History of Du Page County, Illinois (Historical, Biographical), Part 43

Author: Blanchard, Rufus, 1821-1904
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 544

USA > Illinois > DuPage County > History of Du Page County, Illinois (Historical, Biographical) > Part 43

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BIOGRAPHICAL:

and participated in the battles of Iuka and Corinth, and was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Jannary 17, 1864, the regiment disbanded, and he came home, but re-enlisted for three years, and took part in the battles of Resaca, in the Atlanta campaign and the march to the sea, and through the Carolinas. In July, 1865, he returned home to Naper- ville, and, three days afterward, went to work at his trade. In November of the same year, he opened a shop at Turner Junction, remain- ing there till 1867, when he went to Kane- ville and worked as journeyman for a year, after which he opened a shop there. After running a shop in Kaneville for two years and a half, he came to Naperville, built a house, and, one year later, bought his pres- ent shop, where he has ever since carried on business. February 22, 1862, he mar- ried Maria Good, a native of Pennsylva- nia, who has borne him two children- Charles F. and William S. Mr. Stroheker is a Republican; is a pensioner; in 1876, he organized the Naperville Light Guards, num- bering seventy-two members, of which force he was Captain for two years.

GILES E. STRONG, farmer, P. O. Auro- ra, Ill., is a native of Tompkins County, N. Y., born in the year 1827, eldest of five ehil- dren born to William J. and Caroline Blod- gett Strong; they were natives of Tompkins County, N. Y., and Massachusetts, thongh she lived in New York at the time of her marriage. In 1834, they came West by the lakes, and lived in the vicinity of Naperville, and, in the fall, he made a claim in Section 30, which he sold in the spring of 1835, and made a elaim on Section 20, settled on it and lived there until the year 1857, when he sold out to his son, G. E., and moved to Aurora, where he has lived since. While living in Du Page County, Mr. Strong served as Jus- tice of the Peace, and also as County Com-

missioner. Mrs. Strong died in Aurora in 1878. Our subject was raised on the farm. In addition to a common school course of study, he attended several terms at the Col- legiate Institute of Rochester, N. Y. On be- coming twenty-one, he drove an ox team to California, where he lived about six years, during which time he followed mining, team- ing, and also carried on a ranch a few years. In 1855, be returned home via Panama and New York, and lived at home until October of that year, when he married Miss Frances M. Crane, and rented his father's farm, and the next year he went to Kansas and Nebras- ka, taking a quarter section claim in the lat- ter State, and also made a quarter-section elaim in Kansas. He returned home the same year, and went to California to settle up his business, via Panama; returned same route the following spring, and bought his father's farm, and has lived here ever since. By the marriage there have been tour chil- dren, three living-Edward C., Wilbur, (died), Nettie E., Mervin W. He is a Repub- lican.

L. S. SHAFER, contractor and builder, planing-mill, Naperville, is a native of Dau- phin County, Penn., born in 1837. When quite young, he began working in a wagon shop, at which he continued until he was eighteen years old, when he went to Dixon, Ill., and worked there as a carpenter about six months; then to Naperville; thence to Kansas, remaining one year, when he re- turned to Naperville; thence to Indiana, and again to Naperville. In September, 1861, he enlisted in the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, Com- pany E, and served three years and one month, being First Sergeant when discharged; was in battles of Williamsburg, seven days' fight around Richmond, South Mountain, Gettysburg and the other engagements of his regiment. After the war, he returned to Na-

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

perville and became the foreman and machin- ist in the agricultural works, where he re- mained about five years. He then erected his present saw-mill, and conducted it, in connection with his business as a contractor and builder, he building many of the best build- ings in the city. In 1866. he married Miss Hannah Naugle, a native of Cumberland County, Penn .; they have four children, two living-Elizabeth and Adelia.

S. E. SHIMP. farmer and auctioneer, P. O. Naperville, is a native of Lancaster County. Penn .. born in the year 1831, and is the eldest of eleven children born to William and Nancy Eberly Shimp; they were natives of Pennsylvania; he was a farmer, and died on his old homestead in Pennsylvania in the year 1878; Mrs. Shimp is living in Pennsylvania, at the old homestead. Our subject was raised on the farm, and attended a few months at the dis- trict schools. In 1851. he went to Ohio and apprenticed to the blacksmith's trade in Wooster, and served for three years. He then came to Illinois and stopped at Plain- field, where he followed his trade for three years, when he moved to Naperville and fol- lowed his trade until the spring of 1861, when he married Miss Catharine L. Kline, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Du Page County with her parents when she was young. After the marriage, he settled on a farm in Naperville Township, and has farmed most of the time since. In 1864. he was elected Sheriff, and served for two years. He then came to his present place, and. in 1876, was again elected Sheriff, and has been re-elected twice since. In 1876, he moved to Wheaton, and lived there until 1880, when he came to the farm. Mr. Shimp first voted for Franklin Pierce, but has been a Republican since the formation of that party. By the marriage there have been eleven children, of whom eight are living. During the past twenty-

three years, Mr. Shimp has followed the bus- iness of auctioneer.

GEORGE SIMPSON, farmer, P. O. Na- perville, is a native of Vermont, born at Al- burg in the year 1837, and is the youngest of eight children born to George and Tamer (Bell) Simpson; they were natives of England; they married there, and came to the United States about the year 1831, and settled in Vermont, where they farmed until 1837, when they moved to Clinton County, N. Y., and farmed there until about the year 1852, when they came to Illinois and settled in Du Page County, where they farmed until their death-he in 1857, and she in 1875. Our subject was raised on the farm, and re- ceived a common-school education. His fa- ther died when he was in his twenty-first year, and he took the home farm, buying out the heirs, and farmed the place until about 1873, when he rented it out, and purchased and oc- cupied the place. In 1871, he married Miss De Eita C. Marlet, a native of Otsego County, N. Y .; she died in 1876; they had two children, only one of whom is living, Grace E. In 1880, he married Miss Etta Ferry, a native of Du Page County, Ill .; they have one child, viz .. Birdie. He owns 251 acres in this county, located on the rail- road, two and a half miles west of Naperville.

ANDREW STOOS, farmer, P. O. Naper- ville, is a native of Alsace. France (now Ger- many); he was born in the year 1828; he re- ceived a common-school education, and, at the age of fifteen, he apprenticed to the wag- on-maker's trade, and served three years; he then went to Paris, where he worked at liis trade until 1851. He then came to the Unit- ed States, landing at New Orleans, in which rity he worked at his trade about nine months; he then went to St. Louis, whence he left for Chicago, but stopped off at Naperville and went to work in the plow factory, where he

BIOGRAPHICAL:

worked for nine years. He then started a wagon shop of his own, which he conducted for five years. He then traded his business for his farm, and occupied the place, and has farmed here since. In 1856. he married Miss Jennie Kreyder, a native of Alsace, France, who came to the United States with her par- ents and settled in Du Page County. By this marriage there have been ten children, nine of whom are living. He owns 200 acres of land, located one and a half miles west of Naperville. He is Democratie in his poli- ties, and has served as Road Commissioner for three years.

WILLIAM SIMPSON, farmer, P. O. Na- perville, is a native of Vermont, born in Al- burg in the year 1832, and is the sixth of eight children born to George and Tamer (Bell) Simpson. He was raised on the farm, and received a common-school education. When he became of age, he began work on his own account, working at carpentering, which bus- iness he continued for some twelve years, and then occupied his present place, and has farmed since. In 1863, he married Miss Adelia Ferry, a native of Du Page County. By the marriage there are three children -- Edgar G., Carrie and Oscar. He owns 145 aeres of land, located on the railroad three miles west of Naperville. He has been Re- publican in politics.

GEORGE STRUBLER, livery, feed and sale stable, Naperville, was born in Warren County. Penn., in 1829; is the eldest of a family of four children born to George and Sallie (Stueker) Strubler. He came to Na- perville when seven years of age; received a fair education, and, when twenty years old, began teaming to Chicago. In 1853, he was elected Constable of Naperville, which posi- tion he has ever since held, with the excep- tion of eight years, when he acted as Police, Constable and Collector of Naperville; has

been Village Treasurer two years, Deputy Sheriff two years under P. Strubler, and six years under Kline. In 1850, he married Wilhelmina Meyers, a native of Pennsylva- nia, who came to Illinois with her parents: she died in 1859, leaving one child, Charles G. In 1860, he married his second wife, Leo Hartman, a native of Pennsylvania, who has borne him two children, viz., Frank and Edward. Mr. Strubler is a Republican. He began the livery business in the fall of 1856, and has ever since carried it on.

ALFRED SHAFFER, contractor and builder, Naperville, was born in Dauphin County, Penn., September 7, 1-31, and re- ceived an ordinary edueation in the district schools of his native State. When eighteen years of age, he was apprenticed to the car. penter and cabinet-making trade. at which he served three years, and worked one year at his trade in Western Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1854, he came to Chicago, where he followed his trade for about six months : thenee to Naperville, where he remained three years; he then went East to his home, and, after a stay of six months, returned to Naper- ville, where he remained till 1858. He then moved to Kansas, worked there four months, then went to St. Paul; thence to St. Louis; thence to Beardstown, and, in 1860, returned to Naperville. In 1865, he enlisted in Com- pany D. One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Illi- nois Infantry, and served till the close of the war; enlisted as a soldier, but was detailed to work at his trade, and worked principally at Chattanooga and Memphis. At the elose of the war, he returned to Naperville, where he has since been in business; since 1862, has been working on his own account, taking contraets of building. He married, July 5. 1861, to Elizabeth Stover, a native of York County, Penn., who has borne him five ehil- dren, three of whom are living, viz., Emma

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP

S., Edmond C. and Lewis F. Mr. Shaffer is a supporter of the Republican party.

MATTHIAS A. STEPHENS, contractor and builder, Naperville, was born in Lehigh County, Penn., in 1839; his parents, Jacob and Judia (Leibig) Stephens, were also natives of that county, and now reside at Allentown, Penn. Subject, at the age of sixteen, began working in the iron mines, and finally became overseer of a mine. When twenty-one years of age, he went West, to Tiffin, Ohio, where he worked in a grist-mill for a year, then came to Naperville, to which place he had been recommended by a young man whom he met in Tiffin. Ohio. He arrived in Naper- ville in April, 1861, and worked on a farm about one and a half years, then enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Fifth Regi- ment Illinois Infantry, and served until the close of the war. During his time of serv- ice, he participated in the battles of Resaca. Lost Mountain. Burnt Hickory. New Hope Church, Peach Tree Creek and Savannah, being in the Atlanta campaign, march to the sea and through the Carolinas. After the war, he returned to Naperville, and, in July, 1865, married Elizabeth Yost, a native of Naperville, who has borne him five children, four of whom are living: Ida M., Emma L. (do- ceased), Nora L., Josie L., and Sherman H. After his marriage, he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked as journeyman seven years: he then formed a partnership with C. B. Schuster. with whom he engaged in the contracting and building business four years; then with Abraham Kinsey four years, since which time he has carried on business himself.

NICHOLAS STENGER, deceased. was born in Germany in 1830, and came to the United States with his parents, who settled at Naperville. In July, 1852, he married Elizabeth Snibley, born in Germany in 1831,

daughter of Jacob and Louisa (Dather) Snib- ley, natives of Germany, wlio emigrated to the United States in 1832, and located in Warren County, Penn. Jacob Snibley, who was a farmer by occupation, removed from Pennsylvania to this county with his family in 1835, and settled two miles east of Naper- ville; his first wife died in 1850, leaving ten children ; the same year, he went with a company raised in this vicinity to Califor- nia, traveling with teams by the overland route; he remained in California two years, and returned to this county, making the re- turn trip via the water route; he died in June, 1863; his second wife, Saloma Dather, sister of his first wife, died in 1864. The subject of this sketch, who was engaged in the brew- ing business in company with his brother John, died December 31, 1865. Of his seven children. five are living. Mrs. Stenger has recently purchased the old homestead where her parents first settled. She now resides in Naperville.

SIMON STRAUSS, Strauss & Getsch, manufacturers of the Naperville Plows, Na- perville. This gentleman, one of the old pio- neer plowmen of Du Page County, is a na- tive of Lehigh County, Penn., born in 1819; he was raised on the farm, and, at the age of eighteen, apprenticed to the blacksmith's trade, and worked at the trade until 1847, when he came West and opened a shop in Naperville, and, about two years later, he be- gan work in the plow shop of A. S. Jones, where he remained for seven years, after which he resumed business on his own ac- connt, doing business successively at Bloom- ingdale, Lisle Station and Barber Corners. At the latter place, he purchased ninety acres of land and farmed nearly two years. He then returned to Naperville and worked in the plow shop there, then conducted by Boughton & Co., for three years, after which

BIOGRAPHICAL:

he established his present business, and, in 1876, associated in partnership with himself Mr. Getsch. The firm make the old Naper- ville or Jones Plow, which is celebrated for its light dranght and efficient work. It is particularly adapted to this soil, and has for the past four or five years been awarded the premium. Mr. Strauss was married, in 1843, to Miss Catharine Butz, a native of Lehigh County, Penn .; she died about 1860; they had five children. In 1862, he married Miss Mary Frost, a native of Lebanon County, Penn.

WILLIAM SHIMP, carriage manufact- urer, Naperville, is a native of Lancaster County, Penn., born September 24, 1833; was raised on the farm, and received a dis- trict-school education. When he was eight years of age, his father died, and he lived with neighbors until he was about sixteen, when he went to Wooster, Ohio, where his uncle lived, and learned the carriage-maker's trade, after which he worked as a journey- man in Terre Haute and Greencastle, Ind., and Cedar Rapids, Iowa. About 1857, he came to Naperville, and, a few years later, he engaged in business for himself. In 1861, he enlisted in the Fifty-fifth Illinois Infantry, and was elected Second Lieutenant in Com- pany B. While in Camp Douglas, he saw the Forty-second Illinois Infantry preparing to move, and determined to try and join it; he made application, and finally was told to pick his company; he viewed the regiment, and decided on Company H; the Colonel and Adjutant of the regiment disputed as to his pluck, and the Adjutant, a very large man, stepped up and gave him a blow on the breast; the little Lieutenant sprang at him, and stated, if the Adjutant raised a hand, he would knock him over; the officer stepped back, and said he would make a soldier; he en- tered the company as private, and. later, was

made a Sergeant; the Adjutant became Col- onel, and was always a good friend to Sergt. Shimp; the latter's old Company B, of the Fifty-fifth, was in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, and lost every officer and twenty- eight men. Mr. Shimp served in the Forty- second three years and two months, and was in the battles of Corinth, siege of Nashville, Stone River, Chickamauga, the Atlanta cam- paiga, and other engagements. In 1864, he returned to Naperville, and has continued his . business here since. In 1861, he married Miss Louisa E. Moyer, a native of North- ampton County, Penn .; she died May 3, 1879: they had nine children, eight of whom are living, viz., Andrew, Alice. David, Will- iam, Abbie, Dollie, Ida and Burd; Louisa died.

JACOB SALFISBERG, proprietor of the Naperville Quarry, Naperville, was born in Switzerland in 1834. He received an ordi- nary education, and, at the age of seventeen years, apprenticed to the miller's trade, served two years, and afterward worked at his trade in his native land. In 1854, the fam- ily emigrated to the United States and settled in Oswego, Ill., where his father died; his mother now resides in Aurora, Ill. Subject worked at his trade in Oswego, Ill., for five years; then went to Chicago, where he tend- ed a flour and feed store for a year; he then went to Aurora, Ill., where he manufactured lime for eight years; thence, in December, 1868, to Naperville, and purchased his pres- ent quarry property, consisting of seven and three-fourths acres, underlaid with the well- known Naperville stone. He married, on January 4, 1859, Anna Salfisberg, a native of Switzerland, who has born him nine chil- dren. Mr. Salfisberg is a Republican.

T. J. SPRAGUE, M. D., Naperville, was born in 1855 in Du Page Township, Will Co., Ill., where his parents, T. J. and Lydia

NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

'Swift) Sprague, now reside. He received a rudimentary education in the district schools, and] afterward attended the Lockport; High School. In 1875, he began reading medicine with Dr. William Hanley, of Lockport; in 1876, entered the Rush Medical College, and graduated in February, 1879. He began the practice of his profession in Chicago, in part- nership with his preceptor, Dr. William Han- ley, who had moved to that city, remaining in Chicago till October of the same year; thence he moved to Rockford, Ill., where he carried on a drug store in addition to his practice till February, 1881, when he sold out his business and came to Naperville, where he engaged in the practice of his pro- fession, and, in the following August, formed a partnership with Dr. J. H. Chew. In Oc- tober. 1881, Dr. Chew removed to Chicago, and Dr. Sprague has since carried on the business himself. He is a member of the Aurora Medical Society. In March, 1880, he married Emma, daughter of Jonathan Royce, of Du Page Township. Will Co., Ill .; they have one child, Frank.

E. B. STOLP, farmer, P. O. Eola, is a native of Du Page County, Ill., and was born on his present place in the year 1857, and is the second of six children born to Charles W. and Sarah (Bristol) Stolp, who were na- tives of New York, and came to Illinois in 1835. Mr. Stolp has always lived on his present place. In November, 1880, he mar- ried Miss Alice Updyke, a native of Kendall County, Ill. After his marriage, he took the management of his father's place, the latter moving to Aurora. He is a Republican.

DANIEL STRUBLER, blacksmith and manufacturer of wagons, etc., Naperville, is a native of Naperville, Ill .; he was born Sep- tember 15, 1837, son of George and Saloma (Stucker) Strubler. He received a common- school education, and, at the age of seven-

teen, apprenticed to the blacksmith's trade. In April, 1858, he opened a shop of his own, in company with Mr. Samuel Shimp; the latter, after a year and a half, sold his inter- est, and Mr. Strubler formed another part- nership, which lasted about three years, since which time he has been alone in business. He does a general blacksmith business, is a first-class mechanic, and, in October, 1866, was awarded the first premium by the Du Page County Agricultural and Mechanical Association for horseshoes finished with hammer. Connected with his shop, he owns a wagon shop, which is rented to a wagon- builder, the two shops manufacturing car- riages and wagons. July 14, 1859, he mar- ried Miss Mary Krimbill, a native of Penn- sylvania, and, at the time of her marriage, living with her uncle, Mr. S. M. Skinner, an old resident of this vicinity. They had one child, since deceased; living with them is Lorena Krimbill Strubler, an adopted child.

A. T. THATCHER, farmer, P. O. Naper- ville, Ill., is a native of Wayne County, N. Y .; he was born in the year 1809, and is the eldest of seven children born to Thomas and Roxana (Look) Thatcher; they were natives of Rhode Island and Massachusetts; they mar- ried in New York; he came West in 1838, and brought his family out the next year: he took a claim near Naperville, where he lived until his death, and farmed about one year, when his wife died. He then resided in Naperville abont ten years, carrying on the grocery bus- iness. In 1851, he went to California by the overland route, and remained there about two years, where he followed mining. Return- ing to Naperville, he resumed the grocery bus- iness, and, a year later, came to his farm, in the fall of 1860. Mrs. Thos. Thatcher is now ninety-three years of age, and living with her son, A. T. Our subject was raised on his father's farm, and received a common-school

BIOGRAPHICAL:

education. In 1838, he came West with his father and made a claim to his present place, which he afterward bought at the land office in Chicago. In 1840, he went to New York and married Miss Mary Cottrell, and returned to his claim, and has lived here ever since. In May, 1841, Mrs. Thatcher died. In 1848, Mr. Thatcher again married, and the follow- ing children were born to him: C. T. Thatcher, teacher, Rochester, N. Y. : Horace L. Thatcher and Emma L., now living at home with their parents.

JOHN WARNE, retired, Eola, Ill., is a native of Hunterdon County, N. J., and was born August 30, 1795; his father, John Warne, was born at Cranbury, N. J .; was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, a farmer, and carried on a flour-mill. Our subject was raised on his father's farm, and assisted in the mill. When he was thirteen years of age, he engaged as clerk in a general store, and clerked until he became twenty-one, when he engaged in the business on his own account, and, after three years, he moved to Warren County, where he bought a farm and put up a store and hotel, which he conducted some fifteen years. During this time, the Morris Canal was made, and Mr. Warne took a contract and excavated one mile of the ca- nal, in which job he employed 200 men. In 1832. he came to Washtenaw County, Mich., where he farmed two years. During the lat- ter year, he assessed his township (Ann Ar- bor). In 1834, he came to Illinois, made a claim to his present place and erected a log cabin. About four miles west of their place were camped about fifteen hundred Indians, of whom Mr. Warne has many pleasant rec- ollections. Mrs. Warne could talk the lan- guage, and often visited the Indians, and they would return the visits, and never did any- thing to mar the friendship between them. Mr. Warne has lived here ever since his set-

tlement. He was married in New Jersey, in the year 1819, to Miss Sarah Stires, a native of Hunterdon County, N. J .; she was born in the year 1801; they had eleven children, of whom eight are living -- two sons and six daughters; their eldest son is now sixty-three years of age. During his residence in New Jersey, he served for a number of years as Justice of the Peace. Mr. Warne has been a Democrat in politics, and has been a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church for nearly fifty years; the early religious socie- ties met at his house. He kept the post office here in his house, called the Big Woods Post

- Office, for some ten or twelve years, and had daily mails. While in New Jersey, he stud- ied surveying, and followed it there for some time, and he also did surveying here in his vicinity. He has in his possession an old claim book, and in the beginning is a pream- ble forming the early settlers into an associa- tion for the protection of their claims from intruders.

MATTHEW WEISMANTEL, jeweler, and dealer in watches, clocks and silverware, Na- perville, was born in Germany in 1841; is the fourth child of a family of eight children born to John and Rosina (Preisendorfer) Weismantel. His parents were natives of Germany; came to the United States in 1846, and, in 1855, settled in Joliet, Ill., where they died; his father was a stone-cutter by trade. Subject received a common school education, and, at the age of fourteen years, entered a general store in Defiance, Ohio, where he remained three years. He then apprenticed to the watch-maker's trade at Fort Wayne, Ind .; served three years; then worked as journeyman one year. In 1861, he came to Chicago and enlisted in Company A, Fifty-eighth Regiment Illinois Infantry, and remained in service from October, 1861, to April, 1866, participating in the engage-

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History of Du Page County, Illinois (Historical, Biographical), Part 43

Author: Blanchard, Rufus, 1821-1904 Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & co. Number of Pages: 544

Author: Blanchard, Rufus, 1821-1904
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, O.L. Baskin & co.
Number of Pages: 544