Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County, Part 163

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 163

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).

WILLIAM MAIR.

WILLIAM MAIR, manufacturer, Batavia, Ill., born in Batavia, July 19, 1865, son of James and Susan (Buckingham) Mair, and educated

848

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

in the Batavia public schools; in 1881, entered the employ of the Challenge Wind Mill Com- pany, where he learned the machinist trade. Later he was put in charge of the shipping department of the company's busines, and in 1896 became manager of the W. H. Howell's Sad Iron Manufactory, at Geneva, these works being owned and operated by Snow & Russell, the former the President of the Challenge Wind Mill Company, and the latter a member of the Elgin Bar. Mr. Mair is now a stockholder and Secretary of the Challenge Wind Mill Company; is also a stockholder and Director of the First National Bank of Batavia. In 1900 he was elected to the Batavia Board of Aldermen, and was re-elected two years later. He was mar- ried, Sept. 2, 1895, to Miss Ella May, daughter of A. C. May, of Metropolis, Ill.

SMITH L. MALLORY (deceased), pioneer railroad builder, Batavia, Ill., born in Yates County, N. Y., Dec. 18, 1809; went to California in 1849, and located in Illinois in 1852, estab- lishing his home in Batavia; became interested in railroad construction and helped to build a considerable portion of the early lines now included in the Burlington System; was iden- tified with western railroad contruction until his death, March 29, 1864. He was married to Jane Henderson of Yates County, N. Y., in 1834.

JOSEPH M. MANLEY, lawyer, Elgin, Ill., born on a farm in Elgin Township. Kane Coun- ty, July 10, 1874, son of Samuel D. and Cornelia (Carron) Manley; educated in the South Elgin public schools and Elgin Academy; read law with Judge John W. Ranstead and Oscar Jones; admitted to the bar on August 27, 1895, and has since practiced his profession in Elgin; was City Attorney of Elgin from 1899 to 1901; was a candidate for Judge of the City Courts of Elgin and Aurora in 1903; is Secretary of the Republican Club of Elgin and has served as a member of the Republican Senatorial Com- mittee of the Fourteenth District.

ADIN MANN (deceased), soldier and public official, was born in Orford, N. H., Oct. 14, 1816, and died in Elgin, April 2, 1903. He was educated in Meriden College, Meriden. N. H. from which he was graduated with the degree of Civil Engineer. In 1836 he came to Illinois, and established himself as the pioneer surveyor of Kane County, having his office and home at

Udina, surveying lands for settlers in all parts of the county. In 1842 he was elected County Surveyor, and for forty years occupied that position continuously. From 1860 to 1862 he was Treasurer of Kane County. At the time of his death he had been a resident of Elgin for twenty years. When he died he was serving

ADIN WANA.

as City Engineer and as Deputy County Sur- veyor, and his knowledge of boundary lines and land marks was regarded as invaluable. He made many surveys in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Nebraska and Kansas, and maps of the entire States of Nebraska and Kansas were made from his surveys and notes. In 1842 he moved from Udina to Elgin, which was his home for the greater part of his life, though he lived for sonie years at Batavia, in Vicksburg, Miss., for a short time, and later in Kansas. In 1862 he was commissioned Captain of Company B. One Hundred Twenty-fourth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, and bore a prominent part in the organ- ization of that regiment. He rose to the rank of Major, and was mustered ont in 1865, at the end of three years of hard and dangerous ser- vice. At the end of the war he engaged in the lumber business near Vicksburg, Miss., but he could not then stem the current of local ill-will against the "wearer of the blue," and he re-

849

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

turned to Elgin, and resumed the practice of his calling. He was a member of the Grand Army, and for many years was an interesting and conspicuous figure at the various gather- ings of the veterans of the war. In 1842 Major Mann was married in Illinois to Miss Lydia P., daughter of W. F. Wright, of Orford, N. H. They had a family of six sons and two daugh- ters, of whom four sons and two daughters are now living. Mrs. E. B. Shearman and Mrs. H. M. Armstrong reside in Kane County, and one son, Eugene, has his home in Batavia. Four of the sons served in the Union Army during the Civil War.

ALFRED J. MANN, retired merchant, Elgin, Ill., was born in the town of Java, Wyoming County, N. Y., Nov. 8, 1835, son of James and Lucy (Shearman) Mann, and coming with his parents to Kane County, Ill., when nine years of age, was reared to manhood on a farm in Burlington Township, that county. His edu- cation was secured in the local schools. and at seventeen years of age he became clerk in the store of the Hon. S. S. Mann, who was the first merchant at Burlington. In 1856 he en- tered into partnership witn his brother, and they continued in business at that point until 1879, in the meantime extending their opera- tions to Hampshire, where they built the first store and the first butter and cheese factory. In 1879 Alfred J. Mann removed to Elgin and became interested in a Chicago store in com- pany with his brother, who had so long been his partner. In 1881 he practically retired from business, and has since devoted his attention to family interests. He still owns a portion of the old farm which his father purchased from the Government, and gives considerable atten- tion to that. For many years he was a member of the Board of Supervisors from Burlington Township, and later from Elgin. He has also served on the Elgin Board of Aldermen, filling other offices as well. The settlement of estates and other like duties have occupied much of his time during these later years. Mr. Mann was married in 1858 to Miss Elsie Terwilliger, a native of Chenango County, N. Y., and daughter of Philip Terwilliger. Their children are Effie Clare and Edith May.

JAMES MANN (deceased), pioneer, Burling- ton Township, Kane County, was born in the town of Blanford, Hampden County, Mass., Jan.

1, 1794, son of William Mann, a veteran of the Revolution, and was reared and educated in his native State, and in Java, Wyoming County, N. Y., to which point his parents removed in 1810. In 1844 he left New York for Kane County, Ill., where he purchased 1,200 acres of Government land in Burlington Township, and soon made himself known as one of the leading farmers of that county. He continued to reside on this tarm until his death, Sept. 12, 1878. His wife, Lucy Shearman, was born in Connecticut in 1798, and died Sept 24, 1870. They reared a family of five sons and four daughters, of whom three sons and one daugh- ter were living in 1903.

SYLVESTER S. MANN (deceased), was born in North Java, Wyoming County, N. Y., May 31, 1826, son of James and Lucy ( Shearman ) Mann; came west with his father's family in May, 1844, locating in Burlington Township, Kane County, where his father purchased 1,200 acres of land. In 1846 Sylvester S. Mann opened a store at Burlington under the name of Mann & Brown, Mr. Mann being engaged in farming at the same time. Later the firm became Mann, Hapgood & Company, who also established the creamery at Hampshire and also the first store at that village. In 1874 he engaged in buying and selling butter and cheese, operating extensively in the line until 1883. Mr. Mann was also interested in breeding Holstein cattle and imported two large herds of this ex- cellent stock from Holland. He took an active part in politics and served several terms in the Illinois State Legislature, meanwhile being instrumental in securing the passage of many beneficent and local measures, among them being the incorporation of the Northern State Hospital for the Insane, and locating the insti- tution at Elgin. In 1850 he was married to Caroline Young, and they became the parents of four children, viz .: Elvina J. (Mrs. C. H. Potter), Alice, John S. and Nellie B. (Mrs. Dr. O. A. Chappell ), all of whom are now living ( 1903). Mrs. Mann still survives and resides at Burlington.

ROBERT W. MARKLEY, physician and sur- geon, Elgin, Ill., was born in Fulton County, Ohio, Jan. 26, 1872, was reared a farmer and educated at Beloit College, Beloit, Wis .; entered the medical department of the Northwestern University (Chicago) in 1894, and graduated

850

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

from that institution four years later, during the last two years of this course being assistant to Dr. John E. Owens, Chief Surgeon of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company. In 1890 he began medical practice at Huntley, McHenry County, Ill .; in 1900 he was on the medical staff of the Mexican Railway Company for several months, and since his return he has been located in Elgin. In 1901 Dr. Markley was married to Miss Myrtle Weltzein, daughter of John Weltzein, of Huntley, Ill., and they have one daughter.

FRANKLIN E. MARLEY.

FRANKLIN E. MARLEY, newspaper pub- lisher. Batavia, Ill., born in Randolph County, N. C., son of Jacob and Louisa (Guthridge) Marley; was brought to Iowa as a child and educated in the local schools of that State and at the Normal in Valparaiso, Ind., and at Omaha, Neb. He learned the printing trade at Red Oak, lowa, where he was first engaged in newspaper work; at a later period was on the reportorial staff of the Chicago "Inter-Ocean." He has studied both medicine and law, but the newspaper work drew him powerfully, and he has now devoted to it some twenty-two years. In 1882 he established the "Kendall County News," which he published for twelve years; after this he went to Sandwich, Ill., where he

published the "Sandwich Free Press" until 1892. The latter year he established the "Batavia Herald," of which he is still editor and pub- lisher (1903). He married Miss Effie Lincoln, of Kendall County, a lady of superior literary attainments, a talented elocutionist and Del- sarte teacher.

MASON M. MARSH (deceased), Elgin, Ill., born in Delphi, N. Y., Aug. 5, 1816, was reared and educated in his native county, where he was trained for a mercantile career. In 1849 he came to Elgin, Ill., where he became con- nected with the old-time establishment of Wil- liam C. Kimball. and soon became prominent in pioneer circles. He continued to reside in Elgin as long as he lived, his death occurring in 1881. His wife, Esther Gardner, was a native of New York. She married a second time, and is now the widow of Benjamin Cox, late of Elgin.

FANCIS M. MARSTILLER, physician and surgeon, Geneva, Ill., born at Palatine, W. Va., April 9, 1866; educated in the schools of Ohio, Michigan and Illinois; graduated from the Chi- cago Homeopathic Medical College in the class of 1895; located in Geneva in the fall of the latter year, and has built up a large practice in that city and the surrounding country. He was married in 1889 to Miss Ada May Fields, of Austin, Ill.

JACOB MARX, merchant and ex-Postmaster, Aurora, Ill., born in Aurora, March 19, 1857, son of Peter Marx, an early German settler, was educated in public schools, and trained as a merchant; in 1878 he engaged in the grocery trade, which has been his business to the pres- ent time, excepting four years during which he served as Postmaster of Aurora. In 1886 he erected the Marx Block, and in 1894 was ap- pointed Postmaster by President Cleveland; has also served as a member of the Kane County Board of Supervisors and of the Aurora City Council, and for many years has been a Demo- cratic leader in Kane County. In 1880 he mar- ried Miss Antoinette Zack, of Aurora.

CHARLES D. MARTIN (deceased), Chicago, was born in DuPage County, Ill., April 10, 1845, and reared in Geneva, where he attended the local schools, being also a student at the Uni- versity of Michigan. His first business experi-

851

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

ence was had in the office of Pindar Ward, in the abstract business at Geneva. About 1868 he went to Chicago, where he was appointed Deputy Recorder by Norman T. Gassette, then

CHARLES D. MARTIN.

Recorder of Cook County. After the great fire of 1871 he was employed in the office of Handy & Company, pioneers in the abstract title busi- ness, and predecessors of the Chicago Title & Trust Company. While in this business he be- came known as a most excellent judge of land values, and his judicious investments in real estate brought him rich returns. About 1887 he retired from the abstract business and sub- sequently devoted his attention to his private affairs. His death occurred March 25, 1892. In 1884 Mr. Martin married Miss Emma L. Tripp, daughter of Rev. G. C. Tripp, of Chicago.

DAVID MARTIN, Geneva, Ill., pioneer, born in Lancaster County, Pa., April 3, 1820, son of David and Fannie (Frick) Martin, and at the age of nine years was taken by his parents to the State of New York, where they founded a town, which they named after their native town in Pennsylvania, Lancaster. The father and mother came to Illinois in 1848, and estab- lished their home in DuPage County, living to be more than ninety years old. David Martin

was engaged in farming there from 1843 to 1848, after which he removed to Geneva, where he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business until 1885, when he retired from active business. He was one of the first members of the Geneva Town Council, served as City Treasurer of Geneva, and for twenty-four years he was Commissioner of Highways. From the organization of the Republican party he has been connected with it. Mr. Martin was mar- ried to Miss Julia Buck, of Lancaster, N. Y., Feb. 24, 1842. Four sons were born of this union, of whom all are now deceased. The

DAVID MARTIN.

only descendants of this family now living are two grandsons, Charles Chester and Edwin Daniel Martin. Mr. Martin died Feb. 19, 1904, Mrs. Martin still surviving him.

DAVID MASON (deceased ), pioneer farmer, Dundee Township, Kane County, Ill., born in Savoy, Berkshire County, Mass, June 28, 1818, son of Edward and Mary ( Pierce) Mason, was reared on a New England farm, and obtained his education in the common schools of his native State, which he attended during the winter months of each year. In 1838 he married Miss Eliza Colson, who was born in Windsor, Mass., and shortly after marriage

852

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

they started for Illinois. After visiting the southern part of this State, they came to Dun- dee Township, Kane County, where Mr. Mason bought the claim to a tract of land about three miles west of Dundee village, receiving title to the same from the Government in 1840. Mrs. Mason died in 1891. Mr. Mason resided on the home farm sixty-three years, and in 1901, re- moved to Elgin and thereafter made his home with his daughter. For many years he was widely known as a sheep raiser. He was a man of kindly disposition, and a thrifty, saga- cious and intelligent farmer. The old David Mason homestead is one of the land-marks in this part of Kane County. Mr. and Mrs. Mason reared a family of five children: J. Rollin and Maria H. (deceased), Mrs. Jean M. White, of Elgin; J. Leland Mason, and Mrs. Ada M. Teeple, who resides in Dundee. Mr. Mason died June 14, 1903.

J. LELAND MASON, farmer and stock-breeder, was born in Dundee Township, Kane County, Ill., June 30, 1847, son of David and Eliza ( Col- son) Mason, educated in the district schools and trained to farming. In 1871 he engaged in the milk business in Chicago, and for one year in a cheese factory at Cameron, Mo. Returning to Dundee in 1875, he embarked in dairy farm- ing, in which he has since been engaged on an extensive scale. In later years he has also been largely interested in breeding Holstein- Fresian cattle, and giving special attention to fattening hogs for the Chicago market. Mr. Mason has always been interested in farmers' organizations, and keeps in touch with all that tends to improvement in practical farming. His fine stock and well-cultivated helds demonstrate what a young man, unaided, may acquire by perseverance and intelligence. J. L. Mason was married in 1870 to Jeannette Fraser, daughter of Thomas and Ann Fraser. of Rutland Town- ship, Kane County, Ill. Beside the material success they have achieved, they have reared and educated the following named children who reside in Dundee: Edith R., Rollin E., Anna E., Irving F., Mildred M., Elizabeth A., David A., Thomas L., and Josephine J .- a family of which they may justly be proud.

JAMES O. MASON, manufacturer, Aurora, Ill., born in Fort Ann, Washington County, N. Y., Feb. 6, 1846, was reared on a farm and edu- cated in the local schools. In 1868 he came to

Aurora, and at first was clerk in a grocery store, but soon began traveling for the J. P. Fogg Seed Company, in which occupation he con- tinued until 1874, when he and his brother O. T. bought out the Hattery Bros. steam bakery at Aurora, continuing it as the Mason Bros.' Bakery. In 1890 they sold out to the American Biscuit Company, the business being taken over seven years later by the National Biscuit Com- pany, Mr. J. O. Mason being General Manager under both corporations until 1900. He is still a stockholder in the last named corporation. In 1895 he assisted in the formation of the Aurora Corset Company of which he is now Treasurer and a Director. He is also Vice-Presi- dent of the Fox River Light, Heat and Power Company, a Director of the German-American Bank at Aurora, a member of the Kane County Board of Supervisors and Treasurer of the City of Aurora. He married in 1895 Miss Roma L., daughter of Charles A. Adams, of Aurora, and at one time of Fort Ann, N. Y.

JOHN MASON (deceased), pioneer farmer. Dundee Township, Kane County, Ill., was born in Savoy, Mass., in 1816, where he was reared and trained in the blacksmith's trade. In 1839 he came to Dundee, Ill., and for a time worked at liis trade among the pioneer settlers, but very soon purchased a tract of land four miles south- west of Dundee, and about the same distance from Elgin. He received the title to this land from the Government, and he here made his home until his death, which occurred in 1876. He was widely known and highly esteemed. Mr. Mason was twice married, his first wife being Diantha Kelsey, who bore him two sons and two daughters: Mrs. Eleanor Sherman, Judson P., Mrs. Mary Beverly and Emerson ( de- ceased). After her death he married Malinda Bradley, who survived him for several years and died in California.

JUDSON P. MASON, dairy farmer and stock- feeder, Dundee Township, Kane County, Ill., was born in the Township where he now re- sides, March 31, 1850, son of John and Diantha (Kelsey) Mason. His education was obtained in the public schools, and Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. After leaving school he became connected with a cheese fac- tory at Cameron, Mo., the first in that State. After remaining there seven years he came back to Dundee, 111., to take up dairy farming, fol-

853

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

lowing the business to the present time (1903) ; is also quite extensively engaged in feeding cattle and hogs. Mr. Mason is a member of the Farmers' Institute and has been among the most active in promoting its interests; is also a Director of the Farmers' Institute for the Eleventh Congressional District. In 1872 he was married to Miss Annie S. Fraser, daughter of Thomas and Anne Fraser, pioneer settlers of Rutland, Kane County, Ill., who emigrated from Livingston County, N. Y., in 1839. Mr. and Mrs. Mason's family consists of five sons and one daughter: John T., Frank S., Richard, Raymond, Mark J. and Mary Edna.

ORVIN T. MASON, retired merchant and manufacturer, Aurora, Ill., was born at Fort Ann, N. Y., Aug. 29, 1851, and was there reared and educated, learning the wagon-makers' trade in his father's manufactory. In 1872 he came west and connected himself with the wholesale seed house of J. P. Fogg & Son, traveling in their interest some four years. In 1875, in com- pany with his brother, J. O. Mason, he engaged in the retail baking business, which they finally developed into a wholesale trade, and in 1891 sold out to the American Biscuit Company. With the Aurora branch of this large enter- prise Mr. Mason remained in association, as he did with its successor, the National Biscuit Company, until 1901, when he retired from active business. He is still a stockholder in the National Biscuit Company, and is closely connected with the banking interests of Aurora, as a stockholder and Director of the Aurora National Bank, and stockholder in other banks. Mr. Mason was married in 1881 to Miss Georgia Ingersoll, of Madison, Ohio, a relative of Robert G. Ingersoll, and reared near the old church where Mr. Ingersoll's father used to preach.

EDWARD C. MASTERS, manufacturer, Car- pentersville, Kane County, was born in Carpen- tersville, Ill., Nov. 5, 1864, son of Thomas Masters, who was born in England and came to this country in the early '50s. For three years he had his home at Brewster, N. Y., and established himself in Carpentersville about 1856, where he died in 1890. Edward C. Masters grew to manhood in Carpentersville, where he secured his education in the public schools, and was trained to a mercantile life. In 1887 he became connected with the Star Manufacturing

Company 'as office man and bookkeeper, later became interested in the Star Works, and since June, 1896, has been Secretary of the corpora- tion, and a member of the Board of Directors. For several years he was clerk of the village of Carpentersville, has been President of the Village Trustees, and is now President of the Carpentersville Literary and Library Associa- tion. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen and the Court of Honor. In 1888 he married Miss Fannie Gorom, daughter of David and Lucia Gorom, of Carpentersville.

ADELBERT MATHEWSON, assistant cashier Kane County Bank, Elburn, Ill., born at Camp- ton, Ill., August 19, 1857; educated in the public schools; began his business career as a clerk in a drug and grocery store at Elburn, and engaged in the same business as a partner with J. C. F. Clark in 1878; purchased an interest in the Kane County Bank in 1895, and has since served as assistant cashier of that in- stitution. He was married Oct. 24, 1883, to DeEtte Warren.

LEMUEL MCALPINE ( deceased ), physician, Aurora, Ill., born at Winsted, Conn., in 1808; read medicine in his native State and practiced in New York State before coming to Illinois; came to Illinois in 1853, locating on a farm in DeKalb County, and afterwards gave his attention to agricultural pursuits until 1869 when he removed to Aurora, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying May 24, 1894. His wife, who was Miss Sarah Price before her marriage, died in 1892. Their surviving chil- dren are: Hulburt, Thomas, William and Mrs. Edwin Tenny.

DAVID S. McBRIDE, real-estate operator, Elgin, Ill., born in County Monaghan, Ireland, March 2, 1848, son of Thomas and Rebecca ( Robinson ) McBride, was educated at Elgin Academy, joined his father in grain and ware- house business, and later was associated with his brother Thomas in the firm of McBride Bros., engaged in the coal and building material trade. In 1891 he sold his interest in this busi- ness, and has since confined his attention mainly to real estate. He and his brother Thomas built the McBride Block, long the lead- ing business block of the city, and it is still in possession of the family.

854

HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

THOMAS McBRIDE (deceased), merchant, Elgin, Ill., born in County Monaghan, Ireland, in 1808, was educated and prepared for a mer- cantile life in his native land; came to the United States in 1850, with the intention of making his home as far west as the railroads would carry him. This located him at Elgin, at that time the terminus of the Chicago & Galena Union Railroad. His first business was selling osage orange hedge plants to farmers, at that timely widely used for hedges; later bought grain and other farm produce very ex- tensively for the Chicago markets, and still later became a dealer in coal and lumber, and oper- ated a large farm, becoming one of the early dairymen and shippers of milk to Chicago. His wife, Rebecca ( Robinson) McBride, was born in County Tyrone, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and (1903) is still living. Mr. McBride died in 1888.

ALEXANDER McCARNACK (deceased). pio- neer settler, born in Newton Stewart, Wigton- shire, Scotland, Nov. 11, 1811; obtained a good education in the public schools, and was trained to agricultural pursuits on a Scotch sheep farm; came with his father's family to the United States in 1838, locating with them in Rutland Township, Kane County. Mr. McCar- nack was an intelligent and successful farmer, who passed all the years of his mature life in Kane County. He was at various times a mem- ber of the Kane County Board of Supervisors and held other local offices. He died Feb. 1. 1887. His wife, whose maiden name was Mar- garet E. Eakin, was born in Londonderry, Ire- land.

EDWIN A. McCARNACK, physician and sur- geon, Elgin, Ill., born in Rutland Township. Kane County, Feb. 8, 1854; educated in the public schools and Elgin Academy; graduated from Bennett Medical College in 1881, and from the medical department of the University of Illinois in 1889; took a post-graduate course at the New York Polyclinic in 1890: located in Elgin in the latter year, where he has built up an extensive practice. He was married in 1883 to Miss Rhoda E. Harrison, daughter of William R. Harrison, of Bethlehem, Conn.

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 163

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