Lee County Archives – Page 4 of 11

Biography of Elijah H. and Daniel B. Raymond

Elijah H. and Daniel B. Raymond, prominent farmers and stock-raisers, own a well-equipped farm on sections 21 and 22 in South Dixon Township, Lee County, Illinois. Elijah was born on May 11, 1821, in Steuben County, New York, and Daniel on November 2, 1833, in Lenawee County, Michigan. Descendants of early New England settlers, their father, Daniel Raymond, was a War of 1812 veteran. The brothers moved to Illinois in 1865, transforming their farm into a model estate. Daniel married Maria S. Clark in 1834, and they had three children. Both brothers are influential Republicans and active community members.

Biography of Thomas W. Brown of Franklin Grove

Thomas W. Brown, born on August 14, 1820, in Newport, Rhode Island, was a pioneer and respected resident of Franklin Grove, Illinois. Son of Thomas W. and Rebecca (Vial) Brown, he learned the trade of a merchant tailor. In 1839, he moved to Lee County, Illinois, where he initially claimed land and later pursued various businesses, including merchant tailoring and photography. Settling permanently in Franklin Grove in 1856, he became a successful small fruit grower. Brown married Ruth F. Simpson in 1841, and they had nine children. An active Republican, he was Lee Centre Township’s first Town Clerk and contributed significantly to local development.

Biography of Charles F. Emerson of Dixon

Charles F. Emerson, born August 28, 1828, in Castine, Maine, founded the C. F. Emerson Lumber Co. in Dixon, Illinois, in 1867. Partnered with Mr. Anderson in 1868, the firm officially became C. F. Emerson Lumber Co. in 1891. Emerson, originally trained as a blacksmith, pursued a seafaring career before relocating to Dixon in 1855. He married Hannah E. Avery in 1855. The couple, both Universalists, are respected community members. Emerson served as an Alderman and is active in local business and civic affairs, including the Odd Fellows Lodge and the Nachusa House board.

Biography of John Holdren of Compton

John Holdren, a wealthy farmer residing in Compton, Illinois, was born on February 4, 1825, in Mt. Pleasant Township, Columbia County, Pennsylvania. His father, Edward Holdren, originally from New Jersey, moved to Pennsylvania and became a successful farmer. In 1851, John relocated to Lee County, Illinois, settling on land his father had acquired. He initially improved his farm south of Compton before moving to another property in Brooklyn Township in 1863. In 1876, John moved to Compton village. He married Phebe A. Derr in 1849, and they had five children: William C., Eleanora, Edward, Janet, and Sherman J.

Biography of Will1am H. Mossholder of South Dixon Township

William H. Mossholder was a prominent farmer and stock-raiser in Lee County, Illinois, born on March 27, 1841, in Somerset County, Pennsylvania. Son of Jacob and Mary (Flamm) Mossholder, William moved to Lee County in 1854. He owned multiple farms, including an 80-acre homestead in South Dixon Township. He married Catherine Lievan in 1874, and the couple had three children: Nora J., Inez G., and Clinton E. Active in the Evangelical Association, the Mossholders were well-regarded in their community. William was known for his agricultural acumen and support of the Republican party.

Biography of Ernest Wernick of Dixon Township

Ernest Wernick, born July 8, 1832, in Prussia, settled in Dixon Township, Lee County, Illinois, in 1848. A Civil War veteran and self-made man, he transformed his modest beginnings into a successful farming operation, now encompassing 514 acres. Ernest first married Mary Page, with whom he had three children: Henry, Anna, and Mary. After her death, he married Catherine Helfrich, and they had eight children: George, Minnie, Wesley, Oscar, Carrie, Vernon, Bert, and Stanley. A devout Lutheran and Republican, Ernest is renowned for his industrious spirit and significant contributions to the local community.

Biography of John D. Sitts of Franklin Grove

John D. Sitts, born January 23, 1831, in Oneida County, New York, is a longtime resident and grocery merchant in Franklin Grove, Lee County, Illinois. Coming from a family with deep American roots, his grandfather, Henry Sitts, was a Revolutionary War soldier. John moved to Illinois in 1854, initially working in railroading and later in the lumber trade before settling into the grocery business. He married Eva E. Lincoln in 1863, and they had four children: Henry B., Gertie G., Bertha C., and Helen Edna. John has been active in local politics, serving as a Justice of the Peace and a County Supervisor.

Biography of Simon Rhodes of South Dixon Township

Simon Rhodes, born January 12, 1839, in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, is a respected farmer and Civil War veteran in Lee County, Illinois. After serving in the One Hundred and Thirty-third Pennsylvania Infantry, participating in battles such as Antietam and Fredericksburg, he moved to Lee County in 1865. In 1868, he purchased a 120-acre farm in South Dixon Township, which he improved and cultivated successfully. Simon married Mary Moore, originally from Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, and they had six children: Emma, William, Hattie, Fred, Frank, and George (deceased). Simon is a devoted member of the Evangelical Church and a staunch Republican.

Biography of Eli Lloyd of Nelson Township

Eli Lloyd, born July 4, 1823, in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, was a pioneer of Lee County, Illinois, settling in Nelson Township in 1837. He purchased his farm on section 13 from the government and spent over half a century improving it. Eli married Adveanna Anderson, who accompanied him in pioneering life. They had three children: Anna M., Catherine, and Julius. Julius now manages the family farm. Eli also served as Street Commissioner in Dixon and was active in local politics. Adveanna, a well-educated and devout Baptist, passed away in 1891.

Biography of John Mensch of Palmyra Township

John Mensch, born May 29, 1846, in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, served in the One Hundred Fortieth Illinois Infantry during the Civil War at seventeen. After the war, he returned to Whiteside County, Illinois, and later settled in Palmyra Township in 1880. He became a respected farmer and stock-raiser on his eighty-acre farm. John married Lydia Gruver, also from Pennsylvania, and they had eight children: Charles, Mary, Harry, Mabel, Kate, Edward, Evaline, and Iva. Both John and Lydia were active members of the Lutheran Church. John’s parents, Christian and Peggy (Cromley) Mensch, were early settlers in Illinois.

Pin It on Pinterest