USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > The biographical record of Whiteside County, Illinois.. > Part 21
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to Lyndon blue lodge and chapter of the Masonic fraternity. As a business man he ranks among the best in his community, and his success is due to his keen discrimi- nation, sound judgment and able manage- ment.
I SAM S. PARRISH, a well-known laun- 1
dryman and prominent citizen of Ster- ling, is a native of this county, born in Gene- see township, January 11, 1851. The Par- rish family has lived in Lincolnshire, Eng- land, from the time when William the Conqueror invaded that country, in 1066. The founder of the family on this side of the Atlantic came to America with William Penn, and two of his sons afterward went to Virginia. Major Parrish, the grand- father of our subject, was an officer in the war of 1812, and died in a military hospital twelve miles below Richmond, Virginia. In the fall of 1815, his widow, with her family, went to Kentucky, and after residing there about two years removed to Dyersburg, Dyer county, Tennessee.
Watson Parrish, the youngest son of Major Parrish and the father of our subject, was born near Richmond, Virginia, August 31, 1805, and accompanied the family on their removal to Kentucky and later to Ten- nessee. He was first married in the latter state, December 12, 1829, to Louisa De- ment, a native of Dyersburg, and in June, 1839, with their six children, they came to Whiteside county, Illinois, and settled in Genesee Grove, on land which had not yet been surveyed. At one time he owned about a section of land; most of which he gave to his children, but still owned one hundred and sixty acres at the time of his death, which occurred July 14, 1884. When
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a young man he engaged in boat building to some extent, but throughout the greater part of his life followed farming. In 1856 he was interested in the lumber business, his sons, Elias and William, superintending the cutting of the logs in the pine woods of Wisconsin, and one of his rafts was nearly all lost in the tornado which destroyed the village of Albany. In 1844 he circulated a petition for the organization of public schools in Genesee township, and by most persistent effort he secured the legal num- ber of signatures and accomplished the de- sired object.
By his first marriage Watson Parrish had eight children, of whom six were born in Dyersburg, Tennessee, and the others in Genesee Grove, this county. They were as follows: (1) William C., born February 1, 1831, was educated at Knox College, Gales- burg, Illinois, and was married, but his wife died leaving no children. During the Civil war he enlisted in Company G, Thirty- ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and died from disease contracted in the service, at Williamsport, Maryland, November 29, 1861. (2) Elias, born January 12, 1832, was also educated at Knox College, and is now a farmer of Vesta, Johnson county, Nebraska. Ile married Ann Kite and has a large family of children. (3) Augustine, born September 8, 1833, married Martha Bunnell, and is interested in gold mining, stock raising and fruit growing in Chico, Butte county, California. His brothers, William and Sampson, went with him to that state in the early days of surface min- ing, crossing the plains with an ox team, and they worked on the Feather river, where Augustine still owns a ranch on the west branch of that stream. His brothers returned home by way of Cape Horn. (4)
Sampson, born April 25, 1835. attended Knox College, and is now a lumber mer- chant and farmer of Milford, Iowa. He was married October 14, 1858, to Sarah Courtright, and they have seven children. (5) Watson, born March 9, 1837, also at- tended Knox College, and after the war took up the study of law and graduated from the law department of the State Uni- versity, at Ann Arbor, Michigan. He was a member of Company G, Thirty-ninth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry, and was in the service until the close of the war, although he was once wounded. He engaged in the practice of law and in banking in Nebraska, was a member of the state legislature, and was one of the first five directors appointed by the government for the Union Pacific Railroad, which position he held for four years. He is now a prominent attorney of San Diego, California. He married Lucy Roberts, of Genesee township, and they have one son, Frederick. (6) Sarah Ann, born April 27, 1839, was married Novem- ber 16, 1859, to Isaac Newton Thorp, who was born May 20, 1836. . He was a private in Company E, Forty- sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, during the Civil war, and was drowned in the Mississippi river, while landing from trans- ports near Vicksburg, January 3, 1865. He left two children: (a) Katie A., born De- cember 19, 1860, was educated at Mount Vernon College, Iowa, and is now the wife of W. C. Ilolbrook, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. (b) Harry Elmer, born September 16, 1862, was edu - cated at Dixon College, and was married September 30, 1886, to Huldah 'E. Stanley. He is now a farmer of Marshalltown, Iowa. The mother of these children was again married September 23, 1870, her second
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union being with John Cummings, who died in January, 1896, leaving two children, Myrtie and Watson, both residents of Sterl- ing. (7) Henry Harrison, born August 15, 1842, was also a member of Company G. Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry, during the Civil war, and is now a merchant of Archer Grove, Iowa. He was married December 10, 1865, to Martha E. Evans, and to theni were born four children: Effie, wife of A. K. Wick, of Round Grove; Wesley R .; Mabel, and Donald. (8) Amanda, born April 7, 1845, was married in January, 1870, to Bela T. St. John, and they have four children: Thomas, Clara, Burton and Idella. Mrs. Louisa Parrish, the mother of these children, was born March 8, 1810, and died May 14, 1847.
Watson Parrish was again married, March 16, 1848, his second union being with Miss Nancy Broadwell, who was born near Buffalo, New York, and died October 9, 1855. By this union three children were born, namely: (9) John Broadwell, born January 15, 1849, is a farmer living near Luverne, Minnesota. He was married September 8, 1870, to Delilah A. Court- right, who died May 12, 1887. Of their four children, three are still living. By his second marriage he also had three children. (10) Isam Shelton, our subject, is the next of the family. ( 11) Frances M., born in April, 1854, was married September 2, 1874, to Kendrick E. Bills, who is engaged in the agricultural implement business in Milledge- ville, Carroll county, Illinois, and they have one child, Henry.
On the 27th of May, 1856, Watson Par- rish married Mrs. Louisa (Broadwell) How- land, a sister of his second wife. She was first married, February 10, 1853, to Wesley Howland, who died September 30, 1855,
By that union she had twochildren: Lewis, who died September 2, 1854, at the age of three months; and Wesley, now a farmer of Genesee township, this county, who was married January 15, 1879, to Mary T. Stanley. By his third marriage, Watson Parrish had two children: ( 12) Harriet G., was married, January 10, 1877, to S. Wesley Johnson, a banker of Ripley, Iowa, and died in 1894. They had one daughter, Nellie. (13) Emma M. was married, Janu- ary 15, 1879, to Andrew D. Stanley, a farmer of Genesee township, this county, and they have one child, Nellie. The mother of these children died July 26, 1881.
Isam S. Parrish, whose name introduces this sketch, acquired a good common-school education in district No. 3. and was reared upon the home farm, of which he took charge after reaching man's estate, and suc- cessfully engaged in general farming and stock raising. He still owns the original homestead of one hundred and thirty-five acres on sections 19, 20, 29 and 30, Genesee township, on which the old log house, first erected by his father, is still standing, and also two cottonwood trees, which were set out by him and are now about the largest in the county. In 1887, Mr. Parrish rented his farm an I removed to Sterling. For four years he bought grain at Rock Island Junc- tion, where he had an elevator, and at times bought stock for shipment and also dealt in coal. Later he was out of business for one year, and then erected an elevator at Am- boy, where he engaged in the grain business for one year as a member of the firm of Par- rish & Kratz. The following year he was successfully engaged in business at Rock Falls, and then again lived retired for one year. On the expiration of that time, in 1897, he purchased a laundry in Sterling,
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one of the largest in the city, and has al- ready built up an excellent trade. In most of his undertakings he has been eminently successful, and is to-day one of the leading business men of Sterling.
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On the 13th of February, 1879, Mr. Parrish was united in marriage with Miss Florence E. Broadwell, who was born in Winona, Minnesota, a daughter of Ara and Irene (Hubbard) Broadwell, the father a native of New York. Her parents are now deccased. They had only two children, the older being Frances, deceased wife of Edward Gray, who with their three chil- dren is living in Meadow Grove, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Parrish have two children: Lawrence E., born November 11, 1891; and Frank, born December 17, 1894.
Six years after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Parrish went to California, where they spent one year on his brother's ranch, and while there he engaged in mining with ex- cellent success. When quite young he once made a trip to Kansas with a brother, and there purchased cattle which they drove back to Illinois and sold. Politically Mr. Parrish is identified with the Republican party, and socially is a member of the Blue lodge, No. 612, F. & A. M .; the chapter, No. 57, R. A. M. ; the Modern Woodmen of America, No. 12; the Knights of the Globe, No. 85; and the Mystic Workers of the World, No. 2. As a business man and citizen, he stands high, and being one of the public-spirited and progressive men of the community, he gives his support to all measures for the public good.
JAMES SNYDER, a citizen of Morrison, J who is now living retired from active business, was born in Canajoharie, Mont-
gomery county, New York, December 27, 1808, a son of Eli and Catherine (Carr) Snyder. He was reared on his father's farm at that place and educated in the com- mon schools of the neighborhood. On ac- count of failing health he was obliged to give up farin work at the age of twenty-two, and then became interested in a country store, being engaged in general merchandis- ing for twenty-three years with most ex- cellent success.
During that time Mr. Snyder married Miss Nancy Runkle, by whom he had four children, namely: Mary, now Mrs. L. H. Robinson, of Chicago; Harriet N., widow of George Guffin and also a resident of Chicago; John H., a prominent druggist of Morrison; and Jaines A., a resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
In 1856 Mr. Snyder left the east and came to Whiteside county, Illinois, purchas- ing a farm two miles from Morrison, to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted his energies for twelve years. Snb- sequently he rented the place and finally sold it. After the death of his wife, which occurred December 23, 1863, he removed to Morrison, where he has since lived re- tired.
In 1873, Mr. Snyder married Mrs. Mary B. Spears, née Purdy, who was born in New York and was first married in Ohio, to Will- iam Spears, who later became a member of the firm of Spears Brothers, prominent dry-goods merchants of Morrison. Both Mr. and Mrs. Snyder are prominent and active members of the Presbyterian church, of which he was an elder for many years both in New York and during his residence here, being the oldest elder in this section of the country. He is a strong temperance man and for several years past has been a
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supporter of the Prohibition party, while his wife is an active member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. They receive and merit the respect and esteem of all who know them.
G EORGE E. ELY, an honored and highly esteemed citizen of Sterling, who is now living retired, has been a resi- dent of this county since the fall of 1857. He was born in Westernville, Oneida connty, New York, November 18, 1839, a son of David G. and Elvira (Wallace) Ely. The father was born in Massachusetts in 1811, and during his boyhood removed to West- ernville with his father, who was of Revolu- tionary stock. The grandfather of our sub- ject was an early settler of Westernville, where he owned several farms, was a suc- cessful farmer and extensive stock dealer and drover. He was accidentally killed while on horseback some time later than 1860. The father of our subject grew to manhood in Westernville, and followed farming, dairying and stock raising there until his removal to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, in the spring of 1856. While in that city he was prospecting for a location, and the fol- lowing year bought his first home in Hume township, Whiteside county, Illinois, which at that time was all wild prairie land. Ile erected a residence thereon and converted the land into well-tilled fields, being en- gaged in farming and stock raising there for some time. For a number of years he made his home west of Rock Falls, in Coloma township, but he owns two farms in Hume township, and upon one of these he has resided for over a quarter of a cent- nry. During his active business life he owned a great deal of land and was ex-
tensively engaged in farming and dealing in stock. He is one of the influential and most highly respected men of his com- munity, but has never been an aspirant for - office. He was one of the first members of the Methodist Episcopal church in Hume township, and materially assisted in the erection of the house of worship. His wife, who was also a consistent member of that church and class-leader for some time, died in 1875. Of the six child. en born to them, three are still living, namely: Beulah, now the wife of E. J. Jones, of Oshkosh, Wis- consin; George E., our subject; and Nancy, wife of Charles L. Rawson, of Rock Falls.
Our subject began his education in the school of Westernville, New York, and later attended the public schools of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and the seminary of Prophets- town, Ilinois, receiving better instruction than most boys of his day. He aided his father in the work of the home farm until twenty-three years of age. In August, 1861, he married Miss Eliza Rawson, of Geneseo, Illinois, a daughter of William S. Rawson, who came from New York and was one of the pioneer settlers of Geneseo. Of the two children born of this union, Lula Lurance, principal of the shorthand depart- ment of the Sterling Business College; Frank D. attended the Sterling schools and in 1894 graduated from West Point Military Academy. For a time he was stationed on Governors Island as an officer in the Thir- teenth United States Regiment, and during our recent war with Spain participated in the battle of Santiago. For meritorious service he was promoted and is now a first lieutenant in the Second Infantry, stationed in Cuba. He has been in the recruiting service and on detailed duty during most of the time he has been a member of the regu-
GEORGE E. ELY.
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lar army. On account of his health he was he had charge of, in connection with the given a three months leave of absence, dur- ing which time he visited Germany. He married Miss Marion Brooks, of Plainfield, New Jersey.
For a few years after his marriage, Mr. Ely rented a farm in Hume township, and was at length able to purchase one hundred and sixty acres there. on which he erected a good residence and made many other im- provements, converting it into one of the finest farms of that part of the county. In connection with general farming, he en- gaged in stock raising, giving special atten- tion to · horses, and for some time bought and shipped horses quite extensively. On selling his first place he bought a farm in Hopkins township north of the river and continued to successfully operate it for some years.
Since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, Mr. Ely has been a stanch supporter of the Republican party, and has been a delegate to county and con- gressional conventions. He was also con- tinuously in office from the time he was twenty-three years of age until the ist of April, 1899, serving as township clerk, assessor, supervisor, etc. He has also been township treasurer and treasurer of the Union draining district, comprising three townships, the duties of which office were quite arduous. lle was a member of the board of supervisors during its most pro- gressive epoch. In December, 1888, he was appointed superintendent of the White- side county farin and infirmary, and filled that responsible position most creditably and satisfactorily from April 1, 1889, for ten years. The inmates in the poor house numbered seventy-six and in the insane de- partment as high as twenty-six, all of which
farm of two hundred acres. During his administration all of the draining and sew- erage was put in, and he made it a paying institution for the county. Previous super- intendents had used all the meat, butter, eggs, potatoes, etc., raised upon the farm, for the inmates, but during the last year of his stay there his sale of the produce above what was needed on the farm amounted to over eleven hundred dollars. He takes a just pride in what he accomplished there for the county and the people. After ten years of arduous labor and honest endeavor on the part of himself and wife, Mr. Ely resigned his position on the ist of April, 1899, and is now living retired, enjoying a well-earned rest. He removed to Sterling, where he had owned property for a number of years, and bought a beautiful home at No. 208 West Third street, and deserves the high regard in which he is uniformly held.
A DAM SMITH, deceased, was one of the foremost citizens of Whiteside county from his early manhood until his death, and no one who has been called from our midst in late years has been more seriously mourned by the general community. His home was in Sterling for many years, and all local improvements were championed by him, his influence carrying great weight, as his judgments were proverbially wise and far- seeing.
A native of Bavaria, Germany, Adam Smith was born December 9, 1834. He was one of six children, five sons and a daughter, of whom the only survivor to-day is John W., of Youngstown, Ohio. His father, Michael Smith, died when the lad
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1
was young, and in 1846 he accompanied his mother, Eva, to the United States. They remained in New York about seven years, at the end of which period, Adam Smith came to Rocklord, Illinois, where he found employment at his trade as a painter and grainer, and worked at the court-house, among other places. In 1859 he came to Whiteside county, and continued to work at his regular line of business, and in 1859 he located permanently in Sterling. Here he soon acquired an enviable reputation as a painter and business man, and by good management and economy laid aside a con- siderable amount of money. In 1875 he purchased a farm of thirteen hundred acres, which, though all in one body, lay in the two counties of Lee and Whiteside. This farm he superintended successfully, raising great quantities of grain and much live stock. In 1876 he embarked in the furni- ture business at Sterling, but sold out at the end of two years. During his later years he was interested in the real estate business, and at his death left a comfortable fortune to his family.
In his political attitude Mr. Smith was a Republican. His fellow citizens, believe- ing in his wisdom and general ability, often urged him to accept public office, but he usually declined. He served as a justice of the peace for a period, at one time was city marshal and a school director. He was a director and stockholder in the Sterling National Bank, and was active in the estab- lishment of various enterprises. All indus- tries or measures which were calculated to benefit the community were furthered by him, and for this reason, as well as for many others, he'is kindly remembered.
On the 13th of October, 1863, Mr. Smith married Caroline Fisher, who was
born in Trumbull county, Ohio, September 20, 1843. Her parents, Frederick and Martha (Wahl) Fisher, had eight other chil- dren. The eldest, Catherine, became the wife of John W., brother of Adam Smith. John lives in Youngstown, Ohio. William died in Youngstown, Ohio, in 1893. Henry is a painter residing at Elgin. Mary is the wife of Cyrus Folson, of Youngstown, Ohio, and Lucy is the wife of Joseph Maubry, of Cleveland, Ohio. Emanuel resides in Youngstown, Ohio. Sarah is the wife of Wendel Gaulrapp, a farmer of Hume town- ship, Whiteside county. She is the twin of Emanuel. The parents died at their old home in the Buckeye state.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Smith was blessed with five children. Jennie A. mar- ried John N. Harpham, who is engaged in the real estate business at Sterling, and also owns a market here. Anna B. died un- married, and Nettie L., also unmarried, re- sides at home. Emma A. became the wife of Harry H. Over, a candy manufacturer, and they have one son, Howard Smith. Carl A., the youngest child of our subject and wife, is at home. For about ten years the family resided on Broadway street, but after the death of Mr. Smith, his widow bought a lot on First avenue, and built her pleasant modern dwelling. Both she and her husband have been Lutherans in relig- ious faith, and have been liberal contribu- tors to the work of that denomination. Ever ready to aid the afflicted and needy, the love and gratitude of many whose bur- dens they have lightened have been be- stowed upon them. To their children they will leave the priceless heritage of an un- blemished name and life-records well worthy of emulation. Mr. Smith died November 7, 1893.
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THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
G EORGE E. PADDOCK, a well-known banker of Prophetstown, was born in the town of Turin, Lewis county, New York, March 28, 1849, and on the paternal side is of English descent. The family was founded in America by Robert Paddock, one of the Pilgrims that settled at Plymouth colony in 1634. Our subject's great-grandfather, Daniel Paddock, was a native of New York and was one of the heroes of the Revolu- tionary war. The grandfather, John Pad- dock, was also a native of the Empire state, and the father, Chauncey Paddock, was born and reared in Westernville, Oneida county, New York. There he was united in marriage with Miss Lucy M. Hotchkiss, a native of Mexico, Oswego county, New York, and in 1851 he brought his family west, locating on the Rock river, near Prophetstown, Whiteside county, Illinois. Here he engaged in agricultural pursuits with marked success and was numbered among the enterprising farmers of the coun- ty. He died November 16, 1894, and was buried in the Prophetstown cemetery, where a neat and substantial monument marks his last resting place. His wife still survives him, at the age of seventy-nine years, and makes her home in Prophetstown.
The early education of George E. Pad- dock was acquired in the public schools of Prophetstown, and was supplemented by a course at the Northern Illinois College, in Fulton. In 1870 he went to California with the family and spent one season on the Pa- cific slope. On his return to this county he engaged in farming until 1880, when he re- moved to Prophetstown and accepted the position of cashier in the Mattson bank, in which capacity he served until the death of Mr. Mattson, when he succeeded to the busi- ness. He carried on business at the old
stand for some years, but in 1892 he crected a good two-story brick building on the cor- ner of the main business street of the town, into which he moved in January, 1893. He does a large private banking business, and is accounted one of the successful business men of the county.
On the 6th of May, 1873, in Prophets- town, Mr. Paddock was united in marriage with Miss Ella M. Quigley, a native of Lan- caster county, Pennsylvania, who in early life came with her family to this county and completed her education in the schools of Prophetstown. Her father, George B. Quig- ley, became one of the substantial farmers of this county, but now makes his home near Evansville, Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Paddock have four children: Hugh, who now holds the position of cashier in his father's bank, and was married November 21, 1899, to Miss Cass C. Baldwin, of Proph- ctstown, Illinois; Jessie L., who completed a six years' course at the Northwestern Uni- versity of Evanston, and was graduated with the class of 1899, and was married in October, 1899, to Oliver P. Petty, of Sterling, Illinois; Louis M., who is attending the Morgan Park Academy, and Gladys, a student in the home school.
For some years Mr. Paddock was identi- hed with the Democratic party, and three times cast his presidential ballot for Grover Cleveland, but in 1896 voted for William McKinley and the gold standard, and is now independent in politics, at local elections al- ways voting for the men whom he believes best qualified to fill the offices regardless of party lines. He has been school treasurer of Prophetstown for twenty-two years, a member of the town board six or seven years, and is now president of the samc. Fraternally he is a Royal Arch Mason, a
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