History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II, Part 50

Author: Joslyn, R. Waite (Rodolphus Waite), b. 1866
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 958

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On the 8th of April, 1860, Mr. Snook was united in marriage to Miss Mary Elizabeth George, and they began their domestic life on the farm. where she still continues to reside. Her father was Milo George, who was born in Strafford, Vermont, and on leaving the east came to Illinois in 1853, locating on a farm of ninety-eight acres of land one mile south of Bald Mound in Blackberry township, Kane county. He is now deceased, but Mrs. Snook's mother is still living, and, although eighty-six years of age, her mind is still very active and she readily recalls all the important events in the early

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history of this county. While age is creeping on her, she yet possesses a con- stitution which enables her to perform various household tasks, putting to shame many girls of today in the art of bread-baking, sewing and other domes- tic duties. She is still very energetic and industrious and carries well her load of four score years and six. She has many heirlooms which have been in the family for several generations. Her father, Adam Boyle, served with dis- tinction and honor in the war of 1812. Mrs. Snook has two sisters living : Caroline, the wife of George Catlin, who is engaged in the real-estate business in Creston, Iowa; and Alice May, the wife of Fred Humiston, who follows farming near Big Rock, Kane county.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Snook was born one daughter. Mattie C., who was married December 2, 1886, to Frank W. Seavey, who was born in Sugar Grove township, and was educated in the Sugar Grove high school. They have a daughter, Ruth Elizabeth Seavey, who was born June 9. 1891, and was graduated in 1907 from the Sugar Grove high school. She is now a member of the junior class at the State Normal of De Kalb, Illinois, where she is taking the teacher's course and is carrying off the honors of her class.

Mr. Snook assisted materially in rebuilding the county almshouse, and was prominently identified with the early development and upbuilding of this section of the state. He and his wife experienced many of the hardships and trials which fall to the lot of the pioneer. As a prominent and influential citizen. Mr. Snook took a very active part in public affairs and held the office of county supervisor for eighteen years. In politics he was a republican. He was an honored member of the Masonic fraternity, and also held member- ship in the Universalist church. After a useful and weil spent life. he passed away on the 6th of May, 1898, and was laid to rest in the Sugar Grove ceme- tery.

LYSANDER BEVERLY.

Lysander Beverly, whose demise on the Ist of February. 1874. was the occasion of deep and widespread regret throughout the community in which he resided, was for many years a successful agriculturist of Kane county. He was born in New York, December 4. 1818. his parents being Asa and Sally (Curtis) Beverly. He made his way westward to this county in the year 1840 and from that time until his death was prominently connected with farming interests here. He owned a valuable tract of land of several hundred acres near Elgin, meeting with a large and well merited measure of prosperity in the cultivation of his fields. He was a well educated man and his opinions, which were often sought, were an influencing factor on all matters of general interest in the community.

On the 12th of March. 1865. Mr. Beverly was united in marriage to Miss Anna M. Tracy, a daughter of Ira and Cornelia (Chase) Tracy, the former of York state and the latter a native of Massachusetts. The members of the Chase family were very pious and devoted church members in Elgin.

LYSANDER BEVERLY

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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Beverly were born five children, namely : Charles E., Louie L., Alice J., Amy D. and Tracy B.

In his political views Mr. Beverly was a democrat and served as school trustee for a number of years. Fraternally he was a Mason and in his life exemplified the teachings of that craft. During his residence here of more than a third of a century he gained an extensive circle of admiring friends and when he was called to his final rest the county mourned the loss of one of its prominent, progressive and most highly respected citizens.

JONATHAN TEFFT.

Jonathan Tefft won for himself a place among the prominent farmers and stock raisers of Kane county and his opinions upon any matter relating to the farm were largely received as authority. He was born in Lebanon, Madison county, New York, January 23, 1817, his parents being Jonathan and Elizabeth (Collins) Tefft. The family came to Illinois in 1835, before the land was surveyed, and a log cabin was erected east of Elgin in what is now Hanover township, Cook county. Three years before the white race had contested for the supremacy of this state with the red men, and only here and there had a little clearing been made to show that the former were victorious and were planting the seeds of civilization in Illinois soil. The home of the Tefft family comprised a claim of two hundred and ten acres, on which they resided until 1837, when they removed to what has since been designated as the old homestead farm, comprising two hundred and sixty acres. For more than thirty years Mr. Tefft remained a resident of the county and passed away January 26, 1866, in the city of Elgin, while his wife died August 24, 1856, on their farm in Elgin township.

No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for Jonathan Tefft in his boyhood and youth. He was a lad of eighteen years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to the west, and here he became familiar with all of the incidents of pioneer life. His educational privileges were limited to the opportunities offered by the district schools. After coming to the west he assisted his father in farm work until 1839, when he and his brother purchased a claim of two hundred and fifty acres from their father and after dividing this with his brother Jonathan Tefft sold his portion-one hundred and eight acres-to Smith Harford in about 1844. He and his brother afterward carried on a meat market in Elgin from 1846 until 1850, and in the latter year Jonathan Tefft purchased one hundred and fifty acres of land, a part of which was across the boundary line of Cook county. To this he added thirty-six acres on the 14th of January, 1865. Soon afterward he sold the property to his brother, and on the 2d of March, 1865, purchased his father's homestead of two hundred and sixty acres, of which two hundred and eight acres lie in Cook county and fifty- two on section 36, Elgin township. He afterward added forty-seven acres to the tract and upon the farm made his home, being engaged extensively and

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successfully in sheep raising, having at one time over six hundred head. In later years he turned his attention to dairying, milking sixty cows, his herd consisting of nearly one hundred head of full blooded and high grade Hol- steins. He brought his farm under a high state of cultivation, equipped it with the best improvements and made it a model property. It is well drained and watered and Mr. Tefft added to it every modern accessory. In its midst he erected a large brick residence in attractive, modern style of architecture ; also put up four barns, including a dairy barn thirty-six by ninety-eight feet, with eighteen-foot posts and basement. He also built another barn forty feet square, and a third one for hay, and likewise built a large tool house. He also built a carriage house, twenty-two by thirty feet, and everything was constructed in good style. The many improvements upon the place indicate clearly the thrift, enterprise and progressive spirit of the owner, who stood as one of the most progressive and prominent farmers of the county.

Mr. Tefft was married on the 8th of April, 1841, to Miss Delinda West, a native of New York and a daughter of Isaac West, of Kane county. They became the parents of five children, but three of the number died in infancy, while the others are Jennie and Frank, the latter a well known veterinary surgeon and business man of Elgin.

In community affairs Mr. Tefft took an active and helpful part. with- holding his support from no movement or measure that he believed would prove of public benefit. He was for three years assistant supervisor, and for fifteen years occupied the position of highway commissioner. For a long period he was connected with the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in Clintonville Lodge, No. 511, while later he affiliated with Elgin Lodge, No. 117, A. F. & A. M .; Monitor Chapter. R. A. M .; and Bethel Com- mandery, K. T. He was a member of the Board of Trade and of the Illinois Holstein Breeders' Association. Politically he was a stalwart republican, unswerving in his allegiance to the party. The success which he achieved in the business world was attributable to no fortunate combination of circum- stances but resulted from energy and industry carefully directed. His invest- ments were judiciously placed and he knew when and where and how to act. so that his labors resulted in bringing to him gratifying success. When he passed away, May 26. 1903, the county mourned the loss of one of its respected and honored citizens. Viewed thus, the work of Jonathan Tefft is not yet done, for out of the past his memory rises and stands as an example and incentive to the youth of the generations that are yet to come.

JAMES W. COLE.

James W. Cole, who began life for himself with nothing but his clear head, strong arm and determined spirit as weapons for the battle, has risen through his own efforts and capacity to a position of esteem in his com- munity. of substantial comfort in a worldly way, and of influence in the

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public affairs of his township. He is a native of Illinois, and was born at Winfield, DuPage county, September 21, 1879.

His father, James H. Cole, is a farmer and butter-maker, and lives at Plato Center. He was born in the state of New York and became a resident of Kane county when he was twenty-five. Here he was married to Miss May Etta Harvey, a native of the county and the daughter of one of its enterpris- ing tillers of the soil. They became the parents of six children: James W .; Mabel, who married Frank McConnel, a farmer of Burlington township; Eldora, who is dead; Helen, who married James McEwan, also a Burlington township farmer; Ellen, who is living at home; and Myrtle, who is also deceased.

James H. Cole was educated in a country school which he attended until he was fifteen. He then secured work as a hired hand on a farm, and stuck to this engagemet until he was married to Miss M. E. Martin, whose mother is dead and whose father is living in Batavia, where the remains of his wife rest. Mr. Cole's farming operations are vigorous and successful. He has this year (1908) thirty-five acres of his farm in corn, thirty in oats, eight in barley, and the rest of the one hundred and forty he farms is devoted to pas- turage and hay. He keeps twenty-two cows and has other livestock in abun- dance for his needs. He belongs to the republican party and the Methodist Episcopal church.

MERTON H. BOWNE.

Merton H. Bowne, residing on his valuable farm of two hundred and ten acres, situated two miles east of Lily Lake on the Sycamore and St. Charles road, has demonstrated to his entire satisfaction that no vocation in life is so certain in its results, nor warrants such freedom and independence of action as does farm life. He was born in Campton township, May 17, 1876, the son of David and Nancy V. (Murphy) Bowne. He is of Holland Dutch descent through his paternal grandmother. His father was born in Tompkins county, New York, February 12, 1820. He was a blacksmith by trade, and hear- ing of advantageous openings for this line of work in the middle west, in 1840 he came to Illinois to personally investigate the matter, with the result that after a few months' residence here he located near St. Charles and opened up a blacksmih shop, conducting an extensive and prosperous business. His work was of a nature to bring him in contact with farmers principally and doubtless it was by reason of the friendships thus formed, as well as a recog- nition on his part of the value of the farming land of the community, that he was ultimately led to dispose of his blacksmith business and invest in the farm upon which our subject now resides. That he never regretted the change is evidenced by the fact that he remained on this farm throughout the remainder of his life. He was twice married, his first wife being Cyntha Emery. After her death he was again married, his second union being with Miss Nancy V. Murphy, whose father came to Illinois from Virginia. Unto

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this union were born four children, three sons and one daughter, namely : William D., a farmer residing at Lily Lake ; Leo H., who lives in St. Charles ; Edna A., residing in Elgin; and Merton H., of this review. The father now lies buried in the Whitney cemetery, at Wasco.

Merton H. Browne is indebted to the district school in Campton town- ship for his early education. He attended school regularly up to the time he was sixteen years of age, at which time he discontinued his studies to aid his father in the work of the farm, remaining under the parental roof up to the time of his marriage. On starting out for himself he first tried farming, which he later discontinued to accept a position as motorman on an electric car, and it is safe to assume that he then received his first lesson in the value of the independence of farm line, inasmuch as he gave up his position to return to agricultural pursuits, which he has followed diligently up to the present time, with the exception of one lengthened vacation he has allowed himself. during which time he took an extensive trip through the eastern states.

On January 24. 1900. was celebrated the marriage of Merton H. Bowne and Miss Rosemonde Secombe, who was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, February 26, 1879. Her father was employed in a shoe factory there. Mr. and Mrs. Bowne have become the parents of four sons, namely : David, born September 6. 1902; Lauraine W., born December 21, 1903: Leroy H., born December 12. 1904, and Robert S., born May 12, 1906. In politics Mr. Bowne is a stanch republican : fraternally is a member of the Modern Wood- men of America, and religiously is a consistent and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

JEREMIAH SHEPARD.

Jeremiah Shepard, deceased, was for many years one of the prominent and honored citizens of Aurora and at his home here on Fox street, he passed away May 30, 1898. He was born in Salem, Massachusetts, on the Ist of January, 1817, and was a son of Jeremiah and Ruth ( Chever) Shepard. He was descended from a good old New England family, tracing his paternal ancestry back through Jeremiah, Jeremiah, Thomas, Nathaniel. Jeremiah and Thomas Shepard. The last named, a clergyman, was born in Towces- ter, England, November 5. 1605. and died in Cambridge, Massachusetts, August 25. 1649. He was graduated, with a high reputation for scholarship, from Emanuel College, Cambridge University, Cambridge, England, in 1625. and received his degree of Master of Arts in 1627. He was ordained in the established church, and in 1630 silenced for non-conformity. He was a vigorous and popular writer. In 1632 he married a cousin of Sir Richard Darley, Knight, and in company with his wife and child, came to America on the ship Defence, landing October 3. 1635. after an eleven weeks' pass- age. The following February the first parish was formed and he was or- dained as pastor at Cambridge, Massachusetts. One writer calls him:

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"That gratious, sweete, Havenly minded and soule-ravishing minister, Mr. Thomas Shepard, in whose soule the Lord shed abroad his love so abund- antly." Cotton Mather says: "Let the reader go with me and I will show him one of the happiest men that ever we saw; as great a converter of souls as has ordinarily been known in our days." And once more he says : "It was with a respect unto the enlightening and powerful ministry of Mr. Shepard that when the foundation of a college was laid, Cambridge, rather than any other place was pitched upon to be the seat of that happy seminary." Thomas Shepard's son, Jeremiah, was educated at Harvard College and thoroughly prepared for the ministry. He is spoken of as having "native gifts and superior talents." Further reference is made to the ancestry of our subject in Edward Johnson's Massachusetts Historical Collection, XVII, 27; Cotton Mather's Magnalia and his lives of Chief Fathers of New Eng- land; Appleton's American Encyclopedia of Biography, and the History of Rowley and Lynn, Massachusetts.

Our subject's father, who also bore the name of Jeremiah Shepard, was commander of a privateer during the war of 1812, and his uncle, James Chever, Jr., commanded the famous and successful private armed ship, Amer- ica, of Salem, Massachusetts. His grandfather, James Chever, "won distinc- tion on both land and sea" during the Revolutionary war. (Washington War Records. )

Jeremialı Shephard, of this review, received his education in the his- toric old town of Salem, Massachusetts, and after a course in navigation made three trips on merchant vessels, twice around Cape Good Hope to Calcutta, Bombay and the East Indies and once to Antwerp. In 1835 he came west and joined his brother-in-law, John L. Clarke, who had located in Kendall county, Illinois. He bought a farm and soon his other brothers and sisters followed him, each purchasing farms in that vicinity. He was always active in all good works, being one of the first to establish and main- tain good schools and always acting as school director. He was postmaster of Aurora for nine years, having removed to this city December 14, 1867. to educate his children. He held many other offices of trust and always capably and satisfactorily performed any duty that devolved upon him.

On the 20th of April, 1841, Mr. Shepard married Miss Ellen Theodosia Browne, a daughter of John and Cecilia (Le Stourgeon) Browne. She was born in Liverpool, England, January 15, 1820, and her parents dying before she was six years old she spent part of her early life in London with her aunt and part in Cambridge with her grandfather Le Stourgeon, with whom she came to America in 1838 and settled on a farm near Bristol, Illinois. Her grandfather passed away a few months after arriving in this country. She is now a woman of eighty-eight years, with a keen intellect, high spiritual attainments and a charm of manner which draws everyone to her.

Mr. and Mrs. Shepard had six children, three of whom survive :

Cecilia Shepard, born May 18. 1842, married Edmund S. Satterly, a prominent farmer of Kendall county, Illinois, who died in 1905. She now resides in Aurora with her two daughters, Cecilia May and Theodosia Ellen.

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Charles Clarke Shepard, born in Kendall county. December 14. 1858, re- moved to Aurora in 1867, was educated in the East Aurora schools, entered the employ of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, holding the posi- tions of chief clerk of Master Mechanic Chalander, chief clerk of General Manager T. J. Potter, and secretary to the superintendent of locomotive power. He went to Buda, Illinois, about 1880 to take charge of the Buda Foundry & Manufacturing Company. This plant was moved to Harvey, a suburb of Chicago, about 1890, and greatly enlarged under Mr. Shepard's skillful management, until it included the manufacture of all kinds of struc- tural iron work and all railroad supplies. Mr. Shepard sold his interest in 1904 and retired from active business. He makes his home at the Chicago Beach Hotel in winter and Alexandria, Minnesota, in summer. He and his family have traveled extensively, and he has large interests in Arizona, Florida and the island of Cuba. He was married in November, 1882, to Virginia Hard. à daughter of Dr. Abner Hard, of Aurora, and has one son, Charles Clarke, Jr., born in July, 1894. who is now a student in the Uni- versity high school, Chicago. Ruth Chever Shepard, born August 28, 1861, in Kendall county, was educated in the East Aurora schools. She married Eben F. Beaupré, March 22, 1887. She is a prominent member of the Aurora Woman's Club, has been its president and has represented the club in the county and state federations.

Jeremiah Shepard, born in Kendall county, May 27. 1865, died in Helena, Montana, December 4. 1891, and was buried in Spring Lake Ceme- tery, Aurora. He was educated in East Aurora schools, entered the master mechanic's office of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad: was trans- ferred to auditor of expenditure's office in Chicago and became traveling auditor, with headquarters at St. Paul. He was married in that city in 1890, his wife dying February 13. 1900. He had one son, Charles Frederic (Fred), who makes his home in Aurora with Mr. and Mrs. Beaupré. Fred graduated in 1908 from the East Aurora schools with high honors, being chosen orator and valedictorian of his class. He entered Dartmouth College in the fall of 1908.

LEWIS PARQUETTE.

Lewis Parquette, who is successfully engaged in farming in St. Charles township, was born in Keeseville. New York, February 10. 1856. his par- ents being Nelson and Mary Parquette, who were born in 1815 and 1812 respectively. They came from Keeseville to St. Charles, Illinois, where the father passed away June 5. 1892. He had been a mason by trade. His wife (lied September 11. 1883. her remains being interred at Kankakee, Illinois. The record of the brothers and sisters of our subject is as follows: Mitchell, who was born in Canada, wedded Miss Carrie Perkins, of St. Charles, where he now carries on agricultural pursuits. Peter, a native of Canada, is a retired soldier residing in St. Charles, having married Miss Kate Daily,

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of this place. Matilda and Alice, who were also born in Canada, are both now deceased. Nancy, also a native of Canada, married Frank Wickins. of Kankakee, Illinois, where she makes her home. Joe, whose birth likewise occurred in Canada, passed away on the 7th of July, 1895.

Lewis Parquette was but an infant when brought by his parents from Keeseville, New York, to St. Charles. Subsequently he went to Kankakee, but in 1884 returned to St. Charles, purchasing the farm of fifty-one acres on which he has since made his home. In addition to the work of general farming he conducts a dairy. having eleven head of cows, and takes his milk to Wasco. In the conduct of his agricultural interests he is meeting with a gratifying and well merited measure of prosperity and is well known as one of the progressive and enterprising residents of the community.

On the 10th of November, 1892, in St. Charles, occurred the marriage of Mr. Parquette and Miss Elvira Eaton, who was born in Burlington, Illi- nois, March 28, 1873. They have one daughter, Bessie Edna, whose birthi occurred in St. Charles township, February 27, 1894. and who now attends school in Wasco. Illinois.

Mr. Parquette is independent in his political views, taking into consid- eration the capability and general fitness of the candidate for office rather than his party affiliation. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Catholic church of St. Charles, and he is a public-spirited citizen. giving his cooperation to every movement which tends to promote the moral, in- tellectual and material welfare of the community.

JOHN C. MOCK.

During all the years of his youth and manhood that have passed John C. Mock, an energetic and successful farmer of Plato township, has been engaged in the cultivation of the soil in the section which is now the scene of his enterprising and fruitful labors. He was born in Plato township, December 27. 1867, and is the son of James and Mary ( Pickering) Mock, natives of England. but long residents of Kane county.

The father became a resident of Kane county, Illinois, immediately after his arrival in this country in 1853, and remained in the county until his death, September 2, 1905. His remains rest at Plato Center. The mother was brought to America by her parents in her childhood, and they came direct to this county, where they, also, passed the remainder of their lives. For seven years after his arrival in this part of the world the father worked as a hired hand on a farm. He then bought a farm of eighty acres, which he increased by subsequent purchases to one hundred and ninety. His political alliance was with the republican party and his church connection with the Anglican, or Protestant Episcopal, sect. He and his wife became the parents of five children. John's sisters and one brother being: Minnie, who is the wife of William Mock, a South Dakota grain merchant ; Agnes,

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who lives at Plato Center; J. William, who is a fariner and dwells near Plato Center, and Annie, who passed away a number of years ago.

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History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II, Part 50

Author: Joslyn, R. Waite (Rodolphus Waite), b. 1866 Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 958

Author: Joslyn, R. Waite (Rodolphus Waite), b. 1866
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago : The Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 958