USA > Illinois > Kendall County > Genealogical and biographical record of Kendall and Will Counties, Illinois : containing biographies of well known citizens of the past and present > Part 10
USA > Illinois > Will County > Genealogical and biographical record of Kendall and Will Counties, Illinois : containing biographies of well known citizens of the past and present > Part 10
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87
The Kendall County homestead consisted of seven hundred acres on sections 14, 15, 22 and 23, Fox Township, one hundred and twenty-five acres of which were of fine timber. The land was not surveyed north of the Indian boundary until 1837, in which year the commission was ap- pointed to establish the state road from Ottawa to Naperville, and, while engaged in this duty, the commissioners made Mr. Hollenback's house May 5, 1859, Mr. Hollenback married Julia A., eldest daughter of Daniel and Roxanna (Heath) Woodworth, and a native of Ashtabula County, Ohio. They had one daughter, Stella Louisa, a graduate of the West Aurora high school, and now the wife of Edward Welles, of Wilkesbarre, Pa. In the loss of his wife, who a station on the road, and for nearly twenty years a daily line of mail stages ran on the road. While his house was not a hotel, he entertained the passengers and cared for the stock. His wife died February 26, 1861, and he passed away November 23, 1863. He was a man of great firmness of character, large-hearted and thor- . died August 23, 1886, Mr. Hollenback suffered oughly honest, decided in his convictions, kind a sad bereavement, for she was a lady of most estimable qualities and noble life. July 24, 1888, he was united in marriage with Frances F. Houghman, of Milwaukee, Wis., widow of Dr. Charles E. Houghman, formerly oculist and aurist of Wisconsin. to the lielpless, and a fine type of the pioneer. Until Fremont's campaign he was a Democrat, but then became a Republican. His children were: John S., deceased; Clark; Mrs. Sarah A. Boyd; David S .; Mary and Philip, bothi deceased; George M., and his twin sister, Mrs. Amelia Davis; William A., Mrs. Mary J. Moulton, Nel- son K. and Hannah Elizabeth LaSure.
The boyhood years of our subject were passed
on the homestead, on the northeast quarter of section1 22, Fox Township. He did the work there incident to such a life. He taught school in early life. Determined to fit himself for the study of law, he devoted his spare moments to study and helpful reading. In November, 1856, he was elected clerk of the circuit court. Upon the completion of his term in 1860 he was re- elected, serving another four years. At the end of that time he purchased a farm on section 21, and settled there in March, 1865. In 1875 he rebuilt the residence, making of it a model coun- try home, and there he continued to reside until his removal to Yorkville in 1888.
Active in the Republican party, Mr. Hollen- back has done much to guide its policy in this locality. That his services have been appreciated is shown by the fact that he has been called to fill many offices of a responsible nature. In 1868 he was admitted to the bar, and during the same year was appointed master of chancery, an office he filled continuously to 1896, with the exception of two years. During the war he was appointed enrolling officer by Governor Yates. In 1872 he was elected a member of the Twenty- eighth General Assembly. For years he was justice of the peace and he also served two terms as supervisor. In Masonry he is a mem- ber of the Royal Arch Chapter.
The long years of his residence in Kendall County and his active part in its upbuilding, en- title Mr. Hollenback to a high place in the es- teem of its residents. He has always stood for
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what he considered the best interests of the county and has taken part in movements for its advancement. His interests still continue largely centered here, although he also owns considerable property in Iowa, and has improved real estate in Aurora, where he now makes his home, hav- ing moved to that place November 18, 1892.
ILLIAM WHITFIELD, a pioneer of Ken- dall County, was born in Lincolnshire, Eng- land, November 13, IS14, and died in Fox Township, this county, April 3, 1889. He was a son of Edward and Nancy (Veasey ) Whitfield, and a grandson of Thomas Veasey. When a boy he learned the miller's trade under his father, who was both a miller and a farmer. In 1836 he came to America on a sailing vessel that landed in New York. Going to Troy, N. Y., he secured employment as a miller with Merritt & Loveland. From there he went by canal to Rochester, where he was employed in a large mill. Thence he came via the lakes to Detroit, and from that city walked across the country to Chicago and on to Dayton, La Salle County, Ill., where he worked from 1837 to 1845.
In the spring of 1845 Mr. Whitfield came to Fox Township, Kendall County, and purchased one hundred and thirty-two acres of land on sec- tion 9. He paid $1,800 for the property, which was a low price, considering that the land had been partly broken, and was improved with a small house, barn and a saw-mill. On the land a town called Wilkesbarre had been laid out and a few buildings started, but a windstorm had de- stroyed these buildings and the projectors had then abandoned the enterprise. . Mr. Whitfield operated the old mill until its days of usefulness were gone, when he turned his attention to farm- ing. Later he sold the property and bought one hundred and fifty-six acres on sections 10 and 15. Only forty acres of this land had been broken. He brought the tract under cultivation and im- proved it with buildings. From the first he met with success. At different times he added to his holdings, and at the time of his death owned
eleven hundred acres, all in Fox Township ex- cept one piece in Bristol Township. Upon the death of his wife he retired from farm cares, and the remainder of his life was passed in quiet re- tirement. In politics a Democrat, his party often urged him to accept office, but he never consented to do so. Among the people of his community he stood very high. He was a man of keen judgment and sound common sense, which quali- ties were important factors in the gaining of success.
June 26, 1845, Mr. Whitfield married Jane Evans, who was born in Huron County, Ohio, August 3, 1826, a daughter of Francis and Mary (Pyatt) Evans; she died January 2, 1882, and was buried in Newark cemetery, Millington, where seven years later the body of her husband was laid beside her. They had eight children, seven of whom are living, namely: George, who is repre- sented in this work; Susan, wife of Ward R. Shaw, whose sketch appears on another page; William, who is living retired in Plano; Francis Edward, whose sketch appears in this volume; Charles B., a farmer on section 29; John M., who cultivates the old homestead; and Martha.
AMES PEARCE. A prominent and leading citizen of Oswego Township, Mr. Pearce is the worthy representative of an old and higlily honored family of Kendall County, being a son of the late Daniel Pearce, who pre-empted a tract of four hundred or more acres of land in Oswego Township in 1832. A native born citi- zen, his birthi occurred on the old Pearce home- stead, February 18, 1837. He was reared on the home farm, receiving such limited educational advantages as the pioneer schools of his day afforded. At the age of twenty-one years he was the only son of his parents left at home, his brothers, Isaac and Calvin, having joined the army, with which, as a member of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, Isaac served until the close of the Civil war, while Calvin was a member of Company A, One Hundred and Twenty-seventh Illinois Infantry.
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Mr. Pearce worked for his brother, William Pearce, for a year before attaining his majority, but afterwards assisted in the management of the home estate until his marriage, when, in the fall of 1873, he bouglit one hundred and fifty-seven acres of land on section 16, adjoining the parental homestead, living there until 1877. Disposing then of this farm, he removed to Plymouth County, Iowa, where he purchased seventeen hundred acres of raw land, paying from $6 to $7 per acre for it. He improved the property, erecting good farm buildings and breaking up much of the land, and engaged in farming and stock-raising for seven years, when he rented the estate and returned with his family to Illinois, not desiring to remain in a region so sparsely settled that the nearest neighbor was twenty-four miles away. Arriving in Aurora in January, 1884, he resided there one year, when he pur- chased his present farm in Oswego Township, where lie has since devoted his time and attention to general farming. His farm is one of the best improved and best equipped of any in the vicinity, having a very fine residence and spacious barns, all fitted and furnished with the most modern conveniences, while he has plenty of machinery of the most improved kinds to successfully carry on his work. He has disposed of a part of his Iowa land, but still owns and rents nine hundred acres.
February 20, 1873, Mr. Pearce married Mary C. Gannon, who was born in New York City November 28, 1852, and when but an infant came with her parents, James and Mary C. (Kearns) Gannon, to Kendall County, where they spent their remaining days, Mr. Gannon's death occurring in February, 1899, and Mrs. Gannon's November 17, 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Pearce have eight children, namely: James N., who was graduated from Northwestern Univer- sity, and is now a student in the University of Chicago; Grace, a graduate of Jennings Seminary and now a teacher in the public schools of Oswego; Lyman G., who carries on the home farm; Bessie and Daisy, who are graduates of the Aurora high school; Mamie, Sarah and Beulah. Politically Mr. Pearce fraternizes with the
Democratic party, but votes independent of party restrictions. He is deeply interested in local affairs, and for eight years has served as alder- man of the village. Fraternally he is a member of Oswego Lodge No. 303, A. F. & A. M., of Oswego, of which he is past master; Aurora Chapter, R. A. M .; and Aurora Commandery, K. T. He is actively connected with the Con- gregational Church, in which he is serving as deacon.
William Pearce, the half brother of James Pearce, has the distinction of being the oldest living member of the community in which he re- sides. The eldest son of Daniel Pearce, he was born February 21, 1815, in Ohio, whence, in 1833, he came to Kendall County with his parents, and has since been intimately identified with the agricultural interests of Oswego.
Daniel Pearce was born in Maryland in 1789, a son of Daniel Pearce, Sr., with whom he sub- sequently removed to Ohio, settling first in Champaign County, where he bought eighty acres of wild land, but later moved to Logan County as a pioneer. In 1832 he came to Illi- nois, journeying on horseback, and took up four hundred or five hundred acres of wild land near the present home of his son James, in Oswego Township. Going back to Ohio for his family, he returned with an ox-team, driving his cows and sheep along and having often to take the wagons apart to get them across some of the streams, being four weeks and one day on the way. He broke up the sod, improved the land, and carried on general farming under great diffi- culties, having to haul his grain to Chicago. He was a strong Democrat in politics and a con- sistent member of the Methodist Church, in which he served as steward. He was first mar- ried in Ohio, Elizabeth Johnson becoming his wife. She died in that state, leaving three chil- dren, namely: William; John, deceased; and Nancy, now Mrs. John Sanders, of Oswego. His second wife, Sally Burgess, who died in Ohio, bore him two children, neither of whom is now living. By his marriage with Sally Titsworth, his third wife, who died in 1874, the following named children were born: Ezekiel, of Aurora;
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Joseph, of Whittemore, Iowa; Elizabeth, de- ceased; Daniel, of Central City, Neb .; James, the subject of this sketch; Rebecca, now Mrs. William Chattel, of St. Joseph, Mo .; Isaac, of Woonsocket, S. Dak .; and Calvin, who resides on the old homestead.
William Pearce was educated in the old log schoolhouse in Olio, and when eighteen years of age came with his parents to Oswego, where he at once pre-empted two quarter sections of land, one of which John took when he attained his majority and immediately began its improve- ment. When twenty-nine years old William built a frame house, into which he and his bride moved, and a part of this is still standing. He carried on general farming, dairying and stock- raising with excellent financial results until 1876, when he gave up active labor, and three years later removed to Oswego, but after living there nine years returned to the farm, which has since been his home, although he sold his land in 1895. In politics he was a Democrat until the nomina- tion of Lincoln for president, and since that time he has voted the Republican ticket. He is a member of the Methodist Church, in which he has served as steward. In 1843 Mr. Pearce married Lois J. Warner, and they became the parents of five children, the first born of whom died in infancy. The others are: Clara A., wife of Alfred Wormley, of Aurora; William W., of Oswego; Ida, wife of Miles Beach, of Aurora; and Lizzie.
EORGE WHITFIELD. There are con11- paratively few who spend their entire lives as residents of the township where they were born. Such is the record of Mr. Whitfield, who during the more than fifty years of his life has known no other home than the township of Fox, in Kendall County. He was born on the family homestead in this township January 30, 1848, a son of William and Jane (Evans) Whit- field. His father, a native of Lincolnshire, Eng- land, born in 1814, came to the United States about 1836, and followed the millwright's trade
for a time in Troy, N. Y. From that place he went to other towns, working wherever he could find employment. Finally he left Detroit, Mich., from which city he walked to Chicago. In the same way he proceeded to Dayton, LaSalle County, where he settled. For some years he remained in that place, but in 1845 removed to Fox Township, Kendall County, and ultimately purchased eleven hundred acres of land on sec- tions 10 and 15. On this place he made his permanent home. During the subsequent years of his life he devoted himself to the improvement of his property, which at the time of his deatlı formed a very valuable homestead and was divided among his heirs. His death occurred in 1889. His wife, whom he married in 1845, was born in Ohio and died in Kendall County in 1882. They were the parents of eight children, of whom seven are living.
On the farm where he was born George Whit- field acquired a thorough knowledge of farming while he was still a youth. He selected agri- culture as his occupation and has followed it closely and successfully. When in his twenty- third year lie settled on section 15, on a tract of land his grandfather had purchased in 1835; the latter had brought his family, with ten or more other families, to Kendall County while the In- dians where still in this region, and had partici- pated in all the dangers and hardships caused by the frequent outbreaks of the savages. The farm which our subject cultivates comprises two hundred and fifty acres, and is improved by va- rious buildings, including a house modern in architecture, a substantial barn, sheds for the stock, etc.
While it cannot be said that Mr. Whitfield is active in politics, yet he keeps posted concerning the issues, national and international, that our age confronts, and has intelligent, carefully- formed opinions concerning important problems. In his political belief he is a Democrat. He favors plans for the benefit of his township and supports projects that will advance the prosperity of his fellow-citizens. His marriage, which oc- curred in 1878, united him with Josephine, daughter of Matthew and Mary Laufer, who
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
made their home in Fox Township for about thirty-five years, but now reside in Plano. Mr. and Mrs. Whitfield have two children, Archie J. and Josie D.
A NDREW KIRKLAND SCOFIELD. In nothing is Kendall County more fortunate than in having among its citizens a large proportion of capable young farmers, descended from pioneer settlers of the county. Among such is Mr. Scofield, the well-known farmer and stock- man of Big Grove Township, and until Septem- ber, 1900, the owner of a tract of one hundred and seventy acres on section1 15. Having spent the greater part of his life in this locality, he has a large circle of acquaintances, all of whom unite in respecting him for his energy, industry and uprightness of character.
On the farm now owned by Samuel Naden, in this township, Mr. Scofield was born July 25, 1861, being a son of Lott and Hannah (Kirkland) Scofield. His father, a native of New York state, came to Kendall County about 1843, when nine- teen years of age, and secured employment with Squire Mason in Big Grove Township, continu- ing on wages until his marrige to a daughter of Andrew Kirkland. The young couple began housekeeping on the place recently owned by their son. Soon afterward they bought land from Garrett Collins, but later purchased the G. F. Kirkland place, becoming in time the owners of three hundred and seventy-five acres, on which Mr. Scofield kept several hundred head each of sheep and swine. Besides this he owned a farm of one hundred and sixty acres and another of one hundred and twenty, making altogether six hundred and fifty acres. Starting in life without capital, with only a pair of stout hands and a willing heart, he became one of the foremost farmers of his township and enjoyed the confi- dence and esteem of associates.
A strong Republican for years, late in life Lott Scofield identified himself with the Prohibition party. Though he never aspired to any official station he was several times chosen to local offices,
and at one time was nominated for county judge on the independent ticket. His business judg- inent was good, which fact, combined with his known honesty, led to his selection as executor and administrator in the settlement of estates, as well as arbiter in controversies. He assisted in the organization of the Baptist Church at Lisbon, to which he afterward belonged.
During his later days Mr. Scofield did not en- gage in active business, leaving to others thie management of his farm. For two years he made his home in Denver, Colo., and for a time after returning to Illinois lived in Morris, thence went to Aurora, but finally came back to the old home- stead and here died October 6, 1895. His widow is now making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Bertha D. Davenport, wife of Mason Daven- port, of Omaha, Neb. In their family were seven sons and three daughters, namely: Charles L., deceased; Henry, a farmer of Lisbon Township; Judson, who is farming in Big Grove Township; Hattie A., whose husband, William I. Stephens, is a commission merchant in Omaha, Neb., and president of the board of exchange there; Ida M., wife of Edwin Fletcher, of Lisbon Township; George, a farmer living near Hoopeston, Ill .; Fred L., who resides in Los Angeles, Cal .; An- drew K .; L. D., a farmer of Fox Township; and Bertha, Mrs. Davenport.
Hiram Scofield, our subject's grandfather, was born and reared in New York state and there mar- ried Martha Lott. They came to Illinois and settled in Newark, where lie worked at the ma- son's trade. His latter years were spent with his sons and in retirement from active work. Of his children, Stephen died during his service in the Civil war; Mrs. Hannah Prickett, twice mar- ried and twice widowed, is now living in New- ark; William, who went west years ago; Lott, who was given his mother's family name; Minor, a soldier of the Civil war, now of California; Horace, living in Wisconsin; and Andrew, a successful mining operator of Los Angeles, Cal.
Upon attaining his majority Andrew K. Sco- field went west and spent a year in Iowa and Colorado, after which he returned, and, with a brother, carried on the home place. Next he
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rented land in Big Grove Township. March 29, 1888, he married Mary J., daughter of Seth C. and Eliza (Kellogg) Sleezer, early settlers of Big Grove Township, where she was born. By her marriage to Mr. Scofield two children were born, Tracey Lee and Olive Marie.
After their marriage Mr. Scofield and wife be- gan housekeeping on the Allen Randall farm in Big Grove Township. He then bought one hun- dred and thirty-five acres of his father's place, and since 1893 has resided here, having added to his farm by subsequent purchase. All of the grain raised on his place is used for feed, as he has a large number of stock and devotes special attention to this branch of agriculture. Though devoting himself closely to farm work, he finds time to assist in educational matters, and has served acceptably on the school board, where he proved a reliable and capable director. He and his wife are connected with the Baptist Church of Newark, in which he has been a deacon and trustee for some years, and has also been active in Sunday-school work as assistant superintend- ent, superintendent and teacher.
LBERT H. SEARS. Plano has no more progressive, energetic business man than Albert H. Sears, who has long been con- nected with many local enterprises of great ini- portance. He possesses marked ability as a financier, and his sagacity and foresight have led to his success. Many lessons may be gleaned by the rising generation from his history, and a re- view of his life will prove of deep interest to tlie public.
At a very early period in the colonial history of America the Sears family came to these shores from England. Major Thomas Sears, the great- grandfather of our subject, was born in Massa- chusetts, and when the Revolution came on en- listed and fought in behalf of his compatriots, gaining the rank of major in the conflict. He lived in Connecticut for some years, and later
dwelt in New York. His son James, grandfather of Albert H. Sears, was born in the state first named, and at the time the family went to New York he had arrived at maturity. He was num- bered among the agriculturists of the Empire state thenceforward.
Upon his homestead in Putnam County the birth of his son Archibald took place, February 23, 1802. For his day he became quite well posted in an educational point of view, and for a number of years conducted schools. In the meantime he spent his leisure hours in study- ing surveying, which business he found very useful and profitable in the west. In 1836 he made the long trip to Illinois, coming by the canal and lake route, and here he took up six hun- dred and forty acres of government land in Lit- the Rock Township, Kendall County, and one side of the property extended along the creek about half a mile. He built a log cabin in the forest and embarked upon his frontier life in earnest, experiencing all the privations and arduous toil that fall to the lot of the pioneer. He devoted the chief portion of his time to surveying, as his serv- ices were in great demand by the government. He also acted in the capacity of county surveyor, and surveyed innumerable roads and township lines. Thus he was actively associated with the founding of the county, and in many ways, be- sides, he manifested his deep interest in its devel- opment. As justice of the peace he also accom- plished much for his fellow-pioneers, and won the high esteem of all who knew him. For years lie raised swine, wheat and corn principally, and was obliged to market those products in Chicago, and thus his money was certainly twice won and earned by the hardest toil.
Soon after the termination of the Civil war lie became a resident of Sandwich, where he lived until 1885. In that year he came to Plano, and spent his last days liere. His first marriage, to Susan Hadden, was solemnized in June, 1833, and of their seven children only James M. sur- vives. The mother died in the early part of the '40s, and upon the 23d of August, 1850, Mr. Sears married Mrs. Rachel Smith, daughter of David T. and Charlotte (Tarbox) Carver. Of
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
the six children born to Mr. and Mrs. Sears two reside in this county: our subject and Mrs. Mary Henning.
Albert Hollister Sears was born in this county May 14, 1856. In his boyhood he resided with his aunt, Mrs. Shirley E. (Carver) Hollister, much of the time during school terms, in order to take advantage of the superior facilities afforded by Plano. The uncle, J. F. Hollister, a thorough mechanic, and a valued employe of the Deering Harvester Works, of this place, was a great fac- tor in the lad's future life, as through him he be- came interested in the business of manufacturing farm implements. Mr. Hollister's ingenuity and keenness of mind were of untold value to the Deering Company, and, indeed, he was practi- cally the inventor of the first successful auto- matic grain-binders made in the Deering plant. Through his uncle's influence Mr. Sears obtained a position with the same company and continued with the firm many years, some of the time as foreman of the shipping department, and for a period as a traveling salesman.
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