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 35
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 35
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steam and furnished with modern appliances, it being the largest and best laundry in the city. He was active in the National Laundrymen's Association, and assisted in organizing the Illi- nois State Laundrymen's Association, of which he was elected the second president. In politics he was a Republican, and in religion a Univer- salist. He was a charter member and stock- holder in the Union Club. Fraternally he be- longed to Matteson Lodge No. 175, A. F. & A. M., Joliet Chapter No. 27, R. A. M., Joliet Commandery No. 4, K. T., and Medinahı Tem- ple, N. M. S., of Chicago.
The marriage of Mr. Booth took place in Chicago, September 10, 1884, and united him with Miss Susan F. Smith, who was born in Ottawa, Ill., a daughter of Nohr R. and Anna (Brush) Smith, natives of Homer, N. Y., and Amityville, Long Island, N. Y. Her grand- father, Nohr R. Smith, Sr., was born in Bridge- port, Conn., and became a large miller in Homer, N. Y. He was one of the organizers of Cort- land Academy, and served as a member of the original board of twelve trustees, continuing on the board until his death, at seventy-four years. His father was a captain in the coasting trade and was a native of Connecticut, of English an- cestry. Nohr R. Smith, Jr., graduated from the academy which had been founded largely through his father's efforts. When a young man he settled in Ottawa, Ill., where he built up a large and profitable grain business. His deatlı occurred in Secor, Ill., in 1877. Politi- cally he voted with the Democrats. His wife, who was a member of an old Long Island family, died in Ottawa. They were the parents of three
15
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children, but Mrs. Booth is the sole survivor. She was educated in Cortland Academy and Mon- ticello Seminary at Godfrey, Ill., and is now an educated and accomplished woman, possessing not only social charms, but also business ability, and is successfully managing the business estab- lished by her husband. Like him, she is a be- liever in the doctrines of the Universalist Church. As he was active in Masonry, she, too, has been prominent in the allied organization, the Eastern Star, and is past matron in Chapter No. 187 in Joliet. Mr. Booth died June 24, 1899, and three days later his remains were buried, with Masonic honors, in Oakwood cemetery. He is remem- bered as a reliable, industrious business man, who abundantly deserved the prosperity that his efforts had gained.
RANK E. MARSH, a resident of Joliet, is engaged in the grain and coal business at Plainfield as a member of the firm of Marsh & Wood. He was born in Joliet June 27, 1849, a son of H. N. Marsh, elsewhere represented in this work. His education was obtained in local public schools and Chicago Academy. His first business was in connection with railroading. After two months of work as a substitute he was given the position of ticket agent and operator in the Joliet office of the Rock Island Railroad, his father at the time being freight agent for the same road. The position was one of responsibil- ity, but, although he was quite young, he proved himself fully equal to the demands made upon him. He remained with the company for six years, leaving in 1874 in order to embark in the grain business with Mr. Carpenter as a partner. In 1879 another partner was taken into the firm, the title of which then became Carpenter, Marsh & Speer. By the retirement of Mr. Carpenter in 1881 the name was changed to Marsh & Speer, and as such continued until 1886.
Forming a partnership with Milton R. Wood in 1886, the subject of this sketch engaged in the
grain business in Plainfield, where he built the elevator and has since had charge of the same, his partner living in Chicago. In 1888 the firm built an elevator at Normantown, three miles northwest of Plainfield, and this they operated until the summer of 1899, when they sold it. They have built an elevator at Wolf's Crossing, six miles northwest of Plainfield, which they operate.
In national politics Mr. Marsh is a Republican, but is inclined to be independent in local matters. For four terms of two years each he was alder- man from the fourth ward of Joliet, and for three years he held the office of school inspector. In 1873 he married Miss Kate Richmond, of Joliet, who died in 1879. Of the three children born to this union, one, Kate, died in infancy. The older son, H. Richmond Marsh, M. D., a graduate of the New York Homeopathic College, has since 1896 been employed as a government teacher and medical missionary at Point Barrow, Alaska. The second son, Loren W., represents the Lux- fer Prism Company in Boston, Mass. In 1882 Mr. Marsh married Miss Ida Pierce, of Green- field, Mass., and one son survives her, Ralph L. The present wife of our subject bore the maiden name of Jessie Gaskell and was born in Seward Township, Kendall County.
As a business man Mr. Marsh is careful and active, full of life and energy, and by good man- agement and perseverance he has placed himself in the front ranks of the successful business men of the county.
OHN D. KOBLISKA, deceased, formerly of Homer Township, was born in Lockport, this county, June 8, 1856, and was a son of Francis and Mary E. Kobliska, natives of Bohe- mia. His parents came to America in 1853 and settled in Homer Township, where his father commenced to farm on a small scale, but in time he was prospered, and when he died, in 1879, he left considerable property to his children. His wife survived him twenty years, dying in 1899.
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On the home farm our subject grew to manhood, receiving his education in district schools. In 1870 he bought the eighty-acre farm where his family still lives, and here he engaged in truck gardening, finding a market for his produce in Joliet and along the canal. He was an honest, hard-working, persevering man, who toiled tire- lessly in order to surround his family with the comforts of life. Had his life been prolonged he would undoubtedly have enjoyed an increasing success, as he had established his business on a substantial basis and had built up an excellent trade; but, while still in the prime of his useful- ness, he passed from earth. With the thought- fulness of one who is devoted to his family he had carried a life insurance, and this, together with his farm, left his family comfortably pro- vided for. He had ereeted a number of build- ings on the place; in 1890 fire entailed a heavy loss, but he rebuilt the same year. In his polit- ical relations he was a Democrat. However, he was not active in politics and never aspired to office, finding sufficient to occupy his time in the management of his farm and the discharge of his duties toward his family and his friends. His death occurred September 3, 1896, when he was forty ycars of age.
Mr. Kobliska is survived by his wife, whom he married Deecmber 3, 1881, and who was Mary E. Mende, daughter of Anton Monde, of Chiea- go. Their five children are: Charles A., Ella, George W., Paul F. and Ruth Marie, all of whom are students in the Lockport school. The cldest son, who is a bright and intelligent youtlı of sixteen years, carries on the home place with the assistance of his mother.
LIEL S. BRUNSON, a well-known farmer of Dupage Township, is one of thic oldest native-born citizens of the county, his birth having occurred in Lockport Township April 22, 1835. His father, Cyrus, a native of Roxbury, Com., born in 1789, was reared in York state, and
there married Susanna Maxwell, February 14, 1815. She died September 2, 1825, and afterward he married Harriet E. Seudder, the date of their union being February 17, 1828. In 1833 he started with his family for the west, traveling by canal to Buffalo, thence by team to Ohio, where he spent the winter. In 1834 he completed the journey to Illinois via wagon, arriving in Will County in April. All the surroundings were those of the frontier. There were but three houses between the land where he settled and Chicago, and in the entire county there was only one frame house. He took up two hundred and forty aeres of government land and eighty acres of canal land. Almost his sole neighbor was his brother-in-law, who had settled here in 1833, and through whose solicitations he had been induced to come. On his land he raised wheat, averaging forty bushels to the acre, and this he hauled to Chicago. He built the stone house on the road to Joliet which was long known as the old Brun- son place. As time passed by and he prospered he added other land to his placc, and gave to each of his sons one hundred and sixty acres. Though interested in political affairs he took no part in them, preferring to devote himself to the improvement of his place. While in the east hc held a number of local offices, and after coming west hc was often urged to accept the nomination for township and county offices, but always re- fused. During the war of 1812 he was a captain in the volunteer service, and afterward was con- nected with the state militia. After Buffalo was burned by the British his company was ordered there, and stationcd at Twelve-Mile Creek. In politics he upheld Whig principles. His only brother, Harvey, who removed from New York to Ohio, enlisted in the war of 1812, and died from the effects of liardships and exposure of army service. His father, Thomas, was one of six brothers who served in the Revolutionary war, from which it will be scen that the family is in- tensely patriotic. The first of the name in Amer- ica crossed the ocean shortly after the arrival of the "Mayflower" in New England, and several succeeding generations remained in the east.
By his first wife Cyrus Brunson had five chil-
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dren, viz .: Montreville, born July 16, 1817; Phobe L., April 1, 1819; Cyrus M., April 12, 1821; David H., December 25, 1822; and Susan E., August 16, 1825. By his second wife four children were born, namely: Eliel S .; Marshall N., who was born April 18, 1838, and died in infancy; Clarissa, born November 23, 1840; and Harriet A., who was born July 25, 1845, and died in childhood. The father of this family was killed by lightning in 1857, and his widow died in November, 1892, when eighty-two years of age.
When a boy the subject of this sketch had no educational advantages whatever, as schools were few, and even had they been numerous, the work on the home farm would have prevented him from attending. After his father's death he took up the management of the homestead, remaining there until 1863, when he bought a quarter sec- tion in Dupage Township. This land had orig- inally been taken up by his uncle, who sold it to John Frink, and the latter used it as a stopping- place for stages. Our subject bought it from Mr. Frink. About forty acres had been broken, a log-house and a small barn had been built, but no other attempt at improvement had been made. He built a new house and made other valuable improvements, but on the morning of August 26, 1893, a fire occurred that destroyed six buildings on his farm, every tool that he had and $1,000 worth of grain. By dint of hard work he was able to save the residence from destruction. This house was built in 1876, and he still occupies it. The farm is a fine place, and its neat appearance bespeaks the thrift of the owner. He bought fifty acres adjoining his original purchase, and cultivated the whole until 1893, when he retired. In stock-raising his specialty was Shropshire sheep. › In 1884 he became a member of the ›Masonic lodge at Lemont. Politically a Repub- lican, he has taken an active interest in public affairs, and has served as justice of the peace for twelve years, as' township school treasurer for eight years, and township trustee for many years.
In 1859 Mr. Brunson married Elizabeth Alden, member of one of the oldest families of America,
being of the eighth generation in direct descent from Jolın Alden and Priscilla Mullins, of Puritan fame. The Alden family is now, as in early days, noted for the unassuming demeanor of its mem- bers, their honesty and integrity. As a rule, they have followed the profession of teaching, although Mrs. Brunson's father, Simeon Alden, learned a trade when a young man, and after settling in this county engaged in farming. He was born in Stafford, Conn., and in early man- hood removed to New York state, where his daughter was born. In 1846 he settled in Chi- cago, and in 1853 established his home in Dupage County. At the time that he came west Chicago was a small hamlet, containing only one school, although two more were built during the year of his arrival. The Sherman house was the largest building in the city, and it was raised in 1846 and made five stories in height. No attempt had been made to pave the streets, and teams often stuck in the mud in what is now the heart of the city. Though Mrs. Brunson was but a child at the time, all these things made an indelible im- presssion on her mind, and often now she takes pleasure in contrasting the great city of to-day with the muddy, dingy hamlet of fifty years ago.
ULIUS W. FOLK, M. D., who is living re- tired in Joliet, is a member of a German family. His father, Henry, was born in the kingdom of Brunswick, Germany, June 12, 1806, and, being the only son of wealthy parents, was given the best advantages which ample means rendered possible. He graduated in medicine from the University of Heidelberg. In 1833 he came to America and settled in York, Pa., but afterward removed to Abbottstown, Adams County, Pa., and later went to Holmesburg, the same state. In the spring of 1849 he settled in Illinois, remaining for a short time in Blue Is- land. The year 1851 found him in Mokena, this county, and in 1854 he settled in Greengarden Township, where he bought a farm of three hun-
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dred and sixty acres and superintended its culti- vation while also practicing medicine. He was the first physician to settle in Peotone, where he continued to make his home until he died, Jan- uary 31, 1888. He was a man well versed in the classics and general history, as well as in the science of medicine, and his broad knowledge upon every subject of importance gave value to his opinion. In politics he was a Republican.
Twice married, the first wife of Dr. Henry Folk was Christine Kinsman, who died April 19, 1843, when the subject of this sketch was less than one year old. Afterward the doctor mar- ried Louisa Kinsman, a half-sister of his first wife, and who now makes her home with a daughter in Houston, Tex. The sisters, Chris- tine and Louisa, were born in Germany. When they were children the family decided to come to America. However, on their arrival at the sea- port they found the ship had sailed which they intended to take; and, as another would not leave for a long time for the United States, they deter- mined to take a sailing vessel about to leave for Jamaica, hoping later to get to this country. While they were on the vessel ship fever broke out and the father fell a victim to the disease, dying at sea. Soon after landing the mother · died and later two of the oldest sons passed away, leaving the other children alone and helpless in a foreign country. An aunt living in York, Pa., was corresponded with and sent for them to join her, which they did, reaching York in 1837, three years after they had started on the ill-fated voyage. The family had possessed large means, but the illness of the parents and sons, with ex- orbitant bills for physicians and nurses and high hotel rates, together with the fact that grasping strangers had imposed upon the little children, rendered them poor.
Dr. Folk was the second child and only son among seven children who attained maturity. He was born in Holmesburg, Pa., July 5, 1842, and came west when a child with his father. In August, 1862, he enlisted in Company B, One Hundredth Illinois Infantry, and was mustered into the service as a corporal at Springfield. Soon he was assigned to hospital duty under
Dr. A. W. Heise, of Joliet, with whom he re- mained for some time. Later he went to the south and took part in the battles of Laverne, Stone River and Chickamauga. In February, 1864, he was honorably discharged on account of physical disability. The year after his return home he began the study of medicine under Dr. Heise. In 1866 he entered Chicago Medical College, from which he graduated in 1869, and afterward he practiced with his former preceptor for two years in Joliet.
Turning his attention from medicine to rail- roading, Dr. Folk became a contractor with J. A. Henry in 1871. He built a switch on the Chi- cago & Alton from Joliet to the gravel pit, and then was connected with the Dwight & Wash- ington branch of the Chicago & Alton road. His next contract was for the building of a road from Roodhouse to the Mississippi River. Next he went into Texas as a contractor on the Houston & Great Northern, built by Shepherd & Henry, and spent three years in that state, where he had charge of the construction of the road. Later he was employed on the Houston, Arkansas & Northern Railroad and on the government works at Mussel Shoals, Ala. His last contract was on the Mississippi levee in Missouri. In 1895 he retired from the railroad and contracting busi- ness, since which time he has given his attention to the supervision of his farm of one hundred and twenty acres three miles southwest of Joliet and to the oversight of his other interests. He is a stock- holder in the Will County Bank, and at one time served on its board of directors.
In the blue lodge at Manteno, Ill., Dr. Folk was made a Mason, and he is now a member of Joliet Commandery No. 4, K. T. He has always supported the platform of the Republican party, although he has not been active in politics. His marriage took place in Joliet and united him with Miss Helen J. Henry, who was born in Berlin, Hartford County, Conn., a daughter of Jacob A. and Nancy E. (Briggs) Henry. When she was about three years old she was brought to Illinois by her parents and has since made her home in Will County. She is a member of the Univer- salist Church, in the work of which she has
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maintained an interest and to which she has been a generous contributor. Dr. and Mrs. Folk have two children: J. Albert, who is a member of the class of 1902, Culver (Ind.) Military Academy; and Ethel Louise.
HOMAS SWINBANK, deceased, who was for some years connected with the rolling mills of Joliet, was born at Swinbank, Ken- dall, England, February 8, 1849, a son of Joseph Swinbank, a farmer and freeholder in that locali- ty, and later a part owner of a rolling mill at Elsecor, where he died. Through his mother he descended from the noble families of Bath and Birketts. He married Ann Megean, whose mother was a member of the noble house of Bath. Both Joseph Swinbank and his wife have long been dead. Of their six children, two sisters re- main in England. Joseph, who was an engineer, died in Cleveland, Ohio; John is with the Oliver steel works in Pittsburg; and William died in Seattle, Wash., while on a trip west with the Sir Knights.
When seventeen years of age our subject en- tered the rolling mill at Elsecor, England, where his brothers, John and William, also learned the trade. In 1870 he came to America, settling in Cleveland, Ohio, and securing employment as a heater in the Cleveland mills. In 1883 he went to Pittsburg, Pa., as a heater in mills. Two years later he traveled in the west, north and south. In 1889 he came to Joliet, where he was employed by the Illinois Steel Company as a heater in their mills, and also became interested in real estate and farm property in the county. His brother, William, who had put down a mill near Pittsburg and later was a boss roller in Cleveland, removed to Joliet and engaged as a boss roller here until the time of his death.
On retiring from the mill Mr. Swinbank set- tled on one of his farms near Braceville, Grundy County, but the location was not suited to his health, and he went to Atlantic City. Finally he returned to Pittsburg, Pa., where he died
April 27, 1898, and was buried in the Allegheny cemetery in that city. He had served as treas- urer of the Amalgamated Association of Steel and Iron Workers, and was chairman of the com- mittee that, at the time of the Cleveland strike, met with the employers for arbitration. His brother, John, was vice-president for the district at the time of the great Pittsburg strike. In politics he was a Republican, in religion an Episcopalian, and fraternally belonged to Matte- son Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and Joliet Chapter, R. A. M.
In Pittsburg, February 2, 1886, Mr. Swinbank married Miss Margaret Robeson, who was born in Washington County, Pa., a daughter of James L. and Jane (Lower) Robeson, natives re- spectively of Philadelphia and of Indiana Coun- ty, Pa. Her grandfather, Dr. James Robeson, graduated in medicine in London and while in his native land married Margaret Johnson, daughter of a shipbuilder on the Clyde. With his wife he came to the United States. Three days after they landed in Philadelphia, their son, James L., was born. The latter became a con- tracting decorator and artist, and engaged in business in Pittsburg until his death. During the Civil war two of his brothers served in the Union army and he raised a company of which he was elected captain, but at Washington he was discharged on account of ill health. His wife was a daughter of a lieutenant in the war of 1812 and a granddaughter of one of Washington's aides in the Revolutionary and French and In- dian wars. The Lower family was of Holland- Dutch descent. Three brothers of Mrs. Robeson took part in the Civil war. She is still living and makes her home in Dunkirk, Ind. Of her family of four daughters and two sons, two daughters and one son are living. Franklin is connected with the National Biscuit Company in Pittsburg, Pa. William J., an artist, died in Pittsburg; Martha is the widow of James Faulkner, of Dunkirk, Ind. Belle and Agnes are deceased.
Mrs. Swinbank graduated from Burt's Normal School and the Pittsburg Academy. After the death of her husband she returned to Joliet. In Jackson Institute, Chicago, she learned dress-
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making and tailoring, and in April, 1899, started in business at No. 413 Cass street, Joliet. Hav- ing excellent taste, she has been successful in her work and is building up a valuable business. She owns eighty acres in Grundy County and proper- ty in the Dakotas. In religion she is a Universal- ist. Both she and her husband were charter members of the Union Club of Joliet, with which they were connected until their removal to Grun- dy County. She has two children, Edith Marga- ret and Eugene Franklin.
OHN A. GRANT, who has spent his entire life in this county, was in June, 1898, ap- pointed deputy internal revenue collector for the twelfth division of the first district of Illi- nois, embracing Lee, Dekalb, Kendall, Dupage and that part of La Salle, Grundy and Will Counties lying north of the Illinois River. For some years he has been an active factor in the politics of his county, and a local Republican leader. While residing in Jackson Township he served as collector, and also held the office of police magistrate of Elwood for one term. In 1886 and again in 1890 he served as secretary of the county central committee, and in other po- sitions he has assisted in promoting the welfare of his party.
Mr. Grant was born in Jackson Township, this county, July 21, 1850, a son of John and Adeline (Frazer) Grant, and a grandson of John Grant, Sr., a farmer of Scotland, and Thomas Frazer, a lifelong resident of West Vir- ginia. His father, who was born at Banfshire, Scotland, in 1816, a member of an old Scotch Presbyterian family, crossed the ocean in 1834, being the first of his family to seek a home in America, although about 1850 three of his brothers joined him in Will County. After traveling in search of a location for a few months he came to Illinois, where he was employed as a sub-contractor on the Illinois and Michigan canal. In 1838 he bought property at Reed's
Grove, which was the first farm opened in Jack- son Township, its original owner having been Charles Reed. There he began farming and stock-raising. In later years he became the owner of several farms, and at the time of his death was in very comfortable circumstances. In politics he was a Whig and an Abolitionist, and among the offices which he held was that of jus- tice of the peace. In religion he was identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died of the cholera in 1854, at the age of thirty-eight years and six months.
Twice married, John Grant had by his first wife a son, William C., who is engaged in the implement business at Elwood. His second wife, Adeline, was born in Greenbrier County, W. Va., and after the death of her father, in 1834, accompanied her mother and the other children to Illinois, settling at Forked Creek, Wesley Township, this county, where her mother died in 1880. Four children were born to Mr. Grant's second marriage, namely: Mary A., who died of cholera in 1854, aged nine years; Mrs. Margaret R. Bush, of Elwood; John A .; and James M., of Joliet The boyhood days of our subject were passed on the home farm, and his education was secured in district schools. He remained with his mother until he was twenty-one years of age, when he settled one mile south of Elwood and improved a farm of ninety acres, making this place his home from 1871 to 1883. His next business was as propri- etor of a meat market in Elwood. In 1891 he entered the employ of the Lambert & Bishop Wire Fence Company, becoming foreman in the plain wire department, where he remained for six years. In January, 1897, he accepted a po- sition as keeper in the state penitentiary, where he remained for eighteen months. He resigned that position to accept the appointment of deputy internal revenue collector, which he has since filled with efficiency.
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