Biographies I-J
| Stephen Ingersoll | C. T. E. Johnson |
| J. L. Jarnigin | John J. Johnson |
| Frederick R. Jelliff | Nels O. G. Johnson |
| Carl G. Johnson | Isaac Jones |
| Charles J. Johnson | William A. Jordan |
Stephen A. Ingersoll. Stephen A.
Ingersoll, president of the Galesburg Coulter-Disc Company, is at the head of
one of the important industrial and manufacturing enterprises of the city,
contributing substantially to its business development. In the management of
this undertaking he displays characteristic energy, determination and foresight,
qualities which have enabled him to overcome obstacles, meet competition and so
control his activities that success in substantial measure has resulted. He was
born in Sullivan county, New York, near Barryville, April 27, 1858, a son of
Abraham and Sarah (Swartout) Ingersoll, who were likewise natives of the Empire
state. The paternal grandfather, however, was a native of Pennsylvania and was
of English lineage. Unto him and his wife were born a son and five daughters,
including Mrs. Sarah Kent and Abraham Ingersoll. The latter was reared in
Sullivan county, New York, and for many years engaged in the lumber business
but afterward turned his attention to farming. Coming to Illinois in January,
1867, he settled near Wenona, Illinois, where he purchased land, devoting his
attention to its development and improvement until the death of his wife, after
which he made his home with his children. He had married Sarah Swartout whose
father, a native of New York, followed farming near Port Jervis, Orange county.
New York. To Mr. Swartout and his wife were born a son and five daughters,
including Peter, Sarah, Eliza, Jane and Mrs. Abraham Ingersoll. As stated, the
last named passed away on the old homestead, near Wenona, Illinois. Mr.
Ingersoll died at Sandoval, Illinois, in 1895, at the age of ninety-five years.
He was remarkable in that his eyesight remained good through his entire life,
never requiring the use of glasses. He was a democrat in politics and while
living in the east filled several minor offices. Both he and his wife were
members of the Congregational church and were ever loyal to their professions.
Their family numbered the following children: Matilda, deceased, who was the
wife of Frederick Nodine; Susan, who became the wife of John Knight and is now
deceased; Eliza, the wife of Thomas B. Kent, of Kalispell, Montana; Emma, the
wife of Charles Allen, of Forrest, Illinois; Naomi, the wife of Peter Marker, of
Rutland, Illinois; Sarah, who died unmarried; and Stephen A., of this review.
The last named was eight years of age when the family came to Illinois, so that
he was reared upon the old homestead farm in La Salle county. The summer months
were devoted to the work of the fields and the winter seasons to the acquirement
of an education in the district schools until he entered the high school of
Wenona. Later he spent the greater part of four years as a pupil in the Northern
Indiana Normal College of Valparaiso, after which he took up the profession of
teaching, which he followed for a time, as he did also the occupation of
farming. He then removed to Marion county, Illinois, where he engaged in the
lumber business from 1881 until 1905, living at Sandoval. In the latter year he
came to Galesburg. In the meantime he had turned his attention to manufacturing
interests and on coming to this city removed the plant to this place. They now
manufacture agricultural specialties, disc blades, plow discs, and kindred
articles. They employ from fifty to one hundred people, according to the season.
Their building is located at the western edge of the city and is one hundred and
forty-four by two hundred and sixteen feet. It is thoroughly equipped with
modern machinery and everything necessary to facilitate the business and produce
an output that will find a ready and profitable sale on the market. The
officers of the Galesburg Coulter-Disc Company at present are: Stephen A.
Ingersoll, president; R. C. Ingersoll, vice president; H. A. Nelson, secretary;
and L. P. Wertman, treasurer.
In November, 1884, Mr. Ingersoll was married to Miss Cordelia L. Gaylord, a
native of Illinois and a daughter of Perry B. and Cordelia (Cowles) Gaylord,
who were natives of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Ingersoll had a family of five
children. Roy C., the eldest, married Lulu Hinchliff. Winifred has spent seven
years in Knox College, pursuing the musical, scientific and classical courses
and is now in the senior year of the regular course. Harold G. was graduated
from Knox College in June, 1911, and now has charge of his father's ranch in
Judith Basin, Montana. Jennie was drowned in August, 1909, when seventeen years
of age. Stephen, who completes the family, is a pupil in the high school. The
parents are members of the Central Congregational church and Mr. Ingersoll's
views upon the temperance question are indicated in the fact that he votes with
the prohibition party. His influence is always found on the side of right,
progress, truth, reform and improvement, and his cooperation may always be
counted upon to further any movement or measure calculated to advance the
general good. His long life has ever been honorable and upright in all of its
phases and he sustains an unassailable reputation for business integrity as well
as for enterprise and careful management.
(History of Knox
County, Vol. II, by A. J. Perry, pages 377-378, submitted by J. Crandell)
J. L. Jarnigin,
a retired farmer, residing at Victoria village, Knox County, was born in
Grainger County, East Tennessee, 15 March 1819. He is a son of Noah and Littis
(Grove) Jarnigin, natives of Tennessee and Virginia, respectively. The parents
came to Illinois in November 1831 and located at what is now known as Gilson
Station. At that place they remained until 1842. Two years later we find the
family in Bates County, Missouri, where the mother died in August 1844. From
there the father moved to Jackson County, in the same State, where he died in
November 1848.
J. L. Jarnigin remained at home until 20 years of age,
receiving a good common-school education, and assisting his father on the farm.
He remained in Knox County for one year and then removed to Missouri, making a
stay of four years at that place, where he engaged in farming. Upon coming to
Illinois he settled in Victoria Township, on section 28, where he purchased 160
acres of land. He subsequently secured a quarter of section 22, and later 40
acres each on sections 31 and 34 and 20 acres on section 23. His residence was
located upon section 28, from 1845 to 1869, when, until 1875, he lived in the
village of Victoria. At that time he returned to the farm, where he passed the
following two years. Desiring again some relief from his heavy farm work, he
returned to Victoria, where he is now residing.
Mr. J. was married to Miss Emily Tapp, in 1839. She was
a native of Virginia, and is a daughter of Vincent and Sophia (Basey) Tapp. The
parents of Mrs. T. came to Illinois and Knox County in 1838, and located on
section 33, Victoria Township, where they purchased 120 acres of land, and where
they remained until their deaths, in 1853 and 1884, respectively.
Our subject and wife have been blessed by the birth of
nine children, of whom we give the following brief memoranda: Melissa became the
wife of Dr. William A. Grove, and is the mother of two children - Pearl and
Grace; Mary L. now Mrs. Peter Ironburg, is the mother of three children, names
Emily Susan and Lucy; William A. Jarnigan married Miss Eliza Breese, and to them
have been born four children, who bear the names of Louis H., Pansy A., Blanche
A., and John; Eliza Jarnigin married Eric Johnson and has bourne her husband two
children - Earnest and an infant unnamed; Ellen Jarnigin became the wife of
James David.
Our subject in political faith casts his vote for the
Republican party. He has held the office of Supervisor, being the first one
elected after the organization of the township, and which position he held four
terms. He has also served the township as School Director and Trustee; was
Justice of the Peace for 14 years and also Town Clerk. He has also held the
office of Assessor for a number of years.
James Wesley, eldest son, when 18 years old, enlisted
in July 1861, in Company K, 47th Illinois Regiment. He was wounded three times
and died in May 1864 from sickness contracted while in the service. He died at
Mound City Hospital, Illinois.
In 1850, Mr. Jarnigin took the trip overland to California. On the return trip
the crew mutinied, and from there went to Central and South America and Cuba. He
was gone nearly two years.
During the war he was a staunch Union man. He made many
speeches and rendered valuable aid in recruiting and keeping alive the patriotic
feeling in his locality and in organizing branches of the Union League.
(Portrait & Biographical Album of Knox County, Illinois, pub. in
1886, page 935, submitted by Pat Thomas)
It was in 1858 that the family removed from Whitesboro, New York, to Oneida, Illinois, where Frederick R. Jelliff spent his boyhood and attended the city schools. In 1871 he entered the preparatory department of Knox College and was graduated with honors in 1878. During three winters seasons, while a college student he taught school in the Dunlap district, northeast of Galesburg, and for three years was a teacher of the first year's work in that institution. He next became local editor of the Republican-Register, with which he has since been associated. At the time he began reporting, Zaccheus Beatty was the editor and Samuel W. Grubb was business manager. Mr. Beatty died in 1896, but for some time prior to his death, owing to his frequent attacks of illness, Mr. Jelliff did the editorial work on the paper in addition to having oversight of the news department. He served as acting editor from the time of Mr. Beatty's death until he acquired an interest in the paper four or five years later and was then appointed editor, in which capacity he has since served. He has seen the paper develop from a small sheet containing no telegraphic news and having a daily circulation of but a few hundred, to one carrying the full telegraphic news of the day, covering the local field comprehensively and the field within forty miles of Galesburg to a remarkable extent and having a circulation of thousands. During all this time he has faithfully try to do his part to contribute to this growth. Since he became reporter both of the men who then so ably conducted the affairs of the Republican-Register have passed away, Mr. Grubb dying several years ago. The present secretary-treasurer of the paper, O. N. Custer, began as a solicitor under the old management and worked his way up to his present position, while George A. Perry, the efficient business manager, joined the paper on the retirement of Mr. Grubb.
In addition to his work on the Republican-Register Mr. Jelliff has been interested in lines of work having for their object the moral progress of the city and its material development. He was a member of the Legislative Council of the anti-saloon league, under whose direction the town went dry twice before the local option law was passed and in the two campaigns under that law, in 1908 and 1910, had a share in directing the battle for the "dries". In his editorial expressions he has been consistent in his support for a clean and wholesome city and for honesty and efficiency in the administration of public affairs. In the Galesburg Public Improvement Association and the Galesburg Historical Society he has served as chairman of the program committees for several years. He has also been a member of the Galesburg Hospital Board from the time of its foundation and during most of its period has been the chairman of the committee on accounts and at present is also a member of the administrative committee. While Richard Yates was governor of Illinois he appointed Mr. Jelliff a member of the Western Illinois State Normal School at Macomb and he has for ten years been a member of that board, serving some of the time as its secretary. Mr. Jelliff is a member of the Central Congregational Church. For several terms he was president of the men's league of the church and he has been a member of the Young Men's Christian Association from the time he aided in its organization to the present. He was one of the organizers, with Dr. John H. Finley, now president of the College of the City of New York, of the Sunset Club and during much of the time of its existence its secretary. A lover of nature, Mr. Jelliff has for years made a study of the geology of the county and has contributed several papers on this subject to teachers' institutes and local societies. His geological collection is extensive and covers a wide range of the country.
On the 25th of February, 1897, Mr. Jelliff was united in marriage to Miss LILLY C. BASSLER, who was born December 11, 1860, to John and Mary (Kern) Bassler, in Galesburg, which place has always been her home with the exception of three years, from the spring of 1874 until the spring of 1877, when the family lived in Burlington, Iowa. During that period she was a student in the Burlington High school. On returning to Galesburg she entered Knox College, from which she was graduated with honor in 1881. While in college she won two prizes, a First and Second, in declamation, and her talent in this direction was afterward freely given to the public at social gatherings and in the temperance work in which she has always been deeply interested. For nine years after her graduation she taught in the public schools of Galesburg and then, wishing to make further advancement in her favorite pursuit, she took a two years' course in the Boston School of Oratory under Moses True Brown, from which institution she received a diploma in 1892. Subsequently her work of teaching was confined more closely to expression, which she taught privately, also in the Galesburg High School, in the Waco (Texas) Female College and in the Oswego (Kansas) Ladies' College. Many of her pupils have taken silver, gold and grand gold medals in the Demorest temperance contests; one received a diamond metal and another tied for the same honor. Her services as judge on declamatory and oratorical contests have been repeatedly sought and rendered. Soon after her marriage in 1897 she became a member of the Tourist Club, which she has served as secretary and president. A member of the Central Congregational Church, she has always been active in its Aid Society, which she also served as president. For one year she was vice president of the Free Kindergarten Association and two of the most successful tag days ever held were due in considerable measure to her efforts. She also took an active part in two successful campaigns for a dry town and she has twice served on the committee of inspection for the Municipal Improvement Association and also on other important committees. A member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, her activity in its regular work has only been limited by her other obligations. The duties conducted with her own home were always placed first by her. The only child born to Mr. and Mrs. Jelliff, Doretta Marie, died April 21, 1899, two days after her birth. (History of Knox County, Vol. II, by A. J. Perry, pages 34-36, submitted by J. Crandell)
William A. Jordan - It has been said when in the battle of life the city boy crosses swords with a country lad the odds are against him. The early rising, the daily tasks and the economical habits of the country boy prepare him for the struggle that must precede ascendancy. William A. Jordan is numbered among those who, reared to farm life, have turned to the city for the business opportunities which they sought, and in the utilization and improvement of advantages which have come to him he has made steady advancement, bringing him at length to a most credible and enviable position in commercial circles of Galesburg, where he is conducting an important enterprise as the senior member of the wholesale grocery firm of the W. A. Jordan Company. He was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, June 19, 1863, a son of William N. and Margaret (Stevens) Jordan, who were also natives of that state. The family, however, was founded in New England at an early period in the colonization of the new world and Newton Jordan, the grandfather, was a native of Massachusetts. He became a farmer, utilizing that occupation in the support of his family. His wife died in early womanhood, leaving five children, William N., Israel, Tain, Lewis and Rebecca. The Stevens family is of Scotch lineage and the maternal grandparents of Mr. Jordan were Rueben and Elizabeth Stevens. The former was born in Ohio, where he died at the venerable age of ninety-four years, while his wife passed away at the age of eighty-seven. Their children were Jane, Prissey, Margaret, Ann, James, Addison and William. Of these Margaret became the wife of William N. Jordan, and they began domestic life upon a farm in Ohio. Mr. Jordan has been reared in that state and devoted much of his life to general agricultural pursuits but had also learned of the stonemason's trade, which he followed in connection with farming. At the outbreak of the Civil War his patriotic nature was aroused and he enlisted, serving for four years. He was first a private in the infantry ranks and afterward became a cavalryman. When the war was over he returned to his native state, where he followed farming and also worked at the stone mason's trade until 1887, when he disposed of his business interests there and removed to Grenola, Kansas, where he carried on agricultural pursuits until 1905. In that year he retired from active business life in possession of a handsome competence, which was the merited reward of his labors. Removing to Kansas City, Missouri, he now lives there with his daughter Mrs. Coleman. His wife died in January, 1892, at the age of fifty-four years. She was a Baptist in religious faith in her younger days but afterward went with her husband and children to the Methodist church. The family numbered beside our subject four sons and three daughters: Colonel Ellsworth Jordan, of Galesburg; Raymond deceased; James L., who is living in Rollinsville, Colorado; John H., a resident of Chanute, Kansas; Renna, the wife of John Crother, of Grenola, Kansas; Lizzie, the wife of Ware Sprague, of Chanute, Kansas; and Margaret, the wife of C. L. Coleman, of Kansas City, Missouri.
William A. Jordan spent his youthful days in Guernsey County, Ohio, remaining on his father's farm until he had attained his majority and early becoming familiar with the duties and labors incident to the cultivation of the fields. His education was acquired in the district and public schools and in 1884 he came to Galesburg, where he entered the employ of Crocker & Robbins, grocers of this city. He attended night school in Professor Barringer's Business College. For seven years he remained with the firm of Crocker and Robbins -- a fact which indicates his thorough reliability and worth -- and at the end of that time he was admitted to a partnership, a stock company being organized with a capital of ten thousand dollars. Mr. Jordon purchased a fifth interest in the business and became manager, but at the end of three years he resigned that position and in 1894 established his present business under the firm of W. A. Jordan Company. He is now president, with F. S. Johnson as secretary and treasurer. The enterprise was established on a small-scale and they delivered goods with a cart. The next spring a second-hand delivery wagon was purchased and the family horse was used for delivery purposes. Gradually, however, the business has grown and its scope has been extended until the house now conducts a large wholesale trade in groceries and fruits, shipping its goods to several states. Mr. Jordan is a man of resourceful business ability, who has not limited his efforts to one line, for he is now director of the E. Z. Trapp Manufacturing Company and is also financially interested in the Wagner Printing Company of Galesburg and other business projects of this city and in the Sun Tunnel, Milling and Transportation Company of Gilpin County, Colorado.
On the 18th of November, 1890, Mr. Jordan was married to Miss MOLLY M. ELDER, a daughter of William J. and Molly Elder, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania and are now residents of Galesburg. The father served throughout the entire period of the Civil War as a defender of the Union cause. In his family are three children who are yet living, Molly, Alto, and William J. Mrs. Jordan was born in Dry Run, Pennsylvania, and by her marriage has become the mother of three sons, Clarence William, Cecil A. and Raymond Elder. Both Mr. and Mrs. Jordan hold membership in the First Methodist Episcopal Church and he is serving as chairman of its board of trustees, while for sixteen years he has been superintendent of its Sunday school. He is much interested in all departments of church work and by liberal contribution of his time and means has done much to promote the growth of the church and extend its influence. He became one of the early members of the Galesburg Club and served on the building committee that erected the present handsome clubhouse. He has attained success without allowing personal interests or ambition to dwarf his public spirit or activities. His is the record of a strenuous life -- the record of a strong individuality, sure of itself, stable in purpose, quick in perception, swift in decision, and energetic and persistent in action. (History of Knox County, Vol. II, by A. J. Perry, pages 36-40, submitted by J. Crandell)
Isaac Jones, foreman of the coppersmith shop of the C. B.&Q. R. R.R. Co. at
Galesburg, was born in Chester, Cheshire county, England, 27 August 1844. He is
the son of Robert and Elizabeth (Davis) Jones, who removed to Wolverhampton,
where the subject of our sketch was reared and educated.
At the age of 14 years, Isaac Jones became apprenticed to learn the
coppersmith's trade, and completed the same in his 20th year. He then followed
this vocation in Wolverhampton for four years, and in 1868 he set sail for the
United States, coming directly West, where he spent a short time in the city of
Chicago, subsequently coming to Galesburg where he accepted the position which
he has since so credibly filled.
The gentleman of whom we write was married at Galesburg, to Mrs. Hannah Elliott
(nee Barry) and has borne him three children - two sons, Isaac and Robert, and a
daughter, Maggie, who died in infancy.
Mr. Jones is a skilled workman, and although coming a stranger to our shores,
has through his professional ability and persistent industry secured for himself
a worthy place among his fellow-craftsmen, and a high position with the
corporation which he represents.
(Portrait & Biographical Album of Knox County, Illinois, pub. in 1886, page
940, submitted by Pat Thomas)
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