USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The biographical record of Livingston County, Illinois > Part 7
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and later followed farming for two years, after which he moved to Princeton, Illinois. where he was engaged in the mercantile business until his health failed. in 1880, when he sold out and has since devoted his attention to bee culture. having one of the largest apiaries in the United States. He has always been a stanch Republican in poli- tics, but never an aspirant for office, though he is now serving as justice of the peace. Of his three children, one died in infancy; Emma L. is now the wife of Frank H. Hoff- man, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Charles L. completes the family.
The primary education of our subject was obtained in the public schools of Prince- ton, and he was graduated from the high school of that city at the age of seventeen years. He then entered the law department of the University of Michigan at AAnn Arbor, where he was graduated at the age of nine- teen and received the degree of LL. B., March 20. 1882. He was not permitted to practice, however, until he attained his ma- jority, when the state of Michigan forwarded his certificate, and he was admitted to prac- tice at the bar of Illinois, September 24. 1883. After his graduation he located at Ottawa, Illinois, and entered the office of Mayo & Widmer, prominent attorneys of that place, with whom he remained for fit- teen months.
In 1884, at the suggestion of llon. Wal- ter Reeves, now member of congress from this district. Mr. Romberger came to Dwight and opened a law office over the People's Bank, being alone in business until 1887, when he formed a partnership with John C' Hetzel, a real estate and insurance agent, under the firm name of Hetzel & Romberger. In 1891 he bought out his partner and con- tinued alone until November, 1895, when he
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sold a half interest in the business to Frank L. Smith, the firm being known as Romberger & Smith. Their specialty is real estate and real estate work, although they do a private bank- ing business for accommodation of friends and acquaintances. Without question the firm does one of the largest loan and real es- tate businesses in central Illinois, this fact being conceded by all other firms in their line. At present they are extensively inter- ested in Mississippi and Louisiana lands. Their holdings in the latter state are timber lands, which the firm purchased with the view of enhancing their value, and in Jan- ary, 1900. they sold one tract of twelve thousand acres in Madison parish. This is desirable property, being accessible to steam- boats and the Vicksburg, Shreveport & P'a- cific Railroad. The Mississippi land is in the Delta country and is also covered with hardwood lumber, principally oak, pecan and gum. When cleared this will be- come excellent cotton land. Besides this property the firm has about fifteen hundred acres of fine farming land in Lee county, Illinois, which is well improved and under a high state of cultivation, and also oper- ates largely in Iowa and Indiana lands. Since coming to Dwight Mr. Romberger has had complete charge of the Keeley Com- pany's legal business, and is attorney for the estate of Dr. Leslie E. Keeley. Ile is also local attorney for the Chicago & Alton Railroad. Ile does very little court work, however, his entire legal business being con- fined to office practice. He is interested in the Keeley Institute, located at No. 2803 Locust street, St. Louis, Missouri, being a partner of Dr. J. E. Blaine, who for eight years was chief of the medical staff of the Leslie E. Keeley Company of Dwight.
On the 7th of October. 1884. Mir. Rom-
berger married Miss Nellie M. Ensign, a native of Connecticut, and a daughter of Edward H. and Martha S. Ensign. By this union three children were born, the okl- est, a daughter, died in infancy. Louise E. died very suddenly of tonsilitis. November 2, 1899, at the age of twelve years. Emma T., aged eleven years, is attending school in Dwight.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Romberger are mem- bers of the Congregational church, and he is also a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity. In 1884 he was made a Master Mason in Livingston Lodge, No. 371, .1. F. & A. M., of Dwight, of which he is now past master, and received the higher degrees in Orient Chapter, No. 31, R. A. M., and Blaney Commandery, No.5, K. T., of Morris, Illinois; Dwight Chapter, No. 166, O. E. S., of which he is past worthy patron ; is a member of the Oriental Consistory and Me- dinah Temple of the Mystic Shrine, both of Chicago. He is now a member of Wil- mington Chapter, No. 142, R. A. M., of which he is past high priest, and Joliet Com- mandery, No. 4, K. T., of which he is senior warden. Since old enough to vote Mr. Komberger has affiliated with the Republi- can party, and in 1892 was elected president of the board of trustees of the village of Dwight on the ticket advocating public im- provements. He has always taken the lead in anything tending to advance the inter- ests of his town and worked hard to get the sewerage system, electric light and water works adopted and cement sidewalks laid. Therefore during his administration there were more improvements made than at any other time, and he is justly numbered among Dwight's most progressive and public-spir- ited citizens. He is emphatically a man of enterprise, positive character, indomitable
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energy, strict integrity and liberal view's. and is thoroughly identified in feeling with the growth and prosperity of his city.
NATHAN S. GRANDY.
Nathan S. Grandy, deceased, was num- bered among the honored pioneers of Liv- ingston county, where he located when this region was wild and unimproved. in the work of development he took an active part in the early days and aided in opening up the country to civilization. As the years passed his faithfully performed duties of citi- zen-hip and his interest in the welfare and progress of the community never abated. Becoming widely and favorably known he made many friends, and his death was a loss to the entire community.
Mr. Grandy was born October 6, 1816. in Phantom township. Addison county, Ver- mont, where he grew to manhood. and there worked at the carpenter's trade, as a mann- facturer of sash, doors and blinds. He first married a Miss Kent, who died in Illinois a few years after soming here. After his marriage he came to Hlinois, arriving in Chi- cago about the ist of May, 1850, when only thirty miles of railroad extended from that city toward Galena, and a few miles had been built in this direction, there being not more than one hundred miles in the state. From Chicago Mr. Grandy went to Alton, a part of the journey being made by way of the Illi- noi- river, and the whole trip occupying over a week. He first located in Kane. Greene county. Ilinois, where he had a brother liv- ing. and there he engaged in farming for a timie.
While a resident of Greene county. Mr.
Grandy was married. February 12. 1854. to Miss Harriet E. Christy, a native of Law- rence county. Illinois, and a daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Dennison ) Christy. po- neers of that county, where their marriage was celebrated. The father, who was a na- tive of Ohio and a farmer by occupation, re- moved to Greene county soon after the birth of Mrs. Grandy and bought a tract of land in Kane, where he spent the remainder of his life. In religious belief he was a Baptist.
To Mr. and Mrs. Grandy were born eight children, namely : T. E., a real estate dealer of Pontiac, married Elizabeth 1. Mason : Harriet .A., at home with her mother : Clara is the wife of Albert G. Mason, of Pontiac. and they have four children living. Ollie, Leonard L., Alice and Cress; Charles E .. who lives on a farm three miles and a half east of Pontiac, married Susan Foster, of Owego township, and they have two chil- dren. Mabel E. and Victor J. ; George W' .. a resident of St. John's, Kansas, married Jennie Dudley, of Missouri, and they have one child, Pearl: William A., a lumberman of Masen City. Hlinois, married Emma An- trim, and they have one child. Margery ; llenry lives on the home farm and married Miss Tillie Hill: Mary J. is the wife of W. C. Young, a farmer living three miles east of Pontiac, and they have three children. Edith. Marshall and Lewis,
In 1856 Alr. and Mrs. Grandy came to Livingston county and took up their resi- dence in Owego township, where he pur- chased a farm of eighty acres, on which was standing a small cabin. 14x18 feet, made of rough slabs from the sawmill set up on end and the cracks filled with clay. The floor was of ash and oak boards about ten inches wide hewed down, while the roof was made of real old-fashioned clapboards split
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from oak timber. In this rude dwelling the family lived for over a year. With the ex- ception of a few acres the farm was un- broken. On taking up his residence here Mr. Grandy at once turned his attention to the improvement and cultivation of his farm. The first winter he constructed a stable by putting forked poles into the ground, laying other poles across these and covering them with brush and then with hay, while the sides were also banked up with hay. This comfortably sheltered his stock until a better barn could be built. Hle fenced his land and placed acre after acre under the plow until all was highly cultivated. hu 1861 a more substantial and comfortable residence was built, much of the timber being taken from his own wood lot. two miles from his home. Men were making the sills for the new house when the news came of the firing upon Fort Sumter. The house was completed that summer and is still standing. A large part of the finished lum- ber used in its construction was bought at sixty dollars per thousand and paid for with corn at ten cents per bushel. This had to be shelled, sacked and hauled to Pontiac. Mr. Grandy used a small two-hole corn sheller, run by horse power.
When he located in this county he could travel in a northeasterly direction from his home and find not a house nor a fence until within two miles of Kankakee, while his nearest trading places were Pontiac and Fairbury. Coal was almost unknown and was very high when obtainable. Several times during the first four years spent here. the Grandy home came very nearly being destroyed by the prairie fires. Mrs. Grandy once saved the house with a pail of water and her mop. They added to the farm by addi- tional purchase as their financial resources
increased, but in 1872 sold it and bought two hundred and four acres in Pontiac township. one mile from the court house, which Mrs. Grandy st'll owns, and on which the family moved that year. Our subject made all of the improvements upon the place, including the erection of a fine house, a good barn and substantial outbuildings. He was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1877. when he was injured by a saw, after which he practically lived retired until his death, being blind the last two years of his life.
Mr. Grandy was a Democrat in politics and took an active and prominent part in the public affairs of his time. While a resident of Owego township he served as school treas- urer, assessor and justice of the peace, and was known throughout the county as Squire Grandy. In Pontiac township he served as road commissioner some years and took an active part in buikling the bridges and im- proving the roads of his locality, assisting in the construction of the fine iron bridge three miles west of Pontiac. In 1868 he was ap- pointed county commissioner by the board of supervisors to go over the county and re- appraise the swamp lands, to which business he devoted one whole summer. spending nearly all the time driving over the county. He was one of the early members of the Bap- tist church and later attended services at Avoca, where a church was built for the use of any denomination, this being much nearer his home. After his removal to Pontiac he united with the Baptist church in that city. He died on his farm, one mile east of Ponti- ac. June 26, 1800, honored and respected by all who knew him. Throughout his career of continued and far-reaching usefulness his (luties were performed with the greatest care. and his personal honor and integrity were withont blemish.
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Mrs. Grandy still survives her husband and now makes her home in Pontiac, where she has a lovely home at No. 317 East How- ard street. She has only lived here a year, though owning the place for some time. She was always a true helpmeet to her husband. aiding him in every possible way, and is a most estimable lady, beloved and respected by all who know her on account of her sterling worth and many excellencies of character.
JOHN W. HOOVER.
John W. Hoover, whose home is at No. 215 East Livingston street, Pontiac, is one of the most public-spirited and enterprising citizens of that place. He is a native of Hli- nois, born in Putnam county, March 9, 1840, and is a son of Henry Mann and Sarah ( Hunt ) Hoover. The father was born in Pennsylvania, June 10, 1808. and in 1838 came to Illinois, locating in Bureau county, where he engaged in farming until 1848 and then went to California, crossing the plains with an ox team. The following four years were passed in prospecting and min- ing, during which time he accumulated con- siderable property, but when just ready to return to his family in Illinois he met with a violent death and his hard-earned treasure was taken from him. His widow is still liv- ing at the age of eighty-eight years, and resides with her daughter in Minonk, Wood- ford county, Illinois. Only three of her ten children survive. Two sons, George 11, and Julius G., were soldiers of the Civil war, and lied in Tennessee during their service.
Our subject remained with his mother on the home farm in Bureau county until 1857, when they removed to Livingston
county and located in Nebraska township. where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until the breaking out of the Civil war. in 1861, when he enlisted in the Third Illinois Cavalry, Company K, for three years. Ile participated in a number of battles in Mis- souri and Arkansas, including the engage- ment at Pea Ridge, where he was wounded. He went to the gulf, was stationed at New Orleans for a time, and was in the sieges of Port Hudson and Vicksburg. He was at the latter place at the time of the first re- pulse of Sherman, and remained there until the surrender to Grant. He was mustered out at Springfield, Ilinois, as commissary sergeant, having held that position two years. After his discharge Mr. Hoover returned to Livingston county and again engaged in farming in Nebraska township. The sud- den death of his father had left the family in very straightened circumstances and placed a very heavy burden on the shoulders of our subject, but he early displayed that determination and grit which have carried him forward to a successful life. 'He was devoted to his mother and toiled early and late that she might have the comforts of life that she had been accustomed to before the death of her husband. Ile continued to en- gage in farming until the fall of 1870, when he was elected sheriff of Livingston county on the Democratic ticket and moved to Pon- tiac. He filled that office for one term with credit to himself and to the general ,satis- faction of the public, and at its close em- barked in general merchandising, which he carried on until his store and its contents were destroyed by fire. July 4. 1874. Al- though he lost almost everything he pos- served, he was not cast down or crushed by the misfortune. but with characteristic en- ergy he immediately purchased another stock
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J. W. HOOVER.
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MRS. JOHN W. HOOVER.
THE
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of goods and continued business until 1897, being associated with Wilson Pittenger some years, and afterward with W. S. Sims for about five years, the firm name being Hoover & Sims. Ile was then alone in business until selling out, in 1897.
Mr. Hoover was married, December 31, 1868, to Miss Mary E. Van Doren, of this county, a daughter of Hilyard and Eliza ( Thompson ) Van Doren. Her father was born in New Jersey, in 1808, and was six years old when he removed to Ohio with his parents. His father, John Van Doren, also a native of New Jersey, conducted a hotel near Clarksville, Clinton county, Ohio, for many years. Throughout the greater part of his life Mrs. Hoover's father followed the carpenter's trade, but after coming to Livingston county, Illinois, engaged in farm- ing and stock raising in Nebraska township. He was school trustee for many years and also filled the office of collector and super- visor for some years. He helped build the first school house in his township, advanc- ing money for the . work until the district could reimburse him, and he organized the first Sunday school within its borders, serv- ices being held at his home until the school house and church were built. In 1885 he retired from active life and moved to Pon- tiac, where he died September 1, 1898. His wife had departed this life February 14, 1892. Mrs. Hoover is the youngest of their seven children. William T., the oldest, mar- ried Julia Smith in 1855, and is a prominent contractor and builder of Pontiac. Frank M. and Luther were both members of Com- pany .A. One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil war, and the latter was drowned in the Cum- berland river in Tennessee after serving one year. Frank M. married Nettie Nickerson
and resides on the old home farm in Ne- braska township. Mr. and Mrs. Iloover have a family of four children, namely : Ella 1., born in Pontiac, was married, May 10. 1808, to Ilalbert Opperman, a grocer of Pontiac : Helen P. has for the past three years been head bookkeeper at the Pontiac Shoe mannfactury; Edna R. is at home, and Mande W. is a student in the high school of Pontiac.
In 1898 Mr. Hoover was elected super- visor of Pontiac township, and his services gave such universal satisfaction that in the spring of 1900 he was re-elected, being the only Democrat elected on the township ticket, which speaks well for his personal popularity and the confidence and trust reposed in him by his fellow citizens. He has been fire marshal of the city for the past twenty-five years, and was a member of the department for some years before. It has been his con- stant study to improve the department and the time he has devoted to that work has been well spent, for his efforts have been crowned with success. At present a new city hall and engine house is being erected. Mr. Hoover is an honored member of T. Lyle Dickey post, G. . A. R., and attends and supports the Methodist Episcopal church.
GEORGE Z. FLAGLER.
Prominent among the citizens of Dwight who have witnessed the marvelous develop- ment of Livingston county in the last half- century, and who have, by honest toil and in- dustry, succeeded in acquiring a competence and are now spending the sunset of life in quiet and retirement, is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch.
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Mr. Flagler was born in Herkimer. New York. June 4. 1828, and was reared there until ten years of age. when he removed to Ohio with his parents. Philip and Nancy ( Dygert ) Flagler, also natives of New York. llis paternal grandfather. Zachariah Flagler. was born in France. and on his emigration to America settled in Dutchess county. New York, where, in the midst of the wilderness. he developed a farm and spent the remainder of his life. He reared a family of eleven chil- dren, ten sens and one daughter, of whom Philip was fifth in order of birth.
On reaching manhood Philip Flagler re- moved to Herkimer county, New York, be- coming one of its early settlers, and there he married Nancy Dygert, a daughter of Will- iam Dygert, who emigrated from Germany to the United States at an early day. After his marriage Mr. Flagler conducted a meat market in Frankfort. Herkimer county, until our subject was ten years of age, and then moved to Middlebury, Portage county, Ohio, going by way of the Erie canal to Buffalo. by lake to Cleveland, by canal to Akron, Ohio, and from there across the country by wagon to Middlebury, where he worked at the shoemaker's trade five years. He then returned to New York by the same route. this time locating in Dutchess county, where he followed farming until a few years prior to his death, when he sold his farm and moved to Rochester. New York. There he lived retired until called to his final rest. at the age of seventy years. The mother of our subject had died many years previous. leaving six children, who reached man and womanhood, namely: George 7 ... Catherine. Walter, Albert. William and Oscar, all still living with the exception of Walter. Cath- erine is the wife of Philip Miller, of Dwight. Illinois. For his second wife the father mar-
ried Katherine Wright, by whom he had one daughter, Annie.
George Z. Flagler received his education in the schools of Portage county. Ohio, and Dutchess county. New York, and remained at home with his father until after his mar- riage. On the 27th of September. 1848. when twenty-one years of age. he married Phebe Jane Clarkson, then sixteen. They met at the village school in Stormville. New York, and the friendship there formed soon ripened into a love that has never died out. fer they are still lovers, the same as in the days long gone by. Mrs. Flagler was born in Dutchess county, of which her parents, Egbert and Maria ( Tacox ) Clarkson, were also natives, while her paternal grandfather. Charles Clarkson, was a native of England. having emigrated to this country at an early day. For many years her father followed farming in Dutchess county, but in the fall of 1856 he came to Livingston county, Illi- nois, where he lived retired until his death. at the age of sixty-three years. His wife died at the age of seventy-three. In their family were four children. William. Hamil- ton. Phebe Jane and Mary Elizabeth, but Mrs. Flagler is the only one now living. To our subject and his wife were born three chil- dren. namely: (1) Eugene, a resident of Dwight. married Letty Potter, and they have two children : Stella, wife of Eberett Lewis. a jeweler of Dwight, by whom she has one child. Harland : and Louise. (2) John W. an invalid residing in Dwight. married Laura Lee, and they have one child. Helen. (3) George N., who has succeeded his ta- ther in the lumber business, married Letty Saltmarsh, and they have two children. Ed- die and Mattic.
After his marriage Mr. Flagler remained with his father a year, but determining to
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engage in business for himself, he rented a farm of one hundred and seven acres in Dutchess county, New York, which he suc- cessfully operated for three years. Selling out in the east he came to Illinois in 1855. and after spending ten days at Joliet pro- ceeded to Dwight. Livingston county, where he hired out to a Mr. Spencer, whose farmi included the present home of our subject. After working for him one year he was va- riously employed for a time, and then turned his attention to the carpenter's trade. One of the first houses which he built is the one he is now living in, it being situated on a part of the old Spencer farm and is one of the most beautiful places in Dwight, surrounded by four acres of well-kept grounds. Here Mr. Flagler located in 1899. The first house that he owned in Dwight is still standing. He continued to follow the carpenter's trade for several years, and in 1874 became inter- ested in the lumber business, which he car- ried on alone for three years, when he formed a partnership with Thomas Sims, under the name of Flagler & Sims. Three years later this was dissolved and Zed John- son purchased an interest in the business. which was conducted under the firm name of Flagler & Johnson for three years and a half. From that time on he was alone in business until 1897, when he was succeeded by his son, George N .. who still carries it on, while our subject is practically living retired. though he still continues to look after his property interests in Dwight, which include a number of houses.
cupied a little shanty, 16x24 feet. In 1856 he and William Clarkson each built a house, the first that were erected that year. One Sunday the two men went out about three miles in the country and got some young basswood trees, which they brought to town on their backs and planted. these being the first trees set out in Dwight, as the place at that time was flat prairie land, unadorned by trees or shrubs. Mr. Flagler helped or- ganize the village and has aided materially in its growth and building, assisting in the erection of most of the oldler dwellings of the place. He helped build the Presbyterian church, which was the first house of worship erected in Dwight, and later, as a contractor, built the Methodist Episcopal church. He was one of the first trustees of the village. being elected on a temperance ticket. and was a member of the village board four terms. By his ballot he has always sup- ported the men and measures of the Dem- ocratic party at national elections, but in local affairs, when no issue is involved, votes for the man whom he believes best qualified to fill the office. Socially he is a member of Livingston lodge, No. 371. F. & A. M .. and Wilmington Chapter, No. 142, R. A. M. During their long residence in Dwight Mr. and Mrs. Flagler have made a host of warm friends, have gained the confidence and re- spect of all who know them, and as honored pioneers and representative citizens are cer- tainly deserving of prominent mention in a work of this kind.
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