USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 36
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that his first duty was to his country, Mr. White enlisted in August, 1862, becoming a member of Company H, One Hundred and Fifth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers. He served for three years, being discharged as a sergeant and returning to his home with a military record that was charac- terized by loyalty and faithfulness under both hard and favorable conditions. With his regiment he marched from Louisville through Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama. and joined Sherman at Murfreesboro in the spring of 1863. He partici- pated in the Atlanta campaign and during a por- tion of the time had charge of a foraging party. The only battle in which his regiment participated when he was not present was at Bentonville, North Carolina, and the number of hotly contested en- gagements in which he took part reached nineteen. He was with Sherman on the celebrated march to the sea and afterward participated in the grand review in Washington, D. C., where the victorious army returning to the nation's capitol was cheered by waiting thousands, thus proclaiming that the war had ended and expressing their gratitude to the boys in blue who had fought so valiantly in defense of the old flag.
Mr. White was mustered out at Chicago and soon afterward went to La Crosse. Wisconsin, where he was employed by Brick Pomeroy. Later he returned to Sandwich and as foreman of a gang on the Fox River Railroad, now a part of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy system, began grading work. He was afterward given eharge of track-laying and subsequently spent several years as train conductor. He is thoroughly fa- miliar with the operative department of railroad- ing, having served in various capacities as engineer, conductor, train master and superintendent of the construction department of the building of the Texas & Pacific Railroad. While in the last named position he made his home in Dallas, Texas, where he built a street car line from the river to the Texas Central depot. About 1872 he returned from the south and for six months was in charge of railroad grading in Indiana. He then again came to Sandwich but soon afterward went to Kansas as a conduetor on the Santa Fe Railroad, making his home first at Florence and later at Emporia. He also built a street car line in the latter city. Leaving the Santa Fe after several years' service, he removed to Fort Scott, Kansas,
and was conductor on the Missouri Pacific Rail- way. Later he was train master on the same road during the construction of a part of its system and following his return to Illinois in 1887 he spent nearly two years as a conductor on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, his run being be- tween Aurora and Savannah. When he once more located in Sandwich he entered the employ of the Sandwich Enterprise Company, with which he was connected for six years. He is now engaged in the real-estate business, handling farm lands in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, the Da- kotas, Kansas, Nebraska and Canada. He has negotiated many important property transfers and has a large clientage in this connection.
Mr. White is recognized as a leader in republican circles in Sandwich and his fidelity to the party was rewarded by election to the office of mayor in 1895. His official service was evidence of the fact that the trust reposed in him was not mis- placed. His fidelity and capability led to his re- election without opposition in 1897. He brought to the office excellent administrative powers. a ready understanding of the needs and conditions of the city and possibilities for improvement and at once undertook the work of progress along prac- tical lines that produce immediate and far-reaching results. New walks were constructed, streets graded, electric lights introduced and other public improvements made, and it is said that during his incumbency Mr. White did more for the actual benefit of the city than had been done in a quarter of a century. He retired from the office as he had entered it-with the confidence and good will of all concerned, having received the endorsement of members of the opposition as well as of his own party.
On the 19th of April, 1867, Mr. White was mar- ried to Miss Sarah A. Dean, a daughter of Nelson A. Dean, then residing near Sandwich. Her death occurred three years later and for his second wife Mr. White chose Mrs. Mary B. Sanders, a daughter of Alexander Yourt. Mrs. White is a member of the Presbyterian church, in the work of which she is actively and helpfully interested. Mr. White is an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has attained the Knight Templar degree and he also belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge. He is an honorary member of the Highland Association of Chicago, of which he was
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at one time president, and in these different organi- zations he is highly esteemed. His business rela- tions have taken him to many parts of the country and he has gained that broad knowledge which travel and a varied experience brings. He may truly be called a self-made man and as the archi- tect of his own fortunes has builded wisely and well.
CASSIUS M. CONRAD.
Cassius M. Conrad. who is successfully engaged in the abstract business in Sycamore and is one of the popular citizen of that place, was born in the town of Northeast. Erie county, Pennsyl- vania. March 21. 1845. and is a son of John M. and Mary E. (Smedley) Conrad. the former a native of the Keystone state and the latter of Connecticut.
Cassius M. Conrad spent the days of his boy- hood in the place of his nativity and attended the academy at Northeast. while subsequently he was a student at the Erie City Academy in Pennsyl- vania. The west with its broader opportunities attracted him and on the ith of April. 1863, he arrived in Kingston township. De Kalb county. Illinois. Six days later he reached Sycamore and immediately afterward was appointed to the posi- tion of deputy county clerk. in which capacity he served about nine years, or until January 26, 1812. when he was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Wallace W. Moore, who had been his superior officer. and at the April election of the same year he was chosen county clerk by pop- ular suffrage. He held that position until July, 1890. and was likewise city clerk from July. 1810, until April, 1822.
On resigning the position of county clerk, Mr. Conrad became a paying teller in the sub-treasury office at Chicago under General Daniel Dustin and later under Governor Tanner, who succeeded the General on the latter's death in 1892 and filled out his unexpired term. Mr. Conrad resigned that position in 1894 and accepted the cashier- ship in the Barh City Bank, of De Kalb, serving in that capacity for four years. In March, 1899. he bought out the De Kalb County Abstract Com- pany. of which he has since been president and treasurer.
Mr. Conrad has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Anna H. Beavers, who died in 1886, and three years later he wedded Miss Nettia L. Bannister, a daughter of Daniel P. and Mary E. Bannister, and to them have been born two sons : Cassius Bannister and Charles Smedley. Mr. and Mrs. Conrad are members of the Con- gregational church and he is one of its trustees. Fraternally he affiliates with Sycamore lodge, No. 134, A. F. & A. M .; Sycamore chapter, No. 49, R. A. M .: and Sycamore commandery No. 15, K. T .. all of Sycamore. Politically he has always been an earnest and unfaltering republican and has been called to various positions of honor and trust in the county. That he was most faithful. capable and loyal in office is indicated by the fact that he was long retained in public service, win- ning the trust and confidence of all concerned. He has ever kept well informed on the questions and issues of the day and has been unswerving in his loyalty to the principles in which he believes.
ALBERT WALLACE FISK.
Albert Wallace Fisk, attorney at law. bank di- rector and contidential secretary to the firm of I. L. & W. L. Ellwood, was born near Reedsburg, Wisconsin, on the 21st of October, 1857. His paternal grandfather. Royal Fisk, a native of New England, removed westward with a consin in the 40s and after remaining for some years in Erie county, New York, removed, about 1854, to Sauk county, Wisconsin, where he resided up to the time of his death.
Warren N. Fisk. father of our subject, was born in Danby, Vermont, February 5, 1834, and was a young lad at the time of the removal of the family to the Empire state. Soon after his parents went to Wisconsin he was married and in 1855 he took his bride to the new home of his parents in Sauk county. Ile remained a resident of Wisconsin un- til the breaking out of the Civil war, when he re- turned to Erie county, New York, where he re- sided until 1885. He then again became a resi- dent of Wisconsin, where he has since remained, being now located at North Freedom. In early inanhood he was for a long period identified with merchandising and in later years became a com-
(. M. CONRAD.
TH' NEW YORK IC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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mercial salesman for the Superior Barb Wire Com- pany and afterward for the Ellwood Wire & Nail Company. At length he retired from active busi- ness on account of the ill health of his wife. ITis political allegiance is given to the republican party and although never an office seeker he has always been progressive in matters of citizenship. 1Ie married Cordelia R. Harris, who was born in Erie county. New York. May 12. 1835. a daughter of Eseck Harris, a farmer of Erie county. Mrs. Fisk died in May. 1904, at the age of sixty-nine years. Two of the three children of the family survive- Albert and Marion E., the latter a resident of Prairie du Sae, Wisconsin.
Albert W. Fisk was reared at home. acquiring his education in the common seltools, also pur- suing an academie course at Chamberlain Insti- tute at Randolph, New York. During the winter following he taught in the public schools near his home and through the sueeeeding three years was variously employed. When about nineteen years he secured a position in the general store of Bates & White of Collins Center, New York, where he remained for four years, and during his service there he studied and mastered shorthand. He then went to Buffalo, entering the office of Slocum & Thornton, the official reporters of the eighth judicial supreme court district. For about a year he remained in that employ and in the spring of 1881 eame west to accept a position which had been tendered him by mail. He made his way to Chi- cago, not knowing the nature of the position other than that it was that of amanuensis for a firm. On his arrival in Chicago he was sent to De Kalb to become stenographer for I. L. Ellwood & Com- pany, barb wire manufacturers. For one year he took correspondence dietation and later, when he was given an assistant, Mr. Fisk was taken into Mr. Ellwood's office, where he was admitted more fully into his confidence and given a larger scope for his serviees. When W. L. Ellwood became ex- tensively engaged in dealing in horses, having one of the largest stoek farms of the state, Mr. Fisk had charge of his correspondence and after a brief period his entire time was absorbed in this way, excluding the business of the wire mills. In 1887 the private business office of I. L. & W. L. Ell- wood was built near their residenees and Mr. Fisk was made their private seeretary, since which time he has had charge of their extensive office business.
On the 18th of April, 1900, Mr. Fisk was ad- mitted to practice law in all the courts of Illi- nois, having previously pursued a course in Chi- eago Law School, from which he was graduated in June, 1899. He, however, gives his time to the business of the Ellwood firm, doing but little law practice outside. He is a director of the Commer- eial Trust & Savings Bank and is president of the De Kalb Building & Loan Association.
On the 27th of February, 1883, Albert Wallace Fisk was married to Miss Clara Perry, a daughter of Edwin S., and Lueinda J. (Downer) Perry, of De Kalb. the former now deceased. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fisk have been born four children : Catherine L., Perry W., Alan W. and Ilarris D., all at home. Mr. Fisk belongs to De Kalb lodge, No. 144, A. F. & A. M., and to De Kalb lodge, No. 765, B. P. O. E. He served as assistant supervisor of De Kalb township for ten years and was secretary of the county republican central committee for seven years, having always taken a deep interest in politics both local and national. He is well known in financial cireles in De Kalb and is essentiaily a self-made man, sceuring advancement through fidelity to duty, through eapability and unfaltering perseverance. He has always adhered elosely to the high ideal which his lofty and laudable ambi- tion placed before him and few men have the re- speet which is uniformly tendered Albert W. Fisk.
JOHN G. HUTCHESON.
John G. Huteheson is an alert and enterprising young farmer of De Kalb county, owning and op- erating a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres in South Grove township, while he is also interested in the breeding and raising of polled Angus eattle and Poland China hogs, and he also buys and ships western eattle. Mr. Hutch- eson was born on the farm which has always been his home, September 10. 1875, a son of Robert and Helen (MeKenzie) Huteheson, who were natives of Seotland, whenee they emigrated to the United States in the early '50s and located on a farm in South Grove township, which is now the home of our subject.
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The son acquired his education in the common schools of his locality, and during the period of his boyhood and youth was trained to the work of the fields, thus gaining the knowledge which has enabled him to carry on work along this line on his own account. He has always made his home on his present farm, and the work of development and improvement which was here begun by his father, has been continued by the son to the present time. He now has a well improved and valuable tract comprising one hundred and sixty acres, on which have been placed a nice residence and substantial outbuildings, while in addition to the cultivation of his land he is also engaged quite extensively in breeding and raising polled Angus cattle and Poland China hogs, and he also buys and feeds for shipment western cattle. This branch of his business is proving a very gratifying source of in- come to him, so that he is numbered among the prosperous farmers and stock-raisers of this com- munity.
Mr. Hutcheson further established a home of his own by his marriage on the 20th of February. 1901, to Miss Jennie Vodden, a resident of South Grove township. Their marriage has been blessed with an interesting little daughter, Helen J. Mr. Hutcheson is a republican in his political views, but aside from serving as school director for one term. has never been active in local political affairs, preferring to concentrate his energies upon his private business affairs, in which he is meet- ing with very desirable success. Mr. and Mrs. Hutcheson attend and support the Methodist Epis- copal church at Esmond. They are highly re- spected young people and their pleasant home is noted for its warm-hearted hospitality.
ALBERT W. BLAKE.
Albert W. Blake has since his marriage resided upon the farm which is now his home and which is pleasantly located in De Kalb township. It comprises a good tract of land of one hundred and fifteen acres, and everything about the place is indicative of the careful supervision of the owner. and in his farm work he is energetic. practical and progressive.
Ile is one of the county's native sons. for his birth occurred in the township of De Kalb, March 14, 1854. His father, James Blake, was a native of England. born February 7, 1820, while his mother, who bore the maiden name of Emily Sherid, was born in Ohio, February 7, 1820. James Blake came to America when but seven years of age and was a resident of Ohio until he attained his majority. He then married and re- moved to De Kalb county. casting in his lot with the pioneer settlers who were reclaiming this re- gion for the purpose of civilization. He took up his abode on seetion 4, De Kalb township. and there he lived until his death, which occurred in 1896. when he was seventy-six years of age. For a long time he had been numbered among the sub- stantial agriculturists of the community and was one of those who aided in laying broad and deep the foundation of the future development and prosperity of the county. He shared in the hard- ships and trials of pioneer life and aided in con- verting frontier conditions into foundations of modern civilization. Ilis wife died February 28. 1904. In their family were five children, a son and four daughters.
Albert W. Blake spent his boyhood days under the parental roof and no event of special import- ance occurred to vary the routine of farm life for him in his boyhood. He attended the public schools and when he was not busy with his text-books he worked in the fields, early becoming familiar with the tasks of plowing, planting and harvesting.
On the 14th of December. 18:5. Mr. Blake was united in marriage to Miss Ella Heath, who was born in Herkimer county. New York, January 6. 1854. Her father, William Heath. was a native of the sanie state, born December 23. 1818. and in 1865 he brought his family to Illinois, settling on a farm in De Kalb county. where he lived for nine years. He then removed to Iowa, where he resided until his death. which occurred in 1895. His wife was born in New York in 1818 and her death occurred in 1814.
At the time of their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Blake took up their abode on the farm where they now live. They have one son, Clarence Eugene. who is married and has four children. He fol- lows farming in De Kalb township. Mr. and Mrs Blake attend the Methodist Episcopal church at De Kalb and contribute to its support.
donnes Blake
THE NEW YORKI PUBLIC LIBRARY
ANTOR. IFNOX 7 _LIN FD NDATIONS,
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Mr. Blake is a man of good business ability and in his farming interests has met with a goodly measure of success. He uses the latest improved machinery to carry on the work of the fields and annually gathers good crops. His entire life has been passed in this county and he has therefore witnessed in large measure its growth and develop- ment and has taken a just pride in what has been accomplished. He is esteemed because of his many excellent traits of character, and the circle of his friends is almost co-extensive with the circle of his acquaintances.
EPHRAIM P. NICHOLS.
Ephraim P. Nichols, who without special educa- tional or other advantages at the outset of his career, has gained a place among the substantial citizens of De Kalb county, so that he is now en- abled to live retired in Syeamore. deriving his ." degree to his efforts. His first purchase of land income from a good farm, has a valuable property made him owner of eighty aeres of prairie in Mayfield township. This he broke and fenced, afterward selling it with a erop of growing wheat. He wanted more land and bought one hundred and sixty acres which was entirely wild and destitute of improvements. He built and made a good home, which he occupied until 1887, when he retired to Syeamore to enjoy the fruits of his former labor in a well earned rest. He still owns a valuable farm property of two hundred acres which is under a high state of cultivation, and his pros- perity is entirely due to his carnest purpose and unfaltering labor. of two hundred aeres under a high state of culti- vation. He was born in Sullivan county, New York, October 2, 1829. His father, Peter Nichols, was a native of the Empire state, born December 1, 1803. He came to Illinois in 1837 and for eight years resided in Boone county, where he had taken up a elaim. In 1845 he returned to Mayfield township, this county, where he purchased a farm of two hundred acres, upon which he lived until his death. For twenty years he was in poor health but during an active business career he manifested the strong traits of a successful business man and aequired a goodly measure of success. A staneh On the 15th of January, 1857, Mr. Nichols was married to Miss Sarah Ann Mullen, who was born in Sullivan county, New York, October 8, 1833, and who is yet a well preserved woman although she is now in her seventy-fourth year. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Nichols were born ten children, namely : Voorhees W., who resides on his father's farm; Willard G., who died at the age of two and a half months : Elmer C., deceased ; Mellie J., the wife of J. B. Westlake, who owns and occupies a farm north of the eity; Maggie A., deceased : Lena A., the wife of W. A. Swarthont, of Iowa ; David L., who died of diphtheria. the death of Elmer, Maggie and David occurring within nine days from that dread disease: Peter F .. a farmer of Mayfield; advocate of abolition principles, he became a con- ductor on the famous underground railroad and did mueh to assist many a poor negro on his way to freedom in the north. He always stood un- flinehingly in support of any principle which he believed to be right and no one questioned his honor or his fidelity of purpose. He married Imeretia Carpenter, who was born in New York, April 13, 1806, and they became the parents of twelve children but only three are now living, namely : Ephraim P .; Stephen, a resident of Syea- more; and Mrs. Decker of Iowa. The father died on his farm near Sycamore, September 29, 1865. while the mother passed away on the 19th of
April. 1889, at the advanced age of eighty-three years.
Ephraim P. Nichols remained upon the old homestead farm with his parents until twenty- seven years of age. He was the only son who con- tinued at home, the rest all starting out for them- selves, and the poor health of the father required that some one remain to assist in the cultivation and management of the farm. Because his ser- vices were thus needed and also because of the frontier condition of the country Ephriam P. Niehols received but limited edneational privileges. He mastered the elementary branches of English learning in a log schoolhouse in Boone county and also studied for a time in Mayfield township, De Kalb county. He was only eight years of age at the time of the arrival of the family in the former county and was a youth of sixteen when he took up his abode in Mayfield township upon the old homestead farm, the cultivation and de- velopment of which was attributable in no small
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George L., a resident farmer of Oklahoma; and Lillian V., the wife of William J. Ferguson, who is living in Michigan.
At the age of seventeen years Mr. Nichols be- came a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church, with which he was identified for a long period, but since taking up his abode in Sycamore he has become identified with the Congregational church. For thirty years he was choir leader. was superin- tendent of the Sunday-school for many years, has acted as church trustee and is now a deacon in the Congregational church. He has long been deeply interested in church work and in the moral development of the community and has done all in his power to promote the growth and extend the influence of religious work in this locality. In politics he has been an earnest republican since first exercising his right of franchise in support of John C. Fremont. The office of highway com- missioner is the only one that he has ever filled or ever desired. On removing to the city he built a home at No. 211 East State street. where he is now comfortably and pleasantly located. Here he is living at the age of seventy-eight years, one of the venerable and respected residents of Sycamore, whose connection with the county covers the greater part of its development and growth.
GILBERT N. BLACKMAN.
Gilbert N. Blackman, chief clerk of the De Kalb- Sycamore Electric Company, and also of the De Kalb-Sycamore & Interurban Traction Company, was born in the city of De Kalb, April 8, 1875, his parents being Austin B. and Josephine L. (Gilbert) Blackman. The father, a native of the state of New York, was left motherless at an early age and was reared to manhood by his paternal grandparents. When a young man he came west to De Kalb, Illinois, where he arrived about 1820. his brother Frank having preceded him here. He was a painter by trade but after his removal to the west was employed in various ways. In the early 'SOs he went to Iowa. where his brother Frank had located in the meantime and from that year until his death. which occurred in 1898, was a resident of Des Moines. His political allegiance was given to the republican party. and he was a
man who in all life's relations was true to his honest convictions and commanded the respect of those with whom he came in contact. Ile married Josephine L. Gilbert, who was born at Huntley Station, in McHenry county, Illinois, December 29. 1852. a daughter of Eli B. and Lois Annie (Needham) Gilbert.
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