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 59
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POSTOFFICE.
The postoffice at Huntley was established in 1851. Prior to this
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the people of Grafton got their mail at Coral. The following is a list of Postmasters and the time they served: Stewart Cumming, two years; Peter Miller, one year; John Wales, four years; Miss Izanna Bridge, four years; H. B. Williams, two years; John S. Cummings, nine years; Edward Haight, seven years; T. R. Ferris, is the present Postmaster. It was made a money-order office in 1870. The first money-order issued was Aug. 5, 1870, by Haight & Butler, to E. Dayton, of Marengo; amount $30. First money- order was paid Ang. 12, to Miss Libbie Shattock, drawn by Chas. Sweet, of Oswego; the amount of this order was also $30.
Huntley Cheese Factory, owned by D. E. Wood & Co., was built during the winter of 1875 and 1876, by D. E. Wood. It is a frame structure, whose main building is 36 x 105 feet. The engine and boiler room is 32 x 36 feet. It is a two-story building and the largest cheese factory in the county. The ice-house is 36 x 38 feet; one cooling-room 16 x 16 feet, and one cooling-room 12 x 16 feet. The building contains five cheese vats, each 4 x 16 feet. Here they have manufactured as high as 600,000 pounds of cheese and 100,000 pounds of butter annually.
This firm of D. E. Wood & John Weltzine own four other fac- tories in the county and each is doing a good business.
Below will be found a list of business interests in the village of Huntley: Agricultural implements, Wm. Hackett, S. Haight, Geo. Van Valkenburg; boots and shoes, F. O. Dain, Patrick Duffy ; blacksmiths, Thomas Fenwick, J. G. Kelley, P. McNinney; creamery, Wood & Weltzine; wagon manufacturing, A. Disbrow; dressmaker, Mrs. R. W. Durner; druggist, T. R. Ferris; feed store, W. G. Sawyer; furniture, A. Oakley; hotel, B. F. Ellis; hardware, M. D. Hadley; livery, Smith & Oakley; lumbermen, Teeple & Co .; merchants, Devine & Skells, Hawley & Tappen; meat market, Ellis & Ballard; tailor, M. J. Kelley; flour-mill, D. M. Williams; physician, O. K. Griffith; shoemaker, Otto Gaup- ner.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Jonathan H. Ballard, farmer and dairyman, section 2, Grafton Township, is a native of Erie County, N. Y., born Feb. 20, 1826, a son of Nathaniel Ballard, a native of Vermont but an early set- tler of Erie County, where he died June 1, 1840. Jonathan is the youngest of fifteen children. He lived in his native county till 1850 and then came West and located in Kane County, Ill. In 1852 he returned to his native county, and Nov. 12, was
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married to Eleanor J. Bailey, and soon after came to Illinois and located in Du Page County. To them were born four children; three are living-Daniel Webster, Emily E. and Eleanor. Mrs. Ballard died Dec. 21, 1863. In 1864 Mr. Ballard went to Erie County, N. Y., and married Elvira, danghter of Stanton Lewis, and the same year moved to Grafton Township. To them have been born two children-Lewis S. and Nelson A. Mr. Ballard owns 230 acres of choice land, and milks forty-six cows. He was left an orphan at the age of fourteen years, and after working some time at low wages he was taken sick and for seven years was an invalid. This consnmed the little money he had saved, and on regaining his health he was obliged to again begin at the bottom of the ladder and work his way up. Success has crowned his ef- forts and he now has a fine property, and is able to assist his chil- dren as one by one they leave the parental roof.
Rev. John E. Baumgartner, pastor of the German Lutheran church, Huntley, is a native of Bavaria, Germany, born Dec. 24, 1846, a son of John Baumgartner. He received a High-School education in his native country and after coming to America at- tended Wartemburg Theological Seminary, near Strawberry Point, Iowa, graduating in 1871. His first ministerial labors were in Monroe, Iowa, in 1870. In 1872 he was called to the pastorate of the church in Appleton, Mo., and in 1874 removed to Jonesboro, Ill. In the fall af 1875 he went to Minonk, Ill., and in the spring of 1876, took charge of the church in Huntley. He is a hard worker, a persistent, fearless preacher. He has built up a large congregation, although by his ontspoken disapproval of intemper- ance and infidelity he has made some enemies. Mr. Baumgartner was married Aug. 4, 1872, to Susannah Goppelt, daughter of Andrew Goppelt. They have four children-John, Conrad, Louis and Charles A. E.
James Brannen, farmer and dairyman, section 14, Grafton Township, was born in County Monahan, Ulster Province, Ireland, in 1835, a son of James Brannen. In 1848 his parents moved to Leeds, Yorkshire, England. In 1855 he came to the United States and lived in New Jersey a year, and in 1856 came to Illinois and settled in Kane County. In 1863 he moved to Grafton Town- ship, McHenry County. In 1864 he went to Omaha, Neb., and helped to build the first 1,000 miles of the Union Pacific Railroad. He was a contractor in the grading of the road bed. He returned to McHenry County in 1869 and bought his present farm of 160
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acres. He has been a hard working man, and with the help of his estimable wife has been successful and accumulated a good property. He was married July 4, 1864, to Ellen, daughter of Jolin Connelly. They have had ten children; but seven are living -James, Annie, John, William, Nellie, Henry and Julia. Mr. Brannen and his family are members of the Catholic church.
Hosea B. Brown was born in Pawlet, Vt., June 10, 1814, a sou of Peris and Henrietta (Behan) Brown; his mother was a cousin of President Garfield's mother. He was reared and educated in Manchester, Vt., and married in Chester, Vt., Dec. 1, 1835, Sabrina Lockwood, daughter of Amassa and Henrietta (Wescot) Lockwood, and the same month moved across the Green Mountains to Grafton, Vt., where he built a tannery, having learned the trade when a boy. In 1840 the building and most of the stock were destroyed by fire entailing a loss of his entire property. He then moved to Granville, Washington Co., N. Y., where he was employed as foreman in a tannery two years. In 1842 he returned to his native village, and from there, in 1843, came to McHenry County, Ill., and entered land in Coral Township, which he im- proved, making of it a fine farm. He subsequently moved to the village of Huntley, where he built a hotel and bought a warehouse, where for several years he was engaged in buying produce in con- nection with the hotel business, and also opened a shoe shop which he carried on for several years. In 1858 he sold the hotel and pur- chased a farm on Dundee Prairie. In 1865 he sold the farm and came to Huntley, where he opened a boot and shoe store in con- nection with a shoe shop, which he carried on for three years. In 1868 lie opened a meat market which he ran until October, 1882, when he rented his house and market and moved to Douglass County, Dak., where he remained two years making there a fine farm. In 1884 he returned to Huntley and again took charge of the market. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have had fourteen children; seven arc living-Charles R., George H. and Horace L., the three eldest, were soldiers in the war of the Rebellion; James Willis is in Dakota; Mariett, Ellen and Amelia. The family are all niem- bers of the Baptist church, with two exceptions, and George H. is a prominent minister of that church in Red Cloud, Neb.
Samuel Clark was born in Norfolk, England, Aug. 9, 1826. His father, Samuel Clark, came to America, returned to England on a visit, and came again to America, and has never been heard from since the news of his safe arrival in New York. Sam-
G
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uel, Jr., came to the United States in June, 1848, and lived in Herkimer County, N. Y., two years, and in November, 1850, came to Illinois and has since lived in Grafton Township, McHenry County. He was employed by the railroad company six years; four years of the time was foreman of the fencing department of the Galena & Chicago Railroad. He superintended the fencing of the Illinois Central Railroad from Galena to Amboy. Heis by trade a carpenter and joiner, and has always worked at his trade in con- nection with farming. He owns 100 acres of fine land, well im- proved. Mr. Clark has always been a Republican. He cast his first Presidential vote for Winfield Scott. He has an American flag painted on the front of his barn that there may be no doubt of his patriotism. He believes in protective tariff and the rights of the laborer. In the late war he served a year in the Regimental Band of the Seventh Illinois Infantry, and participated in the battles of Fort Henry, Donelson, Pittsburg Landing and siege of Corinth. He slept and messed with John S. Cummings. They shared each others luxuries, joys and sorrows, never keeping any book account, and are still the best of friends. Mr. Clark was mar- ried Sept. 12, 1854, to Jane E. White, a native of Otsego County, N. Y., a daughter of Isaac White. They have six children -Effie G., Minnie E., Sarah E., John S., Annie G. and L. Blanche. Effie married Clarence Church, of Pingree Grove, Ill., and has two children-Arthur and Maud. Mr. Clark helped to move the first building in Grafton Township. He has been a man of great physical powers. It is related of him that in 1855 he without any assistance pitched nearly seven acres of heavy oats from a Manny reaper in three hours.
John S. Conover was born in Florida, Montgomery Co., N. Y., Feb. 15, 1824, a son of Marcus Conover. In 1844 his parents moved to McHenry County, Ill., and settled on section 33, Grafton Township, where our subject now lives. His father died June 28 of the same year. At that time there were but three houses be- tween their farm and Dundee. When Mr. Conover began life he had a capital of $300. He now owns 340 acres of find land all well- improved and runs a dairy of seventy cows. He ships from twelve to thirty cans (96 to 240 gallons) of milk to Chicago daily. He was married Feb. 6, 1851, to Sarah J., daughter of Tunis Vandervere. They have had six children; five are living-William H., Warren, Anna, Marcus and Jay. William married Ida Harris and lives in
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Douglas County, Dak. Warren married Flora Disbrow and lives on a part of the old homestead.
Guy C. Cummings, an old settler of McHenry County, was born in Pittstown, N. Y., Feb. 2, 1789. When he was two years old his father died and, his mother being poor, he was reared by strangers, but was given a fair education. He was of a robust con- stitution and was employed on the farm in the summer and in the pine woods in the winter till twenty-three years of age, when he enlisted as a private in the war of 1812. After his return home he engaged in farming until 1838 when he moved West and located in Dundee, Kane Co., Ill. Six years later he moved to Grafton, McHenry County, where he lived till his death, April 12, 1862. He held various offices of trust. He was a Republican in politics- His religion was to do good to his fellowman and benefit human- ity. He was married when twenty-six years old to Elinor Wheeler, who was born in Starford, Conn., Oct. 19, 1797. In 1805 her par- ents moved to New York, where she was reared and cducatcd. To Mr. and Mrs. Cummings were born thirteen children-Alexander died in infancy; Harriet, born Nov. 15, 1817, died at the age of thirty-seven years; she married H. Stearns and had seven children three of whom are living -- Albert, William and John; Lucy was born Sept. 1, 1819, and died in 1822; Stewart was born Feb. 16, 1822, married M. E. Daniels and has three children-Nina, Warren and Orville; William A., born Feb. 26, 1824, died in 1834; Lucy E., born March 6, 1826, married R. Duff, and has two chil- dren-Robert and William; Waity M., born Dec. 4, 1827, married Danicl Duff, and has had seven children, five of whom are living -- Alexander, William, Daniel, Guy and James; John S. was born Jan. 22, 1830; Jane, born April 12, 1832, married William Duff; Albert, born March 17, 1834, died in 1842; Willard, born Aug. 21, 1836, died at the age of forty-six years; he married M. Hal- bert, who lived but a year, and he afterward married Mrs. C. A. Tovey; Charlotte, was born June 12, 1838, and died aged thirty- four years; she married C. S. Harrison, and had three children, two ofw hom are living-Willard and Harry; Roxy, born Feb. 18, 1844, died in 1862. Mrs. Cummings is living in Dundee, Ill.
John S. Cummings, merchant, and one of the earliest and leading citizensof Huntley, is a native of Cortland County, N. Y., born Jan. 22, 1830, a son of Guy C. and Elinor (Wheeler) Cummings. He was eight years old when his parents moved to Dundee, Ill ., and there he was educated in the elementary branchies, and subse-
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quently attended the academy at Elgin several terms. In 1861 he enlisted in the Seventh Illinois Regimental Band, and served till the Government ordered their disbandment. After his return home he engaged in the mercantile business, afterward adding to it the insurance business, to which he now devotes the greater part of his attention. He is a stirring, enterprising man, and has been successful in his business operations. He owns a fine farm near Pipeston, Minn., and another in Sac County, Iowa. Mr. Cummings was elected Constable before he reached his major- ity and after serving a year resigned and went to California, where he remained five years working in the mines. In 1857 he returned to McHenry County. He has held various offices of his township and served one term as County Coroner. He is a competent and reliable business man, and serves in every office assigned him faith. fully and efficiently. In politics he is a Republican and is active in all elections of importance to his county, State or country. He is a charitable, whole-souled man, assisting the needy with both his means and influence. July 4, 1859, Mr. Cummings was mar ried to Mary E. Baldwin, of Huntley, formerly of Clinton County, N. Y. Her grandfather was a nephew of Ethan Allen, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Mr. and Mrs. Cummings have one son-Fred S., now in the furniture business in Chicago, Ill.
John Donahue, deceased, was a native of County Cork, Ireland, where he was reared and educated. In 1844 he came to the United States and located in Grafton Township, McHenry Co., Ill., where with the exception of two years in Indiana, he spent the rest of his life. He entered 160 acres of Government land on section 28, and subsequently purchased forty acres more; the latter tract is in the corporate limits of Huntley. Mr. Donahue died Nov. 29, 1880. He was married in March, 1844, just before starting for America, to Joanna Long, who died Oct. 29, 1874. To them were born eight children, five of whom are living-Daniel, born April 10, 1852, is a noted criminal lawyer of Chicago; Margaret, born Nov. 7, 1858, married John Clinnin, now of Sioux City, Iowa, and lias two children-Josephine and Leo; Kate, born Feb. 11, 1858; John, born May 26, 1859, and James, born March 28, 1866. Kate, John and James live on the old homestead. The family are members of the Catholic church.
David Edwards, farmer and dairyinan, section 31, Grafton Township, was born in Cardiganshire, Wales, Aug. 20, 1819, a son of David and Sarah (Herbert) Edwards. In 1839 Mr. Edwards
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came to the United States, landing in New York City, July 5. He lived in Log City, a small hamlet twenty-eight miles southwest of Utica, till 1855, and in November came to McHenry County, and located on his present farm. He owns 100 acres of fine land, and devotes considerable attention to stock-raising. He was married in December, 1840, to Eleanor Jenkins, daughter of John A. Jen- kins, an early settler of Jefferson County, Wis., where he died Aug. 5, 1884, aged ninety-four years. Mrs. Edwards died in July, 1875, leaving a family of six children-Mary A., widow of Dr. Ross Turner; David; Sarah, now Mrs. Simon Barber, of Union Station; John, Warden in the asylum at Kalamazoo, Mich; James married Emma Coon, and resides with his father; and Nellie, now Mrs. Andrus Tyler, of Elgin. David served three years in Company I, Ninety-fifth Illinois Infantry, and was wounded at Guntown. He now resides in Iowa.
Benjamin F. Ellis, proprietor of the Ellis House, Huntley, was born in Bath, N. Y., June 13, 1834, a son of Benjamin and Sarah (Cattermole) Ellis, natives of Norfolkshire, England. In 1856 his parents moved to Horicon, Dodge Co., Wis., and in 1859 his father left home to go to Madison on business and has never since been heard from. Our subject was reared on a farm, receiving a common-school education. When twelve years of age, his back was injured while coasting, and he has never recovered from the effects of it. He taught school several terms in Wis- consin, and was Collector of Oak Grove Township, Dodge Co., Wis., three years. He came to Huntley in 1865, and in 1879 took charge of the Ellis House. He keeps a first-class hotel and is doing a good business. Mr. Ellis was married April 25, 1863, to Ellen, daughter of L. P. Merick, of Summit, Waukesha Co., Wis. They have three children-John R., Hattie I. and Benjamin R. Hattie is teaching her second year in the schools in Huntley. She is also proficient in music and has fine vocal powers. Mr. Ellis is a demitted Mason.
John J. Evans is a native of Cardiganshire, Wales, born Aug. 13, 1824, a son of John Evans. In June, 1849, he came to Amer- ica and located in Madison County, N. Y., and in 1855 came to McHenry County, and located in Grafton Township. In his early life he met with financial reverses but having an iron will and a strong constitution he persevered and is now one of Grafton's most substantial farmers. He owns 107 acres of choice, well cultivated land and ten acres of timber. He milks twenty cows, selling the
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milk in Chicago. Mr. Evans was married in June, 1849, soon after reaching America, to Ann, daughter of David Williams and sister of James and Thomas Williams, of Huntley. They have had six children, three of whom are living-David M., William H. and Mary J. Both sons are in Colorado, David in Rico and William in Leadville. Mary married Charles Langwill and lives on a part of the homestead. Ellen E. and two infants, both named Margaret J., are deceased. Mr. Conover enlisted Feb. 9, 1865, in Company C, One Hundred and Fifty-third Illinois Infantry, and was dis- charged Sept. 5, 1865.
T. R. Ferris, Postmaster at Huntley Grove, was born Oct. 8, 1849, a son of David Ferris, a native of New York. He was edu- cated in Anrora and Wheaton, Ill., graduated from the commercial department of Blanchard's Seminary, Wheaton. In 1867 he came to Huntley and clerked for Cummings & Ferris, and in 1872 opened a drug store. He keeps a full line of drugs, medicines, oils, paints, wall-paper, notions, and stationery. He has been Post- master since July, 1879, and has held the office of Village Clerk four years. In February, 1873, Mr. Ferris married Mary Merrill, a native of New York, daughter of George Merrill. They have four children-Edna, Helen, Frank and Fred. Mr. Ferris's father went to California in 1850, and died there of blood poisoning caused by a cut on his foot with an adz. Mr. Ferris is a Free- mason, and holds a demit from the Illinois Grand Lodge.
Patrick Garry, farmer and dairyman, section 15, Grafton Town- ship, was born in Dublin County, Ireland, March 16, 1824, a son of Patrick Garry. He was reared and educated in his native county and in 1847 came to the United States. He lived in Massachu- setts till 1849 and then came to McHenry County, Ill., where he has since resided. Although a poor man when he came to this country he has been a successful financier and now owns a fine farm of 140 acres where he lives; 160 acres of land and village prop- erty in Riverton, Franklin Co., Neb., and 320 acres in Hand County, Dak. He was married in February, 1856, to Mary, daughter of John Mehan, an early settler of Grafton Township. They have had ten children, but six of whom are living-Rose A., Patrick, Maggie, Mary E., Thomas and William. One daughter, Jane, died at the age of twenty-two years. Mr. Garry has been School Director fourteen years and has held several other offices of trust. He and his family are members of the Catholic church.
Thomas Grimley is a native of Ellenville, Ulster Co., N. Y., 41
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HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
born July 5, 1822, a son of John and Sarah (Ingham) Grimley, his father a native of Nottinghamshire, England. He was reared and educated in his native county and in 1855 came to Illinois and lived in DeKalb County two years. In 1857 he moved to McHenry County where he has since resided. He followed agri. cultural pursuits till 1867 and since then has worked at the brick and stone mason's trade. In 1861 he enlisted in Company I, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, and participated in over fifty battles, some of the most important being Gettysburg, Williamsburg, South Mountain, Boonesboro, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Will- jamsport, Culpeper, Brandy Station, Beverly Ford. He served three years and four months, and was promoted for gallantry to Second and First Lieutenant and Captain of his company. Mr. Grimley was married June 14, 1843, to Melissa Terwilliger, a native of Ulster County, N. Y., a daughter of Benjamin Terwill- iger. They have five children-Alonzo D., Belle E., Lorain, Alice and William H. Mr. Grimley is a member of the Congregational church.
William M. Hackett was born in Toronto, Canada, Feb. 23, 1836. In 1839 his father, Abraham Hackett, moved to Walworth County, Wis., and subsequently to Whitewater, Wis., where he still lives aged seventy-three. Our subject was reared on a farm and had but limited educational advantages. For a short time Dr. P. H. Blanchard was his teacher. When eighteen years of age he began working at the wagon-maker's trade with J. L. Pratt, of Whitewater, Wis., and served an apprenticeship of five years. In 1860 he began business for himself in Evansville, Wis. At the breaking out of the Rebellion he enlisted in Company H, Second Wisconsin Infantry, but was rejected by the examining surgeon, on account of lameness caused by a cut on his knee, received in boyhood. In 1863 Mr. Hackett moved to Kane County, Ill., and in 1867 to Huntley, where he has since resided. He thoroughly understands his trade and manufactures the best quality of wagons, buggies and carriages. He also keeps a good stock of farm imple- ments, machinery and factory wagons. Mr. Hackett was married May 29, 1861, to Mary C. Van Schayck, a native of Montgomery County, N. Y., a daughter of John Van Schayck, an early settler of Hampshire, Kane County. Mr. Hackett's mother was Mary Ran. dall, a sister of John F. Randall, of Huntley. Mr. Hackett owns a small farm in Allamakee County, Iowa.
Richard Hadley, farmer and stock-raiser, section 34, Grafton
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Township, was born in Westchester County, N. Y., Feb. 22, 1821, a son of George Hadley, and a grandson of Richard Hadley, a sea Captain. He was reared on a farm and attended the public schools near King's Bridge, Manhattan Island. He came West and loca- ted in Grafton Township, McHenry County, in 1840. He first worked by the month for farmers, but now owns 300 acres of . choice, well-improved land, and forty acres of timber land. He is an extensive stock-raiser feeding the most of his grain to his stock. He has been industrious and is now reaping a bountiful harvest as the result of his early labors. He has never been an aspirant for office, preferring to give his entire attention to his farm. He was married March 4, 1845, to Olive Crego, daughter of Charles Crego, an early settler of Coral Township. But four of their six children are living-Charles, Richard B., Milo and James. The only daughter, Mary, died when eleven years of age.
John Hawley was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, Aug. 29, 1855. His father, John Hawley, died in Germany, and in 1864 he came with his mother to America, and lived in St. Joseph County, Mich., till 1867 when they came to McHenry County, where he has since resided. His mother lives in Ford County, Kas. He attended the public schools of his native country and America, and obtained a good business education. In 1876 he became established in the mercantile business in Huntley and now has a good trade, keeping a full stock of dry-goods, clothing, hats and caps, boots and shoes groceries, etc., valued at $6,000. His sales average $30,000 annu_ ally. Mr. Hawley was married Jan. 1, 1878, to Mina Weltzein, daughter of Charles Weltzein. They have two children-Edith and Neva.
Roland C. Hollister was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., July 7, 1808, and died July 20, 1852. He was a son of Charles Hollis- ter, a Colonel in the war of 1812. Charles Hollister, when a lad, walked two miles with his brother to see George Washington. Washington received them kindly, and talked with them for some time. When Roland was a boy his parents moved to Jefferson County, N. Y., and there he was reared and educated. When nineteen years of age he began sailing on the lakes, and most of the time until 1841 was Captain of a vessel. In 1838 he was mar- ried to Fanny Coleman, a native of Oneida County, N. Y., a daughter of John Coleman. She was well educated in the com. mon schools and Amsterdam Academy. In 1843 they came to Illi- nois and located in Kane County, where he followed agri
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