USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 19
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Mr. Hunt is a Mason, belonging to De Kalb lodge, No. 144, A. F. & A. M .: De Kalb chapter. No. 52, R. A. M .; Sycamore commandery, No. 15. K. T. ; and Medinah Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Chicago. He attends the Methodist church and contributes to its support and to all the various movements and measures which have for their basic purpose the welfare and upbuilding of the community along moral, material, political and in- tellectual lines. In the relations of public life he
has always been regarded as a man of stern integ- rity and honesty of purpose, despising all unworthy or questionable means to secure success in any undertaking or for any purpose, or to promote his own advancement in any direction, whether polit- ical or otherwise. He has been a statesman dili- gent in the service of his country and seeking only the public good. Wherever known he is respected. but in his home county, where he has lived for half a century he has the warm friendship and good will of nearly every individual with whom he has been associated in any way.
CHARLES A. BROWN.
Charles A. Brown, who sustains an unassailable reputation for business integrity and has made an excellent record by his recognition and utiliza- tion of opportunity for the successful control of fi- nancial interests at Genoa, is the junior member of the firm of Brown & Brown, the senior partner being his brother, Dillon S. Brown. His life rec- ord began on the 12th of January, 1858, and the place of his nativity is the old homestead farm of the Brown family in Genoa township, upon which his father, Jeremiah L. Brown, had located in 1835. when this portion of the country was largely an undeveloped prairie. At the usual age he en- tered the common schools, mastering the usual branches of learning that constituted the cur- riculum, and later he became a high-school student in Genoa, where he spent four years and was gradu- ated with the class of 1881. His business training was received in Chicago as a student in Bryant & Stratton Commercial College, in which he spent one term.
Following his return home Mr. Brown was ac- tively associated with farming interests for a few months but thinking to find other pursuits more congenial and profitable he planned for the estab- lishment of the bank which has since been con- dueted under the firm style of Brown & Brown at Genoa. He has given almost undivided atten- tion to the banking business and has made this a thoroughly reliable and trustworthy institution. A general banking, discount and exchange busi- ness is carried on and through periods of financial
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stress as well as properity the institution has borne an unassailable reputation.
In June. 1889, was celebrated the marriage of Charles A. Brown and Miss Ada M. Olmstead, a native of Genoa township and a daughter of A. H. and Rebecca JJ. ( Eiklor) Ohinstead. Their children are Loyal, Gladys and Lorine. The fam- ily are prominent socially and the warm-hearted. generous and gracious hospitality of the Brown home is greatly enjoyed by their many friends.
Like the other members of the family. Charles A. Brown has always given his political allegiance to the republican party and in the offices of town- ship treasurer and village trustee has proved his loyalty and devotion to the best interests of the community, but he has rather eschewed than sought public office. preferring to concentrate his energies upon his busines- interests, yet he is never remiss in the duties of citizenship and his co-opera- lion for the public good is never sought in vain. Ile belongs to Genoa lodge. A. F. & A. M .. of which he has served as master and has also been representative to the grand lodge of the state. While he has won most gratifying success his path has never been strewn with the wreck of other men's fortunes. In fact his business carrer is such as would always bear the closest investigation and scrutiny and the secret of his success lies in his close application, his thorough study of bank- ing methods, his laudable ambition and resolute purpose. As the years have passed since 1837. when his father arrived in the county. the name of Brown has ever been a synonym in Genoa town- ship for business integrity and enterprise.
CHARLES WINNE. M. D.
Dr. Charles Winne, who for many years was ae- tively engaged in the practice of his profession but is now living retired from business cares, finds in public service an outlet for his enterprise and industry, which have always been recognized as his dominant qualities. lle has continually served as supervisor since 1894 and in the discharge of his official duties has materially promoted the interests and welfare of the community.
Dr. Winne was born in Leesville, New York. February 22. 1832. and is a son of John C. and
Naney ( Abel) Winne. He acquired his more specifically literary education in Westfield Acad- emy of New York and early turned his attention to the field of medical research and practice. On leaving the academy. however, he went to New Jersey, where for three years he engaged in teach- ing school and in 1854 he went south, being em- ployed for one year as a teacher in Mississippi. This enabled him to carry out his cherished plan of becoming a member of the medical fraternity and to this end he matriculated in the University of Michigan. where he was graduated from the medical department in the class of 1856. He afterward settled in Williamstown. Michigan, where he entered upon the active work of the pro- fession, and a year later he removed to Newark. Illinois. There he again took up teaching but in 1858 once more entered the field of medical and surgical practice, removing to Somonauk. De Kalb county. where he remained until 1861.
The country having become involved in Civil war. Dr. Winne. aroused by a spirit of patriotism. offered his services to the government and joined the I'nion army as assistant surgeon of the Fifty- fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, in which ca- pacity he remained until 1862. when he was ap- pointed surgeon of the Seventy-seventh linois In- fantry. He remained at the front with his regi- ment until the close of the war and his experi- ence was wide and valuable, while his efforts at the same time were of the utmost benefit to the mem- bers of his regiment and to other ill and wounded soldiers who came under his care. Hle acted as surgeon at the permanent hospital at Baton Rouge. Louisiana. for six months. He was also senior surgeon of the brigade during much of the time and yet remained continuously with his regiment. Varied and difficult were the professional duties which devolved upon him. for he continued with the Seventy-seventh Illinois at the front, being continuously in the field or on the march save for the brief period of six months spent at Baton Rouge. At the battle of Pleasant Ilill. Louisiana. and again at Mansfield he volunteered to go with- in the rebel lines and attend the wounded. for sur- geons were much needed for such work. The offer was accepted and for ten weeks he had charge of the wounded within the rebel lines at Pleasant Hill. on the expiration of which period those who needed medical and surgical aid were put aboard
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transports and sent down the river to the Union lines at Baton Rouge. He was often in positions of great danger as well as hardships, but the spirit of the soldier was his and he never faltered in the performance of any duty that would enable him to alleviate the distress and suffering caused by the ravages of war. His heroism was just as marked and his service just as rigorous as that of any man who carried a gun and faced the enemy in battle line. When the war was over he returned to De Kalb county and located at Sandwich, where he continued in active practice until 1888. He aiso established and conducted a drug business, having a well appointed store and securing a liberal pub- lic patronage. In 1888 he retired from active practice but conducted his drug store until 1903, when he sold out to his son-in-law, I. C. Converse.
Dr. Winne was married in 1858 to Miss Rachel E. P. Misner, of Newark, Illinois, a daughter of Johnson Misner, a farmer. They have become the parentsof three daughterswho are yet living ; Nina D., the wife of Ira C. Converse, her father's suc- cessor in the drug business in Sandwich; Helen K., the wife of Theodore Stinson, superintendent of the water works at Aurora, Illinois : and Corinne Grace. the wife of Edward C. Hennis, general man- ager of the Northern Illinois Phone Company at Sandwich. Dr. and Mrs. Winne also lost two children, Ella Kate, who died at the age of five years ; and Helen Maud, at the age of two years.
In 1861 Dr. Winne was supervisor of Somonank township. resigning his position when he joined the army. In 1894 he was again elected as super- visor and has been re-elected at each biennial election since that time without opposition-a fact which stands as incontrovertible evidence of his ability, fidelity and the trust reposed in him by the publie. He has labored earnestly and ef- fectively to further the interests of his town and county and his co-operation is given to every move- ment for the public good. He has, moreover, been prominent in Grand Army eireles and is now sur- geon of Sandwich post. No. 510, having acted in that capacity almost continuously since the or- ganization of the post. In 1894, at a re-union of the Grand Army held at Sycamore, Dr. Winne was chosen to make a motion for the appropriation of five thousand dollars for the erection of a sol- diers' monument there and was made a member of the building committee for the monument. He
also served as a member of the building commit- tee at the time of the erection of the new court- house and for one year was its chairman. He js an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity and investigation into his life record shows that fidelity to any cause which he espouses has been one of his strongest traits. He has a wide acquaint- ance and is honored wherever known. Itis labors have been directly beneficial to Sandwich along many lines, including its business and political de- velopment, and when questioned as to the foremost citizens of Sandwich any one will place Dr. Winne upon the list.
JAMES COYNE.
James Coyne, conducting a teaming business at De Kalb, was born at Malta, this county, October 24, 1864, a son of John and Annie (Kennedy) Coyne, both of whom were natives of Ireland, the former born in 1838 and the latter in 1840. The father is a farmer by occupation and came to America forty-four years ago. His wife, then Miss Kennedy, arrived in this country about forty years ago and they were married in Pennsylvania. They became the parents of eleven childern, of whom James was the second in order of birth. Four of the mimber are now deceased, while the others are residents of De Kalb county and the parents are still living in Malta.
James Coyne, whose name introduces this rec- ord, was educated in the common schools of the county. He then began farming upon the old homstead property, where he remained until twen- ty-one years of age, when he secured employment in one of the wire factories of De Kalb. There he remained for four and a half years, when he took up general teaming, which he has since followed. He has worked diligently and persistently, has se- cured a good business and is now well established. having a liberal publie support. That he has pro -- pered is indicated by the fact that he owns two houses and lots in the city and he also has five teams for the general purposes of his business.
On the 23d of November, 1887, in De Kalb, Mr. Coyne was married to Miss Cora B. Estabrook, who was born in this eity, June 5, 1868. Her father was Benjamin Scurr Estabrook, a native of
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Canada, who wedded Orissa Hall. a native of Wis- consin. They became the parents of two children, of whom Mrs. Coyne is the younger. Mr. and Mrs. Coyne occupy a beautiful home of their own at No. 630 Grove street, De Kalb, and its hos- pitality is one of its attractive features.
In polities Mr. Coyne is an independent demo- erat and has served as alderman from the fourth ward for one term. While he keeps well informed on the questions and issues of the day, as every true American citizen should do, he does not feel himself bound by party ties. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge. No. 215. at De Kalb. and is orthodox in his religious belief. but is not identified with any denomination. His life has been characterized by close application to his busi- ness. for he early realized the fact that "there is no royal road to wealth" and that "through strug- gles to successes" is the usual way in which one must make advancement.
JOHN C. HAMILL, D. D. S.
John C. Hamill. successfully engaged in the practice of dentistry at Sandwich, was born in Monmouth. Illinois, January 12. 1866, and is a son of Samuel S. and Ann Maria ( Brownlee) Ilamill. the former a professor of elocution, now residing in Chicago.
John C. Hamill was educated in the public schools and at the age of twenty-seven years be- gan preparing for the profession which he now follows as a student in the dental department of the Northwestern University at Chicago, from which he was graduated with the class of 1896. He then located for practice in that city and four years later came to Sandwich, where he has since remained in the enjoyment of a patronage which has constantly grown in volume and importance. He is a member of the Fox River Valley Dental Society, of the Northern Illinois Dental Society. of the Chicago Odontographie Dental Society, the Illinois State Dental Society and the Northwestern Dental School Alumni Association. These vari- ons connections keep him in touch with the pro- fession and the advancement which is being made by members of the dental fraternity, and that he is recognized as a man of skill and ability in his
chosen field of labor is indicated by the liberal publie support accorded him.
Dr. flamill was married to Miss Anna Laura Atchison, of Monmouth, Illinois, a daughter of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Atchison. Her father, a real-estate dealer of Chicago, died at the age of sixty-seven years. Dr. and Mrs. Hamill have two children: John S., born June 12, 1902 ; and Alice E., born Angust 19, 1903. The parents are mem- bers of the Congregational church and during their residence in Sandwich they have gained many warm friends, the hospitality of the best homes of the city being freely accorded them.
JOSEPH LANAN.
The agricultural interests of De Kalb county are well represented by Joseph Lanan, who owns a well improved farm of eighty acres on section 4, Mayfield township, and also operates one hundred and twenty acres additional. He was born in this township, February 3, 1860, a son of Henry and Mary (Gregory) Lanan, who were natives of Bel- gium and emigrated to America in 1833, making their way to Illinois in 1832. Here they settled on a farm in Mayfield township. De Kalb county. which township has continued to be the home of the father to the present time. He is now eighty- six years of age. The mother died in May, 1905, at the age of eighty-two years.
Joseph Lanan is the fourth in order of birth in a family of five children. He acquired his early education in the district schools of his native township. He was reared to the occupation of farming. early becoming familiar with the duties that fall to the agriculturist while assisting his father in the operation of the home place. He remained under the parental roof until he had at- tained his majority. when, on the 5th of July. 1881, he was united in marriage to Miss Harriet Tower, a daughter of David Tower, an early pio- neer settler of Mayfield township, whose death oc- curred November 9. 1906. The mother, Mrs. Mary A. Tower, still survives and now makes her home in Kingston, Illinois.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Lanan was blessed with one son, Dell, who was born January 19. 1885. He was married on the 22d of Febru-
DR. JOHN C. HAMILL.
LARY
AST' R, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONB.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
ary, 1905, to Miss Olive Townsend, of Mayfield township, and they now make their home with Mr. and Mrs. Lanan, the former assisting his father in the operation of the home farm.
Mr. Lanan has always supported the men and measures of the republican party but has never been active as an office seeker, preferring to con- contrate his time and energies upon his private business affairs, in which he has made steady progress. Ile has always been an industrious and hardworking man, and has been satisfactorily successful.
ISAAC A. POTTER.
Isaac A. Potter, a worthy representative of farm- ing interests in De Kalb county, living on section 17, has now passed the seventy-fifth milestone on life's journey. His has been an active, useful and honorable life, largely devoted to general agri- cultural pursuits, in which connection one is re- minded of a statement made by George Washing- ton nearly a century and a half ago: "Farming is the most useful as well as the most honorable occupation of man." Mr. Potter was born in Dutchess county, New York, May 2, 1831. his parents being James and Margaret (Thorne) Pot- ter, also natives of the Empire state. In 1853 they came west to illinois, settling in Kane coun- ty, and a few years afterward removed to Clinton township. where they spent their remaining days. In their family were the following : Silas, William, Theron, Isaac, Seneca, and Fanny.
Isaac A. Potter spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the state of his nativity. He was a young man of twenty-two years when the family came to Illinois and later returned to New York and wasmarried in Allegany county, New York, on the 30th of May, 1855, to Miss Mary A. Robinson, who was born February 18, 1834, in that county. Her parents were Moses and Polly ( Lebreit ) Rob- inson, natives of Massachusetts who passed the later portion of their lives in the Empire state, where Mr. Robinson died April 2, 1852, and his wife on the 27th of December, 1861. In their family were eleven children: John II., Sally, Rufus, Joseph, Hubbard F., Philena, Hlosea,
Harvey, Mathilda, Cordelia, and Mary, now Mrs. Potter.
Mr. and Mrs. Potter have become the parents of one daughter, Florence E., who was born July 3, 1858, and who on the 6th of February, 1884, be- came the wife of Henry K. Bridge, a farmer le- siding in Clinton township.
Mr. Potter has always followed farming and after his marriage rented land in Kane county, Illinois, where he lived for several years. Later he bought a farm in De Kalb township, in 1869. and made his home thereon for one year, after which he sold that property and returned to Kane county, settling near Aurora. For five years he cultivated a rented farm there and in 1816 bought his present farm on section 12, Clinton township. With characteristic energy he began its further development and improvement, making his home thereon for ten years, after which he removed to the city of De Kalb, where he engaged in the real- estate and loan business.
Another decade was there passed, after which he returned to the old home farm, upon which he has since lived. Hle and his son-in-law now own three hundred and thirty acres of valuable land all lying in Clinton township. Mr. Potter is now practically living retired, though he still makes his home on the farm, leaving its supervision to others. Ilis success is well merited for it has been honorably won through his own labors. He has been diligent and prosperous in his business life and has realized that there is no royal road to wealth. On the contrary he has placed his dependence upon the safe and substantial qualities of unabating energy and in- dustry that never flags, and thus has become one of the prosperons agriculturists of his community.
Mr. Potier is a republican in politics, having supported the party since its organization. He has been a justice of the peace of De Kalb an.l Clinton townships, and his decisions have ever been strictly fair and impartial. For thirty years he has acted in that capacity and is still in office, a fact which proves his unfaltering fidelity to duty. whereby he has "won golden opinions from all sorts of people." He was also coroner of De Kalb county for four years and served for five years as president of the school board. He was appointed public administrator by Governor John R. Tanner and acted in that capacity for several firms in De Kalb county. Over his official career there falls
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no shadow of wrong or suspicion of evil. On the contrary he has been most loyal to the duties that have devolved upon him and in the positions of honor and trust to which he has been called, has proved a most capable officer.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Potter is a Mason of high standing and is in thorough sympathy with the principles and purposes of the order. He is now a member of lodge No. 41, called the Salm Shell of the grand lodge of Kentucky, and while living in New York he was also an Odd Fellow. Both he and his wife are consistent and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church at Waterman and are known as earnest Christian people who are always true to their professions. Ilaving lived in this part of the state for more than a half century, they have a very wide ac- quaintance and are very much esteemed by all who know them. Mr. Potter, having come to Illinois in 1852. has witnessed the greater part of the growth and development of this portion of Illinois and as a citizen who upholds the legal and political status and advocates intellectual and moral prog- ress, he has done much for his community.
WILLIAM F. ELLIOTT.
William F. Elliott, a resident farmer of Afton township, was born in Hookset. New Hampshire. November 16, 1840, his parents being Tappan R. and Elmira (Carr) Elliott. The father was a native of Thornton. New Hampshire, born No- vember 18, 1809, and was a farmer by occupa- tion, following that pursuit in the cast until 1839, when he left New England and came to Illinois. After residing for a year in Kane county. he returned to New Hampshire, but came back west in 1855 and located on the farm in Afton town- ship. De Kalb county, which is now the home of his son William. Between our subject's present home and corn crib, to the right, stands the orig- inal house erected by his father in 1855, it being one of the first dwellings in the township. At the time it was built there was none other nearer on the south than four miles, which was owned by Benjamin Muzzey. The shingles on the Elliott residence were made in De Kalb and were what were known in early days as shaved shingles. The
mother of our subject, who was born March ?, 1813, in Chester, New Hampshire, died October 6. 1855. and the father subsequently wedded Hannah J. (Parker) Kelley, who passed away March 3, 1896, while his death occurred on the 24th of May, 1896.
The family was represented in the Revolution- ary war by Ephraim Elliott, the paternal grand- father of our subject, who enlisted in defense of the cause of liberty, and his brother who fought under General Stark and afterward settled in Ox- ford county, Ohio. Our subject's maternal great- grandfather, Jacob Carr, also kept step to the music of the life and drum of the patriot army for two years and two months, serving one year in Canada. He died at the age of eighty-two years and now lies buried in Oil Mill cemetery, Weare, New Hampshire.
In his boyhood days William F. Elliott ob- tained a common-school education and worked on the farm with his father until the latter's death. Ile still resides on the old homestead and has always followed agricultural pursuits. Hle now owns and operates eighty acres of land in Afton township and also has two hundred acres in Boone county. AArkansas. He is interested in the breed- ing of mule-footed hogs and his live-stock inter- ests constitute an important element in his suc- cess. Ile possesses considerable inventive genius and has recently secured a patent on a bot-fly shield which will, beyond doubt, net him a hand- some figure, it being the only invention of its kind on the market.
The only interruption to his farm work came in his service in defense of the Union at the time of the Civil war. On the 11th of May. 1864, he joined the boys in blue from De Kalb county. becoming a member of Company K. One Hun- dred and Thirty-second Illinois Volunteer Infan- try. under the command of Captain C. A. Laws and Colonel Pickett. This was the first of the one hundred day regiments from Illinois to be mus- tered in. They were first sent to Camp Fry, Chi- cago, and from there to Columbus, Kentucky. where they remained for about a week, and were then ordered lo Paducah, Kentucky, remaining there until their term of enlistment expired. Re- turning to Chicago, they later wenl to St. Louis, Missouri, for a short time. and were then ordered back to Chicago, where Mr. Elliott was honorably
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