USA > Illinois > DuPage County > History of Du Page County, Illinois (Historical, Biographical) > Part 65
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
208
BIOGRAPHICAL:
lives in Chicago, wife of Charles Schramm. Matilda, first wife's child, married John Red- eker, of Elgin. Mr. Meyer has lived here since 1856, and has put all the improvements on his farm. He sells very little grain, feed- ing the same to his stock. He is a member of the Evangelical Church and a Republican.
PATRICK O'BRIEN, farmer, P. O. Bart- lett. Among the self-made men of this town- ship is Patrick O'Brien, who was born in June, 1826, on the Emerald Isle, County Wexford, of a family of twelve children born to Thomas O'Brien and Bridget Grant. Patrick obtained a good common-school edu- cation, and was raised to farming pursuits and was early in life thrown upon his own resources, and, at the age of sixteen, he emi- grated to this country, and soon made his way to Chicago, where he worked for several years, turning his attention to any honest labor that would promise the best and surest returns. Having, by diligence and economy, saved some means, he entered 160 acres of land in Bloomingdale Township, located in the northwestern part; this lie obtained at Government price. He soon settled on the same and improved it and remained on it un- til about 1866, when he sold out and pur- chased 200 acres in this township of Daniel Wheelock and has since been a constant resi- dent of this township and been engaged in farming pursuits, and, from a poor and friend- less boy, has come to be one of the county's substantial farmers. He has been twice mar- ried -- first, to Mary Ackermann, a native of Germany, who died in 1866. Of ten chil- dren born of her, five are living-John, Mike, Henry, Mary and Carrie. Mary married James Shields, and resides in the township; other children at home. His last wife was Mary Calloway, a native of Ireland. Mr. O'Brien is a Democrat and a member of the Catholic Church.
-
CHARLES PLANE, farmer, P. O. Tur- ner Junction. Most of the young people of the present generation are not aware of the difficulties and discouraging circumstances that attended the early settlers upon their making a start in life. The history of many of these men should be a valuable incentive to the young men of the present age. The success that has crowned their efforts is with- in the reach of all those that will heed the lesson taught by the experience of these men. Among the self-made men of Du Page County who has succeeded under adverse and dis- couraging circumstances is Charles Plane. He was born March 6, 1820, in Norfolk, En- gland, and emigrated with his father, Pelan Plane. to Livingston Coutny, N. Y .. when about ten years of age. His father hired him out to a hard master, with whom he remained until about fourteen years of age, when his treatment and the requirements made of him became almost past endurance, and he left him and turned his back upon the Empire State, and came West, to this State, and hired out among the farmers on Rock River, in Ogle County. By diligence and economy, he succeeded at length in a few years in ob- taining the nucleus of a home. About this time his father came West, and, as he was yet under age, Charles had to give up his hard earnings, and he struck out to make another beginning. Went first to Cook County, where he worked some time in a liv- ery stable, after which he went to Boone County, remaining here one year. After this, he came to Maywood and kept tavern two years; then went to Algonquin, McHenry County, and carried on the same business one year. Subsequently, came to this county and purchased 160 acres, where he now resides; the land cost him $9 per acre. Since that time, he has been a constant resident of the township, and is to-day one of the wealthy
209
WAYNE TOWNSHIP.
farmers of the county, having here 300 acres, Shippy. The Pratt family are of Scotch de- scent. When twelve years of age, our sub- ject removed with his parents to Cattaraugas County, N. Y., where they remained seven years, and then all started in a wagon for Illi- mois. They located in Kane County, Ill., in the fall of 1842, and, two years later, the father bought a small piece of land in Waype Township, where Wayne Station is now situ- ated, on the Chicago & North-Western Rail- road. Subject's father died in 1846, and his mother in 1864; they raised eight chil- dren-Olive, now Mrs. T. Evans, of Belle- vue, Ill. ; Peter, our subject; Mary, now Mrs. Albert Compton, of Kendall County, Ill. ; Philogus, deceased about 1850; Eleanor, now Mrs. Charles Wheeler, of Linn County, Kan. : Christopher, a resident of Jackson County, Ore .; Rebecca, now Mrs. John Norton. of Coffey County, Kan .; Annetta, now Mrs. George Furnell, of Pecatonica, this State. besides 330 in Kane County. His improve- ments are among the best in the township. He lost his former residence by fire, which has since been replaced by a large and com- modions residence of modern style. Few, if any, men have worked harder than Mr. Plane. yet, notwithstanding all the obstacles thrown in his way, he has surmounted them all and is now independent, having a compe- tenee laid by for his deelining years. He has been twice married; his first wife was Luey Clark, daughter of Daniel Clark, one of the early settlers of the county ; his wife died, leav- ing two sons-Albert and George, now of Kane County. His present wife was Sophia, born in Allegany County, N. Y., daughter of Levi H. Appleby and Rebecca Stoddard, who came West in 1842; he died in 1852; she, June, 1881. By last wife he has three children -- Edwin, Carrie and Minnie. Carrie resides in Kane County, wife of Joseph Higgins. Mr. Plane . Our subject remained at home, working on used to haul wheat from Rock River to Chi- cago, when the trip would take eleven days, wheat 45 to 50 cents per bushel, often getting stuck in the road, and would have to convey the wheat on his back to dry ground; this would have to be repeated several times dur- ing the same trip. Mr. Plane had eight brothers and sisters, who are severally located as follows: John resides in Belvidere; Robert in Independence, Buchanan Co., Iowa; Sarah resides in Belvidere, also, is the wife of Ben- jamin Gill; Esther settled in Ogle County. wife of Matthew Riseborough; Charlotte lives near Fort Dodge, wife of Thomas Gill. Mr. Plane is a Republican.
PETER PRATT, farmer, Wayne; was born in Erie County, N. Y., March 1, 1823, eldest son of Luther and Ruby (Shippy) Pratt, he born in Massachusetts, son of Peter and Olive (Short) Pratt, natives of Massachu- setts, she born in Vermont, daughter of Jacob
the farm, till he was twenty-one years old. when he began for himself; worked as a farm hand, at $12 a month; also chopped wood and split rails, boarding himself. Septem- ber 26, 1847, Mr. Pratt married Cordelia Dunham, born March 11, 1825, in Erie Coun- ty, N. Y .; she is the third daughter of Solo- mon Dunham, one of the early settlers of this county. After his marriage, Mr. Pratt located on his present farm, on Section 17: this place of 131 acres he purchased in 1846; he owns some timber land in Kane County; he raises some horses. Mr. and Mrs. Pratt have had five children-Mark D., who died May 20, 1860, at the age of eleven; George, now in Washington Territory, in the railroad business; Jessie, wife of Thomas Julian. residents of Plate Centre, Kane Co., Ill .. Emma and Frank, at home. Mr. Pratt, al- though not a member, is a supporter of the Congregational Church, of which his wife
210
BIOGRAPHICAL:
and family are members. Mr. Pratt, former- ly a Whig, is now a Republican.
JAMES T. PIERCE. farmer. P. O. Bart- lett. Cook County, is a native and one of the early settlers of the county, born in the town of Lisle February 2, 1822, second son of Martin and Esther Pierce, natives of Massachusetts. Martin Pierce came to this county in the fall of 1835, and settled near Naperville and died in 1865; his wife survived him several years. The subject of this sketch remained at home till 1845, and, in 1851. located permanently on his present place, consisting of 212 acres of land, on which he has put all the improvements nec- essary to a well-regulated farm. He mar- ried Sarah, daughter of Mr. J. Blank. and from this union eight children have been born-Austin, Eva, Spencer, Carrie, Mate M., Eugene, Frank and Etta. Austin is in Gen- oa. Ill .; Eva is the wife of Rev. John Bid- well, and Carrie resides in Marengo, Ill., wife of Marsh Underwood. Mr. Pierce is a Republican; is Road Commissioner, and has held several other local offices; his wife is a member of the Congregational Church.
GEORGE W. REED, farmer, P. O. Turner, one of the early settlers of this township, was born February 26, 1806, in Cambridge (then Franklin) County, Vt. He is the youngest son of Nathaniel and Anna (Keys) Reed, na- tives of Warren, Mass. Mr. Reed remained upon the home farm until seventeen years of age, when he began clerking in a store in St. Albans, Vt .; there he remained till he was twenty-four years old, when he engaged in the mercantile business in Cambridge, Vt., in company with his brother Renssalear; they continued this business until about 1834. January 1, of that year, Mr. Reed married Julia A. Ellenwood, born in Johnson, Vt., December 28, 1816, eldest child of Thomas and Alice Lathrop, she born in Connecticut,
daughter of Veranus Lathrop, he born in Vermont, son of Ralph Ellenwood. After Mr. Reed's marriage, he removed to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and remained there about two years. In the fall of 1837, came to this place and took a claim where the cheese factory now stands; he remained upon that claim till 1842, when he sold out and bought the claim where he now lives, paying $100 for 180 acres. Mr. and Mrs. Reed have had eight children - Rodney B., born in Ohio, died June 4, 1880; George B., living in Kane County; William L., a merchant at Junction; Emily A., wife of Robert Benjamin, living in this township; David E .. deceased; Julia A., at home; Charles F .. also at home, and Ida M., wife of Charles P. Stark. located at Junction; the last seven children were born in Illinois. George B. was in the late war, serving in Company F, One Hundred and Fifth Regiment, Twentieth Corps; was with Sherman in about all of his battles. Will- iam Thomas was out in the 100-days' service. Mr. Reed has been a member of the M. E. Church for about thirty years; in politics, he is a Republican.
HENRY VENDUSER SAYER (deceased) was born in March 15, 1815, in Orange Coun- ty, N. Y., eldest son of William and Mary (Venduser) Sayer. William was a native of Orange County, N. Y., son of Jonathan Say- el. The Vendusers were from Holland. Mary was a daughter of Henry Venduser. To William and Mary Sayer were born six children, five of whom lived to maturity -- Fannie, Henry, Catharine, Harriet and Jo- seph, none of whom are now living. Henry V. was raised a farmer and was married, April 10, 1838, to Phebe E. Moffatt, born December 13, 1813. in Orange County, N. Y., third child and second daughter of Thomas and Deborah (Helm) Moffatt, both natives of Orange County, N. Y. Thomas was a son of
211
WAYNE TOWNSHIP.
William Moffatt. In 1837, Mr. Sayer came West to see the country, and, in the spring of 1838, took up a claim near Aurora, but fi- nally traded for a claim in Wayne and located there in 1841, where he remained until his death. December 5, 1874; he was a Whig in the early times, but became a Republican. Since the spring of 1876, Mrs. Sayer has re- sided in Bartlett. To Mr. Sayer were born eight children - William, Warren, Alvira, Harriet, Theodore, Charles, Emily and Mary. Alvira is the wife of Alex Thompson, of Wheaton; Harriet is Mrs. William Howard, Maryville, Mo .; Theodore is on the homestead; Charles is in Bartlett, in the cabinet busi- ness: Emily is the wife of Ed Phillips, of Maitland, Mo .; Mary is Mrs. Will Richard- son. Mrs. Sayer is a member of the Congre- gational Church.
WILLIAM SAYER, farmer, P. O. Bart- lett, Cook County, is one of the enterprising farmers of this county, and was born in Kane County, Ill., Jannary 16, 1839; he came to this county with his parents, and has since resided here; he received his early educa- tion in the common schools of this county, afterward attending Elgin Academy for some time. April 8, 1869, he married Emma F. Martin, a native of Addison Township, this county, and daughter of Charles W. and Nancy (Pierce) Martin. Charles W. Martin, Mrs. Sayer's father, was born in Potsdam, N. Y., January 11, 1816, and, Septemper 6, 1838, he married Nancy Pierce, born in Os- wego County, N. Y., April 6, 1816, daughter of John Pierce; from this union they had eight children-George D., killed in the late war, member of the Fifty-first Illinois Infant- ry, Company B; Smith D. served in the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, now a farmer of Wright County, Iowa; Emma F. (Mrs. Sayer); Milton E., in Elgin, Ill .; Orel L., wife of Malcomb McNeil, of Chicago; Alva D., in
Elgin, Ill., and two others who died when young. Mr. Martin and family were early set- tlers of Addison Township, this county; they moved to this township in 1867. After his marriage, Mr. Sayer moved to his present farm, where he has since remained. Mr. and Mrs. Sayer have been blessed with four chil- dren, two of whom are deceased - George Martin, Dyer O., Clara A. (died, aged one year and eleven months), and a babe deceased, unnamed. Mr. Sayer has a good farm and keeps twenty-five cows. He and his wife are members of the Congregational Church; his parents were members of the M. E. Church. In politics, he is a Republican.
WARREN M. SAYER, Wayne, was born near Aurora, Ill., January 5, 1841, and is a son of H. B. Sayer. When less than a year old, his parents moved to this county, and Warren M. remained at home till he attained his majority, when, July 31, 1862, he enlist- ed in Company F. One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served till the close of the war, participating in the battle of Nashville, Tenn., and other engage- ments. After his return from the war, he remained at home one year, and, in Decem- ber, 1866, married Harriet M. Brown, a na- tive of Madison County, N. Y., and daughter of James and Harriet (Smith) Brown. By this union, they have been blessed with three sons-James H., Eugene D. and Louis A. In the spring of 1867, Mr. Sayer located on the farm which he now owns, consisting of 106 acres of land, where he has since resided. with the exception of four years, which he spent on the homestead farm. Mr. Sayer was elected Township Clerk in 1867, and has since served in that office, and is now serving his third term-as Township Treasurer. He is a Republican.
THEODORE F. SAYER, farmer and dairyman, P. O. Bartlett, was born on the
212
BIOGRAPHICAL:
homestead farm, where he now resides, May 1, 1848, son of Henry V. and Phebe (Moffatt) Sayer. Our subject was raised on the farm and remained under the parental roof till his marriage, which occurred February 18. 1875, to Martha Smith, born June 30, 1851, in Steuben County, N. Y .. and daughter of William and Jane (Jones) Smith, both na- tives of New York. he born January 18, 1818, son of David Smith, a native of Scotland, and was one of the early settlers in that county, as early as 1810. Jane Jones was born December 18, 1825, daughter of Harley and Lucy (Sidney) Jones. Our subject took charge of the farm since his marriage, and has 120 acres from the old homestead. He has two children-William Smith and Phebe Emily. Mr. Sayer runs a dairy and fifty COWS.
JOHN SMITH, P. O. Wayne. was born in Orange County, Vt., January 29, 1808, and is the second son of Asa and Lucinda (Morey) Smith, natives of Massachusetts. Asa Smith, subject's father, who was a farmer by occupa- tion, was a prominent man in his locality, and represented his county in the Legisla- ture. as did also subject's grandfather Morey. Mr. Smith's mother, Lucinda Morey, was a daughter of Simeon Morey, who was born in 1739, and who served in the French and Revolutionary wars; he had five children- Sabra, Lucinda, David, Ephraim, and Bertha, all of whom grew to maturity. Mr. Smith's grandfather, Asa Smith, was of English de- scent, and served in the Revolutionary war: he had eight ,children, all of whom grew up -- Stephen, Polly, Asa, Manasseh, William, Abigail. Lydia and Silas. Mr. Smith re- mained on the home farm until he attained his majority; then staid with his brother Manasseh in Orange County, N. Y., four years, worked out two years, then bought a one-fourth interest in a blast furnace in St.
Lawrence County, N. Y., but after two years, sold out his interest and returned to Vermont. He came to this county October 15, 1837, and bought a claim of land of Mark Fletcher for $200. On this claim there were no build- ings of any kind. and but ten acres of land broken. After living there five years, he moved to his present place, where he has ever since resided, and where he now has 252 acres. Mr. Smith was married September 10, 1837. to Elizabeth H. Banfill, born in Corinth, Orange Co., Vt., March 6, 1816, youngest daughter of John and Hannah (Dear- born) Banfill, both of Massachusetts, he a son of John Banfill, she a daughter of Samuel Dearborn, who served in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Smith's parents had twelve chil- dren, ten of whom grew to maturity-Sally, Samuel, Mary, Abigail, Hannah, Clymenia, Prenella, John, Elizabeth and David. Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been blessed with the following children: George Asa, born in May, 1839; Mary L., February, 1842; Henry A., November, 1843; Ellen E., August, 1845; Albert E., August. 1847; Newton A., August, 1849: Sarah L., October, 1852, and Florence E., September, 1856; and of these three are deceased -Sarah L., November 19, 1856; George A., August 15, 1863, and Albert E., November 10, 1865. George A., when with- in a month of his graduation from college, en- listed in Company F, One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and his death afterwards occurred from disease contracted while in the service. Albert E. also died from the same cause; he first enlisted for the three months' service, and afterward re-en- listed. Mary L. resides in this township, wife of William Gorham; Elizabeth E., wife of William Lewis, resides in Webster County, Neb .; Henry A. is on the home farm; Newton A. lives in this township, and Florence, wife of John D. Colvin, in Wheaton, this county.
213
WAYNE TOWNSHIP.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Congregational Church, as was also their son George A.
THEODORE SCHRAMER, farmer, P. O. Turner, is a native of Prussia, born March 5, 1839, son of John and Mary (Stiel) Schramer. John Schramer, subject's father, emigrated to the United States in 1857, leaving Prussia in April, and arriving in Wheaton, this county, May 27, that year. He purchased 100 acres of land in Winfield Township, this county, paying $20 per acre for his farm, on which he died in 1860; he had ten children -John, Peter, Helen, Lizzie. Nicholas, Kate, Theo- dore (subject), Martin, Niek, Jr., and John. Theodore remained with his father until the death of the latter, devoting his attention to farming. He married, October 26, 1863, Mary Leas, also a native of Prussia, born May 19, 1843. daughter of John and Marga- ret (Schomer) Leas, she a daughter of Jacob Leas. The Leas family came to the United States and located in this county in 1851. Since his marriage Mr. Schramer has resided in this county, principally in this township. He began life with but little means, but by the energy and industry of himself and wife they have accumulated 3863 acres of land; they settled on their present farm in 1871, having previously, however, made several purchases and changes of location. Mr. and Mrs. Schramer have been blessed with six children-Mary, Peter, John, Nicholas, Lizzie and Susan. They are members of the Catho- lic Church.
DANIEL STEARNS, farmer, P. O. Wayne; one of the old settlers of this township, was born October 26, 1816, in Benning- ton County, Vt. He was third son and fourth child born to Simeon and Irene (Newcomb) Stearns; he, born in Massachusetts in 1788, was a son of Capt. William and Joanna (Duncan) Stearns. Capt. William Stearns
was a soldier in the war of the Revolution, and died in 1834 at the age of eighty. Sub- ject's father was a farmer and inn keeper. and died at the age of sixty-one. Mr. Stearns, our subject, was one of a family of nine children, all of whom grew to ma- turity. When he was twenty-four years old. he came West to this State and purchased land; he now has 135 acres, and carries on farming and dairying. Mr. and Mrs. Stearns have four children-William, who resides in Franklin County, Iowa; Franklin, in De Kalb County, Ill .; Jennie, wife of Newton Smith, and Zenas, at home. Mr. Stearns is a strong Republican.
D. LOUIS WHEELER. farmer, P. O. Wayne, came to Illinois in September, 1845: remained in Quincy till the following spring, then went to Toulon, Stark Co., Ill., and after staying there six months, came to this county in the fall of 1846. His father, Daniel Wheeler, came to this county soon after our subject came here, and bought 240 acres of land: then returned East, and in the fall of 1847, returned to this county and settled permanently. Daniel Wheeler was born in Guilford, Vt., in October, 1797; his wife, Sadie D. Stewart, born May 1, 1802. died August 12, 1870; they had ten children, eight of whom grew to maturity-D. Louis (our sub- ject), Eleanora J., William S., Sylvanus M., Almira A., Franklin S .. Lucinda and Pamelia. Eleanora married Myron Smith, of Elgin. Ill .; Lucinda married George D. Sutton, of New York City: and Almira married L. Bene- diet. of Chicago. March 27, 1851, Mr. Wheleer married Julia A. Pierce, a native of Chautauqua County, N. Y., born March 3, 1830, eldest daughter of Luther and Clarissa (Wells) Pierce, he born in January, 1800, she born in 1807. After his marriage, Mr. Wheeler remained in this township four years; then moved to Bremer County, Iowa,
214
BIOGRAPHICAL:
and after remaining there ten years, returned to this township in the spring of 1865, and has since remained here on his farm, con- sisting of 104 acres of good land. Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler have had three children, two of whom are living-Walter P., Warren
Daniel. Mr. Wheeler is a member of the Congregational Church; his wife has been a member of the Free Methodist Episcopal Church for fourteen years; his father, Dan- iel Wheeler, was a supporter of the Demo- cratic party.
BLOOMINGDALE TOWNSHIP.
WILLIAM BATTEN, farmer, P. O. Mea- cham. Among the old settlers and substan- tial farmers in this township is Mr. Batten, who, for thirty-five years, has been closely identified with the interests of the county, and one of its stanch and valuable citizens. He was born December 12, 1812, in Devon- shire, England, son of John and Mary (Moore) Batten, who were the parents of three children-William. John and Elizabeth Jane. John resides in Canada, and Eliza- beth remains in England. Our subject came to America in 1847, arriving in Chicago June 8 of the same year. From Chicago he came to this county, and went to work among the farmers, digging wells, ditches, etc., and, in fact, working at anything he could get that would bring him money, continuing in this way about four years. He then had saved some money, and purchased eighty acres of land. He afterward added forty acres, and has resided here since. He was married, when twenty-five years of age, to Mary Ann Baker, born about 1816, in Cornwall, Eng- land, daughter of James and Mariam (Neal) Baker. Mrs. Batten died about 1872, having borne eleven children, eight of whom are liv- ing -- Mary, Mariam, John, James B., Eliza Ann, Jane, Charles G. and Sarah. Mary is the wife of James Pierce; Mariam is the wife of Charles Landon; James B. lives in Iowa; Eliza A. is the wife of James Lake; John, Charles and Sarah are at home. He has been
a member of the Methodist Church since 1852, and Superintendent of the Sunday school for thirty years, having not missed five Sundays during that time. He had no school advantages; was bound out when eight years of age; but has been a School Director for fifteen years, and owes no man a penny. Is a stanch Republican.
JOSEPH BUTLER, farmer, P. O. Bloom- ingdale, was born in Erie County, N. Y., August 25, 1818, second son of John and Pattie (Wilson) Butler. John Butler was a native of Vermont, born in 17SS, and died in New York at the age of eighty-four years. He was a Baptist, and in politics a Repub- lican. He had seven children-John, Jo- seph, Seth, Harvey, Sarah (deceased), Charles (deceased) and Ozias. Joseph came West in the spring of 1843; bought eighty acres of land, which he afterward sold and bought eighty acres more; sold it, and. in 1850, came to his present place, and now owns 313 acres, on which he has put all the substantial improvements. He gives his attention to stock-raising, in addition to general farming. In 1843, he married Abigail West, born near Sardinia, Erie Co., N. Y., in November, 1812, daughter of Ashbel West. They have had nine children, six of whom are living- Sewall, farmer in De Kalb County, Ill .; Ira, at home; Ashbel. farmer in De Kalb County, Ill. ; Elbert, at home; Judson and Delia. Those deceased were Elijah, died aged twen
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.