USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 69
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It was during his infancy that William F. Eik- lor was brought by his parents to this county and here he grew to manhood amid pioneeer scenes. He was one of a family of eleven children. as was also Sophronia Olmsted, who became his wife in 1857. She is a native of De Kalb county and a daughter of Caleb Olmsted, one of its pioneers. She is a sister of A. H. Olmsted, whose sketch ap- pears on another page of this volume. After his marriage Mr. Eiklor bought forty acres of lan l near Genoa. now known as the Rowan farm, and
there he made his home until 1863, when he sold the place with the intention of entering the Union army but was disqualified for service by a weak knee. lle then removed with his family to Mc- Lean county, where he purchased one hundred and twenty acres of land and turned his attention to its cultivation and improvement. As time passed and he prospered in his farming operations he added to his property until he owned five hundred and fifty acres and he continued to make his home in MeLean county for twenty-five years. In 1888 he returned to De Kalb county and bought the Strong farm of two hundred acres on section 18, Genoa township, making that place his home for the following twelve years. Deciding to lay aside busi- ness cares and spend the remainder of his life in case and retirement he removed to Genoa in 1900 and built a nice residence, where he was living when called to the world beyond January 14, 1905. His widow still survives him and continues to make her home in Genoa.
William A. Eiklor's boyhood and youth were mainly passed in McLean county, being but four years old at the time of the removal of the family to that county, and he remained under the parental roof until after he had attained his majority. In 1881 he was married at Pontiac, Illinois. to Miss Susan A. Blandy, who was born in Peoria county, this state. Her father, Thomas Blundy, was a native of England and on his emigration to Amer- ica settled in Peoria county. Illinois, in 1858. Five children bless this union, the three oldest be- ing born in MeLean county and the others in De Kalb county. In order of birth they are as fol- lows: Lester, who is a graduate of the Genoa high school and is now assisting his father on the farm ; and Arthur, Frank, Clarence and Raymond. still in school.
William A. Eiklor accompanied his parents on their return to De Kalb county and purchased his present farm of two hundred acres on seetion 18, Genoa township. He has laid over eight miles of tiling upon the place, has divided the land into fields of convenient size by well kept fences, and erected good and substantial buildings, including a barn, forty-eight by fifty-four feet with twenty foot posts and an addition twenty-four by sixty feet. He has also built a crib with an elevator, thirty-two by twenty-four feet and twelve feet in
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
height, and has a feed grinder and sawmill op- erated by wind power. All of the grain which he raises upon the place he feeds to his own stock, having made a specialty of stock-raising. He is part owner in an imported Norman Percheron stallion and he raises full blooded Poland Chinh hogs and Durham cattle, keeping from fifteen to twenty cows for dairy purposes and feeding each winter one or two carloads of cattle. He is a stockholder in the De Kalb County Telephone Company and in business affairs is prompt. ener- getic and notably reliable.
Although he cares nothing for political honors. Mr. Eiklor is a stanch supporter of the repub- lican party and has efficiently served as school di- rector for six years. Fraternally he is an hon- ored member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Mystic Workers, all of Genoa, and both he and his wife hold membership in the Methodist Epis- copal church. They are people of the highest re- spectability and have hosts of friends throughout the community in which they live.
GEORGE HOPKINS GURLER.
But few names in the dairy world are better known than that of Gurler. It stands for honor. progression and purity in the production of one of the necessities of life. The subject of this sketch has contributed his share to honorably per- petnating the family name, having produced and sold upward of thirty million pounds of butter.
George II. Gurler was born in Chesterfield. New Hampshire, March 29, 1844, and is a son of Ben- jamin and Harriet Gurler. When he was three years of age his parents removed to Keene. New Hampshire, and in 1856 to DeKalb, Illinois. Many of the items of genealogical interest of the family are given in this history in the sketch of his brother. I. B. Gurler.
The subject of this sketch received his early edu- cation in the district school and attended the De Kalb schools two winters. In 1864 he answered his country's call and enlisted at De Kalb as a reernit of the Fifteenth Illinois Infantry. He was sent to Camp Fry at Chicago and from there
went to New York. From there he went by boat to North Carolina and joined his regiment at Morehead City in the spring of 1864. He became a part of Sherman's army and marched to Raleigh, thence to Richmond and on to Washington, tak- ing part in the grand review. From the capital he went to Parkersburg, Virginia, then to St. Louis and from there to Fort Leavenworth and out on the plains to Fort Kearney. Returning to Springfield. he was there mustered out in October, 1865.
Mr. Gurler returned to De Kalb and went to work in the store of Flinn & Gurler. Within a year he bought ont the senior partner and the tirm became Gurler Brothers, but after two years II. B. Gurler retired from the firm. George Gur- ler then conducted the business alone for about eight years and sold out to Fuller & Hard. Ile bought butter and eggs for two years in the build- ing across the street and afterward worked four years for Hiram Ellwood. His training, after he retired from the army, fitted him to know the needs of the creamery business and in 1881, in partnership with his brother Henry. he built the De Kalb Creamery. They bought the cream at Walton and Five Corners. In connection with H. H. Hopkins, under the firm name of Gurler Broth- ers & Company, they became owners of creameries at Ilinekley. Shabbona Grove and Lee, Illinois. In 1895 the creamery possessions of Gurler Broth- ers were divided and G. H. Gurler became owner of his brother's interest in the creameries of Malta. Hinckley. Shabbona and Shabbona Grove. At this time his son. Charles Gurler, became actively engaged with him and since that time they have established or bought creameries in Illinois at the following places: Creston. Volo, Wauconda and Griswold Lake, while in Iowa they owned cream- eries at Chapin, Mason City. Rockwell. Alexander, Sheffield. Republic, Nashna. Powersville, Hamp- ton and Cedar Rapids. They have from time to time exchanged and sold creameries and now own but six of the list. In January. 1901, a stock company was organized under the title of Gurler. Borth Company. the officers being G. H. Gurler, president : Charles Gurler, vice president, and .1. J. Borth, of Cedar Rapids, secretary and treas- urer. This company now owns and operates the creameries at Malta. Creston, Cedar Rapids, Nashua, Power-ville and Hampton.
ASTOR, ENG FILDEN FOUNDATIONG.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
G. H. Gurler has served as vice president of the Elgin Board of Trade for twelve years and was president of the State Dairy Association for five years. The annual output of his creameries has amounted to two million pounds for the past fif- teen years and is sold in the markets all over the world.
Mr. Gurler was united in marriage January 1, 1867, to Miss Zilla Newett, who was born in Eng- land and is a daughter of Robert and Susan (Rolfe) Newett, her father being one of the pio- neer residents of De Kalb. Mr. and Mrs. Gurler are the parents of two children: Charles H., who married Myra Cook, a niece of C. W. Marsh ; and Beatrice, who lives at home. They have one grandchild.
Mr. Gurler is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is prominent in political and civic affairs. He has made a practice of divorcing him- self from business for a few weeks cach year and indulge in hunting and fishing, thus finding need- ed relaxation from business life. He is a great lover of outdoor life and is a naturalist of more than local reputation. He has one of the best col- lections of stuffed animals and birds in this lo- cality. With no schooling except what he acquired in the active occupation of life, Mr. Gurler has developed into an interesting character. He is still energetic and useful and commands the at- tention and respect of the people at home and abroad. He has acquired a fund of knowledge along many special lines that make his counsel and advice largely sought and valnable.
JAMES D. MARSELUS.
James D. Marselus, living on section 24, Sand- wich township, which is the old homestead farm of the family, is busily engaged with the further de- velopment and improvement of a traet of two hundred acres. It is not far from the village of Sandwich, so that the conveniences and acces- sories of town life are to be easily obtained. A resident of the county from 1866, he has watched much of its growth and improvement and at all times has kept pace with the trend of agricultural progress. He was a youth of fourteen years at the time of his arrival here, his birth having oc-
eurred in Montgomery county, New York, on the 19th of March, 1852. He is the son of David Marselus, who is mentioned elsewhere in this work. His education was acquired in the schools of Sand- wich and after he had attained his majority he went to Jasper county, Indiana, in 1872. He took charge of a farm which he had purchased there and for some time continued to till the fields and carry on agricultural pursuits in that locality, but eventually returned to the old homestead, which is now his place of residence.
On the 4th of February, 1878, Mr. Marselus was united in marriage to Miss Tabitha Margaret Miller, who was born in Montgomery county, In- diana, daughter of John H. Miller. They began their domestic life in her native state and there Mr. Marselus carried on farming for eleven years. He was thus engaged for nine years after his mar- riage, at the end of which time he brought his bride to the old homestead property in De Kalb county, since which time he has tilled the fields here and has raised and fed stock, annually ship- ping a carload of steer and also of hogs. He has found his stock-raising interests to be a profitable source of income to him and he raises enough grain to feed his stock. His business is carefully conducted and his able management and unfalter- ing diligence have brought him gratifying pros- perity.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Marselns have been born two children who are yet living: Sarah E., who is the widow of Don V. Coleman and resides with her parents and she has two children, David and Margerie Ellen Coleman ; and Jennie Marselus, a student at Sandwich. They also lost three chil- dren: Edwin, who died at the age of eleven years ; Hattie, who died at the age of nine years, and Walter, who died when five years of age.
In politics Mr. Marselus has been a life-long republican and while living in Indiana served as road commissioner, but has never been active in politics as an office seeker. He and his wife are devoted and faithful members of the Sandwich Presbyterian church, in which he is serving as an elder and also as a teacher in the Sunday school, taking an active and helpful part in both the church and Sunday school work. This relation indicates much of the character of the man and the principles which have characterized his life.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
He is known throughout the community as one worthy of public trust and in his business affairs is reliable and merits the good will and con- tidence of those with whom he has been associated.
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ORLEY M. MOSHER.
In carrying on farming operations Orley M. Mosher displays a spirit of enterprise and deter- mination which has brought to him a fair measure of success and he now owns a good farm of fifty- four acres on section 24. Sandwich township. which is pleasantly and conveniently located within a mile of the city of Sandwich. He also has a tract of timber land together with residence property in Sandwich. He has made his home in De Kalb county since 1826. so that for a period of thirty- one years he has been one of its residents and is well known within its borders.
Mr. Mosher first opened his eyes to the light of day on the 23d of August. 1844, in Washing- ton county. New York. His father. James C. Mosher, was also a native of the Empire state. while his grandfather, James B. Mosher. was born in the east and was of English ancestry. James C. Mosher, having arrived at years of maturity, married Alma Lewis, after which he followed the occupation of farming in Washington county. New York, where he reared his family and spent his entire life. There were three sons and four daugh- ters born unto Mr. and Mrs. James C. Mosher. the brothers of our subject being: Edwin R., now living in Greenwich. New York. and Lewis .J .. deceased. who was a farmer of Washington coun- ty. New York. Of the sisters. Delia became the wife of T. S. Tilford and they removed to Nebraska, where they both died: Lorinda became the wife of James La Ment and they removed to Pennsylvania. where Mrs. La Ment passed away : Alice became the wife of Albert Tubbs and died at their home in Tennessee at the age of fifty years : and Deborah died when a young lady of eighteen years.
Orley M. Mosher was roared in Washington county, New York. and supplemented his early education. acquired in the common schools, by a few years' study at the Greenwich Academy. He was married in the county of his nativity on the
14th of December. 18:2. to Miss Mary Faxin, who was born. reared and educated in Washington coun- ty, New York, having been a student for some time at the Temple Grove Female Seminary at Sara- toga. New York. She was also a student at the Greenwich Academy and was for five years a teacher in New York state. entering upon that work when a young lady of sixteen years. She was a danghter of Rodney D. and Permelia (Du Bois) Faxin.
Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Mosher began their domestic life on a farm in Washing- ton county. New York, and their first child, a daughter, was born to them there. In 1826 they removed westward to Illinois and Mr. Mosher cul- tivated a rented farm there for a few years. He then took his family to Kansas and bought raw land in Anderson county, which he began to place under the plow. The same year, however, he sold that property and returned to De Kalb county, where he again rented land on which he now re- sides. About 1888 he purchased fifty-three acres and a fraction on section 24. Sandwich township, and upon this farm he has since made his home. He has erected a neat residence, a large barn and other substantial outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. has set out a good orchard and ornamental trees and shrubs, has tiled the land, fenced the fields and has otherwise made the farm a valuable and well improved property. He has since bought a tract of eight acres of timber land, from which he derives wood and lumber. This is across the line in Kendall county. about two miles from his home. He has also purchased a good lot of two acres in Sandwich, on which he has a comfortable residence and substantial barn and outbuildings.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mosher have been born two children : Millie, the wife of E. J. Cook. who is a cashier in a bank and is also engaged in the real-estate business at Green River, Utah: and Earl R .. a young man at home. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have one son. Leon D. Cook.
Mr. Mosher cast his first presidential vote in 1864. supporting Abraham Lincoln, since which time he has supported every presidential nomi- nee of the republican party . He has never sought or desired office, preferring to concentrate his ener- gies upon his business affairs, in which he has met with signal success. He owes his prosperity
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
entirely to his own labor and good management and the assistance of his estimable wife, who has indeed been a helpmate to him. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mosher are members of the Baptist church. Mrs. Mosher was formerly a Sunday school worker and teacher and has taken an active and helpful part in the work of the church, as well as in the Women's Relief Corps, of which she was president for two years. She is a lady of kindly and charita- ble impulse and her etforts have been an element for good in the community. Mr. Mosher belongs to the Knights of the Globe and has filled all of its chairs and was chief justice for three years. Throughout the community he is known as an en- terprising business man and in connection with tilling the soil he has been engaged in raising an.l feeding stock, including horses, cattle and hogs. Ile made a specialty of horses for a few years and now has a herd of high grade Jersey cattle, selling large quantities of milk. Ile also Iceas a large number of hogs annually and his stock-raising in- terests are an important and profitable branch of the business.
NATHANIEL H. GIVENS.
The rich and arable land of Afton township af- fords excellent opportunities to the farmer and stock-raiser and among the representatives of its agricultural interests is Nathaniel IT. Givens, who dates his residence in the county from 1868 and who since 1876 has resided upon the farm which he now owns and occupies, comprising one hun- dred and eighty acres on sections 6 and G. He was born July 5, 1846, in York county. Pennsyl- vania, and is the son of Ilenry and Mary Ann (Fullerton ) Givens, also natives of York county. The father was a teamster and died in the Key- stone state in 1848, while his wife passed away about six months before. There was one daugh- ter in the family. Mary Ann, but Mr. Givens of this review has not heard from her since their childhood.
Being left an orphan when a small boy, Na- thaniel H. Givens went to live with an uncle, with whom he remained until twenty-two years of age. In 1868 he came to Afton township and worked by the month for five years as a farm hand, but
desiring that his labors should more directly bene- fit himself, he rented land which he cultivated for three years. In that work he prospered and in- vested his earnings in one hundred acres and later eighty acres more on sections 6 and ?, Afton township. This property he still owns and has brought his fields under a high state of cultiva- tion, using the latest improved machinery to carry on his farm work. Ilis methods are at once prac- tical and progressive and he has raised the cereals best adapted to the soil and climate, annually gathering rich harvests.
On March 14, 1876, Mr. Givens was married to Miss Fannie Ward, daughter of J. W. Ward, # retired farmer of Elva, Illinois, who is mentioned on another page of this work. Mrs. Givens was born in Afton township, April 14, 1856. and by her marriage she has become the mother of six children: Warner and Warren, twins, born No- vember 29. 1876 : Sanford, born January 11, 1878 : Beryl, born July 19, 1882; Tra, born January 19. 1884: and Elsworth, born September 24. 1891. The children are all yet under the parental roof and the sons greatly assist their father in the farm work.
The parents are consistent and faithful mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Givens belongs to the Modern Woodman camp at De Kalb. In politics he is a republican and is now serving as drainage commissioner which position he has filled for eight years. He has also been school director at various times. He has never had occasion to regret his removal to the west, for here he has found good business opportunities and his life proves the fact that success is the reward or earnest and persistent labor.
JOHN ALFRED PARRIS.
John Alfred Parris is one of the active and successful business men, farmers and stock- raisers of Sandwich township, whose time and energies are now devoted to the cultivation and improvement of a tract of land of one hundred and twenty acres situated about a mile from Sand- wich. The neat and thrifty appearance of the
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place indicates his careful supervision and prac- tieal methods. He is numbered among the old settlers of the county, dating his residence in Illinois from 1858.
Ilis birth occurred at West Kent, thirty miles east of London, England, on the 21st of February, 1852, his parents being John and Etiza (Harris) Parris, who were also natives of England. Mr. Parris lived in that country for many years and in 1858 brought his family to the new world, making his way direct to Illinois. At first he settled on a farm in La Salle county and later owned and cultivated a tract of land there whien remained his home for many years. Ile worked persistently and energetically to secure a good living for his wife and children and, as the years went by, prospered and eventually acquired a comfortable competence which now enables him to live retired in Sandwich, where he has made his home since 1899. In his family were ten children, seven sons and three daughters: John Alfred, Mark, Henry, William, Amos, Bert, Mel- vin and Ella. The others have passed away.
John Alfred Parris of this review was reared to manhood in La Salle and De Kalb counties and a common-school education was afforded him. Hle started out to make his own way in life when only thirteen years of age, working by the month as a farm hand for a salary of ten dollars per month. He was ambitious to engage in farming on his own account or to carry on business that would more directly benefit himself and after lie had attained his majority he began cultivating land and also operating a threshing machine. He continued in the latter business for twenty-one seasons doing threshing for three counties and also operating a elover huller. Prior to his mar- riage he bought a small tract of land on which he erected a dwelling and cultivated and fenced the place, opening up a farm so that he had a home to which he brought his bride.
It was in Sandwich township, on the 21st of February, 1887, that Mr. Parris was married to Miss Elizabeth Smith, daughter of Charles Smith, a native of New York. He served his country as a soldier in the Civil war and for nine months was incarcerated in Libby prison. He became one of the early residents of Kendall county. Illi- nois, and afterward removed to De Kalb county.
Mr. and Mrs. Parris began their domestic life upon the farm he had purchased and in addition to tilling the soil he built an ice house and began putting up ice, in which business he continued for ten years. He has been a very active and suc- cessful man and his labors have been rewarded with a competence that now numbers him among the substantial residents of the community.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Parris have been born two children : Eva Gladys, wife of Edward Pierce of Leland, by whom she has a daughter, Ruth; and John II., at home. Mrs. Parris and her son are members of the First Baptist church at Sand- wich. Mr. Parris exercises his right of franchis. in support of the republican party but the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him as he has always preferred to give his undivided time and attention to his business affairs. His life has been quietly passed in the honorable pursuits of the farm but in his business interests he has become widely known and is gen- erally esteemed by all with whom he comes in contact. He deserves much credit for what he has accomplished for he started out in life on his own account at the age of thirteen years and has since been dependent upon his own labors- a self-made man whose example in many respects is worthy of emulation. :
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HON. EDWARD LARNARD MAYO.
Edward Larnard Mavo was born in Moretown, Washington county, Vermont, April 7, 1807, and was a son of Leonard and Thirza (Marey) Mayo. ITis father dying in early life and leaving a family of five small boys, the subject of this sketch was bound out to a Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, who treat- ed him as one of the family and offered to give him an excellent education if he would enter the ministry, but he chose the law and through his own efforts obtained a fair education. Ile pur- sued his legal studies in the office of Judge Pren- tiss, a very able lawyer of Montpelier, Vermont.
Judge Mayo was twice married, his first wife being a daughter of Elijah Holden, of Waitsfield, Vermont, who lived only fourteen months after their marriage. In September, 1840, the Judge
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HON. E. L. MAYO.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
married Emily Katherine Holden, a daughter of Josiah and Betsy (Leland) Holden, of Middlesex, Washington county, Vermont. She died at the home of her son. Dr. Mayo, in De Kalb, March ?. 1892.
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