USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II > Part 46
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"Headquarters Dept. of the Tennessee. "Holly Springs, Miss., Dec. 2, 1862.
"Sgt. Douglas of Independent Cavalry attached to the 36th Regiment of Ill. Vols., a paroled prisoner of war, is authorized to go to Chicago to await his exchange, reporting by letter to the commanding officer at Benton Barracks, Missouri.
"U.S. Grant, "Maj. Gen."
In February. 1863, he was ordered by General Stanton, secretary of war, to go to Benton Barracks, Missouri, where he was made postmaster of the barracks and later made sergeant major of the barracks under Colonel B. L. E. Bonneville, one of the famous generals of the Indian wars. In August 1863, he rejoined his company at Port Hudson, Louisiana, and thence to New Orleans, where he was discharged for disability caused by injury from the fall of his horse. Early in 1864 he reentered the employ of the government in the engineering forces in New York harbor and was engaged in rebuilding the forts at Sandy Hook untill the fall of 1866. Throughout the whole of his active career at this period of his life his thoughts ever recurred to the peace and tranquillity of his father's old homestead, and here he returned in the fall of 1866 and took up his permanent abode, dividing his time between his old home and the city of Aurora, but a short distance away.
His marriage occurred on the 11th day of March, 1873, when he wedded Miss Mary L. Brockway, daughter of Luri and Harriet ( Stewart ) Brockway, who died in 1900. In 1903 Mr. Douglas was united in marriage to Miss Lucinda Brockway. Both are members of the People's church.
Mr. Douglas has ever taken an active interest in civic affairs, having served one term as highway commissioner and for fifteen consecutive years was township assessor. In 1896 he removed from his country place to Aurora, his business interests being such as to require his presence there.
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Here he was elected president of the Aurora Silver Plate Manufacturing Company, which office he still retains. The political support of Mr. Douglas has ever been given to the republican party, he having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln for his second term as president of the United States. In 1905 he was elected mayor of Aurora, serving in this capacity for the regular term of two years. That his judgment has ever been well balanced has been proven by the success of his business ventures, and while naturally reserved, he is thoroughly appreciated by those who have been intimately associated with him as a warm hearted, dependable friend and one whose counsel is well worth heeding.
ARCHER BYRON PHELPS.
Throughout his active business life Archer B. Phelps has been identified with agricultural pursuits and now owns and operates a fine farm in Kane- ville township. He is a native of the Empire state, born on the IIth of February, 1845, in Chenango county, New York, which was also the birthi- place of his father, Pliny M. Phelps. In 1861 the latter brought his family to Illinois and located near Kaneville in Kane county, where he purchased two hundred and eighty acres of land, making his home thereon until his death, which occurred in 1868. He made farming his life occupation. In early manhood he married Miss Almira White, who was born and reared in the same locality as her husband, and she still survives him, living with a son in Geneva, Illinois, at the advanced age of ninety years. To this worthy couple were born eight children, namely: Arthur B., of this review; Herbert, Lyman and Estella, all deceased; Agnes, the wife of Charles Dodd, who is engaged in farming in Kaneville township; George P., a resident of Chicago, where he is employed in a machine shop; John G., who holds a government position in Geneva, Illinois; and Ella, the wife of F. W. Godding, who is American consul at Australia.
Arthur B. Phelps began his education in the district schools of New York and after the removal of the family to this state he continued his studies in the schools of Kane county until twenty years of age. In the meantime he also became familiar with all the duties and labors which fall to the lot of the farmer, so that on starting out in life for himself he was well qualified to engage in agricultural pursuits. At the age of twenty-four years he assumed the management of the home farm and successfully engaged in its operation for a few years. He is now the owner of an excellent farm of two hundred and thirty acres, which he has converted into an ideal stock farmi, well equipped with all the accessories needed for that business. It has an abun- dance of shade trees, is well watered and improved with good and substan- tial buildings. Everything about the place denotes the thrift and enterprise of the owner, who is recognized as one of the leading farmers and stock raisers of his community. He is interested in dairying and also fattens two car- loads of steers and three carloads of hogs for market annually.
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In 1869 Mr. Phelps married Miss Maria E. Hartwell, who was also born in New York and came to Illinois in the early '40s, settling near Kane- ville, and they have become the parents of the following children: P. L., who follows farming in Kaneville township; A. Lee, deceased; Jennie, the wife of George Dauberman, a farmer living near Kaneville; Alice, the wife of Irvin Wickizer, who is also a farmer of Kaneville township; Earl W., at home with his parents, and Clinton, who is a farmer of Sugar Grove town- ship. The family is one of prominence in the community where they reside, and in politics Mr. Phelps is an ardent 'republican, taking a commendable interest in public affairs.
JOHN HENRY PEASE.
There are a few names which constitute a centralizing point. around which are gathered the facts that form the early history of Kane county. In those days when the county was in the period of its formative development Anson Pease and his family became residents of this section of the state. His son, John H. Pease, was born in Ohio, August 8, 1834, but during his infancy was taken to Herkimer county, New York, by his parents, Anson and Saralı Ann ( Johnson) Pease. Their sojourn in New York was of very brief dura- tion, and thence they came to Illinois, making the journey from Detroit by wagon. The pioneer home of the family was a log cabin, situated between Aurora and North Aurora. The father operated a sawmill at what was called Schneyders Den. and later the family lived in a frame house where the American Wells Works now stand. The site of the Burlington shops was then a marsh, and Mr. Pease, of this review, often shot ducks from a boat where is now seen the Spring street viaduct. The father continued a resident of Kane county until his death, which occurred some years ago. when he had reached the age of fifty years. His wife survived him and died at the age of ninety-six. When the Pease family arrived, the McCartys were, per- haps, the only family living here. The Indians, however, were numerous and among them was old Shabbona, the chief for whom settlers frequently took up collections, thus giving him considerable sums of money. The old Indian burying-ground was located at the west side of the river near the Bishop farm. Early visitors to the town patronized a hotel conducted by Mr. Huntoon. Dr. Eastman administered to the sick, Mr. Plum supplied the townsmen with merchandise, and Mr. Day was among the first to try law cases here. At one time in the early 'Jos the county was infested with horse thieves, but the law-abiding citizens took matters into their own hands and soon the district was rid of its lawbreakers. The old Frink & Walker stage coaches made trips from Chicago to Galena, and at Aurora forded the river near Benton street. It was sometime afterward that the first bridge was built at Main street. When the Pease family wished to go to Chicago they drove to the town and it required an entire day to make the journey. In his boyhood John H. Pease frequently skated over districts that are now
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JOHN H. PEASE
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built up with fine homes. His education was acquired in the public schools. The first school was situated on the Lincoln Park site, and the school teacher was Mrs. Fay. When he had mastered the branches of learning taught in the district schools he entered upon his business career, being employed as clerk in a grocery store. Later he served the same employer in a dry goods store, and finally became his partner, investing a capital of six hundred dollars. This business was conducted in an old wooden building, which stood where the Aurora National Bank is now seen, at the corner of Broadway and Main streets. Later Mr. Pease became vice-president of the First National bank, and for twenty years was one of its stockholders. In the early days of his merchandising experience he carried a general line of goods but afterward confined his attention exclusively to dry goods. The partnership continued for twenty years and the store was situated at No. 24 South Broadway. Mr. Pease long figured as one of the most prominent, enterprising and progressive merchants of the city, and has always been a business man in whom the general public has manifested the utmost confidence. He was connected with the first electric light works in the world and he is still a large stockholder in the Richards Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of house and barn door hangers, and small devices made of iron. In business affairs he has always had keen judgment and excellent executive ability, and the success that he has accomplished is well merited.
On the Ist of January, 1866, Mr. Pease was married to Miss Helen Mar Forsyth. They became the parents of three children: Charles Henry, who was born September, 1867, but is now deceased; Grace P., born December 3, 1871 ; and Edwin A., who married Clara Dunlap, of Galesburg, Illinois, and is now a resident of Aurora.
Mr. Pease belongs to Jerusalem Temple Lodge, No. 90, A. F. & A. M., with which he has been connected from the age of twenty-one years. He has also taken the degree in the chapter and commandery, and throughout his entire life has been loyal to the teachings of Masonry. Though not a mem- ber of any church he has been a large contributor thereto and is a man of most charitable and philanthropical purpose. Spending practically his entire life in Kane county, his history is as an open book which all may read. His life has been most honorable and upright in its varied relations, and his fellow citizens instinctively pay deference to him because of what he has accomplished and the principles which have governed his conduct in every relation.
LEWIS WILDER.
Lewis Wilder was born August 28, 1843, on what has since been known as the Wilder homestead, situated on North Lake street in Aurora. The father, Clark Wilder, was a native of St. Lawrence county, New York, where his birth occurred October 4. 1801. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Hannah Spencer Lord, was born in Lynn, New London county, Connecticut, October 17, 1810, and in 1830 removed to New York, where she gave her
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hand in marriage to Clark Wilder in February. 1833. The parents came west in 1837, bringing with them their two sons and a daughter, George, Bert and Mary, and making the journey from New York to Kane county, Illinois, in a covered wagon. Mrs. Clark Wilder had lived near the banks of the Connecticut river and saw the first steamboat that ever went up that stream. In order to make their westward journey. she and her husband and three children first crossed the St. Lawrence river to Brockville. Canada. traveled through that country by wagon and crossed by boat to Michigan. Thence they came by wagon to Chicago and on to Aurora, the trip consum- ing four weeks. Their furniture had been shipped by boat around the lakes and was two weeks longer in reaching the destination than they were. At that time there were only three families on the west side of the river-those of 'Squire King. a blacksmith. Theodore Lake and Mr. Palmer. Lake and Galena streets were then country roads leading from the village. There were twelve or fifteen families on the east side of the river, among whom were those of Isaac Marlett, who conducted a hotel near where the Burlington depot now stands; Samuel McCarty, who then conducted a flour and sawmill, and Mr. Stolp, who was running a carding machine. The families of George McCollum and R. W. Gates came in the following August, and the next year the town grew considerably. The claim to the land was sold several times before Clark Wilder purchased one hundred and ninety acres at a cost of $2.000. The Indians had just at that time been removed by the government to Iowa, old Chief Shabbona and his family, who were permitted to remain on account of their friendliness to the whites, being about the only redskins left. Missionaries occasionally held service and preached in a shanty on the east side of the river. After a few years the Methodists and Congregational- ists built small churches, and several years later the Episcopalians built the first church on the west side. For a few years Mr. Wilder did his trading in Chicago, going to the city with a load of grain or pork or sometimes both. and bringing back provisions. The trip usually took three days. The railroad to Aurora was not finished until 1850 and the following year it was extended southwest, which was the first evidence that the town had experienced an active and permanent growth. On arriving in this county. Clark Wilder pur- chased from Isaac Marlett a farm of one hundred and sixty acres located on the west bank of the Fox river, where he built a log cabin and, possessing the sturdy characteristics of the pioneer. resolutely took up his farming in- terests. Subsequently he bought an additional tract of thirty acres on the opposite side of the river and in 1848 erected a fine stone house, into which he moved his family. This residence has eleven rooms and was built of stone quarried on his farm, the lime used in laying the stone being made from cobblestones which he gathered and burned. At the time of the erection of this house it was considered to be the finest in Kane county. Clark Wilder was a man of much force of character and an honored citizen of the com- munity in which he lived, being highly estcemed by his neighbors for his great benevolence and many other excellent traits of heart and mind. His wife passed away on the 12th of March. 1901, just six days before the demise of her daughter, Emeline. Hers had been a long and useful career and. like
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her husband, she had won the regard and friendship of all with whom she was associated.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Clark Wilder were born the following children : George, born December 14, 1833, who is now county surveyor of Kane county, making his home in Aurora; Bert, who was born July 26, 1835, and now lives in Perry, Iowa; Mary, whose birth occurred March 3, 1837, and who is now the widow of Peter Lossing, occupying the old stone mansion which was so long the home of her parents; Joel, who passed away when but eleven. months old; Emeline, born March 29, 1840, who became the wife of Fred Hotz and passed away March 8, 1901; Wallace. born October 21, 1841, who served in the Civil war for three years and died in Baltimore in 1865, from the effects of disease contracted in Andersonville prison ; Lewis, of this review : Joel M., whose natal day was March 7, 1846, and who is an agriculturist of Yates Center, Kansas; Amelia, whose demise occurred when she was eighteen months old, and Frank C., born May 23, 1850, who was killed in a runaway accident when in his twentieth year. These children attended school in a little frame building on North Lake street, where Mrs. Allaire now resides, and later became students in the Oak street school.
Lewis Wilder enlisted for service in the Union army as a member of Company B, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Regiment, and was honorably dis- charged on the 21st of September, 1865. He was formerly actively and successfully connected with agricultural interests but is now living retired in a commodious and attractive residence at the intersection of North Lake street and Illinois avenue, standing upon a part of the old Wilder homestead. Here he owns ten acres of very desirable residence property, valued at $1,500 per acre. It has a large frontage on the Aurora & Elgin electric line. He also owns another tract of very valuable land of seventeen and a half acres. a portion of which is located in the West Aurora Driving Park.
On the 21st of December, 1870, Mr. Wilder was united in marriage to Miss Flora M. Slater, whose birth occurred in Sugar Grove township, Kane county, July 5. 1852. Her parents were Isaac B. and Harriet (Horton) Slater. The father was born in Slaterville, Tompkins county, New York, October 15. 1820, and when sixteen years of age came from Cortland, New York, to Kane county. The mother, whose birth occurred in Pennsylvania, February 25, 1828, came to Kane county when quite young, and on the 28th of January, 1847, gave her hand in marriage to Isaac B. Slater. The latter was a carpenter by occupation and also carried on farming for a few years prior to his death, which occurred December 28, 1889, his wife having passed away April 26, 1865. Their children, in addition to Mrs. Wilder, were Arthur B., Edgar L. and Arthur, all of whom are now deceased. The wife of our subject was educated in the Sugar Grove Normal and Industrial School. By her marriage she has become the mother of two daughters, namely: May E., born January 1, 1875. who is a graduate of the West Aurora high school; and Edith, whose birth occurred May 11, 1883, and who is the wife of George Chalker of Aurora.
In his political views Mr. Wilder is a republican, but is not actively interested in politics, being of a retiring disposition and preferring a quiet
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home life to the glamor of publicity. He and his wife are highly esteemed throughout the county in which they have spent their entire lives and are numbered among its most prosperous and best known residents.
GRANBY S. CASE.
Granby S. Case is a native of New York, having been born at Delhi, Delaware county, on the 20th day of March, 1842, and was sixteen years of age when his parents removed to Illinois. His father, David B. Case, was a merchant in Delhi, New York, for a number of years. In 1850 he moved to Stamford, New York, where he engaged in the hotel business. In 1858 he came to Illinois and settled on a farm in Oswego township. Kendall county, where he lived for several years, removing thence to Chebanse, Iroquois county, where he died in 1873, aged nearly seventy years. His wife was Anzolette (Frisbee) Case. Seven children were born of this union, six sons and one daughter. Anzolette, who was named after her mother and who is now the wife of G. H. Teller, of Denver, Colorado. The parents were members of the Congregational church. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Roger Case, who served in the Revolutionary war and was a native of Connecticut. He removed to New York and lived retired most of the time, being at one time sheriff of Delaware county. He lived to a ripe old age and was the father of a number of children. The Frisbee family trace their ancestry back to the first settlers of the new world, the name of Edward Frisbee (who spelled his name Frisbie) being on the list of names entered for lots at Branford, Connecticut, under date of December 15. 1645. Gideon Frisbee, the maternal grandfather of our subject and a direct descend- ant of Edward Frisbie, was born December 3. 1783. and died April 25. 1857. aged over seventy-three years. He married Freelove Fisk, who was born in 1780, and died October 26, 1857. They had six children : Angeline Marilla : Anzolette Emeline, the mother of our subject : George Milton; Milton ; Porter, and Philip.
Granby S. Case derived his early education from the public schools of Delhi. He came west with his parents in 1858 and lived on the farm in Oswego township, Kendall county, Illinois, until in August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred Twenty-seventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served as private for a little over two years. He was in the first attack on Vicksburg, in the battles of Arkansas Post, the siege and assault of Vicksburg, the battles of Missionary Ridge, Resaca, Dallas and many smaller engagements. On the 27th day of June. 1864, while par- ticipating in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, he was severely wounded, a ball striking him in the left arm and passing through his body. Because of this wound he was honorably discharged from the service and returned to Aurora, where he has lived ever since. For many years, and indeed until quite recently, he was employed in the building department of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad shops.
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On the 2d day of November, 1865, was celebrated the marriage of Granby S. Case and Miss Lida E. Thomas, daughter of Josiah S. and Miriam M. (Randall) Thomas. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Case was Samuel Thomas, a native of Sandgate, Vermont, where he resided on a farm. Mr. Thomas was of Welsh descent. His wife was Miriam (Sherman) Thomas. The maternal grandfather was Walter Randall, also a native of Vermont, and his wife was Eunice ( Sherman) Randall. They had six children, namely : Flora Sophia, Evi Sherman, Miriam Maria, Rhoda Ann, Murray Nichols and Walter Beach. Josiah S. Thomas, the father of Mrs. Case, brought his family from Manchester, Vermont, to Illinois in 1861, and settled in Aurora, the present home having been in the family for nearly fifty years. In December, 1861, he was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died shortly after his arrival here. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Thomas were born four daughters: Rosalie, who died at the age of thirteen years; Lida E., wife of our subject ; Clarissa A., wife of William B. Wilson, of Vallejo, Califor- nia; and Nettie, who died at the age of four years.
Mr. and Mrs. Granby S. Case have become the parents of five children, namely : Nettie M., Clara A., Charles F., J. Sherman and George S. Nettie M. died at the age of fifteen years, seven months and twenty-six days. Clara A. became the wife of B. J. Watkins, a resident of Malone, New York, and they have three children, Ortensia S., Clara and Bert. Charles F., employed in the shops of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, married Etta M. Cornell, who died May 5. 1907. There were four children born to this union, Harry S., Etta M., Nettie A. and Charles G. On the 10th day of June, 1908, Charles F. married for his second wife Miss Mabel E. Wade. J. Sherman died at the age of fourteen months and seventeen days. George S. is also an employe in the shops of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- road. His wife was Miss May Gable.
The political support of Granby S. Case has ever been given to the republican party, the principles of which have found in him a strong advocate. Fraternally he belongs to the Grand Army Post, No. 20, over which organ- ization he presided as commander in 1907.
ERNEST HANSON.
Ernest Hanson, a successful farmer and stock-raiser of Kaneville town- ship, was born in Smoland, Sweden, July 12, 1873, the son of Hans and Alice (Carlson) Hanson. He is one of five children, of whom Selma is married; Albert resides in Sweden, and Jennie and Ellen reside at home with their parents. Both parents are natives of Sweden, where the father served the prescribed time in the regular army. After his retirement from army service he engaged in farming. The mother came to America in 1878 and remained three years, then returned to Sweden, where she and her husband still reside. The father is a member of the Lutheran church.
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Ernest Hanson attended the district schools in Sweden until he was thirteen years of age, after which time he aided his father in the work of the farm until he was twenty. In 1893 he came to America and located at Sugar Grove, where he secured a position as farm hand. Here he re- mained for ten years, then located in Chicago, where he secured employment in the machine shops for a time but his inclinations ever favored the country and he again returned to the farm near Kaneville and resumed his former duties as farin hand. He saved his earnings with the ultimate object of en- gaging in farming in his own interests, and this he was eventually enabled to do. In addition to general farming he also raises stock and ships on an average about three carloads of hogs annually.
In 1904 was celebrated the marriage of Ernest Hanson and Miss Anna Johnson, who was born in Sweden, September 9, 1881, and came to America when she was twenty years of age. They have become the parents of one daughter, Thelma E.
In politics Mr. Hanson is a republican. Socially he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Religiously he is a member of the Lutheran church. Mr. Hanson has never regretted his emigration to America, as he appreciates the fact that the opportunities for advancement here are almost unlimited, and the excellent start he has already attained in life bids fair to place him in a position of independence and comfort in the course of a few years' time.
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