USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II > Part 49
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ARTHUR M. HAINES.
Arthur M. Haines of Plato Center is engaged in managing a creamery, one of those useful modern institutions which minister in substantial measure to the comfort and well being of the communities around them and add greatly to the prosperity of the people. He was born at Charter Grove, DeKalb county, Illinois, March 23, 1882, and is a son of John and Mary E. (Hoskins) Haines, the former of whom was born in Ohio and came to Illinois with his parents when he was six years old. He has been engaged in farming during the greater part of his life. The mother was born at Charter Grove. Her parents have been dead a number of years.
Mr. and Mrs. Haines have had eight children: Arthur M .; May, who is the wife of William Barker; Cora, who is the wife of Frank Read; Vernon H., who is living at home; Harry D., who is in the United States Army; and Flora, who is also living at home. John and Emma, the other two children, have died. The father was a soldier in the Civil war and saw active service in the great contest. His company was commanded by Cap- tain Wilcox, and the department of the army to which it was assigned by General Grant. Mr. Haines took part in the battle of Shiloh, the operations connected with the siege and capture of Vicksburg, and many other impor- tant engagements. He is a republican in politics, and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Arthur M. Haines was educated at the graded school in Hampshire, which he attended eleven years. He returned to the farm in 1903, and dur- ing the last three years has been the manager of the creamery. This is one of the best in this part of the country in its equipment. It is provided with
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modern machinery of the most approved pattern, and has capacity to handle twenty-one thousand pounds of milk a day.
On May 2, 1903. Mr. Haines was united in marriage with Miss Sadie Hunt, who was born at Sycamore. Illinois, June 27, 1887. Her parents still live at Sycamore, where his father is a well borer. They have one other child, a daughter Ada, who is the wife of Cecil Wyman. Mrs. Haines was educated in a country school and at the Sycamore high school, and both she and Mr. Haines are firm advocates of public education. They have lived acceptably among the people around them and enjoy, in a high degree, the esteem that comes to modest merit and faithful performance of duty.
IRVING J. BUDLONG.
Irving J. Budlong is manager for the Hoyt & Brother Company, at Aurora, a branch of the American Woodworking Machinery Company, in which connection his mechanical ingenuity, his business enterprise and his keen foresight are continually brought into play. He was born in Oswego, Kane county, Illinois, September 7. 1868, his parents being Joseph Jerome and Kezia ( Babcock) Budlong, both of whom were natives of Oneida county. New York. The former was a son of Joseph Budlong, also a native of the Empire state. He followed farming much of his life, but also engaged in merchandising, and died in Oneida county, New York, at a venerable age. He was a son of a Revolutionary soldier. The maternal grandfather of our subject was also a farmer, a native son of the state of New York, and lived at Babcock Hill, Oneida county. Both he and his wife lived to an advanced age and reared a family of two sons and three daughters, one of whom, Kezia Babcock, became the wife of Joseph J. Budlong. He was a farmer by occu- pation and in 1867 came to Illinois, settling in Oswego township. Kane county, where he purchased a little more than three hundred acres of land. This he improved, bringing his farm under a high state of cultivation. and upon the place made his home until 1880, when he removed to Aurora, where he engaged in the manufacture of the Budlong disc pulverizers and disc corn cultivators. He continued in that business until his health failed and he died in 1889, at the age of fifty-nine years. His wife died November 3, 1906, at the age of seventy-two years. They were the parents of four chu dren, a son and three daughters: Jennie L., the wife of Willis Hoyt, of New York city; Florence, the wife of Charles A. Doud, of Winona, Min- nesota : Elizabeth, the wife of Dr. F. W. Lester, whose home is in Aurora, Illinois ; and Irving J., of this review.
The last named lived on the home farm until twelve years of age and attended the district schools. He then came to Aurora with his parents and was reared to manhood here, passing through consecutive grades in the public schools until he became a student in the West Aurora high school. When eighteen years of age he entered upon his business career as an employe of Hoyt & Brother, learning draughting and designing of machinery for wood
IRVING J. BUDLONG
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work. He served a four years' apprenticeship, and at the end of that time entered the railway mail service, with which he was connected for about three years. He afterwards spent three years in mining in the San Juan country in Colorado, and then returned to Aurora to again enter the employ of the American Woodworking Machinery Company, at its branch in this city, for in the fall of 1897 that company had purchased the business of Hoyt & Brother Company and tendered Mr. Budlong the position of superintendent. In 1903 he was appointed manager, which position he still retains. The Aurora branch makes a specialty of planing mill machinery and is the largest producer of hardwood flooring machinery in the world. This branch was established in Aurora by the Hoyt brothers in 1864 and employs from two hundred to two hundred and fifty men, so that Mr. Budlong's position as manager is one of large responsibility. The American Woodworking Machin- ery Company owns and operates six large plants in important cities of the United States. Mr. Budlong is well qualified by his comprehensive knowl- edge and long experience for the responsible duties that devolve upon him, and it was in recognition of his marked ability that his present position was offered him.
On the 18th of September, 1890, Mr. Budlong was married to Miss Ada N. Titus, a daughter of Haven and Ann (Denney) Titus. Three daugh- ters have been born of this union, but they lost their second child, Anna, who died at the age of seven years. The surviving daughters are Irene M. and Doris A. Mr. Budlong is a member of Aurora Lodge, No. 254. A. F. & A. M .; Aurora Chapter, No. 22, R. A. M., and Commandery, No. 22, K. T. He is also connected through membership relations with the Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Hoo Hoos, an association of lumbermen and machinery men. Politically, Mr. Budlong is a republican, giving stalwart support to the party. He now lives at No. 232 Walnut street, where he owns a good home, which is one of the visible evidences of his life of thrift, enterprise and success.
WILLIAM INGALS LYE.
William Ingals Lye, who is one of the most enterprising citizens of Kaneville township, his time and attention being now devoted to agricultural pursuits, was born in Plano, Kendall county, Illinois, on the 19th of October, 1871. His father, Alva Lewis Lye, was a native of the same county, his birth occurring in Little Rock township, where he engaged in farming after reaching man's estate. He married Miss Frances Robbins, who was also born in Kendall county and is now deceased, dying in April. 1898. Their children besides our subject were Mattie, the wife of E. C. Kinney, a farmer of Sugar Grove township: George, also a farmer of Sugar Grove township; Carrie, who makes her home in the same township; and Nellie, the wife of William Johnson, who is engaged in the coal and lumber business in Sugar Grove.
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William Ingals Lye received his first instuction in the district school, which he attended until nine years of age, and then entered the graded schools of Plano, where he spent the following two years. He was next a student at the academy at Sugar Grove for six years, and after graduating from that institution he entered the Valparaiso Normal School, pursuing the teachers' and scientific course. He then engaged in teaching school, being principal at Kaneville for three years, and as an educator he met with splendid success, being able to readily impart the knowledge that he had acquired to his pupils, so that the school advanced rapidly under his management. On his retire- ment from that position he made an extended tour throughout the east, visiting most of the principal cities on the Atlantic coast. For the past seven years he has followed farming and, being thoroughly up-to-date and progres- sive in his methods, he has met with success in this occupation. In 1907 he purchased his present well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Kaneville township, lying a mile and a half south of the village of Kane- ville.
In 1902 Mr. Lye married Miss Bertha Dauberman, a native of Kane- ville, who is a representative of one of the oldest and best known families of this county. Three children bless this union, namely: Francis M .. Mabel I. and Everett D.
JOHN JOHNSON.
John Johnson, a prominent farmer and stock raiser of Plato township, was born in Sweden, February 24, 1859, a son of J. A. and Christine (Ander- son ) Johnson, also natives of Sweden, whence the father brought his family to this country in 1871. His first location in America was at Elgin, Illinois, where he remained until 1888. In that year he removed to Iowa and bought a farm, on which he is still living. He and his wife became the parents of three sons. Frank. Andrew and John. Frank and Andrew are farmers in Towa. The father is a republican in political allegiance and a member of the Swedish Lutheran church in religious affiliation. He also has prospered in this country and is well esteemed.
The son, John Johnson, attended school in his native land until he left it for America at the age of twelve years, and after his arrival in this country completed his education in one of the public schools of Eigin. From the time he left school until he attained his majority he was employed as a hired hand on a farm. At that age he was married to Miss Christine Larson, who is. like himself, a native of Sweden, and who came to America with her parents when she was but five years old, the family locating in Elgin, this state.
Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have five children : Albert E., Mabel, John W., and Amanda, who are living at home; and Victor M., who is the second in the order of birth, and is employed on a street car line in Elgin. The parents are great believers in education and have given each of their children a thorough high school training.
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Mr. Johnson was engaged in farming in Kane county until 1889, when he moved to Nebraska, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land. This tract he improved and reduced to cultivation, living on it several years. He then sold it and returned to Kane county. Taking up his residence in Plato township, he rented two hundred and thirty-seven acres of as fine land as can be found in the county, and on this he has since been diligently and extensively occupied in farming and raising livestock for the market. He ships on an average of four carloads of cattle and one of hogs every year, and as his stock is well cared for and properly prepared for sale, it has a high rank in the market and is always sold at a good price. His preference in cattle for feeding is the Hereford breed.
Mr. Johnson's children, except one, are all living with him and assisting him in his work on the farm. Through his own good management and their aid and that of his wife, he has been very prosperous and is now reckoned among the substantial and well-to-do men of his township. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and his religious affiliation with the Congregational church. In fraternal relations he is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In his church he is a trustee and deacon, and in his lodge he has occupied all the principal offices. Occupying a place among the leading citizens of the township, with a voice of influence in behalf of every worthy project for the improvement of the community, he is justly entitled to the high respect he enjoys.
MRS. MARY A. HUGHES.
Mrs. Mary A. Hughes, one of the highly esteemed ladies of Elburn. was born in Aurora, Illinois. April 15, 1838, and is a representative of an old and honored family of this county, being a daughter of John P. and Sophia Christina (Wohrer) Snyder, both natives of Germany. The father was born July 27, 1781, and was reared and educated in his native land. Believing that the new world offered better opportunities for advancement, he crossed the broad Atlantic and landed in Philadelphia, where he was married in 1826. At an early day in the development of Kane county they came west and took up their residence in Aurora. In their family were the following children : John F., a farmer residing in Aurora; Henry, a farmer of Tipton, Iowa ; Charles, a farmer of Elburn, Illinois; Carolina, the wife of Charles Angell, who is also a farmer of Aurora: Elizabeth, deceased; and Mary A., of this review.
Reared in this county, Mrs. Hughes is indebted to its public schools for the educational advantages she enjoyed in her youth, and after leaving school at the age of seventeen years she remained under the parental roof until her marriage. It was in 1868 that she became the wife of Elias Hughes, and four children blessed their union: Emerit E., a farmer residing near El- burn ; Ernest D., who is a mail carrier of Chicago; Caroline S., a resident of Elburn ; and Mary A., who is teaching school in Grundy county, Illinois.
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Mr. and Mrs. Hughes began their married life in De Kalb county, Illi- nois, where he engaged in farming, but subsequently removed to a farm in Kaneville township, this county, and later still he purchased three hundred and forty acres in Blackberry township. He was a soldier of the Civil war trom 1861 to 1865, being a member of the One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. He participated in many important engagements, was under General Sherman in the Atlanta campaign, but during the last two years of his service was connected with the commissary department. He was a faithful soldier, always found at his post of duty and when hostilities ceased and his services were no longer required he was honorably discharged and returned north. He died July 6, 1877, in Kaneville. Mrs. Hughes now has in her possession a piece of the flagstaff taken from Fort Sumter, bearing date December 25. 1863. She remembers when this region was but sparsely settled and can relate many interesting incidents of early days. During the great flood of 1857 she saw the wagon bridge which spanned Fox river swept away. Her long residence in this county has gained her many friends and she is held in the highest regard by all who know her.
EDWARD C. COOLEY.
Edward C. Cooley, who has extensive farming and dairy interests one- half mile east of Lily Lake, where he owns and operates a farm of one hundred and ninety-seven acres, and conducts a dairy of forty cows, principally of the Holstein breed, is a native of Kane county, having been born at Elburn. May 24, 1862, the son of Calvin C. and Charlotte (Ruple) Cooley. His father was born December 27, 1830, in Chautauqua county, New York, whence he came to Illinois in 1856, locating in Elburn. Here he engaged in the boot and shoe business, following this line of work for the succeeding eight years. He then purchased a farm near Elburn, known as the "Old Hacket" farm. which he operated for the next sixteen years, when he sold it and returned to Elburn and resided for seven years. His inclinations ever drew him towards the farm, however, with the result that in 1887 he purchased the beautiful farm on which our subject now resides, located on the Lily Lake and St. Charles road. Here he resided the remainder of his days, passing away July 9. 1907, as the result of a paralytic stroke. He lies at rest in the Elburn cemetery. In politics he was ever an ardent republican, and fra- ternally was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The mother was born in the Allegheny mountains, in Pennsylvania, April 9. 1829. Four sons were born to this union, of whom Charles H. and James are leceased : Francis A., in the coal business in Aurora: and Edward C.
Edward C. Cooley is indebted to the district school of Campton township for his education, regularly attending through the winter months what is known as the "old red schoolhouse," and assisting his father in the work of the farm during the farming period. He was ever his fathers' mainstay in the conduct of the place, residing with him on the farm to the time of his
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death. The place has prospered under his able management, and he now owns one of the finest dairy herds in Kane county. He engages in diversified farming, in 1908 having seventy-seven acres of the place seeded to corn, thirty-seven acres in oats, thirty-seven in meadow, and the balance, with the exception of the ground occupied by the feed lots, orchard and garden, in pasturage.
On October 2, 1888, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Cooley and Miss Cora E. Westgarth, who was born in Campton township, May 8, 1863. Her father was a stonemason by trade. Both of her parents are now deceased and lie buried in the cemetery at Geneva. Mr. and Mrs. Cooley have become the parents of two daughters, Maud C., born January 27. 1890, and Madeline C., born July 20, 1892. Both of these young ladies led their classes last year, Miss Maud at the Wheaton high school, and Miss Madeline at the St. Charles high school. Both, too, are accomplished pianists.
Mr. Cooley casts his ballot with the republican party and has been elected to minor offices. He served as highway commissioner, and held the office of school director for twelve years. He takes an active interest in educational affairs and during his directorship built up a splendid school, and was mainly responsible for the district's engaging two teachers, instead of one, as formerly. Fraternally he is a member of the Knights of the Globe.
JOHN J. SCHMITZ.
Although of German parentage, John J. Schmitz, one of the active and energetic farmers of Plato township, is a native of Kane county, and was born almost in sight of where he now lives. His life began at Plato Center, February 8, 1877. His father, Joseph Schmitz, was born in Prussia, Ger- many, in 1836, and came to the United States in 1857, at the age of twenty- one. His parents died when he was a small child. His first location in this country was in Chicago, where he was employed in the Kirk soap factory, and afterward he carried brick for seventy-five cents a day. Later he worked in a rolling mill at one dollar a day, and, leaving Chicago, was for a short time at Beloit, Wisconsin. After coming to Plato Center he worked as a farm hand for eight dollars per month through the summer months, working for his board in the winter. When the war began he enlisted in 1861, and was a faithful soldier. He cooked for eighty soldiers for seven months, and at the close of the war in 1865 he returned to Plato Center and bought eighty acres of land. In 1866 he was married to Elizabeth Riebel, a native of Hesse, Germany, being then twenty-four years of age. They became the parents of five children, four daughters and one son, John J. Marie, the first child, was born in a log cabin and is the wife of Adolph G. Schreim, a steward of the Elgin National House, employed by the Elgin Watch Factory Company ; Elizabeth, the wife of G. A. Leiseberg, a druggist at Dundee; Katherine, the wife of G. C. Fischer, a farmer at Pingree Grove; Huldah, the wife of Adolph G. Muller, a farmer at Plato Center. John J., the son, is a prosperous
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farmer living at the old homestead. He took possession of the farm in 1900. and the father. Joseph Schmitz, retired and built a home for himself and wife at Plato Center, one mile west of the old homestead, and resided there until March 19. 1905. when death claimed him, and he was buried at Plato Center. In 1890 he had bought another eighty acres, making a farm of one hundred and sixty acres.
John J. Schmitz, who was the only son born to his parents. attended a district school until he was fourteen years old, and was employed by his father until he was married. December 7, 1899. he was joined in marriage with Miss Mamie Behrens, who was born in Cook county. Illinois, October 20, 1881. They have two daughters. Erma D. E., and Velda C., both of whom still abide with them.
Mr. Schmitz carries on an active and energetic farming industry, culti- vating his land with skill and judgment and securing good results. He is also engaged in the livestock business on an increasing scale, feeding at this time (1908) twenty-five cattle and some eighty hogs. He has forty acres of land in corn, forty in oats, and the rest in meadow for hay and pasturage. Politically he is a republican and in church membership a Lutheran. He is regarded as a valued citizen, with progressive ideas of public improvement. and earnest interest in all that tends to elevate and advance his township or its people ; and he stands well in the respect and good will of the whole com- munity in which he lives and wherever else he is known.
JOHN FRANCIS THOMAS.
John Francis Thomas, a well known farmer and dairyman of Kaneville township, was born in Wales on the 14th of May. 1874, and was only six months old when brought to America by his parents. George and Annie J. (Davis) Thomas, who were also natives of Wales, in which country they were reared and married. In early life the father followed the sea for thir- teen years prior to his emigration to the United States, but in this country he made farming his occupation, the family home being at Big Rock in Kane county, Illinois. He was a faithful and consistent member of the Congrega- tional church and was also connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. In his family were the following children : David H. and Joel G., both farmers of Big Rock : Jane, the wife of John Willis, a farmer of Blackberry township ; William M. and James, both at home; Eva M., the wife of Ralph Boyce, a farmer of Sugar Grove township; Maud W., Venus B., and Alma R., all at home; and John F., of this review.
Brought to this county in infancy, John F. Thomas was here reared and his education was mainly acquired in the Bracket school house at Big Rock, where he continued his studies until eighteen years of age. Prior to this time he began to assist his father in the labors of the farm, and after completing his education devoted his entire time to its cultivation and improve- ment for three years. At the age of twenty-one he started out in life for nım-
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self, working by the month on a farm until twenty-four years of age, and then commenced operating land on his own account. He is now engaged in farming on quite an extensive scale and also keeps twenty cows for dairy pur- poses.
Mr. Thomas married on the 22d of February, 1899, Miss Blanche I. Wells, who was born in Kaneville township, February 26, 1879, and three children blessed their union, namely : Dorothy W., Edith M. and Francis H. Mrs. Thomas' father is Horace A. Wells, who was born in Pittsfield, Massa- chusetts, and came with his parents to Illinois, the family locating near Kane- ville, where he grew to manhood and married Miss Elna Graves. The chil- dren born to them were Harlow R., deceased; Emma L., the wife of Charley Dreese ; Penn, an engineer; Martha, deceased; Lettie H., the wife of David H. Thomas, a brother of our subject; Nellie M., deceased; Elna M., the wife of Charles Harshberger; Pearl K., and H. Adelbert, both deceased; and Blanche I., wife of our subject.
Fraternally Mr. Thomas is a member of the Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica, and he is one of the honored and highly esteemed citizens of his com- munity. In business affairs he is upright and reliable, and the success that has come to him is but the just reward of honorable labor.
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JAMES WILBUR SNOOK.
James Wilbur Snook, deceased, was for many years prominently identi- fied with the agricultural interests of Blackberry township, his home being on section 26, where his widow now resides. He was born in Ontario county, New York, September 20, 1829, and was a son of John and Matilda ( Bos- ley) Snook. He was sixteen years of age when, in company with his brother Sela Snook he came to Illinois, the journey to this state being made by wagon. They located on the present farm of Mrs. Snook, which place is conveniently situated one mile south of Bald Mound and four miles south of LaFox. Two years later the brother died and our subject was thus left with the entire man- agement of the farm, owning it conjointly with his brother's widow, whose share he purchased at the end of two years. It is now one of the finest places in Kane county, consisting of one hundred and seventy-one acres of rich and arable land, on which is a fine grove of maple trees, and improvements valued at ten thousand dollars, all put there by Mr. Snook, who was regarded as one of the most progressive and successful farmers of Blackberry township.
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