USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II > Part 48
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of 1887. In preparation for the bar he then attended the Union College at Law, in Chicago, completing the course by graduation with the class of 1889. Throughout his entire business career he has manifested executive force and ability for administrative direction. In the year in which he com- pleted his law course he became manager of the Aurora Gaslight Company, and began to develop the property. He has noted with remarkable clearness and correctness the opportunities for advancement in the business, and has constantly broadened the scope of his activity. In 1890 the same interest con- trolling the Aurora Gaslight Company purchased the property and franchises of the Aurora Electric & Power Company, and in 1902 the interests were consolidated. With the expansion of the business Mr. Copley secured fran- chises for gas in Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles and laid the mains in those towns. The business of the company was reorganized under the name of the Fox River Light, Heat & Power Company, which also incorporated the gas and electric light interests. In 1894, with others, Mr. Copley purchased the Joliet Gaslight Company and has rapidly developed the business until it has reached extensive and important proportions. In 1900 he built a gas plant at La Grange, Illinois, under the name of the La Grange Gas Company, and extended its mains to La Grange Park, the Grossdales, Western Springs and Hinsdale. The business is now being conducted under the name of the Western Gas & Electric Company, of which Mr. Copley is the president.
While he has become widely recognized as a man of clear business dis- cernment, unfaltering enterprise and ready adaptation, he has also gained more than local distinction in political circles, and from 1894 to 1898 was a member of the executive committee of the republican state central committee and was chairman of the finance committee from 1896 to 1898. He has also been president of the Illinois State League of Republican Clubs and has been a prominent factor in organizing and controlling the working forces of the republican party in the state.
Equally efficient in his efforts in behalf of community interests, Mr. Copley has been a member of the library board and the park board of Aurora, and a trustee of the Jennings Seminary for a number of years. In 1892 he married Miss Edith Strohn, of Los Angeles, California.
WILLARD S. WHITE.
Willard S. White, engaged in the real-estate and insurance business in Aurora, claims New York as the state of his nativity, his birth having oc- curred in Rushford, Allegany county, New York, July 21, 1860. His father, Washington White, was a representative of an old New England family. His birth occurred in Vermont and on arriving at years of maturity he married Abagail Willard, who was born at Brattleboro, Vermont. When a young man Washington White removed to the Empire state, where he con- ducted mercantile interests throughout his entire business career, making his home for some time at Rushford. He died in 1889 at the age of sixty-nine
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years, while his widow still survives and has reached the very advanced age of ninety years.
Willard S. White was educated in the public and high schools of New York, spending his boyhood days under the parental roof, where he was also early trained to habits of industry and economy. He was then engaged in merchandising for a number of years and in 1883 sought a home in the middle west. He devoted several years to traveling as representative of various lines of business. but at length determined to give up his position as commercial traveler and turn his attention to the real-estate and insurance business. He then located in Aurora where he has remained for a number of years. He has negotiated many important realty transactions. has written considerable in- surance and has gained a good clientage in both departments of his business. He now occupies fine offices in the Merchants' National Bank building and is well qualified to take care of the interests of his patrons. He keeps thor- oughly informed concerning realty values and the property that is on the market, and is always anxious to do the best possible for his clients, while at the same time he is gaining substantial benefits as the reward of his unwearied industry.
ARTHUR GRANT WORMWOOD.
Arthur Grant Wormwood, whose history is that of orderly progression in the business world, brought about by constantly expanding powers result- ing from the faithful performance of each day's duty, which brings strength and inspiration for the labors of the succeeding day, is now senior partner of the firm of Wormwood & Pease, book and job printers of Aurora. He was born in Sandwich, Illinois, January 20. 1862, the youngest of three children born unto Orlando and Harriet ( Bartlett) Wormwood. His paternal grand- father, Samuel Wormwood, was a native of Vermont and in 1849 made a trip to California by boat, attracted by the discoveries of gold on the Pacific slope. After mining there for a time, he started on the return voyage, but died from the administration of poison by one who wanted his money. His widow long survived him, living to an old age. The maternal grandfather of our subject was a native farmer of Vermont and both he and his wife died in the east when well advanced in years.
Orlando Wormwood was a native of Waterbury, Vermont, and in early life learned the millwright's trade, which he followed for a number of years. About 1853 he came to Illinois, settling in Sandwich, where he embarked in the grain business, which he followed until he was burned out in 1864. Then- he removed to Aurora, where he engaged in the millwright's trade for a time, and subsequently was employed for a number of years as finisher in the Pullman shops of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. For the past quarter of a century he has been a traveling salesman and is well known and popular among his many patrons on the road. His wife died in March, 1904, at the age of seventy-four years. They were formerly Presbyterian in relig-
A. G. WORMWOOD
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ious faith, but some years ago united with the Methodist church. The elder son of the family is Willis A. Wormwood, now living in Berwyn, a suburb of Chicago, while the daughter, Ina M., is the wife of L. D. Barney, a resident of Chicago.
Arthur G. Wormwood has lived in Aurora from the age of two years and acquired his education in the public schools, but at the age of fourteen put aside his text-books and began learning the printer's trade with the firm of Burton & Shaw, in the office of the Aurora Herald. He was thus engaged for eight years, during which time he gained comprehensive knowledge of the printing business in all its departments. He was afterward employed in various offices, including that of the Aurora Blade, under C. W. Putnam, and about 1890 he established a job printing business of his own at No. 27 North Broadway, conducting the business until 1898, when he admitted Herbert G. Berry to a partnership. This association was maintained until Mr. Berry's death in 1905, after which Mr. Wormwood was alone in business for a year and then admitted a Mr. LaSuer. After a brief period he was succeeded by W. H. Pease and the business has since been conducted under the firm name of Wormwood & Pease. They have a large plant, splendidly equipped, and are conducting an extensive job printing business.
On the 20th of September, 1897, Mr. Wormwod was married to Miss Nannie L. Miller, and they occupy a pleasant home at No. 423 Galena street, which he erected in 1902. Fraternally he is connected with Jerusalem Temple, No. 90, A. F. & A. M .; with Ben Hur Lodge, No. 870, I. O. O. F., and with the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. His political allegiance is given to the republican party but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. At least, they have never been strong enough to lure him from the field of business wherein he has elected to direct his energies. He has made constant progress in this line, keeping in touch with the modern methods which are revolutionizing the old processes of printing, and promot- ing many styles of work which show that he is thoroughly conversant with the trade and its demands.
ERNEST HOMUTH.
This prosperous and progressive farmer and dairyman of Plato township, Kane county, is a native of Germany, where he was born June 28, 1857. His parents were Fred and Anna (Schluter) Homuth, both born and reared in Germany, where they were engaged in farming. The mother died when her son, Ernest, was a very young man, and the father has also been dead a num- ber of years, both passing away in their native land. Their children were: Louise, the wife of Louis Huneka, of Germany ; Mary, the wife of B. Rupport, of Germany ; Minnie and Lena, of Brooklyn, New York ; and Ernest. Another son named Fred has died.
Ernest Homuth attended the public schools in his native land until he reached the age of fourteen. He served three years in the German army and
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was honorably discharged. He came to the United States in 1886, and after a short residence in Brooklyn, New York, moved to Chicago. From there he came to Kane county, twenty-one years ago, and located at Plato Center. He was a mason by trade and five years ago became a farmer. He has been on this farm four years. He is actively engaged in farming and has a dairy comprising fifty good cows, the yield from which enables him to carry on a brisk and thriving dairying business and adds to both his duties and his revenues in a substantial manner.
On October 26, 1887, he was married to Miss Anna Oetikir, who was born in Switzerland and came to this country when she was a young woman, locating in Illinois. They have had five children, William, Frederick, Charles and Walter, who are living and at home, and Ernest, the oldest, who died some years ago. They are also rearing as a child of their own, Mr. Homuth's nephew, Edward H. Homuth, who has his home with them. Mr. Homuth is a republican and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. He stands well in the community.
REV. GEORGE L. S. STUFF.
Rev. George L. S. Stuff, deceased, devoted his whole life to the work of the ministry as a member of the Rock River conference of the Methodist Episcopal church and the results of his teaching will go on forever. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, on the 21st of April, 1822, the only child of poor parents, and was left an orphan in infancy. In early life he united with the Methodist Episcopal church and on coming to Illinois, in May, 1840, began preaching. The following year he was admitted on trial to the Rock River conference and was stationed at Savanna, Illinois, for one year, after which he was at Green Bay, Wisconsin, for two years.
In 1843 Rev. Stuff was ordained a deacon at Dubuque, Iowa, by Bishop Andrews, and two years later was ordained an elder at Peoria, Illinois, by Bishop Morris. In 1844 he had charge of a church at Racine, Wisconsin ; was at Elgin in 1845 and 1846; at Mt. Morris in 1847 and 1848; at Elizabeth in 1849: at Rock Island in 1850 and 1851 ; at Ottawa in 1852: La Salle in 1853; and filled other pastorates, including the Court Street church at Rock- ford and churches at Elgin and Kankakee. During the Civil war he served as a chaplain for three years with the Forty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, receiving his appointment from Governor Yates, and after his return home in 1864 was assigned to the church at Dixon. On account of ill health he was then given supernumerary relations but in 1866 resumed his ministerial duties as pastor of the church at Woodstock, where he remained for two years. He was next at Roscoe, Warren and Palatine and was later in charge of the Fulton Street Methodist Episcopal church of Chicago. This was followed by one year of superannuated relations and he was subsequently pastor of churches at Poplar Grove, Capron, Round Prairie, Cherry Valley, Blackberry, Albany, Ashton and Franklin Grove, his last charge being the Broadway church of
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Sterling. For five years prior to his death he was quite helpless from a stroke of paralysis, during which time the family lived in a home given to the church by Mrs. Henry Sherman, of Elgin, and in this city he died on the IIth of May, 1893. Thus passed away one who for half a century had been connected with the Rock River conference and during that time had been the loved pastor of many a church, where he worked earnestly and untiringly to spread the gos- pel of Christ and bring the wanderers into the fold. He was widely known and universally respected and esteemed, not only by his own congregations but by other denominations as well.
Mr. Stuff left six children, one of whom is Rev. F. A. Stuff, a professor in the University of Nebraska, and his last wife, Miss Addie Bowman, also survived him. They were married October 8, 1878, Mrs. Stuff being a daughter of Elijah and Hannah (Emery) Bowman, of Blaine, Boone county, Illinois. All were life-long Methodists.
EARL RAY MINER.
Earl Ray Miner, successfully engaged in farming in Blackberry township, was born in Kaneville township, Kane county, July 3. 1884, his parents being Wesley and Mary (Hartnest ) Miner, likewise natives of this county. The father is a farmer by occupation and now follows that pursuit in Wayne, Nebraska. He is an active and helpful member of the Methodist Episcopal church. The members of his family, in addition to our subject, are as follows : Amanda R., the wife of Lewis Owens, an agriculturist of Wayne, Nebraska ; Elmer, who is a physician of Independence, Kansas ; and Harvey, who likewise carries on agricultural pursuits at Wayne, Nebraska.
Earl Ray Miner attended school in the place of his nativity until fourteen years of age and then entered St. Albin's Academy at Knoxville, Illinois, leaving that institution at the age of sixteen years. He then returned to the home farm and in connection with his brother, Harvey, carried on the work of the fields for five years. On the expiration of that period he was married and subsequently took up his abode on his present farm in Blackberry town- ship, where he has now made his home for a year and a half. In connection with the work of general farming he operates a dairy, owning thirty-three cows. The herd is well graded and includes many Jerseys. He likewise has a few registered hogs, having just begun activities in this line.
Mr. Miner was united in marriage to Miss Myrtie May Gaunt, whose birth occurred March 29, 1883, at Kaneville township, near Elburn, Illinois. Her parents, Frank and Louisa Grace (Tupper) Gaunt, are likewise natives of Kane county and now reside at Elburn, Illinois. Mrs. Miner had one sister and one brother : Millie G., of Elburn, Illinois ; and Henry W., who has passed away, his remains being interred in the Elburn cemetery. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Miner has been born one son, Marcus Wesley Gaunt, his natal day being January 19, 1908.
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Fraternally Mr. Miner is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America, and is highly esteemed throughout the community as a prosperous and enterprising citizen and business man. Although young in years, he has already attained a gratifying measure of success and, moreover, has won the regard of all with whom he has come in contact by reason of his upright and honorable methods in all the varied relations of life.
WALTER S. FRAZIER.
No history of Aurora and its development would be complete without specific and somewhat extended mention of Walter S. Frazier, who was promi- nent among the business men of the city as a representative of one of its most important productive industries. He was born in Fabius, Onondaga county, New York, August 31, 1835, a son of William J. and Matilda ( Winegar) Fra- zier, both of whom were natives of the Empire state. The father conducted business there for many years as a clothing merchant and on coming to the west with his family settled in Batavia, Kane county.
Walter S. Frazier spent his boyhood and youth in the place of his nativity and was educated in the public schools of Onondaga county and in Homer Academy. At the age of eighteen years he made his initial step in the business world by becoming a salesman in a dry goods store in Syracuse, New York, where he remained for five years and then accepted a position as bookkeeper. The year 1857 witnessed his arrival in the middle west, in which year he made his way to Chicago, where he entered the office of the city comptroller. He was soon made chief clerk, and acted in that capacity for five years, after which he was appointed by the city board of public works as clerk of special assess- ments. In the meantime his labors and activity in political circles were winning him recognition as a valued member of the party, and in 1863 he received the republican nomination for the office of clerk of the recorder's court. He thus served for about two years, and in 1865 went to Springfield, having been elected clerk of the house of representatives. He proved most capable in his new office, being recognized as the most efficient clerk that had ever held the position. Such was the regard entertained for his ability and fidelity that at the close of the session he was presented with a gold watch and chain by the members of the house and the presentation speech by Judge Platt, of Jo Daviess county, appears in the house journal of that session.
In 1866, being apprehensive of his health. Mr. Frazier determined to try the benefits of outdoor life, and to this end purchased a farm in Kane county between Geneva and Batavia, and after making improvements upon the house lic removed his family to the new location. There he remained for about four years, when in 1870 he sold the property and took up his abode in Aurora. There he was elected and served for one term as a member of the board of education. In his public career he always manifested the sentiment expressed by Grover Cleveland that "a public office is a public trust"-and no trust reposed in Mr. Frazier was ever betrayed in the slightest degree.
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For several years he was in no active business save that he bred and raised fine roadsters and trotting horses, for he was always a lover of fine stock. He sold one of his horses, the noted Brother Jonathan, with a record of 2:20, for twelve thousand dollars.
While thus engaged in raising fine trotting stock, one of his drivers repre- sented to him the necessity of a cart to be used in breaking and driving young maturing stock, and suggested where one could be purchased. On investiga- ting this Mr. Frazier believed that he could build a better one, and after experi- menting produced rather a heavy two-wheeled vehicle. Imperfect as it was, it was destined to go into history as the forerunner of the afterward famous "Frazier road cart." It created a great interest among horsemen everywhere, being superior to anything previously produced. This impressed Mr. Frazier with the importance of his invention and he began developing and improving it, and so perfected it that he secured letters patent and named the new vehicle the Road Cart. In 1881 he began the manufacture of this cart on a small scale in a building on Water street in Aurora between Fox and Main streets. The business grew rapidly, however, and in 1881 he leased the large four- story stone building on Downer Place which had formerly been used as a wagon shop but had been idle for years. Still the business kept increasing beyond its productive power, and when the lease on the stone building expired Mr. Frazier purchased the extensive grounds and the buildings and added a story to the principal building. Still the demand grew, and as the business further developed other styles of vehicles were added, and the enterprise became one of the most important manufacturing interests of Aurora. Mr. Frazier demanded that perfection should be attained in every department, secured first class materials and excellent workmanship, and the Frazier com- pany became noted throughout the country for its output. In 1885 he admitted his two sons, Walter S. and Edward S., to a partnership under the firm style of W. S. Frazier & Company. In recent years the factory has been greatly enlarged and is equipped with the most modern machinery for the conduct of the business.
While every successful business adds to the development of a city, Mr. Frazier, aside from his manufacture of vehicles, did much to promote the sub- stantial interests of Aurora. In 1885 he erected a three-story store and office building at the corner of Downer Place and River street, and in 1886 he built a block of stores on Downer Place. He was also a director of the Merchants National Bank of Aurora, and he assisted in many movements from which he derived no personal benefit but in which the public was a large direct bene- ficiary.
In 1855 Mr. Frazier was married in Syracuse, New York, to Miss Mary Stevens, a daughter of J. V. Stevens. Her death occurred in 1880, and Mr. Frazier passed away in 1904. For several years he was chairman of the republican congressional district committee for the district comprising Kane, De Kalb, Lake, McHenry and Boone counties, and he was always a helpful adviser of his party but never an office seeker. He was a man of keen dis- crimination and sound judgment and his executive ability and excellent man- agement brought to the concern which he instituted and conducted a large
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degree of success. He possessed the characteristics of an unbending integrity, unabating energy, and industry that never flags, and, moreover, he was a rep- resentative of that class of American citizens who promote the general pros- perity while advancing individual interests.
FREDERICK W. HARTSBURG.
Frederick W. Hartsburg is numbered among the native sons of Kane county and has made a creditable name in business and professional circles. He is now successfully practicing law, with office in the Siegmund building at Aurora. He is a representative of one of the old families of this part of the state and was born in North Aurora. June 19, 1877. His parents. William A. and Helena ( Simons) Hartsburg, are mentioned elsewhere in this volume. His grandfather, William Hartsburg, a native of Germany. came to America about 1845, settling at Roxbury, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. He was a very skilled machine and tool maker and received as much as twenty dollars per day for his services. He came to Kane county in 1846, settling in Aurora, where he followed his trade for a time. and then made the overland trip to California in 1849 in search of gold. He often walked as much as sixty miles in a day and even in his old age was noted as a pedestrian. Following his return to Illinois he resided in Aurora, Batavia and other points, and died at North Aurora, at the age of seventy- four years. His wife, Mrs. Christina Hartsburg, is still living, and is now about eighty-four years of age.
William A. Hartsburg, father of our subject, was born in Massachusetts, and when nine or ten years of age became a resident of Montgomery, Kane county, Illinois, where he was reared. Through many years, first as an employe and later as a manufacturer, he has been connected with the business of manufacturing sash, doors and blinds, doing general mill work. In 1890 the business was incorporated under the style of the Hartsburg & Hawksley Company. William A. Hartsburg wedded Helena Simons, an estimable lady and a devoted member of the Congregational church. They became parents of five children : Mamie, the wife of J. E. Lowell, of Seattle, Wash- ington ; Daisy A. : Frederick W., of this review : Florence Maude, attending the State University of Colorado; and Frances M., of North Aurora.
Frederick W. Hartsburg was reared in North Aurora and attended the public schools there, while later he was graduated from the West Aurora high school in 1897. completing a four years' course in three years. He then entered the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and was graduated from the law department of that institution with the degree of Bachelor of Law in 1900. The same year he was admitted to the bar. He then entered the firm of Bangs, Wood & Bangs in Chicago, and was with them for a year and a half, after which he formed a partnership with Fred R. Reid, the present states attorney of Kane county. They practiced at De Kalb for a short time and then removed to Aurora, where Mr. Hartsburg has since continued in
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the general practice of law. He was also secretary of the Hartsburg & Hawksley Company until a few years ago, but his attention is now fully occupied by the demands of a professional career and he has a large and growing clientage.
On the 15th of November, 1905, Frederick W. Hartsburg was married to Miss Grace Reynolds Owens, a daughter of Evan and Minnie ( Reynolds) Owens. Mr. Hartsburg is a member of Aurora Lodge, No. 254. A. F. & A. M .; and Aurora Chapter, No. 22, R. A. M. When in college he became a member of a Greek letter fraternity called the Phi Delta Theta. He is also a member of Aurora Lodge, No. 705. B. P. O. E., the Knights of Pythias, and the Modern Woodmen of America. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and his loyalty thereto is never called into question. His native intellectual force has been developed through study and research along professional lines and through wide reading embracing all topics of general interest. What he has accomplished in his profession and the characteristics he has displayed in social relations have made him an esteemed and represent- ative citizen of the county.
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