USA > Illinois > Henry County > The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois > Part 24
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duty and his excellent knowledge of the business undertaken.
Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hughes two, Maggie and James, died in infancy. Mary C., who was a type-set- ter before her marriage, is now the wife of Malcolm Dicks and lives at home with her parents ; Darius R. is learning engineering, and being a bright boy and willing to work has become quite proficient for one of his years; Ellen J. is attending school; Grace Anna, John T. and Margaret B. are all at home.
Mr. Hughes now owns a pleasant home in Kewanee. The success that he has at- tained is due entirely to his own well-direct- ed efforts and the assistance of his estimable wife, who has indeed proved a true help- meet to him, Bright and cheerful in dispo- sition she løis made for her family a happy home, and has displayed excellent business ability in Ver management of affairs. She is a member of the First Baptist Church of Kewanee, having brought her letter from England, while her husband is a Primitive Methodist in religious belief. In politics he is an ardent Republican, and in his social relations is a member of the Improved Or- der of Red Men. He is one of the most re- liable men of Kewanee, and his many ad- mirable qualities have tended to make him popular with those with whom he has come in contact either in business or social life.
NELS J. SVENSSON.
Since 1871 Nels J. Svensson has been. identified with the agricultural interests of Henry county, and is now the owner of a well-improved and valuable farm on section
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5, Andover township. A native of Sweden, he was born December 2, 1844, and is a son of Swan and Inga Christina Nelson, both of whom were born in 1819. The mother died at the old home in Sweden in 1892, but the father is still living and continues to reside in that country. By trade he is a carpenter and blacksmith, but has also followed farm- ing in his native land. Of his five children Nels J. is the oldest. the others being Caro- lina, who is married and lives in Sweden, but her daughter, Ellen Peterson, now makes her home with our subject: Carl August, a resident of Saline county, Kansas ; Louisa, wife of Knute Larson, also of Kansas; and Mrs. Victoria Swanson, a school teacher of Sweden.
Nels J. Svensson received his education in the public schools of his native land and on the home farm became thoroughly famil- iar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He worked as a farm hand in Sweden for a time, but believing that he could better his financial condition in the new world, he crossed the Atlantic in 1871, and came direct to Henry county, Illinois. Here he was similarly employed until he had saved enough to rent a farm and embark in farming on his own account. Prospering in business he was at length able to purchase seventy acres of land on section 5, Andover township, to the improvement and cultivation of which he has since devoted his energies with most gratifying results. He has re- modeled the buildings, built fences and other- wise added to the value and attractive appear- ance of the place. In connection with gen- eral farming he carries on stock raising.
daughter, Mary, born in 1882. In his po- litical views our subject is independent and supports the men whom he believes best qual- ified to fill the offices regardless of party lines. In 1892 he returned to Sweden on a visit to relatives and friends. He gives lib- erally to all church work, and is regarded as one of the most valued and useful citizens of his community.
ANDREW HALLIN.
The subject of this review, who is one of the leading business men of Kewanee. was born in Soderbarke Soken, central Swe- den, on the Ist of August, 1850, and in his successful business career has displayed the characteristic thrift and enterprise of his race. Beginning with no capital except that acquired by his own industry he has built up a large trade as a tailor and dealer in hats, caps, trunks and valises, and is to-day one of the prosperous citizens of Kewanee:
His parents, Peter and Christina Pers- son were life-long residents of Sweden, where the father died at the age of eighty- five, the mother when about sixty-seven years of age. Andrew is the fourth in order of birth in their family of five children. The oldest, Christina, is the wife of D. Gran- lund, of Minnesota, while the others are still residents of Sweden.
Mr. Hallin was reared and educated in the land of his birth, and there learned the tailor's trade. In 1869 lie crossed the Atlan- tic, landing at Quebec, Canada, whence he came at once to Kewanee, Illinois. At first he worked at anything which he could find to do, and finding employment with the Chi-
In 1881 Mr. Svensson was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary Ogren, who by her first union has one son, Eddie, living at home. Mr. and Mrs. Svensson have a cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Com-
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pany, he stuck the first spade into the Buda & Rushville branch of that road. For a few months he worked upon a farm, but when cold weather came he found more congenial employment in, a tailor shop in Kewanee. He worked by the piece until he embarked in business for himself in 1878. From the start his trade has steadily increased, his work having always given the utmost satis- faction, and he furnished employment to from eight to twelve men, having eleven at the present writing. He carries as complete a line of goods as any establishment of the kind in this section of the state, and re- ceives a liberal share of the public patron- age. He was one of the organizers of the Kewanee National Bank, and has served as director from its inception.
In 1873 Mr. Hallin married Miss Anna Hallquist, also a native of Sweden, where her parents died during her early childhood. She passed away July 14. 1896, on the for- ty-fifth anniversary of her birth. She was a devout and earnest Christian, a member of the Swedish Lutheran church, and was highly esteemed by all who knew her. By this union one child was born, Forrest L., some buildings for residence purposes, and who had charge of the store during his fa- ther's absence in 1900, and is a cutter in the manufacturing department of the establish- ment. He is now serving as master of exchequer in the Knights of Pythias lodge of JACOB FRANK. Kewanee; has been organist in the Swedish Lutheran Church for the past eight years: and is also secretary of the Sunday school.
As a Republican Mr. Hallin takes an active and commendable interest in political affairs, and has served as aldreman of Ke- wanee. He also is a member of the Swedish Lutheran Church, and of the Odd Fellows lodge. In 1900 he went to Europe and vis- ited the Paris Exposition and his old home
in Sweden, thus pasing four very enjoyable months. From his stopping place in Swe- den he traveled seven hundred miles north to Lapland to see the midnight sun, the sun being visible there at twele o'clock at night from the 5th of June to the IIth of July. He and his party spent five weeks in north- ern Sweden, viewing the beautiful and ro- mantic scenery of that region, and they climbed the Dundret mountain, on the top of which no vegetation of any kind will grow. They were two hours in making the ascent.
In addition to his mercantile and banking interests in Kewanee, Mr. Hallin has also become one of the prominent real estate own- ers in the city, having built, in 1887, on Sec- ond street, a fine brick business building, 25 x70, two stories in height, which he occu- pied from 1887 to 1899. In the latter year lie erected an elegant three-story stone front building, also on Second street, 25x63, the first floor and part of the third floor being occupied by himself, while the remainder is leased. While not the largest, it is the finest store room in the city. He has also erected deals successfully in real estate.
No better illustration of the characteristic energy and enterprise of the typical German- American citizen can be found than that af- forded by the career of this well-known har- ness dealer of Geneseo, Illinois, who has been prominently identified with the business in- terests of that place for forty-five years. Coming to this country with no capital ex- cept his abilities he has made his way to suc-
JACOB FRANK.
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cess through wisely-directed effort and he present business, which he has carried on can now look back with satisfaction upon continuouly since, and has met with marked success. past struggles.
The early life of Mr. Frank was passed near the River Rhine, for he was born near the city of Worms, Germany, May 8, 1829, a son of Leonard and Margaret ( Boas) Frank, who were born in France and from that country removed to Germany, where the father owned a large vineyard and ex- tensively engaged in the manufacture of wine, following that business in connection with farming throughout his active life. He died in Germany at the age of eighty-four years, having long survived his wife, whose death occurred when our subject was about fifteen years of age. They were the parents of nine children, but Jacob is now the only survivor. Besides himself there was only one other member of the family who came to the United States, this being Charles Frank, who enlisted in the Mexican war, and was drowned in the Ohio river by the explosion of the steamer on which he had taken pas- sage for Mexico. His death left our sub- ject without a relative in this coutry.
The greater part of the education of Ja. cob Frank was obtained in the schools of his native land. In 1849, at the age of twen- ty, he came to America, and immediately after landing joined his brother at Ashland, Ohio. Together they went to Cleveland where they worked on a railroad then being constructed, but subsequently returned to Ashland, where our subject learned the har- ness and saddlery trade, serving an appren- ticeship of three years and a half, in the meantime attending school for three months. He then formed a partnership with John Mc- Culley which existed for three years, during which time they engaged in the harness busi- ness at Lucas, Ohio, and established his
During his residence in Ohio, Mr. Frank was married, September 5. 1854, to Miss Delilah Bowman, a native of that state and a daughter of David Bowman, a prosperous farmer of Ashland county, Ohio, who, after the death of his wife, came to Illinois, to make his home with Mr. Frank, but died while on a visit to a daughter in Iowa and was buried there. To our subject and his wife were born five children, namely : ( 1) Leon- ard D., a harness maker, born in Ohio, mar- ried a Miss Daly and died in Oregon, in July. 1884, at the age of thirty years, leaving two sons, Sharmey and William, who are still res- idents of that state. (2) Charles, born in Geneseo, died in that city at the age of four- teen years. (3) William, a farmer of .\la- bama, married Kate Celner, now deceased. by whom he had one son, Leonard. (4) Alice is the widow of David McLaughlin, who was overseer of a large packing house at San Francisco, California, and was form- erly with the Armour Company of Chicago. Her son, Earl, is now a stenographer and expert penman. (5) Minnie is now the wife of William Brown, a barber of Elgin. Illi- nois, and they have several children. Mrs. Frank, who was a faithful member of the Baptist Church, and a devoted wife and loving mother, died at Geneseo on Thanks- giving Day, 1883, at the age of fifty-five years, and was laid to rest in Oakwood cem- etery. For his second wife Mr. Frank mar- ried Mrs. Mary Orr Hall, widow of William Hall, a prominent farmer of Henry county. now deceased. By this union was born a son, Ira, and by her first marriage, Mrs. Frank also has a son, Frank Hall, a cattle raiser of Idaho.
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As a business man Mr. Frank has steadily prospered, and his success is due entirely to his industry, perseverance and good manage- ment, for he started ont in life empty-handed and has had to make his own way unaided. That he is a man of good business ability is shown by the wonderful success that he has achieved. In addition to his handsome resi- dence on North College avenue, he is the .owner of two business blocks on West Ex- ·change street, in one of which he carries on his business, and rents the other, and also has five vacant business lots adjoining and a val- table farm of two hundred and forty acres in Cornwall township, which he leases. Mrs. Frank also owns one hundred and sixty acres in the same township. These are well-im- proved places, each having a good residence and other buildings found upon the model farm of the twentieth century. He also owned three hundred and twenty acres of land near The Dalles, Oregon, one-half of which he gave to his son who is now de- ceased. The other one hundred and sixty he has since sold. Mr. Frank has been quite an extensive traveler making, among others, four trips to the Pacific coast. Mr. Frank is president of the Oakwood Ceme- tery Association of Geneseo, which embraces sixty-six acres of land and is beautifully sit- uated just outside of the corporation, south of the city. Many improvements are con- stantly being made to the grounds. Mr. Frank is public-spirited and progressive, and advocates all measures that tend to advance the interests of the city and county. He was formerly a Democrat in politics, but now affiliates with the Republican party. Relig- iously he is a member of the German Lu- theran Church, and socially is connected with the Odd Fellows Lodge of Geneseo, in which he has held office.
DANIEL D. SHELLHAMMER.
Among the representative farmers of Henry county is the subject of this review, whose home is on section 15, Geneseo town- ship. He is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Luzerne county, October 11, 1834, and is a son of David and Catherine (Gottschall) Shellhammer, who spent their entire lives in the Keystone state. The father, who was a millwright by trade, died at his home in Pennsylvania, at the age of seventy-eight years, and his wife passed away two years later at about the same age. In their family were seven children, five of whom are still living, namely: Joseph, a carpenter of Hazelton, Pennsylvania; George W., a car- penter of Indianola, Iowa; Daniel D., our subject; Rebecca, wife of John Wagner, foreman of a coal mine of Drifton, Penn- sylvania; and Hannah, wife of Alexander Shiner, a farmer of Luzerne county, Penn- sylvania.
In the county of his nativity, Daniel D. Shellhammer grew to manhood, while his education was obtained in its common schools. On leaving home, in 1857, at the age of twenty-three years, he came to Illi- nois, and first located in Whiteside county, where he worked at his trade of a carpenter for a few years. Subsequently he spent a year in Phenix township, this county, work- ing at his trade and at farm labor. After the inauguration of the Civil war, he en- listed at Geneseo, in August, 1862, becom- ing a member of Company K, One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until hostilities ceased. being mustered out at Chicago, in July, 1865, and discharged at the same place. He was engaged in some of the principal bat- tles of the war, including the siege at Knox-
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ville, Tennessee. He did considerable scouting and was wounded while in Georgia, in 1864.
When discharged, Mr. Shellhammer re- turned to this county and located in Phenix township, where he worked at the carpen- ter's trade for three or four years, after which he rented a farm in Cornwall town- ship, which he operated two years. He then removed to his present farm of forty acres on section 15, Geneseo township, which has now been his home for twenty-eight years. He has erected thereon a fine res- idence, a good barn and other outbuildings, and now has a well-improved place, whose neat and thrifty appearance stands as a mon- ument to his industry and diligence. In connection with farming he continued to work at his trade up to within the past six years, when he retired from that occupa- tion. Politically he affiliates with the Re- publican party, and fraternally he holds membership in the Grand Army of the Republic.
On the 30th of November, 1869. Mr. Shellhammer was united in marriage with Miss Wilhelmina Barnhart, only daughter of Jacob and Catherine ( Rinck) Barnhart, mentioned below. By this union were born five children, namely : Frank, born October 25, 1872, died March 30, 1881; Ada, born June 21, 1878, is at home; Bessie, born Jan- uary 30, 1882; Grant, born November 11, 1884; and Lucy, born October 27, 1887, are all at home.
JACOB BARNHART.
Prominent among the pioneers of this section of Illinois was Jacob Barnhart, who was for several years actively identified with
the early development and upbuilding of Henry county. He was a native of Nassau, Germany, and was about twenty years of age on his emigration to the United States. He first located near Galveston, Texas, where he followed farming for some years, and about 1847 came north. For about two years he worked at the stone mason's trade in Rock Island, Illinois.
In Whiteside county, this state, Mr. Barnhart was married in December, 1849, to Miss Catherine Rinck, and later they came to Henry county, locating in Phenix town- ship, where he followed farming until the Civil war broke out. He manifested his love for his adopted country by enlisting, in 1862, in Company I, One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and re- mained in the service until hostilities ceased, being honorably discharged in Tennessee, in 1865. He served as scout much of the time and was disabled in the service. Re- turning to Illinois, Mr. Barnhart resumed farming in this county, where he continued to make his home until his death. He died in the city of Geneseo, in 1871, from the effects of injuries received in the war. He was a faithful member of the Evangelical Church, and was highly respected and es- teemed by all who knew him. As a pioneer of this section of the state he endured all the hardships and privations incident to such a life. His upright and honorable career commanded the respect and confidence of all, and as one of the honored early settlers and leading citizens of this section of the state, he is certainly entitled to prominent men- tion in its history.
Mr. Barnhart left a widow and one daughter to mourn his loss, the latter being Wilhelmina, wife of Daniel D. Shellhammer, mentioned above. Mrs. Barnhart, who now
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lives with her daughter, was born in Alsace, France, now a province of Germany, and was three years old when brought to this country by her parents, Louis and Veronica (Schatta ) Rinck, natives of the same place. It was about 1828 that they crossed the At- lantic and took up their residence in War- ren, Pennsylvania, and in 1837 came to Whiteside county, where Mr. Rinck took up a tract of government land, on which he built a log house. To the improvement and cultivation of that farm of eighty acres he devoted the remainder of his life, dying there in December 25, 1857, at the age of sixty-six years. His wife passed away October 20, 1857, at the age of sixty. Both were mem- bers of the Evangelical Association and he was a Jackson Democrat until the organiza- tion of the Republican party. In their fam- ily were five children, but only Mrs. Barn- hart, and her brother, Frank J. Rinck, a marble cutter of Geneseo, are now living.
MRS. CAROLINE W. HURD.
The state of Illinois owes its high stand- ing among the sovereign commonwealths that make up the United States to the high character and dauntless spirit of the settlers who made their home within her borders in the carly days. To their inspiration and work is due hier wonderful progress in ag- riculture, manufacturing and the arts. .Among the honored pioneers of Henry coun- ty the Little family occupy a prominent posi- tion. Mrs. Hurd, who is a worthy represen- tative of this family and a highly esteemed citizen of Wethersfield, came to Illinois in 1836, and therefore has witnessed almost its entire development.
She was born in Hollis, New Hampshire, September 15, 1821, and is a daughter of Abner B. and Nancy ( Tenny) Little, also natives of the old Granite state, the former born in Salem, the latter in Hollis. Their marriage was celebrated January 20, 1802. Coming west in 1836, Mr. Little located in Wethersfield township, Henry county, Illinois, where with the assistance of his sons he opened up and improved a farm, making his home here until called to his final rest, at the advanced age of ninety years. In his family were eleven children, all of whom reached years of maturity and became heads of families, but only Mrs. Hurd and her sister, Mrs. Sarah F. Stewart, of Du- luth, are now living. Five of the family, however, lived to celebrate their golden weddings. One son, Hon. H. G. Little. was the last of the survivors of those who assisted in organizing this county. In early days he was one of its most prominent and influen- tial citizens, and was called upon to repre- sent his district in the state legislature and serve as sheriff of the county. He voted at the first election held in Wethersfield. He was born in Gosstown, New Hampshire, in 1813, and died in Grinnell, Iowa, November 3, 1900, having removed to that place in 1867. There he also became prominently identified with public affairs, did much to advance the interests of its schools, colleges and churches, and efficiently served as mayor of the city. He was very public spirited and enterprising, and with two others bought the land on which Kewanee is now located and laid out the town. His first home in Weth- ersfield was a little one-room house, sixteen by eighteen feet.
Mrs. Hurd w as about fifteen years of age when she came with the family to this coun- ty, and can well remember when this re-
DR. LEWIS HURD.
MRS. CAROLINE W. HURD.
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gion was very sparsely settled and almost entirely unimproved. On the 22nd of Au- gust, 1837, at the age of sixteen, she gave her hand in marriage to Dr. Lewis Hurd, theirs being the first recorded wedding in Henry county. The Doctor was born in Hamilton, Madison county, New York, Au- gust 19, 1811, and was reared and educated in his native state. In early life he deter- mined to become a physician, and attended medical lectures. On first coming to Illinois, in 1836, he located in Lafayette, Stark coun- ty, where he engaged in the practice of his profession for a time, and while there board- ed with Mrs. Wheeler, a sister of Mrs. Hurd. In this way he became acquainted with his future wife. After their marriage they lo- cated in Wethersfield, where the Doctor en- gaged in practice for a few years, and then removed to Chicago, Illinois, and later to Springfield, Massachusetts, where he made his home for a number of years, his time be- ing devoted to his profession. Later he owned and conducted an electric institute at Talmage, Ohio, and in that enterprise met with excellent success. He was also en- gaged in the practice of medicine at Ann Arbor, Michigan, for a few years, but in the fall of 1865 returned to Wethersfield, and practically lived retired throughout the re- mainder of his life. He died here in 1892, at the age of eighty-one years, honored and respected by all who knew him. He was a very prominent physician and was remarka- bly successful, his specialty being chronic diseases.
For over half a century Dr. and Mrs. Hurd traveled life's journey together, and in 1887 celebrated their golden wedding. To them were born seven children, but only one reached years of maturity, Lewis Gardner, who was educated at Ann Arbor, and at the
opening of the Civil war enlisted at the first call for three year men. He went with his regiment to Washington, D. C., but was soon afterward taken ill with typhoid pneumonia, and died there March 15, 1862. His remains were brought back to Wethersfield for in- terment. The other children were Ann Car- oline, who died at the age of nine years; Julius A., at the age of six years; Ann C., at the age of seven months; Eliza .1., at the age of four years; William L., at the age of one year; and Edwin H. N., also at the age of one year. Mrs. Hurd is widely known throughout Henry county, and is highly re- spected and esteemed by a large circle of friends, who appreciate her sterling worth. As a pioneer of the county she is certainly worthy of prominent mention in its history.
ALBERT W. BLAIR.
Among the highly esteemed citizens of Geneseo is Albert W. Blair, one of Henry county's native sons and a representative of one of her honored old families, whose iden- tification with her history dates from an early period in the development of the county. He was born in Phenix township, on the 23d of September, 1844, and is a son of Asa Blair, whose birth occurred June 6, 1810, in Ontario county, New York, where he lived until twelve years of age. Going to Ohio, he worked for three years in a distil- lery at ten dollars per month, and being very economical he saved a part of his small earn- ings. Afterward he engaged in farming near Detroit, Michigan, for about six years, and from that state came to Henry county, Illi- nois, in 1838, locating in Phenix township, where he purchased land and engaged in farming for a short time. Selling his claim
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