USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 2
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Mr. Austin is a man of publie spirit, and in his operations he has been broad enough to take advantage of the experience of others and so has rendered a service to his community by redeeming farm land through effective drainage. In his offiee as justice, he displays good common sense and exeellent judgment with reference to human nature, and few of his decrees are reversed by a higher court.
EDWARD E. AYER.
Edward E. Ayer, one of the most distinguished men MeHenry County has produced, is known all over the civilized world as the greatest living authority on the history of the American Indian. He has not confined his studies to this one line, however, but is equally well informed upon a variety of subjeets. all of his intellectual development being entirely the outgrowth of his own endeavors, for he is a self-made man in the best sense of the word.
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When he was eighteen years old, Edward E. Ayer left his home in Harvard and went to Nevada, where he worked in a quartz-mill for a time, going on to San Francisco, where he was engaged in chopping wood and working in a saw-mill. With the outbreak of the Civil War, he offered his services to his country by enlisting in the First California Cav- alry, and saw service in California, Arizona and New Mexico, being dis- charged with the rank of second lieutenant. lle then retraced his steps to Harvard, where he arrived July 1, 1864, joining his father, who had an interest in a general store at that place, and being taken into partner- ship. Soon thereafter, he came to Chicago to buy goods, and on this trip secured Prescott's "Conquest of Mexico," which he claims opened the door for him into a new world and inspired him to strive to educate him- self and gain an understanding of the higher things. Mr. Ayer has pros- pered in a material way sinee that day, but he is far prouder that he was the first president of the Field Museum, and chairman of the collection committee, trustee of the Art Institute, director of the Chicago Historical Society, president of the Archaeological Society, member of the Missouri and Wiseonsin Historical societies, member of the Chicago Commereial Club, director and advisor of the Crerar Library, and a recognized bib- liophile of international reputation.
His collections embrace African jewels, illuminated manuscripts, Korans, Persian manuscripts, laces, furniture, porcelains, lusters, pew- ters, embroidery stuffs, Navajo, Mexican, Algerian and Tunisian blan- kets and many other artieles of great value. At the Newberry Library are two rooms which bear his name in which are to be found 17,000 vol- umes of printed books and 4,000 separate mannscripts, some of them volumes ; thousands of printed maps; 300 manuscripts; 2,625 portraits or drawings by artists in the field, 390 prints, 9,770 photographs, includ- ing 8,000 of "The Pictorial History of the Philippines;" sixteen editions and different works of John Smith, twenty-two editions of Hennepin, twenty editions of Jonathan Carver, fifty-three editions of Las Casas, every early edition of Champlain, every early edition of Lescarbot, every early edition of Sagard, about 3,000 volumes in the Indian languages, cov- ering 220 tribes in America, thirty-eight in the Philippines, and one in the Sandwich Islands; the finest set of Ptolemy known, sixty volumes including five in manuscript ; one of the great collections of Ortelius and Apianus and general geographical atlases; thirty-nine out of the forty- one Cremaisi in existenee in the original editions; the twenty-six Gilmary Shea : the eight O'Callaghan ; all of the Margry; the Cleveland edition of over seventy volumes ; the Quebee edition and many manuscripts ; and
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100 Mexican pictographs on maguey paper and leather; as well as first and early editions on all parts of North America pertaining especially to Indian history, including 351 titles of Captivities ; 1,260 of the 2,625 por- traits and drawings are by Burbank, 400 are by Waldeck, fifty by Carl Bodmer; 250 are lead-pencil portraits by Catlin, with a short biography of each. What Mr. Ayer considers the very gem of his whole collection is Prescott's "Conquest of Mexico" in three carefully tooled volumes bound in the very best Grolieresque red binding by Binder Zaehnsdorf, which were the first books he ever bought, about August I, 1864, and the foundation of his great history of the North American Indian Library.
EDWARD M. AYLWARD.
Edward M. Aylward, senior member of the firm of Aylward Bros., breeders of high grade stock, is one of the foremost business men of Hebron, and he is the senior member of the grain house of Aylward, Slavin & Randall. IIe was born at Walworth, Wis., February 19, 1879, one of the nine children of his parents, Richard W. and Mary (Cleary) Aylward. Richard W. Aylward was born in Ireland, but came to the United States in 1850, and after a stay at Walworth, Wis., located in MeHenry County, where he still resides, having, during all of his aetive years, been a farmer. His wife died September 28, 1899.
Edward M. Aylward attended the schools of MeHenry County, and was reared upon his father's farm. He spent two years in railroading, and then in 1912, began breeding stock, specializing on Holstein cattle, and his annual business is now about $200,000. Mr. Aylward gives em- ployment to six people and he and his brother are recognized as leaders in their line. In 1918 Mr. Aylward formed a partnership with Messrs. Slavin and Randall for the purpose of handling grain, and this firm is doing an immense business.
On September 25, 1901, Mr. Aylward was united in marriage with Miss May Monear, a daughter of Wallace Monear, and they have three children, namely: Viola M., Florence and Edward M. The family all belong to the Catholic Church. In politics Mr. Aylward is a Republican, but he has never taken an active part in public life, as his time has been too fully occupied with his business affairs. Mr. Aylward is proud of the fact that his father served his adopted country during the Civil War, enlisting in 1861, and being a brave soldier until his honorable discharge.
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The family is one of the most highly esteemed in MeHenry County, and Mr. Aylward is a worthy member of it.
FRANK F. AXTELL.
Frank F.Axtell, president of the First State Bank of Harvard, and one of the most prominent men of MeHenry County, is generally recog- nized as one of the representative financiers of this part of the state. He was born in New York state, October 29, 1847, only child of Alonzo E. and Mary M. (Lambert) Axtell. Alonzo E. Axtell was born in New York state, and, coming to Ilarvard, became interested in mer- chandising upon an extensive scale. He was also one of the early bankers of MeHenry County, and developed into a very prominent and influential man.
Frank F. Axtell attended the schools of Boone County, Il., where the family located in 1851, and Harvard, where they came in 185S. His first employment was as a clerk in his father's store, and he remained with him until 1889, when he organized, as a private concern, the bank of which he is now the executive head, and re-organized it as a state bank in 1909. Mr. Axtell is a member of the American Bankers Association and the Illinois Bankers Association, and he was associated with the Chicago Board of Trade for a number of years.
Mr. Axtell was married to Miss Cynthia A. Austin, a daughter of Pasco Austin, and they have one son, E. E. Axtell, who is the cashier of the bank of which his father is president. A daughter, Darline V., died in 1911. She was born in 1882, was a graduate of Vassar College, and a lovely girl, only twenty-nine years of age at the time of her death. Mr. Axtell is a Republican. Ever since he came to Harvard he has taken an intelligent and effective interest in its development, and is justly numbered among its most representative men and desirable citizens.
CHIARLES W. BAILEY.
Charles W. Bailey, M. D., one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Meffenry County, is successfully engaged in a general practice at Ilebron, and he is also connected with the financial life of the city as a
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director of the Bank of IIebron. IIe was born at Denver, Colo., the only child of his parents, Jefferson A. and Eliza (Bringham) Bailey. Jeffer- son A. Bailey was engaged in farming for many years in the vieinity of Walworth, Wis., but his wife died in 1874.
Doetor Bailey attended the common and high schools of Illinois, and then took a course at the Northwestern University, from which he was graduated in 1895, following which he took a medieal course in the med- ical department of the same institution. Doctor Bailey then took a course at Rush Medical College, and was graduated in 1900, and for the sue- cceding year was interne at St. Mary's Hospital of Milwaukee, Wis. He then located at Hebron, where he has since remained. In August, 1918, Doetor Bailey was commissioned captain in the medical corps for service during the World War, and was at Camps Greenleaf and Forest for three months. On December 23, 1918, he was honorably discharged, and returning to Hebron, resumed his practice, which is a very large one, for his patients have great confidence in his skill and knowledge. He belongs to the county, state and American medical associations.
In 1904 Doctor Bailey was married to Miss Ida Groesbeck, a daughter of William Groesbeek, and a member of an old pioneer family of Me- Henry County. Doctor and Mrs. Bailey have the following children : Aliee E., who was born in 1906; Francis J., who was born in 1909, and John W., who was born in 1914. The fraternal connections of Doctor Bailey are with Hebron Lodge No. 604, A. F. & A. M .; Harvard Chapter No. 91, R. A. M .; Cavalry Commandery No. 25, K. T., and he is also a Shriner. Politically, he is a Republican. Recognizing the weight Doctor Bailey's name would have, the Bank of Hebron induced him to consent to serve upon its directorate in Deeember, 1916. As a medical man and citizen, Doetor Bailey has proven his sterling worth, and no one stands any higher in public esteem in this part of the state, than does he.
SOLOMON BAIRD.
Page 132.
JOHN BALDOCK.
John Baldock, who is now living retired at Alden, was formerly extensively engaged in business as a lumber and feed merchant, and he has also served his township as supervisor. He was born in England.
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August 16, 1846, one of four children born to his parents, Matthew and Susan (Coy) Baldock, also natives of England, who came to the United States in 1852, locating at what is now Chemung, but was then known as Big Foot. Later Matthew Baldock moved to Alden, where he died in 1893.
John Baldock attended the common schools of Harvard, and grew up in MeHenry County. After having been engaged in farming for some years, in 1890 he organized a lumber and feed business, and con- ducted it until 1910, when he sold it to his son, Jay L. Baldock, and his son-in-law, Nathan B. Clawson, who conduct it under the name of Baldock & Clawson. In February, 1865, Mr. Baldock enlisted for service during the Civil War, and was discharged, September 25, 1865, and he has been a member of the local post G. A. R. since its organiza- tion. He is a Republican, and was elected supervisor of Alden Town- ship, and served for sixteen years, and he was a justice of the peace for eleven years.
In 1869 Mr. Baldock was married to Miss Mary A. Seward, who died in 1871. Later he was married (second) to Miss Roxie A. Ferris, who belonged to a well known McHenry County family. She died February 9, 1913. By his second marriage Mr. Baldock had two children, namely: Jessie M., who is the wife of Nathan B. Clawson and has had the following children-Frank, George and Eugene, the last two died in childhood; and Jay L., who married Edith Snell, a daughter of John Snell, and they have two daughters, Florence and Dorothy. The family all belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Baldock is highly esteemed by all who know him, and his prosperity is well deserved.
AMORY BARBER.
Amory Barber, one of the farmers of Riley Township who is con- neeted with some of the leading families of MeHenry County, deserves a place in a record of this high class. He was born in the village of Java, Wyoming County, N. Y., a son of Humphrey and Maria (Potter) Barber, natives of Massachusetts and New York, respectively, who came to MeHenry County in 1851, to join her brother, Almon Potter, who had already settled in this region, taking up government land. Humphrey Barber entered forty acres of land, now owned by Amory Barber, which is located seven miles south of Marengo, nine miles west
Elizabeth MConnel
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of Huntley, and there he died at the age of sixty-eight years, and she when eighty-six, in 1901, having survived him for twenty years. In addition to farming, Humphrey Barber discharged the duties of a justice of the peace for many years, having his office in his residence. He was a Universalist. The children born to him and his wife were as follows: Lester, who lived at home for some time, moved to Coral Township, then retired to Marengo, where he died about 1916; Lucinda, who mar- ried William Mallory, died in MeHenry County, leaving one ehild; Lueius, who enlisted at the outbreak of the Civil War in Company D, Fifteenth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, served through the war, was cap- tured at Aeksworth and confined in Andersonville prison, from which he was later exchanged, but not until his health was undermined, and he died a number of years ago from the effects of the hardships he endured; Amanda, who married W. B. Sheldon, a farmer of MeHenry County, died here as did her husband; Nivvie, who married W. B. Mallory after the death of her sister, died a few years later, but he survives and makes his home at Elgin; Rose, who married F. E. Stevens of Coral Township; and Amory, whose name heads this review.
Amory Barber owns the homestead of his father, which comprises eighty acres of land. Formerly he carried on dairying almost exclu- sively, but of later years has devoted more time to grain production. He is a strong Republican and has served as supervisor of Riley Town- ship, and as a justiee of the peace.
RICHARD W. BARDWELL.
Richard W. Bardwell, superintendent of the public sehools of Wood- stock, and one of the leading educators of this part of Illinois, is held in the highest esteem by all who have the honor of his acquaintance. Hc was born at Tipton, Iowa, May 14, 1889, a son of Conrad Myron and Anna Louise (Wollben) Bardwell, the former of whom was born at Northampton, Mass., October 9, 1860, and the latter at Marengo, Ill., December 9, 1867.
The Bardwell family was founded in America in 1720 by Robert Bardwell, who landed from England at Boston, Mass., in that year. On the maternal side, the family originated in Scotland, and came from thence to the United States, locating in Illinois. Conrad M. Bardwell is a man of high standing and considerable influence among the educators
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of the state, and for many years has been superintendent of different public schools. Ile is a man of force of character, but also one of fine human qualities, with a large circle of friends both within his profession and out. He has been honored with various offices within the associa- tions of education, and in 1909 he was president of the State Teachers Association.
Richard W. Bardwell was graduated from the University of Illinois, and immediately thereafter accepted the principalship of the schools of Ilebron, Ill., holding this position during 1910 and 1911, when he took the same position at Delavan, Ill., remaining there until 1914, when he came to Woodstock, where his career has been eminently satisfactory in every respect, and his schools and pupils show a remarkable improvement under his supervision.
On July 10, 1912, Mr. Bardwell was married, at Evanston, Ill., to Gertrude Smith. She is a daughter of Townsend and Charlotte (Middell) Smith, natives of Beverly, England. Mr. Smith is deceased, but for years was a well known real-estate broker of Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Bardwell have the following children: Elizabeth, who was born May 2, 1913; and Richard M., Jr., who was born September 21, 1915. Mr. Bardwell belongs to Hebron Lodge No. 604, A. F. & A. M, and the Order of the Eastern Star, and he is also a member of the college frater- nities of Psi Upsilon and Phi Delta Phi.
EDWARD C. BARNARD.
Edward C. Barnard, now deceased, was one of the well known figures in MeHenry County business life, and owned and operated the mill at Solon Mills in Richmond Township. He was born at Solon Mills, October 19, 1848, and died June 11, 1918, in his seventieth year. Ile was a son of George and Ruth (Yates) Barnard, the latter being a de- scendant of Lord Wellington of England. George Barnard owned a farm near Greenwood where he died, and was a farmer and miller, operating a mill at Solon Mills for many years. Both he and his wife lived to an old age. One of their sons, Ensley Barnard is conducting the old farm near Greenwood.
Edward C. Barnard learned the milling business and for a time operated a mill at Silver Lake, near Cary Station. Later he bought a
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mill from a Mr. Northrup five miles south of Richmond, on the Nip- persink, and operated it from 1SS4 until 1911, when his health failing, he sold it. The old mill still stands, but has not been operated for some years, although the water power is excellent. Mr Barnard also owned 300 acres of land in the vicinity of his mill, but he left the farm in 1916 to move to Richmond.
Mr. Barnard was married his bride being eighteen years old at that time. Mr. and Mrs. Barnard had one son, Earl Clement Barnard. He married Bertha Marsh, and they have a son, Clement. Earl C. Barnard has spent some time in Kansas, but is now living with his mother, and the farm is rented. Mr. Barnard was a public-spirited man, of high standing in his community. He was a charter member of Nunda Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and later was connected with the Masonic lodge at Richmond.
CHARLES P. BARNES.
Charles P. Barnes at present County Judge of MeHenry County, has an extensive acquaintance among the judges and lawyers throughout Northern Illinois, on account of the many important jury cases he has conducted in his own and the adjoining counties, and his ability as a successful criminal lawyer is admitted by all.
He was born in the town of Nunda, in the county of MeHenry, Ill., on February 14, 1862, a son of Charles C. and Lydia (Sayles) Barnes, the former being killed at the Siege of Vieksburg in 1863, as a soldier in the Union Army, leaving a widow and two children, besides Judge Barnes. When eleven years old he commenced working out by the month and, in the summer of 1873, worked eight months for the com- pensation of $7 per month. He worked for his board in winters, and attended the distriet schools, and at the age of eighteen years became a stationary engineer for the Clayson Drying Company, at Nunda. From his boyhood he had taken a deep interest in law suits, and often walked several miles to hear the trial of a case before a justice of the peace and early acquired a desire to become a lawyer. During the fall and early winter preceding his commencement of the study of law, in a regular law office, he conducted five cases before justices of the peace at Nunda and Crystal Lake, and won four of the five.
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In March 1881 being then only nineteen years of age, he entered the law office of Attorney O. II. Gilmore at Woodstock, and worked on a farm near the outskirts of the city for his board, in order that he might pursue his law studies. After spending a little over one year in the office of Attorney O. II. Gilmore, who later became County Judge, he entered the office of former County Judge B. N. Smith, and from that office went before the Appellate Court at Ottawa in the month of March, 1883, and passed a successful examination and was admitted to the bar of this state, and immediately entered upon the practice of law in the City of Woodstock, where he has lived con- tinuously until the present time.
In July 1885, he formed a partnership with Hon. Merritt L. Joslyn, who was Assistant Secretary of the Interior during the administration of President Arthur, and for nearly three years the firm practiced law together under the firm name of Joslyn & Barnes. Later he was as- sociated with Attorney D. T. Smiley under the firm name of Barnes & Smiley, and this partnership continued for nearly three years. For a short time, he was in partnership with Attorney John J. Cooney, now deceased, who at one time was a student in his office. Attorneys D. T. Smiley, F. R. Jackman, F. B. Bennett, John J. Cooney, Arthur J. Mul- len and J. I. Lang all studied law in his office, and all passed successful examinations before the Appellate Court for admission to the bar.
Judge Barnes has acted for the defense in some of the most cele- brated criminal trials that have ever taken place in the Circuit Court of his county, and has an enviable record as a successful jury lawyer. He enjoys the unusual distinction of never having a jury return a ver- dict against his side on which the client could be sentenced to the peni- tentiary.
He is Republican in politics, but in 1912 stood with the Roosevelt movement under the head of the Bull Moosers and was chairman of the Roosevelt movement in MeHenry County. In 1916 he sought the Republican nomination for states attorney having for his opponents, Attorneys D. R. Joslyn, then states attorney, and V. S. Lumley, who had previously served in that capacity and in the three-cornered fight, he was defeated by Mr. Lumley who received the nomination. In the fall of 1918, after helping Attorney Calvin J. Hendricks of Harvard to secure the Republican nomination he was placed on the ticket to fill the vacancy eaused by the death of Attorney Hendricks and as County Judge has made a record that is highly commended by the attorneys and the people who have had business before his court.
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C. PERCY BARNES.
C. Perey Barnes, attorney, junior member of the legal firm of Barnes & Barnes, is one of the able young men of Woodstock, and is associated with his distinguished father in the practice of his profession. He was born at Woodstock, May 22, 1886, one of the three children of his parents, Charles P. and Lanta (Young) Barnes.
C. Perey Barnes attended the local schools, and Kent Law School of Chicago, from which he was graduated in 1908, thus following in his father's footsteps, and adopting the law as his profession. Immediately thereafter he was admitted to the bar, and locating at Woodstock, has sinee been in an active practice, his father being the senior member of the firm of Barnes & Barnes. In 1910, C. Perey Barnes was elected city attorney of Woodstock, which office he still holds.
C. Percy Barnes was married to Miss Ruth Freestone, and he and his wife are members of the Congregational Church of Woodstock. In politics he is a Republican. IIis knowledge of men and their motives, and his keen, analytical mind enable him to handle the cases entrusted to him efficiently and successfully, and he has been connected with some very important jurisprudence that is not confined to the boundaries of his own county.
DARWIN A. BARROWS.
Darwin A. Barrows, who belongs to one of the prominent pioneer families of MeHenry County, is serving his township as assessor, and is numbered among the representative retired farmers of Harvard. He was born in the county, a son of Dexter and Olive E. (Simpson) Barrows, who had eight children. Dexter Barrows was born in Ver- mont, but came to MeHenry County in an early day, and became one of the prosperous farmers of this section. He lived to the unusual age of ninety-three years.
Darwin A. Barrows was reared on his father's farm, and attended the local schools. During the Civil War, he enlisted in Company E, Ninety-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, although only sixteen years old, and served until the elose of hostilities, when he was mustered out. Returning home, he resumed farming, and became the owner of a valu- able farm in Dunham Township. A few years ago he retired from his agricultural activities, and located at Harvard, where he owns his eom-
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fortable residence. A man of more than average ability, he has been called upon to hold public office, and for seventeen years he was town clerk and he has been township assessor for five terms.
On June 15, 1870, Mr. Barrows was married to Marion E. Billings, and they had the following children: Mildred, who married Ernest F. Goodknecht; Nellie G., who married Archie Green, and Marion, who married Gardner A. Knapp, superintendent of the county home at Hartland.
EBER E. BASSETT.
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