USA > Illinois > Henry County > The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois > Part 50
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The first sixteen years of his life Jere- miah Rickel passed in the place of his birth, and then came with his parents to this county. His education was begun in Ohio. and completed in the district schools of Phe- nix township. For some years he success- fully engaged in teaching school during the winter months, while through the summer season he worked on the home farm until twenty-five years of age. Prompted by a spirit of patriotism he enlisted at Geneseo, in 1862, in Company F. Fifty-sixth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged at Chicago about four months later. He then re-enlisted with the same captain in Company H, Fifty-ninth Indiana regiment.
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and remained in the service until the cessa- tion of hostilities, being honorably dis- charged at Raleigh, North Carolina, on the 28th of April, 1865. He participated in the engagement at Corinth, Mississippi, the siege of Vicksburg, the battles of Champion Hill and Missionary Ridge; the march to Savanah, Georgia, and Raliegh, North Car- olina, and all of the engagements en route ; and also the battles of Jackson, Mississippi, Grand Gulf, Forty Hills and Farmington. Returning to his home after being dis- charged, Mr. Rickel resumed farming and school teaching in Phenix township.
On the 25th of December, 1870, at Gen- eseo, was celebrated his marriage with Mary P. Miller, a daughter of John Adam and Veronica ( Rinck) Miller. Her father was born in Loraine, France, but was only two years old when he came to this country with his parents in 1820. He became a farmer of Geneseo township, this county, and died in the city of Geneseo, October 27, 1895, at the age of sixty-six years, leaving a widow and seven children, of whom Mrs. Rickel is the oldest. Her paternal grandfather was from Loraine, Germany. He was the first to establish the German Methodist Episco- pal Church in Geneseo, Illinois. Her mother. a native of Warren, Warren county, Penn- sylvania, died at the home of our subject in Geneseo, July 20, 1899. She belonged to the Rinck family that was founded in White- side county, Illinois, as early at 1827. She liad three sisters, Mary Ann, Catherine anl Mary; two brothers. Louis, Frances. Mary and Louis died young. Mrs. Rickel's brothers and sisters are as follows: George Il .. who married Dora Beers, and is a teamster and road commissioner at Geneseo; Francis .A., who married Minnie Kicksey, and is a liveryman of Geneseo; Anna C ..
wife of William N. Baker, a farmer of Phe- nix township, this county; John N., who married Ella Franks and lives in Yorktown. this county ; William L., who married Ame- lia Wolf, and is a farmer of Yorktown, this county; and Clara V., wife of Lee Brown, a farmer of Helvey, Jefferson county, Ne- braska. Her brothers are all Republicans.
Mr. and Mrs. Rickel are the parents of six children, all born in Henry county, with exception of Alice, whose birth occurred in Whiteside county, Illinois. They are as fol- lows : Mary L. is the wife of Albert M. Young, a machinist, who is now employed on government works at Moline, Illinois; John I. is a traveling salesman for the King- man-Moore Agricultural Implement House, Kansas City, Missouri, and a resident of Geneseo; Martha is attending school in Abingdon, Illinois, preparing herself for kindergarten work ; Alice V. is a graduate of the Geneseo high school and now a teacher in the district schools of Phenix township; Estella R. is attending the Geneseo high school; and Nettie A. is also a student in the public schools of that place.
In his political views Mr. Rickel is an ardent Republican, and he has ever taken quite an active and prominent part in pub- lic affairs, serving as township collector of Phenix township, and in Loraine township, where he afterwards lived. He was also township clerk and school director for sev- eral years, and filled the office of justice of the peace with credit to himself and to the entire satisfaction of the public. He keeps up his relationship with his old army com- rades by his connection with J. E. Jenkins Post, No. 452. G. A. R., of Geneseo, Illi- rois, and religiously he is a member of the United Evangelical Church of Geneseo. As a generous, liberal minded and progressive
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citizen he lias aided in the development of his adopted county, and is to-day one of lier most honored citizens.
PETER A. PETERSON.
Among the well-to-do and highly esteem- ed citizens of Western township is Peter .\ Peterson, who is successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising on section 26, where he owns a good farm of one hundred and fifty-seven acres, pleasantly located within two miles of Orion. He was born in Sweden, on the 30th of December, 1844. and in 1849 was brought to the United States by his parents, C. J. and Anna Louise ( Ro- senmiller ) Peterson. The father was born in 1815 and prior to his emigration to America followed farming in his native land. (1 their arrival in this country the family first located in Warren county, Pennsylvania. but in 1852 came to Illinois, driving across the country with teams. The father pur- chased a tract of wild land on section 35, Western township, where he opened up and improved a farm of eighty acres, making it his home throughout the remainder of his life. He died in 1894, at the ripe old age of seventy-nine years, and his wife passed away January 1, 1880, both being laid to rest in Andover cemetery. In the family of this worthy couple were the folowing children. three of whom were born in Sweden, the others in this country. Peter A. is third in order of birth. Mrs. Christina Stateen is now a widow residing in Missouri, and has one daughter married. Anna Matilda is keeping house for our subject. Lotta is the wife of A. G. Samuelson, of Des Moines, Iowa, and they have five sons, Ernest, Wal-
ter, Sherman, Edwin and Elmer G. G. H., who owned the old homestead in this county, married in 1883 and died in 1892. He had four children: Carl Henry, who died at the age of two years; Arthur A., Cora and Nellie, who are still living.
Mr. Peterson, of this review, is indebted to the public schools of this county for his educational privileges, and upon the home farm he early became familiar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agricultur- ist. On attaining his majority he left the parental roof, and commenced farming on his own account on a traet of forty acres where he now resides. He erected thereon a small house which he has since enlarged. and to his land he has added from time to time as his financial resources have merited until lie now owns a fine farm of one hun- dred and fifty-seven acres, which he has placed under excellent cultivation. He has built a large basement barn and other out- buildings, and by the planting of both fruit and forest trees has made his place one of the most attractive in that locality. In con- nection with general farming he is engaged in the raising and feeding of stock for mar- ket, shipping a carload of cattle and a large number of hogs to the city each year. Mr. Peterson is what the world terms a self-made man, for he started out in life for himself empty-handed, and his success is due entirely to his own well-directed and energetic ef- forts.
On attaining man's estate, Mr. Peterson supported Abraham Lincoln for the presi- ciency in 1864, and has never wavered in his allegiance to the Republican party since that time, but he has never cared for political honors. He served as a member of the school board and as district clerk for some years, and has given his, support to all enterprises
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which he believes calculated to advance the educational, social and moral welfare of his community. In religious belief he is a Lit- theran and holds membership with the church at Orion.
SWAN P. STREED.
Swan P. Streed, deceased, was for many years one of the honored and highly es- teemed citizens of Andover township, as well as one of its successful agriculturists. He was born April 26, 1815, in Horn Socken, Ostergothland, Sweden, and was there reared and educated. In his native land he was twice married, his second wife being Clara Peterson. In 1849, accompanied by their four children, they took passage on a sailing vessel for the United States, and after a rough and stormy voyage of eleven weeks landed at Castle Garden, New York. Short- ly after their arrival in this country several of the family were taken ill with cholera, and the wife and two children, Emma Matilda and Axel Godfrey, died in Albany, of that dread disease. The remainder of the family proceeded to Henry county, Illinois, by way of the canal to Buffalo, New York; the lakes to Chicago: the canal to Peru, Illinois ; and by team to their destination, arriving here of the 15th of . August, 1849. The two chil- Iren who came with their father to this country were Christine, who was adopted iy H. G. Griffin and died in 1855 ; and Mal- ker F .. a resident of Osco, this county, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this volume.
In September following his arrival in Henry county, Mr. Streed married Miss Anna S. Nelson, who was born in Hyck- linge. Sweden. August 15. 1825, and sailed
from Gottenburg on the same vessel with her husband. By the union were born ten children, namely: Mrs. Anna L. Nelson, a resident of Cambridge: Frank G., who died in Andover: Frank H., a grain dealer of Ulah, and John V., an attorney of Cam- bridge, both of whom are represented else- where in this work ; Edmund L., a traveling salesman in the employ of L. E. West, and a resident of Rock Island, Illinois; Peter A., who died in Andover; Joseph A., also a traveling salesman for L. E. West and a resident of Orion; Huldah S., wife of Rev. W. B. Shirley, of Kent, Iowa; and Myrtle Clara, of the same place.
On reaching this county Mr. Streed lo- cated in Andover, becoming one of the pio- neers of that village. For a time he served as agent for the New York Bible Society, but throughout the greater part of his life was engaged in farming. For a time he re- sided on section 16, Andover township, and then removed to section 36, where he lived in a house with Mr. Graham on the Scanlon farm. Subsequently he bought of A. W. Ayres twenty acres on section 34, which place he improved, but later removed to sec- tion 36, where in 1867 he purchased eighty acres. To the improvement and cultivation of that farm he devoted his time and ener- gies throughout the remainder of his life. There he died on the 28th of December. 1878, and his wife passed away July 6. 1891.
Before his emigration to America Mr. Streed served ten years in the Swedish army under Charles XV. As a Republican he took an active part in local politics in this coun- try, and was a recognized leader in public affairs in his community. In early days he- was prominently identified with the affairs of the Swedish colony in .Andover, and be-
SWAN P. STREED.
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ing able to speak and write English, he did most of the corresponding for his neigh- bors, and made many trips to the land office in Dixon in their behalf. Ile took a deep and commendable interest in educational matters, and did all in his power for the im- provement and benefit of the schools of his locality. He was one of the first directors of district No. 8. Andover township, and superintended the building of the school house in 1866, prior to which time school had been conducted in private dwellings. Mr. Streed was one of the original members of the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Church in Andover ; always took an active part in its work; and for a time served as one of its deacons. He was a man of exemplary habits, commendable purpose and unbend- ing integrity, and in all life's relations merit- ed the confidence which was so freely ac- corded him. He was widely and favorably known throughout the county, and was one of the most prominent and influential men of his community.
MALKER F. STREED.
The history of this esteemed citizen of Osco township, Henry county, Illinois, is of unusual interest, and few of our foreign- born citizens are more loyal in their devotion to this, the land of their adoption, than lie has been for the period of his residence here, which is over half a century. He was bom in Ostergothland, Sweden, July 5, 1843. and at the age of six years was brought to Amer- ica by his parents, Swan P. and Clara ( Pe- terson ) Streed. The voyage was a rough and stormy one. Shortly after their arrival in New York several of the family were taken ill with cholera, and the wife and 24
mother, together with two of the children, Emma Matlida and Axel Godfrey, died in the Empire state of that dread disease. The remainder of the family then came to Henry county, Illinois, and took up their residence in Andover township. There were two other children, Christine, who was adopted by H. G. Griffin, of Andover township, and died in 1855: and Malker F., our subject. A sketch of his father appears on another page of this volume.
During his boyhood and youth M. F. Streed attended the district schools of An- cover township, and he early became famil- iar with all the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. That vocation he has chosen as a life work, and for the past twelve years has successfully engaged in general farming in Osco township.
When the Civil war broke out Mr. Streed offered his services to the government to help put down the rebellion, enlisting at Galesburg, in September, 1861, in Company C, Forty-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for three years or during the war. He was mustered into the United States service at Camp Butler, Springfield, where the regi- ment was assigned to the Army of the Ten- nessee, and participated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Salem Center, Summer- ville, the siege of Vicksburg and the en- gagements at Little Rock, Arkansas, and Jackson, Tennessee.
He was in the Red river expedition under General Frederick Steele, and although they defeated the enemy, General Banks was driven back. During their return to Little Rock the troops were four days without rations. Twice Mr. Streed was slightly wounded, and was confined in the camp hos pital for two months. For a long time he was stationed at Little Rock doing guard duty,
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and after three years of arduous and faith- full service was honorably discharged at that place in September, 1864.
Mr. Streed was married in Andover township, May 7, 1871, the lady of his choic . being Miss Christina M. Nye, also a native of Sweden, and a daughter of John and Eva Elizabeth Nye, who were born, reared and married in that country, and in 1867 emigrated to the new world, locating in An- dover township, this county, where the mother died. For many years the father was a prominent and well-known farmer of that township, but is now living in Cambridge. Mrs. Streed died September 19. 1896, at the age of forty-four years, leaving eight chil- dren, namely : Clara M., Bunyan C. O., Fer- dinand'J., George J., Fred E., Ella J., Mabel C. and Paul H.
Politically Mr. Streed is an active Re- publican and has filled the offices of collec- tor and school director in Andover town- ship. Socially he is an honored member of the Grand Army Post at Cambridge. He holds membership in the Lutheran Church and his life has ever been such as to com- mand the respect and confidence of all with Whom he has come in contact either in bus- mess or social circles.
FRANK H. STREED.
For over half a century the Streed fam- 00: has been prominently identified with the agricultural and business interests of Henry county, and its various members have won for the name an enviable distinction by their intelligence and worth. This high reputa- tion is in no way diminished in the present generation, and our subject, who is a well
known business man of Ulah, displays in a marked degree the admirable characteristica which the name suggests.
A native of Henry county, Mr. Streed was born March 2. 1857. on section 34, An- dover township, in an old house which was erected in 1850. and is the only one still standing in that township. His parents were Swan P. and Anna S. ( Nelson ) Streed, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. The boyhood and youth of our subject were passed in his native township, and his literary education was acquired in its public schools. He engaged in farming on the old homestead from 1878 to 1890; and then became interested in the grain bus iness at Ulah, as manager for E. S. East- man & Company of Peoria. He is also en+ gaged in the coal business on his own ac. count, and for some time carried on mer- cantile pursuits at Ulah, but for the past four years has rented his store building. By fair and honorable dealing he has se- cured an excellent trade. and is meeting with well deserved success.
On the 17th of May. 1892. Mr. Streed was married in Andover township, to Miss Julia A. Griffin, a native of that township, of which her father, H. G. Griffin, was one of the pioneers, but is now a resident of Cambridge. Our subject and his wife have two children, Henry G. and Eugene F.
The Republican party has always found it! Mr. Streed a stanch supporter of its prin- ciples, and he is now a member of the town- ship central committee. He served as as- sessor and collector in Andover township in 1888 and 1890, respectively, and is now most capably filling the office of justice of the peace in Cambridge township. Hle is a pleasant, genial gentleman who has a host of friends, and is very popular in the commu-
JOHN V. STREED.
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nity where he restles. He attends and sup- ports the Congregational Church of Cam- bridge, of which his wife is an earnest member.
JOHN V. STREED.
One of the ablest and most prominent members of the legal profession, now prac- tecing at the Henry County Bar, is the sub- ject of this sketch, who is a native of the county, born in the township of Andover. March 13. 1859, the son of Swan P. and Anna S. ( Nelson ) Streed, both of whom were natives of Sweden. The former was born, reared and educated in Horn Socken. Ostergothland, Sweden, and there he was twice married, and by his first wife he had one son Marker F., who now resides in Os- Co, Henry county, Illinois. In 1849 he took passage on a sailing vessel for the United States, and after a voyage of eleven weeks landed at Castle Garden, New York, from whence he at once proceeded to Henry county, Illinois, arriving here on the 15th of August of that year, locating in Andover township. While en route he lost his second wife, and in September following his arrival, he married Miss Anna S. Nelson, who was born in Hycklinge, Sweden, and who come over in the same vessel with him. They be- came the parents of ten children, seven of whom are still living, namely : Anna L. Nel- son, a resident of Cambridge: Frank H., of U'lah, Henry county: John V., of this sketch; Edmund L., of Rock Island, Illi- nois ; Joseph A., of Orion, Illinois : Huldah S. Shirley, of Kent, Iowa; and Myrtle C., of the same place.
On locating in Andover township. Swan P. Streed purchased a tract of wild land,
and to its improvement and cultivation he devoted his energies throughout the re- mainder of his life. He became one of the most prominent and influential men of that locality, and was widely and favorably known throughout the county. As a Repub- lican, he took an active part in local poli- tics, and was a recognized leader in public affairs in his community. He was one of the original members of the Swedish Evangel- ical Lutheran Church in Andover and for a time served as one of its deacons. He died on his farm, December 28th, 1878, and his wife passed away July 6, 1891.
On the home farm in Andover township, John V. Streed grew to manhood, and his early education was obtained in the district schools of the neighborhood. For a time he was a student at Abingdon College, and later attended the Geneseo Normal school and the Chicago University. In the latter school he pursued an elective course, but which was equal to the standard courses of the leading universities. In 1887 he entered the North- western University at Evanston, Illinois, where he remained one year, and then be- came a student at the Union College of Law, Chicago, where he was graduated with the degree of LL. B. in 1890. While pursuing his studies in the various institutions, Mr. Streed practically earned all the money re- quired to secure his education. He carried papers, lit and extinguished street lamps, cared for the lecture room and some of the recitation rooms of the University, and took meter statements and distributed gas bills for the Gas Compnay. While doing these various things for his support, he did not neglect his studies, but stood at the head of his classes, and came through with not only a liberal education, but with an independence of character that comes only to those who
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are self-supporting and who have confidence in themselves.
On graduating from the Law School. Mr. Streed opened an office in Chicago, but in the fall of 1890 he removed to Cambridge. and has since been successfully engaged in the practice at that place. He was a member of the well known firm of Turner & Streed from the time of locating in Cambridge un- til 1899, when Mr. Turner was elected county judge of Henry county, since which time he has been alone. He enjoys a large and lucra- tive practice and is regarded both by the peo- ple and his associates as one of the best law- vers in the county. He speaks not only Eng- lish, but also the Swedish and German lan- guages equally as well. having a natural talent in that direction, and is reputed to be one of the best linguists in northwestern Illinois. His knowledge of these languages has been of great assistance to him in the practice of his profession.
At Union Pier. Michigan, December 24th, 1887, Mr. Streed was united in mar- riage with Miss Luna Estella Gowdy, a na- tive of McHenry county, Illinois, of which place her parents, Franklin and Mary ( Mil- lard ) Gowdy were early settlers, but who, for some years, have been living at Union Pier. Mrs. Gowdy is a relative of Millard Fillmore and Mr. Gowdy is a cousin of the late W. C. Gowdy, of the Cook County Bar.
Fraternally Mr. Streed is a member of Cambridge lodge, No. 49, A. F. & A. M., the Order of the Eastern Star, the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows of Cam- bridge : the Encampment of Odd Fellows at Galva: of the Rebekah lodge at Cambridge. He also belongs to the Knights of the Globe, the Itome Forum Safety Fund Investment Company, the North Star Benefit Associa- tion of Cambridge, and is an honorary mem-
ber of Phi Psi, a Greek letter society of the Chicago University. He is one of the leading chess players of the west and has successfully taken part in several chess tour- naments ; also several matches played by telephone and telegraph.
Mr. Streed has been an active director of the Cambridge Public Library for several years and has done much to elevate the class of literature in the library. For three years he was an instructor in the University Ex- tension Course on the subject of History, and he has a fine reputation as a historian.
Mr. Streed is one of the active members of the Republican party and is a well known and effective campaign speaker in both the English and Swedish languages. At present he is vice president of the Swedish- American Republican League of the state of Illinois, and is secretary of the Henry county organ- ization of said league. In 1899 he was prom- inently mentioned as a candidate for county judge but failing to get the nomination of the Republican ticket his partner was nom- inated and elected on the Democratic ticket. L'pright. reliable and honorable, his strict ad- herence to principle commands the respect of all. The place he has won in the legal pro- fession is accorded him in recognition of his skill and ability, and the place he oc- cupies in the social world is a tribute to that genuine worth and true nobleness of char- acter which are universaly recognized and honored.
JUDSON P. PAINE.
For over a quarter of a century Judson P. Paine has been a prominent resident of Annawan and during most of this time has efficiently served as justice of the peace. He
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was born on the present site of Millerton, in Northeast township, Dutchess county, New York, January 22, 1834, and is a worthy representative of one of the oldest and most highly respected families of that region. His paternal great-grandfather came to this country from England prior to the Revolu- tionary war and from the government en tered the land on which our subject's birth occurred. For this farm, consisting of two hundred and forty-eight acres, it is said. that he paid six cents per acre. There his son. Jeremiah Paine, the grandfather of our subject, was born in 1780, and made it his home throughout life, his occupation being that of a farmer. He wedded Mary Wood- ard, and to them were born seven children. namely: Lorenda became the wife of Tru- man Eggleston, and after living for a time near the old homestead removed to Toledo, Ohio, where both died ; Platt A., the father of our subject, was second in order of birth ; Sarah Ann married Bailey Bowdish and both died in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where three of their sons now reside; George died in infancy : Rachel became the wife of Mor- timer P. Worth. of Poughkeepsie, New York, where their deaths occurred ; Jere- miah W. spent his entire life on the old home- stead : and Mary became the wife of Darius Penny, of Dutchess county, New York. where both died.
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