USA > Illinois > Henry County > The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois > Part 21
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD
J. H. Hall swot a resident of Minnesota ; Nancy, widow of William Craig and a resi- dent of Smith's Center, Kansas ; and Charles N., a resident of Bureau county, Illinois.
The early education of our subject was obtained in New York, and for a time he attended school in Illinois after the removal of the family to this county. Although only seventeen years of age at the time of his father's death the responsibility of car- ing for the family largely devolved upon him, and from that time on he took a man's part. He remained at home until twenty- three years of age, when he was married, December 7, 1851, to Miss Martha W. Dudley, who was born in Monson, Maine, and is a daughter of Warren and Alvena ( Barrett ) Dudley, the former a native of Massachusetts, the latter of Maine. Mr. Dindlley's ancestors were of English origin. At an early age he removed with his par- ents. Luther and Martha Dudley, to the Pine Tree state, where he was reared and educated. For a time he followed farming in Somerset county, Maine, and then re- moved to Piscataquis county, where he made his home until 1846, when he came to Henry county, Illinois, and took up his residence in Andover township, where he purchased eighty acres of raw prairie land, paying for the same three dollars an acre. In 1853 he removed to Rock Island county, Illinois, where the following three years were passed, and then went to Cedar county, Iowa, where he continued to reside throughout the remainder of his life. He died in 1873 of nervous prostration brought on by the death of his wife, who died very suddenly of heart failure only eight days before. They were the parents of eight children, of when reached man and womanhood, Fal Lother and Bethiah are now deceased ;
Martha is the widow of our subject; Jo- seph B. is engaged in stock raising near Denver, Colorado: Levi is also deceased : Nelson S. is a resident of Kansas: Helen is the wife of William Tevis, who lives near Sioux City, lowa; and Josiah W. died in Andersonville prison in 1864 while a prisoner of war.
Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lester, as follows: ( 1) Lucetta is now the wife of George W. Rogers, of Valley county, Nebraska, and they have four chil- dren : Thomas, Anthony, Daisy and Esther. (2) Rufus was killed in a snow slide in Idaho, in March, 1882, at the age of twen- ty-eight years. (3) Ellen Grace is the wife of Charles Leaming, of Kansas, and they have one child. . Alvaretta. (4) Julia N. is the wife of Thomas R. Stanton, of Ke- wanee, and they have three children, Mat- tie E .. Letha .A. and Ethel L., all attending school at that place. (5) Juliet, twin sister of Julia N., married George Reed, of Ne- ponset, Illinois, and died September I. 1900. (6) Edmund, who lives on the old home farm in Burns township, wedded Mary Potter, and they have three children. Bessie, Rufus and Guthrie. (7) Susie is at home with her mother. (8) Samuel \\'., who also lives on the home farm, mas ied Eva Wells, and they have one child. Leo.
Throughout his active business life Mr. Lester followed farming. After his mar- riage he purchased a tract of eighty acres with no improvements in Burns township. he building first a one-room frame house, 16x20 feet, in which he and his family lived until 1860, when it was enlarged, making a comfortable and commodious residence. and in 1865 he built a fine residence which is still standing. From time to time, as his financial resources increased he extended
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the boundaries de his farm until he had Four hundred and forty acres of rich and amable land, which he placed under a high state of cultivation. In connection with gen- eral farming he gave considerable atten- tion to stock raising. In November. 1894 he removed with his family to Kewanee, where he died after a continued and pain- inl illness, on the ist of August, 1895, and was laid to rest in the cemetery in Wetli- ersfield township. He was a member of the Grange and Sons of Temperance, and in politics was identified with the Republican party. Although his township was strong- ly Democratic, Mr. Lester was chosen to several official positions of honor and trust, which fact indicated his personal popu larity and the confidence reposed in him by his fellow citizens. He served as super- visor a number of terms, was also col- lector and assessor for one term each; was road commissioner a number of years; and school director for some time. He was true to every trust reposed in him, whether public or private, and in his death the com- munity realized that it had lost a valued and useful citizen.
ELON BEACH GILBERT, M. D.
Dr. Gilbert is a skilled physician and surgeon of Geneseo, Illinois, whose knowl- edge of the science of medicine is broad and comprehensive, and whose ability in apply- ing its principles to the needs of suffering humanity has gained him an enviable prestige in professional circles. He was born in Geneseo, February 23, 1860, a son of E. C. and F. B. ( Beach) Gilbert, na- tives of Allen's Hill, Ontario county, New
York. For many years the father was a suc- cessful farmer and stock raiser of this county, where he died October 14. 1889, aged fifty-two years. He attended the Con- gregational Church, of which his wife is a member. She is still living at the age of sixty-two, and is a resident of Geneseo. To this worthy couple were born six chil- dren, of whom the Doctor is the oldest, the others being Horace S., who operates the old home farm in Geneseo township; Anna E., who died of consumption in 1888, at the age of twenty-one years; Laura C., who is now acting as clerk in the Doctor's office; Morey and Mary, twins, who died at the age of six months.
The early life of Dr. Gilbert was spent upon the home farm and his literary educa- tion was obtained in the common and high schools of Geneseo and Knox College, Galesburg, leaving the latter institution in his junior year. He then took up the study of medicine with Dr. W. C. Brown, of Geneseo,, and later attended a course of lec- tures at Rush Medical College at Chicago, He subsequently entered Jefferson Med- ical College, Philadelphia, where he was graduated in 1885. During his col- lege course he did some interne work in hospitals. After his graduation he entered into partnership with his former preceptor, Dr. Brown, and that connection continued for three years, since which time our sub- ject has been alone in practice, while Dr. Brown has gone to Los Angeles, California. He is now the oldest physician in years of continuous practice in Geneseo, and re- ceives a liberal share of the public patron- age. He has reported cases and written several able articles for medical journals, and is medical examiner for several of the old line insurance companies and for some fra-
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served as local surgeon for the Rock Island railroad, and was county physician for ten years.
On the 12th of April, 1885, Dr. Gilbert led to the marriage altar Miss Cora Thomas, also a native of Geneseo and a daughter of the late H. Thomas, of that place. By this union has been born one child, Alice B. The Doctor and his wife are both members of the Congregational Church, and he is also connected with the Masonic order. In pol- itics he is an ardent Republican. He is a general practitioner, who is well read in his profession and stands deservedly high in his chosen calling. While yet a young man he has been quite successful, and is a thor- oughly enterprising and progressive citizen, alive to the best interests of his county and state.
CAPTAIN ALEXANDER MURCH- ISON.
Captain Alexander Murchison, who is now living a retired life in Wethersfield, served with distinction as an officer in the Civil war and bears an honorable record for brave service in the cause of freedom and union, and in the paths of peace he has also won an enviable reputation through the sterling qualities which go to the making of a good citizen. He dates his residence in Illinois from September 12, 1849, when he located in Stark county, where he lived un- til 1866, and for many years he was actively identified with her farming interests.
A native of Scotland, the Captain was born in Rosshire, July 7. 1831, and there grew to manhood upon a farm. He had but limited school advantages in early life, and is almost wholly self-educated, as well as
self-made man. In 1849 he emigrated to the new world with his father and the other members of the family, taking passage on a sailing vessel at Glasgow. They were out of sight of land for eight weeks and one day. and it was nine weeks before they dropped anchor in the harbor of Quebec. They ex- perienced one very severe storm. From Quebec the family proceeded up the St. Law- rence river and by the Great Lakes to Chi- cago; by canal to Peru; and by team to El- mira, Stark county, Illinois, where they joined some friends who had previously come from Scotland, where the father locat- ed permanently.
Captain Murchison first worked by the month at herding sheep, which he followed for two years. During the following three years he worked as a farm hand at Elmira. and then purchased a team and commenced breaking prairie, devoting his energies to that pursuit for nearly four years. He next purchased and operated a threshing ma- chine and reaper. In 1852 he bought two hundred acres of land in Stark and Henry county, the dividing line crossing his farm. This place he sold at a profit three years later.
On the 4th of March, 1860, he had helped to organize a military company, which he drilled, and when the Civil war broke out in 1861, at the first call for troops, he entered the service in Company B, Nineteenth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry. Our subject was commissioned second lieutenant, but the fol- lowing October was promoted to first lieu- tenant, and was made captain of his com- pany, in July, 1867, with which rank he served until mustered out when his term of enlistment expired. As a part of the Army of the Cumberland the regiment participated in the battle of Stone River, the Tullahoma
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campaign, and then drove General Bragg's command across the Tennessee river after some hard fighting. On September 15. 1863. they took part in an all-day engagement at Dugs Gap, where two of Captain Murchi- son's men were killed and one wounded. They were in the battle of Chickamanga on Sunday, and the Captain was rendered un- conscious by being hit by a piece of shell, but the following day resumed command of his company. He had command of his regiment in an engagement in front of Dal- ton, in February, 1864, at which time he lost two of his own company. He was in the bat- tle of Resaca, Georgia, and was under al- most constant fire for nearly a month during the Atlanta campaign. His command was ordered back on reaching Marietta, and he received an honorable discharge at Chicago, July 9. 1864.
Returning to his home he resumed farm- ing, having previously purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of land in Stark county, and later bought eighty acres adjoining in Henry county. This he fenced, broke and im- proved, and erected thereon one of the best country residences in the community, to- gether with good and substantial outbuild- ings. Upon his place was a beautiful grove of forest trees covering ten acres. In con- nection with the cultivation of his land he engaged in the raising of cattle and hogs, and in his business affairs met with excellent suc- cess. Having acquired a comfortable com- petence he retired from active labor in 1897, and renting his farm he removed to Wethers- field, where he has since made his home.
In Stark county, Captain Murchison was married, July 3, 1866, to Miss Margaret N. Weed, a daughter of Rev. M. C. Weed, a native of Pennsylvania, and one of the pio- neer preachers of Stark county. Mrs. Mur-
chison was principally reared and educated in Marshall county. The Captain and his wife are the parents of three children. A. Clarence, who is married and engaged in the practice of dentistry in Toulon, Illinois; Lorena L., wife of William C. Palmer, an undertaker of Kewanee; and Frances C. J., who is well educated and is engaged in teaching in the Kewanee schools.
Since casting his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont in 1856, Captain Mur- chison has affiliated with the Republican party, and has been a stanch advocate of its principals. He has served as a delegate to county, congressional and state conventions, and for thirty years was a member of the Re- publican central committee of his township, serving as its chairman most of the time. For some years he was a member of the school board, and has also filled the offices of supervisor and township trustee. He is a prominent member and past commander of the Grand Army Post at Kewanee, and stands deservedly high in the esteem of his fellow citizens. Throughout his career of continued and far-reaching usefulness his duties have been performed with the greatest care, and his business interests have been so managed as to win him the confidence of the public and the prosperity which should always attend honorable effort.
NICHOLAS BECKER.
In this enlightened age, when men of energy, industry and merit are rapidly push- ing their way to the front, those who, by their own individual efforts, have won favor and fortune, may properly claim recogni- tion. Years ago, when Illinois was entering
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tijem 1}> era of growth and development and Henry county was laying its foundation for future prosperity, there came thither from all parts of the world men poor but honest. and with sturdy independence and determina- tion to succeed that justly entitles them to representation in the history of the county. Among this class was numbered Nicholas Becker, who for many years was a highly es- teemed citizen of the county.
He was a native of Hettersdorf, Saar- louis, Prussia, and obtained a meagre edu- cation in the land of his birth. In 1853 he came to the new world and began life as a stranger in a strange land, entirely unfa- miliar with the English language and the customs of the country. He was, however, willing to work, and possessed indomitable courage and perseverance. He obtained employment with the Illinois Central rail- road at Chicago, with whom he remained until coming to Henry county in 1856, when he began work for the Rock Island Railroad Company. He remained in their employ. his home being in Geneseo, until 1870, when he secured a position with the Haywood & Smith Company, with which he was con- nected for eight years. Owing to his dili- gence, economy and industry during these years, he managed to acumulate a comforta- ble competence, and throughout the remaind- er of his life successfully engaged in garden- of his life successfully engaged in garden- ing and stock raising on his own account.
On the oth of March, 1858, at Cam- bridge, Hlinois, Mr. Becker was united in marriage with Miss Augusta Bode, a native of Grosfreden, Germany, and to them were born five children, namely : Henry R. mar- Tied Jennie Reams and resides in Elden. Jawa. Mary owns and occupies the old homestead at No. 108 South Oakwood ave-
nue, Geneseo, and also owns other city prop- erty and some farm land. She is a member of the Catholic Church and is a most esti- mable lady. Caroline died in infancy. John J. married Bessie Kehoe and lives in Nor- man, Oklahoma. Carrie died in infancy.
After a useful and well-spent lite Mr. Becker died February 14. 1892, at the age of sixty-eight years, and his wife passed away March 16, 1808, at the same age, the remains of both being interred at Geneseo. Ile was a devout member of the Catholic Church and was one of the first trustees of the church at Geneseo, which position he re- tained for a number of years. He was just- ly recognized as one of the energetic and representative citizens of his community. and he had the confidence and high regard of all with whom he came in contact either in business or social life. His wife was a member of the German Lutheran Church, with which body she held membership dur- ing her life.
V. W. CLOUGH.
Sound judgment combined with fine abil- ity in mechanical lines has enabled the sub- ject of this biography, a well-known resi- dent of Geneseo, to attain a substantial suc- cess in life, and his history is of especial in- terest. He was born in Windham county, Vermont, January 20, 1856, a son of Har- vey V. and Sophia L. ( Heins ) Clough, also natives of the Green Mountain state. His maternal grandfather was William Heins. The father, who was a very successful farm- er, came to Henry county, Illinois, in 1857, and purchased a tract of woodland in Ed- ford township. He converted the timber into cordwood, and that undertaking proved
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INVENTOR.
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Clough's Steam Traction Separator, Geneseo, Illinois.
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quite profitable. He finally sold his property in that township and removed to Geneseo township, where he owned and operated a large farm, but spent the last few years of his life in retirement from active labor in Geneseo, where he died in 1899. at the age of sixty-nine years. He was an upright, hon- orable man, of most exemplary habits and liberal views, and was a Republican in poli tics. His estimable wife is still living. at the age of sixty-five years, an honored resi- dent of Geneseo. In their family were eight children : V. W., of this review : Henry C .. a resident of Davenport, Iowa: Frank, who died at the age of thirty years: Harry, who died in boyhood: Llewellyn, who died when a young man: Clyde M., a resident of Day enport; and two who died young.
Coming to this county during his in fancy, V. W. Clough was educated in the public schools of Geneseo. He early became familiar with every detail of farm work in assisting his father, and grew up to be one of the most progressive and skillful farmers of his community. He made a thorough study of the business, ever seeking for the best methods of carrying on his work, and was what is properly termed a scientific farmer. For twenty years he followed that occupation with good results. Possessing much mechanical ingenuity and very handy with tools, he finally turned his attention to manufacturing enterprises. He has invented many contrivances and some very important machinery, including the first successful traction separator, which consists of a trac- tion engine coupled to a threshing separator in such a way that it makes the two machines into one. It can be moved forward or back- ward without removing the main drive belt ; is always set and always in line : and is ab- solutely safe from fire. He built his first ma-
chine in sixty days in 1898 after having de- waited three years to practical observation and to the study of old machines being operated in the fields. His machine was first tested in Illinois, and then shipped to Minnesota, be- ing used in the large wheat fields in that state, also in North and South Dakota and in Oklahoma. In this undertaking Mr. Clough has been unassisted. The practical working ot the machine in the fields has been its best recommendation and has secured the most sales. A large expense is saved in help and labor as it moves one-third easier than other machines, and nearly one-fourth easier when threshing. It is consequently also a fuel and water saver. The first machine was so com- plete that little changes have since been made. Mr. Clough has listened to thousands of gra- tutitous suggestions, but has not found it feasible to change the pattern. In furnishing the engraving on another page. Mr. Clough writes :
Illustration No. I was taken while in op- eration, threshing for Chas. O. Monter July 28, 1898. I threshed about sixty acres of heavy oats, stacking the straw on a pole shed for his stock. This straw stack was over one hundred feet long, only a small portion of it being shown in photo. I moved the machine four times in threshing this job, and while moving there were no belts removed and the separator never stopped running. It was such a surprise to the grain man watching the operation he forgot to place the wagon under the grain spout, and the weigher dumped several half-bushels on the ground. The only time lost in setting this combination is wait- ing for the farmer to get his grain wagon in place. Time saved, however, is about one day in a week over the old way in Illinois and two days in the great wheat field of the Northwest.
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No. 2 is what is called a perfect "set." This photo was taken while threshing for H. Pritchard, August Ist. This "set" elim- inates all fire danger. The smoke and sparks from the engine will be noticed blowing backward, the straw stack some forty feet to one side and a little to the front. The wind may blow a gale and threshing can go on with perfect safety. This "set" will leave grain slide clear from all dirt and be clean tor engine. This is a "slight catering wind set.'
No. 3 shows the main or drive belt side of the traction separator.
No. 4 is the opposite side of traction separator with the inventor at the steering wheel with hand on throttle ready to move the machine backward or forward. It is guided easier, leveled quicker than can be done with two machines the old way.
his upright, honorable course in life com- mends him to the confidence of all. Politi- cally he is identified with the Republican party, and socially affiliates with the Masonic fraternity, Stewart Lodge, No. 92, A. F. & A. M.
On the 18th of May, 1880, Mr. Clough was united in marriage with Miss Josie Thayer, a native of New York and a daugh- ter of Henry and Emily Thayer. After the Civil war her father, who was a farmer by occupation, came to Illinois and settled at Woodhull, Henry county. He was a most upright and worthy citizen of that place for many years, and died in 1894, at the age of sixty-five. His wife is now a resident of Aurora, Illinois, and is about sixty years of age. Their children were Josie, wife of our subject ; Carrie, wife of Charlie Hart; and Robert, a resident of Alpha, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Clough have two children : Leslie V. . and Florence S. During the Spanish- American war Leslie V. Clough enlisted in Company B, Sixth Illinois Volunteer Infan- try, and with his regiment went from Spring- field into camp at Camp .Alger, and later to Porto Rico. He was finally mustered out of service, and on his return home completed a business course at Moline. He is a young man of good habits and much promise. He has had much experience as an engineer and is a first class workman in that line, to which he has devoted considerable attention since the early age of nine years.
Mr. Clough has also invented a self- feeder for threshing machines, which is very simple, consisting of a band cutter and car- rier, having none of the complicated shake boards found in other machines. This in- vention is all his own and the secret of its success is the way the grain is fed to the cylinder of the thresher. With eight men pitching from four ricks into the feeder it seems hungry for more grain. It has been estimated by competent judges that this feed- er is capable of receiving and threshing ten bushels of grain per minute. Another of Mr. Clough's inventions is the combination water, coal and straw tender attached to trac- tion engines which carries the water and coal supply in the coal burning districts and the straw used as fuel in the great wheat fields of WILLIAM A. REMINGTON. the north. These inventions will all be man- ufactured at the factory established by our There are in every community men of great force of character and exceptional abil- subject at Geneseo. In business affairs he is energetic prompt and notably reliable and ity, who by reason of their capacity for
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leadership become recognized as foremost citizens, and bear a most important part in the development and progress of the locality with which they are connected. Such a man is William A. Remington, mayor of Gene- seo, Illinois, and manager of all the stock- yards on the Rock Island railroad system.
He was born in Rehoboth, Massachu- setts, on the 29th of April, 1830, and is a son of Samuel W. and Harriett ( Reed) Remington, also natives of the old Bay state. His paternal grandparents were Enoch and Ruth ( Kent ) Remington, the former of whom died January 1, 1794. at the early age of twenty-five years, while the latter sur- vived until the 24th of May, 1857. Shortly after the birth of our subject his parents re- moved to Warren, Rhode Island, where the father engaged in mercantile business until his death, which occurred in 1850. His wife survived him several years and died at her home in Providence, Rhode Island, in 1877. Both were active members of the Congregational Church,and he affiliated with the old Whig party, but never took a promi- nent part in political affairs, although he was a public-spirited man and an advocate of all that tend to improve or advance the com- munity in which he lived. In his family were five children, four sons and one daugh- ter, namely : Harriet, who married Simeon Talbot, a contractor of Providence, Rhode Island, and died leaving three children, one of whom is Ella, wife of Charles H. Boyer, assistant superintendent of the public schools of Philadelphia; William .A., our subject, who is second in order of birth; Samuel and John N., both retired merchants of Provi- dence, Rhode Island; and Samuel A., who died in infancy.
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