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 68
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 68
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Thus it will be seen Mr. Alexander has been thirty-two years in the employ of this corporation. and has been steadily promoted to his present responsible position. With one exception, he has been for a longer time in its employ than any one now engaged on its extensive system. During these thirty-two years the road has expanded from eighty miles of track, in 1855, to over 6,000 miles. including the whole system, in 1887. Mr. Alex- ander is a thorough and able railroad man, a genial and pleasant gentleman, socially, and what- ever he has accomplished. or position achieved, that is worthy of commendation has resulted from his native energy and individual efforts, having received no financial assistance or backing from any one, and it is said that none of his promotions by the railroad company were ever solicited by him; in other words, the office sought him, not he the office.
He was married at Aurora, January 20, 1859, to
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Miss Martha Baldwin, a daughter of Pollard Bald- win, of Ladoga, Ind. Their three children all died in infancy. Mr. Alexander is descended from old New England stock. A great-great-uncle of his mother was one Joseph Whitehead, a member of the famous "tea-party " in Boston harbor. His grand father, Elisha Alexander, was a pioneer and a hotel keeper at Irving, Mass., for many years. His parents were Fordyce and Thankful (Perce) Alex- ander. They were of Scotch and Scotch-Irish descent, respectively, but both descended from families who settled in Massachusetts during its early colonial days. Fordyce Alexander removed to Wrightsville, Penn., and carried on lumbering from 1855 to 1860, when he died, aged sixty-five years, and is buried at that place. His widow returned to Massachusetts, and lived at Boston with a daughter; she died there in 1882, aged eighty-three years.
C HARLES CLIFFORD EARLE. This well- known citizen of Aurora has been promi- nently connected with the business, finan- cial and public interests of the city for a period of thirty-one years. He was born at New- burgh, N. Y., July 16, 1822. His parents, Nathan- iel and Freelove (Clifford) Earle, having after- ward removed to Leicester, Worcester Co., Mass., their former home, he was there reared and educated at Leicester Academy. He here also learned the business of manufacturing card cloth- ing material, which covers the cylinders of card- ing machines used in the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods. At the age of twenty years he was married to Mary Jane Sheppard, who was born in Farmingham, Mass., March 1, 1845, a daughter of James and Mary (Millson) Sheppard, who were of English nativity. Two years after his marriage he removed to Worcester, Mass., where he engaged in the manufacture of card clothing.
In 1855 his brother in-law, W. W. Bishop, made a trip west, visiting among other places Aurora, and on his return gave such glowing accounts of the place that Mr. Earle was induced to close his business operations at Worcester and come to Aurora, arriving in May, 1856. He soon
afterward entered into a partnership under the firm name of W. W. Bishop & Co. The firm built and fitted up a foundry on North Broadway, near where the railroad roundhouse now stands. This business was successfully conducted nine years, when Mr. Earle sold his interest in the con- cern, and established himself in the lumber trade, continuing the same until 1872, in which year he disposed of the business and has since lived par- tially retired. In addition to his individual busi- ness ventures Mr. Earle was identified with the First National Bank as a director for eighteen years; he was one of the original charter members and stockholders in securing a charter for that moneyed institution, and is now a director of the Aurora National Bank. He was also an original stockholder and director in establishing the Aurora Cotton Mill, the Aurora Watch Factory, and in securing to the city as a burial place the grounds comprised in Spring Lake Cemetery. He has also been quite largely interested in real estate. He is now residing with his family in an elegant resi- dence at the northwest corner of Claim and Fourth Streets.
Mr. Earle is one of the most substantial and honored residents of the city, and having begun with very little financial assistance from any one, owes his success not only to good judgment and correct business habits and energy, but also to the advice aud assistance of his wife, a lady largely endowed with those qualities of mind and heart best calculated to influence for good all with whom she is brought in contact. Mr. Earle has devoted some time to the service of the city in a public capacity, having served two terms as alderman and one as mayor, and is now serving as chairman of the city board of public works. He is an attend- ant upon the religious exercises of the People's Church, and is a Universalist in belief. Mr. and Mrs. Earle have two children: Clara A., born December 6, 1849, now the wife of F. H. Bowron, and a resident of Geneva; and Charles F., born February 10, 1859, married to Flora Seibert, and resides in Aurora.
The Earles were for generations natives and residents of Leicester, Mass., and were descended from English families, being members of the
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Society of Friends, who settled there long prior to the year 1700. One Silas Earle, manufactured there, in 1808, the firstward clothing used in the manufacture of cotton and woolen goods ever made in the United States. C. C. Earle's maternal grandparents were John Francis and Elizabeth (Williams) Clifford, his grandmother being a lineal descendant of Roger Williams, of historic fame, making Mr. Earle of the seventh generation of this distinguished American.
EORGE N. SPRAGUE was born at Berlin Heights, Erie Co., Ohio, June 25, 1847, a son of Amos and Mary (Stillwill) Sprague. He spent his early years on his father's farm, receiving a good education at the graded schools of Erie County, and, having completed his education, taught school for five years. Mr. Sprague adopted his father's calling, and for ten years carried on general agriculture. Becoming convinced that breeding thoroughbred cattle was more lucrative than general farming, he turned his attention to Hereford stock, and now owns a herd of thirty head of the best bred Herefords in this country, having made a specialty of this breed of cattle for eight years. His herd represents such famous sires as Lord Wilton (4057), Horatius (7163), The Grove 3d (2490) and Regulus (3849). Mr. Sprague in choosing a location in this State bought a fine farm on Section 30, Aurora Town- ship, to which he moved May 1, 1887. November 9, 1869, he married Marie Sayles, daughter of Duty Sayles, and by her has three children: Amos P., Lizzie M. and Sarah Eva.
A RTHUR M. BEAUPRE, son of Matthias and Sarah Beaupre, was born July 29, 1853, in Oswego Township, Kendall Co., Ill. The name indicates the original an- cestry of the family-a more extended account of whom will be found elsewhere in this volume.
His early boyhood was spent at the home of his parents in Kendall County, and when they re- moved to De Kalb, in 1865, he went with them. Some time after, at the age of sixteen, he entered
the printing office of the De Kalb County News, an influential country newspaper, then published in the village of De Kalb. Here he labored diligently several years, learning the printer's trade thor- onghly, and adding daily, as any intelligent and observing youth may in such an establishment, practical and useful lessons to the fundamental. education that he had received at the public schools. With excellent habits and studious in- clinations, he improved his spare time and opportu- nities to widen his knowledge, by well selected reading; so, as the years passed by, he was gather- ing stores of practical and solid information, for use in the battle of life, while as yet only upon its skirmish line. When twenty-one years old he re- moved to Aurora, where his acquirements and gen- tlemanly deportment favorably introduced him to leading citizens. Within a few months he was elected clerk of the city court; he was re elected duly, but shortly after he was solicited to take the better position of deputy county clerk of Kane County. He accepted the latter position, and filled it with much credit to himself, and satisfac- tion to the people, during the ensuing eight years. His long and faithful service as a subordinate, his entire familiarity with the duties of the office, and his accommodating disposition, had made for him- self many warm and appreciative friends through- out the county. They felt that he was deserving of and well fitted for the chief position; so when, in 1886, he became a candidate he was nominated in the Republican convention, and was elected county clerk by a large majority.
For so young a man Mr. Beaupre has acquired the respect and esteem of his neighbors, and of the public generally, in a remarkable degree; and he owes his success in life not to his capacity as a pol- itician, but to the confidence reposed in him per- sonally by the people, and their knowledge of his thorough efficiency, which latter has been proved in every position he has held. From youth up he has manifested a self-respecting pride which, without detracting from his cordial sociability, has kept him from the follies that so often cloud or ruin the prospects of young men, and in the straight path that leads toward honor and fortune.
October 20, 1880, Arthur M. Beaupre and
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Mary F. Marsh were joined in marriage at the res. idence of the bride's father, near De Kalb. She is the daughter of the Hon. C. W. Marsh, who is widely and universally known as the inventor of the celebrated "Marsh Harvester." She was born · in De Kalb County, August 16, 1862. Their only . child, Beatrice, was born March 26, 1884.
C APTAIN WILLIAM H. WILCOX,* the youngest son of Gen. Wilcox, is one of three brothers who participated prominently in the War of the Rebellion, and is the fourth brother appointed postmaster of Elgin, a position he is now occupying. He was born in Fultonville, N. Y., January 13, 1836, and when six years of age came with his parents to Kane County, Ill. He grew to manhood ou his father's farm, attended the public schools, and completed his education at Lombard University, Galesburg, in 1856. He was united in marriage, in 1857, with Mary A. Green, of Galesburg, and to them were born six children: Mary Florence, born October 6, 1857; Laura G., born July 22, 1859; William G., born July 6, 1861; May A., born March 22, 1868; Helen E., born June 6. 1870, and Charles A., born Novem- ber 21, 1872. Mrs. Wilcox died of yellow fever, at Canton, Miss., October 8, 1878, contracting the fatal disease while visiting her mother at that place.
In 1857, soon after his marriage. Mr. Wilcox commenced merchandising in Chicago, but closed his concern there, and came to Elgin, where he embarked in business. Then he removed to Dade County, Mo., and engaged in farming, where he remained until the breaking out of the Civil War, Angust 6, 1861, he enlisted in the Fifty-second Illinois Infantry Regiment, and was elected first lieutenant of Company G, which he had partly re- cruited. The regiment was ordered to the front, reaching Fort Donelson just after the battle, and was sent as guard to rebel prisoners to Chicago. Returning to the main army with his command, he was in the battle of Shiloh, under the command of the brave and noble Gen. W. H. L. Wallace. After this battle Lieut. Wilcox was promoted cap-
* A complete genealogy of the Wilcox family will be found in the biographical sketch of Judge Silvanus Wilcox, page 204.
tain of his company, and in this capacity was with the army until it reached Atlanta, Ga., under Gen. Sherman. Capt. Wilcox served three years and four months, being mustered out of service at Savannah, Ga., December 18, 1864. He returned to his old home and commenced reading law in the office of his brother, Judge Silvanus Wilcox, and was admitted to the practice in 1871, when he opened an office in Elgin, and in connection, after- ward commenced dealing extensively in real estate. He platted and laid out three additions and one subdivision to the city of Elgin. In the meantime he spent some time in Utah and Nevada, interested in the mines in those places. July 2, 1886, he was appointed postmaster of Elgin. and is now fulfilling the duties of that office. . Capt. Wilcox married November 27, 1879, Mrs. Helen E. Green, nee Merriam, daughter of William and Ann (Sawyer) Merriam, and a native of Ohio. Capt. Wilcox is post commander of the G. A. R. Post; a F. & A. M., and a member of the A. O. U. W. His standing and popularity among the people with whom he has spent his life is manifest by the fact that his rivals for the appointment of post- master could urge against him no stronger objection than that all the brothers of the Wilcox family had been Elgin postmasters.
G USTAVUS A. PFRANGLE, one of the prominent and well-known citizens of Au- rora, was born in Freiburg, Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, March 22, 1845, to Se- bastian and Lena (Himmelsbach) Pfrangle. The father received the advantages of a collegiate education; was a man of literary tastes, and fol- lowed teaching in the capacity of principal of schools until the revolutionary movement of 1848, in which he took part on the side of the Republi- cans. Their efforts proving futile, he, with other revolutionists, fled to Switzerland, as refugees, where he remained for some time. On returning to Germany he was, with others, arrested and con- fined, without trial, for nearly a year, when he was pardoned. He then applied himself to literary pursuits, but owing to the intolerance with which the reigning powers treated all those who upheld
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republican principles, he decided to leave his native country, and in 1853 sailed from the father- land, landing at New York August 28, of that year. He was accompanied by his wife and family of six children, as follows: Amelia, Emma, Gustavus A., Charles J., Pauline and Albert.
Soon finding employment as a teacher and at literary work, he there remained until April, 1855, when he came west with his family to Chicago, Ill., and here followed similar pursuits. In 1856 he removed to Wheaton, Ill., where he became one of the faculty in Wheaton College-professor of Ger- man and music. In 1858 he resigned this position to accept a similar one at Clark (now Jennings) Seminary, Aurora, to which place he removed the same fall. Soon afterward he was prostrated by sickness, and had recovered partially, but while taking a carriage ride during convalescence, the horses ran away, throwing him out, whereby he was seriously injured, never recovering sufficiently to enter on his duties at the seminary. He died June 29, 1859, aged forty-two years. His widow still survives, aged sixty-nine years, and resides with her daughter, Mrs. Pauline Feyrer, in Au- rora. He was an ardent abolitionist and Repub- lican, which political principles he carefully in- stilled into the minds of his children, with lasting impressions.
Gustavus A. Pfrangle attended the schools of his native town from the age of six to eight years, and afterward the schools in the vicinity of where his parents resided, in the meantime receiving careful instruction from his father. The latter's death bringing an end to his school days, he soon afterward, when about fourteen years old, became an apprentice to the printer's trade in the Beacon office, Aurora, where he served for about two years, leaving in May, 1861, to accept a position as clerk in the Aurora postoffice, under George S. Bangs. In 1863 he was promoted to assistant postmaster, holding the position throughout Mr. Bangs' incumbency and that of his successor, Dr. Abner Hard. In 1873 Mr. Pfrangle was appointed by President Grant postmaster of Aurora, to suc- ceed Dr. Hard, taking possession of the office May 27, same year. In this position he won many friends, by the prompt and courteous administra-
tion of his duties, which continued until March, 1885, when he was succeeded by O. B. Knicker- bocker.
Mr. Pfrangle was married in 1867 to Martha J. Wagner, by whom there were two children, both de- ceased in infancy. The mother died in June, 1873. .
September 14, 1874, Mr. l'frangle married Miss Kate Quakenbush, daughter of D. J. Quakenbush, of Morrison, Ill., and by this union there are two children: Inez, born November 25, 1875, and Paul, born October 4, 1883. Mr. Pfrangle is a F. & A. M., and a member of the I. O. O. F. and A. O. U. W., of Aurora. From 1874 to 1876 he was president of the Aurora Lecture Association, and its secretary for several years. He is now treas- urer of the Home Building and Loan Association, and is carrying on a general fire and life insurance, loan and real estate business. He has always taken an active and prominent part in politics in the interests of the Republican party, of which, and the principles it represents, he has been a con. sistent adherent.
JOHN GRIFFITHS. Among the prominent, representative farmers of Batavia Township is this gentleman, born in New York City August 8, 1832, a son of John and Margaret (Taylor) Griffiths, natives of Oxford, England, who came to America in 1831, and to Illinois in 1844. When nineteen years of age, the subject of this commemorative record, having had very limited educational advantages, began life for him- self. In 1852 he went overland with oxen to Cali- fornia, and on account of prairie fires occasioned by Indians, which destroyed the grazing, they were compelled to go northward by way of Oregon, the journey lasting six months. While in California he engaged in various employments, part of the time in driving a pack train; and in 1854, at the outbreak of the Indian War, he volunteered his services, also those of his pack mules, and served throughout the outbreak, carrying supplies. Re- turning to Illinois in 1857, he, in 1862, bought a farm in Blackberry Township, on which he resided eight years, then bought a farm on the county line east of Batavia, the old homestead. Mr. Griffiths
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now resides on his farm two miles east of Batavia, where he has a pleasant home and 246 acres, all well improved, and under a high state of cultiva- tion. He is interested in raising fine stock, and is a breeder of thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle and Berkshire swine.
In 1861 he married Laura Harker, a native of Du Page County, Ill., born November 19, 1840, daughter of Thomas and Charlotte (Smith) Harker, natives of England, the former of whom, who had been a gardener for George III, came to America in 1824, locating near Buffalo, N. Y., where he remained some time, then in 1836 came to Illinois. He crossed the plains to California in 1850, and returned to Illinois in 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Harker were born on the same day, month and year, May 15, 1807. He is at present writing (1887) strong and active; she died in 1849. To Mr. and Mrs. Griffiths three children have been born, all daugh- ters: Elsie C., now Mrs. Edward Warren, of Warrenville, Du Page Co., Ill .; Emma L., now Mrs. Wilber Hawks, of Turner Junction, Ill., and Mary, at home. The parents attend the services of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, Mr. Griffith is a Republican. He is vice-presi- dent for the Fifth Congressional District of the State Board of Agriculture.
ARRIT NORTON is a gentleman who can be spoken of in the history of Kane County as one of its prominent pioneers, distin- guished alike, after a long residence in this State, for his many good qualities of head and heart; one who has just distanced the eighty-fiftlı mile post on the great highway of life, on which so few pass the three-score-and-ten point. He is a native of Dutchess County, N. Y., born October 17, 1802, a son of Daniel and Sarah (Gerry) Nor- ton, both natives of the same place. At the age of nine years he went with his parents, who moved to Schenectady County. Here the lad was raised in his father's household, attending, when old enough, the schools of the locality a short time, and assist- ing his father in the work of his trade, which was that of a carpenter. It was thus he spent his
youth and grew to manhood; and he started in the race of life with little or no exterior aids, save that of a stout heart and strong, willing hands. He had been trained in the lessons of industry and frugal- ity, and both his training and nature were of un- bending integrity of purpose.
In 1827 Garrit Norton and Mahala, daughter of Jonathan and Margaret (Billings) Blakely, were united in marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Blakely were natives of Connecticut and Vermont, respectively. Mrs. Norton's grandfather, Jonathan Blakely, who was one of the veterans of the Revolutionary War, devoted seven long years of his life to the cause of human independence. To Mr. and Mrs. Garritt Norton have been born eight children: Ann Eliza, George F., John F., Selden B. (who died Noven- ber 3. 1854), Delos L., Jennie (who died Septem- ber 13, 1870), Margaret B. and Emma. In June, 1838, Mr. Norton, with his family, moved to Illi- nois, and, arriving at Chicago, where they made a brief pause, they continued their journey to Du- Page County, and at once Mr. Norton went to work at his trade. At that time there was more work in building houses for the new arrivals than it seems there was money to pay the carpenters after work was done. He worked at his trade for the six weeks following his arrival in the new country, but as he received no money for his labor, he laid aside the saw and hammer and determined to be a farmer-thus becoming his own employer and paymaster. He purchased land, planted wheat, and in the most primitive manner cut, threshed, cleaned and hauled a portion of his crop to Chicago and sold it for what little he could get at that time. (It is believed and asserted by those who claim to know that Mr. Norton hauled to and sold in the Chicago market the first load of wheat grown on land west of that city.) During the next ten years he lived and labored on the farm where he first located. and then sold out, and at once came to Kane County, where he purchased 350 acres, paying $10 per acre therefor, to which, in a few years, he added 350 acres more, all lying in one body in the rich and prosperous township of Campton. Here he has made his permanent home. It is now the dear old family homestead, around which will cling tender memo-
Javit Sorton
Mahala Norton
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ries in the long and distant future. In later years he gave portions of his land to his three sons, George, John and Delos, and to his daughter, Ann Eliza, retaining for himself as the homestead 150 acres, the management and renting of which is the extent of the care he now chooses to assume. The Norton farm is known far and wide, both for its deep and inexhaustible soil, and for the quantity and excellence of the improvements he has made upon it. Its products are the cereals, to which Mr. Norton has added the stock and dairying in- terests.
In politics, Mr. Norton has affiliated with the Republicans. He has filled the office of assessor of his township. The religious faith of himself and wife is that of Spiritualism. They are promi- nent and highly respected people in their locality, extending the open hand of charity to any and all worthy objects.
AMES CARR. Among the prominent and prosperous farmers of Batavia Township is Mr. James Carr, a gentleman of Scotch- English extraction. He is a native of Surry, Maine, born March 4, 1817, to James and Betsey (Jarvis) Carr, the former of whom was originally a sailor by occupation, but in later year's was a merchant; he was also a soldier in the War of 1812. When the subject of this biogra- phy was one year old, the parents started with their family for the West, but during the journey the father was accidentally drowned in the Ohio River, and the widowed mother had then mournfully to shape her course back to Maine with her children.
When he had reached the age of nineteen, Mr. Carr joined a party of surveyors, whose pro- fession he made a study, and the following year he went to Florida, in the capacity of a civil en- gineer. Here he remained "among the Ever- glades," for a brief period, and then moved to New Orleans, where he secured an engagement on the Government surveys at the mouth of the Mis- sissippi. The year 1839 found Mr. Carr once more in his native State; but he soon again turned his face westward, the loadstar of attrac-
tion being the fertile State of Illinois, and here he at once determined to settle, choosing Batavia Township for his future abiding place. In 1847 he once more returned to New England, and was there for a couple of years employed in railroad surveys; then, joining a party of prospectors, he sailed for California, by way of Cape Horn, the voyage occupying five months. After a three years' sojourn in this then new El Dorado, he be- came engaged on lake survey until 1864, when he finally returned to and settled on his farm (now consisting of 213 acres) in Batavia Township.
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