Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County, Part 146

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 950

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FRED. W. BELDEN ( deceased), farmer, born at Batavia, N. Y., May 8, 1841, and died at his home near Kaneville, Ill., Sept. 3, 1903, lived in Rochester, N. Y., until 1858, when he came with his parents to Illinois and settled on a farm near Batavia, Kane County; married in 1863 Sarah Annis. Mr. Belden was one of the most widely known farmers in Illinois, and was noted at all county fairs and agri- cultural exhibitions held in Illinois for the fine cattle he raised on his farm.

GEORGE C. BELL, cement contractor, Elgin, Ill., was born in Battle Creek, Mich., June 3, 1881, son of Edward and Mary C. (Mitchell) Bell. When an infant he was brought by his parents to Elgin, where he received his edu- cation in the Elgin Academy and the Ballou Business College. He spent his summers working with his father, and learning all kinds

of the cement and concrete trade, including paving. He worked six winters learning the photograph business. August 10, 1901, he was taken into partnership with his father, who is a pioneer in Elgin in this line of business. In the summer season they employ from fifteen to eighteen men, and at the present time have orders enough on hand to keep the full force ot men at work until snow flies. Their office is Room 5, Hubbard Block, Elgin. Mr. Bell was married Sept. 25, 1901, to Miss Ethel Anderson, a native of Illinois.

GEORGE A. BEITH.

GEORGE A. BEITH, retired farmer, Camp- ton Township, Kane County, born Jan. 7, 1848. in St. Charles, Ill., son of William and Mary ( Allen ) Beith, was educated in the public schools, the private school of Mr. Mcclellan, and the Bryant & Stratton's Business College of Chicago, where he took a course. In 1892 he

bought the old homestead farm of his father. having already bought the Kenier place adjoin- ing. For three years he was Assessor, and has been School Director since he was twenty. one years old. He is a deacon and trustee of the Congregational Church, of which he has been treasurer since its organization, He was married Sept. 21. 1871, to Miss Lucinda, daugh- ter of Almon and Hannah (Smith) Richmond

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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

BELLEVUE PLACE SANITARIUM, an in- stitution for the treatment of female patients afflicted with nervous and mental disorders, located at Batavia, Ill. It was founded in 1867, by Dr. Richard J. Patterson, who was a noted specialist in this line and had previously had a wide experience in other institutions of like character. The institution gained a wide celeb- rity under Dr. Patterson's management, which continued until his death in 1892. It is still continued under the management of Dr. Patter- son's successors, who have introduced many im- improvements since his death, and many dis- tinguished patients have received treatment within its walls.

LEONARD BENJAMIN (deceased ), pioneer; born at Sangerfield, N. Y., in 1813; came to Illinois in 1837, locating on Government land in Sugar Grove Township, Kane County, where he resided and carried on general farming and stock-raising until his death in 1895. The old homestead is now the residence of his son, Todd Benjamin. Mr. Benjamin was also one of the pioneer school teachers of Kane County. He was married in 1847 to Miss Lucretia Emery, who still survives her husband and lives in Sugar Grove.

PRATT BENJAMIN, farmer and stock-raiser, Sugar Grove Township, Kane County; born in the township where he now resides, June 5, 1855; was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools, the Sugar Grove Normal and Industrial Institute and the Jennings Seminary, Aurora. He has been engaged in farming dur- ing his entire business career. Mr. Benjamin was married in 1878 to Miss Jane Densmore.

ARTHUR A. BENNETT, manufacturer, St. Charles, Ill., was born in Montpelier, Vt., July 31, 1847, son of George H. and Emeline Bennett, in his youth becoming a graduate of the Mont- pelier high school and a student of Dartmouthi College. Upon leaving college he became inter- ested in farming, in which he was engaged a number of years, his next employment being in connection with the creamery business in New York, after which going to Canada, he there built and equipped about thirty creameries. In Burlington, Vt., he entered into the employ of a company for making sugar from milk. This factory was removed in 1886 to St. Charles, where it is now the National Sugar Milk Com-

pany, with Mr. Bennett as its General Manager. He served as Mayor of St. Charles four consecu- tive terms -- from 1891 to 1899. Mr. Bennett was married in October, 1868, to Miss Harriet French of Vermont, who died in 1881. He was again married, May 3, 1883, to Miss Eleanor Needham, of Montpelier, Vt. One daughter, Clara E., was born of the first marriage, and two sons, Edward E. and Sydney R., of the second union. Mr. Bennett is a member of the Masonic fraternity.

BENNIE BENSON, farmer, Kaneville Town- ship, Kane County, was born March 31, 1858, in Sweden, and came to Kane County in 1880. He worked on a tarm many years, and in 1895 was able to buy a place for himself four and a half miles southwest of Elburn. In politics he is a Republican, and in religion a Lutheran, being a member of the Lutheran church of Batavia. In March, 1885, Mr. Benson was mar- ried to Miss Mary Anderson, and to them have come two daughters.

CHARLES BENTON, farmer and stock-raiser, Kaneville, Ill., was born in Blackberry Town. ship, Kane County, May 16, 1845, the son of Gil- bert and Jemima (Shaw) Benton. After finish- ing his education in the public schools, he began farming on the old homestead, which has been his business to the present time. In politics he is a Democrat, and for the past ten years has served as Road Commissioner. He belongs to the Masonic fraternity. He was married, May 16, 1876, to Judith J. Price, and they have had five children, four sons and one daughter.

TILGHMAN H. BEREMAN (deceased ), Aurora, born in Danville, Ind., Sept. 16, 1839, son of Samuel and Eleanor ( Ellis) Bereman ; in his boyhood the family removed to Iowa where he grew up on a farm; educated in the public school and at Lombard University, Gales- burg; was engaged in trade at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, until his election as Auditor of Henry County,-a position he filled for four years; afterward connected with the Western Wheeled Scraper Company, and when this company removed to Aurora, he followed it, and became cashier, a position he held until his death, Dec. 6, 1899. In 1866 he married Miss Rebecca Holmes, of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, The surviving members of the family are Mrs. Bereman, James and Sherman Bereman, all of Aurora.

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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

HERBERT Z. BERRY, printer and publisher, Aurora, Ill., born at Medina, Medina County, Ohio, Nov. 7, 1855, came with his parents to Illinois in 1857 and grew up in Aurora, where he obtained his education in the public schools and learned the printer's trade. In 1872 he became associated with the Aurora Beacon, and was identified with that paper until the spring of 1897, acting as manager of the publication during the last ten years of his service. In 1898 he associated himself with A. G. Worm- wood, thus establishing the now well-known printing house of Wormwood & Berry. Mr. Berry is a director and Vice-President of the Improvement, Building & Loan Association, with which he has been officially identified since its organization; has been prominent in the councils of the Republican party of Aurora for twenty years, and for sixteen years was Secretary of the Republican organization in the city. He was married in 1880 to Miss Martha W. Hoyt, daughter of A. J. and Caroline Hoyt of Aurora.

ALBERT BEVERLY.

ALBERT BEVERLY, retired farmer, Maple Park, born in Oneida County, N. Y., March 12, 1825, son of David and Eleanor ( Mc- Master) Smith, received his education in the district schools of his native place,

and in 1843 came to Maple Park, Ill., where he bought a farm one mile north of Elburn. This place he sold in 1847, to purchase another farm near Lodi (now Maple Park), where he lived until 1879. That year he built a home in Maple Park, where he is now living a retired life. In his active years Mr. Beverly has taken a leading part in the political and business affairs of his home community. He has been Collector, Road Commissioner, School Trustee, Mayor of Maple Park and for sixteen years Assessor of the Town of Virgil. His marriage to Miss Mary Jenkins occurred in September, 1845. She died Dec. 27, 1846, and he married his second wife, Miss Sarah J. Smith, in October, 1849. She became the mother of six children, only two of whom are now living. She died Jan. 30, 1863. Miss Lean- nah Bennett became Mr. Beverly's third wife, and of her six children, two daughters and one son are now living.

MELVIN BEVERLY, carpenter and joiner, Maple Park, Kane County, born Sept. 24, 1842, in Chautauqua County, N. Y., received his educa- tion in the schools of his native State, and came to Kane County, 111., in 1860. Here he worked as a carpenter and joiner, and estab- lished a business as a contractor and builder, which he discontinued to enter the Union army, in April, 1862, when he became a member of the Sixty-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, At Harper's Ferry, on Sept. 15, 1862, he was taken prisoner, was paroled, and coming to Chicago, enlisted in the Thirteenth Regiment United States Regular Army. On Feb. 5, following. he received his discharge, having been per- manently injured so as to seriously affect his legs. On his return home he resumed his busi- ness as a carpenter, and was quite a noted builder. Mr. Beverly was married, Aug, 15. 1878, to Miss Hattie Shoop, of Kane County, and they have had four children-two sons and two daughters.

MILTON J. BEVERLY, Deputy Clerk of the Kane County Probate Court, Maple Park, Kane County, Ill., was born in Virgil Township, Kane County, Dec. 11, 1874, son of Albert Beverly and Leannah (Bennett) Beverly; was educated in the public schools and the Metro- politan Business College (Chicago), and trained to merchandising, being employed for eight years in the general store of L. C. Clyne at

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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

Maple Park. In November, 1900, Mr. Beverly was appointed Deputy Clerk of the Kane Coun- ty Probate Court to succeed Capt. Ben Gould, and has since filled that position, in the mean- time becoming well known to the people of

MILTON J. BEVERLY.

Kane County. In political views he is a Repub- lican and served at Tax Collector of Virgil Township four years. He is a Thirty-second Degree Mason, and a member of many other fraternal organizations. Mr. Beverly was mar- ried in 1893 to Miss Emma M. Kenyon, daugh- ter ot Oliver and Sarah ( Farah) Kenyon of Maple Park, Ill.

BIG ROCK PLOWING MATCH, a farm con- test which originated in Big Rock Township, in 1895, William Thomas and others being the promoters. The first President of the associa- tion was William Thomas, and the first plow- ing match was held on his farm one mile north of the village of Big Rock. The purpose was to bring the farmers of the community to- gether for object lessons in plowing, and to promote friendly rivalry in this important feature of agriculture, prizes being offered for the best work of this kind. The first match proved successful beyond expectation, and new features have since been developed. A grain

exhibition has been added, and an entertain- ment and exhibits by the ladies of Big Rock each year have added largely to the importance of the occasion. As high as 5,000 people have been in attendance at these exhibitions, and the day of the Big Rock Plowing Match is an annual holiday in this region.

ALEXANDER BINNIE, pioneer farmer, Dun- dee, Township, Kane County, was born in Kirk- liston, Scotland, Dec. 22, 1829, and there lived with his parents, attending the Parish school until eighteen years of age. He is the youngest of a family of nine children, all of whom are deceased except one brother, Henry, who at present lives in Iowa. At eighteen years of age Mr. Binnie went out into the world to "hoe his own row," working for his brother David until coming to the States in 1848. Two years later he met and married Miss Jane Wilson, one son (John, now deceased) being the result of this union. His wife died in 1878. Knowing it was "not good for man to be alone," he mar- ried as his second wife Bethia F. Crichton,, whose companionship, with their six children -four sons and two daughters-he at present enjoys. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and has always been interested in the welfare of his country, State and town, taking an active part in school and town affairs, and served as Town Assessor for twelve consecutive years. At present he is reputed one of the largest land-owners in the township, and is the heav- iest milk-shipper to the Borden Condensed Milk Company, at Carpentersville. Through- out his long residence of more than fifty years in Dundee, he has been one of its most active citizens.

WILLIAM WARD BISHOP, pioneer manu- facturer and banker, Aurora, Ill .; born in Essex County, England, April 19, 1821; came to America when a lad and spent his youth in Massachusetts where he was engaged in a foundry for several years; came to Illinois in 1852, establishing a foundry of considerable magnitude in Aurora, which he conducted very successfully until 1865; was President of the Aurora Cotton Mills, and also of the Bishop & Colter Bank, which later became the First National Bank. Mr. Bishop served as director of the latter institution until the time of his death, Oct. 26, 1892. He was married in 1845 to Miss Julia Ann Shepherd, and they became

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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

the parents of two children: Frank William, who died in 1895, and Mrs. Fanny Henderson, of Aurora. Mrs. Bishop is still living (1903).

FRANCIS H. BLACKMAN, physician and sur- geon, Geneva, Ill .; born at Naperville, Ill., Aug. 28, 1846; was reared on his father's farm and obtained his academic education at Clark's Seminary ( Aurora) and Lawrence Uni- versity (Appleton, Wis.); graduated from the Department of Medicine of the Northwestern University with the class of 1870; located in Geneva immediately after graduation and has since been engaged in medical and surgical practice in that city. June 1, 1871, he married Miss Julia A. Cole, who is also a graduate in the science of medicine.

JOHN M. BLACKBURN.

JOHN M. BLACKBURN, Secretary and Trea- surer Elgin Silver Plate Company, Elgin, Ill., born in Cleveland, Ohio, Jan. 29, 1858, was edu- cated in the city schools of his native place, and entered the employ of the Meriden Britannia Company, Meriden, Conn., in 1877 as a clerk. In 1882 he equipped and managed a branch factory at Toronto, Ont. He spent 1889 in Meriden, and in 1890 was elected Secretary and Treasurer of the Griffin Silver Plate Com- pany of Chicago. The following year he located

in Elgin, and in 1892 was elected Secretary and Treasurer of the Elgin Silver Plate Com- pany. In political matters he is a Republican, and in 1898 was chosen a member of the Board of Education, where he served three years, two years of that time being President of the Public Library Board. He belongs to the Mod- ern Woodmen of America and the Century Club.

CHARLES L. BLANCHARD.

CHARLES L. BLANCHARD, undertaker and insurance agent, St. Charles. Ill., born in Chi- cago Nov. 27, 1852, son of Zara A. and Elizabeth ( Jordan) Blanchard, was brought to St. Charles by his parents when an infant, and was there reared and educated. He was in Kansas from 1869 to 1873, and began his business career as a clerk in the old Kane County National Bank in 1875. In 1879 he went to Kansas City to enter the employ of the Santa Fe Railroad, which he served four years, and for four years following was in the real-estate business in that city. For five years he did a railway contracting business in Kansas and Kentucky. In 1893 he returned to St. Charles, and for a time was inactive, but in February, 1896, took up the undertaking business, in which he is at present (1903) engaged. Fraternally Mr. Blan- chard is a Mason and belongs to Fox River

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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

Chapter, No. 14, and Unity Lodge, No. 48, and to St. Charles Lodge, No. 14, I. O. O. F. Mr. Blanchard was married, Feb. 26, 1896, to Miss Florence, daughter of Leonard and Caroline (Smith ) Howard, the oldest settlers of St. Charles. They have one child, a daughter, Wilda B.

GUSTAVUS P. BLANCHARD (deceased ), carpenter and well driller, St. Charles, Ill .; born in Cayuga County, N. Y., August 10, 1831; came to St. Charles with his father in 1837, and in 1849 made a trip to the California gold fields, where he remained ten years. Returning to St. Charles in 1859, he was variously employed until the time of his death, Feb. 15, 1900. He was married to Lucy Sunderland, of Highgate, Vt.

WILLIAM BLANCHARD ( deceased ), farmer, Aurora, Ill., was born in Newton, R. I., in 1785, was reared in his native State, and married Hannah Hull, of Tolland, Conn. They spent their early married lives in Eaton, N. Y., and in 1839 came west to Aurora, Ill., where they lived for some years and then located on a farm near that city. There Mr. Blanchard died in 1852. Mrs. Conant, ot Batavia, is the only surviving member of the family.

ZARA A. BLANCHARD (deceased ), engineer and farmer, St. Charles, Ill., was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., Sept. 29, 1829, and came to St. Charles with his parents March 2, 1838. They settled on a farm in Section 17, near the village, and Zara received his education in the St. Charles schools. Mr. Blanchard's first busi- ness experience was as engineer on a construc- tion train of the Galena Division of the Illinois Central Railroad, from 1851 to 1854. The latter year he returned to St. Charles, where for ten years he worked as a carpenter, and then re- moved to a farm east of the city. He was mar- ried in 1851 to Elizabeth Jordan, who was born in England, and was a school teacher in St. Charles at the time of her marriage. Mr. Blanchard died in the spring of 1895, leaving two children: Charles L. Blanchard and a daughter, now Mrs. C. C. Morse, of Chicago.

JEDEDIAH H. BLISS, prominent farmer and financier of Sugar Grove Township, Kane County, was born in the town where he is now doing business, Nov. 5, 1850, a son of P. Y.

Bliss, one of the pioneers of the county. He was brought up on the family homestead, and given his education in the public schools. As a young man he began farming, and has con- tinued that occupation to the present time, being also extensively interested in stock- raising. His attention was early turned to banking enterprises, and he is a director of the old Second National Bank at Aurora. In 1888 Miss Grace Carter, of DeKalb, became his wife.

P. Y. BLISS ( deceased ) , merchant and farmer, Aurora, Ill., was born in Strafford, Vt., in 1806, and died at Sugar Grove, Ill., in 1888. His tather having died when the son was four years of age, he grew to years of maturity in the family of his uncle, Judge Harris, of Strafford, where he obtained his education in the old-time "select schools," and in his early manhood taught school for a time. Later he went to Boston, Mass., where he was trained in mer- chandising, and afterwards returned to Straf- ford, where he was connected with Judge Harris in the mercantile business for several years. Some time in the '30s he came west, bringing with him a stock of goods and intend- ing to locate in St. Louis, Mo., but a dishonest clerk having run away with a part of his goods caused him to change his plans, and he then came to Kane County and opened a store at Sugar Grove. For years thereafter he was well known throughout that portion of the county as the pioneer merchant. Later he purchased a farm near by, and thereatter, until his death, was a successful farmer. His leisure hours were devoted largely to literary work, and he became a frequent contributor to newspapers and periodicals. He was notable among the pioneers for his advocacy of tree planting and the protection of wild birds, and he built up a beautiful country home. In 1846 he married Miss Helen Mather (a descendant of Cotton Mather ), born at Lodi, Erie County, N. Y., and came west with her parents, who located in Kane County at a very early date. Since her husband's death Mrs. Bliss has resided at Aurora, and her son, J. Harris Bliss, now occu- pies the old homestead at Sugar Grove.

CHESTER W. BOLCUM, farmer and stock- raiser, Wasco, Ill., was born in the town of Fowler, Jefferson County, N. Y., Jan. 17, 1852, son of George F. and Bessie (Jeffers) Bolcum. His father, who was born Aug. 16, 1819, is

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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

still living. Chester W. Bolcum acquired his education in Oneida County, N. Y., and has earned his own way since the age of seven years, working for his board, clothes and schooling until he was thirteen years old, when he started lumber-jobbing, and very soon had from ten to thirty men under his charge. When he reached the age of twenty-one he came to Plano, Ill., and, entering the employ of Lewis Steward, soon became foreman and general manager of his extensive mills and factories. This position he held for about eight years, when he rented a farm about half a mile from the present site of Wasco and engaged in ex- tensive dairying operations, at the same time operating several rented places. In 1887 he bought a farm one mile north of Wasco. and the adjoining farm in 1901, all comprising 232 acres. He has sold his dairy interests, and now devotes his attention to dealing in live stock. Several times a year he makes extensive trips into Iowa and Wisconsin, where he pur- chases cattle. Mr. Bolcum was married, Feb. 19, 1879, to Miss Cassie Buckley, daughter of Joseph and Jane ( Hartman) Buckley, and they have had eight daughters and two sons-one daughter dying in infancy. Mr. Bolcum is a Republican, and has served as a member of the School Board for about eighteen years, and has been Commissioner of Highways for many years. For five years he has been commander of the local lodge Knights of Maccabees, and helped organize the Great Camp at Chicago. In the conventions of the order at Peoria and Springfield he was a prominent figure. He is a member of Unity Lodge, No. 48, A. F. & A. M., at St. Charles, one of the oldest lodges in Illinois.

CHARLES BOLZ, merchant, Dundee, Ill., was born in Dundee Township, Kane County, Oct. 19, 1867, son of Michael and Christina (Sorn) Bolz, grew to manhood on his father's farm, and received his education in the local schools. He was engaged in farming until the spring of 1902, when, in company with his younger brother, August, he bought out the firm of E. M. Garrison & Co., and engaged in the sale of agricultural implements in Dundee. This busi- ness they have since continued on an extensive scale under the firm name of Bolz Brothers, and have a trade which extends over a good part of three counties. He served as a member of the Dundee Township School Board for twelve

years. He is a member of the Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America, and for six years was a correspondent of the Agricultural Department at Washington, mak- ing out regular reports as to the condition of crops in Kane County.

GAIL BORDEN (deceased) was born at Nor- wich, N. Y., in 1801, and reared in Ohio and Indiana, received a good education, and in his early manhood taught school in Mississippi, where he was also a United States Deputy Surveyor; in 1829 went to Texas, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising; was appointed Superintendent of Official Surveys by General Austin, and compiled the first topo- graphical map of the Texas colonies. He had charge of the land office at San Felipe, and published the only newspaper issued in Texas during the Revolution; was Collector of the Port of Galveston in 1837, and was afterward agent of the Galveston City Company for twelve years. Returning to the North, he lo- cated in Elgin, Ill., where he became famous as the pioneer manufacturer of condensed milk and other kinds of concentrated foods. He died Jan. 11, 1874. The Public Library of Elgin is named in his honor.

J. M. BORDEN, merchant, Dundee, Ill .; born at Cazenovia, N. Y., Nov. 8, 1838; came with his parents to Dundee in 1854; engaged in the coal and lumber trade in Dundee, and at the present time is a member of the firm of Borden, Westerman & Co .; is also interested in the wholesale cigar trade in Chicago, to which he devotes most of his attention.

FRANK S. BOSWORTH, dealer in lumber and coal, Elgin, Ill .; born at Boston, Erie County, N. Y., Dec. 17, 1832; came west with his grandparents in 1839; began his business career in 1843 as a clerk in his uncle's store at Dundee, with whom he became a business partner in 1852, which was continued until 1866; came to Elgin in 1871 and has since been connected with business interests in that city.

ALFRED BOSWORTH, banker, Elgin, Ill., born April 1, 1846, at Dundee, Ill., son of I. C. and Mary ( Root) Bosworth, received his educa- tion in the Dundee schools and from the old University of Chicago. from which he was graduated in 1866 and is now one of its Trus-

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County, Part 146

Author: Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 950

Author:
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 950