USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 59
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latter in Louisa county, in 1804. With their respective parents they moved to Kentucky in the beginning of the nineteenth century, and were married in Christian county, in 1825. The grandfathers, Benjamin J. Rad- ford and James Lawrence, were also natives of Virginia and farmers by occupation. In 1834 our subject's parents came to Illinois, and located near Eureka, in what was then a part of Tazewell county, but is now Wood- ford county. Ilere the father purchased a tract of government land, the deed for which, signed by President Van Buren, is now possession of our subject. The family un- derwent many hardships and privations in- cident to pioneer life, having to go a long distance to market, either to Peoria or Pekin. Meeting with success in his new home the father became the owner of several hundred acres of land and was quite extensively en- gaged in farming. He was one of the earliest members and officers of the Christian church, of Eureka, and gave liberally to its support and to the building of both the church and college. He was one of the first to become interested in the latter and was one of the charter members of the board of trus- tees, which erected the first buikling. lle re- mained a member of the board until his death, which occurred in September, 1857, and at that time was also serving as deacon and treasurer of the church. Politically he was originally a Whig, and joined the Republican party on its organization. lle was an anti-slavery man, but not an aboli- tionist, and left Kentucky on account of the baneful effect of slavery. Ilis wife, who was a quiet member of the church, but a true Christian, died in October, 1864.
Professor Radford began his education in the common schools of Woodford county, and later attended Eureka College, from
which he was graduated in 1866, but in the meantime he taught two district schools and also served his county for three years as a soldier of the Civil war. In May, 1861. at the President's first call for seventy-five thousand men, he enlisted in Company G, Seventeenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was first sent to St. Louis and later to St. Charles, Sulphur Springs and Cape Girardeau, being on the march the most of the first year. In the spring of 1862 they participated in the battle of Fort Donelson, followed by the battles of Shiloh and Cor- inth and the siege of Vicksburg, where they remained during the winter of 1863-4. In June of the latter year Professor Radford returned to Springfield, Illinois, where he was mustered out with the rank of corporal. He then re-entered college and was gradu- ated in 1866.
Having prepared for the ministry. he engaged in preaching until the fall of 1870, one year as pastor of the Christian church at Niantic, Macon county, Illinois, where he dedicated a new church, and then became connected with the faculty of Eureka Col- lege, holding the chair of Latin and history. In 1881 he was called to the pastorate of a Christian church in Des Moines, Iowa, and was also made first president of Drake University, that city, filling that position until the fall of 1883, when he returned to Eureka College to take charge of the Bible department. He was also pastor of the Christian church in Eureka until 1885, when lie was called to the Richmond Street Chris- tian church at Cincinnati, Ohio, and became associate editor of the Christian Standard. which position he still holds. In 1890 he was made pastor of the Central Christian church at Denver, Colorado, but two years later returned to Eureka College and has
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since been connected with the Bible depart- ment. He was elected dean in 1898, and also fills the chair of history and political science. For the past eight years he has been the owner of the "Enreka Journal," and is quite prominently identified with public affairs. He is a man of thoughtful, earnest purpose of strong intellectual endowments. of broad charity and kindly nature, and by all denominations, as well as his own peo- ple, is held in the highest regard.
On the 15th of November, 1864. Pro- fessor Radford was united in marriage with Miss Rosa Magarity, a daughter of Will- iam S. Magarity, the first sheriff of Wood- ford county and captain of Company .1. Eighty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. during the Civil war. They have a family of eight children, namely: Sadie, now Mrs. Wilson, of Cincinnati: William M., mana- ger of the "Eureka Journal :" Charles T., pas- tor of the Christian church at Blackwell. Oklahoma; Nora, at home: Florence, now Mrs. Griffith, of Eureka: Benjamin J. Jr. Theta and Lawrence, all at home.
GEORGE HERMAN WILLEMS.
While some men's lives are quietly and peacefully spent within the influences of a home, others meet with adventures in the course of their lives which read almost like a romance. Bold and adventurous, they penetrate into unknown lands, and meet im- known dangers. Among the latter class is the gentleman whose name introduces this ketch For several years he traveled ex- tensively over the world, but is now living a nere quiet life m Roanoke, Illinois, where le is succesfully engaged m the manufacture of fle and brick.
Mr. Willems was born in Greetsiel, near Emden, Germany, July. 12. 1866, and was educated in the schools of his native land. At the age of fourteen he went to Witten- berg, where he served an apprenticeship to the machinist's trade for nearly three years. but on account of ill health was forced to abandon the shop before his time expired. He then returned home and remained there until his health was restored. He next went to sea as steward on the North German Lloyd line, sailing from Bremen to Antwerp, and from there to Lisbon, Portugal; the La Palmas Islands, St. Vincent Island. Rio Janeiro, Brazil and Santos, returning thence to Bremen the same way. He next went to Argentine Republic, and made fourteen trips on the Elbe, which was subsequently sunk in a collision. On the last trip with the North German Lloyd line he visited all the countries on the east coast of South America. He was next employed as fire- man on the railroad for a short time in .\r- gentine Republic. Later he went to Pata- gonia, from there to the Bahama Islands. then Buenas Ayres to Valparaiso, Chili, over the Los Andens. For a time he worked in a saltpeter mine at the Pampas, and from there went to Peru, where he boarded an American vessel for the first time, remaining on her for two years. She stopped at Port Townsend and Melbourne, Australia, then went to New Castle, Sidney. Port Piere. Australia, and from there to San Francisco. Ile has also been in Japan and China. For a time Mr. Willems was connected with the coast trade between San Francisco and Ore- gon, and then worked in Logan Camp, near Seattle, Washington, for a few months. after which he returned to sea. Ilis last trip was on a five-mast schooner, the Gov- ernor Ames, which carried over one million
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feet of lumber from Seattle around the Horn to Liverpool, England.
After visiting his old home in Germany, Mr. Willems then came to America, landing in New York. August 23. 1894. Ile first went to Baltimore, Maryland, where he remained a short time, but later in the same year came to Secor. Woodford county, Illinois, where he was employed in a tile factory for about two years. In 1898 he began the manu- facture of brick and tile in Eureka on his own account, and in 1899 moved his machin- ery from that place to Roanoke, where he has since successfully carried on business. furnishing employment to from six to eleven hands. He uses the refuse shale and fire clay from the mines at this place, and manu- factures all kinds of paving and buikling brick, roof and drain tile. He is a wide- awake, energtic business man, and has al- ready met with substantial success in his new undertaking.
In 1899 Mr. Willems was united in marriage with Miss Ida Feen, a daughter of John Feen, of Roanoke. Mr. Willems is a very intelligent, well-informed man, and is able to speak several languages, including English, Norwegian, Spanish, low and high German. As a business man he is upright and honorable in all his dealings, and is hekl in high regard by the people of his com- munity.
GARMER KLEEN.
Garmer Kleen, now living retired from the arduous labors to which he has been ac- customed throughout life. is a worthy ex- ample of the patriotic German-American citizen. His career in this country, where he arrived a poor youth, unfriended and with little means, a stranger to the language and
customs of our people, possesses much of in- terest and inspiration to the younger gen- erations.
The birth of Garmer Kleen, one of the prominent farmers of Woodford county, occurred in Germany. December 3. 1838. His father, H. Kleen, born in 1789, de- parted this life in 1852, and the mother, whose maiden name was Jane Struck, died in Germany when in her seventy-third year, in 1872. They reared seven children, and of these our subject alone left the Father- land. Henry died, unmarried, when about forty years old: Luban died at the age of sixty and left a wife and one child: Elliott departed this life when in his thirty-ninth year, and lhulj. who died at sixty-three, left a family to mourn his loss; Rinste is the wife of George Uphoff. a German farm- er, and Etie, wife of Henry Schultz, also re- sides in Germany.
From his boyhood. Garmer Kleen has been devoted to agricultural pursuits. In 1856 he embarked on a sailing vessel bound for the United States, and at the end of a four-weeks voyage arrived in New York city. Thence he proceeded to Peoria, and later went to Pekin, where he found em- ployment in a brickyard. At the end of a year or more he rented some land and in dustriously set abont its cultivation. When he had made a good beginning, he bought eighty acres of land in Woodford county. and from time to time, as his means per- mitted. made additional investments in farmlands. Now, in his declining years, he owns upwards of thirteen hundred acres of well improved property, about seven hundred acres being located in Clay county and the remainder in Woodford and Henry counties. "Diligence in business" has been the prime factor in his unusual success, and his indus-
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try has been no more marked than his in- tegrity and sterling justice. Thus those who are life-long acquaintances of his rejoice in the prosperity which crow ned his toil, and no one envies his good fortune.
In 1808 Mr. Kleen married Dora Kalk- warf, who died within two years, as also did their little me. In 1872 our subject chose Trinche Johnson, a native of Germany, for a wife, and after twelve years of happy wed- ded life she was summoned to the home beyond. She was about forty years of age. and for a long time had been a faithful member of the Lutheran church. Harmon. their eldest child, is unmarried, and is a farmer of Henry county, Illinois, and Jane keeps house for him. Reka, who became the wife of llarmon Kelm. has two sons, Otto and Garmer. The younger children are Gretje, Henry, Dorothea and Jettie. In 1885 Mr. Kleen married Teelka, daughter of Klaas Frederichs, and three children bless this union, namely: Klaas, Garmer and Freadrig.
In his home Mr. Kleen is kind and af- fectionate, and it is a great pleasure to him to provide his dear ones with all the essen- tials to their comfort and happiness. With his wife he is identified with the Lutheran church, and contributes liberally to religious work. Quietly he has pursued the pathway of right. as far as he knew it, and undoubt- celly his influence has ever been salutary and wholesome in his community .
WILLIAM 11. BOCOCK.
There is probably no man in Washburn wider or more favorably known than Will- tam 11 lawock, who has made his home in Www.trd county amer 1852. and is rec-
ognized as one of the important factors in its progress and development. For many years he was actively identified with its ag- ricultural and business interests, but has now laid aside all business cares and is enjoying the fruits of former toil.
Mr. Bocock was born in Highland coun- ty, Ohio. March 12, 1835, and is a son of George W. and Martha ( Adams ) Bocock. natives of Virginia and Ohio, respectively. In 1830 they brought their family to Illi- nois and first located in Fulton county, where the father took up land and engaged in farm- ing until 1852, when he removed to Wood- ford county. settling on a tract of govern- ment land in Linn township, which he im- proved and transformed into a good farm. There he died in 1875. his wife in 1863, honored and respected by all who knew them. To this worthy couple were born ten children. as follows: Mrs. Ellen John- son. of Canton, Illinois : Hannah, who died in Benson, Woodford county; Mrs. Sarah Spencer, of Fairbury, Illinois: Melissa, who died in Fulton county : John, who served one vear as a member of Company H. Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil war, and died in Linn township. Woodford county, in 1874; Mrs. Martha Kann, of Fairfield, Iowa: Mrs. Melissa Fisher, of Nebraska: Joseph, who enlisted at Minonk in the Forty-seventh Illinois Reg- imem and died in the service, at Jefferson City, Missouri, in 1802: Maria, who died in Fulton county, Illinois; and William H., of this review.
William 11. Bocock was reared and edu- cated in Fulton county, and in 1852 came to Woodford county. He was successfully en- gaged in farming in Lin township until 1885. When he moved to Washburn and em- barked in the agricultural implement busi-
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ness, which he carried on for six years, but since that time has lived a retired life.
At Canton, Fulton county, Mr. Bocock was married, November 30, 1865. to Miss Julia Johnson, a daughter of Richard and Katie (Fonts) Johnson, the former a native of Norath Carolina, the later of Virginia. They were among the pioneers of Fulton county, having located there when the In- dians were far more numerous in that locality than the white settlers, and there the father developed and improved a farm. Both parents died in that county. Mr. and Mrs. Bocock have three children : Mrs. Ida Bird, a res- ident of Aspen, Colorado: Stephen, who is married and lives in Washburn, Illinois ; and Mrs. Cora Streeper, of Fairbury, this state.
Mr. Bocock joined the boys in blue dur- ing the Civil war, enlisting at Minonk, in September. 1861, serving for three years or during the war. as a member of Company 11, Seventy-seventh Illinois Volunteer In- fantry. He was mustered into the United States service at Peoria, where the regiment was assigned to the Army of the West, and participated in many engagements, incluid- ing sixteen regular battles, the siege of Vicksburg, Mobile, Fort Morgan and Blakesly, and the Red river expedition. It Vicksburg he received a gunshot wound "and ,was also injured by the explosion of a shell. The war having ended and his sery- ices being no longer needed, he was honor- ably discharged at Mobile, July to, 1865. and returned to his home in Woodford coti- ty. He is now an honored member of Woodruff Post. No. 321. G. A. R., and by his ballot he supports the men and measures of the Republican party. He also belongs to Washburn Lodge, No. 421, F. & A. M., and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In all of life's relations he has
been found true to every trust reposed in him, and his patriotism and loyalty to coun- try has never been doubted.
FRANK E. LEARNED.
This well known and popular druggist and the present mayor of Benson, Illinois, is a native of Woodford county. born. in Clayton township, June 8, 1862, and is a son ot Frank D. and Rosa (Fisher ) Learned, natives of New Hampshire and Vermont, respectively. Our subject's paternal grand- parents, Harvey and Elvira ( Derby ) Lear- ned, were also natives of New Hampshire, and the former was a farmer by occupation and a man of considerable influence in his community. He was a delegate to the na- tional convention that nominated General William H. Harrison for president, and cast his last vote for that gentleman's grandson, Benjamin Harrison. He lived to the ad- vanced age of ninety-three years.
In 1855 our subject's father, Frank D. Learned, came to Illinois, having previously taught school in New Hampshire and Mas- si chusetts and for two years in Delaware. In this state he worked as a farm hand at Lee Center. Lee county, for three years, and for the same length of time was similarly employed in Woodford county. He then purchased eighty acres of railroad land on section 18, Clayton township, where he made lis home until 1873, when he moved to Ben- son, becoming one of the first settlers of the village, and serving as the first postmaster, which office he held for nine years. He es- tablished a drug store and carried it ou un- 1:1 1888, when he sold out to our subject, and for a time engaged in the hotel and
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Invery business, but for the past four years has lived a retired life in Los Angeles, Cal- ifornia. As a Republican he has always taken an active interest in political affairs; has been a delegate to county, district and state conventions, and in 1888 was an alternate delegate to the national convention of his party. He has filled many local offices, for thirty-five years, such as justice of the peace and notary public, and was one of the suc- cessful and progressive men of Benson. Re- ligiously he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. On the 10th of October. 1861. he married Rosa Fisher, and to them were born three children: Frank E., our subject : Grant S., who married Arvilla Cole- man and is engaged in farming in Marshall county, Illinois: and Lydia C .. who died at the age of six years in Delaware, October 1. 1876.
Frank E. Learned began his education in the home schools, and later attended Eureka College, at Eureka, and Wesleyan College, at Bloomington, Illinois, taking a classical course. After one year spent at the latter in- stitution he returned home and entered his father's drug store, where he took up the study of pharmacy. In 1888 he purchased the store, and has since carried it on with marked success. He carries a full line of drugs, paints, wall paper, books, stationery and novelties, and is enjoying a good trade.
On the 8th of May, 1888, Mr. Learned was united in marriage with Miss Mattie Huxtable, also a native of Woodford county. llis father, James Huxtable, who was born in England, took up his residence here in 1854. and was successfully engaged in farm- ing in Greene township until 1886, when he removed to Benson and lived retired until his death, which occurred in September, 180; He was a large land owner and left
his family in comfortable circumstances. His widow is still living in Benson. Of their fifteen children, Mrs. Learned is the eleventh in order of birth. Our subject and his wife have two children : Dana H. and Elsie T., both attending the home schools. The par- ents are both active members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and teachers in the Sunday school, and Mr. Learned is also a trustee of the church.
lle cast his first presidential vote for James G. Blaine in 1884, and has always af- filiated with the Republican party. He is a member of the township central committee and has been a delegate to numerous conven- tions. Since attaining his majority he has taken an active interest in local affairs and has filled various offices, serving as town clerk three years : postmaster of Benson five years from 1889; village trustee six years; and in 1900 was elected mayor, which office he is now filling in a most creditable and sat- isfactory manner.
JAMES CASTNER IRVING.
There are few men in Metamora in the past decade who have done more for its com- mercial interests and its growth and devel- opment than the gentleman whose name in- troduces this sketch. He has cheerfully given his support to those enterprises that tend to public advancement and. with hardly an exception, he has been connected with every interest that has promoted gen- eral welfare.
A native of Woodford county, Mr. Ir- ving was born in Metamora. December 10. 1850, and by his many friends in this vi- cinity he is familiarly known as "Cass."
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His father. David Irving. was born spected by all who knew him. He married in Somerset county, New Jersey, in Miss Esther E. Perry, a native of Chester county, Pennsylvania, and a daughter of Benjamin F. Perry. By this union were born three children who reached years of maturity, namely : Percival, who died at his home in Metamora: Eugene Douglas, a farmer of Worth township. Woodford coun- ty: and James Castner, our subject. 1820, and was a son of James Irving. a native of the same county, and grandson of Daniel Irving, who was born in Scotland and came to the new world in colonial days. being one of the early settlers of Somerset county, New Jersey, where in the midst of the wiklerness he made for his family a home. He was a commissioned officer in a New Jersey regiment in the colonial wars, and lived to the advanced age of one hun- dred years. Our subject's grandfather. James Irving, a carpenter, joiner and farmer of Somerset county, died at the age of ninety.
In his native state David Irving grew to manhood and learned the brickmason's trade, which he followed there for several years. In 1839 he came to Illinois and first located at Jacksonville, where he worked at his trade, assisting in the erection of a num- ber of business houses and public buildings. inchidling the deaf and dumb asylum. In 1844 he contracted to build the court house at Metamora and so came to Woodford county, where he started a brickyard, manu- facturing the brick used in its construction. This building was used as a court house for over half a century, or until the county seat was moved to Eureka, and is now the Met- amora opera house. As a contractor and buikler David Irving was one of the lead- ing business men of the place for some years. and did much toward improving and devel- oping Woodford county. He was called upon to serve his fellow citizens in numer- ous positions of trust and responsibility, in- cluding the office of sheriff. Politically he was a stanch supporter of the men and meas- ures of the Democratic party. He died in Metamora, June 6. 1898, honored and re- position in a most creditable and satisfac-
James C. Irving received his primary ed- ucation in the common schools of Metamora and at the age of thirteen began his busi- ness career as a clerk in the grocery store of James F. Earl, where he was employed for several years. Later he attended the pre- paratory department of Eureka College dur- ing the fall and winter terms for two years. struggling to support himself and pay his way by working at anything which he coukt find to do, sawing wood after night to pay for a set of bookkeeping books. In the sum- mer of 1869 he returned to Metamora and for two years was employed as clerk in the grocery store of C. Rohman. In October. 1871, he commenced work for Fisher & Gib- son. under the direction of John F. Fuller. an expert abstractor of titles, to prepare a complete set of abstract books of Woodford county, but the firm soon failed. and in Feb- ruary, 1872, he entered the office of the "Woodford Sentinel." where he began at the bottom, learned the printer's trade and worked his way upward until he became foreman of the office. having full charge of the local department until 1880, when he ac- cepted the position of deputy circuit clerk, serving as such eight years and becoming thoroughly familiar with the duties of the office. Ile was then elected circuit clerk by the largest majority ever given a county officer in Woodford county, and filled that
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tory manner for four years. At the end of that time he refused to become a candidate for re-election though urged to do so. He was then appointed master in chancery, a po- sition he held for the same length of time. and could have been holding yet so far as his ability to perform the work was concerned and the endorsement of the bar could have prevailed. never having been overruled in any of his decisions and having been fully sustained by the supreme court in every in- portant case after most desperate strug. gles on the part of eminent attorneys. In 1802 Mr. Irving embarked in the real estate and loan business, in which he has met with remarkable success, and to which he now gives his entire time and attention.
On the 11th of January, 1877, Mr. Iry- ing was united in marriage with Mrs. Carrie S. Kern. a daughter of F. F. and Caroline ( Starrett ) Hirsch, of Metamora. She was born in Suncook, New Hampshire, but was reared and educated in Woodford county, Illinois.
Politically Mr. Irving is a stanch Demo- crat, and an active worker for his party's interest -. During the fight for the removal of the county seat to Eureka he stood firmly by his native township, and in the territory as- signed to him did effective work, as the vote still shows. On its removal he said to a few friends who met him after the final decision had been made: "Well, boys, there is no I've to cry : it has gone ; now let us put our shoulders to the wheel and give old Meta na a boom and we can have a good town vet." Mr Irving is accredited as father of the water works of Metamora, having been the origund agitator of the system for fire protection and drawing the plans for the ยท my chelle furnished free of cost to the town. For four successive terms he
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