Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-08-13
CONCERNING CANOE CREEK.
More Men OF Worth In the Upper End
OF the Ceuaty---Iaterestiug Bte-
graphical Sketches.

Woodburn, the subject of our sketch. was
born in Entrim, Ireland. in 1895; came
TO this country in 1916. residing in
Philadelphia until 1852. While there he
worked in the weaving mills. After
leaving that city in 1859 he came TO
Rock Island. where he bought farm of
100 acres in Coe township two and one
half miles east OF Port Byron. In order
to secure the means TO pay for the &C
Quired property he worked for John Nc
Call for three years. The times being
good was greatly in his favor, but the zeal
with which he labored and the shrewd
business transactions which he made
were the chief sou ces Of his success.
Mr.. w. remained on this farm until the
spring of 1865. when he sold his Coe
township farm and purchased farm in
Mercer county two miles from New
Windsor. He purchased one piece OF
land after another until at the end OF
eighteen years he had 1858 acres OF the
finest land in Mercer county. In the TALL
OF 1882 he purchased the Perry Hender-
son farm lying two miles southwest OF
Hillsdale, aud in the spring of 81 moved
on the place which is now his perma-
nent abode. hay .rg sold the Mercer
county farm. All he attention has been
placed upon the management of his farm
here upon which he has made some ex-
tensive improvements. In 1886 he
bought the old Thomas place in Coe
township, il containing eighty acres. and
two years later bought eighty of the old
Beal farm adjoining his plA e. This he
presented Ia his eldest son, Samuel l..
The real estate that he has purchased
and now owns will aggregate 5O4 acres
nearly all tillable land. His specially in
farming IL the raising Of grain. cattle and
horses. OF the live stock he has some
of the finest in the county.
In 1865 Mr.. w. was married to Isa-
bells Wreath. of Coe township. They
have eight children living. namely: Mary
j.. wife OF John Burton. a farmer. resid
ING ia Canoe Greek Samuel l.. married
Nettie Mcconnell. and lives in Coe town
ship; Ben is a painter in Chicago. and
John, Wallace. Robert, William and Net
tie are at home. Mr.. Woodburn has al
ways been prominently identified with the
advancement Of the community in
which he lives. He enjoys the dis
tinction of being shrewd aud
wise counsellor in business affairs and his
word is relied upon ny all who know him
As evidence Of his honesty and good
Judgment he was chosen as the proper
person To hold in trust some valuable
property in Mercer county and in 1855.
when VIM. Parker died. the will made
him executor of the entire estate and
chattles valued at about So, 900. In the
spring of 1889 he was the unanimous
choice at the peoples caucus for the Office
Of supervisor, but IL was with considera-
BILE reluctance that he accepted. He was
elected by a handsome ms shortly and has
made one Of the most efficient officers
Canoe Creek has ever had. demonstrat-
ing by every action the deep interests
which he manifests in any undertaking.
He, u was, who brought about settle
ment Of the McEniry road case. by which
the town saved several hundred dollars.
Mr.. w. is a prominent member of the L.
=. church, together with his wife and all
the children except Benz Jr. Politically
he is one of those rock-rooted democrats
whose principles were founded in the
days of Douglas. and even previous. His
political resolutions were not hastily
formed, but were founded on years of
experience and hard study.
John A. Liphardt, whose biography de-
serves a prominent place in this paper.
was born in MeckIenberg, Germany. in
1910. and is consequently resident of
the United States by adoption. He came
to this country in company with his wild
owed mother and her family In 1S47.
They resided in New York City for a
period Of twelve years until 1859. when
the family came to Canoe Greek and
located upon the farm which is now the
abode of John A When the family ar
rived in New York City they were like
most emigrants-veryp poor. The mother
was obliged 20 struggle, and with the aid
OF John and brother. supported and
educated the remainder of the family.
Besides this. there was small bank &C
count To her credit at the end OF five
years. and at the end Of ten years two in-
vestments were made in real estate in
that city. At the end of this time. as has
already been stated, the family removed
10 Canoe Creek. At the age OF twenty
one years, the subject of this sketch com
menced 10 work for himself. Four wears
previous to this he had been farm
lsborer His mother resided with him on
the homestead until her death in 1876.
She was buried in Mt. Mariah oemetery.
beautifully located on the premises and
which WAS named after her. This GENE ,
tary was laid out by John A. and has
been kept in excellent condition by him.
and while there are others much larger, vet
there are none that present n finer appear
ance than Mt Mariah. At the death of
the mother the children sold their inter
ests to John. who has greatly improved
-. L.. I.,h =, Lob "A
through the pride he takes in keeping his
premises in a presentable appearance.
He has been very prominent in town mat
tiers, having held every town Office from
postmaster up 10 supervisor. has been
road commissioner for n period of TWEEN
tysone years, which Office he still holds.
This is something that but few people
succeed in obtaining. and was obtained
by him only through his efforts in behalf
of the interests of the people. and what
IL more remarkable. is that he never went
to school month in his life. Conse-
quently he is what is known as self made
man in the strict Il sense. which he has
made himself after hard stI uggle and in
the face Of many disapl ointments. He
is truly scientific farmer. devoting n
great deal Of attention to raising grain,
of which his present prospect is far above
the average. His present prospect for
corn is the hest Of any in the country.
Mr.. Liphardt was married to Mary Erik.
OF Mecklenberg, Germany. in 1861. They
have elk children, three boys and three
girls. Of which Sophia is the eldest and ia
the wife OF Chas. Upper. of Coe; Geo.
married Clara Ashdown and lives in
Canoe Creek; Frank is proprietor Of a
barber shop in Chicago; and Herman,
Nellie and Mamie are at home. Mr.. l..
is member of Philo lodge A. +. and A.
M. at Port Byron. and has been Master