USA > Illinois > Henry County > The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois > Part 67
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Unto this worthy couple were born eleven children as follows: Sheldon H., born April 23, 1835, was married January 22, 1857, to Lonisa Emery, who died in Galva, March 12, 1864, and in May, 1865 he mar- ried Sarah Frank. He went to Kansas during the troublesome times in that state prior to the Civil war, and as a free-state man took an active part in the border warfare. Orlan- do B., born July 26, 1836, married Annie L. Stone. He died in San Diego, California, March 27, 1900. George W .. born Jan- uary 6, 1838, died on the 10th of the fol- lowing October. Mary A., born November 22, 1840, died' three days later. Samuel P., born May 16, 1842, wedded Mary Inglefield, and is editor and proprietor of the Marshall- town Herald, Marshalltown, Iowa. Esther E., born May 14. 1845, married J. D. Hill, of Geneseo, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. Roderick W., born AApril 26, 1848, is a resident of Bussey. Marion county, Iowa: married Sadie Hf. Ingelfield, and after her death was again married, December 27, 1876, his sec- ond union being with Edith M. Swain. Ran- som ()., born in Bureau county, Illinois, Oc- tober 24, 1852, was married, January 26, 1877, to Fannie J. Reaver, and lives in Knox- ville, Iowa. Azoline, born in Munson town-
ship, this county, August 24, 1854, died three days later. John C. F. is mentioned more fully below. Helen E., born in Munson township, September 3. 1859, died October 13, 1862.
John C. F. Ayres was born on the old homestead in Munson township, August 26, 1856, and' during his boyhood assisted his father in the labors of the fields. He attend- ed the local schools, and also the high school of Geneseo. On the 25th of December, 1879, he married Miss Sarah Alice Martin, a daughter of John S. and Dovey A. ( Hamil- ton) Martin, who are also represented else- where in this volume. By this union were born seven children, namely : Carrie MI., Jes- sie M., John D., Elsie M., Helen M., Laura A. and Lois. Mr. Ayres now owns the old homestead farmi, consisting of one hundred and eighty-six acres of well improved and valuable land, which he rents, while he re- sides in Geneseo. In the spring of 1901 he embarked in the general farm implement bus- iness at that place and now carries a full line of wagons, buggies, steam threshers and all kinds of farm implements. He takes an ac- tive part in political affairs, and has held the office of assessor two terms, and' school di- rector for a number of years. He is a mem- ber of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Home Forum Mutual Insurance Company, and is one of the most highly es- teemed citizens of his community.
XAVER CLEMENTZ.
Among those agriculturists of Henry county whose places manifest to the most casual observer the energy and ability of the owner in his chosen calling is the sub- ject of this personal history. He now owns two hundred and eighty acres of well-im-
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proved and highly cultivated land on sec- tions 4 and 9, Yorktown township.
Mr. Clementz was born in Alsace-Lo- raine, at that time under the French gov- ernment, on the 6th of July. 1844. but was only nine months old when brought to this country, in 1845, by his parents, John and Michelina (Highmiser ) Clementz, both of whom were born near Strasburg, Germany, the former in 1813, the latter in 18 -. The family first located two and a half miles from Naperville, in Du Page county, Illi- nois, where the father purchased one hun- dred and forty acres of land, partly covered with timber, and to the development and cultivation of this farm he devoted his time and attention for twelve years. During this time our subject aided in the work of the farm and learned very little English, as German was the language spoken in the home. He then accompanied the family on their removal to Loraine township, Henry county, where a farm of one hundred and thirty acres was purchased, and here he at- tended the district schools for a time, pur- suing his studies in an old log hut with log seats standing on pegs driven into the floor. There were no desks. After seven years spent at this place the family returned to Naperville. Naver remained with his parents two years longer and then again came to Henry county, this time locating in York- town township. Subsequently the father traded his Naperville farm for land in York- town township, which our subject operated. In 1886 he purchased two hundred acres from his father, and has since bought eighty acres from Mr. Bogardus. This he still re- tains and has improved in a creditable man- ner. Nearly all of the entire tract has been broken by himself, and has been converted by Him into one of the finest farms of York-
town township. In connection with gen- eral farming he is also engaged in raising cattle for market purposes.
Xaver Clementz is the third in order of birth in a family of five children, the others being Josephine, wife of Conrad Seyler, of Prophetstown, Illinois; Lena, wife of D. Smith, a farmer of Yorktown township, this county; August, who mar- ried Barbara Creygar, and died in Naper- ville, in 1889; and Kate, wife of George Seyler, of Yorktown township.
Xaver Clementz has been twice married. In December, 1869, in Loraine township, this county, he married Miss Louisa Gross, who died October 20, 1873, leaving two children, namely : Frank, who was born March 11, 1871, and' resides with his fa- ther; and Dora, who was born February 7, 1873, and is now the wife of August Seyler, of Yorktown township. On the 20th of June, 1874, Mr. Clementz was united in marriage with Miss Mary Vogel, a native of Naperville, Illinois, and a daughter of Anthony and Mary Ann ( Seyler ) Vogel, lifelong residents of Germany. Her father was born near Strasburg, her mother in Alsace-Loraine. Mrs. Vogel was the only daughter in the family of eight children, and is now the only survivor. Three of her brothers came to America. By his second marriage Mr. Clementz has eight children : Anna, born April 5, 1875, is the wife of Charles Bollenbach, of Columbus Junction, Iowa; William, born September 15, 1877, is at home; Bertha, born January 22, 1880, is the wife of Edward' Bollenbach, of York- town Corners, Bureau county; and Martha, born January 28, 1883, Josephine, born May 12, 1886, Katie, born December 26, 1890, Fred, born September 19, 1892, and John, born February 7, 1894, are all at
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home. Mrs. Clementz passed away in Sep- tember, 1893. The family are communi- cants of the Roman Catholic Church, and are held in high regard by all who know them. For a number of years Mr. Clementz has served as school director, supporting the Democratic party, and he gives his support to every worthy enterprise for the public good.
JOHN S. MARTIN.
The life of this gentleman has been one of usefulness and he is now living retired in Geneseo, enjoying the fruits of former toil. He was born on the 26th of August, 1831, near Livonia, Washington county, Indiana, a son of Nathan and Sarah ( Trimble ) Mar- tin. . On the paternal side he is descended from Peter Martin, a native of the Old Do- minion, who was born February 8. 1841. of German ancestry. His son, John Martin. the grandfather of our subject, was born in Martin's Hundred, near Richmond, Virginia, September 3. 1773, and became one of the first settlers of Kentucky, going to that state with the celebrated Daniel Boone. For some time he lived in a fort. In 1823 he removed with his family to Indiana, and in 1849 came to Illinois with his sons, James and John, locating in Woodford county, where he died October 3, 1855. His wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Martin, was also born in Virginia, January 24, 1779, and died in Woodford county, Illi- nois, May 31, 1858. They were the parents of eleven children, namely: Stephen, who died in Washington county, Indiana; Na- ilan, the father of our subject ; Achsah, wife of Absalom Little, of Clark county, Indiana, Where her death occurred; Lemuel, who died in Sharon, Whiteside county, Illinois; Moses
Jeffries, who died in Greene county, Iowa; Allen, who died in Washington county, In- diana, and was buried on the old' home farm; Enoch Redding, who died in Clark county, that state; Asa, who died in Olivette, Iowa; James M., who died in Washington county, Kansas ; John Mason, a resident of Chicago; and Sarah Elizabeth, who married John Sherwood and died in Washington county, Indiana.
Nathan Martin, our subject's father, was born in Shelby county, Kentucky, January 12, 1802, and removed to Indiana with his parents in 1823. settling on Bear creek, near the town of Martinsburg. Washington coun- ty. Throughout life he followed the occu- pation of a farmer. In 1825 he made a trip on horseback to Fort Clarke, Illinois, and then returned to Indiana, where he continued to make his home until 1852, when he re- moved to Sharon, Whiteside county, Illinois. There his wife died March 25, 1864, and about two years later he went to Republic county, Kansas, where he purchased land, residing there until called to his final rest March 7, 1873. It was in Orange county, Indiana, March 18, 1829, that he married Miss Sarah Trimble, who was born near Paris, Bourbon county, Kentucky, August 1, 1802. Her father, George Trimble, was a native of Virginia and was also a companion of Daniel Boone in his early explorations and settlement of the "Dark and Bloody Ground." He wedded Mary Armstrong and to them were born seven children : Mary and Thomas, who both died in Orange county, Indiana ; Jane, who died in Kentucky; Mar- garet and Elizabeth, who died in Indiana; Sarah, the mother of our subject; and George, who died in Indiana.
John S. Martin is the second in order of birth in a family of ten children, the others
i
JOHN S. MARTIN.
MRS JOHN S. MARTIN.
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being as follows : George T. died in Sharon, Whiteside county, Illinois; Enock M. is a resident of Colorado: Sarah Jane married Walter Stone and died in Sharon, Whiteside county ; \chsah .A. is the wife of David W. Hamilton, of Belleville. Republic county, Kansas; Nathan M. is a resident of Chula, Livingston county, Missouri : James A. died in Atlantic, Iowa: Amazetta Z. married Benona Benson, now a resident of Rock Isl- land, and she died in Sharon, Whiteside county, Illninois: Mary C. is the widow of Frank Hadaway and a resident of Prophets- town, Whiteside county : Henrietta C. died in Sharon at the age of twenty years.
John S. Martin acquired his early educa- tion in the schools of Livonia, Indiana, and was reared' on the home farm. When a young man he learned the tailor's trade at that place, where he worked for two years. With the hope of bettering his financial condition in the west, he went to Keokuk, Iowa, in 1850, and from there to Des Moines, which at that time was only a fort. On his return to Indiana, he took up cabinet making, which he followed for a short time in partnership with D. R. Pound at Middletown, Vigo county, but in June. 1851, he sold out and returned to his father's place in Washington county. Later in the same year he and his brother George came to Illinois and' settled in Sharon, Whiteside county. In the spring of 1852 he assisted his father in moving with an ox team to this state. At Sharon he fol- lowed farming and also worked at the car- penter trade, in the meantime purchasing land in Phenix township, Henry county. In 1856 he removed to Geneseo, and located on Center street where he still makes his home. Here Mr. Martin turned his attention to car- penter work, and for a third of a century was in the employ of the Chicago, Rock
Island & Pacific Railroad as a general car- penter. He was foreman most of the time and division foreman for seven years, and is now living retired.
On the 25th of December. 1855, Mr. Martin married Miss Dovey Ann Hamilton, of Pekin. Washington county, Indiana, who was born in Lincolnton, North Carolina, November 20, 1828, and was a daughter of Ninian and Mary Margaret ( Willfong) Hamilton, also natives of North Carolina. Her paternal grandparents were Archibald and Polly ( Hawkins ) Hamilton, natives of Maryland, and her maternal grandparents were George and Mary ( Shuford ) Will- fong. Her parents removed to Pekin, In- diana, in 1831. . Their children were Mary Susanna, who died in infancy ; Dovey Ann, wife of our subject: Reuben, who died in childhood: Rebecca, who died in infancy; Ninian Bell, who died in Hartsville, Indiana; David Willfong, a resident of Belleville, Re- public county, Kansas: Candace Shuford, widow of Isaac Martin, living on her fa- ther's old homestead in Pekin, Indiana : and George Washington, who died while serv- ing in the Fifty-third Indiana Volunteer In- fantry during the Civil war.
Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin, namely: (1) Hugh Hamilton, agent for the Chicago, Rock Island & Pa- cific railroad at Blue Island, Illinois, married Ada Hanna, of Colona, Henry county, and they have four children, Nellie P .. Edna L., Eugene P. and' Julia E. (2) S. Alice is . the wife of John C. F. Ayres, who is rep- resented on another page of this volume. (3) Emma R. is teaching school in Chicago. (4) Lillie May is a physician and surgeon of Albany, Wisconsin. She is the wife of Dr. Saxton J. Morgan. (5) M. Elsie is a book- keeper of Boston, Massachusetts. (6) J.
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Morrison died at the age of twenty-one years. The mother of these children depart- ed this life January 30, 1901.
Mr. Martin and his family hold member- ship in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he superintended the erection of the present church of that denomination built at Geneseo. He has also been a member of the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows since 1865. He cast his first presidential vote for Winfield Scott, the Whig candidate, and is now a stal- wart supporter of the Republican party. His career has ever been such as to gain for him the confidence and good will of his fellow citizens, and he is held in the highest re- spect and esteem by all who know him.
FRANK S. SEARS.
This successful and prosperous farmer of Cornwall township was born on the old homestead where he now resides. October 15, 1861, and is a son of John and Mary (Jewett ) Sears, both natives of Sharon, Litchfield county, Connecticut. The father was born on the 22nd of May, 1818, and in early life was engaged in merchandising down the Mississippi. In the fall of 1856 lie came to Henry county, Illinois, and pur- chasing a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of wild land in Cornwall township he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. Subsequently he purchased a tract of similar size from his brother who had come with him to this state, and also bought another eighty acres, so that he had four hundred acres of land at the time of his death. This he placed under excellent cultivation and improved with a good set of farm buildings. He served as township clerk for a year or more and also filled the office of school direc- tor. He died in February, 1897, and his wife
passed away January 6, 1889, both being laid to rest in Fairview cemetery. They were among the most highly respected' and honored citizens of their community. In the family of this worthy couple were seven children, namely : Mary J., wife of Dr. E. J. Porter, of Grand Island, Nebraska; Frank S., our subject; John, who wedded Mary Whiffels and lives in Annawan town- ship, this county; Sarah A .: Nellie, who died May 14, 1884; William H., who mar- ried Naoma Fick and resides in Cornwall township ; and Jessie L.
Frank S. Sears obtained' his elementary education in the country schools near his boyhood home, and subsequently attended the high schol at Geneseo for two years. He assisted his father in the operation of the home farm until the latter's death, and then took charge of the place, which he has since successfully carried on. Like his fa- ther, he is a stanch supporter of the men and measures of the Republican party, and for two years he most acceptably served as township clerk. On the 14th of April, 1897, he led to the marriage altar Miss Amy A. Funk, a daughter of George Funk, a sketch of whom appears in this work, and they have become the parents of two children : George V., who was born March 27, 1898, and died on the 29th of the following April: and Attie Mildred, who was born March 4, 1900. The Sears family is one of the most prominent families of Cornwall township and wherever known is held in high regard.
CHRISTIAN G. GIERHART.
In the respect that is accorded to men who have fought their way to success through unfavorable environments we find an unconscious recognition of the intrinsic
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worth of a character which can not only endure so rough a test but gain new strength through the discipline. The following his- tory sets forth briefly the steps by which our subject, now one of the substantial ag- riculturists of Henry county, overcame the disadvantages of his early life. He resides on section 6. Atkinson township, and is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres in that and Geneseo townships.
Mr. Gierhart was born in Richland county, Ohio, on the 17th of April. 1824. and is a son of Jonas 11. and Susan ( Stough ) Gierhart, both natives of Mary- land, where their marriage was celebrated. The father was born in 1792, and in 1814 removed to Ashland county, Ohio, which was then a vast wilderness. With his wife and child and one horse the journey was made to their new home in the Buckeye state. With his own hands he built a little cabin in the midst of the forest, and at once began to clear and improve a farm. In later years, with the assistance of his sons, he made a good farin of one hundred and sixty acres. About 1867 he came to Henry county, Illinois, and spent his last years with his children, dying here in February, 1873.
On the old homestead in Ohio, Chris- tian G. Gierhart grew to manhood, aidin, his father in carrying on the farm until he reached years of maturity. During the Mexican war he enlisted in 1846, in Com- pany K, Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and was first engaged in guarding trains for about five hundred miles, later participat- ing in the battle of Buena Vista. He was ill in the hospital for some time, and from the effects of that illness he has never fully recovered. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged at New Orleans. By
way of Cincinnati he returned to his old home in Ohio, and being in poor health re- mained on his father's farm about two years.
In November, 1849, Mr. Gierhart was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Gray, who was born in Pennsylvania and was about six years old when she accom- panied her father, Joseph Gray, on his re- moval to Ohio, the family being among the early settlers of Ashland county. For some time after his marriage he worked at any- thing which he could find to do, and con- tracted to cut six hundred cords of wood, most of which he himself cut. In 1853 he came to Henry county, Illinois, and engaged in farming for Charles Demming, who at the advanced age of ninety-seven years is now living in Geneseo. While serving as justice of the peace in Ohio Mr. Demming had married Mr. and Mrs. Gierhart, and he swore Mr. Gierhart into the service in the Mexican war. He filled the office of state senator in Ohio, and held other positions of honor and trust.
Our subject continued in the employ of Mr. Demming at Geneseo for four years and during that time opened up a farm. In 1856 he made his first purchase of land consisting of eighty acres of raw prairie on section 6, Atkinson township, where he now resides, and at once turned his attention to its improvement and cultivation. He erect- ed thereon a small house, which was his home for sixteen years, and was then re- placed by a more commodious and preten- tious dwelling. Other buildings have also been erected, an orchard set out and shade trees planted. He added to his original pur- chase from time to time and now has two hundred acres of valuable land, forty acres of which is just across the road from his
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home in Gewesen township. At one time lie owned three hundred acres, but has since disposed of a portion of this. Although he started out m life for himself in debt, he has steadily overcome the obstacles in the path to prosperity, and through his dili- gence, enterprise and good management has become quite well-to-do.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Gierhart were born seven children, namely : Martha Jane, wife of A. C. Rice, of Geneseo: Margaret Lo- venia, wife of Theodore Miller, a farmer of Geneseo township: Susan, who married and died in Kansas, leaving three children, two of whom are now living: John E., a farmer of Geneseo township: Ida, wife of Myron MeHenry: and J. O., an invalid, who is married and resides on the home farm; and Olive, who died at the age of seven months.
In 1862, during the Civil war, Mr. Gier- hart raised a company, which became a part Volunteer Infantry, under command of of the One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Couonel Henderson, and was commissioned first lieutenant by Governor Yates, but being in ill health he was advised by the Colonel to resign after going south and re- turned home in the fall of that year. Po- htically he was a Jeffersonian Democrat and cast his first presidential ballot for James K. Polk in 1844. At local elections, how- ever, when no issue is involved he votes independent of party lines. For the long period of twenty-eight years he was an efficient member of the school board and also served as president of the district. He filled the office of justice of the peace in Atchison township for eight years; was road commissioner twelve years; and has Teon a delegate to mimerons conventions of leg party. His official duties have been
performed with a fidelity and promptness worthy of the highest commendation, and he has always been found true to every trust reposed in him whether public or private. He is an active and prominent inember of the Methodist Episcopal Church a. Geneseo, was superintendent of the Sun- day school for twelve years, and assisted in establishing one of the first country Sun- day schools in the county.
NORMAN SHEARER.
The fine farm on section 18, Cornwall township, belonging to this gentleman, in- variably attracts the eye of the passing traveler as being under the supervision of a thorough and skillful agriculturist, and a man otherwise of good business qualifica- tions. In connection with his farming oper- ations he carries on stock raising quite ex- tensively, and in all his undertakings has been remarkably successful.
Mr. Shearer was born in Cornwall town- ship. June 13. 1859, and is a son of Lewis and Permelia ( Burget) Shearer. whose sketchi appears on another page of this vol- ume. His early education was acquired at the district schools in the immediate vicin- ity of his home, and by reading and obser- vation in later years he has greatly supple- mented the knowledge there acquired. He remained on the home farm with his parents tintil his marriage, which was celebrated! April 5. 1885. Miss Mary McCafferty be- coming his wife. She is a native of Ire- land, and came to this country in 1866 with her parents, Charles and Rose ( Diver) McCafferty, who were also born on the Emerald isle. They became residents of
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Comwall towallip. thua county. Their children were Sarah, wife wi E. B. Steb- Line: Mary, wife of our subject: Bridget. wife of Terrence MeCabe : Paera, who wed- deij Mary Dwyer: Maggie, wife of D. Il. Robins: Katie: Fannie, wife of Thomas Cole: and John. Mr. and Mrs. Shearer have two children: Blanche, born January 6. 1886, and Edith, born July 5. 1887. both attending school.
Mr. Shearer owns two hundre l and for- ty acres of land, which he has placed 111 der excellent cultivation, and on which he has made many useful and valuable im- provements which add greatly to the at- tractive appearance of the place. He makes a specialty of stock raising and shipping. and is justly regarded as one of the most progressive and reliable business men of his community.
As a Republican Mr. Shearer takes quite an active part in local positions, and he is njom acceptably serving as supervisor of Cornwall township. having been elected to that responsible position in April. 1900. He has also filled the office of school di- rector for the past few years. Socially he i. a member of the Modern Woodmen Camp at Atchison, and the Fraternal Trib- une at Geneseo.
CALVIN F. WOLEVER.
Among the young and enterprising farmers of Cornwall township thereis pro- bably none more energetic or thorough- going than the gentleman whose name in- troduces this sketch. He now owns a fine farm of one hundred and eighty-seven acres on section 18. He was born where he
now resides. June 16, 1875. and is a son of R. W. and Roena ( Foster ) Wolever, both natives of Illinois, the former born near leoria, in 1844. the latter near Geneseo, this county. The Wolever family was originally from New Jersey. The father was first married in 1865. to a Mrs. Frey, who died two years later, leaving one child. In 1867 he wedded Roena Foster, and to them were born four children, one son and three daughters, namely : Letha, who died Jannary 13, 1901, was the wife of John Hughey, a teamster of Stark county; Lot- tie, who died in childhood: Calvin F .. onr subject : and Lucy married Fred Schwen- eker. The parents now reside in Moline, Rock Island county, Illinois. The father Was reared and educated in Galva, where his father conducted a hotel for about eight years, and after reaching manhood engaged in farming in this county for some years, and took a very active and prominent part in public affairs of a political nature. The Republican party has always found in him a stanch supporter of its principles, and he has most acceptably filled the offices of school director, assessor for twelve years, and supervisor for eight years. Fraternally he was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Home Forum.
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