Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County, Part 168

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

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JEROME PHILLIPS, retired farmer, Sugar Grove, Ill., born in Chenango County, N. Y.,

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April 17, 1836; came west with his parents in early childhood and grew to manhood on a farm in Sugar Grove Township, Kane County, obtaining his education in the public schools. In 1863 he enlisted for service in the war of the Rebellion, and was mustered into the Band of the First Brigade, Third Division of the Seventeenth Army Corps, serving in this capac- ity until July 9, 1865. Returning to Sugar Grove Township after the close of the war, he there engaged in farming until 1872, when he removed to Aurora, where he was connected with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad shops until 1876, when he removed to Sugar Grove Township and has since resided on the old homestead. He was married in 1861 to Miss Mary Harkison.

RAY R. PHILLIPS, lawyer, Elgin, Ill., born in McHenry County, Ill., April 12, 1878, son of S. K. and Ellen ( Baldwin) Phillips; educated in the public schools of Elgin, graduating from the high school in the class of 1897; read law with John A. Russell and C. L. Abbott of Elgin; admitted to the bar in the Supreme Court of Illinois in December, 1900; has since practiced in Elgin, being now associated with his former preceptor, C. L. Abbott; was elected City Attor- ney of Elgin in 1901.

WILLIAM PICKERING ( deceased), pioneer farmer, Plato Township, Kane County, Ill., born in the County of Durham, England, May 24, 1803; came with his family to America in 1854, and located on a farm one and a half miles west of Elgin, Ill., in 1855, where he lived twelve years; removed to Plato Center in 1867 and purchased the farm which has since been known as the Pickering homestead. He was married to Miss Sarah Pattinson, born in 1809, and their only living child is Mrs. E. C. Parry, of Elgin. Mr. Pickering met his death by accident in 1872; his wife surviving him until 1878.

DANIEL J. PIKE (deceased ), Aurora, Ill., born at New Marlborough, Mass., Oct. 15, 1834; established his home in Aurora in 1866, although his business headquarters had been ar that city for several years prior; dealt in nurs- ery stock until 1876, when on account of failing health he retired from active business and de- voted his attention to the care of his estate; was one of the most active members of the Y. M. C. A. in Illinois and served as President

of the Aurora Association for many years, in the meantime being largely instrumental in erecting its building; was deacon of the New England Congregational church, Aurora, for twenty-five years; married in 1868 Miss Mary J. Porter, of Lenox, Mass., and their children are: Mrs. Lillian Harkinson and Florence E. Pike.

REV. ANDREW PINGREE (deceased), min- ister Universalist church, Pingree Grove, 111., born at Ware, N, H., July 16, 1803, and died at Pingree Grove, Ill., August 18, 1879; came to Kane County, Ill., in 1838, and in 1846, located on a farm near Pingree Grove, where he passed the remainder of his life; served as Postmaster at Pingree several years, and was County Sur- veyor for Kane County eighteen years; married Jan. 1, 1844, Hannah M. Curtis, of Massachu- setts.

DANIEL PINGREE (deceased), physician and farmer, Pingree Grove, Ill., born at Spring- field, N. H., Jan. 26, 1819; came to Kane County in 1838: graduated from the Indiana Medical College in 1849; resided at different times in Memphis, Tenn .; Placerville, Cal .; Pingree Grove, Ill., and Hico, Texas. He died at the place last mentioned, Dec. 25, 1900. He was married Nov. 10, 1859, to Jane Havenhill, of Newark, Ill.

COLUMBUS PINNEY ( deceased ), pioneer, was born in Springfield, Vt., in 1797, where his early life was passed. He was of an old New England family, and closely related to that from which Admiral Dewey descends. In his young manhood he went to Watertown, N. Y., where he was engaged in manufacturing until he came to Illinois in 1835. Among the noted pioneers who came in his company or about the same time were Judge John Dean Caton, afterward Chief Justice of Illinois; John Cal- houn, who became founder of the first news- paper in Chicago-the "Chicago Democrat;" Gov. Joel A. Matteson, and Charles Follansbee. Mr. Pinney was at first a resident of Ottawa, but soon removed to Marseilles, and in 1838, settled in Aurora. He was a man of means and made many investments. Much of his time and attention were given to the care of his property in his later years, and almost exclu- sively so at the time of his death, March 17, 1874. For many years he was Collector ot

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town taxes, and served one term as Deputy under an early Sheriff of Kane County. In 1835 he married Miss Susan McAllister, who was born in Springfield, Vt., in 1809. She died March 10, 1903. Mrs. Charles J. Metzner and Emerson D. Pinney are the only representatives of this family who are now living in Aurora.

JOHN PLAIN, banker, Aurora, Ill., born in Germany Jan. 17, 1830; educated in his native country and came to America in 1852; located in Aurora in 1853, where he has since resided and has been identified with the banking in- terests of that city since the early '70s, serving at the present time as President of the German American National Bank of that city. Mr. Plain was married February 12, 1857, to Susanna Leis, of Aurora.

WILLIAM B. PLATO (deceased), lawyer and legislator, was born in Genesee County, N. Y., in 1810, and was trained to a mercantile life in his native State. About 1840 he came west, establishing his home in Aurora where he read law. About 1850, with a knowledge of law largely self-acquired, he removed to Geneva, where he made his home until his death in 1873. As a lawyer Mr. Plato met with marked success. His earliest interest in politics was in the days of the Free-Soil movement, and he was elected to the State Senate on that issue in 1850, and by re-election served in the Senate until 1856 --- in all six years. In 1857, after the accession of Gov. William H. Bissell, Senator Plato was ap- pointed on the Board of Commissioners to erect the State Penitentiary at Joliet. In the year 1858 he was again elected to the General As- sembly as Representative trom Kane County, serving one term. In 1860 he was chosen Presi- dential Elector on the Republican ticket, and assisted in casting the vote of Illinois for Abra- ham Lincoln for President at his first election. While serving in the State Senate during the session of 1853, Mr. Plato was the author of the bill limiting the responsibility of railroads to $5,000 for causing death by wrongful act, neglect or default. He and Hon. Henry W. Blodgett, of Lake County, afterwards Judge of the United States District Court, while serving at the same time, alternately the one in the House and the other in the Senate, were con- spicuous as the only avowed Free-Soilers in their respective Houses. Judge Plato's notable characteristics as a legislator and politician

were an open candor, a sturdy integrity and a lofty patriotism, which, coupled with his well- known ability, commanded the respect of all classes-his opponents and his friends alike. He held no public office during the latter years of his life, but was recognized 'as an able and judicious leader in political matters, and con- tinned practice as an attorney, as his health would permit, until his death in 1873. Plato Township, in Kane County, was named in his honor.

SAMUEL PLATT (deceased), farmer, Black- berry Township, Kane County, born in the State of New York, August 28, 1805; came to Illinois Sept. 30, 1836, locating on a farm in Blackberry Township, Kane County, the orig- inal Platt homestead still being in possession of members of the family. On March 24, 1824, he was married to Nancy McNair, and the only surviving members of their family are: Mrs. Mary Outhouse and Mrs. Sophia P. Swaine. Mr. Platt died April 13, 1850; his wife surviv- ing until March 6. 1888.

WILLIAM VAN NEST PLUM (deceased), pioneer merchant, Aurora, Kane County, Ill., was born in New York City, Jan. 18, 1814, and died in Aurora, 111., June 24, 1890. Mr. Plum came to Aurora about Christmas, 1840, and in 1845 was married to Helen M. Phillips, a school teacher of that city. In 1855 he formed a partnership with a Mr. Mix under the firm name of Mix & Plum, dealers in grain, coal, etc. Mr. Plum served as Mayor of Aurora one term, was a prominent member of the Masonic Order, and had the distinction of having built the first brick building on Fox River. Mr. and Mrs. Plum were the parents of three children: Kate ( Mrs. George R. Wilcox), Jenny L. Plum and William V. Plum, Jr., all of whom survive and reside in Aurora.

CHARLES POPE, manufacturer, Geneva, Ill .; born in Cambridgeshire, England, in 1840; came with his parents to the United States in 1846, and was reared and educated in Chicago. In 1880 he became interested in the Geneva Grape Sugar Company, which was established in Geneva, Ill., by Mr. John Burton, and developed into an extensive industry, employing ap- proximately 300 persons. In 1887 a much larger plant was established at Venice. 111., near East St. Louis, Mr. Pope and

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his associates operating

both plants un- til 1902, when they were transferred to the Corn Products Company. Besides building up one of the great industries of the West, Mr. Pope has been the inventor of a number of devices used in the manufacture of starch, glucose, etc.

JOSEPH C. PORTER (deceased ), Civil War veteran, Aurora, Ill .; born at Charlotte, Me., July 30, 1837, son of Joel and Anna ( Ells) Porter; came with his parents to Galesburg, Ill., when twelve years of age; enlisted in 1861 in the Eleventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regi- ment, serving four years and in the meantime participating in many notable engagements, in- cluding the battle of Shiloh and the siege of Vicksburg. After the war he was in the em- ploy of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- way Company until 1888, when he embarked in the hardware business in Aurora, and later was, for some years, in the shoe business in that city. At the time of his death, which occurred Dec. 6, 1900, he was connected with the city waterworks department of Aurora. He was married in 1867 to Miss Emma Kerr, of Gales- burg.

CHARLES H. POTTER, merchant and manu- facturer, Elgin, Ill., was born in Plato Town- ship, Kane County, Sept. 14, 1851, a son of Harry E. and Mary (Griggs) Potter, and is a lineal descendant, in the paternal line, from Robert Potter, who came from Coventry, Eng., in 1634, and first settled in Roxbury, Mass., and removed in 1638 to Rhode Island, settling per- manently at Warwick, where he died in 1655. The line of his ancestry is also traced through the Winsor family to Roger Williams, of Rhode Island. Mr. Potter was brought up on his father's farm, and educated in the public school and the Marengo Business College. In 1872 he came to Elgin and engaged in the gro- cery trade, in which he continued until 1883. That year he turned his attention to real estate and the creamery business, and is now Presi- dent and Manager of the Excelsior Creamery Company, operating creameries in Illinois and Wisconsin, and in addition doing a wholesale and jobbing business in creamery products. Mr. Potter is also closely identified with the agri- cultural interests of Kane County as an ex- tensive farm owner. In 1882, in company with W. H. Hintze, he laid out what is now known as

Hintze & Potter's Addition to the City of Elgin. He is an active and public-spirited citizen of Elgin, and was Water Commissioner from 1897 to 1900. He married in 1873, Elvira J. Mann, daughter of the Hon. S. S. and Caroline (Young) Mann, and they have one daughter, Alice, who is the wife of John F. Tetzner, re- siding in Elgin.

HARRY EDDY POTTER ( deceased), pioneer Plato Township, Kane County, was born in Mon- roe County, N. Y., July 12, 1815, and died in Plato, Ill., Feb. 12, 1865. He was the son of Winsor and Deborah (Eddy) Potter, and grew to manhood on a farm near Java Village, N. Y. When a young man he learned the carpenter trade, and coming to Illinois in 1836, worked at his trade for a time in St. Charles, where he helped to put up some of the first buildings erected in that place. In 1840 he married Miss Mary A. Griggs, daughter of John and Ruth ( Dibble) Griggs, of Plato, Ill. Her parents, who were natives of Berkshire County, Mass., came to Illinois from Ashtabula County, Ohio, in 1834. After his marriage Mr. Potter settled on a farm in Plato Township, on which he lived until his death. He had a family of six chil- dren, of whom three (1903) are now living, all residing in Elgin. The youngest son, John F., born in Plato, Dec. 1, 1861, inherited his father's mechanical gift, and became an expert carpen- ter and designer. He was educated in the dis- trict school of the native town and the Elgin Academy. He died April 11, 1903, leaving a widow, Grace (Dolph) Potter, and two daugh-

JOHN H. POSSON, dealer in farming imple- ments, coal, and a practical farmer, Maple Park, Kane County, Ill., was born in Pierce Township, DeKalb County, Ill., April 25, 1875, and received his educational training in the public schools of his native locality, including a year and a halt in the Hinckley High School. When he reached the age of eighteen years, on account of his father's failing health he as- sumed the management of the home farm. In 1896 the father sold this farm, and bought an- other northwest of DeKalb, to which the family removed the same year. The father died in May, 1897, and two years later John H. Posson, with his mother, sister and brother, made their home in Maple Park. In the spring of 1900 the mother died. The same year Mr. Posson started in the coal business, and the following

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year took on agricultural implements. Mr.

Posson has served two years as Village Trus- tee, and has extensive fraternal connections. being associated with the Odd Fellows, Mod- ern Woodmen and the Court of Honor. Po- litically he is a Republican.

SAMUEL POULEY (deceased), farmer, Black- berry Township, Kane County, Ill., was born in Nottinghamshire, Eng., April 17, 1808, the son of Robert and Hannah (Godfrey) Pouley. Samuel Pouley came to Illinois in 1840, entered land in Blackberry Township, Kane County, and engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was a pioneer Baptist minister, and held meet- ings in school houses and private dwellings before there was a church in his township. He was one of the founders of the Free-Will Baptist church at Elburn, and through his long life one of its stanch supporters. During the last ten years of his life he lived with his son, Samucl E. He died Dec. 16, 1892, aged nearly eighty- seven years, while his widow passed away in 1902.

SAMUEL E. POULEY, dealer in coal, lumber and agricultural implements, Elburn, Ill., was born at Blackberry, Kane County, Ill., Nov. 27, 1851, and received his education in the district schools of Blackberry Township. When about thirty years old he left his father's farm, and went to Wheaton, where he was engaged in car- penter work for about four years. In 1885 he bought the old home farm, where he did gen- eral farming and dairying until 1892, when he removed to Elburn, where, after devoting about a year to carpenter work, he bought an interest in a drug-store in company with A. T. Matthew- son, with whom he was associated for some five years. In 1898 he bought the agricultural implement business of H. C. Read, but a year la- ter (1899) Mr. Read bought back a half-interest in the concern, to which, during the same year, they added the coal and lumber trade. In 1900 Mr. Read sold out to H. A. Bartlett, and the firm has built up a flourishing trade. Mr. Pouley was married March 28, 1878, to Miss Emma Humphrey, daughter of John Milton and Mi- nerva ( Miller) Humphrey, and they have had the following named children: Edna M., Edwin A., Avis, Mary Verna, Vida, Edith and Margie- all living. Mrs. Pouley is an active member of the Congregational church. ( See sketch of

Mr. Pouley's parents, Samuel and Almira ( Hitchcock) Pouley, elsewhere in this volume.)

ORRIN D. POWELL, banker, Aurora, Ill., born at Roxbury, Delaware County, N. Y., Aug. 23, 1829, was educated in the schools of his native State, and when sixteen years of age began teaching. He was engaged in farming and merchandising in New York until 1864 when he came west and established his home in Aurora, where he was interested in mercan- tile pursuits and the lumber trade until 1880. In the latter year, in company with other gen- tlemen, he organized the Aurora National Bank, of which he became a Director and Vice-Presi- dent. In 1888 he succeeded Dr. O. D. Howell, who died in that year, as President of the bank, and is still at the head of that admirably con- ducted financial institution. Mr. Powell was married in 1852 to Dianthe E. Maynard, of Delaware County, N. Y. Of this marriage there are two children: Mrs. Carrie E. Grant and Charles E. Powell, Cashier of the Aurora Na- tional Bank. Mrs. Powell died in 1869, sub- sequently Mr. Powell married Mary Donaldson, of Aurora, who died in 1873. His third mar- riage occurred Sept. 30, 1875, with Helen May- nard, of Delaware County, N. Y.

JOHN R. POWERS, lawyer, Elgin, Ill., was born in Elgin, April 24, 1876, son of John and Josephine (Sutton) Powers. He secured his education in the city schools, the High School and Elgin Academy, read law with Messrs. Botsford & Wayne, of Elgin, and was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court in 1897. Since that event he has practiced his profession very successfully with the exception of the period of the Spanish-American War. He enlisted in May, 1898, in the First United States Volunteer Infantry (Texas Immunes), in which he served until the close of the war, being mustered out at Galveston, Texas. He is a member of the organization of the Spanish War Veterans and the Knights of Pythias.

DEWITT C. PRATT (deceased), photogra- pher, born in New York State, and died in Aurora, Ill., Aug. 24, 1903; came west in 1845, and in the fall of 1849 opened a daguerreotype gallery at St. Charles, Ill .; established a gallery in Aurora in 1851, and removed to Geneva in 1853. In later years he became widely known

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as a photographer, and the business which he founded is still in existence, being conducted by liis son, Edmund C. Pratt.

HENRY M. PRATT, editor, Dundee, Ill., born in Washington County, N. Y., Dec. 17, 1864; came west with his parents when seven years of age and located first in Michigan; acquired his first newspaper experience in Hanover, Mich .; came to Dundee, Ill., in 1890, where he has since been identified with the "Carpenters- ville News." Mr. Pratt was married Nov. 15, 1892, to Miss Minnie Kruse, of Elgin.

MAURICE PRICE, pioneer settler, Big Rock, Ill., born in Wales, Nov. 15, 1810; eame to the United States in 1830, loeating first in New York; came to Chicago in 1835, where he helped to build some of the first streets of that city; removed to Kane County in the spring of 1836, settling on land in Big Rock Township, where he still resides (1903) on the farm he orig- inally purchased from the Government, it be- ing one of the first pieces of land improved in Big Rock Township; was one of the founders and builders of the first church in Big Rock; married first Hannah Livingston, and after her death, Maria Davis, both of Big Rock.

WILLIAM PRICE (deceased), pioneer set tler, born in the County of Westmeath, Ire- land, July 4, 1814; came with an older brother to Canada in 1831, removing to Kane County, Ill., in 1841, where he became well known as a progressive farmer and successful manager of affairs; married in 1843, Miss Mary Smith, who died Aug. 23, 1900, and their living chil- dren are: M. Minnie, George W., William W., Mrs. Nancy Berry, Mrs. Janet Benton, Hugh, and Mrs. Jessie Cornell. Mr. Price died Aug. 27, 1903.

ISAAC W. PRICHARD, physician and sur- geon, Aurora, Ill., was born in Oneida County, N. Y., educated at Rome, N. Y., and graduated from the Medical Department of the University of Michigan in 1868; later made special study in the Long Island Medical Hospital at Brook- lyn and the City Hospital of New York, begin- ning the practice of his profession at Kaneville, Kane County, Ill. For thirty-five years he has been a hard and faithful worker in his chosen calling, has been a contributor to the medical press, and since 1899 has been Supreme Med-

ical Examiner for the Yeomen of America, also officiates in a similar capacity in several other orders, including the Maccabees and the Odd Fellows. Dr. Prichard was married in 1870 to Miss Effie I. Coy, daughter of B. A. Coy, of Kaneville, Ill. Mrs. Prichard died in 1875, leav- ing one child, Mrs. Charles Smith, of Sac City, Iowa. In 1878 Dr. Prichard married Miss Annie Waterbury, daughter of James S. Waterbury, of Neosha Falls, Kans. Their children are Lillie M., James E. ( the latter a student of med- icine at the present time-1903), and Perry Anita June.

ALBRO B. PRINDLE, manufacturer, Batavia, Ill., born in Chicago, April 22, 1869, son of James P. and Mary ( Cornell) Prindle; came with his parents in 1874 to Batavia, Ill., where he was reared and educated, graduating from the West Batavia High School in 1887. He at- tended Jennings Seminary in Aurora, and then became connected with the Chicago office of the Plano Manufacturing Company, where he was employed until 1892. That year he returned to Batavia and entered the employ of the New- ton Wagon Company, of which he became Super- intendent in 1897, a position he still retains. He is a member of the Garden City Council, No. 202, R. A., of Chicago. In 1894 he married Miss Bertha M., daughter of W. J. Hollister, of Batavia.

EDWARD T. PRINDLE (deceased ), manu- facturer and inventor, Aurora, Ill., was born in Litchfield County, Conn., Nov. 26, 1826, and died in Aurora, Jan. 30, 1900. His father, Philemon Prindle, was of an old Connecticut family: his mother's maiden name was Sybil M. Root. Mr. Prindle was bred a machinist at Skeneateles, N. Y., in 1850 came to Detroit. Mich., and found employment in a factory operated by Col. F. G. Hammond, which he afterward leased and operated until he entered the employ of the Michigan Central Railroad Company. When Colonel Hammond became General Superintendent of the Chicago, Burling- ton & Quincy Railroad, Mr. Prindle was put in charge of the Galesburg shops; in 1859 was transferred to Aurora as foreman of the loco- motive department, later became Division Mas- ter Mechanic, but in 1873 resigned to become General Superintendent of the Machinery De- partment of Crane Brothers Elevator Works in Chicago. At the end of a year and a half he

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Marshall becoming his wife. She was the mother of seven children: Louis A., Charles F., Anna E., Frederick E., Harry B., Chester M., and Eugene R. Mr. Perkins died February 25, 1904.

FRANCIS PERRY (deceased), pioneer far- mer, Dundee, Ill., born in Essex County, N. Y., August 5, 1812, came to Chicago in 1834 and purchased four acres of land on the lake front, which he later sold for a pair of boots and $5 in cash; came to Kane County the same year, and in 1838 entered a claim of 222 acres three miles north of Dundee, where he lived until his retirement in 1872. Mr. Perry was married March 14, 1839, to Miss Julia Haasz, and of this union there are now four living children- Mrs. C. A. Smith, Mrs. E. Colvin, Mrs. J. J. Skinner and Mrs. L. J. Corl. Mr. Perry died June 29, 1879; his wife surviving him until Dec. 11, 1901.

PETER PETIT, farmer and manager of creamery, Aurora Township, Kane County, Ill., was born in the township where he now re- sides, August 14, 1862; was educated in the public schools, and married, in February, 1885, Susan Leis. Mr. Petit began his business career as a farmer in Sugar Grove Township in 1887, returned to Aurora in 1891 and purchased the home farm in 1893; was elected manager of the North Aurora Creamery Company at the time of its organization in 1894, and is still actively engaged in that capas ty, having been re-elected nine consecutive years.

ARTHUR B. PHELPS, farmer and stock- raiser, Kaneville, Ill., was born in New Berlin, Chenango, County, N. Y., Feb. 11, 1845, received his education in the New York schools, and in Illinois, whither his family had removed while he was still a youth. He attended a business college at Aurora one term. The family located on a farm one and a quarter miles east of Kane- ville, and Mr. Phelps now owns this place, which came into his possession after the death of his father in 1868. He has been School Trus- tee since 1902. Mr. Phelps was married Jan. 26, 1869, to Miss Maria Hartwell, by whom he has had six children, four sons and two daughters. One son is dead.

JOHN T. PHELPS, Geneva, was born in New Berlin, Chenango County, N. Y., Oct. 13, 1855,

son of P. M. and Almira ( White) Phelps. His parents coming to Illinois in 1861, settled on a farm in Kaneville Township, Kane County, and here Mr. Phelps was reared to farm life and educated in the local school. He has taken an active part in Republican politics, for several years being Secretary of the Republican Coun- ty Central Committee. In 1898 he was named by Governor Tanner as a member of the State Grain and Warehouse Commission, and he is still filling that position.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County, Part 168

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