USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II > Part 42
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Mrs. McIntyre was born in Elgin, Illinois, April 6, 1887. Her father, William E. Marshall, was born in Kane county and is now sixty-one years old. He obtained his education in the public schools of Elgin. His wife,
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whose maiden name was Agnes McKinnell, was born in Elgin. They are now residents of South Dakota, where they are engaged in farming, and where all of their six children, with the exception of Mrs. McIntyre, live. The five who have their homes in that state are: Charles H .. who is a farmer : Jessie M .. Lucy E .. Mary and Willie C.
Mrs. McIntyre attended the district schools until she reached the age of fifteen. On March 22, 1904, when she was but seventeen, she was married to Ralph A. McIntyre, who was born in Canada and came with his parents to Illinois when he was six years old. He also obtained his education in the district schools, attending them until he was seventeen. The next year he started out in life for himself and some time afterward located at East Plato, where he has general charge of the railroad station and the interests of the road to which it belongs. Two children have been born in the McIntyre household : Hazel W. and Howard A. Mrs. McIntyre has resided in the neighborhood of her present home all her life. She is a resolute and resource- ful woman, thoroughly self-reliant and capable of performing any duty or discharging any responsibility within the range of her faculties with credit to herself and benefit to the service in which she is occupied. She has so demeaned herself in her semi-public capacity and attended to her work therein as to win the approval and commendation of all who had business at the rail- road station and the respect and high consideration of all classes of the people. They know that their interests are well cared for when she has charge of them, and would regret to see any change in the control of the office over which she presides with so much ability, diligence and fidelity.
WILLIAM T. NEEDHAM.
William T. Needham, a successful blacksmith and wagon manufacturer of Kaneville, was born at Lanark, Ontario, Canada, July 4. 1839. His parents, George and Mary (Tanner) Needham, were both natives of Ireland and emigrated to Canada about the year 1810. Their children were as fol- lows: William T., of this review; Samuel J., who follows farming in Bruce, Ontario; James, an agriculturist of North Dakota; Richard, who is also engaged in farming in Bruce, Ontario; and Henry, a farmer of Lanark. Ontario.
William T. Needham attended the public schools until fifteen years of age and subsequently served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade. In 1870 he came to Illinois, locating in Kaneville, where in connection with the conduct of his blacksmith shop he is also engaged in the manufacture of wagons. His building is equipped with all the modern machinery and appli- ances necessary for the successful conduct of a wagon manufactory, including drills, etc., operated by a ten horsepower gasoline engine. He has met with a gratifying measure of prosperity in his undertakings and is widely recognized as one of the substantial and enterprising business men of the county.
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In 1874 occurred the marriage of William T. Needhanı and Miss Martha Benton, whose demise occurred October 24, 1905. By this union there were born the following children: George H., a foreman blacksmith residing near Memphis, Tennessee; Frank W., who is a barber located at Sugar Grove; Warren J., who follows blacksmithing at Aurora, Illinois; Penn T., a black- smith at Maple Park, Illinois; Mary B., at home; Charles S., who assists his father in business; Electa Belle, at home; and Fred B., Albert E. and Alice E., all of whom are attending school.
Politically Mr. Needham is a democrat and has served for two terms as collector of Kaneville township. His fraternal relations connect him with the Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America. Having for thirty-eight years been successfully connected with the industrial interests of Kane county, he is well known and highly esteemed among his business associates, and in social circles has also become popular by reason of his unfailing courtesy and genial disposition.
BENJAMIN F. CARNES.
Benjamin F. Carnes, well known as a representative of industrial inter- ests in Aurora, being foreman of the American Woodworking Machinery Company, is a native of Massachusetts, his birth having occurred at Charles- town, December 27, 1845. His parents were Nathaniel W. and Nancy M. (Fry) Carnes, both of whom were natives of the old Bay State. The father was a cabinetmaker when a young man and in 1849 he went to California by way of New York, prospecting for gold on the Pacific coast. In 1857 he became a resident of Illinois, settling in Chicago and conducting a large saw- mill on the Chicago river near Bridgeport. In 1858 he removed to Geneva and after the great flood he removed to Oswego, Illinois, where he again conducted a sawmill. In 1864 he became a resident of Aurora, where he conducted a cabinet shop, and about 1866 he secured a position as carpenter in the car shops of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company. That he was most faithful and capable is indicated by the fact that he remained in that employ for about twenty-five years, or until he was taken ill. For two years he was in an invalid condition and in 1903 he passed away at the age of eighty-three years. His wife survived him for a short time and was about seventy-five years of age at the time of her demise. Their family numbered four children, two of whom reached manhood, the younger being Morris Washington Carnes, of Aurora.
Benjamin F. Carnes was a youth of eleven years when he came to this city with his parents. He was reared to manhood in Aurora and at the age of eighteen years enlisted in the Fourth Illinois Cavalry as a member of Com- pany C, from Oswego. He served for a little more than two years and held the rank of corporal. He was wounded in the right hand in the battle of Granada, Tennessee, and he participated in a scouting expedition near Natchez. He was also in numerous skirmishes but in no regular pitched battles. After
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the war he returned home and for a time was in the employ of his father. while subsequently he went to work at car-building in the shops of the Chicago. Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company, where he remained for about seven years and during much of the time was engaged on coach work. On leaving that service he entered the grocery business, in which he continued for two years, and subsequently he devoted four years to carpenter work. On the expiration of that period he entered the employ of the Hoyt & Brother Com- panv. a branch of the American Woodworking Machinery Company, has been the millwright there for twenty-seven years and is foreman of the carpenter department. He is an excellent mechanic, thoroughly familiar with all lines of woodwork, and is thus well qualified to take charge of the varied interests which come under his control.
On the 20th of May, 1869. Mr. Carnes was married to Miss Emma F. Messinger, a daughter of Fisher and Rebecca ( Maxey) Messinger, who were natives of Massachusetts and came west to Illinois in 1858, in which year Mr. Messinger built the house that is now occupied by Mrs. Carnes. He was engaged in making carpets in the east and when he came to Aurora manufac- tured baskets, establishing one of the leading productive industries of the city and furnishing employment at one time to twenty-seven men. He died in 1881. at the age of seventy-three years, while his wife survived him until 1906 and was eighty-nine years of age at the time of her death. Their (laughter. Mrs. Carnes, was born at Wrantham, Massachusetts. January 5. 1852. and by her marriage has become the mother of five sons and four daughters, but only three are now living: Charles Frederick, a manufacturer of Aurora of the Fowler-Carnes Company; Albert, who is engaged in mining at Rawhide, Nevada; and Caroline Marion, living at home.
Mr. Carnes belongs to Aurora Post. No. 20. G. A. R., and is a charter member of the Modern Woodmen Camp of that city. His wife is connected with the Woman's Relief Corps and they reside in a fine home at No. 505 Spring street. In politics Mr. Carnes is a republican, but while he has always kept well informed on the questions and the issues of the day and is thus able to support his position by intelligent argument, he has never sought nor desired office as a reward for party fealty. preferring to concentrate his energies upon his business affairs, in which capable management have brought to him good success, as his ability has always enabled him to command lucrative positions.
ABEL D. GIFFORD.
On the list of Elgin's honored dead appears the name of Abel D. Gifford. a man whose intense and well directed activity won him success, while the honorable, straightforward business methods that he followed gained him the entire confidence, good will and respect of all with whom he was brought in contact. He left to his family not only a comfortable competence, but also the priceless heritage of an untarnished name, while his activity in community affairs proved so beneficial in lines of public progress that Elgin felt a distinct
A. D. GIFFORD
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loss when he was called from this life. Mr. Gifford was born in Sherburne, New York, August 9, 1818, a son of Asa and Dinah (Talcott) Gifford, both of whom were natives of the Empire state, where they spent their entire lives.
Abel D. Gifford was reared under the parental roof and in 1837 came west to Illinois, settling on a farm. His entire life was devoted to general agricultural pursuits and in Cook county he owned about three hundred acres of rich and productive land, which he brought under a high state of cultiva- tion, transforming the tract into a splendid farm, which was provided with all of the equipments and accessories of a model farm property. Here, in addition to tilling the soil, he engaged in dairying and made a specialty of sheep-raising, in which connection he became very widely known, having at one time one thousand head of sheep upon his place. He made a close study of the best breeds of stock for this climate and he was quite successful in all departments of his farm work, although his sheep-raising interests perhaps made him most widely known. He was also a director of the Home National Bank of Elgin for a number of years and his name was one which carried weight on commercial paper. He certainly deserved much credit for what he accomplished, for he was a largely self-educated as well as self-made man. He never went to school after he was fourteen years of age, but he realized the necessity and value of education and was always interested in providing good school facilities for the children of this part of the state.
Mr. Gifford was married in 1837 to Miss Harriett Root, a daughter of Dr. Anson Root, and they became the parents of one son, Frank, who died in infancy. The wife and mother passed away after fifteen years of happy mar- ried life and in August, 1855, Mr. Gifford was again married, his second union being with Julia Chappell, a daughter of Harvey M. and Mary Chappell of Elgin. There were three children born of this marriage, but the eldest died in infancy. Clara Louise became the wife of Charles L. Holden, a resident of Elgin, who engaged in business in St. Charles. They have two children : Hazel Harriett and Gifford Merrill. Charles Abel, the surviving son, was living upon the old homestead two and a half miles east of Elgin and is men- tioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. Gifford also reared an adopted son, Ed- ward Gifford, who became a member of his household soon after his first marriage, and he died about 1870, leaving a widow, Mrs. Cora (Ottoway) Gifford and two children. Fred E. and Ada. C .; the daughter is not married, but the son married Della Ward, of St. Charles, and they have three children : Vera, Ruth and Edwin. On the 10th of July, 1893, Mr. Gifford was called upon to mourn the loss of his second wife. His third marriage was with Mrs. Clara F. Whitten, of Atlanta, Georgia, who now survives him.
Mr. Gifford long occupied a very prominent position in Elgin and left the impress of his individuality upon public progress and improvement here. His political support was given to the republican party, and while living upon his farm in Cook county he served as assessor and as sheriff one term. He also filled the positions of county judge and justice of the peace. He be- longed to the Baptist church, was most generous in its support and on one occasion gave two thousand dollars to the church in Elgin in which he held membership. He was also in the early days a most helpful friend of the
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Chicago University and established a scholarship in connection with that institution, which benefited many young men in the acquirement of an educa- tion and qualified them for starting in business. It was a great blow to him when the University ceased to exist. but he lived to see it regain its standing and become one of the greatest educational centers of the entire country. He not only assisted young men in gaining an education, but also liberally aided several in starting in the business world. Few men have realized so fully the duty and obligation which one owes to his fellowmen, or have more fully performed that duty. Whenever he felt that his services could benefit those with whom he came in contact. that service was cheerfully rendered, and with the strongest desire to aid in the promotion of Elgin's interests and the up- building of this part of the state he did everything in his power to further public progress. He lived on his farm for a long period, but in 1889 took up his abode in Elgin, where his remaining days were spent in the enjoyment of well earned rest. until he was called to his final home on the 5th of October. 1905. His public service was largely of a nature that brought to him no pecuniary reward. but he was rich in the respect and good will of his fellow- men and he always valued his own self-respect and the esteem of those with whom he was associated as infinitely more preferable than wealth, fame or position.
LEWIS SYLVESTER.
Lewis Sylvester is numbered among the veterans of the Civil war and in days of peace has been loyal in his citizenship, giving to Aurora a faithful support in upholding those interests which are a matter of civic virtue and civic pride. He is and has been for many years engaged in contractng here and has contributed in substantial measure to the improvement of the city along archi- tectural lines. He was born in Whitehall, Washington county. New York. June 12, 1847.
His father. Frank Sylvester, was a native of Quebec, Canada, and of French descent. He came to the United States when twenty-one years of age and settled in Whitehall, New York, where he engaged in business along mechanical lines. In 1849 he removed westward to Chicago, where he remained until 1851, when he returned to Whitehall. but in 1852 became a resident of Rockford, which was then a country village, giving little promise of rapid development and progress. There he followed his trade of cabinet making for two years, after which he removed to Iowa, where he resided until 1857. He then came to Aurora, where he lived for a short time, after which he went to the South, leaving his son Lewis in Aurora with an uncle, Samuel Lavoy, who had taken up his abode in this city in 1853. After the war the father. Frank Sylvester, returned to the North, settling in Chicago, and in 1872 he came to Aurora. Here he died in 1891 at the age of seventy-eight years. His wife bore the maiden name of Margaret Lavoy and was a native of Montreal. They were married in the Empire state and Mrs. Sylvester passed away in Chicago.
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Lewis Sylvester attended the public schools of Aurora and afterward Icarned the wagon and carriage making trade in Tazewell county, where he continued until 1868. He went to work when little more than eleven years of age and whatever success he has achieved in life is attributable entirely to his own efforts. He early learned that there is no royal road to wealth but found that persistency of purpose and unwearied industry constitute an excel- lent foundation for the acquirement of a competence. He was but fifteen years of age when on the 13th of August. 1862, he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting in the One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Infantry as a member of Company G at Sycamore. He served in Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia and was in all of the engagements with his command, numbering thirteen. These included the battles of Resaca, Kenesaw Mountain, Burnt Hickory, Peach Tree Creek, Atlanta, Averysboro and others. He was mus- tered out at Chicago in 1865 and returned home with a most creditable mili- tary record, having gone through all of the experiences which are usually meted out to a soldier, taking part in the long, hard marches, the weary waiting at winter quarters and in the hotly contested battles where he faced the enemy's fire.
Returning to Aurora, Mr. Sylvester afterward spent several years on a farm in DeKalb county but in 1868 commenced the building and general con- tracting business. In 1874 he took up his abode in Aurora and has since been identified with building interests here. He commenced contracting on his own account in 1882 and has been very successful, the firm of L. Sylvester & Son being well and favorably known here. Many substantial structures of the city are proof of the skill and handiwork and the business ability and capable man- agement of Mr. Sylvester. These include the smelting works and the building of the corset company. He also rebuilt and remodeled the Coulter building and put up the electric power building of the Challenge Manufacturing plant at Batavia and the Kane county poor farm buildings. He has had much work even outside of the state. He was an associate contractor for the Missouri Pacific car shops at Little Rock, Arkansas, with Israel Doan, of Aurora. Thoroughly familiar with all of the scientific principles that underlie building operations, as well as the practical work, he stands today as one of the successful contractors of the city and a liberal patronage is accorded him.
In 1869 Mr. Sylvester was married to Miss Celinda Moreau, a native of Plattsburg, New York, and a daughter of Peter Moreau, a native of Canada. He came to America in 1849 and engaged in the shoe business. His death occurred October 2, 1907, when he had reached the venerable age of eighty- three years, while his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth (Defoe) Moreau, is still living. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sylvester have been born six children: Edmund L .. Archie G., Frank M., and three died in infancy. The eldest son is now junior partner of the firm of L. Sylvester & Son. He is a graduate of the Aurora public schools of the class of 1890 and pursued a course in civil engineering at the state university. He then followed his profession in various places, being for some time with the Armour Company on refrigerator work. In 1896 he commenced business with his father and in 1901 he became a member of the firm. On the 21st of March, 1906, he wedded Gretchen C. Roderich, a
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daughter of Theodore Roderich, a trusted employe of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad for many years.
Mr. Sylvester is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and both he and his son are members of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. while Edmund Sylvester is associated with the Sons of Veterans. The firm is a strong one in Aurora and their business methods are such as will always bear close investigation and scrutiny. Mr. Sylvester early learned that there is no excellence without labor and he has put forth strenuous effort. not only to win success but to give to his patrons full value in good workmanship and reliable materials.
GEORGE LAWSON.
George Lawson, a successful farmer and dairyman of Campton township. is a native of Denmark. He was born July 23. 1859, the son of Peter J. and Mary (Peterson) Lawson, both natives of Denmark and both now deceased. The father served three years in the Danish army. He was a member of the Lutheran church. Unto this union were born four children. namely: Christina, the wife of Jorgen Mortensen, a farmer of Denmark; Anna, the wife of Ford Nelson, the captain of a sailing vessel; Hans C., a farmer residing in Denmark; and George.
George Lawson attended the district schools of Denmark until he was fifteen years of age, receiving the rudiments of a good education. He then became a wage earner, working as a farm hand, with the exception of two years spent in the German army, until he was twenty-five years of age, when he came to America. He first located in Blackberry township, Kane county, where he secured work as a farm hand. He continued working by the month for two years, by which time he had saved enough of his earnings to rent a farm and operate it in his own interests. His progress from this time on has been steadily upward, and he now owns about three thousand dollars worth of personal property. In addition to his dairy interests, he raises hogs quite exten- sively, shipping on an average two carloads per year. His thrift, industry and good judgment insure that in the course of time he will be possessed of a com- petence that will enable him to spend his declining years in ease and comfort.
On June 17, 1884, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Lawson and Miss Helena Rasmussen, who had been his sweetheart from childhood. They came to America on the same boat and were married in Chicago immediately after their arrival in this country. Her father was Rasmus .Rasmussen, a laborer, who was born in Denmark. Mrs. Lawson had five brothers and three sisters, namely : Nils, Andrew and Hans, who are engaged in farming in Kane county ; Christina, the wife of Nels Christensen, a shoemaker of Elburn; George, a merchant of Elburn; Catrina, Rasmus and Mary, deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Lawson have been born four sons and two daughters, of whom George J., Ellen and Hans C. reside at home with their parents: Peter J. is a farmer residing near Elburn; Lizzie is the wife of Jonathan C. Johnson, who resides near Bald Mound ; and Robert is a farm hand of Virgil township.
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Fraternally Mr. Lawson is a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica and of the Court of Honor. He is recognized as an industrious, valuable member of the community and commands the respect of all with whom he has dealings.
FRANK S. MORRILL.
Among the men of Blackberry township who have contributed to the substantial upbuilding and development of this section of the state is num- bered Frank S. Morrill, who has here lived for more than half a century. He now resides in Blackberry township, where he owns and cultivates a tract of land of sixty acres. He was born in Kaneville township, Kane county, Illinois, January 28, 1853.
His father, Frederick Stephen Morrill, was born in 1825 at Strafford, Vermont, and at an early period in the development of this part of the state he purchased five hundred acres of land from the government. Not a furrow had been turned, nor an improvement made upon the place when it came into his possession. He removed to Blackberry township in 1860 and became a prominent and influential resident of the community, not only by reason of his activity and success in agricultural lines, but also owing to the fact that he was a helper, doing valuable service in public lines. He served as justice of the peace and town clerk a number of years and filled the position of postmaster at Blackberry for forty years. During the period of the Civil war when a draft was issued, Mr. Morrill raised sixteen hundred dollars within a few days, with which he hired substitutes. This sum was raised by selling town bonds. He married Miss Lucinda Cleveland, a native of Pike, Allegany county, New York. She came to Illinois with her parents at the age of sixteen years, the family home being established in Kaneville township, Kane county. The death of Frederick S. Morrill occurred in 1897, but his widow still survives and is now living in Blackberry township at the age of eighty years.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Morrill were born the following children: Stephen, deceased ; Bessie B., who became the wife of E. M. Butler and after his death married H. N. Ross; Lucy A., the wife of Robert Ross, a resident of Bartlett, Illinois; Dell B., deceased; Blanche M., the wife of J. G. Norton, a resident of Crome, Illinois ; and Frank S.
The last named attended the district schools until the age of eighteen years, and thinking to find another pursuit more profitable and congenial than that of farming, he began reading law with the firm of White & Garfield, attorneys. While living in the west he saw many buffaloes and also has seen wild pigeons in such droves that the sun was obscured. In the early days of his residence in this county there were still many evidences of pioneer life, but he has lived to see the county transformed into one of the leading counties of this great state. While in Nebraska Mr. Morrill engaged in the practice of law with Judge Lucas, but after three years spent in the west he returned to Illinois in 1876 and afterward began business as a contractor.
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