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NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 08182220 1
De Kalb County, Il.
Gross
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2008 with funding from Microsoft Corporation
http://www.archive.org/details/pastpresentofdek02gros
Past and Present OF
De Kalb County, Illinois
By Prof. Lewis M. Gross
Assisted by an Advisory Board consisting of
H. W. Fay, G. E. Congdon, F. W. Lowman and Judge C. A. Bishop
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED WITH HISTORIC VIEWS
CHICAGO: THE PIONEER PUBLISHING COMPANY
1907 CHI
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY 536198 ASTOR. LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS. R 1912 L
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
مساعد حب
Jacob Haish
BIOGRAPHICAL
JACOB HAISH.
Into every country where civilization has made its way the evidence of the inventive genius and manufacturing ability of Jacob Haish is to be found. It is needless to introduce him as the in- ventor of the barb wire, for this fact is known in domestic and foreign trade circles throughout the world. In manner and in character Mr. Haish is quiet, unassuming and somewhat inclined to con- servatism, yet he has given to his fellowmen an invention of practical utility, fully meeting with the requirements which it was intended to meet, rendering effort less laborious and profits more certain. Through struggle and adversity he has made his way and today, crowned with wealth, he stands in the same relation to his fellowmen are did in his early years when, struggling for a live- lihood, recognizing and appreciating honest pur- pose and genuine worth and rating the individual by his merits and not by his possessions.
There is no citizen of De Kalb who is held in higher regard and esteem than Jacob Haish, who has now passed the eightieth milestone on life's journey, his birth having occurred in Brandische, near Carlsruhe, Germany, on the 9th of March. 1827. His parents were Christian and Christina (Layman) Haish, whose family numbered six chil- dren, but only three are now living. an older brother of our subject being John H., of Bucyrus, Ohio, while a younger brother, Adam Haish, is liv- ing in De Kalb. The father, a native of Baden. Germany, was reared to farm life, and in 1835 emigrated with his family to the United States, first settling in Pennsylvania, but after a brief
period he removed to Crawford county, Ohio. which was then a pioneer district with many evi- dences of the frontier in its uncultivated lands, its uncut forests and its unbridged streams. There the father purchased a farm and continued to make his home until the latter '40s, when he came to Illinois. After spending a short time with his son Jacob in Du Page county, he purchased a farmi in De Kalb county, where he resided until late in life. He then returned to Crawford county, Ohio. settling in Bucyrus, where he spent his remaining days among the old associates with whom he had cast in his lot during the early period of his resi- dence in America. He died when about eighty years of age. He was twice married, his first wife passing away in Pennsylvania soon after the emi- gration to the new world. Ilis second wife was a Miss Shoop, whom he wedded in Crawford county, Ohio, and by whom he had five children, two yet living: Sarah, who is married and resides in Kansas; and Albert, who married a Miss Norris and is living in Missouri.
Jacob Haish was but nine years of age when brought by his parents to the new world. Ilis education was largely acquired in the old time log schoolhouses of Crawford county, Ohio. and he at- tended school only when his services were not re- quired at home upon the farm. His father was a carpenter by trade and under his direction the son mastered the business, becoming an excellent work- man, for he possessed natural mechanical in- genuity and displayed ready aptitude in the use of tools. He continued upon the home farm until nineteen years of age, when the opportunities of the growing west attracted him, and he made his
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way to Illinois, going first to Naperville, Du Page county. For one season he was employed at farm labor in that county and the following one was spent as a hostler in the tavern at Oak Plain. now Maywood, Illinois.
In the spring of 1847 he returned to Du Page county and there married Miss Sophia A. Brown, the daughter of his former employer, Thomas C. Brown. Theirs has been an ideal married rela- tion. As the years have passed they have shared with each other the joys and sorrows, the adversity and prosperity of life, each making the other's hap- piness their chief care. their mutual love and con- fidence increasing as the years have gone by and growing all the stronger because of the difficulties which thy encountered together. Today they own and oceupy the most beautiful residence in De Kalb, surrounded by every comfort and convenience that wealth ean secure and refined taste suggest.
They began their domestic life. however, upon her father's farm, where Mr. IFaish carried on gen- eral agricultural pursuits for two years. He then. in 1849, purchased a farm in Pieree township. De Kalb county, to which he removed. He had resided upon that place but two years. however, when his health became impaired and he went to Kane- ville, Illinois, where he followed carpentering. Al- though he had never served a regular apprentice- ship he was skilled in handling tools and for two years he did good work in building operations at that place. In 1853 he came to Buena Vista. now De Kalb, being among its first settlers. It was just about this time that the railroad was extended to this place, the town had been scarcely more than started and contained but few buildings. Unable to find a home in which to live. Mr. Haish built a little car shanty and there he and his wife estab- lished their home in the new town. During the early period of his residence here he followed car- pentering and did other work that would yield him an honest living.
At length, when he had accumulated about one hundred dollars. Mr. Haish went to Chicago to secure a earload of lumber. which he shipped to De Kalb and established a lumberyard. The new enterprise proved a profitable investment and for fifteen years he was identified with the lumber business and building operations. His trade stead- ily inereased from the beginning and his knowl- edge of carpentering also enabled him to figure
closely and advantageously, so that as time passed and his trade assumed extensive proportions he accumulated considerable wealth. Complaints came to him from time to time from farmers, who said that the lumber used in fences was not suffi- ciently strong to resist the brute force and the farm animals were liable to break into the fields and destroy the erops. Revolving these appeals in his mind. Mr. Haish conceived the idea of a fence which would be sufficient to protect the fields. He first began by weaving osage on the fence so that the thorns would prick the stock, but this did not prove practical. It, however, contained the ele- mental idea which has sinee found erystalization in the great principle of the wire industry of the present day. Mr. Ifaish next conceived the idea of making "thorns" of wire, but used only one wire, but this slipped and proved unsatisfactory. This was in 18:3, and his first patent on barb wire is dated January 20, 1814. He next evolved the plan of putting two wires together. After eon- siderable thought on the subject he succeeded in producing three rods of barbed wire fence. For three months this lay unused and unnoticed around his shop, except when he would remove it from a pile of rubbish to ponder over its utility. He did not, however, think it of practical commer- cial value and did not pay much attention to it. One day a farmer. F. W. Pierce, came into the shop. and, seeing the wire lying there. inquired what Mr. Haish would take for it. Fifty cents was the price asked and given. and the farmer, taking home his purchase, stopped up a gap in a willow fence with it. Several years passed and the inei- dent entirely slipped from the mind of Mr. Haish. but it was nevertheless destined to play a large part in the history of the barbed wire industry in America.
The practical utility of the fence being proven. Mr. Haish withdrew from the lumber business and began the manufacture of the product. He con- tinned his experiments, however, or various plans for the manufacture of the wire, sometimes aban- doning and sometimes improving on these.
one time he experimented with a plain wire, on which were fastened the barbs. These, however. all pointed one way and he did not wish this, but could think of no method which would place the barbs at different angles. It was thought. how- ever, that wire would look better if it were twisted
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ANTCH, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
Sophia Am Harsh
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محايد
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RESIDENCE OF JJACOB HAISH.
THE NEW YOFA PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONAL
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and an attempt to do this was made, when lo, the barbs were turned in every direction and the diffi- culty was removed. Improvement after improve- ment was attempted and after much experimenting what is known as the S wire was made. Mr. Haish built his first factory in 1874-an unpretentious structure, which, however, was enlarged from year to year. In 1881 he erected a building one hun- dred by three hundred feet and two stories in height, where employment was furnished to one hundred men and thirty tons of steel barb wire was produced daily. The growth of the business is indicated by the fact that today three hundred men are employed. The barbed wire was at first made by hand and one of the early problems was how to spool and twist this. In 1877 Mr. Haish began the use of antomatic machinery in working on the wire, being the pioneer in this line of work. He was also the first man to use a spool, which was commercially serviceable in the handling of the wire and was the first man to ship wire west of the Mississippi river, the wire being shipped to California wound on a spool, which was then placed in a barrel.
When Mr. Haish invented his automatic ma- chine he was urged by his counsel to enter a caveat to secure his right, but the time ran out before he applied for a patent, thus throwing him out of his right to the patent. He then had it manufactured by a mechanic, who patented it and sold the right to Mr. Haish. In this way he secured his original machine. Previous to 18:3 other applications for patents on the barb had been made and one as early as 1867, but none had proved successful. About the same time that Mr. Haish completed his invention J. F. Glidden, of De Kalb, also secured a patent on barbed wire which he successfully manufactured for some years in connection with I. L. Ellwood. Up to 1876 there had been no discord between manufacturers and all were reaping the just reward of their own enterprise and progressiveness, but in 1876 Mr. Glidden's interest was purchased by the Washburn- Moen Manufacturing Company, of Worcester, Massachusetts, which made an attempt to monop- olize the business by proving that other manufac- turers were infringing on Mr. Glidden's patent. Mr. Haish, being their most formidable competitor, received the brunt of the attack. The matter was taken into court and at the time affairs looked par-
ticularly discouraging to Mr. Haish. The matter came to final trial in the year of 1881. It was thought that the trial would be brought to a close unless Mr. Haish could produce some conclusive evidence that the bent barbed wire had been suc- cessfully produced and made of commercial value previous to the invention of Mr. Glidden. One day Mr. Haish was talking with Mr. Pierce, a farmer, who, in course of the conversation, mentioned that he thought he was the first purchaser of barbed wire. Mr. Haish had all these years forgotten about the three rods of wire that he had sold to Mr. Pierce, but here was the purchaser before him who said that the wire was still in use. He secured a part of it and went into court with it, where he established the fact that his invention was as early as that of Mr. Glidden and also that he was the first to prove its commercial value. A compromise beneficial to Mr. Haish was therefore effected.
In the meantime the business had been continu- ally growing and has now gained a foremost place in the industrial circles of De Kalb county. His factory covers forty thousand feet of floor space. is steam heated, lighted by electricity and cost over one hundred thousand dollars. In the early '90s he began the manufacture of mesh wire fence in addition to the barb wire and his plant today em- ploys three hundred men. In connection with his business interests Mr. Ilaish has indeed been a factor in the upbuilding of De Kalb. After the wire industry was placed upon a safe and substan- tial basis he also extended his efforts into other fields of activity. In 1884 he founded the Barb City Bank, which he continues and of which he is president. He also manufactures a mannre spreader, farmer's gas engine and a cream sepa- rator, together with various products connected with the wire industry or of advantage to the agri- culturist. including staples, nails, dise harrows. tubular steel and wood beam hustler lever harrows, barrel carts, box sleds, etc. He likewise has ex- tensive landholdings in Dakota, Colorado, Kansas. Ohio, and city property in Chicago. In the city of De Kalb he owns more than one hundred houses, and in De Kath township a number of fine farms.
No man is more deserving of the success that has come to him than Jacob Ilaish and none have used their wealth more wisely or done more to promote the welfare of the city. The cause of
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education has found in him and his wife (for Mrs. Haish co-operates with him in all benevolent, charitable and helpful works) warm and earnest friends. Ile contributed fourteen thousand dollars for the State Normal School, and other educa- tional institutions have profited by his timely as- sistance. He erected the opera house in De Kalb, which is a finely appointed structure of that char- acter. He has erected several schools at his own expense and has assisted many church organiza- tions, especially of the Methodist denomination. of which Mrs. Haish is a member. Their palatial residence is an adornment to the city and stands as tangible proof of the enterprise and artistic skill of Mr. Haish, who drew the plans and even made the designs for the handsome interior deco- rating. A man of domestic tastes, he has ever found the greatest happiness in his own home. His life has been devoted to his family. his friends and to young men who start out in life dependent upon their own efforts, and to the support of those principles which he believes to be right. His un- swerving purpose, his unquestioned fidelity, his un- faltering honesty and his unehanging will have commanded the highest respect of all. While he is honored throughout the world for his contribution to invention. in his home town. where he is best known. he has that closer regard and friendship which have come in appreciation of his own genu- ine worth, aside from his business interests. His earlier years of earnest struggles. hardships and difficulties are with him to some extent in mem- ory, but in the light of the present one would not wish that his course had been otherwise, for thereby has been developed a strong and stalwart manhood. a recognition of the real uses and pur- poses of life and an understanding of the fact that to many wealth is but a means to an end and that the real test of the individual is his intentions and his efforts to carry out honest purposes.
ABRAM VAN PATTEN. 1
Abram Van Patten is a retired farmer living in De Kalb. He came to Illinois in 1861 with a cash capital of thirteen dollars in gold. and today he is the owner of three hundred and twenty aeres of rich and valuable farm land in Malta
township and two hundred and forty-two acres in Cortland township. in addition to his residence in De Kalb. His farming interests annually return him an excellent income and enable him to live comfortably withont recourse to further labor.
Mr. Van Patten was born in Glenville. Sche- nectady county. New York, May 19. 1839. His father, Simon B. Van Patten, also a native of that county, was born December 5, 1801, while the mother. Mrs. Susan Van Patten. was born in Albany county, New York, Angust 14, 1806. The father was a farmer by occupation, thus providing for the support of his family. Ile passed away in 1825, while his wife died in 1880. They were the parents of seven children, of whom Abram was the fifth in order of birth. Five of the number are now deceased. the living daughter be- ing Mrs. Sarah Bevis, who is a widow and resides in Schenectady, New York.
In the public schools of his native county Ab- ram Van Patten acquired his education. The favorable reports which he heard concerning the middle west and its business opportunities at- tracted him to Illinois, and in 1861 he arrived in De Kalb county with thirteen dollars in gold in his pocket. With this as the nucleus of his present possessions he has added to his real and personal property as the years have gone by until he is today one of the large landholders of the county. As soon as he had acquired sufficient capital he made investment in a farm and for many years was a prominent and leading representative of agricultural interests here. He worked earnestly and persistently in the care and cultivation of his fields and as the sale of his crops brought him increased capital he added more and more largely to his land until his holdings now embrace five hundred and sixty-two acres in Malta and Cort- land townships. He had been a resident of the county, however. for only a brief period when he offered his services to the government in de- fense of the Union, enlisting on the Ist of August, 1862. as a member of Company E. One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Infantry. He served for about three years, or until June 15, 1865, when. the war having been brought to a close. he was honorably discharged. He participated in the battle of Resaca, Georgia, where the larger part of Sherman's army was engaged and also in the battles of Burnt Hickory, New Hope Church,
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Kenesaw Mountain, Manhattan, Peach Tree Creek and Atlanta, and also the memorable march of the Union forces under Sherman to the sea, which proved the weakness of the Confederates' position, showing that the troops had been drawn from the interior to defend the border. The news of Lee's surrender was received while the regi- ment was marching to Raleigh, on the 11th of April, 1865. Mr. Van Patten has always main- tained pleasant relations with his oid army com- rades through his membership in the Grand Army of the Republic, being affiliated with Malta post, No. 124.
After the war was over he returned to his home and resumed the work of the farm, bringing the fields under a high state of cultivation and adding many modern improvements to his land in the shape of good buildings and the latest improved machinery. At length he determined to spend his remaining days in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. having acquired a competence sufficient to supply him with all of the comforts of life and some of its luxuries. He therefore left the farm and took up his abode in De Kalb, where he occupies a pleasant residence that he owns.
Soon after his return from the war Mr. Van Patten won a companion and helpmate for life's journey, being married on the 18th of October, 1866, at Syeamore, Illinois, to Miss Harriet A. Conde, who was born in Washtenaw county. Michi- gan, July 22. 1845, a daughter of Jesse J. and Philetta ( Ketcham) Conde. Her father was born January 17, 1817, and died April 8, 1896, while the mother was born August 10, 1820, and passed away June 24, 1865. In their family were six children, of whom Mrs. Van Patten was the fourth in order of birth. By her marriage she has be- come the mother of five children: Mrs. Snsie P. Quineer, who was born January 13, 1869, is the wife of Martin Quincer, and they have three children: Van Patten, born October 6, 1892: Harold Martin, born July 6, 1895: and Elwyn Philip, born July 30. 1899. Mrs. Jessie E. O'Brien, the second daughter of the family, was born Angust 14, 1820. Herbert Abram Van Pat- ten, was born February 22. 1874, and married Bertha May Veal, who was born December 2. 1875. They have four children: Jessie Pearl, born May 27, 1895; Mina Marie, born November 22, 1896; Vivian Fern, horn February 2, 1900;
and Myrtle Ruth, born July 20, 1902. Hattie J. Van Patten, who was born December 14, 1875, died June 8, 1877. Carrie May, who was born February 23, 1884, is the wife of Guy H. House- wert, and they have two children: Frederick Abram, born April 20. 1900, and Herbert Kenneth, born January 9, 1900.
Mr. Van Patten gives his political allegiance to the republican party, of which he has been a staneh advocate since age conferred upon him the right of franchise. Ile was commissioner of highways in Malta township for seventeen years and treasurer of the board during all that time and a member of the school board for twelve years. and his long retention in office is proof of his fidelity and capability. His life has been exem- plary in many respects. Industry and honesty are numbered among his salient characteristics and constitute the secret of his success. He has ever been as true and loyal to his country in the days of peace as when he followed the old flag on southern battle-fields. He relates in an enter- taining manner many items of interest eoneerning his experience upon the battle-fields and the fires of patriotism vet burn brightly within his breast. Indeed it is hard to find an old soklier who is not thoroughly loyal, for he knows what it means to stand by his country and protect the flag. Mr. Van Patten has made an enviable record both in military and eivil life and is justly accounted one of the worthy citizens of De Kalb.
G. E. CLARKE.
G. E. Clarke is one of the leading and pros- perous farmers of De Kalb county, owning five hundred and forty acres of land on sections 20 and 29, Mayfield township. He personally oper- ates one hundred and eighty-five acres on seetion 29 and he also has land holdings in South Dakota. His parents. George and Amelia (Munt ) Clarke. came from England to Illinois in 1846, settling in Du Page county, where they remained for two years. They then removed to Mayfield township, De Kalb county, and purchased the farm on which their son, G. E. Clarke, now resides. The latter was born upon the homestead May 5, 1858, and acquired a common-school education. He early
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became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist and when his education was completed he gave his entire atten- tion to the work upon the farm where he was born. Here he has remained continuonsly since and is accounted one of the successful agricul- turists of the community, thoroughly conversant with the best methods of tilling the soil and caring for the crops.
G. E. Clarke is the youngest of a family of three sons and one daughter, his sister being Lucy, wife of Orlando Drake, a resident farmer of Mayfield township. His brothers are Alfred L .. an agricul- turist of Mayfield township : and William E .. who is also following farming.
G. E. Clarke is a stanch prohibitionist. sup- porting the party because of his deep interest and belief in the temperance cause. He was a member of the Mayfield Methodist Episcopal church until that organization was disbanded by the Rock river conference. While not a member of any church at the present time he contributes to the Methodist Episcopal church at Clare and with- holds his co-operation and aid from no movement calculated to benefit the community along lines of material, intellectual. political and moral progress, and he has so lived as to gain the esteem and re- spect of a large circle of friends.
MOSES DEAN.
Moses Dean, who for many years was engaged in the banking and real-estate business in Sycamore and thus became a wealthy man. departed this life on the 19th of January. 1904. He was born Jannary 22, 1815. in Sullivan county, New York. The progenitor of the family in the new world also bore the name of Moses Dean and was born in England, whence he came to this country as a young man, settling near Hartford, Connecti- cut. He was a preacher of the gospel and lived to the advanced age of one hundred and four years His son. Solomon Dean, was born near Hartford and was one of a corps of trappers and miners in General Washington's army, being with the army commander at Newburgh, Brandywine, Valley Forge and at Yorktown when Cornwallis surrendered. Soon after the close of the struggle with England which won American independence, he married
Elizabeth Brown, at Newburgh. New York. He died near that place in 1787, leaving a wife and three children : Barbara, Polly and Reuben. His widow became the wife of Samuel Johnson, a soldier of the Revolution, in the year 1788, and they also had three children : Elizabeth, Sally and Rachel. Of these Elizabeth became the wife of Ebenezer Howel, while Sally married Abraham Bush.
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