USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II > Part 56
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Samuel R. Sheldon were born the following named : Eber I., who for twenty years practiced medicine in Kansas City, but is now deceased ; Amelia, who became the wife of Warren Bebee, with whom she removed to Hamilton, Iowa, in 1865. and now boasts of thirty living grand- children ; Sarah M., the widow of A. S. Wilkerson; Emma J., who was a school teacher and was killed in a cyclone in Irving, Kansas; and Celia I., wife of Charles Markle, who was once a partner of Quincy G. Sheldon in the livery business.
In the graded schools of Elburn, Q. G. Sheldon pursued his education, putting aside his text-books at the age of seventeen years, after which he engaged in the manufacture of cooperage products. He followed that busi- ness for a number of years, making considerable money in the undertaking, after which he engaged in general merchandise at Rockford, Freeport and Elburn, Illinois. He has added much to the value of cement by a certain patent which he has perfected for a fence post. At the present time he is engaged in the livery business, his being the only barn in Elburn. He has a number of fine carriages and other vehicles, good horses and enjoys a profita- ble patronage.
In 1885 occurred the marriage of Mr. Sheldon and Miss Catherine M. Schilts, a daughter of John P. Schilts, a Civil war veteran, who died in Chi- cago in 1898. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Sheldon have been born six children : Josephine Ella, a school teacher and instructor in music, who is a graduate of the Elburn high school; Eber M., who was graduated from the high school with the valedictorian honors of his class and afterward entered the bank at Elburn, later accepting a position with the Continental National Bank of Chi- cago, and is now associated with the Swan Creek Mining Company of Cen- terville, Tennessee : Ida Irene, a graduate of Elburn high school, who died in 1907 and is buried in the Elburn cemetery ; Hazel P. and Mary L., both attend- ing school ; June Belle, who is two years of age and completes the family.
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Mr. Sheldon is one of the old-time citizens of this part of the county, having spent his entire life here, so that he has witnessed much of its growth and development ; but he went to Salem, Oregon, in September, 1908, in company with some other men expecting to make a home for himself and family in the land of sunshine and flowers.
JOHN HERMAN JOHNSON.
John Herman Johnson, who owns and operates a valuable farm in Virgil township, was born in Sweden on the 22d of August, 1851, his parents being Andrew and Johanna (Valentine) Johnson. The father's birth occurred in Sweden, September 21, 1821, and in 1852 he emigrated to the United States, locating near Elburn, Illinois, where he purchased sixty-two acres of land. This farm remained his place of residence until the time of his demise, and it is also still the home of our subject. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Johnson were born the following children: John Herman, of this review; Matilda Charlotte, whose natal day was September 17, 1853; Augusta Josephine, born November 24, 1855, who resides with her brother, John H .; Charles August, who has passed away; Anna, who is also deceased; Frank, born December 28, 1861, who is now studying the Chinese language at New Orleans preparatory to becoming a missionary in China ; Emma Louisa, whose birth occurred September 18, 1863, and who makes her home in Chicago; and Albert, deceased. The mother of these children died when they were still young and the duties of the household therefore devolved upon the daughters of the family.
John Herman Johnson now resides with his sister Augusta on the old homestead farm, which is situated two and a half miles from Elburn. The improvements on the place are worth about five thousand dollars, and in the cultivation of the fields Mr. Johnson is meeting with a gratifying measure of success, being well known as an enterprising and progressive agriculturist.
Politically Mr. Johnson is a stanch republican. He has lived in this county for more than a half century and has gained an extensive circle of warm friends who esteem him for his genuine personal worth and upright. honorable career.
PRESTON B. SWANEY.
Preston B. Swaney, successfully carrying on agricultural pursuits in Kaneville township, was born in Putnam county, Illinois, February 26, 1857, his parents being Barnett and Albertine Swaney. The father, a farmer by occupation, now resides in La Salle county, Illinois. He served throughout the Civil war as a member of the Fourteenth Illinois Cavalry, and was impris- oned at Andersonville and in Libby. He was one of only two men that
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survived out of a company of sixty. The brothers and sisters of our subject are as follows: Alice, the wife of John Jakes; Edward, who is a painter and makes his home in Washington; Etta, the wife of John Jakes, foreman of the De Kalb Cooper Works of De Kalb, Illinois; Jennie, the wife of Harry Turner, an agriculturist of Oregon; John and William, both of whom follow farming in La Salle county, Illinois; Grant, who is engaged in farming in Nebraska; and Ruth, at home.
Preston B. Swaney attended a graded school in Putnam county until he had attained his majority. Subsequently he followed farming for two years in connection with his father, and afterward removed to Kane county, where he rented a farm and has continually since resided here. In the con- duct of his agricultural interests he is meeting with a gratifying measure of prosperity and is recognized as an enterprising and progressive citizen of his community.
Mr. Swaney was united in marriage to Miss Mattie Smith, a native of Kane county, her father being now the oldest settler in the county. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Swaney have been born two children, namely: Edna Ethel, whose birth occurred February 27, 1890; and Edith Albertine, born August 26, 1893.
A republican in his political views, Mr. Swaney gives stanch allegiance to the party and his support can always be counted upon in any movement or measure instituted for the general welfare.
FRANCIS J. KEEGAN.
The subject of this brief memoir, who is one of the enterprising farmers and dairymen of Burlington township, was born September 24, 1879. He is the son of Patrick and Mary Keegan, whose maiden name was O'Bryan, both of whom were born in Ireland. The father came to America at the age of twenty-one and located in Bureau county, Illinois, where he was employed as a hired man on a farm during the next eight years. He then married and began farming for himself.
He and his wife became the parents of eight children, the brothers and sisters of Francis J. being : Maggie, who was married to John Ryan ; James, who is dead; John, who resides in Rockford, Illinois; Lizzie, who is the wife of M. J. Dugan, a resident of Chicago, where he is employed as a shipping clerk for the Illinois Central Railroad Company; Allie, the wife of N. Harry, a locomotive engineer ; Thomas, a retired farmer now living in Chicago; and Eddie, who left home in 1905 and was last heard of as a resident of Nebraska.
Francis J. Keegan obtained his education in the Ellithorpe school in Bur- lington township, which he attended during the winter months until he was seventeen, meanwhile assisting his father on the farm. At the age mentioned he left school finally and turned his attention to farming, the occupation which he has followed ever since. He now owns a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, which is well improved and stocked with a dairy of thirty cows,
KANE COUNTY HISTORY
nearly all Holsteins, nine horses of superior breeds and other livestock. includ- ing hogs and poultry in abundance. It is also provided with all the neces- sary farming implements of modern types and kept in good condition.
Mr. Keegan's marriage, which occurred November 19. 1907, was with Miss Mary Rudenger, who was born in Burlington township. this county. March 2. 1888. and whose father. George Rudenger, was a prosperous farmer in that township for a period of thirty years or more. He was well known in all parts of the township as an enterprising man and good citizen.
Mr. Keegan is a Catholic in religion and always votes the democratic ticket. He enjoys the confidence and respect of the people and has served them as school director for many years. In reference to all matters of public improvement he is wide-awake and progressive, always giving his voice, influ- ence and aid in behalf of worthy objects and undertakings in which the wel- fare of the township and its citizens is involved. He is a good farmer and his dairy business is active and up-to-date in every respect.
ADRONIRAM JUDSON JOSLYN.
Adoniram Judson Joslyn died October 9. 1868, at the age of forty-nine years, at Elgin, Illinois, to which place he came from his father's farm at Nunda. McHenry county, as early as 1840, and during his residence in the then growing city was an active factor in religion, politics, journalism, and the general advancement of the village. Until his early death he was con- tinuously active in promoting the good of the community. He is remembered by the few still living who knew him as a man of remarkable intellectual force. infinite patience and perseverance, rare tact and judgment of men and of untiring energy.
In association with Dr. Joseph Tefft and others he aided in the estab- lishment of the Elgin AAcademy in 1855 and was one of its first directors. He was appointed to raise the funds necessary, and the building of the school in 1855 proves the efficiency of his efforts. In 1865 he was one of the prime movers in securing the location here of the Elgin Watch Works, and in 1867 was one of the committee who succeeded in having the Insane Asylum built here. He was the second pastor of the First Baptist church, then located on the northeast corner of DuPage and Geneva streets. His sermons are still remembered as of great power and thought. He was early an abolitionist and lost no opportunity in pronouncing his convictions. He was named as secre- tary of the first meeting to organize the republican party held at Geneva, August 4, 1854, and is credited with having been a large influence in changing Kane county from the democratic to the republican party.
He established the Western Christian, the first newspaper published in Elgin, and was afterward associated with the Gazette. He was postmaster of Elgin for a time.
He afterward became pastor of the Union Park church, Chicago, where he continued many years. During that period he aided in the establishment
REV. A. J. JOSLYN
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of the first Chicago University, which became the present University of Chicago.
His children were Ada and Gertrude. Ada Joslyn was a teacher in the public schools before her death in the '6os. Gertrude is now Mrs. John W. Farnum, of Elgin, Illinois.
FRED C. KOTHE.
Fred C. Kothe belongs to that class of American citizens who, though of foreign birth, are most loyal to the interests of their adopted land, recog- nizing the fact that through its opportunties and business conditions they have been enabled to secure success by the exercise of perseverance and dili- gence. He is now well known in Elgin, where he has long resided.
His birth occurred in the city of Kassel, Prussia, on the 8th of December, 1834, and he was twenty years of age when, in 1854, he crossed the Atlantic to New York. He had heard of America as a land of promise and possibili- ties and therefore embarked in a sailing vessel, which after a voyage of six weeks reached the eastern metropolis. There were at that time some steam- boats upon the water, but only comparatively few, and travel was yet largely done in sailing vessels. In his native land he had attended school to the age of fourteen years and was well educated in music. After ceasing to be a pub- lic-school student, he took up the study of bookkeeping and was employed as a bookkeeper in his native country. He had been in New York three weeks when he saw an advertisement, "Laborers wanted," and, applying to this agency for work, he was sent to Albany by boat, by train to Buffalo, by way of the lakes to Detroit, and thence to Chicago. He remained in the latter city for six weeks, when, hearing from a piano manufacturer that a piano teacher was wanted at Lord's Seminary at the corner of Center and Chicago streets in Elgin, he made his way to this city.
In April, 1855, Mr. Kothe became an employe of L. H. Yarwood & Company, druggists. Thus he took his place on Chicago street as a merchant when its business establishments were very few. He continued in that employ for two years and then went to St. Louis. This was the beginning of a suc- cessful career in the drug business. In course of time he became proprietor of an establishment of this character and built up a good trade, his success being attributable to his unfaltering perseverance, his unabating industry and energy that never flags. The name of Kothe has long stood as a synonym for activity and progressiveness in business circles in Elgin.
On the 21st of August, 1861, Mr. Kothe was united in marriage to Miss Barbara Straussel, the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Straussel. She was born in Chicago, November 16, 1841, and came to Elgin in 1850. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kothe, namely: Katharine, the wife of George Hoelscher, of the Elgin watch factory; Emil C., who is mentioned below ; Louise. the wife of John O'Connar, agent for the Chicago & North-
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KANE COUNTY HISTORY
western Railway Company at Harvard, Illinois; and John F., of the Elgin watch factory.
Mr. Kothe has taken a prominent part in public affairs, serving as con- stable from 1861 to 1865; city marshal and tax collector in 1862; justice of the peace in 1903 and 1904: and notary public since 1885. He was a member of the old volunteer fire department, belonging to Ed Joselyn Hose Company, and was also a member of the Elgin Union Band and the Third Illinois Infan- try Band.
In 1855 Mr. Kothe helped to organize what became known as the Elgin Brass Band, having seven pieces, an E flat clarinet, two B flat cornets, two altos, one tenor and one tuba : and after three months a bass drum was added. The band was first engaged to play at a sleight of hand performance at the Sher- man Hall. In the early days Mr. Kothe was closely associated with the musical interests of the city, and did not a little to promote a taste in this direction. That band was then the only one in Elgin, and it was composed of men who, busily employed in the days in various lines of activity, were glad to give expression to their love of music in this manner.
EMIL C. KOTHE.
Emil C. Kothe, a pharmacist of Elgin, is one of the oldest representatives of the drug trade here, having from his boyhood days been associated there- with. He was born in this city, September 2, 1864, was educated in the pub- lic schools and pursued the junior course in pharmacy in 1887. He has, how- ever, been continuously connected with the drug business since 1883.
Mr. Kothe is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of the Catholic Order of Foresters. He was married in 1893 to Miss Ella V. Keenan, of Elburn, Illinois. His father was one of the pioneer druggists of the city and. following in his footsteps, Emil C. Kothe has gained an enviable reputation and place in business circles, his course at all times being actuated by prin- ciples that are in close conformity to a high standard of mercantile ethics.
WILLIAM OWEN.
William Owen, of Elgin, Illinois, is remembered as one of the ablest and fairest justices of the peace Elgin ever had. He held the office many years and, while the guilty seldom escaped, the unfortunate were dealt with leniently and the innocent dismissed. In 1859, five years after the organization of the city, William Owen was elected as a member of the city council. A. J. Wal- dron was then mayor and the city had but four wards and eight aldermen.
William Owen was born at Whitesborough, Oswego county, New York, July 17, 1815, and died in Elgin, Illinois, August 31, 1887, at the age of seventy-two years. He came to Elgin in February, 1853, and until 1860 con-
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ducted a jewelry store in connection with Henry Sherman's drug store, which stood where the Schultz drug store now is. He was of Welsh-Huguenot stock.
October 9, 1845, he married Elizabeth M. Campbell, of Cherry Valley, New York. He left four children : Ella, who is now Mrs. W. J. S. Hyde, of Chicago: Walter, who died September 25. 1888; Hattie, now Mrs. Frederick P. Campbell, of Elgin, Illinois : and Frank, who died October 29. 1903.
ADOLPH G. MILLER.
Enterprising and successful as a farmer and stock-feeder and prominent in the school affairs of his township, in which connection he has done able and faithful service as school treasurer for a number of years, Adolph G. Miller is now comfortably situated in life and represents a sturdy and pro- gressive type of American citizenship. He was born in Cook county, Illinois, August 29, 1863, and has passed the greater part of his life to this time in or near the locality of his nativity.
Mr. Miller is a son of Gustav and Augusta ( Brehm) Miller, natives of Saxony. Germany, but married in this country. The father was born Decem- ber 16, 1828, and remained a resident of his native land until the age of twenty-three years, acquiring his education in the common schools while. in accordance with the custom of the country, he also rendered military ser- vice to the nation and was for two months a soldier in the Revolution of 1848. Attracted by the broader business opportunities of the new world, he crossed the Atlantic in 1851 and spent two months at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, near which point he worked in the hay and harvest fields for six dollars per month. He also worked for a time on the plank road which was then being built. receiving seventy-five cents a day for his labor. He was for a brief period a resident of St. Louis, Missouri, where for four months he drove a four- horse coal wagon. For six months he was employed on a steamboat on the Mississippi river, and for a short time occupied a similar position on an Ohio river boat. Necessity with him rendered employment imperative, and he gladly availed himself of every opportunity that would place him in a position that would bring him an honorable living. He worked at haying for six weeks in Iowa for one dollar per day and then, longing to see his native country, returned to Germany. He had. however, become imbued with a love for the new world and in 1855 he returned to the United States, securing a position in a hotel in Chicago. He afterwards bought a half interest in a hotel, and, as his cash capital consisted of but fifty dollars. he borrowed two hundred dollars to consummate the purchase. For three years he conducted this hotel, meeting with fair success, and during that time his father came to the United States with his youngest son, wishing to visit the country and note its possibilities and advantages. That he was pleased with the prospects here offered is indicated by the fact that he returned to Germany, disposed of his property there, and the same year bought a farm near Rodenburg.
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in Cook county, Illinois. There his sons assisted him in carrying on general agricultural interests, but in 1864 they sold out, and Gustav F. Miller pur- chased one hundred and sixty acres in Plato township, Kane county, on which his son, Adolph G., now resides. It is still, however, the property of the father and is a visible evidence of his life of well directed effort and indus- try. It is a well improved farm, all of the buildings having been erected by the Miller family, while various modern improvements are there seen. Year after year Gustav F. Miller carried on the work of tilling the soil, meeting with success in his undertakings, and eventually, in 1896. retired to private life and took up his abode in Elgin, where he now has a beautiful home in which to enjoy the comforts and luxuries of life that have been secured to him through his former diligence and capable business management. He cer- tainly merits the prosperity which is now his, for in all business affairs he has been honorable and upright, as well as energetic and industrious. A life- long member of the German Lutheran church, he is now a communicant of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran church, in Elgin. Since becoming a natural- ized American citizen he has given loyal and unfaltering support to the repub- lican party, for he believes that it best conserves good government. His fel- low townsmen have several times called him to local office, and for two years he filled the position of supervisor, for nine years was school director, and for nine years road commissioner. In those positions he labored effectively for the welfare and progress of the community, and that his friends appre- ciated his services is indicated by the fact that he was long continued in office.
In 1857, in Chicago, Mr. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Augusta Brehm, who was born in Germany, March 19. 1835. They traveled life's journey happily together for about forty-five years, and were then separated by the death of the wife March 1, 1902. They were the parents of nine children: Anna, who died in infancy; Hulda, the wife of Chris Fischer, a retired farmer living in Elgin; Matilda, the wife of F. E. Lemon. also a retired farmer residing in Elgin: Adolph G., who is residing on the home farm; Gustav, who died at the age of twenty-five years; Ida, the wife of James LeGate, an employe of the Elgin watch factory: Frances, the wife of Henry E. McBride, a coal merchant of Elgin; Emuma K., who is now a teacher in the Elgin high school and lives with her father; and one who died in infancy.
Adolph G. Miller attended the district schools at such times as oppor- tunity afforded until he was fifteen years of age, when he took his place on his father's farm as one of the regular farm hands, and has since been engaged in general agricultural pursuits. He made one trip to Texas, where he spent the winter, but with the exception of that brief period has continuously remained in this locality. The farm which he now occupies and cultivates is the property of his father, and contains one hundred and sixty acres. It is well improved and well watered, and the best machinery is used in its sys- tematic cultivation. In addition to raising cereals best adapted to the soil and climate, Adolph G. Miller is now also engaged in buying and shipping
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stock, and for the past two years has shipped at least one carload of cattle and one of hogs annually.
Mr. Miller's marriage occurred October 23, 1895, Miss Hulda Schmitz, a native of Kane county, becoming his wife. They are the parents of three daughters and a son : Jeannette, Bernice, Adolph and Elizabeth. The parents are members of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church, and Adolph G. Miller supports the republican party and enjoys the confidence of its electorate. He has been township school treasurer of Plato township, Kane county, for six years, and is looked upon as an excellent official, a wise and progressive citizen, and an important factor in the public life of the township.
CHARLES LESTER BOLSTER.
Born, reared and educated in Kane county and having passed all his days here, Charles L. Bolster is devoted to the county and the welfare of its people, and is fully imbued with the spirit of enterprise and elevated citizen- ship which characterizes them. His life began October 3, 1855, on the farm on which he now lives, on section 18, Sugar Grove township. The farm originally belonged to his grandfather, Artemus Bolster, who secured a por- tion of it by patent from the government, the patent being signed by Thomp- son Campbell, then governor of the state.
Mr. Bolster's parents were Albert S. and Rhoda A. (Rounds) Bolster. The father was born in the state of New York, January 8, 1829, and the mother in the village of Sempronius in the same state. February 25, 1832. At the age of seven she accompanied her parents from their New York home to the wilds of Wisconsin, locating in the town of Eureka, where her father engaged in merchandising. In this frontier settlement, then a struggling ham- let, crude in appearance and surrounded with all the dangers, as well as the picturesqueness of the wilderness, she grew to womanhood, assisting her father in his store when she was not in school. Her recollection of those early and trying days are vivid, and her narratives of the incidents and adven- tures they brought her sparkle with interest. The Indians, from the reserva- tion across the river, were frequent customers at the store, and she very often waited on them. While they were in the main peaceful, they sometimes showed signs of violence, but, inured to the life of the pioneers and accus- tomed to look peril in the face. she seldom feared them and never showed that she did. On January 8, 1851, she was united in marriage to Mr. Bolster, theirs being the first wedding in Winnebago county, Wisconsin. It excited universal interest and was dignified with all the pomp and circumstance the frontier could furnish. In 1858, with her husband, she moved to this state and took up her residence on the farm owned by her father-in-law. Here her husband died, June 20, 1899, and here she is still living in company with one of her daughters. In the family were three daughters : Florence, the wife of George Edmunds, of Aurora, who died in June, 1908; Effie, the wife of Bert
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