USA > Illinois > Henry County > The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois > Part 63
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Ile was born in Sweden, February 16, 1837, and was there reared and educated until 1852. when he emigrated to America with his parents, Henry and Hannah An- derson. On landing in Boston, they imme-
diately started for Illinois, their destina- tion being Henry county, but while passing through La Salle county, two miles north of La Salle, the father was taken ill with chol- era and died. There Mrs. Anderson and her sons dug a grave and laid him to rest. This sad task completed they proceeded on their way, walking the entire distance from La Salle to Andover, Henry county. Later they located in Lynn township, where the two sons grew to manhood. For over thirty years Mrs. Anderson made her home with our subject, but died in 1892 while visiting her son Swanty in Red Oak, Iowa.
After coming to this country Joseph H. Anderson attended the common schools for a few winters, but is mostly self-educated. On starting out to earn his own livelihood he worked as a farm hand by the month for five years, and then operated rented' land for several years. In 1862 he purchased sixty acres where he now resides, which at that time was entirely unimproved. He erected a small house thereon, and to its further improvement and cultivation has since devoted his energies until he now has a valuable farm. He has extended its boun- daries from time to time until they now en- close three hundred acres ; has enlarged and remodeled his residence, tiled the land, and set out shade trees. Besides this valuable place he owns a tract of nine hundred and sixty-three acres near Holdrege, Nebras- ka, all of which is well improved.
In Andover, Mr. Anderson was mar- ried, September 13, 1862, to Miss Matilda Christina Shult, who was born in Sweden and came to the new world when thirteen years of age. She is a sister of Hons Shult. whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. They have seven children liv- ing, namely : Emma C., now the wife of
J. H. ANDERSON.
MRS. J. H. ANDERSON.
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C. E. Jeho-og, a termer of Phelps county, of land, is pleasantis Treated two and a half Nebraska : Mitha S .. wifeof John E. Wester- miles north of Woodhull, on section 18. and besides this valnaide property he owns other well-improved farms elsewhere. He is one of the most successful agriculturists and stock raisers and dealers in the county. land of Lyno toundop. M. county : Hilma C., wife of Withan Wasfirst of Phelps county, Nebraska. nel Joseph Oscar, lda, Victoria and Lilla, das home. Three sons and one daughter died in childhood : Ida H. Oscar E., Henry Theodore and Hell- ry L.
The Republican party has found in Mr. Anderson a stanch supporter of its principles since he cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Many years ago he served two terms as constable, and has been an efficient member of the school board and clerk of the district for a number of years, but has never cared for political honors. Fraternally he is a Knight Templar Mason, and is now serving as secretary of Oxford lodge, No. 367. F. & .A. M., at New Windsor. He is a member of the Chapter at Rio and Commandery at Galesburg. In religious belief he is a Lutheran, while his wife and children hold membership in the Baptist Church. His career proves that the only true success in life is that which is ac- complished by personal effort and consecutive industry. It proves that the road to success is open to all young men who have the cour- age to tread its pathway, and the life record of such a man should serve as an inspira- tion to the young of this and future genera tions, and teach by incontrovertible facts that success is ambition's answer.
JOHN W. SHETLER.
One of Clover township's most prosper- ous and influential citizens is John W. Shet ler, who is now a member of the honorable board of supervisors. His home farm, con- sisting of two hundred and fifty-eight acres
Mr. Shetler was born July 13, 1840, in Franklin county, Pennsylvania, of which his parents. William and Martha ( Wolf) Shetler, were also natives. The Shetlers were of German descent and among the original settlers of the Keystone state. The parents of our subject spent their entire lives in Franklin county. His maternal grandfa- ther. David Wolf, was from Lancaster coun- ty. Pennsylvania.
in the county of his nativity, John W. Shetler was reared in much the usual manner of farmer boys of his day, his education being acquired in the local schools. In 1866 when a young man, he came to Henry coun- ty, Illinois, and joined some Pennsylvania acquaintances who had located in Wood- hill. After working for a short time by the month, he rented land and engaged in farm- ing on his own account. Three years later ne purchased his first land, consisting of eighty acres in Oxford township, which he at once began to improve and cultivate, mak- ing his home thereon until 1873, when he sold the place and bought one hundred and sixty acres of his present farm. He has since greatly improved the place by the erec- tion of a good residence and substantial barns and outbuildings. He has also tiled the land and set out trees, which add great- ly to the attractive appearance of the place. He has extended the boundaries of his farm until they now include two hundred and fifty - eight acres, and also owns a well-improved farm of one hundred acres on section 7. Clover township, another of one hundred and
30
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Ixty deres in Andover township, and three- Quarters of a section of land in Barton coun- ty. Kansas, as well as Chicago property. This property has all been acquired through his own industry, perseverance anl good management, as he started out in life for himself empty-handed.
In the spring of 1869 Mr. Shetler was married in Woodhull to Miss Nancy Knox, sho was born in Juniata county, Pennsyl- wania, but coming to Illinois in childhood was principally reared here. Her father. John Knox, died in Pennsylvania, and later the mother married James Barton, who brought the family to Illinois, in 1864. be- coming one of the early settlers of Henry county. Mr. and Mrs. Shetler have a fam- ily of five children, namely: William, who i- married and follows farming in Clover township; Fred C., a successful school teacher of this county; Edith MI., wife of W. G. White, a farmer of this and Knox county ; Grace MI., wife of Harry M. Thayer. also a farmer of Henry county; and Laura Belle. who is engaged in teaching here. All of the children have been well educated, be- ing graduates of the high school of Wood- Hull. and have successfully followed the teacher's profession.
Politically Mr. Shetler has been a life- long Democrat, and cast his first presidential ballot for George B. McClellan in 1864. In 1890 he was elected supervisor of Clover township, and served as such one term, be- ing a member of the town accounts commit- tee. In the spring of 1900 he was re-elected to the same office, and is now a member of the county accounts committee. He has been a delegate to numerous conventions of las party, and has always taken an active mal commendable interest in public affairs. four years he has served on the school board
and was clerk of the district for some years. His wife and children hold membership in the Presbyterian Church of Woodhull, and while he is not a member of any religious denomination, he attends church with them, and contributes liberally to its support. He is a prominent member of the Odd Fellows lodge at Woodhull, in which he has filled all the chairs, and is now past grand and treas- urer of the lodge. He was a member of the G. A. R., at Woodhull, as long as the post was in existence, having been one of the boys in blue during the Civil war.
MRS. MATTIE E. BROWN.
Mrs. Mattie E. Brown, one of the highly- esteemed ladies of Osco township, is a na- tive of Illinois, her birth having occurred in Farmington township, Fulton county, on the 15th of June. 1848. Her father, Henry Myers, was born in Franklin county, Penn- sylvania, November 2, 1813. and there grew to manhood, and received his education in the subscription schools of that day. He was the son of Valentine Myers, who spent the greater part of his life in Franklin coun- ty, where his death occurred when his son was about ten years of age. His wife, who Lore the maiden name of Catherine Crill, was born in Lancaster county. Pennsylvania, and they were the parents of eleven chil- dren.
In 1837. Henry Myers married Miss Marie Eshelman, daughter of John and Martha (Horsh ) Eshelman, who were also natives of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and of an old family in that state. The ma- ternal grandfather Horsh came to this coun- try from Germany. In the family of John
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and Martha Eshelman were eight children- E. is the wife of Charles Mull, a farmer Sammel, John. Marie. Daniel, Abraham, living near Wichita, Kansas. Amanda J. is the wife of Henry Cheek, a farmer near Bushnell, Illinois. Nancy M. died at the age of two years. Martha, Michael and Catherine. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Myers lived in Penn- sylvania for thirteen years, during which time five children were born unto them. In 1848 they decided to build up a new home in the prairie state and came west from Pittsburg by river, landing at Copperas creek, Fulton county, in the latter part of April. Mr. Myers then purchased eighty acres of land in Farmington township, which he afterwards sold. From time to time, however, he purchased land, and at one time was the owner of one thousand acres. He helped his boys to get a good start in life, and all now have comfortable homes and are well-to-do people.
To this worthy couple were born thirteen children, as follows: Isaac Newton, mar- ried Sarah Elliott, now deceased. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was killed in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain. John Wesley married Helen Vittum and resides in Champaign. Illinois. Joseph C. wedded Mary Switzer and lives in Canton, Illinois. David M. married Kate Burrows and is engaged in farming near Bushnell, Illinois. At the age of seventeen he enlisted in the same company that his brother was a member, and with his command took part in many hard fought battles. William Henry married Mida Kess- ler and is now a retired farmer of Canton. Daniel A. married Anna Nagley and is a retired farmer of Farmington. Henry Will- iam died in infancy. Mary C. died at the age of nineteen years. Mattie E., our sub- ject. is next in order of birth. Adeline B. is the wife of William Norton, a farmer of Fairview township, Fulton county. Susan
Mr. Myers was a member of the German Baptist Church, and like those of the same faith, his life was simple, straightforward and unpretentious. He was a thoroughly good man, kind and charitable towards all, and his unswerving honesty was a marked feature of his character. He was an un- compromising temperance man, and was in hearty sympathy with the Prohibition move- ment. In early life he was a Whig, and cast his vote for William Henry Harrison. His death occurred in 1895. His good wife, who was also a member of the German Bap- tist Church, was called to her final rest in December, 1896. They were both buried in the Dunkard cemetery at Farmington, Illinois.
Mrs. Brown was reared in the county of, her nativity and received her education in its public schools. There she became ac- quainted with James M. Brown, and in Far- mington they were married January 25. 1872. He, too, was a native of Fulton county, born in Fairview township, Novem- ber 15. 1834, and was a son of John and Sarah ( Kirkpatrick ) Brown. The father was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of Irish ancestry, and the mother was of Scotch- Irish extraction. In their family were five sons and one daughter, namely: T. Scott was first sergeant of Company G. One Hun- dred and Third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, during the war of the Rebellion. He lost his right arm at the shoulder in an en- gagement at Congree Creek, South Car- olina, February 15. 1865. He partici- pated in many a historic battle and
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Im- a record equalled by few. He enlisted August o, 1862. and his service ended with This disability. He is now a resident of Cam- bridge, Illinois. George C. is a retired far- mer of Osco, this county. John G. married Anna M. Hegley and resides in Marshall- town, lowa, in summer and in Daytona. Florida, in winter. He served throughout the Civil war as a sergeant major in the Fif- ty-fifth Illinois regiment, and for a number of years was a member of the state legisla- ture of lowa. Mary L. is the wife of Walter Hitchcock of Greenfield, Iowa. James M. was the next of the family. One son died in infancy.
During his boyhood and youth James M. Brown attended the public schools of his native township, and early acquired an ex- cellent knowledge of agricultural pursuits. Ile, too, was one of the boys in blue during the dark divs of the Rebellion, enlisting in Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Febuary 7, 1865. Soon after entering the service he was pro- mioted to the rank of sergeant, and partici- pated in several hotly contested engage- ments, being discharged January 24. 1866. with an honorable military record. He then returned home and turned his atention to agricultural pursuits. On the 5th of Feb- rtry. 1872. he came to Henry county, and for two or three years was engaged in farm- wg near the village of Osco, in Osco town- Ile then purchased his father's farm (One hundred and sixty acres, to which he deequently added eighty acres. He died Mo 4, 1893, after one year's illness. He word highly esteemed citizen, and one of the trolig men of his community.
Me Brown has three children : Mae E . To Famuury 13. 18;4, resides with her Mother of Ocen; Ka Scott, born January
5, 1881, is attending the Geneseo Collegiate Institute and is living in that city ; and Frank H., born July 29, 1883, is also a student of that school and resides with his mother in Osco. Mrs. Brown is a member of the Pres- byterian Church, as was her husband also during his life.
ANDREW J. SOLIDAY.
The subject of this sketch is one of the representative farmers and stock raisers of Yorktown township, his hime being on sec- tion 31. He is a native of Henry county, his birth having occurred in Yorktown town- ship, March 16, 1861. His father, Andrew Soliday, was born in Alsace, Germany. Jan- uary 7, 1830, a son of Andrew and Mar- garet Soliday. Having lost his father in infancy he came to America with his mother at the age of six years and first located in Pennsylvania, where they spent a few months. There she married Jacob Grose, a native of Rhenish Bavaria. In Febuary, 1837, the family removed to Allegany coun- ty, New York, where Mr. Grose died five years later. The mother and her children continued to reside there and in Livingston county, New York, until 1853. Mr. Soliday supporting the family by day labor. He came west on a prospecting tour, and in 1854 brought his mother and two half sisters, Sophia and Elizabeth Grose, to Henry coun- ty, Illinois, having decided to locate here. For two years he rented a farm in Loraine township belonging ot his uncle, Jacob Shu- ler, and so successful was he in its opera- tion that in 1855 he was able to purchase eighty acres of land on section 19. Yorktown township, buying the pre-empted claim of
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Michael Shumaker for fifty dollars. This was entirely unimproved, but after erecting thereon a hewed log cabin, he located on his farm in January, 1856, and commenced to break his place. He traded a yoke of oxen and two cows for a team of horses, and with characteristic thrift and enterprise began the development of his land. At that time Yorktown township was nearly all swamp land, and Mr. Soliday got up a subscription to improve the road, while he himself hauled brush, wood and dirt to make what was known as the one hundred acre grade. On selling his first farm he secured another on section 31, the same township, which is still the homestead of the family. He first bought one hundred and seventy five acres, but has since added to it and now has one of the best farms in that part of the county, com- prising two hundred and seventy-six acres. His mother resided with him until her death. which occurred March 5. 1875. In early life he was a Whig but since the organization of the Republican party has been one of its stanch supporters. He has filled the offices of assessor, constable, highway commis- sioner and.school director, and is recognized as one of the most valued and useful citi- zens of his community.
On the 14th of June, 1856, Andrew Sol- iday, the father of our subject, was united in marriage with Miss Mary Baker, who was born in Warren county, Pennsylvania, April I, 1839, a daughter of Barnhart and Mary (Smith) Baker. Her father was also born in the Keystone state of German ancestry, and followed the butcher business. In 1841 he started with a drove of sheep to Philadel- phia, and being never heard of again is sup- posed to have been waylaid and murdered. His wife was a native of Alsace, Germany. and came to this country with her parents,
locating in Pennsylvania. After the death of her husband she came west with her fam- ily, and was again married in Chicago, her second husband being Frank Summers. 'In 1856 they came to Henry county, and lo- cated on a farm in Loraine township. By this union there were three children : Ed- ward, a resident of Loraine, married Nancy Bollan, and they have nine children, Cora, Fred. Frank. John, Bernard, Letitia, Nettie, Elmer and Edith, Sarah, deceased, was the wife of Edward Ott.of Kansas, and they had two children, Almond and Hazel. Peter married Sarah Dietz and they have four chil- dren, Ada, Burt, Ora and Florence. The mother of these children died in 1842. By her first marriage she had two children, of whom Mrs. Soliday is the older. She resides on the home farm in Yorktown township. Jacob enlisted in the Ninth Ililnois Cavalry during the Civil war and died in the service at Helena, Arkansas.
Andrew J. Soliday, of this review, is the third in order of birth in a family of seven children, the others being as follows: (I) Mary Ellen is the wife of Henry Minch, a farmer of Yorktown township, and they have five children. Jessie, Ray, Lizzie, Clay- ton and Catherine. ( 2) Jacob, a resident of Rhodes, Iowa, married Ida Urban, and they have two children, Ethel and Clayton. (4) Esther E. is the wife of John Vetter. a far- mer of Atkinson township, this county, and they have four children, Lloyd, Marie, Er- ma and Roland. (5) Ida S. is the wife of William Johnston, of Jasper county, Iowa, and they have one child. Harland. (6) Hannah A. is at home. (7) Charles A. is a resident of Rhodes, Iowa.
In early life our subject attended the dis- trict schools near his boyhood home, and aided in the work of the farm. After his
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father's death, February 10. 1897. he took full control of the place, and in its operation has met with most gratifying success. He raises horses and cattle for both breeding and market purposes, and also keeps an exten- sive flock of sheep and a fine herd of Poland China hogs. This branch of his business has proved quite profitable, and in all his unclertakings he has steadily prospered. On the 5th of January, 1893. Mr. Soliday was united in marriage with Miss Tillie Shin- lebber, and they now have one child. Mildred, born March 18, 1897. Mrs. Soliday's father, Frederick Shinlebber, was born in Germany, and on coming to America when a young man he settled at Deerfield, near Chicago, Illinois, where he engaged in farming for a time. He served through the war of the Re- bellion as a member of the One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and later was engaged in farming, near Hoop Pole, this county. He died in October, 1900, and was buried at that place. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Barbara Spath, was born in Peoria, and is still living near Hoop Pole. Of their three children Mrs. Soliday is the oldest ; Wesley now manages the homestead farm for his mother ; and Ida is also at home.
HENRY E. HOUGHTON.
The prosperity of a community depends upon its business activity and the enterprise manifest in commercial circles is the founda- tion upon which is builded the material wel- fare of town, state and nation. The most important factors in public life at the present day are therefore the men who are in control of successful business in terests, and such a
one is Henry E. Houghton, an extensive stock dealer of Woodhull, Illinois.
He was born in Chester, Vermont, June 16, 1849, and is a son of Calvin C. and Lucy E. (Johnson) Houghton, whose sketch ap- pears elsewhere in this work. In 1852, he was brought to Henry county, Illinois, by his parents, and grew to manhood upon the home farm in Clover township. His primary edu- cation was obtained in the common schools of that locality, and later he attended the aca- demic department of Knox College, Gales- burg, and the high school of Abingdon, Illi- nois. He aided his father in the labors of the farm until the latter's death, and later suc- ceeded to the old homestead, where he con- tinued to reside until 1896. During that year he erected a commodious and pleasant residence in Woodhull, where he has since made his home, his time and attention being devoted to the buying and shipping of stock and to the management of his farm property, for he is now the owner of three valuable and well-improved farms of six hundred and twenty-five acres in Clover township. He is one of the most successful stock dealers in the county, and annually ships about one hundred carloads of stock to the city mar- kets in partnership with J. W. Shelter. With W. C. Stickney and F. F. Bell he organized the company which are the present owners of the Woodhull Electric Light plant, which was erected and put into operation in Sep- tember. 1900.
On the 25th of November, 1896, Mr. Houghton was united in marriage with Miss Laura May Woods, who was born in Penn- sylvania, but was reared in Henry county, being a daughter of R. I. Woods, of Wood- hull. By this union has been born one child, Helen Isabel.
Politically Mr. Houghton is an ardent
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Republican, having affiliated with that party since casting his first presidential vote for General U. S. Grant in 1872. Being one of the leading citizens of his community he has been called upon to fill official positions of honor and trust, the duties of which he has most capably and satisfactorily discharged. He has been a delegate to the county, con- gressional and state conventions of his party. and for four consecutive years was an in- fluential member of the county board of su- pervisors, serving on the committee on claims during that entire time. His wife holds membership in the Presbyterian Church.
D. O. LOY.
D. O. Loy, a worthy representative of the industrial interests of Henry county, as well as a poet and author of ability, is now suc- cessfully engaged in the manufacture of brick and tile at Atkinson, and also operates a coal mine at the same place. He was born in Morrow county, Ohio, September 9. 1855. but in early childhood removed to Hancock county, this state, with his parents, George and Margaret ( Cusic ) Loy, who were na- tives of Pennsylvania. The father died when our subject was only five years old. By oc- cupation he was a farmer, and followed that pursuit in both Morrow and Hancock coun- ties, Ohio, at the same time operating a saw mill. In his family were five children, name- ly : Sarah, wife of Joseph Barnhill, ex-county treasurer of Marion, Iowa ; Martin and Me- lissa, both residents of McComb, Ohio: D. O., our subject ; and Ella. deceased. For her second husband the mother married Robert Poe, and by that union had two children, one of whom is still living.
During his boyhood and youth Mr. Loy atended the country school in the winter, while the summer season was devoted to work. On coming to Illinois, at the age of thirteen years, he located in Piatt county, where he worked as a farm hand one year. and then was engaged in the clothing busi- ness with Joseph Kuns, at Champaign, for a time. Later he followed farming in Cham- paign county, one year, and then commenced learning the business of manufacturing brick. Subsequently he embarked in that business for himself at Monticello, where he built the first steam tile factory in that local- ity. Selling his plant in 1883 he removed to Carthage, where he was successfully engaged in the same business for a year, and then went to Eldora, Iowa, and bought an old terra cotta factory, which was destroyed by fire in 1885. Although his plant was unin- sured he immediately rebuilt and resumed business. He finally returned to Illinois and purchased a factory which had formerly been run in opposition to his own, and a year later bought his old plant, operating the two together. In the meantime he went to Ash- kum, Iroquois county, and built a very fine tile and brick factory, which he carried on until the hard times of 1893, when he closed out his business.
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