Benjamin Springsteed, of Serena township,
LaSalle county, has a wide acquaintanceship in this section of the state and
is highly esteemed by every one. He is a son of one of the sterling, rugged
pioneers of this county, Hiram Springsteed, who settled here three-score
years ago, in October, 1839, and thenceforward was associated with the
welfare of this community. He was a native of Onondaga county, New York,
born October 16, 1819. He had but limited educational advantages in his
youth, but was a man of practical business ability, possessing sound common
sense and good judgment. When he was a lad of twelve or fourteen years he
left his native state, lived four years in Ohio, and, going to the pine
woods of Michigan, found employment in the forests. He worked very hard for
the two years he was there, becoming noted for the number of rails which he
could split in a day, and after coming to Illinois, in 1839, he was
similarly occupied for some time, chiefly employed by a Mr. Borap, of Bureau
county. Carefully husbanding his means, he was at length enabled to purchase
a quarter section of land from the government, and part of his original farm
is now in the possession of Henry Harthan, of Adams township. Selling this
homestead later, Mr. Springsteed invested his funds in a piece of timber
land in Adams township, and subsequently he secured adjoining lands in
Serena township. He cleared and improved his possessions, gave to each of
his two eldest children a farm, and still owns five hundred and fifty acres.
He hauled to the Chicago market one of the first loads of wheat that were
hauled to Chicago, and he took it to Whiting's warehouse. During the gold
excitement, in 1850, he went to the Pacific coast, crossing the plains, but
was not of the fortunate few who reaped a fortune, and at the end of a year
he returned home, by way of the isthmus of Panama, but little richer than
when he started. He was very active in the support of the Democratic party
and took an active interest in local affairs, though in no wise a
politician. His death occurred in October, 1895.
January 4, 1844,
Hiram Springsteed married Maria, a daughter of Samuel Lett, and a sister of
Benjamin Lett, the celebrated Canadian patriot and revolutionist who blew up
the monument to General Brock and had a price set on his head by the British
government. To Hiram and Maria Springsteed several children were born, and
those surviving are: Riley, of Kansas City, Missouri; Mary, the wife of
Joseph Nelson, of Serena; Hiram, a prominent farmer of Serena township;
Benjamin; and Emma, the wife of Gus Grandgeorge, of Adams township.
The birth of our subject, Benjamin Springsteed, took place upon the farm
which is his present place of abode, the date of the event being June 22,
1856. He received a fair district-school education, and early mastered the
details of farming. Possessing the industrious spirit which animated his
father, he has been justly successful, and is the owner of two hundred and
twenty-seven acres of valuable, improved property. Politically he is a
Democrat and takes an interest in the management of township matters as well
as in the greater state and national issues.
Joy and sorrow have
come into the life of Mr. Springsteed, as to every one, and he has
endeavored to act the manly, noble part, under all circumstances. The lady
who is his wife, and sharer of his fortunes, is a native of New York state,
and was visiting a cousin in Serena township when she made the acquaintance
of her future husband. Her maiden name was Luna B. Nichols, her father being
George Nichols, of Niagara county, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Springsteed were
married July 26, 1888. Their eldest child, born in 1889, and named Mabel,
was killed accidentally, April 4, 1899. Two daughters and three sons remain
to cheer and brighten the home. Their names are given in order of their
ages: Jessie Ellen, Harry Bryan, Vera Belle, Rilev G., and an unnamed baby.
Extracted 19 Dec 2018 by Norma Hass from Biographical and Genealogical Record of LaSalle County, Illinois, published in 1900, volume 2, page 567.
| Lee | DeKalb | Kane |
| Bureau |
 |
Kendall |
| Putnam | Grundy | |
| Marshall | Woodford | Livingston |
