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 42
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 42
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is remembered that this county has a population of but twelve thousand. Without any doubt the high standing of the weekly is due to the wise oversight of its proprietor and publisher.
Mr. Marshall was born in Talbot County, Md., January 10, 1837, a son of Perry and Mary S. (Rice) Marshall. His father, Perry Marshall, who was a member of an old family of Maryland, and was born near St. Michael's, that state, came to Illinois in the spring of 1848. In 1857 he came to Kendall County and bought a tract of land, on which he settled. In 1872 he moved to Clifton, Ill., and there he died in October, 1892, at the age of eighty-six years. Of his seven children the sole survivors are John R., and Dr. N. R. Marshall, of Evanston, Il1.
At the time the family settled in Illinois the subject of this article was a boy of eleven years. In 1852 he was apprenticed to the printer's trade in the old Journal office in Chicago, where he re- mained for four years, and afterward he followed the trade in various places. At the outbreak of the Civil war, in May, 1861, he enlisted in a com- pany of Sturges' Rifles, in Chicago. He was as- signed to the army of the Potomac, in which he served for two years, and during part of that time was a member of the body guard of General Mc- Clellan. At the expiration of two years he was honorably discharged, by order of the secretary of war. It is a noteworthy fact that he had two brothers who also served in the Union army.
After retiring from the service Mr. Marshall came to Kendall County and started the Kendall County Record, in April, 1864. From that time to this he has been one of the foremost citizens of Yorkville. Especially in politics and local enter- prises has he been active. The Republican party has in him a stanch supporter of its principles. In 1868 he was elected county superintendent of schools, four years later he was re-elected, filling the office for eight consecutive years. A higher honor was conferred upon him a little later, iin 1878, wlien he was elected to the state senate. He served in two regular and one extra session. In this body, as elsewhere, he was known for his manly stand in behalf of movements for the benefit of the people. He has ever stood as a
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champion of the people and a defender of their rights. Under President Mckinley he was com- missioned to the office of postmaster at Yorkville. Socially he is connected with the Hamilton Club of Chicago. In 1865, on the organization of Kendall Lodge No. 471, A. F. & A. M., he was a charter member, and he is also connected with Aurora Chapter, R. A. M., and Aurora Com- mandery, K. T. He keeps in touch with the veterans of the late war through membership in Yorkville Post No. 522, G. A. R. He is thie owner of improved property in Yorkville, in- cluding his office building, erected in 1868, and his residence on the north side. His marriage, January 19, 1865, united him with Augusta Emmons, of Bristol Township. They have three children: Mary S., wife of Dr. R. A. McClelland, of Yorkville; Frances Emmons; and Hugli Rice, who is deputy postmaster.
ILLIAM REYNOLDS NEWTON, who for twenty years has served as a member of the village board of Yorkville, lias of- ficiated as president of this honorable body for a number of years, and has borne an influential part in the upbuilding of this now thriving place.
The Newton family is one of the pioneer fain- ilies of Kendall County, as for some sixty-eight years its history has been closely identified with that of this immediate region. Our subject's fa- ther, Ami D. Newton, who was born in Bing- hamton, N. Y., was a mere child when he ac- companied his father, Elisha Newton, to Illinois in1 1832. The latter took up a homestead in this county and followed farming and later engaged in mercantile pursuits at Newark. He also owned and managed a hotel there, it being ac- knowledged as the most important one between Aurora and Ottawa. Ami D. Newton was early employed in the hotel, and for several years he served as postmaster of the town. He was an active worker in the Republican party and for sixteen years served as sheriff of this county, his home, in the meantime, being at Yorkville. Later he was the supervisor of Kendall Town-
ship for a period. He was a charter member of the Newark lodge of Odd Fellows, and was an earnest member of the Methodist Church for years. In 1898 lie died suddenly at his home, at the ripe age of seventy-three years, and is survived by his widow. She was Miss Mary Hollenback in her girlhood, and to their union four children were born. Henry H., of Plain- field, is the present deputy sheriff of Will Coun- ty, Ill. Cora Belle, who married E. W. Jack- . son, is deceased. Robert N. is employed in his eldest brother's bank.
William R. Newton was born in Kendall Coun- ty in 1850, and in his youth received an excel- lent education, completing his studies at Fowler Institute in Newark. He then embarked in the drug business at Yorkville, for several years, in partnership with C. E. Moore. In 1886 they also engaged in the banking business, and later Mr. Newton sold ont his interest in the drug store and turned his attention exclusively to the management of his bank, in which enterprise he has been alone for some time. The building in which his bank, known as the Yorkville Bank, is now located was formerly the property of the Kendall County Banking Company, which failed in the financial panic of 1893. Mr. Newton then purchased the building, and since that time lias been associated with his brother in the banking business which has steadily increased in im- portance. It is known far and wide as one of the reliable, stable financial concerns of this county, and its affairs are managed with rare judgment and foresight. Mr. Newton has transacted con- siderable insurance business for a number of years, and, representing most of the leading companies of this country, he now commands much of the local business in this line. In his bank one department is devoted to safety vanlts, where local customers and citizens deposit their valuables for protection.
Politically Mr. Newton has taken an influen- tial part in Republican councils, and for the past ten years he lias been chairman of the county central committee. He frequently has been sent to the county and state conventions of his party as a delegate, and, during Governor Fifer's ad-
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ministration he served for two years as a trustee of the Jacksonville Insane Asylum. Fraternally he is a member of Kendall Lodge No. 471, A.F. & A. M., in which he has held the office of senior warden, and also has attained the degree of a Knight Templar, being connected with Aurora Commandery.
The marriage of Mr. Newton and Louise B. Black was celebrated in October, 1879. She is a · daughter of Elias A. Black, who was a promi- nent and wealthy citizen of this county, owning valuable estates and having capital invested in various enterprises, including grist mills at Mil- lington, paper mills and mercantile business at Marseilles and Yorkville. Mr. and Mrs. New- ton have one child, Adele B. The home of the family is beautifully situated on the summit of a bluff, commanding a fine view of the river and surrounding country.
ENRY M. HOPKINS. Kendall Township, Kendall County, is fortunate in possessing numerous enterprising agriculturists, and one of the chief is Henry McLean Hopkins, whose residence in this county covers a period of some forty-three years.
The paternal grandfather of the above-named gentleman was Archibald Hopkins, a native of Virginia, who at an early day settled in Brown County, Ohio, where he successfully engaged in farming and also carried on a mill where flax seed was manufactured into oil. His son, Arch- ibald Hopkins, our subject's father, also followed that occupation between the years 1835 and 1840. He then removed to the central part of Ohio, and some years later started in a wagon on a journey to Aurora. The family came on the cars, and arrived ahead of him. A year afterward, in 1857, he came to Kendall County, where he bought a farm which had been partly improved. He made a specialty of raising live stock, partic- ularly during the '6os, when high prices were paid in the city markets. Politically he was a
stalwart Republican, and religiously was a de- voted member of the Presbyterian Church. He was called to the better land in March, 1874, and was survived by his wife, who departed this life October 1, 1887. She was Miss Rachel McLean in her girlhood, and, though she was born and reared in Ohio, she came of an old Pennsylvania family. Of her six children three died when young and May Alice when sixteen years of age. Amanda, the eldest surviving member of the family, is the wife of Hamilton Cherry, of this county.
Henry M. Hopkins, of this sketch, was born in Ripley, Ohio, August 21, 1845. He made the trip with the family to Aurora in 1856, and in the ensuing year became a permanent resident of this county. He devoted his time to assisting his father in his pioneer labors on the prairie. When he attained his majority he entered into an agreement with his senior and together they harmoniously conducted the home place. After the death of the father the young man succeeded to a part of the property, and in 1878 built his present comfortable house on the place. He lias instituted many other improvements here, and by tiling and careful cultivating has succeeded in raising profitable harvests. He makes a spe- cialty of feeding cattle and raising swine and sheep.
For some time Mr. Hopkins served as a di- rector of the local school board. He uses his ballot in favor of the Prohibition party, and religiously inclines toward the Presbyterian faith, his family being identified with a church of that denomina- tion.
On the 12th of October, 1876, Mr. Hopkins married Josephine Small, daughter of Alexander Small, who came to this county in 1847 and settled in Oswego Township. He was born in Washington County, N. Y., while his daughter, Mrs. Hopkins, is a native of Illinois. Mary Alice, the elder child of our subject and wife, is at present attending college at Oberlin, Ohio. James A., the only son, is a student in the schools of Quincy, Il1.
aletabel
Photo by Benensohn, Yorkville, 111.
GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
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AUGUSTUS CHRISTOPHER GABEL.
A UGUSTUS CHRISTOPHER GABEL. Having inherited the sterling virtues of his German ancestors, Augustus C. Gabel was early observed to be on the high road to a place of influence and respect in this community, and the promise of his youth has been fully realized in his maturity. He is a man of high principles and broad mind, and with the true spirit of patriotism he upholds every measure calculated to benefit the community in which he dwells and the general public.
His father, J. Henry Gabel, also an honored citizen of Kendall County, settled here half a cen- tury ago, and was associated thenceforth with its development. He was born in Nassau, Germany, October 30, 1813, and married in his Fatherland Annie K. Betz, whose birth had occurred March 20, 1816. He learned and practiced the trade of wagon-making for a number of years. Having been economical and industrious, he at last wished to buy a farm, but found it impossible to purchase any property in his locality. Naturally this fact roused his spirit, and lie decided to emigrate to a freer land, where even the laboring man can obtain a foothold and honor. Accord- ingly he embarked in a ship in the spring of 1850 and had a safe journey, arriving in New York City at the end of three weeks. Thence he proceeded westward by river and canal and the great lakes to Chicago, arriving in June. Near Somonauk, Ill., he invested most of his capital in an eighty-acre tract of land, and five years later became the owner of a quarter section of land in Kendall Township, Kendall County- the present homestead of our subject. The father made a success of liis industrious efforts and for years was extensively occupied in
raising grain for the markets of Joliet and Lock- port. He served as a school director and as an official of the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Con- pany, which he was instrumental in organizing in his township. He was a member of the Lutheran Church, and died, firm in his faith, December 5, 1880, while his wife survived hin until April 12, 1888. Of their ten children six have passed to the silent land. Two died in in- fancy in Germany, and William died in Illinois. Louise, the fourth child, married Siefert Fred- erick Hahnenstein, and resided opposite her parents until her death. Caroline, the eighth, died at the home of her parents, when eighteen years old; and Mary, the tenth, died in childhood. Henry G. Gabel, M. D., the eldest of those liv- ing, was born October 27, 1841, and is practicing medicine in Aurora, Ill. Lewis J. is a farmer of Na-au-say Township; and Theodore C. resides near Plattville, Ill.
Augustus C. Gabel was born in Somonauk, DeKalb County, Ill., September 18, 1852, and as he was brought to Kendall County at the age of three years, feels that he is practically one of its life-long inhabitants. After completing a course of study in the district schools he attended the Aurora Seminary two terms, and by subsequent reading and observation has increased his general information. Under the instruction of his father he mastered the details of farming when he was young, and from his eighteenth ycar had charge of the old homestead. When his father's cstate was settled he bouglit out the interest of tlie other heirs in the family homestead, and since that time has purchased another tract of eighty acres. In addition to this two hundred and fifty- two acres, lie also owns land in Kansas. En1-
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
gaged in general farming, he keeps from seventy to one hundred and fifty swine and some fine Shropshire sheep. He also keeps from twenty to twenty-five cows, and, having become a stock- holder in the Kendall Co-operative Creamery Company of Na-au-say Township, sends milk daily to that plant, which is transacting an ex- cellent business. He has introduced the breed- ing of mules in his locality and is meeting with a success which has led his neighbors to engage in the same line of business.
Locally Mr. Gabel bears an enviable reputa- tion, and at present holds the office of first vice- president of the Farmers' Institute, and is one of the directors and examiners of the Mutual Fire Insurance Company. For eight years he has acted in the capacity of a justice of the peace, which office he still holds, and for many years was a director of schools. Like his father be- fore him, he is a Democrat in political principles, but at the same time attaches greater importance to the Prohibition issue than do the majority of his political brethren. Being of a progressive mind, he was among the first in his neighbor- hood to place a telephone in his house.
About a score of years ago Mr. Gabel married Sarah E. Smith, the ceremony which united their destinies being performed June 3, 1880. They have two children, a daughter and a son, to whom the names of Carrie J. and Glenn A. were given. The daughter now is attending the Au- rora high school, and, being an apt student, is at the head of her classes, and is developing a high
artistic talent. Mrs. Gabel is a native of How- ard, Center County, Pa., the youngest daughter in a large family, and when ten years old came to this county with her parents-Daniel Monroe and Caroline (Gardner) Smith. Both the par- ents were natives of the same county and were of German and English descent. The father died November 24, 1898, and his widow is now mak- ing her home with Mr. Gabel. Her six sons and two daughters are still living, namely: John Toner, Minerva Jane, Washington Gardner, Newton Jasper, Sarah Elizabeth, Ebenezer Au- gustus, Elmer Ellsworth and Daniel Weaver Hall. The elder daughter is the wife James
Kimble, residing in Mitchell, S. Dak. The eldest son is a citizen of Hoopeston, Ill., as are also the third and fourth. The second resides at Harper, Kans., the fifth in Mitchell, S. Dak., and the youngest on the family homestead near Plattville.
ANIEL PLATT, SR. During the long period of his residence in Kendall County 00 Mr. Platt retained the affectionate confi- dence and esteem of associates and the respect of acquaintances. Coming to this state in 1833, in the following year he settled upon the farm where the remainder of his life was busily and quietly passed. Plattville was named in his honor and perpetuates his name in local history, while in other ways he left an indelible impress upon his county. His children remain in this county, and by their honorable lives add to the prestige of a good old family name. The family is supposed to be of English origin.
The father of our subject, Thomas Platt, mar- ried Polly, daughter of Thomas Herrick, who was born near Boston, Mass. After his mar- riage he settled near Lake Champlain, in New York state, but later moved to St. Lawrence County, the same state, where he and his wife died. Their children were: Miriam, Leafy, Bet- sey, Nelson, Daniel, Edith, Polly and Priscilla. Daniel was born at Plattsburg, N. Y., March 3, 1810, and was left an orphan at an early age, after which, being thrown upon his own re- sources, he worked at any occupation he could secure. At first his wages were small, barely sufficient for board and clothing, but as he ap- proached manhood his earning capacity increased and the returns were proportionately larger.
January 18, 1832, Mr. Platt married Esther Ricketson, who was born at Peru, Clinton Coun- ty, N. Y., March 10, 1816, being the third daughter among the seven children of Jonathan and Esther Ricketson, Quakers. The other children were: Catherine, Paulina, Henry, Mar- tha, Jane and Eleanor, of whom only Henry, of Plattville, and Eleanor, Mrs. Reuben Kingman, are now living. Catherine married Clark B. Alford, and settled in DeKalb County, where
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
she died. Paulina became the wife of John Mc- on a general business until 1859. He then Cloud; Martha married George Edmunds and settled in Iowa; Jane, Mrs. John McLean, also settled in Iowa. erected the building now occupied by Munson & Tremain, and in it continued the business until 1866, when he gave over his interests to his sons.
In August, 1833, Mr. Platt started west via wagon. With him were three families, includ- ing his sisters: Betsey, Mrs. Thorn; Polly, Mrs. Robert Fowler; and Edith, Mrs. Miller, who with their husbands were intending to settle in the west. An unmarried sister, Priscilla Platt, accompanied the party also. They reached what is now Plainfield, Will County, Il1., October 26, 1833, and spent the winter there. Mr. and Mrs. Platt secured employment, at $25 a month, with Mr. Carpenter, proprietor of a tavern at Plain- field. In March Mr. Platt left his wife there and came to Kendall County, purchasing for $75 a claim at AuSable Springs. On the claim was a board cabin, 10x10 feet in dimensions, whichi he tore down, using the lumber in making a floor for his new log house. The site of that early home is marked by the stone house owned by Blackman Bros., which was completed in 1842. At that time the stage came by the place, running from Chicago to Ottawa and Peoria. Soon after settling on the land Mr. Platt estab- lished a stage station and this he kept for several years. He was the first permanent settler in Lisbon Township. In those days it was neces- sary to go to Chicago for mail, and letter postage cost twenty-five cents, so that correspondence was infrequent. For three years he lived a lonely life on his prairie homestead, and had little ready money. When he came he bought a cow, for which he paid $10, and then had only $3 left. Building a frame house he made it his home until he built a stone house, 33×43 feet, the stone for which he hauled from a quarry five miles away, while the lumber was brought from Chicago. The original claim comprised six hun- dred and forty acres, but lie gave a portion of the property to his father-in-law, another tract to his brother, Nelson, and also a piece to his son, so that he finally owned but one hundred and sixty acres of the claim. In 1856 he bought a stock of good which he placed in the building now owned by E. C. Stewart, and in it carried
The entire life of Mr. Platt, with the excep- tion of his last few years, was identified with frontier scenes. 'His childhood home was in Plattsburg, which his ancestors had founded and named, and which was the scene of a memorable battle between British and American troops, September 11, 1814. Although he was only four and one- half years of age at the time, the bloody engagement made an indelible impress upon his mind, and he carried its memory to his dying day. Becoming a pioneer of Kendall County, he assisted in its upbuilding, worked to secure the establishment of schools, assisted in opening and improving roads, and improving farm lands; in fact, was in every respect a model pioneer. In early life a Democrat, after the or- ganization of the Republican party he supported its principles. He never consented to fill politi- cal offices, and though twice elected justice of the peace, refused to qualify. He had five children, Elizabeth, Daniel, Jr., Keziah, Albert and Levi. His death occurred at his homestead February 7, 1894, and his wife passed away ten days later.
OBERT N. NEWTON. Kendall County has few citizens who are better or more fa- vorably known throughout northern Illinois than Robert N. Newton and his brother, William R., whose history appears elsewhere in this vol- ume. Their father, Ami D. Newton, was one of the pioneers of this county, and early won an enviable reputation as a business man, financier and patriot. He and his father before him were connected with the management of one of the noted hotels of this region during the first years of our country's history. The people, with whom Ami D. Newton was justly popular, honored him with several offices of trust and responsibility, and he discharged his duties most creditably.
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Robert Nelson Newton doubtless inherited his financial ability and general keenness and saga- city. He was born at Oswego, Kendall County, November 12, 1862, and was a child of two years when his parents removed to Yorkville. He at- tended the public schools of this place and of Newark, and was only thirteen years old when lie commenced his career as a banker. From that age until he was sixteen he was employed as a clerk in the bank, and then, after an interval of a year spent in school, began to work for the firm of Willet & Welsh, dealers in agricultural implements. He continued with that house eight years, and next embarked in business on his own account. In partnership with William H. Healy he bought out the furniture establishment of Nelson Hubbard, and for the following six years they were associated in the business of furniture and undertaking. At the end of this period Mr. Newton purchased his partner's interest and car- ried on the business alone three years, then.dis- posing of his stock of furniture. Since 1896 he has devoted much of his attention to the under- taking business, and carries a fine line of sup- plies in this line. For the past four years he also has been engaged in the banking business with his brother, and under their auspices the York- ville Bank lias become a flourishing institution.
Politically Mr. Newton has been interested in the success of the Republican party. In the fall of 1891 he was nominated for county treasurer, and, having been elected by a good majority, served in that important office three years. It had so happened that he was the only candidate on the Republican ticket for the treasurership, and thus from the beginning it appeared to be a personal matter and a popular choice. For the past twelve years he has been a member of the village board of trustees, serving in the office of town clerk. Fraternally he belongs to Kendall Lodge No. 471, A. F. & A. M .; the Sandwich Chapter, R. A. M .; the Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World.
Since 1894, when the Kendall County Fair Association was reorganized, Mr. Newton was elected secretary, and to his well-applied energy much of its success must be attributed. He has
acted as a judge and "starter" at races held at the tracks, and on account of his clear, distinct voice and quick, good judgment his services are in great demand. He has therefore been called upon to act as a starter at Sandwich, Rochelle, . Fort Wayne, Ind., Galesburg, Joliet, Batavia, Aurora, Freeport and Chicago, and has won fresh laurels each time. When Joe Patchen lowered the world's wagon record at Ingall's Park, near Joliet, in the fall of 1898, Mr. Newton was the judge and starter on the occasion.
In 1896 Mr. Newton purchased the beautiful residence belonging to Mr. Cornell, and it has been his pride and pleasure to keep everything about the premises in a fine condition. May 8, 1890, Mr. Newton married Fannie M. Trimble, a daughter of C. D. Trimble, of Ottawa. They have three children, Arthur Trimble, Robert Russell and Cairo.
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