USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II > Part 20
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In 1877 Mr. Peck was united in marriage to Miss Julia C. Chapman, a daughter of the late Samuel Chapman, and they have one daughter, Margaret Edna, and a son, Richard Kenneth, the latter twelve years of age. The family attend the First Congregational church of Elgin, of which Mrs. Peck was treasurer for many years. They contribute generously to its support and take an active and helpful interest in its work. In his political views Mr. Peck is a republican but though the honors and emoluments of office have no attraction for him, he is interested in all that pertains to the welfare of his city and cooperates in many movements for its upbuilding. He has served as a trustee of the school board for the town of Elgin for a number of years, the cause of education finding in him a stalwart champion. He is also a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. His has been a long and active business career. He has been the architect of his own fortunes and has builded wisely and well. While a man of sound judgment, he has never arrived quickly or hastily at conclusions but when once his mind is made up as to what is the right course nothing can deter him from pursuing it. He possesses excellent executive and business ability, combined with a resistless energy and resolute purpose. His efforts toward advancing the material interests of Elgin are so widely recognized that they can be considered as being no secondary part of his career of signal usefulness, his devotion to the public good being implied in his progressiveness and liberality toward the city in many ways.
HIRAM MCALISTER.
Hiram McAlister, deceased, was born in Rochester, Vermont, October I, 1814. his parents being John and Levina ( Bennett ) McAlister. The father was also a native of Rochester, Vermont. His wife's birth occurred in 1802, and she was called to her final rest in 1873.
In 1856 Hiram McAlister came westward, settling on a rented farm east of Elgin in Kane county, and subsequently purchased a tract of land
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between Elgin and Dundee, in the successful operation of which he was engaged until 1868. In that year he retired from active business pursuits and took up his abode in Elgin, where he made his home until the time of his demise on the 7th of July, 1871.
At Whiting, Vermont, on the 21st day of April, 1833. occurred the marriage of Mr. Mc.Alister and Miss Olive Brown, a daughter of Esquire and Mary ( Munger) Brown. Unto this union were born nine children, namely: Levina, who passed away in 1897; Mrs. Almira Perry; Henry, Charles. George, Lucy and Frances, all of whom are deceased; Aaron, who is married and has three children, Pearl, Laura and Myrtle, and resides at Herington, Kansas; and Ada, the wife of Foster Brown, who has three children, Albert, Leslie and Olive.
Mr. McAlister gave stalwart allegiance to the republican party, and in his religious faith was a Baptist, serving as deacon in the church. He was a model of truth and veracity, and a man of genial, social disposition, who made friends wherever he went, because of his unselfish and generous nature.
FREDERICK A. LEACH.
Professor Frederick A. Leach, who may truly be called a public bene- factor owing to the many remarkable cures he has effected through his won- derful healing power. is now located at Elgin, where he established his office in 1906. He is a native of Connecticut, born in Norwich on the 14th of March, 1866, and is a son of Elijah and Elizabeth (Watson) Leach. His father, who was a contractor and builder, was born in Vermont in 1822 and died in 1907, having long survived the mother of our subject, who spent her entire life in Connecticut. She was born in 1829 and passed away in 1866. The family is of English origin and on the maternal side our subject's great- grandfather. Watson, was proprietor of the first wagon shop established in America, this being located at Norwich, Connecticut. On its site now stands a magnificent old elm tree-one of the largest in the country-which is fenced off and protected as a monument.
Professor Leach was only five months old when his mother died and he then made his home with an aunt. It was during this time that the discovery of his wonderful healing power was made by his aunt, who was subject to severe headaches. She noticed while holding the child in her lap if he, in baby fashion, would place his little hands on her aching head, the pain would invariably cease. One day, while suffering from a headache more severe than usual, she bade the child lay his hands on her head and in a few minutes the pain entirely disappeared. Neighbors and friends soon learned of the wonderful power of the child's hands and came to the house to be relieved of their suffering. The aunt, being of a very pious nature, began to look upon the child as uncanny and upon his gift of cure, simply laying on his hands, as a sin. and the more she pondered the more mystified she became, until she finally allowed the child to be adopted by people in a distant town.
PROF. F. A. LEACH
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He received a good academic education, graduating from Bacon Academy at Colchester, Connecticut, and throughout life has always been a great reader, being thoroughly familiar with all topics of general interest and especially well posted on all lines pertaining to his profession.
In early life Professor Leach learned the trade of gold and silver plating and for a number of years was employed as foreman of a large plant of that character, continuing in that position until thirty years of age. On the 27th of April, 1897, he was married in Hartford, Connecticut, to Miss Edna Goddard, a daughter of William Goddard, of Boston. She was in ill health for several years and had doctored incessantly but could find no relief. About this time the secret of his strange power was revealed to him by a letter from his aunt and he at once determined to experiment upon his wife. After the first treatment she could see a decided improvement in her condition and in a few days she was entirely cured.
Friends and acquaintances were amazed when they heard of the success attending the treatments of his wife and it was not long before he was called upon to minister to many others and now patients come to him from all parts of the country, from New York to California. His method, known as psychic healing, is a gift given him either from a higher power or nature, and by the simple laying on of hands has produced remarkable cures. For nearly eight years he experimented during his leisure hours, charging nothing for his services, and during that time he cured nearly every known disease. Finding his cures permanent he took up healing as his life work and first located at Ottawa, Illinois, but in January, 1906, came to Elgin, where he has since made his home, having an office in the Spurling building. He has been very successful during his residence here and now has a large clientele. He has written several able articles on psychic subjects for publication in newspapers and other periodicals, which have called forth favorable criticism from the reading public. For eighteen years Professor Leach has been a member of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks and he also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and the Court of Honor, while politically he is identified with the republican party.
FRED A. RISPIN.
Fred A. Rispin, electrical manufacturer of Elgin, has won that success which comes through skill in a chosen line of labor and intense energy directed by sound judgment, and has made for himself a creditable place in the busi- ness circles of his adopted city. He was born in Petrolia, Ontario, Canada, May 6. 1875, his parents being John and Emma ( Barnes) Rispin, who were natives of England. The father was a railroad man and died in 1880, while the mother, still surviving, now makes her home in Elgin.
Fred A. Rispin was educated in the public schools of Canada and there learned the machinist's trade, serving a regular apprenticeship. In 1891 he came to Elgin, where he worked at his trade for a time and then learned
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the electrical manufacturing business. From that beginning he has worked his way upward and is now the owner of a large plant and employs several men in electrical manufacture. He began on a small scale in 1897 at No. 69 North State street and in the intervening years the business has grown very rapidly. He now manufactures all kinds of electrical machinery, power plants, and soforth, and does all kinds of electrical repairing. He also manu- factures special machinery and does repair work thereon. He started out with practically no capital but gradually he has worked his way upward and is now in control of a profitable business. He also conducts the lighting plant and pumping station at Marengo which lights the city and its stores and residences, this contract having been awarded him on the Ist of January, 1908.
In 1906 occurred the marriage of Mr. Rispin and Miss Mamie Higgins, of Elgin, and unto them have been born four children: Shirley, Gerald, Myrtle and Lucille. Politically Mr. Rispin is a democrat but has no desire for office. Fraternally he is connected with the Court of Honor, with the Maccabees and the Pacific Mutual Society. His father was a prominent Mason of the country, receiving the highest degree that could be conferred in America. Mr. Rispin is yet a young man but has made for himself a credit- able name and place in business circles. He has been actuated in his career by a strong determination and his labor has been characterized by unfaltering perseverance.
EDWIN HALL.
The business interests of Elgin find a worthy representative in Edwin Hall, who in his mercantile career has displayed the spirit of enterprise and progressiveness which has been the dominant factor in the upbuilding of the middle west. He has always been a resident of this section of the country, his birth having occurred in St. Charles, Illinois, May 2, 1866. His parents were Gustavus and Mary J. ( Alexander ) Hall, both of whom were natives of Canada. The father came-to the United States in 1839. settling in St. Charles, and the mother arrived in the year 1842. The paternal grandfather of our subject had first visited Illinois in 1838, after which he returned to Canada and then brought his family to Kane county the following year. He settled at St. Charles and was among the pioneer residents of the district. aided in reclaiming a wild region for the purposes of civilization. Gustavus Hall was reared to the occupation of farming amid the wild scenes and environ- ments of pioneer life and for many years carried on general agricultural pursuits. His last days were passed in California, his death there occurring April 19. 1900, and his widow still resides in that state.
Edwin Hall acquired his education in the schools of St. Charles and Elgin and was graduated from the Chicago College of Pharmacy. Having thus equipped for the line of business in which he is now engaged. he first secured employment of that character as a clerk in a drug store in Elgin.
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When his diligence and careful expenditure brought him sufficient capital, he embarked in business on his own account in Hampshire in 1887, successfully conducting the store until 1890, when, seeking a still broader field of labor, he came to Elgin and entered into partnership with Russell Weld under the firm name of Weld & Hall. This association was continued until 1901, when Mr. Hall purchased his partner's interest and has since continued the business alone. He carries a full line of drugs, druggist's sundries and toilet articles and has a well appointed establishment, neat and tasteful in its arrangement and equipped with all modern conveniences. He is a member of the Illinois Pharmaceutical Association and is serving on its executive committee. Through the interchange of thought and experience in its meetings he keeps in touch with the progressive spirit manifest by the drug trade and is con- ducting one of the best establishments in his line in Elgin. He is also a member and secretary of the Courier Publishing Company.
On the 26th of June, 1890, Mr. Hall was united in marriage to Miss Edith A. Reid, of Hampshire, and they have one daughter, Agnes Mary, now seventeen years of age. In his political views Mr. Hall has always been a stalwart republican, interested in the growth and success of the party, and is a member of the republican county central committee. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America and to the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks and has taken the degrees of the blue lodge and chapter in Masonry. His time and attention, however, have necessarily been concentrated upon his business affairs and through methods which have neither sought nor required disguise he has worked his way upward to a prominent place in business circles in his adopted city.
FRANK TEFFT, D.V.S.
Dr. Frank Tefft, enjoying an extensive practice in veterinary surgery in Elgin and also identified as a stockholder with different business concerns, while at the same time extensive farming interests return to him a good income, is numbered among Elgin's native sons, his birth having occurred in this city April 7, 1862. His father, Jonathan Tefft, is mentioned elsewhere in this volume.
Dr. Tefft was educated in the public schools of the county and in Elgin Academy, while his professional training was received in the Chicago Veteri- nary College, from which he was graduated in 1892. He then began practice in Elgin, where he has been very successful in winning an extensive patronage. He manifests marked skill and ability in professional lines and thus his services are in constant demand.
He also buys and sells horses, controlling the Virginia stables, but this by no means represents the extent of his business interests, as he is a stock- holder in the Elgin canning factory and the Chicago Gravel Company, while in connection with his sister Jennie he owns five hundred and eighty acres of land in Elgin township. They are engaged in the dairy business, having on
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hand at all times about one hundred and seventy-five head of milch cows and young Holsteins. Dr. Tefft is a natural born stockman, having been con- nected with the business from early youth and there is no better judge of good stock in this section, his valuation of farm animals always being accurate and correct.
On the 3d of June, 1898, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Tefft and Miss Mabel Hammond, a daughter of E. G. Hammond, of Elgin. He is a member of the lodge. the chapter and the commandery in Masonic circles and he also belongs to the Century Club.
G. S. DOBBINS, M.D.
The life record of Dr. G. S. Dobbins is a notable instance of the attain- ment of success under conditions which the majority of the world would feel as an insurmountable difficulty, for at the age of fifteen years Dr. Dobbins lost his eyesight. He has, however, managed to acquire a knowledge of medicine that makes him the peer of the able practitioners of Elgin and more- over he keeps abreast with the progress of the times as manifest in medical and surgical lines. He was born in Peoria, Illinois, August 21, 1854, his parents being Thomas S. and Mary C. (Spurck) Dobbins. The father was a native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, while the mother's birth occurred in Ohio. He was a banker and capitalist and established the First and Second National banks of Peoria and was president of the former for a number of years. In his business career he met with success such as is obtained only through the exercise of such superior qualifications as undaunted energy, keen perception and resolute purpose.
In 1868 he went to Europe with his family and remained upon the conti- nent until 1870, when he returned to America and located in Chicago. There he became engaged in the real-estate business. In 1871 he was the principal promoter in the building of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad from Chicago to Byron, Illinois, but in that venture lost heavily. He afterward engaged in the manufacture of vehicle springs of all kinds and later was iden- tified with the brick manufacturing business. Throughout that period he was a resident of Chicago and his mental qualities and activity in public affairs made him the associate and friend of such men as Stephen A. Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, Governor Yates, General Grant and others well known at that day.
Dr. Dobbins acquired his early education in Peoria and later pursued his studies in Worcester, England, remaining in that country from 1869 until 1871. For some time he was connected with the real-estate business in Chi- cago but in the meantime took up the study of medicine and in 1901 was graduated from the Chicago Homeopathic College. He then located for practice in Chicago, where he remained until 1904. when he came to Elgin. Here he has built up a very successful practice. As stated. Dr. Dobbins has been blind from the age of fifteen years but, like the majority who lose their
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eyesight, other senses have been developed above the average and have there- fore been of material assistance to him in his professional career. His sense of touch and hearing, being particularly keen, are of the utmost assistance to him in his professional labors.
Dr. Dobbins was married in 1883 to Miss Ruth Oldham, of Eureka Springs, Arkansas, and they now have six children. Inez; Madeline; Isabel; George and Robert, twins; and Thomas S. The Doctor owns a fine residence which he occupies at 364 Chicago street. He has spent considerable time in vacation periods in Paris and left that city only the second day before they closed the gates at the surrender of Napoleon at Sedan and just before the attack was made on the French capital. He also passed through the great Chicago fire. He is a representative of one of the prominent old families of the state and has made for himself an excellent professional record, his ability being manifest in the results which have attended his ministrations in many cases.
J. F. FIERKE.
In studying the life and character of prominent men we are naturally led to inquire into the secret of their success and the motives that prompted their action. Success is not a question of genius, as held by many, but is rather a matter of experience and sound judgment, for when we trace the career of those who stand highest in public esteem we find in nearly every case that they are those who have risen gradually, making their way in the face of all opposition. Self-reliance, conscientiousness, energy, honesty- these are the traits of character that insure the highest emoluments and greatest success. To these may be attributed the prosperity that has crowned the efforts of J. F. Fierke, now the president of the Illinois Iron & Bolt Company and a resident of Dundee. He was born in Oelsdorf, in the province of Pomerania, Germany, in 1860, his parents being Frederick and Sophia ( Beth) Fierke, who came to America in 1861 and settled at Dundee. Illinois. There the father died in the year 1880, while the mother is still living, making her home in Dundee at the age of eighty-four years. He was associated with some of the early owners of the Dundee brickyards and was an active, enterprising business man.
J. F. Fierke was educated in the local schools of Dundee. He entered upon his business career in connection with the Illinois Iron & Bolt Company as assistant shipping clerk when eighteen years of age. Since that time he has gradually worked his way upward and through successive promotions he has won recognition of his ability and trustworthiness. Gradually he advanced until in July, 1907, he was elected president of the company, having previous to that time been business manager for several years. He thus passed on to positions of executive. control and is now bending his energies largely to organization, to constructive efforts and administrative direction. Possessing broad, enlightened and liberal-minded views, his has been an active career in which he has accomplished important and far-reaching results, contributing
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in no small degree to the expansion and material growth of the community and from which he also has derived substantial benefits. As president of the Illinois Iron & Bolt Company he is at the head of an extensive enterprise, employing about six hundred men, it being one of the largest manufacturing concerns in Kane county.
Mr. Fierke was married in 1883 to Miss Augusta Sternberg, of Dundee. They are well known in social circles and are members of the Lutheran church of Dundee.
PAUL KEMLER, SR.
Paul Kemler, Sr., is one of the most prominent and popular of the retired business men of Elgin. He came to this city forty-one years ago and for a long period was identified with its hotel interests, in which connection he gained a most wide and favorable acquaintance and reputation. He gained the kindly regard of all with whom he came in contact and from those whom he was privileged to meet frequently he won the most sincere and lasting friendship.
He was born in Germany, October 28, 1837, and after acquiring a public- school education was apprenticed to a tanner and mastered that trade in Ger- many. Attracted by the opportunities of the new world, he then came to America and in 1856 settled in Chicago, where he engaged in the tanning business. In June, 1861, when the country was confronted with the problems of the Civil war, the patriotism of this sturdy young man asserted itself and for the love of the land of his adoption he enlisted, together with three of his brothers in Chicago in response to President Lincoln's call. He joined the Twenty-fourth Volunteer Infantry and was corporal under General Grant. who was then colonel of an Illinois regiment. He served for two years on the field and was wounded at Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862. On the 26th of March, 1864, he was honorably discharged at Murfreesboro, Ten- nessee, having for three years valiantly done his duty as a soldier in defense of his adopted land.
In 1869 he was appointed a patrolman on the Chicago police force and served for four years. During the Chicago fire the duty that devolved upon the police officers was most strenuous and Mr. Kemler did his part bravely and unflinchingly. The following year he removed to Elgin and rented the Washington House, which he managed successfully for seventeen years, enjoying a large patronage and accumulating a competency. He always had a cheery, pleasant greeting for his guests, which made him personally popular and he won an unassailable reputation for his honesty and integrity that made him widely known throughout the country and secured for him the respect of all. He subsequently disposed of his hotel to his son, Paul Kemler, Jr., who is proprietor of the new Washington House, which was erected in 1907 and is one of the attractive hostelries of this section of the state.
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In 1865 Mr. Kemler, Sr., was married to Miss Wilhelmine Damisch, of this city, who died in 1883. They were the parents of eleven children. Mr. Kemler is a veteran Odd Fellow, having joined the order in 1859. He takes deep interest in its principles, plans and work, and when the German lodge was organized in Elgin it was named Paul Lodge in his honor. Mr. Kemler is now living retired in comfort and ease and his rest is well merited, as it crowns a labor of intense and well directed activity, of honorable purpose and unfaltering integrity.
IRA N. RUSSELL.
Ira N. Russell, who for many years was actively identified with agricul- tural pursuits in Kane county, is now enjoying well earned rest in Elgin, for his diligence and activity in former years have brought to him capital sufficient to enable him to spend his remaining days in ease. His success, too, has been gained so honorably that the most envious cannot grudge him his prosperity. He was born in Gainesville, Wyoming county, New York, February 4, 1833. his parents being Jonas and Hannah (Lincoln) Russell, who were natives of Vermont, in which state they were reared and married. On leaving New England they became residents of Wyoming county, New York, where they remained until 1843, when they settled in Kane county, Illinois. Here their remaining days were passed. They had six children: Sarah, Jane, Hulda, Jonas and William, all of whom are now deceased; and Ira N., who is the only surviving member of the family.
Ira N. Russell was a lad of ten years when in 1843 he accompanied his parents on their removal to Kane county. It was still largely a pioneer district and they settled upon a farm at Batavia, where they lived for about ten years. They then removed to a farm in Burlington, this county. To the age of nine- teen years Mr. Russell assisted his father in carrying on the work of the home place and then went to Chicago, where he entered the employ of J. W. Duncan & Company, lumber merchants. After a year, however, he resumed farming and carried on general agricultural pursuits until about fourteen years ago, when he came to Elgin. He derives substantial income from two good farms in Plato township comprising four hundred acres of land. At one time he owned a farm at Burlington but later sold that property and removed to Plato township, where he continued until he left the farm and took up his abode in the city. For many years he conducted a dairy business, keeping Holstein stock, and purchased and shipped many cattle. In all of his business affairs he displayed an aptitude for successful management, carrying forward to suc- cessful completion whatever he undertook. Seven years ago he built his present home at No. 326 South street and here he is spending the evening of his life in the enjoyment of well earned ease.
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