HALLER-Charles M. - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

Charles M. HALLER, an old and highly esteemed citizen of Forreston, traces his ancestry back to colonial days. His maternal grandfather, Captain MEACH who was in command of a vessel, took part in the Revolutionary war. His daughter, Abigail Meach married Robert Hewitt, who was of English and French ancestry and who also took part in the Revolutionary war, having many narrow escapes in several engagements. Robert Hewitt was a native of Conn, but with his wife and family he emigrated to Maryland in 1815. They were the parents of 12 children of whom the mother of our subject was 5th in order of birth. He died in 1830 and his remains were buried in Middlebury, Franklin County, PA. His wife survived him many years and came with her family to Ill in 1840. She lived to a ripe old age, dying in Nov 1855 in her 94th year having been born Aug 10, 1761. Her remains were interred in the Hewitt Cem, at Forreston. She used to cook for the Indians and had many interesting stories to relate of her Revolutionary experiences. The mother of our subject Abigail Hewitt Haller was the daughter of Robert and Abigail Meach Hewitt. She was born in 1800 at Tolland, Windham Co, Conn. She was married in Jan 1819 to Charles A. Haller, who by his first wife, Catherine BRUNER, daughter of John Bruner, a farmer of Frederick Co MD had 4 children: John, a farmer who lived and died in Attica, Indiana, Henry, a wagonmaker who also died at Attica, Indiana; Katherine, wife of Jacob DOVENBARGER of Washington Co MD, but who came to Ogle County and lived near Adeline; and Samuel who lived and died at Attica, Indiana. To Charles A and wife 7 children were born: Charles M. is the subject of this sketch; Jane Abigail married Francis HAMILTON of MD who removed to Ogle Co Ill where he engaged in farming . He later moved to Keokuk, Iowa. Sarah Ann is the widow of Jacob FLAUT. She lives in Lanark, Ill. James Robert died when about 11 months old. Louis lived to be 22 and died in Pine Creek Twp, and was buried at Mt. Morris. George William, who had been a successful school teacher and insurance agent, died at Decatur, Illinois. Joseph is a physician engaged in practice at Lanark. The mother of these children died at the home of her daughter, Sarah at Lanark in 1882 and was buried in the Cemetery at that place. Charles Haller, the grandfather of this subject, came to America from Germany in colonial days, paying for his passage by his labor. He landed in Baltimore from there went to Washington and later to Loudoun Co, VA where Charles A. Haller father of our subject was born. By occupation he was a farmer. He died and was buried at New Market, MD. When a young man, Charles A. Haller, moved with his parents to Frederick Co MD where he learned the wagon-maker's trade and conducted a shop. Later he moved to Boonesborough, MD on the National road. With his wife and 4 children in May 1846 he came to Ogle Co Ill and settled 5 1/2 miles south of Mt. Morris on the Grand Detour Road where he purchased 120 acres of land. He lived there, however, only 6 months and died Dec 7, 1848 at the age of 70. The subject of our sketch was born in Boonesborough, Washington Co MD Nov 15, 1819 and there received his education in the subscription schools, in the meantime assisting his father in the cultivation of the 33 acre tract of land which he owned, and in the manufacture of bricks which he was engaged. After attaining his majority, he aided his old school master, James Brown in the management of his school which had attendance of 100 scholars and engaged in their instruction. In April 1846 when 27 he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Nikirk, daughter of Samuel Nikirk, a carpet weaver in the town of Boonesborough, MD where she was born, educated and grew to womanhood. The month after his marriage, in company with his parents and brothers and sisters, he brought his young bride to Ogle County. They left Boonesborough May 21, 1846 their household goods in a two-horse wagon, and a light wagon with accomodation for six persons, the younger children finding place in the wagon with the furniture. Their trip overland took just six weeks and they arrived at Mt. Morris their destination on July 3, 1846 and immediately set about erecting a house of four rooms, two stories high, the lumber for the construction of which our subject had to get in Chicago. He set out on Monday morning for Chicago and arrived home the following Monday. Those were the days of "ox team transportation, when the traveler cooked for himself along the roadside, slept in his wagon, and whistled a song along the lonesome roads to keep himself company. Their little home erected, young Haller helped his mother and brothers the next year but during the years 1847 and 48 he took charge of a school at Phelp's Grove, and in 1848-9 taught school on the Grand Detour road, near Mt. Morris. In the fall of 1850 he moved to West Grove and settled on 80 acres of land given him by his uncle, George W. Hewitt. He built a frame house, improving the place, dividing his time, however between school and farming. he remained at that place until 1859 when he went to Forreston and engaged in general merchandising. Later he purchased a stock of drugs from Frank Barker, now of Rochelle and a former resident of Forreston, and still conducts the establishment under the managment of his son, EE Haller. To Mr. and Mrs. Haller 7 children were born. Samuel Henry died when 7. Susan married John Mullen but is now deceased. Charles Louis died at age 3. Theodore F is the editor and proprietor of the Forreston Herald. George Louis is now deceased. Charles M. is now living at Portland, Oregon. Edward Everett is in the drug business at Forreston. The mother of these children died Dec 23, 1893 at the age of 65 and her remains were interred in the Hewitt Cem at Forreston. Mr. Haller sawed the log and split the stakes used in laying out the town of Forreston in 1855, the town being laid out on the land of his uncle George W. Hewitt, who had located a claim of 800 acres. The first house built in the place was a rude frame structure built by the railroad company for a boarding house. Dr. Kingsbury was the 1st physician in Forreston. The first school teacher was Thomas J. Hewitt. Mr. Haller was selected as the first teacher, but having so much to do on his farm at the time, he secured the place for his cousin, Mr. Hewitt. The latter married Miss Fannie Rockwood who was his assistant in the school. The first school building was just west of where the present school building now stands. It was a large frame structure and built under the supervision of George W. Hewitt at a cost of $2,000. Mr. Haller cast his first vote at a special election in his native state and his first presidential vote was cast in 1848 for Zachary Taylor, the Whig candidate. With the Whig party he continued to act until the organization of the Republican Party since which time he has give his support to the men and measures of that party. Religiously, he is a Lutheran and assisted in organizaing the Lutheran Church in Forreston in 1858 and has since been an elder in the same. He aided and supervised the building of the church which was dedicated July 10, 1864. By the county court Mr Haller was appointed justice of the peace, was then elected and served on eyear. He was later appointed notary public by the governor and filled the position 20 years. He was also township school treasurer six years. All in all, Mr Haller has led an active life. He is well known throughout the county and al who know him esteem him for his many excellent qualities of head and heart. (picture)