USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > The biographical record of Whiteside County, Illinois.. > Part 33
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O KE HOLMQUEST is a man whose suc- cessful struggle with adverse circum- stances shows what can be accomplished
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by industry and economy, especially if a sensible wife second his efforts to secure a home and competence. Coming to the new world without means, he has labored ear- nestly and his well-directed efforts have been crowned with success for he is now the owner of an excellent farm of two hundred acres on section 14, Prophetstown township.
Mr. Holmquest was born in Sweden, December 20, 1834, and as his parents died during his childhood, he has been de- pendent upon his own resources for a liveli- hood from an early age. In his native land he worked on a farm, in a factory, or at anything which he could find to do, and as his time was wholly taken up in this way, his educational advantages were neces- sarily limited. His knowledge of the Eng- lish language has all been obtained through his own unaided efforts since coming to this country.
In 1868, with the hope of benefiting his financial condition, Mr. Holinquest came to America, taking passage on a vessel from Denmark to Liverpool, England, whence he crossed the Atlantic to Boston. He pro- ceeded at once to New York, and on west to Princeton, Bureau county, Illinois, where he found employment at ditching and fol- lowed that employment for about two years, making fair wages. He then rented land near Yorktown and engaged in farming in Bureau county for three years. Coming to Whiteside county, in 1874, he bought two hundred acres of raw land, which he broke, fenced, ditched and improved, transforming it into one of the best farms of the locality. He paid eight hundred dollars toward the county ditch which runs through his farm. Upon his place he has erected a good set of farm buildings which stand as monuments to his thrift and enterprise.
In Princeton, Bureau county, Mr. Holm- quest was married, in 1875, to Miss Ida Ol- son, also a native of Sweden, and to them have been born three sons, namely: Albert and Oscar, who have started out in life for themselves; and Anton, who is still at home. In making his farm what we to- day see it, Mr. Holmquest has been ably assisted by his family. He and his wife at- tend the Lutheran church of Prophetstown, and he affiliates with the Democratic party, particularly at national elections.
SOLOMON FARWELL, who resides on section 12, Union Grove township, came to Whiteside county in 1853. He was born in Denmark, Lewis county, New York, Jan- uary 11, 1827, and is the son of Solomon and Sabina (Burlingame) Farwell, both of whom were natives of Vermont, but who moved to Lewis county, New York, and there spent the remainder of their lives. They were the parents of eleven children, two of whom died in infancy. Of the re- maining children, Submit married Parley Brown, by whom she had eight children. Both are now deceased. Eunice married John Adams, but both are now deceased. They had six children. Leonard is deceased. Sabina married Moses Brown, and was the mother of nine children. Both are de- ceased. Selah, now deceased, married and left a family of seven children. Eliza mar- ried Rollo Fox, but died leaving five chil- dren. Selah has one daughter living in Morrison, Mrs. A. J. Phileo. Phila E. mar- ried Ebenezer Adsit, by whom she had seven children. She is deceased. Hannah married Allen Pitkin, but is now deceased. She had one child. Solomon is the subject of our sketch. Both parents died on the
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old homestead in New York, at the age of seventy-five years.
The subject of this sketch was reared in his native state, and in its common schools received his education. At the age of thir- teen years he commenced life for himself, and after working as a farm hand for a time, he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's trade, an occupation which he followed the greater portion of his life. He was married February 4, 1848, to Margaret Plank, also a native of Lewis county, New York, born September 21, 1828, and daughter of John and Eleanor (Ostrander) Plank, both of whom were natives of Troy, New York. By occupation, her father was a dairy farm- er, and was quite successful in life. Her grandfather, Henry Plank, was a soldier in the war of 1812. John Plank and wife were the parents of four children, of whom Mar- garet, the wife of our subject, is the only one now living. Hannah married M. L. Bedell, but both are now deceased. They were residents of Ustick township, White- side county, where their death occurred. They had two children, of whom one son, William, is yet living in the township. Nancy married John Canfield, by whom she had ten children. She died at their home in Nebraska. Henry married and had two children. He made his home in Colorado, where his death occurred. The parents of these children both died at the age of forty- one years, in their old home in New York.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Far- well located in the village of Denmark, New York, where he worked at his trade for five years. They then came to Whiteside county and located in Ustick township, where Mr. Farwell purchased a farm of sixty acres, which he operated for some years in con- nection with his trade. In 1863 he pur-
chased a farm of seventy-eight acres in Union Grove township, to which he removed with his family, and there remained two years. He then traded farms and moved back to Ustick township, where he remained fifteen years, at the expiration of which time he moved to Unionville, and there re- sided ten years. For the next five years the family lived in Morrison, and then he purchased the place where he now resides in 1898. The house he built for another person in 1867.
To Mr. and Mrs. Farwell nine children have been born, one dying in infancy. Celia H., born November 17, 1848, married Will- iam Leckey, and they have two daughters and three sons: Edward, Lulu, Harry, Roy and Anita. They reside in Hampton, Iowa, where Mr. Leckey is engaged in the mer- cantile business. Emma, born September 3, 1850, is now the wife of William Latham, and they have two children, Helen and Tal- bott. Their home is in DeWitt, Iowa. Carrie, born April 10, 1852, is the wife o George Rider, by whom she has two chil- dren: Kate and George. Their home is also in De Witt, Iowa, where Mr. Rider is living a retired life. J. D., born June 24, 1856, has been twice married, his first union being with Louisa Hill, by whom he had eight children: Fred, Bessie, John, Luella, Min- nie, Mable, Ora and Orville. His second union was with Mary Jones, by whom he had five children: Volney, Leona, Robert, Edna and Mckinley. His home is in Lyn- don township, where he is engaged in farm- ing. Nellie, born September 3, 1859, is the wife of George W. Burt, living in Ustick township, of whom a sketch is found else- where in this volume. Minnie, born De- cember 23, 1861, married William Cutler, and they had one child, Laura. For her
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second husband she married Warren G. Within the limits of Illinois busy cities have Bent, and they now live in Milledgeville, grown, more especially Chicago, which had less than a score of houses when she passed through it on her way to her new home, in 1837, and is now the second city of the Union. Carroll county, Illinois. Fred, born Janu- ary 15, 1864, married Lizzie Traubler, and they have two sons: Royand Harry. Their home is in Frederika, Iowa. Lulu, born May 30, 1866, is the wife of Frank Howard, by whom she had two children, one living, Mae. They make their home with our sub- ject.
While residing in Union Grove town- ship Mr. Farwell served six years as justice of the peace, and while in Ustick township served as assessor and town clerk for a time. In politics he is a Republican, with which party he has been identified since its or- ganization. Religiously he is a Universalist, he and his wife holding membership with the church of that name in Morrison. Until 1883 he worked at his trade, and many of the dwellings and barns in Ustick and ad- joining township were erected by him. He also erected the church in Round Grove. He is now practically living a retired life.
C AROLINE B. COLE, widow of the late Daniel Cole, came to Whiteside county sixty-two years ago, when Portland township was in its infancy, and has resided here most of the time since. Wild turkey, deer, and other game were abundant, help- ing oftentimes to supply the family larder, and the wily red man inhabited the woods, frequently making life a terror to the white settlers. Town, county and state have made wonderful progress in all directions within her remembrance, and the center of the population of the United States has steadily pushed westward until it is now near the Mississippi, with the possibility of touching the Pacific coast in the future.
Mrs. Cole was born in Virgil, Cortland county, New York, June 22, 1817, a daugh- ter of Daniel Blasdell. Her father was born and brought up in Vermont, where he lived until after his marriage with Clara C. Gard- ner, also of the Green Mountain state. Mr. Blasdel was a man of versatile talent, ex- pert in the use of tools, and possessed of good business ability. Soon after his mar- riage he settled in Cortland county, New York, where he worked as carpenter and joiner, besides doing some coopering and shoemaking, and afterward engaged for a time in mercantile business. In 1827 he re- moved with his family to Broome county, where, in the town of Lisle, he opened a general store, purchased a half interest in a grist mill, which he operated for a while, and in addition engaged in agricultural pur- suits on the farm that he bought. In 1835 he came to Illinois, bringing with him his son, and having selected a desirable loca- tion in Portland township commenced the improvement of a homestead. In 1837 he sent for his wife and their daughter Caro- line, Mrs. Cole, who arrived here October 19. From Ithaca, New York, they jour- neyed by canal to Buffalo, thence around the lakes to Chicago, which then had neither streets nor sidewalks, consisting of about a dozen houses, one boarding house, and one store, that of Kinsey & Hunter. There they hired teams to bring them to this coun- ty, and a long dreary ride, over almost im- passable roads, they had. Mr. and Mrs. Blasdell spent the remainder of their lives
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on the homestead which they redeemed from its pristine wildness.
Caroline C. Blasdell remained with her parents until her marriage, December 18, 1839, to Daniel Cole, who was born and reared in New York state, and came to this locality at the same time that she did, in 1837. He saw her while en route, in Chi- cago, but had no opportunity to form an acquaintance until the following winter, when he met her at Rock River. He was a brother of Horace B. Cole, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Cole settled on what they deemed the most desirable land of the township. He soon cleared a space, and on it built the typical log house of the pioneer, which they occupied for thirteen years, while opening up and developing the farm, which comprised two hundred acres of prairie and twenty acres of timber. In 1852 he built a substantial residence, and put up one of the finest barns in this vicin- ity. He was a man of indomitable resolu- tion and perseverance, and made good suc- cess in his untiring efforts, improving an ex- cellent farın, whereon he resided until his death, January 19, 1884. Mr. Cole was recognized as one of the representative men of Portland township, which he served in various official capacities, having been supervisor a number of terms, and for the twenty-six years preceding his death was justice of the peace. Fraternally he was a member of the Masonic order, and promi- nently connected with the Odd Fellows, the lodge to which he belonged having taken charge of burial services.
Mr. and Mrs. Cole reared two children, as follows: Almon B., for several years a lawyer in Macomb, Illinois, moved from there to Dallas, Texas, where he engaged in the 16
practice of his profession until his death, October 31, 1882; and Antoinette, who died in early womanhood, on November 20, 1868. Almon B. Cole left three children, namely: Frank B., a machinist, at Morri- son; Nettie is the wife of W. S. Rugh, and Elizabeth lives in Kansas City, Missouri, with her mother. Mrs. Cole re- sided on the farm for nearly two years after her husband's death, then went to Paola, Kansas, where she lived with her daughter- in-law from February, 1885, until July 14. 1898, when she returned to her Illinois home.
W ILLIAM BUTMAN, now living re- tired two miles and a half east of Fulton, this county, was for many years of his active life identified with the railway service of our country. He was born in Rutland, Vermont, February 10, 1821, a son of James W. and Esther (Moulthrop) Butman, the former of whom was a native of Salem, Massachusetts, and a sea captain.
William Butman spent a part of his early life in Elmira, New York, from whence he went to Dundee, New York, to assume the publication of the "Dundee Record" in which he had purchased a half interest. After two years in that position, he became connected with the Rochester & Buffalo Railway, which was one of the seven roads running between Buffalo and Albany that have since been consolidated into the New York Central railroad. He was employed as baggageman for a time, then made conductor of a passenger train running from Rochester to Buffalo, a posi- tion that he held twenty years, when he was forced to give it up on account of fail- ing health. Going next into the New York
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Custom House as custom house examiner and verifier, he remained there three years, when he was offered what he considered a more desirable position, that of conductor on the Detroit, Lansing & Northern Railway, at that time just completed. He accepted, and served as conductor of the first train that went over the road, running from De- troit to Howard City. This was in 1872, and he continued with the company fourteen years. He was held in high favor by the officials of the road, and was very popular with the traveling public, as testified by a recommendation from James F. Joy, part owner, and the best known president of that road, that he has still in his possession, commending his qualities as an efficient conductor, and otherwise complimenting him.
While in the Custom House, Mr. But- man had bought, as an investment, three hundred acres of land on section 26, Fulton township, Whiteside county, and on this he has resided since retiring from the road, but has never engaged in agricultural pursuits, having leased his land.
In 1841, Mr. Butman married Clarissa Booth, daughter of Elisha Booth, a Baptist minister, of New York state. She died in 1871, leaving three children, as follows: Theodore F., who at the time of his death, in 1877, was secretary and treasurer of the Detroit, Lansing & Northern Railway Com- pany; William, who died December 1, 1898; and Emily E., wife of J. W. Boyer, who for many years has held a responsible posi- tion with the American Express Company, at Detroit. On September 17, 1873, Mr. Butman was again married, Abbie Goodrich becoming his wife. She was born in Hub- bard, Trumbull county, Ohio, a daughter of Leonard and Juliet (Standish) Goodrich,
and a direct descendant of Captain Miles Standish, the Mayflower Pilgrim made fa- mous by our beloved poet, Henry W. Long- fellow. Of this union seven children have been born, three of whom are living, namely: Frank, agent for the American Express Company, running on the North- Western Railway, from Janesville, Wiscon- sin, to Harvard; Clifton and Nellie; two died in infancy, James and Etta M. Mr. Butman is a Knight Templar, having been made a Mason at Rochester, New York, after which he joined the chapter and com- mandery at Buffalo, New York. Mrs. But- man, a woman of culture and refinement, has been a member of the Baptist church.
H IRAM BOGART, a well-known farmer residing on section 25, Prophetstown township, Whiteside county, Illinois, was born on the west side of the Hudson river, in Ulster county, New York, September 24, 1831, and is a son of Henry Bogart, who was born in the same county, in 1801, and there married Elizabeth Winchell, an aunt of J. J. Winchell, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. The parents spent their entire lives in Ulster county, as farming people, the father dying there Feb- ruary 18, 1883, at the age of eighty-two years; the mother June 15, 1894, at the age of ninety-two. They had a family of five children, namely: Mrs. Sarah Coons, of Ulster county, New York; Mrs. Catherine Elmendorf, of Morrison, Illinois; Charlotta, wife of Cornelius Elmendorf, of Kingston, New York; Hiram, our subject; and Alva, of Ulster county, New York.
In the county of his nativity, Hiram Bogart passed his boyhood and youth and was provided with a good common-school
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education. There he was married, June 4, 1851, to Miss Elizabeth Keator, a daughter of Stephen Keator, of Marbletown, Ulster county. They began their domestic life on a farm in the town of Olive, that county, but later moved to Tioga, Tioga county, New York, where Mr. Bogart purchased a farm of seventy acres, which he operated two years and then sold at an advance and returned to his native county. There he continued to follow farming until 1858, when he came to Illinois and joined some friends in Whiteside county, including his uncle, Joseph Winchell, and other Ulster county people. After renting land for one year he bought one hundred and twenty acres of wild land where he now lives, and located thereon in 1860. Here the family began life in true pioneer style and were forced to undergo all the hardships and privations incident to such a life. The land was wet and little could be raised until it was drained. The first year Mr. Bogart was ill with malaria and in the fall the children took the whooping-cough. He and his wife often became very discouraged in those early days, but at length times became bet- ter and their labors were crowned with suc- cess. To his original purchase Mr. Bogart added a tract of eighty acres, and for some years operated the entire two hundred acres, but after his son Henry's marriage he gave him the latter place. While carrying on the work of improving his own farm, he also operated rented land for two years. Upon his place he set out forest, fruit and orna- mental trees, shrubs, etc., and built a large and substantial house, barn and other out- buildings, converting it into a well-improved and valuable farmn. During the first year spent here he had to haul his grain and prod- uce to Sterling, which was then the nearest
market place, and much of this region was still in its primitive condition.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bogart were born six children: Henry, a resident of Rock Falls; Sarah Ellen, who married Henry Smead, and died, leaving one child, Bessie; Eva Lila, who died at the age of six years; Ida E., at home; Lottie, wife of Willis Robin- son, of Chicago; and Eva May, wife of Frank Irvine, of Whiteside county. The parents were both reared in the Baptist church and still adhere to that faith. In political sentiment Mr. Bogart is a stalwart Democrat, though he cast his first presi- dential vote for the Whig candidate, General Scott. He takes an active interest in educa- tional affairs, and was an efficient member of the school board for sixteen years. He never withholds his support from any enter- prise which he believes will prove of public benefit or advance the welfare of his town- ship or county.
D J. POLLOCK, D. D. S., a popular and successful dentist of Sterling, is a native of Illinois, born in Freeport, Steph- enson county, June 22, 1850, and is a son of John and Sarah (Morton) Pollock, natives of Ohio and Maine, respectively. The fa- ther was twenty-two years of age when he came to Illinois and located with his brother Thomas near Freeport, where they pur- chased a tract of land from the government. There he successfully engaged in farming for many years, becoming a large land owner and one of the most prosperous citizens of the community. He died there in April, 1893, but his wife is still living and now makes her home with a daughter in Dakota, Illinois. One of their eight children died in infancy, but the others reached man and
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womanhood, namely: Quincy, Sarah J., Ann, David J., Mary, John and Jennie. All are still living with the exception of Quincy, who was orderly sergeant of Company A, Forty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, dur- ing the Civil war, and was killed in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, in 1861.
Dr. Pollock, of this review, received his early education in the schools near his boy- hood home, and later attended Mount Morris College and Beloit College, where he pursued a literary course. Although a mere boy he entered the service of his coun- try during the dark days of the Rebellion, enlisting in February, 1863, in Company A, Forty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered into the United States service at Camp Randall, Madison, Wiscon- sin, where the regiment was assigned to the Western Army, Fourth Army Corps, under General Thomas. With his command he went first to Nashville, Tennessee, but the train was stopped at Bowling Green, Ken- tucky, that the regiment might participate in a skirmish there. From Nashville, they went to Huntsville, and later to Decatur, Alabama, and then followed Hood back to Nashville. They took part in the battle at that place, and in the second engagement at Franklin, Tennessee. After that they went into camp at Athens, Alabama, and spent the remainder of their service in doing guard duty, being mustered out in Septem- ber, 1865, and discharged at Madison, Wis- consin.
It was after his return from the war that Dr. Pollock attended college. He began preparations for the dental profession at the New Orleans Dental College, and on completing the prescribed course, he en- gaged in practice in Havana and Santiago, Cuba, for one year each. On his return to
the United States, he engaged in practice in St. Louis for a time and attended the Western College of Dental Surgery. After graduating from that institution, he came to Sterling, Illinois, in 1875, and opened an office. For a few years he was alone in practice, then for six years was in partner- ship with Dr. Beckwith, but since that time he has remained alone. He is one of the leading dentists of the city and enjoys an excellent patronage.
On the ist of January, 1870, Dr. Pol- lock was united in marriage with Miss Ella Garber, a native of Iowa, who died in Au- gust, 1887, leaving two children: Lena, at home; and Ernest, who died at the age of twenty-five years. The Doctor was again married, October 25, 1888, his second union being with Miss Emma Horlacher, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of Godfred Hor- lacher, deceased, who was a farmer of Whiteside county. Socially Dr. Pollock is a member of Corinthian lodge, No. 63, K. P., and politically is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. As a citizen he faithfully performs every duty that devolves upon him, so that his loyalty is above ques- tion, being manifest in days of peace as well as when he followed the old flag to victory on southern battle fields. He is one of the representative men of the community and is worthy the high regard in which he is uniformly held.
ATHAN MEEK.
N Prominent among the citizens of Whiteside county who have witnessed the marvelous development of this section of the state in the past sixty years, and who have, by honest toil and in- dustry, succeeded in acquiring a competence, and are now able to spend the sunset of life
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in quiet and retirement, is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch, and who resides on section 35, Tampico township.
Mr. Meek was born in Delaware county, Ohio, February 23, 1839 His father, Rich- ard Meek, was born in the same state, in 1816, and there married Miss Hannah Holt, whose birth occurred in Maryland, in 1812. For some years he followed farming in Del- aware, Hardin and Union counties, Ohio, but in 1840 came to Illinois and took up his residence in Bureau county. He engaged in farming and blacksmithing there and in Lee county, and spent his last years in Wal- nut, Bureau county, Illinois, where he died in 1885. His wife survived him a few years, dying in 1898. They were the par- ents of seven children, of whom two died young. The living are Mary, wife of Chris- topher Renner, of Nebraska; Nathan, our subject; William, a farmer near Walnut, Bureau county; Nancy, wife of Eli Harris, of Iowa; Betsy, wife of Reason Renner, of Walnut; Samuel, a resident of Nebraska; and Melissa, wife of John Wymer, of Ne- braska.
Nathan Meek spent his early life in Bureau county, and being given a good practical education, he successfully engaged in teaching for two terms. He continued to make his home with his parents until grown, and aided in the work of the farm. On the 13th of August, 1862, he responded to his country's call for aid in crushing out the Rebellion, enlisting in Company I, Ninety-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He took part in the battles of Jackson, Missis- sippi, Champion Hills and Black River Bridge; was in the siege of Vicksburg, and later participated in the battles of Mission- ary Ridge and Altoona Pass; was on the march through Georgia and the Atlanta
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