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 42
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 42
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March 13, 1886, he was united in marriage with Miss Huldah, daughter of John and Jennie (Ward) Dahlgren, and their home has been bright. ened with one son, Floyd LeRoy, born December 1, 1886. Mrs. Burton was born in Barkforst, Lingoping, Sweden, April 30, 1864, and educated in the district school, bidding adieu to the scenes of her childhood in 1876, and sailing for America, whither a brother and sister had preceded her, and with whom she found a home until her mar- riage with Mr. Burton.
OHN H. HODDER. This gentleman is at the head of the Aurora Beacon, the oldest newspaper in the Fox River Valley, and conducts the most extensive printing, blank book and stationery establishment in this part of the State. He is a native of Dorsetshire, England, where he spent his youth, and served an appren- ticeship to the printing and bookbinding trade. In 1853, when about eighteen years of age, he came to America, landing in New York, where he obtained work at his trade. In 1854 he came to Chicago, thence to Aurora, and entered the employ of D. & J. W. Randall, about the time they pur- chased the Beacon of the Hall Bros. After work- ing some time in this office he branched out for himself, starting at Aurora, in 1856, the first book- bindery in the county. Some time afterward the bindery was connected with the Beacon office, Mr. Hodder becoming foreman, and for a time prior to 1858, a member of the firm of O. B. Knicker- bocker & Co. In that year the Beacon and Repub- lican were consolidated, and the firm of Bangs &
J.W Hodder
PHOTO BY D. C. PRATT.
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KANE COUNTY.
Knickerbocker formed, Mr. Hodder going into the job printing business on his own account. In 1861-62 he published the McHenry County Union, at Woodstock, Ill. In 1863 he returned to Aurora, again accepting the foremanship of the Beacon establishment. In 1866 he purchased Mr. Bangs' interest in the concern, and the firm of Knicker- bocker & Hodder was organized. Under this man- agement the business of the Beacon was carried on until the death of the senior partner in May, 1885, since which time it has been conducted by Mr. Hodder. In 1882 he erected the fine and substantial building on the island, expressly for the business, which, complemented with modern machinery, renders the Beacon the most complete establishment to be found in the State, outside of the larger cities.
Mr. Hodder was the first practical job printer and binder in Aurora, and has done more than any other man to bring the "art preservative of all arts " to the front in that city. In 1876 he invent- ed and patented "Hodder's Blotter Tablet," a simple and convenient device in stationery binding, which speedily came into general use throughout the United States and Canada. He was a member of the board of education for several years, and in politics has always been an active Republican.
In December, 1859, Mr. Hodder was united in marriage with Miss Kate M. Heywood, a native of Worcester County, Mass., and at the time a teacher in the East Aurora schools. They have one son and one daughter living. Frank H. Hodder, aged twenty-seven years, a graduate of Michigan University, with the degree of Ph. M., is now en- gaged in his third year as instructor in history and political science, at Cornell University, New York. Miss Kittie B. Hodder lives with her parents at 241 South Lincoln Avenue.
G UNNER ANDERSON, of Skien, Norway, was born November 14, 1827, a son of John and Martha Anderson, who came to this country in 1844. Illustrative of the ex- periences of immigrants forty-four years ago, as compared with the present day, Mr. Gunner An- derson says: "It took us nine weeks to cross the ocean in a sailing ship laden with iron, altogether
fraught with much greater danger than the trips of nowadays. It took us about four weeks to make the distance between New York and Chicago. To Albany we came by packboat, from there to Buffalo by canalboat, and thence to Chicago by steamboat. To Kaneville from Chicago we traveled by team, which finished the journey." The parents settled in Kaneville, taking up 300 acres of land in Virgil and Kaneville Townships. Here they built a " dug out," in which they lived and suffered the privations of a pioneer life, in order that their children might have a good home in after years. In this place, the northern part of Kaneville Township, they lived three years, after which they built a substantial log house, where they lived the remainder of their days, the mother dying in 1868, at the age of seventy-two years, and the father passing away in 1880, at the age of eighty-two years.
Mr. Anderson never had the advantage of an education, not even in the district school, as he had to work from early childhood to help the par- ents build a home. In 1855 he married Ulrica Lonquist, who came to this country in 1853. To this union six children were born: Helena A. (who died in 1864), Olivia M. (who died in 1860), Mary V., Olive A. (who died October 23, 1887), Aman- da M. and Nettie G.
The place on which they now live, located in Section 22, Campton Township, is a dairy farm, well stocked with cattle. Mr. Anderson is a Re- publican in politics. He and his wife are mem- bers of the Swedish Lutheran Church.
OHN S. LEE, eminent as a farmer of Plato Township, and for forty years a school officer, was born in Westchester County, N. Y., December 21, 1815, and is a grandson of Judge Elijah Lee. His parents were Abijah and Elizabeth (Strang) Lee, natives of Putnam and Westchester Counties, respectively. The father was born June 14, 1788, and the mother Septem- ber 14, 1788, and each lived to a good old age, the death of the former occurring November 4, 1878, and that of the latter October 2, 1841. Mr. Lee, Sr., who owned a farm of 600 acres, and kept a
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summer resort at Oscawana, was at the time of his death worth $40,000.
John S. Lee spent his boyhood on his father's farm, and received the benefit of a good English education. In July, 1835, he came to Illinois, and entered a claim of 320 acres, to which he subse- quently added until he owned 940 acres. Mr. Lee since 1864 has been a dealer in stock, owning at one time 500 sheep. He takes a deep inter- est in public affairs. In 1840 he was chosen justice of the peace, which position he held nine years, being twice re-elected without opposition; in 1850 he was elected supervisor, re-elected in 1851, and has held that office twelve years; he has also served as school director forty years. In politics Mr. Lee was at first a Whig, and in 1856 he voted for Fremont, in 1860 for Lincoln, but in 1864 he cast a Democratic ticket. He is a F. & A. M., which order be joined in 1856. Mr. Lee is a man of sound judgment, keen observation and force of character, his counsel having been solicited in courts of law.
October 23, 1838, Mr. Lee married Nancy Perry, daughter of George Perry, of Campton Township, and they are the parents of seven chil- dren, viz., Abijah A .; Elizabeth, who died Sep- tember 23, 1861; George P., of Plato; John S., of Plato; Letitia, married to D. Lilley, of Kendall County, and died in May, 1881; Mary E., married to Stephen H. Hadden, of Aurora; and Lilly B., now Mrs. W. E. Allen, of Plato.
C HARLES MOULDING, one of the strong, self-made men of Kane County, is a native of Warrington, Lancashire, England, where he was born November 9, 1842, the son of Thomas and Rachel (Bates) Moulding, who came to this country in 1851, and settled in Camp- ton Township in 1853, on the farm where the son Charles now resides. Here they bought eighty acres of land, shortly afterward added eighty more. The mother died March 29, 1885, and the father in September, same year.
Charles Moulding lived at home with his par- ents, attending the district school and working on the farm until 1865, when he went to Chicago and
engaged in teaming. Here he married Anna Irv- ing, a native of Chicago, who was born July 13, 1852, a daughter of Henry and Isabella (Rome) Irving. To Mr. and Mrs. Moulding were born nine children, as follows: Etta, Charles, Anna Laura (who died December 11, 1875), Vera, George, Frank, Daisey, Maud and Walter. After living three years in Chicago, Mr. Moulding went to' Butler County, Iowa, where he engaged in farm- ing. After some years spent in that State he again removed, this time settling on the old homestead, in Sections 32 and 33, Campton Township, Kane County. The farm is well stocked with graded cattle. Mr. and Mrs. Moulding attend the Meth- odist Episcopal Church. He is a Republican.
G EORGE B. REED was born in Wayne, Du Page Co., Ill., January 22, 1838, and his parents were George W. and Julia Ann (Ellenwood) Reed, natives of Vermont, the father born February 22, 1806, and the mother in 1816. His grandparents were natives of Massa- chusetts, and of English descent. George W. Reed removed from Vermont in 1835, and located in Ohio; then in 1836 he came to Chicago, and shortly afterward settled in Wayne, Du Page County, where he still lives. He was married in 1834, and had seven children-four sons and three daughters-of whom the subject of this memoir is the second child.
George B. Reed was reared on the farm, and recived such education as could be obtained at the district school. In 1862 he enlisted in Company F., One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Infantry, and participated in the battles of Resaca, Cassville, Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain, Culp's Farm, Golgo- tha Church, New Hope, Peach Tree Creek, Law- tonville, Savannah, Averysboro, and Bentonville. At end of war, in June, 1865, he was honorably discharged, and upon his return home he engaged in farming in Du Page County, until 1871; then, in partnership with Charles Plain, he bought 230 acres in Campton Township, upon which he (Mr. Reed) located in 1873, operating it until 1877, when he sold it, and bought 215 acres in Plato Township. Mr. Reed ranks among the most
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enterprising and thrifty farmers in the county. His rich, broad acres are the pride of his life; the elegant and spacious residence, the great barns and handsome outbuildings, the main barn costing over $2,500, the cribs, hog barn, etc., altogether make a picture in rural life that indicates great and deserved prosperity on the part of the owner. Mr. Reed takes a deep interest in public affairs. He is a hearty supporter of the Republican party.
February 19, 1873, he married Eliza A. Kline, daughter of John and Clarissa (Champion) Kline, natives of New York, and residents of Illinois. They have two children: Frank W., born Octo- ber 23, 1875; and Mertie M., born January 31, 1882.
L UCIEN B. SCOTT was born in Madison County, N. Y., March 13, 1834, the son of Thomas and Rozellar (Wheeler) Scott, who were natives of New York and Massa- chusetts, respectively. Mr. Scott came west with his parents in 1844, the family settling on Section 27, Campton Township, Kane County, buying a Government claim of 120 acres, to which Lucien B. Scott has since added forty acres. The father followed the vocation of farming, and here he and his wife passed the remainder of their days, he dying in 1862 at the age of fifty-six years, and his wife in 1877, aged seventy-five years; they were both laid to rest in Garfield Cemetery, Campton Township. George Scott, brother of Lucien B., was born April 22, 1837, at Cazenovia, Madison Co., N. Y., and came to Illinois with the rest in 1844. His education was received at a common district school. As a man he held several town offices; was collector and highway commissioner. He died December 22, 1876, highly respected by all who knew him.
Mr. Lucien B. Scott received his education at the common schools, attending the same in winter and working on the farm with his father in the summer, and since the death of the latter he has placed a great many improvements on the home place. November 10, 1857, he married Eliza J. Blackman, a native of Toronto, Canada, and a daughter of Zenas and Eliza M. (Mitchell) Black- man. Mrs. Blackman died in Canada in early
life, and Mr. Blackman came west in 1848, set- tling at St. Charles, where he followed farming until 1859, when he removed to Cook County; in the latter place he remained until 1867, in which year he proceeded to Bourbon County, Kas., and there he died in 1876, aged eighty-three years. To Mr. and Mrs. Scott five children have been born, as follows: Lewis Allen, born September 27, 1858; Levi, born August 15, 1860, and died in in- fancy; Emina M., born June 15, 1863; James T., born October 23, 1865; and George C., born Feb- ruary 13, 1868.
Mr. Scott has held the offices of collector and assessor in his township; he supports the Repub- lican party. Both himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which they are held in high esteem. In December, 1861, Mr. Scott enlisted in Company G, Fifty-eighth Regiment Illinois Infantry; he was present at the battle of Fort Donelson, and served until the following April, when he was discharged on account of sickness.
A UGUST W. FISHER, who has won by his own strong efforts his way in life, is a native of Hesse-Cassel, Germany, born July 4, 1838, a son of Henry and Anna (Kohlstett) Fischer, who were natives of the same place. In his native country he received his education, which was limited to that of the common school. At the age of fifteen he came to this country and to Elgin, Ill., where he engaged as a farm laborer, working for ten years at $10 and $12 per month, saving and economizing until he had sufficient to start in life for himself. In 1869 he bought the place where he now resides, in Campton Township, a farm of 287 acres, and one of the most beautiful in Kane County. Mr. Fisher has made the place what it is, having effected all the improvements in building outhouses, tiling the ground, etc, etc. On the farm is a fine spring, where the water flows from the side of a hill through a four-inch pipe with considerable force. He has about sixty head of steers, and some fine blooded horses, in which he takes a great deal of pride.
November 26, 1862, Mr. Fisher was united in marriage with Miss Huldah Miller, a native of
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Saxony, Germany, born September 19, 1843, the daughter of John M. and Anna Rosina (Bittner) Miller, who came to this country, and settled in Cook County, Ill., in 1857, where they engaged in farming. To this union there were three children, born as follows: Henry Theo., November 30, 1863; John Gustave, January 13, 1867, and Clara Amelia, June 20, 1869. Mr. Fisher held in his township the offices of road commissioner and school director; in politics he is a Democrat. He and his wife are members of the German Lutheran Church, in which they are held in high esteem. Mr. Fisher is truly a self-made man, having only two shillings in his pocket when he landed here, a boy of about fifteen years. Mrs. Fisher is a lady of fine accomplishments, whose counsel her hus- band has never failed to follow.
S IDNEY HEATH is one of that rapidly de- clining few who came to Kane County, and have lived and remained here to see every advance of society, as well as every devel- opment of the natural wealth of the soil of the half century that has marked the coming and growth of all we have here. He was born in West Hartford, Conn., January 22, 1812, and is a son of Richard Adams and Lydia (Steele) Heath, descendants of old families in that State. His parents were poor but respectable, hard-working, honorable people, who had no better fortune to bestow upon their children than patient industry, and the single am- bition to earn an honest living. They came to Kane County in 1836. The father was born June 7, 1785, and died July 10, 1870. The mother was born December 23, 1788, and died March 30, 1866. In their family were seven sons and one daughter: Horace, born August 31, 1807, died December 24, 1882; Joseph, born in 1809, resides in Minooka, Ill .; Sidney, born January 22, 1812; Ira, born April 18, 1815, died May 8, 1836; Louisa S., born February 27, 1818, became Mrs. Warren Hawley, and died May 15, 1871; Richard, born September 2, 1824, died in infancy; Aaron, born March 2, 1827, died October 9, 1887; and Milo, born Sep- tember 12, 1829, died February 3, 1865.
When Sidney was but a youth he learned the shoemaker's trade, at Hartford, where he became
an expert, and for some years worked upon the shoemaker's bench in that place. May 14, 1836, he bid farewell to his friends and old home, and directed his steps toward Illinois, reaching Kane County, after a tedious trip occupying about one month. In 1835 Joseph Heath, the only brother now (1887) living, bought a claim of one Ira Minard (then living in St. Charles, Ill., but since deceased) for $700, which claim is now owned by the State, and occupied by the insane asylum. This brother, who came to Lockport, Ill., in 1834, was seventy- eight years of age in November, 1887. Sidney first proceeded to Lockport, and there joined his brother. From this point he looked about for a satisfactory location. His mind reverted to the beautiful Fox River country, which he had seen as he passed through the State. He retraced his steps, came to Kane County, and bought in Chi- cago, at a land sale there, the property on which he afterward lived for thirty-five years. He worked hard, improved his farm, and soon became a suc- cessful leading agriculturist. In this occupation he remained until 1871, when he removed to his present home in Elgin.
He was married in Hartford, Conn., April 28, 1833, to Charlotte Sophia, daughter of Giles and Susanna (Daley) London. To their care and min- istration were given two sons and two daughters, the two sons and one daughter living, grown, and on their own account, having, by exemplary lives, repaid in part the fond care and solicitude of their parents. George S. is an artisan, and a successful inventor, residing in Hartford, in the locality of the old family home; Warren H. is living in Pull- man, Ill., a carpenter; Charlotte S. became Mrs. Norton, and is now a widow, residing with her parents in their comfortable Elgin home. The second daughter, Susan Maria, was born February 16, 1843, and died March 24, 1846.
Mr. and Mrs. Heath have been active and ear- nest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church for fifty-eight and sixty-four years, respectively; are the only original members now living in Elgin, also the only ones who united with the class formed in that place in June, 1837, for the Elgin Method- ist Episcopal Church. In politics Mr. Heath is a Republican.
Sidney Heath
+
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This worthy couple have passed hand-in-hand along life's pathway as companions for about fifty- five years, nearly five beyond the golden anniversary of their marriage, spared to each other, and humbly receiving the blessings from heaven that have been vouchsafed to them in a more prodigal man- ner than comes to the lot of the average fathers and mothers. Although now seventy-six years of age, Mr. Heath walks as erect as he did when a youth of twenty-one summers; and his faculties are all unimpaired, his eyesight, especially, being wonderfully well preserved, as he can read ordinary print, and write without the aid of glasses. His wife, though not promising in her younger days for a long life, being then comparatively delicate and of small physique, weighing at the time of her marriage but ninety-six pounds, is now quite stout and spry, attending to household affairs with as much activity as many girls of her neighborhood. She can cook a meal as quickly, and as well, too; and she sometimes finds herself threading her needle and sewing without the aid of glasses. That Mr. and Mrs. Heath may for many years yet be spared their exemplary and useful lives is the prayer and wish of a wide and loving circle of friends and acquaintances.
OHN WESTGARTH is a son of George and Agnes (Baxter) Westgarth, who were natives of Westmoreland, England, and came to this country in 1848, stopping one year in Massachusetts; in 1849, they came west and settled in Geneva, Ill., where John was born January 9, 1852. When seven years of age his parents again removed, coming to Campton Township, where they bought ninety acres of farm land, to which they have since added 250 acres. Here he received his early education, attending the common school, and in after years he entered the Business College of Bryant and Stratton, Chicago, where he remained about one year. He then learned the cooper's trade, and in 1875 the management of the farm fell to him, his father having gone to Canada, where he engaged in farming and con- tracting, being a mason by trade. John Westgarth
remained at home with his mother, they owning the farm together; he now conducts a stock farm, having retired from dairying a few years ago. He is a Prohibitionist, and is chairman of that party in his town, and is also a member of the county committee; he has held the position of township col- lector one term, and school director several terms.
Mr. Westgarth is prominent as one of the men who a few years ago (when he was in the dairy business) defeated the cheese factory men, when they tried to have the bill known as the "Wood Law" suppressed. Mr. Wood, in whose mind the idea originated, was a farmer in De Kalb County, and at that time a member of the Legislature. The law required the factory men to render an account of all the business done by them, being placed under bonds to do so, and any failure to make such returns once a month rendered the factory man so failing finable, the penalty being $200. The factory men carried a test case, which they had made up, to the supreme court, and Mr. Westgarth. realizing something must be done, called the farmers together, and held a meeting of which he was made chairman. Mr. Wood by invi- tation attended the meeting, and delivered an address on the merits of the bill. They engaged the services of Judge Cody to assist prosecuting attorney T. E. Ryan, and succeeded in getting the bill sustained by the Supreme Court.
SAAC BARBER is a native of St. Lawrence County, N. Y., where he was born November 1, 1843, the son of Lahira and Annis (Nichols) Barber, natives respectively of Vermont and Canada. Lahira Barber came west when Isaac was but three years old, and first settled in Du Page County, where he remained five years, then came to Campton Township, and bought of Ira Minard 110 acres of farm land, where he lived until his death, - dying May 19, 1885, at the age of eighty-five years; his wife having preceded him August IS, ISSO, when seventy-eight years old. Upon the death of his father the farm was left to Isaac, who has man- aged the place very successfully, improving it as fast as his means would permit, until he now has
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a beautiful place, well stocked with fine graded cattle and horses.
April 13, 1881, Mr. Barber married Josephine Kimble, daughter of Colby and Esther (Hamblen) Kimble, and a native of Rochester, N. Y., born April 8, 1848. Her parents, who were natives of Vermont and Canada, respectively, came west in 1868, and engaged in farming near St. Charles, which occupation her father followed only a few years, and then removed to St. Charles, where he followed his profession, that of a portrait painter he there lived until his death; he died August 25, 1879, aged seventy years; the mother is now living with her daughter. Mr. Barber has held the offices of constable, collector and road com- missioner in his township; he is a Republican in politics. Mr. and Mrs. Barber attend the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, of which the latter is a member.
A I. PECK was born in Manchester, Ontario Co., N. Y., September 4, 1823. His father, Ai Peck, was born at Providence, R. I., December 12, 1795, and his mother, Sally (Griswold) Peck, a daughter of William Griswold, was born at New Durham, Strafford Co., N. H. Ai Peck, Sr., was at one time a merchant tailor at Watertown, N. Y., and was an influential man, possessed of considerable property. He died De- cember 31, 1829. His widow married William V. Clark, in 1832, and same year they located at Naperville, Ill., where Mr. Clark followed his trade, that of a tailor. In 1835 they removed to Elgin, where they lived several years, after which they came to Algonquin, McHenry County, and here Mr. Clark died.
Ai Peck, the subject of this biographical mem- oir, attended the district schools of his locality, and when fourteen years old commenced working by the month, thus continuing until he was twenty- one years of age. In 1843 he bought 160 acres in Plato and Hampshire Townships. In 1859 he proceeded across the plains to California by team, where, after a sickness of six months, he engaged in mining, being quite successful. In 1862 he returned to Illinois, and followed farming until 1865, when he again went to California (this time
by steamer), to sell some mining claims, and here remained three months; then came home for his family, returning with them by rail to the western State. At this time his occupation was that of an expert in locating mines. In 1872 he was em- ployed by the Ophir Mining Company, Michael Castle, president, and by means of his electro- magnet it was believed that he was enabled to locate bodies of ore with more than usual certainty ; and thus he claims he contributed to the success- ful discovery of the rich mines known as " Cali- fornia," "Consolidated Virginia," "Gould," "Curry & Savage," "Hall & Norcross," "Alpha," "Imperial," "Crown Point," "Yellow Jacket," "Kentuck," " Belcher," "Uncle Sam," "Sierra Nevada," "Union," and others.
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