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 8
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 8
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Since the time of John C. Fremont's presi- dential campaign, Mr. Shreffler has been a Re- publiean. Fr .. ternally he is connected with Plain- field Lodge, A. F. & A. M. When a young man he united with the Methodist Church and he has since been an active worker in the denomination, being one of the leading supporters of the con- gregation at Plainfield. He has aided in the ereetion of two edifices in this place, the second of which is the finest ever built here, being a stone structure that was built at a cost of $18,000. As chairman of the building committee, the re- sponsibility of the work fell largely upon him, and he gave not only of his time, but also very liberally of his means. He has held the various of- fices in the church and is now serving as a steward and trustee. In former years he also
held the office of Sunday-school superintendent. Not only religious, but all worthy charitable movements, have received his encouragement and aid. No worthy object of charity ever ap- pealed to him in vain for help; yet, while he has been a constant giver, he has done it so quietly and unostentatiously that it may be truly said of him the right hand knew not what the left hand did. Having no children of his own, it has been one of his pleasures to help the children of others, and he is exceedingly popular among the little ones of his neighborhood. As one of the early residents of the county, and a man whose energies have been devoted to the development of its agricultural resourees, his name well de- serves mention in this work.
EWIS F. GOUGAR, a prominent farmer of New Lenox Township, was born November 15, 1852, upon the farm where he still lives. He is a son of John Gougar, who was born in Montour County, Pa., March 20, 1810, a son of William and Catherine ( Abel) Gougar, reference to whom is made in the sketch of William Gougar on another page of this volume. The family were pioneers of Ohio, where, in 1818, the grandfather in one day, beginning before sunrise and finishing about four o'eloek in the afternoon, eut and shocked forty aeres with a hand sickle. The great. great-grandmother was killed by In- dians in Pennsylvania and her two daughters were taken prisoners. Several years later one of the daughters returned home, but the other was never heard of again.
At the time the family moved from Pennsyl- vania to Ohio Jolin Gougar was eight years of age. September 10, 1830, he came to Illinois and settled in what is now New Lenox Township, Will County (then Cook County), where he pur- cliased one hundred and sixty acres of govern- ment land at $1.25 an acre. Building a log cabin, he began the task of elearing and ini- proving the land. In 1831 his parents joined
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him here. Throughout his entire active life he continued to manage the same property. During the Black Hawk war he was a member of the home guard, which was subject to call at any time. He is still living on the old homestead, but for years has been retired from active labors. In spite of his advanced years he takes an intelli- gent interest in public affairs and retains his mental and physical faculties to a large degree. All of his active life was passed on the frontier. When he went to Ohio in 1818 that state was still undeveloped and comparatively unsettled, and for many years after he came to Illinois the sur- roundings were those of the frontier. In an early day, when he was cutting wheat with an old-fashioned hand sickle, by some accident he cut the little finger of his left hand, and the scar may still be seen. On the site of the farm was at one time an Indian cemetery, on which was to be seen a pole bearing a white flag. His son, Lewis F., found many Indian relics on the farm, and to these he has added by purchase till now he has a fine collection. When the treaty was made by which the Indians were removed from this locality, before departing they came to the cemetery for the last time and observed in due form all of their ceremonies of mourning. In 1883, when a barn was built on the farm, several Indian relics were found.
John Gougar is a Democrat in national political issues, but in his township affairs he votes for the best man, regardless of party. He is a pioneer of the old type and will long be remembered by the descendants of the pioneers as a kind-hearted, honest man. To-day he is one of the few sur- viving members of the early pioneers who laid the foundation for the great state of Illinois.
In 1849 John Gougar married Mary Ann Miller, who was born in Pennsylvania and died on the homestead January 29, 1896, at the age of eighty-three years. Her sister, Mrs. Polly Williams, who resided with her, died at the age of eighty-eight. Lewis F. Gougar, who was the only child of his parents, has been a lifelong resi- dent of this county, and was educated in the common schools here and in Englewood high school. When his father, owing to advancing
years, retired from the active management of the home place, he succeeded to it, and has since made a number of important improvements. He is the owner of three hundred and forty acres, on which he engages in raising stock and farm pro- duce. Politically he is a Democrat in national issues and in local matters is independent. For several years he has served as school director and road master. In religion he is an Episcopalian. His marriage, May 14, 1891, united him with Miss Gertrude Richards, daughter of Daniel and Al- mira (Cooley) Richards, now of Jackson Town- ship, this county. They have two children, Davis R. and Mary Almira, the latter named after her two grandmothers.
ELAH PERKINS NORTH was born at Monroe Falls, Ohio, August 21, 1842. He was educated at Valparaiso College, at Val- paraiso, Ind., and in early life learned the mill- er's trade at that place, following the occupation there for six years. While working as a miller he enlisted in the Union army, in August, 1862, becoming a member of the marine artillery at Chicago, Ill. It was the original plan to assign the artillery to the Mississippi River marine gun- boats, but a change was made and they were sent to Roanoke Island, thence to Newbern, N. C., and mustered out in 1863. After some months in Valparaiso, the following year Mr. North was drafted into service and entered the Seventeenth .Indiana Mounted Infantry, a part of General Wilson's cavalry corps, and in this he served un- til the close of the war. While he was serving in the quartermaster's department at Macon, Ga., news of the close of the rebellion reached him. He was mustered out of the service and honora- bly discharged.
Returning to Valparaiso Mr. North resumed work as a miller. In 1867 he moved to Madison, Wis., where he became a retail grocer. During his residence there he married, at Lockport, Ill., March 31, 1868, Miss Mary L. Hawley, daughter
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
of Warren Hawley, who settled in Lockport Township, this county, in 1835. While he was in the Normal school at Valparaiso he made the acquaintance of Miss Hawley, who was a student in that institution. After their marriage they settled in Madison. After the death of Mrs. North's mother they came to Lockport Township and settled on the old Hawley homestead, caring for Warren Hawley until his death, July 1, 1898, at the age of eighty-six ycars.
Since his removal to Lockport Township Mr. North has been connected with its farm interests. Being an industrious and capable farmer, and ably assisted by his wife, he was prospered. In 1895 he was enabled to buy the old Hawley homestead of eighty-eight acres, which is one of the best in the township. Mrs. North was born on this place, and its associations, extending back to her earliest recollections, are dear to her. She is a well-educated lady and for a number of years before her marriage taught in Michigan and Illi- nois, proving an efficient educator. She is one of the highly esteemed ladies of the township.
Fraternally Mr. North is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has taken a warm interest in the work of the Repub- lican party. The good roads in his district and township are largely due to his energy and per- severance, during the nine years that he filled the office of highway commissioner. In educa- tional matters he has been actively interested. For twenty-one years he was a member of the board of school directors, during which time he did much to advance the cause of education. The main responsibility of managing the school fell upon him while he was a director, and to his credit it may be said that he discharged every duty faithfully and well.
Mr. and Mrs. North became the parents of six children. Those living are: John E., a physician and surgeon, married and living at Rock Rapids, Iowa; William W., attorney at Lockport, Ill .; Frank E. and Selah H., at home on the farm. Sarah L., an only daughter, died at the age of sixteen years, January 13, 1889, and an infant son died when a few weeks old.
Tracing the history of the North family from
the time of its settlement in America, the follow- ing is the genealogical record:
John North left England for America in 1635 at the age of twenty. In 1653 he settled in Farm- ington, Conn., and purchased a lot near the north end of Farmington street, on which he lived. He was a member of the church in that town. He died in 1690, leaving nine children, viz .: John, Samuel, Mary, James, Thomas, Sarah, Nathaniel, Lydia and Joseph.
Thomas North was born in 1649. He settled in the town of Avon, Conn. He was a soldier in the Indian war, for his services in which he received a grant of land. He had ten children, viz .: John, Thomas, Hannah, Nathaniel, Mary, Joseph, Rebeckah, Lydia, Sarah and Ebenezer. He died in 1712.
Thomas North, Jr., lived in Kensington, Conn. He was one of the founders of the church and was a man of wealth and influence. His eight chil- dren were Martha, Isaac, Thomas, James, Sarah, Samuel, Joseph and Hannah.
Isaac North was born in 1703. He was a dea- con in the church at Kensington. He died in 1788. His children, numbering eight, were named Isaac, Mary, Jedediah, Lydia, Samuel, Seth, Ruth and Lethe.
Jedediah North was born in 1734, lived in Ber- lin and was a member of the church at that place. He married Sarah Wilcox and had eleven chil- dren, viz .: Asa, Levi, David, Simcon, Stephen, Sarah, Olive, Patience, Noah, Lydia and Hannah. Hc died in 1816.
Simeon North was born July 13, 1765. He lived first in Berlin, then in Middletown, Conn. He was a manufacturer of arms for the United States Government. In 1786 he married Lucy Savage, who died in 1811. He afterward mar- ried Lydia Huntington (a daughter of Rev. Enoch Huntington, of Middletown, Conn.), who died in 1840. He had nine children, viz. : Reuben, James, Alvin, Selah, Elizabeth, Lucetta, Simeon, Nancy and Lydia. He died August 25, IS52.
Selalı North was born at Berlin, Conn., in 1791. He was killed by lightning in his own farm house at Monroe Falls, Ohio, August 13,
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
1850. He had thirteen children, viz .: Nancy, Julia, Egbert, George, John, Phillip, Charles, Sarah, Newell, Charlotte, Ellen, Bessie and Selah P. (the subject of thissketch), the four last mentioned by his second wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Perkins, and who died March 2, 1872, aged seventy-two years.
YMAN W. FARNAM, who owns and oc- cupies a pleasant little homestead of ten acres near the village of Crete, was born in Franklin County, Mass., January 14, 1834. His father, William, a native of Massachusetts, born March 1, 1804, spent his entire life on a farm in that state, and died there July 7, 1869. Politi- cally he voted with the Democrats until the anti- slavery agitation arose, when he sided with the Republicans, and always after 1860 voted the Republican ticket. He was a son of Heman and Mary (Field) Farnam, natives of Massachusetts. The former, born on Christmas day of 1761, was a fur trader and dealer, bringing his furs to Bos- ton for sale. He died November 8, 1847. His wife was born March 30, 1764, and died August 12, 1846. The mother of our subject was Orpha Hartwell, born in Massachusetts, November 26, 1805, and there deceased, April 17, 1835, at less than thirty years of age. In religion she was a Baptist. She was a daughter of Ward Hartwell, a New Englander.
The subject of this sketch was the only child of his parents. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty, when he left home and se- cured work in a cutlery factory. After three years in the factory he came west in 1858, and secured work on a farm in Bureau County, Il1. Nine months later he went to Kane County, and later worked on farms in Christian and Morgan Counties, this state. In 1860 he came to Crete
and rented a farm near the village. During the Civil war he was an enthusiastic Union supporter. September 26, 1864, he enlisted in Company F, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, with which he went to the front and in which he served, mostly on guard duty, in Maryland and Virginia. At the close of the war he returned to this county and for two years rented a farm in Richland Town- ship. From there he came back to Crete Town- ship and bought a part of his father-in-law's farm, where he has since made his home.
August 20, 1861, Mr. Farnam married Miss Sarah M. Haner, who was born near Syracuse, N. Y., May 10, 1835, a daughter of Henry and Catherine (Mogg) Haner, natives of Schoharie County, N. Y. Her father, who was born April 20, 18II, farmed in the east until September, 1851, when he brought his family to this county, settling on a farm near Crete. In 1878 he moved to Missouri and there died August 2, 1879. His wife was born October 31, 1815, and died Feb- ruary 19, 1885. They were the parents of eleven children, seven of whom are still living. Mrs. Farnam was sixteen years of age when the fam- ily settled in Crete Township. Prior to this she had received a fair education in New York. She is an estimable lady, and has many friends among the people of the township where from girlhood she has made her home. Of her three children one died in infancy; Lillian and Mary make their home with their parents and are popular and active in the work of the Congregational Church at Crete. For some years Miss Lillian has been a successful teacher in the Chicago schools, where her ability has won for her recognition among the teachers of that city.
Mr. Farnam has never forgotten his days of active service in the army, and often calls those times to mind when in the companionship of the members of Chicago Heights Post No. 759, G. A. R., to which he belongs; or when he meets other veterans of that long and fierce struggle.
b.l.Smith
.....
Corinna Smith
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
CHARLES CLAYBORN SMITH.
HARLES CLAYBORN SMITH. The life of Mr. Smith was for years inseparably associated with the history of this county, where he made his home from June, 1835, until his death, January 27, 1892. Through his en- ergy of disposition and uprightness of character he won a competency and gained a high name among his associates. As a farmer, he was in- dustrious and intelligent; as a citizen, public- spirited; as a business man, keen and quick, and in his home relations devoted and affectionate. Coming to the county while it was still a part of Cook County and contained few people, he wit- nessed its remarkable growth and the develop- ment of its resources, and, through his keen fore- sight, accumulated a valuable property, which has increased steadily in its worth. He was thus able to leave his family in comfortable circum- stances, besides giving each of his children a good start in the world.
Mr. Smith was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., May 2, 1818, a son of Barton and Faithy ( Moore) Smith, who were the children of Revolu- tionary soldiers and of English descent. Barton Smith was the youngest of a family of six sons and three daughters. All of his brothers were present with General Jackson at the battle of Horse Shoe Bend and he had started to join the troops, but was taken back home by friends after he had gone six hundred miles or more. From Tennessee he removed to Fountain County, Ind., after his marriage, and in 1835 brought his family to Illinois, buying a lot in Joliet. While he carried on a farm, he continued to make his home in Joliet until his death in 1862. He
served as police magistrate and deputy county collector. His wife survived him thirteen years. They had four children, all now deceased.
When the family came to this county Charles C. Smith was seventeen years of age. He then started out as a peddler, making regular trips through Cook, Iroquois, Vermilion and Will Counties, and trading his goods for butter, eggs, ginseng root, hides, tallow, cattle, etc. After nine years as a peddler he rented a farm, which he cultivated in the ensuing years. In 1850 he bought the place, which then consisted of one hundred and forty acres. Afterward he added to his property until he owned twenty-nine hundred and fifty acres of land, some within the boundary of Wilmington Township. For eight years he had a contract to furnish the state penitentiary with beef, and during one year of this time the value of the meat furnished was $35,000.
About the time that he purchased his farm Mr. Smith established a home of his own. He was married July 24, 1850, to Miss Corinza Burr, daughter of Wareham Bissell and Nancy (Cummings) Burr. Her father, who was a direct descendant of Aaron Burr, was born October 25, 1795, and died September 6, 1861. He was reared near Jamestown, N. Y., and for two years engaged in teaching school there. September 12, 1822, he married Miss Cummings and re- moved to Indiana, remaining near Shelbyville until 1833. His next removal brought him to Will County, where he settled eight miles up the river from Wilmington. He came in the spring just after the Sauk war and his family followed him in the fall. Buying government land, he
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
settled down to farming and also taught for some years in the district schools, having previously been a prominent educator in Indiana. Later he sold his place and removed to Wilmington, where he made his home for five years. From there he went to Jackson Grove and bought land, where he spent the remaining years of his life. He was a consistent member of the Baptist Church and a man who stood high in his community. His father, Bissell Burr, born December 14, 1771, was a son of Nathaniel Burr, whose father, John, (born in 1670) was a son of Samuel Burr. The latter, a native of England, was made a freeman in Hartford, Conn., in May, 1658. His father, Benjamin Burr, was the founder of this branch of the family in America. He was one of the original settlers of Hartford, Conn., in 1635. His name, in the land division of Hartford in 1639 as an original proprietor and settler, is the first evidence we have of his presence in America, but as the first settlers of Hartford were collected from Watertown, Newton and other places near Boston, it is supposed that he was in Massachu- setts some time before removing to Hartford. He may have been among the eight hundred who came to America with the Winthrop fleet in June, 1630. He died in Hartford March 30, 1681. He had been made a freeman in 1658.
The mother of Mrs. Smith was a daughter of William and Sarah ( Hunt) Cummings, of North Carolina families. Her parents came from the south to Indiana and afterward settled in Mis- souri, where they died. Ten children were born to the union of C. C. Smith and Miss Burr. Of these Edgar Francis died in infancy and Emma J., Mrs. Herman H. Unland, is also deceased. Barton, the oldest of the family, is a member of the firm of Smith & Baker, corporation attorneys, of Toledo, Ohio; he is one of tlie prominent Masons of Ohio and has held the highest offices in his lodge, chapter and commandery. William T., the second son, is a coal mine operator in Kenmare, N. D. Ella May is the wife of W. B. Douglas, of St. Paul, one of the most prominent public men in Minnesota, for two terms a member of the state legislature and now attorney-general of the state. Charles W., of Joliet, is engaged
in the cattle business. Lucy M. is the wife of Frank A. Miller, an expert machinist of Osh- kosh, Wis. Cora A. is the wife of Dr. Henry F. Hicks, a prominent dentist of Joliet; Eva S. is the wife of Proman W. Smith, a farmer of Chan- nahon Township; and Floyd H. resides with his mother on the old homestead, the cultivation of which he superintends. Of the large family who once were sheltered by the old home, he alone re- mains. He was born here June 6, 1874, and acquired his education in the common schools and Joliet high school. After the estate was settled he began the supervision of six hundred and thirty acres that fell to his lot. He is now one of the progressive farmers of Channahon Town- ship and is very popular with the young people of this section. Like his father he is a Demo- crat politically. Like him, too, he takes an interest in educational work and is a member of the school board. Fraternally he is connected with Channahon Lodge No. 162, A. F. & A. M .; Kalon Camp No. 4282, Modern Woodmen of America; and Channahon Lodge No. 713, Court of Honor.
LTON E. MATTER is one of the prosper- ous and popular farmers of Wheatland Township, and owns one hundred and four acres of highly cultivated land, bearing excellent improvements. While he oversees his farm with a careful eye, his attention is not limited to farm- ing. He was one of the original stockholders of the Dupage Valley creamery, in which he served as a director for three years. Since the organi- zation of the Hoddam Threshing Company he has held office as its secretary and treasurer. In connection with general farming he carries on dairying, and, though as yet this work is con- ducted on a small scale, he has found it a profit- able adjunct of farming. In local politics he is an active Republican. In1 1894 he was elected collector of the township and in 1899 was chosen to act as commissioner, since which time he has been treasurer of the board.
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GENEALOGICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
In the township where he now lives Mr. Mat- ter was born January 13, 1862. His father, Jacob, a native of Pennsylvania, learned the shoe- maker's trade in youth, and later, in eonneetion with that oeeupation, he engaged in lumbering and rafting logs. In 1844 he came west to Illi- nois. For a time he eultivated a rented farm near Naperville. Later he took up eighty aeres of government land on seetion 4, Wheatland Township, Will County, which he improved and on which he made his home until 1869. He then sold the place to his oldest son and went to Auro- ra, Ill., where he conducted a groeery business. Soon, however, he returned to farming, purehas- ing the farm now owned by our subjeet. In the fall of 1886 he moved from this place to Naper- · ville, and there his last years were spent. Dur- ing his early residenee in this township he served as collector. He was a Republican, but not ae- tive in polities. The Evangelieal Church num- bered him among its earnest members and he took a warm interest in its work. At one time he owned one hundred and sixty aeres, but dis- posed of a part of this, so that at his death his possessions had been reduced to one hundred aeres. His wife, who was Naney Milliren, of Pennsylvania, is living in Naperville and is now eighty-two years of age. Of their eleven ehil- dren one died in infancy; Abraham is a farmer in Dupage County, this state; Abbie is the wife of D. B. Givler, of Naperville; Mary is the wife of Rev. J. H. Yage, treasurer of Northwestern Col- lege, an Evangelieal institution in Naperville; Isaae lives in Aurora; Ella married Prof. L. M. Umbaeh, of Northwestern College; Henry J. is engaged in railroading and makes Aurora his home; Sarah is the wife of G. S. Bartholomew, of Roekford, Ill .; Enuna married John P. Patter- so11; Newton E. is editor of the Wheaton Illinois- an, at Wheaton, Ill.
The subject of this sketeh was six years of age when his parents moved to Aurora. His eduea- tion was obtained principally in the sehools of that eity. He was fourteen when the family re- turned to this township. Sinee then he has made his home on his present farm. March IS, 1886, he married Miss Emma Stark, a native of Wheat-
land Township, and daughter of Jaeob Stark, now living retired in Naperville. Mr. and Mrs. Matter have one son, Robert Earl, who was born July 20, 1891. Fraternally our subjeet is eon- neeted with the Modern Woodmen of America. While he is not connected with any denomina- tion, his sympathies are with the Evangelieal Church, to which his wife belongs and in which faith he was reared.
EHEMIAH H. CUTTER. For a period of sixty-three years the life of Mr. Cutter was associated with the growth and progress of Joliet. Coming to this eity in 1834 he found little to encourage a belief that in future years a large and thriving town would aeeupy the site which then boasted of only a few houses. Deer still roamed through the forests, unmolested as yet by the ambitious sportsman, and wild game furnished the few inhabitants with their supply of meat. Himself a young, energetic and robust man, he was well fitted for the pioneer's arduous work. Entering with energy upon the task of seeuring a homestead, he made an effort to take up a elaim near Joliet, but the condition of the land grants rendered it impossible to do so. About 1835 he built the house that is now occu- pied by lis widow, and two terms of seliools were taught in one of its rooms, which he tendered for that purpose. He bought a traet of land in Joliet Township, which he eleared and improved, and afterward he engaged in its eultivation until ad- vaneing years rendered manual labor no longer advisable. He also owned and used for garden- ing purposes a bloek of ground surrounding his city residence. In addition to his other work he was interested in contraeting and building, and through his varied occupations he gained a eom- petency that enabled him to spend the twilight of his useful life in quiet comfort.
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