USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 30
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RICHARD MONTGOMERY PATRICK.
Richard Montgomery Patrick, now deceased, was born near Tructon, Courtland County, N. Y., May 5, 1831, a son of Nathaniel and Penelope (Potter) Patrick. Both grandparents of Mr. Patrick were soldiers in the American Revolution and later became carly settlers of Courtland County, N. Y. The maternal grandfather was the first settler of Cuyler, N. Y., the land he took up as a homestead having descended from him to the oldest son, and is still held in the family.
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Richard M. Patrick attended the Homer Academy which has had as pupils such men as Lyman J. Gage, later secretary of the United States treasury. Very early in life Mr. Patrick began to be self-sup- porting, his capital being a yoke of oxen. By 1851 he had acquired enough to go to Iowa and take up government land. On his way, he stopped at Chicago, but decided that the muddy little village would never develop sufficiently to satisfy his ambition. Later he reversed his decision and invested in land there that is still a part of his estate. Having spent a night at Marengo, on his overland trip, he decided to make it his permanent home, and in 1852 settled here, going into a drug business with his brother-in-law, Charles Angle. Subsequently he established himself in a general merchandise business, in which he was later joined by his brother Elias, and two nephews, F. W. and H. E. Patrick. From this original venture have grown the stores of Woleben's Dry Goods Co. and the grocery firm of Patrick Bros. During the Civil War, he conducted a small exchange and banking business which in 1867 was expanded into the banking house of R. M. Patrick, and in 1871 became the First National Bank of Marengo, in which he held four-fifths of the capital stock. For some years prior to his death, he was accepted as the dean of the banking business of McHenry County.
In 1856, Mr. Patrick was married to Miss Emma Hotchkiss Page, a daughter of Rev. William Page of Rockford, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Patrick celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1906, at which time all of the living children and grandchildren were present, the festivities lasting several days. Mrs. Patrick died September 19, 1913. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Patrick, four of whom survive, namely: Frederick A., who lives at Duluth, Minn .; Mrs. Newell Dwight Hillis, who lives at Brooklyn, N. Y .; Ernest Durand, who lives at Marengo; and Mrs. C. W. Moyer, who lives at Rockford, Ill. Mr. Patrick early joined the Presbyterian church, to which he always gave a generous support. He was deeply interested in civic matters, and rendered efficient aid in promoting public movements of merit. His death occurred November 2, 1915.
CLINTON C. PATTERSON.
Clinton C. Patterson, now deceased, was one of the prominent and highly-regarded young business men of Marengo, and treasurer and
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general manager of the J. HI. Patterson Lumber Company, extensive lumber, fuel and feed dealers, with home offices at Marengo, and branch offices at Union, Huntley, Gilberts, Roscoe, Wauconda, Rochelle and Freeport, Ill. Associated with him were: J. H. Patterson, president; G. II. Perkins, vice president; and W. C. Linderman, secretary.
Clinton C. Patterson was born at Marengo, September 16, 1889, one of the three children of Joseph H. and Viola (Crissy) Patterson. Clinton C. Patterson attended the common and high schools of Marengo, and the Northwestern University, where he was made a member of Beta Theta Phi. After completing his studies he entered his father's business, and continued with him until his death. The company was founded in 1886 by Nelson Buck, who sold the business to Mr. Patterson in 1891. This concern owns an elevator with a capacity of 20,000 bushels. The home offices are located in the Community Building at Marengo.
Clinton C. Patterson was married September 4, 1912, at Marengo, to Miss Mabel Joslyn, born October 30, 1889, a daughter of E. O. Joslyn, a very prominent resident of MelIenry County. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson had two children, namely: Kenrick W., and Burritt C., who died February 14, 1919. Mr. Patterson was a Mason, and she belongs to the Eastern Star. For several years he has served on the school board. He belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, and was deservedly popular in it as elsewhere. Mr. Patterson died October 18, 1918, and is buried in the Marengo cemetery. In his death his family and community sustained a heavy loss. Mrs. Patterson is also a mem- ber of this church.
ALONZO S. PEAK.
Alonzo S. Peak, now retired, is one of the substantial men of McHenry County, who is residing in Coral Township, near the village of the same name. Ile was born in Wayne County, Ohio, near Wooster, March 22, 1845, a son of Christopher and Elizabeth (Colgrove) Peak, both of whom were born at Schoharie, N. Y., and were there married, going afterwards to Ohio about 1840. In 1848 the family migrated to McHenry County, settling in Coral Township, two and one-half miles west of IIuntley, on wild land, that had on it a small log house.
Christopher Peak went to work at once to clear off his land. He moved three times, his permanent home being west of Harmony where he lived until his death at the age of eighty-five years, having been
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retired for some years prior to his passing away. His wife died at the age of seventy-two years. He was a Republican and a very public- spirited man, and one of the organizers of the Harmony Methodist church. Prices in the early days were not what they are today, and A. S. Peak distinctly remembers operating the churn for his mother's butter which was sold about 1855, at eight and ten cents per pound to pay the family's subscription to the church. The Peak family have continued to attend this church ever since, but their subscription totals up a much larger amount than it did in 1855. At one time this church had a very large congregation. The parents of A. S. Peak are buried in the old Harmony Cemetery, kept in fine condition by the present members of the church. Christopher Peak and his wife had the follow- ing family: A. S., whose name heads this review; Eleanor, who is the wife of Albert Shapley of Logan, Kan .; George D., who lives at Logan, Kan .; William J., who lives at Colorado Springs, Colo., who are living, and seven who are deceased, three of the seven having passed away in childhood. Ursula, who became Mrs. N. Van Vleet, died at the age of twenty-seven years; Mindel died in young womanhood; Charles W. Peak died in childhood; and Arvilla, who also died in young woman- hood.
Alonzo S. Peak remained at home until he enlisted on September 17, 1863, for service during the Civil War, in Company B, Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, under Colonel Beveridge and Captain MeReynolds, and was sent to Alton, Ill., to guard prisoners, from there being trans- ferred to Missouri at the time General Price made his great raid. The company divided, a portion going to Kansas, but his command pur- suing the bushwhackers in Missouri. He received his honorable dis- charge at the end of a year, and was not wounded or captured, and came out as a high private. A portion of his service consisted in the carrying of dispatches in which he ran considerable risk, but was not captured.
Returning home A. S. Peak conducted his father's farm until the latter's death when he bought the homestead and continued his farming until his retirement, after which he rented the farm, and moved to a small property near the village of Coral. He is secretary and treasurer of the Harmony Cemetery Association, and was on the school board for twenty-five years, and for forty-three years was township collector. At first his collections amounted to about $4,000, advancing to $10,000 after the Civil War. In 1916 the taxes amounted to $150,000, the last year he held office. A strong Republican, for thirty-five years he has served his party as county committeeman, and still holds that office
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from Coral Township. For thirty years a justice of the peace, a school director for twenty-two years, and judge of election for fifty years, he is a well-known man in this region.
On June 4, 1871, Mr. Peak was married to Emily E. Stevens, a sister of Frank Stevens, whose biography appears elsewhere, and they became the parents of these children: Esther Almira, who died in infancy; Charles N., unmarried, who lives in Coral Township; and Ernest G., who was struck by lightning August 15, 1919, owned the Peak home- stead bought by his grandfather, just prior to the Civil War, and which has been in the family for over sixty years. On June 3, 1921, Mr. and Mrs. Peak celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Con- gratulations and good wishes arrived from distant friends; many beauti- ful and useful gifts were received, including a shower of gold pieces to the amount of $325. The occasion was a very happy and memorable one.
ERNEST G. PEAK.
Death comes as a shock to the survivors no matter in what form it terminates a useful life, but fortitude is indeed demanded when the blow comes from some convulsion of nature and smites down one in the full vigor of young manhood. Not only were the family and immediate friends of the late Ernest G. Peak horrified at the tragedy of his death, but the entire state, for seldom does such a tragedy occur. This most estimable young man was quietly carrying on his work as an agriculturalist, August 15, 1919, when he was struck by a bolt of lightning and instantly killed. While he and his fellow workers in a threshing outfit on the farm of C. A. Thompson, were aware a storm was approach- ing, they, as is the custom of dependable farmers, endeavored to finish their loading before it reached them. The horses attached to the wagon he was loading were also killed, but his fellow-workers were spared. The loss to the community was all the more deeply felt because of the high character of the young man, and the work he had accom- plished in behalf of war activities, and moral uplift. It will be a long time before he will be forgotten, or his useful life fail to influence for good those with whom he was associated while living.
Ernest G. Peak is a native son of MeHenry County as he was born in Coral Township, December 29, 1882. His father, Alonzo S. Peak is one of the leading men of the county, and the family one of the pioneer
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ones of this part of the state. A complete history of the Peak family is given elsewhere in this work.
After attending the graded schools of West Harmony, Ernest G. Peak took the high-school course at Marengo, from which he was grad- uated in June, 1901, and winning a scholarship in Beloit College, he attended that institution for a year. He then taught school for some timo, but feeling the urge of the soil, began farming on his own account, and developed into one of the progressive agriculturalists of Coral Township.
On March 26, 1910, Mr. Peak was married to Miss Louise Beck- linger, who survives him. Their only child died in infancy. Mr. Peak was a young man of exemplary character and extremely active in reform work. It was mainly through his efforts that Coral Township went dry in the spring election of 1919, and he was equally zealous in church and Sunday school work. About twenty years ago he joined the Methodist Episcopal church and served as trustee, steward, treasurer, minuteman, Sunday school superintendent and teacher. Not long before his death he was elected delegate to the lay conference held at Chicago in the fall of 1919.
During the late war Mr. Peak found expression for his intense patriotism by working steadfastly and unremittingly in behalf of the Red Cross, Y. M. C. A., Salvation Army and the Liberty bonds. He was keyman in helping to lead his church to victory in the late centenary movement. As a faithful and dutiful son, a loving and devoted husband, splendid neighbor and patriotic citizen, Ernest G. Peak measured up to the highest standards of American manhood, and was never found lacking in any of the Christian virtues.
WALLACE B. PEATT.
Wallace B. Peatt, one of the successful general farmers of McHenry County, owns and operates 120 acres of valuable land on section 14, Greenwood Township. Mr. Peatt was born in McHenry County, September 29, 1862, a son of Lewis B. Peatt, who owned a farm of 240 acres of land in Greenwood Township, and was one of the highly esteemed men of his community.
Wallace B. Peatt was reared in his native county and attended its schools. He was married to Nellie MeDonald, born in Richmond
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Township, a daughter of James MeDonald, a native of Scotland, who eame to the United States with his parents when he was seven years old. The MeDonald family first located at Chicago, but later came to MeHenry County, and became farmers of Richmond Township. During the Civil War, James McDonald served his adopted country as a soldier. He was married to Rose A. Brady. Mr. and Mrs. Peatt have two children, namely: Floyd and Blanch. After his marriage, Mr. Peatt located on his present farm, and he has developed it and made it a valuable property.
CHARLES C. PECK, M. D.
Charles C. Peek, M. D., one of the leading physicians and surgeons of Harvard, is a man whose reputation in his profession is firmly estab- lished and maintained. He was born in Marengo, this county, Deeem- ber 19, 1870, a son of Daniel E. and Eliza J. (Crego) Peek, who had four children. Daniel C. Peck was one of the earlier physicians of Marengo, where he was in active practice until his death.
Charles C. Peek attended the common and high schools of Marengo, and entering the Hahnemann College and Hospital of Chicago, III., was graduated therefrom, after taking the full medical course, in 1895. Immediately thereafter he located at Marengo, leaving it for Harvard. He was elected coroner of MeHenry County to fill the unexpired term of Dr. J. S. Maxon, upon the Republican tieket. Doctor Peek belongs to the MeHenry County Medical Society, the Illinois State Medieal Society and the American Medical Association, and also to the Western Roentgen X-Ray Society. His fraternal associations are with the Masons and Odd Fellows.
Doctor Peek was married to Miss Clara A. Morse, who died in 1915, leaving one daughter, Charlotte C. On February 6, 1919, he married Genevieve Lake, a daughter of Monroe W. and Margaret Lake, of Harvard. Doetor Peck and his daughter belong to the Metho- dist Episcopal church. He is an efficient and experienced physician, and his praetice is a large and valuable one. As coroner he has rendered a very capable service to his county, being fearless in his investigations and wise in his decisions.
GEORGE H. PERKINS.
George H. Perkins, vice president and general manager of the J. H. Patterson Lumber Company of Marengo, dealers in lumber,
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building materials, fuel, grain and feed, is one of the leading business men of this part of MeHenry County. Ile was born at Marengo, July 20, 1866, one of the three children of Samuel J. and Mary E. (Rodgers) Perkins. Samuel J. Perkins, who was born in Vermont, came to Marengo at an early day, and there died in 1887, his wife having died in 1884. They were farming people, and very highly respected.
George II. Perkins attended the common and high schools of Marengo, and has been identified with the lumber business throughout his busi- ness eareer, rising through merit to his present position. Mr. Perkins was married to Miss Ada Fry, a daughter of Robert Fry, a native of England. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have the following children: Robert H., Mary S., Lawrence I., and Isabel L. The family all belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, and are very active in promoting its good work. A stanch Republican, Mr. Perkins served Marengo as a member of its city council for two years, and was capable in every respect.
HARVEY R. PERKINS.
Harvey R. Perkins, who is living retired on his farm in Chemung Township, was formerly actively engaged in agricultural operations, and is a man well and favorably known throughout MeHenry County. His farm is located seven miles north of Harvard, and four miles east of Sharon. He was born on his present farm, September 5, 1860, a son of Royal and Helen (Burton) Perkins. Royal Perkins was born in Rutland County, Vt., December 7, 1824, and died July S, 1899, aged seventy-two years. He came to Illinois about 1845 with his parents, and acquired a farm at the time of his marriage. There was a small clearing with a log house on the south side of the road, and in it Harvey R. Perkins was born. Mrs. Perkins was a daughter of Philip Burton who lived on an adjoining farm. She died in young womanhood, leaving four children, namely: Emma, who married Robert Andrews, died when past sixty years of age; Mary, who married Frank Maybury, lives at Lockwood, Mo .; Harvey R., whose name heads thi's review; and Jay, who is a stockman of Sharon, Wis. In 1874 the father was married (second) to Mrs. Jane Arnold, widow of Fayette Arnold. Her maiden name was Willis.
Harvey R. Perkins took possession of the homestead in 1883, and
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had added to it until he now has 152 acres, forty being a portion of the old Burton estate, and he has rebuilt and enlarged the barn, it now being 100 x 30 feet instead of the old dimensions of 30 x 56 feet. With the exception of several years spent in the Sharon cheese factory, Mr. Perkins has spent practically all of his life upon his farm, and takes great pride in it. He bought out the interest of the other heirs so as to own it.
On September 5, 1881, on his twenty-first birthday, Mr. Perkins was married to Sarah Snowden Dean, a daughter of Archibald and Mary (Snowden) Dean, born in LeRoy Township, Boone County, Ill., November 27, 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have three children, namely : Mary, who married Frank Barth; Grace, who married August Peterson, the man who is managing Mr. Perkins' farm and is in partnership with him, has two children, Eleanor and Gerald; and Royal, who married Alma Keller, a daughter of Conrad Keller, have one child, Howard.
There are two houses on the farm, and for three years Mr. Perkins has lived retired in one of them, his daughter and her husband, Mr. Peterson, occupying the other. There are two silos, and a fine dairy barn for the forty-eight head of cattle of good strains. Mr. Perkins has one of the best rural homes in the county, and it will compare favorably with any city residence. This was built in 1910 and is of stucco, with a furnace, gas, hot and cold water, and all other modern conveniences. A Republican, Mr. Perkins has served as commissioner of the township for four years, and was on the school board for sixteen years. He is a man who has the courage to live up to his convictions, and is not afraid to let everyone know exactly how he stands with refer- ence to matters of publie moment. The Sharon Camp, M. W. A., provides him with fraternal affiliations. There are few men in this part of the county who are held in as high esteem as he and he deserves the confidence he inspires.
ALFRED C. PERRY.
Alfred C. Perry, member of the automobile firm of Perry Bros. of Hebron, is recognized as one of the live and progressive men of McHenry County. He was born at Hebron March 17, 1863, one of the three children of Alfred G. and Mary C. (Fox) Perry. Alfred G. Perry was born in Canada, where he learned the trade of a carpenter, and after
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coming to the United States, he located at Hebron, where he continued to work at his trade until his retirement. At present he is one of the highly respected men of Hebron.
Alfred C. Perry attended the common and high schools of Hebron, and then learned the trade of a carpenter, working at it until he branched out as a contractor. In June; 1916, he and his brother, William E. Perry, formed their present firm, and now conduct a garage, and handle all kinds of automobile accessories and supplies. Their stock average about $5,000, and they do a large business, that shows a healthy increase.
Fraternally Mr. Perry is an Odd Fellow. His political sentiments make him a Republican, but he has confined his public service to casting his vote for the candidate of his party.
WILLIAM E. PERRY.
William E. Perry, junior member of the firm of Perry Bros., owners of a garage at Hebron, and dealers in automobile accessories, is one of the rising young business men of this part of the county. He was born at Hebron, March 21, 1890, one of the three children of Alfred G. and Mary C. (Fox) Perry. Alfred G. Perry was born in Canada, but later came to the United States, and located at Hebron, where he followed the trade of a carpenter. He retired several years ago, and is still residing at Hebron.
William E. Perry attended the common and high schools of Hebron. After leaving school he became a chauffeur, and after having learned thoroughly all about automobiles, in June, 1916, he and his brother, Alfred C. Perry, organized their present business. The firm carries a full assortment of automobile supplies, vulcanizes tires and tubes, and handles gasoline, oils and greases, the stock carried aggregating $5,000. Both young men are experienced, and their work commends them to the trade.
On January 23, 1914, Mr. Perry was united in marriage with Florence C. Bigelow, a daughter of Sencca Bigelow. Mr. and Mrs. Perry have one son, William S., who was born August 10, 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Perry belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. In polities he is a Republican.
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JOHN PETER.
John Peter, deceased, formerly vice president of the Algonquin State Bank, and a heavy stockholder in the Peter Bros. Manufacturing Company, both members of which are his sons, was one of the leading men of Algonquin. He was born in New York State, August 21, 1842, a son of John and Margaret (Turnbull) Peter. John Peter was born in Scotland, and there learned the trade of stone mason. In 1842, he came to the United States, and for a time followed his trade, but later became a farmer. He died in 1876.
In 1869, John Peter eame to MeHenry County, and embarked in a hardware business at Algonquin, continuing it for many years. He was interested with other business concerns upon an extensive seale, until 1912, when he retired from active participation in business life, although he retained his stock in the Algonquin State Bank, which he continued to serve as vice president, and in the Peter Bros. Manu- facturing concern. The latter manufacture the Simplex Ironer and other laundry equipment, the Woodstock safety tapping chucks, auto- matie reversing attachments and tapping machines, and abrasive metal cutters. The senior member of the firm is E. C. Peter, and the junior is W. T. Peter, who with their sister, Grace H., are the children born of the marriage of John Peter and Lida M. Helm, a daughter of John Helm. John Helm was born in Scotland, and came to the United States in 1833. The Peter family belong to the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Peter was a Republican and for twenty-seven years served Algonquin Township school as treasurer, and for seven years was presi- dent of the village board. For fifty-two years he had been a Blue Lodge Mason, and he also belonged to the Modern Woodmen of America. In 1862, Mr. Peter enlisted in defense of his country, in the Eighty- eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served during the Civil War until he was honorably discharged in July, 1865. Since the organization of the local Grand Army Post, he had been one of its faithful members. There are few men who are more representative of their community's best interests, than Mr. Peter was, and Algonquin recognizes that it owes much to him. He died April 12, 1919.
JOHN PETERS.
John Peters, one of the substantial men of MeHenry County, is located in Coral Township one and one-half miles south of the village
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of Coral. He was born in Pomerania, Germany, August 2, 1852, and was brought to the United States in 1867 by his parents, Christ and Elizabeth Peters. Christ Peters was a day laborer, and locating at Huntley, worked for others until 1874, when John Peters secured a farm, after which he made his home with his son until his death which occurred when he was seventy-two years of age, his widow dying a little later, at the same age.
The only opportunities for securing an education John Peters had were those offered by the German public schools as he had to work after the family came to the United States, and 'or eight years was employed by farmers in the vicinity of Harmony, one of them being S. K. Williams, with whom he remained for four years. His wages ranged from $18 to $22 per month. By 1874, through close economy he had saved $1,600 from his wages, and invested it in 170 acres of land in Coral Township, for which he paid $30 per acre. There were some buildings on the farm, but only twenty-seven acres were under culti- vation, the balance being covered with stumps, brush and stones, and in the lower portions there were ponds. Since then he has drained the swamp, putting in five ears of tile during one season, and a lot more later on, redeeming in all sixty-five aeres which are now the best he possesses. He has erected a comfortable residence, two barns, one 36 x 80, and the other 34 x 72, with an el, and two concrete silos. Dairy- ing is his principal feature, he milking about thirty cows and having an average of twelve cans of milk each day. All in all Mr. Peters has one of the best improved and managed farms in MeHenry County. For the past seven or eight years he has been handling partly thoroughbred Holstein cattle, and his hogs are of a high grade, he believing in good stock. His farm comprises the same number of acres as originally, it being his belief that it was better to improve what land he possessed, than to neglect it to add to his acreage. In politics he is a Republican, and has served for several terms as a road commissioner. The German Evangelical church at Harmony has in him one of its members, and he has been active in it since its organization.
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