Bureau County Biographies
ABBOTT, Clement W.
On the 6th of May, 1857, Mr. Abbott was married to Miss Martha M. Battey, at Sheffield, who is represented elsewhere in this work, a daughter of Major Silas Battey, and their children are: Fred W., who was born May 23, 1859, and died January 26, 1886; Calvin B., who was born August 1, 1863, and died April 28, 1882; Herman E., born May 10, 1865; and Hattie C., who was born December 19, 1870, and died February 5, 1888.
Mr. Abbott is a member of the Unitarian church at Sheffield and was first identified with the Whig party, later becoming one of the founders of the Republican Party. He was assessor for the town of Mineral for five years and was elected and served on the county board of supervisors for six years, his capability and fidelity indicating his keen interest in the welfare and progress of the county as conserved by its public officials, while in other ways he has given his support to those matters which constitute civic virtue and civic pride. He is a self-made man and still takes an active interest in business affairs.
Past and Present of Bureau County, Illinois, By George B Harrington, Chicago, IL, USA: Pioneer Publishing, 1906 Page 539-540
ABBOTT, Herman E,
Herman E. Abbott, of Sheffield, manager of a large and valuable estate, and agent for various fire insurance companies, was born May 10, 1865, in the city which is still his home, a son of Clement W. Abbott. He pursued his preliminary education in the public schools of Sheffield and afterward attended the Dixon Normal College, at Dixon, Illinois and Cornell College, at Mount Vernon, Iowa. He was reared to farm life and devoted his energies to general agricultural pursuits until 1892, when he became connected with commercial interests as a dealer in lumber, agricultural implements, carriages, wagons, etc. The firm was known as Battey & Abbott, and so continued until 1898, when Mr. Abbott disposed of his interest. He then removed to Tiskilwa, where he remained a year, after which he returned to Sheffield to look after his farming interests and his father's estate. He now has a good farming property which yields to him a gratifying income and in the management of the Abbott estate he displays keen business sagacity and understanding. He is also agent for different fire insurance companies.
Mr. Abbott fraternally is connected with Ames lodge, No. 142, A. F. & A. M., of Sheffield, and Sheffield lodge, No. 808, I. O. O. F., of the same place, while religiously he is a member of the Unitarian church. He is a young man of enterprise and his good qualities have made him popular with a wide acquaintance.
Past and Present of Bureau County, Illinois, By George B Harrington, Chicago, IL, USA: Pioneer Publishing, 1906 Page 596
ABELL, Augusta E. (Wood)
Mrs. Augusta E. (Wood) Abell, living upon a farm in La Moille, her native township. was born on the 25th of August, 1858, her parents being Ellis B. and Amanda (Martin) Wood. Her father was born in the state of New York, September 22, 1830, and came to Illinois in 1854, locating in Bureau county. He was married in 1856 to Miss Amanda Martin and they became the parents of two children. of whom Mrs. Abell is the elder. The mother is still living but the father died in 1899, at the age of sixty-nine years.
Augusta E. Wood spent her girlhood days in her parents' home and attended the public schools of the neighborhood. In early womanhood she gave her hand in marriage to Lorenzo Abell, who was born in Lee county, Illinois. December 23, 1858. Attracted by the discovery of gold in Alaska and the business opportunities thereby promoted he went to the Klondike, where his death occurred. Four children were left to share with the wife in her loss, these being Ellis C., born November 2, 1881; Scott E., born August 3, 1884; Nellie A., December 17, 1885; and Edna F., May 22, 1887.
Mrs. Abell is a member of the Eastern Star lodge at La Moille and she and two of her children hold membership in the United Brethren church. She is now the owner of an excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres of choice land, to the supervision and improvement of which she devotes her time and energies. She has lived upon this farm for three years and is active in its management. All of the hay and grain raised are fed to the stock and her stock-raising interests are an important branch of her business. Mrs. Abell is a lady of good attainments, of marked enterprise and keen discernment. She has kept her family together upon the old home place, carefully rearing her children to manhood and womanhood and well qualifying them to fight life's battles. She has nobly earned the high esteem in which she is held as a friend and neighbor and is widely recognized as a lady of many excellent traits of character and Christian virtues.