Biographies E

 Following are some biographies of families who at one time or another lived in Henry Co. Illinois. In some cases it is the parent, spouse or child who was a Henry Co. resident so please read carefully!

J. A. EKEROTH

EKEROTH, J. A, born in Sweden. His father moved to the United States in 1868, when he was twelve years of age. They first lived in Henry county, Illinois , but in 1870, they set out to seek a home in this ever attractive county. His father died in 1874, when a great deal of the responsibility devolved upon the son. Was married to Miss Tilia Anderson in 1878. They have one child—Ellen E.

Source: History of Page County, Iowa; Des Moines: Iowa Hist. Co., 1880 Fremont Twp p 654

WILLIAM H. ELLENWOOD

William H. Ellenwood, one of the prominent farmers of Washington township, section 29, Eureka postoffice, was born in Henry county, Illinois, May 20, 1840. His parents were Morris and Susannah (White) Ellenwood, both natives of Ohio. The father was a farmer; was hackdriver and mail carrier after coming to Illinois, owing to the loss of an arm. He came to Illinois from Washington county, Ohio, about the year 1838, and settled on a farm in Henry county. He died in Henry county, Illinois. His wife is still living with general health fairly good. She is still an honored resident of Henry county, Illinois, is well known and highly respected as an old settler. Her father, Rev. William White, was a minister of good standing in the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Our subject began assisting in the support of the family at about the age of fourteen years. Agriculture has been his business all his life. He farmed in Henry county, Illinois, until 1870, when he moved to Adams county, locating on the farm where he now resides; it was then raw prairie. He bought 120 acres of ridge land. His house, 16 x 26 feet, one and a half stories high, is located on the road leading from Carbon to Mount Etna. He has a nice location, commanding a view of the surrounding country. He has an orchard of three acres and raises small fruit as well. The farm is adapted well for a stock farm, being well watered.

Mr. Ellenwood was married in 1863, to Virginia Cole, daughter of Asa and Rebecca Cole, of Washington county, Ohio, now of Henry county, Illinois. The father was a very thorough farmer, well and favorably known as an honest and upright citizen. He is still living, an honored resident of Henry county, Illinois. His wife died April 17, 1891, at the age of sixty-six years.

Mrs. Ellenwood is the oldest in a family of eleven children, nine of whom are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Ellenwood are the parents of sixteen children, three of whom died in infancy. The others are, Edward J., married to Emma Anderson; Ard, deceased at the age of twenty-three years; he went West and took possession of a claim in Banner county, Nebraska; he made a visit home and on his return to his claim he took sick and died June 21, 1889; Elmer, married to Ida Powell; Majesta, wife of John Powell; Maud, wife of A. B. Schofield; Lucy R., wife of Rodman Hathaway; Virginia, William S., Bennett G., Olive L., Martha B., Leonard and Lillie B. Both parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

In politics our subject is a Republican; he is also a member of the Farmers's Alliance. He is a highly esteemed and valued citizen.

Source: Biographical History of Montgomery and Adams Counties, Iowa; Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892 (Adams Co)

GEORGE S. EMMERT

EMMERT GEORGE S. Farmer, Sec 7; P.O. Morristown; was born Dec. 2, 1839; came to Illinois from Pennsylvania in the Fall of 1851; was educated and taught school in this county; he enlisted for three years in Co. H, 37th ILL. Vol. Inf. Sept. 21, 1861; was in the battles of Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove where he lost his right leg; was honorably discharged March 9, 1863; was twice elected Tax Collector; married Fannie S. Dickerson, of Atkinson, Jan. 21, 1868; was then appointed Postmaster of that place; returned to Osco; was again elected Tax Collector, and held the office for three years; is School Director; Ind. Rep; Luth; elder of the church; his wife was removed by death May 30, 1876; he has five sons, William L., Philip M., George A., John F., and Frederick H.; he owns 82 acres of land, worth $5,500.

SOURCE: >The History of Henry County, Illinois, It's Tax-Payers and Voters, Chicago; H. F. Kett & Co., 1877

Submitter: Mary Margaret Jones

PHILIP EMMERT

Philip Emmert, dealer in grain at Osco, Osco Township, is a son of Andrew and Margaret (Smith) Emmert, natives of Germany. They were married in the old country and there resided until their emigration to the United States, which took place in 1833. On their arrival in this country they located in Bedford Co., Pa., where the mother died March 10, 1855. The father afterward sold his farm in Pennsylvania and came to this county to live with his son, the subject of this notice, and with whom he resided until his death, which occurred Sept. 29, 1875. The issue of their union was seven children,-Elenora C., Philip, Caroline, John Valentine, Margaret, John and Dorothy.

Philip Emmert, subject of this notice, was born in Germany, July 17, 1822. He came to the United States with his parents in 1833. He received a fair education in the common schools and continued to reside under the parental roof-tree until he attained his majority. On becoming his own man he engaged in the occupation of farming on his own account, which vocation he followed from 1842 to 1851. From 1851 to 1860 he was engaged the major portion of his time in carpenter's work. In the fall of 1851, Mr. Emmert came to this county, accompanied by his wife and eight children, and located in Osco Township, where he purchased 160 acres of land located on section 8, and on which he resided until 1855, when he sold the same and bought a farm of 200 acres on section 17; there he lived until 1875, when he sold that also. Mr. Emmert has been a resident of Osco Township since 1851. After selling his farm in 1875, he removed to the village of Osco, where he erected a fine residence and where until the present time he has been engaged in buying grain, meeting with success in that business.

Mr. Emmert was united in marriage, in Bedford Co., Pa., Jan. 20, 1842 with Miss Margaret S. Weidlein, a native of Germany, in which country she was born Jan. 22, 1819. She was the daughter of John and Sybilla Weidlein, who had five children, namely: John, John S., Margaret A., Nicholas, and Lovina. Mrs. Emmert, wife of the subject of this notice, was about 22 years of age when she accompanied her parents to the United States and located with them in Pennsylvania, where she resided until her marriage. She and her husband are the parents of ten children,-Barbara, George S., Rebecca, John Philip, Valentine W., Andrew J., William H., Margaret A., and Charles F. Rebecca died Oct 28, 1880, in her 38th year. She was the wife of Wm. E. Hill, a resident of Iowa, but died at the residence of her parents in Osco Township, this county. One child was born of their union, named Philip. Barbara is the wife of J. H. Conrad, and resides in Dodge City, Kan.; Margaret A. married Aaron Hill, a resident of Herkimer, Marshall Co., Kan.

Mr. Emmert of this sketch has held the office of Highway Commissioner, School Director and other minor offices within the gift of the people of his township. He and his wife are active, leading members of the English Lutheran Church. Politically, Mr. Emmert is an advocate of the tenets of the Democratic party.

George S. Emmert, son of the subject of this notice, enlisted in August, 1861, in the 37th Ill. Vol. Inf. At the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark., in December, 1862, he was wounded by a minie ball in the leg, in consequence of which he was obliged to have his leg amputated just above the knee. He resides in Herkimer, Marshall Co., Kan., where he is engaged in farming and stock-raising.

John P. Emmert enlisted in August, 1862, in the 37th Ill. Vol. Inf., and served until the close of the war, receiving no serious wounds, although he was in many a hard-fought battle. He was 17 ½ years old when he enlisted. His residence at present is Kansas City, Mo., where he is engaged in stock and commission business. Valentine W. Emmert resides in St. Joseph, Mo., and is likewise engaged in the stock and commission business; Andrew J. Emmert is a resident of Kearney, Mo., where he is engaged in farming and stock-raising; William H. is a farmer, following his vocation in Marshall Co., Iowa, where Philip also resides, engaged in the same occupation; Charles F. is a farmer, residing in Jasper Co., Iowa.

SOURCE: Portrait and Biographical Album, Henry County, Illinois,, Chicago, Biographical Publishing Co., 1885

Submitter: Mary Margaret Jones

Submitter's Notes: Elenora C. should be Ellenora C. and Sybilla is Sovila on her gravestone.

PHILIP EMMERT

EMMERT PHILIP, Grain Dealer, Osco; was born in Germany, July 17, 1822; in 1833 he came with his parents to this country, who located in Napier Tp. Bradford Co., Pa.; he came to this county and township in Oct 1851, where he now resides, being one of the oldest residents in the township; Dem; Luth; he has been engaged buying and shipping grain during the last two years; was formerly a carpenter, farmer and stock raiser in Bedford Co.

Source: The History of Henry County, Illinois, It's Tax-Payers and Voters; Chicago; H. F. Kett & Co., 1877

Submitter: Mary Margaret Jones

Submitter's Note: Napier Tp. Bradford Co., Pa should be Napier Tp. Bedford Co., Pa.

H. H. ENGLISH, M. D.

H. H. English, M. D., who is the only representative of his profession now residing in Conesville, was born in Henry county, Illinois, on the 3d of November, 1862, being the son of John and Sarah ( Harper ) English. The parents were both natives of Ohio but when quite young removed to Illinois with their parents and there they met and were married. Soon after their marriage they located on a farm near the town of Atkinson, Henry county, where the father engaged in stock-raising until 1907, when he removed to Atkinson, where he is now living retired at the age of seventy-two years, but the mother passed away in 1904. Five children were born to them: Dr. H. H. English ; J. L., engaged in the stock business in Tiskilwa, Illinois; Mrs. N. E. Hart, who was killed in the Iroquois Theater fire in Chicago; John, a dentist, who died at the age of twenty-five years; and Blanche, who died in 1904 at the age of twenty-one years.

After Dr. English acquired his high-school education, he was compelled to become self-supporting and it was many years before he realized his ambition of studying medicine. He metriculated in the Keokuk Medical College, of Keokuk, Iowa, from which he graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1900 and located in Conesville, Iowa, where he has since continued and is building up a nice country practice.

In 1889 Dr. English was united in marriage to Miss Mary Joyce, who was born in Whiteside county, Illinois, on the 5th of July, 1869, a daughter of Michael and Mary Joyce. The parents were both natives of Ireland, emigrating to the United States in 1865 and locating on a farm in Whiteside county, Illinois, where they continued to live until 1884, when they removed to South Dakota and there the father is still living at the age of sixty-five years, but the mother passed away in 1898. They were the parents of the following children : Mrs. English ; John W., of Wessington, South Dakota ; and Kate, who died at the age of twenty-four years. Dr. and Mrs. English have two children: John J., born on March 24, 1890, is still at home; Winnifred K., born on the 18th of March, 1891, is a high school graduate and has now been teaching for two years.

The family attend the Methodist church, of which denomination the parents are members. Fraternally Dr. English is identified with the Masonic order, his local affiliation being with the Columbus Junction lodge, also the Ancient Order of United Workmen at Wessington, South, Dakota, and the Modern Woodmen of America, being a member of the Conesville Camp. The candidates of the republican party have always received Dr. English's support at election, although he does not take an active part in politics, not being an office seeker. During the eleven years of their residence in Conesville both Dr. and Mrs. English have made many friends who hold them in high regard.

Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Biographical Vol, 1911, page 376

DAVID E EVANS

David E. Evans, a farmer of section 26, Grant township, Adams county (postoffice Lenox), is one of the well-known, enterprising and successful citizens of that part of the county. He was born in Cardiganshire, Wales, June 8, 1836, a son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Davis) Evans, both natives also of that country, in which they spent their lives. They had four sons and three daughters.

Mr. Evans, our subject, was reared to farm life. In 1856 he bade farewell to family and relatives and sailed from Liverpool to Philadelphia, by steamer. After arrival he first found employment at Johnstown, Pennsylvania. In 1858 he went to Jackson county, Ohio, and for two years was employed in iron mining and blasting furnaces at Cambria. Next he was engaged in coal-mining in Rock Island county, Illinois, until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in defense of his adopted country, in Company D, Twelfth Illinois Infantry, three- months men. Most of the time his regiment was stationed at Cairo, Illinois, and Cassville. At the expiration of his time of enlistment he was honorably discharged and returned home, in August, 1862; but when President Lincoln called for 300,000 men he again offered his services, enlisting this time in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the siege of Vicksburg, the battles at Little Rock (Arkansas), and other battles and skirmishes. On account of disability, in November, 1864, he was honorably discharged, when he was First Lieutenant, having made a gallant record as a soldier and officer.

Returning to Rock Island, he resumed peaceful pursuits, following mining until 1880, when he came to Adams county, locating upon land which he had purchased in 1869. Here he has a modern frame house, 14 x 26 feet, with an L 14 x 16, and both a story and a half in height. Ornamental trees, barn and other outbuildings, good and substantial, adorn the premises.

November 18, 1862, is the date of Mr. Evans' marriage to Miss Sarah Daniels, a native of Amboy, Oswego county, New York, who at the age of eighteen years came to Henry county, Illinois. Her father, Buckley Daniels, was born in Lewis county, New York, and died at Rock Island. Her mother, whose maiden name was Ann Wheeler, was born at Norwich, Connecticut, and died here in Adams county, in 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have one son, Benjamin Grant, who was born at Rock Island, February 24, 1866, and was married December 22, 1887, to Miss Lettie Cochran, a daughter of Thomas and Ann (Kinser) Cochran, of prominent and well-known families in this county. Her father, who was a soldier in the last war, is an old settler here. The younger Evans has one daughter, born December 6, 1888, and named Lula Grace. He is a member of the blue lodge, F. & A. M., at Lenox, of the K. and P. and S. of V. Mr. D. E. Evans is a Republican in his political views, is a member of Lenox Post, 316, G. A. R., and also of the Masonic and Odd Fellows' orders; and he and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church.

Source: Biographical History of Montgomery and Adams Counties, Iowa. Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892 (Adams Co)