History of Du Page County, Illinois (Historical, Biographical), Part 47

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 47

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J. S. PEIRONNET, retired, P. O. Wheaton, Ill., is a native of Binghamton, N. Y., born in the year 1841. His parents were J. S. and Mary J. (Lance) Peironnet. He was a mer-

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

chant, and, in 1854, came to Peru, Ill., where he bought and improved lands. In 1868, he returned East, locating at Waverly, N. Y., where he died. Our subject, at the age of nineteen, engaged in the lumber business at Peru, Ill., and, on becoming of age, he, in com- pany with his brother, William F. Peironnet, in the commission business in Chicago, and they successfully conducted the business for eighteen years, maintaining the excellent posi- tion of the house as one of the strong con- cerns of the board throughout the entire time. The magnitude of the business was enormous during the navigation season; they received as high as 1,000,000 bushels of grain per month. For a few years during the business of the firm, they owned a large flour mill at Minneap- olis, having a capacity of 500 barrels per day. During the ownership of this mill, Mr. Peironnet was one of the organizers of the Minneapolis Millers' Association, now the largest grain asso- ciation in the world. He became the Chicago agent, and contracted the freights from Chicago East. During the years 1868-69-70-71, they received fully one-third of the entire receipts of the city, and contracted freights on as high as 8,000 barrels per day. Aside from these active interests, Mr. Peironnet has large special interests in various commercial enterprises. In 1877, owing to his health, he sought a home in the country, and located at Wheaton. Being pleased with the change, he purchased property and permanently made it his home. In January, 1882, he retired entirely from the business he was engaged in for the past eighteen years. In 1873, he married Miss Fannie, daughter of William Baker, editor and proprietor of the Chicago Journal of Com- merce.

LEONARD PRATT, M. D., is a native of Bradford County, Penn., born in the year 1819, and is seeond in a family of nine children born to Russell and Olive (Towner) Pratt. He was a farmer and cabinet-maker,

which business he conducted in addition to farming. They died in Towanda, the county seat of Bradford County. Our subject lived at home on the farm until he was fifteen years of age; he received a common school course of study, also attended the La Fay- ette College at Easton about one year; after his attendance at the college, he tanght public school one term-for the most part, he worked to earn the means to educate himself-alternat- ing the work with the schooling. In 1841, be began reading medicine at Le Raysville, Brad- ford Co., Penn., and later attended lectures at the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and then began practice with his preceptor, and later by himself, in Towanda, and in 1851 he again attended the Jefferson College and grad- nated from the same, and two years later, he came to Illinois and located near Mount Carroll, Ills., where he bought a farm and opened an office in Monnt Carroll, where he practiced for twelve years, when he came to Wheaton and has practiced here since. In 1869, the Doctor began lecturing in the Hahnemann Medical College, and continned lectures seven years, and since then he has been connected Emeritus Professor of the Chicago Homeopathic Col- lege, lecturing occasionally, and during the past seven years the Doctor has attended his office in Chicago two days each week. Heis a mem- ber of the American Institute of Homoeopathy, the Western Academy of Medicine, Illinois State Medical Society and the Academy of Medieine, Chicago. In 1843, he married Miss Betsy, daughter of Dr. L. C. Belding, of Brad- ford County, Penn. They had four children, two living, one son and a daughter.

HIRAM B. PATRICK, farmer and dealer in stock. P. O. Wheaton. Came to county in 1845.

A. G. RANSOM, farming, P. O. Wheaton, is a native of Du Page County, Ill., born in the year 1845, and is the only child of A. S. and Melissa (Bingham) Ransom, who were natives

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of New York and Connecticut ; they married in Ohio He came to Illinois when a single man about the year 1840, and a few years later went to Ohio, where he was married, and then came to Illinois again and occupied the claim where he now lives. He was a soldier in a dragoon company, under Maj. De Acker, in the war of 1812. Our subject was raised a farmer, and received a common school education. At the age of sixteen he began managing the home farm. In 1868, he married Miss Christina Steven, a native of Du Page County, Ill., and daughter of Alex. Steven. She died August 25, 1871. June 20, 1877, he married Miss Liz- zie A. Moore, a native of Canada. She came to Du Page County, Ill., with her parents. By the marriage there are two children-Aning R. and Cornelia M. Hle is a Republican in politics ; has served as Highway Commissioner for six years. In 1864, Mr. Ranson began the business of threshing and has conducted a thresher most of the time since. He owns 120 acres located three miles northwest of Wheaton.

J. RUSSELL SMITH, editor and proprietor Wheaton Illinoian and Turner Junction News, Wheaton, is a native of Bluff Dale, Greene Co., Ill. He was born in the year 1838, and is the second of nine children born to Charles K. and Lucretia M. (Gray) Smith, who were natives of Woodstock, Vt .; they married there, and in the year 1836 came West. He was a publish- er in his native State, and upon coming to Illi- nois published the " Back Woodsman " a paper owned and edited by Mr. John Russell. He also published the Mississippian at Rock Island, and later became editor and proprietor of the Monmouth Atlas, of Monmouth, Ill., and after a connection of some eleven years with the pa- per he retired to the farm. and later was en- gaged in the mercantile business at Monmouth, and in 1878 he moved to California, and is now located at San Diego, with his wife and daugh- ter. Our subject lived with his parents until he became of age, and in addition to the com-

mon schools he attended a short term at the Monmouth College. He early became initiated in the way of printing, beginning in his father's office when nine years of age, and worked un- til his father sold out and retired to the farm ; he then assisted at farming until he became of age, when he again entered a printing office and worked at his trade. During 1861, he be- came Deputy Postmaster of Monmouth, and next engaged in the mercantile business, con- ducting a general store for several years. He then moved to California, Mo., where he pub- lished the " Loyal Missourian," and a few years later he went to St. Louis, and worked at his trade for a year or two. He then worked at Bellville, Ill., a few years, when, in 1870, he came to Wheaton, and bought the Wheaton Illi- noian, which he has published since. In 1871, he established the Turner Junction News, which he has published since. In 1865, he married Miss Mary E. Clark, a native of New York. She came to Warren County, Ill., with her parents, when she was young. By this inarriage there have been five children, of whom four are living. Mr. Smith first voted for Lin- coln, and has been a member of the Repub- lican party since.

W. G. SMITH, attorney, is a native of Rutland County, Vt., born in the year 1816, September 6. He was raised on the farm, and received a common-school education. At the age of seventeen, he engaged as a clerk in a general merchandise store, and clerked nearly one year. He then sold goods by wagon for a season. At about the age of eighteen, he began reading law with Judge William C. Kit- ridge, and, after a year, owing to his sight, he began clerking again, reading at leisure. In 1845, he engaged in the grocery business for himself at Whitehall, N. Y .; continued abont two or three years. He then came West and located in Du Page County, Ill., on a farm near Warrenville, where he farmed one year. | He then returned East, to Whitehall, where he

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

remained four years-two as Captain of a steam towboat, and two as Constable and Dep- uty Sheriff-then returned to Illinois, and located near Warrenville, and farmed there three years, when he moved to Huntley, Mc- Henry County, and carried on a farm. While here, he served as Coroner and Associate Justice. After five years' residence, he re- turned to Warrenville and engaged in the fire insurance business, and, in 1864, he came to Wheaton. During his residence in Illinois. he practiced more or less before Justices, and, in 1867, he was admitted a member of the bar, and has practiced here since. In 1870, he was elected State's Attorney, and held the office for four years. In 1844, he married Miss Catha- rine Miller, a native of New York. She died in 1845. In 1847, he married Miss Mary E. Manville, a native of New York. By the mar- riage there have been three children, two of whom are living.

JOHN SMITH, farmer, P. O. Prospect Park, is a native of Yorkshire, England, born January 29, 1822. and, when about six or seven years of age, was put into a cotton fac- tory, receiving 1 shilling per week, and he re- mained there until he was abont eighteen years of age. He then took a position in a dye wool mill, and worked there until he came to the United States, in 1844, and located in Wayne County, Mich .. where he worked at clearing an eighty-acre piece of land his uncle, James Smith, who came over with him, left him at his death. In 1856, he came to Illinois and settled in De Witt County, where he and his brother Joseph took up a half-section of Illinois Central Railroad land, and farmed it for a number of years, when they sold out, and, in 1865, came to Du Page County and bought 190 acres in the vicinity of Prospect Park, where they farmed until 1876, when John Smith bought his brother Joseph's inter- est, the latter going to Maryland. Mr. Smith lived on the farm until February, 1882, when

he moved where he now lives, in Prospect Park. He married Miss Ann Smith, a native of Yorkshire, England, who came to the Unit- ed States in 1844. By the marriage, six chil- dren were born, of whom fonr are living- Mary J., now Mrs. Dodge, of Prospect Park ; Joseph, farmer in Crawford County, Iowa ; Mattie, now Mrs. McChesney, of Prospect Park ; Charles, at home. Mr. Smith first vot- ed for Gen. Scott, and has since voted for Fre- mont, Lincoln, Grant. Greeley, Tilden and IJaneock.

ALEXANDER SPROUT, farming, P. O. Wheaton, is a native of Guernsey County, Ohio, born in the year 1822. He was raised on the farm, and received a common-school education, such as obtained in the old log schoolhouses ; he also taught school a number of terms during the winters. His mother died when he was about six years of age. and when he became twelve his father moved to Sandusky, and about one year later he began working by the month, and continued working out some ten years. In 1841, he married Miss Anna Fry, a native of Stark County, Ohio, and resident of Sandusky. About a year later they came West to Du Page County, Ill., renting the old Jewell place in Milton Township the first season, and the next year bought forty acres where he now resides, gradnally adding to his place until increased to 180 acres, located abont three miles northwest of Wheaton. By the marriage there have been ten children, of whom seven are living. He is a Republican.

WILLIAM F. SPROUT, farming, P. O. Wheaton, is a native of Milton Township, Du Page County ; born on his father's farm in 1846. and lived at home until 1869, and has al- ways followed farming. In 1864, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-first Illinois In- fantry, Company H, and served about five months. He returned home from the army, and in 1869, he married Miss Francis E. Jayne, a daughter of Mr. Horace Jayne, of Wheaton.

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She was born in Susquehanna County, Penn., and came to Illinois with her parents when young. After the marriage, he located on a small farm in Winfield Township, and farmed there about two years. He then rented in this neighborhood a few years, then bought his present place, which consists of ninety acres, located three miles northwest of Wheaton. By the marriage there have been five children, viz., Jessie M., Ernest W., Grace L., Alexander C., Melvin R. Mr. Sprout is Republican, though he has not taken any active part in politics.

PHILO W. STACY, farmer, P. O. Prospect Park, Ill., is a native of Cattaraugus County, N. Y., born January 13, 1833, and is the youngest and only surviving child of Moses and Joan (Kimball) Stacy. He was born in Massachu- setts in the year 1795, and was raised a farmer. In 1824, he married Miss Joan Kimball, a na- tive of Connecticut, born in the year 1804. Her father was a farmer, and moved to Massa- chusetts in 1816. After the marriage, they moved to Vermont, where they farmed about five years, when they moved to Cattaraugus County, N. V., and in 1835 they came to Illi- nois, intending to locate at Hennepin ; but not liking that county, they located here in Du Page County. They were on the main road to Chicago, and the circumstances of the times started them into a sort of hotel business. In- deed, for a few years, a sign was extended. Mr. Stacy continued on the place until his death, June 15, 1870. Mrs. Stacy has lived on the old homestead ever since. Philo W. lived at home until he was twenty-three years of age. He attended the common schools and an acad- emy. On becoming twenty-three, he bought a place adjoining the old homestead, and lived on it until his father's death ; since which time he has lived in the old home. February 22, 1853, he married Miss Betsy D. Taylor, a native of New York. Of their three children, two are living, viz. : Carrie A. and Fannie M. Mr. Stacy has held the office of Collector, Road

Commissioner and Constable. He is a Repub- lican in politics and a member of the Baptist Church for thirty years.

JOHN SUTCLIFFE, of Sutcliffe & Kelley, grain, lumber and agricultural implements, is a native of Huntingdonshire, Eng .; he was born in the year 1830; he received a common school education; at the age of thirteen. he ap- prenticed to the milling trade in Bythorn, serv- ing seven years, after which he worked one year as a journeyman at Thrapstone, and in 1852 he came to the United States and stopped in Cleveland, Ohio, and vicinity about twenty months, following his trade; he then returned to England and visited about six months, when he again came to the United States and located in Chicago, where he followed his trade, being in charge of the Hydraulic City Mills, which, at that time, also supplied the city with water, re- maining until the mill was torn down, about 1854; he then came to Du Page County and started a mill for Chicago parties in the town of Addison, which he conducted some two years; he then came to Wheaton and took charge of the mill, and after about one year he rented the mill and conducted it on his own account, con- tinuing until the destruction of the mill by fire, in which Mr. Sutcliffe lost all his property; he then opened a small flour and feed store, occu- pying a portion of what is now his present warehouse, which he continued a few years; he then moved to Kenosha, Wis., where he bought a farm and followed farming abont three years; he then sold out and returned to Wheaton and formed a partnership in the grain, lumber and coal business, and, through several changes in the firm, Mr. Sutcliffe has continued in the busi- ness to this day. Mr. S. is Republican. He married Miss Martha M. Muzzey, a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Du Page County with her parents, who settled in Bloomingdale Township; seven children, five living.

ALVIN SEAMANS, retired, P. O. Wheaton, ! Ill., is a native of Ashfort, Windham Co.,

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

Conn., horn in the year 1817, and was raised on a farm. He lived at home until he was past eighteen, when he went to Pomfret, where he lived over a year, working by the month on the farm, and in December, 1836, he started for Illi- nois, coming through by team to Warrenville, where he hired to the Messrs. Gary as a farm hand; after some five months, for which he drew $11 per month, he removed to Deacon Clark's, who paid him $25 per month, and continued working transiently until December following, when he went to the Benjamin settlement and took care of his cousin, Mr. Samuel Gary, who was sick, and in April, 1839, he made a claim in Wayne Township and occupied the same, but in July following he sold out and made a claim about half a mile west of where Wheaton now stands, and lived there until 1871, when he retired to his present place. In April, 1839, he married Miss Almira Manyan, a native of Thompson, Windham Co., Conn. She came to this county in 1838, and died January 7, 1870, leaving eight children. May 15, 1870, he married Betsy M. Barber, a native of Ben- son, Vt. Mr. Seamans has held the office of School Director for some seven years; he has also served as Road Commissioner; he is Re- publican in his politics, and one of the first in his precinct to vote anti-slavery; he was brought up a Baptist, but has for the past twenty years been a member of the Congregational Church - and has acted as Deacon for the past seventeen years. Soon after the laying-out of Wheaton, Mr. Seamans was made the Superintendent of the Sabbath School, which was the first formed in Wheaton.

ALEXANDER STEVEN, farmer, Wheaton, Ill. Is a native of Scotland, born in the year 182I, and is the third of nine children born to James and Janet (McGown) Steven, who were natives of Scotland, and married there. He was a farmer, and about 1831 the family came to Canada, where they engaged in farming. Mrs. Steven died in Canada, and Mr. Steven

lives there to this day, being now in his ninety- fourth year. Alexander lived at home until he was twenty-two years of age. He received a common school education. In 1843, he came to the United States and settled in Du Page County, working by the month for one year, and then settled on his present place, which he pre-empted, and has lived here ever since. In 1845, he married Miss Elizabeth Fry, a native of Pennsylvania, and came to Du Page County, Ill., with her parents. She died September 10, 1876. They had ten children, of whom seven are living. September 26, 1876, he married Mrs. Green, formerly Miss Fidelia Drake, a native of St. Lawrence County, N. Y., and came to Du Page County, Ill., in May, 1866. By the present marriage there are two children. Mr. S. is a Republican; was strong anti-slavery. Has 240 acres of land located on Sections 4 and 6, he residing on the latter, distanced three miles northwest of Wheaton.

S. P. SEDGWICK, M. D., is a native of Westmoreland, Oneida County, N. Y., born February 7, 1822. He received a common school course of study, and also attended Cazenovia Seminary about one year. At the age of eighteen, he began reading medicine under his father, Dr. Parker Sedgwick, and in February, 1843, he graduated from the Medical Department of the Geneva College, New York, and then began practice in his native town, and the following year came to Bloomingdale Township, Du Page County, Ill., where his parents had settled the year previous. He and his father practiced together some two years, after which he practiced alone, moving from the farm to the village of Bloomingdale, where he remained for twenty years. He then came to Wheaton, where he has since lived. In 1877, he was appointed by Gov. Cullom, County Judge, holding the office until Decem- her following, when he received the nomination of the Republican party, but declined to run. Except one year, the Doctor has been the E

BIOGRAPHICAL:

Chairman of the County Republican Committee since the organization of the party. While residing in Bloomingdale, the Doctor held the office of Justice of the Peace for eighteen years, and also four years in Wheaton. He has also held the office of President of the Town Council of Wheaton three years.

JOHN SAUER, hardware, cutlery, etc., is a native of Hiszbach, Bavaria, born in the year 1824. He received a common school education, and at the age of twelve he apprenticed to the tailor's trade and served three years, and worked as a journeyman until 1846. He then came to America, and worked at his trade in New York City for nearly three years. He then came West to Geneva, Kane Co., Ill., where he worked about five years. He then, in 1854, came to Wheaton, where he opened a clothing store and did a general tailoring business, which he con- tinued some twelve years, when he closed out and engaged in the hardware business, which he has continued to this day. Of late years, his son, Peter K. Sauer, has the active manage- ment of the business. In 1847, he married Miss Catherine Winter, a native of Hesse-Darm- stadt, near Frankfort. They had eight chil- dren, six living-John P., married, lives in Wheaton ; Peter K., at home ; Adam J., mar- ried, lives in Kane County, Ill. ; Boniface, Catharine and Elizabeth, in Kane County with their brother. Mr. Sauer has always been a Democrat, and a member of the Roman Catholic Church since his birth. He has held the office of Town Councilman of Wheaton. He has a farm one and one-half miles southwest of Wheaton, which he purchased some twelve years ago, and carries on by tenant.

L. C. STOVER, County - Treasurer, is a native of York County, Penn., born October 7, 1842. He was raised on the farm, and received a common-school education. In 1854, the family came to Du Page Connty, Ill., and bought a farm in Milton Township. L. C. lived on the farm until August, 1862, when he

enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifth Regi- ment Illinois Infantry, and continued with the command until the spring of 1864, when he received his discharge, owing to an accident while on the train with a portion of his com- pany, being conveyed to Chattanooga. As soon as able, he returned to Du Page County, York Township, and engaged in clerking, and part of the time as Collector of York Town- ship. He was out of health, and visited Penn- sylvania several times, and, while there in 1873, he was elected, and returned and entered the duties in December of that year, and has held the office since. In 1876, he married Miss Jennie A. Eggleston, of Jackson, Mich. He is a Republican in politics.

H. J. TRAVER, farmer ; P. O. Wheaton ; is a native of Montgomery County, N. Y .; born in the year 1827, and is the sixth child in a family of nine children born to George and Elizabeth (Plantz) Traver. They were natives of New York. About 1835 or 1836, they moved to Summit County, Ohio, where they followed farming. George Traver died in Sum- mit County, Ohio, about the year 1837, owing to an accident while cutting with an ax. The family then moved to Medina County and lived on the farm. Our subject received a very limited common-school course of study, and, at the age of seventeen, he apprenticed to the carriage-maker's trade and served three years. He then opened a shop of his own in Wadsworth Township, and continued in the business for some twenty-eight years, employ- ing from twenty to thirty men. During part of the time, he also carried on a branch shop at Ashland. He sold out his business and lived one year in Ashland. Having invested largely in Chicago real estate, he came West with the view of looking after his property and handling real estate. In 1872, he moved to Wheaton, and occupied his present place in 1873, where he has lived since. His mother, who had lived with him, died here on the farm

MILTON TOWNSHIP.

in 1877. In 1850, Mr. Traver married Miss Charlotte Beach, a native of Wadsworth, Me- dina Co., Ohio. She died in 1855. They had two children, viz., Emily, now Mrs. Grote, of Wheaton, and Marietta, now Mrs. Turner, of Ann Arbor, Mich. As second wife, he mar- ried Miss Clarissa A. - Andrews, a native of Akron, Ohio. She died in February, 1882. They have six children-Ida, Cora, Ella, Gurta, Jessie, Ruby. Mr. T. has ninety-seven acres, located one and one-fourth miles east of Wheaton.

G. B. VASTINE, Postmaster, Wheaton, is a native of Northumberland County, Penn., born in the year 1839, and is the youngest of ten children born to Lewis and Martha (Boone) Vastine. They were natives of Pennsylvania. Martha Boone was the daughter of Hezekiah Boone, a second cousin of Daniel Boone. Lewis Vastine and family came West in 1854, and settled near Elgin, where he bought a large land interest, and engaged in farming, where, also, he died in 1859 or 1860. Mrs. Vastine died in Wheaton in 1879. G. B. lived at home until after the death of his father ; he received a limited common-school course of study. The family remained on the farm until 1865. In 1862, G. B. went to California, where he re- mained one year. He then returned by the ship Ariel, which had, on its way from New York to Aspinwall, been captured by the Ala- bama, and, owing to the passengers being mostly women and children, the vessel was not de- stroyed. On the return, the ship did not use lights, as the Alabama was on the lookout, de- termined to destroy her. Returning home, he then went to Bloomingdale, where he en- gaged in the general store business for one year, when he sold out and went on a farm at Elgin, and shortly after engaged in the shoe trade in Elgin ; thence to Wheaton, where, in company with others, he opened a general store, which was conducted several years. He then engaged in building houses, which he sold, and

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History of Du Page County, Illinois (Historical, Biographical), Part 47

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