USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II > Part 63
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Conway have been born four children, namely : David, deceased; William J., who is attending school at Peru, Illinois; and Thomas A. and Joseph, who are pursuing their studies in the district school near home.
FRANK J. ANDERSON.
Frank J. Anderson, who is engaged in general agricultural pursuits and in dairying on a farm in Virgil township, was born in Chicago. July 4, 1866. His father, G. Anderson, was born in Sweden and came as a young man of twenty-one to America. He enlisted as a member of the Sixth Illinois Infan- try in the Civil war and served for fourteen months. He was twice wounded and came near losing his life on the field of battle. Following the close of hostilities between the north and the south he made a trip to California, locat- ing on a fruit farm. He engaged in fruit-raising for twelve years on the Pacific coast, but not being pleased with that climate he then returned to Chicago, where he engaged in the clothing business. It was prior to his emi- gration to this country that Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Selma Law- rence. After residing in this country for many years the father returned to his native land, where he spent his last years, passing away there when he had reached the advanced age of ninety-six years. He was a Mason and a mem- ber of the Lutheran church. His family numbered six children, three sons and three daughters, as follows: Charles O., who is a fruit dealer of California : Augusta, who married George Rochmueller, an engineer of Los Angeles. California ; Gust L., who is a traveling salesman for the American Steel & Wire Company and makes his home in DeKalb, Illinois: Sophia, the wife of Charles Larson, a druggist of Stockholm, Sweden; Otto L., who follows farming in Sweden; and Frank J.
Frank J. Anderson, whose name introduces this record, began his educa- tion in the district schools of Sweden and was a lad of thirteen years when he came to the United States alone and settled in Chicago. There he con- tinued his studies in the public schools to the age of seventeen years. At that age he began life on his own account, going to DeKalb county, where he
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secured work as a farm hand. He was thus employed for six years, when he went to Aurora, where he remained for two years, during which time he was engaged in the dairy business. He then returned to Chicago and was sales- man for mineral water for fourteen years. At the end of that time he settled in DeKalb county and began farming. For the past two years he has resided on his present farm on section I, Virgil township, Kane county, where he rents two hundred and forty acres of land and is engaged in general farming and dairying.
Mr. Anderson chose as a companion and helpmate for the journey of life Miss Selma Steel, a native of Sweden. Their children are Mabel Esther, Rudolph J., Hannah O. and William F., all under the parental roof.
Mr. Anderson gives his political support to the republican party, and for several years has served as a school director. He is a devoted member of the Lutheran church. He is a man of perseverance, energy and determina- tion and it is these sterling qualities which have gained him success in life and made him one of the substantial and valued citizens of Virgil township.
EDWARD E. BECKER.
Edward E. Becker, cashier of the First State Bank of Maple Park, is numbered among its enterprising and progressive citizens. Mr. Becker is a native son of Illinois, his birth having occurred in South Grove, DeKalb county, on the 22d of April, 1877. The Becker family was established in this state by the paternal grandfather, who, on coming from the east, located on a farm in DeKalb county. The father, John T. Becker, was born in Roxbury, Delaware county, New York, and at the age of thirteen years accompanied his parents on their removal to DeKalb county, where the son acquired his education in the district schools. He later engaged in teaching but when twenty-three years of age enlisted for service in the Civil war as sergeant in Company G, One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Infantry. He par- ticipated in many of the important engagements of the war, was on Sher- man's celebrated march to the sea, and was wounded at the battle of Avers- boro, Georgia. He was mustered out as first lieutenant of his company and at the close of the war returned to the home farm in DeKalb county, where he continued until 1890, when he was elected on the republican ticket treas- urer of DeKalb county, in which capacity he served for four years. He is now retired and living in Sycamore. He was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor Belt, who was born at Mt. Vernon, Ohio. Their children are : Grace, the wife of Orton L. Bell, a farmer of South Grove, Illinois; C. Luella and Jessie, at home ; and John R., an attorney of Lewiston, Idaho.
The other member of the family, Edward E. Becker, acquired his early education in district school No. 2, South Grove township, his father, mother and eldest sister having taught in this school in former years. At the age of thirteen years he removed with his parents to Sycamore, graduating from the high school there in 1895. He then took a course in stenography in the
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Rockford ( Ill. ) Business College, and from 1896 until 1901 he was employed as deputy county clerk of DeKalb county. He then entered the Sycamore National Bank as bookkeeper, in which capacity he served for two years, at the end of which time, in the fall of 1903, he was elected as cashier of the First State Bank of Maple Park, in which office he has served to the present time. The bank was organized March 3. 1903. with M. Simons as presi- dent. and P. M. Alden vice president, while in the fall of the same year Mr. Becker was elected its cashier. The bank is capitalized for twenty-five thousand dollars, with a surplus of five thousand dollars. Business is being conducted in a modern structure, situated on Main street. The men who are at the head of this institution follow the most conservative methods in the conduct of the enterprise, in which the people of Maple Park feel a just pride. Its success is due in no small degree to the efforts of Mr. Becker. the efficient and courteous cashier, for he is a man who possesses excellent business ability and sound judgment and his connection with any undertaking insures a prosperous outcome for the same.
Mr. Becker chose as a companion and helpmate Miss Sadie J. White. to whom he was married October 26, 1899. Mrs. Becker was born in Earl- ville, Illinois. September 21, 1878, a daughter of Ellis T. White, who served in the Civil war, enlisting from Wisconsin, which state was at that time his home. In his younger years he engaged in farming but later was engaged in business in Earlville. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Becker has been blessed with one son, Donald E., who was born March 17, 1903.
Mr. Becker is a Mason. belonging to Sycamore Lodge, No. 134. A. F. & .A. MI. : Sycamore Chapter. No. 49. R. A. M. ; and Sycamore Commandery. No. 15. K. T., of which commandery he served as eminent commander in 1906. His political views accord with the principles and policy of the republican party.
FRED H. RAYMOND.
Fred H. Raymond, residing in Elgin, is practicing law at the Chicago bar and is gaining well merited distinction among the representatives of the courts of that city. Prompted at all times by laudable ambition, his labors characterized by unfaltering diligence and perseverance-qualities which are just as essential in professional as in commercial or industrial pursuits-he now has a large clientage connecting him with much important legal work in the metropolis.
Mr. Raymond was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 29, 1867. Having lost his father when but six months old, he was afterward brought to Elgin by his mother, who later became the wife of Joseph Losce, of Wood- stock, Illinois. At the latter place Fred H. Raymond spent his boyhood days. His interests and environments were those of the farm and the public schools afforded him his carly educational advantages. In the spring of 1884 he
F. H. RAYMOND
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went to Wichita. Kansas, and his limited financial circumstances rendered it imperative that he seek and obtain immediate employment. He therefore entered the service of a contractor and builder and was engaged in that line of labor until the fall of 1884. when he entered the employ of the Osage Cattle Company with headquarters at Wichita, Kansas, as assistant manager. In this capacity he was engaged in rounding up the various large herds of cattle and also assisted in branding and shipping. While thus employed he was com- pelled to travel through Kansas, New Mexico and Colorado upon a pony. Night often overtook him far from any habitation and he would use his saddle for a pillow and his blanket for covering, while above him there was no roof and only such shelter as he could provide by knotting the top of the sage brush together.
Mr. Raymond visited the mines of Arizona and Utah in the summer of 1885 and in the fall of that year returned to Wichita, where he became col- lector for the Wichita Merchants' Association. The following summer he again came to Elgin and though it was his intention merely to visit here, he procured a situation in the watch factory and was thus employed until the spring of 1893. He then resigned in order to engage in the oil business in this city and in the course of time secured an extensive and lucrative trade, which he eventually sold to Mr. Jencks. In the meantime his ambition was aroused for the acquirement of further education that would enable him to direct his energies in professional fields and in 1893-94 he attended a night school. Toward the close of the latter year he located at Woodstock and began traveling for a piano house, but in 1895 returned to Elgin and con- tinued upon the road until the winter, when he resumed his studies. In 1896 lie became a law student in the office of Frank W. Joslyn and thus made the initial step leading to his present successful professional career. He is an accomplished musician and was probably at that time as well known in musical circles in Elgin as any one. Nature had endowed him with considerable talent in that direction, which he had developed as the years passed by, and he became the cornetist in the old Elgin Military Band and was also proficient on the string bass. He engaged with several of the best orchestras in the city and by this means was enabled to pursue his studies as a law student.
Following his admission to the bar in 1899. Mr. Raymond became a member of the firm of Joslyn, Schultz & Raymond, while later he was asso- ciated alone with his former preceptor under the style of Joslyn & Raymond and acted as assistant state's attorney of Kane county, while his partner held the superior office. In May. 1902, the firm opened an office in Chicago and at the same time maintained active connection with the bar of Elgin. In May. 1903. however, their partnership was dissolved by mutual consent, Mr. Raymond continuing in Chicago, where he has built up an extensive practice. He is widely known as a most successful and able trial lawyer in both the federal and state courts and this also required his admission to practice in the United States circuit and district courts, in the United States court of appeals and in the United States supreme court. In the United States court of appeals Mr. Raymond enjoys the distinction of successfully conducting the defense of a criminal case under the lottery laws wherein the indictment in the case
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was quashed direct in this court without remanding to the lower court, there being but three such cases reported in the United States Federal Reporter.
Mr. Raymond still continues in active practice in Chicago, being now associated with Francis W. Walker, with offices in the Marquette building. He is financially interested in the Tom Murray Shirt Manufacturing interests and is attorney for the company, which owns the controlling interest of the J. B. Roach Shirt Company of Elgin, Illinois, which interest is largely in charge of Mr. Raymond.
On the 6th of December, 1886, was celebrated the marriage of Fred H. Raymond and Miss Mary B. McQueeny, of Elgin, and they now have three sons. Mr. Raymond is a charter member of the Elgin Lodge of Elks, of which he is a past exalted ruler and for two years he was treasurer of the state association of Elks. His life record is most creditable in its various phases. He is an illustrious type of the American man who finds in his environment adequate opportunity for the exercise of his energies or else branches out into other fields where he can use his natural talents and powers to the best advantage. His devotion to his clients' interests has ever been pro- verbial and his prominence has come to him as the reward of earnest endeavor, fidelity to trust and recognized ability.
JOHN C. RAMM.
John C. Ramm, who is successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits in Burlington township, was born near Berlin, Germany, September II, 1862, his parents being Fred and Dorothy ( Fos) Ramm, both natives of Germany, the former born March 17. 1838, and the latter in 1837. Their marriage was celebrated in February, 1861, and in 1865 they emigrated to America, settling in Dundee, Illinois, where they remained for two years, on the expiration of which period they located on the farm now occupied by their son, John C. Fred Ramm lived on the place as a renter for six years and then bought the farm at thirty-five dollars per acre. It consisted originally of one hundred and sixty acres but has been added to by additional purchase until it now comprises one hundred and eighty-six and two-thirds acres. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ramm were born the following children : John C., of this review, was the first born. Fredrica, whose birth occurred in Ger- many in 1864, is now the wife of Charles Warford, a farmer residing a mile and a half east of Lily Lake. Mary, born in Illinois in 1866, married Charles Yurs, an agriculturist residing at East Plato. Carrie, who was born in Kane county, Illinois, in 1870, became the wife of Will Allen, a merchant. They resided in St. Charles until her death, which occurred in 1891. Minnie, born in Kane county, Illinois, in 1873. resides with her mother in Elgin. Fred L., whose birth occurred in this state in 1876, is a cattle buyer, making his home with his mother in Elgin. Frank M., born in Illinois in 1880, married Miss Hattie Wilkie, of Hampshire, and they reside at Elgin.
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John C. Ramm accompanied his parents on their emigration to the United States in August, 1865, and for the past eighteen years has resided on his present farm six miles southeast of Burlington. He is a progressive and up-to-date agriculturist, using the latest improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields. He has put in about five hundred rods of tiling and otherwise improved his land, which annually responds to his careful super- vision in golden harvests. He owns thirty cows and conducts an extensive dairy, shipping on an average of sixty-four gallons of milk from Virgil to Chicago daily. He also has a twenty-acre wood-lot and raises enough fruit for his own use. The farm with its improvements is well worth twenty thousand dollars, and Mr. Ramm is well known and highly esteemed as one of the prosperous and enterprising citizens of the county.
On the 3Ist of January, 1889, Mr. Ramm was united in marriage to Miss Mabel Stevens, of Wasco, Illinois. Their children, all of whom were born in Burlington township, are as follows: Devalois, born March 15, 1890, who attended Elgin Academy for one year and is now engaged in farming; John M., born May 20, 1891; Claude L., whose birth occurred September 9, 1893; Leola S., who was born January 21, 1896; Dorothy M., January 28, 1905 ; and Maurice S., who was born January 9, 1907.
Politically Mr. Ramm is a democrat, while fraternally he is connected with the Knights of the Globe. In religious faith he is a Lutheran, and his wife is a member of the Baptist church. His life is exemplary in all respects and he has ever supported those interests which are calculated to uplift and benefit humanity, while his own high moral worth is deserving of highest commendation.
BRADFORD G. RICHMOND.
Bradford G. Richmond, cashier of the Kane County Bank, was born on a farm in Campton township, Kane county, Illinois, April 19, 1850. The Richmond family had its origin in Brittany, France, and trace their ancestors by old records back to the year 1040. John Richmond, the ancestor of the American branch of the family, was born at Ashton-Keynes, England, in 1594. He came to America in 1635, and purchased land at Taunton, Mas- sachusetts, in 1637, passing away there on the 20th of March, 1664. The genealogy of the American branch of the family is very complete, containing over eighteen thousand names and giving historical events of the pre- American branch of the family back to the thirteenth century. The parents of our subject, Moses C. and Susan H. Richmond, were natives of Vermont, the former born July 12, 1818, and the latter October 26, 1826. The father came to Illinois in 1840, purchasing a farm in Campton township. He was married at the old Garfield homestead in Campton, Illinois, October 26, 1843, and resided on his farm until April. 1872.
Bradford G. Richmond acquired his education in the common schools in Campton township, Illinois, and resided on his father's farm until 1881,
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with the exception of two years spent in business in DeKalb, Illinois. In March, 1881, he removed to Los Angeles, California, where he remained until July, 1884. In February, 1884. he removed to Elburn, Illinois, and in association with G. W. Robinson purchased the warehouse business of Willis & Swain, conducting the enterprise under the name of Richmond & Robinson until April. 1889. In June, 1890, in connection with M. W. Willis and John Warne .of Elburn, Illinois, he established the Kane County Bank, of which he has since served as the efficient and popular cashier.
On the 6th of March, 1872, Mr. Richmond was. united in marriage to Miss Lily Maie Robinson, at her home in Virgil township, Illinois. They have three children: Nellie M., born May 18. 1874. became the wife of J. R. Anderson on the 27th of September, 1898. and they reside at Elburn, Illinois, where the husband is engaged in the hardware and furniture busi- ness. They have two children : Miriam, born January 31, 1901; and Margaret, whose birth occurred February 18, 1906. Maud M .. born June 19. 1878, became the wife of E. L. Harris, of Elburn, Illinois, on the 10th of June, 1902. her husband being Swift & Company's credit man at Boston, Massachusetts. They reside at Arlington, Massachusetts, and have one child, Edward R., whose birth occurred November 4, 1903. George B. Richmond was born June 13, 1890.
Mr. Richmond favors the principles of the republican party but does not support that ticket indiscriminately and often casts his ballot for candi- dates of the opposition if he considers them better qualified for the office in question. He has himself held a number of village and town offices, ever discharging his official duties in prompt and capable manner. Fraternally he has been connected with the Masons for about twenty-three years. The terms progress and patriotism might be considered the keynote of his char- acter, for throughout his career he has labored for the improvement of every line of business or public interest with which he has been associated and at all times he has been actuated by a fidelity to his country and her welfare. He is well known and highly esteemed as a worthy representative of the financial interests of his native county, and by reason of his social. genial nature has gained a host of friends.
CHARLES E. SISSON, M.D.
Dr. Charles E. Sisson, a successful medical practitioner of Elgin. was born at Mindoro, Wisconsin, June 6, 1874, his parents being Olonzo S. and Mary Sisson, the latter a native of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. He supple- mented his public-school education by a course in the West Salem high school and afterward entered the Oshkosh Normal School. Determining upon the practice of medicine as a life work. he took the prescribed course in the College of Physicians & Surgeons, of Chicago, and was graduated from that institution in 1899. Entering upon hospital practice, he remained in the Hospital for the Insane at Mendota. Wisconsin, until June, 1900, and
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subsequently became connected with the Illinois Northern Hospital for the Insane at Elgin, Illinois. In 1904 he commenced general practice in Elgin and has here since remained, having met with a gratifying and well merited measure of success in the prosecution of his profession.
Dr. Sisson was united in marriage to Miss Emma Maude Whitcomb, a daughter of Augustus and Laura Rachel (Tyng) Whitcomb. Her father was a son of George and Lois (Taylor) Whitcomb and was born in New York in 1838, while throughout his active business career he was engaged in the hardware business at Columbus, Wisconsin. In January, 1858, he wedded Miss Laura R. Tyng, a daughter of Dudley and Sarah Tyng. His death occurred at Columbus, Wisconsin, in May, 1876, while his wife, sur- viving him for a number of years, passed away March 31, 1908. Their family numbered four children, namely: Ernest C., who married Miss Nellie Thompson; Herbert, who died in infancy; Inez, the wife of Henry B. Perry, of Oconto, Wisconsin; and Emma Maud, who became Mrs. Sisson.
FRED WRIGHT.
Going out into the world at the age of thirteen to begin the battle of life for himself and work out his own destiny according to his aspirations and opportunities, Fred Wright, one of the prominent and progressive farmers of Sugar Grove township, has never halted or hesitated in pushing steadily toward the goal of prosperity and success. He was born at Cedar Creek, Barry county, Michigan, November 25. 1859, a son of Ruloff and Huldah (Polley) Wright, both natives of Pennsylvania and of German ancestry. Mr. Wright has a brother, Henry Wright, living at Ogden, Tennessee, and another, Frank Wright, who is a resident of Honor, Benzie county, Michigan.
Mr. Wright enjoyed only limited advantages in the way of education. He had for a very few years during the winter months the slender oppor- tunities for schooling which are the lot of poor boys in the remote country districts, and even these were available to him in but an uncertain and irregu- lar degree. When he was thirteen years of age he removed to St. Joseph county, Michigan, to accept a position as a hired hand on a farm, and in this humble and unremunerative occupation he was employed six years. But with the approaching dawn of manhood he determined to do better for him- self, and accordingly he came to Illinois and began farming on his own account in Kendall county. He continued his activity in this line and location until 1904, when he bought the farm on which he now lives in Sugar Grove township, Kane county. This farm comprises one hundred and twenty acres and is one of the most desirable for its size, for it is highly productive, and Mr. Wright has made the most of its fertility and responsiveness, working it with skill and good judgment and improving it with all the resources at his command.
On September 20, 1887, he was married to Mrs. Louisa ( Wheeler) Graham, the widow of James Graham, and at that time the mother of two
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children, her daughters Jennie Graham and the present wife of Oscar Jetter. of Plano, Illinois. Her parents were Jacob and Louise Wheeler, who were born and reared in New York. She was born in March, 1861, and has long been a resident of this state. She and her present husband are the parents of four children: Clarence Eugene, aged twenty; Fred Lester, aged seven- teen; Frances Inez, aged fifteen; and Glen Howard, aged six. The oldest son, Clarence Eugene, assists his father in operating the farm. Fred Lester is a clerk and salesman in the store of Mr. Keck at Sugar Grove; and the other two are students at the Sugar Grove Normal and Industrial School.
In politics Mr. Wright affiliates and works with the democratic party, but he is not an office seeker and does not allow his party bias to interfere with his general duties as a citizen or his pleasant relations with his fellow- men of all parties and creeds. His wife is a zealous member of the Baptist church at Yorkville. Both are determined advocates and promoters of what- ever seems likely to advance the welfare of the township, and both are held in high esteem by all who know them. They have demonstrated their worth and the people around them appreciate it and show that they do.
FRED C. SWIFT.
Fred C. Swift, who is conducting a dairy farm in Virgil township, is a native son of Kane county, his birth having occurred in Dundee, February 26, 1880. His parents. John and Hannah ( Hopp) Swift, were both natives of Germany and emigrated to America in 1871, the family home being estab- lished in Dundee, Kane county. He was a republican in his political alle- giance and a Lutheran in religious faith. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. John Swift was blessed with six children, four sons and two daughters. namely : Will, who makes his home in Elgin and is employed by D. C. Cook of that city ; Charley, who is a carpenter and makes his home in Elgin; Mary, the wife of Fred Hanson, a resident farmer of Burlington township; John, who lives in Chicago: Emma, who has departed this life ; and Fred C., of this review. The mother still survives and makes her home in Burlington township.
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