USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > The biographical record of Whiteside County, Illinois.. > Part 62
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In 1864, Mr. Allen was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary A. Orr, and by this union seven children have been born, namely: William C., a lawyer of Moline, Illinois; Samuel R., a lawyer of Spokane, Washington; Sarah R., at home; Van S., a farmer of Erie township; Henry B. and Katherine B., both at home; and John O., who is studying law in Little Rock, Arkan- sas.
Mr. Allen is not only a good lawyer, but is a man of excellent business and executive ability, whose sound judgment and unflag- ging enterprise and capable management have brought to him a well-merited success. He is a stanch supporter of the Democratic party and its principles as advocated by William J. Bryan, and served as supervisor of Erie from 1863 to 1878. In the latter year he was elected to the state Legisla- ture, and re-elected in 1880, serving in all two terms. Fraternally he is a member of the blue lodge, No. 667, F. & A. M., of Erie.
A BEL BYAM is a valued and esteemed agriculturist residing on section 29, Fenton township, where he has a fine farm of two hundred acres, which is under excel- lent culture and well improved. The build- ings upon the place are of a neat and sub- stantial character, and a fine orchard and good fences all betoken thrift and prosper- ity. He has met with a merited success in his farming operations.
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Mr. Byam was born in New Hampshire, March 7, 1822, and is a son of Benjamin and Lucy (Fasset) Byam, and grandson of Reuben Byam. The father was also a na- tive of New Hampshire, where he continued to make his home throughout life, owning and operating a farm of seventy acres. In his family were seven children: Clarissa, widow of Otis Beamis and a resident of Massachusetts; Mary Ann, deceased wife of Aaron Jones; Abel, our subject; Benjamin, a retired farmer of New Hampshire; Nathan G., deceased; Leonard, a farmer of New Hampshire; and Charlie, a resident of Pitts- field, Massachusetts.
Abel Byam is indebted to the common schools of his native state for his education- al advantages, and he remained at home until reaching manhood. In 1848 he mar- ried Miss Irena Brown, who was born Sep- tember 6, 1825, a daughter of Samuel and Louisa Brown. To Mr. and Mrs. Byam were born nine children, namely: Charles Owen, deceased; George, a resident of Erie, Illinois; Emma, wife of A. E. Hamilton, a lawyer of Harper county, Kansas; Mary Ann, deceased; Clara, Stephen D. and Za- die, all at home; Caroline.
After his marriage, Mr. Byam came west and located first on a farm of eighty acres in Indiana, on which he lived for twenty years. In 1868 he came to Whiteside county, Illi- nois, and purchased a farm of sixty acres on sections 30 and 31, Fenton township. He has since added to his place until he now owns two hundred acres of rich and arable land. He has devoted his time and atten- tion to its improvement and cultivation with most gratifying results, and has also success- fully engaged in stock raising. He is a sup- porter of the Republican party, but has never taken much interest in public affairs,
and has never been an office seeker. His life has ever been such as to win for him the confidence and respect of those with whom he has been brought in contact, and he is numbered among the honored citizens of Fenton township.
G EORGE NEER, one of the successful and prosperous citizens of Erie, Illi- nois, who is now living a retired life, was born in Logan county, Ohio, May 8, 1841, a son of Adam and Sarah (Pollock) Neer, and a grandson of Adam Neer, Sr. Throughout life the father followed the oc- cupation of farming and made his home in Logan county, Ohio, where he died Septem- ber 23, 1867. He was three times married, his first wife being Rachel Blair, by whom he had one child, Samuel, now deceased. His second wife was the mother of our sub- ject, and to them were born six children, but four died in infancy, the others being George, our subject, and Mrs. Rachel A. Brotherson, of Newton township, Whiteside county. For his third wife he married Jane Blair, and of the eight children born of this union, three died in infancy. Those living are Isaac, David, William and John, all residents of Ohio, and Addie, a resident of Indianapolis, Indiana. All three wives died in Ohio.
Our subject remained on the home farm until nearly twenty-one years of age, and received his education in the common schools of his native state. During the Civil war, he enlisted in March, 1862, in the First Ohio Infantry, under General McCook, and was discharged in the fall of the same year. He then came west and took up his residence in Portland township, Whiteside
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county, Illinois, where he operated rented his own industry, enterprise and good man- land for a time.
On the 16th of September, 1863, Mr. Neer was united in marriage with Miss Har- riet Witt, who was born in MeDonough county, Illinois, October 16, 1844, a daughter of Harvey and Hannah Witt. She was the youngest in a family of four children, the others being as follows: Geor- giana, deceased, was the wife of John Ran- son. George went to California in 1852, and ten years later sailed for Australia, since which time nothing has been heard of him. Horace died in infancy. To Mr. and Mrs. Neer have been born seven children: Sarah J., now the wife of Adam Young, Jr., of Erie township; Frank G., who married May Getty, and is engaged in farming in Vernon county, Missouri; Horace A., a resi- dent of Bureau county, Illinois, who mar- ried Gertrude Pratt, but she died Septem- ber 3, 1899; John D, who married Ada Imel and lives in Bureau county; Hannah L., wife of Ira Talcott, a farmer of Port- land township, Whiteside county; and Will- iam and Hattie C., both at home with their parents.
Mr. and Mrs. Neer began their domestic life upon a farm in Portland township, where they remained five years, and then moved to Erie. A year later they located on a farm of three hundred acres, which is partly situated in four different townships, but their residence was on section 6, Erie township. This valuable farm Mr. Neer owned and successfully operated for twenty- eight years, being engaged in general farm- ing and stock raising, but in February, 1897, he removed to the town of Erie, where he is now living retired from active labor, enjoying a well-earned rest. The success that he has achieved in life is due to
agement, for on coming to the county he was in rather limited circumstances, but being a skillful farmer and a man of more than ordinary business ability, he has pros- pered.
By his ballot Mr. Neer supports the men and measures of the Republican party, and he has been called upon to serve in a num- ber of local offices of honor and trust, being assessor of his township eleven years, high- way commissioner nine years, drainage com- missioner two terms, and school director twenty-one years, during which time a fine school-house was erected in his district in 1896, at a cost of eight thousand dollars, it being heated with steam and supplied with all modern conveniences. Fraternally he is a member of Rock River camp, No. 14, M. W. A., and both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Christian church of Erie. They merit and receive the respect and esteem of all who know them and have a host of warm friends throughout the county.
JAMES A. MEIGHAN, a well-known J
and highly respected citizen of Fenton township, has had a somewhat varied and interesting career, but is now quietly and successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits on section 19. He was born in the town of Fulton, Schoharie county, New York, No- vember 8, 1838, a son of John and Anna (Vrooman) Meighan. The father was a native of Ireland, but when young came to this country, and for a number of years was engaged in the practice of law in Albany, New York. The Vrooman family was of Holland descent and was founded in New York state about 1812.
Our subject was reared by his maternal
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grandfather, Adam P. Vrooman, who lived in Fulton until Mr. Meighan was seven years old and then removed to Orleans county, New York, where he owned and operated a farm. Our subject remained with his grandparents until sixteen years of age, when he commenced life for himself by working at the blacksmith's trade. A year later he went to sea on a whaler and for a number of years was connected with differ- ent whaling expeditions in the South Pacific ocean near New Zealand, the Friendly and Society Islands. There he met with several thrilling experiences such as men engaged in that business are likely to meet.
On leaving the sea, Mr. Meighan went to Williamsport, Indiana, in September, 1859, and while there cast his first presiden- tial vote for Abraham Lincoln. At the first call for troops at the opening of the Civil war, he entered the volunteer service, en- listing in the Tenth Indiana Infantry, and fought under Generals McClellan and Rose- crans in West Virginia. After being hon- orably discharged from the service, he fol- lowed railroading for one year, and then went to Chicago, where he joined the marine artillery service, with which he was con- nected for about a year. He served on sev- eral different boats and was in a number of hazardous expeditions. Later he was in the quartermaster's department for about six months, and was foreman on the docks at Beaufort, South Carolina. The war having ended he settled down to the more quiet pursuits of civil life and in the spring of 1866 took up his residence in Whiteside county, Illinois. After working on a farm for about three years, he purchased one hundred and six acres on section 19, Fenton township, in 1869, and has since devoted his energies to the cultivation and improvement
of his place. His specialty has been fruit raising, and he has upon his farm a fine, well-kept orchard of about ten acres.
On the 7th of April, 1868, Mr. Meighan was united in marriage with Miss Eliza O. Dudley, who was born September 16, 1846, a daughter of William O. and Louisa Dud- ley. To them have been born six children, namely: Anna Francis, born June 15, 1869, is at home; G. Emerson, born October 31, 1870, married Emma Snyder, by whom he has one child, Bernice, and they reside in Fenton; Charles Alfred, born June 6, 1873, is also a resident of Fenton; Jennie Ruth, born June 10, 1875, lives in Fenton township; Frederick D., born Febru- ary 19, 1880, died May 27, 1881; and Nellie O., born August 20, 1881, is at home. The family hold membership in the Baptist church of Erie and stand high in the com- munity where they reside. Socially Mr. Meighan affiliates with the Masonic order, and politically is identified with the Repub- lican party, but takes no active part in political affairs aside from voting.
H ENRY HEIN is one of the most es- teemed citizens of Rock Falls and for many years he was prominently identified with the agricultural and business interests of the county. At present he is not active- ly engaged in business, but a good judge of human nature will observe in his manner the reserve force which indicates both abil- ity and energy.
Mr. Hein was born in St. Louis, Missou- ri, April 21, 1859. His father, Frederick Hein, was a native of Germany, born in Holstein, in 1829, and there he was reared and learned the carpenter's trade. When a young man he crossed the Atlantic and
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settled in St. Louis, where he engaged in the furniture business for a few years. In that city he married Miss Amelia Feistle, a native of Saxony, Germany, and to them were born the following children: Freder- ick, a farmer of Dunlap, Iowa; Ilenry, our subject; William, a farmer of Dunlap, Harrison county, Iowa; and Matilda, wife of Frederick May, of Dunlap, Iowa. In 1859 the family came to Whiteside county, Illinois, and the father pur- chased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Montmorency township, to which he added until he had five hundred acres. After operating his farm for some years he rented it and moved to Sterling, where he bought a residence property and lived retired until his death. He died July 8, 1895, at the age of sixty-six years, but his wife is still living at the old homestead on Fourth avenue, Sterling, between Third and Fourth streets.
On the home farm Henry Hein passed his boyhood and youth, obtaining his edu- cation in the district schools of the neigh- borhood, and also acquiring an excellent knowledge of every department of farm work. On the 17th of October, 1882, he led to the marriage altar Miss Carolina Mit- ler, who was born, reared and educated in this county. Her father, William Miller, was one of the early settlers of Jordan town- ship, but who removed from that township to Montmorency township, where he lived twenty-two years. He is now living re- tired in Rock Falls. Our subject and his wife have two children, Le Roy J. and Harry W., who are attending the home schools.
After his marriage, Mr. Hein purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Montmorency township, and at different
times added to it until he had three hun- dred and twenty acres, which he placed under a high state of cultivation and sup- plied with all modern improvements. He erected thereon a good set of farm build- ings, including a pleasant residence, and in connection with the operation of his own land he cultivated rented tracts, the entire amount aggregating eight hundred acres. He was one of the most successful farmers and stock raisers of the county. He now rents his farm, which is well stocked with a good grade of horses, cattle and hogs, in which he owns a half interest. In 1893 he moved to Rock Falls, where he purchased a lot on Sixth avenue and erected a com- modious and pleasant residence in modern style of architecture-one of the best in the city. While living here he has engaged in the stock, hay and grain business, but is now practically living retired.
The Democratic party finds in Mr. Hein a stanch supporter of its principles, but at local elections he endeavors to vote for the best man, regardless of party lines. He has never sought or desired official honors, though he served as a member of the school board for some years. Religiously he and his wife are members of the English Lu- theran church of Sterling, and socially he belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge of Rock Falls, in which he has filled some of the chairs, and both he and his wife have taken the Rebekah degrees. Almost his entire life has been passed in this county, and he has proved a valued and useful citizen. He has championed every movement designed to promote the general welfare, has sup- ported every enterprise for the public good, and has materially aided in the advance- ment of all social, educational and moral interests.
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J AMES C. HUBBARD, deceased, through years of his identification with White- side county enjoyed the highest respect of his fellow citizens by reason of his strict in- tegrity and sterling worth. He was born in New York state, October 12, 1822, but in early life came to Whiteside county, Illinois, with his parents, with whom he re- mained until after their deaths. He then took up the carpenter's trade, at which he worked until his marriage.
On the 14th of October, 1853, Mr. Hub- bard married Miss Maria L. Putney, who was born in North Adams, Massachusetts, October 1834, a daughter of Arthyr and Lucinda Putney, and a granddaughter of Joseph and Jemima Putney. She was one of a family of three children, of whom one died in infancy, and the other, Louisa, died at the age of seven years. To our subject and his wife were also born three children, namely: Maria I .; Lula L., wife of Will- iam H. James, a farmer of Fenton town- ship; and James P., a farmer of Erie town- ship.
After his marriage, Mr. Hubbard turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, and successfully operated a fine farm of three hundred and ninety-seven acres in Erie township, which land had been entered from the government by Mrs. Hubbard's father and is now in her possession. Mr. Hub- bard did not confine his attention alone to farming, for at different times he was in- terested in a number of other enterprises. He built the steam gristmill now owned by Mr. Pierce and also built and conducted the creamery which he afterward sold to Mr. Mason. For a number of years he was also engaged in mercantile business in Erie, and in all his undertakings he met with fair suc- cess, being a man of good business ability
and sound judgment. Throughout the greater part of his life he was a supporter of the Democratic party, but during his last years voted the Prohibition ticket, and he was called upon to fill several local offices. He was a consistent and earnest member of the Baptist church and died in that faith, May 18, 1886. In the spring of 1893, Mrs. Hubbard removed to Erie, where she erected a good modern residence, and here sur- rounded by a large circle of friends and acquaintances she expects to spend her re- maining days.
R OBERT DAIL, a thrifty, well-to-do farmer, residing on section 15, Port- land township, Spring Hill, is a typical rep- resentative of the self-educated, and self- made, men of Whiteside county. A native of the Emerald Isle, he was born June 13, 1843, at Adengosh, Monaghan county, a son of Nathaniel and Jane (McNeil) Dail.
Nathaniel Dail spent his early life in Monaghan county, living there until after the birth of his three sons. In 1851, dis- posing of his farm, he emigrated with his family to the New World, hoping in this land of plenty to better his financial condi- tion. Boarding a sailing vessel, the Charles Chanler, at Liverpool, England, he was six weeks on the Atlantic before arriving at New Orleans, from whence he sailed up the river to Albany, Whiteside county. This journey was saddened by the death of his faithful wife at St. Louis. Coming directly to Portland township, he bought eighty acres of land on Spring Hill, on which he was actively engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death. His sons, all of them farm- ers in Portland township, are as follows: Nathaniel, who served in the late Civil war;
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Robert, the subject of this brief sketch; and John.
Robert Dail, a lad of scarce nine years when he came to this county, motherless, lived with an uncle for four or five years thereafter, and then began earning his own living in earnest, working by the month as a farm hand. A hard-working, industrious lad, prudent and economical, he saved his wages and in course of time bought forty acres of land from his father. The Civil war was then in progress, and on May 8, 1864, he enlisted for one hundred days in Company B, One Hundred and Fortieth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which started from Springfield to join the Army of the Tennessee, He did duty along the lines of the Memphis & Charleston Railway, guard- ing transportation for nearly six months after his term of enlistment expired, when, on October 19, 1864, he was honorably dis- charged from the service, in Chicago. Re- turning home, Mr. Dail resumed work on his small farm, and within two years had erected a snug little house in which he and his bride set up housekeeping, he being tired of boarding. From time to time he has added to his landed possessions, so that he now owns and operates one hundred and sixty acres of well-improved land, carrying on mixed husbandry with most gratifying results. The cozy house has been enlarged, and a substantial barn and good outbuild- ing erected; his farming implements are of the most approved pattern; and everything is in keeping with the appliances of a first- class agriculturist. For almost half a cen- tury he has lived in this town and county, and has ably assisted in the development of this fertile and productive agricultural re- gion; since his boyhood days the wild beasts have fled before the advancing steps of civ-
ilization; and the small hamlets that dotted this part of Illinois have grown into prosper- ous towns and villages under his observa- tion, a change that he has watched with pleasure, and while lending his aid to im- portant movements in that direction has at the same time been enabled to accumulate a modest competence for himself.
Mr. Dail was married, July 4, 1866, to Miss Elizabeth McNeill, who was born in Ireland, in 1844, and came to Illinois with her parents when a child. Seven children have been born of their union, as follows: Tremayne, who is married, lives at Walnut, Illinois; Bertha; Florence, wife of Edward Pomeroy. of Colona, Henry county, has one child, Lillian; Lillie; William, who is mar- ried, assists in the management of the home farm; and Robert Dail, Jr., whose wedded life has been saddened by the death of a son, Derwold I)., who lived but eighteen months. Politically Mr. Dail is a sound Republican, having been a supporter of its principles since casting his first presidential vote, in 1864, for Abraham Lincoln, He has never sought public office, preferring to devote his attention to his private interests, but he has served as a member of the school board several years.
E M. PECKHAM, an energetic and en- terprising farmer residing on section 24, Erie township, Whiteside county, Illi- nois, was born August 14, 1856, in Rome, Oneida county, New York, and is a son of William H. and Melvina M. (Miller) Peck- ham, also natives of New York, as was the grandfather, William Peckham. For some years the father was engaged in the lumber business in Rome, but his last days were spent at Vienna, New York, where he died
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December 20, 1882. The mother is still living and now makes her home in Syracuse, New York. Twelve children were born to them, namely: Achsah L., widow of C. H. Reed and a resident of Iowa; Emma, wife of Frank Baker, a carpenter of Taberg, New York; two who died in infancy; Will- iam C., a resident of Prophetstown, Illinois; Wells R., who died in the service of his country during the Civil war; Mary, who died in New York; George W., a resident of Taberg; Alfred, a harness maker of Erie township, Whiteside county; E. M., our subject; Frank, a worker in brass at Boston. Massachusetts; and Cora, wife of E. G. Halstead, a merchant of Syracuse, New York.
Mr. Peckham, whose name introduces this sketch, remained at home until his marriage with the exception of one year spent in the west. On his return to New York, he was married, November 22, 1882, to Miss Nettie M. Abel, a daughter of Will- iam P. and Maria Abel, of Vienna, New York, and by this union one child was born, Daisy R., who was born February 17, 1884, and is at present attending college in Fulton, Illinois.
For about two years after his marriage, Mr. Peckham remained in New York, en- gaging in farming, and in 1884 came to Whiteside county, Illinois, locating first in Prophetstown township where he rented a farm and remained there one year. He then purchased one hundred and one acres on section 24, Erie township, and its culti- vation and improvement he has since de- voted his energies. He has erected thereon a large modern residence, and has made many other improvements which add to the beauty and value of the place. He carries on general farming and stock raising, and
in his undertakings has met with well de- served success. In politics he is an ardent Republican, and he has held the office of highway commissioner, since the spring of 1887, and has been treasurer of the board for ten years. Fraternally he belongs to Rock River camp, No. 14, N. W. A., and of Acorn lodge, No. 317, K. P., of Erie, while religiously his estimable wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of that place.
A LLEN E. PARMENTER, junior mem- ber of the firm of Parmenter Brothers, general merchants of Lyndon, and the pres- ent supervisor from that town, is one of the most energetic, enterprising and successful business men of that part of the county. He is a native of Illinois, born in Rock Island county, December 20, 1853, and is a son of John G. Parmenter, who for many years successfully followed farming in that county, but spent the last fifteen years of his life in retirement from active labor. He was born in New York, December 14, 1831, and died in Lyndon, Illinois, in February, 1891, having come to this county in 1890. He married Harriet Waite, a native of In- diana, and now a resident of Lyndon. To them were born the following children: George H. and Allen E., who compose the firm of Parmenter Brothers; Sophia, who married A. M. Bruner and died in Nebraska; Frank B., who is district secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association at Rock Island, which position his father had previ- ously filled; and Charles W., who was serv- ing as postmaster of Lyndon at the time of his death, which occurred in January, 1893.
George H. Parmenter, the oldest son,
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was born in Rock Island county, March 30, 1852, and in the public schools of that county acquired his education. He remained at home until his marriage and followed agricultural pursuits until hisremoval to Lyn- don. In December, 1875, he married Miss Amanda J. DeBord, a native of Illinois and a daughter of Elijah and Susan (Collins) DeBord, who were born in Kentucky. She is one of a large family, of whom four others are still living, namely: Samuel and Will- iam, residents of Kirmhan, Shelby county, Iowa; John, who lives with his parents at Harlan, the same county; and Ann, wife of Gilbert Clark, of Randolph, lowa. Of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Permen- ter, one died in infancy, and the others are Drucilla, Elsie, Susie and Helen. In Octo- ber, 1882, he removed to Lyndon, and pur- chased an interest in the general store owned by his brother, Allen E. Parmenter, and his brother-in-law, A. M. Bruner. They car- ried on business at first under the firm name of Parmenter & Bruner, but since the with- drawal of Mr. Bruner the name has been changed to Parmenter Brothers. Prior to August, 1898, they owned two stocks of goods, but during that month the business was consolidated, and they now have the leading store of the kind in the place. They carry a large and complete assortment of dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, etc., in fact everything found in a first-class general store, and enjoy an excellent trade. They also own a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Rock Island county, and are exten- sively interested in the poultry business, dressing and shipping fowls to the city markets, and employing from twelve to fif- teen men in this way during the best sea- son. They also have a branch house in Reynolds, Illinois.
Allen E. Parmenter was also reared and educated in Rock Island county, and spent his early life under the parental roof. On coming to Whiteside county, in 1880, he embarked in mercantile business at Lyndon in partnership with Mr. Bruner as previous- ly stated, and has since been one of the leading business men of the place. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Smith, and to them have been born three children: Sophia, Hattie and Elbert.
Socially the brothers are members of the Modern Woodmen camp, No. 72, of Lyn- don, and the Mystic Workers of the World, No. 41, and politically are identified with the Republican party. George H. has served as school director three terins, and is now a member of the village board, in which he is serving on the finance commit- tee. In 1897, Allen .1. was elected super- visor and so acceptably did he fill that office, that he was re-elected two years later by a large majority, being the present incumbent in that office, the duties of which he has most capably discharged. He is chairman of the printing committee, and a member of the equalization and educational commit- tees.
W ILLIAM AUGUST HEIN, a prom- inent and successful farmer residing on section 20, Hahnaman township, is a na- tive of Illinois, born in Kendall county, February 15, 1857. His father, Jacob IIein, was born, reared and educated in Germany, and on his emigration to the new world in 184 , located in Kendall county, Illinois, where he married Christina Crumm, also a native of Germany, who came to this coun- try when a young lady. In 1859 they re- moved to Whiteside county, the father hav-
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ing previously purchased a farm on section 19, Hahnaman township, and to its cultiva- tion and improvement he devoted his ener- gies throughout the remainder of his active business life. He owned two hundred acres of very valuable and productive land, and upon that place he died in February, 1893. His first wife, who was the mother of our subject, died May 1, 1860, and he later married again.
Upon the home farm William A. Hein grew to manhood, and attended the district schools of the neighborhood. He continued to assist his father in the labors of the fields intil he attained his majority, and then rented a place with his brother Jacob, who now owns and operates the old home farm. Our subject has met with well-deserved suc- cess in his lifework and now owns a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres on sec- tion 20, Hahnaman township, upon which he has made many useful and valuable im- provements, in the way of buildings. He also owns forty acres in Tampico township, and is successfully engaged in general farm- ing and stock raising.
Mr. Hein was married in Tampico town- ship, March 31. 1892, to Miss Liva M. Cain, who was born in Bureau county, Illi- nois, but was reared and educated in White- side county. She is a graduate of the Tam- pico high school, and for five years prior to her marriage successfully engaged in teach- ing, the last year as teacher in the schools of Tampico. Her father was Eli Cain, a prominent farmer of this county. Our sub- ject and his wife have two children: Mary R. and Mason A.
Since casting his first presidential vote for James A. Garfield, Mr. Hein has been a stanch supporter of the Republican party, has served as a delegate to county conven-
tions of his party, and is now committee- man of his township. He has also filled the offices of township clerk and constable in a most commendable manner. Socially he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Masonic fraternity, and both he and his wife are connected with the Eastern Star and Royal Neighbors, while she also belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church of Tampico.
W ILLIAM D. SLAYMAKER, a promi- nent farmer residing on section 32. Garden Plains township, Whiteside coun- ty, Illinois, was born in Pennsylvania, Jan- uary 28, 1839, and is a son of James H. and Jane E. (McIlvain) Slaymaker, and a grand- son of Captain John Slaymaker. The father was also a native of the Keystone state, and there he engaged in hotel keep- ing throughout the greater part of his life. In his family were eight children, namely: John S., a farmer of Harvey county, Kansas; Thomas A., a hardware merchant of Pea- body, Kansas; R. M., a farmer living near that place; James H., deceased; William D., our subject; Anna M., also a resident of Peabody, Kansas; Elizabeth J., deceased; and Sarah J., who died in infancy.
In his native state William D. Slaymak- er passed his early life. On first coming to Whiteside county, Illinois, in 1851, he located in Newton township, where he made his home for some time. He was married, March 3, 1870, to Miss Martha A. Curry, who was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, December 18, 1845, a daugh- ter of Joseph and Anna Curry, farming peo- ple. By this union five children were born, as follows: John C., a farmer of Garden Plains township; William M., who is now
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with his parents, but intends, in the spring of 1900, to move to Iowa, where he has pur- chased a farm; and Alvin B., Samuel L. and Lizzie Jane, all at home.
After his marriage, Mr. Slaymakerlocat- ed on a farm of eighty-two acres in Garden Plains township, and after residing there for twelve years traded the place for his present fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres on section 32, the same township. Here he is now successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising; also keeps fifteen milch cows for dairy purposes; and devotes considerable attention to the raising of poultry. He is an enterprising and ener- getic fariner and the success that has come to him is certainly well-merited. In his po- litical views he is a Democrat, and he has been called upon to fill the office of school director. Socially, he holds membership in the Modern Woodmen camp at Albany, and religiously both he and his wife are earnest and consistent members of the Presbyterian church of Newton township.
H ENRY E. JENKS, an agriculturist of energy and ability, residing on section 7, Fenton township, where he owns and operates eighty acres of highly cultivated land, was born in Essex county, New York, May 18, 1844, a son of Warren and Free- love (Potter) Jenks. The father was born in New York, February 7, 1805, a son of Edmund and Sarah Jenks and grandson of James Jenks. His parents were natives of Vermont, and in 1804 moved from that state to New York. By occupation Ed- mund Jenks was a farmer. Our subject's father remained in the Empire state until 1854, which year witnessed his arrival in Whiteside county, Illinois. He purchased the 30
farin of eighty acres on section 7, Fenton township, where our subject now resides, and throughout his active business life fol- lowed farming. He is still living at the ad- vanced age of ninety-four years, is hale and hearty and possesses an excellent memory. On the 21st of October, 1830, he married Miss Freelove Potter, who was born in Rhode Island, May 12, 1806, a daughter of Anthony Potter, and died February 28, 1886. To them were born six children, namely: Merrill, Austin, Martin, Martha, George and Henry. Of these Merrill and George died in infancy; Martha died at the age of eighteen years; and the others are , still living.
Henry E. Jenks, our subject, was reared on the home farm and educated in the district schools of the neighborhood. He never left the parental roof and since reach- ing manhood has engaged in the operation of the home farm, his entire time and at- tention being devoted to general farming.
On the 4th of July, 1867, Mr. Jenks led to the marriage altar Miss Elizabeth Norton, who was born in Huntingshire, England, December 28, 1843, and in November, 1851, came to the United States with her parents, John and Sarah Norton. Her mother was taken ill while crossing the Atlantic, and died in New York city, No- vember 12, 1851. From New York, the family proceeded to Cincinnati, Ohio, where they made their home for three years. There her father married Miss Ellen Dobson. In 1854, with his family, he came to White- side county, Illinois, and located in Union Grove township, where his death occurred May 27, 1870. In that township, Mrs. Jenks grew to womanhood, receiving her education in the district schools. At the age of sixteen, she commenced teaching.
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and taught the first school that was organ- ized in the Bunker Hill district, in Union Grove township. She afterwards attended the high school in Fulton, Illinois, and taught six years in the schools of Fenton and Newton townships.
To Mr. and Mrs. Jenks have been born seven children, namely: Sarah Martha, born May 25, 1869, is now the wife of W. H. Davis, of Oregon; Jennie Edith, born April 11, 1872, is engaged in teaching school in Newton township, this county, and resides at home; Lauretta E., born August 7, 1877, and Mary Inez, born August
29, 1880, are attending school in Wheaton, Illinois; Charles E., born February 13, 1883, died January 14, 1885; Herman H., born October 31, 1884, and Ira J., born Decem- ber 6, 1886, are both at home.
Formerly Mr. Jenks affiliated with the Republican party, but being a strong tem- perance man he now supports the Prohi- bition party, and does all in his power to advance the moral and material welfare of his township and county. He and his wife are consistent and faithful members of the United Brethren church, and take an active part in all church work.
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