USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 2
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Reuben Dean. born August 25. 1786, died at Neversink, Sullivan county, New York, December 16, 1845. He was married there December 27. 1801. to Elizabeth Divine, who was born Septem- ber 2. 1791, and died February 5. 1868. They became the parents of fourteen children. all of whom reached adult age, were married and reared families with the exception of Mary. The record of their names and date of birth is as follows: Julian, March 23, 1809 : Catherine. February 13, 1811; Lydia, May 14, 1813; Moses, January 27, 1815; Rachel. December 15. 1817 : Johnson, Jan- uary 2. 1819: Eliza. August 23. 1820; Nancy, February 23, 1822: George, Jannary 27. 1824: Mary. December 11. 1825; Harriet, October 3. 1822 : David, June 11, 1829 ; James, December 24. 1831: Divine. December 14. 1834. All are now deceased with the exception of Johnson. George and David.
The maternal grandfather of Moses Dean was Elezer Divine, who married Lydia Betlebrun. They were both born and reared at Pleasant Valley about twelve miles northwest of Newburgh, New York, were married at that place and removed to Sullivan county about 1796. In their family were seven children : Jane. the wife of Comfort Moore; Elizabeth, the wife of Reuben Dean; Polly, the wife of Daniel Sheley; Phoebe, the wife of David Brooks: David, who married Harriet Low; Sally, the wife of John Aldrich; and Nancy. who died at the age of sixteen years.
Moses Dean, whose name introduces this record. followed the voeation of a farmer in his native state and also engaged in teaching school and con- ducting a tavern. He acquired considerable prop- erty, some of which he rented. He did not come to the middle west until 1856, at which time he took up his abode at Charter Grove. De Kalb county. There he purchased a farm and as the years passed he added more and more to his landed
Moses Dean
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possessions until he became the owner of thirteen hundred acres, being thus one of the most exten- sive landowners of the county. He loaned money to a considerable extent and was regarded as an excellent financier. After some time, how- ever, he retired from the farm and removed to Sycamore, where he formed a partnership with Daniel Pierce in the banking business. They were associated for years in the conduet of this enter- prise and Mr. Dean became known as one of the active and valuable forces in financial circles in this part of the state. He devoted his energies to banking and the real-estate business and in all that he did he prospered. He displayed a sound judgment in determining the value of property and its possible rise or dimunition in price and as the years passed by he attained a gratifying measure of wealth. He resided for many years in Sycamore, his last home being the property which is now the residence of Mrs. Boynton. He owned considerable realty, both improved and un- improved, in Sycamore, and laid out Dean's addi- tion to the city. He also bought several hundred acres of land in Story county, Iowa, and to that state he made annual trips for twenty-seven years. That property is now owned by his son, Arthur Dean, who resides there.
It was on the 13th day of June, 1840, that Mr. Dean was united in marriage to Miss Rachel Evans, who was born January 26. 1816, at Falls- burg, Sullivan county, New York, and who died April 26, 1884. Their children were as follows. Delia, who died April 16, 1905, was the wife of Joshua Siglin, who was supervisor of Genoa town- ship at the time of his death, January 6, 1906. Ira, who joined the army in 1863 in the Seven- teenth Illinois Cavalry, was killed in battle. Ann B. is the wife of Alexander R. Court, residing in Sycamore. Mary A., who died March 12, 1897. was the wife of B. F. Whipple of Cortland town- ship.
Mr. Dean not only figured promiently in agri- cultural and banking circles in De Kalb county but also exerted considerable influence in behalf of public progress and was highly esteemed as a citizen of genuine worth. He served as mayor at one time and never withheld his co-operation from any movement which tended to prove of public benefit. He died January 19, 1904, at the
age of eighty-nine years. During a residence of forty-eight years in De Kalb county he won a splendid measure of success by reason of his watchfulness. his close application and his laudable ambition. Although more than three years have passed since he was called from this life he is yet remembered by many citizens here as a man of sterling worth, whose success was never gained at the cost of other men's losses and who realized and fulfilled his obligations in citizen- ship.
FRED S. MOSHIER.
The business stability and enterprise of Sand- wich have been greatly promoted through the efforts of Fred S. Mosher, president of the Castle bank and also of the Sandwich Manufacturing Company. He is likewise connected with other corporate interests and his efforts have been so dis- cerningly directed along well defined lines of labor that he seems to have accomplished at any given point in his career the possibilities for successful accomplishment at that point. He was born in Ballston Spa, New York, July 18, 1841. His father, Silas B. Mosher, also a native of that place, spent his entire life there, carrying on business as a contractor and builder. He married Caroline E. Castle, who was born in Albany, New York, and both died at Ballston Spa. Their children were as follows: Sarah, the wife of Charles W. Betts, a capitalist of Alexandria, Minnesota ; Cynthia C., the deceased wife of Samuel Gonld, of Ballston Spa, New York; Elizabeth, the wife of William Garrett, of the same place; Caroline S., who mar- ried John W. Allison and lives at Denver, Colo- rado ; and Mary J., the wife of Samuel J. Gould, a retired merchant of Ballston Spa.
Fred S. Mosher began his education in the public schools of his native city and afterward attended Gilmore's Academy at Ballston Spa. ITe next began reading law and was thus engaged until 1861, when the outbreak of the Civil war called forth his patriotic spirit and he raised a company of volunteers for service in the Union army. They joined the One Hundred and Fifteenth New York Infantry and Mr. Mosher was made first lienten- ant of his company. Almost the first engagement
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in which he participated was at Harper's Ferry, where eleven thousand Union troops were captured, Mr. Mosher being among the number. He was soon paroled, however, and was again in the field. At the siege of Fort Sumter he did valiant ser- vice and was also in the military action at Olus- tee. Florida. was present at the mine explosion in front of Petersburg. in the battle of Cold Harbor, in the siege and capture of Fort Fisher, in the engagement at Fort Gilmore. and through the Potomac campaign. Early in 1864 he was pro- moted to the rank of captain and was mustered out at Raleigh, North Carolina, where he was acting as judge advocate of the second division of the Tenth Army Corps under General A. Ames, division com- mander.
When the war was ended Mr. Mosher came to Sandwich to accept the position of cashier in the bank of M. B. Castle, of which institution he is now the president. He was also vice president of the Sandwich Manufacturing Company for years and at the present writing is its president. This corporation was capitalized for five hundred thou- sand dollars and the bank has deposits amounting to three hundred thousand dollars. A general banking business is conducted and this is uni- formly regarded as one of the safe and reliable moneyed concerns of the county. He is likewise president of the Northern Illinois Phone Company, which has been his connection for the past three years.
Moreover, Mr. Mosher has figured prominently in public life, recognizing the needs and possibili- ties of the city and laboring for the adoption of those measures which can prove of the utmost bene- fit. He was mayor of Sandwich for two years and gave a public-spirited, business-like and progres- sive administration.
Mr. Mosher was married January 12. 1869, to Miss Libbie V. N. Smith, of Litchfield, Michigan, a daughter of William Smith, a farmer. Mrs. Mosher was born at Hillsdale, Michigan, and is a graduate of the college at that place. Their children are as follows : Caroline P. is the wife of James L. Warner, a merchant of Sand- wich. Edward Castle, assistant secretary of the Sandwich Manufacturing Company, was born De- cember 18, 1822, and on the 3d of January, 1896. married Jessie M. Adams, a daughter of Henry A. Adams, superintendent of the Sandwich Manu-
facturing Company. They have one child, Charles Adams, who was born May 7, 1906, and they also lost a son. Nellie Wing Mosher is at home. Mary Louise Mosher became the wife of W. H. Fair- child and resides in Anderson, Indiana. Florence 1., the youngest of the family, is a student at Oberlin (Ohio) College.
Mr. Mosher has never ceased to feel a deep interest in military affairs and is now commander of Sandwich post, No. 510, G. A. R. He is like- wise connected with the Loyal Legion as a member of the Illinois commandery. He is classed with the prominent and representative residents of Sandwich, being recognized as a man of keen dis- crimination and sound judgment, while his execu- tive ability and excellent management have brought to the concerns with which he is asso- ciated a large degree of success. The safe, con- servative policy which he has followed in his banking interests commends itself to the judgment of all and has secured to the bank a patronage which has increased the volume of business trans- acted over its counters, making it a financial con- cern of considerable magnitude for a city the size of Sandwich.
RAYMOND ROLFE.
Raymond Rolfe, who for many years has been one of the most prominent, valued and honored cit- izons of De Kalb, has been actively connected with its business interests and with its moral develop- ment as well. His life is exemplary in every re- spect and. well known and honored, he is esteemed for his genuine worth. A native of Ickford. En- gland, he was born on the 28th of February, 1835, and in early life learned and followed the stone- mason's trade. Hearing favorable reports of the business opportunities of the new world, he re- solved to try his fortune in America. and in 1855 crossed the Atlantic, making his way to De Kalb, Illinois. Here he lived for about ten years, or un- til 1865, when he removed to Malta, where he re- sided for fourteen years.
In the meantime Mr. Rolfe was married in Earl- ville. Illinois, on the 22d of December. 1864, to Miss Delpha E. Munger, who was born in Blaine, Boone county. Illinois, December 8, 1843.
RAYMOND ROLFE.
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Throughout his entire life Mr. Rolfe has engaged in business as a mason contractor and is still work- ing at his trade. Ile returned to De Kalb in 1879 and many substantial structures here stand as monuments to his enterprise. ffe built the Wells shoe factory, the Chronicle building and the Ronan building, also the first factory of the De Kalb Fence Company and other important structures.
Mr. Rolfe has been particularly active in church work and belongs to the Baptist denomination. He has served as a deacon in the church and has done all in his power to promote its growth and extend its influence. At all times his life has been actuated by high principles and lofty ideals. In his political faith he is a prohibitionist, thus ex- emplifying his belief in the temperance cause. His influence is ever given on the side of right, re- form, progress and improvement, and his labors have been a potent element for public good.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Rolfe have been born six children, namely: Henry Edwin, born October 16, 1865; Frances, September 11, 1869; Salena. September 1, 1870; Frank Albert, May 7. 1873; Ellen Irene, November 14, 1875; and George Raymond, March 25, 1881. The first five were born in Malta and George R. in De Kalb. .Two of the number, Frances and Salena, are now deceased.
Henry Edwin Rolfe, who occupies a clerical position with the Haish Wire & Implement Com- pany, was born in Malta, Illinois, October 16, 1865. He began his education in the common schools of Malta and completed his studies in the high-school of De Kalb. After leaving school he worked in the wire factory for one year, while for fourteen years he was employed in the office of the wholesale glove manufactory of Bradt & Shipman. He likewise spent three years as foreman of the sulphate of iron department for the American Steel & Wire Company. One year ago he en- gaged with the Haish Wire & Implement Company, holding an important clerical position in the office.
On the 23d of December, 1891, in Sterling, Illi- nois, Henry Edwin Rolfe was married to Miss Nel- lie G. Thompson, and they are now the parents of one son, Burton Thompson, who was born in De Kalb, July 21, 1896. They ocenpy a pleasant home which Mr. Rolfe owns and are well known in the community. Mr. Rolfe holds membership with the Masonic lodge, No. 144, A. F. & A. M., and
with the Knights of Pythias lodge, No. 215, and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. Ilis entire life has been spent in this coun- ty and the fact that many of his stanchest friends are those who have known him from his boyhood days indicates that his has been an honorable and upright career.
WILLIAM W. PLANK.
William W. Plank, who is the owner of valuable farming interests in De Kalb county and makes his home at No. 150 West Main street, where he owns an attractive residence, was born in Fulton county, New York, May 26, 1823. His father, Adam J. Plank, was a son of Jacob J. Plank and a grandson of James C. Plank, who emigrated from Holland to the colony of New York prior to the Revolutionary war. Adam J. Plank died when his son William was but two years of age, leaving the little lad to the care of strangers. He is the only member of the family that ever came to Illinois. He did not have the advantages of schools in his youth and his business training has come from practical experience. In this way, however, he has learned many valuable lessons. possessing an observing eye and retentive memory, so that by observation and through the events which have marked his life he has gained a good practical knowledge.
Mr. Plank arrived in this state in October, 1851, settling first in Montgomery, Kane county, Illi- nois. He was there employed during the winter and in the spring of 1852 removed to De Kalb county, where he has now made his home for more than a half century. Great changes have occurred during this period, for at the time of his arrival there were still many evidences of frontier life. Becoming identified with farming interests, Mr. Plank made the best use of his opportunities, worked untiringly and persistently, lived frugally and economically, and as the years passed by he prospered. When opportunity offered he added to his land and is now one of the large landowners of the county, his possessions including three hun- dred and twenty acres on sections 33 and 34, De Kalb township, and one hundred and sixty acres on section 25 of the same township, all well im-
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proved with those accessories and conveniences which constitute the model farm of the twentieth century. Ile also owns one thousand acres of and in Oceana county, Michigan, together with a fine home at No. 150 West Main street in De Kalb. His possessions are the visible evidence of a life of untiring thrift and industry. He knew no such word as fail and with determined purpose surmounted all of the difficulties and obstacles in his path.
Mr. Plank was married March 18, 1843, to Miss Naney Frederick, a native of Johnstown, New York. Of the children born to them three died in infancy, while those still living are Mary. Marcus, Dewitt, Frank and Bert. The sons are all associated with their father in the operation of his farming lands. Another son, William, and a daughter, Emma, are both deceased.
When age conferred upon Mr. Plank the right of franchise he gave his political support to the democracy, but at the time of President C'leve- land's second administration he transferred his allegiance to the republican party, of which he has since been a stalwart advocate. Ile belongs to the De Kalb lodge of Masons and has attained the Knight Templar degree in the commandery. In- vestigation into his life record shows that he is truly a self-made man and his success is due en- tirely to his own labors. His example in this respect is one well worthy of emulation, showing what may be accomplished even when difficulties beset one at the outset of a career. Labor is the key that will always unlock the portals of pros- perity and it has been by means of his untiring industry that Mr. Plank has gained the gratifying position which he today occupies as a successful retired farmer of De Kalb county.
MARCUS W. COLE.
For a quarter of a century Marcus W. Cole has been prominently identified with the business inter- ests of Kingston and for almost twenty years has devoted the greater part of his time and attention to banking. He was born on the 8th of February. 1836, in Loekport, Niagara county, New York, and is a son of Washington and Harriet (Stiles) Cole, the former a native of Rhode Island, bor,
August 12, 1810, and the latter born in New York, July 16, 1812. They were married in the latter state. where he assisted his father, who was a con- tractor and engineer, in building the Erie canal. In October, 1836, he removed to Illinois and set tled in Marshall, Clark county, where he followed road building in Clark county on the old govern- ment road from Terre Haute, Indiana, to Jeffer- son City, Missouri. Ile continued to make Clark county his home until 1859, when he came to Kingston, De Kalb county, after which he engaged in farming. Ile died here on the 21st of July. 1889, and his wife departed this life January 14. 1898. They were the parents of six children, five of whom reached years of maturity.
Marcus W. Cole. the eldest of this family, was reared and educated in Marshall. Clark county. and after completing the common-school course at- tended the Marshall Academy, from which he was graduated. Ile then learned the printer's trade. but finally gave up that occupation to manage the farm of his uncle, Dr. J. W. Stiles, at Kingston, he being a prominent dentist, real-estate owner and money lender in Boone. MeHenry and De Kalb counties. While engaged in farming Mr. Cole also taught school through the winter months for seven years.
On the 12th of September. 1858. Mr. Cole mar- ried Miss Anna Eliza Little, who was born in Aurora. Erie county, New York. July 24. 1840. Her parents, Henry and Amy Little, came to De Kalb county, Illinois, in 1845 and here her father followed farming until his death, which occurred in 1858. Ilis wife survived him many years and passed away in 1891. After a happy married life of over forty years Mrs. Cole died on the 21st of April, 1899, at the age of fifty-nine, having been in ill health for a number of years. Like her husband. she was a popular member of society and was interested in all progressive movements. She was a member of the Woman's Relief Corps, the Eastern Star and the Eminent Ladies' Garrison. and she was the first worthy matron of the East- ern Star at Kingston, which was the second lodge of the kind established in De Kalb county. After her death the lodge at Kirkland was named in her honor, the "Anna E. Cole" chapter. O. E. S. Her death was deeply and widely mourned. To Mr. and Mrs. Cole was born a daughter, Alice C., now
Mr. W. Cole
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the wife of Judge William L. Pond, of De Kalb, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this volume.
After his marriage Mr. Cole purchased one hun- dred and eighty acres of land in Kingston town- ship, which he improved and operated until 1882, when he removed to the village of Kingston and opened a hardware store. Ile soon began doing a small exchange business and in 1888 entered into the banking business exclusively. In 1893 he built a good two-story brick building with a large vault attached and here he has since carried on bank- ing, doing a large volume of business for a small town. His safe, conservative methods have won for him a liberal patronage and he has the con- fidence and respect of all with whom he is brought in contact, either in business or social life.
The republican party finds in Mr. Cole a stanch supporter of its principles and he has been re- peatedly chosen as a delegate to state and county conventions. He served as collector of his town- ship for seven years, as supervisor for four year's, and is the present school treasurer, which office he has filled since April, 1826. He was also appointed postmaster of Kingston during President Harri- son's administration and filled that office for five years. His official duties were always most faith- fully and conscientiously discharged. In 1865 he joined the Masonic order, becoming a member of the blue lodge, No. 288, of Genoa ; took the Royal Arch degrees in 1888 ; and was made a Sir Knight the same year. Hle served as secretary of his lodge for twenty years. In 1886 he transferred his mem- bership to Kishawaukee lodge, No. 402, A. F. & A. M., at Kingston, and has represented Genoa lodge three times in the grand lodge of the state. He is a charter member of the Modern Woodmen camp at Kingston and also belongs to the Knights of the Globe. Religiously Mr. Cole is a devout member of the Free Baptist church, to which his wife also belonged, and both took an active part in church work, he having served as trustee of the church and superintendent of the Sunday-school for fifteen years.
For years Mr. Cole has taken great delight in collecting old relics and now has a large assort- ment of shells, Indian arrowheads and implements of agriculture, cooking and warfare. He also has a hub of a wheel from an army wagon, which was used during the war of 1812 and which was sur- rendered by Hull at Detroit. This relic was pre-
sented to Mr. Cole by James Sivwright, of May- field. Although his life has been a busy one, he has yet found time to devote to those interests calculated to advance the moral and material wel- fare of his town and county and it is safe to say that no man in the community is held in higher regard or has more warm friends than Marcus W. Cole.
CAPTAIN HENRY C. WHITTEMORE.
Captain Henry C. Whittemore, one of the re- presentative and honored citizens of De Kalb county, has figured prominently in business and public life, and his influence has been a factor in development and progress. He was born at Auburn, New York, October 31, 1841, his parents being Lorenzo and Hannah (Kelsey) Whittemore He is a representative of one of the oldest families of New England and the ancestry can be traced still farther back to the mother country. The founder of the family in the new world was Thomas Whittemore, who came from Hitchin in County Hereford. England, in 1641, and settled at Charlestown, Massachusetts. He was the grand- father of John Whittemore, of Leicester, Massa- chusetts, and the great-grandfather of Lieutenant James Whittemore, who became the first sergeant of a company in the war of the Revolution. He marched with his company to Lexington on the 17th of April, 1775, and was subsequently pro- moted to the rank of lieutenant. His son, Samuel Whittemore, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Leicester, Massachusetts, September 15 1769. He was a farmer by occupation and removed from Massachusetts to New York, residing for a time in Cayuga and Allegany counties. Seeking a home in the middle west, he afterward resided for a considerable period at Sycamore, Illinois, but died at Westfield, New York, in 1866, while visit- ing there. For about twenty years he had sur- vived his wife, who bore the maiden name of Catherine Ranger.
Among their children was Lorenzo Whittemore, who was born in Leicester, Massachusetts, March 11, 1807. Until about 1838 he resided in New England and then removed to the state of New York. In 1848 he came to the west, settling in Sycamore, Illinois, where he resided until his
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death, which occurred on the 31st of August, 1887. He was a carpenter by occupation but also learned the shoemaker's trade and was engaged in that line of business for a time. He possessed natural mechanical ability and could do almost anything with tools. Politically he was a stalwart republican and in religious faith was a Congre- gationalist. A large, portly man, he weighed two hundred and twenty-five pounds and he possessed the affable, genial nature which so often goes with a stature of that character. At one time he was coroner of that county, serving, however, for but a single term, as his aspirations were not in the line of office holding. His wife, Mrs. Hannah ( Kelsey) Whittemore, was a native of Ulster county, New York, born on Christmas day of 1805, and died at Sycamore in March, 1879. They had but two children. Henry C. and Floyd K.
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