ELLDER ABY is the proprietor of a farm on section 8, Millbrook Township, which when it came into his possession was nothing more than a tract of timber and brush.. He has cleared it, placed it under excellent tillage, and has erected convenient buildings and made of it a valuable piece of property. By doing this he has also placed himself among the substantial farmers of Peoria County, of which he was a pioneer.
Mr. Aby is a native of Pennsylvania, his birth taking place in Montgomery County, March 2, 1828. His parents, Benjamin and Rachel Aby, were also natives of the Keystone State, and his paternal ancestors are said to have been of German origin. When he was an infant his father and mother immigrated to Ohio and became pioneers of Richland County, and there he had the misfortune to lose his mother when he was only about- two years old. When he was seven years of age his father removed to Huron County, Ohio, and there remained until early in the '40s, when he again took up his march westward, and crossing the State of Indiana penetrated as far as Stark County in this State, and became a pioneer in what is now known as West Jersey. Mr. Aby eventually came from there to this county, and-spent his remaining days in Millbrook Township, dying here in 1866 at a ripe old age; his name holds a worthy place among those of the sturdy pioneers of Illinois.
Elder Aby was a stalwart, active youth of about fifteen years when he accompanied his father to this State, of which he has ever since been a resident, mid he has had a hand in the pioneer labors of developing the wonderful resources of this part of the Mississippi Valley. He was the fourth child in his father's family, and early became self-reliant and helpful, and after coming to Illinois for several years worked as a farm laborer at $8 or $9 a month and his board. He was prudent and thrifty, and wisely saved his money, and was thus enabled early to marry and establish a home. In 1865 he located on the southwest quarter of section 9, Millbrook Township, and for several years was busily engaged in farming there. In 1880 he decided to try life in Kansas, and established himself in Allen County. He did not like that part of the country so well as Illinois, and returned to the Prairie State well satisfied that he could do better financially here than elsewhere. On his return from Kansas Mr. Aby settled on his present farm on section 8, Millbrook Township, and has ever since made his home, which is a cozy, comfortable abode, in this pleasant locality. By dint of downright hard labor, carried on persistently and systematically, lie has succeeded in clearing off the brush and timber that was standing on his land when he purchased it, and its eighty acres are now in a fine condition as regards cultivation and improvement and from them he gleans rich harvests.
In his wife our subject has found a sagacious counselor and an active assistant, who bravely shared his pioneer labors, and the hardships of life in a newly settled country, and is now enjoying with him the fruits of a successful toil. They joined hands in wedlock August 17, 1848, and to them have come ten children, of whom six survive, namely: Frances, wife of Albert Long, of Knox County; F. Albert, a resident of Allen County, Kan.; James 0., living in this county; Jacob I., in Laura; Emma, wife of Richard Bilderbeck, of Millbrook Township, and Pluma R.
The maiden name of Mrs. Aby was Mary A. Murphy, and she was born in Ashland County, Ohio, September 11, 1827, to James and Maria (Trickle) Murphy. Her mother was a native of Maryland. Her father died before Mrs. Aby was one year old and when she was in her tenth year she came to Illinois with her mother and other members of the family, and her first winter here was spent in Fulton County, near Canton. The next spring the family went to Stark County, and settled about five miles northeast of Rochester, being among the first settlers of that locality.
His possession of those very desirable traits, the economy that spends judiciously and saves wisely, and thrift and native force, have been an important factor in placing our subject on a sound financial basis. He is a man of strictly moral habits and sound principles, his personal character being such that his fellow citizens regard him with feelings of perfect trust and kindly friendship. He unites with his neighbors in forwarding all schemes for the improvement of the community socially, religiously and educationally, and has borne an honorable part in carrying on the local government. For nine years in succession he served creditably as School Director, and for three years was Road Commissioner of Millbrook Township. His religious views find expression in the faith of the Christian Church, of which he and his wife are active members and cordially unite with their fellow-members in doing the good work for which the society is noted. Mr. Aby is independent as regards politics, and votes for the man whom he thinks best fitted for the office without reference; to party.

[Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois; Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1890, 760 pgs - Transcribed by Candi Horton, 2007]
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WILLIAM W. ATWOOD. The reader will notice on the opposite page a lithographic portrait of this gentleman, who occupies a leading place among the most enlightened and progressive farmers and stock-raisers of Peoria County. He has long" been prominently identified with the Grange movement which has done so much to advance the agricultural interests of Illinois, and is still a conspicuous figure in the councils of the Patrons of Husbandry. He was appointed Postmaster of Orange Prairie post-office, in Kickapoo Township, by Postmaster-General Wanamaker, and attends to the duties of that position while managing his large farming and stock interests on section 11, Kickapoo Township.
Our subject comes of fine New England stock, his father, Hiram Atwood, being a native of Vermont, and his mother, whose maiden name was Aurilla Douglass, a native of Connecticut. After marriage they settled in Macomb County, Mich., being among its pioneers, and there passed the remainder of their lives. The father was a ship carpenter by trade and pursued that calling in connection with his farm work. He died about 1875 and his wife died about 1884. They had a family of four children, of whom our subject was the second in order of birth.
He of whom we write was born in Clinton, Macomb County, Mich., April 10, 1836. The early years of his life were passed on his father's farm until he was thirteen years old. From the Abo-riginees,who still lingered there, he had learned the Indian language, and at the youthful age of thirteen was employed as an interpreter at different places on Lake Superior for about three years.
At the expiration of that time he engaged in carrying the mail between Eagle River and Houghton, and between the latter place and Ontonagon and was appointed assistant-Postmaster. Nearly a year later he became employed as a trader and interpreter for the American Fur Company, and was with it for about one year, and then became an attaché of the Hudson Bay Company, working for it nearly a year and a half. We next hear of Mr. Atwood on the Pacific Coast and Puget Sound, where he had been sent by the Hudson Bay Company, and where he left their employ, to enter that of a company wishing him to go to Southern California to engage in prospecting. He was thus employed one season in that part of the country and in Mexico, also. From there he wended his way back to the Lakes and purchased an interest in a sailing vessel, engaged in carrying merchandise between Chicago and Lake Superior. In 1865, having sold out his maritime interests, he came to Peoria County and was employed at different occupations until the time of his marriage, when he settled in Peoria and engaged in the manufacture of spruce beer for about five years. At the expiration of that time he resolved to give his attention to farming and coming to Kickapoo Township, rented land for three years and then purchased the fine farm where he now lives. This comprises four hundred and four acres of as rich and productive land as can be found in the township. He has made many valuable improvements, having his farm well stocked, and devoting considerable attention to that branch of agriculture.
November 24, 1858, Mr. Atwood and Miss Margaret Fry took an important step in their lives which has resulted in their mutual benefit, as by their marriage on that date he secured the assistance of a cheerful and helpful companion, and she a devoted husband. Mrs. Atwood is a daughter of Smith and Nancy (Shepler) Fry, natives of Washington County, Pa. They married and settled in that State and from there came to Peoria about 1835, and became pioneers of Richwood Township. Mr. Fry was prominent in public affairs and was Sheriff of Peoria County, for two terms. He was a contractor for the railroads and had also served as conductor. During the latter part of their lives, he and his wife removed to Peoria, where they died, he June 23, 1860, and she January 21, 1882. Mrs. Atwood was the seventh of their eleven children, and she was born in Rich-wood Township, March" 29, 1839. Ten children have blessed her marriage with our subject, who are named as follows: Charlie L. who married Miss Hattie Gordon, and died in Dakota, August 3, 1888; George W., who married Miss Hedges, and lives near Bennett, Neb.; Mary A., the wife of William Enders of Dakota; Smith F., who married Fannie Harris and resides in Peoria; William W. Jr., who married Lena Dornbus, and lives in Dakota; Douglass L., of Kickapoo Township, who married Hattie Ames: Henry A., Percy G., Aurilla A.
and Phoebe C. As we have seen, Mr. Atwood wields a potent influence in promoting various schemes for the further improvement of township and county, and his name will ever be linked with various plans that have greatly advanced their standing. As a loyal citizen he takes an earnest interest in the political situation of the day, and favors the Republican party by voice and vote. He and his wife were charter members of Orange Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, with which they are still connected, and he has been very prominent in an official capacity. He has been Master of the Grange and also of the county Grange and was for two years, (from 1878 to 1880) Master of the Grange Store located in Peoria. Mr. Atwood is a man of exceptional personal habits, and of a fine character, possessing many genial attributes and with his amiable wife, stands high in social circles in this community.

[Portrait and biographical album of Peoria County, Illinois; Chicago: Biographical Pub. Co., 1890, pgs787 [Transcribed by Candi Horton, 2007]
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JOSHUA AIKEN

Among the first settlers in Peoria stands prominnent the name of JOSHUA AIKEN. He was born in
Londonderry, New Hampshire, where his father, CAPTAIN JAMES AIKEN, a native of Paisley, Scotland, settled in 1719; he and his three brothers; taking up the tract of country known as "Aikens' Range." Joshua AIKEN was a pushing business man. When he first came West he made a farm of about a thousand acres on Horseshoe Bottom. In 1833 he bought the Hamlin & Sharp mill, the first mill ever erected on the Kickapoo River. He renovated the mill and brought it to a high standard, so that it made good merchantable flour.
His mill was frequented by customers from sixty to seventy miles around Peoria. He bought wheat for money and sometimes exchanged flour for it, so that the settlers went home with bread and some cash and lumber, in exchange for the grain. Joshua AIKEN saw at once the great need of capital in a new country, and, in order to supply it to some extent, went East and formed a partnership with the late GEORGE P. SHIPMAN, of New York. At that time he purchasd one hundred and sixty acres of land, known as the Munson & Sanford tract, upon which Munson & Sanford's Addition to Peoria is laid out. In those days, more money was paid out for wheat at Aiken's mill than at Peoria, or Fort Clark, as it was then called. The money used by Mr. AIKEN was chiefly the Quinnebaug Bank money of Connecticut. The traders in Peoria raised the cry that the money was not good, that it was not money that would go at the Land Office. But in a short time a circular was issued by the Secretary of the Treasury making the Quinnebaug money receivable at the Land Office, which greatly relieved the early settlers. On his land, located near the Aiken & Little mill was laid out the village of Peoria Mills, now extinct.

In 1839, Mr. AIKEN purchased a controlling interest in the tract of land known as the Sac and Fox Reservation, south of Burlington, Iowa, and between the Des Moines and Mississippi Rivers. This tract contained a hundred and one shares, of which he owned seventy-six. He applied to the Des Moines Circuit Court for a deed of partition. The late FRANCIS L. KEY, of Washington City, was his attorney. The queston of the titles by the deed of partition became permanently settled. In 1840, Mr. AIKEN held a public sale of lots at Keokuk and Melrose, the purchasers taking their titles under the above deed. While attending to this business at Commerce (now Nauvoo), Hancock County, Mr. AIKEN died on the 20th of November, 1840, aged sixty-nine years. His brother, JONATHAN AIKEN, died on the homestead west of Peoria, in May, 1842.

Messrs. Joshua AIKEN, ENOCH CROSS, AARON RUSSELL, and MOSES PETTENGILL were the origators of the Main Street Congregational Church. Mr. AIKEN was a liberal supporter of every good enterprise for the advancement of morality, civilization and human freedom. His Widow, JANE AIKEN, died in Derry, New Hampshire, October 6, 1872.

[Source: Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County, Munsell Publishing Co., 1902, p. 442. Transcribed by, Yvonne Takis. Thanks Yvonne!]
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MARK MORRILL AIKEN

When, ten years ago (May 11, 1892), Mark M. AIKEN or "Uncle Mark", as he was known to everybody, passed away, Peoria lost one of her most unique most widely known and best beloved characters. He was descended from Edward AIKEN who, about the year 1722, came from the North of Ireland to the Scotch-Irish settlement at Londonderry, New Hampshire. He had three sons, Nathaniel, James and William. Of Nathaniel were born five sons, Edward, John, James, Thomas and William. The latter settled at Deering, New Hampshire, where he married Betsy WOODBURN, whose parents were the maternal grandparents of the famous Horace GREELEY of the New York Tribune. William and Betsy AIKEN had a son, Nathaniel, who married Susan MORRILL. They had five children, of whom Mark was the eldest. He was born at Deerfield, New Hampshire, June 21, 1808. He received a common-school education in the same class with the noted devine, Parker PILLSBURY. When in his sixteenth year he began to look about for something to do. He had an uncle in New York City who was in the habit of making a visit to his relatives in New Hampshire every summer, and who, taking a fancy to Mark, invited him to accompany him to New York, at the same time promising to find him employment. Mark took him at his word, and being reputed to be a good scholar, he procured from the
selectman of the town a certificate of his qualifications and their opinion of his character. Armed with these he, with his uncle, on the 17th of March, 1824, called upon Messrs. J. & J. HARPER, afterwards the famous house of Harper Brothers, and made known his wants. They read his certificate, laughed at it and then set him to
work reading a book on political economy. This was his examination and it proved satisfactory. They took him
on trial, he went to board with John HARPER and remained in their employ until 1830, when his health failed. They then fitted him out with a lot of books and sent him to Charleston, South Carolina, where he sold the
books and, after traveling as far west as Detroit, Michigan, returned to New York.

In 1832, Mr. AIKEN purchased a job office at No. 54 Liberty Street, New York, where he found Horace GREELEY. As they were remotely related, they formed a sort of partnership, GREELEY canvassing for
jobs and AIKEN doing the work and paying him a commission. The next year he sold the office to GREELEY
and a man by the name of S.D. CHILDS, who had married AIKEN'S eldest sister. He then took a lot of copies
of a medical work by A. Sidney DOANE, a professor in the New York Medical College, and started West. In September he went to Philadelphia, thence over the mountains to Pittsburg, thence down the river to Cincinnati and St. Louis, disposing of most of his books at the latter place. While running the job office he had printed a catalogue for the Western Land Company, which was operating in the Military Tract in Illinois. He had also become possessed of one or two land-patents in payment for his work, and so he concluded to run up the river and see about it. Dr. BERRIAN, an Episcopal clergyman of New York, had land which he thought was located
at Peoria, and Mark was entrusted with a plat of it to deliver to his agent, a man by the name of HOWARD. Taking the steamer "Champion", he landed at Fort Clark, or Peoria, on October 28, 1833. Here he found a relative in Joshua AIKEN, who was then running the first mill built on the Kickapoo. He spent the next year in trading on the Illinois River and in shipping flour to Ottawa and Cairo. When the land came into market he went to Quincy to attend the sales and made some purchases which he held for many years.

In 1836, Mr. AIKEN formed a partnership in the land business with George C. BESTOR, which continued until February, 1840. The business of this firm extended over the entire Military Tract. During this period they made a careful abstract of all the land titles in the Military Tract which had been recorded in Madison and Pike Counties, the records of those counties not having as yet been transcribed. It was the custom of the land dealers to keep abstracts of title of the territory in which they operated, and their offices sometimes contained more volumes than many of the Recorders' offices. In the prosecution of this business, Mr. AIKEN traveled over the entire Military Tract, and so retentive was his memory that he could readily tell the location of the residences of many of the "old settlers," and could describe the quality of any land he had visited. He became a standing authority on almost all questions relating to the early history of the country. In the course of his business he became possessed of some valuable land on the bluff near the city, which is now highly improved, also some valuable coal land which he retained until the time of his death.

From education and conviction, Mr. AIKEN was always an anti-slavery man, and what he saw in the South only deepened his convictions of the evil of slavery. From the death of Elijah P. LOVEJOY, on the 7th of November, 1837, he boldly avowed his sentiments, when the name of an abolitionist was one of the contumely and reproach. He acted with the abolition party after which he voted that party, with one exception, which was when his old partner in business, Horace GREELEY, was running for President. His courage in denouncing slavery won for him the respect of his opponents, and when the War of the Rebellion broke out, he was styled "The Apostle of Liberty", a term he ever afterwards carried. It was he who rang the old "Liberty Bell" on the occasion of every Union victory in the slave-holder's war. He was foremost in works of charity and in helping the unfortunate. He gave one-half of the lot, and Asahel HALE the other half, to the Trustees of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, which stood opposite the site of the present City Hall.

Mr. AIKEN lived to see all the reforms for which he contended in early years successfully carried out. He was deservedly popular, and in Peoria a man need present no better credentials than the recommendation of "Uncle" Mark M. AIKEN.

He never married, but for years before his death lived almost alone, keeping "bachelor's hall". He was of medium stature, robust in form, round shouldered, bald-headed, of cheerful countenance and kindly disposition. Full of wit and humor, well stocked with anecdotes and reminiscences, he was the life of any company with whom he met. He was generous to almost a fault, especially to the poor and those needing help.

In religion he was a Protestant but not tied to any particular church, being at one time found united with the Methodists, at another with the Presbyterians and at another time with the Congregationalists. Although not conspicuous in church work, his faith was sincere and he chose to make it known in works of charity and benevolence, in relieving the needy and in making others happy. Unique in character, droll in humor, always doing deeds of kindness, he became the friend of everybody and everybody was his friend. Let his memory
ever remain green in the hearts of Peorians.

[Source: Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Peoria County, Munsell Publishing Co., 1902, p. 442. Transcribed by, Yvonne Takis. Thanks Yvonne!]
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Mr. Albers
It is a well known fact that the city of Peoria is indebted much to its retail merchants who have at various periods of its eventful history settled here, and who during a long succession of years by systematic application of industry and business integrity, added materially to its wealth and importance.  Among these may be placed John H. Albers, proprietor of the Walkover Shoe Store at 112 South Adams street.  Mr Albers' reputation has always been of the highest, and its effects upon his trade have been quick and telling.  There is probably nothing of more importance in the business world than a strict sense of honor, unimpeachable integrity, and honest policy.  All these qualifications Mr Albers possesses in a marked degree, and they have made his life successful.  He is a splendid type of the alert, energetic, progressive business man, to whom obstacles serve rather as an impetus to renewed labor than a bar to progress.  Progressiveness and wealth in a city depend intrinsically upon the volume of its business, and the honesty with which it is conducted and this volume and honesty can never be attained by any city, except through the individual efforts of its citizens.

 

John H. Albers was born in Petersburg, Illinois, September 13, 1874.  His parentage was German, the father, being born in the northern part of that country, came to America when a boy, and settled almost immediately in Petersburg, Illinois, where he became a prominent shoe merchant and so continued for twenty-five years.  John H. Albers was a pupil of the grammar and high school of Petersburg.  In the afternoons, after school, and on Saturdays, he helped in his father's shoe shop, and became familiar with all the details of the business.   His father inculcated in his son his own qualities of energy, ambition and strict business honesty, which are the foundations of the son's success today.

 

When John Albers was seventeen years of age, he left school and came to Peoria, to accept a position in the shoe house of Wynd & Company, where he remained for nine years, giving evidence of his superior merits and business talent.  The next six years were spent with the J. Thielbar Company and in the Douglas shoe store.  These years of apprenticeship were probably the most valuable experience which he could have in preparation for his life's business.  The firms by which Mr. Albers was employed were the largest and most prominent in the city, and offered their employees an opportunity to become acquainted with the most efficient business methods in the old-time paternal spirit.

 

In 1906 Mr. Albers, in partnership with his father, bought the Walkover Shoe Store at 122 South Adams street, from O. H. Harvey, who owned it at that time.  The father died two months after the transfer was made, leaving the business to his three children, John Albers, a sister and a brother.  Since that time the business has increased enormously every year.  Mr. Albers' executive ability, his power to see to the bottom of intricate affairs, and his fertility of resource, and his facility in the management of a large business, have rendered his success inevitable.  The Walkover Shoe, in which he deals exclusively, is sold in every city in the United States, Europe and South America, and the factory makes over twenty thousand pairs a day to supply the demand.

 

Life has been a quiet one with Mr. Albers, no political office, no large corporations, no clubs and little else outside of purely business transactions having interrupted the even tenor of his way.  What political affiliations he has are republican, but he keeps himself independent politically, and always votes for the best man.  He is a member of the Masonic order, having attained the Knight's Templar degree, and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Knights of Khorassan.

 

On April 19, 1899, Mr Albers married Miss Virginia Hoit, the daughter of a prominent physician of Elmwood, Illinois, and their married life has been ideally happy.  Mr. Albers' many qualities of head and heart have drawn around him a large circle of friends and acquaintances, who wish him well and all of whom feel proud of his friendship.

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Peoria, City and County, Illinois : a record of settlement, organization, progress, and achievement
(Chicago: The S.J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1912) contributed by: Amy Robbins-Tjaden src50


Menno E. Arends, who since 1890 has been associated with agricultural pursuits in Logan township, was born in Germany, March 2, 1852. In the fall of 1871, when he was nineteen years of age, he came to America and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he was employed for five years in a tannery. Subsequently he removed to Limestone township, Illinois, where he worked for four years as a farm hand, receiving as compensation for his services two hundred dollars per year. In 1880 he rented in Limestone township one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he farmed for ten years. In 1890, in Logan township, he purchased his present farm of seventy-two acres, which was at that time all in timber land. He has cleared and improved the same until he now has fifty acres under a high state of cultivation and the rest in pasture. He has an excellent house and barn on his farm and also has the best facilities for tilling the soil. He engages quite extensively in raising stock and grain.

In 1880 Mr Arends wedded Miss Johanna Dorenbus. In politics Mr Arends gives his allegiance to the democratic party and he has served as pathmaster of Logan township for eight years. He is greatly interested in and gives his support to all measures which further the cause of education. He is known as a public-spirited and progressive man who has the welfare of the community at heart and, as the years have gone by, he has won for himself a creditable position in the community

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