USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > The biographical record of Whiteside County, Illinois.. > Part 39
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Politically Mr. Van Osdol has been a life-long Democrat, and was the first to vote that ticket in Hopkins township. One night, in 1860, while going along the road, he saw a light in the school house, and on entering found two Republican speakers with no audience but himself, and he was a stanch Democrat. Fraternally he is a member of Dunlap lodge, No. 321, F. & A. M .. of Mor- rison, while his estimable wife holds met- bership in the Presbyterian church. In No- vember, 1886, they sailed for Scotland, and remained abroad until the following March, visiting Mrs. Van Osdol's parents, and many points of interest in both Scotland and England. They are well known and highly respected and have a host of warm friends in Whiteside county who esteem them highly for their sterling worth and many excellencies of character.
A NTHONY AMOS JAMES. This hon- ored citizen of Morrison, Whiteside county, has been retired from actual busi- ness life only a few years and has a record of unusual success. Owing to well directed energy he has been successful in all his finan- cial ventures, and in the evening time of life is in possession of a competency. He enjoys the respect and genuine esteem of all who know him, owing to the fact that in all his dealings he has been upright and just.
Born in Mount Pleasant township, Whiteside county, August 26, 1837, A. ... James is a son of George O. and Margaret M. (Thomas) James, who were pioneers of this county. The father was a native of Ashe county, North Carolina, his birth hay- ing occurred April 14, 1806, while it is be- lieved that the mother was from South Car-
olina, and a daughter of Anthony M. Thomas, who settled in Morgan county, Ilinois, at an early day and later came to Whiteside county. George O. James was a son of George and Elizabeth James, of German and English descent respectively. The for- mer emigrated from the fatherland to North Carolina and later went to Kentucky when George O. James was young. The latter at the age of eighteen years removed with the family to Morgan county, Illinois, where they were among the earliest settlers. He received very limited educational advantages, probably attending school not more than sixty days in his life. Upon arriving in this county he took up a tract of government land, to which he added from time to time until his property comprised two hundred acres. He was a successful farmer and was actively engaged in his chosen vocation until shortly before his death, which event occurred May 16, 1892, when he was in his eighty-seventh year.
The first wife of George O. James bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Featherkile, and their marriage took place November I, 1830. Their only child, William Silas, is a successful farmer of Fenton, Whiteside county. After the death of his first wife, Mr. James married Margaret M. Thomas, as previously mentioned, and to them were born four children, of whom Anthony .A. is the eldest. Elizabeth is the widow of H. D). Smith, of Story county, lowa. Adam E. died in February, 1892, in Greenwich, New York, at the age of fifty years. Anna Louisa is the wife of John Little, a farmer and stock raiser of Huron, South Dakota. The mother of these children was summoned to her reward January 23, 1868, when in her sixty-second year. Mr. James is sur- vived by his third wife, Mrs. Jane (Mecumn)
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James, who died in September, 1899. Their marriage was solemnized on the 6th of January, 1870.
Anthony A. James was reared on a farm and attended a school which was kept in a dwelling house owned by Samuel Finch. This school was conducted on the subscrip- tion plan, the teacher being a daughter of Mr. Finch. The first public school which our subject attended was the one known as the Jackson school, the first built in this neighborhood. Before reaching his major- ity Mr. James had become thoroughly fa- miliar with farming and had been employed, to some extent, by neighbors here, and in Dunn county, Wisconsin. In the fall of 1857, he purchased eighty acres of land on section 34, Clyde township, Whiteside coun- ty, about half of this land having been broken, but no other improvement made upon the place. In the spring of 1858 Mr. James erected a small frame house in which his family resided for a number of years. At various times he made additions to the house and in 1882 built what is considered one of the finest country homes in the town- ship. As opportunity offered he added to his original farm until it now comprises five hundred and twenty-five acres, all of which is in Clyde township, with the exception of twenty acres of timber land located in Mount Pleasant township. This property, which is divided into three farms, is now under the management of the three sons of the owner. For years he had been engaged ex- tensively in feeding and shipping live stock, and besides disposing of large numbers of hogs, he ships two car loads of cattle to the city market each year, and in this line alone has made a good income.
In 1857 the marriage of Mr. James and Miss Ann Norrish was celebrated in Dunn
county, Wisconsin. Eight children blessed their union, one dying in infancy, and the others being as follows: Elizabeth A., wife of Seth W. Hurlburt, of Sterling; Samuel N., who married Agnes Wells, and has four children, two of them deceased; Porteus, who died at the age of thirty-three years; Robert S., of Clyde township, whose wife was formerly Rose Thomas, and who has one child; George O., who married Emma Hicks, and lias two children; Adam C .; and Lillie A., wife of C. F. Reynolds, a farmer of Mount Pleasant township, and mother of two children. Samuel N., who managed one of his father's farms in Clyde township, also owns a tract of land, and George O. and Adamn C. carry on the other farms previously mentioned as being the property of our subject.
In former years Mr. James was an ar- dent supporter of the Democratic party, but in 1896, owing to the issues of the hour, he had the conrage to vote in harmony with his convictions, his ballot being deposited for William Mckinley. A true friend of education, he served as a school director for some twenty years. He also officiated as a road commissioner for a period of four years, and in various ways has shown the interest which he has always felt in local improvements. For a number of years he has been a devoted adherent to the Presby- terian church and has contributed liberally to religious and benevolent enterprises.
JOHN PECK, who is successfully engaged J in business in Sterling as a dealer in lumber, coal, salt, lime and cement, and also owns and operates a planing mill, has the distinction of having won the proud American title of a self-made man. His
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energy, determination and good business ability have enabled him to overcome all the difficulties and obstacles in his path and work his way upward to prosperity. lle is known among his fellow townsmen for his reliability in all trade transactions and just- ly merits their confidence and regard.
Mr. Peck was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, January 12, 1845, a son of John and Mary (Kirkpatrick) Peck, the former a native of Pennsylvania, the latter of Scotland. Our subject was educated in the schools of his native county, and en- gaged in farming with his father until after the Civil war broke out. Although only sixteen years of age, he enlisted, May 12, 1862, in the Fifth Ohio Cavalry, which was mustered in at Columbus, Ohio. With this regiment he wasstationed in the mountains of West Virginia most of the time, doing guard and provost duty until mustered out in the winter of 1863 4. Later he re-enlisted in the Thirteenth Ohio Cavalry, and was mustered into the United States service at Columbus, December 25, 1863. They joined the Army of the Potomac just before the battle of the Wilderness, was all through that campaign, and participated in the battles of Spottsyl- vania, Cold Harbor, Old Church Tavern, and the assault on Petersburg. Crossing the James river, they took part in the siege of Petersburg and also the engagement around that stronghold, were in the Weldon Railroad raid, and the campaigns from the Rappadan to the James and from the James to the Appomattox, where Lee finally sur- rendered. Mr. Peck was wounded, or rather crushed in the rebel mine at Petersburg, be- ing in the explosion of the fort, July 30, 1864. He was on detached duty at Petersburg, at the time of the grand review in Washington, D. C., and so was unable to participate in
that military pageant. He was mustered ont at Amelia Court House, Virginia, July 4, 1865, and finally discharged on the 28th of the same month.
Returning to civil life, Mr. Peck worked as a farm hand by the month in Muskingum county, Ohio, for a time. On the ist of November, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Susan Quigley, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Timothy Quigley. To them were born five children, as follows: Ollie, who resides at home and has success- fully engaged in teaching in the primary and high school of Franklin Grove, Ilinois; Charles O., who died at the age of two years and a half; Laura, who is now teach- ing school in New Harmony, Indiana; Roy, who is bookkeeper for his father; and Lillian, a teacher in the second ward school of Ster- ling.
On the ist day of March, 1867, Mr. Peck arrived in Sterling, Illinois, and upon rented land he engaged in farming in Genesee township for seven years. He then removed to Sterling and entered the employ of Golden & Dillon, dealers in lumber and coal, with whom he remained for twelve years. On the ist of April, 1886, he -em- barked in his present business on a small scale, but has gradually increased his busi- less to meet the growing demands of his trade. In 1893 he purchased a mill, which he now operates in connection with his other business. He is a wide-awade, ener- getic business man, and in his undertakings is now meeting with well deserved success. In politics he is independent, voting for whom he considers the best man, regardless of party ties. Socially he is an honored member of William Robinson post, No. 274. G. A. R . and religiously he is a member of the Congregational church.
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E LHANAN C. WINTERS. In time to come this volume will acquire added value as a repository of records whose his- torical significance will then be fully appre- ciated, but readers will doubtless peruse with special interest the stories of gallant service in that great struggle which settled once for all that this nation is, in truth, "one and indivisible." It has often been said that the letters sent home during the war by the soldiers of all grades would make, if published, a better history of the war than has yet been given, and the sug- gestive views of the conflict in the individ- ual experiences contained in this book cer- tainly give new color to many a historic scene.
Among the gallant defenders of the Union from this state was Mr. Winters, now a well-known real-estate dealer of Rock Falls. He was born in Bedford, Indiana, September 18, 1843, and comes of a very patriotic and loyal family, five generations of which have been represented in the wars of this country. His great-grandfather was killed at the battle of Bunker Hill during the Revolution; his grandfather was a sol- dier in the war of 1812; his father of the Mexican war; himself of the Civil war; and his son of our recent war with Spain.
On the 7th of August, 1861, Mr. Win- ters enlisted in Company A, Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, at Sterling, and was mustered into the United States service at Camp Butler, Springfield, September 7. 1861. They joined Sherman's army at Camp Nevans, near Elizabethtown, Ken- tucky, October 15, 1861, and after remain- ing there one month moved to Munfords- ville, where they went into winter quarters. In February, 1862, they were ordered to join Grant at Fort Donelson, but not reach-
ing there in time to participate in the bat- tle, proceeded to Nashville, being among the first troops to arrive there. Later they joined Grant's army at Pittsburg Landing, and in the battle at that place the regiment lost one hundred and twenty-nine men in killed and wounded. The command partic- ipated in the siege of Corinth during the following May and June until its evacuation, and then went to Tuscumbia, Iuka, Huntsville and Battle Creek, resting at the last named place a month. In the memorable cam- paign and battles that followed, Mr. Win- ters acquitted himself with honor, as the his- tory of the regiment shows and furnishes a detailed account of the same. He was pro- moted from corporal to sergeant. He took part in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Rome, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Jonesboro, and the engagements in Georgia and the Carolinas, and when the war ended participated in the grand review at Washington, D. C., May 24, 1865. He was mustered out at Louis- ville, Kentucky, July 12, 1865, and finally discharged at Chicago, July 17, 1865, as first sergeant, after having served three years and eleven months.
Returning to his home in Carroll county, Illinois, Mr. Winters engaged in farming there until 1876. On the 20th of Decem- ber, 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Paulina Scoville, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Hills) Scoville, whose sketch is given on another page of this work. To our subject and his wife were born four chil- dren, of whom Wayne C., the eldest, died at the age of five years. James C., a resi- dent of Sterling, is business manager for the Sterling Standard. He married Ethel Follette, who died in 1894, and for his sec- ond wife he married Eva Montague, by
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whom he had one child, now deceased. Alice M. is the wife of Robert B. McNeil, who served as a non-commissioned officer in Company E, Sixth Illinois Volunteers, in the war with Spain. He is now reporter for the Sterling Standard and a resident of Rock Falls. They have three children- Wayne, Althea and Dorothea. Carl, a com- positor in the office of the Sterling Herald, was a member of Company E, Sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, during the war with Spain, and was one of the first to land at Porto Rico.
For two years after leaving the farm, in 1876, Mr. Winters was city salesman for the firm of Galt & Emmett, dealers in farm machinery in Sterling. He was then en- gaged in the agricultural implement busi- ness on his own account at Coleta until October. 1880. Having sustained painful and serious injuries by a fall from a wind- mill tower, he was unable to engage in any business for a year. He then sold his busi- ness in Coleta and went on the road as traveling salesman for the Northwestern Barb Wire Company, of Sterling, for three years, the Barnes Manufacturing Company, of Freeport, two years, and for Sickles & Preston, a wholesale hardware firm of Davenport, Iowa, for two years. In 1890 he located in Rock Falls, and has since en- gaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business, with good success. He has also been very successful as a United States pen- sion claim agent.
In politics Mr. Winters is a Republican, and is at present secretary of the county central committee. He has served as jus- tice of the peace for nine years, and city clerk of Rock Falls for the past seven years, being the present incumbent of both offices. He is an earnest member of the Methodist
Episcopal church, and is held in high regard by all who know him. He is also an hon- ored member of Will Enderton post, No. 729, G. A. R., was its first adjutant, served as commander one term, and is serving his third term as chaplain.
C HARLES LE ROY CASE, who is now successfully engaged in business in Erie, Illinois, was born in Erie, Whiteside county, Ilinois August 5, 1850, and is a son of Charles W. and Margaret (Nicholas) Case, natives of New York state. Charles W. Case came to Illinois when a young man and settled in Fenton township, Whiteside county, where he followed farming for many years. In 1848 he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Nicholas, and to them were born four children, of whom our subject is the, eldest; Mary Elizabeth is now the wife of Judson Passmore, of Rock Island; Stewart E. is a resident of lowa; and Ira L. is a farmer of Iowa. The father enlisted in the Seventy-fifth Ilinois Regiment in the Civil war and was wounded October 8, 1862, at Perryville, Kentucky, and died from the effects November 12, 1862, and was buried at Louisville, Kentucky. The mother is still living, and makes her home in Erie.
The subject of this sketch was reared and educated in much the usual manner of farmers boys of his day, and on the 10th of October, 1871, he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Meek, a daughter of Will- iam Meek, a farmer of Fenton township. They have become the parents of three children, namely: Addie, now the wife of Fred Burfiend; James, deceased; and Mag- gie, at home.
After his marriage, Mr. Case located in Fenton township, where he engaged in
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farming, and later followed the same pur- suit, first in Portland and subsequently in Erie townships. In 1895, he removed to the village of Erie and opened a business, which he has since successfully conducted. Politically he is identified with the Demo- cratic party, but has never been an office seeker. Socially he affiliates with the Knights of Pythias and the Masonic order.
G EORGE STEPHEN TRACY. The world is full of heroes, men of ability and renown, men who have left the impress of their mind and character upon the times. Every nation, state, county and city have their leading men, those to whom they look for example and counsel. Some men exert an influence because of their eloquence in the pulpit or on the platform, some because of their strong will, others because of ex- traordinary business ability, and some from the fact that every action of their lives are such as to show their love for their fellow men, and their desire to do them good. Be- cause of the two latter attributes the subject of this sketch has left his impress upon the community which was so long his home, where the people always delighted to do him honor, and where his memory will ever be cherished by those who knew him in life, and who will take delight in teaching his virtues to coming generations.
George S. Tracy comes of good old Mas- sachusetts stock. He was born in Norwich, Hampshire county, that state, June 28, 1829, and was the son of John and Betsy (Dimock) Tracy. From his father George learned the trade of carpenter and builder, at which he worked until he was sixteen years old, in the meantime securing a good common-school education. He then left his
mountain home and located in Newark, New Jersey, where he engaged in the nur- sery business, in which he continued for two years. At that time there was great excite- ment throughout the country in consequence of the discovery of gold in California, a ter- ritory which had then but lately been ac- quired from Mexico. Like thousands of others he felt the desire to make his fortune in that new Eldorado. Taking passage on a vessel, by way of Cape Horn, he made the trip, and for one year and a half after his arrival he was engaged in mining, but with indifferent success. Somewhat disap- pointed at his failure to secure the coveted fortune with the aid of shovel and pick, he determined to leave the country and try to better himself in South America. For five years he remained in Chili and Peru, en- gaged in the construction of a railroad, after which he returned to California and resumed his mining operations for a year and a half, when he again threw the unsatisfactory work aside, and took his way back to his old Mas- sachusetts home.
Massachusetts, on his return, was not as it had seemed to him in his youth, and lie was not satisfied there to remain. Ac- cordingly, in 1857, Mr. Tracy came to Whiteside county and located in Sterling, where he engaged in business with Cook & Co. in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds, and continued in that relation until 1863, when he formed a partnership with Thomas A. Galt, and under the firni name of Galt & Tracy, a general manufacturing business was established. The business of the firm increased with remarkable rapidity. In 1867, however, it met with a severe loss by fire, the entire plant being destroyed, en- tailing a loss of thirty thousand dollars. The firm was not discouraged by its great
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loss, but with the energy that characterized their every movement they went to work and soon had erected buildings far better than those lost by the fire. There is an old saying "that nothing succeeds like success." The fact of the firm rebuilding in so short a time gained for it the increased confidence of the trade and the people gen- erally, and orders poured in on them in such numbers that even the increased ca- pacity of the new buildings was entirely two small, necessitating the enlargement of the plant. A more spacious location was de- manded, and the firm secured the necessary ground on the south side of the river, and erected their buildings in what is now the city of Rock Falls.
On the removal of the business to the south side of the river, the firm secured articles of incorporation under the firm name of the Keystone Manufacturing Com- pany, since which time the business has been carried on under that name. Mr. Galt was elected president and Mr. Tracy vice- president and general manager of the con- structive department of the company. He gave the company his best efforts, and, with remarkable executive ability, he soon had an enterprise under way of great multitude and second to none in the west. While the Keystone Manufacturing Company required the greater part of his time, he was yet in- terested in other manufacturing enterprises in Sterling and vicinity, and was instru- mental in securing the location and the building up of some of the most important manufactories in his adopted city. He was also a member of the banking firm of Galt & Tracy, and in connection with Mr. Galt erected the Academy of Music in Sterling.
On the 7th of September, 1863, Mr. Tracy was united in marriage with Miss 19
Helen M. Hosmer, daughter of Nathaniel and Eliza Hosmer, of Camden, Maine. Three children came to bless this union: Susan, now the wife of E. G. Church: Frank and Edith.
On the 6th of May, 1891, Mr. Tracy passed to his reward, and it is safe to say that the death of no man in Sterling ever was more deeply felt, or the community more greatly shocked. He was a man that old and young, rich and poor, greatly es- teemed and loved. His life was a benedic- tion to all, and his enemies were unknown, or few indeed. During his funeral, the business houses of both Sterling and Rock Falls were generally closed, mills and manu- factories were shut down that the employes might tender the last token of respect to the memory of one who was ever a friend to them. Both cities claimed him as its own. The Rock Falls News said: " While Mr. Tracy's home was in Sterling, his desk was in the Keystone office in Rock Falls, and every citizen of our place had confidence in him and loved and respected him. Sterl- ing. Rock Falls, and all Whiteside county feel that his death is their loss."
The funeral of Mr. Tracy was largely attended, many coming from other cities to pay tribute to his memory. It was attended by the employes of the various factories in which Mr. Galt and he were interested, the men following the remains to the cemetery in a body. Among those represented were the Keystone Manufacturing Company, the Eureka Manufacturing Company, the Sterl- ing Manufacturing Company, the Novelty Manufacturing Company, and others.
In pursuance to call many of the citizens of Rock Falls met at the city hall, where the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:
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" WHEREAS, George S. Tracy, vice-presi- dent and superintendent of the Keystone Manufacturing Company, departed this life on Wednesday, May 6th, and has long been identified with the growth and business of our city, the citizens of Rock Falls, in meeting assembled, adopted the following as expressive of the estimation in which he was held while in life:
" Resolved, That as a man George S. Tracy was the soul of honor, correct in every principle, courteous and kind to all with whom he came in contact, firm in the discharge of every duty, and generous in his dealings with all men. His charities were such that many a beneficiary knew not to whom he was indebted, but the poor and needy were never out of his thoughts. He took no thought of cost where distress was to be relieved. As a manufacturer he never forgot that he owed a duty to every employe, to the day laborer, the skilled mechanic and the office man.
" Resolved, That in his death every citizen of Rock Falls, without exception feel that he has suffered a personal loss which he will always feel cannot be replaced.
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