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 57

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 57
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 57

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).

In the year 1869 Mr. Ward was united in the bonds of wedlock with Ellen C. Gillette, a native of Connecticut, born in South Windsor, in 1842, the daughter of Dr. H. C. and Sarah (Watson) . Gillette, the former a leading physician of Con- necticut for many years, who came to Chicago, where he became extensively engaged in wholesale merchandising. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ward are as follows: Sarah G., Roselle, Edith and Florence.

F RANK W. JAMES. This well known young citizen of Aurora, and leading livery-man of that city, was born in Wooster, Wayne Co., Ohio, November 26, 1847, his parents being James Charles and Amelia (James) James, the former a native of Bristol, England, and the latter of English descent. From Ohio the fami- ly removed to Aurora, where Frank W. was reared, and where he received a good common- school education. At a suitable age he began learning the trade of machinist in the shops of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Com- pany, at Aurora. There he spent three years,

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when he became fireman on a locomotive, but dis- liking this business he gave it up, and, turning his attention to mercantile pursuits, he opened a music store in Galva, Henry Co., Ill., which he conducted for a few years, then engaged in photography, and returned to Aurora, where he carried it on until 1880. In this year he aban- doned photography, and embarked in the livery business, in which he has been successful, doing a large and lucrative trade.

Mr. James is married to Harriette Mulford, of Ross Grove, De Kalb Co., Ill., a daughter of William Mulford, a worthy citizen, good farmer, and brave soldier of the Union, who gave his life for his country, as one of the martyrs who suffered more than death in Andersonville prison. Mr. Mulford was a native of Sag Harbor, Long Island, where his ancestors had lived for a long time. The father of our subject, James Charles James, died in Aurora in 1879, his widow still surviving and passing her declining years in the homes of her children, of whom two sons and five daughters are now living, all occupying respectable positions in life. Mr. and Mrs. James have two children: Fanny Rysam and Vera. Mr. James bears the name of an upright and good citizen.

H ENRY C. BULLIS. The life of this gen- tleman, who is an engineer on the Chicago & Iowa Railroad, residing in Aurora, has been spent in useful toil, and he has earned for himself the reputation of an in- dustrious and worthy citizen. He was born in Stanbridge, Province of Quebec, Canada, June 17, 1848, his parents being Alfred and Jane Elizabeth (McCarthy) Bullis, of that place, who, when Henry was quite young removed to Trenton, On- tario, Canada, The family subsequently came west to Grand Rapids, Mich., where they made their permanent home.

August 7, 1872, Henry C. Bullis first took up his work with the Chicago & Iowa Railroad, be- ginning as fireman on an engine. In this line of duty he served faithfully for about six years, and the company recognizing bis efficiency then placed him in charge of an engine in the yards at For-

reston, Ill. After a year and three months' serv- ice there he went on the road, and here he showed himself so painstaking and cautions as an engineer that the corporation of which he had become a trusted employe, promoted him to the care of a passenger train as engineer, in which capacity he has since served with credit.

Since his residence in Aurora Mr. Bullis has been married to Julia A. Weldon, who was born in LaColle, Quebec, Canada, and is a daughter of Gilbert and Martha (Bartlett) Weldon. The Wel- dons were formerly residents of the State of New York, and the Bartletts of Vermont. To Mr. and Mrs. Bullis have been born a son and a daughter -Walter and Eva. Mr. Bullis is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and he and his wife are attendants of the Methodist Church in Aurora.

W ILLIAM SUTFIN. The father of the subject of this sketch, William Sutfin, Sr., was a native of the State of New Jersey, and when quite young was a vol- unteer soldier in the Revolutionary War, serving under command of Gen. George Washington. He was compelled to undergo the hardships connected with military duty at that time, including the passing of the memorable winter at Valley Forge. The hearing in one ear was destroyed upon the oc- casion of firing salutes in honor of the visit of the French ambassador, La Fayette, to their camp; and he also lost his teeth through calomel being administered to him while sick in camp. Not- withstanding his being without teeth for about sixty years, he lived to be eighty-two years old. He was a very industrious man, and died in 1833. He reared a family of six children, of whom Will- iam Sutfin, the subject proper of this sketch, is the youngest, and now the only survivor.

He was born in Northumberland, Saratoga Co., N. Y., in 1805, and his school education was com- pleted when eleven years old. At Fort Edward, October 13, 1829, he married Lucy Ann Willson, who was born at Willsborough, Essex Co., N. Y., April 20, 1810, daughter of Moses Willson and Sarah Willson, nee Hubbard. Of the parents, her

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father died first, and her mother was lost by the burning of the steamer "Phoenix, " on Lake Champlain. . In May, 1837, Mr. Sutfin embarked at Sycamore for the West, going to Detroit by water, and thence alone on foot to Chicago, where he arrived at dusk, and, finding all the hotels crowded, had to pass the night on the floor without sleep. The next morning, being quite disgusted with the surroundings, he en- gaged a ride on the first wagon going out of town, and was told when they reached the Des Plaines River that a gristmill was being built at Dun- dee, on Fox River. He thereupon left the wagon, and traveled on foot for said mill, reaching there June 12, 1837. He was delighted with the country, but when he asked if they would give a stranger work, the reply was, "No," as the con- tractor was away, and owners had no right to em- ploy help. Being hundreds of miles from home, with but $12 in his pocket, he asked the privilege of working until the contractor returned, and if he said so, to receive nothing but his board; but his ability as a mechanic was recognized, and he was paid the highest wages for his services.

While so employed Mr. Sutfin discovered the feasibility of establishing water power on Fox River, and upon consultation with the mill com- pany it was favorably considered. The following September he contracted with the company to build a sawmill in consideration of their constructing a dam, race, etc., all of which was fulfilled and completed. It was about this time that Mr. Sutfin resolved to make a home for himself and family, though under un- favorable circumstances, as the society was divided into two classes. Yankees and Hoosiers, the latter being the most numerous, and very hostile to the former. However, the land lying west of and adjoining the village was selected, upon which a cabin was erected; this was twice destroyed by fire, but the third one built was allowed to stand. The hostility between the two classes of people culminated when Eaton Walker, a Yankee, under- took to select a claim for himself, which so displeased the Hoosiers that they collected a force of men for the purpose of driving him away, but they were met by Mr. Walker and

three others, who successfully protected the claim.

In June, 1838, Mr. Sutfin returned to New York State, and in the following July arrived in Dundee with his family, consisting of wife and two children, to which family have been added four more children, making six-three girls and three boys-all living, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Sarah Ann, born at Platts- burg, N. Y., December 28, 1830; David Willson, Onondaga, N. Y., August 29, 1836; Mary Ange- line, Dundee, Ill., May 6, 1839; Frances Emily, October 23, 1843; Edward Irving, September 26, 1846; and George Washington, February 25, 1849. The mother died in Dundee, June 17, 1873, and Mr. Sutfin afterward married at Naper- ville, Ill., September 1, 1875, Abigail D. Wescott, nee McKillips, who was born in New York State, June 20, 1813, and died at Dundee, March 25, 1887. By this union there is no issue.

Mr. Sutfin is a good agriculturist, as well as mechanic, and in 1860 and 1865 his farm took the premium offered by the Kane County Agricultural Society for the best cultivated farm in the county. He has given up the cares of active business life. and has ceased to toil, having disposed of the old homestead to his son, George W., where he still continues to live, and expects to pass the re- mainder of his days, surrounded by his children, and satisfied that his life has not been a failure.

D AVID W. SUTFIN, the eldest son of Will- iam and Lucy A. (Willson) Sutfin, known as one of the farmers of Dundee Township, was born in the town of Tully, County of Onon- daga, State of New York, August 29, 1836. His father, William Sutfin, came to Dundee, Ill., in the year 1837, and in the year following (1838) moved with his family to Dundee, Ill.

D. W. Sutfin may be classed as one of the pioneers of the place, and has very distinct recollections of the privations, trials and hardships incident to the early pioneer times. Under the call for 300,000 volunteers, he enlisted September 25, 1861, for three years, or during the war, in Company A, Seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served as musician until his health failed, in consequence of

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which he was honorably discharged April 16, 1862.

In 1863 he married Isabella Grant, the eldest daughter of James and Margaret Grant, who were early settlers of Dundee. Their wedded life has been blessed with five children: William G., Reu- ben D., Walter J., Frank G., and an infant (de- ceased). D. W. Sutfin is in sentiment a Repub- lican and Protectionist. He moved on the farm in Sections 22 and 27, on which he now resides, in 1874, and has done as his means would allow to make it a beautiful and profitable little home and farm.

W. SUTFIN, a son of William and Lucy A. Sutfin, whose sketch will be found at page 566, in this volume, was born upon the farm which he now owns, February 25, 1849. His life has been spent thus far in Kane County, where he is known as one of the progressive farmers of Dundee Township.

He is in sentiment a Republican; a member of the Masonic fraternity. His farm consists of 193 acres, and is one of the most productive in the county, containing all the modern improvements.

M AJOR J. S. VAN PATTEN, a war veteran, and one of the leading merchants of St. Charles, is from a race of ancestors on both sides of the house, that were fierce warriors in war times, and prominent and active business men in times of peace. The grandfather on the maternal side was an officer in the Irish Rebellion of 1798, and so prominent had he made himself, that he felt compelled, for strong political reasons, to change his allegiance and become an American citizen in that year.

Maj. Van Patten was born in Cortland County, N. Y., in the year 1823, the son of Ryer and Mary (Spence) Van Patten, the former a native of the city of Amsterdam, Holland, who came to America when a youth, and the latter a native of Ireland, born in Belfast, who came to America in the year 1798 or 1799; her father had been a lieutenant in the Irish Rebellion of that time. The son grew up in the home of his parents, who wore farmers in New York State, and at an early age he began

to learn to labor on their farm. When old enough he attended the academy, receiving a liberal edu- cation, and when he had progressed far enough, he commenced his first labor away from the farm, consisting of teaching school in the winter months, and working in the fields in the summer season. In 1854 he joined the stream of settlers who had fixed upon Northern Illinois as a future place of residence, and came directly to St. Charles, where soon after he opened a drug store.

Maj. Van Patten and Louise R. Bacon, a na- tive of New York, born in 1824, were married in 1847, and by this union there is one child, Louis, now a practicing physician, of whom a more de- tailed sketch is given elsewhere. The happiness of this little household was forever broken by the sad death of Mrs. Van Patten, in the year 1853. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and, outside of the deep family loss, was mourned by a large circle of sincere and sym- pathetic friends, for in life it was her nature to teach all to love her. In 1856 Mr. Van Patten was married to Jane A. Clark, who was born in Green Oak, Mich., by which union there are two children: Evelynn and Mabel, the latter of whom is the wife of Mr. Frank Rockwell.

In 1861, in response to the call for troops to defend the Union cause, Mr. Van Patten enlisted in the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, and was com- missioned first lieutenant and regimental quarter- master of said regiment. He afterward resigned this commission to accept that of captain and assistant · quartermaster of United States Volunteers. As this promotion took him from the service in the regiment, he was assigned to duty at Vicksburg, Miss. He discharged his official duties with emi- nent ability and integrity, and in recognition thereof, after he was mustered out of the service, in November, 1865, he was brevetted major by President Johnson, in acknowledgment of his " faithful and meritorious services," and his com- mission issued.

Maj. Van Patten is a prominent man in busi- ness and social circles in his adopted city. Here he has spent the most of his active business life, and it is not at all extravagant to say that he is most esteemed by those always who know and

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understand him best. Earnest, upright and sin- cere with his fellow men, warm and hearty in his impulses, his faults lean to virtue's side. He is a F. & A. M., a member of the I. O. O. F., and in politics always a Democrat.

S WAIN J. DAHLBOM, nephew of Swain M. Dahlbom, is a native of Sweden, born at Karlshamm, June 6, 1848, a son of John and Karing Dahlbom. He learned the trade of a carpenter and blacksmith in his native land, and in 1869 came to. America, continu- ing his journey directly to Carpentersville, where he arrived August 30. With the exception of two years, he has since resided continuously in this place, and during the past twelve years he has been with the Star Manufacturing Company. In 1882 he established himself in the furniture busi- ness, which he still carries on.

His wife, Anna Mathilda M. Estergren, was born September 24, 1857, in Algonquin, McHenry Co., Ill., of Swedish parents. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dahlbom are members of St. James Parish Episcopal Church, of Dundee, in which he has for years served as vestryman. In politics he is a Republican. A quiet, industrious man, he has something of the family talent for the science of machinery, adapted to building farm implements.

N ATHAN S. CARLISLE. This influential and leading citizen of Kane County, who has long been prominent in social and political affairs, is a resident of St. Charles. He was born in Berkshire County, Mass., October 22, 1840. His parents, Denison and Almira (Hay- den) Carlisle, who were of Scotch ancestry, immi- grated to Illinois, and located in Hampshire Town- ship, Kane County, in 1855. Nathan S. was educated at Williams Academy, Stockbridge, Mass., receiving altogether more than the usual advantages of a farmer's son in the line of an education and literary culture. In the year 1865 he purchased a farm in Hampshire Township, and at once engaged in agriculture.

At the election of 1879 he was the Republican

party nominee for sheriff. and was elected in 1882, serving until 1886. He had, in 1877, served Hampshire Township on the board of supervisors. He is one of the large and influential farmers of the county, and is regarded by his many friends as a man of personal force of character, and en- titled to respect and consideration.

Mr. Carlisle, in January, 1861, was united in marriage with Martha M. Keyes, born March 28, 1843, a native of Vermont, and the child of Sey- mour and Malvina D. (Horton) Keyes, who came to Illinois, and settled in Hampshire Township in the year 1851. By this union are the following named children: Alfred L., a resident of the county, and who acted as deputy sheriff during the father's incumbency; Edna A., with her par- ents. This is one of the pleasant and agreeable families of the county, residing in their finely improved farmhouse. Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle attend worship at the Congregational Church. He is a member of the A. O. U. W., and belongs to Bethel Commandery, No 136, Elgin.

R OBERT FERSON. This gentleman is one of the pioneers of St. Charles, and was born at Newport, N. H., May 7, 1818. The family (whose name was originally McPherson) comes of Scotch descent, and in America dates back prior to the Revolutionary War, in which Mr. Ferson's grandfathers both served.

His parents, Alexander and Abigail (Brown) Ferson, removed with their family to Wethersfield, Vt., in 1826, where they engaged in farming. In 1835 they started for the West, and June 16, the same year, they arrived in St. Charles Township, Kane Co., Ill., where they purchased and settled on a claim just north of the city of St. Charles, on the west bank of Fox River; and the old stone house erected at that time by Alexander Ferson is still standing. He died on this homestead in 1847.

Robert Ferson, it will be seen, was seventeen years of age when he came with his parents to St. Charles Township, and here he has ever since made his home. On becoming of age, he deeded from the Government a claim, which he still holds.

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In 1852 he became interested in the grain trade in St. Charles, and in 1857 engaged in general mercantile business, in which he remained until 1871, when he returned to his former occupation, and, in company with his brother, erected a grain elevator at"St. Charles. Some years since he re- tired from active business life, and is now enjoy- ing some of the fruits of his labor. In political faith he is an adherent of the Republican party.

In 1845 Mr. Ferson formed a matrimonial alliance with Mary A. Page, with whom he lived happily until 1874, when she passed from earth to her Heavenly home, in which she had implicit confidence. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She was born in the State of New Hampshire, in December, 1826, the daugliter of Samuel and Judith (Elliot) Page, early settlers of Kane County, having come to Campton Town- ship in about 1837 or 1838. Mr. and Mrs. Fer- son had four children, two of whom are now living: Charles P. and Clara.

C LARK C. BURR, one of Kane County's representative farmers and stock raisers, proprietor of a fine, well-improved stock and dairy farm of 240 acres on Section 7, St. Charles Township, is a native of Illinois, and was born on the farm on which he now resides, March 1, 1842, a son of James O, and Mary (Lee) Burr, who were both natives of New York. James O. Burr came West with his father in 1837, and they took up a claim which now constitutes the farms of Clark C. and his brother, Algernon A. Their mother, Mary Lee, came to Kane County with her parents the following year, where she met and married James O. Burr, and they resided here until their death. They were known among the early pioneers and settlers of the county, the country being at the time of their settlement an unbroken wilderness.

Clark C. Burr began farming in Campton Town- ship, and at the death of his father, in 1872, he assumed control, and purchased the farm in 1880. He devotes much of his attention to the breeding and raising of thoroughbred Ayrshire cattle and merino sheep. He is independent in politics. He

comes of a line of English ancestors, the family progenitors coming to America prior to the Revo- lution, and his paternal grandfather served in the War of 1812.

January 11, 1871, he married Miss Ellen L. Bartlett, a native of Connecticut, who was born in East Windsor, Hartford County, November 4, 1840. She came to Illinois in 1865, and in company with her sister, now Mrs. Algernon A. Burr, resided at Elgin, where she was engaged as a teacher in the public schools. Their union has been blessed with two children: Henry J., born January 31, 1874, and Charles Clark, born June 24, 1876. Mrs. Burr is a member of the Con- gregational Church of St. Charles. She is a daughter of Henry and Lorretta (Allen) Bartlett, of Connecticut.

M RS. JAMES S. HAMPTON, one of the two surviving children of Grandma Miller's union with Simeon Barnum, was born in Potsdam. St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., July 15, 1825. She came to Chicago in 1837, and in 1847 married Henry J. Drake, by whom she became the mother of two children; Belle D., now Mrs. L. D. Seaton of Aurora, and Mary A., now Mrs. H. G. Smith, of Chicago. In 1855 Mr. Drake passed away, and, in 1884, Mrs. Drake married James S. Hampton. She is a member of the W. C. T. U.

The event of the season in St. Charles was the celebration of Mrs. Asenath Miller's centennial birthday, at the house of her daughter, Mrs. J. S. Hampton, Friday, August 12, 1887. The day was magnificent, and it seemed as if nearly everybody in the city and surrounding country was present. It is estimated that 500 or 600 people paid their respects to the centenarian during the day. Grandma Miller was born in Brimfield, Mass., August 12, 1787. Her father's family removed to Cherry Valley, N. Y., when she was a few months old. She was married on the 10th of June, 1804, to Simeon Barnum, by whom she was the mother of seven children, only two of whom are living. In 1805 they removed to Shoreham, Vt., and in 1808 or 1809 they came to Potsdam, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., where Mr. Barnum died June 17, 1825. In 1827 she married Frederick Miller, in Potsdam,

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and in 1837 they came to Illinois, and settled on a farm in Campton Township, in 1838. By this second marriage she had two children; Simeon Miller, of Rogers Park, and Edwin Miller, of Chicago. The family lived in Campton until 1867, when they removed to Onondaga, Ingham Co., Mich., where Mr. Miller died in September, 1869, aged ninety-two years. He was a pioneer and promi- nent citizen of Kane County for almost thirty years. Since the death of her second husband Mrs. Miller has remained a widow, and, with the exception of a few years spent in Michigan, has made her home in Ohio and Illinois. She was born two years before Washington was inaugurated first President of the United States, in the same year in which the constitution was adopted, and has lived through all the twenty administrations of the Republic, from Washington to Cleveland. She is most remarkably preserved, both physically and mentally, retaining all her faculties almost unim- paired. Since her ninety-fifth year she has made with her own hands several beautiful silk and worsted quilts, and can be found at almost any time busily engaged with needle and silk at her handi- work. Mrs. Miller passed through the ordeal of handshaking and congratulations with her accus- tomed equanimity, and had a pleasant greeting for each and all. Though somewhat wearied, she was out the next morning as lively as ever. She is certainly a most remarkable woman, and her kins- folk have an undoubted right to be proud of her and her history.

J B. T. WHEELER. This gentleman is a substantial and representative farmer of St. Charles Township, born on the farm where he now resides, in 1842. His parents, James T. and Jerusha A. (Young) Wheeler, both natives of New Brunswick, came to St. Charles in 1834, and are highly respected citizens. The son spent his early life at home, and, being the eldest boy, many of the duties of the farm fell to his lot. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and served until the close of the war. He participated in the engagements of Vicksburg, Atlanta, and in the march to the sea. At the close of the war he

was honorably discharged, and returned to St. Charles. He is a Republican, and, besides serving in other offices, he is at present president of the school board.

In 1870 Mr. Wheeler married Miss E. Anna Baker, who was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., in 1845. Her parents, Aaron and Susan (Haines) Baker, came from New York to Kane County in 1866. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler's children were Carl B. (deceased), E. Bertha, Jessie F., Roy B. and Anna. Mrs. Wheeler is a member of the Baptist Church.

AMES E. BUMSTEAD, M. D., is the son of Edward and Ann (Smith) Bumstead, and was born in Dundee Township, October 30, 1848. His father and mother were natives of England, and came to America in 1836, where they first met, in Troy, N. Y. They were married in Chicago in November, 1841. The elder Bum- stead was a ship-carpenter, and, after working at his trade for two years in Troy, came to Dundee in 1838 in company with Mrs. Bumstead's brother, John Smith, Jr., and entered Government land in the southeastern part of the township, then known as "McClure's Grove." They were joined in the fall by Henry Smith, and together they built the first frame house north of Elgin. In the follow- ing spring Mrs. Bumstead in company with her father (John Smith, Sr.,) and family, came west. Mr. Smith died in Dundee, in 1870, aged ninety years. From the date of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Bumstead, Sr., spent thirty years upon their farm, bravely meeting the toils and privations of pioneer life. They were prominent among the founders of the Dundee Methodist Church. Feel- ing the infirmities of age approaching, they dis- posed of the farm, in 1871, and removed to Marengo, Ill., where Mr. Bumstead died Septem- ber 10, 1883, aged eighty years. Mrs. Bumstead still survives at the age of seventy-eight. She was the mother of seven children. Emily and Albert died in infancy; Mary Jane, the eldest, at the age of twenty-one. Those living are Mrs. Carrie Western, James E., Abbie and Lillie. All, except- ing the Doctor, still reside in Marengo.

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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 57

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