USA > Illinois > LaSalle County > Biographical and genealogical record of La Salle County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 8
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Frederick Frank, the grandfather of Charles A., served his time as a soldier in the German army, and after coming to this country devoted his attention to farming. He died near Somonauk, Illinois, at about the age of seventy years. His family was composed of five sons and one daughter. The maternal grandfather of our subject was William Cook. He died in Ireland, at an advanced age.
Charles A. Frank was reared in Earlville from his fourth year, receiving his education in the public schools. In November, 1895, he engaged in his present business, opening a bakery, restaurant and confectionery, and for the past four years has done a prosperous business, keeping a neat and attractive establishment and catering to a good class of trade.
As above stated, Mr. Frank has lived in Earlville ever since he was four years old, and it should be added that he has a host of friends who appreciate his many good qualities of heart and mind as well as his excellent meals and polite attention to patrons. Mr. Frank is a member of the I. O. O. F., and also belongs to the orders of Knights of the Globe and Modern Woodmen of America. Politically, like his father, he is a Democrat.
HUDSON V. CHASE. 1
Hudson V. Chase, the city clerk and police magistrate of Earlville, Illinois, lives on Ottawa street, and has been a resident of this place for fourteen years. A native of the Keystone state, he was born in Hones- dale, Pennsylvania, May 9. 1846, a son of Cyrus and Sophronia (Suydam) Chase, natives respectively of New Hampshire and New York. Their fam-
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ily comprised four sons and six daughters, of which number four are now living, namely: Isadora, widow of Alfred W. Kellogg, of Valparaiso, In- diana; Josephine L., also of Valparaiso; Cyrus Van Buren Chase, of Clay- ville, New York; and Hudson V., whose name introduces this sketch. The father was a manufacturer of woolen goods in the east, and later car- ried on a wagon-making establishment in Valparaiso, he having come west to Indiana in 1860. He died in Valparaiso in 1874, at the age of seventy- three years. His widow survived him about ten years and at the time of her death was eighty-three. Both were members of the Universalist church. He was a Republican and was at one time nominated for congress, but preferred not to enter public life and withdrew from the contest.
Turning back to another generation, we find that the paternal grand- father of the subject of this sketch was named David Chase. He was of English descent, was a native of Massachusetts, and at the time of his death was eighty years of age. He was the father of six children. The maternal grandfather of Mr. Chase was a native of Holland. On coming to this country he located in New York, where he spent the rest of his life and died at a ripe old age. His was a remarkable family. Of his fourteen children all with one exception lived to be over eighty.
Hudson V. Chase passed the first three years of his life in Pennsyl- vania. He then went with his parents to New York, where he lived until he was sixteen, the family home being in Oneida county. During this period he spent his winters attending the common schools. When he was sixteen he began working at the carpenter's trade in Valparaiso, and was thus occu- pied at the time the civil war broke out. In May, 1862, he enlisted in Company E, Fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, which became a part of the Army of the Cumberland, and he was in the service twenty-one months. Among the engagements in which he participated were the battles of Dand- ridge and Chickamauga and numerous skirmishes.
The war over, Mr. Chase received an honorable discharge and returned to Valparaiso, and instead of resuming work at his trade he took up the study of law, diligently pursuing the same and being admitted to the bar in 1866, and for a short time he practiced law in Valparaiso. About that time, however, the ministry seemed to have a great attraction for him, and, feeling called to preach, he left the bar for the pulpit, entering the ministry of the Universalist church. His first charge was at Franklin Grove, Illinois, where he preached one year. Afterward he was stationed at Dixon, this state, eight years; Cedar Rapids, Iowa, two years; Sycamore, Illinois, three years; and Earlville, Illinois, three years. At the end of this time he was threatened with nervous prostration, and rested for two or three years. His next work was to edit the Earlville Gazette. he being its first editor, a
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position he filled two years. Since 1894 he has filled the positions of police magistrate and city clerk.
On the Ist of May, 1866, he married Miss Addie Arundle. To them were born four children,-Isadore, Herman, Hudson and Evelyn,-all liv- ing and at home except Hudson, who died at the age of ten months.
Mr. Chase belongs to Mccullough Post, No. 475, G. A. R. He is a Republican.
FRED A. KOEHLER.
One of the leading carpenters, contractors and builders of Peru, LaSalle county, is Fred A. Koehler, a native of this place, his birth having occurred March 8, 1862. For nearly half a century his family has been identified with Peru and its business interests, aiding in local enterprises and ma- terially contributing to its growth and improvement.
The parents of our subject were Albright and Elizabeth S. (Burkhart) Koehler, both of whom were born in Germany, the former in Michelstadt, Hessen, and the latter in Opergimper. Baden. Their marriage was cele- brated in Peru, in 1858. The former came to the United States in 1852, and within a year or two was followed by his parents. His father, George Koehler, was a physician, and for many years was successfully engaged in practice in Peru, Henry and Chicago, Illinois. About 1854 Albright Koehler came to Peru, where for several years, or until the civil war, he was a druggist, and on November 14, 1861, he enlisted as a private in the Union army, belonging to Company A, Fifty-third Regiment of Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He was soon promoted from the ranks, on account of his knowledge of drugs and medicine, to the more responsible post of assistant surgeon. In the fall of 1862 he was discharged from the army because of ill health. When he returned to Peru he turned his attention again to the drug business, spending periods of time at Mendota, Peoria, Henry and Wenona, Illinois, and then again returned to Peru and took up the painter's trade, and for a number of years was employed in that line. For a long period he served as a justice of the peace, making a creditable record. A member of the Masonic fraternity and the Grand Army of the Republic, he stood high in the estimation of his comrades. He died De- cember 1. 1891, aged fifty-three years, eight months and fifteen days. His widow, who was born August 8, 1838, and is still living, in Peru, came to this place in 1851, with her parents, John and Mary Ann (Ehrlacher) Burk- hart. Her father was a mechanic, and died in Peru in 1857; and her mother lived many years thereafter, dying in 1881. Six children, of whom two are deceased. were born to Albright Koehler and wife, namely: Louisa
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W., Fred A., George C. (deceased), Emma M. H. (deceased), Leopold W. and Minnie J.
Our subject was reared in Peru and received a practical education in the public schools. When fourteen years of age he commenced serving an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade, and spent three years in this man- ner. In 1885 he branched out in business on his own account, becoming a member of the firm of Utz, Sperber & Koehler. After continuing with his partners for some six or seven years he withdrew and since that time has conducted business alone. He has met with deserved success, and among the numerous buildings which stand as monuments of his skill here are the Masonic Temple, Turner Hall, the residences of C. Brunner, C. Nadler, and many other public and private structures which might be mentioned. Faithful, reliable and prompt in the execution of his contracts, he has won the high regard of his patrons and the good will of the citizens generally.
Following his father's example, Mr. Koehler is affiliated with the Dem- ocratic party, being quite independent in local politics, however. He is an honorary member of the Peru fire department and belongs to the Peru Rod & Gun Club, the society of the Turn Verein, and the Knights of Pythias. In 1882 he married Miss Elizabeth Wickert, of Peru, and of the five children who blessed their union two have been summoned to the silent land. The children's names are Elma, deceased; Fred W .; Edith, deceased; Walter and Irene. Mrs. Koehler's parents are August and Lena (Erb) Wickert, natives of Germany.
GEORGE CAMENISCH.
George Camenisch is one of the younger business men of LaSalle, Illinois, who by close application and steady, frugal habits has built up an enviable reputation in the business world, and enjoys the respect and esteem of the entire community. He was born in this city, December 17, 1868, and has always made it his home. His father, David Camenisch, was a native of Switzerland, who came to America when about ten years of age and at Peoria enlisted in the United States Army and served in the civil war as a soldier for four years. He was twice wounded .- at Champion Hill and Fort Donelson. After the war he located in LaSalle, about 1866. and, having learned the cigar-maker's trade before the war, he continued in the cigar business until his death, January 7. 1884, when he was in his forty-second year. He was married to Sophia Planner, a daughter of George Planner, a German who came to America many years ago and
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settled in Peru, and whose last years were spent in the home of his grand- son, our subject, where he died when about sixty-five years old.
George Camenisch attended the public schools until he was fifteen years of age, when he learned the trade of a cornice-maker, following it ever since. In 1895 he started for himself and does a large amount of contract work, putting up all kinds of roofings, steel ceilings and cornices. He is a skillful and conscientious workman who takes pride in his work. December 6, 1893, he was married to Miss Selma Schneider, a daughter of Gustave and Edith (Kolbe) Schneider. They have two children,-Adolph and George. They have a cosy home on Fourth street, where their many friends find a hearty welcome. Mr. Camenisch is a member of the LaSalle Turnverein, and in politics a strong Republican.
JAMES BROTHERTON.
James Brotherton, city treasurer and highway commissioner of LaSalle, was born in this city November 10, 1856. His parents were Henry and Marcella (Dooley) Brotherton. The grandfather of our subject, Henry Brotherton, died in his native country, England, at the age of seventy years or more. He had a large number of children, many of whom came to England, and among them the father of our subject. He came to America some time during the '40s, locating in LaSalle and working at his trade, that of engineer, for several years in the Matthiessen-Hegeler Zinc Works. He afterward worked at Oglesby and was accidentally killed on the Illinois Central Railroad about the year 1880, when forty-five years of age. He married Marcella Dooley, a native of Ireland and a daughter of James Dooley, who died in that country at an advanced age, leaving four or five children. Mrs. Brotherton is a devout Roman Catholic. Her residence is in Spring Valley. Seven children were born to her, of whom six are now living, namely: Mary Ann, wife of Charles McCarty, of Oglesby; this state; James; Alfred, of Dickey county, North Dakota; Drucilla, wife of Patrick Corcoran, of Spring Valley: Maggie, wife of William Doyle, of Spring Valley; and Katie, wife of Edward Doyle, of the same village. Their father served in the civil war under Captain Neddy.
James Brotherton attended the parochial schools of his native town, and at the early age of thirteen began learning the trade of engineer. He followed this vocation until 1894, when he met with an accident in which he had the misfortune to lose two fingers. This incapacitated him for some time and he did not again take up his trade. He was the foreman of the street improvement for some time and then was made center police. In 1893 he was elected a commissioner of highways, a position he still holds.
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In 1897 he was elected to the office of city treasurer and now performs the duties of both trusts in a manner highly satisfactory to his constituents.
Mr. Brotherton was united in marriage, September 19, 1887, to Miss Mary O'Day, daughter of Patrick and Ann (Flannagan) O'Day. They were early settlers in Peru, the father coming from Ireland and the mother from Brooklyn, New York. He was a coal miner in county Mayo, where his parents died. He married Ann Flannagan, whose parents died in Brooklyn, and five children were born to them, namely: Thomas O'Day, of Westville, Illinois; Katie, unmarried and living in Centralia; Nellie, unmarried and living in Streator; Annie, wife of John Pouk, also of Streator; and Mrs. Brotherton. They were members of the Catholic church and both died in middle life .- she at the age of thirty-four, in 1882, and he at the age of forty-five, in 1893. Mr. and Mrs. Brotherton are mem- bers of the Catholic church and are highly esteemed in the community. He is a Democrat and contributes in no uncertain way to the success of the local ticket. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America.
SAMUEL HASTINGS.
For forty-five years Samuel Hastings has been numbered among the influential citizens and leading business men of Mendota, but is now living retired. As a representative of commercial circles he has borne an import- ant part in securing the material development and substantial progress of the city with which his family name has so long been interwoven. The substantial residence which is to-day his home, located at the corner of Monroe and Michigan streets, was erected by his father in 1854, and is thus one of the landmarks of the town.
Samuel Hastings was born in Moorfield. Harrison county. Ohio, Sep- tember II, 1829, and traces his ancestry back to John Hastings, who was a native of Ireland, but of English descent. He came to the United States, locating in Harrison county, in 1822, and there continued his accustomed vocation of farming. His death occurred when he was about seventy-two years of age. His brothers. Thomas and James, accompanied him to this country, the former settling near Washington, Pennsylvania, while the latter became a resident of Jefferson county, Ohio.
The Hon. John Hastings, a son of John Hastings, the emigrant, and the father of Samuel Hastings, of this review, was born in Inniskillen. Ire- land, and was one of five children. In 1822 he came to these hospitable shores with his father and for some time pursued his studies in a seminary
Samuel Hartinger
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in Mount Pleasant, Ohio, while later he engaged in teaching for several years. After his marriage he settled upon a farm which his father gave him, and a few years later embarked in the mercantile business near Cadiz, Ohio. After managing that enterprise with ability for a number of years he was nominated and elected to the state senate, where he served his constituents with credit for two terms. For a long period he was a justice of the peace, and in 1850 he held the office of census enumerator. In 1854 he came to Illinois and was associated with his son Samuel in the dry goods and lumber business in Mendota until his death, which occurred September 12, 1857, when he was fifty-three years of age. He married Miss Jane Knox, who was born in Stribane, county Tyrone, Ireland, a daughter of Samuel Knox, a wealthy gentleman who was born and reared in Scotland and became connected with agricultural pursuits. That he carried on an extensive business may be inferred from the fact that he employed thirty servants. About 1817 he came to the United States, locating in Harrison county, Ohio, where he died at the age of seventy-six years. He was one of the typical "old-school" gentlemen, quiet and severe in manner and a strict Presbyterian in religious faith. For a number of years he was an elder in the church and took an active part in its work. Mrs. Jane Hastings, together with her five brothers and sisters, were reared in the same belief, but in her later years she identified herself with the Methodist denomination, to which Mr. Hastings likewise belonged. She preceded her husband to the better land, dying January 9, 1855, when in her fiftieth year.
Samuel Hastings, whose name introduces this review, is one of twelve children, seven of whom were sons. The surviving members of the family are: Mary Ann, a resident of Lee county, Illinois; Jane, of Mendota; Mariah, widow of S. Newton Barton, who died during the civil war; Harry, of Lee county, Illinois; and James, of Seattle, Washington. They were reared upon the paternal homestead in Harrison county, Ohio, and in the town where their father carried on business, and were provided with good educational advantages. John Hastings, the eldest brother of our subject, was associated with him in business in an early day, and died in Mendota, in 1858, at the age of thirty-two years. .
After he had completed the common-school course, Samuel Hastings entered the commercial college in Columbus, Ohio, where he obtained a knowledge of business forms and banking. In 1853 he came to Mendota, while upon an inspecting tour seeking a settlement in a desirable location. Pleased with this town, he returned to his native state and the following June, accompanied by other members of his father's household, took up his abode in the city which has since been his place of residence. He was as- sociated with his father in the dry-goods business until the latter's death,
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and afterward accepted a clerkship in the employ of W. T. Black, under the firm name of W. T. Black & Company. In 1867 Mr. Hastings withdrew, and as a member of the firm of W. F. Corbus & Company was engaged in the drug business until 1876, when he bought out the interest of the senior partner and continued alone in the enterprise for eighteen years. In 1894 the firm became Hastings & Wylie by the admission of Robert A. Wylie to the busi- ness, and finally, in December, 1898, after this extremely long and successful commercial career, Mr. Hastings sold out his interest and has since practi- cally lived a retired life. He owns a valuable farm of eighty acres situated about ten miles north of the town and has other property and investments which yield good returns.
In 1865 Mr. Hastings was appointed and afterward elected secretary and treasurer of the Mendota Cemetery Association, which was organized several years ago, but to him was left the task of systematizing the business. He has since continued in this office, and to his ability and excellent business ideas may be largely attributed the development, extension and adorning of this beautiful city of the dead. During the war Mr. Hastings was an ardent worker in the Union League of America, which organization was formed to encourage loyalty to the Union and give aid and succor to the loyal citizens throughout the land and to further promote the general welfare of the pub- lic and to furnish such aid to the Union soldiers as they needed in the way of clothing, shelter, food and other supplies. In the interest of the league Mr. Hastings labored very actively and effectively, and was a warm friend of the Union cause.
In his political affiliations he is a stalwart Republican, unswerving in the principles of the party. For years he has been a leading member of the Mendota Lodge, No. 176, F. and A. M., Mendota Chapter, No. 79. R. A. M., and Bethany Commandery. No. 28. K. T. He and his sister, Jane K., live together in the old family residence, which has sheltered them for so many years. They have the care of two nephews,-Harry Hastings Wright and Roy Knox Wright,-whose parents are deceased. Miss Hastings is a lady of excellent education and amiable qualities, and an active member of the Methodist church. Both she and her brother have many friends, and are highly esteemed by all who enjoy their acquaintance.
RALPH O. DUPEE.
The Dupee family, so well known and highly esteemed in Earlville and LaSalle county, is one of the honored early families of New England. it having been established in Boston in 1685 by Jean Dupuy (as the name was originally spelled), who fled from La Rochelle, France, his own loved
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country, to America, on account of the persecution of the Huguenots. His descendants continued to dwell in the land which had been such a kind foster mother to him, and in the opening year of this century Jacob Dupee was born in Boston. He learned the tailor's trade and during the last years of his life dwelt in Earlville and Chicago with his children, four of his sons having lived to maturity. He died in this town in 1879, when nearly four-score years of age. His wife was of Scotch-English extraction, one branch of her family dating back to the historic Mayflower.
One of the sons just mentioned was Ralph Oscar Dupee, who was born in West Brookfield, Massachusetts, April 23, 1846, and was reared with his three elder brothers,-Charles A., for years one of the prominent lawyers of Chicago; Jacob A., of Earlville, with whom he was engaged in business for more than twenty years; and Henry H .. for the past ten years a resident of Paola, Florida. The great civil war claimed the anxious attention of Ralph O. Dupee as he was approaching maturity, and though he was young he enlisted in the Forty-second Massachusetts Infantry and served for four months, in the Army of the Potomac, when the terrible conflict was finished.
As early as 1854 one of the Dupee brothers came to the west, and as the years rolled away his example was followed by the other members of the family. After his army service. R. O. Dupee came to Illinois and for a period dwelt at Augusta. In 1867 he came to Earlville and entered into business with his brothers Jacob and Henry, the latter of whom with- drew from the firm in 1871, on account of poor health. The other brothers continued successfully engaged in the same enterprise until the death of Ralph O. Dupee, in the spring of 1895. He was the vice-president of the Earlville Bank for several years, and was the president of the board of education two terms. The patriotic spirit which led to his enlistment in the defense of the Union always governed him, and few are more sincere in desiring the welfare of the public and the land of freedom. He was an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in his religious belief he adhered to the staunch old Congregational creed of his forefathers. During a period of years he served as the church clerk, treasurer, trustee and superintendent, and his place in the congregation has indeed been hard to fill. The entire community felt that it had suffered an irreparable loss when he was so suddenly stricken, but his example and the ennobling influence of his manly life endures and will endure for many years to come. In all of his relations, in the business world, in the church and the Grand Army of the Republic, in the social and home circles, he was loved and admired for his truly superior qualities of mind and heart. His uniform courtesy and kindness, his generosity and considerateness, won the respect
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of the most casual acquaintance and endeared him forever to those who knew him intimately. His widow, whose maiden name was Sarah Cone, is still a resident of Earlville. She was born in Rhode Island and is of Scotch-English descent. Her father, Rev. William Cone, was a native of New Hampshire, and was a minister of the Methodist denomination. At a very early day he came to Illinois, where he preached the gospel until he was well advanced in years. He died in Earlville and left three children to mourn his loss.
Mrs. Dupee, soon after her marriage, joined the Congregational church, and in church matters has ever taken an active interest. She is the mother of one daughter and three sons, namely: Ella, Walter R., Frank W. and John.
WALTER R. DUPEE.
Walter Ralph Dupee, the son of Ralph O. and Sarah (Cone) Dupee, was born in Earlville. November 9, 1875, has passed his entire life here and is thoroughly identified with its welfare. He received a liberal educa- tion in the local public schools, and completed a thorough course of study in the higher branches of learning at the Beloit (Wisconsin) College. After the death of his father he returned home and at once sought to master the business which had been brought to such a successful standing by his father and uncle. He remained with his uncle in the business for two years, at the end of which time he became the sole proprietor and is now managing his affairs with marked ability.
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