Hide Article Text (OCR)
H. H. PiPER OF BUREAU COUNTY PASSES _AWAY._AT SON'S HOME NEAR PRINCETON. ESTATE VALUED AT $1,209,000 Made all His Money Out of His Farms and Never Indulged in Outside Speculation — Was a Pioneer. Hiram H. Piper, the first resident of Bureau county to become. all million aire, through his business operations within the county died Thursday morning at the home of his son, Wil liam E. Piper, who resides two miles east of Princeton “The exact amount of the estate is unknown, even to the children, and cannot be deter mined until an inventory is taken. ‘The children do not know the exact their father and if Mr Piper knew himself he was a person who seldom, if ever, talked about such matters. The best estimate places his holdings at 106 eighties, being equivalent to 106 farms of, eighty acres each. All of these farms are located within Bu reau county. The total acreage is at least 8,480 and at present prices these lands, It is believed, will average $125 an acre. On this basis the es tate is valued as follows Value of farm lands ¢ «$1,059,000 ‘Bank-stock and “loans 150,000 SLO Total value—of_estate The Estate Undivided, . The estate stands today as a whole Just a8.10 always was during Mr Pi per's life time. Mr Piper, made no distribution to his children as many wealthy men have done from time to time, but instead he gave to each of his children the income from 160 acres of land. They either took Charge of the farm or derived the new income less the amount of the taxes Mr. Piper made a will about two years ago. This instrument was written about the beginning of the Mills’ WHICH Testity it Ts ~ deat. How Estate Was Amassed. Unlike many millionaires of the large cities who are severely criticis ed for the methods they employ to succumulate their estates, nobody in Bureau county would express any thing but the most kindly feeling over the way in which Mr. Piper made his money and condueted tis business. His money” “Was not made by pulling any one else ‘down, in floating ques tional companies, Stock juggling, mo nopolies or the like. His was a steady increase through Industry, per severance and a due regard for all honorable businggg, methods. He came to Bureau county seventy-one years ago when he was a boy of eight years and when he Started out for himself In farming he had but fifty dollars —_ His estate was created out of the earnings of the lands and ‘from the increase in the values of the farms which he purchased... Mr. Pi per never fell into the habit of pur chasing stock in the various compa nnies that have—been—unloaded—onto Bureau county people. He headied his own money and put the ‘Increase into additional lands. In recent years the increase of his land holdings has been large because his earnings were large. “Mr. Piper was not a hard landlord. On the contrary he was popular with those with whom he did business, and his tenants were pleased with his treatment and for the most part they remained with him many years. His farms were always in demand and people were pleased to rent from him. He was not a politician and his aspirations were not directed towards public office. Review of His Life. Hiram Harding Piper, son of Eze kiel and Anne Roberts Piper, was born December 11, 1828, in Harveys burg, C., and came to Bureau coun ty in 1836. He was married to Miss Mary A. McWilliams December 18, 1858, who died November 9, 1876. To this union were, born,ten children, one of whom died in infancy. Mr. Piper is survived by three daughters, six sons, twelve grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Mrs. Piper died when the Youngest child was but three months old and Mr. Piper seemed to become both father and mother to the familly. He was so at tached to his home that ‘he preferred to live at the old home place where his children were born and reared and it was with reluctance that last September he felt obliged on account of his advancing infirmities, “for leave the old home and go to the ,hhome of one of his children where we can' t receive care from—a—miemother—of—his family. He then removed to the home of Wilian—,Piper, where he remained unt the time of his death to care of his farms until last Septem ber and not until then did he cease farming the home place . Cause of Death. Mr. Riper firs became il about two and. in. hate + ra_aro_when aha. Was taken with diabetes, hater Ran grene. developed to his, fell foot and it was considered advisible to’ resort Sng Ee a “TREASURER'S’ STATEMENT, State ofHitness, Whiteside County SS oA’ R. Hendricks, ‘Treasurer of Township 21 Range 7 East of Fourth Principal Meridian,in_said county, do hereby certify that the following f is a correct_statement_of_receipts—and—dis bursements of the school funds that are come into-my-hands during the fiscal year ending April~1st, 1907. A. R Hendricks, Treasurer, Subscribed and sworn to before me this 1st day of May, 1907. WS” Ferguson, Notary =Banke, 1906, . April 6. Balance on hand. .$14,535 76 April 6. E.T Austin, tuition , credit T. HS. . ... 120.00. June 2) W. OD. Detweller, Tress, taxes, credit Dis thigh seigh he se cbs 191 10 June 6. Cleveland, Treas., taxes, credit District 14.. oD 3 June 27) WD. Detweiler, Treas., taxes, credit Dis trict 7. we, i 27 61 June 30) Gilbert Rogers, “Co. Treas, balance tax 1995 13,348.96 Oct 1 S* A Kean Co, bonds 1 to 20 inclusive, _ credit District 11 ....2.. 10,000.00_ Oct 1 S. A, Kean Co, prominen ond above bonds, tebese Oct. 1. 7 J ~ Prank, room Oct 1 E. T Austin, tuition 1.50 4.50 credit T... S. .... .... 280 00 Oct 1 Mrs. Bartet, tuition, Nov. 14. M Minertz, coal house, credit District 8... 35 00 credit District 8 ......... Dec. 14. J. H. Hoover, tuition 1.50 credit District il = 42.96 1907— Jan“3 J H. Beltzel, tuition” —~ credit T. H. S. ......... on + credit District 8........ Féb. 25. Geo, Proctor, Treas., taxes, credit District 9.. ~ 3550 Mar. 30. 3B. F. Hendricks, Co. Supt., fines fy 216.85 —~credit—District Seat Nov. 17 E. T Austin, tuition Credit District 8......... Credit District 8 Mar 8 J. L. Bartel tuition April 1 Interest Town fund paid in .... 1,850.00 Jan—12-E-f-a Austin, tuition; * old building, credit Dis trict WL... s...e wee eee . 81900 Mar 26. John Beales, Col lector, acct tax ........ 9,268 72 Mar, 30,~ Jos. Geiger, Col lector, acct. tax ...... +... 36,642 36 Mar 30. 3B. F. Hendricks, Nov. 14, J H_ Reitzel, “tuition credit T, HS. wee. ee * 163.00 Dew TW. N. Haskell, to_ Jan 2 J. L. Bartel tuition, on Ghedit District 8... see. 150 Co. Supt., state fund .... 1,688 37. Credit District 8.. 2.2... Nov 24. L. Bartel, tuition ation—amt—material— sent. —— credit District 82.25 Mar 26. W N Haskell, sale 130.00- $89,563 82 Items of Expenditures, , Paid out for acct. Dist. 7.. 342.76 Paid out for acct Dist. 8.. Th 96 Paid out for acct. Dist. 9.. 462.73 Paid out for acct. Dist. 10.. 12,381 47 Paid out for acct Dist 11.. 15,336.41 Paii—out—for—ecet—D lett —— __ building fund ........ 7=. 9,636 90 Paid out for acct.
Newspaper Details
Sterling Evening Gazette
Sterling, Illinois, US
Fri, May 03, 1907
Page 7
Full Page
Clipped by
Nash P.
USA 09 Feb 2026
Other Publications Near Sterling, Illinois
Sterling Daily Gazette
Sterling Daily Gazette and Daily Standard
Sterling Gazette
Sterling Republican Gazette
Republican and Gazette
