USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 52
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of May. lle was an active republican in politics and always kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day. lle was a most zealous advocate and consecrated worker in the church and after his retirement, while living in Chicago, assisted in the establishment of a mission church there. He possessed a studious nature and dispo- sition and was a well read man acquiring an ex- tenive knowledge of medicine and doing much work in connection with medical practice among his parishioners. His life was indeed actuated by a spirit of helpfulness and kindliness. He was at once gentle-the gentleness of courtesy and cul- ture, the strength of high purpose, honorable prin- ciple and fidelity. His wife, who was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, abont 1836, was a daughter of John and Elizabeth ( Moore) Kelly. Her father was a farmer of her native county and died at an early age as a result of an accident. IIer mother afterward lived with Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy and passed away in De Kalb county in 1819. Mrs. Kennedy still survives her husband and is now residing in Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago.
Their family numbered ten children, of whom seven are yet living: Sarah E., the wife of Thomas C. Hare, a resident of Allegheny City, Pennsylvania : Harry. of Chicago, Illinois; Reid, who is living at Homestead, Pennsylvania; Archie, of this review; Tillie, at home: Annie MI., the wife of James A. Kleinsmid, of Aledo. Illinois : and Thomas W., of Mayville, Wisconsin.
Archie G. Kennedy spent his youth in his par- ents' home and pursued his education in the graded schools of Sewickley, Pennsylvania, and in the district schools of De Kalb county. after which he entered the high school at Sandwich, Illinois. Later he became a student in the Illi- nois State Normal School, at Normal, Illinois, and subsequently attended Monmouth ( Illinois) College, from which he was graduated in June. 1892. He had determined upon the practice of law as a life work and the same year he entered the law office of Carnes & Dunton, at Sycamore, After thorough preliminary reading and study he was admitted to the bar on the 15th of June, 1895, subsequent to which time he remained in the De Kalb office of his preceptor until the following January, when he formed a law partnership with W. L. Pond and continued in practice in De Kalb.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
In 1891. when Mr. Pond was elected county judge. the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Kennedy has since been alone, In 1900 he was elected to the office of state's attorney of De Kalb county. which office he ably filled for four years. He is the present city attorney of De Kalb, to which position he was elected in 1905. and he is regarded as one of the ablest members of the De Kalb coun- ty bar. Earnest effort, close application and the exercise of his native talents have won him pres- tige as a lawyer and his practice is now extensive and of an important character. Ile is known for the wide research and provident care with which he prepares his cases and his devotion to his clients interests is proverbial. In the discharge of the official duties entrusted to him he has displayed rare zeal. ability, unwavering fidelity and sterling integrity which inspires uniform confidence and respect.
On the 16th of January, 1899, occurred the marriage of Mr. Kennedy and Miss Katherine Fuller, a daughter of William Fuller, now de- ceased, formerly a prominent farmer of De Kalb township. In polities Mr. Kennedy is a staneh republican. interested in the growth and success of his party and taking an active part in advanc- ing its welfare. Moreover, as a citizen he is in- tensely patriotic and public-spirited, and his ha- bors have been an element in promoting the wel- fare of De Kalb.
WILLIAM FRASER.
William Fraser is one of the prosperous and progressive farmers of Sandwich township, owning and cultivating a farm of nearly one hundred and fifty acres on section 23. This is a valuable and richly improved tract of land pleasantly and con- veniently located about two miles from the city of Sandwich. The owner is one of De Kalb county's native sons for his birth occurred in Sandwich township on the 1st of April. 1854.
llis father. William Fraser, was a native of the state of New York, born in Washington county. April 29. 1816, and the grandfather. Isaae Fraser. was of Scotch lineage, representing a family founded in America in early colonial days. Wil-
liam Fraser, Sr., was reared in the county of his nativity and was there married to Miss Mary Faxon, also a native of New York, born in 1819. On leaving the Empire state in 1843. William Fraser came to Illinois, settling in Kendall county, where he engaged in farming for a few years. He then removed to De Kalb county about 1854 and purchased a farm of three hundred and twenty aeres in Sandwich township. This was a well improved property, upon which stood a good log house and other outbuildings. lle later bought more land and upon that farm he reared his fam- ily while giving his time and attention to the development and further improvement of the fields. He was a diligent and enterprising man and as the years passed by he gained a desirable measure of prosperity. He died in the spring of 1892 and is still survived by his wife. who resides with a son on the old homestead, being a hale and hearty lady of eighty-seven years. She had a family of thirteen children.
William Fraser of this review was reared upon the old home farm and mastered the common branches of English learning as a student in the public schools of the neighborhood. He remained with his father and assisted in the work of the home farm until after he had attained man's estate. Ilo was then married in Sandwich town- ship on the 22d of February, 1876, to Miss Lillian Bark, daughter of William Bark, of Freeland. Mrs. Fraser was born and reared in Sandwich township and after her marriage went with her husband to the Fraser farm. of which Mr. Fraser took charge and carried on the work for five years. He afterward lived for three years in Squaw Grove township, where he purchased a farm of eighty acres, giving his energies to its further development until about 1884. Ile then sold out and bought the farm where he now resides, be- coming owner of one hundred and forty-seven aeres. He has since added to and rebuilt the resi- dence. has tilled and fenced the fields and has cleared twenty-five acres of timber land. He has also set out considerable fruit and now has a valuable and desirable farm, from which he an- nnally gathers good crops. In addition to rais- ing the cereals best adapted to soil and elimate he feeds hogs, cattle, sheep and horses, making. however. a specialty of hogs and sheep. He is much interested in the development of agricultural
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affairs and is now serving on the board of the Sandwich Fair Association.
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Fraser has been blessed with a son and daughter: Alfred L., who is now a practicing lawyer in Chicago ; and Ethel L .. who has engaged in teaching and is now a student in the Northern Indiana Normal College at Valparaiso. Politically Mr. Fraser is independ- ent, supporting the man whose qualifications make him the best candidate. He has never sought or desired office for himself, preferring to give his undivided time and attention to his farming inter- osts. He belongs to the Masonic lodge at Sand- wich and his son is also a Mason, holding mem- bership in the blue lodge. the commandery and Oriental consistory in Chicago. Mr. Fraser of this review, affiliates with the Odd Fellows lodge at Sandwich and has served through all the chairs and is a past grand. while his wife and daughter are connected with the Rebekah degree. Ile is very prominent in Odd Fellowship and has rep- resented the local organization in the grand lodge.
Mr. Fraser's memory goes back to an early period in the history of the county when condi- tions of life were very different from those of the present day. He has driven a six-yoke Ox team to a breaking plow. Today there is prac- tically not an ox team in use in Illinois. The crude farm machinery of the early days has been replaced by more modern cultivators, threshers. reapers and binders, and Mr. Fraser has at all times kept pace with general progress along agri- cultural and other lines and is recognized in Sand- wich and the southern part of the county where he is well known, as a man of good business abil- ity and exemplary character.
C. G. CHELEGREEN.
C. G. Chellgreen, a practical butter maker, is the junior partner of the firm of Anderson & Chellgreen, who own and operate four creameries -one at Kingston, one at Herbert, one at Blood's Point and one at Williamson. The creamery at Kingston was purchased on the 1st of April, 1906. and since that time they have made Kingston their headquarters. The business has become a paying industry and is carefully conducted.
Mr. Chellgreen is a native son of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Knox county on the Sth of December, 1874. There he was reared and his education was completed in the high school at Galesburg. He afterward engaged in the business of making butter, learning the trade at the Al- toona creamery, where he served a three years' apprenticeship. He afterward went to Woodhull and formed a partnership with Mr. Anderson under the firm style of Anderson & Chellgreen. They purchased the Woodhull creamery and car- ried on business there for two years, after which they went to Belvidere in 1901, purchasing a creamery at that place. They also bought a cream- ery at Herbert and the next purchase was at Wil- liamson. In 1906 they became proprietors of a creamery at Kingston, as before stated. All four of their creameries are supplied with modern and up-to-date machinery of first class construction. and the business is carried on along progressive lines. The combined output of the four cream- eries is nearly twenty thousand pounds of butter per day. They also ship large quantities of cream daily and the business is of a character that makes it the leading industrial concern of the commun- ity, furnishing an excellent market for the farm- ers who sell to them the milk produced upon their farmns.
Mr. Chellgreen was married at Woodhull. Henry county, Illinois, in September, 1900, to Miss Emma Olson, of that place, a daughter of S. T. Olson, an old soldier of Woodhull, who served throughout the Civil war in an Illinois regiment. Mr. and Mrs. Chellgreen have one daughter, Leona.
Mr. Chellgreen votes with the republican party where national issues are involved but at local elections casts an independent ballot and has never been an office seeker, preferring to give his undi- vided time and attention to his business affairs. His wife is a member of the Lutheran church and he belongs to Kirkland lodge, No. 857. A. F. & A. M. He has spent his entire life in Illinois and is a typical resident of the middle west, alert and enterprising. He possesses good business ability and is now closely identified with the indus- trial and commercial interests of De Kalb county, where he has established a business that has reached extensive proportion. He is thoroughly acquainted with the trade in every particular and
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as he places upon the market a product of highest grade he finds a ready sale for the output of the four creameries belonging to the firm.
HON. GEORGE MONROE TINDALL.
llon. George Monroe Tindall, representing the thirty-fifth district of Illinois in the forty-fifth general assembly and also one of the prominent representatives of extensive agricultural interests in De Kalb county, his home being in South Grove township, was born in that township, November 12, 1850. IIis father, Jesse Tindall, was a native of New Jersey, in which state lived the paternal grandparents. He was born January 20, 1812, and was married August 9. 1832. to Mary Barber. who was born in New York, July 20. 1814, and was a representative of an old family of that state. The father, who was a farmer by occupation, came to Illinois in 1841 and lirst located in Ogle county. but a year later, in 1812, cast in his lot with the fr-t settlers of De Kalb county, where he took up considerable land from the government, the deeds to which were signed by James K. Polk and Mil- lard Fillmore. He was thus an active factor in the reclamation of wild land for the purpose of civil- ization and he took an active part in promoting the early progress of the county. He died on the 8th of July. 1880. and his wife, who long survived him. passed away January 1. 1906. They were the parents of eight children, all of whom lived to be over fifty years of age. and seven of the number of still living.
George Monroe Tindall. after acquiring his pre- liminary edeucation in the common schools of De Isalb county, continued his studies in Beloit, Wis- consin, and later was graduated from the high school at Ann Arbor. Michigan, subsequent to which time he spent one year as a student in the Michigan State University. He has always been identified with agricultural interests and is today the owner of five hundred and eighteen acres of valuable land in South Grove township. much of which was deeded to his father by the government in early pioneer times. He stands for progressive farming, and his property is splendidly equipped with every convenience and accessory incident +5 the model farm of the twentieth century. He has
splendid buildings upon his place, including ample shelter for grain and stock, and there are to be found in his barns and pastures high grades of cattle, horses and hogs. Mr. Tindall gives general supervision to the work which is carried on within the boundaries of his farm and he has been a leader in progressive agricultural development.
In South Grove township, on the 20th of June, 1827, Mr. Tindall was united in marriage to Miss Martha A. Richards, who was born near Rock- ford, Illinois, on the 25th of October, 1853, and is the second in order of birth in a family of three children, her parents being James and Lucretia (Ward) Richards, both natives of New York. Mr. and Mrs. Richards came to Illinois in 1849 and were early and prominent settlers of this section of the state, locating at Esmond. De Kalb county, about 1868. The father was a well informed man, keeping well posted on the events of the day, political situations, etc. He died on the 30th of April, 1901, at the age of eighty-three years, and his wife died in March, 1895, at the age of seventy- five. Mr. and Mrs. Tindall have four children : Roy, born October 5, 1878; Laura A., December 21, 1880; Cora May, January 23. 1883 : and Floyd George, September 18, 1888. Mr. Tindall and his family are members of the Methodist church, in the work of which they are deeply interested, con- tributing generously to its support.
In politics MIr. Tindall is a republican and has figured prominently in public life. having filled several of the offices of his township, while in 1906 he was elected to represent the thirty-fifth district in the legislature and is now a member of the forty-fifth general assembly of Illinois. He brought to bear upon his official duties a sense of conscientious obligation and a high standard of citizenship in his relation to what he owes his con- stituents and the community at large, and to the various questions that have come up for settle- ment he has given earnest consideration, while his support or opposition, as the case may be, has been prompted by a feeling of intense patriotism and most earnest desire for the best interests of the commonwealth.
In his business career. too. Mr. Tindall has made a creditable record. Inheriting one hundred acres of land, he has increased his holdings by careful management and judicious investments until hic i= now the owner of five hundred and eighteen
GEORGE M. TINDALL.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS -
PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
acres, constituting a valuable property. In all of bis business transactions he has been thoroughly reliable, never taking advantage of the necessities of others but winning prosperity through keen discernment and recognition and utilization of opportunity. Ile is indeed one of the most popu- lar and most highly esteemed residents of De Kalb county.
WILLIAM JAMES BAGG.
William James Bagg, a partner in the plumb- ing business of Marvin & Bagg at De Kalb, was born in Flint. Michigan, August 10, 1874, his parents being John and Sarah (Buekrell) Bagg, both of whom were born in England, the former in the year 1837 and the latter in 1839. The father was a carpenter by trade and came to the United States when nineteen years of age. Mrs. Bagg came later and they were married in thi's country, after which they took up their abode in Canada. Thence they made their way to Flint. Michigan, soon after the Civil war, and there, re- sided until 1880, when they removed to Muskegon. Michigan, where they spent their remaining days. the father dying in 1887 and the mother in 1889. In their family were seven children, of whom William J. is the sixth in order of birth.
Mr. Bagg of this review was a young lad at the time of his parents' removal to Muskegon. and his education was therefore pursued in the public schools of that place. He started in busi- ness life as an employe of the car shops there and after a year entered the planing business. He then took up the plumbing business which he has since followed, and in 1897 came to De Kalb where he worked at the plumber's trade until June, 1906, when he entered into partnership with Arvine W. Marvin, under the firm style of Marvin & Bagg. This connection has since been main- tained and the firm has already built up a good business which many an older established house might well envy.
Mr. Bagg is a member of the Masonic fratern- ity and the Knights of Pythias lodge. In politics he is an independent republican. He was married in De Kalb, June 24, 1903, to Miss Nettie May Weeden, who was born in De Kalb, February 27.
188%, a daughter of Lucian and Olive (Seaman) Weeden. Mrs. Bagg was the younger of two chil- dren. Her parents are old residents of De Kalb county, the mother having been born there, andl are prominent and well-to-do people. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Bagg has been blessed with one son Warren James, who was born August 13, 1904.
Starting out in life in an humble position, Mr. Bagg has steadily made advancement and is now controlling a good business of his own, his life record proving that honesty is the best policy and that success is the reward of well directed labor. He is a eitizen of high character and pleasing social qualities and has gained many friends dur- ing the period of his residence in De Kalb.
ALVIN P. BURNHAM. -
Among the retired eitizens of Sandwich is num- bered Alvin P. Burnham, who through a long period was actively identified with agricultural pursuits in De Kalb county. During his earlier years he worked earnestly and persistently in the acquirement of a competence, and that his labors were richly rewarded is indicated by the fact that he is now the owner of a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres, situated on see- tion 21, Victor township, and from this property he now derives an income sufficient to enable him to spend the remainder of his days in well earned ease. He has now passed the seventy-first mile- stone on life's journey and since 1868 has been a resident of De Kalb county, while since 1901 Le has made his home in Sandwich.
The Burnham family comes of English origin, having been established in America in the sev- enteenth century, when four brothers emigrated to the new world, one of whom located in Massa- chusetts, a second in New Hampshire, a third in New York, and the fourth, of which branch our subjeet is a descendant, located in the state of Maine. The paternal grandfather, Moses Burn- ham, was a pioneer of Androscoggin county, Maine, where he established a home in the wilder- ness and there reared his family. It was his son, Bani Burnham, who became the father of our subject. The latter was born in Androscoggin
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county in 1799, and was there reared and married to Miss Eliza Haskell, likewise a native of that county and a daughter of Squire Haskell. Their family numbered four sons and two daughters, all of whom reached mature years, the family record being as follows: J. H., who spent his entire life in the Pine Tree state, where his death occurred ; Emma H., who became the wife of Frederick Lakin, of Maine, and is now a resident of Sand- wich; Octavia, the deceased wife of J. M. Smith, of Dwight, Illinois; Alvin P., whose name intro- duces this record ; Sumner, who served in the Civil war as a member of the One Hundred and Fourth Volunteer Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Hartsville, Tennessee, in 1864; and John, who was likewise a soldier of the Civil war, serving in a regiment from Maine, and whose death occurred from disease contracted while in the army. The father came with his family to De Kalb county, Illinois, one of his sons having previously located here. He passed away in Dwight. in 1871, at the home of a daughter, while his wife survived him, her death occurring in 1890.
Alvin P. Burnham, the second son and fourth child of his father's family, was born near Port- land. Maine. May 15. 1836. His carly education was acquired in the common schools of his native state, this being supplemented by a course of study in North Bridgeton Academy. He remained un- der the parental roof until he had reached the age of nineteen years, when, attracted by the oppor- tunities of the new and rapidly developing west, he decided to come to Illinois, and accordingly, in 1855, he made his way to Leland, this state, where he secured employment at farm labor, being thus engaged for four or five years, working for various farmer- of that locality. During this time he carefully saved his earnings so that he was enabled to establish a home of his own and begin life upon an independent business career. In the fall of 1860, therefore, he chose as a companion and helpmate for life's journey. Miss Cynthia P. Morton, the wedding being celebrated in La Salle county. She was likewise born in Maine, but was reared from an early age in Lynn, Massachusetts, where she also pursued her education. Her father. George, Morton, came from the east to La Salle county in 1856, and in that county the daughter engaged in the profession of teaching, so continu- ing until the time of her marriage.
Following his marriage Mr. Burnham located on a tract of rented land in La Salle county, op- erating the same for four or five years, when he removed to Livingston county and purchased a farm comprising one hundred and six acres, which he cultivated until 1868, in which year he came to De Kalb county and purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty aeres, situated on section 21, Victor township. The land was but partially im- proved when Mr. Burnham located thereon, but he at once undertook the work of further improv- ing the tract, soon placing his land under a high state of cultivation. He likewise built many fences, and- erected two good residences. barns and other outbuildings, while he set out many shade and ornamental trees, which add to the attractive appearance of the place. In addition to carrying on general agricultural pursuits. Mr. Burnham also made a specialty of breeding and dealing in standard-bred horses, mostly English draft horses, aud for many years followed that business, in which he met with very desirable success. He worked hard to acquire a good property and a com- petence. and all that he today possesses is due to his own well directed labors and his careful man, agement. After active connection with farming and stock-raising pursuits for forty-six years. Mr. Burnham retired from business life, and in 1901 removed to Sandwich, where he now resides with his daughter, his wife having passed away Oc- tober 22, 1891. He still retains possession of his landed interests, from which he derives an in- come sufficient to supply him with all of the com- forts and conveniences of life.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Burnham was born a daugh- ter, Clara M .. now the wife of Charles G. Arnold, a native of De Kalb county and a man of excellent business qualifications. Mrs. Arnold was provided with liberal educational advantages, having grad- uated from the high school at Leland.
In his political views Mr. Burnham is a repub- lican. having been identified with the party since its organization. In 1872 he was elected assessor of Victor township, in which capacity. through re- election, he continuously served for more than twenty-six years. while for a long period he also served on the school board, the cause of education finding in him a warm and stalwart friend. He is a man of high and honorable principles, being well known not only in Sandwich but throughout De
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