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BOVEY, JOHN F. For the past thirty-eight years John F. Bovey has occupied the same farm in Grand Detour Township, and the result of his labor is a property of eighty acres, well equipped with modern agricultural appliances, having a comfortable home and excellent general improvements. Mr. Bovey is a man of quiet ambitions and thrifty habits and what he has is the result of patient toil and the ability to live within a modest income. His experiences has been enriched also by five years of mercantile life in Woosung, this State, but he is a natural farmer, and the fresh air and outdoor exercise of the country have made a persistent appeal to his peace-loving nature. The oldest of a family of ten children, Mr. Bovey was born January 4, 1837 in Washington County, Maryland, coming with his parents to Ogle County in boyhood and was there reared on the farm in Pine Creek Township, taken up from the Government by his father. Quite early in life the chief burdens of the home place fell largely upon his shoulders. On January 12, 1860, he was married to Martha Dunlap, a native of Pennsylvania, and daughter of Isaac Dunlap. Of this union there were three children: Nettie, the deceased wife of George Engle of Dixon Illinois; Elmer who died in Grand Detour Township in 1884; and Charles. Mrs. Bovey died on March 18, 1881, and on April 11th 1882, Mr. Bovey married Emma Yates, born in Grand Detour Township September 9, 1855, a daughter of George and Adilla M. (Crane) Yates, natives of Maryland and Ohio, respectively. There is one child of this union, Frank W. Until 1875 Mr. Bovey continued to live on the old Bovey homestead in Pine Creek Township, and then came to his present farm. For a short period he was engaged in merchadising, but otherwise his entire time has been devoted to farming. In both Pine Creek and Grand Detour Townships he has been prominent in politics, and has served as Justice of the Peace, Tax Collector, and Assessor, and invariably has promoted the well being of the people who have honored him with their votes. He is a liberal minded and progressive man, a consistent member of the Christian Church, and is widely known for his integrity, fairness and general dependability. BOVEY,
LEWIS
Many of the enterprising and successful farmers of this county, sons of early pioneers, were born in the townships in which they are at present residing, and have passed their lives in aiding to develop the county. Of the number referred to, the gentleman of whom we write, is one, having been born in Maryland Township, May 3, 1843. The father of Mr. Bovey, Michael Bovey, is one of the very earliest pioneers of Ogle County. He was born near Clear Springs, Washington County, Maryland, on Nov. 15, 1815. His father was a farmer, and he was brought up to the same calling on the parental homestead, where he continued to reside until he had attained his majority. On becoming his own man, he concluded that to succeed in life it were better to have good counsel, and the first thing he did was to look around for a companion whom he found and married, but who was taken from him in a few years. In 1837, becoming imbued with Western fever and hoping to better his financial condition in the growing west , he, in company with the Hitt Colony, came to this county, making the entire trip overland. Having met with misfortune in the loss of his wife, and consequently being a single man with no family to support, he engaged in working for a gentleman by the name of Swingley. Soon, however, he took up a claim of Government land on section 35, in what is now Maryland Township, and section 2, in what is now Lincoln Township. He built a small frame house on section 35, and as opportunity permitted, improved his land. Concluding that a single life upon the farm was not a pleasant one, and that prosperity that he should have a companion he was not long in selecting Miss Margaret Welch, as the lady with whom he wished to share his successes, and they were married. She was a native of Emerald Isle, and on coming to the United States, settled in Baltimore, whence she also came to this county with the Hitt Colony. Soon after marriage the couple settled on section 35. Mr. Bovey and his wife continued to reside on this land, bravely bearing all the trials incident to the opening up of a farm on the prairies, until 1873. At that time he had considerable improved his place and enhanced its value, when he sold it and has since made his home with his children. His wife died April 30, 1880, leaving four children, the record of whom is as follows: Samuel is a sturdy tiller of the soil and resides in Lincoln Township; Mary C. is the wife of David Petrie, who lives in Black Hawk Co., Iowa; Elizabeth became the wife of Josiah Avery, a farmer of Mt. Morris Township. Mr. Bovey is the third child in the order of his parents' family. He grew to manhood in his native township and was brought up in the calling of a farmer. March 1, 1865, he enlisted Company F 15th Illinois Vol. Inf., and first bivouacked in North Carolina, where he remained until the close of the war, and from whence he went to Washington, and participated in the Grand Review. He was afterward sent to Leavenworth, Kas., and received his final discharge at Springfield, this state, September 16, 1865 when he returned home. The marriage of Mr. Bovey took place Jan. 30, 1868, at which time Miss Lydia Myers, a native of Mt. Morris Township, became his wife. She was a daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Myers, pioneers of this county. After his marriage, Mr. Bovey resided on section 34, Maryland Township, and there lived five years, when he removed to the farm he now owns and occupies. He has erected good buildings on his place, set out fruit, shade and ornamental trees, and brought the land under a good state of cultivation. He and his wife have one child whom they have named Addie. In politics, Mr. Bovey votes with the Democratic party. HOLLY, DAVID A. David A. Holly, deceased, for many years engaged in farming in Lee County, was born in Paradise township, York county, Pennsylvania, in 1804. His parents were Jesse and Anna (Sherer) Holly. Mr. Holly removed, when a young man, to Ohio and engaged in farming there until 1835, at which time he removed to Franklin Grove, in Lee County, where he remained for ten years. He then came to Palmyra and purchased 720 acres of land in that township, of Smith Gilbraith, a considerable portion of which he retained and continued to reside upon until his death, in June 1875. He was married in Knox County, Ohio, January 1, 1830, to Miss Eva Hoke, who survives him. There are also seven children living, the eldest of whom is William D.F. Holly, born in Belleville, Richland County, Ohio, September 1, 1834 and now a resident of Iowa; Amos H. Holly, born in Lee County, April 9, 1836, now living in California; Cornelia A. Holly, born in Lee County on the 12th of February 1840, and married to Frank Biddle, also residing in Iowa; David C. Holly, born in Lee County, January 1, 1843, who intends to remove to Iowa within a short time; George W. Holly, born in April 1845, and James F. Holly, born in June 1851, have also resided in Iowa several years; Emily Holly, born in Lee County in August 1849, and married to Orville Fort, lives in Iowa. Extracted
from 1892 Portrait & Biographical Record of Lee
County, Illinois, p. 300-302) Warren De F. Holly, who represents the dairy interests of Palmyra Township, he being extensively engaged in that line, as well as in general farming and stock-raising, is a native born son of Lee County, coming of one of its oldest pioneer families, and the homestead that he operates and occupies on section 36, of the aforementioned township is his birthplace. Here he was born June 22, 1849, and this has always been his home. He attended the local schools during his boyhood and gained a practical education, and since arriving at years of discretion has devoted himself to farming and the dairy business, for which the farm is in every way admirably adapted. its two hundred acres of well-tilled soil affords ample pasturage for a fine herd of forty cows, the farm also being otherwise well stocked, and its equipments are complete as regards commodious buildings, etc. Our subject is a son of the venerable James N. Holly, a retired farmer of this township, whose name will always occupy an honorable place in the history of Lee County as one of its early settlers who did a good work in redeeming a portion of its soil from the wilderness. He was born in the Province of Ontario, Canada, September 15, 1806. His father, Jesse Holly, who was a son of Noah Holly, was a native of Orange County, N. Y., where he grew to manhood, and was married to Miss Anna E. DeSharrar, who is supposed to have been a native of York State. Jesse Holly and his wife went to the Province of Ontario, Canada, to live, and after the birth of their children returned to the States, and took up their residence in Illinois, spending their remaining days amid the pioneer scenes of Franklin Grove in this township, where Mrs. Holly died when about sixty years of age, and Jesse Holly when past ninety-six, leaving behind them good records as two of our most worthy pioneers. James N. Holly grew to manhood in his Canadian birthplace and subsequently crossed the border to this country and settled among the pioneers of Ohio. He was married in that State to Miss Sophronia Harrison, their marriage taking place near Bellville. She was a native of Ohio, and was a daughter of Norman and Deliverance (Standish) Harrison, who were also born in that State, coming of some of its earliest families, and they were of distinguished ancestry, Norman Harrison belonging to the Harrison family that has figured so conspicuously in the history of this country, he being a cousin of General William Henry Harrison, the President and grandfather of our present ruler; while his wife was a direct descendant of Captain Miles Standish, one of the Pilgrim fathers. Norman Harrison and wife left Ohio several years after their marriage after going to Clinton County, Iowa, died there when full of years. They were farmers by occupation, and were well and favorably known. The parents of our subject lived on a farm in Ohio until after the birth of their first two children, and then they came across the intervening country with wagon and teams to Illinois. They located on a settler's claim in Franklin Grove, Mrs. Holly being the first white woman to live there, and her brother Charles Harrison took the first claim that was taken in that grove or in that region for a distance of many miles. They made some slight improvements, but two years later sold their claim and moved still further Westward, crossing the Mississippi, and taking up a claim on the west bank of that river on the site of the present city of Clinton, Iowa. Mr. Holly, with a man by the name of Murray, and possibly one or two others, laid out a town on his claim, and gave it the name of New York. The town, however, never materialized to any great extent, as during the two years that the Hollys remained there its population never exceeded fifteen whites. The Indians, who were generally peaceable, were numerous in that region, ranging up and down the river at will, and occasionally gave our friends a call. One fall night they were roused from their slumbers by some fifteen of these dusky visitants creeping under the quilts which served as a door to their primitive dwelling and arranging themselves comfortably around the fire in the rude fireplace. After some two years residence in Iowa, the father of our subject decided to return to his former settlement at Franklin Grove, and locate in this county permanently. After a time he came into Palmyra Township, and secured a desirable tract of land from the government, which has since been transformed into the fine farm which is now owned by his son. After living on it to make a home, he went to Dixon to keep a hotel, but was very unfortunate in that venture, as the very first night that the establishment was opened it was burned to the ground. About this time he also lost heavily by having to pay a bail bond, which amounted to $1,000 for his share, for the land office agent at this point. He afterward devoted himself exclusively to farming with good success until the infirmities of age obliged him to abandon the arduous labors connected with his calling. September 15, 1891, was his birthday, and marked for him a long and honorable life of eighty-five years duration, and during that time he had witnessed the wonderful progress of the country at large, which has been made through discoveries and inventions that have revolutionized the world; he had been an eye-witness of that which more nearly concerns, him, the remarkable growth of this county, which he has aided by his work, and which has been his home for so many years. He was formerly a Republican in politics, but later a Democrat. His first vote was cast for his kinsman, Gen. William H. Harrison, and he also supported Stephen A. Douglas at the polls, he having been his schoolmate in his boyhood days. His wife is yet living, and is nearly eighty-three years old, having been born February 15, 1809. Both have long been connected with the Christian Church. James N. Holly died September 16, 1891. Warren Holly is one of eight children, the youngest son, and the youngest but one of the family, three of whom are now dead. He was married in this, his native township, to Miss Mary Catherine Carpenter. One daughter, Belle A., a bright and accomplished young lady, completes their pleasant home circle. Two other children have been born to them who are now dead, James E., and a child who died in infancy. Mrs. Holly is a native of Bradford County, Pa., born October 4, 1850, and one of the three daughters, all of whom are living, of Edward and Eliza (Goodwin) Carpenter. Her parents were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and New York, and were married in the former State. Mr. Carpenter was a carpenter by trade, and carried on his calling in Pennsylvania until after the birth of his children, when he emigrated with his family to Dixon, in this county, in 1854. He pursued carpentering in that city until his death in 1864 when only forty-two years old, he having in the meantime spent six years in Minnesota. His wife died January 16, 1890, aged sixty-four years. Both were consistent christians of the Methodist persuasion. In polities, Mr. Carpenter was a Republican. Mr. Holly and his amiable wife are progressive people, who occupy a high place in their community where they are so well known, and their cordial, unaffected, hospitable manners have won them the warm regard of all with whom they associate. Mr. Holly is a Republican, and as a loyal citizen should, has always manifested a keen interest in his native township, and has done all in his power to promote its welfare. He has held the office of Township Collector, and performed the duties thus devolving upon him to the entire satisfaction of all concerned. JOHNSON, DANIEL Trestle P.O., a prominent dairlyman and stock raiser of Chenango County, Guilford township, is a son of Seth and Jerusha (Root) Johnson, and was born April 21, 1833, on the old homestead, where he still resides. The Johnsons are of English origin. The great-grandfather of our subject was a sailor, whose home was in Long Island. He was probably of English birth. Daniel Johnson, his son and great-grandfather of our subject, moved from Long Island to Connecticut, where he continued to reside until his death, working at his trade, which was that of a weaver. Sometime in the latter part of the eighteenth century one of his sons, Joel, located in the wilds of New York, in what is now the town of Guilford. In the year 1799, his brother Daniel, grandfather of our subject, made him a visit. With the wonderful foresight that he ever exhibited in business he saw the great possibilities of this uncultivated country, and decided to locate here. To this end he purchased a tract of land containing 160 acres, immediately joining his brother Joel's property, on which he built a log house. He then returned to Connecticut, and the following winter moved his family to this new home. Moving in those days meant slow travel by ox-team, when it took many days to cover but a short distance, and when many hardships were necessarily endured. He lived on this farm forty years until his death, which occurred a the advance age of eighty years. he was buried in the old cemetery near his home. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, enlisting for a short period, which he served, after which he re-enlisted, in all serving through six campaigns. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Norton, were both bound out in their childhood, as their parents were poor people. At the expiration of his indenture, he received a yoke of three year old oxen, and she received beds and bedding. With this humble beginning they made their start, and by their frugality and pluck they succeeded in accumulating a comfortable property and were well-to-do farmers, highly honored and respected in the community in which they lived. For a number of years he was a justice of the peace and poormaster of the town of Guilford. They were the parents of
seven children, one daughter dying in infancy; four sons
and two daughters reached maturity. of these, the oldest,
Hiram Johnson, was born in Connecticut, and came when
fourteen years of age to Guilford, where he engaged in
farming. He lived to be ninety years old. Alpheus
Johnson, a farmer of Guilford, now deceased, married a
sister-in-law of the late Daniel S. Dickinson of
Binghamton. Seth Johnson, the father of our subject, was
next in order of birth. Joel Johnson was a minister of
the Baptist Church, and was for many years a missionary
in Georgia. It was hardly safe to speak your thoughts
there during the late Rebellion, as Mr. Johnson found.
They threatened to hang him for expressing his opinion as
to the result of the war. When his friends advised him to
get away he told them that to be sucessful in hanging
him, it would be very necessary for him to be there, and
therefore he respectfully declined to leave. When they
found that he meant nothing worse to the cause than a
timely warning, they molested him no further, and he
lived among his southern friends until he reached his
seventieth year, when he was called to his reward.
Samantha Johnson married Ethan Pier and moved to
Pennsylvania where she died. Louisa Johnson married Lyman
Bradley, late farmer and shoemaker of Guilford. Mary
Johnson was married to Ithuel Blake, farmer of Coventry,
Chenango County, now deceased. JOHNSON, EBENEZER H. This gentleman, whose death took place at his old home in Palmyra Township, this county (Lee), August 29, 1885, was one of the old pioneers whose history is coincident with that of the township and county, and a sketch of whose life will prove interesting, not only to those intimately associated with him, but to all who love to hear of the early times in the Prairie State. Mr. Johnson was born in Bainbridge, Chenango County, N.Y., July 5, 1810. His parents were Seth M. and Mary (Hough) Johnson of English descent, who removed to New York about 1807. His parents were natives of Connecticut, coming of the good old New England stock and of English ancestry. Seth was a farmer in his native State and after his marriage and the birth of two children, emigrated with his family in a very early day to Chenango County, N.Y., settling in the heavy timber near Bainbridge. There he and his wife encountered the hardships of a pioneer life and diligently toiled until they had improved and cultivated a good farm on which they spent the remainder of their days, the father dying at the age of fifty-seven, and his wife living until 1865, when she too passed away at the venerable age of eighty years. He was an active Whig in those early days and both he and his wife were consistent members of the Baptist Church. Their memory has been handed down to their descendants as an honored couple worthy of all respect and kindly remembrance which has been accorded to them. The subject of this sketch was very young when his father became a resident of New York State and in order to make a comfortable home in the then unbroken wilderness his assistance was required as soon as he was old enough, to help his father in clearning the farm. He left home before attaining his majority, engaging in various pursuites until his marriage, directly after which he came to the West. His wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Johnson, was born in Blanford, Hampton County, Mass., August 10, 1808. She was a daughter of Jonas and Sallie (McCray) Johnson. At the age of nine she removed with her father's family to Colesville, Broome County, N.Y., where she was engaged in teaching quite a number of years. She was a devoted wife and a worthy helpmate for her husband. She was upwards of seventy-six years of age at the time of her death, which occurred May 15, 1885, preceding that of her husband three months and thirteen days. A short sketch of her parents will prove interesting in connection with this sketch. Capt. Jonas Johnson was one of the pioneers of Lee County, arriving in the fall of 1838, when he was near the age of seventy-six years. he was born near Leominster, Mass. November 30, 1762. His remotest ancestor is traved back to Hervie Hill, County Kent, England, who came to America in 1630 settling in Charlestown, Mass. He was the son of Edward and Relief (Johnson) Johnson. His first wife was Sarah Ferguson, of Blanford, Mass., who bore him five children, but one of whom is now living. The second wife was Sallie McCrary of Sctoch descent, whose ancestors emigrated from Scotland to the North of Ireland. They were both members of the Episcopal church. Mr. Johnson was the parent of three children by his last marriage, Sarah, William and Morris, none of whom survive. His wife left him for the silent land three months and nineteen days before his own summons. Mr. Johnson died December 3, 1842, having just celebrated his eightieth birthday. Rev. William Y. Johnson, a brother of Sarah and a son of Jonas and Sallie Johnson, came to Illinois in 1837, settling at Monmouth. He came to Lee County in the fall of 1838, and purchased Government land near Sugar Grove, built a house and opened up a farm. He next removed to China Township, where he remained several years, going thence to Chicago, where he was ordained a minister of the Protestant Episcopal Church in which service he continued until his death. His wife was a daughter of Col. Leman Mason, one of the first settlers of this county. Three children were born to this worthy couple. Mr. Johnson died at Fairfield, Iowa, August 29, 1873, aged nearly sixty-four years. He was buried in Oakwood Cemetery, Dixon, Illinois. Jonas Morris, youngest son of Jonas and Sallie Johnson, came to Lee County with his father in the fall of 1838. he settled near Sugar Grove, purchasing Government land, building a home and developing the farm now occupied by Mrs. J.P. Goodrich of whom see sketch in another part of this volume. His first wife was Elenora Stratton, of Nineveh, N.Y., who bore him two sons, one dying at the age of three years. His wife died after a brief illness October 17, 1842, followed three weeks later by the death of the son. In 1844, he was united in marriage with Calista Mason, daughter of Col. Leman and Elizabeth Mason. Four children resulted from this union. About 1854, Mr. Johnson removed to Dixon, Ill, where he conducted a hardware store for some time. He went West during the Pike's Peak gold excitement, being one of the '59ers and settled at Golden, Col., where he kept an hotel for many years, and where he died November 8, 1888, aged seventy-four years. He was familiarly known as the "Judge" and held many positions of honor and trust in the city and county, during a residence of thirty years. Ebenezer H. Johnson, the subject of this sketch, came after his marriage to this county in 1838, and throughout his life time held a prominent place in its history. He became the owner of a fine property and carried on farming extensively, also being much interested in politics and taking an active part in all that related to the develpment and progress of the county. He was for several years the Supervisor of the Township and held other local offices. He was a staunch Republican and an earnest member of the Methodist Church. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, two of whom are deceased, namely; Mary Janette who was the wife of William H. Swigart, a farmer of this township, and Theodore who met with a violent death at the age of 22, being assassinated by a robber near Aurora in Hamilton County Nebraska. The children now living are Thomas H. who married Eliza M. Rogers, of Palmyra township, this county, and is now a farmer in Loveland Colo.; Jane A. who resides in Dixon with her brother Mark, and who is the owner of the old homestead in Palmyra Towsnhip which is well improved and over which she exercises and intelligent supervision. She is a well informed woman of much ability and is highly esteemed in the community in which her family have played such an important part; Ralph E. married Abbie Knox, of New York State and they live in Palmyra Township; Howard married Allie A. Rogers of Palmyra Township, and also resides in that township; Marcus M. married Miss Emma C. Flamm and resides at Seward Neb. where he is carrying on a feed store.
JOHNSON, HARVEY E. Farmer, Palmyra, was born in Bainbridge, Chenango county, New York, on February 11, 1819. His parents were Seth and Mary (Hough) Johnson, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. Until he was twenty-six years of age Mr. Johnson resided in Chenango county, having acquired his education there, and having assisted his father in carrying on the farm. In 1845, however, he came west, and purchased a farm in Palmyra township, which he still owns, and on which he resides. He was married December 31, 1848, to Miss Mary J. Wheat, a daughter of Josiah Wheat, one of the earliest settlers of what is now China township. They have four children living, the oldest being Deforest J. who was born April 13, 1850. He married Miss Emma Bovey on December 24, 1872, and resides in Palmyra township. Florence R., born October 8, 1851 married Jacob Baker, December 25, 1873 and resides in Ogle county; Franklin F., born December 19, 1855, and married to Miss Ida Rand, December 1, 1876; he is a resident of Palmyra township. Addie A. born December 25, 1866, and resides with her parents. Mr. Johnson's political affiliations are with the republican part, and he is a member of the Baptist church. JOHNSON, WILLIAM "HOWARD" Howard Johnson a practical and enterprising farmer residing on section 21, Palmyra Township, has spent his entire life in Lee County. He was born on his father's farm in this township, August 20, 1850, and is the youngest but one of seven children, who are mentioned in the sketch of IL S. Johnson, on another page of this work. In the usual manner of farmer lads, the days of his boyhood and youth were passed, he aiding his father in farm work during the summer months, and attending the district school in the winter season. Under the parental roof he remained until he had attained his majority, when he began life for himself, and the occupation to which he was reared he has since followed. In all his undertakings he has met with success, possessing enterprise, perseverance and in dustry, qualities essential to a prosperous career. He now owns two hundred and eighty acres of land on sections 15 and 16, Palmyra Township, but is operating a one hundred and sixty acre farm on section 21, the property of his father-in-law. He has placed it under a high state of cultivation and the well-tilled fields yield to him a golden tribute. The farm is well stocked, having thereon about seventy-five milch cows, used for dairy purposes. This, however, is managed by other parties, while Mr. Johnson devotes his entire attention to general farming. In Palmyra Township Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Alice A. Rogers, who first opened her eyes to the light of day February 28, 1853, on the farm which is still her home. She is a daughter of Walter and Hannah (Fellows) Rogers. Her father was born September 26, 1815, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, and, about 1839, came to this county, where he met and married Miss Fellows, a native of New Hampshire, born in 1824. She was a maiden of ten summers, when, with her parents, Stephen and Rachel (McGaffy) Fellows, she emigrated Westward. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers began their domestic life in Lee County, upon a farm, where he improved a good home, it being his place of residence until the death of his wife, which occurred February 23, 1890. She was a member of the Methodist Church, and a lady beloved by her many friends. In November, 1890, Mr. Rogers removed to Dixon, where he is now living a retired life at the age of seventy-six years. He has been a prominent man of this community, has served as Supervisor for Palmyra Township for many years, and in politics is a stanch advocate of Republican principles. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson began their domestic life upon the farm where they still reside and their home has been blessed by the presence of two children - Elwyn and Lida M. The parents are both well and favorably known throughout this cormmunity, and in the social world, where true worth and intelligence are received as the passports into good society, rank high. In his political views, Mr. Johnson is a stanch Republican and for two years has served as Supervisor of Palmyra Township, proving himself an efficient and capable officer. JOHNSON, RALPH E. Our subject who is a general farmer and dairyman, is the owner of one hundred and forty acres of land on section 22, Palmyra Township, which he cultivates to such good purpose that it yields him a very comfortable income. He keeps from one hundred and twenty to one hundred and twenty-five cows and is doing an immense business as a dairyman. Mr. Johnson was born on the old homestead of which he is the present owner, January 22, 1847, and which has always been his home. He is the son of Ebenezer H. Johnson, a native of Chenango County, N. Y. and of New England parentage. The grandparents of our subject were natives of Connecticut, but later went to New York where they were among the early settlers in Chenango County and where they passed their last days. Ebenezer Johnson received a good education in his native county and there married the mother of our subject, who was a native of the same county and State as was her husband and soon after their marriage in company with a number of other families came West to Illinois by the overland route, settling on a "squatter's" claim on section 22, Palmyra Township, this county, the same tract on which our subject makes his home. Their removal here was made in 1835 and the young couple at once set about improving their place and at the time of his death Mr. Johnson left a beautiful farm. He died on the old homestead, August 29, 1885, after having reached the advanced age of seventy-five years. He was a prominent man in his township and one of the earliest pioneers. He always took an active interest in politics and at one time served as Township Supervisor, holding the office for a number of years. He favored the platform of the Republican party and was loyal to its principles. In religious matters he was a member of the Presbyterian Church to the support of which body he always gave liberally and cheerfully. The wife of Mr. E. H. Johnson died in Palmyra Township, May 15, 1885, when seventy six years of age. She was a member of the Episcopal Church. Ralph E. Johnson established a hearthstone of his own March 10th, 1875, at which date he was married to Miss Abbie M. Knox, the ceremony being solemnized in Broome County N. Y., which was his native State and where she was reared to womanhood. Her parents, George and Jerusha (Brown) Knox, and are well-to-do and are residing in Broome County N.Y., retired from the active duties of life. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of three children, all of whom are yet under the parental roof. They bear the names respectively of Anna G., Rena E. and Myra. In polities, the Republican party claim our subject as one of its most efficient workers. He is liberal and broad-minded and with his estimable wife is highly prized in his community. JOHNSON, RALPH E. Dairy farmer and stock-raiser, Section 22, Palmyra township, Lee County, Illinois, was born on the farm where he now resides, Jan 22, 1842, son of Eber H. and Sarah (Johnson) Johnson, who came from New York State to Lee County in 1838. Eber and Sarah were married in New York, Aug. 13, 1838, just previous to coming west, and came with horese and wagon to Lee County, the journey occupying five weeks. Mr. Johnson bought a squatter's claim of 160 acres, and shortly afterwards added another quarter section to his holdings. To himself and wife seven children were born, Ralp E. being the fourth. Mr. Johnson was an active, upright man, a stanch Republican and served his township as Supervisor for several terms besides holding other offices. He died August 29, 1887, his wife dying May 15 of the same year. They were both members of the Union church. Ralph E. Johnson attended the district school in boyhood and worked on his father's farm, where he has continued to reside to the present time. He assumed management of his father's farm several years previous to the latter's death, and afterwards bought the estate consisting of 417 acres of land upon which he keeps from 150 to 175 head of catle and about twenty-five horses. The present attractive residence was built by Mr. Ralph E. Johnson in 1876. On March 10, 1875, Mr. Johnson married Abigail M. daughter of George and Jerusha (Knox) Knox, all of whom were natives of Broome County, NY. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have three children: Anna G. (Mrs. W.L. Prescott, of Nebraska), Rena E. (Mrs. Howard S. Gigons of Madison, Wisconsin) and Myra L., who is attending school. JOHNSON, SETH Seth Johnson, the father of Daniel, was born on the old homestead, in Guilford, October 4, 1802, and died there in July, 1866. His death was caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the brain said to have been caused by overwork. He was an industrious and sucessful farmer, as was attested by his farm, which consisted at his death of 360 broad acres. This land was under a high state of cultivation, well improved and stocked. He was a member of the First Congregational Church of Guilford, of which his parents had been two of the twelve charter members. He was united in marriage with Miss Jerusha Root. They were the parents of the following children: Hiram T., who went to the State of Oregon, where he died in 1853; Lucia, wife of Thomas Fleming, a famer of Schuyler County, NY; Daniel; Charles, a shoe merchant in Pueblo, New Mexico; Ellen died in young girlhood; Robert, who enlisted in the 89th Reg. NY Vol. Inf., was discharged after a short service on accounty of disability - he returned home to recuperate, and when better again enlisted in the 20th Reg. NY Vol. Cav., but his disability again returned, and he died at the Soldier's Lodge at Portsmouth, Va., November 18, 1864; Esther, the widow of A.O. Shepherd, late of Brooklyn, NY; and Sarah, widow of the late John H. Brower of Chicago, Ill. Mrs. Seth Johnson's father, Ebenezer Root, was a native of Great Barrington, Mass. He left home at an early day, coming with his family to Oxford, where he located on a farm. He was a natural mechanic, and brought with him several kinds of tools, which proved of great value to him in the new country, where tools were necessarily scarce. His principal occupation was farming, but he also dealt extensively in livestock, which he drove to New York City. He was but a boy of eighteen years when he enlisted as a soldier in the Revolution. He was twice married; his first wife was Miss Jerusha Dogister of Mass. After her death he was united in marriage with Miss Cynthia Whipple of Bainbridge, NY. He was the father of sixteen children, eight by each wife. One of his daughters, Mrs. Young, is still living; she is an intelligent, well informed lady, and held in high esteem by her acquaintances. She makes her home with Daniel Johnson, the subject of the biography. She has one sister living, Charlotte Godfrey, aged ninety-three; and a brother, Silas Root, aged eight-one. Daniel Johnson received his
education in the district schools, and later attended the
academy at Binghamton for one term. He taught district
school four terms, but had been brought up on a farm, and
was convinced farming was more to this taste than
teaching. He then engaged in farming on the homestead of
his fathers; and there he found the training he had
received as a boy of much value to him. His farm contains
200 acres of good land, and is well adapted the the uses
to which he puts it. He makes a specialty of dairy and
stock farming. His dairy consists of 25 cows, and he
raises a number of cattle and horses. Mr. Johnson is a
member of the A.O.U. W. and the Grange. He was forty
years a deacon of the of the Con .. [page missing]. SHORTT, GEORGE M. Cashier of the State Bank of Brownsdale, he was born in Winona county in 1862, son of Martin and Matilda (Norman) Shortt. He attended the district schools, and the State Normal at Winona, learned telegraphy and entered the railroad service, being agent and operator for the C., M. & St. P. for twenty years. Was elected cashier of the Bank of Brownsdale, then a private bank, in 1905. When the State Bank of Brownsdale was organized in 1908 he retained that position, and his integrity and honor, as well as courtesy have been an important factor in thesuccess of the institution. Mr. Shortt has allied himself with the Masons and the A.O.U.W. He married Etta J. Sanborn, daughter of John and Mary (Cheesebro) Sanborn. They have two children, Marie M., aged twelve years, and Dorris M., aged four years. Martin Shortt was born in Montreal, Canada, of French extraction, and married Matilda Norman, a native of Boston. After their marriage they lived in Bakersfield, Vt., and later came to Winona county, Minnesota. Martin enlisted in the Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, did valiant service, and died in Andersonville prison, *September 15, 1864. They were the parents of four children, three of whom are living: Eunice, Elizabeth and George M. Eunice is the wife of Albro Danforth, and Elizabeth married Charles Johnson. (*Note
- Martin Short's pension papers indicate he died on the
17th of August) SOULE, CHARLES B. Born in Oneida County, NY on June 30, 1845. He received his education in the common schools. When 18 years old he enlisted in the 2nd New York Heavy Artillery, serving until the end of the war and being honorably discharged. In 1865 he moved to Illinois and in 1866 to Genoa, Wisconsin where he married Emily C. Woodruff on December 21, 1866. Emily was born in Steuben County, New York on December 15, 1849, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Woodruff. When four years old, her parents moved to McHenry County, Illinois near the town of Hebron. She lived there with her parents until she was 17 years of age (1866) when she married Charles B. Soule. In 1869, Charles B. Soule accompanied by his brother, Edgar, came to Otter Tail County, MN. They looked over the land where Fergus Falls now stands; but decided that the land was too rough so they took a homestead three miles south in Buse Township. Charles homesteaded near Horseshoe Lake and Edgar staked out his claim a little further west, nearer the river. The two built a log cabin on Ed's claim and Charles went back to Illinois where he remained during the winter of 1869/70 with his family, leaving his brother to care for the cattle during the winter. In the spring, Edgar broke up about five acres of land, planting most of it in wheat. In April 1870, Charles B. Soule with his wife and baby, in company with four other families, left Illinois with seven covered wagons drawn by horses. They were heavily loaded with household goods, trunks, two or three walking plows, provisions and a few chickens. Several head of cattle were driven behind by some of the men and boys. They came as far as Blue Earth County, Minnesota with the horses, where they were traded for oxen, and then came to Otter Tail County, arriving in Buse Twp. about the middle of June, taking them about six and a half weeks to make the trip. The Charles Soule family lived with his brother, Edgar until they built a cabin on their own homestead. The cabin was built the next week after they arrived. It was made of logs with a sod roof and no floor. All the money Mrs. Soule had left at that time was just enough to buy two windows for the cabin, buying these at Alexandria on their next trip there. Charles B. Soule was the first elected assessor of Buse Twp, and also served as township clerk for many years. In 1880 the family moved to Deer Creek, purchasing 40 acres of land. When the Northern Pacific Railroad was built through there, he platted a portion of his land, as part of the village, it being known as Soules' Addition to Deer Creek. In later years, he was the first mayor of the village. Three daughters were born to Charles and Emily: Mrs. Myra Robbins, Mrs. Mina Arbuckle, and Myrtle; and a son, Sidney Horton who died in infancy. Charles B. Soule passed away on 25 January 1910. His wife Emily C. (Woodruff) died in October of 1940. She was survived by her daughter Myrtle and seven grandchildren: Ed Robbins, Mrs. Harold Bemis, Mylo Robbins, Mrs. Clyde Anderson, charles Arbuckle, Ward Arbuckle, and Ralph Arbuckle. SWIGART, WILLIAM H. Palmyra Twp., Lee Co., IL William H. Swigart has done yeoman service in developing the agricultural resources of this county by his practical work as a farmer and dairyman since he came here many years ago in his boyhood. He has a farm on section 23, Palmyra Township, which comprises eighty-six acres of 1and under a high state of cultivation and amply supplied with buildings of a good class and all the appurtenances for conducting farming operations after the best methods. In the dairy business he takes the lead, having all the latest improved machinery for preparing feed and the mills being operated by a seventeen-foot windmill. He is also interested in stock-raising, which he is pursuing successfully, and makes a specialty of Norman horses, owning a fine stallion of that famous breed. Our subject was born in Augusta County, Virginia, May 22, 1840. His paternal grandfather was a German by birth and came to this country when a young man, settled near Uniontown, Md., and there passed his remaining days. His son Samuel, the father of our subject, was born there and in that State carried on his trade as a wheelwright. He went to Virginia and there met and married Miss Maria Dinkle, who came of one of the old families of that State. In 1841 they removed to Seneca County, Ohio, where he proceeded to open up a farm in the wilderness, but his busy career was closed by his untimely death at the age of forty-five years. After this sad bereavement the mother took her childrenn to live in Gratiot County, Mich. There she was subsequently married to Roswell Reynolds, whom she survived some years, her death occurring in 1889, at the venerable age of seventy-seven years. She was a woman of true Christian character and a prominent Methodist. He of whom we write was fifteen years of age when his father died. He went with his mother to the new home in Central Michigan, but did not stay there a great length of time as he was an independent, self-reliant lad, ambitious to make his own way in the world. In 1857, when but seventeen years of age, he came to Illinois to see what life held for him here, and has since worked his way up to his present substantial position as one of the solid men of his township. Besides what he has accom- plished in the line of his work, he has made his influence felt in social and religious circles and has never hesitated to champion all plans for the moral elevation of the community. He is known by his fellow-citizens to be scrupulously honest and conscientious in his acts, cheerful and accommodating in his intercourse with his neighbors, always glad to do another a favor, and in all respects a thoroughly upright man, who seeks the good of others and is justly held in high repute. He and his wife are prominent in society and in the church and have devoted their whole energies to the upbuilding of the Union Church of this township. Their talent for music is utilized in perfecting the choir, of which they are leaders. Mr. Swigart has been at the head of the Sugar Grove Sunday-school for many years and has done a great deal to make it successful and attractive to the children as well as to their elders. As a loyal citizen should, he interests himself in politics and has given his allegiance to the Republican party. Our subject was first married to Miss Janette M. Johnson, who was born and reared in Palmyra Township, a daughter of one of its pioneers, E. H. Johnson, of whom a biography appears on another page of this volume. Mrs. Swigart died while yet a young woman, leaving one child, Roy Ellwood, who lives with his father. Mr. Swigart was married a second time in this township, taking as his wife, Carrie L. Lawton. Mrs. Swigart was born, reared and educated here, and is a daughter of the late Charles Lawton, formerly a well known farmer of this locality and a native of England. His wife survives him and is living on the old homestead with her sons. She was also born in England, but was married in Pennsylvania. Her maiden name was Ann Mary Tuck. Mrs. Swigart received her education in the public schools of Palmyra and here grew to womanhood. Her marriage with our subject has brought them one daughter whom they have named Lulu, and who is at home with them. The family residence, a view of which appers in connection with this sketch is a comfortable abode and the center of a hearty hospitability which is extended to friends with genial warmth. WHEAT, LYMAN C. Merchant, Amboy, was born in Putney, Vermont, in 1821.* In 1828 his parents, Josiah and Mary (Black) Wheat, moved to New York and settled in Steuben county, where our subject was reared and received an academic education. Until he came west in 1843, his time was principally spent in teaching select and public schools. In midsummer he arrived with his little family in Lee county, and for a short time lived on the Dixon and Chicago road, but in the autumn removed to the former place and took up his residence for two years in the land office. He continued to teach when his health would permit, and in 1845 went to Lee Center to live, and for a mumber of years was a trustee of the academy and active in promoting the interests of the institution. About 1854 he bought out Charles Hitchcock and went to merchandising; in 1865 he transferred his business to Amboy; and about 1872 brought his family here. Both he and his wife are members of the Congregational Church, and he is a republican. His first marriage was on August 20, 1840, to Miss mary Warnick, who bore him six children, as follows: Josephine, born Decmeber 13, 1841; George W., November 8, 1843; Addie N., June 12, 1849, married E.C. Gridley, and died October 3, 1874; alice May, December 2, 1854; Fred Agusutus, July 18, 1857; and Lizzie Jane, December 9, 1858, died March 12, 1861. His wife died July 31, 1862; and on August 23, 1863, he married Harriet Lucretia (Eaton), widow of Henry C. Nash. By this second marriage he has four children: Willie Henry, born October 16, 1864, died September 12, 1865; Charles Lyman, December 8, 1865; Nellie L., June 4, 1868; and Edwin Densmore, March 18, 1871. George enlisted in Co. E., 75th Ill. vols., in 1862 and fought at the battle of Perryville. *Census records and order
of children indicate Lyman was born in 1814 not 1821 as
stated in this biographical sketch.
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