USA > Illinois > The makers of Illinois; a memorial history of the state's honored dead > Part 19
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Mrs. Humiston was always the active associate of her husband, interested in what he was accomplishing, her zeal and interest proving, at least in part, his inspiration. She was born in Litchfield, Con- necticut, was liberally educated in one of the good schools of the east, and has ever been deeply interested in things intellectual. One biographer has said of her: "Her whole life has responded to ad- vantages for the cultivation of heart and intellect and she is one of the rarest exponents of well directed and practical philanthropy. The proper use of wealth has been one of her profoundest considera- tions and the extent of her benefactions probably never will be known save by those who have directly profited by them. For the grounds and building of the Young Men's Christian Association she donated upwards of twenty-six thousand dollars (and has promised five hun- dred dollars for the current year) and she also gave a property to be used as an Episcopal rectory. It is doubtful if any wise appeal for her interest and practical cooperation goes unheeded and she is well
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beloved for her timely assistance in the case of young people handi- capped in their ambitions by poverty or other limitations. It would seem that love for humankind is the dominant note in her personal- ity and this she exhales in her individual deeds and her every day of life."
Mr. Humiston was a prominent member of Odell Lodge, F. & A. M., and in his life exemplified its benefieent and helpful spirit. His politieal allegianee was given to the democratic party but he had little or no desire for the honors and emoluments of office. His fel- low townsmen, recognizing his ability, called him to the position of alderman and he discharged his duties with promptness and fidelity. He was always greatly interested in educational, material, political and moral progress in his community and his support of any measure was a factor in its promotion. He attended the Episcopal church and gave to the support of that and other moral ageneies. He died on November 15, 1883.
His entire life history proves conelusively what may be aeeom- plished when one has the will to dare and to do. An old Greek philos- opher living eenturies ago said: "Earn thy reward, the gods give naught to sloth." The truth of this admonition finds verifieation to- day just as it did before the Christian era. Industry is the source of all honorable sueeess and this faet, recognized by Mr. Humiston, eaused him to put forth determined and persistent effort so that he overeame all difficulties and obstaeles in his path and worked his way steadily upward. He was charitably inelined and as he prospered gave generously of his means in assisting the poor and needy. The story of many good deeds is told to his eredit, showing that his life reached out in kindly sympathy and helpfulness to those less for- tunate. He is yet remembered by many of the older eitizens of his loeality, all of whom speak of him in those terms which eharaeterize the life of an honorable, upright man.
Sinee the death of her husband Mrs. Humiston has resided eon- tinuously in Pontiac and has valuable property interests in this part of the state and in other parts of the country. She still owns a see- tion of land in Canada, a seetion and a half in Iowa, one hundred and twenty aeres in Minnesota and property at Eldorado Springs, Missouri, three-quarters of a seetion in Indiana and about twenty- five hundred aeres in Livingston eounty. Mrs. Humiston manages this vast estate herself, being a lady of exeeptional business ability, enterprise and sound judgment. She has been a generous assistant of many of the publie facilities and enterprises of Pontiac and is considered one of the most charitable of its residents. In addition to
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her extensive property holdings she also owns bank stock and stock in the shoe factories in Pontiac. She also owns some valuable mining stock and her powers are fully adequate to the control of her business affairs.
George L. Kern
F OR many years George L. Kern was a grocer of Dwight and his investments in property there made him one of the most substantial residents of the city. There were no spectacular chapters in his life history, but the sub- stantial qualities of industry, determination and hon- esty were strongly manifest. Illinois numbered him among her native sons, for his birth occurred in Ottawa, La Salle county, December 31, 1860. His father, Michael Kern, was a native of Baden Baden, Germany, and the mother, Mrs. Sophia Kern, was also born in that country. The former learned and followed the shoe- maker's trade in early life and afterward engaged in the grocery business in Dwight. He came to America in early manhood, settling in Ottawa, but afterward removed to Dwight, where he died about the year 1899. His widow is still a resident of that city.
George L. Kern was the second in a family of twelve children and was quite young at the time of the removal of the family to Dwight, so that his education was acquired there. In his youthful days he became his father's assistant in the store and was thus em- ployed until eighteen years of age, when he formed a partnership with another young man and established a grocery business on his own account. This relation was continued until 1884, when Mr. Kern pur- chased his partner's interest, remaining in active connection with the grocery trade until 1904. In the meantime he had become interested in the grain trade and became the owner of an elevator in 1900. Four years later he disposed of his grocery store and concentrated his ener- gies upon the elevator business, in which he remained until 1910. He then sold the business, rented tlie elevator and again entered merean- tile circles as a grocer, conducting his store with growing and gratify- ing success to the time of his death, which occurred on the 12th of February, 1912. As he prospered in his undertakings he made judi- cious investments in real estate, becoming an extensive owner of city property in Dwight and also of Minnesota farm lands. In business matters his judgment was sound, his insight keen and his enterprise unfaltering, and the methods he employed in the attainment of success were such as would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny.
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On the 29th of January, 1883, Mr. Kern was united in marriage to Miss Catherine Muenster, who was born in Streator, Illinois, on the 12th of May, 1863, a daughter of Nicholas and Anna Elizabeth (Blockard) Muenster, the former a native of Baden Baden and the latter of Hessen, Germany. The father made farming his life work. Coming to America at an early age, he settled on a farm near Streator, Illinois, where he continued to make his home until his death, which occurred in 1894. His widow survived him for about sixteen years, passing away in 1910, having in the meantime lived with a daughter in Streator. While in Germany Mr. Muenster had served in the regular army. Mrs. Kern was the elder of their two children and by her mar- riage became the mother of three sons. George M. N., born October 12, 1883, married Helen Coleman and became his father's successor in the grocery business in Dwight. Henry W., born October 30, 1885, is a practicing physician of Kankakee. Arthur P., born October 1, 1888, is engaged in clerking in his brother's grocery store.
Mr. Kern held membership in the Lutheran church and was inter- ested in its growth and welfare. His early political allegiance was given to the democratic party but a change in his political views led him later to support the republican party. He served on the town board as alderman for the second ward for one term but was never a politician in the sense of office seeking. He held membership with the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America but more than all else was devoted to his home and family, finding his greatest happiness in promoting the welfare and interests of his wife and chil- dren. He also delighted to dispense the hospitality of his own home to his friends, who found him a genial, courteous host. He enjoyed an unassailable reputation in the business circles of his town and death called one of the leading and substantial citizens of Dwight when George L. Kern passed away in 1912.
Christopher TOI. Sterry
F OR forty-four years Christopher W. Sterry was a resi- dent of Livingston eounty, arriving in 1857, and through an extended period was connected with agri- eultural interests, but his last days were spent in retirement from business eares in Pontiae. He was a native of the state of Maine, his birth having oeeur- red near Stark, August 12, 1826, his parents being Samuel and Han- nah (Harding) Sterry. The father was also born in Maine, while the mother's birth occurred near Cape Cod. He made farming his life work and always remained a resident of New England.
In his youthful days Christopher W. Sterry was a pupil in the dis- triet schools of the Pine Tree State. He was the youngest of a large family and was but eleven months old at the time of his father's death. When a little lad of eight years he went to live with a family by whom he was illy treated, so that after a few years he left there and sought employment in a woolen mill at Lowell, Massachusetts. The year 1852 witnessed his arrival in the middle west, at which time he made his way to Chieago, where he engaged in the eoal business. In 1857, how- ever, he took up his abode upon a farm in Essman township, Living- ston eounty, and continued to make his home in that township until he retired from agricultural life. Prospering in his undertakings, he be- eame the owner of two hundred and sixty aeres of valuable farm land, which is still in possession of his widow. Year by year he tilled the soil and brought the fields under a high state of eultivation, so that good erops were harvested and the farm beeame a profitable investment. In 1886 Mr. Sterry removed to Pontiae owing to the death of a brother who had passed away in New Orleans and had made him heir to his estate, this necessitating Mr. Sterry giving most of his time to the care of the estate. He was thus engaged until his death, which oeeurred on the 8th of January, 1901. While his early youth was fraught with toil, privations and hardships, in his later years he enjoyed prosperity with all that it means in the way of providing comforts and freedom from eare and worry.
On the 8th of October, 1861, Mr. Sterry was united in marriage to Miss Mary C. Ross, who was born near Springfield, in Clark county, Ohio, February 12, 1836, a daughter of John and Catharine ( Kaiser)
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Ross, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Pennsylvania. The father, who was a lifelong farmer, removed to Ohio when a young man and in 1851 came to Illinois, settling in Sangamon county, near Springfield, where he made his home upon a farm until the time of his death in 1865. The mother passed away about 1862. Mr. Ross had been a soldier of the War of 1812 and was one of the few veterans of that struggle living in Illinois. Mrs. Sterry was the third in order of birth in the family of eight children of the father's second marriage, and her education was acquired in the public schools of Ohio. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sterry were born six children: Eliza, now the wife of Dr. C. H. Long, of Pontiac; John, who passed away in 1881; Hattie, also deceased; Mary Elizabeth, the wife of E. M. Kirkpatrick, a real- estate dealer of Palmer, Idaho; Josephine, deceased; and Jessie, the wife of C. B. Hurtt, who is engaged in the real-estate business in Port- land, Oregon.
Mr. Sterry was devoted to his home and was a man who in every relation of life commanded and merited the confidence and respect of those with whom he came in contact. His early political support was given to the republican party but later his pronounced views on the temperance question led him to give his allegiance to the prohibition party. He held some local township offices while residing upon the farm and at all times was loyal to the best interests of the community. His life principles had their root in his Christian faith and he was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He was never known to take advantage of another in business affairs, was always honorable and straightforward and left an untarnished name coupled with the memory of good deeds.
William D. San Epps
H IGH on the roll of Dixon's honored citizens appears the name of William H. Van Epps, whose influ- ence was always a beneficial factor in shaping the history of the city and promoting its progress along those lines which contribute most to the upbuild- ing of the race. He was born in Schenectady, New York, April 12, 1812, and came of a family of Dutch ancestry, repre- sentatives of the name erossing the Atlantic from Amsterdam, Hol- land, and settling in New York city at an early period in the history of the United States. Subsequently a removal was made to Genesee county, New York, by John A. and Deborah (Houseman) Van Epps, parents of William H. Van Epps. The father was a soldier in the War of 1812, serving with the rank of captain. He afterward removed to Genesee county, where he died in 1816, and in 1829 his widow removed to Monroe county, New York. It was in Genesee county that Mr. William H. Van Epps now pursued his education, supplementing a publie school course by study in an academy. At a later date he became a student in the Middleburg Academy of Wyoming county, New York. He made his initial step in the busi- ness world as a elerk in a store, and in 1837 he bought a stoek of goods which he brought to Illinois, opening a general store in Ful- ton county. He likewise invested in land and became the owner of a flour mill in this state. In 1848 he returned to New York, and was also in the dry-goods business a short time in Cleveland, Ohio, but in 1854 he again eame to Illinois, settling in Dixon. In the meantime he had purchased an interest in a mill at Crawfordsville, Indiana. In Dixon he entered commercial cireles, establishing a dry-goods store which he conducted until the time of his death. He made this one of the leading mereantile establishments of the city and enjoyed a large trade during his early connection with the business activities in Dixon. He also purchased large traets of land of the Illinois Cen- tral Railroad and devoted much of his time to farming, which he found a profitable source of income and laid out and established the town of Morrison, Illinois. His labors were both directly and indi- rectly a factor in the upbuilding and progress of his eity and county,
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and his cooperation could at all times be counted upon to further any movement for the general good.
Mr. Van Epps was twice married. He wedded Charlotte R. Churchill and their only surviving child is William H. Van Epps, Jr., of Dixon. After his first wife's death he married Mary A. Peck and their only surviving child is Mrs. George Steele.
Mr. Van Epps died October 8, 1877, at the age of sixty-five years, closing a life of marked usefulness and activity and within that period he accomplished much more than many a man whose age extends beyond that of the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten. He was identified with many public improvements to city, county and state. In 1856 he became a member of the State Agricul- tural Board and in 1860 was elected its president, so serving for four years. He was recognized as an authority upon agricultural matters throughout the state. He served as president of the Lee County Agricultural Society and in that connection did much to stimulate progress along agricultural and mechanical lines through the hold- ing of annual fairs that were known as the Farmers and Mechanics Festival. Later, when he became president of the Illinois State Fair he appealed to the pride of his fellow citizens in making this a great agricultural state and delivered a notable address, in which he said:
"Look over the scenes presented right here, at these elegant fair grounds, modeled from a thicket within eighteen months; at these hill-sides, covered over with machinery and every available place filled with some choice product of taste or skill; at these tens of thousands of farmers and artizans with their families assembled to spend a week in learning new lessons of life, to exchange thoughts and courtesies, and, I trust, to pledge themselves anew to the maintenance of those principles of government, and true democratic social conditions, which, under the smiles of Providence have enabled us to realize all these blessings, and then reflect that all this has been nursed and brought to pass in the fourth year of a civil war !- and that Illinois has furn- ished to the Union armies about one hundred and eighty thousand able-bodied sons, or one-tenth of her entire population in 1860! Where, but in free America, in the Great West, and, shall I say, in the Prairie state, need we look for a parallel?
"On the 5th day of January, 1853, the society holding this exhibi- tion was born. Its parentage is most worthy, and many, if not most of the large-hearted, clear-headed gentlemen who officiated and con- ducted the ceremonies on that occasion have been kindly dealt with and are now present with us.
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"Its career, though not yet in its 'teens,' has, there is reason to believe, been one of inealeulable usefulness and its efforts, in conjune- tion with the State Horticultural and other kindred associations, have kept paee with and in a large degree promoted the miraculous growth and development of the state itself. Whether all has been aceom- plished that might have been, it is not necessary to diseuss.
"Its history is of reeord down to the elose of 1860-as well in published volumes as in the unpublished traees of agricultural and meehanieal improvement all over the state.
"More from indifferenee, almost as eulpable as downright oppo- sition, on the part of the Legislature, than from any other eause, the resolution to print the fifth biennial volume of Transactions, failed to pass the senate, having previously passed the house of representa- tives, and henee the material of great value remains in the hands of the corresponding seeretary.
"No such misfortune is likely again to oeeur, and there is no rea- son to doubt that the neeessary legislation will be had at an early day of the next session.
"I shall not attempt to even enumerate the speeial efforts of the executive board to meet the responsibilities which have rested upon them during the past four years, but will barely refer to some of them.
"It will be remembered that the condition of the country ehanged from peaee to war in the spring of 1861. Large armies were mar- shalled and thoughtful and wise men supposed that all branches of industry and especially agriculture, from whose fields the soldiers of the Union must eome, would be paralyzed, and that the old histori- eal companion of eivil strife-famine-would soon be felt in the land. The question of food supply beeame at onee the most impor- tant, and aeeepting the responsibility of their position, the board immediately direeted the machinery of the society to stimulating the invention of labor-saving farm implements. The amount theretofore offered in premiums in the mechanical department was more than trebled, and those who saw it will long remember the display of imple- ments and machinery at the fair of that year in Chicago as far more extensive than any of its predecessors.
"In the following year, at Dixon, was held a field trial of har- vesting machinery, pronouneed by competent judges more complete in its eonduet and arrangements than any before that time held in the United States. The list of competitors was large, and of the results we may speak without boasting. Those implements, eovering yon beautiful slope, are, in many of their best and most important deviees, so many fruits of that exhibition, elaborated and brought to perfee-
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tion by the intelligence, ingenuity and enterprise of their worthy inventors.
"In 1863, at this city, the board held another field trial, confined chiefly to instruments used in the preparation of the soil and the after-culture of crops-not less successful nor less decisive in its results than the former. Nearly everything presented for trial was new. On some of the implements the paint of the shop was scarcely dry before they were wheeled into line for competition, while very few were more than one or two years old even in the brains of their inventors. Mark the revolution which has followed their introduc- tion: What required two able-bodied men, at the cost of much muscu- lar exertion, to perform three years since may now be done and has been done the past summer, attended with no physical exertion save that of riding or driving a team by a boy of fifteen or an old man of .. sixty-thus vastly lessening the drudgery of farm life and corres- pondingly reducing the cost of production. This is but one of the many triumphs of similar character witnessed on our smooth prairie fields within a very brief period.
"One of the most significant facts as illustrating the importance attached by our inventors to the improvements designed to save manual labor in the field is stated in the preliminary report of the United States patent office for 1863. Of inventions during that year, in fire-arms, there were two hundred and forty; in improvement of implements of agriculture four hundred and ninety, or more than double-and this, too, in time of war!
"All honor, then, to our noble inventors and mechanics who are thus benefiting their fellowmen and weaving bright chaplets on the brow of American genius."
He afterward spoke of what had been accomplished in the pro- duction and invention of farm machinery-the labor-saving devices which met the public need when a great percentage of the farmers had gone to the front at the time of the Civil war. Continuing on this line of thought he said:
"But the most cheering and important view of this saving of labor has not been adverted to. How many hours of toil will it save to the industrial classes to be applied to the culture of the mental and social faculties? and from how much exhaustive labor, unfitting them for the exercise of their better natures, will it relieve them? The whole sub- ject of education is invested with tenfold more interest, and those whose sympathies are enlisted in it may now work with far more cer- tainty of realizing an early fruition of their hopes.
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"Contemplated from this standpoint, the recent munificent grant of publie lands by congress to the several states for the 'endowment, support and maintenance of at least one college where the leading objeet shall be * * * to teach such branches of learning as are related to agriculture and the mechanical arts'; assumes a new beauty and more impressive meaning. Educate all and then all who work with their hands will know also how to work with their brains. This is the true American view of the question-the accepted crecd, being rapidly reduced to practice."
Mr. Van Epps gave his political allegianec to the democratic party and was a recognized leader in its ranks during the middle of the nineteenth century, as is indicated by the fact that he was unanim- ously nominated for lieutenant governor on the democratie tieket in 1868. He was a member of the Illinois branch of the Centennial board of finance and at all times he was allied with the movements look- ing to the betterment of the state along material, politieal, social, intellectual and moral lines. When he passed away the Illinois State Board of Agriculture drew up a series of resolutions in which he was spoken of as one of the wisest counsellors and valucd associates of the board, and as a most active, enterprising and esteemed citizen of the state. Although many years have come and gone sinee he was called from this life, his memory is yet revered and honored by those who knew him, and no student of history can carry his investi- gations far into the records of Illinois without learning of the impor- tant part which Mr. Van Epps played in directing publie affairs and moulding publie poliey.
Jeremiah R. Dady
OR many years Waukegan honored Jeremiah R. Dady F as one of its leading citizens and substantial business men, a position to which he attained through his ear- nest, persistent efforts. He started out empty- handed and gradually worked his way upward, having the satisfaction of knowing that what he possessed he had justly earned. There were many traits in his life worthy of praise, for he was ever mindful of his duties and obligations to others and he held to high principles. He was born in Libertyville township, Lake county, January 22, 1844, and therefore laeked but a few days of being sixty-five years of age when he passed away on the 14th of January, 1909. His parents were Owen and Margaret (Conners) Dady, both of whom were natives of County Kerry, Ireland, whenee they came to the United States in early life, settling in Massachusetts, where they were afterward married in 1838. It was about 1841 or 1842 that they took up their abode in Libertyville township, Lake county, Illinois, where their remaining days were passed. Both were consistent mem- bers of the Catholie ehureh. They had five children, of whom Jeremiah R. was the third in order of birth.
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