USA > Illinois > DuPage County > History of Du Page County, Illinois (Historical, Biographical) > Part 59
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former married L. Morey, the latter Horace Coleman. George M. resides at Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Joseph B., who resides here in Lombard. His father was a mill man, and, for several years, ran a large paper mill in Kinderhook; afterward, was engaged in farm- ing, and run a saw-mill. Joseph was raised to farming and in the mill business; lived with his father until about twenty-five years of age; he afterward engaged with his brother Edward in the mill business. He came to this State in 1845, arriving in Chicago in April, and came out to Bloomingdale Town- ship, this county, and purchased of the Gov- ernment and laid claim to 160 acres, 120 of which he got at Government price, the other eighty a neighbor entered away from him, which he afterward obtained by paying him $100 extra; when he paid for his land, he had $75 left; he purchased two yoke of cattle for $65, and a horse for $13; this wiped out all his money. The first money he got he obtained by cutting by hand twenty-five tons of hay, which he sold to E. O. Hills at $1.25 per ton; he hauled the same on a sled and his wife stacked it. About two years after, he sold his improvements and land to W. R. Patrick, for $25 per acre. He then came to the northwest part of York Township, and purchased over 300 acres, costing $2.50 per acre. When he first settled, he engaged in butchering, and, in two seasons, he killed 188 head of cattle, and other stock in pro- portion. About the year 1848, he went to Chicago, and engaged in business; carried on a store and manufactured shingles. About two years later, he came to Lombard and built a storehouse and engaged in merchan- dising; subsequently, had interests in a store at Cottage Hill and at Danby. About the year 1875, he sold out his land, reserving twenty acres and engaged in stock trading, which business he has since followed. He has
done much toward building up the town; when he came there was about three buildings there; there are now nine buildings here which he built. He has always been identi- fied with the Republican party since its or- ganization In September, 1861, he enlisted in the army, and was over one year in the commissary department, serving as non-com- missioned officer; on account of ill-health, he was released and returned home. He was married, in April, 1841, to Fannie E. Pat- riek, born in Cortland County, N. Y., in 1817, daughter of Nathaniel and Penelope Patrick. Four children have been born to Mr. Hull; but two living-Alma and Alice (twins); Alma resides in Huron, Dakota, wife of C. C. Hills; Alice resides in Lom- bard, at the home of her parents, wife of Henry Ferguson. Emily and Lydia are de- ceased. Emily E. died, aged thirteen; Lydia married Franklin Claflin, and moved to Hop- kinton, Mass .; she had two children, both of whom died of diphtheria, and now lie by the side of their mother, who died in 1877. Mr. Hull has been a member of the Congre- gational Church since its origin in this place; himself and wife and two daughters of the number (fourteen) who formed the so- ciety at its organization. Though now nearly his threescore years and ten, yet he is active as a man of forty, and is actively engaged in stock trading, his operations extending into Iowa and other places, where he gathers up beef and stock cattle for the Chicago market.
GEORGE F. HEIDEMANN, physician, Elmhurst, was born February 10, 1839, in Hanover, Germany, the seventh son of Chris- tian Hiedemann, who served in the famous battle of Waterloo. His wife was Mary Heuer. Our subject was left an orphan at a very early age, and came to this State when a lad of fifteen. At the age of seventeen, he engaged in a drug store, after which he at-
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tended the University at Ann Arbor, where he took a course of lectures and completed his course at Rush Medical College. being at one time private pupil of Dr. Brainard. March 31, 1863, he was appointed Second Assistant Surgeon of the Fifty-eighth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry. May 7, same year, was commissioned as First Assistant Surgeon by Gov. Yates, and was assigned to Spring- field in charge of the post there. In the summer of 1863, he was sent to Cairo, where he remained until he joined Gen. Sherman's forces: afterward was with Gen. Banks on the Red River Expedition; subsequently, was with Gen. A. J. Smith, at Memphis; then with Rosecrans, who was operating in Missouri, winding up his service with Gen. Thomas at Nashville. He was discharged in February, 1865. After his discharge from service, he came to Elmhurst and engaged in the practice of his profession, and has since remained. He was married, March 26. 1865, to Hannah C. Schween, daughter of William Schween; her mother's maiden name was Sophia Boeska. The Doctor served two years as Coroner under Hayes' administration, and has been School Director for nine years at the place; has six children -- Alvenia M .. William G., George H .. Lydia, Ellen and Edie. Member of the Evangelical Church and a Republican. He has since his coming to Elmhurst been in active practice, which has been a successful one, having now been here about eighteen years,
L. A. HAGANS, Elmhurst, has been iden- tified with the interests of Elmhurst since 1857, at which time he removed here, locat- ing on the place he now owns, though pur- chased by him some time previous to his ar- rival. He was born January 31, 1825, in Preston County, now West Virginia. There were nine children of his father's family. tive sous and four daughters, L. A. being the
third son and fourth child in order of birth. His father was Harrison Hagans, who was born in 1796, in Massachusetts, son of George Hagans, who served in the war of the Revo- lution and came of Irish stock. The mother of our subject was Jane, whose father was Daniel McCollum, of Scotch origin. The subject of these lines received the advan- tages of a common school, and. entering Washington College, Pennsylvania, remained there until his graduation, after which he began merchandising at Brandonville. Va .. remaining about one year, and then to King- wood, the county seat, where he continued about eight years. In the fall of 1857, he came to Illinois, locating here. In August. 1860, he returned to Virginia, and engaged in merchandising once more. The war breaking out, he went to Wheeling, where he was appointed Secretary of the commonwealth under Gov. Pierrepoint. After the formation of the new State of West Virginia, he re- moved to Alexandria, remaining there until 1865, when he returned to this State to settle his father-in-law's estate, after which he re- turned to Virginia once more and purchased an interest in the Wheeling Daily Intelli- gencer, and was associated in the manage- ment of that journal until the fall of 1873. when he sold out his interest and returned to Elmhurst. His place is called "Hawthorn," which he has improved from the wild prairie to its present condition. Since his last re- turn to this State, he has been associated with the firm of Rand, McNally & Co., Chi- cago. April 19. 1848, he married Lovela. born in Pennsylvania, daughter of Elisha and Anne M. (Brown) Hagans; he has one child living-Wilbur E. Myra Bella is dead: she was born May 9, 1857, and died June 10, 1868. Mr. Hagans is retired from active business, and employs his spare time in beau- tifying and improving his home.
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WILLIAM HAMMERSCHMIDT, tile manufacturer, Lombard. Among the recent inventions of the day, there are none that are productive of better results and pay a better return as an investment to the farmers than the judicious distribution of drain-tile on low and wet soils, which fact is now gen- erally understood. As an industry, the manu- facture of drain-tile is becoming one of im- portance, and, recognizing this fact, Mr. Hammerschmidt has, within the past few years, turned his attention to the manufact- ure of tiling. He came to this township in May, 1878, and established the Lombard Tile Factory, and has since been giving his whole time and attention to the enterprise, giving employment to a large force of men. He is a native of Du Page County, born in Naperville October 10, 1853, eldest son of Adolph Hammerschmidt, a native of Prussia, who came to this country in 1848. William remained at home until twenty-four years of age, and came to York Township in the spring of 1878, and has since been identified with that township. His factory is situated one mile south of Lombard; his residence is adjacent to the factory. On March 30, 1882, he married Miss Elizabeth Bundorf, a native of Hanover.
A. E. HILLS, merchant, Lombard. Fore- most among the energetic and stirring busi- ness men of Lombard is A. E. Hills, who was born September 15, 1846, in the town of Bloomingdale, eldest son of H. S. and Lorena (Maynard) Hills. At the age of fourteen, he set out for himself, and for several years was engaged as a clerk. In January, 1871, he came to Lombard and opened a grocery, flour and feed store, and was Postmaster. About two years later, he moved to the Marquardt corner, and continued there under several firm changes until 1878, when he sold out to his partner, Louis Marquardt. In 1879, he associated with W. J. Loy in the anction
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business as Hills & Loy. May, 1881, he purchased Loy's interest and built the store building he now occupies, which he stocked with general merchandise. May 3, 1882, he associated with his brother, D. C., and since the firm is known as A. E. & D. C. Hills. He also does an auctioneering business and attends to sales all over the country. He is the present Postmaster and Police Justice of
1 the town, and a member of the A., F. & A. M., Turner Lodge, No. 872. May 16, 1870, he married Ellen M. Patrick, born in Bloom- ingdale Township, daughter of W. R. Pat- rick and Mary L. Knowles. He has five daughters-Carrie L., Florence E., Donna J., Helen M. and Alena.
HERMAN H. KORTHAUER, hardware and agricultural implement, Bensenville, eldest son of Esquire Henry Korthauer, was born in this township May 28, 1852, on the homestead farm. He received a good com- mon-school education, which was completed by a thorough course in the business depart- ment in Wheaton College, where he grad- uated in 1867. He then returned home and engaged in farming pursuits, continuing here until the fall of 1881, when he located in Bensenville and engaged in the hardware business, buying out Henry A. Coggswell, who was well established in the trade. Mr. Korthauer is well known in the community, and, having good business qualifications, will merit the patronage of his many friends. He makes a specialty of the Grand Detour plows and Woods' machines, as well as a line of the best farming machinery and implements in use. May 25, 1877, he married Emma, daughter of Fred Hener, a well-known and prominent farmer in the township; has had two children, one living, Mary, Carrie died March 4, 1880.
B. M. LEWIS, farmer, P. O. Lombard, is a native of Berks County, Penn .; was born
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April 26, 1811, the youngest son of Morgan Lewis, born in same county in 1771, and died in 1843; he married Rachel Hudson, who was born in Lancaster County, Penn., in 1768, and died in 1849. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Evan Lewis, who married Rachel Williams: she bore him three sons -- Morgan, Daniel and Amos; the former was a teacher; the latter were farmers by occupa- tion. The great-grandfather of B. M. was Morgan Lewis, a native of Wales, and came to Pennsylvania soon after William Penn's arrival. To Morgan Lewis and wife. Rachel, were born six children-two sons and four daughters, viz., Drusilla. Rebecca, Maria, Amos, Jane, and Benjamin M., the youngest of the family. He was raised upon the farm of his father until the year 1828, when he went to work on the public works, on the Mine Hill & Schuylkill Railroad, where he contin- ued sixteen years and worked from one po- sition to another. until he was promoted to Superintendent, which position he held un- til he resigned on account of impaired health from typhoid fever, which incapac- itated him for about one year. In June, 1852, he came West, and located first in the south part of Addison Township, pur- chasing 240 acres where Henry Geills now lives. In 185S, he removed to Lombard and engaged in merchandising until 1861, when he located on the farm he now owns, which place was settled by Walter Filler. Since his advent to this place, he has been engaged in farming pursuits. He has been a success- ful business man. He has 263 acres here in York Township, 160 in Bureau County, and 1,015 in Kankakee and Will Counties. He was married, in 1833, to Sarah Robinson, born in Berks County, Penn., in 1814, daugh- ter of Robert Robinson and Martha Philips. They have the following children: George M., Jane L., Ben F., Rebecca, Amelia, John
D., Thomas J., Morgan J. and Carrie N .. all living. Charles M. died in 1881; was mar- ried. and had two children. George resides in Bureau County, a farmer. Jane L. lives in Wisconsin, near Lake Mills, wife of Luciel Griswill. Ben F. lives in Chicago; runs a flour and feed store. Rebecca lives with her parents. Amelia married John Loy and re- sides in Will County; also John D. Thomas J. works the home farm. Morgan J. resides in this township, farming. Carrie is a teacher; graduated in 1878 at the Northwest- ern College. Mr. Lewis has for several years been Road Commissioner. In politics, has been Democratic, yet not partisan. Was raised an Episcopalian, and, prior to his leav- ing Pennsylvania, became affiliated with the ! Masonic order.
JACOB LOY, retired farmer, Lombard, was born April 14, 1804, in Perry County, Penn., son of Nicholas and Margaret (Miller) Loy. Jacob, our subject, was raised to farm- ing, and lived with his parents until he was nineteen years of age, when he apprenticed himself to the tanner's trade, working at it four years. He then began the career of a drover, and afterward followed butchering while the canal was being built. He was subsequently made Superintendent, and placed in charge of several miles of con- struction work. After the canal was com- pleted, he engaged in boating, and ran the first boat, Juniata. Newport; was also engaged in the mercantile business, after which he engaged in the manufacture of iron, and pur- chased a foundry, but the venture was not lucrative, so he turned his attention to the lumber business, purchasing a saw and grist mill, but finally sold out and removed with his family to this county March 31, 1858, locating on the northwest quarter of the northwest section in the township, and has since been a resident here, and engaged, in
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the meantime, in farming. In February, 1830, he married Catharine Zinn, a na- tive of Lebanon County, Penn., daughter of Joseph Zinn and Elizabeth Snavely. He has had ten children born him, seven of whom are living-William J., George, John. Rebecca, Caroline, Amanda and Mary. Mr. Loy is now retired from active life. His farm is carried on by his sons, George and John. Is a member of the Lutheran Church.
W. J. LOY, farmer, P O. Lombard. One of the worthy officials of York Township is Esquire Loy, who has been meting out legal justice to the people of this locality for sev- eral years; is now serving his fourth term. He came to York Township in September, 1857, from Perry County, Penn., where he was born September 11, 1831, and is the only son of Jacob and Catharine (Zinn) Loy, well- known residents of the township. William J. has been reared to farming pursuits. He worked with his father, remaining under the parental roof until of age, and afterward, as he continued in his father's employ some time after arriving at his majority. Decem- ber 25. 1859, he married Sophronia Hatfield, a native of Wayne County. Ohio, daughter of Adam and Isabella (Truesdell) Hatfield, who came to the township in 1854. Her father died July 3, 1865; mother, in 1859; seven children were born them ; five grew up- Jennie, now of Chicago; William, in Cali- fornia: Lnellen, in Missouri; Lucinda, in Wayne County, Ohio, wife of John Reeder. After the marriage of Esquire Loy, he located on the farm he now owns, and has been closely allied with the township interests. He is Township Treasurer, and held that office for eight consecutive years. He has three chil- dren-Edward E., Vesta L. and Hazel V. Is a member of the Masonic fraternity of long standing, having been entered, passed,
raised, inducted, etc., etc., before coming to the West. Is a member of the Chapter at Wheaton.
J. H. LATHROP, capitalist, Elmhurst, was born July 5, 1806, in Lebanon, N. H., and was the youngest of a family of ten chil- dren. His father. Samuel Lathrop, was the youngest of a family of twenty children, and, when but a mere boy, served in the Revolu- tionary war, and was wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill. He married Lois Hunting- ton, daughter of Theophilus Huntington, of Connecticut. Samuel died about the year 1819. Our subject came West to Erie County, N. Y., where he remained until some years past his majority. His educational advan- tages were limited, but in early manhood he turned his attention to active business pur- suits, first embarking in the lumber trade; afterward, was appointed Collector at Buffalo. Subsequently, he removed to Virginia, where he married, in 1843, Miss Mariana, born in Alexandria, Va., daughter of Daniel and Mary (Barbour) Bryan. While in Vir- ginia, he engaged in the banking business, and operated extensively in coal mines, which at that time was the largest and most impor- tant in the United States. During President Taylor's administration, he was appointed Navy Agent at Washington. D. C. In 1865, he came to Illinois and settled in Elmhurst, where he has since resided, having an elegant home, surrounded with all modern comforts and conveniences. He has three children --- Bryan, Barbour and Florence W.
WILLIAM H. LITCHFIELD, Justice of the Peace, Elmhurst, was born November 2, 1832, eldest son born to Cyreneus and Nancy (Plummer) Litchfield. Cyreneus was a son of Joel, and, early in life, was apprenticed to learn the clothier's vocation. In the year 1820, be removed to Erie County, N. Y., and engaged in farming. In 1846, he came to
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Du Page County and located on Section 13, in this township, where he purchased land and improved the same. In 1865, he located at Elmhurst. In 1851, he was appointed Justice of the Peace, to fill an unexpired term, and was four times re-elected, serving eighteen years in all. His death occurred September 28, 1876. He was first married to Nancy Gardiner. and by her had one child, Harris G., now on Governor's Island, an officer in the regular army, and attached to Gen. Hancock's staff. His last wife was Nancy Plummer, born in 1813. in New Hampshire, daughter of Caleb and Polly (Webster) Plummer. Mrs. Litchfield had three brothers and four sisters, nine in all- her sister who married David Talmadge. They came to the county and settled in this township in 1836. She has two brothers, Benjamin and Chester, who are residents of the county. By last marriage to Miss Plum- mer, two children, William H. and C. W., were bern. both living with mother in Elm- hurst. William H. was elected Justice of the Peace in 1877, and has since been hon- ored with re-election. He is a member of the Episcopal Church.
D. MEYER, retired farmer, Lombard. The present prestige of Du Page County is largely due to the advent of the German pee- ple, who came to this country, and, in many instances. penniless upon their arrival, yet their resolutions were only surpassed by their industry and economy, which, together com- bined, have made them to-day our most con- spicuous and well-to-do farmers, and added thereby very materially to the wealth and prosperity of the county. Of this class Mr. Meyers is one. He left his native home, Stulsnau, in province of Hanover (where he was born December 5. 1818), in the summer of 1840, son of Frederick and Sophia (Ess- mann) Meyer, who died in Germany. He
left Bremen in the summer of 1840, and for the first two years lived near Cincinnati. In the spring of 1844, he came to Leyden, Cook County, where he soon purchased land, which he sold in 1849, and came to this county and purchased 210 acres where his son lives, and remained on the same until 1878, when he removed to his present location. He was married, while in Cook County, to Dorotha Dierking, born in Hanover in 1830, daughter of Christian Dierking. Mr. Meyer has ten children-Lonis, Louisa. Caroline. Emma, Fred. William. Rosa. Henry. Martha and Frank. Louis resides on the homestead; Louisa is the wife of August Rotermund; Emma (dead) was the wife of August Schmidt; Henry resides at Bartlett, in cheese factory; Fred runs a store at Utopia. Mr. Meyer is a member of the Lutheran Church.
W. D. MEYER, farmer, P. O. Elmhurst. William Deidrick Meyer was born in the Faderland, province of Hanover, June 13, 1848. His father's name was Henry Meyer, a native of Germany, born August 25, 1807, and married Caroline Reinking, born Feb- ruary 6, 1822, daughter of Deitrich Reink- ing. Four children -one son and three daughters-were the offspring of Henry and Caroline Meyer. William D. was the eldest born. The girls, in order of birth, were Louisa, Doratha and Minnie. Louisa mar- ried Louis Balgemann, of Elmhurst; Doratha resides in Bloomingdale, wife of Herman Malwitz: Minnie also resides in Elmhurst, wife of George Balgemann. William D. was but three years of age when his parents came to this country from Germany. His father for some time was in partnership with his brother Deitrich, they working together until each had means to purchase. Father located on this farm about the year 1854, and improved it, and remained here until removed by death, March 18, 1832: his wife yet survives. Will-
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iam D. now occupies and owns the homestead, having 120 acres. November 4, 1877, he married Annie, born in Lombard September 11, 1857, daughter of Deitrick Klusmeyer: has one child, Robert William; one daughter, Alma, deceased at five months.
F. G. MEYER, store, Utopia, is the rising young merchant of Utopia. He was born in the township October 10, 1855, and is the second son of Deitrick Meyer, a well-known farmer in the township. Frederick G. has, since his birth, been a resident of the town- ship, remaining on the farm until the fall of 1879, when he came to this place and engaged in the employ of Arthur Robinson in the cheese and butter factory, and while here ob- tained a general knowledge of cheese manu- facture. While here, he saw there was a good opening for a general store, and accord- ingly erected the storehouse he now occupies, and in August, 1880, he stocked up his store- room with groceries, dry goods, boots and shoes, hardware, crockery, willow ware, flour, notions, etc., and has since been doing an excellent business, being well known in the community, and keeping a neat and select stock of goods at reasonable prices, he has been well patronized. In January, 1881, he was appointed Postmaster of Utopia, which position he yet holds. August 10, 1881, he married Annie Thoma, daughter of J. M. Thoma, of this township.
L. MARQUARDT, store and elevator, Lombard. is the junior member of the firm of Marquardt Bros. He was born September 23, 1851. in Bloomingdale Township, the fifth son of Henry and Sophia ( Weber) Marquardt. He remained at home until fourteen years of age. when he was sent to Fort Wayne, Ind., and remained here in school three years and a half, and then went to Chicago, on Twelfth street, and engaged in the grocery business, where he continued until July 13, 1876, when
he came to Lombard and engaged in the grocery business on the corner he now occu- pies; was first associated with A. E. Hill; afterward purchased his interest and carried on the business alone some time; then took in his brother Fred, and since then the firm has been Marquardt Bros. They keep a general store, and, aside from this, have a large elevator and warehouse, and do a large business in grain, coal, bran and feed in general. November 1, 1877, he married Minnie, born March 9, 1860, in Addison Township, daughter of Fred Rotermund. He has two children, Amanda and Arthur. Are members of the Lutheran Church.
MRS. FRANCES E. OGDEN, Elmhurst, : is a native of Delhi, Delaware Co., N. Y. Her parents were William B. Sheldon and Ann Bonesteen. He was a native of Rhode Island, and son of Job Sheldon, who served in the Revolutionary war. The maternal grandfather was Philip Bonesteen, whose wife was Maria Ollendorf. To William B. Sheldon were born three daughters -- Maria, Cornelia and Frances E. (Mrs. Ogden). Cornelia is deceased. In 1854, Frances E. became the wife of Hon. Mahlon D. Ogden. He was born July 16, 1811, in Walton, Dela- ware Co., N. Y., son of Abraham and Abigail (Weed) Ogden, of English descent. Mr. Og- den went to Columbus, Ohio, in 1836, where he studied law under Judge Crane, and came to Chicago about 1840, and engaged in the practice of his profession. About fifteen years later; he associated in the real estate business with his brother, William B., and continued in this relation up to bis death, which occurred February 13, 1880. In 1871. he was elected Alderman of his ward, and was a member of the St. James Episcopal Church. He was a stanch Republican and a thorough business man. He was first mar- ried in 1837, to Henrietta M. Kasson, who
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