USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 10
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his widow took her family back to Ohio. locating in the old neighborhood in Gallia county.
There our subject grew to manhood and attended the common schools. On the 25th of March, 1863. at the age of seventeen years, he joined the boys in blue of the Civil war, enlisting as a private in Company L, Seventh Ohio Cavalry, which was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee, under com- mand of General Sherman. He participated in the battle of Stone River. the engage- ments of the Atlanta campaign, and then with his command went to the relief of Gen- eral Thomas at Nashville. They were in the battle of Franklin and followed Hood to the Tennessee river. At Gravely Springs. Alabama, Mr. Womeldorff was severely wounded, being shot in the left fore-arm and left side and receiving a saber thrust in the right leg and a scratch on the right shoulder. Ile was sent to a hospital boat at Waterloo on the Tennessee river, and fourteen days later was taken to Jeffersonville, Indiana. where he remained in the hospital until June 5. 1865, when honorably discharged from the service, though his wounds did not heal for nearly a year after his return home.
Mr. Womeldorff then attended a select school for nine months and engaged in farm- ing in Ohio for a year, but in the fall of 1867 he returned to Tazewell county, Illinois, in company with his mother, youngest brother and sister. They drove the entire distance and located in Tremont. For eighteen months our subject was employed as over- seer of a farm and in 1860 came to Livings- ton county, operating a rented farm in Pike township for three years, while his mother and sister kept house for him.
In that township Mr. Womeldorff was married, March 18, 1873. to Miss Maria C.
Beeks, a native of Pennsylvania and a daugh- ter of James 11. Beeks, who moved to Mar- shall county, Ilinois, in 1853, and later to Livingston county, but is now a resident of Arkansas City, Kansas. Of the twelve chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Womeldorff five died in infancy. Those living are Eula, wife of John W. Farley, of Eppards Point township; Eugene, at home: Della, wife of Albert 1). Hewitt, of Pontiac: Gilbert, Min- nie, Ethel and Bertel, all at home. Mr. Womeklorff's mother died at his home De- cember 28, 1898, at the advanced age of eighty-four years.
For two years after his marriage our subject continued to engage in farming upon rented land in Pike township, where he sub- sequently purchased a tract of eighty acres. This he sold six years later and bought one hundred acres in the same township, upon which he also resided six years. On dis- posing of that property, in 1887. he bought his present farm of two hundred acres on section 33. Eppards Point township. to which he has subsequently added a forty-acre tract. He has made many useful and valuable im- provements upon the place, and now has one of the most desirable farms of its size in the township. Starting out in life for himself empty-handed, his career illustrates what can be accomplished through industry, perse- verance, good management and a determina- . tion to succeed.
While with the army at . Atlanta, Georgia, in 1864. Mr. Womeklorff cast his first pres- idential vote for Lincoln and has since been a stanch supporter of the Republican party. He has served his fellow citizens as super- visor and is now filling the office of town- ship trustee. Hle has also been school di- rector for thirteen years and president of his district in both Pike and Eppards Point town-
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ships. Religiously he and all his family, with the exception of the youngest son, are members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Weston. McLean county, and take an ac- tive part in church and Sunday school work. He is a prominent member of the Grand Army Post at Chenoa, in which he has served as commander and is now vice-com- mander. In times of peace as well as in war he is recognized as a most patriotic and useful citizen, and is held in high regard by all with whom he comes in contact, either in business or social life.
LESTER EDWIN KENT.
Lester Edwin Kent. a retired grain deal. er and a prominent early settler of Pontiac. was born in Suffield, Hartford county, Con- necticut. August 18. 1834. a son of Edwin and Hullah ( Jewett ) Kent. also natives of that state, his ancestors being among its pioneers. The father was of English ex- traction and of good Revolutionary stock. lle was a farmer of Suffield and a man of considerable prominence in his community, serving as selectman and road commissioner. There both he and his wife died. She was a consistent member of the Baptist church.
Our subject was educated in the common schools and academy of his native town and remained at home until he attained his ma- jority. In 1855 he came west to Chicago, Illinois, but first located in Kane county. having a cousin living at Kaneville, where he spent one year. In the fall of 1856 he came to Pontiac and entered the employ of Sidney .A. Kent. a grain dealer and a very prominent man, who recently died in Chi- cago. While with him our subject became
thoroughly familiar with the grain busi- ness in all its details, and in 1858 purchased the elevator in Pontiac and embarked in the business on his own account. The elevator was located on the Chicago & Alton Rail- road, which was then run by Governor Mat- teson.
.At that time grain was brought into Pon- tiac from distances of twenty or twenty-five miles, and as the wagons of the farmers would not hold shelled corn Mr. Kent fur- nished them with sacks. The elevators were often more than full and sacks would be piled up elsewhere like cord wood. It was sometimes impossible to get box cars to ship the grain and it had to be loaded on flat cars. Mr. Kent soon became interested in the grain business in other towns. Hle en- larged the elevator at Fairbury, when that place contained but one small house and store and before the railroad was built. Ile would drive over in the morning and back again at night. He built the first elevator at Odell, when it had but one store. and was instrumental in buikling up the town, as farmers bringing their grain to the elevator wished to do their trading there. At Odell the grain was shoveled into the cars at first. Mr. Kent also built the first elevators at Cay- uga and Blackstone, this county, where he also engaged in the lumber business, and for two years shipped grain from Nevada. but did not build there. In those days he was the largest shipper on the AAlton road. and would load full trains at both Pontiac and Blackstone : the road being short of cars they would run a train in for him to load immediately. Ile kept one man at Ocoya and furnished employment to a number of others most of the time. Most of his grain was shipped to Chicago. For over twenty- five years he continued to be at the head of
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the grain trade in this county and gave his attention entirely to that business. He ad- vanced money liberally to farmers in need of assistance when starting out, and was of great help to Pontiac in bringing trade here, as well as to the other towns where he had elevators.
Mr. Kent was also one of the original stockholders of the Pontiac National Bank and served as its vice-president for a number of years. At one time he owned and op- erated a distillery and was engaged in cat- tle feeding. He went into the former busi- ness to assist a man in difficulty, knowing nothing of the business, and got into trouble with the government, as the taxes were not paid, but owing to his influence and it being ascertained that the delinquency was prior to his taking possession he was soon cleared. He closed the distillery, but fed cattle for some years, doing a big business in that line, shipping in cattle from Chicago.
Mr. Kent married Miss Antoinette Graves, of Joliet, and they have one daugh- ' ter, Mary L., wife of Victor Pearre, of P'on- tiac, by whom she has two children, William Payson and Kent Allen. He attends and supports the Episcopal church, of which his family are members. About 1865 he pur- chased a half-block at No. 206 North Court. opposite the park, which property he still owns and occupies, it having been improved by him. In 1894 he retired from active bnsi- ness and is now enjoying a well earned rest.
Socially Mr. Kent is a member of Pon- tiac lodge, No. 294, F. & .A. M., and be- longs to the chapter, council and St. Paul's Commandery, all of Fairbury. He has al- ways affiliated with the Republican party, casting his first presidential vote for Fre- mont in 1856. He served as akerman from the second ward for four years and was in- in 1869, he bought a farm of one hundred
strumental in getting seventy-five car-loads of stone put into the street from the court house to the depot and also a sidewalk around the court house square. Having shipped so much over the Chicago & Alton road he got Mr. Chappel to ship the stone free of freight charges. This stone made an excellent foundation for the city streets. He has taken an active interest in promoting the welfare of the town and county, en- couraging and aiding all enterprises tending to benefit the public, and enjoys in a high (legree the confidence and esteem of his fel- low men.
LEONARD WEBER.
Leonard Weber, a representative agri- culturist of Pike township, residing on sec- tion 10, has made his home in Livingston county since 1869 and has taken an active part in its development. He was born in New York February 2. 1850, and is a son of George Weber, who was born in Wurtem- burg, Germany, about 1822, and emigrated to the United States when a young man, locating near Utica, New York, where he married Sophia Horner, also a native of Wurtemburg. Her father died in Germany and she came to America at the same time as her future husband. In this country Mr. Weber worked for others and also engaged in teaming in New York for some years. three of his children having been born in that state, but in 1856 he came to Illinois and first settled in Woodford county, where he engaged in farming on rented land for several years. At length he was able to pur- chase a small place in the southern part of the county, and on disposing of the same,
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and sixty acres in like township. Livings- ton county, which at that time was but slight- ly improved. After operating it for several years he sold and bought another place in Pike township, which he subsequently dis- posed of, and now makes his home in Pon- tiac township, where he owns a valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres.
The subject of this sketch was a lad of six years when he came to this state, and in Woodford and Livingston counties he grew to manhood, his education being acquired in the public schools near his home. He re- mained with his father until he attained his majority, and then rented a farm on section 3. Pike township, where he engaged in farm- ing for about six years. Mr. Weber was married in this county. April 2. 1878, to Miss Barbara Fischer, a native of Woodford county, Illinois, and a daughter of Joseph Fischer, a substantial farmer of Pike town- ship. Livingston county, who was formerly a resident of Woodford county and was born in Germany. Mrs. Weber was reared and educated in this county. Our subject and his wife have a family of three children : Barbara S .. Joseph G. and Leonard F., all at home.
Niter his marriage Mr. Weber contin- ued to engage in farming upon rented land for about five years. Hle rented his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres on sec- tion 10. Pike township, for two years and then purchased the place, to the further im- provement and cultivation of which he has since devoted his energies, In his farming operations he is meeting with marked suc- cess and the prosperity that has come to him is certainly justly merited, for it is due en- tirely to his own unaided efforts and good management. Politically Mr. Weber is identified with the Democratic party on na-
tional issues, but at local elections votes for the men whom he believes best qualified to fill the offices regardless of party lines. For three years he served as school director, but has never cared for political honors. Re- ligiously both he and his wife are members of the Evangelical church of Eppards Point.
EDWARD O. REED.
Edward O. Reed, who for several years has been prominently identified with the public affairs of Livingston county, and is now most acceptably serving as county treas- urer, was born in Bloomington, Illinois, June 12, 1860, a son of Captain Henry B. and Esther ( Beck) Reed. The father is a native of Pennsylvania, born near Pottsville, Schuylkill county, January 20. 1833. and there grew to manhood and married. In early life he learned the shoemaker's trade. which he followed prior to the Civil war. On coming to Illinois, he settled in Naper- ville, later spent a short time in Joliet. and then moved to Bloomington. In the fall of 1860 he came to Pontiac, where he was engaged in the shoe business until the follow- ing spring, when he enlisted in Company D. Twentieth Ilinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he served until after the battle of Shiloh. On the field at Fort Donelson, he was promoted for gallant service to the rank of second lieutenant, and our subject now has in his possession a reward of merit is- sued by Governor Yates. His term of en- listment having expired. Lieutenant Reed returned home. While being paid off at St. Louis, the paymaster told the government needed such men as he and suggested that he see Governor Yates. This he failed to
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do, but the Governor sent for him and asked him to help recruit three companies in this part of the state. He helped recruit five. and again went to the front as captain of Company G. One Hundred and Twenty- ninth Ilinois Volunteer Infantry. He was with Sherman on the march to the sea and remained in the service until the close of the war. participating in the grand review at
Washington. District of Columbia. Re- turning to his home in Pontiac, he resumed the shoe business, which he carried on un- tii appointed by Governor Oglesby as custo- chian of memorial hall in the state house at Springfieldl, and served four years at that time, being the first in the new hall and at- tending to the arranging of all the flags. etc. He proved a most capable official and was re-appointed by Governor Fifer. Ile is an honored member and commander of T. Lytle Dickey Post. G. A. R., also belongs to Pontiac Lodge. No. 294. F. & A. M., and Loth he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is now liv- ing a retired life in Pontiac. A more ex- tended mention of this worthy gentleman may be found on another page of this vol- time.
Our subject was educated in the public schools of Pontiac, and during his youth served an apprenticeship to the cigarmaker's trade, at which he worked until twenty-seven years of age, when he formed a partnership with John C. Riess, under the firm name of Reed & Riess, and started a manufactory of their own, which they still conduct. They have met with marked success in the under- taking and furnish employment to six or eight men. Mr. Reed built up the trade as a traveling man, but the firm now sells their goods mainly to home consumers, in this county. He owns a good store buikling and
a fine residence on South Mill street, Where he makes his home. He was married. De- cember 15. 1807. to Miss Eunice Stott, a daughter of John Martin Stott, of Chicago, and they have one daughter. Esther.
Since attaining his majority Mr. Reed has been an ardent Republican in politics and has taken a prominent and influential part in public affairs. He was serving as alderman from the third ward when the water works were put in and the sewer sys- tem adopted. the city being bonded to put in the sewers. Before his term expired he was elected assistant supervisor and was a mem- her of the finance committee that found the ways and means by which the county could buikdl the new court house, the contract being let to a contractor providing he would take the county warrants. It was built at a cost of sixty thousand dollars and is one of the finest in this section of the state. In the fall of 1804, before his time as assistant supervisor expired, Mr. Reed was elected county sheriff and entered upon the duties of the office in December, that year. That he filled the position in a most creditable and satisfactory manner is shown by his being elected county treasurer prior to the expira- tion of his term as sheriff, taking the office of treasurer the day he left the other office. When the auditing committee of the county checked up his four years as sheriff they found that the county was sixty dollars in his debt instead of their being deficiency. Hle was a member of the Sheriff's Associa- tion of the state. He is now supervisor of assessment of the county, which makes his position a very large and responsible one. and he handles over one hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year. His official duties have always been discharged with a fidelity and promptness worthy of the highest com-
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mendation, and he has proved a most popular and efficient officer. Mr. Reed is now, in 1900, chairman of the Republican central committee of Livingston county, and the party organization will, under his adminis- tration, be kept intact, and the full vote of the party be polled. Fraternally he is a member of Pontiac Lodge. No. 294. F. & A. M. : Fairbury Chapter, R. A. M. : the Council R. & S. M., of Gibson City; and St. Paul Commandery, No. 34. K. T., of Fairbury. He also belongs to a number of mutual or- ders, including the Modern Woodmen of America.
MRS. MARIA OWEN.
Mrs. Maria Owen, who now has the dis- tinction of having been a resident of Ponti- ar longer than any other of its citizens. came here with her husband in 1842. She has witnessed almost the entire development of the county, has seen its wild lands trans- formed into beautiful homes and farms. its hamlets grow into villages and thriving towns and all of the interests and evidences of an advanced civilization introduced.
Mrs. Owen was born January 16. 1812. in New York, fourteen miles from Lake Ontario, and is a daughter of Starks and Esther ( Gilbert ) Tracy. The father was a native of Sharon, New York, born April 3. 1778, and an early settler of Oswego conn- tv. where he bought land prior to his mar- riage and there continued to make his home throughout life. He was a farmer by oc cupation and one of the highly respected men of his community. His estimable wife was a member of the Congregational church. Ju th died in Oswego county. New York. Mrs. Owen's maternal grandfather was
Allen Gilbert, a soldier of the Revolutionary war, who was severely wounded in the head and left for dead on the battle-field, but was found and cared for until he recovered. . At an early day he removed from Schoharie county, New York, to Oswego county, where his daughter. Mrs. Tracy, was born August 23. 1793. He, too, was a farmer and a prominent man in his community.
In 1840 Mrs. Owen married Augustins Fellows, who, with his brother, owned a large farm in Oswego county. New York, but in 1842 he soll his interest in the same and purchased property in Pontiac, Illinois, whither the family removed in the fall of that year. The trip was made by way of the great lakes and Welland canal in a small propeller to Chicago, and they brought with them all their househokl effects, which were conveyed from that city to Ottawa, Illinois, by teamsters who were returning to the latter place, where Mr. Fellows had a sister living. There teams were hired to convey the family and their effects to their new home in Pontiac. A farm of two hundred acres and a number of town lots belonged to the estate they had traded for before coming west. so that they practically ow ned all of the present city at that time. There were only three families living there, and the build- ings of the town consisted of a small frame house and the court house. Upon the farm, which adjoined the village on the east was a good two-room log house, with large fire places in both rooms, making it perfectly comfortable.
Selling his town lots, Mr. Fellows turned his attention to the improvement and culti- vation of his farm and met with success in its operation. On the lot now occupied by Squire Woodrow's residence he built the first large hotel in Pontiac in 1847, and also
ELIJAH B. OWEN.
MRS. MARIA OWEN.
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a large barn. In 1848 they rented the hotel and that summer returned east on a visit. but in 1849 took charge of the property. While thus employed Mr. Fellows died of cholera in the summer of 1849, and two of their children, aged seven and two years, respectively, died of the same dread disease. Having lost their three other children prior to this time, Mrs. Fellows was thus left alone. For over a year she carried on the hotel and farm, but found it a very difficult task.
In the fall of 1850 she married Nelson Buck, a surveyor and nurseryman of Bloom- ington, where he was engaged in business for some years. For several years they conducted the hotel and also the farm, and their place became the leading hostelry in this section. In those early days before the railroad was built drovers often stopped at their house in large numbers. One man would come in an hour in advance of the rest, saying that twelve or fourteen men would be there for supper. They also had a large barn for the teams of the many movers pass- ing through this part of the state at that time. In the spring of 1854, when the Chi- cago & Alton Railroad was built. they hoarded the construction hands and did an extensive business. Mrs. Owen has enter- tained Abraham Lincoln, Judge David Davis and other illustrious men. Her hus- land received appointment to conduct the government survey between Kansas and Ne- 1 raska, and while thus engaged he and his party were killed by the Indians in July. 1860. Thus she was again left alone with a large property to care for, including the tarm, hotel and city lots. Mr. Buck had three children by his first marriage, namely : Willard, a soldier of the Civil war, who is now living in Wisconsin : Clarissa, deceased ;
and Cordelia, widow of William Watson and a resident of Pontiac.
At intervals Mrs. Owen continued to conduct her hotel for many years, it being rented in the meantime. She made her home on Water street until 1800, when her present elegant home on North Main street was built. It is supplied with all modern conveniences and accessories, including elec- tric light, hot water, etc., and here, sur- rounded by every comfort. she is spending her declining days, loved and respected by all who know her. Her youngest sister. Mary G .. was also one of the pioneers of the county, locating here about the same time as Mrs. Owen, and her home was two miles up the river. Her first husband was Mr. Burgett, her second Mr. Fricks and her third Mr. Winslow. After her last marriage she lived on a farm two miles from Pontiac, but spent her last days in the city, dying at the home of Mrs. Owen February 16, 1900.
For her third husband our subject mar- ried Elijah Owen, who came from near El- nåra. Chemung county, New York, and dur- ing his active business career engaged in farming but later lived retired in Pontiac. Mr. Buck laid off two additions from her original farm and Mr. Owen laid off the re- mainder, the additions being known as buck's first and second additions and Owen's addition. Her name appears on many of the deeds of this place. She was one of the original stockholders of both of the na- tional banks of Pontiac and has displayed remarkable business and executive ability in the management of her business affairs. She united with the Presbyterian church in Pontiac on its organization, and has since Been one of its active and prominent mem- bers. When she first located here the only religious services were prayer meetings held
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in the court house on Sundays, but as soon as the railroad was built churches were erected, and to their erection and support she has always contributed liberally. She is a most estimable lady of many sterling qualities, and has a large circle of friends in the city which has so long been her home.
LOUIS A. NAFFZIGER.
Louis A. Naffziger. the popular cashier of the Bank of Dwight, has won the enviable reputation as a most capable financier and occupies a position of no little prominence in connection with the public affairs of the town. His life demonstrates what may be accomplished through energy. careful man- agement. keen foresight. and the utilization of the powers with which nature has en- dowed one, and the opportunities with which the times surround him.
Mr. Naffziger is proud to claim Illinois as his native state, his birth occurring in McLean county. March 31. 1860. His fa- ther. Peter Naffziger, was born in Darm- stadt, Germany. March 4. 1831, and there he remained until reaching his majority. when he came to America and located first 1. McLean county on a farm. later went to Butler county, Ohio, where he worked on a farm, the next year removing to Chicago. where he worked at his trade of baker for a time. When his parents came to America he removed with them to Putnam county, later removing to McLean county. At the age of twenty eight he was married in Me- Lean county. Ilinois, to Miss Catherine Stuckey, who was born in Hamilton county. Ohio, August 30, 1840. Her father. Peter
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