USA > Illinois > Henry County > The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois > Part 60
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72
NELS GRANQUIST.
The career of him whose name intro- duces this review illustrates most forcibly the possibilities that are open to young men who possess sterling busines qualifications, Ii proves that ambition, perseverance, stead- fast purpose and indefatigable industry, combined with sound business principles. will be rewarded, and that true success fol- lows individual effort only.
This well-known contractor of Kewanee was born in the province of Skone, Sweden, September 17, 1856, a son of John and Rers- tine ( Anderson ) Granquist, also natives of that country, where the father was engaged
in contracting and building for many years, but is now living retired from active labor. His wife died about ten years ago. Unto them were born six children, namely : Mar- garet, wife of Peter Pearson, of Sweden; Nels, our subject : Hannah, who became the wife of August Beck and died in Kewanee, Illinois ; and three who died in infancy.
As soon as he reached a sufficient age Nels Granquist entered school, and until seventeen continued his studies, completing his education by a collegiate course. Thus well equipped for life's responsible duties he began his business career as his father's as- sistant. With the hope of benefiting his finan- cial condition he came to the new world at the age of twenty-five years and has since made his home in Kewanee, where he worked at his trade in the employ of E. T. Heaps until 1890, when he embarked in business on his own account as a contractor and builder. He has erected many private resi- dences and business blocks in the city, in- cluding the McLean block, the Bennison building, the Washington and Irving schools, the Kewanee Boiler Company's plant, the Union National Bank, the Hallin block, two new buildings for the Western Tube Company, and at present is erecting another four-story building for the same company at a cost of thirty thousand dollars.
On the 16th of December, 1886, Mr. Granquist married Miss Amanda Danielson, who was born in Sweden but was only a year and a half old when brought to America by her parents, Charles and Louisa (Ander- son ) Danielson, locating in Kewanee when it was a mere village. Her father, who fol- lowed gardening for many years, died June 5. 1893, but her mother is still living and continues to reside in Kewanee. Of the eight children born to them only three are
595
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
now living : namely : Euphemia, wife of Will Larson. of Kewanee; C. J., a grocer of Ke- wanee; and Amanda, wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Granquist have become the parents of four children as follows: Edith, born February 25. 1888, died at the age of fourteen months: Verner Nels, born No- vember 5, 1890, is now attending school; Ralph Clifford, born April 25. 1895. and Inez Amanda, born February 7. 1899, are both at home.
On coming to the United States Mir. Granquist was unable to speak a word of English, and for the success that he has achieved here he deserves great credit, it being due entirely to his own well-directed and energetic efforts. He is one of the lead- ing and influential members of the Swedish Lutheran Evangelical Church, of which he has been a trustee for ten years, and in poli- tics he is identified with the Republican party. He served as a trustee of Kewanee in 1894 and 1895, during which time he was chairman of the streets, alleys and water committees, and was also a member of the park and cemetery committee. In the spring of 1900 he was elected supervisor of Ke- wanee, which office he is now most credit- ably and acceptably filling, and is a member of the committee on public grounds and buildings. He is a man of recognized abil- ity and sterling worth, and merits the high regard in which he is uniformly held.
JOHN O. HILBURG.
Since the 19th of June, 1868, the subject of this sketch has been a resident of Henry county, and for a quarter of a century has been one of the leading contractors and builders of Galva. He was born in Gestrik-
land, in the northern part of Sweden, May 3. 1844. His father, who was a soldier in the Swedish army and a carpenter by trade. died in that country, as did also two of his daughters. In his family were four chil- dren, our subject being the only son. About 1872 the mother and youngest daughter, Catherine, came to the United States and settled in Illinois. The latter became the wife of M. O. Swanson and died in Galva in 1890, while the mother's death occurred in 1893. when she was eighty-one years of age.
Mr. Hilburg received a good high-school education in the land of his birth. He was only seventeen years of age when his father died and the support of his mother and sis- ters devolved upon him. After his father's death and up to 1868 he followed farming. Coming direct to Galva he soon found em- ployment as a farm hand, working as such for a few years or at anything he could find to do. For a time he worked as a laborer on the railroad.
In 1869 Mr. Hilburg married Miss Johanna Hagstrum, also a native of Sweden, who came to America about the same time as her husband.' By this union have been born twelve children, namely: John F., a carpenter now engaged in business as a partner of his father, is married and has one son, John M .; William, a painter of Galva. lives at home; Amil is a carpenter residing at home; Jennie is at home: Clara is at home; Walter is a painter and carpenter living at home; Herman is attending school ; Ernest is a farm hand; and Nettie, Edna, Francis and Earl are all attending school. The children have all received a good edtica- tion in the common and high schools of Galva. Mrs. Hilburg passed away Decem- ber 2, 1900.
596
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
All that he has Mr. Hilburg has made by hard labor. Having no capital with which to embark in business for himself, he continued to work at various occupations until 1876, when he became connected with the building interests of Galva. He has since done a large and successful business as a contractor and builder in and around Galva, filling some contracts in neighboring towns. In his shop he does some cabinet work, but is principally engaged in house building, and during the busy season em- ploys quite a number of men. He is a stockholder in the Westrand Manufactur- ing Company of Galva, and owns a pleas- ant home in that town, which was erected by him in 1891. In political sentiment Mr. Hilberg is a Republican, and is now ac- ceptably serving his second term as a mem- ber of the village board. He is an active and prominent member of the Swedish Lu- theran Church, of which he has been a deacon for about twenty-three years, and superintendent of the Sunday-school for six- teen years.
SWAN SWANSON.
There is no element which has entered into our composite national fabric which has been of more practical strength, value and utility than that furnished by the sturdy, persevering and honorable sons of Sweden, and in the progress of our Union this ele- ment has played an important part. They have also taken a very active and promi- ment part in the development of Henry county and rank among its best citizens. Chief among these is Swan Swanson, one of the oldest pioneers of the Bishop Hill col- ony and the only surviving member of its original trustees.
A native of Helsingland, Sweden, he was born May 28, 1825, and is a son of Swan Olson, a farmer of that country. There the parents and all the children of the family died with exception of our subject and his sister Katrina, who came to America some time after our subject. During his boy- hood Mr. Swanson received but a very limited education, only learning to read and write, but being a great reader of good lit- erature he has became a well-informed man.
Bidding good-bye to home and family he came to the new world in 1846, making the voyage in six weeks, which was consid- ered a quick trip at that time. By canal and the Great Lakes he proceeded from New York to Chicago, and from the latter city walked to Bishop Hill. He came with the first party of colonists, consisting of sixty able-bodied men, whose purpose it was to prepare homes for the people and procure more land and assist in getting it under cul- tivation. There were about eleven hun- dred people who left Sweden at that time, for Bishop Hill, but had died en route, and others died from exposure during the severe winter that followed, as the accom- modations were not sufficient for the num- ber. This part of the county was then all wild and unimproved. The colonists erected a sawmill and began the manufacture of lumber for their houses. Later brick were used in their construction, and many of the buildings erected at that time are still stand- ing. It was one of the duties of the trus- tees to appoint men to superintend each de- partment in the colony, and Mr. Swanson was assigned to the mercantile depart- ment, with which he was connected for ten years while the colony was in a flourishing condition. In 1860, after some dissension and the death of the leader, the colony dis-
1
1
SWAN SWANSON.
599
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
solved and he embarked in merchandising on his own account in partnership with Ja- cob Jacobson, Sr., successfully conducting a general store until 1872. They also pur- chased land which was transformed into valuable farms with the assistance of others, as Mr. Swanson devoted his entire attention to his commercial interests. After twenty years of continuous business he sold his store but continues to engage in agricul- tural pursuits, being the owner of about three hundred acres of well-improved and highly-cultivated land in Weller township. He has been called upon to settle many es- tates, some of them involving much proper- ty, and this together with his own business interests have fully occupied his time.
In 1848 Mr. Swanson married Miss Christina Gabrielson, who died in 1877, leaving three sons, namely : C. Walter is a graduate of Eastman's Business College, of Poughkeepsie, New York, and is now succesfully engaged in the millinery bus- iness in Galesburg. E. Linne is a graduate of the Burlington Business College, and for ten years has engaged in general merchan- dising in Bishop Hill. He is married and has one daughter, Evelyn S. John is a grad- uate of the common schools of Geneseo, and is now engaged in business with his brother Walter in Galesburg. Mr. Swanson was again married, in 1881, his second union being with Miss Kate Erickson, also a na- tive of Sweden, by whom he has one daugh- ter, Dorothy, who was born in 1890, and is now attending the public schools.
Mr. Swanson is public-spirited and pro- gressive and has been a cheerful supporter of all enterprises which he believed would prove of public benefit. He gave liberally toward building the Rock Island & Peoria railroad through Bishop Hill and the estab-
lishment of a depot at that place. While engaged in merchandising he was appoint- ed postmaster in 1854 and held that office until he sold his store in 1872. He also served as school treasurer many years; was one of the organizers of the new school; and was a trustee for almost half a cen- tury, retiring from that office in 1900. He has been a member of the village board and served as its president some time. Mr. Swanson has taken a decided interest in maintaining and promoting anything for the advancement of the community in which he lives, and is a liberal subscriber to church work, although not a member of any relig- ious denomination. In his political views he is a Republican. He is quiet and unas- suming in manner, but very popular with a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
LEWIS W. SLAUSON.
Among the citizens of Henry county whose success in life is due entirely to their own industry and business ability is Lewis W. Slauson, a prominent farmer residing on section 19, Clover township, whose birth occurred in Albany county, New York, Au- gust 1, 1838. His father, Tryanson Slauson, was born in the same county, in 1808, and there wedded Mary Tenyck, also a native of Albany county and of German ancestry. As farming people they spent their entire lives in the county of their nativity.
Lewis W. Slauson was reared on the home farm, and during his youth assisted in the cultivation of the fields during the sum- mer months, while through the winter sea- son he attended the public schools of the neighborhood. On leaving home in 1857,
600
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
at the age of nineteen years, he came to Illi- nois with his sister, arriving in Galesburg, Knox county, in November of that year. That winter he attended the district schools. and the following year worked on a farm in Knox county for thirteen dollars per month. He next engaged in farming for himself upon a rented farm, for a year, hav- ing traded for an old team of horses to carry on his work. The following season he again worked by the month, but the next year en- gaged in farming, and then again was in the employ of others. During the Civil war lie operated rented land and in the meantime purchased eighty acres of partially improved land in Clover township, and in connection with its cultivation also engaged in farm- ing on rented property. Selling his farm in 1869 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 19, Clover township, where he now resides. To the further im- provement and cultivation of this place he devoted his energies and now has one of the best farms of its size in the township. He has also purchased a well improved farm of one hundred and twenty acres a mile and a half east of Woodhull. This property stands as a monument to the thrift and en- terprise of the owner, whose success is en- tirely due to his own well-directed efforts and the assistance of his estimable wife, who has indeed proved a true helpmate to him.
In 1866 Mr. Slauson was married in Henry county to Miss Wilhelmina Hough- ton, a native of Vermont and a daughter of Thomas Houghton, who was one of the early settlers of this county. She was only eleven years old when she came with the family to Illinois, and at that early age act- ed as her father's housekeeper. To Mr. and Mrs. Slauson were born six children, but only two are now living, namely : Edith and
Caroline, both at home. Horace died at the age of twenty-two years; Solon died at the age of thirteen : Ella married F. Porter Mc- Connell and died January 27, 1899 : and one son died in infancy.
Mr. Slauson voted for Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and 1864, but later he supported the Greenback and Peoples party, and having always been a strong temperance man he is now identified with the Prohibitionists. For three years he acceptably filled the office of township assessor, and was school director for twelve years. He assisted in establish- ing the Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and served as one of its directors for six years. He has always taken an active in- terest in those enterprises calculated to prove of public benefit, and given his sup- port to all measures which he believed for the betterment of the community in which he lives. He is a prominent member of the Odd Fellow's lodge of Woodhull, in which he has passed all the chairs and is now past grand.
WILLIAM S. CHARLES.
William S. Charles, deceased, was one of the prosperous and substantial farmers as well as one of the leading citizens of Burns township, his home being on section 32. He was born in London, England, No- vember 1, 1813, and during his childhood removed with his parents to Wales, where he was reared and educated. Determined to try his fortune in the new world where he believed that better opportunities were af- forded young men than in his native land, he sailed from Liverpool in 1830, and at length landed at Sandy Hook, whence he proceeded to New York City. He first lo-
601
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
cated in a small town in the Empire state. where he engaged in farming for a Quaker until 1832, and then came to Illinois. He first made his home in that part of Knox county now included in Stark county.
After living there for three years, April 18, 1835, Mr. Charles was united in mar- riage with Miss Esther Stoddard, a native of Goshen, Connecticut, where she was born, in October, 1817, theirs being the first mar- riage celebrated in Stark county. They be- came the parents of five children, but with one exception all are now deceased. They were as follows: George, born May 14. 1840, was buried at Galva; Elizabeth, born March 3, 1842, is living in Galva: Frank, born March 8. 1845, is also buried at Galva ; Rhoda, born February 28, 1848, died and is buried at Murray, Iowa; and Mary, born May 15, 1851, is buried at Galva.
For about five years after his marriage Mr. Charles was engaged in farming upon rented land, and then removed to Round Grove, purchasing eighty acres of what is now the old homestead. To this he added from time to time as his financial resources permitted until he had two hundred and eighty acres of very valuable and well-im- proved land. He made his home thereon throughout the remainder of his life and died July 14, 1899. His wife had passed away May 5, 1879, and both were laid to rest in the Galva cemetery. They were widely and favorably known throughout the community in which they lived and justly merited the high regard in which they were held. Mr. Charles always affiliated with the Republi- can party, and his fellow citizens, recogniz- ing his worth and ability, called upon him to serve as supervisor two terms, and school director for the long period of forty years; being actively engaged in upbuilding the
school interests of his district, and was an active member of the board when the first school house was built and also the present more modern structure. He was also an ex- tensive stock raiser. He was a member of the Church of England, and led an honor- able, upright life. consistent with his pro- fessions.
MRS. LUCY E. HOUGHTON.
Since the spring of 1852 Mrs. Lucy E. Houghton has been a resident of Henry county, and has made her home in Wood- hull for the past twelve years. She was born in Windham county, Vermont, on the 6th of December, 1825, and is a daughter of Samuel Johnson, a native of England, who came to the new world when a young man and located in the Green Mountain state, where he engaged in the manufacture of woolen goods, carrying on business at Ches- ter for many years. There he died about 1835. He had married Miss Lucy Olcott, a native of Vermont, who survived him a number of years and reared their family.
Mrs. Houghton passed her girlhood at Chester and was educated in its schools. On the 13th of November, 1845. she gave her hand in marriage to Calvin C. Hough- ton, who was born and reared in Grafton, Vermont, and was engaged in business at Chester for some years. In 1850 he came to Illinois, and purchased one hundred and six- ty acres of land in Clover township, Henry county, after which he returned to Vermont, but the following fall he again came to this county, making the journey across the country in a buggy. He erected a little shanty upon his land, and in the spring of 1852 was joined by his wife and two
602
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
children Alus Were born in Chester, Ver- eleven years; Lucy, Jessie. Ray and Kinley. mont. They lived in that house for three Nellie died when a young lady. Jessie died in childhood. Helen died in infancy. years and then removed to Galesburg, where they made their home for the same After Mr. Houghton's death his son Henry took charge of the farm and Mrs. Houghton resided thereon until 1888, when she built a pleasant residence in Woodhull and has since made it her home. She is a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church, and an active worker in both church and Sunday-school. She is widely known throughout the county where she has so long made her home, and is held in the highest regard by her many friends. length of time. Mr. Houghton going back and forth to manage his farm. At the end of three years he again took up his residence thereon, and to the original purchase added eighty acres. He broke, fenced and improved his land, and in its operation met with most excellent success. At length he be- came the owner of one thousand acres in this county, and also had nearly two thou- sand acres in Iowa. In connection with farming he was also extensively engaged in raising and dealing in stock, and became one of the most prosperous and wealthy citizens of his community, as well as one of SAMUEL WATERS ALLERTON. its popular and influential citizens. He was public-spirited and progressive and gave his support to all enterprises calculated to promote the welfare of his township or county. He died upon his farm May 10, 1874, and the community realized that it had lost one of its valued citizens.
To Mr. and Mrs. Houghton were born eight children, namely: Curtis moved to Jefferson county, Iowa, where he married Frances Brooks and engaged in farming un- til his death in 1893. He left three sons, l'aul, Glenn and Earl. Henry E., a promi- nent farmer and business man of this county, 15 represented on another page of this vol- ume. Fred J., a prominent lawyer of Chad- ron, Nebraska, married Maggie Benn and has two children, Inez and Manley. Wini- fred is the wife of John Oliver, of Jefferson county, lowa, and they have five children, Henry, Ned, Clyde, Fred and Ole. Hugh, who lives on a ranch in Oelrichs, South Da- kota, married Alice Rebine and had six chil- dren : Mabel: Fred, who died at the age of
One of the largest land owners in Henry county, but who makes his home in the city of Chicago, is the subject of this sketch, who traces his ancestry to Isaac Allerton, who came over in the Mayflower, in 1620. Isaac Allerton was a native of England, and was born between the years 1583 and 1585, the exact date being unknown. He resided in London for some time prior to his removal to Holland in 1609. It is generally admitted that he was the wealthiest of all the Pilgrims and is one of the few among them to whom Bradford and other contemporaneous writers always give the prefix "Mr." which in those days was used as an index of superior fam- ily or respectability. He was also one of the three upon whom the privilege of citizen- ship was conferred by the city of Leyden, his associates in this honor being William Brad- ford, afterwards Governor of the Plymouth colony, and Degory Priest, his brother-in- law. He was first married in the city of Leyden, November 4, 1611, to Mary Nor-
SAMUEL W. ALLERTON.
605
THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
ris, of Newbury, England, and at the time of York, where he rented a farm, and in 1848 the sailing of the Mayflower he had four bought a farm in Wayne county, in the same state, where he lived the remainder of his life. He was a man of sterling integrity, was a Universalist in his religious belief, and lived to the ripe old age of ninety-nine years and eight months. children. His wife died February 25. 1021. In 1626, he married Fear Brewster, dangh- ter of Elder William Brewster. She was a woman of pleasing appearance and of a pious disposition, and was the mother of Isaac .Al- lerton, the second of that name, from whom the Allerton family is descended. She died in 1634, while his death occurred in 1659.
Samuel W. Allerton is of the ninth gen- eration from Isaac Allerton, of whom men- tion has just been made. He was born at Amenia, Dutchess county, New York, and is the son of Samuel W. and Hannah ( Hurd) Allerton, the former also being a native ot Amenia, born December 5, 1875. He was united in marriage with Hannah Hurd, March 26, 1808. She was born in South Dover, Dutchess county, New York, ard was the eldest daughter of Ebenezer and Rebecca ( Phillips) Hurd, her father being an extensive farmer and stock dealer in Amenia. By this union there were nine chil .. dren, eight of whom were living in January, 1899, at a combined age of over six hundred and thirty years. In his early life, Samuel W. Allerton, the father of our subject, studied for the medical profession, but changing his mind, he learned the tailor's trade and became a merchant tailor, while at the same time he carried on a country store. In 1828 he was one of the promoters in building a woolen mill and establishing a factory. In consequence of the reduction of the tariff in 1833, nearly all the manu- factories in New England were riuned, and Mr. Allerton lost nearly all his fortune. In 1837 he came west to Iowa, with the hope of building up his ruined fortune, but was taken sick and returned to his eastern home. In 1842 he removed to Yates county, New 29
Samnel Waters Allerton, our subject, was but seven years of age when his father failed in business, at which time he received an in- pression which has influenced his noble life. While the sheriff was selling his father's property, his mother shed tears when two horses which had been highly prized were sold. Putting his arms around his mother's neck he told her that he would be a man and provide for her. In after life he kept his promise. He was the youngest of the nine children, and lived at Amenia until he was fourteen years of age, but commenced to work for himself when he was twelve years old. In 1842 he went to Yates county with his parents, and remained with them until they had saved enough money to buy the farm in Wayne county. With his brother Henry, he then rented a farm and made fif- teen hundred dollars, which they invested in a farm in Wayne county, leaving still three thousand dollars unpaid.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.