fer boat at Vicksburg, INIiss., is the daughter of
Mrs. Dietz by her former marriage. B3' her union
with our subject have been born two children:
Godlove Orth, who has taught successfully in this
community, is a j-oungman of sterling worth, and
is now a student in Onarga Seminary; and Cyrus
F^dgar.
Mr. Dietz, after recovering from the first two
years of loss on his farm, began to prosper, and
soon had his propertj^ in good shape. He has
802
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
since bought eighty acres of land adjoining, and
has two hundred acres of valuable and well-im-
proved land. He has erected a substantial and
comfortable house and has good barns and out-
buildings. Everything about his farm bears evi-
dence of the thrift and enterprise of the owner.
He is esteemed tliroughout this county as one of
the most substantial and well-to-do farmers of
this locality.
Mr. Dietz is identified with the Democratic
party, casting his first ballot for Stephen A. Doug-
las and voting for every nominee of that party in
Presidential elections since that time. In local
politics he is independent, voting for the man best
fitted in his estimation for the position in ques-
tion. Though much interested in politics and the
welfare of the State and community, he prefers to
give his attention to his farm and own business
affairs, never having asked for or accepted an
official position. Mrs. Dietz is a member of the
Presbyterian Church, while her husband, though
not a member of the Lutheran Church, is inclined
to that belief, though he usually attends the church
with which his wife is identified. He contributes
liberally toward the suppoit of the church and its
enterprises. For twentj - seven years, Mr. Dietz
has been an honored and respected resident of
this State and county, and is held to be a man of
sterling character by all his numerous friends and
acquaintances.
^r^ DWIN HOBSON, a prominent farmer of
IN Chebanse Township, owns a good farm on
1*^—^ ' section 8. He is a native of England, his
birth having occurred in Lincolnshire on the 1st
of February, 1849. He is a son of William Hob-
son, a native of the same shire, who grew to
maturity- theie and married Miss Mary Carleton.
The father was a farmer in England and also fol-
lowed that calling after coming to the LTnited
States. He crossed the Atlantic in 1856 with his
family and settled near Joliet, 111., where he rented
a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits for
about five j^ears. He next removed to Kankakee
County, wiiere for three years he rented and car-
ried on a farm. In 1864, he came to Iroquois
County and bought a farm of one hundred and
sixty acres of raw )>rairie land in Chebanse Town-
ship. This he developed and met with considera-
ble success as an agriculturist. He resided here
until his death, which occurred in March, 1887.
Mrs. Hobson had passed away several years previ-
ous.
Edwin Hobson is the third in order of birth in
a family of nine children: The eldest, Elizabeth,
was the wife of Robert Lutton and is now de-
ceased; Jane; Robert, a farmer on the old home-
stead; Thomas, who is a merchant of Clifton;
Agnes, wife of George Wilson, of Kankakee City;
Frank F., a farmer of this county; Louise, wife
of Louis Van Sant, of Clifton; and William, a
butcher of the same place. One brother was killed
by a threshing-machine at the age of about nine
3'ears.
The subject of this sketch came to Illinois with
his parents when a lad of seven j^ears and grew to
manhood in this State. He had common-school
advantages and remained with his father .assisting
in the care of his farm until he had attained his
majority. He then rented the farm where he now
resides for about five years, and in 1884 purchased
the place. He has a farm of one hundred and
sixty acres under a good state of cultivation, and
his well-tilled fields yield to him a golden tribute.
He has steadily carried forward the work of Im-
provement and development, and his property Is
considered to be a valuable and desirable tract.
It is located a mile and a-half from Clifton, and
on it can be found a pleasant and substantial resi-
dence, good barns and other farm buildings. He
is a self-made man, and has by his own labor, en-
terprise and industry achieved a success and pros-
perity which to-day crown his years of labor.
In CassopollS: Cass County, Mich., Mr. Hobson
wedded Miss Jennie Davidson, a native of that
city, and there reared to womanhood. Tlie wed-
ding ceremony occurred on tlie 31st of December,
1879. Mrs. Hobson is a daughter of Samuel Dav-
idson, a native of New P^ngland.
Our subject has never wished for official posi-
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
803
tions and has given his whole time and attention
to his farming and business interests. He makes a I
specialty of the breeding of fine horses, and has in I
his stables some thoroughbred Kuglish Shire stal- |
lions. He has sliowu marked business ability, and
his wise investments and industry have brought to
him abundant returns. Political!}', Mr. Hobson
has been identified witli the Rei)ublican party
since becoming a voter. His first ballot for Presi-
dent was cast for Hon. Rutherford B. Hayes, and
ever}' Presidential nominee since has received his
support. For nearly his whole life-time he has
been a resident of this county and is well and
favorably known in this community as a man of
honor, integrit}' and worth. He has won the
friendship of all wiio know him and well deserves
to be remembered in this volume.
i^i^e
li^r^HOMAS STl MP, a leading and respected
(('(^\. farmer of Ashkum Township, owns and op-
\^ erates a farm on section 21. He was born
in Clermont County, Ohio, on the 27th of Decem-
ber, 1829. His father, Lewis Stump, was born in
the same county on the 1st of January, 1804,
while his grandfather. John Stump, was a native
of Winchester County, Va., and was of German
descent. The latter, in companj- with three broth-
ers, went west to Kentucky, and after stopping
there a short time removed to Ohio, where they
settled.
Lewis Stump, the father of our subject, grew to
manliood in Clermont Count}' and received as
good an education as could be obtained in the
schools of that early period. He married Eliza-
beth Fitzwater, a daughter of Thomas Fitzwater,
one of tlie early settlers of Clermont County,
who was of Scotch descent. Mr. Stump was a far-
mer and spent his entire life in Oliio, his death oc-
curring there about 1885. His wife passed away
in 1H36. Three sons were horn of that union:
Tiiomas, who is the subject of this sketch; David
and John Stump. David grew to manhood and
resides on the old homestead in Ohio; and John is
a farmer of Douglas County, Kan. He was a sol-
dier of the late war and was in the gunboat serv-
ice under Capt. Perkins. After the death of his
first wife, Mr. Stump was again married.
Our subject passed his boyhood days in tiie usual
routine of farm life and received common-school
privileges. He remained with his parents until
about twenty-five years of age, assisting his father
in his agricultural pursuits. He also ran a thresh-
ing-machine during the fall season. In 1855, Mr.
Stump came on a visit to relatives in Iroquois
County, 111., and decided to make his home here.
He accordingly rented land of Andrew W. Spence
and engaged in farming on the place where he has
since resided. After the death of tliat gentleman,
our subject entered into partnership with Mrs.
Spence and took entire charge of the farm and
business until her death, which occurred in 1865.
He then entered into an agreement with the
heirs of the property, William H. and Margaret
J. Spence, to carry on the farm in partnership.
They have added to the original place until the
property now consists of seven hundred acres of
valuable and well-improved land. It is situated
on the Iroquois River, in Askum Township. When
Mr. Stump first came here the county was little
better than a wilderness and swamp. The villages
of Ashkum and Clifton were not then in existence,
and only a little French settlement could be found
in this section. One could cross the prairie in
any direction for miles without coming to any
buildings, settlements or even fences.
Mr. Stump was formerly an old-line Whig and a
great admirer of Henry Clay. He has been iden-
tified with the Democratic party since James Bu-
chanan ran for President, to whom he gave his
support. Believing in his worth and ability, our
Siibject has been many times elected by his fellow-
citizens to fill official positions. He has served as
Commissioner of Highways, has been Justice of the
Peace for some eight years, and also was elected
in 1861 as Supervisor, which position he filled for
many years. To whatever office he has been elected
he has always discharged his duties willi fidelity
and zeal and in a manner that has merited the ap-
proval of all. He has ever been a friend of the
cause of education, and is a firm believer in our
grand public-school system. He has served as a,
804
PORTEAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
member of the School Board for about a quarter
of a ceutury and is still one of the trusted and
efficient members. He has also been an Associate
Justice for a period of four years. Though never
especially desiring office, he has acceded to the
wishes of his fellow-citizens aud performed his du-
ties most acceptably. He is a public-spirited man
and one who believes that personal and private
interests should be largely put aside when higher
duties to the city, county and State so demand.
For nearly two-score years, Mr. Stump has been a
resident of this State and count}' and has witnessed
great changes in that time. He is one of the hon-
ored pioneers, and is an enterprising, well-to-do
farmer of this locality.
^\ ICHAEL HAUSZ, a prominent and success-
ful farmer of Prairie Green Township, re-
siding on section 9, claims Connecticut as
the State of his nativity. He was born in
Bridgeport on the 29th of November, 1839. His
father, Michael Hausz, was born in Baden, Ger-
many, May 6, 1809, and is still living at the ad-
vanced age of eighty-three years; his wife is
seventy-six. He was reared to manhood upon a
farm, and when a young man learned the trade of
cabinet-making, which he followed in the Old
Country. Hoping to benefit his financial condi-
tion by emigrating to America, he crossed the
broad Atlantic in early manhood. Landing in
New York, he there worked for a time, after
which he went to Bridgeport, Conn., where he
married Miss Elizabeth Heinig. She was also a
native of Germany, and when a young lady of
eighteen years came to this country.
Mr. Hausz continued to follow the cabinet-mak-
ing trade in Bridgeport until 1840, when thej'
moved to New York City, where they lived about
six years, when they started Westward. They
traveled b}' way of the Lakes, landing at Mil-
waukee, Wis. The father at once went to Jef-
ferson County and secured a farm near Ft. At-
kinson, where he has since made his home, cover-
ing a period of forty-six consecutive years. His
life has been an industrious and enterprising one,
and b}' his own efforts he has acquired a compe-
tence, which enables him to live a retired life. In
politics, he is a supporter of the Democratic party,
and himself and family are members of the Luth-
eran Church. Of the children, Michael is the eld-
est; George J. resides on the old homestead; Mrs.
Louisa Widman is living in Jefferson County,
Wis.; and Mrs. Amelia Sherman makes her home
in Tacoma, Wash. All the living children, except
our subject, were born in Wisconsin.
Michael Hausz, whose name heads this record,
was reared to manhood amid the wild scenes of
frontier life in Wisconsin. Indians still lived in
the locality of his home, and all kinds of wild
game were plentiful. As the country roundabout
was all heavily timbered, he early learned to
swing the axe, and became inured to the hard
labors of developing a farm in a new country.
His educational privileges were quite limited. He
attended a log schoolhouse, witli its slab seats and
other primitive furniture, throughout the winter
season when there was not much work on the
farm. At the age of sixteen, he spent the winter
in the High School of Albion Center, and when
twenty-three he attended a half-term at Ft. At-
kinson, and then pursued a complete course of
stud}' in p:;astman's Business College of Poughkeep-
sie, N. Y., from which he was graduated in 1863.
He then returned to Wisconsin and entered a store
as salesman. During the next eight j'ears, he en-
gaged in clerking and in doing business for himself
as a merchant, but the close confinement impaired
his health. He consequentl}- sold out, and in
1871 came to Iroquois County, 111.
October 2, 1867, in Jefferson County, Wis., Mr
Hausz led to the marriage altar Miss Paulina C.
Giese, a native of Prussia, born September 2, 1846.
He had been previously married. Mrs. Hausz'
parents, John and Minnie Giese, were also born in
that land. Eight children graced their union, six
sons and two daughters: Frank G., born in Wis-
consin, married Frankie Dawson and resides in
Stockland Township; Edward M. died at the age
of nine years; Frederick W., born in this county,
aids his father in the operation of the home farm;
August C, Lavisa L., Dora, and Ora and Orrin
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
805
(twins) are still under the parental roof. The chil-
dren received good educational advantages, fitting
them for the practical duties of life.
On coming to this county. Mr. llausz pur-
chased one hundred and sixty acres of laud. Its
improvements were indeed limited. The house
was a mere shell, there were no barns or fences, and
the land was very wet. The nearest markets were
at Sheldon and Watseka. In the twenty-one years
that liave since come and gone, a great transfor-
mation has been wrought. The land has been well
tiled and is under a high state of cultivation,
while well-kept fences divide it into fields of con-
venient size. There are good barns and other
outbuildings, a fine frame residence, and all the
accessories of a model farm. The improvements
upon the place are monuments to the thrift and
enterprise of the owner, who is recognized as a
successful business man and farmer.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Ilausz are members of the
Christian Church, with which they have been con-
nected for ten yeai-s. They take an active part in
its work and uiibuilding, and contribute liberally
to its support. In his social relations, Mr. Hausz
is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Milford Lodge,
and is also connected with the Farmers' Mutual
Benefit Association. He cast his first Presidential
vote in 1860, supporting' Stephen A. Douglas, but
in 1864 voted for Abraham Lincoln, and has since
been a worker in the Republican partj-. He has
never sought office, but h.as given his time and at-
tention exclusively to his business interests, ift
which he ii.is met with signal success. The com-
petence which has crowned his efforts is well de-
served.
ILLIAM H. KENT, of the firm of Cum-
'I mings A' Kent, lumber dealers, was born in
Natchez, Miss., on the 29th of Octol)er,
18.50. His paternal grandfather was a soldier in
the Black Hawk War and was of English origin,
cDuiing from the county of Kent. Our subject is
the sou of Albert C. and Sarah J. (Damon) Kent,
the former a native of New Hampshii-e, and the
latter, who is of Welsh descent, a native of Maine.
To them four children were born: Margaret S. is
now deceased; Albert C. is also deceased; Sarah J.
became the wife of .Tasou L. Gare^-, a farmer near
Dover, Me., and they have one child, Frank K.
The youngest of the family is our subject. Jason L.
Garey was a soldier in the late war as was also the
father of our subject. Thev enlisted in 1861 at
the first call for troops, in Company H, Twenty-
sixth Illinois Infantry, and served until the close
of the war. Mr. Kent was in thirtv-two battles,
and although he had many hair-breadth escapes
was never wounded. At one time a lock of his
hair was shot away by a bullet; at another time his
hat was pierced hy a ball; and still another instance
of his nearness to death is shown in the fact that
his clothing near his heart was traversed by a
bullet. He was in many of the. fiercest and bloodi-
est battles of the war. He often served as a scout
under Gen. Logan and never seemed to know fear
while in the arm^'. Among the battles in which
he participated were Holly Springs, luka, Chat-
tanooga, Corinth, Atlanta, and the siege of Vicks-
burg. He was also in the battles of Mission Ridge
and Chiekamauga and a number of skirmishes in
the mountains. At Little Rock, he was promoted
to a captaincy. He was ever found at the post of
duty and was courageous and efficient at all times.
In 1840, he removed from Boston, Mass., to
Natchez, Miss., where he engaged in the lumber
business for about nine 3'ears. Returning to Bos-
ton, he remained there one year, and in 1850 came
to Illinois, locating at Nashville, where he was
employed as a paintei until the breaking out of
the war. His family during the time of his resi-
dence in Illinois remained in Boston. In 1859,
the motlier came with her children to Nashville,
where they lived for about four years, then located
in Rich view, Washington County.
William R. Kent received a good common-school
education at Nashville, and afterward attended the
Richview .Seminary. In 1872, he learned teleg-
raphy and occupied positions as operator on the
Iron Mountain <t Southern Railroad in iSIissouri
and with the Chicago k Alton Railroad in Illinois
until 1876. He then entered the employ of the
806
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Illinois Central Railroad Company at Asbkiim,
111., where he held the position of station agent
and telegraph operator for fourteen years, and was
esteemed by them as one of their most faithful and
trusty employes. Of his own accord he left his
position at Ashkum and has engaged in the lum-
ber business at Chebanse, where he has been lo-
cated for about two years.
The 25th of September, 1878, witnessed the
marriage of Mr. Kent and Miss Julia Tibbetts, and
one child, Charles, now five years old, graces their
union. Mrs. Kent is tiie daughter of the Rev.
James Tibbetts, of Waterville, Me. Her mother in
her maidenhood bore the name of Ruby Knight.
For sixteen years Mr. Kent has beeu a Mason,
fourteen j^ears of this time holding membership
with Clifton Lodge No. 688, A. F. & A. M., but is
now a member of Chebanse Lodge No. 429. He
is a l03'al and representative citizen and has al-
ways been a man of enterprise and public spirit.
He is ever ready to do his share in the advance-
ment of his fellow-citizens and the community and
is highly respected by all who know him.
m>^r<^
FREDERICK SWIYAL is a prominent and
respected farmer of Chebanse Township,
and owns a valuable farm on section 6.
He is a native of Switzerland, where his birth oc-
curred on the 25th of August, 1842. He is the
youngest of a family of six children. In 1855, he
emigrated to the United States, in company with
his brothers. He first spent three years in Cleve-
land, Oliio, attending the schools of that city, and
tlien on account of his brother David's death in
AVisconsin. he went to that State, and there worked
two years, after which he came to Illinois to work
with his brother Henry in Will County. There
he grew to mature years, working on the farm
in the summer and attending the district schools
during the winter months.
Inspired by love for his ado))ted country, IMr.
Swival enlisted in her defense in July, 1862, at
Wilmington, 111,, becoming a member of Company
A, One Huiuhedtb Illinois Infantry. He partici-
pated with his regiment in many engagements, —
was in the battles of Perry ville, Ky., Miirf reesboro,
Chickamaiiga, Mission Ridge, P>uzzard's Roost, Res-
aca and New Hope Church. He was also in the
battle of Lost Mountain, and was there taken sick
and was in the hospital at Lookout Mountain for
some time. He joined his regiment .again in Sep-
tember and was afterward in the battles of Frank-
lin and Nashville. He received a flesh wound on
his left cheek, which has left a scar, a lasting
memento of his service and patriotism. He was
always found at his post of duty and was one of
the most reliable of soldiers, discharging his duties
with the utmost fidelity and bra veiy. He received
his discharge at the close of the war, in June, 1865,
and then returned to Will County.
For four years after his return home, Mr. Swival
engaged in herding cattle on the prairies of Iro-
quois and Ford Counties. He purchased land
where he now resides in 1866. This was a tract
of one hundred and twenty acres of raw prairie,
and on this he located in 1870. He proceeded to
cultivate and develop the farm and has since
purchased eighty acres additional and now has a
farm of two hundred acres, all of which is good
arable land, and at the present time well improved
and yielding to itsowner a comfortable competence.
Its well-tilled fields and neat farmyard speak of a
thrifty and industrious owner, and all the modern
improvements to be there found indicate him to be
a man of progressive ideas. He has built a good
residence and has commodious stables and other
farm buildings. Commencing his life in Illinois a
poor man, Mr. Swival has steadily pushed forward,
overcoming all obstacles, until success has crowned
his efforts and he is to-day accounted one of the
enterprising and well-to-do farmers of the town-
ship.
In Will County, on the 29th of ApvU, 1866, oc-
curred the marriage of Mr. Swival and Miss Per-
melia Jones. The lady is a native of Illinois, and
grew to womanhood in Will County. She is a
daughter of Harrison Jones, who was born in Ken-
tucky. To our subject and his wife have been
bcrn nine children: Rachel is the wife of AV. W.
De Hart, of Chicago; Emma is the wife of Henry
Perry, of the same city; Lizzie is at home; Fred is
PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
807
engaged in helping to carry on the work of the
home farm; Henry, Olive P., Frank, Clarence and
Permelia are all at home and attending tlie schools
of the neighborhood.
Since becoming a voter, Mr. Swival ha.< been a
Republican, his first ballot for President being
cast in 1868 for Gen. I'. S. (Jrant. Every Presi-
dential nominee of the party since that time has
received his support. He has never sought or
accepted otHcial positions, but has ever discharged
his duties of citizenship in a faithful and unosten-
tatious mannei'. For years he has served as a
member of the School Board and the cause of edu-
cation finds in him a true friend. While not a
member of any church organization, he is a be-
liever in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, to which he gives liberally .-as he also does
to the support of otlier churclie?. Socially, he is a
member of the Grand Armj' Post of Chebanse.
For thirt} - three years he has lived in Illinois and
for about a quarter of a centurj- in this portion of
the State. He has been a witness of its develop-
ment and has assisted as far as he was able to ad-
vance its best interests. He is worthy to be placed
on record as one of the honored pioneers, and by
his upright life he has won many friends.
^JOSEPH WAl)LEIGM,a prominent and in-
fluential farmer, who lives on his fine farm
situated on section 17, is the oldest resident
in Milk's Grove Township. His birth oc-
curred on the 2d of June, 1817, on the Klack River,
Onondaga County, N. Y. He is a son of John
Wadley, a native of New Hampshire. He was a
carpenter, and engaged in the manufacture of
trunks, and also served in the War of 1812. In
New Hampshire occurred his marriage with Miss
Susan Wadleigh, of that Slate. Our subject
adopted the spelling of his mother's name. The
father removed from New York Stale to Ohio
when Joseph was a child, traveling in a wagon as
far as Pittsburgh, Pa. From there the family'
floated down the Ohio River on a flatboat to Cin-
cinnati. Soon after locating there, the father
died, and Mrs. Wadleigh removed to Oxford,
Ohio, with her family, where she lived until her
death.
The f;miily consisted of four sons and four
daughters, of whom Joseph is the only one now
living, and is the 3-oungest of the sons. Jefferson
died in Maysville, Ky. John died in Oxford,
Ohio, and. Jonathan in New Orleans. Abigail de-
parted this life in Ohio. Polly died in Missouri.
Marietta died In Cincinnati; and Jane in Franklin
County, Ind.
Our subject grew to manhood in Oxford, Ohio,