USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > The biographical record of Whiteside County, Illinois.. > Part 48
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The marriage of B. F. Lathe and Lydia Knox was solemnized February 20, 1856. She was born in Erie county, New York, September 25, 1831, a daughter of James and Amy (Martin) Knox, who removed to Whiteside county in 1835. Here they were among the earliest settlers, and for years the Indians, whose camp was not far dis- tant, in the Big Woods, on the Ox-bow
river, traded with them, obtaining pro- visions and clothing. For over a year the Knox family lived largely upon the meat of wild turkey's and wild hogs, the latter being very plentiful in this region at that day. James Knox built and operated the first ferry-boat on the river, near Prophetstown, and for many years it was one of the well- known landmarks of this county. He owned a farm on the present site of Morri- son, later sold it and moved one mile east of Morrison, and died at his old home there in 1860. His wife subsequently made her home with one of her sons until her death in 1866. All of her ten sons and two daughters lived to maturity. William, de- ceased, married Mary J. Emery, who, with six of their seven children, survives. Martin died in California. Alson, deceased, mar- ried Julia Weaver, who, with nine of their children, survives him. Peter died, leav- ing a widow, H. Emeline (Hawley) Knox. James married the sister of B. F. Lathe, and died, leaving three children. Archi- bald, deceased, married Minerva R. Garri- son, who is living in Mount Pleasant town- ship, as are their four children. Henry L. died in Mount Pleasant township, where he owned a good farm. John J., of Mount Pleas- ant township, married Lucy Humphreys. Mary died, leaving a husband. Byron Mc- Intyre, now of Michigan, and four children. Allen, who resides in Kansas, married Mary Utley, and has several children. Louis Knox, a drayman of Morrison, wedded Emma Hulett, and has one son, Louis.
The marriage of Benjamin F. Lathe and wife was blessed with four children. Alice R. became the wife of W. H. Bloom, editor of the Courier, of Sutherland, Iowa. David B., unmarried, is living at home with his parents. James F. is a thrifty young farmer
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of Mount Pleasant township, where he owns a valuable homestead. He married Nettie MeNutt, and has a pleasant home. Clara L. is the wife of David L. Broyles, of Union, lowa. He is a farmer and owns a good homestead of two hundred and eighteen acres.
A BRAHAM B. TITUS. Among the self- made men of Whiteside county who have accumulated a sufficiency of this world's goods through their own energy and thrift to enable them in their declining years to lay aside active business and live retired, is the gentleman whose name intro- duces this sketch. He was born in Onondaga county, New York, November 8, 1828, a son of Leonard and Maria (Becker) Titus, both natives of the Empire state. The father was a mechanic and worked at the blacksmith's trade in New York until 1835, when he removed to Gallia county, Ohio, and purchased a farm. He also erected a shop and divided his time between work at his trade and agricultural pursuits. He died there in 1848. His wife survived him many years and reared their family, dying in 1896, at the advanced age of ninety- three.
The early life of our subject was princi- pally passed in Gallia county, Ohio, where he attended the district schools through the winter months and aided in the farm work during the summer season. He remained with his mother until coming west in 1850, when he located in Richland county, Illi- nois, though he afterward worked by the month for three seasons in Morgan county, this state.
In Richland county, Mr. Titus was mar- ried, in April, 1853, to Miss Elizabeth
Chauncey, a native of that county and a daughter of Isaac Chauncey, who was from Tennessee and was one of the pioneers of Richland county. By this union seven children were born, namely: Leonard, who is married and engaged in farming in Champaign county, Illinois; Helen, at home; Edgar, who is married and engaged in business in Stewart, as a dealer in lum- ber, coal and grain. Ira, who is married and engaged in business with his brother in Stewart; Charles, who is married and fol- lows farming in Champaign county; Martha, deceased wife of Fred Hitchcock, by whom she had one child, Neleta; and Jesse, who is married and follows farming in Lee county, Illinois.
For two or three years after his mar- riage, Mr. Titus engaged in farming on rented land and then bought ten acres in Richland county, upon which he built a log cabin, and to which he later added an ad- joining ten acres. In the meantime he went to Pikes Peak in 1858 and spent nine months in gold mining with fair success. He not only cultivated his own land, but also operated rented tracts and worked by the day at anything which he could find to do. In 1863 he removed to Champaign county, where after farming upon rented land for six years, he purchased a forty-acre tract of wild land, to the improvement and cultivation of which he devoted his energies until 1874, when he rented the place, and for six years lived upon a farm of four hun- dred acres, which he leased. Here he mct with excellent success in his farming opera- tions, and was finally able to purchase one hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie land, which he broke, fenced, ditched and in- proved with good buildings. In 1892 he sold that place for eighty dollars per acre
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and purchased a well improved farm of also natives of that county, and that latter three hundred and twenty acres in Mont- morency township, Whiteside county, which he still owns. In 1893 he bought residence property in Rock Falls, where he has since made his home, while devoting his time to looking after the operation of his farm. He had no capital to aid him in starting out in life for himself, but he has worked his way steadily upward until he is now one of the prosperous citizens of the town. His suc- cess is due to his perseverance, untiring en- terprise, resolute purpose and commendable zeal, and withal his actions have been guid- ed by an honesty of purpose that none have questioned.
In his political affiliations Mr. Titus was a Whig from the time he cast his first pres- idential ballot for Zachary Taylor until 1860, when he voted for Abraham Lincoln, and continued to support the Republican party until after voting for General Grant in 1 868, but since that time has been indepen- dent in politics. During his residence in Champaign county he served as drainage commissioner for six years, and has also been alderman of Rock Falls for one term. He united with the Odd Fellows lodge at Olney, Illinois, on Christmas eve, 1857, has since filled all the offices, and is now past grand of his lodge. Wherever known he is held in high regard, and he has made many warm friends during his residence in this county.
JOHN R. RENNER, an enterprising and energetic agriculturist, residing on sec- tion 18, Hahnaman township, Whiteside county, Illinois, was born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, February 17, 1842, a son of William and Elmina (Reinhart) Renner,
a daughter of John Reinhart. In 1840 the father first came to Whiteside county, Illi- nois, and located at Deer Grove, where he took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, and two years later he was joined by his family. Later he entered other land, and for several years devoted his attention to the improvement and cultivation of his farm, but finally sold out and removed to Bureau county, Illinois. A few years later, however, he returned to this county and located on the farm near where his widow still resides. There he died in 1859, hon- ored and respected by all who knew him. His widow has now reached the ripe old age of eighty-four years.
As soon as old enough to be of any assistance, John R. Renner began to aid in the arduous task of converting the wild land into well tilled fields and his education was acquired in the primitive schools of those early days. During the Civil war he was one of the brave boys in blue, having en- listed in August, 1862, in Company K, One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, under command of Colonel Thomas J. Henderson, later General Henderson. With the Army of the Cumberland he par- ticipated in the engagements at Somerset, Kentucky; Knoxville; Franklin, and the Atlanta campaign. He was taken prisoner at Columbia, Tennessee, November 30, 1864, and sent to Andersonville prison, where he was held until the close of the war and then released. He joined the fed- eral forces at Jacksonville, Florida, and on his return north was honorably discharged at Springfield, Illinois. He reached home in July, 1865, and resumed work on the home farm. Mr. Renner's first purchase of land consisted of eighty acres on section 21,
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Hahnaman, and to it he later added another eighty-acre tract. Since then he has pur- chased one hundred and eight acres on sec- tion 17, the same township, and since owns both places, which he has converted into well improved and highly cultivated farms. He is a skillful and systematic farmer and due success has not been denied him.
In his political affiliations, Mr. Renner is a Republican, and has never faltered in his allegiance to that party since casting his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, while in the army in 1864. He has been a member of the township Republican com- mittee and has been a delegate to the county conventions of his party. He was elected and served as road commissioner for four- teen years, and was also drainage commis- sioner ten years. Ile is an honored men- ber of the Grand Army post of Tampico, and as a citizen and soldier he merits and receives the respect and esteen of all who know him.
A D. WOOD, a well-known farmer and highly esteemed citizen of Newton township, whose home is on section 22, was born in Berkshire, Massachusetts, De- cember 8, 1849, a son of Mason B. and Mary (Paul) Wood. The father was a na- tive of Massachusetts, and in that state en- gaged in farming during early life, but in 1865 he came to Whiteside county, Illinois, and took up his residence in Newton town- ship, where he died in March, 1887. His wife passed away in June, 1886. In their family were seven children, namely: Ze- lotus R., who is now conducting a hotel in Berkshire county, Massachusetts; Amelia, wife of J. B. Frazelle, of Clinton, Iowa; Susan, who married Edward A. Tucker, 23
and both are now deceased; A. D., our sub- ject; John B., a farmer of Newton township, Whiteside county; Caroline, wife of W. H. Valentine, of Montana; and Olive, de- ceased.
A. D. Wood remained at home with his parents until he was married, February 9, 1888, to Miss Margaret Blean, who was born in Whiteside county, February 10, 1851, a daughter of Robert and Margaret (Thompson) Blean, natives of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. They now have one child, Lida M., who was born July 24, 1889, and is attending school.
During his early life Mr. Wood became thoroughly familiar withall the duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist, and throughout his active business life has suc- cessfully engaged in general farming and stock raising. After his marriage he located upon his own farm on section 28, Newton township, and there continued to reside un- til 1896, when he sold the place and moved to the H. Y. Beardsworth farm. He is the owner of eighty acres of valuable and well- improved land on section 27. Politically he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party and its principles, but has never been a politician in the sense of office seeking. He takes considerable interest in education- al affairs and has served as school treasurer for a number of years. Both himself and wife are faithful members of the Presbyte- rian church, of Newton, and he also belongs to the Knights of the Maccabees.
P ALMER COLLINS, the well-known and popular foreman of the Keystone Manufacturing Company, was born in New London county, Connecticut, April 22, 1840, a son of Captain Amos and Phebe S.
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(Brown) Collins, also natives of Connecti- cut. His paternal grandfather, John Col- lins, was born in Rhode Island, but at an early day removed to the Nutmeg state. The maternal grandfather, Joshua Brown, was also a native of Rhode Island and a sol- dier of the war of 1812. The father was born in New London county, March 5, 1808, and there he continued to make his home throughout life engaged in agricult- ural pursuits. He held a captain's commis- sion in the state militia. He died in 1885 and his wife passed away in 1888. In their family were four children, two sons and two daughters, namely: Phebe E., wife of W. B. Brown, of Rock Falls; Palmer, our subject; Frances, who married Oliver G. Brown, and both died in Connecticut; and Lott K., who lives on the old homestead in that state.
Palmer Collins was reared upon the home farm and educated in the common schools of the locality. On leaving home at the age of fifteen years he commenced working as a farm hand by the month and was thus employed for eight years, after which he engaged in farming on his own ac- count for seven years. In 1873 he came to Rock Falls, Illinois, where for two years he clerked in a store, and later accepted a po- sition in the Fayette dye factory. He next entered the employ of the Keystone Manu- facturing Company, and after being with them for seven years he was made foreman, which important position he has now ac- ceptably and creditably filled for eight years, being one of the most valued and trusted employes of the company.
In Rock Falls, in October, 1877, Mr. Collins was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary L. Aument, who was born in Con- necticut, but was reared and educated in
Whiteside county, Illinois. Her father, John Enderton, was a native of Massachu- setts, and was one of the pioneers of this county, being first engaged in business in Sterling and later in farming in this county. Prior to his marriage, Mr. Collins pur- chased a lot and built the house which has since been his home. Fraternally he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and politically he is independent. He takes quite an active and prominent part in public affairs, and for five years served as alderman of the city to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. His esti- mable wife is a member of the Congrega- tional church and both are held in high re- gard by all who know them.
G EN. C. P. EGE, a veteran of the Civil war, with a record for service that is honorable and creditable, has been a promi- nent citizen of Whiteside county for nearly a half century. He was born at Pine Grove Furnace, Cumberland county, Pennsylva- nia, November 10, 1835, and is the son of Major Joseph A. and Jane E. (Woodburn) Ege, both of whom were also natives of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. Cap- tain Peter Ege, the grandfather, was pro- prietor and manager of Pine Grove Furnace in an early day. He married Jane E. Arthur, of the same family from whom Chester A. Arthur, ex-president of the United States, was descended. Captain Peter Ege was captain of the Adamantine Guards, and during the Baltimore insurrec- tion was wounded in the arm. John Blean, who died in Newton township, Whiteside county, Illinois, in 1864, was his orderly sergeant, and warded off in part the saber blow aimed at Captain Ege's heart. Mi- chael Ege, the father of Peter, in company
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with his brother George, owned and oper- ated five furnaces and forges in Pennsylva- nia and one in New Jersey. He married Ann Dorothy Wolf, a sister of Peter Wolf, of York, Pennsylvania. The father of Mi- chael and George Ege was Michael Egc, a native of Germany, who came to this coun- try in 1738 in the sailing vessel Friendship, and in 1744 married Catherine Hultz, a sis- ter of Governor Hultz, of Pennsylvania. She was his second wife. The father of Michael Ege, Sr., was Bernard Ege, also a a native of Germany, but who came to this country and lived and died in New Jersey.
Captain Peter Ege was born January 1, 1776, and married Jane E. Arthur in 1799. At the reception following, George and Martha Washington were present, and, in pledging the bride's health, Martha Wash- ington claimed the privilege of naming the first born. The first born were twins and were named George W. and Martha. Their son, Joseph A., the father of our subject, married Jane E. Woodburn, daughter of James and Agnes (Martin) Woodburn, the former of Irish and the latter of Scotch descent, both residents of Newville, Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. By this union there were eleven children, as follows: Jane Elmira, who died in infancy; Margaret W., wife of Major John G. McFarland, of Minneapolis, Minne- sota; Jane L., wife of Peter Mayberger, of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; C. P., the subject of this sketch; Martha E., wife of George Red- dy, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Joseph Stockton, a minister in Harrisburg, Penn- sylvania; Henrietta M., wife of Judge James S. Burd, of Minneapolis; Colonel Joseph A., who served as colonel and provost mar- shal during the Civil war; James HI., a cor- poral in the Civil war, and who was three times sheriff of Hennepin county, Minne-
sota, where he now resides; Frances H., who died single, in California; and Ellen, who died in infancy. The mother of these children dying, the father later married Kate Rush, who bore him four children: William Lusk, who died in Whiteside county, in 1895; Charles F., of Newton township; Eva M., widow of Harper Earl, of Guthrie, Oklahoma; and Hettie B., a teacher in the female seminary at Oakland, California. The family came to Whiteside county in 1857 and located at Kingsbury, where the father died, January 11, 1862.
The subject of this sketch was reared in his native state, and after attending the Shippensburg and Big Springs Academies, he entered Dickerson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he learned civil engin- eering. In 1855 he came to Whiteside county and visited his cousin, Hettie Blean, wife of Lieutenant James Blean, who was killed at Prairiesville, Kentucky, in 1862. After visiting for a time, he went to Minne- apolis, Minnesota, and became associated with his brother-in-law, Major McFarland, who founded the first bank in that city. In the financial crisis in 1856 the bank failed and he returned to Whiteside county.
In 1857 Mr. Ege engaged in farming in Newton township, making his home with Deborah Booth, who was a daughter of Edward Hart, the son of John Hart, one of the signers of the declaration of independ- ence. Her husband, Major William Booth, served with that rank in the war of 1812. His brother Isaac was a general; his brother Daniel was colonel of the Virginia volunteers in 1812; his brother John, a captain, and his brother Stephen a corporal. The cap- tain and corporal were killed in battle at Norfolk. Major Booth located in Newton township in 1839 and died in 1854. Deb-
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orah Booth survived him many years, dy- ing in 1874.
While boarding with Mrs. Booth, our subject there met for the first time his wife, then Miss Harriet L. Booth, a granddaugh- ter of Major and Deborah Booth, and daughter of Elijah and Sarah (Beckler) Booth. They were married September 21, 1861. Mrs. Ege, who was one of a family of four children which grew to maturity, was born August 1, 1838. The others were Sylvester H., born January 16, 1835, now a resident of Albany, and who was among the first to go to California after the dis- covery of gold, was a sergeant of a California regiment during the Rebellion; Martha J., born December 25, 1839, is the wife of J. P. Early, a sergeant of the Ninety-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, who was wounded at the battle of Champion Hill; and Melinda, born November 19, 1841, late the wife of S. H. Beckwith, of Ames, Iowa, and who had a son serving as sergeant in the Spanish-American war. The maternal grandmother of Mrs. Ege was Martha (Sweeney) Beckley, the only daughter of Captain Sweeney, one of the heroes of the Revolutionary war. He located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, but was drowned while taking a cargo of goods from Baltimore.
To General and Mrs. Ege nine children were born. Martha L., born July 27, 1862, died December 25, 1864. Harriet, born October 29, 1865, died February 12, 1891. She was a talented young lady, a teacher and worker in the church, and was well and favorably known. Mary E., born Feb- uary 3, 1867, was married June 17, 1891, to Charles Wheaton, a druggist of Lorain, Illinois. Henry P., born October 12, 1868, is a druggist in Lorain. Henrietta W., born January 2, 1870, was married March
14, 1895, to W. F. Rumble, cashier of the bank at Laurel, Mississippi. Deborah Booth, born September 23, 1871, was mar- ried June 21, 1894, to W. L. Olds, of Albany, Illinois. Sylvester A., born August 21, 1876, was a clerk on a gunboat, and a volunteer in Company M, First Mis- sissippi Volunteers, during the Spanish- American war. Sarah K. is a teacher in the public schools of Albany. One child died in infancy.
In 1858-9, Mr. Ege was engaged a por- tion of his time as civil engineer with the Chi- cago & Northwestern Railway Company, and also one year later, his associates in the early spring of 1861 being George B. Mc- Clellan, afterwards major-general in the United States army and Democratic candi- date for president in 1864; Richard Bush- nell, who served as a major in the Thirteenth Illinois Regiment during the Civil war and was killed in the battle of Ringgold Georgia; and George Brown, who served as a captain during the same struggle.
Coming through a long line of patriotic citizens, Mr. Ege was by nature and in- clination a lover of his country, and when the first call of President Lincoln was made for armed men to suppress the rebellion, he offered his services and enlisted as a private in the Ellsworth Zouaves, and April 15, 1861, left Chicago, under command of Cap- tain Ellsworth, for Springfield, Illinois, from which place they were sent to Birds Point, Illinois, where the com- mand was stationed for some time. Few veterans can show a better record for service than General Ege. His promotions came rapid, and his duties were arduous from the very date of his enlist- ment. He was later transferred from the Ellsworth Zouaves and August 1, 1862, was
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commissioned first lieutenant of Company A, Thirty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was promoted captain of the same com- pany, December 12, 1862. On the 13th of September, 1864, he was promoted major of the regiment, and November 10 of the same year lieutenant-colonel. Five days later he was commissioned colonel, and July 4, 1865, was brevetted brigadier- general. From May 11, 1865, until mustered out of the service, he was brigade commander of the Second Brigade, Second Civision, Fourteenth Army Corps, under General George Thomas.
The Thirty-fourth Illinois Regiment was known as Thomas' skirmish regiment, being drilled in skirmish tactics. Colonel Ege was the first man wounded in his regiment, his wound, which was in the hand, being re- ceived in a skirmish with the enemy at Green River, Kentucky, where two com- panies-A and F-were engaged. In the two days' fight at Shiloh his regiment was actively engaged, and he was slightly in- jured by the concussion of an exploding shell. He was with his regiment through the entire siege of Corinth, and was with it in the marches and counter-marches through Tennessee and Kentucky, and was with his command when Buell was cut off. He commanded the skirmish line at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, and was ninth in command when the battle opened, there being eight ranking officers. In one- half hour's time they were all disabled-five dead and four wounded-and he was left in command of his regiment during the greater part of the siege of Atlanta.
While charging the works at Rome, Georgia, Colonel Ege was again wounded and left on the field for about four hours. He was in command of his company in the
charge at Jonesborough, and was in com- mand of the skirmish line at Triune and Bloody Run. He was part of the time in command of his regiment at Stone River, which was a three days' engagement, his colonel being wounded. While protecting a wagon train during that engagement, with a portion of his command he was cut off from the main army, but they fought their way out, saving the train, with the excep- tion of four wagons. He commanded the skirmish line at Missionary Ridge, Lookout Mountain and Ringgold's Gap. He was with the advance guard for the relief of Burnside at Knoxville, and for three days they were short of provisions. Returning to Chattanooga, the regiment was in camp for a time.
Colonel Ege was in command of his regiment in the memorable march to the sea with Sherman, being at all times in the advance or skirmish line. He was wounded the second time in the hand at Savannah, while charging the enemy's works. At the battle of Bloody Run he had his horse shot from under him, while at the same time ho received a wound from a ball in the neck, fortunately not severe. During the war he had three horses shot from under him. On account of the wound in his hand he was given leave of absence at Savannah, and, after a short furlough, he rejoined his regi- ment at Goldsboro, North Carolina, and conducted it through North and South Caro- lina to Richmond, Virginia, and from thence to Washington, where it took part in the grand review. From Washington the regi- ment was sent to Louisville, Kentucky, where it was mustered out of service.
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