Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 96

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

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JONES, Willis O., viee president and manager of the Illinois School Furniture Company of Rockford, Ill., with residence at No. 1010 Ridge avenue, is one of the men through whose energy and progressive foresight the city has reached its present enviable position as a commercial and industrial center. Mr. Jones was born at Owensboro, Ky., January 13, 1883, a son of James H. and Lizzie (Tapp) Jones, retired farm- ers who live at Owensboro, Ky.

Willis O. Jones attended the public schools of his native place, and then took a course at the Lockyear Business College, Evansville, Ind. Upon leaving that institution, he obtained em- ployment as a bookkeeper and was then sales- man for the R. O. Evans Company of his native place, but later went with the Peter & Volz Company of Arlington Heights, Ill., where he

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remained until February, 1912, when he came to Rockford and bought the plant of the Stand- ard Woodworking Company, and formed his present company. This company is in excel- lent condition and its product is in great de- mand.

On April 25, 1906, Mr. Jones was married to Myrtle Watson of Owensboro, Ky. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have the following children : Dell, Preston and Willis O., Jr. Mr. Jones brought his family to Rockford upon his purchase of his business, and he and his wife connected themselves with the Court Street Methodist Church. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of Rockford Lodge of Elks No. 64, Golden Spur Lodge, K. P. No. 190, and Owens- boro Lodge, A. F. & A. M. No. 130. An ener- getic, carefully trained man he has steadily forged to the front and is recognized as one of the competent and representative business men of Rockford.

JONSON, Albert, who is now deceased, was for many years a manufacturer of wood finishings, with plant located at Rockford, where he de- veloped a fine business and made himself an important factor in the commercial life of the city. He was born in Sweden, January 31, 1867, a son of Carl and Hannah Jonson. The father was also a native of Sweden, and became a large landowner and dealt in timber extensively until in the eighties, when he brought his family to the United States, settling at first in Martin County, Minn. There he engaged in farming and made that county his home until 1897 when he removed to Rockford, Ill., where he built a snuff factory and operated it for some years. He was very successful both in Sweden, and this country, accumulating considerable property. He died March 15, 1915. He was a Republican and a member of the Lutheran Church. The mother, also a native of Sweden, was a daughter of large landowners and her parents never left Sweden.

Albert Jonson attended school both in Sweden and Minnesota, and assisted his father in farming until 1892 when he came to Rock- ford, Ill. After his father established his snuff factory, Mr. Jonson was in charge of it for a few years, and then bought the old Rockford Paint factory and the new business was started under the firm name of Jonson & Son. Later the name was changed to that of the Rockford Wood Finishing Company. In the year 1910 he sold to the Rockford Varnish Company, and became secretary and manager of the new company, so continuing until the close of his life. He was accidentally killed at Clinton, Iowa, by a rail- road train, February 4, 1914. In 1907 Mr. Jonson returned to his native land to join his wife who had gone to Sweden in 1906, and they spent the summer there together visiting different points, and also traveled through other parts of Europe.

In 1903 Mr. Jonson was married to Alida Nelson, a daughter of Carl and Marie (Ander- son) Nelson, at Rockford, Ill. Her parents were

natives of Sweden, and in 1887 the father came to the United States and located at Rockford where he was employed in different lines of business. When he retired he bought a com- fortable residence on Sixth street, Rockford, and lived there until his death in 1907, at the age of seventy-two years. The mother survives and makes her home with her children. Mr. Nelson was a Republican and a member of the Lutheran Church of Rockford.

Mr. and Mrs. Jonson became the parents of the following children: Carol E., Carl Stuart, and Barbara M. Mr. Jonson espoused the prin- ciples of Republicanism. He was a member of the Emanuel Church at Rockford. His sudden death was sincerely deplored for it removed from Rockford one of its substantial men and desirable citizens.

JOSLYN, Judson S., proprietor and manager of the Joslyn Auto Company, at No. 320 S. Church street, is one of the progressive men of Rock- ford who has known how to meet a popular de- mand, and to benefit by. it. His own name standing back of any product is a guarantee of its merit, for the people know that he would not handle any but reliable goods of any kind. He was born at Rockton, Ill., February 3, 1866, a son of Alecsius C. and Lucy (Peterson) Jos- lyn. The father was born at Nunda, N. Y., and the mother at Rockton, Ill. When he was a small boy the father was brought to Chicago by his parents, and there the grandfather en- gaged in a general merchandise business on Lake street for a number of years. He died in Chicago. The grandmother died at Nunda, N. Y.

Alecsius C. Joslyn became self-supporting at an early age, and when only eighteen years old drove the omnibus for the old Sherman House, in Chicago, and continued in the same line of business for some years. He became associated with Frank Parmalee, of the same city, and was one of the first men to maintain such con- nections with the great transfer magnate. After some years Mr. Joslyn came to Rockton, and was in the general store of Wait, Vaness & Joslyn for some years. He then went to Elgin, Ill., and engaged in a wholesale oil and grease business which he subsequently sold to the Standard Oil Company. In 1905 he came to Rockford, where he is now living, retired. Both he and wife make their home with their son, Judson S. Joslyn, at No. 968 N. Main street. Mr. Joslyn is a Republican politically. In re- ligious faith he is a Baptist.

Judson S. Joslyn was reared at Rockton and Elgin, and attended the public schools of the latter place, and the Elgin Academy. He as- sisted his father for a time in the oil and grease business, and later became a traveling salesman for the Standard Oil Company, being thus associated for fifteen years. He then located at Rockford to take charge of the com- pany's interests at this point, and held such position for five years. Mr. Joslyn then bought the old Rockford Tack Company plant on the water power, and conducted the business for

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four years. At the same time he engaged in an automobile repairing business and handled the Jeffery automobile. Subsequently he disposed of his tack business and has since devoted himself exclusively to his automobile business, and con- tinues to liandle the Jeffery cars.

In 1881 Mr. Joslyn was married to Miss A. May Hood, a daughter of Albert and Betsey Hood of Winooski, Vt., who never came to the West. Mr. and Mrs. Joslyn have one child, Gladys. They reside in their beautiful home at No. 968 N. Main street. Fraternally Mr. Joslyn is a Mason and Elk, and his political opinions made him a Republican. He is a man of unusual business ability and has made a success of whatever he has undertaken. During one year he was president of the Rockford Chamber of Com- merce.

KANE, Joseph J., foreman of the action regu- lating department of the Haddorff Piano Com- pany, is one of the most skilled workmen in his class at Rockford, if not in the piano trade. He was born at Galesburg, Ill., January 22, 1880. After receiving a common school education at Galesburg and Chicago, he began his career as a piano workman with the W. W. Kimball Com- pany, with which he remained for over a year, when he went with the Cable Piano Company, and there continued until 1900. At that time he engaged with the Hamilton Company, returning to the Cable Company at St. Charles, Ill., in 1901. After six years, during which period he was inspector of the fine regulating of that company, he came to Rockford, entering the employ of the Haddorff Piano Company in 1907, working in their action regulating department. In 1909 he was made foreman of this depart- ment and has held this important position ever since to the entire satisfaction of his employ- ers and workmen.

In 1913 Mr. Kane was married to Katherine W. McNevin. He is a Catholic and belongs to St. Mary's Church. A young man of great skill he has forged abead and owes his present posi- tion not to the influence of friends, but to his own ability and faithful work.

KARLZEN, Gust, progressive in all his methods, and a man who neglects nothing to increase his business and improve his output. He was born at Vastarvik, Sweden, April 15, 1877, and his parents still reside in Sweden. In 1903 Mr. Karl- zen left his native land for the United States, and stopped at Joliet, Ill., where he worked as a stone cutter, having learned his trade in his native land. Six months later he went to Dwight, Ill., in a year returned to Joliet but in ten months went to Geneva, Ill. At the latter place he formed a partnership with John Widen for the purpose of conducting a monument bus- iness, and in 1913 established a branch at Rock- ford, on the corner of Rural and Prospect streets, where he gives employment to two men. From six to eleven men are required at the Geneva plant. In the spring of 1908, Mr. Karlzen bought out his partner, and has since then conducted both

places alone. In addition to his residence at Geneva, Mr. Karlzen owns a valuable cement block in the business district, two houses, and a fine business corner at Rockford, and his bus- iness shows a rapid and healthy increase.

In 1898 Mr. Karlzen was married in Sweden to Amanda Swenson, born in Sweden, a daughter of Nels Swenson, who with his wife still resides in Sweden. Mr. and Mrs. Karlzen became the parents of the following children: Esther, who is attending the Aurora College, and Violet, who is attending the public schools. In addition to his educational training in his native land, Mr. Karlzen took a course in an evening school after arriving in this country. While still living in Sweden he was a member of the police force and was on the school board, and after locating at Geneva, he has been a member of the board of education, and served in the city council, being clected to both on the Republican ticket. Fra- ternally he belongs to the Odd Fellows, North Star, Yeoman of America and other organiza- tions. The family are active members of the Swedish M. E. Church at Geneva. Alert, hard- working and thrifty, Mr. Karlzen has forged ahead and is admittedly one of the thriving business men of both Rockford and Geneva.

KEIG, William H., manufacturer of bakery goods at No. 614 to 624 Cedar street, is one of the substantial factors in the industrial life of Rockford, and his uprightness and sound busi- ness principles have won him the confidence and respect of a wide circle. He was born at Rock- ford May 21, 1863, a son of Edward and Catherine (Quale) Keig. Edward Keig was born on the Isle of Man, where he married, his wife also being a native of the place. A tailor, the father followed his trade until 1843, when he came to the United States, landing at Phila- delphia, from whence he drove to Chicago, and thence to Rockford. After his arrival at Rock- ford he became a solicitor and was so engaged the remainder of his life, passing away at the age of seventy-two years. The mother died at the age of seventy-one years. In politics the father was a Republican. He and the mother were consistent members of the Methodist church.

William H. Keig grew to manhood in his native city, where he was educated. His first business experience was with W. B. Clark, baker, who was his brother-in-law. After main- taining this connection for seven years Mr. Keig went into partnership with Mr. Clark, and they operated two bakeries, one on the corner of Kishwaukee and State streets, and the other at No. 405 W. State street. After two years the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Keig taking charge of the W. State street store, and his partner of the other. In 1899 Mr. Keig bought the Old Forest City Baking Company's busi- ness, and occupies its former quarters. Here he carries on a wholesale business, shipping con- siderable to outside towns, and he still conducts his bakery at No. 405 W. State street, all of his enterprises being in a flourishing condition.

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In 1890 Mr. Keig was married to Miss Margie Stevens, a daughter of A. F. and Fadelia (Cole) Stevens of Massachusetts. Mr. Stevens came to Rockford at an early day, dying in this city at his home on Peach street. The mother died in 1907. The Keig family residence is at No. 602 Garfield street. In addition to other interests, Mr. Keig is treasurer of the Forest City Life Association Company, and a director of the Chamber of Commerce. Fraternally he is a Mason and an Elk. His political affiliations are with the Republican party. Alert, fully alive to the possibilities of his business, Mr. Keig has forged ahead and his prosperity is well merited.

KEITH, Adam, one of the substantial men of Winnebago County now deceased, came ot a long line of distinguished and honorable ances- try. He was born at Olive Green, Morgan County, Ohio, November 7, 1825, and died July 25, 1896. The American progenitor of the Keith family was Peter Keith, a native of Germany, who came to the United States at an early day. Having learned bell making in his native land, he followed that line of work in his new home, and was well known for the superiority of his productions in both Pennsylvania and Ohio communities. He was also interested in farming.

Adam Keith, son of Peter Keith and father of Adam Keith whose name heads this review, was born in Pennsylvania. In boyhood his parents moved to Ohio and he was reared on a farm in the latter state. His death occurred in Furnace County, Neb., where he moved in later life. His first wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Shirley, bore him the following children : Henry, Ruhanny, Benjamin, Louis, Adam, Elizabeth, Mary, Nancy and Joseph. He married (second) Hannah Harris, and they had the following children : Jasper, Richard, Maria, Hannah, Caroline, Ruhanny, Athelyndia, Isabell and Henrietta.

Adam Keith, son of Adam Keith, and grand- son of Peter Keith, was brought to Winnebago County in 1835, by his parents. They settled on the east side of Rock River, on what was later named Keith Creek, in honor of the family. There Adam Keith engaged in farming, assisting his parents, until 1847, when he went to Burritt Township and took up 160 acres of land from the government. This he conducted until his death, adding to his acreage until he owned 345 acres of very valuable land. On it he carried on general farming and was very successtill, and specialized in fine horses and sheep. At his death his remains were interred in the East Side Cemetery, Rockford. He was active until within a few days of his death. A Uni- versalist, he died in that faith. His first mar- riage took place May 2, 1846, when he was mar- l'ied, by Rev. Hewitts, to Martha S. Holmes, born July 16, 1824, at Bradford, England, a daughter of William and Margaret (Spencer) Holmes, and their children were as follows : Elizabeth, who was born February 14, 1847, married January 23, 1871, James L. Dickerson,

M. D., and died in January, 1913; William, who was born May 18, 1848, and died March 4, 1913, and is buried in Cedar Bluff Cemetery, Rockford; Josephine, who was born December 14, 1851, died January 28, 1852; Martha, who was born February 20, 1856; Jessie, who was born May 29, 1858, married December 26, 1882, Frederick Putney, and has a son, William H., who conducts the Keith homestead farm. Adam Keith married (second) Nancy Hilton, who died September 7, 1869. They had a daughter, Nancy, who married Jesse Hopkins and lives in Chicago. The Keith family is one of the oldest and most highly respected of any of Winnebago County, and no history of this region would be com- plete without a record of it.

KELSEY, Alvin Marion, who for many years was well known at La Salle and Rockford as a skilltul dentist, is now deceased, but his memory is cherished by those who knew and appreciated him, personally as well as professionally. He was born at Brandon, Vt., in 1826, but came to Illinois in an early day, and engaged in active practice as a dentist in Kane County. In 1860, Dr. Kelsey moved to La Salle, Ill., where he con- tinued in practice until 1870, when he came to Rockford. His practice was a large and valu- able one, but in 1882 he was forced to abandon it on account of failing eyesight, and he then retired, thus living until his death, April 12, 1902.

On March 10, 1858, Dr. Kelsey was married at Rockford, to Carrie L. Butts, of this city, born in New York state, April 6, 1837, a daughter of Hiram and Anna (Van Branken) Butts, natives of Connecticut and New York state, respectively. The mother of Mrs. Kelsey was of Holland de- scent. Dr. and Mrs. Kelsey had the following children : Clarence Mason, who lives at Chi- cago; Nellie, who died when three and one-half years old; Hattie, who is the widow of Frank Burr of Haskell avenue, Rockford; and Frank, who died in 1908. Mrs. Kelsey was educated in a New York academy, and taught school for three years prior to her marriage. She came to Geneva, Ill., in 1857, where she taught school for one year. In politics Dr. Kelsey was a Re- publican. Fraternally he was a Mason. As a man he was widely known and universally re- spected.

KEMBLE, John C., page 647.

KEMP, Joseph, page 639.

KENDALL, Charles M., assistant manager and member of the firm of the E. & W. Clothing Company, located at Nos. 118, 120 and 122 S. Main street, Rockford, is one of the enterpris- ing business men of the city, one whose efforts have assisted in developing many solid interests. He was born at Corinth, N. Y., June 21, 1878, a son of Charles H. and Mary (Wendall) Ken- dall. The father was born near Rutland, Vt., and the mother was born in New York state. Early in lite the father practiced law in his

Divam A young

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native state, but when he moved to Saratoga Springs, N. Y., he went into a hotel business and continued it for five years, then retiring and removing to Corinth, N. Y., where he died in February, 1883. The mother died in December. 1884. The father belonged to the Odd Fellows. In religious faith he was a Methodist.

In his native place Charles M. Kendall lived until he was twelve years old, at that time going to Saratoga Springs where he completed his school course. Later he was employed as a clerk in a shoe store at Troy, N. Y., and still later was made manager of a shoe store at Little Falls, N. Y. Returning then to Troy, he was manager of a similar store there for six years, coming then to Roekford where he became man- ager for the E. & W. Company's shoe depart- ment. He invested in stock in the company and is now a member of the firm. As he has been almost constantly identified with the shoe trade since entering business life, Mr. Kendall is admittedly a most experienced shoe man and through his knowledge and ability the affairs of his department in the E. & W. Company are in a flourishing condition. A progressive citizen, he is a member of the Chamber of Commerce. In fraternal life he is a Mason and an Elk. The Country, Motor and Advertising clubs all rank him as a valued member.

In 1901 Mr. Kendall was married to Miss Emma Clappin, a daughter of Henry Clappin, of Troy, N. Y.

KENT, Aratus, page 754.

KENT, Germanicus, page 639,

KERN, John Martin, who is numbered among the leading retired men of Rockford, resides in his fine home at No. 608 N. Third street, also owning the adjoining property, and enjoys the confidence of his neighborhood. He was born in Wittenburg, Germany, May 6, 1833, a son of Jacob and Anna Kern who died in Germany.

Prior to leaving Germany when sixteen years old, John Martin Kern had attended the public schools of his native place. He made the trip across seas with his brother Jacob, and they located at Detroit, Mich., where he worked for four weeks at tailoring, then went to Canada and continued working at this trade until he made his way to Chicago where he worked for two years. On account of an epidemic of chol- era, he left that city and went to St. Charles, Ill., where he did journeyman work as a tailor and remained there for fifteen years. In 1867 he came to Rockford and worked for others for a few years, when he went into business for himself on S. Main street. Two years later he sold his business, and then worked for George Atkinson, a tailor, with whom he remained for sixteen years. Mr. Kern was then employed in a dye house as presser until 1913, when he retired.

While living at St. Charles, Mr. Kern was married, March 6, 1856, to Sophia Nelson, born in Sweden. They became the parents of the following children : Emma, who is Mrs. Ed-

ward Rayney, of Chicago; Albert, who is de- ceased ; Charles, who lives at Belvidere, Ill .; Anna, who is Mrs. Charles Bengston, a widow, lives at No. 1208 Revell avenue, Rockford ; Julia, who is deceased; Amanda, who is Mrs. E. A. Wettergren, of Rockford; Mabelle, who is Mrs. Oscar Hanson, of Rockford; and Victor, who is deceased. Mrs. Kern died March 9, 1892. On August 22, 1900, Mr. Kern was married (second) to Carrie Ginders, born at Rockford, a daughter of George and Mary (Peck) Ginders, farming people, born in Lincolnshire, England. There are no children of the second marriage. Mr. Kern is a Methodist. In polities he is a Republican. No man stands any higher in pub- lic esteem than he and he deserves the good opinion of those who know him for he has earned it.

KERR, William. Now holding the position of custodian of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Memorial Building, at Rockford, William Kerr is one of the well known men of Winnebago County who, in the dark days of the Civil war, went cheel- fully to the front in defense of their country's flag. Incapacitated in that conflict, he re- turned to his home to take up the duties of peace, and since then has been engaged in a variety of pursuits, and has held a number of official positions, and in every way has shown himself a useful and properly esteemed member of society.

William Kerr was born near Montreal. at Cornwell, Lower Canada, November 17, 1837, and is a son of Charles and Anna (Larkin) Kerr, the former born at Frazerborough, Aberdeen- shire, Scotland, in 1801, and the latter at Somer- set, Somersetshire, England, in 1817. Both emi- grated to Canada as young people and were there married. A stonecutter by trade, Charles Kerr developed into a contractor and as such did work on the Saint Lawrence Canal. In 1838 he came to Loekport, Ill., where he had a contract on the Illinois and Michigan Canal, and in 1841 came to Roscoe, Winnebago County, where he settled down to farming for the re- mainder of his life. He died in February, 1873. Mrs. Kerr having passed away in the November preceding.

William Kerr attended the district schools and the high school at Roscoe, Ill., and was reared on the home farm, where he resided until the time of his first marriage, September 21, 1859, to Anna Jane Emmons, of Poplar Grove, Boone County, Ill., daughter of Nathaniel Emmons. In the winter of 1859-60 he was engaged in teach- ing school in Boone County, and in the following year worked on a farm, renting, in the fall of 1860, a small farın in Winnebago County. He was engaged in farming there at the time of his enlistment, June 2, 1862, at Roekford, Ill., in Company C, Sixty-seventh Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, and was assigned to service at Camp Douglas, Chicago, for camp and garrison duty. He continued to be so occupied there until being mustered out of the service, September 27, 1862, being so disabled that he did not rejoin his

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regiment. Mr. Kerr then returned to farming and purchased a small piece of land in Winne- bago County, but this he sold at the time of his wife's death, June 16, 1870. They were the parents of five children : William L., of Fort Dodge, Iowa, department commander of the Sons of Veterans for that state; Frances E., who is the wife of Wallace Peters, of Wichita, Kas .; Charles Grant, who died at the age of sixteen years, March 11, 1880; James B., of Fort Dodge, Iowa; and George E., of Saint Cloud, Minn.

On October 5, 1873, Mr. Kerr was married (second) to Mrs. Harriet A. (Easton) Dyer, the widow of James Dyer. She died August 15, 1905, and September 18, 1907, Mr. Kerr married Amelia (Mitchell) Tessier, the widow of Alfred Tessier, who, by her first marriage, had five children : Laura L., who is now Mrs. W. H. Hemmingway, of Rockford, Ill .; Estella, who is Mrs. William Easton, of 323 North Fourth street, Rockford ; Alfred M., a resident of Henry, S. Dak. ; Zola, who lives witli her mother and step- father ; and Ada, who is Mrs. T. A. Gallager, of Rockford.

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Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and history of Winnebago County, Volume II, Part 96

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