ternity since 1868, and has tilled all the chairs ex-
cept that of Master. He has also been a repre-
sentative to the Grand Lodge several times, and
is also a member of the Grand Arm}- of the Repub-
lic. His residence in this county covers almost half
a centurj', and he has therefore witnessed the
greater part of its growth and upbuilding, and
has aided in its development and advancement,
ever faithfully performing his duties of citizen-
ship. In reviewing the life of Mr. Karr, we see
that it has been well spent, and in presenting this
sketch to our readers we record the life work of
a valued citizen, a prosperous farmer and an hon-
ored pioneer.
^j^x AUL HENRY WOLGAST, of the firm of
Jl) Wolgast & Wolgast, is a merchant of Dan-
f^ forth. 111. He is a native of German}', and
^ was born in Holstein, July 31, 1849. He is
a son of Jochan H. Wolgast, a native of the same
place. The father there was reared, and married
Jlargaret AVilkin. Since arriving at mature years
he has engaged in agricultural pursuits in Ger-
man}-, where he still resides. Our subject is the
eldest of a family consisting of two sons and four
daughters.
Mr. Wolgast, of this sketch, received good school
advantages in the German language, and since
coming to this country has acquired a knowledge
of English through his reading and observation.
Determining to seek his fortune in the Kew World,
he bade adieu to his friends and relatives and in
1871 started from Hamburg and crossed the At-
lantic in thirteen days. He landed in New York
on the 2d of September, 1871, and came immedi-
ately AVest to Chicago. For about two years he
engaged in gardening near that city, and at the
end of that time removed to Ashkum, where he
engaged in business, remaining there for about two
years. After he bad been in the latter place about
one 3'ear, he carried on farming for the same
length of time. In 1875, he came toDanforthand
engaged in merchandising. In addition to this
business he has carried on a farm for about twelve
3'ears. He now has a good stock of general mer-
chandise and drugs, and has built up an extensive
trade. The firm well merits the large patronage
they eiijo}', as they keep the best goods and have
a large selection of the same at moderate prices.
Mr. Wolgast was united in marriage atAslikum,
in April, 187.5, with Miss Louisa Kryder, who was
born in Illinois, the place of her birth being Kaper-
ville, Cook County, where she was reared and edu-
cated. She is a daughter of Charles Kr3-der, of
that place. To our subject and his wife have been
born eight children, of whom four sons and two
daughters are now living: .John, Frank, William,
Mabel, Carrie and Orval. Amy, a child of four
j-ears, and an infant daughter, (tussIc, arc now
deceased.
Since he has been a voter, Mr. Wolg.ast has been
identified with the Democratic party, and his
friends and acquaintances have many times called
upon him to serve in official positions requiring
such fidelity and ability- as are among his chief
characteristics. He is now one of the Dan forth
Trustees, and in that position has served to the
satisfaction of his fellow-citizens. He is a member
of the German Luther.in Church, in which he is
LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA
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UNlVERSni OF ILLINOIS
URBAN.A
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD,
403
iin active worker. He is a member of the Druids'
lodge of Gilraan. For about eighteen years, INIr.
Wolgast has been a resident of Dauforth, and is
well known in Gilnian and tliroughout the county'
as a man who well deserves the respect and esteem
wiiich his fellow-citizens and friends have for him.
He has ever been active in all measures pertaining
to the good and welfare of this community and
State, and for his worth and noble character well
deserves to be remembered in this brief sketch.
^+^1
pOSTER M. CHAPMAN, a prominent and
. ^ pros|)erous farmer, and a resident of Gil-
i|s man, was born in Old Sodus, Wayne County,
K Y., September 19, 1819. He is a son of Henry
D. and Maria (Arms) Chapman. His father was
born in New Lebanon, N. Y., and his mother in
Conway, Mass. His greatgrandfather Chapman
emigrated from Ireland, and the Arms family were
early emigrants from England. Both the paternal
and maternal grandfathers were natives of New
England and followed farming. Our subject's
father was a contractor and builder in the line of
carpentery, and was a Whig in politics. In 1836,
the mother with her four sons started with an ox-
team, driving throngh Canada, and landed in Wash-
tenaw County, Mich., in the dead of winter. Such
a journey, with its accompanying privations and
discomforts, can hardly be imagined in these days
of steam and electricity, that provide means of
rapid transit which would have been considered
incredible in those early days. The3' opened up
two farms in Michigan, and there they lived for
several years, the mother spending her last days
there. She was a consistent member of the Pres-
byterian Church, and her death was widclj'
regretted.
Our subject is the second in a family of five
children, consisting of four sons and one daughter.
He received his education in the old-time school,
which furnished such limited advantages. His
first monev was earned by digging potatoes for a
neighbor, and that was credited to his father. In
the winter of 1839, he taught school across the
18
line in Livingston County, 111., where the refrac-
tory pupils had the i^revious session of school
driven the teacher away; but he was not so easily
discouraged and overcome, and he promptly
brought to terms the chief mischief-makers, and
thereby won the confidence and obedience of all.
In AVashtenaw County, Mich., on the 20th of
March, 1845, Mr. Chapman was united in marriage
with Charlotte E. Spafard, who is the daughter of
Thomas L. Spafard. Her fathei- is an old resident
of Michigan, as he emigrated there in 1838. Mrs.
Chapman was born in New York State, and, when
sixteen 3'ears of age, came with her parents to
Mieliigan. Our subject followed the occupation
of agriculture for several years, and in 1851 began
selling small farm implements, his headquarters
being at Chicago. He handled the first John H.
Manney reapers which were brought to that city.
For a time he also ran a branch house at Detroit,
and had quite an extensive trade in farm imple-
ments in the States of Michigan, Illinois and Wis-
consin. He continued in that business until 1866,
when he took the agency for the Manney leaper
for the territory of Southern Indiana, Kentucky'
and Tennessee. In 1867, he turned his attention
to tlie real-estate business in Chicago, which he
carried on quite extensively until 1875. The fol-
lowing year, he came to Iroquois County and
purchased six hundred and twenty acres in Dan-
forth Township. The farm was in an unimproved
condition, but b^' judicious tiling and ditching
and the erection of good buildings, he has brought
it to its present condition of being one of the best-
kept and most fertile farms in the county. In
1878, our subject, in company with W. C. and C.
G. McDougall and George W. Decker and others,
started the enterprise of cutting a ditch from
Prairie to Spring Creek, thus giving a short out-
let for this entire flat countr}-. That was the first
extensive effort to furnish a system of drainage,
and to this work Mr. Chapman gave time, effort
and money. Contracts were let for ditches aver-
aging from four to eight feet in depth and forty
feet wide, surface measure. As soon as water
would run, thej' put a riding-plow in the ditch
and teams on each bank. Mr. Chapman managed
tlie plow, and often rode in water up to his arm-
404
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAFHICAL RECORD.
pits. Day after da}', he worked in that soaked
condition until the completion of the ditch.
Nothing has done more to add to the value of
laud in this section, and the men who with such
perseverance pushed the enterprise deserve much
credit.
Politically, Mr. Chapman was a Whig in former
times, later an Abolitionist, and since the war a
Republican. His first vote was cast for William
Henry Harrison of "Tippecanoe and Tyler, too"
fame. He has never sought office, but has
evinced ample abilitj- to fill any local office, could
he be induced to accept it. He is always in the
front ranks concerning any question for the wel-
fare of the community, and takes an active inter-
est in political measures. He is a Unitarian in
faith, while his wife is a member of llie Methodist
Episcopal Church.
Our worth}' subject and his wife have one sou.
Arms S., who is a reporter on the Graphic, of Chi-
cago. Mr. Chapman removed from his farm to
the town of Gilman in 1890, where he has a com-
fortable and pleasant home. He is a constant
reader of the best literature, and is a man excep-
tionally well informed on all the leading questions
of the day and able to express liis ideas in a for-
cible and interesting manner. He believes a wife's
property should remain in lier own riglit and title,
and that statutes should be made to protect the
same. During his many years' residence iu this
county, he has made a wide circle of friends, who
esteem him for his strict integrity and lionorable
career.
ARTIN BURNHAM, one of the enterpris-
ing farmers of Martinton Township, now
makes his home on section 12, wliere he
has carried on agricultural pursuits for
several years. He is one of the early settlers of
this township, and is one of the substantial and
representative citizens of Iroquois County.
Mr. Burnham is a native of Vermont, having
lieen born in Orange County, that State, on the
2]»t of February, 1828, and is a son of David
Burnham, who was also born in the same county,
in 1802. The father was a son of Hon. Enoch
Burnham, a native of Connecticut, born on the
17th of .June, 177-6. The Burnham family came
to tills country in an early day, settling in New
England. Tliere were three brotliers who crossed
the Atlantic in 1635, one locating in Massachu-
setts, and the others in New Hampshire xand Con-
necticut. Their descendants became prominent cit-
izens of the communities in which they resided,
and several members served in the Revolutionary
War. David Burnham was reared to manhood in
the Green Mountain State, and there married
Miss Betsy Olds, who w.as also born in Vermont.
He remained on the old homestead wliere his
father had settled when a boy of eleven years.
He took quite an active part in local politics, and
held several official positions of honor and trust.
In June, 1875, he was called to his final rest,
dying at the age of seveutv-three. His wife de-
parted this life in 1862, when fift\-nine years of
age.
Our subject is the third in order of birth in a
family of nine children, four sons and three
daughters, who grew to mature years. They are
as follows: Elisha K., a resident farmer of Ver-
mont; Lora, wife of Dennison Kinsman, of Iowa;
Martin; IVIarcus makes liishome in Waupaca, Wis.;
Emma resides in Vermont; Luthera is the wife of
Henry B. Howard, of the same State; Rosetta, wife
of Caleb P. Waldo, of Vermont; Martha E., de-
ceased, was the wife of Winslow Avery, of Ply-
mouth, Mass., and Henry P., the youngest, was a
soldier in the late war, and was killed at the battle
of Cedar Creek, in 1864.
Martin Burnham passed his boyhood days on
the home farm, and in his native State received a
good common-school education, which was supple-
mented by a course in the Thetford Academy. He
afterward engaged in teaching for two winters,
but in 1849 went to Wisconsin. In Ciiieago he
engaged in carpentering for a few months, al-
though he had never learned that trade, but was
alw.ays very liandy with tools. After six months,
in 1850, he started for California, in company with
Capt. M. Findley, an old associate of .John C.
Fremont. On his way to the Pacific Slope, he
I
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
405
went to Independence, Mo., where he purchased a
lot of oxen, mules and horses. The trip across the
plains consumed three and a-half months, tliey ar-
riving at tlieir destination on the 20tli of August,
1850. Mr. Burnham engaged in mining for about
two years, and was reasonably successful. Wliile
there he rode a mule to Portland, Ore., where he
purchased a herd of cows, which lie drove back to
California. He returned home b}- way of the Nic-
aragua route and New York.
On the 2d of November, 1853, Mr. Burnham
was united in marriage with Miss Martha Martin,
a native of Orange County, Vt., and a daughter
of Porter Martin, one of the pioneers of that
State, who was from Connecticut. Our subject
purchased tiie farm of his father-in-law, and there
engaged in farming and dairying for ten years. He
then sold his farm in 1864 and came to Illinois,
settling in Iroquois County. Here he bought two
hundred and twenty acres of slightly improved
land, which he has placed under a high state of
cultivation. He has added to his original farm,
and now has three hundred and twenty acres of
fine land. On the home place are two good resi-
dences, barns, and other outbuildings.
With the Republican party Mr. Burnham has
been identified many j-ears, having cast his first
vote for John C. Fremont, and is a stanch sup-
porter of its principles. He has held a number of
public olfices, and takes a prominent part in pol-
itics. He has served as Supervisor, Road Commis-
sioner, and as a member of the School Board. He
is greatly- interested in tlie common schools, and
does all in his power to secure good teachers and
promote educational interests.
Unto our subject and his estimable wife have
been born two sons. Frank H. received a good
education, and on attaining his majority was
united in marriage with Miss Sylvia \A'ilson, a
daugiiter of Alexander Wilson, one of the honored
pioneers of Watseka. She was born in this county,
and received her education in the schools of Wat-
seka. She afterward taught school. They have
become the parents of three children: Clarence M.,
Henry C. and Grace. The father of these children
still resides in Iroquois County, and is carrying
ou the home farm. The other son, Porter M., is
now deceased, having died on the 19th of Jlarch,
1888, and lies buried in Martin Cemetery, where a
monument marks liis last resting-place. lie was
married to a sister of his brother's wife, and unto
them was born a daughter, Bertlia A.
l\Ir. Burnham and his wife removed to Watseka
in December, 1879, leaving their sons to carry on
the home farm, but after two years they came
back to the old homestead, which has since been
their home. They have now lived in this commun-
ity for twenty-eight j'ears, and have taken a
[irominent part in its growth and upbuilding.
Mr. Burnham is a man of sterling worth and up-
right character, and has the esteem of the entire
communit\-, and well deserves representation in
his adopted countj'.
v_ -J^ ,/
,,,.. BSALOM O. EDISON, a representative
KM farmer and stock-raiser of Martinton Town-
ship, residing on section 24, is one of the
early settlers of the county and well de-
serves representation in its history among its
prominent citizens. His life record is as follows:
He was born in Vienna, Canada, November 25,
1830, and is a son of David Edison, who was born
in Nova Scotia in 1798, on the peninsula near
St. Johns. When a child the latter went with his
father, Samuel Edison, to Ontario, and became one
of the early settlers of the locality in which he
made his home. Samuel Edison was an officer in
tlic British army and received a grant of land
from the Government, which he located in Canada
amidst a vast wilderness. He there opened up a
farm and reared his family.
David Edison, the father of our subject, was
tliere reared and married, the lady of liis choice
being Miss Fannie White, who was born in Lock-
port, N. Y., in 1801, and was a daughter of Henry
White, who afterward removed to Canada. After
his marriage, David Edison located on a farm in
his native country, but in 1839 came to the United
States, locating in Cliicago when it was a mere
hamlet. After a year he removed to McHcnry
406
yORTEAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Countj', 111., becoming one of the old and honored
liioneers of that county. H^ there entered land
from the Government and opened up a farm, upon
which he made his home until 1862. In thatjear
lie sold his farm and removed to Kankakee, where
he again bought land, making his home there for
a few years, when he came to Iroquois County
and was a resident of Martinton Township until
his deatli, which occurred in 1886. His remains
were interred in Martinton Cemetery, where a beau-
tiful monument marks his last resting-place. His
wife died two years later and was laid by the side
of her husband. For many years Mr. Edison was
a prominent member and exhorter in the Method-
ist Episcopal Ciuirch and was a man of many ex-
cellencies of character.
A. O. Edison, whose name heads this record, came
to Illinois with his father when a lad of nine years
and was reared to manhood in this State. When
only fifteen years of age he began to earn his own
livelihood, 'being employed in a flouring mill in
MoHenry County, where he remained for some
time. He learned the business very tlioroughly
and afterward he entered the machine shops, where
he spent three years, becoming an expert machin-
ist. He afterward went to Wisconsin and later
South to Mississippi, locating in Natcliez, where
he remained from December, 1852, until the fol-
lowing June, when he returned North to Illinois.
He then secured work with the Illinois Central
Railroad Company as a bridge-builder, and to that
work devoted his time and attention for several
months. It was in 1857 that he came to this
county and embarked in carpentering. He fol-
lowed contracting and building for several years,
and a number of houses now stand as monuments
to his skill and handiwork. After following that
occupation for about ten years, he removed to his
present location and for a time carried on carpen-
tering in connection with farming.
On the 9tli of November, 1862, Mr. Edison was
joined in wedlock with Miss Emily Jane Holmes,
a native of Westford, Otsego County, N. Y., and
a daughter of Calvin Holmes, who died in the
Empire State. She is highly educated, a lady of
culture and refinement, and previous to her mar-
li.ige engaged in teaching ))otl) in New York and
Illinois. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Edison have been
born two children: C^'rus Holmes, who is now-
married and engages in the operation of the home
farm; and Libbie, a teacher of recognized ability
in this county. They also lost one child who died
in infancy.
Mr. Edison cast his first Presidential vote for
John C. Fremont. He then affiliated with the
Democratic party for a number of years, after
which he withdrew his allegiance from political
organizations and is now independent, voting for
the man whom he thinks will best fill the otflce,
regardless of party affiliations. His fellow-towns-
men, appreciating his worth and ability, have called
upon him to serve in various official positions. He
was Commissioner of Highw.ays, has served as
Constable, was Justice of the Peace three terms, and
for fifteen years has been Assessor, serving .as such
for twelve consecutive years. For about twenty
years he has been a member of the School Board,
and the cause of education finds in him a warm
friend. He does all in his power for its advance-
ment and has done much for the excellence of the
schools in this communit}'. His wife is a member
of the Baptist Church and is a most estimable ladj'.
Mr. Edison holds membership with the Masonic
fraternity, belonging to the Blue Lodge and Chap-
ter. He is a valued citizea, public-spirited and
progressive, and a man of sterling worth and in-
tegrity, and is an own cousin to the great inventor,
Prof. Thomas A. Eldison, who has a world-wide
reputation. For thirty-six years he has made his
home in the county and well deserves honorable
mention in its histoiy.
- 5-
^>^^<m^
LAAS KREMER, a farmer of Danforth
Township, was one of the first settlers of
the township. He is a native of Holland,
where his birth occurred January 11, 1834.
He is a son of Garned and Outkje (Rasmus)
Kremer, both of Dutch birth. The father was a
farmer by occupation, and reared his family and
spent his life in his native land.
Oiir subject grew to manhood in Holland and
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
407
received a good couimon-fchool education in his
native tongue. In Engiisli he has been almost
wholly !^elf-edllcated since arriving in this country.
In 1862, Mr. Kremer was united in marriage witii
Fannie Poter, also a Hollander by birth. For sev-
eral jears subsequent to his marriage he followed
agricultural pursuits for a livelihood. In 1867, he
emigrated to the New World, taking passage in a
steam vessel at London which was bound for New
York. He was about twenty-two days crossing
the broad Atlantic and had a pleasant voyage.
He arrived in New York May 3, and immediately
went AVest to Chicago. From there he came to
Oilman, and remained in the town for about two
weeks. He then located at Danforth, then a vil-
lage which contained but one store. F'or about
two years he worked b3' the moiith, and with his
carefully hoarded earnings bought a team and
rented land, where he farriied for himself. For a
number of years he rented a farm and was quite
successful. He then purchased land near Oilman,
located on that place and engaged in agricultural
pursuits for several years. At the expiration of
that period he sold his property and purchased
the farm where he now resides. He now has
about sixty-flve acres which are situated in the cor-
poration limits of Danforth. He has well im-
proved his place and built a good residence, barns
and other farm buildings. He also has a wind-
pump and other modern farm machinery. He has
a good orchard of select fruit and in every respect
his is a well-ordered and well-conducted farm.
To our worthy subject and his wife four chil-
dren have been born: Hattie is tlie wife of Her-
man Benzema, of Danforth; John is married and
also resides here; Isaac is a young man still under
the parental roof, as is the j'oungest, Oeorge.
These children have all received the advantages of
a good education and were thus fitted to partici-
pate in the active duties of life. Mr and Mrs.
Kremer arc niemliers of the Dutch Reformed
Church.
For twent\ - five years, Mr. Kremer has lived in
Iroquois County and is well known throughout
this section as a man of honor and reliability-. By
his upright course and the fidelity with which he
discharges his duties of citizenshiij he has won the
esteem and high regard of all with whom he has
come in contact. In his political sentiments he is
a supporter of the Republican party and cast his
first ballot for President for Oen. V. 8. (irant. He
has never sought or held official positions but has
given his entire time, energy and attention to
business interests. He has ever been a heart}'
supporter of educational measures and is an advo-
cate of good public schools. He served tor six
years as a member fif the School Board in Oilman.
He is liberal in support of those enterprises which
tend to advance the best interests of the commun-
ity and IS ever readj' to aid in the promotion of
any undertaking which tends to elevate man-
kind.
^^EOROE C. SMITH, who is extensively en-
II (^^ gaged in farming and stock-raising in
\\^J4| Stockland Township, is the owner of a
good farm of one hundred and twenty' acres on
sections 30 and 32. He was born in AVashington
County, Md., July 18, 1846, and on the paternal
side is of German descent. His father, George
Smith, was a native of Germany. In early life, he
crossed the briny deep, and, locating in IMaryland,
there became acquainted with and married Miss
Araminta Eigenbrode, a native of that State.
P'ive children were boru unto them but three are
now deceased, Mary, jNIartin and Aaron. The
two now living are our subject and his sister
Sarnh. The famil\- having removed to Indiana,
the mother died near I'leasant Hill, Montgomery
County, that State, in 18.")3. The following ^-ear,
George Smith, Sr., was again married, the lady of
his choice being Julia Ann Moore, of Montgomery
County. Of the five children born of th;it mar-
riage, four are yet living: Philip, Leander, Ara-
minta and Joel. Amanda, the third in order of
birth, died in 1890, in Oklahoma. Mrs. Julia Ann