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 75
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 75
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After the completion of the Union Pacific Rail- road, Mr. Reed had charge of the building of the Illinois Central Railroad from Memphis to New Orleans. Afterward he was receiver of the old Chicago, Pekin & Southwestern Railroad. In 1883 he took charge of the work for the Canadian Pacific Railroad from Winnipeg west, but was compelled to give up the contract on account of illness. However, in 1884, when sixty five years of age, he traversed on foot three hundred miles of almost trackless forest in British Columbia and reported upon what he regarded as the best route for the Canadian Pacific in its crossing of the Rocky Mountains, after the work had been aban- doned by the British engineer. His report, when published in Canada, was the target of the most violent newspaper attacks and it was the consen-
sus of public opinion that his route was imprac- ticable. In spite of that, the road was built as laid out by him and has been in successful opera- tion ever since.
For some years Mr. Reed has spent his time in Joliet, where he is a most honored citizen. In the care of his farm, in the supervision of his financial interests, and in indulging his fondness for the study of plant life and natural history, the afternoon of his busy life is being happily passed. He was married at Geneseo, Ill., in 1855, his wife being Miss Jane E. Earl, who died in August, 1896. They became the parents of three daughters, one of whom is the wife of Col. Fred Bennitt, of Joliet; another married L. H. Hyde, and the third is Mrs. Jennie Dwight, of Denver, Colo.
의 ELIX INGOLDSBY, a retired farmer of Troy Township, is one of the oldest surviving residents of Will County, having settled here in 1844. He was born in Ireland in 1817, and grew to manhood in that country, remaining on a farm there until liis emigration to America in 1842. He crossed the ocean in thirty days and anchored in New York, where he spent two years. From there he came to Illinois and settled in Joliet, where he was employed for five years. Meantime he bought eighty acres of land, which he rented. In 1849 he joined the great throng of gold-seekers and crossed the plains to Califor- nia as a member of a party of about one hundred and thirty. For almost three years he engaged in mining, in which he met with fair success. On his return he came via the isthmus of Panama and Cuba and Jamaica, landing in New York. There he married, and accompanied by his wife, once more came to Will County, this time settling on section 29, Troy Township, where he now re- sides. He began with a farm of eighty acres and added to it from time to time until he acquired two hundred and forty acres, all of which is in one body. He made a specialty of cattle-raising, and also bought and sold horses, in which lines of work he made considerable money. At the
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time of his settlement in Troy Township there were no improvements, land was raw, and neither canal nor railroad had been built. All of the improvements on his land were made by him personally, and the fine farm represents the re- sults of his industry. Politically a Democrat, he served as highway commissioner and for sixteen years was justice of the peace. For fifty-five years he attended St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Joliet, but is now a member of St. Mary's in Minooka. In 1852, in New York, he married Cecilia Kiernan. They have three children: Anna Maria, Bernard and Margaret.
1 UDGE FRANCIS GOODSPEED, deceased, a pioneer of 1847 in Joliet, was born in Tioga County, Pa., January 25, 1821, a son of Jolin Goodspeed, a merchant. He spent two years in Genesee Seminary at Lima, N. Y., after which he came to Joliet. He entered the office of Hon. Hugh Henderson and engaged in the study of law. In 1848 he was admitted to the bar. Shortly afterward he formed a partnership with another attorney, upon whose death he became a partner of Hon. Josiah McRoberts, and later was with Hon. Henry Snapp and Augustus F. Knox. In 1877, on the formation of this judicial circuit, he was elected to fill the new seat on the bench. In 1878 he was elected for a term of six years, and remained on the bench until June, 1884, when, owing to poor health, he resigned. Dur- ing his earlier life he did much to promote the success of the Democratic party, and filled many positions of trust and responsibility within the gift of the same. In 1861 he was selected as delegate to the constitutional committee which met in Springfield, and he took an important part in the matters before that body. After the opening of the Civil war he affiliated with the Republican party. His service as mayor of Joliet was most satisfactory and the city advanced under his able direction. His influence was widely felt, both as attorney, jurist and private citizen.
In 1866 Judge Goodspeed erected a fine resi- dence on South Chicago street, just south of
Joliet. This was at the time one of the finest houses in or near the city, and was provided with modern improvements, including hot and cold water and gas, the latter being furnished by his private gas plant. Surrounding the house were fifteen acres of ground, forming an ideal homestead. On the place Judge Goodspeed had a herd of fine Jersey cattle. He invested consid- erably in farm property, and his widow still owns some farm land, but she now makes her home on Union street, occupying a residence which the judge purchased in 1885 and in which his death occurred April 10, 1889. MIs. Goodspeed was Frances Henderson, daughter of Dryden and Maria (Coe) Henderson, natives of Herkimer County, N. Y. She was born in Steuben Coun- ty, N. Y., and became the wife of Judge Good- speed in 1864. They were the parents of three sons: John C. (who died in October, 1883), Charles F. and Frederick.
HARLES B. GARNSEY was born in Lima, Livingston County, N. Y., October 25, 1842, a son of Nathan and Emily ( Bene- dict) Garnsey, natives of Saratoga County, N. Y. His paternal grandfather, Nathan, changed the spelling of the family name from Garnesy to the form now in general use. The Garnesys originally came from England to Stam- ford, Conn., while the Benedicts were also early English settlers of Connecticut. The subject of this article was the oldest of three sons, two of whom are living. He was educated in public schools and the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary in Lima. May 7, 1859, was the date of his arrival at Wilmington, Will County, Ill. He worked on a farm and later clerked in a store there, tlience went to Manteno, Kankakee County. In 1861 he entered the Union College of Law in Chicago, from which he graduated the next year with the degree of LL. B. In July, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundredth Infantry, and went to the front, where he took part in various engagements, including Stone River and Chat- tanooga, and participated in the Atlanta can-
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paign from Dalton to Atlanta, returning under Thomas to Nashville. In April, 1863, he was made commissary sergeant. In June, 1865, he was mustered out at Nashville, and on the Ist of July was discharged in Chicago.
August 7, 1865, Mr. Garnsey was admitted to the bar in Chicago. He began to practice ill Joliet, having Thomas H. Breckenridge as part- ner from 1871 to 1875, after which he was alone until 1877, and then became a member of the firm of Garnsey & Knox. From 1867 to 1871 he was master in chancery for Will County. In 1877 he was elected corporation counsel of Joliet, which office he held for two years. In 1882 he was elected county judge, and four years later was re-elected, holding the office from December, 1882, to December, 1890. He is a member of the State Bar Association. In politics he is a Republican, and fraternally a Mason and a mem- ber of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was married in Wilmington to Mary A. Hender- son, who was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., and by whom he has two sons, John Henderson Garnsey, a partner of his father; and Charles B., Jr.
A LFRED WENBERG. During the period of his residence in Joliet Mr. Wenberg has been successfully engaged in contracting and building, and he is recognized as one of the ex- perts in his chosen occupation. Among the con- tracts that he has filled may be mentioned the following: Beach block on Chicago street, Munroe Hall Annex, Reichmann and Abbott building on the corner of Chicago and Jefferson streets, Cal- mer building on Jefferson street, Farragut school, county sheriff's residence, the Barnes residence on Richards street, and considerable bridge work for bridge companies and the Elgin, Joliet & Eastern Railroad. He built a row of houses on Cass street, also the entire site of the stone quarry, and has engaged in building not only in this city and county, but also throughout north- ern Illinois.
Near Boros, Sweden, Mr. Wenberg was born April 25, 1858. He was one of five sons and
three daughters, of whom all the sons and one daughter came to America, and three sons are now living. John, who is now in Sweden, is a farmer and grist-miller; Frank, who was with Alfred, died in Joliet; Peter, who was also con- nected with Alfred in business, was the first of the family to pass from earth; Louis is a contractor in Indiana. The oldest brother, on coming to America, adopted the name of Wenberg, which the others later assumed. The father, Andrew Johnson, owned an estate in Sweden, where he died. The mother, Britta, was a daughter of Lars Hessleholmer, a large farmer; she is now living in Joliet, where she is known as Mrs. Wenberg, the name taken by her sons. In re- ligion she is of the Lutheran faith.
At fifteen years of age our subject was appren- ticed to the trade of a mason and bricklayer, at which he worked for some time. In 1880 he came to America and began to work at his trade in Joliet. His brother, John, who came to Illi- nois in 1869, returned to Sweden in 1874, and has since alternated between the two countries. About 1872 Peter came to Joliet, a year after his sister, Ida, had settled here. Frank, Louis, Alfred, with their miotlier, came in 1880. After- ward Alfred worked at his trade during the day and of evenings, for some time, attended a night school, in order to gain a knowledge of the En- glish language and customs. In 1881 he bought a quarry on Cass street and Maple avenue, and with his brother, under the firm name of Well- berg Bros., began in the quarry business and contracting. In 1895 the quarry was worked out and he retired from the business. In 1883 he became interested in contracting in Englewood, Chicago, where he continued for four years, and then, returning to Joliet, continued contracting in this city. Since 1892 he has been alone in business. He is a member of the Joliet Build- ers' Association.
The various enterprises with which the Swedes of Joliet are identified find a warm friend in Mr. Wenberg. He holds membership in the Scandi- navian Sick Benefit Association. He is identi- fied with the Swedish Baptist Church and served as superintendent of the building committee at
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the time of the erection of a house of worship. As trustee and treasurer he has been active in church work. He is one of the two survivors of the charter members of the congregation, and from the time of the starting of the church to the present day he has never weakened in his friend- ship for the church and his sympathy with its work. In the Sunday-school he has been an in- terested worker. Politically he is a Republican, and fraternally holds membership with the Modern Woodmen of America.
RANCIS WILLIAM PLANT, A. M., was born in Utica, N. Y., September 13, 1843, a son of James and Hannah A. (Mason) Plant. His father, also a native of Utica, born June 16, 1799, was a farmer in the suburbs of Utica until the growth of the city caused him to plat his land, which is now about the center of the town. He died there January 5, 1860. His wife was born May 19, 1812, and died August 1, 1890. They had two children, Helen, wife of Thomas D. Catlin, of Ottawa, Ill., and Francis William. James was a son of Benjamin Plant, who removed from Connecticut to New York; he married Lucinda, daughter of Stephen and Saralı (Lindsley) Potter. Mr. Potter held a commis- sion in the war of 1812 as captain.
After graduating from Utica Academy in 1860 our subject entered Hamilton College in Clinton, N. Y., from which he graduated in 1864 with the degree of A. B. He was a classmate of the pres- ent secretary of war, Elihu Root, and other men now well known. For two years he was con- nected with a bank in Utica, after which he en- gaged in the book and stationery business as a member of the firm of Davis, Gilbert & Plant. In 1869 he moved from Utica to Joliet, where he engaged in the lumber business with T. A. Mason and H. B. Plant. At a subsequent date the firm became F. W. & H. B. Plant, and they engaged in the manufacture of sash, doors and blinds and built up a large planing mill business. For many years he was also president of the People's Build- ing & Loan Association.
In Brooklyn, N. Y., October 16, 1866, Mr. Plant married Miss Elizabeth Merle, who was born in New York City November 17, 1845, and died in Joliet April 23, 1889. They had five children, Helen Merle, Laura, Grace, James Merle and Anna. For years Mr. Plant was a member of the vestry of Christ Episcopal Church, and at the time of the building of the church he aided as a member of the building committee. Politically he is a Republican. In 1867 the de- gree of A. M. was conferred upon him by his alma mater.
Henry B. Plant, who was our subject's partner in business, was a son of Benjamin and Saralı (Mason) Plant, and was born January 11, 1831. His first work was under his uncle, R. B. Mason, in the building of an eastern railroad. After coming west he was employed on the surveying corps of the Illinois Central Railroad under his uncle; subsequently he was an officer with the Wabash Railroad Company. For some time he carried on a bank business in Hastings, Minn. During the Civil war he was a lieutenant in an Illinois battery. Afterward he was in business in Cairo, Ill., and then came to Joliet, where he carried on a lumber business with our subject. He hield the receivership of the Taylor coal mine at Lasalle and later was manager of coal mines at What Cheer, Iowa. His last years were spent on a ranch on the North Platte River in Nebraska. His widow now makes her home in Champaign, Il1.
ALTER H. ROWLEY, assessor of Homer Township, was born in 1860 on the farm where he now lives. His father, Alfred G., a native of Ontario County, N. Y., accom- panied his parents to Will County at nine years of age and spent the remainder of his life in Homer Township. From the time he became of age until his death he served as justice of the peace; for some years was supervisor and as- sessor, also held other local offices. He was active in the Baptist Church. He died in 1887, at the age of sixty-three. His father, Capt. Jairah Rowley, was the son of an Englishman
31
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and was born in New York in 1777. During the war of 1812 he was a captain. He was a large contractor in the building of the Erie canal. In 1833 he came to Will County and settled near Lockport, on a farm now occupied by Frank Rowley, buying land from the government at $1.25 an acre. Afterward he bought a large tract in Homer Township. He was one of the first settlers at what was known as Big Yankee settlement. The mother of our subject bore the name of Lydia Hall Lanfear and was born in New York; she is now living at the old home- stead with our subject. Her father, Asa Lanfear, was born in New York and came to Illinois in 1835, settling in Homer Township and buying land at the first land sale in Chicago.
Calvin Rowley, the eldest son of Captain Rowley, came to Will County about 1830 and engaged in trading with the Indians, having a store near what is now Lockport. After some years he went to Rockford, Ill., where he died at seventy-eight years. He had made several trips to California, the first being in 1849, after which he returned east with considerable gold.
The education of our subject was obtained in the Englewood high school and the Metropolitan business college of Chicago. For two years he was employed in a grocery in Joliet. In 1880 he returned to the homestead and has since carried on general farming and stock-raising. After his father died, the office of justice of the peace being thus rendered vacant, he was commissioned to the office, which he has since held. For five years he was secretary and treasurer of the Homer Mutual Fire Insurance Company. In 1897 and 1899 he was elected township assessor.
P. COLE, one of the enterprising farmers of Manhattan Township, was born on a farm situated a few miles from his present home. He is a son of Thomas Cole, who came to this county in a very early day and for years was one of the prosperous and prominent farmers of his locality. From his earliest recollections our subject has been familiar with his present sur-
roundings. His boyhood days were spent on his father's farm. Like many of the country boys, he assisted on the farm during summers and at- tended the district school in the winter months, acquiring a practical education. He naturally grew into the ways of farm life and, arriving at man's estate, chose agriculture for his occupation. In his farm work he has shown evidence of good judgment, and by his industry and energy has already acquired a high position as a progressive agriculturist. About 1894 he moved to his father- in-law's farm, and here he has since engaged in general farming and in raising a fine quality of live stock.
In politics Mr. Cole is a stanch Republican and his voice has often been heard advocating the. principles of his chosen party. In local matters he is especially active, aiding as far as possible such measures as have for their object the pro- motion of the welfare of the people. He married the only daughter of Aaron Greenwood, who is a resident of Manhattan, and whose sketch appears in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Cole have two chil- dren.
ELS BENSSON, who for years has held the position of engineer of the Joliet city water works, is the oldest engineer in this place in point of years of active business experience, and he is also recognized as one of the most ef- ficient as well. At once after coming to America in 1878 he settled in Joliet, and here his home has since been made. For three months he worked in the blast furnace, and then, the water works being under process of construction, he was given employment as fireman, which posi- tion he held for three and one-half years. Since then he has been engineer and superintendent of machinery, holding the position through all the changes in the political administration of the city.
Successive generations of the Bensson family owned the estate called "Böglaxehutt," at Skåne, Christianstad, Sweden. There John Bensson, Sr., was born and engaged in farming. He was succeeded by his son, John, Jr., who married
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Karina Munson, daughter of a farmer in Rönne- bode. They became the parents of eight chil- dren, all but one of whom are still living, four in Sweden, and a son and two daughters in Joliet. The subject of this sketch was born at the fam- ily homestead August 11, 1853, and remained there until twenty years of age, after which he served for two years in the Swedish army. At the age of twenty-three he hired as a farm hand, but after a year went to Stockholm and secured work in a large machine shop, where he learned the machinist's and engineer's trades. For two and one-half years he was employed as engineer on the Swedishi Railroad between Stockholm and Gottenburg. On resigning his position he came to America to seek a livelihood in this country. He is a member of the Swedish Lutheran Church and for some time has been one of its trustees; also served upon the building committee at the time of the erection of the house of worship. He is a member of the North Star Association, and politically gives his support to the Republican party.
In a residence which he built, on the corner of Clay street and Youngs avenue, Mr. Bensson has for some years made his home. He was married in this city to Miss Nellie Nilson, who was born in Skåne, Sweden, being a daughter of Peter Nilson, a woodworker in that town. The two children born of their marriage are Nels Victor and Clara Mabel.
- RANK NEWKIRK. There are compara- tively few who pause to consider our in- debtedness to railroad engineers. In the darkness of the night and in the midst of wind or rain or snow, they carry safely the liuman be- ings committed to their carc; and, when we re- flect upon the small number of accidents in pro- portion to the number of trains, we are constrained to say that, as a class, engineers are the most trustworthy men in the world. Certainly such a statement may be made with truth concerning Mr. Newkirk, who is an engineer between Joliet and Chicago, and whose home is at No. 308 Richards street, Joliet.
Concerning the genealogy of the Newkirk fam- ily, reference is made in the sketch of James E. Newkirk. Our subject was born on the home farm adjoining Joliet in 1858 and grew to man- hood on the same place, meantime attending dis- trict schools. His first work was as teamster for the Joliet Stone Company. In January, 1884, he became fireman on the old Chicago, Pekin & Southwestern Railroad between Chicago and Pe- kin, being first on the freight and later on the passenger train. For some months, during 1886, he was employed in the Streator shops, and after- ward was an engineer on a switch engine in the Streator yards for six weeks. His next position was that of engineer on the freight train between Pekin and Chicago. After two and one-half years he was made passenger engineer and ran between Joliet and Chicago, then between Chi- cago and Pekin. His next position was as en- gineer on the passenger train between Chicago and Fort Madison, a run of two hundred and for- ty miles, making four hundred and eighty miles on the round trip. Since June, 1899, he has run between Joliet and Chicago. An exceedingly careful and painstaking man, he has had no fatal accidents, and those he has had were the result of the negligence of others, not through any fault of his own. At Lorenzo, in 1888, his car was wrecked, but no one was injured but himself, and his injuries were slight. April 28, 1899, a stock car was blown from a siding to the main track, and his train ran into it, but no one was hurt.
Besides lıis other interests, Mr. Newkirk is a stockholder in the Keltie Stone Company. He was raised a Mason in Mount Joliet Lodge No. 42, A. F. & A. M., and is also connected with Joliet Chapter No. 27, R. A. M., and Joliet Com- mandery No. 4, K. T. He is a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. In poli- tics lie votes the Republican ticket in both local and national elections. November 16, 1887, in Lemont, Illinois, lie married Miss Alice Neill, who was born there, and by whom he has two children, Fred Hallock and Rutlı. Mrs. New- kirk is a member of the Eastern Star and the
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Ladies' Order of Maccabees, and in religion is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
The grandfather of Mrs. Newkirk, John Neill, was a blacksmith in Perth, Scotland, but after coming to America engaged in farming in Cale- donia, Wis., where he died. His widow, Mar- garet, is still living in Wisconsin. Both were Presbyterians from their childhood days. James B. Neill, Mrs. Newkirk's father, was born in Perthshire and settled in Wisconsin when twenty years of age, but afterward went back east and married in New York. During the Civil war he served as captain of Company C, New York In- fantry, from 1861 to 1865, and was wounded while in the service. After the war he settled in Lemont, Ill., and worked as a blacksmith. He is now living, retired, on the west side in Joliet. He is connected with the Grand Army of the Republic. He had five children by his marriage to Hannah Hallock, who was born in New York state; her father, Josiah Hallock, who was a na- tive of Vermont, removed thence to New York and later carried on a hotel business in Lemont, after which he was proprietor of the Auburn house in Joliet; he died in Lemont.
HOMAS B. STANNER has been one of the most successful farmers of Dupage Township. While he was not obliged, as are many, to start in life wholly unaided, yet he none the less deserves credit for the success he has gained. When he began for himself his father gave him eighty acres of land in this town- ship. With this for a beginning, he steadily worked his way forward, by industry and good judgment adding to his holdings, until his prop- erty now represents thousands of dollars. In his home farm he has one hundred and sixty acres, and also owns an eighty-acre farm, besides valuable property in Columbus, Ohio, and nine buildings in Romeoville, Will County. He has rented his farm and expects to remove to Chicago, with the intention of spending his declining years in retirement, surrounded by the comforts his in- dustry has made possible.
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