Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 78

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972

USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II > Part 78

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On September 28, 1875, Mr. Dale was married to Miss Clio Gates, a daughter of Lorenzo and Nancy J. Thompson Gates, the former of whom was one of the early settlers of Winnebago County, coming here when thirteen years old. He broke the raw prairie and hauled his wheat to Chicago and his dressed hogs to Galena. Mr. Gates died September 26, 1901, aged seventy-four years, his wife passing away in February, 1897, aged sixty-five years. Mr. Gates was a charter member of Eureka Camp No. 50, M. W. A., and his political allegiance was given to the Re- pulilican party. He and his wife had two chil- dren : Olus. who is living in Emmet County, Iowa, and Mrs. Dale, who died April 15, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Dale had seven children: Clifton, who resides in Montana ; Orvinnia, who married Byron McGraw and has one daughter. Hazel ; Eleanor; Nettie, who married G. Phelps, of

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Cherry County, Nebr,; Viola, who lives in Chi- cago; Gilbert, who lives in Montana; and Rannie, who died in infancy, On January 1, 1914, Mr. Dale was married (second) to Mrs. Sarah Rafinn, who died April 5th, 1915.

Mr. Dale has served as a school director for three years, and gives his political support to the Republican party. He is a member of Eureka Camp No, 50, M. W. A., with which he has been affiliated since 1887, and his first wife was a member of the Fraternal League, and she and their daughter Eleanor were members of the Woman's Relief Corps. Mrs. Dale was a school director for two years during their resi- dence in Durand Township. Without doubt Mr. Dale is one of the best examples of a self-made inan Winnebago County possesses, and his pros- perity has been won through hard work, aided of course by excellent judgment.

DANIELLS, William A., who is in charge of the shipping department of the Woodward Governor Company, with residence at No. 1312 School street, is one of the sound, reliable men of Rock- ford, upon whom all dependence can be placed, He was born at Ira, Cayuga County. N. Y., Sep- tember 1, 1839, a son of Virol and Sophronia (Osborn) Daniells.

Nirol Daniells was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., in 1812, and there was educated and mar- ried to Sophronia Osborn, who was a native of the same county. He learned the carpenter trade. In 1849 he went to California, and re- mained in that state until 1851, and during that period became very prominent there, being elected county judge of Colusa County, Cal., and lived in the town of Eldorado, In 1851 he moved to Kenosha, Wis., the family making the trip both ways with horses and a wagon, but only spent a year there, coming in 1852 to Rockford. Here he resumed his work as a car- penter, and was elected the first police magis- trate Rockford ever placed in office. In 1866 he went to Rochelle, Ill., where he spent four years working at his trade, and then left for Seward, Neb,, where he bought land, improved it and lived upon it until his death which was caused by his falling from the steeple of the Baptist Church which he was building, His wife died in 1899, aged seventy-eight years, at Denver, Colo, In politics he was a Republican, and he and wife were members of the Christian Union Church,

William A. Daniells was reared at Rockford, and there educated. He enlisted in the United States navy, and was in the government service for a long time. He returned to Rockford and engaged in work at the carpenter trade with his father for a number of years, going with him to Rochelle, where he continued to work as a car- penter until 1871. In that year he went to Chicago, as carpenters were in great demand there to repair the damage done by the disas- trous fire, and he remained in that city for a year, and then came back to Rockford, which has continued his home ever since. For some years he worked at his trade and then, in 1890,

accepted his present position which he has filled for a quarter of a century, being one of the valued employes of his company.

In 1867 Mr. Daniells was married to Miss Sara Spalding, a daughter of Asa Gore and Susan B. (Welding) Spalding of Byron, Ill. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania, who came west at an early day, locating in Ogle County, Ill. There the Spaldings took up govern- ment land which they improved, and also se- cured a farm of 640 acres in Stillman Valley, In addition to his large farming interests, he operated a store, a gristmill, a sawmill, a ferry boat, and built his own boats and was the first postmaster at Byron, In 1856 he located at Rockford where he went into a grain business with Warner Blinn, but on the night of the death of President Lincoln, their warehouse caught fire, and the partners sustained a total loss. Mr. Spalding then traveled for the Under- wood Company, of Chicago, a commission house, but after some years went to Webster City, Iowa, where he established himself in an imple- ment business with J. S. Root, and continued it until his retirement, when he came back to Rockford, and here he died.

Mr. and Mrs. Daniells have had two children : Francis Irene, who died aged nine months; and Lena May, who is the wife of D. Thronson, of Racine, Wis.

DAVIS, Abram E. The name of Davis is asso- ciated with some of the most successful farming interests of Guilford Township. Representa- tives of the name are worthy of the respect and esteem accorded them by members of the com- munities in which they live. One of these, Abram E. Davis, farmer and stockraiser and shipper, was born in Guilford Township, July 29, 1865. Here he attended the public schools and later took a course in the Rockford Busi- ness College. In 1883 he began earning his own living by working on the homestead farm, and there remained assisting his widowed mother until February, 1894. In that year he moved to. his present farm of 260 acres situated on sec- tions 35 and 36. Guilford Township, which he had bought in 1893. This has been his place of residence, with the exception of two years, 1901 and 1902 when he lived at Rockford, ever since. He carries on general farming and has been one of the leading stock men of the county, raising full-blooded Angus cattle for shipping, an average of twenty-five head annually, and buying and feeding an average of eighty head of cattle for the market.

On November 12, 1891, Mr. Davis was mar- ried to Carrie Whittle, who was born in Guil- ford Township. November 1, 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have one son, Frederick A .. who was born November 26, 1894. He is now a student in the agricultural department of the Illinois State University, In politics Mr. Davis is a Republican, The Davis home is a beautiful residence located on section 36, Guilford Town- ship, one-half mile north of Cherry Valley,

Charles Whittle, the father of Mrs. Davis,

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was the second son of Thomas Whittle, born at Detroit, Mich., in 1783, and Betsey (Leveau) Whittle, born in 1785. The birth of Charles Whittle occurred in Essex Co., Canada, August 8, 1814. In 1837 Charles Whittle came to Winnebago County, and soon thereafter bought the farm in Guilford Township now owned by his son, Fred J. Whittle. The mother of Mrs. Davis bore the maiden name of Eliza- beth Sawyer Fox, and she was born at Oxford, Me., December 27, 1832, a daughter of Luther and Betsey (Sawyer) Fox, the former born in 1804, and the latter in 1807. In 1854 Eliza- beth Sawyer Fox was married to Hiram Cole, and came to Winnebago County. Mr. and Mrs. Cole had one son, Charles S. Cole. After the death of Mr. Cole, Mrs. Cole was married, Jan- uary 12. 1865, to Charles Whittle. Mr. Whittle died December 27. 1884, but Mrs. Whittle sur- vived until May 12, 1906. Thus it will be seen that Mr. and Mrs. Davis are direct descendants of early county settlers the authenticated rec- ords of whom should be preserved with other county annals.

DAVIS, Albert Francisco, now living in honor- able retirement at No. 734 West State street. Rockford, is one of the substantial men and old veterans of Winnebago County. He was born at Waverly. Tioga County, N. Y., July S, 1844, a son of Adam H. and Janet (Vedder) Davis. In 1854 the family came to Winnebago County, and bought a farm in Rockford Town- ship, but sold it in 1866, and went to Man- chester, Iowa. Later the parents sold their property there and went to Florida where they contracted yellow fever and there died. Their children were as follows: Albert F .; Sarah, who is Mrs. Harry Dorman, of Minneapolis, Minn. ; Frank, who lives at Lincoln, Ill .; and Elnora, who died in young womanhood. The father enlisted for service during the Civil war in Company C, Seventy-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in 1862, and was discharged for dis- ability after the battle of Stone River.

Albert Francisco Davis was educated in the public schools ot Tioga and Winnebago counties and was reared to farm life. In September, 1861, he enlisted for service during the Civil war, in Company G, Forty-fitth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and participated in the battles of Shiloh, siege of Corinth and siege of Vicksburg, and was also in the engagements at Raymond and Champion's Hill, and then was sent with others on a raid to Meridian, Miss. He then veteranized and went home on a thirty day fur- lough. Returning, he rejoined his regiment at Cairo, Ill., and took a boat up the Ohio River. At the close of the war he was honorably dis- charged. On returning to Winnebago County he was profitably engaged in several callings and was in a mechanical capacity for a number of years, retiring about 1912, since which time he has enjoyed the fruits of his former labors.

On March 13, 1883, Mr. Davis was married to Dora Richards, born at Durand, Ill., a daughter of D. S. and Hannah (McCord) Richards, na-

tives of New York and Summerville, N. J. About 1859 Mr. Richards came west to Illinois, making the trip to Chicago by boat and thence with a team of mules to Owen Center, Ill., where he lived on a farm until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Davis became the parents of two chil- dren, Bessie, who was Mrs. Edward O'Callahan, died at Rockford, December S, 1911; and Ray- mond E., who lives with his parents. Mrs. Davis was educated in the public schools of her native place. Mr. Davis is independent in politics. He belongs to Nevius Post No. 1, G. A. R., and his wite belongs to the Woman's Relief Corps. Mrs. Davis is press correspondent for this post. They are justly regarded as repre- sentative people of this city and county.

DAVIS, Frank M., who has always resided on the farm which is now his home, is wedded to the soil by birth, inheritance and inclination, and is justly numbered among the progressive farmers of the county. He was born in Guil- tord Township, July 10, 1871, a son of Thaddeus and Mary A. (McClary) Davis, and a grandson of Thaddeus Davis.

Reared amid wholesome rural surroundings, Frank M. Davis was taught farming from his boyhood, and was sent to the schools of his dis- trict and also a business college at Rockford. When his father died he bought 100 acres of the homestead, on which was the house in which he was born, the barns and other build- ings, and in 1914 he bought 106 acres additional, owning in all 206 acres on section 24, Guilford Township. In 1910 Mr. Davis built a modern brick residence, of twelve rooms, and equipped it with gas light, hot and cold water, and other modern improvements so that it is a model of convenience and comfort. On this farm Mr. Davis carries on general farming and dairying and tor the latter purpose has built a modern cow barn with cement floor, patent stalls, com- pressed air milking plant, and other very desir- able, improved appliances. He milks thirty- eight high grade Jersey cattle, but is arranging to add many head to his herd.

On October 7, 1896, Mr. Davis was married to Mary Eunice DuBois, born in Belvidere Township, Boone County, İll., September 9, 1873, a daughter of Fredrick and Celestia (Gleason) DuBois, he born in Belvidere Township, Octo- ber 3, 1842, and she was born in Guilford Town- slip, this county, May 31, 1844. The Du Bois and Gleason families were pioneers in Boone and Winnebago counties where they took up government land. Mr. and Mrs. Davis have two children, namely : Erwin Frederick, who was born March 19, 1900; and Lester Thaddeus, who was born April 22, 1905. Mr. Davis is thor- oughly alive to the possibilities and necessities of modern methods, and is constantly experi- menting with and adopting new ideas in his work.

DAVIS, Jacob. During life the late Jacob Davis was one of the substantial agriculturalists of Guilford Township and was a man universally

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honored and respected. He was the uinth son of Thaddeus and Catherine ( Kirklaud ) Davis. He was born in Southlaud, Canada, May 27, 1832, and there lived nutil 1839 wheu his parents migrated to Wiunebago County, which continued to be his home the remainder of his life. Possessed of business capacity his undertakings proved generally successful, and as he was honest and upright in his dealiugs with others, he gained aud retained their respect.

Iu 1860 Jacob Davis was married to Harriet Campbell, born in Durand Township, Winne- bago Couuty, April 26, 1830. Mrs. Davis sur- vives and makes her home in the town of Cherry Valley. They became the parents of the following three children : Elmer, who died in infancy ; Abram E., and Mrs. Florence Fitch.

Until his marriage, Jacob Davis resided with his parents to whom he reudered filial atten- tiou. At that time he bought a farm ou section 13, Guilford Township, where he lived after- ward until his death, developing this property into a very valuable one, and increasing his acreage to 145 acres. His death occurred No- vember 7, 1875. Few of the modern time and labor-saving appliances and machines had come into general use, or even been invented when Jacob Davis carried on his farm, and naturally the work in his day, because of that fact, was extremely laborious. However, he farmed suc- cessfully, and was numbered among the pros- perous agriculturalists of his township.

DAVIS, Thaddeus. During his long and useful life, Thaddeus Davis, a competent farmer of Guilford Township, set au example of industry, thrift and successful operatiou that has been fol- lowed by his children and imitated by many of his neighbors. He was born in Southland, Canada, June 17, 182S, seventh child of Thad- deus and Catherine (Kirkland) Davis. Thad- deus Davis was born on a farm twelve miles from Albany, N. Y., June 19, 1793, a son of Wil- liam Davis, who was born in Conuecticut, of English parentage. William Davis moved to New York state and lived on the farm where liis son Thaddeus was born, until his death at the age of niuety-four years.

Thaddeus Davis, the elder, married Catherine Kirkland, who was born near Schenectady, N. Y., February 10, 1797. Her parents were natives of Scotland. Some years after his marriage Thaddeus Davis took his family to Canada, mak- ing the trip with ox teams and having to cut his way through the wilderness. He located on a timber tract in Southland, Canada, Londou District, but sold his farm in 1839, and moved to Winnebago County, Ill. The family brought their household goods, cattle and sheep with them, and were ou the road six weeks. Upon his arrival Thaddeus Davis bought a squatter's claim on section 24, Guilford Township, this farm now being owned by two of his grandsons. Mr. and Mrs. Davis became the parents of ten children, as follows: Jane, Eliza, David, Rob- ert, Daniel, Joseph, Thaddeus, George, Jacob and

John. The father of this family died October 30, 1851, while the mother died May 12, 1871.

When he was eleven years old, Thaddeus Davis (2) was brought to Guilford Township, and here he was reared to useful manhood. He continued to live on the homestead, and at his father's death he bought the 140 acre farm, having previously iuvested in twenty acres ad- joining. At the time of his death he owned 160 acres all in section 24, Guilford Township.

On December 10, 1857, Thaddeus Davis was married to Mary A. McClary, born in Onondaga Couuty, N. Y., April 26, 1834, and they had the following children: Alma, who married A. B. Hammond of Belvidere, Ill., was boru September 21, 1861; Thaddens G., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Mary E., who married Sherman W. Teeple of Belvidere, Ill., was born September 25, 1869 ; and Frank M., whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. A man of un- questioned honor, upright in all his dealings, Thaddeus Davis becaque a well to do man through uutiring work and thrifty saving, and at the time of his death no man stood any higher in public esteem than did he.

DAVIS, Thaddeus G., who ranks with others of the Davis family, among the progressive men of Winnebago County, both as a farmer and as a citizen, was born in Guilford Township, March 15, 1863, a son of Thaddeus and Mary A. (Mc- Clary) Davis, and grandson of Thaddeus and Catherine (Kirkland) Davis.

Brought up ou the Davis homestead his grand- father had bought when the family was estab- lished in Winnebago County in 1839, Thaddeus G. Davis learned to be a farmer and was edu- cated in the schools of the district. He re- mained with his parents until 1886, aud then for a year was a clerk iu a general store at Steven- son, Mich., but returned to Guilford Township. In March. 1889, he invested in thirty-three acres of his father's farm, upon which he erected a substantial residence, the necessary barns and other outbuildings, and made various similar improvements. In the fall of 1914 he added sixty acres to his holdings, which had belonged to the homestead, and now has ninety-three acres of as fine land as can be found in Guil- ford Township. He also owns forty acres ad- joining his farm, which is located in Belvidere Township, Boone County.

On June 20, 1888, Mr. Davis was married to Mary E. Hart. born in Guilford Township, in 1866, a daughter of Angust F. and Nancy (New- ton) Hart. Mr. aud Mrs. Davis have two chil- dren, namely : Ruth A. and Gladys M. Sub- stantial, reliable and industrious, Mr. Davis has established himself in his community, and while his farm and home interests absorb the greater portiou of his time, he can be depended upon to support those measures which in his judgment will work out for the ultimate benefit of the majority.

DAY, Mark, whose experiments along agricul- tural lines have resulted in the introduction into

John @ Stiles,

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this section of the state of some new methods of farming, is one of the substantial farmers of Rockford Township. He was born at Essex, Chit- tendon County, Vt., November 28, 1839, a son of Childs and Mahala (Collins) Day, natives of Vermont and New Hampshire. They were farming people, who died in Vermont. They had the following children: Edwin, who died at Santa Rosa, Cal .; Ann, who has always resided with her brother Mark; Oscar, who lives at Spearfish, Okla .; Thaddeus, who was blind, re- sided with his brother Mark until his death in 1910; Frances, who married Josiah Rugg, died at Omaha, Neb .; Cornelius, who died at Rock- ford, Ill .; Henry, who died while serving in the Union army during the Civil war; Lucius, who died at Rockford in 1911, leaving a widow ; Mark, who was the eighth child; Mary, who married John Lyon, died at Colchester, Vt .; and Frank, who died at the age of six years.

Mark Day enlisted in August, 1863, in Com- pany D, Thirteenth Vermont Volunteer Infantry, for service during the Civil war. He served in the Army of the Potomac, and participated in the battle of Gettysburg, and other engage- ments. During that famous battle, he was sta- tioned at the left of what is known as the "bloody angle," and saw some terrible fighting. He received his honorable discharge August 20, 1864, at the expiration of his time as he only had enlisted for nine months.

After his military experience was over, he re- turned to his old home in Vermont, but in 1865 came to Rockford, Ill., buying 160 acres of land just west of the city from his brother Edwin, who is now deceased. Until 1894 Mr. Day oper- ated the entire property, but in that year rented out all but five acres of it. This portion he de- votes to gardening, finding enjoyment and di- version in so doing. In 1909 he began the cul- ture of alfalfa, as an experiment, and was so successful that others followed his example, he being the first to try growing it in his locality.

On September 10, 1874, Mr. Day was married to Mary W. Winch, born in Aurora, N. Y., March 1, 1849, a daughter of Walter and Rose C. (Campbell) Winch. In 1875 Mr. and Mrs. Winch moved to San Francisco, Cal., where they died. Mr. and Mrs. Day have one son, Herbert W., who is an electrician and mechanical en- gineer, of Boston, Mass. He married a Miss Hutchinson. Mrs. Day died September 12, 1913. Mr. Day belongs to the Christian Union Church. He belongs to Nevius Post, No. 1, G. A. R., and the B. P. O. E. No. 42. In addition to his other interests, Mr. Day is vice president of the West End Furniture Company of Rockford, and is worthy of the confidence placed in him by his business associates and others.

DE COTO, Ellis H., one of the progressive men of Winnebago County, who comes of an old and honored family of this part of the state, was born in this county, February 16, 1881. He is a son of Henry and Elsie (Swift) De Coto. Henry De Coto was born November 19, 1858, and his wife was born in 1857. Their children were as

follows: Edgar and Edwin, twins; Ethel, who is employed in the Register-Gazette office, Rock- ford ; Okie, deceased ; Elbert C. and Ellis H.

Ellis H. De Coto was reared in his native county where he attended the public schools. His business experience has been gained as a farmer, and he is now profitably engaged as such in Pecatonica Township. On June 4, 1913, Mr. De Coto married Miss Eda Rapean, born in Winnebago County, September 22, 1894, but her parents are natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. and Mrs. De Coto have two children : Lila M., who was born March 4, 1914, and Neva, who was born July 10, 1915. In politics Mr. De Coto is a Republican. His religious connections are with the Methodist Church. A young man of enter- prise, he is discharging his duties as a citizen and has won the confidence of those with whom he is associated.

DEMAS, Gust, proprietor of the Palace pool, billiard and cigar store, at No. 316 W. State street, Rockford, is giving to the people of this city a place where they can enjoy playing pool and billiards amid wholesome surroundings. He was born in the old city of Athens, Greece, where both parents were also born and both died in Greece. The father was a priest of the Greek Church.

In 1893 Gust Demas, being ambitious, left his native city, and coming to the United States located at Chicago, Ill., and for a number of years he was there engaged in the same line of business as he is at present, being then at No. 1521 Milwaukee avenue. After building up an excellent business, he decided to make a change and sold and came to Rockford, where he managed a confectionery store for Jimmie Panagakaix at No. 124 W. State street for two years. Mr. Demas then established his present business, on November 10, 1914, and met with a ready patronage. His conduct of his con- cern is such as to reflect credit upon him and insure him continued patronage. In politics he is a Republican. Courteous, hard working and thrifty, Mr. Demas sets an example of business efficiency to others that they might well follow, and his success proves that America offers ex- cellent opportunities to foreign as well as native born men, if they are willing to take advantage of them in the right way.

. DENNETT, George H. After some years of retirement from business, during which period he continued to reside at Rockford, the late George H. Dennett passed away, leaving an en- viable record of honorable business achievement and of useful citizenship. He was born at Rochester, N. H., May 8, 1827, a son of Charles and Abigail (Ham) Dennett. His maternal grandfather was a captain in the Revolutionary war.

Charles Dennett, father of George H. Dennett, was born at Barnstead, N. H., September 28, 1788, but moved to Rochester, N. H., where he worked as a cabinetmaker. When forty-one years old he abandoned his trade, in which he

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was an expert, as machinery inade goods came into the market, and became a surveyor and also was a lawyer. He was also prominent along other lines, and was the first man to tound a savings bank, at Barnstead, N. H. A Mason, he held several offices in his lodge, including that of master, was also an Odd Fellow and served that order as secretary for twenty-one years. In politics he was a Republican after the formation of that party, and the Methodist church held his religious membership. His death occurred March 4, 1867, when he was seventy-eight years old. IIis wife died September 24, 1876, when she was eiglity-tour years old.

George H. Dennett spent his boyhood at Rochester, N. H., where he attended school, and afterward was a clerk for six years, and then went to Dover, N. H., and clerked for two years, when he established himself in a dry goods business of his own, and operated it at Dover for two years. Leaving Dover, he returned to Rochester and bought the business of his former employer, which he conducted for six years. In 1855, realizing as an astute business man that Rockford, Ill., had a fine future, he moved to this city and opened a dry goods establishment on the present site of King & Andrews' hardware store, and conducted it there for eighteen imonths. He then rented the first business loca- tion in the Metropolitan block, and in it con- ducted his store for forty years, subsequently purchasing the building. In 1896 he sold his stock, and lived afterward in retirement until his death, September 11, 1915.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 78

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn Publication date: 1903 Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 972

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Rogers, Thomas H; Moffet, Hugh R; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913. cn
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: Chicago : Muncell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 972