USA > Illinois > DuPage County > History of Du Page County, Illinois (Historical, Biographical) > Part 63
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lector and Highway Commissioner. In 1869, he was appointed by the Board of Supervisors County Treasurer, which office he held about two years.
A. H. WIANT, United States Gauger, Turner, is a native of Wayne Township, Du Page County, Ill. ; he was born in the year 1841, and is the oldest of five children born to Joel and Rhoda Wolever Wiant who are spoken of elsewhere in this work. Our subject was raised on his father's farm, and, in addition to the common schools, he attended the Wheaton College a short period. At the age of seven- teen, the family moved to Turner, and, in 1862, they moved to Wheaton, where he en- listed in Company B, One Hundred and Fifth Regiment Illinois Infantry, and was in the service nearly three years; during the first year and a half, he acted as Commissary for the company. He was with his regiment in the battles of Resaca, Cassville, the Atlanta campaign, Kenesaw Mountain and Peach Tree Creek, the march to the sea, Averysboro and Bentonville, and finally, at the review in Washington, D. C. He served every day with the command, never being ill or injured in any way; from the army he came to Turner, Ill., and became a partner in the firm of Wi- ant & Sons' general store, and, a few years later, the firm became Wiant Bros., Mr. Wi- ant continuing in the business until 1876; he then sold out and engaged as a traveling salesman for Franklin Mc Veagh & Co., of Chi- cago, and, the same year, he was appointed United States Ganger and has held the office since. In 1870, he married Miss Ella Haffey, a native of Turner, Ill. By the marriage there is one child, viz., Lester Albert.
THOMAS WIANT, of Wiant & Stephens, general merchandise, Turner, is a native of Du Page County, Ill .; he was born on his father's farm in Wayne Township, December 24, 1844, and is the second of four children
born to Joel and Rhoda Wolever Wiant, who are spoken of elsewhere in this work. Mr. Wiant was raised on the farm until fourteen years of age, when the family moved to Tur- ner. He received, in addition to the common schools, two terms at Wheaton College; he assisted his father in the store, and, in 1865, became a partner with his father and brother, and has been identified with the store ever since. October, 1877, he married Miss Mary Moore, a native of Canada; she came to Tur- ner, Ill., with her parents. By the marriage there are two children-Edith and Clare.
HENRY S. WILLIAMS, farmer, P. O. Warrenville, is a native of Jefferson County, N. Y .; he was born in the year 1820; his parents, William and Mary Sterling Williams, were natives of Connecticut and New York. Mary Sterling was a daughter of Judge Ster- ling, who was the first Judge of Herkimer County, N. Y. William Williams was a farmer; he went to New York when a young man and married there. In 1834, he came West afoot, and made a large claim near Warrenville, Ill .; he also made a timber claim in the Big Woods, where he put up a log house, in 1836; he was joined by a dangh- ter and two sons, and, in the following year, built the house on the prairie claim, one mile west of Warrenville. In 1838, his wife and several children came. Mr. Williams was a militia man, and took part in the battle of Sackett's Harbor. He was very poor when he came West, and borrowed $13 of Dr. Max. well, of the United States Army, at Fort Dear- born. He made a claim of 1,600 acres when he first came, but it was jumped down to 320, upon which he and his wife lived until their death. Henry S. Williams was raised a farmer, and had but limited opportunities in the schools of his day. In 1836, he came West with his brother and sister, and, the next year, assisted in building his present
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residence; he worked on the farm which finally became his after his parents' death. In 1855, he married Miss Sarah Jane Welty, a native of Maryland; they have no children, but one adopted daughter-Florence Will- iams.
JACOB WURTZ, invalid, Turner, is a native of Baden, Germany; he was born in the year 1823; he was raised on the farm and received a common-school education; his father was a weaver, and he learned the same business, and worked at it and farming. In 1848-49, when the Revolution took place, he took up arms against the Prince, and, in 1849, he and his brother Christian came to
1 America and worked in New York State by the day for about two years, when their par- ents came to America and they all came West and settled in Winfield Township, Du Page County, Ill., where the parents died. Mr. Jacob Wurtz has lived here since; for the past eight years he has been afflicted with paralysis, and has been confined most of the time. In 1849, he married Miss Saloma Schoch, a native of Baden, Germany; she came over to America at the same time he did. There are four children-Mrs. Saloma Asmus, farming in Erie County, N. Y .; Christian, farming in Erie County, N. Y .; Mrs. Louisa, wife of Rev. Mr. Wolf, of Cook County, Ill., and Michael, managing the home farm, which contains 102 acres, located two and a half miles, southwest of Turner.
MICHAEL WURTZ, farmer, P. O. Turner. is a native of Baden, Germany; he was born in the year 1825; he was raised a farmer and received a common-school education; when about fifteen years of age, he began working at weaving, which he followed for about three years; he also worked at washing gold in the Rhine and also at fishing. In 1851, he and his parents came to the United States of America, and settled on the present place.
where the parents died, and the son has lived here since. In 1853, he married Miss Saloma Kress, a native of Baden, Germany; she came to the United States of America with Mr. Wurtz. There have been five children, three of whom are living-Mary B., Susan K. and Annie E. Mr. Wurtz was a Revolutionary soldier in the rebellion in Baden against the Prince. He is Republican. He owns 230 acres in this county, besides some timber land in Kane County. The homestead is located three miles southwest of Turner.
CHRISTIAN WURTZ, farmer, P. O. Tur- ner, is a native of Baden, Germany; he was born in the year 1828, and came to America in 1849 with his brother; they worked for two years in Erie County, N. Y., and then wrote to their parents, Michael and Suzannah C. Pfeifer Wurtz; they came and bought a farm in Winfield Township, Du Page County, Ill., where they lived until their death. Our subject married, in 1857, Miss Elizabeth Bachman; she was born in Wurtemberg. Ger- many, and came to America with her brother After the marriage, they lived on the old home farm; he then bought and moved to a place on the Geneva Railroad, and, later, came to his present place. There have been nine children, seven living-B. Franklin, Michael E .. Suzannah C., George W., Christian J., Carrie D. and Louisa S. E. He is Republi- can. Mr. Wurtz owns about 356 acres; his residence is located two and one-half miles northwest of Turner. He is a member of the Evangelical Church since childhood, and has taken an active interest in its affairs.
COL. J. M. WARREN, retired, Warren- ville, is a native of Fredonia, N. Y .; he was born in the year 1810, and is the third of eight children born to Daniel and Nancy Morton Warren; they were natives of Worces- ter County, Mass. : they married in Madison County, N. Y., in 1803, and moved to Chautau-
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qua County soon after. He conducted a grist and saw mill, and also carried on a general store, and, at one time, a distillery. In 1833, they came West by teams, the Colonel and two sisters coming in the spring. and made a claim to about 160 acres, where Warrenville now stands. His father came out the same spring, and bought a claim on the river north of Naperville, where he lived several years, when they came here and lived with their son, where they died, he July 6, 1866, and she February 4, 1873, they living to the age of eighty-six and eighty-eight respectively. Col. Warren farmed his claim, upon which he built the first house in the village of War- renville, which was laid out on the claim about 1836; he also built and conducted, in company with Philo Carpenter, of Chicago, a saw-mill. He also conducted a general store in Warrenville for a number of years. He was the first Postmaster of the place, and has held the office in all some twenty-five years. He was formerly a Democrat in poli- tics, his first vote being for Jackson, and has been Republican since the second administra- tion of Lincoln. In 1844, he was elected to the Legislature from the Will District, rep- resenting Du Page, Will, Kankakee and Iroquois Counties, and, later, was elected to fill a vacancy. The Colonel was raised in the village of Fredonia until he was fourteen years of age; he received a common-school course of study; after he became old enough, he assisted in his father's business, which, at the time, was principally confined to the distillery, where he worked until he came West.
DAVID WARD, farmer, P. O. Turner, is a native of Rothwell, Yorkshire, England; he was born in the year 1826; his father was a coal miner, and David was put in the mine at nine years of age, and continued at work in the mines for about thirteen years, he re-
ceiving his education by attending night schools. In 1846, he married Miss Ann Bar- ber, a native of Rothwell, Yorkshire, Eng. In 1849, they came to America, and located on a farm near Winfield, where they farmed for eighteen years; they then sold out and came to his present place, located one mile east of Turner, where he has lived since. By the marriage there are nine children, of whom eight are living -Joseph A. Ward, liv- ing in Sycamore, Ill .; Mrs. Annie Gladding, of Fulton County, Ill .; William K. Ward, of Turner, Ill .; Mrs. Mary Roundy, of Turner, Ill .; John L., George Alfred, Ella May and Charles D., at home. Mr. Ward is Republi- can in his politics.
SANFORD WATSON, farmer, P. O. Ba- tavia, is a native of Cortland County, N. Y .; he was born in the year 1839, and is the fourth of eight children born to Eliphalet S. and Lois Kendall Watson; they were natives of New York and Massachusetts; he was a carpenter and also farmed. In 1844. they came West and settled in Winfield Township, Du Page County, Ill., where Mrs. Watson died; he afterward married Miss Morina Bartholomew, and lived on the old homestead until 1882, when they moved to Geneva, where they now live. Our subject was raised on the farm; he received a common-school education; he also taught school a number of terms. On becoming of age, he began working as a car- penter with his brother. In 1862, he married Miss Jane Cooper, a native of Ohio; she came to Du Page County, Ill,, with her parents. In the fall of 1862, he enlisted in the One Hundred and Fifth Regiment Illinois Infant- ry, and some three months later, he was trans- ferred to the Pioneer Corps, and served for three years. From the army he returned home and began farming, also doing carpen- ter work. They have four children-Irving S., attending Grinnell College, Iowa; Charles
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S., Mary E. and Frank S., at home. He is Republican; he owns 118 acres located two miles east of Batavia.
REV. JOHN WIEDERHOLD, Winfield, is a native of Westphalia, Prussia; he was born in the year 1$40; he was born on his father's farm. and lived there until he was twelve years of age, when he began to pre- pare for-the ministry, and studied at Pader-
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born and Fulder, except a two years' vacation, owing to sickness, until 1864, he came to America, and studied for four years at the St. Mary's Seminary, of Chicago, and then fin- ished his studies in Milwaukee, where he was ordained by Bishop Henne and was appoint- ed to his present parish, where he has pre- sided since.
WAYNE TOWNSHIP.
IRA ALBRO, farmer, Wayne Township, was born in Erie County, N. Y., October 31, 1809, son of John and Martha (Gardner) Al- bro. John Albro was a native of Rhode Isl- and, to which State his ancestors came from Nova Scotia. He was twice married; his wife was Betsey Dunham, sister of Solomon Dunham, of Du Page County; his second wife, Martha Gardiner, bore him seven chil- dren, all of whom grew to maturity, none of whom, however, came West, save Ira, our sub- jeet, the eldest of the family. He came to Illinois in the spring of 1835; worked out by the month some time; took a claim of 228 acres of land in the fall of the same year, and has since resided on the place. He has devoted his attention to farming since he set- tled here; he started on his farm, May, 1866, the first cheese factory in this section of the country, which he sold after running it seven years; his farm now comprises about three hundred acres of land. Mr. Albro was mar- ried, September 29, 1839, to Betsey Dunham, born in Erie County, N. Y., June 24, 1819, eldest daughter of Solomon Dunham. Mrs. Albro died October 25, 1880, leaving one son, Adrian B., born in 1841; she was a woman of worth and of marked character, and did much good in the community. Mr. Albro was a Democrat, as was also his father. The
latter was in the war of 1812, came West in 1853, and died February 2, 1861; his wife died January 4, 1862.
ROBERT YOUNG BENJAMIN, farmer, P. O. Turner Junction. Of the pioneer repre- sentatives of Du Page County, this gentleman ranks among the first. At the time of his coming, the red man had not taken his final de- parture, and was watching with envious anxiety the encroachments of the "pale face " upon their domain, and the consequent dimi- nution of their own numbers. Robert Young Benjamin was born in the (then) wilds of the Buckeye State July 7, 1808, near Worthington, Franklin Co., Ohio. He was the eldest son and the third child of his father, Daniel Ben- jamin, a native of New York State, son of William. Daniel Benjamin was a carpenter by trade, and emigrated to Ohio and made his settlement north of where Columbus now stands, and was one of the early pioneers of Franklin County. He married Martha, a daughter of Robert Young, who was a native of county Tyrone, Ireland. Robert, whose name heads this sketeli, was named for his mother; he was reared to farm labor, and as- sisted his father when young in clearing up the farm, and thus early in life became accus- tomed to the usages and inconveniences that are necessarily incident to frontier life. His
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school advantages, as a matter of course, were very meager; the elements of reading, writ. ing, etc., were acquired in the log cabins of that day; his principal schooling was such as he obtained in the busy school of life-ex- perience. February 25, 1826, he married Nancy, who was born March S, 1808, in Hop- kins County, Ky., daughter of John Groff. In the spring of 1834, he came West to this State, and the 12th of May he made his loca- tion where he now resides, and the 15th, three days from his arrival, he moved into his house, which was the first one built in the township. His claim amounted to about four hundred acres, which he purchased of the Government as soon as it came into market. Here he settled, and for well on to half a century he has been a constant resident of the place, and been identified with the interests of the county and township. Of eight chil- dren born to him, seven are living, viz., Will- iam, Allen, Daniel and Nathan (twins), George, Walter and Elizabeth. The above are living, but variously scattered. William resides in Roseburg, Ore., Register of Land Office there; Allen, Walter and Daniel are in Harrison County, Iowa; George resides in Montana; Elizabeth and Nathan are residents of Wayne Township; Elizabeth is the wife of John Kline. Mr. Benjamin has now 150 acres of land, and is yet engaged in the cultivation and management of the same, and has always been one of the township's worthy citizens. He is not a member of any church or society. Politically, he has since his youth been a stanch Democrat.
1
LUTHER BARTLETT, deceased, was born July 21, 1817, in Conway, Franklin Co., Mass., of a family of six sons and one daugh- ter, he being the fourth son and the fifth child that grew to maturity. His father was Luther, and his mother's maiden name was Annie Nims, of Massachusetts. Three broth- West. Upon his arrival, he had nothing but
ers named Bartlett came from England at an early day in the history of this country, one settling in New Hampshire, one in Massachu - setts and one elsewhere. To Luther and Annie (Nim3) Bartlett was born seven chil- dren, all of whom lived to maturity. Luther Bartlett, father of subject, died on the home- stead in Conway, and there our subject was raised to maturity. He taught school for several years. In the fall of 1842, he came to Michigan, and the following summer he and his brother Lyman bought a farm in Wayne Township of 320 acres, and settled upon the same, and the following spring (1844) they bought of the State enough land to make 765 acres in all. Here he remained until his death, June 25, 1882, of Bright's disease; he was sick only a few days; he was a life-long Democrat; he was Supervisor several years. The deceased was a man highly respected in the community in which he lived; was strictly upright and honest in all his dealings with his fellew-men, and although not a member of any church, was extremely lib- eral to all denominations, November 8, 1844. he was married to Sophia, daughter of Chester and Sophia (Palsifer) Bartlett, he a native of Massachusetts, born in 1788, and died in 1850; she born in 1798. Chester Bartlett and wife came West in 1843.
WILLIAM BLANK, farmer. P. O. Bart- lett. Of the wealthy farmers in the township there are none that are entitled to more credit than William Blank. He was born April 12. 1823, in Pennsylvania, near the Lehigh River, son of William Blank and Sarah Hick- man. both of the same State. Our subject started out in life upon his own resources. He had no school advantages; could just read and write his name, but had no knowledge of figures whatever. He worked out by the month, and got means to enable him to come
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his hands, but he labored on; he came West in 1845. In 1850, he went the overland route to California, and while on his way had some trying experiences; was sick six months, and was in danger of his life from the Indians, and other difficulties. While he remained in California, he was engaged in teaming and mining. He succeeded in saving some money, and upon his return to the county he settled permanently, and has since remained. He is a self-made man, and what he has ac- cumulated has been by hard labor, having never speculated nor engaged in any com- mercial business. He has 181 acres, upon which he put all the substantial improve- ments. July 1, 1847, he married Mrs. Elea- nor Blank, born April 12, 1822, in Perry County, Penn., danghter of Benjamin Dunkel- berge. Mr. Blank has four children-Orlin- thia, Evaline, Lydia A. and Allison. Orlin- thia married Albert Ellis; Evaline, wife of Dr. Vanderhoof. Mr. Blank's first purchase was eighty acres, costing $8 per acre, and after added forty more, for which he paid $15 per acre. He purchased and located where he now resides in December, 1866; farm cost $40 per acre.
HENRY F. BARBER, farmer, P. O. Wayne, was born in Benson, Rutland Co., Vt., July 12, 1804. and is a son of Levi and Rebecca (Hinman) Barber, natives of Wor- cester. Mass, and parents of nine children- six sons and three daughters. Mr. Barber remained on the homestead farm until he grew to manhood, and in January, 1828, mar- ried Huldah L. King, born in 1806, daughter of David King. Mr. Barber came to this county in the fall of 1852, and purchased a farm in Bloomingdale Township, where he remained about three years: then moved to Cook County, Ill. ; lived there until about the year 1869, then moved to his present place in Wayne Township. Section 15, where he
has a fine farm of 211 acres. Mrs. Barber died July 4. 1875, leaving three children- Caroline E., wife of Josiah Sterns, of Bloom- ingdale Township; Mary, wife of I. B. Kin- ney, and Henry F., living on the homestead. who married Mary Moore, who has borne him three children; Barton H., May and Howard.
JOHN CARR, farmer, P. O. Turner Junc- tion. whose portrait appears in this work, was born in June, 1808, in Ireland, and emigrat- ed to Vermont in 1834, where he worked by the month at a small salary for one year, when he went to Massachusetts, and farmed for two years. In 1837, he came to Chicago, and subsequently to Batavia, where he engaged in a grist mill at $20 per month. Within about one year he took sick, and when able to work, his means were exhausted, and he started again anew. In 1841, he was married to Bridget McGuire, which union blessed him with two children that grew up. viz., William J. and Ann. He began buying land as soon as he could save some means from his daily labors, such as digging wells, chopping wood, etc. He has now 250 acres of well-im- proved land, the result of his own labors. He lived for many years in Winfield Town- ship, and in 1867 he settled where he now re- sides in Wayne Township. He has ex- perienced the hardships that make up the life of the pioneer. He labored for some time in a distillery, yet has never attained the habit of drinking strong drinks. He has hanled wheat from this township to Chicago and sold it for 40 cents per bushel, and also oats at 20 cents. He served one term as School Trustee. He and wife early united with the Catholic Church. He votes the Democratic ticket. His son William was married to Mary E. Lynch, a daughter of James and Margaret Lynch, by whom he has, as a result of his union, four children, viz., Anna, John. Gertie and James W. William has good 1.
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land adjoining the home place, and he with his family reside with his parents and sister Ann, who was never married. William is now School Director, and has served in some small offices. Our subject has always taken a deep interest in educating his children, yet he had but little chance himself. He is now well along in years, burdened with poor health, while his consort suffers with cancer on the hand.
ROBERT CARSWELL, farmer, Wayne Township, was born in Scotland May 1, 1837, son of Allen and Janet (Johnson) Carswell. Our subject was the youngest of three sons, and emigrated to Herkimer Coun- ty, N. Y., with his parents. He engaged for several years in agricultural pursuits in dif- ferent counties in New York State; then went to New Jersey, where he engaged in farming in Hudson County for two years; then located in Otsego County, N. Y. From there Mr. Carswell came to Wayne Township, Du Page County, Ill. For several years after coming to Illinois, Mr. Carswell worked at the car- penter's trade, which he had learned in New Jersey. In 1872, he married Emma Dun- ham, youngest daughter of Solomon Dunham, one of the old pioneers and representative men of this county. After marriage, Mr. Carswell lived one year in Wheaton, and the following spring located in this township, of which he has since been a resident. He has 173 acres of land under cultivation, and ten acres of timber land. Since purchasing his place, he has erected a good house and barn and made general improvements. Aside from general farming, Mr. Carswell raises Norman horses and conducts a dairy, having thirty-seven cows. Mr. and Mrs. Carswell have four children-Robert F., Ira A., Grace D., and Willard B. Mr. Carswell is a Republican.
country and were prominently identified with its interests, was Solomon Dunham; although not an actual resident of the county. yet living as he did near the line, and in that early time lines were not as closely drawn as now, and being a man of much more than natural ability, possessed of an educa- tion much superior to the settlers in common, and being of strong mind and of a positive nature, his influence was felt to a large degree for miles about him. Hence, though Solomon Dunham was not an actual settler of Du Page County, yet it is no more than just to him that he receive some honorable men- tion in this volume. Most of his children and descendents have since become identified with this county. He was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., in 1791. His father, who was an officer in the war of the Revolution, was a native of England, and had several sons, some of whom took sides with the British, and were denominated Tories. The father of our sub- ject took the side of the colonists, and took up arms against his brothers. Solomon, our subject, was bereft of his father at an early age, and was thus early in life thrown upon his own resources. He soon learned the tan- ner's and currier's trade and that of shoemak- ing, all of which he carried on for several years. He used to run a boat on the Hudson River; was engaged in the lumber business, and was on a sail boat passing down the river when the first steamboat plowed the Hudson, and his boat run a race with the new steamer. He afterward removed West to Cattaraugus County, N. Y., and still carried on his trade and engaged in farming to some extent. As the tide of emigration was drifting west- ward, he caught the spirit of the times, and in March, 1835, started with his family in a wagon, the party consisting of himself, wife and seven children -- Betsey, Daniel, Harriet,
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