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 22

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 22
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 22

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).

been successful not only in a pecuniary sense, but also in having won the respect of all citizens in an eminent degree.

ORENZO D. BRADY. Few citizens now living have been for a longer time residents of Kane County, or more prominently con- nected with its private and public enterprises, or with its social, educational or mercantile inter- ests, than has this gentleman. Mr. Brady was born in New Castle, Westchester Co., N. Y., Jan- uary 19, 1810, and is the son of John B. and Lydia (Kipp) Brady, who were married January 14, 1808, in New Castle, and whose ancestors settled on Long Island, N. Y., during the latter part of the seven- teenth century. The Bradys are of Irish extraction, and the Kipps of Dutch descent; the latter were con- nected with the noted Aneke Jans family. John B. Brady lived with his family at New Castle until 1822, when he moved to New York, and for many years was employed in the banking institutions of that city. In 1842 he moved west, and died at Marseilles, Ill., February 8, 1859, aged seventy- six years; his wife died at Marseilles, September 30, 1854, aged sixty-nine years. They are buried at Little Rock, Kendall County. When his father re- moved to New York City, Lorenzo D. was twelve years old, and he soon was employed as a clerk.

At the age of nineteen years he became pro- prietor of a grocery store on the northwest corner of Cannon and Delancy Streets, which business he successfully conducted for five years. He then sold out, and began trade as a wholesale dealer in paints and oils at No. 40 West Street, continuing there until 1837, when he disposed of the business, and the same year, with his wife, Susannah Fow- ler, whom he had married in 1836, came west, and located on 700 acres of land that he purchased in Big Rock Township, Kane County. They lived on this tract until 1840, when, Mr. Brady having formed a partnership with George E. Peck, they went to Little Rock, and here Peck & Brady carried on a general store, which continued until Mr. Peck's death, two years later. Mr. Brady continued the business until 1848 and then removed to Aurora. In the fall of this year he was elected a representa-

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tive of the Illinois Legislature from Kendall County, and while there was the author of and secured the charter for what was called the Aurora Branch Railroad, running from Aurora to Turner Junction, of which he was a director until it was consolidated and merged into the Chicago, Burling- ton & Quincy Railroad. It is this railroad that was the foundation or start of the present Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad system. On coming to Aurora, Mr. Brady formed a partnership with E. R. Allen in a store on the northeast corner of Broadway and Main Streets. £ The firm also built the large warehouse on LaSalle Street, near Main (destroyed by fire in the summer of 1887), but on dissolving partnership a few years later, in the division of the property, the warehouse was kept by Mr. Allen, and the store by Mr. Brady, where he remained in business until 1871, in which year he sold out. In addition to his personal affairs he took an active part in various enterprises in the city of his adoption. He was the promoter and organizer of the "Aurora Fire Insurance Com. pany," and was its president until it closed out under heavy losses caused by the Chicago fire, paying, however, 47 cents on the dollar on its liabilities. He was a stockholder and a director of the First National Bank on its organization, and was also at one time a director of the Aurora National Bank. He was the first to suggest the erection of the handsome memorial building in Aurora, and was president of the Memorial Asso- ciation. He served for many years as school trustee, and, on account of his active interest in educational affairs, one of the largest edifices in the city, the "Brady School," was named in honor of him, to which institution he afterward contrib- uted in buying globes and other apparatus. He was largely instrumental in establishing Spring Lake Cemetery, and to the laying out and beautify- ing of its grounds he gave much attention; also acting for many years as its treasurer.

Mr. Brady was formerly what was known as a "Free-Soil Democrat,"but afterward affiliated with the Republican party. He served Aurora as presi- dent of the board of trustees before it was chartered as a city, and afterward as an alderman, and in 1880 was elected mayor, serving one term. He

was chairman of the first congressional Repub- lican convention ever held in Illinois, which con- vened in the Congregational Church, Aurora, Sep- tember 20, 1854. It is claimed by some that the Republican party of the United States was so named at this meeting. In religious matters Mr. Brady is Unitarian in faith, and he has contributed largely to the erection of the People's Church, as well as toward other churches. This pioneer citi- zen has acted an important part in promoting those things that are best calculated to benefit the public, and during his business life he was one of the foremost merchants and business inen of Aurora, erecting the "Empire Block" in 1858. He has now retired from business, but is still, at the age of seventy-seven years, active and alive to the en- terprises of the day.

Mr. Brady's first wife died in 1844, leaving no children, and he afterward married at Cincinnati, February 20, 1845, Caroline Kennon, daughter of David and Sophia (Towsley) Kennon, of Platts- burg. N. Y. Mrs. Brady died July 21, 1883, and is buried in Spring Lake Cemetery. By the latter marriage there are the following named children: Sne, the wife of J. J. Fishburn, of Aurora; Julia, the wife of W. S. Beanpre, cashier of the Aurora National Bank; John L., of Portland, Oreg .; Lydia L., the wife of Dr. C. C. Smith, of Aurora, and Marion L., now Mrs. C. H. Haring, of New York City.

A LEXIS HALL (deceased) was born at Wil- mington, Windham Co., Vt .. April 8, 1800, but of his parentage nothing is known, as he was adopted by Dr. Silas Long, of Shelburne, Mass., when about six years of age. His boyhood and early manhood were spent on the farm, while he attended the district schools in winters, also for two years an academy. When twenty-one years of age he moved to Boston. where he worked some months, thence proceeded to New Orleans, in which city he was employed in the ship chandlery business. Being unfortunate, however, in losing his all, he returned to Massa- chusetts. In 1824 he arrived in New York, and here learned the trade of sash and blind-maker.

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May 18, 1828, he married Emeline Hunt, who bore him five children, three of whom died in childhood. The survivors are Fitzena A., wife of Robert Summers, of Aurora, Ill., and Stephen A., a resident of De Kalb County, Ill. June 1, 1835, Mrs. Hall died in New York City, and May 10, 1836, Mr. Hall married Ophelia B., daughter of Dr. Silas and Matilda (Stratton) Long, and to their union were born three children, viz .: One deceased in infancy; Emeline M., wife of S. R. Plummer, of Big Rock, and Eugene, who died in Big Rock, February 22, 1883.

Mr. Hall came to Big Rock Township in 1837, and entered a claim of 390 acres on Section 20, where he carried on farming and stock raising. He died of cancer January 15, 1883, leaving be- lind him a record of an honest and upright citi- zen. In religious belief he was a Universalist. Politically he was originally an old line Whig, in later years a Republican. He was the first justice of the peace elected in his township, a position lie lield sixteen years, serving during the same time as township treasurer. His widow is still living.

C HARLES A. MILLER. This gentleman has been a life-long resident of St. Charles, hav- ing been born in 1842. His parents, James and Isabella (McKinzie) Miller, were both born near Dundee, Scotland, and came to this country in 1842, locating at St. Charles, where the father followed his trade of blacksmith, which he taught his son, and which the latter carried on until he was twenty-four years of age, when he became interested in the paper manufacturing busi- ness at St. Charles. In 1884 he was elected on the Republican ticket to the position he now holds -circuit clerk and recorder for Kane County. He also served as supervisor of St. Charles Town- ship for seven consecutive years, during the last three of which he was chairman of the board.

In 1870 Mr. Miller was married to Marian E. Tuck, who was born in Brentwood, N. H., in 1850. She is the daughter of Josiah H. L. and Nancy (Sleeper) Tuck, the former of whom was the inventor of the famous sub-marine monitor, and who is perhaps as well acquainted with the

country between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as any man living. having crossed the continent sixty nine times; seventeen times by wagon. . Mr. and Mrs. Miller are the parents of four sons and three daughters: Marian E., Charles J., Jessie, Fred G., Helen Mar, Warren and James. ' The parents are supporters of the Congregational Church. Mr. Miller is a Knight Templar, and a member of the I. O. O. F.

H ARVEY B. RAYMOND. The Raymond family is an old one in Kane County. being numbered among its early settlers, and the first of the kin to locate in the county was our subject's father, Granville C. Raymond. He was born in Middleboro, Plymouth Co., Mass., September 12, 1820, a son of Zenas and Clarissa (Ryder) Raymond, both natives of the spot in New England where their ancestors had lived for many generations; the father died at Middleboro, when Granville C. was a small boy; the mother died at the home of her son, C. H., in Bris- tol, Ill., at the age of nearly ninety years.

Granville C. learned the trade of nailmaker at Wareham, Mass., a business he followed in that place and in Elkton, Md., until coming to Illinois in the fall of 1843 with his brother, C. H. This visit resulted in the purchase of a 700 or 800-acre tract of land near Bristol Station, Kane County. He then returned home, and in September, of the same year (1843), married Sophia A., daughter of Harvey and Ruby (Bartlett) Bumpus, and a few days thereafter the young couple came west to their new home. Here they remained one summer and two winters, when Mr. Raymond sold his land to his brother, and in the spring of 1845 he pre- empted 160 acres of wild land on Section 34, Kaneville Township. Here he built a temporary shanty, added eighty acres of Government land at $1.25 per acre, and subsequently 160 acres, which he bought, making in all a homestead of 400 acres. This farm he conducted until 1877, raising the nsual crops and live stock, since when he has lived retired at Aurora.

He and his wife were the parents of eight children who survived childhood. viz. : Lanra A.,

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married to Frank Goodwin, in Kansas; Albert, in Kaneville Township; Flora E., widow of Minard Shaver, of Newton, Kas .; Harvey B., on the old homestead; Millie (deceased when about twenty- four years of age); Charles F., in Dakota; Belle F., married to Ralph Humiston, a large land holder in Florida; and Alice (deceased at the age of about thirteen years), all born in Kaneville Town- ship excepting the eldest. Mr. Raymond has always been a Republican, and in Kaneville Town- ship served on various occasions as school director, as well as other local offices. He was brought up under Methodist influences, but is a member of no denomination.

Harvey B. Raymond was born and brought up on the homestead, and received a good common- school training. When the War of the Rebellion was threatening wide devastation he stepped to the front, and offered his services as a Union soldier, serving until the close of the war, and in 1868 he enlisted in the Nineteenth Regiment Kansas Cavalry. He was married, January 16, 1870, to Jennie E. Like, a native of New York State, and they have one child-Oscar L. Polit- ically Mr. Raymond indorses the principles rep- resented by the Democratic party.

A SA GORDON MC DOLE is a member of the bar of Aurora, a native of the county, born in Sugar Grove Township, June 12, 1836, son of Rodney and Abigail (Lounsbury) McDole, and, it is said, the eldest living white child born in Kane County; the first white child born in the county died when only a year old, and as Mr. McDole was the second white child of this nativity, therefore he is now the oldest living. He was reared at his parents' home, and labored on the farm, attending the public schools of the vicinity, thus spending his time until he was seven- teen years old, when he entered, as a student, Wheaton College, where he remained four years, during the time engaged in teaching school, one winter in Cass County and one in Mason County, near the city of Decatur.

In October, 1858, he entered the office of Judge Parks, of Aurora, as a law student, and af.

ter a thorough preliminary preparation he entered the law school at Ann Arbor, Mich., his first term there being the first law term ever taught in that now established institution. In 1861 he was licensed in Illinois to practice law in all the State courts, and immediately thereafter opened a law office in Aurora, where he has continued in active practice since. He was elected, and served as city attorney of Aurora from 1862 to 1864, and again from 1879 to 1882. He was master in chancery for a term of six years, and is an active and ear- nest constituent of the Republican party, giving the party measures at all times a cordial support. Oc- tober 4, 1874, at Lawrence, Mass., Mr. McDole was married to Susan, daughter of E. G. Wheaton, born in Worcester, Mass. Her family was origi- nally from Warren, R. I. Mr. and Mrs. McDole have two children: Rodney G., born May 21, 1878, and Abigail, born May 20, 1883.

E A. BRADLEY, vice-president and financial manager of the First National Bank, Au- rora, was born September 5, 1830, son of Eli (a farmer) and Amanda (Ball) Bradley, whose progenitors were of the early settlers of Massachusetts in colonial days. The father and mother were members of the Presbyterian Church. For many years the latter had been a widow, and died in August, 1887, at the age of eighty-four years. Latterly she had been residing on the old homestead, where she was born, in Lee, 'Mass.

E. A. Bradley lived on the farm with his par- ents until seventeen years of age, and received the benefits of the common schools of his vicinity, with two years' attendance at the Lee Academy. At the age of seventeen years he went into a dry goods store, and was clerk and partner in the mercantile business until twenty-two years of age, when he was appointed to and accepted the position of. teller in the Lee Bank, in which for nearly three years he was thus occupied. It was here he gained that thorough groundwork of the knowledge of banking business that was so well to serve him in his after life. At the age of twenty-five he sev- ered his connection with this bank, and came to Illinois, located in Aurora, September 5. 1855, and

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purchased an interest in the banking firm of Albert Jenks & Co .; later he was connected with the banking firm of Brady, Hawkins & Allen, and so continued until the house was merged into the present First National Bank, Aurora, which was incorporated June 20, 1863, Mr. Bradley as man- ager, a position he has retained to the present time. He was cashier of this bank from 1865 to 1881, and was then elected vice-president. The bank charter ran nineteen years, and in 1882 was extended for twenty years longer. The first nine- teen years of its existence the annual earnings averaged over 24 per cent to its stockholders, its losses during that time being less than $1,500.

Mr. Bradley is identified with the Congrega- tional Church, and in politics sympathizes with the Republican party. He was married in 1862 to Miss Sophia Wetmore, of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, who departed this life in 1864. In 1876 he married Mrs. Elizabeth Griffin, his present com- panion.

Mr. Bradley stands prominently among the able financiers of the country, and the several institutions that have been under his manage- ment for more than thirty years attest his eminent qualities in this respect in their unbroken line of successes. But few men have come more directly in contact with the monetary institutions, and the business men of the country, and none have com- manded more completely their respect and confi- dence, and his wide circle of friends and acquaint- ances confidently bespeak for him a long-contin- ued, active life.

E DWARD WILLIS DUNTON. The birth- place of Mr. Dunton is Arlington Heights, Cook Co., Ill., where he was born November 3, 1846, a son of William H. Dunton, of that place, a native of New York State, and a pioneer of Arlington Heights, which place was originally called Dunton, so named in his honor. Our sub- ject's boyhood days were spent at home, and he obtained a good education in the schools of his native place. At the age of twenty-one he engaged at the business of telegraphy in Des Plaines, 11l., in which place he remained about two years, when

he was called upon to accept the position of opera- tor at Winnetka, which he filled for three years, acting also as agent for the railroad company.

In 1872 he was transferred to Barrington, Ill., where he was engaged until 1884, acting as agent of the road, and as telegraph operator, having also charge of the business of the American Express Company there, during the most of the time. Here he was united in marriage with Emma M., daughter of Benjamin Rodgers, of Rochester, Vt. This union has been blessed with two daughters, Addie and Gracie, the latter of whom is deceased, and is buried in the Dunton family plat in Arlington Heights Cemetery. In 1884 Mr. Dunton was transferred to Aurora to represent the interests of the Chicago & North-Western Railroad Company, in which position he has been since. He is a painstaking official, a genial gentleman, and has the confidence of the business men of Aurora, with whom he is brought in daily contact. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church.

H IRAM T. HARDY, M. D. This well-known . professional gentleman was born at Cro- ton, Grafton Co., N. H., March 12, 1838, and is a son of Luther Hardy, of English descent, whose ancestors were early settlers of that State. He received a common-school education in his native town, and remained at home on the farm until twenty-one years of age. When about twenty-two years of age he became a student at the academy in Thetford, Vt., and soon after began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. E. C. Worcester. The winter of 1861 he devoted to teaching school in Post Mills, Vt., but the Civil War being then waged in all its fury he, in June, 1862, volunteered in defense of the Union cause, enlist- ing in the Seventh Squadron, or what was known as "Sprague's Squadron of Rhode Island Cavalry," for three months. At the expiration of this term of service he returned to Thetford, renewed his medical studies, and in the fall of the following year attended a course of lectures at Dartmouth College. The war still continuing, the Doctor re- enlisted in October, 1863, for three years, or dur- ing the war, in the Third Battery Vermont Light

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Artillery, serving on detail a part of the time as hospital steward. He participated in many of the engagements during the years 1863, 1864 and 1865, and was present at the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. He was honorably discharged from service at the close of the war, and was mustered out June 15, 1865. He then returned to Thet- ford, and completed his studies at Dartmouth Col- lege, where he was graduated as a physician and surgeon, October 31, 1866, and soon afterward began practice at Strafford, Vt. Here he remained until April, 1871, when he came to Illinois, so- journing, however, but a short time, and finally located in Nebraska. He practiced there only until the spring of 1872, and then returned to Illinois, locating at Elgin. In October, 1873, he moved to Kaneville, where he has resided up to the present time.

The Doctor was married March 12, 1868, to Sophia E. Buzzell, a native of Strafford, Vt., born January 28, 1848, and this union has been blessed with three children: Ralph H., Mabel La Rue (deceased) and Adra Genevieve. In politics Dr. Hardy is a Republican. The family are members of the Congregational Church.

EORGE GODING was born in Colchester, Essex County, England, February 23, 1858. His parents were Samuel and Margaret A. (Fitzgerald) Goding, who immigrated to Can- ada, and after spending six years in Montreal, re- moved to Aurora, Ill., where the father died Feb- ruary 7, 1876, followed by his widow on January 23, 1885. They left two sons and one daughter: George, Samuel and Anna. Samuel is in theatrical business, as agent, and Anna makes her home with her brother George, in Aurora.

The first introduction of Mr. Goding to railway life dates back to his twelfth year, when, as a lad, he served out oil to the engineers and firemen, and did what he could in other work around the shops until, at seventeen, he was made fireman on an engine. At the age of twenty-one he was given engineer's work, and at twenty-three he took charge of a locomotive, in which capacity he has since served faithfully and well, distinguishing

himself as a painstaking and careful engineer. Mr. Goding is a member of the Brotherhood of Firemen, and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engine- ers, and was one of the original organizers of the former body in Aurora, as well as an active pro- moter of its interests. He holds the position of receiver in that institution in Aurora. Mr. Goding is recognized by all who know him as a rising young man.

F RANK H. MEYER was born in Lobenstein, in the Kingdom of Saxony, July 20, 1847, and his parents were Henry and Dora Meyer. He learned the butcher's business and the dressing and curing of meats in his native town. Upon arriving at the proper age he was inducted into military life, serving for four years in the Prussian Army, under King William, in the Fourtli Army Corps, doing duty at Beaumont, Sedan, be fore Paris (in the siege), at St. Quentin and Chal- ons. Receiving an honorable discharge he turned his attention to the opportunities offered for ad- vancement in America, and came to New York City in 1871. After spending a few weeks in Newark, N. J., he removed to Chicago, and after about three months' stay there came to Aurora. Here he worked at his original trade for a few years and then embarked in the fresh and salted meat trade. for himself. Mr. Meyer married in Aurora, Emma, daughter of Peter and Angelina Lux, of that locality. She was born in Rhine Province, Prussia, and came to this country with her parents when a little girl. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer have had born to them six daughters: Dora, Annie, Lydia, Josie, Louisa and Emma. The parents are members of St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church.

EORGE E. BROWN. This gentleman is of New England stock, and was born in Derry, Rockingham Co., N. H., August 19, 1839. His ancestors, for several generations back, were residents of New England, and were of English origin. His paternal grandfather was a soldier in the War of the Revolution. His father, Simon Brown, was born in Derry, N. H., and died

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in Lawrence, Mass., in 1867. He was a farmer, and also a dealer in real estate, and took much interest in public matters, but not in the way of office-seeking. His mother's maiden name was Eunice Pillsbury, also of an old New England family. She was born in Newburyport, Mass., and died in Lawrence, in the year 1872.

George E. Brown was brought up to farming, and lived with his father until he began business for himself, his first venture being in De Kalb County, Ill., where he settled in 1862, and where he engaged in farming. Two years later he returned east. In 1872 he began the business of breeding, and in 1874 began importing blooded stock, draft and carriage horses, and Holstein cattle. Believ- ing the West afforded a better field for his enter- prise, he, in 1875, removed to Elgin, Ill., bringing his stock with him, and was the first man to intro. duce in the west the celebrated English Shire draft and Cleveland Bay coach horses and Holstein cattle. These breeds he handles exclusively. He makes importations regularly, going himself to Europe every year to inspect the stock gathered by his agents, and of which he takes only the very best. In 1879 Mr. Brown transferred his business from Elgin to Aurora Township, buying a large farm adjoining the city of Aurora, on which he has his headquarters. In 1885 the great increase in his business necessitated more room, and he pur- chased for breeding purposes the place known as the "Campbell Farm," in Batavia Township, this county, and has now about 800 acres devoted to his business. He usually has on hand about 250 horses and 200 head of cattle, and his sales amount to $150,000 annually, and are constantly increas- ing. He carries the largest stock of these breeds of horses and cattle of any one in the country, giving his entire time and attention to the procur- ing and raising of the very best of these strains to be had. The leaders of his stud are the mag- nificent Shire stallions Holland-Major (3135); Elcho (3618); and the beautiful Cleveland Bay, Gloster (26), "American Cleveland Bay Stud book." The mares of this stud are of the choicest breeding to be obtained in England. It was his Cleveland Bay mare, Adelaide, which won the gold medal at Chicago in 1886. His horses have taken almost

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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 22

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