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 63
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 63
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He was married, in the fall of 1842, to Jane F. Connover, born September 22, 1819, in New York, and a daughter of Marcus and Sarah (Schuyler) Connover, who came to Illinois in 1844. By this marriage were born four sons, as follows: James M., now living on and managing the old homestead in Huntley; Jacob L., a resi- dent of Atlantic, Iowa; Platt P., on the home- stead, and Arno B., in the West. This wife of
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his pioneer days died April 24, 1877, a most amiable and womanly lady, a much respected member of the Congregational Church, while a resident of Huntley. November 5, 1879, Mr. Winne married Miss Pamelia Butler, a native of Livingston County, N. Y.
Mr. Winne served his neighbors officially in various local offices, and was active in the affairs of the township until his retirement in 1882. He is a member of the Congregational Church, at Huntley. In politics he is a Republican.
YOSHUA D. OWEN, one of the successful and practical farmers of Kane County, re- sides on Section 30, Elgin Township. He has always taken an interest in matters tend- ing to the public good, and has served as school director twenty years. He was born in Middle- bury, Wyoming Co., N. Y., April 6, 1821. His father, Eliphalet Owen, of Tolland, Conn., born May 9, 1784, married Abigail Heath, daughter of Stephen Heath, and born August 15, 1790. Fred- erick Owen, the grandfather of Joshua D., married Peggy Hibbard; he served seven years in the Rev- olutionary War by sea and land; he died at Mid- dlebury, N. Y., April 9, 1837; his wife died Sep- tember 5, 1828.
Joshua D. Owen spent his boyhood on the farm, and received such education as could be ob- tained at the district school. In 1840 he came to Illinois, and bought a claim of 160 acres, where he has lived to the present time. For several years he conducted mixed farming, at one time was spe- cially engaged in the breeding of sheep, and at present is paying considerable attention to dairy- ing. His farm is under good cultivation, well drained and finely watered. He has a large resi- dence built at a cost of $3,000, also three barns, one 74x30 feet, one 60x30, and one 42x30. As a farmer Mr. Owen is practical and thorough. As a man, honest, intelligent, of a jovial disposition, and hospitable. In politics he has been a Repub- lican since 1864, but previous to that time he voted the Democratic ticket.
June 11, 1840, Mr. Owen married Lucy Will- iams, daughter of Cephas and Lucy (Perry) Will-
iams, the issue of this union being seven children, born as follows: Barzilla G., January 14, 1841; Martha D., September 1, 1843; Cephas E., De- cember 7, 1844; Albert H., February 13, 1848; Mary J., May 20, 1849; Darwin H., October 4, 1853; Walter H., October 14, 1858. Barzilla G. died June 28, 1854; Martha D. died May 22, 1849; Cephas E. lives in Marshall County, Kas. ; Albert H. is a resident of Ashtabula County, Ohio; Mary J. became the wife of Wallace Seward, of Aurora, Ill .; Darwin H. and Walter H. are resi- dents of Aurora, Ill.
Having lost his first wife, Mr. Owen married, February 24, 1871, Clarissa S., daughter of Laban and Catharine (Beardsley) Arnold, and born in Clinton County, N. Y., April 3, 1845. The daugh- ter of a farmer, she received such education as could be obtained at the district school. In 1861 she went to Lawrence, Mass., where for two years she worked in the woolen mills, and then returned to New York. In 1868 she moved to Illinois, and lived one year in McHenry County; then came to Elgin, where she engaged in dressmaking until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Owen have had two children: James W., born March 29, 1872; Anson A., born January 17, 1877, died Angust 15, 1877.
A MOS BURTON is a native of England, born August 7, 1849, son of Joseph and Anne (Glover) Burton. He came to Batavia with his parents, received a common-school edu- cation, and for ten years was engaged with his father in mercantile business. In 1874 he married Mary E. Van Nortwick, who was born in Batavia, a daughter of John and Patty M. (Mallory) Van Nortwick, a biographical sketch of whom appears elsewhere. To Mr. and Mrs. Burton have been born two children, one son and one daughter: John Van Nortwick, born in 1875, and Amy Louise, born May 25, 1879.
In the year 1875 Mr. Burton went into the grocery and market business for himself on the west side of the river. In 1884 he opened a gen- eral market with Mr. De Groth, on the east side; later in the year be sold his west-side store, and engaged in stock farming.
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KANE COUNTY.
Mrs. Burton is a member of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Burton enlisted during the War of the Rebellion in Company B, One Hundred and Forty-first Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged at the close of the struggle. In politics he is a Republican.
W ILSON J. HUNTER, son of James and Nancy Wilson Hunter, is a native of New York State, born in Saratoga, Novem- ber 20, 1833. The Hunters and Wilsons were very respectable people, long residents and well known in that part of the State of New York. In 1851, when Wilson J. was eighteen years of age, his parents removed to Illinois, first locating at Udina. Elgin Township, Kane County. At
tliat time Illinois was in the act of changing the face of the entire country, by the building of the great system of railroads that now so thickly intersect the State in every direction. In his native place the young man had received but lim- ited privileges in the schoolrooms of the vicinity where he was reared. He had learned well the lessons of patient and unremitting toil, and had imbibed from his parents the precepts and examples of honor and integrity that are the true foundations of that higher and better life which has marked the great founders of American institutions.
His father having settled on a farm in Illinois, Wilson J. looked about him and realized that he must face the world and rely in the future upon his own exertions. There was a small affair at that time, partially built through Kane County, known as the Galena & Chicago Railroad. To this corporation the young man applied for employ- ment, and was given the post of baggagemaster. His intelligent and faithful labors here soon brought him promotion, and he was appointed a conductor. In time this organization became the present vast and important railroad line known as the Chicago & North- Western Railway. In this position he remained for twenty years. In 1871 he resigned, retired from railroad service, and began to build his permanent home in Elgin. Here he soon established his present prosperous
coal and wood trade, in which he has built up a large business.
November 22, 1855, Mr. Hunter was married to Amanda Dennis, a native of Newton, Sussex Co., N. J., and to this marriage were born five children, four daughters and one son, as follows: Cora Lee, who became the wife of F. F. Windom, of Elgin; Ella May, who married F. E. Miller, of Springfield, Mass. ; Arthur W .; L. Irene, married to M. J. Kim- ball, of Elgin; and Millie A.
Mr. and Mrs. Hunter are members in good standing of the Elgin Episcopal Church. He is a member of Bethel Commandery, K. T., and Orien- tal Consistory, Chicago. He is a prominent member of the Northwestern Coal Dealers Association, be- ing one of the early promoters and members of that organization. In politics he is a Democrat, but, more than discharging a conscientious duty at the ballot box, he has never seriously concerned him- self about politics.
A DELBERT T. MATHEWSON, one of the wide-awake, pushing merchants of Elburn, was born in the Township of Campton, Kane County, August 19, 1857, son of John and Eliza (Johnson) Mathewson, the former a native of Belfast, Ireland, born July 12, 1809, the latter a native of Staten Island, N. Y. The father immi- grated to America when but twelve years of age, and subsequently, with his wife, came west, taking up Government land in this county, near where the village of Elburn now stands, and here he re- sided until his death, which occurred February 14, 1886. Prior to coming west his occupation was that of a cloth printer in the cotton and silk mills of Staten Island. His widow, now in her seventy- fifth year. resides at Elburn.
Adelbert T., the youngest in a family of eleven children, remained with his parents until of age, receiving a common-school education. In May, 1879, he entered into partnership with J. C. F. Clark, at Elburn, and in 1881 assumed exclusive control of the business, which he still continues. In politics, he is a Republican, and served as post- master at Elburn for six years. He is a Knight Templar. October 24, 1883. Mr. Mathewson
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married De Ette O. Warne, born in this county, December 15, 1860, daughter of John and Olive (Burr) Warne, of whom a sketch is given in this work. To this union have been born two children: E. Gertrude, September 12, 1884, and J. Warne, June 27, 1886.
UCY CURTIS OATMAN. Fifty-one years ago (1837) there came from Tazewell County, Ill., into the then diminutive and unnamed village of Dundee, a'family who have played a most important part in the material growth and prosperity of Dundee Township. This was the family of Jesse and Lucy Curtis Oatman. Mrs. Oatman was born at Cleveland, Ohio, Janu- ary 6, 1819, and when but a small girl removed with her parents to Brockville, Canada, where they remained for several years, and then came to Tazewell County, Ill., where, June 15, 1836, she was married. Her father and mother, Pliny and Rhoda (Curtis) Mowrey, later removed to Dundee, where the remainder of their lives was spent, the father departing this life March 30, 1870, aged eighty-four years, the mother following him to the grave March 2, 1874, passing from earth in the home of her daughter.
Jesse Oatman was born at New Albany, Ind., in the year 1811. His parents, John and Nancy (Nance) Oatman, natives, respectively, of Ken- tucky and Virginia, first met and were married in Indiana. Their union produced sixteen children, twelve boys and four girls, of whom seven survive: Ira, a physician, in California; William, a physician, in Texas; John; James, a resident of Colorado; Hardin, a physician and resident of Missouri; America D. and Eliza S. (twins), the former in Texas, the latter, now seventy-nine years old, having for nine years made her home with Mrs. Oatman. Joseph, who came between John and James, died in Hanover Township. In 1848, after a few years' residence in Dundee, the senior Oatman removed to Texas, taking with him the most of his family, and there he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1875, when he was at the advanced age of ninety-two years. His wife had been taken away in 1864, at the age of seventy-five years.
In 1837 Jesse Oatman and his young wife came to Dundee and took up their abode in an un- finished building, where at present stands the Baptist Church. The entire front of the house was enclosed but not finished, and, being poor, they had no money wherewith to complete it, but they succeeded at last in mortgaging the home for sufficient to purchase a door and windows, and prepare, in a weak way, the house for the accom- modation of the transient travelers who occasion- ally passed that way, in which manner some little money was accumulated. This pioneer house was a regular place for holding religious meetings by all denominations during the first year of their settlement, their one room serving the purpose of dining-room, sitting-room, parlor and meeting- house. Mr. Oatman had opened a small mercan- tile business, and this he continued for some years. Being industrious and frugal, they consequently prospered, and they lived to see their toil rewarded. For sixteen years they remained in the house they had first chosen, and during all that time kept hotel; in 1857 they removed to the home of Mrs. Oatman's father, began building the present home- stead on the adjoining lot, and this they occupied in 1858. Here their home and lives were shared together until death separated them, taking the husband and father October 1, 1883.
His life has been a useful one, and truly spent in the endeavor, not only to advance himself and family, but also to improve his county, better its finances and encourage and aid the hardy pioneers, who, like himself, had cast their lot in a county that then was little better than a wilderness, but now one of the most fertile and prosperous in the great State. He was a soldier in the Black Hawk War; for eight years was postmaster of the town. and several years a justice of the peace, and was esteemed and trusted by all. He was interested in the naming of Dundee, as were many others, each anxious to call it by some name to them most dear. As no decision could be reached, it was determined to cast lots to determine who should select the name. The choice fell to a Scotchman named Alexander Gardner, who accordingly called it after his native city, Dundee. The commodious houses and the picturesque landscapes of to-day
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Hatman
Lucy & Datman
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suggest but little of the pioneer's cabin, the dense forest or desolate prairie, from which the change was wrought by hands, many of which have crumbled to silent dust; but the deeds of men like Jesse Oatman are so woven in the tissues of their country's history that their names will never be forgotten.
Mrs. Oatman is remarkably active and indus- trious for a woman of her years, and still resides upon the home place, where, notwithstanding the desires of her children, who wish her to give up all her cares, she chooses to look after the interests of her home and surroundings, rising every morning at five o'clock. She is the mother of five children (three of them living), their names in the order of birth being as follows: Albert (deceased); Carrie L., now Mrs. M. T. Barrows, of Dundee; Henri- etta (deceased); Edward J. and George F. The sons living are both prosperous and respected bus- iness men of Dundee.
E J. OATMAN, the eldest living son of Jesse and Lucy C. Oatman, was born in Dundee Village, Kane County, in 1848. His first manual labor was on his father's farm near the village, and at sixteen years of age he was en- gaged as a clerk in his father's store. He was noted as old-fashioned for one of his years, always choosing his father as a confidant and associate. Caring but little for the usual pleasures of child- hood, he early acquired business tastes and habits, and when but eighteen years of age became a partner in the mercantile business of his father. Just previous to this he graduated from Bryant & Stratton's Business College, Chicago.
He began life's work in earnest, and with such close application that at the age of twenty-two he was physically a wreck, being compelled to use crutches when he walked. His brother, G. F. Oat- man, had in the meantime also become a partner. On account of ill health E. J. temporarily withdrew from the cares of the store, but his active nature would not allow him to long remain inactive, and soon he turned his attention to bee culture, which has developed into a most important branch of the business of the firm of Oatman Bros. He prose-
cuted a thorough study of bee keeping in all its departments, and made some valuable discoveries which have added much to the enterprise through the country. Among other things he succeeded in inventing the system of developing queen bees in one-half the time required by nature; the system of comb honey in boxes and other branches of the industry have likewise been improved. Steadily the industry increased until the Oatman Bros., as bee-keepers, were known extensively, and inany orders for supplies were received and filled by them, several being from foreign countries, among them Scotland and France. Now they possess over 500 hives of bees, and in 1886 produced over 30,000 pounds of choice honey. In 1870 they started in the creamery business, establishing a small one on their farm near Dundee, but by skill- ful management have increased both the capacity and the number of their creameries, until to-day they own and run ten creameries, three of them situated in Kane County, at St. Charles (said to be the largest and best fitted in the State), others in Dundee and Virgil.
In 1869 Mr. E. J. Oatman was married to Louise J. Browning, daughter of George S. and Jane M. (Bucklin) Browning. Their parents were both natives of Massachusetts, and their parents, respectively, were of France and England. The great-grandfather of Mrs. Oatman was the builder of the old ship, " Constitution "; Commodore Perry, of Lake Erie fame, was her father's cousin. In 1836 George S. Browning and wife came to Dun- dee, and there made their home until 1864, when, his wife having died, he removed to Hastings, Minn., where he departed this life in 1886. When a girl Mrs. E. J. Oatman had good facilities for an education, both literary and musical, and she taught two years in the township of Dundee. She is the mother of two children: Jesse B., and Harold Edward (deceased).
EORGE F. OATMAN, the youngest son of Jesse and Lucy C. Oatman, whose sketch appears at page 616, was born in Dundee, June 15, 1851. His education was received at the village schools until he was fifteen years old, when he became a clerk in his father's store, and
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three years later was taken in as a partner, the firm becoming Oatman & Sons. Since then his business interests have been those of the firm, which, since the death of the senior Oatman, has been known as Oatman Bros., and has grown to be one of the most popular in the county. First it had only a general mercantile trade, but by suc- cessive additions has developed and has generally changed into the creamery and bee culture busi- ness, until to-day George F. and his brother, E. J. Oatman, are proprietors of ten creameries and over 500 colonies of bees. In the latter branch of the business they use many improvements of which they themselves are the inventors.
January 20, 1874, George F. Oatman married Louise J., daughter of John H. and Mary (Win- ters) Torrence, and born in Fairfield County, Ohio, in 1853. Her ancestors were of Quaker origin, and date far back into the early history of our country. Her great-grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. John Torrence, the grandfather of Mrs. Oatman, came to Ohio in 1810, and died in Fairfield County, aged seventy years; his wife died some five years later, also aged sev- enty years. John H. Torrence, Mrs. Oatman's father, now resides in Ohio, her mother having died in 1880, aged sixty-one years. She was the mother of four children, of whom three still sur- vive, Mrs. Oatman being the only one in Kane County. When a young girl she attended the Ohio Female College, at Delaware. Mr. and Mrs. Oatman possess a beautiful and convenient home, where, with their three children, Erle T., William F. and Mary B., they now reside.
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C ATHARINE WILTSE, a native of West Chester, N. Y., and a daughter of Daniel A. and Anna (Hammond) Gerow, natives of the same State, was born March 13, 1821. She married Nathaniel Wiltse, of Dutchess County, N. Y., and became the mother of eight children: Elizabeth, Anna, Electa, Mary, James, William Gerow, Sarah Jane and Catharine. Of this family the four first mentioned died in early life. Shortly after her marriage Mrs. Catherine Wiltse removed with her husband to Canada, where for twenty
years Mr. Wiltse was engaged as foreman of a large foundry.
In 1852 they settled in St. Charles, Kane County, where he followed his trade, that of a blacksmith, until the time of his death, which oc- curred September 26, 1873, at the age of seventy- four years. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. After that Mrs. Wiltse lived with her daughter, who married Frank W. Wat- kins, a farmer of Campton Township. Mrs. Wiltse died August 13, 1887, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
R ICHARD P. JACKMAN, senior member of the firm of R. P. Jackman & Son, founders and machinists, is a native of New Hamp. shire, born in Goffstown, Hillsborough County, December 16, 1834. He is a son of Jonathan Merrill and Elvira (Chessman) Jackman, who were of English and Welsli ancestry, and had come to America, settling in Massachusetts. The son when seventeen years old (in 1851) was apprenticed to learn the trade of foundryman at Nashua, N. H. He worked at this trade until 1856, when he moved to Iowa, and was operating in that State in connection with an eastern firm. In 1860 he returned to his native State and resumed work at his trade, following the same until 1865, when he came west to Illinois, and located in Elgin. He here became a master workman, and was in the employ of different firms until June 1, 1877, when he engaged in business in his own behalf, and from that time has prospered greatly, pushing his trade with such energy and good judgment that it has grown to be one of the foremost foundry and inachine shops in Elgin.
Mr. Jackman was married May 23, 1857, in Manchester, N. H., to Semantha Clark, the daugh- ter of very respectable people of that place. They have two children, a son and daughter: George L., partner with his father; Isabel E., a graduate of Elgin Academy, and one of the pleasant ladies of Elgin society. The family attend the Congre- gational Church, Mr. Jackman himself being lib- eral in his religious views. He is a prominent member of the Elgin Board of Trade; is president
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of the Elgin Loan and Homestead Association, of which he is one of the founders; has served four years in the city council. He is a Sir Knight in Bethel Commandery, K. T. ; in politics Republican.
C HARLES WESTON RAYMOND has long since earned the important position he holds as one of the active leaders in the large business affairs of the rapidly growing and now rich little city of Elgin. He stands among the front ones in the ranks of men noted for a spirit of enterprise and public liberality; a class of men to whom is largely due the growth as well as the splendid public improvements, and the evi- dences of wealth that have sown broadcast to the world the fair fame and name of the city.
He is the son of George Belcher and Mary Weston Raymond, both natives of New York, the former a son of Newcomb and Mabel Gray Ray- mond. The Raymonds were of the French Hugue- nots, whose ancestors finally found refuge in America from the cruel and persistent persecutions in their native land for religion's sake. Newcomb Raymond, grandfather of Charles W., was a sol- dier in the American Revolution, performing a conspicuous and glorious part in the patriot army. In the storming of Yorktown, October 14, 1781, he was the first man over the works of the enemy. [An extended account and representation of his' gallant behavior on this occasion was published in the New York Graphic of date October 22, 1881. ]
George B. Raymond, father of Charles W., was reared to the pursuits of merchandising, but in October, 1845, quitted this vocation, came to the West, and found him a permanent location in Elgin, Ill. Soon after his arrival here he engaged as clerk with B. W. Raymond & Co., and after a few years' employment with this firm he withdrew, commencing business for himself in the crockery and glassware trade. Soon afterward he added to this a lumber yard, and in time turned his exclusive attention to the latter business. His sudden death occurred August 22, 1878, and the day of his funeral called out a large cortege of friends who followed in mournful silence his remains to their final resting place. He liad served as postmaster
at Elgin, and was city alderman two terms, filling exceptionably well his public positions, as he had his private places in the community.
Mr. George B. Raymond married at Newport, N. Y., Catherine Sherwood, by whom were born three sons and one daughter, now living: George N. (in Dubuque, Iowa), Sherwood (an accountant and bookkeeper, in Chicago), Kate (married to William Sylla, of Elgin), Frank W. (a merchant, in Aberdeen, Dak.) The mother of these chil- dren died in 1842, and Mr. George B. Raymond then married, in 1845, Mary Weston, the issue being the subject of this memorial sketcli.
In early life Charles W. Raymond was inducted into mercantile pursuits, in which line of business he engaged after completing his education in the Military College of St. Anthony, at Minneapolis. After his father's death he purchased the interest of the other heirs in the business, and, assuming full control, has enlarged and continued same with complete success. He and Agnes, daughter of Charles and Isabella Campbell Graham, were united in marriage February 17, 1875, and in their pleasant home are two daughters-Lolo Belle and Mary Weston.
A RCHER B. PHELPS. Among those who have come to Kane County from the Empire State, indelibly impressing their individual- ity upon its social fabric, by lives of strict integrity, characterized by large-minded enterprise and public spirit, ever ready by means and influence to advance its best interests, is the Phelps family, of which he whose name heads this sketch is an honored member.
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