USA > Illinois > Henry County > The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois > Part 5
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Frederick W. Weinrich received his ed- ucation in the district school near his boy- hood home, and grew to manhood upon the farm, which, as the oldest son, he assisted his father in improving and cultivating as soon as large enough to handle a plow. On attaining his majority he embarked in busi- ness for himself as a stock dealer on a small scale, giving his attention to Poland China
In 1888 Mr. Weinrich was united in marriage with Miss Matilda Bartz, who was born in Germany, in 1869, but was brought to the United States in 1871 by her par- ents, John and Anna ( Fritz) Bartz. Her father died in Edford township, this county, in 1900, but her mother is still living on the farm there. Mrs. Weinrich is the oldest of their eleven children who are still living, the others being Bertha, who died aged about three years in Germany; Albert died in Geneseo when a child: Gustaf, a farmer of Edford township: Hulda, wife of B. Wood-
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
THAT, Emmi, it resulent of Rock Island ; EMToonL At home: Mary, a resident of Geneseo: mit Minnie and John, both at home. One ... Otto, 15 deceased. Mr. 91al Mr -. Weinrich are active members and hberal supporters of the Methodist Episco- jal Church. He has never taken an active part in political affairs. He is a wide awake, energetic business man, and is thoroughly reliable in all transactions.
WILLIAM H. COSNER.
This well-known and prosperous farmer Burns township, whose home is on sec- rion 14, is a native of Henry county, born 4b Kewanee township. January 5. 1842, and 1. a worthy representative of one of the county's pioneer families. His father Jacob Cosner, was born on the fith of April. 1809. in Coshocton county, Ohio. Where he continued to make his home until coming to this county, in 1838. He was one of the first to locate in Wethersfield town ship and became prominently identified with the early development and upbuilding of this locality. In 1841 he removed to Burns township, of which he was also a pioneer, and there continued to reside until his death, Which occurred January 3. 1897. He served 8. postmaster of Burns for several years. was road commissioner six years, and school director for some time, and was one of the leading and influential citizens of his community. He cast his first presiden . tial vote for General Jackson, and continued to support the Democratic party through ont life. On the 5th of February, 1841 he married Miss Sarah Leonard, who was born in Pennsylvania, January 6, 1820
and was a daughter of Samuel and Phebe Leonard, the former of German, the latter of Irish descent. Her parents died in this county and were buried in Cosner cemetery. the cemetery being named after his family. Our subject's paternal grandparents, Philips and Mary Cosner, were of German and Welsh extraction.
William H. Cosner is the oldest of a family of ten children, the others being as follows: Sylvester Rush, born October IL. 1843. died September 27, 1845, and was buried in Wethersfield cemetery. AAbrahan Swails, born November 13, 1845, married, first, Isabella Tracy. and. second, Eliza Martin, and lives in Cornwall township benton Boner, born October 20, 1847. died .April 21. 1849. and was buried in the Cos- ner cemetery. Amanda Byantha, born De cember 20, 1849. is the wife of L. E. Wil- helm, of Kewanee. Cynthia Maria, born December 7. 1851, died January 6. 1873. Sarah Salena, born August 31, 1854. died September 11, 1855. Mathew Potter, born October 20, 1828, died September 12, 1859 Ruea Rosella, born June 28. 1858, died September 30, 1858. Francis Marion, born May 22, 1859. married Betsy Johnson, and died October 20, 1800. The mother of these children died on the 30th of July, 1896.
Mr. Cosner, of this review, attended the country schools near his boyhood home, and on the completion of his education turned his attention to the work of the farm. Throughout his entire life he has engaged in agricultural pursuits, and is now the owner of two valuable and well improved farms, one of one hundred and six acres. the other of one hundred and seventy-two and a half acres. The neat and thrifty ap- pearance of these places shows conclusively that he thoroughly understands the voca.
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tin which he follows del that he is a man a highly respected aflizen of Genesis, Why of gold business ability For some years is represented elsewhere in this works Her he engaged extensively in the raising of Shropshire sheep, but now gives attention to the raising of cattle, horses, sheep and hogs. death occurred Mirch 24, 1898, when she was seventy seven years of age. She was a devout Christian, a member of the Meth odist Episcopal Church, was generous and charital le, and an excellent neighbor, a de voted wife, being almost worshipped by her chillren for her mitny endearing qualities. She still lives in the affections of all who khen her.
On the 1st of January, 1864, in Wethers- field township, Mr. Gener was united in marriage with Miss Adelaide Alvernia Wedge, born May 14. 1844. and daughter of Chester and Paulina (Ellenwood ) Wedge, and they have become the parents of two children: William Oria married Emily Scott, by whom he has three children and with his family lives on a firm ad- joining his father's. Ceria Clyde married Grace A. Whitted, and resides with oui subject ; has two children, Dewey K. and Claude W.
Politically Mr. Cosner is a Demerit and he takes quite an active and promicom part in local affairs. He has filled the Web of justice of the peace four years, constibl. eight years, and road master at various times, and his official duties have always- been most capably and satisfactorily per formed.
WILLIAM MERRIMAN.
This gentleman, who is one of the oldest settlers and most highly esteemed residents of Henry county, is now living a retired life in Geneseo. He was born in Huron coun- ty, Michigan, on Christmas day, 1832, a son of Edward and Malinda ( Bartlett) Merriman, natives of New York, from which state the father removed to Michigan in the latter part of the '20s. He was a good farmer and followed that pursuit throughout life. He died February 14; 1858, at the age of forty-six years, and his widow subsequently married Adam Dunlap,
William Merranan is the oldest in a family of six children, the others being Louisa Olive, who married J. Stafford and tired at the age of sixty five years ; Mmerva. wife i Wesley Niceswinder, of Genesen, Charles Bu, a resident of Blairtown, Iowa; Hortence, wife of Charles Jackson, of Es sex, Iowa; Harriet, who died at the age vi three years ; and Gilbert, who resides in Ar- kansas City, Kansas.
The subject of this review was reared to farming, which occupation he has fol- lowed throughout life in connection with auctioneering, having devoted a portion of his time to the latter pursuit for twenty- seven years. Although he is practically liv- ing a retired life in Geneseo, he still does some auctioneering for his old friends, and has sold as high as thirteen thousand dol- lars' worth of property in one day.
As early as 1838 Mr. Merriman came to Henry county, Illinois, locating here be- fore the Indians had left for their western reservations and when wild game was plentiful. At one time he and a neighbor counted a drove of seventy-five deer go ing from one patch of timber to another. Mr. Merriman pre-empted a tract of govern- ment land before it came into market and later purchased it. A portion of this land he still owns, having a fine farm of three
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Lundvedl acres in Pheure township, which he has inyhoved and placed under excel- lent cultivation. His principal farm prod- nets have been corn and oats, and he has given considerable attention to the raising of stock. In 1892 he left the farm and moved to Geneseo, where he now makes his home. He has served his fellow citizens as school director and highway commissioner, but has never cared for official honors, pre- hiring to devote his entire time and atten- Lion to his business interests.
On the 24th of March, 1860, Mr. Mer- rman wedded Miss Margaret Carse, a na- tave of Wayne county, Ohio, and a daugh- ter of W. M. and Mary Carse, who came to this country from Belfast, Ireland, at an early day, and in 1850 located in Illinois. By this union were born seven children, namely : Mary M., wife of Wilbur Brown- ing, of Phenix, by whom she has one child, Maudie; Nancy J., wife of Benjamin Mc- Henry. of Geneseo, by whom she has six children, Alta, William B., Flora, Eddie, Freddie E. and Benjamin D. ; Pearley Etta, wife of W. M. Withrow, of Phenix ; Amelia, wife of Olen Browning, by whom she has one child, Alva C .; Edward, a resident of Phenix, who married Susan Tabor and has une child, Ora; Delia, wife of Edwin Wert, i Geneseo, by whom she has two children, Ira and Gertie; and Elsie, who died at the age of five years.
LYMAN J. WILKINSON.
This well-known and efficient superin- tendent of the Henry county infirmary, lo- ented in Munson township, was born in Ti- ga county, Pennsylvania, on the 17th of August, 1833, his parents being George and Julia .A. ( Manton ) Wilkinson, both natives
of Rhode Island. The Wilkinson family was founded in America by his paternal great-grandfather and two brothers, na- tives of England. When young the parents of our subject moved to Pennsylvania. where their marriage was celebrated, and there the father followed farming for sev- cral years. Coming to Illinois in 1837, he took up a government claim in La Salle county, and the following year returned to Pennsylvania for his family. He followed his chosen occupation in that county until his removal to Bureau county, in 1844, and there he also opened up and improved a farm, which he successfuly operated for a number of years. Later he embarked in the hotel business in Tiskilwa and carried it on for about ten years, when, at the age of fifty-eight, he retired from active life and moved to Atchison, Illinois, where he owned a small farm. He resided in Henry county tor about six years, and died while on a visit to our subject at the age of sixty-eight. When he first came to Illinois this section of the state was practically all wild prairie land, entirely destitute of improvement, and in the development of his farms he aided materially in advancing its interests. He started out in life a poor man, and through his industry, enterprise and good manage- ment became quite well-to-do. In religious beliet he was a Universalist, and in politics he was a Democrat. As one of the leading and influential men of the community in which he lived, he was honored with a num- ber of local offices, although he never sought political preferment. After his death his wife made her home with her children and lived to the ripe old age of eighty-three years.
The family of this worthy couple num- lered eight children, five of whom reached
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years of maturity. namely! Marshall, who on his father's farm int Munson bows hip. was a member of the Forty-seventh fli- He married Jane Goshorn and has :Www chil dren, Lyman and Bert. ( 2) Willis L., born September 21, 1861, lives with his father of the county farm, acting as his assistant. He married Ethel Lambert, who now serves as matron of the infirmary. They have two children, Mabel and Elon. (3) Bert H., the youngest son of our subject, was born .An- gust 25, 1867, and died, unmarried, August 28, 1889.
fois Volunteer Infantry during the Civil war, followed the blacksmith's trade in Tiskilwa, Bureau county, where he died in 1892; Lyman J., our subject, is the second in order of birth and the oklest of the fam ily now living: Orrin, who served in Com- pany E, Ninety-third Illinois Infantry, dur- ing the Rebellion, is now engaged in the boot and shoe business in Princeton, Illi- pois; Charles is a carpenter of Cripple Creek, Colorado; and Mary J. is the widow of William Smith and resides on a farm in Munson township, this county. All were reared in La Salle and Bureau counties. this state, and were educated in the public schools.
Lyman J. Wilkinson was only four years old when brought by his parents to Illinois, and was reared amid pioneer scenes. He received a high-school education, and as- sisted his father in the arduous task of open- ing up a farm in the new country. Ile re- mained at home until he was married, March 31, 1853, to Miss Emeline Stevens, who was born in Canterbury, New Hampshire, Jan- uary 20, 1835. Her father. Thomas J. Stevens, was one of the pioneers of Bureau county, this state, where he located in 1839. In his family were four children, who are still living : Joseph M., a retired farmer of Anawan, Henry county ; Francis, who owns a farm but is now engaged in the butcher business in Tiskilwa, Bureau county; Lo- rena, widow of S. Fifield and a resident of Buda; and Mary, widow of B. A. Cleveland and a resident of Davenport, Iowa. Mrs. Wilkinson died at the present home of our subject September 19, 1898. By that union there were born three children, namely : (1) George T., born October 23, 1856, lives
After his marriage Mr. Wilkinson worked at the carpenter's trade, which he had previously learned, and which he fol- lowed until after the Civil war broke ont. Responding to his country's call for aid, he enlisted in Company E. Ninety-third Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, which company was known as the Tiskilwa Tigers. He en- tered the service as first lieutenant, while Ins brother Orrin was captain of the com- pany. They were mustered into service Oc- tober 13, 1862, by Captain Barrey, of the United States army. Our subject partici- pated in the battle of Champion Hill and the siege of Vicksburg, but on account of iailing health he resigned his commission and was mustered out September 3, 1863.
After resting for a time Mr. Wilkinson resumed work at his trade in Tiskilwa, and continued to follow the same until selected by the board of supervisors of Bureau coun- ty as superintendent of the infirmary there, which position he most creditably filled from 1809 to 1872, when he resigned to accept a similar position offered him in this county. The new building had just been erected in Munson township, the plastering being put on after he moved in. Since then many improvements have been made under his careful supervision, and the farm of one hundred and twenty acres has been enlarged
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
to :|free hmdred and twenty. The farm is Det unden w high state of cultivation and the mstitiiber is in a flourishing condition. De mig to the excellent management and good business and executive ability of Mr. Willem-on. who has proved a most capable. as well as popular superintendent. He is now the (Wyner of a well improved and high- ly productive farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 32, Munson township, now occupied by his son.
Mr. Wilkinson has been president of the Henry County Agricultural Board, under whose auspices the fairs are held, and is one of the stockholders of the association. In religious belief he is an Episcopalian : las served as vestryman for a number of years: and at present is one of the vestry- men of the church at Geneseo. Fraternally he is an honored member of E. G. Jenkins post, G. A. R., of that place, and is a prom- inent Mason, a member of the blue lodge of Cambridge, the chapter and commandery of Princeton, Illinois, and the Mystic Shrine, at Davenport, Iowa. He is one of the prom- inent Republicans of his community, and takes quite an active and influential part in the work of his party. As a pioneer su- perintendent of infirmaries in Illinois, and as one of the most honored and highly re- spected citizens of Henry county he is cer- tainly deserving of prominent mention in its history. In all the relations of life he has been found true to every trust reposed in him, and has manifested his loyalty in days of peace as well as in time of war.
FRANK F. WHIFFEN.
The present mayor of Kewanee is one of the most public spirited citizens of that place, to whose energy and foresight the
city is indebted for many mpw ements. While Mr. Whiffin, as a porreferens busi- ness man, has given close attention to hi- private affairs, he has never forgotten or ignored the bond of common interest which should unite the people of every community and he has always been ready to promote progress in every line.
He was born in Kewanee, May 11, 1858, and is a son of John Whiffen, whose birth occurred in Kimbolton, England, October 13. 1815, and who came to America in 1832 with his parents. For many years the grandfather of our subject was proprietor of a livery stable in London, known as the Swan Yard, but after his emigration to this country lived a retired life. Both he and his wife died in Utica, New York, where the family located on coming to the new world. Their children were born in England and are all now deceased. In order of birth they were as follows: Thomas spent his early life in Utica, New York, but his death occurred while making his home in Wyom- ing, Stark county, Illinois: David was a resident of Iowa; John, the father of our subject, was the next of the family; Isaac followed the butcher business in Utica, New York, throughout life ; Uridge was a school teacher of the same city ; and Mary complet- ed the family.
When quite a young man John Whiffen was engaged in the butchering business in Utica with his brother Isaac, to whom he sold his interest on coming west, and whose sons still carry on the business at the same corner in that city. It was in 1850 that John Whiffen came west selling carriages and two years later located in Wyoming, Illinois, where he followed farming until the death of his wife, Mrs. Sarah ( Seaton) Whiffen, who passed away February 23,
FRANK F. WHIFFEN.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1 1854. She was a sister of B. W. Seaton, editor of the Prairie Chief, Cambridge, Illi- nois. She was also a native of England, and they were married in Utica. New York, July 25, 1838. By this union seven chil- dren were born, namely: John W., born in June, 1839, is deceased : Isaac .\., born Oc- tober 8, 1840, is a carriage manufacturer and dealer of Janesville, Wisconsin; Aman- da Jane, born November 14, 1842, is now Mrs. C. E. Bowles of the same place : Thomas C., born September 5, 1847, is a veteran of the Civil war and a lumber mer- chant of De Witt, Nebraska; Sarah, born October 4, 1849, married Moses M. Barr. of Downers Grove, Illinois, and both died leaving a family of six children : Mary E., born March 24. 1852, is now Mrs. Clement Noyes, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Henrietta, born October 24, 1842, died Oc- tober 6, 1845. Returning to New York. the father was again married, July 3. 1854, his second union being with Miss Clarissa A. Ferguson, of Frankfort, that state, who was born August 11, 1824. There were three children by this union, of whom our subject is the second in order of birth. Charles E., born July 30, 1855, died April 23, 1863; and Frederick, born November 11. 1864, died April 5. 1867. In 1855 John Whiffen took up his residence in Kewanee. Illinois, becoming one of the first butchers of that place, and continuing to carry on the business up to the time of his death. He was also one of the early stock buyers and shippers of this section, and was en- gaged in the carriage business as a sort of side issue for a few years. He died June 27. 1897, and his wife passed away Feb- ruary 16, 1894. They were among the charter members of the Presbyterian Church of Kewanee, anl were highly respected,and esteemed by all who knew them. 3
During his boyhood and youth Frank F. Whiffen attended the public schools of Kewanee, and at the age of seventeen began his business career in the employ of M. C. Quinn, who conducted a meat market and restaurant. Later he worked for his father and William Priestman one year, and at the age of nineteen went to Terrill, Texas, where he was employed in the meat market of Mr. Priestman for a year. On his return to Kewanee he formed a partnership with his father in the butchering business in September, 1878, and carried on a market in the same building on Tremont street un- til 1887, when he began buying and ship- ping live stock and dealing in real estate. He purchased a part of the Cook estate, con- sisting of thirteen acres on Water street, which he laid out in lots and then sold. In many instances he built houses on the lots, and sold all on the installment plan, thus disposing of fifty lots. Although a number of these were sold without anything being paid down, he has never had to take one back. In this way he has enabled many a poor person to secure a home, who other- wise would not have done so. Mr. Whiffen also laid out an addition in the east end of town, known as the Elmwood addition, which contains thirty-two lots, all practical- ly built up now. He is still successfully engaged in the real estate business and has handled houses and lots all over the city. He sold the lot on which the Kewanee Na- tional Bank is located to that corporation, and received for the same the highest price ever paid for a lot in Kewanee. In 1894 he embarked in the lumber business on the north side of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad tracks, on North Main street, carrying a full line of building ma- terials, and has built up a good trade. He is a wide-awake, energetic business man,
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who generally carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
On the 20th of October, 1884, Mr. Whiffen was united in marriage with Miss Sarah J. Pyle, a daughter of Robert and Sarah J. (Collingwood) Pyle, natives of England and early settlers of Henry county. The father is now deceased, but the mother is still living and makes her home in Ke- wanee township. Our subject and his wife have two children, Clara and Charles F., who are both attending school.
Mr. Whiffen is a director of the Union Building & Loan Association, and treasurer of the same. As a Republican he takes quite an active and influential part in local pol- itics, and has been honored with the highest office within the gift of his fellow townsmen. He served as assessor in 1893. 1894. 1896 and 1897, being first elected on the Demo- cratic and later on the Republican ticket. In 1899 he was elected mayor of the city, and during his term many permanent im- provements has been made, including the completion of the system of sanitary sewer- age as commenced by Mayor Pierce, and the laying of a number of cement sidewalks. He also arranged the details and carried out the paving of the business part of the city. the first laid in the city. Mr. Whiffen is pre-eminently public-spirited and progress- ive, and in the discharge of his official du- ties has displayed the same business ability and fidelity that has marked his entire busi- ness career.
MICHAEL N. EMERY.
For a quarter of a century this gentleman has been one of the leading agriculturists of Galva township, his home being on section
26. A native of Illinois, he was born near Lafayette, Stark county, on the 3d of April. 1842, and is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Neville) Emery, honored pioneers of this state. The Emery family was founded in America by two brothers, who came to this country from Germany, one locating in Maine, the other in Pennsylvania. The former was a ship carpenter by trade. the latter a blacksmith. The family has been well represented in the wars of this coun- try, being always very patriotic and loyal. .Among its members are soldiers of the Revolutionary war, while Conrad Emery. the grandfather of our subject, was in the war of 1812, and several cousins participat- ed in the Civil war.
Jacob Emery, our subject's father, was born in Pennsylvania, in 1803. and first married Deborah Doty, by whom he had six children. Two died when young, but the others are still living, namely: Mary, widow of Michael Neville and a resident of Fulton county, Illinois; Sarah J., wife of Leonard Dufur, of Union county, Iowa ; James H., of Whitewater. Wisconsin: and Lucinda, wife of Charles Potter, of Toulon, Stark county, Illinois. At an early day the father came to Illinois, and near Canton, Fulton county, he married Elizabeth Neville, a native of Ireland, who died in November, 1850. Two of the eight children born of this union died in childhood, the others be- i:g Johanna, who married Joseph Potter and died in 1862: David, a retired citizen of Galva: Britt .A., also a resident of that place ; Michael N., our subject; Catherine, who be- came the wife of Daniel Lundy and died in 1869; and Rose. For his third wife the father married Lydia Driscoll, and to them was born one child, Happy E., wife of S. V. Deem, of Galva. In 1863 the parents of
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
our subject removed to Stark county, which was then infested by Indians, while wild game of all kinds was very abundant. The father purchased several tracts of govern- ment land, and at the time of his death held two deeds signed by President Van Buren and two by President Tyler. Ile owned about three hundred and twenty acres of land at that time, all of which had been im- proved by himself. Ile was one of the first to settle on the prairie and experienced all the hardships and privations of pioneer lite. In early days he hauled his farm produce overland to Chicago and Lacon. In 1853 he purchased property in Galva and erected five houses in the new town about the time the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad was built through that place. There he made his home until his death, which occurred April 4. 1894. By his ballot he supported the men and measures of the Republican party, and was always prominently identi- fied with public affairs, being honored with a number of official positions. He served as supervisor and a member of the town board, the duties of which positions he dis- charged in a most creditable manner. Re- ligiously he was an active worker and in- fluential member of the United Brethren Church.
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