USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II > Part 117
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In 1890 Mr. Rudolph was married to Kate Baker, born in Lake County, Ill. Their children are as follows : Franklin J., Irvin G., Walter, Clara, Ellen, Lydia, Mary and Gladys. Frater- nally Mr. Rudoph is a member of the Court of Honor. A man of skill, he has won his present position through his efficiency and deserves his prosperity.
RUH, George, president of the Rockford Pure Ice & Fuel Company, Nos. 1015 to 1023 School street, Rockford, is one of the men who have proved in their careers the value of industry and capably directed economy. He was born at Chicago, September 27, 1859, a son of Frank and Annie Mary Ruh. Natives of Germany, the father came here when sixteen years old, and the mother later. He located at Chicago aud was in business as an expert cutter and tailor. In 1862 he enlisted in Company L, Fourth Missouri Volunteer Cavalry, at Chicago, for service during the Civil war, and was killed on the battle field when thirty-four years old, after serving for four years. The mother survived and died at Chicago when fifty years old.
George Ruh was educated at Chicago, and fol- lowing the Chicago fire in 1871, began' learning the lathing trade, having plenty of opportunity to do so as there was so muchi building going on at that time. He also learned to be a plumb- ing and gas fitter, but finally engaged as a delivery man for McGinnis & Boyle, ice dealers. After five years, during which time he gained a fair working knowledge of the business he started for himself in this line at Lake View, where he remained for several years. Here he became very prominent in politics and was alder- man of his city, being then only twenty-eight
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
years old. When Lake View was made a part of the city of Chicago, Mr. Ruh was in favor of annexation and retired from politics about 1890. On May 27, 1906, he moved to Latham Park, Winnebago County, but later came into the city of Rockford. In 1912 he founded his present business under its existing caption, and has built it up to very large proportions.
The Rockford Pure Ice & Fuel Company, of which Mr. Ruh is president, in the few years it has been in existence, has grown to be one of Rockford's leading industries. An extensive ice and coal business is done and the company has one of the most modern and best equipped ice houses in the state.
In 1SS4 Mr. Ruh was married to Miss Me- thilda Kachler, a daughter of Fred Kachler, native of Germany, who came to the United States in an early day, locating at Chicago, where the father engaged in brick manufactur- ing for a number of years. When he was fifty years old, he moved to Winnebago County, Illi- nois, and bought a farm in Roscoe Township, on which he and wife still reside. In politics he is a Republican, and, both he and wife are members of the First Lutheran Church. Mr. Ruh is a charter member of Douglas Lodge No. 125, K. P., ot Chicago, and he is the oldest in mem- bership in it.
In addition to the business above described, Mr. Ruh owns property at Chicago, his home at No. 1066 School street, Rockford, and six acres of land on the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad at Rockford, As is easily seen from the above record, Mr. Ruh has had no outside assistance but has advanced through his own individual efforts, and his success is all the more meritorious because it has been gained by himself.
SABIN, J. Horace. The underlying spirit of the age is toward material improvement, and those who have thoroughly fitted themselves for con- structive work along any line may find remu- nerative employment for their talents. One of the leading men in his profession at Rockford is J. Horace Sabin, a licensed constructural engineer, who specializes in bridge construction. He was born at Stillwater, Minn., January 5, 1875, a son of J. Hoyt and Louise (Hard) Sabin, natives of Killingly, Conn., and Flat Rock, Mich., who were married at Aurora, Ill. The father was a manufacturer of farm machinery at Stillwater, Minn., and continued in that busi- ness until his death in 1876. The mother then removed to Aurora, Ill., and there later married W. H. Van Arsdale, who was in a smelting and refining business. In 1900 they went to Chicago, where they are now living retired.
J. Horace Sabin was the only child born to his parents. He was graduated from the Aurora High school in 1894 and then entered the Northwestern University and was graduated therefrom with the degree of B. S. in 1898. In order to study engineering, Mr. Sabin entered the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Boston, and was graduated therefrom in 1902.
For the following six months he was in the employ of the Boston and Worcester Traction line, and then went to Virginia to work for the N. & W. Railroad as constructing engineer, con- tinuing with this company for a year. He was then with the United States Steel corporation at various places, engaged in engineering con- struction and railroad location, and six years later located at Rockford, where he has since been doing contracting work, specializing on bridge construction, and is recognized as one of the most efficient men in his line in this part of the state.
In September, 1902, Mr. Sabin was married to Alice Hamlon, born at Paris, France, a daughter of Edward H. and Frances (Kale) Hamlon, natives of England. Mr. and Mrs. Sabin have one daughter, Alice Louise. Mr. and Mrs. Sabin belong to the Congregational Church. In politics Mr. Sabin is a Progressive. He is a deru of the Northwestern University, and belongs to the American Railroad Engineers' Association, the Illinois Society of Engineers, and the Western Railroad Club. He was elected county super- visor in November, 1914, on an independent ticket, and licensed a constructural engineer.
SADEWATER, Max C., generally recognized as one of the leading florists of Rockford, with a trade that extends all over Winnebago County, is a man whose love of his work is equal to his business judgment. He was born at Greifswald, Germany, June 14, 1872, a son of John and Marie (Fusting) Sadewater, who, in the winter of 1883, came to Rockford, where the father was afterward a laborer. He died in 1906, and the mother in 1910. Their children were as follows : Minnie, who is deceased; Max C .; Martha, who is Mrs. Steven O'Connor, of Rockford ; and Paul, who lives at Rockford.
Max C. Sadewater was fifteen years old when he began working for the Rockford Watch Com- pany, and by the time he was twenty-one years old he was made foreman of one of the depart- ments, continuing to work for this concern for sixteen years. For the following three years he worked for the National Sewing Machine Company, adjusting sewing machines at Belvi- dere, Ill., and then for two years again worked for the Rockford Watch Company. In 1908 he bought a tract of land on Charles street, Rock- ford, on which he erected one of the largest greenhouses in the county, now having about 10,000 feet of glass. He deals in all kinds of cut flowers and potted plants and specializes on funeral work.
On July 3, 1893, Mr. Sadewater was married to Luella Garrett, born at Rockford, a daughter of William and Ann (Hutchins) Garrett, born on the Isle of Man, and both now deceased, the mother passing away in 1896, and the father in 1899. Mr. and Mrs. Sadewater have one daugh -. ter, Ila Verona, who was born March 19, 1896. She represented Hon-no-ne-gah, an Indian' maiden, in the Rock River historical pageant, June 15 and 16, 1915, at Rockford. She married Steven Mack, a descendant of the first white
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HISTORY OF WINNEBAGO COUNTY
settler of Rockford. Mrs. Sadewater attends the Centennial Methodist Church, of Rockford.
In politics Mr. Sadewater is independent. Fraternally he belongs to the Court of Honor, the Modern Brotherhood of America, the Yeo- men of America, the Knights of Pythias, the Owls and the Moose. A man of more than average ability, Mr. Sadewater has made his own way in life, and has every reason to be proud of the success he has attained. .
SALEN, Swan August. Experience along agri- cultural lines fits a man to intelligently con- duet his farm and so work as to make a profit. One of the progressive men of Winnebago County who are succeeding in the work of cul- tivating the soil is Swan August Salen of Rockford Township. He was born in Sweden, April 19, 1847, a son of John Salen. When he - was twenty-one years old, he came to the United States, and located at Rockford, where hie built a nice home at the corner of Sixth street and Fifth avenue. He worked in a foundry and then at the furniture factory here for nineteen years. He then bought Cumming's farnı of sixty-two acres on which he lived for thirteen years, when he went to Harrison Town- ship for three years, returning later to the old home for four years, then sold it and moved to Cherry Valley Township, where he lived for three years, moving then to the present farm which he had bought in 1910. In 1911 he moved on the old Holland farm of eighty acres in Rockford Township, and on it now carries on general farming, and milks twelve cows. Mr. Salen was a stockholder of the Central Furni- ture Company, and was one of the first to go to work for it.
On November 1, 1883. Mr. Salen was mar- ried at Rockford to Mathilda Hartwigson, a native of Sweden, born August 13, 1853, and arrived in Rockford June 2, 1873, and they have three children, namely : Henry, born May 11, 1885, Edith, born July 4, 1887, and Hjal- mar, born June 11, 1890. Henry and Edith are at home. Hjalmar is a mechanic with Barber- Coleman and Company, in Rockford. In addi- tion to these three living children, Mr. and Mrs. Salen had two others who are deceased, Sophia, born August 7. 1884, died August 9, 1884, and Gotfried, a twin to Henry, was born May 11, 1SS5 and died August 30, 1885. Mr. Salen be- longs to the First Lutheran Church of Rock- ford, and was a trustee of it for about nine years. He was acting in this capacity when the new church edifice was erected. This organiza- tion has the largest congregation of any of its kind in the country. Mr. Salen is proud of the fact that for twenty years he never missed an attendance upon Sunday school of which he was overseer, and he is just as faithful in his performance of other duties as he was in this connection.
SANBORN, Clarence A., manufacturer, has made his name a well known one in Winnebago County. He is now living in comfortable re-
tirement at No. 610 N. Second street, Rockford. He was born at Barre, Vt., July 15, 1848, a son of Rufus S. and Emily F. (Howard) Sanborn of New Hampshire, who moved to Providence, Mass. Later they went to Vermont, and in 1856 came to Illinois, locating at Buda, in Bureau County. The father was a Unitarian minister, and also a dentist, and followed the latter pro- fession during the week days and preached on Sundays. He was also interested in farming. In 185S he went to Sycamore, Ill., where he continued his ministerial and other labors until 1863, in which year he went to Ripon, Wis. Later he was interested in a manufacturing project which took him to Boston, Mass., but his last days were spent at Rockford, to which city he moved in 1867, and here died in 1878. The inother died in 1902.
Clarence A. Sanborn was educated in the common and high schools of Sycamore, Ill. In 1S6S he bought a drug store on the corner of W. State and Church streets. Later on he fitted up a drug store near the present site of Arm- strong's clothing store, but in 1878 sold it to Charles Sabin and went to Chicago, and was interested in the agency for the celluloid col- lars, of which his brother was the patentee. After two years at Chicago, although he re- tained his residence at Rockford, Mr. Sanborn returned to this city and became connected with the Price Glove Manufacturing Company, pro- ducers of gloves and mittens, becoming its vice president. In 1905, however, he severed his con- nections with this company and has since lived retired. For years he has been more or less interested in real estate, and has bought and sold for speculative purposes. At present he owns several residences and other valuable city property.
On May 14, 1873, Mr. Sanborn was married to Mary A. Wallis, born at Patterson, N. J., a daughter of W. T. and Henrietta (Remsen) Wallis, of New York and New Jersey, respec- tively, who were early settlers of Rockford, coming here about 1857. He became cashier and a stockholder of the Third National Bank of the city when it was organized, so continuing until his death October 16, 1SS5. The mother died November 11. 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Sanborn have had the following children : Wallace R., who is vice president and general manager of the Lehigh Stone Co. of Kankakee, Ill., was born May 20. 1874, and married Ada Carmony, issue : Deborah B., Daniel C., Clarence A. and Anna A. ; William, who died in 1911, aged thirty- one years, was born September 7, 1880; and two sons who died in childhood. Howard C., born December 7, 1875, died December 8, 1889; and Frank, born November 12, 1877, died March 8, 1881. In politics Mr. Sanborn is a Republican. He belongs to the Chapter, Commandery and Shrine at Rockford, being a Mason in high standing and one of the organizers of the fra- ternity in this locality.
SANDSTEDT, Carl, a prosperous grocer and a leading business man of Rockford, stands very
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high in public esteem aud is recognized as a most excellent citizen. He was born in Smoland, Sweden, August 28, 1866, a son of P. A. and Hilda (Wetterhall) Sandstedt, natives of Smo- land, Sweden. The paternal ancestors were farmers and their farm has been in the family since 1543. The maternal grandfather was engaged in paper manufacturing, but later be- came a farmer. P. A. Sanstedt never left his native land, dying in 1906, aged eghty-two years. His widow survives and still lives in Sweden. They were members of the Lutheran Church.
Carl Sanstedt was educated in Sweden, and gave his country nine years of military service, being in the cavalry branch. He came to the United States, and located at Rockford, here entering the employ of the Rockford Furniture Company, where he remained for four years and then went with the Free Sewing Machine Company. After seven years with the latter concern he embarked in a grocery business for himself, on Charles street, but a year later moved to his present location at No. 104 Seventh street, where he has built up a very fine business.
In 1892 Mr. Sandstedt was married to Miss Anna Johnson, a daughter of John and Louise Johnson of Smoland, Sweden, where her parents are engaged in farming. Politically Mr. Sand- stedt is a Republican. His religious connections are with Zion Lutheran Church of Rockford, and he is highly respected in this organization as he is elsewhere for he is a man of very desir- able traits of character and high principles.
SANFORD, Goodyear A .; page 648.
SARVER, Ray Vaughn, one of the substantial farmers of Winnebago County, owns and oper- ates eighty acres of land located five miles north of the village of Pecatonica. He was born in Winnebago County, January 20, 1887. The Sarver family comes of very old English stock that settled in Ogle County, Ill., in 1837. From there the father of Ray Vaughn Sarver came to Winnebago County.
Ray Vaughn Sarver was educated iu the . public schools of his native county, and grew up to an agricultural life. In 1907 he was married to Miss Nellie Wright, born Novem- ber 22, 1882, a daughter of William S. B. and Sophronia (Hitchcock) Wright. Her grand- mother was Martha (Hudson) Wright, a native of Canada, who died at the age of ninety-three and the grandfather at the age of ninety-one years. William S. B. Wright died in March, 1911, and Mrs. Wright in May of the same year. Their children were as follows: Mrs. Charles Stephens, who was boru August 17, 1877; John, who was born April 17, 1880; Nellie. Mrs. Sarver, who was born November 28. 1882; Mrs. Doris Knadle, who was born in 1885; and Mabel, who was born in 1889, is a teacher in the Pecatonica public schools. The Wright family is of New York State origin and the parents of Mrs. Sarver came to that part of Winnebago County where they lived until death claimed them, in 1854. Mr. and Mrs.
Sarver have one son, Rayme, the first grand- child in the Sarver family, who was born No- vember 4, 1910.
SAUBER, Henry E., who, after some experience along different lines, is now devoting his energies towards conducting his father's homestead which he has inherited, is one of the representative men of Rockford. He was born at Kenosha, Wis., October 1, 1861, a son of John Peter and Anna Maria (Williams) Day Sauber.
One in a family of ten children, Henry E. Sauber was educated in the district schools, and reared to agricultural activities. When he was seven years old his parents moved to Rockford and he lived there ten years, in 1878 going back to the farm. In 1890 he returned to Rock- ford and for some time worked at the machinist trade, also was in the grocery business a short time, but in 1894 went to his father's farm iu Ogle County, and here spent ten profitable years. In 1904, he returned to the homestead which has since continued to be his home. Here he has a valuable property and conducts his seventy acres of land in a scientific manner.
On March 11, 1886, Mr. Sauber was married to Minnie Amelia Johns, a daughter of Richard and Jane Ann (Hocken) Johns. Mr. and Mrs. Sauber are the parents of two children, Ralph Henry, born May 5, 1887, living at home; and Marion Frances, born January 16, 1889, who married Frank M. Shaw. Mr. Sauber is a member of the Grange which he has served as secretary. He is an excellent example of the live, progressive farmer of today, who is able to take advantage of existing conditions and turn them to profit. While he has not entered public life, he does his duty as a good citizen, supporting candidates that meet his approval, voting independently. He is well informed and takes an intelligent interest in public affairs.
SAUBER, John Peter. The history of no com- munity is complete without a record of the men who have borne their part in its development. Through the work of the pioneers and their suc- cessors is a locality opened up and developed, and its subsequent history largely depends upon the character of those who lay the foundations. Fortunately for Rockford the majority of its first citizens were men of unusual character who displayed excellent judgment and acted accord- ing to a farseeing policy from which the present day generation is benefitting.
One of these men was the late John Peter Sauber of Rockford. He was born in Germany, October 1, 1836. When he was nine years old he was brought to the United States by his father, and the family located in Wisconsin, where they passed through the pioneer experi- ences of that time and place. In 1868 Mr. Sauber camue to Winnebago County, and located on Park avenue, Rockford, although he had in- vested in an Ogle County farm. In the fall of 1878 he bought forty acres of land in Rock- ford Township, which he subsequently increased to sixty acres, and improved it to a considerable
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extent. This property has, since his death, March 5, 1900, been divided among his children. His wife lived until February 17, 1912, when she was seventy-six years old. She bore the maiden name of Anna Maria Williams, and was born in Kenosha, Wis., a daughter of John Wil- liams. Mrs. Sauber was a widow when she married Mr. Sauber, her first husband having been David Day, by whom she had two children, Lorinda and William. Mr. and Mrs. Sauber had ten children, as follows: one who died in in- fancy ; Theodore, who is deceased; Henry E., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; George Alfred, who is a resident of the west end of Rockford; Ada May, who is Mrs. Frank Johns: Ellsworth and Albert, both of whom are deceased, were twins ; Herbert Charles, who is a resident of Rockford Township; Harvey Good- year, who is a resident of Rockford; and Fred L., who is deceased. At one time Mr. Sauber was a candidate for mayor of Rockford. During the Civil war he gave his country a one year's service. He was a man of unblemished charac- ter, and sought to do what he considered was his full duty, and while he prospered, he also built up a reputation for fair dealing that has lived after him.
SAWYER, Willis (Kit) E. Political honors seldom come to a man unless he has already proven his ability to discharge the duties of the office conferred upon him by popular vote of the people, especially when such an office is so important a one as that of sheriff of a county the size of Winnebago. One of the men whose name is connected with this office and who otherwise was also a man of substance and prominence, was the late Willis E. Sawyer. He was born at Geneva Lake, Wis., February 9, 1846, a son of H. J. and Lorilla (Baker) Saw- ver. H. J. Sawyer was born in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., where he married, his wife being a native of the same county. After marriage they moved to Wisconsin and took up govern- ment land, improving this property while resid- ing upon it. Later Mr. Sawyer engaged in a hotel business at Darien, Wis., but after a few years, went to Rockton, Ill., where he con- tinned in a hotel business. Not only was he elected sheriff of Winnebago County for a two year term, but he served as a justice of the peace and constable. Retiring, he located at Rockford, where he bought a house and lot, and there died in 1903. His first wife died twelve years after marriage, and he later mar- ried Miss Mina Lippet, a daughter of John Lippet. who died at Rockford, Ill. The second Mrs. Sawyer died about 1892. In politics, H. J. Sawyer was a Republican.
Willis E. Sawyer passed his boyhood in Wisconsin and Illinois, attending school in both places. In 1861 he enlisted for service during the Civil war, and drove a commissary wagon as he was then deemed too young to enter the ranks. Later, however, he was enrolled as a private in Company C. Sixty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and at the close of the war
received his honorable discharge. Returning lome, he traveled for the Hamlin Wizard Oil Company for three years. He then embarked in a livery business at Rockford, Ill., but after a short period went to Santa Barabara, Cal., where he was engaged in the same line for five years. Selling at the close of that time, he returned to Rockford, and once more was in a livery business. In the meanwhile he was elected sheriff of the county, and made a very efficient official. In 1907, he sold his livery business and went to Dakota and bought 480 acres of land, and was also justice of the peace there, but after a few years, came back to Rock- ford. Not long after his return, he was stricken with an illness which proved fatal, and he died June 5, 1912, aged sixty-six years. He was a Mason and a Modern Woodman, and a member of the G. A. R. of Rockford. He was a strong Republican.
In 1871 Mr. Sawyer was married to Mary Blewfield, a daughter of Jacob and Rachel (Springsted) Blewfield. Mr. and Mrs. Blew- field are both now deceased and are buried at Rockford. Natives of New York state, they came to Illinois in 1856, buying 160 acres in Burritt Township, Winnebago County, on which they resided for years, but subsequently re- tired to Rockford. Mrs. Blewfield died in 1801, aged seventy-five years, while Mr. Blew- field passed away in 1907, aged eighty-eight years. In politics he was a Democrat.
SAX, Ira D. The . men who are selected to oversee the work of their associates in any one of the large manufacturing establishments must of necessity be experts and fitted to ex- ercise a judicious control and not to exceed their authority. Perhaps no one man is better placed in the entire large establishment of the Emerson-Brantingham Company than is Ira D. Sax, foreman of the wood department, who is one of the substantial men of Rockford, resid- ing at No. 1301 Elm street. He was born in Luzerne County, Pa., June 3, 1854, a son of Amos and Sarah (Hopkins) Sax, natives of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, farming people.
Ira D. Sax was educated in the country schools of Pennsylvania, and a Poughkeepsie business college. For over thirty years there- after, he was engaged in merchandising in his native state. About 1905 he turned his atten- tion westward, and became associated with the Emerson-Brantingham Company at Rockford, Ill .. as a clerk. By 1908 he was recognized as a man of unusual ability, and was made fore- man of the wood department of that concern, which position he still holds.
In June, 1876, Mr. Sax was married to Ella Litts, who was born in Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. Sax have one daughter, Helen E., who was born in February, 1895, who is at home. Mr. Sax is a Mason. The family attends the Presbyterian church. Hardworking, energetic and a man of force of character, Mr. Sax is a very desirable addition to the force of any
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