Ogle County IL Genealogy – Access Genealogy

George Henry Todd of East Wallingford VT

George Henry Todd7, (Levi6, Ruel5, Job4, Ithamar3, Michael2, Christopher1) born June 14, 1851, in East Wallingford, Vt., married in Rochelle, Ill., Sept. 13, 1877, Lucy Brown Prescott, who was born in Burlington, Mass. Mr. Todd graduated from the West Aurora High School in 1871. After his graduation he was engaged in the dry goods business until 1895, when he disposed of it, and became interested in the low lands of the Mississippi Valley. He was the leader of a Company that had huge levees erected so that many acres of inundated land were redeemed. Completing this work he became a … Read more

Biography of Mary Pierce Van Zile

Mary Pierce Van Zile. A very important member of the faculty of the Kansas State Agricultural College is Mrs. Mary Pierce Van Zile, dean of women and dean of the division of home economics. Her name is a household word in many widely separated homes, for each year Mrs. Van Zile has under her immediate care and instruction from 800 to 900 girls. They come from many environments and are mostly in the most receptive period of their lives, and the influence exerted by Dean Van Zile largely moulds their future. Mary Pierce Van Zile was born on her father’s … Read more

Biography of William A. Meese

When that evil day shall come whereon William A. Meese exchanges his 7 1/8 derby of commerce for the starry crown of heavenly reward, doffs his conventional haberdashery of the Mississippi Valley for the celestial cerements of eternal bliss, Moline will pause in its onward march to industrial eminence, consider well this life-time of devotion to the city’s interests, drop a tear of affection for a departed comrade and wonder with apprehension where the half-dozen men are to spring from to take his place in the struggle for civic improvement. He has been for a half-century the loyal friend of … Read more

Biography of John Deere

No citizen in Rock Island County, or throughout the country, was probably more widely known than John Deere of Moline. He was born at Rutland, Vermont, February 7, 1804, and died May 17, 1886. 1805 the family moved to Middlebury, Vermont, where the children attended school in a district schoolhouse, which had a long fire place across the end of the room. The reading, writing and little arithmetic obtained here, before he was twelve years old, was the principal educational start Mr. Deere had for life. He afterwards attended private school for a few months, but the inborn inclination for … Read more

Biography of Mansfield M. Sturgeon

One of the most brilliant and astute attorneys practising at the Rock Island County Bar is Mansfield M. Sturgeon, senior member of the legal firm of Sturgeon. Stelck & Sturgeon, a man whose great ability and profound learning as an attorney has been demonstrated in the trial of many important suits, as well as in sound counsel and legal advice. He was born September 10, 1843, at Letart Falls, Ohio, his parents, being Oliver Hazard Perry Sturgeon and Mary Ellenor (Summers) Sturgeon. The father was born March 14, 1818, at Sistersville, Virginia, the date of the marriage of the senior … Read more

Biography of Charles W. Shinn, Hon.

Hon. Charles W. Shinn. In an able and vigorous service of eight years on the bench, Hon. Charles W. Shinn, now city attorney of Neodesha, Kansas, gained an enviable reputation for legal ability, thorough understanding of the law, wise judgments and unimpeachable integrity. As a private practitioner of law this reputation is still justified, while as a citizen Judge Shinn is numbered with the foremost men of Neodesha. Judge Shinn is a native of Illinois, born May 30, 1854, in Hancock County, and is a son of John K. and Tabitha (Ogden) Shinn. The Shinn family is of English ancestry … Read more

Biography of Harrison B. Oatman

Harrison B. Oatman, of Portland, was born in Courtland county, New York, February 25, 1826. His father, Harvey B. Oatman, died one year after the birth of our subject. One year later he accompanied his mother to Bellevue, Huron county, Ohio, where the family remained ten years and then settled in West Liberty, Ohio. Here they remained four years, after which they removed to Elgin, Illinois, and a few years later to Ogle county, in the same State. The latter place was at this time a new country and here Mr. Oatman commenced life on his own account as a … Read more

Biography of John Fosha

John Fosha, a successful farmer from Silver Creek township, Stephenson County, Illinois, built his wealth through hard work and determination. With land holdings in both Illinois and Kansas, his achievements reflect his industrious nature. Born to German immigrants, he began working the land early, becoming one of the region’s largest landowners. Married in 1856, John and his wife Mina raised twelve children. A community leader and member of the Evangelical church, he has witnessed significant agricultural development in northern Illinois.

Emmons, Leonard- Obituary

Leonard Emmons Services Today Another pioneer of Wallowa County, Leonard Berton Emmons, of Enterprise, passed away at the Don Huffman ranch on upper Imnaha Sunday evening, September 19, 1954. He had been in ill health for the past six years. Funeral services will be held this afternoon (Thursday) at 2 o’clock from the Booth-Bollman chapel, with Rev. John Munsey officiating. Interment will be in the Enterprise cemetery. Son of John and Martha Emmons, he was born at Carthage, Ill., December 8, 1874. For a time he lived in Nebraska but for the past 65 years he had been a resident … Read more

Biography of John Piper

John Piper, born on February 7, 1832, in Maryland, is now retired in Freeport, Illinois. He married Mary Myers in 1854, with whom he had six children, and later married Eleanor Humphreys in 1868, having four more children. A successful farmer and carpenter, he owned over 600 acres and shelled over a million bushels of corn. Mr. Piper was an influential figure in his community, serving as school director and road commissioner, and is a member of the Christian church.

Ogle County, Illinois, marriage records, 1837-1850

In 1960 Robert Steenrod of Belvidere, Illinois, transcribed the early marriages of Ogle County Illinois, from the Marriage Registers volumes A and B. These marriage records cover the years of 1837, when the first record was created to 1850. This book is free to read or download as a PDF.

Biography of Holmes Dysinger, Rev.

Rev. Holmes Dysinger has for the past twelve years been connected with the Western Theological Seminary of the Lutheran Church at Atchison, and since 1910 had been dean of the seminary. He had spent more than thirty years in the work of the church as a minister and as an educator, and had been connected with prominent schools and pastorates in nearly all parts of the country. Mr. Dysinger is of an old Pennsylvania family and was born at Mifflin, that state, March 26, 1853. The Dysingers’ original home was in Southern Germany. They came across the ocean and settled … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dr. H. Hannum

Dr. H. Hannum was born in Paine’s Point, Ogle Co., Ill., March 11, 1854. Attended Rock River Seminary in Illinois; also attended Rush Medical College, of Chicago, and graduated February 22, 1881, after having taken a full course of clinical and didactic instruction during three winters and spring terms of the institution, and received a certificate of honor for the same. The doctor first practiced in Illinois, came to Kansas in April, 1881, and settled in Burr Oak, where he has been engaged in the practice of his chosen profession ever since. He is also a graduate of the Kalamazoo … Read more

Biography of Judge J. M. Gould

In the early days of the west the more favored districts naturally drew to them-selves the men of greatest ambition, foresight, and business sagacity. These sought the fields that held out the most to them in. the way of promise for the future, and settling there, bent their energies to laying the foundation of prosperity for themselves and their posterity. Thus it is that Rock Island County has been fortunate in the character of its pioneers. They were not only of sturdy stock fit to endow their descendants with the physical strength to build up a great community but they … Read more

Fred Arthur Todd of Illinois

Fred Arthur Todd8, (George H.7, Levi6, Ruel5, Job4, Ithamar3, Michael2, Christopher1) born Sept. 29, 1881, in Rochelle, Ill., married in Aurora, Ill., June 12, 1906, Helen Hill, who was born Aug. 15, 1882, in Milwaukee, Wis. Children: 2455. Kathryn Hill, b. March 12, 1910. 2456. A daughter, b. Jan. 5, 1914. 2457. Ruth Constance, b. Feb. 24, 1916.

Charles Jarvis Todd of Polo IL

Charles Jarvis Todd7, (Ambrose6, Jonah5, Stephen4, Samuel3, Samuel2, Christopher1) born June 26, 1800, died May 3, 1859, at Polo, Ogle County, Ill. He was an Episcopal Clergyman. Child: *1223. Harriet.

Biography of Charles F. Hemenway

A prominent and active figure in the business life of Moline, Illinois, has been, and still is, Mr. Charles F. Hemenway, the well known dealer in real estate and loans. Mr. Hemenway was born November 1, 1846, at Grand de Tour, Illinois. His father’s name was Luke E. Hemenway (to whom a special article is devoted in this book), who married Jane E. Marsh, at Grand de Tour, June 23, 1842. The Hemenways are direct descendants of Ralph Hemenway and Elizabeth Hewes, who were married at Roxbury, Massachusetts, July 5, 1634. Their grandson, Daniel Hemenway, was a delegate to the … Read more

Biography of Lewis E. Schuler

Lewis E. Shuler has been identified with Jewell County around the community of Lovewell the greater part of his active life. At one time he was a Lovewell merchant. His ehief interests and activities are as an agriculturist and he owned some of the best farms in that section of the state. Mr. Shuler was born in Ogle County, Illinois, Octobor 10, 1866. In the remote ancestry he is of German stock, the Shulers having come from Germany to Pennsylvania a number of generations ago. His grandfather, William Shuler, spent many years as a farmer in Clinton County, Pennsylvania, but … Read more

Biography of Colonel Elhanan John Searle

Soldier, jurist and publicist, a man of many attainments and widely diversified talent, was Elhanan J. Searle, the subject of this sketch. He was born January 18, 1835, at Royalton, Ohio, coming to Rock Island County with his parents when about two years of age, and died at Rock Island, August 18, 1906. Colonel Searle, or Judge Searle as he was perhaps more familiar known throughout Rock Island County, received his education at the Rock River Seminary, an institution located at Mount Morris, Illinois, and after completing his studies in that school, which was largely preparatory in its scope, he … Read more

Biography of W. E. Taylor, M. D.

Placed at the head of a great state charitable institution, carrying the responsibility for the welfare of hundreds of unfortunates whose reason has been shattered and imbued with an earnest desire to restore his unfortunate charges to health and friends, stands Doctor W. E. Taylor, superintendent of the Illinois Western Hospital for the Insane at Watertown. He was born at Waukesha, Wisconsin, May 24, 1854, where his parents, E. T. and Esibell (Irving) Taylor resided. Here his boyhood was spent, and after thoroughly fitting him-self in preparatory schools, he entered the University of Wisconsin, and upon completing a course in … Read more