USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > The biographical record of Whiteside County, Illinois.. > Part 43
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S AMUEL C. HARVEY, deceased, was a worthy representative of one of the old and prominent families of Whiteside coun- ty, and for many years was one of the lead- ing business men of Sterling. He was born in New York state, February 10, 1836, but when only two years old was brought to this county by his parents, Joel and Rachel (Cole) Harvey, also natives of New York. The family first located at Round Grove, but afterward removed to Empire, now known as Emerson, in Hopkins township, where he erected and operated woolen, grist and saw mills, and also ran a general store, his son assisting him in all his enterprises. On coming to the county, he also entered a large amount of land in Hopkins township
SAMUEL C. HARVEY.
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and devoted a part of his time to agricult- ural pursuits. Subsequently he removed to Sterling, where he engaged in mercantile business, but kept an interest in the other property. He also bored an artesian well, which was known as the Harvey artesian well and which supplied the city with water for a number of years. He was very ex- tensively engaged in the real-estate business and was one of the most prosperous and successful men of his time in this county. He died September 3, 1875, and his wife passed away March 26, 1892.
In their family were seven children, of whom Samuel C., our subject, was the eld- est; Elizabeth died at the age of seven years; Phebe is now the wife of George G. Keefer, of Sterling; Mary is the wife of Abram Waldron, of Chicago; Martha is the wife of J. F. Strock, of Sterling; Julia died in infancy; and Alice is the wife of Edgar H. Galt, of Sterling.
Samuel C. Harvey acquired his element- ary education in the public schools of Sterl- ing, and later attended Knox College at Galesburg. On the completion of his edu- cation he returned home, and engaged in milling and farming with his father until the Civil war broke out. May 24, 1861, he en- listed as a private in Company B, Thir- teenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, but was afterward made a sergeant, being mustered out with that rank. He took part in some of the most notable engagements of the war, but fortunately was never wounded.
Not long after his return from the war, Mr. Harvey was married, December 26, 1864, to Miss Margaret A. Dickey, who was born in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, Decem- ber 23, 1833. a daughter of Thomas and Martha (McNeely) Dickey, also natives of the Keystone state. For a number of years
her father was cashier in the bank of Lan- caster City, Pennsylvania. Her paternal grandfather was Thomas Dickey, a son of Moses Dickey, while her maternal grandfa- ther was David McNeely, a farmer of Penn- sylvania. Some of her maternal ancestors took an active part in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Harvey is the third in order of birth in a family of five children, the others being Albert, who died at the age of twen- ty-five years; Martha, wife of Richard B. Witmer, of California; James, who died at the age of three years; and Catherine, de- ceased wife of T. Y. Davis, of Sterling. The father of these children died in 1839, and the mother departed this life in 1851.
Four children were born to our subject and his wife, namely: Mary A., now the wife of E. Leroy Galt, of Sterling, by whom she has one son, Robert Harvey; Joel, who died in infancy; Samuel J., who married Nellie T. Robb, and is engaged in business in Sterling as a member of the Sterling Manufacturing Company, though he makes his home in Rock Falls; and Elsie M., who lives with her mother in Sterling.
After his marriage, Mr. Harvey took up the occupation of farming in Hopkins town- ship, and continued to follow that pursuit for a number of years. He then removed to Sterling and became a member of the Empire Feed Manufacturing Company, with which he was connected for a few years, while later he was interested in the artesian well with his father and retained his connection with that enterprise until a year or two before his death. He never fully recovered his usual health after his re- turn from the army, and died October 29, 1883. He was an honored member of William Robinson post, 274, G. A. R., and politically was identified with the Republic-
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an party. While residing on his farm he served as collector of Hopkins township. His personal honor and integrity were without blemish, and he was a brave sol- dier, a patriotic citizen and true friend-one who commanded the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact either in business or social life. Mrs. Harvey is an earnest, consistent Christian woman, a member of the Presbyterian church and the Ladies Missionary Society, and her children are all members of the same church. The family is one of social prominence in Sterl- ing.
H ON. JAMES M. PRATT, who is now practically living a retired life in the city of Erie, Illinois, has been a resident of Whiteside county a period of sixty-two years, and has in every sense of the word been one of its most useful and enterprising citizens, a fact which is attested by the many responsible positions which he has been called upon to fill, and by the further fact that he has always had the esteem and good will of his fellow men. He is a na- tive of Erie county, New York, born April 7, 1822, and is the son of John C. and Hannah (Olds) Pratt, natives of Massachu- setts.
John C. Pratt was the son of John Pratt, also a native of Massachusetts. In the war of 1812 he served his country faithfully, and at the conclusion of that struggle he moved to Erie county, New York, where he married Hannah Olds, daughter of Charles and Ruth Olds, and they became the par- ents of twelve children. Cordus, the first born, was scalded to death in childhood. Dialetha married Martin Potter, and they moved to Whiteside county, Illinois, where
they were living at the time of her death in 1845. James M. is the subject of our sketch. De Witt Clinton was by profession a physician. He married Sarah Thompson, and they lived in Lee county, Illinois, where his death occurred in 1879. Lucre- tia married John Reynolds, and they made their home in Lyndon township, where her death occurred in 1845. Clymena married John T. Oates, and they were living in Fenton at the time of her death in 1847. Amanda was twice married. Her first hus- band was Samuel Emery, and after his death she married Joseph Shorett, and they now reside in Shelby county, lowa. Lucius married Lucinda Garrison, and they now reside in Lyndon township. Charles mar- ried Amelia Shorett, and they resided in Lyndon township at the time of his death in 1870. Harriet F. died when a small child. Wheeler never married. During the Civil war he offered his services to his coun- try, and died in 1864 from fever contracted while in the discharge of his duties as a sol- dier. Thurston married Kate Kear, and they reside in western Iowa. In 1837 the family came to Whiteside county and the father took up about a section of land in Lydon township and opened up a farm. His death occurred in 1842.
James M. Pratt came to Whiteside county in 1837 with his parents and re- mained with them until after he attained his majority. His education, begun in the schools of his native state, was completed in the schools of Whiteside county. He acquired industrious habits and materially assisted in opening up the home farm. On the 17th of November, 1844, he was united in marriage with Miss Lucinda Emery, a native of New York and daughter of John and Lucinda Emery, who were among the
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early settlers of Whiteside county. By this union thirteen children were born, eight of whom lived to maturity, two dying in mid- dle life. Those living are John, who mar- ried Sue Mahana and resides in Shelby county, Iowa; Varcella, wife of Jasper Car- penter, and living in Erie; Cyrus E., who married Amelia Risenbiger, the couple mak- ing their home in Erie; Allen M. married Blanche Taylor, and residing in Fenton township; Clinton married Lizzie James and residing in Rock Island, and Manston W., who married Rubina Saxton, and re- siding in Erie.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Pratt located in Fenton township, where in due time he became the owner of one thousand and ten acres of excellent farming land, which he had under cultivation. As a farmer and stock raiser he was an undoubted suc- cess, always up with the times, and the ad- vocate of every improvement that would tend to advance the agricultural and mater- ial interests of the community. His interest in agriculture was not confined to his own neighborhood, but was manifested in var- ious ways and occasions. He was chiefly instrumental in the organization of the fair in Morrison and was elected its first presi- dent in 1871, and filled the office in a most acceptable manner for eight years.
Mr. Pratt has always shown a commend- able interest in political affairs, and from the organization of the Republican party until 1878, he was a stanch advocate of its principles. In that year he differed with his party on the money question and be- came an earnest advocate of the principles of the Greenback party. By that organiza- tion, in the fall of 1879, he was elected a member of the legislature and served with credit to himself and constituents for two
terms, taking an active part in the legisla- tion of the state. While residing in Fenton township, he served as a member of the county board of supervisors for sixteen years, being one as a member of the first board after the adoption of the township organization law. He is now the only one of the original number living, save William C. Snyder, of Fulton. His record in that body was as honorable as it was long. He also served as highway commissioner in Fenton township for about ten years. In 1889 he was elected president of the village board in Erie and filled that position for six years. It mattered not what the position he was called on to fill, he discharged its obligations with fidelity and no breath of scandal was ever attached to his record as a public official. For the past three years he has affiliated with the Democratic party, be- lieving that the position taken by its leaders on the great questions of the day being more nearly in accord with the best interests of the people.
After spending many years in labor on the farm, Mr. Pratt concluded that he had a right to a few years of ease, so, in 1888, he left the farm and moved to the village of Erie, where he has since resided. He later sold his farm and invested the proceeds in various ways, purchasing with part some sixty acres adjoining and lying within the corporate limits of Erie. Here, with his good wife, he lives in the affections of the people, and with the proud satisfaction that his life has not been wholly in vain, but that he has been instrumental in doing some good in the world and adding to its happi- ness.
Coming to this county in an early day, when indeed it was but a wilderness, he has witnessed its growth and contributed ma-
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terially to its progress. He takes pleasure in looking back over the years .that have passed, and takes delight in mingling with his companions of other days and recount- ing with them the deeds of pioneer times. For twelve years he acted as president of the Old Settlers' Society and took great in- terest in its meetings. Surely the life of such a man is worthy of emulation, and should be an incentive to the young in right living and right doing.
AMUEL L. WHEELOCK, a retired S farmer and honored citizen of Rock Falls, who was for forty years actively iden- tified with the agricultural interests of Whiteside county, is a native of Massachu- setts, born in Berkshire county, January 26, 1825, and comes of a family of English origin which was founded in the new world in colonial days. His paternal grandfather, Samuel Wheelock, was a soldier of the Rev- olutionary war, and during that struggle he located in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, where he cleared and developed the farm on which our subject and his father, Luther Wheelock, were both born. Our subject's great-grandfather also bore the name of Samuel. In his native county, Luther Wheelock grew to manhood and married Clarissa Marcy, also a native of Massachu- setts, and a daughter of Lawton Marcy, one of the early settlers of Berkshire county. The father of our subject continued to re- side on the old homestead farm until 1865, when he sold the place and later removed to Blandford, Hampden county, Massachu- setts, where he spent his last days.
In much the usual manner of farmers' sons of his day, Samuel L. Wheelock passed his boyhood and youth on the old home-
stead, receiving rather a limited education by attending school only through the winter months. In 1844, at the age of twenty years, he was married in Berkshire county, to Miss Almena R. Langdon, who was born in Hampden county, but was reared in Berkshire county, Massachusetts. Her fa- ther, Amos Langdon, was also a representa- tive of an old and honored family of that state.
In 1854 Mr. Wheelock left the east and came to Whiteside county, Illinois, and spent the first winter in Portland. He then located in Prophetstown, where he worked at anything he could find to do for about six years. Subsequently he operated rented land in Prophetstown township for three years, and then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Hume township,-a part of his present farm. This he fenced, improved and placed under a high state of cultivation, and as his financial resources permitted he added to it from time to time until he has four hundred acres all in one body. He set out fruit and forest trees, erected good and substantial buildings and made many other improvements which added greatly to the value and attractive appear- ance of the place. In connection with gen- eral farming he also engaged in raising and feeding stock for market, but in 1893, he laid aside business cares and responsibilities and has since lived retired in Rock Falls.
Mr. Wheelock has been called upon to mourn the loss of his estimable wife, who died January 3, 1892, and was laid to rest in Tampico cemetery, where a neat monu- ment has been erected to her memory. They had three children, namely: Amanda, who now keeps house for her father, is the widow of William Dennison, and has two children, Herbert and William, both of
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whom are married and reside in this county; Elbert E. is a farmer of Tampico township; and Luther A. carries on the old homestead farm.
Since the organization of the Republican party, Mr. Wheelock has been one of its stanch supporters, but has never been a pol- itician in the sense of office seeking, though he served one term as supervisor and sev- eral terms as township trustee. He is a faithful member of the Congregational church of Rock Falls, and merits and re- ceives the confidence and respect of all who know him. The success that he has achieved in life is due entirely to his own unaided efforts for he started out to make his own way in the world empty-handed, and by industry, perseverance and good management worked his way upward until he is now a substantial and prosperous man, owning a large and valuable farm in Hume township, and a pleasant home in Rock Falls. After a useful and honorable career, he can well afford to lay aside all business cares and live in ease and retirement.
EDGAR H. GALT. One of the busiest, most energetic and most enterprising men of Sterling, Illinois, is the subject of this sketch, a prominent loan and real es- tate dealer. On the maternal side he comes from good old Revolutionary stock, and he is in every way a splendid type of our best American citizenship.
Mr. Galt was born in Sterling, August 19, 1855, a son of Capt. James and Mary (Culver) Galt. The father was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, June 29, 1826, and was a son of John and Sarah M. (Buyers) Galt, also natives of that county, the former born May 3, 1801, the latter
August 14, 1805. The Galt family in America is descended from James Galt, a native of Ireland, who came to this country in the beginning of the seventeenth century and settled on the head waters of the l'equea in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania. In the east the grandfather of our subject engaged in general merchandising and also followed milling for a number of years. On the 19th of May, 1844, he, with his family, consist- ing of wife and thirteen children, landed in Whiteside county, Illinois, and for a number of years he conducted a general store in Sterling. He then purchased a tract of land in Hopkins township and laid out the town of Galt, and was one of the most ex- tensive land owners in the county at that time. He died August 24, 1868, and his wife passed away October 25, 1898. Of their thirteen children, five are still living, namely: John B., Elizabeth, Joseph, Mrs. D). M. Crawford and Mrs. John Buyers, all residents of Sterling.
Captain James Galt, the father of our sub- ject, received a common-school education, but as he left school at the age of fifteen years the greater part of his knowledge was acquired by reading and observation in sub- sequent years. At the age of sixteen he entered his father's store in Sterling, as clerk, and later engaged in general mer- chandising on his own account with James Crawford, being in partnership with that gentleman for four years. At the end of that period he turned his attention to the real estate and loan business, and also be- came a very extensive land holder. He was quite a prominent and influential man of his community and was called upon to ad- minister a number of estates. He was also made one of the first aldermen of the city, was school trustee and held other local of-
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fices. On the 12th of March, 1862, he was appointed quartermaster in the army with the rank of captain, and was assigned to the Army of the Potomac under General Sherman. While on duty he was captured by Colonel Moseby and his guerrillas, and for ninety days was incarcerated in Libby prison, at the end of which time he was paroled and exchanged. He never recov- ered his usual health after returning home, and died October 3, 1869. Of his three children, two died in infancy, leaving our subject the only surviving member of the family, as the wife and mother died De- cember 30, 1859, at the early age of twen- ty-three years. She was born in Pennsyl- vania, May 11, 1836, a daughter of Will- iam and Huldah (Bowman) Culver. Her father, who was a farmer by occupation, died in Michigan, after which the mother with her daughter came to Whiteside coun- ty. Illinois, at an early day, and took up her residence in Sterling. Subsequently she married Joseph Crawford, and she died in Dixon, Illinois, January 24, 1897, at an advanced age.
Left an orphan at an early age, Edgar H. Galt was reared by relatives, and was educated in the public schools of Sterling and at the college of Mount Vernon, Iowa. He began his business career as a breeder and raiser of fancy stock, and continued to follow that occupation until 1894, when he embarked in the real estate and loan busi- ness, to which he has since devoted his time and energies with most gratifying results.
On the 7th of June, 1877, Mr. Galt was united in marriage with Miss Alice R. Harvey, a native of this county, and a daughter of Joel and Rachel Harvey, who were born in New York state and came to Whiteside county, Illinois, at a very early
day. Her father, who was a wagonmaker by trade, entered quite a large tract of land in Hopkins township, and at what is now known as Emerson, but at that time was called Empire, he erected a blacksmith shop, wagon shop, gristmill, carding and woolen mill, which he conducted in connection with the operation of several farms. Later he sold his property in Empire and removed to Sterling, where he established a general store and brickyard, and became one of the most successful men and capitalists of the place. He died in 1875, and his wife de- parted this life March 26, 1892. They had seven children, Samuel, Elizabeth, Phebe, Mary, Martha, Julia and Alice, of whom four are still living. To Mr. and Mrs. Galt were born two children: James E., who was born June 28, 1878, died at the age of twelve years; and Ralph, who was born May 28, 1882, and is now attending the Sterling high school. Fraternally Mr. Galt is a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, the Mystic Workers of the World, and the Home Guards, and politically he is identified with the Republican party. As a business man and a citizen he stands high in the esteem of his fellowmen, and his pleasant, genial manner wins him friends and has made a popular citizen of his native city.
H JENRY POTT. Among the influential and prominent citizens of Hahnaman township, who are indebted for their present prosperous condition to their own industry and energy, is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He has been a resi- dent of the county since September, 1853, and now owns and occupies a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres on section 27,
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Hahnaman township, adjoining the village of Deer Grove.
Mr. Pott is a native of Germany, born near Cologne, Prussia, July 14, 1844, and is a son of Jacob and Catherine (Straugh) Pott, also natives of the Fatherland, where the former followed the occupation of farm- ing until 1853, when he emigrated with his family to the United States. He came direct to Chicago, Illinois, then traveling by wagon from Peru to Sterling and arriving in the latter city sometime in September. There he was befriended by a German tailor, as on reaching here his funds were ex- hausted. At first he worked at any thing which he could find to do, and then en- gaged in farming upon rented land. At length he was able to purchase one hundred and twenty acres of wild land, and to it he subsequently added until he had two hun- dred and forty acres of valuable land, which he placed under a high state of cultivation and improved with good buildings. Finally he retired from active labor and moved to Sterling, where he bought residence prop- erty and lived retired until called from this life in 1881. His wife survived him until 1893, and they now sleep side by side in the Sterling cemetery. In their family were six children, namely: Christ, a farmer of Lee county, Illinois; Henry, our subject; Mathias, a farmer of Portland township, Whiteside county; Barbara, wife of Henry Flock, a retired citizen of Sterling; Mary, wife of William Weber, a farmer of Hum- phrey, Nebraska; and Peter, who died in Sterling during childhood.
In this county, Henry Pott was reared, and in the country schools he acquired his education. He aided in the work of the home farm until after the Civil war broke out, when, on the rith of August, 1862, at
the age of eighteen years, he enlisted as a private in Company D, Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. With the Army of the Cumberland, he participated in the battle of Perryville, where was slightly wounded by a gunshot in the hip, and later took part in the skirmish at Lancaster, Kentucky, and the battle of Stone River, Tennessee. La- ter he was on detached duty guarding rail- roads in Tennessee, and subsequently took part in the battles of Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain, and the Atlanta cam- paign, at which time he was almost con- stantly under fire for six months. He was also in the battles of Jonesboro and Lovejoy Station. He was again wounded by a gun- shot which shattered the bone of his nose and carried away his left eye. Thus per- manently disabled, he was taken first to the field hospital, later to what was originally a rebel hospital in Atlanta, then to Chicka- manga hospital, and from there to a Nash- ville hospital, No. 14. Subsequently he was sent to Louisville, and from there to a Jeffersonville hospital, where he remained some time. He was then given a furlough and came home to cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. Afterward he spent some time in the Jeffersonville hospital, and was then taken down the Ohio river to Mound City, where he was honorably dis- charged in February, 1865.
After his return home, Mr. Pott aided in the operation of the home farm until his other eye became affected and he nearly lost the sight of that also, but it finally got all right. He and his brother Christ afterward rented the home place and carried it on to- gether for three years. The following year our subject engaged in farming there alone, and then bought one hundred and twenty acres of his present farm, which at that time
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was partially improved. He has since ex- tended its boundaries until he now has two hundred and forty acres, which he has placed under excellent cultivation and improved with good buildings, which stand as a monument to his thrift and enterprise.
On the 10th of October, 1869, Mr. Pott was united in marriage with Miss Mary Spangler, a native of Pennsylvania, who during the war of the Rebellion came to this county with her parents, George and Eliza- beth Spangler. By this union nine children have been born, namely: Henry C., en- gaged in the livery business in Prophets- town; Jacob R., George A. and Albert B., who help carry on the home farm; Lizzie M., Emma, Catherine, Frances and Gen- eveive Angeline, all at home.
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