USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 27
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was appointed corporal. From Chicka- manga the regiment was sent to Porto Rico with Major-General Brooks, it being his guard. With his regiment Daniel S. re- mained until after the close of hostilities, when it returned, and he was honorably dis- charged at Streator, Illinois, January 20, 1899, and returned to his home, and is as- sisting his father in the business. The mother of these children died October 7. 1879, and was buried in Dwight. Captain Fox was again married, October 28, 1880, his second union being with Miss Hattie A. Chamberlain, who was born near Syracuse, New York, and came to Illinois in 1873. Her father. William Chamberlain, never came west. She has proved a true helpmeet to her husband and a devoted mother to his children, who were young when she married him.
Captain Fox is a prominent member of several civic societies, including Livingston Lodge, No. 371. F. & A. M .: Wilmington Chapter. No. 142, R. A. M .: Streator Council, R. & S. M .: Blaney Command- ery. No. 5. K. T .. of Morris, Illinois ; Dwight Lodge, No. 513. and Dwight En- campment. No. 126. 1. O. O. F .. of which fraternity he has been a member for forty- two years. In the subordinate lodge he has served as noble grand, and is now past chief patriarch of the Encampment. Hle is also an honored member and past commander of Dwight Post. No. 026. G. A. R., and a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion. Politically he is a stanch Repub- lican, but at local elections, when no issue is involved, he votes independent of party lines. He has ever taken an active and prominent part in local politics, and has been a member of the town board four times and served as mayor of Dwight two terms. Ile
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has ever manifested the same loyalty in days of peace as in time of war, and by all who know him is held in high regard.
SAMUEL A. LEISEROWITZ.
Samuel A. Leiserowitz, a prominent citizen of Cullom, and a member of the well- known firm of Leiserowitz Brothers, general merchants of Cullom, Herscher and Cabery, Illinois, was born in Sarle, State of Korne, Russia, June 21, 1861. His father, Mendel Leiserowitz, a rabbi and school teacher of that country, has been active in church work since seventeen years of age and for the past fifty-three years has engaged in preach- ing and school teaching. He is very well educated and is a well known expounder of the Hebrew faith. Hle has preached in Sarle. Moscow, and many smaller places in Russia, and while visiting in this country preached and taught school in South Chi- cago for four years. His father, Moses Leiserowitz, was also a rabbi and school teacher, and died while reading the Bible at his home in Yurgenborg, Russia, at the age of eighty-three years. To the parents of our subject were born eleven children. six of whom are living, and one of the number is still living in Russia taking care of the parents. Those in America are: Tane 1 ... who is engaged in general mer- cantile business in Kempton, Illinois ; L. L., who is engaged in the painting business in Chicago; Samuel .A., our subject ; Wolf. partner of our subject and a resident of Herscher, Illinois; and Simon, who conducts the store for his brothers at Cabery.
Samuel A. Leiserowitz attended school in his native land, but his carly education
has been greatly supplemented by reading and observation in later years. At the age of twelve years he began his business career, being employed in the office of a dealer in grain and all kinds of produce until he at- tained his majority. He then entered the Russian army. December 1, 1881, and served until August 1, 1886. He was first a mem- ber of the Twentieth Foot Division, but on the ist of August, 1882, was transferred to the brass band, his instrument being a French horn. As a common soldier he re- cieved ninety cents pay every four months or two dollars and seventy cents per year, but being promoted to what corresponds to our corporal his salary was raised to four dollars per year. In giving a des- cription of the Russian army Mr. Leisero- witź says: "Besides their high salary the soldiers were given their clothes, consisting of one overcoat made of material resembling horse blankets, an under coat of a finer grade of goods, a cap and trousers made of the same material. These were supposed to last two years with exception of the trous- ers which were worn a year. Vests were not worn in the service. Each soldier re- ceived a pair and a half of leather boots each year, the leggings of the first pair do- ing service for the second. For under and over wear linen similar to course towling was furnished. For hosiery the same kind of goods was used. and instead of being drawn on the feet was wrapped around. Mit- tens and neckties were of black blanket goods, and the ties were worn as Catholic priests wear them. Out of their salaries the soldiers have to pay for making their boots and underwear , buying blackening for shoes and belts and oil for guns. Each are given seventy cents extra for incidentals, but this with their salary does not half cover
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their expenses. They are given three pounds of rye bread a day and six cents in money to pay for other food, but when a company is stationed at one place the money goes into the general fund for cooking purposes, amounting to six dollars for one hundred men per day. Each soklier gets about a half pound of beef and soup, which is made of barley broken up and boiled with the meat. This they have for dinner and sup- per, while for breakfast they have only bread, salt and water-plenty of water but not always salt. A mess of ten or fifteen men are given a wooden pail in which the soup is served. They carry a red wooden spoon in their boot leg and with these each dip into the bucket as they have no other dishes, knives or forks. .After the meal however, they are generally as happy as larks, singing and dancing. The higher officers are treated as ours are.
When his term of service expired, Mr. Liserowitz received a recommendation from bis general testifying to his conduct, temper- ate habits, and general behavior and that should he again desire to enter the army he was to be taken back at one hundred and twenty dollars per year. Returning to his home. he remained there until January 1. 1887. when he sailed from Hamburg by way of Liverpool for New York. He proceeded at once to Chicago and on the train met a conductor, who was a relative of his father and who took charge of him, seeing that he got to his brother all right. He remained about twenty-four hours in Chicago. His money by this time was exhausted but he finally found a relative who let him have enough to go to Danforth. Illinois, where his brothers Wolf and Tane were then liv- ing. A week later the brother Wolf ordered for him a stock of goods amounting to little
over forty-nine dollars, and with this he startedout as a peddler with his pack upon his back. His brother drove a team and went a couple of miles ahead toward Cullom their destination. Our subject met with most excellent success from the start and at the end of three weeks was able to buy a horse from Frank Drendel, living east of Cullom, for which he paid eighteen dollars, to be taken out in trade. He then went to Dan- forth where his brother Tane was living and bought a wagon. With horse and wagon he traveled for one year, and at the end of that time he and his brother Tane bought property in Cullom, where they suc- cessfully conducted a pool and billard hall one year. On selling out, in 1889. he and his brother Wolf started a store with a small stock of goods costing about two thousand dollars, and later took in another partner B. Brode, who was a member of the firm for about a year, but this venture did not prove a success, as three families could not live off the profits of the small store. The brother then went to llerscher, where he has since prospered, but our subject remained in Cullom, where he rented a building of J. W. White for two years, and then of Walter Rider of Saunemin for five years, buit at the end of five months he purchased the latter, which he subsquently enlarged. Later he bought a house and lot adjoining, sold the house and moved the oldest store, and erected a double store building. 40×120 feet. and half of which is two stories in height, the other one story. He has stead- ily prospered and has never yet had occasion to regret his emigration to the new world. In March, 1899. he and his brother Wolf formed a partnership, and under the firm name of Leiserowitz Brothers have the larg- est stores at Cullom and Herscher, and also
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have a good store in Caberry, the building also being owned by them. To-day they are numbered among the most successful and progressive business men of this section. The Cullom store is in use as a department store, having added hardware, paints, wall paper and undertaking in addition to the general line handled before. There is a special department of silverware, jewelry, clocks and watches. A watchmaker of thirty years experience. Mr. Lawrence Holland, is in charge of this department. He for the past twelve years has been a resident of Cullom.
In August, 1886, Mr. Leiserowitz mar- ried Miss Golda S. Cohn, and to them were born seven children, but the three oklest died in infancy. The other., Joseph, Jane. Isadore and Esther, are all attending school. In politics Mr. Leiserowitz is a Republican, and in his social relations is a member of Saunemin Lodge, No. 728, I. O. O. F., and is a charter member of Star Camp. No. 1886. M. W. A. of Cullom.
SHERMAN H. JOHNSON.
Sherman H. Johnson, who is prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Germanville township. Livingston county, owns and operates a fine farm of one hun- dred and twenty acres on section 15. The neat and thrifty appearance of the place testifies to his careful supervision, and shows him to be not only a thorough and skillful farmer, but also a man of good business abitity.
Mr. Johnson was born in the town of Peru, Clinton county, New York, September 13. 1847, a son of Jeremiah and Harriet
(Bridges) Johnson. The father was born in Hartford, Connecticut, and resided there for some years. He enlisted in the war of 1812, and served for five years under Gen- eral Scott, coming out of the service as first lieutenant. After receiving his discharge at Plattsburg, New York, he remained at that place and engaged in the lumber busi- ness, which he carried on until sixty-eight years of age, when meeting with loss from fire, he retired from active business. He (lied in 1872, at the age of ninety-two years, his wife in the same year at the age of eighty-two. In their family were twelve children, eight of whom are still living. Our subject is the youngest son, but has two younger sisters.
In the common schools of his birthplace Sherman H. Johnson acquired his educa- tion, and remained at home until eighteen years of age, when, in 1865, he came toLiv- ingston county, Illinois. After spending a few months in Belle Prairie township. how- ever, he went to Minnesota, where he worked by the month two years, and then returned to this county, being engaged in farming upon rented land in Belle Prairie township for a number of years. Subsequently he leased a farm in McLean county, which he afterward bought, and on selling that prop- erty in 1876 went to Bates county, Missouri, where he followed farming one year. Re- turning to Belle Prairie township. Livingston county, he rented a farm for three years, and then moved to Forrest township, where he leased a half section of land for the same length of time. During the following three years we again find him in Belle Prairie township, and in 1888 he located upon his present farm in Germanville township. He purchased two hundred and eighty acres. and two years later sold one hundred and
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sixty acres to Henry Nettleton, but still owns the remainder, which was only partially im- proved when it came into his possession, but he has since erected a large and substantial barn, improved the house, and tiled the land, placing it under excellent cultivation. In connection with general farming he raises considerable stock, including short-horn cattle and Poland China hogs.
On the 7th of October. 1869. in Belle Prairie township. Mr. Johnson led to the marriage altar Miss Emeline Alford. a daughter of Wesly J. and Emiline C. ( Randall ) Alford. The father was born in Vermont, but when a small child moved with his parents to New York state, where he continued to make his home until Mrs Johnson was two years old, and then brought his family to Illinois, locating in Kendall county, where he engaged in farming for some time, but is now living a retired life in Rose Lawn, Indiana. He was a very prosper- ous man and highly respected. His wife died six years ago, leaving a family of seven children, of whom Mrs. Johnson is the fifth in order of birth. Ten children have been born to our subject and his wife, namely : William H., a well-driller of Strawn, who married Clara Johnson and has four chil- dren. Myrtle, Pearl. Elmer and Clarence Sherman: Cornelia, wife of William Day, a farmer of Ford county. Illinois, by whom she has five children, Myron William, Sarah. Annie and Hershal .A .: Lorenzo, Hannah and Bertha, all at home: Myron, who died at the age of sixteen years : Myra, who died in Missouri, at the age of three years ; and three, who died in infancy.
Mr. Johnson is a supporter of the Repub- lican party, and as a public-spirited and pro- gressive citizen is an advocate of those en- terprises that tend toward public develop-
ment. He filled the office of school director during the first seven years of his residence in Germanville township, and has efficiently served in the same capacity for the last three years, during which time he has done much toward bettering the schools in his locality. He is an active member of the Methodist church, in which he served as deacon four years.
JAMES J. BROADHEAD).
James J. Broadhead, a prominent repre- sentative of the business interests of Forrest is a native of Illinois, his birth having oc- curred near Mackinaw, September 22, 1857. His father, Edward Broadhead, was born July 2. 1827. in Manchester, England, where he grew to manhood and learned the trade of a machinist. There he was married, March 6. 1847. to Miss Nancy MeDonald, also a native of Manchester, and in 1855 they came to the United States, locating first in Tazewell county, Illinois, where he found employment on a farm. In 1859 he settled near Danvers, McLean county, and com- menceil farming on his own account. In 18o; he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of wild prairie land in For- rest township. Livingston county, for which he paid fifteen dollars per acre, and for which he was later offered one hundred dol- lars per acre. He made all of the improve- ments upon the place, erecting a good set of farm buildings, tiling the land and placing it under excellent cultivation, and dividing it into fields of sufficient size by good hedge fences. Hle also planted trees and ornament- al shrubs, and made his farm one of the best in the locality. He continued to actively en- gage in agricultural pursuits until six or
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seven years before his death, when he moved to Forrest and lived retired, dying there March 8. 1896. He purchased a good resi- dence in that town, which is now the home of his widow. On coming to this country he was in very limited circumstances and his success that he achieved in life was due en- tirely to his well-directed labors. Politically he was always identified with the Republican party, and religiously was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to, which his wife also belongs. To them were born eight children, seven of whom are now liv- ing, namely : William, a resident of Normal, Illinois ; John, of Chatsworth; Mary J. resides with her mother : James J., our sub- ject : George H., of Indiana ; Cornelia, wife of W. B. Moyer, of Galva, Illinois; and Lovina, wife of J. L. Moyer, of Forrest.
The subject of this review was a lad of ten years when the family came to Liv- ingston county, and he attended both the country schools and those of Forrest. On the home farm he acquired an ex- cellent knowledge of agriculture, and on starting out in life for himself at the age of twenty-one years commenced farming, which occupation he followed with good success until his removal to Forrest, in 1897. He had previously spent two winters in town, those of 1893 and 1804. He now conducts the only real estate office in the place, a. d handles a large amount of city and farm property. He is also en- gaged in merchandising and the fire and life insurance business, and is a director of the Peoria Eastern Telephone Company, of which he was one of the original incorpora- tors and was an active member of the com- pany when the lines were put in operation. As a business man he is reliable, energetic and progressive, and generally carries for-
ward to successful completion whatever he undertakes.
On the 20th of March, 1884, Mr. Broad- head was united in marriage with Miss Ella Rose, of Fairbury, a daughter of 1. V. Rose, a farmer of Indian Grove township, Living- ston county, and to them have been born two children; Ralph R. and Ray V. The family have a pleasant home in Forrest and attend the Methodist Episcopal church. of which Mrs. Broadhead is a member, So- cially Mr. Broadhead is connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of Amreica, and the Court of Honor, and is now keeper of records and seals in the first named order. Since attaining his majority he has affiliated with the Republican party, and although he has never aspired to office he was elected trustee of the village, taking his seat May 1, 1900. He is public-spirited and progressive and as a citizen ever stands ready to discharge any duty devolving upon him.
THRONE & HATFIELD.
Throne & Hatfield is the name of a well- known firm of Cullom, Illinois, composed of Charles Il. Throne and George 11. Hatfield, two of the most enterprising and progress- ive business men of that town. They are successfully engaged in the livery business and also have control of the dray line.
Mr. Throne is a native of Livingston county, born in Sullivan township. Septem- ber 23. 1876, and is a son of W. 11. and Laura E. ( Edwards) Throne, who Were also born in this state. The father, who is a farmer ly occupation, lived in Sullivan township many years, but for the past eighteen years has made his home in Cullom.
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llis children are: Maggie, wife of B. . A. Park, of Fisher, Illinois: Calvin, a general merchant of MeCook. Nebraska; Bertha, wife of S. M. Boeman, of Cullom, Illinois; Nellie, wife of Frank Copp, of Fisher ; Charles H1., our subject ; and Reta, at home.
Mr. Throne was educated in the schools of Cullom, and at the age of thirteen years began his business career as clerk in the general store of Enos Flessner, of that place, remaining with him six years, and with the firm of Flessner & AAmachee four years. In 1896. in connection with John Tyrrell, he purchased the livery stable and dray line of John Fritzon, and at the end of four months George IJ. Hatfield purchased Mr. Tyrrell's interest in the business, which has since been successfully conducted under the firm name of Throne & Hatfieldl. In 1898 Mr. Throne and B. A. Park purchased a livery and sale stable in Fisher, Illinois, which they carried on together until the spring of 1900, when our subject sold out to his partner. During all this time Mr. Throne was still employed in the mercantile establishment of Flessner & Amachee, but in March, 1900. concluded to give his whole time and attention to the livery and dray business, which he has since done.
On the 6th of September. 1899. Mr. Throne married Miss Jennie Kewley, a na- tive of Ford county, Illinois, and daughter of Thomas Kewley, one of its old settlers. She is second in order of birth in a family of five children. Politically Mr. Throne is a Republican, and socially is a member of Cullom Camp, No. 1886, M. W. . 1.
Mr. Hatfield, the junior member of the firm, was born in Mona township. Ford county, Illinois, September 12. 1876, a son of Jesse S. and Sarah ( Cart) Hatfiekl. na- tives of Indiana. The father carried on
blacksmithing in Ford county until 1880. when he removed with his family to Cul- lom, where he opened a shop and has since conducted a successful business. He is a veteran of the Civil war. In his political views he is a Democrat. He has two chil- dren : George 11., our subject; and Edward, at home with his parents.
George 11. Hatfield received his educa- tion in the public schools of Cullom. When about twenty-one years of age he embarked in the livery business with Mr. Throne and has since devoted his energies to that eni- terprise. They are wide-awake business men of known reliability, and are meeting with well-deserved success. Mr. Hatfield is a Republican in politics, and is an active member of Star Camp, No. 1886, M. W. .A., of Cullom, and Livingston County Lodge, No. 264, K. P., of Chatsworth.
ALPHA BAKER.
Alpha Baker, an honored and highly respected citizen of Dwight, Illinois, who is now living a retired life, was born in Oneida county, New York, September 19. 1831, and is a son of Samuel A. and Sophia ( Porter ) Baker, who spent their entire lives in that county, where the father cleared and improved a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres. He was a most progressive and enterprising man and an excellent judge of good stock, to the raising of which he de- voted considerable attention. He died at about the age of sixty years, his wife at the age of seventy-seven. His father was Henry Baker, a ship carpenter in early life. Our subject is the second in order of birth in a family of three children. Ellis, the oldest.
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A. BAKER.
MRS. A. BAKER.
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now seventy-two years of age, followed farming, and is now living on his old hoine farm in New York state. Hope. the young- est. died in girlhood.
In the county of his nativity. Alpha Baker was reared and educated, and re- mianed under the parental roof until twen- ty-three years of age, when he went to Con- necticut, working three years in Hartford and New Haven counties. At the end of that time he moved to Warren, Ohio, where he worked about a year at anything he could find to do, and then came to Illinois, stopping in Grundy county from 1856 until 1890. The winter of 1856-7 was spent in the lumber woods on the Eau Claire river, Wisconsin, but the following spring he re- turned to Grundy county, Ilinois, where he worked by the month one year. He next rented a farm in Mazon township, which he operated three years, and then purchased a will tract of one hundred and sixty acres, which he commenced immediately to im- prove and cultivate, erecting first a house, 22×22 feet in dimensions and containing three rooms.
Mr. Baker was married. September 25, 1861. to Miss Sarah J. Collar. a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, and a daughter of Lyman and Eliza Jane ( Crabb) Collar, also natives of that state. The father engaged in farming and also followed the wagon-maker's trade in St. Lawrence county until Mrs. Baker was eight years of age, when he came to Illinois with his fam- ily, locating in Grundy county, when it con- tained only a few houses and these widely scattered. He took up a tract of govern- ment land, to which he later added by pur- chase. He lived to the advenced age of ninety years. In his family were ten chil- dren, of whom five died young, namely :
Addison. Jessie. Reuben, Frank and Har- riet. Those living are Norman, a resident of Iowa: George, of Joliet, Illinois; Alfred, of Iowa: Malinda, of Mazon township, Grundy county, Illinois ; and Sarah J., wife of our subject. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Baker, but four died in in- fancy. The others are Frank, who is now engaged in farming in Storm Lake, lowa; Emery, a stock raiser of Lincoln county, Nebraska: Stella and Ada Sigourney, at home.
After his marriage Mr. Baker took up his residence upon the farm which he had previously purchased, and five years later added to it a tract of eighty acres and after- ward one hundred and twenty-six acres more. His landed possessions in Grundy county now aggregate six hundred and sixty-two acres, consisting of two hundred and forty acres on section 12 and one hun- dred and sixty acres on section 24. High- land township; and one hundred and twen- ty-six on section 7. and one hundred and thirty-six acres on section 19. Goodform township. He also owns one hundred and ninety acres of improved land in York coun- ty. Nebraska, and ten lots in Dwight. hi connection with general farming he always engaged in stock raising, but since Febru- ary, 1890, he has made his home in Dwight and lived retired, laying aside all business cares.
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