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 36
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
403
HISTORY OF MC HENRY COUNTY.
S. S. Gates, a descendant of one of the patriots of Revolutionary fame, was born at Stockbridge, Vt., Oct. 1, 1799. Shortly after his birth his parents removed to Worcester, where his early days were passed in the routine of boyhood. Having the advantage of the best academic institutions then in the East he availed himself of those opportunities until he became possessed of a liberal edu- cation. In the spring of 1838 he visited McHenry County on a prospecting tour, returning in the fall, the entire journey being made on horseback. The spring of 1839 again finds him return- ing to the fragrant prairies of this county, this time to make in- vestments, which were laid at Crystal Lake. After making his purchase he returned to his home in Massachusetts. In 1840 we find him elected to the Legislature of his native State. As a poli- tician he was actuated by the noble resolve to do right; and this honesty of purpose, connected with an extensive knowledge of the principles which underlie our free Government, rendered him peculiarly fitted for the position he was elevated to. In 1844 he was married to Miss Sylvia Day, daughter of Jabez and Sarah (Eddy) Day, of Webster, Mass. Mrs. Gates was the fourth daughter of a family of four sons and eight daughters, and now the only one living. She passed her early days at the academies of Eastern Massachusetts, graduating therefrom with honors. Her ancestors were among those who fought for our liberties in '76, her grandfather holding a commission as General under Washing- ton. Jonathan Day, her brother, held a General's commission in his State, and a man well known in the political history of his county. John E. was a merchant of Dudley. Erasmus, a mer- chant of Roxbury. Mr. and Mrs. Gates's family consisted of three daughters and two sons, viz. : Sarah R., married Loren Andrews, (deceased), formerly President of Kenyon College, a man of rare intellectual attainments, and ranked among the leading men of Northern Ohio. Abbie E. married J. A. J. Kendig, a promi- nent lawyer of Chicago. Summer E. (deceased) was a member of the Eighth Illinois Cavalry; was taken prisoner by Moseby, and placed in Libby Prison; when exchanged his health was wrecked. His likes and dislikes were extreme, but his heart was as large as time, and his generosity as broad as eternity. William D., a graduate of Wheaton College and the Law School of Chicago, married Miss Ida Babcock, of La Grange, Ill., the daughter of a gentleman well known in the business circles of that State. In boyhood William D. was one whose fellowship was sought by all;
404
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
that trait to-day finds him the genial, courteous attorney, as well as the designing, calculating mannfacturer. Mary C., wife of G. W. Oakly, located at Madison, Wis., and connected with the State Journal, the leading paper of the State. In 1852 Mr. Gates, with his family, came West, and permanently located on the property bought at Crystal Lake in 1839. He now gave his at- tention to the improvement of his prairie home. The zeal and good judgment which characterized his early life soon became manifest here, by his accumulating one of the largest landed estates in the county. For upward of sixty years he was Deacon in his church and an earnest worker in the cause of Christ. To-day we hear the words of gratitude spoken by many who are now classed as wealthy, that they owe their success in life to his assistance and words of encouragement. In his expenses he was honorable but exact; liberal in his contributions to whatever promised utility, but frown- ing and unyielding on all visionary projects. His heart was warm in its affections. He exactly calculated every man's value, and gave him a solid esteem proportional to it. In private life of spot- less character, morally without a blemish, his life was thoroughly domestic. In all, a remarkable man; his character was, in a mass perfect, in nothing bad, in few points indifferent, and it may be truly said, that never did nature and fortune combine more com- pletely to make a great business man, and to place him in the same constellation with whatever worthies have merited from man an everlasting remembrance. On June 24, 1876, he died at his home, in the village of Crystal Lake, the place that had witnessed thie active life of his more matured manhood. When such men pass from our midst their, loss seems irreparable.
Mrs. Margaret Gillilan is the widow of Samuel Gillilan, who died Sept. 6, 1837, and is buried on the farm where Mrs. Gillilan lives. She is the daughter of Richard and Nancy (McNeal) Hill, and came with her husband from Pocahontas County, W. Va., in 1834. She is the only one living of a family of ten children- She has had a family of nine children, six of whom- Deida, Lydia, Chauncy, Nancy, Martha, and James-are deceased. The living-Electa, now Mrs. Levi Seibert; Tabitha, now Mrs. Floyd Clanson, of Missouri, and Richard, who is living with his mother. Mrs. Gillilan owns 430 acres of land two miles north of Algonquin. She came to McHenry County in 1834, and was probably the first white woman to cross Fox River. The Indians were rather friendly, enongh so to steal their horse, which was
405
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
afterward recovered. They lost the first crop of corn planted on account of sickness. At one time when a party of Indians were in her house, one of them spat in a pot of boiling meat. Mrs. Gillilan sprang on him and put him out of the house which very much delighted the rest of the savages.
John Helm is a native of Cook County, Ill., born in 1843, a son of John and Sarah B. (Tuttle) Helm. Six of a family of seven chil- dren are living-John, Daniel, Arthur, Nancy, Eliza and Emily. George enlisted in the Eighty-eighth Illinois Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Murfreesboro, Tenn., in 1862. The father died in Chicago, in 1872, aged sixty-three years. The mother is living in Algonquin. In 1861 John Helm enlisted in Company C, Sixty-fifth Illinois Infantry. From Chicago they went to Virginia, and three months later the command was captured at Harper's Ferry, but were paroled on the ground and given two days' rations. They went to Annapolis and from there they were ordered to Camp Douglas, Chicago, where they remained abont five months. From there they were sent to Lexington, Ky., where they were quarantined six weeks, on account of small-pox in the regiment. They then went to the Big Sandy River, and engaged in hunting bushwhackers; thence to East Tennessee. They were the first troops to cross the Cumberland Mountains to Knoxville, where they were surrounded by the rebels, and for twenty-one days their ra- tions a part of the time consisted of one ear of corn a day. At last assistance came from Chattanooga, and the siege was ended. They subsequently participated in several battles, the most notable being Atlanta and Nashville. After serving three years and three months, in 1865 Mr. Helm was discharged and returned home. In 1869 he came to McHenry County, and, with John Peter, engaged in the hardware business. They also deal extensively in lumber and coal. Mr. Helm has, by his integrity and uprightness, won the esteein of the community, and for six years has held the office of School Director. He married Mary De La Montanye, who is of French descent. They have four children-George H., Millie M. Walter M. and Leon J.
Mrs. E. M. Huntley was born in New York State in 1814, a daughter of Cornelius and Tamar Carman. But two of eight chil- dren are living-Mrs. Huntley and a brother Michael, now of Iowa. The deceased are-Charles, William, Lot, Mary, Sarah and Judith, She was married in 1832 to S. M. Huntley, of New York, and in 1847 they came to Illinois, and settled on the farm now owned by
406
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
Mrs. Huntley. They had seven children, three of whom are de- ceased-David, Albert and Emory. David enlisted in the Ninety- fifth Illinois Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Shiloh. Emory was drowned at Elgin in 1881. William served four years in the Rebellion. He was wounded in the neck, from the effects of which his right side is partially paralyzed. Nancy married Henry Head, now of Iowa. Frank married Louisa Williams. Charles married Mary Vetchen, who died in 1865, and in 1868 he married Miss Smith. Mr. Huntley died in 1872. He was one of Mc- Henry County's most honored and respected citizens. Mrs. Hunt- ley's farm contains 136 acres of choice land. It is well stocked, and the improvements are all in good repair.
James Kee was born in the north of Ireland in 1814, a son of James and Elizabeth (McHaffey) Kee. When seventeen years of age he came to the United States and remained in New York City sixteen years. In 1836 he was married to Rachel Morton, daughter of Robert and Margaret (Fee) Morton. Of his twelve children, nine are living-Elizabeth, wife of Fred B. Keys, has two children; Robert, married Mary Goodsin, and has three children; James, marricd Ellen Pingrey, and has three children; Margaret J., wife of William Kee; Joseph, now of Kansas, married Jane Mitchel, and has one child; Morton K., of Nebraska, married Emily Hut- quist; Mary E., Charlotte L. and Edward J. are at home. One son, William, married Miss Howe, and located in Nebraska, Aug. 7, 1884. A telegram called Mr. Kee to the death-bed of his son, who died before the father reached him, leaving five children. He was a young man of more than ordinary ability, and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. Mr. Kee came to McHenry County in 1849, and settled on the farm where he now lives. He owns 214 acres of fine land, and runs a dairy of forty cows. In 1850 he united with the St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church of Algonquin, and in 1859 was elected Vestryman. He is now filling the office of Senior Warden. For twenty-five years Mr. Kee has served as School Director of his district. He is one of the earliest settlers of the county, and is one of the most prominent and in- fluential citizens.
Mrs. Ann Kerns was born in New York in 1799, the daughter of James and Catherine (Peek) Schermehorn, her father a native of Holland and her mother of England. She is the only one of ten children living. She was married in 1820 to William Kerns, who was of Irish descent. To them was born eight children-Samuel
Sarah Lye
Henry Lye
407
HISTORY OF MC HENRY COUNTY.
Augustus, Susanna, Jane, Sarah, Catherine, William, Stephen and Edward. Augustus and Stephen enlisted in the late civil war, and Augustus died from the effects of fever contracted while in the service. Mrs. Kerns came with her husband to McHenry County in 1837, and is the second oldest resident of the township. They entered 120 acres of land, where Mrs. Kerns has since resided, and where her husband died June 2, 1845. Mr. Kerns was a soldier in the war of 1812, and served five years and seventeen days. In 1881 Mrs. Kerns had a severe stroke of paralysis which greatly im- paired her memory. She is well known and respected throughout the county.
Henry Lye is a native of "Merrie England," yet of him much may be said of interest to the readers of this history. It is not necessary that a man be native born to figure prominently in a work of this character. It is not of Americans, nor of those wlio were bred and born in McHenry County, to whom this work is dedicated, but to the people who, by reason of their energy and success in a business way, have made McHenry County one of the foremost in the grand State of Illinois, that we wish to speak. To those who have by the sweat of their brow made our beautiful prairies bloom and blossom like the garden of Eden shall the credit be given, and to no one does the historian more cheerfully accord it than to the person whose name adds greater luster to this work than if he were purely an American, and had been reared upon the broad Western prairies. Henry Lye was born in York- shire, England, in 1828, and emigrated to America in 1851. He landed at New York City, and soon afterward proceeded to Albany, where he resided four years. He was married during the first year of his residence at Albany, to Miss Sarah Cowlan, daughter of William and Hannah (Rider) Cowlan, who has ever been a faith- ful and loving wife, and to whom much credit is due for the suc- cess Mr. Lye has made of his business. Possessed of a cheerful and energetic nature she has always stood faithfully by his side, and has helped save what he so hardly earned, until they now have ample means to live a life of luxurious ease should they desire. In 1855 Mr. Lye determined to seek a home in the West, and, with his wife, came to Elgin, Ill., which place was then only a small village. In July of that year he engaged with Elisha Buck for a short time to work upon his farm. In the autumn of the same year he concluded to engage in business for himself, and rented a farm of L. L. Smith, which place he managed successfully for two
6
408
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
years. Renting a farm at the expiration of that time of Mr. S. S. Gates, he pursued the occupation of farming and management of stock for three years longer. Firmly believing that it was more profitable to own his own land than to pay rent to a landlord, he purchased ninety acres, ten of which were timber, the balance of the land was raw prairie, upon which neither house nor fence had ever stood, but Mr. Lye made the purchase upon advantageous terms. His bank account at that time consisted of $100 in cash, the whole of which was paid upon the land, and an agreement entered into to raise each year twenty acres of wheat, which, when threshed, became the property of the person to whom the land be- longed. A rude cabin 16 x24 was built, and Mr. Lye lined the inside with brick to keep out the cold. Both worked like slaves, as they were $2,400 in debt when their first payment was made. From time to time his possessions were added to until his acres numbered 294. By this time from being owner of only two cows and one calf when purchasing the first tract of land, his herds and flocks had largely increased, and no more prosperous farmer could be found in the country than Mr. Lye. Both himself and wife are numbered among the most charitable persons in the neighborhood, and those in need have never been turned empty handed away. Never having had children of their own, they have reared to man and womanhood two children, both of whom are highly respected and worthy persons. The longevity of the family from whom Mrs. Lye is a descendant is remarkable. Her mother was ninety-two years of age at the time of her death; Jonathan Rider, her brother, was ninety-five, and her father eighty-four at the time of decease. Mrs. Lye is a representative of one of the early settlers of Mc- Henry County, as her Grandfather and Grandmother Newman and Sallie Hicks emigrated from Allegany County, N. Y., to Algon- quin Township in 1840. Mr. Lye recently sold one tract of land for $1,100, and yet retains a homestead of 140 acres, upon which are an elegant residence, fine barns and out-buildings, with excel- lent arrangements for conveniencies in handling his stock. In ad- dition to his farm work he keeps a dairy of sixty-five milch cows, from which a substantial revenue is derived. Men who have earned a better record for honesty and uprightness than Mr. Lye are very scarce in any country. Of his parentage but little need be said. He is descended from a family who were second to none in the district in which they lived, and were Henry and Jane (Elgie Lye yet living, they could truthfully say : The son whom we
409
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
so tenderly love is the delight of our hearth and comfort of our years. If here be taken into consideration that $120 was the sum total of their wealth when first coming to Elgin, the success Mr. and Mrs. Lye had 'in a financial way seems almost phenomenal. Honor and energy have done for them a perfect work, and of a truth it may be said, that Mr. Lye is a self-made man. The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Lye appear in this work, and none are more worthy to represent the prominent agriculturists than they, for a lo lifetime has been spent in such service, and nobly has their part been performed.
Thompson L. Morris is a native of New York, born in Chemung County, in 1836, the son of Ezekiel and Nancy Ann (Barack) Morris, natives of New Jersey. He came to McHenry County with his par- ents in 1846, making the journey with teams and covered wagons in twenty-eight days. His father died in 1852 and his mother in 1865, and are buried in Crystal Lake Cemetery. He was married in 1862 to Mary S. Lincoln, daughter of Apollos and Melissa (Wait) Lincoln, who came from Genesee County, N. Y., to McHenry County, Ill., in 1846. They have had five children; but two are liv- ing-Richard B. and Mary E. Freddie, Omar, and an infant are deceased. Mr. Morris received a good education and became a suc- cessful teacher. Taught his first school in Scott County in 1857, and his last in Seneca, in 1875. In the winter of 1862 was em- ployed in the Crystal Lake school, assisted by his wife. His wi e commenced her teaching in 1857, and has taught fifty terms, all in McHenry County. Mr. Morris is a strict temperance man; be- came a member of the Good Templars in 1864. He has been a successful farmer, now owns forty acres of choice land, thirty-two acres under good cultivation. His residence and farm buildings are well located and commodious. He is a man of Christian in tegrity, a member of the Free Methodist church, and a stauncli Republican in politics.
Edward Morton was born in Sing Sing, N. Y., Aug. 18, 1821, a son of Robert and Margaret Morton, natives of Ireland, the former born Nov. 14, 1791, and the latter Dec. 9, 1798. They came to America in their early life, married and settled in Westchester County, N. Y., and in 1847 moved to Algonquin, McHenry Co., Ill., where the mother died Jan. 28, 1869, and the father March 31, 1880. They had a family of eleven children-Rachel, Edward, Charles, David, Margaret Ann, Mary, Jane, Elizabeth, Robert, John, Elnour and William. Edward remained in his na-
410
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
tive State till 1849, and then moved to Illinois and bought a farm of eighty acres, to which he has added from time to time till he owned 300 acres of the best land in the county. In November, 1883, he sold his farm and moved to Algonquin, where he now lives retired from active business. He was married Nov. 27 1842, to Charlotte Brewer, who was born March 16, 1821, a daughter of James and Mary (Purdy) Brewer, natives of New York, her father of German and her mother of Swiss-German descent. Mr. and Mrs. Morton have had seven children; but four are living-Edward; Charlotte J., wife of Henry Keys; Charles W .; and Seraphina, wife of D. W. Thomas. Their second child, Charlotte J., died at the age of two years; Mary E., at the age of twenty-three years, and George, aged six years. Politically Mr. Morton is a liberal Republican. He has served his township as Road Commissioner two years.
S. H. Nash was born in Portage Township, Livingston Co., N. Y., a son of Edgar J. and Esther (Olmstead) Nash. In 1853 he came to Illinois, and in 1854 settled on the farm where he now lives. He owns eighty-three acres of land, seventy acres being under cultivation. He runs a small dairy, having the Jersey graded cows. His father came to McHenry County in 1853 and died in 1883. His mother died in Portage, N. Y., 1840. His maternal grandparents, Silas and Penninah (Hickok) Olmstead both died in this county, the former in 1870 and the latter in 1883. Mr. Nash was married in 1863 to Mary J. Simpson, daughter of Squire and Elvira (Whitmore) Simpson, both of whom are de- ceased. They have two children-Clara M., born in 1863, and Charles E., born in 1871, both at home. Politically Mr. Nash is a Republican. He and his wife are members of the Congregational church.
William A. Nason, M. D., is a native of Maine, born in Hal- lowell, June 21, 1841, a son of William and Mary A. (Wingate) Nason. His paternal ancestors were of Scotch-English descent, and earlier still were Romans, going to England at the time of the Roman conquest. Some of his ancestors were friends| of Shakes- peare, and their names are carved on the wall with his. Their names and date of death are carved on the old church walls; one -- Steven Nason, was Vicar of the parish and died in 1787, aged sixty-nine years; another is Mary, wife of Robert Nason. Some members of the family came to America in an early day and set- tled in Maine, where many of the descendants now live. His pa-
-
411
"HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
ternal grandfather, Bartholomew Nason, was one of the most prominent men of his county. His family consisted of eight chil- dren-Elizabeth; Edward, still a Deacon in the church in Augusta; William; Henry; Hannah, wife of John Norton, of New York City; Elias, for many years a merchant of Fall River, Mass., now of Minnesota; Martha, wife of O. F. Santford, of Boston, Mass., and Frederick, of Hallowell, Me. William was born in Augusta, Me., and has been a prominent business man of Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Bloomfield, N. J., and Alpena, Mich. He was at one time a Director of the Board of Trade, Chicago. He is now living retired at Alpena, He married Mary A. Wingate, a de- scendant of the Stevens and Wingate families of Massachusetts. They had a family of five children-William A .; Edward, a mem- ber of the Board of Trade, Chicago; Elizabeth; Mary, wife of William H. Johnson, of Alpena, Mich., and Carrie, who died in 1855. William A. was four years of age when his parents moved to Boston. He attended the public schools and finished the gram- mar department. When sixteen they went to Buffalo and he en- tered the High School there and prepared for college. In the fall of 1859 he entered Williams College, Williamstown, Mass., and graduated in the summer of 1864. In the fall of 1864 he began the study of medicine with Dr. R. N. Isham, remaining with him two years. In the meantime he served as House Pliysi- cian and Surgeon of the United States Marine Hospital, Chicago, and attended two full courses at the Chicago Medical College, graduating in the spring of 1866. In the fall of 1866 he went to New York and entered the Bellevue Hospital College, remaining till February, 1867. He was then appointed United States Assist- ant Surgeon, and took charge of the hospital at Gordonsville, Va. Five months later he was transferred to Yorktown, Va., and had charge of the Government hospital till February, 1868. While there he quartered in an old house, built of brick brought from Eugland by the British during the Revolution. In 1868 he came to Illinois, and after a short stay in Chicago located in Algonquin, where he now has a large practice. He is one of the most success- ful physicians of the county, and stands at the head of the profes- sion. He is President of the McHenry County Druggists Associa- ion. He early took an interest in scientific research, and wlien in school began a collection of insects, shells and botanical specimens. His cabinet is valued at several hundreds of dollars. He has a talent for literary pursuits which places him in the front ranks, and 26
412
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY. .
is a frequent contributor to many of the popular journals. He has very large medical, scientific and miscellaneous library. June 29, 1874, Dr. Nason was married to Anna, daughter of William and Elizabeth Goodson. They have three children-Mary E., William Edward and Charles. In his political views the Doctor is a Republican. He has been a member of the Masonic fraternity several years.
John Peters was born in New York in 1842, a son of John and Margaret (Turnbull) Peters, natives of Dundee, Scotland, who came to the United States in 1842. They stopped a short time in New York and then came West and resided in the towns of Bloom and Elk Grove, Cook Co., Ill., till death. The mother died in 1861 and the father in 1876. They had a family of seven children; two died in infancy and five are living-John; David, of Arlington Heights, Ill. ; George S., of Colorado; James C., of Chicago; Mar- garet, wife af G. P. Tewksbury, of Arlington Heights. John was reared and educated in Arlington Heights. In 1868 he went to Caledonia, Ill., and engaged in the hardware business a year. He then came to Algonquin and opened a hardware store, with which he has since combined the lumber and coal business, in partner- ship with John Helm, the firm name being Helm & Peters. He is also a member of the firm Peters & Coltrin, dealers in dry-goods, groceries, crockery and general merchandise. Mr. Peters was married in 1871 to Lida M. Helm, daughter of John and Sarah (Tuthill) Helm, of Chicago. They have three children-Grace H., Edward C. and Willis T., all at home.
Robert Phillips was born in Bucks County, Pa., June 1, 1797, a son of Thomas and Sarah (Eastburn) Phillips, natives of Pennsyl- vania. His paternal ancestors were of English descent. In an early day two brothers, Robert and James, were persuaded to go on board a vessel, bound for America, and before they were aware of the fact she set sail. When they reached America the boys were sold to a planter. Robert's son, Aaron, the grandfather of our subject, was a millwright and built the first mill on the Delaware River. It is still in possession of the family; now run by the fourth generation. His maternal grandfather, Robert Eastburn, was a Quaker farmer, and at his death was very wealthy. Our subject's parents had a family of eight children-Elizabeth, married Aaron Paxton; Aaron, Mary, Moses, Thomas, Robert, Samuel, David. Robert remained in his native country and followed mill- ing after leaving school till 1847, when he moved to Illinois and
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.