The biographical record of Whiteside County, Illinois.., Part 37

Author: Clarke, S. J., publishing company, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1900
Publisher: Chicago, The S.J. Clarke publishing company
Number of Pages: 546


USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > The biographical record of Whiteside County, Illinois.. > Part 37


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Dwight S. Spafford acquired his early education in the public schools of Bergen, and later pursued a course of study at the Collegiate Institute in Brockport, and the normal school at Albany, New York, from which he was graduated in 1855. The fol- lowing year he was principal of the schools at Greene, Chenango county, New York, and in 1856 came to Equality, Illinois, where he held a similar position for three years. It was in 1859 that he came to Mor- rison, which at that time was a small place about three years old, and he has since been engaged in the grocery trade, opening a store three doors west of his present loca- tion. He carried on business there until 1864, when he purchased his present prop- erty and erected the block, which he has now occupied continuously for thirty-five years. There is only one man now in busi- ness in the county who has been continu- ously so occupied longer than our subject, and he is a resident of Sterling. In addi- tion to groceries Mr. Spafford carries a well- selected stock of crockery, glassware, cut- lery and plated ware, and he enjoys an ex- cellent trade. For many years he has also been a director of the First National Bank of Morrison, and has been connected with other corporate companies which have built up the industrial interests of the town.


Mr. Spafford first married Miss Ann E. Robertson, of Morrison, a daughter of John A. Robertson, one of the pioneers of the town. She died in 1886, leaving four chil- dren: Frank S., now a resident of Great Falls, Montana, who married Lillian Good- ell, and has two children; John Earle, a resident of Kearney, Nebraska; Roy Rob- ertson, who aids his father in business, and Fred, who is still attending school. In 1890 Mr. Spafford was again married, his


second union being with Miss Alice Smith, daughter of Leander Smith, a prominent and well-known banker of Morrison. The children born to them are Leander S., Alice and Allen. The family have a beautiful home on East Grove street, and they attend and support the Presbyterian church.


Mr. Spafford is a prominent Mason but has always avoided office. He joined the 'fraternity at Equality, but dimitted to Dun- lap lodge, F. & A. M., and now belongs to the chapter at Sterling and commandery at Dixon, the consistory at Freeport, and Medina Temple, Mystic Shrine, at Chicago. He is a recognized leader of the Republican party in his community, has taken a very active part in campaign work, and has been a delegate to different state conventions and alternate to the national convention that nominate James G. Blaine for president in 1884. The first office he was called upon to fill was that of city alderman and it was during his incumbency that the water was first brought to Main street from the artesian well which had previously been drilled but nothing done with it. Under the direction of the city council, of which he was a mem- ber, the pipe on Main street was laid and a tank erected on the hill and the water brought to the heart of the city, thus start- ing the first practical water system. For five or six years he was a member of the board of county supervisors, and during that period the old stone cells were torn out of the jail and steel cages and cells were put in. The county office building was also erected-a beautiful structure with fireproof vaults for the county and circuit clerks, the vaults being so commodious that all writing is done in them and no books ever taken out. It was built under an appropriation at a cost of ten thousand dollars, and is


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complete in all its appointments. This ele- gant building reflects great credit upon Mr. Spafford who was chairman of the building committee. He was a member of the board of education for a number of years and president of the same two years, during which time four new rooms were added to the high school building, while the third floor was abandoned as being little better than a fire trap. He has always taken a deep interest in educational matters and all needed reforms. In 1884 he was elected to the state legislature, and was one of the memorable one hundred and three who after four months of balloting finally triumph- antly elected John A. Logan to the United States Senate. It was the greatest struggle of the kind in history up to that time. Mr. Spafford was a personal friend of General Logan. He was a member of the com- mittees on appropriations, education and banking, and was quite a prominent and in- fluential member of the house. He was one of the founders and since its inception has been a trustee of the Morrison Scientific & Literary Association, which has given to the city a fine public library.


C APTAIN JACOB H. HOOFSTITLER, of Sterling, Illinois, who has attained distinctive preferment in military circles and as a Prohibition lecturer, was born in Salunga, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, January 9, 1846, and is a son of John H. and Mary Ann (Hostetter) Hoofstitler, also natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in September, 1820, the latter in June of the same year. Herr Jacob Von Hostetter, the American progenitor of the mother's family, came to this country in 1636 and settled in what is now Lancaster county, Pennsylva-


nia. He was of noble birth, but on account of his religious belief he was banished from Germany to Holland and later went to Switzerland and from there came to Amer- ica. On the paternal side our subject is of Swiss descent, and the founder of the family in this country settled in Philadel- phia in 1637. Some of his ancestors were soldiers of the Revolutionary war, and the paternal grandfather served in the war of 1812, the Mexican war, and at the age of seventy-five years enlisted in the war of the Rebellion, though he had to dye his hair before he could pass muster. He followed the Federal army until the close of the war. He died at Clifton Heights, Pennsylvania, at the extreme old age of ninety-eight years. His son, John H. Hoofstitler, the father of our subject, was engaged in mer- cantile business in Pennsylvania for thirty years, but spent his last days in retirement. After his children were grown they came to Illinois to make homes for themselves, and though the parents made several visits to their homes, they continued to live in their native state throughout life. In 1871 they moved to Millersville, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, but died in 1897, within four months of each other. They were highly respected and esteemed by all who knew them. Both were strong abolitionists, and were persecuted for their early advocacy for the overthrow of the institution of slavery.


Of their eight children, five are now liv- ing, and of these our subject of the eldest. Sallie A. is the wife of S. S. Creider, who, with Isaac Korn, has been interested in the manufacture of a patent corn husker and shredder of corn, for a number of years and has been quite a success. Lizzie is the wife of A. B. Levenite, of Pennsylvania. Susan is the wife of Amos K. Martin, of


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Philadelphia. William is a resident of Sterling, Illinois, and is considered one of the best clothing salesmen in the state.


The boyhood of our subject was passed at home, and at the age of ten years he en- tered the academy at Lititz, Pennsylvania, where he pursued his studies for three years. In 1861, at the breaking out of the Civil war, he ran away and entered the service. Though young in years his manly bearing was in his favor, and he enlisted in the Pennsylvania Reserves. After some time spent in camp at Philadelphia, they proceeded to Washington. In 1864, he was mustered out, but in July, of the same year, he re-enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, as a one-hundred-day man, and was mustered into service as sec- ond lieutenant at Harrisburg, when they proceeded to Relay House, Maryland, Mon- ocacy Junction and Martinsburg, doing pa- trol duty along the line of the railroad to Wheeling, West Virginia. The regiment was a part of the Second Brigade, Third Division and Eighth Army Corps. After re- enlisting, our subject went to Washington, D. C., where his command did patrol duty until the close of the war.


During his military service, Captain Hoofstitler devoted considerable time to reading law, and while home on a leave of absence was admitted to the bar at Lan- caster, Pennsylvania, in 1865. At the close of the war he returned home, but later came to Sterling, Illinois, where he re- mained some time. He was then appoint- ed government scout and went to the plains of the west, being stationed at Fort Omaha, where he was engaged in military operations against the border desperadoes that infested that section of the country, finally extin-


guishing them. Subsequently he was sta- tioned at Yankton, Dakota, and operated against the Mittleton band of robbers and horse thieves, being associated with Kit Carson, Buffalo Bill, Wild Bill and old Captain Jack Crawford, the poet scout, in their operations against the thieves and marauders of the west. While on the plains he allowed his hair to grow until it was about twenty-four inches long, and as it was black, he became known as Black Beaver. In later years while on lecture tours he often met those whom he had known on the plains and the acquaintanceship thus re- newed proved very pleasant to both parties.


At length Captain Hoofstitler removed from Denver, Colorado, to Julesburg, and was appointed by Judge Bartlett as clerk of the United States district court, in which capacity he served one year. Being of a fearless nature he was not cowed by any of the threats hurled at him and proved a very important factor in several important rob- bery trials. During this period the sur- rounding country was infested with every species of robbers, thieves and cut-throats. Every previous mayor or judge who had undertaken to hold a court of justice, or to maintain order, had been killed. The first session of the court to which he had been appointed clerk was held in June, 1867, at which time occurred . the trial of "One- Eyed Jack " and "Shorty," the character- istic names of two of the most desperate and daring of the notorious crooks and ban- dits whose punishment the court was insti- tuted to determine. Ranged around the wigwam (court room) were about'two hun- dred desperado friends of the prisoners, armed to the teeth with bowie-knives and revolvers. The judge inquired of the ar- raigned prisoners if they had secured coun-


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sel for their defense. They replied . they didn't reckon any would be needed." The judge (Edmund Bartlett) astonished his auditors by the emphatic declaration: "By God, gentlemen, if the testimony is suffi- cient to convict, I'll pronounce the sen- tence." The judge appointed an attorney to defend the prisoners and allowed them the right of trial by jury. The testimony adduced was positive proof of the guilt of the accused. The jury was duly instructed by the judge as to their duty as indicated in the evidence. Retiring for consultation, they returned within fifteen minutes, but the foreman was afraid to announce the verdict. The judge now instructed the clerk to poll the jury. The answer of the foreman was "guilty, " whereupon four hun- dred revolvers were drawn by the two hun- dred desperado allies of the guilty devils upon whom the sentence of the law was about to be passed. The judge, with a coolness which ever commands respect, said: " I have heard your threats; I know your intentions; 1 give you fair warning. There is room enough in the sand hills of Julesburg to bury every d-d desperado that infests the plains." He pronounced sentence: Six months imprisonment and a fine of two hundred and fifty dollars, and to stand committed until the fine and costs were paid. "Sheriff," said the judge, " take these men to jail." The sheriff refusing to obey the order, the judge drew his revolv- ers and placing one at the head of each of the prisoners, said: "These men go to jail or fall dead, if I turn my toes up the next minute. Clerk, cover the mob." The clerk obeyed the order of the court by drawing his revolvers and keeping the des- peradoes at bay, while the judge conducted the prisoners to the jail. This court was


in session for thirteen weeks, during which there were so many convictions as to com - pel the erection of additional jail facilities for the confinement of the criminals ..


When the term of "Shorty" and " One- Eyed Jack " had expired, they inquired for the office of Judge Bartlett, of which the judge received notice, thinking perhaps they were secking his life, but remarked: "Tell them to come on." Knocking at the door . of his office, they were invited to enter. To the query of the judge, " What is it you want, gentlemen, " they replied, " We want to shake hands with you and congratulate you as being the only judge that ever had any sand in his craw." Captain Hoofstitler then returned to Sterling and was variously employed until February, 1875, when he began a crusade in the cause of temper- ance as a lecturer. He has delivered lectures in every state and territory in the Union and is much sought after on ac- count of his thrilling manner of deliv- ery which has made him a peer among the best speakers of the cause. In his tours he has had to deal with mobs and by his un- daunted courage has averted serious conse- quences. He has the power of holding his audiences spellbound by picturing the results of the liquor traffic, and has always taken a decided step in the furtherance of his doc- trines. Since 1876 he has been a delegate at large to all state and national conven- tions of the Prohibition party. In 1890 he was called to speak in Nebraska City, and was the only lecturer on prohibition that was not insulted or driven out that year. At the first lecture he had an audience of fifteen hundred people, which kept increas- ing until at the fourth lecture it numbered about six thousand people. In 1896, hav- ing some difficulty with the management of


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his lecture courses, he did not go out, and as the new issues of the day were to his lik- ing, he took a stand for W. J. Bryan and the Chicago platform. During that campaign he delivered fifty-five speeches in sixty days. He is very decided in character and his military bearing carries conviction to his hearers. He is a strong anti-expansionist. anti-imperialist and anti-militarist. He believes the Philipinos and the Cubans are entitled to their independence. As a speaker and lecturer he has made a decided success financially, and by his ability he commands and receives a good price for his services. In 1892 he ran for congressman on the Prohibition ticket, receiving fifteen hundred more votes than any other Prohi- bition candidate ever received in the district. He is a member of G. H. Thomas post, No. 84, G. A. R., of Lancaster City, Pennsyl- vania; and of Corinthian lodge, No. 63, K. P., of Sterling. He has been president of the State Christian Temperance Union of Illinois; and was second vice-president of the International Temperance Alliance of the World; and financial secretary of the National Christian Temperance Union of the United States.


On the 19th of May, 1870, Captain Hoofstitler was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Kauffman, of Sterling, who was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, October 27, 1849, but came to this county when only six years old with her parents, also natives of the Keystone state. By this union ten children were born, and six are still living, namely: Jacob H., born De- cember 20, 1872, married Winnie Briggs and has one child, Marie. He is a well-known grocer of Sterling, a member of the firm of Hoofstitler & Seidel, on West Third street. Francis M., born February 3, 1875, is su-


perintendent of a stock farm of sixteen hun- dred acres in Hume township, belonging to a relative. Mary E., born April 14, 1878, is the wife of George Kline, of Sterling. Bessie, born in 1884, is a popular elocu- tionist, having inherited from her father the gift of delivery. Pearl, born in 1885, and William H., born in 1890, complete the family. The wife and mother died in 1890, since which time the once happy home of this family has been broken up, as the Captain's business keeps him away about eight months out of the year.


A UGUST ZSCHIESCHE. This well- known resident of Spring Hill is one of the leading German born citizens of White- side county, and in his successful business career he has shown the characteristic thrift and enterprise of his race. Begin- ning with no capital except that acquired by his own industry, he built up a large trade as a blacksmith and wagon manufacturer, and is now able to lay aside all business cares and live retired, having already ac- quired a comfortable competence.


Mr. Zschiesche was born in the kingdom of Prussia, Germany, March 31, 1824, and was given a good common-school education in his native land, where he also learned the wheelwright, millwright and miller's trades. In 1860 he emigrated to the United States, sailing from Hamburg on the Uten- berg, which was fifty- eight days in crossing the Atlantic, being almost shipwrecked. The vessel sprung a leak and crew and pas- sengers kept the pumps going for four weeks, day and night, until they finally ar- rived in New York in safety, but on the next voyage the vessel was lost with all on board except the second mate. Mr.


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Zschiesche landed in New York, October 19, 1860, and proceeded at once to Spring Hill, Whiteside county, Illinois. That fall he worked on a farm gathering corn, but as he was unfamiliar with farm work and his hands were very tender, it proved a hard undertaking. Nearly every ear he husked was marked with blood. The following year he worked at the carpenter's and join- er's trade, and then opened a shop in Spring Hill, where he engaged in the manufacture of wagons and buggies and also worked at blacksmithing and did general repair work.


In the fall of 1864 he laid aside all per- sonal interests and enlisted in Company K. One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volun- teer Infantry. He was in active service in Kentucky, Tennessee and North Carolina, taking part in a number of skirmishes and raids, the first of these being in Tennessee. fle was then detailed with some of the regi- ment to take prisoners to Eastport, Missis- sippi, and there took a boat back to Alex- andria. After rejoining the regiment, they boarded the large steamer, Atlanta, on which were about thirty-three hundred sol- diers and two hundred sailors, and went to Fort Fisher, and later up the coast to Cape Fear. They participated in the fight in front of Fort Henderson and Wilmington, bombarding and finally taking those cities. Mr. Zschiesche was ill in the hospital at Wilmington for a time, later was in the field hospital, and from there was sent to New York, where he was honorably dis- charged in July, 1865. Returning home he resumed his former business in Spring Hill, where he successfully carried on operations as a blacksmith and wagon manufacturer until the fall of 1898, when he gave up his shop and has since lived retired, enjoying 18


a well-earned rest. He owns a pleasant home in Spring Hill.


In that village, Mr. Zschiesche was married, August 3, 1862, to Miss Mary Riger, also a native of Germany, who came to America in the spring of 1860 and located in this state. To them were born eight children, namely: August, now a business inan of Davenport, Iowa; Louis and Charles, both farmers of Whiteside county; Carrie, wife of Herman Tabor, a substantial farmer of this county; William, a business man of St. Paul, Minnesota; Mary, a teach- er of this county and the wife of Ralph McReady, of Tampico township; Minnie, also a teacher of this county; and Rosila, who died at the age of two years and three months.


Since casting his first presidential vote for General Grant in 1868, Mr. Zschiesche has affiliated with the Republican party, but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking, preferring to devote his undivided attention to his business interests. He and his wife are members of the Evan- gelical church and are well-known and highly respected.


C HRISTIAN P. PETERSON is one of the substantial citizens of Prophets- town township who are of alien birth, and who have, by their own unaided exertions, become quite well-to-do. He is now the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty-two and a half acres on section 29, and is successfully engaged in general farm- ing and stock raising.


Mr. Peterson was born in Denmark, June 24, 1842, was reared upon a farm in his native land and received a good com- mon-school education, but his knowledge of


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the English language has all been acquired through his own efforts since coming to this country. Bidding good-bye to home and friends, he sailed from Copenhagen in 1869 bound for New York. On reaching that city he came at once to Illinois and located first in Geneseo, where he worked one month in a brickyard. He then found work as a farm hand in the neighborhood of his present home and was thus employed for two years.


On the 6th of October, 1871, Mr. Peter- son married Miss Ellen Burroughs, who was born in New York, but was reared in this county, her father, Siller Burroughs, being one of its early settlers. For three years after his marriage, he operated rented land in Prophetstown township, and then, in 1874, moved to Crawford county, Kan- sas, where he subsequently bought and sold several farms, and where he still owns a valuable place of two hundred and forty acres, four miles from Girard. There his wife died March 30, 1891, and he soon afterward rented his farm to his son and re- turned to Whiteside county, Illinois. By that union he had four children: Celia, who is married and operates his father's farm in Kansas; Alice; Emma, and William.


On his return to this state, Mr. Peterson opened a restaurant in Geneseo, and also bought and conducted a mercantile store at that place, remaining there about seven months. He then purchased a farm in Prophetstown township, which he subse- quently sold, and then bought his present farm in the same township, locating thereon in the spring of 1895. He has since made many improvements upon the place, re- modeling the residence, building barns, corn cribs, etc., and erecting a wind pump. He now devotes his time and energies to


general farming and stockraising and in his undertakings is meeting with marked suc- cess.


Mr. Peterson was again married, July 21, 1892, his second union being with Miss Mary Day, a daughter of William Day, of Crawford county, Kansas. She was born in Kentucky, but when a child of twelve years moved with the family to Kansas, where she grew to womanhood. Two chil- dren bless their marriage, Pearl and Ruby.


In his political views Mr. Peterson is an ardent Republican and cast his first presi- dential vote for Benjamin Harrison. While in Kansas he was elected and served as justice of the peace of Crawford township, and resigned that office on his return to Illi- nois He was also a member of the school board in that state for ten years, and for four years in Whiteside county .. He and his wife are earnest and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is now one of its trustees. He is a man of exemplary habits and sterling worth, and no man in the community is held in higher regard.


JOHN M. HUNTER, an honored and highly respected citizen of Tampico, who is now living a retired life, was born in Cayuga county, New York, September 23, 1842, a native of John and Ann (May- nard) Hunter, who were born, reared and married in England, and on their emigra- tion to the United States settled in Cayuga county, New York, where they made their home for several years. There the father died in 1847, and in 1856 the mother came west to Bureau county, Illinois, where she spent the remainder of her life, dying there in 1865.


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Our subject was a lad of fourteen years when he came with the family to this state, and in Bureau county he grew to manhood, receiving rather a limited education. In early life he worked by the month and helped care for his mother in her declining years. He not only worked as a farm hand but also was employed at ditching or any- thing which he could find to do, and later engaged in farming on rented land. In Bu- reau county, Mr. Hunter was married, in September, 1870, to Miss Mary Jane Wood- worth, who was born and reared in New York, and was the daughter of Hiland and Cordilla (Winters) Woodworth, who were natives of New York. They began their domestic life in that county, where he had purchased a small farm of forty acres. Later he traded that place for eighty acres in the same county, which had been culti- vated but no buildings erected thereon. In 1869 he removed to Tampico township, Whiteside county, where he had previously owned forty acres, and at that time bought an adjoining eighty-acre tract. Upon the place he erected a good house and barn, set out fruit and ornamental trees, and to its cultivation and further improvement he de- voted his energies until the fall of 1899, when he removed to Tampico and retired from active business. Besides his own land he also operated rented farms. He still owns his farm, which is pleasantly located within three miles of Tampico.




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