USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > The biographical record of Whiteside County, Illinois.. > Part 31
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on Coon creek, near Prophetstown, taking up a claim at Jefferson Corners. In 1838 he was joined by his family, but the follow- ing winter he met death by freezing while returning to his home from Dixon, having been there to mill. He named Washington street below Prophetstown. Later his widow married Samuel Johnson, who located on the Smith claim. The neighbors had erect- ed for her a good log house upon the place (her husband having hauled the logs previ- ous to his death), and she had commenced to improve and cultivate the land. Of her three children, Rinaldo died in the winter of 1838, but the others are still living. Lucy is the wife of Herbert Houston, a machinist of Pennsylvania. Richard completes the family.
Our subject grew to manhood in Proph- etstown township, where he attended school, and later was a student at Lee Center for nearly a year. He remained with his mother until reaching manhood. In September, 1861, he joined the boys in blue of Com- pany B, Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, and with the Army of the Cumber- land participated in the battles of Pittsburg Landing. Shiloh, Perryville, Stone River, Chattanooga, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and Lookout Mountain. He was in the raid on Knoxville, the charge on Buz- zard Roost, the battles of Resaca and Ken- esaw Mountain, and with his regiment was in the front ranks during the engagements of the Atlanta campaign. In the charge on Kenesaw Mountain, he was wounded in the hand. On the expiration of his three years' term of enlistment, he was honorably dis- charged at Atlanta, in September, 1864, and returned to his home to resume the more quiet pursuits of farm life.
At Sterling, in December, 1865, Mr.
Smith was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Horrie, who was born in New York, but came to this county when a child. To them have been born four children, namely: Clara, wife of Thomas Wicken, a farmer of Tampico township; Alfreter, at home; Rose, wife of Burton Brown, a farmer of Tampico township; and Mary, wife of Shular Sted- man, who operates a farm adjoining our sub- ject's place. They also have an adopted son, Frank Smith, whom they have reared from childhood.
After his marriage, Mr. Smith operated a rented farm for one season, and then en- gaged in teaming for a short time in Peru and La Salle. Subsequently he located on the land which his step-father had secured from the government for him, it being an eighty-acre tract on section 9, Tampico township, to which he has since added forty acres, and he has transformed the place into a well-improved and highly cultivated farm. In 1882 he rented it and moved to South Dakota, where he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, built a good house thereon, and carried on farming there through three seasons. Renting that place in 1885, he returned to his old home in Whiteside county, and engaged in farm- ing there for about ten years In 1894 he bought his present farm, to which he re- moved the following spring, having sold the old homestead. He has made many sub- stantial improvements upon his place, in- cluding the erection of a large barn, and has met with excellent success in its operation.
On attaining his majority, Mr. Smith became identified with the Whig party and voted for Filmore, in 1856, but since then he has affiliated with the Republican party. While in South Dakota he served as high- way commissioner, and has filled the office
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of school director, but has never cared for political preferment. He and his wife and daughter are members of the Tampico Baptist church, and he belongs to the Grand Army post and his wife to the Relief Corps. For sixty-five years he has made his home in this country and has witnessed its won- derful development; he has seen the deer and other wild game disappear, and the swamps and wild prairie land transformed into fine farms; and in the work of progress and upbuilding he has borne an important part. As a veteran of the Civil war, and an honored pioneer, and a representative man of his community, he is worthy the high re- gard in which he is held and deserves promi- nent mention in his county's history.
G ARRETT NANIGA, of Fulton, White- side county, is carrying on an extensive business in the sale of agricultural imple- ments, wagons, carriages and vehicles of all kinds, and is also successfully managing the hardware business of the C. N. Wheeler estate. A young man of superior executive ability and of sound judgment, he already occupies a good position in the mercantile world, and has a fine prospect of reaching the topmost round of the ladder of pros- perity. He was born in Fulton township February 18, 1862, a son of George and Dora (Feldt) Naniga, both of whom were born and reared in Holland, but were mar- ried after coming to America.
In company with a number of others they came to America on the same ship, and first took up their abode in Holland, Michi- gan, where they were married, and from whence four years later they came to White- side county, Illinois. He purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, lying two
and one-half miles from Fulton, and was there engaged in tilling the soil until his death, April 4, 1875. He was an indus- trious, intelligent man, interested in the wel- fare of his adopted town and county, and proved himself a most worthy citizen. He was a decided Republican in politics, and served on the board of education for a num- ber of terms. In religion he was a member of the Reformed church. His widow still lives in Fulton, an active woman of sev- enty-two years. They reared four children, namely: Garrett, the special subject of this sketch; John, in the employ of J. W. Broad- head; Elizabeth, wife of John C. Jones, of Clinton, Iowa, and Dennis, a farmer at Gar- den Plain, this county.
Garrett Naniga was educated in the pub- lic schools, and remained on the parental homestead until nineteen years of age, when he started in the world for himself. Going to Nebraska he bought eighty acres of land in Holland, a small town about twenty miles from Lincoln, but after a two years' resi- dence there returned home satisfied with his experience there. The next year he was employed by the 'bus line of D. C. Goble, in Fulton, and was afterward a clerk and salesman with George De Bey & Co., gen- eral merchants, for four years. In 1886, deciding to again try the pursuit of agri- culture, he took charge of the home place, but in 1887 accepted a position as clerk and salesman in the hardware establishment of the late C. N. Wheeler, and on the death of his employer in July, 1898, as- sumed the entire control of the business, managing it for the estate. In 1899 he es- tablished a new line of business, in which he is dealing in agricultural implements of all descriptions, wagons and vehicles of every kind, and a full stock of farmers' sup-
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plies, including seeds, etc. In all of his undertakings he has prospered thus far, his excellent success being but the logical result of his careful and correct business methods. Mr. Naniga has been active in the improve- ment and upbuilding of his town, having bought and remodeled three residences, and erected three new, handsome houses.
Politically he has ever been an earnest Republican, and has rendered good service to his townsmen in official capacities, hav- ing been township collector since 1897, and is now alderman from the third ward, hav- ing been elected in the spring of 1899. Fra- ternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, of the Mystic Work- ers of the World, and of the Abou Ben Adhem lodge, No. 148, I. O. O. F., of Fulton. He is likewise connected with the Woodmen Accident Insurance Company.
On October 15, 1884, at Ustick town- ship, Mr. Naniga was married to Miss Helen Sikkeman, daughter of Jacob and Anna (Volk) Sikkeman, respected members of the farm- ing community of Ustick. Their union has been blessed by the birth of three children, namely: Dora M., Jacob G. and Florence G.
W ILLIAM LANE. The fine farm be- longing to this gentleman on section 26, Prophetstown township, invariably attracts the eye of the passing traveler as being under the supervision of a thorough and skillful agriculturist, and a man other- wise of good business qualifications. Be- sides this place, comprising one hundred and sixty acres, he owns another good farm of one hundred and forty acres.
Mr. Lane was born near Niles, in Berrien county, Michigan, June 18, 1837, a 15
son of Benjamin and Charity (Roper) Lane, natives of Cayuga county, New York, and pioneers of Berrien county, Michigan, where the father took up a tract of governinent land and cleared and improved a farm. There his first wife died, and he later mar- ried a Mrs. Robinson. In 1855 he came to Illinois and settled in Henry county. He again turned his attention to developing wild land into a well-cultivated and productive farm, his place being on the boundary line between Henry and Bureau counties, near Whiteside county. Here he spent the last years of his life, but died at the home of our subject, in October, 1889, at the age of His last wife had died about eighty-two.
eight years before. Our subject is the second in order of birth in a family of five children, three sons and two daughters, of whom George now lives in California, and Mrs. Sarah A. Winchell lives in Prophets- town township. These are the only surviv- ors.
William Lane was about nineteen years of age when he came with his father to this state, and he assisted in opening up and improving the home farm. He received a good common-school education in his native state. During the dark days of the Re- bellion, he manifested his patriotism by en- listing, May 21, 1862, for three years, in Company K, Fifty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was in the service until hostilities ceased, being honorably dis- charged May 20, 1865. He participated in numerous important engagements and skir- mishes, including the battles of Corinth. Town Creek and Resaca, Georgia. He took in the Atlanta campaign, was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea, and his last engagement was at Bentonville, North Caro- lina. At Corinth he received a gunshot
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wound, but was not disabled, and never lost any time on account of sickness and never missed stacking guns with his regiment. On his return home from the war Mr. Lane re- suined farming. His first purchase con- sisted 'of eighty acres of wild land obtained from his father, and to it he has added from time to time, as his financial resources per- mitted, until he now has three hundred acres of as good farming land as is to be found in the county. In connection with general farming he is interested in raising and feeding stock, his specialty being cattle and hogs, and in both branches of his busi- ness he has been eminently successful.
In the village of Prophetstown Mr. Lane was married, October 18, 1868, to Miss Elizabeth Wroe, who was born in Virginia, but was reared in Illinois. Her father, Ben- jamin Wroe, was one of the early settlers of Bureau county, but later removed to Mis- souri, where his death occurred. To Mr. and Mrs. Lane have been born six children, two sons and four daughters, all of whom have been well educated and reside at home. Ida E., William Clark and Charles Francis all attended the Geneseo high school, and the two older hold first-class certificates for teaching, while Charles F. and William C. assists in the operation of the farm. Mary A. also holds a teacher's certificate, and Grace and Nellie are students in the home school. Mrs. Lane and children are at- tendants of the Methodist Episcopal church, and the younger members of the family are active workers in the Sunday school. Fra- ternally, Mr. Lane is a member of the Grand Army post of Tampico, and, polit- ically, he is a stanch Republican, having affiliated with that party since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, in 1860. He is widely and favorably known
and, being a man of many sterling qualities, the community is fortunate that numbers him among its citizens.
C LARENCE E. WHITE, a well-known wagon and carriage manufacturer, of Sterling, Illinois, is entitled to distinction as one of the most progressive, enterprising and public-spirited citizens of the place. Upon the commercial activity of a commun- ity depends its prosperity, and the men who are now recognized as leading citizens are those that are at the head of important business enterprises. He is a man of broad capabilities, who generally carries forward to successful completion whatever he un- dertakes.
Mr. White was born in Winchendon, Worcester county, Massachusetts, October 3, 1853, a son of Daniel and Maria (Poland) White, natives of Vermont. The founder of the White family in America came to this country on the Mayflower. The paternal grandfather was a soldier of the war of 1812, and the father received a part of the pension due him from the government. The latter attended the common schools of his native state, and in early life was bound out to a carriage and vehicle builder, learn- ing the trade thoroughly. After his mar- riage he moved to Winchendon, Massa- chusetts, where he followed his trade for many years, running a large establishment. While there he was a member of the Mas- sachusetts State Guards, and also served as selectman of Winchendon. In 1866, with his wife and two children, he came to Illi- nois and took up his residence in Sterling, where he established a wagon and carriage manufactory, but after conducting it for two years, he bought a section of land in
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Lee county, Illinois, and followed farming for two years. He then returned to Sterl- ing and resumed work at his trade, being engaged in business here up to the time of his death, which occurred June 3, 1876. His wife died in May, 1892. Both were consistent members of the Methodist church, and he was a Republican in poli- tics.
In the family of this worthy couple were four children: Elsie E. is now the wife of George P. Ross, a leading farmer of Harmon township, Lee county, and they have two children living. Hiram L. mar- ried Esther O. Barber, and died in Sum- merville, Massachusetts, January 15, 1899, at the age of fifty-six years, leaving two children. Clarence E. is the next in order of birth. Flora is the wife of W. F. Man- gan, of Sterling, and they have five chil- dren.
Clarence E. White began his education in the public schools of his native state, and after coming to Sterling attended both the public and select schools of this place. At the age of eighteen years he entered his fa- ther's shop, where he soon mastered the trade, and remained with his father until the latter's death, being a partner from the age of twenty-one. At his father's death he assumed full control of the business, which he has since successfully carried on, cm- ploying wood workers, painters and black- smiths, He now gives considerable atten- tion to the real estate business, and owns eight dwelling houses, a meat market and grocery store in the city, besides two well cultivated farms of one hundred and sixty acres each in Comanche county, Kansas.
On the 4th of May, 1876, Mr. White was united in marriage with Miss Anna S. Abendroth, a native of Berlin, Germany,
who when a small child came to this country with her father, John Abendroth, locating in Green county, Wisconsin, where he pur- chased land and engaged in farming for a couple of years. Since then he has been successfully engaged in the boot and shoe business in Janesville, that state, and also has money out on interest. Prior to com- ing to America he served for several years in the German army. In his family were four children, of whom Mary died at the age of six years. Those living are Edward, August and Mrs. White. Edward is now chief of police of Monroe, Wisconsin; and August is in charge of a division for the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. To Mr. and Mrs. White were born three children, namely: Datus E., who died of typhoid fever at the age of eleven years; Lottie S., who will graduate from the Sterling high school in 1900, and Elsie M., who is attend- ing the grammar school of Sterling.
Fraternally, Mr. White is a charter member of Sterling garrison, No. 83, Knights of the Globe, and his wife was one of the first members of the Methodist church of that city, and a charter member of the Betsey Ross garrison, Eminent Ladies Knights of the Globe. In his political affiliations he is a stanch Republican, and in 1890 he was elected alderman from the first ward, in which capacity he served for six years. Ile was instrumental in getting a great many important measures passed, among the most important being the paving of the streets and the laying of the Broad- way sewer. He was chairman of the print- ing, bridges, electric light, fire and water committees, and was a member of the street and alley committee during the entire time he held the office. At four different times when the mayor was out of the city, he
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served as mayor pro tem. He is pre-emi- nently public-spirited and progressive and is always willing to give his support to every enterprise which he believes will prove of public good. During the time he was serv- ing as mayor pro tem. all arc lights in the city were put in through his own personal efforts and the free bridge lighted by incan- descents.
P ROF. J. E. BITTINGER. In this age of intellectual activity, when success in the business world depends not upon mere physical prowess but upon mental activity, upon an ability to master the principles and details of any enterprise and guide its course away from the rocks of dis- aster to the safe harbor of success, the work of the educator has become of even greater importance than ever before, and one of his most important functions is in connec- tion with the department in which the young are trained for the practical duties of the commercial and industrial world. Long occupying a prominent rank among the educators of Illinois is Professor J. E. Bit- tinger, the well known president of the Northern Illinois College, at Fulton, and under his leadership this school has taken rank with the best of its kind in the Missis- sippi valley. With a correct appreciation of the responsiblity that devolves upon the teacher he has ably prepared himself for his profession and is making continual advance- ment along lines of educational progress, each year witnessing an improvement in his methods of instruction.
Professor Bittinger was born in Hagers- town, Maryland, August 1, 1857, a son of George and Elizabeth (Melchoir) Bittinger, who were natives of Pennsylvania. The
family is of German lineage, Jacob Bittinger a native of the Fatherland, having been the first of the name to seek a home in the New World. Throughout his active business career the father of our subject followed farming. He carried on agricultural pur- suits in Washington county, Maryland, for six years, and then emigrated to Illinois. After residing in Ogle county, this state, for eight years he went to Poweshiek county, Iowa, and is now a resident of Nassau. Professor Bittinger is third in the family of seven children born to George and Eliza- beth Bittinger. The others are Emma, wife of Jeremiah Raymond, of Dixon, Illi- nois; George W., of Polo; William G., of Nassau, Iowa; Elizabeth, wife of Lincoln Eyler, of Nassau, Iowa; Mary, wife of Harry Roland, of Davenport, Nebraska; and Frank E., of Mystic, Iowa.
Professor Bittinger, of this review, was only seven years of age when he came with his parents to Illinois. He spent the days of his childhood and youth upon his father's farm, and assisted in the labors of field and meadow until seventeen years of age, when desiring to gain a better education than had hitherto been provided htm, he bacame a stu- dent in the high school of Lewis, Iowa, where he remained two years. At the age of nine- teen he secured a position as teacher in a graded school in Ogle county, Illinois, and in 1880 he entered the Northern Illinois College at Fulton, graduating from the philosophical department at the end of four years. For the following six years he was employed by his alma mater as a teacher of natural sciences, on the expira- tion of which period he became principal of the schools of Port Byron, Illinois, where he remained three years. He then came to Fulton where for five years he acted as
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principle of the public schools, after which he was made president of the Northern Illi- nois College, in which capacity he has now acceptably served for three years. Under his direction the school is making rapid and satisfactory progress, substantial improve- ment is noticed in all departments of the work, and the Fulton Business College, which is conducted in connection with the Northern Illinois College, is unsurpassed in its methods and efficiency by any school of the kind in the country. In it are taught all the branches of learning of use in the com- mercial world and general actual business practice fits the student for the practical duties of the business world. The Inter- Communication practice is used, whereby the students transact business with other students in twenty-five colleges throughout the Union, doing an actual business, save for the interchange of goods. The Northern Illinois College is a credit to Fulton, and ranks high in educational circles throughout the state.
Professor Bittinger has ever been an advocate of progress and reform and is thus identified with many movements whose purpose is to do away with old methods and substitute new and better ones. His inter- est in the welfare of his fellow men has led him to give his political support to the Pro- hibition party, and on that ticket he was candidate for county clerk in 1888, but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Court of Honor. He holds membership in the Baptist church of Fulton, is a member and clerk of its board of trustees, and does all in his power to promote the work and interests of the church. His home relations are very pleasant. In November, 1887, he
married Carrie A. Mason, a daughter of Alonzo l'. and Carrie (Northup) Mason, a native of New York, in which state her par- ents were also born. Professor and Mrs. Bittinger now have two children, Lylle M. and Leigh N., both yet in school. The parents enjoy the hospitality of the best homes of the city and their friends are num- bered among the representative people of Fulton. Throughout his life Professor Bit- tinger has been actuated by noble, yet practical, principles, and the spirit of help- fulness which pervades in the school of which he is president is undoubtedly one of the secrets of its success.
N TORTHERN ILLINOIS COLLEGE.
This is one of the leading features of Fulton. It was first established by Colonel De Estynge Cavert, in 1861, as a military school, and was called the Western Union College and Military Academy. Colonel Cavert proposed to open this institution if the citizens would take hold and aid him, which they did, forming a company and issuing bonds. He secured the Dement House, which had been vacant for some years, re- fitted the building and extended the grounds so as to have ample room for drill. The war had commenced and military enthusiasm ran high. He received from the United States government arms and accoutrements for the use of a cadet corps. It was carried on in this way for about four years, receiv- ing large numbers of students and sending out many well-drilled cadets to the field. Colonel Cavert desired then to retire from the college, and have the company take it off of his hands and rent it as a college. Accordingly they took it from him and or- ganized a college under the general laws of
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the state, securing a special charter. Dona- tions were asked for and received from all parts of the state and quite a large fund was raised. One of the objects was to take the disabled soldiers from Illinois regiments and educate them to fill civil stations. The same advantages were extended to the children of soldiers. The trustees managed the insti- tution with a faculty of whom Leander H. Potter was president. The expenses were defrayed from the donation fund. The in- stitution received from the state during this period about $20,000. Mr. Potter's admin- istration closing about this time, the trus- tees then secured Mr. W. D. F. Lummis, who, with other professors, took charge of the institution. About this period the trus- tees ceased soliciting aid from the state, and then the question of changing the name of the college was discussed, when it was fully agreed by the stockholders and trustees to adopt a new name, calling the institution the Northern Illinois College. To Mr. Lummis the trustees gave the interest of the endowment fund, which was then about $30,000, charging him nothing for the use of the building. Mr. Lummis did not suc- ceed in satisfying the expectations and de- sires of the trustees, and on accepting his resignation they leased the college to Rev. J. W. Hubbard, whose administration, although not extraordinary, was encourag- ing. Subsequently Professor A. A. Griffith took charge of the institution and endeav- ored to establish a school of oratory, but not meeting with the success desired he concluded to change the charactor of the school, and in consequence of which he called Professors A. M. Hansen and W. F. Hansen, who began to put forth strong efforts to establish a normal, scientific, and classical school. They were very popular
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