USA > Illinois > Henry County > The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois > Part 49
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Mr. Baker, of this review, was only two years old when the family removed to Alba township this county, and was educated prin- cipally in its district school. For a time hc was employed as clerk in a hotel at Daven- port, lowa, and while there attended school
for a time. Since his return to Alba town- ship, he has engaged in agricultural pursuits. and now operates one of his father's farms on section 34. Alba township.
On the 5th of January, 1896, Mr. Baker was married, in Davenport, to Miss Zora Machesney, who was born in Annawan, this county. April 16, 1871. Her father. An- drew Taylor Machesney, was born in Penn- sylvania, in 1849, and had one brother and one sister. namely : William, who married Blanch Everett, by whom she has one child, Edna, and lives in Wellsville, Ohio; and Mary, who died in Pennsylvania, at the age of eighteen years. During the Civil war he served three years as a member of the Fifty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteer In- fantry, and was wounded in the right arm. In 1868 he married Clara M. Gochenouer, who was born in Ohio, in 1852, and is the tenth in order of birth in a family of eleverr children, the others being as follows : Henry, now deceased: Newton and Dora, residents of Nebraska: William, a resident of Anna- wan, this county, married Elmira Carey. now deceased, and had five children, Lillian, Ada, Olive. Anna, and Clinton. deceased : Adam, a resident of Blair, Nebraska, wedded Mary Burgess and has six children, Joseph. Ella, Alma, Mary, Frank and Annie: John. of Annawan, Illinois, had four children. Nettie Clarence, Charles, deceased. and Otho: Barbara Ann is the wife of Frank Fatton, of Luverne, Iowa, and they have five children. William, Tillie, Christina. Maggie and Emma: Mary is the wife of John Eibert, of Belgrade, Nebraska: Re- becca is the wife of Jacob Messmore, of Kewanee, and they have one child, Emma: Sarah is the wife of William Frouk, of Lu- verne, Iowa, and they have four children. Anna. William, Burton and Matilda; and
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Nancy, deceased, was the wife of Nelson Swagger, of Luverne, Iowa, and they had four children, Edith, Charles, Susan and Clara. After his marriage Mr. Machesney came west and took up his residence near Annawan, Henry county, Illinois.
Politically Mr. Baker is identified with the Republican party, and is now most creditably serving his second year as super visor of Alba township. He has also filled the office of township clerk three years, and is one of the leading and influential citizens of his community. Religiously he is a member of the Congregational Church, and socially is connected with the Knights of Pythias fraternity, in which he has filled all the chairs and is now past chancellor. His v: ife belongs to the United Brethren Church, and is a member of the Star Circle and Thimble Society.
JAMES O. THORP.
Among the leading and representative agriculturists of Burns township is Jacob O. Thorp, who owns and operates a good farm of one hundred and twenty-six acres on section 24. He was born near the town of Belpre. Washington county, Ohio, Feb- ruary 17, 1840, and is a son of Moses O. and Sarah ( Clark ) Thorp, natives of Penn- sylvania, who came with their family to Illinois, locating in Burns township, Henry county. Here the father purchased forty acres of land, to which he added from time to time until he owned one hundred and eighty acres. By trade he was a cooper and followed that occupation in connection with farming. In his family were ten children. namely: Hannah, now Mrs. Foster, of Al-
toona, Illinois: Jonas, deceased : Isaac, who married Eliza Adams and lives in Kewanee township, this county ; Sarah, wife of E. K. Vincent : Mary, who died in this county and was buried in Corners cemetery; Lydia, who married Joseph Mooney and died in this county ; James, who died in childhood; Ar- thur, deceased: Frank, who married Sarah Whitehouse and lives in Iowa ; and Mahala, wife of Robert Garland, of lowa.
Jacob O. Thorp, the fourth in order of birth in this family, was reared upon his father's farm, and received a good practical education, pursuing his studies in what is known as the Carson school in Burns town- ship. For about eight years he successfully engaged in teaching, and since then has de- voted his time and attention exclusively to farming. In 1866 he purchased thirty-five acres of land on section 24. and has since extended the boundaries of his farm until it now comprises one hundred and twenty- six acres, which is in splendid condition and improved with good modern buildings, in- cluding a pleasant residence erected in 1897.
On the end of October, 1866, Mr. Thorp was married at Kewanee, by Rev. W. J. Beck, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to Miss Sarah E. Clark, who was born, reared and educated in Ohio, and was about sixteen years of age when she came to Kewanee in 1865, with her parents, Jacob and Elizabeth ( Ray) Clark, natives of Pennsylvania, and Ohio, respectively. By trade her father was a shoemaker. He had a family of ten children. Mr. and Mrs. Thorp have one son and one daughter; Eu- gene Ward, born September 20, 1869, was married. August 11. 1893. to Nannie E. Myers and they have two children, Wesley and Jesse: Florence, born April 4, 1875, is now the wife of James McRell. Jr., and they
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Have one chill. Mitme H., born October 23. 1899.
Since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Thorp has never wavered in his allegience to the Republican party, and he has most efficiently filled the offices of tax collector, road commissioner for six years and school director, serving in the latter position for ten years. Mrs. Thorp is a member of the Methodist Epis- Gopal Church and they receive and merit the respect and esteem of all who krow them.
OLOF PETERSON.
Many of the most enterprising and suc- cessful farmers of Henry county have come from the land beyond the sea, and in the new world have made for themselves and families good homes. Prominent among these is Olof Peterson, a well-known citizen of Galva township, his home being on sec. tion 12. He has been a resident of this county since 1871.
Ar. Peterson was born in the southeast- ern part of Sweden, January 29, 1850, a son of Peter and Annie Johnson, life-long residents of that country. In early life the father followed the occupation of a farmer and later worked as a laborer. He died in 1808, at the age of eighty-four years, and his wife passed away in 1900, at the age of eighty-three. Of the seven children born to them three died in childhood, the others being Olof, our subject; Peter, a farmer and cattle raiser of South Dakota; and Ella And Biel Peterson, both of Sweden. It was seven years after our subject came to Omnerica that his brother crossed the ocean. alid for three years worked as a farm hand
ir Henry county. He then farmed rented land two years, after which he went to Mis- souri where he farmed for two years. Dur- ing this period he returned to Galva and in January, 1884, he married Miss Lucy Al- derman. In 1886 he went to South Dakota. where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres near Bonilla, where he has since resided.
In his early boyhood Olof Peterson at- tended the common schools of his native land, but at the age of ten years he was compelled to lay aside his books and go to work. He herded stock until old enough to perform more arduous labor, and then worked in a mill for six years, the last year as head-miller, during which time he thor- oughly learned the miller's trade. On at- taining his majority he bade good-bye to home and family, and alone came to Amer- ica. Having only half enough money to pay his passage he was obliged to borrow the balance with which he purchased his ticket to his destination-Kewanee, Illinois,-and was entirely unfamiliar with the English lan- guage. He at once found work on a farm by the month and was thus employed for five years, during which time he saved enough money to buy some farm implements and stock, and during the following years he operated rented land. In 1878 he purchased eighty acres of land of Jerry Bickford, in Wethersfield township, on which he lived three years and at the same time worked rented land. He then sold to A. C. Taylor, and bought eighty acres of Peter Levine in Galva township, where he now resdes, and in January, 1882, he bought an adjoining eighty acres of the Daniels heirs.
His first home here was destroyed by fire in 1885. but he has erected a more mod- ern residence, and has also erected a large
MRS. O. PETERSON. FRANK PETERSON
MR. O. PETERSON.
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barn and sheds for the accommodation of son, Frank E., who was born July 29. 1880, his stock. As a stock raiser and breeder he in Wethersfield township, and completed his education in the Wethersfield high school. Ile is now assisting his father in business. has been remarkably successful. He has a fine drove of Poland China hogs for breeding purposes, and finds a ready market for the same. He also makes a specialty of short horn cattle, and has been interested in rais- ing Clydesdale and Englishshire horses, but is now giving his attention to Normans. Be- sides his farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 12, Galva township, he owns forty acres on section 7. Wethersfield, and has also improved that property in a most creditable manner. He also owns and oper- ates a corn sheller and grinder and thresh- ing outfit, his son acting as engineer.
On the 30th of January, 1879. Mr. Pe- terson was united in marriage with Miss Rosina Adelia Mallory, who was born in Whiteside county, Illinois, April 3, 1856. and is a daughter of G. W. and Susan ( Smith ) Mallory, the former a native of Vermont, the latter of Essex county, New York. The mother died November 4, 1898. but the father is still living in Annawan, this county, at the age of seventy-nine years. They were the parents of ten children, all of whom are still living, namely: Tamar C., wife of Arthur Wood, of New Boston, Illinois ; Josephine A., wife of Henry Buck- ley, of Kewanee; Rosina .A., wife of our subject ; Isabella A., wife of R. Eugene Cook, of Red Oak, Iowa: Edith .A., wife of George Anderson, of Alba township, this county ; Herbert E. married Cora Willitt. and lives in Annawan: Eva A., wife of Henry Seeley, of New Boston, Illi- mois: Wallace E., George .\. and Susie E., all three living at home. The children were educated in the public schools of Ke- wanee, where the family resided from 1860 to 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have one
By his ballot Mr. Peterson supports the men and measures of the Republican party, and has held minor offices in his township. For nine years he has capably served as school director, and has always taken a de- cided interest in maintaining good schools. He and his wife are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church and are highly re- spected and esteemed by all who know them. Although he has always led a very active and industrious life, he has ever enjoyed good health, and his career has ever been such as to command the confidence and warm regard of those with whom he has been brought in contact. As a business man he stands among the ablest in his community.
F. CHARLES SPIEGEL.
Among the citizens of Galva township who are of foreign birth is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, his home being on section I. He was born in Prussia. Germany, April 13, 1844, and in 1861, came to the United States with his parents, Fred- erick and Minnie Spiegel, it requiring about a month to cross the ocean. On landing in this country they proceeded at once to Ke- wanee, Illinois, two sons, August and Fred, having previously located here in 1857. The parents lived on a farm near that city for some years, but spent their last days in the city. Both are now deceased, the mother having died first. In Germany the father followed the miller's trade, and having saved a little money he invested it in a tract of timber land on coming to this county and
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turned his attention to agricultural pur- suits. His place consisted of one hundred and forty acres, and to its improvement and cultivation he devoted his energies until his removal to Kewanee, when he sold the farm.
Charles Spiegel is the fourth in order of birth in a family of twelve children, two of whom died young, the others being August. a resident of Burns township: Fred, of Cambridge: Albert, who died about 1882 upon his farm in Wethersfield township: where he owned a half section of land : Emil. a retired farmer of Kewanee; Ernest, who died on his farm in Galva township in 1899: Louisa, wife of William Coover, a veteran of the Civil war, residing in Kewanee; Att- gusta ,wife of Fred Schaffer of Cornwall township: and Pauline wife of August Wal- ter. of Burns township. The family were all educated in the public schools of Germany. After coming to this country they all worked together for some time, and by their com- bined efforts met with excellent success. They have made for themselves good homes and farms, and all that they have acquired has been gained by hard work and good management.
The subject of this sketch received his .old when brought to this country by her par- education in the schools of Germany and also learned the traits of economy and fru- gality, which have been important factors in his success, enabling him to acquire a comfortable competence. At the age of seventeen he came to the new world, and at first worked as a laborer by the month until he secured a start in life. In 1866 he And his brother, Albert, purchased a farm for which they went in debt about ten thou- sand dollars. It consisted of two hundred and forty acres in Wethersfield township, which they operated together for five years. bon at the end of that time, our subject sold
a part of his interest to his brother and the remainder to J. Armstrong. He then bought eighty acres of land in Galva township, on which he lived for five years, and on selling that property in 1877. he purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 1, the same township. At that time it was very poorly improved, but he has since made it one of the best farms of the community. In 1883 he erected a good barn and two years later built his present residence, which is supplied with modern improvements. The buildings erected by him are good and substantial structures, which have cost him about seven thousand dollars, and he has also spent over nine hundred dol- lars in tiling and draining his land. In con- nection with general farming he raises horses, cattle and hogs for market purposes, making a specialty of Norman horses, of which he has some very fine specimens. Be- sides his fine farm he owns residence prop- erty in Kewanee, and a building lot in Weth- ersfield.
In 1870 Mr. Spiegel was united in mar- riage with Miss Herminia Ouret, who was also born in Germany and was eight years ents, both of whom are now deceased. By occupation her father was a farmer. She is one of a family of four children, the others being William, a farmer of Nebraska: Au- gust, who lives north of Kewanee: and Augusta, wife of Charles Campien, now a carpenter of Kewanee, who was formerly engaged in farming here and in Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Spiegel are the parents of three children : Emma, wife of Isaac Nelson, of Kewanee, by whom she has three children, and Clara and Bernard, both at home. Alt have attended the district school near home. ard later the schools of Kewanee.
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Mr. Spiegel is a stockholder of the Far- mers' Elevator in Galva, and as a public- spirited citizen he takes a deep interest in everything calculated to prove of public bene fit. Since attaining his majority he has been an active worker for the success of the Re- publican party, with which he has always affiliated. He favors good schools and has been an efficient school officer. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church of Kewanee, has served on its board of trus- tees, and in his younger days took an active part in church work. Possessing the esteem and respect of the entire community, he may well be ranked among the representative and prominent citizens of the county. His honor and integrity are unimpeachable, his word being considered as good as his bond.
DAVID ANDERSON.
David Anderson, deceased, was for many years a prominent and highly esteemed citi- zen of Burns township. Henry county, Illi- nois, where his family still reside. He was born in Londonderry, Ireland, December 18, 1818, and was a lad of thirteen years when he came to America with his parents. George and Jennie Anderson. On their voy- age across the Atlantic they were ship- wrecked, and three of the daughters, one of whom was only five months old, were on one small island all night, while their par- ents and the remainder of the family were on another. For a short time the family resided in Philadelphia and then removed te Ohio, locating near West Liberty, where the father engaged in farming. The parents spent the remainder of their lives in that locality. the father dying March 15. 1879.
aged eighty-six years, the mother many years before. They had eight children. all born in Ireland with the exception of Jennie. In order of birth they were as follows: Wil- son, now a resident of Huntsville, Ohio; David, our subject ; Matthew, of Madison, Wisconsin : Belle, wife of Robert Martin, of Iowa City, Iowa; Sarah, wife of John Em- ery. of Bellefontaine, Ohio: Mary, widow of Peter Emery, and a resident of Bellefontaine, Ohio: Nancy. deceased; and Jennie. de- ceased wife of William McElree.
David Anderson received a common school education and was reared to habits of industry upon the home farm. Prior to. his marriage he was engaged in the boot and shoe business in Bellefontaine, but after that followed farming throughout the remain- der of his life. On the 8th of May. 1862, he led to the marriage altar Miss Sarah J. Hen- derson, who was born near Utica, Licking county, Ohio, April 27. 1840. Her parents, Robert and Margaret ( McDavitt) Hender- son, were both natives of Jefferson county, Ohio, and of Scotch-Irish descent, though their ancestors came to America at a verv early day. To them were born thiee chil- dren of whom Mrs. Anderson is the oldest ; Belle is the wife of Gilbert Walker, of Salis- bury, Missouri: and Caroline C., the de- ceased wife of J. B. Whitney, of Burns. township, this county.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson became the par- ents of seven children, namely : Margaret, wife of Samuel Warner, of Burns town- ship : George, also a resident of Burns town- ship, who married Esther Corckel. of Ke- wanee, and has two children, David and Lola: Sarah Cornelia, wife of David Mar- tin, of Kewanee township; Eva Lou, wife of Frank Simonton, of Burns township. by whom she has two children. Ethel and
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Mynie: Olive Belle, wie of Ernest Couve. S. and Catherine ( Harbaugh ) Rickel. His of Burns township: Mary Lizzie, wife of Wilham Robson, of the same township, by whom she has one child, Wilbur Lee: and Albert D. at home with his mother.
Shortly after his marriage in 1862, Mr. Anderson removed to Wisconsin and set- tled in Pine Bluff, Dane county, but in March. 1864. he returned to Ohio, and after spending the winter there he came to Henry county, Illinois, in 1865. He purchased a part of the present farm on section 9. Burns township, and to it added from time to time until be owned two hundred and sixty acres of well improved and highly productive land at the time of his death, which occurred May 26, 1895. He built a fine home, one of the good, early buildings of his township. In his political affiliations he was a Democrat, and as one of the leading and influential citizens of his township he was called upon to serve as supervisor for fourteen years. He always took a commendable interest in pub- lic affairs and gave a liberal support to all enterprises calculated to advance the welfare of his community. Although not a member of any religious denomination he freely con- tributed to church work, and in his death his township has lost a valued citizen. Mrs. Anderson is a member of the Presbyterian Church and is a most estimable woman.
JEREMIAHI H. RICKEL.
Among the prominent early settlers of Hlemy county, now living a retired life in Geneseo, on East Cemetery street, was born on the toth of October, 1836, in West Sa- lem. Wayne county, Ohio, a son of Michael
paternal grandparents were John B. and Margaret ( Swaisgood) Rickel, in whose family were nine children that grew to ma- turity. The grandfather was a native of Bedford county, Pennsylvania, from which state he removed to Ohio, and laid out the village of West Salem, which was partially upon his land. He gave the land for the first church in that place and also for the cemetery. He was a farmer and a minister of the Evangelical Association, being en- gaged in preaching for many years. His death occurred at his home in West Salem, when he was seventy-one years of age, his wife having passed away some fifteen years previously. Our subject's great-grandfather was married to a Miss Blucher, a cousin of Gen. Blucher, of Waterloo fame. She was one of the first to unite with the Evangelical Church in Pennsylvania. Our subject's ma- ternal grandparents were John and Eliza- beth ( Rickel ) Harbaugh, the former a na- tive of Virginia, the latter of Bedford county. Pennsylvania. They emigrated in an early day to Wayne county, Ohio, as pioneers.
Michael S. Rickel, father of our subject, as also born in the Keystone state, and in early life accompanied by his parents on their removal to Wayne county, Ohio, where he worked at the carpenter's trade and later clerked in a store at West Salem. In Octo- ber. 1852, he came to Henry county. Illi- nois, and purchased eighty acres of govern- ment land in Phenix township. He convert- ed the wild tract into a good farm and con- tinned to make his home there until his death which occurred in 1881, on the seventieth anniversary of his birth. He most credit- ably filled a number of township offices and for about twenty years served as postmaster
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of Pink Prairie. He and his brother. Jo- and later of the Fifty-ninth Regiment, Vet- siah S .. started the first Sabbath school in eran Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He died of typhoid fever in the hospital at Memphis, Tennessee. (4) Rosanna H. died in John- son county, Nebraska, in 1893. at the age of forty-nine years. (5) Margaret H. married S. F. Monger, a farmer of Nebraska, and died at Lincoln, that state. Their children were George H. and Elvira, still living; and Edna and May, both deceased. (6) Isaiah is editor of the Juniata Herald and also postmaster of Juniata, Nebraska, and is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias. He married Ella Ilouston, and they have five children, Earl. Edna, Nellie, Lyle and Roe (7) Sarah E. is the wife of John D. Schu- mann, a farmer, blacksmith and wagon- maker of Graf, Johnson county, Nebraska. and they have one child, Oliver. (8) Mary Jane has been a teacher in the public schools of Illinois and Nebraska, but is now keep- ing house for her mother at Juniata, the lat- ter state. Our subject. Susanna, Adam and Margaret were also teachers. their community, and also established the first Sabbath school in the Phenix district. He gave the land on which the first district school house was built in his part of the township, and also donated the land for the first cemetery in that locality. His political support was given the Republican party, and he took an active interest in all the important questions of the day, earnestly advocating those measures, whose object was the ad- vancement of the community in which he lived. During the last fifteen years of his life he engaged in the practice of medicine. having secured his medical education largely by home study, and obtaining a state certifi- cate to practice. He was often called in con- sultation with the leading physicians of the county. Religiously he was a faithful mem- Ler of the Evangelical Association, and he was one of the most highly respected and honored citizens of his community. His estimable wife is still living at the age of eighty-eight years, is quite active in mind, and makes her home with her youngest daughter at Juanita, Adams county, Nebras- ka. She was also a great church worker.
In the family of this worthy comple were eight children, namely: (1) Susanna H. married Samuel Strouse. a farmer of West Salem, Ohio, who served through the Civil war as a member of Company K, One Hun- dred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infan- try, and died in 1893, while his wife died in February, 1899, leaving three children, Anna, William and Lottie. (2) Jeremiah H., our subject, is next in order of birth. (3) Adam H. was also a Union soldier, be- ing first a member of Company F. Fifty- sixth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
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