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 28
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 28
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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
Following in his father's footsteps, politically as well as commercially, Mr. Jeter is an active factor in the success of the Democratic party. In1 local affairs he is independent, and in April, 1900, was nominated and subsequently elected to the
city council of Plano. Socially he is identified with the Blackhawk and Merrimac Clubs and is a member of Sunbeam Lodge No. 428, A. F. & A. M. He has attended the Methodist Episcopal Church since his boyhood. On the 28th of June, 1899, he married Miss Mae Cotton, a daugliter of B. A. Cotton, a well-known citizen of Yorkville.
G EORGE JACKSON SQUIRES. The un- trodden fields of commerce and business must always be opened to the public through the courage and foresight of those who hesitate not at new ventures, and whose forte it is to build up new enterprises. Of this heroic type of men was the gentleman whose name we have placed at the head of this sketch. He was born in Water- town, Jefferson County, N. Y., December 5, 1828, and died at his beautiful home, on section 10, Oswego Township, January 6, 1900, his death being a loss not only to his family and friends, but to the entire community.
Asher Squires, father of George J., spent the larger part of his life in New York, the state of his birth, but in middle life removed to Illinois, where he was engaged in farming pursuits until his death. He married Polly Priest, who was born in Vermont, and of the twelve children born of their union, five died in childhood and four are now living, namely: Louisa, widow of the late Charles Osgood, of Janesville, Wis .; Lavinia, who married the late John Skelly, of Janesville, Wis .; Orrin, of Seward, Neb .; and Lewis, of Greene, Iowa.
George J. Squires acquired liis early education in the district schools of Watertown, and when eighteen years of age spent one winter in Michi- gan, visiting liis Grandfather Priest, and while there assisted in cutting the timber from the present site of the city of Lansing, where Mr. Priest liad located. In the spring of 1849, hav- ing previously returned to the parental home, lie made arrangements to go to California by way of the "Horn," but after proceeding a short dis- tance found that liis money liad been stolen, so lie
254
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
returned home. The following spring he again attempted the trip, but took the overland route, going by team and passing through Oswego, Il1. After the usual hardships and perils from sick- ness, lack of water, provisions, etc., he arrived at his point of destination, and was there engaged in mining two years. Returning east by way of the isthmus, he was taken sick with a fever while en route, being so ill that preparations were made for burying him at sea, but through the careful nursing of a companion he recovered. In his mining ventures he was successful, making enough money to purchase a farm in the neigh- borhood in which he was reared, but within a few months he sold out and started for Illi- nois, taking unto himself a life partner first, how- ever.
Mr. Squires was married January 22, 1852, to Emeline A. Bent, who was born November 7, 1827, in Watertown, N. Y., a daughter of Silas P. Bent. Mr. Bent was born and reared in Ver- mont, and there married Orythea Shaw, a native of the same town, and the descendant of a prom- inent New England family. He and his family subsequently removed to Jefferson County, N. Y., and thence came to Illinois, where he bought a half section of land in DeKalb County. Their family included six children, namely: Emeline A., now Mrs. Squires; Darius S., who died in New York when twenty years old; John J., who spent his life in DeKalb County; Levancia, who made her home with Mrs. Squires as long as she lived, passing away at the Squires homestead in May, 1900; Martha A., widow of Dana Earle, late of Lake City, Iowa; and Mary, widow of the late Dr. J. B. Earle, for many years a successful phy- sician of DeKalb, Il1.
Soon after his marriage Mr. Squires, accom- panied by his father-in-law, came to Illinois in search of a location, but did not at that time buy any land, although Mr. Bent bought in DeKalb County. A few months later he again came west, bringing the entire Squires and Bent fami- lies. Taking up his residence in Aurora, he en- gaged in the grain business with William Tanner, formerly of New York. In February, 1854, Mr. and Mrs. Squires, with Mr. Bent, embarked in a
new enterprise, going to Texas to look for cattle. Mr. Bent, who was suffering from rheumatic fever, had to be carried on a bed to the station, where they boarded the first train that ran over the Illinois Central Railroad, going as far as Cairo, where they took the boat for New Orleans. From there Mr. Squires proceeded alone to a point near Houston, where he gathered up a herd of five hundred cattle to drive to Illinois. Buying a suitable conveyance, Mrs. Squires drove back with the two men from Austin, Tex., coming across Kansas and Missouri, crossing the Mississippi at Hannibal and reaching home after a tiresome journey of several months with the first drove of cattle ever driven to this state from Texas, thus becoming a pioneer in the business which has since been so profitable. For some time thereafter the cattle were grazed on the prairie, near the present site of Riverside, and were then driven to the Chicago Stock Yards. Mr. Squires very soon after established the first lumber business in Aurora, on the west side, but soon disposed of that and bought the Blackhawk flouring mills, which he operated a number of years.
Selling the mills, he engaged in business as a stock dealer on an extensive scale, going each year to Texas, where he had a sheep ranch of five thousand acres, on which he collected and grazed the stock before bringing them North. For a few years he resided in Montgomery. While living there he had a severe sickness and when sufficiently recovered went to the moun- tains of Idaho to recuperate. Among the inci- dents of this trip was a perilous ride of weeks down the Yellowstone River in a flat-boat, in company with others. Numerous encounters with hostile Indians and scarcity of food added to the hardships of the trip. Notwithstanding all this he returned to his home in good health, ar- riving there on Thanksgiving Day of 1864. Soon afterward, accompanied by his family, he removed to the home now occupied by them in Oswego Township. The farm consisted of nearly three hundred acres. Under his judicious management the entire aspect of the place was changed, the original story and a-half house having been en-
.
255
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
tirely remodeled and converted into a large and agree with him, and he returned to the farm, conveniently arranged residence, with which is after which he resided here until his death, Sep- tember 17, 1898, at seventy-onc years of age. He was not active in politics. In religion he was a member of the Church of England. He mar- ried Sarah Pooley, whose parents came to Ken- dall County from England in 1856. Seven chil- dren were born of their union, all now living, and of these Frank C. is the eldest. He was educated in the public schools of Kane County and the Sugar Grove Industrial and normal school. connected a summer garden, half garden and half park, an idyllic retreat, beautiful in its sys- tematic disorder, the whole being planned and arranged by Mrs. Squires herself. During the last twenty years of his life Mr. Squires rented out his land, retaining the residence for his own use. Five years of the time, however, he and his family spent at their home in Grand Island, Ncb., whence they often accompanied him on his trips of business or pleasure.
Mr. Squires was formerly a Whig, but was afterwards a stanch Republican. In religion he was a Baptist, and fraternally he was a Mason. Of the five children born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Squires, two died in infancy. Georgiana, who married B. F. Harrington, a prominent at- torncy of Yorkville, has two children, Bessie, wife of J. R. Burks, and George S .; John, who resides on the homestead, married Emma Win- gert, of Grand Island, Neb., and they have one child, George Howard; Grace resides with lier aged mother.
RANCIS COOKE BEANE, who is one of the prominent business men of Fox, Ken- dall County, was born in the township of Oswego, this county, February 14, 1858. His father, Walter Cooke Beane, a native of Norfolk County, England, accompanied his parents to America when ten years of age. In 1839 his father, John Cooke Beane, came to Illinois, and for a few years followed milling at Plainfield, after which lie was similarly engaged at Oswego. He then turned his attention to farming, which he followed during his remaining years. Walter C. was reared to a knowledge of farm pursuits, and his entire life was devoted toagriculture. In 1859 he removed to Big Rock Township, Kane County, Ill., and from there, in 1868, he came to Kendall County, buying two hundred and forty acres in the town of Fox. On his retirement from active labor he went to Aurora, wliere and in Plano he spent a year, but the change did not
When twenty-two years of age he left home on a trip of inspection in various sections. On his return to the homestead he resumed farm work. At the time of his marriage he purchased a part of the farm, after which he gave his attention wholly to the cultivation of the same until 1895. He then took the management of the elevator at Fox station, which had been recently completed. He took in the first load of grain ever received at the elevator. Since he assumed the manage- ment of the business a good trade has been built up, and the enterprise has proved remarkably successful. In addition, he carries on a saw- mill, and manufactures and sells a high grade of hardwood lumber. In connection with his other business he has a feed-mill. He also handles, as agent, the King and Hamilton plows, the Moline Wagon Company's wagons, the J. E. Porter corn planter, the Sandwich Manufacturing Company's hay-loaders, the Deere farming implements, the Jones mower and hay-rakes, the Plano harvester and binder, etc. As may be supposed, his time is fully taken up with the details of his several business enterprises. He is a man of such ener- gy and determination that any business of which he is the head could not but grow, and we see an evidence of his enterprise in the fact that he now ships one hundred and fifty cars of grain per year, which is twice the amount of the business at first. Since coming into the village he has rented his cighty-acre farm, and is therefore able to devote himself wholly to his various enterprises in town.
In politics Mr. Beane is a Democrat, and has served as a delegate to county, senatorial and congressional conventions of his party. For
256
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
four years (since 1896) he has held the office of justice of the peace. He also served as a member of the school board.
Fraternally he is connected with the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows. His marriage took place December 16, 1885, and united him with Emma Jane, daughter of Hugh Kennedy, of Bristol Township, where she was born. They are the parents of four daughters: Ruth, Elizabeth, Alice and Ellen. Hugh Kennedy was a native of Schaghticoke, Rensselaer County, N. Y., a son of Hugh Kennedy, also a native of New York, of Irish descent. Mrs. Beane's mother, Jane Ann Shibley, was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., a daughter of Christian and Mary Ann Shibley, natives of New York, of Swiss and Dutch descent.
HARLES C. HOGE. Although the dura- tion of Mr. Hoge's residence in Kendall County is exceeded by that of many other farmers of Big Grove Township, yet perhaps none has done more to develop the agricultural resources of this region. Especially has his work been helpful in reclaiming land that had been considered worthless by reason of swamps. He is the owner of eleven hundred acres, the larger part of which he rents, although he operates be- tween three and four hundred acres himself, de- voting the land to general farming and stock- raising. On his land he has from fifteen to six- teen thousand ten-inch tile, besides a greater number of eight-inch and smaller tile. Through this systematic draining he has reclaimed a large area of swampy land, which has since proved to be the richest of his holdings.
About 1836 our subject's father, Samuel Hoge, a native of Virginia, migrated to Illinois and set- tled in Grundy County, taking up a tract of government land in Nettle Creek Township. As he prospered he added to his holdings until he became a large land owner. In early days he hauled the products of his farm to Chicago prin-
cipally, though in part to Ottawa. In politics he was a Republican, and on that ticket was elected county supervisor. After settling in Grundy County he married Matilda, daughter of Abraham Holderman, who had come from Ohio to Illinois in 1831. Mr. Hoge died in 1881 and his wife in 1898. Of their fifteen children nine are living, Charles Cortworth being next to the youngest. He was born at Nettle Creek, Grundy County, September 1, 1861, and was educated in public schools and the normal school at Morris, later taking a business course at Bry- ant & Stratton's Commercial College in Chicago. Called home by the illness of his father, he as- sumed control of affairs, as his older brothers had started out years before on their own account, and he therefore was obliged to take the respon- sibilities upon himself. He operated the honie- stead until the year 1886, when he removed to his present farm in Kendall County.
The Republican party has received the sup- port of Mr. Hoge ever since he became a voter. At different times he has been delegate to county and state conventions of the party. In 1890 he was elected supervisor, and this office he filled with the greatest efficiency for ten years, mean- time evincing an interest in every movement for the benefit of the county and supporting progres- ·sive measures. He is a friend of the public school system, and has served several years on the school board. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Masonic order, in the latter belonging to the blue lodge at Lisbon and chapter and command- ery at Morris, Il1.
The marriage of Mr. Hoge took place October 13, 1886, and united him with Carrie T. Quig- ley, a native of Harmersburg, Pa., and daughter of Henry and Matilda (Close) Quigley, both of whom were born in the same state, the former of Irish and the latter of German descent. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hoge, namely: Mabel E., Samuel R. and Ruth, of whom the last-named died when about one year of age.
AVERY N. BEEBE
257
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
AVERY N. BEEBE.
A VERY N. BEEBE, one of the best-known and most justly popular citizens of Kendall County, has occupied responsible public po- sitions here for the past sixteen years, and has given such general satisfaction to the public that lie still retains his official position. His numer- ous friends will take pleasure in the perusal of his life-history, and no eulogy, save the recital of his manly, straightforward career, is needed as a monument to his merits.
Mr. Beebe is a son of Capt. David and Nancy (Steward) Beebe, who were married in New London, Conn., in 1830. The father, a native of that town, was for many years captain of a merchantman plying between the West Indies and New York City, but after his marriage he gave up his sea-faring life and followed the trade of house and carriage painter until the year 1834, when with his family he migrated to what was thien considered the far-off west, Sandusky Coun- ty, Ohio. Here he bought a farm and commenced farm life in a new and sparsely settled country.
The father of this pioneer was David Beckwith Beebe, and liis mother Elizabetlı Beckwith, both natives of Connecticut and descended from French and English ancestry, who were engaged in the support of the colonists during the Revolutionary struggle.
Captain Beebe and his estimable wife were members of the Baptist Church and were univer- sally respected for their uprightness of character. He held various civil offices in his locality, at
one time paymaster for the Ohio state militia. In the year 1849, when gold was discovered in California, he with others crossed the plains by ox-teams to the gold mines, and after an absence of two years there he started homeward by way of the Isthmus of Panama on the steamship Pro- metheus, but ere he reached New York City lie was taken sick and died of yellow fever.
Politically he was first a Democrat, but later lie gave his allegiance to the Free-soil party. His widow became the wife of Robert Connelly in 1855, and they afterward became residents of Plano. Mr. Connelly died soon after coming to Illinois.
Mrs. Connelly was the youngest daughter of Nathan and Drusilla Steward and the ninth of a family of eleven children, all natives of Connecti- cut. Her father, a farmer and county surveyor, was a perfect type of a self-made man. Though liis opportunities for acquiring an education were limited to four months in school, yet by his in- domitable energy and perseverance he acquired a good practical education, which enabled him to teach public schools during winter seasons. He soon distinguished himself as a mathematician and was able to solve very difficult mathematical problems which came to him from all parts of the country. Her mother, Drusilla Steward, whose maiden name was Rogers, was of the family of the historic John Rogers, who suffered martyr- dom on account of his religious faith under the reign of Queen Mary. Mrs. Connelly was a
258
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
zealous and faithful co-worker in church and temperance organizations, and a tireless and en- during friend to the poor and needy, a cheerful giver to the unfortunate, but she never enlisted in the cause of reform for the sake of popularity.
The second brother of Mrs. Connelly, Marcus Steward, was the father of the late ex-con- gressman, Hon. Lewis Steward, of this eighth Congressional District of Illinois, both residents of Plano.
The children born to Captain Beebe and wife were as follows: Nancy S. Henning, first wife of G. D. Henning, of Plano, now deceased; Avery N., of Yorkville; David W., of Urbana, Iowa; Henry Harris, who served in the Forty-ninth Ohio Reg- iment under General Gibson, and was wounded at Buzzard Roost, Miss., from which he did not recover and died in 1864; Hiram (twin brother of Henry), who died in infancy; and Drusilla, the second daughter, who died at the age of three years. By her second marriage our sub- ject's mother had one child, Marvin H. Con- nelly, who died in Chicago, April 28, 1896, and leaving a wife, Mrs. Jessie Connelly, now of the city.
The subject of our sketch was born in New London, Conn., August 2, 1833. His early years were spent in Ohio and his mature life has been spent in Illinois. At the age of twenty-four he journeyed across the country with another young man from Ohio, to southern Iowa, each with a team of horses and wagon. Encountering swollen streams, they met with an accident by which Mr. Beebe lost a valuable horse and other equipments, and came near drowning in one of the tributaries of the Mississippi river.
government, but was forced to give up his posi- tion on account of sickness in his family.
In 1861 he married Miss Frances A., the third daughter of George W. and Lucia Bradley. His wife was a native of Laporte, Ind., her father's family becoming residents of Kendall County at an early day. The children born to our subject and his wife are: Jencie Ellen, who married George E. Watkins; George Avery, now at Eagle, Alaska; Mabel Frances, deceased; Lina Newel, deputy circuit clerk; Allen David, an invalid; and Charles William, now in school. His eldest daughter died, leaving one son, Hurl- but B. Watkins, who is living with his grand- parents.
In politics Mr. Beebe has always been a con- sistent Republican and cast his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont in 1856, and has voted for every Republican candidate for president. He has filled other local official positions, first town clerk of Little Rock Township, then for seven years justice of the peace; a member and clerk of the first board of trustees of Plano; and one term as president of the board; and one of the first aldermen when that town adopted a city charter, and was chairman of a committee to revise the ordinances for the city. . He is a member of the Hamilton Club of Chicago, a Re- publican organization; The Aurora City Club of Aurora, and the Maramech Club of Plano, the two latter being non-partisan and social organi- zations. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity and one of the charter members of Sunbeam Lodge No. 428, A. F. & A. M., at Plano, in which he served one term as master and six terms as secretary.
In the fall of 1884, when our subject was sixty miles away from home engaged for his house in selling goods, he received a telegram from his Kendall County friends informing him of his nomination as clerk of the circuit court, to which office he was subsequently elected and has since filled so satisfactorily that every nominating con- vention since that time has re-nominated him by acclamation, the expiration of the term for which he has just been re-elected will make twenty
Returning from Iowa to Plano he engaged as salesman in the general store of Henning & Steward and later he embarked in the hardware trade. He afterward engaged in the wholesale trade, commencing with a New York house, but later connected himself with Chicago houses, which he found more popular for the trade in his Illinois territory. In the spring of 1881 he was appointed as an examiner in the interior depart- ment at Washington, which position he filled with credit to himself and satisfaction to the years of continuous faithful service.
1
259
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
In 1888 he drafted a correct and excellent map of the city of Plano, and in the year 1890 he compiled and published a complete township, farm and school map of Kendall County.
AMES SMITH HATCH, whose home is in the village of Little Rock, Kendall County, is the oldest son of Isaac Hatch, and a de- scendant of Joseph Hatch, who came to America with the Pilgrim Fathers. Isaac Hatch was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., October 12, 1815, and was reared on a farmi until sixteen years of age, when he went to Oswego, N. Y., and there worked for two years for his stepfather. He was given his time when eighteen, after which he worked on a farm four years. In 1837 he pur- chased a claim to one hundred and sixty acres of land in Kane County, Ill., adjoining Little Rock Township on the north. As his land lay in the route of a stage line, he built a blacksmith shop there, and this lie operated until 1848. He then turned his attention wholly to farming. Besides farming he engaged in dairy pursuits and made a specialty of manufacturing cheese. He also con- ducted a general store. His reputation was that of an upright, industrious man. An active Re-, James S. Hatch. His education was begun in publican, he filled a number of offices. For twenty-five years he was supervisor of the town- ship and for several years justice of the peace. He died here March. 26, 1895. His marriage took place in October, 1843, and united him with Adelia Potter, by whom he had four children, viz .: James S .; Henry, who was killed at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain during the Civil war; Amanda, wife of Edward Hall; and Anna, Mrs. Hatch, who died in 1880.
In the county where he now resides our subject was born February 6, 1845. When little more than sixteen years old he enlisted in the Union army, becoming a member of Company E, Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry, August 10, 1861. In March, 1864, he re-enlisted, serving until the close of the war. He was discharged as sergeant at Camp Chase, Ohio, June 27, 1865. During his service he was three times wounded, the last
time at Kenesaw Mountain, where he was cap- tured, taken a prisoner to Atlanta, thence to Macon and Andersonville, later to other prisons. At the expiration of eight months and ten days after being taken prisoner he was exchanged and rejoined his regiment. After his return home he engaged in farming until 1873, when he retired and established his home in Little Rock. A Re- publican in politics, he was school trustee and township assessor for three years each, and also served as justice of the peace. For fourteen years he was a local preacher in the Methodist Episcopal Church. October 10, 1866, he mar- ried Josephine Schryver, daugliter of William and Martha Schryver. They have five children, viz .: Hortense Edith, who married John Petree, and lives in Kane County; Vincent A., William I., Edna I. and Paul W.
INCENT ALBERT HATCH, who is one of the prosperous farmers of Kendall Coun- ty, occupies and operates a valuable estate adjoining the village of Little Rock. He was born August 19, 1869, in a house north of the site of his present residence, and is a son of the public school at Little Rock and completed in a seminary at Aurora. When fifteen years of age he went to live with his grandfather, on the place where he now resides. At twenty-one years of age lie took up the farm he lias since operated. Of his property one hundred acres are in oats and one hundred and thirty-five in corn. The corn that lie raises is used for feeding his stock, and in addition he usually has to buy con- siderable feed each year. He ships from four to six carloads of cattle and several cars of hogs an- nually, besides which he milks from twenty-five to thirty cows and sells the milk to the creamery. He operates, altogether, over three hundred and twenty acres of fine land, all of which is under the plow except a small tract of timber near the barn. The farm is on the county line, the house stand- ing in Kane County.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.