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 25
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 25
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The first wife of Mr. Lotz was Elizabeth Ram- sey, who died in Lockport, January 25, 1867, leaving three daughters: Keturah, Mary and Ida. His second marriage was to Miss Lucy Ramsey, of Lockport, by whom he has four sons and one daughter, namely: Henry, a graduate of the
II
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Philadelphia Dental College, and now engaged in practice in Lockport; George, who is with the Adams Express Company, in Chicago; Louis, who is bookkeeper for a Lockport firm; John, a student in the Illinois University; and Ella, at home.
ELSON D. ELWOOD, deceased, who was one of this county's honored pioneers, was born in Otsego County, N. Y., in 1818, a ' son of Daniel Elwood and a nephew of Isaac L. Elwood, at one time secretary of the Western Union Telegraph Company. He represented the fourth generation in America, the family having been founded in this country by a native of Essex County, England, who settled on the Hudson River. When eight years of age he was left an orphan, and seven years later he secured a posi- tion as clerk in Lockport, N. Y. In 1837 he came to Lockport, Ill., securing employment as an engineer on the Illinois and Michigan canal, at which he worked in the summers, while he taught during the winters. On his election as county clerk, in 1843, he came to Joliet, and while filling that position he studied law and was admitted to the bar. At the expiration of his term as clerk he formed a partnership with his wife's brother, Judge Parks, under the firm name of Parks & Elwood, and afterwards he managed the real-estate business of the firm, while his partner had charge of law matters. At the or- ganization of the Chicago & Rock Island Rail- road Company he was made the company's sec- retary, and also served as a director until the road was completed into Iowa. Governor Joel A. Matteson was the originator of the road, which was opened to Joliet in 1852. Afterward Gover- nor Matteson and Mr. Elwood built a part of the Chicago & Mississippi Railroad from Joliet to Alton, and this road, under its subsequent name of Chicago & Alton, has since become one of the most successful in the state. In 1856 Governor Matteson and Mr. Elwood built the Joliet & Northern Indiana Railroad, which connects Joliet
with the Michigan Central Railroad at Lake Station, Ind., and in 1859 the latter road pur- chased the branch. Until 1859 the Chicago & Alton ran to Chicago on the Rock Island tracks, but in that year its roadbed was extended, and the road was known as the Joliet & Chicago Railroad.
- In 1848 Mr. Elwood was secretary of the state senate. Although he was a strong Democrat, he was in 1861 re-appointed by Governor Yates, a Re- publican, as one of the penitentiary commission- ers chosen to locate the state penitentiary. He retained the position until his death, which oc- curred February 24, 1861. For years he was a member of the vestry of Christ's Episcopal Church. While he was identified with the Odd Fellows his most active work, fraternally, was with the Masons. He was grand high priest of the grand chapter of Illinois, and at the time of his death deputy grand commander of the grand commandery of Illinois, an officer in the grand lodge and a thirty-third degree Mason.
Mr. Elwood took an active interest in all edu- cational work, and for many years was a member of the board of school inspectors of Joliet. For two terms he held the office of mayor, and for three terms served as an alderman. He was, beyond all question, one of the most active, pro- gressive and public-spirited citizens of Joliet of his day. He filled positions of public and pri- vate trust with exacting fidelity. His handiwork may be found in and around Joliet to this day. He erected the first business house on Jefferson street, it being located where the present post- office building stands. In that same frame structure were for a time the offices of the Chica- go, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Company, and there the building of that road was planned.
Although but forty-two years of age at the time of his death, Mr. Elwood left behind him a memory that will endure through future years. The affectionate remembrance in which his name is held by all the older members of the Masonic fraternities is one of the rare evidences of deep and lasting love.
The marriage of Mr. Elwood united him with Miss Juliet L. Parks, of Lockport, N. Y. She
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survived him almost forty years, passing away May 6, 1900, in Chicago, and was buried in Joliet. Her father, Joel M. Parks, was postmas- ter and a merchant of Lockport, N. Y., and in 1837 settled in Lockport, Ill., where he also en- gaged in the mercantile business and served as postmaster. Later he removed to Joliet, where he died. His wife was a sister of William Good- ing, chief engineer of the Illinois and Michigan canal.
The esteem in which Mrs. Juliet L. Elwood was held in Joliet was shown by the following, which is a portion of an article published in a local paper at the time of her death:
"One of our noblest women passed away Sat- urday night when the soul of Mrs. Juliet L. Elwood winged its flight to its eternal home.
Everybody in Will County and Joliet knew and . in Bryant & Stratton's Business College he re- loved her, and all alike mourn her death.
"Mrs. Elwood was born in Bristol, Ontario County, N. Y., September 16, 1819. She was married to Nelson D. Elwood in Lockport, N. Y., February 13, 1837, and shortly after moved to Lockport, Will County, Ill. Some time after the death of Mr. Elwood she moved to Chicago, where she died on the 6th, at 2979 Prairie avenue.
"She was one of the grandest of wives and mothers. All loved her for her high character, loving ways and pure womanly traits.
"The funeral occurred from Christ Episcopal Church this afternoon at three o'clock to Oak- wood. The tears and flowers and heartfelt sighs of the mourning relatives and friends and the mute grief shown by the old-time friends and neighbors told more eloquently than the grandest sermon could of the deep and lasting love for the deceased, whose memory will ever be cherished and revered."
ON. JAMES G. ELWOOD, postmaster of Joliet and one of the city's most influential citizens, was brought to this place by his par- ents in 1843, when four years of age. He was born in Lockport, this county, and received his
education in public and private schools primarily, after which he attended the Collegiate and Com- mercial Military School in New Haven, Conn., remaining there until the completion of the course in 1857. While there he served as first sergeant for three months and later held the rank of cap- tain. The choice of a university course at Yale or study abroad was given him, and he chose the latter, going to Geneva, Switzerland, where he was under a tutor for a year. Next he matricu- lated in Frederick William University at Berlin, where he completed the first year's studies. While there his only living brother passed away and left him the sole survivor of six sons. For this reason his parents deemed it best for him to return to them, and the following year he spent in his father's office. After completing the course turned to the office of Parks & Elwood, and con- tinued there until his mother gave her consent for his enlistment in the volunteer army in July, 1862.
Organizing Company B, of the One Hundredth Illinois Infantry, he was commissioned its cap- tain by Governor Yates, and went at once to the front. After the battle of Perryville he accom- panied General Rosecrans and took part in the five days' fight at Murfreesboro. During that battle he was honored by being made acting assistant adjutant-general of the First Brigade, First Divi- sion, Twenty-first Corps, being appointed on the field by Gen. George T. Buell. His brigade, which was in Wood's division, received an order to move by the left flank in the battle of Chicka- mauga. It obeyed the order with fourteen hitin- dred and fifty men and lost six hundred and for- ty-eight men in its heroic effort to hold its posi- tion. While in Chattanooga, Mrs. Elwood wrote so strong an appeal for her son's return home tliat General Rosecrans decided her request should be granted. The young officer therefore resigned in November, 1863, and returned home.
In 1866 Mr. Elwood became a broker on the Chicago board of trade. Soon afterward he en- tered the milling business at Matteson, Ill., but in 1870 returned to Joliet, where he has since carried on a real-estate business. With ex-Mayor
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Paige, in 1880, he built the Telephone Exchange, the first telephone in Joliet, and this the two con- ducted for three years, and then sold out to the Chicago Telephone Company, Mr. Elwood re- maining as manager for four more years. His next business enterprise was as treasurer, general manager and a director of the water works com- pany, with which he continued for four years, until the plant was purchased by the city. From 1888 to 1896 he was manager of the Joliet Gas Company, with which he was connected from 1861 and of which he was secretary for twenty years. With Judge Parks, in 1877, he erected the First National Bank building. He is a direc- tor in the Will County National Bank and has an interest in many other local enterprises of impor- tance. In 1862 he was made a director of Oak- wood cemetery, of which he has been superinten- dent since 1871.
When Mr. Elwood entered the army he was a Douglas Democrat, but soon after the war he be- came a Republican and has been stanch in his al- legiance to this party ever since. From 1872 to 1874 he was alderman from his ward. In 1877 he was elected mayor, being the first to hold the office under the present charter. As chairman of the board of county supervisors for two years he proved an efficient worker for the benefit of the people, not only devoting his salary to the bene- fit of the public work, but making personal con- tributions besides. From 1892 to 1894 he was superintendent of the poor, this being the time of the panic, when work was scarce and many worthy people were in direst straits. During that time he had charge of feeding and helping forty-four hundred and fifty persons, and much of his time was given to this work. July II, 1898, he was appointed postmaster of Joliet, and has since served with efficiency in the office.
In Chicago, in 1868, Mr. Elwood married Miss Margaret Pearce, who was born in Seneca Coun- ty, N. Y. Her father, William L. Pearce, came to Chicago in 1852 and opened the Matteson house, corner of Randolph and Dearborn streets. He died in Chicago. His brother is now propri- etor of the Sherman house in that city. Mr. and Mrs. Elwood are the parents of four children.
Ward Pearce Elwood, the oldest, was educated in Faribault, Minn., and Chicago Manual Training school, and is now engaged in the plumbing business in Joliet. William Nelson Elwood is treasurer and secretary of the Nashville Chair and Carriage Company, of Nashville, Tenn .; this company both father and son helped to organize and it has the most complete and modern plant of its kind in the United States. The older daugh- ter, Louise Maynette, was educated in Lasell Sem- inary at Auburndale, Mass., and the younger, Elsie Parks, graduated with honors from the Joliet high and training schools. The family spend the winters in Joliet and during the summer occupy their country home, "Elwood Terrace," on the St. Clair River, in Michigan.
Fraternally Mr. Elwood is connected with Mat- teson Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Joliet Chapter, R. A. M., in which he is past high priest; Joliet Council; Joliet Commandery No. 4, K. T., in which he has been commander five terms; and in 1884 he was grand commander of the Grand. Commandery of Illinois. For twelve years he was the representative of the grand comman- dery of New York in the commandery of this state. He is a member of the Illinois Comman- dery of Loyal Legion and Bartleson Post No. 6, G. A. R., of Joliet. For many years he was a vestryman and warden in Christ's Episcopal Church and took an active part in the man- agement of the finances of the church, also aided actively in the erection of the church building.
EV. SAMUEL HEWES. Far and near this gentleman is known for his successful and self-sacrificing labors in the cause of Christ. Early entering the ministry, his entire active life was devoted to the winning of souls for Christ and the uplifting of humanity. Under his labors, both in regular pastorates and in evangelistic meetings, thousands have been converted, and these sixty years have been very fruitful of re- sults. Even now, though with him life's brief
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day has reached its serene twilight, he still labors as his strength permits, preaching occasionally and in other ways promoting the welfare of the church.
The record of the Hewes family is presented in the sketch of our subject's brother, Daniel S., also of Crete. Samuel was born in Shaftsbury, Vt., August 18, 1814, and was the eldest son of twelve children. When he was quite young the family removed to Chittenden County, Vt. He was a mere boy when he began to work, giving his wages to his father to assist in the support of the family. When the family started west in 1835 he had just been converted, and, feeling a call to the ministry, he desired a better education thian he could secure in Illinois. Hence he re- solved to remain in Vermont. Working during vacations he obtained the means to pursue academic studies in Bennington. Later he stud- ied and also was a teacher for two years in West Poultney Seminary. While teaching in Chitten- den County in 1839 he received a license to preach and filled the pulpit on the night the license was given him. For two years he taught week days and preached on Sundays. During that time he held a very successful revival. After his marriage he joined the conference. In 1857 he moved to Troy, N. Y., which at that time was noted for its wickedness. During the two years he remained in that city he had more than three hundred converts. Before this he made two hun- dred conversions in the suburbs and preached at three different places each Sunday.
In spite of the fact that he was offered the lead- ing church in Troy if he would remain there, Mr. Hewes determined to come to Illinois, where he had purchased one hundred acres of govern- ment land in 1846 and where his relatives resided. In 1859 he settled in Will County. Immediately joining the western conference, he was appointed pastor of the Crete congregation. Besides preach- ing here, on alternate Sundays he preached at Monee, seven miles from Crete, and Thornton, ten miles distant, where he held Sunday afternoon ser- vices and also had three appointments during the week. For two years he continued in that man- ner, after which he was stationed at Arlington
Heights, Palatine and other places for two years, at Wheaton for a year and at Frankfort Station for two years, at the same time supplying other pul- pits. Failing health then obliged him to tempo- rarily give up his ministerial work. He bought the old homestead from his mother, and this, with his own land, made him owner of three hun- dred and sixty acres in Crete Township. Six years of outdoor exercise and farm work restored his health and he resumed his ministerial work. His next appointments were as follows: McHen- ry, Ill., two years; Crystal Lake Crossing one year; Downer's Grove, two years; Courtland, two years; Kaneville, three years; and Erie, one year. On reaching the age of seventy years he retired from regular pastoral work, although he was offered by the Erie congregation a large sal- ary if he would remain. On retiring he estab- lished his home in Crete Village, where he has since resided.
It would be impossible to estimate the good accomplished by such a life as that of Mr. Hewes, for kind deeds and Christian service cannot be tabulated in statistics. But, though unchronicled on earth, He who said, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye did it unto me," will not pass them by unrewarded. Now as he looks back over his eighty-six years he can do so without regret or remorse, and can look forward to the future with the Christian's bright hope of eternal happiness.
At Grand Island, Vt., December 24, 1840, Mr. Hewes married Miss Phoebe Phelps, who was born in Vermont and is still living, at eighty-two years. She has been an active worker in the church and a faithful, efficient helpmate to her husband, whose devoted wife she has been for sixty years. Of their nine children two daugh- ters alone survive. The eldest of these is a noted evangelist, having inherited her father's gift of preaching. She has been in evangelistic work for twenty years, mainly in Illinois, Iowa, Wis- consin and Indiana, and also spent four years in Ireland, where she gained more converts to the church than any evangelist had secured for years. Besides this, she is an excellent writer on re- ligious subjects. She is the wife of Rev. Joseph
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Caldwell, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Frankfort, this county. The second daughter, Mary H., deceased, married Rev. Sam- uel Earngey, who has held pastorates at Dixon, Plainfield, Elgin, Morris, Aurora and other places, and is now one of the well-known Meth- odist Episcopal ministers of Chicago. The third daughter, Helen H., is the wife of G. W. Willard, M. D., of Chicago; and the youngest daughter, Franc, now deceased, married Charles Blim, M. D., of Crete.
A LBERT T. RANDALL, supervisor of Chan- nahon Township and a well-known merchant of Channahon, was born in Cuyahoga Coun- ty, Ohio, June 7, 1837, a son of John T. and Beulah S. (Russell) Randall. He was one of a family of six, four now living, those besides him- self being Gersham A., who is with the Brewster Manufacturing Company in Beatrice, Neb .; Lau- ra A., who is the wife of Albert Wilburn, a busi- ness man of Blackford, Kans .; and Mary, who married Charles A. Warren, an attorney of Chi- cago. His father, who was a native of Orleans County, Vt., born August 2, 1815, accompanied his parents to Orleans County, N. Y., when he was ten years of age, and there he grew to man- hood. His school advantages were very limited, but later, through broad reading, he became a well-informed man. In early manhood he went to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, where he worked on his uncle's farm. There he met and married Miss Russell. After the birth of two children he and his wife removed to Orleans County, N. Y., and there resided until 1849.
During the latter year John T. Randall brought his family to Illinois. After a few months in Joliet he settled in Troy Township, on the Du Page River, where he purchased two hundred and five acres of canal land. Some years were spent on that place. However, in 1855, on ac- count of the poor school facilities in that locality, he disposed of his farm and removed to the village of Channahon. Four years later he settled on a
farm two miles east of town and there he re- mained until his death, November 30, 1882. In early life he was an ardent Democrat, but later became independent in politics. During the years 1863, 1864 and 1865 he represented Chan- nahon Township on the board of supervisors, and in 1853 and 1854 he represented Troy Township on the board. He also served as assessor of Channahon Township a number of times and held the office of highway commissioner. He was one of the county's most highly esteemed men.
The grandfather of our subject, Nehemiah Randall, was born at Northampton, Mass., in 1784. When a young man he moved to Vermont and there married. In 1825 he removed to Or- leans County, N. Y., and there made his home for twenty years, going in 1845 to Lorain Coun- ty, Ohio, where he died one year later. He was a type of the industrious pioneer farmers, to whom the present generation owes so large a debt of gratitude. His father, Gershanı Randall, was a native of Scituate, Mass., and served in the Rev- olutionary war; one of his brothers was killed at Braddock's defeat during the French and Indian war in 1755. The first of the Randall family in America came from England about 1640 and set- tled in the town of Scituate. The wife of Nehemiah Randall bore the maiden name of Sally St. Clair; her father, James St. Clair, a native of Vermont, served in the Revolutionary war and the war of 1812.
The mother of our subject was a daughter of Joseph and Miriam (Morgan) Russell, natives of Massachusetts. Two of the Morgan family served in the Revolutionary war, one being in the navy, the other in the army. Joseph Russell was a teamster in the war of 1812 and his father rendered patriotic service to the colonial cause during the first struggle with England. The Russells descended from English forefathers, who emigrated to America between 1640 and 1660.
When a young man of twenty years our sub- ject went to Wisconsin, where he remained for a time with an uncle on a farm, returning to Will County in the latter part of 1858. In March, 1859, he joined a party of Argonauts seeking
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gold in the Pike's Peak region, and, arriving in Colorado, devoted some time to searching for gold. While he was there the Civil war broke out. September 9, 1861, he enlisted in Company H, First Colorado Infantry, which was made a cavalry regiment in November, 1862. He re- mained with it until his honorable discharge, December 14, 1865. Enlisting as a private he was soon made a corporal and later a sergeant. The important engagements in which he partici- pated were those at Apache Canon, Pigeon ranch, Peralto, Cedar Canon and Sand Creek.
After being mustered out from the service Mr. Randall returned to Illinois and resumed farm work. During the summers of 1866 and 1867 he went to St. Joe, Mo., and worked in a packing house. From 1859 to 1861 he engaged in farm work in Will County, after which he spent three years as salesman in a store in Wilmington. On his return to Channahon he took charge of the old homestead, which he farmed until 1882. He then became a partner in a mercantile establish- ment in Channahon, but sold out the next year and returned to the homestead, where he re- mained until 1890. During that year he removed to the village, and here for three years he was connected with a mercantile store. In 1893 he established his present business, which he has successfully and efficiently conducted.
During Mr. Randall's service in the army he was a member of a party sent across the plains as escort to a band of chiefs in February, 1863, for the purpose of making a treaty between the In- dians and the government. His company and Company D comprised the escort. He remained in camp at St. Joe, Mo., while the Indians went on to Washington, D. C. It was while at St. Joe that he was married, April 30, 1863, to Miss Anna Tollard, daughter of James and Rachael (Emery) Tollard, natives of England. She was born in Newark, N. J., shortly after her parents arrived in America. Later they removed to Co- lumbiana County, Wis., and from that state to St. Joe, Mo., where they died. Three children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Randall, namely: Maud B., wife of Fred Weese, of Min100- ka, Grundy County, Ill .; John T., who is with
the Chicago Telephone Company; and Laura A., wife of Charles B. Chase, a machinist and brick manufacturer in Channahon.
In 1870 Mr. Randall was collector for Channa- hou Township. Since 1876 he has served as justice of the peace. In 1884 he was elected assessor and continued in the office for eight years. In April, 1899, he was chosen a member of the board of supervisors, which position he now ably fills. In politics he is of the Republican faith. He is connected with Channahon Lodge 262, A. F. & A. M .; Kalon Camp No. 4282, Modern Woodmen of America; and Burden Post No. 494, G. A. R.
HOMAS TAIT, who was long identified with the farm interests of Jackson Town- ship, thoughi now passed from earth, yet lives in the hearts and memories of his friends and neighbors. His character as a man is well known, but a brief recital of the incidents of his life may still more firmly establish the record of his honorable and useful career. He was born on the Shetland Islands, September 23, 1830, a son of Michael and Margaret (Leisk) Tait, of whose five children only two are living. The older son, Jolin, is a farmer in Lane County, Ore., and the younger, Magnus, is living retired in Santa Clara County, Cal.
During the time of the religious persecutions in Scotland, the Leisk and Tait families fled from that country and took refuge in the Shetland Is- lands, where Michael Tait was born October 21, 1805, and Margaret Leisk January 16, 1803. Four of their children were born on the same is- lands. May 14, 1838, they started across the ocean to America, arriving at New York on the 28th of June, and on the 19th of July they reached Chicago. Ten years were spent in that then insignificant village. March 28, 1848, they arrived at Joliet. They settled on one hundred and twenty acres of land in Joliet Township,
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