USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II > Part 8
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The ability which Dr. Podstata displayed in that connection led to his selection as the head of the Northern Illinois Hospital for the Insane at Elgin by its board of trustees. He has already accomplished excellent work here and is moving forward along modern scientific and humanitarian lines, his labors receiving the endorsement of all who recognize the value of superior work of this character.
Dr. Podstata was married January 12, 1903, to Miss Mary Graham Porter. Socially he is a pleasant and genial gentleman and has many friends. He has little time, however, for social pleasures, his attention being given in undivided manner to his professional duties as the head of the Elgin institution.
EDWARD C. ALTHEN.
The name of Althen has figured in connection with the productive indus- tries of Elgin for forty years and Edward C. Althen is now a factor in the industrial life as secretary of the Elgin Eagle Brewing Company. He was born here April 13, 1874, and has always made his home in this city, where he attended the public schools, passing through consecutive grades until he became a high-school student. He afterward attended Bryant & Stratton Business College in Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1897, and, like his elder brothers, he entered the brewing business, which his father had conducted from 1868. The industry was incorporated in 1894 under the name of the Elgin Eagle Brewing Company and since 1896 Edward Althen has been its secretary and active in a position of executive management and control.
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On the Ist of September. 1902, was celebrated the marriage of Edward C. Althen and Miss Hannah L. Strandt, a native of Elgin, and a daughter of Carl Strandt. In his social relations Mr. Althen is connected with the Elks, the Eagles and Moose and the Masons, having attained the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and while he has never sought nor desired office, he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day.
JAMES ANDERSON CARLISLE.
James Anderson Carlisle for almost forty years was a resident of Elgin. His life was varied in its experiences and interests. Born in the Empire state, he was among those who went to California at the time of the excite- ment attending the discovery of gold and later he came to the middle west to become a factor in the upbuilding and substantial development of Kane county. He was born in Charleston, Montgomery county, New York, June 3. 1827. His parents were Dr. William and Lydia (Schuler) Carlisle, the former of Scotch lineage and the latter of German descent, while both were representatives of old families of the Empire state. In the family were four sons and two daughters, but the younger daughter is the only one now living. One son, Lewis Carlisle, lost his life while on the way to California in 1849.
James A. Carlisle spent his childhood in the place of his nativity, learn- ing the value of hard labor and constant economy. He was a young man at the time of the discovery of gold in California and attracted by the oppor- tunities of rapidly acquiring wealth there in the mines, he sailed for the Pacific, making the journey by way of the Isthmus route. He spent six years in the Golden state and during the greater part of that time conducted a general mercantile store. In 1858, however, he returned to the east and then resolved to establish his home in the middle west. Accordingly he came to Illinois, settling at Elgin. Here he began reading law and entered upon the practice of his profession, in which he continued for some time, but later he withdrew from legal circles and embarked in the hardware business. The next change in his business career made him proprietor of a creamery and cheese factory at South Elgin and later he established other enterprises of a similar character. At one time he was owner of three factories, one at South Elgin, one at Woodstock, Illinois, and one at Elkhorn, Wisconsin. In this undertaking he made creditable success and continued in the creamery busi- ness up to the time of his death. He also did some commercial law work and administered several estates. Such was his known integrity and reliabil- ity that positions of trust were thus given to him from time to time and he was evermost loyal thereto. In fact, wherever he was known his word was considered as good as any bond secured by signature or seal and his business integrity stood as an unquestioned fact in his career. He became a stock- holder of the Elgin Academy and was active in the promotion of the Elgin Watch factory, in which he was also a stockholder. He displayed sound
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business judgment and enterprise and in his career brooked no obstacles that could be overcome by persistent, honorable effort.
On the Ist of January, 1863, Mr. Carlisle was married to Miss Alida Sprague, a native of Pike, New York. She removed in her girlhood to Dans- ville, New York, in 1856 went to Wisconsin with her parents, and came to Elgin as a bride, since which time she has made her home in this city, arriving on the 2d of January, 1863. Since 1865 she has lived continuously in the residence which she now occupies. She is a daughter of James G. and Susan Dewey ( Paddock) Sprague, in whose family were four sons and two daugh- ters, including James P. Sprague, who was chief engineer of the United States navy. He died in Rochester, New York. He had been married about fifteen years prior to his death to Miss Libbie A. Dewey, a daughter of the late John B. Dewey, of Rochester. Mr. Sprague and his wife resided in Annapolis. He was a native of New York and entered the navy, with which he was con- nected for more than twenty years, entering it as an engineer under competitive examination. He served in the Civil war under Admiral Farragut and was present at the passage of the forts at the mouth of the Mississippi river and at the engagement at Vicksburg and other points, being under fire for one year and six days. He also assisted in the attack on Mobile and in all the principal battles where Farragut commanded. At the close of the war he went on a cruise to China and around the world in the Iroquois. He was serving on the Wateree, a United States battleship, at Arica, Peru, in 1868, when that city was destroyed by an earthquake and tidal wave. Every other vessel in the harbor was destroyed and the Wateree was carried inland by a tidal wave and left three-fourths of a mile from the sea on dry land. Mr. Sprague was at the head of the engineering department of the United States Naval Acad- emy at Annapolis for three years. Before that time, however, he was on special duty in the service of the government at Washington and was for four years engaged in important experimental work in iron and wire rope, the results of which were published by the government. He invented a valuable machine for testing the strength of iron, which is now used in the Washington navy yard. He was a man of charming personality, unfeigned cordiality and a most entertaining conversationalist.
As stated, his sister became the wife of James A. Carlisle and has resided continuously in Elgin since 1863. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Carlisle were born six children : Susan Adaline. the wife of David T. Sharpless, of Westchester. Pennsylvania; Guy Sprague, who was drowned in the ferry disaster in Elgin in 1881; John Anderson, who is in the west; Francis Perry, who died in infancy ; Charles Sylvanus, of Austin, Illinois; Henry Burton, who is in the employ of his brother-in-law, Mr. Sharpless.
In his political views Mr. Carlisle was a stanch democrat and was elected to office in a republican district, a fact which indicated his personal popularity and the confidence reposed in him. He served as township supervisor for seventeen years and a part of the time had no opposition. He was also alder- man of the city and served on the building committee of the board of super- visors when the present courthouse was erected. His official duties were discharged with the utmost capability and fidelity and his record was at all
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times most commendable. He was a generous supporter of the Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Carlisle is a member, and he felt the deepest interest in matters of public welfare, doing all in his power to promote the plans and measures calculated to prove of public benefit. He died October 4, 1898, after a long residence in Elgin, during which time he enjoyed to the fullest extent the confidence and good will of his fellowmen. He was one of the early promoters of the dairy industry here and in all his business affairs was most reliable and trustworthy. His demise was the occasion of deep regret, for Elgin lost a representative citizen, his associates a faithful friend and his family a devoted husband and father.
FREDERICK CONRAD SCHURMEIER, M.D.
The medical fraternity is represented by a class of men who on the whole are devoted to the profession and to high ideals in connection there- with. No other department of business activity is as little commercialized as this and while the physician may well be prompted by a latidable ambition to attain success. the successful practitioner must necessarily also possess that humanitarian spirit which enables him to understand his patients and not only to administer the necessary remedial agency but also to speak the word of cheer or encouragement that is necessary in each particular instance. Pos- sessing all of the requisite requirements of the able physician. Dr. Frederick C. Schurmeier is successfully practicing in Elgin.
His life record began in Gibson county, Indiana, March 18. 1872. His parents were Henry and Carolina (Carley) Schurmeier. both of whom were natives of Germany.' In the year 1851 the father came to America. making his way to Gibson county, Indiana, where he purchased government land that was all covered with timber, it being necessary that he cut away the trees in order to have space enough upon which to erect his log cabin. In the course of time he cleared one hundred and sixty acres, which he brought under a high state of cultivation and for many years successfully carried on general farming there. He was one of the pioneers of that section and experienced many of the hardships and privations incident to frontier life, but bore his full share in the work of general improvement and progress. He is still living but has lost his wife.
Dr. Schurmeier, who is the youngest of their family of four sons and one daughter, all of whom survive, was reared upon the home farm and acquired his education in the public schools, passing through consecutive grades until he left the high school at the age of eighteen years. In 1895 he matriculated in the Northwestern College at Naperville, Illinois, and com- pleted a scientific course by graduation with the class of 1899, the degree of M.S. being conferred upon him in 1902. With broad general knowledge to serve as the foundation upon which to rear the superstructure of profes- sional learning. he entered Rush Medical College of Chicago, mastered the regular course and was graduated in 1902. He then put his theoretical knowledge to the practical test as assistant interne in the Chicago Lying-In
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Hospital and he also did statistical work with Professor Ingalls in Cook County Hospital for some time.
In the fall of 1902 Dr. Schurmeier located in Elgin, where he has since practiced his profession and has built up an extensive business. He is con- stantly overburdened by the demands made upon him in professional lines and gives his time and energies unstintedly to his profession, with a sense of conscientious obligation regarding the responsibility that devolves upon him in this connection. He is now medical examiner for the Union Central Life Insurance Company of Cincinnati, the Court of Honor and the Northern Star. His membership relations extend to the American Medical Association, the State Medical Society, the Fox River Valley Medical Society and the Physicians' Club, and he served as city physician of Elgin under Mayor Carl E. Botsford. Aside from his professional duties already designated he is now an instructor in rhinology and laryngology in the Chicago College of Medicine and Surgery, which position he has occupied since 1905. At the same time he was made associate in medicine of the Evangelical Hospital in Chicago and surgeon to the Sherman and to the St. Joseph Hospital of Elgin.
In June, 1902, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Schurmeier and Miss Marie Catharine Hatz, of Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin. They have one son, Le Roy Hatz. The parents are members of the First Evangelical Association and are well and widely known socially. With a nature that could never be content with mediocrity, Dr. Schurmeier has steadily advanced in his chosen calling until he today occupies a prominent place in the ranks of the medical fraternity. Industry and enterprise are as essential in winning success in this direction as in any other department of business and those qualities have contributed in large measure to his advancement.
EMIL ALTHEN.
Emil Althen, superintendent of the Elgin Eagle Brewing Company, is thus connected with one of the oldest enterprises of the city. The business was founded in 1849, twenty years before he entered upon the journey of life, for he was born July 2, 1869, in the city which is yet his home. He is a son of Casper Althen, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume in connection with the sketch of Louis J. Althen. He pursued his education in the public schools, in Elgin Academy and in Drew's Business College.
He began to learn the brewing business after completing his education, spending three years in the employ of the Peter Schoenhofen Brewing Com- pany of Chicago. He was also for three years in New York city and gained a most thorough and comprehensive knowledge of the brewing business through his experience in Chicago and in the eastern metropolis. He then returned home, but after a short time again went to New York city and studied in the United States Brewing Academy of New York city, becoming an expert in his chosen field of labor, thoroughly understanding the great sci-
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entific principles which underlie the manufacture of beer as well as the practical work connected therewith. In 1891 he returned to Elgin and took active management of the brewery here, which position he has since filled. Under his guidance the product of the brewery has been brought up to a high standard, which insures it a ready and profitable sale.
On the 3d of December, 1893, occurred the marriage of Emil Althen and Miss Minnie Strandt, a native of Germany, who came to Elgin when three years of age with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Strandt. Two children grace this marriage, Emil Casper and Louise Matilda.
Mr. Althen is active in several fraternal organizations and societies. He belongs to the Elks and the Eagle lodges and has been vice president and trustee of the Germany Society of Elgin. He is also a member of the Blatt- (luetch Gilde and served as a trustee for several terms. He also belongs to the United States Brewmasters' Association and is a member of the Chicago League. He is an alert, enterprising and energetic business man, whose close application and thorough understanding of his business are bringing him success.
WILL A. JOHNSON.
A man's tastes and inclinations have much to do with fixing his choice of an occupation for life, notwithstanding his circumstances and the oppor- tunities in other lines of activity which present themselves to him. Will A. Johnson's love of horses, doubtless. was a potential influence in leading him into the livery business and his extensive dealings in this line. He has always been fond of horses and never better pleased than when he had plenty of them around him. In his present business enterprise he is able to gratify his taste in this respect, and, at the same time, carry on a profitable business.
Mr. Johnson's life began at Jericho Corners, in Sugar Grove township. July 12, 1876. His parents are Rufus F. and Harriet (King) Johnson, the latter, at the time of her marriage to Mr. Johnson, being the widow of John Edmonds, who laid his life on the altar of his country in the Civil war, being killed at the battle of Chickamauga, September 12, 1862.
Rufus F. Johnson was born August 2, 1831, and is now living retired from active pursuits at Fulton, Illinois. His wife, whose maiden name was Harriet Jones King, was born at Bergen, New York, October 24, 1834, and was mar- ried to John Edmonds at Lodi, now Maple Park, Illinois, January 7, 1856. The children born in the Johnson household numbered four, of whom Will was the fourth. The others are: Alpha J .. a sketch of whom will be found on another page of this work; Elora, born September 30, 1875, the wife of Burton Mighell, a resident of Holstein, Iowa; and George A., who died at the age of twenty-six.
Mr. Johnson's grandfather, Reuben Bingham Johnson, was a native of Ashville, Chautauqua county, New York. He married Miss Sophronia Sophia
Kill a. Johnson
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Fitch and came to Kane county March 6, 1836. He passed the remainder of his days in farming and was one of the prominent and well-known pioneers of this part of the state. After thirty-six years of useful and productive energy in the county, he died here December 31, 1872. His wife's father, Mr. King, came west about the same time, making the trip with a fine team of black horses, which he drove overland from the state of New York. This team later became the property of his son-in-law, Rufus F. Johnson, who traded it for the farm in Sugar Grove township on which Will Johnson was born, and which, from the time it came into the family, has ever been known as the Johnson homestead.
Reuben Bingham Johnson was a man of strong religious principles and Jerico Methodist Episcopal church still stands as a monument to the generosity of his character. He gave the land belonging to it and was one of the founders of the congregation which worshiped in it for many years. It was one of the finest churches in the Fox River valley and was known far and wide in the early days. This church stands on the line between Kane and Kendall counties, in the southwestern corner of Sugar Grove township, on a command- ing elevation in the midst of a rich agricultural region, and was long the place of worship and the scene of literary and social entertainments for the pioneers who blazed the way for the advance of civilization into this part of the country. It is no longer used, but nothing can rob it of its high and interest- ing place in the history of the county. The cemetery is the last resting place of many of the first residents of the county.
Will A. Johnson received his early education at the district school near his home. He continued his studies at the Sugar Grove Normal and Industrial School, which he attended several years, and supplemented his training there with a course at the Valparaiso ( Ind.) Business College. On May 30, 1903. he was united in marriage with Miss Nellie M. Lye, a daughter of Alva and Frances ( Robbins) Lye, the former now living at Plano, Kendall county. Mrs. Johnson was born near that town May 30, 1881, and came with her parents to Sugar Grove township in her childhood. Her education was obtained in the Sugar Grove Normal and Industrial School. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have two children :. Lucile, born April 26, 1904; and Kenneth William, October 4, 1906.
Mr. Johnson is engaged in the livery business at Sugar Grove, in con- nection with which he is an extensive dealer in lumber, coal and farm implements. His livery barn is one of the finest and most completely equipped in Kane county, and the proprietor is accounted one of the most progressive young men in his township. He has been very successful in his business and is universally respected for his integrity and his application of the golden rule to all in his business transactions. His early life, however, was not wholly free from care and privations. He well recollects yet the first money he earned, when, as a boy aged seven, he covered corn with a hoe and received for his work twenty-five cents a day. For many years he worked as a farm hand, but in 1903 concluded to set up for himself and rented a farm which he con- trolled one year. At the end of that time he bought the business in which he is now engaged. As has been stated, he is very fond of good horses and he
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deals in them extensively, buying large numbers of them from farmers every year and selling them to all classes of purchasers but mainly to dealers.
The life history here briefly told, comparatively few as are the years it covers, is full of suggestiveness. It chronicles the simple, modest and plain but useful career of a leading business man, an influential citizen and an earnest worker, whose energies have ever been employed in efforts to promote the improvement of his township and county and the best interests of all its people, and whose dealings with his fellowmen have always been strictly on the square. In politics he is a republican and in fraternal life a Knight of Pythias, holding his membership in the order in the lodge at Aurora. But in business and social relations he is simply a man and holds every other man who is worthy as his brother. without regard to race or creed, or political or fraternal relations.
ALEXANDER TYLER, D.V.S.
Dr. Alexander Tyler, successfully engaged in the practice of veterinary surgery at Elgin, was born in Pierpont, Pennsylvania, on the IIth of October, 1852. His father, Joseph Tyler, who devoted his life to general farming, died in the town of Hampshire, Kane county, Illinois, in 1860, while his wife, Mary De Wolf, passed away three days before. Thus at the early age of eight years Dr. Tyler was left an orphan. He had been brought west by his parents when two years of age and the family home had been established in Hamp- shire. He was educated in the public schools and in the Chicago Veterinary College and was graduated in 1889. Having prepared for practice, he remained for a year in Hampshire and then sought a broader field of labor in Elgin, to which city he removed on the 18th of November. 1890. He has now remained here for eighteen years in the practice of veterinary surgery and because of his skill and ability a liberal patronage has been accorded him.
Dr. Tyler was married in 1877 to Miss Jeannette McCornack, a daughter of John and Martha McCornack, who were residents of Rutland township. this county. Dr. and Mrs. Tyler now have two sons and a daughter : Merton I., Ralph Dewitt and Jessie May. The first named is employed in Chicago and married Bertha Studemann. Ralph Dewitt, a graduate of the high school of Elgin, married Mamie Savage and is now living in South Dakota. They had twin sons, Kenneth Ralph and Harry William, born December 18, 1906, but the latter died March 11, 1908, and the former on the 17th of the same month. Jessie May Tyler is now with the Brethren Publishing House of Elgin.
Dr. Tyler keeps in close touch with the progress of the profession and in 1904 pursued a post-graduate course in the Chicago Veterinary College. He enjoys a good practice and in fact is recognized as a leader in his line in this part of the state. He prepared and read a paper before the Veterinary Medi- cal Association and the State Veterinary Medical Association on "reports of cases of anthrax," which was well received and awakened much comment.
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The disease is supposed to be fatal, but through experimenting Dr. Tyler has prepared a medicine that has been very successful in checking the ravages of the disease. His report therefore was received with intense interest by the members of the profession. In this connection he has done excellent work and his record is altogether creditable.
PATRICK DONOGHUE.
Patrick Donoghue was among those who first made Elgin a center for dairy interests, for he was among the pioneers in this line of business in northern Illinois. A native of Ireland, he was born in September, 1829, and his life record covered the intervening years to the 18th of February, 1875. His father, Michael Donoghue, spent his entire life on the Emerald Isle and after his death Patrick Donoghue came to the United States with his mother, Mrs. Mary (O'Hearn) Donoghue, while the other members of the family arrived at a later date.
Patrick Donoghue was twenty-two years of age when he bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for the new world, coming direct to Chicago after landing at the American port. He was engaged in the milk business in Chicago, but at the time of the ever memorable fire in that city in the fall of 1871 he lost his business and his residence there and soon afterward removed to Elgin. In the vicinity of this city he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, the place being pleasantly located about two niiles east of the town. He was one of the pioneers in the milk business in this locality, being among the first to ship milk to Chicago. His dairy interests were always conducted along progressive lines and the utmost neatness and cleanliness was observed in the care of the milk, so that the product of his dairy found a ready sale on the market.
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