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 73
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MARBLE WORKS.
These works were established in 1868 by Henry Miller who has since then been doing a steady and prosperous business. These are as large as any in the county and here some of the finest mon- uments and memorial designs are executed. The sales amount an- nually to over $3,000.
The following is a summary of Johnsburg's business. Black- smiths, Henry Hetterman, Martin May; carpenters, Carles Mathew, Peter Rothermel, John Weber; wagon-maker, Peter Werfs; hotel, Charles Carles; cheese manufacturing, E. Buchanan; merchants, Charles Kuhnert, Ley & Adams, Simon Nichols; Ma- sons, Mathias Hohlmann, Theodore Meyer; marble-cutter, Henry Miller; painters, Mat. Heimer, Frank Miller; shoemakers, Wm. Althoff, Joseph Palmes, Steffen Thelen; saloons, Peter Adam, Martin Boughner, [L. N. Freund, Mathias Heimer, John Molitur, John Thelen.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Castor Adams was born in Prussia, May 20, 1832, a son of Nich- olas and Susanah Adams, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1841 and located in McHenry County, Ill., on the farm where our subject now lives, where the mother died in 1843, aged thirty-four years, and the father, June 26, 1879, aged eighty-one years. Castor Adams attended school in his native country, but after coming to America was obliged to help his father on the farm and attended school only a month. He was married Oct. 30, 1855,
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to Anna, daughter of John P. and Kate Huemann, natives of Ger many. They have eight children-John, Emma, Peter, Nicholas, Joseph, Katie, William and Mary. He has served as Assessor two terms, Road Commissioner four terms, and School Director several years.
Rev. J. E. Bassett was born in Rushville, Ontario Co., N. Y., Sept. 10, 1815, a son of Fortunatus Bassett, a native of New York, of English descent. His mother died a few days after his birth and his father survived only a few years. His boyhood was spent on a farm. His educational advantages were limited to the common school, which he attended in the winter till twenty years of age. He was converted and joined the Methodist Episco- pal church and in 1835 was licensed to preach. He joined the Erie Conference and was under its appointment nine years. He then located in Mentor, Lake Co., N. Y., and engaged in farming four years. From there he moved to Chester, Ohio, and four years later to McHenry County. Although he now sustains no confer- ence relation he devotes a part of his time to church work. He was married Sept. 11, 1840, to Celestia, daughter of Eber and Eliphalet Norton. They have had three children; but two are liv- ing-Wilbur F., now on the farm with his father, and Adeline, wife of David Magroon. Mr. Bassett has a fine farm of 128 acres, which is well stocked, and his farm buildings are comfortable.
Chauncey Beckwith was born in Newport, N. H., Feb. 16, 1811, a son of Jabez and Catherine Beckwith, natives of New Hamp- shire. His father died at the age of thirty-five, and his mother at the age of forty years. He received a good education, attending school in the winter till twenty years of age. In May, 1836, he left New Hampshire, and came to McHenry County, Ill., and laid a claim .. At that time there were but three families in the town- ship. He remained one year, improving his land, and in June, 1837, went to New Hampshire and was married to Sophonia, daughter of Elias and Sally Thatcher. They were married Aug. 8, 1837, and the same day started for their new liome, arriving Sept. 10. They have been industrious, and now own 250 acres of fine land. They have had two children-Ira, died in 1869, leaving a wife and three daughters-Stella, Elona and Belle ; George, mar- ried Ernestine Irish, and lias had four children, two living-Ella M. and Alta. Nora E. died July 13, 1877, of scarlet-fever, and Chancey died July 19, 1882, of same disease. Politically Mr. Beckwith is a Republican. He is an active member of the Congregational church.
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John B. Bell is a native of Yorkshire, England, born April 24, 1826, a son of John and Mary (Latham) Bell. His father died in 1841, aged forty-one years, and his mother in 1850, aged fifty years. He received but a limited education, remaining on the farm with his parents till manhood. In 1852 he came to America, and located in McHenry County, Ill., where he lias since made his home, engaged in farming and stock-raising. He owns 241 acres of fine land, well improved. He was married in 1851 to Mary, daughter of Joseph and Fannie Coates, natives of England. Her father came to America in 1852, and died in McHenry County, Feb. 17, 1870, aged about sixty-seven years. Her mother died July 4, 1838, aged thirty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Bell have six children-John W., Charles E., Fannie E. (wife of Robert Tweed), Fred H., Thomas Franklin and Delbert M., all in Mc- Henry County. Politically Mr. Bell is a Republican. He has held several of the township offices.
G. W. Besley, druggist, McHenry, Ill., was born in Oakland County, Mich., July 17, 1846, a son of William and Mary Besley, natives of England, who came to America in 1832. William Besley is now President of Besley's Brewing Company, Wauke- gan, Ill. He has been Mayor of that city two or three terms. G. W. Besley attended school till fourteen years of age, and then went into the store of W. S. Pearce, Waukegan, to learn the drug- gist's trade. He remained three years, when he received his cer- tificate, and went to Chicago, where he was employed by Joseph Sobey two years. He then alternated between Waukegan and Chicago seven or eight years, when he went to Negaunec, Mich., where he was employed as head clerk for L. D. Cyr. Subse- quently returned to Waukegan, and two years later went to Chicago, but remained only a short time, when he returned to Waukegan, and in July, 1879, came to McHenry County, and established his present place of business in McHenry. He carries a full stock of drugs, paints, oils and notions. Mr. Besley was married in 1872 to Sophia A., daughter of Samuel Cone, of Waukegan. They have three chil- dren-Dora A., Walter O. and Mamie H. Politically Mr. Besley is liberal, casting his suffrage with the party he considers in the right. He is a member of McHenry Lodge, No. 158, A. F. & A. M.
G. Boley was born in Wurtemberg, Germany, Oct. 23, 1844, a son of G. G. and P. H. (Sayler) Boley. His father died in 1867, and his mother in 1873. He attended school till he was fourteen
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years of age, and then began learning the brewer's trade. In 1865 he went to Switzerland and France, and in 1868 to Bavaria, re- maining there five years. In the fall of 1873 he came to America, and in September, 1874, to McHenry County, where he found em- ployment in the brewery he now owns. He worked there three and a half years, and then carried on a saloon a year; afterward was em- ployed as agent for the Woodstock Brewery a year, and in 1880 bought the McHenry Brewery. He was married in September, 1874, to Josephine Pytlick. They have three children-Katie, Josephine and Gottlieb. Politically Mr. Boley is a Democrat.
Richard H. Carr was born in Yorkshire, England, Marc 1832, a son of Mathew and Saralı Carr. In 1834 Mathew Carr, with his family, came to America. He lived in Canada three years, and in June, 1837, moved to McHenry County, Ill., and bought a claim of Dr. Hale, the only man in this section of the county. When the land was surveyed he borrowed money at thirty per cent. interest to make his first payment on the land he entered, and at the time of his death owned 480 acres. He was one of the found- ers of the Ringwood Methodist church, and for many years his house was the minister's home, and was used for public worship. He died Feb. 7, 1848, aged fifty-three years. His wife died Oct. 1, 1865, aged seventy-five years. Richard H. Carr was reared on a frontier farm, and had but limited educational advantages. When but sixteen years of age he was left to take charge of the farm and care for his mother. He has been industrious, and now owas 400 acres of fine land. He gives considerable attention to stock-rais- ing. He was married Oct. 28, 1860, to Jane, daughter of Robert and Ann Harrison. They have had three children; one is living- Luella A., born Sept. 4, 1874. Their only son, Clark H., was born Aug. 1, 1865, and died May 2, 1880; Eliza M., born May 12, 1862, died Aug. 13, 1884. Politically Mr. Carr is a Republican.
Eli T. Chase was born in Johnson, Lamoille Co., Vt., Feb. 10, 1827, a son of Joshua and Mary Chase, natives of Newbury, Orange Co., Vt. His grandfather, Stephen Chase, was a soldie in the Revolution, and participated in the battle of Bunker Hill. Joshua Chase was a soldier in the war of 1812. He came with his family to McHenry County in 1852. He died June 25, 1882, aged eighty-five years. His widow is still living. Eli T. Chase received a fair education in the common schools and the academy at Johnson, Vt. In the fall of 1848 he came to Illinois and loca- ted in McHenry County. He owns a good farm of 130 acres. In
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October, 1858, he was married to Lucia, daughter of Moses and Anna Jones, and widow of Atwood Tabor. Their only child, Florence M., died at the age of three years. In 1864 Mr. Chase enlisted in the Eighth Illinois Cavalry, and served till the close of the war. Politically he is a Republican.
M. M. Chase, night manager of the McHenry Pickle Factory, was born in Johnson, Lamoille Co., Vt., July 21, 1835, a son of Joshua and Mary Chase. In the spring of 1848 he came to Mc- Henry County, Ill., and settled in McHenry Township. May 24, 1861, he enlisted in the Fifteenth Illinois Infantry, as a private; was promoted to Third, then to Second Sergeant. He par- ticipated in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg and several others, serving till June 14, 1864. Aug. 24, 1864, he was married to Mary J., daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Stevens. They have two children-Lois E., born June 3, 1866, and Emily M., born Nov. 19, 1872. Politically Mr. Chase is a Republican. Mrs. Chase's parents came to Illinois in 1844. Her mother died Feb. 1, 1868, aged forty-five years, and her father Dec. 19, 1882, aged seventy-five years. Mr. Chase's father died June 25, 1882.
Allen P. Colby was born June 25, 1822, in Danville, Caledonia Co., Vt., the second son of Gideon and Olive Colby, his father a native of New Hampshire and his mother of Massachusetts. His grandfather, Thomas Colby, was a native of New Hampshire. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was with Ethan Allen at Ticonderoga, and with Washington at Yorktown. After he was mustered out he returned home but soon after moved to Vermont, where he died about 1833. Gideon Colby came to Illinois with his family in 1837, and settled just north of Mc- Henry, where he died in September, 1841, aged forty-six years. His wife is living in Minneapolis, in the ninety-fourth year of ler age. Allen P. Colby came with his parents to Illinois, and since attaining manhood has followed agricultural pursuits. He was married in October, 1844, to Caroline M., daughter of John W. and Clara Smith, natives of Vermont. She died May 19, 1856, aged twenty-eight years, leaving four children-Emma, now Mrs. Frank Mead; Luella, now Mrs. Charles Mowrey; Wallace, and Clarissa, now Mrs. Bernard Harrison. Oct. 11, 1857, Mr. Colby married Emily J. Sanborn, who was born Jan. 12, 1835, a daughter of Joel R. and Charlotte Sanborn. Her father died Nov. 13, 1878, aged seventy-two years, and her mother is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Colby have three children-Caroline, wife of Edson Gilbert;
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Charlotte, wife of William Gilbert, and Cora. Politically Mr. Colby is a Republican.
Charles C. Colby is a native of McHenry County, Ill., born Sept. 14, 1844, a son of Page and Mehitable (Smith) Colby. He attended school till eighteen years of age and then began teaching, but having a decided preference for agricultural pursuits, soon left the school-room and devoted his entire attention to the farm. He now owns 220 acres of land, which is well improved. He gives considerable attention to stock-raising, and has the best grades of short-horncd cattle, American merino sheep, Norman horses and Poland-China hogs. Mr. Colby was married Dec. 25, 1864, to Arminda F. Talbott, daughter of William Talbott, who came from England to America in 1820. They have two children -Fred T., born Oct. 24, 1865, graduated from Jennings Seminary, Aurora, Ill., June, 1884, and Caroline M., born Feb. 2, 1876. Politically Mr. Colby is a Republican. He takes special interest in educational matters and has served on the School Board several terms.
Henry Colby is a native of McHenry County, Ill., born in September, 1845, a son of Ira and Mary Colby, natives of Vermont. His father was born Dec. 27, 1803, and came to McHenry in 1840, and has been a Justice of the Peace of this township twenty- two years, and lias held other offices of trust. His mother died in 1859. He remained on the farm, attending the district school in the winter till nineteen years of age, when he began clerking in his brother's drug store. Four years later he bought the store and carried it on alone several years, when his brother bought an interest and they carried on a general store under the firm name of Colby Brothers, at the same time running a store at Nunda. In 1881 the partnership was dissolved O. C. taking the store at Nunda, and Henry remaining at McHenry. Mr. Colby was married Sept. 6, 1870, to Flora, daughter of David Harris. They have four children-Maud, born Sept. 7, 1873; Agnes, born Aug. 25, 1875; William, born Aug. 2, 1877, and James, born Nov. 19, 1880. Mr. Colby is a member of the Masonic fraternity, McHenry Lodge, No. 158; Chapter No. 34, and Calvary Commandery, No. 25, Woodstock. Politically he is a Republican, Mrs. Colby is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Ira Colby was born in Danville, Caledonia Co., Vt., Dec. 27, 1803, a son of Thomas Colby, a native of Newburyport, Mass., of English descent. He remained in his native State till the fall of 50
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1840, when he came to Illinois and settled in McHenry, living in the town about six months. He established the first prayer-meeting in McHenry. He was elected Justice of the Peace soon after his arrival and served twenty-three consecutive years. He was School Treasurer several years and held other offices of trust. He is now living on his farm retired from public life. He was married in 1825 to Mary Stocker, a native of Vermont, of Scotch descent. They had a family of eleven children-N. S., Mary A., Abigail, Sarah (wife of Robert Sherburn), Franklin, Ora, Flora, John, Gideon, Henry and William. Mary, Abigail, Franklin and William are deceased. Mrs. Colby died in 1859. aged fifty-four years.
N. S. Colby was born in Danville, Caledonia Co., Vt., Oct. 13, 1826, the eldest of eleven children of Ira and Mary Colby. He remained in Vermont until fourteen years of age and in 1840 came with his parents to McHenry, McHenry County. He re- mained with them until 1856, and then moved to the farm where he now lives a half mile west of McHenry. He owns 144 acres of fine land which is well improved. He makes a specialty of stock-raising and has the best grades of horses, sheep, cattle and hogs. He ships his stock to all parts of the United States, receiving for them the highest market price. Mr. Colby was married Oct. 9, 1856, to Laura E. Parker, born Nov. 22, 1838, in Lyon, Oakland Co., Mich .; moved from there to Greenwood, this county, in 1854 with her parents, J. J. and Mary Parker, natives of Ontario County, N. Y., but residents of Greenwood the remainder of their lives. Her mother died Feb. 9, 1879, aged sixty-seven years. Her father died Oct. 15, 1884, aged seventy-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Colby have had six children-May E., born June 12, 1860; Belle C., born July 26, 1865; Newell F., born Aug. 9, 1877; Mary Laura and two infants are deceased. May was married Dec. 22, 1880, to D. E. Sayler. They are living on their farm two and a half miles from McHenry. They have one child-Maybell, born July 1, 1883.
Page Colby was born in Danville, Vt., Sept. 22, 1822, the eldest son of Page and Mary Colby, natives of Vermont, of German descent. His grandfather, Thomas Colby, was a native of New Hampshire, but moved his family to Verniont prior to the Revolutionary war. His mother died in 1828, and having pre- viously been deprived of his father, he was left to the care of his grandparents, remaining with them till twenty-one years of age. His education was received in the district school which he attended
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three months in the winter till eighteen years old. He then worked on the farm till 1842, when he came West, landed in Chicago, and the next day walked in company with another young man to McHenry. He bought eighty acres of land for $130, and went to work to improve it. He now has 700 acres of the best land in McHenry County. He makes a speciality of raising fine stock and lias thoroughbred Berkshire hogs, Norman horses, and Spanish merino sheep. Mr. Colby was married Oct. 11, 1843, to Mehitable E., daughter of Abijah and Thankful Smith, natives of Vermont, who came from Johnson to Illinois in 1840. They have had six children-Charles C., Mary, Ellen A. (deceased), George W., Willard E., Ida (deceased). Politically Mr. Colby is a Republican. In early life he was a Whig. He is a member of Mc- Henry Lodge, No. 158, F. & A. M., of which he has been Treasurer six years. He is a member of the Free- Will Baptist church, and has been one of the Trustees fifteen years.
J. W. Cristy was born in New Boston, N. H., Sept. 28, 1828, a son of John and Roxana Cristy, his father a native of New Hamp- shire, and his mother of Massachusetts. In 1829 bis parents moved to Johnson, Vt., where the mother died in 1866, and the father in 1867. Our subject speut his boyhood days on the farm, and when fifteen years of age went to Charlestown, Mass., and clerked in a store a year, then returned to Vermont and attended Lamoille Academy six months in the year for three years, teaching school in the winter. When twenty years of age he went to Boston, Mass., and worked in Wm. P. Emerson's piano factory six years. He then returned to Vermont, and in 1865 came to Illinois and bought land in Kankakee County. In 1866 he sent for his family, and remained in Kankakee County three years, when he came to McHenry County and settled in Ringwood and opened a general store. He carries a fine stock of goods valued at several thousand dollars. In 1868 he was appointed Postmaster of Ringwood; after- ward resigned but was again appointed, and is the present incum- bent. Politically Mr. Cristy has always affiliated with the Repub- lican party. He is a member of McHenry Lodge, No. 158, F. & A. M. He was married Nov. 30, 1854, to Sarah L., daughter of Zachariah and Lucinda Whiting, of Vermont. They have three sons-W. A., of McHenry; Joseph E., in company with his father, and Walter W.
William A. Cristy, eldest son of Joseph W. and Sarah L. (Whiting) Cristy, was born in Johnson, Lamoille Co., Vt., June 6,
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1858. In 1865 his father came to Illinois and the following year sent for his family, and located on a farm in Kankakee County, remaining there till 1869, when they came to McHenry County. Jan. 1, 1869, Joseph Cristy opened a general mercantile store in Ringwood, and is now one of the leading merchants of the town. William A. attended the common schools in his boyhood, and in 1876 entered the commercial department of the Valparaiso, Ind., Normal School, graduating in the spring of 1877. He was then working for his father till March 1, 1878, when he was employed as bookkeeper at the pickle factory in McHenry, and soon after be- came a partner in the firm. He was married in 1881 to Nina G., daughter of Samuel H. and Eliza H. Walker, of Ringwood. They have one child-Harold E., born Oct. 22, 1883. Politically Mr. Cristy is a Republican.
Solomon Dodge was born in Johnson, Lamoille Co., Vt., April 20, 1811, a son of Amos and Sally Dodge, also of Vermont. He was reared and educated in his native county, remaining there till 1844, when he came to Illinois and settled in McHenry County. He was by trade a carpenter and joiner, and followed his trade the greater part of his life. He was married Sept. 19, 1869, to Mary A. Haley, a native of Illinois, born Sept. 8, 1840, a daughter of Edmund and Lucy Haley. To them were born two children-Ed- mund H. and Lucy A., aged eleven and seven years respectively. Mr. Dodge died Feb. 9, 1883, and was buried by the Masons, hav- ing been a member of that order several years. He liad also be- longed to the Odd Fellows order.
Horace Dwelly is a native of Onondaga County, N. Y., born March 9, 1820, a son of Jonathan P. and Lucy (Williams) Dwelly. His parents died in their native State, his mother in 1861 and his father in 1868. In 1843 he came, with his father, to Illinois to visit a brother and sister in Lake County. He obtained employ- ment and remained in Lake County three months. He afterward pre-empted a quarter-section in McHenry County, but entered only 120 acres of it. In 1850 he went to California and went into the mines, remaining there two years. He was successful, and on his return bought a farm. He made a specialty of raising wlieat till 1865, when he went into the dairy business, continuing this fifteen years. He is now engaged in general farming and stock raising, owning 110 acres of fine land. He was married in November, 1846, to Elmira, daughter of William and Catherine McCollum, natives of Ohio, now of McHenry. They have had four children;
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but two are living-Alice C., wife of Edward M. Merrill, a mer- chant of Livingston, Ill., and Mattie A. Mary M. died March 24, 1873, aged twenty years, and William E., Sept. 15, 1878, aged twenty-three years. Mr. Dwelly is a member of McHenry Lodge, No. 158, F. & A. M. Politically he is a Democrat.
T. J. Ellis is a native of New York, born in Seneca County, Sept. 25, 1811, a son of Lazarus and Lovisa Ellis, natives of New Jersey. His father was a miller and he was obliged to work in the mill, and had no educational advantages. Since coming to Illinois, in 1846, he has been engaged in farming, and now owns 120 acres of choice land in McHenry Township. He was married in 1834 to Lucinda Gardner. They had three children; but one is living-Amelia, wife of Albert Boone, of Iowa. His wife died in 1842, and in 1847 he married Mary Solomons. Politically Mr. Ellis is a Republican.
William F. Frett was born in Prussia, Jan. 28, 1834, a son of Nicholas and Mary A. Frett, natives of Germany, who came to America in 1841, and located in McHenry County, Ill. Nicholas Frett, Nicholas Adams and Jacob Schmitt were the first settlers of the German settlement in MeHenry County, and the founders of the Catholic church at Johnsburg, Ill. Mr. Frett died in August, 1844, aged forty-nine years, and was the first person buried in St. John's Cemetery. His wife died May, 1874, aged seventy-nine years. They reared a family of twelve children. William Frett attended school in Germany, but had no educational advantages after coming to America. He was married Oct. 2, 1856, to Ellen, daughter of Anthony and Margaretha Meiler, of Germany. They have twelve children-Joseph J., Katie (wife of Peter Schaefer), Albert, John, Mary (wife of Josepli Freund), George, Elizabeth, Bernard, Amelia, Ferdinand J., Susan and Charles J. In 1865 Mr. Frett enlisted in Company E, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, but only served a short time, when he was discharged on account of dis- ability. Politically he is a Democrat. He has served nine years as Road Commissioner and twelve years as School Director. He owns a fine farm of 148 acres, which is well improved and well stocked.
George Gage .- There are few men whose lives are blameless and pure, but when a long lifetime has been spent in onc neigh- borhood, and the universal expression of the community is em- phatic in praises of any individual, we are constrained to believe him, or them, as nearly perfect as 'tis possible for man to become.
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There are numerous biographical sketches in this work of promi- nent and representative men of McHenry County, but to none of them does the historian refer with more pride than to this brief sketch of Hon. George Gage and his progenitors. Possessed of a liberal education, a heart full of generous impulses, and a desire to assist in every way all measures looking toward the advancement of the best interests of the community in which he has ever been an honest citizen, he has been universally accorded a place at the head of every social and educational enterprise for many years. Although somewhat advanced in years, Mr. Gage retains all the vigor of early manhood so far as his intellectuality is concerned. If his step is less elastic or his form not so erect as in the days of his youth, a glance at his face impresses the beholder that here "genius dwells and reason holds perfect sway." Without extol- ling his merits or indulging in any wholesome flattery, we are pleased to say that few men, if any, can point to their record as honest, conscientious business men with greater pride than can the man whose name heads this sketch. His acts in every sense have been praiseworthy. As a husband and father he has been kind and generous to a fault. As a public instructor, all acknowledge his ability. In liis literary work, those who are best acquainted with his productions value them most highly. As a man, his con- duct has ever been exemplary. As a Mason, his brethren of the craft liave done him due honor. As an observing and correct de- lineator of current events transpiring in the neighborhood, none excel him. We are under many obligations to him for valuable information obtained, and his work is a guarantee that the state- ments are correct. Having been for many years a resident of Lake and this county, he is practically acquainted with many facts in their unwritten history. The residents of Lake hold him in as high esteem as do the people of McHenry County, and when all that is mortal of George Gage has been deposited in its last rest- ing place, and those who know liim are numbered with the silent dead, this sketch will remain brighter and more valuable than a granite monument as a reminder of his many virtues and excellen- cies of character. His ancestry for all time can trace their lineage back to this date, and a long line of excellent citizens can even now refer with pleasure to their kinsman as one whom the people de- light to honor.
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