USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 31
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When Mr. Desire came to the United
States he could not speak a word of the Eng- lish language, and he was seventeen dollars in debt when he landed in Chicago. He came here, however, with the intention of overcoming all obstacles, and that he has overcome them this record of his life will attest. By his industry and enterprise he has become the owner of a fine farm. well stocked, and the future is bright before him. In addition to general farming he has usually engaged in the stock business, not only raising but buying and shipping as well, and in this he has met with a reasonable degree of success.
Mr. Desire cast his first presidential vote for Samuel J. Tilden, but now votes the Republican ticket straight. He has served as commissioner of highways for ten years, urer of the commissioner of highways for school director nine years, and has been tras- the last three years. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias of Chats- worth, and has been trustee of the same. Ile is also a member of the Modern Wood- men of America of Chatsworth. Religiously he is a member of the Catholic church of Chatsworth. He has been a successful man, is well esteemed in the community which has been his home for nearly a quarter of a century and has many warm friends.
DAVID SHANTZ.
David Shantz, who owns and operates a valuable farm of three hundred and twenty acres on section 27. Sullivan township, Liv- ingston county, Illinois, is a native of Can ada, born in Berlin, Waterloo county, Jan- uary 30, 1846, and is a son of Isaac C. and Elizabeth (Snyder ) Shantz, both natives of
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Pennsylvania. The Shantz family came originally from Switzerland, and were among the first settlers of Bucks county. Pennsylvania. The great-grandfather of our subject was Isaac Shantz, who was born in Mongomery county, that state, January 14, 1748, and was married, in 1774. to Bar- bara Reiff, who was born in September, 1753. When our subject's father was only three years old, the grandfather. Christian Shantz, took his family to Waterloo county. Canada, locating there when the Indians were far more numerous than the white set- tlers. There he and his wife spent their re- maining days. The father grew to manhood in Canada and in early life learned the cab- inctmaker's trade. For many years he ran a sawmill and furniture factory at Man- heim, manufacturing all kinds of furniture. but misfortune overtook him and he sold out. In 1858 he removed to Gardner, Grun- dy county, Ilinois, where he engaged in farming upon rented land for two years. and for the same length of time rented land in Round Grove and Dwight townships, Liv- ingston county. Coming to Sullivan town- ship in 1864 be purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, for which he paid twenty dollars per acre, it being the farm on which our subject now lives. At the time of his death he owned two hundred acres, a part of which was wild prairie when he purchased it. Ilis first home here was a small struc- ture. 14x16 feet. the lumber for which he hauled from Pontiac, a distance of twenty miles. While a resident of Dwight town- ship he sold one horse for war purposes for two hundred dollars. On first coming to this county our subject herded cattle on the prairies, bringing them from Ottawa each spring and taking them back in the fall. For this he received one dollar and a half per head
for the season, and has cared for as many as seven hundred at one time. The father died September 20, 1885. at the age of eighty-two years, and was laid to rest in Sullivan Center cemetery, while the mother died in December. 1892, at the age of eighty- five years. In their family were the follow- ing children : Daniel, who died in Round Grove township, at the age of twenty-eight years, leaving two sons, who are still living; Lena, widow of Jacob Amacher and a resi- dent of Cullom, Illinois : Christian S., who is now living retired in the same place : Eliza- beth, who died at the age of two years; David, our subject : and Isaac. a farmer of Sullivan township.
During his boyhood and youth David Shantz attended school for two or three months during the winter seasons, and re- mained at home until he was married, Feb- ruary 25, 1893, to Miss Elizabeth Wenger, who was born in the Shenandoah valley, Ei- fingham county. Virginia. Her parents, Daniel and Sarah ( Coffman ) Wenger, were natives of the same state, and her grandfa- ther. Benjamin Wenger, was also a Virgin- ian by birth and a planter, who in the midst of the timber cleared and improved a farm. The father, who also followed the occupa- tion of farming, died in 1889, the mother in 1896. They had twelve children, namely : Gideon, Benjamin, Samuel, Daniel, Annie, David. Elizabeth, Sarah, Solomon, Mary, Moses and John. With one exception all reached years of maturity. One is now liv- ing in Kansas, another in Michigan, Mrs. Shantz in Illinois, and the others in Vir- ginia. John and two sisters live on the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Shantz have five children: John and Sarah, who are now attending school: Mvin and Earl, twins; and Mary.
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In 1885 Mr Shantz purchased the inter- est of the other heirs in his father's farm. and in 1899 bought an adjoining tract of one hundred and sixty acres, so that he now has a fine farm of three hundred and twenty acres, which is under a high state of culti- vation and well improved. He makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred brown Swiss cattle, and also keeps a thoroughbred shire stallion, "Barnie." for breeding pur- poses. Since casting his first presidential vote for U. S. Grant Mr. Shantz has always supported the Republican party, but would never accept office, preferring to devote his undivided attention to his business interests. He and his wife are members of the Men- nonite church, and are highly respected and esteemed by all who know them.
WILLIAM M. MILLER.
William M. Miller, the well-known en- gineer of the city water works of Dwight. was born in Aurora. Illinois, October 25. 1855, and is a son of John S. and Celia J. ( Kennedy ) Miller, natives of Fulton county. New York, where they were reared and mar- ried. In 1854 they came west and located in Aurora, Illinois, where the father followed his trade of stone mason until 1866, when he removed to Dwight. Here he engaged in contracting and did a great deal of the stone work in Dwight and vicinity for many years. but is now living a retired life, in his eighty- eighth year. His wife died January 14. 1800, aged eighty years. Our subject's. paternal grandfather Miller came of a titled Ilolland family. He was pressed into the British army during the Revolutionary war and brought to America.
The subject of this sketch is the eighth in order of birth in a family of eleven chil- dren. ten sons and one daughter, of whom the eldest, a son, died m infancy: James .1. enlisted, at Aurora, in the Forty-third Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry during the civil war. and after two years re-enlisted as captain in the One Hundred and Sixty-sixth regi- ment, was captured at Fort Donelson and died in Andersonville prison: Charles is a contractor and builder of Chicago: AAndrew has been an engineer on the Wabast Rail- road for thirteen years, and is now a resident of Decatur, Illinois: Amos is a prominent farmer of Ford county, Ilinois: Robert was for several years yard master for the Wis- consin Central Railroad at the Roby street yards, Chicago, in which city he died in Sep- tember, 1895: Alfred was for eleven years a conductor on the Indiana. Illinois & lowa Railroad, and was killed near Walkerton. Indiana. April 20, 1899, leaving a widow and three children, who reside in Chicago; Jennie is the wife of Zerum Johnson, a resi- dent of Dwight: Joseph and Dewitt both died of diphtheria, aged, respectively, seven and four years.
William B. Miller was but a lad of eleven years when the family removed to Dwight. which has been his home ever since. He assisted his father in stone work until six- teen years of age, when he entered the em- ploy of the Chicago & Alton Railroad as section hand, and in less than a year was made foreman. Two years were spent in the round house at Dwight, and he was then promoted to engineer, running a local freight frem Dwight to Washington, Illi- nois, for three years and a half. During the big strike of 1802 he left the railroad and for one year was engaged in running a stationary engine. In 1803 he accepted his
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present position as engineer of the city water works at Dwight, and has since given his entire attention to that work. The construc- tion of the plant was commenced in 1892 and finished the following year, and at that time was run by steam, but in 1897 the Leslie E. Keeley Company donated to the city a modern Fairbank & Morse gas engine of twenty-five horse power, two Gould seven- inch pumps with a lift capacity of seven thousand gallons per hour, and a stand pipe one hundred and twenty feet high, the upper part of which is a still tank, fifty-two feet. with a capacity of fifty thousand gallons. This furnishes an ample fire protection as well as supply for general use.
On the 18th of February, 1881. Mr. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Heffner, daughter of Andrew and Jane ( Yocum) Ileffner. Her father was a prominent citizen and miller of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, and was noted for his benevolent and charitable disposition. Mrs. Miller was born in that county October 27. 1860, and there our subject met her, while on a visit to Pennsylvania. She is the fourth in order of birth in a family of six children, the others being Mary, wife of Stewart Africa, of Huntingdon county. Pennsyl- vania; Rachel, who is at home with her mother: John, who succeeded his father in business: Rebecca, at home: and Thomas, who is living on the old homestead. To Mr. and Mrs. Miller were born eight chil- dren, namely: Lawrence .A., who died at the age of twelve years; Celia J., Francis J., Ralphus .A., Milton J., Mary R., Rachel and Rebecca.
Fraternally Mr. Miller is a charter mem- ber of the Independent Order of Mutual Aid: of Hebron Lodge. No. 175, K. P., in which he has filled most of the offices, and a
charter member of the Knights of Macca- bees of Dwight, and finance keeper of the same. He takes an active interest in the progress and growth of his town, and by his ballot supports the men and measures of the Republican party.
JOHN LEGGATE.
John Leggate, one of the highly honored and respected citizens of Germanville town- ship, Livingston county, owns and occupies a well-improved and highly cultivated farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 10, and has most efficiently served as justice of the peace for many years. He was born in Lanarkshire, near Glasgow, Scotland, Au- gust 25, 1816, and is a son of James and Margaret ( Dalgle:sh) Leggate, who spent their entire lives in that country. The mother died when our subject was only four years old. and the father afterward married Esther Cooper. also a native of Scotland. He followed the occupation of weaving throughout life and died at the age of forty- seven years. By his first marriage he had three chiklrlen, of whom our subject is the oldest. James, who is now living retired in Patteron, New Jersey, also followed weaving during his active life and has ac- cumulated considerable property. He mar- ried Elizabeth Watson, of Scotland, and to them have been born six children. Robert, the other brother of our subject. served twenty years in the British army, and died at his home in Scotland at the age of fifty years, leaving a family of children, none of whom ever came to this country. By his sec- ond marriage the father had four chiklren : Esther, George. William and William, all of whom died when quite young.
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John Leggate was educated in the pub- lic schools of his birthplace, and in early life learned the weaver's trade with his father. following that occupation continuously un- til coming to the United States at the age of thirty-two years. In his native land he was married. December 29, 1837. to Miss Elizabeth Fleming, a daughter of John and Marian ( Stuart ) Fleming, life-long resi- dents of Scotland. Her father was also a weaver.
In 1848, with his wife and children. Mr. Leggate sailed for America. and spent the first six years of his residence here in New York City, where he followed his trade three years, and also worked in a stained glass factory the same length of time. Subse- quently he spent two years near London. Canada, where he was engaged in the manu- facture of brick, and in 1857 came to Liv- ingston county, Illinois. He had previously acquired some capital, being economical and industrious, and this he invested in land on section 10. Germanville township, where he now resides. As his financial resources have increased he has added to his landed posses- sions, and now owns two hundred and forty acres of land, eighty acres of which are on section 14, the same township. When it came into his possession it was wild prairie land, but acre after acre were soon placed under the plow, a comfortable residence was erected. good barns and outbuildings were also built and many other improvements made, so that it is now one of the most de- sirable farm of that section of the county.
Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Leggate only four are now living, namely: James, born in Scotland, is now a brick manufacturer of Chicago. He mar- ried Matilda Linn, by whom he had four children, two still living. Lillie and Mancel.
His second wife was Anna Smith, of Chi- cago. (2) John, born in Scotland, is an engineer of Chicago. During the civil war he enlisted in Company D, Eighty-ninth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, but was wounded shortly after entering the service and hon- orably discharged. He married Nancy Mc- Kay and has three children, Rebecca, Liz- zie and Maggie. (3) Walter, a farmer of Germanville township, is represented on another page of this work. (4) Sarah is the wife of Owen McMahon, who operates our subject's farm. Of those deceased,
Marion died in Scotland when quite young. Margaret married John Beckman, of Ger- manville township. and died in lowa, at the age of twenty-seven years. Robert, born in Scotland, was a member of the same com- pany as his brother John, and served until the end of the war. He married Mary Sher- man and died at the age of thirty-eight years. leaving two children, Viola and Etta. George, born in Scotland, married Dora Lut- son and lived in Germanville township for some time, but spent his last days in lowa, where he died. leaving four children. Nancy James. Viola and Martha. Archie died in Germanville at the age of four years.
Since becoming an American citizen Mr. Leggate has affiliated with the Republican party, and has taken quite an active interest in public affairs. Since 1869 he has most creditably and acceptably filled the office of justice of the peace. and at different times has held all of the township offices, being school treasurer twelve years. Upright and honorable in all things, he has been found true to every trust reposed in him, whether public or private, and is accounted one of the most valued and useful citizens of his community. In religious faith he and his family are Presbyterians. His estimable
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wife died in May, 1893. at the age of sev- enty-eight years, and was laid to rest in the Germanville cemetery. He is now practi- cally living retired, surrounded by a large circle of friends and acquaintances, who es- teem him highly for his sterling worth.
ADAM SHAFER.
Adam Shafer, who resides on section 27. Chatsworth township, has been a resident of Livingston county since 1863. He was born in Koor. Hessen, Germany. September 26. 1847. His father dying when he was but an infant and his mother marrying again, he was reared by an aunt until twelve years of age, when he went to live with his mother and step-father. Jacob Gabriel. In 1857 the family came to the United States and lo- cated in Tazewell county, Illinois, where they remained for five years, and in 1863 moved to what was then the southern part of Chatsworth township, but is now Ger- manville township. On the farm of his step- father our subject grew to manhood, in the meantime receiving a limited education in the public schools. From the time he was old enough to follow a plow he had to do his share of the farm work, and therefore he became a thorough, practical farmer. When twenty-one years old he left home and for the next three years worked as a farm hand, during which time he saved up the greater part of his earnings and was enabled to commence farming for himself.
In December, 1870, Mr. Shafer was united in marriage with Miss Kathrina Neiding, who was born in Germany in 1845. She came to this country when twenty-three years of age. after the death of her parents.
She had one brother and three sisters in this country, but of the five her brother John and her sister Martha are the only ones now living. The latter is the wife of Henry Brents, of Brule, Nebraska. The former is engaged in farming in Chatsworth town- ship. To Mr. and Mrs. Shafer were born nine children, two of whom died in early childhood. Those living are Christ, a pros- perous young farmer in Chatsworth town- ship, who is married and has three children. He is living on his father's farm in that township. Lizzie is the wife of Henry Klehm, and they have two children. They reside on a farm in Ford county. Katie is the wife of Philip Keosner. and they live near Chenoa. McLean county. They have one son. Edward. Charles, Bertie and Lena yet remain at home with their father, the sons assisting in the farm work, while the daughter attends to the housekeeping.
.After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Shafer continued to reside on rentd land in Germanville township for five years, during which time he succeeded in accumulating sufficient means to purchase eighty acres of partially improved land in Chatsworth town- ship. south of the city. To that farm they removed. and here he has continued to reside until the present time. From time to time he added to his possessions until he now owns two hundred acres on section 27, one hundred and twenty acres on section 23 and one hundred and sixty acres on section 16, Chatsworth township, all of which is under a high state of cultivation. When twenty- one years old he had to face the world, a young man without means and the owner of not an acre of God's green earth, but by industry and the help of his wife, and also that of his children in later years, he is now possessed of a competency and can have no
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fear of the future. During the greater part of the time in which he has been accumulat- ing his wife was in ill health, and for much of the time under the care of a physician. He never went into the field without fear in his heart for the good wife at the house. Notwithstanding her illness she was to him a true helpmeet and an inspiration, and no sacrifice but was cheerfully made to secure her happiness. By her cheerful disposition and loving counsel she assisted him in the toils of the day. The improvements on his farm, including the residence, and the barns. the fences, the tiling and the orchard, is the result of his own labors, and he has rea- son to be proud of what has been accom- plished. For a number of years he owned and operated a corn sheller and a thresher. which added materially to his income.
On the 24th of April. 1899. Mrs. Shafer passed from her earthly cares to the haven of rest. In the old country she was a member of the Lutheran church. but after her ma riage she united with the Evangelical Asso- ciation, with which body she remained a faithful and consistent member until her death. She was a loving wife, a kind mother and a deserving Christian woman, beloved by all who knew her. With the hope of a restoration to health she was taken to a hospital in Chicago, and there under- Ment a severe surgical operation, but it was without avail. Death claimed her, but she was ready to go. During her long illness she bore it all uncomplainingly, and when the dread summons came she was ready, hav- ing an abiding hope in her blessed Savior. and with the full assurance that in the home beyond she would meet her loved ones, for they are all followers of the meck and lowly one. In her life she was an earnest and willing supporter of the church, and when
able a worker in the Sunday school. Her life was a life of good works, and it can well be said of her, "Blessed are the dead who (lie in the Lord, for they shall rest from their labors and their works do follow them."
Like his wife. Mr. Shafer is a member of the Evangelical Association and a firm be- hever in the Christian religion. Politically he is a Republican, but he is not an office sceker. Time and again has he refused local office that would be forced on h'm by well meaning friends. His taste, however, did not run in that direction. He preferred to attend to his duties as a husband and father and to his farm work. However, he served as a school director for several years, but only for the reason that he was interested in the public schools and the cause of educa- tion. He is a citizen deservedly held in high esteem.
REV. GEORGE HERTLEIN.
Rev. George llertlein, who is now liv- ing a retired life in the village of Cullom. Livingston county. Illinois, was born in Bavaria, Germany, November 30. 1849. and is a son of Lawrence and Mary Hertlein, both of whom were natives of the same country and there spent their entire lives. They were the parents of three children, one of whom. Christ, died in 1897. at the age of forty-five years. Elizabeth lives in Ba- varia, and George is the subject of this sketch.
George Hertlein grew to manhood in his native country and was educated in the parochial schools, supplemented by a four- years' course in a theological seminary, pre- paring for the ministry. He was graduated from the seminary and ordained to the min-
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istry in his native country. In 1877 he also commissioned as postmaster and served came to the United States and located in Iowa City, lowa, where he served as assist- ant pastor of a church for six months and was then called to the church at Sharon Center, lowa, and for two years served as its pastor, filling the duties of the sacred office to the entire satisfaction of his pa- rishioners, while enjoying the confidence of the community at large. He was then taken sick with inflammation of the lungs and was compelled for a time to abandon the minis- try. While yet residing in his native land he served three years and a half in the Ger- man army, and his disability dates back to that time. \ half-brother. Rev. Lorenz Schorr, preceded him to the United States. coming in 1861. He died in 1871, and our subject took up the work where his brother left off.
In 1878, about one year after his ar- rival in this country, Mr. Hertlein was united in marriage with Miss Mary Laub- pender, a native of Ohio, born in 1856, but who was then living in Sharon Center, lowa. where the wedding ceremony was solemn- ized. By this union ten children have been born, two of whom died in infancy. Of those living. Sophia is now the wife of Pro- fessor 1 .. Sheldahl, professor of history and languages in the lowa Synod College, at Waverly, lowa. They have one chikl, Guido. Emma, at the age of eighteen. graduated from lowa College, having taken the classical course. Matilda, Mary, Ame- lia, Ruth and Georgo are attending school in Cullom. Hans is the youngest of the children.
When compelled to relinquish his charge at Sharon, lowa, Mr. Hertlein embarked in the mercantile business at that place, in which he remained some years. He was
as such until 1883. Regaining his health, he notified the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Jowa, with which he was connected, that he was again prepared to take up his life work, and receiving a call from the church at Cullom, he moved to the place and for six months engaged in his chosen calling. He soon found that it would be impossible to continue in that work, and. resigning. again entered into the mercantile business, carrying a general stock. Purchasing a lot. he erected a building and commenced what proved a successful mercantile career. In 1896 he sold out his stock, having in the meantime, by good management and the exercise of good business ability and sound judgment, acquired enough of this world's goods to enable him to live in comfort. He has now one hmmm- dred and twenty acres of land in Indiana and one hundred and sixty acres in Sulli- van township. Livingston county, together with some village property. In 1897 he erected on his business block a good two- story brick building, well suited to the wants of the place, and which adds mate- rially to the business section of the town.
When Mr. Hertlein came to Cullom it had only about one hundred inhabitants, and to him much of the credit is. due for the advancement it has made in population and wealth. He assisted in securing the tile factory for the place, and went into part- nership with F. A. Ortman in the business, and they together operated it for seven years with good success. In 1808 he sold his in- terest to Mr. Ortman, since which time he has lived a quiet, retired life, giving his at- tention only to his farm and his village property.
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