USA > Illinois > DuPage County > History of Du Page County, Illinois (Historical, Biographical) > Part 57
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Baptist Church, and the family are possessed of fine literary accomplishments.
THOMAS PELLING, farmer, P. O. Lisle, was born October 25, 1812, in England; is a son of James and Jane (Belchambers) Pell- ing, who came here in 1843, settling where Netzley now lives. The parents had five children, viz., John, James, Thomas, William and Jane; parents were Baptists. Our sub- ject obtained but little education, owing to some financial disappointments of his father. Mr. Pelling worked out by the year, the com- pensation varying from $60 to $S5; he came to this county with his uncle, William Bel- chambers, who was afterward killed by a team running away with him. Mr. Pelling worked for awhile in New York with his brother at blasting rock. He was married in 1850 to S. Karfer, who blessed him with nine children, viz., Mary, Fred (was married No- vember 23, 1880, to Frances Hitzler, and has one child, Iny), Angeline, Frank, Lawrence, Adaline and Ida A. In 1872, Mr. Pelling settled on his present farm of 113 acres; he makes a specialty of running a dairy; his wife is a Catholic; he votes the Democratic ticket.
E. E. PAGE, farmer, P. O. Naperville, was born December 28, 1824; is a son of Samuel and Judith (Elliott) Page, natives, the father of Massachusetts, and the mother of New Hampshire: the parents emigrated to Kane County, Ill., in. 1838; there the father died December 28, 1839, with the small pox; he was the father of six chidren, viz., E. E., Clarissa and Harriet, and three deceased. The mother was married a second time to Nathan Williams, of Naperville, and the re- sult was one child; she died about 1865; was a Methodist. Mr. Page attended school in a log cabin Kane County. At the death of his father, he went to live with William Leonard, of Jo Daviess County, and in two years came
to Du Page County, and made his home with the father of Judge R N. Murray. While here he had the privilege of attending school at Naperville, one and one-half miles distant. He afterward attended the school at Warrenville. In the spring of 1844, he engaged as a farm hand for John Dudley at $9 per month. At the expiration of six months he took service on a farm in Kane County at $12 per month. He labored, prior to that with Dudley, eleven months with Murray, spoken of above. In 1847, he en- gaged in the lumber business in Michigan; bought forty acres of land in Du Page Coun- ty in 1845 and 1846; he worked on the old Hobson mill dam across the Du Page River in 1849; was married, 1852, to Elizabeth Hob- son, which union resulted with three children, one living-Albert, married Florence Moody and has two children, Ethel and Lottie A. Mrs. Page was born in 1832; she settled with her husband for a short time in Milton Township, and then in 1853 came to their present farm of 150 acres well improved, and with a large stone quarry; was elected Jus- tice of the Peace, 1858; enlisted in Company K, Thirteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry; was First Sergeant; was elected Supervisor of Lisle in 1866, and held the office for nine years; votes the Republican ticket.
ALONZO PALMER, farmer, P. O. Lisle, was born August 4, 1842; is a son of Riley S. and Nancy W. (Richards) Palmer. His parents came to this county in 1855, settling on the Charles Parmelee farm; here the mother died in 1872; the father is now living in Nash- ville, Washington Co., this State. The par- ents had eight children, viz., Mrs. C. P. Hatch, Alonzo, Allen, Mehetable, Mary V. (Mrs. George Schriver), Rosetta V. (Mrs. Perry Boucher), and Anna (Mrs. Elwood). Mr. Pal- mer attended school but little, owing to the limited circumstances of the family. He
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learned carpentering, and worked at the same for many years; was married in 1878 to Ella F., a daughter of John and Lucy (Peet) Rich- ards, now residents of this county. This union blessed him with two children, viz., Emma L. and May; he enlisted in Company B, One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry; was in several hard engagements; votes the Republican ticket.
JOHN PHILIPP, farmer, P. O. Downer's Grove, was born October 5, 1854, in Grau- ville, Putnam Co., Ill .; is the son of Martin and Eve (Rohner) Philipp, natives of Germany and the parents of one child-John, our sub- ject; they came to Illinois in 1850. The father died in 1855. and the mother was sub- sequently married to Herman Pilz, by whom she has three children-Henry, Edward and Albert. The mother settled immediately after her marriage with Mr. Pilz, in Lisle Township, where they have since lived. Our subject remained on the farm with his father until 1881, when he was married to Sarah Hoehn, and has one child-George. Mr. Philipp has forty acres of well-improved land, the result of his own labors. He and wife are members of the German Methodist Church of Downer's Grove.
ELIJAH ROOT, farmer, P. O. Downer's Grove. The subject of these notes was born September 26, 1821, in Benson, Rutland Co., Vt .; is the son of Martin and Abigail (Stearns) Root, who came to this county in 1843, set- tling where the subject now lives, and were the parents of six children-Emily, Maria, James (deceased), Amos, James, Elisha. The parents were members of the Congrega- tional Church, in which the father was Dea- con. The father of the mother of Mr. Root was a Revolutionary soldier; was under the command of Gens. Sullivan and Burgoyne; was engaged in the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. Our subject, who is the only
one living of his father's family, attended school as much as was conveniont; he had the advantages of a select school at Benson, Vt. He was married September 6, 1853, to Jeannett, a daughter of Oliver and Jane Kin- yon, the result being eight children, viz., Al- mah J., Arthur, Charles, Emma, Leonard, Al- bert (deceased), James (deceased), Helen (de- ceased). He settledon his present farm in 1842, buying eighty acres of the same, in 1844. He has now 147 acres of finely improved land, the attainment of his own labors. He went to California in 1851, where he mined with fair success for two years. He crossed the Isthmus of Panama when the people were dying there by the hundreds. Possessed of that characteristic that prompts a man to care for others as he would have them care for him, he with his strong arm carried many of the weak, sick and distressed ones from the hot, broiling sunshine to the shades of some isolated peak or small building, there to await death's summons. His official positions have been few but important; he has served the township faithfully for several terms as As- sessor, and is now in his oighth term as Jus- tice of the Peace; he has also held his share of the small offices, where it is all labor and no pay. He has experienced a few of the hardships that were to be endured by the pio- neer; he hauled oats to Chicago with ox teams, and sold at 10 cents per bushel. He makes a specialty of manufacturing sorghum molasses, having an elegant evaporator of the best construction; he brought the first sample of sorghum molasses to this county ; he hauled the first load of merchandise to Down- er's Grove, for Henry Carpenter. His active mind never finds rest, and he has obtained a knowledge of law sufficient to practice before any justice court; he is an active Republican.
JOSEPH RANCK, farmer, P. O. Naper- ville, was born April 23, 1844, in Lancaster
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County, Penn. His parents, Joseph and Mar- garet Ranck, were natives of the same State; the mother came bere in 1865, and lives with our subject; the father died in 1869; the par- ents were blessed with eight children-Jona- than, Samuel, Elizabeth (Mrs. Lewis), Emery, Amos and Joseph, and three deceased in in- fancy. The Ranck family emigrated to Penn- sylvania about 1740. Mr. Ranck attended school in the country academy at Waynesburg, Chester Co., Penn., and State Normal at Mil- lersville, same State; he taught some time; he clerked and kept store in Naperville two years, and the remainder of his life has been spent on a farm; was married to Francis E. Higgins, the result being two children, de- ceased; wife died in 1870; was married a second time in 1875 to Rebecca, a daughter of David and Susannah (Boyer) Frost, natives of Lebanon County, Penn .; her parents came to this county in 1850, and twelve of their thirteen children survive-John, Elizabeth, Daniel, George, Susannah, David, Rebecca, Henry, Samuel, Jacob, Simon, Clara. Mr. Ranck has two children as a result of his last marriage-Elmira and Clarence; he has 115 acres of well-improved land, which he bought in 1866; he is running a dairy; he and wife are members of the Evangelical Association of Naperville; he votes the Republican ticket; has served in some small offices.
RICHARD RICKERT, farmer, P. O. Naper- ville, was born October 18, 1831, in Schuyl- kill County, Penn. ; is a son of Samuel and Mary (Green) Rickert; the mother died in 1844, having blessed her husband with six children, viz., Hannah, Richard, Edwin, Alexander, Matilda and Alfred. The father married a second time to Esther Deibert, re- sulting in no children. The father was a minister of the Evangelical Association; he also merchandized and shipped coal; is living in Naperville. Richard had some school ad-
vantages in his younger days; his life has been that of a farmer; he came to this coun- ty in 1854 with his father's family, and his wife, Sophia, a daughter of George and Esther (Shiffert) Wenner, whom he had mar- ried in 1853; she was one of seven children -George, Esther, Mary, Clarissa, Peter, Lydia and Sophia; her father died when she was small; was Lutheran, to which organiza- tion her mother belonged. Mr. Rickert's re- union gave him six children, two of whom have been stricken from life's roll on earth; the four living are Mahlon, Emma, Irvin and Mary. His wife died in 1869, and he was subsequently joined in marriage with Susan Kramer, a daughter of Mrs. William Stark, by whom he has four children, viz., Matilda, William, Truman and Addie L. In 1860, he located on his present well-improved farm of 116 acres, in Lisle Township, mostly the result of his own efforts. He has served in some small offices; enlisted in Company D, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Illinois Volun- teer Infantry; votes the Republican ticket; takes an interest in educating his children; he and wife are members of the Evangelical Association at Naperville; his wife's parents live with the subject; her mother is blind. Mahlon, the son of Mr. Rickert, is employed in the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fé car works at Kansas City, and Emma, his daughter, is the wife of John Slick, a fireman on the Chi- cago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad.
J. W. STEININGER, farmer, P. O. Naper- ville, was born October 11, 1836, in Pennsyl- vania; is the son of George and Mary (Moose) Steininger, who emigrated to Du Page County at an early day. They were the parents of five children-Rebecca, Tillman, J. W., Catha- rine and Lizzie. The mother was born May 1, 1806, and died August 29, 1870. The parents were members of the Evangelical Association. Mr. Steininger attended school
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some in his native State; he emigrated here with his father's family in 1843; he was married in 1863 to Rebecca Ressler, daughter of Joseph and Susannah Ressler, which union blessed him with six children- Alwin, born July 22, 1864, died August 11, 1870; Emma, born November 5, 1866, died August 7, 1870; Glistie, born January 25, 1870, died Angust 30, 1870; Hattie, born October 22, 1871; Annie, born April 24, 1874; Charlie, born July 12, 1876. Mr. Steininger settled on his present farm of ninety-three acres in 1874, which is well improved, and the attainment of their own labors, save about $2,000 inherited by his wife. He and wife are members of the Evangelical As- sociation; takes an interest in education; has a dairy; votes the Republican ticket. Mrs. Steininger was born in 1843 in this county: her parents came here 1842; her mother brought five dozen eggs from Pennsylvania. thinking that such an article could not be found here. She remained overnight at what is now the Page residence, and the next morning carried Mrs. Steininger in her arms a distance of two miles, together with a broom, to the place of their choice, a cabin 12x16, which for awhile contained three families. Since the above was written, Mrs. Steininger sends us the following, which we insert in her own language: "The threshers had come, and hands being scarce and wages high, mother not only cooked for them but helped to thresh. The required amount of ' chips' were gathered, by which a fire was kept up. and over it was hung a kettle filled with beef. Giving her three children, the eldest being five, the command to feed the fire, she locked the door to prevent our get- ting lost on the prairie, and went to help the threshers; the only thing we could see was the cloud of dust from the machine. It was getting dark when mother returned, but she
hastily changed her threshing snit for her ' home-made blue,' and soon had supper wait- ing. In the meantime, two ministers of the Evangelical Association called. Mother was an active member of that organization, and on this same evening determined to attend the prayer meeting at some distance. Father was opposed to her going. but she had the ministers remain for supper, and after all were seated she took a bowl of soup and a slice of bread, and left them to enjoy their meal while she ate her supper on the road to prayer meeting. " Mrs. Steininger's par- ents were blessed with eight children -Betsey, Rebecca, Mary, Daniel, Matilda, Joseph. Fianah, one dead.
MARQUIS L. SARGENT, farmer, P. O. Naperville, was born January 30, 1833, in Michigan. His parents were John and Irene (Sweet) Sargent, the father a native of New Hampshire, and the mother of the State of New York. They had seven children, six of whom now survive, viz .. Louisa (Mrs. Judge Murray), Silvester (grocer in Chicago), Cleo C. (Mrs. Wright), M. L., Walter A. (police- man in Chicago) and Sarah M. (Mrs. W. Marvin). The parents emigrated to Mich- igan at an early day, and to Illinois in 1837, settling where the subject now lives. The father died in 1867; he was in the war of 1812 as a Sergeant. The mother died in 1876; she was a member of the Congregational Church. Mr. Sargent attended school in the country and at Naperville; he has spent the most of his active life on a farm. In early manhood he went to California, where he re- mained for a few years, and then returned to his present farm of 145 acres of well-improved land, on which he makes some specialty of stock raising. He was married in 1860 to Lois M., daughter of Henry and Lois (Royce) Ingalls, the parents of twelve children. Mr. Sargent was blessed with five children by his
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marriage, two living, viz., Earl and Lorene A. Mrs. Sargent is a member of the Con- gregational Church of Naperville. Mr. Sar- gent is a member of Naperville Lodge, No. 81, I. O. O. F., and votes the Democratic ticket, having cast his first Presidential vote for Franklin Pierce. Mr. Sargent is educating his children in the Northwestern College.
L. W. STANLEY, farmer, P. O. Downer's Grove, was born May 14, 1826, in Susque- hanna County, Penn .: is a son of Dexter and Nancy (Capron) Stanley, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of Pennsylvania. Our subject is a brother of Mrs. Dryer, the mother of H. L. Bush, whose biography appears elsewhere. Mr. Stanley attended school in a cabin which stood where the residence of Mrs. Curtis, of Downer's Grove, now stands, his instructor being Nor- man G. Hurd. He has devoted his life to farming, save four years, from 1850 to 1854, when he was mining in California, with his brother D. C. and Amos and Albert Adams. He settled on his present farm of 130 acres in 1854, and has improved the same from the "raw" state to that of one to be desired by the most tasteful. In 1854, he married Helen, a daugh- ter of Aaron K. and Maria (Ford) Farr, the par- ents of seven children, viz., Helen, Edward, Mary, George. Frances, Ida and Charles; her parents came to Downer's Grove in 1842, where the father died subsequently, and the mother is living with the subject. Mr. Stan- ley has three children living, from a family of five, viz., Arthur F., Mabel and Louie; the former is working for the Western Eclec- tic Manufacturing Company of Chicago. Our subject has been identified with the Re- publican party since its organization, merg- ing from the Whig and Free-Soil organiza- tion. He devotes considerable time to the dairy business.
SIMON SCHAFER, farmer, P. O. Down- er's Grove, was born September 17, 1839, in Germany; is a son of David and Christina (Nusbaum) Schafer, who came from Germany in 1853. They first settled in Canada, where they remained two years, and then came to Du Page County; here they rented land for several years, until they had saved sufficient means to purchase eighty acres, where our subject now lives, and where the parents died, the father in 1880, the mother in 1866. Our subject was the only son, and had but little opportunity for attending school, the greater part of his time being employed in farming with the ox-team and the primitive implements of agriculture. The father's vo- cation was that of a weaver, and the son was hired out at an early age to learn farming, after which he took charge of his father's farm. He now has 120 acres of well-im- proved land of his own. In 1866, Mr. Scha- fer married Sarah Peters, a sister of Daniel Peters, whose biography appears elsewhere in this book. This union has resulted in six children, viz., Frank, Bertha, Amelia, Min- nie, Edith and Willie. Mr. Schafer is en- gaged in the dairy business; he votes the Republican ticket.
ALOIS SCHWARTZ, farmer, P. O. Na- perville. Mr. Schwartz was born June 17, 1828, in Alsace, now Germany; is a son of Michael and Mary Schwartz, natives of Ger- many and the parents of thirteen children, seven of whom are living, viz., Lawrence, Joseph, Alois, Ferdinand, Lewis, Antone and Michael; the parents emigrated to this coun- ty in July, 1846, and settled on the farm now owned by Michael Schwartz, near the center of Lisle Township; here the father died, September 10, 1865, and the mother in February, 1874; the parents were Catholics; the father was a fisherman in his native country. Alois experienced some of the
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hardships that were upon the early settlers. He never attended school a single day, and what education he possesses is the result of his ambitious efforts. In 1850, he went to California; there he mined successfully for about five years, after which he returned and bought land in Du Page County. By fru- gality and careful management, he has secured 380 acres of land, which is finely improved. partly by his own hands. In 1866, he made a wise selection of a help-mate in the person of Miss Katie Gipe, which union gave him four children, viz., Edward. Amelia, Dan C. and Andrew. He is tiling his farm; has now about 800 rods of tile drainage on his tine farm. The family are members of the Catho- lic Church of Naperville. His political pro- clivities are Democratic.
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ALBERT SCHMITT, farmer, P. O. Na- perville, was born July 22, 1834, in Alsace, now Germany: is the son of Francis A. and Francisca (Schwartz) Schmitt. The parents came to Du Page County in 1843. settling where the subject of these notes now lives; the father died on February 6. 1861; the mother was born October 24, 1SOS, and is
1 living with her son Albert, of whom we write; the parents had three boys-Theopo- las, Antona and Albert; they united early with the Catholic Church. Mr. S. attended school some during his younger days; he drove ox teams when ten years old, hauling oats to Chicago and selling at 20 cents per bushel; he was married, June 3, 1856, to Mary Schmitt (no connection). she a daugh- ter of Martin and Mary (Pfaff) Schmitt. By her Mr. S. had seven children-Frank, Otilia, Henry E., Willie N., Joseph T., Andrew A. and Sophia (deceased). He owns 270 acres of well-improved land, which was formerly timbered. He is now Road Commissioner; has been School Director. The family are members of the Catholic Church of Naper-
ville. Votes the Democratic ticket. His wife was born July 16. 1840, in Alsace.
NICHOLAS STENGER, farmer, P. O. Naperville, was born January 22, 1860, in Du Page County; is a son of Nicholas and Elizabeth (Snebly) Stenger, natives of Ger- many. The parents settled at Naperville very early. where the father died; the mother is still living; the parents had seven chil- dren. five of whom are living Mary. Amelia, Nicholas, Adolph, Elizabeth; they became members of the Evangelical Association very early. Our subject had good ednational advantages. He was married, November 25, 1881, to Emma, a daughter of Fred Strubler, of Naperville. He settled on his present farm of ninety-four and a half acres in 1882. He is making some specialty of stock-raising. He and wife are members of the Evangelical Association. He votes the Republican ticket; is a strict temperance man. His father was an owner of the early brewery at Naperville.
E. O. STANLEY, farmer, P. O. Downer's Grove, was born August 8, 182S, in Penn- sylvania: is a son of Dexter and Nancy (Cap- ron) Stanley. Mr. Stanley is a brother of L. W. Stanley and Mrs. Dryer, the mother of H. L. Bush, in whose sketches the parents are prominently noticed. E. O. attended school in a small building on his father's farm, and for awhile in the old building that stood where T. M. Woods now lives. Was married. in 1862, to Mary Allen, a daughter of Mr. Allen, of Ohio, who blessed him with two children, viz., Adah M. and Lee. He has 134 acres of well-improved land, the re- sult of his own labors. He is running & dairy, having seventeen cows. Been in some small offices. Votes the Republican ticket. He and wife are members of the Baptist Church of Downer's Grove.
G. W. WEBSTER, farmer, P. O. Naper- ville. This enterprising young man is the
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son of George W. and Caroline Webster. The father is a son of Lyfret and Sarah Web- ster, and was born in 1811. The mother of our subject was born July 1, 1822, in Ash- land, N. H .; is a daughter of Jacob and Clarissa (Webster) Shepherd. The Shep- herds are descendants of the Holdeness Colony, and the Websters of the Plymouth Colony. Mrs. Webster's parents emigrated to Lisle Township, this county, in 1849, and settled on the farm where the subject now lives. Here her father died in 1865, and her inother in 1860. She was one of two chil- dren, Caroline and Walter (a grocer of Chi cago). Her mother was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church. She was mar- ried to Webster, the father of our subject, in 1846, the result being two children-Clara E. and George W. Her husband died in November, 1848. She and her consort came to this county in September, 1846, buying at that time 152 acres at $1.25 per acre. Here she has lived since. Her parents really never bought any land here, but made their home with her after her husband died. She and her son lived in Chicago for seven years, where he was engaged in the milk and gro cery business. George is now managing the farm, raising grain and stock. His mother lives with him. He is somewhat in the dairy business. Mrs. Webster tells a little circum- stance connected with the life of ancestors, Websters and Shepherds, which we deem worth a notice, as it illustrates some facts set forth in parts of this book. These relations were, two families of them, located on the banks of a river, in New Hampshire, some forty miles away from any other people. The river ran between the two families, and, as there was no means by which they could eross, the women were so eager to visit that they would go to the banks and holloa at each other, thus learning the condition and wel-
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fare of the family. They would bring their interviews to a elimax by the one singing and the other dancing to the sweet music that rolled over the turbulent waters.
S. J. WILLARD, farmer, P. O. Lisle, was born August 27. 1818, in South Brimfield, Mass .; is a son of George R. and Hannah (Dunham) Willard, natives of Massachusetts and parents of eleven children, viz., George R., Ferdinand, Clarissa, Oriel, S. J., Whit- ney, Benjamin C., Oriel L., Annis, Edwin and Maryette. In 1835, the parents settled on a claim of 300 acres, where the subject now resides. The father died in 1835, about six weeks after arriving in this county; the mother died in 1862. Our subject attended school as much as was convenient; worked on the farm and with his father at wheelwright ing. When they located in this county, Mr. Willard drove the ox teams and witnessed the scenes that make up the life of the pio- neer. He was married, in 1859, to Janet Decker, by whom he was blessed with five children -- Judson, Lewis, Maurice, Alice, and one deceased when young. Our subject has 218 acres of well-improved land. He votes the Republican ticket.
S. D. WEBSTER, farmer, P. O. Naper- ville, was born January 16, 1848, in Du Page County; is the son of M. R. and Caroline Webster, early settlers of this county, and the parents of eight children, viz., Henry, Sarah, Charlotte, Mary, Charles, Rockwood, William and S. D. The mother died in 1850; the father survives, among his children. The father was married a second time to Arvilla Bessel, by whom he had two children, Laura and Julia. His second wife died in 1870. Our subject attended school at Naper- ville, aside from the district schools. Was married, October 1, 1874, to Flora A., daugh- ter of J. D. and Lucinda Turner, one of six children-Joel, George, Jennie, Matilda,
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