Bureau County Archives – Page 4 of 14

Biography of N. P. Colberg of Princeton, Illinois

History of Bureau County, Illinois Title Page

N. P. Colberg, Princeton, was born March 31, 1842, in the town of Cimbritshauen, County of Christanstod, and State of Skone, Sweden. He is the son of Olof and Cecelia Colberg. The father was a gardener by profession and died in the old country; the mother is yet living there. She is the mother of seven children, of whom N. P. is the youngest. Our subject was educated in his native country. For five years he attended the garden schools and learned the profession of gardener, and for seven years followed his profession in his native State, and then went … Read more

Biography of J. Harvey Coddington of Dover, Illinois

James Coddington, father of the above named gentleman, was born January 25, 1798, in Allegheny County, Md. He was reared on a farm, but after starting in life for himself engaged in teaching and surveying. Much of his early life was spent in hunting, and in that way he gained an acquaintance with the mountains and passes, which was of great value to him when engaged in surveying for the National Turnpike and the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. In the spring of 1831 he came to Bureau County, but soon afterward returned to Maryland, where he remained till 1833, when … Read more

Biography of Henry C. Coddington of Dover, Illinois

Henry C. Coddington, Dover, the son of James Coddington (see sketch of J. H.), was born in the old log-cabin on his present farm August 14, 1850, and has always lived on the old homestead, which he now owns. He has always given his attention to farming, and now has 200 acres of land. He was married December 22, 1875, to Mary A. Pierce, born in East Pawpaw Grove, Lee Co., Ill., in 1850. She is the daughter of Charles and Catherine (Sine) Pierce, natives of Luzerne County, Pa., but now residing at Pawpaw Grove, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Coddington … Read more

Biography of Gilbert Clement of Lamoille, Illinois

Gilbert Clement, Lamoille, who is the subject of this biography, was born June 17, 1815, in Danville, Caledonia Co., Vt. He is one of our few early settlers who came here when this county was a mere wilderness. He was here as early as 1836. His parents, Merrill and Hannah (Morrill) Clement, were natives of New Hampshire, where the former died. The latter died in Hardin County, Ohio. She was an aunt of Taddeus Stevens, the statesman and anti-slaveryman. Our subject is the youngest of a family of eleven children, of whom he and his sister, Mrs. Lydia Hatch, are … Read more

Biography of Adam Cleer of Westfield, Illinois

Adam Cleer, Westfield, was born July 31, 1830, in Merkenfritz, Hessen Darmstadt, Germany. His parents, Henry and Anna Mary (Lerch) Cleer, were also natives of Germany, where the father died in 1850. Mrs. Cleer came to America with her family in June 1854, and died in Peru. Ill., the following September; She was the mother of four children, viz; Mrs. Margaret Straw, deceased; Adam, our subject; Mrs. Mary Weber, and Henry, who was killed on the plains, while on his way to California. Adam Cleer came to Bureau County in 1854, and bought 151 ½ acres in Hall Township, of … Read more

Biography of James T. Clark of Bureau County, Illinois

family. After the father’s death, the widow and her children remained on the home farm and tried to make a living, but with little success. The mother survived until 1876, and died at Cheyenne, W. T. As a poor farmer boy, James T. Clark was not much of a success, and, as he told his mother, he was not cut out to be a farmer. To her query as to what he was cut out for, he replied he did not know; but when the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad was being built through Bureau County, the question was answered. … Read more

Biography of Major Atherton Clark of Princeton, Illinois

Atherton Clark, Princeton, was born near Dover, Ill., September 22, 1839. September 11, 1861, he enlisted in Company K, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, and served with honor till the close of the war. He was in many severe engagements, among which were those of Nashville and Franklin, Tenn., and Tupelo, Miss. He was successively promoted from Sergeant of his company, until at the close of the war he was a Major of his regiment. In 1868 he was elected Sheriff of Bureau County, and after the expiration of that term of office he engaged in farming. In 1882 he was appointed … Read more

Biography of Seth C. Clapp of Princeton, Illinois

Seth C Clapp. deceased, was a native of Northampton, Mass., where he was born in 1812; he died May 1, 1871, in Bureau County, Ill., to which he came in 1835. Here he was a tiller of the soil and highly respected for his many good qualities of head and heart. Mr. Clapp was married twice. His first wife was Asenath Hitchock, a native of Massachusetts; she died November 1851, in Princeton, Ill. His second wife was Mrs. Amelia R. Steel, who survives him. She was the widow of the Rev. Calvin Steel, who was born in 1812, in Vermont; … Read more

Biography of John Clapp of Lamoille, Illinois

This old pioneer was born October 1, 1814, in Northampton, Mass. He came to Bureau County in 1834, accompanied by his brother-in-law, Caleb Cook, and settled in Princeton. In 1837 he was married to Lucy M. Smith, a daughter of James Smith, another old settler of Bureau County. In 1838 John Clapp removed to Lamoille Township, where he bought 160 acres of land at $1.25 per acre. This he improved and resided on it till his death, which occurred November 22, 1880. Mr. and Mrs. Clapp were active members of the Congregational Church at Lamoille, of which he was a … Read more

Biography of Horatio Churchill of Buda, Illinois

Horatio Churchill, Buda, was born in Somerset County, Me., April 1, 1843. He is the son of Asa and Mary (Holden) Churchill, both natives of the same State as their son. The father died in Maine, but the mother in Michigan. They were the parents of thirteen children, all of whom, except three, are now living. Our subject was reared on a farm, but had also worked in saw-mills previous to coming to this State. He came to Bureau County, Ill., in 1867. He was married September 8, 1881, to Miss Mary A. Hodgetts. She was born in Dudley, England, … Read more

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