Ogle County Archives – Illinois Genealogy

Biography of Andrew J. Myers of Palmyra Township

Andrew J. Myers, born on March 11, 1842, in Palmyra Township, belonged to a pioneering family of German descent. His father, William Myers, and mother, Phoebe Hull, established their farm in Lee County, overcoming early hardships. Andrew married Julia E. Kentner on December 24, 1864, and they had three daughters. He spent his entire life on the family farm, which he acquired in 1872. Known for his integrity, he earned the trust of the community and supported Democratic values, while also being an engaged and educated individual.

Biography of Willbourne E. Paddock of Ashton

Willbourne E. Paddock, a resident of Ashton, was an esteemed and enterprising citizen known for his contributions to the community. He was born in Ogle County on November 8, 1842, and engaged in the mercantile business from 1865 to 1882, often in partnership with J. B. Williams. Paddock owned seven hundred acres of well-improved land in Iowa and was respected for his business acumen. He descended from Riley Paddock, an influential figure who advocated for education and church development. Willbourne’s legacy was built upon a strong family background and his commitment to public service.

Biography of Isaac Earl of Ashton

Isaac Earl, born May 20, 1830, in Canada, is a successful grocer in Ashton, known for his honest customer service. He began his career as a farm laborer in Ogle County before becoming a stone mason. In 1872, he established a grocery business after briefly working in coal and salt. Married twice, first to Cynthia Hitchcock and later to Sarah A. Worthington, he has two children. A respected member of the community, Earl is a Republican, has served as Township Treasurer, and is active in the Methodist Episcopal Church, earning widespread goodwill.

Biography of Jonas Burger of Palmyra Township

Jonas Burger is a prominent farmer in Palmyra Township, owning 110 acres of well-cultivated land. He arrived in the county in 1854 with limited means, establishing his home and progressing from a log cabin to a modern dwelling. Originally from Columbia County, Pennsylvania, he was born in 1824 to German ancestry and came from a family of twelve children. Married in 1848 to Rebecca Loreman, they had eight children, with six surviving. The couple is active in the Presbyterian Church, and Burger supports the Democratic party in his political endeavors.

Biography of Charles Trainer of Ashton Township

Charles Trainer, born on July 4, 1839, in Lower Canada, was a Civil War veteran who later became a successful farmer in Ashton Township, Lee County, Illinois. The son of Irish immigrants John Trainer and Ann Hagan, Charles enlisted in the 60th New York Infantry in 1861, serving in key battles like Gettysburg and during Sherman’s “March to the Sea.” After the war, he settled in Illinois, where he farmed 240 acres of land. Married to Emily L. Plantz, they had five children. Trainer was active in local politics and a respected member of the G.A.R. (Grand Army of the Republic).

Biography of Richard Gooch

Richard Gooch, an influential figure in Lee Center Township, was born in England in 1848 and came to America as a toddler, his family ultimately settling in Ashton. He married Sarah Hodges and they resided in Lee Center Township, involved in their community and church. Mr. Gooch, a Republican, was civically minded, notably in education, and owned a well-cultivated 430-acre farm. They had two children and lived a contented life, acknowledged for their refinement and societal contributions. This account also provided a brief family background, highlighting the Gooch and Hodges families’ journeys and their reputable life in Illinois.

Biography of William S. Brierton

Joseph Brierton, an influential pioneer, settled in Lee County’s Nachusa Township and contributed notably to its development. His son, William S. Brierton, born November 25, 1839, in Nachusa, continued the legacy, becoming a progressive farmer in Nelson Township. Possessing a well-farmed quarter-section, his land boasted modern improvements that reflected advanced agricultural methods. Joseph, originally a Pennsylvanian brewer and blacksmith, had migrated to Illinois for a better life. There, he settled, farmed, and established a smithy, living to the extraordinary age of 96. William’s first wife, Mary E. Stetler, bore him four children before her death; later, he married Anna Hewitt from Ireland. William held no religious creeds, voted for Abraham Lincoln, and remained a staunch Republican. His father’s $100,000 estate was amicably settled, showcasing the family’s unity and fiscal prudence.

Biography of Ithiel A. Horton

Ithiel A. Horton, a diligent farmer from Reynolds Township, Northern Illinois, prospered despite initial hardships, aided by his supportive wife. Born in 1817 in Pennsylvania, Horton was raised in a logging community and educated in subscription schools. Starting with nothing, he worked hard, eventually buying land with his brother. In 1854, Horton moved to Illinois, purchasing and enhancing a farm before losing it to poor circumstances. Undeterred, he made successful investments in Reynolds Township, where he eventually enjoyed a 200-acre fertile farm with his family. Married since 1840 to Polly Brink, they raised six children and were respected Free-will Baptist Church members. Politically, Horton was a steadfast Republican.

Biography of Chester Harrington

Chester Harrington, a respected pioneer, had been a resident of Nachusa Township since 1837. A New York native, born to Rev. Ebenezer Harrington and Paulina Doolin, he came from a line of early American settlers. Chester followed in his family’s agricultural footsteps and became a successful farmer in Lee County, Illinois. He entered wild land and transformed it into a productive farm later operated by his children. Chester married Zerna Chamberlain, with whom he had three children, and was widowed in 1891. A veteran in local politics, he held various offices and was a firm Republican. Now living a retired life, Chester enjoyed the comfortable results of his lifelong labors.

Biography of Josiah L. Gray

Josiah L. Gray’s tenure as Deputy Sheriff of Lee County, beginning in December 1890, embodies a narrative of dedication and service rooted in the heart of Dixon, where he has made his home. Born in 1844 in Ogle County, Illinois, Gray’s life journey took him from the fields of Lee Center as a farmer and skilled house-building mechanic to the battlefields of the Civil War, where he served with distinction in Sherman’s Army. His post-war years saw him contributing to community and country, including efforts to quell Indian uprisings in the West. A descendant of immigrants from Ireland and Wales, Gray’s life story is interwoven with themes of migration, labor, and military service. His deep Republican roots and active involvement in the Grand Army of the Republic highlight a lifelong commitment to civic duty and the values of perseverance and solidarity forged on the front lines and carried into peacetime pursuits.

Pin It on Pinterest