Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County, Part 151

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 151

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).

HALLIFIELD DENNEY, retired merchant, was born in Kirby Moorside, Jan. 27, 1833, and spent the first twenty-one years of his life in England, where he was reared to mercantile life in his father's store. Coming to the United States in 1854, he joined his brothers, William and Joseph Denney, in the furniture business in Aurora, being continuously connected with this business until 1894, and doing his full share to give it the high standing it has always possessed. That year he sold out and retired to enjoy the fruits of a well-spent life. Long regarded as one of the pillars of the First

Congregational church, the year 1904 will com- plete his half century of membership in that body. In 1854 he married Miss Alice A. Har- din, also a native of Kirby Moorside, and their voyage to this country was their wedding trip. Their first home was in Aurora, and here they have since resided.

THOMAS DENNEY, retired merchant, was born in Kirby Moorside, April 1, 1826, where he was reared to the business of manufacturing and dealing in furniture. After his marriage he established himself in the furniture trade at Kirby Moorside, where he remained until 1855. In that year he came to the United States, and established himself in Aurora, where his brothers, Joseph, William and Halli- field, were already in business. Upon his ar- rival he entered the store, and later became one of the partners in the business. He took a prominent part in the upbuilding of the busi- ness, and was identified with it until 1882. That year he retired from the firm of Denney Broth- ers and started a furniture business of his own, which he conducted for ten years, and then sold it to retire altogether from business. In 1855 he became a member of the First Con- gregational church, into which three of his brothers had already been received, and of which he has been a stanch and faithful mem- ber to the present time. It is an interesting fact that the five brothers should have united with this church, and that four of them have worshipped in this church about a half-century each. Mr. Denney married Miss Mary Fowler, of Kirby Moorside, in 1850. She died in Aurora in 1899.

HARVEY B. DENSMORE (deceased), pio- neer, Sugar Grove Township, Kane County, 111., was born in Windsor County, Vi., Sept. 15, 1815, son of Job and Mary 1. (Sprague) Dens- more, and grandson of Israel Sprague, a Revo- lutionary soldier who was a participant in the battles of Lexington and Bunker Hill. The subject of this sketch grew up in his native State, and was educated in the schools and Cortlandville Academy, Cortlandville, N. Y. He came to Kane County, Ill., in 1836, locating in what is now Sugar Grove Township. His trip from Vermont to Chicago was made by team and Chicago was then a mere village. After spending a short time in Chicago, he purchased a land claim in Sugar Grove Township and

774

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

moved into a log cabin which occupied the site of the home in which he lived until his death, which occurred Oct. 15, 1898. He was a successful farmer, a capable manager, and a man of influence in the community. An ardent opponent of slavery, he was known for many years as one of three Abolitionists in Sugar Grove Township, and in the days of the "Underground Railway," he was in close touch with its operations and had a personal acquain- tance with some of the noted Illinois Abolition- ists. In later years he was an active member of the Republican party. He taught the first school in Sugar Grove Township, helped erect the first school-house, and was always inter- ested in the advancement of educational work. In the later years of his life he set on foot, with other early settlers, a movement to preserve the pioneer history of Sugar Grove Township. and much valuable information was gotten together in this connection, but unfortunately it was destroyed before it was put into print. He married first in 1836 Miss Katie Densmore, who died in 1851, leaving one daughter, Mrs. James Carter. He was afterwards married to Miss Mary J. Mather, who died in 1888. The children of the second marriage were Charles M., Mrs. Grace ( Densmore) Lee, Mrs. Jane (Densmore) Benjamin and Mrs. Jessie ( Dens- more) Paul.

SHELDON DICKINSON (deceased ), farmer. born at Hatfield, Canada, in 1832, and grew to manhood in his native country; came to Kane County, Ill., in 1854, locating on a farm near Dundee; married Catharine Hodges and their living children are: Charles S. and Frederick S. Dickinson; removed to Minnesota where he met his death by drowning in 1860. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Dickinson returned to her old home and still resides at Dundee.

THOMAS A. DILLON, retired miller, Car- pentersville, Kane County, Ill., born in Vienna, N. Y., March 17, 1823, son of Thomas A. and Lucy (Spike) Dillon; attended school until thirteen years of age, when he started work for himself; learned the miller's trade and fol- lowed that occupation at different intervals in New York, Ohio and Michigan until 1849, when he joined a gold-hunting expedition sent out from New York to California by Dr. Townsend. Mr. Dillon engaged in mining in California and later went to the Sandwich Islands. He came

to Illinois in 1853 and located permanently at Carpentersville in 1856, where he took charge of a flouring-mill, which he operated for twenty- six years. He retired from active business in 1882, but has lived continuously in Carpen- tersville, being at the present time (1903) one of the oldest residents in the village. He was married in 1853 to Malvina Knowles, of Sullivan County, N. Y.

CHARLES B. DODSON (deceased); pioneer settler, born June 5, 1809, and died in Geneva, Ill., in 1891; came west in 1833, locating near the site of Batavia in 1834, where he platted the town of Clybournville; in company with Archibald Clybourn he built the first docks in the city of Chicago. Between 1835 and 1837 he removed the Pottawatomie Indians from this part of Illinois to Iowa and Kansas under con- tract with the Government; built the first store and saw-mill in this region at Clybournville in 1834; was one of the most widely known of the pioneers and was leading citizen of Geneva until his death. His wife was Harriet Warren before her marriage, and she was a daughter of the pioneer after whom Warren- ville, Ill., was named.

CHARLES H. DODSON, Geneva, Ill., born in Chicago, Ill., Dec. 1, 1838. His education, "if any" (quoting himself), was obtained in the Geneva public schools, and at Bell & Stevens' Commercial College, Chicago, Ill., in 1858. The "only distinction acquired," (according to the same authority) is in having had his home in Kane County for sixty-two years continuously, excepting five years spent on the Pacific Coast, and five years in South Dakota, the only event in his life, out of the ordinary, being a journey across the plains to California in 1860. He writes himself down as an old-time Abolitionist and a rock-rooted Republican ..

WILSON H. DOE, Bank Cashier, Elgin, Ill., born in Janesville, Wis., Feb. 2, 1858; camy to Elgin Feb. 8, 1882, and accepted a position as bookkeeper with the Home National Bank, in which he became Assistant Cashier in 1885. and in 1890 was elected Cashier. In 1892, when the Home Savings Bank was organized, he was elected Cashier of that institution, and is still filling that position. Mr. Doe was married in September. 1882. to Miss Maude G. Palmer, of Chicago.

775

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

WILLIAM DONOVAN ( deceased), farmer and stock-raiser, Elburn, Kane County, Ill., born in County Waterford, Ireland, June 7, 1822; grew to manhood in his native country, where he obtained his education in private schools, and also learned surveying; came to Long Island, N. Y., in 1850, where for six years he engaged in farming. In 1856 he came west, journeying as far as Fort Dodge, Iowa, where he purchased land, but later returned to Illinois and bought a farm in Kaneville Township, Kane County, and established his home at Elburn, where he passed the remainder of his life and died in 1888. Mr. Donovan was married in 1853 to Julia Lucey, daughter of James and Helen Lucey, of Long Island, N. Y. At the present time (1904) Mrs. Helen Riordan of Elburn, 111., is the only surviving member of this pioneer family.

JAMES DORSEY.

JAMES DORSEY, live-stock dealer, Gilbert's, Ill., was born April 6, 1872, son of Michael and Mary (Ryan) Dorsey, and received his educa- tion from the public schools. When he was nine years old he started out for himself, commencing work for Stewart H. Christie at $3 per month. He was cared for as one of the family, and sent to school during the winter until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1895

he began buying calves, taking a one-horse wagon for transportation purposes, and through his honest and upright dealing with the public he has been very successful, and has established a large business interest throughout his com- munity as well as in Mexico. His selection of draft and high-class horses and Holstein cows is second to none in Illinois. He has a commo- dious sales-stable at Gilbert's, where his horses and cattle are exhibited. He was married June 5, 1895, to Miss Jennie Cooley, and four children have come to bless this union: Nora Marie, Ruth L., John S. and James.

FRED H. DOTY, manufacturer, Batavia, Ill., born in Aurora, Ill., Feb. 18, 1855; educated in the public schools of his native city, and in young manhood engaged in office work in Ba- tavia; in 1890 became connected with the United States Wind Engine & Pump Company, with which he is still identified as assistant secretary. Mr. Doty was married in 1882 to Miss Helen Burton, of Batavia.

ANDREW N. DOWNER, Elgin, Ill., born av West Vienna, Oneida County, N. Y., June 4, 1834, son of Don Sebastian and Lucinda ( Force) Downer, was educated in the public schools of his native State and came west in 1858, estab- lishing his home in Chicago, where he became connected with the lumber trade. In the fall of 1862 he enlisted in what was known as the Chicago Board of Trade Battery, and served in the Union army until discharged on account of physical disability. Returning from the war, he engaged in the lumber trade in Chicago with the well-known firm of Ludington, Wells & Van Schaick, continuing in this connection until 1879, when, on account of failing health. he removed to Iowa and engaged in farming and stock-raising. He lived in Iowa until 1892, when he retired from active business life and has since resided in Elgin. Mr. Downer was married in 1866 to Miss Mary A. Falconer, daughter of Laflin Falconer, who came from Scotland to this country in 1844, locating in Chicago, and is still living on the farm (now on the edge of the city of Chicago) which he purchased from George Smith, Chicago's first banker. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Downer are: Charles N., of Woodstock, Ill .; Albert N., of Cass County, Iowa, and Mrs. F. M. Adams, of Elgin, Ill.

776

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

GEORGE J. DOWNING, retired farmer, El- burn, Ill., born at North Hempstead, Queens County, N. Y., Sept. 29, 1830; educated in the public schools of his native State, and removed to Virgil Township, Kane County, Ill., in 1869, where he engaged in farming and continued to follow that occupation until 1890, when he removed to Elburn and has since lived retired. He was married Feb. 6, 1861, to Phoebe Albertson.

HICKS A. DOWNING, farmer, Elburn, Ill., born at Roslin, L. I., N. Y., Dec. 1, 1863, and has spent most of his business career as a farmer in Kane County; married, July 13, 1893, Emily C. Mott.

W. HARRISON DOWNING, druggist, Aurora, Ill., born in Norwich, Vt., July 18, 1840, son of Rufus and Sarah (Hayward) Downing, was reared on a farm and educated in the public schools and in Kimball Union Academy, Plain- feld, N. H. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the Sixteenth Vermont Volunteer Infantry, remaining in the service until dis- charged for disability. For some years he was engaged in teaching, after which he embarked in the drug business at Hanover, N. H. In 1870 he came to Illinois, and afterward taught at LaFox. St. Charles, Bald Mound, Riverside and Geneva. In 1889 he discontinued teaching and established himself as a druggist in Geneva, but later removed to Aurora, where he at once took a position as a leading drug- gist, which he maintained until his death, May 14, 1900. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and bore an active part in the work of the New England Congregational church. In 1873 he married Miss Louise Parker, daughter of John W. Parker, who came to this country from Oxford, England, and was an early settler at St. Charles. Ot his family still survive Mrs. Downing and her daughter, Mrs. Robert B. Scott, both of whom reside in Aurora.

CHARLES R. DUGAN, farmer and stock- raiser, Sugar Grove, Ill., born in Big Rock Township, Kane County, March 12, 1851; edu- cated in the public schools, and began farming in his early manhood, and, with the exception of a short period spent in school teaching, has since followed that occupation; married, in 1880, Miss Ida Benjamin.

GEORGE H. DUGAN, farmer, Big Rock Township, Kane County, born in Paterson, N. J., Sept. 17, 1842; came west with his parents in 1846, who established their home in Big Rock Township, where George H. attended the old-time schools and was trained to farming, and has since followed that vocation on a part of the old farm on which his father first settled.

WILLIAM DUGAN (deceased), pioneer, was born in Dublin, Ireland, and came to the United States in his early manhood, locating first in Paterson, N. J .; came to Kane County, 111., in 1846, and lived on a farm in Big Rock Town- ship until his death, which occurred in 1876. The members of his family now living are William H., of Aurora; George H., of Big Rock; Charles R., of Sugar Grove, and Mary E. Dugan, of Big Rock.

DELOS DUNTON, manufacturer and banker, Carpentersville, Ill., was born in Hannibal, Oswego County, N. Y., June 28, 1832, son of William and Mary (Cole) Dunton, and was brought by his.parents to Illinois in 1838. The Dunton family had its first home at Deer Grove, but the family removed to a farm near Bloomingdale, DuPage County, the following year, and in 1842 spent a year at Southport ( now Kenosha), Wis., after which they located at Dundee, Kane County, Ill. Here young Delos Dunton completed his schooling, and ihen entered into the wool-carding and cloth- dressing business with his father. He was connected with the pioneer store of J. A. Car- penter, at Carpentersville, from 1850 to 1860, the last two years of this period being a part- ner in the establishment. Until the fall of 1863 he was engaged in fruit-growing in Michi- gan, when he went to Niagara County, N. Y., and with others started what was perhaps one of the first attempts to establish a self-support- ing manual labor school in this country. The experiment did not prove entirely successful, and in 1866 Mr. Dunton returned to Carpen- tersville, wliere he formed a connection with the Illinois Iron and Bolt Company, and for twenty-five years, ending in 1891, he was con- nected with this company, being treasurer of the corporation for a part of the time. In the meantime he was chosen President of the Star Manufacturing Company, a position which he filled for many years, and only surrendered when partially retired from business. He

777

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

helped organize the First National Bank of Dundee in 1901, of which he was President until 1904. He has no interest in politics, and has not cast a vote for forty years.

JAMES EAGER, coal merchant, Batavia, 1]] .. was born in County Kerry, Ireland, Dec. 29, 1840, the son of James and Julia (O'Connor) Eager. He received his early education in the schools of his native country, being fifteen years of age when he came to the United States. Arriving in this country, he lived in Boston and that vicinity for about seven years, and in 1863 came to Illinois and established his home in Batavia. He was variously employed for several years afterwards, but eventually became connected with the coal trade, and embarked in the business on his own account in 1887. In connection with the coal trade, Mr. Eager car- ries a stock of lime, cement, tile and wood, and is one of the oldest dealers in these lines in Batavia. In 1863 he married Miss Mary Manning, of Massachusetts.

CHARLES C. EARLE (deceased), manufac- turer and banker, born at Newburgh, N. Y., July 14, 1822; engaged in the leather trade in Worcester, Mass., in early life, and continued in business in that city until 1856, when he came to Aurora, where he was at first engaged in the iron foundry business, and later in the lumber trade, retiring from business in 1872.

CHARLES H. EATINGER, farmer and stock- raiser, Dundee Township, Kane County, was born in Ravenna, Ohio, April 24, 1848, and was brought by his parents to Illinois in 1855, when they made a settlement in Bureau County. Mr. Eatinger secured a public school education, and was trained to farm life, but operated at one time in butter and cheese-making. In 1878 he purchased the Wanzer dairy farm, three miles west of Dundee, and has since been recognized as one of the leading dairy farmers of the county. In 1887 he started a horse and cattle ranch in Cherry County, Neb., which he has conducted up to the present time, his three sons being there and having direct manage- ment. This ranch contains about 4,000 acres, and is a model farm. Mr. Eatinger is also interested in Kansas lands, and has all his life been a dealer in stock. He is a member of the orders of Free Masons, Knights of the Macca- bees, and Knights of the Globe. In 1870 he

married Miss Jeannette Crichton, daughter of James Crichton, one of the pioneers of Kane County.

CHARLES H. EATON, manufacturer, Bata- via, Ill., born in Pawtucket, R. I., in 1849, son of John and Eliza ( Pike) Eaton, and was reared and educated in Massachusetts. When sixteen years old he came to Illinois, and fin- ished his schooling at Dwight. In early man- hood he became interested in railroad construc- tion, and later in the building of water-works along the lines of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad from Chariton to Fort Kearney in Nebraska, being thus engaged for eight years. In 1886 he came to Batavia to enter into the employment of the United States Wind Engine and Pump Company, and has since filled various positions with that concern, for ten years being general sales agent for its business in twenty-eight States. He is a Mason, and affiliated with the Chicago Commandery Knights Templar. In 1870 he married Miss Clara, daughter of John Wesley Wood, of Warrenville, Ill.

CHARLES J. ECK LAND.

CHARLES J. ECKLAND, late Superintendent Illinois Sugar Refining Company, Geneva, Ill., born in Jonkoping, Sweden, Feb. 19, 1875, son of Solomon and Christina Eckland; was

778

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

brought by his parents to Geneva, Ill., where he attended the local schools, beginning his technical training with a course in the Scranton Correspondence School. His practical fitness for the position he now holds was demonstrated in the connection he had with the Charles Pope Glucose Works at Geneva, in which he began as office-boy, working his way up, through the laboratory and foremanship of several depart- ments, to the position of Assistant Superintend- ent in 1901. The following year, although only twenty-seven years of age, he became Super- intendent of the great factory. This position he recently resigned to accept another in con- nection with the construction of the largest independent starch and glucose plant in the United States, for the J. C. Hubinger Brothers Company at Keokuk, Iowa. Mr. Eckland is a Thirty-first Degree Mason, Master of Geneva Lodge, No. 139, A. F. & A. M., and an ardent promoter of Masonic interests.

JOHN K. EDDOWES.

JOHN K. EDDOWES (deceased), merchant, Geneva, Ill., born in Middletown, Del., Nov. 17, 1826, spent his early life near Philadelphia, where he attended school. In 1838 the family removed to Savanna, Ill., where they were neighbors to General Grant and his family in after years. When Mr. Eddowes became a

young man he engaged in the drug trade, which he followed until his death, Aug. 7, 1897, having spent the last twenty years of his life in Geneva. He was married June 26, 1878, to Mrs. Sarah J. Akers, of Chicago, whose first husband was a charter member of the Chicago Board of Trade. Mr. Eddowes was one of the pioneer Unitarians of Geneva.

TIMOTHY H. EDDOWES, clergyman, Geneva, Ill., was born in Middletown, Del., May 7, 1837, and was brought by his parents into Illinois the following year. His education was secured in the public schools and the Platteville Academy, Platteville, Wis. He fitted for the ministry at the Theological School, Meadville, Penn., and in 1865 was called to the Unitarian church in Geneva, which he served until 1870. That year he went east and served churches in Littleton Mass., and Farmington, Maine. In 1875 he re- turned to Geneva, where he has since made his home, though not engaged in active clerical labor.

ALLEN EDDY (deceased), pioneer farmer, Campton Township, Kane County, born in New York State in 1803; trained to farming, and followed that occupation in New York State, later in Ohio, and still later in Illinois; came to Illinois in 1852, and resided in Campton Township. Kane County, until his death in 1877; married Miss Sophia Beardsley, of Ohio.

HOMER EDDY. farmer, Geneva Township, Kane County: born in Vermillion, Erie County, Ohio, Sept. 16, 1847, son of Allen and Sophia ( Beardsley) Eddy; came to Illinois with his father in 1852;" in 1864 he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-first Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving nearly four months. After the close of the war he engaged in farm- ing in Campton Township, Kane County, re- maining there until 1891, when he purchased a farm near Geneva, where he has since resided He was married in 1869 to Miss Amelia M. Kinnear, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth Kinnear, pioneer settlers of Kane County.

HENRY C. EDWARDS, farmer and manufac- turer, Dundee, Ill .. born in Chautauqua County. N. Y., July 14, 1835, son of Alfred and Lucinda ( Bosworth) Edwards, in 1837 was taken by his parents to Chicago, then a frontier village. to which the father and husband had gone the

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY. 779

previous year. In 1838 they removed to the settlement at Dundee, Kane County, where Mr. Edwards opened a pioneer store. There Henry C. Edwards was reared to manhood, and there he obtained his education in the village schools, supplemented by attendance at Beloit College and at Bell's Commercial College, Chicago. In early life he became interested in the store with his father, and later turned his attention to farming, in which he has been quite steadily engaged to the present time. From 1888 to 1898 he was President and General Manager ot the Illinois Iron and Brass Works at Carpen- tersville. In August, 1861, he enlisted in the Fitty-second Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infan- try, and was mustered out at Rome, Ga., Oct. 24, 1864, at the end of three years and two months of active and honorable service. He is a member of Dundee Post, No. 519, G. A. R., and has been its Commander. In 1865 he mar- ried Miss Ellen A. Dunton, daughter of William and Mary Dunton, pioneer settlers ot Dundee.

ROBERT S. EGAN, lawyer, Elgin, born in Sycamore, Ill., May 10, 1857, and grew to man- hood on a Kane County farm, to which his father retired in 1859. His literary education was secured in the public schools and at Elgin Academy; later he read law in the office of Hon. H. B. Willis, now Judge of the Sixteenth Illinois Judicial Circuit, and was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court in 1882. He began practice in Elgin, and has since given his attention to his profession up to the present time (1903). From 1883 to 1899 he was asso. ciated with Hon. C. F. Irwin, now Justice of the United States Court, Second District Okla- homa, and from 1883 to 1885 served as City Attorney of Elgin. In May, 1903, he was ap- pointed Corporation Counsel of Elgin. Polit- ically a Democrat, he has been one of the lead- ers of that party for a number of years.

GEORGE B. ELDEN, retired banker, Elburn, In .; born in York County, Maine, May 19, 1832; located in Kane County, Ill., in 1864, where he was engaged in the lumber trade for over twenty years; purchased the Bank of Elburn in 1887 and conducted that institution until 1900, when he retired trom active busi- ness; married Nov. 3, 1855.

FRANCIS M. ELLIOTT, M. D., physician, Aurora, born in that city April 5, 1844, son oť

the old pioneer, William T. Elliott, mentioned elsewhere in this volume; was reared on the paternal estate, educated in the local schools and at Jennings Seminary, Aurora, and began his medical studies under the direction of Dr. F. S. Hance, graduating from Rush Medical College, Chicago, in February, 1869, He began practice at Blairstown. Iowa, but in 1872 re- turned to Aurora to succeed to the practice of Dr. Hance. In the thirty years that have elapsed he has built a fine reputation as a skillful, conscientious and faithful family phy- sician. He has been the inventor and patentee of several valuable medical appliances, which now sell throughout the United States and are highly approved by the profession everywhere. He is a member of the Illinois State Medical Society, and has been City Physician of Aurora for several years. His recreation from hard work is painting in oil, and several of his portraits and landscapes have marked merit. In 1870 he married Miss Lydia, daughter of Rev. Azro and Jane ( Hotchkiss) French, born in Nuggar, India, while her father was a mis- sionary in that country. Of this marriage were born three children: Dr. Frank A., of Chicago; Arthur B., an artist of Chicago; and Mrs. Fannie E. Grass, of Chicago.

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 151

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