History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume II, Part 17

Author:
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 640


USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 17


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in Seneca Township. He east his first vote for a Democrat, but left that party soon afterwards, never to return to it. Not a man to seek office, he preferred to do his duty as a citizen in a private capacity. His worth and sterling honesty were so generally recognized that he was oftentimes called upon to aet as guardian for orphans. The Presbyterian church had in him a liberal supporter. An advocate of temperance, he aided in the organization of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and was active in promoting the prohibition work, but never was willing to affiliate himself with the politieal end of the movement.


Jasper Haven and his wife had the following children: Helen A., who married Rev. H. R. Upton, a Presbyterian minister, of Worthington, Minn., taught school for ten terms prior to her marriage, three of them being in the home district; and Glenni J., who was named for Senator G. W. Scofield of Pennsylvania.


Glenni J. Haven was born November 9, 1873, and was reared in . McHenry County. He attended the Cedar Falls Normal School, and then schools in MeHenry and Boone counties for two years, when he entered the law department of the Northern Illinois College, from which he was graduated with the degree of LL. B., later taking a post graduate course and receiving the degree of LL. M. He was admitted to the bar of Missouri and of Tennessee, and was engaged in the practice of his profession at Nashville, Tenn. for two years, when his health failed, and he returned to Marengo, and until 1919, supervised the oper- ation of the home farm. For two years Mr. Haven served as police magistrate of Marengo, and since then he has been known as "Judge."


Like his father he is a stanch Republican, but limits his politics to casting his vote for the candidates of his party. For two years he con- ducted the Marengo Hotel, and was successful in that, for his talents are diversified. A true patriot, when he felt he would be of service to his country, he entered the second officers' training camp at Fort Sheridan, and was honorably discharged when the signing of the Armistice made it unnecessary for him to continue his excellent training, although he was ready and anxious to see active service.


In 1906 Mr. Haven was united in marriage with Louise Medlar of Woodstock, who died in less than a year after marriage. On February 12, 1916, Mr. Haven was married (second) to Mrs. Mae Roberts of Iowa, a daughter of John Dean, who was a pioneer of Coral Township, who had later moved to Iowa. There are no children. Mrs. Haven has a son by her first marriage, Sergeant Elba J. Roberts, who was with the Railroad Transport Corps in France, and was sent across in June, 1918.


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Sergeant Roberts was a railroad man, and was the only conductor who registered from MeHenry County. He was in France in forty days after being called into the service. Mr. Haven is a Mason and is active in his fraternity, belonging to Marengo Lodge, A. F. & A. M., Lansing Chapter, R. A. M. of Marengo, and Woodstock Commandery, K. T. The Presby- terian church holds his membership, and earlier in life he was active in Sunday school work.


In 1919, having sold his farm in Marengo Township, he moved to Millsville, Clark County, Wis., where he has a large farm and is engaged in raising thorough-bred Holstein cattle.


LEWIS HATCH.


Lewis Hatch, who was one of the oldest men of Mellenry County, died on his farm at English Prairie, when he was within two months of being ninety-three years of age. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Mandana Hatch, survived him and lived to be eighty-eight. Mr. Hatch was one of the heaviest landowners in the county, his holdings in MeHenry aggregating over 1,000 acres, and he also owned 6,000 aeres in Minnesota and land in Nebraska and Kansas, and about 6,000 acres in the State of Washington, his estate amounting to something like $300,000. Prior to his death Mr. Hatch arranged his affairs and divided his property between his three sons, Miles, Fred and Frank. His children, five in number, were as follows: Fayette, who died in infancy; Miles, who died March 6, 1919, had lived in the state of Washington where he was a lumberman, dairyman, feeder of Guernsey cattle and a hop grower, is survived by a son, Lewis, who lives at Alderson, Wash .; Fred L., who is mentioned below; Frank W., who lives in Lake County, IH .; and Mrs. Augustus Hubbard. Mr. Hubbard, a former mayor of Elgin, Ill., is now deceased. After going to Washington, Lewis Ilatch never returned to McHenry County, but he looked after his property in Washington.


Fred L. Hatch was born on his father's homestead one mile east of Spring Grove, November 1, 1848, and after attending the local schools, he was a student at the Elgin Academy, and then for some time was engaged in teaching, beginning this career at the age of nineteen years, and continuing for three winters in Kane and MeHenry Counties, and for a time taught at Champaign, Ill. Still later he returned to the old farm, living there for awhile, but for the last ten years-has resided in


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Lake County, one mile distant from his farm of 333 acres, three-quarters of which comprises his father's homestead. In addition he owns about 2,000 acres in Minnesota, Michigan and Washington. For ten years Mr. Hatch served Burton Township as supervisor, and during that time the county farm was bought and the buildings erected. In 1912 Mr. Hatch was the candidate of the Progressive party for the State Assembly.


In 1896 Mr. Hatch was married to Anna M. Reynolds of Belvidere, Ill., who died twenty years later, leaving no children. Mr. Hatch was married (second) in 1905 to Mrs. Ethelyn (Baker) Foster, of Manistee, Mich., a daughter of Prof. Samuel Baker, late superintendent of schools of Manistee, now deceased. Prior to her marriage, Mrs. Hatch was a high-school teacher, and is an organizer in the work of women in her neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Hatch had two children, but both died in infancy. Mr. Hatch is a convert to alfalfa growing, having experi- mented with it on his old home, under instructions from the Farmers' Institute. He has always been an advocate of the "Good Roads" movement, and is one of the very progressive men of his neighborhood.


JOHN HAWLEY.


John Hawley, a director in the Huntley State Bank, is interested in farming in MeHenry County, conducting at present two farms, compris- ing 270 aeres of land, in Grafton Township. Mr. Hawley was born in Germany, August 29, 1862, but was brought to the United States in 1863 by his parents, who located at Crystal Lake, Ill. Later they went to Kansas.


John Hawley attended the common schools of MeHenry County, and after attaining to his majority went into a mercantile business at Crystal Lake, from whenee he moved to Huntley, continuing in the same line until he retired from it in 1900 to devote himself to his agri- cultural interests. When the Huntley State Bank was organized, Mr. Hawley became one of its directors, and he has held this office ever since. A Republican, Mr. Hawley has been alderman of Huntley for three terms, and has also served as town clerk.


In 1878 Mr. Hawley was married to Miss Mina Weltzine, and they have the following children: Edith, who is the wife of J. W. Burns, a leading merchant of Huntley; Neva, who is the wife of M. J. Van Ness, bookkeeper for Jelke & Company; and Lillian E., who is at home. The


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family belong to the Congregational church. He belongs to the Odd Fellows and Woodmen of the World. A man of high principles, he has conducted his affairs in accordance with them, and has won and retains the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens.


CHARLES HAWTHORNE.


Charles Hawthorne, township assessor of Hebron Township, and one of the well known men of Hebron, is a native of the township in which he lives, and he was born on his father's farm, three miles southeast of Hebron, March 6, 1866, a son of Isaae and Lorinda (Thomas) Haw- thorne. Isaac Hawthorne was born in Oneida County, N. Y., and was married in Illinois, and then located on the farm his parents, Edward and Rachel Hawthorne, had secured from the government during his boy- hood. Rachel Hawthorne died on this farm. One of the sons, Isaiah, secured a portion of the farm and lived on it until his death, Edward Hawthorne living with him until he died.


Charles Hawthorne lived on the homestead until he was twenty-two years old, and then, in 1901, bought 160 acres adjoining it, upon which he lived until about 1914, since which time he has resided at Hebron. Mr. Hawthorne is now engaged in handling power milking machines. A Republican, he has been assessor of Hebron Township for four years, and is very satisfactory in this office. His duties as assessor have made him known throughout the township, but prior to that he had impressed people as to his reliability and uprightness by his life among them.


ISAAC HAWTHORNE.


Isaac Hawthorne, now deceased, was formerly one of the successful farmers of Hebron Township and a man universally respected. He was born May 30, 1827, and died August 30, 1899. On March 27, 1862, he was married to Lorinda Thomas, born October 7, 1839, and died Sep- tember 9, 1911. He was a son of Edward and Rachel Hawthorne of Oneida County, N. Y., who, about 1846, came west to Racine, Wis., and for one or two years resided there, and then moved to the present Hawthorne farm, on which both parents died, Edward Hawthorne in -


Ex. Rushton


Jean M. Rushton


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1861 and his wife about sixteen years later, at the age of eighty-three years. Isaae and Isaiah Hawthorne were their only sons to reach maturity, the latter dying when thirty-eight years of age. There were three sisters and an elder half-sister in the family, namely: Elizabeth, who married a Mr. Foster, survived her husband many years and lived at Racine, Wis .; Sarah, who married Adam Herzog, lived at Racine, and died when seventy-two; Mary, who married a Mr. Westcott, moved to Iowa and died there when about seventy; and Martha, who married Alonzo Thomas, died in young womanhood. Lorinda (Thomas) Hawthorne was born in Richmond Township, a daughter of Alfred and Susan (Westcott) Thomas of New York, who, about 1835, came to McHenry County, where they were pioneers. Later in life they lived at Woodstock, where he died about 1874, aged sixty-nine years, but she died in Mason City, Iowa, aged seventy-six years.


Isaac Hawthorne and his wife began farming on the homestead that he later acquired, and in time became the owners of 590 acres of land, all but forty acres in one body, but composing four farms with four sets of buildings, he being one of the largest landowners and milk producers in his township, and devoted himself to his farm. In 1900 his widow came to Hebron, where she continued to live until her death. Their children were as follows: Sarah Etta, who is the widow of Stephen H. Holden, to whom she was married May 28, 1902, lost him by death on April 9, 1919, he having been a farmer until 1904, and after that lived retired although he had been a butter and cheese maker for some time, has no children, and lives at Hebron; Charles, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere; Ida, who died in August, 1907, aged thirty-eight years, was the wife of A. P. Robertson, now of Hebron; Edward, who is a rural frec delivery carrier at Hebron; Frank, who lives on the original farm of his grandparents; Alfred, who is a stock buyer of Hebron; and Earl, who is on his father's last-bought farm in Hebron Township.


WILLIAM HELM.


William Helm, now living retired at Hebron, formerly one of the successful agriculturalists of McHenry County, was born in Germany, March 24, 1863, a son of John and Caroline (Peters) Helm, both of whom were natives of Germany. In 1882 they came to the United States, locating at Harvard, Ill., where a sister of Mrs. Helm, Mrs.


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John Hockstadt, had already settled. Land was secured near Hebron, and William Helm began working by the month, receiving $180 the first year, $200 the second, and then $18 to $20 per month, for two years of this time being with Beal Finch. Frugal as well as industrious, William Helm saved his money and before long was able to rent land, from Mrs. Merrick, on which he remained for three years, paying cash, and keeping the proceeds of his work. In this way he secured a nice start in handling milk, which he sold to local butter and cheese factories. Mr. Helm, at the expiration of the three years, operated the 160 acre farm of Melvin Cole, father of A. J. Cole, on shares, and from a herd of fifty cows shipped over 1,200 pounds of milk daily, and sometimes exceeded that amount. After remaining on that farm for seven years, he bought the adjoining farm of eighty acres from Charles Prouty, paying $80 per acre for it. Later he added forty acres, and remained there for ten years, erecting new buildings, put in wells, and other improvements, and then sold it for $150 per acre. It is one of the fine dairy properties of the county. Retiring from farm work, Mr. Helm located at Hebron, and for twelve years worked at the carpenter trade, which he had picked up. He has one of the nicest homes in the village. While a Republican, he has never sought office. Reared in the Lutheran church, he gives it his support, and although he is not a member of it, his family are.


In 18SS, when twenty-five years of age, Mr. Helm was married to Anna Puttbreese, born near Stralsund, and came to the United States when sixteen years old. Her brother, Charles Puttbreese is a retired farmer of Woodstock. Mr. and Mrs. Helm have the following children: Anna who married William Goodsmith of Milwaukee, Wis., a locomotive engineer; Minnie, who married Clarence Stewart, a barber of Hebron; William, who is foreman of the Borden Dairy Company at MeHenry, has held that position for two years; and Emma, who married Ben Wilbrandt, a sheep man of Crystal Lake, Ill. Mr. Helm is an example for what America has done for thousands of young men coming here from Germany. He has been broad enough to recognize his advantages, and neglected no opportunity to demonstrate his loyalty to his adopted country during the World War.


GEORGE A. HEMMER.


George A. Hemmer, one of the substantial farmers of Grafton Town- ship, is located one mile west of Huntley, and was born in Coral Town-


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ship, October 14, 1856, a son of George and Kundigunda (Ziegler) Hemmer, both of whom were born near Bamburg, Bavaria, Germany, and there married. The father gave the compulsory military service to his country, and then engaged in farming, but left Germany for the United States in IS42, and landed in New York City without any money. He went to Woodbridge, N. J., where he secured employment in its porcelain and clay works, and later came to Illinois. He obtained a farm of 175 acres in Kane County, on the line between it and MeHenry County, and there he and his wife lived until 1876, when they traded a part of their farm for one across the county line, on which he died in 1887, aged seventy years, and she in IS92, when over eighty. They had lived in that community for over fifty years, and owned 240 acres of land, which they had turned over to their sons. Their five children were as follows: Margaret, who married Otto Nichols, lived in the same neighborhood as her parents until ISS4, when she moved to Stearns County, Minn., and there died; Barbara, who married John Kreuter, lived in Grafton Township, near Huntley, for twenty-five years, finally retiring to Huntley, and later to Elgin, Ill., where they are now living; John, who died in 1874, at the age of twenty-two years, was drowned while skating; George, whose name heads this review; and Joseph, who was a partner with George in the ownership of the homestead until 1900, when he died. He never married, and died of typhoid-pneumonia contracted in the early part of December, 1899, while engaged in ship- ping some stock from West Union, Iowa. Although very ill, he managed to reach home before his death, which occurred January 10, 1900.


Following his brother's demise, George Hemmer closed up the outside business, but continued the stock shipments for fifteen years, operating upon quite an extensive scale. He still owns the old farm, but for the past five years has lived on the 107 acres he bought near Huntley some years ago. On this farm he has a large house and suitable outbuildings. In a fire about thirteen years ago, all of the buildings except the house were burned, and so the barns and other buildings are comparatively new. One of the barns is 34 x 80 and the other is 54 x 84 feet. There is a silo and other improvements, and Mr. Hemmer still buys and ships cattle. He has not taken much part in politics, but his brother, Joseph, was very active, having been a Democrat until the second administration of President Cleveland, when he turned independent. His numerous satirical articles on the "full dinner pail" attracted considerable atten- tion. Like his father, also a Democrat, Joseph Hemmer was a very


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well-read man. A personal admiration for James G. Blaine led him to vote for the Republican candidate for the presidency in 1884.


George Hemmer was married when he was thirty-six years old to Mary Mavis of Coral Township, a daughter of David and Elizabeth Davis, natives of Wales, both of whom are now deceased. Their children are as follows: Pear! K., who was graduated from the Huntley High School, was engaged as a teacher in the public schools of Kane and McHenry counties in music and drawing, is a very close student, and owns one of the best private libraries in the county; Edmond Gerald, who is attending high school; Elizabeth, who died in childhood; and Joseph, who is the youngest.


ANDREW H. HENDERSON.


Andrew H. Henderson, ex-sheriff of MeHenry County, who is now living retired at Crystal Lake, is one of the very prominent men of MeHenry County, and a man who is deserving of all the confidence he inspires. He was born in McHenry County, February 22, 1858, one of the nine children born to his parents, Andrew HI. and Anna (Young) Henderson, natives of Scotland, who in 1844, came to the United States, first stopping in Rhode Island, but in 1848, they came west to Illinois, and located in MeHenry County, where they secured a farm, and con- dueted it thereafter. He died in 1893, and she in 1894.


Andrew H. Henderson attended district school No. S, in MeHenry County, and learned to be a practical farmer under his father's instrue- tion. In 1890, he left the farm to enter a mercantile life at Mellenry, and in 1893 opened a butter and dairy business, which he sold in 1895, and moved to Crystal Lake to become city marshal, holding that office until he was elected sheriff of MeHenry County on the Republican tieket, and when his term of office expired, in 1914, he returned to Crystal Lake and was again city marshal for two years, and then in 1916, he retired. During the time he was sheriff, he proved himself a fearless official, and gave entire satisfaction to the law-abiding people of the county. In the fall of 1918, he was a candidate for nomination for sheriff.


In 1882 Mr. Henderson was married to Miss Lettie Hauffman, a daughter of David S. Hauffman, and a member of one of the leading families of MeHenry County. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson had two daugh-


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ters, namely: Florence, who is married to Ray Neville of Forest Park, Ill., and cashier of the Bowman Dairy Company; and Alice A., who is married to Charles Irwin of Chicago, assistant superintendent of the public service of that city. Mrs. Henderson died December 26, 1896. The family all belong to the Presbyterian church of Crystal Lake. Mr. Henderson belongs to the Odd Fellows and Modern Woodmen of Amer- ica. A man of unusual ability and long experience as a guardian of public safety, he is eminently qualified for any office of this character he may be called upon to fill, while his sterling integrity and unquestioned bravery make him a terror to evil doers.


CALVIN J. HENDRICKS.


Calvin J. Hendricks, formerly an attorney-at-law and mayor of Harvard, was one of the leading lawyers and citizens of MeHenry County. He was born at Spring Grove, Ill., October 27, 1872, and died September 27, 1918. His parents were John and Johannah (Larkin) Hendricks, natives of Germany and Ireland, respectively. Calvin J. Hendricks attended the district schools and the Woodstock high school, and during the summer months worked at farm labor, and when only seventeen years old, in 1890, he secured a teacher's certificate. In 1891, he entered the Indiana Normal School and later a business college at Valparaiso, Ind., and after completing his studies there, began teaching at Grass Lake, Lake County, Ill. After teaching there during the spring and fall terms of 1892, and the winter term of 1892-3, Mr. Hen- dricks entered the law office of David T. Smiley at Woodstock, and was admitted to the bar of Illinois, May 21, 1895.


From then on until April 1, 1899, Mr. Hendricks remained with Mr. Smiley, in the meanwhile, during the spring of 1897, being elected city treasurer of Woodstock, which office he held one year, and then resigned on account of moving to Harvard, where he opened an office April 10, 1899, and built up a large and valuable practice. He was a Republican, and in 1903 was elected city attorney of Harvard, and in April, 1915, he was elected mayor of this city, and re-elected in 1917, with no opposition. In July, 1904, he was appointed master-in-chancery, and served as such until 1916, and from 1903, until his death, he was attorney for the Harvard Mutual Building & Loan Association. His


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fraternal affiliations were with the Masons, Knights of Pythia? and Modern Woodmen of America.


On November 3, 1897, Mr. Hendricks was married to Miss Pauline Mario Udell, a daughter of Asad and Kate (Donnelly) Udell, who died September 6, 1902. On August 9, 1905, Mr. Hendricks was married (second) to Edna Francisco, a daughter of John A. Francisco of Warren, Hl. Mr. and Mrs. Hendricks had the following children: Kathryn E., Marion F. and Harriet L. Mr. Hendricks was a communieant of the Episcopal church, as is his widow. The office Mr. Hendricks occupied for some years was located over the Harvard State bank. On January 1, 1914. he formed a partnership with Mr. Marshall, under the style of Hendricks & Marshall, which association continued until his demise. A scholarly man, and yet one who had a thoroughly practical grasp on affairs, Mr. Hendricks was easily one of the leaders in his county, where he was held in the highest esteem.


He was the nominee on the Republican ticket for County Judge, September 11, 1918, and died a little over two weeks later.


HERMAN HENK.


Herman Henk, one of the retired farmers of Algonquin, is one of the men who have made good, and he is a credit to himself and his community. He was born on the old farm of his father, October 14, 1872. Ile is a son of Henry Henk, now deceased, who was born June 26, 1836, and died November 15, 1904. At nineteen years of age, he came to the United States in company with some other young men, and they drove to MeHenry County from Chicago.


Henry Henk worked for a time at Dundee in a foundry making flat irons, and also at Carpenterville. It was during that period that he was married to Caroline Haas of Germany, and after his marriage he bought forty acres of land one mile east of Algonquin, going into debt for it and for a yoke of oxen. The land was in the timber, and on it was a log house in which he and his wife lived for a time. In order to get a little money, he hired out by the day, receiving twenty-five eents and his board, and at odd moments cleared off one-half of his farm. He then sold it and bought 135 acres in the same vieinity, The land had been eut over, but the stumps remained, and hard work it was to get them out. On this second farm was a small house. Mr. Henk traded his


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yoke of oxen for a span of horses, paying some cash for it as well. This farm he made his permanent home and it is still owned by his youngest son, August. He bought two other farms, one of ISO acres, known as the old John Gillihan farm, and the other of 185 acres was the old Grimes farm, and he owned them at his death, having operated all three of them for some years, being one of the most extensive farmers of his day and neighborhood. Mr. Henk placed his homestead under cultivation, remodeled the house, and erected a barn with full basement in 1872, which is still in use, although enlarged. He did other clearing on his properties, and kept on improving them as long as he lived. In addition to the many stumps, there was much undergrowth of a heavy character and all had to be removed before crops could be profitably cultivated. Mr. Henk belonged to the real farming class, centering his interest on his land and caring nothing for politics. The German Lutheran church received all the attention he could spare from his farm and family, and he helped to organize the church of that denomination at Dundee, and also the one at Algonquin, becoming one of the leading members of the latter. His wife died when Herman Henk was fourteen years old. They had nine children, six of whom reached maturity, namely: Henry, who is a resident of Algonquin; Caroline, who is Mrs. Ferd Marshall of Chicago; Louise, who was Mrs. Fred Borehardt of Chicago, is deccased, passing away at the age of thirty-seven; Herman, whose name heads this review; Annie, who is Mrs. Samuel Beckman of Chicago; and August, who lived on the old homestead, retired and moved to Algonquin.




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