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 32

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 32
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 32

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).

the fury of the bloody contest with ignorant and cruel savages, guided by the cunning of white men- had spent its force mostly, and the colonists learned that they could defend themselves when driven to extremity. It was our forefathers' first lesson in self-defense, and it was not many years after that that they threw the tea into Boston Harbor, and defied the mother country. His death came only after the War of 1812-15; and thus it was that from the year of his birth to that of his death were the great American events in the war for liberty and defense. He was born in Rhode Island, and lies buried in the old cemetery at Strafford. The children of Joab Young were Judith H., Sarah, Hannah and Peleg Young, all born in Rhode Island, and Nathan and Joab, born in New Grentham, N. H.

The ancestry on the maternal side was Fred- erick Smith, born in 1744, who was the father of Hannah (Smith) Young; he was the first settler in Stafford, Vt., and built there the first gristmill. He was the first representative in the Vermont legis- lature from that town in 1778-1779. He lived there the remainder of his life, and died in 1832. His widow died in 1841. The family had removed to Strafford from Hebron, Conn. Nathan Young and family came to Kane County in October, 1843, and settled on a claim in Blackberry Township, where they resided until 1850, when the family divided, and he with his wife and three children, George, Francis L. and Marcella, removed to Kaneville, where he (Nathan) died April 21, 1869. His remains are buried in West Batavia Cemetery. His wife Hannah (Smith) Young, was born in Strafford, Vt., in 1795, and died in Kane County in 1863, and is buried in the family lot in West Batavia Cemetery.

Nathan S. Young is the son of Nathan Young, and the grandson of Joab Young. He is a native of Strafford, Orange Co., Vt., born August 20, 1818, and came with his parents to Illinois in 1843. In his native State he had been in business for himself three years before he came to Illinois, being in partnership with Hon. Justin S. Morrill, at Strafford, and previous to this had clerked five years for other parties. With his family he set- tled in Blackberry Township, and engaged in farm-

A. S. Young

PHOTO BY D. C. PRATT.

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KANE COUNTY.

ing. When township organization had been effected he was elected the first town clerk of Blackberry Township. In this part of the county he resided, and followed farming for twenty years. In 1857 he removed to the village of Batavia, and January 1, 1858, he rented a warehouse, opened a grain store, and about the same time a lumber yard, which he continued in connection for five years. In 1859 he was elected supervisor for Batavia Township, and was re-elected the two succeeding terms. He had filled the offices of highway commissioner, town assessor and village trustee. He was, during Whig times, an ardent friend of Henry Clay, and voted for Harrison, Clay, Taylor, Scott, Lincoln and Grant, and so on through an unbroken life- long record. While his business has been much of his life in places of responsible trust, requiring and receiving his closest attention, yet he has always had time to be an active and earnest patriot, and, when he felt called upon so to do, he gave his most earnest work at times, and often, to his coun- try's and party's cause. The old friends and neighbors of Mr. Young esteem him most for the sterling virtues of business integrity, and the warm friendships his genial, cordial nature has drawn around him. He inherited much of the good im- pulses and fiery patriotism of his worthy sire, Gen. Young, who was one of the illustrious sol- diers in the War of 1812-15; had been a member of the Legislature of Vermont, and became a gen- eral in the militia of that State.

In 1864 Nathan S. Young was connected with the First National Bank organized in Batavia, and was a stockholder and director in this institution until it was wound up and went out of business in 1879. The bank of Coffin & Young was then opened, and carried on business about one year, and this was succeeded by the present bank of Gammon Newton, of which Mr. Young was the first cash- ier, a position he has occupied about seven years.

September 2, 1862, Nathan S. Young and Mary A. Hollister were united in marriage. She was a native of Lee, Mass., born September 12, 1832. Her parents were G. J. and Abigail Hollister, natives of Lee. Mass. Their family of children consisted of Edwin, George and Birney, now de- ceased; Mary A., now Mrs. Young, and William.

Mrs. Abigail Hollister died in 1875. G. J. Hol- lister, who was born in 1799, died in 1880, aged eiglity-one years. He was one of three persons who cast the first three abolition votes in Lee, Mass., and was true and faithful to that party until it joined forces with the Republican party in 1856, and also in 1860, when triumph came and the events of the war finally set the slaves free, and the measure of his hopes were filled. He was for thirty years a member of the Congregational Church at Geneva, and deacon for a number of years. He and wife and his sons, George H. and Edwin, are buried in the cemetery at Geneva, Ill. The Hol- lister family came to Illinois in 1846, and settled on a farm three miles northeast of Batavia, where they made their permanent home. To Mr. and Mrs. Nathan S. Young have been born three chil- dren, as follows: Edwin H., born July 29, 1863, died October 6, following, and is buried in West Batavia Cemetery; Fannie M., born October 1, 1868; and Justin H., born August 17, 1871.

H ENRY STRUCH. Of the prominent men of Burlington Township none stand more in the respect and confidence of the public than this gentleman. His industry has won him wealth, and his integrity the respect of all with whom he has come in contact. He was born March 25, 1835, in Neersen, Pyrmont Province, Waldeck, Germany, and is the fourth child of Chris- tian Struch, who had a family of six children. Henry received a good business education, and when fourteen years of age he began working among the farmers of his neighborhood. When twenty- two years old he left his fatherland for the New World, and made his first stopping place at Lyons, Cook Co., Ill., where he remained two years, and subsequently resided in Ogle County four years. In 1865 he bought eighty acres in Cook County, and for six years engaged in farming, removing to his present home in Burlington Township, Kane County, in 1871, where he owns a splendid farm of 225 acres on Sections 4 and 5. On it is a fine residence built six years ago at a cost of about $2,000, a nda large stock barn, 87x30, which cost over $1,000. The farm is stocked with cattle,

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horses and hogs, is provided with the best of farm improvements and is well drained.

Mr. Struch is a stanch Republican. He is a firm believer in the Lutheran faith, taking a deep interest in church, school and general affairs. November 1, 1863, he married Sophia Bierman, born January 25, 1844, daughter of Frederick and Doris (Crumwide) Bierman. The issue of this marriage was ten children, seven of whom are now living, named and born in the following order: Emma M., March 19, 1867; Henry A., June 28, 1869; Charles H., May 22, 1871; Louis C., Octo- ber 9, 1875; Bertie A., March 10, 1878; Ernest H., January 18, 1880; Robert W., June 1, 1884. June 15, 1868, death entered their home and departed with William F., who was born October 9, 1864; August 16, 1881. they lost a loving daughter, Alvina, who was born August 12, 1873; December 3, 1886, they lost their household pet, Walter F., who was born March 18, 1886.

G EORGE BERGLAND is a native of Sweden, and is a son of Andrew B. and Louisa (Ben- jaminson) Bergland, who were natives of the same country. Mr. Bergland remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-five years of age, working on the farm for his father, and obtaining what education he could at the dis. trict schools of his native country. In 1869 he immigrated to America, and first went to Minne- sota, where he remained only six months, then came to Kane County, and worked at farming for various people. In 1875 he bought the property he now owns of Delos Norton, containing ninety- one acres, having since added seventy-one acres, which place he has improved to the extent of about $3,000. It is well stocked with fine graded cattle for dairy purposes.

April 10, 1876, Mr. Bergland married Louisa Swanson, a native of Sweden, and a daughter of Gust and Eliza (Peterson) Swanson, also natives of Sweden, and residents of Campton Township. Two children were born to them: Florence M., born February 15, 1878, and Minnie, born Janu- ary 26, 1883, died in infancy. Mr. Bergland has recently built a fine large store near Wasco Sta-

tion on the line of the Minnesota & North- Western Railroad in which lie is keeping a general country store and the postoffice, having been petitioned by the people to that office. In politics he is a Re- publican; himself and wife are members of the Swedish Lutheran Church.

G EORGE BAKER is one of the representa- tive citizens of Virgil Township, and owns a large stock farm, controlling an extensive business in stock raising. He was born in Nottinghamshire, England, and is the son of William and Mary (Moody) Baker, natives of the same place, the former of whom, a gardener and mechanic, lived to be ninety-seven years of age.

Mr. Baker received a common-school education, and resided with his parents until 1851, when he came to Kane County, and purchased his present farm. In 1860 he married Miss Caroline Law- rence, who came from Iowa. They are the parents of six children: William G., born April 27, 1862, now married; Fred, born May 18, 1865; Walter, born August 29, 1867; Delbert, born October 13, 1870; Estella, born September 8, 1875, and Earl, born December 16, 1880. Mr. Baker is a sup- porter of the Republican party, and takes consider- able interest in local affairs, having at numerous times been road overseer and school director. His large stock farm contains 400 acres, on which he has a pleasant residence on Section 1, in a very desirable locality of Virgil Township.

G EORGE L. OSBORN, a prominent farmer of Kaneville Township, residing in the soutlı- east quarter of Section 6, where he owns a valuable tract of land, finely improved and in a high state of cultivation, was born September 28, 1825, in Auburn, N. Y., and was there reared and educated. He is a son of Samuel R. and Mary (Barnett) Osborn, natives of Bedford, Bed- fordshire, England, and who came to the United States in 1823, settling at Auburn, where the father followed the butchering business for some years, subsequently buying and operating a farm, and afterward leading a retired life. He died at

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Auburn, a member of the Baptist Church and, politically, a Republican. They had a large fam- ily, named as follows: Eliza (deceased in 1836); Emery (deceased in 1878); William, (deceased); Mary (deceased in September, 1886); Samuel, who resides on the old homestead in New York; Joseph (who died in July, 1SS5); Maria (who died in 1847); George L .; Seth B. (who died in 1862), and Anna (who died in 1853). Of this fam- ily of ten children our subject and Samuel are the only survivors.

George L. Osborn located in Kaneville Town ship in the spring of 1855, and has been one of its enterprising and leading citizens for a period of over thirty-two years. He was married October 2, 1856. at Kaneville, Ill., to Orenda C. Bunker, by whom there are two children: Dora, who married John Schwartz, a farmer, now residing in Ply- mouth County, Iowa; and Ella L., wife of James Meredith, a farmer of Kane County. Mrs. Osborn died in 1880, and Mr. Osborn married, December 20, 1882, Mrs. Polly F. (Minnium) Kendall, widow of Monroe J. Kendall, and a native of Crawford County, Penn. Mr. and Mrs. Kendall had six children: Ella L. (deceased); Ida A., Albert M., Edwin N., Lester F. and Letta M. Mr. Osborn is a Prohibition-Republican.

M ORRIS P. BROWN, one of the self-made men of Kane County, who have hewn out their own fortunes, and made themselves a name and place in the community, is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. His ancestors on his father's side have been of American birth for several genera- tions. His grandfather on his mother's side was of Scotch descent, and his great-grandmother was the daughter of an English nobleman, who, when she was sixteen years of age, was kidnaped and brought to America. His father, James Brown. was a native of Massachusetts, who removed to Watertown, Jefferson Co., N. Y., when a boy with his father, who was named Aaron. There James Brown grew to manhood, and then removed to the town of Theresa, in the same county, where he continued to reside until 1843, when he came west.

locating in 'Aurora until 1845, in which year his son, Morris P. (subject), followed him from his eastern home, and the father and son then went to De Kalb County, Ill., where they bought a tract of government land, on which they lived for twen- ty years. In February, 1877, the elder Brown died in the house where his son now lives.

Morris P. Brown was born in Watertown, Jef- ferson Co., N. Y., July 25, 1827. He was always inured to hard work; and arduous toil, thrifty habits and business qualifications have brought their reward. When young Brown arrived in the west all his worldly wealth was $8 and 3 shillings. For two months he worked with a threshing ma- chine, at the end of which time he moved to De Kalb County with his father, as already stated. There father and son worked for others, getting means to cultivate their own land. After twenty years of labor he acquired sufficient means to buy his present home, which then consisted of but seventy-two acres. This was in the year 1865. Of this tract he cleared the timber off of seventeen acres, and then sold that part of the land. Sub- sequent purchases have given him a fine prop- erty, he now owning here 340 acres, situated on Sections 14, 23, 24. On this place he has lived since he first purchased it, with the exception of three years spent in Aurora. He carries on mixed farming, and gives considerable attention to rais- ing and buying young cattle and hogs, which he fattens for market, often shipping by the car load.

On November 22, 1855, Mr. Brown was mar- ried to Sarah E., daughter of James and Ruth (Corbin) Hyde. They have had four children, as follows: Ella G., who was born September 6, 1856, became the wife of P. B. Quinn, and died Janu. ary 8, 1887, leaving an infant who is tenderly cared for by her parents; May H., the second child, was born July 26, 1863, and died September 9, 1879; Grace M., born July 21, 1866, and Fan- ny R., born January 30, 1872, are both with their parents.

Mr. Brown came to Illinois at a comparatively early day, and endured many of the privations and hardships incident to the life of the pioneer. He can tell many interesting incidents pertaining to those early days. He is a fine example of what

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can be done by any young man of ordinary intelli- gence, industry and good habits. Starting in life poor, he now, while still in the prime of life, is the possessor of a competence due entirely to his own well directed efforts. In politics he is a hearty supporter of the Republican party, but is averse to holding office, and has never had any except. minor township ones. He is a strong advocate of the cause of temperance, and is a member of the F. & A. M., a member of Aurora Commandery, No. 22, K. T. Taken all in all he is a worthy rep- resentative of the well-to-do and respected farmers of Sugar Grove Township.

L OUIS SCHAIRER. The father of this eu- terprising merchant, of Burlington, was George E. Schairer, who was born in Prussia, January 12, 1813. He immigrat- ed to Illinois during the early settlement of the State, and located in Chicago, where he remained ten or twelve years, removing to Naperville, Du Page Co., Ill., in 1856, where he engaged in farm- ing, and remained until 1867; he then removed to Kane County, and bought 150 acres of land in Burlington Township. He married Salome Vogt, a daughter of Peter and Margaret Vogt, who were both killed in a storm at Naperville, Mr. Vogt being blown from a bridge into the stream and drowned, and his wife killed by falling timbers. To Mr. and Mrs. George E. Schairer were born seven children, two of whom died young, and those who have lived to maturity are George E., of Au- rora; Charles H., of Burlington Township: Car- rie M., who became the wife of Charles A. Chase, of Dunlap, Harrison Co., Iowa; Louis, proprietor of a grocery and general store, also dealer in farm machinery, at Burlington; Sallie, now Mrs. Mar- shal Lawrence, of Burlington. Mr. George E. Schairer, Sr., held several important publie po sitions during his life; he was for several years a member of the city council of Naperville, as well as school director. He was a member of the I. O. O. F., a stanch supporter of the Lutheran faitlı, an upright man, and a respected citizen. In 1862 he was called to mourn the death of his wife, and in 1868 he too departed this life, lamented

by a large circle of friends and a bereaved fam- ily.

Louis Schairer was born in Lisle, Du Page Co., Ill., January 18, 1857; was reared on the farm, and educated in the graded schools of Naperville. He has followed farming nearly all his life. He and his brother Charles bought the old home on Sections 14 and 15, and have ad- ded to it until they now own 247 acres. In 1882 they bought the store of Mann & Smith, at Bur- lington, and the same year Louis was appointed postmaster; he also has charge of the store, and has proved himself a man of business ability, as is shown by the large trade he commands, whichi has reached the aggregate sum of $12,000 per year. March 7, 1883, Mr. Sehairer married Ida Wright, a daughter of D. C. and Jane (Pease) Wright. Their home has been brightened by one child, Ruby May, born June 29, 1884. Mr. Schairer is independent in polities; he is a man of sound judgment, and a worthy citizen.

H ENRY SHERMAN. Fourscore and three years ago, November 28, 1805, in the lit- tle old town of Armenia, Dutchess Co., N. Y., a son was born to Hugh and Cornelia (Sutherland) Sherman, and was christened Henry. The parents were New Yorkers by long residence. Hugh was the son of Jeremiah Sherman, of Dart- mouth, R. I., who had been twice married, and had removed to Dutchess County, where were born his three sons, Michael, Jeremialı and Hugh. The son Michael, when grown, removed to Rens- selaer County, and became a tenant farmer about sixteen miles east of Albany. Afterward Jeremiah became a farmer near where Michael lived. Hugh married and lived in Dutchess County, carrying on the trade of saddler and farmer; he prospered, and had become well-to-do, but, being unable to say "no," when appealed to by his acquaintances to sign notes with them, he was by this means bank- rupted (this misfortune overtaking him when Henry was about fifteen years of age), and the members of the family each and all felt the effects of this misfortune keenly. After his reverses, Hugh Slier- man removed with his family to near Burnt Hills,

Engraved by Samuel sartas, Phila

Henry Sherman urman

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Saratoga County; he was drowned in Ballston Lake in 1824, leaving a widow and ten children. At the time of his death he was about fifty-three years of age. The ten children in the family of Hugh Sherman were as follows: William, born in 1801, now living at Burnt Hills, N. Y .; Eliza (de- ceased); Henry; Julia (deceased); Jacob, now liv- ing at Columbus, Miss. ; George (deceased); Anna Maria (deceased); Smtih (deceased); Delia (de- ceased); and Elon N., now in Elgin. Although all of the ten were born in the early part of the century, four are now living.

In the boyhood life of Henry, it may be seen his lines did not fall in easy places. His hard struggles with fortune came to him before his strength of manhood. His very limited attendance at the dis- trict schools was only when he worked at the same time to pay his way. He was confronted not only with the hard problem of the care of his widowed mother and her children, but the young hero assumed the yet greater task of paying his father's debts, even if he had to do it by day's work at the small pay of that time. Any boy, in any age or time, who will thus look fate in the face, who will not only voluntarily take upon himself in his young boyhood such a herculean task, but carry it out successfully, if health is spared, will live a useful and successful life. In his composition there is grit enough to help found civilizations, or create empires. There is a heroism in the resolu- tion and the execution of such purpcses that is superior to circumstances, that stamps our race, far more than our physical forms, as being formed truly in the image of the Divine Ruler. His be- lief is now that his bent of mind was received from his father in a chastisement when he was young. His father had told him to do some little thing, and he replied "I can't, " the ready reply of a boy when he is feeling lazy; his father cut a switch, warmed his limbs heartily, then said, "Son, never say that to me; if I tell you to tear down the barn or anything else, try it with all your might, but never say ' I can't.'"' Some idea of the tender age at which he was set to helping work on the farm may be inferred when he tells of being put to ride the plow-horse while his father plowed, when so young that he had to be tied on to the ani-

mal. When he was large enough to hoe corn he was expected to keep up with the hired man by hoeing a hill and skipping a hill, and, when he was hard- pressed, would shoulder his hoe, run to the end, shout " Hurrah," and turn back on the same row. After his father's death he farmed on shares for the support of the family, and continued at this work as long as his health permitted. After his health was broken, and he was no longer able to work on the farm, he found employment in an auction store, where he received $7 a month and board, in Schenectady. Remaining in this employ one year, he then opened a temperance restaurant in that town, where they were building the first rail- road in that part of New York. He then went to Cold Springs, near Little Falls, and bought a small stock of groceries, opened a bakery and gro- cery store, and furnished boat stores to accommo- date canal men. His day's work would com- mence at 1 o'clock in the morning, when he would get up and bake his bread. During the summer here he made $800. He returned to Schenec- tady for a short time, and then went to the city of Washington; was there and at the mouth of Monocacy Creek about three years. He had only very moderate success in business. He was in Washington when Pennsylvania Avenue was first macadamized. being employed in the office of the contractor, and he remembers that Andrew Jack- son was president at the time. When he closed out his business in Maryland, and returned to visit his home, as he approached the house he met the funeral procession bearing his mother's body to the grave. Afterward he went to New York and engaged with a man named Wilkinson, in the gro- cery trade, remaining in that place and business two years, being only moderately successful. At his boarding house in New York he met a man named Flint. They became fast friends, and agreed to come together to Illinois. But about this time, the man who kept the hotel where they boarded-the "Pearl Street House"-failing, Flint changed his mind and became the landlord. Mr. Sherman then, through the earnest solicita- tion of a man named De Forrest, went to Milo and purchased a half interest in a stock of dry goods and groceries, with Mr. Marshall, a Baptist

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minister, and not much of a business man, so it left Mr. Sherman the entire work of disposing of the goods. They exchanged with the farmers, and sold on credit; but, as the panic of 1837 then came heavily upon the country, they could not make collections, and in the end bankruptcy came upon them.

Mr. Sherman was in Milo about two years, en- gaged in straightening tlie tangled affairs of the company. He then bought on credit $500 worth of clothing, which he took in a wagon to Elgin, Ill., where lie arrived in the fall of 1838. Not finding a market there, he went to Mineral Point, where he sold out the stock to good advantage, and returned to Elgin. He made a claim to the land where is now his splendid farm, and put up a small shanty. He then bought, in Chicago, a small stock of goods, took them to Fort Madison, sold the most of it to good advantage, and closed out the remainder for pelts and furs. He then returned to New York, and brought out his family, reaching Elgin with only eight cents in his pocket. In the meantime the settlers, in his absence, had torn down his cabin, and had made strong demonstrations that they did not want him to have the land. They employed the usual arts to intimidate him, but they soon learned enough of the nature of the man to heroically let him alone. A more determined and resolute man, when he had once made up his mind, had never yet cast his fortune in the wild West. He repaired his cabin, and moved in, and with no word of comment as to his treatment by his neigh- bors, no loud protests against the wrongs they had inflicted in his absence, with no word of bluster, with hardly a thought of it, he proceeded to at- tend to his own affairs; but there was a spirit, air and manner about him that suggested to the tur- bulent element in the community that they could keep their health quite as well behaving themselves toward him as otherwise. His command over men bent upon evil is illustrated by a circumstance which occurred at the rough town of Mineral Point. He was in his room, with all his money received for his little store, when two men intrud- ed. He divined their purpose of robbery, but re- ceived them as though they were respected visitors making a friendly call, talked to them so politely,

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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 32

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