USA > Illinois > Will County > History of Will County, Illinois, Volume Two > Part 33
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Mrs. Van Horn is president of the Will County Home Improvement Club and president of the Household Science Department of Will County, of which she has been a member since 1912. She is also chancellor of the Royal Neighbors of America and a member of the Ancient Order of Gleaners. She is active on the board of the Federation of Women's Clubs.
Mr. Van Horn is independent in politics and his wife is a stanch Republican. He holds membership in the Congregational Church, and belongs to the Knights of Pythias, of which he is a charter member. The Van Horn farm has been in the family for five generations.
E. R. Mcclellan, retired, is a well known resident of Plainfield and a member of one of the oldest families of Will County. He was born in Plainfield Township, Oct. 26, 1860, the son of John and Arathusa (Brown) McClellan.
John McClellan was born in Massachusetts, Nov. 16, 1826. He came to Will County in 1854 and became one of the most prosperous farmers of Plainfield Township, where he died Dec. 12, 1906. He served as road commissioner for 24 years. His wife was born Dec. 25, 1826, and died April 4, 1904. E. R., the subject of this sketch, was their only child.
E. R. McClellan spent his boyhood on his father's farm and attended the district schools of Plainfield Township. He was also a student at the private school of Sarah McIntosh, which was located in the old National Hotel Building, Joliet. He attended college at Niles, Mich., and upon his return to Plainfield Township became interested in general
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farming and stock raising on the home place. At the time of his retire- ment in 1915 he was the owner of 260 acres of well improved land.
In November, 1883, Mr. McClellan married Miss Carrie Allen McAllister, of Plainfield Township, the daughter of Edward and Fannie (Beebe) McAllister, early settlers of Will County. Mrs. McClellan died Nov. 17, 1913, leaving three children: Inez, married Sterling Patterson, lives in Wheatland Township, and they have a daughter, Jane; Vera married T. J. Morse, lives in Los Angeles, Calif., and they have two children, Catherine and Thomas E .; and John R., lives at Hammond, Ind. Mr. McClellan was married the second time, June 1, 1916, to Miss Ada Latham, of Florence, Ky., the daughter of John and Mary (Kenyon) Latham, natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively. Mr. Latham is deceased and his widow lives at Covington, Ky.
Mr. McClellan is a Republican. His attractive home, built in 1926, is located on the Lincoln Highway, seven miles from Joliet.
James M. Crabb, Sr., is among the highly esteemed and well known citizens of Lockport, where he has been in the employ of the Illinois Steel Company for the past 35 years. He was born in Scotland, April 26, 1866, the son of William and Elizabeth (Moir) Crabb.
William Crabb was a farmer and spent his entire life in Scotland. He died in 1884 and his wife died in March, 1912. They were members of the Presbyterian church and the parents of 11 children, of whom James M., the subject of this sketch, was the eighth in order of birth.
James M. Crabb attended the schools of his native land and in 1888 came to the United States. He settled in Chicago and two years later moved to Aurora, Ill., where he spent seven years in the employ of the MacDonald Company, manufacturers. He came to Joliet in 1894 and entered the employ of the Illinois Steel Company. In 1910 he became master mechanic at the company's coke ovens in Lockport Township.
In 1892 Mr. Crabb was united in marriage with Miss Ida Mae Allord, of Aurora, Ill., born July 10, 1874. They have six children, as follows: William Gilroy, born Sept. 8, 1893, lives at Cleveland, Ohio, married Miss Elizabeth Boland and they have two children: William, born May 5, 1917, and Jeanne, born April 7, 1920; (2) James, born in July, 1895, lives at Lockport, is a veteran of the World War, married Miss Margaret Connell, and they have two children: Mavis, born May 3, 1921; and Moir, born Aug. 21, 1922. (3) Thomas R., born April 17, 1897,
JAMES M. CRABB, SR.
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lives at Lockport, is a veteran of the World War, having served in the Canal Zone with the Third Coast Artillery; (4) Marie Elizabeth, born in June, 1898, married Reuben N. Haglund, lives at Joliet. (5) Mar- garet L., born in August, 1908, married L. K. Etheridge, lives at Lock- port. (6) Georgene, born June 30, 1917, lives at home.
Mr. Crabb is justice of the peace at Lockport and is also serving as a member of the local school board. He is identified with the Republican party in politics, holds membership in the Presbyterian Church, and belongs to the Masonic lodge, having been made Master Mason in Scot- land. He also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.
Lewis Pearson, retired, is among the well known and highly esteemed men of Plainfield. He was born in Sweden, April 8, 1851, the son of Peter and Mary (Peterson) Pearson.
Both Peter Pearson and his wife were natives of Sweden. They came to the United States in 1860 and settled in Kendall County, Ill., where they died. They were the parents of six children, of whom Lewis, the subject of this sketch, was the third in order of birth.
Lewis Pearson was a small child when his family settled in Kendall County. He attended the district schools and remained on the home place until 1888, at which time he purchased a tract of 160 acres near the family homestead. He improved the land and became one of the prosperous farmers of that section. Mr. Pearson remained there until the time of his retirement in 1911. He then removed to Plainfield, where he has since lived retired.
On Jan. 14, 1875, Mr. Pearson married Miss Carrie Essington, the daughter of George and Sarah (Scott) Essington. Mrs. Pearson, a native of England, was two years old when her mother died. Her father later married Mrs. Mary Buffham. They were early settlers of Plain- field, where Mr. Essington followed his trade as a blacksmith. Both he and his wife are deceased and are buried in the Plainfield Cemetery. To Mr. and Mrs. Pearson were born four children: Maud, married Frank Fiddyment, lives in Kendall County ; Mary, married Henry Wheeler, lives in Kendall County; Edward, lives on the old homestead; and Alice, married James Bundy, lives in Plainfield Township. There are 15 grandchildren.
Mr. Pearson is a Republican, and has served as township school director. He holds membership in the Methodist Church.
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George Warner Young .- Able, resourceful and experienced, George Warner Young is one of the best representatives of his profession prac- ticing at the bar of Joliet, and his prestige is not confined to local bounds, but extends over a wide territory and he is connected with some of the most important jurisprudence of the State. He was born at Manhattan, Will County, March 25, 1866, the son of Edward and Anna Eliza (Hoyt) Young.
Edward Young was born at Durham, N. Y. In 1847 he came to Will County with his parents. In early life he engaged in general farming and in 1876 became interested in the grain business in Joliet and became one of the city's most progressive business men. For many years he was vestryman and junior warden of Christ Episcopal Church at Joliet. In 1865 he married Ann Eliza Hoyt, who was born at Ridge- field, Conn., June 15, 1839, a daughter of Rev. Warner and Elizabeth P. (Reynolds) Hoyt. To this union six children were born: George Warner, the subject of this sketch; Rev. Charles Herbert; John Mans- field; Heusted Thompson; Francis Edward; and Margaret Hoyt Young.
Edward Young was the son of John and Caroline Elizabeth (Thomp- son) Young. John Young was born July 18, 1798, at New Paltz, on the Hudson. He was well educated and for many years was president of the Brooklyn Collegiate Institute. In 1848 he came to Illinois and settled at Manhattan Center, Will County. He gave the name to that town and served as supervisor for eight years. He was also the first president of the Will County Agricultural Society. He died Dec. 24, 1884. He married in 1825 Caroline Elizabeth Thompson, the daughter of Rev. James and Anna (Humphreys) Thompson. Caroline Young was instru- mental in building the Episcopal Church at Manhattan. Anna Humph- reys was the daughter of Major Elijah Humphreys, who served in a Connecticut regiment during the Revolutionary War. He married Anna Mansfield, a daughter of the celebrated Rev. Dr. Richard Mansfield, field, of Derby, Conn. Gen. David Humphreys was a brother of Major Humphreys, who served on Washington's staff, and he was the first American minister to Spain. He was the man who introduced merino sheep in America.
John Young was the son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Lawrence) Young. He was a celebrated Hicksite Quaker preacher. Their ancestral line goes back to Rev. John Young, a missionary of the church of England. He settled in Sag Harbor, on Long Island, about 1640.
George Warner Young's education was given him partly by his grandfather, as well as private tutors. He also attended the Joliet pub-
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lic schools. At the age of 16 years he began his career driving a delivery wagon, and later clerked in a local store. He was then employed in the offices of the old Chicago, Pekin & Southwestern Railroad, and in 1883, entered the offices of the Joliet Republican and Sun under Major Robert Mann Woods. Two years later he entered the Law School of Columbia University from which he was graduated in 1887. He was admitted to the bar in 1887 and spent the following three years in the law offices of Judge Olin and Captain Phelps. He formed a partnership in 1892 with G. J. Cowing, which continued until 1906, at which time Mr. Cowing was elected county Judge. Mr. Young has since engaged in private practice and has offices in the Morris Building.
On Sept. 5, 1889, Mr. Young married Miss Corabelle Beers Rugar, the daughter of Capt. Francis and Elizabeth (Beers) Rugar. Captain Rugar was a cousin of General Thomas Rugar, of the U. S. Army and of William Rugar, Chief Justice of the State of New York. This family is of German ancestry. Capt. Rugar settled at Galesburg, Ill, in 1852, and was a merchant. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in the 64th Illinois Regiment.
To George Warner and Corabelle B. (Rugar) Young were born three children: Rugar, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this history; Elizabeth, born April 30, 1897, died July 5, 1923, and Warner Rugar, born July 2, 1895, died July 15, 1896.
Mr. Young is a Republican. He has served as president of the Joliet Improvement Association, president of the University Extension Circle, chairman of the Industrial Committee of the Commercial Club, secretary of the Deepwaterway Committee, and president of the Elmhurst Ceme- tery Association.
John R. Birkett is a substantial and well known citizen of Plainfield, where he is mayor. He was born in Wheatland Township, Will County, Dec. 1, 1868, the son of Daniel R. and Janet (Small) Birkett.
The Birkett family is one of the oldest families of Will County, Daniel Birkett, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, having settled here during the early days. He was a native of England. Daniel and Anne Birkett were the parents of seven children, Daniel R., being their only son. He was born at Plainfield in 1844 and died Aug. 17, 1918. He was well known throughout this section as a veterinarian and also engaged in general farming and stock raising. Janet (Small) Birkett was a native of Scotland and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Small. She
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died in 1871 at the age of 28 years. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Birkett: John R., the subject of this sketch; and Anna, mar- ried James Chaplin, lives in Wheatland Township.
John R. Birkett attended the district schools of Wheatland Township and early in life became interested in farming. In 1906 he purchased 160 acres of land which he improved. He now owns 197 acres, which is being operated by his son, Reese Birkett. Mr. Birkett has lived in Plainfield since 1924. He is a stockholder in the Plainfield Grain Com- pany and is serving as village trustee, being elected to that office in 1926, and was elected mayor of Plainfield, September, 1928.
On April 5, 1894, Mr. Birkett was united in marriage with Miss Lavina Sharp, of Plainfield, the daughter of James and Elizabeth (Jones) Sharp, natives of England. Mrs. Birkett died Jan. 8, 1922, at the age of 49 years. There are four children in the Birkett family: James R., deceased; Janet Elizabeth, deceased; Reece L., lives in Plain- field Township; and Merrill B., lives at Joliet where he is employed by the Joliet Steel Company.
On Oct. 1, 1924, Mr. Birkett married Mrs. Belle Heggie, of Joliet, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Melcher, and the widow of James M. Heggie. By her former marriage Mrs. Birkett has two daughters: Janet Ruth, who attends the University of Illinois; and Virginia, at home.
Mr. Birkett is a Republican, a member of the Methodist Church, and belongs to the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen of America.
Clyde G. Essington, undertaker, is among the capable and well known business men of Joliet. He was born in Plainfield Township, Will County, Oct. 14, 1885, the son of Albert and Mina (Becker) Essington.
Albert Essington, deceased, was a native of Will County and a mem- ber of one of the earliest families in this section. He was born June 30, 1859, the son of George and Mary (Buffham) Essington, natives of England. The Essingtons settled in Will County in 1856. Albert Essington, farmer, died Nov. 28, 1925. His wife was born in Kendall County, Ill., Sept. 23, 1867. She resides at Plainfield. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Essington: Clyde G., the subject of this sketch; and Elmer R., who lives in Joliet.
Clyde G. Essington was reared and educated at Plainfield. Follow- ing his graduation from Joliet Township High School in 1903 he entered
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the employ of Wertzbaugher & Schuennaman, grocers, and two years later went with Bayles & Essington. In 1915 he became connected with the Barrett Hardware Company in Joliet, in charge of the shipping department, and remained with that concern until 1927, at which time he engaged in the undertaking business in Joliet in partnership with his brother. They have a fine funeral home which is modern and attractive in its appointments.
On Oct. 25, 1911, Mr. Essington married Miss Olive Pearl Gaylord, of Lockport, Ill., the daughter of Eddie H. and Agnes (Spangler) Gay- lord, natives of Kendall County and Will County respectively. Mr. Gaylord is deceased and his widow lives with the Essington family. To Mr. and Mrs. Essington has been born a daughter, Ruth Ada, who was born March 10, 1921.
Mr. Essington is a Republican and is now holding the office of alder- man of Plainfield. He is a trustee of the Methodist Church, and is affiliated with A. F. & A. M. No. 536, Plainfield, and Eastern Star No. 239.
Alphons J. Weber is among the popular merchants of Joliet, where he conducts a dairy business which was established by his father 35 years ago. He was born in Switzerland and is a son of John Jacob and Ida (Brendle) Weber.
John Jacob Weber came to the United States from Switzerland with his family in 1884 and settled in Will County, where he engaged in general farming. After several years he removed to Joliet and pur- chased a small farm on the outskirts of the city. In 1887 he started in the dairy business on a small scale and five years later had succeeded in developing a good business. He died in 1918 and is buried in St. John's Cemetery, Joliet. His wife, who was born in Alsace-Lorraine, died in 1923. To Mr. and Mrs. Weber were born eight children, of whom Alphons was the oldest.
Alphons J. Weber spent his boyhood in Switzerland and received his early education there. He completed his schooling in Joliet at an early age became associated with his father's business. The Weber Dairy which is located at 505 West Jefferson Street, carries on an ex- tensive wholesale and retail trade and are manufacturers of butter and cheese.
On Oct. 3, 1896, Mr. Weber married Miss Veronica Seiler, of Joliet. They have five children: George, who is connected with his father's
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business; Elmer, manager of the dairy business, lives in Joliet; Otto, lives in Joliet, married Miss Marie Wagner, and they have a son, Wil- liam; John, and Edna, both students. Elmer and Otto Weber are also associated with the Weber Dairy Company.
Politically Mr. Weber is identified with the Democratic party. He is a member of St. John's Catholic Church and belongs to the Loyal Order of Moose and Chamber of Commerce.
Walter H. Baumgartner, of Frankfort, is a native of Illinois, and an energetic and enterprising business man, being secretary and treasurer of Baumgartner & Company. He was born at Frankfort, March 13, 1884, the son of Albert R. and Catherine (Schieferstein) Baumgartner.
Albert R. Baumgartner was born in Frankfort, June 16, 1860. He was a son of John and Mary Baumgartner, natives of Switzerland, and early settlers of Frankfort Township, where John Baumgartner was engaged in farming. Albert R. Baumgartner grew up on his father's farm and attended the public schools of Frankfort Township, after which he engaged in farming and met with success. In 1914 he retired from the farm and removed to Frankfort and with his sons, Walter H. and William A., organized the Baumgartner & Company, and he was elected president. Mr. Baumgartner is a Democrat, a member of St. Peter's Evangelical Church, and belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.
To Albert R. and Catherine (Schieferstein) Baumgartner eight chil- dren were born: Alfred A., a plaster contractor, Virginia, Minn .; Walter H., the subject of this sketch; Rose, married Floyd Lucas, Oak Park, Ill .; Mabel, married Edward Wunderlich, Joliet; Augusta, lives at Chicago; Alma, married Martin Sippel, Venice, Florida; William A., vice president of Baumgartner & Company, Frankfort; and Lillian, married Alfred Zechlin, Frankfort.
Walter H. Baumgartner has always lived in Frankfort. He was educated in the public schools and worked on his father's farm until he was 16 years old. He then learned the stone cutter's trade under the supervision of Julius Pfaff, of Frankfort, and remained in his employ until 1909, when he went to Virginia, Minn., and followed the brick- layer's and plasterer's trade. In 1910 he returned to Frankfort and engaged in the general contracting business, and in 1914 organized the Baumgartner & Company, which was incorporated under the laws of
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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY
Illinois. They are manufacturers of cement products and are also general contractors. The officers of the company are: Albert R. Baumgartner, president; William A. Baumgartner, vice president; and Walter H. Baumgartner, secretary and treasurer. In 1914 the com- pany built a large plant to manufacture their cement products. They employ 15 men and have a complete delivery service.
On Nov. 29, 1911, Mr. Baumgartner was married to Hedwig Zech- lin, a daughter of Bernhard A. Zechlin, a complete sketch of whom appears in this history. Mr. and Mrs. Baumgartner have a daughter, Phyllis, a student.
Mr. Baumgartner is a Democrat, a member of St. Peter's Evan- gelical Church, and fraternally is affiliated with Mount Joliet Lodge, A. F. and A. M. No. 42; Joliet Chapter, R. A. M. No. 27; Joliet Council, R. & S. M. No. 82; and Bricklayers Union, Joliet Local. He has also served as township clerk for one term.
James M. Heintz is among the enterprising young business men of Joliet, where he is manager of the Peter G. Lennon Company, wholesale grocers. He was born in this city, June 22, 1895, the son of Michael and Julia (Keller) Heintz.
Michael Heintz was born in Alsace Lorraine, and was five years old when his parents came to the United States and settled in Joliet. He spent the remainder of his life in this city and for many years engaged in the retail grocery business. He died in 1910 at the age of 42 years and is buried in St. John's Cemetery. His widow, who lives in Chi- cago, is the daughter of Joseph Keller, a pioneer settler of Joliet. To Mr. and Mrs. Heintz the following children were born: James M., the subject of this sketch; Helen; Mrs. Joseph Berschinski; Linus; Finbar; Cletus ; and Mary. All are residents of Chicago.
James M. Heintz obtained his education in the parochial schools of Joliet and attended St. Joseph's College at Teutopolis, Ill. He has been identified with the Peter G. Lennon Company since 1911 and has held the position as sales manager of the business, since 1923. Since the time of Mr. Lennon's death, February 11, 1928, the business has been carried on by Mr. Heintz as general manager.
Mr. Heintz is a member of St. John's Catholic Church and belongs to the Rotary, Elks Lodge, Joliet Country Club, and Chamber of Commerce.
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HISTORY OF WILL COUNTY
Henry Francis Hicks, deceased, was one of the most prominent and highly esteemed men of Joliet, having practiced dentistry in the city of Joliet for more than half a century. He was born at Lockport, in Will County, July 10, 1859, the son of Obadiah and Ann D. (Richards) Hicks.
Obadiah Hicks was born on the Isle of St. Agnes, off the coast of England, June 23, 1829, and died Jan. 6, 1911. His wife was born in England, June 1, 1825, and died Nov. 3, 1896. Mr. Hicks was a ship carpenter by trade and after his arrival in New York City, July 1, 1854, he followed that trade there for seven years. He then came to Joliet, where he worked as a carpenter during the remainder of his life. To Mr. and Mrs. Hicks the following children were born: Anne, born July 26, 1852, married George Hingston, of Mead, Wash .; Margaret Jane, born Oct. 23, 1855, unmarried, lives at Mead, Wash .; Elizabeth Susan, born Sept. 19, 1857, deceased, was the wife of William Wallace King, of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Henry Francis, the subject of this sketch; Minnie, born Sept. 23, 1868, married Arthur C. Wilson, lives at Spokane, Wash .; Carrie M., born Oct. 21, 1866, married Alfred E. Green, lives at Morgan Park, Ill .; Mary Caroline, born Sept. 19, 1860, died March 17, 1864; Lillian M., born Aug. 16, 1862, died Feb. 28, 1864; and James George, born April 7, 1864, died May 14, 1865.
Henry Francis Hicks was a small boy when his family settled in Joliet. He attended the old Broadway School and began his dental career in the office of Dr. G. B. Salter in 1879, with whom he was associated for more than 25 years. When Doctor Salter left Joliet the entire prac- tice was taken over by Doctor Hicks and he was also associated in prac- tice with Dr. Brunson of Joliet. Doctor Hicks retired in February, 1926, and resided at 113 Dewey Street until his death, which occurred Aug. 16, 1928.
On Dec. 24, 1887, Doctor Hicks was united in marriage with Miss Cora Ada Smith, who was born in Will County, Sept. 5, 1868, the daugh- ter of Charles C. and Corinza (Burr) Smith. Mr. Smith was born in Tennessee, May 2, 1818, and settled in Will County about 1835. He was a farmer and was one of the largest land owners in the state, at one time holding more than 3,000 acres. He died Jan. 27, 1892, and his wife, who was born in Indiana, June 19, 1831, died Sept. 30, 1910. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith the following children were born: Barton, born June 2, 1852, married Dec. 25, 1877, to Miss May Searles, and they live at Toledo, Ohio; Emma J., born July 5, 1855, married Herman H. Unland, June 15, 1876, and she died May 23, 1899; William Thomas, born April 29, 1858, died Oct. 3, 1925, married Miss May Fowler on Dec. 25, 1879;
HENRY FRANCIS HICKS
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Ella May, born June 21, 1860, married on May 19, 1881, to Wallace B. Douglas, attorney, lives in St. Paul, Minn .; Charles W., born Nov. 19, 1863, married Dec. 25, 1885, to Miss Margaret Ann Miller, and they live at Mexico, N. Y .; Lucy Mary, born June 5, 1866, the widow of Frank Albert Miller, lives at Galveston, Texas; Cora Ada Hicks, wife of the subject of this sketch; Eva Sarah, born Nov. 5, 1870, married Sept. 28, 1892, to Proman William Smith, farmer, lives in Will County; Edgar Francis, born Sept. 29, 1872, died Sept. 5, 1873; and Floyd Herman, born June 6, 1874, died March 5, 1908.
To Henry Francis and Cora Ada (Smith) Hicks a daughter was born, Verna Aline, July 19, 1891. She was married on June 7, 1922, to Herbert A. Brooker, of Joliet, who is employed by the Chicago Gravel Company as a mechanical engineer.
Doctor Hicks was a Republican in politics.
While Dr. Hicks was studying dentistry with Dr. G. B. Salter, he also learned taxidermistry under him. Dr. Hicks had done a good deal of this kind of work for pastime. Among his work of this kind was a hand made glass case containing a collection of the native birds of Will County, which are nicely mounted on an artificial tree in the glass case. This is now in the home of Mrs. Hicks.
Archie L. West is a citizen of Manhattan, where he has been identi- fied with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad as agent since 1907. He was born at Momence, Ill., Oct. 27, 1880, the son of Harvey G. and Elizabeth (Timmins) West.
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