USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > The biographical record of Whiteside County, Illinois.. > Part 19
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M ARTIN V. CARD, one of Morrison's most esteemed citizens, was for sey- eral years prominently identified with the agricultural interests of Whiteside county, but is now living retired, enjoying the fruits
of former toil at his beautiful home on Grove street. He was born in New Ashford, Berk- shire county, Massachusetts, August 12, 1841, a son of James and Sylvania (Scovell) Card and grandson of James Card, Sr., a Revolutionary soldier. The father was born in Rhode Island, and when a young man removed to Massachusetts, having in- herited a farm in New Ashford. There he was married, and later he removed to North Adams, the same state, where he followed the blacksmith's trade on his own account. He died at that place in 1860, his wife sev- eral years later. Ten children were born to them, but one died at the age of eight months. The father attended and supported the Baptist church, of which his wife was a faithful member.
After completing his education, Martin V. Card entered the Arnold Cotton Mills, at North Adams, as bobbin boy, and steadily worked his way upward until he had charge of the mill as superintendent, having about one hundred and forty hands working under him. In the meantime the Civil war broke out, and he enlisted June 21, 1861, in Com- pany 1, Tenth Massachusetts Volunteer In- fantry, which was one of the first three- years regiments to enter the service. They were first sent to Washington, D. C., where they were employed in building fortifications during the winter, and were then ordered to Fortress Monroe. They took part in the Peninsular campaign of 1862, their first en- gagement being the battle of Williamsburg, after which they proceeded within four miles of Richmond. In the battle of Fair Oaks they lost their colonel, all of the line officers and fifty per cent. of the men, but fortunately, Mr. Card, who was serving as corporal, escaped unwounded. In his next battle, that of Malvern Hill, he was injured,
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and first sent to the hospital at Fortress Monroe and later to Alexandria. He re- joined his regiment the day before the bat- tle of Antietam, in which engagement he took part, and then, with his command, followed Lee to Warrington, Virginia, where they camped during the winter of 1862-3. The latter part of the winter the army was at Falmouth, and during the campaign of the following year took part in the battle of Fredericksburg. Mr. Card was granted a furlough on account of distinguished service at Malvern Hill, and prior to the battle of the Wilderness was made sergeant. In the latter engagement he was seriously wounded. After lying in the field hospital near Fred- ericksburg for eight days he was sent to Judiciary Square hospital, Washington, D. C., where he arrived May 20, 1864, and through the influence of Senator Dawes, then representative from North Adams, he was given a furlough. He was finally mus- tered out at a hospital in Boston, October 2, 1864, but was obliged to go on crutches for over a year.
As soon as able Mr. Card re-entered the mill as second hand, and was later made overseer in charge of the same, which posi- tion he satisfactorily filled until March 15, 1871. He was married May 1, 1866, to Miss Frances Ives, daughter of David Ives, one of the early settlers of North Adams, who assisted in building the first Methodist Episcopal church of that place. Three children were born of this union: Thomas, who has been engaged in the drug business in Chicago for ten years; Effie, wife of Fred Adams, of North Adams, Massachusetts; and Fannie, who is with her father. While visiting in North Adams, the wife and mother died in 1886, in the same room where she was born and married,
With his wife and two children, Mr. Card came to Whiteside county, Illinois, in ISTI, and turned his attention to agricult- ural pursuits, owning and operating a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres, upon which he made many improvements. In connection with general farming he also im- ported Holstein cattle, giving special atten- tion to stock raising. He met with excel- lent success in his farming operations, but now rents his farm and lives retired from active labor. In March, 1894, he removed to Morrison, where he built an elegant home on West Grove street, which is beautifully located in grounds covering an acre and a half.
On the 14th of September, 1887, Mr. Card was united in marriage with Miss Car- rie S. Teller, a native of Granger, Allegany county, New York, who came with her fam- ily to Morrison in 1862. She is a sister of Senator Henry M. Teller, of Colorado. Mr. and Mrs. Card are active and prominent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is trustee and treasurer and has been superintendent of the Sunday school. Politically he is a Republican, and socially is a member of Alpheus Clarke post, G. A. R., of which he is past commander and which he has represented a number of times in the state lodge and also in the national encampment held at Indianapolis in 1894. He is well-known and highly respected, and justly merits the regard in which he is held.
TRA WILLSEY, the well-known and effi- cient superintendent of the Whiteside county poor farm in Mount Pleasant town- snip, was born in Schoharie county, New York, January 27, 1841, and is a son of David and Margaret (Vrooman) Willsey, also
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natives of that state. The maternal grand- father was Jacob Vrooman, who was of Holland origin and a farmer by occupation. He died in New York before the birth of our subject. The paternal grandfather, Abram Willsey, was also a native of New York, but of English extraction, and was a soldier of the war of 1812. He was born in Albany county and died in Schoharie c )un- ty, at the advanced age of ninety-two years, while his wife died at the age of eighty- four. All of their nine children were liv- ing at the time of their deaths. They were David, Henry, Ander, Elias, John, Will- iamı, Johnjost, Phoebe and Eliza Jane. Henry and Andrew are still living at the age of ninety-two and ninety years respect- ively, and also the four youngest of their family. Their family owned property in New York state and followed farming quite extensively. In early life David Willsey, father of our subject, learned the black- smith's trade, at which he worked for about twenty -five years, and then engaged in farm- ing in Schoharie county until his death, which occurred in 1871. His wife died in 1890, at the age of eighty-five years. To them were born eleven children, all of whom reached man and womanhood, namely: Mary, now deceased, was the wife of Peter Severson, still a resident of New York; William H. is a banker and merchant of Owa- tonna, Steele county, Minnesota; George died at the age of twenty-two years; John went to California in early days, since which time nothing has been heard of him; Har- riet married a Mr. Wilber, now deceased, and she died at the age of thirty years; Andrew is a contractor and builder of bridges residing in Otsego county, New York; Ira, our subject, is next in order of birth; James is a farmer of Otsego county,
New York; Frances is the wife of Thomas Hayes, of New York state; Ella is the wife of Joseph Bradley, of Fairfield, lowa; and David is a farmer and blacksmith of Her- kimer county, New York.
In the county of his nativity our subject grew to manhood, and was provided with a common-school education. After leaving school he worked for awhile at the carpen- ter's trade, at farming and other occupa- tions until he attained his majority, and then went to Cheshire, Berkshire county, Massachusetts, where he was foreman of a lumber yard for about three years and also buyer a part of the time.
While there Mr. Willsey was married, July 29, 1864, to Miss Orinda Brown, a na- tive of Massachusetts, as were also her par- ents, John M. and Zilpha Brown. Her father was a mason, carpenter and wheel- wright, one of the best mechanics of the east in his day. He is still living in Ches- hire-a hale and hearty old man of ninety years. The wife and mother died in 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Willsey have three children: Frank B., who married Winifred Dickison, is a graduate of the Iowa University at Iowa City, and is now engaged in the prac- tice of medicine at West Branch, that state; Eugene E. is a graduate of the Chicago Northwestern Dental College, and is en- gaged in the practice of his profession in Argos, Indiana; and Margaret is the wife of Dr. Frank Allen, of Shelby, Iowa.
Mr. Willsey remained in Massachusetts about four years after his marriage, and then returned to Schoharie county, New York, where he continued to make his home for two years. Subsequently he spent some time in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and in 1871 came to Illinois, locating first in Wysox township, Carroll county, where he engaged
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in farming for ten years. At the end of that time he came to Hopkins township, Whiteside county, where he followed the same pursuit until appointed to his present responsible position, that of superintendent of the poor farm, in March, 1899. He is performing his duties in a most commend- able and satisfactory manner. He was also a member of the school board for a number of years, and has always taken a great in- terest in educational matters. In politics he is thoroughly independent, preferring to vote for the man whom he considers best qualified to fill the office, regardless of party ties. Socially, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Sterling. and, religiously, belongs to the Baptist church of that place.
N ATHAN THOMPSON. Prominent among the energetic, far-seeing and successful business men of Whiteside coun- ty is the subject of this sketch who is now living retired in Prophetstown. His life history most happily illustrates what may be attained by faithful and continued effort in carrying out an honest purpose. Integrity, activity and energy have been the crowning points of his success, and his connection with various business enterprises and indus- tries have been of decided advantage to his section of the county, promoting its material welfare in no uncertain manner.
Mr. Thompson was born in Galway, Saratoga county, New York, March 9, 1822, and is a son of Dr. Nathan Thompson, who was born in the same county, in March, 1778. The grandfather, Judge John Thomp- son, was born in Litchfield, Massachusetts, March 20, 1740, and was one of the first
settlers of Saratoga county, New York. The family is of Scotch-Irish origin, and its founder in America located in Londonderry, New Hampshire. The father of our subject, who was a prominent physician of his na- tive county, was married there to Miss Lucy Plumb, who was born in Connecticut and removed to Oneida county, New York, at an early day. To them were born six chil- dren, three sons and three daughters, name- ly: Emma, Mary, Charles, Martha, Nathan and Ralph, of whom our subject and his sis- ter Martha are now the only survivors. For a number of years she has spent the winter in Florida, while through the summer she makes her home with her brother and since his wife's death has had charge of his home.
Nathan Thompson was reared on a farm in his native county and received a good common-school education. In 1843 he came to Illinois in company with two cousins, Robert and Isaac Seers, traveling by way of the Great Lakes to Milwaukee, and from there proceeding overland to Elgin. In 1845 he came to Whiteside county, Illinois, and for two years operated a farm on the shares, which belonged to his cousin and is now within the corporate limits of Prophetstown. The following year he clerked in a store, where he received a practical business train- ing, and for one winter he operated a horse- power sawmill in Portland Grove. He was next employed in the plow works of Tuller, Dodge & Pitts, at Peru, and in 1852 started a store in Prophetstown under the firm name of N. Thompson & Company, carrying a general stock of merchandise. For his own use he erected a large store building, which is now used as an implement house, and for fifteen years he carried on operations as a merchant. In the meantime he invested
NATHAN THOMPSON.
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his capital in land and improved farms, and since disposing of his store has devoted his tine to looking after his landed interests and stimulating industries by the loaning of money. He was one of the organizers of the First National Bank of Prophetstown, of which he has since been a stockholder, and was the first president of that financial in- stitution. He has been identified with various enterprises that have tended to advance the interests of his town and counyt, and gave his support toward build- ing the different railroads through the county. He has also been connected with the ditching enterprise, which has opened up some valuable farming land near Pro- phetstown.
In 1867, Mr. Thompson was united in marriage with Mrs. Sarah J. Parrott, who was born, reared and educated in Vermont. She died in 1882, and was laid to rest in Prophetstown cemetery, where a beautiful monument has been erected to her memory. In political sentiment Mr. Thompson is a Jeffersonian Democrat, and cast his first presidential vote for James K. Polk. He has never had time nor inclination for pub- lic office, but has always faithfully discharged his duties of citizenship and has been untir- ing in his efforts to promote the public wel- fare. He came to this county without cap- ital, and through his own resources and by his own energy and ability has worked his way upward until he is now the owner of a valuable estate, having over five hundred acres of well-improved farming land near Prophetstown besides his city property. As a citizen, he stands high in the esteein of his fellow men on account of his sterling worth and the active and prominent part he has taken in advancing the interests of his community.
O LIVER E. FINCH, a prominent citizen of Fulton and the present assessor of that place, is a man whose success in life is due entirely to his own unaided efforts. His life has been one of industry and perse- verance, and the systematic and honorable business methods which he has followed have won him the support and confidence of many.
Mr. Finch was born in Niagara county, New York, January 14, 1835, a son of John and Anna (Adams) Finch, the former a native of Orange county, New York, the latter of Salisbury, Connecticut. The pa- ternal grandfather, Jacob Finch, was also a native of the Empire state, and was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. He lived to be almost one hundred years of age. The maternal grandfather, Samuel Adams, also fought for American independence as a sol- dier of the Revolution. He was first cousin of President John Adams.
The father of our subject was reared and educated in his native county and there con- tinued to make his home until after his mar- riage, his time being devoted to school teach- ing. In 1825, at the age of twenty-two years, he removed to Niagara county, New York, where he continued to follow the profession of teaching for a lew years, and then worked at the carpenter's and mill- wright's trades. From New York, he moved to Jackson county, Michigan, where he died in 1852. He was quite prominent in public lile; was a freesoil Democrat; and in 1851 was elected to the Michigan legislature. He died while serving in that capacity. Ile was also an active and prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His wife survived him twenty years, and died in Jackson, Michigan. To them were born seven children, namely: John T. died in
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his native county-Niagara county, New York-in 1897. As a youth he enlisted in the Mexican war and remained in the service until hostilities ceased. Jacob, a soldier of the Civil war, went to California, in 1852, was successful in his mining operations, and died in Alameda county, that state. Mary is the wife of Nicholas Harden, of Jackson county, Michigan. Our subject is the next in order of birth. Isaac C. is also a veteran of the Civil war and is now a retired farmer of Jones county, Iowa. William H., de- ceased, was also one of the boys in blue, and was one of the victims of the Sultana explosion on the Mississippi river while re- turning home after having survived the dangers of battle field and two years in rebel prisons. Antoinette is the wife of John Pulver, of Alineda county, California. All of the sons endeavored to enlist in the Union service, but the eldest was rejected on account of disability.
Our subject was a lad of fourteen years when the family removed to the wilds of Michigan, and was less than sixteen years of age when left fatherless. Going to Adrian, Michigan, he served a four years' apprenticeship to the baker's trade, and then, on the 10th of April, 1854, at the age of nineteen years, started for California, by way of Chicago, St. Louis and up the Mis- souri river to Lexington, Missouri, where he joined a party bound for the Pacific coast, none of whom he was then acquainted with. After four months of travel he reached the Sacramento valley, and from there went to Alameda county, where his brother, Jacob S., had located two years previously. There he was engaged in farming with his brother until 1860, when he returned to Adrian, Michigan, and formed a partnership with J. W. Helme, his former employer, under
the name of Helme & Company. This con- nection existed a year and a half, but after the Civil war broke out he gave up his busi- ness prospects to enter the service of his country. In March, 1862, he enlisted in Company D, Fourth Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and was in the commissary de- partment of the western division until mus- tered out at San Antonio, Texas, March 21, 1865.
After the war, Mr. Finch purchased land in Lenawee county, Michigan, where he engaged in farming for three years. He was married October 10, 1860, in Lyons, Iowa, to Miss Anna Langford, who was born in Clinton county, that state, when it was still a territory, and is a daughter of C. E. and Ilannah (Shaddock) Langford. Her father was the founder of the Langford & Hall Lumber Company, of Fulton, which still bears his name. To Mr. and Mrs. Finch were born five children: Darius, a lumber dealer of Woonsocket, South Da- kota; May, wife of D. F. Thomas, a noted artist of Chicago; Lizzie, who lives at home and has successfully engaged in teaching in the public schools for some years; Bert H., who is engaged in the bicycle business in Clinton, Iowa; and Helen, who is a teacher in the kindergarten department of the Northern Illinois College at Fulton.
In September, 1868, Mr. Finch came to Fulton, Illinois, and accepted a clerical position in the office of the Langford & Hall Lumber Company, which he held only a short time, however. He then turned his attention to carpentering, and in 1874 established a brick yard in Fulton, which he successfully carried on until 1890, when he retired from the business. During his entire residence here he has been interested in the real estate business, buying property, on
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which he has built houses, and then selling them. In this way he has erected about twenty residences in the city, the first of these being built in 1871. In 1890, out of the last brick he manufactured, he built what is known as the Woodmen Block, on the corner of Base and Wall streets, which is a fine brick building, 48 x90 feet, with two store rooms below and offices above. There is also a large fire-proof vault in the back of the building. It was occupied by the Modern Woodmen of America until the removal of the headquarters of the order from Fulton, and now the Mystic Workers of the World occupy a part of the offices. For one year after leaving the lumber office, Mr. Finch was engaged in the grocery and bakery business, but at the end of that time his store was destroyed by fire.
On national issues, Mr. Finch votes with the Democratic party, but in local affairs is independent in politics. He has taken quite an important part in public matters, and has held all the municipal offices from street commissioner to mayor. He is now alderman from the first ward, which position he has filled for several years, and in 1887 was mayor of the city, it being under his administration that the present efficient sys- tem of water-works were adopted. There was a big fight on the adoption of the works, and an injunction was served which cau-ed a delay of two years. He has also been a member of the board of education for three years. Mr. Finch is a progressive man, pre - eminently public-spirited, and all that per- tains to the public welfare receives his hearty endorsement and support. Fraternally, he is a Master Mason, a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and also belongs to Robert Hale Post, G. A. R., in which he has filled all the offices.
JOHN RILEY, M. D., who is spending the closing years of his long and useful life free from business cares at his pleasant home in Spring Hill, was for nearly half a century one of the leading physicians of this section of Illinois, practicing for twenty- seven years of that time in Whiteside county. He was born September 30, 1818, in New York City, a son of George and Elizabeth (Rhodes) Riley. His father, a native of New York, served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and afterwards located in New York City, where he remained until his death, in 1824.
John Riley grew to man's estate on a farm in Montgomery county, New York, whither he was taken soon after the death of his father. His educational advantages were necessarily limited, but being stu- dious and ambitious he acquired a substan- tial foundation for his future knowledge by his own efforts. While yet a young man he taught school several terms, and subse- quently took up the study of medicine in Fulton county, New York, from whence he went to Castleton, Vermont, where he en- tered the Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1843 with the degree of M. D. At once commencing his profes- sional career in Saratoga county, New York, he remained there, until 1846, when he re- moved to Knox county, Illinois. Three years later he settled in Henry county, not far from Andover, and during the few years that he was there met with excellent suc- cess in his profession. In 1853 Dr. Riley came to Spring Hill, Whiteside county, as a pioneer settler and physician, and by his skill and thorough knowledge of medicine soon won the confidence and esteem of the people. In the course of a few years he built up an extensive and lucrative practice,
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his ride extending to all the adjoining coun- ties, for notwithstanding the difficulties of traveling in the early days he always re- sponded cheerfully and promptly to the calls of his numerous patients. A man of prudent foresight and good business capac- ity, the Doctor purchased land soon after locating at Spring Hill, and has since im- proved a fine homestead. He was also engaged in mercantile business here for eight or more years, meeting with excellent success in this as in his other industries.
On December 26, 1844, Dr. Riley mar- ried Abigail Burnett, who was born in Montgomery county, New York, a daugh- ter of Isaac and Azubah (Slocum) Burnett. Mr. Burnett, who was born and reared on Long Island, New York, died in manhood's prime, when his daughter Abigail was but six years old. Mrs. Burnett, born in 1800, survived him many years, passing away in 1860. Seven sons have blessed the union of Dr. and Mrs. Riley, as follows: Charles, a soldier of the late Civil war, was sub- sequently connected with the schools of Geneseo, Illinois, a long time, having taught in the high school fifteen years, besides serving as superintendent of schools seven years, an office which he afterwards filled in Aurora, Illinois, for a time, and is now a well known lawyer of Albion, Nebraska; John, who was graduated from the medical department of the Iowa State University, is a successful physician of Exira, Audubon county, Iowa; William, formerly a lawyer in Reinbeck, Grundy county, Iowa, died in March, 1887; George W., a lawyer in Wayne, Wayne county, Nebraska; Bruce, now living in Goldfield, Iowa, received his degree of M. D. at the University of lowa, having been graduated from the medical department; Henry Clay resides on
the home farm; and Lincoln, an active practitioner of Wisner, Cuming county, Nebraska, is at present serving as coroner at that place.
Politically the Doctor was in early years an old-line Whig, and as such voted for W. H. Harrison; he was connected with the Republican party for twenty years after its formation, but more recently has been actively identified with the Prohibition party. He has always taken a deep interest in local affairs, and has served as chairman of the central committee besides being a delegate to county conventions. In 1872 he was elected county coroner, an office which he filled most satisfactorily. Fraternally Doc- tor Riley is a Master Mason, and the only surviving charter member of Spring Hill lodge, No. 412, which he served a number of years as secretary. Mrs. Riley, a woman of true christian worth, united with the Methodist Episcopal church when young, and has since been one of its faithful mem- bers. During their long residence in this county the Doctor and his good wife have witnessed marvellous transformations in the face of the country, and as generous, liberal- ininded and progressive citizens have aided in the development of the town and county in which they reside.
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