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 34

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 34
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 34

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).

March 21, 1873, he married Caroline, daughter of Henry Everding, of Cook County. They have six children: Emma, born May 1, 1874; Frederick W., born July 2, 1877; Amanda, born May 5, 1880; George H., born March 25, 1883; Elsie, born February 25, 1885; and Edwin H., born May 19, 1887.

S QUIRE D. HUNT, a farmer of Kaneville Township, is a native of Chenango County, N. Y., born July 9, 1840, a son of Daniel and Polly (Dutcher) Hunt, who were mar- ried November 8, 1826, and had the following named children: Jane (deceased), Sarah, Edwin (deceased), Squire D., and Madeline (deceased in childhood). The father was a farmer, but now lives retired; his wife, Polly, died August 20, 1885, aged eighty-one years; both were members of the Methodist Church. The parents of Daniel Hunt were Joseph and Sarah (Waldridge) Hunt. Jo- seph was a carpenter and house builder, but after- ward adopted farming as an occupation.

Squire D. Hunt was married February 26, 1862, to Lydia E. Flanders, by whom there are four children: Myrtie M., Carrie A., Alice and Harry B. Since his residence here, Mr. Hunt has always taken an active interest in supporting the educational, religious and other institutions of so- ciety, that are calculated to benefit humanity, mor- ally and intellectually. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and has served his vicinity for the past seven years as highway commissioner, to which office he has been elected three consecutive terms of three years each. He owns 300 acres of land, and is in every respect an enterprising farmer.

F INLA L. MCCLURE. This gentleman was born in Bath, Steuben Co., N. Y., Novem- ber 17, 1823. He is the son of Finla and Hannah (Carpenter) McClure, who were married at Elmira, N. Y., in 1808. His father, Finla McClure, was born in Londonderry, Ireland, and came to America in 1793. Belonging to the race of Scotch-Irish, so especially noted among the early settlers of America, he possessed the sterling qualities of mind and heart which enabled him to become one of the leading spirits in all enterprises of progress and reform in his locality. A deacon in the Presbyterian Church for nearly half a cent- ury; a prosperous farmer, with a heart susceptible to the keenest appreciation of the joys and respon - sibilities of domestic life, he left to his family the richest legacy of earth-a pure, noble, helpful life.

Hannah (Carpenter) McClure was born at West Point, N. Y., in 1788. Her ancestry were among the first permanent settlers of New York, sturdy sons of the Church, who fled to this haven of refuge for the persecuted for conscience' sake. Her father, Mathew Carpenter, was a general in the War of 1812, and one of the founders of Elmira, N. Y.

Mr. McClure's paternal grandfather, Finla Mc- Clure, Sr., was born in Londonderry, Ireland, in 1739, and his paternal grandmother was born in 1741. The former died in New York in 1812, and his widow followed him in 1818.

In 1846 Finla L. McClure removed with his father's family to the then "far West," and set- tled in the little village of Elgin, where he still

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resides. In 1849 he was united in marriage with Levantia, daughter of R. W. Padelford, Esq., and of this union were born two sons: Charles V. and Frederick, the latter of whom died in infancy. The wife was stricken by the hand of the " pale mes- senger" when barely upon the threshold of mid- dle life. His second marriage was, in 1861, with Miss Fannie K. Wilder, by whom is one child- Bertha B. Mrs. Fannie K. McClure is a daughter of Samuel and Mercy (Davis) Wilder, the father a native of New York, and the mother of Massachu- setts. They were married in New York, and came to Illinois in 1845, making a long overland jour- ney, and finally locating in Dundee Township, Kane County; he died in 1864, and his widow in 1887 at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. Mrs. McClure's ancestors on the mother's side were direct descendants from the Puritan stock, and were men and women of sterling qualities, honest, industrious, cultured, righteous and God- fearing people. Her grandfather was a prominent man in the Revolutionary War, shouldering his musket at the first call for minute men. Her father, who was of English descent, was a soldier in the War of 1812.

Elgin has long since taken its place among the cities of the West, and for over forty years Mr. McClure has been closely connected with many of its business interests. He built and filled the first ice-house, from which ice was either shipped or delivered about town, and continued in the busi- ness, both retail and wholesale, until the past two years. He caused to be made the first eight-gal- lon milk can ever used in Elgin, and kept up a route in the city, also shipped milk to Chicago for years. He has lived to see both these industries increase from the above mentioned insignificant beginnings to their present enormous proportions. The ice business now, uses a large amount of capi- tal, furnishes employment to thousands, and pro- vides an unlimited amount of ice for shipping purposes. The dairy interests of the Fox River Valley now take the lead of all agricultural pur- suits, and the best milk and butter known in the markets are produced. The prices of their prod- ucts on the Elgin Board of Trade each week are consulted in all parts of the commercial world.

When the Elgin Packing Company was reor- ganized, Mr. McClure was one of the active and efficient promoters of the scheme for saving this to the other industries of Elgin, and from that time to the present he has been its business manager. The Elgin Packing Company has become one of the prosperous industries of Elgin, furnishing em- ployment for many, and a ready market for various kinds of products.

In connection with his other business interests Mr. McClure has for years carried on his farm, and may justly be classed with the successful agri- culturists as well as with the business men of El- gin. He has served the people in the aldermanic councils of the city, and has for years been town trustee. Having no ambition for public emolu- ments, he has repeatedly refused to allow his name to be proposed for public office. He enjoys the esteem and confidence of the community, and is considered by many of the laboring class as a pub- lic benefactor, having in his business enterprises aimed, as far as practicable, to follow those indus- tries which would furnish employment to the greater number. Mr. McClure and family are members of the Congregational Church.

A LVIN CARY, hotel keeper, Kaneville, is widely known throughout Kane County and its environs, owing not alone to his pro- verbial hospitality and courteous treatment of his guests, but also to the active part he has always taken in political affairs in the interest of the Democratic party, with which he has ever been identified, and is likely to remain a strong sup- porter of; and those who represent the party in his community have never failed to look to him as the promoter of measures calculated to insure suc- cess. Though an ardent Democrat and a stanch supporter of Democratic principles, Mr. Cary, often in selecting men for local positions of trust in the county, has obliterated party lines, and cast his vote and influence for the opposition candidate, when becoming satisfied that said candidate was better fitted than another to faithfully perform the duties attached to the office.

Mr. Cary was born January 16, 1838, in Or-

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leans County, N. Y., a son of Bela and Mary (Og- den) Cary, the former born October 17, 1811, in Jefferson County, N. Y., and the latter a native of Ogdensburg, N. Y., a daughter of Joseph Ogden, from whose family the city of Ogdensburg derived its name. The names of the five children of Bela and Mary Cary are Eliza, Alvin, Susan, Abram and Clara, all of whom married and had families. Bela Cary came to Illinois with his family in 1847, locat- ing in Lake County, where they remained until 1853, in which year they moved to La Porte Coun- ty, Ind. While living there Alvin married, Octo- ber 18, 1858, in St. Joseph County, Miss Kate Valentine, a native of Ohio, born in 1839, and to this union four children have been born: Charles L., married to Jennie M., daughter of F. L. Young (this lady dying, Charles L. Cary married a Miss Cooper, now a resident of Geneva, Ill.); Frank, Matie and Bela, all deceased except Matie.

The family moved to Kaneville in the fall of 1860, since when Mr. Cary has been a resident of the place, and in 1865 he embarked in his present hotel business. He served as justice of the peace from 1881 to 1885, and in 1881 was com- missioned a notary public, an office he has held continuously to date; has served his vicinity re- peatedly as school director, and is now clerk of the board. Mr. Cary was a member of the County Democratic Central Committee for six years, and its chairman for four years, and is now (1887) a mem- ber and secretary of the same. He is a member of Kaneville Lodge, No. 425, F. & A. M.

J OHN NORRIS, a prominent farmer and stock raiser, residing eight miles northwest of Aurora, on Sections 34 and 35, Blackberry Township, where he conducts a farm of 450 acres, is a son of Hiram and Hannah (Young) Norris, and was born in Kane County, Ill., May 2, 1859. His father was born in New York State, November 3, 1828, and came to Illinois in 1844. His mother was born in Vermont, February 13, 1831. The parents were married in 1853, and the following year settled on the farm where their son now resides. In 1875 they removed to Aurora.

John Norris, the subject of this sketch, mar-

ried, December 15, 1880, Evaline Danly, who was born in Grundy County, Ill., July 15, 1862. [For record of her parents, see sketch of James Danly]. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Norris are Ralph W., born June 15, 1882; Jessie A., born September 15, 1883; John H., born July 7, 1885, and Roy J., born January 30, 1887. In his political views Mr. Norris is Republican.

EORGE ROOTS, owner and manager of a fine stock, dairy and grain farm of 121 acres, located a half mile northeast of La- Fox, on Section 2, Blackberry Township, came to Illinois in 1848. His parents, Isaiah and Elizabeth (Parker) Roots, were New Englanders, their ancestors having come to America in the early history of the Republic. Mr. Roots was born at Lockport, N. Y., March 13, 1821. Being left an orphan at the age of three years, he was taken in charge by his maternal grandparents, and when old enough he worked as a farm hand, and sup ported his aged grandparents. His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, seven and a half years, was commissioned orderly, and re- ceived a pension. When twenty-seven years of age George Roots came to Illinois, beginning agri. cultural pursuits in Blackberry Township, in which he has prospered. He, as well as his wife, is a member of the Christian Church, in which he has served as trustee and deacon. He is a Republican in his political principles, and has served as a member of the school board.

August 14, 1842, is the date of Mr. Roots' mar. riage with Miss Eunice L. Wait, who was born in New York State in 1826. The following are the names of their children: Stephen I., born July 2, 1843, enlisted in Company D, Fifty-second Illinois Infantry, participated in the engagement at Shiloh and Corinth, and died in the service August 7, 1862; Arthur N., born June 4, 1845, and Samuel P., born January 22, 1847, both also enlisted in the last war, in the Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, and were honorably discharged at the close of the contest; Benjamin G., born September 11, 1849, now resides in Kane County, Ill .; Orin E., born August 31, 1853, now resides in Ford County, Ill .;

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Rosalie A., born October 2, 1857, is now the wife of Austin Culbertson, of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Roots died September 17, 1862, a member of the Chris- tian Church; and February 4, 1863, Mr. Roots married Miss Estella Brundige, who was born in Canada, August 2, 1839. [See sketch of Levi Brundige. ] By this marriage there have been two children, namely: Eunice A., born June 4, 1864, now the wife of E. J. Shepard, of Blackberry Township; and George F., born September 27, 1869, living with his parents.

H ENRY WARFORD is a native of England, born in Somersetshire, December 11, 1818, son of William and Ann (Weeks) Warford, of England, where the father died when Henry was four years of age. When two years old Henry was brought by his uncle to America, and they located in New York. In 1844 Mr. War- ford came to Illinois, and located in Geneva Town- ship, where he has since resided. He is inter- ested in all progressive movements, and at present is manager and treasurer of the Geneva Rock Spring Creamery Company.

In 1867 he married Huldah A. Hoag, a native of the State of New York, and their union has been blessed with six children, four of whom are now liv- ing: Alice M., Eunice H., Anna D. and Kitty N. Mr. and Mrs. Warford are members of the Con- gregational Church. He is a champion of the prohibition movement, and expects to help elect a Prohibition President in 1892.

E DMUND GRIFFITH. Another of the well- to-do immigrants from England, who have built their homes in Kane County, is the subject of this commemorative biography. He is a native of Oxfordshire, born July 18, 1828, a son of John and Margaret (Taylor) Griffith, who came to America when Edmund was but a child, settling in Batavia Township when he was eight- een years of age. Mr. Griffith at the age of twenty-three began farming for himself, and he is now the owner of a fine property of 268 acres in Batavia Township, two miles east of the village of

that name, where he has followed agricultural pursuits ever since his marriage.

February 13, 1856, he was united in wedlock with Mary Spear, a native of Chautauqua County, N. Y., born October 23, 1831, daughter of Andrew and Lucinda (Ellis) Spear, who came to Illinois in 1834, among the earliest of the pioneers, when Mrs. Griffith was two and one-half years old; and she is now the oldest resident of Batavia Township, hav- ing resided here for fifty-three years. Her father died March 10, 1844, aged sixty-one years (in the war of 1812 he was arrested as a spy, but was afterward released), and her mother died Septem- ber 18, 1854, also aged sixty-one years.

E ARLE C. NEWTON is the youngest of the three sons of Levi and Rachel (Cooley) Newton. He was born in Wyoming County, N. Y., October 24, 1838, and was reared in the home of his parents, attending the schools in the vicinity, where he secured the foundations of a good English education. In his early young manhood he was thoroughly trained to the trade of wagon making, in his father's shop, and when he reached his majority was ready to en- ter into the work carried on by his father and brother, with a good knowledge of all the branches of the trade. He came with his father's family to Batavia in 1854, being at that time sixteen years of age. From that time to the present he has been almost exclusively engaged in the New- ton Wagon Manufactory, of which he is now vice- president, and is the general and practical mana- ger of the carriage and spring wagon department of the concern. The particulars of this great factory are given in detail in the sketches of his father, Levi Newton, and of his brother, Capt. D. C. Newton, elsewhere in this volume.

Since the death of his father, the management of this large industrial institution has devolved upon the two brothers, with the assistance of their brother-in-law, Mr. H. K. Wolcott, who has been identified with its interests since 186S, and is now secretary and treasurer. The present of- ficers of the company are D. C. Newton, presi-

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dent; E. C. Newton, vice-president; H. K. Wol- cott, secretary and treasurer, J. P. Prindle, superintendent. The institution has grown with the surrounding country since the day of its first commencement from the slow work of making on an average about three wagons and the same number of spring vehicles each month, until now it is turning out completed vehicles, largely wagons for draught purposes, at the rate of over 650 a month, and the " Newton Wagon " is al- ready known all over the land as an article that is considered the best in its line.

E. C. Newton and Mary E. Wilson were united in marriage in 1864. She is a daughter of Samuel and Lydia (Shaw) Wilson, both of whom were early pioneers in this portion of Illinois, prominent and influential people. Mrs. Newton was born in Batavia, Kane County, July 12, 1846. The fol- lowing children have been born to them: Ed E., Wilson I., Harry E., Nellie L. and Katie M. In politics Mr. Newton affiliates with the Repub- lican party, and is in favor of prohibition. Mrs. Newton is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a prominent society lady in the vil- lage of her home. The family are highly con- nected, and are much esteemed in social life.

P ERCIVAL M. WAITE. This gentleman, who is connected with one of the old fami- lies of Sugar Grove by marriage, and is in all respects a substantial and worthy citizen, was born in the township of Alexandria, Jefferson Co., N. Y., June 18, 1844. In 1860 he re- moved to De Kalb County, Ill., and in 1868 to Kane County. In 1871 he sought a home in Vernon Township, Cowley Co., Kas., whence he returned in 1882. While there he held the office of trustee, one year, and the office of justice of the peace, seven years. He had previously married Laura Ann Paull, who was born May 1, 1850, and by her has two children, both in their Kansas home: Lanra B., born January 30, 1872, and Don L., born December 18, 1880. Mrs. Waite's father, Charles F. Paull, was born in Medina County, Ohio, July 12, 1822, located in Kane County in 1841, and engaged in farming until his final re-

tirement and removal to Aurora, is which city he now resides. His wife, Laura Lavina (Brooks) Paull, who was born in Lenox, Mass., in May, 1824, died November 29, 1856, and was buried in Sugar Grove Cemetery; she was a daughter of Chauncey Brooks.

Hiram Waite, the father of Percival M , was born in Le Raysville, N. Y., October 12, 1820, was a farmer by occupation, and now lives near Waterman, DeKalb Co., Ill. His wife, Laura (Ormsby) Waite, was also a native of New York, in which State she died, and was buried, in 1849. Richard Waite, the grandfather of Percival M., was a native of Brattleboro, Vt., and was a farmer by occupation.

On the 3d of October, 1864, Percival M. Waite enlisted in Company M, Ninth Illinois Volunteer Cavalry, and served during the remainder of the term of service of his regiment, which was originally organized in the fall of 1861, and took part in some of the bloodiest battles of the war. Mr. Waite was mustered out October 13, 1865. He is now engaged in general farming, owning 160 acres of land on Section 34. In April, 1885, Mr. Waite was chosen to the position of school trustee, which he now holds. He is a member of the order of Modern Woodmen of America; in politics a Re- publican.

E DWARDS FAMILY. This family were of Welsh descent. Timothy Edwards and Esther, his wife, were the parents of Na- thaniel and Jonathan Edwards, the latter named son being an eminent divine. Nathaniel Edwards was an officer in the French and Indian War, and was a captain in the Revolutionary War, being in the engagement at Bunker Hill, besides other battles of that war, and was captured and imprisoned in the notorious Jersey prison ship, the Andersonville prison of those days. His son, Isaac, the father of Alfred Edwards (the subject proper of this commemorative record), a young lad, served with him as an attendant, or orderly, through the war, and was pensioned by the Govern- ment for his services. The father of Esther (Foote) Edwards, wife of Isaac, was also a captain in the

Aquel Edward

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KANE COUNTY.

Revolutionary War. [One of her kin was the cel- ebrated Commodore Foote, of the late war. ]

Isaac and Esther (Foote) Edwards were the parents of six sons and one daughter, whose names were John, Truman, James, Barney, Alfred, Ed- ward and Betsey Edwards Cady. James and Ed- ward were for several terms members of the New York Legislature.

Alfred, the fifth son, one of the pioneers of Kane County, was born in the town of Greenfield, Saratoga Co., N. Y., August 5, 1803. He remained in that locality during his boyhood and early man- hood, taking his share of farm work, and teaching school in the winter. In July, 1829, he was mar- ried to Miss Lucinda S. Bosworth, of his native town, and soon after removed to Chautauqua County, N. Y., then to the far West, where he engaged in the mercantile trade with his brother-in- law, O. Cromwell Bosworth (who died in 1835), until 1836, meeting with fair success.

In 1836 Mr. Edwards came to Chicago, a small village then, and located on South Water Street, near Clark, in business with his brother-in-law, Franklin Bosworth: Deciding to settle in the great West, he returned the following year for his family. In 1839 he removed his business interests to Dundee, Ill., and entered into copartnership with his younger brother-in-law, I. C. Bosworth, under the firm name of Edwards & Bosworth. They brought to this place the largest stock of general merchandise in this part of the country, and soon commanded a large and lucrative trade, which they held until July 25, 1852, when the co-partnership was dissolved, Mr. Edwards continuing the business on his own account until 1855, when his son, Hen- ry C., was given an interest in the business, and the new firm was known as A. & H. C. Edwards, under which name it was continued until 1861, when H. C. entered the army. During the years of his mercantile business Mr. Edwards was from time to time buying farm lands in the near vicinity of Dundee, until he owned about 1,000 acres, much of which was under cultivation. In 1865. after his son's return from the army, the partnership was renewed, and continued until 1869, when, selling out their stock of merchandise, they embarked in the business of dairying. Erecting large and com-

modious buildings, and otherwise fitting up these lands, they were soon engaged in the most exten- sive milk producing and shipping business in the West, which continued until the death of Mr. Al- fred Edwards, in 1875.

Mrs. Lucinda S. (Bosworth) Edwards was born March 29, 1806, in the town of Greenfield, Saratoga Co., N. Y. Her death occurred July 12, 1849, at the age of forty-three years, four children surviv- ing her: Mary E., wife of J. A. Carpenter; Henry C., the only surviving son; Elizabeth B., wife of J. C. Wilder; and Ella L., wife of Rev. E. F. Cleveland, M. D .- five children having died in in- fancy. She was an intelligent, industrious and loving wife, entering heartily into all her husband's undertakings. She cheered and assisted him to her utmost. Her hearty co-operations and safe suggestions in matters of business were not the least element in his success. She was sympathetic and generous, giving freely to such as needed. Her courteous manners, kindness of heart and unaffected piety greatly endeared her to a large circle of friends.

In 1850 Mr. Edwards married Mrs. Julia B. Strong (who was born in Mendon, N. Y., in 1817), widow of Ephraim Strong, with whom she came west as a home missionary, and by whom she had three daughters, who came with her and became members of Mr. Edwards' family. The eldest of these is Mrs. Helen H. S. Thompson. now residing in Pipe Stone, Minn .: the second became the wife of the Rev. E. T. Doane, now a missionary on Ponape Island, one of the Caroline Group in the Pacific Ocean; the third (deceased) became the wife of Rev. J. D. Davis, colonel of the Fifty-second Illinois Volunteers (now a missionary in Japan). Mrs. Julia (Strong) Edwards died in December, 1876. The entire family loved her deservedly, for she proved to them a true friend and mother. She was an active and intelligent worker in the church. In the community she was respected, and in her death every one felt that the church of her choice had lost one of its most useful members.

By this second union Mr. Edwards had one son, George B., whose youth gave promise of a useful manhood. After a careful preparation he entered Amherst College as a member of the class

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of 1876, but on account of failing health was com- pelled to leave during his junior year. Soon after reaching his majority, and on the day before the graduating of his class at Amherst, he entered upon the "Commencement " of a higher life, even that of an Eternal. He possessed a superior mind, a lovely Christian character, and left behind a stainless memory.

From the time Mr. Edwards settled in Dundee until his death, he was fully identified with all the material interests of the town, giving his time and means liberally to that end. At the time the Galena division of the Chicago & North-Western Railway was built from Chicago to Freeport, he did all in his power to bring the road to Dundee, subscribing to the stock of thic road, and holding out inducements of large subscriptions, condi- tioned to their running through Dundee. He afterward sold his stock for the purpose of obtain- ing funds to assist iu building the present Fox River branch, now a valuable feeder of the Chicago & North-Western system of railways. He became a director of this road, and an active worker for its success, contributing of his means to the extent of about $25,000 (a very large sum of money for those times), this amount being required to prevent the failure of the road. He also gave the right of way across his lands, the grounds for station purposes, and money toward the erection of the first depot, crippling himself financially for many years in his efforts to build up Dundee. In 1855 he erected the large brick block near the depot, a portion of which he and his son, Henry C., occupied, con- ducting a general mercantile business under the firin name of A. & H. C. Edwards. Some years earlier he built for himself, in West Dundee, the brick residence east of the Baptist Church; also other houses for dwelling and business purposes, among which was the block of stores known as the " brick block." About 1868 Capt. Soulc, then the principal owner and manager of the Illinois Iron & Bolt Co., decided to remove the works from Carpentersville to Austin, near Chicago Mr. Edwards borrowed money, and he and the late Hon. J. A. Carpenter bought out the controlling interest, but to accomplish this he was obliged to mortgage the larger portion of this property. In

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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 34

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