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 106
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 106
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108
count of Big Grove Township, determined to re- move there. He accordingly brought his family and took up a claim near Big Grove, which he im- proved, and subsequently made a permanent loca- tion on Section 13, where he remained until his death. He was highly esteemed in the commu- nity, and raised a family that rank among the stanch citizens of the several communities where they have located.
After marriage Mr. Farington and wife lo- cated on a portion of her father's farm, and re- mained there for several years. Mr. Farington soon after lost health, lingered for some time, and December 15, 1869, he passed peacefully away, leaving a widow and four children, viz. : Edson, Frederick, Eloise and Oscar. Eloise is now the wife of Fred Kellogg, of this township.
Mrs. E. E. Farington was born January 30, 1838, in Big Grove Township, on the claim her father took up on his arrival here, and has since been a constant resident of the township. After the death of her husband she took charge of affairs, and soon after purchased eighty acres of the homestead. She went in debt $3,700, but, being an excellent manager, of keen judgment, quick perceptions, and being aided by her sons, she soon cancelled the debt; she now owns 160 acres, all of which was of the old homestead farm, where she resides and, with her sons, carries on the farm.
ARS LARSEN, a thrifty and successful farm- er of Kendall County, was born in Bergen Stift, Norway, June 10, 1825. In the sum- mer of 1847, in company with his brother- in-law, C. Christian, now of Lisbon Township, he took passage in a three-masted sail ship named "King Grate," Captain Fisher, bound for Amer- ica. There were 163 passengers on board, and they were six weeks on the Atlantic Ocean in passage; they landed in New York City; thence they came by canal-boat to Buffalo, and then by steamer to Chicago, and in July, 1847, arrived in Kendall County. He first hired out by the month, work- ing for low wages, and in 1850, entered 120 acres of land on the northeast quarter of Section 36, upon which he moved a house 12x16. That
985
KENDALL COUNTY.
year he married Mary Hendersen, also a native of Norway, born in 1825, who has been to him a faithful helpmate; and in the little house above mentioned, they resided some years. Subsequent- ly he built another house, which has since been added to as his needs required. Since coming to this county, Mr. Larsen has been continually en- gaged in farming and agricultural pursuits. His farm consists of 160 acres on Section 36, the major part of which he purchased from the Gov- ernment, and on which he has erected all the improvements. To Mr. and Mrs. Larsen have been born nine children: three of whom are de- ceased; L. N., Rachel and Mary reside at home ; Lina is the wife of Severt L. Shursen, and re- sides in Fox Township; H. M. is a Western land agent and auctioneer at Morris, Grundy County, Ill .; P. L. lately resided in Iowa, but is now in Kansas.
In 1873 Mr. Larsen visited his native place, where he spent a pleasant time with relatives and old friends; in 1887 he again crossed the ocean to Norway. and was pleased to find his friends work- ing hard and prospering.
D GORDON GRAHAM. The founder of the family in the United States, of which our subject is a descendant, was James Graham, a native of the North of Ireland, who set- tled in Putnam Township, Washington Co., N. Y., shortly after the Revolutionary War, where he reared a family of five sons and two daughters, as follows: James, who died in Washington County, N. Y .; William I., the father of our subject; John, Robert, George, Nancy and Rosanna.
William I. was born in 1798, and married Eunice Gillette, daughter of Philander Gillette, a descendant of the French Huguenots. From this marriage were born the following children, whose names are Fidelio, John, Margaret, Ama- riah, Mary, James, David Gordon, Abner and Jane.
The brothers and sisters of William I. Graham who came west were named John, Robert, George, Nancy, who married James Ferguson, and settled in De Kalb County, Ill., and Rosanna, who mar- ried, became a widow, then afterward married
George Frazier, and they settled in Sedgwick County, Kas.
William I. Graham with his family moved to Ohio in 1852, and settled in Truro Township, Franklin County, where he died in 1877. Of bis children, John was formerly a merchant in Albany, N. Y .; Fidelio died at Saratoga Springs; the rest of the children came with him to Ohio, and are described as follows: Margaret married Nathan Orcutt; Mary married Wilson McCray; Amariah and James settled in Franklin County, Ohio; Ab- ner settled in De Kalb County, Ill., in 1865, but afterward located permanently in Sedgwick County, Kas., and represented that district in the State Legislature; Jane married D. L. Graham, now of Sedgwick County.
David Gordon Graham, whose name heads this sketch, was born in Washington County, N. Y., where he lived until well grown, and where he also obtained his education in the schools of the vicin- ity. He came with his father's family to Truro Township, Franklin Co., Ohio, where he remained until attaining his majority, when he accepted em- ployment as a commercial traveler, selling goods for A. W. Livingston, and continuing in that em- ploy for several years.
In 1872 he came to Illinois, locating at Sand- wich, De Kalb County, for one year, and then came to Plano City, which has since been his home. He was for several years employed by the Plano Manufacturing Company, subsequently en- gaged in mercantile business, and afterward was given charge of the "Co-operative Supply Com- pany's " store at Plano. He is also a stockholder, and has conducted the company's business with efficiency and success up to the present time. In politics Mr. Graham is a Republican; has served the city in the council and in other capacities, and for some time was police magistrate. He was appointed in March, 1883, postmaster for Plano City, and retained the office through three years of a Democratic administration, or until the term for which he was appointed had expired. He is a member of the National Union and of the I. O. O. F., in which latter fraternity he has taken a prominent and active part officially, and has been a representative to the Grand Lodge of the State.
41
986
KENDALL COUNTY.
Mr. D. G. Graham was married May 3, 1865, to Mary Ann Graham, a daughter of Amos and Jeanette (Livingston) Graham. From this union have been born six children, three of whom are liv- ing, named Jeanette L., Adelbert and Edith. Mr. and Mrs. Graham are members of the Congrega- tional Church, in which he also serves officially as deacon. Mr. Graham is popular as a citizen and business man, and enjoys the universal confidence and esteem of the community of which he is a member.
W ILLIAM HALL is one of the sons of Old England who has helped to build up and improve Lisbon Township. He was born in Berkshire, May 18, 1830, the youngest son of William and Sarah (Keats) Hall. He is one of five children named, as follows: Alfred and Edwin, who reside in Dakota; Henry, Theresa and William.
William was reared in the town of Harwell, where he was apprenticed to learn the shoemakers' trade. On attaining his majority, he, in 1851, left his native land, and, coming to America, worked at his trade in Monroe County, N. Y., for about a year. This business not being congenial to him he decided to go farther west, with the idea of at some time ob- taining land on which to farm. He arrived in Lis- bon Township in 1852, and for some time was em- ployed in herding cattle and gathering corn for the munificent wages of 50 cents a day. The follow- ing season he hired out to Edwin Porter by the month, with whom he remained as a employe for two years, at the end of which time he rented Mr. Porter's farm, operating it three years. He subsequently rented other farms, and, having ac- cumulated some means, he, in the spring of 1861, bought eighty acres of land, at $28 an acre, on which there was a small house, and moved into the same. In 1871 he bought, at $60 an acre, the 120- acre farm where he now resides, and on which he first worked for Mr. Porter. To this farm he add- ed 120 acres more that he purchased in 1884, at $80 per acre. The farm consists at the present time of 320 acres of fertile and well-improved land. He has by energy and industry attained a position
of independence second to no citizen of his vicinity.
He was married October 25, 1858, to Sarah Green, who was born in Lancashire, England, October 9, 1838, and was a daughter of John and Jane (Wood) Green, the latter of whom came to Kendall County in 1856, and purchased a farm near Plattville, but, not liking the country, John Green returned to England the same year. Mr. and Mrs. John Green had children, named as fol- lows: George is a physician, living at Mitchell, Dak .; Thomas is a farmer near Fairmont, Neb .; John was a physician, and died in California; Mary is the wife of Charles Barnett, a merchant in Grafton, Neb. ; Ann is the wife of James Goostrey, a farmer residing in Fillmore County; Jane is now the wife of Obadiah Naden, a retired farmer of Morris, Ill., and Sarah is the wife of the gentle- man whose name heads this sketch.
Our subject and wife have had seven children, named George, William, Hattie, Ida, Frank, Mary and Lida, all at present living with their parents except Hattie, who married Frank Baker, and re- sides in this township. Mrs. Hall, the two eldest sons and Hattie are members of the Congrega- tional Church at Lisbon.
OHN CONVIS takes rank among the settlers of 1843. He was born January 12, 1818, in Bridgewater, sixteen miles south of Utica, N. Y., the fourth in a family of six sons and four daughters born to Thomas and Diantha (Phillips) Convis. Thomas Convis was a native of Rhode Island, and after his marriage settled in Oneida County, when it was a wilderness, and there remained until his death. John Convis was reared to agricultural pursuits, and after he at- tained his majority commenced farming for him- self on a portion of his father's farm. He married, December 10, 1839, Jane Hubbard, who was born December 10, 1821, in Bridgewater, Oneida Co., N. Y. She was one of twelve children, all of whom attained the years of manhood and womanhood, born to Amos and Rebecca (Layman) Hubbard, who were natives of Connecticut. After his mar- riage, Mr. Convis continued farming on his father's land until April, 1843, when, with his wife and
987
KENDALL COUNTY.
two children, he set out for Illinois, in a covered wagon, and arrived in Big Grove, May 23. That spring he pre-empted eighty acres on the south- west quarter of Section 13, and the following fall obtained his title from the Government. He sub- sequently added eighty acres more, situated on the southeast quarter of Section 14, and now has 160 acres in all. Mr. Convis has three children, all residents of this Township: De Witt and An- drew are engaged in farming, and Nettie is the wife of W. W. Blackman. De Witt enlisted in the Ninety-first Regiment during the Civil War, and was honorably discharged, after six months, on account of disability. Mr. Convis ranks among the substantial and well-to-do citizens of Big Grove Township. He rents his farm to his children, Andrew residing on the west eighty acres, and Mr. Blackman on the home farm, Mr. Convis residing with them. January 22, 1888, Mrs. Convis died, after a short illness, of pneumonia, and her hus- band was called to mourn the loss of her who had been his companion for over forty-eight years, and to whom he was deeply attached. She was very domestic in her nature, her realm was her home, where her virtues shone brightly, and her family and their comfort were her chief aim. Mr. Convis had two brothers who came to Illinois, viz .: Vin- con and Charles; the former came in 1844, and settled in Lisbon Township, where he died; Charles came about same time, making Lisbon Township his home until 1884, when he moved to Iowa Falls.
H ENRY LEACH. Some of the best citizens of Kendall County havo immigrated from England. Among these may be mentioned Henry Leach, who was born May 17, 1814, in Lancashire, England, of a family of four chil- dren, John, James, Hepzabah and Henry. For several years in his early manhood he was employed as 'clerk in a store. In 1837 he married Sarah Bagshaw, born February 24, 1813, by whom he had one child, born in England, but who died in infancy.
In the spring of 1842 he immigrated to America, and, coming to Illinois, took up land near Big Grove which he commenced improving, but was not spared
many years after his coming, his death occurring in 1855. He was highly esteemed in the commu- nity as a just and upright man. He left a widow and four children to mourn his loss.
Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Leach after their arrival in this township, all of whom are living, viz .: Sarah, Henry, Robert and Mary. Sarah married James Thompson and re- moved to Waterville, Kan., -they have one daugh- ter, Olive; Henry is a farmer and grain merchant, and resides near Gardner, this State; Robert and Mary own the old homestead, but rent it and live at Lisbon. Robert is a member of Orient Lodge, No. 323, A. F. &A. M., of Lisbon. Mrs. Leach never married again, but remained with her young fam- ily on the farm that herself and husband located on in 1842, and successfully conducted it, accum- ulating a nice property, and at the same time rear- ing all her children to maturity. She was an able and amiable lady, and was highly esteemed and re- spected by all who knew her. She died at the homestead February 22, 1880.
HARLES W. HUGHES is a native of the Keystone State, born June 23, 1856, in High- land Township, Chester County, youngest of the four children born to Enos and Eliza (Pennock) Hughes, former of whom was a son of Enos and Rachel (Potts) Hughes, and latter (born June 8, 1814, in Chester County, Penn.,) was a daughter of Pusey and Mary (Leonard) Pen- nock. Enos Hughes, the father of Charles W., was born February 4, 1816, in Chester County, and died there December 22, 1862. Pusey Pen- nock was a son of Nathaniel and Mary (Pusey) Pennock, members of the Society of Friends, and whose progenitors were associates of William Penn. Mrs. Mary (Leonard) Pennock was a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Martin) Pennock.
Charles W. Hughes was reared to manhood in his native county, receiving a good school training in his immediate neighborhood. In 1875 he came to Chicago, where he spent one year, part of the time in the service of one of the street railway companies. In 1876 he came to Kendall County, and for several years was a successful teacher in
988
KENDALL COUNTY.
the schools of the county. Having had considera- ble experience in the moat trade and butchering business, Mr. Hughes, in 1885, opened a shop in that line in Plano, which he conducted until June, 1886, when lie sold out, and, in October the fol- lowing year, formed a copartnership with Mr. Rounds, in the grocery business, under the firm name of Rounds & Hughes, and they have since been doing a prosperous trade. Mr. Hughes is a single man, residing with his mother and brother, Frank. His geniality and popularity are well in keeping with his fine physique, and his equanimity of mind may account for his being able to easily turn the scales at 278 pounds. His sister, Emma, is the wife of Frank Tyler, of Little Rock Town- ship, Kendall County, and another sister, Mary, is the wife of Joel Harvey, residing in Chester County, Penn.
G EORGE F. HADDEN. This family was one of the Kendall County pioneers that came from New York in 1836. The patri- arch and pioneer was Morris Hadden, grandfather of George F. He arrived when the country was new and wild, and pre-empted a large land claim in Section 1, in what is now Little Rock, and in Section 6, in Bristol Township. The site he selected for a residence is now the house of his grandson, George F. The old gentleman re- sided here the remainder of his life. He was one of the prominent and leading men in the county in his day. His remains are lying in Jericho Ceme- tery. His homestead passed to his son, George M., who married Ellen Putrey. They had two children-Estella and George F. After residing on the farm some years, George M. removed to Aurora, where he lived until his death, February 22, 1874. His widow is still living.
George F. Hadden was born in Aurora, July 12, 1864, where he was also reared and educated in the schools of the city. Upon reaching his majority he took charge of the old Kendall County homestead. where he resides and has since been engaged in farming. His farm consists of 193 acres of highly improved and fertile land-part of the original claim taken up by his grandfather.
George F. Hadden was married in March, 1886, to Lizzie Goodale, a daughter of John W. and Elizabetlı (Brackett) Goodale, of Aurora City.
A A. GUNSUL was born September 3, 1839, in Jefferson County, N. Y., and came to Big Grove Township, this State, with his parents, in May, 1848. They located on Section 12, where his father had purchased eighty acres, and later in the season added eighty acres more, the land being partly improved. The parents of our subject were Emanuel and Hester (Marselus) Gunsul, who were married December 23, 1820. Emanuel was born in New York State, November 19, 1797, and died December 21, 1858. He was a son of Joseph Gunsul, whose wife was a Manning. His wife Hester, daughter of N. Mar- selus, died July 1, 1885. Twelve children were born to Emanuel and Hester Gunsul, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, whose names are as follows: Emily, widow of Elihu Persons, resides in Streator; Jolin H. died in 1883, at Cam- den, Ark .; Catherine died .unmarried; Elizabeth, wife of D. L. Hardy, resides in Wapello County, Iowa; Susan, wife of D. W. Barnes, resides in Grundy County; Harvey B. resides in Livingston County; Samuel died in early manhood; David died in this county, leaving two daughters; Jus- tice resides in Streator; William resides in O'Brien County, Iowa; A. A., our subject, and Harriet, wife of Cyrus Lloyd, resides in Big Grove Township.
Our subject grew to manhood on the farm, and was raised to agricultural pursuits. After his
father's death he lived with his mother and man- aged the farm. February 14, 1878, he married Emily Teed, who was born in Devonshire, Eng- land, March 8, 1858, the third daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Denner) Teed, Joseph being a son of James and Elizabetlı (Braddock) Teed. Eliza- beth Denner was a daughter of Thomas and Eliza- beth (Newton) Denner. Joseph Teed was a black- smith by trade, and immigrated to this country in 1861, locating in Kendall County, but removed to Streator, Ill., in 1885, where he does a blacksmith- ing business, and makes the shoeing of horses a specialty, at which he is an acknowledged expert.
989
KENDALL COUNTY.
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Teed have reared a family of five daughters, viz .: Emina, Louisa, Emily (Mrs. Gunsul), Ellen and Cora. Emina is the wife of Dr. G. W. Brunson, and resides in Streator ; Louisa is the wife of William McCloud, and re- sides in Plattville, Lisbon Township; Ellen mar- ried John Eneix, and resides in Cass County, Iowa; Cora resides in Streator, the widow of F. W. Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Teed are members of the Episcopal Church.
Mr. Gunsul is one of the substantial citizens of Big Grove Township, is a man of progressive ideas and a successful farmer. In 1883 he rented the homestead and removed to Lisbon, where he has since resided, occupying his time in managing a farm that he owns adjoining the village, where he gives some attention to the handling of thor- oughbred horses and fine stock. He is a member of Oriental Lodge, No. 423, A. F. & A. M., and is one of the best respected men of his locality. Mr. and Mrs. Gunsul have two sons, David H. and Leslie.
0 LIVER HEBERT, of Oswego, is senior part- ner in the largest and most important man- ufacturing industry of the place, having es- tablished the business in 1849, of which O. Hebert and son, carriage manufacturers, are now proprietors. He was born at Montreal, Canada, May 27, 1833, and is a son of Joseph and Julia (Comeau) Hebert. His father was a farmer, and to that occupation, among agricultural scenes, he was reared and educated in the schools of the im- mediate vicinity. When quite young he began learning the carriage-maker's trade, and became an expert workman at an age when boys most gener. . ally begin their apprenticeship. When but four- teen years of age he left his home and came to Os- wego, Ill., where his eldest brother, Moses, was then living, and for some time worked as a journey- man at his trade, and subsequently established business on his own account in a small way, which was the nnclens of the present large carriage fac- tory now conducted by himself and son. Mr. He- bert has always been very successful in busi- ness, and in the meantime has earned an enviable reputation for square and honorable dealing. He
and family are attendants of the Presbyterian Church. Hr. Hebert has always taken an active interest in public affairs, and has served his neigh- borhood in various offices of trust, such as member of the village council, member of the school board for several years, during which time the large pub- lic school building was erected, almost wholly under his supervising care, he being selected by the board of directors to look after it. He was married to Edith St. Denis, a native of Montreal. Canada, a daughter of Lonis St. Denis, Esq., of that place, who formerly lived for a time at Os- wego. By this union there were the following named children: Henry is associated with his father in business; he was married to Miss Hattie Swartout, of Orange County, N. Y. ; they have one child, Edith. Frank is a carriage-maker, and re- sides at Aurora, Ill .; Joseph is carrying on the blacksmith's trade at Lincoln, Neb .; Alfred is a dentist in Chicago; Charles and Lettie are yet at home. Mr. Hebert as a citizen and business man is highly esteemed and trusted.
E DWARD BUDD is numbered among the leading and well-to-do farmers of Fox Township. He is a son Elijah Budd, and was born in Fishkill Township, Dutchess Co., N. Y., where he passed his youth, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. When a young man he became interested in the West, and re- solved to visit Illinois, whither his brother had preceded him. After arriving here, being pleased with the situation, he purchased from his brother. Tunis, an interest in the farm he now owns, and, returning to his native State, made preparations for his final removal to this county. Later, he purchased his brother's interest, and since then has been a constant resident of the farm. His brothers, Jacob and Matthew, reside on adjoining lands, and, although their interests are separate, they counsel and assist each other, and live in per- fect harmony, ranking socially, financially and in- tellectually among the first in the county. When Mr. Budd purchased his farm, which consists of 345 acres in one body, he paid $12 per acre for it. but at that time the buildings were of no account,
990
KENDALL COUNTY.
and have since been replaced by substantial im- provements.
Mr. Budd married Emma Vanosdel, a native of Dutchess County, N. Y., and a refined and cultured lady. Her parents, James and Margaret (Bates) Vanosdel, came west to La Salle County, Ill., in 1855, and settled in Northville Township, where her father died; her mother is still living. They had a family of four sons and three daughters, viz .: George, in Toulon, Stark Co., Ill .; Wil- lis, in Ottawa, Kas .; Walter, in Grundy County, Ill. ; Lincoln, not yet permanently located; Emma, wife of our subject; Mary, wife of E. H. Young, of Bristol Township; and Elizabeth, wife of C. Rickert, of Fox Township. Mr. and Mrs. Budd have two children-Edward, Jr., and Cornelia E. - who have received the best educational advantages, and now reside with their parents, who desire to have them endowed with mental as well as golden charms. In connection with farming, Mr. Budd ís engaged in raising a good strain of Norman horses.
W ILLIAM A. HOLLENBACK, the ninth child and sixth son in order of birth of George and Sophia (Sidle) Hollenback, was born on the farm where he now lives, November 9, 1834, in the old log cabin his father built in 1831. When he had attained the age of maturity he began life for himself, making his father's house his home until his marriage, which occurred January 11, 1866, in Unionville, Lake Co., Ohio, with Miss Cornelia R. Pooler, who was born at Mentor, Ohio, January 23, 1841, and is a daughter of Otis Ensign and Amy (Miller) Pooler, the former of whom was born in New York State, and the latter in Ohio. Otis and Amy Pooler reared a family of five children as follows, according to the order of their births: Cornelia R. Pooler, now Mrs. W. A. Hollenback; Sarah M. Pooler, who married John S. Boyd, of Bristol Township, by whom she has one child a daughter Melissa, who is now the wife of Frank Healy, of Yorkville, Ill. ; Martha S. Pooler, now the wife of Albert Wilsey, of Hampton, Hamilton Co., Neb. (they have two children, one son, Otto, and one daughter,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.