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 43
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 43
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ACOB BUDD. During all the years of his long life, covering the greater part of the nineteenth century, Mr. Budd retained the confidence of his associates, and esteem of his friends. As early as 1850 he became a resident of Kendall County, coming here from the east and settling in the village of Newark. This vil- lage was originally known as Georgetown and was laid out by George B. Hollenback, January 18, 1836. From Newark, in 1855, he removed to Fox Township and purchased two hundred and fifty acres on section 10, to which he added, from time to time, during the subsequent years until, at the time of his death, his landed posses- sions aggregated twelve hundred acres, well im- proved and stocked.
In Dutchess County, N. Y., near Fishkill, Mr. Budd was born November 1I, 1811, a son of Elijah and Abigail (Sebring) Budd. His boy- hood days were spent at the homestead in New York. While still a mere lad he became inter- ested in farming, and this occupation he followed more or less throughout his entire life. Believ- ing that Illinois offered greater advantages than New York to an ambitious but moneyless young inan, he decided to seek a home in this state, and
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in 1850 made the trip via lakes and overland to Kendall County, of which he afterward was a resident. For five years he engaged in the mer- with modern conveniences and is one of the most cantile business at Newark, after which he turned , substantial and comfortable in Millbrook. his attention to stock-raising and general farming.
When the Fox River branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad was built Mr. Budd erected an elevator at Millbrook, which town he laid out and named, July 22, 1872. Afterward for years he was its most prominent business man. In addition to dealing in grain, he conducted a mercantile business for a number of years. He also served as supervisor of the town- ship and postmaster of the village. During the later years of his life he devoted himself to the stock business and the management of his exten- sive landed interests. Advancing years obliged him, to a certain degree, to retire from active cares of business, but he continued to be remark- ably active to the last. He died at his home, April 15, 1896, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. To his family and friends he left the priceless heritage of an honorable name and an upright life. In the annals of this county the name of such a man deserves to be perpetuated, for it represents all that is truest, highest and best in our citizenship.
The marriage of Mr. Budd, in 1855, united him with Miss Mary Ann Greenfield, who was born near Detroit, Mich., August 26, 1833, and in 1840 came to Kendall County with her parents, Samuel and Fannie (Leavitt) Greenfield. Seven children were born to the union of Mr. and Mrs. Budd, namely: Jacob S., who is represented on another page of this volume; Amelia A., wife of W. H. Lawson, of Plano; Robert E., whose sketch appears elsewhere; Maggie E., wife of DeWitt Van Tasell, of Newark; Mary E., who married Clarence S. Williams, of Yorkville; Sherman J. and Frankie, all residents of Kendall County, and all, with the exception of two, resi- dents of the township where for so many years their father made his home. The family resi- dence was destroyed by fire October 1, 1895. Immediately afterward Mr. Budd began to make the plans for a new house, but died before the work could be carried into execution, and after
ward the residence was completed by his widow, who now occupies it. The house is equipped
BRAM ZALMON BROWN, a former well- known citizen of Kendall County, now de- ceased, was born in the state of New York, November 22, 1827, a son of Abram Z. and Rachel (Bates) Brown, natives of New York. His parents died when he was six years of age, and in 1834 he was brought west and reared by his uncles, John and Harvey Bates, who were early settlers of Chicago and of Kendall County. His uncle Harvey lived on the banks of the Fox River near Millbrook, and with him he remained much of the time until he was eighteen years old. He then entered land on Christian Ridge and began farming and stock-raising on his own account. May 1, 1851, he married Sabrina, daughter of Thomas and Freelove (Van Tasell) Serine, natives of New York. She was born near Fishkill, in Dutchess County, N. Y., on Christmas day of 1830, and was eight years of age when the family settled in Illinois, establish- ing their home in Fox Township, Kendall Count- ty, where her father died June 24, 1893, and her mother some three years previous. Mrs. Brown was one of eleven children, five of whom are still living: Alanson and Philip own farms in Ken- dall County, Jacob is farming near Dysart, Iowa, and Mary is the wife of Isaac Scoggin, of Sand- wich, Il1.
After his marriage Mr. Brown rented a farın in Mission Township, LaSalle County, for two years. In the fall of 1854 he removed to section 8, Big Grove Township, Kendall County, pur- chasing the place from Edward Edgerton. The fact that he possessed great courage is shown by his buying the place for $3,000, when he could make a payment of only $300 cash, giving for the balance his notes, extending over four years, and drawing ten per cent. interest. The result justified his act, for before the four years had ex- pired the place was paid for. The original
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property consisted of one hundred and twenty- one acres, to which he added until he now has one hundred and seventy acres. Besides farming he engaged in the stock business, being for years an extensive buyer and shipper of stock. He was a man of exceptional energy and determination, undaunted by hardships and undismayed by disaster. His honorable and con- scientious character won him the respect of all associates. He was honest and conscientious to a degree seldom seen, as is shown by the fact that, when the price of stock advanced after he had bought, he would divide the profits with the seller. All during his active life he was a men- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which his wife also belongs. In politics he was a Re- publican. As school trustee he was active in educational matters.
Having come west so early in life, Mr. Brown lost all trace of his only sister, Mary. When he became a man he determined to find her, and after considerable difficulty at last ascertained her whereabouts. He brought her west to make her home with him and his wife, and for several years she taught school and music in Kendall and adjacent counties. She was married at the home of her brother to Edward Kennedy, and they moved to Marshalltown, Iowa, where she died in 1891.
The death of Mr. Brown occurred on his home farm June 25, 1893. Since that time Mrs. Brown has rented the farm, although superintending its management personally. In 1900 she purchased property in Sandwich, to which place she re- moved to establish her permanent home. Her only living son, George T., is living there. She had another son, Oscar W., who died in 1900.
ON. LEWIS STEWARD, deceased. No man in the county of Kendall has been more prominently identified in promoting the material growth of the county than he whose name heads this sketch. His whole life was practically passed here, as he was but thirteen years old when he was brought by his parents,
Marcus and Ursula (Hollister) Steward, who came to Kendall County in 1838 from Wayne County, Pa.
Mr. Steward was born in the latter county, November 20, 1824, and was the eldest of nine children. His mother was a lady of excellent education and taught him his alphabet when he was but twenty months old. He trudged to school all alone when he was very young, but the advantages he had were limited, as, when he was thirteen years of age, the family started for the west, driving through from Pennsylvania. They reached their destination in May of 1838, and the father, who was a farmer by vocation, pre-empted land in Little Rock Township, be- ginning the cultivation and improvement of a farm. In this work Lewis soon bore an active part, being the eldest of the children, so that through all the trying experiences of the pioneer existence, he bore his share. As soon as schools were organized he attended them during the winters, but soon acquired all the knowledge his · teacher was able to impart (being of an excep- tionally retentive turn of mind). This was as far as his attendance at any institution of learn- ing went, but by a thorough course of reading he became one of the best-posted men of his town- ship. Marcus Steward built a sawmill and sub- sequently a grist-mill. His son often said the family coat-of-arms should include a saw-mill, as its members had operated one for the last two hundred and fifty years.
In the days when Lewis Steward was first farming in this township he hauled his produce to Chicago; but later, when the old Strap railroad was laid nine miles out on the swampy prairie, the teams delivered their loads to the road there, saving that much hauling through the worst kind of roads. As he saw what a saving of time it would be if he did not have to go on to Chica- go to dispose of the grain he made arrangements with an honest man to dispose of the grain and send the proceeds back by the train, so that an entire day was saved for the farmer. In this way he organized the first commission business carried on in Chicago. When the survey for the extension of the C. B. & Q. Railroad west of
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Aurora was made it had been practically deter- mined to run the road a couple of miles further south than it is located, but he visited the officers and soon succeeded in convincing them that the line through Plano was the better one, and knowing the lay of the land as thoroughly as he did, they could not dispute him, and in this way lie succeeded in having the road laid out as it is at present.
There probably never would have been a city where Plano now stands were it not that his tire- less energies had been directed to the upbuilding of the town; and that, combined with his fore- sight and management, he succeeded in getting so many industries located here that growth was a necessity and a natural sequence. In 1860 he began making the Marsh Harvester in Plano, and after its success was assured he sold out to Gammon & Deering. The machinery was then removed to Chicago and subsequently Mr. Stew- ard organized the Plano Manufacturing Com- pany, which was so successfully operated here for many years, and which gave employment to many men. He stood by the concern faithfully during the panic of 1873 and carried it through those trying times. In 1882 he disposed of his interest to E. H. Gammon and again returned to his favorite vocation, that of farming. In this he was successful. He added to his land here until he was in possession of over five thousand acres. In the care and management of his vast estate lie showed a wonderful capacity for busi- ness. Instead of having everything down "in black and white," he carried almost all the de- tails in his mind, and was never at a loss as to what to do and when to do it. He bred many fine horses, and sometimes had as many as fif- teen hundred head of live stock on his places (many of them noted thoroughbreds). His es. tate seemed especially fitted for stock purposes, having Big Rock Creek winding through it. From this source he also secured the power to furnish a supply of water to the city and to run the two mills located at the eastern end of the city. He erected a commodious residence just off the main street and the fine grounds and sur- rounding groves of trees made it a most enjoyable
home. Here he took pleasure in entertaining his many friends, and being of a very hospitable nature he enjoyed their company as much as those he entertained enjoyed his generous lios- pitality. He was always considerate of youth and it was his delight to give pleasure to the young people. As an evidence of this, there are many living to-day who can tell of how he would load four or five hayracks with young folks and take them all to a circus in Aurora.
His personality was very strong. He had the power of bending other people to his will. He happened to be in Aurora when the citizens had their fire engines at the depot, ready to send to Chicago at the time of the great fire there; but the board of aldermen would not consent to hav- ing the apparatus leave the city. He mounted the car and addressed them, telling them if they would post people on their buildings with buck- ets of water while the engines were gone he would pay any damage that might occur, and in this way he obtained permission to have the apparatus sent to Chicago, and it was the first to respond of any of the adjacent cities.
In politics Mr. Steward was always an adher- ent of the Democratic party, though never seek- ing an office for himself. Owing to the assess- ments being very unsatisfactory, he was ap- proached at noon of election day, at one time, and besought to be a candidate for assessor. He consented, and although there were five to one against him on political questions, lie was elected and served two terms, after which he refused to hold the office longer. In spite of his protests he was elected supervisor, and was the only Demo- crat on the board. He was selected by the board to go to Springfield to straighten out some mat- ters of injustice to the county in regard to the recruits from here and carried this duty to a sat- isfactory termination. He was also made chair- man of the board of commissioners for removing the county seat and erecting the new courthouse at Yorkville.
In 1876 Mr. Steward was nominated by the Democratic and Granger state conventions as their candidate for governor. During the excit- ing campaign that followed he was approached
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by a Chicago paper with a proposition that for a given sum he could be elected. He refused the offer, stating that he had not entered into the matter on a question of "buy or sell," and would have nothing to do with it. His personality and wide reputation, however, carried him to such an extent that in the state, which then gave a Republican majority of from thirty to fifty thousand, he cut the majority down to a bare five thousand.
Mr. Steward was twice married. His first wife was Cornelia Gale. Their only son, Lee, born April 9, 1855, died at Vienna, February 3, 1872, having gone to Europe to complete his ed- ucation. Mrs. Steward died in 1858.
November 23, 1860, Mr. Steward married Mary Hunt, of Canaan, Conn. Her parents were Reuben and Emeline Hunt. The father was a graduate of Yale and was a lawyer in early life. Later he became an iron manufacturer. He came west to get started in farming, in which he hoped to interest his son. He was a great student and reader. During his connection with the iron business he made the first wrought-iron cannon ever manufactured (in 1841). Upon coming to Illinois he settled at Bristol, where he died at the age of eighty-four years. His wife was eighty- six at the time of her death. He was first a Whig and later a Democrat, and served as a member of the state legislature in Connecticut. To Mr. and Mrs. Steward seven children were born: Ruth, the eldest, who died when six weeks old; Julian R., whose sketch appears elsewhere; H. Greeley, born September 12, 1869, and died March 18, 1883; W. Deering, whose sketchi ap- pears elsewhere; G. S. Bangs, born April 12, 1874; C. Marsh, born May 18, 1876; and
T. Coulter, born May 12, 1879, died November 1, 1882.
Mr. Steward died August 27, 1896. His death was a great loss to the community of which he had so long been an honored and influential citi- zen. The loss was felt by all to be a heavy one, and acquaintances from every part of the county united in tendering sympathies to the immediate family and other relatives. He had been liberal to all churches and believed in Christianity as a great agency in reforming society, but detested all cant and hypocrisy. The lessons of the Christian faith, which he had learned in child- hood, lingered in his soul throughout life and supported him in death. Among the many ex- pressions of condolence received by his widow was a telegram from Archbishop Feehan, of Chi- cago, in which he said: "Receive from me, the representative of six hundred thousand Catho- lics in my diocese, our sympathy in this sad hour of your affliction. The services your deceased husband rendered in the erection of a Catholic Church at Plano are not forgotten. The kindly hospitality extended to our apostolic delegate (Satolli) will go down in history, remembered here and at Rome, the center of Catholicity." He was a promoter of every benevolent and charita- ble enterprise within the range of his influence. His liberality to churches of every sect, as he aided in their foundation and through all the years in the active advancement of their work, was constant and almost beyond computation; and at his grave priest and minister, Catholics and Protestants, united in the last tribute of re- spect to one who had been to them a constant and generous friend.
HON. HENRY S. HUDSON
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
HON. HENRY SUMNER HUDSON.
ON. HENRY SUMNER HUDSON. This well-known citizen of Yorkville has a re- markable record on the bench, having served as county judge of Kendall County continuously since 1865. He is of English descent. The progenitor of the family in America crossed the ocean in 1713 with a small colony who had a land grant and who settled in Worcester County, Mass. Of the members of the colony the Hud- sons are the only ones who retain the same land in their family to-day. Judge Hudson's grand- father, John, his father, Joseph, and he himself were born in the same house, the Oxford home- stead having been in the family for six genera- tions. His grandfather was a friend of John Milton Earl, editor of the Massachusetts Spy, which has been published for one hundred and thirty-one years, being, with one exception, the oldest paper in the United States; and it has been taken by the Hudson family ever since it was started.
In his township Joseph Hudson was a promi- nent man and served as selectman and in other offices. By his marriage to Rachel Eddy he had two sons, of whom Henry S. was the elder. The other son now conducts the old homestead, on which the father died at ninety-two years and the mother when ninety-one. The judge was reared on the homestead, but, as his father noticed he had little fondness for agriculture, a good education was given him. He prepared for college at Leicester Academy and later attended Amherst College, from which he graduated in 1849. In 1899 the class held a reunion, on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of their grad- uation, and at that time a souvenir pamphlet was
published, giving a sketch of each member. He commenced the study of law at Worcester with Judges Barton and Bacon immediately after re- ceiving his diploma. A few months later he went to Newton, N. J., where he was principal of an academy for eighteen months, pursuing his law studies at the same time. On his return to Worcester he was admitted to the bar in De- cember, 1851. From that time until 1854 he was a member of the law firm of Matthews & Hudson. In the latter year he came to Chicago and began to practice law in partnership witli Judge E. G. Hook, who was the first prosecuting attorney under the Milliken law. Later he was a partner of the famous Andrew Garrison. In 1862 he came to Oswego on legal business and found such a nice town that he decided to locate there for the summer. Selecting a suitable house he rented it for his family and came down from Chicago every two weeks to attend to his practice here. His increasing business caused him to open an office at Oswego, which was then the county seat. In 1865 he was elected county judge and removed to Yorkville, to which the county seat had just been removed. He has been elected nine consecutive terms of four years each. When it is considered that he is a man of independent ways, it shows that he has the con- fidence of the people to the highest degree. Hc has had more or less practice in circuit and su- preme courts and has the reputation of having earned the largest fec ever paid in the county. In every respect and under all circumstances he has proved himself to be an impartial and learned jurist. In politics he is a Republican of Whig antecedents, and has served as delegate to dis-
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trict and state conventions. Since the organiza- N. Y., born December 31, 1820. When seven tion of the blue lodge in Yorkville he has been identified with the Masonic order. He was mar- ried, in Chicago, in 1857, to Hannah E., daugh- ter of Rev. Moses Dayhoff, a native of Ohio. They have two children, Lizzie H. and Joseph E. The former is the wife of Joseph N. Wayne, of Oswego, and the latter has taken up mercantile pursuits.
It is a remarkable fact that since the organiza- tion of Kendall County, it has had but three county judges: Joseph W. Helme, who was elected in 1849; Benjamin Ricketson, who served from 1853 to 1865; and Henry S. Hudson, whose time of service has extended from 1865 to the present time. It is doubtful if any county, so long organized, could surpass such a record as this.
Personally Judge Hudson is a man of genial manner, dignified yet companionable, with the broad knowledge of the law that makes him a power in his town and county.
ETH COVELL SLEEZER, who is a lead- ing farmer of. Kendall County, resides upon a valuable farm in Big Grove Township, comprising three hundred and thirty-five acres on sections 3, 4, 9 and 10. He is of German ex- traction. His great-grandfather, Martin Sleezer, was impressed into the army while at chureh one day, when he was seventeen years of age. He was brought to America to fight the colonies, but, being in sympathy with their struggles for liber- ty, deserted and joined Washington's army. After the war closed he settled in Providence, Saratoga County, N. Y. His wife, when a child of three years, was captured by the Indians, to- gether with her mother and a younger sister. Both of the others were killed by the savages, but she was spared and was retained for several years, being finally brought back by the govern- ment. Of the three sons born to her marriage, Martin, George and Abraham, the second was our subject's grandfather.
Seth C., Sr., son of George Sleezer, and father of our subject, was a native of Providence,
years of age he was left motherless. He was then taken into the home of his grandfather, who died six years later, thus leaving the boy a sec- ond time without a home. Afterward he worked among farmers and wherever he was offered ant opportunity to make his livelihood. September 24, 1842, he married Eliza Ann Kellogg at Sara- toga Springs, N.Y. In 1845 they left that place and came to Illinois, settling in Kendall County and renting a farm for nine years. In 1854 they moved to the property our subject now owns. Their first home was a one-story frame building, 16 x 20 feet in dimensions, and was built by the father during his leisure hours and of evenings. He gave his attention to farming and stock-rais- ing, using all of his grain for feed. By various purchases he became the owner of three hundred and thirty-five acres, of which only sixty acres had been bought in the first purchase. In 1884 he retired from active labors, moved to Newark and bought a little farm of thirty-eight acres, which was his home until his death, September 28, 1896. For some years he voted with the Re- publican party, but finally transferred his alle- giance to the Prohibition party, in which he was deeply interested. When eighteen years of age he united with the Baptist Church at Evans Mills, Jefferson County, N. Y. Later he transferred his membership by letter to Saratoga Springs, and thence to Newark, Ill., identifying himself with a congregation but recently organized. At that time the little band had no building of their own. He assisted in the erection of a house of worship, and for many years served as trustee and Sunday-school superintendent, also was one of the first deacons and held the office until he died. He was known as a benevolent, kindly man, liberal not only in support of his church, but also in various philanthropic measures. The infirmities of old age prevented him during his last days from retaining his activity in religious work, and he therefore resigned his official posi- tions, but the congregation retained him as an officer in an honorary capacity until he died.
The eldest son of Seth C. Sleezer, Sr., was Flavius J., a young man of upright character
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and great promise. At the opening of the Civil war he enlisted in the Union army, marched to the front with his regiment and remained in active service until he was killed in battle at Elizabetlı- town, Ky.
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