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 82
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 82
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occupations, among them that of a teacher in the district schools; and in 1837 he moved to Illinois, where he purchased a claim in Virgil Township, Kane County, and on the same commenced work as a farm hand. He has now a fine grain and dairy farm, well stocked, which is carried on by two of his sons, William R. and Edmund S.
March 24, 1842, Mr. Johnson married Sarah M. Chaffee, born in Windham County, Vt., Decem- ber 9, 1822, daughter of Eber and Anna (Davis) Chaffee, also natives of Vermont, who came to Kane County, Ill., in 1840, where they purchased a farm in Campton Township. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson had born to them ten children, of whom six survive, viz .: Mary A., now Mrs. Ware, of Garden Grove, California; Leverett C., partner of the firm Gould & Co., wholesale dealers in wooden and willow ware, Chicago; Lillian F., wife of M. M. Kinne, of Batavia; William R. and Edmund S., both at home; and Charles B., in Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are members of the Con- gregational Church of Batavia, of which for many years he served as trustee. In politics he is a Republican. In addition to his property in Kane County he owns a fruit farm in California.
E S. TOWN, one of the very earliest settlers of this part of Illinois, is a native of the State of New York, born in Granville, Washington County, November 23, 1804. His parents were Benjamin and Mary (Shumway) Town, and the English ancestry came to America over 150 years ago, two uncles of E. S. Town serv- ing at the battle of Bunker Hill.
When twenty-three years of age, Mr. Town moved to Mississippi, and was for several years connected with the Indian mission at Mayhew. In April, 1830, he was united in marriage with Hannah Emily Cone, a teacher in the girls' school at Mission Station, and a native of Connecticut. In 1833 they removed to New York, and in the spring of 1834, from Granville they proceeded overland to Illinois. Coming to Batavia Township, they settled, June 23, same year, on the west bank of Fox River, a short distance below the village of Batavia. Mr. Town now lives two and a half
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miles west of the village. Mrs. Hannah Emily Town died in March, 1854, aged fifty-three years, and in 1873 Mr. Town was united in marriage with Hannah E. Hutchinson, a native of Connecticut, born in 1828. Our subject and wife are members of the Congregational Church of Batavia, of which Mr. Town is one of the original meinbers, and of which lie has been trustee and deacon; he was also super- intendent of the first Sabbath-school organized in tlie county. Formerly a strong anti-slavery Whig, he is now a hearty supporter of the Republican party.
W. BULLARD. Prominent among the remaining pioneers of Kane County is this gentleman, now spending the evening of life in his quiet home in Dundee. He was born in Westborough, Mass., July 25, 1818. His ancestors were Americans for many years back, and some of them came to this country in the "Mayflower." Martin Bullard, his father, was married to Nabby Corey, who bore him six chil- dren, of whom only two, G. W. and Ethan, reside in Kane County.
G. W. Bullard had but limited educational ad- vantages in his early youth, and at sixteen years of age went to learn the painter's trade; but, when his apprenticeship was about completed he was poisoned by white lead, and never resumed the work. At the age of twenty years he became part- ner with a wealthy man, named Francis Howe, in the hotel and stage line business. He had but lit- tle capital of his own to invest, but Mr. Howe, knowing him to be a man of honor and fully trust- worthy, took his unendorsed note for $3,000. This business proved very profitable until the construc- tion of the local railroads, which destroyed the stage business; so Mr. Bullard resolved to seek a home and fortune in the new West. In 1839 he settled in Kane County on a farm which he pur- chased of the United States Government, and there remained until 1874, when he removed to Dun- dee Village to rest during his few remaining years from the severe toil of life. His hospitable home is one of the handsomest and most attractive and convenient in the place.
In 1840 Mr. Bullard was united in marriage with Emeline Harvey, a native of Stafford, Conn., and who, in 1872, passed from earth. Two chil- dren were born of this union: Mary A., now Mrs. Samuel Browning, of Dundee Township, whose sketch will be found elsewhere in this book, and Emeline (deceased). Mrs. Bullard, for some twen- ty-eight years, was a member of Dundee Congrega- tional Church. She was always of a benevolent disposition, universally esteemed for her motherly and social qualities. To all she was ever ready to lend a helping hand in time of need.
For his second wife Mr. Bullard married Fan- nie E. Fenn, a native of New Haven, Conn., and of Puritan extraction. Mr. Bullard was in early days, a strong anti-slavery man, and became a Republican at the founding of that party. In his township he has been very active in political affairs, and lias filled all its offices from supervisor down. He was one of two men (Dr. Luke Hale and himself) who purchased the land and laid out Dundee Cemetery, which is one of the handsomest in the county. Mr. Bullard is a man of whom all speak in highest terms, and one who has done much toward the upbuilding of Kane County, and long after he lias passed to silent dust his memory will remain as a pleasing recollection of a man wliose life was of that quality and kind that tend to make of this earth a wholesome and happy dwelling place.
I SAIAH GRIFFIN, one of the leading mer- chants of the town of Batavia, was born in Toronto, Canada, October 9, 1841, to Alfred (a farmer) and Hannah (Billings) Griffin, natives of New York State. After securing an ex- cellent school training in his native city, he, at the age of twenty two, tried his hand for a short time at farming, but in 1864, believing better scope for his abilities lay in the distant West, he came to Illinois. Here he first engaged in hotel business in Elburn, then moved into Batavia, where, for another brief space of time, he was connected with a hotel; after which he turned his attention to livery business, and this, in 1885, he sold out, in order to embark in his present line, in company
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with Mr. Albert E. Davis. The firm are doing a fine trade in gents' furnishings, etc., and are pop- ular, reliable business men.
September 21, 1863, Mr. Griffin became united in marriage with Mary Ann Cooney, a lady of Irish extraction, also a native of Toronto, born March 19, 1844; her parents died when she was thirteen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Griffin have been blessed with two children: Eden C., born April 9, 1868, and Lyle G., born May 3, 1879. Besides property in Batavia, our subject and wife own real estate in Nebraska, including city prop- erty in Omaha, all the well-earned results of their own industry and economy.
S AMUEL SALISBURY SHERMAN, editor and proprietor of The Rock City Review, published at Batavia, was born at Ottawa. La Salle Co., Ill., January 16, 1862, and is, consequently, just past his twenty sixth year, being the youngest publisher in the county. At the age of about eight years his parents removed to the State of Iowa, and settled at Eddyville, in the county of Wapello, where his home was located for some fifteen years. He learned the printer's trade mainly on the papers at Oskaloosa, Iowa, and after gaining a good knowledge of the business started a paper at Fremont, Mahaska Co., Iowa, afterward moved it to Eddyville (his old home), where he conducted it for some time, and then traded it for the office and good-will of the Keota (Iowa) Eagle, which he carried on success- fully for one year, making many improvements in the paper and office. In July, 1887, he sold to a company, and returned to his native State, where, at Batavia, in connection with his brother, A. A. Sherman, he established The Rock City Review. After about two months the connection of the younger brother with the paper ceased, and S. S. Sherman became sole proprietor.
Notwithstanding the crowded condition of the newspaper field within the county, Mr. Sherman bas, by his untiring efforts as business manager and editor, and by a due notice of all "little things," succeeded in establishing the paper on a firm and paying basis, which insures its continua-
tion, and has built up a circulation far larger than what could well be expected in so short a time. The paper is. in size and form, four pages of eight columns each, twenty-four inches length of column, and is printed with brand new type throughout. which shows up clear and readable, and its great- est specialty is the amount of local news always contained within its pages; it is issued at the reasonable figure of $1 per year. , On the political issues of the day Mr. Sherman has always been a Republican, and, though not taking active party sides, editorially, is always ready to praise a virtue or condemn a wrong in any party or portion of parties, and reserves always the privilege of ex- pressing his opinions freely and independently through the columns of his paper. He is captain of Rock City Camp, Sons of Veterans. for this year (1888). The Review office is located in the Pierce Block, on River Street. on the east side of Fox River. Batavia.
S OLEMNUS D. SEAMANS. This gentle- man is numbered as one of the most enter- prising, public-spirited and successful busi- ness men of Aurora. He was born in Rich- field Springs, Otsego Co., N. Y., October 11, 1848, a son of Nelson and Laurinda A. (Day) Seamans. His father was an artisan, but when his son, Solemnus D., was a small boy, he journeyed to the Far West, and engaged in trade with the Indians in Oregon and California, by whom he was treacherously killed. The widowed mother remained in New York until her son was fourteen years old, when, with her family, she removed to Aurora.
The subject of this memoir received a good training in commercial studies at Jennings Semi- nary, and at the age of eighteen years became a clerk in the Aurora postoffice, a position he filled for three and one-half years. The following three years were devoted to dealing in fruit and to horticultural pursuits. He formed a partnership with a Mr. Elliott, under firm name of Seamans & Elliot, wholesale lumber dealers, Mr. Elliott being succeeded by Mr. T. H. Day for a short time, at which time the firm became Loomis &
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Seamans. In 1878 Mr. Seamans bought out Mr. Loomis' interest, since when he has conducted the business alone. In 1880, when building opera- tions became active in Aurora, he added to his stock sash, doors, blinds, moldings, etc., and since then he has done a flourishing business. His lumber yards, owned by himself, are situated on the corner of Broadway and Benton Street, extending 170 feet on the former, back to Water Street, thus giving three fronts. Here are kept all kinds of builders' supplies and building material, including fully 800, 000 feet of lumber of all grades. Mr. Seamans is also largely interested in dealing in real estate. He is proprietor of Seaman's sub- division, located in Harmon's addition to Aurora, having disposed of many building lots therein, on which are already erected several dwellings. He is a director in the Aurora Watch Company.
Mr. Seamans was married, in New York City, to Miss Nellie Donavan. They are attendants of the Baptist Church.
B ENJAMIN SMITH, retired inventor and manufacturer, formerly of Batavia, now re- siding at 63 Aberdeen Street, Chicago, Ill., is a native of Connecticut, born at Ridge- field, Fairfield County, January 12, 1815, his parents, Amos and Sarah (Keeler) Smith, being of old families of that district. The father was a carpenter by trade in his earlier days, but in later life was a very popular hotel proprietor, keeping, for fifty years, the "Smith House " at Ridgefield. He was a large land owner, and died at the resi- dence which he had built, the father of eight sons and four daughters, all of whom lived to be men and women: Mellicent, Betsy, John, Philip, Stephen, Esther, Sylvester, Emma, Amos, Har- vey, Benjamin and Samuel; and of these Emma and Samuel reside on the old homestead farm, Samuel having built a new house near the old one, now occupied by Emma, who is married to George Smith.
Amos, the father of this family, was a son of John, who was a son of Ebenezer, who was one of the thirty original settlers of the town of Ridge-
field, Conn., having purchased the town site and a tract of land from the Indians in September, 1708; and Ebenezer Smith's portion of the purchase has never left the possession of the family of Smith.
Benjamin Smith received his primary educa- tion and was partially prepared for college in his native town, but, owing to his eyesight being affected with weakness, to a certain extent, he was compelled to discontinue study. This brought about a change in his plans, and, having decided to try his fortune in the then Far West, he set out on his journey, landing at Chicago October 20, 1837, where he remained nine years engaged in the grocery and provision business.
Having purchased the patent for a reaping machine, Mr. Smith, in the summer of 1846, built his first machine in Chicago, and in the fall of the same year gave it a trial on his farm, which he had bought near Bristol, Kendall Co., Ill., but, finding the cutting arrangement unsatisfactory, he invented and helped forge and cut the first crooked sickle ever made. The sickle he found satisfactory, but the other parts proved so imper- fect that he set to work to improve the entire machine, with ultimate complete success. In 1847 he sold a few of his machines, and in 1848 built a wooden shop in Batavia, on Main Street, and after a few years a stone one on the river, where the United States Wind Mill building now stands. Here he carried on an extensive business, turning out as many as 200 reaping machines in one year, until 1857, when, meeting with financial reverses, and suffering from a depression in real estate, he concluded to retire from the business. Soon afterward he removed to Chicago, where he was engaged in various lines of business, practi- cally retiring altogether in the year 1885.
August 8, 1838, Mr. Smith married, at Batavia, Miss Rachel Van Nortwick, born at Argyle, Washı- ington Co., N. Y., July 7, 1818, daughter of William and Martha (Flack) Van Nortwick, of whom a biographical memoir appears elsewhere. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born four daughters: Sarah Jane Clarina, wife of Edgar D. Swain, dentist, Chicago; Martha Mari, wife of Daniel B. Andrus, cashier of Gammon & Newton's Bank, Batavia; Emma Augusta, who died in
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Batavia at the age of ten years; and Ida Belle, who died in Chicago, aged seventeen years. The par- ents are members of the Centenary Methodist Epis- copal Church, Chicago.
W ILLIAM T. NEEDHAM, blacksmith, Kaneville, is a son of George Needham, a native of Canada, and was born in 1842. George Needham was a native of Ireland, a weaver by trade, an occupation he fol- lowed, together with farming, all his life. Will- iam T. learned blacksmithing witlı Alexander Drysdale, in the county of Lanark, Canada, and subsequently followed it in the county of Bruce, four years.
In 1870 he moved to Illinois, locating the same year at Kaneville, where he established a black- smith and repair shop, which he has since success- fully conducted. He was married in November, 1874, to Martha Benton, and by this alliance there are five children: George H., Frank Will- iam, Warren J., Independence T. and Mary B. Mr. Needham affiliates with the Democratic party; is a member of the Episcopal Church, and is an honored and respected citizen of sterling worth.
J OHN LINDEN, plumber, steam and gas fitter, Aurora, was born in the town of Wald Billech, Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, June 12, 1847, to Peter and Margarita (Flam- mang) Linden, natives of that country, who came to America with their family in 1861, locating at Aurora, Ill., in May of that year. The father, who was by trade a millwright, died at Aurora January 26, 1883, of pneumonia, and in full com- munion with St. Nicholas Roman Catholic Church; his widow still survives in Aurora. He and his wife had the following named children: John, Henry, Susan, Maggie and John W. Susan is the wife of Nick Linster, a cabinet maker in the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad shops; Maggie is the wife of Peter Wagner, in the trans- fer business, Aurora.
Soon after his arrival in this city Mr. Linden began working in Stolp's woolen mill, thoroughly
learning the trade of woolen manufacturing. with which he was connected until 1884, part of the time as general foreman of the mill. In the year last named he established his present business, and has conducted it successfully to date. As a business man Mr. Linden is energetic and prompt in all his dealings, his word being "as good as his bond," and in an eminent degree he enjoys the respect and confidence of all classes of citizens. He is an official member of the Germania Benev- olent Society, and of the German Catholic Church. He was married, September 22, 1870, to Miss Lena Reckinger, a native of Aurora, and a daugh- ter of Matthias Reckinger, a native of Germany. .
M ANLY S. MORGAN is one of the old set- lers of Elgin Township. His grandfather, Joshua Morgan. of Massachusests, re- moved from that State to New York in its early settlement, and took up a large tract of land where the city of Buffalo now stands, securing title from the Indians. He died there in 1846. His son, Joshua P. Morgan, the father of Manly S., married Keziah Shaw, daughter of William Shaw. They resided in Buffalo about twenty years, en- gaged part of the time in merchandising. In 1844 he removed with his family to and settled in El- gin Township, Kane Co., Ill., where he purchased several tracts of land and for some time carried on agriculture; he sold his farms and engaged in the grocery trade, now retired from the arduous du- ties of life, but hale and hearty, his erect and agile movement of person giving token of many years yet of the enjoyment of the fruits of a well-spent life.
Manly S. Morgan was born in Buffalo, N. Y., in 1830, and was fourteen years of age when his parents came to Illinois. After his arrival he en- gaged in the tinner's trade, at which he worked four years. In 1848 he attended school at Gales- burg, entered college, pursued his studies through the freshman year, then returned to Elgin. He has been engaged some years of his life in teach- ing school in different places. His residence is near South Elgin, where he carries on gardening and bee culture, having an apiary of fifty colonies.
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He also raises fruit. and at times has been engaged in pressing hay. For several years he has served as school director. At the early formation of the Greenback party he became a member, and ad- heres to that political faith. He is a member of the K. of L. Local Assembly, 2021 of Elgin. He has been married three times, and eighteen chil- dren have been born to him. His first marriage was, July 16, 1850, with Miss Marion Collins, daughter of Dr. Nathan Collins, of St. Charles, Kane County. Of this union there were three children, two of whom died in infancy, the sur- vivor being William H., an attorney, of Chicago. Mrs. Morgan departed this life November 9. 1856. August 5, 1858, Mr. Morgan married Emeline C. Franklin, daughter of Charles O. Franklin. of South Elgin. By this union there were fourteen children, two dying in infancy, and one when aged five years. Those living are May, Hattie, Manly Sherman, Carrie, Wealthy, Franklin, Rosa, J. Merton, Katie C., Lillian, Emeline Pearl. The mother of these children died September 3. 1881. February 20, 1883, Mr. Morgan married Fanny Davis, and the issue of this marriage is one child, Minnie.
J OHN BINNIE, one of the prominent and much respected citizens of Rutland Town- ship, is a son of Robert and Agnes (McLar- en) Binnie, and is a native of Stirlingshire, Scotland, born in the year 1835. His paternal grandparents were both natives of Scotland, whence, after the death of her husband, his grand- mother came to Dundee Township, Kane Co., Ill., and here made her home with her youngest son, Alexander Binnie, where she died in 1865. Four of her sons, Robert. David, Henry and Alexander, came to America, all settling in Kane County. Robert Binnie, the father of the subject of this memoir, was born in 1804, and in 1828 was mar- ried to Agnes McLaren, also a native of Stirling- shire. In 1848, when John was thirteen years of age, his parents immigrated to America. and pur- chased a farm of eighty acres in Dundee Town- ship, where they made their home until death called them from earth; the father dying in his
seventy-second year. in 1878, the mother follow- ing him in 1884. at the age of eighty-one years; both were respected members of the Presbyterian Church. Their married life was blessed with eight children. six of whom came to America.
John Binnie, our subject, at twenty-two years of age, left home and spent saven years farming in Iowa; then, selling his place, returned to Kane County, and purchased his present farm, whereon he has since resided. In 1859 his marriage with Margaret Fairweather took place. She was born in 1842, a daughter of James and Catherine (Mc- Queen) Fairweather, natives of Forfarshire, Scot- land, and who first met in Rochester, N. Y., where they were married in 1835; thence they proceeded to Ohio, and in 1838 came to Illinois, settling in Jo Daviess County. In 1857 Mr. Fairweather died, aged forty-six, and since his demise the widow has resided in the aforesaid county, on the home place. Margaret Fairweather was born in 1842. Mr. and Mrs. Binnie had a family of thirteen children, all but one now living: Robert, in Chicago; Katie, now Mrs. E. G. Irving, in Rutland Township; Agnes, now Mrs. J. R. Duff, also in Rutland Township; Ella, at home; Margaret, now Mrs. E. Crossley, in Lancashire, England; James, Eliza- beth, John, George. Annabel, Edna and Emma, at home; Mary L. is deceased.
Mr. Binnie has always been a Republican. When a young man he became a member of the Presbyterian Church. His farm consists of 163 acres in Rutland Township, and eighty acres in Dundee Township.
F ARWELL WRIGHT. a prominent owner of and dealer in real estate, of Elgin City, was born at Orford, Grafton Co., N. H., March 28, 1828. He is a son of Wincoll F. and Mary (Worcester) Wright, natives of the same State, whose lineal ancestors were of the early Puritan stock. Mr. Wright received a good education in his New England home, and when eighteen years of age began and thoroughly learned the carpenter's trade with an uncle at Cambridge, Mass., an occupation that he followed in the East until the fall of 1859.
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Mr. Wright was married in 1852 to Miss Saralı Carr, and in the fall of 1859 he and his wife re- moved to Illinois, and located at Elgin, where, until 1862, he was actively employed at his trade. In the year last named they returned to their old home in the East, remaining until 1875, when they again became residents of Elgin. Since that time Mr. Wright has been a dealer in real estate. improving the same by erection of good houses, and offering them for sale. Evidences of his handicraft may be seen in many of the preten- tious buildings of the city of Elgin, of which he was owner and builder. Mr. Wright is a Prohi- bitionist, and is one of Elgin's most substantial and enterprising citizens.
E L'BRIDGE E. FAY is a son of respectable people of Massachusetts, in which State several generations of the family have been born and reared. At times members of this family have shown the predominating spirit of trade and speculation, and some of them were dealers in stock and grain, buying and selling and shipping largely in the products of the country. In this line E. E. Fay in his early years was strong- ly inclined, and, following his natural bent, he has become widely known as a dealer in and shipper of stock, figuring extensively in all the chief marts of the country. He was born in Southborough, Mass., May 11, 1825, son of Elijah and Martha (Walker) Fay. When he was young his family re- moved to New York, and after spending some time in that State they came to Wisconsin, then in 1840 to Kane County, locating on a farm in Elgin Town- ship. Mr. Fay had been employed in a tannery considerably, also at currier's work, in which line he had become an expert; and from this he became engaged in the manufacture of boots and shoes. When he arrived in Kane County he went to work on the farm, and here he diligently applied himself. Something of the size of his father's family may be learned when the fact is stated that E. E. Fay is the eleventh son, and there were daughters besides. Mr. Fay had an uncle in Mas- sachusetts. who was a dealer in and shipper of stock and produce From him he learned to like that line of his business, and at the first opportunity he
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