USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II > Part 73
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ROBERT E. MIDDLETON.
Owning a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Burlington township, which is highly improved and provided with everything necessary for its proper cultivation, and which he acquired through his own industry, frugality and ability. Robert E. Middleton, who has now retired from active pursuits, may be fitly taken as a representative of the most sturdy and sterling citizenship of Kane county. He is, moreover, a native of the township in which his activities have produced their good results, where he was born November 24, 1866.
His father, John Middleton, was born in England but came to the United States when he was seventeen years old and found in Burlington township of this county the home in the new world to which his hopes led him. After his arrival in this county he passed the first five years of his residence here as a farm hand working for wages. He then married Eleanor Varty, who was also a native of England and came to America with her parents in her childhood. They had five children, those besides Robert being: Fred, a farmer in Burlington township, a sketch of whom will be found on another page of this work; Ernest, a farmer in DeKalb county, Illinois; Mary, the wife of James Shuey; and Ella. the wife of George Russell. The father supported the republican party in national elections. He was zealous in local affairs for the good of the township, serving as a school director for a num- ber of years.
Robert E. Middleton obtained such education as he could in the district schools, attending them at intervals as he had opportunity until he was twenty- one. The next three years he passed on his father's farm assisting in the work of cultivating it, and then set about gratifying his longing for a home and a domestic life of his own and a permanent settlement for his future years.
On January 27, 1889, he was married to Miss Jennie Ward, a native of Kane county, born in Virgil township. For eleven years after his marriage he lived on rented farms, working industriously and to advantage and living frugally, and thereby accumulating enough to buy a farm which was his home for seven years. He then removed to Sycamore, Illinois, where he owns a residence on DeKalb avenue. His farm is located on the crossroads seven and a half miles east of Sycamore and four and a half miles southwest
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· of Burlington. It is only a mile and a half from a school and the same dis- tance from a cheese and butter factory. It is abundantly watered, produces fruit plentifully and in desirable variety, and it is all under cultivation. The improvements put on it by Mr. Middleton cost eight thousand dollars.
Mr. and Mrs. Middleton have three children, all of whom are living at home. They are Mabel, John and Elcanor. The father is a republican in his political allegiance, but is not an ardent partisan or an office seeker. although, for the good of the township he has served as school director and commis- sioner for a number of years. He is a good farmer and manager and has earned the prosperity he enjoys. He is also a good man and excellent citizen and richly deserves the general esteem in which he is held in all parts of the township.
GEORGE R. THOMPSON.
George R. Thompson, now filling the position of justice of the peace in Elgin, was formerly an electrician connected with the City Electric Railway Company. His life record began in the village of Butlersville, in Warren county, Ohio, February 24. 1850, his parents being Thornton and Catherine (Hitesman) Thompson. The father was a native of Ohio and was of Scotch-English descent. Through his mother he was a descendant of Thomas Payne.
Mrs. Catherine Thompson was born in Pennsylvania and when eleven years of age went to Ohio. The ancestor of the Hitesman family came to America during the French and Indian war as an officer in the English army under Braddock. He afterward left the army and in this country married an Irish lady and remained here. He served in the Revolutionary war. Thornton Thompson is now residing in Ohio, at the age of eighty-two years. For more than six decades he has been a member of the Masonic fraternity, joining the order when twenty-one years of age. His wife died at the age of sixty-nine years. In her family were eight children, four sons and four daughters, but two of the daughters are now deceased: Those who still survive are: George R .; John, who is train master on the Mexican Central Railroad in Mexico; William G., an attorney of Hamilton, Ohio, who is prominent in democratic circles there, having served as a member of the demo- cratic state central committee and a candidate for congress at one time : Emerson, a passenger conductor on the Mexico International Railroad ; Florence, the wife of Frank M. Hall, of Charleston, West Virginia ; and Mrs. Alice Wetsel, who is a widow living with her father.
George R. Thompson was reared in the village of his nativity, where he remained for some time after his marriage. His early educational privileges, afforded by the country schools, were supplemented by study in the South- western Normal School at Lebanon, Ohio, from 1868 until 1870. He had previously been in the railroad service and again took up railroading after pursuing his normal course. He was for a time employed as brakesman and later became a conductor, and altogether he followed railroading at different
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periods for about fourteen years. He then took up telephone and telegraph work in the line of construction, and was also connected with railroad con- struction through the south. Subsequently he returned to Cincinnati, where he was in the fire department telegraph service until the first successful electric street railway was established in Cincinnati. He then went to work for the company and in 1890 he came to Elgin as electrician for the Elgin City Street Railway Company, with which he continued for ten years, or until 1900, when the business was sold out to a new company.
The following year Mr. Thompson was elected justice of the peace and has served continuously since. In politics he has been a lifelong republican. For a time he was in the railway mail service in Cincinnati, but resigned when Grover Cleveland was first elected to the presidency. His public service has been characterized by the utmost fidelity in duty and he has proven a most capable official in his present position.
On the 8th of March, 1875. Mr. Thompson was married to Miss Matilda Stoughton, who was born in Cincinnati, a daughter of Eli and Emeline Stoughton. They have become the parents of six children: Nellie P., the wife of C. C. Krieger, of Elgin : Harry C., who married Etna King and lives in Elgin ; Stanley D., who died in May, 1903, at the age of twenty-four years; Kate, the wife of Frank Conyne, of this city; Anna, the wife of G. E. Peter- son, also of Elgin ; and Alice, at home.
In his social relations Mr. Thompson was connected with the Knights of Pythias. the Red Men and the Order of Eagles. He also holds member- ship with the Sons of Veterans, being entitled to this through the fact that his father was a soldier of the Civil war, enlisting in 1862 and serving until the close of hostilities with the rank of first lieutenant in the Seventy-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. George R. Thompson takes a most active interest in fraternal orders and is prominent in the societies with which he is now connected. His life has been a busy and active one and whatever success he has achieved is attributable entirely to his own labor. He has been somewhat prominent in official circles in the communities in which he has lived and is now most capably discharging the duties of his present office.
ISRAEL STRAW PINGREE.
Among the early settlers of Kane county none stood higher in public esteem than Israel Straw Pingree, who was a worthy representative of one of the pioneer families of this region. He was born in New Hampshire on the 12th of March, 1801, and spent his early life in the east. Deciding to try his fortune on the prairies of Illinois, he came to Kane county in 1837 and took up a tract of government land at what became known as Pingree Grove. Here he and his family experienced many of the hardships and trials of life on the frontier and he bore a prominent part in transforming the wild land into well cultivated fields. Pingree Grove was named for him and his three brothers, all of whom took up government land in that locality.
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Throughout his active business life he followed farming and met with well deserved success in his labors.
In 1844 Mr. Pingree married Miss Harriet Thurston, a daughter of John and Phoebe (Inman) Thurston, who were from Ohio. Eight children blessed this union, of whom five are still living. In order of birth they are as follows: Phoebe A., who married George Coombs and resides in Elgin; Andrew C. and Hiram T., both deceased; Jennie L., the wife of George R. Bagley, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume; Hannah, the wife of C. J. Arnold, a resident of Denver, Colorado; Daniel, deceased ; Francis, who married Fannie Wasson and resides in Elgin: Lorena A., the wife of Edward Weightman. The father of this family continued to make his home at Pingree Grove until his death and passed away in 1870.
JOHN A. PETERSON.
A well improved and valuable farm of one hundred and twenty-four acres, situated in Virgil township, is the home of John A. Peterson, who deserves much credit for what he has accomplished in the business world, for all that he today possesses has been acquired through his own labors and well directed activity. As the name suggests, Mr. Peterson is a native of Sweden, his birth having occurred in Guttensbury, July 20, 1851. His parents, Peter and Christine Abrahamson, were likewise natives of that coun- try, where the father was employed as a laborer. He died in Sweden when our subject was but one year old.
John A. Peterson is one of two sons born of his father's marriage and is the only one now living, his brother, Charles A., having departed this life. John A. Peterson pursued his studies in the common schools to the age of four- teen years, when he learned the painter's trade, at which he worked for four years. He next secured employment on a farm, working in that way for a similar period. At the age of nineteen years he emigrated to America, at which time he located in Galesburg, Illinois, where he spent some time but later removed to Lafayette. Indiana, being employed at labor on a railroad for one year. He then returned to Illinois, this time locating near Sycamore. where he was employed at farm labor. He lived economically and managed to save a sum sufficient to enable him to invest in land, thus becoming owner of a tract of one hundred and twenty-four acres, situated in Virgil township, three miles from Maple Park. Mr. Peterson has improved the place with good buildings and has tiled and fenced the land, thus expending eight thou- sand dollars in making his farm a model property. He has thirty-five acres planted to corn. fifteen acres to oats, while eighteen acres is in grass. He reserves a goodly portion for pasturage, for lie keeps seventeen cows for dairy purposes, this branch of his business proving a profitable source of income. He also raises quite a large number of Poland China hogs, and in cach branch of his business is meeting with success.
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Mr. Peterson has been married twice. He first wedded Matilda A. Anderson, who was born in Sweden and came with her parents to America when a young lady of nineteen years, the family home being established in DeKalb, Illinois. They still survive and make their home in that city. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Peterson was blessed with the following children : Ida S., who makes her home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Amanda G., the wife of Fred Carlson of Sycamore ; Ernest E., a resident of Sycamore : August T., who makes his home with our subject : Emma G., a resident of Chicago; and William, who has departed this life. For his second wife Mr. Peterson wedded Augusta Gustafson, who was likewise a native of Sweden, and by her mar- riage she became the mother of three sons and a daughter, as follows : Reuben Edward, at home: Elmer Benjamin; Bessie A., at home; and Ferdinand, deceased.
Mr. Peterson's study of the political questions and issues of the day has led him to give stalwart support to the republican party, while his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church. He possesses the resolution, perseverance and reliability so characteristic of his nation, and his name is now enrolled among the best citizens of Kane county.
DAVID C. ROACH. M.D.
Dr. David C. Roach is the only physician in active practice in the town of Burlington, Illinois, and his usefulness to the people of that part of the county can easily be inferred from this fact, and from the additional fact that he is both knowing and skillful, well up in both theory and practice and devoted to his profession. He is also diligent and conscientious in his attention to his duties.
He was born September 10, 1871, at Warren, Jo Daviess county, Illinois, and is the son of John and Mary E. (Collins) Roach, the former a native of New Orleans, born February 22, 1844, and the latter of Pittsburg, Pennsyl- vania. The father left Louisiana when he was nine years old and found a new home at Warren, in this state, where he was educated in the public schools, and in the vicinity of which town he has long engaged in farming. He and his wife are now living in Warren in the enjoyment of a serene and comfortable advancement in life, with four of their twelve children still sur- rounding their hearthstone. The mother's father removed to Lafayette county, Wisconsin, in 1865, and it was there Mr. Roach met and married her.
The Doctor's sisters and brothers are: Anna, who is the wife of John Ball, a farmer in Iowa; Thomas, who is in the employ of the Santa Fe Rail- road Company in Kansas ; James, who is a carpenter at Warren, Illinois; Alice, who is a stenographer for the Cudahy Company at Milwaukee; Edwin, who is employed as a shipping clerk in Milwaukee; Francis, who is attending the State Normal School at Valparaiso, Indiana; Andrew, Claire and Mary, who are living at home; Catherine, who is teaching school at Nora, Illinois;
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and Marcella, who, also, is living at home. The father is a Catholic in church membership and a Modern Woodman and Knight of the Globe fraternally.
Dr. Roach attended the public schools in his native county until he was thirteen years old, and after that the high school in Warren four years. On leaving the high school he began the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Caldwell in Freeport. and after the desired preparation under the direction of that gentleman, became a student in the medical department of the North- western University, from which he was graduated in 1894. For a year and a half thereafter he was one of the resident physicians in St. Francis Hospital in Freeport. During the next six years he lived and practiced in McConnell. Stephenson county, and at the end of that period took up his residence in Bur- lington, where he has ever since been engaged in an active general practice. He has a completely equipped modern doctor's office, with its own dispensary and all the appliances needed to meet the requirements of an up-to-date and exacting practice.
The Doctor's marriage occurred in Chicago, where he was united with Miss Emma Weber, a native of that city, where her mother is now living. They have one child, David H., who was born May 7. 1906.
Dr. Roach belongs to the Masonic order, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the World, and takes an active interest in the welfare and progress of these organizations. He is also influential in public matters in the township and always earnest in the support of any good move- ment for its welfare. His counsel is sought and heeded as to projects of public import and his leadership in them is always warmly welcomed. In his profession he stands deservedly high, and no man is regarded with more general respect and esteem in the community.
S. N. HOOVER.
Not all men who prepare for the bar or even all who creditably pass the required examination win success in practice. Frequently the lawyer fails in the necessary preparation or does not possess that keen insight which deter- mines the relative value of every point bearing upon his case. Possessing all the requisite attributes of the successful lawyer, S. N. Hoover is practicing at Aurora with a large and distinctively representative clientage that is proof of his capability in the field of his chosen profession.
Mr. Hoover is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Clermont county, on the 27th of December, 1867. His father, P. H. Hoover, was like- wise born in Clermont county, while the grandfather. John Hoover, removed to Ohio from Pennsylvania. The family is of German lineage, however, for the great-grandfather. Jacob Hoover, came from Frankfort-on-the-Main and was the progenitor of the family in the new world. P. H. Hoover was a man of scholarly attainments and broad knowledge. In 1869 he removed west- ward with his family and settled at Bloomington, Illinois, where, retiring from professional life, he turned his attention to farming and was identified
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with agricultural interests throughout the greater part of his remaining days. He was a prominent and stalwart champion of the republican party and was active in campaigns, doing everything in his power to promote the party's growth and insure its success. He was a man of untarnished rectitude of character, faithful to his ideals and ever loyal to the principles which governed his actions. He died in 1899 at the age of seventy-seven years. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Augusta Prather, died in 1892.
S. N. Hoover was only two years of age when his parents came to Illi- nois and his education was acquired in the public schools of Bloomington and in the Wesleyan University. When it came time to decide upon a calling which he wished to make his life avocation Mr. Hoover, after looking broad over the business situation, determined upon the profession of law, pursued his studies in Bloomington and in 1891 was admitted to the bar in Denver, Colorado. Following his admission to the bar he located for practice in Colorado and in 1893 he came to Aurora, where he entered into partnership with N. F. Nichols. Later he became a partner of Senator George E. Bacon and this continued until the death of Mr. Bacon in 1896. Since that time Mr. Hoover has been alone with a large practice that is indicative of his skill and ability and the confidence reposed in him by the general public. Earnest effort, close application and undaunted wisdom are strong points in liis pro- fessional career, combined with a comprehensive familiarity with law and precedent.
In 1901 Mr. Hoover was married to Miss Clara A. Luck, a native of Wisconsin. He belongs to the Masonic lodge, to the Knights of Pythias and other societies and is in full harmony with their principles of brotherly kind- ness and helpfulness. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he is an active supporter therein, doing all in his power to promote its growth and insure its success. In citizenship he stands for progressiveness and substantial improvement and in all his relations with his fellowmen has shown a spirit of consideration and deference that has made him popular with his fellow townsmen.
JAMES ROBERT ANDERSON.
The enterprising little town of Elburn finds a worthy representative of its business interests in James Robert Anderson, who is engaged in the hard- ware and furniture trade as a member of the firm of Anderson & Warne, conducting a well equipped store, and their reasonable prices and honorable dealing are securing for them a good trade.
Mr. Anderson is one of Kane county's native sons, his birth having occurred on a farm here. December 7, 1868, his parents being Oley and Annie Elizabeth Anderson. The father was born in Norway in 1832, while the mother was born in Zanesville, Ohio, 1842. About 1850 she accompanied hier parents to Iowa, the family home being established in Webster City, where she afterward gave her hand in marriage to Mr. Anderson. For a time
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they conducted a tavern on the old state road which enters Webster City, but later removed to Illinois, settling near Elburn in the early '6os. They encoun- tered all of the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life, but with the thrift and industry characteristic of his nationality, Mr. Anderson persevered in his work and in due course of time became a prosperous farmer of the community. The family numbered the following: Johnnie, now deceased ; James R., of this review ; Lewis, deceased ; and Ethel, who resides with her parents and is employed as chief operator for the Interstate Telephone Com- pany at Elburn.
James R. Anderson attended the district schools until fourteen years of age, when he entered the graded school of Elburn, continuing his studies to the age of eighteen years. On putting aside his text-books he returned to the farm and had the management of the property until 1892, when he retired from agricultural life and became a factor in commercial pursuits, establish- ing the hardware and furniture store in Elburn which he has conducted to the present time. His business was very successful.
Mr. Anderson was married to Miss Nellie M. Richmond, whose father conducted a bank at that place. Fraternally Mr. Anderson is connected with the Masonic lodge and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, in which he is holding the office of venerable consul. He has been somewhat promi- nent in community affairs and was elected to the position of village trustee, in which he has served since 1904 up to the present time. In politics he is a republican and is always able to support his position by intelligent argument. for he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day. The busi- ness methods he has followed are strictly straightforward and honorable and have won for him the respect as well as the commercial support of the com- munity.
LAMSON BROTHERS.
The farming interests of Kane county find worthy representatives in Lorenzo John and Dale Elliott Lamson, who have been prominently con- nected with agricultural interests in Big Rock township throughout their entire lives. They represent one of the oldest and most prominent pioneer families of this locality. Their father, Lorenzo John Lamson, Sr., was born September 9, 1816, in the vicinity of Bunker Hill monument at Charles- town, Massachusetts, and was a son of Samuel and Sarah ( Elliott ) Lamson, who were likewise natives of the old Bay state.
Removing westward. Lorenzo John Lamson established his home in Kane county on the Ist of October, 1836. He was then a young man of twenty years and he came to the west that he might benefit by its broader business opportunities. Only four years before had the Black Hawk war occurred and there were still many evidences of Indian occupancy here. Much of the land was still in possession of the government and it was undrained and uncultivated. In fact, everything was wild, not a furrow had
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1. J. LAMISON. SR.
MRS. L. J. LAMSON, SR.
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been turned of an improvement made, while the native timber was still uncut. The land, however, was productive, responding rapidly to the care and labor bestowed upon it, yet much arduous labor was required to convert the wild prairie into fertile fields. Mr. Lamson secured from the govern- ment a claim of one hundred and sixty acres on sections 7, 8 and 18, Big Rock township, paying for this property the usual price of one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. He had no very near neighbors, but he possessed a resolute, determined spirit and bravely faced the conditions of pioneer life with all of its attendant hardships and privations. As the years passed he carried on the work of the farm and soon wrought a marked transforma- tion in its appearance. He assisted in organizing Big Rock township and was its first township clerk. In community affairs he took an active and helpful part for many years and held various township offices whereby he promoted the political status and substantial improvement of the neighbor- hood. The cause of education, too, found in him a warm friend and he served for twenty-one years as school director.
In December, 1855, Lorenzo John Lamson, Sr., was married in Aurora to Miss Jane Dale, the wedding being celebrated by an Episcopal clergyman. Mrs. Lamson was born in Durham county, England. The Lamson family is also of English descent. Mrs. Lamson's father was Thomas Dale, who settled in Big Rock township in 1852, coming here direct from England with his wife and younger children. He had married Ann Stoddart, also a native of England. His birth occurred at Eagle Cliff, Yorkshire, August 13, 1786, while his wife was born at Houghton-le-Spring, Durham, April 19, 1794. They were married at Middlem, Eng- land, in November, 1812, and became parents of fifteen children, but only one is now living, Mrs. Alfred Sommers, who makes her home in La Grange, Illinois. One son of the family was killed in the Sepoy Rebellion while serving with the English army in India. Two other brothers, Henry and William Dale, were sea captains. The former died at Sligo, Ireland, June 15, 1871, while the latter sailed to the East Indies in command of a inerchant vessel and was never heard from again. The father, Thomas Dale, died July 26, 1862, while the mother passed away March 20, 1876.
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