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 40
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 40
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Fraternally he belongs to Kendall Lodge No. 471, A. F. & A. M., and politically follows in his father's footsteps, and is an ardent Republican and patriotic citizen.
OLON SMITH BOOMER. To the brave men who defended the Union during the dark days of the Civil war our country owes a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid. Among the veterans of the Rebellion now living in Kendall County prominent mention belongs to Mr. Boomer, the well-known farmer of Bristol Township. It was in August, 1862, when he entered the army as a member of Company H, Eighty-ninth Illinois Infantry, army of the Cum-
berland, assigned to duty in Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia. He served continuously with his regiment until he was captured by the enemy near Atlanta, after which he was confined for eight months in Andersonville and other southern prisons. On being liberated from prison he re- joined his regiment and returned to Springfield, Il1., where he was honorably discharged June 24, 1865. During a part of his service he was cor- poral, but most of the time he ranked as sergeant, and in both capacities he proved himself to be efficient and trustworthy.
Mr. Boomer was born in Charlton, Mass., October 25, 1837, a son of Martin and Lydia (Borden) Boomer. His paternal grandfather, James Boomer, was born May 26, 1759, in Fall River, Mass., and served in the Revolutionary war, after which he became a Baptist minister. His wife, Susan Borden, was born February 3, 1769. The first American ancestor of the Boomer family came from England and settled at Fall River in 1656, and Solon S. Boomer is of the sixth generation in this country. The father of James Boomer was active in the struggles with Indians before the Revolution. Martin Boomer was born April 10, 1802, in Fall River, received an academic education, and engaged in the lum- ber trade at Charlton. His wife was a daugh- ter of Dr. Ebenezer Borden, a prominent physi- cian of his time. She was born June 24, 1807, in Charlton, and was married to Mr. Boomer May 10, 1826. Their golden wedding anniver- sary was celebrated in 1876.
· In the fall of 1854 Martin Boomer located per- manently in Illinois, settling on a farm in Bristol Township. During the Civil war he sold his farm and lived for a time in Yorkville. On the return of his son from the army they bought, in partnership, the farm now occupied by the latter. Here the father passed away June 12, 1888. He was a faithful adherent of the Baptist Church, and was active in religious and political matters in his section. In early life a Whig, he aided in organizing the Republican party, and was ever a supporter of movements calculated, in his opinion, to further the general welfare or the cause of good morals.
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His children were four in number, namely: Ebenezer; Amelia, who married L. M. Healy; Lydia (Mrs. John Owen); and Solon S. All ex- cept the latter are now deceased. The mother survived until February 25, 1899, nearly com- pleting her ninety-second year. She was affection- ately called "Aunt Lydia" by a large circle of acquaintances.
In 1851 our subject came to Illinois with his father. The latter soon returned to Massachu- setts, but the son remained with an uncle for three years, meantime gaining a good knowledge of western customs and habits. On his return to Massachusetts he entered school there and for a time continued his studies. He then came back to Illinois and worked on a farm in Kendall County, where he was living at the time of his enlistment in the Union army. On his return from the front he became interested in railroad bridge building. The company with which he worked built most of the bridges on the Missis- sippi and Missouri Rivers, of that day. In 1879 he came back to his old home in Kendall County and abandoned bridge-building, since which time he has made his home on section 21, Bristol Township, upon the farm that he and his father bought in 1865. Since 1880 he has operated one hundred and thirty-four acres of land, on which he engages in the grain, stock and dairy busi- ness. His herd of stock includes some fine Poland-China swine and Holstein cattle. He has built up a good business as a dairyman and sells the products of his dairy to the people of Bristol. Besides his property here he has two hundred and forty acres of improved land in Kansas.
In politics a Republican, Mr. Boomer has been a delegate to county conventions, has served as road commissioner and as a member of the school board. Heisa member of Yorkville Post No. 522, G. A. R., and has served as its commander. While lie is not connected with any denomination, lie attends and contributes to the Congregational Church. His marriage took place March 28, 1867, and united him with Miss Lois Barnes, of Bristol Township. (See sketch of H. P. Barnes. ) They are the parents of three daughters and one son,
namely: Jessie L., Henry R. (of Chicago). Ma- bel B. and Edith L.
ILLIAM G. GASKELL. This gentle- man, who is one of the best known and most prominent residents of Seward Town- ship, is a skillful and prosperous farmer, having on sections 25 and 26 a fine estate, which is well improved, with ample and substantial buildings to fully serve the various purposes of the pro- gressive agriculturist. He was born May 30, 1830, near New Lisbon, Columbiana County, Ohio, a son of Joab Gaskell. His grandfather, Joab Gaskell, was born July 31, 1775, in New Jersey, where he spent hisearly years. In 1805 he became a pioneer settler of Columbiana County, Ohio, where he redeemed a homestead from the wilder- ness. While there he became very active in pub- lic affairs and served in the state legislature. In addition to carrying on his farming pursuits most successfully he was in the government service, locating goverment lands, for sixteen years. He was one of the early disciples and an active mem- ber of the Christian Church from the time of its organization. He married Ann Hooper, who was born in New Jersey, June 14, 1772, and died January 28, 1842, in Columbiana County, Ohio. He survived her many years, passing away Jan- uary 12, 1862.
Joab Gaskell, Jr., was born July 5, 1805, in New Jersey, but was reared and educated in Co- lumbiana County, whither his parents removed when he was an infant. A farmer by occupation, he met with success in the various branches of agriculture which he followed, and during his active life was a citizen of influence. Politically he was first identified with the Whigs, but was afterwards an adherent of the Republican party. He married Emily Green, of Columbiana County, and they became the parents of six children, of whom we note the following: William Green is the special subject of this sketch; Flavins J., born December 2, 1831, resides in Alliance, Ohio; Lyman Hooper, born March 4, 1834, now a resi- dent of Will County, Ill., enlisted during the late Civil war in Company A, One Hundred and
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Twenty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served until the close, when he was mustered out as sergeant; Miletus B., born December 6, 1839, enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and died in the service; Annie M., now deceased, born May 17, 1846, and married George Miller, of Ohio; and Jason J., born May 16, 1852, has been connected with the firm of J. S. Kirk & Co., of Chicago, for many years.
William Green Gaskell grew to manhood in Ohio, near the homestead on which his grand- parents located in 1805. He first pursued his studies at the subscription schools, which were held in his grandfather's house, attending wiuter terms until he was twelve years old. He mate- rially added to the education thus received by reading and observation, and at the age of nine- teen years finished his school life at Mount Union Seminary, Stark County, Ohio, where he spent one term, after which he taught school near his home for four winters, working on the homestead in summer.
In the spring of 1855 he came to Illinois, making his first stop in Mendota, where he had a cousin, and soon secured work in the harvest fields of Bureau County, where he was offered $2.50 a day by a Mr. Porter, who subsequently paid him $3 a day for work on the farm and in the brickyard. In the winter of 1855 and 1856 he was employed as a teacher in Bureau County, near Lamoille, whence the following spring he came to Kendall County. Locating in Seward Township, he bought eighty acres of raw prairie land, giving $8 per acre, and assuming an indebt- edness for a large part of the amount. Returning then to Ohio, he secured one horse from his father and another from his cousin, making a team, which he drove back to Kendall County, and with which he began breaking prairie for other people, working thus in summers, while in winter he re- sumed his professional duties, being in the winter of 1859 and 1860 the first male teacher ever em- ployed in Minooka.
Mr. Gaskell made rapid strides in the improve- ment of his property, and, as his finances war- ranted, added more land, uow having a fine estate
of two hundred and forty acres, one hundred and twenty of which he paid $60 an acre for in 1884, a great advance on the price paid for his original purchase. Previous to this time he had bought forty acres of land adjoining his home- stead from a cousin, thus completing his entire farm. The small house which he built nearly half a century ago has been replaced by a fine resi- dence in which he and his family are enjoying life. A man of more than ordinary business ca- pacity, and a thorough and skillful agriculturist, he has been highly prospered in his undertak- ings, which includes the raising of fine cattle and horses. He has a large herd of Jersey cattle, and was at one time the owner of sixty-five head of good horses, in which he is greatly interested. He has long been prominent in all matters tend- ing to benefit the agriculturist, and was one of the organizers of the Seward Fair Association, which grew out of the meets of the horsemen on his training and driving park.
The charter members of this society met at Mr. Gaskell's liome in October, 1896, when he pre- sented the present constitution and by- laws to the assembled group, who at once adopted both, and elected the following officers: President, W. G. Gaskell; vice-president, Mrs. James Platt; sec- retary, E. W. Harvey; treasurer, Mrs. Stanton Brown, the directors being Joseph Brown, John Shepley, D. K. Hall, Abel Heap, W. G. Murley, Mrs. Fred Brown, Mrs. B. Murley and Mrs. Ed. Heap. For three years the association held its annual meetings at the home of Mr. Gaskell, the president. In January, 1900, the organization dis- banded, donating the funds on hand to the La- dies' Cemetery Association.
March 15, 1859, Mr. Gaskell married Adaline M. Wood, who was born November 17, 1833, in Schenectady, N. Y., a daughter of Joseph G. and Eliza P. (Moshier) Wood. Mr. Wood was a civil engineer in early life, and assisted in build- ing the great "Croton" aqueduct. In 1844 he removed with his family to Plainfield, Ill., from whence, in 1854, he went to Jordan, Scott Coun- ty, Minn., where he was engaged in farming un- til his death, November 24, 1885. March 12, 1830, he married Eliza P. Moshier, who was born
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
in Union County, N. Y., December 6, 1813, and died at the liome of Mr. and Mrs. Gaskell in Seward Township, January 24, 1894. Of the eight children born of their union, four survive, namely: Frank L., a real estate dealer in Jordan, Minn .; Susan V., of Chicago, widow of the late John Lish; Adaline M., now Mrs. Gaskell; and George Rodney, of Jordan, Minn. Mr. and Mrs. Gaskell are the parents of three children, as follows: Jessie G., wife of Frank E. Marsh, of Joliet, Ill .; Miletus N., a graduate of the Geneseo Normal College, and now engaged in fruit grow- ing in Tifton, Ga., married Adella, daughter of John Spencer, of Henry, Ill .; and Laura, who was born October 7, 1878, and died April 8, 1891. Mrs. Marsh is a graduate of the Northwestern Normal University, and for fourteen years prior to her marriage was engaged in teaching, having been connected with the city schools of Joliet eleven years.
Politically Mr. Gaskell affiliates with the Re- publican party, and is a leader in the establish- ment of local enterprises. He has never been an aspirant. for official honors, but lias served as school trustee and treasurer of the township school fund thirty- one consecutive terms. Mrs. Gaskell was a most successful teacher in her younger days, having taught in Joliet. Since twenty years of age she has been a member of the Congregational Church, and since the organization of the Second Church in Seward has been one of its most active members and a teacher in its Sunday-school. She is at present president of the Seward Ceme- tery Association, composed of ladies, and is treas- urer of the Home and Foreign Missionary So- ciety of Seward.
AMES OLIVER RICHMOND. The farm- ers who in an early day came from the east and cast in their fortunes with the pioneers of Kendall County have had no reason to regret their choice of location. Without exception they have gained competencies and secured liighi standing as capable agriculturists. While Mr. Richmond was not one of the earliest settlers in
the county he deserves the title of pioneer, for lie has made his home here almost fifty years. He owns and occupies a fine farm of one hundred and seventy acres on sections 10 and 11, Big Grove Township, where he has a tract of carefully tilled land, bearing valuable modern improvements.
In Augusta, Oneida County, N. Y., Mr. Rich- mond was born December 24, 1827, a son of Amaziah and Caroline (Rogers) Richmond, na- tives of Massachusetts and Vermont respectively. The Rogers family originated in England. The paternal grandparents, Jonathan and Hannah (Duncan) Richmond, removed to Oneida County when their son, Amaziah, was twelve years of age, and there he grew to manhood, married, and engaged in farming. All of liis eleven chil- dren attained mature years and eight are now living. In order of birth, the sons and daugh- ters are as follows: James O., Caroline, widow of Norman Lent and a resident of Naperville, Il1. : Sarah, Mrs. Elisha Crossman, of Chicago; Eliza- beth, who is the widow of Warren Lawrence and makes her home with our subject: J. Seth, who made his home with his brother, J. O., mntil lie died, in 1898; Adaline E., widow of Randall Pease, of Cherokee County, Iowa; William H., of Marseilles, Ill .; Jolin H., who died at Mar- seilles in the fall of 1897; Julia, wife of William Mallory, of Lisbon, Ill .; Mary E., deceased wife of James Wright; and George H., a farmer in Marseilles.
When our subject was twelve years of age he accompanied his parents from Oneida County to Onondago County, N. Y., and there grew to manhood. April 19, 1849, he married Miss Amy M. Vanglin, who was born in Chemung County, N. Y., April 22, 1830, a daughter of Daniel and Elizabetlı (Mills) Vaughn, natives of Oneida County. She was the youngest of a large family, one of whom died in infancy, the others attaining mature years. They were: Saralı, Lucretia, Elizabetlı, William, Jolın, Benjamin and Mrs. Richmond. The only survivors are Mrs. Rich- mond and Jolin, of Chemung County.
From the time of his marriage until 1852 Mr. Richmond rented land in Onondaga County. He then came via the lakes and Chicago to Ken-
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
dall County, first visiting his uncle, Samuel Barker (who had married Susan Rogers, a sister of his mother). Mr. Barker was a farmer in Big Grove Township, and so Mr. Richmond became interested in this locality and decided to settle here. For two years he rented land. In the fall of 1854 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 13, this being a raw prairie tract, with only a few acres broken and no building ex- cept a small log cabin. For this property he paid $20 per acre. Not long afterward he built a more comfortable home on the farm. In 1865 he sold that place and bought thirty-five acres, the nucleus of his present estate. By subsequent purchase he has become the owner of one hun- dred and seventy acres of well improved land. In 1895 he built his cozy and neatly appointed resi- dence. At different times he has made other im- provements on the place.
Politically Mr. Richmond is a Republican, with independent views in local matters. He has never consented to hold office except as a member of the board of education. Coming here a poor man, he deserves credit for the large measure of suc- cess he has gained. Personally he is modest and unassuming, never striving for personal ad- vancement, yet possessing an energy and in- dustry that win friends and bring prosperity. For more than fifty years he and his wife have shared their joys and sorrows in a spirit of mutual helpfulness and encouragement. The occasion of their golden wedding was made memorable by the presence of family and friends, who joined in extending congratulations and wishing them many more years of health and life. They are the parents of three children: Minerva, wife of Christian Miller, of Millington; M. Cicero, who married Ida Randall and operates the home farm; and Celia, who is with her parents.
DMUND SEELY, deceased, late proprietor of Larch Grove stock farm, in Na-au-say Township, Kendall County, was one of the honored old-time residents of this county, where he dwelt for three-score years. He was a worthy representative of one of the sterling New Eng-
land families originally from Lancashire, Eng- land, whence they emigrated in 1692 or 1694. The great-great-great-grandfather of our subject, Jonas Seely, an Englishman, settled in Con- necticut, and the next in line of descent was Ebenezer Seely, born in Stamford, Conn., in I696. He chose Mary Dean for a wife, and eleven children were born to them. One of his descendants, Josiah Seely, located in Orange County, N. Y., and there occurred the birth of our subject's grandfather, Jonas Seely.
Dr. Townsend Seely, the father of Edmund Seely, was born in Orange County, N. Y., in 1794, and when he arrived at maturity com- ·menced the study of medicine, being graduated in the Medical College of Albany in 1815. He was a resident of that city when the first steam- boat went on its trial trip up the Hudson River. He continued actively engaged in professional practice in the Empire state until 1837, when he came to Illinois by way of Pittsburgh, Pa., the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and up the Illinois River to Peru. He opened an office at that point and practiced there three years, while the Illi- nois & Michigan canal was in process of con- struction. He then removed to what is now known as Kendall County, and here continued to dwell until he died, in 1877. At an early day he espoused the cause of the Abolitionists, and later became a strong free-soil worker and eventually a Republican. He was active in re- ligious enterprises for many decades, loyally sup- porting the Presbyterian Church. The wife of Dr. Seely bore the girlhood name of Millicent Tuttle, and their marriage took place in New York state. Mrs. Seely was a daughter of Capt. John Tuttle, who was a soldier of the war of 1812, and whose ancestors also came from Lan- cashire, England.
Edmund Seely was born in Chester, Orange County, N. Y., January 10, 1827, and it was not until he was in his eleventh year that he came to Illinois. He remained with his father until he reached manhood and in 1846 settled upon the fine homestead in Na-au-say Township, where the rest of his long and useful life was spent. At first he bought three hundred acres, on which
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
no improvements had been made, and here built a log house, 16x20 feet in dimensions, subse- quently adding wings to this structure. The present house of the family was erected in 1859, and later additions and improvements were in- stituted, thus making it a thoroughly convenient and comfortable home. For a number of years Mr. Seely was obliged to haul his crops to Chi- cago, and during the Civil war he was exten- sively and profitably engaged in the raising of live stock, including horses, cattle, sheep and logs. The land, comprising three hundred and ten acres, was reduced to a high state of cultiva- tion by the thrifty owner, and the judicious use of tiling greatly improved the property. At the Columbian Exposition, hield in Chicago, in 1893, he exhibited the old wooden plow which had been used by his father on the farm of Major Davis, south of Oswego, many decades ago.
Following in the footsteps of his honored fa- ther, Mr. Seely gave his political influence to the Republican party from the time of its organi- zation. For nearly sixty years he was a men- ber of the Presbyterian Church, and during much of his mature life he hield the office of an elder in that denomination. He was one of the charter members of the Na-au say church and was pres- ent and read a history of the same at the time of its half-century anniversary, in September, 1898. In 1870 he was appointed as a delegate to the Presbyterian general assembly at Philadelphia, and at all times was looked up to and considered an authority by his associates. He was faithful in the performance of every duty and in his daily life exemplified the lofty, noble Christian prin- ciples which had been instilled in him in his youth. His generosity, kindliness and hospital- ity endeared him to all who knew him, and his memory will be cherished in the hearts of his in- numerable friends. His life came to a peaceful close at his home, Marclı 21, 1900.
Thus, after forty-five years of happy married life, the union of Mr. Seely and wife was severed. The widow, whose maiden name was Jane G. McLain, was born in Ripley, Brown County, Ohio, and was married to Mr. Seely in Decem- ber, 1855. Of hier three children, the eldest
died at the age of three and a-half years and Frank and Clara survive. The son, an enter- prising farmer, married Emma Louisa, daughter of Frederick B. Hills, of Aurora, and four chil- dren bless their union. Mr. Hills was born in a log cabin at Big Grove, Kendall County, in which locality his father was a pioneer. The latter, Eben M. Hills, was born in Goshen, Conn., October 8, 1801, and in 1833 removed with his family to this section of Illinois, making the entire journey from New York in a covered wagon, which served as a shelter until a cabin could be constructed. Later he made a claim near Lisbon, and there built one of the first frame houses erected on the prairie. He also aided in the organization of the first church in Big Grove Township and the building of Stone Academy. He was influential and widely respected, and liis death, February 17, 1859, was considered a pub- lic loss.
EORGE BROWN. Through a life that was all too brief, Mr. Brown retained the confi- dence of associates and the warm regard of his friends. As his days on earthi drew to a close lie might truly have exclaimed, "The battle of our life is brief," for between the span of birth and death less than thirty-seven years intervened. V'et his life was not fruitless, for lie gained suc- cess as a farmer and a high reputation as a citizen, husband and father. His name was a synonym for integrity and honor.
A son of Valmar and Emeline (Lord) Brown, Mr. Brown was born in LaSalle County, Ill., January 18, 1851. In childhood lie accompanied his parents to Big Grove Township, Kendall County, where he grew to manhood on a farm. Being the only son and his father being engaged in traveling, in early youth he took charge of the liome place, so that hie acquired a thoroughi knowledge of agriculture while lie was a mere boy. March 11, 1880, he married Mary, daugli- ter of John and Elizabeth (Broadbent) Naden, and a native of Big Grove Township. After his marriage his father moved to town and left him in complete charge of the homestead. Later he
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purchased eighty acres now owned by Henry Page, and on that place he and his wife made their home two years. He then bought a farm of one hundred acres from Curtis Lord, and on this place resided during the remainder of his life, dying here August 28, 1887. At the time of his death he owned three hundred and sixty- five acres, which has since been superintended by Mrs. Brown, with the greatest efficiency. I11 fact, she has proved herself a capable business woman, and has retained the high character of improvements and kept the land under the best cultivation. Few better farms could be found in the county. The estate is devoted to the raising of cereals, for which a ready market is found. At home with Mrs. Brown are her two children, Earl J. and Bessie E.
Fraternally Mr. Brown was a Mason and was connected with the Eastern Star Chapter. He was also identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Neighbors. In re- ligion his views were those of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which Mrs. Brown is also a member.
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