USA > Illinois > Henry County > The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois > Part 36
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WILLIAM OURS.
Among the honored residents and repre- sentative citizens of Wethersfield township none are more deserving of mention in this volume than William Ours, who has been successfully engaged in farming and stock raising on section 29 for many years. He was born near Clarksburg, Virginia, on the 26th of April, 1822, and is one of a family of three children, whose parents were Jacob and Nancy ( Kushlipp ) Ours.
On the home farm James Cavanagh grew to manhood, and was educated in the Saxon school. On the 20th of February, 1872, he led to the marriage altar Miss Bridget Joyce, who was reared and educated Our subject remained in his native state until he attained his majority and then re- in Kewanee, of which place her father, Matthew Joyce, was an early settler. For moved to Indiana, where he spent the fol-
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lowing eighteen years. There he was united in marriage December 2, 1849, with Miss Eliza Goodale, born October 15, 1826, a daughter of Joel D. and Eliza Goodale. By this union were born six children, namely : Emma; William, who married Tillie Berge; Samantha, wife of John Lindstrom; Charles, who married Ida Metler: Eliza, wife of Dudley Craig ; and Mary, wife of Frederick Paswalk.
On leaving Indiana Mr. Ours came to Henry county, Illinois, and after renting a farm in Wethersfield township for one year he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of partially broken land on section 29, the same township, which he has since placed un- der a high state of cultivation and improved with good buildings. In connection with his farming operations he is engaged in stock raising, making a specialty of sleep and hogs. Although he is now nearly eighty years of age he is still remarkably active and retains his mental faculties unimpaired. He cast his first presidential vote for General Harrison, a Whig candidate, and is now a stanch supporter of the Republican party and its principles. His has been an upright, honorable and useful life, and he has gained the confidence and high regard of those with whom he has come in contact either in business or social circles.
JOHN. CRONAU.
For many years this gentleman has been actively identified with the business and ag- ricultural interests of Henry county, but is now living a retired life in Kewanee, hav . ing acquired a comfortable competence, which enables him to lay aside all business
cares. His early home was on the other side of the Atlantic, for he was born in Hessen, Germany, February 4, 1830, and is a son of Peter and Elizabeth ( Tripp) Cronau, lifelong residents of that country, where the father followed farming as a means of live- lihood. He died at the age of forty-eight years, and his wife passed away at the age of forty-four. In their family were five children, namely: John, still a resident of Germany; John, our subject ( there being two by the name of John) ; Henry and Eliza- beth, who both died in Germany ; and Annie, who continues to make her home there.
Our subject received his education in the public schools of his native town and in early life he learned the shoemaker's trade, which he continued to follow until coming to this country in 1854. He sailed from Bremen and landed in New York after a good voyage of six weeks, during which time he was never seasick and thoroughly en- joyed the trip. For about four months he worked at his trade for a Mr. Coleman in New York City, and then proceeded to Chi- cago, which at that time was quite small. He remained there for eight months and then came to Kewanee, arriving there on the first of May, 1855, just one year after landing on the shores of this country. After work- ing for Enoch Mathews for a time, he start- ed a shoe shop of his own, which he car- ried on successfully until 1863, giving em- ployment to several men. He then turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, having purchased sixty acres of wild prairie land in Kewanee township, which he placed un- der cultivation, and to which he added until he had one hundred and ninety acres. In 1888 he returned to Kewanee and has since lived a retired life, though he still owns eighty acres, including his first purchase.
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He was engaged in general farming, and met with well-deserved success in his labors.
September 29, 1857, Mr. Cronau was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Wagner, also a native of Hessen, Ger- many. Her father, John Wagner, came to this country in 1869, and made his home in Sheffield, Illinois, until his death. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cronau, namely : Henry, a teamster of Kewanee. who married Minnie Minks and has five children : Elizabeth, wife of Robert Pyle, of Kewanee township, by whom she has six children; Caroline, wife of Henry Minks, of Kewanee, by whom she has two children. Bert and Harry; and Emma, wife of Will- iam Minks, of Kewanee, by whom she has three children. Mrs. Cronau died January 25. 1888, and was laid to rest in the Ger- man church cemetery in Kewanee township. Our subject now makes his home with his daughter Caroline. He is a member of the German Lutheran Church, and is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, having voted for all its presidential candidates since Fremont. He has served as school director six years, and has also filled the office of road commissioner in a most creditable and satis- factory manner.
JOHN H. FULPER.
Among the representative farmers of Wethersfield township is John H. Fulper, residing on section 25. He was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, January 9, 1848, and on the paternal side is of Ger- man descent, his ancestors being numbered among the early Quakers who settled in Pennsylvania. His grandfather, John Ful- per, was a native of that state, and his fa-
ther, Charles T. Fulper, was born there in 1820, and when a young man went to Neu. Jersey, locating in Hunterdon county, where he worked at his trade as a wheelwright. There he married Miss Sarah Hoppock, a rative of New Jersey, and a daughter of John Hoppock, who owned and operated the old Hoppock homestead in Hunterdon coun- ty. The great-grandfather was Jolm Hop- pock, who came from Germany before the Revolutionary war. He had one son, Peter. in that war, who was wounded in the hand. The great-grandfather was a large land owner in New Jersey. In 1851 Mr. Fulper and his father-in-law came to Illinois and took up their residence in Henry county. The same fall the latter purchased a large amount of land in Wethersfield township, and at length became owner of thirteen hun- dren acres all in one body, around which he built a fence. He broke and improved this place. Charles T. Fulper also purchased a tract of land, which he improved, and later bought more land, making a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres. There he died in 1884. His widow still survives him, a hale and hearty old lady of seventy-three years, and makes her home with a daughter. They were the parents of nine children, two sons and seven daughters. The brother of our subject is W. T. S. Fulper, of Evanston, Illinois.
During his boyhood and youth John H. Fulper assisted his father in the operation of the home farm, where he remained until grown, and then commenced farming for himself upon rented land. While thus em- ployed he saved nine hundred dollars and invested his capital in forty acres of land on which he now resides. Subsequently he added to it an adjoining forty-acre tract. making a good farm of eighty acres, on
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which he has built a neat and substantial residence and good barns and outbuildings, surrounding these with fruit and shade trees, which add much to the beauty of the place.
In Wethersfield township. February 24. 1878. was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Fulper and Miss Minta Claybaugh. Her father, N. H. Claybaugh, was born in Ohio, December 3. 1822, and in 1830 came to Illi- nois with his father. Nicholas Claybaugh, who was a native either of Pennsylvania or Ohio, and a son of Frederick Claybaugh, who was born in the former state in 1763. The Claybaugh family is of German extrac- tion and Mrs. Fulper's ancestors were among the first settlers of Pennsylvania. On com- ing to this state the family located in Schuy- ler county, where they improved a farm. There N. H. Claybaugh grew to manhood and married Rhoda Marr, a native of Ten- nessee, and a daughter of Rev. J. B. Marr. who was born in South Carolina. His fa- ther was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. Rev. J. B. Marr came to this state in pio- neer days and was one of the first school teachers of Schuyler county, where he also engaged in farming. About 1873 Mrs. Fulper's father removed to Wethersfield township, Henry county, but spent his last years with his son, C. B. Claybaugh, in Stark county, where his death occurred. The chil- dren born to our subject and his wife are Mabel, Lena, Virgil. Edna, Dean and John H., Jr. They also have an adopted son, Charles Fulper, whom they took when a small child, and who has been reared and educated by them. He is now working at his trade as an interior decorator and paper hanger.
Originally Mr. Fulper was a Republi- can in politics and cast his first presidential vote for General U. S. Grant in 1872. He
continued to support that party until after the election of James .A. Garfield, since which time he has been identified with the Prohi- bitionists, being a strong temperance man. He served three years as road commissioner, but has never cared for political honors. He is one of the official members of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Saxon, with which his wife is also connected, and she has served as organist for over twelve years. They take an active part in all church work and their lives have ever been in harmony with their professions.
PETER HYER.
Among the prominent foreign-born citi- zens who have aided so materially in the de- velopment and upbuilding of Henry county is Peter Hyer, a well-known farmer and stock raiser residing on section 24. Weth- ersfield township. A native of Sweden, he was born in Skone, on the 27th of April, 1852, and is a son of Pers and Bengta (Trulson) Hyer, who spent their entire lives in that country. In their family were four children, two sons and two daughters, all of whom are still living, with the excep- tion of one son.
With the hope of bettering his financial condition in the new world, Mr. Hyer sailed from Guttenberg, in April, 1886, on the steamer Victoria of the Allen line, and, the weather being pleasant and favorable for such a voyage, he landed in Quebec, Canada, fifteen days later. He came immediately to the United States, and a week after reach- ing America he arrived in Galesburg. Illi- nois. He spent about two years at work in various parts of this section of the state, and then located in Kewanee, where for a
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time he worked at the painter's trade, which he h:hil learned in Sweden. Subsequently he engaged in farming upon rented land for about five years, and then bought one bun Bred acres of improved land, to which he added in 1889 a tract of seventy acres, mak- ing a fine farm of one hundred and seventy acres, which he has since successfully op- erated. About eight years ago he erected a good residence, and has also built good barns, while everything about the place be- tokens the thrift and enterprise of the owner. In addition to the cultivation of his land he is extensively engaged in farming and stock raising, his specialties being Durham cattle, Shropshire sheep and Norman horses, and to this branch of his business he give .. considerable attention.
On the 24th of October, 1877. Mr. Hyer was united in marriage with Miss Eliza J. Rule, a daughter of Mexander and Beatrice (Oliver ) Rule, both natives of Scotland and early settlers of Wethersfield township, this county, where they located in 1848. The mother crossed the Atlantic from Green- nock to Illinois in about three months, while the father sailed from Liverpool to Boston. On reaching Henry county, Illinois, he took up a government claim in Wethersfield town- ship, which he improved and placed under cultivation. His first house was 12X14 feet. In later years a more commodious and substantial residence was erected, but it was subsequently destroyed by fire. Mr. Rule was one of the honored pioneers and one of the most highly respected citizens of his community. He died at the age of ser- enty -nine years, his wife at the age of sev- enty, and both were laid to rest at Elmira, Illinois. They were faithful members of the United Presbyterian Church, and in politics Mr. Rule was a Republican.
Mr. and Mrs. Hyer have a family wi five children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Anna Beatrice. AAugust 3. 1878: George Alexander. February 28, 1880: Nellie Jean. April 10. 1883; John Walter, June 26. 1886; and Robert Leslie, December 7, 1891. The parents are both earnest and consistent members of the United Presbyterian Church, and enjoy the good will and confidence of the entire com- munity in which they live. By his ballot Mr. Hyer supports the men and measures of the Republican party. He owes his pres- ent prosperity to hard labor and close at- tention to business. In 1882 he made a visit to his parents in Sweden, crossing the ocean on the steamer Algeria, in November. After three delightful months spent in his native land, he took passage on the steamer Bothnia for the return voyage. On the North Sea the vessel encountered one of the worst storms known for years, and it required six days to cross that body of water, which is usually accomplished in twenty-four hours, from Copenhagen to Hull.
OTIS W. HOIT.
The subject of this review. who now owns and occupies a valuable farm of four hundred acres on section 24. Edford town- ship, has throughout life been actively iden- tified with the agricultural interests of Hen- ry county, and is a worthy representative of one of its oldest and most highly respect- ed families. On the paternal side his great- grandfather, John Hoit, was a Revolution- ary soldier, and just after his return from the war moved from his early home in Hop- kinton to Canaan, that state.
Levi W. Hoit, the father of our sub-
OTIS W. HOIT.
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ject, was born in Canaan, November 15, he was a Republican, and for mane years 1827, a son of Bartlett and Prudence ( Wil- son) Iloit. Bartlett Hoit was a native of the same place and there spent the greater part of his life. In 1854 he came to Illi- nois and located on the farm in Edford township, Henry county, where our subject now resides, making it his home until his death, which occurred November 3, 1864. In his family were only two children and one died in infancy.
Reared in his native state, Levi W. Hoit was educated at Canaan and Meriden, New Hampshire, taking an academic course, and with his father he learned the carpen ter's and millwright's trades. At the age of twenty-one he went to Louisiana with his father, working there for two or three years. He came to this county with his parents in 1854, and assisted in breaking and improving the home farm, consisting of two hundred and forty acres, on which not a furrow had been turned or an im- provement made when the family located thereon. Throughout life he successfully followed general farming and stock raising, and converted his place into one of the most highly cultivated tracts and desirable farms in the county. In 1881 he removed to Geneseo and purchased a city home on the corner of West Main and Ilenry streets, but continued to look after his farming and stock raising interests. For some years he was a director of the First National Bank of that city. He was killed in a cyclone on the Ist of May, 1892, while returning home from the bank. Mr. Hoit was an exceeding- ly active man, was pre-eminently public- spirited and progressive, and took a deep interest in all that tended to the develop- ment and improvement of the community in which he lived. In his political views
served as supervisor of Edford township. besides filling several minor office -. In early life he was a Baptist, but later attend- ed the Congregational Church, and gave liberally to all denominations. He was a man of sterling worth and strict integrity. and wherever known was held in high re- gard. On the 22nd of May, 1856. at Gen- eseo, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah E. French, a native of Coventry, Connecticut, and a daughter of Oliver B. and Jane K. ( French ) French. Her father was also born in that state, where he con- tinued to make his home until 1846, when he removed to Branch county, Michigan, and was engaged in farming there until com- ing to Henry county, Illinois, in 1853. For some years he followed the same occupa- tion in Geneseo township, but was living a retired life in the city of Geneseo at the time of his death, which occurred October 25, 1890, when he was about seventy-nine years of age. His wife had passed away January 18, 1879, at the age of sixty-three. Of their four children two died in infancy, the others being Mrs. Hoit and Ella J., wife of Allen B. Cady, of Geneseo.
Otis W. Hoit, whose name introduces this sketch, is the only child of Levi W. and Sarah E. ( French ) Hoit. He was born on the home farm in Edford township, May 24, 1857, and was educated in the common schools of Geneseo and the State Universi- ty at Champaign, where he pursued the agricultural course and was graduated in 1879. Returning to his home he has since successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising, making a specialty of polled .Angus cattle-a breed from southern Scot- land.
At Champaign, Mr. Hoit was married,
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in 1870 to Miss Maggie E. Stewart, a brothers and sisters. Jofm. Donald, Thomas. daughter of John P. Stewart, a retired far- Bridget, Catherine and Nora, all of whom came to America and died in this country. mer of Champaign county. The only child born of this union died in infancy unnamed, and Mrs. Iloit departed this life May 19, 1885, being laid to rest in Oakwood cem- ctery, Geneseo. Our subject was again married, in ledford township, October 11, 1888, his second union being with Miss Henrietta P. M. Schroeder, a daughter of Henry and Wilhelmina ( Weigand ) Schroe- der. For many years her father has been one of the prominent farmers of Edford township. Mr. and Mrs. Hoit have one child, Maurice E., born June 23. 1893.
Religiously Mr. Hoit is a Congregation- alist, and politically is an ardent supporter of the Republican party. He has held a number of minor offices in his township, and for the past seven years has served as supervisor, with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He takes an active interest in promoting the welfare of his county, aiding all enterprises tending to benefit the public, and enjoys in a high degree the confidence and esteem of his fellow men.
PATRICK O'DAY.
Among the old and honored residents of Genesen we take pleasure in mentioning the dame of Patrick O'Day, who was for many years prominently identified with the busi- wess interests of this locality, but is now liv- Thg a retired life. He was born eight miles from the city of Limerick, county Clare, Tokod. and is a son of Patrick and Biddie (romfr) O'Day, who spent their entire Des mo that chamtry. He had six half
During his boyhood and youth our sub- ject had no educational advantages, but he has always made the best use of his oppor- tunities and is a well informed man. At the age of twenty-three he crossed the .At- lantic on a sailing vessel named the "Breeze," which dropped anchor in the har- bor of Quebec, Canada, after seven week's and three days upon the water. He spent two days in Montreal and then went to Waterloo, where he worked on the farm of a Mr. Foster until fall when he returned to Montreal. By boat he proceeded to St. John's, and then went to Vermont, and on to Boston, where he met Michael Crosby who had driven into the city with a load of wood. He returned home with him and worked on his farm for a time. The fol- lowing spring he returned to his native land with a man taking a load of horses to Eng . land, and remained in Ireland four years.
At the end of that time Mr. O'Day again came to the new world, bringing with him his brother. Donald O'Day. On land- ing in New York they proceeded at once to Fetlock Falls, and from there went to Goshen, Connecticut, where both found em- ployment at farm labor. Our subject's duties were principally in connection with the manufacture of cheese. About 1855 ht came to Henry county, Illinois, and pur- chased eighty acres of land from John Mc- Coy, for which he paid one thousand dol lars, and upon which he lived for fifteen years. On disposing of this farm he bought seventeen acres of land now within the city limits of Geneseo, and there he has since made his home.
Being a man of sound judgment, keen
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discernment and good business ability, Mr. O'Day made considerable money during the Civil war by taking advantage of the rise in prices. Ile bought three thousand bushels of corn for six cents per bushel, and after- ward sold it for one dollar and ten cents per bushel, investing the proceeds in a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Cam- bridge. Half of this he subsequently sold at a great profit. He put up two large ricks of hay when it was practically worth noth- ing, and before the close of the war he shipped the same to St. Louis, where he re ceived fifty-five dollars per ton. Ile also got a good price for his straw, fifty dollars per ton. Hogs were then worth twelve dol- lars per hundred, live weight, and he dis- posed of a herd of one hundred and fifty for which he received twenty-six hundred dollars, selling the same to two men from Chicago, who were packing pork to ship to the West Indies.
Mr. O'Day has been twice married. His first wife having died, he married, in February, 1871, Miss Isabella McNally, who was born in Port Lanone, county Derry, Ireland, a daughter of Hugh and Isabella (Carney ) McNally, the former a native of county Antrim, the latter of county London- derry. Of their eight children only Mrs. O'Day and Catherine came to the United States, the latter being Mrs. Peter Heninan, of Dwight, Illinois, The others died in Ire- land.
The Republican party has always found in Mr. O'Day a stanch supporter of its prin- ciples, and he cast his last presidential vote for William McKinley. Both he and his wife are devout members of the Catholic Church, and are highly respected and es- teemed by all who know them. Although nearly ninety-five years of age, Mr. O'Day
still possesses an excellent memory and is able to sing a number of okl Irish ballad- with a voice that denotes the fact that in hi- prime he must have been a splendid singer. Ilis life is a living illustration of what ability. energy and force of character can accom plish, and to such men the west owes its prosperity. its rapid progress and its ad- vancement.
JOHN REDUS.
After many years of active labor as an agriculturist this gentleman is now living a retired life in Geneseo. He was born in Holstein, Germany, on the 17th of Novem- ber. 1837, and was seventeen years of age when he came to the United States. His parents, John and Johanna ( Luren ) Redus, spent their entire lives in Germany, where the father followed the blacksmith's trade. and also conducted a country inn near Olden- burg. He died at the age of seventy-two years, having survived the mother of our subject some years. John is the oldest of their three children. Henry entered the cavalry service of his native land, and al- though he took part in no war he died while on garrison duty in the city of Schleswig. when about twenty-three years of age. Eliza is now the wife of a Mr. Wolff and has charge of the inn which her father con- ducted during his life time. She was born after our subject came to the United States and he has never seen her.
It was in 1854 that Mr. Redus crossed the ocean and took up his residence in Day- enport, lowa, where he worked for nearly a year. In April. 1855. he came to Geneseo, Illinois, and was employed in the city and surrounding country until the Civil war
THE BIOGRAPIIICAL RECORD.
Tm le ant. Feeling that his adopted country Bedled his services he enlisted in Septem- Ley (Sur, for three years, or during the Wat as a member of Company E. Forty- dord Ilinois Volunteer Infantry. He par- telptal in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Danielsen. Shiloh, Corinth and Vicksburg, andalso many skirmishes. He was dis- MRorgel from the Veteran Reserve Corps in the way of Washington. September 23. 1844, wid returned to his home in Geneseo. Ma resded there until the spring of 1867. v ben he rented a farm and turned his atten- tion to its operation. Later he purchased Jan on section 2, Munson township, and to tins eighty-acre tract he subsequently added until he now has a fine farm of two hun- dred acres, a part of which is on section 3. He continued to actively engage in general farming and stock raising until 1895, when he returned to Geneseo and has since lived & retired life at his present home on South State street.
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