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 59
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 59
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When the Civil War threatened dismember- ment of the country, Mr. Walker was active in his
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efforts for the Union, and, although not serving in the field, probably rendered as efficient work by his services in raising means for the support of the soldiers at the front of battle and their families at home. He is a public-spirited and progressive citizen. justly held in esteem by his friends and neiglibors as well as by the extensive corpora- tion of which he has long been a trusted employe.
R ICHARD REES was born in Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales, September 15, 1829. His parents were Richard and Mary (Lewis) Rees, of that place. and of a long line of ancestry in Glamorganshire. The father of our subject was a practical florist and landscape gardener, and reared his son to the same vocation, imparting to him a thorough knowledge of the business. At the age of twenty-four the son left his native land for the New World, locating at first in Chicago, where for about a year he was engaged in professional work in the large ยท gardens of the Hon. William B. Ogden. From this he went to Naperville, Ill., where he remained in charge of the gardens of the Hon. Lewis Ells- worth, for about seven years. He then spent about a year at Lyons, Iowa, in the laying out of large gardens, and in 1865 he came to Aurora, where he took charge of Dr. Ira Buck's place, laying out the grounds for his gardens, superin- tending the building of the conservatories, etc .; he had charge of them during Dr. Buck's owner- ship and that of the Hon. Philo Carpenter, retiring, upon the sale of the grounds by Mr. Carpenter, to embark in business for himself, in which he has since been well and favorably known to the public of Aurora.
Mr. Rees was united in marriage in Cardiff, Wales, with Miss Hannah Stevens, daughter of William Stevens, of that place, and they have reared a family of four sons and two daughters: William, who has been a locomotive engineer on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad for several years; Frank H., a conductor on a passen- ger train of the same line, and a representative man in his calling; Lewis, a machinist in the wood department of the "Q" railroad; and Frederick,
a brakeman on his brother's train; Emma and Luella, the daughters, yet remain under the parental roof. Mr. and Mrs. Rees are highly respected citizens, and are justly entitled by a life of industry to the ease and comforts they are now enjoying.
ARRY FORD. This gentleman bears the distinction of being one among the youngest of the surviving veterans of the War of the Rebellion. He was born April 7, 1848, at Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and was only thirteen years old when the outbreak of that war startled the civilized world. The lad with swelling heart saw the flags unfurled from the housetops, heard the drum beat, calling men to arms, saw the mustering squadrons deploy and start in measured tread to the field of action, and wished, no doubt, that he was old enough to be with them. In 1863 he succeeded in enlisting in the ranks as a member of Battery A, Second Illinois Light Artillery, known as the Peoria Bat- tery, that performed such brilliant services, espe- cially at Vicksburg, Jackson and Champion Hills. With his command, Mr. Ford was mustered out at the close of the war, at Springfield, Ill., in August, 1865. He is the son of James and Susan (Hall) Ford, the former of whom, a native of London Eng- land, came to America when young with his par- ents, and settled in Peoria, Ill., in 1855; by occu- pation he was a merchant.
After leaving the army Mr. Harry Ford returned to his boyhood home, Peoria, and engaged in car- pentering and building, and was there busily em. ployed in that line until 1881, when he removed to Elgin. He put up many of the prominent build- ings and blocks of that city, among which may be mentioned the Postoffice block, the Batchelor block and others.
Mr. Ford was united in marriage, in Elgin, September 27, 1883, with Alice M. Himes, a na- tive of Iowa County, Mich., daughter of Amos J. and Maria (Handy) Himes, of New York and Penn- sylvania, respectively. They were married in New York, and became early settlers in Michigan, re- moving in 1859 to Rockford, Ill., and in 1866 com- ing to Elgin to make their home. They are pro- prietors of the "Kimball House." Two children
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have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ford: Hazel and Frank. The family attend the services of the Universalist Church. Mr. Ford is a F. & A. M., a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W .; in politics he is a Republican.
A ARON WHITNEY, a prominent farmer of Blackberry Township, was born in Mina, N. Y., April 30, 182S, son of Aaron and Electa (Leach) Whitney, the former a na- tive of New York, of English descent, the latter of English and Welsh extraction. Aaron Whitney was a prominent and extensive farmer; he was elected to the several local offices of his township, the duties of which he faithfully discharged with credit to himself, and the satisfaction of his con- stituents. He and his estimable wife died on the farm where they first settled. Their family con- sisted of seven sons and five daughters. Those living are Isaac Whitney, Electa (Whitney) Tan- ner, Aaron Whitney (the subject of this biographi- cal sketch) Hiram Whitney, Benjamin Whitney, Zebulon Whitney and Polly Whitney; Miranda (Whitney) Chittenden and Sally Whitney are de- ceased.
Aaron, subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm, whereon he assisted his father until he was twenty-five years of age, his educational ad- vantages being limited to the common-school. In 1854 he came west and settled on a farm in Black- berry Township, Kane Co., Ill., where he has since resided. When he arrived here he owned several horses, which he sold for $500, with which sum he purchased land. He now owns 800 acres in this county and 360 acres in Wisconsin. Starting in life poor, Mr. Whitney has, by his own industry, good management and honest dealings with his fellow-man, accumulated a large and valuable property. He has never sought nor held office. but has liberally contributed to both church and school, his school tax being over $100 per year. He has been and still is quite extensively engaged in stock raising. and is yet a hard worker, cultivating a farm of 230 acres himself. His farm near Elburn, of 400 acres, is in a high state
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of cultivation, denoting good management and en- terprise. He resides at present at Elburn.
His grandfather had two brothers in the Revo- lutionary War, one of them being General Wash- ington's body guard. His father served six months as a teamster in the War of 1812. Mr. Whitney has never married. Politically he is a Democrat, yet he voted for Lincoln and Gen. Grant. He is a very benevolent man, the poor and needy never being turned away from his door empty- handed, and as a neighbor he is kind and accommo- dating to all. Mr. Whitney is looked upon as being one of the prominent and leading men of Blackberry Township, well liked and respected by all who know him.
A T. GRAY. Another who is worthy of a prominent place in this history is A. T. Gray, the pioneer merchant of Elburn. He was born near Glasgow, Scotland, October S, 1819, and is the eldest of eight chil- dren. His parents, John and Margaret Gray, removed to Fredericton, N. B., when he was four years of age, and there his father, who was a con- tractor, engaged in constructing the Government house and other prominent buildings in that city. From Fredericton they moved to a farm on the St. John River, and here young Gray grew to manhood, devoting his time alternately between farming and the lumber woods.
At the age of twenty-seven he married Mary A. Hutchens, who came of the old Puritan stock, and who can relate many thrilling stories, told by her grandfather, of the Revolution, and how they whipped the British at the battle of Bunker Hill, in which he took active part. Two children came of this marriage-both sons-who are engaged in mercantile business with their father.
He came west in the year 1849, and went di- rectly to the Wisconsin pineries, where he engaged in the lumber business. While there he assisted in putting in the first slide or apron ever built at Big Bull Falls, on the Wisconsin River. Becom- ing dissatisfied with his work here, he located at Batavia, in this State, and again devoted his atten- tion to lumbering, in which business he continued for two years. He then bought a farm near Kane-
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ville, and remained there until 1855, when he em- barked in mercantile business at his present loca- tion, which he has continued very successfully, with the exception of two years, which time he was engaged in the tea and tobacco branch in Chi- cago. His health failing him, he returned to Blackberry, built his present store, and once more started a successful trade, which has continued up to the present time.
In politics Mr. Gray is a Republican, and, al- though he has never aspired to office, he has held several places of public trust with credit to himself and his constituents. His straightforward dealings with his fellow-men have placed him among the leading business man of this section, and he is honored and respected by all who know him.
0 THO READ. In his chosen walk of life, the improvement of his farm, the elevating cause of the education of the people, and the diffusion of knowledge, this gentleman has reached the position of eminent success. This is saying much, but he has earned it all by his own intelligent efforts. Mr. Read is a native of Sack- ville, Westmoreland Co., New Brunswick, born October 5, 1825, a son of Joshua and Priscilla (Chapelle) Read, farmers of that province. Josh- ua was the son of Eliphalet Read, a native of Mas- sachusetts, whose immediate ancestors were Amer- ican colonists representing the advance guard of civilization in this country.
Eliphalet Read was a soldier, conspicuous in the wars of his time. He was one of the brave New England volunteers, chiefly from Massachusetts, who organized an expedition northward, and, in 1758, wrested from the French the fortified town of Louisbourg, Cape Breton, and in the following year (1759) assisted the British forces in the mein- orable capture of Quebec from the French. After this war, which lasted some years, 1754 to 1760, the family of Reads moved from Massachusetts to Westmoreland County, New Brunswick, at the head of the Bay of Fundy. Eliphalet Read had mar- ried in Massachusetts, and after his removal to New Brunswick often revisited the place of his nativity. Joshua Read died in Kane County, Ill.,
in 1847, leaving seven sons and five daughters, of whom four sons and two daughters are now living. His widow, Mrs. Priscilla (Chapelle) Read, died in 1858. She was a native of near where Troy, N. Y., now stands, and was a daughter of Capt. Chapelle, of the United States Coast Marine Survey, whose vessel in colonial times was chartered to run a dis- patch line from the north shore of New Brunswick to Louisbourg (Cape Breton) and Newfoundland, with headquarters at Baie Verte, in New Bruns. wick, where he afterward settled on a farm.
Otho Read came with his father's family, in 1838, to Illinois, and here they bought a claim and settled on land that is now the farm of Charles Read. There were ten children in the family that came to Illinois. Otho was thirteen years of age when they arrived in the wild Illinois country, and, consequently, he was at that particular time of life when a boy is supposed to be most in need of ex- perienced teachers and all the appliances of the higher schoolrooms of the best civilization. Thus the chief opportunities that came to him at that time were to learn the ways of the Illinois pioneers, and to develop his sense of yielding to the neces- sities of his constant surroundings, and to have self-reliance in every emergency. It was truly the school that produces what we have come to call "self-made men"; but, after all. who shall say, judging from the samples that the different sys- tems of education have given us, that the bright youth is to be pitied who has to rely upon this rough and natural school? The young man had but few opportunities, outside of his family home, of acquiring literary or scholastic attainments; but his parents were above the average of that time in these respects, and truly bestowed care upon the improvement of their children, and the result of their lessons and precepts to the young were of that solid and practical kind that served them well in after life.
When Otho had reached his majority he com- menced life for himself. It was one of hard and constant labor on his farm, but he ever found time to interest himself in the cause of education, and especially in the reading of good books, and stor- ing his mind with useful thoughts. In time he came to devote some of his best efforts to the cause
Othe Read
PHOTO BY O. C. PRATT.
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of general education. Having no children of his own whose school training he should care for (hav- ing never married), he made the cause of the edu- cation of all children a leading and controlling purpose in his life work, and in this line has con- tributed to its success by speech and pen; and to- day he is regarded as one of the foremost friends of education in this portion of the State. In this respect he is more widely known than in any other way, although otherwise he is recognized as one of the prominent and enterprising agriculturists of Kane County.
His stock and dairy farm comprises 360 acres, in Sections 21, 22 and 28, Virgil Township. His residence is among the finest in the township, and is in keeping with the general improvements of the place. He has not bad political ambition, but has served the people for several terms as supervisor. At the present time (1887) he is township treasurer. He was reared in the faith of the Baptist Church. In politics, he has voted, as a rule, with the Repub- lican party. Mr. Read's life has been an indus- trious and useful one, and he has surrounded him- self with the comforts of this world, and, at the same time, has the unalloyed esteem and respect of a large number of friends and acquaintances.
P B. LA CURE. This gentleman, who was born in Aurora, Ill., October 28, 1847, has, by his own persistent and well-directed efforts, risen from an obscure station to one of honorable official position. His parents were Peter and Matilda (Coldwater) LaCure, na- tives of Canada, who came to Kane County in 1846. Their circumstances were limited, and, as a consequence, the subject of our sketch began for himself at an early age. He first obtained a posi- tion as brakeman, from which, after a long and steady service, he was appointed to take charge of the switch engine, and from this he was pro- moted to the position of assistant yard master of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad at Aurora. In each position he made an honorable record, and now stands in the line of further pro- motion.
Mr. LaCure was united in marriage with
Orilla Flora, a native of Aurora, and daughter of Mitchell and Lenora (Shembo) Flora, natives of Vermont, who settled in Kane County, Ill., in 1850. The family of Mr. and Mrs. LaCure con- sists of two sons and three daughters: Stella, a good scholar and accountant, assisting her parents in the management of their store, in which they embarked June 16, 1886; May, Albert and Joseph, attending school; and Nora. Mr. and Mrs. La- Cure have also buried two children-Alfred and Eli. The parents and eldest daughter, Stella, are members of the Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart, and they were the second couple married in that church. Peter LaCure, father of P. B., died in Aurora, June 6, 1886, preceded by his wife, who died July 12, 1885. Both had received the last rites of their church, and are buried in the Roman Catholic Cemetery. They had four sons and eight daughters.
E ZRA M. STARR was born at Perrysburg, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., June 23, 1836. His grandparents, Samuel and Catherine (Wright) Starr, natives of Connecticut, and born August 4, 1780, and May 10, 1783, respect- ively, moved to Perrysburg, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., in 1823. Samuel Starr served three months in the War of 1812, and was discharged at Sackett's Harbor, November 12, 1814. He served his township as clerk, also justice of the peace, several years; he was a farmer by occupa- tion; an exemplary member of the Presbyterian Church. He died February 23, 1856; his wife died April 7, 1848. The parents of Ezra M. Starr are William B. and Sally Maria (Bailey) Starr, natives of New York. They were married March 1, 1835. In 1860 they came to Illinois, and settled in Elgin Township, Kane County.
Ezra M. Starr went to Wisconsin in 1857, and worked in the pineries, making brick at $15 per month. In 1859 he returned and worked on the farm during the seasons of 1859-60, at $16 per month. He then rented a farm of 200 acres in Section 33, and in 1863 bought it, and has since made it his residence. This farm was purchased in 1844, and owned by Virgil B. Bogue (father of
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Mrs. Ezra M. Starr), one of the earliest settlers in Kane County, and Mr. Starr bought the property after the death of Mr. and Mrs. Bogue. Mrs. E. M. Starr was born there, and has ever since resided-a period of forty-four years. Having sold a part of the farm, Mr. Starr has at present 100 acres. It is in a high state of cultivation, being well watered and adapted to dairying. Mr. Starr has a good residence with very pleasant sur- roundings, a dairy barn 50x60 feet, and other buildings suitable for storing the products of the farm. He has served his township as supervisor two years, and has been school director twenty years. In politics he is a stanch Republican.
January 7, 1863, he married Jane Clarissa Bogue, daughter of Virgil B. and Lucy Bogue, and born at Elgin, October 31, 1844. Mr. and Mrs. Starr have four children, as follows: Ger- trude Marion, born January 15, 1867; Chester Bogue, born December 20, 1868; Kate Eliza, born July 26, 1877; William Virgil, born April 18, 1881.
EORGE STRINGER is one of the wealth- iest and most respected citizens of Elgin Township, his residence being in Section 22, where now, in mature years, he is enjoy- ing the fruits of an active life. He originally came from Yorkshire, England, where he was born June 11, 1806. His father, who was a laborer, married Hannah Garbet, and they reared eight children, six sons and two daughters. In 1819 the family immigrated to Canada, where the father engaged in farming. In 1839 three of the sons, John, Mark and Robert, came to Illinois, and set- tled in Elgin. Mark made a claim of 240 acres in Section 29; John staked out a claim of 340 acres in Section 30; Robert a claim to 230 acres in Sec. tion 20.
In 1837 George Stringer settled on a claim of 172 acres, which is now owned by Mr. E. G. Doug- las. Mr. Stringer now has 419 acres in Sections 21 and 22, aggregating one of the richest and best improved farms in the county. The residence, erected in 1886, is in modern style, commodious and substantial, and there are several large barns and well arranged outbuildings for stock and pro-
ducts. On this farm $2,400 have been spent in tile draining, and it is well stocked, the horses of the Clydesdale and Cleveland Bay strains prevail- ing, whilst a large herd of highly graded cattle browse on the pastures. The whole, with its smooth lawns, ornamental trees, shady groves and well kept fields and pastures, and "the lowing herd winding slowly o'er the lea," is a landscape view not easily forgotten.
Mr. Stringer is a man devoid of ostentation or display, belongs to no secret society, and takes no part in politics, though an ardent Republican. December 13, 1838, he married Miss Ruth L., daughter of Nathan Strang, of New York. She was born at Fort Ann November 2, 1808, and died November 3, 1875. Mr. Stringer has one child, Charles H. Stringer, of Iowa.
P IERCE TYRRELL, M. D., is a son of the beautiful green isle whose shores are laved by the bright waves of the Atlantic Ocean. He was born in the parish of Mullinahone, the County Tipperary, Ireland, in the year 1832, son of William and Bridget (Frisby) Tyrrell, who were old and prominent families, branches of which had long carved distinguished names in the romantic history of the beloved native land. The Tyrrells originally came down from England in about the year 1172, following the flag of their chivalrous leader, Earl Pembroke ("Stronghold"). A branch of the family, linking their fortunes with this gallant knight, settled permanently in Ireland, where they became prominent names and fearless actors in the ofttimes bloody drama that marks the slow course of its history. The Tyrrells and Frisbys were names with which to conquer armed men in behalf of the struggles for human rights and the liberty of the people. They were leaders of great hearts and invincible prowess, as rugged as they were fearless.
Pierce Tyrrell bade farewell to home and native land, and set sail for America, reaching the home of freedom and liberty in the year 1847. He came, the strong, hopeful, bright youth, in company with his parents, being at the time fifteen years of age. The family landed in New
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York, and came directly to Kane County, Ill. The lad looked out upon the new world, and was filled with hope and a generous ambition to win his way in life. He had received a fair English education, and soon after his arrival commenced the study of medicine. After a term of careful reading, he attended lectures at the Eclectic Medi- cal College, Cincinnati, from which institution he was graduated. Having a taste for scientific investigations, he carefully pursued the study of the microscope, until, in time, he became a special- ist in this interesting science, and has for many years been regarded and widely known as the ablest microscopist in the western country.
Dr. Tyrrell and Margaret Ann, daughter of Patrick and Bridget McGrath, were united in mar- riage September 14, 1868, and they have had born to them three sons and one daughter: Will- iam David, John Stofford, Pierce Crawford and Mary Etta. Doctor Tyrrell is, and has for a long time been recognized as, one of the prosperous, public-spirited men of the city of Elgin, where he has made his home and practiced his profession so successfully.
P ETER YOUNGS was born in Schoharie County, N. Y., June 8, 1846, his parents being Charles and Magdaline (Linkinfelter) Youngs, natives of New York. In 1862 they came to Illinois and settled in Plato Town- ship, where the father bought 210 acres on Sec- tion 36. In that township they resided until 1867, when the father died. Peter Youngs was reared on the farm where he received such education as could be obtained at the district school.' Upon his father's death, he, in partnership with his brother William, purchased of the heirs their father's estate, and divided it, Peter taking a quarter sec- tion in Elgin Township, in Section 29, which he occupied in 1880, and which, by his thrift and in- dustry, he has made one of the valuable farms of the township, it being in a high state of cultiva- tion, well watered, thoroughly drained and well stocked with horses and forty milch cows. His comfortable residence was built in 1886, and he has outbuildings for the protection of stock, and the storage of the farm products.
In 1876 Mr. Youngs married Miss Sarah Fer- son, of St. Charles, and they had one child that died in infancy. Mrs. Youngs dying in February, 1880, Mr. Youngs married February 18, 1881, Alice M., daughter of William Burton, of Plato Township. They have one child, Pearl, born May 9, 1883. Mr. Youngs takes an interest in public affairs, and is a hearty supporter of the Republican party.
H YMAN HATCH was born at Williams- town, Orange Co., Vt., November 28, 1822, son of William and Elsie (Thompson) Hatch. His paternal grandfather, Asa Hatch, a farmer noted for his integrity and jovial disposition, was a native of Massachusetts, but spent the greater part of his life in Vermont, where he reared a family of twenty-two children, being thrice married. He died in 1837 at the ad- vanced age of eighty-four years. Job Thompson, the maternal grandfather of Hyman Hatch, and a native of Massachusetts, resided for several years in Vermont, where he owned a farm and kept a public-house. In 1818 he removed to Ohio, where he died in 1850. William Hatch, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Massachu- setts in 1773. While he was quite young his par- ents removed to Vermont, where he was reared a farmer, and also there learned the carpenter and joiner's trade, accumulating in his business con- siderable property; he served as captain in the War of 1812; he had a family of twelve children, and died in 1853.
Hyman Hatch the seventh in his father's family, was reared on the farm, attended the dis- trict schools, and spent three terms at Newbury Seminary. For seven years he taught school during winter, and worked on the farm in summer. In 1844 he rented land, being a tenant up to 1853, in which year, his father dying, he took possession of the homestead, which he owned until 1862, when he sold out to his brother and moved to Barre, Vt., where he was employed on the manu- facture of forks, rakes, garden tools, etc. In 1869 he was employed as foreman by the manu- facturing firm of N. S. Bouton & Co., of Naper-
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