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 14
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 14
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On Christmas day of 1882 Mr. Whitfield mar- ried Nora Burns, who was born at Johnstown, Pa., and at fifteen years of age came to Kendall County with her father, Edmund Burns, now deceased. They have two children, . Frederick Vincent and Mabel.
DWIN SAMUEL FLETCHER. Among the prominent citizens and progressive agri- culturists of Kendall County, no man occu- pies a more assured position than he whose name is placed at the head of this sketch. A son of the late Thomas Fletcher, whose sketch appears on another page of this work, he was born May 7, 1854, on the old Fletcher homestead, in Lis- bon Township. After completing the course in the public schools of this place, he pursued his studies for a time at Jennings Seminary, in Aurora, and on attaining his majority began farming on his own account on the home farm, remaining beneath the parental roof-tree until his present home, which formed a part of the parent- tal estate, paying rent therefore until after the
death of his father, in 1889. Adding to the improve- ments already inaugurated, he broke up new land, and completed the tiling, there being a tacit un- derstanding that at some time and in some way lie would be fully compensated for all outlays. In 1886 he made his first purchase of land, buy- ing the old Nathaniel Sherril estate of two hun- dred and eighty acres, lying on sections 21 and 22 of Lisbon Township. In 1893 he became the possessor of the John Leach homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, and later bought that portion of the Horace Moore estate that lias on it the first quarry opened in this locality, and from which the material used in erecting many of the earlier buildings of this vicinity was taken. He is now the owner of about nine hundred and sixty acres of as choice land as can be found in this section of Illinois. `Of this he himself oper- ates four hundred acres, using it for purposes of cultivation or grazing, and in addition to carry- ing on general farming on a large scale is exten- sively engaged in stock-feeding and raising. The remainder of his estate he rents, and in all of his dealings with his tenantry he pursues the same liberal policy established by his father, re- alizing that a good landlord makes good tenants, and his leaseholders frequently remain with him until able to purchase farms of their own.
The heirs of the Fletcher estate have all re- tained an interest in the old homestead and have added to its acreage and improvements, showing the result of the practical training and the exam- ple of their father, and in the settlement of the property Mr. Fletcher has attended to the inter- ests of his sisters residing in other places. He personally supervises the operations of farming and stock-feeding and raising carried on by his employes, and although in a position to lead a life of leisure is not afraid to go into the field himself whenever he sees the necessity for so do- ing. In improving his land Mr. Fletcher has put in about a thousand dollars' worth of tile and erected many of the buildings, including his com- fortable and well-equipped dwelling house, which
February 22, 1877, Mr. Fletcher married Ida Scofield, a daughter of Lott and Hannah (Kirk-
marriage. Mr. Fletcher then removed to his is an ideal country home.
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
land) Scofield, of Big Grove Township, and into their happy household nine children have made their advent, namely: Charles E., a student at the Northwestern University, a member of the class of 1902; Mary E., of the class of 1901, of the same university; Lyell F., who assists his father; Erma E., attending the Lisbon high school; Glenn H., Mildred, Edwin Lott, Ralph and Robert. Politically Mr. Fletcher is an ar- dent supporter of the principles of the Republi- can party, and although he has refused official honors has served twelve years as clerk of the local school board. Taking a deep interest in the welfare of his native town, he is liberal in promoting all public enterprises by aid and financial support. Both Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been a member of the official board and a teacher in the Sunday-school.
OHN DUNN, one of the highly respected citizens of Yorkville, led a very active life until a few years ago, when he retired, and came to this town to spend his declining years. He is a son of Rev. Joseph Dunn, a minister of the Baptist denomination, and a native of Eng- land. The mother was Eliza Hitchcock, also of English birth. The father of Rev. Joseph Dunn, who bore the same name, was a clothier and dis- covered the present method of dressing broad- cloth.
The birth of John Dunn took place October 1, 1824, in Gloucestershire, England, in which country he resided until he was eighteen years of age, when, in company with his brother, Frank Dunn, he sailed to the United States, and, for a period dwelt in New Orleans and vicinity. As he did not like that low land, he proceeded northward and in 1843 came to Kendall County and took up forty acres of land in Kendall Town- ship. With characteristic industry and applica- tion he broke the wild prairie, and, raising grain, hauled his products to the Chicago markets. He bravely endured the many privations incident to pioneer life, and in time was enabled to pur- chase another tract of forty acres adjoining his
homestead, and finally he extended its bound- aries to a quarter section. Later he invested his spare funds in another farm of similar size in the neighborhood of Hoopeston, paying at the rate of $II an acre. After he had devoted nearly forty years to the business of raising live stock and farm products on the prairies of Illinois, he retired, and leased his farms, while making Yorkville his place of abode.
In the early years of his stay in the United States Mr. Dunn was affiliated with the Whig party, but since the organization of the Republi- can party he has been actively interested in its welfare. For several terms he served as coroner, for several years was town clerk, and for sixteen years held the office of county supervisor. When the old courthouse was destroyed by fire he was a member of the committee which had in charge the erection of the new building. Re- ligiously he is active in the Baptist Church, and for many years has officiated as a deacon. In 1895 he was afflicted with a stroke of paralysis, which rendered him helpless and speechless for six weeks, but gradually he recovered the use of his limbs and all of his faculties, though he has not yet been restored to his full normal strength.
In 1852 Mr. Dunn and Isabella Harkness were united in marriage. She and her parents, An- drew and Janet (Penman) Harkness, were na- tives of Roxboroughshire, Scotland, and, after their arrival in the United States, in 1840, they dwelt in New York state ten years. Their voyage on the Atlantic consumed twenty-six days, as they made the trip on a sailing vessel. In 1850 they came to Illinois by way of the canal and lakes, and from Chicago they proceeded to this county by teams, as the railroad had not been constructed. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Dunn. Three of the number have passed to the better land, and those surviving are as follows: Edward, of Royal Center, Ind .; Janet, wife of Newton Bridgens, of Kansas; Mrs. Eliza McBride, of Hoopeston, Ill .; Mary, widow of George Ament, and now living with her par- ents; Amelia, Mrs. Frank Ament, of Fox Town- ship, Kendall County; and Frank, who is manag- ing the old homestead belonging to his father.
4
BARNARD McKANNA
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
BARNARD McKANNA.
ARNARD McKANNA. Conspicuous among the self-made men of Kendall County, who by their practical industry and prudent thrift secured for themselves and families all the com- forts and privileges of a model home, was Barnard McKanna, for many years a thriving agriculturist of Seward Township. He was born March 5, 1825, in Oneida County, N. Y., and died April 8, 1895, at his late homestead in Seward. His parents, James and Judith (Rafferty) McKanna, were born in northern Ireland, of Scotch an- cestors, but emigrated to this country in early life, and took up their permanent residence in the state of New York.
When but a child Barnard McKanna moved with his parents to Madison County, N. Y., where he was brought up and educated. De- pendent on his own resources from his youth he accepted any offered employment, and, being active and ambitious, was never idle. As he ap- proached manhood thrilling tales of the west and its possibilities reached his ears, either through the few papers then available or by way of some daring traveler who had visited the then distant region and returned alive, and he determined that in that undeveloped country was a fortune for him. Accordingly, in 1845, with a single com- panion, a youth of his own age, he took the canal boat at Syracuse for Buffalo, where he boarded the then famous steamer Illinois, commanded by Captain Blake, and started on his perilous journey, with Kendall County, where an old
friend, Mr. Burgess, lived, as the objective point of his destination. Arriving in Chicago, the two companions remained there but one night before starting on foot, via Aurora and Oswego, for Lisbon Township, and while en route they dined one day at the old "Thurber Farm House."
On reaching Lisbon the companion had already tired of western life, and, facing about, at once struck a "bee line" for the east. Mr. McKanna, however, was made of sterner stuff and cour- ageously went to work, finding employment at first with the late Julius Bushnell, and subse- quently continued labor as a wage-earner until he had saved money enough to buy a good team, when he engaged in freighting merchandise, lumber, etc., across the country to Chicago, Joliet, Ottawa, Lisbon and Peru. In this occu- pation he accumulated a sufficient sum to pur- chase one hundred and sixty acres of government land on section 8, Seward Township, on which he settled as a householder, living at first in a rented house, which stood on land adjoining his own, and which he afterwards purchased.
In 1876, on the site of the house which he first rented, he erected a fine residence of modern style and improvements, it being one of the most attractive in the neighborhood, and thereafter made that his home. Following the business of a general farmer, with excellent pecuniary re- sults, he became an important factor in develop- ing the agricultural resources of this section of the state, and was for many years an extensive
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
dealer in cattle, many of which he fed and shipped. He accumulated a large property, his valuable farm containing three hundred and sixty-five acres of fertile land, the greater part of which was in a good state of cultivation and well improved. He was highly esteemed as a man and as a citizen and very popular with all classes of people, as testified by the large gathering of personal friends that attended his funeral, many of whom came from Aurora, Bristol and York- ville. He was familiarly known as "Barny" by his host of friends, and as such will long be re- membered. In politics he was a Jacksonian Democrat, and although he had served on the school board much of his active life, he persist- ently refused other public office.
December 25, 1851, Mr. McKanna married Harriet McCloud, who was born near Rutland, Vt., a daughter of Charles and Harriet (Kendall) McCloud, who removed from Verinont to Ken- dall County, Ill., in 1850. Mrs. McCloud died in Seward October 18, 1855, and her husband's death occurred in Odell, Livingston County, in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. McCloud reared six chil- dren, as follows: Harriet, now Mrs. McKanna; Emily, deceased, who married Samuel Trow- bridge, of Minooka; Sarah, wife of Milton Mc- Lean, of Pittsburg, Kans .; John, who died in 1851, aged twenty years; William, a farmer in Livingston County; and Calista, wife of David Boyer, of Lisbon Township. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. McKanna eight children were born, namely: Frances, who died at the age of eighteen months; Kate, the wife of Michael Mann (who manages the home farmn), and the mother of one son, Clinton J. Mann; Francis M., who died when six years old; Blanche, the wife of George Baker, of Seward Township, and who has two children, Murray and Clifford; Margaret, wife of Frank Cryder, of Grundy County, and the mother of two children, Henry and Florence; Nettie, who married Fred Baker, of Seward Township, and has two children, Ruth and Frank; Minnie, the wife of Elisha Brown, of Plainfield, Ill .; and Florence, who married Bert McCauley, of Na-au-say Township, this county, and has a daughter, Mary. Four of these daugh-
ters were engaged in teaching in Kendall and adjoining counties during their younger days, Blanche having been a music teacher. Mrs. McKanna still resides on the old homestead, in the family of her daughter, Mrs. Mann.
OHN M. NADEN, deceased, was born in Derbyshire, England, April 13, 1816, a son of Samuel and Martha (Millner) Naden. In 1842 he crossed the ocean, coming direct to Ken- dall County, Ill., where for a few years he worked on a farm in Lisbon Township. The re- ports he sent back to his old home gave his par- ents such a favorable impression concerning Illi- nois that they decided to seek a new home here. He sent them money for the trip, and in 1846 they joined him in Big Grove Township, settling on section 13, where he secured one hundred and sixty acres, the greater part of which was gov- ernment land. He remained with his parents until his marriage, which took place September 17, 1852, and united him with Elizabeth Broad- bent, a native of England, born in Cheshire July II, 1834. She was one of the two daughters of Joshua and Margaret Broadbent, the latter of whom died in 1841, when Elizabeth was seven years of age. In 1842 the father brought his two daughters to the United States and settled in Ford County, Ill., where he spent his remaining years. His death occurred at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Anne Shoemaker, in July, 1881, when he was seventy-six years of age.
After his marriage John M. Naden settled on a farm in Big Grove Township, and there he re- mained until his death, April 13, 1864. An earnest Christian and an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, his home was the stopping place of pioneer ministers of that de- nomination, and his services were ever at the call of preachers and other religious workers. Pros- pered as a farmer and stock-raiser, he became the owner of four hundred and twenty acres of good land, which through his efforts was placed under good cultivation. In his community he was well and favorably known, and his death was deeply mourned. His wife survived him for
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
inany years, making her home in later life with her son, John M., Jr., where she died January 7, 1900. Of her children we note the following: Mary M. is the widow of George Brown, of Big Grove Township; Sarah J. is the wife of Elmer Bushnell, of the same township; Maria J. mar- ried W. Gubel, of Sycamore, Ill .; Samuel is a farmer in Big Grove Township, where John M., Jr., also resides; and the youngest, James D., is farming in Lisbon Township.
The brothers and sisters of our subject were Samuel, Thomas, Henry, Philip, Isaac, Obadiah, Mary and Rebecca. Of these, Samuel, Henry and Obadiah settled in Kendall County. Later Samuel went to Chicago, where he spent his clos- ing years with his daughter, Mrs. Mary Fowler; Obadialı is living retired in Morris, Ill .; Thomas makes his home in Lisbon Township; Isaac died in Osage, Iowa, in the spring of 1900; Philip went to California at the time of the discov- ery of gold and was killed in the mines; Mary is the wife of Joseph Buckley, of Joliet, Ill .; and Rebecca, deceased, was the wife of Thomas Fletcher, of Kendall County.
AMUEL NADEN, who is a lifelong resident of Kendall County and a member of a prom- inent pioneer family, is a progressive citizen and a substantial farmer. He is the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of valuable land, in the cultivation of which he has been engaged for a goodly portion of his active life. Besides the management of this place he is a member of the Millington Live Stock Company, extensively engaged in the feeding and shipping of stock. He is also assessor of Big Grove Township.
A son of Jolin M. and Elizabeth (Broadbent) Naden, the subject of this article was born at the old Naden homestead, on section 11, Big Grove Township, July 29, 1858. He grew to manhood on the farm where he was born. The district schools furnished him with the rudiments of his education, after which he attended the schools of Aurora and Naperville. November 1, 1884, he married Nellie M., daughter of Henry and Cather-
ine (Vreeland) Page, natives respectively of Hartford, Conn., and Staten Island. She was born in Kendall County, where her parents set- tled about 1850.
After marriage Mr. Naden bought one hundred and sixty acres of the honte place, lying on sec- tion 11, and there he engaged in feeding stock and raising grain and corn. March 1, 1897, he bought his present tract, which then comprised three liundred and twenty acres, the old Scofield farm, and to it he has added a tract of one liuni- dred and sixty acres. He is extensively engaged in stock-feeding, and consumes more grain than he raises. For twenty years or more he has been interested in buying, shipping and dealing in stock, and has perhaps handled as much stock as any man in the county. Since the organization of the Millington Live Stock Company he has been connected with it as a stockholder.
Politically he is a stanch Republican. For eight successive years he has been township as- sessor. He is a ready and efficient worker for his party and has been a member of the county cen- tral committee, also a delegate to local and state conventions. Fraternally he is connected withi the Modern Woodmen of America and Orient Lodge No. 323, A. F. & A. M., in which he has , been past-master. In his family there are two children: Edith J. and Harry J. His sound busi- ness knowledge and judgment have not only made him an efficient assessor, but have also brought his services into demand in the settle- ment of estates as administrator and executor.
DWIN HOLT. Among the solid and sub- stantial citizens who have contributed large- ly toward placing Kendall County in the prominent position it now holds in the con1111011- wealth of Illinois, Mr. Holt, a prosperous farmer of Seward Township, is one of the foremost. A son of the late Jolin Holt, he was born November 2, 1841, in Charlesworth, Derbyshire, England, where he received liis early education.
John Holt, the son of Theophilus Holt, a large manufacturer of woolen goods, spent liis earlier years in England, where he was extensively en-
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
gaged in manufacturing cotton fabrics, being lo- gradually assumed the entire management of the cated at Charlesworth. He was very successful, financially, until business reverses incidental to the panic of 1842 and 1843 compelled him to re- tire from that industry. In 1844 he emigrated with his family to America, settling in Slaters- ville, R. I., where he again engaged in the cotton manufacturing business. In 1856 he removed to Kendall County, where he made a first pur- chase of forty acres of the land now included in the homestead of his son Edwin. With the ex- ception of having been broken, the land was void of improvements, having neither buildings nor fences.
With the assistance of his son, he made valu- able improvements on his property, placing it in a yielding condition, and for many years was very prosperous in his agricultural labors. As he accumulated money he invested it in realty until he became the owner of three hundred acres of good farming land. Thoroughly identified from the first with the best interests of his adopted country, he proved himself a most act- ive and valuable citizen, and filled with credit various offices of trust, including that of justice of the peace, tax collector and school director. While living in his native country he married Mary Jackson, who bore him two children, namely: Sarah A., who died in England, at the age of fourteen years; and Edwin, the subject of this sketch. The parents spent their last years on the home farm, in Seward Township, both passing to the life beyond in the year 1891, the death of the father occurring April 20, and that of the mother on December 25.
Edwin Holt worked with his father in the Slatersville mills until coming to Seward Town- ship, when he assisted in redeeming a farm from the uncultivated prairie, working hard during the summer seasons, but in the winter terms pur- suing his studies at the district school, thus add- ing to the knowledge he liad acquired in the Eng- lish schools. Upon reaching man's estate, he, being an only child, remained with his parents, and
parental homestead, which has become his by inheritance. A systematic, thorough-going farm- er, he has been unusually prosperous in all of his undertakings, and, having made extensive purchases, is now the possessor of six hundred and forty acres of land, lying on sections 34, 35 and 36. The improvements which he has made are of a high order, comparing favorably with the best in the county, including among others the erection, in 1898, of a handsome, convenient- ly-arranged residence. In his political affilia- tions he is a Republican, and for a number of years has rendered his fellow-townsmen valu- able service as highway commissioner. Much credit is due him for the interest he has taken in the matter of good roads throughout the town- ship, he having been the first to agitate the sub- ject, and set on foot the movement that has re- sulted in the building of hard roads in this lo- cality, one of the greatest improvements the com- munity can boast.
January 23, 1870, Mr. Holt married Olive Wardle, who was born in Rhode Island, of English parentage. Her parents, John and Olive (Gee) Wardle, had a family of seven children, as fol- lows: Ann, wife of Nathan Chatterton, of Woon- socket, R. I .; Henry, who married Sarah Bot- tomly, and lives in Woonsocket; Ellen, residing in Chicago, and the widow of the late George Walling; Joshua, of Slatersville, R. I., a retired manufacturer; Joel, of Chicago, Ill., who first married Mary Blue, and after her death married Bridget Kirby; Willie, who died at the age of eight years; and Olive, now Mrs. Holt. Neither Mr. or Mrs. Wardle is living, he having passed away at the age of ninety-one years, and she when eighty-two years old. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Holt seven children have been born, namely: Sarah Ann, wife of William Murphy, of Minooka, Ill .; John, who resides on the home farm; Ida May, living at home; Eliza Jane, wife of Lewis Lager, of Joliet, Ill .; William E .; Ed- ward L .; and Olive Columbia.
Or R Shaw
Photo by Benensohn, Yorkville, Il1.
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
WARD R. SHAW.
ARD R. SHAW, who has done much for is a native of New York, where he now owns a the upbuilding of Fox Township, has farm of two hundred and forty acres. In politics he votes with the Democrats. He is especially interested in church work and for years served as a local preacher in the Methodist Church, be- sides taking a deep interest in the Sunday-school. His first marriage was to Amy Maria Rickey, by whom he had five children, viz .: Ward R .; Kate, wife of Curtis Wixson, of Orange County, N. Y .; Julia, who married C. W. Bogardus, of Dutchess County, N. Y .; Sarah, who lives in New York City; and Georgiana, who is engaged in missionary work in New York City. By his second wife, who was Susan Wilcox, Mr. Shaw had eleven children, all but three of whom are still living. been a resident here since 1871 and a val- uable and prominent factor in the agricultural life of Kendall County. During the years of his residence in this locality he has gained a name that is a synonym for all that is honest and sin- cere. The farm which he owns consists of one hundred and sixty-eight acres of fine land and is devoted to the raising of grain and of stock. In stock his specialties are graded red Polled cattle, and he also has registered Duroc Jersey swine and a number of fine horses. Few are more fond than he of a good horse and some of his happiest hours are those spent behind a pair of fancy ani- mals. Since he settled on his farm he has done much to improve its condition. He has rebuilt and improved the residence and has erected all of the outbuildings except the old crib and one small barn. By industry and good judgment he has acquired a competence; this too in spite of a num- ber of reverses at different times in his life, but these have only served to make him more deter- mined to work his way upward to permanent success.
During colonial days the Shaw family was es- tablished in America. The date of their emigra- tion to this country is not definitely known. For years they were residents of Dutchess County, N. Y. On the other side of the house, our sub- ject's grandmother, Catherine E. Reed, was born within four miles of Dublin, Ireland, and accom- panied her parents to the United States. in girl- hood. George R. Shaw, our subject's father,
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