Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County, Part 164

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

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JOSEPH MCCARTY (deceased), Aurora, pio- neer, was born in Morristown, N. J., in 1808, son of Charles and Mary (Scudder ) McCarty,

and was reared in the State of New York, his parents having located on a farm near Elmira, while he was still a small boy. His education was secured in the public schools, and he was trained to a farming career. In the fall of 1833 he started for Illinois, and after a tedious and eventful journey, he arrived in Kane County the following spring, where he filed a claim on a tract of land containing about three hundred acres on the Fox River. In company with his brother, Samuel McCarty, who had soon fol- lowed him to the West, he founded the city of Aurora in 1835. Active in promoting the growth of the town, he displayed those business qualities that make for large success, and had promise of a brilliant future. However, all this went for naught, as his health failed in a short time, and he passed away in Aurora in 1839.

SAMUEL MCCARTY.

SAMUEL MCCARTY (deceased), pioneer, Aurora, was born in Morristown, N. J., March 9, 1810, son of Charles and Mary ( Scudder ) McCarty, and when two years old was taken by them to a farm near Elmira, N. Y. where he was reared and educated in the public schools. He learned the trade of millwright, and in 1834 came to the West to join his older brother, who had preceded him a few months, and had taken up a land claim of 300 acres on which

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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

the city of Aurora was afterward located. His journey was made via the Erie Canal to Buf- falo, by lake and river to Detroit, and by stage the rest of the way. Prior to his arrival his brother had secured for him a squatter's claim of 400 acres near his own, for which he had paid $60. When Mr. McCarty arrived, he found seven people on the site of the present city. A half-interest in his brother's claim was pur- chased by him, and in the fall of 1836 they surveyed and laid out the town of Aurora. The same year they built the first bridge across the east channel of the Fox River, and when it had to be replaced in 1838 they were the principal contributors to its rebuilding. In 1836 they erccted the first grist-mill in Aurora, and they also built the first saw-mill in Big Rock Town- ship. When the State Line Road was located from Chicago to Galena in 1836, Samuel McCarty secured the opening of an intersecting road that reached Aurora, making close stage connections also with Naperville. In 1838 the death of the elder McCarty put Samuel McCarty at the head of the McCarty interests in Aurora, and for many years thereafter he was the lead- ing property owner and the dominant spirit in the making of the city. It is worthy of note that during these years Mr. McCarty always refused to sell land to any man intending to engage in the sale of intoxicating liquor, and it was long before the traffic secured a foot-hold in the city. He gave the land on which is located the First Methodist church, and also the land on which the Congregational church formerly stood. Mr. McCarty was a member of the Methodist church, in which he held many offi- cial positions, and was a most active worker. For many years he was President of the Board of Trustees of Jennings Seminary, and he gave to the city Lincoln Park. His earlier years were devoted largely to the milling business, but later his real-estate interests in Aurora and Chicago became so extensive as to demand all his attention. His was the first brick resi- dence erected in Kane County, and he built the first substantial frame building in Aurora. The Tremont Hotel, as well as other pioneer structures, were built by him. He died March 30, 1889, mourned by the public as the founder of the city of Aurora, and as a citizen most active in promoting its welfare. Mr. McCarty was married in 1837 to Miss Phoebe Stolp, of New York, who died in 1839. In 1847 he mar- ried Miss Emily Wheeler, of Chicago, who died

in 1850. Three years later he married Mrs. Emily (Swayze) Davis, of Chicago, who sur- vives him, and still lives in the old homestead at Aurora. The only surviving children of Mr. McCarty were born of his last marriage. They are: Mrs. Eva Dent Johnson, of Aurora; Sid. ney G., of Oakland, Cal., and Charles S., of Chicago. Besides Mrs. McCarty, the only rep- resentatives of this pioneer family now living in Aurora are Mrs. Johnson and her children, Helen M., Edwin N., and Lucy Gladys. Robert and Kenneth are sons of Sidney McCarty, the California representative of the family. Mrs. McCarty has a daughter born of her first mar- riage, now Mrs. Charles Roe, of Evanston. Her two daughters are Mrs. A. C. McCord, of Chi- cago and Mrs. B. W. Lord, of Burnside, Ky. Her two sons are Edgar C. and Samuel D. Roe, both of Evanston, Ill.

GEORGE MCCOLLUM (deceased ), manufac- turer, Aurora, Ill., born at Montrose, Penn., in 1804, came to Kane County, Ill., in 1836, locat- ing first at Aurora, where he engaged in black- smithing and later established a wagon and carriage manufactory, which he operated dur- ing his active business career and which is still operated by his sons, George S. and Orlando J. Mccollum. Mr. McCollum died in 1893.

JOHN McCOY, implement dealer and farmer, St. Charles, Ill., born in Limerick, Ireland, July 8, 1848, son of John and Bridget (O'Brien ) McCoy, natives of the same noted Irish city. The family came to America in 1857, and after spending a few weeks in Chicago, in June of that year went to St. Charles, Kane County. In 1867 the elder McCoy bought a farm in the north part of the township, where he spent the remainder of his life. John McCoy, Jr., lived with his parents working the farm as long as they lived, when it fell to him by inheritance. He was actively engaged in farm work until 1900, when having leased his land he started in the agricultural implement trade in St. Charles, and in this business is still actively engaged. In politics he is independent. In May, 1864, although then only seventeen years of age, Mr. McCoy enlisted in Company K, One Hundred Forty-first Illinois Volunteer Infantry and bore arms until his time of service expired. His parents were both long-lived, his father dying April 26, 1899, at the age of eighty-seven, and his mother. Dec. 29, 1897, at the age of eighty- four.

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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

ELLSWORTH W. MCCULLOUGH, manurac- turer, Batavia, Ill., born at Brockville, Canada, June 28, 1864; in 1882 he became connected with the wagon manufacturing establishment of Henry Weber in Chicago, retaining this connec- tion until 1886, when he became a stock-holder and Secretary of the Newton Wagon Company at Batavia; has since been identified with the manufacturing interests of Batavia, and also to some extent with the conduct of municipal affairs. He was married in 1889 to Miss Clara J. Moore, daughter of William Moore, of Chi- cago.

JAMES McGOUGH, farmer, Burlington Town- ship, Kane County, Ill., born in Dublin, Ireland, about 1835; came to Canada in 1851 removing to Kane County, Ill., the following year. Mr. McGough lived in DeKalb County for some time, where he was engaged in the manufacture of brick, but since 1870 has been interested in dairy farming in Burlington Township, and is still actively engaged in that industry. He has four sons and one daughter who reside in Bur- lington Township, viz .: Henry, John, Fred, Harry and Ida (Mrs. Ward).

ARDSLEY H. MCLAUGHLIN, physician and surgeon, Aurora, Ill., was born at Hinsdale, Kans., Sept. 15, 1868; educated in the public schools of Illinois and at Kewanee Academy; studied medicine at the Eclectic Medical Insti- tute at Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating from that institution in the class of 1890. In the latter year he began practice in Aurora, Ill., and has since gained prominence in the profession in that city. Dr. Mclaughlin was married in 1892 to Miss Carrie L. Lincoln, daughter of D. B. Lincoln, of Aurora.

JOEL McKEE (deceased ), pioneer settler, Batavia, Ill., born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1807; came to the United States as a boy and grew to manhood in Albany, N. Y .; removed to Kane County, Ill., in 1834, locating on a section of land at Batavia, where he engaged in farming; later purchased other tracts of land and became one of the largest land owners in the county, much of the present city of Batavia being built on land originally owned by him; also operated one of the pioneer flouring-mills of Batavia, be- sides being interested in paper and saw-mills. He was married in Albany, N. Y., to Jane Risk. Mr. McKee died in Batavia in 1873.

JOHN McKEE (deceased), pioneer settler, Batavia, Ill., born in Belfast, Ireland, and came to New York State with his elder brother; re- moved to Kane County in the '30s and became the owner of lands, a portion of which he sub- divided into early additions to the original town of Batavia. He was one of the first, if not the first station agent at Batavia on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, the first railroad built to Batavia. He lived a bachelor and died in 1859.

DANIEL MCKELLAR (deceased), pioneer settler, Plato, Ill., was born in Argyleshire, Scotland, June 12, 1813, died March 16, 1889. In 1836 he came to New York, and ten years later settled in Elgin, Ill. Mr. McKellar came to Plato Corners in 1853, and engaged in farm- ing. which he followed until his death. Hc was married to Miss Emily Sovereign in 1850. and their surviving children are as follows: Sarah, who is Mrs. John Sherwood; John; Mary, Mrs. Thomas Dadswell; Anna B., Mrs. Robert Shedden; Ruby, Mrs. Arthur J. Durand; Richard H. and James G.

JOHN MCKELLAR, County Clerk, Kane County, residence, Plato, was born in Plato, Ill, Jan. 11. 1857; was educated in the public schools; has spent his life chiefly as a farmer, at the same time dealing extensively in cattle. Politically Mr. Mckellar is a Republican, and was elected County Clerk in 1898 serving four years. He is a member of the Republican Coun- ty Committee, on which he has served since 1890. Fraternally he belongs to the Knights of Pythias.

JAMES T. McMASTER (deceased ), con- tractor, Batavia, Ill., born in Mariaville, Schenectady County, N. Y., April 28, 1831, grew up in his native locality, and learned the car- penter's trade. He came to Batavia. Ill., in 1860, and the following year enlisted in the Union army, serving three years in the One Hundred Twenty-fourth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry. After the war he returned to Batavia, and was engaged in contracting and building during his entire business life. He was ap- pointed Postmaster of Batavia by President Harrison, and held that position until his death, May 25, 1896. He had also held various mu- nicipal offices. Mr. McMaster was married in 1853 to Miss Kaness Gibson, of Utica, N. Y.

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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

FRANCIS M. McNAIR, Sugar Grove, physi- cian and surgeon, is a native of Mauston, Wis., where he was born June 14, 1860, son of Dr. Robert McNair, whose professional career is sketched in this volume. The son was reared to manhood in Maple Park, Ill., where he se- cured his education in the public schools, and began the study of medicine with his father. He was graduated from the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, in 1893, and at once opened an office for professional labor at Sugar Grove, where he has built up what is probably the largest country practice in Kane County. In 1892 he took a course of lectures at the Post-Graduate Medical College in Chicago, and is regarded as highly fitted for his calling. The Doctor gives special attention to surgery, and has attained more than local distinction in that branch of his call- ing. He contributes to medical journals as the spirit moves, and is a popular mem- ber of the State Medical Society and the Fox River Valley Medical Association. In 1890 he married Miss Nina Inez Vandeventer, of Ver- sailles, Ill. Their children are Francis and Donald McNair.

FRED G. McNAIR, farmer, Blackberry Town- ship, Kane County; born in the township where he now resides, Nov. 15, 1858; educated in the district schools; remained on his father's home- stead until thirty years of age, when he began farming for himself, and has since been en- gaged in dairy farming and stock-raising; mar- ried on March 16, 1897, Carrie E. Gramley.

HARVEY McNAIR, farmer and merchant. Batavia, Ill .; born in Pennsylvania in 1829: came to Illinois in early manhood and settled on a farm in Kaneville Township, Kane County ; later engaged in the mercantile business in El- burn and still later in the drug trade at Ba- tavia. He died in Batavia in 1893.

OLIVER P. McNAIR, physician, Batavia, Ill., born in Maple Park, Kane County, Ill., Nov. 14, 1866, son of Dr. Robert and Mary ( Larkin) McNair, received his academic education at the Maple Park high school, read medicine under the preceptorship of his father, and graduated from Rush Medical College, Chicago, in 1892. He has since taken post-graduate courses at the Chicago Clinical School and the Post-Graduate Medical School of Chicago. He began practice

at Maple Park, Ill., but in 1893 removed to Ba- tavia, where he has since built up a successful practice. While his practice has been of a gen- eral character, he has given special attention to surgery and bacteriological work, and his post-graduate work has been largely along these lines. He was married in 1892 to Miss Blanche Minium, daughter of George Minium, of Maple Park, and their only child, Mary, was born Nov. 3, 1896.

ROBERT McNAIR ( deceased), physician, was born in Venango. Crawford County, Penn., Nov. 27, 1814, son of David McNair, who came to this country from the North of Ireland and canie of distinguished Scotch ancestry. The elder McNair served under General W. H. Har- rison on the frontier in the War of 1812. The subject of this sketch grew up in his native State and educated himself mainly by his own efforts. He studied medicine in Buffalo and be- gan practicing his profession at Venango. From there he came west and for a few years practiced in Wisconsin, but later located in Maple Park, Kane County, Ill., where he con- tinued his professional labors until a few years before his death, which occurred in Batavia, Ill., Jan. 19, 1901. He was married in 1844 to Miss Mary A. Lakin, who died in 1876.

SAMUEL McNAIR (deceased ) was born at Venango, Crawford County, Penn., Feb. 8, 1823, and died in Kalamazoo, Mich., June 30, 1898. He was the son of David McNair, and a brother of Dr. Robert McNair, mentioned elsewhere in this volume; came west in 1844 and began the study of medicine in 1850, receiving his degree of medicine from Rush Medical College, Chi- cago, in 1859. For many years he was one of the leading physicians of the northern part of Kane County, his practice extending also into De Kalb County. His home was first at Kane- ville, and later at Elburn, until he retired from practice and went to live with his son at Kala- mazoo, Mich.

THOMAS McNAIR ( deceased), farmer, born in Erie County, Penn., March 6, 1817; came to Illinois in 1837, locating in Kane County, where he took up a clain of government land on which he resided until his death, which oc- curred May 5, 1891. He was married on March 8, 1846, to Sarah Cochran.

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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

JOHN McNEIL, merchant, Elgin, IIl., born at Airdrie (near Glasgow), Scotland, May 22, 1839, and came with his mother to the United States in 1848, locating with the family on a farm in Dundee Township, Kane County. He obtained his education chiefly at the Elgin Academy, and in boyhood was trained to farm- ing. In 1862 he engaged in merchandising in Elgin as junior member of the the firm of Todd & McNeil, and later became a member of the firm of M. &. J. McNeil, dealers in dry goods and groceries. In 1872, after the Chicago fire, the brothers McNeil formed a partnership with Charles Higgins and founded the wholesale grocery business of the McNeil & Higgins Com- pany, one of the oldest wholesale grocery establishments in Chicago. Mr. McNeil has resided in Elgin since 1862 with the excep- tion of three years spent in Chicago. He has been a Director of the Home Savings Bank of Elgin since its organization, and a Director of the Home National Bank for many years; is also largely interested in the West Elgin Improvement Company. Mr. McNeil was mar- ried in 1864 to Miss Janet Crichton, daughter of Robert Crichton, a pioneer settler of Dundee Township. Mr. and Mrs. McNeil are the pa- rents of four children, viz .: John L., Walter W. and Howard C. (all graduates of Harvard College and now associated with their father in business) and an only daughter, Miss Maude McNeil, educated at Ogantz Seminary, Philadelphia.

MALCOLM McNEIL, merchant, Chicago, was born near Glasgow, Scotland, Sept. 12, 1832, and educated in the home schools; came to the United States in 1848, and with his mother and family, established a home three and a half miles from Dundee, in the township of that name in Kane County. In 1858 he engaged in the retail grocery trade in Elgin, but later be- came a member of the wholesale firm of M. & J. McNeil, in which his brother John was junior partner. In 1872 Mr. McNeil removed to Chi- cago and founded the McNeil & Higgins whole- sale grocery house, one of the largest in the West. Mr. McNeil has long given his personal attention to the business, having been President of the company since its beginning. For many years, including the period of its most success- ful operations, he was President of the Chemical National Bank of Chicago, and lately has man- aged several extensive farms, one being his

own beautiful country home three miles north- west of Elgin. He has frequently revisited his old home in Scotland and is an extensive trav- eler in Europe. In 1859 Mr. McNeil married Miss Catherine Dempster, daughter of Alex- ander Dempster, a pioneer settler of Dundee. Mrs. McNeil died in 1870, and the following year Mr. McNeil married Miss Orel Martin, of Wayne, Ill. His sons, Gordon and Marvin, are associated with him in business in Chicago.

CHARLES I. McNETT, lawyer, Aurora, Ill .; born in DeKalb County, Ill., Jan. 10, 1860; read law under the preceptorship of E. B. Snow; ad- mitted to the bar in 1882; began practicing law in Aurora in 1883, and has since been actively engaged in professional work in that city; has served as City Attorney of Aurora, and in 1893 was appointed Master in Chancery for the Circuit Court of Kane County by Judge Henry B. Willis, and has since filled that po- sition. He was married in 1889 to Miss Clara Salem, of Aurora.

CHARLES B. MEAD, publisher, Geneva, Ill., born in Beloit, Wis., Aug. 17, 1856; when seven years old went with his parents to Iowa, settling at New Oregon, where he learned the printer's trade in the office of the Cresco "Plain-Dealer." In 1881 he established the "Journal" at Water- loo, Wis., and nine years later, the "Daily Citi- zen." at Beloit. In June, 1891, Mr. Mead came to Geneva, bought the "Geneva Republican," which he has since conducted as a tri-weekly publication. He is Coroner of Kane County, and President of the District Republican Editorial Association. At Cresco, Iowa, in 1881, he was married to Miss Anna Bungard, and they have three sons: Cadwell P., Ernest .J. and Leonard C., all living at home.

JULIA MEIKLEJOHN, physician, Elgin, Ill .. a native of Fond du Lac, Wis., was born in 1867, the daughter of John Meiklejohn. Her academic education was obtained in the Mer- rill Institute at Fond du Lac, Wis., and in the State Normal School at Oshkosh, Wis. For four years she taught school, in the meantime read- ing medicine, and graduated from the Women's Medical Department of the Northwestern Uni- versity, at Chicago, in 1895, For the ensuing six months she was interne at the Women and Children's Hospital in Chicago, and in 1896 came to Elgin, where she established herself

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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

and has since remained, taking high rank in the medical circles of the city. In 1902 she took a post-graduate course in the medical de- partment of Johns Hopkins University, Balti- more, Md., and belongs to the Fox River Valley Medical Association, and the Physicians' Club of Elgin.

EDWIN MEREDITH, retired hardware mer- chant, Batavia, Ill., born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, in 1840, was brought by his parents to this country in 1843, but was returned to his native land the following year, and there re- mained until he reached the age of seventeen years. His education was secured in the schools of his native land and in Clark's Seminary, at Aurora. In his early manhood he was engaged in farming, and spent two years in the lum- ber business in California. In 1869 he engaged in company with his brother, Thomas Meredith, in the hardware trade at Batavia, continuing in this business until his retirement from act- ive mercantile life in 1892. Mr. Meredith was one of the founders of the First National Bank of Batavia, and was a member of its first Board of Directors. He has been much interested in several manufacturing enterprises of Aurora, and has led an honorable and useful career. In 1874 he was married to Miss Emma L. Wheeler, of Batavia. Mr. Meredith has twice revisited his native land since his first return as a boy.

EDWIN K. MEREDITH, electrician, Batavia. Ill., born in Batavia, May 24, 1860, son of Thomas and Harriet ( Kemp) Meredith, received his education in the Batavia public schools, and early turned his attention to engineering and electricity. In 1889 he was appointed Super- intendent of the Electric Light and Water Plants of Batavia, and has held that position for fourteen years. In 1903 he became Super- intendent of Motive Power for the Batavia Sup- ply Company. He has been the inventor of vari- ous mechanical and electrical devices of great value. In 1887 he married Miss Mary Ander- son, of Batavia.

GEORGE MEREDITH (deceased), merchant, Aurora, Ill., was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, in 1842, and died at Boulder, Colo., July 20, 1898. He was one of six sons born to Thomas Meredith, Sr. ( whose sketch appears elsewhere in this connection), and was reared to manhood on his father's farm, receiving an

academic education. In early manhood he be- gan his mercantile career as senior member of the firm of Meredith & Morgan. This firm had a history of nearly forty years, and its immediate successors are still in the clothing trade. Mr. Meredith was one of the organizers of the Merchants' National Bank, and served as one of its Directors until his death. He was one of the builders of the Aurora cotton- mills, and in his later years was President of the company; was also a Director of the Au- rora Bleaching and Dye-Works, and was one of the principal founders of this industry. Mr. Meredith was a public-spirited man, served many terms as a member of the Aurora Board of Aldermen and was chosen Mayor of the city in 1887. During his administration he won the name of "Father of the City Water Works," this important enterprise being put through very largely by his persistent efforts. His later years were largely spent in traveling, his health being very poor and a change of climate being thought beneficial.

JAMES MEREDITH, farmer and stock-dealer, Kaneville Township, was born Sept. 6, 1853, in Montgomeryshire, Wales; received his educa- tion in England, and came to the United States in 1871. For a time he was uncertain where to locate, and spent several years in Maryland, Michigan and North Carolina. In 1874 he lo- cated in Kane County, Ill., and four years later bought a farm in Kaneville Township, where he lives, and handles real-estate in addition to his other business, as noted above; has also served as Assessor for three terms. Fraternally he is associated with the Masonic Order and the Modern Woodmen of America. His mar- riage to Miss Ella L. Osborn occurred April 24, 1878. She is the daughter of George L. and Orinda (Bunker) Osborn, and of her six chil- dren, five are now living.

JOHN MEREDITH (retired), Aurora, Ill., was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, Aug. 24. 1838, son of Thomas Meredith, Sr., who came to the United States in 1843, and the same year settled in Big Rock Township, Kane County, Ill. John Meredith was reared on his father's farm, educated in the local schools, and was a student at Clark's Seminary, Aurora. the year of its opening, the principal at that time being Frank P. Crandon, now General Land Agent of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway Com-

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pany. After leaving school Mr. Meredith was engaged in the construction of the Chicago & Iowa branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway, and for fifteen years was an engineer on that line. After his retirement from railroad work he was employed for two years as Superintendent of the street railway lines of Aurora, and since then has been en- gaged in the real-estate and insurance business in that city, for two years filling the position of claim agent for the Elgin, Aurora and Southern Traction Company. Mr. Meredith established his home in Aurora in 1869, which he has maintained here to the present time. The Meredith flat building, one of the hand- somest apartment houses in Aurora, was con- structed by him. For two terms he officiated as a member of the Aurora City Council, and for many years he has been a member of the Au- rora East Side School Board. In 1861 he was married to Miss Eliza Rhodes, daughter of Joshua Rhodes, one of the first settlers of Big Rock Township, Kane County.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County, Part 164

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