Commemorative portrait and biographical record of Kane and Kendall Counties, Ill. : containing full page portraits and biographicalsketches of prominent and representative citizens of Kane and Kendall Counties, together with portraits and biographies of the presidents of the United States, Part 100

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Beers, Leggett & Co.
Number of Pages: 1040

USA > Illinois > Kane County > Commemorative portrait and biographical record of Kane and Kendall Counties, Ill. : containing full page portraits and biographicalsketches of prominent and representative citizens of Kane and Kendall Counties, together with portraits and biographies of the presidents of the United States > Part 100
USA > Illinois > Kendall County > Commemorative portrait and biographical record of Kane and Kendall Counties, Ill. : containing full page portraits and biographicalsketches of prominent and representative citizens of Kane and Kendall Counties, together with portraits and biographies of the presidents of the United States > Part 100

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mr. J. H. Smith was married March 20, 1861,

to Clara E. Steward, a daughter of Marcus Stew- ard; their children are named as follows, in order of age: Inez, Lile (died in infancy), Ivan, Erma, Eva, Earl, Vernon, and Merton, who died June 28, 1887, aged seven years. The family is pleasantly situated in their comfortable home in Plano, which is on a part of the old " Steward homestead."

D ANIEL PLATT, SR. Prominent among the pioneers of Kendall County is the above mentioned gentleman, who was born March 3, 1810, at Plattsburg, N. Y., and came liere in 1833. His father, Thomas Platt, . supposed to be a native of England, settled in New York when a young man, and married Polly Herrick, who was born near Boston, a daughter of Thomas Herrick. After his mar- riage Thomas Platt located in Clinton, N. Y., near Lake Champlain, but subsequently moved to St. Lawrence County, where he and his wife both died. They reared a family of children, whose names were: Mariam, Leafy, Betsey, Nelson, Daniel, Edith and Priscilla. Daniel, the subject of these lines, was left an orphan at an early age, and thrown upon his own resources. He first worked out, receiving $6 and $7 per month, and after attaining his manhood continued working by the month and by the job, for several years. He was married January 18, 1832, to Esther Ricketson, who was born in the town of Peru, Clinton Co., N. Y., March 10, 1816, and is the third daugh- ter of Jonathan and Esther (Slyter) Ricketson (the former a member of the Society of Friends) who reared a family of seven children: Catherine, Pe- lina, Esther, Henry, Martha, Jane and Eleanor. Catherine married Clark B. Alford, and settled in De Kalb County, this State, and died there; Pelina married John McCloud, who was killed by falling off a load of hay in Livingston County; Henry settled at Plattville; Martha resides in Iowa, married to George Edmonds; Jane (deceased) located in McHenry County, and was the wife of John McLean; Eleanor resides in Iowa, the wife of Reuben Kingman. It was August 18, 1833, that Mr. Platt started west in a wagon. He and three families came together, including his four

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sisters, three of whom were married: Betsey with her husband, Platt Thorn; Polly with her hus- band, Robert Fowler; Edith with her husband, Bernet Miller, and with a single sister, Priscilla. They came the entire way from Clinton County, N. Y., to this place, landing at Walker's Grove (now Plainfield), October 26, and spent the win- ter. Mr. and Mr. Platt hired out here to a man named Carpenter, who kept a house of enter- tainment, and received $25 a month for their services. The following March Mr. Platt left his wife there, came on with his team, and bought a claim of a man for $75, then called the Au Sable Springs. There was a board cabin ten feet square on the place, but Mr. Platt built a new one, and took down the board cabin to make a floor. This claim was situated on the stage road, running from Chicago, Ottawa and Peoria, and is the place he now owns, on Sec- tion 1, in Lisbon Township, Kendall County. Soon after Mr. Platt came here his place was made a station, which he kept for several years.

At the time Mr. Platt came, the nearest place of any note was Chicago, where he first got his mail, and paid 25 cents for letter postage; prints were 25 cents a yard, and houses were many miles apart. Mr. Platt relates they were three years alone here on the prairie, and that a Mr. House went eight miles to get fire during the winter of 1834. The family went to bed during his absence, and on his return home with it, his fire, or kindling went out, yet, with the aid of his musket and some cotton, he succeeded in getting a fire started. Soon after his arrival Mr. Platt purchased a cow, and after paying $10 for her, had $3 left. He lived in the cabin until he built the stone house in which he now resides, which he completed in 1842, and which is 33x43 feet, the stone for which he hauled five miles, and the lumber used he hauled from Chicago. The claim surveyed out about 640 acres, but he let Mrs. Platt's father have a piece in order to have a neighbor near, and also gave a piece to his brother, Nelson, who came later, and then 120 acres to his son, and he now has 160 acres. He has had five children born to him: Elizabeth, Daniel, Jr., Keziah, Albert and Levi. Elizabeth, now deceased, married Jordon Gray,

who died in Yorkville, in May, 1884, leaving five children: Daniel, Jr., resides on the homestead; Keziah resides in this township, wife of George Tremain; Albert resides in Plattville; Levi also here carries on a store and creamery; Albert was in the Civil War three years, a member of Com- pany H, Eighty-ninth Illinois Volunteers, and now draws a pension. Mr. Platt carried on a store at Plattville for about twenty years, but after the war gave it up to his sons, having given them a good commercial education. He was formerly a Democrat, but since the formation of the Re- publican party has been a stanch Republican. He has served as postmaster for several years, and this office has since been held by his sons, Levi at present having charge of the same. He has served as road commissioner, and was instrument- al in securing the township a splendid school fund. He would not sell the school lands at the time the others desired, and by holding on they brought a good price. Mr. Platt was twice elected justice of the peace, but would not qualify. Mrs. Platt has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. Our subject has four ar- tesian wells on his place, and his son, Levi, has two on his own farm. The town or village of Plattville derives its name from Daniel Platt, Sr., who retired from business over twenty years ago.

H UGH S. ROBINSON, a farmer of Lisbon Township, has, through many years' resi- dence, been constantly identified as one of its representative and honored citizens. He was born in Erie County, Penn., April 24, 1836. In 1856 he removed to Illinois, coming direct to Fox Township, where he arrived in September. Dur- ing 1857 and until 1860 he worked for others, at from $18 per month upward. In the latter year he rented land in Lisbon Township, owned by Bestor Towne, and farmed it for fifteen years. In 1875 he purchased the eighty acres, consisting of the east half of the northwest quarter of Sec- tion 9, at $70 per acre, where he has since re- sided. The place is excellently equipped with good buildings and other improvements usually found on a well conducted farm. Mr. Robinson

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has been quite successful in mixed farming and stock raising, in the latter principally of blooded hogs and'good horses.

N ATHAN CARR MIGHELL, a representative farmer of Little Rock Township, was born at Wallingford, Rutland Co., Vt., Decem- ber 10, 1810, and is a son of James and Abigail (Carr) Mighell. He was the eldest of a family of five children, viz. : Nathan Carr; Abigail A., now the widow of Loomis French, and residing at the old homestead in Vermont; James H., mar- ried to Elizabeth French, and now living in Iowa; Hannah H., who never married, and died aged twenty-four; and Thomas W., who died when a small child. James Mighell, the father of the above children, was born in Connecticut, and mar- ried, for his first wife, Abigail Bishop, by whom he had two children, Ezekiel and Mary, both of whom are deceased. After this wife's death he married Abigail Carr, who was born in Rhode Island. He died before Nathan C. was fourteen year old.

Our subject's paternal grandparents were named Ezekiel and Margaret (Willson) Mighell; the latter was a daughter of Thomas Willson, a descendant of John Willson, who fought as a sol- dier during Cromwell's time, in the Royalist army. It is related in an old manuscript, kept for generations in the family, and now in the possess- ion of N. C. Mighell, that on one occasion, when the opposing hostile armies were lying adja- cent, from the Scotcli army a mounted cham- pion appeared between the lines, and dared any one from the Royalist army to single and deadly combat. The Royalist general asked for a volun- teer to accept the challenge. It was promptly re- sponded to by John Willson, above named, who, mounting his horse, met the champion. Armed with swords, they fought in full view of both armies. After a desperate encounter Willson de- feated the challenger, who met death undaunted, when the victor returned to his general with the head of his enemy poised on the point of his sword. This John Willson was subsequently married to a lady named Hannah James, who owned a large

estate, and with his wife emigrated to America about 1637. They sold their large property in England, and started on their long voyage supplied with everything that wealth could buy that was necessary to have in the New World to which they were going, but, when the vessel, laden with two hundred souls, arrived at Boston, Mass., it ran upon the rocks, and was wrecked. All es- caped with life; but property of every kind was lost, and thus from riches Mr. Willson and his family were reduced to poverty and labor.

The great-grandfather of our subject on the paternal side, Thomas Willson, was a native of New England, served as a soldier in the French and Indian War from Connecticut, in which State he died.

While on a scouting expedition in that war his party was ambushed by Indians, eight of their number being killed and two wounded. Thomas Willson was one of the latter. He was taken prisoner, and after being wounded, succeeded in killing one and wounding another Indian. The savages, though greatly incensed against him, spared his life, from their superstition, probably, as, on examining his clothes they found bullet holes through them in several places, and concluded he was specially protected by the "Great Spirit;" but notwithstanding this, on arriving at their vil- lage in Canada, they treated him with great cruelty, making him run the gauntlet, etc., and nearly killing him. He was finally adopted by a squaw as her son (in place of one that had been killed), and was treated with great kindness by her. He was kept a prisoner thirteen months, when he with three others escaped, and after a long and tedious tramp though the forests arrived at Fort Edward, N. Y., and soon afterward rejoined his family.

Nathan Carr Mighell, whose name heads this memoir, was reared in his native State, and while with his parents obtained a fair English education in the district schools; he also learned the carpen- ter's trade in his youth, and in April, 1831, went to Tompkins County, N. Y., where he worked at carpentering. October 1, 1835, he married Julia Ann Carter, who was born in Schoharie County, N. Y., August 21, 1814, a daughter of Reuben

of 6. Migh. CO

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and Esther (Eldredge) Carter, the former a native of Hartford, and the latter a native of Sharon, Conn. Reuben and Esther Carter had one son and three daughters. The son became the well-known Judge H. A. Carter, of California; of the daugh- ters, Julia is deceased; Eliza Ann (a twin sister of Mrs. N. C. Mighell) married Nelson Givens, who subsequently was elected and served as a judge in Minnesota, and now resides in Plano, Ill.

In 1837 Nathan C. Mighell set out on a pros- pecting tour to Illinois, with the intention of mak- ing the West his home if he was pleased and found a suitable location. On reaching Little Rock Town- ship he was so well satisfied with the soil and the surroundings that he decided to settle here. He immediately returned East, and in October of the same year came back with his wife and infant child, Jane E., who died while a babe. Mr. Mighell immediately invested $60 in a land claim, and sub- sequently, in 1843, acquired a title to it from the general Government. On this land he built a small frame house, 18x23 feet, and although in an unfinished condition, lived in it during the excep- tionally cold winter of 1842-43. This has been his residence from that time to the present, al- though the primitive dwelling has been added to from time to time until it consists of the commodi- ous residence of to-day; while the farm has in- creased to 200 acres, all in a good state of cultiva- tion and highly improved. Mr. Mighell has dur- ing his long residence in Little Rock Township established a reputation and character as a good citizen, second to none in his vicinity; has always been active in support of measures of a public nature calculated to benefit the many; is a Repub. lican in politics, and has served in various offices of trust, such as school director, justice of the peace, township trustee, supervisor, assessor, coroner of Kendall County, etc. ; he is a liberal patron of the public journals of the day, while his library is well supplied with standard works. He is a deacon in the Congregational Church, of which Mrs. Mighell is also a member. They have had a family of seven children, six of whom lived to mature years. They are named, in order of birth, as follows: : James H., who died March 25, 1863, at Milliken's Bend, La., a volunteer soldier in Company F, One

Hundred and Twenty-seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and is buried in the National Cemetery at Vicksburg, Miss. ; Esther A., who mar- ried D. W. C. Beck, and died leaving one son, Millard S. Beck, now of Story County, Iowa; Reuben C., who married Edith Thorp, and is now a traveling solicitor for the Plano Manufacturing Company; Hannah E., who married Robert M. Gar- field, and resides in Kane County; Edwin E .. who married Ella Miller, and Julia M., who is Mrs. Charles M. Sears (the last two reside in Hamilton County, Neb.). Mr. Mighell is one of the most substantial citizens of his township. He has met, face to face, six generations of the Mighell family, namely from his grandfather down to his own great-grandchildren.

OHN C. SHAW, a prominent and substantial citizen of Lisbon Township, was born on Section 8, May 7, 1846. He obtained a good education in the schools of the vicinity, which, added to superior natural endowments of intellect, have made him, since arriving to years of maturity, a man of mark in his community, and one who is universally trusted. He served two years as township clerk, and was elected in 1882 to represent the township on the Board of Super- visors, the duties of which responsible office he has conscientiously and creditably performed up to the present, 18SS. He was formerly a Republican, but of late years has acted with the Prohibition- ists. By theory and practice he has been a temper. ance man all his life; a drink of spirituous liquors has never passed his lips; the same may be said of tobacco, he never having used it in any form. Mr. Shaw is a successful farmer and business man; socially he is popular: is trustee and district stew- ard of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Platt- ville, of which he is also a member. He was mar- ried July 15, 1874, to Barbara Pletcher, who was born in Center County, Penn., December 21, 1844; a daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Baker) Pletcher. Daniel Pletcher settled in Kendall Township in 1854, and died November 5, 1887. His widow still survives. Mr. and Mrs. Pletcher had the following named children: Samuel E.

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Pletcher, who served as a soldier for three years in the War of the Rebellion as a member of Company H., Eighty-ninth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, and now lives in Vermilion County, Ill. ; David S., also of Vermilion County; Joseph B., who died in 1886; Francis M., at Los Angeles, Cal. ; Mary, now Mrs. James Runner; Lucinda, now the wife of John Brickley, Livingston County, Ill. ; Ellen, Mrs. Ezekiel Pletcher, of Lisbon Township; Eliza, residing with her mother, at Plattville, and Barbara, wife of our subject. She is the sixth child in order of birth. The subject of this sketch, with his wife and adopted daughter, Fan- nie, reside on Section 14, where he owns a large and valuable farm, to the care of which he devotes the most of his time. J John C. Shaw is a son of Thomas and Ellen (Smethers) Shaw, who were born, respectively, January 21, 1809, and January 1, 1811, in Yorkshire, England. They came to America in 1842, the same year locating on eighty acres of Government land, on Section 8, Lisbon Township. They made additions to this first pur- chase, and resided there until he retired and re- moved to Yorkville. Thomas Shaw had nine chil- dren, named: Thomas, Jr., now of Wichita, Kan. ; Elias, now of Sonoma County. Cal .; Ann, now Mrs. Joseph Fielding, of Lisbon Township; Will- iam, in Waupaca County, Wis .; Mary, the wife of Matthew Cocksford, of Chicago, Ills .; Samuel, of Scranton, Greene Co., Iowa; Elizabeth, now the wife of Otto Worsley, in Newark, Ill. ; Maggie, now Mrs. Hiram Worsley, of Greene County, Iowa; and John C., who is the fourth son in order of birth.

R USSELL WING (deceased). Of the old settlers and representative men of Kendall County that have been identified with its interests for many years, and distinguished for their good citizenship and sterling qualities, was the above mentioned gentleman, who was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., December 29, 1814, and was brought to Chautauqua County by his parents when three years of age. His parents were Thomas and Sarah (Brownell) Wing, to whom eleven children were born, all of whom attained years of maturity; their names are Brownell,

Russell, Mordecai, Martha, Abraham, Lydia, Phebe J., Mary, Seneca, Thomas and Sarah Ann. All these children raised families, except Mary, Phebe J. and Seneca. Russell's father, who was a miller by trade, built two mills in Chautauqua County, N. Y., and carried on farming at the same time. When twenty-two years of age Russell Wing was united in marriage, December 22, 1836, with Mary Ann Hoag, who was born in the town of Elba, Genesee Co., N. Y., June 18, 1819; and was the youngest daughter of Levi and Desire Gard- ner Hoag, born, respectively, in Dutchess Coun- ty, N. Y., and in Providence, R. I. Her paternal grandsire was Benjamin Hoag, whose wife was Sarah Allen, both natives of the State of New York. Desire Gardner was a daughter of John and Bashaba (Watson) Gardner, both of whom were also of New York State. For several years after Mr. Wing's marriage he continued in the mill- ing business, but was forced to abandon it on ac- count of ill health, the dust affecting his lungs and causing asthma. He decided to change his busi- ness and location, and cast his fortunes with the West. He left his old home and came with a team, the trip lasting twenty-three days, landing in Big Grove Township, May 9, 1844, and locating on forty acres of land he had purchased; here he re- sided about four years; then disposed of this and purchased a tract on the west half of Section 33; forty acres were broken, but no buildings whatever were on the place. He remained there until the winter of 1872, when he left the farm and removed to the village of Lisbon, where he died January 23, 1875, of pneumonia. He was at all times held in high esteem by his many friends as an up- right and conscientious Christian. He had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church since he was nineteen years of age; was a stanch worker and a pillar for many years prior to his decease, and gave liberally to the support of the gospel; to those in need he was always ready to administer, and the hungry were never turned away unfed from his door. He was a man of few words, but his life was an exemplary one, and he died in the triumph of faith. In politics, he was a Republican, and a firm friend of the Union. Five children were born to him, two of whom are

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deceased, Sarah B. and Seneca L. Sarah B. mar- ried W. H. Shepherd, and died December 20, 1867, leaving one child, William Russel, who died Sep- tember 27, 1868, aged eleven months; Seneca L. died December 11, 1862, aged nineteen years, in the hospital at Nasliville, of typhoid fever. He enlisted August 11, 1862, in the Eighty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry (Second Board of Trade), participated in the battle of Perryville where he was slightly wounded, and in November he was taken sick, and died as above mentioned. He was converted in the winter of 1857. The re- maining children are Russell M., Electa D. and Francis A. Russell M. is now a lawyer residing in Morris, and is the father of four children, Fred- die, Bert, Stella and Bessie. Francis A. is study - ing for the ministry; Electa D. resides in Den- ver, Colo., the wife of Abel Kemple, and is the mother of one child, Bessie. Mrs. Wing resides in Lisbon Village, and is spending the end of her life in the enjoyment of home and friends. She has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for forty years, and is waiting patiently the call of the Master to join the loved ones gone before.

EWIS SHERRIL. Among the prominent farmers and old settlers of Lisbon Township is Lewis Sherril, who was born in the town of New Hartford, Oneida Co., N. Y., De- cember 19, 1814. His father's name was Lewis Sherril, a native of Long Island, N. Y., and who, when a young man. went to Oneida County, and there married Nancy Williams, daughter of Ezekiel Williams, who was one of the old settlers of New Hartford. He and his brother, Thomas, were tanners and curriers, and carried on the business there for several years. Lewis Sherril and his brother Jacob were carpenters, and soon after their location in New Hartford they erected a carding mill, but their principal business was build- ing carding machines, and there they spent the remainder of their days. Lewis Sherril and his wife, Nancy, raised a family of four sons: John (who died in 1830, in his twentieth year), Joseph , Allen, Thomas Dana and Lewis. There were

also two daughters: Cornelia died in her eigh-

teenth year, and Sarah W. in her first year. The subject of this sketch was reared to farming. He lived with his father until he came, in the fall of 1836, to Kendall County, where he and his brother, Joseph A., entered about two sections of land in the south part of Lisbon Township, one of which Lewis now owns. Lewis revisited New York that year, and in March, 1837, returned and located on a quarter section of land he had traded for in the southeast quarter of Section 36, in Big Grove Township, made some improvements there, and his brother soon returned. Lewis lived there until 1849, when he located on the farm he now owns, having improved about 180 acres and built a house on the same. His brother, Dana, came west about 1843, and the two carried on business together, Dana taking the place of his brother, Joseph A. Lewis and Dana were associated together until 1849, Lewis re- maining on the section he now owns; and since that time he has been a constant resident of this farm. Mr. Sherril was married the first time, in the fall of 1840, to Emeline Moore, daughter of Horace Moore. She died November 19, 1842, leaving one son, Dana, now a Congregational clergyman at Marshall, this State. Mr. Sherril's second mar- riage occurred April 23, 1849, with Janette Gill- fillan, who was born in Bannockburn, Scotland, May 17, 1827, the daughter of James and Jane (Gilmer) Gillfillan. Mrs. Sherril came to America with her parents when she was three years of age, the family locating at New Hartford, N. Y. There were two sons and two daughters in the family, the sons being Charles D. and James Gill- fillan. Charles D. is a prominent and wealthy man of St. Paul, Minn., was the founder of the water works there, and represented his county in the Legislature. James is also a resident of St. Paul, and is judge of the supreme court. Both he and Charles D. were early settlers there. Mrs. Sherril has one sister, Mary G., the wife of C. C. Hutchinson, of this township. By his last marriage Mr. Sherril has three children: Charles, Mary and Ida J. Charles resides on part of the homestead, is married and has two daughters: Ella and Alice. Mary is the wife of Norman S. Shufelt, of this township; Ida J. resides with her parents. Mr. Sherril and family are members of the Congrega-

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tional Church. He owns the whole of Section 34, where he lives, and other lands in Lisbon Township. He is an intelligent man and a liberal supporter of the public journals, and his house is well stored with good books.

E S. HOLLAND. Big Grove has a large number of representatives from Norway, who have, within the last fifty years, by their industry and economy, contributed much to the wealth and prosperity of the township. Some of them came here as early as 1837, and among the first arrivals we might mention the names of the Hills, Mathres, Weeks, Monsens, Dyvigs and Groves, many of whom yet reside in this township. Prominent among this nationality is E. S. Holland, who came to Big Grove Township in December, 1866. He located on Section 27, and here he has since resided engaged in farming. He has also given his attention to other enterprises, being in- terested in the insurance business, representing the Hecla Fire Insurance Company, of Madison, Wis., organized in 1871 by Norwegians, with ex- Senator John A. Johnsen, as president, and Consul Halle Steensland, secretary and treasurer.

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Commemorative portrait and biographical record of Kane and Kendall Counties, Ill. : containing full page portraits and biographicalsketches of prominent and representative citizens of Kane and Kendall Counties, together with portraits and biographies of the presidents of the United States, Part 100

Author: Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Beers, Leggett & Co. Number of Pages: 1040

Author:
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Beers, Leggett & Co.
Number of Pages: 1040