USA > Illinois > DuPage County > History of Du Page County, Illinois (Historical, Biographical) > Part 54
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QUIRIN SCHMITT, wagon-maker. re- pairer and livery, Downer's Grove, was born in Europe April 30, 1853; his parents, Ro- man and Sophia (Tilken) Schmitt, both de- ceased, were Europeans; of their nine chil- dren, seven are living, viz., Nicholas, George, Joseph, Amand, Quirin, Sophia and Therese. Subject, at the age of thirteen, began learn- ing the wagon-maker's trade, which he has ever since followed. He came to Iilinois in 1872, and worked one year and seven months with John Walters, of Downer's Grove, whose business he then bought, and has since con- tinued, making a specialty of repairing and building spring wagons, and doing an excel- lent trade. In 1881, he added a livery to his other business, and is meeting with good suc- cess in that line. He married, January 17, 1874, Barbara, daughter of Henry and Hele- na Schumpp. and from this union three chil- dren have been born, viz., Eugene, Ida and Helen. Mrs. Schmitt's parents were early settlers here, and had six children, five of whom are living. Mr. Schmitt is a Democrat; members of the Catholic Church.
PHILANDER TORODE, hotel and farm- er, P. O. Hinsdale, was born November 4, 1823. in Monroe County, Ohio. His par- ents, Nicholas and Rachel (De Lamare) To- rode, were natives of Europe, and emigrated
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to America in 1820, settling in Ohio, and, in 1837, in Illinois, where his father died in 1845, and his mother in 1864; they had seven children-Nicholas, Peter R., John J., Charles W., Daniel W., George and Philander; they were members of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Mr. Torode attended the common schools, and. at thirteen years of age, began working on his father's farm. His life has been mostly that of a farmer; however, he spent a few years in saw milling, operating a cider-mill and a stone quarry on Section 24 in York Township, along Salt Creek. He was married, March 15, 1854, to Abba, daughter of David and Catharine (Fuller) Thurston, who has borne him one child, who grew to maturity-John A. In 1881, Mr. Torode left his farm of 150 acres in York Township and engaged in the hotel business in Hiusdale, where he has met with good
success. The building is nicely located and well arranged for hotel purposes. In 1879, he engaged in farming in Alabama, whither he and his family had gone in search of health. He has been Assessor one term. His farm in York Township is the old homestead of his father.
JOEL TIFFANY, inventor, Hinsdale. was born September 6, 1811, at Barkhamsted, Litchfield Co., Conn., son of Joel and Han- nah (Wilder) Tiffany, natives of Connecticut. His father was a builder, and was never in affluent circumstances, so that the children, all of whom were successful in life, were self- made. Our subject taught school and stud- ied hard until twenty years of age, when he began to read law with William G. Williams, at Hartford, Conn., and afterward with Charles Olcott, at Medina, Ohio, where, in 1834, he was admitted to the bar and prac- ticed until 1836. He afterward practiced for thirteen years at Elyria, Lorain Co., Ohio, where he held the position of Prosecuting
Attorney, in which office he won distinction by his vigorous prosecution of horse-thieves and counterfeiters. This office he held for two terms, when, in 1849, he located in Cleveland and practiced two years. He next went to Little Mountain, Lake Co., Ohio, where he turned his entire attention to the law of patents in the United States Courts. After fifteen years here, he practiced at Al- bany, N. Y., for ten years. From 1865 to 1868, he was Reporter of the Court of Ap- peals, from which labor twelve volumes were published. While at Albany, he wrote a " Treatise on Trusts and Trustees," and a work of " Practice under the New York Code of Law," consisting of three volumes; also a "Digest of the Court of Appeals," and a trea- tise on "Government and Constitutional Law." He has lately published an able work enti- tled " Man and his Destiny," and is now pre- paring for publication some ideas and com. ments on "Agnosticism." In 1870, he bought property in Hinsdale, and began exerting his active mind in the art of refrigerating; has an office in Chicago, to and from which city he goes each day. In 1834, he married Car- oline M. Tryon, which union resulted in nine children, five of whom survive, viz., Mary, Mrs. Van Inwagen; Amelia; Martha, Mrs. Humphrey; Ella. Mrs. J. B. Page; and Belle. His consort died in 1859, in Ohio, and he again married, in 1860, to Margaret Mason, by whom he has four children, viz., Frankie L., Leon J., Wilder and George S. Although Mr. Tiffany has been offered positions of hon- or and trust, he has as often refused them, being averse to holding office. In the person of our subject we have the marked character of a self-made man.
A. L. TENNEY, farmer, P. O. Downer's Grove, was born in New Hampshire Febru- ary 2, 1845, son of Oliver and Tryphenia (Bissell) Tenney, natives of Vermont, he born
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in 1800 and she in 1807; they are still liv- ing, and are the parents of twelve children, all of whom are living. Our subject was educated in the best schools of his native county, and, at about twenty-four years of age, engaged in the express business, continuing at the same for three years, when he came to Illinois and commenced farming, renting land for that purpose. He afterward pur- chased eighty acres, his present farm, which is highly improved. In 1862, he was mar- ried to Miss Abbie Daggett, who bore him two children, one of whom is living, Myron. Mrs. Tenney died in 1869, and in 1870 Mr. Tenney married Miss Phyllis Pye, daughter of Watts and Mary A. (Goodman) Pye, na- tives of England, who came to Du Page in 1849, settling where subject now lives, but who are at present residing in Minnesota; they had eight children, only five of whom are now living. From his last marriage, Mr. Tenney has had born to him six children- Abbie M., Ella T., Watts R., Nettie B., Bes- sie P. and Bertha J. The family are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he votes for the best men. Alden and Mar- quis, brothers of A. L., were in the late war -one in the army and the other in the navy. Watts Pye, brother of Mr. Tenney's wife, died whilst in the service, member of Company B, Eighty-seventh Minnesota Volunteer In- fantry.
ELDRED THATCHER, merchant, Down- er's Grove, was born in Susquehanna County, Penn., March 8, 1818, son of John and Sarah (Moore) Thatcher, he a native of Massachu- setts, she of New Jersey; of their six children, five are living, viz., Azor, Eldred (subject), John, Edwin and Editha. Subject, at the age of fourteen, apprenticed to the tanner's trade, after learning which he attended school three months. In 1831, he moved to La Salle County, Ill., thence, in 1841, to Down-
er's Grove. In 1856, he entered the dry goods and notion business, continuing in business one year, under the firm name of Carpenter & Hatch; afterward, under various names, the present firm being Thatcher & Crescey. He has a good store and other property, which he has made by his own la- bors, having only $200 when he located here. He was married in 1838; his wife died in October, 1855, leaving one child, Mrs. Charles Curtis. He married Charlotte Smith, who has borne him three children, viz., John, Helen and Harvey. Mr. Thatcher has been Postmaster in Downer's Grove for nineteen years, being commissioned by President Bu- chanan; been Township Trustee for twenty years, and still holds that position, and has been Trustee of the village since its organiza- tion, with the exception of one year. He is a Republican, his wife is a member of the Baptist Church.
EDWARD VENARD, farmer, P. O. Down- er's Grove, was born February 25, 1842. His parents, Charles and Catharine (Butler) Ve- nard, were natives of Ireland, and came to America about 1832, settling in the dense forests of New York, where they toiled and labored until 1845, when they gathered all and started for the West, locating the same year on the farm where they now reside. Here they again began in the pioneer style. Subject's mother died here in 1857; his fa- ther is still living, and is very feeble, being eighty-two years of age; the names of their seven children are as follows : Anastasia, Ellen, Charles, Thomas, Edward, John and Catharine. Subject was married, February 22, 1880, to Maggie J., a daughter of Adam and Julia Gorman, of Will County; she has borne him two children, both deceased. He makes some specialty of Durham cattle and the Chester White hogs. He has 184 acres of finely improved land, the fruit of his early
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labors. They are members of the Catholic Church at Naperville.
DR. H. F. WALKER, coal-dealer, Hins- dale, was born July 17, 1817, in Claremont, Sullivan Co., N. H .; is a son of Solomon and Charity (Stevens) Walker; the parents emi- grated to Oakland County, Mich., in 1824, where they bought a large tract of land; the father died in 1857, and the mother in 1859; they were the parents of thirteen children. nine of whom grew up-Elihu S., Oricy, An- drew C., Leander (Methodist minister), Lu- cetta, H. F., J. M. (deceased January, 1881, was President of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and attorney). £ Mr. Wal- ker attended school in the districts in Mich- igan and at Pontiac, same State, and for a time at Oberlin, Ohio. His younger days were spent on a farm and clerking in a store. He began reading medicine in 1838. with Dr. A. Hudson, of Farmington, Mich., and afterward attended the Cleveland (Ohio) Med. ical College, graduating there in 1843. He began practice at Farmington, where he re- mained for nine years, and then retired for a short time, on account of poor health. In about one year, he engaged as a traveling salesman and collector for a wholesale dry goods house of New York, which he contin- ued for about two years, and again entered his profession for one year. He learned that his health would not permit him to follow his profession he loved so well, and he en- gaged in the clothing business with O. F. North, at Pontiac, Mich., for about one year and a half, at the end of which time he with- drew and came to Amboy, Lee Co .. Ill., in 1855, where he remained for ten years. He then settled in Chicago, and acted as mana- ger of the Chicago & Wilmington Coal Com- pany, and is connected with said company at the present. Was married, in 1839, to Ath- alia N. Watson, a daughter of Levi and
Fanny Watson. He has no children. He settled his residence at Hinsdale in 1868, he and his brother, J. M., buying at that time about three hundred and seventy acres where is now Clarendon Hills. They cut the same into lots, and, after selling many of them, they sold the remainder, but had to take a portion back on account of non-payment. The Doctor has been Supervisor of Downer's Grove Township, and has held other small offices. He is now a candidate for the Leg- islature from this district. He was first a Whig, and since has been a stanch Republic- an. He and wife are members of the Con- gregational Church of Hinsdale; were for- merly Methodists, but transferred on account of there being no Methodist organization at this place.
ALFRED WALKER, farmer, P. O. Hins- dale, was born in Ludlow, Windsor Co., Vt., September 6, 1824, son of Josiah and So- phia (Pettigrew) Walker. Josiah Walker was born in Hopkinton, Mass., March 5, 1793, and died at Ludlow, Vt., March 22, 1846; his wife, born in Ludlow, Vt., December 28, 1795, died at Hinsdale, Ill., December 12, 1875; he was a Methodist, she a Baptist; they had eight children. Mr. Walker received a limited education, attending school about two months each winter season, and, when eighteen years of age, hired out at $13 per month, and, after working one month, set out to look for other employment. He worked for a time at various small jobs, then found permanent employment in the car works at Cambridgeport, Vt., receiving $8 per month for the first year. $16 per month the second year, and the third year received $1.50 per day. His father dying about this time, he returned home and hired out by the month awhile. In Tinmonth, Vt., March 30, 1847, he married Fanny Ann Hopkins, a native of that place, born May 24, 1823, who bore him
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three children-Lincoln, deceased; Clifford, who married Nellie Steward at Hinsdale, Ill., January 28, 1874; and Lillian Sophia, who married Frank L. Wentworth at Hinsdale, October 2, 1877. Mrs. Walker's parents, David and Amanda (Andrus) Hopkins, were natives of Wallingford, Rutland Co., Vt., he born June 14, 1788, died March 30, 1849, at Tinmouth, Vt., where also his wife, who was born August 30, 1792, died March 31, 1849; they had fourteen children, six of whom are living. Mr. Walker, after his marriage, settled on the old homestead farm, renting it for awhile, afterward buying it, and finally selling it for a county poor farm. In 1853, he came to Brush Hills, this county, where he started a hotel, in connection with which he ran a cheese factory (the first in the State), and also dealt in fat cattle. He became wealthy, and purchased a large amount of property, the greater part of which he still owns. He is an active member of the Con- gregational Church.
GEORGE WOLF, farmer, P. O. Hinsdale, was born May 14, 1835, in Germany; is a son of George and Mary E. (Heintz) Wolf, who came to Du Page County from Germany in 1847. The family rented land for five years, and then purchased where they now live. The father had but $40 when he locat- ed in this county, but, by hard labor and frugality, he amassed quite a little fortune, which he divided among his six children. The mother is dead, and the father, at the age of seventy-five, lives with our subject. The parents united early with the Lutheran Church. George's school-days were few, he commencing early to work at farming, which he has since continued; has experienced all the hardships incident to pioneer life. In 1862, he enlisted in Company D, One Hun- dred and Fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served till the close of the war; was
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slightly wounded between two fingers; also contracted a disease in one of his lower limbs, which causes him considerable pain at this late day. In 1866, he married Miss Kate Faul, by whom he had two children, Eddie and Ella; they finally separated, and Mr. Wolf, in 1872, again married, the lady being Miss Emily Wigant, daughter of William and Lottie Wigant. This second union has resulted in three children, viz., Lonise, George and Amanda. Subject owns 110 acres of well- improved land, and some timber in Downer's Grove; the residence, which is surrounded by a good orchard, is situated on Section 23. He and his brother Fred for a time ran a threshing machine, which added to their finances. The family of Mr. Wolf are mem- bers of the Lutheran Church. He votes the Democratic ticket.
FREDERICK WOLF, farmer, P. O Hins- dale, was born December 28, 1838, in Ger- many, and is a brother of George, whose sketch appears in this book. Subject ob- tained what little education he could at Dow- ner's Grove, but, as soon as he was large enough, he was obliged to work on his fa- ther's farm; at fifteen, he was an expert at mowing. He used to drive four ox teams to a plow which his father and brother held; has journeyed to and from Chicago with oxen, and has, in fact, experienced all the hardships of one in limited circumstances in an early day. He now has 160 acres of finely im- proved farm land, and ten acres of timber land; runs quite an extensive dairy, keeping twenty-six cows, and selling the milk in Chicago. In 1866, he was married to Cath- arine Mochel, by whom he has seven chil- dren, viz., William, Louisa, Charlie, Emil, George, Albert E. and Adelia Mc. Mr. Wolf has held the position of Pathmaster. He and wife are Lutherans. They are giving their children a good education.
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CHARLES WHEELER, farmer, P. O. Downer's Grove, was born January 20, 1829, in New York, son of Merritt and Rhoda (Hyde) Wheeler, and brother of Allen Wheeler, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Our subject attended school in his early youth, but, as he grew older, was needed to help work upon the farm. When twenty-two years of age, he bought thirty- eight acres of land of his father, and invested all of his available means in cattle. He now owns 106 acres of well-improved land, the result of his economy and good management, and makes a specialty of raising Berkshire hogs. In 1860, he was married to Miss Nancy McMillan, daughter of Andrew and Rhoda (Daily) McMillan, and sister to Mrs. E. S. Andrews, whose sketch appears in this work. This union has been blessed with three children-Olive, Orin and Ida J. Mrs. Wheeler is a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. Wheeler has filled several offices in the township, and, although he has seen his full share of the hardships of life, now enjoys the fruits of his thrift and perseverance.
ALLEN WHEELER, farmer, P. O. Downer's Grove, was born August 29, 1840. in New York. His parents, Merritt and Rhoda (Hyde) Wheeler, were natives of New York, and came to Illinois in 1844, settling on a farm west of Downer's Grove, now owned by " Deeder." In 1847, they settled on a farm adjoining subject's place, and, in 1875, located in Michigan, where they still reside, the father being blind. Subject attended school but little, and that in a cabin on his brother's farm. His parents had nine chil- dren-George, Charles, Roxanna, Grace, Sarah. Allen, Betsey. Harriet and Albert. He clerked awhile in Downer's Grove, and in 1860, attended school at Wheaton, this county. He enlisted in Company E, Eighth Illinois Cavalry Regiment, but, being taken sick with
the measles, was confined to the hospital at Alexandria, thence transferred to Philadel- phia, and there discharged, not being ex- pected to live. He resumed his studies in Wheaton, afterward taught two years, then engaged five years for T. M. Avery in the lumber business in Chicago. He married, in 1864, Elizabetlı A. Bateman, who has borne him eight children, viz., Clara, Schuyler, Zoe- lina, Guy, Claudie, Lynn, Nora and Myrtle: the latter two died in 1880, of scarlet fever. Mr. Wheeler takes an interest in educating his children; is now Clerk of School Board. He has been a professor of religion since he was seventeen years of age; they attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has forty acres of well-improved land, and makes a specialty of fine Durham cattle. He cast his first Presidential vote for Lincoln.
MICHAEL WELCH, farmer. P. O. Gower, was born in Ireland April 5, 1824; is the son of John and Mary (Burke) Welch, natives of Ireland, who came to New York in 1832; they had four children, viz., Michael, Han- nah, Patrick and John. The father worked on a canal and railroad in New York State. In 1842, our subject came to Illinois and bought a part of his present farm of eighty acres, in Downer's Grove Township. This land he has improved until now he has one of the best improved farms in the township. A cabin 16x18 feet, which he at first dwelt in, has been replaced by a commodious dwell- ing, surrounded by a good orchard. In 1852, Mr. Welch married Mary Fleming, by whom he has ten children, viz., John, Thomas, Rich- ard, William, Harriet, Mary, Catharine, George, Arthur and Ann; two are deceased. Mr. Welch has held several small offices, and takes an interest in all public improvements. He and his wife are Catholics.
ABRAM WELLS, farmer, and present Postmaster. Cass, was born in England May
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1, 1841, and is the son of Robert and Sarah Wells, natives of England, who came to New York in 1856. Our subject obtained a good common-school education in his native place. When fifteen years of age, he began to learn the shoemaker's trade, at which he worked four years. In 1860, he came to the State of New York. where he put in tile drains for one year. He then came to Du Page County, where he worked at farming until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company E, Sev- enty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in which he remained till the close of the war, participating in many hard-fought battles. Upon his return home, he again engaged in farming. March 15, 1867, he married Mrs. Abigail Pitcher, only surviving child of James and Elizabeth Hardy, natives of England. By her first husband, Mrs. Wells had ten children; by Mr. Wells she has none. Mrs. Wells' only surviving child, John W. Pitcher, was married, July 3, 1879, to Miss Susanna Dawson, daughter of John and Anna Dawson. They have had one child, Carrie E. Mrs. Wells came to this county in 1848, when it was in a comparatively wild state. She has fed the hungry red man at her own house. Mr. Wells has been School Director, Consta- ble and Road Commissioner; was appointed Postmaster March 4, 1869, and still holds that position. The post office is known as Cass. He votes the Republican ticket.
PETER WERTZ. blacksmith, Downer's Grove, was born in Prussia, Germany, Jan- uary 13, 1850, son of Peter and Maria (Zim- merman) Wertz, natives of Germany, and both still living, he born November 18, 1818, she born Angust 27, 1822. They raised a family of eight children, viz., John, Mary, Jacob, Joseph, Peter, Margaret, Clemence and William. Subject attended school in his native land, and, at the age of fourteen years, began learning the blacksmith's trade, which
he completed, and has since followed. He landed at New York in 1867; soon after, en- gaged at his trade at Buffalo, where he re- mained about a year, and at other points in New York State for about eighteen months. In 1870, he came to Downer's Grove, where he worked twenty-one months for John Walton, a wagon-maker; then formed a partnership with J. W. Sucher, of this place, which partnership, at the end of a year, was dissolved. Mr. Wertz then worked for awhile witlı Mr. Sucher, and, in 1874, began his present business, which he has since continued, doing first-class work. He purposes adding a large building, in which to carry on a wagon and paint shop. He was married, January 13, 1872, to Frances Noll, a native of Germany, born July 9, 1854, daughter of John and Margaretta Noll ; he, born in Germany, died September 7, 1869; she died January 15, 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Wertz have five children-Bertha, ten years of age; Francis. eight years; Catharine, six years; Maria, three years; and Elizabeth, one and a half years. Mr. Wertz owns prop- erty in this village to the value o $7,000. all of which he has made by his own labors, save $2,000, which he inherited. He votes the Democratic ticket. He and his wife are members of the Catholic Church at Naper- ville.
JOHN WALLACE, farmer, P. O. Downer's Grove, was born November 19, 1807, in New Hampshire; son of Joseph and Sarah (McIn- tire) Wallace, of New Hampshire, where they both died. They had a family of seven chil- dren, only two of whom are living-Erastus and Sarah, now Mrs. Kibby. Our subject at- tended school in the old log cabin; came to Downer's Grove in 1839, and engaged in farming, pre-empting eighty acres. He now has seventy acres, which are well improved. In 1833, he was married to Mehitabel Har-
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rington, whose parents were James and Mer- cy (Sherman) Harrington, natives of Vermont, who had a large family. Mr. Wallace has five children living-Austin, Garry, James, Emma and Alice. He has served as Consta- ble and is a Republican, but cast his first vote for Gen. Jackson. Himself and wife are members of the Baptist Church at Downer's Grove. His son Garry was a member of Company B, One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served his country gallantly for three years of the great struggle for the Union.
WILLIAM E. WARING, farmer, P. O. Downer's Grove, was born in New York May 6, 1818; his parents, Solomon and Affey Snedeker Waring, were natives of New York, where they reared ten children, viz., Mary, Nellie, Harriet, Miranda, Sallie, Magdelia. Theodore, Solomon, Tunis and William E .; they were members of the Dutch Reformed Church. Subject received more than an or- dinary education, having taken up the study of Latin, Greek and French; he taught two terms at small wages; when twenty-two years old, he began merchandising in a grocery and feed store, meeting with success. He then engaged in the real estate business in New York City and State, and, in 1868, went to Nevada. Story Co., Iowa, where he en- gaged in the same business, meeting with some reverses, and. in 1874, went to Chicago, where, also, he engaged in the real estate business, meeting with indifferent success. In 1881, he bought thirteen acres of land in East Grove, this township, where he has since remained and is doing well. His children are Euphemia (Mrs. C. C. Carpenter, in Iowa), Peter, in New York City; John, a -
miner in Colorado, and Richard; two de- ceased, John and Walter. Mr. W. was Rev- enue Assessor in New York for four years, being appointed by Chase; was Justice of the Peace many years and was Captain of militia; was once a member of the A., F. & A. M .; he is a Republican, and cast his first vote for Van Buren; he has a good liome, fine orchard and all necessary conveniences.
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