USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > The biographical record of Whiteside County, Illinois.. > Part 25
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On the 21st of August, 1884, at Mendo- ta, Illinois, Mr. Bastian was united in mar- riage with Miss Nellie J. Barton, a native of La Salle county, this state, and a daughter
of William and Maria L (Hastings) Barton. He is quite active in fraternal affairs, is a member of Abou Ben Adhem lodge, No. 148, I. O. O. F .; and was the organizer of Sunlight lodge, No. 235, K. P., circulating the petition and securing the charter for the same. Later he served as its first chancel- lor commander and first representative to the grand lodge. He was also a charter member of Forest camp, No. 2, M. W. A., in which he filled all of the chairs, and which he represented in the grand lodge. In political affairs, however, he is perhaps best known, and he is one of the active workers for his party interests in Whiteside county. In 1895 he received the Demo- cratic nomination for congressman from the tenth congressional district, and in 1898 his name was again placed on the party ticket for representative to the state Legis- lature from the thirty-first senatorial dis- trict, but he labors to a disadvantage as his party is in the minority in this county. However, he is a man of firm conviction and is utterly fearless and uncompromising; is bold and aggressive; and thoroughly en- joys a political contest. In 1896 he was appointed postmaster of Fulton, by Presi- dent Cleveland, although an advocate of the free coinage of silver. He went to Wash- ington, presented his case to the president and received the appointment. After serv- ing in that position for twenty-two months, which was several weeks after President McKinley's election, he was removed on ac- count of his active partisanship.
C HARLES NOON, SR., an industrious and thrifty farmer residing on section 32, Tampico township, Whiteside county, Illinois, was born in Warwickshire, Eng-
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land, December 30, 1828, and there was reared upon a farm. On the 16th of No- vember, 1848, at the age of twenty years, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha Hughes, who was born in Northampton- shire, England, October 8, 1830, and in their native land they continued to make their home uutil after the birth of all their children. There our subject worked at farming, mowing. ditching, or anything which he could find to do.
With the hope of benefiting his finan- cial condition in the new world, Mr. Noon left England, in 1874, and with his family sailed from Liverpool to Quebec, whence they came at once to Whiteside county, Illinois, joining Mrs. Noon's brother, James Hughes, who had located here in 1849. The family arrived at their destination July 19, and the following November Mr. Noon pur- chased a farm of eighty acres, on which was a little house, and a few other improve- ments. After leaving there for two years, he bought one hundred and sixty acres, where he now resides. Up- on that place he also built a little house, but he has since erected thereon two good residences, two large barns, a milk house and other outbuildings, and has made many other improvements which add to the value and attractive appearance of the place. He has since purchased forty acres elsewhere, and has a farm of one hundred and twenty acres one mile south of Tampic, making in all four hundred acres of very valuable and productive land.
To Mr. and Mrs. Noon were born four- teen children, namely: Anna, who mar- ried George Low in England, and died there, leaving two children; Thomas, now a substantial farmer of this county; Benjamin and Charles, Jr., who aid in the operation of
the home farm; Martha, wife of George Boldison; Jane, wife of Adam Miller; Rachel, wife of Webb Scott, of DeKalb county, Illinois; Sarah, wife of James Har- ris, of Princeton, Illinois; James, a farmer of lowa; Job, a resident of the west; Caleb, a resident of Greenfield, Tennessee; Will- iam, a farmer of Iowa; Mary, wife of John Curley, of Tampico township, residing on one of Mr. Noon's farms; and Hannah, wife of John Wenkler, who operates one of her father's farms. Mr. and Mrs. Noon were reared in the Episcopalian faith and their children were all baptized in that church. They have twenty-eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Mr. Noon has made the most of his opportunities in life, and by his straightforward, honorable course has gained the respect and confidence of the entire community. He has accumulated a handsome property, and his life illustrates what can be accomplished through industry, perseverance, good management and a determination to succeed.
B ENJAMIN GURTISEN, one of the honored pioneers and representative citizens of Sterling, where he has made his home since 1854, was born in Strasburg, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, January 3, 1835, a son of Maximillian F. and Mar- garet (Rheam) Gurtisen, natives of Ger- many, who in childhood came to the United States and were married in Lancaster coun- ty, where the father engaged in the butcher business and conducted a meat market of his own. He was killed on the Pennsyl- vania Railroad at Lemon when our subject was only two years old, leaving his wife with three small children: Jacob, now a resident of Iowa; Benjamin; and John, of
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Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. After her year he re-enlisted as second lieutenant in children grew up the mother moved to Ger-
Company A, One Hundred and Fortieth Illi- mantown, Indiana, where she died in the , nois Volunteer Infantry-a hundred-day faith of the Lutheran church. regiment-which was first ordered to Cairo and later to Memphis, Coldwater and Pigeon. They were engaged in fighting guerrillas until time to be mustered out, when they were ordered to Chicago for that purpose, but as Price was then making a raid through Missouri they were sent to St. Louis and remained in Missouri until he left, being finally mustered out in Chicago.
Our subject received a good practical education in the schools of Strasburg, and served an apprenticeship to the shoemaker's trade at that place. He then came to Sterl- ing, Illinois, which at that time was a small village containing only one or two stores. After working at his trade for two years his health gave out and he accepted a position with a railroad surveying party. Later he formed a partnership with W. F. Caughey, and under the firm name of Canghey & Gurtisen conducted the first successful meat market at Sterling. They did their own slaughtering and as they had no ice were compelled to sell their meat the day the an- imals were killed. They would buy cattle and slaughter them anywhere, and sheep for killing were allowed to run over the present site of the city. During the construction of the railroad there was such a demand for meat that the people would stand in line to be waited on and fight for their meat, get- ting hold of a piece while it was being cut and holding on for fear some one else would get it. The firm did a good business for a number of years, and their first market on Fifth avenue was afterward replaced by a good brick block on the same street near the high school.
Loyal to his country, Mr. Gurtisen gave up a good business and excellent prospects in order to enlist in Company A, Thirty- fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was assigned to the western army under General Rosecrans. At Green river he was taken ill and after a year and a half was discharged from the field hospital with the rank of second sergeant. The following
Before his re-enlistment, Mr. Gurtisen and his partner sold out their business and both entered the same company. After his re- turn our subject clerked in the grocery store of S. Ross Morgan for a number of years, and after he sold out to a Mr. Brewer Mr. Gurtisen had charge of the store-then one of the largest in the city-for one year. At the end of that time he purchased a half in- terest in the business, and in partnership with James P. Overhoser enjoyed a good and profitable trade. In the meantime he invested in Nebraska lands and city lots and became a stockholder in different manufacturing concerns of Sterling. After disposing of his grocery store he -was em- ployed as shipping clerk in the Novelty Works for two years, and later clerked for J. R. Bell & Company for a number of years. after which he was administrator for estates. He built a good residence on Fifth avenue where the high school now stands, and on selling it to the township for school purposes, in 1897, he erected his present beautiful home at 505 Seventh avenue, where he is now living.
In 1857, Mr. Gurtisen married Miss Emma Aument, a native of Lancaster county, Pennsylvaniy, who came to Sterling with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob
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Aument, her father being a wagon man- ufacturer here in early days. The one child born of this union died young. Mr. Gurtisen were both reared in the Lutheran church. He is identified with the Republican party, and takes a very prominent and active part in city affairs. He has been a mem- ber of the common council for quite a number of years, during which the water works were put in operation; has also been chairman of the electric light committee for eight or ten years, and it is due to his untir- ing efforts that the lights of the city were put up. He is also chairman of the license and judiciary committees, and as a public- spirited and progressive citizen does all in his power to advace the interests of the city. He is a prominent and influential member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having joined Sterling Lodge, January 8, 1858. On the ist of July, 1859, he was elected vice-grand; noble grand, January 2, 1860; and past grand July 2, 1860. He was made a member of the grand lodge in 1872; grand junior warden of the Grand Encamp- ment of Illinois in 1880; grand senior warden in 188 1 grand high priest in 1882; and grand patriarch in 1883 and 1884. He attended all the meetings of the hrand lodge and grand encampment until 1898, and is now deputy and also official examiner and in- structor of the grand lodge of the state. He also belongs to William Robinson yost, No. 274 G. A. R., and is quite popular both in social and political circles.
SAMUEL MCKEAN McCALMONT, LL. B., of Morrison, is one of the ablest lawyers practicing at the Whiteside county bar. A man of sound judgment, he man- ages his cases with masterly skill and tact,
is a logical reasoner and has a ready com - mand of English. A native of Whiteside county, he was born in Ustick township, December 30, 1867, and is the only child of John J. and Sarah E. (Mckean) McCal- mont. The father was a native of Centre county, Pennsylvania, and of Scotch descent, being the son of William Scott and Margaret (Laird) McCalmont. There he grew to manhood, but after his marriage, which was celebrated in Centre county, January 17, 1867, he came to Whiteside county, Illinois, and purchased a tract of wild land in Ustick township, to the improvement and cultiva- tion of which he devoted his energies until called from this life September 27, 1869, at the early age of twenty-nine years. Will- iam S. McCalmont, grandfather of our sub- ject, died in Centre county, Pennsylvania, December 17, 1863, and his father, John McCalmont, died about 1782. The wife of the latter was Jane Allison. John McCal- mont was a son of Thomas McCalmont, who came to America from the north of Ireland. The family have all been strong members of the Presbyterian church. Our subject's maternal grandfather was Samuel Mckean, a tanner and farmer of Center county, Penn- sylvania, who was born September 21, 1809, and died September 7, 1867. He was mar- ried, November 28, 1837, to Elizabeth M. Lowry, who was born November 26, 1814, and is still living. Her father, James M. Lowry, was born June 19, 1792, and was married February 24, 1814, to Sarah Laird, who was born April 1, 1790. After the death of her first husband, the mother of our subject returned to Pennsylvania, and in Northumberland county, that state, she was again married, September 3, 1873, her second union being with J. S. Miller, of Ustick township, Whiteside county, Illinois,
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now of Fulton. They have one child, Anna R. In religious faith the mother is also a Presbyterian.
The primary education of Samuel M. McCalmont was obtained in the district schools of Ustick township, and he later attended school at Morrison, coming a dis- tance of five miles each morning. On the removal of the family to Fulton, in Decem- ber, 1886, he entered the high school at that place, from which he was graduated in 1888. The following year was spent at the Northern Illinois College, at Fulton, and in the fall of 1889 he entered the literary de- partment of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, but a year later became a stu- dent of the law department of the same in- stitution, from which he was graduated with the degree of L.L. B., in 1892. In the fall of that year he opened an office in Ful- ton and engaged in practice there until March 1, 1895, when he came to Morrison and formed a partnership with F. D. Ram- say. On the election of that gentleman to the office of circuit judge, Mr. McCalmont succeeded to their large practice and is now one of the leading lawyers of the city. He is engaged in general practice and was one of the representatives of the people of Fulton in the Modern Woodmen case that was recently tried in this county. His powers as an advocate have been demonstrated by his success on many occasions. Thoroughness characterizes all his efforts, and he conducts all business with a strict regard-to a high standard of professional ethics. November 1, 1899, he formed a partnership with Luther R. Ramsay, son of Judge Ramsay, and the business is conducted under the firm name of McCalmont & Ramsay. Religiously Mr. McCalmont is a Presbyterian.
On the 16th of November, 1898, Mr.
McCalmont married Miss Mary Alice Taylor, of Morrison, a daughter of Dr. Samuel Tay- lor, deceased.
A DAM B. YOUNG, a retired agricultur- ist of Spring Hill, resided on section 30, Portland township, is an honored rep- resentative of the early pioneers of this county, and a true type of the energetic, hardy men who have actively assisted in developing and improving this beautiful and fertile agricultural country. When he came here, in 1853, wild beasts roamed the forest, and the dusky savage still habited the wilderness hereabout, but these have all long since fled, their haunts being re- placed by populous villages or waving fields of grain. He was born March 3, 1823, in Blair county, Pennsylvania, a son of Bal- zar Young.
Balzar Young was born in Germany, but when seven years old started with his parents from the Fatherland for America. His fa- ther died on the voyage over, and was buried at sea. His widowed mother pro- ceeded to Pennsylvania with her three chil- dren, two daughters and one son, but not being able to support them alone bound them out. Balzar Young learned the trade of stone mason, and until his death was engaged in mechanical labor. He married Catherine Burket, daughter of Adam Burket, who was born and reared in Germany, but subsequently settled in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, where he brought up his family. Of this union sixteen children were born, six of them being sons, and of this large family of children four sons and six daughters are now, in November. 1899, living.
Adam B. Young grew to manhood in his
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native county, and being the eldest son of the parental household had but little time to devote to school, his help being needed to support the large family. In his earlier days he worked on a farm, but afterwards followed the occupation of a post and rail fence builder for fourteen years, a business which he found profitable. In 1853, fol- lowing the tide of emigration westward, he came to Whiteside county with his family, and having entered one hundred and twenty acres of land in Portland township at once commenced clearing it. He built a log cabin in which he lived seven years before erecting a frame house. As he accumula- ted money he invested in adjoining land until he had a farm of two hundred and seventy- seven acres, with excellent farm buildings, and this estate is still in his possession. 2. In 1879 Mr. Young bought the property on which he now resides, and during the twenty years that have since elapsed he has made noted improvements, having entirely remodeled the house, barn and outbuildings, built new fences, and planted an orchard of fine fruit trees. He devotes his energies to general farming, including stock raising and dealing, and for thirty-two years manufact- ured cider each fall, making barrels upon barrels every season, and selling it at differ- ent markets throughout the country. By untiringindustry and sound busness judgment has won merited success in all of his un- dertakings, and is in all respects worthy of the high regard in which he is held by his fellow men.
On the 18th of September, 1844, Mr. Young married Elizabeth Ebersole, who was born in Blair county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Jacob Ebersole. She passed to the higher life in 1892, leaving seven children as follows: Jacob, a farmer, liv-
ing on the old homestead; John, who is en- gaged as a general fariner in Portland town- ship; Isaac, also a farmer in this place; Daniel, of Portland township, a well-known farmer; George, a resident of Greenfield, Adair county, Iowa; Mary, wife of John F. Martin, of Crawford county, Missouri; and Adam Young, Jr., a farmer, living near Erie, this county. Politically Mr. Young has been a stanch supporter of the princi- ples of the Democratic party since casting his first presidential ballot, in 1844, for James K. Polk, and though taking no very active part in public affairs was for a num- ber of years one of the school directors. While living in his Pennsylvania home he was connected with the Lutheran church, but since coming to Portland he has united with the Sharon Presbyterian church, in which he is an earnest worker.
0 RRIN PADDOCK owns and operates a fine farm of one hundred acres on section 27, Prophetstown township, who is pleasantly located on the Rock river only two miles from the village of Prophetstown. It is conspicuous for the manner in which it has been improved and cultivated, and shows conclusively that it belongs to one of the most enterprising and energetic agri- culturists of the county.
Mr. Paddock was born in Lewis county, New York, July 31, 1837, and is a son of James C. Paddock, who was born in Oneida county, that state, in 1810. The paternal grandfather was John Paddock. The father grew to manhood in his native county, and there married Miss Roxie Hall, also a na- tive of New York, and a daughter of Caleb Hall. From Oneida county they removed to Lewis county, New York, and in Novem-
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ber, 1851, came to Whiteside county, Illi- nois, where they joined two of Mr. Pad- dock's brothers. They made the journey across the country with teams, in company with another brother and his family. Here the father of our subject purchased between eight and nine hundred acres of land, which he at once began to improve and cultivate, but was not long permitted to enjoy his new home, dying of cholera September 2, 1854. His wife had died of the same dread disease three days before-August 31, and two sons, George, aged eight, and Clark, aged two and a half years, died the day fol- lowing the father's death. All were laid to rest in the Prophetstown cemetery. There were six children of the family who reached years of maturity, namely: John, now a merchant of Prophetstown; Caleb, a resi- dent of South Dakota; Orrin, of this review; Jay, a resident of Rock Island county; Mary, wife of Daniel H. Paddock, of Prophets- town, and James, now deceased.
Orrin Paddock was a lad of fourteen years when he came with the family to this county, and he assisted in the development and cultivation of the home farm, trans- forming the virgin soil into highly cultivated fields. After the death of their parents, he and his brothers carried on the place to- gether for the first year, but during the fol- lowing two years he worked by the month as a farm hand, and he then succeeded to eighty acres of the old homestead. He had received a good common-school education which well fitted him for the practical duties of life.
In Prophetstown township Mr. Paddock was married in October, 1857, to Miss Jane Hotchkiss, a native of New York, who was sixteen years of age when she came to this county with her uncle, Rufus Hotch-
kiss, one of the early settlers of Oswego county, New York. By this union two chil- dren were born: Lillie May, who died at the age of seventeen years, and Emily Lavina, wife of Earl Reynolds, of Sterling.
Mr. and Mrs. Paddock began housekeep- ing on the old Paddock homestead, where he successfully operated for fifteen years, and then sold, buying the place where he now lives. To its further improvement and cultivation he has since devoted his time and attention in connection with stock rais- ing, and now has a valuable farm. He keeps a good grade of horses, cattle and hogs, and is justly regarded as one of the best farmers of the county. Mr. Paddock cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln in 1860, but is now a stalwart Democrat. He is widely and favorably known, and as an honored pioneer and rep- resentative man of the community is well worthy of the high regard in which he is uniformly held.
J JOHN BOYD, a well-to-do agriculturist
and leading stock-dealer of Mount Pleas- ant township, is a typical self-made man, and in the following record of his career there is much to arouse respect and esteem. He has placed his reliance upon industry and perseverance rather than "luck," and by making the most of circumstances, however discouraging, has made his way to substan- tial success, his fine farm on section 19 be- ing a tangible evidence of prosperity.
A native of Scotland, Mr. Boyd was born in Ayreshire September 1, 1826, and is a son of William and Mary Robinson Boyd. He received his education in his native land, and followed farming with his father until 1823, when at the age of twenty-three
JOHN BOYD.
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years he came along to America and took up his residence in Whiteside county, Illi- nois. After working by the month for five years he was able in 1853 to purchase one hundred and twenty acres of raw prairie land, to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted his energies for many years, To the original purchase he added from time to time until he now has about four hundred acres of rich and arable land. His son, William, now manages the farmn while he gives his attention to the stock business. Dairying occupies a considerable portion of his time, as he keeps from twenty- five to thirty milch cows for that business. He also buys and ships cattle, principally milch cows, throughout the surrounding counties. For the past fifteen years he has done little general farming, his entire time being given to the cattle business.
On the 24th of February, 1857, Mr. Boyd was united in marriage with Miss Isa- bella Archibald, also a native of Scotland, of which country her parents, Daniel and Mary (Easdale) Archibald, were life-long residents. Her father followed the occupa- tion of farming. Both he and his wife are now deceased, and Mrs. Boyd is now the only one of the family living, her brothers, Robert, James and Daniel, having also passed away. Three children were born to our subject and his wife. James, the eldest, now cashier of the Farmers' National Bank of Kearney, Nebraska, married May Rob- ertson, and has one child living, James W. ; William manages the home farm for his father, and Mary died at the age of seven- teen years.
In his political affiliations Mr. Boyd is a Democrat, and for a number of years he most acceptably filled the office of road com- missioner. His wife holds membership in
the Presbyterian church of Morrison, and although he is not a member he gives lib- erally to its support, and gave five hun- dred dollars toward the erection of the house of worship. What he has accomplished in life is the result of his own individual effort, for his capital on landing in the new world consisted of only nineteen dollars. He paid five dollars for a man to take him from Chi- cago to Dixon on coming to this county, and during the first three years he worked here he received only three dollars in money, as currency was very scarce at that time. Enterprising, industrious and energetic he has met with well-merited success in his la- bors, and is now one of the prosperous and substantial citizens of his community.
W ILLIAM E. ALLEN, who is identified with the Northwestern Railway Com- pany at Fulton, Illinois, as both ticket and freight agent, is well qualified by knowledge and training for the important position he holds, and in which he is giving good satis- faction to all concerned. He was born in Fulton township December 19, 1857, a son of Orin T. and Hannah (Randall) Allen, both of whom were born, reared and mar- ried in Ohio. They removed from Hills- borough, that state, about 1845, to Illinois, and settled on government land in Fulton township, where the father was prosper- ously engaged in farming until his death, in July, 1895. He was a stanch Democrat in politics, and was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His widow survives him, and makes her home with her son William. They were the parents of five children, as follows: Amanda, wife of L. A. Lewis, of Ustick township; Isaac B., of Fulton, who is in the employ of the North-
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