History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II, Part 33

Author: Joslyn, R. Waite (Rodolphus Waite), b. 1866
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 958

USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II > Part 33

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JOHN AUGUST JOHNSON.

John August Johnson, a successful farmer and dairyman of Virgil town- ship, was born in Linköping, Sweden, July 15, 1835, and attended the schools of his native country until sixteen years of age. On putting aside his text- books he started out in life for himself, having no financial resources but possessing good health and the determination to win success if it could be obtained by honorable effort. At that time the population of Sweden was much congested and as a result wages were exceedingly low. At the age of nineteen years Mr. Johnson was able to secure only twenty crowns (about fifteen dollars) as compensation for an entire year's work.

While waiting at Gothenberg for transportation to America he saw in course of construction the first railroad that was ever built in Sweden. The line was to connect Gothenberg with Stockholm. After a stormy ocean voyage of seven weeks our subject reached New York, and immediately made his way to Chicago, where he was employed at making hay for a few weeks in the suburbs of that city. Subsequently coming to Elburn, he was here en- gaged as a farm hand for five years. Having carefully saved his earnings, he was enabled, on the expiration of that period, to purchase one hundred and thirty-two acres of timber land.

He was married about this time, and the young couple experienced many of the hardships and trials of pioneer life. They found they could not suc- cessfully operate their farm with the small capital which they possessed, so Mr. Johnson once more worked as a hired hand in order to obtain the neces- sities of life. He continued in the employ of others for several years, grad- ually improving his farm as opportunity offered, and when he had accumulated enough capital to justify the step, he started out as an agriculturist on his own account. The large degree of prosperity which has attended his efforts is indicated by the fact that he has placed over five thousands dollars' worth of improvements on his place, expending four thousand dollars in tiling a portion of the land. The success which he now enjoys is but the merited reward of his unremitting toil and unwearied diligence, and his ideal home and model farming property now stand as monuments to his well directed labor and excellent business ability. He operates an extensive dairy in con- nection with his farming interests and is widely recognized as one of the prominent and successful men of the community.

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Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Miss Emma L. Munson, who was born in Sweden, March 2, 1843, and came to America in 1852. To this union were born the following children: John Oscar. a farmer residing near Elburn : Charlotte T., the wife of Albert Anderson, who is engaged in agri- cultural pursuits near Elburn; Frank W., who follows farming near Lafox; and Charles F., who resides at home and assists his father in the operation of the home farm.

In his political views, Mr. Johnson is a stanch republican, and has held some township offices, while for twenty years he has served as school director, the cause of education finding in him a warm friend. He holds membership in the Lutheran church, in the work of which he is actively and helpfully interested. Leaving his native land in order that he might take advantage of the broader opportunities of the new world, he has here worked his way steadily upward, and now in the evening of life can look back over a well spent and honorable career. Having lived in this country for more than a half century, he is largely familiar with the various stages of its growth and development and relates in an interesting manner many incidents and expe- riences of pioneer days.

CARLTON E. STARRETT, M.D.

Dr. Carlton E. Starrett, who for twenty-two years was a representative of the medical fraternity in Elgin, was widely known as a successful prac- titioner and able educator, and at all times kept abreast with the profession in its progress toward that perfection for which the American medical fra- ternity is constantly striving.

The Doctor was born in Alna, Lincoln county, Maine, a son of David and Sarah (Chadwick) Starrett, and with his parents came to the middle west in early boyhood. He was reared and educated in Chicago and in Wheaton College, at Wheaton, Illinois, from which institution he was grad- uated with the degree of Master of Arts in 1887. In 1884 he was graduated from the Bennett Medical College at Chicago and during the following year did editorial work on the Chicago Medical Times. In 1886 he located for practice in Elgin and soon won a liberal patronage here, for in his treatment of complex cases he displayed superior skill in solving the intricate problems that devolved upon him. He pursued a post-graduate course in Rush Medical College in Chicago and in 1893 was graduated therefrom with the degree of M. D. He did considerable work in educational lines, being assistant pro- fessor of physiology in Bennett Medical College in 1884, demonstrator of chemistry in 1885, and professor of materia medica and therapeutics in 1888-89. He was also professor of chemistry and therapeutics in Wheaton College in 1887 and likewise professor of physiology and special therapeutics in the Chicago College of Ophthalmology, in which he was a trustee. He was president of the Cook County Pathological Society, of which he was one of the organizers ; a member of the National Association of Military Suregons ;

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a fellow member of the American Academy; a member of the Chicago Press Club; and also identified through membership relations with various medical societies.

In 1890 Dr. Starrett saw active service in the southwest in the Indian warfare and after that was continuously connected with the National Guard, becoming major surgeon of the Third Regiment Illinois National Guard. During the Spanish-American war he served as assistant surgeon of the Third Illinois Volunteer Infantry and won distinction in the West Indies. On his return he was offered an appointment in the Philippine expedition but declined. He retained his connection with the Third Regiment and at the meeting of the Spanish veterans at Springfield in 1902 he was chosen surgeon general of Illinois. At three different times he was appointed by the governor of the state to represent the Illinois National Guard at the meetings of the national encampments. In 1895 Dr. Starrett spent several months with the British forces on the Nile river-an epoch in his life which was intensely interesting from the standpoint of travel and culture as well as professional advancement. His life was somewhat varied in its character beyond that of most physicians because of his association with military affairs, and his friends-and they were many-found him a social, entertaining and interesting gentleman.

Dr. Starrett's family consisted of his wife, who was Miss Jessie L. Whit- ford, a daughter of Dr. H. K. Whitford, of Elgin, one of the best known physicians of the state, and three children, Carl, Kathleen and David Starrett. The Doctor died May 1, 1908.

JOHN WIER.

John Wier belongs to that thrifty race which is noted for persistent indus- try and for achieving great results in every field of human endeavor. He was born in Germany, July 25, 1852, a son of Henry and Minnie (Lute) Wier, also natives of Germany and descended from long lines of ancestry resident in that country. The father was a farmer, but was devoted to his country and took part in the war of Germany against Denmark in 1848. He is still living in his native land, but his wife is dead. They had three children, John, Henry and Fred, all now farmers in Kane county.

John Wier went to school in Germany until he reached the age of four- teen, then worked on a farm two years. When he was sixteen he came to the United States and, choosing Illinois as his home, located at Elk Grove in Cook county. There he worked on farms until he arrived at twenty-five years of age. At that age he was married to Miss Minnie Bowman, who, like himself, is a native of Germany. They have had nine children, all but one of whom are living and still reside under the parental rooftree. The children living are : Lena, Anna, Clara, John, Alma, Martha, Henry and Arthur ; the one who died was named William.

After his marriage Mr. Wier rented a farm near Hampshire in this county, and on this farm he has had his home since the spring of 1907. The

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farm contains one hundred and seventy acres. It is well cultivated in mixed crops and under Mr. Wier's skillful management is highly productive. In connection with his farming operations he carries on a flourishing dairy busi- ness, milking forty-two cows. In politics Mr. Wier is a republican, and in religion a Lutheran.

SAMUEL EUGENE MILLER.

Samuel Eugene Miller is president of the Miller-Bryant-Pierce Company, manufacturers of typewriter ribbons and supplies at Aurora. He was the founder and promoter of this enterprise, which has become a leading pro- ductive industry of the city and from which he himself has derived substantial benefits. There has been no esoteric phase in his career, his success being gained through close adherence to the rules which govern strict and unswerving integrity and unwearied diligence.

A native son of Illinois, Mr. Miller was born at Hinckley on the 12th of February, 1870. His father. Robert Miller, was a native of Indiana and came to Illinois with his father, Samuel Miller, in his infancy, the year of his arrival being 1834. Samuel Miller acquired the land on which the town of Hinckley now stands, and was one of the earliest residents of this part of the state. Only two years before had the Black Hawk war occurred and there was still many evidences of Indian occupancy in the state. The forests were uncut. the prairies uncultivated and the streams unbridged. In fact. there was little evi- dence of progressive development and it seemed that many years would pass before Illinois would be settled and become a center of learning and of indus- trial, commercial and agricultural progress. The Miller family, however. became factors in the early development. Robert Miller was reared to the occupation of farming and made that pursuit his life work, but in 1889 retired from the farm and took up his abode in Aurora, where he died in September. 1905, at the age of seventy-two years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Maria Coster, and was a native of New York, is now living in Aurora.

Samuel Eugene Miller pursued his education in the public schools of Hinck- ley, in Dixon College and in the Jennings Seminary of Aurora. pursuing shorthand and commercial courses in the two last named institutions. He was thus well qualified for a business career and he entered the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company as private secretary to the general passenger agent. He afterward occupied a similar position with the division superintendent of the Pullman Company, but desirous of engaging in business for himself, he eagerly watched for available opportunities and at length feeling that there was a good opening for the manufacture of typewriter ribbons, carbon paper and other supplies, in 1896 he established business in this line under the name of the Miller & Carter Manufacturing Company, with plant and offices in Aurora. The partners had very little capital and their stock was a most modest one, for they had less than one thousand dollars at their command. The first year their receipts were extremely small but Mr. Miller

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had confidence, ability and determination and the result shows that his con- fidence was well placed. The business has since enjoyed great growth and phenomenal success. He regarded the quality of his supplies as the best advertisement and utilized every available means to place his goods upon the market, knowing that when once introduced they would have a ready sale. In 1906 the business was incorporated as the Miller-Bryant-Pierce Company, but in a short time both Mr. Bryant and Mr. Pierce retired and now Mr. Miller owns virtually the entire stock of the company, the success of which is attrib- utable in very large measure to his keen foresight and indefatigable energy. The trade is now very extensive, covering the entire United States, with branches in New York, St. Louis, Chicago and San Francisco. They also enjoy a large European trade and sell in India, Japan and Australia, and, in fact, wherever the typewriter is used. No week passes without many orders being shipped to foreign countries. At the beginning they employed only four or five operatives in the factory, but now they employ thirty-five or forty and use the most improved machinery in the manufacture of supplies. Each employe is today able to do as much under modern conditions and with the machinery now in use as twelve people could formerly do. The company also has a number of representatives on the road, both in this country and abroad.

In 1896 Mr. Miller was married to Miss Meda Jones, a native of Mendota, Illinois, and they have two children: Marjorie, born October 31, 1899; and Barbara, born February 9, 1904. Mr. Miller is recognized as one of the progressive young men of the city, of substantial qualities, of laudable ambition and firm purpose. He is a popular manufacturer and business man, having the esteem and good will of his colleagues and his associates. Fraternally he is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 705.

NELS PETERSON.

Nels Peterson, a prosperous farmer and dairyman residing in Campton township, three miles northeast of Elburn, where he owns and operates a farm of one hundred and seventy acres, is a native of Sweden, born December II, 1857, and from that country he emigrated to America in 1882.

He was born and reared on a farm and attended the district schools of his native land until at the age of nine years he was taken from school to aid his father in the work of the farm. He remained under the parental roof until twenty-five years of age, when he determined to seek his fortune in America. and booked his passage for this country. Arriving here he first located near Geneva, Illinois, and later removed to Wasco, where he worked as a farm hand for ten years, all this time saving his earnings as best he could with the ultimate object of buying a farm of his own. Eventually he was enabled to secure title to his present farm, and with renewed energy he undertook the work of establish- ing it on a paying basis and of paying his indebtedness. The investment proved a most fortunate one, as his crops yielded him good returns, so that he is now

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entirely out of debt and derives an income from his property that has placed him in a position of independence. The place is well improved, has a fine orchard on it, and is well watered, the water showing strong indications of minerals, iron principally abounds and the well near the residence shows strong indications of sulphuretted hydrogen. About fifty acres of the land is rolling and covered with timber. Mr. Peterson now keeps a herd of forty cows and is engaged in the dairy business.

In 1887 occurred the marriage of Mr. Peterson and Miss Hannah John- son. who is also a native of Sweden. Unto this union have been born three children: Edward. Albert T. and Anna E. All reside at home with their parents.

In politics Mr. Peterson supports the republican party, and religiously he is a member of the Lutheran church. He deserves the utmost credit for the success to which he has attained in life, as when he landed in America he had but five dollars and his success is entirely due to his own efforts and habits of thrift, industry and perseverance.

GEORGE CHRISTOPHER YATES.

The first born of eight children in his father's family, and the son of an active practitioner of veterinary surgery in the early days when a man of that profession was in great demand and obliged to practice over a very wide extent of country. George Christopher Yates had many homes in his childhood and youth and became familiar with many different parts of this, his native state. He was born near Bloomington. Illinois, on October 12, 1862, and is the son of Christopher and Almira ( Beals) Yates. Both were born in New York state, the father in Montgomery county, December 25. 1837, and the mother in Yates county, December 3. 1842. The father was a skillful and successful veterinary surgeon and his services as such were in great demand. The almost countless calls on him for professional work obliged him to keep on the move in his early life, and as he always took his family with him. they had for a time no settled abiding place. This accounts for the numerous birth- places of his children, who were: George Christopher ; William Edward, who was born in Kendall county, this state, March 12, 1866, and is now farming in Edmunds county. South Dakota : Albert LeRoy, born in Livingston county, Illinois, March 21, 1868, and now a successful veterinarian at Dwight. in that county ; Nellie M., who was born in Iroquois county, Illinois, March 29, 1872. and is now living on a farm in Sugar Grove township, this county, with her husband. John Perkins : Bert Q., born October 16, 1874, in Iroquois county. who now lives in Aurora: Harry, who was born in Kankakee county. Illinois. July 2, 1877, and is now deceased; Alice, who was born in Livingston county, August 27. 1879. and married William Neel, a farmer in Saline county. Nebraska, near the village of Tobias; and Lefa A., who was born October 9. 1881. in Livingston county, the wife of Fred Neel. and now living on the farm of her husband in the vicinity of Tobias. Nebraska. Christopher Yates.

MR. AND MRS. GEORGE C. YATES

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the father of these children, died November 17, 1892, aged fifty-four years, ten months and seventeen days.

George C. Yates obtained a common school education of limited extent, owing to the circumstances and migrations of the family in his youth. At the age of twenty-one he hired himself out to work as a farm hand, first in Livingston county and afterward in Kane county, and ever since then he has been engaged in farming, although, like his father, he has been somewhat migratory, and followed his chosen pursuit in different places.

The important event of his marriage occurred on October 29, 1888, when he was united with Miss Candace Estella Breese, a daughter of Lysander C. and Susan H. (Wormley) Breese. She was born May 9, 1864, on the farm in Aurora township which is now the home of herself and her family. It has been in the Breese family for three-quarters of a century, and she is the rep- resentative of the fourth generation in direct descent from Samuel and Betsey Ann (Smith) Breese, its first possessors, in the ownership and occupancy of it. Her parents were married February 25, 1854. The father was born October 29, 1824, and when a child was brought to this farm by his mother. On it he grew to manhood and passed the remainder of his days, dying here April 29, 1893. He was widely and favorably known in Kane and Kendall counties, and enjoyed great popularity. Being a great lover of the horse, he made a study of this noble beast, and became an acknowledged authority on all subjects of interest connected with it, his judgment being universally deferred to. An upright and conscientious man, he was true and faithful in all the relations of life. He was also a shrewd and successful business man. Mrs. Lysander Breese was born June 23. 1830, at Painted Post, New York. She was the daughter of John and Deborah ( Winans) Wormley, and went with her parents to Oswego, Kendall county, Illinois, in 1838. She and her hus- band became the parents of four children : Candace Estella, now Mrs. George Yates; Mary E., now Mrs. Robert Hadley, of Montgomery, this county ; and Helen Edwina and Elsie, who died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Yates have had seven children : Florence A., who was born August 21, 1889, and Helen Irene, born November 25, 1890, both at home; Harry Breese, who was born July 27, 1892, and now assists his father in carrying on the farm; Susan Maud, born August 27, 1895; Gladys Irma, born May 15, 1900; Nellie May, born September 27, '1902; and William Cuthbert, who was born July 17, 1904, and died April 1I, 1906. The older children were born in Kane county and the three youngest in South Dakota. Florence, the oldest daughter, has attended the East Aurora high school, and all the others are or will be well educated.

In 1899 Mr. Yates moved his family to Edmunds county, South Dakota, where he bought a farm of three hundred and twenty acres, which he still owns. He remained in that state and farmed his land six years, but in the spring of 1905 returned to Kane county, and, after living a year in Mont- gomery, moved to the old homestead of the Breese family, which became the property of his wife at the death of her parents. This farm contains seventy- three acres of exceptionally fine land and is well improved. It is one of the most attractive and valuable country homes in Aurora township, and will

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not suffer in appearance or condition under the management of Mr. Yates, who is conceded to be a skillful and judicious husbandman and is very industrious and intelligent in conducting his farming operations. He has followed farm- ing all of his mature life, and during his residence in South Dakota also engaged in raising shorthorn cattle.

In politics Mr. Yates is a republican. He is earnest and zealous in his citizenship. accepting its duties with cordiality and performing all its obliga- tions with intelligence and uprightness. He served ten years as school director and manifested great interest in the cause of public education and great energy in promoting it. Mrs. Yates is also a determined advocate of the cause. She is well educated herself and wishes all others to be. She began her education in the district schools, continued it at the East Aurora high school and completed it at Jennings Seminary, which she attended one year. The family are truly representative of the best American citizenship and well worthy of the high esteem in which they are held.

RALPH H. HARDY.

Ralph H. Hardy, who is the efficient manager of a general mercantile store in Kaneville, was born at Strafford, Vermont. August 9. 1869. His father. Hiram T. Hardy, is a native of North Groton, Grafton county, New Hampshire, where his birth occurred March 12. 1838. He received a com- mon-school education in his native town and subsequently served an appren- ticeship of one year at the shoemaker's trade. When about twenty-two years of age he became a student at the academy in Thetford, Vermont, and soon afterward began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. E. C. Worces- ter. The winter of 1861 he devoted to teaching school in Post Mills, Vermont. but in June, 1862. he volunteered in defense of the Union cause, enlisting in the Seventh Squadron, or what was known as "Sprague's Squad- ron of Rhode Island Cavalry." for three months. While in this commnad he participated in the Shenandoah Valley campaign and in the battle of Antie- tam. On the expiration of his first term of enlistment he returned to Thetford, renewed his medical studies, and in the fall of the following year attended a course of lectures at Dartmouth College. The war still continuing. he reenlisted in October. 1863. for three years, or during the war, in the Third Battery Vermont Light Artillery under the well-known Captain Stout. He served on detail a part of the time as hospital steward and also took part in the siege of Petersburg and the battle of the Wilderness. He partici- pated in many of the engagements during the years 1863. 1864 and 1865, and was present at the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. He was honorably dis- charged from service at the close of the war and was mustered out June 15. 1865. He then returned to Thetford and completed his studies at Dartmouth College, where he was graduated as a physician and surgeon, October 31, 1866. and soon afterward began practice at Strafford, Vermont. Here he remained until April, 1871, when he came to Illinois, sojourning, however.

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but a short time, and finally located in Nebraska. He practiced there only until the spring of 1872 and then returned to Illinois, locating at Elgin. In October, 1873, he moved to Kaneville, where he has resided up to the present · time, meeting with gratifying and well-merited success as a medical practitioner.

On the 12th of March, 1868, Dr. Hardy was married to Sophia E. Buzzell, a native of Strafford, Vermont, born January, 28, 1848. This union has been blessed with three children: Ralph H., of this review; Mabel, de- ceased; and Adra Genevieve. In politics Dr. Hardy is a republican, while his religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. He has served as school directof in Kaneville for ten years and his fraternal relations connect him with the Modern Woodmen of America, the Mystic Workers, the Yeomen and the Royal Knights.

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History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II, Part 33

Author: Joslyn, R. Waite (Rodolphus Waite), b. 1866 Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 958

Author: Joslyn, R. Waite (Rodolphus Waite), b. 1866
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 958