USA > Illinois > Henry County > The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois > Part 23
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On the 2nd of October, 1883, Mr. Fischer was united in marriage with Miss Etta R. Lyle, a native of Kewanee and a
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daughter of George and Sarah (Snugs) in May, 1897, at the age of seventy-nine. From Stark county they came to Henry county at an early day, and were numbered among its honored and highly respected citi- zens. Lyle. Her father was also born in Henry county, but her mother's birth occurred in London, England. They were married in Kewanee, and here both died at an early age, leaving four children : George, now a To Mr. and Mrs. Fischer have been born five children, as follows: Haydn L., who is attending the high school of Kewanee; J. Emmons; Marguerite, who died July 2, 1893, at the age of two years and a half; Lawrence, who died in 1896, at the age of fourteen months; and George Lyle. The mother and children are members of the Episcopal Church, while Mr. Fischer is a Catholic in religious belief. Since casting his first presidential vote for James A. Gar- field he has affiliated with the Republican party, but has never cared for political honors. He had no capital on starting out in life for himself, and as a farm hand worked for one hundred dollars the first year and one hundred and twenty dollars the second, which amount went to the support of his widowed mother. 4 His record is therefore that of a man who by his own un- aided efforts has worked his way upward to a position of affluence. His life has been one of industry and perseverance, and the systematic and honorable business methods he has followed have won for him the con- fidence and respect of those with whom he has been brought in contact. He is a man of fine personal appearance and excellent business qualifications. farmer of Monroe, Jasper county, Iowa; William H., who married Mollie P. Shrop- shire and lives in Kewanee; and Etta R., wife of our subject. One son, John, died in childhood. These children were reared by the paternal grandfather, John Lyle, who was born at or near Paisley, Scotland, July 29, 1806, and was brought to Amer- ica by his mother in 1816, joining his fa- ther, Willian Lyle, in Alexandria, Vir- ginia. Two years later the family removed to Caledonia county, Vermont, where his father died in 1834. at the age of sixty- six. In 1836 John Lyle came to Illinois, and entered a tract of land in Elinira town- ship, Stark county, where he was joined by his mother and the other members of the family a year later. The mother lived to the advanced age of ninety-five years. Mr. Lyle received only a limited education in the subscription schools, and was entirely a self-made man, who through his own un- aided efforts became quite wealthy. Al- though almost sixty years of age hie enlisted March 24, 1864, in Company K, One Hun- dred and Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served until his term expired on the 25th of the following October. In Vermont he was married, June 19, 1833, to Miss Hester D. Craig, who was to him a faithful helpmate throughout a long mar- ried life. Their only child, George Lyle. EMERY C. GRAVES. the father of Mrs. Fischer, was born in Oc- Emery C. Graves, of Geneseo, has at- tained distinction as one of the able mem- bers of the Henry county bar, and is now tober, 1834, and died May 19, 1862. The grandfather died in July, 1889, at the age of eighty-three, and his wife passed away most capably and satisfactorily serving as
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states attorney. In this profession prob- ably more than in any other success depends upon individual merit, upon a thorough un- derstanding of the principles of jurispru- dence, a power of keen analysis, and the abil- ity to present clearly, concisely and forcibly the strong points in his cause. Possessing these necessary qualifications, Mr. Graves is accorded a foremost place in the ranks of the profession in this county.
He was born in Cherry Creek township, Chautauqua county, New York, January 19, 1853, and is a son of Calvin S. and Martha K. (Kingsley) Graves, also natives of that state, the former born in Herkimer county, the latter in Chautauqua county. On first coming to Illinois, in the spring of 1853. the father located at Earlville, La Salle county, but remained there only one season before coming to Yorktown township, Henry coun- ty, where he followed farming until 1865. He then embarked in the furniture business in Geneseo and later turned his attention to the drug trade. He is still an honored resident of this place. He was seventy-six years of age on the 20th of June, 1900, and his wife was seventy-three on the 25th of February, that year. She holds member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Their children are Mrs. Grace A. Sweeney, of Geneseo; and Emery C., of this review.
The first thirteen years of his life Emery C. Graves spent upon a farm. After com- pleting his education in the schools of Gen- eseo, hie commenced the study of law in the offices of Buckles & Twells, with which firm he remained until the former's death, when lie entered the office of George E. Waite. Subsequently he attended law school at Mad- ison, Wisconsin, and after his graduation in 1874 opened an office in Janesville, that state, where he engaged in the practice of
the law. Returning to Geneseo in 1876, he has since followed his chosen profession at this place, and has built up quite a large and lucrative practice in the state and federal courts. He has had many notable cases, and has served as city attorney ten consecu- tive years, while prior to that time he held the same office for about two years. In the fall of 1889 he was first elected states at- torney, and so acceptably did he fill that office that he has been constantly re-elected. He has proved a most efficient man for the place, and is a veritable terror to evil doers.
Mr. Graves is married and has had two children. May, the older, received her lit- erary education in the Geneseo common schools and the Collegiate Institute, and is now attending the Chicago Art Institute She possesses remarkable musical and artis- tic talent, being specially proficient in draw- ing. Kathryn, the younger, died in her infancy. Mrs. Graves was for several years a successful teacher in the public schools of Geneseo, and is a member of the Congregational Church.
Socially Mr. Graves is a prominent Mason, belonging to Stewart Lodge, No. 92, F. & A. M., of Geneseo; Barrett Chap- ter, R. A. M., and Evarts Commandery. both of Rock Island; and Kaaba Temple, of the Mystic Shrine, of Davenport, Iowa. Politically he has always been an ardent Republican, and besides the offices con- nected with his profession he has twice served as mayor of Geneseo. Never were the reins of city government in more capa- ble hands for he is pre-eminently public- spirited and progressive, and gives his sup- port to every enterprise for the public good. He is a man of fine appearance, is genial and pleasant in manner, and very popular, having a most extensive circle of friends
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and acquaintances. In business affairs he ceased. (3) Mary is the wife of Cornelius has steadily prospered and is the owner of Dwyer, a prominent farmer of Alba town- ship. (4) Alice is the widow of Uriah Jennings, who was a farmer of Lyons, New York. (5) Bridget is the wife of Patrick Mclaughlin, a retired farmer living on Oakwood avenue, Geneseo. (6) Margaret is the wife of James Dwyer, a retired farmer of Geneseo, Illinois. one of the most beautiful homes of Geneseo. Holding marked precedence among the members of the bar of Henry county, and retaining a clientele of so representative a character as to alone stand in evidence of his professional ability and personal popu- larity, Mr. Graves must assuredly be ac- corded a place in this volume.
CORNELIUS HAYES.
This highly respected citizen of Geneseo is the possessor of a handsome property. which now enables him to spend his years in the pleasurable enjoyment of his accumu- lations. The record of his early life is that of an active, enterprising methodical and sagacious business man, who bent his ener- gies to the honorable acquirement of a comfortable competence for himself and family.
Mr. Hayes was born in Ballaugh, Clonouty Parish, County Tipperary, Ire- land, August 1, 1832, a son of Laurence and Alice (Ryan ) Hayes, who spent their entire lives in that country. The father was a cooper by trade, but also followed the oc- cupation of farming throughout life. He died at the age of seventy-six years, his wife at the age of seventy-six. To this worthy couple were born ten children, four sons and six daughters, but our subject, the youngest of the sons, is the only male representative of the family now living. though four sisters are still living. (1) Laurence engaged in farming on the old homestead in Ireland and died there about two years ago. (2) Ella married John O'Brien, a farmer of section 32, Alba town- ship, this county, and both are now de-
The first twenty years of his life Cor- nelius Hayes spent in the land of his na- tivity, and received his early education in the private schools of his birthplace. On laying aside his text books he learned the cooper's trade. In 1852 he came to Amer- ica, landing at New York, and in that city and at Seneca Falls, New York, he followed that occupation for a time. In the spring of 1853, however, he commenced farming at Junius, Seneca county, New York, where he remained five years, and then removed to Springfield, Illinois, where he was engaged in farming two years.
On the 4th of March, 1860, Mr. Hayes came to Henry county, having purchased land the year before on section 32, Alba township. It was a wild tract on which not a furrow had been turned or an improve- ment made, but lie at once erected a good, substantial house, barns and other buildings, and finally placed the eighty acres under excellent cultivation. After residing there four years, he bought an additional tract of two hundred and forty acres on sections 20 and 21, the same township, but two years later sold the homestead of eighty acres, and purchased two hundred and forty acres on sections 29 and 20, and ten acres in sec- tion 9, Alba township. This was also a wild, uncultivated tract, which he converted into a fine farm, erecting on section 21 an elegant residence at a cost of three thousand
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dollars, and two large barns on section 20. Here he successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising until March, 1883, when he rented his farm of four hun- dred and eighty acres in Alba township and moved to Annawan, where he had built a hotel a number of years before. He pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres of farm- ing land on section 10, of Annawan town- ship, just eighty rods south of the village, and while operating that farm for twelve years he used the hotel as his private dwell- ing. Subsequently he spent about a year and three months in Blue Island, Illinois, at the end of which time he sold his hotel in Annawan, and on the 6th of May, 1897, took up his residence in Geneseo, where he has purchased a fine home on College avenue, and is now living retired, surrounded by all the comforts that make life worth the living.
On the Ist of December, 1872, at Gen- eseo, Mr. Hayes married Miss Margaret J. Smith, who was born February 24, 1852, a daughter of John and Ellen (Stewart) Smith. Her father, who was a prominent farmer of Bureau county, Illinois, died at the home of our subject in Annawan, and her mother's death occurred in Gold town- ship, Bureau county. Mrs. Hayes is the fourth in order of birth in their family of twelve children, ten of whom are still liv- ing, two sons being deceased. Our sub- ject and his wife have one child, Alice E., who was born in Annawan, April 22, 1883, and has attended the public schools of that village, St. Benedict's school of Blue Island and the high school of Geneseo.
Mr. Hayes gives his political support to the men and measures of the Democratic party, and represented Alba township on the board of supervisors six years. He also
served as township treasurer eight and a half years, commissioner nine years, and assessor fourteen years in Alba township; and for many years was also a school di- rector there and in Annawan. In religious faith he is a Roman Catholic and takes an active interest in church work. His success in life has been marvelous. As a young man of twenty years he came to America, and with no capital started out in a strange land to overcome the difficulties and ob- stacles in the path to prosperity. His youthful dreams have been realized, and in their happy fulfillment he sees the fitting re- ward of his earnest toil.
THE SWEDISH EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH OF KEWANEE.
The year after the organization of the village of Kewanee, in 1854, the Swedes began to move in but only a few remained permanently, and it was not until Septem- ber, 1869, that a congregation could be or- ganized with sixteen members. It belongs to the Ev. Lutheran Augustana Synod.
In 1870 a church was built for three thousand dollars. The congregation con- tinued for sixteen years to be served by non-resident pastors. In 1886 Rev. S. A. Becklund accepted a call and staid four years, increasing the membership to one hundred and ninety-two. On account of scarcity of ministers the congregation was now left vacant for two years.
In 1891 a theological student from Augustana College and Theological Sem- inary, at Rock Island, Illinois, was called to have charge of the congregation until a permanent pastor could be secured. Instead
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of renovating the old church a new church building was immediately begun and com- pleted the following year, 1892, costing eleven thousand dollars. This same year Rev. S. G. Youngert, was ordained, and, having won the esteem and confidence of the congregation as a faithful student, he was called as pastor. He accepted and took charge of the congregation in June, 1892. Two years later a commodious parsonage was erected. Total value of church property fifteen thousand five hundred dollars.
After four and a half years Rev. Young- ert resigned, the membership having in- creased in the meantime from one hundred and ninety-two to three hundred and four. The present pastor, Rev. J. M. Rydman, took up his work here June 1, 1897. The membership is now (January 1, 1901) three hundred and fifty-nine. Total income for 1900 three thousand two hundred and
The auxiliaries are the Ladies' Sewing So- ciety, and, among the young ladies, the Dorcas Society, and a Young People's So- ciety.
REV. J. M. RYDMAN.
Rev. J. M. Rydman, pastor of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kewanee, was born in Kronobergs Lan, Sweden, September 19, 1863, and received his primary education in the schools of that country. On coming to America at the age of seventeen years he joined some rela- tives in Colorado, where he attended a grammar school for one year, and then en- tered the first class of Bethany College at Lindsborg, Kansas; where he pursued his
studies four years. In 1887 he became a mem- ber of the sophomore class at Augustana Col- lege, Rock Island, Illinois, and was gradu- ated with the degree of A. B. from the in- stitution in 1890. He next attended the theological seminary connected with that college, where he was graduated in 1892, and the same year was ordained a minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church at Lindsborg, Kansas, by the president of the synod.
Mr. Rydman was first called to the pas- torate of the Swedish church at Calumet, Michigan, where he remained five years, and during that time built an eleven-thou- sand dollar stone church and a parsonage costing four thousand dollars. He then ac- cepted a call from the church at Kewanee, coming here on the Ist of June, 1897. He is a man of good address and winning man- ners. He is a zealous, active and efficient twenty-seven dollars and fifty-two cents. . worker for the church, and is held in high esteem not only by the people of his own congregation, but by the residents of Ke- wanee generally.
On the 15th of June, 1892, Mr. Rydman was united in marriage with Miss Helena M. Lund, a native of Henry county and a daughter of John and Anna S. Lund. Her father was one of the early settlers of the county, having located here in 1854, and was engaged in farming in Andover town- ship. He died some years ago, but his widow is still living and makes her home with her children. Mrs. Rydman is the sixth in order of birth in this family, com- prising nine children. Our subject and his wife have two sons and two daughters, hose names and dates of birth are as fol- lows: Egbert, May 9, 1893; Annette, June 30, 1895; Philip, July 25, 1898; and Ruth, September 20, 1900.
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Since coming to Kewanee Mr. Rydman has reduced the church debt two thousand dollars and has added fifty members to the church.
JOHN McNEELEY.
John McNeeley, one of Kewanee's es- teemed citizens, was for many years promi- nently identified with the agricultural inter- ests of Henry county, but at present is not actively engaged in any business. He has led an honorable and useful life, and is one of the men who make old age seem the bet- ter portion of life.
Mr. McNeeley was born in Jefferson county, Indiana, March 1, 1826, a son of John and Margaret ( Redinbaugh ) McNeel- ey, of Irish and German descent. His par- ents were both natives of Ohio, where their marriage was celebrated, and at an early day removed to Indiana, floating down the Ohio river on a flatboat. In the latter state they spent the remainder of their lives. Through- out his active business life the father en- gaged in farming. In the family were twelve children, nine sons and three daughters, of whom five sons are still living, and with the exception of our subject all are residents of Indiana. All have followed agricultural pur- suits except William H., who is a carpenter of Crawfordsville, Indiana. He is a veteran of the Civil war, having served for over three years in an Indiana regiment.
Reared on the home farm, John Mc- Neeley received but a limited education in the subscription schools of his native state. On reaching the age of twenty-one, he learned the carpenter's trade which he fol- lowed for six years or until coming to Illi- nois in 1851. On his arrival here he en- tered eighty acres of government land in
Henry county, and at once commenced to im- prove and cultivate his land. At that time the unbroken prairies stretched for miles in every direction, and abounded in wolves, deer and feathered game. Few towns had been established and Mr. McNeeley hauled his produce to Henry, which was then his nearest market place. Prospering in his new home he added to his original eighty-acre tract from time to time until he now owns four hundred and forty acres of very valua- ble land in Annawan township, which has been improved by him and placed under a high state of cultivation. He engaged in farming quite extensively, and also carried on stock raising, his specialty being short horn cattle. He also fed stock for ship- ment to the city markets. In 1890 he pur- chased a residence in Kewanee, and has since lived a retired life in that city, enjoying a well-earned rest.
Returning to Indiana, Mr. McNeeley was married, October 30, 1851, to Miss Catherine Slaughter, who was also born in Jefferson county, that state, October 2, 1827. She is a daughter of Jeremiah and Rebecca (Lo- gan) Slaughter, the father a native of New York, and the mother of Ohio. They were early settlers of Indiana, where their death occurred. His occupation was that of a farmer. The father of Jeremiah Slaughter was a soldier in the war of 1812, while his grandfather, Isaac Slaughter, also a native of Orange county, New York, fought for seven years in the Revo- lutionary war, and later lived and died on his farm in New York. The family were of German descent. Rebecca Logan was a daughter of William Logan, who removed with his wife, Elizabeth Dement, from New Jersey to Ohio, locating in Montgomery county, where they were pioneers.
JOHN McNEELEY.
MRS. JOHN McNEELEY.
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The children of Mr. and Mrs. McNeeley are as follows: Margaret A., wife of Seth Moon, of Annawan; John M. ,a farmer of Storm Lake, Iowa; Mary, at home; Will- iam H., a resident of Adair, Iowa; George, who died in infancy ; Sarah Elizabeth, now Mrs. Elmer J. Troyer, of Lincoln, Nebras- ka; Dora, who married John Moon, and died in Iowa in 1893; Emma and Oliver. All the children received good common school edu- cations, and Oliver was graduated from the Annawan high school, and later took a two- years' preparatory course at Knox college, Galesburg.
The Republican party has always found in Mr. McNeeley a stanch supporter of its principles, but he has never taken an active part in politics. He was officially connected with the public schools of Annawan township for many years, and has always done all in his power to maintain good schools. He was an active member and liberal supporter of the United Brethren Church, and on account of his strict integrity and sterling worth is rec- ognized as a valued citizen of the commu- nity in which he resides.
THOMAS J. HUGHES.
Thomas J. Hughes, engineer of the Ke- wanee water works, was born in Liverpool, England, in 1856, and is a son of John and Ellen (Jones) Hughes, who are still living at Burkin Head, just across from Liverpool. The father was born in that country in 1835. but the mother's birth occurred in Wales in 1837. They are members of the established church of England, and the father served as organist for about twenty years. By oc- cupation he, too, is an engineer, and for years has been superintendent of the Lon-
don & Northwestern Railway Company. His brother, William D., who once visited America, has also followed the life of an engineer during his entire business career. Our subject is the oldest of a family of eight children, the others being Catherine. who became the wife of Robert Evans and died ih 1895, at the age of thirty-seven years ; William, who died in Cardiganshire, South Wales; Anna, Ellen, and Ellen (second). who all died at about the age of two years; John, who united with the Presbyterian Church and died at the age of four- teen years ; and David B., a resident of We- gan, England. Only our subject and his youngest brother are now living.
Having very limited school privileges during his youth, Thomas J. Hughes is al- most wholly self-educated. He began life for himself as coal trimmer for firemen, and later was promoted to the latter position, and subsequently was made engineer. He served a two years' apprenticeship in a ma- chine shop; went from there to the boiler shop, and later to the blacksmith shop, be- coming very proficient in all of these branches of mechanics.
Before leaving England Mr. Hughes was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Rob- erts, who was born in North Wales, Sep- tember 29. 1853. a daughter of James and Catherine (Jones) Roberts, of Anglesey, Wales, where the father is still living at the age of seventy-eight years. He was a con- tractor and builder in stone masonry, and for many years served as sexton of an Epis- copal Church, in which he holds member- ship. He is well known and highly respect- ed in the community where he has so long made his home. His parents were James and Elizabeth Roberts. In 1843 he married Catherine Jones, who died April 23, 1878,
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at the age of fifty years. She was a loving wife, an affectionate mother, an excellent neighbor and a thorough Christian. In the Roberts family were eight children, namely : Elizabeth, who became the wife of Professor Richard Roberts and died at the age of fifty- six years; Thomas, a resident of New York, who first married Ellen Owens and second Mary Evans; John, a resident of Anglesey, Wales, who married for his second wife Jane Jones; Grace, wife of John E. Jones, of Carnarvonshire, Wales: Catherine, wife of our subject : Mary, who died unmarried at the age of thirty-two years; Margaret, who died in 1872, at the age of twelve ; and James, who is married and lives in Wales.
In 1881 Mr. Hughes, with his wife and one child, came to the United States, arriv- ing here a few weeks before the assassination of President Garfield. On reaching Castle Garden he had but a half penny remaining, and this was spent for an apple to appease the appetite of the child. After spending the night there in sleep upon the floor they boarded a slow-going emigrant train, and for three days, from Thursday to Saturday, were without food. Two years were spent in Wyoming county, New York, where Mr. Hughes soon found employment and was able to provide for his family. He then came to Kewanee, Illinois, and found a sit- uation with John and Thomas Pierce in the Haxton Steam Heater Company's works, where his ability as a skilled workman was soon recognized, and in every way he proved an excellent and trustworthy employe. He remained with that company nine years, his work being core making. At the end of that time he became engineer at the Kewanee water works, and his long retention in that position plainly indicates his faithfulness to
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