Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume I, Part 66

Author: Gross, Lewis M., 1863-; Fay, H. W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 678

USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 66

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FREDERICK B. TOWNSEND.

Frederick B. Townsend has for more than a quarter of a century figured in connection with the banking house of which he is now president and which is conducted under the name of the Pierce Trust & Savings Bank. This is one of the strong- est financial concerns of the county and the safe, conservative policy inaugurated by his grand- father. Daniel Pierce, of whom mention is made on another page in this volume and who was its founder, has been maintained by him. Mr. Town- send claims no special credit for this or for what he has accomplished in the business world, vet the characteristics of a substantial, trustworthy and enterprising financier are his: moreover, he has successfully operated extensive agricultural interests and in municipal affairs has proven his loyalty and progressiveness. Therefore, while he seeks nor desires no public notoriety. his fellow townsmen grant his right to be ranked with the foremost citizens of Sycamore.

The name of Townsend is too well known in De Kalb county to need encomium here. The grandparents and great-grandparents of Frederick B. Townsend settled in Mayfield township in 1840. At that time Amos W. Townsend, of whom ex- tensive mention is made on another page of this

work, was but eight years of age. The last named became a farmer of Malta township and it was upon the stock farm of his father that Fred- rick B. Townsend spent the first seventeen years of his life in a manner not unlike that of most farin lads of the period. He was a district-school student in his early boyhood and later continued his studies in the high school of Sycamore, prior to matriculating in Lombard University, at Gales- burg, Illinois, where he devoted four years to the mastery of a scientific course. He further pre- pared for business life as a student in the East- man Business College. at Poughkeepsie. New York, where he pursued a full course and then returned, well qualified by mental discipline for the active affairs of a business career. He nas since been identified with banking.

At that time Mr. Townsend entered the bank- ing house of Daniel Pierce & Company, which had been founded by his maternal grandfather and of which his father had in later years become a partner. HIere he applied himself to the mas- tery of the banking business in principle and in detail. Eventually he became managing partner and is now president of the institution which has been re-organized under the name of the Pierce Trust & Savings Bank. and which from the he- ginning has maintained a place among the strong- est moneyed concerns of this section of the state.

This does not, however. limit Mr. Townsend's business activity for he is one of the foremost representatives of agricultural interests, having the management of twenty-five farms in De Kalb county. which belong to the Daniel Pierce and Townsend estates, together with five thousand acres of land in Iowa. belonging to the Daniel Pierce estate, and large traets of land along the Red River of the North.

On the 18th of February. 1890, Mr. Townsend was united in marriage to Miss Mary Boynton, a daughter of Charles O. Boynton, whose sketch appears on another page of this volume. She was born in Sycamore. February 23, 1864, and began her education in the schools of that place, later attending St. Mary's Ladies Episcopal School at Knoxville, Illinois. She is a member of the Epis- copal church and is also connected with the Order of the Eastern Star and the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mr. and Mrs. Townsend have two children: Charles Boynton, born .Jan-

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uary 1, 1892; and Eleanor, born December 8, 1896.

Not alone in business circles has Mr. Townsend's lite been of signal benefit to the community for in the realm of political activity he has also done capable service for the public good. He was reared in the faith of the democratic party and his mature judgment sanctions that political be- lief. His fellow townsmen have called him to various publie offices. In 1889 he was elected alderman of the second ward and was annually re-elected until 1893. In the spring of 1894 he was elected mayor to fill the unexpired term of the late Dr. George W. Nesbitt and in 1895 and 1897 was re-elected, so he served for a third term, being chosen to the office in a republican city while a candidate of the democracy. The fact of his being twice re-elected is an indication of his busi- nesslike and progressive administration. In 1892 he was presidential elector on the Cleveland ticket.

Fraternally Mr. Townsend is a Mason, belong- ing to the lodge and chapter, to Sycamore com- mandery, No. 15, K. T., and to Medinah Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Chicago. His entire life has been passed in De Kalb county and few, if any, have more friends than has Frederick B. Townsend who has gained that warm personal re- gard which arises from true nobility of character. deference for opinions of others, kindliness and geniality.

A. H. WORDEN.

The prosperity which has rewarded the earnest effort and untiring industry of A. H. Worden in former years now enables him to live retired on his well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 22, South Grove township. He has now passed the seventy-fourth milestone on life's journey, having been born in Delaware eoun- ty, New York, on the 10th of February, 1833. a son of David and Hulda (Hull) Worden. The father was a sawmill man of Delaware county, New York, until 1835, in which year he took up his abode at Pine Creek, Ogle county, Illinois, where he engaged in the conduct of a sawmill for six years, subsequent to which time he removed to Coldwater, Michigan, where he conducted a simi-

lar business, being thus engaged until the time of his death, which occurred in February, 1843. His wife passed away in December of the previous year.

A. H. Worden was but two years of age when he was brought from his native place to this state, and he afterward accompanied his parents on their various removals in this state and to Michigan. Ile pursned his studies in the schools of Coldwater, Michigan, and there remained until he was a young man of twenty-one years, when, in 1854, · he removed to De Kalb county, Illinois, locating in South Grove township, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, operating rented land dur- ing the succeeding decade. During this period he worked diligently and energetically, carefully hus- banding his resources, so that at length he was enabled to purchase a farm in South Grove town- ship, and this has continued to be his home to the present time. He has tiled his land, which now makes it very arable, and in 1892 he erected a commodious and modern residence, while in 1904 he built a good barn, so that his place is now a well improved and valuable property. IIe was for many years actively engaged in general agri- cultural pursuits and as the years passed he pros- pered in his undertakings, thereby acquiring the competence that now enables him to rest from further labor, and he now leaves the work of the farm to his son, although still retaining his residence thereon.

Mr. Worden was married on the 21st of March, 1856. to Miss Adaline Mason, who was born in Hillsdale, Michigan, but at the time of her mar- riage was a resident of South Grove township, this county. Their home has been blessed with a son and daughter: James H., who is now operat- ing the home farm; and Addie, the wife of Peter Hoke of Maywood. Jarvis Mason, Mrs. Worden's father, was one of the early settlers of this county, having located in South Grove township in March, 1846. He was born in Herkimer county, New York, in 1801, and died in Shelby county, Illi- nois, in 1876. In his native state he married Achsah Squires, who was born in Massachusetts in 1801, and also died in Shelby county, Illinois, in 1879.

Mr. Worden has always supported the men and measures of the republican party, having cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln.

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While keeping well informed on political ques- tions and issues of the day he has never been active as an office seeker, preferring to do his duty as a private citizen. The family attend and support the Methodist Episcopal church at Clare. and are highly respected in the community where they reside. Mr. Worden, although starting out in a humble capacity, worked his way steadily upward toward the goal of success until he is today classed among the well-to-do citizens of South Grove township.

BYRON SNOW.

Byron Snow, deceased. was for many years Q1 honored resident of De Kalb. He was born in Keene, New Hampshire, on the 13th of December, 183%. and was brought to Illinois by his parents in 1839, the family driving across the country from the old Granite state. Here he was reared amid the scenes and environments of pioneer life and when the country became involved in civil war, with patriotic spirit he offered his services to the government, enlisting as a soldier of Com- pany H, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Regi- ment of Illinois Volunteers. Third Division. Sey- enteenth Army Corps. He joined the boys in blue in August, 1862, and served for three years or throughout the remainder of the war. He participated in the following battles: Port Gib- son on the 1st of May. 1863: the siege of Vicks- burg. including the assault on the enemy's works on the 220 of May and Fort Hill on the 26th of June. 1863: and was also in the Monroe. Louis- iana, and Brownsville, Mississippi, campaigns. which occurred in August and October. respect- ively, of the same year. Later he was at Yazoo ('ity and in the battle of Benton, Mississippi, in May. 1864. under General MeArthur. He like- wise took part in the Jackson campaign and in the battle at Jackson Crossroads in July, 1864. and in the White River and Memphis expeditions in October of the same year. With his regiment he participated in the campaign against Mobile and Montgomery, Alabama, in March and April, 1865. under General Canby. a military movement which included the siege of Spanish Fort and the storming and capture of the enemy's works

April 8, 1865. He marched by land and proceeded by water a distance of forty-one hundred miles and was engaged in fourteen skirmishes, ten bat- tles and two sieges of forty-seven days and nights and thirteen days and nights, respectively, thus being under the fire of the enemy for seventy- six days and sixty-night -. He was with the regi- ment during nearly all of the time. During the siege of Vicksburg three guns were disabled in his hands by the enemy's bullets during one day and a few days before the surrender of that strong- hold he was sent out three nights with three com- panions to reconnoiter on the enemy's camp, think- ing the army would evacuate. He often went so near the lines that he could distinguish the voices and understand what was said. Several times his hat and clothing were pierced by bullets and a lock of his hair was shot away at Champion Hill. At one time he was so ill that his discharge was procured and offered him but he steadfastly re- fused it and remained to see the close of the war. Hle was among the bravest of the brave and would not leave the front until victory perched on the I'nion banners and the stars and stripes floated over the capital of the southern confederacy, but he was modest in his statements of what he did, feeling that he merely did his duty. The country, however, acknowledges its indebtedness and the feeling throughout the north for the soldiers who were at the front was expressed in Washington by a banner which was swung over Pennsylvania avenue at the time of the grand review and which bore the legend: "The only debt which our coun- try cannot pay is the debt which she owes to her soldiers."

When the war was over Mr. Snow returned to his home in De Kalb county. and on the 21st of December, 1865. in Keene, New Hampshire, was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Margaret Gurler. For many years theirs was a most happy and con- genial married life. Mrs. Snow is also a native of Keene, born October 13. 1841. and is a daugh- ter of Benjamin and Harriet Fiske ( Hopkins) Gurler. Her ancestry can be traced back to an carly period in the history of Massachusetts. where Benjamin Gurler. the great-grandfather, was born. while Thomas Gurler. the grandfather, was a native of Marblehead, that state. A removal of the family to the old Granite state caused Nelson, New Hampshire. to become the birthplace of Ben-

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jamin Gurler, whose natal day was October 24; 1806. In carly life he was engaged in business as a manufacturer of bits and augers and he after- ward followed the occupation of farming. He married Miss Harriet Fiske Hopkins, who was born in Colerain, Massachusetts, October 29, 1811. and was a daughter of Richard Hopkins, whose birth occurred in Chesterfield. New Hamp- shire, in 1987, while his father, Richard Hopkins, Sr., a native of Massachusetts. Richard Hop- kins, Jr., wedded Emeline Lewis, likewise a native of Chesterfield, and it was their daughter Harriet who gave her hand in marriage to Benjamin Gur- ler. On the 12th of October, 1856, Mr. and Mrs. Gurler came to De Kalb county, settling in De Kalb township. The railroad had been completed to the city of De Kalb only a short time before. In their family were five children, of whom Mrs. Snow is the second in order of birth, the others being Henry B., George II., Mary J. and Lizzie J.

In the common schools of Keene, New Hamp- shire, Mrs. Snow acquired her early education. which was continued at Sugar Grove, Illinois, and later at Clark Seminary in Aurora, now known as Jennings Seminary from the fact that Mr. Jennings gave to the institution a large sum of money. Mrs. Snow was a teacher after leaving the seminary and prior to her marriage. and proved one of the competent educators of an early day. She has always lived in De Kalb since coming west with the exception of two years spent in Sugar Grove, Kane county. After their marriage M ... and Mrs. Snow bravely took up their life work. His health had been greatly impaired by his army service and he could do but little work of a manual character, but through honesty, industry and sacri- fice and the splendid assistance of his estimable wife he prospered.

There were four children came to bless their home: Perley Duane, born November 19, 1866; Zada Margaret, who was born August 17, 1869, and is now the wife of Edward B. Kough; IJelen Z .. who was born March 8. 1870. and married William C. Glidden, who died February 12. 1902: and Burton B .. born November 24. 1813. There are now five grandchildren : Donald Mccullough Snow born April 30, 1902, is the son of Perley Snow, and the children of Mrs. Glidden are Zada Marie, born February 21, 1896 ; and Varnum Far- well, born June 28. 1901. Beatrice Margaret

Snow, born May 18. 1895: and Byron Duane Snow, born December 31, 1896. are the children of Burton Snow. Two granddaughters have passed away : Dorothy L. Kougli, who was born Sep- tember 22, 1898. and died April 1, 1902; and Helen Gurler Kough, who was born September 15, 1905, and died December 15, 1906.

The death of Mr. Snow occurred on the 12th of February. 1897, and was deeply deplored, not only by his immediate family and relatives but by many friends who had learned to esteem and respect him. Thus passed away one of the hon- ored veterans of the Civil war but a part of his life work will endure forever in the Union, which owes its present strength and stability to the labors of the boys in blue. For many years Mrs. Snow has been a member of the Woman's Relief Corps, has served as president of the local organization four years and department officer for the same length of time. She has also been a member of of the Woman's Club since its organization and a member of the Christian Science church. She is a most estimable lady of marked strength of char- acter and of strong native intelligence, who was of the greatest assistance to her husband and who has ever been most devoted to her family.

ALBERT CARLSON.

Albert Carlson, foreman of the nail department for the American Wire & Steel Company at De Kalb, in which connection he is well known in industrial circles, was born in Sweden, October 15, 1867, and it is a notable fact that a large majority of the most competent and efficient work- men employed in the mills at this place are of Swedish birth. ITis parents were Carl P. and Johanna Johnson, in whose family were eight children, four of whom came to the United States, namely: Charles, a resident of De Kalb; Chris- tine, the wife of Andrew Bergstrom, of De Kalb : Hulda. the wife of Andrew Anderson, of the same city ; and Albert, of this review.

Albert Carlson was reared at home and pursued his education in the common schools and in the technical schools of his native country, pursuing a course in mechanics. In 1887 he emigrated to the United States, attracted by the broader busi-

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ness opportunities of the new world. He located in De Kalb, Illinois, and sought and obtained employment in the barb wire mills owned by I. L. Ellwood & Company. He operated a barb wire machine for six years, when the nail machines were installed and Mr. Carlson was placed in charge of one of these because of his recognized ability in mechanical lines. After a brief period he was promoted to the position of belt man of the shops and in 1902 he was advanced to the position of foreman of the nail department, in which ca- pacity he has since served, proving most compe- tent in his position.

On the 31st of July. 1897, Mr. Carlson was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Lesander. a native of Sweden, and they became the parents of one child, Ethel Albina Natalia. The wife and mother died February 4, 1904, and on the 6th of June, 1906, Mr. Carlson was married to Miss Lydia Otilia, a native of De Kalb, whose parents were Andrew and Carolina Anderson, natives of Sweden, whence they came to America in the year 1880.

Mr. Carlson is a member of De Kalb lodge, No. 13, of the North Star Benefit Association. and he also holds membership in the Swedish Lutheran church. In politics he is a republican and he is one of the well known Swedish-Amer- ican residents of De Kalb, possessing the sterling traits of his race-industry, native intelligence and honesty. He has made a creditable position in the business world and is well qualified for the responsibility that devolves upon him in his pres- ent connection.

JOHN W. BLEE.

John W. Blee, of Sandwich, a lawyer of dis- tinctive ability representing important interests. his practice extending to all the state and federal courts, is also a stockholder and officer in various corporate interests, wherein his executive force and wise counsel have been a stimulating influence and an element in its success.

A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in Mon- tour county, September 29, 1849, and was a son of Joseph M. and Euphemia H. ( Sproule) Blee, who were likewise natives of the Keystone state.

The father devoted his time and energies to farm- ing in Pennsylvania and also continued in that oe- cupation, following his removal to Illinois in 1854. On coming to this state he located in Wyoming township, Lee county, where he made his home throughout his remaining days. He had a very wide and favorable acquaintance. being classed with the representative agriculturists and known also as a man of genuine personal worth. The cause of education found in him a stalwart cham- pion and his efforts were directly beneficial in promoting the schools of the neighborhood. No plan or movement for the general welfare failed to receive his endorsement and co-operation and, in fact, he was widely recognized as a leader in the work of advancement and npbuilding. He was, moreover, prominent in political circles, was a stanch Douglas democrat and his opinions carried weight in the councils of his party. He served as a member of the convention which nominated Stephen A. Douglas for president in 1860 and was a most ardent admirer of "the little giant of Illi- nois." The kindliness of his nature is indicated by the fact that he was a great favorite with chil- dren. He possessed superior social qualities, was an excellent conversationalist and this rendered him a favorite in all circles. His death was caused by a runaway accident January 16, 1823. when he was about fifty-five years of age, his birth hav- ing occurred March 12. 1818. Mrs. Blee long sur- vived her husband. spending her last years in Santa Ana, California, where she died March 13, 1904. She was born May 30. 1819, and was there- fore about eighty-five years of age at the time of her demise. A life-long member of the Presby. terian church, she was deeply interested in its work and in many benevolent and charitable movements and her kindly disposition, generous spirit and broad sympathy made her loved by all with whom she came in contact. Her grandfather Sproule came to this country in 1130. as a young man, and located in Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the mercantile business. He married Euphemia Marshall, a relative of Chief Justice Marshall. The maternal grandfather of our subject served in the war of the Revolution and from silver carned as a soldier he had a spoon manufactured, which is now in the possession of our subject and was made about 1187. Of the four children born to Joseph M. and Enphemia H. Blee, Teressa A.

JohnMY Ble

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.

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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.

is the wife of W. C. Bryant and resides in Santa Ana, California. Charles M. resides in Los An- geles, California. James H. resides on the old home farm in Lee county, Illinois.

John W. Blee, the other member of the family. spent his youth in the usual manner of farmer lads of the period. He was about five years of age when taken by his parents to Lee county and when not busy with his text-books his attention was given to the work of the home farm. During the war he offered his services to the government in defense of the Union, but on account of his youth was rejected. Desirous of acquiring a more advanced education than the district schools had afforded, he became a student in the academy at Mendota, Illinois, in 1865 and devoted three years to preparation for college. He afterward matricu- lated in the University of Chicago and when he had been a student there for two years he took up the work of teaching and also became connected with the field of journalism, at the same time pur- suing his studies in civil engineering. He was employed along that line for one year under the city engineer of Chicago and afterward on the con- struction work of a railroad, but being unable to meet the demands made upon him physically by that work he determined to enter upon the prac- tice of law and in the spring of 1872 began study- ing toward that end. He entered the law depart- ment of the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated in the class of 1874, and in June of the same year was admitted to practice before the supreme court of Illinois.

Mr. Blee was for four years a member of the Chicago bar, after which he returned to Lee county, where he remained until 1880, engaged in active practice. He next opened an office in Earl- ville and the same year entered the service of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad as real- estate and right-of-way attorney. While living in Earlville in 1880 he established and published the Earlville Leader and for a number of years was correspondent to the leading daily papers of Chi- Chicago. He continued as real-estate and right-of- way attorney with the Burlington and other rail- way companies until 1893, when he was appointed special examiner and attorney for the department of the currency by Hon. James H. Eekels, who was comptroller of the currency under President Cleveland. His chief took the position a compar-

atively unknown man, but left it after the expira. tion of his four years' term one of the best known financiers in the United States. When he died recently he was president of the Commercial Na- tional Bank of Chicago. Mr. Blee served during Mr. Eckels' entire term and traveled nearly one hundred and ninety thousand miles by rail, visit- ing and looking after insolvent banks, his work be- ing largely in that line.

Following his retirement from the office he lo- cated in Sandwich, where he has had a large and distinctively representative clientage. While he engages in the general practice of law he has made somewhat of a specialty of corporation law and for some years has been special attorney for the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad and is now confidential attorney in connection with their lines now building from Evarts, South Dakota, to Seattle, Washington. He is likewise attorney for the St. Paul Coal Company. He has become con- nected with a number of corporate interests as stockholder and official, being president of the Farmers & Miners Bank at Ladd, Illinois, presi- dent of the State Bank at Cherry, Illinois, a di- rector and one of the organizers of the Northern Illinois Telephone Company and a stockholder in the Sandwich Manufacturing Company. He does not devote much time to his outside interests, but has them well in hand and possesses the keen dis- cernment and business discrimination which en- ables him to readily understand the conditions that exist and the possibilities, so that he forms his plans readily and sees to it that they are care- fully executed. He possesses one of the best se- lected law libraries in the county and with its contents is largely familiar. He has always been a close student of the profession and has a broad and comprehensive understanding of the princi- ples of jurisprudence, especially in those depart- ments of law to which he has directed his atten- tion in his practice. He has engaged in promot- ing some extensive railroad improvements and has assisted in placing investments for New York and Chicago capitalists.

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Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume I, Part 66

Author: Gross, Lewis M., 1863-; Fay, H. W Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 678

Author: Gross, Lewis M., 1863-; Fay, H. W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 678