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 86
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 86
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ALVIN M. ANDREWS is one of the repre- sentative farmers of Burlington Township, whose self-reliant efforts have won success. He is a son of Prince and Clarissa (Morse) Andrews, and was born at Ware, Hampshire Co., Mass., February 16, 1816. Prince Andrews, who was a farmer, had eleven children, four of whom are now living-one in St. Louis, one in Boston, and two in Kane County. The paternal ancestors werc English. The grandfather, a native of England, came to this country and became one of the Revo- lutionary soldiers.
Mr. C. M. Andrews spent his boyhood in his native State, and three years of his young life in a paper mill. In 1837 he left home, and located in Kane County, Ill., where he bought 160 acres of land in Sections 30 and 31, where he is still living. In 1859 he went to California, and en- gaged in mining, and finding his impaired health improving, he remained in that State some years. Returning to Illinois in 1864, he engaged in farm- ing. He has a choice selection of the rich lands of the county, which he has placed under excellent cultivation, having the best of general improve- ments throughout, and being. well stocked with choice breeds of cattle and horses. Two years ago he erected a commodious residence, and, among his other buildings is one for grinding grain for stock, that is a model of convenience and utility.
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Mr. Andrews takes no great interest in politics, but votes the Republican ticket. He has served as justice of the peace one year, and as assessor two years. In 1844 he married Miss Evaline Day, of West Springfield, Mass., and they are the par- ents of seven children: William Wallace, Sullivan Dexter, Frank, Horace, Calvin D., Serena and Augusta. Serena is a physician in Iowa, and Augusta is with her parents.
In 1884 Mrs. Andrews was one day burning packages of unused and worthless flower and gar- den seeds, among which some one had innocently put a package of gunpowder. An explosion took place, and she was so severely burned that she survived but a few days.
M RS. PRUDENCE PADELFORD, widow of James F. Padelford, was born in Can- ada, in March, 1823, a daughter of Elijah and Idalia (Ward) Pound, natives of this country. Her father's people, who were Quakers, reinoved in 1814 to Canada, where Elijah met and married Idalia Ward, who had gone there in 1818. In 1829 Mr. Pound departed this life, aged forty years. His widow continued to reside upon the farm, and, though now eighty eight years of age, still retains and enjoys her faculties, and is a great comfort to all her friends. She is the mother of six children.
In 1840 Prudence Pound was married to James F. Padelford, a native of Massachusetts, and a de- scendant, in the fifth generation, of the famous Roger Williams, founder of the State of Rhode Island. At fourteen years of age James F. re- moved with his parents, Manly aud Thankful Pad- elford, to Canada. He was a teacher, but in 1844 came to Illinois, where he purchased land. There was nothing on the farm at that time but a log- house and a small stable; now it has one of the finest residences in Dundee Township. They had a family of ten children, as follows: Amanda, now Mrs. G. H. Peck; Phebe, married to A. D. Chaf- fee; William H., married to Joie (Ladd) Starks; Melvina, married to A. Beverly, died January 20, 1872; Ida, who became Mrs. A. Gilbert; Jessie (de- ceased June 26, 1857); Franklin James (deceased
May 2, 1887); Jennie, married to Robert B. Kerr; Julia T., living at home, and Manly E. (deceased August 30, 1884).
June 15, 1883, Mr. Padelford passed from earth at the age of sixty-nine years. Mrs. Pad- elford and her family are members of the Baptist Church at Elgin. Her late husband was in life an earnest temperance worker, anti-Mason, anti-slav- ery, and a strong advocate of the Christian faith, as held by the Baptist denomination. He was a man well posted, and was never at a loss to express his mind. Since his demise Mrs. Padelford has re- mained on the farm, and, although her home has been twice visited by deatlı, taking from her two of her beloved sons, she has borne up nobly, feel- ing that they were both prepared for the change. Her granddaughter, Melvina C. Beverly, has re- sided with her fifteen years.
W ILLIAM H. YOUNGES was born in Flor- ida, Montgomery Co., N. Y., April 22, 1843, the son of Charles and Magdelen (Lingenfelter) Younges, and a grandson of George Younges, an eminent man in the com- munity in which he lived, who held a lieutenant's commission and served with distinction in the War of 1812; he was of German descent; the maternal grandmother of William H. Younges was of Dutch descent.
Charles Younges started in life as a farmer, but subsequently engaged in mercantile and lum- bering business, accumulating considerable prop- erty. In 1859 he came to Illinois, settling in Plato Township, Kane County, where he bought 210 acres of land in Section 25, to which he added at different times until he was the owner of 490 acres. For several years he was engaged in buying and selling cattle. He died July 4, 1872; his widow resides in Elgin.
William H. Younges spent his boyhood on the farm, attending the schools of the vicinity, and afterward completed his education at Fort Plain Seminary, New York. Having chosen farming as an occupation, he bought, in 1880, the old home- stead consisting of 205 acres, and now gives his chief attention to the dairy, owning sixty cows.
J.J. Padalford
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KANE COUNTY.
The farm is well watered and drained, and is un- der excellent cultivation, with ample buildings for the comfort of the stock and the storage of grain and hay. Mr. Younges deals largely in stock, de- voting special attention to the raising of Holstein cattle, and owning one animal of Dagon breed, be- side a large number of high grade cows and heifers. He also has some very fine horses, one Norman mare, a descendant of Success and Old Louis Napoleon, beside other thoroughbreds, one by Nimore. Among his horses are found descendants of some of the kings of the turf-one Hambleton- ian mare sired by Woful, by Rysdyke's Hamble- tonian (she had a colt by Muscatine); also a pacing mare by Silverheels, of Hambletonian stock (she also has a colt by Muscatine).
June 17, 1872, Mr. Younges married Miss Im- ogene, daughter of Frank Webster, of Elgin, and born at Cuba, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., November 28, 1853. Her parents came to Illinois in 1855, and she spent five years at the Elgin Academy, after which she taught two terms. Mr. and Mrs. Younges have four children: Gracie May, born January 22, 1873; Walter C., born April 27, 1877; Roy W., born December 1, 1879; and Ed- win, born July 22, 1882. Mr. Younges is a pub- lic-spirited gentleman, deeply interested in all matters of welfare to the farming affairs of the county. He is a warm supporter of the Republi- can party.
M OSES WANZER, an old settler of Dun- dee Township, is a native of Fairfield, Vt., born July 28, 1814. His parents, Nicholas and Betsey (Hill) Wanzer, natives of Connecticut and Vermont, respectively, came to Illinois in 1849. Moses Wanzer came to Kane County in 1837, and purchased a farm in Dundee Township, on which he resided until the fall of 1884, when he removed to Carpentersville. He is a Republican-Prohibitionist, and has held vari- ous offices, such as highway commissioner and mem- ber of the school board.
January 5, 1841, he married Miss Amanda Cochran, who was born in Cambridge, Vt., Janu- ary 13, 1813, and the children born to them are
Sidney L., Mary A., Saralı A., Moses A. and Car- oline M. In 1861. Sidney L. enlisted in Company I, Fifty-second Regiment Illinois Volunteers. March 24, 1883, Mrs. Wanzer, after a painful sickness, died. September 25, 1884, Mr. Wanzer married Mrs. Mary R. Wilbur, widow of William W. Wilbur, and born in Rochester, N. Y., July 29, 1832, a daughter of Beers and Catherine (Cadogan) Skidmore, both of Herkimer County, N. Y. After her marriage with Mr. Wilbur she came with him to Carpentersville in 1861, and in September, 1881, Mr. Wilbur's death occurred. Three children were born to them, the two now living being Willard E. and Edna May. Mr. and Mrs. Wanzer are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
M A. WANZER was born in 1847, and spent his young days in agricultural pursuits. In 1881 he purchased the old homestead, and became the owner of the place where he had been born. He now owns 188 acres on Section 18, Dundee Township. In 1876 he was united in matrimony with Miss Louisa Underhill, a native of Kansas, and the daughter of Daniel and Agnes (Williams) Underhill, who were among the earliest settlers of Kansas Territory. They were natives of New England and Scotland, respect- ively. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wanzer, one of whom died, Herbert M. sur- viving. Politically Mr. Wanzer is a Republican.
D OUGLAS BABCOCK was born in Hender- son Township, Knox Co., Ill., August 5, 1841, and is a son of Linus and Euphrasia (Douglas) Babcock, who, in 1839, came from Onondaga County, N. Y., to Knox County, Ill., thence, in 1842, to Kane County, where they settled in Section 8, taking up 160 acres. The subject of this biography obtained a good district school education, choosing farming as a life voca- tion. He is now the owner of eighty acres of choice land in Section 8, Aurora Township, where he has one of the most attractive homes in the township, the residence standing on a pleasant
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KANE COUNTY.
elevation. Here he carries on mixed farming, raising cereals and choice grades of cattle.
January 26, 1869, Mr. Babcock led to the lymeneal altar Ellen, daughter of Robert Harris, and the fruits of this union are two interesting children: Laura E., born April 23, 1875, and Andrew D., born September 23, 1882. Mr. Bab- cock supports the Republican party, and exhibits much interest in public affairs. His neighbors and friends have evinced their respect for and con- fidence in him by supporting him for the past nineteen years for the position of school director, an office he has all along filled with credit to him- self and satisfaction of the district he represents. He is a member of the Order of Modern Woodmen.
A MASA L. WHITE is a native of Vermont, born in Windham County, September 10, 1825, son of Amasa and Betsy (Dunton) White, of old Puritan stock. The progen- itors of the White family in America were two brothers, who came on the " Mayflower." When Amasa L. was fourteen years of age (in 1839) his parents moved to Illinois and settled on a farm in Geneva Township, which they purchased from the Government, and which still remains in posses- sion of the family. Amasa White, Sr., was among the early settlers of Geneva Township. He was a prominent citizen, taking an active interest in all progressive movements, and was a member of the old Whig party. He was born in 1797, died in 1875, and was followed in 1878 by his widow, who was born in 1800. They were members of the Unitarian Church.
Amasa L. White received a very limited edu- cation, and when of age began farming, which he followed until 1860. He then engaged in the grain, coal and agricultural trade in Geneva. During Grant's administration he was appointed United States mail clerk, and for five years he worked on the Chicago, Milwaukec & St. Paul Railway, then known as the Chicago & Pacific, since when he has resided in Geneva. He is a Re- publican and has held many positions of trust, among them those of constable, collector and as- sessor, also deputy sheriff.
November 25, 1863, Mr. White married Cath- erine E. Curtis, a native of Georgia, born April 29, 1840, daughter of Silas W. and Emma (Mor- gan) Curtis, of New England extraction, now res- idents of Kane County, having located at Geneva in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. White arc the parents of five children, two sons and three daughters: Frank C., a graduate of Geneva High School; Katie E. and Ellen, both graduates of the same school; Mary E. and Frederick S. Mrs. White is a mem- ber of the Unitarian Church. She comes of an old line of ancestry, her forefathers having partici- pated in the War of the Revolution.
B ENJAMIN BOYES. Among those who have achieved success is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. * He is a native of England, born in Yorkshire, October 24, 1816. His parents, Thomas and Mary (Booth) Boyes, were also natives of England, where the father was a mechanic.
Benjamin learned his father's trade, and in 1844 immigrated to America, coming directly to Chicago by water, thence proceeding to St. Charles, Kane County, where he remained a short time prior to coming to Geneva. Herc he engaged at the shoemaker's trade, and some time thereafter in farming in Cook County, which he followed in connection with the shoemaking business for seven- teen years. He then, in 1863, embarked in his present mercantile business in Geneva, where he has erected both of the fine stone buildings occu- pied by himself and son. In 1839 Mr. Boyes married Mary Ann Holroyde, also a native of Yorkshire, England, born January 25, 1818, and they have been blessed with nine children. Mr. and Mrs. Boyes are both members of the Disciples Church, at Gencva.
F RANK M. BLACKMAN, a prominent farm- er of St. Charles Township, is a native of Cook County, Ill., where he was born Au- gust 9, 1855. His parents, E. W. and S. J. (Switzer) Blackman, settled on the place where he now resides, in 1859. Here they remained until
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KANE COUNTY.
1881, when they removed into, and are now re- sidents of, the city of Elgin. He remained with his parents until he became of age, and spent some time in Texas and Kansas, in 1877. In the spring of 1881 he purchased the farm where he now lives, and which is a stock and dairy farm of 200 acres of well-improved land, one of the best in the county.
In October, 1881, he married Miss Mary L. Fish, a native of New York, born in Canton, St. Lawrence County. Her parents, Samuel M. and Mary L. (Crane) Fish, both natives of that State, came west in 1867, and made their home in Chicago. In 1871 they came to Kane County, and, purchasing a farm in Campton Township, they en- gaged in agricultural pursuits, remaining there six years, when they returned to Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Blackman's union has been blessed with two children: Claud C. and May E. Mr. Blackman is a Republican, and is a member of St. Charles Lodge, No. 14, I. O. O. F.
G EORGE W. DEMPSTER, a well-known citizen of Dundee Township, is a native of Kane County, born in the house where he now resides, September 12, 1851, son of Alexander and Jane B. (Whittaker) Dempster, who were among the earliest settlers of that township, where they located in May, 1835. The mother died when the son was a child.
George W. remained at home until of age, and . in March, 1875, he assumed entire control of the farm. In 1875 he was united in marriage with Miss Alice A. Kingsley, a native of Illinois, born at Barrington, Cook County, August 9, 1852. Her parents, Shubal and Weighty (Waterman) Kings- ley, both worthy people of North Adams, Mass., came west and settled in Barrington, Ill., in 1840, where they now reside. Mr. Kingsley is known as a representative citizen. He has held various offi- cial positions, at one time as county commissioner, then as supervisor, etc. Mr. and Mrs. Dempster's union has been blessed with three children: Willis G., Mary K. and Earle H. The parents worship at and are supporters of the Congregational Church. Mr. Dempster is a member of the Mod-
ern Workmen of America, and is one of the board of managers in Fox River Camp, No. 61, at Dundee. He is a hearty supporter of the Repub- lican party, and has served three years as commis- sioner of highways. He is at present chairman of the board.
HARLES H. HAINES. In 1836 Robert J. Haines father of Charles H., came with his wife, Harriet (Stockey), from Cecil County, Md. (where he was born in 1799), to Chicago. Being a miller by trade, he, in company with E. H. Haddock, of that place, erected a mill there, which he afterward gave up, and then came to St. Charles, Kane County, where at first he became interested in paper manufacturing, but later again engaged in the milling business, with which he was for a long time identified. He was an active, energetic citizen, taking part in all movements tending to the advancement of the place where he has made his home, and where he was greatly re- spected. He died December 6, 1886. His son, Charles H. Haines, is now proprietor of the Excel- sior Mills, at St. Charles.
B T. HUNT, one of the highly respected and oldest established merchants in this section. is a native of Plymouth County, Mass., born October 19, 1812. Mr. Hunt received a common-school education. In 1836 he came to Illinois, and for some time served as clerk in Chi- cago. The same year he removed to St. Charles, and here engaged in his present hardware trade. He, in company with two other early settlers, named Minard and Ferson, purchased from the Govern- ment the land on which the city of St. Charles now stands.
In 1842 Mr. Hunt married Harriet L. Lathrop, a native of Cayuga County, N. Y., born in 1822, and a daughter of Simon and Jerusha Lathrop, who came to St. Charles from the State of New York, in 1838. Mr. and Mrs. B. T. Hunt have been blessed with the following named children: Charles L. (deceased), Frank B. (now a prosper- ous farmer in Iowa), Clarence T. (in St. Charles)
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and Wilber C. (an attorney, also in St. Charles). Mrs. Hunt is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Hunt was one of the organizers and stockholders, who established the paper mill at St. Charles, one of the first paper mills ever built in Illinois. In politics he is a Democrat, and at various times has acted as a member of the town and school boards, and has also been county treasurer.
A LEXANDER BINNIE, one of the well- known and prosperous farmers of Dundee Township, is a native of Scotland, born in Linlithgowshire, in 1826. He immi- grated to America in ,1848, and came directly to Kane County, where he began life for himself. He is a son of John and Allison (Templeman) Bin- nie, who were both worthy people of Scotland, where his father lived to be one hundred years old.
Alexander Binnie has been twice married, his first wife being Jane Wilson, whom he married in 1850. One son, John (now deceased), was born to them. Mrs. Binnie died in September, 1877. His second wife, nee Miss Bertha F. Crichton, he married in 1878. Four children have been born of this union, as follows: James, Alexander, Ed- win and Bertha. Mr. and Mrs. Binnie both wor- ship at the Presbyterian Church. Politically, he is a Republican, and has served as assessor for twelve consecutive years.
EORGE LEIGH, importer and breeder of Hereford cattle, lives in Aurora Township. In the year 1857 British India became the scene of the never-to-be forgotten terrible Sepoy mutiny, in which that great military strong- hold, the City of Delhi, a scene of horrible carnage, gained for itself such historical renown, through its wonderful recapture from hordes of native mutineers, by a few hundred " fighting British sol- diers." In that city, and on the 5th of February, of the year above named, was born George Leigh, the subject of this sketch. His parents were John Leigh (a captain in the British army), and Marie (Brown) Leigh, a lady of Scotch parentage.
The subject of this biographical memoir came
with his parents to Canada in 1862, where he was educated at the graded schools of Toronto, and in 1872 he moved to Illinois, where he worked on a farm in Iroquois County. In 1876 he revisited Can- ada, but finding better scope for his aspirations in the United States, he returned hither, and in 1878 moved to Texas, where he had charge of a large cattle ranch. In 1881 he came to Beecher, Will Co., Ill., and there commenced importing Hereford cattle, a business he pursued for three years.
Mr. Leigh came to Kane County in October, 1884, and here formed a partnership with J. O. Curry in the importation of cattle, and in 1885, he bought eighty acres in Section 30, where he now resides. This he makes exclusively a stock farm, and on it has a fine herd of sixty head of im- ported Herefords, representing such famous sires as Horace and Regulus, and at present the cele- brated sire Horace 5th by Horace. Mr. Leigh is said to be the largest importer of Hereford cattle in the United States, some 800 having been brought by hům direct from England. Among his horses are representatives of some of the "kings of the turf."
November 7, 1883, Mr. Leigh married Jennie 'Jelis, a native of Canada, and they have one child, George Gordon, born July 25, 1885. In politics Mr. Leigh is Independent.
E W. GILBERT, dry goods merchant, Au- rora, was born in Bridgeport, Conn., Au- gust 1, 1853, to Walter and Eliza (Coo- ley) Gilbert, respected mercantile people of that place, and of an old line of ancestry reaching back to the early settlement of Massachusetts. E. W. Gilbert is one of a family of three sons and four daughters. He completed a good literary training in the schools of Ashton, Lee Co., Ill., whither his father and family had removed in 1855. At the age of seventeen years he engaged as a clerk in the grocery business, an occupation he followed until 1879, when he embarked in business at Aurora, where he has since been fa- vorably and well known as an honorable inerchant and citizen.
Mr. Gilbert was married here to Miss Nellie E. Breese. the accomplished daughter of J. H. Breese,
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KANE COUNTY.
Esq., of Earlville, Ill., now deceased. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. His father gave up his life in defense of the Union cause during the war. He was a member of Company G, Seventy-fifth Illinois Infantry, and died in the Military Hospital at Nashville, Tenn., in June, 1863; his widow died in 1871. Mr. Gilbert is a painstaking, business man, and deservedly popular.
F REDERICK SCHAUB was born in Wal- deck, Germany, November 17, 1843, and is a son of Frederick and Henrietta (Schaef- fer) Schaub. He received a good education in his native country, and when eleven years of age, in 1854, he immigrated to America, landing in New York City, thence came direct to Aurora, where an uncle resided, and here grew to manhood in that city and vicinity. He industriously applied himself to agriculture, and subsequently bought a farm, which he conducted for some years; then sold out and engaged in the buying and selling of hay, later becoming largely interested in the ice trade, his present business, and has been the agent at Aurora for the Philip Best Brewing Company since 1875. He has been quite prominent as a real estate owner, having erected several prominent and substantial buildings, thus adding greatly to the growth of the city.
Mr. Schaub was married at Aurora to Caroline Breitung, born in Saxony, Germany, and they have two sons and two daughters: Maggie, Frit- zie, Joseph and Minnie. Mr. Schaub is well and popularly known throughout the vicinity as a re- liable business man, and one of Aurora's most en- ergetic and enterprising citizens. He is an attend- ant of the Lutheran Church, a member of the I. O. O. F. and encampment; of the Society of Mutual Aid; of the Aurora Lieder Kranz, as well as the Turnverein.
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E UGENE STETLER, a prominent merchant of Aurora, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in Allentown, Lehigh County, August 1, 1846. His parents were Daniel and Celin- da (Keiper) Stetler, whose ancestry on both sides is traced to the early German pioneers of that
State. Daniel Stetler was a merchant, well and favorably known in commercial circles of that part of Pennsylvania. He died in 1854.
Eugene Stetler received a good common-school education in Allentown, and at the age of eighteen entered the store of Weinsheimer & Newhard, of that place, as clerk. He spent about four years there, receiving a thorough commercial training, and on leaving the employ of that firm he removed to New York City. After for a time selling goods from the counter, Mr. Stetler became a commer- cial traveler, a business that he followed a few years, for various New York City firms. He came to Chicago in 1871, and here for five years was successfully engaged in the same vocation for Chi- cago houses.
In 1876 he located in business at Aurora, where he has since been favorably known as proprietor of the "Nine-Cent Store." Mr. Stetler is a thor- ough-going merchant, carrying in his line of goods a stock second to none in the city. After coming to Aurora he married Nellie, a daughter of A. Somaryndyck, of that city; they have one child- Augusta May. Mr. and Mrs. Stetler are attend- ants of the Congregational Church. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic order, and of the G. A. R., Aurora Post, No. 20, having done volunteer service during the Civil War, as a soldier in the Twenty- seventh and in the Two Hundred and Second Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry. He is a member of the board of trustees of the Aurora Hospital Asso- ciation, of which Mrs. Stetler is corresponding secretary. She is also secretary of the Woman's Christian Association, and an active member of the Chautauqua Circle.
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