The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois, Part 71

Author: Clarke (S.J.) Publishing Company
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 734

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In Prophetstown, Illinois, Lyman Stow- ell was married. in 1843. to Miss Sarah Leach, a native of Johnsburg, Warren coun- ty, New York, who died February 22, 1901. at the age of eighty-six years. By this union were born four children: Caroline, born February 2. 1848, married S. L. Swee- ney, and both are now deceased, while their family lives in Arkansas : Emma Jane, born June 30. 1850. is the wife of J. H. Sweeney, of Jewell Junction, Iowa; Wilbur F. is next in order of birth: and Sarah A., born Feb- ruary 26, 1857. is the wife of C. R. Bur- rows, of Leon, Illinois.

Mr. Stowell, of this review, was reared on the home farm and throughout his active business life has engaged in its operation. He is a thorough and skillful agriculturist and has met with excellent success in his labors. Besides the old homestead he owns

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a quarter-section of ludd in Oklahoma. On the 20th of October. 1874, he was united in marriage with Miss Lydia A. C. Luther, and to them have been born two children, namely : Harrietta I., born July 24, 1875. is the wife of S. S. Swanson, who resides with Mr. Stowell, and they have one child, Roland Noble, born March 6, 1900: and Florence E., born February 1. 1881. was nurried, Inne 14, 1890. to G. F. Day, of New Carlisle, Ohio. They also have an adopted son, Harold E., born May 21. 1897.

Jacob Luther, the father of Mrs. Stowell. was born on the river Rhine in Wemberg. Germany, in 1815, and about 1823 came to America with his parents, Jacob and I Quisa Luther, locating in Livingston con- . ty, New York. About 1828 they removed to Pennsylvania, and ten years later came to Illinois, arriving in Chicago in the fall of 1838. They spent the winter in that city. in the heart of which mud was then knee deep, and town lots could be had for a day's work. The following spring the family went to Lake county, and Jacob Luther, Sr., purchased eighty acres of land twenty-two miles northwest of Chicago, which was en- tirely unimproved. They were among the first settlers of that locality. Later they came to Geneseo, Henry county, where Mrs. Stowell's grandfather died. Her grand- mother died at Desplaines, Illinois. Their children were Jacob; Emeline, who became the wife of Jacob Ott, of Yorktown town- ship, and both are now deceased ; Elizabeth, wife of Jesse Wilmot, of Missouri ; George, deceased, who married Sallie Schock, both deceased ; Peter, deceased. who wedded Mary Miller. They formerly lived in York- town township, though his widow now re- sides in Iowa: John, deceased, who married Mary Fehlman, a resident of Hooppole ; William, who died in California unmarried ;

David, who first married Caroline Er-linger and second Caroline Reig and lives in Gen- eseo; and Mary Ann, who became the wife ( i Benhart Wolf and both are now deceased. Jacob Luther, Jr., the father of Mr -. Stowell, was the second settler in York- town township, and in those early days was a great hunter, being considered one of the best shots in this part of the country. Ile often hunted deer with the Indians. He was . millwright In trade and invented one of the first turbine wheels in the United States. During his residence in Yorktown town- ship, he lived on section 31. in what is known a. Hooppole. In 1856 he removed to Gen- sen, where he was engaged in mercantile business for a year, and then went to Rome. Jones county, lowa, where he made his home nine years, then moved to Anamosa. Jones county, lowa, though he died while working at his trade in Milwaukee, Wis- Sensin, in 1870, at the age of sixty-two years. His wife, who hore the maiden name of Emeline M. Hawert, was born in 1812, and died in March, 1881. They were the parents of ten children, namely: Mary Magdalene, who diel at the age of two years: Elizabeth, deceased wife of William A. Anderson, of Trinidad, Colorado: Mary, who died at the age of nine years; Louisa, wife of Eli Walker, of Bosworth, Missouri; Jonathan, who was a member of Company B, Ninth lowa Volunteer Infantry in the Civil war and died in Andersonville prison ; Alfred, who died at the age of nine years ; Aaron, a physician of Clay county, Kansas, who married Ada Brown; Lydia A. C., wife ot our subject ; Henrietta, deceased wife of James Randall, of Sigourney, Iowa; and Sarah I., wife of C. L. Shaw, of Oklahoma. The Republican party has always found in Mr. Stowell a stanch supporter of its principles, and he has taken quite an influ-

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ental fort ni bust politic -. He has served his fellow citizens as school director nine years ; constable six years and highway com- missioner nine years, and his official duties Mive been performed with a promptness and fidelity worthy of the highest commenda- tion. He and his wife are both active mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee, while she is a member of the official board. They are worthy rep- resentatives of two of the oldest and most honored families of Yorktown township. and well merit the high regard in which they are held.

STARKS N. BARKER.

The subject of this review is one of the representative business men and prominent offizens of Annawan, Illinois, dating his resi- dence here from 1859. He is a native of the Empire state, his birth having occurred in the town of Albion, Oswego county, New York, January 1. 1835. The first of the Barker family to come to America was a native of Wales and one of the early set- tlers of Boston, Massachusetts, and from him the several branches of the family now scat- tered throughout the country are descended.

Ebenezer Barker, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Bridgewater, New York. November 17, 1800, a son of Ebenezer and Polly ( Buellong ) Barker, who reared a family of twelve sons. Our subject's father and grandfather were blacksmiths by trade. and the former followed that occupation war Watertown, New York, for some years. Ww ut twenty years before his death he re- movel to Baraboo, Wisconsin, where he passed away January 2, 1881. He was mar- ned June 22. 1823. to Miss Clarissa M. Starks, who was born in Massachusetts.

March 12. 1805. and departed this life Sep- tember 15. 1879. They were the parents of thirteen children, namely: Polly B., born May 25, 1824. married S. W. Finster, and they spent most of their lives in New York, but died in Madison, Wisconsin, their re- mains being interred at Pulaski, New York : Clarissa M., born September 25. 1825. is the wife of Daniel Van Sice, of Englewood, Illi- nois : Susan, born August 21, 1827, is the widow of Benjamin Bart and a resident of Belville, New York; Mary A., born Febru- ary 1, 1829. died in infancy : Electa J., born January 31, 1830, married Henry Brewster. of New York, and is now deceased; Eliza C., born July 22. 1832, is also deceased ; Starks N. is next in order of birth ; Sarah A .. born May 2. 1837. is the widow of Osman Jones and a resident of New York state: John, born March 29, 1839, died in Bara- boo, Wisconsin; Harriet A., born January 11, 1842. is the wife of Joseph Barton, of Fairfiekl, Wisconsin; Francis N .. born January 21. 1844, died in Idaho; G. Scott. born October 30. 1846, died at the age of two years: William L., born September 14. 1850, is a resident of Denver, Colorado.

In early life Starks N. Barker learned the blacksmith's trade with his father, and remained with his parents until 1858, when. at the age of twenty-three years, he went to Table Grove, Fulton county, Illinois, where he spent six months. He then spent a short time in Missouri, and on his return to Illinois stopped at Kewanee and Anna- wan. In the fall of 1858 and the follow- ing winter he taught school in district No. I, about three miles south of Annawan, having previously followed that occupation in New York for a time. From March. 1859, until February, 1866, he conducted a blacksmith shop in Annawan, and then op- ened a general store at the place where he

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still carries on business, though he has since enlarged the building by an addition in the rear. He carries a large and well-selected stock of general merchandise and enjoys a liberal share of the public patronage.

Mr. Barker was married, January 1, 1862, to Miss Helen J. Hartley, who was born in Bureau county, Illinois, November 27, 1840, a daughter of James B. and Sarah (Fritchey ) Hartley. Her father was born in Pennsylvania. December 25. 1818, and Her mother April 17, 1819. They were the parents of thirteen children. Mr. and Mrs. Barker have three children living, namely : Frank S., born December 5, 1864; Duke IF., March 17, 1868; and Sada .\ .. August 9, 1875. All are at home, and Duke F. is with his father in the store.

As a Republican Mr. Barker has ever taken an active and prominent part in local politics, and has been a delegate to most of the county conventions of his party. He cast his first presidential ballot for John C. Fremont. He has capably and satisfac- torily filled the offices of town clerk, school treasurer and justice of the peace; and for eight years he ably represented his township in the board of supervisors. For a quarter of a century he has been a member of the Free & Accepted Order of Masons, and in his life has faithfully followed the teachings of that benevolent order.

JAMES PARKER.

Among the old and honored residents of Henry county was the late James Parker, whose home was on section 1. Cornwall township. A native of England, he was born in Boothtown, near Halifax, York-

shire, November 28, 1816. 5hd was a son of George and Mary ( Scott ) Parker, who spent their entire lives in that country. In his native land he followed the occupation of an engineer.

In 1855 Mr. Parker took passage on a vessel at Liverpool, and after a voyage of three weeks landed in New York. A week later he reached Sheffield, Illinois, and con- tinned to make his home in this state throughout life. Before leaving England he had purchased eighty acres of unbroken land on section 1, Cornwall township, this county, through his brother-in-law, and soon after his arrival here he took up his residence thereon. To it he added until at one time he had three hundred and forty-eight acres all under cultivation with the exception of twen- ty-eight acres of timberland. He never had occasion to regret his immigration to Amer- ica, for here he prospered, becoming one of the well-to-do and substantial men of his community, as well as one of the most highly esteemed citizens. He cast his first presiden- tial vote for . Abraham Lincoln and continued to affiliate with the Republican party throughout life, supporting William McKin- ley in 1896. He capably filled the offices of road commissioner and school director, but never cared for political honors, preferring to give his umdivided attention to his busi- ness interests.

Mr. Parker was married in England prior to coming to the new world, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah Prince, a na- tive of that country and a daughter of George and Rebecca Prince, who were also born there. Thirteen children blessed this union, namely: Eliza, born May 5. 1836, is the wife of Thomas Crosby, Kewanee. Illinois ; George, born March 21. 1838, died May 6, 1839: Fanny, born April 16. 1839,

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lied in omjaney; Fergus born May 3. 1841. .ervoltirce years as a member of Company ( .. Nao Minois Cavalry, and lost his health in the Army. dying October 5. 1866, leaving a wife and one daughter, Mary E., mar- Red toal ing at Denver, Colorado; George , inon March 1, 1843, married Alice Tjenry and is engaged in farming in Shenan- vitali, ka. Priscilla, born May 5. 1845. ix the way of John Bowen, of Kewanee, Illi- 1. 1- Lucy, born June 12. 1847. died Octo- ber 21. 1855: Rose A., born August 16. 1849. 15 the wife of Francis E. Morey, of Kewanee township. this county: Robert, Forn December 2, 1851, married Ella Work- man and lives in Atkinson: Mary E., born August 31. 1853. is the wife of Samuel M. Kerr, of Walunt, Iowa: Alice M., born Sep- tember 4. 1856, is the wife of John Galvin, . [ Walnut, Iowa : James, born July 22, 1859, is mentioned below : and John T., born Au- gust 31. 1863. died January 12. 1866. On the 3d of January, 1001, the father of these children passed away after a lingering illness vi three months, and was laid to rest in Fair- Wien cemetery by the side of his wife, who dled March 16, 1802. They stood high in the community where they so long made their home, and those who knew them best Were numbered among their warmest friends.

James Parker, Jr., son of our subject. Was born on the oldl homestead in Corn- wili township where he still resides, and se - educated in the local schools. As soon gold enough to be of any assistance he compeed to aid in the work of the farm. o on auttaining his majority rented a por- Boa of The place. Later he purchased land from his father and now owns three hun- dret not fit aces. He was married, De- romero, UNSe to Miss Mary A. Arkland. Wie poslom m Ca. dla, September 7, 1859.

and they have become the parents of four children : Babel G., born December 18, 1881. is now attending the high school of Ke- wanee: and Chester L .. born November 14. 1883. Dessie L., born April 24, 1885, and John W., born August 18, 1886, are all at- tending the home school. John and Sarah ( Ellis ) Arkland, the parents of Mrs. Parker. were natives of Canada, from which coun- try they came to the United States in 1864. locating in Annawan, this county. The father, who was a carpenter by trade. died in 1870, and was buried in Fairview cem- etery, but the mother is still living and makes her home in AAtkinson. They had five children of whom Mrs. Parker is the oldest, the others being as follows: Sarah Minerva, born October 30, 1860, lives with her mother in Atkinson: Richard D., born February 24. 1865. wedded Mary E. Kel- sey, and is engaged in farming in Cal- houn county, Iowa: John Quincy died in Nebraska : Samuel, born September 6, 1874, married Sarah Stagner and follows farm- ing in Cornwall township. this county.

Politically James Parker, Jr., is also identified with the Republican party, and his fellow citizens, recognizing his worth and ability for office, have called upon him to serve as school director, supervisor and jus- tice of the peace. Fraternally he is an hon- ored member of the Modern Woodmen Camp. No. 118, of Atkinson, and the Royal Neighbors of America, of which latter order Mrs. Parker is also a member.

ANDREW SMITH.

This well-known farmer, who is now ef -. ficiently serving as supervisor of Loraine township, was born in Rhine Baden, Ger-

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many, July 20, 1842, a son of AAndrew and Margaret ( Worth ) Smith, both of whom were natives of the same province. Through- out the greater part of his life the father engaged in mining iron ore, and died in 1856, at the age of fifty-two years. His wife passed away six months previous at the same age. Of their five children three reached maturity, namely : Margaret, a res- ident of Loraine township, this county, and widow of Josephi Trinkle, one of the early settlers of this locality; Andrew, our stb- ject ; and Mathias, who married Lena Lane and lives in Johnson, Nebraska.

Mr. Smith of this review was reared and educated in his native land, where he contin- ited to make his home until the fall of 1860, when he sailed from Havre, France, for New York, in company with his younger brother, Mathias. The voyage lasted thirty-six days, during which they encountered three storms, but our subject was never sea-sick. On landing in this country he was unable to speak a word of English. He remained in New York city from Friday until the follow- ing Monday, and then started for Chicago by railroad, but it then required a week to make the trip. He spent one week in the latter city, during which time he carried a ton of coal up four flights of stairs for sev- enty-five cents, but found no other employ- ment.

Mr. Smith then came to Henry county. where his mother's sister was living, and re- mained with her and her husband until the following April, when he commenced work for Jacob Barnhart at seven dollars per month, but at the end of the first month his wages were raised to eight dollars. He remained with that gentleman for nine months, and then attended school for a month and a half, after which he worked 34

for George Ester one summer for thirteen dollars per month. During the following five years he was in the employ of Joseph Arnett and then rented a farm in Loraine township one year.

On the 2d of March, 1868, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ar- nett, who was born in Whiteside county, Illinois. Her parents, Jacob and Charlotte ( Summers ) Arnett. were natives of Lo- raine, France, and Montheim, Germany, re- spectively, and were young when they came with their parents to this country, locating in Pennsylvania, where their marriage was celebrated. They continued to make their home there for a few years, and in 1835 went to Chicago by way of the Great Lakes. There Mr. Arnett purchased forty acres of land in what is now the heart of the city. Later he walked to Whiteside county and took up a tract of government land near Portland, on which he and his family subse- quently located. Their first home was a log cabin of one room, and for some time Mr. Arnett hauled all his grain either to Chicago or Galena with oxen. He was one of the men who went to California during the gold excitement in 1849 and there en- gaged in teaming for about two years with good success. The trip to the Pacific coast was made with ox teams and consumed six months, but after disposing of his business there, he returned to Illinois by the Panama route to New York. For twenty years thereafter he engaged in farming, but his last days were spent in retirement from ac- tive labor at Geneseo, where he died May 11, 1899, at the age of eighty-four years. His wife died August 27, 1881, at the age of sixty-six. He was one of the most suc- cessful and enterprising farmers of White- side county, and owned over one thousand

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acres of valuable land. In his family were the following named children : Louis, a res- ident of Portland township, Whiteside coun- ty; Samuel, a retired citizen of Geneseo; Philip, also a resident of Whiteside county; Mary, wife of our subject : Albert, a farmer of North Platte, Nebraska; Clara, wife of Abraham Rapp, of Loraine township, Henry county ; and Otilla, wife of Charles Alber, of Kansas City, Kansas.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born eight children : ( 1) Albert .A., a farmer of South Dakota, married Lola Crommett of Lodi, that state, and they have two chil- dren, Milo and Arnett. (2) Otilla R., is the wife of Joseph Oberle, Jr., of Loraine township, this county, and they have two children, Floyd and Lottie. (3) Lotta S. is the wife of Joseph Roos, a farmer of Lo- raine township. (4) Frank W. married Millie Urick and now holds the position of receiving clerk in the penitentiary at Joliet, Illinois. (5) Flora B. is the wife of Ed- ward Heller, of Loraine township, and they have two children, Alva and Pearl. (6) Bernice I. is the wife of Vader Lansford, of Loraine township, and they have two chil- dren, Marie and Leslie. (7) Alden A. aids his father in the operation of the home farm. (8) Matt Henry is taking a literary course in the Geneseo Seminary.

After his marriage Mr. Smith rented the Joseph Arnett farm for two years more, and then bought one hundred and sixty acres of land on section 21, Loraine township, on which had previously been built a one room cottage and a log stable. He has since pur- chased eighty acres on section 16 and forty acres on section 3. so that he now owns two hundred and eighty acres of rich and arable land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. In connection with general

farming he is successfully engaged in rais- ing and feeding stock for market.

Mr. Smith is a member of the Catholic Church at Hooppole, Yorktown township, and fraternally is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America, while his wife is a charter member of the Home Forum, In political sentinient he is a stanch Republi- can, and has creditably and acceptably filled several local offices. He has served as school director several years; as school treasurer about ten years; as road commis- sioner six years; and since 1888 has been supervisor of Loraine township. He was a member of the equalization committee some time, and is now chairman of the edu- cational committee. He is now serving as ditch commissioner, and is treasurer of the big slough drainage district.

PETER A. PETERSON.

This thrifty and enterprising farmer re- siding on section 26, Western township, has made his home in Henry county since 1852. He was born in Sweden, on the 30th of De- cember, 1844, and is a son of C. J. and Anna Louise ( Rosenmiller) Peterson, also na- tives of that country. The father was born in 1815, and in early life followed farming in Sweden, where he continued to make his home until after the birth of three of his children, namely : Christine, a widow living in Missouri: Ann Matilda, who is keeping house for our subject; and Peter .A., of this review. Two other children were added to the family after coming to this country, these being Lotta, wife of .A. G. Samuelson, of Des Moines, Iowa, by whom she has five sons, Ernest, Walter, Sherman, Edwin and Elmer G .; and G. H., who after his mar-

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riage owned and operated the old homestead, where he died in 1892. Of his four children Carl Henry died at the age of two years, while Arthur .A., Cora and Nellie are still living. It was in 1849 that the father brought his family to the new world, and after spending about three years in Warren county, Pennsylvania, he came to llenry county, Illinois, making the journey by team. He located on section 35. Western township, where he opened up and improved a farm of eighty acres, making it his home until called to his final rest in 1897. His wife died January 1, 1880, and the remains of both were interred in Andover cemetery.

Peter .\. Peterson was only five years old when brought by his parents to this country, and in 1852 he came with them to Henry county, where he grew to manhood on the home farm, his education being obtained in the local schools. He remained with his father until he attained his majority, and then started out in life for himself as a far- mer upon a tract of forty acres, which he broke, fenced and improved, erecting there- on a small house, which he has since remod- eled and enlarged. He has also built a nice large barn with a basement, has erected outbuildings and set out fruit and forest trees which add greatly to the attractive appear- ance of the place. He has purchased more land from time to time and now has a val- uable farm of one hundred and fifty-seven acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. In connection with general farming he raises and fattens cattle for the market, shipping one car load each year, be- sides a large number of hogs. To his in- dustry, enterprise and good management may be attributed his success in life, and he is now numbered among the substantial citi- zens of his community.

Politically Mr. Peterson has been a life- long Republican, casting his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, but he has never cared for official honors. . A.s an advocate of good schools and competent teachers, he efficiently served as a member of the school board for a number of years, and was also district clerk for some years. Religiously he is a member of the Lutheran Church.

CARL GUTSCHLAG.

Carl Gutschlag, residing at No. 331 South Elliott street, is a well known brick layer of Kewanee and is now efficiently serv- ing as alderman from the fifth ward. He was born near Brandenburg, Germany, An- gust 5. 1858, a son of Carl and Louisa Gutschlag, who spent their entire lives in that country. The father, who was a laborer by occupation, died at the age of fifty-six years, the mother at the age of thirty-six. In their family were seven children, two of whom died in childhood, the others being Carl, our subject : Louisa, wife of Herman Gleich, of Kewanee; William, a resident of Germany; and August and Gustav, both of Kewanee.

Carl Gutschlag was reared and educated in his native land, and was twenty-four years of age when he emigrated to . America in com- pany with his cousin, Christian Crumstoff. he being the first of the family to cross the Atlantic. On landing in New York, he proceeded at once to Kewanee, Illinois. In early life he had learned the brick layer's trade in Germany, completing his appren- ticeship at the age of seventeen years, and after working as a journeyman for a time, he began taking contracts. For the past

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seven years he has engaged in business on his latter's parents were natives of Ireland. own account and has erected several of the large buildings in Kewanee and the sur- rounding country.

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The biographical record of Henry County, Illinois, Part 71

Author: Clarke (S.J.) Publishing Company Publication date: 1901 Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke Number of Pages: 734

Author: Clarke (S.J.) Publishing Company
Publication date: 1901
Publisher: Chicago : S.J. Clarke
Number of Pages: 734