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 62
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The Baptist church was organized in 1847, by Rev. R. R. Whit- tier (second cousin to Whittier the poet), who came from New Hampshire and remained as pastor of this church some seven or eight years and has made his home principally in Greenwood since coming West, and has recently returned to New Hampshire. The church was organized with only twelve members. John James and wife, B. F. Dake and wife, Mrs. Ann Washburn, O. E. Garri- son, Mrs. Joseph Nealley and her daughter Susan were among the first members. They held their first services in the old red school-house which now stands vacant near Greenwood Village, This building they occupied several years and then for a short time occupied the Presbyterian church. They built their house of wor- ship in 1871. It is a neat frame building situated in the village of Greenwood and will seat about 200 people. It was built at a cost of $3,300, including the lot it stands on. Their present membership numbers about fifty. Rev. J. Snashell was their pastor at the time they built their house. The following preachers have been in charge: S. F. Stimson, five years; A. D. Freeman, four years; Walter Ross, three years; Elder Rice, two years; Elder Cox, three years; John Young, three years; Rev. C. D. Fisher, now missionary in Japan; D. D. Odell and the pres- ent pastor, Rev. Happell.
CEMETERIES.
The township of Greenwood contains four cemeteries. Green- wood Cemetery contains the first buried in the township. It is a beautiful "City of the dead," and favorably situated on a high ele- vation a half mile south of the village and contains about three acres. Here are to be seen many fine monuments erected to the memory of the departed.
The Soldiers' Monument towering over all speaks loudly of the patriotism and warm hearts of Greenwood's citizens who erected this beautiful memorial in honor of the brave men who died in defense of their country. It was unveiled on the 4th day of July, 1880, at which time appropriate speeches were made and
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services held. These grounds originally contained but little over one acre, and after the road was changed it was cut off from every means of access by a piece of land belonging to the farm of Mr. Thompson, which laid between it and the public highway. This piece of land had now become the property of a Mr. Peat, who, after considerable urging on the part of Jacob Eckert, Benjamin Baker, George Garrison and George Van Hoozen, sold it to them. They immediately enlarged the ground to the present size.
In an early day a small burying ground was laid out in the vicinity of the Methodist church, which was built in the southern portion of the township. Those buried here are chiefly from Virginia. The grounds are kept in good condition still.
A German burying ground is located near the center of the township. There is also one near the Norwegian church.
SAW AND GRIST MILLS.
In 1841 Lake & Scofield built a saw-mill on section 11, which received its power from the Nippersink. For nearly twenty-five years this mill was in constant use and did an occasional job of sawing up till five years ago, but at present is torn down and the old site scarcely bears evidence of there ever having been a mill there.
About a mile below, on the Nippersink, Toles & Brown built another saw-mill, and in 1845 the same firm built a grist-mill, at an expense of about $5,000. In 1862 this mill was burned. Mr. Job Toles built the present grist-mill situated in the village and has found it a paying enterprise. It is in good repair and doing a good business.
BUTTER AND CHEESE FACTORIES.
In 1848 Abbott & Thompson erected the first cheese factory in the township. It was a capacious building and a good business was carried on, manufacturing annually about 100,000 pounds of cheese.
Mr. Job Toles built the second cheese factory in 1870; it is located near his grist-mill. Both of these factories are doing a good busi- ness and are among the first enterprises -and industries of the county.
GREENWOOD VILLAGE.
In the strict sense of the word this village was never laid out. A survey was made in 1842, but was never recorded and a plat
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never made. It was laid off in lots by Job Toles, in 1842, and an addition made in 1845. Though it contains a population of about 150, it has never been incorporated. The village is very beauti- fully located, situated in the northeastern portion of the town- ship, on the south branch of the Nippersink. The surrounding country, together with the beautiful natural scenery closely sur- rounding the little villa, and the trim and tasty residences and the clean streets and walks, all combine to make it a pleasant spot to look upon and a most desirable place of residence. The first house built in this place was erected by Lake & Scofield. The first store was opened by C. M. Goodsell. It was a general store, and the stock was large. The first wagon-makers to set up business in this village were Burr & Co. Greenwood Village has always been a good business point for a country town. One store has always found a good trade. From time to time different branches of busi- ness have been added to the place, till now quite a list of industries are to be found here.
The following is a list of the business interests of Greenwood: Blacksmitlis, James Crookshank, John Crookshank & Son; car- penter, R. M. Goddard; butter and cheese, J. A. Carlisle, Fink Brothers; wagon manufacturing, Jolin Crookshank; groceries and tinware, Levi Cowdry; hotel, John Barber; lumberman, J. H. Garrison; lawyer, C. Marble ; merchant, D. W. Soper; flour-mills, Job Toles; physician, W. B. Hart; veterinary surgeon, E. G. Adams.
HARVEST PICNIC.
The people of Queen Ann Prairie, in the town of Greenwood, feeling that the great tendency of the laboring classes was to ad- here too closely to toil and its drudgery, thought that anything that would jar the laboring classes once a year, and cause them to forget for one day in the year the busy scenes of life and allow the illuminating influence of society to change their countenances, would be a step toward the elevation of the class and an addition to the happiness of mankind. With this object in view the Har- vest Picnic was instituted late in the summer of 1877, and the first gathering was held Aug. 23, 1877, in Michael Senger's grove, where it has been permanently located ever since. The gathering was a success,from a social standpoint, but when the harvest of 1878 returned there was added to this a literary programme, sustained entirely by the young people of the vicinity, which interesting
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feature has been a part of each annual festival since that time, and with each succeeding harvest there is an increased interest [ felt in its success, until now in 1884 it exerts an influence upon the growth and development of McHenry County.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
George Abbott was born in Delaware County, N. Y., May 30, 1820, a son of Ebenezer and - (Pomeroy) Abbott, natives of New York. His grandparents were natives of Massachusetts; his great-grandpa- rents, of England. In 1823 his parents moved to Ohio, and set- tled in Mayfield Township, Cuyahoga County. In 1845 he came to Illinois, and settled in McHenry Township, McHenry County, where he lived till 1868, when he inoved to the farm he now owns, in Greenwood Township. In 1857 he abandoned wheat-growing, and turned his attention to the raising of stock and dairying. He is now breeding Scotch and English Polled cattle, and has a fine herd of black Aberdeen-Angus and red Polled animals, mostly imported from Scotland and England. Mr. Abbott was married in 1844 to Emeransa L. Tanner, of Ohio, the only child of Henry and Lucinda (Winsor) Tanner. They have three children-Francis A., Trus man A. and Charles T.
George Allen is a native of England, born in 1821, a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Sykes) Allen. Of a family of seven chil- dren but three are living-George, Thomas and Mary. John, Anna, Ann and Eliza are deceased. Mr. Allen remained in his native country till twenty-four years of age, and in 1845 came to America, and located in McHenry County, Ill. He entered forty acres of land from the Government, and by industry and economy has increased his possessions to 400 acres. He has 160 head of sheep, sixteen cows, and thirteen horses. His residence and farm buildings are commodious and comfortable. He has been an en- terprising, progressive citizen, and is now one of the most influen- tial in the township. He was married in 1845 to Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Robert and Jane Harrison. They have had nine children- J. Elizabeth (wife of A. Still); Mary A., Harrison, Mary (2d), Ann Eliza and Harrison (2d) are deceased; William married Nellie Pierce, and has two children; Eliza and Fred are at home.
Sebrean Baldwin was born in Windsor County, Vt., Jan. 15, 1813, a son of Levi G. Baldwin and a grandson of Jesse Baldwin. His father was a minister in the Baptist church, and died at the age of eighty-six years. He was physically a large, strong man,
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but with a mild, amiable disposition, yet possessed of admirable powers of command. He was a native of Massachusetts, but moved to Vermont when young, and there married Rebecca Taylor, daughter of Benjamin Taylor. They had a family of nine chil- dren. Betsey married George Wade. She died in Missouri, aged sixty years. Chancellor, a farmer of Bradford County, Pa., aged seventy-three years. Sebrean, our subject. Rebecca married George Franklin, and is still living, aged sixty-nine years. Levi, a mechanic, died at the age of sixty years. Frederick, a farmer, died at the age of forty years. Olive B. married Solomon Snell, and died aged forty years. Eliza married John Squire ; is sixty years of age. Irena married Isaac Cook, and died when thirty years of age. Sebrean Baldwin left home when seven years of age, and lived with strangers till sixteen. He received a good ed- ucation, and taught five terms of school. He went to Pennsylva- nia, and worked at farming till 1839, when he came to Illinois and settled in McHenry County. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace sixteen years, and Town Collector several years. He was married Oct. 1, 1835, to Lovina Stevens, a native of Pennsylvania, born Sept. 11, 1816, a daughter of Albigence and Thankful (Goff) Stevens. They have had twelve children, nine of whom grew to years of maturity. Norman enlisted in Company H, Ninety-fifth Illi- nois Infantry, and died at Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 19, 1862, from disease contracted in th army. He was married about a year prior to his enlistment, and left one daughter-Nellie, now of Kansas. Lucy married William Lee, now of Hebron, and has five children- Norma, Elizabeth, William, Carrie, and Bertie. Flora dicd at the age of cight months. Levi died in 1860, aged nineteen years, while teaching school in Logan County, Ill. Helen died aged five months. Seth enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Forty- first Illinois Infantry, and died at Columbus, Ky., in August, 1864, aged nineteen years, of disease contracted in the army. He is buried in Greenwood Cemetery, McHenry County. George F. is unmarried, and resides in McHenry County. Sebre died in Sep- tember, 1883, aged thirty-four years. He was married, and left four children --- Jessie, Louis, Sebre M., Florence and Bertha. Aristodes is a dentist, of Chicago. He was for three years a prac- ticing physician of Stark County, Ill. He is married, and has one child-Alice. Jesse A. is an attorney at law in Chicago, Ill .; married and has one child-Louisa. Julia died aged five years. Henry R., a school teacher, of Hebron, is now filling the place of
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his brother Sebre, as Superintendent. He is married, but has no children.
D. H. Brunson was born in Barrington. Yates Co., N. Y., Dec. 23, 1822, a son of Cyrus and Susan (Maxwell) Brunson. In 1836 he came to Illinois and settled in Lockport, Will County, remaining there nine years. He then went to Kane County, and in 1847 came to McHenry County, and settled on the farm in Greenwood Township where his family still reside. The farm contains 120 acres of land, seventy-five of which are under cultivation. He made a specialty of dairying, milking nineteen cows. Mr. Brun- son was married in 1845 to Sarah E., daughter of Frederick and Mary (Green) Schryver, of New York. They had ninc children- Cyrus M., the eldest, was killed at Whitesford, Md., in August, 1864. M. S. married Ira Strickland, May 16, 1868, and is now living in Dakota. She has three children-Frank, Ida and Adel- bert. Phobe L. married Charles L. Elsworth and is living in Missouri. She has four children-Mabel, Lewis, Ernest and an infant. Marshall, now of Kankakee, was married in 1880 to Clara Walton. He has two children. Elmer, Edmund W., Amy L., Maxwell and Libbie are at home. Mr. Brunson had six brothers and two sisters, of whom only three brothers and one sister are living, viz .: Montreville, Cyrus M., Elial and Susan E. D. H. Brunson died at his home, Nov. 15, 1884.
Mrs. S. T. Bryan is a native of Norway, born Sept. 5, 1820. She was married in Chicago, Ill., to S. T. Bryan, being his third wife. They had no children. In 1843 Mr. Bryan came to Illinois and settled on the farm now occupied by his widow. He was one of the first Norwegian settlers of the county, and was one of its most respected citizens. He was influential in promoting many of the improvements of the township. The church opposite his farm was commenced and nearly finished by him. He was born Jan. 1, 1808, and died March 10, 1884, and was buried in the Scan- dinavian Cemetery. Mrs. Bryan's property is very valuable, being situated near Woodstock, and in the best farming portion of the county.
Samuel E. Clark is a native of New York State, born in Sul- livan County in 1848, a son of James and Frances (Hollister) Clark. His parents came to Illinois in 1850 and settled in Mc- Henry County, on the farm now occupied by him. His father died in 1880 and is buried in Greenwood Cemetery. The mother is still living on the old homestead with her son. Samuel E.
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Clark was reared and educated in McHenry County, and on at- taining manliood turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. He now owns 340 acres of land. He also makes a specialty of sheep-raising, having between 500 and 600 head of the celebrated Spanish Merino breed. Mr. Clark is a highly respected citizen of the township. He has never married.
Peleg Dailey was born in New York State in 1824, a son of Thomas and Prudy (Egelston) Dailey. His father's family con- sisted of thirteen children; three dicd in infancy. The living are : Hannah, now Mrs. Charles Van Schaick; Lois, now Mrs. H. Wil- son; Maria, now Mrs. William Wilson; Mary, now Mrs. Orvil Anderson; Martha, now Mrs. George Van Schaick; Eliza, now Mrs. Fred Brown; Charles, married a Miss Nichols, who died, and he then married Mrs. H. Dickenson; Samuel, married Betsey Dick- inson; James and Peleg. Our subject came to Illinois in 18- and located in MeHenry County. He owns a fine property in Greenwood Township, where he is now living, retired from active business life, although he superintends his farm. He was married in 18- to Polly A. Dake, daughter of Henry and Hannah (Spicer) Dake. They have had a family of ten children-Harriet is de- ceased; Ida, now Mrs. William Wilson; Delia, now Mrs. Henry Soudericker; Alvin, married Lina Dickenson, of Detroit; Charles, married Hattie Clement; Henry, married Nettie Garrison, who died, and he afterward married Dora Self; Fred is in Chicago; Arthur, in Iowa; Herman and William are at home. Politically Mr. Dailey is a Republican.
Henry Deitriech, son of Henry and Margaret (Schmidt) Dei- triech, was born in France, Feb. 13, 1812. His parents died in the old country. He had two sisters, both deceased. He came to the United States in 1849 and located in McHenry County, Ill., in McHenry Township. He remained there five years and then moved to Greenwood Township, where he has since resided. He has been successful in his pursuits and owns a good farm; also pays considerable attention to dairying, milking thirteen cows. He was married in 1833 to Barbara Delenbach, who died in Novem- ber, 1883, after a married life of fifty years, and is buried in Queen Ann Cemetery, Greenwood Township. To them were born two daughters-Margaret, who was married in 1854 to Jacob Warner, and has three children-Mary, Jacob and Dora; and Lena, who was married in 1858 to Henry Herdklotz, and has three children- Laura, Henry and Fred.
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Henry Eckert .- Jacob Eckert and wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Smith, sailed from France in March, 1838, with one son, Henry, who at that time was but eleven years of age. In the fall of the same year he located in what is now called Green- wood Township, McHenry County, Ill. His first purchase con- sisted of 160 acres of land which he at once set about to improve and resided there till his death in 1872, at the age of eighty-six years and six months. His wife died in 1860. To them had been born three sons, two of whom came to America, Jacob and Henry, and one, Michael, died in France. Henry now owns and occupies the old Eckert homestead, half of the property coming by heirship, and the balance he purchased of his brother Jacob at $6 per acre, which at present is all under cultivation with fine improvements, comparing well with the best in Greenwood Township. Mr. Eckert has been constantly adding to the pioneer home until his possessions now number 4662 acres, comprising three separate farms, two of which are carried on by his sons William H. and Frank. The home place is conducted by George W. Our sub- ject, until attaining his majority, was under the kind care and guidance of fond parents, which he in turn reciprocated when old age bade them retire from active life. Mr. Eckert was married in 1847 to Miss Catharine Senger, daughter of Jacob and Magdaline (Neuhardt) Senger. To them were born seven children, four sons and three daughters-William H., George W., Frank, Charles F., Catharina (deceased), Catherine (deceased), and Linda, the wife of George Burger, of Hebron, who has two children, a son and daughter. George W. married Miss Bertha Sigwald and has two children, a son and daughter. Charles graduated from Northern Indiana Business Institute, Valparaiso, in 1884. Our subject is of pioneer stock and is one of the most prosperous and influential citizens of his town and county. Shortly after his marriage he was elected the second Tax Collector of his town, in which ca- pacity he acted two years. At the expiration of this service he was chosen by the people as Commissioner of Highways, which position (although not lucrative) he enjoyed for a period of fifteen years to the full satisfaction of all fair-minded citizens; was after- ward elected Assessor, but declined to act, owing to the fact that he had previously decided to conduct the foundry and machine works in Woodstock, which he continued three years when he again returned to his farm, and the year following was elected as Supervisor of his town, thus bespeaking for him the full confidence
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of those knowing him best, and giving another proof of the high esteem in which he was held.
Harry Fosdick is a native of New York; was born in Cazenovia, April 7, 1811, a son of John and Philena (Roberts) Fosdick, na- tives of Vermont, and a grandson of William and Polly (Sension) Fosdick. His grandfather came to America at the time of the Revolutionary war. Harry Fosdick left New York in 1827 and settled near Cleveland, Ohio, remaining there seventeen years. He then moved to McHenry County, Ill., and settled on the farm in Greenwood Township where he now lives. He was married July 19, 1835, to Pattie Francisco, who was born in Mayfield Township, Cuyahoga Co., Ohio, June 16, 1819, a daughter of John A. and Elizabeth (Near) Francisco. They have a family of eleven children-Leroy married Frances B. Grace and has two chil- dren; Margaret married Edwin Merritt and has seven children; Marion married James Murray and has two children; Milan mar- ried Lucy Singer and has two sons; Chloe married Thomas Skilli- com who died in the war of the Rebellion and she afterward mar- ried Al. Bellows; Hester married C. H. Fairchild and has had five children, one of whom is deceased; Charity A. married John A. Murphy and has four children; Henry A. is at home; Nellie C. married M. J. Wright and has two children; Charles M. married Etta Barrows; John A. is at home. Mr. Fosdick was one of a family of ten children, three sons and seven daughters, but six of whom are living. Mrs. Fosdick's parents were natives of New York, her father born June 9, 1783, and her mother Dec. 28, 1780. They were married Jan. 27, 1803, and to them were born eight children, three sons and five daughters, of whom Mrs. Fosdick and her brother Abram, of Nunda, Ill., are the only ones living. Mrs. Fosdick was one of triplets, all of whom lived till maturity, one living to be thirty and another to be fifty-three years of age. The father died April 13, 1827, and the mother Dec. 20, 1870.
George Frey is a native of France, born in 1843, a son of Peter and Charlotte (Deitriech) Frey. He came with his parents to the United States in 1845, landing in New York, and from the :: com- ing direct to McHenry County, where his mother died in 1861 and his father in 1884. He was married in 1875 to Lena Schaff, daughter of George and Lena (Soudericker) Schaff. They have one son-William, born June 30, 1877. Mr. Frey owns 180 acres of choice land; 110 acres are under cultivation, thirty acres in
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corn and an acre and a half is a fine fruit orchard. He milks fif- teen cows.
Peter Frey is a native of France, born in 1831, a son of Peter and Barbara (Deitriech) Frey. His parents came to the United States in 1845 and located in Greenwood Township, McHenry Co., Ill., where the mother died in 1861 and the father in 1884. They were the parents of four children-Michael died in 1850; George married Lena Schaff in 1876 and has one child-Willie; Margaret married Fred Bertchey in 1857, who died in 1858, and she after- ward married John Buckley, and has one child-Etta. Mr. Buckley died in 1866. Peter was married in 1857 to Elizabeth Sou- dericker, daughter of Henry and Charlotte (Senger) Soudericker. They have had eleven children-Michael W., Carrie C., Lizzie S., Emma M., Peter H., Ida M., George J., Jennie I., Charles B., Lillie B. and Nettie A. Lillie B. died March 14, 1884, aged six years and four months. Mr. Frey bought the farm where he now resides in 1861. He owns 300 acres of land, 150 of it under cul - tivation, and fifty acres in corn. He has twenty cows. He is one of Greenwood's most enterprising citizens.
William D. Given was born in Bath County, Va., Jan. 11, 1818, a son of Henry Given. In 1839 he came with his brother Musto B. Given, and Jesse Slaven (the latter) now of Missouri), to McHenry County, Ill., and located on section 35, Greenwood Township, where he has since resided. He was one of the first settlers of the county, and was obliged to endure many hardships incident to a new country. He has been prosperous and is now enjoying the fruits of his labors, having a fine farm of 191 acres. He during his long residence in McHenry County has made many friends. He has held the office of School Director and Trustee and of Road Commissioner. For many years lie has been a worthy and influential member of the Masonic fraternity. He was married in Highiland County, Va., May 1, 1838, to Rachel B. Slaven. After a married life of thirty years they were separated, death claiming Mrs. Given in 1858. She left a family of seven children-Margaret Jane, wife of Amos Steveson, of Hartland Township; Charles Alexander, married Susie Rider, of Green- wood Township; Anna E., married Henry Barlow, of Greenwood Township; Musto J., married Rowena Hakes, and resides in Wood- stock; William B., is unmarried and makes his father's house his home; Kittie, married E. T. McCoy, and lives in Virginia; Stewart, 43
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married Carrie Schaaf. In 1869 Mr. Given married Martha G. Lynch of New York State.
George Herdklotz, son of Michael and Sally (Schmidt) Herd- klotz, came to McHenry County, Ill., in 1839, his brother P. J. having preceded him onc year. When he first came to this county he was without means, but by industry and energy has accumulated a good farm of 156 acres, and has a dairy of seventcen cows. He was married in 1853 to Effie Kuhn, daughter of Jacob and Cath- erine (Neighardt) Kuhn. They have had seven children-William, married Charlotte Soudericker, Dec. 25, 1874, and has four children -Mary, Charles, Gustave and Isabelle; George; Jacob, died in in. fancy; Sarah, married Fred Schneider May 13, 1880; Kattie, Edward nd Ida. Mrs. Herdklotz has one brother, Jacob Kuhn, who married Elizabeth Highsman and has seven children-George, Jacob, Henry, Emil, Willie, Charlie and Frank. His daughter Laura died at the age of three years.
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