Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County, Part 170

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

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JAMES P. PRINDLE, retired manufacturer, Batavia, Kane County, Ill .; born at Bennington, Wyoming County, N. Y., March 9, 1841, son of Abijah L. and Miriam (Pearl) Prindle; edu- cated in the schools of h.s native State, Clark Seminary ( Aurora, Ill.) and the Seminary at Batavia, Ill. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Company D, Fifty-second Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and, on account of physi- cal disability, was mustered out of the service in 1862. Returning to his home in Batavia, he taught school for a while, and in 1864 en- tered the employ of Easter & Gammon, Chi- cago, dealers in agricultural implements. In 1866 he became junior member of the firm of Gammon & Prindle, dealers in agricultural im- plements, Chicago, and manufacturers of the Marsh Harvester, at Plano, Ill. This partner- ship was dissolved in 1868, and Mr. Prindle be- came a member of the firm of Bishop & Prindle, manufacturers of wagons, Chicago. In 1874 he became interested in the Newton Wagon Company, of Batavia, Ill., where he established his home. Mr. Prindle was superintendent of this enterprise for twenty years, and is now its Vice-President; was also Vice-President of the Plano Manufacturing Company from 1892 to 1902, and still retains an interest in that well- known establishment. The settlement of the estate of Elijah H. Gammon, the noted manu- facturer and public benefactor, has occupied a large portion of his time in later years. In 1866 he married Miss Mary Bishop Cornell,

who was born in Pennsylvania but reared in Chicago. Mrs. Prindle's father was Dr. S. S. Cornell, and his early home in Chicago adjoined the historic First Methodist church, corner of Clark and Washington Streets. After her father's death, Mrs. Prindle's mother married A. E. Bishop. widely known as a Chicago wagon manufacturer.

JAMES P. PRINDLE, JR., Batavia, Kane County, Ill., born in the city where he now resides, June 27, 1876, son of James P. and Mary (Cornell) Prindle; was reared in his na- live city, where he obtained his preparatory education, and afterwards attended Allegheny College, Meadville, Penn., graduating from that institution in the class of 1898. After travel- ing in Europe for several months, he returned to Batavia and entered the employ of the United States Wind Engine & Pump Company, with which he holds a responsible position. In 1901 Mr. Prindle married Miss Elizabeth Patton of Hartstown, Penn.

JOHN M. PURDUM.

JOHN M. PURDUM, merchant, Batavia, 111 .; born in Chillicothe, Ohio, May 22, 1864, son of John and Christina ( Campbell ) Purdum; was reared and educated in Ohio, and in early life was engaged in farming in that State. In 1894

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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

he came from Ohio to Batavia, Ill., where he established himself in the boot and shoe trade the following year, which he is still conduct- ing. He is the inventor of a patented stool for fitting shoes, which is widely known and used by the trade. In 1901 he was elected a member of the Batavia Board of Aldermen, and in 1903 was the "no license" candidate for Mayor. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, a Mason, a Modern Woodman and a member of the Knights of the Globe. In 1895 he mar- ried Miss Ada Niles, a teacher in the West Ba- tavia public schools. Mr. Purdum was left an orphan at the age of eleven years. His father, while serving in the War of the Rebellion, con- tracted a disease from which he never recov- ered.

MARVIN QUACKEMIT'SH.

MARVIN QUACKENBUSH, Superintendent Public Schools, Kane County, Dundee, Ill., was born in Hartwick, Otsego County, N. Y., Nov. 25, 1842, and came with his parents on their removal to Kane County in 1849, where he re- ceived his education in the public schools and Clark Seminary at Aurora, finishing at Bryant & Stratton Business College, Chicago. He was employed in teaching until 1865, when he en- listed in Company I, One Hundred and Fifty-

third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was dis- charged July 31, 1865, at Murfreesboro, Tenn., on account of disability. For twenty years from 1866 he was actively engaged in teaching, and in 1886 was elected Superintendent of the Kane County Public Schools, in which position he served until his death, April 18, 1903. In pol- ities he was a Republican, and fraternally was a member of the Dundee Post, G. A. R., was also a Director of the Modern Woodmen of America, and a Knight Templar.

GEORGE W. QUEREAU (deceased), educa- tor, born at Stanford, N. Y., June 9, 1827; came to Aurora in 1859 and accepted the position of Principal of Jennings ( then Clark ) Seminary, serving in that capacity until 1873, and the prosperity of this institution is largely due to his successful management; was general man- ager of the Aurora Silver Plate Company for several years. Mr. Quereau died April 11, 1900.

JAMES G. RALPH, contractor and inventor, Aurora, Kane County, Ill., was born in Phila- delphia, Penn., Aug. 29, 1831, and in early child- hood removed with his father's family to Wil- mington, Del., where he received his educa- tional training. Returning to Philadelphia when seventeen years of age, he there learned the carpenter's trade, and came west in 1855, locating at Mendota, Ill., where he first engaged in the carriage manufacturing business; later became a contractor and builder, and also con- ducted a farm. In 1862 he enlisted in the Onc Hundred and Fourth Regiment Illinois Volun- teer Infantry, and served in the Union ranks until after the battle of Atlanta in 1864, when, having sustained a severe wound in that en- gagement, he was shortly afterwards discharged on account of physical disability. He then re- turned to Illinois, and for two or three years afterward was employed in the shops of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Com- pany at Aurora, meanwhile serving one term as Collector of that city. In 1870 he engaged in contracting and building, and for more than thirty years was one of the most prominent men identined with that line of business in this sec- tion of the State. Many of the most notable public buildings, business blocks and residences in Aurora are monuments to Mr. Ralph's en- terprise and ability, and his operations have extended over much adjacent territory. He re- tired from active business life in 1901. Mr.

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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

Ralph is the inventor of a combined fly-screen and a storm construction for doors and win- dows, which promises to be largely adopted by building trades. In 1857 he was married to Miss Mary Amanda Beck, sister of the late Judge Beck of the Supreme Court of Colorado. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. Ralph, now living, are: Mrs. C. W. Marshall, Frank H. and Grace A. all of Aurora. One daughter, formerly the wife of Judge R. P. Goodwin, of Aurora, died in 1888.

JOHN RANSTEAD (deceased ), pioneer farmer and legislator, born in Westmoreland, N. H., in 1803, grew to manhood in his native State, where he obtained a superior education for those days. He married Mercy West, who was a native of Vermont, and came with his family to Illinois in 1837. Mr. Ranstead was

JOHN RANSTEAD.

one of the first settlers at Udina, Kane County, and, during his residence of more than thirty years in that locality, was known as one of the leading farmers of the county, as well as a pro- gressive and influential citizen. He was elected Representative in the Eighteenth General As- sembly (1852-54). Mr. Ranstead died in 1868; his wife survived him until 1895, dying at the age of seventy-eight years.

JOHN W. RANSTEAD, lawyer and banker, Elgin, Ill., born at Udina, Kane County, Ill., son of John and Mercy ( West) Ranstead, and great-grandson of one of the Revolutionary heroes who fell on the battlefield of Benning-

JOHN W. RANSTEAD.

ton, Vt. Reared on the farm, he was educated in the old-time subscription school of Kane County; later attended Elgin Academy, and in 1863 graduated from Lombard University, Galesburg, Ill. In 1866 he graduated from the Law Department, University of Michigan, and two years later began legal practice in Elgin. In 1873 he was elected Judge, serving in that capacity nine successive years, by which time his clientage had so increased that he retired from public life to devote his entire attention to its demands. For many years he has been associated with the banking interests of Elgin, and is now (1903) President of the Home Na- tional Bank, and a Director of the Home Sav- ings Bank. In 1867 he was married to Miss Eugenia A. Fuller, daughter of Rev. J. P. and Adeline (Cady) Fuller, of Galesburg, Ill.

NATHANIEL RATLIFFE, retired, Batavia, Ill., was born in England. March 14, 1840, where he was reared and educated; mastering the shoe- maker's trade, he located in Batavia, Ill., and

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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

two years later enlisted in the Union army, be- ing re-enlisted Aug. 10, 1862, in the One Hun- dred and Twenty-fourth Illinois Volunteer In- fantry. His regiment became part of the West- ern Army, and with it he participated in many fierce and bloody struggles, being in the siege of Vicksburg, the Black River campaign, the battles of Champion Hills, Port Gibson, Ring- gold, Jackson, Spanish Fort, and others less im- portant. He was mustered out at Chicago in August, 1865, and after three years of devoted service for his adopted country, he returned to Batavia, at once resuming his trade, and making that city his home to the present time. In 1866 he married Miss Anna Perry, of Batavia.

GEORGE RATHZ, Catholic clergyman, Ba- tavia, Ill., was born in the City of New York, July 19, 1851. His parents came to Illinois in 1856, where the son received his early educa- tion, graduating from the High School at the age of sixteen. He then took a classical course at St. Francis' Seminary in Milwaukee, Wis., and was later graduated from the theological department of that institution. He was or- dained a priest by Bishop Foley, of Chicago, June 26, 1877, and appointed curate of St. Jar- lath's church in Chicago, where he remained until he-was appointed first pastor of St. John's church at Savanna, Ill. While on this charge he built two churches and one pastoral resi- dence. From there he was transferred to South Chicago, and became pastor of St. Peter and St. Paul's church. He paid off a part of the debt on this church, built a Sisters' residence and enlarged the schools. In 1893 he was sent to the Holy Cross church at Batavia, and it has prospered greatly under his administration. He began the building of the present handsome church in Batavia in 1896, and it was dedicated the following year. Gothic in style, and of solid stone, it is one of the noblest structures in the Fox River Valley.

NEEDHAM N. RAVLIN (deceased), farmer, Kaneville, Ill., born March 8, 1823, in Shore- ham, Vt., came to Kane County, Ill., with his parents in 1845, where his father secured one hundred acres of public land, on a portion of which the village of Kaneville now stands. After the death of the father, Needham N. Rav- lin bought out the other heirs, and during his active years added other tracts to it until he became an extensive land-owner. He was the

first postmaster at Kaneville, and in 1868 was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives. For twenty-seven years he was Supervisor for Kaneville Township. He served as School Di- rector, Town Clerk and Trustee, and was a man of much influence in the councils of the Re- publican party, of which he was an active and devoted member. He was married in 1849 to Miss Frances A. West, who was born in Eng. land, and came to the United States in 1831. They have had a family of three boys and two girls. Mr. Ravlin was a member of the Bap- tist church and the Masonic fraternity. He died Dec. 8, 1899.

CHARLES W. RAYMOND, Elgin, Ill., born in the city where he now resides, Oct. 21, 1852, son of George B. and Mary ( Weston ) Raymond; educated in the public schools of Elgin and St. Anthony Military Academy (St. Anthony, Minn.); was engaged in the lumber trade in Elgin until 1893; elected County Clerk of Kane County in 1894 and filled that office until 1898; was President of the Board of Water Commis- sioners of Elgin. Since 1898 he has been in the hardwood lumber trade in Chicago. Mr. Raymond was married in 1875 to Miss Agnes R. Graham, daughter of Charles and Isabella ( Campbell) Graham, of Elgin.

FRED H. RAYMOND, lawyer, Elgin, Ill., born in Philadelphia, Penn., March 29, 1867, and when one year old came west with his mother, who first established her home in Elgin, but later in Woodstock. Here the son attended pub- lic school and, until sixteen years of age, lived on a farm. He very justly regards himself a self-educated man. In 1884 he went to Kan- sas, where he remained two years, making ex- tensive trips in the meantime into Colorado, New Mexico and other portions of the South- west. In the spring of 1886 he came back to El- gin, where he took a place with the National Watch Factory, which he held until 1892. For a time he devoted his attention to the oil busi- ness in Elgin, and was later engaged in busi- ness in Chicago. From 1893 to 1895 he was the traveling representative of a Chicago piano house, when he began the study of law with Frank W. Joslyn, of Elgin, and, after three years' study, was admitted to the bar in 1898, and soon became junior partner in the firm of Joslyn & Raymond. In 1902 Mr. Raymond opened an office in Chicago, and the following

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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

year ( May 1, 1903) terminated his partnership with Mr. Joslyn at Elgin. He is now alone in his practice, maintaining offices in both cities. His practice is general in character and has grown rapidly. Mr. Raymond is a Director in the Smoke Preventing Company, of Chicago, and is closely associated with several other cor- porations as attorney and counselor. He is a member of the Order of Elks and in March, 1903, was elected Exalted Ruler of Elgin Lodge, No. 737, and in August, 1903, was elected Treas- urer of the Illinois Elks Association. In 1880 Mr. Raymond married Mary B. McQueeny, daughter of John and Ellen McQueeny, of El- gin.

JOHN M. RAYMOND.

JOHN M. RAYMOND. lawyer and Mayor, Au- rora, Ill., was born in Bristol, Kendall County. Ill., Dec. 24, 1858, a son of C. H. Raymond, a pioneer settler and a prominent citizen of that county, and descendant of an old New England family. John M. obtained his early education in the local schools, and later was a student at the Sugar Grove Normal and Industrial School, and the State University of Iowa, graduating from the Law Department of the latter in 1884. For several years he taught school, for four years being principal at St. Charles, Ill. Mr. Raymond began the practice of law in Aurora in 1889 as an associate of Judge M. O. South-

worth. In 1890 he retired from this partner- ship, and for thirteen years was alone in prac- tice, after which he became senior member of the firm of Raymond & Newhall, which soon became one of the leading firms of the city Mr. Raymond is actively interested in local and county politics, and is recognized as one of the leaders among the younger Republicans of the State. Until 1903 he declined all offers of political preferment, but that year accepted the nomination for Mayor, and after a sharp contest was elected over two competitors. Mr. Raymond is a member of the West Side Board of Education, is a Thirty-second-degree Mason, and a noble of the Mystic Shrine. He was one of the founders of the Aurora lodge of Elks, which is noted as one of the strongest in the State. He is a Director of the First National Bank, a large land-owner and practical farmer. In 1887 he was married to Miss Frances R. Kennedy, daughter of a pioneer settler of Ken- dall County.

GEORGE B. RAYMOND (deceased), born at Sherburne, N. Y., Aug. 15, 1808; reared and edu- cated in his native State; came to Elgin in October, 1845, and took charge of a store owned by Dexter & Raymond. Five years later he engaged in the lumber trade, having at differ- ent times his sons associated with him in the business; served as Postmaster of Elgin. and also as City Alderman. He was twice married, his first wife, whom he married in 1832, was Miss Katherine E. Sherwood. He married his second wife, Miss Mary A. C. Weston, Aug. 27. 1845. Mr. Raymond died Aug. 22, 1878. Five of his children are now living-George, Sher- wood, Frank, Charles Weston and Mrs. Cath- erine E. Sylla.

HENRY CALVIN READ, farmer and stock- raiser, Elburn, Ill .; born in Kane County, 1!i., Sept. 16, 1853; has been one of the leading farmers of Kane County, but since 1900 has lived retired He was married in 1881 to Adella Cook.

FRANK W. REED, merchant, Lily Lake. Kane County, Ill., was born Oct. 23, 1875, in Campton Township, Kane County, son of George B. and Eliza A. (Kline) Reed. His education was secured in the local schools, the High School at St. Charles, and the Business Col- lege at Dixon. In 1897 Mr. Reed bought the

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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

general mercantile business of Reed & Hougli- ton, at Lily Lake, which he has since carried on with much success. Since Jan. 29, 1900, he has served as Postmaster at Lily Lake. Fra- ternally he is a Mason and a member of the Knights of the Globe. Mr. Reed was married Sept. 9, 1902, to Miss Laura, daughter of Renal- win and Addie ( Leighton) Outhouse.

AUGUST H. REESE, merchant, Dundee, Ill .; born at Lake Zurich, Ill., Dec. 2, 1867, son of Henry and Frederika (Kropp) Reese; educated in the public schools and trained to farming; began his business career in 1886 as a clerk in a store in his native village, and in 1887 entered the employ of Reese & Lemke, general merchants, Dundee. In 1893 he became a stock- holder, Vice-President and Director of the Reese-Lemke Company-which was organized and incorporated in the latter year-and in 1899 became President of the corporation and at the present time (1903) is sole owner of the enterprise, which is one of the largest depart- ment stores in the Fox River Valley. Mr. Reese was married in 1891 to Miss Minnie F. Beth, of Dundee, and they have three children.

FRANK H. REESE, banker and merchant, Dundee, Ill .; born at Lake Zurich, Cook County, Ill., Feb. 22, 1863; came to Dundee with his parents in 1867. Mr. Reese was associated with the mercantile interests of Dundee from Jan- uary, 1883, until April, 1900, when he removed to lowa. At the present time (1903) he is in- terested with other parties in establishing a new bank at Dundee, to be known as the Dun- dee State Bank.

GEORGE REEVES, stock-dealer, Elburn, Ill., born in Kent, England, Jan. 1, 1858, son oť William and Ann ( Baitoup) Reeves; came to Kane County with his parents when an infant; educated in the public schools and was en- gaged in farming until 1892, when he became interested in the lumber trade. In 1895 he es- tablished himself in his present business, which he has since conducted successfully. He was married on Feb. 22, 1882, to Miss E. A. Cone, of Campton Township, Kane County.

ABNER REEVES (deceased), farmer and merchant, Hampshire, Ill., born in Jefferson County, N. Y., Sept. 22, 1826; reared in his na- tive State and in early manhood learned the

carpenter's trade, following that occupation un- til 1856; came to Kane County, Ill., Aug. 29, 1856, locating on a farm in Hampshire Town- ship; was engaged in merchandising at Hamp- shire from 1879 until 1883, when he established himself in the coal business, which he conducted until his death, Feb. 7, 1888. He was married Dec. 2, 1846, to Miss Charlotte Colgrove, of New York, and three of their children are still liv- ing, viz .: Willis A., Helen L. ( Mrs. Brown ) and James.

CHARLES P. REID, physician, Hampshire, Ill., born near Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Oct. 16, 1848; came to Hampshire with his parents in May, 1850; grew up on his father's farm and in the meantime received his preliminary edu- cational training; commenced the study of med- icine in the Bennett Medical College ( Chicago) in 1869, graduating from that institution in 1872 and later took a post-graduate course in the Chicago Medical College; has resided and prac- ticed his profession at Hampshire since 1875. The Doctor has been twice married, his first union being in 1878 with Miss Rosamond Heath, who died in 1890, and on June 3, 1901, he mar- ried his second wife, Miss Sarah Wood, of Hampshire.

LUKE E. REILLY, farmer, Kaneville Town- ship, Kane County, was born in Elburn, Kane County, Nov. 13, 1859, and was educated in the public schools of that locality. Farming has been his life business, with the exception of one year spent in the railroad business, being then in the employ of the Chicago & Northwestern Railway. He has bought a farm three miles southeast of Maple Park. Mr. Reilly belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and Geneva Lodge of Knights of Pythias. He was married Dec. 30, 1884, to Miss Kate Simons, by whom he has had seven children-five sons and two daughters.

FRED A. REIS, merchant, Batavia, Ill., born in Heidelberg, Germany, May 30, 1850; educated in the famous schools of his native city, where he was also trained to mercantile pursuits; came to the United States in 1871, and estab- lished his present business enterprise in Ba- tavia in 1884; was also interested in manufac- turing in Batavia for a time, but of late has devoted his attention entirely to his mercan- tile establishment. He was married in 1893 to Miss Jessie Baer, of Whitewater, Wis.

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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

JOHN REISING, merchant and manufacturer, Aurora, Ill., born in Germany, Nov. 13, 1831; came to America in 1848, locating in Chicago the following year, where he worked as a car- penter and builder; crossed the plains to Cal- ifornia in 1850, and worked in the placer mines until 1854, when he returned to Aurora, Ill., and engaged in carpenter work for one year, and in 1856 established himself in the grocery business, which he conducted until 1862, chang- ing to the hardware trade in the latter year and continuing in that capacity until 1882. Since the latter date he has conducted a crockery store. He is a Director of the Aurora Silver Plate Company; is interested in the Aurora Cotton Mills, and is a Director of the First National Bank; was married in 1854 to Miss Susan Leis, of Aurora.

JOSEPH REISING.

JOSEPH REISING ( deceased ), merchant, Au- rora, was born in Watenheim, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, Sept. 28, 1829, where he was educated in the local schools. In 1845 he came to the United States when only sixteen years of age, and apprenticed himself to a boot and shoe- maker in Cleveland, Ohio, where he spent five years in learning the trade. In 1850 he lo- cated in Aurora, but the following year he joined a party of gold-hunters, and made the overland trip to Portland, Oregon, where for

four years he was engaged in mining. In 1855 he returned to Aurora with capital enough to embark in the boot and shoe trade, and until his deatlı, in 1893, he was one of the leading merchants of the city in that line. A man of enterprise and public spirit, he took part in inany important industrial enterprises of the city, being largely interested in the Aurora cot- ton mills, of which he was a Director and stockholder. For several years he served on the Kane County Board of Supervisors, and helped give the county its splendid system of public highways. In 1855 he married Miss Maria M. Schmidt, who was born in Alsace, Germany. Their only living child is Mrs. Anna R. Hartz, of Aurora. Another daughter, Mrs. Jacob Eye, of Aurora, died in 1902.

ANTHONY RESER, farmer, Dundee, Ill., born in Pennsylvania, April 7, 1816, son of John and Margaret (Ennis) Reser, was reared in his native State and educated in her public schools. In his early manhood he was employed on the Erie Canal, and in 1843 removed to Illi- nois, settling on a farm in Plato Township, Kane County. For eighteen years he made his home on this farm, and then removed to Dun- dee, where (1903) he is now living at the age of eighty-seven years. For many years he was a member of the Methodist church, but is now connected with the Congregational church. He was married in 1837 to Miss Phylecta Soule. of a noted New England ancestry, and of their nine children, all but one were living in 1903.

EBENEZER RETAN, Elgin, 111 .; born in New Jersey, in 1825; reared in New York State and came to Illinois in 1857, locating in El- gin, where he engaged in the business of loan- ing money, which he has continued up to the present time. He married, in 1854, Miss Phoebe Miller, of New York State.

SILAS REYNOLDS (deceased), pioneer, Sugar Grove, Kane County, Ill., was born in Sullivan County, N. Y., in 1810, and brought up in his native State, where he was trained to agricultural pursuits; came west in the spring of 1836, establishing his home in Sugar Grove Township, Kane County, his family be- ing among the first to locate in that community. Mr. Reynolds purchased his first land from the Government, and subsequently added to his orig- inal tract until he became one of the most ex.

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HISTORY OF KANE COUNTY.

tensive land-owners of the county. Hc had va- rious interests in addition to his land hold- ings, and was active in promoting the material prosperity of the county from the time of his settlement among the pioneers until his death, which occurred in 1889. He was married in 1835 to Miss Jane Van Dover, of Ulster County, N. Y., who died in 1885. In 1903 the living chil- dren of this pioneer family were Joseph, Isaac, Mrs. Elizabeth (Reynolds) Judd, Mrs. Olive (Reynolds) Hess, Miss Grace Reynolds, and Mrs. Minnie ( Reynolds) Owens.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Kane County, Part 170

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