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 73
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 73
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
Cross. He is an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Joliet and a contributor to religious and benevolent movements. June 30, 1897, he was united in marriage with Lillian B., daughter of Rev. A. J. Van Wormer, of Albion, Mich.
3 OHN C. FLYNN, who is traveling salesman for the wholesale shoe house of Drur, Selbie & Co., of Portsmouth, Ohio, has made Joliet his home since 1892. He was born in Mooers, Clinton County, N. Y., February 25, 1857, a son of John and Catherine (Cassaday) Flynn, natives respectively of Ireland and Canada. His father, who was born near Dublin, remained in his native place until he was about twenty, and then crossed the ocean to New York, where he spent two years. Returning to 'Ireland he re- mained there for two years. On coming to America for the second time he settled in Mooers, N. Y., and secured employment there as a rail- road contractor. During the last five years of his life he was engaged in the mercantile busi- ness at Mooers. At the opening of the Civil war he espoused the cause of the Union and en- listed as a private in the Ninety-sixth New York Infantry, which he accompanied to the front and in which he continued until the expiration of his term of service. His only wound was received in the battle of the Wilderness and was not of a serious nature: In religion he was a Roman Catholic. He died in Mooers when fifty-four years of age, and his widow has since continued to make that place her home. Of their seven children we note the following: Margaret is de- ceased; Mary A. lives in Minneapolis, Minn .; Stephen is a farmer near Mooers; Frank died in Iowa; Thomas is deceased; John C. was sixth in order of birth; and the youngest is James M., of Cleveland, Ohio.
When he was only nine years of age the sub- ject of this sketch began to do for himself. As a newsboy on passenger trains he gained his first knowledge of business. Meantime, however, he did not neglect his studies, but attended school
when it was possible. In 1876 he entered the express office at St. Albans, Vt., where he re- mained for three years. From there in 1880 he went to Portsmouth, Ohio, as local agent for the Singer Sewing Machine Company, but resigned that position in June, 1881, and became traveling salesman for Drur, Selbie & Co. The house at that time was a small one and had only one com- mercial traveler besides himself; but such has been its growth that it now keeps fourteen men constantly on the road. At first the territory as- signed to him was very large, including Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and Iowa, but now he travels only in northern Illi- nois, eastern Minnesota and Wisconsin. As the house manufactures only shoes of a fine quality, only the best trade is desired; hence only large towns are visited. For years he made his head- quarters in various places, as seemed most con- venient for his business, but since 1892 he has resided in Joliet. During that year he married Miss Nellie Sullivan, of this city. They lost one child in infancy and have two sons living, John C. and James S. Politically Mr. Flynn is an independent Democrat, supporting the party in national issues, but voting for the best man in local elections. In fraternal matters he is con- nected with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Royal Arcanum.
OWARD S. BARKER, cashier of the Ex- change Bank at Frankfort Station, was born in Oneida County, N. Y., in 1850, a son of Asahel B. and Elizabeth Barker, the latter a native of England. His paternal grandfather, Miles Barker, was a descendant of early settlers of Connecticut. The father, a native of Oneida County, born in 1823, came to Chicago in 1846, working at his trade, but returned to New York after two years, and in 1855 came to Frankfort Station, where he followed the carpenter's trade for a time. In 1862 he embarked in the lumber business and in the handling of agricultural im- plements and building material. This he con- tinued until 1897, when he sold out to his son
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Howard and retired from business life. He and his wife had eight children, of whom two sons and a daughter are living.
At the time the family settled at Frankfort Station our subject was about five years of age. His education was begun in local public schools and continued in Chicago University. He gradu- ated from the Chicago College of Pharmacy, studying for a year under Dr. Jameson of Chicago. On returning to Frankfort he added a stock of drugs to his father's store and became a partner in the entire business, father and son remaining together until the former's retirement in 1897. Since then our subject has been sole proprietor. In 1894, with his father, he started the Exchange Bank, of which he was cashier from the first. He now devotes his entire attention to the bank- ing business. He is the owner of a farm in Frankfort Township, which he rents. In pol- itics he is a Republican, and is now township treasurer, also member of the county central committee. He has been a delegate to county and district conventions. Fraternally he is an official member of the Modern Woodmen. He is a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for some time has held office as Sunday-school superintendent. In 1880 he married Sarah Winne, by whom he has four children, namely: Wilfred W., Elizabeth G., Paul F. and Stantial H.
5 EORGE M. ARNOLD, deceased, formerly a merchant of Lockport, was born and reared in New York state, and came to Will Coun- ty with his brother, John W. Arnold. For sev- eral years he was connected with the dry-goods house of George Fish & Co., Lockport, but severed his connection with that firm on being elected sheriff, and for two terms gave his atten- tion to the duties of that office. He was a well- known public man and had acquaintances and friends in every part of the county. His death was mourned by many as a personal bereave- ment.
Mr. Arnold married Miss Mary Mess, a native of Scotland, and a daughter of George and Cath-
erine Mess. Her father was born near Aber- deen, Scotland, and came to the United States in 1840, settling at first in Chicago, where he made his home for several years. He then came to Yankee Settlement, Will County, and for sev- eral years successfully carried on farm pursuits and stock-raising. In later years he bought a farm near Lockport and there he continued to reside until his death at about seventy years. In politics he was a Republican, and in religion an Episcopalian. He was a member of a very aristocratic and cultured family of Scotland. His wife died one year after his demise. They were the parents of four children, namely: George, who died at twenty years of age; Louisa and Mrs. Arnold, who live in Lockport; and William T., who resides in Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold had two children, of whom the son, George M., is an engineer in Chicago, and the daughter, Minnie L., is at home.
ACOB BROSSMAN, a farmer, stock-raiser and dairyman of Dupage Township, has made his home in Will County since 1854. He was born in Lancaster County, Pa., July 16, 1837, a son of Jacob Brossman, Sr., and grand- son of John Brossman, natives of Pennsylvania and farmers by occupation. In 1854 his father removed from Pennsylvania to Iowa, but, not liking the surroundings, came to Illinois and settled in the northern part of Dupage Township, Will County, where he bought two hundred acres at $35 per acre. The land was partly in good timber and partly under cultivation, and was therefore more valuable than much of the surrounding property. As he prospered he added to his possessions until he acquired four hundred acres. In politics he was a Democrat and in re- ligion a Lutheran. He died at the age of ninety- four years. During liis residence in Pennsyl- vania he was married. In his family there were twelve children, Jacob being the oldest of those now living. He was educated in Pennsylvania, first acquiring an excellent knowledge of the German language and afterward studying Eng-
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lish. At the time of settling in Illinois he was seventeen years of age. He remained with his father until he was twenty-one, when he began farming on his own account. When he was about thirty-one years old he bought one hundred acres where he now lives. To this he added until he now owns two hundred and seventy-five acres, all in one body. His house burned, and afterward he built the residence he now occupies. He also erected other needed buildings. In 1.892 he built a substantial barn, 36x86 feet in dimen- sions, and 22 feet higli, with a stone basement. At one time he was a very extensive raiser of and dealer in cattle and hogs, and he still makes a specialty of Durham cattle, also raises Norman horses. In national politics he supports Demo- cratic principles; in local matters he is independ- ent. He has served as road commissioner. In 1850 he married Lydia Setzer, by whom he has seven children: James, a farmer at East Wheat- land, Will County; Jeremiah, who is engaged in the coal business in Englewood, Cook County; John, who assists on the home farm; William, also on the home farm; Jacob, a farmer in Du- page Township; Hannah, who is married and lives in Wheatland Township; and Mary.
In 1888 he filled a contract in Arkansas. Few men in the central states have had larger con- tracts, and certainly no one has been more suc- cessful in filling them satisfactorily.
In 1873 Mr. Henry erected a residence in Joliet, and here he has since made his home. He has been very active in matters pertaining to the progress of the city, aided in securing the electric railways and in other movements of great value. Justly, therefore, he holds a high position in the regard of his fellow-townsmen. He has been a Republican since the organization of the party. He has been twice married, having by the first marriage a daughter, who is the wife of J. W. Folk, of Joliet. His first wife died in 1878, and in 1885 he was united in marriage with Mrs. Rachel (Hulsizer) Apgar.
L LBERT M. STRONG, a retired farmer of Dupage Township, was born July 18, 1848, on the place where he still lives. His father, Robert, a native of Vermont, came to Illinois in July, 1831, and settled on an unimproved tract of prairie in Will County. He at once began to cultivate and improve the land. For a time he lived in a log house, and this was the usual stopping place of all the people who traveled through the country in search of a location. During the Black Hawk war, which occurred the year after he came here, the family went to Chicago, returning when the danger was past. Through energy he became one of the large land owners of his township. He was honored as a citizen, and was chosen to serve in local offices, such as supervisor and justice of the peace. He helped to organize the Presbyterian Church in his neighborhood, served as its elder for years and was its main supporter. While in New York he married Caroline Willey, and their union resulted in the birth of eleven children, of whom our subject is the sole representative in this county.
ACOB A. HENRY, president of the Will County National Bank at Joliet, was born in Hunterdon County, N. J., April 25, 1825. In 1842 he entered the employ of the Hartford & New Haven Railroad Company, and assisted in laying the first track on the canal road through New Haven. In 1846 he settled in Elyria, Ohio, and took his first contract in connection with a railroad in Ohio and Indiana. He superin- tended the construction of the northern division of the Sandusky road. In 1856 he came to Illi- nois, and in 1859 to Joliet. For several years he was roadmaster of the Chicago & Alton Railroad. In 1870 he began a contract for the building of the Houston & Great Northern Railroad in Texas, which he completed in 1873. Meantime In public schools, the academy at Naperville and the Western Reserve College, Ohio, our sub- he also built a portion of the Southern Pacific, which involved a large amount of heavy work. ject received a good education. On leaving col-
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
lege he farmed with his father until he was twenty one, when he rented a part of the home- stead. After the death of his father, which occurred December 28, 1885, he succeeded to the management of the estate. He has given especial attention to raising Shropshire sheep. In 1891 he rented the farm and went to Joliet, where he engaged in the real-estate and insur- ance business for four years. Afterward he visited in Arkansas and other southern states, and then spent a winter in Colorado. Since his return he has resided on the homestead, which he rents to his son-in-law. He is a Republican and has served as delegate to county and state conventions. October 21, 1869, he married Ida, daugliter of George Wheeler, of Ohio. They have two daughters: Grace C., Mrs. Dawson, of New Mexico; and Hattie, whose husband operates the Strong homestead.
ILLIAM COOK arrived in Will County May 10, 1850, and for forty years was one of the well-known farmers of Crete Town- ship, where he owned a good farm on section 16, besides some land on section 17, aggregating alto- gether one hundred and twenty-five acres. He was born in Lincolnshire, England, February 25, 1810, a son of Thomas and Saralı ( Holmes) Cook, and the only one of their nine children to seek a home in the United States. At thirteen years of age he left school and began to learn the shoemaker's trade, serving until he was twenty, after which he worked as a journeyman. Later he set up a shop in Winterton, and there mar ried Miss Elizabeth Adkinson, who was born in England in 1803.
February 25, 1831, our subject and his wife took passage at Hull on an American bound ship and after a voyage of seven weeks landed in New York City, whence they journeyed to Mouroe- ville, Ohio. After working as a shoemaker for a year Mr. Cook bought a small farm. Fifteen years later he moved to Lake County, Ind., and from there two years afterward moved to the vicinity of Clinton, coming thence to Crete Town-
ship. Here his wife died in 1865. Later he again married, his second wife being Mrs. Mary A. (Mitchell) Hoskins, a native of England, who died December 12, 1878. Mr. Cook con- tinued to make his home on his farm during his remaining years, but his activity toward the close of liis life was lessened by the lameness re- sulting from a fall. He died at his home July 14, 1890.
ENRY BEHRENS came to Will County in 1850 and in early manhood secured one hundred and sixty acres of wild land in Crete Township. By subsequent purchase he became the owner of three hundred acres, which at his death, February 6, 1889, became the prop- erty of his heirs. He was born in Hanover, Germany, January 9, 1836, a son of Frederick and Mary Behrens, whom he accompanied to America about 1850. Shortly afterward he set- tled with them in Crete Township. July 22, 1859, he married Sophia Ohlendorf, who was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, in 1839, a daughter of Henry and Sophia (Sene) Ohlendorf. She accompanied her parents to America when thirteen years of age and settled with them in Crete Township. After the death of her hus- band she assumed the management of the estate, which included, not only the property in Will County, but two farms in Woodford Township, Iroquois County. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Behrens comprised twelve children.
2 HINEAS K. ROWLEY was born in New York state and came to Will County when eighteen years of age. Here he continued to make his home until his death, which oc- curred, at seventy-two years of age, February 22, 1889. He was married, November 1, 1843, to Miss Jane A. Sanford, who was born in Massachusetts in 1824. After his marriage he settled ou section 19, Homer Township, and there the remainder of his life was busily passed in farm pursuits. He owned one hundred and
-
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
eighty acres comprising a valuable farm. With his wife, he held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church. He had a family of seven children. The eldest, Adelbert C., married Sarah B. Phillips, and settled in Kane County; Mary E. married John Mitchell; George died when fourteen months old; Fred E. settled in Livingston County; Alice S. married Jerome Paddock, of Homer Township; Jane S. died at nineteen years of age; and Frank A. married Helen E. Savage and settled on a farm in Homer Township.
AMES BIGGINS resided in Will County for almost a half century and was well known among the farmers of Dupage Township. He was born in County Monaghan, Ireland, May II, 1822, and spent the first eighteen years of life in his native land. On emigrating to Amer- ica he at once settled in this county and after- ward, by energy and industry, accumulated a valuable property. February 9, 1861, he mar- ried Miss Catherine Prior, who was born in Ire- land and, like himself, was reared in the Roman Catholic faith. They became the parents of six children, namely: Eugene, James, Edward, Will- iam, George and Mary.
Mr. Biggins died in Dupage Township June 15, 1884. His brother, Owen, who accompanied him to America and also settled in Dupage Township, died April 19, 1885. . Both were law- abiding citizens of their adopted country, and were worthy of the esteem in which they were held.
LIAS MYERS, a pioneer farmer of Wheat- land Township, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., May 25, 1828, a son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Amon) Myers. His father, who was born and reared in Pennsylvania, engaged in teaming and also cultivated a small farm of eight acres. In the spring of 1844, accompanied by his family and fourteen other families, he came via the canal and great lakes to Chicago, thence
direct to Wheatland Township, where he bought ninety acres of partly improved land. Two years later he died, at the age of seventy-five years. He was active in local politics and a stanch Re- publican. In religion he was connected with the Methodist Church. He was of direct German descent. The lady whom he married was a na- tive of Germany and when eleven years of age ac- companied her parents to Lancaster County, Pa., where her father died at ninety-nine years of age and her mother at the same age. Mrs. Myers died in Wheatland Township when eighty-four years old. In her family there were eight chil- dren, Elias being the third of these.
When the family settled in this county our subject was a boy of sixteen. He remained with his mother on the home farm until the spring of 1852, when he went to California by water.' On his arrival in the far west he engaged in mining and also followed other occupations at different times. However, none of his enterprises proved very successful, and he finally decided that he stood a better chance back at his old home. Re- turning, he settled on an eighty-acre farm in Wheatland Township, a place that represented his earnings while in California. A few years later he sold the place and bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres. At one time he owned six hundred acres in Iowa, but this he sold at $30 an acre. He owns property in Aurora, where for eight years he made his home. When he was young he teamed from Chicago to Aurora for fourteen years, and he also engaged in threshing during the season. Some years ago he lost his left hand through an accident with a corn husker, and since then he has done very little manual labor. In 1883 he turned his farm over to his third son, since which time he has lived retired from active cares.
The marriage of Mr. Myers, in 1856, united him with a daughter of Hiram Johnson, of Wheatland Township. She died in 1883. Five children were born of their marriage. The two eldest, Burton and Wallace, are engaged in the livery, feed, hay and grain business at Naper- ville, where their father built a large barn for them. The youngest son, William, manages the
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
home farm. Edith is the wife of John Graves, a private, and when a company was formed he of Aurora, who was captain of a company in the Spanish-American war; and Pearl, who resides with her father on the home farm. While he takes a warm interest in public affairs and in questions affecting the welfare of our nation, Mr. Myers has never been a politician and has never desired office. The only positions he has ever held were of an educational nature. In political views he favors the Republican party.
EN. PHILIP CORNELIUS HAYES, of Joliet, was born in Granby, Conn., Febru- ary 3, 1833, a son of Gaylord Hayes. The family is of Scotch origin. The first of the name in America was George Hayes, who settled in Windsor, Conn., in 1680. His oldest son, Dan- iel, was the father of Ezekiel, among whose de- scendants was President Rutherford B. Hayes, who was a third cousin of the subject of this ar- ticle. The family has been noted for patriotism and valor. Andrew Hayes, of Connecticut, served from June 4, 1777, to January 8, 1778, in the Rev- olutionary war. In the war of 1812 our subject's father, Gaylord, and uncle Ezekiel bore a part, while the general and two brothers were in the Union army during the Civil war. Gaylord Hayes came to Illinois in 1833 and settled near Ottawa, where he purchased one and one-half sections of farm land, remaining there until he died in 1839. By his marriage to Mary Goodrich Humphrey he had seven children, four of whom are living. His wife died in 1845.
Our subject was a child when his parents died. When he was fifteen he began to work on a farm for $8 per month. During winters he worked for his board with the privilege of attending school. At nineteen years of age he began to teach school, which occupation he followed for several years, meantime pursuing his studies. September 1, 1855, he entered the preparatory school at Ober- lin, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1860. He then took up the study of theology in the seminary connected with his alma mater. On President Lincoln's call for troops he enlisted as
was chosen captain. However, the state having more than its quota, his company was not ac- cepted. July 16, 1862, he was again mustered into the service and was made captain of his com- pany, which was assigned to the One Hundred and Third Ohio Infantry. The history of this gallant regiment is written in the annals of our country. Its record was most creditable to its officers and men. It was mustered out at Cleve- land June 22, 1865. Meantime the captain had been promoted, December 5, 1864, to lieutenant- colonel, later was made colonel, and March 13, 1865, was brevetted brigadier-general. As a sol- dier he won highest praise from his superiors. Col. Daniel Cameron, commanding the brigade, alluded to him as "one of the best officers of the army."
After the war General Hayes was superinten- dent of the public schools of Mount Vernon, Ohio. In the fall of 1866 he purchased the Cir- cleville (Ohio) Union, at which time he entered upon his successful journalistic career. In 1869 he sold his paper and bought another one. In 1874 he returned to Illinois and bought the Morris Herald, publishing it until 1892, when he bought a controlling interest in the Republican of Joliet. In 1895 he retired from active business pursuits, although his ability as a writer is so widely recognized that his services are frequently in demand in the journalistic field. From the organization of the Republican party he has been an active member. In 1876 he was elected to congress from the seventh district, comprising Grundy, LaSalle, Kendall and Will Counties. He entered upon his official duties Marchi 4, 1877, and at the expiration of his four years' term was re-elected. He was a wise legislator, a close student of the questions of the day, and a firm supporter of measures calculated to advance the general welfare. His career in congress reflected credit upon him as a man of integrity and ability. He is a member of Bartleson Post No. 6, G. A. R., of Joliet, and the Loyal Legion of Chicago.
At Oberlin, Ohio, January 25, 1865, General Hayes married Amelia Estelle Johnson, daughter of Dr. Homer Johnson, and descended from old
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
New England families. They became the par- ents of six children: Carl J., deceased; Jessie, who is married and resides in Joliet; Ralph W., who is a newspaper man by occupation; Georgie, deceased; M. C .; and Mary, wife of Everett C. Platt, of Eagle Grove, Iowa.
OHN W. DIERSEN, deceased, was born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, September 2, 1838, a son of John H. and Sophia (Hue) Diersen. The family set sail from Bremen in May, 1846, and landed in New York July 5, thence proceeded, via river, canal and lakes, to Chicago. In 1852 they came from Chicago to Will County, where the father secured forty acres of government land. His wife died in Crete in 1885 and he passed away two years afterward. Their son, John W., mar- ried Engel Desenisz, who was born in Hesse-Cas- sel, August 28, 1842, and came with her brother Philip to this county when he was sixteen.
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