USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II > Part 13
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He has for many years been a prominent resident of this part of the state and his efforts in behalf of public progress have been effective and far-
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reaching. He has stood for advancement in business lines and for upbuilding in all of the social, intellectual, political and moral interests of the county. He removed to Aurora November 18, 1892, and there owns a beautiful home at No. 44 North View street. He also has six hundred acres of valuable farm land in Kendall county, including two-fifths of the old family homestead, whereon he first opened his eyes to the light of day as the first white child born in the county. No history of this part of the state would be complete without mention of his honorable career, and it is therefore with pleasure that we present to our readers this record.
DENISON R. JENCKS.
Denison R. Jencks is widely known and respected as a retired merchant of Elgin, whose success in former years, attributable to intense and well directed activity, now enables him to enjoy a well earned rest. He was born October 13, 1837, in Adams, Massachusetts, and came to Illinois in his boy- hood days with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jencks. His father pur- chased a farm near Barrington, Cook county, and thereon resided until 1855, when he sold out and removed with his family to Dundee, Kane county. There he engaged in the grocery business, in which he continued for a few years.
In his early business career Denison R. Jencks obtained employment as a clerk in a drug store, being at that time a youth of fifteen. That he was faithful, capable and reliable is indicated by the fact that he remained with the house for eight years and left it only to engage in the drug business on his own account as the junior member of the firm of Oatman & Jencks. This partnership was continued for six years, when Mr. Jencks sold out and became a partner with C. F. Hall in the dry-goods and grocery business. Two years later, however, he disposed of his interests in that enterprise to Mr. Hall and opened a clothing house and shoe store, conducting business in Dundee until 1873. In that year he came to Elgin and through the succeeding year was identified with mercantile interests in this city, after which he withdrew from the field of trade to turn his attention to the general insurance business, in which he was engaged until 1893. He then retired, being succeeded by his son, Fred W. Jencks.
On the 25th of October, 1859, Mr. Jencks was married to Miss Elizabeth A. Hollister, a daughter of Allen S. Hollister, of Dundee, who died in Elgin January 17, 1897. Their son, Fred W. Jencks, is mentioned on another page of this work. In community affairs Denison R. Jencks has been some- what prominent and in official as in business life has always been found most loyal to the interests which he has represented. He was postmaster at Dundee for six years, was school treasurer of Dundee for four years, and for thirteen years was a member of the city council in Elgin, representing the second ward. He has ever exercised his official prerogatives in support of progres- sive public measures and his labors have constituted an important element in the
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city's welfare. His business record, too, should serve as a source of inspira- tion and encouragement to others, showing what may be attained through persistent, untiring and well directed activity.
CHARLES H. POTTER.
Charles H. Potter is president and general manager of the Excelsior Creamery Company, and in connection with this line of business has been largely instrumental in winning for Elgin the reputation which it bears throughout the country in connection with its creamery products. While the city contains many and varied business concerns, the name of Elgin in remote districts has come to be synonymous with the production of butter and of watches, and that it has gained fame in these lines is due to the fact that its exported products are superior to those sent out by other manufactories of similar character. Unfaltering industry, unabating energy and unbending integrity have long been recognized as salient features in the business career and success of Charles H. Potter, a native son of Kane county, of whom she has every reason to be proud.
His birth occurred in Plato township, September 14, 1851, his parents being the late Harry Eddy and Mary A. (Griggs) Potter. The latter was a daughter of John Griggs, who was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, in 1782, and he was married in Mount Washington in 1800. Leaving New England, he made his way westward to Greene county, New York, and after- ward went to Black Rock, near Buffalo, New York, where he resided at the time of the war of 1812. He owned a sloop and contracted with the govern- ment for carrying supplies and ammunition of war and took part in the defense of Black Rock at the time of the British invasion. Subsequently he sent his wife to Ohio, where his wife's brother, John Dibelle, was living. while he followed in his sloop over the lakes. Off the coast of Ashtabula, however, he was shipwrecked and hung to the rigging for forty-eight hours before he was rescued. His sloop, however, was lost. Mr. Griggs settled on a farm at what was known as Griggs Station and is now known as Griggs. There he carried on general agricultural pursuits until 1834, when he sold his property and started for the Fox river country with his son, John Griggs, Jr., shipping from Ashtabula to Detroit by schooner and thence driving across the country to Chicago. With his family he spent the winter of 1834-35 at Warrenville, Dupage county, and in the spring of the latter year came to Kane county, where he took up land in what is now Plato township. There he built a log cabin and conducted a hotel on the stage line from Chicago to Galena. There were no railroads in this part of the country and travel was done by stage. In fact northern Illinois was a wild, pioneer dis- trict, in which comparatively few settlements had been made, while the work of civilization seemed scarcely begun. Mr. Griggs was not only well known in business connections but also in public life and was appointed one of the election commissioners by Governor Ford. He also laid out the territory
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now included in several counties into election precincts and presided at the first election held in his home. Mr. Griggs was chosen the first treasurer of Kane county and continued a prominent and influential factor in shaping the early formative history of the county and also its later progress and development. In politics he was a stanch democrat and cast his last ballot in 1868 for . Seymour and Blair. He died in 1869. having for about seven years survived his wife. who passed away in 1862. They had a family of nine children, all of whom have now passed away.
This number included Mary A. Griggs, who in 1840 gave her hand in marriage to Harry Eddy Potter. Mr. Potter was born in Brighton, western New York, in 1815, and like his wife was descended from Puritan ancestry. His ancestors were ever loval in defense of their honest convictions and were among the founders of Providence and Warwick, Rhode Island. Harry E. Potter remained in the east until about twenty-one years of age, when he came to Kane county, Illinois, with his uncles, Harry and Spaulding Eddy, their destination being St. Charles. There he assisted in the erection of some of the first buildings of the town, following his trade of a carpenter and joiner. Following his marriage in 1840 he settled in Plato, where he resided until his death in February, 1865. He was a very particular and methodical man and his was one of the nicest and best improved farms of his section. His wife, long surviving him, died in 1891. They were the parents of six chil- dren, of whom three are living: Mrs. Ruth C. Wilcox, Mrs. Minnie P. Hawkins and Charles H.
The last named was only fourteen years of age at the time of his father's death. The care of a large family then devolved upon his mother and he took charge of the farm and successfully conducted the work of the fields, displaying the same excellent business ability that has characterized him throughout his entire life. Realizing the necessity of an education he man- aged to attend the district schools during a part of each winter and was after- ward a student in Marengo Business College, while by reading and observation he has also largely added to his knowledge and in the schools of experience has learned many valuable lessons. He remained at home until he had attained his majority and in the meantime had learned to place a correct value upon the qualities of industry and perseverance. In 1872 in company with Abe Archibald. Mr. Potter purchased the grocery business of M. & J. McNeil. Soon afterward Mr. Archibald retired from the business and Mr. Potter continued alone until 1883, when he turned his attention to the manufacture of butter, in connection with the late W. H. Hintze. They also extended the scope of their business to include the purchase and sale of real estate, platting and selling Hintze and Potter addition to Elgin, comprising forty-five acres in the southwest part of the city.
As their business increased in the line of butter-making, Mr. Potter became one of the incorporators of the Elgin Butter Company and was its secretary. In that capacity he traveled over the greater part of the United States and in all sections of the country established a market for this famous brand until "Elgin creamery butter" has become a synonym throughout America for the best product in this line. In 1891 he resigned his position
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as secretary and with Obadiah Sands completed the organization of the Elgin Creamery Company, of which he was made vice president and general man- ager, having full charge of the butter department. His business was devel- oped until it came to be one of the best of the kind in the United States and then withdrawing in 1894 Mr. Potter became one of the organizers of the Excelsior Creamery Company and was chosen its president and manager. This company operates creameries in Illinois and Wisconsin, doing a large shipping business in all of the principal markets.
Mr. Potter was married in 1873 to Miss Elvira J. Mann, a daughter of the late Hon. S. S. Mann, and they now have one child, Alice. Politically, a republican, Mr. Potter is active in the ranks of the party and in public affairs has displayed the same keen business discernment, enterprise and activity that have characterized him in his business life. He was a member of the board of water commissioners for several years and is the originator of the artesian system for supplying the city. He possesses in large measure the enterprising spirit of the west, which has been the dominant factor in producing the wonderful development of this section of the country. Brook- ing no obstacles that honest effort can overcome, he has steadily worked his way upward until, having long since left the ranks of the many, he today stands among the successful few.
JOHN L. ROWCLIFFE.
John L. Rowcliffe, who during the course of an active, upright life was closely identified with the farming interests of Kane county, was born in Devonshire, England, in 1833, and his life record covered the intervening years to the 8th of March, 1895, when he was called to his final rest. The days of his boyhood and early youth were spent in England and the educa- tional facilities which he enjoyed were those afforded by the public schools. He came to the United States about a half century ago and, making his way into the interior of the country, secured employment at farm labor in Illinois. He worked diligently and as the result of his unwearied industry and careful expenditure he at length secured the capital which enabled him about thirty- eight years ago to purchase a tract of land of eight acres three miles southwest of Batavia. To this he added from time to time as his financial resources increased until he had thirty-six acres. The land is rich and productive and responded readily to the care and cultivation which he bestowed upon the place.
On the 6th of January, 1863, Mr. Rowcliffe was married to Miss Flora Sikes, a daughter of William and Lucretia (Cooley) Sikes, also of Batavia. Unto this marriage there were born five children. Cora G., the eldest, became the wife of Lauren Grimshaw and unto them was born a daughter, Ruth B. She is now the wife of John B. Ballard and has one daughter by the second marriage. Elva Florence. John Lester, the second member of the family, was born June 2, 1867, and married Matilda Swanson, a daughter of Gustave
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and Hannah Johnson. The four children of this marriage are John H., Ernest H., Edith B. and George E. William George is the next member of the family. Flora May is the wife of Hiram Casner and unto them have been born five children: Mamie, John, Earl P., Fannie and Edna. Henry Lyman completes the family.
Mr. Rowcliffe voted with the republican party but was never a politician in the sense of office seeking. He was truly a self-made man and deserved great credit for what he accomplished. He realized the fact that diligence and perseverance are important elements in success and he worked along those lines to make for himself a creditable place in the business world. Whatever prosperity he enjoyed was attributable entirely to his own labors and in all of his dealings he was straightforward and honorable, enjoying the regard of his fellowmen by reason of an active and upright life.
TIMOTHY ADAMS WHEELER.
In the history of the early development of Kane county, mention should be made of Timothy Adams Wheeler, who, arriving here in pioneer times, bore an active and helpful part in the pioneer development and progress in this part of the state. He was born February 21, 1809, in Cavendish, Windsor county, Vermont, his parents being Amos and Lydia ( Adams) Wheeler. He acquired his education in the common schools and was reared to farm life. early becoming familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He arrived in Illinois in 1835. His parents and other mem- bers of the family had preceded him a short time and had settled on a tract of land four miles up the river from Charleston. In 1836 he returned to Vermont and was married in Cavendish in November of that year. With his bride he immediately started for Illinois, making the trip by way of Lake Champlain, the St. Lawrence river and the great lakes to Detroit, where he bought a horse and wagon and household goods, the latter amounting to four- teen hundred pounds in weight. The balance of the journey was thus made across the country and some days they traveled less than seven miles, owing to the poor condition of the roads. They settled on a part of the Wheeler tract, which had formerly been secured by other members of the family, and there lived for five or six years when they came to St. Charles. Here Mr. Wheeler engaged in the grain business with his brother and also in the lum- ber business. He became one of the enterprising and energetic merchants of the town, and in promoting his individual interests also contributed in substantial measure to the welfare of the community. While living here he built his home at the corner of Eighth and Main streets, on the site of the present residence of his daughter, Mrs. Reed. In the '6os Mr. Wheeler re- moved to the farm which he owned in DuPage county, and there he resided for a few years, after which he took up his abode upon a farm near St. Charles, which was owned by his son, Charles. There he continued to spend his remaining days, his death occurring June 2, 1867. He was a man of
T. A. WHEELER
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quiet and modest disposition, a lover of home and at all times had the utmost regard for his domestic ties. His political support was given to the republi- can party but he never sought nor desired office.
His wife, Mrs. Abbie ( Whitcomb) Wheeler, was born in Alstead. New Hampshire, in 1814. Her parents afterward removed to Cavendish, Ver- mont, where she was reared to womanhood. Her father, Thomas Whitcomb, was a descendant of John Whitcomb, who came to America in 1633 and settled in Dorchester, Massachusetts. In 1640 he removed to Scituate, Massa- chusetts, and in 1645 became a resident of Lancaster, that state. He and his son Jolin were two of the original owners of the town. The father was born in 1588 and died in September, 1662, while his widow, Frances, died May 17, 1671, leaving eight children, the youngest of whom was Jonathan Whitcomb. He was married November 25, 1667, and his wife, Hannah, was massacred by the Indians July 18, 1692. Jonathan Whitcomb died in February, 1691. The youngest of their nine children was John Whitcomb, who was born May 12, 1684, and by his wife, Hannah, had four children: John, Abigail, Hannah and Asa, of which family John W. served as a brigadier general in the Revolutionary war, at Bunker Hill; Asa W., the younger brother, and the next in line of direct descent to Mrs. Wheeler, was born in 1719, and made his home in Lancaster, Massachusetts. For eight years he served the town in the "greate and generale corte," was justice of the peace and for years was a deacon in the church. In 1775 he raised a regiment and was commissioned colonel, commanding the troops at Prospect Hill during the siege of Boston. In 1776 he commanded a regiment at Ticonderoga and Crown Point. He lived for some years to enjoy the fruits of liberty and died at Princeton, Massachusetts, March 16, 1804. He was married December 26, 1744, to Eunice Sawyer, and following her death he was married, Janu- ary 26. 1762. to Bettie Sawyer. They had eleven children. This number included Asa Whitcomb, who was born February 8. 1764, and died January 5. 1835. On the 9th of November. 1788. he married Rebecca Bass and they had ten children: Thomas Whitcomb, born November 7. 1789. a son of Asa Whitcomb, died April 13. 1869. He married Nabby Harding and had one child. Following the death of his first wife he wedded Anna Wentworth and had seven children, including Mrs. Wheeler.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler there were born seven children: Emeroy A .. born September 3. 1837, became the wife of Stephen A. Pierce and died in St. Charles. The second child died in early life. Elizabeth, or Betty, was born July 21, 1844. Wentworth W. was born in 1846, married Luella Sherer and lives at Mount Morris, Illinois. Rhoda, born in 1849, became the wife of B. D. Dunning, and both died in Iowa. Flora A., born in 1852, became the wife of O. C. Joy and resides in California. Charles M. married Alexina Creyk and resides in California. Such, in brief, is the history of the Wheeler family, long well known and prominent in this part of the state. From pioneer times they had been residents of Kane county and had wit- nessed almost the entire growth and development of northern Illinois.
We are indebted for the history of this family to Mrs. Elizabeth ( Wheeler) Reed. Her husband, Rodney H. Reed, was born in Cuyahoga
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Falls, Ohio, September 6, 1833, and was a grandson of David Reed, who belonged to an old Vermont family. His parents were George W. and Julia (Ellingwood) Reed. In the public schools he acquired his early education, which was supplemented by study in Wheaton College. He followed farm- ing for a considerable period and became one of the well-known agriculturists of this part of the state. He was also a town officer for many years and his duties were discharged with a promptness and fidelity that led to his retention in office and won for him the confidence and good will of all concerned.
In 1872, in St. Charles, Mr. Reed was united in marriage to Miss Eliza- beth Wheeler, and after a happy married life of about eight years he was called to his final rest, his death occurring in Wayne, DuPage county, Illinois, June 4, 1880. Their children were Grace May and Rosella. Mrs. Reed now resides in St. Charles and is a most worthy representative of an honored pioneer family.
H. L. E. PETERSON.
H. L. E. Peterson, who is conducting a successful plumbing, heating and gasfitting establishment in Elgin, was born in this city on the 16th of May, 1876. His father, Fred Peterson. a native of Sweden, where his birth occurred in 1844, emigrated to the United States in the year 1867. On landing on the shores of this country he made his way direct to Elgin. being first employed by Andrew Magnus and subsequently by the Borden Condensed Milk Company, with which concern he has now been connected for over twenty years. He had been married in his native country to Miss Christina Larson, and unto them were born nine children, four of whom are deceased. The living are Julius G. ; William T .; H. L. E., of this review ; Ernest: and Amanda, the wife of Oscar Dedlow. All are residents of this country and all are married except Ernest.
H. L. E. Peterson was educated in the Elgin public schools, which he attended until nine years of age, when in 1885 he began working for the D. C. Cook Publishing Company of Elgin as messenger boy in the corre- sponding room, and subsequently was employed in various ways until he had attained the age of fourteen years. He then learned the plumber's trade and has since been successfully connected with this line of business. On the ist of March, 1905, he began business for himself at the corner of Douglas avenue and Milwaukee street in Elgin, where he conducts a general plumbing, heating and gasfitting establishment. He has made improvements on different tools which have been patented and are now in use by the plumbing trade, and he has gained a large measure of prosperity in the conduct of his business interests.
On the 17th of June. 1903. Mr. Peterson was united in marriage to Miss Anna Hausberg, a daughter of Charles and Laura Hausberg, of Elgin.
Mr. Peterson is a stanch republican in his political views and takes an active interest in the local work of the party. His religious faith is indi-
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cated by his membership in the Congregational church, while fraternally he is connected with the Masons, the Odd Fellows, the Elks, the Knights of Modern Maccabees and the Royal Arcanum. Having spent his entire life in Elgin, he has many friends here who esteem him highly for his genuine personal worth and sterling traits of character.
PAUL KEMLER, JR.
The name of Kemler has figured prominently in connection with hotel interests in Elgin for thirty-six years, and Paul Kemler, Jr., as proprietor of the new Washington Hotel, is a worthy successor of his father in this busi- ness. He was born August 26, 1869, on the site occupied by his present hotel, his father being at that time proprietor of one of the early hostelries of the city. The parents are mentioned elsewhere in this volume.
The son was one of a family of eleven children and was reared under the parental roof, pursued his education in the public schools and also in the business college in Elgin. When he had put aside his text-books he began providing for his own support by working in a grocery store, where he was employed for a few years. He afterward worked in the Elgin watch factory and subsequently coming to Chicago he became bookkeeper for the Jefferson Ice Company, with which he was thus connected for two years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Elgin and conducted the Washington Hotel, which at that time occupied the old building which was long a land- mark in this city. In 1907, however, his father erected the new Washington Hotel on the old site. This is a three-story brick building, of modern appoint- ments, and contains thirty-two sleeping rooms. Special attention is paid to the cuisine and everything possible is done for the comfort of the guests. Commensurate with a progressive business policy, like his father Mr. Kemler has made a success in the management of the hotel and he also owns the stables which are connected with the hotel and which contain accommodations for about seventy teams.
Equally well known in municipal affairs, Mr. Kemler was elected alder- man from the second ward in 1900 and his public-spirited service led to his reelection in 1903, so that he served for two terms. Reared in the faith of the republican party, he has never seen reason to change his allegiance but believes that its principles contain the best elements of good government. He was chairman of the republican town committee for about a year, has taken an active interest in local politics and has always been ready to further the interests of the city in every possible way.
Pleasantly situated in his home life Mr. Kemler was married to Miss Elizabeth Jane Welch, a native of Detroit, Michigan. He is prominent in fraternal circles, holding membership with the Eagles and the Elks, with the subordinate lodge and encampment of the Odd Fellows and with the River- side, Wahalla, Elgin Gun, the Rod and Gun, the Cleveland, the Derby and other clubs. He is well known as a sportsman, being much interested in
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