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 52
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 52
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Simon Preston Brown was born in Concord, N. H., June 11, 1832, the eldest in a family of five sons and two daughters. He was given a good literary education in the school at Wheaton, Ill., and after leaving same commenced reading medi-
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cine in the office of Dr. Newton, of Prospect Park. He then attended Rush Medical College, from which institution he was graduated in 1869. He then located in Palatine, Cook County, and was at once actively engaged in the practice of medicine.
In 1872 he removed to Elgin, where he has made his permanent home, and where he has become prominent in the practice of his profession, his specialty being gynecology (diseases of women). He is a member of the Fox River Valley Medical Association, and is a regular contributor to some of the leading medical journals of the country.
Dr. Brown and Jeannette. daughter of Earl Hitchcock, were united in marriage, and to them have been born two sons and three daughters: Frank Preston, a physician, in Grand Junction, Colo., the appointed surgeon of the county at that place, also company surgeon of the Rio Grande & Denver Railroad; Katie, wife of C. W. Cornell, of Elgin; Harriet Ann, at home; William S. and Cora, latter at home. William S. is prosecuting his studies in medicine, and attending the Univer- sity of Ann Arbor, Mich. The family worship at the Congregational Church. They are people of eminent respectability, well regarded in the social circles of the place. Mrs. Brown is a member of the Ladies' Guild, a church society of Elgin. Dr. Brown is a Sir Knight, a member of the Oriental Consistory, and also of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
H C. MUNGER, an enterprising and well- known farmer of Dundee Township, native of Addison County, Vt., was born November 29, 1829. His father, Augustus Munger, also a native of Vermont, spent most of his life in that State, and was a soldier in the War of 1812, subsequently receiving from the Govern- ment a land grant. In 1844 he passed from earth. When a young man he was married to Temperance Babcock, also a native of Vermont, who two years after her husband's death removed to Union, Wis., and thence to Iowa, where she died in 1869, aged seventy-three years. Ten children were born to them, three of whom are living in Kane County.
H. C. Munger came to the West and made his
home with his mother. In 1853 he married Mary J. Shepard, daughter of Abel and Marcia (Grow) Shepard. Her father, a blacksmith by trade, was a native of New York, where he resided until 1836, when he came west, settling in 1843 in Wis- consin. In 1867 Mrs. Shepard passed from earth, Mr. Shepard following her to the grave in 1885. Four children were born to them, of whom Mrs. Munger is the only one in Kane County.
In 1873 Mr. and Mrs. Munger came to Kane County. Seven children have been born to them: Charles, Lillian, Etta, Orah, Minnie, Omer and Jennie. Mr. Munger is a Master Mason. The family are universally known to their associates as kind neighbors, and eminently respectable people.
RAVIS PHILLIPS. Among the many who have cast their fortunes with the good peo- ple of Kane County, coming here when they were young and the county was also young, none are more worthy of respectful mention than this gentleman.
Mr. Travis Phillips is one of the retired mer- chants of Aurora, who is as highly respected as he is widely known. He is a native of Colebrook, Litchfield Co., Conn., born September 23, 1830, the son of Travis A. and Grace Chapel Phillips, natives, respectively, of Colebrook and Sandisfield, Berkshire Co., Mass.
Travis A. Phillips came with his wife to Aurora in 1849, and lived in the place until his death, which occurred August 25, 1856. His widow died at her home November 1, 1865, and they sleep side by side in the West Aurora Cemetery. They were eminently respectable people, profoundly beloved by their family, and most highly esteemed by a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
Travis Phillips lived in his native place until he was twenty-two years of age. He then turned his face westward, and came direct to Kane County, and for about two years found employment on a farm. In 1854 he opened a grocery store in Aurora, corner of Downer Place and River Street. In this immediate vicinity he carried on business for twenty-six years, with unvarying success-a compliment paid to his head and heart by his
Travis Phillips .
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neighbors and customers that is stronger in its ex- pression than can be any mere empty language of praise. He has been a man of quiet and retiring habits, never dogmatic nor dictatorial, yet always of profound convictions upon all important ques- tions of life; and, too, a man who possesses the courage of his convictions. He has acted with the Republican party from conscientious motives, and yet his patriotism has always been with him a far deeper conviction than his love of party. From 1876 to 1880 he served as alderman of the Third Ward. The excellency of his services here naturally brought him forward as the people's choice for mayor, and he was elected to this responsible position in 1881. In a trying time in the improve- ment and welfare of the city he filled the place of responsible head with great ability and unques- tioned integrity. Mr. Phillips has never married.
A W. HINMAN, M. D., was born in Onedia County, N. Y., in 1845. His ancestors were natives of Cheshire, Mass., whither their antecedents had come at an early date. His paternal grandfather, Russell H. Hinman, was a soldier in the War of 1812, and latter's son, Rus- sell H., Jr., by occupation a farmer, wedded Phobe S. Walker, who was born at Trenton, Oneida Co., N. Y., where she was reared and mar- ried. Three children were born to them: Albert W., Annette and John, the two sons residing in Dundee Village, and the daughter in Chicago.
The subject of this memoir, when aged eighteen years, left home to labor for himself. April 4, 1875, he graduated from Chicago Homœopathic College, and settled first in St. Charles, there to practice his profession, but in 1883 he came to Dundee. In 18SO he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Willard and Mary Glidden, residents of De Kalb County, and whose people for some forty years have resided in Illinois. Willard Glidden died in De Kalb County in 1876; his widow is still living in that county.
Dr. Hinman is a member of the Modern Wood- men of America, and also of the Masonic fraternity. Politically he is a Prohibitionist. He is always interested in every subject of general interest in
his county, and as a physician he is meeting with abundant success. His family consisted of four children: William T., a son by an early marriage, aged eighteen; Glidden, aged six years; Gail, aged three years; and Zada (deceased).
W W. NORTON, of the firm of Norton & Batt, of Dundee, was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., December 31, 1826. His ancestors, who were of English and Ger- man extraction, came to America in colonial times, settling in New York, where his parents were born and spent their lives, passing from earth at the advanced ages of eighty-seven and eighty-six, respectively. Six children were born to them, all living, two of them in Kane County.
W. W. Norton spent his early life in various employments, being for a while a clerk, later a painter, and still later employed by his brother-in- law, in a cotton mill, at Steubenville, in Southern 'Ohio. After some time he learned the trade of a machinist, which has been the principal business of his life, at first receiving but 75 cents per day. He worked in machine shops some ten years be- fore coming to Illinois, which was in the fall of 1861, and settled in Kane County, taking charge of the machine shops at Carpentersville, which he was largely instrumental in establishing there. He worked here until 1881, as foreman of the works, and since leaving the works in 1SS1 he has busied himself looking after his farm and town interests. In 1880, being anxious to give his son employment in a store, he purchased a partnership with F. J. Batt. Their stock consists of dry goods; grocer- ies, boots and shoes-in fact, they carry a general stock of all goods needed by the people of the sur- rounding country.
In 1849 Mr. Norton was married to Catharine Hendricks, a native of Wheeling, W. Va., in which city they were married, and remained a few years. Six children have been born to thein: Arabella. now Mrs. Henry E. Torrence, of Chicago: Will- iam, who died in infancy; Oella, who also died when young; Engene H., now in the store; Charles W., now a resident of Chicago, and George (de- ceased). Mr. Norton has been a Republican from
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the founding of that party, and has always taken an interest in political affairs, having been en- gaged in campaign work before he was old enough to vote. He has always worked hard for the par- ty, but was never an office seeker. In 1862 he became a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mr. Norton is a self-made man in every particular, standing high in the esteem of a large circle of acquaintances, and will long be remembered as one of the upbuilders of Kane County.
F. ARVEDSON. In Carpentersville are many men who are interested in the advancement of the town and county. No class of citizens is more highly respected than that which stands ever ready to aid in all progressive public movements. Prominent in this class is to be noted Mr. G. F. Arvedson, who is recognized as one of the representative citizens of Carpentersville. He is the owner of the Atlantic Roller Mills in that place, also dealer in and shipper of a fine quality of molding sand, and is a heavy operator in this article, his shipments into Chicago for one month often exceeding 100 car-loads. He is the proprietor of the Purcura Mineral Artesian Well, which, on account of its exceptional purity and softness, is rapidly becoming popular as a medicinal necessity. An analysis of the water by competent and reliable chemists shows the water to contain the following ingre- dients in each gallon of 231 inches: Carbonates of the alkalies, 23.452 grains; chloride of sodium, . 268 grains; carbonate of magnesia, .717 grains; carbonate of lime, 1.546 grains; carbonate of iron, .469 grains; silica, .353 grains; organic matter, .137 grains. Total solid matter 26.942 grains. Carbonic acid gas (free) 25.2 cubic inches. He is also a stockholder in and director of the Illinois Iron and Bolt Company, of Carpentersville.
Mr. Arvedson was born in Algonquin, McHenry Co., Ill., April 26, 1855, and is a son of Rev. Peter and Hannah A. (Cornish) Arvedson. Peter Arvedson was a native of Norkoping, Sweden, and came to America when nineteen years of age. He was liberally educated, and after spending some time in the East he came to Algonquin in
1843, where he engaged in farming. He was ordained as a minister, and, in 1868, removed to Dundee, entered his pastoral duties, and there organized St. James Parish Church. He died at Algonquin on November 22, 1880.
G. F. Arvedson, the fourth in a family of twelve children, received a common-school educa- tion, and began life for himself when thirteen years of age as a clerk in the store of H. E. Hunt, in Dundee, with whom he remained six years; then removed to Carpentersville, where he has since resided. He is a Republican, and is a member of the village board. In 1875 he married Miss Lillian E. Buck, a native of Kane County, born in Car- pentersville, June 15, 1854. Three children have blessed their union-one son and two daughters: Irene E., born May 13, 1876; Arthur E., July 2, 1877, and Alice E., February 25, 1879. Mr. and Mrs. Arvedson are communicants of the Episcopal Church, and are respected members of St. James' parish, Mr. Arvedson being Senior Warden of the parish. Mrs. Arvedson is a member of the Woman's Guild, and is interested in all charitable church work. She is a daughter of John S. and Maria E. (Carpenter) Buck, and a relative of Daniel G. Carpenter, whose name is so closely interwoven with the history of the place.
W J. PARKER is a gentleman well known among the prominent citizens of Dundee, born in the State of Massachusetts, in the year 1820. His ancestors were of En- glish and Irish extraction, and his grandparents came to America at an early date, his paternal grandfather having been a soldier in the War of 1812. Samuel Parker, his father, resided upon his farm in Massachusetts until the advanced age of ninety-three years, when he and his beloved wife died within twenty-four hours of each other, and they were carried to the last resting-place together. They were much esteemed members of their re- spective churches, she being a Baptist and he a Universalist; and he had filled many positions of trust in his native county, among others, that of selectman.
When William J. was yet young he left school
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to learn the trade of a millwright, which he fol- lowed for thirteen years; then built, and operated for three years, a mill at Clarksburg, Mass. In 1851 he sold this and other property in the East, and came to Kane County, where he arrived Octo- ber 1, since when he has made his home here. Soon he opened a small furniture and cabinet shop, to which he added the undertaker's department, in which latter business he has no competitor in the place. For a time he worked at the trade of carpenter and builder, doing the woodwork on the Iron Bolt Works at Carpentersville, and erecting many of the buildings in Dundee and vicinity. In 1875 his entire stock of furniture, etc., was con- snmed by fire, thus causing him considerable loss, and as his home was near his store, it, too, was destroyed. But, with a resolute spirit, he rebuilt, and has since succeeded in re-establishing a large trade.
In 1845 Mr. Parker was united in marriage with Ruth Litchfield, a native of Florida, Mass. She has been spared to share with him life's joys and griefs, but their only child, Lucy, lived only five years and eight months. She was a bright and attractive child, but, as death loves a shining mark, 'she was gathered in the sheaves of the silent reaper. Mrs. Parker is a respected member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Parker is a F. & A. M., and a member of the I. O. O. F., universally re- spected because of his uprightness in business and the interest he manifests in his town and county.
E GBERT C. COOK. The leading and pros- perous merchant of the city of St. Charles, whose name is here given, is a native of New York City, and was born in 1848. He came to Chicago in 1870, where he embarked in commercial business, which his failing health compelled him to relinquish, and he then re- moved to St. Charles Township, where he became a farmer. In 1881 he engaged in his present gro- cery business, and has since been an energetic and influential citizen of the place. In May, 1864, Mr. Cook, when but fifteen years of age, enlisted in Company G, Thirty-seventh New York
Volunteers, and at the end of his term of enlist- ment was honorably discharged.
.
He is Past Post Commander of Elon J. Farns- worth Post, No. 456, G. A. R., St. Charles; is a member of Unity Lodge, No. 48, A. F. &. A. M., St. Charles; Fox River Chapter, No. 14, R. A. M., Geneva; Bethel Commandery, No. 37, K. T., Elgin; Medinah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Chicago. He is also connected with St. Charles Lodge, No. 14, and Waubonsie Encampment, No. 13, I. O. O. F., St. Charles.
F. SCHUKNECHT, proprietor and manager of one of the leading hardware stores of Dun- dee, was born in Germany, in 1854. His parents were also natives of that country, whence they came in 1857, to Dundee, Kane County, where they resided ten years; then in the fall of 1868 moved on a farm where they lived un- til ·the fall of 1874, at which time they settled in the village of Dundee, there to spend the re- maining years of their lives. They had two chil- dren, Minnie (now Mrs. Peters of Dundee) and J. F. The father early took great interest in church affairs, and helped to erect the first Lu- theran Church building in Dundee, walking many miles in the beneficent work of soliciting money for that purpose.
J. F. Schuknecht, as shown above, was but three years old when he came with his parents to Amer- ica, and has since spent his life in Dundee Town- ship, having the advantage of only a rudimentary schooling. After reaching an age when he was capable of laboring for himself he worked in a brickyard, until the fall of 1868; then went on the farm with his parents, for whom he worked six years or until the fall of 1874; then entered the hardware establishment of M. T. Barrows, of Dun- dee, in order to learn that trade, and there remained six years, following which he had one year's expe- rience with a firm on the other side of the river. In 1882 Mr. Schuknecht commenced for his own account a hardware business, and two years ago took possession of the store he now occupies, which his father erected for the purpose. His trade has gradually increased, being now one of
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the best in the place. Mr. Schuknecht is a man of enterprise, and by low prices and fair dealing is holding his share of the patronage of the surround- ing country. Since the above was written he has taken into partnership his brother-in-law, the firm name being now (1888) Schuknecht & Peters.
In November, 1879, Mr. Schuknecht was married to Mary Campfer, a native of Germany, whose parents came to America in 1865, remain- ing some time in Chicago, from which place they removed to Dundee, where the father died in 1881, aged fifty years. The mother is now a resident of Dundee Village. Mr. and Mrs. Schuknecht are the parents of three children: Henry, Albert and Fred. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, In politics, he is a Republican.
D AVID MASON was born at Savoy, Berk- shire Co., Mass., in 1818. His father, Edward Mason, died when David was but six years of age; the mother, however, lived until 1876. At twelve years of age David Mason went out into the world to battle for him- self, and in 1838, at that time being twenty years old. came to Kane County, where he has since made his home, living on his first purchase, the farm he now owns in Dundee, Township.
He and his faithful wife have braved the hard- ships of a pioneer life, their first means of convey- ance being the primitive lizzard sled, a kind of con- veyance known only to the pioneers of the West; this family sled was drawn by oxen.
Through all the changes of time David Mason has remained in his chosen home, and has im- proved and beautified it until it is the admiration of all.
Mr. Mason, although never an office seeker, has twice been chosen assessor, and is one of the char- ter members of the Dundee Mutual Insurance Company, and of which he was many years one of the directors. In faith he is a Protestant; in polities, Republican; among business men lis judg- ment is considered of the best, and his integrity unquestioned.
In 1838, in New York, he was married to Eliza N. Colson, a native of Massachusetts (her father,
William Colson, also being a pioneer, prospecting as far west as the now State of Nebraska in the year 1821, but he died of heart disease on his re- turn), who was a teacher in the public schools, and also worked at one time in a factory. Their home has been cheered by the coming of five children as follows:
James Rollin (who died at the age of twenty, and was one of Kane County's most promising young men), Mrs. M. H. Ames, J. L. (a farmer of Dundee Township), Jean (now wife of the Rev. D. S. White, of Huntley), Ada (married to Lester Teeple, of Dundee Township). The family has done much toward the advancement and general improvement of the county.
MRS. M. H. AMES, the daughter of David Ma- son, was born in Dundee Township, where she spent her early life, and received her education.
She taught school five years, and also worked in the watch factory at Elgin, when but twenty girls were employed there. Afterward she mar- ried Dr. Williard C. Ames, and has one son. Her home is at Almora. In 1874 she made a tour of England, Scotland, France and Switzerland.
OHN HEDGES LONG is a native of Berk- shire, England, born May 5, 1843, son of Edward and Martha (Hedges) Long. Edward Long and family sailed for America in 1846, making their first settlement in Du Page County, Ill. They afterward moved to the town of Mont- gomery, and in 1849 fixed their home in Aurora. By trade a miller, the father worked in his voca- tion with skill and diligence. He died in January, 1856, leaving his family but little else than a good name and unsullied reputation.
It will be noticed that John H. was but three years of age when his parents brought him to Illi- nois, and, therefore, while he is yet a comparative- ly young man in years, he is entitled to rank among the old settlers of this part of the State. He was but thirteen years old when his father died, and the lad realized at once that the world was before him, and that his way through it would de- pend upon his own exertions. At the age he was then, this was a hard enough school, but he entered
IM Lang
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upon it bravely, and " the little man in brimless hat and legs of tan " trudged the streets early and late, selling such wares as newspapers, apples, etc., and soon had actually built himself a trade by his cheery manners and accommodations to all; thus he was enabled to contribute much more than liis boyish share to his mother's family. So the lad learned when very young that diligence and polite- ness make useful friends of employers, and, as his business was to serve the public, he soon became a general favorite, and thus he prospered where many might have failed. When he was eighteen years of age he commenced his apprenticeship to learn the painter's trade, which he completed, and became a workman in the fall of 1863. He found employment in the shops of the Chicago, Burling- ton & Quincy Railroad, in Aurora, where he per- formed "jour work " until February, 1SS0, when the company promoted him to master in that de- partment, which position he is now filling satis- factorily.
Of his six brothers, Henry died in Aurora, Au- gust 31, 1885, having been a butcher by occupa- tion; Arthur, who was a painter by trade, died in December, 1873; Richard, Frederick W. and Mar- tin all learned the painter's trade, and the first two named are now working in his department in the Aurora shops, the last named being a resident of Lincoln, Neb .; Loran is a farmer near Detroit, Dickinson Co., Kas. In 1868 Mr. Long was mar- ried to Miss Emma J. Westover, by which mar- riage have been born the following named children: George, an apprentice as a machinist in the rail- road shops; Harry, deceased at the age of thirteen years, and is buried in Spring Lake Cemetery; Merle and Clara, who are yet quite young, at home with their parents, where they are being trained to grow up to useful lives. The mother was born at Evans' Mills, Jefferson Co., N. Y. She is the daughter of Stephen S. and Harriet (French) Westover, residents of Fort Scott, Kas., the for- mer a native of New Hampshire, and the latter of Vermont, the families being of Dutch and English extraction, respectively. After the death of Ed- ward Long Mrs. Long married Edward Parsons, by which marriage she had one son, named Ed- ward Edgar, who is a skilled workman in the
Aurora shops under the supervision of Mr. Long. Mrs. Parsons, Mr. Long's mother, died, and was buried in Spring Lake Cemetery.
Mr. and Mrs. Long worship at the People's Church, of the executive committee of which he is a member. He is a Republican in politics; a F. & A. M., and a member of the I. O. O. F. He owns an interest in the Aurora Building & Loan Associ- ation, and is a member of its directory. Mr. Long is known as a public-spirited citizen, one who has contributed liberally to all enterprises tending to the public good.
T HOMAS A. DILLON. Among those who have permanently identified themselves with the history of Carpentersville, as residents and active business men for many years, this gentleman may be especially noted. He is a native of New York State, born in Phelps, Ontario County, March 17, 1823, and is a son of Thomas A. and Lucy (Spike) Dillon. His father, who was born in the city of Dublin, and grew to manhood in the Emerald Isle, when a young man became private secretary to an officer of an English sailing vessel. They one day put into port at Toronto, then called York, Canada, and young Dillon decid- ing to try his fortunes in the New World left the ship, and soon afterward found his way to New York, where he worked as a cabinet maker. Thomas A. Dillon, Jr., is the youngest of a family of six children: At the age of fifteen years he began to learn the miller's trade, and in 1854 moved to Illinois, locating at St. Charles, where he worked at his vocation. In 1856 he came to Carpenters- ville, where for the following twenty-six years he was engaged in milling. In 1SS4 he retired from active business life.
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