anna Elizabeth and John Eric .1. Vorell.
Politically Mr. Norell is a supporter of de Republican party, and religiously is a
member of the Lutheran Church. He is widely and favorably known throughout the county where he has so long made his home, and is held in high regard on account of his sterling worth and excellent character. He is one of the self-made men of the com- munity and his success has been worthily achieved.
M. MAURY NASH.
This well known and popular resident of Osco township, whose home is on section 35, was born in Coalsmouth, West Virginia, September 21, 1847. His father, Rev. Francis Burdett Nash, was born in Spring- field, Massachusetts, November 16, 1812, and when a mere boy accompanied his par- ents to Connecticut, where he had to sustain himself at manual labor. For a time he was with a brother in St. Albans, Vermont, where he attended the Franklin County Grammar School. In 1829 he returned to Connecticut and read medicine at Wooling- ton. He was next a teacher at Swedesboro, New Jersey, and from there moved to Ken- tucky, and entered the Theological Semi- nary in Lexington from which he was grad- uated in 1837. For some years he was a missionary of his church in Kentucky, and he devoted his whole life to his sacred call- ing, preaching in Kentucky, West Virginia, Illinois and Minnesota, his last charge being in the latter state. At one time he was a res- ident of Tiskilwa, Bureau county, Illinois, and his circuit covered several parishes. He built the Episcopal Church at Princeton, and held services at Cambridge, Geneseo and Osco, conducting the first meeting in Cambridge. In 1873 he went west, but later returned to Henry county, and was
213
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
rector of the church at Cambridge, and also at Osco until 1881 when he went to Min- nesota. He was well known by all pioneers, and will long be remembered for his good works. He was an ardent and untiring worker in building up the different churches with which he was connected, and at his death left a record of which his family may
be justly proud. He died October 6, 1890, at the home of his son in Nashua, Minne- sota, which town was named in honor of the family. His father, Ebenezer Nash, was also a preacher of western New York, and was of old New England stock. While in Kentucky Francis Burdett Nash married Elizabeth Maury, a native of that state, who was of southern ancestry, her family being slave holders in the south before the war. She died in Tiskilwa, Bureau county, Illi- nois, in 1866. Ten children were born to them, two of whom died in early childhood. The others were Susan P., a resident of Nashua, Minnesota; Miranda P., widow of Edward Morris and a resident of Minneap- olis; Elizabeth, deceased; M. Maury, the subject of this sketch; Francis B., a graduate of Griswold College, of Davenport, and an Episcopal clergyman now of Newark, Ohio; Harry S., a graduate of Harvard University and a clergyman of Cambridge, Massachut- setts; Fontian, a farmer of Nashua, Minne- sota; and Mary L., a music teacher, who died in Chicago, Illinois. ( For a full record see the "Townsend Family Record," and the "Nash Genealogy.")
In early boyhood M. Maury Nash at- tended the common schools near his home and later took a course at Griswold College, Davenport, lowa. At the age of sixteen he began earning his own living, and being one of the oldest of the family, he assisted his father until he attained his majority,
when he went to Missouri, where he was en- gaged in farming, remaining there three years. We next find him in Nebraska, where he was engaged in the stock business. Later he moved to Iowa where he owned and operated a farm. In 1879 he moved to Nashua, Minnesota, where he purchased two sections of wild prairie land with his brother, which they broke up and put in wheat, mak- ing his home there for three years, during which time he assisted in organizing the townships and county, and was one of the first justices of peace. After leaving there in 1882 he spent about two years in hospitals having his eyes treated, and in 1883 joined his family in Iowa, where they had located on the removal of the family from Nashua. In 1889 he returned to Illinois and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land on sec- tion 35, Osco township, Henry county, to the improvement and cultivation of which he has since devoted his energies with most gratifying results. All of the buildings found upon the place have been erected by him, and its neat and thrifty appearance in- dicates the careful supervision of a progres- sive farmer and thorough business man. He is a prominent stock feeder, buying most- ly in Nebraska and feeding hiere.
In 1880 Mr. Nash married Miss Amelia MI. Smith, a daughter of J. H. Smith, whose sketch appears on another page of this vol- time. She was born March 15, 1857, on the farm in Osco township where her father settled half a century ago, and was gradu- ated from the Cambridge high school, after which she successfully engaged in teaching in the district schools of Osco township for a time. By her marriage to our subject she has become the mother of six children, one of whom, Lawrence, died at the age of four years. Those living are Mary L.,
214
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
known as Lutie, born in 1882; Jared B., born in 1884; Anson M., born in 1886; Bessie, born in 1890; and Jane A., born in 1899. Those who have attained a sufficient age are now pursuing their studies in the district school.
In connection with farming Mr. Nash has always followed the stock business with the exception of the time spent in Minnesota, where he was engaged exclusively in the raising of wheat. He deserves great credit for what he has accomplished in life, for since an early age he has depended entirely upon his own resources. Diligence has been the keynote to his success, and his ex- ample is one that might be prontably fol- lowed by all who have to depend upon their own exertions. His worth is recognized and he enjoys the friendship of many of the best people of the county. In the various lo- calities where he has resided he has taken an active and prominent part in public affairs, has always been a member of the township committee of the Republican party, and is now chairman of the same in Osco township. He has also been prominently identified with educational affairs, and is now a school di- rector. He was one of the organizers of the Farmers Institute, has been a member of the board of management, and is now vice- president of the county institute. He is one of the leading and influential members of the Episcopal Church of Osco, and has been vestryman of the same for ten years.
SAMUEL BENNISON.
This well known retired miller and hon- ure' atizen of. Kewanee, Illinois, was born near Manchester, Cheshire, England. Feb-
ruary 13. 1830, his parents being Samuel and Mary (Turner) Bennison, who were married November 29, 1819. In 1845 they came to America on a sailing vessel, which was nearly six weeks in crossing the Atlan- tic. Landing in New York, they proceeded at once to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, where the father worked in the coal mines for six years, having followed that business in Eng- land. In May, 1851, he crossed the Alle- gheny mountains, and by canal and steam- boat down the Ohio river and up the Mis- sissippi river, he went to the lead mines in Shullsburg, Wisconsin, where he engaged in prospecting for five or six years, but met with failure in that venture, losing all that he had accumulated by sinking deep shafts. The mining company of which he was a member was composed of himself, his four sons and one son-in-law. They would work at their mine until their money and credit were exhausted, and then, while some of the company continued the labor, the others would work for wages to meet their expenses in the operation of their mine. In 1851 our subject came to Rock Island, Illinois, and found employment in a coal mine five miles from that city, and while working there he managed to save one hundred dollars. At that time the others were also in the employ of different mining companies, but were no- tified that they must either work their own claim or give it up. They had previously sunk a shaft seventy-five feet deep near Shullsburg, Wisconsin, to which our sub- ject returned on leaving the coal mines of this state, and resumed work there. After digging about forty feet the company struck a cave, which was twenty feet in all its di- mensions, and was lined with mineral and loose rock. Their labors were at length crowned with snecess, and the mine became
SAMUEL BENNISON.
MRS. SAMUEL BENNISON.
219
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
very valuable. They found another cave trip. In their mining operations there they more valuable than the first, and the mine was worked with pool to the company. Having prospered in this Venture, the father was able to lay aside ali business cares and spend his last days in ease and quiet. Viter thirteen years spent at Shullsburg. Wsom- sin, he came to Kewanee. where he lived re tired until his death. He was born July 20. 1797. and died .August 23. 1885. His wife, who was born in Manchester, England, May 20, 1798, departed this life Jannary 6, 18 6. During their long married life of nearly two-thirds of a century they were never sep- arated longer than three months. The fa- ther was confirmed in the established church of England, and was a teacher in the Sunday school, but later joined the Primitive Meth- odists, and was a member of that church at the time of his death.
In the family of this worthy couple were nine children, namely : John, a miner and miller, who died at the age of seventy-two years: Bettie, who died in England at the age of twenty-two; Eliza, who married Richard Hill, and died October 24, 1891, at the age of sixty-six years ; William, deceased ; Samuel, our subject : Henry, who died in Kewanee: Mary, wife of Samuel Hill, of Mexico; Thomas, a retired merchant of Ke- wanee ; and James, who married Lydia Hen - itt October 8, 1861, and died in 1865. Only three of the family survived their mother, and these are still living.
While engaged in mining at Shullsburg. Wisconsin, our subject and his brother Hen- ry decided to go to California on accaunt of the latter's health, leaving the father and brothers to operate the mine. They started in January. 1855, and by way of New York and the Isthmus went to the gold fields of California, being four weeks in making the 10
met with good success, and Henry Bennison spent twenty years on the Pacific slope. He then returned to Kewanee, where his death occurred. Samuel Bennison, of this review . remained in California only four years. After more than a year's separation he was joined by his wife, and together they re turned east in 1859, by the Isthmus route. For several years he was engaged in lead mining in Wisconsin, and in 1864 removed to Kewanee, Illinois, where he has since made his home. For some years he and his broth ers were engaged in the mercantile and mill- ing business at this place, but he is now liv ing a retired life, enjoying a well-earned rest. He has had to overcome many obsta cies in the path to success, but with deter- mined effort he has worked his way steadily upward, and is to-day one of the prosperous and substantial citizens of the community. lle is a director of the First National Bank of Kewanee, and in all business transactions his word is considered as good as his bond.
On the 27th of September, 1855. at Shullsburg, Wisconsin, Mr. Bennison was united in marriage with Miss Eleanor Wort- ley. also a native of England, and a daugh ter of George and Catherine ( Wilkinson) Wortley. Her father was born in Lincoln shire, May 30, 1802, and brought his family to America in 1850, locating at Shullsburg. Wisconsin. He was a local preacher in the Primitive Methodist Church, and died m 1884. His first wife passed away during the infancy of Mrs. Bennison, who is now the only survivor of their four children, those deceased being Ann, George and Eliza. Hle was again married in 1843, his second union being with Mary Linager, who is still living in Shullsburg, Wisconsin, and by whom he had three children-Rebecca, Mary J. and
220
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Musson. Mrs. Bennison was born March 21, 1835, and was fourteen years of age when she came to the United States with the family.
Of the ten children born to our subject and his wife, two died in infancy. The oth- ers are as follows: Eliza A. is the wife of Samuel Talbott, a farmer living near Ster- ling, Illinois, and they have four children. Fred. Grace, Walter and Floyd; James H .. born December 4, 1858, died July 20, 1873: Louise G. is the wife of William Melbourn. a machinist of Kewanee, and they have three children, Harry, Edward and Eleanor G .; Samuel, a farmer of Kansas, married Helen Acre, and they have two children. Laura and Harold; George W., a member of the mercantile firm of George W. Bennison & Brothers, of Kewanee, married Elizabeth Corkill, and they have two children, Seward A. and George; Edward, a member of the same firm, married Augusta Schaefer, and they have three children, Grace, Clarence and Raymond; Alvin C., also one of the same firm, dealers in dry goods and grocer- ies at Kewanee, married Zella Stone, and they have one child, Helen; Elizabeth; and Raymond died in infancy.
Politically Mr. Bennison is an ardent Re- publican, and religiously both he and his wife are earnest and consistent members of the Congregational Church. They are widely aund favorably known, and are held in high regard on account of their sterling worth Acid many excellencies of character.
CHARLES E. CHASE.
Among the self made men and thrifty farmers of Henry county is Charles E. Chase boa is proprietor of a good farm of one hun-
dred acres on section 29. Western township, within two miles of Orion. He has been a resident of the county since the 12th of March, 1869. and has been actively identi- fied with its agricultural and stock raising interests.
Merrick Chase, father of our subject, was born in Massachusetts, in 1811, a son of Ben- jamin Chase, and grandson of David Chase, also natives of the old Bay state. The fan- ily is originally of English ancestry, and was founded in America by three brothers, one of whom settled in Massachusetts, another in Maine, and the third in New Hampshire. At an early day Benjamin Chase removed to Vermont, and became one of the pioneers of Windham county, where the father of our subject grew to manhood and married Miss Sarah Maria Brigham, a native of that coun- ty. There they continued to reside until after the birth of all their children. Mr. Chase followed farming, hotel keeping and various occupations. He also served as dep- uity sheriff of the county. In 1858 he re- moved to Washington county, New York, where he made his home until 1873, when he came to Henry county, Illinois, and in partnership with our subject purchased a farm in Western township. There he spent his remaining days, dying January 3, 1889. His wife survived him a few years, and passed away in 1897.
Charles E. Chase, whose name introduces this review, was born in Jacksonville, Wind- ham county, Vermont, on the 17th of Jan- uary, 1844, and was a lad of fourteen years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Washington county, New York, where he grew to manhood upon a farm, be- coming thoroughly familiar with agricult- ural pursuits and acquiring his literary knowledge in the common schools of that
22I
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
locality. Coming west in 1869 he took up his residence in Henry county, Illinois, where he worked by the month at farm labor for three years, and then purchased his pres- ent farm on section 29, Western township, in company with his father.
Returning to Vermont Mr. Chase was there married February 26, 1874. to Miss Sophia H. Farnesworth, who was born, reared and educated in Windham county, that state, and prior to her marriage success- fully engaged in teaching. For about twelve years she made her home in Boston, Massa- chusetts. Mr. and Mrs. Chase have one son, Arthur F., who is now in his senior year at Knox College, Galesburg.
For several years after his marriage. Mr. Chase engaged in farming on rented land in this county, but on the death of his father located on the farm which they had purchased, and here he has continued to make his home. He has made many im- provements upon the place, including the erection of a good residence, barns and out- buildings, has tiled the land and set out fruit and shade trees, which add to the at- tractive appearance of the farm. He also owns a forty-acre tract of land south of 'Orion, which he uses as pasture, as he raises considerable stock, keeping on hand a good grade of cattle, hogs and horses.
In his political affiliations, Mr. Chase is a stanch Republican, having always sup- ported that party since casting his first presidential vote for General U. S. Grant in 1868, but he has never sought official honors. He has, however, efficiently served as a member of the school board for some years, and also as township trustee. Fre- ternally he is a member of Sherman Lodge, No. 535, A. F. &. M., of Orion, while re- ligiously his wife is a member of the Methi-
odist Episcopal Church. His success in life is due entirely to his own well directed efforth for he began his business career with- out capital, and to his diligence, industry and good management may be attributed his success.
SIVILIAN LESTER.
Sivilian Lester, deceased, was numbered among the honored pioneers of Henry coun- ty, where he located in 1840, when this region was mostly wild and unimproved. In the work of development he took an ac- tive part in early days and aided in opening up the country to civilization. As the years passed he faithfully performed his duties of citizenship and his interest in the wel- fare and progress of the community never abated.
Mr. Lester was born in Delaware coun- ty, New York, March 17, 1828, his parents being Samuel T. and Emily (Ward) Lester, both natives of the Empire state, and rep- resentatives of old colonial families. The paternal grandfather, Jeremiah Lester, was a member of a Connecticut regiment in the Revolutionary war. After his death, which occurred in New York, his widow came to Henry county, Illinois, with a daughter, and died here at the advanced age of ninety- four years, hier remains being interred in Wethersfield township. The father, Sam- uel T. Lester, followed farming throughout his active business life and continued to make his home in New York until 1840, when he came to Illinois, and located in what is now Burns township, Henry county. His last days, however, were spent in Weth- ersfield. In his family were eleven chil- dren, of whom Sivilian was the oldest. The three now living are Matilda, widow of
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.