USA > Illinois > Henry County > The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois > Part 42
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education on the public schools near his boy- hood home. On leaving the parental roof. at the age of twenty years, he started out to make his own way in the workl. The in- domitable will, energy and pluck character- istic of the father were inherited by the son. and he has made his way to the front rank among the substantial business men of his locality. His success is but the logical re- sult of well-directed efforts. His broad common sense, vigorous, able management of his business affairs, and upright and hon- prable dealing have been important factors in leading him to wealth. That success is the result of merit can truthfully be said of Mr. Rapp. From time to time he has added to his possessions until he is now the owner of over eleven hundred acres of land in Henry county, besides city property in Geneseo.
On the 17th of May, 1870, Mr. Rapp married Miss Christina Hines, who was born November 10, 1851, and is a daughter of Henry and Susan Hines, the farmer a native of Prussia, Germany, the latter of Pennsylvania. She is the third in order of birth in their family of eight children, the others being John H., who married Amanda Hirshman and makes his home in Kansas: Lucy, wife of George W. Rowe, whose sketch appears on another page of this vol- ume : Mary, wife of Abner Offerle, and Sarah, wife of L. Sieben, both of whom are represented elsewhere in this work ; Harriet. vife of John 11. Goemble, of Geneseo : Peter Il., who married Eva Grimes and is en- gaged in the insurance business in Geneva. Nebra ka: and Frederick H., who married Sarah Bolen and lives on the old homestead in Phenix township, this county.
born June 21, 1871, is the wife of John W. Bolen, a farmer of Geneseo township. Flora and Cora, twins, born October 13. 1873. are at home. Stella, born September 4. 1877, died March 26, 1881. Emma, born July 27. 1880, is the wife of William Berge, of Geneseo. Howard Roy is mentioned more fully below. Vesta, born October 4. 1887, is at home.
Howard R. Rapp was born October 24, 1882, and died September 21, 1899, while in the bloom of youth with a most brilliant ca- reer before him. Although a mere boy he had already won the admiration and friend- ship of men of influence and learning, being exceptionally bright. He was a graduate of the Collegiate Institute of Geneseo, was president of his class and treasurer of the Alumni Association. During his school days he was a most faithful student and contin- tially won the honors of his class. He was loved by his teachers and schoolmates alike and filled no ordinary space in the affec- tions of the people of his native city. Ilis personal friendship extended far beyond the confines of Geneseo and was made brighter and stronger by the goodness and greatness of his character. He approached the ladder of fame as a scholar and placed his foot on every round on which he stood as the result of his own labor and merit. If he had op- portunity he created it : if he had success he achieved it : if he had victory he won it : and his sudden death was felt not alone by his immediate family but by the entire com- munity in which he lived.
MRS. ELIZABETH MARTIN.
Among the ladies of Burns township
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Rapp have been none are more widely known or more highly born the Wolfwing named children : Alice, respected than Mrs. Elizabeth Martin, who
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has resided here for almost half a century. A native of Ireland, she was born in county Londonderry, August 9, 1827, and is one of a family of five children, all of whom are now living. Her parents, Robert and Catherine (Gibbons) MeRell, were also born on the Emerald Isle and came to the new world in 1848, locating first in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania. Four years later they came to Henry county, Illinois, and took up their residence in Burns township, where they continued to make their home throughout life. They were consistent and faithful members of the Episcopal Church. and were held in high regard by all who had the pleasure of their acquaintance. The fa- ther died in 1887, at the age of ninety-three years, and the mother passed away Septem- ber 4. 1885, at the age of eighty-nine, the remains of both being interred in Cosners cemetery. The family is noted for lon- gevity.
Miss Elizabeth MeRell was a young lady when she came to this country with her sis- ter in 1847, one year before her parents came, and in 1850 she was married in Phila- delphia to John Martin. After their mar- riage they lived for about two years in Phil- adelphia and then moved to Bellefontaine, Ohio, where they remained until the spring of 1855, and then came to Henry county, Illinois. Subsequently they spent a short time in Iowa, but on disposing of their prop- erty there they returned to this county and Mr. Martin purchased forty acres of land in Burns township, to which he added from time to time until he had accumulated four hundred acres, but having given a farm to his son, he had but two hundred and eighty acres at the time of his death. His farm he placed under a high state of cultivation and in connection with its operation he also
engaged in raising and feeding stock for market, and was quite an extensive shipper. He served as county commissioner and school director and also filled other local offices of honor and trust. Ile was one of the leading and prominent citizens of his community. After a useful and well-spent life he passed away October 28, 1899, and was laid to rest in Cosners cemetery. He held membership in the Presbyterian Church, to which Mrs. Martin also belongs.
Unto this worthy couple were born six children, as follows: Hugh A., who is rep- resented on another page of this volume; Robert, a resident of Kewanee; John G., deceased : William James, a resident of Chi- cago; Sarah Jane, now Mrs. J. W. Barber, who has charge of Mrs. Martin's farm, having rented it for the past eleven years; and one who died in infancy. The members of this family are quite prominent in the . communities where they reside.
ARTHUR C. BUTLER.
Among the prominent educators of west- ern Illinois is numbered Professor A. C. Butler, who is now serving as superintend- ent of the public schools of Kewanee. He is a native of this state, his birth having occurred in Morgan county, in 1848. His father. James L. Butler, was born in Vir- ginia, in 1815, and about 1840 came to Illi- nois, locating near Jacksonville, Morgan county, where he was married, in 1844, to Miss Oletha Sargent, who was born in Brown county, Ohio, in February, 1825, and was brought to this state in 1828, by her par- ents, William L. and Malinda Sargent. Her father took a very prominent part in local
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politics, mal, being very outspoken in his support Afabolition principles, he got into se- rious tremble several times. He was a per- sonal friend of Owen Lovejoy and strongly denounced ffs murderers. His home was the stopping place for the itinerate minis- ters, for he Was a devout Christian, and in early days withy fu- wife and children in an ox cart would go to the two-days' meet ings in then Ipality. Later the Mount Zion Methodist Episcopal church was built upon his farm in Morgan county, and his home became a statuen on the "underground rail- road."
James L. Butler, the professor's father. engaged m farning i Morgan county until 1802, when he removed to Macon county, Illinois, and eight years later went to Neosha county, Kans's, where he improved a farm and continued to make his home until his death, which occurred in 1891, when he was sefektgesis years of age. He was also actively negofied with religious work, and was an offer my die Methodist Episcopal Church for more than a generation. He was a radied to superance man, and often talked on that bra ther subjects along moral lines. He or took a deep interest in educational affairs, was a promment factor in all school work. 001 casa member of the school board for ser's. He was mstrumental in buil ling the the brick school house in his locality. and look great interest in building and sus tauing the Thirch af South Mound, Kansas, Hle was arborer of nature, especially the forest, and planted more than one thousand trees infoof the fan. Upon that place his son and daughter will reside. His wife passoldBoy Mg 29, 1900. At the age of eight Sou- she muted with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and throughout life was a consistent and mathiul Christian.
To this worthy comple were born twelve children, two of whom died in infancy. the others being as follows: Charles Wesley. enlisted in 1862 in Battery B. Second Illi- Lois Light Artillery, and was with Sher- man on the march to the sea. He was cap- tured at Goldsboro, North Carolina, and as a prisoner of war was confined at Danville, Virginia, for a short time, and was then transferred to Libby prison, remaining there until Grant captured Richmond. While waiting to be mustered out at Camp Butler, Springfield, Illinois, he died in June. 1865, at the age of twenty-three years. Ar- thur C., our subject, is the next in order of birth. William K. is a resident of Kansas City. John T. makes his home in Tuscola. Ilinois. Fletcher A. is a practicing physi- cial of Harvard. Nebraska. Thomas P. is a physician of San Diego, California. Milton S. and Melinda reside on the old homestead in Kansas. Julia Belle is the wife of George Duree, of Edna, Kansas Harriet M. is the wife of John Hinson, a farmer of Oxford, Arkansas.
Professor Butler was reared on the home farm in Morgan county, Illinois, 11- til fourteen years of age, when he accom panied the family on their removal to Macon county. His early education was acquired in the district schools, and he later attended the State Normal School at Normal, Ili Hois, where he was graduated in 1878. Prior to his graduation he taught school for two terms, and then took charge of the public schools at Normal, where he remained twee years. For the same length of time he was principal of the public schools of Virginia, Cass county, where he had seven assistants. At the end of that time he was chosen super- intendent of the schools at Beardstown, the same county, where he remained nine years.
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and had from fifteen to twenty-two teachers under him. During that time three school buildings were erected at that place and a great improvement made in educational work. He established a manual training department of the public school-one of the first of its kind in the state-which was very successful during his stay there. In 1801 Professor Butler was elected as princi- pal of the Taylorville ( Illinois) township high school, where he remained three years, and in 1894 was chosen superintendent of the schools of Kewanee, which responsible position he has since filled in a most credit- able and satisfactory manner. He now has forty-five assistants, and everything is in first class order. Kewanee has five modern school buildings, which in regard to sanitary conditions and conveniences rank among the best in the state.
On the 15th of June, 1871, Professor Butler was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Eaton, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of William K. and Elizabeth Ea- ton, who were natives of Sullivan county, Indiana. By this union were born three children : Wilbur F. Gazelle J. is very pro- ficient in music and is now pursuing her studies along that line at Knox College, Galesburg ; she has successfully taught both vocal and instrumental music, and her ser- vices as a musician are in great demand in both church and social circles. Ruby Al- berta died in 1895, at the age of eight years. She was a sweet little girl of much prom- ise, and possessed remarkable elocutionary talent.
William K. Eaton, Mrs. Butler's father, was one of the active and enterprising far- mers of Christian county, and served as supervisor of his township from its organi- zation until his death, which occurred in
1867, when he was about fifty-two years of age. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and did all within his power for the betterment of his fellow men. His wife was a remarkable woman, who after his death kept her family together and carefully reared them. She was also a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and died in that faith in June. 1900, at the age of seventy-five years. Their chil- dren were Emma R., wife of M. R. Wetzel, a farmer of Christian county; Eliza, wife of our subject : Margaret .A., wife of W. A. Clawson, of Assumption, Illinois ; William, a farmer living near the same place: Jordan S., who resides on the old homestead, near Stonington, Christian county; and Dora, wife of Bentley Kearns, who lives near Owaneco, Illinois.
Professor Butler is prominent in educa- tional circles, and has served as president of the Central Illinois Teachers' Association and vice-president of the State Association. He has achieved a high reputation in insti- tute work, in which he has taken a very ac .. tive and prominent part since the law was enacted for that purpose. . As an educator he ranks deservedly high, and has contrib- uted many able articles to educational jour- nals and other magazines. He is the author of a work entitled "Persimmons," a twelve mo, volume, and has written many bright and interesting stories for boys and girls, which have been published in the School News and have been most highly appre- ciated. Among these are a vacation story, Christmas story, Thanksgiving story, tem- perance story and Memorial Day story, the last being an allegory. The Professor has also delivered a number of lectures before institutes and teachers' associations. He is a Master Mason, and both he and his wife
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are active members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church of Kewanee, of which he is one of the trustees.
RICHARD PAYNE.
Among the representative business men of Galva is this well-known manufacturer of brick, who has been a resident of Henry county since 1865, and during the greater part of this time has been prominently iden- tified with its industrial interests. He was born in Oswestry, Shropshire, England. May 12, 1824. his parents being Thomas and Catherine ( Richards ) Payne, natives of the same place. The father and grandfather were also brick-makers, the latter being en- gaged in that business in England through- ont life. He died at the age of seventy-nine years, and his wife passed away at the ex- treme old age of one hundred and one years. In his native land the father followed his chosen occupation until 1850, when he brought his family to America and settled at llenry, Marshall county, Ilinois, where he worked at his trade until he laid aside all business cares. There his death occurred when he was ninety-six years of age, and his wife, who was a consistent member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church, passed away at the age of seventy nine.
Nine children were born to them, of whom one daughter, Mary, died in England at the age of twelve years, prior to the emi- gration of the family to America. Thomas, the eldest, was for thirty years engaged in market gardening at Oshkosh, Wisconsin. where he died in 1899, when over eighty years of age. John was formerly engaged in the manufacture of brick at Chariton, lowa.
but is now farming in Kansas. Anna is the wife of George Jarvis of England. Ed- ward, who died in Henry, Illinois in 1894. manufactured nearly all the brick made in that section of the state for many years. Richard, our subject, is next in order of birth. William is a brick manufacturer of Chariton, Lucas county. lowa. Ann, de- ceased, was the wife of Henry Rommel. who engaged in farming near Wataga, Ill :- nois. George has for thirty-five years lived a retired life in Geneseo. The children were all educated in the common schools of England.
Durng his minority Richard Payne re- mained at home with his parents, and with his father yearned the art of brick making. to which he has devoted his time and atten- tion since ten years of age. At the age of twenty-one he commenced working in a brick yard near home, and after the emigration of the family to the new world, he and his brothers started a yard at Henry, Illinois, which was conducted by one of the brothers until his death in 1894. On withdrawing from the firm our subject and brother Will- iam went to Galesburg, where they estab- lished a plant and were engaged in the mann- facture of brick for ten years, meeting with remarkable success financially. Then sell- ing to his brother he came to Henry county in 1865. purchased land and erected tent- porary kilns near the "grove." where he was located for two years, but when coal was discovered in the eastern part of Galva, he removed to his present location. He began business here on a small scale, but has en- larged his plant to meet the growing de mands of his trade, and has manufactured as high as two million, three hundred thou . sand brick annually, having three large kilns with a capacity of two hundred thousand
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brick each. In former years Peoria was his principal market, and he furnished many thousand bricks for the post office at that place. He also shipped to many other points throughout the surrounding county. He has employed as many as thirty men during the busy season, and now gives employment to about ten. At present he does little out- side soliciting, taking only those orders which come to him. In his brick making he uses modern machinery, the daily capac ity of which is about thirty five thousand, and he makes it a point to manufacture about twenty thousand brick. The capacity of his drying sheds and racks is about one hun- dred thousand. Mr. Payne now ships his brick mainly to Kewanee. He owns a whole block of ground in Galva, and has erected thereon his present comfortable residence.
In 1876 Mr. Payne married Miss Ame- lia Rowe, a native of Cornwall, England, by whom he had two children, namely : Nellie. now the wife of Forest Barlow, a farmer of Knox county, by whom she has three chil- dren, Amy, Richard and Howard; and Thomas, who lives at home and aids his father in business. The wife and mother died in February, 1882, and in 1884 Mr. Payne was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Elizabeth J. Truscott, also a native of Cornwall, England. All her people reside in England. Her father and mother, however, are both dead. Mrs. Payne came to America at age of twenty-five pears, coming direct to Galva, and in the fall of 1871 was married to William Truscott, also a native of Cornwall, England. He followed mining until his death in 1881.
By his ballot Mr. Payne supports the men and measures of the Democratic party, but has never taken an active part in politi- cal affairs, though he has capably served as
a member of the town board. Starting out in life for himself empty-handed, he de- serves great credit for the success that he has achieved in life, and his career demonstrates what can be accomplished by industry, dili- gence and good management.
DAVID B. BARGE.
One of the honored early settlers and highly respected citizens of Henry county i., David B. Barge, who is now living a re- tired life on section 29. Phenix township. Ile was born in Armstrong county, Penn- sylvania, on the 3d of May, 1827, and is a son of John and Jane ( Elliott ) Barge, also natives of the same state. By trade the father was a carpenter but devoted many years of his life to the occupation of farm- in.g. When our subject was seven years old the family removed to Richland county. Ohio, and after living there for two years took up their residence in Wayne county, that state, where the father engaged in agri- cultural pursuits until called from this life at the age of seventy-five years. The mother survived him many years and came to Ili- nois, making her home with our subject, un- til she died at about the same age. They were the parents of sixteen children, of whom David B. is the fourteenth in order of birth. The others who are still living are Robert, a farmer of Nebraska; William, a lawyer of Dixon, Illinois; and Isabella, a resident of Grand Island, Nebraska.
During his boyhood David B. Barge at- tended the common schools of Ohio, and aid- ed his father in the labors of the farm. On leaving home in 1847, he started for Wis- consin by way of the Great Lakes, but on
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account of a fierce storm which was raging the vessel on which he took passage was un- able to land its passengers at Milwaukee and proceeded to Chicago, whence Mr. Page went by canal to La Salle, Illinois, and by stage too Princeton, from which place he later walked to Henry county. Here he on- gaged in threshing until fall, when he went to Grant county, Wisconsin, for the pur- jesse of mining, but being unable to obtain employment along that line, he engaged in chopping cordwood through the winter. On March 4. 1848, he again came to Hli- Bois, going by stage to Galena and on foot to Albany, where he again took a stage for Geneseo, but on account of the muddy roads was forced to walk much of the distance. On arriving here he purchased a land warrant. and in May went to Dixon on foot to enter one hundred and sixty acres of government land on section 28. Phenix township, to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted his energies until 1804. when he rented his farm and went to live on the place owned by his son, on section 29, Phenix wwwnship.
On the 6th of April. 1851. Mr. Barge Was united in marriage with Miss Eliza M. Arich, a native of Pickaway county, Ohio, andla daughter of Columbus C. and Sophia ( Overmeyer ) Aldrich. The father was Forn in Providence county, Rhode Island, mod at an early day removed to Pickaway waits. Ohio, and afterward to Henry county. Minois, making his home in Hanna 100s ship until his death, which occurred when he was about sixty seven years of age. Throughout life he followed the occupation W Jamming. His wife died in the same Dawidpp it the advanced age of eighty-five Tem Of their six children, only two are www wing on the old homestead in Hanna
township. Mr. and Mrs. Barge have two children : AAlvin W., a prosperous farmer, who owns and operates a fine farm of two hundred and twenty acres on section 29. Phenix township, and has filled the office of road commissioner, married Lulu Spade, a native of Pennsylvania, and they have three children, Clyde, Milly and Glenn, all born in Phenix township. Alice C. is the wife of Thomas Lauderbaugh, also a farmer of Phenix township.
When Mr. Barge recorded the deed for his first piece of land in Henry county there was not a house between Geneseo and Cam- bridge, and hardly a foot of cultivated land. Deer and prairie wolves were often seen, and wild game was found in abundance. In the work of development and progress he has ever borne his part, and by breaking and improving about six hundred and twenty acres of land he has materially advanced the interests of the county . His career well in- dicates what can be accomplished hy deter- mined effort for he started out in life for himself empty-handed, and his success is due entirely to his own industry, good busi- ness ability and excellent management. Hlav- ing acquired a comfortable competence, he is now able to lay aside all business cares and is living a retired life. Politically Mr. Barge has been a life long Democrat.
EUGENIO K. HAYES.
In the great competitive struggle of life, when each must enter the field and fight his way to the front, or else be overtaken In disaster of circumstance or place, there is ever particular interest attaching to the life of one who has turned the tide of suc-
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E. K. HAYES.
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cess, has surmounted the obstacles and has shown his ability to cope with others in their rush for the coveted goal. Occupying a prominent place among the successful business men of Henry county is E. K. Hayes, vice-president and manager of the Hayes Pump & Planter Company, of Galva.
.A native of Illinois, he was born in la Fayette, Stark county, on the 21st of May, 1848, a son of Harry and Harriet ( Wright ) Hayes, both natives of New York, where their marriage was celebrated. He is of English and Scotch descent, but for many generations his ancestors have been resi- dents of this country. His father was born in Saratoga county, New York, in 1806, and about 1829 came to Illinois, being one of the earliest settlers of Stark county. From a wild, unbroken tract of land he developed a fine farm, and continued to follow agricultural pursuits throughout life. He was quite an extensive stock raiser and met with excellent success in his undertak- ings. He was a stanch Abolitionist and one of the earliest advocates of that doctrine. After a long, busy and useful life, he passed away at the age of eighty-two years, and his wife, who was born in 1807. died .April 30, 1875, aged sixty-eight years. Of their four children the oldest was born in New York before the family came to this state. In order of birth they were as follows: Julia A., who married John Peterson and died in Kewanee; Mary E., deceased wife of A. M. Snyder, of Stark county; Mar- garet, who died at the age of eighteen years : and Eugenio K., the only survivor.
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