USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II > Part 26
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REV. JOSEPH ROIIDE
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ordained to the priesthood on the 12th of March, 1870, the ordination taking place at the bishop's seat at Paderborn by the Rt. Rev. Joseph Freusberg, coadjutor of the Rt. Rev. Bishop Conrad Martin, who was absent in Rome during the vatican counsel. For five years thereafter he labored for the upbuilding of Catholicism in his native country, but he had a great desire to enter the mission field and was therefore rejoiced when, in 1876, he was assigned to do mission work in America, arriving in Chicago in September of that year.
He has since been continuously connected with the archdiocese of Chi- cago, and under the direction of the archbishop has built up many congre- gations. In nearly every parish that has been under his charge he has erected handsome churches and school buildings. He came to Elgin on the 15th of August, 1901, and within two years he had been instrumental in erecting a handsome new house of worship. Under his direction and efforts the Sisters of St. Francis from Joliet came here and established St. Joseph's hospital on the 23d of February, 1902. Since that time he has cared for the spiritual affairs of the sisters as chaplain of the house. On the 15th of Sep- tember, 1907, Father James Frederick came to Elgin to assist Father J. Rohde and was made chaplain. In connection with St. Joseph's church a school is carried on, which is under the charge of the school Sisters of St. Francis from Joliet. There are now four sisters here, with one hundred pupils in the school. The various departments of the church work are thus in good condition and Father Rohde is making substantial progress in his efforts to advance Catholicism in this city.
JOSHUA HENRY TETLOW.
For several years Joshua H. Tetlow was one of the leading business men of Belvidere, and when called to his final rest on the 19th of December, 1904, the city mourned the loss of an upright, honorable citizen. He was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, on the 4th of July, 1858, and was left fatherless at a tender age. He was only five years old when he came west and for many years was employed at the Northwestern depot in Rockford, Illinois. From that city he went to Belvidere, where he embarked in the clothing business in part- nership with his father-in-law, L. H. Murch, this connection continuing for eleven years.
On the 19th of May, 1886, Mr. Tetlow was united in marriage to Miss Winifred E. Murch, a daughter of Levi H. and Tina (Cohoon) Murch, of Belvidere, Illinois. Three children blessed this union: Edwin Levi, who has a position in the gilding room of the Elgin National Watch Company; Harri- son Blaine, who is in the plating room of the same company; and Helen Mabel, who possesses exceptional ability as an elocutionist and has for the past two years given most delightful entertainments, her work being regarded as most remarkable for one of her years, for she is now only thirteen years of
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age. The sons, too. are exceptionally fine young men and the family is truly one of which the mother can be justly proud.
In his social relations Mr. Tetlow was an Odd Fellow, and in politics was a republican. He was an earnest and consistent member of the Methodist church. his life being in perfect harmony with his professions. He was a man of exceptionally high principles and his upright, honorable life made him many friends, with whom he was very popular.
JOHN WHITNEY.
John Whitney, who resides on his valuable farm of one hundred and thirty-two acres in Campton township, where he is extensively engaged in stock dealing, was born in this township on the 23d of February, 1847, his parents being John and Mariah ( Blood) Whitney, both natives of Massachu- setts. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, came to Campton in 1836. and passed away in 1854, his remains being interred in the Whitney cemetery at Campton. The mother of our subject, whose birth occurred about 1813, removed to Cattaraugus county. New York. and gave her hand in marriage to John Whitney in 1838. In the early days they underwent many of the hardships and experiences incident to pioneer life and often received but a poor remuneration for the products of their farm. They sold butter at eleven and twelve cents per pound, oats at twenty cents per bushel. wheat at fifty or sixty cents per bushel and received twenty-five cents for seventy-two pounds of corn.
The members of their family. in addition to John Whitney of this review. are as follows: Daniel, who was born in Campton, January 3, 1840, and engaged in farming four miles west of St. Charles; Rachel, whose birth occurred in Campton in 1842 and who wedded Charles Probert, an agricul- turist residing on a farm five miles west of St. Charles: Mary Ann, who was born in Campton and now resides at Tekonsha, Michigan, being the wife of George Downey, a soldier in the late Civil war: Mariah, whose birth occurred in Campton in 1850 and who became the wife of James Ellis, her demise occurring in 1868; Melvin, who was born in Campton, February 20. 1852. is a farmer and cattle dealer of St. Charles: and Lottie, whose birth occurred in Campton in 1854 and who passed away in 1871.
John Whitney attended the district school during the winter months until about twenty-one years of age, and during the summer seasons assisted in the work of the home farm, thus early becoming familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. His father had purchased land from the government at a dollar and a quarter per acre. John Whitney now resides on a productive and well improved farm of one hundred and thirty- two acres located four and a half miles west of St. Charles, and in addition to the work of general farming is extensively engaged in stock dealing, his stable accommodating forty-five head. He likewise keeps a hundred or more head of fine poultry, and in the various branches of his business is meeting with a
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gratifying and well merited measure of prosperity. He has put five thousand dollars' worth of improvements on the farm, which is equipped with all the accessories and conveniences of a model property of the twentieth century. On the 3Ist of October, 1903, his home was almost totally destroyed by fire, and he subsequently erected a larger and finer residence at a cost of over four thousand dollars.
In his political views Mr. Whitney is a democrat, and is a public-spirited citizen whose cooperation can always be counted upon to further any move- ment or measure instituted for the general welfare and upbuilding. He has resided in this county throughout his entire life or for a period of sixty-one years, and has not only seen Kane county grow from a wild country, with only a few white inhabitants, to a rich agricultural country, containing thou- sands of good homes and acres of growing towns, inhabited by an industrious, prosperous, enlightened and progressive people, but he has also been an active participant in the slow, persistent work of development which was necessary to produce a change which is so complete that it has come to be popularly referred to as magical.
WILLIAM HARVEY REANEY.
William Harvey Reaney is filling the position of city clerk at Batavia, where he has made his home since 1899. He has been closely associated with its business interests as proprietor of a stationery and confectionery store and distributor of newspapers; he also represents the Aurora, Elgin & Chicago Railway at this point. He was born in Aurora, December 25, 1869.
William Harvey Reaney acquired his early education in the public schools of his native city and at Steward, Illinois, where he lived with an uncle, Wesley Steward, his parents having passed away within a short time of each other when he was eleven years of age. At the age of fifteen he began work in the Aurora watch factory, and followed that line of trade for fourteen years in different factories of the state until failing health compelled him to seek other employment. In July. 1899, he came to Batavia, and with small capital and plenty of ambition established the business of stationer and confectioner. He enjoys a liberal patronage, and is filling the position of city clerk, to which office he was elected in April, 1907.
On the 18th of March, 1896, Mr. Reaney was united in marriage to Miss Minnie May Gronberg, a daughter of Otto and Jeanette (Hovey) Gronberg. of Elgin. Mr. Reaney is a stalwart advocate of the democracy and is serving as a member of the Kane county democratic central committee. He is also chairman of the city committee, and is the candidate of the party for the office of clerk of the circuit court. He is well known in fraternal circles, being secretary of Batavia Lodge, No. 404, A. F. & A. M .; keeper of the record and seal of Rowena Lodge, K. P .; secretary and treasurer of the Rock City Pleasure Club of Batavia ; a member of Rock City Lodge, No. 718, I. O. O. F .; Batavia Chapter, O. E. S .; Rowena Temple, Pythian Sisters; Batavia
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Council, North American Union; and the Batavia Commercial Club. He has always lived in the county and has many warm friends who esteem him highly for his genuine worth and his many commendable traits of character.
LOUIS A. CONSTANTINE.
In the political history of Aurora and the state Louis A. Constantine deserves more than passing notice, for his labors have been discerningly directed in behalf of republican interests and in various offices his name has become a synonym for faithful and efficient discharge of duty. He is now serving for the third term as postmaster of Aurora. He was born March 13, 1853, in Buffalo, New York.
His father, Louis A. Constantine, Sr., was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1800, while his father was a member of the French legation. He came to the United States in the '30s, while his wife, who bore the maiden name of Fannie Case, and was born in Devonshire, England, accompanied her parents on their emigration to Canada when she was eleven years of age. Louis A. Constan- tine, Sr., died when his son and namesake was a lad of ten years.
The boy pursued his education in the public schools of Buffalo, and when twelve years of age began learning the printer's trade, familiarizing himself with every branch of the business in principal and detail. He then entered newspaper work, being employed in the office of the Republican at Dowagiac, Michigan. Later he was connected with the Grand Rapids Eagle, the Jack- son (Mich.) Citizen, the Gazette of Davenport, Iowa, and the Chicago Daily News. In November, 1877, he came to Aurora and here purchased the Evening Post, which absorbed the Democrat, the Times and the Journal, all weekly newspapers of Aurora. He continued the publication of the Post for a quarter of a century with signal success, making it a daily paper of wide influ- ence and a standard representative of modern progressive journalism. It be- came an excellent advertising medium and in the dissemination of general and local news was made such an attractive sheet that a most liberal patronage was secured.
All through the years Mr. Constantine has been active in politics, keep- ing well informed on the questions and issues of the day and doing everything in his power to promote republican successes. In 1898 he received recogni- tion of the capable aid which he has rendered his party in appointment to the position of postmaster in Aurora, entering upon the duties of the office on the Ist of February. That he has been unfaltering in his loyalty and most effi- cient in conducting the business of the office is indicated by the fact that through reappointment he is now serving for the third term. Moreover, the business of the office has trebled since he assumed charge. In other official positions he has been equally capable, holding various offices of trust. He was clerk of the senate for two terms, clerk of the railroad committee of the senate for one term, and also was private secretary to President Bogardus, presiding officer of the senate. He was appointed by Senator H. H. Evans clerk of the
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insurance committee and so continued for one term. From 1891 until 1893 he was deputy collector of internal revenue in Chicago under Christian Mamer. He has frequently served as a delegate to the county, district and state con- ventions of his party and his opinions carry weight in the party councils. He has also been chairman of the city executive committee and chairman of the senatorial committee for some twenty years. He was likewise president of the Republican Press Association of the eighth congressional district, a state organizer of the Illinois Republican League. His efforts in behalf of his party have been far reaching and beneficial, and have been characterized by that thorough understanding and keen outlook which mark him in his business career. For a number of years he has been a member of the county com- mittee. He has kept in close touch with the questions and issues of the day, and is always able to support his position by intelligent argument based upon a thorough understanding of those interests which affect state and national affairs. Religiously he is a member of the People's church and has served on its board.
On the 27th of March, 1882, Mr. Constantine was married to Miss Lilian Loomis, a native of Aurora and a daughter of William Loomis, one of the pioneer residents of this city.
GEORGE W. SHERWOOD.
There is no citizen of Kane county who is held in higher regard and esteem than George W. Sherwood, who owns and operates a valuable and well improved farm of one hundred and sixty-six acres, situated ten miles from St. Charles, in Plato township. He is a native son of the township, his birth having occurred January 27, 1853. He began his education in the district schools, which he attended to the age of seventeen years, this being supplemented by a four-years' course of study in Elgin Academy. After completing his education he engaged in farming, which has been his occupa- tion to the present time.
At the age of twenty-three years Mr. Sherwood was united in marriage to Miss Lillian E. Warner, who is likewise a native of Plato township. The young couple then began their domestic life upon a farm, where they con- tinued until 1902, in which year Mr. Sherwood removed with his family to Elgin, where he lived retired for three years. However, being of an ambi- tious and energetic nature he was not content to spend his time idly, and accordingly returned to farm life, being now the owner of one hundred and sixty-six acres situated in Plato township. The fields are well drained and there are various kinds of fruit trees, which bear in their respective seasons, and everything about the place is in a well-kept condition, so that it is a valua- ble property. He is here engaged in raising the various cereals best adapted to soil and climate, and he also gives much time and attention to stock- raising, shipping annually a carload of hogs and one of cattle. Mr. Sherwood
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ever follows the most modern methods in his farm work, and his efforts are therefore attended with a high degree of prosperity.
Mr. Sherwood gives his political support to the republican party, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Congregational church. His success has been by no means the result of fortunate circum- stances. It has come to him through energy, labor and perseverance, directed by an evenly balanced mind and by honorable business principles. In manner he is quiet and straightforward, saying exactly what he means, and his word has become a synonym for business integrity.
JACOB BINDER.
Jacob Binder has been continuously connected with the business interests of Aurora since 1871, or for a period of thirty-seven years, and throughout this entire time has maintained an unassailable reputation for the integrity as well as the enterprise of his commercial methods. He is now conducting a meat market and is also identified with industrial interests as a manufacturer of artificial stone. He was born in Wurtemberg. Germany, April 29, 1850. and his parents, Jacob and Mary ( Blind) Binder, were also natives of the same country. The former was a son of Jacob Binder, who was a butcher and died in 1857. He married a Miss Hohnecker. Their son, Jacob, engaged in the butchering business in Wurtemberg, Germany, up to the time of his death, which occurred when he was about sixty-six years of age. His wife liad attained about the same age at the time of her demise and both were members of the Lutheran church. In their family were five children, two sons and three daughters : Jacob, who is living in Aurora; Mary, the wife of Gottfried Gantner, of Wurtemberg, Germany; Rosa, the wife of Andrew Muehlhauser, of Stuttgart, Germany; Carl, who resides in Goeppingen, Ger- many ; and Emily, the wife of Albert Ansel, of Elgin.
In taking up the personal history of Jacob Binder we present to our readers the record of one of the representative German-American citizens of Aurora. He remained in Germany until eighteen years of age, and acquired his education in the public schools there. When a youth of fourteen he began learning the butcher's business with his father, and afterward spent three years in Switzerland, while in 1868 he crossed the Atlantic to America. After a brief stay in New York city and several months in the Lehigh valley at Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania, he came to Aurora in August, 1869, and here worked at his trade until February, 1870, when he began the butchering busi- ness on his own account at Sandwich, Illinois. In April, 1871, however, he returned to this city, where he has been in business continuously since, occu- pying his present location from 1881. Many of his patrons have given him their trade during almost this entire period, and he is known as a merchant whose business methods are reliable, while his earnest desire to please his patrons has won him many friends. In 1905, in partnership with several others, he established the Aurora Artificial Stone & Construction Company,
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of which he is the president. This company is engaged in the manufacture of artificial stone and in building operations, and the business has already become a profitable concern.
On the 14th of May, 1872, Mr. Binder was married to Miss Barbara Schmidt, a daughter of George F. and Sibylla (Schoeberlein) Schmidt. Mr. and Mrs. Binder became the parents of ten children, seven sons and three daughters: Amelia, the wife of E. G. Beck, of Pforzheim, Baden, Germany, and the mother of three children-Ruth, Esther and Wesley; John, who married Loretta Thomas and is associated with his father in both depart- ments of business, being secretary of the artificial stone company ; Elmer, who wedded Elma Schoeberlein and is a traveling salesman living in New York city; Rosa, who is bookkeeper for her father; Carl, who is connected with the Jacob Binder Company; Lorenz, salesman in New York with E. G. Beck ; Dorothy, Albert, George and Oswald, all yet at home.
The parents are members of the German Methodist church, and the family occupy a pleasant residence at No. 133 South Fourth street. Mr. Binder has been the architect of his own fortunes, and has builded wisely and well. He came to the new world with scarcely more capital than would pay his way, but as the years have passed he has, through his unfaltering diligence and well directed labor, gained a measure of prosperity that now classes him with the substantial residents of his adopted city. He is also enterprising and energetic and his labors have been of a character that has contributed to the general good as well as to individual success.
BENNE BENSON.
Among those of foreign birth who are now numbered among the leading farmers of Kane county is Benne Benson, who owns and operates a fine farm in Kaneville township. He was born in Warburg, Sweden, on the 3Ist of March, 1858, and is a son of Ben and Cherste (Hendrics) Benson. His father, who is a farmer by occupation, and a devoted member of the Lutheran church, is still living in Sweden at the age of seventy-two years. The other children of the family are Edith Benson, still a resident of Sweden, and Helmah, the wife of Charles Johnson.
Between the ages of six and fourteen years Benne Benson attended the public schools of his native land, and at the age of seventeen started out to make his own way in the world by working as a farm hand at twenty-five dollars per year. He was thus employed until he attained his majority and then shipped on board a French vessel as a sailor, visiting all of the principal ports of Europe from the North sea to Portugal during the year and a half he spent upon the water.
At the end of that time Mr. Benson emigrated to America, and on reach- ing the shores of this country was not only penniless, but was twenty dollars in debt, having borrowed that sum to help meet the expenses of his trip. Making his way to Kane county, Illinois, he secured work as a farm hand
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and remained in the service of others for three years, being employed on a farm adjoining his present place in Kaneville township. In the meantime he saved some capital, and then rented his present farm for ten years. By his industry, good management and close economy he was then able to pur- chase the place, which he has since converted into one of the best farms of the county. The fields are well fenced and highly cultivated, and the improve- ments which he has made aggregate twelve thousand dollars. The farm con- sists of two hundred and sixty acres of rich and arable land and is adorned with a nice residence and good outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. He gives considerable attention to the breeding of Norman horses, and in all his undertakings has met with excellent success, being a man of exceptional business ability, industrious, energetic and thoroughly reliable.
After coming to this country Mr. Benson was united in marriage to Miss Mary Anderson, also a native of Sweden, and they have become the parents of two children: Alida and Emily, both at home. They also have an adopted daughter, Alma Benson, who has made her home with them since a year and a half old, and since three years of age Jalmor Anderson has also found a home with them. The parents are earnest members of the Lutheran church and are held in the highest esteem by all who know them. By his ballot Mr. Benson supports the men and measures of the republican party. and for fifteen years he has filled the office of school director. As a public spirited citizen he never withholds his support from any enterprise which he believes will advance the intellectual, moral or material welfare of his adopted county.
GEORGE H. BURNETT.
George H. Burnett, who is successully engaged in business as an embalmer and funeral director at Batavia, his native city, was born March 7, 1870. He is a son of John Burnett, whose birth occurred in Devonshire, England, April 12, 1835, and who is now living retired in Batavia. On leav- ing his native country he came direct to Illinois, arriving in Batavia in 1857. For a half a century he was identified with its business, and for twenty-five years was well known as a flour and feed merchant here. In the fall of 1907, however, he retired from business life to enjoy a well earned rest. He mar- ried Frances Martha Ballard, who was born in Batavia, September 12, 1836, and who was a descendant of one of the old families of Massachusetts. They long traveled life's journey together, but were separated in the death of Mrs. Burnett, on the 2d of September. 1899.
George H. Burnett pursued his education in the public schools of Batavia, passing through the consecutive grades. He afterward attended the Cham- pion College of Embalming in Cincinnati, also pursuing a course in Chicago under Dr. Eliab Meyers and Professor Charles A. Renaud. He was gradu- ated in 1897, and after passing the required examination was one of the first to secure a state embalmer's license. He entered business in October, 7897, in Batavia as an embalmer and funeral director and has been very suc-
GEORGE H. BURNETT
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cessful here, having now the largest patronage in this part of Kane county. He carries a full line of equipments and furnishings and his business has been built up through careful management and not through advertising.
On the 5th of February, 1896, Mr. Burnett was married to Miss Char- lotte M. Spencer, a daughter of Charles J. and Mary E. (Miller) Spencer of Coloma, Michigan. Mrs. Burnett is also a graduate of the Champion Col- lege of Embalming, holds a state certificate and is an assistant to Mr. Burnett in his work.
Mr. Burnett belongs to several fraternal organizations that count him a valued member. He is a Mason, a Knight of Pythias, an Odd Fellow and a Modern Woodman. Well known throughout this part of the county, he has many friends who esteem him for his genuine personal worth.
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