USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > The biographical record of Whiteside County, Illinois.. > Part 61
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went to Lowell, Massachusetts, where he and has two children, Nettie M. and Andrew found employment at his trade of carpet F. (5) Sarah is the wife of Charles Ken- nedy, of Clyde township, and they have one child, Mary L. (6) George is engaged in the lumber business in Montana. (7) Will- iam H., a farmer of Montana, married Clara Sheridan and has one child, George W. (8) Susan is the wife of Robert E. Cochran, of Morrison. (9) Edith is the wife of Pierre Jackson, of the same place. weaving. On the Ist of June, 1842, he and his family arrived in Whiteside county, Illi- nois, and he purchased a claim of a Mr. Hollinshead, and entered the same that fall. Mr. Milnes in company with his eldest daughter returned east and the following spring was joined by his wife and four younger children, leaving two sons to oper- ate the farm while the younger members of the family were being educated. He died in the east June 12, 1847. Of his fourteen children, nine reached years of maturity, namely: Susanna first married William H. Ainley, by whom she had two children, Mary M. and Sarah L., who both died young. For her second husband she mar- ried Andrew Murray, but is now a widow. She has spent most of her life in the east but is now living with our subject. Rachel died at the age of seventeen years. John married Eliza Townsend, and died leaving four children. Ann married Chester Millard and died leaving one child. Thomas mar- ried Sarah Aldrell and died leaving five chil- dren. Mary died young. Joseph married Jame Masa and died leaving four children. Sarah is the wife of our subject. George was a soldier of Company C, Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Perryville during the Civil war.
To Mr. and Mrs. Wood were born nine children, namely: (1) Mary is the wife of William Beswick, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. (2) Joseph, who operates the old home farm in Clyde township, married Rebecca Jane King and had two children, Frank Mason and Eva M., the latter now deceased. (3) Thomas died in infancy. (4) Thomas M., a farmer of Clyde township, married Margaret Mason
After his marriage Mr. Wood entered eighty acres of land in Clyde township, upon which he lived for two years and then sold and bought eighty acres of the farm which he still owns, but has since extended its boundaries until it contains two hundred acres. Under his able management the well tilled fields yielded bountiful crops and he gave considerable attention to the rais- ing of hogs for market. In March, 1882, he removed to Morrison in order to give his younger children better educational advan- tages, and there he has since made his home. He casts his ballot in support of the Repub- lican party and has always taken a deep and commendable interest in educational affairs, having for thirteen years efficiently served as school director. His wife is a member of the Episcopal church and both are held in high regard by all who know them.
THOMAS HUGGINS, one of the most prosperous and successful agriculturists of Garden Plains township, Whiteside coun- ty, Illinois, comes from across the sea, his birth having occurred in Kent county, Eng- land, August 8, 1831. His parents, Thomas and Eliza Huggins, were farming people of Kent, where they spent their entire lives. Our subject was reared and educated in his
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native land, and was married on Christmas day, 1849, in Kent, to Miss Susan Ran- dolph, a daughter of William Randolph.
After his marriage Mr. Huggins re- mained in England for four years, being engaged in agricultural pursuits, but in 1853, with his wife and two children, he sailed for the new world. He first settled in New York state, where he followed farm- ing until 1856, and then came to Illinois, locating in Garden Plains township, White- side county. Here he purchased and im- proved a farm of one hundred acres, and meeting with success in his farming opera- tions, he has been able to add to his landed possessions until he now has a valuable land of four hundred acres, which is under excel- lent cultivation and improved with good buildings. He is a systematic and skillful farmer and a good business man of sound judgment and industrious habits. Hle car- ries on general farming and stock raising, but has never made a specialty of any one branch of agriculture. The success that he has achieved in life is due entirely to his own well-directed efforts, and for the same he deserves great credit. Politically he is identified with the Republican party, and gives his support to all measures which he believes will be of public good.
To Mr. and Mrs. Huggins were born twelve children, namely: Thomas, born in England, May 12, 1850, wedded Mary Drury and is now engaged in farming in Newton township, this county; Edward, born in England, January 8, 1852, married Mary Hudson, by whom he had six chil- dren, and also followed farming in Newton township; Eliza, born in New York state, January 22, 1854, is the wife of John Jor- dan, a farmer of Garden Plains township, and they have one child; George, born in 29
New York, April 11, 1856, married Henri- etta Bolds, by whom he has four children, and is engaged in farming in Garden Plains township; Henry, born in this county, No- vember 23, 1857, resides on the home farm; Oliver O., born December 2, 1859, married Minnie Randolph, by whom he has one child, and they live in Albany, Illinois; Frank, born October 5, 1861, married Luella Shears, by whom he has three chil- dren, and he followed farming in Newton township; Rosa Emma, born August 10, 1863, is the wife of George Hleffelfinger, a farmer of Garden Plains township; Fanny M., born July 29, 1865, is the wife of Har- vey Byers, a United Brethren minister of Kent, Illinois, and they have three children: Freddy, born September 27, 1867, died when about three years old; Amelia A., born March 29, 1871, is the wife of Albert Curry, a farmer of Newton township, and they have two children; Albert J., born September 8, 1872, wedded Mary Udy, by whom he has two children, and he is en- gaged in farming in Garden Plains township.
S AMUEL BLAGG, who is practically liv- ing a retired life in Erie, Illinois, was born in Gallia county, Ohio, July 14, 1827, and is a son of Isaac and Polly (Steele) Blagg. The father was a native of Vir- ginia and a shoemaker by trade, but fol- lowed the occupation of farming during the greater part of his life. He was killed by a horse when our subject was quite young, but the mother is still living at the ad- vanced age of ninety-four years, and makes her home in Ohio. In their family were six children, as follows: William, who died in infancy; Allen, who died when young; Samuel, our subject; Betsy Ann, wife of
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William C. Glenn, and Sarah and Suther- land, who both died young.
Samuel Blagg remained under the pa- rental roof until he was married, January 12, 1846, to Miss Nancy Stickleman, who was born in Gallia county, Ohio, Septem- ber 8, 1822, a daughter of George and Nancy Stickleman. They began their do- mestic life upon a farm in Ohio, where they remained until 1856, and then came to Whiteside county, Illinois, locating in Erie. Here Mr. Blagg has been principally en- gaged in general farming and stock raising, and still owns a valuable and well improved farm of one hundred and ninety acres on section 18, Erie township, besides fifteen lots in the village of Erie.
To Mr. and Mrs. Blagg were born eight children, namely: Filisteen, who died when quite young; Sarah V., who also died when quite young; Lucetta Jane, wife of William Stone, residing in Erie; Polly E., at home; Alice M., who died young; Hiram, a resi- dent of Erie; Grace D., wife of Charlie Adams, of Erie; and Elias Grant, also a resident of Erie.
In his political views, Mr. Blagg is a Republican, but has never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office. He is widely and favorably known and justly merits the high regard in which he is held, for his life has been an honorable and up- right one.
R ALPH Y. BREED, a well-known grain dealer of Erie, is an important factor in business circles and his popularity is well deserved, as in him are embraced the char- acteristics of an unbending integrity, una- bated energy and industry that never flags. He is a leading business man of the village,
and as a public-spirited citizen is thorough- ly interested in whatever tends to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of the community.
A native of Illinois, Mr. Breed was born in Schuyler county, November 5, 1861, and is a son of Dr. S. P. and Alzina (Powers) Breed. In their family were seven children, but three are now deceased, those living being Lena May; Lizzie R., wife of Edward Sisler, of Lincoln, Nebraska, Luella and Ralph Y. The parents are still living and now make their home in Princeton, Illinois.
During his boyhood and youth our sub- ject remained at home with his parents, and on the 25th of November, 1885, he was united in marriage with Miss Nellie M. Sapp, by whom he has three children, namely: Clifford, De Ette and Carrie Belle. Mr. Breed lived in Princeton until after his mar- riage and then located on a farm in Bureau county, near that city, where he engaged in farming and stock raising with marked success until the spring of 1896, when he removed to Erie. Here he purchased the grain business of Arthur McLean, and has since successfully carried on the same. He is an enterprising, wide-awake business man of known reliability, and is a progress- ive citizen. In politics he is a stanch Repub- lican, and before coming to this county held several township offices, while during his residence in Erie he has acceptably served as village trustee. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias:
A NDREW RAPP. This gentleman worthily illustrates the commonly ac- cepted view of the character of the enter- prising German citizen, who has come to
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the United States empty handed, and he takes a great interest in its welfare, through his own efforts has worked his way and is already recognized as a valued and useful citizen of the community in which he lives. His son Charles expects soon to em- bark in the meat business in Erie. upward to a position of affluence, and has also gained the confidence and respect of all with whom he has been brought in con- tact.
Mr. Rapp was born in Germany, Octo- ber 11, 1846, and was reared and educated in his native land. When about twenty- one years of age he crossed the broad Atlan- tic, and on landing in New York came im- mediately to Illinois and located in Wash- ington, Tazewell county, where he was en- gaged in the butcher business for some time. On Christmas day, 1873, Mr. Rapp was united in marriage with Miss Theresa Hoffmeyer, a daughter of Joseph and Barbara Hoffmeyer. She was born in Switzerland, February 26, 1849, and came to America when twenty-four years of age. Two children have been born to our sub- ject and his wife, namely: Charles, born October 26, 1874; and Mamie, born Octo- ber 28, 1877.
After his marriage, Mr. Rapp continued to engage in the butcher business in Wash- ington for a year and a half, and then re- moved to Roanoke, Illinois, where he was interested in the same line of trade for several years. It was in 1895 that he camne to Whiteside county and purchased a valua- ble farm of three hundred and sixty acres in Portland township, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation and made many improvements thereon. In the fall of 1899, he removed to Erie but still devotes his time and attention to the operation of his farm. He has met with well deserved success in his labors, and is now one of the substantial and prosperous citizens of his adopted village. Although he is compara- tively a recent arrival in Whiteside county,
JOHN H. MENSCH, a prominent farmer residing on section 10, Newton town- ship, Whiteside county, Illinois, was born in Columbia county, Pennsylvania, July 3, 1858, and is a son of William and Anna C. Mensch. The father is still living and makes his home in Sterling, but the mother died May 9, 1893. They were the parents of sixteen children, of whom ten are still living, namely: Martin L., a farmer of Oklahoma; William A., a farmer of this county; Eva, wile of Higgin Yates, of Omaha, Nebraska; John H., our subject; Allie A., wife of Milton Miller, a harness maker of Milledgeville, Illinois; Hattie, wife of R. Pittman, of Sterling; Jacob, a farmer of Kansas; Clarence, a farmer of Emerson, Whiteside county; Lora, wife of John Chalmers, a mechanic of Sterling; and Ida, wife of Caleb Shultz, in the produce busi- ness at Milledgeville.
John H. Mensch remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority, and then started out in life for himself as a farmer in Hopkins township. On the 21st of February, 1882, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Sarah Howell, by whom he had two children, Ada, born July 1, 1884; and Lloyd, born September 11, 1888. The wife and mother died in October, 1894, and on the 4th of November, 1896, Mr. Mensch was again married, his second union being with Mrs. May Slininger, who was born February 29, 1868, a daughter of Elwood and Rhoda Elliott. By the second mar-
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riage there is one child, Lora, born February 28, 1897. Mrs. Mensch had two children by her former marriage, but only the younger is now living, Julia, who was born December 21, 1891.
In 1893, Mr. Mensch purchased his pres- ent fine farm in Newton township, which comprises one hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, and upon which he has made many improvements. He is successfully engaged in general farm- ing and stock raising, keeping on hand enough stock to consume all of the grain which he raises. He is an energetic and progressive farmer, and as a business man he generally carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. He casts his ballot in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, and socially is a member of the Home Forum and is also a member of the Philadelphia Mutual Life.
ISAAC GIBLER, a well-known citizen of Newton township, owns and operates a good farm of eighty-two acres on section 10. As a judicious tiller of the soil he has met with success, and as a man and citizen holds a high position among his neighbors. He was born in Ohio, March 20, 1845, and is a son of Jeremiah and Mary (Nevitt) Gibler. The father was a native of Penn- sylvania, but when young went to Ohio, where he spent the greater part of his life engaged in farming. He died November 26, 1871. In his family were eleven children, namely: Amanda, deceased; Isaac, our subject; Christian A., a resident of Oregon; Amos and John, both deceased; James, a farmer of Newton township, this county;
Disberry, deceased; Rhoda S. married L. E. Booth, a resident of Albany, Illinois; Elizabeth, wife of John Ray, of Albany; Joseph, a resident of Iowa; and Carrie, wife of Charles Natt, of Clinton, Iowa.
The boyhood and youth of our subject were passed under the parental roof, and there he remained until he was married, May 21, 1874, to Miss Mary E. Switzer, who was born July 26, 1853, a daughter of Anthony I. and Martha Switzer. Her mother died December 25, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Gibler have a family of eight children, whose names and dates of birth are as fol- lows: Leslie, March 8, 1875; Martha E., January 4, 1877; Arthur, May 7, 1880; Car- rie Ann, February 10, 1883; Ralph, Octo- ber 1, 1885; Edith, May 11, 1888; Row- land, February 28, 1892; and Clide, Feb- ruary 21, 1895. With the exception of Ralph, who died February 22, 1887, all are still living and reside athome.
Afterhis marriage, Mr. Gibler commenced farming on his own account, and lived on several different farms until, in 1880, he purchased his present farm. He has always given more or less attention to stock rais- ing, and for several years operated a thresh- ing machine in connection with his regular farm work. In politics he is a pronounced Democrat and his support is given every measure which he believes will prove of public benefit.
JOHN A. PACE, one of the active, prominent and enterprising citizens of Newton township, is engaged in agricultural pursuits on section 24, and in his farming operations is meeting with well-merited success. He is a native of Indiana, born November 25, 1855, and is a son of Michael
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and Penelope Pace. The father, who was also a farmer by occupation, died in Indi- ana in 1855. He was twice married, and by the first marriage had two children, Na- than and Lucinda, and by the second four, namely: Jacob, now a farmer of lowa; La- fayette, a farmer of Washington; Melinda, wife of Arthur Wood, a resident of Erie, Illinois; and John A., our subject. After the death of the father, the mother married S. N. Jones, and now lives in Iowa.
The subject of this sketch remained with his mother until his marriage, which was celebrated November 30, 1880, Miss Lucy J. Lumbart, a daughter of Abraham and Charlotte Lumbart, becoming his wife. They began their domestic life on the farm of eighty acres on section 24, Newton town- ship, where they still continue to reside. Besides this property, Mr. Pace also owns one hundred and ninety-five acres on sec- tions 13 and 24, the same township, and in the cultivation and improvement of his land has met with marked success. He devotes considerable attention to stock raising, and in this branch of his business has also been successful. The Republican party has al- ways found in him a stanch supporter of its principles, and he has now capably filled the office of school director for six years. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen camp, No. 14, of Erie. Hc is well known and highly respected, and has a host of warm friends in his adopted county.
R A. THOMPSON. Among the young men of Whiteside county who have selected agriculture as their vocation in life, and who, judging from present indications, are bound to realize their most sanguine
anticipations, is the subject of this biograph- ical notice, who resides on section 34, Fen- ton township, where he owns and success- fully operates a valuable farm of four hun- dred and three acres.
Mr. Thompson was born in that town- township, February 25, 1869, and is a son of S. A. Thompson, a sketch of whom is given elsewhere in this volume. He received good school privileges, attending first the common schools of Fenton and College Sterling, and later a college at Omaha, Ne- braska. On completing his education he was first engaged in mercantile business in Omaha, for one year, and then entered the fire department of that city, with which he was connected about two years. On leav- ing Omaha, he returned to Whiteside coun- ty, and located on the farm where he now resides. In connection with general farm- ing he is engaged in stock raising, making a specialty of full-blooded Clyde horses and trotting stock, Durham cattle and Poland China hogs. His wife is interested in the fancy poultry business, raising buff cochins.
In 1892, Mr. Thompson married Miss Anna Carrtenson, a daughter of Henry Carrtenson, of Erie, but she died about three months after their marriage, and he was again married, January 1, 1895, his second union being with Miss Lenora McMurphy, a daughter of George McMurphy. Fra- ternally Mr. Thompson is a member of the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias, and the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is independent, voting for whom he considers the best man for the office, but he has never taken any interest in local politics. He is held in high esteem by his neighbors and friends, and ranks among the leading agriculturists and most popular citizens of Fenton township.
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JOHN J. BESSE. In the busy com- munity located in the thriving little village of Erie we find several energetic and thorough-going business men who have at- tained success through their own tact, good judgment and perseverance. Among this number is the gentleman whose name heads this biographical notice, and who, at pres- ent, is successfully engaged in business as a stock dealer.
Mr. Besse was born in Portland town- ship, this county, October 25, 1850, a son of Randolph and Sarah Besse, of Portland township, this county. The father was born in New York state and throughout life has followed the occupation of farming. In the family were four children, of whom our subject is the oldest; Louisa is the wife of Frank Schmied, of Prophetstown; George WV. is a farmer of Erie; and Anna Eliza is the wife of W. E. Baxter, of Erie.
Our subject spent his boyhood and youth on the home farm. On the 15th of April, 1874, he was united in marriage with Miss Ida E. Crandall, a daughter of Lafayette Crandall, and they had twochildren: Maud, who was born July 29, 1876, and died Au- gust 29, 1878; and Mabel, who was born September 20, 1883, and died the same year. The mother of these children died November 29, 1884, and for his second wife Mr. Besse married Miss Emma R. Schmied, who was born February 26, 1853, a daugh- ter of Jacob and Rachel Schmied. By this union three children have been born, name- ly: Goldie D., born June 12, 1887; Ran- dolph S., November 19, 1889; and John H., March 1, 1893.
Mr. Besse began his married life upon the old Arnet farm in Portland township, where he lived for four years, and then re- moved to the village of Erie, where he was
engaged in the livery and furniture business for one year. The following year he en- gaged in farming, but at the end of that time he returned to Erie. He purchased two hundred acres of land in Erie township, upon which he lived for nine years while successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. At the end of that period he moved to Prophetstown, where he carried on the butcher business for one year, and then re- turned to Erie, where he erected the pleas- ant residence which has since been his home. Besides his village property he also owns three hundred and fifty acres of land, which is under a high state of cultivation and well improved. Since 1891 he has successfully engaged in stock dealing. He is a business man of more than ordinary ability, and has won success by his well-directed, energetic efforts, and the prosperity that has come to him is certainly well deserved.
In his political affiliations, Mr. Besse is a Republican, and he has most creditably served his fellow citizens as road commis- sioner, a member of the village board for about six years, and school director for the same length of time. Socially he is quite popular and is an active and prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, the Mas- ter Masons, the Eastern Star, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Home Forum, Fraternity League and Mystic Workers of the World.
W WILLIAM H. ALLEN, a prominent and influential citizen of Erie, Illi- nois, was born in Dublin, New Hampshire, in 1839, and belongs to a most distinguished and honored family. His ancestors were among the followers of William the Con- queror, and settled in Lancaster and York-
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shire, England. From this branch of the family the Stewarts of Scotland were de- scended. The Allens, being Republicans, came to this country on the restoration of King Charles HI to the throne of England, and settled in Massachusetts. Our subject's paternal grandfather, Ebenezer Allen, was a native of Lancaster, Worcester county, Massachusetts, and a son of Ebenezer Allen, Sr., who was also born in that place and served with distinction as a lieutenant in the Revolutionary war. The father of the latter was for twenty years a member of the Massachusetts governing council, and dur- ing the Revolution he equipped a regiment with his own money, sending it out to fight for the liberty of the colonies. He did not command it himself, but all of his seven sons took an active part in the war, those being Ebenezer, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Amos, Peter and William. He was a cousin of Ethan Allen, of Revolutionary fame, who also had seven sons in the Con- tinental army.
S. B. Allen, the father of our subject, was a native of New York, and a farmer by occupation. In early manhood he married Miss Sarah Richardson, who was born in Massachusetts, and was a daughter of Cap- tain Ebenezer.
Our subject is the oldest in a family of three children. Samuel R. Allen, his broth- er, is now a prominent attorney of Little Rock, Arkansas. He was at one time ad- jutant-general of that state and served in that capacity for a number of years. Sarah A., the only sister, resides in Whiteside county, Illinois.
William H. Allen, of this review, was admitted to the bar in 1866, and has since been actively engaged in the practice of law, mostly in Rock Island and Whiteside coun-
ties. For the last few years he has been a resident of Erie, is the only lawyer in the village, and is now serving as city attorney. He also owns and operates a fine farm of three hundred and thirty acres located partly in Erie, Newton and Fenton townships.
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