USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 34
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After attending the common and high schools of his locality, Doctor
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Renie took a medical course at Hahnemann College, from which he was graduated in 1891. Immediately thereafter he located at Marengo, and remained there in active practice until 1898, when he came to Union, where he has since remained. His drug store contains a stock valued at $2,000, and he owns his residence, store building and four lots at Union. Doctor and Mrs. Renie also own a fine farm of sixty acres of land in Seneca Township.
On June 4, 1891, Doctor Renie was united in marriage with Miss Mamie Wallace, a daughter of Amos Wallace, and a member of one of the pioneer families of MeHenry County, who originated in New York state. Doctor and Mrs. Renie have two children, namely: Lota M., who is attending the Elgin Academy; and Francis W., who is attending the Union School.
Doctor Renie is a member of Orion Lodge No. 358, A. F. & A. M., of which he is past master, and Oriental Consistory of Chicago. He also belongs to the Mystic Workers of Union; the Odd Fellows of which he is past grand; Woodmen of the World; and the Volunteer Surgeons of America, and the county, state and national medical societies.
A Republican, Doctor Renie has been locally active, and has served as a member and president of the local school board, president of the village board for ten years, and supervisor of Coral Township for one term. A man of unusual ability and scholarly attainments, he has known how to bring about satisfactory results along all lines, and during the late war was very active in his support of the administration and his advocacy of patriotic measures.
ERASTUS EMERY RICHARDS.
Erastus Emery Richards, one of the most representative men of McHenry County, and an-honored resident of Woodstock, has for many years conducted an abstract of title business under the name of Richards, Jewett and Wright Abstract Company, of which he is now president. Mr. Richards was born in Sharon, Norfolk County, Mass., February 12, 1838, a son of Erastus and Rowena Caroline (Johnson) Richards. The father was a tanner and conducted a meat market for many years. He served as town clerk and assessor, and was long a police magistrate,
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which office he was holding at the time of his death, which occurred when he was eighty years and seven months old.
Erastus Emery Richards attended the common, parish, and high schools of his neighborhood, and read law for two years in the offices of M. C. Johnson and II. S. HIanchett. On June 10, 1852, he came to Woodstock, and since his arrival has taken an important part in its public life and development. When his country had need of him, he enlisted in Company A, Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, and served bravely and well during the Civil War, participating, among other engagements, in the battle of Shiloh. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Woodstock, and resumed his peaceful occupations. For one year he served as deputy cireuit clerk; was deputy county clerk under E. M. Lamb, William II. Stewart, for four years, and M. D. Hoy for eight years. He was clerk of the circuit court and recorder of deeds for twelve successive years; he served as mayor of Woodstock for three full terms and to fill a vacancy; was alderman of Woodstock for one term; and was city and town clerk. For ten years he was president of the school board, and for seventeen years he was president of the board of directors of the public library. For over twenty-six years he was president of the State Bank of Woodstock, of which he is now a director, and was president of the Citizens' State Bank of Nunda.
On July 19, 1864, Mr. Richards was married at Woodstock, Ill., to Frances A. Wait, a daughter of Henry M. and Narina (King) Wait. Mrs. Richards died December 13, 1920. Mr. and Mrs. Richards had no children. Mr. Richards is a Masou and belongs to St. Mark's Lodge No. 63, A. F. & A. M., which he served as master for one year; Woodstock Chapter, No. 36, R. A. M .; Calvary Commandery No. 25, K. T., of which he was eminent commander for six successive years, and he is treasurer of it at present.
A man of his standing naturally has weight in his community, and Mr. Richards has always exerted himself to bring about improvements, and to raise the standards in every way possible. While mayor, he set in motion a number of movements which ultimately resulted in addi- tional elaboration of the plans of those who had the best interests of the county seat at heart. His wide experience as a public official, and his knowledge of the law, especially as related to property rights, have made him an invaluable man in his firm, and in his banking connections. Mr. Richards has taken a considerable interest in music for years, being a talented musician himself: and he has himself written several operas and produced one.
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LYNN W. RICHARDS.
Lynn W. Richards, county treasurer of McHenry County, and one of the best-known men of this section, having been associated with finan- cial matters for many years, both in a private and public capacity. He was born at Rowley, Iowa, September 9, 1876, one of the nine children of George B. and Ida (Chase) Richards. George B. Richards was one of the prominent men of McHenry County and in addition to owning and operating a fine farm in the county, he was circuit clerk and recorder for many years. His death occurred in 1907.
Lynn W. Richards attended the public schools of McHenry County, to which his father moved when he was a child. Always prominent as a Republican, he served as deputy circuit clerk and recorder for fifteen years, and in 1914, was elected on his party ticket for county treasurer. In the meanwhile he became connected with the State Bank of Crystal Lake as cashier, holding that position from 1911 to 1916, when that institution was consolidated with the United States Bank, of which he is now cashier.
In 1901, Mr. Richards was married to Miss Erma Phelps, a daughter of Benjamin Phelps of Harvard, Ill. Mr. and Mrs. Richards have one daughter, Virginia. He is a Mason and Odd Fellow. A man of unusual force of character, he naturally dominates in his community, and it profits from his association with it.
GEORGE JAMES RICHARDSON.
George James Richardson, who is living on the family homestead five miles east of Richmond, and one and one-half miles north of Spring Grove in Burton Township, is one of the representative farmers of McHenry County. He was born in his present house August S, 1890, a son of J. B. Richardson, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
Growing up on the farm, George James Richardson attended the Richmond High School, from which he was graduated in 1908, following which he took a short agricultural course in the agricultural department of the State University at Madison, Wisconsin. He was with his father until October 21, 1915, when he was married to Stella Price, born near Bristol, Wis., who had been a teacher for four years, and is well educated,
CIda M. Whiston
Harry E. ON histon
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having taken English and commercial courses at Kenosha, Wis. He and his wife have two children, namely: Francis H. and Della Edith. Since 1915, Mr. Richardson has been operating 207 acres, owned by his father, as a general farmer and dairyman, and he breeds pure-bred cattle. He is independent in his political views, and for the past four years has been township treasurer. Mr. Richardson is a member of Richmond Lodge, A. F. & A. M.
JESSE B. RICHARDSON.
Jesse B. Richardson, one of the retired farmers of Richmond, was formerly extensively engaged in farming in Burton Township, where he still owns 207 acres of land. He was born in Burton Township, September 18, 1862, one of the thirteen children born to Robert and Eleanor (James) Richardson. Robert Richardson was born in England, but came to the United States in 1831, and after a stop at Milwaukee, Wis., came to MeHenry County and entered land from the government in Burton Township, that is now owned by his son, Jesse B. He con- tinued to live in MeHenry County until his death which occurred in 1878. Ilis widow survived him until 1894.
Jesse B. Richardson was reared on the homestead, and sent to local schools. When he attained to mature years, he took charge of the old farm and became its owner, conducting it until his retirement in 1916, when he moved to Richmond. In 1904 he was elected supervisor of Burton Township and served as such until 1915, having been elected on the Democratic ticket. Mr. Richardson belongs to the Masons, having been advanced to the Knight-Templar degree, and is also a member of Richmond Lodge No. 267, O. E. S., and the Modern Wood- men of America. Mrs. Richardson also belongs to the Eastern Star.
On February 4, 1SS6, Mr. Richardson was married to Miss Cora Belle Turner, a daughter of George E. Turner, well known in former days in McHenry County, where he died in 1872, his widow surviving him until 1903. They had five children. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson became the parents of the following children: Ella J., who is the wife of Louis Sweet, a prominent farmer of Richmond; Ena Bell, who is the wife of Oliver R. Cubbon, employed by the Waukegan, Ill., Gas Company; George J., who married Stella Price, is on the home place; Richard G., who was in the World War; and Amy E., who is at home. Mr. Richard-
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son and his family all attend the Methodist Episcopal church. He is one of the highly esteemed men of his locality, and deserves the comforts of life he is now enjoying, for he earned them through hard work and thrifty saving.
JOSEPH HERBERT RICHARDSON.
Joseph Herbert Richardson, one of the retired farmers of Richmond, belongs to one of the old and representative families of MeHenry County. He was born in Burton Township, September 27, 1846, a son of Robert and Eleanor (James) Richardson, who had thirteen children. Robert Richardson was born in England, but in 1832 he came to the United States, locating first at Milwaukee, Wis., but in 1836, he came to Mc- Henry County and entered land from the government in Burton Town- ship, where he resided until his death in 1888. His widow survived him until 1899.
Joseph Herbert Richardson was reared upon his father's homestead and attended the district schools. He began farming when he attained his majority, and eventually became the owner of 240 acres of choice land in Richmond Township, but sold a portion of it, now owning 120 acres. He served as road commissioner for a number of years, was school trustee for ten years, and has always been a staunch Democrat.
Oln March 6, 1889, Mr. Richardson was married to Miss Clarissa Motey, a daughter of Robert Motley, and a member of an old McHenry County family. Mr. and Mrs. Richardson have two children, namely: Ida J., who is the widow of Dr. William H. Strange, who was killed in an automobile accident in 1917; and Iva A., who is one of the popular school teachers of Evanston, Ill. Mr. Richardson and his family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church. He belongs to Oriental Lodge No. 143, A. F. & A. M., and she to the Eastern Star. Like the other mem- bers of his family, Mr. Richardson measures up to the highest standards of American citizenship, and his standing in his neighborhood is very gratifying.
ROBERT H. RICHARDSON.
Robert H. Richardson, one of the progressive agriculturalists of MeHenry County, is on the old Richardson homestead in MeHenry
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Township, three miles west of the city of McHenry and seven miles east of Woodstock. He was born at Sparta, Wis., December 21, 1870, a son of Robert and Isobel (Lindsay) Richardson. Robert Richardson was born in Ohio in 1812, and died in July, 188S. In 1840 he left Ohio and came to visit relatives living in McHenry County, one of whom was Ashael Thompson, of Greenwood Township. Robert Richardson bought the farm of 100 acres, now known as the Richardson homestead. At that time there was a small log house on the property, but he improved the farm and lived on it until he was fifty years old. Prior to his mar- riage, his sister, Fidelia, kept house for him. Isobel Lindsay was born two miles south of Woodstock in Dorr Township, a sketch of her family being given elsewhere in this work. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Robert Richardson went to Sparta, Wis., and spent a number of years, but eventually returned to their farm in McHenry County. Mr. Richardson kept on adding to his farm until he owned 320 acres, the greater part of which he secured at a low price. When he was seventy years old, his son, Robert H., took charge of the farm, but he con- tinued to live on it until his death in July, 18SS. For a year there- after, his widow continued to live with Robert H. Richardson, and then erected a second house and barn on the farm and with a son, Paul, undertook to conduct a portion of the property, but her plans were disarranged by the death of Paul, who was thrown from a horse and killed when only eighteen years of age. Mrs. Richardson then moved to Woodstock, where she died in July, 1915, aged seventy-three years. She and her husband had the following children who reached maturity: Robert H., whose name heads this review; Mary B., who is Mrs. L. W. Thompson of Chicago; Sylvia, who was Mrs. Frank Thomp- son, died in 1916 near her old home; Jessie, who is Mrs. Guy Harrison of Anacortes, Wash .; Paul, who died at the age of eighteen years; and Nellie, who is Mrs. Arthur Dimon of Isabel, So. Dak.
On January 1, 1892, Robert H. Richardson was married to Tillie A. Jacks, a daughter of Isaac and Mary Jacks, who lived on the farm adjoining the Richardson homestead. She died in 1909, leaving the following children: Seth, who is at home; Alice, who is also at home; Alfred, who was a member of the Sixth Marine Corps during the Great War, had the honor of being one of the heroes of Chateau Thierry, and lost a foot in the defense of his country; and Sylvia, who is at home. On October 22, 1912, Mr. Richardson was married (second) to Jessie Benwell, reared in Lake County, Ill. There are no children of this marriage. Mr. Richardson operated the entire homestead for some
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time, and now owns 139 acres of it. He has erected a large cow barn, 34 × 80 feet, with a full basement and stabling facilities, and a silo, and keeps a herd of twenty cows. He is a Republican, but has never entered public life aside from serving on the school board, where he has held office for ten or a dozen years, and rendered valuable assistance in pro- teeting the interests of the children and providing them with proper educational advantages.
CLIFFORD W. RICE.
Clifford W. Rice, formerly superintendent of schools at Cary Station, now assistant principal at Harvard, has proven his ability as an educator and his worth as a man. He was born in DeKalb County, III., June 24, 1898, one of the two children of Frank P. and Hulda (Wickstrom) Rice, natives of New York state and Illinois, respectively. Frank P. Rice is extensively engaged in a contracting business, and both he and his wife are still living.
Clifford W. Rice attended the common and high schools of DeKalb County, and completed his studies in the DeKalb Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1918. Immediately thereafter he began teaching, and has followed that calling with marked success ever since. In June, 191S, he became superintendent of the schools of Cary Station, and had six teachers under his supervision, the average attendance being about 180 pupils. Professor Rice is a scholarly man, and keeps him- self abreast, not only of the advances made in his own profession, but along all lines and possessing, as he does, the faculty of imparting knowl- edge to others, sends forth his pupils well fitted for any walk in life. At Cary Station he inaugurated many changes in the school. He commands the respect and confidence of all with whom he is associated.
MRS. MARTHA E. ROSE.
Mrs. Martha E. Rose, widow of John W. Rose, and a daughter of the late Thomas Burnside, one of the pioneers of Seneca Township, is now an honored resident of Marengo, where she is the center of a de- lightful cirele of friends. Her father, Thomas Burnside was born in
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New York in 1816, and came west from Otsego County, that state, to McHenry County, in 1839, locating one mile south of Franklinville, in Seneca Township After securing his land, Mr. Burnside returned to his old home, was married, and in the spring of 1840 came back to MeHenry County, bringing with him his wife and his brother, George, who lived for a time near Woodstock, but died at Poplar Grove, Boone County, Ill. Once more Thomas Burnside went back to his New York home, but returned to his western farm, and died at Franklinville, which was named for Frank Stringer, who taught school and resided with Mr. Burnside. On the last day of school he sent up a silk balloon and named the locality Franklinville. The wife of Mr. Stringer bore the maiden name of Charlotte Frettenberg, and lived at Aurora, III. for some time prior to his demise. Mrs. Burnside survived her husband, who passed away October 17, 1872, aged fifty-six years, and lived until 1878, when she too died, being then sixty-four years old. Both were charter members of the Methodist society that held prayer meetings in their home at Franklinville, until in 1855 when a church was built. Mr. Burnside was a consistent Republican. He and his wife had two chil- dren, namely: Francis Harley, who served during the Civil War in Company E, Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry, contracted disease and was brought home only to die before he was twenty-one years old; and Martha Elizabeth, who was born at Colliersville, Otsego County, N. Y., November 2, 1851.
Mrs. Rose was reared on the farm in MeHenry County, and on November S, 1876, when twenty-five years old, she was married to John W. Rose who was from Pennsylvania. He also served as a soldier during the Civil War in the One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and veteranized in the Second Pennsylvania Cavalry, in which he remained until peace was declared. Returning to his home in Tioga County, Pa., he cared for his father until 1874. After his marriage, took charge of the Burnside farm and conducted it until he retired to Franklinvillle, where he died on May 30, 1903, Decoration Day. He had long been a member of the G. A. R. Post at Woodstock, and his old comrades used to visit him during his last days. The Metho- dist Episcopal church at Franklinville held his membership. After his death Mrs. Rose went to Woodstock and spent three years there, but then moved to Marengo, which is now her home. She is very active in the Methodist church, the Woman's Relief Corps, and was its president. During the building of the soldiers' monument in the park, she was president of the Woodstock Corps, and it was through their efforts that
·
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the sum necessary to complete the fund for building, was raised. Mrs. Rose is also much interested in the Seneca Ladies' Literary Society, and has studied its early history with the result that she furnished the following very valuable and interesting article at one of the meetings:
"It may not be known by a majority of the present membership of the S. L. L. S. that the organization was christened at the beginning 'The Franklinville Ladies' Literary Society.' This was the name before the Civil War, while working in a humble way in conjunction with the National Mt. Vernon association, to preserve the tomb of George Wash- ington to the American nation. This was not the primary object of this society but was soon taken up by it. That we may understand what the work of the Mt. Vernon association was I will quote from a paper given into my care by one of the early members, our loved and honored Mrs. Parsons. 'In the year IS55 John Augustine Washington being without means to maintain the estate (the estate of George Washington) offered it for sale. A patriotic daughter of South Carolina, Ann Pamela Cunningham, resolved to save the Washington home to the country as a national possession, and devoted herself to the tremendous task of rais- ing the sum required, $200,000. In the year IS58 "the Mount Vernon Ladies' association of the Union" was organized with Miss Cunningham as regent, with vice regents representing different states, contributions were solicited and popular support given. Edward Everett and Wash- ington Irving gave the proceeds of certain writings and lectures, and thousands upon thousands of school children gave five cents each.' We are proud to know that our society in its earliest years helped in this patriotic work of such great magnitude.
We can only know of the work of the society in its earliest years through tradition as the records were lost, but it has been established beyond a doubt that it was organized in April, 1855, at the home of Garret W. Dietz, J. P. of the township, also that Mrs. Daniel Wayne was the first president.
Among the little incidents gleaned through a number of years' re- search of its early history we have the following related by a daughter of one of the earliest members:
During the presidential campaign, when James Buchanan was the Democratic nominee for that high office, a Buchanan rally flag was made and exhibited at a meeting of the society. This caused such a commotion that the society very wisely resolved that in the future no part would be taken in politics by the ladies until after election when as good citizens all should participate. This incident was impressed upon the mind of the one relating it because her elder sisters made the flag.
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The non-partisan resolution has been well regarded in the past. What 'future development' may bring to our society now that women are numbered among those supposed to be competent to cast a ballot only time can reveal.
In those early days every lady present at a meeting was counted a member and so recorded, in fact, about all of the secretary's business was a record running like this: Nov. 28th, society met at Mrs. Benson's members present, Mrs. King, Bigelow, Moiser, Anderson, Heaton, Par- sons, Hammond, Randolph, Jones, and then signed secretary. This is an exact copy of a society record of an early day.
During the days of the Civil War the Literary society turned its attention where all loyal eyes were centered, 'to the front,' and worked devoting all their time to preparing necessary help to send to our soldier boys. At the close of the war they resumed their regular routine, assist- ing the entertaining hostess with her sewing while a member appointed as reader for the day, read from some book, occasionally they enjoyed an essay written by a member and sometimes by a husband. The world did not seem so rushed with work but what the men turned out to the meetings of the Ladies' Literary society.
At the annual meeting, 1872, occurred the incident or culmination of incidents, now known as the only quarrel the ladies have indulged in, the contention being for restriction of membership, that the society might shine as the social elite. This would be ignoring the aim the constitution set forth, and when brought to the test was promptly voted down, resulting in the withdrawal of five prominent members, who immediately started a society of their own, but without the sanetion of the society or share in the books they had demanded. They named their society the South Seneca Ladies' Literary society, and for a time kept their library books at Union. Just when the society divorced Franklinville and annexed Seneca to its cognomen I am unable to state. But we are the same old society founded by our pioneer fore-mothers of whom we are rightfully proud. Without the Seneca Ladies' Literary society the history of Seneca township can never be correctly written. It is hard to estimate the uplift socially and intellectually given to women and through them the benefit received by the families and the community in general. We have only to study its history to realize in a measure what it has been to women. The society was advanced słowły but surely in its management, always conservative, cautious, and jealous of any change from old time tradition.
Some of our present members will recollect the criticism given when
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the president of the year 1896 at its close, in response to a prevailing motion appointed a committee to revise the constitution and by-laws. Some of the older members felt almost as though the Heavens were about to fall; but those same dear old-time members later took pains to congratulate the committee and the society on a constitution and by-laws that can be read with confidence before any visitor without fear of criticism. Our manner of bookkeeping has greatly improved with years. All officer's duties are better defined and discharged. While we have not reached perfection, we are at least conscious of defi- ciencies and are reaching after better things.
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