USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II > Part 75
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MRS. CELIA IDA MARKLE.
No history of the enterprising little city of Elburn would be complete without mention of Mrs. Markle, who, for twenty-five years, has conducted a ladies' bazaar and has one of the leading mercantile interests of the town. Not to know Mrs. Markle in Elburn is to argue one's self unknown for she has not only demonstrated her ability in business circles, but is also well known socially and has an extensive circle of warm friends. She was born upon her father's farm in this locality, February 4, 1861, being a daughter of Samuel R. and Malintha M. (Churchill) Sheldon, extensive mention of
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whom is made on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of their son, Quincy Sheldon.
At the usual age Mrs. Markle began her education, attending the graded schools of Elburn. and when she was seventeen years of age she took up the profession of teaching. which she followed as an alternate. She resided with her parents until they were called to the home beyond, and on the 24th of June, 1903. she gave her hand in marriage to Charles F. Markle, who is now engaged in the livery business in Elburn, with his brother-in-law. Q. G. Sheldon.
Mr. Markle was a soldier of the Spanish-American war, enrolling on the 12th of September, 1899. as a private of Company E. Thirty-ninth Reg- iment, and going to the Philippines, he took part in the engagement at Sugar Hill, two and a half miles from Calamba, January 9, 1900; the skirmishes at Iollo and Sanra Mesa : the engagement at Buentad Vigo; the battle of San Tomas Hill, January 13, 1900: the skirmish near Lipa, August II. 1900; Bulocbag, January 21, 1901 ; San Diego Hill, January 29, 1901; and the engagement of the rear guard near San Coloc. He served until June 30, 1901, and was honorably discharged at Presidia, California, on the 21st of December, 1903.
For a quarter of a century Mrs. Markle has conducted the ladies' bazaar, in which she carries a large and carefully selected lines of ladies' goods. Her store is neat, tasteful and attractive in its arrangement, her prices are reasonable and her dealings always fair and just, so that she has throughout the entire period enjoyed a liberal patronage.
WILLIAM BULLOCK.
Born, reared, educated and now living in this county, with four of his brothers and one sister, conducting useful enterprises within a few miles of his home, William Bullock and the family from which he sprang have been closely connected with the history of the county for many years and important factors in its growth and development. Mr. Bullock came into the world at St. Charles on April 19, 1877, and six years later moved with the rest of the family to Geneva. There he attended the public schools until he reached the age of sixteen, obtaining a good fundamental education. and preparing himself as well as his circumstances allowed for the battles of life.
His first engagement in the great contest was as a farm hand in the employ of Joseph Woolster on a farm near Geneva, where he remained six years. He then worked in the Challenge windmill factory in Batavia two years, and after the expiration of that period passed four years as a hand on the farm of William Evans on the Galena road. By this time he had come to an age and state of mind in which it seemed best to him to be working for himself. He, therefore, worked the Tuttle farm one year, after that the Estee farm one year, and then the C. Loser farm two years. He is now farming seventy acres in Aurora township, and is making a
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good record on it as a farmer and advancing his interests in a gratifying degree.
About six years ago he yielded to the pleadings of his nature for a home and its comforting domestic ties, and on April 19, 1902, the twenty-fifth anniversary of his birth, was married to Miss Kate Reichard, a daughter of Peter and Mary (Miller) Reichard, of Fort Smith, Arkansas. She was born in Detroit, Michigan, but moved in childhood with her parents to the far western Arkansas city and lived there until her marriage. Her parents were born and reared in Germany and came to this country soon after their arrival at years of maturity. Mr. and Mrs. Bullock have three daughters, Elizabeth, Frances and Gwendoline, all of whom are living with them.
Mr. Bullock's brothers and sister are: Thomas, a resident of Geneva, this county; George, who lives in Minnesota; John, who works on a farm near Aurora; Charles, who lives at Woodstock in McHenry county, Illinois ; Warren, who resides in Aurora: and Lizzie, the wife of Frank Huntley of Aurora. The parents of this family are John and Harriett (Egan) Bullock, the former born at Coddington, Northhamptonshire, England, on January 13, 1836, and the latter at Ponds Flat in the same country, on February 3, 1861. The grandparents were William and Lucy (Brown) Bullock, also natives of England.
From his childhood Mr. Bullock has been industrious, temperate and frugal. He realized early in life that he would have to make his own way in the world, and he bent all his efforts and controlled all his actions toward winning the progress he desired. He has succeeded in his aspirations, being now comfortable in a worldly way and firmly fixed in the good will and lasting regard of the people among whom he has lived and labored and to whose advancement he has contributed all that was in his power. Having been the architect of his own fortune, he is entitled to the gratification which comes from self-wrought success, and his friends and neighbors share his feelings in this respect, giving him full credit for what he has done.
CHARLES ESTERBROOK COLWELL, M.D.
While Dr. Charles E. Colwell is widely known as an able and learned physician and surgeon, he occupies an equally enviable position in public regard by reason of his interest in the cause of education and his stalwart support of every measure of public progress in the community. He was born at Newburgh, New York, June 19, 1864. His parents were Clark Brown and Martha ( Pennover ) Colwell. Both the Colwells and Pennoyers for several generations preceding the birth of the subject of this sketch, had resided in Orange county. to the west of Newburgh, in the towns of Hopewell, Crawford, Montgomery and Coldenham. The Colwells were originally Scotch. The Pennoyers were French Huguenots.
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The Doctor's great-grandfather. John Colwell, was a farmer at Hope- well, New York. His grandfather, Hugh Colwell, was a wheelwright, and resided at Coldenham, New York, where he died, aged forty-four, leaving his widow. Adelaide Dickenson Colwell, and four children: John Harvey, Augusta. Clark Brown, and James, all of whom are dead but Clark B. Adelaide (Dickenson ) Colwell. his grandmother, was born on eastern Long Island, and was descended from one Philemon Dickenson, who, with his brothers Nathaniel and John. emigrated from England to Massachusetts in 1638, and in 1646 was one of twenty who founded Southold, Long Island.
Clark Brown Colwell was born at Shawangunk, Ulster county. July 24, 1835. After his father's death, when he was seven years old, he went to live with his grandmother on a farm among the rocks at Bethel in Sullivan county. When eighteen he went to his mother at Newburgh and learned the carpenter's trade. Upon the breaking out of the Civil war in 1861 he en- listed as a private for three months' service and was stationed at Baltimore, Maryland. In 1862 he reenlisted in the Ninety-eighth New York Volun- teers, and went out as first sergeant, and served until the close of the war, being mustered out December 1, 1864. His valor and meritorious service on the field of battle won for him promotion until he came out as first lieutenant in command of his company, his captain having been brevetted colonel. He was in the campaign resulting in the fall of Richmond and participated in the battles of the Wilderness, and in many hotly contested engagements and in the long marches which led up to the final victory. After the war he returned to Newburgh and in the spring of 1867 carne with his family to Aurora, where he entered business as a general contractor. form- ing a partnership under the style of Dyckman Brothers & Colwell. This continued for a few years. after which Mr. Colwell purchased his partners' interest and continued in contracting lines under his own name. He has been identified with much of the important building in the city. He erected the Aurora Cotton Mills, the German Catholic church, the Hobbs block, the Oal: Street school, the South Lake Street school and many other large and substantial buildings. He also remodeled the courthouse and these various structures stand as evidence of his skill and ability in his chosen field of labor.
In 1893 he retired from the business of contracting and for the next four years was superintendent and manager of the Aurora Creamery Com- pany. Since 1897 he has been living quietly upon the fruits of his toil. Clark B. Colwell is a Master Mason, prominent in the craft and for many years has been treasurer of his lodge. He was a member of the board of education for several years.
Clark B. Colwell and his wife were members of the Methodist church and became charter members of the congregation that was formed on the west side of the river, and aided in the building of the Galena Street Methodist Episcopal church. Martha Jane Pennoyer Colwell was the youngest child of Jacob and Martha ( Scott ) Pennoyer : was born September 28. 1832. and died January 25. 1905. The Doctor has two sisters, Miss
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Fanny A., and Jennie A., the wife of E. E. Bartlett, of Warren, Rhode Island.
Dr. Colwell was three years of age when he came with his parents to Aurora. Here he has lived continuously since and, passing through con- secutive grades in the public schools, he was graduated from the West Aurora high school in 1881. With good literary education to serve as the founda- tion upon which to build the superstructure of professional knowledge, he then began reading medicine under the direction of Dr. F. L. Bartlett and graduated as high general standman in a class of ninety-six from the Hahnemann Medical College of Chicago in 1885, after which he began practicing in Aurora, where he has since continued.
Soon after graduation he formed a copartnership with his preceptor, Dr. F. L. Bartlett, which continued until the retirement of Dr. F. L. Bartlett in 1899, when a new copartnership was formed with his son, Dr. Fred A. Bartlett, under the title of Colwell & Bartlett. He is accorded a liberal patronage and is recognized as one of the leaders in his profession in Aurora. He is a member of the Chicago Homeopathic Medical Association and the Illinois State Medical Association, and in the proceedings of the latter takes an active part, having served as chairman of different bureaus of the association. He was chairman of the legislative bureau of the state society of his school of medicine at the time of the passage of the present state medical practice act, at which time the state board of health was also reorganized. He likewise belongs to the American Institute of Homeo- pathy. He is one of the attending surgeons on the staff of the Aurora City Hospital, and lectures on obstetrics in the training school for nurses connected with this hospital. He has taken a prominent part in the organ- ization of the Aurora-Elgin District Homeopathic Medical Society and is its first president.
Aside from his professional interests Dr. Colwell is one of the directors of the Western United Gas & Electric Company and is a director in the Merchants' National Bank. He is the president of the Aurora Tennis Club, which has the unique distinction of being the only tennis club in northern Illinois that owns its own outfit. The club was organized by Dr. Colwell, associated with Drs. Bartlett and Holcombe. They organized the club, pur- chased the ground and erected a club house and Dr. Colwell has since been its president. He has been president of the board of education of school district No. 129, known as West Aurora since the spring of 1903, and has given to school matters a good deal of time and thought. The period covered by his presidency might well be called one of building construction. The part he took in the building of the new high school, a gem of architecture, com- plete in its heating and ventilating, plumbing and scientific equipment have probably given him the most satisfaction of anything he has ever done. Every detail of the planning and execution of the plans were under his constant observation, and he feels that it is a worthy monument to his public spiritedness and good citizenship. The large Oak Street school was partially destroyed by fire and was rebuilt and equipped with a modern heating sys-
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tem that ventilates as well. Also a new grade building of exquisite architec- ture, with modern heating and plumbing, was erected on Galena street.
Few men have been so actively or helpfully interested in many lines affecting public welfare as Dr. Colwell. One of the keynotes of the Doctor's character is that each person should help his fellowmen in all ways possible. and also that good citizenship means not simply honor of holding office. but rather the giving as a sense of duty the best service of which one is capable, honestly. conscientiously and self-sacrificingly, without respect to passing criticism.
He possesses untiring energy, is quick of perception, forms his plans readily and is determined in their execution. In his professional career he has made that steady advancement which results from conscientious ob- ligation in practice and from a thorough understanding of the scientific principles which underlie his chosen field of labor.
CAPTAIN LEVERETT M. KELLEY.
Captain Leverett M. Kelley, who is now serving as deputy commissioner of pensions in Washington. D. C., and whose legal home is in Elgin. was born in Schenectady, New York. September 28, 1841, and in his veins flows the blood of Scotch-Irish and Dutch-American ancestry. His father. John Kelley, came to Illinois with the family when his son, Leverett. was not quite four years of age. There were eight children in the family and they settled on a farm in Rutland township, near Pingree Grove, arriving in June, 1845. In the school in the home neighborhood Captain Kelley pursued his early education and at the age of eighteen took up a course in the Elgin Academy, while later he attended the college at Beloit, Wisconsin. He was pursuing his studies there when the Civil war broke out.
He had been an interested witness of the events which preceded the inauguration of hostilities and early in the war he determined that he would strike a blow in defense of the Union, feeling that his duty to his country was paramount to all else. He was nineteen years of age, when in July, 1861. he enlisted as a private of Company A. Thirty-sixth Regiment of the Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in at Camp Hammond. Illi- nois. August 22, 1861. Early in the service he became corporal, was afterward promoted to the rank of sergeant and later served as first lieutenant and as captain, being at times in command of the regiment. He was in active duty for more than four years, or until October. 1865. Few men are possessed of such a creditable military record or have been active participants in more of the important engagements during the war than Captain Kelley. who met the enemy on the battle grounds of Pea Ridge, Perryville, Stone River. Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Dalton. Resaca. Adairsville. Dallas, Kenesaw Mountain. Peach Tree Creek. Lovejoy Station, Jonesboro, Columbia, Spring Hill. Franklin and Nashville. When sergeant of Com- pany A at Missionary Ridge, calling upon his comrades to follow him, he
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rushed forward in the face of an incessant and deadly fire, and was among the first over the works on the summit, where he compelled the surrender of a Confederate officer and received his sword. Many other tangible evidences of his valor might be given but this is sufficient to indicate the nature of his service.
When the war was over Captain Kelley returned to Illinois and has much of the time been in public service, manifesting a loyalty to the trust reposed in him equal to that which he displayed when he followed the old flag on southern battlefields. He was married in 1867. The following year he became sheriff of Kane county and was again called to that office in 1874. He became Indian agent at the Standing Rock and Los Pinos agen- cies in 1878, in which capacity he consummated an important treaty with the latter tribe. From 1889 until 1893 he filled the position of chief of the division of the pension bureau at Washington, and in 1897 he was made deputy commissioner of pensions. In the discharge of his duties he has been most faithful, so that over the record of his official career there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil.
Captain Kelley is an unequivocal republican, yet never a bitter partisan. He is always interested in military affairs and belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic, the Military Order of the Loyal Legion and the Medal of Honor Legion of the United States.
HON. DAVID F. BARCLAY.
No history of Elgin would be complete without extensive mention of Hon. David F. Barclay, who is one of its most prominent citizens. His life has been so varied in its activity, so honorable in its purposes and so far- reaching in its effects, that it has become an integral part of the annals of Elgin. Taking up his abode here in early days he has aided in large measure in shaping its formative policy and in promoting its industrial activity and in public office he has also demonstrated the fact that the public welfare is with him above partisanship or personal aggrandizement.
Mr. Barclay is descended from sturdy Scotch ancestry and is a native of Edinburgh, Scotland. He accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world, the family settling at Little Fort, now Waukegan, Illinois, in 1842. There in early life he learned the trade of a tinsmith and copper- smith, and in 1851 he removed to Elgin, where he worked for a time at his trade. Later he engaged in the hardware business on his own account. A man of resourceful ability, he soon extended his efforts to other lines, and in addition to his other work, began the manufacture of dairy apparatus, being a pioneer in this line in the west. As the dairy business expanded this branch of Mr. Barclay's business became very extensive and important. He manufactured the cans in which the first shipment of milk was made to Chicago and was one of the founders in the early 'zos of the Elgin Board of Trade, whose annual transactions of butter and cheese in the late years
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amounted to millions of dollars. For many years Mr. Barclay remained as president of the board, in which connection his operations were extensive and were represented by a large annual figure For some years he has been president of the First National Bank of Elgin, and is still occupying that position. In his business affairs he has shown keen discernment, working toward high ideals both in his business relations, in the character of service he has given to the public and in the results he has achieved for himself.
Mr. Barclay is, perhaps, even more widely known in political circles, being known to many of the political leaders of the nation as one whose efforts in behalf of its party and the principles in which he believes have been far-reaching and beneficial. He has always taken a loyal interest in politics, studying the questions affecting the welfare of the country and always keeping well informed on the dominant issues of the day. His early political allegiance was given to the whigs and later he became a stanch republican. He has voted for every whig and republican president since Zachary Taylor was the candidate for the office of chief executive of the country. He has filled many local positions with honor, serving four terms as mayor and for two terms as an alderman of Elgin. For ten years he was resident member and president of the board of trustees of the Illinois North- ern Hospital for the Insane. In connection with the Hon. G. P. Lord and the late W. H. Hintze he served on the board of water commissioners which built and put into successful operation the Elgin system of water works. For two terms he was president of the board of education and no measure or movement instituted for the benefit of the city has failed to receive his support and allegiance.
Mr. Barclay has been a Mason for many years, having in 1853 been initiated into Elgin Lodge, A. F. & A. M. He has also attained the Knight Templar degree in Bethel Commandery and the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite in Oriental Consistory. He has ever been among the thinking men of the country-men who look at life in all its various phases and derive from their investigation and research correct conclusions so that in active affairs, political, business and social, their views are sound and their labors are effective. His record has been an honor to the city which has honored him and Elgin citizens entertain for him the highest respect.
RUFUS F. JOHNSON.
Rufus F. Johnson is now living retired in Fulton, but for many years was an active factor in business life, becoming connected with agricultural interests in Kane county, in pioneer times. He was born August 2, 1831, and has, therefore, passed the seventy-seventh milestone on life's journey. His father. Reuben Bingham Johnson, was a native of AAshville, Chautauqua county, New York, and after arriving at mature years was married to Miss Sophronia Sophia Finch. In the year 1836 they made their way westward. arriving in Kane county on the 6th of March. The father devoted his at- tention to farming and became well known as one of the pioneers of this
MR. AND MRS. R. F. JOHNSON
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part of the state. He was a man with strong religious convictions and held membership in the Jericho Methodist Episcopal church, which still stands as a monument to his generosity and Christian spirit, for he gave the land on which the house of worship was erected and was one of the founders of the church. It was one of the first church edifices in the Fox river valley and was known far and wide in the early days. It stands on the line between Kane and Kendall counties in the southwestern corner of Sugar Grove township, and occupies a commanding elevation in the midst of a rich agricultural region. It was long used as a house of worship and also the scene of many literary and social entertainments among the pioneers who blazed the way of civilization in this part of the state, but the towns and cities which have sprung up all around have long since divested the little church of its usefulness for more modern churches have been built and it now stands an empty edifice, but around it clusters many glorious memories of the early days. The cemetery by its side is the resting place of many pioneers who worshiped there-the brave men and noble women who endured the hardships and trials of frontier life three- fourths of a century ago.
It was among pioneer surroundings that Rufus F. Johnson was reared, for he was not yet five years of age at the time of the removal of the family from New York to Illinois. As his age and strength increased he aided more and more largely in the arduous work of the farm and gained the practical experience which enabled him to successfully carry on farm work when he started out on his own account. He long remained a resident of Sugar Grove township and was one of the progressive and energetic farmers of the community, carefully tilling his fields and caring for his crops so that he gathered rich harvests and the sum of his gain year after year enabled him in the course of time to acquire a handsome competence.
Mr. Johnson was united in marriage to Mrs. Harriet Jones Edmonds, nee King. She was born at Bergen, New York, October 24. 1834, and on the 7th of January, 1856, gave her hand in marriage to John Edmonds, at Lodi, now Maple Park. At the time of the Civil war Mr. Edmonds offered his services to the country in defense of the Union and, going to the front, was killed in the battle of Chickamauga on the 12th of September, 1862. Mrs. Johnson's father, Mr. King, was also numbered among the earliest settlers of Kane county, driving across the country from the state of New York with a fine team of black horses, which afterward became the property of his son-in-law, Rufus F. Johnson, who traded the team for a farm in Sugar Grove township. This farm has since been known as the Johnson homestead, and through the efforts of Rufus F. Johnson it was converted into a rich and productive tract of land.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were born the following named: Alpha J., who was born February 8, 1872, and is now engaged in farming two and one-half miles south of Sugar Grove: Elora, who was born September 30. 1875. and is now the wife of Burton Mighell, a resident of Holstein, Iowa : Will A., who was born July 12. 1876. and is now engaged in the livery busi- ness : and George A .. who died at the age of twenty-six years.
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