USA > Illinois > Henry County > The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois > Part 33
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Mr. Arnold was married, April 29, 1897. to Miss Lorena L. Offerle, and to them has been born a daughter, Onida Lois, the joy and pride of the home. She was named after the ship "Onida," in which Mr. Ar- nold's father came to America. Mrs. Arnold
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was born in Pennsylvania, and is a daughter of John and Catherine Offerle. the former a native of Alsace, Germany, the latter of the Keystone state. They are still living at the ages of seventy-one and sixty-five years. respectively, and are highly respected citizens of Geneseo. Religiously they are members of the Evangelical Association. Their chil- fren are Josie, wife of John Minch, of Hoop- pole: Henry, who married Mckinley mal follows farming in Kansas: Anna, wife of Philip Somers, a farmer of Hooppole; Cora, deceased; Lorena L., wife of our sub- ject ; Alfred, who married Lon Wildermuth and is a farmer of this county ; and Aaron, a resident of Enid, Oklahoma.
Politically Mr. Arnold is identified with the Republican party, and socially affiliates with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of the Globe. Both he and his wife are members of the Evangelical Asso- ciation, and he has served as steward of the church and superintendent of the Sunday- school for several years. By untiring in- Mustry and sound business judgment he has spon merited success in all his undertakings. and is in all respects worthy the high regard in which he is held by his fellow men.
NELS M. RONSTRUM.
For a quarter of a century this gentleman has been identified with the business interests of Kewanee as a painter and contractor, and having become one of its leading citizens he is now serving as alderman of the fifth ward. He comes from across the sea, his birth hav- ing occurred April 14, 1851, in the southern part of Sweden, where his parents, Muns and Hannah ( Paulson ) Gunnason, spent their entire lives. Ilis father, who was a minufacturer of ale, died at the age of sev-
enty-three years, but the mother is still living and is about eighty years of age. They were the parents of eight children, of whom one daughter died in infancy, the others being Johanna, now a widow and a resident of Sweden; Nels M., our subject; Mary, Augusta and Annie, also residents of Swe- den; Elsie, wife of Joseph Schronover, of Kewanee; and Nellie, wife of Nels Ander- son of the same city.
On completing his education in the pub- lic schools of Sweden Mr. Ronstrum en- gaged in clerking in a general store there for three years. In 1869, at the age of ser- enteen years, he decided to try his fortune in America, where he believed better oppor- tunities were afforded ambitious young men than in the countries of the old world. He sailed from Guttenberg to Hull, England, and at Glasgow, Scotland, took passage on a vessel bound for New York. On arriving in that city he proceeded at once to Knox- ville, Knox county, Illinois, where he had relatives living. For about six months he clerked in a dry-goods store at that place, and then spent two years in Iowa and Ne- braska, following painting and railroading most of the time.
On his return to Illinois Mr. Ronstrum spent a short time in Galesburg, and then came to Kewanee, where he has since made his home. After working on a farm for a few months he obtained a situation in the grocery store of L. W. Lewis, with whom he remained about a year, and for the same length of time was in the employ of C. A. Shulton, a dry goods merchant of Kewanee. Since his marriage, in 1876, he has engaged in the painting business, and as a contractor receives a liberal patronage.
On the 26th of November, 1876, Mr. Ronstrum married Miss Julia Kleiner, who
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was born in Poughkeepsie, New York, but was only two years old when brought to this county by her parents, George and Monroe Kleiner, the family locating in Ke- wanee when it was a small village. Through- out life her father followed the mason's trade. Mrs. Ronstrum is the oldest of his children, the others being Clara, now the widow of M. L. Frank and a resident of Chicago; Ella, wife of Dr. S. J. Sharp, of Kewanee ; and Johanna, who died at the age of eighteen years. Unto our subject and his wife have also been born four children, namely : Carrie, now the wife of G. W. Page. of Kewanee ; George, who is with his father in the painting business and resides at home : Mayme, who is also at home and a com- positor in the office of the Star-Courier ; and Emmet, attending the Kewanee schools.
Formerly Mr. Ronstrum was an Odd Fellow, but at present is not connected with that order. He is, however, a member of the Royal Circle and Cyprus Camp, No. 84. M. W. A. Since casting his first presidential ballot for James A. Garfield, he has affiliated with the Republican party, and in the spring of 1900 was the first Republican alderman ever elected in the fifth ward, receiving a majority of thirty-six. This fact plainly indicates his personal popularity and the con- fidence and trust reposed in him by his fel- low citizens. He is now serving as chair- man of the park and cemetery committees. and is also a member of the committees on finance and streets.
ROBERT F. STEELE.
Robert F. Steele, deceased, was for thirty years identified with the business and po- litical affairs of Geneseo, and during all that
time enjoyed the respect of his fellow towns- men by reason of his strict integrity and true manliness. His devotion to the city's welfare made him a valued factor in public life, and in his death Geneseo was deprived of one of hier best citizens.
Mr. Steele was born in New Hampshire, January 10, 1831, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, his parents being Robert and Betsey Steele, also natives of the old Granite state, where the father followed farming for many years. lle came west in 1856 and spent his last days in Geneseo, Illinois, where his death oc- curred in 1887. In New Hampshire he had served as deacon in the Presbyterian Church for many years, and during his residence here held the same office in the Congrega- tional Church. His wife, who was also an active member of the same church, died in 1876, at the age of eighty-four years. In their family were four children : Robert F., of this review; Mary, who wedded Elihu Bryant, and both are now deceased : Eliza- beth, a resident of Arizona, who first mar- ried John Milton Taylor, and after his death John Van Suyl; and Samuel, who died in Geneseo many years ago.
Amid New England scenes Robert F. Steele grew to manhood, and he was mar- ried in Methuen, Massachusetts, April 21, 1857, to Miss Anna E. Hardy, who was born in Antrim, New Hampshire, of which town her husband was also a native. Her parents were Silas and Abigail (Farley) Hardy, both of English extraction, and the former a son of Sarah Spofford, who be- longed to a very noted family in American history and a relative of Spofford, the librarian at Washington, D. C. His father, David Hardy, fought for American inde- pendence, and thus Mrs. Steele is a daugh- ter of the Revolution. Her father, who
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was by occupation a farmer. died in supervisors for some years, and also effi- Antrim, New Hampshire, in 1855. Her mother, Mrs. Abigail Hardy, was born June 1. 1800, and died in February, 1887. Mrs. Steele is the younger in a family of two children. Her sister, Sarah Abigail, is the wife of Dr. A. J. French, of Lawrence, Massachusetts. They have no children liv- ing. To our subject and his wife was born a daughter, Abbie, now the wife of Colonel H. V. Fisher, who is represented on another page of this volume.
Soon after his marriage, in 1857, Mr. Steele came to Geneseo, Illinois, and em- barked in the shoe business under the firm name of Bryant & Steele, which connection was continued until 1860, when he sold out. In .August, 1862, he entered the Union army as a private of Company I, One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but was later made commissary sergeant. He went with his regiment to Kentucky and re- mained in the service until hostilities ceased. The exposure of his army life brought on disease, the effects of which probably caused his early death. After his return home he was engaged in the insurance business as a member of the firm of Hosford & Steele until about two years prior to his death, when he commenced handling real estate.
Mr. Steele died September 6, 1887, at the age of fifty six years, honored and respected by all who knew him. Ile was an active member of the Congregational Church and was serving as deacon at the time of his death. His political support was given first to the Whig and later the Republican parties, and in his social relations was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic. Ile was quite prominent and influential in public affairs, serving as chairman of the board of
ciently filled the office of justice of the peace for many years. In 1867 he was appointed postmaster of Geneseo, and while filling that office he also served as city clerk. He was mayor three terms, and such was his popu- larity as chief executive that he might have held the office indefinitely had hie not re- fused to accept the honor longer. He was also a member of the board of education several terms, and director in the Farmers National Bank, and his various official duties were discharged with promptness and fidelity worthy of the highest commendation. No man in the community stood higher socially and those who knew him best speak in un- qualified terms of his sterling integrity, his honor in business, and his fidelity to all the duties of public and private life. At his death of Mayor J. H. Mitchell, of Geneseo. issued the following ordinance : "As an evi- dence of our esteem for Mr. Steele and our deep regret at his weath, and as a mark of respect, I hereby request merchants, bankers and other places of business to close from ten o'clock a. m. until noon on Thursday. September 8, 1887."
JOHN P. BRADY.
Among the prominent young business men of Kewanee is John P. Brady, a whole- sale and retail liquor dealer, who was born in that city on the 27th of February, 1808. and is a son of Thomas and Rosanna (Trainer) Brady, who are represented on another page of this volume. For many years the father carried on the business now conducted by his son, and was also inter- ested in the ice business.
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John P. Brady was reared and educated in Kewanee and since attaining to man's estate has been prominently identified with ifs business interests. His place is one of the nnest of the kind in the city, everything about it being first-class, while the goods handled are the best that money can buy. He makes a specialty of fine bottled goods and high grade cigars, in whichi department he has the largest and finest line in Kewanee. A finely. equipped billiard hall occupies the second floor of the building, where all lovers of the game can while away an hour in a most pleasant nonner. Mr. Brady also con- ducts a regular bottling works, manufactur- ing soda water and all kinds of soft drinks, which he supplies to the trade. Buying his goods directly from the manufacturers, he receives the benefit of cash discounts, and is thus able to give a better article for the same amount of money than those who buy on credit. His house is conducted in a quiet and orderly manner, and as a consequence his trade is both large and far-reaching. Mr. Brady is a genial, accommodating gen- tieman, and treats his patrons in a manner which makes them feel like calling again. He manages his business upon strictly busi- ness principles and has scored a signal suc- cess in the prosecution of the same. MIr. Brady has also leased what is known as Crystal Lake, which he has converted into an ideal resort, with boating, bathing and shooting the chutes. This he now rents for picnic purposes. There is also a base-ball ground attached. He has been manager of the base-ball team of Kewanee, which is one of the best amateur organizations of the kind in the state, and which has at times de- feated the professionals.
a daughter of P. K. Martin, who was born in Ireland. For two terms Mr. Brady was secretary of the township Republican central committee, and took an active part in the campaign of 1900 for McKinley, Roose- velt and Yates. He is well liked by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and en- joys the respect of the entire community.
GEORGE W. ROWE.
George W. Rowe, of Geneseo, is now liv- ing a retired life in the enjoyment of a rest which he has truly earned and richly de- serves by reason of his industrious efforts of former years. Accomplishment and prog- ress ever imply labor, energy and diligence, and it was those qualities that enabled our subject to rise from the ranks of the many and stand among the successful few.
A native of New York, Mr. Rowe was born in the town of Bath, Steuben county, May 20, 1825, and is a son of John Smith and Rachel ( Sherrer ) Rowe, who were also born in the Empire state, and made their home there until their removal to Illinois in 1835, when they took up their residence in Whiteside county. The father secured a tract of government land and built a log house, into which the family moved the next fall. There lie engaged in general farming and stock raising until his death when fifty- two years of age. In political sentiment he was a Republican. His wife died a few years after locating in Whiteside county. They were the parents of eight children, namely : Delanson, who was killed in a tor- nado at the home place in Whiteside county when twenty-one years of age: George W ..
In September, 1894, Mr. Brady was united in marriage with Miss Mary Martin, our subject; Lovina, widow of La Fayette 16
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Crandall, of Erie township, Whiteside Charles. (4) Arthur H. died at the age of county; Elvira, who married Jackson War- three years and nine months. ner and died at the age of forty years; Eliza Ann, deceased wife of Henry Kempster, a farmer of Portland, Whiteside county; Mary Jane, wife of James Calkens, a farmer of Hillsdale, Rock Island county; William. who was killed at the same time as his brother Delanson, when about twelve years old; and Robert E., who entered the Civil war as a member of Company K, One Hun- dred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infan- try, and was killed in the battle of Chicka- manga at the age of nineteen.
George W. Rowe attended school at the place of his birth and also in Whiteside county, Illinois, and supplemented the knowledge there acquired by home study. He remained under the parental roof until he married at the age of twenty-four years to Miss Julianna Kempster, of Portland. Whiteside county, and then moved to a farm on section 18. Phenix township, Henry county, where he had purchased one hun- dred and sixty acres of wild land. He soon placed the farm under a high state of culti- vation, and erected thereon a good set of buildings. There his wife died in August. 1889, and her remains were interred in the Sharon churchyard of Portland township, Whiteside county. There were four chil- dren by this union, all born in Henry county with exception of .Ann Eliza, the eldest, who died at the age of three years and nine months. (2) Viola M. married John J. Guild, a farmer of Portland township, Whiteside county, and died at the age of forty years, leaving three sons, Edward. Frank and Elias. (3) Edith is the wife of T. B. Walker, a farmer of the same town- hip. and they have two children, Edna and
After the death of his wife, Mr. Rowe rented his farm and lived with his children for a time. Later he married Mrs. Lucy Crick, of Portland, Whiteside county, a daughter of Henry and Susanna ( Henney ) Hines. The father was born in Germany, but was only six months old when brought to this country by his parents. His mother died shortly after landing in America. The family located on a farm in Wayne county, Ohio, where Mr. Hines grew to manhood. On coming west he took up his residence at Pink Prairie, Phenix township, Henry county, where he followed agricultural pur- suits until called to his final rest in 1869, at the age of fifty-three years. His widow is still living at the age of seventy-five years, and now makes her home in Geneseo. In their family were eight children, as follows : (I) John, a farmer of Brown county, Kan- sas, married Amanda Hershman and has four children; (2) Lucy, wife of our sub- ject, is next in order of birth. (3) Chris- tina is the wife of Aaron Rapp, a prosper- ous citizen and retired farmer of Geneseo, and they have five children: Alice, wife of John Bollen, of Geneseo; Flora and Cora, twins; Emma : Roy, who died at the age of seventeen years; and Stella. (4) Mary is the wife of Abner Offerle, a farmer of Of- forle, Kansas, which place was named in honor of his father, and they have two chil- dren. (5) Sarah is the wife of Leonard Seiben, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. (6) Hattie is the wife of John Goembel, a retired farmer of Gen- eseo. (7) Peter, pastor of the Congrega- tional Church, of Kearney, Nebraska. (8) Adam, a farmer of Phenix township, this
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county, married Sadie Bollen, daughter of John Bollen, of Geneseo, and they have two children, Floyd and Gertrude. Mrs. Rowe was born in Wayne county, Ohio, and first married Andrew Urick, a life-long residen: of Whiteside county, Illinois, and a farmer by occupation. He became quite well-to-do and died April 4, 1895. at the age of fifty- cne years. During the Civil war he served nine months in Company G, One Hundred and Fifty-six Illinois Volunteer Infantry. To Mr. and Mrs. Urick were born six chil- dren : (I )Mary is the wife of Charles Smith, of Searstown, Rock Island county, who is employed in the plow factory at that place, and they have three children, Effie, Lester and Harokl. ( 2) Henry, a farmer of Portland township, Whiteside county, mar- ried Myrtle Kempster and they have one child, Jessie. (3) Albert resides on the home farm in Portland township. Whiteside county. (4) Julia and (5) Earl live with their mother in Geneseo. (6) Frank died in infancy.
In his farming operations Mr. Rowe met with most excellent success and acquired over seven hundred acres of valuable land in Phenix township, this county, most of which he has divided among his children, though he still retains the homestead farm. He always devoted considerable attention to the raising of stock, and found that branch of his business quite profitable. He is now living retired at a pleasant home on North Aldrich street, Geneseo. In his political affiliations he is a Republican. He has seen almost the entire development of this section of the state, having located in White- side county when the timber was inhabited by Indians, while wolves, deer and wild game was plentiful. When he took up his resi- dence in Henry county most of the land was
wild and unimproved, and he built the first house on what is called the Rock river bot- tom in Phenix township. In the work of advancement and progress he has ever born his part. He is now one of the highly re- spected citizens of Geneseo, and his long residence in this section of the state and the active part he has taken in its development well entitle him to representation in the history of his adopted county.
CARL KIRCHNER.
Carl Kirchner, a well-known retired far- mer of Geneseo, is a man whose successful struggle with adverse circumstances shows what can be accomplished by industry and economy, especially if a sensible wife sec- onds his efforts to secure a home and com- petence. Coming to the new world empty -. handed they were obliged to make their way without any of the aids which are usually considered essential to success.
Mr. Kirchner was born in Prussia, Ger- many, January 28. 1830, and is a son of John and Elizabeth (Foughrodt ) Kirchner, also natives of that country. At the death of his parents he was the only representa- tive of the family living. He was reared and educated in the land of his birth, and there he was married, January 14, 1852, to Miss Margaret Moak, who was born in Ger- many, December 31, 1831. In 1855 they bade good-bye to the fatherland and came to America as passengers on the "Bremen," which sailed from Bremen, Germany, and at length dropped anchor in the harbor of New Orleans. From the Crescent City they came up the Mississippi river to Davenport, Iowa, where Mr. Kirchner had an uncle living.
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The young couple both found work on the bluff near Rock Island, he receiving eight dollars per month and board for his services. Mrs. Kirchner often did a man's work in the fields, stacking hay, planting corn or hauling grain. In this way she earned thirty-seven and a half cents per day. Her uncle paid two hundred dollars for ten acres of land, which he gave the young couple, and by their combined efforts they were able to add to it from time to time until they now own three hundred and forty acres of well improved and valuable land in Hanna township, this county. They continued to reside upon the farm until 1896, when they removed to Geneseo, where they bought a lot and built a large and handsome home. Here they are now living retired from active labor and are enjoying a well-earned rest.
Mr. and Mrs. Kirchner are the parents of five children, namely: (1) Lizzie is now the wife of William Oberly, of Hooppole, this county, and they have nine children, Francis, Charles, Henry, Lawrence, Anna, William, May, Clarence and Josie. (2) Catherine is the wife of Frank Rink, who is engaged in farming near Geneseo, and they have four childen, Ida, Lawrence, Henrietta and Clayton. (3) Henry, residing at Scran- ton, near Des Moines, Iowa, married Edith Russar and they have one child, Flossie. (4) George, a farmer living near Geneseo, Illi- nois, wedded Mary Steiger, and they have one child, Hazel. 5) Lena is the wife of Joseph Friend, of Davenport, lowa.
Religiously Mr. Kirchner and his family hold membership in the Catholic Church, and politically he is identified with the Dem- ocratie party. For the success they have achieved in life he and his wife deserve great credit, it being due entirely to their
untiring industry, good management and indomitable perseverance. They are widely and favorably known and have many friends throughout the county.
CHARLES A. KELLOGG.
Among the thrifty and well-to-do agri- culturists of Henry county is Charles A. Kellogg, who owns and operates a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres on sec- tion 9, Wethersfield township, two miles south of Kewanee. A native of Michigan, he was born in St. Joseph county, April 14. 1848, and is a son of A. B. Kellogg and grandson of Hosmer Kellogg. The birth of the father occurred October 22, 1799, in Massachusetts, where he grew to manliood and married. His first wife died in that state in 1843. The following year he re- moved to White Pigeon, St. Joseph county, Michigan, where he engaged in merchan- dising with his brothers for several years. During his residence there he wedded Mrs. Harriet Stanley, nee Loomis, a native of Connecticut. In 1850 they came to Henry county, Illinois, and took up their residence in Wethersfield, where Mr. Kellogg worked at the carpenter's and joiner's trade, and also conducted a cooper shop and dealt in agri- cultural implements. During the last few years of his life he lived with our subject upon the farm, where he died July 23. 1887. at the age of eighty-eight years. His sec- ond wife survived him, and passed away March 5, 1891, the remains of both being interred in Wethersfield cemetery. By their union were born three sons and one daugh- ter, namely : Henry L., who died in March, 1894; Charles A., of this review; George
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G., a business man of Tiskilwa, Bureau county, Illinois; and Cynthia M., wife of E. J. Ray, a farmer of Wethersfield town- ship.
Being only two years old when brought by his parents to this county, his boyhood and youth were passed in Wethersfield, and he was educated in the schools of that place and Kewanee. On starting out in life for himself he worked by the month as a farm hand, and then engaged in farming upon rented land. In Bureau county, Illinois, he was married February 20, 1868, to Miss Kate S. Weeks, who was born on the Hud- son river, near Newburg, Orange county, New York, of which county her parents, George C. and Susan A. ( Brewster ) Weeks, were also natives. In the spring of 1856 her father brought the family to Illinois, and after spending four years in Galesburg. took up his residence upon a farm in Bureau county, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits for some years. His last days, however, were spent in retirement from ac- tive labor in Tiskilwa, where he departed this life in the spring of 1874. Since his death Mrs. Weeks has resided with her chil- dren, and now makes her home with our subject and his wife. Mrs. Kellogg was reared in Galesburg and Bureau county, and by her marriage has become the mother of ten children : George A., who is married and holds a responsible business position in Atlanta, Georgia, and he has three children, Albert Frederick, Florence C., and George A .; Frederick B .; Susan E., wife of J. G. Hoffman, a merchant of Kewanee, by whom she has one son, J. Brewster; Edwin L., who holds a responsible position in the Ke- wanee bank ; and Harry C., Ellen K., Charles F., Matilda W. and C. Herbert, all at home. Matilda is now attending the high school of
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