USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > The biographical record of Whiteside County, Illinois.. > Part 42
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THEODORE FRANK is one of White-
side county's native sons and prosper- ous farmers, who owns and successfully operates a fine farm of two hundred and seventy acres on section 21, Montmorency township. He was born in Sterling town- ship, February 23, 1858. His father, James Frank, a native of Pennsylvania, came to this county when it was but sparsely settled and took up land, which he immediately be- gan to improve. He added to his posses- sions and at one time was one of the largest landholders in the eastern part of the coun- ty. Before attaining his majority his father taught him the weaver's trade, but as the 20
occupation was distasteful to him, he turned his attention to farming on reaching the age of twenty-one years, and in that undertak- ing has met with most excellent success. In 1890 he retired to private life in Rock Falls, but still owns seven hundred and twenty acres of land in Lee and Whiteside counties, all under a high state of cultiva- tion. From time to time he has added to his wealth by purchasing real estate in Rock Falls, some of which has valuable improve- ments thercon.
In 1856, James Frank married Miss Fanny Lingerfield, also a native of Pennsyl- vania, and to them were born three chil- dren: Theodore, our subject; Jacob, who is engaged in the implement business in Rock Falls as a member of the firm of Frank Brothers; and Mary, who died in in- fancy. The wife and mother departed this lile at the early age of twenty-four years. On the 8th of November, 1866, the father married Miss Anna M. Shuler, a native of Germany, and to them were born four chil- dren: Anna, at home; James, who is in- terested in the implement business with his brother; Samuel, also in the implement business in Rock Falls; and Elizabeth, wife of C. Sheiler, a resident of Rock Falls, and junior member of the firm of Janssen & Sheiler, of Sterling. The parents are now living in Rock Falls. The father is a very popular and influential man in local politic- al circles, is an ardent supporter of the Democratic party, and has filled all the township offices with exception of supervisor. He is a consistent member of the Lutheran church and is widely and favorably known throughout the county.
Theodore Frank, of this review, received a good common-school education, attending the Sterling high school, now the second
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ward school. He continued to work for his father until he was married, in February, 1881, to Miss Lora Armstrong, a native of Brookville, Indiana, who died November 4, 1892, leaving five children, namely: Pearl, Fanny, May, Gertrude and Ray H. Shortly after his marriage, in 1883, Mr. Frank pur- chased the property on which he now lives, and to its cultivation and improvement he has since devoted his energies with marked success. He built a new barn, and later a modern and pleasant residence, which is now the home of the family. In connec- tion with general farming he has success- fully engaged in stock feeding for several years, and in all his undertakings has pros- pered, becoming one of the substantial citi- zens of the community.
On the 2 1st of January, 1895, Mr. Frank was united in marriage with Mrs. Eliza A. Christie, who was born in Ohio, December 28, 1850, a daughter of Charles P. and Sarah (Merrick) Ripley, natives of New York and Virginia, respectively. They came to this county in 1852, and took up their residence in Jordan township, where the father became a large land owner and suc- cessfully operated three hundred and twenty acres of land. He was a graduate of the Owego University, of New York, and, being a well-educated man, he was called upon to fill several local offices, serving as assessor, collector and justice of the peace for a num- ber of years each. He died in 1864, but his wife still survives him. Of their seven children three are also deceased, while those living are Eliza, wife of our subject; John E., a successful merchant of Dixon, Illinois, a member of the firm of Ripley & Long; Henry C., a resident of Owego, New York; and Charles P., a resident of Montmorency township, this county. Mrs. Frank was
first married, in 1873, to Orson Christie, a successful farmer of this county, who died in 1885, leaving four children, namely: Guy, a resident of Hume township; Frances, wife of Robert Pollock, by whom she has one son, Robert; Mabel E., a teacher; and Myrtle M., at home. By his second mar- riage our subject has one daughter, Theo- dosia E.
In his political affiliations Mr. Frank has always been a Democrat, and he has been called upon to serve his fellow citizens in the capacity of collector, commissioner of highways some years, and school director at the present time. His official duties have been most capably and satisfactorily discharged, and on account of his sterling worth and many excellencies of character he is held in high regard by all who know him. His wife holds membership in the Baptist church, and he gives his support to church work.
C HARLES E. ACKERMAN. Possess- ing the sturdy, industrious characteris- tics of a long line of German ancestors, C. E. Ackerman, a well known merchant of Coleta, Whiteside county, has won success and an influential position in society. He was born September 19, 1851, in Baltimore, Maryland, a son of Paul and Lizzie (Buck) Ackerman, who were natives of Germany and were married in that country. The father, who had been a coachman, brought his wife to America in the spring of 1851, and after spending a year or so in Maryland, he located on a farm in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and remained there for four and a half years. In the spring of 1855 he removed to Lee county, Illinois, and there farmed rented land until the fall of 1860.
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At that time, he had accumulated enough capital to buy a tract of eighty acres, the land being an unimproved piece of property in Genesee township, Whiteside county. He did not settle there before 1862, and to his original purchase he added until he owned two hundred and twenty acres, all in one body. Stockraising claimed a large share of his attention, as he found it very profitable. In the autumn of 1877, he retired from active cares, moved to Sterling, where he lived five years, and thenceforward made his home in Coleta, his death occurring here in 1890, while his widow died about two years subsequently. They had four children, of whom Christian is a carpenter in Milledgeville, Illinois; Randolph, a farmer of South Dakota, and Barbara is the wife of C. P. Garwick, who is a partner of our subject. Paul Ackerman had married in his early manhood, in Germany, and of their four children two survive, namely; Martha, wife of Victor Wayman, of Madison, Wisconsin; and Anna, wife of Ernest Bussemyer, of Nebraska.
After completing his education in the common schools C. E. Ackerman worked for his father on the farm for several years, and for a few months ran a meat wagon. He then went to Eldora, lowa, where he found employment with Dr. Myron Under- wood for a year, and then returned to this county. He continued to manage the home farm to some extent, and in February, ISS3, he went to Clark county, South Da- kota, where he entered three hundred and twenty acres, and it was not until Novem- ber, 1884, that he was at liberty to leave his new purchase.
On the 24th of January, 1885, Mr. Ack- erman and Scott Crouch purchased the gen- eral store of Cobb, Howe & Crouch, at Co-
leta, and continued in business together until the fall of 1893. At that time Mr. Ackerman bought his partner's share, and in January, 1895, C. P. Garwick buying a half-interest in the business, the firm name became Ackerman & Garwick. They trans- act a large and profitable business, and have the respect of all with whom they have dealings.
The marriage of Mr. Ackerman and Dora Smaltz was solemnized December 27, 1877. She was born in Ohio, September 17, 1854, and by her marriage became the mother of three children. Elizabeth, who is a gradu- ate of the Milledgeville high school, and is now a student at the Madison (Wisconsin) University (a member of the class of 1903), possesses marked musical talent. Anna died at the age of two years. Clara is now attending the young ladies' seminary at Mount Carroll (a branch of the Northwest- ern University). She is taking a literary course, and expects to devote special atten- tion to music. Mrs. Ackerman departed this life March 12, 1896, and was placed to rest in the Morrison cemetery. Her par- ents, Jacob and Anna Smaltz, natives of Germany, were Ohio farmers for many years, later carried on a farm in Whiteside county, and passed their last years in Clin- ton county, lowa. They were the parents of four sons and four daughters, Mrs. Ack- erman being the third in order of birth.
As a citizen, Mr. Ackerman has per- formed his full share toward the betterment of his home town and state. He is a stanch Republican, and for six years was a mem- ber of the county committee. For a period of ten years, he served efficiently as school treasurer, and, fraternally, he is connected with Milledgeville lodge, No. 345, F. & A. M., and with the Sterling chapter and com-
.
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mandery, besides being identified with Co- leta camp, No. 76, M. W. of A .; Coleta garrison, No. 160, Knights of the Globe, in which he holds the office of chief justice. Religiously he is a member and trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church of this place.
G EORGE F. SHULER. No foreign ele- ment has become a more importat part of our American citizenship than that fur- nished by Germany. The emigrants from that land have brought with them to the new world the stability. enterprise and per- severance characteristic of their people and have fused these qualities with the pro- gressiveness and indomitable spirit of the west. Mr. Shuler is a representative of this class. He came to America a poor young man, hoping to benefit his financial condition, and his dreams of the future have been more than realized for he is to- day one of the most prosperous farmers of Sterling township, Whiteside county, Illi- nois, his home being on section 9.
He was born in Lekengericht, Baden, Germany, April 26, 1835, a son of John George and Christina (Brustol) Shuler, who spent their entire lives in that country. The father was quite a successful man who followed the occupation of farming during the summer and weaving during the winter months. George F., our subject, is the oldest of the four children born of his first marriage; John, deceased, was a successful farmer, whose widow is still living in Col- oma township, this county; Maria is the wife of James Frank, a retired farmer of Rock Falls, and Mathias is a farmer of Union Grove township. The mother died in 1854, and the father married again. The only child born of the second union was
Johannus, farming the old homestead in Germany. The father died in Baden, Ger- many, at the age of seventy-seven years.
Our subject received a good education in the public schools of his native land, and later worked with his father at farming and weaving until coming to the United States, with the exception of two summers, when he was employed as a harvest hand. Before leaving the fatherland he visited other parts of Germany and France. On the 15th of October, 1853, he took pass- age on the Northumberland, a sailing vessel which left London, England, on the 27th of that month and arrived in New York December 1. On landing, Mr. Shuler pro- ceeded at once to Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio, where he obtained work at corn- husking at thirty-five cents per day. He was with friends, none of whom could speak English, and they were afraid to ask more than that amount per day. He next obtained a position, where he cut wood and did all kinds of work for six dollars per month during the winter, and the following summer received nine dollars and a half per month until after harvest.
About the last of August, 1854, Mr. Shuler came to Sterling, Illinois, at which time he had but thirty-five dollars. He traveled by railroad to Mendota, Illinois, from there by stage to Dixon, and was taken down the south side of the river by John Erie. On his way he stopped at that place which he now owns to make inquiries for a man whom he had known in the old world and who had settled in Sterling township. That same year eight people died during the cholera epidemic upon his present farm. By this time Mr. Shuler had acquired some knowledge of the English language. He first worked at threshing for Peter Bressler
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at one dollar per day for a short time, and then was with C. C. Alexander during the fall and winter, receiving one dollar per day for threshing, seventy-five cents per day for picking corn, and ten dollars per month for splitting rails and making fences. The fol- lowing spring he entered the employ of George Delp, with whom he remained until after harvest, and then worked for Emanuel L. Landis during the fall and winter at eighteen dollars per month.
On the 14th of February, 1856, Mr. Shuler married Miss Elizabeth D. Rosen- berry, a native of Montgomery county, Penn- sylvania, and a daughter of Jacob Rosen- berry, who spent his entire life in that state engaged in farming. By this union five children were born, namely: Anna E., wife of Ferris Landis, a farmer residing on sec- tion 15, Sterling township, by whom she has seven children; John T., who died at the age of two years and nine months; Emma R., wife of Christ Miller, of section 9, Sterling township, by whom she has two children; Mary R., who is now her father's housekeeper; and a daughter, who died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. Shuler began married life on a farm of forty acres on section 9, Sterl- ing township, only one-half of which was under cultivation, while the only improve- ments upon the place was an old log cabin, sixteen by eighteen feet, and a straw stable. They remained there until 1859, when he bought another forty-acre farm from L. S. Pennington, making eighty acres in one body. He paid down two hundred and thirty dollars for the second tract, but ow- ing to the hard times and failure of the bank in which he had enough money to finish paying for the land, he lost that forty acres. However, a year later he was able to repur-
chase it. In 1863 he sold from his forty acres nine hundred dollars worth of corn, getting one dollar and two cents per bushel for a part of it, and later one dollar and twenty-five cents per bushel. In 1864 he purchased forty acres more of Hiram Platt, making in all one hundred and twenty acres that he then owned. He resided upon his first purchase until 1870, when he bought eighty acres additional and removed to that tract, just across the road from his old home. Here he occupied a frame house, which at the time he came to the county was the best in the locality. He now uses it for a coal and wood house. In July, 1874, Mr. Shuler bought one hundred and forty- five acres from John B. Crawford, and in 1879 one hundred and twenty-two acres, but later he sold twenty acres of his land, which left him four hundred and fifty-seven acres. In 188t he purchased eighty acres more, in 1 889 bought eighty acres from Emanuel Lan- dis; later four acres from David Wolfe, and one hundred and twenty acres from Abraham N. Landis, making seven hundred and thirty acres in all, which he has owned since 1893. This is divided into five farins, on one of which he lives, while he rents the other four. Ilis land is all under a high state of cultivation and well improved. He has given considerable attention to stock raising and feeding for the market, his specialty being first Poland China and now Chester white hogs. For the past eleven years he has not actively engaged in farm- ing, and is now practically living retired, en- joying a well-earned rest. In 1886 he be- came a stockholder of the First National Bank of Sterling, and in January, 1887, was elected a director of the same, in which capacity he is still serving. That his fellow- citizens place the utmost confidence in him
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and fully appreciate his excellent business ability, has been manifested in the past ten years by his being called upon to administer a number of estates, having on hand at one time seven and at the present time four.
Although not a member Mr. Shuler at- tends the Presbyterian church and gives to its support. In politics he has been a stanch Republican since casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, and he was a member of the board of supervisors one term. He also served as a member of the school board twenty-six years, and in 1870 was elected road commissioner, which office he filled for twenty-three consecutive years. His career seems almost phenomenal, yet his success has been by no means the result of fortunate circumstances. It has come to him through energy, labor and perseverance, directed by an evenly balanced mind and by honorable business principles.
JOHN FOLCKERS ONKEN. No better illustration of the characteristic energy and enterprise of the typical German- American citizen can be found than that af- forded by the career of thissuccessful farmer, now residing on section 21, Hopkins town- ship, Whiteside county, Illinois. Coming to this country with no capital except his abilities he has made his way to success through wisely directed effort and he can now look back with satisfaction upon past struggles.
Mr. Onken was born in Oldenburg, Germany, June 23, 1838, and is a son of Ulferhts and Inse (Johnson) Onken, who were married in 1851. The father was born December 31, 1805, and spent his entire life in Germany, where his death occurred in 1864. He rented land and followed farm-
ing until the last few years of his life. His wife also died in Germany, in November, 1844. For several gen- erations her ancestors lived in the same province of Germany and followed agricult- ural pursuits. Our subject is the third in order of birth in a family of seven children, of whom three died in infancy. The others were as follows: Onke, born in 1833, died unmarried at the age of twenty-seven years. Gralf, born in April, 1836, was married in April, 1863, to Mary Fremine, by whom he has three sons, and they live in Hanover, Germany. Katherine, born October 25, 1840, came to America in company with our subject's wife, in 1870, and in March, 1871, married Joseph Schiffmacher, now a cooper of Sterling, Illinois.
In 1867 John F. Onken crossed the broad Atlantic to the United States, and on landing came at once to Hopkins town- ship, Whiteside county, Illinois, where he worked by the month for others for four years. In 1870 he was united in marriage with Miss Hannah Ricklefs, also a native of Oldenburg, Germany, born February 8, 1849. She is one of a family of six chil- dren: Marie, born November 23, 1835, and married John Haien, who died in Ger- many two years later, leaving one child. For her second husband she married Folker Bolongius, and in 1867 they came to the United States. They are now residents of Nelson, Lee county, Illinois, and have no children. Elizabeth K., born in 1837, mar- ried Eilert Renken, who died in Germany, in 1870, leaving three children. Ghina O., born December 20, 1839, married August Mentsen and died at the birth of their only child, who died in infancy. Henry R., born February 4, 1845, married Johannah Jacobs, has eight children and resides in Hopkins
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township, Whiteside county. He served with distinction as a soldier in the German army for three years, during which time he participated in the Franco-Prussian war of 1870. F. Elizabeth, born September 7, 1851, is the wife of John S. Johnson, of Nel- son, Lee county, Illinois, and they have seven children.
Mr. and Mrs. Onken have become the parents of ten children, namely: (1) Rich- ard, born March 26, 1872, now resides in Hopkins township. He married Emma Johnson and has three children, one son and two daughters. (2) George, born June 27, 1873, married Katie Harms, in Febru- ary, 1896, and they have one child. Their home is also in Hopkins township. (3) Mary E., born August 28, 1875, was married, March 21, 1895, to Walter Ward, a rail- road man living in Round Grove, Illinois. (4) Susannah K., born August 14, 1877, was married October 25, 1895, to Robert Ward, a railroad man of Belvidere, Illinois, and they have one child. (5) Emma Louisa, born August 28, 1878, (6) Garrett William, born November 15, 1880, (7) Anna Sophia, born January 24, 1883, (8) Julia Phæbe, born September 23, 1885, (9) Alfred John, born November 11, 1887, and (10) Eddie Johnson, born January 28, 1889, are all at home with their parents.
After his marriage, Mr. Onken pur- chased his present fine farm of one hundred and sixty-four acres in Hopkins township, to the improvement and cultivation of which he has since devoted his energies with most gratifying results. The land is now under a high state of cultivation and good and substantial buildings have been erected thereon. Mr. Onken is a thorough and skillful farmer, a man of good business ability, and is highly respected by all who
know him. In politics he is a Republican, and in religious faith a German Lutheran. For the success that he has achieved in life he deserves great credit for it is due entirely to his own industry, perseverance and good management, and he has secured for him- self and family a good home and comforta- ble competence.
J JACOB M. VAN DEMARK is one of the well-to-do and prosperous citi- zens of Rock Falls who is able to lay aside business cares and spend his declining years in ease and quiet. He is the archi- tect of his own fortune, having started in life with but little capital beyond his own industry and laudable ambition to rise in the world.
Mr. Van Demark was born in Ulster county, New York, December 18, 1831, and belongs to a family of Holland origin that was early founded in that county. His paternal grandfather, Sylvester Van De- mark, was a native of New York and a sol- dier of the war of 1812. The father, Jacob S. Van Demark, was born and reared in Ulster county, and there married Miss Maria Parker, a native of Connecticut, where her ancestors settled at an early day in the history of this country. After their marriage they continued to reside in Ulster county for many years, while the father was engaged in business as a farmer and mechanic. He finally came west and spent his last years in Sterling, Illinois, where he died in 1871.
In the county of his nativity, the sub- ject of this sketch grew to manhood, re- ceiving a good common-school education and learning the carpenter's and joiner's trade, at which he worked in the east for
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about eight years. On the 19th of Feb- ruary, 1856, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Lane, who was born, reared and educated in the same neighbor- hood as her husband and successfully en- gaged in teaching school prior to her mar- riage. Her parents, Cornelius and Cather- ine (Elmendorf) Lane, were also natives of Ulster county, New York. Her fa- ther opened up a farm in Henry county, Illinois, but later came to Hume town- ship, Whiteside county, where he con- tinued to make his home throughout the remainder of his life. He was born September 17, 1800, and died April 7, 1895, and was remarkably well preserved for one of his years. His wife passed away in 1899. They were faithful members of the Baptist church, and highly respected by all who knew them. Mr. and Mrs. Van Demark have two children. Fred F., the older, is now operating the old home farm. He married Minerva Arnold and has two children, Vernon and Mary. Irma is the wife of Charles J. Lee, a farmer of Hume township, and they have four children, Wayne, Leland, Mildred and Irma.
In 1858, Mr. Van Demark accompanied his father-in-law on his removal to Henry county, Illinois, and located on the north- ern line of that county, where he worked at the carpenter's and joiner's trade for about two years, but in 1860 he bought a forty- acre tract of wild land in Tampico township, Whiteside county, and took up his residence thereon. For six years he engaged in the cultivation of that farm, and then sold and bought a partially improved place of eighty acres north of Tampico, to which he sub- sequently added from time to time until he had about three hundred acres of very valuable and productive land. He set out
a good hedge fence, placed the land under a high state of cultivation, and erected thereon a large and pleasant residence and substantial barns and outbuildings. In connection with general farming he carried on stock raising with marked success until 1894, when he rented his farm and moved to Rock Falls, where he purchased residence property and converted it into a comfortable home.
Politically, Mr. Van Demark was originally a Whig and cast his first presidential vote for Taylor in 1856, but at the next election he voted for Abraham Lincoln, and has since been a stanch Republican. While a resident of Tampico township he served as township clerk, highway commissioner, and a mem- ber of the school board for several years. While not a member of any religious organ- ization, he attends and gives to the support of the Methodist Episcopal church. He bears a high character for sterling integrity, and wherever known he is held in high re- gard.
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