Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County, Part 161

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 161

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).

JAMES M. KIMBALL.

JAMES M. KIMBALL (deceased), Elgin, Ill., was born in Groton, N. H., Oct. 2, 1828, died April 19, 1898. He removed with his parents to Elgin, Ill., in 1834, his father being one of the first settlers of that city. From 1848 to 1857 he was Solicitor for the "Chicago Democrat" and in 1858 engaged in a general commission and auction business. Later in life he was a real-estate dealer, and in 1886 established the

present furniture business of J. M. Kimball, with his sons, M. J. and William D., as part- ners. Politically he was a Democrat until the formation of the Republican party. For ten years he was Deputy Sheriff and eight years School Director. He was married Sept. 7, 1856, to Miss Ruth Tourtellot, a native of Providence, R. I. His widow and the following children sur- vive him: Montony J., William D., and Clara G.

MONTONY J. KIMBALL, furniture merchant, Elgin, was born in Elgin, Ill., Sept. 15, 1863, received his education in the city schools, and entered the employ of his father, J. M. Kimball, as a clerk. In 1886 he was admitted to part- nership, the firm name being J. M. Kimball. In politics he is a Republican, and socially is a member of the Century, the Country and the Bicycle Clubs of Elgin.

WILLIAM D. KIMBALL, furniture merchant, Elgin, was born in Elgin, Oct. 9, 1866, and edu- cated in the public schools. In 1886 he en- tered the employ of his father, J. M. Kimball, and was admitted to partnership, the firm name being J. M. Kimball. He is a Republican, and is a director of the Elgin Business Men's Associa- tion. In religion he is a Baptist, and is the effi- cient Superintendent of the First Baptist Church Sunday School. For twelve years he was a director of the Young Men's Christian As- sociation and was its Treasurer four years.

EUGENE C. KINCAID, publisher, Elgin, Ill., born Jan. 24, 1839, in Schenectady, N. Y., son of Elam H. and Rhoda ( Cornell ) Kincaid, grew to manhood in his native State, and receiving a public school education learned the printer's trade. In May, 1861, he enlisted in the Twenty- seventh New York Volunteer Infantry, and par- ticipated in all the great battles of the Army of the Potomac, being finally mustered out at the expiration of his term of enlistment in 1863. He took part in the battles of Bull Run, Chan- cellorsville, and in many minor engagements. After his return from the war he lived for a time at Albion, N. Y., and then removed to Elgin, which has since been his home. He has been engaged in the printing business almost continuously since 1865, when he became one of the publishers of the "Elgin Gazette;" later was owner of the "Watchman," and still later part owner of the "Advocate," predecessor to

836

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

the "Elgin Daily News." For several years he was in the railway mail service, and in later years he has been connected with the Cook Pub- lishing Company. He married Miss H. Isadore PadeIford, daughter of Rodolphus W. Padel- ford, a noted pioneer of Elgin.

ALFRED H KING (deceased), farmer, born near Rome, N. Y., Dec. 1, 1825; obtained a practical business education, and was trained to farming; came west in 1856, locating on a farm in Big Rock Township, Kane County, where he was successfully engaged in agricultural pur- suits until 1871, when he retired from active business and removed to Aurora, where he died March 25, 1875. He was married in 1864 to Miss Marian E. Dean, who still survives and resides in Aurora. Their living children are: Della M., Minnie A. and Alfred D.

ANDREW KINMAN (deceased ), pioneer farmer, Campton Township, Kane County, was born Sept. 1, 1816, in New Brunswick, and there was reared and educated; came with his family to Illinois in 1846, and settled on a large farm in Campton Township, Kane County, where he made his home until his death in 1867. He reared a family of sixteen children, all of whom lived in Illinois, reaching maturity. Three of his sons served in the Union Army during the Civil War. He married Elizabeth Kline, also a native of New Brunswick, who survives her husband, still living in St. Charles.

ISAAC B. KINNE, merchant, Minneapolis, Minn .; born in Syracuse, N. Y., March 26, 1829; engaged in agricultural pursuits in New York Siate and later in Illinois; located in Batavia, III., in 1872, and became interested in the Chal- lenge Wind-mill Company; established the drug and grocery business in Batavia in 1874, which was the foundation of the present de- partment store of Kinne & Jeffery, in which he was succeeded by his son, M. M. Kinne. In 1887 he removed to Minneapolis, Minn., and has since been engaged in business there as Presi- dent of the Kinne Manufacturing Company.

MYRON M. KINNE, merchant, Batavia, Ill., born in Saratoga Township, Grundy County, Ill., May 1, 1856; engaged in the mercantile business in Batavia in 1876 as junior member of the firm of I. B. Kinne & Son; later purchased his father's interest in the business, and in 1887 be-

came head of the firm of Kinne & Jeffery, which is one of the leading department stores of the Fox River Valley; is also interested in the Kinne Manufacturing Company of Minneapolis, Minn., manufacturers of sheet iron goods. He was married in 1876 to Miss Lillian F. Johnson, of Batavia.

JOSEPH KIRK, retired farmer, Geneva, born Aug. 24, 1843, in Lanarkshire, Scotland, son of Joseph and Charlotte (Scholes) Kirk; came to the United States in 1857, when about fourteen years old; lived at Northford, Conn., until 1860, when he came to Illinois and set- tled on a farm east of St. Charles, Kane County, remaining four years, when he located on a farm which he had bought north of St. Charles. He spent a year in Maple Park and about four years in what is now Lily Lake. In 1873 he moved to a farm of 160 acres which he now owns, and on which he lived until he retired from active work in 1900. The latter year he removed to Geneva, where he now (1903) resides, and rents his farm to his two sons. While a resident of Dis- trict No. 6, near St. Charles, he served twelve years as School Director. Mr. Kirk was mar- ried March 17, 1865, to Miss Mary Ann, daugh- ter of William Marshall, of St. Charles. In political belief he is a Republican.

PETER KLEIN, editor and publisher, Au- rora, Kane County, III., born near Bingen-on- the-Rhine, in Rhenish Prussia, Sept. 1, 1849; obtained his elementary education in the schools of his native country, and completed his studies in Chicago, to which city his father came with his children in 1862-the mother having died in Germany. In 1864 they re- moved to Aurora, where Peter KIein grew to manhood, his first business experience being in the dry-goods trade, but later he engaged in the insurance business. In 1868, when only nine- teen years of age, he established the "Aurora Volksfreund," the first German paper published in Central Illinois, which was conducted as a weekly until 1895, when a daily edition was issued and has been continued to the present time. Mr. Klein is the owner as well as editor and publisher of these papers, and. as a leader ot Republicanism, has been prominently identi- fied with the politics of Kane County since 1870. For nine years he was a member of the Aurora School Board; was a member of the Aurora Board of Public Works one term; served

837

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

as City Treasurer two years, and, in 1902, was elected as the first Clerk of the Probate Court of Kane County, to serve four years. Mr. Klein was married in 1876 to Miss Harriet Wilson of Aurora.

ASA B. KNAPP (deceased), farmer, Maple Park, Kane County, was born in Brattleboro, Vt., March 22, 1809, went to New York as a boy, and made his home at Sodus, Wayne County, until 1849, when he removed to a farm in Geneva Township, Kane County, Ill., living there until 1865. The latter year he located on a farm three miles south of Maple Park, where he lived until his death, July 16, 1882. He was twice married; first in 1836, to Miss Mary A. Storm, and, after her death, in 1847, to Miss Amanda McKee, who was born and reared in Vermont. Mrs. Knapp survives her husband and is now (1903) living in Batavia at the age of eighty-seven years.

L. HAMILTON KNAPP, railway engineer, Galesburg, Ill., born in Sodus, N. Y., Jan. 7, 1841, son of Asa B. and Mary (Storm ) Knapp, was reared to manhood in Kane County, Ill., and in 1861 enlisted in the Union army, as a member of the Seventh Kansas Cavalry. After a four years' service at the front he returned to Kane County and entered the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Com- pany, in which he has since been engaged, and for the past thirty years has made his home in Galesburg.

MILTON M. KNAPP, in Government service, Washington, D. C., born in 1856, near Batavia, Ill., is a son of Asa B. and Amanda (McKee) Knapp, and was educated in the public schools of Maple Park and at Clark Seminary, in Au- rora. After leaving school he was engaged in the insurance business for some years at Ba- tavia. In 1889 he secured an appointment in the Census Bureau at Washington, and for six years worked under that appointment. In 1899 he again became connected with the Census Department, and is still engaged in that ca- pacity.

ROBERT LAKE, born in Aurora, Ill., Jan. 23, 1858, was reared in his native city, and there received his educational training. After leaving school he was connected for four

years with the Kansas City, Fort Scott & Gult Railroad, meanwhile making his home in Kan- sas City. Returning to Aurora in 1883, he has since been engaged in the sand and gravel business of that city. In 1887 Mr. Lake was married to Miss Alice Lancaster, daughter of Lafayette Lancaster, of Aurora, and they have one child, Delos L. Fraternally Mr. Lake is a member of the Order of Elks.

RUSSELL LAKE was born in Aurora, 111., Nov. 2, 1863, where he grew to maturity and obtained his education in the West Side ( Au- rora ) city schools. He learned the machinist's trade in boyhood, and for several years worked at his trade with the Hoyt Brothers Company, of Aurora. Later he was engaged in the sand and gravel trade and sidewalk construction, and afterwards gave his attention to the plumb- ing and steam-fitting business, being at the same time interested in farming. Mr. Lake and his brother Robert have always been closely associated in business affairs, and they still own a considerable portion of the old Lake estate.

THEODORE LAKE (deceased), pioneer set- tler, born at East Bloomfield, N. Y., Feb. 14, 1801, son of Henry and Abigail (Spring) Lake, was reared and educated in Buffalo, N. Y., and Conneaut, Ohio, and in 1820 went to Detroit, Mich., where for a, time he was in the employ of Capt. Sam Ward, who afterwards became a noted vessel-owner of that city. With his first savings he began trading with the Indians of the Lake region, continuing in this line of business for several years, and then, in company with his brother, Saphua Lake, was engaged in general merchandising at Conneaut, Ohio, for nine years. In 1834 Saphua Lake came to Illinois, visiting the site of Aurora, and as a result of his trip purchased for himself and his brother all of the McCarty claim on the west side of the Fox River. The following spring the brothers came to Aurora and opened the first store in that city. Saphua Lake returned to Ohio, but the subject of this sketch continued to be a prominent resident and property owner until his death, Feb. 16, 1876. Mr. Lake platted two additions to the city of Aurora, and Lake Street perpetuates his name in this connection. He substantially aided many pioneer enter- prises and helped lay the foundation of many of the city's churches by his generous donations.

838

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

DELOS LAKE, son of the preceding and pio- neer citizen, was born at Conneaut, Ohio, April 18, 1828, came to Aurora with his father in 1835, and there grew to manhood, receiving his educational training in the old-time schools. He was associated with his father in business, but later lived several years on the Pacific Coast, also spending some time in Michigan and Wisconsin. The care of his estate occupied his attention in later years. In 1857 he was married to Miss Susan M. Richardson, of Watertown, N. Y., and the living representatives of this pioneer Aurora family are two sons, Robert and Russell Lake, of Aurora. Mr. Delos Lake died April 29, 1890.

LAFAYETTE LANCASTER, retired, Aurora, Ill .; born in Kenton County, Ky., in 1827; came to Illinois when a boy, locating with his father's family in Fulton County; located in Aurora in 1878, where he has since resided. He was married in 1854 to Miss Jane Mead, who died in 1903. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Lancaster are: Mrs. Robert Lake, Mrs. Ed. Hanna and Charles, all living in Aurora.

WILLIAM LANCE.

WILLIAM LANCE ( deceased), pioneer settler and farmer, Kane County, Ill., was born in the Colony of New Jersey, April 19, 1771, and died in Blackberry Township, Kane County, 111.

-which had been his home for nearly forty years-Sept. 17, 1873, at the age of over 102 years. His life, in some respects, was one of the most eventful of any citizen of Illinois. Besides living over a full century, he had lived under the rule of George III. of England and the American Republic, and through two of the greatest wars in history-that which resulted in the establishment of the American Union, and that which preserved the Union from over- throw at the hands of the pro-slavery rebellion. Mr. Lance began pioneer life at an early period, first coming to Indiana, where he remained until 1833, in the following spring (1834) coming to the Fox River Valley, accompanied by a part of his family and bringing eight yoke of oxen. Arriving at the Big Woods in Kane County, he was detained there for a time by sickness; but his son John, leaving his father and his sister Mary (now Mrs. Souders, of Blackberry Township), crossed Fox River and proceeded westward past Nelson's Grove, selecting a claim upon lands now owned by Charles Souders. Then returning to the place where he had left his father and sister, he guided the party to the place where he had located his claim, and here the Lance family finally became claimant to seven or eight thou- sand acres. Being first in the field and without competitors, they were practically able to locate their claims without restriction. In the fall of 1834 Mr. Lance and his son John, leaving the daughter Mary and another son (Charles), who had accompanied them to Illinois, at the home of Peter Dodds, a brother-in-law, in DuPage County, returned to Indiana for the rest of the family. Here John Lance and his sister Mar- garet were married-the latter to David Beeler -when the party came to Illinois, arriving at the end of their journey on Christmas Day, and finally settling on what is now known as Johnson's Mound. The Lances and the Beelers thus became, during the winter of 1834-5, the first settlers in Blackberry Township. During the following spring (1835) John Souders, at that time a bachelor accustomed to work for the farmers in that region, arrived, and be- tween Christmas and New Year's of the next winter was married to Mary Lance, who had come to Illinois with her father a year pre- vious, and during the same fall Martha Beeler, daughter of David and Margaret (Lance) Bee- ler, was born-being the first child born in the township. Martha Beeler became the wife of

839

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

Mr. Cooledge, of Oregon, Ogle County, where they now (1904) reside. (See sketch of John Souders in another part of this volume.) Wil- liam Lance, who was a man of great force of character and a conspicuous figure in this section of the State, finally died, as already stated, Sept. 17, 1873, his death-notwithstand- ing his great age-being hastened by cancer, but retaining his memory to the last. His wife, Margaret A. Lance, died Sept. 27, 1856, aged seventy-one years.

ELIJAH LATHROP (deceased ), pioneer, Udina, Kane County, Ill., born in Jay, Oxford County, Me., May 10, 1821, son of Elijah and Eunice ( Philbrick) Lathrop. Elijah Lathrop, Sr., born in Bridgewater, Mass., removed in 1800 to the District of Maine, where he was married, and there lived until 1828, when he removed to Onondaga County, N. Y .; four years later went to Lorain County, Ohio, where the son Elijah grew to manhood, securing his education in the public schools and at Amherst High School in Lorain. Elijah Lathrop, Jr., learned the carpenter trade, which he followed for several years in Wisconsin. In 1851 he purchased of the late Major Adin Mann a tract of land near Udina, which is still in possession of the fam- ily, and where he spent the remainder of his life. Later on his father and two brothers came to Udina, and for some years the four of them lived in a row of farm-houses just outside the village, on the State road toward Elgin. Four generations of the family have lived in this neighborhood, and three generations have lived on the old homestead, now occupied by Mrs. Lathrop and her son. She was born in Oswego, N. Y., in 1831, and grew up in Cleve- land, Ohio. She and Mr. Lathrop were married in Sandusky, Ohio, Jan. 8, 1851, and immedi- ately settled in Kane County, where all the years of their wedded life were passed. Elijah La- throp died Jan. 25, 1898. Mrs. Lathrop still survives, making her home with their only living son, Ellis H. Lathrop, who is a farmer and stock-raiser, born at Udina, Dec. 31, 1853. His education was secured in the district schools and in Elgin Academy. He began farm- ing on the old homestead, and took his father's place in its conduct and management. He was married in 1877 to Miss Alice Schultz, of Elgin, who died March 31, 1901, leaving five children : Edith, Sutherland L., Arthur, Florence and Blanche.

EDWARD LAWRENCE (deceased ), pioneer, Elgin, Ill., was born in Lancastershire, Eng- land, Jan. 15, 1819, and reared and educated in his English home, early becoming associated with his father in operating canal boats. In 1850 he came to the United States, first making his home at St. Charles, Ill., but after living for a time in DeKalb County, about 1854 lo- cated on a farm in Burlington, Kane County. Here he continued to reside until 1882, when he returned to Genoa, DeKalb County, but thir- teen years later he removed to Elgin, where he died April 3, 1902. Mr. Lawrence was married in 1856 to Miss Lissy Marshall, daughter of William and Mary Marshall, who came from Nottinghamshire, England, and settled in De- Kalb County, Ill., in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Law- rence have four children: Marshall, residing in Burlington, Ill .; Jennie, Robert E. and Mary E. (now Mrs. E. W. Lawson), all living in Elgin.

ROBERT E. LAWRENCE, merchant, Elgin, Ill., was born in Burlington, Kane County, Ill., April 7, 1863, the son of Edward and Lissey ( Marshall ) Lawrence. He grew to inanhood under the parental roof-tree, and was educated in the local schools. He followed agricultural pursuits until 1891, when two years later he engaged in a grocery business in which he has continued successfully up to the present time (1903). He still retains the ownership of the DeKalb County farm. In 1886 he married Miss Emma, daughter of Aaron and Sarah (Lan- phier ) Allen, of Elgin.

WILLIAM LAWRENCE (deceased), mer. chant, was born in the town of Weston, Vt., Jan. 17, 1826, and when seventeen years of age left his native town to go to Shushan, N. Y., where he became a clerk in the store of Daniel Volentine, who later lived in Aurora, Ill. Here he was trained as a merchant, and when he reached his majority entered into partnership with Mr. Volentine. Mr. Lawrence continued in business several years after Mr. Volentine had gone west, and then removed to Albany, N. Y., where he was engaged in the commission and produce trade until 1861. During that year he removed to Aurora, Ill., and again entered into partnership relations with Mr. Volentine, the firm engaging in a general mercantile business, with a special and extensive trade in wool and pork. Later on Mr. Volentine with-

840

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

drew from the firm, Mr. Lawrence becoming the head of the firm of Lawrence, Baldwin & Hig. gins, known as one of the leading commercial houses of Aurora. Mr. Lawrence had also much to do with the Second National Bank of Aurora, being one of the Directors and its Vice- President. The Aurora Silver Plate Company counted him among its earlier promoters, and he had much to do with various other business enterprises. As President of the West Aurora School Board for several years he did much to help the schools. He served as Treasurer of Jennings Seminary for some years, and was also Treasurer of the Mercantile Association. Various other positions of trust and responsi- bility were filled by him, and his memory is that of an honorable and upright business man. Mr. Lawrence was married in 1849 to Miss Mary A., daughter of Peter Brown, of Shushan, N. Y. Her father came west and died in Aurora at the age of 91 years. She survives her husband, who died July 26, 1879. Their only living child is George J., of San Jose, Cal.

ABIJAH A. LEE, retired farmer, Elgin, Ill .; born in Plato Township. Kane County, Sept. 4, 1838, son of John S. and Nancy (Perry) Lee, and the first white child born in Plato Town- ship; reared on his father's farm; educated in the pioneer schools, and trained to agricul- tural pursuits; entered the Union army in 1861 as a member of Company B, Thirty-sixth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which in 1863 became a part of the Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry, and during his long term of service, covering the entire period of the war, he par- ticipated in the battles of Pea Ridge, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Lookout Moun- tain, Missionary Ridge, Peach Tree Creek, Siege of Atlanta, and many minor engagements. After the close of the war he resumed farming in Plato Township, where he resided until 1885, when he removed to Elgin, which has since been his home. He was married in 1866 to Miss Eliza C. McArthur.

BRAINARD A. LEE, farmer, Kaneville, was born in Kaneville, Ill., May 7, 1865, and received his education in the public schools. His busi- ness in life has been farming, in which he is still engaged, and has been since he started for himself, with the exception of one year when he was engaged as a clerk in a store in Missouri. He was married in April, 1890, to Miss Bertha

Smith, by whom he has had one child, a daugh- ter. He was married a second time, May 13, 1900, to Miss Ettie Logan, and of this union have been born two sons.

CHAUNCEY W. LEE, pioneer, Aurora, Ill., born in Albany, Vt., Aug. 25, 1820, grew to manhood in his native ,State, receiving his education in the public schools, and learned the harness-maker's trade. In 1844 he removed to Ticonderoga, N. Y., where he followed his trade for ten years. In 1854 he came west, and shortly after went into a partnership in the jewelry business with his brother at Aurora. His brother having entered the army as Cap- tain, Mr. Lee sold out their partnership busi- ness, for ten years thereafter he was in the insurance business, and later entered the employ of the Burlington Road as car accountant, a position which he filled for eighteen years, retiring in 1892. He has been prominent in Masonic circles, having taken all the degrees of the order up to the Thirty-second; for twenty-four years he has been Prelate of Au- rora Commandery Knights Templar, and within that time has knighted 210 candidates, a record not surpassed in the Masonic annals of Illinois. He was a Mason in 1856, and is now affiliated with Jerusalem Temple, Aurora Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Aurora Council, Royal Arch Se- lect Masons ; Aurora Commandery, K. T .; Oriental Consistory, Scottish Rite Masons; and the Masonic Veteran Associations. In 1849 he married Miss Mary Tobias, who died in 1884.

GEORGE P. LEE, retired farmer, Elgin, Ill .; born in Plato Township, Kane County, Dec. 25, 1843, son of John S. and Nancy ( Perry) Lee; brought up on the farm and obtained his edu- cation in the district schools and Elgin Academy; began his business career, when he attained his majority, as a farmer and stock- raiser, following this occupation until 1890. when he retired and removed to Elgin. He was married in 1871 to Miss Sarah A. Sherwood, daughter of Seth Sherwood, of Plato Township. a pioneer settler of Kane County.

JOHN S. LEE, lawyer and farmer. Elgin, Ill .; born in Plato Township, Kane County, Sept. 8. 1848, son of John S. and Nancy ( Perry) Lee: educated at Clark's Seminary ( Aurora), Kim- ball Academy (Meriden, N. H.), and Beloit College (Beloit, Wis.); graduated from the law

841

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

department of the University of Michigan in 1871 and afterwards practiced his profession in Chicago and later at Tecumseh, Neb .; after- wards returned to Kane County to look after his father's land interests, and later purchased the old homestead; removed to Elgin in 1899, and has since resided in that city. He was married in 1876 to Miss Emma Sherwood.

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 161

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