USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume I > Part 72
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Ward have been born two children : Zaida Pauline, whose birth occurred June 26, 1900 : and Leroy Westgate, born Decem- ber 13, 1904. Mr. Ward is independent in poli- ties, voting for men and measures rather than for party. lle belongs to the Masonic fraternity, his membership being in the lodge and chapter at Sycamore, and he is a worthy exemplar of the craft. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ward are highly es- teemed people, representing old Illinois families. and are well worthy of mention in this volume.
1. 0. JOHNSON.
One of the enterprising young business men of Sycamore is 1. O. Johnson. proprietor of the Sycamore Steam Laundry. His life record began in Norway, on the 2d of October, 1826. and when eighteen months old he was brought to America by his parents, who settled on a farm in Chippewa
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L. O. JOHNSON.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBSAR
ASTOR, !F' A TILDENF NIT IN
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county. Minnesota. Later they removed to North Dakota, where the subject of this review spent his boyhood days. The father, Ole Johnson, is still living and is a farmer of Minnesota, but the mother died when her son L. O. was but seven years of age. In the family were four children.
L. O. Johnson, the only one in Illinois, was a public-school student until twelve years of age, when he began earning his own living as chore boy in a hotel. He has since been dependent upon his own resources and whatever success he has achieved has resulted entirely from his own labors. He is an experienced laundryman, having worked at the business from the age of twenty years, and he understands every phase of the work from boiler room to office. He ran the boiler and engine in a De Kalb laundry for four years, and in Oc- tober, 1905, he leased the Sycamore Laundry, con- ducting now the only business of the kind in the city. His plant is situated on Maple street, east of State street, in a two-story brick building. The plant is heated by steam furnished from an electric light plant. and electricity is used for motive power, for heating rollers and smoothing irons. Already he has secured a liberal patronage and his business is steadily growing, for he makes earnest effort to please his customers and turns out first class work.
In 1901 Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Mar- garet Mulligan, who was born in Janesville, Wis- consin. She is a member of the Catholic church and Mr. Johnson attends its services. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity and has rapidly wou a place in public favor during lis residence in Sycamore.
WILLIAM J. PASLEY.
William J. Pasley is the owner of a small but well improved and valuable farm of forty acres just outside of the city limits of De Kalb, and upon this place he has resided for almost a half century. Ile was born in Fountain county. Indi- ana, August 24. 1833. His father. James Pasley a native of Kentucky. came to Illinois in 1835 and as one of the pioneer settlers in this part of the state bore a share in the work of development and improvement. He died in the year 1851. His
wife, who bore the maiden name of Sarah Carney, was born in Ohio in the year 1806, and they were married in Hamilton county, that state. As the years passed six children were added to their household, but William J. Pasley is the only one now living.
When less than two years of age William J. Pasley was brought to Illinois by his parents so that for more than the Psalmist's allotted span of three score years and ten, he has witnessed the growth of this part of the state. He was reared amid the usual scenes and environments of pioneer life and shared in the hardships, trials and priva- tions which usually fall to the lot of those who settle on the frontier. His memory goes back to the time when many of the homes were log cabins and when one could ride miles over the prairie without coming to a fence or habitation to impede his progress. Few roads had been land ont; streams were unbridged and the land un- cultivated. Most of the farm work was done by hand, the sickle and hand-plow being important features in the work of tilling the fields. The cooking was usually done over fireplaces and candles were used in lighting the house. Many changes have since occurred and Mr. Pasley has watched with interest the transformation that has marked the development and upbuilding of the county.
On the 11th of February, 1858, he was mar- ried to Miss Phebe Elizabeth Schoonover, who was born in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, June 28, 1838. Her father was born in Tioga county, New York, November 23, 1808, and her mother's birth occurred in Dutchess county, New York, Novem- ber 4, 1813. Mrs. Schoonover went to Susque- hanna county, Pennsylvania, when eighteen years of age and was married there. The family con- tinued to reside in that locality until 1855, when they came to De Kalb county, Illinois, where the father died February 16. 1880. His wife sur- vived him for about sixteen years and passed away August 23, 1896.
At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Pasley took up their abode on the farm which has since been their home. He has always car- ried on general agricultural pursuits, but his la- hors were interrupted by one year's service in the
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Civil war in defense of the Union cause. He then returned home and resumed the cultivation of his farm, which business has claimed his time and attention to the present. He owns forty acres of land just outside of the city limits of De Kalb, which is worth two hundred dollars per acre.
Unto Mrs. and Mr. Pasley have been born six children : Florence, born October 18, 1858 ; James. born January 12, 1860; Albert, born January 4, 1862; Perry, born January 11, 1867: Ellie, born August 29, 1871 : and John, who was born August 2, 1813, and died in 1880.
Mr. Pasley cast his first presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas and has always supported the democratic party. He and his wife attend the Methodist Episcopal church. Their youngest daughter is a graduate of a school in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and for two years acted as book- keeper in that city. No history of De Kalb county would be complete without mention of the life of Mr. Pasley, and few indeed are the settlers who have so long resided within the county borders. His mind bears the impress of many early events which are now found on the pages of these an- nals and he relates in interesting manner many reminiseences of pioneer times when the work of progress and upbuilding had scarcely been begun in this part of the state. He has always borne his share in the work of general improvement, especi- ally along agricultural lines. and he is justly ae- counted one of the venerable citizens of this sec- tion of Illinois.
WILLIAM CONNELL.
The farmning interests of Victor township find a worthy representative in William Connell, who is living on section 28. IIe carries on general farming and stock raising and feeding, owning a place of one hundred and sixty acres, which con- stitutes one of the attractive features of the land- scape because of its well kept appearance. A na- tive son of De Kalb county, he was born in Paw Paw township, June 10. 1848. His father, Den- nis Connell, was one of the pioneers of the countv. coming here when a young man and casting in
his lot with the early settlers, who promoted the work of reclamation whereby the county was trans- formed from a wild and uninhabited district into one of rich fertility with a large and prosperous population. He married Miss Mary Tanner, a daughter of one of the early settlers. Dennis Con- nell opened up a farm of two hundred and eighty- one aeres in Paw Paw township, performing the arduous task of transforming raw land into richly productive fields. Upon this farm he reared his family and spent his remaining days, his death occurring on the 11th of August, 1889. His wife died in May, 1896.
William Connell of this review is one of a fanit- ly of two sons and two daughters still living. Those deceased are Irene, Lewis, Birdie, Delbert, George and Frank. Of those living Charles owns and operates the old homestead farm and nves there with his sisters, Elmira and Mary. Wil- liam Connell was reared to manhood upon his father's farm and assisted him in the work of cultivating the place until after he had attained his majority. His education was afforded by the district schools of the neighborhood and when not busy with his text-books he was usually occupied with the work of the fields.
On the 14th of October, 1880, he married Miss Mary Stern of Paw Paw township, a native of Pennsylvania, who when a little maiden of six years came to Illinois with her father, John Stern, who removed from the Keystone state and settled in Victor township in 1865 but in 1886 removed to Paw Paw township. Prior to his marriage Mr. Connell had purchased the farin on section 28, Victor township. on which he now resides, and to this place he brought his bride. He has always lived here and in the meantime he has greatly improved the property through the erection of : good two-story frame residence, a substantial barn, corn cribs and other buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. He has also put in a wind pump. has planted shade and ornamental trees and has a good orchard. In fact everything ahont the place is kept in excellent condition and indicates the progressive spirit of the owner. who in con- nection with the tilling of the soil raises high grades of horses. Durham cattle and good hogs. He feeds quite a large amount of stock annually
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and this branch of his business is to him an im- portant source of revenue.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Connell has been born a daughter, Gertie, now the wife of George W. Rompf, living with our subject. Both Mr. and Mrs. Connell are widely and favorably known in the county where they have so long resided. Politically lie is a democrat but casts an independ- ent local ballot. He has never desired office, pre- ferring to give his undivided time and attention to his business interests, in which he has met with signal success. His father was one of the old stage drivers between Chicago and Dixon and the family has been known in this part of the state from an early period in its pioneer development. Mr. Connell has lived in the county for almost sixty years and the events which have shaped its history are therefore largely familiar to him.
ROBERT ST. JOHN LECKY.
Robert St. John Lecky, who for a number of years has been engaged in business as a painting contractor in Sycamore, was born in Brooklyn, New York, Angust 22, 1876, and comes of Irish ancestry. IIis father, Joseph Lecky, was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1836, and in 1858, when a young man of twenty-two years, came to America, after having acquired his education in Belfast. Ireland. He was connected with the boards of trade in New York and Chicago. removing to the latter city in 1872. He was twice married, his first union being with Grace Beasly, who was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1843. She died in 1878, at which time Robert St. John Lecky was only a year and a half old. He was the youngest child and the only son in the family of ten chil- dren. The father afterward married Georgiana Houghton, who was to our subject a most devoted and faithful mother. She was born in England in 1836, was married to Mr. Lecky in New York and is now living at Pacific Beach, California. Mr. Lecky departed this life in 1897.
Robert St. John Leeky began his education in the schools of Brooklyn and continued his studies in the public schools of Chicago, being graduated
from the high school of that city in the class of 1895. After putting aside his text-books he learned the painter's trade and entered actively upon that work, which he has since followed. He came to Sycamore in May, 1903, and began busi- ness here as a painter and contractor, in which line he has since continued. He is an excellent workman and has received a very liberal patron- age because of his faithfulness to the terms of a contract and his reliability. He always uses the best materials and gives entire satisfaction by the capable manner in which he attends to the work entrusted to his care. He can be relied upon in every way and this insures him a continuance of a liberal patronage and of the public confidence. Ile has also become the owner of some good prop- erty in Sycamore.
Mr. Lecky served for three years in the state militia of Illinois and then received an honor- able discharge. His father was a colonel in the English army and was a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity. Mr. Lecky of this review, however, is connected with no secret order. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he attends the services of the Congregational church, as it is more nearly allied to his views on religious questions than any other. He has in- deed made a creditable record in business life and since coming to Sycamore has made for himself an enviable place in public regard. A genial man- ner and unfailing courtesy, combined with defer- ence for the opinions of others, have made him popular and he is prominent in social circles of the city.
SAMUEL P. BRADSHAW.
Samuel P. Bradshaw, who has successfully con- trolled important business interests, displaying an ability that has gained him classification with men of enterprise who are pushing forward the wheels of commercial and industrial progress. is now liv- ing in De Kalb. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, November 14. 1847. His father. Hamilton V. Bradshaw, was a native of Saratoga county. New York. born in October, 1817. and was a law- ver by profession, becoming an able member of the
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New York bar. He married Caroline A. Peck, whose birth occurred in Dutchess county, New York, in 1818.
Samuel P. Bradshaw supplemented his early educational privileges by study in South Brooklyn Academy. After leaving school he entered the office of an importing house and there his trust- worthiness and ability won him recognition in rapid promotion until he became cashier and cred- itman of the institution. In 1818 he removed to the west, taking up his abode in De Kalb, where he has since resided. Here he engaged in the manufacture of soap and later was for four years a cashier of the Barb City Bank. He is directly interested in the manufacture of rubber with a New York house, being secretary and treasurer of the company. In 1895 he was chosen justice of the peace of De Kalb and still fills that position. He has largely closed out his business interests here. however, but is yet recognized as one of the leading citizens of De Kalb, having the individual force and keen discernment which would make him a leader of publie thought and action in any community. He owns considerable city property here. having made judicious investment in real estate.
On the 15th of December. 18:5. Mr. Bradshaw was married at Ausable Forks, Essex county, New York, to Miss Juliette G. Burt, who was there born March 4, 1852. Her father, George M. Burt, was born in Saratoga county, New York, in 1800, and married Charlotte Gross, a native of Eliza- bethtown, New York, born in 1818. The father was twice married and had four children, three by the first marriage, all of whom are now de- ceased, and Mrs. Bradshaw by the second mar- riage, who is still living. The father was an iron manufacturer. Mrs. Bradshaw was educated in Keeseville Academy, in Clinton county, New York, and by her marriage has become the mother of three sons and a daughter: George B .. Ham- ilton. William H. and Isabel. All have been pro- vided with courge -ducations and the eldest son is a mechanical engineer. while Hamilton is a chem- ist, William H. is now a student in the Massa- chusetts School of Technology, and Isabel is com- pleting her edneation in Wellesley College near Boston.
Mr. Bradshaw has given his allegiance to the republican party since age conferred upon him the right of franchise, but the honors and emoluments of otlice have had no attraction for him. Ile has, however, kept well informed concerning political questions and indeed is a man of scholarly attain- ments, who has read broadly, thinks deeply and assimilates what he reads. He is an interesting conversationalist, many friends finding in hint a congenial companion, and wherever he goes he wins the warm regard of those with whom he is brought in contact. He resides at No. 615 South Third street, where he and his family are pleas- antly located. His advancement in life has come in recognition of ability and has enabled him to. leave the ranks of the many and gain a place among the successful few. He early realized that there is no roval road to wealth but that the re- wards of earnest, persistent labor, guided by sound judgment are sure. and in his business career he has gained gratifying and honorable success.
ELI B. GILBERT.
Eli B. Gilbert. once an attorney. notary public and justice of the peace at DeKalb. Illinois, was born in Laurens. Otsego county. New York. April 12, 1822. and died in DeKalb in 1895. His parents were Abner and Betsey (Balcom) Gilbert, natives of Massachusetts and of New York, respectively. Their family numbered four children including Eli B. Gilbert, who was eight years of age when his parents removed to Norwich. New York. There he resided until his arrival in DeKalb county in 1847. He attended the common schools until six- teen years of age. when he entered Norwich Acad- emy. where he continued his studies for two years. He then engaged in teaching school for six years. spending three years of that time in Sycamore, Illinois, where he located on coming to this state. Having learned the trade of carpentering in 1850. he began to follow the builder's art and continued in carpenter work until 1856. In the meantime he took up the study of law and in the year men- tioned began preparation for the bar. Two years later he was admitted to practice and remained a member of the bar of DeKalb connty until his
ELI B. GILBERT .
ASTOR, ALDEN EDU IL AVIONS. + عل وت محطمة
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death. In April. 1856, he removed from Syca- more to DeKalb and in 1856 was elected justico of the peace. in which capacity he served up to the time of his death. In 1866 he was elected president of the village board and became ex-officio supervisor of DeKalb township. In politics he was a republican and it was upon that ticket that he was called to the office. In the summer and fall of 1860 he was editor of the DeKalb Leader and advocated the election of President Lincoln,
On Christmas day of 1851 Mr. Gilbert was married to Miss Lois A. Needham, a daughter of Benjamin C. Needham and a native of Vermont, in which state her parents were also born. Of the three children born unto Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert one daughter survives-Mrs. Josephine L. Orr, the wife of John S. Orr, a prominent resident of DeKalb.
Mr. Gilbert was a man of kindly disposition, a quality which was manifested not only in his private life but in his public service as well. As justice of the peace he was all that that name implied. Ite sought peace rather than litigation and was noted for the number of cases which he kept out of court, advising a settlement without recourse to law. He took a prominent part in politics, being recognized as one of the local lead- ers of the republican party and at all times keep- ing well informed on questions and issues of the day. He was a man whom everybody respected and admired, because his life was upright. his actions honorable and his purposes commendable.
ED WRIGHT.
Ed Wright lives upon a farm on section 34, Somonauk township and has charge of his father's estate, comprising three hundred and fifty-four acres and constituting a rich and productive tract. In the care of this property he shows thorough acquaintance with modern agricultural methods. One of De Kalb county's native sons. he was born November 11. 1864. His father. T. J. Wright. was a native of Genesee county. New York, born in 1830. while the grandfather was also a na- tive of the Empire state. Ile removed westward in 1844, being one of the first settlers of De
Kalb county. Ile pre-empted land from the gov- erminent, securing one hundred and eighty-four acres, after which he opened up and made a farm, spending his last days upon the old home property, which through his labors had been transformed from a raw tract into one of rich fertility. He aided in laying broad and deep the foundation for the present development and prosperity of the county and at all times bore his part in the work of substantial progress, being an active factor in those movements which worked for the develop- ment of the community.
T. J. Wright, the father of our subject, was a youth of fourteen years when he came with his parents to Illinois, spending his youth amid fron- tier scenes and environments. He aided in the arduous task of cultivating the land, following the breaking plow and planting the first seeds in many a fnrrow. Having attained his majority he mar- ried Lois M. Gage, a native of New York, and daughter of Alvaris Gage, who settled here in 1843. Mr. Wright was a farmer who owned and operated three farms, which are, however, now joined into one farm with two sets of buildings upon it. He stood for progress and improvement in agricultural lines and his capable management and keen business discernment brought him suc- cess and made him one of the prominent men of the community. After some years he established the Somonauk Bank and took up his abode in the village of Somonauk, where he was closely con- nected with financial interests until his death on the 6th of January, 1907. His name was an honored one on commercial paper and wherever known he won respect because of his business ac- tivity and probity. His wife survives him and now lives in Somonauk.
Ed Wright of this review was reared upon the old home farm to the age of eight years and then took up his abode with his parents in the vil- lage of Somonauk, where he acquired a good Eng- lish education. He took charge of the farm and business in 1887 and has since brought the fields under a high state of cultivation. He has tiled the land, divided the farm into fields of convenient size by well kept fences and has put up ample shelter for the grain and stock in his barns and outbuildings. In addition to the general work of
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the farm he is engaged in raising pure blooded Holstein cattle and is engaged in the dairy bnsi- ness. He also raises and feeds hogs and ships two or three carloads of fat hogs annually. Many horses of high grade are found upon his place and he is accounted a successful farmer and stock- raiser.
On the 19th of May, 1887, Mr. Wright was married in Somonauk to Miss Anna R. Hunt, who was there born and reared, a daughter of D. J. Hunt, one of the early settlers, who came from Pennsylvania to Illinois. They now have two children : Raymond and Aileen.
Politically Mr. Wright was formerly a demo- crat, but he now casts an independent local ballot, supporting men and measures rather than party. lle and his family attend and support the Congre- gational church of Somonauk. of which his wife and son are members. Mr. Wright belongs to the Modern Woodmen camp at Somonauk and is well known in the community where he has always lived. He is a man of social, genial nature and readily wins friends and, moreover, has the happy faculty of retaining them. In his business affairs he is straightforward and reliable and his classifi- cation with the representative agriculturists of the community receives the endorsement of public opinion.
WILLIAM HARTSON ALDRICII.
William Uartson Aldrich, connected with the True Republican office at Sycamore for the past four years, was born on a farm three miles south- west of Spencer in Clay county, Iowa, August 13. 1888. His father was Avery Judson Aldrich and his mother in her maidenhood was Mary Eliza- beth Dennis.
Mr. Aldrich of this review acquired his early education in the district schools of Clay county and afterward attended the public school at Mason City. Iowa, and Breck College at Windom, Jack- son county. Minnesota, being graduated on the completion of the academic course in the year 1902. In January. 1889. he had become a resi- dent of Sycamore. Illinois, but in the spring of that vear removed to Paw Paw. Illinois, and in
October, 1890, located at Spencer, lowa. Anxious to improve his education, he entered Breck Col- lege and following the completion of the academic course there in 1902 he again came to Sycamore. On the 5th of January. 1903. he entered the office of the True Republican, where he has since re- mained. He has a bright future before him in the publishing line, being associated with one of the leading newspapers of the county. Among his sterling and salient characteristics are numbered energy. integrity and determination and these prove an excellent foundation upon which to build the superstructure of advancement and success.
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