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 83
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 83
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made his venture in the trade. His success was encouraging, and he continued to follow it, soon becoming a prominent grain, produce and live stock shipper.
Mr. Fay was married April 26, 1858, to Mary E. Goble. aud to them have been born one son and two daughters: Dinnie, who became the wife of Thomas Lawrence, of Burlington Township, Kane County: Franklin, a physician, residing in Sacra- mento, Cal., and Clara, at home with her parents. The family worship at the First Baptist Church.
W ILLIAM TYRRELL. In the little unin- corporated village of Gilbert's, Rutland Township, is a large general merchandise store, carried on by a firm of which the junior member is the gentleman whose name ap- pears at the head of this sketch. He was born in Rutland Township, Kane Co., Ill., in the year 1847. His parents were both natives of Ireland, whence they came to America at an early date, and settled in Kane County, where they both de- parted this life, the father in 1848, aged forty, and the mother some years later, aged sixty.
The subject of this memoir was united in mar- riage with Mary Brayman, also a native of Kane County, daughter of Lansing and Margaret (Beach) Brayman, both of whom died in her childhood. In 1884 Mr. Tyrrell left his farm, on Section 24, and became a partner with his brother-in-law, George C. Brayman. in general mercantile busi- ness. Their stock consists of all such articles as are generally in demand by a farming community, and by square dealing and charging small profits, they are building up an extensive trade.
In 1885 Mr. Tyrrell was appointed postmaster of Gilbert's, which position he still holds. He was once elected highway commissioner on the Demo- cratic ticket, and for one term was township col- lector.
E DWARD P. GERRY is a gentleman wlio has worked his way from the apprentice's bench to that of a prominent employer and contractor. His shrewd observations in life have enabled him to work many years at his trade, and then organize and put on foot a pros-
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perous business in a new line, showing not only ingenuity in mechanics, but originality in devising in the general field of arts. He is the son of Benjamin and Abigail (Holt) Gerry, both natives of New Hampshire, in which State, in Nashua, he was born August 4, 1844. The father, being a skilled mechanic, reared his son to follow in his footsteps in the mechanical arts.
He was brought up in the plain and comfort- able surroundings of his parents' home, and given the fundamental branches of an English educa- tion. When old enough he was put to the watch- maker's trade in his native place, and served many years in the Waltham Watch Factory. In 1869 he removed to the State of Illinois, where he was given employment in the Elgin Watch Factory, and for seventeen years was foreman of the watch escapement department. He retired from the position. and embarked in the business of making concrete for walks, streets and driveways. His observation taught him that this was a public want, and he proceeded to supply it. The evidences of his good work are to be seen in the many miles of this pavement in the city. He has made his manu- factory one of the important institutions of Elgin, and has taught the people to demand the comforts of the best system of pavement now to be had.
Mr. Gerry has been twice married; first to Harriet Gregg, in Waltham, Mass., and of this union was born Josie R .; mother and daughter are deceased. September 8, 1881, Mr. Gerry was united in marriage with Miss Nellie Dresser, a native of Beloit, Wis., born in 1857. They attend worship at the Universalist Church. Mr. Gerry is a member of the society of United Workmen; a Republican in politics; a charter member of Elgin Washington Lodge, No. 13.
F FREDERICK S. MORRILL, one of those well-known farmers who became acquainted with Kane County in its pioneer period, came to Illinois from Vermont in 1844. He was born in Strafford, that State, May 24, 1825. His father, Stephen Morrill, was by trade a me- chanic, and at the time of his death had been recorder thirty-four years. He died December 10,
1848, aged fifty-seven years. His widow, nee Betsey Bliss, died in 1864, aged eighty years.
Settling in Blackberry Township, Frederick S. Morrill began as a farm hand. In 1846 he pur- chased a farm in Kaneville Township, but some years later he returned to Blackberry Township. In his politics lie has always been a Democrat; was postmaster at Blackberry 1858 -- 86, when his son, Dell B., was appointed. He has also served as town clerk, collector, and justice of the peace of both town and county. He still owns a part of the first farm he occupied in his township.
November 8, 1847, Mr. Morrill married Lucinda Cleveland, who was born in New York State. May 13, 1828, daughter of Alba and Nancy (Seavey) Cleveland, natives of Vermont, who came to the State of New York, and thence to Illinois in 1843, when they took up a claim in Kaneville Township. Here they resided until their death, the mother dying January 28, 1875, at the age of seventy- three years, and the father December 10, 1877, aged eighty years, botlı respected members of the Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Morrill's children were Stephen, born May 23, 1849, died May 7, 1853; Betsey, born February 6, 1851, now the wife of H. Ross, of St. Charles, Kane County; Frank S., born January 28, 1853, married, January 27, 1875, Cora L. Shaw, in Nebraska; Lucy A., now Mrs. Robert R. Ross, of Wayne Center, Ill. ; Dell B., born July 18, 1857; and Blanchie, born May 31, 1870.
EVI BRUNDIGE, SR., prominent among the early settlers of Blackberry Township, is the proprietor of a fine stock, dairy and grain farm of 140 acres, situated on Section 1. He was born in New Brunswick, August 31, 1811. His parents, Nathaniel and Eleanor (Clark) Brundige, moved to Canada when he was nine years old, and there the father died, in 1821, at the age of thirty-five years, and the mother in 1845.
The subject of this biographical sketch, Mr. Levi Brundige, Sr., married January 12, 1837. Miss Charlotte Smitlı, a daughter of Johnson and Arethusa (Fuller) Smith, who emigrated from New England to Canada previous to their marriage.
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Both of Mrs. Brundige's grandfathers served in the Revolutionary War.
Mr. and Mrs. Levi Brundige have had eleven children, as follows: Adeline, born October 23, 1837, and died September 28, 1859; Estella, born August 2, 1839; Levi, born September 25, 1840; Amanda, born March 7, 1842, died February 27, 1881; Me- lissa, born September 6, 1844, died March 4, 1883; Marilda, born June 9, 1846; Portland, born De- cember 4, 1847; Mary E., born July 12, 1849, died October 29, 1853; Charlotte, born September 11, 1851; Nellie, born October 14, 1854; John C., born September 1, 1856.
In 1852 Mr. Brundige bought the farm which he has since occupied. In public relations he has served as a member of the school board, and in his political views is a Republican. Mrs. Brundige is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
H P. BRADLEY, the oldest blacksmith in Dundee, a native of Fairfield, Franklin Co., Vt., was born July 2, 1842. When but thirteen years of age he came with his par- ents to Kane County, and one year later began working in a gristmill at Carpentersville, laboring there for eighteen months, and then took his place as a workman in the woolen mill in the same place. Here he remained one year, and then turned his attention to the trade of blacksmith. For some three years after coming to Kane County he gave considerable time to the acquiring of a practical education, and in this he diligently improved his opportunities. In 1861, being anxious to serve his country, he volunteered in Company I, Fifty- second Illinois Volunteers, but was rejected because of his father objecting to his going. Twice after he made similar attempts, with the same results. In 1866 he opened for himself a blacksmith shop near where he is now located. His strict applica- · tion to business and his thorough mastery of his trade have tended to secure for him a large patron- age. His work is always done well and promptly, and he has, consequently, abundantly prospered.
February 4, 1862, he took as a life partner Miss Luie Taylor, daughter of George F. and Ann (Russell) Taylor. She was born in Dundee, and
before her marriage was for several years a teacher of instrumental music; she also gave lessons after her marriage. She is the mother of six children: Helen, now Mrs. W. Burton, of McHenry County; George; Sarah (deceased); Ruth, William and Garfield. Mr. Bradley is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has also identified himself with various other orders in his county. He is one who by his own earnest efforts has made his suc- cess in life, and is highly esteemed as a good and representative citizen, who has earnest convictions which he freely announces.
Mero Bradley, father of H. P., was a native of Vermont, where his father, John Bradley, was born, and grew to manhood, and from there went as a soldier in the Revolutionary War; he died at the age of eighty years.
Mero Bradley was by trade a cooper, a business he followed until he came to Kane County, in 1855, where he became a farmer; but in 1863 he sold his place and removed to Dundee, to rest from life's hard labors. In his native State he was a member of the militia, and for twelve years was a bass drummer in one of the military bands. He mar- ried Emeline Sherman, daughter of Eli Sherman, and two children have been born to them: Julia A. (Mrs. L. D. Wright, of Carpentersville), and H. P. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley are devoted to home and children, and are interested in all affairs tend- ing to the prosperity of Dundee. Since coming to the place Mr. Bradley has been a justice of the peace.
OHN L. KEE. While such buildings as the Nolting Block, the Methodist Church build- ing, as well as some of the fine residences of Elgin, remain prominent land marks in the town, so long at least will it be recalled that their contractor and builder was Mr. John L. Kee. He was a son of the Emerald Isle, born in 1837. His parents were John and Jane (Lennie) Kee, who came to America, and settled in Guelph, Ont., in the year 1856.
When John L. was nineteen years old he com- menced to learn the carpenter's trade. In 1863 he came to the United States, and finally found his
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way to Elgin, Ill. He became, in every sense of the word, an American, went to work diligently at his trade, and soon became a contractor and builder. He was married in Canada to Mary, daughter of Capt. Black, of Guelph, Ont., and by her had one son and four daughters, as follows: Jennie (wife of J. H. Hugill, druggist, in Arthur, Ont. ), Elizabeth, Emma, Ella May and William John. The family worship at the Methodist Epis- copal Church, in which Mr. and Mrs. Kee were active members more than twenty-four years. Mr. Kee died January 28, 1888. He was a decided advocate of temperance principles.
H ARVEY SEYMOUR is the son of John and Elizabeth (Wright) Seymour, natives of New York, the parents of seven sons and five daughters. They came to Illinois in 1841, and settled in Barrington, Cook County, where the father bought 320 acres of land and added to it until he finally owned 880 acres. He died in Elgin, Ill., August 27, 1876; his wife died in Barring- ton. Ill., September 28, 1861.
Harvey Seymour was born in Tyrone, Steuben Co., N. Y., April 8, 1822. He secured a common- school education, and when of age received eighty acres of the land he had helped his father purchase. He burned the brick, built for himself a house, 20x30 feet, two stories high, and here he lived, adding to his possessions until he had 700 acres. At one time he dealt largely in sheep, having 1,000 Spanish Merinos, and to this fine stock Mr. Seymour added horses and cattle, in which he also deals extensively. At the fairs of the coun- try he exhibited more stock than any other man in the county. In 1871 he retired from the more active business of farming to his present residence in Kane County, where he has 38 acres. He still owns 250 acres in Cook County, 160 acres in Iowa. three good residences in the city of Elgin, besides nine vacant lots. He still maintains his interest in good stock, and has now some very fine speci- mens of the Morgan breed of horses, and good Jer- sey cattle. His residence is of brick, 32 feet square, and has very pleasant surroundings. Polit- ically, Mr. Seymour was a Whig, and in later years
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he has been a hearty supporter of the Republican party. He is a man of high social and moral stand- ing, and for many years has held official positions in the Methodist Episcopal Church.
August 20, 1845, Mr. Seymour was married to Frances E. Haven, born at Carthage, Jefferson Co., N. Y., March 25, 1827, her parents being Samuel and Lydia (Strong) Haven. Samuel Haven died in Johnstown, Barry Co., Mich., February 23, 1857; Lydia (Strong) Haven died in Chicago, Ill., November 22, 1874. In early life Mrs. Seymour received a good education, and for several years pre- vious to her marriage she was engaged in the milli- nery business. In 1844 she came to Illinois with her parents, who settled at Barrington. Cook County, where she was living at the time of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Seymour have one child living, Walter A., born in Barrington, Cook Co., Ill., September 1, 1857, married to Minnie C. Knickrehm Sep- tember 22, 1886, and by her has one child, Gracie Anna, born in Elgin, Ill., September 27, 1887. One son of Mr. and Mrs. Seymour, Harvey, was born in August, 1850, and died same month and year.
S AMUEL W. BROWNING was born January 14, 1835, in Warren County, N. J., and was a son of J. H. and Julia (Wire) Browning. In 1847 he came with his father's family to Cook County, Ill., where he was reared and edu- cated, and, on attaining man's estate, engaged in farming, which business he conducted with marked success.
He was married at Dundee, February 2, 1864, to Mary A. Bullard, who was born at Dundee in June, 1841, a daughter of George W. and Emeline (Harvey) Bullard. [See sketch of G. W. Bullard. ] The young couple began housekeeping at Dundee, and remained there for two years, when they re- moved to Barrington, Cook County; in 1871 they returned to Dundee Township, and located on the farm that has since been the homestead of the fam- ily, consisting of 200 acres.
S. W. Browning was a man of mark in the community wbere he lived; was universally trusted, and filled various local offices of honor and trust. He attended the services of the Congregational
.W. Browning
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Church. He died May 22, 1886, and left a valua- ble estate to his family, consisting of the home- stead named above and some 500 acres of good farming land located in other parts of Kane and Cook Counties, Ill.
Mr. and Mrs. Browning were the parents of five children, named Lucy E., Howard A., Clara M., W. J. (deceased) and Julia E. The mother of this family still resides with her children at the homestead in Dundee Township; she is an amiable and highly respected lady. She sends her children to the Elgin schools, aiming to give them a thorough education.
OSIAH LYKE, residing on the northeast cor- ner of Section 19, Kaneville Township, was born March 18, 1842, in Avoca, Steuben Co., N. Y., where he was reared and edu- cated. He is a son of Jacob and Lucinda (Shults) Lyke, both natives of Palatine, Montgomery Co., N. Y., the former of whom, a son of John I. Lyke, was born in 1801, and died in March, 1886.
The subject of this sketch enlisted in defense of the Union cause, August 25, 1862, in Company F, One Hundred and Sixty-first New York Volun- teer Infantry, in which he served throughout the remainder of the struggle, participating in many of the · engagements. He was mustered out after the close of the war September 27, 1865, receiving an honorable discharge.
He returned to his home, then in the town of Bath, N. Y., and December 31, 1868, he married, in the town of Avoca, N. Y., Caroline Gray, a native of Montgomery County, N. Y., and a daughter of Ambrose and Catherine (Richards) Gray, also na- tives of Montgomery County, N. Y .; they died, the father, January 1, 1882, and the mother, January 1, 1872. Ambrose Gray was a son of William and Nancy (Saltsman) Gray, also natives of Montgom- ery County ; he was a prominent farmer, and served in many local offices of trust. Mr. and Mrs. Josiah Lyke have been blessed with five children: Marvin A., Viletta C., William R., David E. and Carrie M. Two years after their marriage the young couple came to Illinois, where Mr. Lyke, in 1871, bought the farm of 179 acres where he now re-
sides, and the family at once settled thereon. Mr. Lyke, since locating in Kaneville, has taken fore- most rank as a successful representative farmer and useful citizen. He has served his vicinity as school director for six years, and has also held other local offices. In politics he follows the foot- steps of Jefferson and Jackson, believing their principles to be practically the best for the govern- ment of the country.
LARK M. HUMISTON (deceased) was a native of Litchfield County, Conn., born October 23, 1826. When a young man he moved to New Haven, Ohio, where for some time he clerked in the mercantile establishment of Phelps & Sons. In 1850 he went to California, and engaged in mining for gold, but, his health failing, he returned two years later, and settled in the township of Pierce, De Kalb Co., Ill., where he resided until 1874. At this date he came to Kaneville Township, Kane County, taking up his residence on a farm that he purchased, three miles southeast of Kaneville Village, which he oper- ated until November 15, 1883, when he was un- fortunately killed in a terrible railroad accident near Streator, Ill., caused by a freight train run- ning into a passenger train. He was a man of excellent judgment and business ability, and for several years served his fellow citizens as school director in both De Kalb and Kane Counties, in De Kalb County as supervisor and in other local offices.
Mr. Humiston was married February 11, 1852, to Elizabeth P. Price, who was born in New York, May 2, 1831, and from this alliance the following named children were born: Frank P., born March 10, 1854; Carrie C., born December 7, 1855; Fred I., born September 15, 1857; Clara H., born Oc- tober 22, 1859; Charlotte E., born October 24, 1861; Clarence M., born May 11, 1863; Bennett, born February 18, 1865; Emily E., born Novem- ber 18, 1868; Mary M., born July 10, 1871; Ches- ter and Lester (twins), born April 7, 1873; Lulu M., born May 23, 1879. All of this large family are still living except Clara H., Charlotte E., Chester and Lester.
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The widowed mother is now a resident of Kane- ville Village. She is a daughter of Thomas and Nancy (Comstock) Price, the former a native of New York, and the latter of Connecticut. Thomas Price was a farmer, and a resident of Gainesville, Wyoming Co., N. Y., for many years; he was a prominent man in his vicinity, and_filled various offices such as justice of the peace, etc.
H IRAM BRISTOL. This citizen of Aurora was born in Salem, Washington Co., N. Y., March 22, 1800, his parents being David and Abiah (Peck) Bristol, both of whom came of pioneer stock of the State of Connecticut, and resided near Newtown.
Hiram was reared to farming, which occupation he followed in his native State until 1842, when he moved to Naperville, Ill., and here carried on a busy and successful farm life for over twenty years, retiring from it in 1867 to locate in Aurora. He was married in Whitehall, N. Y., before coming west, to Miss Sarah Spink, by whom he had a family of two sons and two daughters, all born in New York. They are named Ira (deceased); George, a substantial farmer of Kendall County, Ill .; Sarah, the widow of Charles Stolp; and Ann, wife of Frederick Crane, a farmer of De Kalb County, Ill.
Mrs. Bristol, who, during her life, was in full connection with the Methodist Church, died here, and is buried in the Naperville Cemetery. Mr. Bristol was again married, his second wife being Reab Spencer, by whom he has no children. Both worship at the Methodist Church, of which body he has been a member for over sixty years. Mr. Bristol has always been known as an upright citi- zen, has reared and educated his family well, and lives to see them respected members of society.
R ICHARD REED FERRISS, proprietor for the past twenty years and more of a livery stable in Aurora, was born in Peru, Clinton Co., N. Y., April 10, 1830, to Reed and Lydia(Ricketson) Ferriss, both natives of Vermont, and of a long line of ancestry in that State on the
mother's side. The Ferrisses in Vermont are sup- posed to be originally of Welsh stock. Reed Ferriss was a carpenter, a business he followed for many years. He came with his family to Illinois in the fall of 1839, and located in Oswego Town- ship, Kendall County, and engaged in farming. He and his wife had seven sons and two daughters. . Richard R. Ferriss was but nine years of age when he came with his father's family to Illinois. He grew to manhood on the old homestead, in Kendall County, and in the meantime obtained a good com- mon school education. His early manhood was spent in farming on the old homestead. In 1855 his mother died, but he remained on the farm until 1866, when he came to Aurora and engaged in his present business, and as a citizen he has been identified in promoting its best interests ever since. He has served his fellow citizens as a member of the city council for three terms.
Mr. Ferriss was married in Kendall County to Martha J. Fowler, a native of Chautauqua County, N. Y., who died in 1866, leaving a daughter, now a teacher in Aurora. He was married the second time to Miss Louisa J. Hathaway, a native of New York, and they have four children: Edward Reed, Richard Truman, Alice and Bessie. The family are attendants of the New England Congregational Church of Aurora.
OHN HERLEHY. Of the many employes of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- road there are few if any who better com- mand the confidence of their employers. Mr. Herlehy is a native of the parish of Kilcornie, County Cork, Ireland, and was born in 1837, a son of Thomas and Nora (Lyons) Herlehy. The father died when John was but sixteen years of age, and the widowed mother then came with her family to America, locating in Chicago. The young man remained, and aided his mother in the care of the family until he was eighteen years of age, when he sought and secured employment as fireman on a locomotive. His work, however, was mostly for years in the building of railroads, superintending a steam shovel. In this capacity and as engineer he was in Canada and several of the Northern
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States, and was at work in New Orleans when the Civil War broke out. He then came North, and for a time was fireman on a locomotive; in the course of a short time he was given an engine, and he has since been continuously employed in his present position.
In October, 1862, in Chicago, Mr. Herlehy and. Ellen M. Guinne were united in marriage. She is a daughter of John and Julia (Haleran) Guinne, and was born in Bantry, the County Cork, Ireland. Of this marriage there have been born eight chil- dren-five sons and three daughters-as follows: Thomas J. (the eldest son, learned the machinist's trade, and is now a foreman in the watch factory Elgin), Annie, Nellie M., Julia E., John C., Arthur D., William Francis and Daniel Emmett. The second daughter, Nellie M., is a graduate, and is preparing to become a school teacher. The family worship at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church.
Mr. Herlehy is a member of the A. O. H. society, and was one of its original organizers. For many years and during the existence of the church tem- perance society he was one of its chief promoters. He was for a long time a member of the Brother- hood of Locomotive Engineers.
T R. TROENDLE. Though yet a young man, this gentleman has climbed well up the ladder to commercial fame. He is a native of Kentucky, born at Louisville, January 4, 1859, son of Joseph F. (an artist by profession) and Louise (Smith) Troendle, natives of France and Germany, respectively, and who immigrated to the United States in 1848 locating first at New York, whence they moved to Louisville, Ky., in 1850. Later in 1867 the family returned to Stutt- gart, Germany.
Coming to this country once more, in 1869, the family located in Chicago, and in 1876 T. R. en- tered the service of the Van Nortwick Paper Com- pany. At the organization of the St. Louis Paper Company Mr. Troendle was received into the firm as junior partner; and in 1884 he came to Batavia to assume the duties of vice-president of the Western Paper Bag Company, which is a stock
company with a capital of $100,000, and giving employment to some fifty hands. The business turns out about 2,000,000 bags per day, which find a ready market throughout all parts of the West, the annual sales amounting to in the neigh- borhood of $200,000.
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