USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 12
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EDWIN HORACE FAY.
Edwin Horace Fay, a Mexican war veteran and pioneer resident of Squaw Grove township, was born at Manlius. Onondaga county. New York. August 4. 1826. and was the eldest son of Horace W. Fay, the second representative from De Kam county in the Illinois legislature. When he was nine years of age his mother, Roxana (Eaton) Fay, died. leaving his father with one son and four daughters. For three years he made his home with an uncle in Michigan.
About 183: IForace W. Fay took up land in con- junction with his brother, Wells A. Fay, who set- tld in Squaw Grove township in 1836. The sub- ject of the sketch followed in 1838 and for nearly seventy years has been a resident of De Kalb county. In April. 1842, he enlisted in Company G, of the Sixteenth Kentucky Volunteer Regi- ment. under Captain Bills, of Naperville, Illinois. He belonged to the musical corps and served as fifer for sixteen months in the Mexican war. He was under Generals Wood and Scott and went to Monterey, Mexico. He was discharged at New- port in August, 1848. Upon returning to De Kalb county he took up one hundred and sixty acres of land from the government on a soldier's warrant.
His father was a civil engineer on the Illinois and Michigan canal. and while with him he be- came acquainted with Miss Ann Webb Haywood, of Lockport, Illinois, and they were married April 19, 1855. The lady was born in Waterville. Maine. and was a daughter of Timothy and Elenor Hay- wood. Unto this union were born four children : Arthur Holmes Fay, of Nevada, Iowa; Herbert Wells Fay, of De Kalb, Illinois: Oscar Hawley
Fay. of Hinckley, Illinois; and Orpha Alice, who died in infancy.
Soon after the death of his wife on the 11th of November, 1884. Mr. Fay disposed of his farm interests on section 22. Squaw Grove township, and moved to Hinckley, where he has since re- sided. He was a successful farmer and stockman and his land was under faultless cultivation, well fenced and provided with commodions buildings. Ile was one of the founders of the Sandwich Manufacturing Company and for many years owned eighty shares of stock.
Mr. Fay received his early education in a few winter terms in a log schoolhouse, but by per- sistent study at home he mastered the higher mathematics, preparing himself for a school teacher. In his struggles for knowledge he was materially assisted by his neighbor, Ex-Governor John L. Beveridge, who was then a student at Mount Morris Seminary. Mr. Fay was one of the pioneer school teachers of Somonank town- ship. fle had a natural talent for music and for many years conducted singing school in the log school houses of southern De Kalb county.
Politically Mr. Fay has allied himself with the republican party. He is a man of exemplary hab- its, strict integrity and has a strong personality. While his locks have been whitened by the snows of eighty winters, he is a great reader and keeps in close touch with the affairs of the world.
JAMES A. DOOLEY.
James A. Dooley, owner of the only general store in Clare, where he is conducting a successful trade, was born March 23, 1875, in Cortland township. this county, his parents being Timothy and Catherine (Keenan) Dooley. The parents were both natives of Kane county, Illinois, whence they removed to De Kalb county in the early '40s. The father served as a soldier in the Civil war as a member of Company A, Fifty-second Illinois In- fantry. The mother is still living and resides at Sycamore. Their son James spent his boyhood days under the parental roof and acquired a com- mon-school education in Cortland township, after which he spent one term as a student in the Wheaton high school and one term in Wheaton
Odeven Ho Jay
I BRARY
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College. llis school life being ended, he accepted a clerkship with L. C. Clyne, a general merchant at. Maple Park, Illinois, with whom he remained for three years. He then learned telegraphy at St. Charles, Illinois, after which he was station agent and telegraph operator at Maywood, this state, for two years. In 1896 he came to Clare, where for six years he served in the capacity of station agent, proving a trustworthy representative of the road. He entered the general store at Clare as manager, and after two years he bought out the business, now conducting the only establishment of the kind in the village. He carries a good line of goods and draws a liberal patronage from the town and surrounding country. He has been post- master of Clare since 1903.
Mr. Dooley has likewise served in other official positions. He has been town clerk for the past three years and is still the incumbent in that office as he is in the position of school director. He has likewise served in the latter position for three years and his duties have been discharged with promptness and fidelity. He was married June 7, 1899, to Miss Olive M. Anderson, a resident of Mayfield township, and they are widely and favor- ably known in the community where they make their home.
HON. WESTEL W. SEDGWICK.
The life of Westel W. Sedgwick was of marked service and benefit to his fellowmen, and his in- terest in public welfare and his efforts in its behalf caused his death to be deeply deplored when, in July, 1904, he was called from this life. His name is inseparably interwoven with the history of Sandwich in its business development. political, individual and moral progress, and, more- over, he was known to many men of prominence in the state, having been one of the framers of the present constitution.
The life record of Westel W. Sedgwick began in Oneida county, New York, June 7, 1827, his parents being Dr. Samuel and Ruhama P. (Knight) Sedgwick, who were likewise natives of the Empire state. The father engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery after having at- tended the medical school of Fairfield College, at
Fairfield, New York, which was presided over by Professor Willoughby, in whose honor the sub- ject of this review was named. Dr. Samuel Sedg- wick had two brothers who were also practicing physicians, and both came to Illinois, Dr. Elijah Sedgwick locating in Elgin, Kane county, where he engaged in practice for a short time, and then turned his attention to other business pursuits, while Dr. Parker Sedgwick located in Blooming- dale, Du Page county, where he built up a large practice and was recognized as one of the ablest members of his profession in that part of the state.
Dr. Samuel Sedgwick located for practice at Black, Creek, New York, and in 1837 became a member of the medical fraternity at Hartford, Licking county, Ohio, where he resided for three years. He next lived at East Union, Coshocton county. where he practiced for four years, also serving as postmaster of that village for two years under President Tyler. Leaving Ohio, he took up his abode at Little Rock, Kendall county, Illi- nois, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred about 1841, when he was forty- five years of age. He was much interested in reli- gious work and held membership in the Congre- gational church. His wife died in Sandwich when eighty-three years of age, having long survived him. She, too, was a devout member of the Con- gregational church for many years but in later life joined the Baptist church at Sandwich.
Dr. and Mrs. Sedgwick were parents of seven children: Westel W .; Elizabeth, the widow of Oliver S. Hende, of Sandwich ; Sarah A., the wife of William Brewer ; Louisa J., who married James H. Lay but is now deceased; Maria, who died in Sandwich; James H., an attorney of Peoria, Illi- nois; and one who died in infancy.
Dr. Westel W. Sedgwick accompanied his par- ents on their various removals and in his youth took up the study of medicine under the direction of his father, subsequently continuing his reading in the office of his uncle, Dr. Parker Sedgwick at Bloomingdale, Illinois. His collegiate instruction was received from Rush Medical College, at Chi- cago, from which he was graduated with the class of 1848. Prior to this time, however, he had practiced for a year with his father. It was a year in which much sickness, especially of a febrile nature prevailed, and the father and son
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were constantly employed in looking after their patients until at length Dr. Samuel Sedgwick be- came a victim of typhoid and passed away. Dr. W. W. Sedgwick continued to engage in practice at Little Rock until 185℃. when he removed to Sandwich. where for a short time he continued as a medical practitioner. He then took up the study of law and was admitted to the bar about 1862. He at once entered upon the prosecution of the profession in Sandwich and De Kalb county and throughout his remaining days gave attention to offiee practice but in his later years left the trial of eases to others because of impaired health. He became a factor in banking circles in 1884 by the purchase of the private bank of Culver Brothers, and remained president of the Sedgwick Bank of Sandwich until his death, with S. P. Sedgwick as eashier and C. F. Sedgwick as assistant eashier. These sons have since continued the business and from the beginning the bank has maintained an unassailable reputation for the reliability of its methods and the collateral back of it.
Dr. Sedgwick was married on the 21st anniver- sary of his birth to Miss Sarah A. Toombs, a daughter of William Toombs. a resident of Little Rock, where he was engaged in the hotel business for a number of years, having come to this state from Michigan about 1846. Nine children were born of this marriage, of whom three died in childhood. The others are: Agnes. Caroline Ger- trude, the wife of Webster M. Dyas; S. P .; Har- rey, who died at the age of fifteen years; Charles F. : and Jennie May, the wife of Eugene Hill, of Chicago. The mother, who was a consistent mem- ber of the Sandwich Presbyterian church, died in 1895, at the age of sixty-seven years.
While the professional and financial interests of Dr. Sedgwick made heavy claim upon his time and attention, he nevertheless found opportunity for co-operation in those movements and plans which have proven directly beneficial to the city and county. He was publie-spirited and enter- prising. In politics, while he usually voted the republican ticket, he did not consider himself bound by party ties and his opinions were based upon a broad and intimate knowledge of the issues and questions of the day. In 1862 he was elected to the state legislature, and in 1869 was chosen to represent his district in the constitutional con- vention which framed the present organic law of
the state. He was elected the first mayor of Sand- wich after its incorporation and served as the chief executive of the city for several terms, giv- ing an administration that was characterized by reform and substantial improvement as well as by economie public expenditure. He long served as an elder in the Presbyterian church, in which he held membership. and aside from any business or political relations which he sustained, to the pub- lic he was known as a man of genuine worth and honor. whose good qualities won him more than favorable regard, gaining for him sineere and warm friendship.
WILLIAM VON OHLEN.
William Von Ohlen is the owner of valuable farming interests in Squaw Grove township and the president of the Hinckley State Bank. IIe was born in the province of Brunswick, Germany, May 14, 1843, and is a son of Christian II. and .Johanna (Borneman) Von Ohlen, who were also natives of the province of Brunswick. the former born in 1798 and the latter in 1808. They were married in their native country and in 1855 came to the United States, settling on a farm near Sandwich. The father was a man of some means and prae- tically lived retired after coming to the new world. Hle possessed broad education, acquainted himself with political conditions and possibilities in the new world and while in his native country served as a member of the legislature, or the reichstag. lle was often consulted by his neighbors upon legal matters and was frequently named as ex- ecutor of estates. He held membership in the Evangelical Lutheran church, contributed gen- erously to its support and was active in its work .. He died in the year 1880 at the advanced age of eighty-two years, while his wife passed away in 1882. They were the parents of eight children : Christian, now living in Victor township ; Minnie, the wife of Christian Baie, who is living retired in Hinckley; Johanna, the wife of Henry Thorel, a retired farmer of Hinckley : Henry. who has also put aside the duties of agricultural life and is now living in Somonauk : William. of this review ; Lew- is. deceased; Lena. the widow of Anton Boller
WILLIAM VON OHLEN.
79 NEW YORK ATTBLIC LIBRARY
ATCH. LENIX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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and now a resident of Hinckley ; and Ilerman, who died in infancy.
William Von Ohlen was reared to farm life and in his boyhood days was a pupil in the district schools. Ile has always lived upon a farm and began agricultural pursuits on his own account in Victor township, where he lived for six years. In the spring of 1874 he bought a farm in Squaw Grove township and, removing to that place, he sold his home in Victor township. In December. 1893, he retired from active business life and took up his abode in Hinckley, where he has remained to the present time. He is, however, still associ- ated with agricultural interests as the owner of four hundred acres of rich and valnable land in Squaw Grove township and he has a handsome residence in the village. In 1903 the Hinckley State Bank was organized, with William Von Ohlen as president ; George S. Potter as vice presi- dent : J. B. Pogne, cashier ; and L. J. Van Alstyne. assistant cashier. The capital stock is twenty- five thousand dollars and the surplus five thousand dollars, while the deposits at last report amounted to one hundred and seventy-four thousand, five hundred and eighty-seven dollars and twenty-four cents. The institution has prospered from the start and has made for itself a good name in finan- cial circles, at the same time proving of much value to the business interests of the community. Mr. Von Ohlen is also a stockholder in the Hinckley Grain Company and thus his invested interests are of a character which bring him a good finan- cial return annually.
In early manhood, aronsed by a spirit of patriot- ism, William Von Ohlen donned the blue uniform and went to the south in defense of the old flag. He enlisted on the 20th of September, 1861, when but eighteen years of age, being enrolled at Au- rora as a member of Company B, Thirty-sixth Illi- nois Volunteer Infantry. He continued with the regiment until mustered out in the hospital at Louisville, Kentucky, in the summer of 1863 on account of disability. He participated in the bat- tle of Pea Ridge, where he sustained a bullet wound that passed clear through his body from one side to the other. He was also in the battles of Perry- ville and Stone River, where he was again wound- ed, the bullet passing through both legs. He was then taken to the hospital, where the smallpox broke out. Receiving an honorable discharge,
he was sent home, for he was no longer able to aid in active work on the field. In days of peace he has been equally loyal in citizenship and his ef- forts have been an element in the welfare and up- building of the community in which he resides.
On the 1st of September, 1866, Mr. Von Ohlen was united in marriage to Miss Mary Roth, of Pierce township, a daughter of Henry and Kath- erine Roth, who came from Germany in 1848, set- tling in Du Page county, Illinois, upon a farm. After six years they removed to De Kalb county, establishing their home in Victor township. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Von Ohlen were born three daugh- ters and a son : Amelia C., the widow of Edward Ramer, a farmer, and now a resident of Albu- querque, New Mexico; Arret H., who married Josie Reitz and has two children, their home being upon his father's farm; Alta A., the wife of Charles M. Darnell, a resident farmer of Squaw Grove township : and Veda May, the wife of Frank Wagner, a resident farmer of Big Rock' township, Kane county, Illinois. The mother of these chil- dren passed away October 28, 1894, at the age of fifty-one years. She was a devoted Christian woman, holding membership in the Evangelical Lutheran church, and her friends were many. On the 30th of August, 1900, Mr. Von Ohlen was married to Mrs. Maria H. Slater, the widow of Philo Slater and a daughter of George W. and Charlotte Severance. of Massachusetts, who set- tled in Big Rock township, Kane county, Illinois. Mrs. Von Ohlen was born December 9, 1848. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Von Ohlen belongs to the Evangelical Lu- theran church. He also has membership relations with Aurora post. No. 20, G. A. R., and is a Mason who has filled all the offices in the lodge with one exception, and is a past master.
His political allegiance is given the republican party, of which he has been a stanch advocate since the time of the war, when that political or- ganization proved the defense of the Union. He was road commissioner for twelve years and in 1894 was elected supervisor of Squaw Grove town- ship, in which position he has since been continued by successive re-elections-a fact which is indi- cative of his unfaltering fidelity to duty and his capability in discharging the tasks that devolve upon him in this connection. For three years he was president of the village board and is now treas-
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urer of the township school board. Mr. Von Ohlen, while born across the water, is a typical American citizen, who in his life record has been faithful to his adopted country, loyal to his friends and honor- able and upright in all of his business relations. His good qualities are many and that his life has been upright is indicated by the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him throughout the period of his residence in the new world.
ANDREW BRADT.
Andrew Bradt has passed the eighty-fourth milestone on life's journey and is living retired in De Kalb, where he has long been known as a most honorable and respected citizen. He was born in Fulton county, New York. about a mile north of Rockwood, on the 15th of May. 1823, his parents being Anthony I. and Hannah ( Peek) Bradt, whose family numbered twelve children, all of whom reached manhood and womanhood. and the following are still living: Tunis. a resident of Ephratah. New York : Anthony. upon the old homestead: Andrew, of this review ; and Jane, the widow of John Gray, living with her children in western New York. The family is noted for longevity, as will be seen by the fact that so many members of the father's honsehold are still living. The father and mother were natives of Albany. New York, and both were of Holland lineage. They were reared and married in the city of their nativity and soon afterward removed to Fulton county, New York, where Anthony I. Bradt pur- chased what became the old family homestead. making it his residence up to the time of his death. and it is now owned by his son and name- sake. He died at the advanced age of ninety years, while his wife passed away at the age of seventy-five. Both were worthy and devoted mem- hers of the Presbyterian church.
Andrew Bradt was reared in his father's home and acquired his education in the common schools near by. When nineteen years of age he started out as an educator. teaching in the district schools for fourteen years. In 1855 he came to the west, attracted by the broader business opportunities of this newly developed region. and located in De
Kalb, since which time he has been closely iden- tified with the interests of town and county. He purchased a farm adjoining the town and here began business in commercial lines as well, having brought with him a stock of gloves and mittens from Gloversville, New York. He embarked in the wholesale glove trade and this was the foundation of the present extensive glove manu- facturing business now conducted by the firm of Bradt & Shipman. For eighteen years Andrew Bradt was identified with the wholesale business, which he developed from an enterprise of small proportions to one of considerable magnitude. When his son and son-in-law became connected with the enterprise he retired from active life and soon afterward his successors established the manu- facturing industry. Mr. Bradt was the pioneer jobber west of Chicago, bringing the first stock of goods of this character that was placed on sale between Chicago and the Mississippi river. He watched the indications of trade. labored for ad- vancement along commendable lines and his sue- cess was well merited. In those early days of merchandising he had many things with which to contend, for at that time the railroad had been built through only to Dixon and much traveling had to be done by team. his goods being hauled in that way. Currency. too, had a fluctuating value, for greenbacks were issued by the banks and there was also much Canadian money in cir- culation. When he sent a package of Canadian money east to buy his stock the merchants of whom he made the purchase selected what they wanted of it and returned the balance, but not- withstanding these and numerous other drawbacks of the period Mr. Bradt prospered and the years brought him success as the reward of his untiring labor. his careful management and business abil- ity.
On the 31st of January. 1848. occurred the mar- riage of Mr. Bradt and Miss Amy Ann Sweet, a daughter of Hiram and Deborah (Simmons) Sweet. both natives of New York. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bradt have been born nine children, Charles E., Samuel E. and Lulu, however, being the only surviving members of the family. The daughter is now the wife of Professor Parsons of the Nor- mal School at De Kalb.
Upon the organization of the republican party Mr. Bradt became one of its advocates, but has
Andrew Bradl
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ever been an aspirant for office. He is chairman f the board of trustees of the Methodist Episcopal hurch and in early life was one of its most active rorkers, being a local preacher for a number of ears. His interest in the church has never eased and he still attends its services. although dvancing years prevent him from taking the ac- ive part which he formerly did in promoting its nterests. His name has ever been a synonym for usiness integrity and for honor in all life's rela- ions and wherever known he has commanded the nqualified respect and trust of his fellowmen.
HENRY W. MILLER.
Henry W. Miller, living on section 28, Victor ownship, has met with a gratifying measure of rosperity in his business operations as a farmer nd stock-raiser and his tract of land, comprising ighty acres, is under a high state of cultivation. He was born in this township, January 13, 1862, son of Walden Henry Miller, who was born in fermany, April 30, 1837. He became one of the arly residents of this county, purchased land and pened up a farm. Here he married Elizabeth Burkhart, also a native of Germany, born Novem- er 24, 1859. He carried on his farming opera- ions in Victor township and became the owner f a valuable and well cultivated tract of land of wo hundred and forty acres, on which he reared is family and spent his last years. Unto him and is wife were born five sons and a daughter, who ave reached adult age.
Like the other members of the household, Henry T. Miller pursued his education in the common chools and was trained to the work of the home arm, rendering valuable assistance to his father ntil after he had attained his majority, when he as married and went to a home of his own. t was on the 24th of February, 1887, that he redded Amanda Stahl, a native of the county and daughter of William Stahl, who identified his nterests with those of De Kalb county at an arly day. On the day following their marriage Ír. and Mrs. Miller took up their abode upon the rm which has since been their home. He at once laced the plow in the furrow and from that time the present has actively continued the work of
developing and improving his place. He has since remodeled the house, built a corn crib and granary and has a good barn upon the place. He has fenced and tiled the land and made permanent improve- ments, and annually he gathers good harvests as a reward for the care and labor he bestows upon the fields. He has made a specialty of raising and feeding hogs and also keeps a good grade of Dur- ham cattle and carries on a dairy business.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller have become the parents of four sons: Bert O., Harry H., Arthur J. and Laverne A. They lost their only daughter, Hazel, who died at the age of three years, her death proving a sad blow to the parents. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are members of the Somonank Lutheran church and were reared in that faith. Mr. Miller holds membership relations with Leland lodge of the Knights of the Globe, and in politics he has been a life-long republican, casting his first presi- dential vote for Benjamin Harrison and for every nominee of the republican party at the head of the ticket since that time. IIe has been elected and served for nine consecutive years on the school board, has been its secretary and has been district clerk. He was also for two years township col- lector, but though he has filled these different posi- tions he has preferred to give his time and ener- gies to his farming and business interests. He is, however, never remiss in citizenship and has co- operated in many movements for the public good. His life has been one of industry, activity and honor and he is much respected in Sycamore, Sandwich, Leland and other parts of the county, where he is well known. What he has accomplished has come to him as the result of his own labors and he is now one of the substantial farmers of the community.
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