USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II > Part 3
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RESIDENCE OF JOHN STEWART
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place by soldiers who participated in the ever memorable siege. Continuing on his way to Delhi he afterward went to Jaypore, to Allihambad and on to Bombay, where he saw the world's celebrated temple, which is made of solid marble, covers twenty acres of land and was twenty-five years in the course of construction, it requiring the continuous efforts of twenty-five thousand men to erect it, while the stone was drawn from a quarry seventy miles away. Leaving Bombay, Mr. Stewart proceeded to the Red Sea, passed through the Suez canal, thence to Cairo and on to France, landing at Marseilles. He visited Paris, went to Dover and, after visiting London, sailed from Southamp- ton to New York, the complete trip covering six months. Several years before, in 1890, Mr. Stewart, in company with his wife and daughters, sailed for Liverpool, went thence to London and on to Paris, also visited Lyons, Monte Carlo, Pisgah, Geneva, Florence, Naples, Sicily and on to Alexandria, on which voyage they came very near being shipwrecked. They took the trip on the Nile, spending six weeks in that way, and afterward proceeded to Joppa and on to Jerusalem by stage, visiting Bethlehem and the contiguous territory. Returning to Joppa, they then went to Damascus, where Mr. Stewart says that nature has made her most beautiful city. In all his travels he has never found a more ideal place for a city. At Balbaak he viewed the massive ruins which antedate the flood. After visiting Athens he went to Smyrna and to Constantinople, thence by the Black Sea to Russia, on to Buda Pesth, Vienna, Italy, Switzerland and the Black Forest, in Germany, where he saw the emperor of Germany in company with Queen Victoria, of Eng- land, reviewing forty-five thousand soldiers. Proceeding down the Rhine to Cologne, the party afterward went to Amsterdam, where they remained two weeks, and thence to Belgium and by stage to the battlefield of Waterloo, Mr. Stewart being much impressed with the English lion of St. Mark, which is supposed to keep vigil over the field. This lion is a work of huge brass, mounted upon a great hummock of earth. In the early days when Belgium and England were at war some enthusiastic Frenchman cut off the tail ot thi: brass lion and England compelled the French government to supply the missing member. Mr. Stewart and his family also visited England, Scotland and Ireland on this trip and they returned with many interesting mementoes of their journey in the shape of fine rugs, tapestry and works of art.
EUGENE F. ROGERS.
Kane county has been singularly fortunate in the class of men who have occupied its offices, for they have been usually citizens of high official honor and loyal purpose. Such a one is Eugene F. Rogers, who is now serving as circuit clerk. He was born in Plato township, this county, December 19. 1859, his parents being Nelson and Sarah (Pruden) Rogers, both of whom were natives of the state of New York. His paternal grandfather, Jonathan Rogers, was a native of Massachusetts and when a small boy went to New York with his parents, being reared to manhood in Lewis county. There he
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resided to the age of sixty years, when he came westward to Illinois and purchased land in Plato township, Kane county, where he spent his remaining days, passing away at the age of eighty-seven years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812 and a man who in every relation of life commanded the confidence and good will of those who knew him. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Elizabeth Herring, was seventy-eight years of age at the time of her demise. The Rogers family came originally from English ancestry. Unto Jonathan Rogers and his wife were born seven children, four of whom came to the middle west, but only one is now living.
The maternal grandfather of Eugene F. Rogers was John Pruden, a native of Seneca county. New York, and of Holland Dutch descent. He was a farmer and, removing to the west with his family in 1843, settled in Plato township, this county, where he lived for many years. He afterward took up his abode in Elgin and subsequently removed to St. Charles, Illinois, where he died when about eighty years of age. His wife, who in her maidenhood was Sarah Ransom, lived to be about sixty-five years of age. They were the parents of four children.
Nelson Rogers, father of our subject, followed the occupation of farming in early life and later turned his attention to merchandising. He came to Illinois in 1855 and took up his abode in Plato township, where he purchased a farm of four hundred and eighty acres, which he improved, making his home thereon for many years. As time passed he brought the fields under a high state of cultivation and added to the place many modern equipments and accessories. In the early '70s, putting aside the work of the farm, he removed to Elgin, where he engaged in the hardware business for a number of years, but eventually retired from active life and removed to Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago, where he now resides. His wife was brought to Illinois by her parents in 1843, when a child of seven years, and was reared to woman- hood and married in Kane county. She held membership in the Congrega- tional church and lived an earnest, consistent Christian life until called to her final rest in June, 1902, at the age of sixty-six years. Nelson Rogers is now serving as superintendent of streets in Oak Park. Unto him and his wife were born three sons: Eugene F .; Sherman, deceased; and Fred N., of Oak Park.
Eugene F. Rogers was reared upon the home farm in Kane county to the age of fifteen years and early became familiar with the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He attended the district schools and after- ward pursued his studies in the Elgin public schools and Elgin Academy. Ile then became a reporter on an Elgin newspaper, called the Daily Bluff City, with which he was connected for several years. He was likewise con- nected with the reportorial staff of other papers in Chicago, Dubuque, St. Paul and elsewhere. He was first called to public office by his appointment as deputy circuit clerk, in which capacity he served for three years under Major Ben Gould, who lost his life in the ever memorable Iroquois theater fire in Chicago, as did his wife. At that time Mr. Rogers was appointed circuit clerk to fill out the unexpired term of Major Gould and in 1904 was elected to the office for a term of four years, which expires December 1, 1908.
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His previous experience as deputy well qualified him for the position and his record in office is altogether creditable and commendable, having won for him high encomiums.
On the 27th of February, 1895, occurred the marriage of Mr. Rogers and Miss Josephine Mulroney, a daughter of Patrick and Ellen (Lawless) Mulroney. They now have one child, Nadia. Mrs. Rogers is a member of the Catholic church, while Mr. Rogers belongs to Monitor Lodge, No. 522, A. F. & A. M., of Elgin; Althea Lodge, No. 519, I. O. O. F., the Modern Woodmen camp, the Maccabees tent and the Elks lodge. Politically he is a republican and is recognized as one of the most stalwart champions of the party, while in citizenship he has made a record for fidelity and loyalty that is most commendable.
CHARLES L. ABBOTT.
In no profession is there a career more open to talent than in that of the law, and in no field of endeavor is there demanded a more thorough prepara- tion and more thorough appreciation of the absolute ethics of life, of all of the underlined principles which form the basis of all human rights and privileges. Unflagging application, intuitive wisdom, and a determination to fully utilize the means at hand are the concomitants which insure personal success and prestige in the legal profession, and possessing the requisite qualities of the able lawyer, Charles L. Abbott has become known as a prominent and representative member of the Kane county bar.
A native of Elgin, the city of his present residence, he was born April 7, 1865, and the public schools afforded him his educational privileges. At the age of fourteen years, however, he left school and was employed by the Elgin Watch Company, with which he was connected for about eighteen months. He then began learning the painter's trade, which he followed for nine years, after which he again spent three years in the service of the watch company. It was while thus engaged that he conceived the idea of becoming a member of the bar, and to this end he borrowed law books from his friends, devoting his evening hours to the study of Blackstone, Kent and other authorities. In April, 1893, leaving the watch factory, he soon afterward secured a position with the fire department of Elgin. This plan was induced by his idea that it would give him more leisure in which to pursue his law studies, and on the Ist of May, 1895, he was appointed assistant chief by Mayor Charles H. Wayne. Thus he was afforded the opportunity to be away from fire depart- ment headquarters, and in further preparation for the legal profession he entered the office of Frank W. Joslyn, who for one year acted as his preceptor.
On the 20th of May, 1896, Mr. Abbott took an examination before the United States supreme court at Ottawa and was admitted to the bar. In his professional career he has made rapid advancement, for he early demonstrated in the courts his ability to successfully solve the intricate problems of juris- prudence. In April. 1897, he was elected city attorney and served for one
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term of two years. In December. 1900. he was appointed assistant states attorney for Kane county and acceptably filled that position for four years, during which period he had charge of all the criminal work in the northern half of Kane county and was prominent in the prosecution of several impor- tant cases, including two murder cases-that of Antonio Romano, who was sentenced to hang. and Julius Padelford, who was acquitted. There have been but two men hanged in the history of Kane county, one capital punish- ment being executed in the '50s, while it was through the efforts of Mr. Abbott that the other occurred in August, 1903.
Not only in the trial of his cases before the courts has Mr. Abbott gained recognition and distinction, but also as an active factor in political circles. In 1901 he was elected alderman from the sixth ward and after serving for a term of two years refused to become a candidate for reelection. However, during his connection with the council he exercised his official prerogatives in support of many progressive measures and stood loyally in defense of the best interests of the community. On the Ist of January, 1906, he was appointed referee in bankruptcy by Solomon Bethea, United States district judge, in which position he continued until April, 1908, when he resigned to accept the appointment of assistant United States district attorney for the northern district of Illinois under Edwin W. Simms. In politics he has always been a stalwart republican and for a number of years has been a member of the central county committee.
On the Ist of May, 1890, Mr. Abbott was married to Miss Mary Schmidt. of Elgin, and they became the parents of two children: Lionel Smith, born January 19, 1898; and Ethel Francenia, born February 2, 1906. The parents attend the Universalist church, and in his fraternal relations Mr. Abbott is connected with the Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Elks, the Woodmen, the Knights & Ladies of Honor, the Court of Honor, and Archan Union. He stands as a splendid representative of that type of Ameri- can manhood that recognizes and utilizes opportunities. Prompted by laud- able ambition, he directed his energies in those channels demanding strong intellectuality, close application and unwearied industry, and has gained for himself a most creditable and honored position at the Elgin bar.
HARRY D. BARNES.
Among the important productive industries of Elgin, constituting an ele- ment in the business life and consequent prosperity of the city, is numbered the Elgin Packing Company, of which Harry D. Barnes is the president. He has known how to coordinate forces so as to produce concerted action and win the best possible result, and thus the enterprise of which he is at the head is carefully systematized so that time, labor and outlay have been reduced to the minimum in keeping with the accomplishment of desired results.
Mr. Barnes is a native of Bloomingdale. Illinois, born November 29. 1863. upon a farm about a mile west of the village. This place was a tract
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of land which was entered from the government by his grandfather, Jonathan Barnes, in 1838, a fact which indicates that the family were residents here in pioneer days. His parents were George W. and Susan ( Dudley) Barnes. The father was born in Plattsburg, New York, in 1831, while the mother's birth occurred in Hannibal, Oswego county, New York. He was a lad of seven years when he came with his parents to Illinois in 1838. They drove across the country from their old home in the Empire state, starting on the first day of April and arriving in November. George W. Barnes remained for many years upon the farm where the birth of his son Harry occurred, but since 1883 has made his home in Elgin, where his wife is also living. She, too, came here in her childhood days with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Asa Dudley. Unto George W. Barnes and his wife were born nine children : Jessie, now the wife of John Bateman, of Elgin; Eva M., at home; Harry D .; Mabel, the wife of Leon D. Nish, of Elgin; Newton G., who is a sales- man in Chicago; Maude, a teacher in the public schools of Elgin, and living at home; Robert M., who is a mechanic with the General Electric Company of Chicago; Ella M., at home; and G. Alson, an expressman of Elgin.
Harry D. Barnes spent the days of his boyhood and youth upon the home farm, where he remained until about 1883. In the summer months he worked in the fields and in the winter seasons attended the public schools. He came to Elgin in 1883 and during the two succeeding winters was a student in the Elgin Academy, while the summer months were spent as an employe in a grocery store. He afterward entered upon an apprenticeship in January, 1886, with the Elgin Packing Company, being first employed in the tinshop and worked as a canmaker for several years. Little did he dream on the day that he entered the establishment that he would at one time become presi- dent of the company, but his fidelity, capability and unfaltering industry won him promotion from time to time. He acted as assistant in the manage- ment for a number of years and when F. L. McClure resigned Mr. Barnes was appointed assistant manager, so continuing until 1898. When E. K. Cornell resigned he was made manager on the Ist of January, 1899, and acted in that capacity until 1905, when he purchased the interest of William Grote and became president of the company. He is now president and man- ager of a business that is capitalized for fifty thousand dollars and he is the majority stockholder in the company. Employment is furnished to about two hundred and fifty hands during the busy season.
The plant was established in 1867 at Geneva and was incorporated in Elgin in 1869 and located on its present site. Today the plant covers about sixty-four thousand square feet floor space. The company has about one thousand acres planted in corn, which is raised for the factory, and about one million, two hundred and fifty thousand cans of corn are annually put up. Their product also includes beans and pumpkins and the output of the Elgin Packing Company is known throughout the country. The house has ever sustained a high standard for the excellence of its product as well as the character of its service to the public. The business is conducted along most methodical lines and has been so carefully managed that there is no waste of time or effort. The greatest cleanliness and orderliness characterizes the
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house and the business is one of the most extensive and important interests of Elgin. It has long since become an excellent income paying property and its high standard is continued under the direction of Mr. Barnes. The factory is situated at the corner of West Chicago and Union streets. In addition to his interest in this property Mr. Barnes owns a large dairy farm of one hundred and fifty acres near McQueen station, about six miles west of Elgin, and also a city residence at No. 225 Hamilton avenue.
In 1898 Mr. Barnes was married to Miss Ida Merrifield, who was born in Brookline. Vermont, in 1876, a daughter of Oscar C. and Marcia A. (Cudworth ) Merrifield, both of whom died in Ottawa, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Barnes have three children, Katharine M., Phyllis J. and George Cudworth.
In his political views Mr. Barnes is a stalwart republican and was a member of the board of education, on which he served for six years, or two terms. He is now serving for the first term as a member of the city council as representative from the seventh ward. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the First Baptist church, in which he is now serving as a deacon and he is equally loyal to the beneficent and humanitarian principles of the Masonic fraternity and Althea Lodge, I. O. O. F. The place which he has won in commercial circles is accorded him in recognition of his skill and ability, and the place which he occupies in the social world is a tribute to that genuine worth and true nobleness of character which are universally recognized and honored.
PROFESSOR FRANK HAVEN HALL.
Professor Frank Haven Hall, state superintendent of the Farmers' Insti- tutes for Illinois, is also one of the best known educators, not only of the middle west but of the entire country, because of what he has done in connec- tion with the education of the blind, having instituted several new methods and devices for the improvement of instruction of that unfortunate class. His work has been of a character as to make him worthy of the gratitude of all who are suffering from blindness and to win for him the admiration of all who appreciate humanitarian effort.
Professor Hall was born at Mechanic Falls, Maine, February 9, 1841. Ilis father, Joseph H. Hall, a native of the Pine Tree state, was a son of Haven Hall, who was likewise born in Maine and was of English lineage. He followed the occupation of farming and married Miss Shurtleff, by whom he had four children: Joseph, Jason, Lorania and Newell. The death of Ilaven Hall occurred at Mechanic Falls, Maine, when he was sixty-eight years of age.
Ilis son, Joseph H. Hall, became a shoe manufacturer of Mechanic Falls and remained in New England until about 1870, when he came west to Earl- ville, Illinois, to look after some land which was there owned by his son. He took up his abode at Serena, where he resided for several years and in 1903
Frank H. Hall.
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came to Aurora, where his death occurred in August, 1906, when he had reached the very venerable age of ninety-three years, seven months and seven- teen days. His wife survived him until November 3, 1907, and lacked but a few days of being ninety-three years of age at the time of her demise. Both were members of the Congregational church. Up to the time of Mr. Hall's death there had not been a death in the family among parents, children nor grandchildren. His wife bore the maiden name of Sophia Valentine and was also a native of Maine. By her marriage she became the mother of a son and daughter. The latter, Charlotte, became the wife of A. T. Armstrong and died in Aurora in July, 1907. Mrs. Joseph H. Hall was a daughter of John Valentine, who was born in Maine and was a nailmaker in early manhood. Later, however, he followed the occupation of farming. He served his coun- try as a soldier in the war of 1812 and died well advanced in years in 1863. while the Civil war was in progress. He had married Miss Brett, who lived to a very old age and their family numbered six children: Sophia; Lowell; Nelson; Elizabeth; Lydia, deceased; and John Valentine, of Denver, Colo- rado. John Valentine, Sr., was one of a family of thirteen children, all of whom were teachers with the exception of himself, and the family history records the fact that one hundred and twenty-eight of its members have been teachers.
Professor Frank H. Hall acquired his preliminary education in the vil- lage school at Mechanic Falls and was early trained to habits of industry and diligence. Desirous for larger intellectual progress, he entered the Maine State Seminary at Lewiston, from which he was graduated in 1862. The Civil war was then being waged and with patriotic ardor he offered his services to the government, becoming a private of Company D, Twenty-third Maine Infantry. During his term of service he was detailed as acting hospital steward in the Army of the Potomac and on the 15th of July, 1863, he was mustered out at Portland, Maine, and received an honorable discharge.
Professor Hall was then admitted as a member of the first class at Bates College, where he remained for less than a year. His entire life has been devoted to teaching. Inherited tendency and natural predilections probably both bore an influence in the choice of his profession, but at all events his choice was a wise one, for time has demonstrated his power and marked abil- ity in this direction. He taught a winter school in 1859 and 1860 at Center Minot, Maine, after which he became principal of the Towle Academy at Winthrop, Maine, where he continued from 1864 until 1866. In that year he came to Illinois, arriving at Earlville about noon on Saturday and the follow- ing Monday he began his labors as principal of the public schools, remaining in charge until 1868. In the latter year he came to Aurora and was principal of the West Aurora public schools until 1875, when he established a farm school in Sugar Grove township known as the Normal and Industrial School. of which he was principal until 1887 or for a period of twelve years. During that same time he was engaged in merchandising, conducted a creamery, car- ried on a lumber business and capably filled the offices of township treasurer, town clerk and postmaster. That he is a man of intense energy is plainly indicated and that his energy is most intelligently directed is proven by the
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fact that he could successfully perform so many varied tasks. His experience developed a knowledge along practical lines that he has brought into use in his lectures in every county in the state of Illinois in connection with the farmers' institute work, of which he is now state superintendent.
Professor Hall, however, did not cease his efforts in connection with the public schools, for in 1887-88 he was principal of the Petersburg public schools, when he returned to Aurora and was superintendent of schools there for two years, after which he received a call to the superintendency of the School for the Blind at Jacksonville. There he remained for eight years under the administration of two governors, serving from 1890 until 1893 and again from 1897 until 1902. In the interim between his two periods of service at Jacksonville he was principal of the public schools of Waukegan, Illinois. In 1868 he had received from Dr. Newton Bateman a life state teacher's certificate and for long years he has been regarded as one of the most able and progressive educators representing the public-school work of the state. When Professor Hall became identified with the School for the Blind he took up the subject of improving the apparatus for teaching the blind. He is the inventor of the Hall-Braille writer and coinventor with Messrs. Harrison and Seifried of the stereotype-maker. These machines are now in use in more than one-half of the schools for the blind in this country, as well as in Australia and many parts of Europe and Asia. The work which Professor Hall has done in this connection is most commendable and the results are most practical. He is the author of many school books, and has devoted much time and thought to mathematics and is the author of a nimm- ber of works upon this subject, especially an arithmetic, of which there are a million now in use in the schools.
On the 23d of July, 1866, was celebrated the marriage of Professor Hall and Miss Sybil Norton, a daughter of William G. and Elmira Norton. There are three children of this marriage. Clyde Haven, the eldest, is operating a farm of two hundred acres in Aurora township in partnership with his father. They milk thirty-four cows with a gasoline engine and do scientific farming and dairying, their property being one of the finest equipped farms in the state. The son married Anna Darnell and they have two children, Clyan Haven and Sybil Norton Hall. Nina M. is the wife of Ralph T. Dodge, a resident of Chicago. Sybil Verne, the youngest member of the family. is the wife of Professor Harry R. Detweiler, one of the proprietors of the Columbia Conservatory of Music in Aurora, and they have two children. Dorothy and Frank Hall Detweiler.
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