USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II > Part 58
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EDWARD VOGLE.
Successful and prosperous as a farmer and energetic and progressive as a dairyman. Edward Vogle, of Burlington township, Kane county, has demonstrated and is demonstrating the worth of thrift, energy and attention o business in this country of great possibilities and swiftly advancing develop- ment. He is of French nativity, having been born in June. 1870, in Alsace, before that unhappy province was torn from his native land by Germany as a part of the spoils of war.
His parents. George and Adaline (Derrick) Vogle, were also Alsatians by birth. The father served a number of years in the French army, but after the Franco-German war, which changed the allegiance of his native province to the German empire, he determined to seek a new home in the new world and came to the United States, arriving in Illinois with his fam- ily in 1873. He had been a very prosperous farmer in his old home, and turned to the same occupation soon after coming to this country, for which his wife also had a longing. as she was a farmer's daughter. For one year after coming to this state he was employed in railroad construction work. At the end of that period he moved to the vicinity of Burlington in this county, and again became a farmer.
He and his wife were the parents of seven children, those besides Edward being: Clara, now the wife of Clarence Haskins, a retired farmer of Madison county, Nebraska : George, a carpenter living in Burlington; Ernest, who died some years ago; May, the wife of E. R. Allen, a resident of Burlington ; Frank, who is employed on a cattle farm; and Josephine, who is the wife of L. W. Allen and resides on a farm in Virgil township. The father died on his farm in Burlington township in 1905. and since then the mother has been living in Burlington. She, like her late husband, was reared in the Catholic faith and still holds to that church.
Edward Vogle was but three years old when he came with his parents to this country. His education was begun in the district school kept in Smith's schoolhouse in Burlington township. He worked during the summer and attended school in winter until he reached the age of eighteen, then returned to the paternal homestead and assisted his father on the farm for ten years.
At the age of twenty-eight Mr. Vogle was married to Miss Fannie Solomon, who is a native of Kane county, born in Virgil township. Her father, who was a farmer, is now deceased. The mother survives and makes her home in Burlington. After his marriage Mr. Vogle began farming on
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his own account, renting land for the purpose. He is still living on a rented farm; but has a dairy of twenty-five cows which reward the care and atten- tion he bestows on them with good returns. His farming operations are also profitable, for he is a prudent and judicious farmer and conducts the business with great industry and enterprise. Unto him and his wife have been born three children : Earl, who is living at home; Gracia, now deceased; and Irene, who is also still a member of the household.
In religion Mr. Vogle is a Catholic and in politics a democrat. Although born abroad he may almost be said to be wholly an American. He grew from childhood to manhood under the benign institutions of this country and is devoted to them. He drew his stature and his strength from American soil, his mental pabulum from American schools, and his domestic environ- ment from American social life. And he is generally respected as a worthy representative of American citizenship of the sturdy class.
RANDALL CASSEM.
Randall Cassem, member of the Kane county bar with offices in Aurora and also one of the most extensive landowners of this part of the state, was born on his father's farm in Fox township. Kendall county, Illinois, January 2, 1852, his parents being Nels O. and Margaret (Fritz) Cassem, of Kendall county. The paternal grandfather, Ole Cassem, was a native of Norway, where he died when about seventy-seven years of age, having devoted his life to fishing and tilling the soil. Unto him and his wife Rachel was born a son June 29. 1829, his birth occurring about seven miles east of the city of Stav- anger, Norway. He was called Nels O. Cassem, and in his native land he was reared to the age of about twenty years when, on the 22d of April. 1849, he sailed for America, reaching his destination nine weeks later, on the 24th of June. Soon afterward he became a resident of Fox township, Kendall county, Illinois. and on the 15th of March, 1851, he married Margaret Fritz, of that county. Her father was known in Norway as Aslek Fritz, but after coming to America changed his given name to Oscar. He took up his abode in Kendall county, Illinois, in 1870, and there spent his remaining days. He was a painter and decorator, and died at the age of seventy-five years, while his wife reached the advanced age of ninety-two years. They had a large family, including Margaret Fritz, who, as stated, became the wife of Nels O. Cas- sem1.
When Nels O. Cassem first came to this state he worked on the old tow-path of the Illinois & Michigan canal at fifty cents per day. He always made it his purpose to save something of his earnings, and this resolve formed in early life constituted the foundation for his success. By safe and wise investments, fortunate loans and other profitable business transactions, and also through integrity, application and ability. his fortune steadily increased. He early realized that there is no royal road to wealth, but that industry and
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common-sense application are elements in prosperity. He never entered the field of speculation, but as opportunity offered he made judicious investments in property and became the owner of extensive realty holdings. He regarded Illinois as the best state in the Union and Kendall county as the best part of the state, and he believed that he might win success through his farming operations and his investments, owing to his favorable location. He managed and directed his farming and other business enterprises within fifty-five miles of the greatest and best grain and stock market in the world-Chicago. His success may well be attributed to about five causes : He always had a strong body and possessed great power of physical endurance ; secondly, as assistant to his father in Norway he formed industrious habits, knew how to work, was ambitious and earnest in his undertakings and his life was full of action. He stood for the life of effort and not for the life of ease. As money came to him slowly in his childhood and only by hard work, he learned the value of a dollar, and this constituted another element in his success. Then, too, he was always courageous. His ambition and firm self-reliance were appar- ent in his business transactions. He dared to attempt in the business world what others were afraid to take up, and though his gams were small, they were properly managed and when the time was ripe were invested in such a prudent manner as to produce a still greater yield. He gave minute atten- tion to the most trivial things which could affect his business, and he also settled his bills as he went along. saying. "Thus I have always kept my busi- ness before me instead of allowing it to drive me." The fifth reason of his success was that he practiced self-denial and rigid economy. It took perse- verance and tenacity of purpose, combined with honesty, good principle and a clean character for him to succeed. One principle that demanded notice was the one which guided him in never striving after extravagant profits in any of his undertakings. Moreover, he was unquestionably honest, and viewed in any light his character affords one of the most perfect models. He was a firm believer in the Bible, and his life was largely in harmony with the teachings of Him who came to the world to present to mankind the Christian religion. He died Saturday afternoon, August 20, 1904, about 3:30 o'clock, when driving home. Through an accident he was thrown from the buggy upon the road and death resulted immediately. His funeral ser- vices were held at the old homestead in a large tent on a bright. sunny Wednesday, August 24, 1904, and were conducted by the Rev. William H. Buss, of Aurora, Illinois, and Rev. A. O. Mortvedt, of Newark, Illinois, the former preaching in English and the latter in Norwegian. His pallbearers were his farm tenants, and the funeral was one of the largest ever held in Kendall county, for he was followed to the grave by a host of friends when his remains were laid to rest in the old cemetery west of Helmar. His was indeed a most active, useful and honorable life. Few men without better advantages at the outset of their careers attain the measure of prosperity which came to Mr. Cassem, nor through it all enjoy the unassailable reputa- tion for business honesty and integrity.
His wife was a most devoted companion to him on life's journey, and was a most faithful and loving mother. She possessed all the womanly vir-
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tues, and these endeared her to those with whom she came in contact. She died August 28, 1872, aged forty-five years, eight months and five days. As she lay upon her deathbed she quoted the words :
"Exalt with me mightily, Praise ye the Lord, Our God and Master's Holy name ! I sought Him in prayer,
He heard my petition. His almighty power The danger averted, And brought from the tempest
To haven secure. O glorious salvation From gravest oppression ! My heart nor my tongue Shall never forget."
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cassem were born two sons and three daughters who are yet living : Randall, who resides in Aurora; Mrs. Olive J. Osmondson, of Seward township. Kendall county; Oscar E., of Mitchell, South Dakota : Mrs. Margaret Olson, of Aurora : and Mrs. Anna O. Rood, of Chicago. One daughter, Emily, was born in 1855 and died in 1877.
The eldest, Randall Cassem, was reared to manhood on his father's farm and attended the public schools of Kendall county. He was a country school teacher for a time, and later he acquired a good academic education at Newark, Illinois. He then pursued a professional career and was graduated from the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in the spring of 1874. In the fall of that year he was admitted to the bar and began practice at Yorkville, where he remained until 1887, when he removed to Aurora and has since been connected with the local courts in the conduct of much important litigation. He is an able lawyer who prepares his cases with great thoroughness and care, and is very accurate in his application of legal principles to the points at issue. He also buys and sells real estate and is the owner of large farms of valuable land in Kendall county and valuable lands in the states of Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota, all of which is well improved. He likewise has a number of store buildings and business blocks in Aurora and Chicago, from which he derives a gratifying annual income.
On the IIth of April, 1882. Mr. Cassem was married to Miss Maggie Casler, a daughter of Robert and Jeannette ( Eldridge) Casler. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cassem are members of the People's church. Politically he is a republican, and for two terms served as city attorney of Yorkville, but other- wise he has never sought nor desired office. He is a man of strong intellectual force and of marked individuality, who has been a worthy exemplar of his father's teachings in that he has made good use of his opportunities and has gained advancement in business circles through his close application and well
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directed energy. His business methods, too, are such as will bear the closest investigation and scrutiny, and the work of his life has been crowned with success owing to the strong purpose and keen discernment which he has always displayed.
J. J. LUCK.
J. J. Luck is well known as a representative of real-estate and insurance interests in Aurora and furthermore is numbered among the valued citizens here because of the active and helpful part which he has taken in securing the location of factories here and in otherwise promoting the growth and develop- ment of the city. A native of Germany, he was born in Brandenburg on the 8th of June, 1850. His paternal grandfather was a Von Vadel-a noble German family. His paternal great-grandfather was a noted soldier of the Prussian army who distinguished himself at Waterloo and on many other occasions. He was reputed to be one of the most accomplished swordsmen of his day and taught the art of fencing to Emperor William First. Many honors were conferred upon him, and he received the iron cross for distin- guished bravery, together with other decorations.
August Luck, father of J. J. Luck, was a native of Pommern, Germany, and came to the United States in 1866, settling at Buffalo, New York, where he engaged in business as a contractor and builder. After a few years he re- moved westward to Wisconson, where he remained until his death. He mar- ried Wilhelmina Felt, a daughter of the burgomaster of the town in which she was born.
J. J. Luck was educated in public and private schools of his native land. and was a youth of sixteen years when he accompanied his parents to the new world. In Wisconsin he learned the tanner's trade, and then established a factory for the manufacture of leather goods of all kinds. He was meeting with well merited and gratifying prosperity when a destructive fire robbed him of all his possessions. AAt that time the Northern Pacific Railroad was being built and he entered the employ of the company as land agent, having charge of land west of the Missouri river. In 1880 he organized the North- western colony, which settled Park City, Montana, on that road. In 1882 lie extended his efforts to other fields of activity by organizing a German colony of eighty-one families, founding the town of New Salem, North Dakota. hi the sale of land and the development of the place he won success, and left as a monument to his enterprise and ability one of the flourishing towns of the new West. He was also a prominent and influential factor in political circles there, being a recognized leader in republican ranks. He was connected with the state central committee, and his opinions carried weight in party councils and constituted an element in shaping the party policy. For three years he was chairman of the county commissioners of Morton county, and during his term of office he saved the county thousands of dollars. In 1886, after that part of the country had had three successive crop failures and every farmer
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J. J. LUCK
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was ready to leave the new colony on account of this, he arranged with the officers of the Northern Pacific Railroad to advance enough wheat for seed to tide the farmers over for another season. and thereby he practically saved that part of the country for the company. In December, 1882. Mr. Luck, with a party of four men, was caught in a terrible blizzard on the plains of North Dakota, and for three days and nights was cut off from the world, but through his intimate knowledge of the country he succeeded in bringing them all back to the settlement.
In 1889 Mr. Luck came to Aurora to engage in the real-estate business and also for the purpose of giving his children better educational facilities than could be secured in the new Dakota town. He has built up an excellent client- age, both in real-estate and insurance lines, has negotiated many property transfers and done much for the development of the city. Through his efforts unsightly vacancies have been transformed into attractive residence districts. He laid out Luck's addition to the city, and he has also been most actively and helpfully interested in a movement toward the location of factories here, and has labored untiringly for the benefit of the town. Mr. Luck has recently completed and patented a cement post and post mold, through the use of which each farmer is able to make his own fence posts, to take the place of the old wooden fence post now used by the farmers all over the country. It is fully as cheap as the old one and will last a lifetime, and will undoubtedly result in a decided change for the better in the appearance of the farms. It is now being placed on the market and has received the endorsement of the best critics.
In 1872 Mr. Luck was married to Miss Ernestine Exner. a native of Ger- many, who was reared in Australia. They have four children : Mrs. Clara Hoover, Rose, Edward A., and Ottmar. Mr. Luck is connected with the Knights of Pythias fraternity, and admirable social qualities render him popu- lar in the order and in the city. A charming personality and unfeigned cor- diality have gained him many friends, while unfaltering determination has promoted his business success.
OSCAR BOWGREN.
Oscar Bowgren, a successful farmer and dairyman of Campton town- ship, is a native of Sweden, where he was born September 4. 1880, the son of Charles and Louisa ( Anderson) Bowgren. Both parents were natives of Sweden, the father having been born there in 1841 and the mother in 1846. In 1891 they came to America and located at Geneva, Illinois, where they have since continued to reside. They became the parents of ten chil- dren. eight sons and two daughters, namely: Albert. who works in a factory in Geneva ; August, a farmer of Campton township : Hulda, the wife of August Anderson, residing near St. Charles: Emil F., who is a tailor by trade and resides in Chicago: Jonathan A., a farmer residing near Elburn; Adolph C .. who conducts farming operations near St. Charles; Otto S. and Fritz E.,
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residing in Geneva, where the latter works in a factory; and Esther E .. deceased.
Oscar Bowgren attended the district schools in Sweden until he was eleven years of age, when he came with his parents to America, and entered the schools of Geneva, passing on through the consecutive grades to the high school. He then sought employment in a piano factory, where he was engaged as a polisher for four years. He left this position to engage in farming, an occupation which he has now been following for the last three years. He has been quite successful in his work, having already accumulated something over two thousand dollars worth of personal property. He operates rented land and is engaged in general farming and dairying. His business is now established on a paying basis and the future holds excellent promise for his continued advancement.
On May 19. 1904, Mr. Bowgren was married to Miss Ida Shogland, who was born in Sweden in 1878 and came to America in 1886. Two children have been born to this union. Verna L., born July 2. 1905, and Gordon, born January 16. 1907.
Politically, Mr. Bowgren is identified with the republican party.
PETER PETERSON.
Peter Peterson, who is engaged in the dairy business on a well improved farm in Virgil township. Kane county, is one of the worthy citizens that Sweden has furnished to this state. He was born in that country. April 14, 1851. His father served for two years in the Swedish army and spent his entire life in that country. His family numbered five children, but three of the number. Johannah, Bertilla and Anna, are deceased. Elna is the wife of Swan Pearson, and still makes her home in Sweden.
Peter Peterson, the other member of the family, was reared in his native country and acquired his education in the district schools, attending to the age of fourteen years. He then began work as a farm hand by the year. being thus employed until he had reached the age of twenty-nine years. He then established a home of his own by his marriage to Miss Ingery Lar- son, who is likewise a native of Sweden. Two years later. however, believing that the new world offered good opportunities to the ambitious young man, Mr. Peterson decided to emigrate to America and accordingly crossed the Atlantic to the United States. He made his way at once to Kane county. Illinois, locating near Maple Park. He was first employed in construction work by the Northwestern Railroad Company, serving in that capacity for ten years. Through his energy, economy and well directed labors during that time he saved a sum of money sufficient to enable him to purchase a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Minnesota. He now rents a well- improved property comprising one hundred and seventy-six acres in Virgil township, this county. He is here engaged in the dairy business, keeping for this purpose twenty-five cows, while the products of his farm find a ready
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sale on the market. He is careful and systematic in his methods and he follows the most straightforward principles in his dealings with his fellowmen.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Peterson has been blessed with three children, a son and two daughters, namely: Olaf J., a farmer, residing in Minnesota ; and Elmer and Ethel, at home. Mr. Peterson is a member of the Lutheran church, while his fraternal relations are with the Modern Woodmen of America. The hope that led him to leave his native land and seek a home in America has been more than realized, for here he has found the opportunities he sought and through determined purpose has worked his way upward to success.
ALPHA J. JOHNSON.
Responsibility educates rapidly and experience is an admirable teacher, even though a severe one. Alpha J. Johnson, one of the prosperous and pro- gressive farmers of Sugar Grove township, began the battle of life for himself at an early age, and has exhibited throughout his career the self-reliance and resourcefulness which come from dependence on one's own energies and faculties for advancement in the world.
Mr. Johnson is a native of the township in which he lives, having been born opposite the Jericho church, February 8, 1873. He is a son of Rufus F. and Harriet (King) Johnson, and a brother of William A. Johnson, of Sugar Grove township, in the sketch of whom, to be found on another page of this volume, the full family history is given from the time of the arrival of the paternal grandfather, Reuben Bingham Johnson, in Kane county in 1836.
Alpha J. Johnson had but limited opportunities for an education, attend- ing the district school in the neighborhood of his home for only a few years during the winter months, and the school at Sugar Grove two years. At the age of ten he hired himself to a neighbor to work on the farm and was put to plowing corn at twenty-five cents a day, a sum which, meager as it was, seemed bountiful to him and gave him at once a feeling of manliness and independence. He has earned many larger compensations since and has made money in his business operations on varying scales of magnitude, but it is doubtful if he has ever received, for work or business transactions, any sum that gave him half the pleasure he received from his first small earnings in the great world of enterprise and effort.
On February 19, 1901, Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Alice Roberts, who was born in Chicago, April 5, 1880, and a year later was brought by her parents, with the rest of the family, to Kane county. £ The parents located at Sugar Grove, where the father was station agent for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad for a number of years. Mrs. Johnson was educated at the Sugar Grove Normal and Industrial school, from which she was graduated in 1896. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have two children: Helen. who was born on March 8, 1902; and Ralph, who came into the world November 20, 1905.
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Mr. Johnson has been farming on his own account since 1901. He has a good farm, well improved and wisely cultivated, and it is steadily increas- ing in value and attractiveness. He devotes his whole attention to its cultivation and improvement, and his labors and intelligence in connection with it are bringing him the due recompense of honest industry and skill. He is not, however, so completely absorbed in his own affairs that he has no time or energy to bestow on those of public import. On the contrary, he takes an earnest interest and an active part in the politics of the county as a repub- lican, in its fraternal life as a Modern Woodman, and in its general weal as a progressive, broad minded and far seeing citizen. and his influence and example are potent in their effect since they are always given to the right cause. He is known throughout the county and everywhere is highly esteemed.
SAMUEL McVICKER.
The versatility and adaptiveness of the Irish race to circumstances, and its ability to turn even obstacles into servitors for its advancement. is well illustrated in the career of Samuel Mc Vicker, who is one of the most enterpris- ing and successful farmers of Aurora township, with two hundred and thirty acres of fine land under his skillful cultivation and vigorous management.
Mr. MeVicker was born in County Antrim, Ireland, February 2. 1877. and is the son of Robert and Ann ( McHatten) McVicker, natives of the same county as himself, where their ancestors lived for generations engaged in tilling the soil. In 1882 the parents brought their young family to this country and took up their residence on a farm near Oswego in Kendall county, Illinois. Here their son, Samuel, attended the country school and assisted his father on the farm until he reached the age of sixteen. The family then moved to another farm in the same county, on which it dwelt and flourished for eight years.
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