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 59
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 59
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The home of Mr. Alexander, at No. 1000 South Joliet street, is presided over by his wife, whom he married in Heidelberg, Germany, in 1874, and who was Amelia Auerbach, a niece of Berthold Auerbach, the celebrated author and novelist. The four children comprising their family are: Theresa, wife of Sig. Goldstein, of Moline, Ill .; Bertha, Sigmund and Adell, at home.
ICHARD J. BARR, city attorney of Joliet, is a member of the law firm of Meers & Barr, and is well known in the profession. His personal popularity is indicated by his elec- tion to the city attorney's office in the spring of 1899, when he was the only one elected on the Republican ticket, receiving a majority of twenty- four, while some of the Democratic candidates had majorities as large as one thousand. He has been a Republican from boyhood to the present time, and believes that the principles of this political organization are best calculated to secure the progress of free government and perpetuate our national institutions on the basis proposcd by the founders of the Republic.
His education was carried on in the high school of Joliet, after which he taught school at Manhattan and Wilton Center. He afterwards matriculated in the University of Illinois, where he spent four years in the classical course of study. Next he went to the University of Michi- gan at Ann Arbor and there received the degrec of Bachelor of Laws in 1895. His class pre- sented to the university a bronze bust of Judge Cooley which cost $600. The presentation cere- mony was made a memorable event and was ap- propriately celebrated. Dr. James B. Angell represented the university, Governor Rich the
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state, and Judge Hornblower, of New York, the nation. The members of the class selected Mr. Barr to represent them, and the presentation speech which he made was published afterward in book form. While in the University of Illinois he also gave evidence of unusual ability as an orator and debater. He was president of the Illinois Oratorical Association, and also president of his class. He was elected editor-in-chief of the class annual, the " Illio," which was origin- ated by the class and compiled by him. The precedent thus established has been maintained by subsequent classes.
Upon graduating from the university in June, 1895, Mr. Barr came to Joliet, and in August of the same year he opened an office in this city. He practiced law alone until April 1, 1897, when the present firm of Meers & Barr was formed. Fraternally he is a member of Mount Joliet Lodge, A. F. & A. M .; Knights of the Globe; Mound City Camp, Modern Woodmen of America, and Paul Revere Lodge, Knights of Pythias. Should nothing unforeseen prevent a prosperous future in his chosen profession may safely be predicted of Mr. Barr. With his enter- prise, which enabled him to secure a finished ed- ucation, he has since surmounted obstacles in his path and has risen to a position of prominence among the members of his profession.
OHN DAY. No man in the county is more worthy of respect than Mr. Day, who for so many years has been connected with the ag- ricultural interests of Dupage Township, but is now to some extent retired from active cares, and makes his home in Plainfield. He is one of the pioneers who laid the foundation for the present prosperity of this region. Being industrious and careful, as well as a good manager, he made a success of his farm work. On renting his farm he moved to Plainfield and bought a place, which he has since made his home, having rebuilt and improved the residence, besides putting up a
house to the east. While he is practically re- tired, he still farms ten acres, this affording him a chance for some work in the occupation of which he is fond, while at the same time it does not overtax his energies.
In Lincolnshire, England, Mr. Day was born April 2, 1836, a son of John and Rebecca (Bric- cols) Day. He was the third among four children, of whom Mary and William died in this country and Sophia in England. His educational advan- tages were very meagre, as he was obliged to support himself from an early age. When he was thirteen he had an opportunity to come to America, but his parents refused their consent, so he continued at home until he was eighteen. He then crossed in an old sailing vessel that had more than one thousand passengers and consumed seven weeks in the voyage. As he had started with a family that had two of its members in Will County, he was induced to come here, mak- ing the trip via the canal and lakes from New York. Arriving in thiscounty, he secured work on a farm just west of Plainfield, and he was be- ginning to get a nice foothold in his new home when, in the fall, an attack of typhoid fever ren- dered him unable to work for three months. On regaining his strength he resumed his work. After two years he sent for his parents, who joined him in Will County. After the latter came, father and son cultivated a farm of ninety- one acres in Dupage Township, which our subject had purchased. At a later date ninety-one acres additional were purchased, thus making a valua- ble farm, on which he first raised wheat and afterward corn and oats. Starting in with a few head of stock, he added to them from time to time and gave considerable attention to the cattle business and dairying. He also raised horses. In 1880 his father was killed by a bull, and afterward the entire supervision of the place fell upon him. In addition to his property here he bought one hundred and sixty acres in Iowa, of which he now owns eighty acres.
Though not desiring to be prominent in poli- tics, Mr. Day is a man of firm convictions, and believes stanchly in Republican principles. For some twelve years he held the office of school di-
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rector. In religion a Methodist, he has served the congregation in Plainfield as a trustee for some years. Just prior to the Civil war he married Catherine Stratton, who came to this county in 1854, the year of Mr. Day's arrival here. When the war opened he desired to enlist in the army and fight for the Union, but his wife urged him so strongly not to do so that he gave up the hope. Of the six children born to his marriage only two are living. Sophia is the wife of Frank Gor- don, of Hamilton County, Iowa; and Carrie mar- ried Fred Morgan, of this county.
HARLES E. FRASER is one of the pro- gressive citizens of Plainfield, to whom is due much of the credit for the substantial improvements noticeable in the place. He was born in Sullivan County, N. Y., November 17, 1845, a son of James R. and Eliza (Brown) Fra- ser, He was the oldest of six children, of whom one died in infaney and Leila in girlhood. Thomas B., the second son, is a retired merchant living in Sterling, Neb .; Anna M. is the wife of Joseplı Vinson, of Joliet; and Willard A. is prin- cipal of the schools of Rutland, Vt. The father was one of the twelve children of Robert Fraser, who came to this country from Ireland, and was of Seoteh-Irish deseent. After settling in New York he engaged in agricultural pursuits. Dur- ing the war of 1812 he served in the American army.
After having engaged in farming in New York for a number of years, our subjeet's father came to Illinois in 1855 and settled first in Plainfield and next in Loekport Township, this county, where he improved a farm. He continued to re- side on this place until his death, at fifty-six years of age. On the Democratie ticket lie was elected road commissioner, which office he filled for several years. He took an active part in the work of the United Presbyterian Church, At the time he moved west his son, our subject, was a lad of ten years, and for some time afterward
he attended the district schools in Lockport Township and the Northwestern College at Plain- field. The first business in which he engaged was that of merchandising, in which he continued for twelve years. For a similar period he was interested in the manufacture of tiles, supplying the local markets. With two gentlemen as part- ners, he built up an extensive and profitable busi- ness. Though no longer connected with the business, personally, he is still interested in the plant. He owns both city and farm property, which he rents.
As a Republican, Mr. Fraser has been identi- fied with local polities. For some sixteen years he has served as a member of the village board. For three terms he filled the office of mayor, and during his administration many improvements were introduced, including the establishment of the waterworks. In 1876 he was made a Mason, He is a member of Plainfield Lodge No. 536, A. F. & A. M., in which he has been secretary and treasurer. He is connected with the Congre- gational Church, in which he is treasurer of the church and librarian of the Sunday-school. In 1871 he married Ellen E., daughter of Jonathan Hagar, of this county. Two children were born of this union, but one died in infancy. The son, Merton H., lived to be almost twenty years of age, but died at Socorro, N. M., where he had gone with the hope of benefiting his health. After the death of his first wife Mr. Fraser was again married, being united, September 3, 1885, with Lettie J., daughter of J. H. Smiley, of Plainfield. They have two daughters, Elma E. and Marion E.
EORGE B. HAMLIN, M. D., of Frank- fort Station, one of the county's prominent physicians, was born in Odell, Livingston County, Ill., February 4, 1866, a son of Dr. Thomas H. and Ellen ( Bateman) Hamlin. His paternal ancestors were of English stock. His grandfather, Thomas Hamlin, came from England to the United States in an early day and settled in
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Huntingdon, Pa., where he followed the occupa- tion of a veterinary surgeon for many years. As early as 1848 he settled in Livingston County, Ill., where the remaining years of his life were passed.
Dr. Thomas H. Hamlin was a native of Hunt- ingdon County, Pa. When a boy he accompa- nied his parents to Illinois, and his youthful years were passed at Odell. In young manhood he studied medicine. Later he turned his atten- tion to veterinary surgery, which he followed in Livingston County, and also owned a farm there. I11 1895 he came to Frankfort Station, and has since made his home with his son. He has been an expert in his chosen occupation, being recog- nized as a skilled practitioner and thoroughly familiar with diseases of animals and their methods of treatment. His wife was born on Lake Superior while her parents were going from New York to Chicago. She died in 1892, leaving an only son and child.
The early education of our subject was obtained in Odell and Dixon, Ill. He began the study of medicine in 1889, Dr. John Johnson being his pre- ceptor. Later he entered the Chicago Homeopa- thic Medical College, from which he graduated in 1893. He spent two years as resident physician in the Chicago Homeopathic Hospital, having been appointed to the position prior to his gradua- tion, so that he had only six months to serve after graduating. While a student he was chosen for this position through a competitive examina- tion out of a class of fifty-two. During his col- lege course he did much work among the county poor, whom he furnished with medical services gratuitously. October 1, 1893, he came to Frank- fort Station and established an office. His suc- cess was so great that in 1893, in order to secure adequate accommodations, he built an office and dispensary. His practice has steadily grown, and now requires all of his attention. He has also given some time to the study of dentistry, attending the dental department of the North- western University. This study he took up, not with the intention of following the dental profes- sion, but in order that he might acquire a broader knowledge of general medical work. Fraternally
he is connected with Mount Joliet Lodge No. 42, A. F. & A. M .; Modern Woodmen of America; and Odell Lodge No. 464, I. O. O. F., at Odell.
In 1889 Dr. Hamlin married Miss Emma Emerson, of Chadwick, Ill. She was a daughter of Dr. John Johnston, but was adopted and reared by her grandparents, Emerson, whose name she took. Her grandfather, Dr. R. G. Emerson, was for years a prominent physician at Chadwick, Ill. She was educated in the Dixon Normal School and taught school for several years prior to her marriage, her work being prin- cipally in the schools of Black Oak, Ill. She still retains a deep interest in educational work, as well as in all movements looking toward the progress of the people, mentally and morally, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
OHN FRANCIS was born in New Lenox Township, Will County, Ill., January 8, 1843. His father, the well-known Abraham Francis, was a native of County Cavan, Ireland, and his mother, Mary A. J. (Davison) Francis, was a native of Adams County, Ohio. The sub- ject of this notice was the fifth child of his parents under whose careful training lie developed into manhood, becoming familiar with the various employments of farm life, and pursuing his early studies in the common schools. When approach- ing manhood he took a course of study in Bryant & Stratton's Commercial College, Chicago, then returning to the farm, remained there until his twenty-third year.
December 21, 1865, he married Miss Harriet Maria Bliss, daughter of Abel and Lucinda (Blake) Bliss, both of whom were natives of Massachusetts. Mrs. Francis was born Septem- ber 5, 1846, in New Lenox Township, and is the second daughter and third child of a family of two sons and five daughters. Besides the ad- vantages of the common school Mrs. Francis re- ceived careful parental training, and remained a member of her father's household until her mar-
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riage. She is now the mother of four children, all of whom are living: John E., born August 3, 1868; Howard B., July 3, 1871; Harriet J., September 6, 1877; and Wilbur A., January 7, 1880. Each one of them has graduated from the Joliet high school in the following classes, re- spectively, '87, '90, '97, '99. All but the eldest son remain at home. He married Miss Adeline L. Walz, daughter of John J. and Henrietta (Streicher) Walz, January 31, 1895. To them were born two children, Helen Adeline and a son who died in infancy.
Mr. Francis is a Republican and has held many positions of honor and trust at the hands of his friends and fellow-citizens. He was col- lector two years, school trustee nine years, school treasurer twelve years, and supervisor twenty- three years. The fact that he filled that office twenty-one years in succession (being chairman two terms) indicates forcibly the high place he holds in the regard of his fellow-citizens. At the time of the erection of the Will County court house, the soldier's and sailor's monument, and the administration building or sheriff's residence, lie was a member of the building committees, and to such men ashe is due the credit for the erec- tion of public buildings so substantial and so well adapted to their needs. In 1894 he was elected sheriff of Will County, which position he held for four years.
Aside from these duties Mr. Francis has fol- lowed farming all his life. The farms which lie owns have been placed under the best improve- ments. Substantial buildings, well cultivated land, modern machinery, bear witness to his suc- cessful management. He has been especially successful in the breeding and care of live stock. For fourteen years he exhibited Berkshire hogs at the state fairs with unusual success. Later his attention has been turned toward cattle, and he now owns one of the finest herds in Will County. His landed possessions aggregate nine hundred acres, divided into four tracts, the one upon which he lives being acknowledged the best farm in New Lenox Township.
Mr. and Mrs. Francis are botli active members of the New Lenox Methodist Episcopal Church.
He has been a trustee and steward for many years. When the new church was erected in 1899, he was chosen a member of the building committee, and probably no man deserves more credit than he for such a complete, magnificent, and well-appointed edifice.
Personally Mr. Francis is looked upon as one of the leading men of the county. He is a man of progressive ideas, liberal and public spirited, and his career is indicative of tlie esteem and confi- dence with which he is regarded by his fellow- citizens. His amiable wife has been an efficient helpmate, and has contributed her full quota toward sustaining the reputation of the family.
OL. DANIEL H. DARLING has been a resident of this county since 1855, and at the outbreak of the Civil war was engaged in teaching in the Joliet schools. The family of which he is a member has been represented in America since colonial days, and has borne its part in the various wars in which our country has engaged. His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution, and his father served in the second war with England, while he himself has a credit- able record as an officer in the Civil war, in which he rose from the ranks to the command of a regiment.
Professor Darling ( for he is better known by this title than by that of colonel) was born in Paines- ville, Olio, June 8, 1836, and was fourth in a family of six children. His father, Sethi, was a native of Madison County, N. Y., and there learned the trades of carpenter, joiner and wheel- wright. He became a pioneer of the western re- serve of Oliio, where he entered and improved a tract of land, and at the same time followed his trade. There he remained until his death, in 1841. His wife, Marline, was a daugliter of Noah Anderson, who was born in Maryland, of Scotcli parentage, and settled in Ohio at the same time with Mr. Paine, after whom the city of Painesville was named.
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After having completed the studies of the local schools, the subject of this sketch became a stu- dent in Lake Erie College, where he completed his education. In 1855 he came to Illinois and accepted a position as principal in the Lockport school, where he remained for three years. He then came to Joliet, as principal of the public schools of this city, in which capacity he was serving at the beginning of the Civil war. Fired with the enthusiastic spirit and the patriotism of his forefathers, he determined at once to offer his services to the Union. He went to Chicago for that purpose, but, as he weighed only one hun- dred and twenty pounds, the recruiting officers would not accept him. However, he would not give up his purpose, but proceeded to Michigan, where he was accepted, becoming a member of Company C, Seventh Michigan Cavalry. He was in all the campaigns and engagements of the army of the Potomac. In the battle of Gettysburg he was wounded, but the need of soldiers being great and the battle a close one, he had the wound bound up, and continued in the fighting line, taking part in the fifteen battles that followed during the next fourteen days. When the fight- ing ceased he permitted the physicians to dress his wounds in a hospital. After the grand re- view in Washington he was honorably dis- charged, but immediately re-enlisted for service against the Indians, in which he made so credita- ble a record that he was promoted to the com- mand of his regiment, serving under Generals Custer, Kilpatrick and Sheridan. He now has in his possession, as an interesting relic, an Indian blanket worn by one of the savages, a memento of his first engagement with the Indians.
The fatigue of long marches and exposure to inclement weather told severely upon Prof. Dar- ling's health, and on the expiration of his army service he was unable to immediately resume teaching in Will County. As the Ohio Reform school was located in a very healthy place he went there, accepted a position in the school, and continued in it for four years, when, his health being again restored, he returned to Lockport and resumed work as principal of the schools. When the need of a superintendent of schools
was felt in Joliet he was offered the position, which he accepted, holding it for fourteen years. In 1868 he married Miss Abbie Wyman, of Painesville, Ohio. Owing to her ill-health, in 1896 he resigned his position, in order that he might be free to take her to a warmer climate during the winter months of each year. He has long been recognized as one of the most efficient educators of northeastern Illinois. Certainly there are very few who have accomplished more for the educational interests of Joliet than has he, and he richly deserves his high standing as a teacher. In politics he has never been active, but is intelligently conversant with public affairs and votes the Republican ticket. During the war he was made a Mason, and took his first degree in General Washington's old lodge at Winchester, Va. He is connected with Bartleson Post, G. A. R. In religion he is identified with the Christian Church.
OWARD T. KELTIE, secretary and treas- urer of the Keltie Stone Company, was born in Clinton, Canada, June 27, 1851, and was one of a family of three sons and four daughters, all of whom are living except two sons. His fa- ther, Thomas Keltie, a native of Scotland and a carpenter by trade, settled in Kingston, Canada, at an early age, and afterward removed to Clin- ton, where he died in the prime of life. He mar- ried Mary A. Mccullough, who was born of Eng- lish parentage in Canada and died in Detroit, but was buried at Joliet. In religious faith she was identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
When three years of age our subject was taken to Port Clark on Lake Huron, but four years later he returned to Clinton, where he attended the common schools. When sixteen he entered a stave factory, and afterward for three years was an engineer in the drilling of salt wells in On- tario, in the vicinity of his old home. Coming to the States, he was engaged to put down an ar- tesian well at Lemont, beginning the work in July, 1873, and digging a well thirteen hundred and
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sixty feet deep, which was the first deep well in tlie locality. Coming to Joliet, he worked for sev- eral months in deepening wells, then returned to Canada, where he spent the winter. In the spring of 1874 he came to Mendota, Ill., where he dug an artesian well twenty-two hundred feet decp. Next he put down a well at Champaign, Ill. Returning to Mendota, he worked at the deepen- ing of the well he had previously dug. His next contact was near Marseilles, Ill., where he put down a well that was twenty-one hundred feet deep. Afterward he dug several wells in the same vicinity.
While at Marseilles, Mr. Keltie made the ac- quaintance of Mr. Hays, of the Joliet Stone Com- pany, who engaged him to buy an engine and ma- chinery for sawing stone, and put it in operation in Joliet. With this concern (the Joliet Stone Company) Mr. Keltie continued as an engineer for four years, after which he superintended their quarries for four ycars. In 1884 he bought an interest in the Jolict and Chicago Stone Company, of which he was superintendent of the quarries at Fourth and Rowell avenues. After two years lie was made vice-president and secretary as well as superintendent, and continued in these capaci- ties until 1893, when he resigned. Organizing the Douglas & Keltie Stone Company, he became its manager, and soon afterward bouglit his part- ner's interest and changed the name to the Kel- tie Stone Company, of which he is secretary, treasurer and manager. Under his supervision quarries were opened between Jackson and Cass streets, on the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad, where the company bought a large tract of land. He also opened and began to operate twenty acres west of Joliet, on the same railroad. The quar- ries are provided with steam plant, derricks, sid- ing, and other necessary equipments, and thic product is a good quality of building stone. He is also a contracting stone mason and does all the work in this linc for the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad. He has also had contracts for the ma- terial used in the government piers at South Chi- cago. Shipments of stone arc made to all parts of the country, but especially to Milwaukee and St. Louis. In addition to his connection with
this business, Mr. Keltie is interested in the Will County Bank and was also one of the incorpora- tors of the Vance Furniture Company, of which he was secretary until the business was sold out.
In Joliet Mr. Keltie married Miss May T. Smith, who was born in Joliet, daughter of Will- iam Smith, of Joliet. They have three children, William H., Arthur J. and Laura M. The fam- ily are connected with the First Baptist Church, in which he is church treasurer and president of the board of trustees. At the same time he acts as superintendent of a mission Sunday- school. In national politics he is a stanch Re- publican, and at this writing is a member of the county central committec. He is also treasurer of the Working Men's Republican Club. A member of the board of school trustees for Joliet Township, he is serving his second term as pres- ident of the same. Fraternally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Knights of Pythias, and in the latter has served as chancellor commander.
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