STANDARD ATLAS
OF
SCOTT COUNTY, ILLINOIS
1903
Geo. A. Ogle & Co.Publishers & Engravers
134 Van Buren St.
Chicago
Transcribed by Larry Fearneyhough
Page 106
There are a goodly number of self-made men in Scott county. One of these is Walter Sweeting Northrop. He is the oldest son of the late George D. and Charlotte (Sibson) Northrop, and was born in Yorkshire, England, March 21, 1856, and came with his parents to America in September of the same year. They landed at Naples and located near Griggsville, in Pike county, Illinois, and remained there until the spring of 1861, when they moved to Scott county and settled near Glasgow. This farm was the family home until the death of the father, October 3, 1901. Besides Walter there were three sons - Thomas, who is now at home with his mother; Joseph, who died June 12, 1890, and Sibson, who is at present living near Zion's Neck. There was also one daughter, who is now Mrs. Albert Killebrew of McCune, Kansas.
George D. Northrop, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a gentleman of intelligence and education. He was a careful, thoughtful, close reader and enjoyed a wide range of observation. He recognized the fact that an uneducated child has a slim chance in the battle of life and he accordingly gave to his children every possible educational advantage afforded by the schools of that day, and, in addition, they enjoyed splendid home training in economy, industry and the practical affairs of life.
It was in just such surroundings as the above that Walter S. Northrop grew to manhood. In 1878 Mr. Northrop was married to Miss Margaret J. Hanback, daughter of A. A. and Margaret (Thomas) Hanback. Mrs. Margaret (Hanback) Northrop was born in the village of Glasgow July 27, 1860, and resided there until she was about eight years of age, when the family moved to Montezuma, Pike county, where she remained until her marriage to Mr. Northrop. During the first few years of their married life Mr. and Mrs. Northrup lived in the neighborhood of Glasgow, but in 1882 they moved onto the McPherson farm, three miles southeast of Alsey. They rented this place of J. L. Roberts and lived there for the following six years, when they moved to the Roberts farm, just a quarter of a mile east of where they were then living. The sum total of money paid Mr. Roberts in rents by Mr. Northrop during those years amounts to about $8,000. Considerable personal property was swept away during this time by fire, a heavy loss, yet Mr. Northrop by industry, economy, prudence and wise management had saved enough money to purchase the McPherson farm onto which he again moved, November 7, 1895. This place he has greatly improved with new buildings, fences, tiling, the planting of fruit and ornamental trees, the clearing of the land and careful farming until today he possesses a very desirable home. Mr. and Mrs. Northrop are the parents of four children - Bert, aged twenty-four; Nellie, aged twenty; Geo. W., aged eighteen and Harry, aged twelve. These children have been and are being educated at the well-known Keller school and in addition, are inculcating into their minds and lives the habits of industry and economy which have so characterized their father and mother.
Politically Mr. Northrop is a democrat and has earnestly worked with that party Since he became a voter. In 1891 he was the party nominee for county commissioner and after a sharp contest was elected. He was re-nominated and elected in 1894 and served with credit to his party, his county and himself. In 1900 he, at the request of many friends, again stood for the nomination, made the race and was elected by a greater majority than ever before. As a civic society man Mr. Northrop stands high. He is a member of Manchester Lodge No. 229, A.F. and A. M., of which lodge he was master in 1902. He is also vice-chancellor of the Court of Honor at Alsey and one of the managers of the Woodmen lodge at the same place. He is a close student in agriculture, a successful farmer and an accommodating neighbor.
He can well be proud of his good wife. No woman ever held a higher conception of, or feels more keenly the responsibilities of wifehood and motherhood than she, and she is thoroughly devoted to her home and in love with its every day duties. Both Mr. and Mrs. Northrop are fond of their friends; are always ready with sympathy and assistance when needed; have lived open lives, and by their frankness, their integrity and their honesty have won the confidence of all.