USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 29
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Edward W. Borchers was reared on the old family homestead, no event of special importance occurring to vary the routine of farm life for him in his boyhood days. He worked on his father's farm during the summer season and in the winter months attended the public schools. He married Miss Anna Sorenson, who was born in Squaw Grove township. November 7, 1884. Her parents were natives of Denmark and came to the United States in 1880. They now live in Kane county, Illinois, where the father follows the occupation of farming. In their family were five children. namely : Hans : Anna. now Mrs. Borchers ; Katie : and twins, of whom one died in infancy, while the other, Christian, is still living.
It was on the 28th of October, 1903, that Mr. Borchers was united in marriage to Miss Anna Sorenson, at which time they took up their abode upon his father's farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Clinton township. Here they have since fived and Mr. Borchers is carefully and success- fully cultivating the farm. making it a valuable
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property by reason of the improvements he places upon it and the highly developed condition of the fields. In politics he is a democrat but has never sought or desired publie office, preferring to give his undivided attention to business affairs in which he is meeting with creditable and gratifying sne- cess. He and his wife are highly esteemed people of the community and are faithful members of the Squaw Grove Lutheran church.
CARLOS W. HINDS.
Carlos W. Hlinds, deceased. was a well known and honored citizen of De Kalb. Ile was a native of this county, his birth having occurred in Clin- ton township, on the 12th of November, 1853. ITis father. AAlbert Hinds, came to De Kalb connty in 1849, was a pioneer farmer of this locality and became well-to-do for his day. He died in 1887, at the age of sixty-nine years.
Carlos W. Hinds was at one time a student in the old Paw Paw Seminary and completed his education in the Northwestern College at Naper- ville. Ilinois. He followed the occupation of farming during the greater part of his life, but about ten years prior to his demise, he left the farm and turned his attention to the real estate business in De Kalb, successfully operating in that line up to the time of his death, which occurred on the 11th of December, 1893. He was very suc- cessful in business and was a popular citizen, widely and favorably known.
On the 25th of October. 1882, at Shabbona Mr. Hinds was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Booth, who was born in Wyoming township, Lee county, Illinois, January 6, 1860, and was edu- cated in the public schools of Shabbona. fler father, Allen Booth, was a native of Hollings- worth, England, born on the 5th of April, 1831. and in 1856 came to the United States, settling upon a farm in Lee county. Illinois. He married Anna Shaw ere his emigration to the new world and provided for his family of three children, of whom Mrs. Hinds is the eldest, by following agri- cultural pursuits.
Mr. and Mrs. Hinds became the parents of two children, a son and daughter: Allen Carlos, who was born in Clinton township, August 1. 1883;
and Ethelyn, who was born October 5, 1888, and died March 17, 1896. The son was educated at the De Kalb public schools and for one year at- tended the academy connected with Beloit (Wis- consin) College. He then entered the employ of the M. D. Wells Shoe Company and for three years was in the factory. He was next in the service of the American Steel & Wire Company is paymaster and on the 16th of April, 1906, became billing and credit clerk for the Haish Wire & Implement Company at De Kalb, which position he held until the 1st of March, 1907, when he went to Calgary, Canada. Mrs. Hinds lives in a beautiful home at No. 629 South Fourth street. in De Kalb, and in the city has many friends among the cultured and prominent people.
Mr. Hinds held a number of offices to which he was called by the vote of his fellow townsmen who recognized his worth and ability. At different times he served as county coroner, as alderman and as justice of the peace, and his duties were ever discharged with unfaltering fidelity and promptness. Ilis political allegiance was given the republican party and he was a member of the Knights of Pythias lodge.
ELMER LEONIDAS DENNISTON, D. O.
Elmer Leonidas Denniston has been remarkably successful as a practitioner of osteopathy during the period of his residence in De Kalb. He was born in Millard, Missouri, July 19, 1826. His father. John W. Denniston, was a native of Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania, born December 12. 183%, while the mother, Mrs. Susan Stukey Den- niston, was born in Millard. Missouri, August 15, 1855. Her death occurred on the 13th of No- vember, 1889, when she was thirty-four years of age. There were two children of that marriage. of whom Dr. Denniston is the elder. His father went to Missouri in 1870 and has since lived in that state, where he carries on business as a con- tractor and builder.
Dr. Denniston was educated in the public schools of Missouri, being graduated at Kirksville, after which he took up the study of osteopathy in the college at that place, being graduated there- from in 1901. When he had completed his course
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he entered upon the practice of his profession at Gallatin, Missouri, where he remained until March 8, 1903, when he came to De Kalb, where he has since continued. Snecess has attended his efforts until he. has all he can do, his practice making constant demands upon his time and attention and leaving him little or practically no leisure for out- side interests.
In politics Dr. Denniston is a republican and fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows and the Elks, belonging to the respective lodges at De Kalb. He is a member of the First Pres- byterian church and is a popular young man of De Kalb, who has gained many friends during the brief period of his residence here. He has made his way in the world unaided, being self-educated as well as self-made, and, having gained thorough equipment for his chosen profession, he is now a successful practitioner of osteopathy, having many patrons who have greatly benefited by his service.
MRS. CLARA A. PARKER.
Mrs. Clara A. Parker has for many years been a resident of De Kalb county and is managing her business interests with an ability that makes her property a profitable source of income. She was born in Herkimer county, New York. February 20. 1851, a daughter of Peter and Rosannah Helmer, who became residents of De Kalb county, Illinois, in 1862. The father was born April 15, 1810, and was the fourth son of Adam and Anna M. (Harter) Helmer. In the paternal line her great-grandparents, Captain Henry and Catherine Harter, were taken prisoners in 1757, at the time of the French and Indian war, as they were cross- ing the St. Lawrence river in a birch-bark canoe on their way to Canada. A danghter was born to them while crossing the river and afterward be- came the wife of General Michael Meyers. Mrs. Parker's grandfather, Adam Helmer, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war and fought valiantly for the cause of liberty. Her father died May 25, 1900, and her mother, who was born in New York, September 3. 1822, passed away on the 30th of March, 1901. In their family were five children, namely: Cerlinda, who now lives with Mrs. Par- ker; Elizabeth, the wife of J. O. Walrod ; Frances,
the deceased wife of John Hallaron; Clara A., now Mrs. Parker; and Florence L., the wife of P. S. Warber.
Mrs. Parker completed her education in the De Kalb high school and for three years prior to her marriage engaged in teaching. It was on the 14th of February, 1821, that she gave her hand in marriage to Thomas Parker, who was born in Weathersfield, Vermont, December 10, 1844, and died on the 18th of December, 1901. They had no children of their own but reared two, a girt and boy, both of whom were young when taken to their home.
Mr. Parker was a son of James and Charlotte (Carns) Parker, who were natives of the state of New York. He had two brothers and three sisters and was the second in order of birth in the family. He was educated in Mayfield township, De Kalb county, and the Sycamore high school, and for a time. engaged in teaching school, but afterward :turned his attention to farming. After his mar- riage he located on a farm of his own, having bought one hundred and sixty acres of land which "was in its primitive condition, not a furrow having been turned or an improvement made upon the place. With growing energy he began its develop- ment and succeeded in bringing his fields under a high state of cultivation. After four years spent on this farm, he purchased eighty acres adjoining and in 1898 bought twenty-one acres of land ad- joining the city limits of De Kalb. Thus, as the years passed by, he was blessed with prosperity, his farm becoming one of the valuable properties of the community. To this place he took his bride at the time of their marriage in 1871, and they remained there until 1899. They then removed to the tract of land adjoining De Kalb and there Mr. Parker spent his remaining days. He was an enterprising agricultorist, had carefully conducted his business interests and was honorable and up- right in all that he did.
IIe gave his political support to the republican party and held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church of De Kalb, with which Mrs. Parker is also identified. He took a very active and helpful part in the church work and for many years served as class leader and also on the official board. His life was indeed characterized by high and honorable principles and governed by motives which were most commendable. He was never
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known to take advantage of the necessities of a fellowman in any business transaction and left to his family not only a handsome competence, but also an untarnished name.
Mrs. Parker still owns and manages her farms and in the control of her property, displays ex- cellent business ability and executive force. She built a fine residence on her land adjoining the corporation limits of De Kalb, and there she has located. surrounded by all the comforts and some of the luxuries of life. In the community where she lives. she has many friends who esteem her for her genuine worth of character and who will be glad to see this mention of Mr. and Mrs. Parker in the history of De Kalb county.
JOHN MARSHALL.
John Marshall, a retired farmer making his home in Sycamore, is one of the early pioneer settlers of De Kalb county, owning a finely im- proved farm of one hundred and thirty-two acres situated on section 11. Sycamore township, this property returning to him an income sufficient to enable him to spend the evening of his days in well earned case. Mr. Marshall is a native of England, born in North Clifton, Nottinghamshire. September 21, 1825. He is a self-made man. having acquired all that he today enjoys through his own well directed labors, for at the early age of thirteen and a half years he began to provide for his own support. at first working for the meager sum of twelve and a half dollars per year. while later he received sixty dollars per year for his services.
After reaching years of maturity Mr. Marshall was married in that country to Miss Eliza Baker, who was also born in Nottinghamshire, and the young couple began their domestic life in the old world, there remaining until after the birth of two of their children. In 1851, thinking to better provide for the support of himself and family in the new world, he emigrated to the United States. being twenty-nine days in making the voyage across the Atlantic. He at once made his way to the new and growing west, taking up his abode at St. Charles, Illinois, where he secured employ- ment at farm labor. being thus engaged for a few years, after which he operated a farm on the shares
for five years. Feeling justified in operating land on his own account he then removed to Charter Grove township. where he operated rented land for three years, removing thence to Kane county. where he likewise rented a tract of land. He then returned once more to De Kalb county and pur- chased a farm of one hundred and thirty-two acres, upon which he located. There was a log cabin which stood upon the place and in this prin- itive dwelling the family took up their abode while the father began the development and im- provement of the land. There was no road lead- ing to the place but Mr. Marshall soon had a road laid out and as the years passed and he prospered in his undertakings he replaced the dwelling with a more modern frame residence and built barns and outbuildings, so that in course of time his property was made one of the well improved traets of Sycamore town ship. It was the year 1861 that Mr. Marshall lo- vated on his farm on section 11, Sycamore town- ship, and he there continued to carry on agri- cultural pursuits until December. 1906, when, feel- ing that his income was sufficient to enable him to retire from active business life, he purchased a nice home in the city of Sycamore, and expects to spend his remaining days in well merited rest. He still, however, retains possession of his farm. from which he derives a good annual rental.
Mr. Marshall lost his first wife in 1878. She had become the mother of seven children, but five of the number have passed away, the deaths of three occurring within three weeks from diphtheria. One died of scarlet fever and another, who was ill on the voyage, died in this country in the fall of their arrival. The living members are: Charles Edward, who follows farming in Sycamore town- ship: and Emma A., the wife of Newton Darnell. a farmer of that township. Mr. Marshall was mar- ried a second time in 1881, in Lee county. his union being with Mary E. Slothower, a native of Frederick county, Maryland, a daughter of John D. Slothower, who was born in Germany, and lo- cated in Illinois in 1851.
Mr. Marshall gave his early political allegiance to the democratic party but in later years has sup- ported the principles of the prohibition party. Both he and his wife are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. Mr. Marshall is a public-
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spirited man, having always taken a most deep and helpful part in the development of the county along various lines, and he and his wife are num- bered among the highly esteemed citizens of Syca- more and De Kalb county.
JOHN McGIRR.
John MeGirr, a grain dealer of De Kalb, was born in Affon township on the 4th of August, 1857. his parents being John and Mary ( Powers) McGirr, in whose family were twelve children. The father was born in County Meath, Ireland, in 1813, was there reared and acquired a good edu- cation in his youth. On reaching manhood he was employed as a bookkeeper in a mercantile house in Dublin and in 1850 he came to the United States. Soon afterward he located in De Kalb county, Illinois, being among the first residents of Afton township, where he settled on one hundred and sixty acres of wild land, entering it as a homestead from the government. Not a furrow had been turned or an improvement made upon this place and he continued to reside upon the farm until his death, which occurred in 1878. His political allegiance was given to the democracy and he was a member of the Catholic church. His wife, who was born in County Waterford, Ireland, about 1825, died in 1903. She came to the United States about the same year as her future hus- band and they were married in St. Charles, Illi- nois. Six of their children survive, namely: Den- nis, who is living on the old homestead in Afton township; Patrick, a resident of Carrollton, Illi- nois ; Rose, the wife of Peter Jordan, of Chicago; Teressa, the wife of James Fitzgerald, of Maple Park, Illinois ; and Nellie, living in De Kalb.
The other member of the family is John Mc- Girr of this review, who was born and reared upon the old homestead and in the common schools pur- sued his education. He received practical training in farm work and in 1880 he purchased a farm, becoming owner of one hundred and sixty acres in Afton township. With characteristic energy he began its further development and improvement and at a later date he extended the boundaries of his place by an additional purchase of forty aeres. Ile continued to reside upon the farm unti!
1889, when he rented his land and came to De Kalb to engage in the grain business. He has shown excellent executive ability from early man- hood and has prospered as a grain merchant, being one of the leading business men in this line in De Kalb.
On the 14th of November, 1882, occurred the marriage of Mr. MeGirr and Miss Hannah Red- mond, of Malta township, De Kalb county, and a daughter of Murt Redmond, now a retired farmer of the city of De Kalb. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Girr have been born four children, of whom three are living : Murt, Louis and Elizabeth.
Mr. MeGirr is a member of DeKalb camp. M. W. A. : De Kalb lodge, No. 712, Knights of Colum- bus : De Kalb lodge of the Yeomen of America ; and the Catholic church. For ten years he served as road commissioner of Afton township. lle has led a life of activity and enterprise and his pres- ent creditable position in the business world has come by reason of the steadfast purpose which he has manifested in his business career.
FOY & STERICKER.
Foy & Sterieker, sheep feeders have the largest private sheep feeding plant in the state of Illinois. It is located at Sycamore along the right of way of the Chicago & Great Western Railway. The business was located here by the firm on account of the unsurpassed shipping facilities afforded by the Great Western, with its direct line to Omaha, Kansas City, St. Joseph, Missouri, and St. Paul. It is also but fifty-two miles from Chicago. The plant comprises five acres of land and the im- mense barns thercon have a feeding capacity per season of from twenty-five to thirty-five thousand. Twelve thousand head can be taken care of on the inside and from ten to fifteen thousand outside. The plant is thoroughly equipped in every respect and there is an abundance of pure water. The average amount of feed used is thirty thousand bushels of corn in a season of six months. fifteen hundred tons of screenings and one thousand tons of hay. A large quantity of the feed has to be shipped in and yet the business makes an excel- Jent market for the farmers of De Kalb county, who haul their hay and grain to Foy & Stericker's
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plant from a distance of from three to five miles. The excellent quality of the feed used is one of the reasons for the success achieved by the firm, the best of clover hay being purchased, together with extra heavy screenings and cracked corn. On account of the proximity to Chicago sheep can be shipped late at night and are on the market early the next morning. The firm consists of William Foy and Arthur Stericker and both are men of excellent business ability, well liked be- cause of their fine traits of character. as well as their business enterprise and success.
GEORGE W. NESBITT. M. D.
Dr. George W. Nesbitt, practicing along modern scientifie lines in his efforts to alleviate suffer- ing and restore health, has gained an enviable reputation as a member of the medical fraternity. He is one of De Kalb county's native sons. hav- ing been born at the old homestead in Sycamore, March 13. 1869. Ilis father. George W. Nesbitt. Sr., was one of the most popular physicians and surgeons of De Kalb county. He was born in Attica, New York, August 20, 183;, his parents being Henry and Eleanor (Smyth) Nesbitt. Henry Nesbitt was born in County Cavan, Ire- land, in 1803. and became a resident of the United States in 1819, while his wife was born in Argyle, Washington county, New York, in 1802. Henry Nesbitt became a resident of Attica. New York. and following his marriage engaged in general farming for many years, or until his death, which occurred in June, 1883. His wife passed away in Wyoming county, New York, in 1862.
Dr. George W. Nesbitt. Sr., was reared to farm life, assisting in the work of the fields, while in the winter months he pursued a public-school edu- cation prior to entering the Genesee and Wyoming Seminary, at Alexandria, New York. He was graduated with honors from that institution, and, seeking the broader business opportunities of the west, he removed to Genoa, Illinois, where for one winter he engaged in teaching school. In the fol- lowing spring he traveled quite extensively, and during the summer months was with a govern- ment surveying party on the Red River of the
North. operating principally in Minnesota. In the winter following he taught school in Boone county, Illinois, after which he went to Arkansas and other states, where he also followed that pro- fession. Believing that he would find the practice of law congenial. he begun reading with that end in view in the office and under the direction of Hon. Charles Kellum. of Sycamore, but changing his plans took up the study of medicine in 1860 with Dr. H. H. Rice, of Randolph county, Illinois, as his preceptor. A year later he returned to Alex- andria. New York, and continued his studies under the supervision of Dr. H. B. Miller. He also attended lectures at the Buffalo Medical College and was graduated on the 21st of February, 1865.
Dr. Nesbitt then began practice in Buffalo, New York, where in connection with Dr. G. W. MeCray he also conducted a wholesale and retail drug store. In the fall of 1866, however. he sold his interest in the drug business and began a pros- pecting tour with a view to securing a permanent location. fle proceeded by lake and canal to Pitts- burg, thence down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to St. Louis, after which he traveled through vari- ious states in the south, remaining for a few days or weeks at a place as inclination prompted. Re- turning to St. Louis he traveled on horseback through Illinois and on reaching Sycamore deter- mined to make this city his place of residence. ITere he at once opened an office and soon estab- lished a reputation as a physician and surgeon second to none in northern Illinois. Shortly after locating here he was one day in front of Water- man's store when a box of soldiers' clothing was opened. The war having closed a large quantity of army clothing was thrown upon the market, one case having been purchased by Sycamore deal- ers. In a spirit of fun Dr. Nesbitt mounted the box. and being a fluent speaker delivered a pa- triotie address and then began to auction off a suit of clothes. He was surprisingly successful and soon sold the entire shipment-the unexpected result of a joke. His power demonstrated. he was then engaged by the firm to sell elsewhere and remained in partnership with them in this branch of business for about six months, or as long as the supply lasted. He did a thriving business and declared that he made money faster than at any period of his life.
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In addition to the practice of medicine Dr. Nesbitt engaged in breeding fine stock and at one time had a number of thoroughbreds, but foreseeing a falling off in the demands for and price of stock, he sold a portion and traded the balance for twelve hundred acres of land in Kan- sas. He named his ranch Bally Hlaise in honor of his father's birth place in Ireland.
On the 23d of June, 1864, at Buffalo, New York, Mr. Nesbitt was married to Miss Mary 11. Davis, a native of Chippewa. Canada. They had three children, of whom one died in infancy, the others being George W., of this review ; and John B., who was born in Sycamore, January 31, 1823, and after acquiring a publie-school education here, attended the Chicago Medical College, now a de- partment of Northwestern University, from which he was graduated in June, 1892. He then formed a partnership with his brother and they have an extensive practice. Dr. Nesbitt, Sr., was.a inedi- cal practitioner of broad and thorough knowl- edge, who contributed many valuable articles. to the medical press and was also well -known as- lecturer. Ile belonged to the Illinois State Medi- cal Society and the American Medical Associa- tion and was frequently heard in address in other meetings upon subjects of general interest. For two years he served as vice president of the State Medical Society. Fraternally he was a Mason and took a deep interest in the work of the craft. He was also prominent in public life and at the time of his demise was mayor of Sycamore. Ile passed away April 29, 1894, and his death was deeply regretted by many friends as well as his immedi- ate family.
Dr. George W. Nesbitt, whose name introduces this record, entered the Sycamore schools at the usual age, passing through successive grades and afterward attended the State University, at Cham- paign, Illinois. He was graduated from the Chi- cago Medical College, now the Northwestern Uni- versity. April 22, 1892, with a class of fifty-five members, and immediately joined his father in practice, since which time he has been well known as a member of the medical fraternity in his na- tive city. IIe and his brother are in partnership and their practice is more extensive than that of any other physicians of Sycamore. Dr. Nesbitt of this review belongs to the Illinois Medical
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