USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 25
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
FRANK E. MARTIN.
Frank E. Martin, proprietor of the Oak Wood Farm of McHenry Township, is one of the substantial men of the county, of which he is a native son, for he was born within two miles of his present home, in McHenry Township, January 18, 1864, a son of Peter L. and Wealthy A. (Tanner) Martin, natives of West Virginia and Ohio, respectively, who were married in Illinois. She was brought to Illinois in childhood by her father, Harvey Tanner, who located in MeHenry Township, two miles west of the present farm of his grandson, Frank E. Martin. He died when the latter was fifteen years old, being then seventy-nine years of age. Peter L. Martin came to Greenwood Township with his parents, who died in that township.
After his marriage, Peter L. Martin moved to Iowa, and from 1865 to 1875 was engaged in farming in Cass County, that state. Upon his return to McHenry County in 1875, he secured the old Tanner home- stead of 200 acres, and continued to live there until his death on July
721
HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
28, 1907, at the age of sixty-nine years. His widow survives him and lives with a daughter at Woodstock. The old Tanner home has since been sold. The children of Peter L. Martin were as follows: Carrie B., who is Mrs. E. J. Mansfield of Woodstock. Frank E., whose name heads this review; Cora M., who married E. E. Bassett of McHenry, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Edward L., who lives at Woodstock.
Frank E. Martin was reared on the homestead, and attended the district schools, and the village school of Ringwood. On January 20, 1887, when he was twenty-three years old, he was married to Abbie L. Whiting, and went to Chicago, and was engaged in railroad work for two and one-half years. Returning then to MeHenry County he con- dueted his wife's father's farm on shares for four years, at the expiration of which time, Mr. Whiting gave his daughter 160 aeres, which con- stitutes the present home of the Martins.
On this farm Mr. Martin has erected a fine set of buildings, and has one of the finest rural homes in the county, his residence being equipped with steam heat, electric light and all modern improvements. This house was built in 1902, but has been further improved since that date. The barn, built in 1898, is equally modern, and fitted for dairy purposes, and he milks from twenty to twenty-five cows of the Holstein strain. A Republican, Mr. Martin has never cared to hold office. He belongs to the Masons and the Royal Neighbors, and Mrs. Martin is a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, and the Red Cross. For some years Mr. Martin ran his own threshing outfit, but is now confining his efforts to farming.
Freeman Whiting, the father of Mrs. Martin, was born January 8, 1822, and he died September 13, 1915, his wife dying September 26, 1912. From 1880, Freeman Whiting lived on the second farm he owned which he bought from William Mead, renting his original farm. Mr. and Mrs. Whiting had the following children: Delbert A., who resides on a portion of his father's farm, married Ellen Dutton; Laura L., who married Richard Thompson, lives in Nunda Township, one and one- half miles south of McHenry; Lillian C., who is Mrs. C. W. Harrison, lives at North Crystal Lake, and Abbie who is Mrs. Frank E. Martin. Mr. and Mrs. Martin have two children, namely: Clinton E., and Loren O., both of whom are on the farm, now known as the Oak Wood Farm, which was originally the property of their grandfather, Freeman Whiting. Both the Martin and Whiting families are old and honored ones in MeHenry County.
722
HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
FRED A. MAXON.
Fred A. Maxon, one of the prosperous farmers of Dunham Township, is located five miles southwest of Harvard. He is a son of William J. and Jennie (Sinton) Maxon, he born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., December 14, 1843, died January 11, 1917. He was married December 4, 1867, having come to Illinois in 1864, after being twice rejected for service during the Civil War, and secured land in Dunham Township, which he cleared, building on it a log house, which he later replaced with the one now standing on the farm, for which he quarried the stone. A brother of his built a stone house on his farm about the same time. For eight years he served the township as assessor, and was a man of prominence in his community. His widow survives him and lives in the village of Chemung. Their children were as follows: Fred, whose name heads this review; Frank, who lives in Chemung Township; and Myrtle, who is Mrs. Harry Paul of Chemung Township.
Fred Maxon was born June 29, 1871, and reared on his father's homestead, of which he took charge in 1896. Since then he has made a number of improvements, ereeting a fine silo and outbuildings, and has brought his land into a high state of fertility. Specializing on dairying, he has from twelve to fifteen cows, and he also carries on general farming.
On November 22, 1899, he was married to Clara Lee, a daughter of David and Mary (Craig) Lee, both natives of County Tyrone, Ireland, who came to the United States when young. They were married in MeHenry County in 1868. Mr. Lee was a farmer of Dunham Town- ship, and their son, Charlie, has the old farm near the village of Chemung, both of them being deceased. Mrs. Maxon was born near her present home, April 14, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Maxon have the following children : William, who is attending the Harvard High School; and David and Charles, all of whom are at home. The whole family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church of Chemung, in which they take an active part. Mr. Maxon not only belongs to an old and honored family of MeHenry County, but he is an important factor in the agricultural life of his community, and he takes an interest in improving the roads and securing for this section all the advantages possible.
EDWIN LEWIS MCAULIFFE.
Edwin Lewis MeAuliffe, M. D., one of the leading men of Seneca Township, is prominent both as a physician and a farmer. He was
723
IIISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
born two and one-half miles west of his present farm in Seneca Township, September 20, 1856, a son of Jeremiah and Mary (O'Brien) McAuliffe, both born in County Limerick, Ireland. Not long after their marriage the parents came, during the early thirties, to the United States, and secured forty acres of land in Seneca Township, and after they had cut off the timber, sold that land and bought the farm now owned by William Henry, one mile west of the farm of Doctor MeAuliffe, which was 160 acres of timbered land lying on the Kishwaukee Creek. Later Jeremiah McAuliffe sold a part of this farm to his brother-in-law, James O'Brien, who with his brother Patrick, served as soldiers during the Civil War, the latter settling in Wisconsin. James O'Brien spent the remainder of his life on his farm, where he died at the age of seventy-five years. Jeremiah McAuliffe had a brother who served in the Confederate army during the same conflict. When he was about seventy-five years old, Jeremiah MeAuliffe passed away, his widow surviving him until July 12, 1896, when she died at the age of ninety-three years. Their children were as follows: Michael, who served as a member of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry throughout the Civil War, now lives at Milwaukee, Wis .; William H., who lives on the old homestead; Doctor McAuliffe, whose name heads this review; Alfred James, who went in young manhood to California, there died; Francis George, who died at the age of twenty-two years while studying medicine with his brother, Doetor McAuliffe; Winfield John, who went to California, but returned and three days later was drowned in Lake Geneva, and his companion, a young man, met the same fate; and Mary Louise, who is Mrs. John Chestnut, of Seneca Township.
Edwin Lewis MeAuliffe learned the saddler and harness making trade at Marengo and worked at it for four years, and at the same time read medicine, and then became a student at Rush Medieal College, from which he was graduated in 1882, Dr. Arthur Bevan being one of his classmates. He was then an interne of Michael Reese Hospital, of Chicago, for two and one-half years. From then until 1896 he engaged in an active practice at Chicago, and was very successful. In the latter year he retired, and having in the meanwhile invested in 250 acres of land in MeHenry County, has since then lived practically on his farm, which is one of the finest in this part of the state. Doctor McAuliffe has a tenant on his farm, but supervises its general conduct, specializing on dairying. He is still very much interested in medical matters, but while he has some office practice he prefers to devote his time to study. He is interested in the development of medical societies, of which at one
724
HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
time he was an important factor, being a delegate to the convention of the American Medical Association at St. Louis. Strictly a temperance man, he is delighted with recent events with relation to prohibition, although in politics he has voted the Republican ticket. Always busy, he has found but little time for vacations.
Doctor MeAuliffe was married to Lillian Madden at Sarnia, Ontario, Canada, and they became the parents of the following children: Edwin, who died at the age of nineteen years; Winfield Davenport, who was a mechanic in the shipyards at Hog Island, Pa., during the great war, is now in the Philippine Islands in Medical Corps of United States Service; Elmo Norton, who is assisting with the farm; Courtland Michael, who died August 10, 1920; and Aland, who is named for the Aland Island in the Baltic Sea.
Doctor McAuliffe is intensely American, and is not willing to see any of the rights of the people compromised. Prior to the sinking of the Lusitania, he had seen much to admire in the Germans, but became convinced that as a monarchial nation they were a menace to humanity, and the progress of Christian civilization.
DANIEL J. McCAFFREY.
Daniel J. McCaffrey, formerly pastor of the parish of the Church of the Sacred Heart of Marengo, is one of the scholarly men and beloved priests of the Roman Catholic church. He was born at Chicago, Ill., September 15, 1866, one of the eleven children of James E. and Catherine M. (Dunn) MeCaffrey. James E. McCaffrey was born in Ireland, but came to the United States in 1849, locating at Chicago, where he became prominent in the business world as a commission merchant and stock dealer. His death occurred June 24, 1SS4, his widow sur- viving him until April 23, 1899.
Rev. Daniel J. McCaffrey attended Niagara University and was ordained to the priesthood in 1889 by Very Rev. Archbishop Patrick A. Feehan of Chicago. His first charge was in Chicago, where he was an assistant, and he was sent to Marengo, October 6, 1907. At present there are 110 families in the parish at Marengo. The affairs of the parish are in a very flourishing condition, and the present church edifice begun in May, 1908, was completed July 12, 1909, at a cost of $30,000. A hall was erected in connection with the church at a cost of $7,000.
725
HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
Father MeCaffrey is a very efficient worker in his church, and the parish at Marengo inereased in importance very materially, as well as spiritually, under his charge. His qualifications as a man and a citizen are such as to make him an important factor in his community, outside of his ehureh as well as in it, and his advice has been sought and followed in many cases where sound judgment and a knowledge of human nature are needed to bring about a logical conclusion on public matters.
Father MeCaffrey is now located at Elburn, Kane County, Illinois.
CHARLES MCCLURE.
Page 136.
ABRAM B. McCONNELL.
Abram B. MeConnell, now deceased, was formerly one of the success- ful agriculturalists of MeHenry County, and a man who stood very high in public esteem. He was born in the original log cabin on his father's farm near Richmond, February 3, 1839, being the eldest son of the Hon. William A. and Elizabeth (Bodine) McConnell, natives of Pennsylvania, who were the earliest settlers of Richmond Township, coming here in 1837.
Abram B. MeConnell was reared in Richmond Township, and attended the schools of his district. From boyhood, he devoted himself to farming, receiving a practical training in the work from his father, and when he began farming on his own account, he located on a farm owned by his father, in the vicinity of Woodstock. He farmed here successfully until 1894, when his health failed and he built a home and moved to Woodstock in November, 1894. Abram B. MeConnell was married February 28, 1861, to Harriet S. Potter, born in Washington County, N. Y., July 12, 1839, a daughter of Stephen A. and Charity (Barker) Potter, and they became the parents of the following children: Libby, deceased; Lena, deceased; Ida, Mrs. Arthur Southworth, of Willamette; William S .; Fred B., farming; and Roy, deceased. Abram B. McConnell died on February 15, 1895. His wife died September 20, 1912. Like his father, William A. MeConnell, Abram B. McConnell was devoted to the advancement of his community, and in his quiet, unostentatious way, did all in his power to bring about such a result.
726
HISTORY OF McHENRY COUNTY
FRANK B. McCONNELL.
Frank B. MeConnell, president of the State Bank of Richmond, is one of the sound, reliable and experienced men of MeHenry County. He was born in Richmond Township, March 29, 1875, one of the four children now living of his parents, George and Susan (Cushman) MeCon- nell. George MeConnell, who is now deceased, was one of the pioneer bankers of Richmond, and organized the bank known as the Bank of Richmond, in 1890.
Frank B. McConnell attended the common and high schools of his locality and later the Northwestern University of Evanston and the Bryant & Stratton Business College of Chicago. In 1895 he became con- neeted with his father's bank, the Bank of Richmond, as bookkeeper and in 1902, was promoted to the position of cashier, which position he held until the reorganization of the Bank of Richmond into the State Bank of Richmond, which he promoted and accomplished January 1, 1921, and became president of that corporation, which organized with a capital stock of $50,000. Mr. McConnell's long connection with the banking business puts weight and strength back of the organization which is one of the stable financial institutions of the County.
Mr. McConnell was married in 1897 to Miss Mae Dennison, a daugh- ter of Daniel Dennison, and a member of one of the old families of MeHenry County. Mr. and Mrs. MeConnell have four children, namely : Marjory L., Beatrice M., George D., and Frank B., Jr. The family all belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. MeConnell is a Repub- lican. A man of high principles, he has lived up to his ideals, and is held in proper esteem by all who know him.
FRED B. McCONNELL.
Fred B. MeConnell, one of the prosperous farmers of Dorr Township, belongs to one of the most representative families of MeHenry County, for its members have been associated with some of the best interests of this locality ever since the MeConnells came here during the pioneer period of its history. Fred B. MeConnell was born in the house he now occupies, April 9, 1874, and has devoted his useful life to agricultural labors. He has received more than ordinary educational advantages, for after he had been a student in the local schools, he took a course at
Afteren Franc a Stevens ยท
727
HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
the Northwestern University, at Evanston, Ill. Returning to his father's farm, Fred B. MeConnell assisted the latter in conducting it until 1897, when he took charge of the homestead, and operated the 350 acres comprising it. When the farm was divided in 1907, Fred B. McConnell received 167 aeres, on which was the old residence. Since then he has rebuilt and modernized it, and here he carries on general farming and dairying. For the past five or six years he has been a breeder of high-grade Holstein cattle. His buildings are equipped for dairy purposes. While his efforts are centralized on the farm, he is a stockholder and director of the State Bank of Woodstock, founded by his father, who continued on the directorate for many years. For twenty years Fred B. McConnell has been upon the school board. While in a general way he is a Republican, he does not feel bound down by any particular party ties, but reserves to himself the right to vote as his judgment dictates.
On January 20, 1897, Mr. McConnell was united in marriage with Rose Barden, a daughter of John and Bessie (Coatman) Barden, who had come to MeHenry County, from Nebraska, to which state they had been taken when young, and where they were married. Mr. and Mrs. Barden survive and live near their daughter, Mrs. McConnell. Mr. and Mrs. McConnell have the following living children: Bessie Harriet, who is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and a business college; Abram Bodine, who attended the State University at Cham- pagne, Class 1919; and Ralph Allen, who is the youngest. Ida Marian, the fourth child, died in infancy. Mrs. McConnell belongs to the Royal Neighbors, and is active in the local improvement society.
Mr. McConnell's mother possessed considerable poetical talent, and a souvenir book of her poems has been published for the intimate family circle. These poems breathe the freshness of country, and indi- cate not only careful observation of nature's works, but bring out many of the moral lessons that are only to be found in contemplation of the Divine handiwork.
GEORGE McCONNELL.
George McConnell, now deceased, was a representative citizen and leading banker of MeHenry County, where his memory is held in the highest veneration. He was born in Richmond Township, west of the village of Richmond, in the log cabin of his father, William A. McConnell,
728
HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
March 3, 1845, being the youngest son of three born to William and Elizabeth (Bodine) McConnell, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
George McConnell attended the local schools and for a year was a student of Mt. Morris College. He was then engaged in educational work in Burton Township for a period. Following this he was engaged in operating the farm located south of the homestead, his father giving him his 250-acre farm, and he further improved it, and made it one of the most valuable in Richmond Township.
In 1866 William A. MeConnell erected a cheese factory at Rich- mond and George McConnell hauled the lumber used in its construction from Hebron and Genoa. It was a two-story building, 30x112 feet, and was the first of its kind erected in McHenry County. The first cheese made in it was manufactured May 18, 1866. The following year this factory manufactured 19,000 pounds more cheese than any other fac- tory in the county, several others having by this time come into exis- tence, or a total of 184,471 pounds.
In 1890 George MeConnell and his brother, John, organized a private bank at Richmond, of which he was president and his brother vice president, they associating with them John W. Haythorn as cashier. Later Frank B. MeConnell, son of George MeConnell, became cashier, and Charles D. McConnell, son of John McConnell, assistant cashier. This bank was known as the Bank of Richmond until it was reorganized into the State Bank of Richmond, January 1, 1921, with Frank B. McConnell as president.
On November 15, 1865, George MeConnell was married to Susan Cushman, a daughter of Darius and Mary Cushman, who was born in Vermont, May 26, 1847, and they became the parents of the following children: Cora II., who was born November 15, 1866; Mary May, who was born June 12, 1869; Agnes Leona, who was born January 24, 1873, died September 25, 1874; Frank Bodine, who was born March 29, 1875, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Harry J., who was born July 16, 1879, died December 26, 1889; and William A., who was born July 25, 1881, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this work.
George MeConnell was a supervisor and justice of the peace for many years, and was also on the school board, which he served as chair- man for four years. He was a Mason and was treasurer of his lodge for a long period. On October 7, 1877, George MeConnell and his wife united with the Methodist Episcopal church at Richmond, and he
729
HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
served it as a trustee and treasurer until his death. IIe and his brother John contributed one-half of the amount required for the erection of a new church edifiee, and he built the present Methodist parsonage and gave it to the church. George McConnell died at Los Angeles, Cal., March 29, 1908, and in his passing Richmond, as well as all of MeHeury County, lost one of the best of men and most loyal of citizens.
JOHN McCONNELL.
John MeConnell, now deceased, was one of the influential men of McHenry County, and for years was connected as vice president with the Bank of Richmond, and the McConnell Cheese Factory, the latter, the first of its kind to be established in McHenry County. He was born 1842, in the little log cabin on his father's farm, which served the family as a home for fifteen years, a son of William A. and Elizabeth (Bodine) McConnell, natives of Pennsylvania, a sketch of whom appears else- where in this work.
Growing up in Richmond Township, John McConnell carly dis- played those sterling traits of character which distinguished him through life, and was a favorite in the district schools and Mt. Morris Academy, which he attended. All of his life he was interested in agricultural matters, but in later years specialized on the conduct of the creamery established by his father, which he later bought. In 1890, he assisted in the establishment of the Bank of Richmond, and served it as vice president until his death, and he was also a director in the State Bank of Woodstock. In 1864, he went overland to California, and spent four years in that state, and then returned by the way of the Isthmus of Panama. Landing at New York City, he came thence to Richmond, where he rounded out his useful life, dying in 1900.
In 1868, John McConnell was married to Mary Frothingham, and they became the parents of the following children: Bertha L. and Charles D.
WILLIAM A. McCONNELL.
Since the carly days of McHenry County, the name of McConnell has been an important one in this region, and a number of its members
730
HISTORY OF MCHENRY COUNTY
have been closely associated with the establishment and growth of its banking interests. One bearing this honored name is William A. McCon- nell, assistant cashier of the Bank of Richmond, who, with his brother, Frank B. MeConnell, and sisters own the institution. William A. McConnell is the grandson and namesake of the late William A. McCon- nell, a sketch of whose life is to be found elsewhere in this work, together with that of George MeConnell, son of one and father of the other William A. McConnell.
William A. MeConnell, whose name heads this review, was born in Mellenry County, July 25, 1881, a son of George and Susan (Cush- mian) McConnell, and there were three others in the family of the parents. George MeConnell, now deceased, was undoubtedly one of the distinguished men of the county, and a man to whom is due much of the constructive work of his day, especially in banking circles. He founded the Bank of Richmond, inaugurating the present policies and placing the institution upon a solid and reliable basis, his sons following the example of their father in its conduct after they assumed charge. The bank has a capital stock of $10,000 and a surplus of $47,000, and the cashier is Frank B. McConnell, William A. McConnell being as stated above, the assistant cashier. In addition to his banking interests, Mr. McConnell is the local representative for the Security Insurance Company of Connecticut, the Dubuque Fire Marine Insurance Com- pany, the Milwaukee Mechanic Insurance Company, and the American Security Company.
On October 25, 1905, Mr. McConnell was united in marriage with Lena Gollman, a daughter of George J. Gollman, and they have three children, namely: Fred W., Virginia E. and John A. The family arc consistent members of the Congregational church, and give it an carnest and efficient support. Mr. MeConnell is not only a supporter of Repub- lican principles and candidates, but his work in behalf of his community has been of so important a nature that he has been brought into public notice, and he was the successful candidate of his party for the office of village treasurer upon several occasions, bringing to bear upon the con- duct of the affairs of that office a ripened experience gained during his years of association with financial matters. He maintains his residence in the beautiful homestead of his family at Richmond. Mr. McConnell is a Mason, and his wife is a member of the Eastern Star. They are among the social leaders of their community, and a credit to their name and county.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.