USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 40
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Mr. Stewart was married to Miss Beulah E. Halderman, a daughter of Marshall Halderman. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have one son, LeRoy William. The family belong to the Congregational church. Mr. Stewart is a member of the Odd Fellows, and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Loyal Order of Moose. An efficient public official and upright man, MeHenry County is proud of him and the record he is making for himself and his section of the state.
WILLIAM STILL.
William Still, one of the prosperous farmers of Dorr Township, resides one mile south of Woodstock, and is a man widely and favorably known. He was born in Lincolnshire, England, December 20, 1851, a son of William and IIannah (Briggs) Still. In June, 1852, he was brought to the United States by his parents who joined friends at Ring- wood, this county, where the father obtained employment at $13 a month. Later he bought an undeveloped farm in McHenry Township, and spent about fourteen years upon it. In 1869, he bought the Barber farm east of Woodstock, where he died in 1900. The mother died January 6, 1900.
William Still had scarcely any schooling, but grew up on the home- stead where he remained until 1875, at which time he rented a farm across the road from his old home, and remained on it for two years. He then went on another farm and continued as a renter for seven years, and has owned in all four farms, buying his present place of 120 acres, in 1908.
On November 25, 1875, William Still was married to Mary Susan Frame, who died four years later. On January 26, 1890, he was mar-
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ried second to Cynthia Frame, a younger sister of his first wife, and a daughter of John and Rachael (Knight) Frame, natives of Virginia, who settled in Dorr Township, where Cynthia Frame was born February 26, 1856. By his first marriage Mr. Still had one daughter: Zella, who is Mrs. Arthur Ellis of Salem, Wis. By his second marriage Mr. Still has the following children: Francis Roy, who married Lillian Coffman, has one son, Kenneth William, and is associated with his father in farm- ing; and belongs to the local school board; Lura Mae, who is at home.
William Still is a Republican, and has served as a tax collector, and for thirty years has been a member of the school board. He is a director of the Dunham-Chemung Farm Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and has been instrumental in building up the volume of business of this company now averaging $3,000,000. The Methodist Episcopal church has in him a faithful and influential member, and he is serving it as trustee.
Mr. Still is a man who has always taken the stand that it pays to develop land, and use improved and modern methods in operating it. Whenever necessary he has put in tile and otherwise drained his farm, put up the buildings he has needed, and bought and installed machinery and appliances. His premises show that the one in charge not only understands his work, but also takes a pride in keeping everything up to standard. He stands well in his neighborhood, and many times his experiments have resulted in an improvement in neighborhood farming. Such men as he always do constructive work, and aid materially in advancing the standards of their community. He can be counted upon to give active support to all measures looking toward increasing the welfare of Dorr Township and McHenry County.
GEORGE A. STILLING.
George A. Stilling, owner of the garage which bears his name, is one of the substantial business men of McHenry. He was born in MeHenry County, May 20, 1892, one of the six children of Benjamin and Margaret (Miller) Stilling. Benjamin Stilling is engaged in handling real estate at MeHenry, and is one of the leading men of his community.
George A. Stilling was reared in his native county, and after attending the common and high schools, took a course at Notre Dame University, from which he was graduated in 1912. Immediately thereafter, he
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opened his garage, and is sole agent in his locality, for the Studebaker automobile, having been appointed as such in 1916. He has three men in his employ, and renders a most efficient service. His garage was erected at a cost of $7,000, and is thoroughly equipped for the purposes for which it was intended. He carries a stock valued at $5,000, and is rightly numbered among the most alert of the city's young business men.
In 1916 he was married to Miss Grace L. Moelmann of Chicago, a daughter of Dr. E. O. Moelmann of Chicago. Mr. and Mrs. Stilling belong to St. Patrick's Catholic church. In politics he is a Republican.
SIMON STOFFEL.
Simon Stoffel, district and special agent of the Fidelity-Phenix Insurance Company, and representative of eleven other very strong companies, is one of the leading business men of West McHenry, as well as vice president of the McHenry State Bank. He was born in Lake County, Ill., January 13, 1856, one of the ten children of John and Elizabeth (Weingart) Stoffel. John Stoffel was born in Germany, but came to the United States at an early day, locating in Lake County, Ill., where he was engaged very profitably in farming until his death, which occurred in 1890. His widow survived him for many years, dying March 29, 1913.
Simon Stoffel attended the common schools of his native county, and remained on his father's farm until he was twenty years old, when he embarked in a general merchandise business, continuing in it until 1902, when he established himself in his present line, and has built up a valuable connection. In addition to handling insurance, Mr. Stoffel deals in real estate and is a leader in both lines in MeHenry County. He was one of the chief organizers of the West MeHenry State Bank, of which he has continued vice president, his connection with this institution giving it added prestige. A staunch Republican, he was supervisor of his township, a member of the school board, and has been mayor of MeHenry, giving to all these offices the same efficient supervision that his business receives. Mr. Stoffel and his family belong to St. Mary's Roman Catholic church, and he belongs to the Knights of Columbus connected with that parish.
On December IS, 1883, Mr. Stoffel was united in marriage with Miss Anna G. Bonslett, a daughter of Leonard Bonslett, and they have
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the following children: Dorothy E., who is Mrs. C. C. Westfall of Chicago, Ill .; Helena M., who is employed by the Illinois Telephone Company at Chicago: Clara V., who is bookkeeper for her father; Julia L., who is the wife of C. J. Reihansperger, a hardware merchant of West MeHenry; and M. Esther, who is associated with the Fidelity- Phenix Insurance Company in Chicago. Few men stand any higher in public esteem than Mr. Stoffel, and his prosperity is deserved, for it is self-acquired.
HENRY GILBERT STREET.
Henry Gilbert Street is a horticulturist living on the old farm of his family in Hebron Township, one and one-half miles east of Hebron. He was born on this farm May 10, 1865, a son of Selden G. and Mary D. (Sanford) Street, and she was born in Orleans County, N. Y., in 1828. They were married in New York state. Selden G. Street was a son of Chapin Street, who was born in 1797, and in 1855 came to MeHenry County and bought a farm in Hebron Township for his son, Selden, who located on it about 1855, and resided upon it until he died. Chapin Street also came to Hebron Township and passed the remainder of his life on the farm. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Dolly Brown, clied in 1880.
Selden G. Street and his wife had the following family: Saralı Adelaide, who is Mrs. Porter C. Bliss, lives at Albion, N. Y .; Carrie L .. who married Russell Holmes, a farmer of Hebron Township; Ella T., who married Edward P. Greeley of Richmond Township, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; and Henry G., whose name heads this review.
Henry G. Street has a portion of the original farm, and all of his build- ings have been erected since 1900, his house being one of the most modern in the township, and supplied with electric lights and other conveniences. After buying out the other heirs, lie disposed of some of his property and now has but twenty-six acres, which is devoted to fruit growing. He has apples, plums, grapes and strawberries, and has made a great success along this line. Mr. Street grows five leading varie- ties of apples, namely: Delicious, Jonathan, Grimes Golden, MeIntosh Red and N. W. Greening. The local difficulty he encountered was mainly in root killing, and the plan he adopted was grafting in hardy crab appletree roots, thus producing strong trees, not likely to winter
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kill, that are now in an excellent healthy condition. This plan is followed in other regions, especially Minnesota. He belongs to various organiza- tions in his line, and has been president of the Northern Illinois Horti- cultural Society, and is oftentimes called upon to deliver addresses on the fruits he raises and on the home marketing of fruit. Mr. Street does his own grafting and grows his own stock, and exhibits his produce at the state and other horticultural exhibits, taking first prize on Delicious apples and second on Jonathans at the first Great Apple Show at Chicago in 1918. Ile is a frequent contributor to various horticultural papers, and conducts one of the trial stations for the state. Mr. Street's interest is centered in his fruit and his music, and has had no time to give to public office. A musician of more than average ability, he has been conductor of the local band at Hebron.
In 1888 Mr. Street was married to Florence M. Crane, born at Barre, Orleans County, N. Y., a daughter of Judson and Mary S. (Brown) Crane, both of whom died in MeHenry County. Mr. and Mrs. Street became the parents of the following children: Hattie J., who married Robert E. Johnson, has four children, Florence M., Helen S., Robert E. and Mary E. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson live at Evanston, Ill. Mrs. Johnson is a highly educated lady, having been graduated from the Hebron High School, and the Kenosha College, in 1908, two years after completing her high school course. The second child of Mr. and Mrs. Street is Miss Lola Belle, who was graduated from the Hebron High School in 1919. Mrs. Street was a grade school teacher prior to her marriage. For eleven years prior to 1919 Mr. Street was secretary of the Alden Farmers Mutual Insurance Company, and its business during that time extended over other townships, and the amount of insurance carried increased from $490,000 to about $1,500,000. Adjustment of losses generally were made by the secretary. The liberal poliey followed by its board made this company many friends. about ninety per cent of the farmers in its territory being protected by it. Mr. Street is a Mason and he, his wife and daughter, Miss Lola Belle, belong to the Eastern Star.
JAMES M. STRODE.
Page 135.
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SULLIVAN BROS.
Sullivan Bros., breeders of Holstein cattle and Poland-China, Duroc- Jersey and Red hogs, are enterprising young farmers located in Seneca Township, six miles west of Woodstock, six miles northeast of Marengo, and six miles north of Union. The firm is composed of William, Charles and Joseph Sullivan, and they are operating the 360 acre homestead of their father, William Sullivan. He was born at Cork, Ireland, May 20, 1846, and he died October 28, 1904. When he was two years old, his parents Patrick and Margaret Sullivan brought him to America, they coming direct to MeHenry County and locating in Seneca Township in 1848, on a farm one mile from the one now occupied by their grand- sons. Patrick Sullivan died at the age of sixty years, his widow surviving him until she was eighty-four years old, when she passed away at Har- vard. William Sullivan then bought his father's homestead of 106 acres, his brother John securing forty acres. This brother served for four years in the Union army during the Civil War, after it, going into railroad work at St. Louis, Missouri, rising until he was superintendent of con- struction in various states including California, and he spent the last ten years of his life at Los Angeles, Cal., where he died. In addition to these two brothers, there were the following children in the family of Patrick Sullivan: Ellen, who married John Brickley of Durham Town- ship, where both died; Mary, who was a tailoress of Harvard, died un- married at the age of fifty years; Nora, who married John Kelliher of Rapids City, S. D .; Kittle, who married Alonzo Bennett of Greeley, Col .; and Hannah E., who married Col. E. L. Daws of Chicago.
William Sullivan was reared on his father's farm, and at the age of fifteen years began working out. He spent one year at St. Louis, Mo., as wiper in the roundhouse, and then coming back home was married May 3, 1871, to Catherine Buckley, a daughter of William and Margaret (Crowley) Buckley of Marengo Township. At the time of his marriage, William Sullivan settled on forty acres of what became his homestead, which was then heavily timbered, and he went into debt to secure it. A famous wood chopper, he cleared off his land, and sold his wood for $1 per cord, averaging two cords per day. For five years he worked at chopping wood during the winter months, and at night he used to burn charcoal. By making every moment count he was soon able to acquire more land, and when he died owned 600 acres. Believing firmly in protective tariff, he supported the Republican party. For many years he was a devout member of St. Mary's Catholic Church at Woodstock.
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Hle and his wife had the following children: Henry, who is a farmer of Marengo Township; Mary, who is Mrs. A. L. Corey of Iowa; John, who has a farm near that of Henry in Marengo Township; Agnes, who is Mrs. John Fitzpatrick, lives at Chicago where her husband is a prac- ticing physician; William; Charles: Eva, who is Mrs. F. J. McAdams of Chicago; Minerva, who is Mrs. S. C. Grafft of Denver, Col .; and her twin brother, Charles, who is an auctioneer of Marengo, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Joseph, who is a partner of William E. and his twin, who died in infancy; Harrie, who is engaged in office work at Chicago, a twin of Veronica, who is Mrs. David Padden of Chicago; Bessie, who is a teacher of Chicago; Philip, who is an attorney of Chicago; George, who is also an attorney of Chicago; and Harold, who is an attorney. The three youngest entered the United States service during the Great War, and George received a lieutenant's commission.
In 1918 the present partnership was formed, the brothers buying the interests of the other heirs, including that of their stepmother. She bore the maiden name of Nellie Kelliker. There were no children of the second marriage of William Sullivan. The brothers have bought other farms now owning 620 acres, 360 of which is in the homestead, the balance in two farms, twenty acres being in the village of Marengo. They specialize on dairying, keeping 100 to 300 cows, and have over seventy-five pure bred Holstein in their herd. They buy and sell all the time, shipping to markets which cater to the needs of dairymen. They are not exhibitors. Their residence was built in 1901, and their barn, built in 1894, has a basement, and is 36x100 feet, with an ell 34x72 feet, and a leanto 16x38 feet, all arranged for dairy purposes.
William Sullivan was married November 22, 1905, to Sarah Havent, and their children are as follows: Velora, William, Donald, George, Marie and Charles.
CHARLES B. SULLIVAN.
Charles B. Sullivan, auctioneer and stockman of Marengo, belongs to one of the old and honored families of McHenry County, and is one of the most aggressive young business men of this region. He was born on a farm in Seneca Township, March 25, 1881, and his boyhood was passed there. Ile is associated with his brothers in operating the farm of 700 aeres in the vicinity of Marengo, but lives in the city. The brothers raise large amounts of stock, milk production being a secondary
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feature. They have two sales barns at the stock yards of Marengo, with a capacity for seventy head of cattle, and employment is given to thirty men. It was in 1901 they began holding their annual sales which have increased in importance until at their last one, held in May, 1919, the total of sales ran in excess of $27,000, some of the cows running as high as $750, the buyers many of them coming from long distances. It is elaimed by some who had attended sales of pure-bred Holstein cattle held in the east, that the animals sold by the Sullivan Brothers, were superior, and represented the best production of Holstein breeding. Charles B. Sullivan has specialized on selling Holstein cattle, and has learned the best methods of handling these sales, as in 1910 he spent a few months at the Stock Yards at Chicago. Mr. Sullivan is sent for to conduet similar sales in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Michigan, Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and South Dakota. He does not use the title "Colonel" usually adopted by auctioneers, but he is so designated by the United States government in reporting his conduct of camp sales, when upon six occasions he held them at Battle Creek, Mich., disposing very successfully of stock mules and horses. From October 1 to March, he holds sales almost every day, and he receives a very handsome recom- pense for his work. He is very active in politics, and enjoys a political rally. For eight years he served as assessor of Seneca Township.
On June 24, 1914, Mr. Sullivan was married to Mrs. Catherine (Askins) Riley, widow of John Riley, who had died in 1910, at Marengo, where he was carrying on a real estate business, having retired from his farm. He had lived in McHenry County for twelve years. Mr. and Mrs. Riley had one son, John Riley, who is twelve years old. Charles B. Sullivan is a member of the Church of the Sacred Heart. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic Order of Foresters, and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. A man of genial nature and broad sympathies, Mr. Sullivan makes friends wherever he goes, and is known among stockmen the country over as an expert in his particular line.
JOSEPH D. SULLIVAN.
Joseph D. Sullivan, junior member of the firm of Sullivan Bros., dealers in grain, live stock and feed, and proprietors of extensive feed and sale stables, is one of the prosperous business men of Marengo. He was born in MeHenry County, December 11, ISS2, one of the seven-
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teen children of William and Catherine (Brickley) Sullivan, the former of whom was born in Ireland but came to the United States in 1858, locating in Seneca Township, where he died October 28, 1904, having been a farmer all his life.
Joseph D. Sullivan attended the common and high schools of McHenry County, and the Rockford Business College, from which he was graduated. Immediately thereafter he commenced farming and *dealing in stock, and owns 456 acres of land in Seneca Township, and 246 acres in Marengo Township. He built his present sales stables at Marengo at a cost of $5,000, in 1916, and the building in the rear cost $2,500. He and his brother do a business of $200,000 annually.
On April 29, 1914, Mr. Sullivan was married to Miss Gertrude Riley, a daughter of Timothy Riley of Marengo. Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan belong to the Catholic church. In politics he is a Republican, and in 1918 he was candidate in the primaries for nomination for county treasurer. He belongs to the Knights of Columbus, of Harvard and the Elks, of Wood- stock. Mr. Sullivan has known how to put his love of the soil to prac- tical use, and has not only been successful in his business, but has also given his hearty support to all big and wholesome movements in his county.
ROBERT JOHN SUTTON.
Robert John Sutton, now deceased, was for many years one of the prosperous farmers of McHenry County, and he is held in esteem by those who knew him. He was born in McHenry Township, March 29, 1848, a son of Michael Sutton, a native of Ireland, who came to the United States, and located in Illinois about seventy-five years ago. He became a farmer of MeHenry County, and a successful man of his locality.
Robert John Sutton was married to Bridget Knox, and they had the following children: Mary, Michael, Nellie, Alice, Margaret, Edward, Robert, William, Lucy, John and Joseph. Mrs. Sutton was also a native of Ireland. She died in 1907, aged fifty-eight years. Mr. Sutton died in 1912, aged sixty-four years. During his lifetime he accumulated 314 acres of land and was very successful as a farmer. In politics he was a Democrat, and served as a tax collector.
Michael Sutton, son of Robert John Sutton, was married to Mary A. Logul, and they have two children, namely: Robert and Mary C.
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Michael Sutton and his brother William have bought the homestead in Nunda Township which they are operating, it comprising 200 acres of very valuable land on section 1, which they devote to general farming and dairying, milking eighteen cows. The family is one of the old and highly esteemed ones in MeHenry County, and the children of Robert J. and Bridget Sutton are living up to the teachings of their parents, and like them, are consistent members of the Catholic church.
LOTT SWAIN.
Lott Swain, formerly one of the leading farmers and stockmen of MeHenry County, is now living in retirement at Marengo, where he is enjoying the fruits of his years of toil. He was born September 15, 1848, in Chemung Township, seven and one-half miles northwest of Marengo, a son of Isaac and Mary Swain, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work.
Lott Swain remained on the old homestead until he was twenty- seven years old, at which time he was united in marriage with Emma Jane Tanner, a sketch of whose family appears elsewhere. Having lost his father when he was fifteen years of age, Lott Swain early learned to be useful, and from the time he was twenty-one was a partner of his brother, Willard Swain, whose sketch appears elsewhere, in operating the homestead, and they made many improvements upon it, erecting new buildings and installing modern machinery and appliances. In 1915 Lott Swain retired to Marengo, buying his present residence at No. 211 W. Prairie Street, close to the business district. The house was an old one, but he remodeled it and it is now one of the most convenient modern homes in the city. His portion of the homestead is now oper- ated by his son, Roy. While Mr. Swain has left the farm, he still gives affairs there a general supervision, and keeps up the repairs and improve- ments. This farm lies on the county line, along the River road, and is very valuable. Mr. Swain has never held any offices, but has always given a hearty support to the straight Republican ticket.
Mr. and Mrs. Swain have the following children: Earl, who is engaged in farming near his father's homestead, married Emma Torge- son, and they have three children, Myrtle, Fay B., and Lester Earl; Roy J., who is operating the homestead, married Julia Torgeson, and they have four children, Laverne, Glenn, Mildred Lucile and Roy J., Jr .;
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Jessie Ella, who married George Woleben of Madison, Wis., has two sons, George, Jr. and Clarence Swain; and Blanche, who formerly was a bookkeeper in an office at Madison, Wis., was a student of the Elgin Academy during 1908-1910. For many years Mr. Swain has been a consistent member and liberal supporter of the Marengo Presbyterian Church. His interest has always been eentered in his home and business so he has no time to devote to fraternities. He and his family are held in the highest esteem in the township and county in which the Swains have lived for so many years.
WILLARD SWAIN.
Willard Swain, one of the prominent men and successful agricul- turalists of Chemung Township, belongs to an old and honored family. He is a son of Isaac Swain, and grandson of Isaac Swain, who was born at Loyalsock, Pa., May 7, 1797, and died October 26, 1866. The Swain family came to the American colonies from England. In 1835 Isaae Swain was married to Mary Ann Burt, born January 7, 1808 at Lewiston, N. Y., and in 1836 they moved to Youngstown, N. Y., and developed a farm out of heavily timbered land.
Isaac Swain, the younger, when sixteen years old began hauling loads along the Niagara River, and became so expert that he could cross the river from the American to the Canadian side. He served during the War of 1812 as a soldier, and for his services in this war, secured in 1861 a land warrant for a farm in Iowa. This land he sold forty years later for $16,000. Subsequently Isaac Swain came to MeHenry County, and secured land in Chemung Township, on which in 1861 he built the present residence, and in 1876, the barn. His children were as follows: Edward, who died on the homestead twenty-four years of age; Saralı, who married Henry Hovey; Mary A., who died in girlhood; Isaac, who owned the farm adjoining his father's, died at Belvidere in 19IS, aged eighty-seven years; William, who lived at Osage, Iowa, for over fifty years, died there when sixty-seven years of age; George W., who operated a foundry at Stillwater, Minn., died there when sixty-seven years old; Eliza, who married L. Watkins, lived in Boone County, Ill., where both died; David, who is mentioned below; Almira, who died in childhood; Willard, whose name heads this review, lives on the old homstead six miles west of Marengo on the River Road; Lott, who is a retired farmer
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