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 87
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Henry W. Belden, section 33, Seneca Township, was born in Wayne County, N. Y., Jan. 7, 1830, the youngest of five children of Solomon J. and Samantha (Griffit Belden, his father a native of Vermont, and his mother of New York. In 1831 his parents moved to Michigan, and from there, in 1832, to Ohio; thence, iu 1834, to La Porte County, Ind., and in 1836 to McHenry County, Ill., and settled in Seneca Township. His father died in Marengo, Aug. 27, 1870. In 1850 Mr. Belden moved to Seneca Township, and bought his farm of 180 acres, where he now lives. He was married Oct. 28, 1849, to Julia J., daughter of James T. Gillette, of Northfield, Minn. They have had three children; all are deceased-Merritt, Henry L. and William A. Mr. Belden is a member of the Masonic fraternity. He has served as Highway Commissioner, Assessor and School Trustee of his township.
Fred J. Bigelow was born on the farm where he now lives, on section 22, Seneca Township, Feb. 21, 1860, a son of Chauncey and Roxy Ann (Benner) Bigelow, natives of New York. He was reared in this township, and received a good common-school educa- tion. He takes an interest in all literary matters, and when a mere boy obtained a small printing press, and wrote and published a his- tory of the Bigelow family. He was married Feb. 21, 1884, to Gertie D. Havens, a native of Richmond, Ill., a daughter of Os- car G. Havens. He owns forty acres of good land, which is well cultivated. His grandfather, Timothy Bigelow, was a descendant of a Huguenot and Shaking Quaker. His children were: Harriet, Timothy, Parmelia, Charlotte and Chauncey. Timothy was born May 2, 1811, and now resides in Union, Ill. His children who at tained their majority were Chauncey J., Marlin, Sabrina, Eliza,
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Dwight, Henry and Linda. Chauncey J., father of our subject, was born Aug. 31, 1838, and died April 6, 1884. He was for many years an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church. His children are four in number-Fred J., Della M., Stella J. and Carrie M.
Luzern A. Capron was born in New York, Nov. 4, 1847, a son of Neri and Nancy (Turner) Capron, natives of Vermont, and New York. In 1849 his parents moved to McHenry County, Ill., and settled on the present site of the village of Union, in Coral Township. Luzern is the only one living of three children. Amos P. died March, 1884, aged forty-one years and George died September, 1877, aged twenty-four years. The mother died in December, 1862, and the father Dec. 24, 1882, aged seventy-two years. Luzern A. Capron was reared and educated in McHenry County. He has always followed agricultural pursuits, and now owns a fine farm of 104 acres in section 21, Seneca Township.
Wm. W. Ellsworth, farmer, section 14, Seneca Township, was born in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, April 29, 1830, a son of Benjamin Ellsworth, a native of Ontario County, N. Y. He was reared a farmer, but received a good education, attending Geauga and Cha- grin Falls seminaries. He came to McHenry County in April, 1866, and lived in Greenwood Township till 1878, when he moved to Seneca Township, and settled on his present farm. He owns eighty acres of land, and makes a specialty of raising Poland- China hogs. He was married March 5, 1850, to Caroline S. Pres- ley, daughter of Jeremiah Presley. To them were born six children, four of whom are living-Benjamin F., Charles Fremont, Ensil E. and Ella E. B. F. married Alice Willis, and lives at Woodstock. Ensil married Etta Knight, and lives in Baraboo, Wis. Politically Mr. Ellsworth is a Republican.
G. W. Goodrich, of section 35, Seneca Township, was born in Delaware County, N. Y., Nov. 29, 1819, a son of Joseph Goodrich, a native of Connecticut; was educated in the common- schools and Jefferson Academy in Schoharie County, N. Y. He was married Feb. 3, 1841, to Mary A. TenEyck, daughter of John U. TenEyck, who was killed by lightning in the year 1829. In the year 1856 hecame West and settled in McHenry County, on the farm formerly occupied by his wife's uncle, William Deitz, where he now lives. In 1876 and 1877 he was engaged in the lumber business in Marengo, Ill. At present he is engaged in farming,
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and carrying on a dairy of forty-five cows. His farm contains 493 acres of land. He has held several different town offices and is at present serving his fourth term as Supervisor. The house that his family occupied until its burning, four years ago, was the first frame house within several miles of or in Seneca.
Orson R. Graves, deceased, was born in Vermont, June 21, 1831, a son of Daniel Graves, a hatter by trade, who brought his family to McHenry County in an early day. He was married June 22, 1858, to Betsey Hale, daughter of Alva and Clara (Rouse) Hale. She was born in Susquehanna County, Pa., but came to Lee County, Ill., with her parents when quite small. To Mr. and Mrs. Graves was born one child-Herbert S., born March 15, 1862. He received a good education but was obliged to leave school a year before his graduation on account of ill health. He is now carrying on the home farm and is an enterprising, ambitious young man. Mr. Graves died Sept. 13, 1873. He was a representative man of the township, and was always prominently identified with all enterprises of public benefit.
W. John Hazlet, foreman Oak-Grove Cheese Factory, was born in Clearfield County, Pa., Marcli, 1853, a son of William and Maria (Scott) Hazlet, natives of Ireland, his father of London- derry and his mother of M .--- , of Scotch parentage. His parents came to America in 1840 and settled in Philadelphia County, Pa. In 1865 they came to McHenry County, and settled in Dorr Town- ship, subsequently moving to Marengo Township, where they now live. Of their eight children but two are living; W. Johu and Jennie. Our subject has received a good education, completing it at the Industrial University, Champaign, Ill. He taught several terms of school, and in June, 1882, was employed by Wm. A. Boies to take charge of his factory in Kane County, and in March, 1884, was given his present position. He owns a good farm of 120 acres in Marengo Township. He was married June 29, 1881, to Hattie E. Newell, a native of Garden Prairie, Ill., born Oct. 26, 1860, a daughter of George W. Newell. They have had two children-Ada, and Lyle N. (deceased). Mr. and Mrs. Hazlet are members of the Presbyterian church.
Alpheus O. Ingalls was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., Nov. 22, 1827, a son of Seth W. Ingalls, a native of Massachusetts, but an early settler of Jefferson County. In 1835 his father started for Ohio with his family but died before reaching his destination. The family settled in Cuyahoga County, but in 1838 moved to
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Hillsdale County, Mich., and in 1844 to McHenry County, Ill., and settled in McHenry Township. Alpheus O. remained in McHenry Township till 1879 when he moved to Seneca Township, and settled on section 15, where he lias since lived. He owns 154 acres of land and makes a specialty of dairying and stock-raising. He was married in the fall of 1858, to Elizabeth Sands. They have two children-Charles E. and Herbert E. Politically Mr. Ingalls is a Republican.
Mason James, deceased, was born in Tully, N. Y., in February, 1823, a son of Sheffield James. He was reared on a farm, and received a common-school education. He came to McHenry County in an early day and settled on the farm where his widow now lives. He was married in April, 1849, to Elizabeth Mead, daughter of Joseph Mead. To them were born two children- Frank and Francis, twins, born June 3, 1850. Francis was mar- ried Nov. 8, 1871, to Fannie Sherwin, a daughter of Edwin Sherwin, of Idaho. They have two children-Cora and Carrie. He owns 160 acres of land in Coral Township, but resides on section 32, Seneca Township, near the old homestead, where he is engaged in butchering and shipping calves, poultry and hogs. Frank is unmarried and resides on the old homestead with his mother. They have a good farm of 100 acres and nine and a half acres of timber-land. Mr. James died Jan. 20, 1859. He was, as is his wife, a member of the Presbyterian church.
John Marshall was born in Stephentown, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., Feb. 9, 1806, a son of Thomas Marshall, and grandson of John Marshall, a native of England. When he was thirteen years old his parents moved to Chenango County, N. Y., and settled seven miles from any town. His educational advantages were very meager, and when but a boy he began working with his father at the carpenter's trade. In 1845 he moved to Kane County, Ill., and in 1847 to McHenry County. He was married in March, 1832, to Mary Davis. They have had ten children-Harrison (deceased), William, Harriet, Julia, Albert, Mary, Clark, Celia Ann (deceased), and Ella.
Marcus Mead, deceased, was born in Warsaw, N. Y., Sept. 23, 1831, and died in Seneca Township, McHenry Co., Ill., Dec. 7, 1881. His father, Jotham Mead, brought his family to McHenry County in 1841, and settled on section 21, Seneca Township. Marcus Mead was reared a farmer and always followed hat vocation. He owned a good farm of ninety-seven acres where his 59
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family now reside. He was married Dec. 19, 1859, to Phobe E. Simpkins, a native of Coral Township, born March 23, 1839, a daughter of Richard and Evaline (Ames) Simpkins. To them were born fourchildren; but three are living-George S., Eva and Mattie.
Peter O' Brien, section 1, Seneca Township, was born in Ireland, in June, 1810. His father, Michael O'Brien, died in 1813. He lived in Ireland till manhood and in 1835 came to America and worked at building railroads nine years. In 1844 he came West and located in McHenry County, Ill., and in 1846 settled on his present farm. He owns 240 acres of good land with comfortable farm buildings. He was married Aug. 16, 1841, to Bridget McLellan, daughter of Thomas Mclellan. To them have been born twelve children, seven of whom are living-John, of St. Louis, Mo .; Mary, wife of J. N. Lighthall, of Chicago; Thomas, of Marion Centre, Kas .; Peter, Margaret, Kate and James. Margaret and James are in Chicago. Maria, Lizzie, Sarah, Michael and an infant son are deceased. The family are members of the Catholic church.
. Horace E. Rosencrans, section 35, Seneca Township, was born in Cook County, Ill., March 14, 1849, a son of Horace Rosencrans, of Elgin, who is a native of New Jersey, and was an early settler of Cook County. Our subject was reared in Elgin, completing his education in the Elgin Academy. He came to McHenry County in 1877 and located on the farm where he has since lived. He owns 115§ aeres of land, and pays special attention to dairying. He was married November, 1872, to Mary Egelston, daughter of Je- hiel Egelston. They have one child-Edith May, born Nov. 9,1875.
Charles L. Ross was born in Genesee County, N. Y., Nov. 7,. 1824, a son of Charles and Hannalı (Spencer) Ross, natives of New York. He was reared and educated in Chautauqua County, N. Y., where his parents moved when he was an infant. In 1842 he came West and spent one summer in Dubuque, Iowa, then worked in the pineries of Wisconsin till he was taken sick, when he returned to Dubuque. and while there learned from his friends in New York that a sister had moved to Coral Township, McHenry Co., Ill. Although ill and having a chill nearly every day, he started for McHenry County, and remained with his sister until his recov- ery in June, 1844. He then worked by the month till the fall of 1846, when he returned to New York and spent the winter. The following spring he came again to McHenry County and followed agriculture till the fall of 1856, when he sold his farm and the
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next spring went to Sullivan County, Mo. In February, 1864, he moved to Des Moines, Iowa, and in May, 1865, to Union, Ill. In 1881 he bought a farm, which is cultivated by tenants. He was married Oct. 6, 1849, to Lydia M. Fuller, a native of Mount Morris, N. Y., a daughter of Oren and Polly (Bowen) Fuller, na- tives of Massachusetts, her mother a sister of Rev. Elias Bowen. Mr. Ross is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Daniel Sheldon, section 35, Seneca Township, was born in Steu- ben County, N. Y., March 29, 1835, a son of William and Betsey (Eaton) Sheldon, his father a native of Litchfield, Conn., and his mother of Ontario County, N. Y. His grandfather, Jonathan Eaton, was a native of Massachusetts, and an early settler of On- tario County, N. Y., but subsequently moved to Steuben County. In 1842 his parents moved to Illinois and settled in McHenry County, where he now lives. His father died in 1865. His mother is living with him and is eighty-two years old. Mr. Sheldon has a fine farm of 205 acres. He never seeks official honors, but has served his township as Trustee six years and as Highway Commissioner six years. He was married in Decem- ber, 1871, to Celia, daughter of John and Margaret (Davis) Mar- shall, of Union. They have two children-Annie E. and Bessie H.
Richard Simpkins, deceased, the first settler of Coral Town- ship, was born in Bradford County, Pa., May 14, 1810, a son of John Simpkins. In 1833 he came West and stopped for a time in La Porte County, Ind., but the same year came to McHenry County and entered a claim on section 6, Coral Township; then returned to La Porte, Ind., but the next year came again to Mc- Henry County and settled on his land. He walked from Chicago, following au Indian trail and wading the streams and sloughs. He at one time lived nine days on potatoes and salt, and the morning that he ate his last potato started to meet the teams that were coming from Chicago with provisions. He met them at Des Plaines, a distance of thirty miles. He was an honorable, upright man, and lived to reap the benefit of his early years of toil and hardship. He died April 17, 1884, in Marengo. He married Evaline Ames, daughter of Billy Ames. To them were born eight children, six of whom are living-Phoebe E., widow of Marcus Mead, of Seneca Township; Thankful, wife of Edwin Spencer, of Clay County, Dak .; George, of Marengo; Harriet, wife of Jacob Rosencrans, of Garden Prairie, Ill .; Martha, wife of James Twombley, of Minneapolis, Minn., and Bradford, of Marengo.
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