USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 50
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During his boyhood Columbus . 1. Robe- son attended the country schools near his boyhod home, and in 1861 entered Eureka College, but in February, of the following year he left school and enlisted in Company E. Eleventh Ilinois Cavalry, commanded by Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll. They did duty most of the time in western Tennessee and Mississippi, paticipating in the battles of Shiloh and Corinth besides many raids
and skirmishes. After three years of ardu- ous and faithful service Mr. Robeson was discharged at Memphis. February 2, 1805. He had spent two weeks at home in the summer of 1862, but with that exception was never off duty. On his return home he engaged in farming in Palestine township. making his home with his parents until his marriage.
On the end of January, 1868, Mr. Robeson led to the marriage altar Miss Susan F. Haynes, of Secor. Her father. R. F. Haynes, was born May 8, 1820, near Rochester, New York, where he grew to manhood, and after attaining his majority went to Hancock county, Illinois, where he married Theresa Bobbitt, a native of Ken- tucky, and a daughter of Isam Bobbitt, one of the pioneers of that county. Later Mr. Haynes moved to Pekin, this state, and from there went to California in 1849, spending three years on the Pacific slope. On his return to this state he settled in Marshall county, and in 1865 became a res- ident of Secor. Woodford county, but he is now living retired at Oak Hill. Peroia county. In early life he was a minister of the Predestinarian Baptist church, and still adheres to that faith. While a resident of Marshall county he filled the office of asses- sor and served as justice of the peace at Secor. His wife died in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Robeson have three children: Jennie M., wife of A. M. Duncan, of Eureka. by whom she has two children, Ivan and Stella May; Edwin E., who was graduated from the law department of the Wesleyan Univer- sity with the degree of LL. B. ; and Elbert. a graduate of the high school of Eureka.
After his marriage Mr. Robeson coll- tinued to follow farming until 1886, five years of the time being spent in Marshall
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county. The Democratic party has always found in him a stanch supporter of its prin- ciples, and in Woodford county he has been called upon to fill a number of different town- ship offices. In November, 1804. he was elected county sheriff for a term of four years, and entered upon the duties of the office in December. During his incumbency the office was transferred from Metamora to the new court house at Eureka, and he be- came its first occupant. He had charge of several murder cases, took a number of pris- oners to the penitentiary, and had good sue- cess in running down the criminal element. Since his retirement from office he has con- tinned to make his home in Eureka, and in the spring of 1900 was elected assessor of Olio township, which includes the city of Eureka. Ilis official duties have always been most conscientiously and faithfully per- formed, and have given the utmost satis- faction to all concerned. Fraternaly Mr. Robeson is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge. No. 794. of Palestine, and he attends and supports the Christian church, of which his wife is a member.
J. H. HUXTABLE.
The subject of this sketch, one of Ben- son's most esteemed citizens, was for many years prominently identified with the agri- cultural interests of Woodford county, but at present is not actively engaged in any business, but a good judge of human nature will observe under his habitual quiet and unassuming manner the reserve force which indicates both ability and energy.
Mr Huxtable was born in Peoria con- ty, Illinois. March 22, 1856, a son of James
and Frances ( Ridge ) Ihuxtable. natives of England, who with their family of six chil- dren crossed the Atlantic in 1852, landing in New York. They located in Peoria county, Illinois, where the father followed farming, though in his native land he had worked at the miller's trade. After coming to Woodford county in 1880 he continued to engage in agricultural pursuits for some time in Greene township, but his last days were spent in retirement from active labor in the village of Benson, where he died September 11. 1804. His widow is still living and now makes her home with her. children. Fifteen children were born to them, namely : William. a farmer, died at Flanagan, Illi- nois, in August, 1890: Richard is a farmer of Oklahoma: Grace, wife of Thomas Lee. died in Hoopeston, Ilinois: Charity is the wife of John Bock, a painter of the same place: Elizabeth is a resident of Gilman. Illinois: Sarah is the wife of Simon Peter- un. and they reside in Benson, Illinois : he is engaged in the brick and tile business, and also operates seven threshing machines ; Phoebe is the wife of Peter Anderson, a farmer. of Indiana : James is a grain buyer of Benson: J. H., our subject. i- next in order of birth : Ida is the wife of A. S. Bru- baker; Martha is the wife of Mayor Frank E. Learned. a prominent druggist of Ben- son : Nora is the wife of Andrew Younger. of Roseburg, Oregon; Thomas, who died at the age of thirty-three years, was a school teacher, and has served as county clerk and assessor: Morris is a farmer of Greene town- ship, and Flora is the wife of U. B. Mem- men, a grain dealer of Minonk. Illinois.
For several years J. H. Huxtable was successfully engaged in farming in Greene township. Woodford county, where he still owns a fine farm of one hundred and thirty-
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five acres, which he rents to G. Jeter, and has a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Dawson county, Nebraska, which he rents to J. G. Bock. He is also a stockholder in the Benson State Bank. He is enterpris- ing and progressive, and has met with suc- cess in all his undertakings.
Mr. Huxtable has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Ida Menter, who died September 16, 1896, leaving two chil- dren : Theresa, a highly educated young lady, is a graduate of Wesleyan University at Bloomington. She is now doing mis- sionary work in Brockton. Massachusetts. helping bring those into the church who have not been attending; and Lester, who is now attending the Benson schools. In 1897 Mr. Huxtable married Mrs. Maria Miller, a daughter of Jacob Ressler, of Berks county, Pennsylvania. Iler father died in 1865, her mother in 1894. She has one sister still living, Mrs. Elizabeth Kline. of Berks coun- ty, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Huxtable's first husband was Jacob Miller, a successful farmer, who settled in Greene township, Woodford county, in 1856, and died in 1889. leaving considerable land and money to his widow. They had no children. She owns a fine residence on Front street, Ben- son, where she and her husband now re- side.
.As one of the most prominent and influ- ential citizens of Greene township. Mr. Hux- table was called upon to fill several official positions, including that of collector, the du- ties of which he most faithfully and satis- factorily performed. He and his wife are among the leading members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, of Benson, in which lic has served as steward seven years, and as superintendent of the Sunday school seven years. Mrs. Huxtable is also an act- 25
ive church worker, and has served as stew- ardess. Politically our subject is a stanch Republican, as was also his father, and he gives his support to any enterprise which he believes will advance the moral, social or material welfare of his town and county.
A. W. HUFFMAN.
AAmong the leading and representative business men of the thriving little village of Panola must be numbered A. W. Huffman, of the firm of Schweizer & Huffman, who are successfully engaged in general mer- chandising at that place. He was born at West Salem. Edwards county. Illinois, Au- gust 21, 1867, and is a son of Andrew and Mary ( Ground) Huffman, the former a native of West Virginia, the latter of Ken- tucky. The mother died in December. I891, but the father is still living. He was born in 1821, and came west with his par- ents in 1831. but his father died when he was young. In early life he was engaged in buikling flatboats, and also ran them down the Mississippi river, carrying grain to New Orleans, but later in life devoted his energies to farming. At present, how- ever, he is living a retired life in West Sa- lem, Edwards county, Illinois. He served as county commissioner of that county for sixteen years, and has always taken a promi- nent and influential part in public affairs. The children born to himself and wife were : Francis, now a resident of Leeds, Kansas ; Eliza and Martha A., both deceased ; Ma- rion, of Eaton Rapids, Michigan ; Milton, deceased : Grant, of West Salem, Illinois. and A. W .. our subject.
.A. W. Huffman was reared in West Sa-
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lem, and attended the public schools there for some time. Subsequently he was a stu- dlent at Westfield College, Illinois, and the Valparaiso Normal School, Indiana, and when his education was completed he suc- cessfully engaged in teaching school in his native county for five years, from 1886 to 1891, and served as assistant postmaster at West Salem in 1892 and 1893. He next learned telegraphy, and was employed as operator and agent by the Illinois Central Railroad Company for six years, being sta- tioned at Panola one year of this time. On leaving the employ of the road he embarked in his present business with Joseph B. Schweizer, and under the firm name of Schweizer & Huffman they are now doing a large and profitable business as general merchants of Panola. Mr. Huffman holds membership in the Modern Woodmen of AAmerica, and is a stanch supporter of the Re- publican party. He was married to Miss Olga Voigt, of West Salem, and to them have been born two children, Myrtle and Ruth.
WILLIAM M. MEEK.
Prominent among the business men of Eureka is William M. Meek, who for over forty years has been closely identified with the interests of the city, while his name is inseparably connected with its financial rec- ords. The banking interests are well rep- resented in him, for he has served as vice- president of the State Bank since its estab- lishment in 1895. He is a man of keen discrimination and sound judgment, and as a financier ranks among the ablest.
Mr. Meek is a native of Woodford coun- ty, born in Cruger township. August 12,
1832, and is a representative of one of its most prominent pioneer families, his par- ents being Joseph and Euraney ( Suther- land ) Meek. The father was born in Ken- tucky, June 6, 1797, a son of Bazel Meek, who is mentioned more fully in the sketch of B. D. Meek on another page of this vol- mme. There he was reared, and when a young man moved to Indiana, locating near Lawrenceburg, where he married Euraney Sutherland, who was born in North Carolina in 1800, a daughter of Berry Sutherland. from North Carolina. Mr. Meek followed farming in Indiana until the fall of 1830. when he came to Woodford county, Illi- nois, by wagon and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Cruger township. a few acres of which had been broken and a log cabin erected theron. To the further improvement and cultivation of his place he at once turned his attention, and later added to it an eighty-acre tract, making a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres. Success attended his well-directed efforts, and he became one of the largest land owners of the county, having one thousand acres of valuable land near Eureka. At the time of the wildcat currency he kept out of all bank- ing schemes and so lost nothing. Ile was one of the county commissioners when the first court house was built at Metamore, and with two others had charge of the work. lle was also connected with the laying out of roads, buikling of bridges, etc., and took a very prominent part in the improvement of the county outside of the development of his own land. Politically he was always identified with the Democratic party, and re- ligiously was in early life a Baptist, but there being but few of that denomination in his locality, he united with the Christian church on its organization, and did a large
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part of the work in building the first church in addition to contributing liberally to the expense. He got out all the old style heavy timbers, and was noted for his fine and smooth hewing. In early days he took a Icad of wheat to Chicago, driving over poor roads and fording streams, and would bring back groceries and other household necessi- ties. The Indians were still here, and one family in the neighborhood had to leave home until after the Black Hawk war, when the red men took up their abode on the other side of the Mississippi. The father of our subject died upon his farm June 1, 1890, lacking only five days of being ninety-three years of age. The mother died in 1848, leaving seven children who reached man and womanhood, our subject being the fifth in order of birth.
During his boyhood William M. Meck pursued his studies in an old log schoolhouse each winter for a short time, but as soon as the ground was fit to work in the spring would do his share of the plowing. By sub- sequent reading, however, he gained a good practical education and a broad knowledge of the present and past. He assisted his father on the home farm until twenty-one. and then started in life for himself as a farmer. After a serious illness, he came to Eureka in 1858, and in partnership with Colonel B. D. Meek, under the firm name of B. D. Meek & Company, engaged in the hardware and grocery business, having the entire management of the store for some years, and gaining a good practical knowl- edge of business affairs, which has been of great benefit to him in later years. Selling out in 1868, he returned to his father's farm, where he remained four years, and then fol- lowed the broker's business in Eureka for a time. He next bought a farm in Cruger
township, which he greatly improved by the erection of good buildings, and which he successfully operated for twentytwo years. Hle still owns the place, but in 1893 he was seriously injured and again moved to the city.
While on the farm Mr. Meek had served as county treasurer. The previous officer had defaulted for forty thousand dollars, and the board of supervisors sent a commit- tee to see if Mr. Meek would not accept the position. He at first refused, but at the fol- lowing convention at Metamora, which he did not attend, he was nominated without his knowledge. He then accepted the office, though not wanting it on account of the high bond then required. There were three can- didates in the field, and although the Green- back party carried off seven hundred of the votes, he was elected, and filled the office in a most creditable and satisfactory manner for three years, during which time he put the finances of the county in shape again. He refused a renomination and retired to private life. In 1895, when the State Bank was founded, he as one of the incorpora- tors, a member of the first board of direc- tors and the first vice-president. He held that office until January, 1900, when he was elected president, but not liking the posi- tion, he was again made vice-president, in which capacity he is now serving. The bank has a capital stock of thirty thousand dollars, and is doing a very successful busi ness. Besides his farm and his interest in the bank. Mr. Meek has owned a home in the city for some years.
Mr. Meek was married. April 25, 1801. to Miss Julia Jones, a daughter of Richard Jones, who came here from England. They have one child, Mary Della, at home. The family hold membership in the Christian
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church, and Mr. Meek is also connected with W. C. Hobbs Lodge, F. & A. M. Politi- cally he is a sound-money Democrat, and as a citizen takes an active and commendable interest in all enterprises tending to public development.
REV. ISADORE VEERKAMP.
In compiling the history of Minonk and Livingston county due mention should be made of the honored subject of this sketch. and of the flourishing work over which he presides. He has won a place in the hearts of his people. by his self-sacrificing labors on their behalf, and at the same time he en- joys the friendship of multitudes of the citi- zens of Minonk who are not identified with his flock.
Ilis parents, George and AAgnes (Linne- man ) Veerkamp, are natives of Hanover, Germany, and have been residents of Cin- cinnati, Ohio, for more than two-score years. The father came to this country, in 1857. and at once took up his residence in the city mentioned, where he pursued his trade as a carriage manufacturer. During the civil war he faithfully fought for the preserva- tion of the Union, and served in the ranks for nearly four years. Ile was born in 1835, and was married in Cincinnati in March, 1800, to Miss Linneman, who is three years his junior. Both are members of the Catholic church, and are highly re- spected by a large circle of acquaintances.
One of nine children of his parents, and all of whom survive, the Rev. Isadore Veer- kamp was born September 11, 1862, in Cin- cinnati, Ohio. He received a good educa- tion in St. Francis parochial school of that city, and in 1879 entered upon his theolog-
ical studies at Oldenburg. Indiana. Thence he went to Louisville, Kentucky, and in 1887 finished his prescribed course of prepa- ration for the ministry at St. Francis' Col- lege. In July of the year mentioned he was ordained to the priesthood in the Cincin- nati Cathedral. by Archbishop Eller, and was assigned to the post of assistant pastor to Father David, in the Sacred Heart church in Detroit, Michigan. At the end of three years he became Father Raphael's assistant. in Hamilton, Ohio, and served faithfully for two years. Stricken with a severe attack of illness, which rendered an operation neces- sary, he then was sent to a hospital in Cin- cinnati, and, as he became convalescent. a change of climate was considered best for him. Therefore he was assigned to a pas- torate in Sacred Heart church, in Emporia, Kansas, and labored there for two years.
Six years ago Father Veerkamp as- sumed the position he now holds, that of the spiritual head of St. Patrick's church. of Minonk, and, needless to say, his work here has been marked by gratifying success. .A large and handsome church edifice had been constructed about a year prior to his arrival here, but it was encumbered with a debt, and thus, one of his first endeavors was to have this obligation discharged. With characteristic energy he took up the burden of labor resting upon his young shoulders, and though he has accomplished great things, it may be briefly summed up. Under the charge of the Sisters a parochial school was being conducted on the lower floor of the residence occupied by them, and thus both the pupils and their teachers were in crowded quarters. Father Veerkamp carried out a plan which he wisely formu- lated -- the repairing and placing in good condition the old frame building formerly
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used as the church, transforming it into well arranged and well lighted school rooms, and at the same time the Sisters' house was im- proved and repaired. At present the suc- cess of the school is beyond doubt, as nearly two hundred students are attending it. and are under the charge of three teachers. A fine pipe organ was purchased for the church at a cost of fifteen hundred dollars, and about nine hundred dollars was expended for statuary for the edifice, while fifteen hun- dred dollars were paid for the altars and electric lighting. Including the gallery, there are accommodations for upwards of fifteen hundred people in the church, and thus pro- visions have been made for an indefinite pe- riod. The children of the congregation have paid for a beautiful piece of statuary- "The Guardian Angel"-which stands in their play ground, adjoining the school. The property on which stands the church and other buiklings comprises two acres, sit- uated on an eminence in the town, and un- der the able supervision of Brother Ray- der, who has charge of the gardens and management of Father Veerkamp's house, the lawns, flower beds and walks are kept in fine condition.
As a large percentage of the congrega- tion of St. Patrick's church was Polish, it was deemed best that those desiring to have services in their native tongue should with- draw and have a separate church, and in January. 1900, this plan was put into effect. Having purchased the old Methodist church building, these Polish members had it moved to land which they had purchased, and they now have a priest, a school and are doing well. About fifty of the Polish families re- mained with the mother church, for the mat- ter was entirely optional. The people have been worthy of praise. for they have them-
selves raised the bulk of the money invested in the church property here, and the general public has not been called upon to contrib- ute even by patronizing a bazaar.
Undoubtedly Father Veerkamp deserves unstinted commendation for his disinterested work in this parish, and few, indeed, are better loved and revered. Hle possesses an excellent education and is qualified to meet the needs of all his flock, wheher of high or low degree, whether scholarly or unlet- tered. His assistant priest is Father Ber- trand. a native of Bohemia, and educated in Cincinnati, Ohio.
JAMES N. FISHER.
Prominent among the leading and ener- getic business men of Roanoke is the sub- ject of this review. a well known lumber dealer, who has been actively identified with the business interests of the village for twenty years. A native of Virginia. he was born in Rockingham county, June 11, 1847. and is a son of John and Mary (Long) Fisher, who spent their entire lives in the Old Dominion. The father, who was a cabinet-maker by trade, died at his oldl homme in Viginia, in 1896, at the age of eighty years, the mother in 1808, at the age of seventy-eight. They were the parents of eleven children, four of whom died in child- hood. Those who reached maturity were : Carrie, wife of Hiram Beard, of Virginia; James N., our subject : Jacob, a resident of Virginia : Retta, deceased wife of James Ili- ner, of the same state: Lucian. also a resi- dent of Virginia : Lucy, wife of Calvin Hen- ton, of that state: Dora, wife of Thomas Messic, of Rockingham county, Virginia. Lucian and Jacob both came to Illinois, but
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after spending a few years in this state re- turned to Virginia. The parents were men- bers and active workers in the Presbyterian church, and were most estimable people. The first of the family to come to America was our subject's great-great-grandfather. . \bra- ham Fisher, a native of Germany, who crossed the Atlantic at the age of eighteen years and settled in Virginia, where the fam- ily have since flourished. He aided the col- onies in achieving their independence in the Revolutionary war, and his son John was a soldier of the war of 1812. while our sub- ject's father served in the Confederate army during the civil war.
James N. Fisher was educated in the common schools of his native state. A Vir- ginian by birth and training, he entered the Confederate army at the age of seventeen years, enlisting June 11. 1864. in the Au- gusta Reserves. Ile remained in the ser- vice until hostilities ceased. and participated in the battles of Piedmont and Waynesboro. Ile also did guard duty at Libby prison for a time.
At the close of the war Mr. Fisher re- turned to Virginia and learned the cabinet- maker's trade, at which he worked for six years, and then took up carpentering, which he continued to follow during his residence in his native state, and also after coming to Illinois. lle was married November 8. 1871. to Miss Signora Reynolds, who was born in 1846. in Virginia, where her parents, now well advanced in years, are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Fisher have three children : Orin N .. aged twenty-two years, is a gradu- ate of the Roanoke schools, and is now as- sisting his father in business: Gertrude ( .. aged nineteen, is also a graduate of the home school; and Frank R., aged thirteen, is still in school.
In 1874 Mr. Fisher first came to Roan- oke, Illinois, where he was engaged in con- tracting and buildling for five years, and then went farther west, but not finding a more suitable location, he returned to Roanoke in 1885, and has since made this place his home. He continued business as a con- tractor and builder until 1897. when he turned his attention to the lumber trade. erecting sheds upon his property and putting in a large stock of lumber and building ma- terial. He is still successfully engaged in contracting, and as a lumber dealer has built up an excellent trade. In his building op- erations he formed a partnership with E. M1. De Bruler in 1885. and that connection continued until 1894. since which time Mr. Fisher has been alone in business.
He is public-spirited and thoroughly in- terested in whatever tends to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of his adopted county, and though not a mem- ber of any religious denomination, he gives to the support of all. His wife holds mem- bership in the Methodist Episcopal church. As one of the leading and influential citi- zens of the town, he has taken a prominent part in public affairs: served as village treasurer two years, and in 1900 was elected township collector, which office he is now acceptably filling.
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