Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume II, Part 23

Author: Gross, Lewis M., 1863-; Fay, H. W
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Pioneer Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 726


USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 23


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64


222


PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.


son. of Iowa. They also lost two children, Robert M. and Anna M., both of whom died when abont three years of age.


Mr. Storey has done active public service as an office holder, and over his record there falls no shadow of wrong or suspicion of fraud. In 1860 he cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lin- coln and has since supported the republican party. For sixteen years he has been a member of the school board, for three years was road commis- sioner, and for five years was supervisor. While a member of the county board he served on the per- sonal property committee and was chairman of the committee on highways and printing. Since tak- ing up his abode in Shabbona he has been on the board of village trustees. He frequently attends the conventions of his party as delegate and is one of its stalwart advocates. Both he and his wife hold membership in the West Shabbona Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been a member for about fifty years and in which he has been an office holder. Mr. Storey has now passed the sev- enty-eighth milestone on life's journey. and in the review of his history we find many elements worthy of commendation and emulation. His life record has indeed been an honorable one and those who know him esteem him for the possession of many sterling traits of character.


CHARLES A. ANDERSON.


Charles A. Anderson. the leading hardware mer- chant of De Kalb. is a self-made man, whose advancement from a humble financial position to one of affluence has been characterized by an un- faltering devotion to all those principles of busi- ness which work for an honorable. upright career. He has been active and diligent, carefully utilizing the means at hand and improving his opportunities to the best advantage.


Born in Sweden on the 21st of August. 1861. he is a son of Andrew G. Anderson, who is men- tioned on another page of this work in connection with the sketch of Frank G. Anderson. In the country of his nativity Charles A. Anderson was reared and acquired his education in the public schools. He was the pathfinder for the family in the United States, having resided in America for


a year before the others of the family came to the new world. In fact it was his letters to his par- ents and brothers and sisters that determined them to leave the mother country and found a home in the United States.


Upon arriving in De Kalb county Charles A. Anderson secured work on a farm and was thus employed for two seasons. He then spent a por- tion of a year in the wire mill of Jacob Haish, and in March, 1883. accepted a position in the hard- ware store of HI. B. Taylor of De Kalb. The same year Mr. Taylor sold out to the De Kalb Hardware Company and a few months later the business was again transferred to J. M. Rodman & Brothers. Mr. Anderson remained in the store with the new firm and later Mr. Rodman purchased his brothers' interest, and in 1894 Mr. Anderson be- came a partner in the store under the firm style of J. M. Rodman & Company. In 1900 he became an equal partner in the business and the style of the firm was then changed to Rodman & Anderson. In March, 1906, Mr. Rodman died and on the 1st of April of the same year Mr. Anderson purchased his interest from the estate and became sole owner of the business. Thus he has made gradual ad- vancement and is today recognized as one of the wide-awake and progressive merchants, carrying a large and carefully selected line of goods, thus enabling him to meet the demands of the trade. He is also a director of the Barb City Buikling & Loan Association.


In 1884 was celebrated the marriage of Mi. Anderson and Miss Sana Molander, of De Kalb, whose parents were natives of Sweden. The son. Arthur R .. is now in the store with his father. while the daughter. Ethel C., is attending high school.


Mr. Anderson is a member of Barb City camp, No. 46. M. W. A .; Columbia Tent. No. 51. of the Knights of the Maccabees, and was a charter mem- ber of De Kalb lodge. No. 215. K. P., while with the uniformed rank of that order he is also con- nected. He is a member of the Swedish Republican (Inb of De Kalb and also of the Young Men's Republican Club. and has done effective work in support of the party whose principles he deems the most beneficial to the country at large. He holds membership with the Swedish Lutheran church and is president of the Swedish Benevolent Society. His different membership relations indicate mich


C. C. Anderson


HK


MALHARY


ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.


PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.


of his character and the principles which govern his conduct, and wherever he is known he is recog- nized as a man of genuine personal worth.


EDWARD JOHNSON.


Edward Johnson, one of De Kalb's leading and representative citizens, conducting an insurance, real-estate and loan agency, was born in Stavenger, Norway, on the 23d of August, 1854. a son of John and Bertha (Olsen) Johnson. Of their family of seven children, all sons, only three are now living. and all are in this country, the brothers of our subject being John B. Johnson, a resident of Rock Island, Illinois; and Ole J., of McCollisburg, Iowa, where he is engaged in merchandising and has also served as postmaster since 1882. The father was engaged in the commission business and in mer- chandising in the town of Stavenger, Norway, be- ing extensively associated with commercial inter- ests of that city during his active life. He died there at a very advanced age. having almost reached the ninety-third milestone on life's jour- ney.


Edward Johnson of this review remained at home through the period of his minority and com- pleted his education in the high school of his native town. In June, 18:1, he sought the business op- portunities of the new world, emigrating to Amer- ica. He landed at Quebec, Canada, but thence went direct to Chicago, where he arrived on the 17th of June. The following morning found him at work in the large mercantile establishment of Ammonson & Williams, on North Halsted street. where he remained for a year. He then accepted a position on South Water street, which paid him a better salary, but he did not like the business. that of bag manufacturing, and resigned after six months. During the succeeding half year he trav- eled extensively in order to see the country and acquaint himself with its possibilities and finally settled in Malta, De Kalb county. where for three years he followed farming. He then connected himself with the Marengo nurseries, at Marengo. McHenry county, Illinois, in the capacity of sales- man and rose rapidly in the confidence of his em- ployers, so that it was but a comparatively short time until he had complete charge of the sales and


the salesmen, being the general agent of the busi- ness. He held that position for twenty-five years, so conducting the business that it was profitable to himself and his employers, severing his connec- tion with the firm only in 1901, after a period of twenty-six years' service. He then removed to De Kalb and established an insurance, real-estate and loan agency, his many years experience as general agent in the nursery business ably fitting him for this work. He has prospered in the new line as he well deserves to do, and is ranked among De Kalb's progressive and leading business men.


In 1880 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Johnson and Miss Emma C. Spickerman. of Malta, and unto them were born two children, the sur- viving one being Mattie B., who is a graduate of the Normal School and for some time was a teacher in the city schools of De Kalb. She is also an ac- complished pianist. The death of Mrs. Johnson occurred on the 13th of September, 1906.


Mr. Johnson belongs to De Kalb lodge, A. F. d. A. M., and is a charter member of Malta lodge, K. P., and of Malta camp, M. W. A. He likewise belongs to Malta lodge of the Knights of the Globe and is a member of the Congregational 22 15 church. His political allegiance is given to the re- publican party and for some years he served as town collector of Malta. His life record indicates the possibilities that are open to young men and the success which may be achieved by earnest, per- sistent effort, for in his business life he has made steady advancement sinee coming to the new world and is now a prosperous citizen of his adopted city.


E. II. WILCOX.


E. II. Wilcox, night watchman for the Haish Wire & Implement Company at De Kalb-a re- sponsible position which he is ably filling-was born in Royalton, New York, January 6. 1846, his parents being William and Cordelia ( Merritt) Wilcox. The father. a native of Middletown, Con- necticut, was born in 1804 and spent his early life in that place, after which he removed to Leroy, New York, where he met and married Miss Cor- delia Merritt. Later they removed to Niagara county, New York, where his remaining days were passed. his death occurring in 1863. His wife was


226


PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.


born May 3, 1816. and after her husband's death she removed to Illinois, settling in Clinton town- ship, De Kalb county, where she lived for three years. In 1867 she became a resident of the city ot De Kalb, where she remained until called to the home beyond, passing away in 1900. when she had reached the very advanced age of eighty-four years.


E. IT. Wilcox acquired a good common-school education that fitted him for life's practical and responsible duties. In his youth he followed farm labor and in 1882 he took up factory work, at which he has been very successful, possessing nat- ural mechanical ability. Ile was for six years with the I. L. Ellwood Company and is now night watchman with the Hlaish Wire & Implement Com- pany, a position which he is ably filling. He was janitor of the schools for thirteen years, but for the past year has filled his present position and his work in that direction has been entirely satis- factory to the company.


In 1875 Mr. Wilcox was united in marriage, in De Kalb, to Mrs. Mary A. Noyes, the widow of Nathan S. Noyes, who by her former marriage had two children: Egbert Noyes, of De Kalb: and Anges May, the wife of Rev. Louis Wiltberger, also of De Kalb.


Mr. Wilcox is a republican in his political views, exercising his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the party. He belongs to Modern Woodmen camp, No. 46, of De Kalb, and is well known in the city. He owns a comfortable home at No. 643 North Fifth street and has lived a life of thrift and industry, owing his success en- tirely to his perseverance and well directed labors.


HENRY N. PERKINS.


For seventy years Henry N. Perkins has been identified with the interests of De Kalb county and throughout his active business life has ear- ried on farming and merchandising, his home being now in Genoa. He was born in Lebanon, Columbia county, New York, on the 15th of August, 1833, and was only four years old when, in 1837, he came to Illinois in company with his parents, Horatio N. and Eliza ( Wallace) Perkins. His father was born in Connecticut in 1808 and was a son of James Perkins, a representative of an


old Connecticut family. On leaving his native state, Horatio N. Perkins removed to New York and became one of the first settlers of Columbia county, where he grew to manhood and was mar- ried. his wife having been born in New York. In 183; he brought his family to De Kalb county, Illi- nois, and located in Genoa, which then containel but three or four cabins, while the country round about was largely unsettled. He bought a log building. in which he conducted a hotel for some time and also engaged in farming. having entered three hundred acres of land from the government. Ile also served as the first postmaster of Genoa, and in his business affairs he steadily prospered. becoming quite well-to-do. He died here in 1888. at the age of eighty years. and his wife only sur- vived him about a month, both being laid to rest in the Genoa cemetery.


In their family were one son and two daughters, but Henry N. Perkins is now the only survivor. Amid pioneer scenes he passed the days of his boy- hood and youth in this country and acquired a good practical education in the common schools and Mount Morris Seminary. He remained under the parental roof until his marriage, when, on the 28th of February. 1855, he wedded Miss Margaret Stiles, a native of Vermont and a daughter of Asel and Fanny Stiles, who came to Illinois about 1850.


After his marriage Mr. Perkins located on a part of the old home farm and to the further im- provement and cultivation of the place he devoted his energies until 1866, when he sold the farm and embarked in general merchandising at Genoa, buv- ing out a business already established and a store building not yet completed. Ile built a residence in the town and continued to actively engage in commercial pursuits until 1888, meeting with ex- cellent success in that venture. In that year he purchased the farm in Genoa township where he now resides and also owns a portion of the original land entered by his father, having two hundred and forty acres. a half of which is within the corpora- tion limits of Genoa. Besides this property he owns another farm here and also a half section of land one mile from Sherburn in Martin county. Minnesota, which he has improved. As a wide- awake and energetic business man he has met with success in his undertakings and is today numbered


221


PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.


among the most prosperous citizens of his com- munity.


Mr. Perkins has been called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died in 1880 and was laid to rest in the Genoa cemetery. Unto them were born four children: Horatio A., whose sketch ap- pears on another page of this volume, is married and has two children, Horatio and Irma. He is one of the prominent business men of Genoa. Marian is the wife of Charles Stott, of Des Plaines, Du Page county, and they have one daughter, Mar- garet. Mary is the wife of Frank E. White, who lives on the Perkins farm in Minnesota, and they have eight children. Jennie is the wife of Newton Stanley, of Genoa.


Politically, Mr. Perkins has been a republican since casting his first ballot for John C. Fremont in 1856, and has never missed a presidential elec- tion since that time. He has served as a delegate to state and congressional conventions and has been honored with public office, serving as presi- dent of the town board for one term, supervisor ten or twelve years, township clerk and also town- ship trustee for a time. He has always taken an active interest in public affairs and has done all in his power to advance the welfare of town and county. During his long residence in this locality he has become widely and favorably known and has a host of friends throughout the county.


ENOCH B. DARNELL.


Enoch B. Darnell, whose farm of one hundred and thirty acres is pleasantly located on section 22. Squaw Grove township, was born in Marshall county, Illinois, December 9, 1837. He was only three years old when taken to Kendall connty by his parents, Abraham and Susanna (Owen) Dar- nell. His father was a native of Wilkes county, North Carolina, born November 12, 1806, and in the year 1831 came to Illinois, settling in Marshall county near the old Indian fort. In fact. he spent a part of the winter in the fort. He lived here about the close of the Blackhawk war and remem- bers the hostility manifested by the Indians. De- feated by the white troops, this practically ended their dominion in Illinois, but for many years the white settlers had to endure many hardships and


privations incident to pioneer life, and Mr. Dar- nell, while developing his farm, aided largely in laying the foundation for the present growth and progress of the county. Ile died April 15, 1892. His wife, who was also a native of Wilkes county, North Carolina, was born October 21, 1811, and came to Illinois with her husband, and after care- fully rearing her children and doing a mother's part by them, she died December 28, 1885.


The family lived in Kendall county from 1840 and Enoch B. Darnell was there reared and re- mained until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he joined the Union army as one of the boys in bine, becoming a member of Company E, Thir- teenth Illinois Infantry, which company was organ- ized at Sandwich. He was sworn into the state service May 10, 1861, at Dixon, Illinois, and was mustered into the United States service in the 24th of May, 1861, at the same place. Hardly had the smoke from Fort Sumter's guns cleared away when he offered his aid in support of the government at Washington and its policy. While at the front he participated in a number of hotly contested en- gagements, including the battle of Little Red River, May 17, 1862; Chickasaw Bayon, on the 28th and 29th of December, 1862: Arkansas Post. January 10 and 11, 1863; Deer Creek, April 7, 1863; Jackson, Mississippi, May 14, 1863; the siege of Vicksburg from May 18th until the 4th of July : siege of Jackson from the 10th until the 16th of July; the battle of Brandon on the 19th of July: Tuscumbia, Alabama, October 25 and 26, 1863: Lookout Mountain, November 24, 1863 ; Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1863 : Ring Gold, Georgia. November 27, 1863: and Madison Station, Alabama, May. 1864. At Chickasaw Bayou he was struck by a spent ball, which only caused a bruise. He received his honorable dis- charge on the 18th of May, 1864, after spending three years at the front. In his discharge it was stated that he had marched thirty-five hundred miles and had been a faithful soldier, performing well whatever duty had devolved upon him. He still has in his possession his discharge papers.


When he had been mustered out Mr. Darnell returned to the old home, where he lived for three years, when he moved to Squaw Grove township. where he has since resided and owns one hundred and thirty acres of choice land on section 22, that is now valued at one hundred and fifty dollars per


228


PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.


acre. He has accumulated this property through his own labor and has been a very active, hard working man, to which fact is dne his ownership of a fine home and valuable farm.


On the tth of March, 1866. Mr. Darnell was united in marriage to Miss Mary Mills, who was born March 1. 1841. her parents being Benjamin and Hannah (Davis) Mills. Her father, who was born in Vermont. February 4. 1804. came to Illi- nois in 1844, settling near Oswego, Kendall county, where his death occurred. His wife was born in New York. December 18. 18t8, and died April 14. 1814. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Darnell have been born five children, of whom Gertrude has departed this life. She was born June 29, 1812, and remained at home until her death, which occurred December 29, 1900. The others are Mrs. Fannie De Clark, who was born January 6. 1867 : Alberta, born Oc- tober 21. 1868: Le Roy. born February 18, 1877: and Charles M., born September 5, 1879.


Mr. Darnell acquired his education in the dis- trict schools of Kendall county and in Jennings Seminary. Aurora, Illinois, where he spent three months, while his wife was educated in the schools of Sandwich. They are both highly es- teemed people and enjoy in large measure the con- fidence and good will of those with whom they have been associated. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Hinckley. and Mr. Darnell exercises his right of franchise in support of the republican party. Throughout the com- mnnity in which he has long lived he is spoken of in terms of good will and commendation, and bv an active business career he has placed himself in a financial condition where he might easily retire from active business life if indolence and idleness were not entirely foreign to his nature.


JOHN A. BADGLEY, M. D.


Dr. John A. Badgley. a representative of the medical profession in De Kalb, was born in Gal- lipolis, Ohio. on the 4th of June. 1855, his parents being John P. and Sarah (Glassburn) Badgley of whose family of eight children six are yet liv- ing. The father, a native of Ohio, was a son of Anthony Badgley. who lived to the very venerable age of ninety-four years and died at Newark. Illi-


nois. Our subject's father was reared to farm life and followed that pursuit as a vocation with the exception of a short period of about three years, which was devoted to mercantile pursnits. In 185: he removed from Gallipolis, Ohio, to Illi- nois, settling near Sandwich, where he remained about five years. lle then removed to Tampico, Illinois, where he resided until 1885. when he be- came a resident of Westport. South Dakota. There he has since resided with the exception of about three years in the '90s when he was again a resi- dent of Tampico, being there engaged in mer- chandising. He is a republican in politics and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. in the work of which he takes a very active part. For years he served as superintendent of the Sun- day-school and in other official positions and his efforts have been an element in the substantial growth of the church in which he holds member- ship. Ilis wife, who was born in Gallipolis, Ohio, and was a daughter of John and Jane Glassburn, the former an agriculturist, died in May, 1906. The surviving sons and daughters of the family are: Mary Jane, now the widow of A. V. Deni- son, and a resident of Aberdeen, South Dakota; John 1 .: Ida MI., the wife of A. E. Jacobs. of Malta, Illinois: Jed. who is a veterinary surgeon practicing in Tampico. Illinois; Minnie. the wife of Willis Brown. also of Tampico; and Hal C., of Westport, South Dakota.


Dr. Badgley was only two years of age when brought by his parents to De Kalb county and was yet a small boy when his father removed to Tam- pico. He acquired his education in the district schools of the former and the public schools of the latter, and entered the Sterling high school. where he pursued his more advanced literary work. In the spring of 1827 he took up the study of medi- cine under the preceptorship of Dr. A. C. Smith, of Tampico, and in the fall of 1878 matriculated in the medical department of the Northwestern University of Chicago. After one term. however, he entered Rush Medical College, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1880. In the fol- lowing .July he located in Malta. Illinois, where he remained in active practice for twenty-six years. and in September. 1906, he removed to De Kalb but prior to this time went to Chicago, where he pursued a general post-graduate course and two special courses in bacteriology and operative sur-


DR. J. A. BADGLEY.


EW YORK 1_3. LIBRARY


ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.


231


PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.


gery. On completing his studies he returned to his new home, his wife having made the removal during his absence and already he has gained a place among the prominent and successful physi- cians of De Kalb, winning high favor and profes- sional advancement during the year of his resi- dence here. He is president of the De Kalb County Medical Society and a member of the State Medical Society, also of the American Med- ical Association. Aside from his professional re- lations Dr. Badgley is connected with the Masonie and Knights of Pythias fraternities, the Knights of the Globe, the Royal Neighbors and the Mod- ern Woodmen.


In April. 1880. occurred the marriage of Dr. Badgley and Miss Birdie Bastian, of Tampico. who died in January, 1900. Unto this marriage there were born three children, of whom two are living, Birdie J. and Ila G., while Jolm A., who was the second child, is deceased. On the 5th of November. 1900, the Doctor wedded Miss Gene- vive Maud Knight, a native of Grants Pass, Ore- gon. Mrs. Badgley was a trained nurse, having graduated from the Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland, Oregon. In November, 1899. she came east to Chicago and soon afterward formed the acquaintance of Dr. Badgley. By this marriage there have been born two children, Valene Louise and Annette Harriet. Conscientions and capable in the discharge of his professional duties, working toward high ideals in his practice and continually broadening his knowledge through reading and in- vestigation. Dr. Badgley is well known as one of the most successful and able members of the med- ical fraternity in De Kalb.


D. E. FULKERSON.


The time and energies of D. E. Fulkerson, a progressive agriculturist of De Kalb county, are given to the cultivation and improvement of a tract of eighty acres in Mayfield township. He is a son of J. C. and Olive E. ( Moyers) Fulkerson, natives of the state of New York. The father removed to De Kalb county, settling on a farm in Kingston township in 1848, where the following year he was joined by his family. He operated a farm in Kingston township until 1858, when he came to


Mayfield township, and purchased the farm on which our subject now resides. In 1870, leaving the son in charge of the homestead property, the father removed to Sycamore and engaged in the lumber business, in which he continued for nine years, and in that city he passed away. March 10, 1888. His wife survived for several years, her death occurring November 2, 1897.




Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.