USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois : together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns : educational, religious, civil, military, and political history : portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, also a condensed History of Illinois > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87
-
393
HISTORY OF MC HENRY COUNTY.
which it stands, $2,901. Chicago friends donated $938 of this amount.
One year after the death of Rev. Arvidson Rev. Edward Richie became the pastor and remained till the fall of 1883. At present the church is supplied by Dr. Cleveland, of Dundee. The church officers are as follows: James Key and Wm. Estergren, Wardens; James Key, Edward Morton, Wm. Estergren and James Marshall, Vestrymen.
The present membership is but twenty-five though it has in the past reached a membership of fifty. A Sabbath-school was organ - ized when the church was and has now an average attendance of twenty scholars.
Free Methodist .- This society was organized in 1874. The first services were held Jan. 15, 1874, by Rev. D. P. Baker, who labored several weeks among these people. The class consisted of twenty- one members, two coming from Crystal Lake charge and six join- ing by letter from the Congregational church. This class formed a part of the Crystal Lake circuit. They held regular meetings in the Congregational church from January to August, 1874, when they were forbidden further use of it by the pastor, Rev. Hill. The society then engaged Pingry's Hall, and occupied it about one year, when they were again granted the use of the Congregational church. In 1876 they erected their present house of worship. The lot was donated by Henry Vogler, and the church was built by subscrip- tion, costing $1,275. It is a frame building, and will seat 150 per- sons. After the building of the church Rev. Kelley became their pastor. Rev. F. H. Huley was the pastor during the year 1879. After he left the church was for a time without a pastor, but was finally supplied by Rev. Charles Rawson, who was succeeded by Rev. David Seymour. After him came Rev. P. W. Newcomer, who remained two years. Rev. D. M. Sinclair is their present pastor. The church membership is only thirteen in number. Present officers: R. B. McKee, Class-leader; Wm. Head and Wm. S. Huntley, Stewards. In 1878 a Sabbath-school was organized with Henry Vogler, Superintendent. Its attendence has increased from a few scholars to twenty-five in number. Present officers: Myrtie McKee, Superintendent; Wm. Huntley, Secretary; Ella E. Lumm, Treasurer.
German Lutheran .- This church was organized about the year 1874 with a society of seventeen members. The first three years of their existence they held their services in the churches of other
394
HISTORY OF MC HENRY COUNTY.
denominations. Rev. Stake, of Dundee, was their principal min- ister prior to the building of their house of worship, which oc- curred in 1877. It is a frame building, and will comfortably seat 200 people; cost, $3,450. The first two years following the build- ing of the church Rev. Frazier was their pastor. Louis Van Schenk succeeded him and remained three years. Their present pastor is Walter Van Schenk, who has been with them for the past two years. The membership of the church numbers just forty. Present officers: Henry Table, Secretary; Henry Lesburg, Treasurer; Fred Denzing, Charles Benkoskee and Charles Geel, Trustees; Joseph Winke, Henry Henk and Charles Berkley, Directors. In con- nection with the church they have instituted a Sabbath-school, which has a small attendance. The pastor is the superintendent. On the church grounds they built a school-house in which the pastor teaches a day school nine months in the year. Here both English and German are taught, one-half of each day devoted to each of the langnages.
Congregationalist .- This society was formed Feb. 9, 1850, at the residence of A. Dodd, under the charge of Rev. I. C. Beach. The following is a list of those who comprised the first membership of the church : James Humes and wife, Ambrose Dodd, Mrs. Allen Kerns, John Van Buren and wife, Horace Wells and wife, Mrs. Abigail Smock, Mrs. Jane P. Foster, Wright Warren and wife. At this date they were without a house of worship, and held services chiefly in school-houses till 1866, when their present house was built. It was dedicated Jan. 17, 1868. It is a frame building and will seat about 200 people. Rev. C. L. Hall was the first minister called; he occupied the pulpit half the time for one year. He was succeeded by Rev. N. C. Clark, who remained but a few months, preaching every four weeks. He was succeeded by Rev. N. Shapley, who preached half the time, remaining till 1855, when Rev. E. C. Berge was called. Rev. J. D. Davis followed him May, 1867, making Rev. Berge's stay about twelve years. Rev. I. B. Smith came next; he resigned in 1868 for the reason that the con- gregation failed to raise his salary. He was succeeded by Rev. T. Gulespie, and he by Rev. W. W. Cutless, who preached half the time. In 1876 a Miss Newman came and preached six months. March 24, 1877, Rev. Hill, a Methodist minister of Dundee, preached for this people half the time, and afterward became a Congregational minister. He was succeeded by Rev. Alfred Wray, a student from Chicago, who came in 1878, and remained
395
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
eighteen months. Rev. Andrich came in 1882, and remained but three months. Rev. Huestis came after him and remained one year. He was succeeded by their present minister, Rev. C. C. Campbell. First officers : Wright Warren and Horace C. Wills, Deacons; S. F. Foster, Clerk. Present officers : W. Rattray, Deacon; Miss Teenie Stewart, Clerk; Burnett B. Stewart, Treas- urer. Sunday-school organized in 1882. Average attendance, eighteen scholars.
ALGONQUIN MUTUAL FIRE INSURANCE COMPANY
was organized March 18, 1874, with the following members, who represented a capital of $50,000 : Guy S. Frary, S. H. Hamilton, A. C. Abbott, Levi Seebert, J. A. Sherwood, J. S. Klink, L. P. Smith, S. R. Brown, M. S. M. West, Richard Gillilan, H. T. Dy- gert, C. F. Dike, S. G. Seibert, Levi McNett, George Crabtree, J. C. Bennett, W. P. Benson, J. M. White, D. Dann, A. L. Weaver, C. E. Paddock, Ambrose Dodd, G. Lane, E. Buck, Frank Herm- sath, Lewis Lockwood, J. H. Paddock, James Philip, E. H. Ben- son, J. L. Dodge. The membership is still increasing, and the company is on a sound financial basis and doing a good business, the object being to save the high rates usually paid insurance companies, and by mutual agreement secure each other against loss with no high salaried officers and clerks to pay.
The following is a summary of the business in the village of Algonquin : Agricultural implements, William Ogbin, John Adamek; blacksmiths, Joseph Johnston, P. N. Wallaver, H. A. Benthenysen; barber, M. Benthenysen; carpenters, Henry Keys, Charles Kubbank; cheese manufacturers, C. W. Gould; wagon manufacturer, Henry Toepel; druggist, Wm. A. Nason; feed store, George Low; furniture, John Johnston; groceries, Mrs. C. E. Miller; harness manufacturer, Charles Wandrack; hotel, Charles Pengrey, proprietor of Algonquin Hotel; hardware, Helm & Peter; merchants, Wenholz & Philip, John D. Furguson, C. C. Chunn; meat market, Ford & Smith; tailor, James Mattas; flour- mills, George Marshall, Henry Leisburg, Andrew Doig, Jr .; phy- sician, W. A. Nason; shoemakers, Augustus Wolf, James Lund, G. Gypert, Thomas Emerson; saloons, Joseph Wienke, James Derrick.
BIOGRAPHIOAL.
A. C. Abbott was born in the State of New York in 1826, a son 25
396
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
of Stephen and Lydia (Devercaux) Abbott, natives of Vermont and Massachusetts. In 1844 he was apprenticed to learn the wag- on-maker's trade. In 1847 he opened a shop of his own in Warren County, Pa. In 1856 he came to McHenry County and opened a shop at Cary's Station and carried on the blacksmith and wagon- making business four years. He then began working at the car- penter's trade, and has since followed it at intervals, in connection with farming. In 1866 he bought 120 acres of land which he cul tivates, and also runs a dairy of twenty-five cows. He was mar- ried in 1847 to Melissa, daughter of Noyes Whceler. They have had eight children-Frank, Dwight and Minnie are deceased; Spencer married Ellen Fitz and has two children; Fred is a single man and resides at home is employed on the railroad; Al- bert married Elizabetli Kelsie and has two children; Clara married Charles McNett and has four children; Capitola married Oscar Bute and has four children. In 1865 Mr. Abbott enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Forty-sev- enth Illinois Infantry, and served till 1866. His father was a soldier of the war of 1812, and received a land grant in Nebraska of 160 acres. Mr. Abbott has been Justice of the Peace nine years.
E. H. Benson is a native of Massachusetts, born in 1832, a son of Hiram and Rhoba (Davis) Benson. He was reared in his native State and in 1855 came to Illinois. He stopped in Lake County a year and in 1856 came to McHenry and located on a farm in this township. In 1859 he bought his present farm of 312 acres, lying two miles north of the village of Algonquin. He runs a dairy, milking fifty cows, and owns seventeen head of horses, besides shecp and hogs. He has a pleasant residence and good farm build- ing. He was married in 1861 to Alvira Miller, daughter of Jesse and Ruth (Klinck) Miller. They have had five children; but four are living-Lewis, Mary, Edwin and Grace. Frank, born in 1865, died in 1871. Mr. Benson has held the office of Super- visor two terms and of School Trustee ten years. His parents came to McHenry County in 1856, living here till the father's death in 1871. The mother is living in Maywood, Ill. They had a family of six children-Almira, now Mrs. William Miller; Wal- lace, married Emma Hill; Orrin, of Maywood, Ill; Philetus, mar- ried Maggie Shafer and lives in Minnesota; Climena, unmarried, of Maywood, and E. H. Wallace and Orrin enlisted in the late war. Wallace was wounded at Perryville, and Orrin was taken pris-
397
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
oner at the same battle, and while in Libby Prison had the small- pox.
Wallace P. Benson was born in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., Aug. 2, 1836, a son of Hiram and Rhoba (Davis) Benson, and grandson of Consider Benson and Paul Davis. He was reared a farmer, re- ceiving a common-school education. He came West in 1856 and settled in Algonquin Township, where he has since resided. He enlisted in the war of the Rebellion in Company H, Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry; participated in the battles of Pea Ridge and Per_ ryville. At the latter battle he was wounded and still carries the ball in his left leg. He was discharged and returned home. April 18, 1866, he was married to Emma Hill, daughter of Benjamin Hill. They have had five children; but three are living-Ernest, Mark and Raymond. Mr. Benson owns a tine farm of 230 acres which is rented. Mrs. Benson owns a two-thirds interest in 226 acres of choice land. Mr. Benson's grandfather, Paul Davis, was a soldier in the Revolution and his descendants have his discharge papers.
S. L. Burton was born in Vermont in 1822, a son of David and Mary (Powell) Burton, natives of Vermont. He came to McHenry County in 1854 and settled in Nunda Township, on the farm now occupied by E. J. King. He owns 220 acres of good tillable land, on which is run a dairy of thirty cows. In 1883 he established a butter and cheese factory at Cary's Station and the first year turned out 240 pounds of cheese and 140 pounds of butter per day. His business is constantly increasing, and bids fair to rival the older established factories. Mr. Burton was married in 1843 to Lucy, daughter of Ransom and Sarah (Lott) Sawyer, of Canada. They have had nine children-Newman and Sarah are deceased. Horace married Celia Mudgett. Lewis married Susan Morlan. Wallace married Helen Bradley. Ellen is the wife of F. E. Cox. Purditta is the wife of A. Mink. Isabelle is the wife of E. J. King. Capitola is at home.
Simeon Chandler was born in Oneida County, N. Y., in 1804, a son of Simeon and Elizabeth (Bigelow) Chandler, natives of Vir- ginia. He is the only one living of a family of six children. He was married in 1836 to Almira Bradford, daughter of Joseph and Martha (Miller) Bradford, natives of Connecticut, and immediately after his marriage started for the then far West. He left his wife in Michigan and proceeded to Chicago, then a hamlet, where he was offered $5 a day by the Government to take Indians West. He
.
398
HISTORY OF MC HENRY COUNTY.
declined the offer and, following the Indian trail to Fox River, stopped and bought a claim of Charles Cuttler for $3,000. He then went for his wife and on his return brought wagons from Chicago. He had a log house near where the depot now stands. Their only neighbors were Mr and Mrs. Gillilan. In the spring of 1837 he cut about 100 tons of hay. He raised about 300 bushels of wheat, 1,700 bushels of cats, 800 bushels of potatoes and 400 bushels of buckwheat. He sold his oats and buckwheat for $1 a bushel, his wheat for $1.50, and his potatoes for 50 cents, the buyer digging them. He had four yokes of oxen, and was exceptionally prosperous for an early settler. He now owns 217 acres of land and thirty dairy cows. He has been a resident of the county about forty-eight years and has seen the country grow from a wild, uncal- tivated state to that of improvement and culture. He is a promi- nent citizen and by his progressiveness and public spirit has gained the esteem of the entire community. In 1879 he had a stroke of paralysis that resulted in partial helplessness and total blindness. Mr. and Mrs. Chandler have had six children-Eliz- abeth, wife of John Keene, of Spring Valley, Minn .; Henry H., now of Iowa, married Hannah Woolover; Albert, married Mary Gardiner, and lives in Kansas; Lewis, of Algonquin, married Eliz- abeth Polk; Emma, wife of John Gardiner, of Kansas; Jeannette, wife of Justice Chapman, lives on the homestead.
William Crabtree was born in 1827, a son of Newman and Sally (Hicks) Crabtree. He is one of a family of eleven children, five of whom are deceased. In 1840 Mr. Crabtree came to Illinois with his brother George and settled in Algonquin Township, where he has since lived. He now owns 160 acres of fine land and runs a dairy of sixteen cows. He was married in 1854 to Betsey A. Weaver, daughter of David and Sally (Heath) Weaver. They have six children-Effie, wife of Joseph Shales; Minnie, Guy D., Glen, George and Asa.
C. F. Dike is a native of Rutland County, Va., a son of G. W. and Elizabeth (Wallace) Dike, natives of Vermont. He came to Illinois with his parents in 1841 and settled on the farm where he now resides. Their journey West was via the canal to Buffalo; thence via the lakes to Chicago, and thence to McHenry County by teams. His father was a prominent man of the county and has held many of the offices of trust. The family consisted of four sons-Henry (died in 1848), William W., Edward, and C. F., our subject, who married Frances, daughter of Augustus and
399
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
Mary (Penfield) Hammond, of Virginia. They have had six chil- dren-Flora, died in 1875, aged three years; Hammond, Elizabeth, Mary, Frank and Edith. In 1861 Mr. Dike enlisted at the first cal three-months' men and served under Captain Joslyn, of Elgin. At the expiration of his term lie re-enlisted and was appointed First Lieutenant. He was a faithful soldier and has been one of McHenry's best citizens.
J. L. Dodge was born in Boston, Mass., in 1851. His parents still reside in Boston. His father, James S. Dodge, is engaged in the jewelry and fancy goods business at 102 Tremont street. He graduated from the Boston High School in 1866 and in 1867 came West and located in McHenry County. He has been a steady, in- dustrious young man and now owns 155 acres of good land on which he resides. He runs a dairy of twenty-five cows. Mr. Dodge was married in 1871 to Mary Page, adopted daughter of Eben and Elizabeth (Pray) Snow. They have five children-James F., Minnie E., William H., Mary E. and Flora May. Politically Mr. Dodge is a Republican. He has held the office of School Di. rector six years.
H. P. Dygert was born in New York in 1814, a sonof John and Elizabeth (Deboise) Dygert. His fraternal grandparents came from Germany prior to the Revolution, and lived at Fort Plain, N. Y. His grandfather was taken prisoner by the Indians during the war, but the chief was acquainted with him, and gave him a wampum belt and set him at liberty. Our subject's maternal grandparents came from England prior to the Revolution. H. P. Dygert is one of five children. Nicholas and Eliza are deceased. Abraham lives near Woodstock. He married Rhoda Snook and has ten children. Elizabeth married Jolin Helegal and has eight children. H. P. has been married twice. In 1834 lie married Laura Peck, daughter of Charles Peck. She died in 1863, leaving three children-Charles, married Lucina Lucas; Emma, married James Marshall and has six children; Ellen, married Harvey Carr and has two children. In 1864 Mr. Dygert married Miss Eliza Tibbett. They have had four children-Laura, deccased; Edwin H., Cora and Lorena. Mr. Dygert came to Illinois in 1839 and located in Algonquin Township. He is one of the oldest pioneers of the county, and thinks his son Charles the first white boy born in the county. He helped build the first bridge across Fox River; was one of the first County Commissioners; was one of the first School Directors, and hell the office about twenty years,
400
HISTORY OF MC HENRY COUNTY.
and thinks the school building in District No. 7 was the second in the county. He owns a fine farm of 120 acres, well improved, with good buildings, and runs a dairy of twenty cows.
William Estergren is a native of Sweden, born in 1817, a son of Johan Magnus and Anna Maria (Wessen) Estergren. His father died in 1832 and his mother in 1837. The father was a minister of the Lutheran church. In August, 1841, Mr. Estergren em- barked for America and landed in New York the 12th of October. He proceeded to Cincinnati where he worked till the next spring, burning charcoal for his board, and after that received $4 a month for his services. From Cincinnati he went to Middlebury, Ohio, and worked in the woolen factory, having learned the trade in Sweden. In 1844 he came to McHenry County and entered eighty acres of Government land, to which he has since added and now owns 200 acres of fine land. Ife has his farm well stocked, run- ning a dairy of twenty-five cows. Mr. Estergren has been one of the most enterprising men of the township. He is well educated, graduating with honors at the Royal College of Linkoping, and has held several of the township offices. He was elected School Director at the first organization of District No. 8, and has been Road Commissioner nine years. In the spring of 1855 he went to Europe and was married in the spring of 1856 to Fredericka A. Grandahl. They have three children-Charles Frederick William; Anna Mathilda Maria, married Dec. 30, 1884, to S. J. Dahlborn, of Carpentersville, Kane Co., Ill., and Carrie Emily Sophia. The family are members of the Protestant Episco- pal church.
E. A. Ford is a native of Algonquin Township, born in 1845, a son of Hiram and Lucy (Brown) Ford, natives of New York. They came to Illinois in 1841 and settled on the farm where our subject now lives. The father died in 1848. The mother lives with a son in Algonquin. They had a family of seven children: but four are living-Henry, now of Elgin, married Alice Goodsen and has four children; Roselle, married-Dodd and has five chil- dren; Vernon, married Nelia Dodd and has three children, and E. A. Diantha, Julia and Volney are deceased. Diantha married Daniel Wanser and left one son. E. A. Ford married Jeannette, daughter of John and Ellen (Fitchey) Penny. He lives on the home farm where he owns ninety-four acres of good land, and carries on a dairy of thirty-five cows. He has been running a meat market in Algonquin five years and one in Carpentersville
401
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
a number of years. His brothers, Henry and Vernon, were both soldiers in the, war of the Rebellion.
S. F. Foster was born in East Machias, Me., in 1809, a son of Samuel and Comfort (Scott) Foster. His grandfather was one of the first settlers of the United States. His father emigrated to Cincinnati, Ohio, when there was but one building there. One of the party was scalped by the Indians and the others returned to Maine. Mr. Foster's parents died in 1859 within ten days of each other, the father aged ninety-five years and the mother eighty-seven. In 1841 Mr. Foster came to Illinois and settled on the Crystal Lake South Prairie, where he entered eighty acres of land from the Government, and a few years later added forty acres to it. For two years his nearest neighbor was two miles from him. He was married in 1835 to Jane P. Fletcher, of New Hampshire, daughter of Joshua and Sarah (Pulcipher) Fletcher. Her father was at that time Secretary of State of Texas, the State being under dispute of Mexico and the United States. Mr. and Mrs. Foster have had six children; but three are living-Alveno, who left home for California in 1859 and has not been heard from; John, now living in Chicago, Ill .; and Julia, wife of John Sullivan. Angeline, wife of George Wallace, Eleanor and Joseph are deceased. In 1881 Mrs. Foster lost her eye-sight from the effects of neuralgia, the optic nerve becoming paralyzed. Mrs. Foster has been a member of the Congregational church since 1843, and Mr. Foster since 1858. He has been Clerk of the church for twenty years. He has served as School Director of the township twenty years and Pathmaster several years.
G. S. Frary, one of the most highly respected citizens of this township, was born in York State in 1829. His parents, Alonzo and Maria (Thuman) Frary, were parents of four children, of.whom Mr. Frary is the only one now living. His parents came to Mc- Henry County in 1843, and settled upon one of the farms which is now the homestead of Mr. Frary. They were poor, but by years of arduous toil they accumulated a considerable property and at the decease of Alonzo Frary, which occurred in 1861, the family were in good circumstances. Guy Frary began life for himself when a lad, and worked early and late for small wages, yet man- aged to save a part of the wages earned each month, until he had a few hundred dollars which was well invested, and this formed the nucleus from which has grown an income far surpassing his most sanguine expectations. Mr. Frary was married to Miss
402
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
Elizabeth, daughter of Newman and Sallie Hicks, in 1854. For many years they lived on a farm purchased by Mr. Frary one mile west of Cary, where their children were born. Their eldest daughter, Emma, is now the wife of Jas. H. Philp, a prosperous merchant in the village of Algonquin. Two other daughters, Letitia and Laura, are yet members of Mr. Frary's family. Maria, the mother of Mr. Frary, after the death of her husband made her home with her son, and the kind care bestowed upon her by Mr. and Mrs. Frary during the many years in which she re- mained almost a helpless invalid proved conclusively the love and esteem in which she was held by her children. Every comfort and luxury which money could procure or willing hands devise was secured to promote her welfare, but notwithstanding these means, and the most efficient medical talent, her death oc- curred in April, 1884. Mr. Frary erected a fine residence upon his farm which adjoins the pleasant village of Cary, and removed his family from the farm-liouse where so many happy days were spent, to the new and modern structure, in 1883. If ever there was a home in which contentment reigns supreme, 'tis in the household of our subject, and never was there a more happily mated couple than the parties mentioned. Books, music and the air of refinement which pervades every thing connected with their pleasant home, and the hearty welcome accorded every visitor, be they old-time friends or strangers, make it a desirable place to visit in the village. The several offices of justice, trustee, and supervisor of the township, were held for years by Mr. Frary, and their duties were faithfully discharged. No more efficient official has ever served the people of Algonquin Township, and would he accept further honors of this character his popularity would carry a vote far in advance of the party ticket which he rep- resents. We have no words of flattery to give any one, but as a conscientious, upright, and strictly lionest business man, there is no name mentioned in this work that carries with it a greater in fluence in business circles than he whose name heads this sketch. He is the senior member of the firm of Frary & Goodwin, who deal largely in salt pickles, which industry is one of the chief factors in Cary. They purchase and salt annually from twelve to fourteen thousand bushels of cucumbers, thus making Cary one of the first markets in the county for this product. Mr. Frary has been a resident of Algonquin Township from early boyhood, and ably represents it in a business and social way.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.