USA > Illinois > Henry County > The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois > Part 59
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Mr. Myers was again married, in Feb- ruary. 1867. his second union being with Mrs. Mary Jane Alger, a native of New York state and a daughter of Theodore Noyes. Her first husband. Horace Alger, died January 13, 1864. leaving two children, namely : Geraldine, wife of B. C. Ogden, of Lyons, Kansas, by whom she has one son, Cordy ; and Noyes B., who married Pearl Woodford, and is engaged in mercantile business in Wessington, South Dakota.
After his removal to Atkinson, Mr. Myers conducted a blacksmith shop at that place for nine years, and then purchased forty acres of land in Atkinson township, to which he has since added at different times tracts of forty, two hundred, one hundred and twenty, and eighty acres, making in all four hundred and eighty acres of rich and arable land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. He lives in town but for some years continued to drive into the country and oversee the operation of his land. At present he rents the property and is living retired, enjoying the fruits of former teil. In his political views he is an ardent
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Republican, but cares nothing for political honors. He has, however, filled various school offices, and takes an active interest in securing efficient teachers and good schools. His wife is a member of the Free Will Bap- tist Church and both are held in high regard by all who have the pleasure of their acquain- tance.
GEORGE HUFFMAN.
Among the honored veterans of the Civil war and representative citizens of Galva township is George Huffman, who resides on section II. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in Washington county, on the 29th of October, 1839, and is a son of Abram and Hannah (Bowen ) Huffman, also natives of the Keystone state, while the former was of German and the latter of English descent. The maternal grandfather, Mason Bowen, was a soldier of the war of 1812. Coming west in 1865 he first settled in Henry county, Illinois, and purchased three hun- dred and twenty acres of land in Gaiva town- ship, converting the wild tract into a good farm. He was always an active worker and at the time of his death owned a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in this county, and a half section of good farm land in Min- nesota. This property was all acquired through his own industry and good manage- ment. During his boyhood he had received but a limited education. He died at the home of our subject in 1892, and his wife died January 4, 1901, in Kewanee, aged eighty- one years.
Of the twelve children born to this worthy couple three died when young. The others are as follows: George, our subject : Mason, a resident of Galva township, who
was a soldier of the Civil war and was wounded in the service ; Julia A., wife of R. T. Bryan, a farmer of Iowa: Dilly, wife of William Briner, also a veteran of the Civil war, residing in Kewanee: Eliza, wife of Joe Johnson of the same place ; Mary, wife of Charles White, of Slayton, Minnesota ; John, a farmer of Peoria county, Illinois ; Mahala, wife of Robert Sprague, of Lake Wilson, Minnesota ; and William S., of Peoria coun- ty, Illinois.
In the common schools of Pennsylvania George Huffman acquired his literary edu- cation, and he remained at home with his parents until after the inauguration of the Civil war. In 1862 he enlisted in Company K, Fourteenth West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, and remained in the service until hostilities ceased, taking part in the battles of Cedar Creek, Winchester, Bunker Hill, Boliver Heights, Call Town, Lynchburg, and many other engagements of lesser im- portance. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged at Cumberland, and arrived home on the 4th of July, 1865. In the fall of the same year he came with his parents to Henry county, Illinois, and after working on his father's farm for two years, he purchased forty acres of wild land in 1868 and began the improvement of his farm, on which he has made his home ever since. He now operates about eighty acres of land, and as a general farmer is meeting with well de- served success.
Mr. Huffman has been twice married. In 1862 he wedded Miss Catherine Martin, who died November 23, 1865, and on the 10th of May, 1868, he was united in marriage with Miss Cassie J. Bowler, who was born in Green county, Pennsylvania, in 1840. Her mother died in that state when Mrs. Huff- man was only twelve years old, and in 1868
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she came to Illinois with her father, Samuel Bowler, who spent his last days at her home. he has two brothers and two sisters, namely : Margaret, wife of Jacob Wilson, of Galva twonship: Charity, a resident of the same township: John, of Wood county, West Vir- ginia ; and George, of St. Louis, Missouri. One brother died in Chicago, Illinois, in 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Huffman have four children : Hannah L., born November 23. 1869, is at home ; Ellen, born May 16, 1871, is the wife of Elmer Wright, of Kewanee, and they have three children, Roy E., Nel- lie P. and Mabel. (3) Maggie, born August 16, 1873, married John Hicks, of Kewanee, and died February 25, 1896; and Walter II., born March 1, 1880, operates the home farm.
In 1867 Mr. Huffman was accidentally injured in a threshing machine, which re- sulted in the loss of his foot. Politically he is identified with the Republican party, and re- ligiously he and his family are members of the United Brethren Church. He is promi- nent in Grand Army circles and is an hon- ored member of the post at Galva. He is a worthy representative of that class of citi- zens who lead, quiet, industrious and useful lives, and constitute the best portion of a community.
JAMES H. NEWMAN.
This well-to-do farmer residing on sec- tion 23, Clover township, has made his home in: Ilenry county since the spring of 1855, and now owns and operates a valuable farm of one hundred and forty acres. He was born in Westchester county, New York, June 19, 1833, and is a son of Banks and Sarah ( Reynolds) Newman, who were life
long residents of that county. His paternal grandfather, James Newman, was a native of New York and one of the first settlers of Westchester county, while the maternal grandfather, James Reynolds, was born in Connecticut and was also an early settler of Westchester county, New York. The lat- ter fought for American independence in the Revolutionary war. Though reared upon a farm, Banks Newman followed the shoe- maker's trade throughout life, and died in the spring of 1843. His wife survived him and reared their six children, all of whom reached adult age, namely : Clarissa J., who died at the age of nineteen; Elias G., who married and located in New York city, where his death occurred; Rachel Ann, a resident of Westchester county, New York; Charles William, of Staten Island, New York; Ed- gar B., of Westchester county; and James H., our subject, who is second in order of birth.
James H. Newman grew to manhood in his native county, and received a good common-school education. In early life he learned the carpenter's trade, which he fol- lowed for some time both in New York and Illinois. In the spring of 1855 he came to this county with his cousin, Alvah Rey- nolds, and together they engaged in con- tracting and building in Henry and Knox counties for three years. Mr. Newman then rented a farm and in connection with its operation continued to work at his trade.
After the country became involved in civil war, he enlisted in the fall of 1861 in Waterhouse' Battery of Chicago, and as a member of the Western army was under the command of Generals Grant and Sherman. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Tennesssee, and Jackson, Mississippi, and in the siege of Vicksburg, being present at its
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surrender. He entered the service as a pri- vate but was made quartermaster sergeant, and acted in that capacity during the whole time of his service. For a time he was ill at Shiloh, and when his term of enlistment ex- pired was honorably discharged at Louis- ville, Kentucky, December 19, 1864.
While at home on a furlough Mr. New- man had purchased eighty acres of raw land where he now resides, and after his mar- riage in 1865 he located thereon and com- nienced to break and improve the land. He built a good small house, which he has since remodeled and enlarged, and has erected two barns and other outbuildings. He has also set out fruit and shade trees, and has added to his farm a tract of sixty acres, and now has a well-improved and valuable farm of one hundred and forty acres. He has always given considerable attention to the raising and feeding of stock for market, and is ac- counted one of the successful agriculturists of the community. On coming to this state he was without capital or influential friends and to his own untiring labor and good bus- iness ability is due his success.
On the 30th of November, 1865, Mr. Newman led to the marriage altar Miss Cynthia A. Hayden, a native of Montgomery county, Indiana, and a daughter of A. R. Hayden, an honored veteran of the Civil war, who came to Henry county at an early day and is now one of the substantial far- mers of Clover township. By this union were born two sons, Clark and Orris H. The latter is well educated and is now principal of a ward school in Pekin, Illinois. He is married and has two children, Marie and James Harold.
Politically Mr. Newman has been a life- long Republican, having cast his first presi- dential ballot for John C. Fremont in 1856.
His father was an old time Whig. Our sub- ject has ever taken quite an active and prom- inent part in local politics, and his fellow citizens recognizing his worth and ability have called upon him to fill positions of pub- lic trust. For three terms he was a prom- inent member of the honorable county board of supervisors ; later served as justice of the peace one term, and has been a township school trustee for twelve or fifteen years. Both he and his wife are active and influen- tial members of the Christian Church of On- tario, and at the last district conference was ejected vice-president of the Western Illi- nois Christian conference, which position he is now most creditably filling. He gave one hundred dollars to the Union Christian College of Merom, Indiana, and the same amount to the Christian Biblical School at Stamfordville, New York, and has ever con- tributed liberally to all enterprises which he believes for the betterment of mankind or the good of the community in which he lives.
GEORGE J. MCCORKLE.
Among the highly respected and hon- ored citizens of Kewanee who are spending their declining years in ease and quiet having previously acquired a comfortable compe- tence through their diligence, enterprise and good management, is George J. McCorkle. He was born in Wilmington, Delaware, Au- gust 1, 1832, a son of George and Mary (Penny) McCorkle, also natives of that state. The maternal grandparents, David and Ann ( Lodge) Penny, were also born in Delaware of English and Scotch extraction, and the paternal grandfather, William Mc- Corkle, claimed the same state as his birth
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place. His ancestors were of English origin. In early life the father of our subject learned the harness maker's trade, and later became quite extensively engaged in the manufacture of saddlery and harness, which he sold both at wholesale and retail. He made his home in Wilmington until 1856, when he came to Illinois, and took up his residence in Galva, Henry county, where he continued in the same line of business for some years. He died at the home of a daughter in Bu- reau county, Illinois, at the age of ninety. His wife passed away at the age of eighty- five. They were the parents of twelve chil- dren, of whom four died in infancy. Those who reached years of maturity were Will- iam, George, Thomas, Henry, Charles, John, Maria and Sabilla, but William, Thomas, and Henry are now deceased. Our subject is the only member of the family residing in Kewanee.
During his boyhood and youth George J. McCorkle, of this review, attended the common schools of Wilmington, Delaware, and learned harness and saddle making, working with his father until the latter re- moved to Illinois. In 1857 our subject went to West Virginia, locating on the Ohio river at what is now Thompson, four miles south of Moundsville, in Marshall county, where he was engaged in farming until coming to Kewanee, Illinois, in 1881, since which time he has practically lived a retired life.
On the 26th of December, 1855, Mr. Mc- Corkle was united in marriage with Miss Ann R. McClean, a native of West Virginia, and a daughter of Joseph and Maria Mc- Clean, who were also born in that state and belonged to one of its oldest families. Her father followed farming and surveying, serving as county surveyor for many years. Hle owned a large and valuable farm of six
hundred acres on the Ohio river. The twelve children born to Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Corkle were Joseph, an employe in the roll- ing mills of Kewanee, who married Lefa Adams and has three children, Earl, Fred- die and Verna; Charles, who wedded Mary E. Johnson and died in Lincoln, Nebraska, Icaving one child; Eri J., Peoria; William, who married Isabella Mason, now deceased, and lives in Lincoln, Nebraska: Mary, who was drowned in the Ohio river at the age of fifteen years; Henry, a resident of Salt Lake City, Utah; Elburt, a farmer of Stark coun- ty, Illinois; Susan, who died in infancy ; George, who fought through the Spanish- American war, and is now with the United States army in the Philippines; Eri, who is a traveling salesman for a clothing house and lives in Lincoln, Nebraska; Bayard, who died in infancy; and Marshall, a boiler maker of Bellair, Ohio. The wife and mother, who was a consistent and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, died February 23, 1874, and was laid to rest in Moundsville, West Virginia.
Mr. McCorkle was made a Mason in Marshall Union Lodge, No. 8, at Mounds- ville, West Virginia, and has always affil- iated with the Republican party, but has taken no active part in politics aside from voting. He has made many friends during his residence in Kewanee, and is held in high regard by all who know him.
L. D. ANDERSON.
Among the enterprising and public-spir- ited citizens of Geneseo may be numbered L. D. Anderson, who does a successful bus- iness in establishing drive wells and water works on farms throughout the surrounding country. He was born in Bucyrus, Craw-
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ford county, Ohio, April 7, 1847. and is a son of John and Mary ( Andrews) Ander- son, the father a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, the mother of Ashland county, Ohio. In early life the father learned the tinner's trade and followed that business for a time, but later conducted a hotel in Bucy- rus, Ohio. In 1851 he came to Geneseo, Illinois, driving all the way from Bucyrus, Ohio, with a team and buggy. He embarked in the tinware and stove business, hauling his goods to this place from the canal at Peru, there being no railroad here at that time. In 1858 he turned his attention to farmning and successfully carried on that oc- cupation for twenty years, at the end of which time he returned to Geneseo, while his son, James, operated the farm for the same length of time before it was sold. The fa- ther died in Geneseo July 19, 1892, at the ripe old age of eighty-four years. In his political views he was a strong Republican and helped to organize the party in his local- ity. He was an anti-slavery man and favored the vigorous prosecution of the war. His fellow citizens recognizing his worth and ability, called upon him to serve as super- visor several terms, and as a member of the school board for many years. His estimable wife was a daughter of Captain Alanson An- drews, one of the founders of the town of Ashland, Ohio, which was largely built upon his farm. He died in 1850, at the age of sixty-six years. In 1876 his wife, who bore the maiden name of Sally Gates, came to Geneseo, where most of her children were living, and died here February 9. 1879. She was a devout member of the Congregational church.
township: Mary, married Josiah Thomson, of Uniontown. Pennsylvania. She was a member of the Congregational Church, and died in that faith August 7, 1896; Sarah F., wife of H. A. Ainsworth, of Moline, Illi- nois. She was principal of the female col- lege at Rockford, Illinois, several years; Emily A., wife of A. W. Bickel, of Geneseo; David P., also a resident of Geneseo: and Frank L., a farmer of Ruthven, Iowa.
The early life of L. D. Anderson was principally passed in this county, and in the schools of Geneseo he acquired the greater part of his education. At the age of seven- teen years he started out to make his own way in the world. He then enlisted Sunday, January 24, 1865, at Geneseo, in Company B. Ninth Illinois Cavalry, mustered in the United States service at Peoria, Illinois, and joined his regiment at Eastport, Mississippi. They were mostly engaged in scouting duty in that state, Alabama and Tennessee, and spent much time in looking for rebel cotton, great quantities of which they found secre- ted in the swamps. The war having ended, Mr. Anderson was honorably discharged October 31, 1865, after eleven months spent in the service. He was mustered out at Springfield, after which he was engaged in the grocery business in that city for eight- een months.
Selling his interests there Mr. Anderson returned to Geneseo and engaged in farming for his father. Shortly afterward he and his brother James went to Nebraska and purchased one hundred head of cattle, which they drove home and after feeding through the winter sold at a good profit. The fol- lowing season our subject returned to Ne- braska with the intention of taking up a homestead, but being unfavorably impressed
The subject of this sketch is the third in order of birth in a family of seven children, the others being James, a farmer of Geneseo . with the wild country, he engaged in team-
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ing for the railroad company during the summer, in which way he paid all his ex- penses, returning home in the fall of the same year. He then joined his brother in his present business, which was conducted under the firm style of Anderson Brothers for a year, but in 1870 he purchased his partner's interest and has since been alone in business. He is kept busy constantly, and has met with excellent success. In 1893 he rented his present shop, and has since manufactured his own tanks and towers, which he has found greatly to his advantage. He is well equipped to do an extensive business, and by fair and honorable dealing has gained a liberal patronage. In 1894 MIr. Anderson made an extended trip in the west, spending several weeks in California.
Mr. Anderson was married July 5, 1894, to Miss Jennie L. Woodruff, a native of Ashland, Ohio, and a daughter of Simeon and Tacy ( Andrews) Woodruff. Her fa- ther, who was a dry-goods merchant of that place, met with a tragic death October 31, 1854, while riding one horse and leading another. When crossing a bridge where men were repairing a telegraph wire lying on the ground, the horse which he was rid- ing-a very powerful animal-became en- tangled in the wire and was thrown to the ground, falling on Mr. Woodruff, whose in- juries were of such a severe nature that he died nine days later. He was well and fa- vorably known throughout his community, and was thirty-six years of age at time of death. His wife died in March, 1897, at the age of seventy-two years. Their children were Ella, wife of George G. Mowry, who is engaged in the agricultural implement business in Geneseo ; Jennie L., wife of our subject : and Simeon, who died March 24. 1900, aged forty-five years. At the age of
fifteen he became a brakeman and remained in the railway service until 1898. twelve years being spent in Mexico. He was a passenger conductor most of the time, and before going to Mexico was in Colorado. Mrs. Anderson taught school in this county for five years, and was clerk in the post- office at Geneseo for three years under Post- master George Hobbs and later under Solon Kendal, and clerked in Van Vanvalken- berg's dry-goods store in Geneseo for twelve years. By her marriage she has become the mother of one child, Simeon Duvall, born April 1, 1895. Religiously she is an active member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Anderson takes an active and commendable interest in public affairs, is independent in politics, and voted for both Cleveland and Mckinley. He is a man of sterling worth and strict integrity, and commands the re- spect and confidence of all with whom he comes 'in contact either in business or social life.
GEORGE E. WAITE.
Hon. George E. Waite, of Geneseo, Illi- nois, was born in Stratton, Windham county, Vermont ; his parental ancestry is English. The name was originally spelled Wayte, later Waite or Wait. The American an- cestor is Thomas Wayte, who emigrated to Massachusetts upon the restoration of Charles II. in 1660. Thomas Wayte was a member of the Long Parliament, and was identified with Hampden, Pym, Sir Harry Vane, Sir Thomas Fairfax, Cromwell, Ire- ton and others in the great struggle for free- dom of conscience and constitutional gov- ernment. He did not waver in his opposition to the tyranny of the King. He no doubt
GEORGE E. WAITE.
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saw Cromwell at the head of the Ironsides, and may have been present at Marston Moor and Naseby. He sat at the trial of Charles I., witnessed the matchless prosecution by John Bradshaw, and signed the death war- rant of the King. John Wayte, the grand- father of the Judge was a soldier of the Rev- olution and fought at the battles of Concord, Lexington and Bunker Hill, he was a direct descendant of Thomas Wayte. After the war John Wayte removed to Stratton, Ver- mont, where he resided until his death. He had five sons, namely : Amasa, Luther, Dan- iel, Tyler and Alpheus. Judge Waite is a son of Tyler Waite and Lucia Tyler Waite. His mother was the daughter of Ebenezer Taylor, of Wardsboro, Vermont, and was of Scotch origin.
Tyler Waite was a prosperous farmer of education and influence, he and his wife reared and educated seven children, namely : Laura, George E., Lucia, Henry A., Chias- tina, Ruth and Dexter Waite.
Judge Waite attended the common schools of Vermont, prepared for college, and took a four years' classical course in the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Con- necticut. He was especially noted for his ability as a writer and speaker and graduated with honor. He removed to Geneseo, Illi- nois, in 1856, was admitted to the bar in 1858, and at once entered upon a successful practice of law.
Judge Waite is a Republican in politics; he participated in the organization of the party in 1856, and has without deviation ad- vocated the principles of the party and sup- ported its candidates; he became widely known throughout the state and was recog- nized as an able, safe and courageous leader. He has taken an active part in every political campaign ; he is a man for an emergency,
rising in power and influence with the im- portance of the occasion. A splendid speci- men of physical manhood, he challenges at- tention in any gathering. As a speaker by voice, word and action he appeals with con- vincing power to an audience.
Judge Waite has never pushed himself forward as a seeker after office, but has by the free choice of the people held important judicial, legislative and other positions, per- forming the duties of all of them with en- tire satisfaction to the public.
He was a member of the convention which framed the present Constitution of Illinois and was chairman of the Committee of Retrenchments and Reforms. His report to the convention amongst other things con- tained a recommendation for an article pro- hibiting special legislation. He recognized the great abuse and proposed the only meth- od to put an end to it; his recommendation was adopted and incorporated into the Con- stitution of the State, and is one of its wisest and best provisions.
Judge Waite has been a careful student of history, and is an intelligent observer of the passing events of the world. He has well settled opinions upon great public questions, and is a national leader of public opinion. He gave strong support to the cause of the Union, and has done much for both meas- ures and men of his party.
On the 9th of May, 1859. at Geneseo, Illinois, Judge Waite was united in marriage with Miss Hattie N. Wells, a daughter of Benjamin Wells, a native of Connecticut, and the youngest son of Thomas Wells, a scion of Governor Wells, of Connecticut. The Hon. William H. Wells, the author of Wells' Grammar, was the cousin of Mrs. Waite. Her mother was Mary B. Ford, daughter of Dyer and Esther ( Burnett)
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Ford, and their children were Esther, Dyer, William Averill and Mary B. The Fords are descendants of of Martha Ford, who came to Plymouth, Massachusetts, in the ship "Fortune" in 1621, with her children. Mrs. Waite was born in Old Woodstock, Connecticut. and came with her parents to Geneseo in 1856. Benjamin Wells, her fa- ther, died in Geneseo in 1864, and her mother departed this life in Geneseo in 1886. To Judge and Mrs. Waite were given three chil- dren, Laura N., Hattie M. and Ruth M. In 1886 Hattie M. married Thomas Everitt and two children were born unto them- George Waite Everitt and Thomas Waite Everitt. The last named died in February, 1892. Thomas Everitt, the husband of Hat- tie M., departed this life in 1890. Ruth M. Waite married Henry Dedrick, of Geneseo, in 1895. and they had one child, Henry Waite Dedrick, who died in December, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Dedrick now reside in Janes- ville, Wisconsin.
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