USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 32
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WILLIAM PINNOW.
William Pinnow, president of the Home State Bank of Crystal Lake, is one of the sound, conservative and reliable men of MeHenry County, and one upon whose judgment the utmost confidence is placed. He was born in Germany, November 12, 1857, one of the seven children of Charles and Fredericka (Engel) Pinnow, also natives of Germany, who came to the United States when William Pinnow was sixteen years old. They were farming people.
William Pinnow began farming in MeHenry County in 1873, and continued along that line with marked success until 1896, when he embarked in a mercantile business at Crystal Lake, and continued it for nine years, then selling to become a banker. His first entry into the banking world was in connection with the old Citizens' Bank, but in 1915, he, with others organized the Home State Bank of Crystal Lake, of which he was made president, and he has since continued to hold that office. The building which houses this bank was erected in 1915, and is thoroughly modern in every respect.
In 1878, Mr. Pinnow was married to Miss Fredericka Reddersdorf, a daughter of Joseph Reddersdorf, who came to the United States in 1868. The family all belong to the Lutheran church. In politics he is a Republican. A man of the highest standing in his community,
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Carlton Helston Mile Homestead
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his connection with his bank is additional guarantee of its financial soundness and that the interests of the depositors will be safeguarded in every respect.
ALONZO PLATT. Page 137.
PHINEAS W. PLATT. Page 136.
ELEAZAR L. POMEROY.
Eleazar L. Pomeroy, now deceased, was one of the early settlers of Algonquin Township and one of the very prominent men of his time and locality. He was born at Granville, Mass., October 19, 1825, and in 1837 came with his family to Lacon, III., where he learned the cooper- ing trade. At the age of twenty-five years he went to Chicago where he and his brother established the house of S. B. Pomeroy & Co. They owned two large grain elevators and a fleet of ships carrying grain between Chicago and Buffalo. Both were charter members of the Chicago Board of Trade and active in that body.
In 1869 Mr. Pomeroy moved to Crystal Lake and bought from Mr. Baldwin, what is now the "Clow Farm." In 1871 he purchased of James T. Pierson a large acreage in the center of Crystal Lake, on which he specialized in dairying. Prior to his death in 1899, this farm was divided into city lots, but the home place including about seven acres was retained and is now the property of his only surviving son, Edward.
Mr. Pomeroy was married December 22, 1863, at Salem, N. Y., to Mary Frances Hastings, the daughter of David and Clymenda (Weston) Hastings. They were the parents of the following children: Frank Hastings, Louise and Edward Dwight. Mr. Pomeroy was a Congregationalist, and a strong Republican. In every relation of life he lived up to his ideals of good citizenship and earned and held the respect and regard of all who knew him.
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EMMETT D. POYER.
Emmett D. Poyer, now deceased, was for a number of years a pros- perous farmer of MeHenry County, but for some time prior to his death was living at Marengo, and there discharging the duties of tax collector. Ile was the eldest son of Delos and Lydia (Merriman) Poyer, and grandson of John Poyer, of New York, who brought his family to Mc- Henry County. He located on the farm now owned by Frank Curtis, and later acquired two other farms, owning in all about 800 acres in a body, all of which he entered from the government at $6 per aere.
Emmett D. Poyer was born February 4, 1861, on the homestead of his grandfather, John Poyer, and remained on it until his marriage, April 13, 18SS, to Viva Wright, a daughter of C. P. and Mary (Lyon) Wright, natives of Jo Daviess County, Ill., who came to MeHenry County in 1872 and located on a farm adjoining that owned by the Poyers, so that Emmett D. Poyer and Viva Wright were neighbors. For several years after his marriage Mr. Poyer worked for his father, and then bought the 100-acre Walter Parker farm on which he lived for seventeen years, later adding to it the Hereley farm, so that he had 280 acres for which he paid $50 per acre. He rebuilt the house, erected a new barn and silo, and put his property in fine condition in every respect. With the exception of $2,000 he inherited, Mr. Poyer made all he owned, and was a very successful man. For some years he devoted himself to dairying and kept a herd of twenty-five cows. His death occurred when he was in the very prime of life, March 22, 1917. He had come to Marengo in March, 1910, and was here discharging the duties per- taining to the office of tax collector when his health failed, he took to his bed, and passed away a week later, just one day before his youngest daughter was eighteen years old. His farm is now operated by his son. Mr. and Mrs. Poyer had the following family: Clarence Wright, who is operating the farm, married Mary Sheahan, and their children are, Dorothy and Helen; and Mildred, Evelyn, and Mabel A., who are graduates of the Marengo High School. Mabel A. studied at Miami University, at Miami, Ohio, and both sisters are now engaged in teaching at Belvidere. Mr. Poyer served on the school board in his home dis- triet, and was active in community matters, and always supported the candidates and principles of the Republican party. For many years he was a leading factor and earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Marengo, and Mrs. Poyer is still connected with it, and is a teacher in the Sunday school and on the official board, and has been a
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member of the Home Missionary Society for seven years, as well as of other clubs connected with her church and community. During the late war, Mrs. Poyer devoted her energies to Red Cross work, and accomplished much in behalf of the cause. Mr. Poyer belonged to the Knights of Pythias, was keeper of the records and seals of that order, and was honored by his brethren. Mrs. Poyer belongs to the Eastern Star.
C. W. PRESCOTT.
C. W. Prescott, one of the substantial business men of Marengo, is one of the leading nurserymen of MeHenry County, and a man widely known outside of his local region. He was born at Naperville, DuPage County, Ill., September 26, 1851, a son of Horace Prescott, who was born in Orleans County, Vt., and came to Illinois in 1847, settling on a farm near Downer's Grove, in DuPage County. His mother later was married (second) to B. Cady, and in 1865 the family moved to Coral Township, McHenry County, locating on a farm a few miles east of Marengo.
When he was sixteen years old C. W. Prescott began working for E. H. Skinner of Marengo, and gradually worked up in the nursery busi- ness until he now has one of the leading establishments of its kind in the county. He has been called upon to serve the public in several official capacities, and was ten years a member of the city council of Marengo, and for sixteen years was on the school board.
On December 22, 1872, C. W. Prescott was united in marriage with Anna Rogers, a daughter of one of his old partners, and she bore him two children, namely: William Horace, and Orson Raymond, a mechani- cal engineer of Chicago. On October 3, 1901, Mr. Prescott was married to Mrs. Lottie (Winslow) Halcomb, a native of New York, who had come to Marengo with her parents Abraham and Martha Winslow, and her first husband, the latter dying a few weeks after the arrival of the party at Marengo. Mrs. Halcomb was a music teacher and for several years served as organist in the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. and Mrs. Winslow's last years were passed with Mr. and Mrs. Prescott.
Mr. Prescott is one of the most popular men in MeHenry County. He has learned the secret of successful dealing. His affable nature
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emphasizes the training he has received during his long contact with the public, and he makes friends readily and retains them to the end. He adheres to the policy of honest dealing and true-representation of facts, and has a clientele that no blandishments of volatile agents have drawn from him. His customers know that from him they can always be sure of receiving the right kind of a deal, and that he will not repre- sent his goods as other than they are. In public life he enjoys the same confidence from his constituents, and naturally is proud of the record he has made in having been returned to office so many times. Voters do not support men time after time in whom they have not explicit confidence.
JOHN D. PRINGLE.
John D. Pringle, a stock dealer of Marengo, and one of the enter- prising men of MeHenry County, was born two and one-half miles northwest of Marengo, on the river road, February 3, 1855, a son of Patterson and Isabel (Donaldson) Pringle, who came to MeHenry County in 1848. A sketch of Patterson Pringle appears elsewhere in this work.
Until he was twenty-six years old, John D. Pringle remained on his father's farm, and was then married to Nellie O. Watson of Greenwood Township. At that time Mr. Pringle bought a farm adjoining that of his father, and lived there until his first wife died. IIe was married (second) to Mrs. Margaret (Swanson) Livingston, an orphan, and moved to Marengo. For forty years Mr. Pringle has been a stock shipper, working in partnership with his father, and practically confines his shipments to stock for Chicago markets for feeding purposes. He does not breed stock, using his farm only for feeding. Aside from serving on the school board, he has not taken any part in politics. For thirty years Mr. Pringle has been a Woodman.
By his first marriage Mr. Pringle had the following children: Madge, who was graduated from the Northwestern School of Pharmacy, mar- ried Bert Moore of Los Angeles, Cal., took a course as an optometrist at Chicago, and for some time carried on her calling in a drug store at Marengo, but is now practicing at Los Angeles, her husband also being an optometrist; Gretchen, who was graduated from the State Normal School of California, was a teacher in California and Arizona, and prior to going west had taught in MeHenry County, but she is
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now Mrs. Ralph Jayeox and lives at Phoenix, Ariz .; Dorothy, who was graduated from the University of Wisconsin, taught in MeHenry County, and is now a resident of San Francisco, Cal .; and Jeannette, who was graduated from the State Normal School at DeKalb, III .. was a teacher at Missoula, Mont., married C. L. Busher, and lives near Boston, Mass., all of whom are living and two sons who are deceased, namely: Harold and Patterson, who died in childhood. By his second marriage there were two children: Margaret, who studied music at Stuart's Hall at Staunton, Va., is now at La Salle Seminary; and John D., Jr., who is in the Marengo High School.
The present residence of the Pringle family was erected by Doetor Mesick about 1860, and occupied it until his death. It is a very comfort- able house and has long been a social center for a delightful cirele gathered from the best people of the county. Mrs. Pringle made a tour of Europe in 1910, visiting the leading points of interest, including Rome, Venice, Berlin, London and Paris, and was in the Mirror Room at Versailles in which was held the Peace Conference in 1919.
PATTERSON PRINGLE.
Patterson Pringle, now deceased, who was for years one of the leading farmers and stockmen of MeHenry County, owned a large amount of land in the vicinity of Marengo, and played an important part in the history of that village. He was born in Scotland, and when he was sixteen years old came to the United States from Glasgow, accompanied by his brother George, with whom he was long associated in business. On reaching New York City, Patterson Pringle set out for Kentucky. At that time the water in the Ohio River was so low that no steamer could operate, so the brothers hired a flatboat and poled their way to Maysville, Ky., and there spent four years, leaving it for the lead mines near Galena, Ill., where Patterson Pringle inade enough to pay for his land.
In the meanwhile, when he was twenty-eight years old, he was mar- ried at Polo, Ill., to Isabel Donaldson, born in Canada, and in 1848 they came to MeHenry County. His sister Margaret, then Mrs. John Wilson, had located near Marengo in 1840, and Patterson and George Pringle bought land on the river road. George Pringle lived on his
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farm practically the remainder of his life, and only left it late in life to live at Marengo, where he died when about eighty. None of George Pringle's children now live in McHenry County. A brother-in-law of Patterson Pringle went to California in 1849, leaving his wife and children in the care of Patterson Pringle, but made nothing. After his return, however, he went into a mercantile business and developed into a prosperous merchant.
Upon coming to McHenry County Patterson Pringle bought 132 acres, and entered forty aeres, and after the close of the Civil War he bought 100 acres more, making 272 acres in all, his farm extending from the Kiswaukee River to beyond the River road, and this property was sold about 1911. On it he erected good buildings, and made suit- able improvements. In addition to carrying on dairying, he fed live stock, and bought the first Poland-China hogs in the county, and bred them for many years. While he was not an exhibitor, he produced some very fine animals which were exhibited by others. Mr. Pringle was also a buyer and shipper of stock, doing a larger business than any other man in his line in MeHenry County. His shipments covered a wide area and included Capron and Darlington, Wis. For ten years prior to his demise, he was retired, but he continued to live on his farm. For twenty-four years he was commissioner of highways, and at last refused to hold the office any longer on account of his age. A charter member of the Presbyterian church, he served it as an elder for many years. His death occurred September 7, 1910, when he was eighty-eight years old having been born October 30, 1822. His wife, born March 28, 1830, died November 15, 1910. In his family he was a strict disciplinarian, and carried his views as to Sabbath breaking to such lengths as to refuse to read a Sunday paper. His oldest daughter, Isabella Jane, is the widow of Frank N. Elliott, who died August 6, 1907, as the result of a breakdown superinduced by a railroad wreck. She had no children, and is now living with her sister Mrs. Echternach, the two using their share of the father's estate to purchase fifty acres bordering Marengo, three blocks from Main Street. Mrs. Echternach is the wife of Daniel E. Echternach, of Marengo, a rural free delivery carrier, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work, as does that of John D. Pringle, the son, and former partner of Patterson Pringle. Another daughter of Patterson Pringle, Rachel Elizabeth, was the first. wife of Doctor Casely.
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HORACE M. PROUTY.
Horace M. Prouty, a retired farmer of Hebron, was formerly one of the enterprising and highly successful agriculturalists of MeHenry County, and he is now one of the oldest residents of the community in which he lives. He was born in Vermont, January 22, 1837, a son of Louis and Sarah (Werner) Prouty. Louis Prouty was also born in Vermont, where he owned a large farm, and was engaged in conducting it all of his active life. His death occurred in Vermont in 1860. He had twelve children born to him.
Horace M. Prouty attended the common schools of his native state, and in 1863 came to MeHenry County, locating in Hebron Township, where for a number of years he was actively engaged in farming. Later he began the manufacture of cheese, and carried on that line of business until his retirement from active life, at which time he sold his cheese factory, and located at Hebron.
On April 7, 1857, Mr. Prouty was united in marriage to Miss Marie Jane Coon, a daughter of Emory Coon, and a member of an old and highly respected family of Albany, N. Y., where the marriage ceremony was performed. Mr. and Mrs. Prouty became the parents of fourteen children. Mr. Prouty and his family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. Politically Mr. Prouty is a Republican, but he has not cared to go before the public as a candidate for office. A high-principled man, Mr. Prouty has lived up to what he believed was right and just, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
JOHN E. PUFAHL.
John E. Pufahl, manager of the West MeHenry plant of the Borden Company, is one of the substantial business men of MeHenry County, and is held in the highest respect by all who know him. He was born in Wisconsin, October 11, 1880, one of the eight children of August and Kate (Eckes) Pufahl. August Pufahl was born in Germany, but came to the United States in young manhood, and located in Wisconsin.
John E. Pufahl attended the common and high schools of his native state, and then learned telegraphy, and was engaged with various rail- roads until 1920, when he was made one of the employes of the Borden plant at West MeHenry. So efficient did he prove that in 19It he was
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promoted to be manager, and has held that important position ever since. The capacity of the plant is 40,000 pounds per day.
On September 21, 1904, Mr. Pufahl was united in marriage with Miss Bertha Leech, a daughter of Edward Leech. Mr. and Mrs. Pufahl have two children, namely: Pauline K., who was born September 16, 1906; and Adell H., who was born July 16, 1908. Mr. Pufahl is a Republican, but has not had the time to enter into public life, although he gives the principles and candidates of his party an intelligent and hearty support. Both he and Mrs. Pufahl are consistent members of the Catholic church.
CHARLES QUACKENBUSH,
Charles Quackenbush, one of the enterprising farmers of Chemung Township, lives on the old Philip Burton farm, seven miles northwest of Harvard, where he is achieving a deserved success as an agriculturalist. Philip Burton was the father of Billings Burton, and he died in 1879 or 1SSO at the age of seventy-five years. His wife, whose maiden name was Nancy Quackenbush, survived him until 1893, when she passed away at the age of ninety-three years, having lived on the old farm from 1841 until her death. After his father's death, Billings Burton, renting his own farm, moved on that of his mother to take care of her, and he erected a portion of the present buildings. Later he sold his own farm to a son, George, who is now a stock dealer of Sharon. Another son, Charles, also lives at Sharon. They are the only survivors of their father's family. Billings Burton later divided the 300-aere farm and built a new set of buildings, but finally sold the property and retired to Sharon. The old farm of Philip Burton remained in the family, Mrs. Charles Quackenbush inheriting it about 1901. To this farm Mr. Quackenbush has added forty acres, ereeted a house, and made other improvements, and is carrying on dairying.
Mrs. Quackenbush was Nora Burton prior to her marriage, and the youngest of the twelve children of Billings Burton, being born November 29, 1874, on her father's farm. On June 15, 1892, she was married to Charles Quackenbush, who was born in the village of Sharon, four miles away from her birthplace, April 20, 1870, a son of Luke and Sarah Quackenbush, natives of New York, who came to MeHenry County about 1845, and located near Sharon. There he died at the age of seventy-two years, and she at the age of seventy-five years. Until his
Ella G. Welch
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marriage, Charles Quackenbush lived among the neighboring farmers, working by the month, but afterwards was engaged in teaming for a year, and then for two years was manager of a summer resort at Lake Geneva. In 1898, Mr. and Mrs. Quackenbush returned to the Burton home. Mr. and Mrs. Quaekenbush have no children, but adopted Frank Rice, a boy of three years, whom they reared. He married Eunice Woodward, and is operating a portion of the farm owned by Mr. Quackenbush. Mr. and Mrs. Rice have three children, namely : Lyle, Floyd and Helen Irene. Mr. Quackenbush served as road com- missioner for one year. He is an excellent farmer and keeps his property up to a high standard. Mrs. Quackenbush is one of the best-known ladies in the county, coming as she does of such old pioneer families, and enjoys a pleasant social life among her neighbors.
JAMES RAINEY.
James Rainey, local manager at Ringwood for the Alexander Lumber Company, extensive dealers in lumber and all kinds of building material, is one of the representative business men of McHenry County. He was born in Michigan, November 25, 1872, one of the seven children of James and Mary (Cochrain) Rainey. James Rainey, the father, was born in Ireland, where he learned the trade of a carpenter. In young manhood he came to Canada, and thence to the United States, locating for a time in Michigan, but later returned to Canada, where he now resides.
James Rainey, the younger, attended the schools of Michigan, but early was forced to become self-supporting, and was employed at various kinds of work until 1916, when he beeame connected with his present firm, later becoming the manager of its Ringwood plant, which was organized in 1914. This plant does a business of $40,000 annually.
In 1906 Mr. Rainey was married to Miss Callie Thomas, a daughter of George Thomas, one of the leading men of McHenry County. Mr. and Mrs. Rainey are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Rainey belongs to Ringwood Lodge No. 158, A. F. & A. M., and also to the Modern Woodmen of America. Politically he is a staunch Repub- liean. Mr. Rainey's rise in the world has come through his own efforts. His success is therefore all the more commendable, and his methods of doing business are such as to win him the approval and respect of his associates.
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GRANT S. RANDALL.
Grant S. Randall, one of the prosperous business men of Hebron, and enterprising farmers of Hebron Township, is recognized as one of the - leading men of MeHenry County. He was born in Jo Daviess County, Ill., September 23, 1868, one of the four children of Aaron and Caroline (Fowler) Randall. Born in England, Aaron Randall was brought to the United States when he was nine years old, and he lived in Jo Daviess County, Ill., for some years, being there engaged in farming. Later he entered the employ of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, and remained with it the rest of his life, dying in 1894.
The educational training of Grant S. Randall was received in the grammar and high schools of Illinois, and his first practical experience was gained in butter and cheese manufacturing, which business he con- ducted for ten years. In 1898 he bought ninety acres of valuable land in Hebron Township, and has conducted it ever since, and been quite active in dairying as well. In 1918, he and Messrs. Slavin and Aylward formed the firm of Slavin, Randall & Aylward, grain merchants of Hebron, and it has built up an extensive trade.
In 1890 Mr. Randall was united in marriage with Miss Florence Brass, a daughter of Orson N. Brass, and they have two children, namely: Hettie M. and Florence R. Mr. Randall is a Republican. Both as a farmer and business man Mr. Randall has displayed unusual abilities, and his prosperity is all the more deserved in that he has gained it through his own efforts, and through methods which are strictly honorable.
THOMAS H. RATFIELD.
Thomas H. Ratfield, who is now living retired one mile south of Marengo, was formerly one of the leading farmers of this region, and is a man widely known and universally respected. He was born in Virgil Township, Kane County, Ill., February 27, 1852, a son of William and Betsy (Parker) Ratfield, of Brainard, County Essex, England. William Ratfield lost his father when a child, and at the age of ten years he shipped on a vessel as a cabin boy, later becoming a sailor, and was on the water for twelve years, and among other countries visiting the United States, and liking conditions here so well, he decided to remain.
In 1834 he came to Illinois, having been married in New York. He
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lived in Virgil Township for a few years, then moved to Riley Township, MeHenry County, where he died at the age of sixty-five years. Some years prior to that event, he was seriously injured by lightning, which struck his house. His wife assumed the management of the farm after his accident, and brought up the ten children, who were as follows: William Nelson, who served during the Civil War in Company B, Seventeenth Illinois Cavalry, died in Polk County, Minn .; Mary Margaret, who married Frank Allen, died at the age of sixty-five; Harriet Ann, who married John Solomon, lives at Sycamore, Ill .; Thomas H., whose name heads this review; Elizabeth, who married George Trout, died at Chicago in 1918; Rosetta, who is married, lives at Sycamore, Ill .; Cyrillus, who is a contracting carpenter, lives at Minn- capolis, Minn .; George, is a railroad engineer, who has been working in the western states, but is now a resident of Canada; Edward, who is a farmer of Sumas, Wash .; Eldora, who married Fred King, lives in Montana.
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