USA > Illinois > DeKalb County > Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois, Volume II > Part 39
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Unto Mr. and Mrs. Pond have been born two children : Ethel C., who is a graduate of the high school and now science teacher in the high school of Genoa : and Amy S., also a high-school gradu- ate. Mrs. Pond is a member of the Congrega- tional church and Mr. Pond belongs to the different Masonic bodies and to the Modern Woodmen camp. ITis political support is unswervingly given to the republican party and he is recognized as one of the active and helpful workers in its ranks. He is popular and well liked in the county and his capable official service is indicated by his long retention in the office which he is now filling.
RUSSELL THOMAS SMITH.
Russell Thomas Smith, of De Kalb, was born in Akron, Ohio, April 13. 1867. His paternal grand- father was of German birth, while the grandmother was French. Vinzenz Smith. the father of our sub- ject, was born in Germany and in early life learned and followed the blacksmith's trade. For many years he made his home in Illinois and at the time of the Civil war he joined Taylor's Battery, en- listing on the 27th of July. 1861, and serving until mustered out on the 23d of July, 1864. He was married to Miss Mary Kenney, a native of Ireland, and they became the parents of eleven children.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Russell Thomas Smith, the second in order of birth, was educated in the common schools of Wayne. Du Page county. Illinois, and in the town schools of Hampshire, this state. When thirteen years of age he began work at the butchering business, which he has followed throughout his en- tire life. In 1889 he began business on his own account at Kirkland, Illinois, where he remained for about six and a half years, coming to De Kalb m 1896. Here he established a meat market. which he conducted with success until about eight years ago, when he and his family went to Cali- fornia, where they spent the winter. Upon re- turning. however, he again became a factor in busi- ness life as owner of a meat market. in which line he has since continued. He lias been accorded a liberal patronage and is a worthy and reliable mer- chant who justly merits the success that has come to him.
On September 25. 1894, at Kirkland, Illinois, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Harriet A. Grout, who was born in the northwestern part of Kings- ton township, De Kalb county. January 28, 1874, and is a daughter of Henry P. Grout, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Smith have been born three children, namely : Henry Grout, deceased ; Russell G., aged six years : and Mary G., aged four years. Mr. Smith belongs to the Elks lodge and to the Modern Woodmen camp, and his wife is a member of the First Con- gregational church ..
JAMES BYERS.
Nature seems to have intended that man should enjoy a period of rest in old age. In youth he is full of energy, zest and zeal, and in middle life his energies are guided by the sound judgment that comes through experience, but in late years. when one's powers are somewhat diminished. there should come a period of rest from more arduous labor if time and talents have not been wasted in former years. Well directed labors as a farmer have brought to James Byers an opportunity of living in a pleasant home in Sycamore with a competence sufficient to supply him with all of the comforts and some of the luxuries of life. He was
born in Delaware county, New York, October 11 1828.
His father, James Byers, was a native of Esk- dale Muir, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, born in the year 1:92. Emigrating to America in 1818, he settled in New York and there resided for many years. or until 1841, when he came overland with his family to Illinois, establishing his home in South Grove. De Kalb county. He had met with reverses in the east and on reaching this state had but thirty cents. He made arrangements, how- ever, for the purchase of a claim and engaged in farming until 1811. Here he retrieved his lost possessions, continuing in business until the year mentioned. when he retired. He died at the home of a daughter in Buffalo Grove, Ogle county, Illi- nois, December 8, 18:4. For a third of a century he was a resident of South Grove. He possessed good judgment, was a faithful adviser and did more to mold the business character of the town than any other man. He taught the first senool in the town in one-half of his double log house, which had a puncheon floor, shake roof and mud chim- ney. He labored earnestly for the development of the community along the lines of material, intel- lectual and moral progress. He was an example of industry and honesty and left to his family an un- tarnished name. During his first year in the county, in the fall of 1841. he and his wife trav- eled eight miles to husk corn for thirty cents per day. He was very benevolent, liberal with what- ever he possessed. and was always unostentatious in his giving. As the years passed he became wealthy and left to his family a comfortable estate. In early manhood he wedded .Jane Scott, who was also a native of Dumfriesshire. Scotland, born in 1:94. They were married in that country on the 18th of May, 1818, and she accompanied her hus- band on his emigration to America. She was a lady of mauy splendid traits of character. of rare excellence and genuine worth, and indeed proved a valued helpmate to her husband. She died in 1873 and her death was deeply regretted by many friends as well as by her family.
.James Byers was one of a family of seven chil- dren, but he and his brother William, also a resi- deut of Sycamore. are the only ones now living. One brother, Asa B. Byers, was in his lifetime one of the largest landholders of this county. James
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THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN FOUNDATIONS.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
Byers was reared to farm life and began work when quite young, driving a team to a breaking plow. As the years passed he did his full share toward developing the wild land and made many trips to Chicago with wheat which he sold for thirty-five and forty cents per bushel. On one occasion he started to Milwaukee with a load of dressed hogs and in crossing a stream one wheel broke through the ice and the wagon-box fell off and the hogs were thrown into the water. Mr. Byers, then six- teen years of age, went to the rescue with all his clothes on. He succeeded in pulling the hogs out of the water, but his clothes were frozen upon him. However, he suffered no disastrous effects from his icy bath. When he attained his majority he bought one hundred and sixty acres of government land. Not a furrow had been turned nor an im- provement been made upon it, but he at once began its development and made it his home until 1900. when he retired to Sycamore. In the meantime he had added greatly to his possessions and is still the owner of six hundred and twenty acres of valu- able, productive land from which he now derives a good annual income.
Mr. Byers has been married twice. His first wife was Olive Mason, a native of New York state. who died about 1848. By that marriage there were six children : John, now deceased, who married Stella Jones: Robert, who married Jane Gibson and is a farmer of South Grove. De Kalb county ; William. a resident of Sioux City, Iowa; Olive. who married Charles Black, of Sycamore, and they now live in Oakland, California; and two who died in infancy. In 1884 Mr. Byers wedded Miss Sarah Adams. a native of New Hampshire. She is a highly educated woman, having attended an eastern college, and for ten years prior to her mar- riage she was a successful teacher in the schools of Sycamore.
Mr. Byers has long been recognized as one of the prominent and influential residents of De Kalb county. His residence here covers two-thirds of a century and few men have, through as long a period. been witnesses of the changes that have occurred and the transformation that has been wrought by time and men. He served as chair- man of the board of supervisors for many years and in his political views has always been a stal- wart republican. In his township he was always called the peacemaker for he did much to settle
disputes among friends and neighbors and his own amiable disposition and equable temperament proved an excellent example in this direction. He is today enjoying a well earned rest, occupying one of the finest homes in Sycamore, on South California street, and is justly accounted one of the honored residents of this part of the state.
ANTHONY DARLING.
Anthony Darling, a veteran of the Civil war now following farming in Clinton township, was born in Lodi, Seneca county, New York, July 22, 1844. His parents were natives of the Empire state and there spent their entire lives. They had eleven children, six daughters and five sons, of whom Anthony Darling was the fifth in order of birth. He remained a resident of the east until about for- ty-one years of age when in 1885. he came to this state, making his way direct to Clinton township.
On the 26th of December, 1867, Mr. Darling was married in Pennsylvania, to Miss Clara Wilcox, who was born May 8, 1846. ITer father was a native of the state of New York, while her mother was born in Pennsylvania. After losing her first husband Mrs. Wilcox became the wife of David Hoagland, also a native of the Keystone state. In 1890 they removed to Illinois where Mrs. Hoag- land died in 1904, at the advanced age of seventy- eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Darling became the parents of six sons : George 1., who was born No- vember 18, 1868, and married Miss Hattie Row- land, and unto them were born three children ; William S., who was born July 21, 1871, and mar- ried Miss Laura McConothy, a native of Kentucky, and now residing in Iowa where he owns two hun- dred and forty acres of land; Cyrus B., who was born July 21, 1873, and died April 9, 1888; Leon A., born September 21, 1883, and who is at home ; and James and John, twins, who were born October 4, 1887, and of whom the former died in 1892.
Mr. Darling has always followed the occupation of farming and is now owner of eighty acres of good land in Clinton township, in addition to which he rents and cultivates one hundred and sixty-seven acres on section 3, same township. He has worked earnestly and persistently to acquire a comfortable competence and thus provide a good
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
living for his family, and in addition to tilling the soil he is engaged quite extensively in stock- raising. The only interruption there has been to his business life since he attained his majority was when. at the time of the Civil war. he offered his services to the government and for four years aided in defense of the Union as a member of Company H. One Hundred and Second New York Volunteer Infantry. He participated in the battle of Cedar Mountain and Bull Run and also in the engage- ments of Antietam, Gettysburg, Vicksburg and Chancellorsville, from which point the troops marched to Lookout Mountain where his company was the first to gain the heights. Mr. Darling was also with the command which captured Atlanta, Georgia, and was with Sherman on his famous march to the sea, afterward participating in the campaign through the Carolinas. When Lee had surrendered. the regiment went to Washington where the men were honorably discharged. Mr. Darling made a splendid military record as a brave and loyal soldier. When the country no longer needed his aid he went to Pennsylvania where he followed farming until 1885. when he came to Illinois. Here he has since been identified with agricultural interests in Clinton township and is accounted one of the successful farmers of the community.
In polities Mr. Darling has always been a stal- wart republican, supporting the party with un- faltering loyalty. He was town collector for one term and school director for five years. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and have gained many friends during the period of their residence in the middle west.
WALTER MORRIS HAY.
Walter Morris Hay, whose public-spirited citi- zenship and intense interest in the welfare of his county is manifest in the prompt and able manner in which he discharges his duties as circuit clerk and recorder of De Kalb county, was born in Somonank township on the 25th of November, 18:1. His father. Isaac Morris Ilay, now a retired farmer living in Sandwich, was a son of George P. and Harriet ( Morris) Hay. and the family was established in this county at an early day. The
biographical sketch of Isaac MI. Hay is published in this history. His mother, Mrs. Hay, who bore the maiden name of Aurelia Latham, is a daughter of Thomas Fish and Jane Latham. who were among the earliest settlers of the southeastern por- tion of De Kalb county. Her father was born February 23, 1812, in Groton township, New Lon- don county, Connecticut. Her grandfather, Joseph Latham, was in early life a farmer but later re- moved to New York city. Her grandmother, whose maiden name was Fish, was in her declining years a resident of Sandwich, widely known as Grand- mother Latham. In the year 1833 Thomas F. Latham entered mercantile life in New York and after several years spent in that way decided to try his fortune upon the sea. As a supercargo on a merchant vessel his work took him to the promi- nent European ports and around the world. Through this experience he gained extensive knowledge of the customs and habits of the various countries whose sea coasts he visited. On the 27th of March, 183 ;. he married Jane Avers and soon afterward came to the west. While visiting a friend at Bristol, Illinois, he was informed of a claim for sale on Somonauk creek. This land, con- sisting of two hundred acres, he concluded to pur- chase and gave the horses which had carried him to this country from his eastern home as part pay- ment for the property. He then became connected with agricultural interests in De Kalb county. his farm adjoining the present northern city limits of Sandwich. Illinois. His death occurred January 10, 1902. In his family were seven children. in- cluding Mrs. Aurelia Hay, who is now living with her husband in Sandwich.
At the usual age Walter M. Hay began his edu- cation in the public schools, passing through sue- cessive grades until he was graduated from the Somonank high school in the class of 1882. He then matriculated in the University of Illinois and on the completion of a course in civil engineering was graduated in 1891. Following his graduation he was employed at structural iron drafting and designing in Chicago and in 1892 and 1893 was employed as field engineer to secure topographical data for the relief map of Illinois made under the direction of the state board of agriculture for the World's Columbian Exposition at Chicago. In 1893 lie was also employed in connection with the sewer and water department upon the fair grounds
PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
in Chicago. During the three succeeding years he was at Muscatine, Iowa, where he acted as assist- ant city engineer and later as city engineer. In 1896 he resigned on account of a change in the political administration in Muscatine after being tendered a complimentary vote by a democratic city council.
It was on the 24th of June of the same year that Mr. Hay was married to Katherine Lowman, a daughter of John and Melissa Lowman, of Somonauk township. The young couple began their domestic life in Muscatine but in 1897 lo- cated on a farm in Somonauk township, De Kalb county, where they resided until 1902, Mr. Ilay devoting his time and energies to general agri- cultural pursuits and surveying work. In Jan- uary, 1904, he was elected a member of the ex- ecutive board of the Illinois Society of Engineers and Surveyors. In 1900 he was elected county surveyor of De Kalb county and removed to the city of De Kalb in 1902 to pursue civil engineering and surveying work there. In 1904 he again took up his abode in Somonauk township and in No- vember of the same year he was elected circuit elerk and recorder of De Kalb county, which posi- tion he is yet filling, discharging his duties with promptness and fidelity.
Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hay have been born two chil- dren: John Gilbert, who was born November 27, 1897, and died on the 9th of January, 190%; and Isaac Morris, born Angust 19, 1899. Mr. Hay is a member of the Masonic fraternity, De Kalb lodge, No. 765, B. P. O. E., and the Royal Arcanum; and of the latter is a past regent. HIe is well known in this, his native county, and his good qualities are widely recognized, his fellow citizens giving tangible evidence of their faith in him by electing him to his present position.
ABRAHAM ASHELFORD.
Abraham Ashelford, now deceased, came to De Kalb county in 1855, and made permanent location within its borders in 1856. He was a self-made man, owing his advancement to his business enter- prise and utilization of opportunity for investment, and as the years passed by he became one of the extensive landowners of this part of the state. Ile
was born in Somersetshire, England, February 24, 1832, and was a son of George and Sarah (Black- mer) Ashelford. In 1858 the father came to America, accompanied by some of his children, but soon afterward returned to the mother country and died in his native shire in 1876, when about seventy-four years of age. The mother survived him for some time and passed away at an advanced age.
Abraham Ashelford was one of six children and was reared in his native country, where he received bnt limited educational privileges. He was a young man of about twenty-three years, when, in October, 1855, he made the voyage across the At- lantic to the new worldl. After a brief sojourn in Ontario he came to De Kalb county, Illinois, ar- riving at the city of De Kalb on Christmas day of 1855. In March of the following year he returned to Canada but after a brief period came again to Illinois and made permanent location in this county, settling in South Grove township, where he spent the greater part of his remaining days. Ile was almost wholly without means when he ar- rived in this county but he obtained employment on the farm of John Orbut, working for some time for Mr. Orbut and his brother. With his first savings he bought a yoke of oxen and afterward operated land on the shares for a time, while sub- sequently he leased and cultivated a large farm for a period of five years. When four years had pass- ed his savings had accumulated sufficiently to en- able him to purchase one hundred and sixty acres of the farm which he was cultivating and there he established his homestead. As the years passed he lived frugally and economically for some time in order to add to his possessions and at the time of his death he was the owner of one thousand acres of finely improved land in South Grove township and seven hundred and eighty acres in Kansas, to- gether with other property. All this was the tangible evidence of a life of thrift and industry, proving what could be accomplished through de- termination and unfaltering perseverance in a country untrammeled by class conditions.
Mr. Ashelford was married in Pierce township. Kane county. Illinois, February 3, 1863, to Miss Ellen McMurchy, who was born July 6, 1834, in Ontario, Canada, and when a child was brought to Kane county by her parents. She died May 27, 1877, at the age of forty-three years. The five
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
children of that marriage were : Mrs. Sarah Hewitt. of Linden. Kansas : James, who is living at Horace, Nebraska: Mrs. Lizzie Chapman. of Sycamore : Robert, also of Sycamore: and John, who died when two years of age. In 1890 Mr. Ashelford again married, his second union being with Anna Sullen, who was born in South Grove township. this county, and is a daughter of Edward and Eliza (Morris) Sullen. Her father was born in Kent, England, and at an early day came to Amer- ica, settling in New York state. whence in 1860, he removed to Illinois, establishing his home in South Grove township. Both he and his wife are now deceased. By the second marriage of Mr. Ashelford there were born seven children : Francis, who is now in school at Glenwood. Illinois; Olive May. who died in infancy; Grover; Alta May; Lida ; Mabel ; and Harold.
In his political views Mr. Ashelford was a re- publican from the time he cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln. He died September 30, 1906, at his home in Sycamore, where he had located several years before on retiring from active life. Ile left a large amount of land beside a beautiful home in Sycamore, where his widow is now living. and in business circles he made an unassailable reputation by his straightforward methods. being never known to take advantage of the necessities of his fellowmen in any trade trans- action.
GEORGE J. PATTERSON.
George J. Patterson, who is now so efficiently serving as postmaster of Genoa, was born in Varna, Saline county, Nebraska. June 28, 1875. His father, George Patterson, was a native of Pennsyl- vania, in which state he was reared, and when a young man he came to Illinois. following farming in De Kalb county for some time. He enlisted from Genoa. August 6, 1862, in Company A. One Hundred and Fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry and remained in the service until the close of the Civil war. He was married in Genoa to Miss Abigail Brown, who was born in Genoa township and is a daughter of Jeremiah Brown, a pioneer of this state, having located here in 1837. She is a
sister of D. S. Brown, whose sketch appears else- where in this volume. After his marriage Mr. Patterson continued to follow farming in De Kalb county for several years and became the owner of eighty acres of land. but in 1868 he removed to Johnson county. Nebraska, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land some forty miles from Lincoln. Later he removed to Saline coun- ty where he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres. He proved up his claim and lived there for some time but finally returned to Illinois in 1876 and located on his farm three and a half miles northeast of Genoa. Here he died the same year at the age of forty years. After her husband's death Mrs. Patterson rented her farm and built a good home in Genoa, where she lived until 1885. when she removed to Hand county, South Dakota, and entered one hundred and sixty acres of land. She improved her claim and continued to make her home thereon until 1896. when she returned to Genoa, where she is now living in her sixty-seventh vear.
In the family of George and Abigail Patterson were six children: Hattie, born October 1, 1859, married E. II. Griggs, who resides in Genoa, and she died February 12, 1905. Emma Judith. born May 24. 1862, married Milton J. Carson and re- sides in Genoa township. Joseph Allen, born Jan- uary 17, 1867, married Margaret Peters and lives in Genoa. Margaret Eleanor, born October 4, 1868, married William W. Stephens and resides in Miller, South Dakota. Jeremiah L .. born Decem- ber 20, 1872, married Bertha Wharton and makes his home in Genoa. George J. completes the fam- ily and is one of the three children born in Ne- braska.
The early education of George .J. Patterson was acquired in the public schools and for two years he was a student in the Agricultural College at Brookings, South Dakota. After putting aside his text-books he engaged in elerking in various stores in Genoa for some years. In October. 1903, he was appointed assistant postmaster under C. B. Crawford, who died in October. 1905, and was suc- ceeded by Mr. Patterson on the 26th of that month. In the following Jannary he received his commis- sion as postmaster and has since most ably and conscientiously filled that position. for which he was well fitted on account of his previous con- nection with the office.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF DE KALB COUNTY.
On the 1st of December, 1903, Mr. Patterson was united in marriage to Miss Verda Rockhold, whom he first met in Genoa. though she was born in Lineville, Wayne county, Iowa, and is a daugh- ter of Frank Rockhold, a native of the same state. They are not connected with any religious de- nomination but attend various churches. Fra- ternally Mr. Patterson is a prominent Mason, be- longing to Genoa lodge, No. 288, A. F. & 1. M., of which he has now served as worshipful master for over three years. He is also a member of camp No. 163, M. W. A., of Genoa, and the Mystic Workers, while his wife is a member of the East- ern Star. They are widely and favorably known and have a host of friends in the community where they reside.
A. G. SCHULTZ.
A. G. Schultz, who is engaged quite extensively in feeding stock as well as in general farming, started out in life upon rented land but is now owner of one hundred and sixty acres on section 1, Clinton township. He was born in Oldenburg, Germany, and his parents were natives of that country, whence they came to the United States in 1865, settling in New York state where their remaining days were passed. After their death A. G. Schultz, of this review, came to Illinois and was employed as a farm hand until twenty-four years of age.
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