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 46
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James Crombie Thompson, one of the few old pioneers of Mc- Henry County, is a native of Antrim, Hillsboro Co., N. H., born Nov. 1, 1795, a son of John Thompson. His mother died when he was three years old and he found a home with Captain Stewart. He
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attended school and worked on the farm till twenty years of age and then taught school one year. He volunteered in the war of 1812, but did not serve. He went to Erie County, N. Y., and bought land on the Holland purchase, twenty miles east of Buffalo, and kept hotel. He was married in October, 1820, to Mehitable Gould. In June, 1845, they came to Illinois and settled on a farm on the present site of Lawrence, McHenry County, where the mother died Feb. 27, 1876. Mr. Thompson is the oldest man in Chemung Township. He was the first Superintendent and the first Justice of the Peace in the township. He is a member of the Presby- terian church, he and his wife joining in early life. They had a family of nine children -- William G., of Harvard; Esther, wife of C. R. Brown, of Harvard; Mary A., wife of Hollis Allen, a farmer of Chemung Township; James, of Harvard; Frances A., wife of S. Wilcox, of Springfield, Pa .; Lydia S., wife of James L. Anderson, Postmaster at Lawrence; Andrew J., of Decatur, Ill .; George W., of Warrensburg, Macon Co., Ill .; Albert, a physician of Lawrence.
James Thompson, of the firm Thompson & Hodgkins, dealers in ice, coal, wood and oils, was born in Alden, Erie Co., N. Y., Feb. 27, 1833, son of James C. and Mehitable (Gould) Thompson, natives of New Hampshire. His parents moved soon after their marriage to New York, and kept a hotel in Alden and carried on a dairy farm till 1845, when they came West and bought a farm on section 27, Chemung Township, where the father still resides with his youngest son. The mother died Feb. 27, 1876. They had a family of five sons and four daughters. James is the second son and fourth child. He remained at home till after his marriage and then rented a farm in Chemung Township till 1868, when he moved to Harvard and bought and shipped stock till 1876, and then became established in his present business. In 1880 he was elected to represent his district in the State Legislature on the Democratic ticket. He has held various local offices, among them Township Supervisor ten years, and Tax Collector twelve years. He was married Feb. 13, 1859, to Sarah Broughton, a native of Vermont, daugliter of Ancil Broughton. They have two sons- James C., born Sept. 8, 1862, and Charles, born May 8, 1871.
Orlando H. Thompson was born in Hamilton, Madison Co., N. Y., Sept. 26, 1820, a son of Andrew and Almeda (Keep) Thompson, natives of Massachusetts. His parents were married in their native State, but soon after moved to Madison County, N. Y. They had a 32
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family of eight children. Orlando was the sixth child and third son. When he was fourtcen years of age his parents moved to Erie County, N. Y., and he remained there till 1845. In 1844 his father moved to McHenry County, Ill., and settled two miles east of Green- wood, and in August, 1845, he joined him, and in February, 1846, located in Dunham Township, and in February, 1873, settled on the farm where lie now lives, in Chemung Township. He owns eighty acres of choice land. He was married July 3, 1844, in Lodi, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., to Lydia Eliza Maxwell, a native of Otsego County, N. Y., daughter of James and Lydia (Heath) Maxwell. They have had a family of nine children; but five are living-Nora; Mary, a teacher in Chemung Township; Will D., a farmer of Chemung Township, married Julia A. Tooker; Frank O. and Nellie are at home. Mr. Thompson was Justice of the Peace of Dunham Township.eleven years, and Town Clerk two years, and has served his township in other official capacities, and has been one of the most influential and enterprising citizens of the county.
William G. Thompson, manufacturer and repairer of wagons, and general wood and iron work, Harvard, Ill., was born in Erie County, N. Y., Sept. 12, 1821, a son of. James C. and Mehitable (Gould) Thompson. James C. came West in 1845, and settled in Chemung Township, where he still lives. He was born in Ver- mont, Nov. 1, 1795. His wife died Feb. 27, 1876. They had a family of nine children-William G .; Esther, married C. R. Brown, and died Nov. 4, 1883; Mary A., wife of Hollis Allen; James married Sarah A. Broughton; Frances, wife of S. Wilcox, of Bradford County, Pa .; Andrew J., of Decatur, Ill .; George W., of Macon County, Ill .; Lydia S. wife of J. L. Anderson, of Lawrence; Albert, a physician, resides on the old homestead. William G. came to Illinois in 1844, and opened a shop in Lawrence. In 1868 he moved to Harvard, and built the shop now used by M. F. O'Conner as an implement warehouse. In 1870 he broke his leg and was compelled to give up work for a time, and sold his shop to Thomas Leeson. After his recovery he resumed work, and his business increased till he was obliged to enlarge his quarters, and in 1875 he built his present shop on Hart street, near his residence. Mr. Thompson has been Constable of Chemung Township eight years, and Marshal of Harvard six years . He was married in February, 1847, to Lavinia Hutchinson, who died six years later leaving three children -- Urania, Mehritable and William Perry. In February, 1856, he married Sarah G. Bixby.
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Robert E. Tooker, contractor and builder, Harvard, is one of the pioneer children of McHenry County. He was born on his father's farm, a mile south of Big Foot Corners, Jan. 13, 1846. His par- ents, Amos W. and Lydia (Brown) Tooker, were natives of New York, but in 1844 came to Illinois and settled on a farm in Che- mung Township. In 1862 they moved to Harvard where the father died in 1868, and the mother in 1880. They had a family of ten children; seven are living-John, Smith B., Robert E., George, B. F., Charles and Julia A. The father opened a machine shop, and three years later a planing-mill and sash, door and blind factory. Robert E. worked in his father's shop three years and then was employed as foreman of the factory four years, when it was sold to N. E. Blake. He was foreman for Mr. Blake four years and since then has been contracting and building. He was mar- ried Dec. 25, 1867, to Dora Kizer, a native of Chemung Township, daughter of Morgan and Abigail (Breese) Kizer. They have four children-Amos M., born Dec. 15, 1868; Maud, born June 3, 1871; Charles L., born Dec. 27, 1874, and Amnelia May, born March 3, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Tooker are members of the Congregational church. Mr. Tooker is a meniber of Harvard Lodge, No. 147, A. O. U. W .; Select Knights, No. 24. Politically he is a Republican.
Smith B. Tooker, carpenter and contractor, Harvard, Ill., was born in Chemung County, N. Y., Jan. 29, 1844, a son of Amos W. and Lydia (Brown) Tooker, natives of New York. When he was about one year old his parents moved to McHenry County, Ill., and settled on the farm now owned by Joseph La Brec, on section 12, Chemung Township. They had a family of ten chil- dren; seven are living. Smith B. Tooker attended school and worked on the farm till July, 1862, and then enlisted in Company C, Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry, and served till the close of the war. Eighteen months after his enlistment he was transferred to the Eighth Louisiana Infantry, and was appointed First Ser- geant of Company -. After his return home he worked with his father in the sash, door and blind factory in Harvard till the latter's death, Aug. 14, 1867. The sons then carried on the factory under the firm name of Tooker Brothers, till September, 1869, when they sold out to Blake & Son. Mr. Tooker was mar- ried March 22, 1870, to Elizabeth M. Fleming, a native of London, England, daughter of John and Susan (Flick) Fleming. They have had six children-Freddie J., born Oct. 23, 1870, died Sept. 1, 1871; Grace E., born Oct. 16, 1872; Chester G., born May 12,
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1875; Susan B., born March 21, 1877; Mary L., born July 7, 1879; Emily M., born Dec. 13, 1881. Mr. Tooker is a member of J. B. Manzer Post, No. 215, G. A. R. Mrs. Tooker is a mem- ber of the Congregational church.
Lorenzo Van Wie, senior partner of the firm L. Van Wie & Co., Harvard, was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., Jan. 15, 1829, a son of Henry A. and Lavinia (Cornue) Van Wie, natives of New York. In 1844 his parents moved to Marshall, Mich., and in 1848 he came West and located in Lyons, Wis., whither his parents soon followed him. In 1852 he moved to Adams County, Wis., and opened three new farms which he sold to an advantage, and in 1857, after spending a short time in Minnesota, returned to Lyons. In 1859 he moved to Harvard and opened a livery stable. In 1863 he took charge of the freight and baggage business of the Northwestern Railroad. In 1876 he bought the stock of groceries of Cornue & Groesbeck. A year later he bought Daniel Carpen- ter's stock of boots and shoes and moved his stock of groceries to the Carpenter building. In the summer of 1881 he moved to his present location, where he now has an annual business of $20,000. When he first commenced in the grocery business he occupied the basement of his present store. Mr. Van Wie was married in 1850, to Sarah Ryland, a native of Ohio, born Jan. 23, 1833. They had two daughters-Frances E. and Hattie A. The latter was married Oct. 13, 1871, to M. C. Pease, junior member of the firm L. Van Wie & Co. Mr. and Mrs. Van Wie were members of the Baptist church in Lyons. Mr. Van Wie is politically a Republican. He is one of the most enterprising and public-spirited citizens of Harvard, and one of her leading merchants.
Otto Vom Bruch, assistant foreman of the machine shops and round-house of Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, Harvard, Ill., was born in Barmen, Prussia, Germany, March 8, 1856, a son of August and Amalie (Merklinghaus) Vom Bruch, natives of Prussia. His mother died in February, 1865. Of her five children, three are living-Otto; Hugo, of France, and Ernst, a tinner of Chicago. After his mother's death his father married Bertha Berghaus. Their only child, a son, is deceased. The father died July 31, 1879, and his widow has married again. Otto Vom Bruch left school when fourteen years of age and clerked for a fire, life and water insurance company two years. He then came to the United States, and to Ottawa, Ill., where his father's sister, Mrs. Martin Adler, was living. He remained with his aunt and
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worked in a printing office and grocery store until July, 1874, when he accompanied the family to Chicago, Ill., and obtained employment there in a grocery and meat market. In August, 1875, he began to work for the bridge department on the Galena division of the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, and in June, 1876, went to learn the machinist's trade, and remained there three years. He then went to the old country on a visit and after his return worked in the Chicago round-house a year, and then went into the machine shop, and worked at his trade and as a valve setter till September, 1883, when he was transferred to his present position at Harvard. He is a thorough machinist, and perfectly reliable and conscientious in the performance of all his duties. He is a member of the First German Baptist Church in Chicago, and a married man since the 23d of Dec. 1884.
William Wakeley, farmer, section 24, Chemung Township, was born in Albany, N. Y., Feb. 22, 1822, son of William S. and Margaret (Whippy) Wakeley, his father a native of Connecticut and his mother of the Island of Nantucket. In 1849 his parents started for the West, and May 5 his father died of cholera at St. Joseph, Mo. He left a widow and five children, of whom William was the eldest. He was married April 26, 1846, to Joanna Hunt, a native of Day, N. Y., born Jan. 6, 1824, daughter of George and Elizabeth (Deming) Hunt. In April, 1850, he came with his wife and one son and his mother to McHenry County, Ill., and settled on a part of the farm where he now lives. He learned the shoemaker's trade when a boy and has worked at his trade in connection with farming a portion of the time. His farm contains 237 acres of land. He has paid special attention to the raising of fine horses. Mrs. Wakeley died April 15, 1880, leaving five cliil- dren-George H., born in Erie County, N. Y., Jan. 24, 1847, was married Feb. 28, 1868, to Jane Rogers; Chloe E., born Dec. 12, 1850, was married June 17, 1880, to John Westerman, of Kane County, Ill .; William Seymour, born Dec. 5, 1854, married Jennie Soothie; Milo M., born Jan. 1,1858, was married to Lotta Smith, March, 1881, and lives in Barton, Brookings Co., Dak .; Walter A., born March 6, 1863. Mr. Wakeley was married in 1882, to Ara- bella E., widow of Murry Cochrane and daughter of Thomas and Melissa (Terwilliger) Grimley. They have one son-Roy, born Jan. 11, 1884. Mrs. Wakeley lias three children by her former marriage-Eva M., Minnie and Kittie. Mr. Wakeley's mother died Feb. 17, 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Wakeley are members of the
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Methodist Episcopal church. He has been one of the representa- tive citizens of McHenry County, and has held many local offices of trust. Has been Overseer of the Poor twelve years.
Everton Walker, proprietor of the Walker House, Harvard, was born in Deposit, Delaware Co., N. Y., Feb. 1, 1809. In 1831 he came West on a prospecting tour, and in 1833 bought land in Washtenaw County, Mich. He then returned to Deposit and was married Feb. 12, 1834, to Susan Hubbell, daughter of Richard and Susannah (Babcock) Hubbell, and moved to his Mich- igan farm. In 1839 he bought land near Bloomfield, Walworth Co., Wis., and lived there twenty seven years engaged in farm- ing. He also kept a public house there before the advent of rail- roads. In 1867 he removed to Harvard and bought the old hotel building on the corner of Ayer and Front streets, which he moved away and erected the present commodious house. When Mr. Walker first came West he worked in the lumber region for $10 a month, which was the nucleus of his subsequent successful career. He has won the confidence and esteem of the citizens of Harvard and has held several offices of trust. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of Harvard Lodge, No. 309, F. & A. M .; Chapter, No. 91, R. A. M., and Calvary Commandery, No. 25, K. T. He has held several offices in his lodge; has been Treas- urer a number of years. Mrs. Walker is a member of the Congre- gational church. They have two children-W. B. and Fidelia. W. B. Walker is the manager of the Walker House. Fidelia was born Sept. 4, 1842, and was married Dec. 4, 1869, to James Logue, of Harvard.
W. B. Walker, manager of the Walker House, Harvard, Ill., was born in Sharon, Mich., Oct. 3, 1837, a son of Everton and Susan (Hubbell) Walker. After leaving school he was employed nearly two years as clerk for a dry-goods firm in Chicago. In 1860 he went to Richmond and was employed as bookkeeper and clerk till August, 1862, when he enlisted in the Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry, and was commissioned Second Lieutenant of Company H. He participated in the Holly Spring campaign and in the siege of Vicksburg. In November, 1863, he was detailed acting Quartermaster of the regiment and subsequently acted as Brigade Quartermaster in the Red River campaign. In December, 1864, he was detailed Adjutant of the regiment at Nashville, Tenn. He was appointed Aide-de-Camp to General E. A. Carr, in the spring of 1865, and served till three months
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after the close of the war. He was mustered out in 1865. In 1868 he came to Harvard and assisted his father in managing the hotel till 1876, when he leased the establishment. He lias made improvements from time to time, and his hotel is now recognized as one of the best in the West. He was married Aug. 29, 1861, to Amanda M. Perry, a native of Alden, Erie Co., N. Y., daughter of James and Sophronia (Pengra) Perry. They have had three children; but one is living-Edna, born Feb. 4, 1876. Ella died at the age of three years, and James B., aged seven weeks.
Fritz Weber, farmer, section 4, Chemung Township, was born in Prussia, Germany, June 18, 1854, a son of Henry and Dora (Hopp) Weber. He attended school till fourteen years of age and then moved on a farm till 1873. He was married May 1, 1873, to Minnie Foss, a native of Prussia, Germany, daugliter of Joseph and Mary (Ohl) Foss. The next month he and his wife started for America; landed in New York and from there pro- ceeded direct to Walworth County, Wis., where they lived till February, 1882, when he bought the farm where they now live. He owns sixty-three acres of choice land well adapted to the raising of grain and stock.
Herman Wettstein, jeweler, Harvard, was born in Barmen, Prussia, Germany, Feb. 14, 1840, a son of Theodore and Lisette (Steller) Wettstein. 'In 1848 his parents came to America and located in Milwaukee, Wis., where the father formed a partnership with a Mr. Carlisle in the wholesale dry-goods and notions business under the firm name of Wettstein & Carlisle. He subsequently engaged in the hotel business, founding the Prescott House, Mil- waukee House and the St. Charles Hotel. The Milwaukee House burning down, and a terrible fall from the second story of the St. Charles Hotel to the stone pavement (thinking he was in a room leading to the balcony) which almost cost him his life, led him to retire from the hotel business, he accepting a position with the Best brewing company in Chicago. Died March 27, 1877, aged sixty-five years. He was quite prominent in literature and politics, publishing several books, and was one of the first expo- nents of the Whig and Republican parties in Wisconsin. The mother died June 24, 1884, aged seventy-seven years. They had a family of seven children, six of whom are living-Theodore, Otto, Herman, Pauline (now Mrs. Prof. Paul Binner, of Milwaukee), Adolph and George. All the boys, except Theodore, are jewelers. Herman
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Wettstein left school at the age of sixteen years and began to learn the jeweler's trade. In 1860 he went to Janesville, Wis., and remained there three years. He worked for Stephen C. Spaul- ding, the first jeweler of that city. In 1863 he opened a jewelry store in Albany, Wis., but returning to Janesville in 1865 he car- ried on the jewelry business there until 1873 when he came to Harvard, establishing his present business. He was married in May, 1868, to Harriet P. Collier, of Evansville, Wis. They had one child, Pauline, born in Janesville, Jan. 1, 1872. Mr. Wett- stein is the inventor of several improvements in life-saving appa- ratuses, on which he has applied for patents. One is a railway guard to prevent accidents at crossings and collisions at curves. Another one is a new method for building any kind of vessel or ship in such a way as to render human life almost absolutely safe on them both against fire and water, without any material changes in their present construction. Besides these he has invented three kinds of portable folding fire-escapes to receive persons jumping from burning buildings, on which patents have been granted. He has also invented many useful improvements in various mechani- cal and industrial arts.
Charles M. Wilkinson was born in Chemung Township, McHenry Co., Ill., April 21, 1849, a son of Burrows and Hersey (Badger) Wilkinson. His father was born Dec. 27, 1804, and his mother, March 19, 1806. Burrows Wilkinson settled in the north part of township of Chemung in 1841 and carried on the business of sheep breeding quite extensively for a number of years. Charles M. is next youngest of a family of nine children, three sons and six daughters. His father died Nov. 16, 1872. Charles M. attended school till about eighteen years of age and then be- gan clerking for Richardson & Groesbeck. In 1869 he, in part- nership with J. W. Groesbeck, bought the stock of Wing & Gear and carried on the drug business till the spring of 1884, when, on account of failing health, lie sold his interest to his partner. He cares for liis mother at their old home, she being in the seventy- eiglith year of her age. Mr. Wilkinson is a member of Harvard Lodge, No. 309, F. & A. M .; Harvard Chapter No. 91, R. A. M., and Calvary Commandery, Woodstock, Ill., No. 25, K. T. Polit- ically he is a Republican.
. Edwin Wilkinson, sections 1 and 12, Cheinung Township, was born in Alden, Cayuga Co., N. Y., Sept. 17, 1833, a son of Bur- rows and Hersey (Badger) Wilkinson. In 1835 his parents moved
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to Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and, in May, 1841, to Spring Prairie, Walworth Co., Wis. The next July his father bought the farm in Chemung Township, McHenry County, where Edwin now lives. Edwin lived with his parents till his marriage and then bought a farm in Alden Township, where he lived four years. He then sold his farm and bought another in Chemung Township. Two years later he exchanged this farm for the old homestead, where he has since resided. This farm contains 186 acres of choice land, and is well improved with a pleasant residence and good farm build- ings. Mr. Wilkinson also owns 110 acres on sections 3 and 10, Chemung Township. He pays special attention to stock-raising, having a fine herd of Durham cattle, Norman horses, and a large flock of Merino sheep. Mr. Wilkinson was married Nov. 23, 1859, to Sallie Mulford, a native of Montgomery County, N. Y., born June 29, 1838, a daughter of Ezra M. and Zilpah (Packard) Mulford, who settled in Walworth County, Wis., in October, 1845. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson have had nine children; eight are living- Hessie, born Sept. 7, 1860; Addie Z., born April 6, 1862; Edwin A., born Feb. 18, 1864; Ida, born Feb. 4, 1867; Charles, born March 7, 1869; Jessie, born July 18, 1874; Ray, born Ang. 30, 1880, and an infant, born Aug. 13, 1884. Mr. Wilkinson is a member of Harvard Lodge, No. 309, F. & A. M., and of the Farmer's Fire Insurance Company. He has held several offices of trust in the township and has always taken an interest in every- thing that promises improvement to the community.
Philo Wilkinson was born in Alden, Erie Co., N. Y., July 6, 1831, the second of seven children of Burrows and Hersey (Badger) Wilkinson, his father a native of Vermont, and his mother of New York. In 1841 his parents and family came West by team, and stopped in Chicago. In June they proceeded to Spring Prairie, Wal- worth Co., Wis., and bought a farm, which they sold the next August, and then bought the one in Chemung Township where the second son now lives. Philo Wilkinson remained at home till twenty-two years of age, followed farming till 1871 when he sold his farm and moved to Harvard. He has held official relations in the county and township for the past twenty-two years. He is a member of Harvard Lodge, No. 309, F. & A. M., and is serving his seventeenth year as Secretary of his lodge. Mr. Wilkinson was married in December, 1859, to Thankful E. Walker, a native of Tioga County, Pa., danghter of William and Rachel (Jennings) Walker. They have five children-Eva; Ada, wife of George Er-
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cambrec, of Hebron; Fidelia, William and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson are members of the Congregational church.
George Wooster, deceased, was born in Oxford County, Conn., Dec. 27, 1814. When sixteen years of age he emigrated alone to the State of Ohio, and located at Twinsburg, near Cleveland. He remained there till the spring of 1838, when he was married to Susan Devine, and removed to Chemung, Ill. He was a liberal, public-spirited man, and became one of the most prominent and influential men of the county. He was Postmaster of Chemung twelve or thirteen years; was Deputy Sheriff sixteen years, and held other offices of trust and responsibility. He was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, and passed all the chairs in the Odd Fellows order. His wife was a native of County Clare, Ire- land, and came to America with her parents when three years of age. They had a family of eight children; but four are living- James C., of Cheboygan, Mich .; Susan C., wife of Warren Chase; Julia A., wife of B. F. Carey, and Georgiana, wife of Edgar Carpen- ter. Mr. Wooster died in Chemung, March 22, 1877. Mrs. Wooster is still a resident of the town, and is loved and esteemed by all who know her.
Joseph C. Crumb, President of the Harvard Bank, Harvard, Ill., was born in Otsego County, N. Y., May 25, 1825. His parents were of Puritan stock, his father a native of Otsego County, N. Y., and his mother of Stonington, Conn. His grandfather, Joseph Crumb, erected the first mill on the Unadilla River in 1797. When he was sixteen years of age his parents moved to Walworth County, Wis., and there he grew to manhood and was married in 1850 to Harriet Clark, eldest daughter of Benjamin Clark. In 1856 he moved to Harvard, where until 1865 he was engaged in the lumber and grain trade. In 1866 he established the banking- house known as the Harvard Bank, and in 1867 bought the build- ing which he now occupies, on the corner of Brainard and Ayer streets. Mr. Crumb has from his earliest residence in the city taken an interest in its public welfare, and has been one of the most liberal supporters of all its enterprises. A 'public-spirited, pro- gressive man, he is not content with mere personal success, but is anxious for the achievement of all projects that promise benefit to his city or county. A prompt and reliable business man, lie has the confidence and esteem of the business world, with which he has come in contact. His sterling integrity and superior executive ability, combined with his uniform readiness to meet all obliga-
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