Adam Yeagley, serving for a term of two and a-half
years. The first year he received o\\\y his board, but
afterward got small wages. Hoping to better his
financial condition by a removal to the West, he
LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
URBANA
%
, fe
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
739
started for Crawford County, Ohio, in 1847,
traveling on foot and canal a distance of over five
liundred miles. On reaching liis destination, he
liad only thirty cents in his pocket, and for a time
he lived on al)Out ten cents per day. Securing a
l)Osition as a farm-hand, he worked for two months
for 4i22, and then rented a farm, which he operated
on shares for two years. Afterward he again
worked as a farm-hand for ^15 per month, and
subsequently rented one hundi'cd and sixty acres
of laud for $100 per year. This he operated for
four years, but he lost about §1,600 through feed-
ing hogs, and thus had to keep on renting land for
about ten years longer.
Mr. Yeagley has been three times married. On
the 2d of November, 1854, he wedded Miss Cath-
erine Miller, of Whetstone Township, Crawford
County, Ohio. She died February 23, 1859, leav-
ing two children who are yet living: La Fayette, a
farmer and school teacher, now of Crawford
County, Ohio, is married and has three daughters.
He is a fi'iely educated man and has completed the
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Course, receiv-
ing his diploma. Alfred C. is married and follows
farming in Benton County, Ind. After the death
of his first wife, Mr. Yeagle}' was married in March,
1860, to Miss Elizabeth Starner, who died August
22, 1885. Unto them was born one son, Edwin,
who is now a farmer. He married, but his wife
died in 18JJ8, leaving one child. The lady who
now bears the name of Mrs. Yeagley was formerly
Mrs. Mary (Strickler) Moore. Slie was born in
Ivingsport, Sullivan County', E. Tenn., and is a
daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Gott) Strickler. Her
father was a native of Shenandoah County, A'a.,
and her mother of Washington Count3% E. Tenn.
At the age of seventeen years, she came to Iro-
quois County. Having acquired a good education,
she began teaching at the age of twenty years and
followed Miat profession for some seven years. On
the 28th of October, 1866, she became the wife of
Tiiomas Moore, who died in February, 1877. Two
cliildren were born unto them but both died in in-
fancy. The marriage of our subject and his wife
was celebrated June 10, 1886.
In 1881, Mr. Yeagley sold his Ohio farm of one
hundiod .ind sixty acres at $72 per acre and
34
bought his present farm of two hundred and sixty-
seven acres at $35 per acre. It is now worth *65
per acre. This sale and purchase proved a [jrolit-
able investment, for land in Ohio has since de-
creased in value, while in Illinois it has increased.
Tiius Mr. Yeagley has made several thousand
dollars. He now owns an excellent farm, upon
which are tliree residences, two barns, and other
necessary outbuildings. The farm is well tiled and
its man^^ improvements and its neat appearance
indicate the thrift and enterprise of the owner
and his careful supervision. Although he started
out in life a poor boy, he has steadilv worked his
way upward until he is now numbered among the
substantial agriculturists of the county.,
JNIrs. Yeagley became a member of the Methodist
Episcopal Church at the early age of thirteen years
and has long been a faithful worker in Sunday-
school and church societies. Her kindly, benevol-
ent spirit has won her the love and esteem of all.
In early life, Mr. Yeagley was an old-line Whig
and cast his first Presidential vote for Zachary
Taylor. He voted for Gen. Fremont in 1856, and
has since been an inflexible adherent of the Re-
publican party and a warm advocate of its princi-
ples.
Srn^iENJAMIN F. HARTMAN, one of the lead-
L>:C ing business men of Iroquois, embarked in
f(®) T '■''^ manufacture of tile and brick in 1888,
^^^ and has since carried on business in this
line. He bought out an old factory, but soon re-
built and put in more extensive works, making
improvements to the value of $10,000. The an-
nual production of the tile factory will amount to
four luMidred thousand tile ranging from the four
to fifteen-inch tile. He furnishes emiiloyment to
about eighteen men and the products of his man-
ufactory, being of the best qualitj^ find a ready
sale in the market. He receives a lil)eral jiatron-
age from the farmers of the surrounding cr)mnui-
nity, who find this business of gieat convenience
to them.
Mr, Ilartinan is a gentleman who does much for
740
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
his employes, and has their entire confidence and
respect. His life record is as follows: A native of
Indiana, he was born in Jasper County on the
12th of May, 1855, and is a son of Charles O.
and Sarah E. (Haddox) Hartman. The Hartman
family is of C4ernian origin and are a long-lived
people. The i)atcrnal grandfatlier of our subject
reached the advanced age of ninet3'-nine years,
and died in Greene County, Ohio, where he en-
tered land in an early day, being among its first
settlers. Charles Hartman is a native of Harris-
burg, Pa. He married Miss Haddox, who was
born in Greene County, Ohio, and comes of an
old Virginian family. For thirty-five years he
successfully engaged in the practice of medicine,
and now resides in Perkins County, Neb., where
he is extensivel}' engaged in agricultural pursuits.
He is a well-educated man and speaks the German
language.
The subject of this sketch was reared to man-
hood under the parental roof. Between the ages
of ten and seventeen years he resided upon a
farm, and then started out in life for himself,
working as a farm hand. He soon afterward be-
gan studying telegraphy in Francesville, Ind., and
at the age of nineteen came to Iroquois and took
charge of the railroad station at tliis place, filling
the position of agent and telegraph operator from
1874 until 1886. He then severed his connection
with the railroad company and began dealing in
agricultural implements, but after two years sold
out that business and began the manufacture of
tile and brick. He is a man of good business
abilit_y and by his own efforts has won a well-de-
served success, which has brought him a comfort-
able competence.
On the 7th of January, 1877, Mr. Hartman
wedded Miss Emma B. Frownfelter, one of Iro-
quois' fair daughters. She was born November
13, 1856, and her parents were Peter V. and
Mary E. (Peck) Frownfelter. Unto tliem liavc
been born five children, namely: Ernia Vera, Clyde,
Vaughn C, Mearl E. and Mar\' Blanche.
Mr. Hartman proudly cast his first Presidential
vote for R. B. Hayes in 1876, and has since been a
Republican. Although not an office-seeker, b3- the
solicitation of friends he has served as Alderman
and upon the School Board. He is a Knight
Templar Mason, a member of the Odd Fellows'
society and the Modern Woodmen, and has filled
various offices in those fraternities. Himself and
wife hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal
Church and are numbered among Iroquois' best
citizens, being widely- and favorably- known
throughout the community. In connection with
his manufactory, Mr. Hartman owns and operates
a one hundred and twenlv acre farm.
i^pf-EBBE H. EIMEN, one of the successful and
fff^^ prosperous business men of Danforth, was
^Vg^ born in Germany on the 10th of March?
1862. His father, Hei Eimen, and his mother,
Luke Eimen, were also natives of Germany, and
died there when our subject was a child. Tebbe
emigrated to the New World with his paternal
grandparents when a child of but five years. They
settled in Iroquois County, locating first in Dan-
forth Township. After the death of his grand-
parents, our subject went to live with a neighbor,
George Klottenberg, and was reared to manhood
under his roof. He received fair school advan-
tages and spent the most of his time in farm work.
When he had arrived at mature years, Mr. Eimen
engaged in agricultural pursuits for himself, and
was thus engaged for several years. In 1881, he
located in the village of Danforth, and there en-
gaged in the saloon business. He has been one of
the active business men of the village for the past
eleven j'ears. Mr. Eimen also owns a valuable
and well-improved farm not far from Danforth.
Our subject was joined in wedlock in this town-
ship on the 9th of June, 1884, to Miss Minnie
Schroeder, a native of Germany, who came to the
United States when a child and was educated and
grew to womanhood in Iroquois Count}'. She is
a daughter of Tobe Schroeder. By this marriage
have been born four children: Hei, Tobe, Luke
and Florence. These children are all receiving
the advantages of a good education, as their par-
ents are much interested in all educational mat-
ters.
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
741
In liis political aftiliations, Mr. Eimen is a sup-
porter of the Democratic part^', but has never been
an aspirant foi' official positions. He is well and
favorably' known in this community and all speak
of his many good qualities and kind actions. His
many friends will be pleased to read this brief
sketch of his life.
[AMES F. MAGtJS, the efficient and popular
Postmaster of Iroquois, was born in Coshoc-
ton County, Ohio, on the 14th of March,
'^^^J 1833, and is a son of Joseph and I<>llen
(Stewart) Maggs. The father was born in Bristol,
England, and with his parents crossed the broad
Atlantic to America when about eight years of age,
the family settling in L^^coming County, Pa. He
was there reared to manhood and married Miss
Ellen Stewart, a native of that eountj'. Subse-
quently, they removed to Coshocton County, Ohio.
The father had learned the shoemaker's trade in
his youth but followed it very little after his emi-
gration to the Buckeye State. He there turned
his attention to farming, buying military land. He
went there in a very early day and experienced all
the hardships and privations of frontier life. He
had to go thirty miles to market and to mill. In
politics, he was an old-line Whig and was a strong
anti-slaver3' man. He lived to vote with the Re-
publican party and saw the beginning of the war
that was to wipe out slavery in this country. He
served his township as Assessor for many years
and was a prominent and influential citizen. He
was a zealous worker and Class-leader of the
Methodist Episcopal Church for many years and
his life was nobly spent. His death occurred in
Coshocton County, in February, 1862.
The subject of this sketch is one of a family of
twelve children, eleven of whom grew to matuie
years. They became widely scattered and he has
lost all knowledge of some of them. Mr. Maggs,
who was the seventh in order of birth, acquired
but a limited education as his sei vices were needed
upon the farm. He worked in the fields from an
early age until seventeen, when he began to learn
the baker's trade in the town of Roscoe, Ohio. He
served an apprenticeship of three years and was to
have his board, clothing and $50, but as his em-
ployer became bankrupt he never received the
money. Going to Columbus, Ohio, he there
worked as a journeyman baker for some time, and
in 1858 he went to Union County, where he was
employed until 1861.
On the first call for seventy-five thousand troops
to aid in crushing out the rebellion, Mr. Maggs
offered his services to his country. He was mus-
tered in on the 20th of April, 1861, as a member
of Company F, Thirteenth Ohio Iiifantiy, and was
at Camp Dennison until his time had expired. He
then returned home and again enlisted February
11, 1862, as one of the boys in blue in Company
F, Sixty-sixth Ohio Infantry, in which he served
until the 22d of July, 1865. The first battle in
which he participated was at Ft. Republic June 9,
and he sa3'S it was the most severe in which he
took part, nineteen men of his company being
killed. He was wounded in the left hand at that
battle but was not disabled for service. He parti-
cipated in the engagement at Cedar Mountain,
was in the second battle of 15ull Run, and was in
the hospital at Harewood, Washington City, D. C,
when his regiment was fighting at Antietam. He
there remained from August until December, 1862,
when he rejoined his regiment at Harper's Ferry,
â– \'a., and participated in the battles of Chancellors-
ville and Gettysburg. He was then sent to Chat-
tanooga under Gen. Hooker and took part in the
engagements at Lookout Mountain, Mission Hidge,
and was in ever}' battle from that time until after
the fall of Atlanta. He was with Gen. Sherman
on the celebrated march to the sea and from there
went to AVashington City, taking part in the Grand
Review at that place, after which he returned to
Louisville, Ky., where he washonorahly discliaigcd
on the 22d of July, 1864.
On the 18th of March, 1855, Mr. Maggs was
united in marriage, with Miss Catherine Nosker. a
native of Ohio, born April 13, 1833. Unto them
were born six children: John, born in Coshocton
County, Ohio; Ellen, born in Columbus, Ohio; Ida,
wife of William Lowe, of Kent, Ind.; Katie, wife
of E, G. Hamer, of Pullman, 111., who is a stationary
742
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD,
engineer in the great Pullman works; Annie, wife
of Frank Darling, of Concord Township, who is an
agriculturist; and Lizzie, who died at about the
age of fifteen months. After his return from the
South, our subject began working as a journe^ -
man baker in Union County, Ohio, where he re-
roained until 187L He then removed to Newton
County, Ind., where he resided until 1878, work-
ing at his trade. That year witnessed his arrival
in Iroquois County and he located in Concord
Township, just south of Iroquois River and near
the village of Iroquois, where he has a nice little
farm of about eighteen acres. In August, 1890,
he was appointed Postmaster and is now faithfully
discharging the duties of the office.
In politics, Mr. Maggs is a zealous and stalwart
Republican. He cast his first Presidential vote for
.Tolin C. Fremont in 1856, and has since supported
the Republican party. Socially, he is a member of
the Odd Fellows' society and of the Grand Armj-
of the Republic, and attended the National Re-
union in Columbus, Ohio. He now receives a
pension of $12 per month. He was a faithful and
valiant soldier during the late war, participated in
many of the most important engagements, and was
ever found at his post of duty, defending the Old
Flag which now so prouiUy floats over the united
Nation.
eHARLES CLASSEN, a prominent merchant
of Danforth, and one of the substantial
citizens of the township, was born in Taze-
well County, 111. His birth occurred in the town
of Pekin, October 15, 1858. His father, Herman
Classen, is a native of Germany, and was born in
Hanover, about the year 1827. He grew to man-
hood there, and was married to Talka Smitii, of
the same place. In 1852, with his family, he emi-
grated to the United States, and settled in Pekin,
111., where he engaged in teaming. After a time
he also carried on a farm near that cit}\ Later,
he embarked in the mercantile business, and in
1870 removed to Iroquois County. Here lie pur-
uliased a farm and devoted himself to agricultural
pursuits for many years. By his industry and
wise business investments, he accumulated a large
and valuable property, and now that he has retired
from active business, he has sufficient means to en-
able him to i)ass his remaining days surrounded by
the comforts of life. He possesses a number of
valuable farms, and has a good residence in Dan-
forth. P'or about ten or twelve years he has rested
from the arduous duties of life.
Charles Classen came with his parents to this
county in 1870. He received such an education
as could be obtained in the common schools, and
much of his ^-outh was spent in his father's store
and on his farm, engaged in the usual pursuits,
toils and pleasures of farmer boys. Before reach-
ing mature j-ears, he had acquired a good practical
knowledge of business, which has been of inesti-
mable value to him in later life. For several j'cars
he occupied a clerkship in a store, where he
learned the practical details of the business. He
first engaged in the mercantile line in Danforth.
This was in 1882, and he commenced business in a
limited way, as he had but small means and was
not able to purchase an extensive stock of goods.
He has built up a large trade, and has an estab-
lished business on a substantial basis. He carries
a large and well-selected assortment of general
merchandise, and has built a large and commo-
dious storeroom.
Mr. Classen was united in marriage in October,
1884, with Miss Anna Lotmann, of Danforth. She
was born in Woodford Count} , 111., and received
her education in Iroquois Count}'. She is a daugh-
ter of Henry Lotmann, who is deceased. Mr. and
Mrs. Classen are the parents of six children, four
sons and two daugliters. as follows: Herman,
Henry, Carl and William (twins). Anna and Tillie.
Since casting his first bfillot, Mr. Classen has
been a suiiporter of the Democratic part}'. He has
never been an aspirant forotfice in anv sense of the
term, and has ahvaj's given his whole time, inter-
est and attention to his business affairs. Mr. Clas-
sen and his wife were reared in the belief of the
Lutheran Church, but are not members of any
church organization. He is considered one of the
leading and substantial citizens of Danforth, and
has ever shown his interest in the prosperity and
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
743
development of the town and surrounding county.
His voice is ever to be heard on the side of law
and order, and in wliatever is calculated to pro-
mote the community's welfare he always takes a
jironiinent and leading part. By liis straightfor-
ward and manly course in life he has won the re-
spect and friendship of all who know him, and is
considered to lie a man in whom his friends can
pl.-ice the fullest confidence.
Wi AMES H. ALDRICH, who carries on gen-
eral farming and stock-raising on section
16, Middleport Township, claims Js'ew York
as the State of his nativity. The place of
his birth is New Berlin, Chenango County, and
the date March 2, 1831. His fatiier, Adonn Aid-
rich, was a native of Rhode Island. He was twice
married, his first union being with Miss Rebecca
Millard, who was born in New York. They l)e-
came parents of two children, Alpheus and Re-
becca. The mother died, and later Mr. Aldrich
married Hannah Strickland, a native of Connecti-
cut. They became parents of five children: Sarah,
Mason, Almira, -lames H. and Mary, four of whom
are yet living. In an early day the family re-
moved to the Empire State. The father was a
Free-will Baptist minister, and was a highly-
respected citizen, whose many excellencies of char-
acter won for him warm regard. He was called to
the home beyond in \Si)3, and his wife, who sur-
vived him about twenty years, passed away in
1873.
Mr. Aldrich, whose name heads this record, was
reared to manhood upon his father's farm, and
acquired a good English education in the district
schools of tlic neighborhood, which he attended
during the winter season until nineteen years of
age. The following year he started out in life for
himself, earning his own livelihood for two years
by working as a farm hand by the month. On
tlie expiration of that period, having accumulated
a small capital by his industry, perseverance and
economy, he began farming for liimself, and some
years later he (lurchased a tr.act of land, upon
which he made his home until his emigration tf>
the West.
Ere leaving his native State, Mr. Aldrich was
united in marriage with Miss Clarissa J. Smith. The
lady is a daughter of Phineasand Sarah (Halstead)
Smith. Her father, a native of Vermont, was born
in 1804. To a limited extent, he attended the
primitive schools of the Green Mountain "State,
but was mostly self-educated. He was reared to
agricultural pursuits, and long followed the occu-
pation of farming. His death occurred in 1873.
His wife was a native of New York, born in On-
ondaga County on the 2d of October, 1810. Their
marn.ige was celebrated in 1829, and unto them
were born two children, a son and a daughter, but
Aurora B., the elder, died in infancy. Mrs. Smith
is still living, and is a well-preserved old lady,
whose eighty-two years rest lightl3- upon her. She
became a z-esident of Illinois in 1866, and now
makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Aldrich.
She is a devout member of the Methodist Epis-
copal Church, and was an earnest worker in the
Sunday-school until increasing years caused her
to abandon that field of labor.
Mrs. Aldrich acquired her early education in
the common schools, and was afterward a student
in the academy at Fayettesville, N. Y. Among
the pupils of that institution was President Cleve-
land. Mr. and Mrs. Aldrich have now traveled
life's journey together for the long period of forty-
two years, and she has proved a faithful compan-
ion and helpmate to her husband. She is a mem-
ber of the Methodist Church, and the poor and
need3- find in her a friend. Their home has ever
been the abode of hospitalit}-, and its doors are
ever open for the reception of their man}- friends,
who are there sure to receive a hearty welcome
and cordial greeting. Four children have been
born of the union of our subject and his wife, a
son and three daughters: Alice, who is now the
wife of George Kennedy, a resident of Texas;
Maria, who was married to George Bui-gess, of
Kansas; Phineas, who was the only son, died in
1880; and Lillian is the wife of Frank Gates, a
farmer living in Middleport Township.
Mr. Aldrich continued to make his home in New
York until the spring of 1866, wlieu, iiaving
744
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
severed all business relations in the East, he came to
Iroquois County, 111., and purchased eighty
acres of improved land on section 16, Middle-
port Township, tlie farm upon which he now re-
sides. He tliere made his home until 1870, when
he rented his land, and removed to Benton County,
Ind. He was there engaged in the dairy business
for a- period of three jears, after which he returned
to Iroquois County in 1873, and for almost twenty'
consecutive years he has made liis home continu-
ously upon his present farm. He is recognized as
one of the leading agriculturists of the com-
munitj', and the neat appearance of his place is
the cause of this well-deserved reputation.
Mr. Aldrich proudl}^ cast his first Presidential
vote in 1856, supporting Gen. John C. Fremont,
and since that time has been a stalwart Republi-
can, but has never been a politician in tlie sense
of office-seeking, preferring to devote his entire
time and attention to his business interests. He
is a member of the Methodist Church, and is a
man of sterling worth who, by his honorable, up-
right life, has won the high regard of all witli
whom he has been brought in contact.
4^
VjilLUAM WALLACE GRAY is a success-
/// ful and enterprising farmer residing on
i section 32, Chebanse Township. He was
born on the Isle of Wight on the 13th of Decem-
ber, 1824, and is a son of Isaac and Sarah (Haw-
kins) Gray, the former a native of the Isle of
Wight, and the latter of Portsmouth, England.
The father was a farmer by occupation, and with
his family emigrated to the New World in 1828.
He settled first in New York City, wiiere he re-
sided for about two years, and in 1830 went to
Ohio, joining a sister at Cadiz. In the spring of
1831 he went to Rush County, Ind., wtiere he
leased a . large farm and engaged in agricultural
pursuits for some six years. He came to Illinois
in the fall of 1837 and settled in Adams County,
which was then a wilderness. He bought prop-
erty and improved il and afterward added to his
original purchase until he had one hundred and
sixty acres. He made of the farm one of the most
fertile and improved in that section and there
reared his family. He is numbered among the
hardy and honored pioneers of Adams County,
where he continued to reside until his death, which
occurred in December, 1855. His wife survived
him several years and passed awa}" at the advanced
age of ninety-four years. Husband and wife are
buried side by side in Coatsburg Cemetery, where
a suitable monument marks their last resting-place.
Mrs. Gray was a member of the Presbyterian
Church, but after the deatli of her husband she
united with the Metliodist Episcopal Church.
AVilliam Gray is the fourth in order of birth in
a family of four sons and three daughters, who