In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1898) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1820
From Portrait and biographical record of Winnebago and Boone counties, Illinois, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies of all the governors of (1892), The history of Rockton, Winnebago County, Illinois, 1820 to 1898 (1898)
RASTUS L. STILES, who is at present residing in the city of Rockton, is engaged as, ' Station Agent. He was born in Gibson, Susquehanna County, Pa., August 8, 1820, and is a son of George Stiles, a native of Windham, Conn., where his birth occurred about 1782. The latternamed gentleman was a tanner, currier and shoemaker, which difi'rent trades he followed, with the exception of the time spent in the War of 1812, during his entire life. He participated in the battle of New London, soon after which he secured a substitute, and returned home.
The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Elizabeth Lincoln. The parents were married at the old brick church in Windham, soon after which they removed to Pennsylvania, where the mother died February 25, 1853. The father of our subject departed this life December 22, 1854, when seventy-two years of age. Our subject was the fifth in a family of five sons and two daughters, only two of whom are living, his youngest brother residing at Factoryville, Pa.
Erastus L. Stiles, when fifteen years of age, left home and engaged to work at the shoemaker's trade, which he had learned from his father. He emigrated to Pecatonica, where he remained for a time, and in September, 1885, came to Rockford, where he engaged to work for Lewis Holmes. In October, 1856, he was given the position of Station Agent on the Racine & Miss. Railroad, which occupation he has followed under different corporations since that time. Mr. Stiles has been ill during the past six weeks (April, 1892), which is the longest vacation he has had for many years.
The lady to whom our subject was married at Brooklyn, Pa., in June, 1841, was Miss Marantha Capron. She was born in Hartford, Pa., and was the daughter of Wheaton and Daidane (Aldrich)
Capion, also natives of the Keystone State. To Mr. and Mrs. Stiles have been born eight children, three of whom are deceased, namely: Ella, who died in infancy; George, who passed away when twenty-seven years of age, atRoekton, leaving a wife and one son; and Charles K., who died in December, 1890, in a hospital at Chicago, in his thirtieth year. Those living are Arthur G., Oscar T., Cora, Durand and Herbert. Arthur enlisted when eighteen years of age in Company D, Fifty-first Illinois Infantry, during the late war, which was known as the Lead Mine Regiment, it being commanded by Col. Smith, of Galena. He served for a time under Sherman, and when being sent back to look after Hood, was wounded at the battle of Franklin, Tenn., where he was taken prisoner and confined for six months in Andersonville Prison. He served his country faithfully and well for four years, and receives from the Government a pension of 88 per month.
Mr. Stiles votes for the best man during election times, regardless of party, and is as free in religious matters as in politics. He has been twice elected Clerk of his township, and for several years was Corporation Clerk.
As printed in Portrait and biographical record of Winnebago and Boone counties, Illinois, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with biographies of all the governors of (1892). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Erastus L. Stiles was born in Penn., Aug. 8, 1820. He married Miss Maraiitlia Capron June, 1841. They came to this county in 1845, and to Kockton in 1847. He Avorked at his trade as shoemaker for a number of years. He was superintendent of Smith & Martin's shoe factory as long as that institution was doing business. He was the first agent of the Racine & Mississippi railroad, commencing Oct. 28, 1856, and gave a faithful and continuous service of fort years, till Oct. 28, 1896. He is now on the railroad retired list with ample pay for the remainder of his life. He served the public both as town clerk and clerk of the village for a number of years, and discharged many duties for the public good. He is well up in Masonry and loves the order for its high moral principles. His generous and impulsive nature has not enabled him to la by as much worldly Avealth as some might have done in his position, but he has spent it wiselyand well, and has the ever-abiding consciousness that he has done a great deal of good with his means. He has away's been a devoted worker in the cause of temperance, and his life record has been consistent with his high conception of manhood. Mrs. Stiles vas born Sept. 1818.
Kalph Smith, who was an early settler, purchased the Moffattfarm and a part of the Weld farm. He lived in the stone house now owned by Charles Clarage. He had one son and three daughters. His son, Asbury Smith, married and after a time settled in Cleveland, Ohio, where he and his wife both died. One of the daughters married \V. R. Weld, one married Howard Adams who went to California and died there, and the youngest daughter married George Guthrie, who died in Rockton of consumption. Ralph Smith and his wife died here many years ago.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
Burdick. They moved to Rockford in 1866.
Leonard W. Osgood was a settler of Rockton as early as 1847. He bought the George Stevens place opposite of Macktown, and built the stone house there. The property is now owned by E. S. Waite. During the high water of 1851, his place was all overflowed, and he and his family had to be helped away in boats It is said that the first intimation that Mr. Osgood had of the sudden rise of water was in throwing his hand out of bed and finding it touched the water which had become a foot or so deep in the lower story. After this adventure on a river farm, he bought the lots and built the stone house in the east part of the town, now owned 133 N. B. Kincaid, which was his home the remainder of his life. He and his wife died some twenty-five or thirty years ago.
Alonzo Sackett was here for a few years in an early day and kept a livery stable. His brother, Elisha Sackett was here at the same time, and carried on the tin smith business. They both went to Iowa several years ago.
William Davis was an early settler of Rockton. He was a shoemaker by trade and worked for years for Mr. Stiles at that business. He built the house west of Mr. McCue's, which was the residence of his son, Edgar J. Davis. He and his wife died a number of years ago. They had several children. Mr. Lampman's second wife was one of their daughters.
As printed in The history of Rockton, Winnebago County, Illinois, 1820 to 1898 (1898). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: David Carpenter (b. 1808) Jeremiah Davis
The printed record stops around 1892. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.