USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II > Part 72
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May, who was born May 10, 1883, and died on the 6th of April, 1889; and Glen David, who was born September 20, 1890, and was graduated from the Elgin high school in 1908. Winning the scholarship of Kane county, he entered the University of Illinois at Champaign in the fall of 1908 and will pursue a course in electrical engineering. The family is one of prominence in Elgin, and Mr. and Mrs. Bagley attend the Universalist church. In his political views Mr. Bagley is a republican and takes an active and commenda- ble interest in public affairs.
HENRY PROSPER PRATT.
This wide-awake, enterprising and progressive miller has been engaged in a number of useful occupations in his thirty-seven years of life, and has shown his worth and capacity in all. He is a native of Kane county, born near Bald Mound, June 2, 1871. His parents, Charles and Julia M. (Wash- burn) Pratt, were born in Jefferson county, New York, and came to this county in 1868, locating near Bald Mound, where they engaged actively and successfully in farming. In 1898 the father made a trip to the Isthmus of Panama, where he died. The mother now lives in Elburn with her son Walter. Two children were born into the household, Henry P. and Walter C. Pratt. The latter is a carpenter in Elburn.
Henry Prosper Pratt obtained his scholastic training in the district school near his home, which he attended until he was fifteen years of age. Being ambitious to work and make his own way in the world. he secured a position as gripman on a street car line in Chicago soon after leaving school, but only worked at this exacting occupation one year. Returning to Bald Mound at the end of that period, he learned the trade of butter-making, and, when he had completed his apprenticeship, was chosen manager of a butter factory, which he operated seven years. He then removed to a farm near La Fox, on which he lived and worked with success three years. Seeing what he considered a better opportunity for his advancement and a more agreeable employment of his faculties in the milling business, he bought the mill in the neighborhood of Bald Mound which he now owns and operates.
This mill is well equipped with modern machinery, having an eighty horse-power engine and all the other devices of modern milling of the most approved pattern. It is valued at six thousand dollars, and good judges agree that it is well worth the money. Mr. Pratt does custom work exclusively, and such is the excellence of his output that he has all he can do and the capa- city of his mill is often overtaxed. He has owned the mill four years, and during that time it has steadily grown in popular favor and the volume of its trade. It is three miles from La Fox and convenient to a large extent of the surrounding country. Mr. Pratt also owns a farm of one hundred and thirty-two acres a mile and a half west of La Fox.
Mr. Pratt was married June 27, 1899. to Miss Hazel McGuire, a native of Kane county, born near Bald Mound. They are the parents of two chil-
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dren : Ralph M., who was born January 9. 1901 : and Dorothy L., whose life began July 30. 1903.
In his business Mr. Pratt has prospered and is prospering. In his rela- tions and dealings with his friends, neighbors and fellowmen generally he is fair, square and manly. In his citizenship he is elevated and elevating, and in his domestic life he exemplifies, modestly and unostentatiously. but none the less sincerely and effectively, the desirable traits of a good husband and father. While pursuing his chosen occupation and giving his attention mainly to his own affairs, he is never indifferent to public matters or the enduring welfare of the country around him, but does his part in endeavoring to pro- mote the general weal and the best interests of all the people.
PARKER FERSON.
Parker Ferson, who passed away at St. Charles on the 20th of July, 1876, was born in Bradford. New Hampshire, March 9. 1812. His father, Alexander Ferson, was a farmer by occupation and his death occurred in St. Charles in the year 1846. His son, Read Ferson, was one of two men who founded St. Charles, arriving there in 1836. Altogether there were seven brothers and one sister who came to St. Charles.
Parker Ferson acquired his education in the public schools of his native state, and taught school in the east before his removal westward in 1840. Pur- chasing a farm of one hundred and ten acres in St. Charles, he there began farming and continued to carry on agricultural pursuits until the time of his demise, meeting with a gratifying and well merited measure of prosperity in his undertakings.
While still residing in the east Mr. Ferson was married, but his wife died shortly after coming west and the two children born of that union are also deceased. At St. Charles, on the 2d of September, 1846, he wedded Miss Aurelia Clarke, a daughter of Ethan and Amy ( Crandall) Clarke, of Brook- field. New York. This union has been blessed with seven children and the record of the family is as follows: Benjamin Clarke married Miss Lizzie Beckwith, by whom he has two children : Cleo; and Ethel, the wife of Robert Rothstein. Fred Parker enlisted for service in the Civil war in 1863 as a member of Company E. Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, and served throughout the remainder of the war. being in Missouri most of the time. He was less than fifteen years of age at the time of his enlistment and passed away June 27, 1876. at the age of twenty-seven years. His widow, who bore the maiden name of Margaret Williams, resides with her two children, Fred W. and Eugene C., in Iowa. Sarah Jane became the wife of Peter Youngs and they had one child. Clara, who died in infancy, while the mother passed away December 30, 1877. Frances A. was until recently engaged in teaching in Elgin and St. Charles townships, but now resides with her mother in Elgin.
Mary Caroline Ferson became the wife of Smith Younges on the 24th of December. 1874. Hler four children are as follows: Clyde Ferson, who
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married Margaret Gadke, by whom he has two children, Smith Parker and Kenneth George; Nellie S., the wife of George Slimpin; Maud M., the wife of Jesse Murphy ; and Elizabeth E. Smith Younges was born in New York, October 17. 1852, a son of Charles and Magdelen (Lingenfelter) Younges, born in 1820 and 1822 respectively. The father, who was a farmer and stock dealer, passed away at Plato in 1867, while his wife survived him until 1901. Their son, Smith Younges, came westward when a young man and in 1880 purchased a farm in Elgin township, now Youngsdale (named in his honor), on the Illinois Central Railway. As the years have gone by he has gradually added to his holdings until he now owns five hundred acres of rich and valua- ble land, and in addition to the work of tilling the soil makes a specialty of stock raising and dealing. He has been very successful in both branches of his business and is widely recognized as a prominent resident of the com- munity. In his political views he is a republican and has served as school director and in other local offices.
Charles William Ferson married Miss May Lyon, and passed away March 20, 1889, at the age of thirty years. Clifford E. married Miss Hattie Wood, by whom he has two children, Elsie and William.
Parker Ferson, the subject of this review, gave his political allegiance to the republican party and was active in the local work of the organization, continuously holding office. He strongly championed the cause of education through his service as school director, and likewise acted as road commis- sioner. While living in the east he was a member of the Congregational church but did not become affiliated with any denomination after coming to Illinois. He was well known and highly esteemed throughout the community and gained an extensive circle of friends by reason of his upright, honorable life and genial social qualities.
JOSEPH H. WINTERHALTER.
Among the younger men who are prominent in business circles in Virgil is numbered Joseph H. Winterhalter, who deals in grain, lumber and coal and also operates a grist mill. He was born in Virgil township, August 7, 1875. a son of John B. and Elizabeth (Smith) Winterhalter, who were natives of Germany, the former coming to America when eighteen years old, while the latter was a little maiden of three years at the time she was brought by her parents to the new world. The father, upon his arrival hiere, went to work on a farm in Pennsylvania. At the outbreak of the Civil war he joined a com- pany of New Jersey cavalry, with which he remained for five years. During the war Mr. Winterhalter learned the barber's trade and after the close of the war opened a shop in Georgetown, Virginia, where he remained for five years, at the end of which time he went to Chicago, where he worked at the barber's trade. Believing that farming would prove more congenial to him on account of his health he disposed of his business in that city and purchased a farm in Virgil township, Kane county, which he continued to cultivate throughout a
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long period. He gave his political allegiance to the republican party and his religious faith was that of the Catholic church. The wife and mother still survives.
Joseph H. Winterhalter, the immediate subject of this review, acquired his education in the district and high schools, attending the latter for one year. He was reared to farm life, early being trained to the duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. Upon starting out in life on his own account he engaged in his present business, handling grain, lumber and coal, and he also operates a grist mill. He has built up a large trade, owing to his rea- sonable prices and his honorable business methods, and today stands as one of the substantial business men of this part of Kane county.
Mr. Winterhalter was married in Maple Park, in 1898, to Miss Catherine McMahon, and their union has been blessed with five children, Leroy. Irene. John, Paul and Helen.
Following in the political footsteps of his father. Mr. Winterhalter gives his support to the republican party and is a communicant of the Catholic church. His enterprising and progressive spirit have made him a typical American in every sense of the word. By constant exertion associated with good judgment he has raised himself to the position which he today occupies in business circles, having the friendship of many and the respect of all who know him.
JOHN McGOUGH.
This energetic and successful farmer and dairyman of Burlington town- ship has exemplified in his career the versatility and resourcefulness of the Irish race, which he inherits from his father, and the all-conquering spirit of the American, to which he was born himself. He is a native of DeKalb county, Illinois, where his life began on September 10, 1860.
His father. James McGough, was born in Dublin, Ireland, and when he was seventeen years old came to this country with his parents. The family located first in Canada, but two years afterward moved into the United States, taking up a residence in DeKalb county of this state. The father bought a farm, and for some years carried on the manufacture of brick in connection with his farming operations. He married May Walker, who was born in Canada, but when a small girl came to Illinois with her parents. Six children were born in the McGough household : John ; Henry, a real-estate agent liv- ing at home: Fred, who is farming in Nebraska: Ida, who married John R. Ward, now deceased: Harry, who lives in Genoa, Illinois; and Charles, who died some years ago.
John McGough pursued his education in the Middleton schoolhouse. attending school at intervals until he was twenty years old. He then yielded to a longing for life in the west, and going to the plains far beyond the Missis- sippi, found employment for a time as a cowboy. Afterward he lived for short periods in Kansas and Nebraska, and then learned the art of butter- making in all its branches, at which he worked for fourteen years. At the
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end of that period he returned to the parental homestead, on which he has ever since resided. He is now in active control of the farm and is working it with skill and industry, farming with judgment and carrying on a prosper- ous dairy business in connection, with eighteen excellent cows as a source of supply.
The farm contains two hundred and twenty acres and is located one mile and a quarter from the railroad station, the same distance from the nearest schoolhouse and one mile and a half from a butter factory which gives him a ready market for his dairy products. He has put improvements valued at ten thousand dollars on the farm, making it one of the attractive country homes of the township, and has brought the land to a high state of develop- ment and productiveness. While taking no very active interest or part in political affairs, he supports the republican party at national elections. In local matters he looks to the good of the township and its people, with an eye single to their welfare and the promotion of their best interests, to which he is loyally and practically devoted. He is a good and progressive citizen and is universally esteemed as such.
TENNYSON E. SHOLES.
The son of parents who are natives of Burlington township, and him- self born and reared within its limits, educated in its schools, reared on its soil and married to one of its native daughters, Tennyson E. Sholes is dis- tinctly and wholly a product of that township, and has all his life, up to this time, been connected with its interests and employed in its development and improvement.
His life began in Hampshire, March 1, 1884, and he is a son of Earn and Jennie (Wright) Sholes, both born in Burlington township and for many years engaged in farming one of its attractive and productive farms. The father is a republican in political alliance, a school director in official life, and connected with the Masonic order, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows fraternally. For fourteen years he was a manufacturer of tiles at Hampshire, but at the end of that period removed to his farm on which he has ever since resided. His wife's father died a num- ber of years ago and his remains rest in Bluff City cemetery in Elgin. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Earn Sholes: Tennyson E., who is farming and dairying ; and Vernon S., Orrald D., Esther J. and Winifred P .. who are still living with their parents.
Tennyson E. Sholes obtained his education at the high school in Hamp- shire, which he attended until he reached the age of fifteen. He then passed six years on the farm working with his father. On attaining his majority he secured employment at Kewanee but some little time later again became a farmer, settling on the place which he now occupies. On November 9, 1907. he was married at Geneva to Miss Fern Irene Auble, who was born in Bur- lington township, where her parents are still living.
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From the time of taking possession of it Mr. Sholes has devoted all his time and energy to his farm and the dairy industry which he conducts in con- nection with it. He has been industrious, enterprising and judicious in all his undertakings, and has made every dollar he has in money or property through his own diligence and good management, trusting nothing to chance and waiting for no smiles of fortune, but steadily forging ahead on his own account and holding every step of his progress. He carries on general farm- ing. raising varied and alternate crops, and also keeps seventeen cows as the source of his dairy business. He does well his part in all the public and private relations of life and has a firm place in the regard and respect of his fellow citizens of every class.
JAMES SHAW.
Among the men who are before the public today in Aurora none have a more commendable record or enjoy to a fuller extent the respect of the public by reason of capable service than does James Shaw. the librarian of the Aurora public library and also the official reporter of the circuit and county courts of Kane county. He was born in Lancashire, England. July 9. 1840, his parents being James and Ann Shaw, who were also natives of the Merrie Isle. The father came to America in 1848 and settled at Portsmouth. New Hampshire, where he followed various pursuits. He died in 1869 at the age of sixty-five years, while his wife passed away in 1866 at the age of sixty years. They were Universalists in religious faith. Their family numbered four children : Hannah, deceased ; Lucy, the widow of Edmund Whalley, now living at Portsmouth, New Hampshire; James, of this review ; and Peter, who died when a young man.
James Shaw was only eight years of age when brought to America and was reared to manhood in Portsmouth, where he attended the public schools. When fifteen years of age he began learning the printer's trade, which he followed for many years. After the outbreak of the Civil war, however, he enlisted in 1862 for nine months' service as a member of Company K, Six- teenth New Hampshire Volunteers, serving for one year under General Banks in the Louisiana campaign, being present at the siege and surrender of Port Hudson. After the war he returned to his old home at Portsmouth and became a clerk in the navy yard at that place. The year 1865 witnessed his arrival in Chicago, where he worked as a printer on the old Republican when Charles A. Dana was its editor-in-chief. He was also employed on other papers of that city and in different job offices. While in Jerry Thomp- son's office word was received that a good man was wanted to go south and work on a republican newspaper at Mobile called The Nationalist. In com- pany with Albert Griffin, Mr. Shaw worked on that paper until January I, 1869, when he severed his connection with the Nationalist and went to Selma, where he established a paper called The Press.
JAMES SHAW
.
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In 1871 Mr. Shaw returned to Mobile and was engaged in the newspaper business there till 1873, when he came north, settling at Aurora in May of that year. He then became interested with Pierce Burton in the ownership of the Aurora Herald and the partnership was continued until 1881, when Mr. Shaw withdrew and became interested in legal and general shorthand re- porting. In March, 1884, he was elected clerk of the city court, which position he held about sixteen years. In June, 1884, he was also appointed librarian of the public library of Aurora, which had been established in 1882. He has held that position continuously since and has done excellent work in the care of this public institution. In 1888 he was appointed official reporter of the circuit court of Kane county and has continued in that position most of the time since, while for the past five or six years he has likewise been official reporter of the county court of Kane county.
On the 29th of June, 1885, Mr. Shaw was married to Miss Ella D. Lowd, a daughter of William B. and Rebecca (Shaw) Lowd. She was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and was there reared to womanhood, spend- ing her girlhood days under the parental roof. Her parents were also natives of New Hampshire and had a family of thirteen children. Her father was a book-binder and bookseller and died in the east when about sixty-four years of age. His wife survived him for several years. Her people trace their ancestry in this country back to Jeremiah Shaw, who came to America in 1632 and settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but later removed to New Hampshire. That branch of the Shaw family also trace their lineage to John Rogers, who was one of the martyrs who suffered death under the reign of Queen Mary. He was burned at the stake at Smithfield in the year 1555.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. James Shaw have been born two daughters : Alice A., now (1908) junior in Wellesley College; and Marian H., who died in 1895 at the age of seven years. Mrs. Shaw is a member of Trinity Episcopal church. Mr. Shaw belongs to Jerusalem Lodge, No. 90, A. F. & A. M .; to Aurora Post, No. 20, G. A. R .; and to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. His salient traits of character render him personally popular and he is well fitted by long experience as well as natural qualifications for his position as city librarian as well as his work in the courts.
WALTER SCOTT CALLAGHAN.
A thrifty, enterprising and successful farmer, living in one of the beauti- ful country homes of Kane county, and indulging his fancy for fine livestock by breeding superior strains of hogs, Walter Scott Callaghan, of Blackberry township, gives every evidence of high prosperity in his estate and has all the elements of enjoyment around him and at his command. He was born in Troy, New York, May 4, 1857, and is a son of Gregory and Jane ( Sample) Callaghan, who were natives of the Emerald isle and came to this country
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in 1830, taking up their residence in Troy, New York, where the father worked at his trade as a carpenter for a number of years.
It was a time in our history when what is now the middle west but was then the far frontier was attracting the attention of the world to its vast undeveloped wealth and varied opportunities, and calling for men of industry and force to come and enjoy them. Gregory Callaghan was moved by the appeal to bring his family to Illinois, and in farming the virgin soil of Kane county he found profitable employment and built up a home and a good pros- perity. He bought one hundred and sixty acres of land of the government, which he at once proceeded to break and bring into cultivation. He was a good citizen and took an active part in public affairs as a republican after the formation of the party, and enjoyed many of the fraternal and social ameni- ties of life as a Master Mason. He lias been dead a number of years.
Seven children were born to him and his wife: Thomas J., deceased ; Gregory, who is a successful farmer in Butler county, Nebraska ; Selden, who is also a resident of that county; Nancy. deceased; May, who is the wife of Charles Blair, of Batavia, Illinois; Maggie, who married Julius Banker, who is now a retired farmer and lives in Aurora; and Walter Scott, the subject of this review.
The last named obtained his scholastic training in the Bald Mound dis- trict school, which he left at the age of fifteen. During the next twelve years he assisted his father on the farm and lived at home. At the age of twenty- seven he was married and rented a farm on which he lived and labored three years. At the end of that period he purchased the farm of one hundred acres which is his present home. On the improvement of this farm he has expended over five thousand dollars, and has made it one of the best and most attractive in the township. It is located one mile south of Bald Mound and four miles south of La Fox.
Mrs. Callaghan, whose maiden name was Ida R. Lawrence, was born in St. Charles, Illinois, August 20, 1859. She is a descendant of the renowned Sir Robert Lawrence and graciously sustains the spirit and traditions of her ancestry. Her father, who died some years ago, and whose remains were buried in Batavia, this state, was a teacher and bookkeeper, and made a good record in each capacity. Later in life lie was overseer of the United States Windmill shop at Batavia. Mrs. Callaghan had five sisters and one brother : Gertrude A., now deceased ; May E., also deceased ; Charles A., a farmer near Elburn ; Eva, the wife of W. Kirk, a farmer living near St. Charles; Ada. who married Willis Hyde and lives in the neighborhood of Batavia; and Nellie, the wife of John Moore, a farmer residing near Geneva. Mr. and Mrs. Callaghan have no children.
Mr. Callaghan is a republican in political faith and a Modern Woodman of America in fraternal relations. He has an abiding interest in the progress and prosperity of his county and state and always does all he can to promote them, being foremost in every work for improvement and the increase of the conveniences and enjoyments of life. While averse to public life, he has served the township as collector, accepting and discharging the duties of the office for the benefit of the people and not for his own preferment or advantage.
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While Mr. Callaghan has devoted himself mainly to his farming opera- tions and has brought his farm to a high state of development and produc- tiveness, he has not allowed this to absorb all his time or energy. He has an excellent dairy, to which twenty cows contribute their milk, and he is also an extensive breeder of fine hogs, owning some of the best bred and most valuable in the county. In every line of activity in which he has engaged his life has been an impressive illustration of intelligence and enterprise well applied and working out good results. He is highly esteemed throughout the county as a first-class citizen and representative man.
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