Mr. Auth is a witchmaker and jeweler located and doing business in Lacon. He was born in the city of Fulda Hesse, Germany, in 1824, where he received a thorough classical education. He spent several years in traveling in France, Switzerland and England and came to this country in 1852 and visited nearly all the states in the Union as a professor of languages. He is an accomplished artist in his trade, having been brought up to that art of delicate manipulation by his father, who was a finished artisan of wide celebrity in his native land. Mr. Auth has added largely to his rich store of knowledge acquired in early life by close observation during his varied travels, his finished education greatly facilitating his efforts in that direction.
Source: Record of Olden Times or 50 years on the Prairie, 1880, Page 683 Lacon Township. Transcribed by Nancy Piper
Owen W. Allen, although now living in Henry, is still the owner of valuable farming property comprising three hundred and ninety acres in Putnam county. He was born in Putnam country, Illinois, in 1851 and is a son of James and Rosanna (Cassell) Allen, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania......... In 1873 Mr.Allen was married to Miss Mary J. Edwards, who was born in Putnam county, Illinois, in 1853, a daughter of William and Mary Edwards and pioneer settlers of Putnam county, where they took up their abode about the time of the Black War, entering land from the government......... Mr. and Mrs. Allen have no children of their own but have been very generous in providing for the support of others. They hold membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and exemplify their faith in their daily works and in their relations with their fellowmen. Mr. Allen is a republican with firm faith in the principles of the party, and in matters of citizenship he is public spirited and loyal. He has found in an active and honorable business career that success is ambition's answer.
Taken From the Past and Present of Marshall
and Putnam Counties Illinois
by John Spencer Burt and W.H. Hawthorne
Chicago, The Pioneer Publishing Company 1907
Page 332, 333
Taken From the Henry Republican
March 4, 1875
Obituary
It will be a surprise to most of our readers, to learn of the death of
Captain Harmon Andrews, for they will learn of his death before that of his
sickness. He died on Sunday morning of congestion of the lungs, after an
illness of but a week, at his residence in Whitefield. His life, which completes
55years, has been active and useful, and as a result, leaves an estate to
the bereft family worth possibly $40,000.
Mr. Andrews was born in New York city, but emigrating to Fulton county in this state in 1841, he has been an Illinoisan for about 34 years. He was in the Mexican war, a member of the 4th regiment, under Col. E.D. Baker, who was killed at Bull’s Bluff during the rebellion; was with Gen. Taylor at Corpus Christi, and went to re-enforce Major Brown at Point Iabella; crossed the Rio Grande, and was in the battle of Camarge, getting off without a scratch; was with Gen. Scott at Vera Cruz, and in the campaign against the city of Mexico, though sent home before the surrender, as his term of enlistment had expired. He was in the celebrated battle of Cerro Gordo, where his regiment won renown for capturing Santa Anna’s wooden leg, as also the fight at National Bridge, and proved himself a brave and fearless man and a good soldier.
At the close of this war he moved to Henry, in 1855, having in his possession a military land warrant for meritorious service in the Mexican campaign, which he located on the quarter section he has resided on since, where he built a fine house, and ornamented it, making it one of the finest homesteads in Whitefield township.
When the rebellion broke out he was one of the first to enlist, joining the 47th reg. Ill. vols. under Col. Bryner, and subsequently promoted to a captaincy. He was in the campaign with Gen. Fremont in Missouri, was with the army at New Madrid and Island No. 10 under Gen. Pope, and with the latter went to re-enforce Gen. Halleck at Corinth. With Gen. Rozencranz he was in the battle of Iuka, and in fighting the second battle at Corinth, was wounded and taken prisoner. Prison life did not agree with him, and he became sick, and when exchanged was forced to resign on account of ill health. He came home, got well under good nursing and rest, and raising a company with a captain’s commission, formed the 151st regiment near the close of the war, and was assigned to provost duty, guarding railroads, etc., until honorably discharged from the service after five years enlistment.
Returning home and to peaceful pursuits, the people did not forget his patriotic services, and elected him twice to the office of county treasurer of Marshall county, a place he filled to the acceptance of the constituency. At both of these elections he ran far ahead of the republican ticket, which is ample evidence of his popularity as a man, and worth as a citizen. At one time during his term of office the supervisors ordered the payment of compound interest on the old Air Line bonds, and those holding the bonds were very clamorous for it. He investigated the matter, and believing such claims fraudulent, he would not pay them, even at the behest of the supervisors, and though severely censured at the time, he remained steadfast to his convictions, the supreme court finally deciding he was right, and that the supervisors had superceded their authority. By this act he saved the county $2400.
Mr. Andrews was a gentlemen of the generous type, frank, hearty, cordial and agreeable. He had a delightful home, and he made it so by his sunny disposition as well as by his means. His acquaintance was large, and his foes were few. He was a strong, consistent, unwavering republican; firm as adamant when once convinced, but aiming to be and to do right. The county and community are thrown into deep grief by this sudden, untoward event. He was an Odd Fellows, a member of Clayton lodge, (at Sparland,) and also a member of Lacon encampment, at the time of his demise.
The funeral was held at the Methodist church, in Whitefield, yesterday, at 11 a.m., and was a very large one, considering the fearful snow storm that raged violently all day, and but for the storm, it would have been undoubtedly, the largest ever held in that township. The sermon was preached by Rev. James Fleming, and was of a solemn, impressive character. Two other ministers assisted in the services. The burial rite of Odd Fellowship was used, the order being represented by members, from Henry, Lacon and Sparland. A wife and six children survive him. With the honors of a well spent life, he has gone to his reward. His good works will live after him.