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.
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
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
The American plow and the name of Deere are synonymous in the public mind. Neither widespread commercialism inspired by the plow nor its constant development toward perfection by other hands and minds has effaced the intimacy between the inventor and his invention. There is no such close sympathy between Fulton and the steamboat, Morse and the telegraph or others among the pioneers of practical ideas. The living force of most inventors has been in the ideas they have given to the world, but the perfection of these ideas has been carried forward by others. The living force of the Deere … Read more
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
Services at Baker For George (Madison) Emmons (No Name on Paper) George Madison Emmons, aged 80, 1908 Cherry Street, Baker, Oregon, died Saturday afternoon at his home. Services for Mr. Emmons were conducted at 11:00 am Tuesday morning at West and Company Chapel. Joe Jewett officiated. Interment was in Mount Hope. Mr. Emmons, son of John and Martha Emmons, was born in Carthage, Illinois on October 5, 1880. He moved with his parents to Oregon at the age of 5 and had lived in this state since then. He was a farmer in Wallowa, Union and Baker counties. he was … Read more
Claude Luman Steele, who for two decades was an active and prominent business man, of Muskogee, dealing in real estate and farm lands, was born at Paines Point, Illinois, and was the youngest son of John Roland and Adelaide (Grant) Steele, the latter a representative of the same branch of the family as General U. S. Grant. John Roland Steele was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was brought to America when but three years of age, the family home being established in Rochester, New York. After attaining adult age he wedded Adelaide Grant, a native of the Empire state. Removing … Read more
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
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
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
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
WILLSON, Bertha May Todd8, (George H.7, Levi6, Ruel5, Job4, Ithamar3, Michael2, Christopher1) born Jan. 29, 1879, in Rochelle, Ill., married in Aurora, Ill., Feb. 18, 1905, Osbourne V. Willson, who was born Jan. 3, 1877, in Aurora, Ill. Child: I. Eleanor Todd, b. Jan. 24, 1906.
Frederick C. Otto. A prosperous and substantial farmer and a dominating figure in the financial affairs of Riley, Kansas, Frederick C. Otto is also a leading factor in democratic politics in Riley County, at present being the democratic nominee for state senator. The achievements that may be justly credited to Mr. Otto have been fairly won. Deprived early of a father’s protection and assistance, he had, in large measure, his own way to make in the world, and it was through a process of struggle that he advanced for many years only step by step. Industry, frugality, efficiency in everything … Read more
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
Mr. Luke E. Hemenway, father of Charles, F., was born in Shoreham, Vermont, August 7, 1816. His father was Francis S., born at Grafton, Massachusetts, January 23, 1784, and his mother was Clara Turrill, born in the year 1786. He was a direct descendant of Ralph Hemenway and Elizabeth Hewes, who were married at Roxbury, Massachusetts, July 5, 1634. He received a common school education at Shoreham, Vermont. Leaving home at the age of thirteen, he worked in a store at Bethel, Vermont, until the year 1838, when he removed to Grand de Tour, Illinois, where he married Jane E. … Read more
Wettstein, Frank Eugene; banking and real estate; born, Rochelle, Ill., June 6, 1867; son of Otto and Louise Tracy Wettstein; educated, Rochelle High School, class of 1884; married, La Porte City, Ia., Sept. 22, 1896; married Maud Wagoner; issue, two sons, William and Frank Jr.; republican; five years a member of the Illinois National Guard; in 1889, organized First National Bank, La Porte City, Ia.; in 1900, organized First National Bank, Dysort, Ia.; vice pres. and gen. mgr. Guarantee Title & Trust Co.. Cleveland; 1903 to 1908, promoted Gates Mills property; built all roads at Gates Mills; pres. Pease Engineering … Read more
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
John Piper, now living a retired life in Freeport, was born Feb. 7, 1832, in Washington county, Maryland, at the place where, thirty years later, the great battle of Antietam was fought. His parents were Jacob and Anna (Kitzmiller) Piper, both of Washington county, and his grandfather, Daniel Piper, was born February 4, 1780, and died March 3, 1857. He was a farmer and spent all of his life in the above county. His wife, whose maiden name was Brown, was born September 2, 1774, and died July 8, 1851. Grandmother Kitzmiller was born January 23, 1777, and died July … Read more
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.
Enoch Hassebroek. As proprietor of a large general store, at Riley, Kansas, Enoch Hassebroek is a leading factor in the town’s commercial life. The business of modern merchandising is a more or less complex one and experience counts for much. Mr. Hassebroek was carefully trained by his merchant father and for the past fifteen years has been at the head of his own establishment. The modern merchant needs large capital behind him because, an account of the awakened demands of twentieth century customers, he must go to the ends of the world to secure his goods, and he must know … Read more