| Edwin Nash | Peter Nelson |
| Charles Robson Neely | John M. Nisely |
| William Neill | Mark Noble |
| Oley Nelson | Charles North |
Edwin Nash, M. D.
Dr, Edwin Nash, a physician and surgeon of Galesburg, has there practiced
his profession since 1904 and has won an enviable reputation as a skilled
representative of the medical fraternity. His birth occurred in Chicago, on the
21st of November, 1876, his parents being Orrin and Martha (Heald) Nash, who are
natives of Massachusetts and Illinois respectively. The paternal grandfather,
Hervey Nash, was born in the state of New York and became a railroad contractor.
He and his wife, Mrs. Anna (Swift) Nash, settled in Chicago about 1856 and spent
the remainder of their lives in Illinois, passing away in Gibson City at an old
age. They had quite a number of children, including; Nicholas; Hilton; James;
Hervey; Orrin; Loraine, who gave her hand in marriage to John Carver; Marilla;
and Marietta, Alexander Heald, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was a
native of New York and a contractor by trade. He and his wife, Mrs. Naomi (Pope)
Heald, took up their abode among the early settlers of Lake county, Illinois,
and passed away in Chicago when well advanced in years. Their children were four
in number, namely: Martha, Mary, James and Nelson.
Orrin Nash, the father of Dr. Nash, accompanied his
parents on their removal to Illinois when a youth of thirteen, the family home
being established in Chicago, where he grew to manhood and completed his
education. In April, 1862, he joined the Union army as a private, serving until
the cessation of hostilities with the Chicago Mercantile Battery, Artillery,
After the close of the war he went to Louisville, Kentucky, and followed bridge
building in partnership with his brother for a number of years. After returning
to Chicago he was elected to various county offices and acted as committee clerk
of the board of commissioners for about thirty years. At the present time he
makes his home in Boston. He is a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity and
both he and his wife are Universalists in religious faith. They have two sons:
Wilmar, living in Boston; and Edwin, of this review.
The latter was reared in the city of his nativity and
is a graduate of the Oak Park high school. After leaving that institution he
entered the Chicago Homeopathic Medical College and was graduated therefrom in
1900. Subsequently he spent eighteen months as interne in the Cook County
Hospital and then devoted another year to study in Rush Medical College, of
which institution he is likewise a graduate. He first located for practice in
Chicago but in 1904 came to Galesburg and has here since remained, his patronage
steadily increasing as he has demonstrated his skill and ability in coping with
the intricate problems which continually confront the physician in his efforts
to restore health and prolong life. Through his membership in the Knox County
Medical Society and the Illinois State Medical Society he keeps in close touch
with the progress which is constantly being made by the profession.
On the 2d of October, 1902, Dr. Nash was united in
marriage to Miss Jessie Scofield, a native of Rock county, Wisconsin, and a
daughter of George and Sarah (Hurd) Scofield, who were also born in that state.
The father passed away in Janesville, Wisconsin, but the mother still survives
and makes her home at that place. They had seven children, namely: Mitta, Clara,
Willis, Elma, Jessie, Bertha and Floy. Silas Hurd, the maternal grandfather of
Mrs. Nash, was a native of New York, became a farmer and miller by occupation
and took up his abode among the early settlers of Rock county, Wisconsin. Dr.
and Mrs. Nash have two children, Edwin and Lois.
Since age conferred upon him the right of franchise Dr.
Nash has supported the men and measures of the republican party, believing that
its principles are most conducive to good government. In religious faith both he
and his wife are Universalists. Though yet a young man, he has already attained
a creditable position in professional circles, while the salient characteristics
of his manhood are such as have brought him the warm regard of those with whom
he has been otherwise associated. (History of Knox County, Vol. II, by
A. J. Perry, page 299-300, submitted by J. Crandell)
Charles Robson
Neely - The agricultural interests of
Knox County find a worthy representative in Charles Robson Neely, who is now engaged in
farming in Sparta township. He is one of the native sons of this locality, having
been born May 9, 1849, upon the farm which is now his home. His father, James
Neely, was a native of Cayaga County, New York, born September 6, 1806. He early
began earning his own livelihood and as a boy drove a horse on the canal. He was
about thirty-two years of age when in 1838 he left the Empire State and came with
his family to Illinois, settling at Log City. Later he removed to Henderson and was
employed at packing pork by J. Gay for ten years. On the expiration of that period
he removed to what is now the Neely homestead farm, then a tract of wild prairie land
practically destitute of improvements. With characteristic energy he began to break
the sod and till the soil and as the years passed he converted the place into productive
fields which he cultivated up to the time of his death, on the 27th of June, 1894.
It was on November 2, 1836, in New York, that he married Miss SABRINA ARNOLD, a native of
the Empire State. In the family of Mr. and Mrs. James Neely were nine children, of
whom five are yet living: Mandeville, who is now retired in Galesburg; Lucy, the widow of
Dr. Vivian, of Galesburg; and Charles Robson, of this review. Another member of the
family who reached adult age was Maria.
At the usual age Charles Robson Neely began his education in the
public schools and when his textbooks were put aside he devoted all of his time to the
work of the farm, remaining with his parents until they were called to their final rest.
He is busily employed in the cultivation and development of the fields and is also
engaged in stock-raising on a farm he and his father purchased several years ago, both
branches of his business proving profitable. The farm presents a neat and attractive
appearance, everything about the place indicating his careful supervision and progressive
methods.
On the 5th of October, 1871, Mr. Neely was united in marriage to
Miss MARY J. DELONG, who was born July 28, 1850, at Center Point School House, of this
county. Her father, Marshall P. DeLong was a native of Addison County, Vermont, born
June 14, 1826, and in 1836, when a lad of nine years, he came with his parents to
Illinois, the family settling at what was then Log City in Henderson township.
For some time he engaged in teaching school as well as in farming. The
purchase of land made him owner of seventy-seven acres in Sparta Township upon which he
resided until 1886, when he took charge of the county poor farm, there residing to the
time of his death, which occurred in 1892, when he was sixty-six years of age. He
had been somewhat prominent in public affairs for many years. For a long period he
had served on the school board and was also postmaster at Center Point, Illinois.
For a quarter of a century he filled the office of justice of the peace, to which position
he was elected in 1861, his long continuance therein being proof of the thoroughness and
impartiality of his decisions. For many years he held the office of supervisor and
in 1886 he was appointed superintendent of the Knox County poor farm, which position he
filled until his demise. He was also a member of the agricultural board of Knox
County for a number of years and during three years of that time was its president.
In early manhood he had wedded Mary Harding, who was born April 7, 1831, in the state of
New York, a daughter of Jones and Mary (Rowley) Harding, who removed westward in 1837,
settling in Knox County near Galesburg. Mary Rowley was born in Westport, New York,
December 20, 1805, and was married to Jones Harding April 21, 1825. Jones Harding
was a large land owner of this county and became one of the prominent farmers of his
district. He was born at Rome, New York, December 11, 1799, and died August 11,
1896. Marshall P. DeLong was a son of Julius DeLong, who was a shoemaker and tanner
and married Julina Sanford. Julius DeLong died August 22, 1870, when he was
sixty-eight years of age, and his wife, who was born in 1806, passed away March 6,
1871. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall P. DeLong were the parents of a son and two daughters,
the brother of Mrs. Neely being Walter Delong, who is now in the transfer business in
Galesburg. The sister is Hattie, the wife of Addison Hastie, an attorney of Seattle
Washington. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Neely were born four children: Arthur M.
who married Mattie Crandall and is a motorman on the Rock Island Southern Railway and
lives in Monmouth; W. D., who married Henrietta Newton and is assistant postmaster of
Butte, Montana; Cora A., the wife of Guy D. Root of Galesburg; and James Ray, who is at
home with his parents.
Charles R. Neely holds membership in Galesburg Camp, No. 667, M.
W. A. and his political support is given to the republican party but he has never sought
nor held political office. He has, however, served as a member of the school board
for fifteen years and is now acting as its president. His long connection with his
office indicates his deep interest in the cause of education and his efforts toward
advancing the high standard of the schools have been far-reaching and beneficial.
His influence has always been found on the side of progress and improvement, whether in
public affairs or in private life. The more progressive spirit is manifest in his
business interests and finds tangible evidence in the methods which he follows in carrying
on the work of the farm. (History of Knox County, Vol. II, by A. J. Perry,
pages 1028-1032, submitted by J. Crandell)
John M. Nisely - John M. Nisely, who for a quarter of a century or more as a banker of Knoxville has done much to sustain the financial stability of the county and by honorable and progressive methods has won for himself a position among the representative citizens of this section, was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, near Chambersburg, November 26, 1840. He was one of the nine children of Joseph and Mary (Schwartz) Nisely, who were also natives of the Keystone state. The paternal grandfather was of German descent and both he and his wife spent their last days in Pennsylvania. Of their children two came to Illinois -- Joseph and Herman, the latter settling in LaSalle County, where he died. The maternal grandfather of John M. Nisely was Daniel Schwartz, a native of Franklin County, Pennsylvania, who devoted his life to farming. With his wife, Mrs. Katherine Schwartz, he removed westward, becoming pioneers of Knox County, Illinois. They settled in Knoxville, Mr. Schwartz purchasing a tract of land on section 31, Knox Township, although they lived in the village. Both he and his wife were more than eighty years of age when they were called to their final rest. In their family were seven children, Mary, Christian, Susanna, Daniel, Samuel, John and Catharine.
Joseph Nisely, father of John M. Nisely, was reared in Pennsylvania and, being left an orphan when but nine years of age was bound out to learn the cabinet maker's trade, his apprenticeship covering almost the remaining period of his minority. He worked at the trade until the spring of 1843, when he sought a home in the middle west, making his way to Knox County, Illinois, and taking up his abode upon a farm on section 31, Knox township. With characteristic energy he began to till the soil and transform the wild prairie into productive fields. Year by year the work was carried on with success and he had wrought a marked transformation in the appearance of the farm when on the 2nd of January, 1860, he passed away, at about the age of sixty years. His wife long survived him and died in 1894, at the age of eighty-five years. When in Pennsylvania they held membership in the German Reformed Church but as there was no organization of that nomination in this county Mr. Nisely afterward became a Lutheran, while his wife placed her membership in the Presbyterian church. They were the parents of nine children of whom seven reached years of maturity, namely: Daniel W. and Abraham, both now deceased; Elizabeth, the deceased wife of Thomas Turney; Samuel, who has passed away; John M.; Mary, deceased, who was the wife of Orlando Case; and Ellen, the wife of Thomas J. Scott, of Galesburg.
John M. Nisely has been continuously a resident of Knox County since 1843, or for sixty-eight years. His youthful days were spent upon his father's farm and his education was acquired in the district schools and in the Knoxville public schools. When not busy with his textbooks he worked in the fields and gained practical experience in the best methods of tilling the soil, so that he was well qualified to engage in farming on his own account after he had attained his majority. For twelve or fifteen years thereafter he cultivated the old home farm as a renter and he later purchased it, but eventually disposed of the property and came to Knoxville, where he lived retired for a time. Indolence and idleness, however, are utterly foreign to his nature and, not content without some occupation or business interest, he turned his attention to banking in 1885, opening a private bank, which he has since conducted, having now a well appointed establishment on the south side of the square. Knowing that the bank prospers most which most carefully safeguards the interests of its depositors, he has conducted his business upon a conservative basis and has made the establishment one of the thoroughly reliable financial institutions of the county.
On the 19th of December, 1889, Mr. Nisely married Miss KATE C. RUNKLE, of Peoria County, Illinois, where her birth occurred. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Runkle, were natives of the state of New York, but removed westward when Peoria County was largely a frontier district. They became identified with farming interests there and both passed away on the old homestead farm. Both Mr. and Mrs. Nisely are widely and favorably known not only in Knoxville but throughout the county, where they have a circle of friends almost coextensive with the circle of their acquaintance. Mr. Nisely was made a Mason in 1882 and has always been loyal to the teachings and tenets of the craft. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and for two or three terms he has been a member of the city council, in which connection he has exercised his official prerogatives and support of various progressive public measures. His cooperation can always be counted upon to further any project for the general good and as a man and citizen he stands high in the community. His success indicates the wide use which he has made of his time and opportunities, for in the careful management of his farming interests and of his banking activities he has won substantial success and the most envious cannot grudge him his prosperity, so worthily has it been gained. (History of Knox County, Vol. II, by A. J. Perry, pages 28-30, submitted by J. Crandell)
CHARLES D. NORTH.
Prominent in financial as well as agricultural circles in Knox
County, Charles D. North, prisident of the Bank of Yates City and owner of one
of the finest farms in Elba township, resides four miles north of Yates City.
Born in Pendleton County, Virginia, October 8, 1844, he was a son of Thomas J.
North, whose birth occurred in 1801, in Loudoun county, Virginia, whither Caleb
North, the great-grandfather of our subject, had come from Ireland, leaving
there May 1 1729 and landing here July 20. George North, the grandfather, was
born in 1751 and was an officer in the Revolutionary war. Thomas J. North was a
miller by trade and followed this occupation in Virginia until 1875, when he
removed to Yates City, Illinois, and lived retired, dying here several years
later. He married Eliza Hinkle, who was a daughter of Jesse Hinkle, a Methodist
Episcopal preacher. The Hinkle family are of Dutch origin and the first ancestor
to come to this country was Anthony Jacob Hinkle, who settled in Virginia. To
Mr. And Mrs. Thomas J. North fourteen children were born, of whom three are now
living, Sarah K., Thomas G., and Charles D.
Charles D. North obtained his
education in Virginia and on leaving school enlisted in the army with the
Sixty-second Virginia Cavalry, under the command of Fitzhugh Lee, and served
during the last three years of the war. He took part in some of the important
engagements and was wounded three times. When the war was over, he settled in
Knox county in 1866 and engaged in the cultivation of the soil, first renting
land and, later on, purchasing a tract of his own. He made a number of purchases
at various times and now he and his wife own three hundred and twenty acres,
upon which their home is situated, and another tract of three hundred and twenty
acres six miles north of Yates City, besides thirty acres located six miles
north of Yates City and thirty-six acres three miles from the home place. Mr.
North is the president of the Bank of Yates City, of which L. A. Lawrence is the
vice president and Jack Mason the cashier, and he is likewise the owner of a
one-fourth interest in the National Coal Company of Middle Grove, which is
capitalized for fifty thousand dollars.
Charles D. North came to
Yates City on the 20th of March, 1866, and there was married, on the 22d of
December, 1875, to Mary Sophia Nicholson, the only child of James H. and
Catharine (King) Nicholson. They have resided on their present farm near Yates
City since 1877. In their family were the following children: Adah Katharine,
born September 15, 1877; Ralph Nicholson, born August 20, 1879; Earl James
Hasbrouck, born January 25, 1881; Carl Clinton, born May 25, 1882, who was
married to Edith Victoria Slayton, January 26, 1910; Harold Edward, born July
25, 1884; and Elsie Louise, born June 9, 1889. All the sons are engaged in
agricultural pursuits with the exception of Harold, who is bookkeeper in the
Bank of Yates City.
Since exercising the right of
franchise Mr. North has been affiliated with the democratic party and has served
as road commissioner and for twenty-five years as school director. He is a
member of the Universalist church and in the conduct of his life exemplifies its
principles of open-mindedness and truth as well as the lofty ideals of the
Masonic order to which he belongs, being a member of the blue lodge and the
chapter of Yates City and of the commandery at Galesburg. Mr. North possesses
singular force of will and the power to execute whatever enterprises he chooses
to undertake, and it is his determination and his fearlessness in meeting
obstacles that have won for him his remarkable success in life.
(History of
Knox County, Vol. II, by A. J. Perry, pages 738 & 741, submitted by
Ken Morse)
Peter S. Nelson is a prominent
farmer and the Assessor of Henderson Township, located on section 20 and
possessing a well cultivated farm. He first came to Knox County in June 1854,
having previously resided in Chicago for one year after his arrival from Sweden.
In the old country he had occupied himself with farm work and had become
skillful in his calling. After his arrival in Galesburg in 1854, he for a short
time made that place his home, when he proceeded to Cameron, in Warren County,
and worked at basket-making. Here he remained one year and then took up his
location in Knoxville, where he worked for one season at his trade and from
thence proceeded to Bishop Hill in Henry County, where he remained two months.
We next find Mr. Nelson in Henderson Grove, Knox
County, where he was occupied two years cutting timber and also was engaged in
the lumber business. Having saved about $300, he went to Minnesota and bought a
claim of 150 acres. Here he remained for about one year, but not succeeding in
obtaining employment and his means falling short, he was able to pay for but 80
acres of the land purchased. He now decided on returning to Illinois, and
working so as to obtain more money. He soon returned to Minnesota and managed to
hold his land for fifteen years, when he sold it without much profit through the
operation. Returning to Knox County about the year 1860, he again engaged in
farming, at which he became successful. Continuing at this occupation for five
years he went to Altona in 1865 and engaged in the grain and milling business
and in about two years lost all his money, amounting to $7,500. We next find him
in Bureau County, Illinois, where he commenced ditching, in the employment of
the county, and in one season recovered $3,500 from his contracts. Returning
then to Henderson Grove, he settled there and is now the owner of 154 acres in
Knox County and 125 in Warren County. The most of this is tillable land, and on
the farm which he occupies he has erected a suitable dwelling house and farm
buildings.
Mr. Nelson is one of those hardworking, whole-souled,
generous men, who, by their own self-reliance and industry, have shaped their
own fortunes and helped to build up the country of which they are citizens. He
has twice visited his native Sweden, once in 1867, and again in 1877. On sailing
to Europe the second time he was in the same vessel with General Grant, and had
many interesting talks with the "Old Commander." He remained in Sweden with his
family several months.
Our subject was born on the 15th of July, 1835, and
received a good common-school education in his native country, and was pursuing
his studies the winter before coming to America. He was married in Chicago,
March 14, 1863, to Nellie Gibson, also a native of Sweden, born March 14, 1842.
By this union there were eight children- Charles A., Frank E., George B., Hattie
A., Noble M., Lillie E., George B., and Hattie. The first George B. and Hattie
A. are deceased; Charles A. is married to Kate Peterson, and is a resident of
Galesburg. While living in Altona, Mr. Nelson held the office of Justice of the
Peace, the duties of which he performed with exemplary efficiency. During the
spring of 1885, he was elected Assessor of Henderson Township. His politics are
Republican, and he is an uncompromising and firm advocate of that party's
interests.
This notice ought not to close without recording the
fact that Mrs. Nelson's parents came to America in 1853, and at present reside
in New Windsor, Mercer County, Illinois. Our subject has constructed a very fine
artificial pond on his farm, which is well stocked with German carp. He is a
wide-awake, progressive farmer and possesses a fine library. His motto is, "Duty
first and other good things will follow." He is one of the best informed and
most highly respected citizens of this township.
The parents of Mr. Nelson came to this country in 1854
and settled in this county. They departed from this world, the mother in 1865.
the father in 1866. They are both buried at Knoxville.
We take pleasure in presenting a view of the residence
of Mr. Nelson in this volume.
(Portrait & Biographical Album of Knox County, Illinois, pub. in
1886, pages 463-464, submitted by Pat Thomas)
William A. Neill. One of the wealthiest and most
influential farmers of Cedar Township, owning an extensive property on section
27, is William A. Neill, spoken of at the head of this notice. He is a breeder
of fine stock, including Polled Angus cattle, and among them 29 thorough-breds
and grades. He makes a specialty of fine blooded-stock, and paid $1,600 for two
calves, the finest of their breed, with which to start this branch of business.
He owns 150 acres of land in a high state of cultivation, on which stands a
handsome residence, convenient and attractive. Every improvement has been
devised to make Pleasant View Farm, by which his place is known, a desirable
home. Mr. Neill was born in Morrow County, Ohio, 13 March 1847, and is the son
of Josiah and Justine A. (Ashton) Neill. The former parent was born in
Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1812 and his demise occurred 21 January 1872,
the birth of the latter occurred in Columbia County, Ohio, 23 July 1818. The
mother still lives, making her home in the State of Ohio. Her marriage with Mr.
Neill occurred in 1840, in that State, the issue of which was seven children:
Phebe E., Richard T., Omar D., William A., Barak, Jonathan W., and Mary W., all
of whom are living at the present writing.
The union of Mr. William A. Neill, our subject with Lucy T., the daughter of
Thomas Mount, occurred 26 March 1874. She was born in 1854, and after entering
her new home and enjoying for a short season the pleasant associations that
clustered around the fire side of the newly married pair, she departed this life
12 June 1876, leaving in the care of the bereaved husband one child, a son, who
was born 2 May 1875, and who passed away from earth the September following his
mother’s death. Two years previously, to a day, occurred the death of Mrs.
Neill’s sister, of the same dread disease, consumption, which so early deprived
her of life and home. When a little girl Mrs. Neill was converted to the
Christian religion, and received as a member of the Church in good and regular
standing, but during the interval between that age and womanhood, she let slip
some of the strong faith of her early profession. Possessed of a true and loving
disposition, and noble, unselfish attributes, she endeared herself to friends
and neighbors, and before passing from earth regained the unquestioning
confidence and love of childish years, closing her eyes to things of earth
without a fear, her last words being “Tell father to meet me in Heaven.”
On the 4th of July, 1877, Mr. Neill contracted a second matrimonial alliance.
Miss Harriet M. Whittaker, of Indian Point Township, Knox County, being the
other party. She was born in Clinton County, Ohio, and died 14 May 1878, 18
days after the birth of her son, Emis Omar, born 26 April 1878. She was a
devoted member of the Christian Church, at Abingdon, Illinois, was in
disposition extremely affectionate and confiding, and the pet of the
neighborhood as well as a devoted faithful wife. She was a daughter of Ephraim
and Mary Whittaker, into whose home Mr. Neill removed in the hour of his great
bereavement. He closed his house and placed his child under the guardianship of
her parents, who by devoted care and attention brought the little boy to the
years of healthful childhood. He remained with them 17 months.
Mr. Neill’s union with Miss Cornelia J. Hurshaw of McDonough County, occurred
22 August 1880, and to him she has bourne three children, namely: Catherine J.,
born 23 May 1881; Mary E., 9 March 1883 and Samuel J., 21 April 1885. She is the
daughter of Samuel and Catherine (Bottenburg) Hurshaw, both natives of Ohio. The
parents of the former removed to Indiana when he was a small boy, from which
place they removed to McDonough County when he was 13 years of age. His wife was
born in the State of Illinois; the union being productive of six children,
namely: Jacob A., Nancy J., Sarah E. T., Mary E., Henry L., and Neely, the
present wife of Mr. Neill. Mr. Hurshaw lived near Prairie City 23 years, the
removed to Industry Township, McDonough County, where he now lives.
Mr. Neill experienced religion at the age of 24 years, and his wife accepting
the Word of Live as found in Christ, Jesus, identified herself with the Free
Methodist Episcopal Church, of which she is a consistent member. Of educational
advantages Mr. Neill has been deprived in no way; he attended school at Mt. Hesper, Ohio, and Central College for several years, and in 19 November 1870,
came to Abingdon and began his labors as a pedagogue in District No. 6, Cedar
Township, where he continued six months, removing next to an adjoining district
in Warren County, where he labored nine months. At the end of this time his
services were re-engaged, and he remained there five years, returning
subsequently to District No. 6, where he again taught 16 months, closing his
labors in school work, he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, at
which he has since continued.
He is a clear-minded, thinking man, formerly a republican but at present time
a supporter of the Prohibition party. He claims his first religious impression
was received while reading his morning lesson in the day school, but he was
formerly educated in Quaker religion. Later he joined the Methodist Episcopal
Church, but is at this time an active member and class leader of the Free
Methodist Episcopal Church.
(Portrait & Biographical Album of Knox County, Illinois, pub. in
1886, pages 202-203, submitted by Pat Thomas)
Mark Noble. This gentleman is an
extensive farmer, residing on section 36 of Henderson Township. He emigrated in
this county in 1868, settling the following February in Galesburg. He returned,
however, to Henderson Township, where he purchased 240 acres of very desirable
land on sections 35 and 36, where he has since made his home. His land is of
excellent quality and every acre tillable. He has 13 head of horses and 45 head
of cattle, and fattens upwards of 100 hogs annually. He was born in Venango
County, Pennsylvania, on the 22nd of January, 1826. He lived in his native
county until he was 40 years old, engaged in agricultural pursuits and the
lumber business.
In his younger days he was ardently devoted to hunting
and fishing and looks back with pride to those days of trial and skill. On
leaving Pennsylvania he removed to Livingston County, New York, and located in
the Genesee Valley, where he purchased a farm from Colonel Honsford. He lived in
that county three years, when he sold his farm and came to Knox County, where he
has since resided.
On 12 October 1852, in Clarion county, Pennsylvania, he
married Lydia Zellars, who was a native of that county, born 4 February 1830. By
this propitious union there were ten children - Susan I., John B., Eva E., Julia
A., Harley G., Mark, Hattie M., Jessie B., and Francis D. One died in infancy.
Susan I. is the wife of Charles Shepard and is now a
resident of Peoria. John B. married Allie Morrison and resides in Mt. Pleasant,
Iowa; they have two children - Maud and Fern. Julia is the wife of J.C. Parsons
and resides in Henderson Township. All the other children are at home.
Mr. Noble, while a resident of Pennsylvania, held the
office of Constable and Collector, and since his residence in Knox County, has
been School Director and Pathmaster.
His parents were Mark and Susan (Bush) Noble, natives
of Connecticut and New York respectively. The father first settled in New York
State and subsequently moved to Pennsylvania, where he died. His wife's parents
were John and Elizabeth (Kessler) Zellars, natives of Switzerland and Germany
respectively. They died in Venango County, Pennsylvania, her father being within
two days of 100 years old.
Mr. Mark Noble is a substantial Republican and a
thoroughly representative man. In politics his thoroughness and adhesion to
principle have won him the respect and trust of a large circle of friends.
(Portrait & Biographical Album of Knox County, Illinois, pub. in
1886, page 365, submitted by Pat Thomas)
OLEY C. NELSON. Oley C. Nelson, who owns a farm
adjacent to Knoxville that he is now operating, has been a resident of this
county for fifty-nine years. He was born in Sweden, on the 14th of November,
1836, and is a son of Carl and Hannah (Ingamonson) Nelson, for some years
numbered among the farming people of this county. Carl Nelson, who was born in
1813, engaged in agricultural pursuits in his native land until 1852, when he
disposed of his interests there and together with his wife and family took
passage for the United States. They landed in New York city seven weeks later
and came from there directly to Knox county, which was their destination. Here
the father subsequently bought some land, to the further cultivation and
improvement of which he devoted his attention until his death in September,
1854, at the age of forty-two years. The mother survived until 1885. Their
family consisted of three sons and one daughter, of whom our subject is the
eldest, the others being as follows: Swan, who is deceased; John, who is living
in Knoxville; and Sarah, the widow of Ola Peterson, who was living in Essex,
Iowa. Oley C. Nelson was a youth of sixteen years when he emigrated to the
United States with his parents and acquired his education in the schools of his
native land, the course there pursued being later supplemented by one term's
study in the district schools of Knox county in the winter of 1855, for the
benefit of his English. Long before leaving Sweden he had begun to assist his
father in the fields, his energies ever since having been devoted to
agricultural pursuits with the exception of ten years, when he prospected in
Colorado. At the expiration of that period he returned to Knox county and again
engaged in farming, locating on the place where he now resides. Mr. Nelson has
met with a fair degree of success in his undertakings, being an industrious and
enterprising man of practical ideas and thrifty habits.
Knoxville was the scene of Mr. Nelson's marriage, on
the 6th of October, 1867, to Miss Hannah Erickson, who was born in the southern
part of Sweden, on February 3, 1851. She is a daughter of Ola and Ellen
(Johnson) Erickson, who emigrated to the United States in 1852, locating on a
farm a mile and a half from Knoxville, where they passed the remainder of their
lives, the father passing away in 1904, at the age of ninety-two years and the
mother in 1908,
eighty-three years of age. By a former marriage Mrs. Erickson had one son, John
Nelson, who now lives in Knox county, and Mr. and Mrs. Erickson had in their
family beside Mrs. Nelson, their eldest daughter, the following in order of
birth: Emma, the deceased wife of Michael E. Schuck, of Pennsylvania; Erick, who
is living in Kansas; Joseph, who passed away in that state; Jacob, who is also a
resident of Kansas; Olaf, who lives in Knoxville; Emanuel, living in Kansas and
one who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson have become the parents of eight
children, three of whom are now deceased. August, who is living in Knoxville,
married Mary Anderson and they have four children: Naomi, Howard, Sterling and
Lorenz. Rosie, who is the only living daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
Nelson, is the wife of William Carlson of Knoxville and the mother of two sons,
Laverne and Francis. Albert, who is a resident of Wataga, chose for his wife
Mattie E. Foster and they have two children, Alberta and Oliver, and eight
grandchildren. Oscar and Joseph, the two youngest members of the family, are
living at home with their parents.
The family are all members of the Swedish Evangelical
Lutheran church, and number among its congregation many friends. Mr. Nelson, who
is now seventy-five years of age, is one of the highly esteemed citizens that
Sweden has contributed to Knox county, where his energy and application has
numbered him among the successful agriculturists.(History of
Knox County, Vol. II, by A. J. Perry, pages 322-323, submitted by
Janine Crandell)