USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 58
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On the 31st of October, 1885, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Perkins and Miss Sarah Holroyd. a native of Genoa and a daughter of Stephen N. Hlolroyd, who was born in England and coming to America settled in De Kalb county in 1838. here following farming throughout the remainder of his life. ITer father died at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have two children: Irma and Horatio, Jr., who are now attending school. The family have a nice home, well and tastefully furnished. Mr. Perkins occupies the lower half of a good two-story brick store building, the second story of which is used as a society hall, and is owned by the Odd Fellows lodge. No. 763. of Genoa.
By his ballot he supports the men and meas- ures of the republican party and he has taken quite an active and prominent part in public affairs. Besides serving as postmaster he has filled the office of township clerk for twenty-one years; was village clerk several years ; village trustee six years : mayor two years : a member of the board of education ten years; and clerk of the school- board at the present time. All of his official duties have been most faithfully and capably discharged
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and won for him the commendation of all con- cerned. Fraternally he is an honored member of camp No. 63. M. W. A., of Genoa.
VICTOR HERBERT LUNDBERG.
Victor Herbert Lundberg, in charge of the gen- eral delivery at the postoffice in De Kalb, was born in this city, Jannary 8, 1880. His parents are John G. and Minnie ( Bruhn) Lundberg. the former born in Sweden, June 21, 1851, and the latter a native of Tama, Iowa. The father came to America in 1876 and took up his abode in De Kalb, Illinois, where he established a tobacco and notion store, which he is still conduct- ing. He has won a creditable place among the merchants of the city and is now widely and favor- ably known in business circles. Unto him and his wife were born seven children, of whom Victor Herbert Lundberg is the oldest. The family has for many generations lived in Sweden and the grandfather. J. Lundberg, was inspector of the estate of Count Stackelberg for over a half cen- tury, and J. G. Lundberg, the father of our sub- ject, now has in his possession a gold medal which was awarded the grandfather tor faithfulness and efficiency during that long service in Sweden.
Victor H. Lundberg at the usual age entered the public schools and passed through the succes- sive grades, finishing his education in the high school. He afterward worked in the office of a shoe factory, where he remained for two years. after which he spent six months at high school and then accepted a position as general utility clerk in the postoffice of De Kalb. In 1897 he made a visit to Sweden, the native land of his ancestors, and remained there three months. The trip was thoroughly enjoyable and pleasing, but he realized fully that the labor conditions in this country are preferable, and was glad to return to the business life of the new world. He is now in charge of the general delivery at the postoffice in De Kalb and his faithfulness and energies are recognized in the office.
On the 18th of June, 1903, in De Kalb, Mr. Lundberg was married to Miss Edith Howell, who was born in New York November 19, 1879, the daughter of Charles and Lorano Howell. The
father was born in the Empire state. Mrs. Lund- berg was the only child. her mother having died when she was two months old. She has become the mother of one daughter, Eleanor Lundberg. who was born March 24, 1904. The young couple reside at No. 564 Main street east, and are popu- lar in the city where they have always lived. having a large circle of warm friends here.
Mr. Lundberg is well known in fraternal and military relations, being now a drum major in the Illinois National Guard, while formerly he was sergeant of Company A, Third Regiment. He affiliates with the Royal Arcamun and the Arken Union and is a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the republican party. He is inter- ested in matters of general improvement and gives his co-operation to many movements for material, social, intellectual and moral progress in his native city.
ARTHUR L. PARKS.
Arthur L. Parks, a farmer, stock-raiser and breeder of Victor township, lives on section 28 and has an excellent property, which is known a> the Willow Dale stock farm. It was upon this place and in the house in which he now resides that Mr. Parks was born April 3, 1869. His f. ther, Edward Parks, was a native of New York, born near Lockport, and after spending his youth in the Empire state came west to Illinois when a young man. casting in his lot with the early settlers of De Kalb county. He was accompanied by two brothers and he purchased raw land, which he brought under the plow and transformed into rich and productive fields. In the course of time he owned a good farm and was recognized as one of the foremost agriculturists of the com- munity.
Edward Parks was married in this county to Miss Margaret Gould, a native of Prince Edward Island and took his bride to his farm, where he continued to till the soil for a number of years. Ile likewise opened up the farm upon which his son Arthur now resides, owning two hundred and thirteen acres. It remained his place of residence until 1896, when he removed to Franklin county,
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Kansas. He purchased and still owns a farm of nearly twelve hundred aeres there. being one of the leading agriculturists of that part of the state. He lost his wife September 29. 1906.
Arthur L. Parks was one of a family of six sons and one daughter. all of whom are yet living. No event of special importance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his boyhood days. He was educated in the common schools at Leland and when not busy with his text-books Ins time and energies were largely devoted to gen- eral agricultural pursuits. He rented land and farmed the place for several years before his mar- riage and in fact throughout his entire life has bent his energies to the work of tilling the soil.
As a companion and helpmate for life's journey Mr. Parks chose Ella Bend, one of Victor town- ship's native daughters. She was reared here and they were married on the 12th of February, 1894. Her father was Lewis Bend, one of the early settlers who came here from England. Following his marriage Mr. Parks engaged in farming on his father's land and afterward purchased the property. continuing its cultivation for four years, when he sold out and bought the old homestead, to which he removed in 1902. With characteris- tic energy he began its further cultivation and improvement and his labors have been productive of excellent results. He tiled and fenced the land and has greatly augmented the fertility of the soil through the rotation of crops. He has also en- gaged in raising pure blooded shorthorn cattle, beginning this busines- in 1903. Hle now has a herd of thirteen pure blooded animals and also has some pure blooded Jersey Duroc hogs and Shropshire sheep. His stock-raising interests constitute an important branch of the business and his careful management, keen discernment and unfaltering energy have made him a prosper- ons fariner.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Park> have been born three children : Shelby II .. Alta M. and Ada. all of whom are at home. Politically Mr. Parks is a republican, having always supported that party, and is now a highway commissioner. having filled that office for two years. Ile is also a member of the school board and is district clerk. Through- out his entire life he has been a resident of the county and has witnessed the transformation which has been wrought in the conversion of once wild
land into valuable farms. He stands for advance- ment in all lines of public interest and among his acquaintances are many who entertain for him the highest regard.
AMOS W. TOWNSEND.
Amos W. Townsend, a pioneer of De Kalb coun- ty. came to Mayfield township with his father Stephen Townsend, in 1840, and at the age of eight years began life as the boys of that period were compelled to do in surroundings where lux- utry was unknown. Beginning life in such en- vironments develops a man physically and mental- ly and gives a certain cast of character to men of his time that has made for the betterment of those who come in contact with them, and for those who follow in their footsteps a splendid ex- ample of self-sacrifice and energy which exerts a lasting influence.
Mr. Townsend was a native of New York, born in the town of Neversink, Sullivan county, September 23, 1832. The family records give ac- count of his great-grandfather. Charles Town- send. who lived for some years in Sussex county New York, but who spent his last days in Sullivan county, that state, where he passed away at an ad- vanced age. At the time of the Revolutionary war he espoused the cause of the colonists and served in the militia of New York. His wife was a Miss Itall.
Their son, Joshua Townsend, was born in Deck- ertown, Sussex county, New York, July 14. 1187, and having arrived at years of maturity. wedded Phebe Porter, whose birth occurred at New Hav- en. Connecticut. February 12. 1282. The year 1840 witnessed their arrival in Mayfield township, De Kalb county, Ilinois, and since that time mem- bers of the Townsend family have figured promi- nently in the development, upbuilding and prog- ress of the county. Joshua Townsend departed thi- life April 12. 1861, while his wife survived until April 28. 1867.
Stephen Townsend. son of Joshua Townsend and father of Amos W. Townsend, was born in Sullivan county. New York, in the town of Never- sink. JJune 30, 1802, and was there married to
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Eleanor P. Lowusing.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ANTTI. LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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Miss Anna Denman, whose parents were William and Anna ( Boorman ) Denman, the former born in Ditchling, Sussex county, England. November 12. 1163, while the latter was born in Sheddom, Kent county, England, August 2, 1322. Crossing the Atlantic to the United States they became resi- dents of the town of Neversink, Sullivan county, New York, where the death of Mr. Denman oe- curred December 10, 1858, while his wife passed away June 5, 1842. Their daughter Anna be- came the wife of Stephen Townsend, of whom ex- tensive mention will be made in the Mayfield township history in another part of this work, and in the year 1840 this worthy couple estab- lished their home upon a farm which Mr. Town- send purchased in Mayfield township. De Kalb county, Illinois. For some years he successfully carried on general agricultural pursuits. He died at the age of seventy-five years, while his wife reached the very advanced age of ninety-three and spent her last years in Sycamore.
Amos W. Townsend was a youth of about eight .. years when brought by his parents to De Kalb county. Thus he was reared amid the wild scenes and environments of a frontier locality, His un- cle had arrived in the county in 1831. In the party that made the trip in 1840 three genera- tions of the family were represented and all lo- eated in De Kalb county. The journey westward was made with teams and covered several weeks, for they journeyed after the slow manner of the times and over roads which were often in poor condition. Amos W. Townsend had already spent a year or two in the schools of the east and in this county continued a student in the district schools for a time, while later he had the advantage of instruction in Wheaton Academy, now Wheaton (Illinois) College. He had early become familiar with the duties and labors of the field and before he had attained his majority he began farming on land belonging to his grandfather. there re- maining up to the time of his marriage.
mained their home for nineteen years. He was very successful as an agriculturist. in the fall of 1876, because of the death of the mother of Mrs. Townsend, they removed to a farm one mile west of Sycamore to make a home for Mrs. Town- send's father, Mr. Pierce. In addition to giving his personal attention to the management of his farm interests, Mr. Townsend soon became inter- osted in the banking house of Daniel Pierce & Co. as junior member of the firm and contributed in no small degree to the success of that institution. He was a capable business man. alert and enter- prising, seldom at error in matters of business judg- ment, and carried forward to successful com- pletion whatever he undertook. Hle was just in his relations to all and demanded the same treatment for himself. He was never known to take advant- age of another in trade transactions and through- out his entire life maintained an unassailable repu- tation for business probity.
In his political views Mr. Townsend was al- ways an earnest republican and had firm faith in the ultimate triumph of the principles of his party, believing them most conducive to good gor- ernment. He, however, never sought or desired publie office and only served in the position of supervisor at the carnest solicitation of friends and neighbors. He was content to aid in matters of public progress as a private citizen and gave endorsement and hearty co-operation to many movements for the general good. Wherever known he was honored because of his well known ability and the strict integrity of his character. and thus when his death occurred on the 25th of August, 1887, it brought a feeling of uniform sorrow and deep regret. His best traits of char- acter were reserved for his family, however, and he found his greatest happiness in providing for the welfare and comfort of his wife and children.
On the 15th of October. 1857. in Sycamore, MRS. ELEANOR P. TOWNSEND. Mr. Townsend led to the marriage altar Miss Eleanor Pierce, whose sketch appears on another Mrs. Eleanor P. Townsend, the wife of Amos W. Townsend, and daughter of Daniel and Phoebe (Brundage) Pierce, was born February 10, 1839, at Neversink, Sullivan county. New York, and page of this work. At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Amos W. Townsend took up their abode a few miles north of Malta upon a farm which Mr. Townsend purchased and which re- in 1855 came to Illinois with her parents, who
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settled in Sycamore. Her father was one of the prominent men of northern Illinois, of whom ex- tended mentioned is made on another page of this work. Mrs. Townsend's early girlhood was spent in Sullivan connty and she attended a pri- vate academy at Liberty, New York. She was sixteen years of age when she came to Sycamore and soon after she entered Miss Sill's Seminary at Rockford, Illinois, where she completed her education.
On the 15th of October, 185%, Eleanor Pierce gave her hand in marriage to Amos W. Townsend and they became the parents of five children: Frederick B., now president of the Pierce Trust. & Savings Bank, of whom mention is made else- where in this work: Jennie, the wife of Charles 1. Webster, of Galesburg, Illinois; Anna, who he- came the wife of Frank E. Claycomb, of Mon- mouth. Illinois, and died April 8, 1892; Georgia, the wife of Captain John E. Yates, of Boise City. Idaho; and Mary, who became the wife of William R. Tapper, and died at Riverside, Illinois, August 7, 1902.
Mrs. Townsend was at once an acknowledged leader in religious, social and school atfairs. She was the organizer of the Universalist society at Malta, which continued its existence during her residence in that place. She also served as school director while a resident of the Malta district and so far as we can learn was the first woman in De Kalb county to act in that capacity. Upon her removal to the Pierce farm near Sycamore she became prominent in the affairs of the Syca- more Universalist church. Her interest in the church deepened with increasing years and her spiritual life brightened as ill health pre- vented her from participating actively in the re- ligious life of the church. She was prominent in Universalist circles of the state and for a num- ber of years was one of the trustees of Lombard College. at Galesburg, as well as one of its most liberal supporters. She was the donor of the Townsend prize contest, a leading feature in con- nection with the college oratorical work. and did everything in her power to advance the interest of Lombard, which is a Universalist institution. She was also a member of the executive board of the National Woman's Centenary Association of the Universalist church. Her allegiance to the Uni-
versatist faith dated back to her youth and she left a liberal endowment to the church of Syca- more, of which she was a constant attendant and chief supporter during her life here. Always ready to perform any service in its behalf. willing to take up the work patiently and cheerfully when others had let it fall, she saw in the duties of the offices which she was called upon to fill a sacred obligation, therefore she performed them conscien- tiously and faithfully. She was indeed a power in the church, devoted, resourceful. energetic, a nat- ural leader. greatly beloved by those with whom she labored and guided at all times in her work by the highest ideals.
Mrs. Townsend found greatest delight in hav- ing her children and grandchildren with her and many were the happy hours spent by them around her genial hearthstone. She possessed many admir- able traits of character. Her treatment of others was invariably characterized by generous consider- ation. She was a lady of most kindly spirit and generous disposition ; charity and benevolence were among her strong traits. her ever-ready sym- pathy was always touched by a tale of sorrow or distress and she was quick to do everything in her power to relieve the grievous burdens that others were bearing. She approached those whom she aided not with any sense of condescension but as a friend whose spirit found its best expression in giving aid to others. She recognized the truth of universal brotherhood and individual obligation. but it was not any sense of duty which prompted her beneficence but a heart which beat with ready sympathy and kindliness for all. She passed away on the 20th of December, 1904, and the memory of her noble life is a sacred treasure to all who knew her and remains as a blessed bene- diction to her many friends.
W. E. CHERRY.
W. E. Cherry is one of the best known residents of Cortlaul and no history of the village would be complete without mention of his life. He was born at Anburn, New York. August 23. 1830. His father. Cyrus JJ. Cherry, was drowned in a Wisconsin lake while hunting ducks, and the
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mother was left with a family of six children, of whom W. E. Cherry was the eldest son, although there were two older sisters. In 1841 the family left Auburn, New York, and Mr. Cherry has since lived in different places in Missouri, Wisconsin and Illinois, finally settling at Batavia in the year when Abraham Lincoln was first elected pres- ident. Ite made his way to Chicago on the same train which hore some of the delegates to the re- publican national convention of 1860, and while in the city he heard Owen Lovejoy speak in the wigwam there. He also heard William H. Seward address a crowd on the streets during the days of the convention upon the subjects at issue.
As stated, Mr. Cherry after coming to Illinois, established his home at Batavia. Kane county, where he lived for a number of years, removing to Malta township. De Kalb county. on the 14th of April, 1829. Since that time he has made his home within the borders of the county, finally re- moving to Cortland in "potato digging time" in 1888.
Mr. Cherry was married in early manhood to Miss Sarah Barker, of Missouri, who was three days his junior. They had no children of their own but reared an adopted son and daughter: Frank Cherry, now living in Cortland ; and Mrs. Clara A. Gerber, now a resident of Independ- ence, Missouri. Mr. Cherry has always regarded them as his own children and neither of them ever knew any other place as home or any other father. Having lost his first wife, Mr. Chery was married to Miss Catherine Burt, of Batavia, Illinois, on the 8th of June, 1871, and they became the parents of six children : Mary Maud. who was born Sep- tomber 4. 1875, and died March 12, 1881; Zoe Ellen. born February 20, 1877: Enos Burt, who was born November 19, 1879, and died April 28, 1880; William Enos, born June 1, 1886: Celia Maria, born June 4, 1888: and Harry Edward, horn December 12, 1891.
Mr. Cherry worked for many years as a wagon blacksmith and the last contract which he had was to iron five thousand wagons for the Newton Manufacturing Company of Batavia. He suffered from ill health at different times for many years but at last received much aid from the Vienna Medical Institute of Chicago, and at the age of seventy-six years he is able to attend to some
business, distributing family medicines among his customers, including some of the best families of De Kalb county. He compounds his own medi- cines and obtains a good income from their sales. Not only does he sell in Cortland but also has mail and telephone orders for his remedies.
The family have a pleasant home in Cortland and a notable event in the family history is the fact that the mother of both Mr. and Mrs. Cherry were members of their household for many years. When they were married Mrs. Cherry's mother, Mrs. Mary L. Burt, became a member of the family and remained here until her death on the 3d of August, 1900, having lived with them all the time and in fact having never been separated from her daughter for any length of time during her entire life. Mr. Cherry's mother, Mrs. Han- nah Wilcox Cherry, had been with them for twenty-five years when her death occurred January 9, 1906, at the very extreme old age of ninety-eight years. She would often fast and would neither drink tea nor coffee. She was very discreet and her temperate way of living was undoubtedly a factor in her longevity. Her death was apparently without pain. The family had noticed that her strength was failing but she had no disease and her death was simply the wearing out of the tissues, occasioned by old age, for she lived to be almost a centenarian. Mrs. Burt was past eighty- nine years of age when she was called to her final rest. The family had been a inost pleasant house- hold and the friends often spoke of the Cherry residence as the Old Ladies' Home. A great many people came to visit the two dear old mothers, who remained so long to grace the household and who both now lie buried in the family plat in Malta cemetery. Mrs. Mary Ball Burt was a distant relative of Mrs. Mary Ball Washington. the mother of George Washington, the father of his country. The genealogy of the Ball family has been published and a copy of it is to be found in the Cherry family library.
Of the younger generation of the family we make mention as follows. The daughter, Zoe, on the 4th of May. 1896, became the wife of Edwin F. King, who was born August 29, 1869. They had two children: Bernice, who was born Feb- ruary 6, and died February 12, 1899; and Dor- othy, born February 1, 1900. Miss Celia Cherry
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was married October 13. 1905, to A. B. Steuben. who was born May 26, 1881. Their marriage had been planned as a home atfair but the young couple took the matter into their own hands and it is now a matter of record that theirs was the first auto- mobile elopement to occur in De Kalb county. Mr. and Mrs. Cherry are very hospitable people and it is their feeling and that of their children that "there is no place like home." They delight to entertain their many friends, who are frequent visitors at the family residence.
J. M. JOHNSON.
J. M. Johnson is successfully engaged in the operation of a valuable farm of three hundred acres in De Kalb township and also devotes con- siderable attention to stock-raising. In the con- trol of his business affairs he displays an aptitude for successful management, combined with unfal- tering energy. He was born in Afton township. Angust 3, 1865. a son of Nels M. and Anna John- son, and has spent his entire life in this county.
The father was a native of Sweden and in early life came to the United States, taking up his resi- dence in De Kalb, Illinois, in 1853. After seven years spent in that city he removed to Afton township, where he lived for three years. and then became a resident of De Kalb township. set- tling on a tract of land of eighty acres on section ". He purchased that place and kept adding thereto until his farm comprised three hundred acres. Later he bought four hundred and forty acres of land in Nebraska. His success was nota- ble from the fact that when he came to America he had very little capital, but he possessed what was still better-energy and a determination to succeed. As the years passed by, through his industry, frugality and wise investment he pros- pered and at his death, which occurred January 6. 1886. he was one of the prosperous farmers of the county. His wife died in De Kalb on the 18th of March, 1907. after a short illness. She was also a native of Sweden and crossed the At- lantie in 1854, landing in Boston, Massachusetts.
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