USA > Illinois > Kane County > History of Kane County, Ill. Volume II > Part 87
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Mr. and Mrs. Lawson have one daughter, Viola, who was born May 17, 1908. In his political views Mr. Lawson is a republican, but he has never aspired to political honors. Religiously he is a member of the Congrega- tional church.
WILLIAM PATERSON.
William Paterson, conducting a profitable livery and draying business in Aurora, was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, April 6, 1871. His paternal grandfather, William Paterson, was a Scottish highlander, while his maternal grandfather was John Frame, a native of Glasgow, who is said to have established the first omnibus line of that city. The parents, Thomas and Jane (Frame) Paterson, were both natives of Glasgow. The father was a boiler maker by trade and soon after his marriage came to the United States, settling in New Hampshire, where he resided until 1878. He then arranged to leave his son William and daughter Jessie, two years younger, with their uncle, James Frame, and came west to Aurora, where he soon secured employment in the shops of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Rail- road Company. Here he has since remained, being for thirty years foreman of the planer room in the locomotive department.
William Paterson was reared by his uncle. James Frame, and attended school at Webster Place, near Franklin, New Hampshire, the schoolhouse being but one mile from the home of Daniel Webster. In 1882 he and his sister came west to Aurora, joining their father, who in the meantime had wedded Mary Morrison. For a year William Paterson attended school in Aurora and then worked for a year on a farm, after which he spent three years in driving a milk wagon for George Hoyt, of Aurora. At the end of that time he bought out the route in September. 1888. and began business on his own account, although only seventeen years of age. He continued in that business for five years, meeting with good success in the undertaking.
On the 24th of April. 1893, Mr. Paterson was married to Miss Cora Hoyt, who died May 31, 1897, leaving one son. James Frame Paterson, who
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was born September 4. 1895, and lives with his father. now attending the East Aurora schools. On the 12th of October. 1905, Mr. Paterson was again married. his second union being with Hattie Brown, who was born in this city, April 22, 1876, a daughter of Charles and Mary ( Parker ) Brown. Her mother is a native of the state of New York, while her father is a native of Vermont and for many years has been a coal dealer in Aurora.
In 1893 Mr. Paterson purchased the livery business of Charles Kimball and this has proved a lucrative undertaking. After conducting the business for ten years he purchased the livery business of Charles Eagleston on Water street, Aurora, and, moving his livery stock to the latter place, combined the two interests and for five years has conducted a profitable and successful liv- ery and draying business, being the sole proprietor of what is known as Paterson's Livery Barn. He has a good patronage and his well equipped stable enables him to supply the wants of many patrons. He personally gives his entire attention to the conduct of the business, managing all of its details.
In politics Mr. Paterson is a republican, but does not seek nor desire office. He is a strong advocate of temperance and gives his influence to the movement toward the abolishment of the liquor traffic. He is an enterpris- ing, energetic business man, who is meeting with success in his chosen calling.
GEORGE MCCOLLUM.
George McCollum, deceased, was one of the pioneer settlers and manu- facturers of Kane county, whose labors and influence were an important element in the early development and growth of this part of the state. He was born in 1807 and the year 1836 witnessed his removal from Montrose. Pennsylvania, to Aurora, Illinois, where he found but three log houses and a great many Indians. With wonderful prescience, however, he foresaw what the future had in store for this great and growing country and, after returning to the east, once more came to Aurora in May, 1837, being here employed as a blacksmith by John King. In December, 1837, he returned to the Keystone state for his little family and on the 5th of February, 1839. began the journey westward with an ox-team. On the IIth of March he arrived in Batavia, remaining there until the spring of 1839, when he took up his abode at Aurora in a little cabin, the dimensions of which were ten by twelve feet. This pioneer structure remained the family home until Mr. McCollum erected his own dwelling, it being the third frame house on the west side of the river. All the material used in its construction was purchased in Chicago and brought to Aurora in wagons. At the same time he also built his carriage factory on the corner of Lake and Galena streets, which was destroyed by fire in 1849. Nothing daunted, however, he immediately crected a larger and more pretentious structure on the same site and this building has been used as a carriage and wagon factory to the present time. The first stirring plow in this section of the country was made by Mr. McCol- lum and from ten to twelve men were employed in that branch of the business
GEORGE MCCOLLUM
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alone. In February, 1881, the business was organized under the firm style of McCollum & Sons, the partners being George McCollum, George S. McCollum and O. J. Mccollum. This relation was most profitably and agreeably maintained until the death of the father in 1893, when he was eighty-nine years of age. Energetic and industrious, he was moreover a man of keen discrimination and sound judgment, and his executive ability and excellent management brought to the concern with which he was connected a large degree of success, the McCollum carriages and wagons having been favorably known throughout the west for many years.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. McCollum were born the following children : George S., Orlando J., Mrs. Thompson Reed, Mrs. Mary Reed and Mrs. A. G. Wilber, all residents of Aurora ; and Mrs. Wellington, who makes her home in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The wife and mother, who bore the maiden name of Lucy Baldwin, was called to her final rest in 1898, having attained the age of eighty-eight years.
In all matters pertaining to the general welfare Mr. McCollum took an active and helpful part and Aurora acknowledges her indebtedness to this sturdy and honest Scotch pioneer for much of her present prosperity and growth. He made the first subscription for the erection of a log schoolhouse on the west side, and in 1854, when West Aurora was incorporated under the general laws, he became a trustee-one of the first officers elected in the village. He was likewise one of the early members of the First Baptist church of Aurora, the teachings of which he exemplified in his daily inter- course with men. For over a half century he was prominently identified with the upbuilding and development of Aurora and Kane county and, though more than a decade has passed since he was called to the home beyond, his memory is still honored and cherished by many of the older residents here.
GEORGE S. MCCOLLUM.
George S. McCollum, a successful representative of manufacturing inter- ests and also a prominent factor in the public life of Aurora, his native city, was born in the year 1841. His parents were George and Lucy (Baldwin) McCollum, the former a worthy pioneer and well known manufacturer of Aurora, whose sketch is given on another page of this volume. George S. McCollum obtained his education in the public schools of Aurora, being one of the early students in the first log schoolhouse at that place. Subsequently he pursued a course of study in the Bryant & Stratton Business College at Chicago, and afterward, having thoroughly qualified himself for the practical and responsible duties of life, joined his father and his brother. Orlando J. McCollum, in the carriage and wagon manufacturing business at Aurora. The success of this concern is attributable in large measure to his well directed energy and excellent business ability and he is numbered among the pro- gressive, enterprising and public-spirited citizens of Kane county.
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On the 7th of June. 1865. Mr. McCollum was united in marriage to Miss Helen Baker, of North Fairfield. Ohio, a representative of a family prominent in the early history of northern Ohio, its members tracing their ancestry back to Elder Brewster of the Plymouth colony. Our subject and his wife have two sons. William B. McCollum, whose birth occurred in Aurora in 1866, is connected with the Chicago Telephone Company and makes his home in the western metropolis. George Albert McCollum, who was born in Aurora in 1871, was graduated from the West Aurora high school in 1890 and subsequently attended Michigan University. He then began the study of law in Chicago, was admitted to the bar in 1894 and is now successfully engaged in the practice of his profession in Aurora. He is likewise interested in the real-estate business here under the firm style of Winslow. McCollum & Company, his partners being Fayette D. Winslow and James A. Elmslie. In 1894 George Albert McCollum was joined in wedlock to Miss Louie Eastburn, of Chicago, by whom he has three children: Mar- jorie. Gordon and Donald.
Mr. McCollum has always been actively and prominently identified with the public and religious growth of Aurora and has held various important positions of trust and responsibility in these connections. In 1876 he served as collector of taxes and in the following year acted as deputy. In 1881 he was chosen alderman and was reelected for two years more, many of the permanent improvements of the city being inaugurated during his incum- bency. In 1885 he became a member of the first board of public works, on which he served for four years. Since its formation he has been actively interested in the Young Men's Christian Association of Aurora and for many years was treasurer and trustee thereof. For a number of years he was likewise trustee for the city hosiptal, and is an active member of the First Baptist church of Aurora, having served as superintendent of the Sunday school for about ten years. His fraternal relations are with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the National Union, in which organizations he holds high positions. Having now resided in this county for more than two-thirds of a century, he is widely and favorably known here and has the admiration and esteem of all with whom he has come in contact in business or social relations.
JUSTUS L. JOHNSON.
Justus L. Johnson came to Aurora and to Kane county in 1884 with his parents. He was then five years of age. The family had come from Sweden in 1881 and settled in Rockford, Illinois. From 1884 to 1887 the family lived in Aurora. The latter year they moved to Big Rock, in this county, where Andrew Johnson conducted the village blacksmith shop until 1897. That year the family removed to Aurora to allow better educational advantages to the younger children. The family now resides at 355 North avenue, Aurora,
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where they purchased a home some years ago. There are six children in the family. They are : Gertrude A., Adolph F., Justus Leonard and Esther L., living at home; Lydia V., a teacher for some years in the Aurora public schools and now in the high school at Watseka, Illinois; and Mrs. Selma E. Ritzenthaler, of Sheridan, Illinois.
Justus Leonard Johnson, the third child, was born near Landskrona, near the southern extremity of Sweden, February 1, 1879. His mother's maiden name was Hanna Anderson and the father was John A. Larson. Their parents were well-to-do farmers, whose ancestors had tilled the same lands for several generations. Some of the lands are still in the possession of the families. Mr. Johnson's grandfather on the mother's side was Anders Jönson. He was twice married and was the father of twenty-five children, of whom twelve were twins. Ten of these children lived to maturity. Of the children of his first wife, four girls and one boy survive. All live in Sweden, except one aunt, who resides in Aurora, Illinois. Of the fifteen children of Mr. Johnson's two maternal grandparents eleven were boys and four girls. Four survive. One uncle died some years ago in Minnesota. Two uncles and one aunt live in Sweden. Both uncles are in the mercantile business, Sven near the old home and Anders Anderson in Christianstad. He is one of the largest importers and wholesalers of dry goods in Sweden. Lars Anderson, the paternal grandfather, had seven children, six boys and one girl. One son came to America and resides in Minnesota.
Mr. Johnson's school days began at the New York Street school in Aurora. He was soon transferred to the Center school. The family moved to Big Rock when Justus was in the third grade and his work was continued in the village school of that place. He attended Sugar Grove high school in 1894, 1895 and 1896, graduating the latter year. The following year he entered Wheaton Academy and completed the course the following June. After taking the work of the freshman year at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois, Mr. Johnson taught school in the Smith district, three miles east of Wayne, DuPage county. In September, 1899, he returned to college and continued until the spring of 1902.
Since the age of eleven years Mr. Johnson has earned largely his own way in the struggle for advancement. At that age he did farm chores for his board and room while attending school at Big Rock. Summer vacations he worked as a farm laborer or in the blacksmith shop. At the age of fifteen he worked for the Joliet Bridge Company in the construction of road bridges in Big Rock township and received his first "full man's pay."
From his earnings he paid the tuition for a course at Sugar Grove high school. By the earnings of six months of farm labor after graduating from high school he entered Wheaton Academy at the age of seventeen. To enable him to continue school he was compelled to board himself. This story is told of Mr. Johnson's first six months at the academy that he lived on oat- meal at an average cost a week of forty cents for that period. On his return to college in 1899 he was accorded a scholarship. By the aid of this and by acting as night operator for the Chicago Telephone Company at Wheaton and as correspondent for Chicago newspapers he gained the means to com-
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plete his course with more comfort. The summer vacations during the latter part of his course were spent in the factories in Aurora and Batavia.
Mr. Johnson always evidenced ability as an organizer. A number of stu- dent enterprises at Wheaton were started or placed on a better basis by him. He served as organizer and manager of the Wheaton basket ball team, which won the Olympic college championship of the United States at the St. Louis World's Fair, and which afterward traveled ten thousand miles on a schedule of games. Other enterprises organized and managed by him while in school were the Wayside Inn, a boarding club for men, the Arcadian Tennis Club, and other projects. He was one of several who started the Wheaton Record, a student magazine, and was its first advertising manager. While at Wheaton lie served as president of the Excelsior Debating Society, president of the Wheaton College Athletic Association, captain of the football team, member of the baseball team four years and manager one year, manager of the track team and of the ladies' basket ball team. Under his teri as president of the athletic association Lawson field was obtained and the funds secured from the alumni and the business men of Wheaton to employ competent coaches for all lines of athletic sports.
The experience obtained in advertising on the Wheaton Record induced Mr. Johnson to enter that line of work during the summer vacation of 1900 on the St. Paul Dispatch, St. Paul, Minnesota. On returning to college in the fall he became correspondent for the Chicago papers at Wheaton and this determined his line of work on leaving school in 1902.
Two notable newspaper "scoops" were pulled off by Johnson while em- ployed by Chicago papers. In the fall of 1901 he gave to the Record-Herald the facts concerning Nova Persea, a new star, which suddenly appeared in the constellation Perseus. In a few days' time the star grew in magnitude to become the brightest in the heavens, and in two weeks' time from its maximum it disappeared to the unaided eye. Observations running over several months clearly indicated that the star had been destroyed and new systems were building in its former position. The star had been discovered by the astronomer at Harvard Observatory at the same hour that Will Beith, of Elburn, and Mr. Johnson, who were class mates in a course in astronomy, had observed it. The phenomena were recorded on photographic plates at Yerkes observatory and were the first accurate facts since the beginning of the science that proved that worlds were destroyed and rebuilt. The second "beat" came in August. 1902, when Johnson uncovered the body of Mrs. Anna Bartholin in the basement of her home. 4310 Calumet avenue, Chicago, and proved that her son, W. J. Bartholin, was the double murderer of his mother and of his sweetheart, Miss Minnie Mitchell, of that city. Immedi- ately following this discovery a reward of fifteen hundred dollars was offered for the son's capture.
In February, 1903, Mr. Johnson was tendered the city editorship of an Aurora daily paper and accepted. In November of that year he became editor of the Aurora Daily Beacon. The following year he severed his news- paper connections and took up the reading of law. In 1906 he re-entered newspaper work as political writer for the Springfield Journal at the state
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capital. In November of that year he became associate editor of the Aurora Daily Beacon, which position he resigned June 1, 1908, to make a canvass of the county for the republican nomination for clerk of the circuit court. and on the 3d of November he was elected to that office.
Without the favoritism of a political faction or the backing of a political organization Mr. Johnson was nominated in a field of four candidates in the first direct primary ever held in Illinois, there being eleven thousand seven hundred republican votes in Kane county on the clerkship. Previous to be- coming a candidate he had taken some part in politics as an organizer. In 1904 he was one of several to form the Young Men's Republican Club of Aurora and was its first secretary. Mr. Jolinson has been a delegate to and an officer of several republican conventions the last four years. At the fif- teenth annual convention of the Swedish American Republican League of Illinois at Rockford in 1907 he was chosen president of the organization. Under his term of office the league gained twenty-three per cent in member- ship in one year and the organization held the largest convention and banquet in its history at Aurora, March 9. 1908.
Mr. Johnson was appointed a member of the board of directors of the Aurora Public Library in 1907 by Mayor E. C. Finch. Mr. Johnson has always held that it is the duty of every good citizen to give his best effort to the elevation of the public and political ideals of the community in which he lives, even at a personal sacrifice. He is a member of a number of fraternal organizations and of the Hamilton Club of Chicago.
MRS. HIRAM NORRIS.
Mrs. Hiram Norris, one of the most highly esteemed ladies of Kane county, was born February 13, 1831, in Strafford, Vermont, and when thir- teen years of age she came west to Kane county with her parents. She was a daughter of General Nathan and Hannah (Smith) Young. Her father, who was brigadier general in the Vermont militia, was born at New Gren- tham, New Hampshire, in 1792, and was a son of the Rev. Joab Young, a Universalist minister, and the first preacher who settled in Strafford, Ver- mont. There he received the grant of land known as minister's lot. He was born in the year 1758 and died in 1816, his life having spanned a period in which occurred three great wars and the most important events which have occurred in the history of this country. At the time of his birth the French and Indian war was in progress and his life closed soon after the cessation of hostilities in the war of 1812, while during the period of his early manhood the great war for American liberty occurred.
General Nathan Young came to Kane county in 1843 and settled on a claim in Blackberry township. In 1850 he removed to the village of Kane- ville, where his death occurred April 21, 1869. His wife, Mrs. Hannah Young, was born in Strafford, Vermont, in 1795, and died in Kane county, in 1863, the remains of both being interred in the West Batavia cemetery.
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Their family numbered seven children, five sons and two daughters, George, Peleg, N. S., Helen M., Joab, F. L., and Marcella Young. The last named is Mrs. Norris and the only one now living. The family was conspicuous in the pioneer life of the county and its members were prominent in promoting the growth and substantial upbuilding of this part of the state. Some of those named lived in Kaneville, while others were residents of Blackberry township.
Nathan S. Young, brother of Mrs. Norris, was a prominent citizen of Batavia, Illinois. He was born in Strafford, Vermont. August 20, 1818, and died December 2, 1907, when almost ninety years of age. He was at one time president of the First National Bank of Batavia, was for many years a member of the Batavia Board of Education and was a member on the first board of library directors. He read extensively and was a great student of history, also delighting in collecting old books and manuscripts, his library containing many valuable volumes and articles on the early history of Kane county. He kept a daily journal and weather record from 1840 until his death, more than fifty-seven years later. He was highly esteemed for his intelligence, his sound judgment and integrity, and few men have been as- signed so many public trusts by their associates and neighbors. In his journal are found many interesting accounts of events of state and national impor- tance. On the 8th of April, 1841, he wrote, "News was received by the pas- sengers on board the stage of the death of William H. Harrison, president of
these United States. As no papers were received to confirm the news, the report is doubtful." On the following day. April 9. he wrote, "Received today a confirmation of the news of the death of the president by a slip from the watchman's office containing the declaration from the heads of the depart- ment at Washington, stating that he died April 4, twenty minutes before ten o'clock a. m. Afflicting news this will be to a majority of the people. though many a loco will chuckle to himself at the result." In 1843. Nathan Young sold his interests in a store in Vermont to his partner, Justin S. Mor- rill, who was afterward Senator Morrill, and then came to the west to join other members of the family in Kane county.
Marcella Young spent her girlhood days under the parental roof and came with the family to Kane county. Here, on the 27th of April. 1853. she gave her hand in marriage to Hiram Norris, who was born in Erin, Chemung county, New York, November 23, 1828, a son of Mathew N. and Julia (Van Duzer) Norris. He attended the public schools and worked upon his father's farm during the period of his boyhood and youth. In 1844 he came with his father to Kane county and settled in Blackberry township. becoming connected with agricultural interests here. In 1850, attracted by the discovery of gold, he went to California and engaged in mining in that state and in Oregon. In December. 1851, he returned to Illinois and on the 27th of April, 1853, was married to Marcella Young. They became the parents of four children : Helen M., the wife of Joseph Slaker, a prominent farmer of Aurora township: Frank Y., of Evanston, Illinois; John, of Cran- don, South Dakota; and Mathew Norris, who died December 25, 1896. Mrs. Norris now makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. Slaker.
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Following their marriage Mr. Norris turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits and as the years passed successfully carried on the work of the farm. As his financial resources increased he added to his original holdings until he became the owner of a large and valuable farm of four hundred and fifty acres, in Blackberry township. For many years he care- fully tilled the soil and was one of the most progressive and enterprising farmers of the locality. He was the first to introduce Hereford cattle into Kane county and was the owner of the famous bull Success, the sire of much fine stock in this county. Mr. Norris became well known as a prosperous agriculturist, and as a breeder of thoroughbred cattle his reputation extended far and wide. His business interests were always capably and honorably conducted and all who knew him entertained for him warm regard and high respect by reason of his upright life and many good qualities. He died March 25, 1904. Mrs. Norris has remained a resident of Kane county since her husband's death and is most highly esteemed in the community.
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