Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County, Part 149

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

USA > Illinois > Kane County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County > Part 149

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

DANIEL J. CHAMBERLAIN.

by Whitten, Burdett & Young, wholesale clo- thiers in Boston, as a traveling salesman. In 1876 he located in Elgin, where he established the Big Boston Clothing Store. In politics he was a Democrat until the advent of Bryan, when he took the stand of a Gold Democrat. He was a prominent Mason and belonged to the Oriental Consistory, of Chicago, the Medi- nah Temple Mystic Shrine, and in 1895 organ- ized Chamberlain's Crusaders (a party of Masons) for the tour of the Mediterranean countries. In 1890 he was connected with a similar organization (the Temple Commandery, of Albany, N. Y.) during an Old World tour. He was married June 15, 1874, to Celeste L. Chamberlain, of Ellsworth, Maine, who survives him. Mr. Chamberlain died Aug. 27, 1901.

ALBERT PRATT CHAPMAN, farmer and stock-raiser, Sugar Grove Township, Kane County, Ill., was born in the township where he now resides, Oct. 4, 1855; reared on his father's farm, and obtained his education in

the public schools of Sugar Grove and Aurora, and at the State University, Urbana, Ill. After leaving college he taught school for two years, and then joined his father in managing the latter's farm in Sugar Grove Township. He was successfully engaged in farming, stock- breeding and dairying until 1899, when he re- tired from active work in this connection, although he still owns the old homestead where he now resides. In 1880 he was married to Miss Clarinda Spear, daughter of Warren and Matilda Spear, of Aurora, and their only living child is Tillie J. Chapman. Mrs. Chapman was educated at Oberlin College, Oberlin Ohio, grad- uating from that institution in the class of '79.

ANDREW F. CHAPMAN, merchant, Dundee, Ill., born at Uhrichsville, Ohio, Dec. 4, 1845; came to Dundee, Ill., in 1867, and in 1879 bought an interest in the coal, lumber and feed business with D. C. Adams. Mr. Chapman has been owner of the enterprise since 1887, and conducts an extensive trade. He was married in 1880 to Miss Anna Wyatt.

BENJAMIN F. CHAPMAN (deceased ), farmer, Burlington Township, Kane County, Ill., born in Canada, March 7, 1827; came to Kane County in the '40s, and in 1850 purchased a small farm in Burlington Township, to which he made subsequent additions until his holdings embraced 280 acres. He was married Feb. 2, 1851, to Miss Lovina Godfrey, and of their children two are still living, viz .: Charles E. and Mrs. Ada E. Smith. Mr. Chapman died April 12, 1888.

HENRY CHAPMAN (deceased), pioneer citi- zen, Sugar Grove, Kane County, Ill., was born in Chemung County, N. Y., March 15, 1821; grew to manhood on a farm in his native State, and for several years taught school during a portion of each year, devoting the remainder of his time to working at the carpenter's trade. He first came west in 1842, but returned east shortly afterwards, took a course in surveying, and later, coming again to Illinois, devoted much of his time to this profession. He sur- veyed much of the Government land in Kane County, and in later years became noted for having set more corner-stones than any other man in the county. Mr. Chapman was also one of the pioneer school teachers of this region. In 1844 he purchased a tract of Government

762

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

land about two and a half miles northwest of Sugar Grove Station, which he brought under cultivation, and upon which he lived until his death, Sept. 2, 1897. Mr. Chapman was a mem- ber of the County Board of Supervisors for several years; also served as Assessor of Sugar Grove and held other town offices. He married Julia Pratt, of Chemung County, N. Y., who died in 1884, and the only representatives of this pioneer family now living are Albert Pratt Chapman and Harriet E. Chapman, both of Sugar Grove, Ill.

MATTHEW T. CHAPMAN, manufacturer, Aurora, a native of Priddy, Somersetshire, England, where he was born Dec. 20, 1844, came to the United States when a boy and grew to manhood in New York. He worked as a blacksmith and machinist at Skeneateles and Auburn, N. Y., for two or three years, and was subsequently in the employ of the Government at Nashville and other points in the South. After the Civil War he returned to New York, and worked at his trade in Seneca Falls and Rochester. For the purpose of constructing the city gas works he came to Aurora, Ill., and that city has become his permanent home. For some time he conducted a gas-fitting, plumbing and machinist business, and still later estab- lished the American Well Works Company, of which he was President, with a large and growing business. Various successful devices for sinking deep wells have been perfected by him. Mr. Chapman has been twice married, his first wife having been Miss Mary T. Sperry, and his second Mrs. Helen Leet, of Aurora.

SAMUEL W. CHAPMAN, merchant, Elgin, Ill., born in Wyoming County, N. Y., Sept. 9, 1843, son of Samuel and Margaret (Spittal ) Chapman; in 1844 came to Illinois with his parents, who located on a farm in Plato Town- ship, Kane County, and there resided until a few years previous to their death. They both died in Elgin, the father in 1886, and the mother in 1889. The elder Samuel Chapman served in the War of the Rebellion as First Lieutenant of the Plato Cavalry Company, which was at- tached to the Thirty-sixth Illinois Volunteer Infantry; the members of this company fur- nished their own horses when they entered the service. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on the farm and obtained his educa- tion in the public schools and Beloit College

( Beloit, Wis.); later became cashier for the American and United States Express Companies -joint offices at Burlington-and in 1868 re- moved to Elgin, where for several years he was in the milling business; in 1878 was appointed general agent for the McCormick Harvester Company for Northern Illinois, remaining in that position until 1893, when he established himself in the agricultural implement and car- riage business, which he has conducted up to the present time. In 1894 he was appointed by President Cleveland Postmaster of Elgin, hold- ing office four years. Mr. Chapman was mar- ried in 1867 to Miss Elvena F. Stone, daughter of Isaac Stone, one of the first settlers of Kane County.

ANSON L. CLARK.

ANSON L. CLARK, M. D., M. A., Elgin, Pres- ident Bennett Medical College, Chicago, was born in Clarksburg, Mass., Oct. 12, 1836, re- ceived his education in the public schools, and at Lombard University, Galesburg, Ill., from which he graduated in 1858, receiving the de- gree of M. A., in 1867. He was graduated from the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincin- nati in 1861, and was appointed first Assistant Surgeon One Hundred Twenty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving as such until the close of the war. In 1862 he had established his home in Elgin, and there resumed his prac-

763

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

tice at the close of the war. As a Republican he was sent to the Twenty-seventh General Assembly. Promoting the organization of Ben- nett Medical College he became so important to it that he was chosen its President at the organization of the school, and has held that position to the present time (1903) since 1870. President Clark's services to the cause of medi- cal eclecticism have been many and important, and he is actively engaged in the work of the National Medical Association, the Illinois State Eclectic Association, and the Chicago Medical Eclectic Society, and has acted as President of each. Dr. Clark was a member of the Illinois State Board of Health for the first fifteen years of its existence. He is a member of the staff of physicians and surgeons of the Sherman Hospital at Elgin, and belongs to the Loyal Legion, the Elgin Post, G. A. R., and is a Knight Templar Mason. For six years he was a member of the Elgin Board of Educa- tion, being President of that body for three years.

SAMUEL N. CLARK (deceased), merchant and pioneer, Geneva, Ill., was born in Massa- chusetts, Feb. 15, 1818, and was there reared to mercantile pursuits. In 1837 he came to Geneva, Ill., where he established a store whichi he conducted until his death in 1856. In 1844 he married Mrs. Polly H. Patten, who was living in Chicago in 1903, at the age of over ninety years. These worthy pioneers helped to found and maintain the Unitarian church at Geneva, one of the first churches of that denomination in the West.

SCOTTO CLARK (deceased), pioneer mer- chant, Geneva, Ill., was born Sept. 2, 1782, in Harwich, Mass., where he was reared to mer- cantile pursuits. After being engaged in mer- cantile business in Boston, he removed in 1837 to Geneva, Ill., where he had a store for a time. He married Sally M. Freeman in 1808. His death occurred Oct. 12, 1844.

REV. E. F. CLEVELAND, M. D., born Sept. 29, 1841, attended the public and private schools at Port Henry, N. Y., where his parents took up their residence soon after his birth. When about fourteen years of age he was sent to Canada for further study. In May, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Ninth Vermont Vol- unteer Infantry and served until July, 1865,

being mustered out of service with the rank of First Lieutenant. In March, 1868, he graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Michigan, and soon atter settled in Dundee, Ill., where he has successfully practiced his profession up to the present time. He mar- ried Miss Ella L. Edwards Sept. 22, 1870. He was ordained a deacon in April, 1879, and a priest of the Episcopal Church in September, 1886, being engaged in ministerial work in St. James parish, Dundee, and adjacent territory. As one of the directors, and Vice-President of the Illinois Iron and Bolt Company, Dr. Cleve- land has been identified with the business life of the community. He is a member of the Fox River Valley Medical Association, the American Medical Association, and of several scientific and literary societies.

THOMAS L. CLEVELAND (deceased ), pio- ncer merchant, Batavia, Ill., born in Boston, Mass., April 15, 1818, a son of Aaron P. Cleve- land, and a cousin of Ex-President Cleveland, was reared to manhood in Boston, where he received his education. He made a trip to the East Indies when he was approaching man- hood, and spent his eighteenth birthday on the banks of the Ganges. On his return to the United States, he spent some time in Charles- ton, S. C., and in 1839 opened a general store in Geneva, Ill., which he removed the following year to Batavia where he continued it several years. Later he entered the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and for twenty years was station agent at Batavia. He held various town offices, and shortly before his death on April 10, 1882, was elected City Clerk. In 1840 he married Olivia Blanchard, daughter of William L. and Hannah (Hull) Blanchard, pioneer settlers of Aurora.

EUGENE CLIFFORD, lawyer, Elgin, Ill., born in Rochester, N. Y., Dec. 3, 1848; in 1854 came west with his parents, who settled in Elgin; admitted to the bar in 1871; practiced in Elgin until 1882, but since the latter date has practiced in Chicago, although he has con- tinued to reside in Elgin. He was married in 1879 to Miss Jennie A. Martin, of Elgin.

REV. LEONARD CLIFFORD, retired clergy- man, Dundee, Ill., born at Wales, Erie County, N. Y., August 12, 1819; came with his parents to Illinois in 1834, locating first near Lemont,

764

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

Cook County, where he worked on his father's farm. Later he entered the Evanston Theolog- ical Seminary, where he remained ten years, then entered the ministry in 1858 and has filled various charges, including Dundee, Palatine and Burlington; was superannuated in 1875, and has since resided at Dundee. He was first married in 1843 to Miss Jeanette Boreland, who died in 1896, and on Feb. 28, 1897, he mar- ried his second wife, Mrs. Mary (Skidmore) Manzer, of Dundee.

CHARLES M. COATS, manufacturer, Aurora, Ill., was born in Otsego County, N. Y., Sept. 12. 1850, and educated in the public schools, Whites. boro Seminary and Hamilton College, N. Y., 1870; for three years was engaged in mer- cantile business, but moved to Indianapolis, Ind., in 1873, where he conducted a fruit and produce commission business for seven years. Coming to Aurora in 1890, he embarked in the manufacturing business, and in 1898 helped organize the "Yeomen of America" (an insur- ance society ), being elected Supreme Secretary at its organization. and re-elected in 1901 and 1903.

MOSES COLBY.

MOSES COLBY (deceased ), pioneer settler, Aurora, Ill., was born near Dover, N. H., Feb. 28, 1810, and spent his early life in his native

State and in Boston, where he followed various occupations until about 1840. During that year he moved to Aurora, Ill., where his first winter was spent in the pioneer saw-mill of Samuel McCarty. Later he purchased a farm not far away from the rising village, and became a prosperous farmer. This farm was his home until he retired from an active business life, when he located in Aurora, where he spent the most of his subsequent years. His death occurred in Corning, Iowa, in November, 1891, leaving Mrs. Colby, who is now (1904) the only surviving member of his family, although they reared several foster children. She was born near Lake Champlain, Clinton County, N. Y., in 1819, and is a daughter of George Haw- kins, who came with his family to Aurora in 1844. Mrs. Colby is greatly interested in chari- table work, and is now taking part with others in the founding of an Old Ladies' Home in Aurora.

REV. WILLIAM A. COLLEDGE, D. D., clergyman, Aurora, born in Edinburg, Scotland, in November, 1858, was educated in the Pres- byterian Church School at Glasgow, and in Lon- don, England. In 1892 he received his degree of Doctor of Divinity from Adrian College. Mich., the same year becoming extension lec- turer for the University of Chicago. In 1894 he was called to the pulpit of the People's church in Aurora, from Cadillac, Mich., where he had been located for five years.

CORNELIUS COLLINS, Alderman, Batavia, Ill., born at Sycamore, Ill., Feb. 6, 1862, son of Daniel and Alice ( Mccullough) Collins. Daniel Collins removed with his family to Ba tavia, Kane County, when the son Cornelius was a boy, and here the latter was reared and received his educational training in the city schools. Cornelius Collins was engaged in contracting and building and in the stone trade for several years, but since 1887 has also conducted a meat market in Batavia. In politi- cal sentiment he is a Democrat and, at the pres- ent time (1903), is serving his fellow-citizens as a member of the Batavia Board of Aldermen.

CHARLES E. COLWELL, physician and sur- geon, Aurora, Ill., born at Newburgh, N. Y., June 19, 1864; obtained his medical training at the Hahnemann Medical College, Chicago, graduating from that institution in the class

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY. 765

of 1885; took a post-graduate course at the Post-Graduate Medical School ( New York City ) ; has practiced in Aurora since 1885.

WILLIAM CONANT ( deceased ), farmer and once Mayor, Geneva, Ill., was born in Brandon, Vt., March 13, 1819, a son of Luther Conant, and a descendant of Roger Conant, the founder of the settlement at Salem, Mass., in 1622. William Conant received an academic education in Vermont and was trained to agricultural pursuits. In 1850 he came to Kane County, and purchased a farm near Geneva, on which he made his home until 1891. That year he removed to Geneva, and in 1893 was elected Mayor of the city on the temperance ticket. He died in 1894. He was twice married, Miss Melissa White becoming his wife in 1840 and dying in 1884. In 1886 he married Mrs. Olivia ( Blanchard) Cleveland, who still survives and lives in Batavia. She comes of New England ancestry, her father having been born in Rhode Island, and her mother in Connecticut.

CORNELIUS B. CONDE (deceased), pionee: settler, Batavia, Ill., born in Troy, N. Y., in 1815; grew to manhood in his native State, and in 1836 came to Illinois, locating at Batavia where he engaged in blacksmithing. Early in the '40s he purchased lands from the Gov- ernment which remained in possession of the family until 1902. In 1849 he drove an ox team overland to California, remaining in that State two years, in the meantime mining for gold with fairly successful results; retired from business in 1864, and died in. 1885. He was married in New York State to Hannah Quant, who died in Batavia, in 1901.

JOHN A. CONNELL (deceased), Elgin, Kane County, Ill., born at Greenwood, Ill., Sept. 23, 1861, son of James and Jennie Connell; was trained to farming in his boyhood, and obtained his education in the public schools. Being left an orphan at an early age, he was thrown upon his own resources and obtained his later education by the dint of personal effort. Having completed a course of study at the Northern Indiana Normal School, Val- paraiso, Ind., he taught school for several years and in 1882 entered the United States Railway Mail Service, with which he was continuously connected until his death, May 6, 1902. Mr. Connell had a long and honorable career in the

Government service, and a memorial, as well as numerous letters written at the time of his death, testify to the high estimation of his personal character and sterling worth. He was a distinguished member of the Masonic Order, having attained the Thirty-second Degree. He was married in 1888 to Miss Cora B. Denison daughter of Daniel Denison of Richmond, 111., and their children are named Howard, Paul and Virgine Connell.

THOMAS M. CONWAY, farmer, Blackberry Township, Kane County, was born Jan. 29, 1855, in the township where his home is found today. He was educated in the city schools of Peoria, where his home was found until 1885. That year he came back to Blackberry Township, and bought a farm of 'Squire West, which was situated four miles southeast of Elburn and has given it his attention to the present time. In 1888 he was elected Commissioner ot Highways. and served until 1890. He had charge of all the installation teams at the World's Fair in 1893. In 1897 he was again elected Commission of Highways, and is still serving in that position. In religion he is a member of the Catholic church. He was mar- ried Feb. 26, 1889, to Miss Bridget Keenan, a resident of Kaneville. They have had four sons, one of whom is dead.

GEORGE E. COOK, farmer and stock-raiser, Campton, Kane County, was born April 18, 1875, in Campton, son of George H. and Amelia (Den nison) Cook, and was educated in the local schools and in Elgin Academy, where he took a business course. In 1898 he began business on his own account on a farm adjoining that of his father, where he put up new buildings in 1901. Mr. Cook married Miss Bessie R. Buck, of Dundee, daughter of F. M. and Nettie ( Russell) Buck. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of the Globe.

GEORGE H. COOK, farmer, Campton Town- ship, Kane County, Ill., was born in Campton Township, July 30, 1844, son of J. Henry and Caroline ( Harvey ) Cook. His education was secured in the district school and he worked on the farm with his father until he was twenty-two years old, when he started out for himselt. At the age of twenty-eight he bought a farm in Campton Township, which he has since divided between two sons, while making

766

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

his own home on the homestead farm which had fallen to him at his father's death. For fifteen years he served as Highway Commis- sioneer, and for three years was Assessor in Campton Township; has also been School Director several years, and is recognized as a leading citizen. Mr. Cook was married Dec. 22, 1868, to Miss Amelia A., daughter of Wil- liam and Saralı A. (Cleveland) Dennison, both natives of Canada, and he and his wife have had three sons and two daughters, of whom two daughters and one son are deceased. The oldest son is a physician at Evanston and the other is a farmer.

J. HENRY COOK, farmer, Campton Town- ship, Kane County, was born in Wrinkton, near Bristol, Eng., May 14, 1815, and was educated in the schools of his native country. In 1833 he came to the United States, and for the ten years following was engaged in farming near Syracuse, N. Y. In 1843 he removed to Kane County, Ill., and settled on Government land, developing a fine farm, on which his son George now resides. For several years he was School Director, and was highly regarded by the old pioneers. In 1843 he was married in New York to Miss Caroline Harvey, and became the father of three sons and two daughters. Mrs. Cook died in December, 1881, and Mr. Cook survived until April 26, 1888. George H. Cook is the only child of this family now living.

JOHN H. COOK, physician and surgeon, Evanston, 111., was born in Campton Township, Kane County, in 1869, son of George H. and Amelia (Dennison ) Cook; became a student in the local schools, later graduating from Elgin Academy and Rush Medical College, Chicago, when in 1898 he began his professional career in Evanston, where he now resides, and has met with creditable success. In political matters he is a stanch Republican, and has always worked for the good of his party. Socially he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica and other fraternal societies. His wife, Fannie Woodman, is a daughter of Freeman and Alice (Bartholomew ) Woodman. They have one child, a daughter.

RICHMOND COOK (deceased), farmer, Vir- gil, Kane County, 111., born in England, Oct. 6, 1836. came to the United States, and settled in Kane County, Ill., about 1856. In 1869 he

purchased a farm midway between Lily Lake and Virgil Center, where he was engaged in general farming until his death, which occurred Dec. 26, 1893. He was married Feb. 11, 1861, to Miss Jane Marshall, a daughter of William and Sarah (Harpum) Marshall, and of this union were born four sons and four daughters two of the sons being deceased.

CALVIN C. COOLEY, retired farmer, Lily Lake, Kane County, born in Chautauqua Coun- ty, N. Y., Dec. 27, 1830; educated in the public schools of his native State and came to Kane County, Ill., in early manhood; first engaged in the boot and shoe business for about ten years, and afterwards engaged in farming for about sixteen years; has resided at Lily Lake for the past fifteen years; married in February, 1854, Mrs. Charlotte Chrisman.

EDWARD C. COOLEY, dairy farmer, Lily Lake, Ill., born at Elburn, Ill., May 24, 1862; educated in the district schools, and grew to manhood on his father's farm; married on Oct. 2, 1889, Cora E. Westgard.

IRA C. COPLEY.

IRA C. COPLEY, manufacturer, Aurora, Ill., born at Walnut Grove, Knox County, 111., Oct. 25, 1864, came with his parents to Aurora when three years of age and grew up in that

767

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

city; was educated in the public schools of Aurora, Jennings Seminary and Yale College, graduating from the latter in the class of 1887, and from the Union College of Law, Chi- cago, in 1889. In the latter year lie became manager of the Aurora Gas Light Company, and immediately began developing its property. In 1890 the same interests controlling the Aurora Gas Light Company purchased the property and franchises of the Aurora Electric Light & Power Company, and in 1902 these combined interests secured franchises for gas in Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles, and laid mains to those towns, the name of the company then being changed to the Fox River Light, Heat & Power Company, which also incorpo- rated the gas and electric light interests. In 1894, with other parties, he bought the Joliet Gas Light Company, which has since developed rapidly. In 1900 he built a gas plant at La Grange, known as the La Grange Gas Com- pany, and extended mains to La Grange Park, the Grossdales, Western Springs and Hinsdale. Mr. Copley is at present (1904) Treasurer and Manager of the Fox River Light, Heat and Power Company and the Joliet Gas-Light Com- pany, and President of the La Grange Gas Company. From 1894 to 1898 he was a member of the Executive Committee of the Republican State Central Committee representing the Au- rora District, and at the same time was Chair- man of the Finance Committee. From 1896 to 1898 he was President of the Illinois State League of Republican Clubs, and has been a member of the Library Board and Park Board of Aurora, and a Trustee of Jennings Seminary for several years. In 1892 he was married to Miss Edith Strohn of Los Angeles, Cal.

ARTHUR M. CORNING, retired merchant, Batavia, Ill., born at Fort Ann, Washington County, N. Y., March 11, 1843; was reared and educated in his native State and trained to mercantile pursuits. Coming to Illinois in 1862, he located in Batavia, where for two years he was in the employ of the Howard Paper Company of that city. He established a mill at St. Charles, Ill., for bleaching straw and manufacturing printing paper therefron, and about 1866 went to Moline, Ill., and started a mill of a similar kind in that city. Later he returned to Batavia, and for several years was interested in various patents that required him to visit Michigan, Connecticut and other

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County, Part 149

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