USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II > Part 38
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WILLIAM A. BEITH.
Among the progressive and enterprising agriculturists of Campton town- ship is numbered William A. Beith, who was born in Campton. this county, September 1. 1878, and is a son of George A. and Lucinda (Richmond ) Beith, of whom extended mention is made in the sketch of Robert E. Beith on another page of this volume. Upon the home farm our subject grew to manhood and he attended the Stewart district school until fifteen years of age. For three years he was a student in the Elburn high school, from which he was graduated and then entered Wheaton College, where he pursued a classical course, and was graduated from that institution in 1903. receiving the degree of A. B.
Sickness in the family of his brother then forced him to return home, and he has since devoted his time and energies to agricultural pursuits. He resides in a very beautiful country home, surrounded by fine shade trees, and there is a splendid spring upon the place which affords water the year round for his herds of stock. The farm is conveniently located three miles north- east of Elburn and is a part of the magnificent five hundred acre estate belong- ing to his father. He is interested in dairying and keeps thirty cows for that purpose.
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In 1905 Mr. Beith was united in marriage to Miss Grace A. Sutor, who was born in Chicago and received her education in the public schools of that city. Her father, John F. Sutor, now resides in Clyde, Illinois, and is engaged in the real-estate business. Mr. Beith is a man of studious habits and is a great reader, being thoroughly familiar with the best literature. In politics he is a stanch prohibitionist, and as a public-spirited and progressive citizen he gives his support to every enterprise which he believes will advance the intellectual, moral and social welfare of the community in which he resides.
JOSEPH INGHAM.
Joseph Ingham was born in Sugar Grove township, Kane county, October 18, 1839, and was, therefore, a representative of one of the oldest families of this part of the state. Comparatively few settlements had been made in Kane county when his parents, Samuel S. and Nancy (Owens) Ingham, located here. The Black Hawk war had been successfully fought a few years before and established the supremacy of the white race in the central Mississippi valley, but much of the land was still in possession of the gov- ernment and the population was exceedingly sparse when compared with the numbers that are today residing in Kane county. Through the period of his boyhood and youth Joseph Ingham experienced many of the hardships and trials incident to frontier life and as the years passed he won for himself a prominent place in the regard and respect of his fellowmen.
His paternal grandfather. Joseph Ingham, was a native of New York and died in 1853 at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. He was twice married, his first wife being Sallie Star, and their children included Samuel S. Ingham. The second wife bore the maiden name of Dollie Barnes.
Samuel S. Ingham was born in Oneida county, New York, May 24, 1801, was descended from English ancestry and was reared to manhood in his native village of Steuben. He served as a colonel in the New York state militia, and at forty years of age he wedded Miss Nancy Owens, who was of Welsh lineage. Her father died when his children were small, so that little is known concerning the history of the family. In the year 1839 Samuel S. Ingham started westward, reaching Sugar Grove township, Kane county, Illinois, on the 18th of June. There he took up a large tract of land, bidding in for a number of neighbors before the land sales. In the course of years, he improved a valuable farm of three hundred and forty acres, which is still undivided and is now the property of John Ingham and Mrs. Joseph Ingham, who inherited her husband's share. It was upon that farm that Samuel Ingham passed away March 17, 1864, at the age of sixty-three years. His wife was born in Steuben, Oneida county, New York, January 16, 1822, and passed away in Aurora, July 2, 1879, at the age of fifty-seven years. They were both Universalists in religious faith and were most earnest workers in the church. Their family numbered five
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children who reached years of maturity : Joseph ; Squire U. ; John O .; Adaline C., the wife of Burt Spencer ; and Hattie, who died when sixteen years of age.
Joseph Ingham, whose name introduces this record, was reared in Sugar Grove township upon the old home farm where his birth occurred. There he was married and died. He attended Lombard University at Galesburg. Illinois, and was a schoolmate of the Hon. Edward Conger, who was later minister to China during the Boxer uprising. In 1861 Mr. Ingham responded to the country's call for aid. enlisting in Company I, Thirty-sixth Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, while later he became a cavalryman. He served for four years and was wounded in camp by the accidental discharge of a revolver. He was commissary sergeant and at one time was aid to General Grant. He participated in the siege of Vicksburg and in many of the important battles of the war, making a most creditable military record, his loyalty nor his valor never being called into question.
On his return from the war Mr. Ingham resumed the occupation of farming on the old homestead, his father having died in the previous March. On the 4th of November, 1869, Mr. Ingham was married to Miss Elizabeth Stickland, a daughter of George and Olive ( Sheldon) Stickland. Her birth occurred in Aurora on the present site of the Hotel Evans, Setpember 28, 1840, and she has been a resident of Kane county continuously since with the exception of a period of eleven years spent near Nashua, Iowa. Her father, George Stickland, was born in Bristol, England, in 1816, came to the United States in 1830 and learned the wagon-maker's trade at Skaneateles, New York. Her mother was born at Chambly in lower Canada and when a young lady, came to the United States with a married sister, settling in Illinois. Her parents arrived several years later and took up their abode in Chicago when it was a mere hamlet. In early manhood George Stickland removed westward to Chicago and early in 1839 came to Aurora, where he was married. Here he formed a partnership with John Hall for the manufacture of wagons and he afterward worked for the McCollums. In 1857 he went to Iowa and settled in Chickasaw county near Nashua, where he died in Jan- uary, 1860, at the age of forty-four years. His wife survived him until 1883 and was sixty-five years of age at the time of her death. They were the parents of nine children: Mrs. Ingham: Emeline, deceased, who was the wife of James Thurman; Edward A., of Preston, Iowa; Frances, who resides at Cedar Rapids and is the wife of James Thurman, whom she married after her sister's death : George A., of Moline, Illinois: Esther, the wife of George Griffin, of Creston. lowa : Sarah, the wife of Henry Perry, residing near Cres- ton, Iowa; Fanny, the wife of Clark Griffin, of Creston, Iowa; and Robert R. Stickland, of Juno. North Dakota. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Ingham were Joseph and Mary (Tucker) Stickland, while the maternal grandparents were Charles and Sallie (Sawyer) Sheldon. The latter was a native of Vermont, while Mr. Sheldon was the first white child born in Oneida county, New York. He was a farmer by occupation and became an early resident of Aurora, where he once owned what is known as the Downer Place addition.
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The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Ingham was blessed with five chil- dren, but two died in infancy : Samuel S., the eldest married Charlotte Fischell and is farming his mother's share of the old homestead. Sarah is the wife of Myron J. Tarbel, of Aurora, and they have one son living, Herbert Tarbel. Mildred is a bookkeeper in Chicago. The death of the husband and father occurred September 6, 1907, when he was sixty-eight years of age and was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, not only to his immediate family but also to many friends. He was active in politics and was assessor of his township for nine years. He was also the first recorder of deeds of the county and at one time was president of the Kane County Farmers' Institute. He belonged to Aurora Post, No. 20. G. A. R., and at all times was as loyal in his citizenship as when he followed the stars and stripes upon southern battle- fields. His honesty of intent and purpose were never called into question and such was the appreciation for his sound judgment on the part of his fellowmen that his advice was frequently sought and was always freely given. He lived to see remarkable changes in the county as it emerged from pioneer conditions and took on all of the evidences of modern civilization. He aided in its development along agricultural lines and through the careful conduct of his business affairs won a goodly measure of success. His widow now resides in Aurora, and, like Mr. Ingham, is widely and favorably known in the county.
ERIC MARCUS ABRAHAMSON.
Eric Marcus Abrahamson, who has been engaged in the hardware busi- ness in Lily Lake since November 2, 1902. was born September 2, 1872, and is a son of Carl Jacob Abrahamson, who came to this country from his native land, Sweden. in 1883, bringing his family with him. He first located in Sycamore and turned his attention to farming, working for others until he familiarized himself with American methods. He later returned to St. Charles and he followed farming for some years with such success that he is now living retired. He is a republican in politics, and is a faithful and consistent member of the Lutheran church. He is the father of five children, namely : Carl A. and E. Matilda. deceased; Manda, the wife of William Andrews : Anna, who resides at home ; and Eric Marcus, of this review.
Eric Marcus Abrahamson is indebted to the district schools of Plato township for his education. After completing his schooling he returned to the farm and assisted his father in its management for the next few years, or up to the time of his marriage, when he engaged in farming in his own interests. He followed this vocation until 1902, when he opened up the hardware busi- ness in Lily Lake. He handles a complete line of hardware, including pumps. windmills and plumbers' supplies, of which he makes a specialty.
On February 15. 1901. was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Abrahamson and Miss Margarette H. Powers, who was born June 23, 1879. She was one of a large family, namely : Mary Ellen. the wife of James McCarthy, who
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resides in Delta county: John, who is in the employ of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad; Catherine E., the wife of Fred. Durocher ; Delia C., the wife of George Londis : Michael C., who is a railroad employe ; Margarette H., the wife of our subject : Edward William; Florence, the wife of V. Sand- ers : Anna, the wife of Marshall Forest; Loretta, the wife of Gerald Gallagher ; and Thomas, at home Mr. and Mrs. Abrahamson have become the parents of one daughter. Irena M., born AAugust 27, 1906.
In his political views Mr. Abrahamson is a stalwart republican. He is a public-spirited citizen, and his cooperation can be counted upon in every movement which tends to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of the community.
WILLIAM RAMSAY.
William Ramsay, a well known representative of the hotel interests of Elgin, is a self-made man, who has worked his way upward from a humble financial position to one of affluence and is now proprietor of the Burns Hotel and the Ramsay House, adjoining hotel properties, which have a liberal patronage. He was born in Dufftown, Scotland, in 1865. a son of Peter and Margaret ( Stuart ) Ramsay, both of whom were natives of Scotland. The father is a farmer, and is still living in the land of hills and heather, but the mother is now deceased.
The son acquired his education in the schools of his native town, and. entering business life, was employed in Edinburgh until twenty-two years of age. Ambitious for opportunities which would bring him success, he resolved to come to America, attracted by the favorable reports which he had heard concerning the business conditions and advantages of the new world. He landed at New York with only one hundred and forty dollars in his pocket. and part of this was expended in making the trip to Elgin. whither he came immediately, arriving in the spring of 1887. AAlthough without capital, he possessed a resolute spirit and unfaltering determination, nor was he afraid of work. He secured a situation with James Fitchie on a farm, where he remained for only a short time. He then returned to the city and entered the employ of Theodore F. Swan, with whom he continued until March. 1890. He then formed a partnership with Mr. Swan as a dealer in saddle horses and continued therein for two years, when he bought out Mr. Swan's interest and carried on the livery business for several years longer.
When he disposed of his interests in that line he had accumulated con- siderable capital, and embarked in the liquor business, with which he has now been connected for fourteen years. He has, however, not confined his atten- tion to one line of trade, but has branched out into other fields and in April. 1898, he leased the Burns Hotel and three years later purchased the hotel. which contains fifty-two rooms. In 1905 he began the erection of the Ramsay House, which adjoins the Burns Hotel and which was completed in October, 1906. It contains thirty-five rooms and is three stories in height. The fact that Mr. Ramsay was enabled to purchase the Burns Hotel and to erect
WILLIAM RAMSAY
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the Ramsay House is an indication that his business has been constantly growing and is very successful. He displays excellent executive ability in carrying on his interests and at the same time is a popular, genial host, who wins many friends among his patrons.
Mr. Ramsay was married to Miss Mary Alexander, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, whose father was a prominent citizen of Elgin for a number of years, but is now living in Chicago. Two children have been born of the marriage, Margaret Sadie and William. Mr. Ramsay is connected with the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, but has had little time for outside interests, as his energies have been concentrated entirely upon the upbuilding of the business, which has grown in volume and importance, making him one of the prosperous residents of his adopted city. He has never had occasion to regret his determination to come to the United States, for here he found the opportunities which he sought and in their improvement has gained a gratifying competence.
CLYDE C. SHAW.
Clyde C. Shaw, a prosperous and progressive farmer residing in Campton township, where he has charge of the family estate, was born in this county October 4, 1873, the son of Comfort H. and Lovina (Cain) Shaw. His father was a native of New York, where he was born in 1835 and where he passed the days of his youth and early manhood. In 1869 he came to Illinois and located in Campton township, where he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty-two acres of land. This was the family home for twenty-seven years, or until 1898, during which year Mr. Shaw located in St. Charles, where he remained until the time of his death, which occurred in March, 1899. His wife still survives and spends most of her time with our subject. Three children were born of this union, namely: Clyde C .; Ida N., deceased; and Ella D., the wife of Ray Blackman, a resident of Chemung, Illinois, where he is superintendent of a condensed milk factory. In politics Mr. Shaw was a republican and religiously was a member of the Methodist church, as is his estimable wife.
Clyde C. Shaw attended school in his home district until he was ten years of age, when he entered the graded schools of St. Charles, graduating there- from at the age of sixteen. He then entered the Oak street high school, of Aurora, from which he was graduated two years later and then returned to the parental roof, assuming the management of the farm and relieving his father of the active duties connected therewith. Under his successful man- agement the place has developed into an ideal country home. It is most pleasantly situated on the St. Charles and De Kalb road, a route that was traversed by the tourists in their "round the world" automobile trip in 1908.
In March, 1898, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Shaw and Miss Allis Linington, who had been his schoolmate at the Aurora high school.
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Mrs. Shaw is the daughter of George Linington, a carpenter and contractor of Aurora, in which city she was born August 24, 1874. Unto this union have been born three children, Glenn C., Oren L., and Lovina L.
Mr. Shaw is not identified with any particular political party but casts his ballot in favor of those candidates whom he believes best qualified to fill the office. Fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and the Court of Honor. Both he and his estimable wife are members of the Methodist church.
HARRY H. WHEELER.
Harry H. Wheeler, who is a successful farmer and breeder of registered stock, his farm being located on section 24, Virgil township, was born on the 25th of August, 1878. His parents are Hinton and Orrissa (Reed) Wheeler, the former born at Warrenville, Illinois, July 16, 1841, while the latter's birth occurred March 17, 1858, within sight of the present home of our subject. The father served for eighteen months in the Union army as a member of the Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry, participating in the important engagements at Chickamauga and Nashville. After the cessation of hostili- ties he removed to Chicago, where for five years he conducted a hotel. Thence coming to Elburn, Illinois, he here operated a rented farm for a few years until he had accumulated capital sufficient to purchase a farm of one hundred and twelve acres, three and a half miles northwest of Elburn, subsequently giving his attention to its further cultivation and development. He is now, however, living retired and the old home farm is now owned and operated by his son, Harry H. Wheeler. The latter has two sisters: Olivia C .. the wife of W. C. Drummond, of Spirit Lake, lowa, who is now serving as county clerk, and Emma, the wife of E. R. Youmans, who resides in Chicago and is a locomotive engineer for the Northwestern Railroad.
Harry H. Wheeler attended the district school until fifteen years of age and then entered Dixon College at Dixon, Illinois, being graduated from the business department of that institution. He afterward learned the carpenter's trade in order that he might more profitably carry on the business of contract- ing and building, which he followed for four years. On the expiration of that period he returned to his father's farm, which he later purchased and on which he has made his home to the present time. He has gained an enviable and creditable measure of success in the raising of registered stock, having a large number of registered English Dorsetshire sheep, which were awarded the first prize at the Iowa State Fair and second prize at the Illinois State Fair. He also has an extensive breed of Chester White hogs, which have been exhibited at many county fairs and never failed to receive the blue ribbon. He also deals extensively in poultry, exhibiting his White Leghorn chickens, White Holland turkeys and White Embden geese at all county fairs and poultry shows. His motto is: "A thoroughbred eats less than a scrub and sells for much more." The success which he has achieved is but the merited
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reward of his well-directed labor and enterprise and he is now widely recog- nized as a most prominent and prosperous agriculturist and stock breeder of the county.
On the 2nd of October, 1900, Mr. Wheeler was united in marriage with Miss Margaret M. Young, who was born in Kane county, but later removed with her mother to Chicago, completing her education in the public schools of that city. She is also a graduate of the Chicago Musical College. Like her husband, she is widely known throughout the community and has gained an extensive circle of warm friends here.
W. H. HEALY.
W. H. Healy, who, since January 1, 1891, has been numbered among the business men of Aurora, and is now senior partner of the firm of W. H. & A. N. Healy, undertakers, is a native of Massachusetts, his birth having occurred at Southbridge, that state, August 19, 1853. His father, W. H. Healy, was born in Worcester county, Massachusetts, and for many years engaged in the hotel business and in milling interests in the East, but feeling that the opportunities of the West were superior to those on the Atlantic coast, he made his way to Muscatine county, Iowa, in 1854, influenced in his choice of a destination by the fact that he had a number of relatives living there. He remained west of the Mississippi for a year and in 1855 took up his abode in Kendall county, Illinois, where he purchased a tract of land and began farming. There he tilled the soil for about nine years, when, in 1864, he sold that property but purchased another farm in the same town- ship. For twenty years he cultivated it, bringing the fields under a high state of improvement and development and annually gathering therefrom rich crops which, when placed upon the market, brought to him a gratifying return for his labor. In 1884, however, he put aside the plow and removed to York- ville, where he resided in the enjoyment of well-earned rest until his death on the Ist of June, 1895, when he was seventy-five years of age. In early manhood he had wedded Diantha L. Lyon, a native of Lawrence, Massachu- setts, and a cousin of General Lyon, of Civil war fame. Mrs. Healy passed away some years prior to her husband's death, dying on the 26th of October, 1867, at the age of forty-five years. In 1871 Mr. Healy was again married, his second union being with Mrs. Louisa Baker, of Massachusetts.
Brought to the Mississippi valley in his infancy, W. H. Healy was largely reared in Kendall county, where he pursued a district-school educa- tion. When not busy with his text books he worked in the fields, aiding in the plowing, planting and harvesting and when his education was completed he devoted several years to farm work. The opportunities in other business lines, however, proved alluring and he turned his attention to the agricultural implement business, working for one of the leading firms in that line. Nat- urally ambitious to engage in business on his own account, he saved his earnings until his diligence and careful expenditure brought him capital
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sufficient to enable him to engage in the furniture and undertaking business in February. 1886, with Robert N. Newton. On January 1. 1891. he came to Aurora and here continued in the same line of trade, but in September. 1895, sold his interest in the furniture business to his partner. M. M. Pierce, while he purchased Mr. Pierce's interest in the undertaking business. He was then alone for about ten years, or until 1901. when his brother. A. N. Healy, joined him under the firm style of W. H. & A. N. Healy. They have been very successful, being leading undertakers of the city and widely recognized as enterprising business men.
On the 13th of February. 1879. Mr. Healy was married to Miss Eliza- beth L. Palmer and their union has been blessed with a daughter, Ruth. Mr. Healy belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and many other fraternal orders, and is also connected with the Chamber of Commerce. He attends the First Baptist church and is a republican in politics. He is a man of resolute spirit, carry- ing forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes and the pros- perity he has achieved is attributable entirely to his own well-directed labor. He is well known in this part of the state, where almost his entire life has been passed and the qualities which have made him popular are such as win confidence and command esteem in every land and clime.
WILLIAM THOMAS OAKE, M. D.
Dr. William Thomas Oake is devoting his time and energies to the practice of medicine and surgery at Elburn and by constant study and re- search he keeps in touch with the onward march of the profession. He was born in Clinton county, Iowa, February 24, 1871. His parents emigrated to America in 1842 and settled in the county where Dr. Oake was born. The father served as a private in the Civil war, enlisting when but eighteen years of age. He was under command of Generals Sherman and Logan and was with the former on the celebrated march to the sea. Many times in the thickest of the fight, he was wounded at Fort Donelson and was captured and taken to Libby prison, where he remained for three months before he was exchanged. After the war he returned to the north and for many years has made his home in Iowa. He is now living at Sabula, that state, where he is engaged in the insurance business, and during the administration of President Harrison he served as postmaster of the town. He wedded Miss Mary Ann Barrick, whose father came from England in company with the elder Peacock, the prominent jeweler of Chicago, and purchased ten acres of land lying between what is now Halsted and Green streets. At length he sold his property there and removed with his family to Clinton county. Iowa. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Oake were born the following named: Richard L., who engaged in the lumber business in the state of Washington and died Feb- ruary 6. 1908; George W., proprietor of a meat market at Prosser,
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