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 71
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 71
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A LBERT E. DAVIS. Although little over six years in this country, this gentleman has met with marked success. He was born in Somersetshire, England, August 29, 1860, son of Giles and Thurza (Patch) Davis, also natives of England, the former by trade a shoemaker. At the age of fourteen the subject of this sketch was apprenticed to the tailoring trade, receiving at first the sum of one shilling sterling per week as wages. In April, 1881, he bade fare- well to his native land, and crossed the broad At- lantic, coming direct to Batavia, and, staying one week with his uncle, Mr. James Patch, he subse- quently worked five weeks for Mr. Bruce, of Aurora, Ill., going from there to Elburn and work- ing for Mr. Frank Johnson, whom he bought out March 1, 1882.
He married, March 1, 1883, Miss Fannie A. Pooley, who was born in Elburn, Ill., in 1863, her parents being natives of England. The result of their union is two children: Albert E., Jr., born February 12, 1885, and Annie Lillian, born April 3, 1887. November 1, 1883, Mr. Davis opened a store in Batavia, and October 1, 1885, he entered into partnership with Isaiah Griffin, in the cloth- ing and gents' furnishing, etc., business, in Bata- via. July 27, 1887, he bought out Mr. Griffin,
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and has since continued the business alone. Mr. Davis is steward in the Methodist Episcopal Church; in politics he inclines to the Prohibition ticket.
A LGERNON A. BURR, owner and proprietor of a fine stock, grain and dairy farm of 240 acres, located on Sections 7 and 8, and well known as a prominent citizen of St. Charles Township, was born on the farm on which his brother now resides, August 11, 1846. In 1868 he went to Michigan, where he remained two years, engaged in the shops of Nichols, Sheppard & Co., manufacturers of the Vibrator Thrashing Machine. Returning to Illinois, in 1870, he began farming on his present place, which he purchased in 1881, and on which he has erected fine, commodious buildings. Sometime previous to commencing farming he was engaged in the stock business in Texas.
In 1872 Mr. Burr married Miss Cornelia L. Bartlett, a sister of Mrs. C. C. Burr, and a native of East Windsor, Conn., born November 17, 1846. She is a liberally educated lady, a graduate of the Providence Conference Seminary, at East Green- wich, R. I. Their only child, Arthur J., was born January 13, 1876. Politically, Mr. Burr, like his brother, is independent, and is not bound by any party ties. The Burr families are widely known and highly respected.
G EORGE GOODRODE, the subject of this biographical sketch, was born in Rochester, N. Y., April 1, 1849, and is a son of Charles and Charlotte (Anderson) Good- rode, natives of Canada, who came west in 1850 and located in Kane County, Ill. The father, who died December 19, 1878, visited Chicago in 1820, at which time there was only one log-house in the place, and about the only white man was Jean Baptiste Beaubien. When George Goodrode was but a lad of fourteen years, he began the life of a sailor on the lakes, which he continued until he was about twenty, when he engaged as fireman on a locomotive, and after five years' service in that capacity was given charge of one, as engineer,
in which position he has since served the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company.
Mr. Goodrode is married to Josephine E., daughter of James Poling, of Galesburg, Ill., and their union has been blessed with two daughters: Alitha H. and Lucretia. There is a son by a former marriage of Mrs. Goodrode, James A. Poling, a young man of literary and musical attainments, now a teacher of music and harmony. Mr. Goodrode is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and of Aurora Commandery, No. 22, K. T., of Aurora. He and his wife attend the Baptist Church. His professional work has been marked by a strong sense of the responsibil- ities of his position, and his record is a most hon- orable one. He is a public-spirited citizen, enjoy- ing the respect of those who know him.
W ASHINGTON STOWELL. In 1835 one of Kane County's pioneer families, after having made a long and tedious overland voyage, of nearly three months, starting from Hartford, Conn., August 26, 1835, and ar- riving November 16, same year, settled on a claim on Section 5, St. Charles Township. This was Seth Stowell, who, with his wife, Annah (Allen) Stowell, had removed from Connecticut, their native State, to Massachusetts, thence to New York, and from there again to Connecticut, whence, as stated, they came to Illinois. Here they are re- membered as among the earliest settlers of this region, residing here until 1852, when they revis- ited the East, remaining two years. Then, return- ing to Elgin Township, they here lived until their deaths, Annah Stowell dying July 27, 1865, and Seth Stowell, November 2, 1885. They had a family of five children, of whom Washington is the youngest.
He was born at Enfield, Conn., October 2, 1832, and was, therefore, but three years old when his parents brought him to Kane County. He began working as a carpenter when twenty years of age. In 1859 he went to Texas, where he re- mained until 1868, and was in the frontier service during the Rebellion. In the latter year he re- turned to the North and located in Elgin Town-
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ship, removing to his present place, the old home- stead, in St. Charles, in 1881.
In 1860 Mr. Stowell married Miss Martha J. Hunter, who was born in Hardin County, Tenn., in 1841. She went to Texas when she was sixteen years of age with her parents, Malcolm and Nancy (Anderson) Hunter, where she met and married Mr. Stowell. The result of their union is six chil- dren, named, respectively, Mary J., Luanna (de- ceased), Seth F., Louisa, Emma J. and Eliza- beth. Mr. and Mrs. Stowell are liberal in their religious belief. Politically, Mr. Stowell is a Re- publican, and has served the township in some local offices, such as member of the school board, etc .; he is a substantial citizen, held in good esteem.
A LBERT B. LAUGHLIN, one of St. Charles' prominent and representative citizens, was born in Wayne, Du Page Co., Ill., January 21, 1846. His parents were John M. and Emily N. (Garton) Laughlin, former a native of Virginia, latter of Kentucky; they came to Illinois about 1834, prior to their marriage, from Indiana, in company with her parents. They improved several fine farms in this locality, and removed to Du Page County, where they resided until Mr. Laughlin died, September 13, 1885. He was formerly a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but he, with his wife and several others, on account of attending meetings held by the Rev. J. W. Redfield, severed their communion with that church, and organized the Free Methodist Church. Mr. Laughlin was, therefore, one of the original founders of this creed, and in his dooryard was held the first Free Methodist Conference.
July 3, 1867, Albert B. Laughlin married Miss Ethal R. Brownell, a native of Illinois, born Sep- tember 28, 1848; her father died when she was a child. [See sketch of E. A. Brownell. ] In the spring following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Laughlin located on their present farm, two miles east of St. Charles, where they have 175 acres of well-improved land, large, commodious barns, and a handsome dwelling. Their union has been blessed with seven children, of which four sons and two daugliters are now living: John A., born September
15, 1868; Nellie E., December 21, 1872; Charles E., January 11, 1875; Eddy R., November 30, 1877; William M., September 27, 1880; May E., April 13, 1883. Mr. Laughlin is trustee and steward of the Free Methodist Church. In poli- tics he is a Republican.
G EORGE B. MARCH, a leading, influential citizen and farmer of St. Charles Township, is a native of New Hampshire, born in Wal- pole, Cheshire County, in 1835. He is a son of John S. and Sarepta Bundy March, who were born, reared and married at the same place. John S. March was a captain in the militia of his native State, and was known as a public-spirited and highly-respected citizen. He was a man of impressive personal bearing, noted as a strict dis- ciplinarian. His wife, Sarepta March, was a promi- nent person in women's circles, of keen intellectual powers, and possessed of a good education.
George B. March was liberally educated by his mother, and at the academy of his native town. At the age of eighteen he went to Boston, where he was engaged in the express business, and in 1857 he came to St. Charles. June 1, 1859, Mr. March married Miss Marion L. Minard, and they at once located on their present farm, where they have since resided. Four children have gladdened their home: George Leslie (born October 23, 1860), John Hubert (born January 14, 1866), William Elmer (born December 29, 1869), Wil- bur Curtis (born May 15, 1879). The son, George Leslie, was married March 30, 1881, to Martha Inez Cranston, only daughter of Herman I. Cranston, a prominent farmer and dairyman of St. Charles, and two children have been born to them: Earl Leslie (born September 15, 1883) and Lora Martha (November 20,1885). Mr. and Mrs. George B. March are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Mr. March acting as trustee. He is a Re- publican, and has held various local offices. He is a F. & A. M. and a member of the I. O. O. F.
Mrs. Marion L. March, a daughter of George W. Minard, is a native of Kane County, and was born February 10, 1841, in a log-cabin, on the spot where she now resides with her husband and
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family. Her father, a native of Rockingham, Vt., left his native place August 11, 1833, and came to Illinois with his brother and two other gentlemen, Dean and Read Ferson. After spending some time in Chicago he located in St. Charles Town- ship, where he resided until his death. He is remembered as one of the earliest pioneers of this region. He was a public-spirited citizen, greatly respected by a large circle of friends, and was especially interested in the advancement of both religious and educational interests, believing that the permanent welfare of the country depended much upon the thorough enlightenment of the com- mon people, with whom lies the safeguard of all national prosperity.
B ARTHOLOMEW C. YATES. The resi- dence of this gentleman in the beautiful town of Geneva distinguishes the place as the home, in his life of retirement, of one who may now be called the father of the secret serv- ice and detective agencies, as organized and prac- ticed in this country. At all events there are few, if any, who can date the commencement of their serv- ices farther back than can Mr. Yates, which ex- tends over a period of fifty years. He was born in Oneida County, N. Y., August 2, 1811. His ancestors were of Holland. His grandfather, Yates, was the first of the family who came to America; first stopping in New Jersey, and then going to the State of New York. His parents were Thomas and Olive (Rawson) Yates, natives of New York. The father was a highly respected gentleman, and did the country good service in the War of 1812-15.
Mr. Yates grew to manhood amid the scenes of pioneer life, and experienced many severe depriva- tions. His boyhood was spent on the borders of the white settlements, his parents having re- moved to Western New York when he was but six years old. When Mr. Yates had reached the age of seventeen years he commenced to learn the car- penter's trade, and connected with it that of chair maker. With the small wages he could thus earn he was enabled to contribute considerably to the maintenance of his parents and family, during
which time there was a failure of crops, and provisions reached such high figures as $50 a barrel for flour. He was hardly past his twenty- first year, when circumstances turned his attention to the detection and discovery of criminals, and bringing them to the bar of justice. He moved from the natural bent of his own genius, and at first was a volunteer in the smallest beginnings of a business that has now grown to be one of the great institutions of the country. When once started upon his course his rise to the very head was easy and rapid. He has seen and been a part of the craft from the volunteer pursuer of the fugitive from justice to the head and director of some of the most important agencies of the country. He was for eleven years in the employment of the Government, running down counterfeiters. H℮ was chief of police in Chicago under Mayor John Wentworth. There is scarcely one of the cele- brated detectives of the past forty years but who has been his pupil, or has acted as subordinate under him; Allan Pinkerton was one of the many he trained. He hired this man and paid him monthly wages, when he took service under the General Government. During the first year of this service he captured and "sent over the road " no less than thirty-six counterfeiters. Mr. Yates came to Illinois and located on a farm in Blackberry . Township in 1846. In the fall of 1848 he was elected sheriff of Kane County, and, serving his term, he was re-elected his own successor. Dur- ing this time he captured fourteen horse thieves, and in all the time he never lost a thief's trail when once reported. He destroyed for a time the business of horse stealing in this part of the country.
Mr. Yates has been twice married: First to Nancy Tobias, in 1842. She was a native of New York, born in 1826. The children by this union now living are Mary Elizabeth, wife of Col. O. J. Downing, of Dixon, Ill .; Martha A., residing in Aurora, and Charles C., engaged in business in Rushville, Ill. Mrs. Yates departed this life in 1857; she died as she had lived, a pious member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The following sea- son Mr. Yates married Susan Miller, born in Ohio, in 1838. Her father was a clergyman in the
B. torales.
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Evangelical Church. Of this marriage there were two children: Jessie B., now Mrs. Edward Brown, of Geneva Ill., and Richard (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Yates are exemplary members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church: he is a Republican. In addition to that of sheriff he has held many minor offices. Now, at the green old age of seventy-six years, he is strong and active, physically and mentally.
M ARK H. BISBY. Probably no other man in the Township of St. Charles was ever more widely known, or had a greater number of friends, than Mr. Bisby, who died December 19, 1882. His record was an hon- orable one, and of the many hundreds who had been associated with him in the development of the county, none knew him but to respect and honor his name. He served as lieutenant in and bat- talion quartermaster of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, and held many positions of trust and honor in civil affairs. He was connected with the P. of H., and I. O. O. F. fraternities, and for thirteen years was a devoted member of the Congregational Church, being well known as an active, energetic, public- spirited citizen. His place of nativity was Camillus, Onondaga Co., N. Y., where he was born April 13, 1828, and he came with his parents to Illinois in 1839. His father, Jared Bisby, was born in Addi- son County, Vt., September 22, 1798, and served as a soldier in the War of 1812. His mother, Almira (Harvey) Bisby, was a native of Herkimer County, N. Y., where she was born December 8, 1807.
During the gold fever, in 1849, Mr. Bisby spent some time on the Pacific coast, but in 1856 returned to Illinois, and located on his farm in St. Charles. This farm is one of the finest in the county, con- sisting of 240 acres of well-improved land, on which he erected large, commodious barns, as well as one of the finest farm residences in this section of the country. This homestead has been in the possession of the family many years, it being the original claim taken up by Mr. Bisby's father.
September 25, 1860, Mr. Bisby formed a happy union with Miss Hattie S. Mead. a native of Rut- land County, Vt., who was born November 22,
1838. She is a daughter of Deacon William F., and Lucretia M. (Kimball) Mead, natives of Ver- mont, who removed to the West in 1814, locating in McHenry County, Ill., where they resided until their deaths, and were known as honest, upright citizens. Her father was born in 1809, died April 28, 1876, and July 3, 1880, was followed by the mother, who was born in the year 1812.
Mr. and Mrs. Bisby's union was blessed with five children: Addie E., now Mrs. Frank Cranston, of Elgin Township; Etta L .; Lena A .; Mary H. and Jay. Mrs. Bisby is a member of the Congre- gational Church, and is interested in its movements and good work. Mr. Bisby was one of those men who achieve success through strict application of business principles and honorable dealings with his fellow men. He was a man of sterling worth and merit, and his death was a public as well as a fam- ily bereavement.
W H. WILCOX, though yet in the spring of life, has already established himself in the city of St. Charles as one of its popu- lar, rising and successful business men. Almost a native of the place (for he was born in Wayne, Du Page Co., Ill., December 4, 1860, and brought to St. Charles when a mere child), he has lived nearly his entire life among the citizens, well liked, honored and respected. Mr. Wilcox is a son of Samuel L. and Lucinda L. (Wheeler) Wilcox, the former a native of the State of New York, the latter of Massachusetts. They were married in Du Page County, Ill. (to which county Mr. Wilcox's maternal grandparents had come when it was com- paratively a wilderness), and thence removed to St. Charles, Kane County, where they resided for a period of twenty-six years, highly esteemed citizens, the father having been an active business man of the place. The mother died July 27, 1887.
Mr. W. H. Wilcox received a high school education, graduating from St. Charles High School in the class of 1878. He then went to Rochester, N. Y., where he served a clerkship of nine months in a book and stationery store. Returning to St. Charles, he was engaged for some time with the grocery firm of W. B. Lloyd, and in March, 1881,
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he established lumself in his present flourishing grocery, crockery-ware and wall-paper business. In January, 1888, he associated with him his brother, Geo. W. Wilcox, the firm name now being Wilcox Brothers, and they are doing a large and yet increasing trade, such as the courtesy, good business habits and popularity of the brothers well merit, their stock being at all times fresh and replete with everything pertaining to a first-class general grocery and wall-paper business. Politi- cally Mr. W. H. Wilcox is a strong Republican.
C J. BETHKE, postmaster at Dundee, was born in Prussia, in 1841. His parents, William Bethke (a farmer) and Dora (Fran- boes) Bethke, were Germans, and lived and died in their native country." They had three children, of whom C. J. is the youngest and only one in Kane County.
The subject of this memoir acquired a good education in his native country, and came to Amer- ica when nineteen years of age, settling in Dun- dee, Kane County, in 1860. In 1861, at the breaking out of the war, he enlisted in Company H, Fifth Missouri Volunteers, and one year later, his company having been much diminished by its many actions, was united with the remaining por- tion of the Fourth, and thenceforth was known as the Fourth Missouri Cavalry. He served three years, taking part in many battles, yet was fortunate in escaping wounds, and in the fall of 1864 he was honorably discharged. Returning to Dundee, he opened here a small grocery, and has steadily in- creased the business, until to-day he possesses a large and flourishing general store on the main street. In 1886 he was appointed postmaster, and took possession of the office February 1.
In 1865 he married Sophia Wickbold, the daughter of German parents, both of whom died in their native land. She came to Dundee in 1862, and there met and married Mr. Bethke. Seven children have been born to them: Sophia (de- ceased), Henry (assistant postmaster), Louisa (deceased), Theodore, Charles, Annie and William; all those living are at home. Mr. Bethke is a com- rade in the G. A. R .; a member of the German
Lutheran Church; he is a Democrat, and has filled many positions of trust in his town and county; was for ten years assessor for the town and for six terms village trustee. His trusts were always dis- charged with credit to himself and the satisfaction of his constituents. He is widely and favorably known throughout the county.
A LBERT CORL, well known among the merchants of Dundee as an honest and ex- emplary young business man, was born in McHenry County, Ill., October 9, 1849. His ancestors settled in New York at an early date, and their descendants remained there until 1848, when Henry and Mary (Schryver) Corl, the par- ents of Albert, came to Illinois and made a home in McHenry County, remaining there until 1878, when they removed to Dundee, where they now reside. Seven children were born to them, of whom four are now living, three in Dundee and one in McHenry County. Both parents belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.
When Albert Corl was a .young man he labored on his father's farm, attending the public schools of the neighborhood in the winter, and for some time was a student in the Elgin Academy. In 1870 he removed to Kansas and purchased land, engaged in teaching, and in 1875 was married to Mary Suttle, daughter of John and Lucretia Sut- tle, both of whom died in Kansas. Mary, when a young woman, taught several years in the Kansas schools. Of this marriage union there were born three children: Sadie, Cora and Alice, the last named now deceased. Mrs. Corl was a loving wife and mother, but, as death loves a shining mark, she was spared only a few short years to brighten her husband's home, and she departed this life April 5, 1882, a member of the Methodist Church.
In August following his wife's death Mr. Corl returned to Dundee and taught one term of school in McHenry County; in the spring of 1883 he be- came a partner with his brother in general mer- chandise. In 1886, his brother withdrawing from the firm, Mr. Corl became sole proprietor, and thus continues. He is highly spoken of by all, and is
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deserving of the respect and confidence he receives. John H. Corl, a brother, was a member of Com- pany I, Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry. He served until failing health caused his return to the old home, where he died a few hours after his arrival, in 1863, aged nineteen years.
EORGE GOEBEL, the oldest resident shoe- maker of Dundee, and a man well known throughout the surrounding country, was born in Heilbronn, Wurtemburg, Germany, in the year 1835. His father, Jacob, and his mother, Frederika, never came to America, but now sleep in their native land. They had a family of ten children, only two of whom are now living, George being the only one residing in Kane County.
Mr. George Goebel obtained a good education when a young man, and at an early age began the trade of shoemaker. He came to this country at the age of nineteen, and when twenty-two years of age he married Rosa Myer, who shortly afterward passed from earth. Some years later he was mar- ried to Sophia Henk, who has borne him eight chil- dren: Sophia, George J., Carrie, Paulina, August, Bertha, Walter O. and Adelaide.
It is now twenty-eight years since Mr. Goebel commenced his present business in Dundee, in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and he has given employment at various times to a number of men. He has had to make his own way in life, and has been successful in acquiring a pleasant and com- modious home. His family is one that reflects credit upon father and mother, and are esteemed by all. Mr. and Mrs. Goebel are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
C A. ANDERSON & CO. are among the most prominent business houses in the city of St. Charles. Both members of the firm are natives of Sweden, whence they came to America under adverse circumstances, but have, by close application to business and untiring en- ergy, built up a lucrative and progressive trade. Mr. Anderson spent the summer of 1887 in Eu- rope, visiting the various countries and places of interest, among them his native land.
The junior member of the firm, J. F. Colson, was born near Stockholm, Sweden, January 20, 1853, and when a babe was brought by his parents, John and Christine Colson, to America. His father was a shoemaker, and for a short time worked at his trade in Chicago, when, hearing of an opening in St. Charles, Kane County, he came here and followed his vocation, until compelled by failing eyesight, which afterward developed into total blindness, to retire from active business. J. F. Colson received a common-school education, and began life for himself as a clerk for L. C. Ward, at St. Charles. In 1882 le commenced a clerkship with C. A. Anderson, which lasted until March 1, 1886, when he became a partner in the business.
In January, 1883, Mr. Colson married Anna C. Johnson, of Geneva, Ill., who was born in Sweden, in 1857, and one child has blessed their union, Rose Winifred, born July 26, 1886. Mr. Colson, politically, is a thorough Republican, and lias served as a member of the Republican town com- mittee. He is a member of the St. Charles Lodge, No. 14, I. O. O F. and Waubonsie Encampment No. 13, and secretary of the St. Charles Cornet Band.
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