USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > The biographical record of Whiteside County, Illinois.. > Part 20
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M RS. NAOMI J. MANGAN, the widow of Richard L. Mangan, formerly one of the prominent and patriotic citizens of Sterling, deserves special mention in this work, as she has made her home in this place for about two-score years. Her birth occurred in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, July 31, 1822. Her parents, Samuel and Priscilla (Rapp) Thoman, were natives of the Keystone state. The grandfather of
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Priscilla Thoman was born in Germany, and his only male representative now fiv- ing, William Rapp, is in his eighty-eighth year, and a resident of Bucks county. Of the six sons and six daughters born to Sammel and Priscilla Thoman, six have passed away, and of those living: Jacob is a resident of Germantown, Pennsylvania; Louisa is the widow of Hurley Logan. of Philadelphia; Isaiah lives in Roxboro, Penn- sylvania; William is a citizen of Goshen, Ohio; and Hester is the wife of Charles Barnes, of Rock Falls, Illinois; Samuel Thoman was a shoemaker by trade, but during his last years he turned his attention to agriculture. After the death of his first
Until she arrived at maturity, Mrs. Naomi J. Mangan continued to reside in her native state, her education being such as was afforded by the common schools. On the 16th of September, 1843, she be- came the wife of R. L. Mangan, whose birth had occurred in Philadelphia, July 23, 1821. In youth he had learned the trade of a stone mason, and this pursuit he fol- lowed until 1859, when he turned his atten- tion to farming for a period. He was of English descent, his parents having been born in the Queen's dominion- and of their numerous children only one now survives Mrs. Caroline Stewart, whose home is near Salem, New Jersey.
Richard L. Mangan manifested his de- votion to his country by offering himself to the Union cause, and in August, 1862, was enlisted in Company D, Seventy-fifth Regi- ment of Illinois Infantry. With his com- pany he participated in many of the stirring events and battles of the war, was promoted to the rank of corporal, July 29, 1862; was
made first sergeant April 8, 1863, and on the 17th of the same month was made sec- ond lieutenant. At the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, in June, 1864, he was detailed to cut some brush for the purpose of screening some of their maneuvers from the enemy, but, unfortunately, he was singled out by a sharp-shooter, and was severely wounded in the foot. This necessitated the amputation of his leg just below the knee, and in Sep- tember he returned home. For almost a year he wore a rudely constructed wooden leg, which was very painful to the injured member, and, at last, going to Philadelphia, he obtained one of a more scientific pattern. Needless to say. that he never ceased to be wife he married Aun Markley, and had one . seriously inconvenienced, and as long as he son, Morris.
lived paid daily tribute of suffering for his country.
From boyhood, Mr. Mangan had a great love for plants and flowers, and when he had sufficiently recovered from his war-time service, he began doing business in Sterling in a small way, as a florist. In time, he became prosperous, gradually increasing the dimensions of his greenhouses in order to accommodate the great numbers of plants which he carried in stock. As he was the only person in his line of business in this city, and as every one desired to specially honor the hero of the war, he was kept constantly busy in attending to the demands of the public, and early pressed his sons into the same service.
For a number of years, Mr. Mangan held the office of justice of the peace, being elected at the close of his army service. For eight years he served the people here faithfully in the capacity of city treasurer, and had just completed his term a few weeks prior to his death. Politically, he was a Republican of no uncertain stamp.
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About 1845, he joined the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; also a member of the G. A. R. He was an active member of the Broadway Methodist Episcopal church, and died, as he had lived, an earnest Chris- tian. His death took place on the 16th of May, 1887.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Mangan was blessed with five daughters and six sons. Mary L., wife of Erwin King, of Chicago, has one daughter, Amy E. Samuel S. is represented elsewhere in this work. Will- iam F. married Flora White, and has five children, namely: Mabel, Edna, Lloyd, Hazel and Fern. William F. is a harness- maker by trade, and his home is near that of his widowed mother, in Sterling. Emily F. is the wife of C. E. Hoyt, a traveling salesman of this place. They are the par- ents of three children, Harry, Winnifred and Carl. George wedded Florence Drew, and both are deceased. Their three daughters were named: Blanche, Annie and Bessie. Caroline F. is the wife of C. E. Stevens, who is engaged in the ice business in Sterl- ing. Of their children two died in infancy and those living are: Maud, Dollie, Ernest, Thomas and Alex. Richard L., who is em- ployed at the Sterling water-works, chose Laura Bowman for his wife, and they have three sons, Clarence, Arthur and Richard. Clara is the wife of T. Shaw, of Rock Falls, Illinois, and her only child is named Alta. Cyrus, who married Nellie Healy, has two sons, Claud and Walter. He is engaged in the manufacturing of harness, in this city. Erwin J., who married Ida Hendricks, has five children, Pearl, Ethel, Margery, Maurice and Dorothy. He has been inter- ested in the florist's business, and has charge of the green-houses which formerly were owned by his father. Adella is the wife
of Ed Coe, a farmer of Hopkins township, and their three children are Mortimer, Al- bert and Carrol.
Very few ladies in the United States can boast of a longer membership with any fraternal organization than can Mrs. Man- gan, whose connection with the Daughters of Rebecca dates back forty-six years. She also has been an active member of the Woman's Relief Corps, and during the war performed her full share as a patriot and stanch defender of the Union. Besides, she is an honorary member of the Royal Neighbors -a local organization. Relig- ionsły she upholds the same doctrines as did her esteemed husband, and is accounted one of the sterling members of the Broad- way Methodist Episcopal church.
S AMUEL T. MANGAN, of Sterling, is a hero of the war of the Rebellion, and is well deserving of special mention in the annals of his county, state and country, for the prominent part he played as a patriotic citizen. He is a native of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, born February 11, 1847, and is a son of Richard L. and Naomi J. Mangan, whose history is printed elsewhere in this work.
When he was eight years of age, S. T. Mangan came to Sterling with his parents, and here he received hiseducation. In 1863. his youthful ardor to enlist in the defense of the Union could no longer be restrained, and he became a member of Company D, Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The first engagement in which he partici- pated was that of Buzzards' Roost, after which he was actively engaged in the battle of Resaca, and Rome, Georgia. With Sher- man, he fought his way through Georgia
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to the sea, being engaged in almost continu- ous skirmishes. For about six months, he served on detached duty at headquarters, as provost orderly, and with his regiment took part in the Grand Review at Washing- ton, being honorably discharged from the service July 12, 1865, then only eighteen years of age.
Returning home, Mr. Mangan found employment with farmers in this county un- til 1869, when he was elected to the office of constable, a position he acceptably filled for sixteen years. In 1883, he also acted as city marshal of Sterling, and for the past thirty years he has been connected with the police department. During the past four years he has been a member of Lincoln Hose Company No. 2. From 1868 to 1871 he was a deputy sheriff, but though he was offered a permanent position as such, he re- fused the proffered office. In 1869, he joined the Sterling City Guards, which organization was subsequently disbanded. Later, he became a member of the Sixth Illinois National Guards, serving from 1887 until 1897, and when the Third Regiment of Illinois National Guards was established became identified with that body. The boys who wore the blue during the Civil war have always had a warm place in his affec- tions, and for years he has been a member of the W. Robinson post, No. 74, G. A. R. Politically, he is affiliated with the Repub- lican party.
On the 25th of January, 1875, Mr. Man- gan married Sophia S. Bassett, who was born in the town now known as Polo, in Ogle county, Illinois, January 21, 1847. Iler parents, James A. and Anna M. (Wol- cott) Bassett, natives of Delaware county, New York, came to Illinois in 1843, and re- sides in Ogle county until 1872. From
that year until death they dwelt in Sterling, the mother dying in March, 1878, and the father January 5, 1898. Of their five chil- dren, Charles O., a stone mason, living in Boone county, lowa, is the father of five children; George O., a teamster and farmer of Rock Falls; Sophia, wife of our subject; Emma E., deceased, and formerly wife of Henry Ellingsworth, of Red Oak, Iowa, had three children; and Marcus P., a stone mason of Sterling, Illinois, has three chil- dren. After the death of his first wife, James A. Bassett married Mrs. Helen Sumner, who had two children by her first union, and to them a daughter, Lucy, was born.
To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Mangan four children were born, namely: Roy J., whose birth took place February 22, 1876, and whose death occurred when he was nearly thirteen years of age; Edith, August 26, 1877; Jessie A., November 29, 1878; and Grace M., September 27, 1884.
H UGH A. BOYD, a public-spirited and enterprising citizen of Morrison, and one of the most prominent factors in her business circles, is a man whose worth and ability have gained him success, honor and public confidence. He enjoys the well- earned distinction of being what is known as a " self-made man," and an analyzation of his character reveals the fact that enterprise, well-directed effort and honorable dealing have been the essential features in his pros- perity.
Mr. Boyd was born in Stevenson, Ayre- shire, Scotland, June 1, 1838, and is a son of William and Mary (Robertson) Boyd, representatives of good old Ayreshire fam- ilies. The father was a prominent citizen of Stevenson, and in his native land en-
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gaged in business as a contractor for rail- Louisiana and Alabama, and also in Florida, roads and transportation companies. In 1856, with a part of his family, he came to the United states and took up his residence in Whiteside county, Illinois, where he owned a small farm but practically lived re- tired from active labor. To them were born ten children, namely: John, who came to America prior to his father, sailing on the steamer Edinboro when she made her first trip; Mary, wife of Robert Robertson; Will- iam, who came to this country with his brother John and who is now a resident of Grand Island, Nebraska; Hugh A., our sub- ject; Jane, widow of John Clark; and Peter R., a resident of Morrison. The above children came to America, but Jeanette, the oldest, remained in Scotland, and Thomas died in that country, as did also Peter. Margaret died in St. Louis. The parents were consistent members of the Presbyterian church and most estimable people.
Hugh A. Boyd received a good practical education by attending evening school, hav- ing to work like most boys in his native land during the day. He was employed principally upon public works and in brick yards. At the age of eighteen he came with his parents to the new world, reaching Mor- rison in the spring of 1856. The railroad had just been completed the previous fall, and in the midst of a thicket of brush and crab apple trees the town was springing into existence.
Our subject first worked on a farm for a short time while learning the ways of the country, and then went to Cairo, where he spent the first winter. For some time he spent the summer months at home engaged in farming work and the winters in the south at New Orleans, Mobile and other parts of
being for about two years and a half over- seer for a railroad contract, building bridges, culvert, etc. He helped open up the line from Utah to Selma, Alabama, doing all the bridge and timber work, trestles, etc. His employer, Mr. Nelson, had taken a contract to build one hundred and sixteen miles of road from Selma to Brown, Florida, on the Alabama & Southwest Railroad. A gang of men were driving spikes at the navy yard in Florida on the morning the first gun was fired on Fort Sumter, but he finished his work and returned to Selma with from four hundred and seventy-five to five hundred men. Mr. Boyd did not wish to stay in the south after hostilities commenced but could not get away as his agreement was to stay until the new foundations were put in for the river pier on the Alabama & Tennessee River Railroad. As soon as these were above low water mark he secured his pass and started for home, traveling by railroad and stage by way of Rome, Georgia, and Chattanooga, Tennessee. He reached Mor- rison in October, 1861, being almost a month in making the trip.
For some time Mr. Boyd was variously employed. He went south for his brother, William, who was very ill in the army. Later he did general contracting. He did part of the excavating, furnished all mate- rial, employed a number of men, kept sev- eral teams of his own, and did a large and successful business. After a number of years spent in that manner, he commenced buying stock for Whitcomb & Woods, stock shippers. While thus employed he became thoroughly familiar with the business of handling stock and on leaving their employ. he embarked in the butcher and meat market business on his own account, opening a shop
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in Morrison, in 1871. This he has since successfully conducted. For the first year he carried on business in partnership with his brother-in-law, John Clark, and later Whitcomb & Wood owned a half interest in the business for fifteen months. With these exceptions he has always been alone in business. He occupies a fine brick block on Main street erected by him in 1892. It is supplied with all modern conveniences needed by the trade, having a cold storage in the center. The main building is 70 x 22 feet, while in the rear it is 24 x 22 feet. The upper floor is divided in office rooms. It is an elegant building, one of the best in the city. Besides this property Mr. Boyd owns a farm of one hundred acres one mile from Morrison, and has a fine residence on the south side surrounded by two and a half acres of ground, which he transformed from a wild tract into a most beautiful place. He practically controls the meat business of the city, having by fair and honorable deal- ing built up an excellent trade. He is also president of the Traders Life Insurance Company, of which he was one of the found- ers and prominent promoters. Although only three years old it is now in a flourish- ing condition, due to his able management and good business ability.
Mr. Boyd was married in Morrison, in 1862, to Miss Sarah Clark, of Fredonia, New York, and they have four children: Herbert M., who is manager for Swift & Company at Cheyenne, Wyoming, married Allie Snyder, daughter of J. H. Snyder and has one daughter, Kathryn; Gertrude is the wife of S. C. Ely, of Morrison, and has one daughter, Margery; John Thomas is travel- ing for the firm of Swift & Company; and Mary is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Boyd are both members of the Baptist church, of 10
which he has been a trustee for twenty-five years. Socially, he belongs to Grove lodge and encampment, I. O. O. F., and is a charter member of the Knights of the Maccabees at Morrison. He is independent in politics, but usually supports the Repub- lican party, and cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln in Alabama in 1860, when it took some courage to support that candidate in the south. He served three terms as alderman of Morrison, and was instrumental in securing the present system of water works and sewers. In 1895 he was elected mayor and re-elected two years later, but refused to accept a a third term as the duties of the office re- quired too much time needed in his business. The reins of city government were never in more capable hands, as he is public spirited, enterprising and progressive, and he left office as he had entered it with the entire respect and confidence of his ferow citi- zens.
EZRA B. HILL, an honored pioneer of Whiteside county, who is now living a retired life in Prophetstown, was born in the village of Castleton, Rutland county, Vermont, July 30, 1822, and is a son of William and Susan ( Hor) Ifiil, the latter born October 14, 1786, natives of Vermont and Massachusetts, respectively. The paternal grandfather, William Hill, Sr., was also a native of the Green Mountain state. In early life the father followed the wheel- wright's and carpenter's trades in the east. In 1835, with two teams of five horses, he started for Illinois, his destination being Peoria, which point he had visited the year previous. After a long and tedious journey he reached Chicago, where he met Junes Pratt, who the year before had been to
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Whiteside county and recommended this section of the state to Mr. Hill. Ile then changed his course and came to this county. He purchased Mr. Gordon's claim of one hundred and sixty acres on Washington street, on which had previously been erected a log house of one room, and in it his and another family lived during the winter spent in this state. The following year he built an addition to his dwelling, fenced and opened up his farm. Later he purchased more land and soon had a fine farm of two hundred acres, upon which he spent the last years of his life, dying there in 1842, at the age of fifty years. His wife survived him a number of years. They were the parents of six children, five sons and one daughter, namely: Sullivan, who married and is now deceased; John, who died un- married; William, a resident of Sterling; Ezra B., our subject; F. M., a resident of Prophetstown; a wealthy citizen of this county; and Almira, deceased wife of I. C. Southern.
Amid pioneer scenes, Ezra B. Hill grew to manhood in this county, and as his school privileges were limited he is alinost wholly self-educated. He assisted in opening up and improving the home farm and helped make the rails lence to the first forty-acre field, these being made in a grove six miles from home. The first year they raised a good crop, and he continued to aid his father in the labors of the field until the latter's death, after which he and his brothers suc- cessfully carried on the farm together for several years.
In this county, Mr. Hill was married, in 1848, to Miss Permelia Jane Underhill, a native of New York and daughter of Hiram Underhill, one of the early settlers of White- side county. They began their domestic
life upon a farm of eighty acres adjoining the old homestead, which he had previously purchased, and on which he had erected a good frame house. He also owned a part of the home farm. After operating this place for twelve or fifteen years, he sold and bought an improved farm of one hun- dred and seventy acres, to the further devel- opment and cultivation of which he devoted his energies until 1885, when he rented the place and moved to Prophetstown. Here he bought a residence which he has since remodeled and converted into a neat and comfortable home, where he expects to spend the remainder of his life in ease and quiet, having laid aside all business cares.
Mr. Hill has been called upon to mourn the loss of his estimable wife, who died September 12, 1895. To them were born eight children, who are still living, namely: Charles, who is married and engaged in farming near Hastings, Hamilton county, Nebraska; Ella M., wife of David Bailes, a business man of Hastings, Nebraska; Eva, wife of William Lancaster, of Prophetstown; Sumner and Charles G., who are both mar- ried and follow farming in this county; Pleasant, who is married and engaged in farming near Holdrege, Nebraska; and Lillie Ann, who now acts as her father's honse- keeper.
Previous to 1860, Mr. Hill was an old- line Whig, but since then has been a stanch supporter of the Republican party. Al- though he has served as highway commis- sioner and a member of the school board, he has never cared for political honors, pre- ferring to devote his entire time and atten- tion to his business interests. Religiously he is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Prophetstown. For sixty-four long years he has been a resident
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of Whiteside county, and has watched with interest the wonderful changes that have taken place in this section during that time. On his arrival here the country was almost an unbroken wilderness, much of the county was swamp land, which then seemed almost useless, but by the means of ditches and tiling, has been converted into productive and fertile fields. Indians were still seen in great numbers; deer, wolves and wild game of all kinds were plentiful, but all have dis- appeared before the advancing civilization, and the county is now well populated with an industrious, intelligent and contented people, who have good homes and fine farms. In the work of development and progress Mr. Hill has borne an active and prominent part, and on the pages of his county's history he is certainly deserving of honorable mention.
C HARLES P. STURTEVANT. The world instinctively pays deference to the man whose success in life has been worthily achieved, and who has reached a high position in the business world. This is a progressive age, and he who does not advance is soon left far behind. Mr. Sturte- vant, by the improvement of opportunities by which all are surrounded, has steadily and honorably worked his way upward, and is to day one of the leading stock-dealers of Whiteside county. Ile now makes his home in Prophetstown.
A native of this county, Mr. Sturtevant was born on a farm near Rock Falls De- cember 31, 1854, and is descended from a family of Dutch origin, which was founded in Massachusetts in colonial days. His grandfather, Peres Sturtevant, was a native of New Hampshire, from which st .. te he re-
moved to Vermont, where he opened up a farm and reared his family. The father of our subject, Josiah C. Sturtevant, was born in New Hampshire June 16, 1805, and grew to manhood in Vermont, where he married Miss Mary Robbins, a native of that state and a daughter of Jonas Robbins, one of its pioneers. There they continued to make their home until after the birth of six of their children, when in 1843 they came to Illinois and first located at Como, White- side county, where the father engaged in farming. He purchased a tract of wild land and opened up a farm near Rock Falls, to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted his energies for many years, but he spent his last days in Rock Falls, where he died in 1896, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. His wife passed away in ISS1.
Reared on the old homestead, Charles P. Sturtevant early acquired an excellent knowledge of the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and in the common schools of the neighborhood he obtained his literary education. After arriving at man's estate he went to northwestern Iowa, where he engaged in stock-dealing and the real estate business for one year. He then re- turned to this county and turned his atten- tion to general farming and the feeding of stock, becoming one of the most extensive stock-dealers of the county, annually ship- ping to the city markets from two hundred and fifty to five hundred head of cattle and about ten car-loads of fat hogs. He is the owner of three valuable and well-improved farms, one in Lyndon township and two in Fenton township, aggregating fifteen hun- dred acres.
In Lyndon township, April 4, 1885, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Sturtevant
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and Miss Esther. M. Brooks, who was born and reared in Whiteside county, Illinois, and was educated there and in Saginaw, Michigan. Her father, Pardon A. Brooks, was a pioneer of this county, coming thither from Boston, Massachusetts, in 1837, and he became one of the substantial farmers of Lyndon township. To our subject and his wife have been born four children: Edna M., Imogen, Hazel I. and Paul Allen. They began their domestic life on a farm in Fenton township, and later lived on the old Brooks homestead in Lyndon township, now owned by Mr. Sturtevant. In 1898 they removed to Prophetstown, where on the banks of the beautiful Rock river, he is now erecting one of the largest and most tasteful modern residences in town.
On national issues Mr. Sturtevant has always affiliated with the Democratic party, casting his first presidential vote for General Hancock, but at local elections he is inde- pendent in politics, voting for whom he be- lieves to be the best men, regardless of party lines. While a resident of Lyndon township, he served as supervisor for one term, and in the spring of 1899 was elected to represent Prophetstown on the honorable county board of supervisors, where he is now serving as a member of the board and of the finance committee. He has been a delegate to the county conventions of his party many times, and has ever taken quite an active and prominent part in public affairs. His wife is a member of the Con- gregational church, of Prophetstown, and in the best social circles of the village they oc- cupy an enviable position, being highly re- spected and esteemed by all who know them. They are members of the Eastern Star lodge, of which Mrs. Sturtevant is now worthy matron, and our subject also belongs
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