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 20
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 20
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Mr. Frazier was married in 1855, in Syracuse, N. Y., to Mary Stevens, a daughter of J. V. Stevens. Mrs. Frazier died in 1880, leaving six children: Anna, Hattie, Walter S., Edward S., Lincoln B. and Floyd. The family reside in their commodious home, No. 175 South Lake Street.
N® ELSON WALKER (deceased) was a native of St. Lawrence County, N. Y., born March 19, 1808, a son of Benjamin and Susan (Green) Walker, who were natives of the State of New York. In 1837 he came west with his parents, and with his father bought nearly a whole section of land. Here his father died, April 3, 1856, aged seventy-eight years; his mother died August 27, 1844, aged sixty-five years. When Mr. Walker first came here he built a sub- stantial log house, in which he lived for a number of years; when the property was divided Nelson moved into another house, in fact he moved three times, but never off the farm. May 31, 1840, he married Louisa Woodruff, a native of Washington County, N. Y., born May 31. 1819, a daughter of
*Since the foregoing was written the firm has, in the construction of a large four-floor brick building, doubled the capacity of the plant, and pow gives employment to 250 hands.
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Thomas and Sally (Joiner) Woodruff, who were early settlers of Aurora Township, where they lived and died. They were members of the First Methodist Church of Aurora. To this union ten children were born, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: James N., July 25, 1841; Martin E., March 9, 1843; Abigail J. A., June 4, 1845 (died February 27, 1846); Cecelia V., June 6, 1847; Thomas H. B., March 15, 1849 (was killed by a fall from a horse July 31, 1864); El- vira Louisa, March 11, 1851 (died October 18, 1865); Franklin P., August 18, 1852; Louis P., July 28, 1856; Sarah M., November 18, 1859 (died March 8, 1862); Olive M., July 1, 1862.
Mr. and Mrs. Walker were high school graduates, Mrs. Walker being the first teacher in the public school of Aurora (west side). He was a Democrat in politics, and a prominent man in his township up to the time of his death, which took place July 22, 1864. The homestead at the time of his death was divided among the six surviving children, Mrs. Walker keeping for her share 240 acres, upon which she now lives with her son, Louis P., who owns the stock, consisting of about seventy graded cattle.
Ģ EORGE H. MINIUM, a farmer of Kane- ville Township, is a son of John and Maria (Emerson) Minium, natives, respect- ively, of Crawford County, Penn., and the State of Connecticut, who were both mem- bers of the Methodist Church, in which the father had served as class leader for over fifteen years. They had the following named children: John J., Jane, David R., Abraham E., Amanda (deceased), George H., Lucinda, Portus R. (deceased), Polly, Emma and Rachel (both deceased). The subject of this sketch was born in 1833 in Crawford County, Penn., and came with his parents to Kane County in 1844. When nineteen years of age he took the overland route to California, driv- ing four yoke of oxen the entire distance from Kane County to San Francisco, and for ten suc- ceeding years he carried on freighting business to Yuba, Butte and Plumas Counties. During this period he also owned and conducted a store in the
mining regions .. In 1860 he made his only visit from California home, returning the same season; and in February, 1861, he disposed of his interests there, and located permanently in Kaneville Town- ship, arriving in June, 1862. In January, 1863, Mr. Minium married Ellen E. Newton, a native of New York. and by her had three children: Blanche M., Jay L. (deceased) and Rockie G. He is the owner of a finely improved fertile farm on Section 5, where he resides. He is a man of note, a leading spirit in his township, has taken great interest in educational matters, and was repeatedly elected to the office of school director, serving in the aggregate twelve years; he was also highway commissioner from 1869 to 1876, being township assessor for the latter year.
OHN J. DAVIS. The subject of this con- memorative article was born in Owl Creek Township, Morrow Co., Ohio, August 5, 1844. His parents, James J. and Susanna (James) Davis, were natives of Caermarthen- shire, Wales, and were united in marriage in Morrow County, Ohio. In 1847 they came to Kane County, Ill., and settled in Big Rock Town- ship, where a family of two sons and two daugh- ters grew up to them. The father died December 21, 1875, after a useful and well-spent life, mourned by all who knew him as a man of sterling worth, and of scrupulously honorable principles. His widow followed him to the grave July 23, 1882, and they lie side by side in the old Welsh Ceme- tery, in Big Rock Township. They were members of the Welsh Congregational Church. Their children are Mary, wife of Edward Pierce, a worthy farmer of Big Rock Township, now resid- ing in Hinckley, Ill. ; Margaret, the wife of James R. Davis, of Big Rock Township; James J., Jr., of Kansas City, Mo., and our subject.
The early days of John J. were passed on the farm, and his boyhood's schooling was comparatively poor. At sixteen, however, he entered Clark (now Jennings) Seminary, and obtained a start in his literary studies. He afterward attended for four terms a private academy at Ottawa, Ill., where he prepared for college. Iu September, 1864, he en-
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tered the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and was graduated from that institution in an honorary classical course of four years' study, in 1868. He then purposed to apply himself to the profession of teaching, and accepted a position in Milwaukee, Wis., in a German and English academy. Not liking this, he turned his attention to merchandis- ing and in the fall of 1869 went to Mankato, Minn., where he was engaged in the clothing busi- ness until 1876, when he sold out his interests to return to Illinois, and take charge of the estate of his father. After two years' residence at Hinck- ley, Ill., he removed to Aurora, March 11, 1879, to engage again in the clothing business, in partner- ship with his old time friend, Isaac Morgan, and later with George Meredith.
Mr. Davis was married, in Mankato, Minn., May 28, 1874, to Miss Julia A. Milnor, and their union has been blessed with three sons and one daughter: Louisa M., George Meredith, Arthur Llewellyn and John J., Jr. The parents are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which church Mr. Davis has held the official rela- tions of steward, trustee, class leader and Sunday- school superintendent. As Sunday-school super- intendent he has served many years with success. He is also a worthy Sir Knight of Aurora Com- mandery; is a member of the board of education; is treasurer of Jennings Seminary, a position he has held for many years. He has held the degree of A. M. from the University of Michigan since June, 1877.
R ODNEY MC DOLE. This gentleman is the oldest settler of Sugar Grove Township now living. He is of English and Scotch descent, born January 31, 1809, in Ac- worth, N. H., and in October. 1817, went with his parents to the town of Erin, Chemung Co., N. Y., where his father, Robert McDole, died in 1858, aged eighty-four years. His mother, whose maiden name was Mercy Varnum, was born in Essex County, Mass., in 1772, and also died at Erin. in 1862, aged over ninety years. In 1833 Rodney McDole first came to Illinois, locating temporarily in Sangamon County. He remembers, as an interesting incident of his residence there,
that he was chainman for Abraham Lincoln, then deputy surveyor of that county. Mr. Lincoln's remembrance of faces and persons was remark- ble, and twenty years after, meeting Mr. McDole in the street in Chicago, he at once extended his hand calling him by name.
January 1, 1835, Mr. McDole married, at what is now Oakford, Menard Co., Ill., Abigail Lounsbury, who was born in Cayuta, N. Y., July 24, 1813, and in May, 1835, he came to Kane County, locating a claim in what is now the town- ship of Sugar Grove. To this he removed with his wife in the spring of 1836, and here he has ever since lived. Mr. and Mrs McDole had thir - teen children, as follows, Asa G., Mary E., Sam- uel P., Nancy L., Jay R., Sarah J., Flora A., Ida M., Frank P., Eliza J., Martha H., Henry C. and Maria. The last four named are deceased. On January 10, 1876, the mother of this numerous family passed away, and was buried in Sugar Grove Cemetery. Mr. McDole was subsequently married to Mrs. Mary E. (Day) Fink, a native of Rensselaer County, N. Y., who was born October 1, 1837. She was the widow of Reuben Fink, to whom she bore three children: Jessie E., Bruce and Carrie. Her father, Issachar Day, was born in New Hampshire, May 13, 1799, and died in Lysander, Onondaga Co., N. Y., in 1884, and her mother, whose maiden name was Elizabeth A. Bussey, was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., in 1810, and died in May, 1884, being also buried in that State. The family was of German and English descent.
The subject of this biographical sketch, whose home is on Section 11, Sugar Grove Township, owned at one time over 1,000 acres of land, and was one of the best known and most successful farmers in Kane County. He now owns 505 acres. His positive convictions, and his blunt ways of expressing his opinions, have made him a man of mark in the community. He has always vigorously opposed everything that he thought savored of jobbery, or robbery of the taxpayers. He was especially active in opposing the move- ment to bond the town for $50,000 in aid of the Chicago & Iowa Railroad. He favored the giving of individual aid, but determinedly fought the bond-
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ing project, contending that that course would bankrupt the town. The projectors of the scheme cast much odium upon him, but his arguments won over strong supporters to his side, and, at the special election to determine the question, it was beaten by a large majority. Subsequent propositions to bond for smaller sums were also defeated, and the experience of those towns which did bond themselves fully vindicated the sagacity and foresight of Mr. McDole, who was rewarded by seeing his course vindicated, and applauded by thinking people. Many other incidents in Mr. McDole's life might be given, all illustrative of the traits of stubborn, out-spoken opposition to everything of which his judgment does not approve, that have ever characterized him. In fact, his plain-spoken, sturdy ways of speaking his mind plainly on all occasions have sometimes made for him enemies; but that has never caused him to mince his words or to fail in opposing what his conscience condemned. He is now (1887) in his seventy-ninth year, and his career is a lesson teaching how enterprise, industry and thrift are sure to win their legitimate reward. Starting here with $50, he became the largest land owner in the township, and acquired an ample competence for his declining years. Dur- ing a continuous residence of over fifty years in tlie beautiful region where he has made his home, he has seen more important changes and improve- ments and greater developments than have ever taken place in any similar period in the history of this country, and, near the close of an eventful life, he stands as one of the few remaining links between the pioneer days of hardships and trials and the mighty present, teeming with wonderful achievements and forshadowed by the possibilities of still greater triumphs in the future.
Mr. McDole was the first Whig in the town- slip, and naturally his subsequent political preferences were for the Republican party, but, though always greatly interested in political mat- ters, he was decidedly opposed to holding any of- fice. He has recently erected a bronze family monu- ment in Sugar Grove Cemetery, the only one there, its cost being $500. Mr. McDole was at one time a member of the I. O. O. F., but long since
resigned, and now gives what of his waning strength he can to the personal oversight and care of his extensive property. He was executor of the estate of John W. Wilson, of Sugar Grove Township, of which he had charge from the death of the latter until the younger brother was of age in December, 1880.
C OL. HENRY H. EVANS. This prominent citizen of Aurora is widely and favorably known throughout the State of Illinois by reason of his long service as representa- tive and senator from the Aurora District, as well as from large and extensive business interests at his home and elsewhere. He was born at Toron- to (then called York), Canada, March 9, 1836, his parents being Griffith and Elizabeth (Weldon) Evans, natives of Harrisburg. Penn. They were descendants of Welsh families, who immigrated to and settled in Pennsylvania. generations pre- vious to the Revolution. Griffith Evans was by trade a millwright. With his wife and family of four children he located at Aurora in June, 1841, where for many years he applied himself to his trade, and assisted in the fitting up of the old Black Hawk, the Montgomery and also the Eagle Mills, and during the latter part of his active business life acted as foreman, for ten years, of the car- building shops of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, at Aurora. Himself and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church; in politics he was a Republican. Mrs. Elizabeth Evans died January 29, 1882, aged sixty-nine years, and Griffith Evans departed this life Sep- tember 28, of the same year, aged seventy three, both dying very suddenly of heart disease. They are buried in Spring Lake Cemetery, Aurora. They had a family of ten children, the four eld- est of whom were born in Canada, and the remain- der in Aurora. In the order of their ages their names are William, Rachel, Henry H., Susan, Hiram L., Charles G., Frank A., Elizabetlı, George and Fred E., all now (1887) living except George, who died young.
November 3, 1858, Col. H. H. Evans was | married, at Aurora, to Alice M. Rhodes, a native
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of Oldham. England, daughter of A. C. and Maria (Clark) Rhodes, natives, respectively, of Compton and Boynton, Lancashire, England. After marriage Col. Evans entered the restaurant business at Aurora, in which he was engaged until September, 1862, when he enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, for three years or dur- ing the war; was soon afterward mustered in at Springfield, Ill., and first saw active service at Jackson, Tenn .; participating also in the siege and capture of Vicksburg, where he remained for nearly two years on detached service, his regi- ment doing garrison duty there the whole of this time. Col. Evans remained on detached duty dur- ing the balance of the war, and after three years and seventeen days' service was mustered out at Camp Douglas, Chicago.
On his return to Aurora he resumed the res- taurant business, which he carried on until 1873, when he bought the "Fitch House," now "Hotel Evans," and this he kept for three years. As a Republican he had been an active worker in poli- tics of his vicinity. In 1876 he was elected, and served as alderman of the Ninth Ward, in Aurora, and, the same fall, was elected a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, where he at once became conspicuous, through being the author of the bill establishing the Soldiers' Home at Quincy, Ill., and in 1877 author of the bill un- der which the State Militia is now organized, which was then so much needed. This bill met with strong and determined opposition, but through his exertions, more than those of any other man, it finally became a law, the great riots of the same year. 1877. demonstrating the wisdom of having an efficient militia law. Gov. Cullom, no doubt in recognition of this service and the interest Mr. Evans took in the State Militia, appointed him aid-de-camp on the governor's staff, with rank of colonel, a position to which he has been appointed by each of Gov. Cullom's successors, and now holds. In 1880 he was nominated and elected, by 3.500 majority, State senator; in 1884 was nominated by acclamation, and again elected, this time by a majority of 5,000. Since being in the Senate Col. Evans has been recognized as one of its most able
members, and during his entire service has been chairman of two of its most important committees -railroad and insurance. He is the present senator from the Fourteenth District, comprising Kane and Du Page Counties. He has been large- ly identified with the real estate interests of Aurora, having made four large additions to the city of thirty-two, twenty, eighty-five and twenty- six acres, respectively. He organized the Aurora Street Railway Company in September, 1882, was elected its president, superintended its construction, and two months afterward had five miles of track laid, and the . road in operation; he is still its president. He was the founder and principal projector of the Joliet, Aurora & Northern Railroad, secured subscriptions to most of its stock, and succeeded in placing the line in running order; this road was a success from its inception. He was made treasurer of the com- pany, and is now filling that office. Notwith- standing the large business interests to which he must constantly give his attention, Col. Evans has found time to make a host of friends. Of a genial and generous temperament, enterprising and public-spirited, there is probably no man in Kane County better liked by or more popular with all classes. In erecting the Soldiers' Memo- rial Building at Aurora he contributed liberally, and he also raised the funds for the Aurora Pub- lic Hospital: and, although not a member of any church, he has been a liberal and willing helper to nearly all; indeed, this not only applies to church, but to almost every worthy enterprise of a public or charitable nature. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have one child, Arthur R., born July 30, 1866, now assistant United States Express agent at Aurora.
(AMES H. MEAD. In proportion to its popu- lation Kaneville has as great a number of substantial and intelligent agriculturists as any township of its size in the State, and among this number is the one whose name heads this historical sketch, the owner of a farm of excellently well-cultivated land. which he operates with such judgment as to have made him a suc- cessful and substantial man, financially. MỸ.
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Mead was born in New York, a son of John B. and E. (Marshall) Mead, who lived on a farm they had purchased in Squaw Grove Township, De Kalb Co., Ill., in 1854, and where the father died in 1862, the mother following him to the grave in 1884. He is descended from Dutch, French and English families, who settled in New York State at an early period while it was still under the government of Great Britain.
Mr. Mead married Sarah O. Lasher, a daughter of Hiram and Maria (Williams) Lasher, the former of whom is still a resident of Big Rock Township, Kane Co., where he is engaged in farming, and the latter a daughter of Walter W. and Rebecca Williams, all natives of New York State. To Mr. and Mrs. Mead have been born two chil- dren: Mary M. (deceased) and Ira M. In politics Mr. Mead affiliates with the Republican party. As a citizen he has received in an eminent degree the confidence and esteem of his neighbors and the community generally.
AMES S. HATCH is the eldest son of the venerable pioneers, Isaac and Adeliza Hatch. [The family genealogy is given in the sketch of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Hatch elsewhere in this volume. ] James S. is a native of Kane County, Ill., born in the old family homestead, February 6, 1845. As pioneers developing the New World, and as soldiers doing battle in the ranks of free- men, there are few family names whose records can surpass that of this family, both on the paternal and maternal side. James S. spent his childhood and youth on his father's farm, attending school, and learning to work as well as play. When he was but a little past sixteen years of age the storm of the Rebellion broke in all its fury upon the land, and the boy enlisted, August 10, 1861, in Company E .. Thirty sixth Regiment Illinois Infantry, his command being hurried to the front. He re- enlisted in March, 1864, and continued in the serv- ice until the war was over. He was three times wounded, the last time seriously, when he fell into the hands of the enemy, at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain. As a prisoner he was taken to Atlanta, then to Macon, and afterward to Andersonville,
remaining at the latter place until the following September, when he was removed to Augusta, thence to Charleston, and from there to Florence, where he remained until the February following; he was then sent to Wilmington, then to Goldsboro, and finally returned to Wilmington and exchanged. He had been a prisoner eight months and ten days. He was discharged June 27, 1865, at Camp Chase, Ohio. He had been made sergeant of his com- pany. He returned home, and for over a year attended school, in order to make up in this respect for the time he had given to his country before he had passed his school days. October 10, 1866, James Hatch and Josephine Schryver were married, the latter a native of New York, whose parents, William and Martha Schryver, were also natives of the same State. Her father's family removed to Illinois in 1847, and settled and purchased land in Big Rock Township, and engaged in farming. William Schryver died at his farm home March 5, 1885, he and his wife having celebrated their golden wedding day a short time before his death. His widow resides in Big Rock Township.
To the union of James S. and Josephine Hatch have been born children as follows: Hortense Edith, born September 11, 1867 (she became Mrs. John Petree, residing in the township); Vincent A., born August 19, 1869; William I., born Sep- tember 20, 1871; Edna I., born July 5, 1875, and Paul W., born February 24, 1884. Mr. Hatch is an active Republican. He commands the respect of his neighbors to a high degree; was three years school trustee and three years township assessor. He has been local preacher for some time in the Methodist Episcopal Church. There are few men of his age who have had more of the severe and hard trials of life than has Mr. Hatch. Before he reached his majority he had. in the ranks, fought out the great war in history where he endured and suffered all that men could endure, and live. He had, while but a boy, experiences that come to few people in this world. By the side of this smooth-faced boy, strong, mature and brave men fell aside and died from exposure, sickness and the bullets of the enemy. He was one in that dreadful Andersonville prison, that hideous death- trap where men perished like house flies; where
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moved only the phantoms of death and the haggard skeletons of the living companions, where the hideous facts surpass the wildest fiction. He has survived it all, and now is but reaching the prime of life, a valued citizen in the quiet and peaceful pursuits of the farm, surrounded by a loving family, and cheered by the kindliest affection and esteem of all who know him.
D E VALOIS W. STEVENS, a successful farmer and respected citizen of Campton Township, residing on Section 12, was born in Onondaga County, N. Y., March 22, 1843, a son of John A. and Catharine (Forncrook) Stevens, who were natives, respectively, of Onon- daga and Montgomery Counties, the father born January 28, 1804, and the mother July 14, 1811. He is the great-grandson of Capt. William Stevens, who was an officer in the Revolutionary War, and one of that historical party who threw the tea into Boston harbor; this gentleman settled in Mont- gomery County, N. Y., in 1793, and did much to- ward the improvement of that county. His son, John, grandfather of our subject, was a colonel in the War of 1812, in which he served with distinction in the Sixteenth Regiment, New York Infantry. At the close of the war he returned to Onondaga County, where he died in October, 1866. In 1865 John A. Stevens came west, and bought the farm now owned by De Valois W., the latter com- ing west with his brother, Eugene, in 1866, settling on the place. After a few years he bought his brother's interest, since when he has added a great many improvements to the farm, which contains 153 acres, well-stocked with Holstein cattle.
August 18, 1862, Mr. Stevens married Amelia M. Hayden, daughter of Sebastian and Ruth (Pierce) Hayden, natives of New York. Eight children have blessed this union, as follows: John M., born November 20, 1864, married to Lizzie McDiarmid, and is a farmer in Campton Township; Cyrenus E., born August 25, 1866; Mable R., born September 6, 1868; Edith E., born November 23, 1870; Lottie H., born September 28, 1874; Fred C., born September 10. 1876; Perry McAllis- ter, born September 12. 1878; Clara Maud, born
March 6, 1886. Cyrenus E. Stevens was married August 18, 1887. to Katie S. Ames, a daughter of Avery Ames, of Campton, and born in Kaneville, Kane Co., October 10, 1870; the above date was chosen for their marriage as it was the anniversary of the weddings of both their parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stevens having been married twenty-five years, and Mr. and Mrs. Ames thirty-six years.
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