History of Du Page County, Illinois (Historical, Biographical), Part 44

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 44

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NAPERVILLE TOWNSHIP.

ments at Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Inka, Corinth, Nashville, Mobile, besides other minor engagements in which his regi- ment took part, and was also in the Red River expedition. He enlisted as private; was successively promoted till he became First Lieutenant, which rank he held when he was discharged. After the war, he came to Naperville and opened a jewelry store, in which business he has since been engaged. In 1866, he married Gertrude Schumaker, a native of Germany, who came to Fort Wayne, Ind., with her parents. From this marriage six children have been born, viz., Francis J., Gertrude, Catherina, Lora, John and Joseph H. Mr. Weismantel is a member of the Catholic Church, and is a Democrat.

OLIVER J. WRIGHT, farmer, P. O. Na- perville, is a native to Illinois, born in the year 1848, and was raised on the farm, three miles west of Naperville. In addition to the common schools, he attended the Jennings Seminary, of Aurora, for three years. At the age of twenty, he began teaching in Du Page County, and taught the greater part of six years. He then engaged in the grocery bus- iness in Naperville, and continued in busi- ness for about four years, after which he came and took his father's farm on the shares, and, three years later, bought the place. June 23, 1880, he married Miss Luella Finch, a native of Du Page County; they have one child, Elzora V. He is Republican in poli- tics, and has served as Township Trustee two

terms; he has also served as Director and Marshal of the Du Page County Agricultural Association. He owns 163 acres, located three miles west of Naperville.

ALBERT YOST, of the firm of Sherer & Yost, dealers in hardware, and tin-manufact- urers, Naperville, is a native of this county, born in Naperville in 1854, youngest of a family of five children born to Jacob and Magdalena (Voght) Yost, natives of France and Germany, who came to the United States about 1840, and settled in this county. Ja- cob Yost, subject's father, followed teaming and well-digging ; in 1854 he went overland. with Thomas Finley's company. to Califor- nia, where he stayed fourteen years; return- ed, in 1868, to Naperville, and resumed well- digging, and is now living retired; he is now sixty-nine, his wife sixty-eight years of age. Subject was raised in Naperville, where he received an ordinary education. At the age of sixteen, he was apprenticed to the miller's trade, at which he served three years; after- ward worked several years at his trade as a journeyman, then conducted the mill for Mr. Robert Naper for about two years. In 1880, he formed a partnership with Christian Sherer and engaged in his present business, which has since been conducted under the firm name of Sherer & Yost. In 1877, he married Amelia Stenger, daughter of the late Nicholas Stenger; they have two children, viz., Libbie and Grace.

BIOGRAPHICAL:

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

COL. C. P. J. ARION, real estate and farm- ing. P. O. Wheaton, was born in Jefferson County, Ky .; was raised on the farm, and re- ceived a common-school education. When about eighteen years of age, he purchased one- half interest in the Indiana Republican, pub- lished at Madison, Ind., and was connected with the paper for upward of twelve years, during which time he became the sole editor and proprietor, finally selling his paper, which became the Republican Banner, under which name it again came into his possession for a short period, he selling out, and engaged in the mereantile business, establishing the first book and stationery business in Madison, where he also conducted the wholesale grocery and iron store business. In 1858, he went to Chicago, where he engaged in the job printing business, and later took a position at the head of the dead letter department, where he remained for seven years, after which he engaged in real es- tate business, and in 1871 retired to his farm, one mile southwest of Wheaton, where he has lived since. During the past five years, he has carried on a real estate office in Wheaton. Col. Arion, as might be judged from his career, early took an active interest in polities. As a Henry Clay Whig, he represented Jefferson County in the Indiana Legislature, and later was elected a member of the State Senate. He has been a Republican since the organization of the party, and took an active part in the can- vass for Lincoln. He has been twice married. His first wife, Miss Lneretia Givens, was a na- tive of Kentucky ; she and their six children all sinee deecased. The second marriage was to Mrs. Beson, formerly Miss Helen M. Test, daughter of Judge John Test, and aunt to Gen. Lew Wallace.

WINSLOW ACKERMAN, farmer, P. O. Prospect Park, is a native of Onondaga County, N. Y. He was born in the year 1826; was raised on the farm, and received a common- school education. The family came to Illinois in 1833, and settled in the vicinity of Prospect Park. Our subject lived at home until he was twenty-three years of age, when he married Miss Permelia Holmes. She is a native of New York, and came to Du Page County, IH., with her parents when she was a child. After the marriage, he settled on his present place, which consists of 180 acres, located one and one- quarter miles northeast of Prospect Park. He has held the office of Highway Commissioner. By the marriage there have been four children -Eben, Loraine, Perry and Adella ; all the children are married, and all but one live in the county. Mr. Aekerman is a Republican. When he first came to his place, there were nine acres. He conducted a threshing-machine for some thirty years, and kept buying additions to his place until he now owns 180 acres.

MILES ACKERMAN, farmer, P. O. Lom bard, Ill., is a native of Onondaga County, N. Y., born in the year 1831, and is the third in a family of five children born to John D. and Lurania (Churchill) Ackerman ; they were na- tives of New York. Mr. Ackerman's father was a native of Holland, and came to America soon after his marriage. John D. Ackerman and family came West to Illinois, and settled here in Milton Township, where J. D. Acker- man died in 1859. Mrs. Ackerman is living on the old homestead, being now in her eighty- first year. Miles Ackerman lived at home until he was twenty-two years of age; he was reared on the farm and received a common school education. In 1852, he married Miss

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

Jane Cox, a native of England. She came to United States of America with her parents, who settled in Du Page County in 1850, and followed farming. By the marriage there have been five children, of whom four are living, viz., Edwin M., Emma, Charles M. and Fannie. After his marriage, he bought a farm in Bloom- ingdale Township, and lived there until 1861, when he came to his present place. In June, 1864. he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-first Illinois Infantry, Company H, and served about five months. He was Corporal in his company. From the army he returned home and has lived here since ; he owns 138 acres, located in Seetions 1, 2, 11 and 12.

JONATHAN BLANCHARD, President Emeritus Wheaton College, is a native of Roek- ingham. Windham Co., Vt., born January 19, 1811, and is the ninth in a family of thirteen children born to Jonathan and Polly (Lovell) Blanchard. They were natives of Massachu- setts and Vermont ; he was a farmer, in whieli business he was extensively engaged. Our subject was raised on the farm. At the age of twelve years, began study in the Chester Aead- emy, and in his fifteenth year he began teaching publie school, and taught during winters until he became of age, by which time he had grad- uated from the Middlebury College, and became the Principal of the Plattsburg Academy, the oldest chartered school in that locality, which he taught several years. He has always, sinee his childhood. been an advocate of temperance, and at the age of eighteen he delivered a speech on that subjeet at Rockingham, and continued to speak in public thereafter. His early speeches were printed and widely circulated in the neigh- borhood. From the Plattsburg Academy he went to the Andover Theological Seminary, and in that year received an appointment to lecture in the State House at Boston, before the Amer- ican Institute. He was next appointed by the American Anti-Slavery Society to lecture against slavery. He lectured one year in Penn- 1

sylvania, meeting in publie debate Gov. Pinney, of Liberia, and many leading lawyers of the State. He then went to Cineinnati, Ohio, where he completed his theological course, under Dr. Lyman Beecher, of Lane Seminary. While there, he was called to the pastorate of the Sixth Presbyterian Church, of Cineinnati, where he presided for nine years, and received over five hundred members to the church. He was then called to the Presidency of Knox College, Galesburg, Ill., which institution he found in debt, and left it in 1860 out of debt, with prop- erty worth $400,000, and all of its present permanent buildings were ereeted during his administration. From Galesburg he came to Wheaton College, and served as its President until in June, 1882, when he was succeeded in that office by his son, though he was continued by the board as President Emeritus, with an annual stipend. In 1838, in Middlebury, Vt., he married Miss Mary Avery Bent, a native of Middlebury, Vt., by which marriage there have been twelve children, of whom seven are living. While in Middlebury College, Mr. Blanchard was editor, and with others established the Under Graduate, a college paper, which has continued to this day. He also aided in start- ing and edited the Watchman of the Valley, which paper has under different names been continued to this date. At Knox College, he started the Christian Era, since absorbed by the Independent, In 1868, he started and is editor of the Christian Cynosure, a sixteen-page weekly. Since 1840, he has been known as an open enemy to all secret organizations, and in 1881, he was nominated a candidate for Presi- dent of the United States of America, by the American party in convention assembled at Galesburg, Il.

CHARLES A. BLANCHARD, A. B., A. M., President Wheaton College, is a native of Gales- burg, Knox Co., Ill., born November 8, 1848, and lived in his native town for twelve years, when the family came to Wheaton. Our sub-

BIOGRAPHICAL:

ject received a public school course of study at Galesburg, and in 1870 graduated from Whea- ton College. In 1865, he was employed to teach penmanship in the college, and continued until his graduating in 1870. He then engaged in lecturing for the National Christian Associa- tions opposed to secret societies, delivering over four hundred lectures in nineteen States and Canada. In 1872, he was elected Principal of the Preparatory School in Wheaton College, in which position he remained several years, and was then elected Professor of the English Lan- guage and Literature, in which department he continued until 1880, when he was elected Pro- fessor of Logic and Rhetoric, where he contin- ued until June, 1882. In 1879, he was elected Vice President of the college, and during two years, owing to the illness of the President, he performed the duties of that office. In June, 1882, upon the resignation of the President, he was elected President of the college. October 16, 1873, he married Miss Margaret E. Milli- gan, danghter of A. M. Milligan, D. D., pastor of the First Reformed Presbyterian Church, of Pittsburgh. They had four children, three of whom are living. In 1862, he became a mem- ber of the College Church, and in 1875 became acting pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Paxton, and served there one year, after which he preached transiently, and in May, 1877, he became tlie acting pastor of the Independent Church at Streator, Ill., for one year. He then became pastor of the College Church, and has continued in that capacity since.

RUFUS BLANCHARD, Wheaton, was born March 7, 1821, in Lyndeboro, Hillsboro Co. N. H. Went to New York City in 1835, and witnessed the great fire of that year. The next spring, in 1836, the banks in Wall street closed their doors and stopped payment by a concerted movement. The whole city was in an uproar, and the military were ordered from Govern- or's Island, to defend the banks from mob violence. The banks throughout the country

followed the example of the New York banks, and specie rose to 33 per cent premium, but gradually fell during the two years succeed- ing, till it again became par with bank paper, as bank after bank resumed specie payments, first on small and next on large sums. In 1837, R. Blanchard went to the wilderness por- tions of Ohio, where three years were spent in a bushwhacking life, hunting and trapping. In 1840, he returned to New York, and was em- ployed in selling the publications of Messrs. Harper Brothers. In 1843, he opened a book store in Lowell, Mass .; in 1846, he removed to Cincinnati, where he continued the same busi- ness three years, in connection with his brother Edwin. During this term. he opened a branch of his store in New Orleans. During the win- ter of 1847-48, and the succeeding summer, witnessed the ravages of cholera along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, passing through Aurora and Rising Sun, Ind., from both of which places such as had not died had fled, leaving their empty houses behind. The same year he witnessed the great conflagration of St. Louis, which burnt almost the entire business portion of the city. It is worthy of remark that no case of cholera occurred at the place for two weeks after the fire. Out of a popula- tion of about 75,000, the death rate exceeded 150 per day during the height of the epidemic. From Cincinnati Mr. Blanchard removed to 191 Broadway, New York, where, in connection with C. Morse, son of the inventor of the tele- graph, he commenced the publication of maps engraved in cerography, a new invention of Prof. Morse, editor of the New York Observer, and brother of the inventor of the telegraph. The same system somewhat modified is now used for railroad maps thoughout the country. From New York Mr. Blanchard transferred his business to Chicago, in 1854, and introduced the manufacture of maps in the West, in all its departments. Perhaps it is not too much to say that his early experiences, together with

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

his twenty-eight years of activity in Chicago, have modified his aspirations in some directions, while they have been stimulated in other direc- tions into new fields of industry better under- stood at full maturity than when the flood-tide of youth sometimes propels the machine faster than obstacles can make.way before it, causing it to zigzag in its course.

EDWARD W. BREWSTER, retired, is a native of Blooming Grove, Orange Co., N. Y., born July 9, 1793, was raised on the farm and received a common school education. At the age of sixteen he engaged as a clerk in a gen- eral store in Washingtonville, Orange Co., N. Y., and continued as a clerk until about the year 1814, when he became interested, as a partner, in the business and remained there un- til about 1820, when he sold out and bought a small farm and settled on the same, teaching school in the winters, and later became the Principal of the Blooming Grove Academy. In 1839, he sold his farm and came west, pros- pecting. He purchased a claim where Elgin now stands, and in the spring of 1840 he occu- pied the same with his family ; and, finally, when the land came into the market, he re- ceived his title from President Tyler. Mr. Brews ter lived on his farm until about 1854, when he sold the place and moved to Chicago, where he invested in real estate, and erected some buildings, and took the position of Professor of English in a private Jewish school, where he remained a number of years, during which time be was a member of the Board of Education of Chicago. After the great fire, in the spring of 1872 he came to Wheaton, where he has since lived. While living ou his farm at Elgin, the Galena & Chicago, now the Northwestern, rail- road was built, and Mr. Brewster took an act- ive interest in furthering the interests of the road-granted them a free right of way through his land, and assisted them in many ways- and in recognition of his services he was given a free pass for himself and family over the road

for life. December, 1815, he married Miss Aun. daughter of Mr. Calvin Stewart, of Orange County, N. Y. She died in Chicago in 1861. They had six children, three of whom are liv- ing-Charles and Joanna S. at home ; James R., now in California ; Edward and Thomas died in infancy ; Oscar, the eldest child, lived to manhood, was married, and was a successful lumber dealer of Chicago. He died, leaving one child, Josephine, living in Oak Park.

DAVID BRONSON, retired, is a native of Broome County, N. Y., born in the year 1809. His parents, Stephen and Polly (Page) Bron- son, were natives of Connecticut. They mar- ried there, and soon after moved to New York, where they followed farming. David was raised on the farm ; he received a common school education, and at the age of twenty-two began to work for his father, for wages, and at the age of twenty-seven he married Miss Rhoda Page, a native of New York ; she died in 1848. After the marriage they occupied a house he built on some land he had bought, and which he farmed until 1840, when he, his father and mother, brother and brother-in-law, sold out and came West, by teams, to Illinois, and located in Lisle Township, Du Page Coun- ty, where they bought a claim of about 500 acres, and divided it into farms, occupied them and farmed the same. Stephen Bronson and his wife both died there. David Bronson lived there until 1859, when he rented his place and moved to Wheaton, where he has since lived. By the marriage there have been seven chil- dren, of whom only two are living, viz., Marin- tha J., now Mrs. Mack, of Butler County, Iowa ; and Marilla E., now Mrs. Churchill, of Du Page County, Ill. Mr. Bronson married Miss Polly A. Ashley, a native of New York, in the spring of 1849. They had one child, since deceased.

LEVI BALLOU, farmer, P. O. Wheaton, Ill .. is a native of Onondaga County, N. Y., born in Jordan in the year 1811. ITis father, Eben- ezer Ballon, was a cooper, and died in 1817,

BIOGRAPHICAL:

leaving Mrs. Ballou (formerly Miss Marania Ward) with six children. Levi lived with his uncle from his father's death until he was twelve years of age. He then apprenticed to the carpenter's trade and remained until he was twenty-one, receiving a common school education. On becoming of age, he and an- other apprentice, who had just finished his time, set up in business for themselves, which they followed for about three years. Mr. Ballou then bought a farm and lived on it for one year, when, in 1836, he started for the West, ; driving by team to Lombard, where he landed with an old team and $15, and took up a claim, and a few years later bought the same of the Government, and farmed there some five or six years. He then bought a place located just north of where the Wheaton College now stands, and in 1857 he came to his present place, which consists of 116 acres located one mile south- west of Wheaton. Mr. Ballon is Republican ; he has served as Road Commissioner some twelve years ; he also served as Poormaster for seven years, he being in office during the war. August 21, 1833, he married Miss Mary Marble, a native of Vermont. She had gone to New York with her parents ; she died August 2, 1881. By the marriage there have been seven children, of whom five are living. Mr. Ballou is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, having joined the church in his nineteenth year.

L. C. BROWN, jeweler, is a native of Chi- cago, Ill., born in the year 1849, and is the third of a family of nine children born to Hack- aliah and Cornelia A. (Hough) Brown, who were natives of New York. He came West, a single man, at an early day ; she came West with her parents, who settled in Bloomigdale Township, at an early day. She engaged as a school teacher, and married Mr. Brown about 1845. He was a carpenter by trade, and lived three years in Chicago, when the family returned to Du Page County, where L. C. lived thereafter.

He received a common school education, and also a commercial course in Wheaton College. He then went to Elgin, Ill., and worked in the watch factory for five years. He then went to Grand Crossing, where he was foreman of the Pinion and Finishing Department of the Cornell Watch Company for. three years. He then went to San Francisco, Cal., and occupied a similar position in the California Watch Com- pany, and two years later he came to Wheaton and engaged in his present business. He is Republican ; has held the office of City Treas- nrer of Wheaton one term. June 14, 1871, he married Miss Evelyn A. Piper, a native of Os- wego, N. Y. They have three children-Ern- est Clair, Dora I. and Leuthold H.

JOHN CHRISTIE, retired farmer, P. O. Wheaton, Ill .; is a native of Scotland, and lived in his native land until 1833. Ilis father was a farmer, and John was brought up to the same pursuit. In 1833, Mr. Christie came to America in company with his brother-in-law, Mr. Martin (deceased), formerly of Naperville. They came to Chicago, and from there drove to Ottawa on a prospecting tour, returning via the Naper settlement, where they concluded to locate. Mr. Christie lived with Mr. Martin some time, when. at the suggestion of Capt. Joseph Naper. he came to his present place and bought a claim for $100, and put up a log house and began improving the place, and has lived here since. The place consists of about seven hundred acres located two and a half miles south of Wheaton Mr. Christie has been twice married ; first, to Miss Mary Boyd, a na- tive of Leith, Scotland ; she died March 4, 1862. There were seven children, of whom three are living-John, Andrew and William- all living at home. Mr. Christie's second mar- riage occurred June 27, 1866, to Janette M. Keith, a native of New York ; she came to Du Page County with her parents in an early day. Mr. C. is Republican in politics, and a member of the Congregational Church.

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

CAPT. J. J. COLE, merchant, was born on the 16th day of April, 1833, in Putnam County, N. Y. His father, Berry Cole, was also a na- tive of Putnam County, and was born June 24, 1769; he was a farmer and the principal owner of the first show or menagerie that ever trav- eled through the country; he died in his native county in 1835. Our subject was raised on the farm ; he received a common-school education, and at the age of fifteen he went to New York City, where he engaged as a clerk in a dry goods store, and remained until he was twenty years of age, when he traveled for one year as the advertising agent for a cirens and men- agerie. He then returned to his home; the old homestead was sold, and, with his mother brother and sister, he came to Illinois and lo- cated in the Big Woods, in Naperville Town- ship, Du Page County, and a year later they moved to Downer's Grove, where he farmed until 1861, when he enlisted in Company K, Thirteenth Ilinois Volunteer Infantry. Upon the organization of the company. he was elected Seeond Lieutenant, and was later promoted- first, to First Lieutenant, then to Captain. Ile was taken prisoner in the rear of Vicksburg in December, 1862, and held four months at Vicksburg, Jackson and Libby Prison, in Rich- mond. From the latter place, he was exchanged in May, 1863, and joined his regiment within a few rods of the place where he was taken, and was with his command at the battles of Look- out Mountain, Mission Ridge and the other en- gagements of the regiment. After his three years' service, he returned home and engaged in mercantile business. In 1866, he was elected Supervisor of his township, and was re-elected four terms, when he was elected County Clerk, and moved to Wheaton, where he has since lived. During his last year in his term of oflice, he formed a partnership with Mr. F. G. Kimball, and engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, of which he became the sole proprietor in the spring of 1877, and, in 1878, formed his

present partnership. Mr. Cole has been twice married ; first, to Miss Agnes P. Palmer, a native of New York ; she came to Du Page County in 1854; her parents were dead, and she lived with her uncle, Mr. Riley Palmer, a farmer. The second marriage was to Miss Susan P. Smith, a native of Vermont ; she came to Du Page County with her parents, who now live in Wheaton. By the marriage there are two chil- dren-Agnes M. and Reno B.

A. B. CURTIS, farmer, P. O. Wheaton. Ill .. is a native of Lewis County, N. Y., born in the year 1832, and is the youngest of two children born to Peter B. and Filena (Look) Curtis; they were natives of New York and Massachusetts ; he was a farmer. In 1832, they moved to Ohio, where he worked on a farm for four years in Aslıtabula County, and in 1836 they came to Illinois and located on the present place, sit- uated two miles due west of Wheaton, purchas- ing the land from the Government at $1.25 per acre. They erected a house and began im- proving the land, and, excepting two years spent in Missouri, the parents lived here until their death. They had two children; the eklest, Benjamin S., was killed by an explosion of a stationary engine at Turner Junetion in 1850. Our subject was raised at home on a farm ; he received a district school course of study, and attended a select school at Naperville ; he also attended one short term at Lowville Academy, New York. At the age of twenty-two, he mar- ried Miss Rebecca Shatz, a native of Pennsyl- vania ; she came to Du Page County, IN1., with her parents in the year 1850. After marriage, he worked his father's farm on shares a few years, and then went by team to Missouri, where he farmed on the line of Miller and Maries Counties for about four years ; he then re- turned to Du Page County and farmed the home farm for a number of years, when he went to Manteno, Kankakee County, where he farmed for two years ; he then farmed the home farm in this county until 1870, when he went by

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History of Du Page County, Illinois (Historical, Biographical), Part 44

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