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 60
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
654 HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
cultural pursuits. To Mr. and Mrs. Hollister were born six children, all now deceased-Ann E., Esther S., Frances L., Ruth C., John C., and Dewitt. Ann E. was born Feb. 15, 1840, and was married to A. Blanchard, Sept. 2, 1856. They had four chil- dren-Bentley, Maud, Jessie and Blanche, Bentley dying when a child. In 1866 they removed to Huntley, McHenry County, where Mrs. Blanchard died of bronchitis, June 16, 1878. Oct. 16, 1880, Mr. Blanchard, while returning from Michigan, was lost on the ill-fated Alpena. He had telegraphed from Michigan to his daugh- ter Maud to meet him in Chicago. She started on the early train, arriving there at six A. M., and remained at the depot till three o'clock in the afternoon. Hearing nothing from him, she went home with some friends and remained till Monday, thinking that she had missed him, and that on returning home she would find him there. Mr. Blanchard was born near Syracuse, N. Y., Feb. 4, 1832. Esther Hollister married Marvin S. Beal and had one child who died in infancy.
Calvin Huntington was born in Oneida County, N. Y., July 29, 1806, a son of Calvin Huntington, also a native of New York. In 1816 his parents removed to Onondaga County, N. Y., and he remained there till 1837 when he came to McHenry County and entered eighty acres of land. He was married in November, 1830, to Ann Brauglit. To them were born ten children; but six are liv- ing-Mary, Hannah, Emily, Esther, George W. and John C. One daughter, Harriet, died in Kansas in February, 1881. Mary mar- ried Alfred Van Vleet, of Wisconsin. Hannah married Richard Dalby. Emily married Frank Emery. Esther married John F. Ran- dall. George married Jane Roath, and resides in Crawford County, Iowa. John married Emma Pease and resides in Jewell County, Kan. Mrs. Huntington died Jan. 16, 1855. March, 1856, Mr. Huntington married Eva Campbell, who died in June, 1876. Mr. Huntington is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Thomas Stillwell Huntley, for whom the village of Huntley was named, was born in Cortland County, N. Y., March 27, 1807. His father, Daniel Huntley, was one of the early settlers of Cort- land County. His grandfather, William Huntley, was a teamster in the Revolution, but when offered a pension refused to accept it. His mother, Catharine Stillwell, was also a native of New York. Her uncle, Samuel Stillwell, was a prominent man and capitalist of New York City. When our subject was ten years of age his parents moved to Cattaraugus County and settled near Ellicotts-
655
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
ville, three miles from a school-house. He was studious and made good use of his time, and notwithstanding the difficulties lie labored under, secured a good education. He worked on the farm till twenty years of age, when, becoming lame from the effects of a fever sore, entered a store in Ellicottsville, where he acquired a knowledge of the mercantile business and a few years later opened a store of his own. He subsequently removed to Chautauqua County, and settled on a farm near Fredonia. In 1846 he disposed of his property in New York and moved to Illinois, and bought a section of land in Grafton Township, McHenry County. In 1851, when the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad was built through the county, Huntley Station was established, and he opened a small store, although he never gave up the care of liis farm. He has een successful and has accumulated a large amount of property both in Illinois and other States. He has traveled extensively over his own country, going from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean with his own team, and in all directions by rail. Politically he was originally a Whig, with anti-slavery proclivities, and a great ad- mirer as well as follower of Hon. Wm. H. Seward. Since the organization of the Republican party he has adhered to its princi- ples and has been an active worker in its ranks. He was a dele- gate to the convention which first nominated Hon. E. B. Wash- burn for Congress, and was one of the leading lights of the conven- tion. He is an active, public-spirited man, but has never aspired to official honors, the only office he has ever held in this county being Supervisor of Grafton. He is a member of the Congrega- tional church. His parents were models of hospitality and from them he learned lessons which have been his guide through life. Mr. Huntley was married in 1830 to Eliza Fox, sister of Hon. Chauncey J. Fox, formerly State Senator from Cattaraugus County. She died in 1873, leaving two children, a son and a daughter, both of whom have since died. The daughter, Harriet F., was twice married and left two children-William H. Williams and Eliza E. Oaks. The son, Charles C., was unmarried. In 1878 Mr. Huntley married Emma E. Brinkerhoff. She died July 10, 1882, leaving one son-Thomas Stillwell. Mr. Huntley has always led a temperance life and does not even use tobacco. Although seventy-eight years of age he is in good health and spirits, and is as fond of company as when young.
Charles C. Huntley, son of Thomas S. and Eliza (Fox) Huntley, (whose great-grandfather was hewn down by the cow-boys in the
656
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
war of '76,) was born in Chautauqua, N. Y. Soon after his birth his parents emigrated to this county, locating in the portion of McHenry County now known as the village of Huntley, it being named in honor of his family. There he spent his childhood days in the common schools of that period. In those days he came to us as a bundle of inherited capacities and tendencies, labeled "From the indefinite past to the indefinite future;" and he made his transit from one to the other through the education of that period. The ob- ject of that education was to provide wise exercise for his capacities, wise direction for his tendencies, and through this exercise and this direction to furnish his mind with such knowledge as inay contribute to the usefulness, the beauty and the nobleness of this life. Those tendencies being watched by a father of keen perception they devel- oped into leadership in the youth, as a guider in all manly sports. It is not to be wondered that the boy was chosen as one worthy to lead in battle. Little did that father dream that those instincts he was instilling into the son would so soon be called into requisi- tion to quell a rebellion aimed at American liberties. Therefore as the boom of the signal gun from Fort Sumter rang out o'er the land, calling to arms our Northern yeomen, little surprise was it that he should be one of the first to respond to its echo. Fully realizing the demand, he commenced recruiting, and in a short period of time he had assembled about him 300 souls full of love of country and human liberty, of whom he was chosen Cap- tain. His father, fearing the youth's capacity as a commander and fearful that he might not fully realize the responsibility resting upon him as a commandant, was surprised to find how thoroughly that young mind had encompassed the rigid features of war; the smile of boyhood passed from that brow and from that moment he was endowed with the stern vigor of manhood. Passing through their service of three months with credit to themselves they returned and re-enlisted for three years, or during the war, in the different regiments then forming in the different camps through the State. Again we find the name of our hero enrolled on the list of the Sixteenth Illinois Cavalry as First Lieutenant, and shortly after- ward, for meritorious conduct, breveted to Captain in cavalry. To follow the memorable history of that regiment through the dust and smoke of its battles would entail volumes. Suffice it to say that none did more effective service until it was captured after a prolonged struggle of nearly twenty-four hours at Strawberry Plains, Va. Before the flag of surrender was unfurled our boy
G
657
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
with tears entreated the Major to allow him, with his command, to cut their way through and thus save themselves the humiliation of surrender. But orders in war were irrevocable, and a prison life was their only alternative, where they remained until the tocsin of surrender was sounded over the land. Returning he sought the home of his father, then in California, with the view of again enter- ing college and completing his studies. For three months he strove to turn his mind into the channel of thought, but strive liard as he might they could not be reverted from the active scenes of life they had passed through; therefore, throwing literary and professional aspirations aside he returned from college and entered upon an active business career. Looking about he believed he saw success in the establishment of a stage route between Helena and Fort Bell- ton. Running this for one season he visited Washington and secured the carrying of the mail for liis line, making it a stage and mail route. This he continued some six months longer when the Wells Fargo Company purchased it to add to their many routes, paying him $10,000; that with his earnings for one year and six months netted him $20,000 besides liis stock. He immediately set fortlı to establish other routes, among which was one to Walla Walla, Ore., also one to Dakota, which he successfully managed for eiglit years, accumulating a princely fortune, when he was stricken down by paryalsis from overlabor, superinduced by starvation and exposure while in the different prison pens of the Southern Con- federacy. Leaving his business he returned to the home of his childhood and his kind old father where lie was surrounded with everything that kind hearts and willing hands could devise for his benefit and comfort, but all to no avail. Oct. 10,1883, the patient, ten- der soul of Charles C. Huntley left his suffering body, and returned to the God who made it. His heart was warm in its affection, mak- ing him a kind friend and devoted son. A noble and benignant spirit, and that which but a short time ago was the shrine of pure and patriotic devotion, of warm love of country and hopes for its happiness and honors, is now but pallid dust.
Rev. John Kilkenny, pastor of the Huntley Catholic church, is a native of Ireland. When twelve years of age he came to America, and lived for a time with Bisliop O' Regan, of Chicago, and administrator of the Quincy (now Alton) diocese. He resigned in 1858, and was succeeded by Bishop Dugan, Coadjutor of St. Louis. Our subject was sent to Carondelet, Mo., and afterward to Cape Girardeau, where he was ordained priest June 29. 1863, by
658
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
Archbishop Kendrick. After his ordination he was assigned assistant pastor to Rev. Michael Donahue, of Waukegan, and served in that capacity eleven months. He was then transferred to Au- rora, Ill., and for a time assisted Father Sullivan. He was subse- quently appointed pastor of Waupello and its dependent missions, and six months later to Lacon, where he also had charge of the missions at Toulon, Kewanee and Galva, in Henry and Stark counties. While there he did a good work -- built churches at Lacon, Camp Grove, and the other missions. He was then trans- ferred to St. Paul's Church, corner of Mather and Clinton streets, Chicago, to succeed Rev. John McMullen, late Bishop of Daven- port, Iowa. St. Paul's was burned in the fire of 1871, and Father Kilkenny was then sent to McHenry, Ill., and while there built the church at Wauconda. In 1873 he was transferred to Fulton, Ill., and remained there eleven years, in the meantime building churches at Rapids City, Coffey's Corners and Savannah. He was assigned to the church at Huntley in May, 1884, and thus far has had a very acceptable pastorate, and has also built a grand gothic church at Gilbert Station, Kane County.
James T. Lawson, a son of James and Elizabeth Lawson, was born on the old homestead in Grafton Township, Dec. 23, 1841. He is the second of nine children. The eldest, Wilson, was killed in the Rebellion, at Kenesaw Mountain. Ruth, Rachel, Levi, Wiley and Charles are all deceased. Parthena, the next younger than our subject, is living at Nunda, Ill., the wife of Charles May- nard. John D. Lawson, the youngest surviving brother, is a resi- dent of Chicago, Ill. James Lawson was married to Rhoda, daughter of Reynolds Rouse, July 4, 1851, and settled on a part of the old homestead, where he still resides. Rhoda, his wife, died Aug. 13, 1869, leaving five children-Earnest, Cora, Edith, Mary and Fredrick. On Feb. 5, 1870, Mr. Lawson married Martlia, daughter of William Chambers. They have had five children -- Orin, Frankie, Bertha, Bennie and Rhoda. Little Rhoda died April 9, 1884. James Lawson has been successful in his busi- ness transactions, and now owns 425 acres of valuable land. Two of his farms are rented. He has been Highway Commissioner six years.
Daniel T. Mason was born in Rochester, Windsor Co., Vt., July 2, 1813, a son of Oliver and Sally (Thayer) Mason, natives of New Hampshire. In 1817 the parents moved to Cortland County, N. Y., and there he was reared and educated. In June, 1837, he
659
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
came to Illinois and located at St. Charles, Kane County, making the entire journey in a wagon. In 1865 he moved to McHenry County, and located at Huntley. Mr. Mason was married in June, 1843, to Eliza Finch, daughter of Elias Finch. She died July 21, 1867. To them were born two children, both deceased. Nov. 28, 1870, Mr. Mason married Mrs. Harriet Bowen, widow of Isaac Bowen, and daughter of John Cook. She has one child, Alice -- wife of John Weltzein, Jr.
Oliver Park Mason, a son of Oliver and Sally (Thayer) Mason, was born in Windsor County, Vt., March 7, 1815. Many years before the Revolution three brothers came from England to Amer- ica. One went to Carolina, onc to Kentucky, and one, Oliver, re- mained in New England. Our subject was but two years of age when his parents moved to Cortland County, N. Y., where he was reared and educated. In 1837 he came with his parents to Illinois, and settled in Kane County, near Huntley, where he engaged in farming 'till 1850, when he moved across the line into McHenry County, and has since resided in Grafton Township. He now owns a fine farm of 180 acres, and village prop- erty in Huntley. In 1843 he introduced and ran the first separator threshing machine in the locality of Huntley. It was the third separator manufactured at Elgin. Mr. Mason was married in April, 1844, to Mary J. Griffith, daughter of Clement Griffith. To them were born three children; but two are living- Oris W. and Oliver. Oris was married in 18-, to Jennie Sprague, daughter of Samuel and Rachel Sprague. They have three children-Harry, May Gerrtude and Charles. Mrs. Mason died in September, 1876. Politically Mr. Mason is a Republican.
Miller Brothers .- Peter and William are two enterprising bachelors, [residing with their parents on section 22, Grafton Township. They are natives of Perthshire, Scotland, sons of James and Jane (Cromb) Miller. In 1871 Peter came to America, and located in Elgin, Ill., and in 1872 the rest of the family fol- lowed him. They remained in Elgin till 1878, and then moved to McHenry County, and located in Grafton Township. They came to America poor men, but by industry and good management have been successful, and now own 260 acres of choice land. James and Jane Miller have had a family of nine children-Lizzie, Peter, James, William, Margaret, Jane, Mary, Jessie and Kate. Lizzie married William Blackman; James married Lillie Munger; Mar- garet married James Clelland; Jane married Edward Purdy;
660
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
Mary married James Smith, and Jessie married John Porter.
Abner W. Nash was born in Hamilton, Madison Co., N. Y., Oct. 14, 1819, a son of Horace Nash, who was born Nov. 5, 1794, and was the first white child born in Hamilton. He is the 2,327th descendant in his division of the Nash family. The first of the family to come to America was Thomas Nash, a native of Lan- cashire, England, who was one of the Pilgrims who waited at Leyden, Holland, while others crossed the ocean in the Mayflower, and subsequently came over in the ship Hector, in 1637. He was one of the subscribers to the " Fundametal Agreement," a com- pact for the control of the civil and religious affairs of the New Haven colony. He was a gunsmith and blacksmith, and a very useful and prominent man of his day. He died May 12, 1658. His son, Lieutenant Timothy Nash, was born in 1626. Lieutenant John Naslı, son of Timothy, was born in Hadley, Mass., Aug. 21, 1667. He, as was his father, was a blacksmith and an extensive land-owner. His son, Deacon John Nash, Jr., was born in Hadley (now Amherst) Mass., July 2, 1694, and his eldest son, Jonathan, was born July 28, 1717. Abner Nash, son of Jonathan Nash, was born in Amherst, Mass., April 1, 1756, and was the first settler of Hamilton. He was a soldier in the Revolution, and participated in the battles of Bunker Hill and Saratoga. He died at the old home- stead in 1837. His son, Horace Nash, was born in Whateley, Mass., Nov. 5, 1794, and was a pensioner of the war of 1812. He died on the old homestead in 1853. Our subject's mother, Philinda (Farr) Nash, was a native of Onondaga County, N. Y. Her mother, Betsey (Beebe) Farr, lived to be over eighty years of age, and at the time of her death had 104 descendants. Abner W. Nash re- mained in New York till 1866, when he came to McHenry County and bought two large farms near Huntley, which he sold in 1884, and bought 440 acres of land in Sac County, Iowa. He lives in the village of Huntley, where by his enterprise and liberality he has become one of the most prominent and influential citizens. Mr. Nash was married Dec. 11, 1844, to Lucy A. Torrey, a native of Plainfield, Mass., born Dec. 10, 1826, a daughter of Dura and Sally Torrey. They have had four children, but three of whom are living-Horace W., Norman W. and Lucien B. Mr. Nash has been a member of the village board five years, and President of that body three years. Before leaving New York Mr. Nash held the office of Supervisor of the town two years, Assessor five years, and was one of the officers of the Agricultural Society fifteen
1
6
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
661
years. Mrs. Nash's parents live with her, and Sept. 18, 1883, cele- brated the sixtieth anniversary of their marriage. They have eight great-grandchildren. Mrs. Torrey is noted for her needlework, which she designs herself, and which excels in beauty and neatness of execution.
Daniel Norton, deceased, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in 1824, and died in Grafton Township, McHenry Co., Ill., Oct. 11, 1882. He came with his parents to America in 1836. Soon after reaching Detroit, Mich., his mother died from the effects of sea-sickness. The family subsequently moved to McHenry County, where they have since resided. Daniel Norton married Elizabeth Duffey, daughter of Patrick Duffey. They had a family of eleven children-John, Kate, David, Elizabeth, Maggie, Dan- iel, Julia A., Emma, James, Lucinda and Edward. Kate married William Clark. Elizabeth married John Fitzgerald, of Dorr Town- ship. Emma married James Murray, of Woodstock. Julia A. is a graduate of the Woodstock High-School, and a prominent teacher of McHenry County.
T. L. Parsons, agent for the Chicago & Northwestern Rail- road at Huntley, Ill., was born in Damascus, Wayne Co., Pa., June 3, 1835. He was educated at Union Academy, in his native town, and when not in school worked in his father's woolen mills. In 1853 he came to Illinois, and clerked in a drug store in Dixon two years. He then went into the railroad office, as clerk and cashier, and remained till 1857, when he came to Huntley and assumed the duties of the position he still occupies. He was mar- ried Oct. 14, 1860, to Ellen F. Hubbard, who was born in Dan- ville, Livingston Co., N. Y., Jan 18, 1842, a daughter of Charles and Olive (Stark) Hubbard. They have two children-Earl and Lizzie M. Mr. Parsons's father, Robert T. Parsons, was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., May 11, 1809. He went to Wayne County, Pa., in 1818, and April 15, 1834, married Clarissa H. Hub- bard, of Sandisfield, Berkshire Co., Mass. They came to Huntley in October, 1864, where the wife died in 1882, and Mr. Parsons soon after moved to Whiteliall, Mich., where he has since resided. They had a family of seven children-T. L., our subject; Charles T., agent for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad at Den- ver, Col .; Hiram R., engineer on the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad; George C., died while serving in the Rebellion; Earl W., of Port Byron, Ill .; Eunice S., of Whitehall, Mich .; and Luke B., a merchant at Turner Junction, Ill. Our subject's grand-
662
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
father, Loring Parsons, was born in Connecticut, Oct. 16, 1769, a son of Captain Joseph Parsons, of Revolutionary fame. His wife, Betsey Wood, was born June 13, 1768, a daughter of Samuel Wood, and a cousin of Hon. Charles Thompson, the first Secretary of the Continental Congress, and an intimate friend of Dr. Frank- lin. Mrs. T. L. Parsons is of English descent. The first of her ancestors to come to the New World was William Hyde, who canie in 1633 and lived in Hartford, Conn., till 1636, then in Say- brook till 1660, when he went to Norwich, where he died in 1682, leaving two children. His son Samuel was born in 1637, and was the father of William, who was born in 1670. The latter's son Jedediah was born in 1712. Jedediah's daughter Jerusha was born in 1736, and in 1757 married Silas Stark, a relative of General Stark, of Revolutionary fame. Her son, William Stark, was the father of Olive, who was born in 1805, and in 1839 married Chas. Hubbard, the father of Mrs. Parsons. Mr. T. L. Parsons has held the office of School Treasurer of Grafton Township fourteen years. He has been an efficient officer and a trustworthy employe, and has won the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens and em- ployers.
Edwin. R. Pearsall, head clerk, bookkeeper and stockholder in D. E. Wood & Co.'s cheese factory, Huntley, was born in Mil- ford, Otsego Co., N. Y., Aug. 15, 1834, a son of Simon Pearsall, now of Fly Creek, N. Y. He was reared in his native village, and attended the common schools and the West Winfield Academy, Herkimer County, N. Y. When eighteen years of age he began teaching, and taught, clerked and kept books, alternately, a few years, and then in company with his father purchased a farm and engaged in agricultural pursuits till 1876, when he came to Hunt- ley, and was employed as bookkeeper and foreman for D. E. Wood & Co. Mr. Pearsall was Census Enumerator of Plainfield, N. Y., in 1860, and performed the same duties for Grafton Township in 1880. He has served as Village Clerk of Huntley since 1878. He was married Jan. 19, 1857, to Helen M. Smith, a native of Plain - field, N. Y., a daughter of Benjamin Smith. They have five chil- dren :- Charles J. is foreman of D. E. Wood & Co.'s cheese factory in Coral Township ; Nellie S. has taught three years in the Hunt- ley High-School, and is now teaching in Marengo; Hattie M. is, also a teacher in Huntley High-School; Benjamin S. is a clerk, and Clifford at school.
Chauncey M. Pendleton, section 1, Grafton Township, was born
663
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
near old Fort Ticonderoga, Essex Co., N. Y., a son of Hubbard and Eunice (Laughlin) Pendleton. His father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and participated in the battles of Plattsburg and Lundy's Lane, and was one of the force that started to relieve General Hull, before his surrender at Detroit. His grandfather was a soldier in the Revolution, and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne to General Gates. He is a cousin of Hon. George H. Pendleton, of Ohio, but opposed to him in politics. When a sinall boy he worked with his father, who was a wheelwright. When ten years of age he went on the lakes, and sailed fifteen years ; ten years of the time was master of a vessel, the most of the time in the employ of Hammond & Penfield, of Crown Point, N. Y. He was married Aug. 1, 1844, to Eliza Taylor, daughter of David Taylor, and Sept. 15, 1844, came to McHenry County. He had bought the farm where he now lives in 1842, at that time wild land. He owns 160 acres of fine land, and carries on an ex- tensive dairy in connection with farming. Mrs. Pendleton taught the first school in Grafton Township, in a log cabin situated on the present site of their residence. Her salary was $1 a week. Mr. and Mrs. Pendleton have had five children-Angeline, Inez (de- ceased), Fred. F., Frank H. (deceased) and Hattie A. Angeline married John C. Starr, of Belvidere, Ill., and has four children- Chauncey P., Minnie, William and Irving. Mr. Pendleton has been Supervisor of Grafton Township two years, Justice of the Peace twenty-six years, Assessor one year, Highway Commissioner several years, and School Director since the organization of the district in 1845. He has always been a strong Union man and Republican, and has been a subscriber to the Chicago Journal twenty-six years. He was a delegate to the convention which or- ganized and named the townships of McHenry County.
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.