USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II > Part 83
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From that time on Mr. Reising has resided continuously in this city and has been a prominent figure in its business life and in its development along other lines. He was married December 6, 1854, to Miss Susan Lies, a daughter of Michael and Susan Lies, natives of Luxemburg, Germany. Mrs. Reising was born in the fatherland and was one of fourteen children, all natives of that country. At the age of fourteen years she came to the United States with her parents, but her father died soon after reaching the new world. The mother survived until 1874 and passed away at the age of eighty-five years. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Reising have been born the following named: Susan L. is the wife of John Fauth, who is engaged in the grocery and crockery business on The Island at Aurora : John is living retired in this city ; Lena is at home with her father ; Elizabeth is the widow of Adolph Oberman and also lives with her father : and Mary became the wife of W. S. Hunter, but both are now deceased.
Following his return from California Mr. Reising engaged in the grocery business for five years and then entered the hardware business as a partner of John W. Kendall. This relation continued for sixteen years, at the end of which time Mr. Reising purchased Mr. Kendall's interest and continued the business alone for four years. At the expiration of that period he sold out to Thomas Holden and opened a glassware and crockery store, which he con-
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ducted successfully for a quarter of a century. Since selling out in 1905 he has lived retired from active business save that he owns one of the finest store buildings on Broadway and a number of dwellings and numerous lots in Au- rora. His attention is given to the rental of his property and his investments. but otherwise he has no business cares and his rest is well merited because he gave careful attention to his business in former years and was active, energetic and reliable in all of his undertakings. Well known as a wide-awake and pro- gressive merchant and one whose business developed in proportion to his ex- panding powers, he has also been equally well known as a citizen whose interest in public affairs has been manifest in active cooperation with many movements for the public good. He proved a capable officer while serving as alderman in Aurora and he was supervisor at the time the first city hall was built, at which time he acted as a member of the building committee. His political views are in harmony with the principles of the republican party and he has never sacri- ficed his party nor the interests of his city to personal aggrandizement. On the contrary, he is known as a loyal, progressive and patriotic citizen and as an honorable business man, enjoying the full confidence of those with whom the varied relations of life have brought him in contact.
JAMES C. JACOBSEN.
James C. Jacobsen, who is successfully engaged in agricultural pur- suits in Virgil township, was born in Denmark, September 23, 1869, his parents being James C. and Bertha Chestena (Jensen) Jacobsen, also natives of that country, the former born April 2, 1825, and the latter April 10, 1842. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, served for three years in the war between Germany and Denmark, beginning in 1848, and passed away in the land of his nativity in the year 1905. His wife, whom he had mar- ried in Denmark in 1861, also died in that country, being called to her final rest in 1900. Their family numbered eight children, namely: Anna, who was born in Denmark in 1864 and passed away in that country in 1883; Jensina, whose birth occurred in Denmark. June 5. 1866, and who still resides in the land of her nativity; Gena, who was born September 22, 1867, in Denmark, and still resides in that country, being the wife of Jim Norskon ; James C., of this review; Dorothy, born in Denmark, October 13. 1877. who died there in 1905: Christina, whose birth occurred in Denmark. November 1, 1870, and who passed away there in 1877; Otavia, born in Denmark, September 26, 1881, who died in infancy; and Kirstina. who also died in infancy. her birth having occurred in Denmark. November 4, :882.
James C. Jacobsen attended the schools of his native land until fifteen years of age, and on the ist of June. 1895. emigrated to America. locating in Wisconsin, where he remained for about two years. He subsequently spent four years in DuPage county, Illinois, and then came to Kane county,
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where he has since made his home. He now rents a tract of one hundred and thirty acres of rich and productive land in Virgil township, known as the John Keef farm, and in addition to the work of general farming is largely interested in dairying, owning twenty-two cows and taking on an average of four hundred pounds of milk to the factory daily. He has five horses, and uses various kinds of improved machinery to facilitate the work of the fields. In the conduct of his agricultural interests he displays untiring perseverance and excellent business ability and well deserves the measure of success which has attended his efforts.
In his political views Mr. Jacobsen is a stanch republican, while fratern- ally he is connected with the Modern Woodmen of America. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Lutheran church, and he is well known and highly esteemed as an upright and progressive citizen of his adopted county.
ROBERT HARDY.
Although he has lived in several states and seen different parts of the country, Robert Hardy is now living and employing his energies in the locality where his life began. He was born in Burlington township. Kane county, March 24, 1873, and is a son of Sydney and Helen (Lott) Hardy. The father, a native of the state of New York, early learned the trade of molder and worked at it for a short time in his native state, but came to Illinois when a young man. He settled at Shabbona Grove in DeKalb county and began farming near that town, following the same occupation until his death. He was a republican in politics but never held nor sought office. His remains and those of his wife now rest side by side in Shabbona Grove cemetery.
The children born to them number six, the brothers and sisters of Robert being: Alice, who married Lawrence Angel, now a farmer in Nebraska; Lou, who married Charles Shoules; Edward V., a farmer near Hampshire in this county; George B., who is also a farmer; and Nellie, who married Albert Davis and shares with him the labor of conducting a farm. Born and reared on a farm, these children have adhered to the industry of their parents and are all doing well at it.
Robert Hardy obtained what education he had a chance to get in a country school in Burlington township, which he attended during the winter months, while assisting his father on the farm in summer until he was four- teen years old. Then, owing to the death of his father, he was obliged to quit school and take charge of the home farm. This he continued to manage until he was eighteen. At that age he started out in life for himself by hiring out to a neighboring farmer as a hand on his farm. For five years he pushed his fortunes in this way in Illinois, then moved to Iowa, where he again accepted employment as a farm hand. From Iowa he went to South Dakota, remaining in that state nine years employed in various ways.
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After this he passed a year in Minnesota, and then returned to Illinois and became a resident of Kane county, where he was married May 7. 1905, to Miss Alice Davidson, who was born in Indiana. Her mother is dead and her father resides in Burlington. Mr. and Mrs. Hardy have one child, Sydney Merrill who was born on August 31, 1907.
Since his marriage Mr. Hardy has been prosperously engaged in farm- ing, renting farms for the purpose, and, in addition, expanding from a small beginning a dairy business which now uses the yield of his twenty cows of the Holstein and Durham breeds. The farm he occupies contains one hundred and sixty acres, of which he has this season ( 1908) fifty acres in oats, forty in corn, and the rest devoted to hay and pasturage. He had to struggle for all he has acquired and the triumphs he has won are distinctly his own. He has made every hour of his time and every faculty of his nature tell to his advantage, and thus, through arduous effort and good manage- ment, has attained to substantial comfort and a position of respect and standing in his community.
L. A. LOCKWOOD.
L. A. Lockwood, justice of the peace of Aurora and a well known mem- her of the bar of the city, was born February 18, 1858, in Ottawa, Illinois. His father, Arthur Lockwood, was a native of New York but came to Ottawa in 1848. He had been engaged extensively in the jobbing business in the eastern metropolis in connection with his father, John Lockwood, who was a pioneer wholesale merchant of that city. Following his removal to the middle west Arthur Lockwood engaged in the dry-goods business in Ottawa and for many years owned and conducted one of the largest dry goods establishments of the city, having an extensive and liberal patronage, while his business methods commended him to the confidence and support of all who knew him. In 1861 he retired from the business and was afterward active in public affairs. He became assessor and justice of the peace and the duties of both offices were discharged with promptness and fidelity. In 1852 he was candidate for mayor of Ottawa but lost the election by only three votes. His religious faith was that of the Society of Friends or Quakers. In early manhood he married Miss Josephine Letshaw, a native of Pennsylvania, and of German descent.
L. A. Lockwood pursued his education in the public schools of Brooklyn, New York, to which city he went as a boy to live with his grandmother. He afterward entered his father's store in Ottawa and there remained for a number of years but, preferring a professional rather than a commercial career, he took up the study of law and in this state was admitted to the bar at Springfield. In 1877 he was appointed assistant clerk of the supreme court and shortly afterward was appointed deputy clerk of the probate court of La Salle county. At a later date he entered the mail service, wherein he continued for five years. Subsequently he spent four years in
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Springfield as examiner for a building and loan association and in 1897 he came to Aurora, where he engaged in the practice of law for a short time. In 1901 he was elected justice of the peace and is now presiding over the justice court, where he has "won golden opinions from all sorts of people" by the justice and impartiality of his decisions.
Mr. Lockwood is recognized as one of the prominent democrats of the county, unfaltering in his loyalty to the party and untiring in his efforts for its success. He has been a delegate to all the county and state conventions and his opinions carry weight in the party councils.
MARCUS GAUNT.
Marcus Gaunt, identified with the farming interests of Kane county, his home being in Elburn, was born in Blackberry township, this county, November 10, 1849. His parents, Henry G. and Millicent Gaunt, were early settlers of this part of the state. The father was born in Northampton- shire, England, August 25, 1822. He came to America in 1846, settling at Elburn, when this was still a wild and unimproved district. He had been reared in his native country, where his father occupied the position of game- keeper at Best Wood Park. The favorable reports which reached him con- cerning America and its opportunities led William Gaunt to come to the United States, hoping that he might have better advantages in the new world. He made his way to Kane county and cast in his lot with those who were reclaiming the region for the purpose of civilization, transforming it into productive fields, while the work of town building was being carried steadily forward. He continued a resident of this part of the state until his death and both he and his wife have now passed away. Their family number six children: Elizabeth, now deceased; William R., who resides in North Platte, Nebraska, where he is engaged in blacksmithing; Washington Hl., who resides in Atlanta, Georgia, where he conducts a real-estate business ; Franklin, a retired farmer living at Elburn; and Emma, who is living in Palestine, Illinois.
The other member of the family is Marcus Gaunt, of this review, who was reared under the parental roof and attended the country schools until fifteen years of age. Through the periods of vacation he assisted in the work on the farm and when he finally put aside his text-books he began giving his entire attention to the labors of the fields. He remained at home and gave his father the benefit of his assistance until twenty-eight years of age, when he was united in marriage to Miss Matilda Reeves, whose father is a retired farmer and resides at Maple Park.
At the time of his marriage Mr. Gaunt began farming on his own account and prospered from the beginning and soon owned an excellent farm of one hundred and forty acres. He brought his land under a high state of cultivation, transforming it into rich and productive fields. As the work continued year after year he gathered rich crops as the reward of his
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diligence and industry, and from his farm now derives a gratifying income. He is a reliable, enterprising business man in whom his fellow townsmen have such respect and confidence that his word carries great weight and influence on matters of public moment.
Mr. Gaunt attends the Congregational church and he gives his political support to the republican party. He is a stanch advocate of its principles, yet has never sought or desired the honors nor emoluments of public office as a reward for public fealty. He has spent his entire life in this county and that his career has ever been an honorable and upright one is indicated by the fact that his stanchest friends are numbered among those who have known him from his boyhood days.
FRANK BARRINGER.
Frank Barringer was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 27, 1864, his parents being Jacob and Angeline (Trumbauer) Barringer, who were natives of Pennsylvania and of German ancestry. The father was an agriculturist and later entered business as a marble cutter. His children were as follows : Allen B .; Etta, the wife of West Myer; Annie, the wife of Charles Kilmer; Lilly, who is the wife of Philip Prifold: Emma; and Frank. of this review. With the exception of our subject, all of the children are residents of Philadelphia.
Frank Barringer attended the schools of his native city, thoroughly mas- tering the branches of learning which constitute the curriculum of such institutions. When twenty-three years of age he came to Chicago and engaged in various occupations until 1897. That year witnessed his arrival in Aurora. where he entered the employ of the Aurora Automatic Machinery Company. being thus engaged for six years. On the expiration of that period, having carefully saved his earnings, he decided to engage in business on his own account and formed a company for the purpose of purchasing the Common- wealth Laundry of Aurora. He acted as manager for two years and on the 28th of May. 1906, bought the interest of his partners, having since been the sole owner of the Aurora Hand Laundry. When he first took charge of the enterprise he employed only two or three assistants and something of the increase in business may be indicated by the fact that from fifteen to twenty employes are now engaged. From an enterprise which at first paid only ten dollars per week it has been developed until it provides an income of more than three hundred dollars per week, and is the second largest concern, in point of business capacity and patronage, in this city of thirty-five thousand popula- tion. The plant is equipped with the most modern and up-to-date machinery, all of which is propelled by electricity, and the development of the industry to its present proportions is due to the perseverance, shrewdness and business acumen of Mr. Barringer. The business is located at No. 66 North Broadway.
On the 25th of January, 1893, occurred the marriage of Mr. Barringer and Miss Stella Clair, a native of Chicago and a daughter of Charles and Margaret
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Clair, who were born in Alsace and Wurtemberg. Germany, respectively. Her father served as a soldier in the Civil war, and for many years followed the trade of shoemaking. Mr. and Mrs. Clair removed to Naperville about 1870 and in 1872 came to Aurora, where the former passed away about 1880. Mrs. Clair still survives her husband and makes her home in Aurora. The brothers and sisters of Mrs. Barringer are as follows: Carrie, the wife of F. T. King, of South Pasadena, California; Tillie, who died some years ago and who was the wife of George Rang, the present fire chief of Aurora; Charles, of San Francisco, California; Oscar, residing in Rockford, Illinois; Lilly, the wife of A. W. Arthur, of Aurora, who is an engineer for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railway Company : and Nellie, now deceased, who was the wife of H. E. Hubbard, one of the leading grocers of Aurora.
In his political views Mr. Barringer is a republican, while fraternally he is connected with Aurora Lodge, No. 254, A. F. & A. M., the Elks and the Maccabees. His wife is a member of the Salem United Evangelical church and, like her husband, has won the high regard and esteem of all with whom she has been associated.
DR. I. WATSON PRICHARD.
From no professional man do we expect or exact so many of the cardinal virtues as from the physician. If our lawyer is brusque and crabbed, we think it is a mark of genius, and if the minister is austere, we say that it is because his thoughts are engaged with things beyond our ken. Of the physi- cian, however, we demand a geniality and kindliness and a ready sympathy in addition to comprehensive understanding of the laws which govern health and regulate disease. Possessing many of the necessary attributes of the success- ful medical practitioner, Dr. Prichard has made for himself a creditable place in the ranks of the profession in Aurora. He was born in Oneida county, New York, January 18. 1842.
His father, William W. Prichard, was a native of Wales, where his in the state of New York met and wedded Miss Mary Morgan, a native of England. Her father was of Scotch birth, and on leaving the land of hills and heather settled in England, but later came to the United States, locating in Oneida county. New York, where he spent his remaining days. He was a typical Scotch highlander, tall and straight, and possessed the sturdy honesty characteristic of the people of the race. Mr. and Mrs. William W. Prichard resided for a long period in Onieda county, New York, where he died in 1852, at the age of sixty-one years. His widow came to the middle west in 1869 and located in Chicago, where she died in 1874 at the age of seventy-four years. They became the parents of two children-Dr. I. W. Prichard, of Aurora : and Sarah, the widow of Dr. Doane, of Chicago. The father fol- lowed the occupation of farming throughout his entire life and thus provided for the support of his family.
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Dr. Prichard of this review, reared upon the old homestead in Oneida county, there remained to the age of twenty years. He attended the district school and afterward became a student in a select school at Delta. New York, while later he entered the State Normal at Rome, New York. He completed a course in chemistry as a student in the chemical department of the University of Michigan and later was graduated from the medical department there, when in order to attain further perfection in his chosen calling he entered the Long Island College Hospital at Brooklyn, New York. He also attended the eye and ear infirmary of New York, and thus, well equipped for general practice and for special lines of work. he came to the west.
On the Ist of May, 1868. Dr. Prichard arrived in Illinois, settling in Kaneville, where he engaged in practice for four years. He then went to Waterman, Illinois, where he practiced for four or five years, since which time he has been an active and successful representative of the medical fraternity in Aurora. He has won for himself very favorable criticism for the careful and systematic methods which he has followed, for his untiring devotion to the needs of his patients and for his ability in administering the remedial agencies which check the ravages of disease and restore health.
On the Ioth of January, 1870. Dr. Prichard was married to Miss Della M. Coy, of Kaneville, Illinois, a daughter of B. A. and Delette (Lathrop) Coy. They became the parents of one daughter. Daisy, who is married and lives in Odebolt. Iowa. The mother passed away in Kaneville, and in December, 1879. Dr. Prichard was married to Miss Annie Waterbury, of Neosha Falls, Kansas, an adopted daughter of James S. Waterbury. Three children were born of that union, a son and two daughters: Lillie M., living at home: James Eugene, a physician and surgeon, who was graduated from the Washington University, of St. Louis; and Perionita June, a graduate of the Hinsdale high school.
Mrs. Prichard is a member of the Congregational church, and Dr. Prichard holds membership with Waterman Lodge. A. F. & A. M., and Aurora Chapter, No. 22, R. A. M. He is also connected with the subordinate lodge and encampment of the Odd Fellows and in professional lines with the Kane County Medical Society. While he makes his home in Hinsdale, he maintains his office in Aurora in order to keep in closer touch with the demands of a constantly growing practice.
CHARLES F. CLYNE.
Charles F. Clyne, filling the office of city attorney and giving evidence of the possession of strong qualities as an able lawyer of Aurora. was born at Maple Park, Illinois, July 26, 1877. a son of John and Mary ( Fitz- gerald) Clyne The paternal grandfather. Michael Clyne, was a native of Ireland, and owned what was known as the Mound Davis estate on the river Shannon in the County of Longford. There he conducted general agricultural pursuits and also operated a grist and flour mill and supervised his estate.
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He died in Ireland when about sixty-five years of age, while his wife, Mrs. Anna (Martin) Clyne, passed away in 1905 at the age of eighty-one years. They were the parents of twelve sons and two daughters who reached adult age. The maternal grandfather was Joseph Fitzgerald, a native of Ireland, as was his wife, Helen ( Burke) Fitzgerald. Both came to America and after residing in Buffalo, New York, for a short time, removed to Mani- towoc, Wisconsin. About 1862 they became residents of Maple Park, Illinois. In the Badger state Mr. Fitzgerald had followed farming, and after com- ing to Illinois he looked after a small farm and engaged in raising cattle and loaning money. He was actively interested in local politics and was a member of the county central committee and held various town offices. His political allegiance was unswervingly given to the democracy. He remained a prominent and influential resident of Maple Park until his death, which occurred in April, 1905, when he was seventy-three years of age. His widow still resides there at the age of seventy-five years. They were the parents of three daughters and one son.
John Clyne, fatlier of our subject, was born in County Longford, Ire- land, and in early life entered upon an apprenticeship as a dry goods clerk in the city of Longford. He came to America about 1868 and settled at Maple Park, Illinois, where he engaged in the dry goods business for many years. He then removed to Stafford, Stafford county, Kansas, where he lived up to the time of his death in 1902, passing away at the age of sixty- three years. His widow, Mrs. Mary Clyne, a native of Manitowoc, Wiscon- sin, survives him and lives with her son Charles F. in Aurora. Both were members of the Roman Catholic church and Mr. Clyne was quite prominent in his community as a democratic leader. He served as a member of the board of supervisors of Kane county for many years, was chairman of the democratic county central committee for a number of years and was also a member of the state central committee in Illinois and in Kansas. In 1892 he was chosen presidential elector in Kansas. He was a man of clear judg- ment, progressive in his citizenship and at all times stood loyally in support of his honest belief. Unto him and his wife were born two sons, the younger being Joseph A. Clyne, who is assistant cashier of the State Bank at Maple Park.
Charles F. Clyne, the elder son, was reared at Maple Park, pursued his early education in the public schools there and was graduated from the Stafford high school when eighteen years of age. He afterward grad- uated from the literary and law departments of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in 1902, and was admitted to the Michigan bar on the 17th of June of that year. He then returned to Kansas and was admitted to prac- tice in the courts of that state in February, 1903. He then began practice at Stafford. He had figured as a most active political worker in the Sun- flower state in 1900 and in 1903 he was a candidate for congress from the seventh district against Victor M. Murdock, present member of congress from that district. On the Ist of January, 1904, Mr. Clyne became a resident of Aurora, Illinois, where he entered into a partnership under the firm style of Murphy, Alschuler & Clyne. This relationship was continued until
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